Podcasts about bitachon

Its time we all take a good hard look at ourselves and be HONEST about where we are holding.

What You Can Do

אֲחֵינוּ כָּל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, הַנְּתוּנִים בַּצָּרָה וּבַשִּׁבְיָה, הַמָּקוֹם יְרַחֵם עֲלֵיהֶם We say this heartfelt tefillah, asking Hashem to have mercy upon all of our brothers who are currently in danger. A question has been asked: Why do we say "Achenu kol Beit Yisrael" — all of the Jewish people? It seems to imply that every Jew is in danger, even though the threat may be limited to a specific location or group. The answer is that when one Jew is in pain , every Jew feels that pain. This is the strength of our nation — a people bound together by heart and soul. And it is in that merit — that we feel the suffering of our fellow Jews as our own — that we pray for הַמָּקוֹם יְרַחֵם עֲלֵיהֶם , that Hashem will indeed have mercy upon them. During World War I, the Chafetz Chaim was seen sleeping on a hard bench, using his hands as a pillow. Concerned for his health, his relatives asked him why he wouldn't sleep in a bed. He replied, "How can I sleep comfortably when thousands of my brothers are in danger, gripped with fear and uncertainty?" We are not being asked to sleep on a hard bench. But we must recognize that the deeds and prayers we offer on behalf of our brothers and sisters are the very zechuyot — the merits — that bring salvation. The pasuk in Parashat Beha'alotekha tells us: וַהֲיָה אִם־תֵּצֵא מִלְחָמָה בְּאַרְצְכֶם... וַהֲרֵעֹתֶם בַּחֲצֹצְרוֹת וְנִזְכַּרְתֶּם לִפְנֵי ה' אֱלֹקֵיכֶם וְנוֹשַׁעְתֶּם מֵאֹיְבֵיכֶם "When you go out to war in your land… you shall sound the trumpets, and you will be remembered before Hashem your God, and you will be saved from your enemies." When we do something that makes us remembered favorably to Hashem then Hashem saves us from our enemies. We have already seen extraordinary siyata dishmaya in the miracles that have occurred this past year. Hashem can destroy all of our enemies in a moment. He can ensure that not a single additional life is lost. But it is our tefillot and ma'asim tovim that will determine that outcome. We know how much Hashem appreciates every kabbalah that we make and sometimes He shows us that right away . A woman shared that she was going through a difficult time and wanted to take on something meaningful. One night, while folding laundry, she decided to cut her wig shorter for the sake of modesty — something she found very hard to do. At the same time, she decided to make her chore time more meaningful by listening to a Torah shiur. She randomly picked a class. In the middle of the shiur, the rabbi began to speak about the power of accepting kabbalot. He explained how something that seems small to us is actually huge in the eyes of Heaven — and he gave the exact example of a woman cutting her wig for modesty. Out of thousands of possible shiurim, she had chosen the one that perfectly reflected her personal decision. Hashem was clearly showing her how valued her efforts were. Another woman had been trying to get married for many years. She recently decided to take on something new as a zechut. She calculated how many Shabbatot remained before Rosh Hashanah and decided that she would treat each one like the queen it is. She committed to buying a new outfit for each Shabbat — without looking at the price — solely to honor Shabbat. She spent over $5,000 — a huge amount for someone living paycheck to paycheck. Just four days later, she received a check for $5,772 for work she had done in the past and didn't know if she would ever be paid for. It was as if Hashem was saying, "I see what you're doing, and I'm with you." Hashem loves every step we take to come closer to Him. We may not always see the results immediately, but we know with certainty that every tefillah , every perek of Tehillim , every act of growth , brings salvation — both for ourselves and for all of Am Yisrael . May Hashem fulfill our tefillah: וְיוֹצִיאֵם מִצָּרָה לִרְוָחָה וּמֵאֲפֵלָה לְאוֹרָה וּמִשִּׁעְבּוּד לִגְאֻלָּה, הַשְׁתָּא בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב And have compassion on all our brothers and sisters.

In this deeply emotional and inspiring conversation, Siporah Sassoon shares her harrowing story of surviving a tragic house fire that claimed the lives of her seven siblings. She opens up about the trauma, the long road to physical and emotional recovery, and how her unwavering faith in Hashem has carried her through the darkest of times. A decade has passed since a tragic house fire ripped through Sipora Sassoon's home in Brooklyn, claiming the lives of her seven siblings. Sipora survived—but not easily. She was hospitalized with severe burns covering nearly half of her body, and at one point “didn't know her siblings were gone” as she fought to recover. In this deeply poignant episode, Siporah revisits the night of the fire: She shares what she remembers of waking from smoke-choked darkness. She describes waking up in a hospital burn unit, relearning to breathe and walk—and how, at first, she didn't understand the full extent of her loss . Siporah speaks with incredible honesty and strength about grief, healing, survivor's guilt, resilience, and rediscovering joy. She reflects on her siblings' lives, her relationship with Hashem before and after the tragedy, and the message she wants to carry forward in their memory. This episode is a testament to the power of the human spirit and the depth of Jewish faith You can reach out to Siporah via email: Siporahsassoon@gmail.com This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors: ►Blooms Kosher   Bring you the best Kosher products worldwide.   https://bloomskosher.com   ____________________________________________________ ► PZ Deals - Download the app and never pay full price again! https://app.pz.deals/install/mpp _____________________________________________________ ► Toveedo Visit- www.toveedo.com   Use Promo Code MM10 for 10% off! __________________________________________________ ► Superior CS Group Looking to cut overhead and boost productivity without sacrificing quality? Superior CS Group helps U.S. companies build high-performing remote teams with vetted global talent — at up to 50% less cost than local hires. From tech and marketing to admin and customer support, they handle hiring and day-to-day oversight.

Rashi writes at the beginning of this week's parasha, Beha'alotecha , when Aharon saw all of the Nasi'im bringing big donations to the inauguration of the Mishkan, חלשה דעתו – he felt bad that he did not have a part in them. Hashem told Aharon שלך גדול משלהם – your portion is better than theirs. Your job will be to light the Menorah and prepare the wicks . How is that better? Some of the ba'aleh mussar explain the give and take as follows. Aharon saw how others were serving Hashem and he felt bad that he couldn't serve Hashem like they were. Hashem told Aharon, I don't get impressed by how big a donation is or by what it consists of. What impresses Hashem is that each person does the job that He wants them to do – שלך גדולה – you have to consider your job the greatest job of all because only you could do it and nobody else could. Sometimes we look around at what others are accomplishing and we feel bad that we aren't doing the same. Everybody has a different job in this world to do. It does not matter what others are doing. What matters is if we are doing what we are capable of doing. Hashem loves each and every person's avodah , not because of what it is but because of who it is coming from. Even if someone has been underachieving in the past, Hashem is waiting, kavayachol, with open arms to once again become close with him. Whatever we do He adores and when we want to get closer, Hashem helps us do it. Rabbi Yechiel Spero told a story about a young couple who moved to Baltimore. On their first Shabbat as newlyweds, the bride Sarah escorted her husband to shul on Friday night. As she was sitting in the ladies' section, she noticed it was messy and decided to clean it up and organize it. While she was putting away the siddurim on the bookshelf, she saw a tefillin bag buried underneath a bunch of objects. Sarah took it and put it on a noticeable shelf so the one who it belonged to would be easily able to find it. After she finished cleaning, she admired what she did and decided to come back and do it every week. She noticed week after week the tefillin were always in that spot she put them in. She came back on a weeknight and took a picture of the bag and put up a sign with her number saying, whoever knows whose tefillin these are should please call her. She then took the tefillin to her house for safekeeping. Weeks later, she got a phone call from a woman who said she recognized the name on the bag. She was almost positive that it belonged to her old neighbor's son. That family had moved to Israel five years earlier. Although she hadn't spoken to them in years, she did have their phone number and happily gave it to Sarah. When Sarah called, the phone rang twice and then was declined, so she left a message. Two minutes later, Sarah's phone rang - it was the woman in Israel. After Sarah told her about her experience with the tefillin , she asked this woman if by any chance those tefillin belonged to her son. She heard silence on the line and then some muffled cries. Then the woman began to speak. "My son had gone off the derech 5 years ago. He struggled terribly and stopped wearing his tefillin . Our relationship has been extremely strained. We speak once or twice a year when he needs something. Today, my son called me and said, 'Mom, I want to come home. I am going to start praying again. Do you know where my tefillin are?' While he was asking me that question, your phone number came across my screen. I told him I would find them. Then I heard your message saying you had them." Hashem loves our avodah so much. Even a boy who was off the derech for 5 years, when he wanted to put his tefillin on again, Hashem orchestrated the events with amazing hashgacha to have them ready and waiting at that exact moment. Shabbat Shalom.

Welcome to Daily Bitachon. Today's class is dedicated le'ilui nishmat Rachel bat Jamila, Grandma Rachel Ruby A'H by her grandchildren. In our previous lesson we spoke about the words Habotchim b'shimcha be'emet/Those who rely on Hashem in truth, as we say in our Amidah. We quoted the Avudarham, who explained that "in truth" means recognizing God's name in truth —but what does that mean? Let us go back to the opening words of the Rambam in the laws of Yesodei HaTorah/The Foundations of Torah, chapter 1, halacha 1. He begins with the words: י סוד ה יסודות ו עמוד ה חכמות —the foundation of foundations and the pillar of wisdom (note that the first letters of each word spell Hashem's name) is to know that there is a מצוי ראשון , a Primary Existence —we say God is the kadmon , the First, and He is the mamtzi kol nimtza/ the One who brought everything into existence. כל נמצא וכל הנמצאים משמים וארץ ומה שביניהם לא נמצאו /And everything in the heavens and the earth and all that is in between does not exist אלא /except, -and this is the key phrase- מאמתת המצאו: / from the truth of His existence. "T ruth " here doesn't simply "true vs. false." In this context, " true " means absolute , not dependent on anything. Something that is true is real —it's reality. What does reality mean? It means it exists —it's not imaginary. When you say someone is a real person versus a fake person, you're distinguishing reality from illusion. And the only true reality is God, because everything else exists only because God wills it. If He stops willing it, it ceases to exist. So it's not really emet . Nothing else is " true ." אמת Eme t is spelled with an א alef (first letter of Alef Bet), מ (middle of the Alef Bet ( and ת tav (last)—which means Emet is means something that spans the beginning, middle, and end. That's God: Hayah, Hoveh, Veyihyeh. He is the only true existence. Rambam continues: If one could imagine the impossible—that God did not exist—then nothing else could exist either . But if everything else ceased to exist, God would still be the same. שכל הנמצאים צריכין לו והוא ברוך הוא אינו צריך להם ולא לאחד מהם לפיכך Everything depends on Him. And He doesn't need them at all. Therefore, אין אמתתו כאמתת אחד מהם: His truth is unlike the truth of anything else. This is a fundamental concept in our understanding of God—and we say it every day: Hu shehanavi omer: VaHashem Elokim Emet—God is truth . This is the source for the words in Kriat Shema: Hashem Elokeichem emet. He is the only emet— no other existence is true in the same way. That's the meaning of En od milvado—there is nothing but Him. En sham matzui emet milvado kemoto—there is no other true existence besides Him. This concept underpins the teachings of Nefesh HaChaim—God is the only real existence. He is the source of everything. He makes everything happen. He's infusing everything with energy. How could He not know what's happening in the world? That would be absurd. He is the world. People ask about hashgacha—"Does God know when a leaf falls from a tree? " There is no leaf or tree without God! Of course He knows the leaf is falling off that tree! So, going back: Habotchim b'shimcha be'emet/To rely on Hashem's name in truth means to understand the truth of His name, according to this explanation. The Hovot HaLevavot writes that the reason people lack bitachon is because they don't know who God is. This is who God is. There is nothing else but Him. Now of course, we can't truly comprehend that. The Nefesh HaChaim says that if we dwell on that idea for too long, we could lose our minds. That's why God created the concept of tzimtzum —a perceived contraction —where it seems as though the world exists independently. But we must recognize that our world is like virtual reality. Just like a hologram, it seems real—but behind it is a truer reality, which is God. This is why the term emet ke'amitato is used. There is a level of " truth " in the world, but it's not truly real —it's contingent on God. You may think, " This is deep and philosophical." Well, yes—it's the foundation of our world.. God is the Manhig hagalgal beko'ach she'ein lo ketz vetachlit/the One who moves the cosmos with infinite power. He spins the sun, the stars, the orbits. Without Him, they can't move. Hu Baruch Hu mesovev oto—He spins them, belo yad uvelo guf—without a hand, without a body. He drives everything. Understanding this is the first commandment: Anochi Hashem Elokecha—I am Hashem your God …..Who took you out of Egypt- ( because we learned it from Yetziat Mitzrayim). We paused our long stint of Yetziat Mitzrayim lessons because someone said, " How long can you talk about this? It's already Shavuot!" But sorry—we're back. Because Yetziat Mitzrayim showed us that blood isn't blood, water isn't water, the sea isn't the sea. That's Anochi Hashem Elokecha. If you think there is any other power besideGod, you're transgressing a commandment: Lo yihyeh lecha elohim acherim al panai. That's kefirah be'ikar—denying the fundamental belief. What does " denying the fundamental" mean? It means denying the principle on which everything depends. The Rambam continues onto his 13 principles of faith, all grounded in this foundation. We won't go through the entire first chapter of Yesodei HaTorah, but know this: it's fundamental. If a person doesn't know this, they're missing out. Veten sachar tov lechol habotchim b'shimcha be'emet—Give good reward to those who rely on You in truth. You can't rely on Hashem if you don't know who He is. Hashem is full of kindness. He created the world to do good because He is good and wants us to benefit. He's not an angry, vengeful God looking to punish us. He didn't have to create the world. He didn't do it so we could suffer. Hovot HaLevavot says this explicitly in Sha'ar HaBitachon, Chapter 7, when speaking about what prevents people from having bitachon. What is the primary obstacle? Hasichlut be'inyan haBorei—ignorance regarding God's nature, uv'midotav hatovot—and His good attributes. God has good middot. We are meant to emulate them: ma Hu rachum af ata rachum—just as He is merciful, so should you be. His middot are rachum ve'chanun—compassionate and gracious. If we don't understand that, if we don't understand how God watches over us, cares for us, and controls our lives—then we're like prisoners in His jail ( keshurim be'asurav) without awareness. Lo yanuach libo velo yismoch alav—how can the heart be at ease, how can you trust in Him, if you don't know who He is? How can you rely on someone you don't understand? Botchim b'shimcha be'emet—trusting in His name in truth. " Shem "—a name—represents the essence of a person. Knowing someone's name means knowing their essence. Hashem's primary name— Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh— is not His essence, but it's how He reveals Himself to us: Hayahhoveh veyihyeh mehaveh kol hahavayot , and rachamim / The One who brings all existence into being, and who is full of mercy. That name represents mercy. You must know Him, because if you don't know Him, how can you rely on Him?

The pasuk in this week's parashah, Beha'alotekha , says: עַל־פִּי ה' יַחֲנוּ וְעַל־פִּי ה' יִסָּעוּ "The Jewish people encamped by the word of Hashem and traveled by the word of Hashem." The Torah is teaching us that even the simplest actions — like stopping and starting — were done only in accordance with Hashem's will. This is a lesson we must constantly remind ourselves. A person may make what seems to be the most logical, responsible decision, only to see things turn out entirely differently than expected. At times, our efforts lead us to dead ends. Other times, what initially appears to be a setback turns out to be the best possible direction. Life is full of twists and turns — challenges that shake our peace of mind, periods of hard work with little visible result, and moments of great success that come with almost no effort. But the common denominator in every situation is that it is all directed by the same loving and all-knowing Hashem. He is always leading each person on the path that is uniquely best for them. Sometimes, we feel like Hashem is making things unnecessarily hard. We pray for something simple — and don't even receive that. We wonder, "Is that too much to ask?" If we could internalize that even those denials come from Hashem's love, we would experience a deep peace of mind. We would soar to great spiritual heights with the precious gift of emunah — trusting in Hashem's plan. One woman shared a story that strengthened her emunah in a very deep way. She always loved roses. When she and her family bought their first home, she was thrilled to find a beautiful rose bush growing along the side of the house. A few years later, her son was diagnosed with a serious illness that had no known cure. She herself was also ill, in pain, and going through many other difficulties. One particularly difficult day, she stepped outside for fresh air and looked at her beloved rose bush. She noticed two weeds growing on either side of it. She tried to pull them out, but they were too deep. Her son tried too, but the roots were so strong that the entire ground around the bush started to come up. They stopped, but it was too late. The rose bush had been uprooted, and it seemed certain it would die. The woman turned her eyes upward and said, "Hashem, I understand that You know what's best. I accept the suffering and the pain. But why can't I at least have the roses that I love? Is that too much to ask for?" Years passed. The weeds she had tried to remove grew into a tall tree that eventually reached the second floor of their home. At one point, her son was prescribed an experimental medication that caused severe side effects. Just minutes after taking it, he ran wildly across the room and ended up dangling out the second-floor window by his ankles. She pulled him back in and shut the window, but he quickly ran into his sister's room and locked the door. Moments later, she heard her daughter scream, "Ma! He just fell out the window!" Terrified, she raced outside. To her astonishment, she saw her son standing there — alive, with only a small scratch. What had happened? He had grabbed onto that very weed that had once replaced her roses. Because it was still young and flexible, it bent under his weight, lowering him gently to the ground before bouncing back upright. In the moment, she had cried to Hashem for taking away her rose bush. But little did she know that He was already planting her salvation years in advance. Today, whenever she finds herself questioning why things aren't going her way, she thinks of those weeds — and remembers that Hashem is in control, always doing what is best.

Welcome to Daily Bitachon. We continue where we left off in the previous lesson on the concept of bitachon gamur b'lo safek/to have reliance on Hashem without a doubt —based on a pasuk in Yeshayah : V'nish'an al Hashem k'dosh Yisrael/They will rely on Hashem, the Holy One of Israel, b'emet, in truth . The Sefer Ikarim says there in Ma'amar 4 Perek 49 that this bitachon gamur b'lo safek strengthens a person and doesn't weaken him. He quotes a pasuk in Tehillim, and follows that up with another two pesukim to prove his point. The first one is a pasuk in Yeshayah, Perek 40 Pasuk 30-31 וְיִעֲפ֥וּ נְעָרִ֖ים וְיִגָ֑עוּ וּבַחוּרִ֖ים כָּשׁ֥וֹל יִכָּשֵֽׁלוּ׃ Youths may grow wear and tire And young men can constantly tumble. It's possible that, as strong and vibrant as the young are, they will become weary and tired.But, וְקוֹיֵ֤ יְהֹוָה֙ יַחֲלִ֣יפוּ כֹ֔חַ יַעֲל֥וּ אֵ֖בֶר כַּנְּשָׁרִ֑ים יָר֙וּצוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א יִיגָ֔עוּ יֵלְכ֖וּ וְלֹ֥א יִיעָֽפוּ׃ But those who hope in Hashem will have renewed strength, they will grow wings like eagles. They will run and not grow tired. They will walk and not grow weary. Sefer Ikarim explains this to mean that because this man hopes in Hashem, his hope gives him strength. His hope doesn't weaken him, even though he hasn't yet received what he wants. Rather, since his hope is the kind that feels guaranteed—he knows it's going to happen, he knows the sun is coming up in the morning—that gives him more strength. It's a snowball effect. Hope causes strength, and the strength causes more hope. And it goes in a cycle. He says that's what David HaMelech meant when he said kaveh el Hashem—hope to Hashem, chazak v'ya'ametz libecha v'kaveh el Hashem—strengthen your heart and be courageous, and again hope to Hashem. Most of us understand this to mean —and there's truth to it—that you hoped to Hashem and weren't answered, so what do you do? You have to go and work on yourself again to build up hope again. The Sefer Ikarim is not learning it that way. He's saying the first kaveh el Hashem already did something. You hoped to Hashem, and even though you weren't answered, you didn't walk away weak. That hope to Hashem made you stronger, because you were hoping in a way where you felt it was going to happen. And his words are: התקוה סבת החוזק והחוזק סבת התקוה / The hope causes strength, and strength causes even more hope. It's interesting to consider the context of these pesukim in Yeshayahu, which is actually the Haftara of Parashat Lech Lecha. Hashem is asking, " Why are you saying Nistrah darki me'Hashem? Why are you saying Hashem is hiding? That He's not looking at you? That He doesn't know what's going on? He says Hashem is the One who created the world: lo yi'af v'lo yiga—He doesn't get tired, He doesn't get weary. And then it says: Noten laya'ef koach—the One who gives strength to the weary, . This is an extremely relevant point, because every single morning, we say the beracha : Hanoten laya'ef koach, and this pasuk is the source for the that beracha! What a tremendous chiddush! Each morning, you can have in mind that hanoten laya'ef k'oach means kovei Hashem yachlifu ko'ach Hope to Hashem and have renewed strength Where does the ko'ach come from? The ko'ach comes from the fact that we hope in Hashem. Someone who hopes in Hashem gets more strength and more energy. What an unbelievable concept—the snowball effect of hope. But it can not be a hope that's doubtful, or a "maybe hope ," or an "I hope so" kind of hope. It has to be a guaranteed hope. The D'rashot HaRan, in D'rush 6, cites this pasuk as well, about relying on Hashem in truth. He adds that certain people do things in a doubtful way, like: im lo yo'il, lo yazik—if it won't help, at least it won't hurt. And I've heard people say, " I'll go through with it, sure…whatever. I'll give money to charity—it won't help, but it won't hurt." Im lo yo'il, lo yazik—if it doesn't help, at least it won't hurt is not the attitude we're supposed to have in our bitachon. It can't be like a vitamin B12 shot—Is it dangerous? No. It may not help, but won't hurt. Or like a vaccine—maybe it'll hurt. You want to do things that you know for sure are going to help, not just a "maybe." That is the kind of bitachon that will strengthen us.

Dealing with doctor's appointments and hospitals can be a very tedious and stressful process. Trying to find the right doctor or the right treatment, spending hours in traffic and waiting rooms—sometimes even weeks are spent trying a certain therapy, only for it to make things worse. The Chazon Ish wrote in a letter that it is a mitzvah to seek medical treatment, just like any other mitzvah. A person is obligated to take care of his health through natural means, and by doing so, he is fulfilling the will of Hashem. Therefore, when seeking medical treatment, one should feel as though he is performing any other mitzvah. He should even say לשם יחוד . He should feel that he is growing spiritually and keep in mind that he is doing this because Hashem commanded in the Torah: " ונשמרתם מאד לנפשותיכם " We are obligated to make hishtadlut for our health, to such an extent that even the sanctity of Shabbat is overridden in cases of danger. As the pasuk says: " וחי בהם " —You shall live by them. However, the only concern when engaging in hishtadlut is if a person begins to believe that the doctor is the one in control. We must never think that the doctor determines whether a person will actually be healed. That decision is entirely up to Hashem. If someone is meant to be healed, Hashem will grant the doctor the heavenly help needed to accomplish it. But Hashem doesn't need a doctor. He can heal a person with His words alone, as it says: " ישלח דברו וירפאם " Therefore, no doctor should ever say there is no hope. He can say that there is no known cure available at the moment, but with tefillah , Hashem can change anything. Hashem is the One who enables doctors to perform, and so our primary hishtadlut is always with Him. We can always be healed, no matter where we are or who is—or isn't—available to treat us. There is a man who shared the following story. He was in Ukraine on an outreach program, working to bring Jews closer to Torah and mitzvot. One morning, he woke up with terrible pain on the side of his head. A local doctor told him that the uppermost vertebra in his spine had moved out of place. The doctor added that surgery would most likely be required to fix it, but the procedure carried a very high risk of damaging nerves that could leave him unable to walk. The man immediately called his father-in-law, who was well-connected in the field of medicine. He described his pain and asked for urgent help. His father-in-law said he knew of an excellent doctor in Ramat Gan and would reach out to him. A short while later, the father-in-law called back and said, "The doctor from Ramat Gan is flying to your location tomorrow. He's going to treat you." The man couldn't believe it. How could this doctor be coming all the way to Ukraine? The next day, the doctor arrived. His treatment was almost miraculously quick and simple. No surgery was needed, and the problem was resolved. At the end of the visit, the man asked how much he owed. The doctor replied, "For my time, travel, and the procedure, it would be a large sum. But you don't owe anything. Two wealthy people who live nearby brought me here to treat them. My flight came in early enough that I had time to see you before my appointments. Hashem arranged for you to get top care at no cost. So the thanks go to Him." It was truly amazing. Hashem is the One in charge of every person's health. He sends the messengers He chooses to heal people, and He determines exactly when and how that healing takes place. We are obligated to take care of our health and to seek out the best messengers—but we must never forget that it is always only in the hands of Hashem.

The secret of Torah is the actual "magic" contained within which simultaneously changes a person while granting them their deepest desires.

Welcome to Daily Bitachon In the last class, we quoted an unbelievable pasuk of Bitachon cited by Rabbenu Yonah in Mishleh 3:26, which wasn't on our previous pesukim list. It's a pasuk in Yeshaya 10:20: ולא יוסיף עוד שארית ישראל ופליטת בית יעקב ל[ה]שען על מכהו No longer will the leftovers of Yisrael and those that are saved from Yaakov rely on the one that's hitting them. Rather, , ונשען על י"י קדוש ישראל באמת" the They'll rely on Hashem, K'dosh Yisrael, the Holy One of Yisrael, b'emet , in truth . We went through different explanations of b'emet , but I want to revisit Rabbenu Yonah, who asks: What does it mean b'emet ? What does it mean to rely on Hashem in truth ? We see similar wording in the pasuk Karov Hashem l'chol kor'av l'chol asher yikra'uhu b'emet —Hashem is close to all those that call out to Him -in truth . Does anyone ever call out to God as a lie ? Says Rabbenu Yonah: B'Emet means bitachon gamur b'lo safek —a complete, absolute reliance without a doubt, that the ' hitting' is not coming from the hitter . It's recognizing without a doubt that they are not the source. That is what he calls b'emet . Beautiful. Then, with Hashem's help, we stumbled on a famous Sefer HaIkkarim in Ma'amar 4 Perek 49, which the esteemed Michael Safdie quotes all the time, but I don't recall him ever connecting it to this pasuk. The Sefer HaIkkarim says: When a person hopes for something, and the person is hoping in a doubtful way—he's not sure if it will come or not—that's going to cause the person to have what he calls תטריד הנפש tatrid hanefesh . It's going to cause, actually, a tirda , preoccupation —when you're not comfortable with yourself. You're hoping, " Is it going to come?" That's one kind of hope. When you're hoping for somebody to have children, that kind of hope is very uncomfortable. That kind of hope is sometimes heartbreaking. But if a person hopes for something that he's guaranteed , he says, like hoping for the sun to come up in the morning—that hope doesn't upset you. That hope doesn't get you down. You're happy because you know it's happening, and you're waiting for it to happen. It's like you know you're getting your tax rebate from the government. You know it's coming; it's in the mail. He says that's the way we are supposed to hope to Hashem: We are hoping to Him with complete bitachon that He will fulfill what I hope for, b'li safek /without a doubt, because He's able to and there's nothing stopping Him. And I shouldn't be hoping to Hashem in a doubtful way like "maybe yes, maybe no." It's not like buying a ticket for the lottery—maybe I'll win, maybe I won't. I'm hoping to win. No . With this type of hope, the bitachon hope, strengthens your heart and makes you happy. Like it says, Chizku v'ya'ametz l'vavchem kol ham'yachalim l'Hashem / strengthen and be courageous in your heart, those that hope to Hashem. Simply, it means that you're supposed to strengthen your heart and then rely on Hashem. But he's saying no—this is a big chiddush - the reliance on Hashem creates the strength chizku v'ya'ametz l'vavchem . Because you know it's going to happen, it gives you strength. This hope, he says, doesn't weaken the heart—it strengthens the heart. And he quotes our pasuk and says it's because the person is Nishan al K'dosh Yisrael b'emet . Rabbeinu Yonah is citing this as the source for a new concept called bitachon b'emet : to rely on Hashem b'emet . And now for the earth-shattering chiddush . Every single day in our Amida we make the bracha Al hatzadikim v'al hachasidim , which is the one that invokes bitachon. It ends with mishan u'mivtach l'tzadikim /The One that the tzadikim rely and lean on. Mishan u'mivtach . Mishan is like a cane called a mish'enet . The Sefer *Avudraham asks: What is the source for this mishan u'mivtach l'tzadikim ? ( as we've said, The Anshei Knesset HaGedola sourced our tefilot from pesukim ) Nothing less than our pasuk of Vnishan al Hashem K'dosh Yisrael b'emet . That's the source—this pasuk! And what do we say in this beracha ? V'ten sachar l'chol habotchim b'shimcha b'emet . Give reward to those who rely on Your name in truth . We never knew—what does that mean, "you rely on Hashem b'emet "? According to Rabbenu Yonah and the Sefer HaIkkarim that are reading it into the pasuk, which is the source of the beracha, it means: Reward those that rely on Hashem with bitachon gamur b'lo safek . *The Avudaraham has a different explanation of v'ten sachar tov l'chol habotchim b'shimcha b'emet . He says: they know the truth of Your name . So the word emet is referrig to understanding of God's name. But we are offering a different explanation: the word b'emet is on the bitachon

We have learned time and time again that everything that happens in our lives comes directly from Hashem. There is no such thing as an accident or a coincidence. Everything is carefully planned and orchestrated exactly as it is meant to be. We have also been taught repeatedly that whatever Hashem does is the best thing for us. If we truly internalize these two principles—that Hashem controls everything, and that everything He does is for our good—we would be able to live with constant happiness, regardless of our circumstances. We've studied how the great Rabbis in Jewish history responded to their trials with unwavering emunah. They faced unimaginable challenges and still clung to their faith with strength and clarity. Although we recognize this as the ideal way to respond, we often find it incredibly difficult to emulate. When something painful or disappointing happens, our initial reaction may be one of sadness or frustration. We try to strengthen our emunah, and eventually we may begin to accept the situation. With further effort, we might even reach a level of accepting it with love and joy. But often we wonder: if we failed in the beginning and only came around much later, does it still matter? Is the struggle worth anything if we keep falling and responding the wrong way? I once heard a story that Rabbi Ephraim Wachsman shared in the name of Rabbi Shlomo Miller that offers powerful chizuk and perspective. The story took place in Yerushalayim after World War I, a time of severe starvation. In the Etz Chaim cheder, a rebbi wanted to bring a bit of joy to his students. On Rosh Chodesh, he went out of his way to get a cake and gave each student a slice to celebrate the day. The children, who were starving, were overjoyed. One boy, however, didn't eat his portion. Instead, he carefully wrapped it in a napkin. He loved his father dearly and knew how hungry he must be, so he decided to give the cake to him as a gift. But when recess came, he stared at the cake and couldn't control himself. He took one bite. Ashamed, he quickly wrapped it back up. Later, around lunchtime, the temptation overwhelmed him again—and he took a second bite. That day, the children were dismissed early. The boy ran home, cake in hand. He entered the house and said, "Daddy, Daddy, I brought you a present for Rosh Chodesh!" and handed his father the napkin-wrapped cake. But as he handed it over, he looked down in shame, realizing his father would see the bite marks. His father opened the napkin, saw the partially eaten cake, and looked at his son's face. Then he said: "My precious child, I see from these two bites just how hard it was for you to give me this gift. You struggled, yet you still gave it to me. That shows how much you truly love me. The bite marks are part of the beauty of the gift." The same can be said of our spiritual struggles. When a person wrestles with his challenges and still manages, eventually, to do what Hashem wants—even after failing along the way—it shows deep love for Hashem. The effort, the perseverance, the refusal to give up, all elevate the mitzvah and make it even more meaningful. Even if someone doesn't respond right away with complete emunah, the ongoing work to reach that place is a beautiful and treasured avodah. Hashem values that journey immensely. He is proud of the person who keeps trying, who keeps pushing, who keeps believing. We must never underestimate the value of any step forward in emunah. Every level we reach, no matter how delayed or difficult, is infinitely precious in Hashem's eyes.

Not Them - Only Hashem

Israel's Rock of Protection

Israel's Rock of Protection

Not Them - Only Hashem

The struggles we face in trying to keep the Torah and mitzvot are incredibly precious to Hashem. In fact, they are the very reason we were placed in this world. When we have to struggle to do what's right, the mitzvah we perform becomes infinitely more meaningful. At times, we might wonder, "Doesn't Hashem want me to do this? So why is it so hard?" The answer is that of courseHashem wants us to do His will, and He often makes it challenging so that we can earn even greater reward through our effort. These difficulties are not obstacles; they are expressions of Hashem's love. When we view our tests this way, it becomes easier to rise above them. One woman, who had grown tremendously along with her husband and children, was preparing for her firstborn son's bar mitzvah. The family she is raising looks very different from the families she and her husband came from. She always tries to please everyone, so the pressure of making the event work for all sides weighed heavily on her. She prayed to Hashem to give her the strength to do what she knew was right — and to do it with joy. That morning, her young daughter had a school play. Her role was to be a bat kol , a heavenly voice, and she repeated the same phrase over and over: Stay strong. It's just a test. Do what's right. Hashem will be proud of you. Sitting in the audience, the woman was moved to tears. Those words felt like they were coming directly from Hashem. They gave her the strength and clarity she needed, and that night she celebrated the bar mitzvah in the way she believed would truly make Hashem proud. When a person sacrifices so much to fulfill a mitzvah, then when something unpredictable happens, Hashem often sends hidden help to ensure they succeed. A rabbi in Israel gives a daily Daf Yomi class with nearly 30 participants. He is extremely careful never to miss a session — they learn even during the most challenging times of the year. When he travels, he always arranges a substitute well in advance. Recently, on Shabbat Parashiyot Tazria/Metzora, he had to be out of town for a simchah and arranged a replacement. On Sunday morning, he asked the substitute how the class went. The man admitted — to the rabbi's shock — that he had prepared but completely forgot to show up. Worried, the rabbi asked one of the regular participants what happened. The man said they waited a long time for the replacement, and then a rabbi who teaches alef-bet in the local yeshiva walked in. They joked, "Here's the rabbi who'll give today's daf!" The alef-bet teacher asked which daf they were up to, and they told him: the first page of Masechet Shevuot. He sat down and proceeded to teach the entire daf — completely by heart. The group was astonished. The teacher explained that this was the only daf in all of Shas he had memorized — he had reviewed it 30 times. Out of more than 2,700 pages, this was the only one he could have taught without preparation. The Rabbi who leads this daff shiur is so careful to never miss. When an unexpected obstacle arose Hashem gave heavenly assistance. He prepared the perfect substitute in advance, ensuring the shiur would not be missed. Another woman had taken on the commitment of reciting Nishmat for 40 days, always at the same time so she wouldn't forget. One day, she had time off and went on a family trip. Before leaving, she grabbed a siddur — just in case someone might need it to say Birkat Hamazon . Later, when her alarm reminded her to say Nishmat , she panicked — she didn't have the specific booklet she usually used to say Nishmat with. Then she remembered: she had brought the siddur. It became clear that Hashem had orchestrated her grabbing that siddur so she wouldn't miss a day of her commitment. The challenges we face in doing mitzvot are meant to elevate us. And sometimes, when the situation is beyond our control, Hashem sends His help — if we've done our best to uphold our part. When we show dedication and care, Hashem responds in kind, guiding and supporting us in ways we might never expect.

In this riveting episode, Rabbi Joey Haber sits down with Nachi Gordon for an unfiltered, thought-provoking conversation that tackles some of the most pressing—and often taboo—questions in the Jewish world today. What does it really mean to live a Torah life in a world obsessed with status? How can we tell the difference between true mitzvah and materialism? Are we setting up our youth for failure by defining success through narrow expectations—like the 3-to-5-year Kollel rule? From the Syrian and Ashkenazi community dynamics to financial pressures, lavish weddings, and the emotional toll of the shidduch process, Rabbi Haber addresses it all—with clarity, humility, and refreshing honesty. This is more than a conversation—it's a mirror for our values and a wake-up call for our assumptions.   This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors: ►Blooms Kosher   Bring you the best Kosher products worldwide.   https://bloomskosher.com   ____________________________________________________ ► PZ Deals - Download the app and never pay full price again! https://app.pz.deals/install/mpp _____________________________________________________ ►Toveedo Visit- www.toveedo.com   Use Promo Code MM10 for 10% off! __________________________________________________ ► Superior CS Group Looking to cut overhead and boost productivity without sacrificing quality? Superior CS Group helps U.S. companies build high-performing remote teams with vetted global talent — at up to 50% less cost than local hires. From tech and marketing to admin and customer support, they handle hiring and day-to-day oversight.

At the end of this week's Parashat Naso , the Torah goes into great detail describing the donations brought by the Nesi'im to inaugurate the Mishkan. Remarkably, each Nasi brought the exact same offering, yet the Torah repeats the full list of items again and again—spanning about 56 pesukim . Why such repetition? The Torah is teaching us a profound lesson: Hashem treasures the efforts of every individual . Even when people perform a mitzvah as part of a group, Hashem values the actions of each person separately. In a shul, there might be hundreds of people reciting the same words, but to Hashem, every word uttered by each person is uniquely precious. There is no such thing as Hashem getting "bored" of repetition. He cherishes everything we say and everything we do—every tefillah, every act of kindness, every mitzvah. The same applies when we experience His presence in our lives. Even when similar moments of hashgachah peratit repeat, each one feels new and meaningful. We're often moved by others' stories of hashgachah , and they awaken in us a desire to see Hashem's hand in our own lives too. Sometimes, we think: Those stories are inspiring, but they never happen to me. Yet we are encouraged to always hope and pray that they do. About a month ago, a story circulated about a chatan who wished to feel his late father's presence at his wedding. Miraculously, around that time, someone from Israel arrived in New York with a letter that the chatan's father had written decades earlier. Through an incredible sequence of events, the letter ended up in the hands of this chatan —dated with the exact date of his wedding. The letter, addressed to a chatan on his wedding day, was written by his father years earlier on that very same Hebrew date. The message felt as though it had come directly from his father, offering blessings from shamayim . This story was shared at a siyyum on Masechet Bava Metzia . In the crowd sat a man named *Yaakov. Hearing the story, he silently wished that he too could receive something from his late father, who had passed away over 20 years ago. The very next day, as Yaakov opened his mail, he noticed an envelope that looked like another routine request. But inside, to his astonishment, was a handwritten letter—written by his father 50 years earlier to a close friend. That friend had just discovered the letter while cleaning for Pesach and thought it would be meaningful to send it to the son of his old friend. Yaakov was overwhelmed. He couldn't stop reading the letter. As he reached the bottom, he noticed a few words written in the opposite direction—a postscript from his father asking his friend where he was up to in Masechet Bava Metzia . Yaakov was stunned. He had just returned from a siyyum on Bava Metzia , where he had wished for a message from his father. Still in disbelief, Yaakov went to his sefarim shelf and opened his Gemara Bava Metzia . Inside was a sticky note marking that he still had to complete pages 50 through 54. It was as if his father was reminding him: Your siyyum isn't complete yet—finish it properly. In that moment, he felt a powerful connection, a personal hashgachah that touched his soul. Yes, the stories we hear really can happen to us. Hashem treasures everything we do, and we are uplifted when we recognize His presence in our lives. May we always feel close to Hashem. May we always sense His guidance. And may we continue to be inspired by the miracles—big and small—that surround us every day. Shabbat Shalom.

The story is told that on one Erev Rosh Hashanah, Rav Bunim of Peshischa came to his Rebbe, the Chozeh of Lublin, to receive a berachah. However, he noticed that the Chozeh was hesitant. At the time, Rav Bunim had a successful business, but the Chozeh revealed to him that he had seen a decree in Heaven that during the coming year, Rav Bunim would lose all of his parnassah. On Yom Kippur, Rav Bunim poured out his heart in tefillah, with sincere tears and deep emotion. Though his business later faced serious challenges and was nearly shut down, not only was it saved — his parnassah actually doubled. When Rav Bunim returned to the Chozeh on Erev Pesach, the Rebbe greeted him warmly and told him he knew with certainty that Rav Bunim's tefillah on Yom Kippur had shaken the heavens and changed the decree from hardship to great blessing. This story reminds us that our tefillot can do wonders, but only if we truly believe in their power. The Nefesh Shimshon explains that when Avraham Avinu established the tefillah of Shacharit, he didn't merely create a morning prayer; he infused it with his own spiritual energy and power. Every time we pray Shacharit, we do so with the merit and spiritual momentum of Avraham Avinu behind us. The same is true for Yitzchak Avinu, who established Minchah, and Yaakov Avinu, who established Arbit. These tefillot were not only composed — they were charged with the deepest essence of the Avot, and that strength continues to support our prayers today. Similarly, every time a person opens a Tehillim, they are not just reading words on a page — they are connecting to the neshama of David HaMelech. Each word of Tehillim is imbued with his spiritual strength, his longing, his struggles, and his closeness to Hashem. Hashem is already close to us, waiting to hear our every word. But now we understand that our tefillot are not coming from us alone — they are carried by the koach of those who established them. Chazal teach us that there is special power in a tefillah that comes with kavanah and tears. When we realize just how valuable our prayers are and how much they can accomplish, we gain new strength and motivation to pray with deeper emotion and sincerity. One woman shared her personal experience: she had been struggling with shidduchim for years. The suggestions that came her way were few and far between, and none of them seemed right. Still, she prayed daily to Hashem to send her the right zivug. What kept her emotionally afloat was the fact that she had good friends that she was close to, and then one day out of nowhere, one of her closest friends who had gotten married told her she would no longer be able to continue their relationship. This news was devastating to her. She spoke to this friend every day. She was her lifeline of support. Shortly afterward, she traveled to Eretz Yisrael. Before returning home, she went to the Kotel to pray. Instead of complaining and bemoaning her fate, she decided to channel all of her pain and emotion into the most heartfelt tefillah. She cried to Hashem for her zivug and in her words, it was the most powerful tefillah she had ever made. The very next day, upon returning home, she received a call from a shadchan with a new suggestion — the man she would soon marry. These stories illustrate that tefillah has the power to change everything. It is up to us to believe that Hashem is listening, and that every word we say matters. We are never alone. When we pray with heart and connect genuinely to Hashem, we can draw down brachot that are far beyond anything we could expect. As the pasuk says: קָרוֹב ה' לְכָל־קֹרְאָיו לְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִקְרָאֻהוּ בֶאֱמֶת (Tehillim 145:18) Let us strengthen ourselves to approach tefillah not as a routine, but as a living bridge to the Ribbono Shel Olam — a moment to pour out our soul, to draw from the merit of the Avot and tzaddikim, and to unlock the gates of blessing with every sincere word we say.

The Mishnah in Pirkei Avot teaches us how deeply beloved we are to Hashem — not only did He give us His precious Torah, but He also expressed His immense love by telling us just how valuable that gift is. Shavuot is a time to appreciate the Torah as our guiding light and to reflect on the responsibility that comes with such a gift. The pasuk in Tehillim states: " טוֹב לִי תוֹרַת פִּיךָ מֵאַלְפֵי זָהָב וָכָסֶף " — "The Torah of Your mouth is better for me than thousands of gold and silver pieces" (Tehillim 119:72). The mefarshim are puzzled: how can something eternal like the Torah be compared to something as finite and physical as gold and silver? One explanation is that, as physical beings, we naturally place high value on material wealth. The pasuk is providing a relatable point of comparison. To us, there is no greater earthly treasure than vast amounts of gold and silver — and yet, the Torah tells us its value pales in comparison to the Torah's worth. Hashem instilled within us an affinity for wealth specifically so we could begin to grasp, on our own terms, just a fraction of the Torah's true value. Yet, there lies a danger. Sometimes we become so enamored by the mashal that we lose sight of the nimshal — the deeper truth it's meant to teach. The Magen David explains this with a parable: A king wanted his subjects to appreciate his glory, so he adorned his officers in every province with the finest clothing, using wealth from the royal treasury. He hoped people would say, "If the officers are dressed like this, how much greater must the king be!" But instead, people fixated on the officers and forgot the king entirely. This is what happens when we glorify physical wealth and forget that it's merely a tool to help us appreciate the infinitely greater glory of Torah. Another pitfall comes when people view mitzvot as mere tools to achieve physical rewards. For example, someone may take on a 40-day acceptance to refrain from lashon hara in hopes of achieving a personal salvation. In such cases, the mitzvah becomes a means to an end — the salvation is the focus, not the growth. But this perspective is flawed. Physical rewards are minor side effects of the real reward — the mitzvah itself. No worldly pleasure could ever equal the spiritual elevation one receives from performing even the smallest mitzvah. If someone doesn't receive the outcome they were hoping for, they should still rejoice in the merit of having fulfilled a mitzvah. And if the desired outcome is granted, it should not diminish the value of the mitzvah, nor should one think it was only worthwhile because it "worked." The mitzvah brings a person closer to Hashem, elevates the neshama , and yields eternal benefit. The Chatam Sofer writes, to truly benefit from a mitzvah, one must first value it. Chazal tell us that tzitzit protect a person from sin — yet some wonder why they don't feel that protection. One reason might be a lack of appreciation for the mitzvah itself. If we don't value our mitzvot, we don't engage with them fully — and we miss out on their spiritual power. The same is true for all mitzvot. If a teacher of Torah to children understood that the world stands in the merit of what he is doing, he would never interrupt his class to check a message. If he truly internalized what the Kav HaYashar teaches — that 18,000 angels gather the words spoken by children learning Torah — he would not trade his role for anything in the world. Every word of Torah we learn is more precious than any material success this world can offer. Let us take the time to appreciate what we are privileged to do each day and thank Hashem for the indescribable zechut of sharing in His most precious gift — the Torah.

When a person recognizes Hashem's involvement in his life, he has a mitzvah not only to thank Hashem, but to also sing His praises. The pasuk says: " שִׁירוּ לוֹ זַמְּרוּ לוֹ שִׂיחוּ בְּכָל נִפְלְאוֹתָיו " — "Sing to Him, make music to Him, speak of all His wonders." (Divrei HaYamim I 16:9) We are meant to speak joyfully about the wondrous things Hashem does for us. Baruch Hashem, I have the zechut to hear so many stories of how people felt Hashem's hand in their lives. There's an email address where people send in their stories( livingemunah123@gmail.com ). I would like to share just a few that I recently received. What's so beautiful about some of these stories is how Hashem is involved even in the most mundane of tasks — something as simple as pressing a button. A woman who is an English teacher related that she had been working for years on developing an app to help students drill their English vocabulary. It was a long and exhausting process, and she hoped to secure a government tender that would allow her to sell the app to schools across Israel, helping her cover the high costs. But she hit a roadblock — the Ministry of Education wouldn't provide vendors with a list of schools and contact information. How could she sell her product without spending all her time manually searching for schools? Recently, while trying to look up a phone number on her computer — for the purpose of suggesting a shidduch — she accidentally pressed the wrong button. A file suddenly downloaded onto her computer. Curious, she opened it. To her shock, it was an Excel sheet with over 1,500 religious schools in Israel, complete with all their contact information. She had never even heard of such a list. But she didn't need to — Hashem had guided her fingers to press the exact button she needed. Another woman shared a story from a recent trip to Spain in late April. A nationwide power outage struck in the early afternoon, right as she and her husband were getting ready to catch a train to their next destination. The night before, she had purchased what she thought were train tickets via the railway app. But when she opened the app to confirm the departure time, she realized she had mistakenly bought bus tickets instead. She didn't even know that buses could be booked through the app! As it turned out, the train system had completely shut down due to the power outage, leaving passengers stuck for hours in the heat. Meanwhile, she and her husband boarded a comfortable, air-conditioned bus and arrived on time with no difficulties. Once again, Hashem had guided someone to press exactly the right button. A man submitted a powerful story about a fire that broke out a few weeks ago in fields near Beit Shemesh. He sent in a picture showing completely blackened, burnt fields surrounding a single patch of lush green. That green patch belonged to Moshav Matityahu — a religious moshav who keep Shemitah. The field manager was there as the flames approached. The trees — etrogim and rimonim — were in serious danger. But then, miraculously, the flames veered, forming a half-circle around this field, and moved on to burn the next one. Not a single tree of theirs was singed. It was clearly a bracha earned in the merit of keeping Shemitah. Tragically, the surrounding fields — which were not observing Shemitah — were all burned. Hashem can and does bless us in countless ways, sometimes in very visible miracles. One final story. A man had a specialist appointment last year. The waiting room had televisions playing on all sides, the volume blasting, and the content was extremely inappropriate. He tried his best not to look, but some of the images caught his eye and became lodged in his mind. He prayed deeply for Hashem to remove those images from his thoughts. A week later, he had a follow-up appointment at the same office. This time, before going, he poured out his heart to Hashem, asking not to be exposed to those same sights again. Miraculously, when he arrived, every screen was malfunctioning. The same clean advertisement played on a loop for the entire thirty minutes he was there. Other patients were complaining, but the staff could not fix it. Only he knew that it was an answer to his tefillah. Hashem is helping us constantly. It's our job to recognize His involvement, thank Him, and tell others about it. The more we speak of His wonders, the more aware we become of His presence in our lives — and the more reasons we find to sing His praises.

The Chovot HaLevavot teaches us that when it comes to avodat Hashem , we are rewarded for our desire to do a mitzvah —even if we're unable to carry it out. This means that even a poor man is rewarded for wanting to give tzedakah , even if he doesn't physically have the means to do so. Our choices and our will to perform mitzvot are the very reasons we were created. This is the one area in which a person is not allowed to say, "I'll trust that Hashem will put the desire in my heart to do His will." Hashem created us to make that decision on our own and to develop that desire ourselves—He will not do it for us. However, a person may—and should—pray that Hashem help him maintain his desire to do good and provide him with the right environment and conditions to carry it out. In fact, Hashem loves when we ask Him for help to fulfill His will. First, it is up to us to decide that we want to do His will; only then can we ask for His assistance in following through. Sometimes we face extremely difficult circumstances, and it seems we may have to compromise on the spiritual standards we've set for ourselves. But we must know: Hashem yearns for us to do His will. If we truly desire it and sincerely ask Him for help, He will move heaven and earth to make it possible. Rabbi Elimelech Biederman once received a letter from a man who had such an experience. A few years earlier, this man had been inspired to improve his shemirat einayim —guarding his eyes. He took on many personal stringencies to protect himself even from potential challenges. About a year ago, he began experiencing intense pain in a certain part of his body. After an initial exam, his doctor told him he needed to see a specialist. He strongly recommended a specific expert whose clinic was located in the outdoor plaza of a very popular mall. The area, and especially that particular mall, was known for attracting crowds dressed immodestly. The man had committed never to enter such places, but now it seemed he had no choice. His doctor insisted that seeing this specialist could be a matter of life and death. The next available appointment was in a few weeks, at a time when the weather would normally be beautiful and the mall would likely be packed. The man spent the following three weeks praying daily to Hashem for help in maintaining his shemirat einayim . On the day of his appointment, something remarkable happened. The skies opened and it began pouring rain—torrents of it. This was after the rainy season had already ended. Rain during this time was extremely rare. Nobody could believe the weather. The rain was so heavy that almost no one wanted to be outside. The man arrived for his appointment to find the mall practically empty. He was able to visit the specialist and—amazingly—he didn't encounter any immodesty, even inside the office. Even more incredible: as soon as he got home, the rain stopped and the sun came out as it typically did during that season. It was clear that Hashem had changed the weather to help him maintain his commitment to shemirat einayim . This man had already made the decision to guard his eyes, and he asked Hashem to help him succeed. Hashem responded in a wondrous way. Everyone can be helped in their spiritual pursuits. But first, we must develop a sincere and powerful desire to do Hashem's will. Once we take that step, we can ask Hashem for help—and He will always be there to guide us through.

Real Bitachon Real Results

Real Bitachon Real Results

Part of the gift of emunah is knowing that there is always purpose and meaning behind everything that happens in our lives. A wrong turn was meant to be, a bad purchase was meant to be — and the list goes on. When a person understands that there's purpose behind his so-called mistakes, he'll be able to feel calm even in situations that would naturally bring stress. A man was recently teaching emunah to a group of teenagers on a bus. He told them that nothing is a mistake, and that everything happens for a reason. Just then, the driver made a wrong turn. The speaker smiled and told the boys not to worry — it was Me'et Hashem . Amazingly, down that very road, there were nine Jews trying to complete a minyan for Mincha so someone could say Kaddish before sunset. The driver stopped the bus, they all got off, and they made the minyan. Another story: a woman received a message that a couple from her community had been hospitalized. She decided to visit them. Although the hospital was far and her day was full, she baked fresh challot that morning and brought some along to give them. When she arrived, someone at the hospital commented how much he loves challah. She apologized, explaining that she had brought the bread for the couple she came to visit. A short while later, she discovered that the couple had actually been discharged earlier that day. In the past, this woman would have been frustrated over going so far for "nothing." But now, with emunah, she just smiled and said, "I'm so happy that I work for You, Hashem. If I'm here, that means You wanted me to be here." She went back, gave the challot to the man who had admired them, and made his day. She doesn't know why Hashem arranged for her to receive that message and believe the couple was still there. But she knows there was a reason — and she was grateful to be part of His plan. אין עוד מלבדו — we are always where we are meant to be. A man shared that one morning, his chavruta wanted to learn and pray earlier than usual. Because of this, he got home earlier. Just as he arrived, he saw his wife about to enter her car — and a man was sitting inside, trying to steal it. He was able to detain the thief until the police arrived. His chavruta had his own reasons for starting earlier, but clearly, it was all part of Hashem's orchestration, ensuring this man would be home at the exact moment his wife was in danger. Another story: a woman received two precious rings from her grandmother. Each night, she removed them and wore them again the next day. One day, she couldn't find them. She searched the house thoroughly. Days passed. She prayed, did segulot , but it seemed the rings were lost. Then, at 2:30 a.m., she woke up with a sudden thought — maybe she had put them in the pocket of a shirt. That very shirt was in the laundry bag, which her husband was going to take to the cleaners in the morning. She rushed downstairs — and there were the rings, right in the pocket. They were very expensive and most likely would not have come back once they went to the cleaners. Hashem woke her up with that thought just a few hours before her husband was going to take them. Every moment of our lives is calculated. Hashem governs every second with precise purpose and meaning. Wherever we find ourselves, and whatever we're doing — we are working for Hashem. He has a unique job for each of us at all times!

This is the extraordinary journey of Rabbi Mendy Chitric, a Chabad rabbi based in Turkey. Born in Swat, Pakistan, and part of an 11th-generation Chabad family, Rabbi Chitric has spent the last 25 years serving the Jewish community in Istanbul — a city where Jewish life dates back 2,700 years. Originally planning to stay for just one year, Rabbi Chitric remained to answer the needs of a community facing significant challenges: assimilation, declining population, and a need for strong Jewish infrastructure. This video dives deep into Rabbi Chitric's insights on:

In Parashat Behar, we are introduced to the mitzvah of Shemitah — the command for a landowner to let his land rest for an entire year. The Gemara in Sanhedrin teaches that one of the reasons behind this mitzvah is to remind the landowner that the land ultimately belongs to Hashem. It is Hashem who determines how much produce the land will yield and when it will be given. The farmer's efforts do not add to or subtract from that decision. This lesson applies to all forms of livelihood. The mitzvah of Shemitah teaches us that parnasah comes only from Hashem, and it is He who decides when and how much a person will receive. In the case of Shemitah, Hashem even provides extra produce before the seventh year begins — showing that He already knows who will follow the mitzvah and provides accordingly. More broadly, the Chovot HaLevavot gives guidance on how to approach our work with the proper mindset. In Sha'ar HaBitachon, perek dalet, he writes that Hashem does not instruct a person which job to take or what merchandise to sell. Therefore,it is only logical to conclude that a person's responsibility is to pray to Hashem for guidance and trust that He will guide him to the business that he wants him to be in. If the options in front of a person are equal in spiritual terms, he can be confident that whichever one he chooses is the one Hashem wants for him. Even if, in hindsight, another option appears to have been more successful or profitable, it does not mean the person made a mistake. Similarly, a person must know that he is never stuck — he can leave a job that no longer suits him — but he also must know that wherever he was until now was part of Hashem's plan. When it comes to Torah and mitzvot, however, Hashem has given us clear instructions. That is where our choices matter most. In the physical realm, though, where no clear command exists, Hashem takes responsibility to guide us where we need to be. For example, if a girl is offered a potential shidduch and chooses to date a certain boy who seems to be the best match, but ultimately it doesn't work out — and later she finds that another suggestion proves to be the right one — it does not mean she made the wrong choice. It also does not mean that had she chosen differently from the start, things would have been smoother. Hashem had reasons for wanting her to go through the earlier process. Every experience, even unsuccessful ones, shapes a person and contributes to his or her growth. The key is to avoid regret when it comes to decisions in the physical world. We must believe that Hashem is constantly guiding us. Even if new information comes to light that would have changed a decision, it still doesn't mean the decision was wrong. If Hashem had wanted us to act differently, He would have arranged for us to have that information sooner. Whenever we feel regret — thinking we would have been more successful or happier had we chosen differently — we must see that as an opportunity to strengthen our emunah. It is Hashem who decides our financial success, and what has occurred until now was never dependent on our choices. Success is not about choosing the right job, field, or investment. It's about placing our trust in the One who controls all outcomes. It is not the business or merchandise that brings parnasah — only Hashem does. To Him, it doesn't matter which field we choose. We are always led to choose what we are meant to choose, and our parnasah is exactly what Hashem has decreed for us. Our decisions never change that. Shabbat Shalom

There are times when Hashem wants to give a person a great blessing, but in that person's current spiritual state, he is not yet worthy of receiving it. So Hashem sends him a challenge, a test. If he overcomes it, he becomes deserving of the blessing Hashem already wants to give. Sometimes a person prays day and night for something, yet it doesn't come. It may be that Hashem is placing tests in his path—tests that would make him worthy of receiving what he's asking for—but he isn't passing them. We must learn to view every test as a precious opportunity, a key that might unlock the blessing we've been yearning for. A young man told me that he's naturally stingy. This past year, he made a conscious decision to avoid going to the large shul he usually attends on Purim because of the many collectors he'd encounter. He had learned that on Purim, כל הפושט יד נותנים לו , whoever asks must be given, and he felt very uneasy about it. That year, Purim fell on a Friday. That afternoon, his wife asked him to pick something up from the butcher. While he was waiting in line, a poor woman with a small cart approached him and asked if he could help her buy food for Shabbat. With no choice, he agreed. Then she asked, "Would it be okay if I go pick up a couple more things?" He wanted to say no. But then he paused and recognized that this was clearly a test from Hashem. He told her she could get whatever she needed. She walked to the freezer section and began piling item after item into her cart. When she returned, the cart was full. The young man was sweating with discomfort. But he turned to Hashem and said, "I won't fail this test." With a big smile, he swiped his card and paid. The woman was overwhelmed with gratitude and showered him with heartfelt blessings. He answered "Amen" to each one and went home. There were many things he needed in life, and he was hoping this test would open the gates to those blessings. We can never know for certain what causes what—but that Sunday, just two days later, his parents, who had bought a house many years earlier for him to use in the future, called to tell him that their current tenants were leaving. They decided to give him the house right away. This was an incredible yeshua for him and his family, who had been living in a very cramped apartment. Not long after that, he had to take a very difficult licensing exam for a specific job. The pass rate was just 15%. He took the test and felt sure he hadn't passed. But when the results came back— ברוך ה׳ , he had not only passed but scored very well. The two major blessings he had been hoping for came true. Was it all because he passed that test in the supermarket? We'll never know for sure—but in his eyes, that was clearly the turning point. Hashem cherishes every effort we make, and sometimes He shows us how much. Another man told me that after selling a property he had owned, several friends and acquaintances heard about the sale. One approached him asking for a loan. Knowing what it's like to need help, he happily gave it. A few days later, another person asked—and again, he gave. A week after that, a third person requested a large loan. Now he began to hesitate. But he said to himself, ברוך ה׳ , I have the means right now. What better way to use it than to help another Jew in need? So he gave the third loan too. Soon after, he started thinking about past loans that had never been repaid. One significant loan came to mind. He decided to send a gentle reminder via text. The borrower responded immediately, saying he was ready to repay. Then he called to explain what had just happened: About an hour earlier, he received a payment from an employer who had owed him money for a long time. It came unexpectedly. When the money came in, he thought to himself that he should use it to repay someone he had borrowed from. He had forgotten all about this specific loan—until the text arrived. Now he knew exactly where the money should go. I told the lender, "Look what Hashem just did for you. You extended yourself to help others, and Hashem showed you that He noticed and appreciated it. T his man who owed you didn't have the money to pay. So Hashem caused his employer from years before to pay him out of the blue, so he would have the money to pay you back when you asked him. " Everything we do is so precious in Hashem's eyes. Every challenge, every act of giving, every moment of restraint is seen, and none of it goes unnoticed. Let us view each test as the opportunity it truly is. " ה׳ צדיק יבחן " — Hashem tests the righteous. And when they pass, the blessings follow.

Kli Yakar explains the reasoning for the prohibition of lending/borrowing with interest, and the general mindset of one who is working for parnassa.

We know that the essence of a person is his Neshama . The body is merely a casing, and death simply means that the person comes out of that casing and continues to live — just in a better place. There isn't even one split second when a person is not fully alive. The moment of death is only the moment when the casing is removed. Sometimes, we are privileged to see clearly — even in this world — the eternity of the Neshama. A rabbi once related that many years ago, he was hired by a shul to give a series of classes, for which he was promised $2,000 upon completion. He gave the shiurim, but the payment never arrived. The president of the shul told him that the check would come in the mail, but apparently, it slipped his mind — because it never did. About a year later, the rabbi happened to meet the shul's treasurer. They made small talk, and during the conversation, it came to light that the rabbi had never been paid. The treasurer was horrified and told the rabbi that he would personally take care of it and get reimbursed by the shul. He then took $1,000 out of his own pocket and handed it to the rabbi. Before parting, he said, "I personally guarantee you will get the second $1,000 as well." Just a few days later, the treasurer became very sick. He was hospitalized and, tragically, passed away within two weeks. Some time afterward, the rabbi of that same shul called the original rabbi to his office. As soon as he arrived, the rabbi handed him an envelope with $1,000. "This," he said, "is from the treasurer who recently passed away." Puzzled, the rabbi asked, "How did you know about the treasurer's promise? No one else knew — only he and I." The rabbi replied, "My wife had a dream. The treasurer appeared to her and told her he wasn't allowed into Gan Eden because of an unpaid promise. He asked that the money be given right away to fulfill his word." There was no way anyone could have known about that promise — except if the treasurer had truly come back from the next world to make things right. When a person passes away, his life does not end. He simply relocates — to a far better place. A man shared the following story that he heard firsthand from someone named Reuven. Reuven said that in Poland, during the Holocaust, a man lost his wife and was left raising their only son alone. At one point, they were separated, and the father was forced to flee for his life. He was almost certain that his three-year-old son had not survived. Four years later, one night, the man's wife appeared to him in a dream. She told him that their son was still alive and he must go find him. At first, he dismissed it as just a dream. But then it happened again. The father returned to his hometown and discovered that a righteous gentile had rescued several Jewish children during the war. He tracked this man down, entered his home — and there he saw his seven-year-old son. He recognized him immediately. ברוך ה׳ , he was able to raise his son in Torah and mitzvot, and eventually, the boy grew into a man who built a beautiful Torah family. Reuven concluded, "I know this story is true — because I was that seven-year-old boy. It was my mother who came to my father in a dream and told him I was still alive." The next world is very real. As it says in קהלת : וְיָשֹׁב הֶעָפָר עַל הָאָרֶץ כְּשֶׁהָיָה וְהָרוּחַ תָּשׁוּב אֶל הָאֱלֹקים אֲשֶׁר נְתָנָהּ — "And the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it." If a person fulfills his mission in this world, he will experience the greatest bliss — for all eternity

A man said he has done a certain segula in the hope that he would be married within a year. However, the year has passed, and he is still in the same position. He feels let down and is in need of chizuk . This sentiment is shared by many others who have had the same types of letdowns. A woman once told me she took upon herself to be careful in the area of modesty in the hope that she would have righteous children. However, when she did not see her children acting in the way she hoped, in her words, she became disenchanted with tziniut . What chizuk can we give people in situations where they have followed the advice of our Rabbis and grown spiritually in the hope of being granted something they need, but have not gotten what they have expected? The Mishnah says in Pirkeh Avot , שכר מצוה מצוה – the reward for doing a mitzvah is that Hashem will give the person an opportunity to do another mitzvah. Although we love to see immediate benefits from our actions, Hashem wants us to have the ultimate benefit, eternal bliss. There is nothing in this world that could compare to the pleasure we will receive in the Next World for our mitzvot. The greatest gift that Hashem could give a person is something that is going to make him happy for eternity, not just for the moment. Being that in many instances, we do see side benefits in this world for our performance of mitzvot, when those side benefits do not come about, it presents us with a wondrous opportunity to earn infinite rewards for our avodat Hashem. This is because it is then that we can display our emunah and tell Hashem, we know You are appreciating what we are doing, we know You are trustworthy to reward us the way You know is best, so we are going to continue growing and continue to serve You to the best of our ability. If someone has taken something upon himself as a zechut and he didn't see the side benefit he was expecting, if he would continue doing that avodat Hashem, every moment of it would become infinitely greater. That itself may very well be the immediate reward that Hashem is giving him, the opportunity to soar to the greatest heights. Yosef HaTzaddik was presented with one of the most difficult tests in all of history. With superhuman strength, he overcame that test. We can only imagine Yosef's tefilot every day, stuck in Mitzrayim as a slave to Potifar, he must have been begging Hashem to go back home and be reunited with his father, where he could once again be surrounded by kedusha . He must have thought that in the zechut of overcoming that enormous test, Hashem would bring him out of Egypt. But instead, he was thrown into a prison for 12 years. Yosef could have easily said, "That's what I get for being a tzaddik ? Why should I continue?" Yet, the Toldot Adam in parashat Vayeshev writes that the pasuk testified, Yosef maintained all of his levels of righteousness throughout the entire time he was in prison, as it says, ויהי שם בבית הסוהר – and the word שם means the same as he was before. This opportunity for Yosef to remain righteous despite that letdown, is precisely what made him into the great tzaddik that he became. That episode of being thrown into prison was part of the reward that Yosef received for his tzidkut , being given the chance to become Yosef HaTzaddik that we are still learning from today. A man told that he went to the Kotel for 40 consecutive days to pray for a shidduch . When the 40 days were up, he waited with anticipation of his long-awaited salvation, but nothing came. However, rather than turn the other way, he decided to double his efforts. He went to pray by the Kotel for the next 80 consecutive days. Some time after that, he did get engaged. But that was not his ultimate reward. The fact that he got that opportunity to show his emunah in Hashem(when the salvation didn't come) and used it to pray even harder for a longer period of time was his greatest gain, and it is going to last him for all eternity. We love to see the benefits in this world as well, and we hope that we will see them, but in the meantime, if the efforts we have been putting forth did not yet produce the results we were hoping for, we should utilize the time to earn the ultimate reward, serving Hashem with steadfast emunah.

As War and Judgments Rise

David HaMelech tells us in Tehillim, וצדקתך ירננו , which the Sha'arei Chaim explains to mean that even when we face difficulties, we are meant to respond by singing to Hashem. How is that possible? The pesukim before reveal the secret: דור לדור ישבח מעשיך —each generation should relate to the next the chesed they have seen from Hashem in their lives. ודברי נפלאותיך אשיחה —David HaMelech would constantly speak, even in everyday conversation, about the wonders of Hashem. וגדולתך אספרנה —he would speak of the endless greatness and kindness Hashem bestows upon the world. זכר רב טובך יביעו —our mouths should overflow with praise for Hashem's goodness like a spring that never runs dry. If a person constantly talks about Hashem's kindness, then when something happens that appears negative, it won't shake him. He'll already be fortified with the understanding that Hashem only does good. The Midrash says that from the day Hashem created the world, no one sang shirah until Bnei Yisrael sang אז ישיר at Keri'at Yam Suf. The Sfat Emet asks: we know Adam HaRishon sang shirah— מזמור שיר ליום השבת —as did others. What does it mean that no one sang until Az Yashir? He explains that until that moment, people only sang about the salvation after it came. But at Yam Suf, Bnei Yisrael reached a higher level—they sang about the difficulties too, because they saw that even the hardships were part of Hashem's goodness. אמר אויב ארדף אשיג —they sang about Pharaoh chasing them. מי כמוך באלים ה׳ —they declared; Who is like You among the mighty, Hashem? Chazal explain on this phrase: מי כמוך באלמים ה׳ —Who is like You, Hashem, who remains silent when the worst seems to be happening? How could Hashem be silent when the enemy entered the Beit HaMikdash to destroy it? When Titus HaRasha stabbed the parochet and blood came pouring out? When the resha'im tormented His beloved people in Mitzrayim and, centuries later, in Nazi Germany? At Yam Suf, Bnei Yisrael understood the greatness of Hashem: that He could remain silent because only He saw the ultimate good in every moment. Even the most painful events, seemingly caused by human actions, were all orchestrated by Hashem for our benefit. In the Haggadah, we say: לבן ביקש לעקור את הכל -וירד מצרימה . The mefarshim ask, what's the connection between Lavan wanting to destroy Yaakov and the descent to Mitzrayim? They explain that Lavan's switching of Rachel for Leah led to the shevatim being born from different mothers. Rachel, being the more beloved wife, caused the brothers to feel resentment toward her son, Yosef. That led to Yosef being sold—and eventually to the entire family descending to Egypt. This wasn't really Lavan's doing. Hashem had planned it from the time He told Avraham Avinu that his children would be strangers in a land not their own. Nothing is random. People are not in control—only Hashem is. And He does everything for our good. The more we speak about His hashgachah, His chesed, and His love for us, the more these truths will sink into our hearts. Then, when difficulties arise, we'll have the strength to sing even through the pain. In the future, Hashem will reveal to us all the good behind every event. But if we can trust Him now—before the light shines through—and sing in the darkness, we will reach the highest spiritual levels.

On Lag BaOmer, Mirlana Morris opens up about the life and legacy of her son Donny, who tragically passed away in the Meron disaster of 2021. In a deeply moving conversation, Mirlana shares intimate memories of Donny's character — a vibrant, kind, and meticulous young man who touched countless lives with his quiet acts of kindness and sincerity. From his early years in Teaneck, NJ, to his transformative time at Yeshivat Sha'alvim in Israel, Donny stood out for his warmth, discipline, and inclusivity. Mirlana recounts the events of that painful night, the confusion and heartbreak that followed, and the powerful stories that emerged afterward — from Donny comforting kids at camp to always making sure to call his grandmother before Shabbat. Despite the unimaginable loss, she speaks about Donny's enduring impact and how he continues to inspire others through small, thoughtful actions. This emotional tribute is a testament to how one young life can make an everlasting difference. This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors: ►Blooms Kosher   Bring you the best Kosher products worldwide.   https://bloomskosher.com   ____________________________________________________ ► PZ Deals - Download the app and never pay full price again! https://app.pz.deals/install/mpp  _____________________________________________________ ►Toveedo Visit- https://toveedoshop.com   Use Promo Code MM10 for 10% off! __________________________________________________ ► Superior CS Group Looking to cut overhead and boost productivity without sacrificing quality? Superior CS Group helps U.S. companies build high-performing remote teams with vetted global talent — at up to 50% less cost than local hires. From tech and marketing to admin and customer support, they handle hiring and day-to-day oversight.

B”H In this episode of Ask Yael Friday, Yael Trusch, Host of Jewish Money Matters Podcast answers listeners questions about: Bitachon and life insurance policy – does having one contradict the other? Starting to have Money Dates after thirty years of marriage – is it worth it? Advice for newly weds starting life together vs. […] The post 434: Ask Yael — Advice for newly weds vs those married for many years appeared first on Yael Trusch.

The pasuk in this week's parasha , Emor , says: מִמּוֹשְׁבֹתֵיכֶם תָּבִיאוּ לֶחֶם תְּנוּפָה "From your dwelling places, you shall bring bread that shall be waved." ( Vayikra 23:17) This refers to the shtei ha-lechem offering brought on Shavuot . The Sefer Zara D'Yosef brings a beautiful homiletical interpretation from the author of Melo HaRo'im al HaShas . Some people believe that the reason they have a good parnasah is because their business is in a great location—throngs of people pass by, and many of them stop in to make purchases. To such thinking, the Torah responds with astonishment: מִמּוֹשְׁבֹתֵיכֶם תָּבִיאוּ לֶחֶם Do you really think it's from your moshavot —your location—that you bring in bread? The Torah then says: תְּנוּפָה This word, tenufah , which usually refers to the waving of the offering, can be understood here as: tenu peh —"give your mouth," meaning tefillah . The true source of parnasah is Hashem , and we must turn to Him in prayer. That is the real source of blessing. One reason Hashem made it that we need parnasah is so that we would be constantly drawn to ask Him for it. There is nothing more beneficial than having a close connection with Hashem , speaking to Him at all times. We should never take anything for granted. Rav Elimelech miLezhensk once had a student who received a weekly stipend and had all his meals provided for. Thinking he no longer needed to pray for parnasah , he stopped doing so. That same day, when meals were distributed, this student was the only one not given a fork. It took so long to receive one that by the time he got it, his food was cold. Rav Elimelech told him, "Even for a fork, you must pray to Hashem ." Rav Shmuel Tefilinsky wrote in a kuntres that if someone is struggling with parnasah or being pressured by a creditor, he should not think that a poor decision or particular event caused his situation. Hashem orchestrates all circumstances. He alone decides how much a person will earn or lose, and He has infinite ways to provide for someone. Sometimes, Hashem doesn't even need to send money—He fulfills our needs in other, unexpected ways. One man shared that he lived in what he called a "little hole"—a tiny attic apartment, barely big enough for a table, bed, and lamp, far above the other floors in a building. When people asked about his future plans, he always said, "I want an apartment in Yerushalayim." Everyone thought he was unrealistic—he couldn't even afford a regular apartment in a cheaper area, and yet he was dreaming of Yerushalayim, where apartments were well over two million shekels. His wife urged him to be more practical. But he would say, "No matter what apartment we get, we'll need money we don't have. Since Hashem is the source of that money, and He owns all the gold and silver in the world, there's no difference to Him whether He gives us 800,000 shekels or 2.2 million. It's all the same to Him." Every day, he prayed from the depths of his heart for an apartment in Yerushalayim, where he hoped to live a more spiritual life. One day, walking through a Jerusalem street, a man approached him and asked if he knew anyone looking for an apartment in Yerushalayim. "I am," he said immediately. The man pointed to a nearby building and explained that the apartment there had been on the market for years. Every deal had fallen through at the last minute. Now, the owner was desperate and willing to sell it for nearly half the original price. The man visited the apartment—it was spacious and just what he wanted. The price: under one million shekels. If someone had told him that people would eventually be begging him to buy an apartment in Yerushalayim at an affordable price, he would have said it sounds impossible. But with Hashem , nothing is impossible. He bought it and moved into his dream apartment. All because of tefillah and emunah . Parnasah comes only from Hashem , and He can provide everything a person needs—whether through money or without it. Shabbat Shalom

Tonight is Lag BaOmer. There is a minhag to hold a festive meal in honor of the holy Tanna, Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai. The Maharil writes in a teshuvah that a seudah made in honor of a talmid chacham has the status of a seudat mitzvah, because it is like eating in the radiance of the Shechinah. Therefore, a meal in honor of Rabbi Shimon carries has status of a seudat mitzvah(for certain halachot). It is also a minhag to light bonfires on Lag BaOmer, and the Bnei Yissaschar explains the reason based on the teachings of the Zohar. On the day Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai passed away—Lag BaOmer—he would not allow the sun to set before he finished revealing the deep secrets of the Torah to his students. Hashem had already decreed that Rashbi would pass away on that very day, but the Torah he wished to transmit was too vast to finish in time. Miraculously, he was able to stop the sun until he had completed his teachings. The special light that radiated from the Torah he was teaching outshone even the light of the sun. It was in the merit of this spiritual light—drawn from the hidden light, the Or HaGanuz—that the day was miraculously lengthened. This is the deeper reason why we light bonfires on this holy day. The Siddur of the Yaavetz notes that Lag BaOmer is considered a holiday instituted by the Chachamim. In the Sefirat HaOmer, Lag BaOmer corresponds to Hod shebeHod, which represents the strictest form of judgment. Yet, it is known that if a Sanhedrin unanimously rules someone guilty, he is actually exonerated. So too, on this day, harsh judgments are sweetened, and Hashem showers His chesed upon us. The Chatam Sofer writes in his derashot on the Omer that Lag BaOmer has the power of Yom Kippur within it. Throughout the generations, many people have experienced yeshuot on this day in the merit of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai. Sincere tefillah is always powerful—but on a holy day like this, it is even more so. A man named Yosef shared a story. One night, after finishing his learning in the beit midrash as usual, a man approached him and urged him to come to his car. The man explained that every Monday night, a local bakery gives him all of the day's leftovers, which he distributes to others. He had noticed Yosef's dedication to learning and wanted to offer some baked goods to him. Though the offer seemed unusual, Yosef went along with it. The bakery indeed had many delicious leftovers, and Yosef happily brought them home to his family. He hoped to surprise his children, but to his surprise, they asked him, "Did you bring home any baguettes?" Yosef, amazed, asked how they knew. They told him they had prayed to Hashem for it. Eagerly interrupting one another, the children shared the full story. Yosef's daughter, who was learning photography, had a project in which she wanted to photograph a baby holding a baguette. Normally, Yosef would never buy a baguette just for a photo. So instead, his daughter gathered all her siblings and asked them to pray to Hashem to send them a baguette—without having to buy it. It was a genuine tefillah, full of emunah that Hashem listens to every prayer. A few hours later, their father walked through the door with exactly what they had asked for—and even more. This story is a reminder that tefillah is powerful, even the simplest prayers for the simplest things. Let us tap into the koach of tefillah on this great day of Lag BaOmer. With the help of Hashem, may we all see blessings and yeshuot.

A man once informed the Chazon Ish that a plane with 70 passengers had crashed and there were no survivors, לא עלינו . He proceeded to tell the rabbi the cause of the crash. The people who were there were eager to hear what the Chazon Ish would say about the incident—to hear the Torah perspective and gain the proper outlook on such a terrible tragedy. The Chazon Ish responded that this is not the way the story should be told. The correct way to describe it is like this: The Creator of the world decreed that 70 individuals were to end their lives on that day. And so, He gathered them all onto one plane. There was one man who was not included in that decree, and so Hashem made him miss the flight. There was someone else who hadn't planned to fly that day, but when he heard that there was a free seat, he joined the flight—not because of bad luck, but because it had been decreed for him to pass away that day. Whether an event happens or does not happen depends solely on the word of Hashem. Human actions are merely the vehicles that bring about the plan that Hashem has already set in motion. This is pure אמונה . A person must internalize that causes are not what determine events. First comes the decree of Hashem, and only afterward come the apparent causes. If someone is meant to have a certain amount of money, it is not his actions that produce the result—it is the decree of Hashem that brings it about. That being said, a person should know he never has to do anything shady to receive what is meant for him. Hashem has infinite ways of giving a person פרנסה , and when someone is presented with an opportunity to earn it through lying or cheating, it is a test for him to overcome. He will never lose by doing what is right, and although he may not see immediate benefit, that's all part of the test. Those who act with falsehood may see immediate gains from their actions, but if the money they earned was truly meant for them, they would have received it in a Kosher way. And if it wasn't meant for them, they will ultimately lose it. A man told me he asked his sons if they wanted to contribute money to a betting pool on a certain sporting event. Most of them said yes, but one of them—who is a rabbi—said he didn't feel comfortable betting on a sporting event and declined. The next day, the four who participated won a total of $12,000 and divided it equally, giving each person $3,000. One of the siblings said to the rabbi that he felt bad the rabbi didn't join, because he could have won a lot of money. The very next day, the rabbi's name was called in an auction at his children's Yeshiva, and he won a gift certificate worth $3,500. He saw clearly that if he is meant to earn money, Hashem has infinite ways of giving it to him. The more Emunah a person has, the more confident he becomes that Hashem is involved in every moment of his life. Sometimes it feels like Hashem is not there—but that is exactly when we need to use our Emunah the most, and understand that He is with us, listening to every word we say and watching every action we take. A woman told me she was going through a difficult time and decided to open her Tehillim and start reading from the beginning. When she reached near the end of פרק ס״ו (chapter 66), she lifted her eyes and wondered if Hashem was really listening to herTehillim. She then looked back down into the book and, astonishingly, the next words were: אכן שמע אלוקים, הקשיב בקול תפלתי In truth, Hashem has heard; He has paid attention to the sound of my prayer. Exactly what she had been wondering was answered in the very next line she was about to read. She felt so comforted, sensing the closeness of Hashem. And although she was in a difficult time, that moment gave her the strength to persevere. Hashem is in control of every last thing that happens at every moment of every day. It is up to us to recognize that and act accordingly.

There is nothing a person can accomplish without Hashem's help—and with Hashem's help, anything is possible. Even the smallest tasks require siyata dishmaya . A man shared an experience at an airport with his family. They were waiting for their last piece of luggage to appear on the carousel. His daughter asked if she could be the one to retrieve it, and he agreed. As the suitcase came around, she prepared to grab it—but in that moment, a single strand of her hair got caught on another piece of their luggage. This slight delay caused her to miss the suitcase, and due to the crowd, they couldn't retrieve it until it came around again. The man took a powerful lesson from that experience. His daughter had been ready, nothing seemingly stood in her way—yet, clearly, it was Hashem's will for them to wait a few more minutes. Hashem orchestrated it through something as small as a hair. We often have no idea how much He is helping us, even in delays or setbacks. Rabbi David Ammon, Rosh Yeshiva of Noam HaTorah in Israel, recounted a remarkable story. While in Los Angeles on Yom Tov, he was walking to deliver a shiur when he realized a few blocks from his home that he had worn the wrong suit jacket. He turned back to change. Upon his return, a man approached him and asked how he had known to turn around at that moment. Confused, the rabbi asked what he meant. The man explained that moments after the rabbi had turned back, a massive piece of a tree—thirty feet tall—crashed down on the exact path he had been walking. Because of the noise of traffic, the rabbi hadn't even heard it. He was completely unaware that Hashem had just saved his life by prompting him to wear the wrong jacket. On another occasion, Rabbi Ammon shared a story from a yeshiva trip to Europe. While visiting holy sites, someone recommended a sacred shul where three great tzaddikim had once served as rabbis. Entry was by appointment only, which they didn't have, but since they were nearby, they decided to stop by. Miraculously, someone with a key happened to be there at that exact moment to open the doors. Minutes later, a small group arrived—the ones who actually had the appointment. They had come hoping to hold a kumzitz , singing praises to Hashem in the holy site. Seeing the 30 yeshiva boys, they invited them to join, and together they shared what became the most uplifting experience of their trip. Appointments to that shul are rare, often just one or two per day. Hashem had clearly orchestrated the perfect timing for both groups to be there. Another man shared a story involving his son's bar mitzvah. He desperately needed a pair of tefillin but couldn't afford them. He contacted an organization that helps low-income families acquire tefillin , and they added his son to the waiting list. Days later, the organization called with news: a man named Shimon wanted to donate a pair and was given the boy's information. When they spoke to Shimon, he explained how it all unfolded. He had met a man in Williamsburg with a rare talent: the ability to instantly convert any secular date to its corresponding Hebrew date, even decades into the past or future. Shimon gave his secular birthday, and the man replied: "28th of Av." Shimon disagreed, saying it was the 29th. The man insisted. Upon investigation, Shimon discovered that his father had mistakenly told him the wrong date. His birthday occurred during a Yom Kippur Katan tefillah, typically held on the 29th of Av—the day before Rosh Chodesh . But that year, Rosh Chodesh fell on Shabbat, so the tefillah had been pushed up to Thursday, the 28th. Following his family's tradition, Shimon had not begun wearing tefillin until his exact bar mitzvah date—meaning he had missed his first day due to the error. This realization devastated him. He prayed for guidance and atonement. Weeks later, while attending a class, he heard the rabbi mention that if someone accidentally misses a day of tefillin , one way to atone is by donating a pair to someone in need. Overjoyed by the clarity and opportunity, Shimon contacted the organization immediately—and was connected with the bar mitzvah boy in need. Hashem guided each detail of this story—from revealing the mistaken date, to teaching Shimon how to atone, to connecting him with someone whose need matched perfectly with his desire to give. These stories remind us that Hashem is present in every moment and every detail of our lives. From a missed suitcase to a falling tree, from a sacred visit to a humble act of giving—He orchestrates everything with purpose. The more we ask Hashem for help, the more we see His hand in our lives.

There are times when a person has a need, but in order to fulfill it, it seems he must go through a long and difficult process first. He wishes he had realized earlier that he would need it, so he could have started working on it months in advance. We must understand that when we come to Hashem to ask for His help, He already knows what we are going to request. Very often, Hashem prepares what we need even before we realize we're going to need it, and He waits for us to come and pray so He can give it to us. As we say, " טרם יקראו ואני אענה " – "Before they call, I will answer." Sometimes He gives to us even before we ask, and sometimes He prepares everything in advance so that our salvation is ready the moment we do ask. I recently heard a story that beautifully illustrates how Hashem works behind the scenes, long before a request is ever made. A man from Israel, whom we'll call Yaakov, was going through some old papers that belonged to his father, who had passed away years earlier. Among them were many beautifully written דברי תורה that he wanted to publish as a pamphlet. When he needed to travel to New York, he brought all the papers with him on the plane to review. While reading through them, he found a letter written to his father by a man named Pfefferkorn. It was a beautifully written letter, but it wasn't a דבר תורה , so he did not plan to include it in the booklet. While in New York, Yaakov went to pray at a Vizhnitz shul. There, he noticed a tallit bag with the name Pfefferkorn on it. Curious, he took out the letter and asked the man there if he recognized the name. The man said he did—it was actually his own brother, who had since passed away. Yaakov gave him the letter to keep, and the man placed it in his wallet. The next day, this man(Pfefferkorn) met his nephew—the son of his deceased brother—who was getting married the following day. As a meaningful gesture, he handed him the letter his father had written years earlier. The chatan began to read the letter and suddenly burst into tears. He explained that just a few days before, he had gone to pray at his father's grave. While there, he mentioned a teaching from the Zohar that says the souls of departed loved ones can attend the weddings of their descendants to share in their simcha . He had asked Hashem to let him feel his father's presence at his wedding. Now, just a day before his wedding, he was holding a letter his father had written long ago. It began with the words " מזל טוב לרגל נישואיך " – "Mazal tov on the occasion of your wedding." The letter went on to offer heartfelt blessings and ended with the words " שתזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל " – "May you merit to build a faithful home in Israel." It was as if his father was speaking directly to him. Even more incredibly, the letter was dated with the exact date of his upcoming wedding—just years earlier. This young groom prayed to Hashem to feel his father's presence only a few days before the wedding. But Hashem knew he would make that request and had already set everything in motion: He inspired Yaakov to compile his father's דברי תורה , brought him to New York with that specific letter, led him to that particular Vishnitz shul, and guided him to meet the one man who would recognize the name—his uncle. The odds of that old letter, forgotten in a drawer in Israel, ending up in the groom's hands the day before his wedding in New York are astronomical. But with Hashem, odds don't matter. He sets everything in place ahead of time. And when we pray, Hashem brings us what He has already prepared. We never have to worry about how we'll receive what we ask for. Hashem knows exactly how and when to fulfill our needs and desires. All we must do is offer sincere, heartfelt תפילה .

In this powerful and deeply insightful conversation, Rahel Bayar sits down with Nachi Gordon to discuss her journey from being a sex crimes and child abuse prosecutor in the Bronx to founding The Bayar Group, an organization dedicated to abuse and harassment prevention across North America. Rahel shares how her early aspirations in psychology shifted to law, leading her to work on some of the most difficult cases imaginable—domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual assault. With years of courtroom experience and firsthand exposure to trauma, she eventually asked herself: Can this be prevented? Now a leading educator and consultant, Rahel trains schools, camps, and youth organizations on how to build safe environments without instilling fear. She breaks down practical prevention tools—like teaching children about body safety, the difference between secrets and surprises, and how to foster open communication—especially within the frum (religious Jewish) community. Whether you're a parent, educator, or community leader, this episode will leave you thinking differently about what it means to protect children and empower communities. “No healthy grown-up needs a child to keep a secret.” — Rahel Bayar   This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors: ►Blooms Kosher   Bring you the best Kosher products worldwide.   https://bloomskosher.com   ____________________________________________________   ► PZ Deals - Download the app and never pay full price again!     https://app.pz.deals/install/mpp _____________________________________________________ ►Toveedo     Visit- https://toveedoshop.com   Use Promo Code MM10 for $10 off! __________________________________________________ ► Aleph Beta   Counting the Omer can feel like just counting. But it's meant to be a journey — seven weeks of preparing for Matan Torah. That's why Aleph Beta created A Book Like No Other, a new podcast guiding you through the Omer with weekly episodes featuring Rabbi David Fohrman. Deep conversations. Real meaning. Perfectly timed for Shavuot.

In Loving Memory of Zechariah Ben Sarah A'H and to Commemorate Sam and Zach's shared Birthday Sponsored by their Families Friends and Loved Ones Parashat Kedoshim commands us: " לא תקם ולא תטור " —do not take revenge and do not bear a grudge. The Sefer HaChinuch explains that the root of this mitzvah is to help a person internalize that whatever happens to him, even through the actions of other people, is ultimately a manifestation of Hashem's will. Similarly, the Chovot HaLevavot teaches that if someone harms us, we should not attribute it to that individual, but rather recognize it as part of Hashem's plan. Our proper response should be to give the person the benefit of the doubt, accept the hardship as atonement for our sins, and continue treating the person with kindness as if nothing happened. Although this is emotionally difficult and the desire for revenge can be powerful, trusting Hashem's commandments brings far more long-term joy than the fleeting satisfaction of retaliation. While it may take time to see, the righteous response always proves fruitful. A real estate agent named Reuven shared a personal story that illustrates this concept powerfully. He had closed a deal for an old friend, Jack, who then "forgot" to pay the agreed-upon commission. When reminded, Jack delayed, then disputed the fee, eventually avoiding Reuven entirely. Though the amount owed was significant, Reuven decided not to pursue it aggressively. Months later, Reuven prayed Mincha in a shul he didn't usually attend and unexpectedly encountered Jack. Reuven greeted him warmly and gently reminded him about the money. Jack exploded with rage, shouting and accusing Reuven of harassment in front of the entire shul. He hurled insults, and Reuven—devastated and humiliated—left in silence. Though tempted to defend himself, Reuven remained quiet. He later cried from the pain but reminded himself that he was serving Hashem by staying silent in the face of insult. That night, he took a walk and tried to follow the teachings of Chovot HaLevavot . He told Hashem he accepted the experience as a kapara for his sins, gave Jack the benefit of the doubt, and even decided to forgive him fully. Reuven even sent word to Jack that the debt was forgiven. A few months later, on Erev Yom Kippur , Jack called to apologize and offered to pay half the debt. Reuven reminded him it had already been forgiven, but Jack insisted on making partial payment to clear his conscience. Later, Jack struggled to sell his house for over a year. Because of their history, Reuven kept his distance. But when they met again, Jack confided his frustration and desperation. Reuven offered to help sell the house—and Jack, understanding full well what that entailed, agreed. With siyata dishmaya , Reuven sold the house within two weeks and earned a commission forty times greater than the original debt. Had he acted differently—harbored resentment or retaliated—he likely would have received nothing and lost the future opportunity altogether. By responding as Hashem commands, Reuven earned not only immense spiritual merit but also blessing in this world. The lesson is clear: we always win by following Hashem. No matter how difficult the test, if we trust in Him, He will guide us to reward and peace. Shabbat Shalom

Parashat Acharei Mot begins by telling us that Hashem spoke to Moshe after the tragic deaths of Nadav and Avihu, who died while attempting to draw closer to Hashem. Though their death was a colossal tragedy, the Torah teaches us how to view it—and more broadly, how to understand when tragedy befalls righteous individuals especially when they are engaged in holy pursuits. At that time, the Jewish people were yearning for the Shechina to dwell in the Mishkan they had built. After the sin of the Egel , they were unsure whether Hashem would rest His presence among them. On the day of the inauguration, Aharon offered multiple korbanot as instructed, but still, the Shechina did not descend. Only after Moshe and Aharon entered the Ohel Mo'ed to pray did a heavenly fire come down and consume the offerings. The people rejoiced—Hashem had forgiven them and chosen to dwell among them. In their deep yearning and love for Hashem, Nadav and Avihu brought the Ketoret on their own initiative. Then, the unimaginable happened: another fire came down and consumed them. Everyone was in shock. Was this a sign of Hashem's anger? Did it mean the forgiveness was rescinded? Moshe then told Aharon that Hashem had previously said He would be sanctified through the deaths of great people—and Nadav and Avihu were those chosen Tzaddikim. The Torah testifies that when Aharon heard this, " וידם אהרן "—he remained silent , accepting Hashem's will without protest. As a reward for his profound emunah and submission, Hashem then spoke directly to him. What appeared to be divine punishment was, in fact, a great Kiddush Hashem . The Or HaChayim explains that Nadav and Avihu became so spiritually elevated that their souls desired only closeness to Hashem and no longer wished to remain in the physical world. Today, we lack prophets to explain tragedies, but we have the Torah—eternal and unchanging—to guide us in how to view them. Our greatest strength lies in trusting Hashem and using pain as a catalyst for growth. We are reminded that this world is temporary, and every moment here is an opportunity to serve and connect with our Creator. The Rashbam writes that the greatest Kiddush Hashem on that day was not the death of the tzadikim , but Aharon's silent acceptance. Seeing his beloved sons die before him, he continued to serve Hashem with unwavering devotion. That act sanctified the Mishkan more than any offering brought that day. When a person accepts Hashem's judgment with love, he elevates not only himself but also the space around him. Such acceptance carries a powerful spiritual energy, capable of invoking blessing and even salvation. The sanctity of Har HaBayit , where the Beit HaMikdash would one day stand, was similarly established through Avraham Avinu's loving acceptance of Hashem's will. When commanded to offer Yitzchak as a korban, despite the contradiction to Hashem's earlier promise that his future offspring would come through Yitzchak, Avraham did not question. The Targum Yonatan on the passuk יראה ויקרא שם המקום ה ' explains that Avraham prayed not to harbor any complaints, fully submitting himself to Hashem's will. His wholehearted obedience imbued the mountain with eternal holiness. Just as the Mishkan was sanctified through Aharon's faith, and the Beit HaMikdash through Avraham's, so too can we infuse holiness into our lives and surroundings by accepting Hashem's decrees with love and trust. Whenever a person accepts the will of Hashem with love, although it's difficult, he elevates himself and the place around him. Our job is to trust Hashem and always continue growing in our Avodah no matter what happens.

One of the reasons that people may lose energy and excitement in their avodat Hashem is that they misunderstand the way Hashem deals with them. It makes logical sense that when a person is doing what Hashem wants, he should feel a certain spiritual elevation and receive some type of reciprocation which shows that Hashem is appreciating what he is doing. And so, when those things don't happen, people may begin to lose the enthusiasm that they once had. If they only knew how much Hashem appreciates what they are doing, and how much they are gaining every second of it, they would happily increase their enthusiasm. Let us analyze the way that Hashem dealt with Avraham Avinu. Hashem promised him a baby boy when he was 70 years old, but he did not see the fulfillment of that promise for another 30 years. Then, when Yitzchak was 37, Hashem commanded Avraham to offer him up as a korban . One would think, being that this was arguably the greatest mitzvah ever performed, that Avraham should have felt a connection to Hashem like no other on his way to do the Akeda . He should have felt an incredible spiritual feeling beyond imagination. Yet, it says וירא את המקום מרחוק – and he saw the place from afar. Chazal tell us that means he saw the מקומו של עולם - HaKadosh Baruch Hu – very distant from him. He did not feel any spiritual elevation, nor did he feel any connection to Hashem. It was actually just the opposite, a feeling of being distanced from Hashem. And one would think, after Avraham passed this monumental nisayon , Hashem should have showered him with blessing and showed him how great he became as a result. Yet that is not what happened. Rather, Avraham discovered that his wife had passed away, and he had to go deal with finding her a burial plot. This is precisely what made Avraham's deed as great as it was. The entire Jewish Nation is still benefiting from that one deed until today. Avraham knew that what he was doing was what Hashem wanted and that's all he needed to know. Going there without the spiritual feelings made the avodah even more precious. Not seeing Hashem patting him on the back, kavayachol , afterward made the avodah even more valuable. This world is the world of work. We need to toil in our avodat Hashem and the rewards come later. If someone has been praying for something for years without seeing results, he may feel that Hashem is not listening to him. Yet our Chazal teach us otherwise. Our Imahot prayed for years without seeing any results and that is precisely what made them as great as they became, continuing to push themselves without seeing the reciprocation. We know what Hashem wants from us. He told us in the Torah. And we know He appreciates every little move we make. When we continue growing and serving Him to the best of our ability, without the spiritual feelings and without the immediate rewards, it makes our service infinitely greater. If someone starts learning more or going to shul more, his natural expectations are that he will see more open blessing in his life from it. That may happen and it may not, depending on what Hashem knows is good for him. But if it doesn't happen and he continues learning and continues going to shul more, it makes those efforts so much more valuable and it raises him to such a higher level. He will most probably not feel any more spiritual from what he is doing, but that will just add to the potential levels he could reach. Akedat Yitzchak was done without any special feeling and without any immediate reciprocation. And we know that Hashem appreciated that act more than we could imagine. It made Avraham so great and the rewards of it are still being paid until today. This should be a model for us to understand that the greatness of our avodah does not depend on how spiritual we feel or how quickly Hashem gives us what we want afterwards. It's actually just the opposite. The more we persevere without the feeling and without the reciprocation, the greater the avodah becomes.

Rabbi Kalish and Nachi Gordon sit down for the first ever live audience podcast at the Pesach at Bordeaux program. In this dynamic conversation, Nachi pressed R' Kalish on every point:    Why no tests in Yeshiva?  Why no expulsions from Yeshiva?  Why only show love to your students?    This conversation is the clearest, most powerful window into Rabbi Kalish's vision for Jewish education (chinuch) — and his answers will challenge how we all think about education. This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors: ►Blooms Kosher   Bring you the best Kosher products worldwide.   https://bloomskosher.com   ____________________________________________________   ► PZ Deals - Download the app and never pay full price again! https://app.pz.deals/install/mpp _____________________________________________________   ► Fresh Start Retreat   Fresh Start's intensive 7-day retreat is designed for men and women who want to understand, process, and heal from past wounds—and reconnect with their authentic self    Join us for 7️⃣ life-changing days of expert-led sessions and transformative workshops, complemented by a serene setting and gourmet kosher cuisine.