Author Archives: Orit Esther Riter

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Today’s 14th of Sivan is the yahrtzeit of the Nefesh HaChaim, R’ Chaim m’Volozhin ztk’l. As a primary disciple of the Vilna HaGaon ztk’l he emphasized the power of Torah study and fulfillment of mitzvot to bring a Jew close to Hashem. The central importance of Torah study reached its heights in the yeshiva, which became a model for all Lithuanian Yeshivot. May his merit serve as a holy advocate for Klal Yisrael, Amen.

Every day I get emails from women around the world addressing the same idea – I have emuna in my mind, but missing it in my heart. Emuna of the mind a.k.a. intellectual emuna is not strong enough to affect our emotions. In order for emuna to touch our emotions, a.k.a. sensory emuna, it is vital to get in touch with our thoughts which give birth to our emotions. What other benefit does uplifting our thoughts have aside from feeling better about our circumstances?

Thoughts affect our destiny. This may sound extreme however Torah teaches that positive thinking, holy speech and good deeds can change our path. Hashem brings forth all events. Yet it is within the power of every Jew who lives a life of emuna, and who truly believes that Hashem can bring about a change in their situation to merit Heavenly compassion and additional assistance.

When we believe with all of our hearts that Hashem loves us and wants only for our good this wipes away the bitter view and enables us to readily see the good. Emuna deepens our vision and elevates our eyes to spiritually see the good. However it doesn’t stop there. On a more palpable level it actually produces change in the situation for the better. Such is the tremendous power of emuna. We will continue to expand on this teaching in the coming days.

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Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated and sponsored for the refuah Sheleimah for Elisheva Malka bat Sarah Miriam. May HaKadosh Baruch Hu shower her with a complete healing b’riut hanefesh v’b’riut haguf among all of Klal Yisrael who are sick and suffering b’karov, b’rachamim, Amen.

If you wish to sponsor a daily dose of emuna please write to OritRiter@gmail.com.

‘Let Go and Let G-d’ has become a famed axiom; however we are creatures of control. Therefore it is a great saying but often hard to implement. We get scared and anxious over what ‘nature’ doesn’t readily show as a logical means of solving our troubles. We automatically assume that if Hashem hasn’t placed reasonable means to solve our issues than it simply won’t happen… and then we panic. What to do?

Relax. Hashem has planned our lives to the ‘T’. Strive to reach the unreachable and talk to Hashem. Cry, plead and beseech His endless rachamim. Wherever Hashem creates a void we are meant to fill with His presence. It’s time to humble ourselves and say, “Hashem I really really need You. I can’t go on without You. If You don’t step into my life I will fall apart!”

When we say, “I can’t take it anymore” it is because we truly can’t. Why? Because we aren’t connecting to Hashem’s presence and therefore it is like trying to breathe when there’s not enough oxygen. We need Hashem’s intimate tangible involvement in our lives – we really really need it!

When we go beyond our natural tendencies and reach beyond our logic by relying only on Hashem, He will ‘so to speak’ do the same. Therefore ‘Let Go and Let G-d’ can only occur when aim high, connect above and invite Hashem in.

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Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated to the refuah shleimah of R’ Shmuel Tzvi ben Rachel Leah who will be undergoing treatment for the next 2 months.  May Hashem ease his pain and shower him with a complete recovery b’karov, b’rachamim, Amen.

How can Emuna vision change our lives? Here are but three benefits among so many:

1) Emuna living offers clarity, truth and happiness since it means being guided by Hashem’s absolute truth.  The amazing part of living a life of emuna is that we don’t need to learn it; it just needs to be revealed and internalized. It was a Shavuos gift given by Hashem to every Jew.

2) Most people strive for change and growth in one area or another.  Surrendering our wisdom to Divine wisdom (aka living with emuna) offers relatively quick results in those areas we wish to change.  This comes as a result of two important factors.  First there is a great flow of Divine blessing upon anyone who strives to do Hashem’s will.  Secondly because it is an inborn gift and we already have it, it is quicker to access and apply; as opposed to having to go a far distance to learn it.

3) The act of connecting to Hashem and seeing Him in every aspect of our lives enables us to stop the cycle of self-persecution which is all too common in our generation.  We put so much pressure on ourselves to achieve certain goals and things. Yet when we come to realize that Hashem runs the world and the outcome is not dependent on us, we are drawn to tranquility and ease of mind.  Accepting does not necessarily mean we logically understand.  It means responding positively to the events and people in our lives.

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Today, 29 of Iyar is the yahrtzeit of Shmuel HaNavi ztk’l. Shmuel was born to Chana, who had been barren for many years and prayed intensely for a child. Shmuel was raised in an atmosphere of great holiness, and became a leading prophet in Israel. Shmuel’s greatest contribution was in anointing the first king of Israel, Saul, and later anointing King David in his stead. (Some sources list Shmuel’s yahrtzeit as Iyar 28) ~ Excerpt from Aish.com. May he serve as an advocate for Klal Yisrael, Amen.

Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated to the refuah shleimah of Mordechai Chaim ben Leah. May Hashem shower him with a complete healing among all of Klal Yisrael who are sick and suffering b’karov, b’rachamim, Amen.

When Yaakov Avinu leaves Beersheba for Haran, he lies down to rest and has a wondrous dream (Bereishis 28:12). He sees a ladder standing firmly on the ground, reaching upward to the heavens. Angels are going up and down, and v’hinei Hashem nitzav alav, “Behold, Hashem is standing above him.”

The Izhbitzer Rebbe ztk’l explained that there are two words that can be used for standing. One is omed, which simply means standing there, and the other is nitzav, which implies being planted in place. A human being is an omed; he always has the choice to stay in one place or move away. A nitzav has no such choice; it is planted in its place, like a stone.

By using the expression of nitzav, Hashem was telling Yaakov a beautiful message. “Dear child, I have no choice but to be with you.” Hashem wanted us to realize that no matter what, no matter where, He would always be planted and bonded with us. Hashem’s connection with us is forever, something that can never be moved nor shifted. We may ascend and descend the ladder to Heaven, sometimes rising and sometimes falling, but Hashem will always be planted above us and within us. No matter where we are, because we are Hashem’s children, He will be with us.

What a powerful message! It gives one a sense of tranquility despite the world’s thunderous storms.