Category Archives: Daily Dose Of Emuna

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From the well-known incident which occurred between Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa ztk’l and his daughter, we can develop many teachings.

It was erev Shabbat just before candle lighting, and the daughter of R’ Chanina was saddened since she had poured vinegar instead of oil into the candle holders. When she realized that oil was not available, her father replied, “My daughter, The One who gave permission for the oil to light can tell the vinegar to light” and so it was. R’ Chanina did not pray to Hashem that it shall be so. He simply made a statement of emuna peshuta (simple words of emuna), and as a result of his emuna, the vinegar served as a lighting source for the Shabbat candles.

For R’ Chanina, there was no miracle in that a candle can be lit with vinegar since using oil was just as miraculous in his eyes. This message is strengthened by the words quoted in Masechet Makot, “In the way that man wishes to go, they guide him.” The forces in life are meant to test us. Hashem allows for these conflicting powers to persist in order to provide us with free will. Nonetheless, we must remember that they are all tests of faith to challenge us to see Hashem, not nature or cause-and-effect.

A question which may arise from the case of R’ Chanina could be why didn’t Hashem bring about a smaller miracle by providing him with oil to light the candles as opposed to a grander miracle of enabling the vinegar to be lite? The answer – for R’ Chanina the usage of oil or any other substance is a revealed miracle. The term nature simply did not exist in his mind. Therefore, Hashem ‘responded’ to him measure for measure in a miraculous way.

From here, we learn that if we work towards experiencing Hashem in every aspect of our lives, we will surely merit finding Him, whether in ‘natural’ circumstances or ‘supernatural’ events.

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“All of Your commandments are emuna” (Tehillim 119:86). The Zohar HaKadosh teaches that the 613 mitzvot are fundamentally 613 pieces of advice on how to strengthen the bond with HaKadosh Baruch Hu. Each time we do a mitzvah in effect we shrink the gap between Klal Yisrael and Hashem. In order to supercharge our mitzvot we must incorporate our hearts as well as our minds into every mitzvah.

Body and soul are enjoined in this world for the purpose of revealing Hashem’s presence. The body is inclined to physicality; it sees the outer casing. The soul penetrates the surface and digs to uncover purpose. The body needs the soul as much as the soul needs the body to fulfill its mission on earth. The mind needs the heart as much as the heart needs the mind to capture the power rooted in each mitzvah. We experience the powerful benefits of each mitzvah when we pair what we know to what we feel.

During this time many of us want to help our soldiers, the Jewish communities situated in the South of Israel or anyone in harm’s way. What can we do from the four corners of our home that will supercharge the merits of Ahm Yisrael? Pump emuna into our mitzvot. Here’s one way how:

Next time we begin doing a mitzvah let’s envision that we are creating a perfect angel. As we complete the mitzvah let’s picture shipping this angel immediately to a soldier in Gaza to shield and protect him.

Send the angel to move a rocket to hit an open field or into the sea. Maybe send that angel to a friend or family member who is experiencing hardship; pack him up with extra love and hugs. What about sending him to a person that we may be on bad terms with?

Imagine the power Hashem has given us when He appointed us to be co-partners with Him to bring G-dliness into this world. Let’s take advantage of it.

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Chanukah is the festival of emuna, the light that glimmers in midair and has the power to dispel darkness in an instant. The glow of light is a flicker of hope and testimony that Hashem can do anything.

Everything that occurs in life is sunlight enveloped in blackness. All is hidden and concealed before the human eye so that we may choose our path without readily seeing which way it leads. Our soul knows and drives us to choose spirituality, yet our body sways us to material avenues. The constant battle between cloudiness and clarity is the journey of a lifetime.

Chanukah is a holiday where we physically act to increase light in our homes for all to see. When things look dreary, hopeless and desolate especially as the days are shorter and physically there is less light shining in the world, we declare, “There is no despair in this world at all!” HaKadosh Baruch Hu instructed us to engage in the deed of lighting the menorah so that we can personally participate in the creation of light.

The emuna that the Maccabim portrayed by fighting against the Greeks, against all odds for a chance to win, brought about their yeshua. They trusted in Hashem’s intervention and saw themselves as a child of Hashem in dire need of His help. That was the key to their salvation. “Hashem, we are Your children, please help us”; that brings victory! It was not natural to survive. Now it is our calling to display that same emuna as the Maccabim.

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Our war for light is a fight for the truth to be revealed. When we live in darkness we are cut off from reality – we do not benefit from HaKadosh Baruch Hu’s presence or take pleasure in our relationship with Him. We are left empty and alone – separate.

However, within this darkness we can find ourselves; it is a road to self-discovery to make positive changes in our lives. The Ba’al Shem Tov HaKadosh teaches that the greatest difficulty we endure is when we live in darkness and don’t realize that it is dark. We reside a blackness and sense it being brightness.

The galut becomes comfortable and we adjust to our surroundings not feeling that anything is wrong or out of place. How can we find our way through that? A fundamental rule in psychology is that you cannot help someone if they refuse to be helped. How can we work towards the geula if we don’t sense discomfort in the galut?

This is the delusional power of the yetzer hara. Rebbi Nachman ztk’l brings down that during our generation the yetzer hara will be renamed – the power of delusion! We are lacking our natural habitat and yet accept it. Therefore it is here where we need to fight.

Tonight, when we light the menorah we must turn to Hashem and ‘demand’ the geula. We should tell Hashem that we refuse to live in darkness and need light – Borei Olam’s light, the light of truthful reality. Chazal teach us that this is the tefilla that Hashem ‘craves’ and ‘yearns’ for. A demand for Him to reveal Himself and for His name to be universally recognized and glorified.

A fight on the emuna battleground is what it should be called. Our constant conflict between body and soul, clarity and confusion, emuna and doubts must be done with once and for all.

Tonight, request light; peaceful light in your homes, intimate light in your relationship with Hashem, loving light in Klal Yisrael, joyful light in every home, healing light for the sick, zivug light for singles, baby light for childless parents, blessed light for our parnassa, and the light of teshuva to the wandering souls in B’nai Yisrael. This is one war we all need to fight together … and cannot afford to loose!

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Attaching rich meaning and purpose to life’s challenges equips us with the vital gear to combat them. A person would be happy to dig a hole no matter how difficult the task appears, knowing that he will be planting a garden in that pit and soon enjoy a beautiful floral display.

In fact often times it doesn’t matter if we personally benefit from the hardship rather than someone else; as long as it is of value. Willingness to work out at the gym is likely to be stronger if we hold onto the foresight and long term goals associated with healthy exercise.

It is basic human instinct to resist difficult occurrences. Nonetheless it is of great significance as it adds to character growth. The level of greatness that one can attain through challenging times is possible particularly because he is lifting himself up while feeling weighed down.

Could it be that we have been chosen to show our strength by example to others while we experience difficulties? Maybe the troubles are meant to elevate us personally in ways that were previously hidden?

Yet, the possibility always stands that we may not comprehend the reason why and not be able to answer the ancient question, “Why me” or “Why them” or “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Yet we have a better chance of accepting even that which we cannot grasp with our limited mind by learning Emuna. Knowing that Hashem eternally loves us and is guiding us through life moment by moment, day by day ties purpose into challenge.

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Music is merely a type of revelation of the soul and its feelings. The soul manifests itself in the words that a person utters his joyful and/or painful thoughts and feelings. Our holy texts teach us that when a person’s suffering overwhelms him c’v, he can no longer speak, but can only cry out and moan without words. In the same way, a tune, which is comprised of sounds of joy or bitterness, arouses a person’s feelings, and within these feelings the soul surfaces and begins to express itself.

Our task in life should be to dedicate ourselves to Hashem. Thus, in order to connect our soul to Hashem’s holiness, we should accustom ourselves to spiritual singing and music. Just by merely closing our eyes, swaying back and forth and envisioning ourselves standing in Hashem’s presence can mend a broken heart. At first we sing in order to arouse our soul from its slumber. However, little by little we will feel that our soul has already begun to sing on its own.

Our soul ascends and descends along the passage of life. The tune comes together, and lifts up our soul and brings it closer to Hashem. This does not necessarily occur only with a brokenhearted tune. It can also take place with a joyful tune. Anytime, anyplace – whenever you feel that the time is right, you can sing; and you do not have to raise your voice, for a person can sing in a hush, and his voice is heard in the heights.

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The laws of the red heifer are incomprehensible to the human mind. We cannot understand everything in life. We are probed with questions, confusion, uncertainties – the Parah Adumah is a reminder of how limited our minds are.

What advice does the Torah offer in such cases where even Shlomo HaMelech ztk’l , the wisest of all men, could not grasp this Torah teaching? Emuna Temima (simple unadulterated loyalty and faithfulness to the Torah’s infinite wisdom, no matter how incomprehensible they may be!). There are endless events and ideas in this world that we will not be able to grasp. The only notion we need to remain faithful to is that Hashem is running the universe perfectly; without any glitches!

Oh, how much we plan; dotting our ‘I’s’ and crossing our ‘T’s’, going through the logical process. Nonetheless, the Ultimate Designer and Master Planner knows better. The list of questions; why’s and what’s just seems to get longer with no ‘Heavenly loudspeaker’ announcing any resolution for them.

To those who wish to live a life of emuna- they hear the answers. To name a few of the possible responses: ‘It is not the right time’, ‘Be patient’, ‘The delay is necessary’ and even ‘No, I can’t give that to you’ – to name a few.

In life there are delays and denials necessary to perfectly carve our eternal future life. Accepting reality at times for what it is is the top code of living a healthy balanced life. As the Kli Yakar ztk’l teaches in his commentary on Shmot (25:10), “The purpose of knowledge is to know that we don’t know.”

We do not know and do not understand. This is the greatest acceptance of them all!

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Tzaddik B’Emunato Yichyeh – A righteous man lives by his Emuna. Mankind wishes to strive upward and spiritually elevate him/herself always. The Navi Chavakuk ztk’l explains in three words how to attain it; righteousness comes through living with Emuna. Emuna should be interwoven into our thoughts, speech and deeds under every and all circumstances. Emuna needs to be sewn into the fabric of life. The following real life scenarios will help bring clarity on how to apply emuna into ‘rountine’ incidents that many of us have experienced.

It is a hot day. We make the effort and travel to a public office to straighten out some errands. The line is long, people are impatient, we giggle in our place awaiting our turn to come. It finally arrives. We approach the clerk and are told that we are missing an important document and without it we cannot complete the process. How much Emuna is needed right then and there to accept this circumstance with love?

You are in a rush and must leave Now! Oy, where are those keys? I know I put them here…. What agony… Who is to blame? Me, someone else?

In Mishlei (19:21) Shlomo HaMelech ztk’l teaches, “Many thoughts are in man’s heart, but the counsel of Hashem – only it will prevail.” What is the difference between a machshava (thought) and eitza (counsel)? Thoughts are simply that – thoughts of a final objective. Yet counsel is the outcome itself. The most carefully laid-out plans will not come to fruition if not in accordance to Hashem’s will. As my Safta a’h used to say: “You can stand on your eyelashes…” it simply won’t be if Hashem doesn’t will for it to be.

Remember that next time you are in line or misplace your keys…

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Today’s Daily Dose of Emuna is sponsored L’iluy nishmat Tzvia bat Mordechai a”h. May her soul bask in the Shechinah HaKedosha among all the righteous who have departed from this world, Amen.

The Chofetz Chaim ztk’l teaches a parable that clarifies the understanding of the importance of constant review and repetition of emuna learning.

It is likened to a man who draws water from a well on a freezing 20 degrees below zero winter day. He stores the bucket of water outside until he wishes to use it. However to his amazement after a few hours he finds the water frozen solid. The amount of work now required by him to enjoy some of the water is tremendous; he will have to chisel his way to enjoy but a few drops.

However if he was wise he would have made sure to check on the water every so often. As a thin layer of ice would begin to form on top he would have simply had to give it a quick stir in order for it to break apart and prevent the formation of a solid block of ice.

We take an insightful teaching from this analogy as this resembles our avodah when it comes to learning emuna. Emuna requires constant review, evaluation and integration in our lives or else it will freeze and become difficult to access. The world outside is cold and numbs our emuna senses.

Therefore we must constant dip ourselves into the warm and loving study of emuna to keep our souls well nourished with the ‘water’ it so desperately needs to drink!