Category Archives: Daily Dose Of Emuna

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Emuna is an innate gift given to every Jew.  The emuna seeds were ‘planted’ during the entire experience of Yetziat Mitzrayim; with every plague another seedling was lovingly planted in our hearts by Hashem, a testimony of His love for us.  We read in the Pesach Hagaddah, “Ani v’lo saraf (It was I {Hashem} and not an angel)” who redeemed you from Mitzrayim; so that we remember that we were and still are personally taken care of by Hashem Himself.

Genuine emuna is a settled intellectual conviction that what Hashem has promised will indeed come to pass.  Borei Olam’s promises of our future are as certain and reliable as though they were being told to us personally right now.  We should be keenly aware of Hashem’s love for us at every given moment.  The word bitachon (trust) is derived from the word betach (secure).  In other words it describes a state of safety, security and certainty, not just intellectually but emotionally.

“Ki karov eilecha hadavar me’od b’ficha u’vilvavecha la’asotoh (For the matter is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to do it)” (Devraim 30:11).  Although this particularly refers to our ability to do teshuva, it is a well known teaching that after doing a spiritual accounting we are gifted with incredible closeness to Borei Olam.  The ability to bond to Hashem is very near to us, we need not travel far to access it, as it is warmly planted in our hearts.

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The Torah states that Moshe Rabbeinu bitterly complained to HaKadosh Baruch Hu, “… 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.  The newborn needs to be nurtured 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 incident above 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.  This imparts a serious problem – here Ahm Yisrael pursued their material lusts severed from spiritual intent.  A person can never completely gratify his bodily desires as taught in Kohelet, “A man does not die having fulfilled half of his lusts.”  One lust leads to another to no end.

A great emuna lesson is taught here – emuna cannot be ingrained unless we trim our material pursuits.  The drive for constant material gain is persistently met with dissatisfaction and complaints; a fortress and barrier that prevents emuna from growing.

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Pain and suffering can affect our emuna either as a cover when removed reveals that which is underneath or as an earthquake shakes the earth; either it will reveal our inner light which lay dormant or shatter us to pieces.  Let us explore the idea on how challenges can bring our latent potential to surface into actuality.

Hardships are likened to ‘wake up’ calls.  Depending on how sound asleep we are, the ‘alarm’ will sound softly or loudly.  The Heavenly goal is to get our attention to shift gears and strengthen our awareness of 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!

BS’D

Emuna originates from the heavenly sphere where the upper lights and creative forces originate.  Our soul stems from this lofty place and once experienced this immense G-dly light directly.  The desire to connect back to this light is the soul’s only desire and mission; the purpose of her existence.

The neshama ‘remembers’ the delight she once experienced.  It is deeply engraved in her.  Unconsciously, we (our bodies) seek pleasure yet we do not understand that this sensation comes from the soul’s desire to bond with that place where all goodness derives from Hashem Yitborach.

Emuna is the bridge that connects the upper and lower worlds.  To have emuna means to connect our worldly experiences and define their relevance according to Heavenly terms.  Seeing worldly happenings through the eyes of the soul, through emuna eyes, creates an entirely new reality, a new pair of lenses.

Let’s look at the purity of a child – their simplicity and wholeheartedness.  Adults feel as though they are speaking to a soul and not the body of a little person.  They are real and not blocked by impurities – until they get older and the outer world has impacted their way of thinking.   A child is simple and sincere.  They know how to say “I don’t know” when they don’t.  Children aren’t intimidated by society and the opinion of others.  They are guided by their internal compass called the soul.

We should learn from the ways of children.  Their sincerity and care when you talk to them, their ability to be in touch with their feelings and their innocent non-judgmental outlook can serve as emuna 101 classes for every one of us.

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Chazal explain the following Rambam, Hilchot Teshuva (8:2) – “The righteous sit with crowns on their heads and enjoy the radiance of the Divine Presence.” The emuna (acknowledging Hashem’s intimate involvement in our lives) we attain in this world together with our heartfelt attachment to His presence is likened to spiritual cleansing and illumination achieved in the higher worlds. It is immeasurable and incalculable to ration the spiritual delight our soul experiences every moment we awaken and fortify our emuna.

It is of great importance during our sojourn in this world to constantly recognize our utter reliance on Hashem; our existence is being maintained by Hashem every breathing moment due to His will.  As written in the book of the Kuzari we are continually being sustained by Hashem and if He were to remove His supervision for even one moment everything would cease to exist.

The Nefesh Chaim further explains how important it is to appreciate Hashem’s endless kindness and accept the decrees with a full heart of emuna. Hashems ‘eyes’ can see where we can no longer see; a place of truth and revealed goodness.