Category Archives: Daily Dose Of Emuna

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Segulot for Shabbat Zachor and Purim

March 13, 2014
Orit Esther Riter
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purim

If anyone has ma’aser money and wishes to give any form of charity to families genuinely in need, please contact me and I will make sure it goes to them on Purim here in Israel.  Tizku’ l’mitzvot!

Shabbat Zachor brings with it a special light of kedusha.  For those who can make the effort and go to shul to listen to Parshat Zachor pay attention to each word and follow the reading with your finger.  After the reading ask Hashem to erase the amalek within us. Who is the amalek within?  The doubts, confusion, worries, fear and anything negative that holds us back from living a life of emuna and closeness to Hashem.  After the reading it is also a special time to ask for zera bar kayama, to have children.  Lastly, hearing this parsha also serves to strengthen our memory and clarity of mind.

Before the chazzan begins to read the megillah while he reads the brachot ask Hashem that you become a powerful  vessel to receive the holy lights of Mordechai and Esther that come down at this moment.  These lights stay with us until next Purim.

During the reading of the megillah the same holy lights begin to envelop us as if we were living through the episodes once again. Relate to the megillah as if you are praying to Hashem right now for difficulties you are going through in your present life.  Reach into the context of the megillah and link it to your own personal life, i.e. hanging of Haman can be looked upon as if you are hanging your sorrows, never to see them again B’H.  At the end of the megillah reading ask for your soul mate or shalom bayit, marital peace.

After the reading, cover your table with a festive cloth (suitable for Shabbat or Yom Tovim) and once again light two yahrtzeit candles and place them on your table: one in memory of Mordechai HaYehudi Hatzaddik and one for Esther HaMalka bat Avichayil.  The candles brings their holy light into our homes.

Erev Purim, is a most special time particularly at chatzot halayla, midnight, which falls in most places at 11:40 pm(ish). All seven gates in Shamayim are open.  Just as Esther stood before Hashem at this hour, so should we.  The yetzer hara will try to play this one down, distract, make you tired and aggravate you in order to stop you from taking advantage of this once a year unbelievable time to pray.  Don’t fall for it.  Mordechai stood with 22,000 children on this night and prayed to Hashem to annul the harsh decree against the Jewish people and was able to overturn it.  Can you imagine the power embedded in this night?  Don’t miss out.  No matter what, stand there at midnight, beseech, pray and beg Hashem like you have never done before… Hashem is handing out free gifts yes free…. just ask!!!  Ask Hashem to annul all harsh decrees, c’v, against us and/or our beloved nation. Request that Hashem gift you with the same mesirut nefesh (self-sacrifice) that Esther HaMalka displayed and brought about the cancellation of the judgments against us.

The Purim seuda meal is to atone for enjoying ourselves at the table of Achashveirosh. It is recommended to prepare a festive table with many delectable food items and to eat from a long challah to remind us of the tall gallow from which Haman was hung.  During the seuda say 120 times: Baruch Mordechai and 24 times: Brucha Esther bat Avichayil, this further brings down their holy lights to our meal.  In addition, use this time to request anything on your mind, it is a time of great rachamei Shamayim.  Some thoughts on what to pray for:  geula, something that ‘appears’ impossible according to natural law, yeshuot, to complete that which we are lacking, etc..

Do not get angry (anytime!) on Purim, be joyful.  There should be calm, peace and happiness all day long.  Put some kind of nut mixture onto your table during the meal since Esther HaMalka dined on nuts whenever she entered the chambers of Achashverosh.

B’H we will come out from Purim feeling more true with ourselves, more comfortable with who we are and have a stronger draw towards being continually joyful.  May this be a time of joy for us personally and collectively as a nation, a time to annul any harsh decrees c’v and may we merit the ultimate joy – the redemption of the Shechinah and of the Jewish people b’karov, b’rachamim, amen!

 

 

Ta’anit Esther segulot and insights

March 12, 2014
Orit Esther Riter
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Purim is packed with tons of emuna, fun, happiness and spiritual transformation.  The yetzer hara does not want us to reap the benefits from this once a year gift imparted from Hashem on Purim.  “Mah lach Esther HaMalka u’mah bakashatech ad chatzi hamalchut v’yeetehn lach (What is your wish Esther HaMalka, your wish is My command)”.  On Ta’anit Esther and Purim itself we are entitled to free gifts from Hashem in particular.  Here is some of the ways to ensure we don’t miss out on them, B’H.

On Ta’anit Esther get up before dawn do negel vasser, put money in your tzedakah box and light two yahrtzeit candles one for Mordechai HaTzaddik and one for Esther HaMalka bat Avichayil.  This is an amazing sha’at ratzon (auspicious time) for our tefillot to be answered.  We awaken before dawn since this coincides with the ayelet hashachar (morning star) which is likened to Esther HaMalka.

Recite perek כב’/22 in tehillim 7 times.  After reciting the entire perek each time stop and ask for one wish, for a total of seven requests.  Women should try to fast as much as possible since this fast atones for forbidden foods that were eaten throughout the year such as food eaten without the proper bracha intention, not strictly kosher, not eaten in a holy manner, etc.

Daven for our Rabbi’s, Rebbetzin’s and holy leaders on the Ta’anit that Hashem bestow upon them strength, health and wisdom to guide us correctly.  We pray to be drawn to truly genuine leaders who follow Hashem’s ways in emuna and truth and to remain faithful to their words and teachings.  The leaders take upon themselves the sorrows and harsh decrees of our beloved nation.  Therefore we pray that they have the strength to carry Ahm Yisrael’s trials and tribulations on their shoulders.

Make a commitment to Hashem on the Ta’anit that B’H if you merit a miracle/miracle in your life that you are in need of that you will publicize and broadcast Hashem’s greatness to as many people as possible and spread Kiddush Hashem just as Esther HaMalka did!!

 

Spring back into joy

March 11, 2014
Orit Esther Riter

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When we experience sadness the underlying tone is that we feel we can run the world better than Borei Olam, c’v.  This occurs as a  result of the ego taking charge; this mindset is driven by arrogance.  Arrogance brings a person to the point where they do not accept their reality if it doesn’t agree to their terms.  The only antidote is emuna shleimah; trusting that only Hashem knows what is best.

It is vital to take a few steps back, catch ourselves in that moment and shift our way of thinking in order to save us from sinking into anguish.  When things do not run as we wish, there is a deep reason and purpose for it; one that serves our soul with the necessary nourishment it needs for its rectification.

The key element to solving our sadness is to inject into our hearts that Hashem loves us and is guiding all events for our ultimate best.  We should not become heartbroken even when strong feelings of discomfort and distress arise.  Our judgment is partial, limited and constricted.  It is based solely on what we see and feel; yet that does not tell the whole picture.

If it were possible to glimpse into the world of HaKadosh Baruch Hu we would be overwhelmed with the eternal compassion, kindness and love that He showers upon us at every given moment.  Continuously acknowledging this will sensitize our hearts and serve as a springboard from sadness to lasting joy.

Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated to the refuah shleimah of Tamar Miriam bat Sura Bina.  She is a 14 year old girl who has been in the hospital for 3 weeks with pancreatitis.  May Hashem send her a complete healing amongst all of Klal Yisrael who are sick and suffering b’karov, b’rachamim, Amen!

Gladden your heart

March 10, 2014
Orit Esther Riter

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There is a big cloud called sadness that envelops our hearts and disables us from enjoying the experience called life.  Hashem created the medicine to dissolve this heartbreak and console the anguished heart – pursue a life of meaning; of Torah and you will be happy.

“Pekudei Hashem Yisharim m’samchei lev (The edicts of Hashem are just, and gladden the heart )” (Tehillim 19:9).  The messages of Torah study are healing and restore one’s health with it’s Divine light.  Hashem’s ‘ways’ are straight and when we make the effort to learn them we remove from our midst all confusion and doubt, thus leaving us with a sense of tranquility and security.  Knowing what is expected of us and following the clear cut path presented in the Torah brings us joy.

By trusting that Hashem’s pathways are the best route to travel on and following His map we are freed from worry, stress and cloudiness of thought.  When our hearts are emptied of these negative weathering emotions it gets flooded with happiness, love of oneself and others.  A happy heart sees life differently, processes challenges in another light and views life as worth living and investing in.

Sefer HaMiddot teaches that sadness r”l brings upon a person suffering since it displays ‘complaining’ over one’s lot in life.  Discontentment over life’s events invites the Beit Din shel Ma’alah (the Heavenly court) to ‘open up’ a grievance case on our behalf to investigate if in fact we were short-changed in life.  Hashem is all merciful and is always in the ‘green’, therefore unfortunately the court will discover that we were in fact treated fairly and in fact should have been judged more sternly if not for Hashem’s endless compassion.

On the other hand, happiness sends the message that we are grateful and appreciative thus ‘encouraging’ Hashem to happily send more our way, B’H!

Today’s Daily Dose of Emuna is dedicated to the refuah shleimah of Natali bat Chaya Leah, a nine year old girl who is awaiting oncology test results. Please Hashem may they see only revealed good and may there be no more suffering in Klal Yisrael, amen.

 

Heavenly garb

March 5, 2014
Orit Esther Riter

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The Ba’al Shem Tov HaKadosh teaches that prayer celebrates our special relationship with Borei Olam.  We should strive to use this time to express to Hashem how grateful we are for the little and big things in life.

Words are garments for thoughts.  As we utter words of praise and thankfulness for the gifts in life we should envision ‘clothing’ Hashem with royal garb, so to speak, and others for that matter.  We choose the type of material, thread and design in accordance to the level of simcha and joy that we put into the words.  Imagine what amazing Heavenly clothes we can design by simply speaking and expressing ourselves joyfully.

The letters of the words in lashon Hakodesh, the holy tongue form an spiritual aura that light up our world and the Heavens above.  Joy infuses the words with such delight that we are able to bond to the Oneness of Borei Olam and create spiritual mountains.  The kavannah, intention should be to see our soul in the words we speak, thus attaching to the Shechinah Hakedosha.  As a result the Shechina, feminine manifestation of Hashem, will talk back to us through our words, forming a soul-union.

Why is simcha so vital in tefillah, thought and action?  Joy breaks the confines of this world and allows us to attach ourselves to the ‘intention’ of Hashem’s doing, as it were.  It breaks through the veils of concealment and allows us to connect everything back to it original source in Shamayim.  Thus the beauty of all happenings sprouts forth and we are enveloped with Hashem’s love, light and emuna.

Today’s Daily Dose of Emuna is dedicated to the refuah shleimah of Masha Miriam bat Devorah.  May Hashem send her a complete healing refuat hanefesh v’refuat haguf amongst all of Klal Yisrael who are sick and suffering b’karov, b’rachamim, Amen!

 

 

 

Happiness is purpose

March 4, 2014
Orit Esther Riter

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BS’D

In continuation from yesterday’s emuna lesson on happiness, we learned that in order to sweeten judgments at their source we must in effect reveal Hashem’s light to the greatest extent possible.  At those moments when we rejoice here in this world, being that this world is a direct reflection of Shamayim, we infuse happiness in the worlds above.

One of the focal points in life is to internalize that we are in no small manner affecting supernal happenings through our actions.  Being happy is inherently in line with living life with purpose.  By contrast, when we go through life aimlessly with no direction and goal in mind, this leads to insecurity, confusion and a decrease in the value of life.

Therefore, we must remind ourselves that every thought, word and action has endless value and serves great importance in the ‘greater master plan’ of Hashem.  Expressing sincere joy within and without redeems the hidden holy sparks and hastens the geula, without any exaggeration.  Through joy, we celebrate our tafkid (mission) for which we have been chosen to fulfill in creation.  Each and every one of us makes a real difference!

Happiness is a very exalted level to strive for and therefore the yetzer hara will do anything it can to sabotage its pathway.  It is the sadness that comes as a result of the sin that the yetzer hara wishes us to wallow in.  When a person is miserable with themselves, they tend to give up serving Hashem, c’v. If we get to know our yetzer hara and become aware of its tactics, we will B’H guard ourselves from sadness.

Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated to the refuah shleimah of Zahava bat Juliet who is fighting a tough battle with cancer.  May Hashem give her the strength to overcome this Machala and gift her with a complete healing amongst all of Klal Yisrael who are sick and suffering b’karov, b’rachamim, Amen!

 

See beauty in the ugliness

March 3, 2014
Orit Esther Riter

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Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated to the quick and complete recovery and healing of Faiga Zissel bat Zlota Tzipporah, a four year old who drowned in a bathtub on Thursday evening in Yerushalayim.  Her condition is extremely serious.  In the zechut of Chodesh Adar, in the zechut of all of the outpouring of tehillim and shmirat halashon that people from all around the world have taken upon themselves, may Faiga Zissel bat Zlota Tzipporah merit a refuah shleimah, refuat hanefesh v’refuat haguf amongst all of Klal Yisrael who are sick and suffering b’karov, b’rachamim, amen.

The Ba’al Shem Tov HaKadosh illuminates on the importance of living b’simcha and teaches that happiness is at the central core of every Jew’s life.  This teaching was not bounded only to those times where we engage in mitzvot and charitable deeds. It extends to every thought, deed and word that flows from any Jewish person at any time.  Being that Hashem is everywhere, k’vodo ma’aleh olam, we must find happiness everywhere and at all times.

Through simple contemplation of the enormous irreplaceable task given to the Jewish nation which is to co-create and rectify the world, we are lead to the main reason why we should live joyfully.    According to the AriZal life awards us with an immeasurable gift of returning the lost holy sparks back to their source on high, thus bringing harmony and realigning creation, as it were.

Difficulties, hardships and challenges in life simply speaking are times when Hashem’s light in constricted.  This light, an analogy of revealed good, is trapped within husks, klipot which awaits to be redeemed and returned back to its source (a deep complex Kabbalistic teaching on how creation began and unfolds by redeeming the holy sparks embedded in husks in creation).  Essentially it is just like redeeming a prisoner from its captives and returning him back home.  How is this done? Simply put: by seeing beauty in the ugliness of the world, by focusing on Hashem’s ‘good intentions’ behind all circumstances.

Reconnected to its source, more of Hashem’s light is revealed and Divine mercy shines more brightly bringing with it a sweetening of judgments. So much more to be learned… in tomorrow’s lesson.

Shabbat brings 100% clarity

February 27, 2014
Orit Esther Riter

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Perek 82 of tehillim is appropriately named the Shabbat perek, “Mizmor Shir l’yom HaShabbat…” since this is how it begins.  However, the entire perek speaks nothing of Shabbat; only how Hashem interacts with the world.   So what is the connection to Shabbat?

All week long we are involved in the ‘project of life’ – securing our livelihood and interacting with the world at large.  The Sfat Emet ztk’l brings down that in order to genuinely feel tranquil on Shabbat we must internalize the feeling that our weeklong activities are complete. They are not on hold until Motzei Shabbat; but complete. This explains how Shabbat is a foretaste of the World to Come being that is when our mission in this world has been completed and the events of our life become crystal clear in every sense.

On Shabbat we are privileged to dip into this realm of clarity. While our minds are calm and B’H detached from this world, things make better sense; we can see full-circle.  This precious day called Shabbat awards us with the ability to attain a level of emuna whereby we can visibly see Hashem’s justice in the world.

As we learn by the conclusion to this perek, “To declare that Hashem is upright, my rock in Whom there is no injustice.”  If we correctly prepare ourselves for Shabbat and let go of all ‘unfinished’ business, our minds will settle and be able to comprehend a glimpse (1/60th) of Hashem’s justice.  We can then attempt to see some of the full circle and attain a level in which we see Hashem’s hand in guiding the world in the most just and fair way.

We may not understand, but we must have emuna shleimah, complete and genuine faith that Hashem is 100% just.

Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated to the refuah shleimah of Dan ben Yael.  He faces possible surgery of his face and throat after his cancer returned to his face and jaw area r”l.  May HaKadosh Baruch Hu shower him with a complete healing amongst all of Klal Yisrael who are sick and suffering bkarov, b’rachamim, Amen.

Which state of sleep are we in?

February 26, 2014
Orit Esther Riter
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Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated to the refuah shleimah of Adriel Aharon ben Miriam a young boy going through knee surgery today. His recovery is estimated to be nine months long.  May Hashem shower Adriel Aharon ben Miriam a complete healing amongst all of those sick and suffering in Klal Yisrael b’karov, b’rachamim, Amen!

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!

Connecting through tefillah

February 25, 2014
Orit Esther Riter

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The Ba’al Shem Tov HaKadosh ztk’l teaches that if only we were able to attach our souls to the words that we utter during tefillah, we would be enveloped with a great light of holiness that shines from one universe to the next.  However we are distracted by extraneous thoughts.

Each time a thought invades our minds during tefillah we should attempt to connect to Hashem through it.  For instance, a fearful thought should be elevated back to its source, Hashem, by relating it to yirat Shamayim, fear of heaven. When a thought connected to a teiva, desire comes to mind bind it to the love of Hashem.  Essentially this is the process of releasing sparks of holiness from their husks, outer shells of impurity.  It is likened to redeeming a prisoner from their captives.

Oy, if we only knew the power of our tefillah, the privilege to stand before the King of Kings and speak to Him.  Hashem ‘listens’ to every thought, emotion and word; everything is taken into account.  Tefillah is a priceless gift therefore we should use it to request that Hashem always keep the gates open so we may pour our hearts out to Him at any time. The intimate connection we build by speaking to Hashem breaks down all barriers.  It is the result of emotional words spoken from a burning heart who craves a relationship with Borei Olam.

Focusing on the words of our tefillah enables us to forget ourselves (our bodies) and bond to the Shechinah through our soul.  At that moment in time we are completely alone with Hashem with no disturbances; a genuine soul-union with our Creator. 

Today’s Daily Dose of Emuna is dedicated L’iluy nishmat Pearla Pnina bat Shimon.  May her neshama bask in the Divine radiance together with all of the tzaddkim who have departed from this world, Amen.

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