One of the six constant mitzvahs is the mitzvah to love HaShem. It is difficult sometimes to fulfill this mitzvah of loving HaShem because I don't see HaShem, I don't hear HaShem and in many ways it's hard for me to relate to HaShem - this abstract figure. How do I come to loving HaShem? The Rambam writes that the way we come to loving HaShem is by…

This holy day, Lag B'Omer, is another one of the incredible gifts Hashem has shared with us. We know that the festival of Shavuos is the time we celebrate the giving of the Torah. The commentaries explain that Shavuos refers to the time the revealed parts of the Torah were given to us. However, the revelation of the hidden secrets to the Torah took…

We've been discussing one of the most fundamental principles of the Torah – Teshuvah - the opportunity to rectify our mistakes, transgressions, and anything we may have done to distance ourselves from Hashem. Without Teshuvah, life can be very scary because there are many instructions Hashem has given us and due to our human limitations, we are bou…

We discussed the most incredible message that we learn from the day of Pesach Sheni, where people who missed out on the official opportunity to perform the mitzvah of Korban Pesach nevertheless did not give up trying find another way to make up that lost opportunity. And because of their desire to do so, an entire new holy day called Pesach Sheni w…

Another one of the incredible gifts Hashem has given us is Pesach Sheini - the second Pesach. We know that during the festival of Pesach itself, one of the highlights was the opportunity to bring the Korban Pesach - the sacrificial offering that we brought to Hashem. The law is that in order to be permitted to bring the Korban Pesach, one has to be…

We have been discussing how the greatest gift, greater than any and all miracles in the world, is the gift of life itself. And as we learned from the Sfas Emes, greater than the miracle of the creation of the world itself is the Mishkan, and even greater than that is the mitzvah of Shabbos, and even greater than Shabbos is the gift of life, because…

What is the greatest miracle in the world? Out of all the answers we might give, the truth of the matter is that the greatest miracle in the world is the creation of the world itself, because every other miracle that might exist is encompassed within the creation of the world itself. The Sfas Emes points out that there are about 30 verses in the To…

We've learned many times that only through the eyes of Hashem's perspective can we be successful in living a life to achieve our maximum potential, because most things in the world, at face value, very often are deterrents to a life of emunah, to a life of truth, to a life of real service to Hashem. It is so important to seek constant inspiration t…

Hashem created us with the sole objective to be able to share His goodness with us. We are taught that the main destination where we are to receive and experience Hashem's goodness is not this world, but rather the next world - Olam HaBa. Of course, there are many times where we do experience Hashem's kindness and goodness, even in this world. Howe…

Everybody understands that the ultimate destination of life is death. It is absolutely vital, therefore, to remind ourselves exactly what our purpose is on a moment-to-moment basis in this world. As discussed, many times, when dealing with any question, the way we will answer it depends on the perspective we take. And in the same way, the way we an…

We discussed the verse that teaches us one of the foundational ideas from the Torah, that we are to internalize that anything and everything that we might accomplish is always a gift in itself from Hashem in the first place, to have been given that opportunity to be able to accomplish. One of the reasons that we experience challenges where sometime…

The verse in Divrei Hayamim states, “Ki Mimcha Hakol umiyadecha natanu lach” - everything we have is from Hashem, and from your hand, Hashem, have we given back to you. This verse teaches us an incredible fundamental principle about our lives and all of our accomplishments. Hashem put us into a world where we are meant to make an effort and try to …

One of the main expressions of having emunah is to believe in life after death. It is well known in Torah teachings that after we depart from this world, there is an evaluation process in the next world which scrutinizes all of our actions and deeds from this world. Anything good that we did is recorded and recounted as well as anything bad that we…

Many Torah sources teach the potent results that we obtain when Hashem sends us suffering and we respond in the right way. So, although we usually don't wish suffering upon ourselves or those around us, when suffering does come about, it is actually an opportunity Hashem is sending us to earn more points towards the next world - Olam Haba. On the o…

Life is full of challenges. Torah sources teach that usually a person's life has more challenges and difficult times than pleasant experiences. Challenges, also known as Yisurin in Torah literature, are clearly a fundamental aspect of HaShem's plan for our lives. Without Emunah there are no answers. With Emunah there are no questions. When a person…

We've discussed that when facing decisions that we might have to make, one of the wisest things to do is to talk to Hashem and ask Him for guidance as to which way to turn in this situation, because as discussed many times, if I'm not able to humble myself, to realize that I am limited - I am susceptible to mistakes; I have vested interests; I have…

When trying to make a decision and pass the tests that Hashem presents us, we've discussed that one of the most advisable things to do is to talk to Hashem and ask Him for guidance as to what would be the right perspective and response to this circumstance and situation. One might ask, even if I have davened to Hashem, asking for clarity, how do I …

We've been talking about the fundamental idea discussed by many Torah authorities that Hashem created this world ultimately in order to test us, to give us the opportunity to pass the tests that He presents us, thereby earning our place in the world to come. We've discussed many times that if we make decisions just based on our logic, we are suscep…

Let's consider the following case again. I currently have a respectable job, however my family does struggle financially. I am offered an alternative job opportunity where I would now receive double the salary and be relieved of my financial pressure, but I would be required to work one month from home and one month overseas, away from my family. W…

HaShem created the world in order that we have the opportunity to pass the tests that He presents us, and by doing so, earning our place in the next world. We've discussed that sometimes, when making decisions, it would be appropriate to look at Torah literature that is relevant to our circumstance, if that is applicable in this situation. And at t…

Hashem created us in this world to have the opportunity to be tested ansd to make the right decisions; to pass the tests that he presents us and earn our place in the next world. It is not always clear to know where Hashem is testing us and what He wants from us in this particular situation. The identical situation that two individuals experience, …

As discussed, one of the most fundamental principles from the Torah is that Hashem created this world in order to test us. Not because, God forbid, He wants to catch us out, but rather because He wants to give us an opportunity to pass the test. And as explained by Torah sources, when we do so, the pleasure that we will experience in the next world…

The classic Sefer, Messilas Yesharim, brings down the well-known idea brought by many Torah authorities that all of the happenings in our lives in this world are ultimately in order to test us. As we've learned many times, Hashem ultimately created this world in order to give us an opportunity to earn for ourselves our future in the next world. And…

The Gemara tells us that just like the initial redemption from Egypt took place in the month of Nissan, so too the redemption of the future, the coming of Mashiach, will also take place during the month of Nissan. Out of all the tremendous miracles that took place through our exodus from Egypt, in a sense the climax was the splitting of the sea whe…

We've discussed how following Hashem's mitzvos in this world is one of the potent ways we earn our share in the next world. We also have discussed that one who believes in Hashem and His mitzvos truthfully, will make the maximum effort to perform the mitzvos with their intricate details exactly as Hashem has prescribed, because if this is what He s…

Let us not forget that the only reason Hashem created us is in order to share His goodness with us. We will ultimately experience that goodness in the next world, and the way to earn that goodness in the next world is by the things we do in this world. We've discussed that the most potent thing we can focus on in this world, as discussed by the Tor…

We've discussed that the message of Pesach is that we are celebrating the fact that Hashem took us out of Egypt. We discussed how we ought to learn about the tremendous atrocities that the Jewish people experienced to help us appreciate what it means to come out of the Egyptian slavery and how we ought to celebrate to the highest degree. We also di…

We are so privileged to have the opportunity to celebrate Pesach every single year. What exactly are we celebrating? Simply speaking, we're celebrating the fact that we were redeemed from the slavery in Egypt. It is worthwhile learning about what the Jewish people went through and experienced to appreciate what we're celebrating. It's important to …

We've learnt many times that Hashem is exclusively running every single detail in all of our lives. And with regards to our sustenance, there is no exception to this rule. As the Rambam states in the 13 principles of faith, "v'hu levado" - "and He exclusively orchestrates every detail to my life." And as we learnt from the Mesillas Yesharim, when w…

It's worthwhile to constantly remind ourselves of this passage of the Mesillat Yesharim in chapter 21, where he writes that our efforts that we have a mitzvah to make - hishtadlus, is a tax payment and has no connection whatsoever to success in the endeavor that we are trying to achieve. Ein Od Milvado teaches us that Hashem exclusively runs the wo…

We've discussed the daily mitzvah to recite the parashas hamann and how the Torah commentaries teach that the main purpose behind reciting that Torah passage is to imbue in us Hashem's true perspective, which is apparently different to what meets the eye. In our eyes, we see a direct correlation between our efforts to make money and the money that …

We discussed how although there is a mitzvah to recite the Torah portion of the mann, however the Torah commentaries point out that the main purpose behind this is for us to contemplate on the message of the mann, that just like in those times it was apparently obvious that Hashem was our exclusive provider because the mann fell in an obviously mir…

We discussed how although there is a mitzvah, according to many Torah commentaries, to recite the Torah passage of the mann every day, however, as the Mishna Berura and others point out, the main purpose behind the recital of the parashat hamann is to internalize the message that just like Hashem was our sole provider in those times where the food …

A fundamental belief in the history of the Jewish people is that after the exodus from Egypt, when the Jewish people encamped in the desert, the way that they received their sustenance was by HaShem raining down the special heavenly food, the mann. When the Jewish people were in the desert, it was absolutely clear to them that their sole provider w…

One of the great classic works, the Sefer HaChinuch, writes that anyone who recites the Birkas Hamazon, the grace after meals, with concentration will not lack in their sustenance. As we've discussed many times, an extension of our belief in Hashem is to believe in the Torah and what the Torah commentaries teach us, which is really an extension of …

The Shulchan Aruch codifies a statement from the Gemara which says that if one performs the mitzvah of netilas yadayim, washing one's hands for bread in the correct manner according to the prescribed laws, as well as being extra generous to use water in an abundant way when they wash their hands, one will be blessed with wealth. And in another law,…

The level of our belief in Hashem and His Torah and the guidelines that follow will make a big difference in how serious we are when it comes to following the advice that is given to us. Torah literature outlines numerous ideas that are conducive to financial success. We know that one of the fringe benefits of giving charity is that that act itself…

We've been discussing the tremendous opportunity that every single one of us has to perform the great mitzvah of giving somebody a smile. And as the Gemara in Kesubos, page 111b states, that a person who smiles at his fellow is better than one who gives him milk, and as mentioned, although we certainly are encouraged to invest both in terms of our …

We've been discussing what the Torah commentaries teach with regards to the tremendous benefit of living a life of happiness. And as pointed out by the Vilna Gaon to Mishlei, chapter 18, verse 14, as well as other Torah commentaries, when one is in a happy state, even when illness strikes, God forbid, one will come out of that illness due to the st…

We've been discussing how Emunah and Bitachon is something available to every single one of us. It's tremendously encouraging to take to heart what the many Torah sources teach us, that Emunah and Bitachon are completely independent of our actions. And although we are certainly called on to do our best to avoid sin and do as many mitzvos as we can,…

We've been discussing how when one lives a life of true emunah and bitachon, there are tremendous benefits to the quality of our lives. When circumstances present themselves that might instinctively lead towards feelings of anxiety and depression, the more we move towards a life of true reliance on Hashem, internalizing that no individual nor circu…

We've been discussing one of the tremendous fringe benefits of living a life of emunah and bitachon, that not only do we thereby gain the highest place that we can for ourselves in the next world, which is ultimately the purpose of being alive, but additionally, the quality of our lives can be transformed completely when we choose to live a life of…

Although the main benefit of living a life of Emunah and Bitachon is that we thereby are fulfilling our purpose in this world, which is ultimately for the sake of our reward in the next world, however, as discussed many times, one who lives with Emunah and Bitachon gains tremendous fringe benefits in terms of the quality of one's life in this world…

The main reason that we are striving to grow in our emunah endeavor, is because Hashem has commanded us to do so and has told us that by doing so, this will be the main way that we will earn our place in eternity. However, it is motivating to highlight that there are many fringe benefits to living a life of emunah. A life without emunah leads to an…

50 (0 46) We've discussed many times that when a person lives with sincere emunah and bitachon, that automatically leads to a life of joy, happiness, calm, and serenity, because I know that I'm not in control of the circumstances that will transpire through my life, and therefore I'm able to let go, relax, enjoy, and live calmly, because I know tha…

As we've discussed, one who lives with sincere emunah and reliance on Hashem will be happy, calm, serene, because they're not anxious about the curveballs that life throws at them, because I know that Hashem is in control of every single most tiny detail in my life, and Hashem is bigger and stronger than any curveball. So besides fulfilling our rea…

The most important question that we can ask ourselves, why do I exist? Why am I alive? We've discussed the Torah's viewpoint to this question, is Hashem created us only to give to us, and ultimately that reward we will receive in the next world, we're in this world just to earn our place in the next world, and ultimately our most potent method of e…

We've spoken about the fact that when one practices emunah and bitachon and makes this the central focal point of their life, making every effort to grow and grow in our emunah and our bitachon, besides the fact that we're fulfilling our life's mission in being created, as the Ramban and many others say, the only reason that we were created, to hav…

If we were to ask many people as to what the purpose of their existence is, why do they live on a moment-to-moment basis? Many people, well-meaning people, but perhaps who haven't learnt the topic and sources from a perspective beyond our own which can be mistaken. Many people would tend to answer that the reason we are alive is to be happy, to see…

We know that there are two days that Purim is celebrated. The first of the two is usually referred to as Purim, while the second is usually referred to as Shushan Purim. Whilst most places in the world observe Purim on the first of the two days, Yerushalayim and some other places observe Purim on Shushan Purim. However, it is important to highlight…