Author Archives: Orit Esther Riter

BS’D

This week’s Parsha Vayeira speaks of Avraham Avinu’s unwavering and steadfast Emuna in Hashem.  “v’he’meen b’Hashem v’yechashveha lo l’tzedaka” Rashi suggests that Avraham’s emuna was ‘as if’ an act of giving charity to Hashem.  When a person gives charity they are in essence handing out Hashem’s justice by means of distributing that which was given to them on condition to share with others.  Giving charity attests to one’s trust that everything is from Hashem and He is the Only Authority that runs the world.

Nothing belongs to us in this world.  Our possessions or talents and even our children are not ‘ours’; we are merely guardians over them.  Avraham Avinu didn’t see any contradiction between the promise that he would become a great nation and being asked to sacrifice Yitzchak.  In his mind, Hashem runs the world and His promise will come through, even if he is being told to do something that appears to ‘hinder’ the plan.

The commentators teach that Avraham’s emuna in Hashem was so great that he saw the birth of Yitzchak as an act of great kindness, of tzedakah, from Hashem; an undeserved gift.  Avraham Avinu went above human logic and reasoning by accepting the instruction to sacrifice Yitzchak without delving into the ‘why’ and ‘how’ since in his mind, what he has isn’t really his.

In current times, it is challenging to cast away our rationale and trust in the all-encompassing goodness of Hashem. Hashem promised that we would come out of this exile; never again to experience exile. He promised that Ahm Yisrael Chai and would never be wiped away.
Every time we recall this vow in spite of what we see going on around us, we testify to Hashem’s tzedek, to His truthful word, and are ‘as though’ giving charity to Him.

BS’D

Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated L’iluy nishmat HaRav HaGaon Yoram Avergel ztk’l who passed away this past Shabbat Kodesh. May he serve as an advocate on high for the Jewish people and may his soul bask in the Divine radiance among all of the righteous who have departed from this world, Amen.
A lot of us wonder… Oy, what can I do? What can we as a community do to help protect ourselves and prevent further chaos from happening in Israel and around the world?
We have officially been shaken up ~ we were asleep in case we didn’t realize. Hashem wants His children to live their lives awake, aware and attached to their spiritual soul.
Unfortunately during tranquil times we race through life and have little time to think about our worldly purpose. That comes to a halt when terrorist attacks, horrific illnesses and unheard of suffering becomes a daily part of our reality.
Hashem wants achdut! Hashem wants us to show our love and care of one another always; not only when it comes to saving another’s physical life. Why do we need terrorists to teach us how to hug, love and cry for our nation? Have we traveled so far? Have we lost our way completely?
We were all injected with spiritual anesthesia when we exited our mother’s womb, yet Hashem gave us Torah, mitzvot and good deeds that serve as reminders why we are here in the first place. Pina Colada’s on the beach are a nice treat in life, but not what life is about.
Look around and see the faces of the Jewish souls sitting, standing and walking around you. We each carry a ‘peckel’. No one knows which one is heavier.
It might be brazen of me to suggest, but in my humble opinion if each of us dedicated 5 conscious minutes a day to thank Hashem for life, pray only for the welfare of others and asked Hashem for Emuna shleimah to help us see the ultimate good in all the craziness around us, that would help keep us awake without the need for more wake-up calls.
Please Hashem help us remember ~ for Your sake and for Your honor, b’rachamim, Amen.

BS’D

Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated L’iluy nishmat Orna bat Dina a’h. May her soul bask in the Divine radiance among all of the righteous who have departed from this world, Amen.
The Torah teaches the only true defense against the evil inclination is Torah study.  When evil thoughts and tendencies arise from within, we need not panic.  Mingling impure thoughts that arise in one’s mind are a result of the sin of Adam Harishon; we are meant to battle against them.  Impurity and evilness are found at the core of egotistical and selfish tendencies.  How can Torah serve as a correction for such behavior?

Torah speaks to the soul and enables its voice to be heard.  Every word of Torah reveals to us something – something about Hashem.  Additionally Torah helps us better understand creation – each commandment tells us something about the creation and its goal.  Torah teaches us who we really are and what we are here to achieve while in this world.   Torah elaborates on the reason behind the existence of the world, the perspective of the soul and what Hashem wants us to know about Him, so to speak.

Being that every Jew is an emissary of Hashem essentially we are a reflection of Hashem Himself.  The source of all souls is in the Essence of Hashem.  We have descended to this world to achieve that which can only be done here, in this world of turbulent flood waters.   The soul experiences exile and finds itself in captivity while inhabiting this lowly world; its only desire is to bond with Hashem. The chaotic waters of Mei Noach (the flood waters of Noach) drown us and lead to arrogance and selfishness where we are prone to evil deeds.

Torah is our GPS that guides us back to safe shores.

BS’D

Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated to the refuah shleimah of my dear freind Sora Nacha Shoshana bat Chaya Etta who fell on Rosh Hashanah and underwent partial hip replacement. May Hashem shower her and all of Klal Yisrael who are sick and suffering a complete healingb’karov, b’rachamim, Amen.
One Yom Kippur eve, when Chassidic master Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael of Kriminitz was granting the traditional blessing to his children, he noticed that one of his daughters, overcome by the emotion of the moment, was weeping softly. The young child in her arms was also crying.

“Why are you crying, my child,” asked the Rebbe of the tot.

“My mother is crying,” answered the child, “so I am also crying.”

In the synagogue that evening, the Rebbe ascended the podium and related what his young grandchild had said to him. Bursting into tears, he then said: “A child who sees his mother weeping, weeps as well, even if he cannot comprehend the reason for her tears. Our mother, too, is weeping. The Talmud brings down (Berachot, 3a) that the Shechinah ‘keens like a dove and cries: “Woe is to My children, that because of their sins I have destroyed My home, set fire to My sanctuary, and have exiled them among the nations.”’ “So even if we ourselves have become inured to the pain of the exile,” wept Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael, “at least we should cry because our mother is crying.”  (www.meaningfullifecenter.com)
On Yom Kippur, Hashem was pacified with joy and wholeheartedly. He said to Moshe ‘I have forgiven you like your word,” and He handed him the second set of commandments.  What was the catalyst that caused this change of heart? According to the Pirkei de’Rebbi Eliezer, it was the tears that Klal Yisroel shed. Teshuvah and tefillah without tears can bring about forgiveness. Teshuvah and tefilah with tears have the power to bring about reacceptance with joy.

May this Yom Kippur bring us forgiveness. May our souls bask in happiness and contentment.  May we fortify our connection with Hashem Yitborach and merit a strong bond to last the entire year, Amen.  Wishing everyone a meaningful fast.

BS’D
Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated in memory of all those who were tragically killed in the latest terrorist acts on holy soil and to the emotional and physical well-being and strength of those who mourn them.  May Klal Yisrael know only revealed good always, Amen.

A well-known question is asked, ‘Why does the Torah begin with the word ‘Bereishis?’

The Beis Yakov Rebbe ztk’l from the 18^th century answers; the word ‘bereishis (in the beginning)’ was chosen to teach us the power of renewal.  In fact when a person’s spirits are down and later risen up, it is specifically because Hashem injected into creation the ability to refresh ourselves and create anew.

This is an important principle to remember since it is easy to feel uncertain of our calling.  Hashem created everything and is everything, ‘Yotzer Ohr u’Boreh Choshech(He creates light and He creates darkness).’  When a person feels ‘nothingness(ayin)’ he can recreate and rejuvenate his spirit.  Feeling ayin launches us to createyesh m’ayin, something from nothing.

If we delve a bit further into this teaching we can taste the great chesed that Hashem bestows upon us when we feel this sense of ‘nothingness.’  Tehillim (90:17) writes, “And may the pleasantness of Hashem be upon us, and the works of our hands establish for us, and the works of our hands establish it.”

In other words, we ask that Hashem bless our efforts and actions to create.  We thank Hashem for giving us the opportunity to be His ‘co-partner’ and ‘create’ what has been left ‘undone’.

So next time you feel like a ‘nothing’ unsure of what you contribute to existence, remember the DNA of creation; renewal.  Now start to rebuild.

BS’D
Everlasting change must originate from the inner scream of our hearts.  This shriek speaks words of grief over a lifeless chase without purpose and happiness.  Particularly these days we should involve ourselves with ‘hearing our shame and not responding’; contemplating our misdeeds and feeling remorse, motivating us to change our ways.

Rebbe Nachman ztk’l teaches teshuva is to return; to come back to the true standing of ‘man’.  Man’s true status is embodied by humility; his ability to say “I do not rule”.  Therefore all negative emotions – frustrations, anger, sadness, stress, etc. are signs that man has not acted like ‘man’, rather has taken kingship on himself thinking he is in charge.  Teshuva returns “I will rule’ to “Hashem You rule”.

How do we know we have made teshuva?  We need to gauge how much negativity we feel in certain areas of our lives.  Those situations which are ‘constantly driving me mad’ are indicative to areas which we assume ‘kingship’ over and have not allowed Hashem to ‘rule’ over.  Here is where we need to do teshuva the most.

Teshuva is not an easy process.  It demands deep looking and tough contemplation and this may be painful.  However, these are the steps that lead us to our own mirror; to see where we are broken and what places need healing.  As we surrender ‘our desire to rule’ and hand the scepter to Hashem, our hearts fill with great joy at discovering how beloved we are to Hashem.

If anyone would like to help out families who are financially struggling here in Eretz Yisrael, I would be happy to be a good shaliach to distribute to them what is truly lacking and desperately needed to make their chag beautiful. Tizku’ l’mitzvot.

BS’D
Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated to the refuah shleimah of Eden Malka bat Ravit, a 5 week old baby with meningitis and in critical condition. May Hashem send her a complete healing among all of those in Klal Yisrael who are sick and suffering, b’karov, b’rachamim, Amen.

The Gaon Rav Yechezkel Levenstein ztk’l teaches that we tend to let the days leading to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur idly pass us by. This is due mainly because we do not recognize the importance of these days nor the enormous opportunity given to us to prepare for the upcoming year.

Rav Yisrael Salanter ztk’l writes in his Iggeret – events in this world appear to be the result of ‘natural circumstances’; broken off from their divinely ordained root.  Elul offers the chance to break away from this routine mindset and reprogram the way we think.  The major issue is that many do not want to change their ‘take on life.’  It is human nature to steer away from harm; therefore we choose not to think about the upcoming judgment of Rosh Hashanah and its possible repercussions.

Mankind relishes in the idea that he will remain healthy, wealthy and live out his life forever on this planet.  He thinks back over the previous Rosh Hashanah’s and how he ‘succeeded’ in the past.  Unfortunately no one can rely on the past as we are meant to realize how fragile our destiny is.

‘Ostrich mentality’ has become the favorable way of our generation; we tend to place our head in the sand.  However, the fear of judgment is an essential component in preparing for Rosh Hashanah.  Uvacharta ba’Chaim, choosing life is just that – a choice.  In order to find favor in the eyes of our Creator, the King of existence, we must lift our heads high and beseech His compassion and love.  Consciously making this choice places us in His ‘Merciful Hands’ and enables us to feel His closeness.

May we all let out a heartfelt cry to Hashem in the coming days; “Hashem, I love You.  I can’t live without You.  Have rachmanut on me; on my soul.  What am I to do?  I have only You to turn to, Hashem.  Only You can direct me onto my proper path.  Give me the words, the feeling, the heartfelt stirring, the desire to want to do Your will. Help me forget the frivolities of the world and remember eternity.  Help me align my life with Your will and feel wholesome and pure.  Help me remember that my life is in Your hands and I have no one else but You.”

Wishing Klal Yisrael a k’tiva v’chatima Tova.  A year of emuna, strength, clarity, love, acceptance, forgiveness, care and giving.  Please forgive me if I have ever offended anyone through my writing and teaching.  Thank you all for inspiring me to learn and teach the passionate call of our generation – Emuna.  May Klal Yisrael know of no more sorrow and suffering, only revealed goodness and blessing.  May we fulfill our holy task and make the best of every living moment – love and accept Hashem’s Kingship with a full heart. May we soon rejoice and dance together in the Beit HaMikdash and experience the true joy only to be revealed at the time ofMashiach Tzedkeinu b’mheira b’yameinu, Amen.

BS’D

Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated to the refuah shleimah of Ya’akov Dov ben Blima Chana, Shoshana Chaya bat Blima Chana and Avraham Yosef by Blima Chana the children of Morris and Beth (Pitem) Faitelewicz Z”L who tragically died in a horrific car accident yesterday in the Catskills, NY.  May Hashem send them a complete healing b’riut hanefesh v’br’iut haguf and strength to bear the suffering of loosing their parents, among all of those in Klal Yisrael who are sick and suffering, b’karov, b’rachamim, Amen.

Through the verses of Malchuyot of Mussaf we recognize that Hashem rules the world; His authority is absolute and unconditional. The blasting of the shofar comes to coronate the King and reminds us that Hashem is the Creator of the entire world. The Shofar sound awakens remembrance of  the physical beginning of Hashem’s plan for the world.  Moreover, our memory of Matan Torah is revived; the spiritual purpose to this world. Lastly the shofar comes to complete the picture of existence by reviving our memory of the ultimate culmination of Jewish destiny; the coming of Mashiach, B’H, b’karov.

What does it mean to anoint Hashem as King over the world?  A king is chosen by the people out of their own free will.  Yet the nations of the world have not ‘chosen’ Hashem and do not view Him as the Ruler of the world.  Our prayer on Rosh Hashanah is that soon the entire world will joyfully accept Hashem’s kingship and sovereignty.  It is written in sefer Devarim (26:17), “Et Hashem he’emarta hayom l’heeyot lecha l’Elokim …. (Hashem has distinguished today to be for Him a treasured people… “) The commentaries explain this verse to mean – the Jewish people select and recognize Hashem to be the supreme and only authority over the world; Ein Od Milvado!

Hashem is our King and no matter what we do Hashem’s will will be carried out. Simply put, Hashem’s master plan for existence will unfold; through Rachamim orDin.  The choice is ours. Positive mode, Rachamim,  is displayed when the Jewish nation follows the Torah laws.  Negative mode, din, happens only if the Jewish nation rebels thus causing her enemies to rise against her. This causes us to do teshuva thus resulting in our enemies downfall and displays Hashem’s everlasting sovereignty to shine forth through their defeat.  What is our choice?

BS’D
Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated to the refuah shleimah of Emuna Chaya bat Sarah. May Hashem send her a complete healing b’riut hanefesh v’br’iut haguf among all of those in Klal Yisrael who are sick and suffering, b’karov, b’rachamim, Amen.

Throughout the year we continuously view life through fragmented lenses.  We see dissolution, many causes to events and therefore struggle to attach to the Oneness of Hashem.  Rosh Hashanah comes to remedy this disjointed mindset.  Our entire focus on this holy day should be centered on accepting Hashem as the One All – Be All, total sovereignty over existence.

This is a difficult task.  Western world media constantly bombard us with logical reasons behind world events and blame the decision-makers for pulling the strings.  The Jewish standpoint is that Hashem Yitborach has many cohorts who carry out His carefully designed masterplan.  They are imaginary and on Rosh Hashanah the sound of the shofar comes to wake us from our spiritual slumber and remind us Who is really in charge.

However Chazal teach us that it is not enough to intellectually know Who the Supreme Authority of existence is to achieve complete teshuva.  The additional missing piece of information is that Hashem ‘hides’ His presence from the Jewish people when they forsake His will; a Jew must remember this important point to attain teshuvah shleimah.  

Furthermore, this intellectual understanding and heartfelt emotion must motivate us to examine and change our ways. This is highlighted in the tefillah of Rosh Hashanah called Zichronot of Mussaf. Here we are gifted with the awareness of how our deeds impact the entire world.  Our behavior affects the destiny of the smallest to biggest happenings in the lower and upper worlds.