Category Archives: Daily Dose Of Emuna

BS’D

How do we increase the potency of the blessings we give to others? It is more than muttering words, it is about reaching deep within and mustering up all the care and compassion that dwells inside and sharing it with another. It is a prayer. We pray that the other sees and experiences only good.

Blessing someone is an act of genuine chesed since we are ‘sharing’ our kindness with another.  In addition, we heighten our level of sensitivity to them and thus are able to practice the mitzvah of ‘ve’ahavta l’rei’acha kamocha (loving thy neighbor as we love ourselves)’ in a more heartfelt way.

In order to uplift the blessings that we give let us take a closer look into the Hebrew word for blessing, bracha. Bracha shares the same root letters as the Hebrew word for pool, breicha.  This implies that when we give a blessing we essentially draw from this reservoir of Divine abundance and act as a channel for it to spill forth onto others. Essentially we become the pipeline through which Hashem showers His goodness onto others in this world.

Next time you want to shower Hashem’s love and light remember to bless them with good thoughts and words; you serve as a ray of G-dliness onto others. We carry a spark of holiness that can literally change another person’s life simply by digging deep and accessing that light.

Keep that in mind. Bring down the blessings for others.  We all need them!

BS’D

Every day we recite in our tefillot: “Blessed are You Hashem who chose His nation Israel with love…” and “You love us with an eternal love…” Hashem loves us unconditionally.

The Torah also commands us: “And you shall love Hashem your G-d.” When the Torah makes a commandment pertaining to our actions, we can do our utmost to fulfill them, but how can the Torah command us about our emotions? Love cannot be forced.

The Chassidic masters explain that an immense love of Hashem is embedded in every Jewish heart; we must simply open this channel of love. The mitzvah to love Hashem obligates us to cleanse our hearts and reveal what is hidden under many layers of ego, negativity, and transgressions. We are not forced to love Hashem; but uncover the love that already exists.

Every Jewish heart holds a G-dly spark; a luminous glow of holiness. The yetzer hara tries to destroy it but cannot. He therefore tries a different tactic – to cover it until no one sees or feels their bond to G-dliness buried underneath.

This is the meaning of the verse: “And it will be because you will listen… and I will love you.” The verse is telling us that we will feel Hashem’s love! Although His love for us is always present, it is not always felt. If we will keep the Torah, thereby removing the cover off our hearts, we will actually feel Hashem’s deep love for each and every person.

BS’D

There is a big obstacle that stands in our way of experiencing Hashems great love for us. Through Rashi’s commentary on Parshat Devarim over the incident of the Jewish people claiming Hashems hate for them, we learn an important insight into human behavior.

Human nature is such – what we feel towards another we assume the other feels towards us.  The Jewish people could not feel Hashem’s love in the desert since they were overtaken by their disappointment in Hashem; they felt their needs were not taken care of. An emotion dependent on circumstance is not genuine and will not last. They felt let down and therefore assumed Hashem didn’t care for them.

Our love towards Hashem and to others for that matter should be based on trust and acceptance under all circumstances. Although it may appear there is no logical reason for the sorrow we go through and more so no justification to endure hardship, emuna is most needed at that given moment of doubt. We should remind ourselves and trust that Hashem only has our best interests in mind.

When feeling bitter as though life is unjust, we assume Hashem doesn’t love us; yet that is only what we are feeling towards Him. If we changed the pattern of thought and remembered the countless times Hashem has proven his profound love of us and the Jewish People that would suffice to remove the boulder that stands in between us.