Category Archives: Daily Dose Of Emuna

BS’D

Emuna is an inborn inner energy planted in our souls at Har Sinai on Shavuot. An outpouring of certainty and assurance showers all doubts as we hold strong to our emuna.

Life’s challenges weigh hard on us because we do not have a complete understanding of their meaning. If we were to take the time to ‘search for the diamond (meaning) within the mud’ emuna would surface and shine onto the difficulty and reveal its goodness. Emuna needs to be dug up. How? Trust there is more than meets the eyes and peel away at the surface to find what is hiding underneath the illusion.

When we left Mitzrayim we didn’t quite know where we were heading. The 10 plagues were 10 phenomenal opportunities to feel Hashem’s love. We walked through the sea, saw the Egyptians wash away and reached a remarkable level of emuna through the experience – embraced by Hashem’s protection and guidance.

We sensed firsthand there is only one reality; all is from Hashem and all is good. The recognition that Hashem is always taking care of us and nourishing our every move was planted into our consciousness then and continues to guide us until the final redemption.

BS’D

The soul goes through many struggles while striving to attach to Hashem. As she ascends from level to level in her attempt to complete her mission, she will experience downfalls.  There is no need to despair; this is part of her refinement process.

Principally speaking, these spiritual falls are intended to drive us to come closer to Hashem.  As part of our effort to regain closeness, we begin doing teshuva and go through a process of self-accounting.  Rebbe Nachman ztk’l therefore teaches that descent is for the purpose of an ascent.

This lowly world provides our soul with the perfect environment it needs to battle, overcome and B’H elevate herself.  This world is like a ‘boot camp’ for the soul where we experience countless ups and downs to increase our ratzon (intense desire) to attach ourselves to higher and higher spiritual levels.

Knowing that life sends us periodical ‘wake-up’ calls enables us to prepare and appreciate these challenges; they are intended to keep us focused on life’s purpose.  We need constant reminders in order that our thoughts stay focused and differentiate what’s important from what’s not.

BS’D

At one point in the Torah Moshe Rabbeinu bitterly complains to HaKadosh Baruch Hu and states, “… Did I give birth to them (Ahm Yisrael), that You say to me, ‘Carry them (Ahm Yisrael) in your bosom as the nurse (oman) carries the suckling.  From where have I meat to give to this entire nation?” (Bamidbar 11:12). The root word of oman is the same as for emuna.

Just as the mother’s milk is vital in the growth of her infant, so too does emuna play an exceptionally important role in the life of a Jew. A newborn needs to be nurtured and tended to constantly in order to develop into a healthy individual.  Similarly, the Jewish soul must be supported through thoughts, words and acts of emuna to vitalize the body with strength to live and assist the soul to fulfill its mission.

However in the above described incident Moshe feels he can no longer care for the Jewish people and nurture their emuna.  Why did he meet ‘ends rope’ when he was asked to provide meat for Ahm Yisrael? After all this wasn’t the first time he was pressed with complaints from them.

This instance though was different since it depicted a nation who simply wished for meat to satisfy their physical cravings and not for existential purposes.  Ahm Yisrael pursued their material lusts severed from spiritual intent.  As taught in Kohelet material desires are never fully satiated, “A man does not die having fulfilled half of his lusts.”  One lust leads to another one.

From here we learn that emuna can be cultivated so long as we are not obsessively involved in material pursuits.  The drive for constant material gain is persistently met with dissatisfaction and complaints; a fortress barrier that prevents emuna from growing.

BS’D

Pain and suffering relate to emuna just as an earthquake shakes the earth; what is revealed as a result?  A valuable treasure or shattered destruction?

Hardships are like ‘wake up’ calls.  Depending on how deep we are in sleep the ‘alarm’ will sound soft or loud.  The Heavenly goal is to grab our attention and get us to shift gear; recognize Hashem’s presence in our lives.

Which state of sleep are we in?

1)      Are we dozing off but can still hear our name being called, yet are unable to reply rationally?

2)     Are we so sleepy that we need to be awakened to notice what is going on around us?

3)     Do we need ‘medical’ intervention (incidents in our lives) to awaken us?

4)     Is the state of sleepiness so deep that we are likened to be in a state of anesthesia, whereby all sense of feeling is removed?

As the urgency to get our attention becomes more pressing, we are summoned from above with stronger signs to respond.  The objective – motivate us to reveal our immeasurable potential and shine our light which was previously hidden from ourselves and others.

We have so much to do during our limited time here in this world.  If we are ‘asleep’ we won’t realize how much we could have done.  Therefore next time a challenge ‘caresses’ your life, don’t hit the sleep button. Rise and shine to a better you and light up your world!