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Parnassah is from Shamayim. The pasuk says, Birkat Hashem hee ta'ashir — it is the blessing of Hashem that gives a person his wealth. We are taught by the society around us that the more hours we work, the more money we'll make. But it's not true. Rather, the more blessing we have from Hashem, the more money we'll make. Yes, we have to make a reasonable hishtadlut, but we must never forget that our main purpose in this world is avodat Hashem , which includes learning Torah, praying with a minyan , doing mitzvot, doing chesed for others, and having enough time for our families. A person who knows his purpose will wake up early, go to shul to learn and pray, make an honest hishtadlut to earn parnassah, and then come home with joy, show his wife a happy face, sit with his children, and then go back out to learn more at night. The greatest way to get blessing from Hashem is to follow His will. A person can do a minimal hishtadlut and earn a lot, and another can do a lot of hishtadlut and earn a little. The parnassah does not depend on the hishtadlut. It depends only on Hashem. A man from Israel said he learns the entire morning in a kollel , and runs a small grocery store in the afternoon. With a lot of heavenly help, this is enough to support his family. During a nationwide shortage of milk, his store was suffering. People would ask if he had milk, worried about their own supply, but he never had enough. Another store owner told him that every morning he travels to a big supermarket in another neighborhood, buys a bunch of milk bags, and sells them at no profit in his store, just so that he has milk for his customers. Several other grocery store owners gave him the same advice. They said, if you want to keep your customers, you must have enough milk for them. He was thinking about following their advice, but that would mean he would miss most of his morning kollel . So he decided he didn't want to miss, but he would still make a hishtadlut. He called the dairy company to make an order. They didn't answer. But a few hours later, after their office was already closed, they called him back, saying they just got in a shipment of 50 bags of milk, and saw his number on the screen, and decided to give it to him. The next day, an even greater surprise occurred — the supplier, on his own initiative, delivered 150 more bags of milk to his store. His customers were extremely happy, and he didn't even have to miss one minute of learning. This is a blessing from Hashem. Another man told me he received a completely unexpected phone call recently on a Sunday, from a supplier in Brazil. They said his order was ready early, and if he wanted to pay for half of it up front, they would ship the goods the very next day. Although he didn't need the merchandise so early, for some reason, he decided to say yes. Three days later, there was an announcement that Brazil was going to be hit with a 50% tariff. This order was this man's biggest order he ever had. Now it is going to arrive before the tariff goes into effect. If it would have shipped at the time it was supposed to, it would have come after the tariff would start. Instead of making the most profit he ever made, he would have been stuck with merchandise that his customer would no longer want. In all of his years in business, his goods were never ready early, and he never got a phone call from a supplier on a Sunday. Hashem, who is in charge of his parnassah, said he would make money, and He pulled the strings to make this happen. The man also told me that a friend of his sells cheap sweatshirts with hoods — no different than the millions of others that are already out there in the market. But for some inexplicable reason, someone put his sweatshirt on a very popular platform, and all of a sudden, everyone wants his. There is no rhyme or reason. It is because Hashem decided to bless him, and that is how He did it. Our main job is avodat Hashem , and let us leave Hashem in charge of parnassah.

Welcome to Daily Bitachon Another important Three Weeks concept that comes out of a pasuk that we mentioned in earlier this week: In Tehillim chapter 90 it says, שַׂמְּחֵנוּ כִּימֵות עִנִּיתָנוּ, שְׁנוֹת רָאִינוּ רָעָה . " Make us happy like the days that You pained us, the years we saw evil." What does " the years that we saw evil" mean? Why doesn't it just say " the evil years ? What did we see that was evil? The Imrei Emet teaches us an important principle from this. The Imrei Emet was the Gerrer Rebbe who survived the Holocaust, There was another great Rebbe who also went through the Holocaust, and they were giving each other chizuk . As the story goes, the Imrei Emet quoted the following pasuk that talks about the Chet HaEgel , the sin of the golden calf, which is actually the beginning of the Three Weeks. Moshe Rabbenu says: וָאֵרֶא, וְהִנֵּה חֲטָאתֶם לַה' אֱלֹקֵיכֶם; עֲשִׂיתֶם לָכֶם עֵגֶל מַסֵּכָה, סַרְתֶּם מַהֵר מִן הַדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה ה' וָאֶתְפּוֹשׂ בִּשְׁנֵי הַלֻּחוֹת, וָאַשְׁלִכֵם מֵעַל שְׁתֵּי יָדָי; וָאֲשַׁבְּרֵם לְעֵינֵיכֶם. And I saw you sinned against your God. You made a golden molten calf. You left the path fast that God commanded you. I grabbed the two luchot , and I threw them from my two hands, and I broke them le'eineichem —to your eyes." Why does it say, "I broke them to your eyes "? Why not just, I broke them. Why say "to your eyes"? Simply speaking, it means I broke them in front of you. I wanted you to see me breaking them. But the Imrei Emet explains based on another pasuk that uses the same words: le'eineihem /to their eyes. When Yosef HaTzaddik meets his brothers, of course they don't recognize him; he's incognito. He decides to take Shimon as a captive to ensure they bring back their younger brother. The pasuk says: וַיִּקַּח מֵאִתָּם אֶת שִׁמְעוֹן, וַיֶּאֱסֹר אֹתוֹ לְעֵינֵיהֶם. He took Shimon, and he tied him up le'eineihem /to their eyes." Why did he tie him up to their eyes ? Rashi says there that is says he tied him up in front of their eyes because once they left, he wined and dined him and treated him very nicely. So too, he says, that when Moshe Rabbenu broke the luchot , it was le'eineichem /to your eyes. The luchot didn't really break. The Midrash tells us that when the Jews sinned the sin of the golden calf, the letters of the luchot flew off— otiot parchot ba'avir /the letters flew into the air . There were no luchot anymore. So it looked like he broke the luchot . But the luchot were already gone. They weren't luchot anymore. This is similar to when the Bet HaMikdash that was destroyed. The Gemara says that a heavenly echo came out when an enemy destroyed the Bet HaMikdash and declared: K'macha techina tachanta —"You ground flour that was already ground." You didn't do anything—it was already destroyed. And he says: le'eineihem —to their eyes. When we see things happen in this world, it's to our eyes . Rav Schwab spoke at the Ninth Siyum HaShas , which was held to commemorate the one million children killed in the Holocaust. He told the story of a little boy. He was a good little boy. He was walking with his father to his death. And he asked his father: " Father, I was a good boy. I learned well in school. What's going on here? Why is this happening?" And then the Nazi shoots him, and that's it—he leaves this world. We see that and say: What a tragedy. What a travesty of justice! But he says: If we look on the other side—we see Hashem scooping this little boy into His arms. He says: " Come with Me, little boy. Come to My yeshiva . Sit down in the yeshiva shel ma'alah . I teach the young, pure children. Come join My yeshiva ." To our eyes is one thing. But what's really happening is another thing. So that's why we don't call these years "the evil years," but rather, the years that we saw evil . We're in this world—the world where we don't say hatov v'hametiv on all events. We say Dayan HaEmet . But in the future, we're going to say on everything: hatov v'hametiv . Today, it's not Hashem echad u'shmo echad . It's two different outlooks. Part of our job is to realize the concept that although we can't realize it on a sensual level, we can appreciate it on an intellectual level. We can understand this concept of le'eineihem —to your eyes. As we said, that's the opening of the Three Weeks. The tragedy of the breaking of the luchot , which starts the Three Weeks off, in essence, didn't really happen.The luchot never broke. It just looked like it.

The pasuk in Kohelet says: " עֵת לָלֶדֶת וְעֵת לָמוּת " — "A time to be born, and a time to die." (Kohelet 3:2). The Midrash in Kohelet Rabbah teaches that from the moment a person is born, Hashem determines exactly how long that person will live. Every breath, every second, is measured. And it is considered a great merit for someone to live out every single moment of their allotted time in this world. We cannot begin to grasp the infinite value of just one second of life. Sometimes, patients who are suffering deeply may wish to pass on rather than continue living in pain, connected to machines. Their families, too, may struggle watching them suffer. These situations are deeply painful and emotionally charged—but they are also halachically complex, and a competent Rav must always be consulted. These are not decisions anyone should take into their own hands. Halachah teaches us that we desecrate Shabbat to extend the life of a patient even in a vegetable state, even if it's just for one more second. That is how precious life is in Hashem's eyes. Rabbi Aryeh Levin once visited a man who was suffering terribly in the hospital. The man asked the rabbi, "Why should I continue living like this? I can't pray, I can't learn. I'm just in pain." Rabbi Levin gently took his hand and answered, "Who knows? Perhaps one word of Shema said in pain is worth more than a lifetime of mitzvot done in comfort. Every breath you take now—with emunah—brings Hashem so much nachat." The man began to cry. From that moment on, he accepted each breath with emunah and gratitude. He passed away just a few days later—peaceful, uplifted, and surrounded by meaning. Chazal say: "Sha'ah achat shel teshuvah u'maasim tovim ba'olam hazeh yafeh mikol chayei ha'olam haba"—one hour of repentance and good deeds in this world is greater than all of the World to Come. In just one moment, a person can elevate himself spiritually forever. The Gemara in Avodah Zarah shares three separate stories of individuals who earned their entire portion in the World to Come in one moment of their life. When Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi heard them, he wept, recognizing the unimaginable power of even a single second. The Sifrei Kodesh teach that even one thought of teshuvah can have massive spiritual effects. Even a person on his deathbed, who cannot speak or move, can—through one pure thought, one yearning for Hashem—accomplish more than all the angels in Heaven combined. If all a person can do is breathe, that breath is a treasure beyond comprehension. As long as someone is breathing, Hashem wants him alive. His mission in this world is not yet complete. A man shared with me that his father, Eddie, recently passed away. He had told his children that if he reached the end of life, he didn't want to be kept alive artificially and in pain. But when the time came, his children called Chayim Aruchim, an organization that helps families navigate end-of-life issues according to halachah. They were given a personal Rav who was an expert in this field. He came down to the hospital and explained the halachic importance—and the spiritual benefit to Eddie and his family—of staying connected to the machine, even for a short time. The Rav monitored his condition every day for ten days, ensuring halachah was followed precisely. Eventually, the doctors said Eddie's final moments had come. His children gathered around his bed and watched their father take his last breaths. They were so grateful they had consulted daat Torah and allowed their father to live every moment Hashem had intended for him. And then, just as they left the hospital, a truck drove by with the word "Eddie's" written in big letters—something they had never seen before. To them, it felt like a wink from Hashem, a small smile from Above, affirming that they had done the right thing. Every second of life is a priceless gift. In one moment, a person can earn eternity. And sometimes, the last breath we breathe with emunah is something that brings the greatest glory to Hashem.

Where Does Tefila Fit In?

Har Tzion - Foundation Stone

Har Tzion - Foundation Stone

Welcome to Daily Bitachon . We continue with important lessons about the Three Weeks and how we should view them. Midrash Rabba in Eicha the introduction, letter four, Chazal describe a powerful correlation between Adam HaRishon being sent out of Gan Eden , and the Jewish people being sent out of Eretz Yisrael . It goes like this: Adam HaRishon —I brought him into Gan Eden . I commanded him. He transgressed My command. I judged him with gerushin and shiluchin . The word gerushin literally means to be thrown out, while shiluchin means to be sent out . And I bemoaned and lamented him in him Eicha . So too, his children—I brought them into Eretz Yisrael . I commanded them. They transgressed My command. And I judged them with being thrown out and sent out. For each of them, the midrash brings pesukim : Regarding Adam, it says: וַיְגָרֶשׁ אֶת הָאָדָם / – He was thrown out . וַיְשַׁלְּחֵהוּ ה׳ מִגַּן עֵדֶן / Hashem sent him out And for the Jewish people as well, it says : מִבֵּיתִי אֲגָרְשֵׁם / – I will throw them out of My house . שַׁלַּח מֵעַל פָּנַי – Send them out from before Me . And also: אֵיכָה / Eicha – I lamented: אֵיכָה יָשְׁבָה בָדָד / So what are these two terms— thrown out ( gerushin ) and sent out ( shiluchin )? The Shelah HaKadosh on Masechet Ta'anit tells us that the purpose of creation was to serve Hashem . As it says in Bereshit 2:15 , when Adam was still in Gan Eden before the sin: וַיִּקַּח ה׳ אֱלֹקִים אֶת הָאָדָם וַיַּנִּחֵהוּ בְּגַן עֵדֶן לְעָבְדָהּ וּלְשָׁמְרָהּ / God placed Adam in Gan Eden to serve and to guard it. That was the reason he was put there. When he was sent out, nothing changed, says the Shelah . It says in Bereshit 3:23 : וַיְשַׁלְּחֵהוּ ה׳ אֱלֹקִים מִגַּן עֵדֶן לַעֲבֹד אֶת הָאֲדָמָה / – He was sent out to work the land. Again, he was sent out for the same purpose . He was sent out to work. So although he was thrown out , he wasn't just thrown out. As the Shelah HaKadosh and the Sefer Si'ach Yitzchak by Rav Yitzchak Isaac Chaver (quoted by Rav David Cohen) explain: Shiluchut ——means a message, a mission . A shaliach is a messenger. He's on a mission. We were thrown out, yes—but not in a negative sense, like "I don't want to see you." We were thrown out, but we were actually sent out on a mission . This is an important principle: God never punishes the way a human being punishes. God's "punishments" are really tools to fix. It's a tikkun for repair. This is a crucial idea during the Three Weeks, as we commemorate the suffering of the Jewish people. It's all there for the purpose of tikkun . The Sefer Nefesh HaChaim , Sha'ar א , Perek ו , says something beautiful. When God told Adam, " On the day you eat from the tree, you will die," He still had mercy. It wasn't a literal day. God said, " One of My days is like a thousand years" —so you will die within a thousand years of eating it. As we know, Adam gave up 70 years of his life to David HaMelech . He says: this death was not a curse or a punishment. God does not bring bad upon people. Rather, because of eating from the Etz HaDa'at , a certain negative force mixed into man. And the only way to fix that, to separate the impurity from him, was through death. That way, the body could decay and later be recomposed in Techiyat HaMeitim . That's why, after Adam eats from the Etz HaDa'at , God says: "… lest he eat from the Etz HaChaim and live forever ." The Nefesh HaChaim asks: What's wrong with that? Let him eat from the tree and live forever! Isn't that the antidote? God only wants good—so what's the problem? The answer is: if Adam eats from the Etz HaChaim , he'll live forever without fixing the damage. The evil will never separate from him. He'll never be able to see light and goodness. So, for his benefit , he was sent out of Gan Eden , so that he could ultimately reach complete tikkun gamur when all the negativity would be separated from him. Imagine: Adam HaRishon was 1,000 feet tall before he sinned. Now, after the sin, he shrinks to 100 feet. The goal is to bring him back to 1,000 feet. But if he eats from the Etz HaChaim , he'll be locked in at 100 feet forever , and never die—and thus never grow again. That's not good. That's why the Gemara in Masechet Shabbat says there were four people who died " because of the snake" —even though they didn't sin. What does that mean? It means that even though they didn't sin, there was still a negativity mixed into mankind. And for them to reach their ultimate perfection—they had to die. This is an extremely important point to appreciate in our own lives as well: Whenever we feel like we are in a state of gerushin /being thrown out —we must realize that we're really being sent out on a mission . This reminds me of the famous dvar Torah —that when Davis Hamelech was being chased by Shaul , it says: לֵךְ כִּי שִׁלְּחְךָ ה׳ / " Go, for God has sent you ." Even when you feel like you're being chased and thrown out—know this: it's a shlichut . A mission. you are being sent by God.

The chiddushim of Rav Aaron Leib Steinman on the topic of Shidduchim were recorded in the sefer Ke'ayal Ta'arog , compiled by his students. There, Rav Steinman is quoted as saying that in our times, when we are faced with decisions about Shidduchim, we often forget the most basic principle: Shiviti Hashem l'negdi tamid —I place Hashem before me always. The question should be, "What does Hashem want me to do in this situation?" Too often, a person focuses on what they will gain from a match, rather than what Hashem's will might be for them. And this, Rav Steinman said, is one of the central challenges people face today in Shidduchim. When people hear about a potential match, do they ask themselves, "What would Hashem want me to say?" Or do they worry, "What will others think?" Concerns arise: "Is the family on the same status level as mine?" "Do they have as much money?" "Have their other children married important people?" Rav Steinman explained that when someone thinks, "How can I say yes—what will others think if they see us together?" That is a sign of too much ga'ava —pride. And that, he taught, is part of what it means when Chazal say that Shidduchim are as difficult as Kriyat Yam Suf , the splitting of the sea. A person's middot can block them from finding their intended match. Rav Chaim Volozhiner also emphasized this point. He said that it is forbidden to have ga'ava when it comes to Shidduchim. The only question one should ask is whether the other person will be good for them based on their middot and their yirat Shamayim . There is nothing wrong with a boy marrying a girl older than him. There is nothing wrong with a wealthy family marrying into a family of lesser means. And there is certainly nothing wrong with a Jew from one background marrying a Jew from another background. A woman recently told me a story that illustrates this point. Her daughter became a kallah at the age of 29. For years, her family prayed, tried all sorts of kabbalot , and did everything they could to find her match. But year after year passed, and the process only became more difficult. One day, her mother had to deliver something to a home in another neighborhood. When she knocked on the door, a young man—around 30 years old—answered. He was kind, soft-spoken, and showed beautiful middot. The mother took note and, upon returning home, called a shadchan to inquire about him for her daughter. Everything sounded wonderful—except for one detail: he was Chassidish , while their family was Litvish . The cultural differences felt too wide, and so she declined the match. But word got back to the boy's family that someone had inquired about him. Curious, they looked into the girl and were very impressed. They asked their own shadchan to follow up and try to arrange a meeting. But again, the girl's mother declined. Later that year, the name came up once more. This time, the daughter said she was open to trying. They went out—and found that they were extremely compatible. Baruch Hashem , they got engaged. Yes, there will be differences. Where she comes from, men wear black hats. Her chatan is going to wear a shtreimel . Her community dresses in short jackets; he is going to wear a long bekeshe . There will be differences in dress, possibly in language, and even in food. But they share the same values and the same dedication to Torah and middot. Together, B'ezrat Hashem they will build a beautiful Jewish home. What other people say does not matter. Last names do not matter. The only thing that truly matters is: What does Hashem want us to do!

For a 10% discount on Rabbi David Ashear's new book LIVING EMUNAH VOL 8 click the link below https://www.artscroll.com/Books/9781422644645.html The Chafetz Chaim writes that in the entire narrative of Bilam attempting to curse the Jewish people, there are no paragraph breaks—no פ or ס —in the Torah. This is because the danger was so severe, the Torah did not want to pause until the threat had passed. Balak and Bilam stood on a mountaintop with the potential to cause immense destruction, and meanwhile, the Jewish people were completely unaware of the danger surrounding them. But Hashem, as always, the שומר ישראל , was watching over His nation. He did not allow any harm to come to us. From the words Hashem placed in the donkey's mouth, and later in Bilam's own mouth, we see what Hashem found so impressive about Am Yisrael. The donkey referred to the שלש רגלים , and Rashi explains that Hashem was saying to Bilam: this is a nation that travels three times a year to Yerushalayim for the שלש רגלים —you will not be able to harm them. The Jewish people would leave their homes and land open and vulnerable, trusting completely in Hashem's promise that no one would invade while they were away celebrating at the Beit HaMikdash. That kind of אמונה is a shield no curse can penetrate. Bilam then says: מי מנה עפר יעקב How many mitzvot do the Jewish people perform even with the simple dust of the earth? מה טובו אהליך יעקב משכנותיך ישראל How beautiful are our shuls and batei midrash, filled with Jews praying and learning. עם כלביא יקום We are a nation that rises like a lion in the morning to grab mitzvot(Tzitzit, Tefillin, and Shema) with passion and strength. We didn't even know the danger we were in, and therefore we couldn't pray to Hashem to save us. But Hashem, who loves us infinitely, provides us with constant opportunities to earn זכויות , which He uses to protect us exactly when we need them most. As Rabbi Chananya ben Akashya teaches: רצה הקדוש ברוך הוא לזכות את ישראל, לפיכך הרבה להם תורה ומצוות Hashem wanted to give us many merits, so He gave us many mitzvot. The pasuk says: לב מלך ביד ה׳ It is no coincidence that the recent war was named " עם כלביא יקום ." Those very words came from Hashem's mouth through Bilam and now once again through the Prime Minister. They describe a nation full of spiritual power, rising early to do mitzvot—and that is our true strength. Despite the immense danger we faced—those missiles had the potential to kill thousands—Hashem once again, the שומר ישראל , stood guard over His people. Since the horrors of October 7th, we have witnessed an awakening across Am Yisrael. So many people who didn't even know the words " שמע ישראל " are now full ba'alei emunah , looking to grow in Torah and mitzvot. This renewed devotion gives us tremendous זכות , and it makes Hashem so proud of His people. We've seen the downfall of our enemies this year. We know that we are in the end of days and we await the גאולה שלמה . But we are not there yet. We are still in galut, and we are still without the Beit HaMikdash. Now begins the period of בין המצרים , the three weeks between שבעה עשר בתמוז and תשעה באב . We pray that this year תשעה באב will be a day of joy and celebration, but there is still work to be done. The pasuk says: וישא בלעם את עיניו וירא את ישראל שוכן לשבטיו ותהי עליו רוח אלוקים Bilam wanted to recall the sins of the Jewish people, such as the חטא העגל , to bring about their destruction. But what he saw instead was unity—Israel dwelling peacefully, each tribe in its proper place—and that unity brought down the שכינה , causing Hashem to transform his curses into blessings. The Midrash teaches that even if we, Heaven forbid, engage in עבודה זרה , as long as there is peace among us, no harm will befall us. That is the power of unity. Now more than ever, it is incumbent upon us to repair divisions. This is the time of year to go above and beyond to make peace, to apologize, to be more tolerant, and to bring love and unity to Am Yisrael. May these days of mourning soon be transformed into days of rejoicing. אמן .

This small and powerful booklet gives step-by-step instructions and perspectives on how to reach tangible levels of Emuna and Bitachon in our lives.This class was sponsored by Eitan and Adina KalmowitzIn honor of a Refuah Shaleima for Esther Rochel bas Baila and in celebration of the Chag haGeula, Moshiach now!Thank you Eitan and Adina!Help make events like this happen!https://cash.app/$livingchassidushttp://Paypal.me/livingchassidushttps://livingchassidus.org/donate/Zelle: 205-937-9914https://www.venmo.com/u/LivingChassidus

Today we're going to discuss a pasuk in Micha. The Ramchal, Rav Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, author of Mesilat Yesharim, writes in his Maamar HaGeulah/Essay on Redemption that this pasuk reveals the sod ha'bitachon Yisrael b'tikvatam/ the secret of the Jewish people's reliance on and hope for redemption, the geulah shlemah/complete redemption, bimherah v'yameinu, amen As we are in the Three Weeks, this is an extremely apropos piece. What is the pasuk? אל תשמחי איבתי לי כי נפלתי קמתי, כי אשב בחשך יהוה אור לי (מיכה ז' ח')/ Do not rejoice over me, my enemy. Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, Hashem is a light unto me." Says the Ramchal: In order for the redemption to come, there are many preparatory steps—many things that must happen beforehand. He says that when the Jewish people think that God has hidden His face from them and has forsaken them, actually what's happening is (quoting his words): Az HaKadosh Baruch Hu mechin lahem otzarot gedolim / God is preparing for them huge treasure houses, Asher l'rochvam ein ketz / whose expanse has no end, Ul'tovam ein tachlit / whose abundance is limitless. In these treasure houses, God places all the wonderful wealth, all the treasures of kings. He fills these treasure houses to the point where: Ein ha'peh yechola l'daber /the mouth cannot speak it, V'ha'ozen lishmoa/the ear cannot hear it, V'afilu l'lev l'harher/the heart cannot even fathom or imagine it. When the time of the geulah comes, all these treasure houses will be opened. What is in these treasure houses? Of course, we are not talking about gold and silver. The Ramchal continues and says about this secret: Al ha'sod ha'gadol ha'zeh — This is the great secret. This is the secret of our bitachon (faith/trust). How do we rely on Hashem and survive difficult times? He quotes another pasuk, and b'ezrat Hashem both of these pesukim we will discuss more at length: Samechenu k'mot initanu, shnot ra'inu ra'ah./Make us happy like the days You afflicted us, the years we saw evil." This means we tell God : We had difficult times, now make us happy corresponding to those times that you pained us. At first glance, it seems simple: You gave us ten bad days, now give us ten good days. The bad days are the bad days, and the good days are the good days. No, says the Ramchal. It's not just a one-for-one exchange—10 days of bad traded for 10 days of good. No. And again, in his words: Ki kol ha'yamim she'Yisrael b'galut/All the years that Israel was in exile, V'or lo nagah lahem /and the light did not shine for them, Oto ha'or ha'rauy l'otam ha'yamim lo avad/that light which was befitting for those days was not lost. This means every day has its light. And on days where the light doesn't shine, that light isn't gone—it's simply put away in the treasure house. Ha'or ha'hu HaKadosh Baruch Hu gonzo/ That light, God stores away. B'eleh ha'otzarot she'madachticha/ in those same treasure houses. Those treasure houses are full of the light that wasn't revealed. Az yetzei kol ha'or k'echad /Then, all the light will come out at once, as one abundant light So for every moment of darkness—of crusades, of Holocaust, of churban , of Gaza tunnels—every one of those moments of darkness, of absence of light, is being gathered and will one day explode in a single, immense burst. V'az yehiyeh zman simcha l'Yisrael asher kamo lo nihyata/And then will be a time of joy for the Jewish people like never before. That's the meaning of Samechenu k'mot initanu /The days of pain themselves are actually what create the light. Yitukan ha'olam b'menucha v'hashket /The world will be repaired with peace and serenity, V'lo yiyeh od yagon b'olam klal /and there will be no sorrow ever again . As we say: V'aseir mimenu yagon v'anacha/ remove from us sorrow and difficulties . So, these are two very powerful pesukim: 1 . כי אשב בחשך יהוה אור לי /When I sit in darkness, Hashem is light for me. He's explaining to us: It means that even though I am in darkness, there is light being created by the darkness. Because of the darkness the light is being stored in the treasure house. 2. שמחנו כימות עניתנו שנות ראינו רעה /Make us happy like the days that we were suffering the years we saw evil. These, according to the Ramchal—one of the greatest kabbalists—are the sod ha'bitachon Yisrael — the secret bitachon of the Jewish people. .

Deep issues preventing our Bitachon in Bitachon

In this wide-ranging and deeply honest episode, Dovid Bashevkin unpacks one of the most pressing and overlooked issues in the Jewish world today: the fragmentation of the Orthodox community and the illusion of unity we like to project. With humor, vulnerability, and rare clarity, he explores why we're lonelier than ever despite packed shuls and buzzing WhatsApp groups, how labels like “Modern Orthodox” and “Yeshivish” have shifted from ideological statements to institutional shorthand, and what it would actually take to foster real achdus, not just feel-good unity, but the kind that demands humility, discomfort, and real work.   Dovid doesn't just point to problems; he calls for a fundamental shift in how we build community, raise children, and see ourselves in relation to other Jews. He challenges the frum world to stop outsourcing spiritual leadership to secular institutions and to reclaim the responsibility of engaging with the entire Jewish people, across lines of observance, geography, and history. This conversation dives deep into questions of identity, leadership, and personal responsibility, offering a sobering yet hopeful vision for what Jewish life could look like if we stopped waiting for the shofar and started living like redemption is already possible.   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 _______________________________________   ► Colel Chabad Pushka App - The easiest way to give Tzedaka    https://pushka.cc/meaningful      _______________________________________   ► Toveedo     Visit- https://toveedo.com/   Use Promo Code MM10 for 10% off! _______________________________________   ► Lalechet     We're a team of kosher travel experts, here to carry you off to your dream destination swiftly, safely, and seamlessly in an experience you will forever cherish.    https://www.lalechet.com ___________________________________________   ►Rothenberg Law Firm   Personal Injury Law Firm For 50+ years!   Reach out Today for Free Case Evaluation   https://shorturl.at/JFKHH   ____________________________________ ► NRS Pay - Honest, clean credit card processing.   https://nrspay.com   _________________________________________ ► Town Appliance - Visit the website or message them on WhatsApp     https://www.townappliance.com     https://bit.ly/Townappliance_whatsapp ______________________________________   ► Faith It Till You Make It Join Rabbi Ari Bensoussan's course on Bitachon sponsored by Censible Marketing! Your guide to keeping your faith in today's complicated world! www.Meaningfulminute.org/censible    ____________________________________________________ ► Subscribe to our Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.     https://apple.co/2WALuE2    https://spoti.fi/39bNGnO Or wherever Podcasts are available!     Editor: Sruly Saftlas

For a 10% discount on Rabbi David Ashear's new book LIVING EMUNAH VOL 8 click the link below https://www.artscroll.com/Books/9781422644645.html The pasuk says at the beginning of this week's parasha that Balak saw all that Yisrael did to the Emorim and he became afraid. Rav Moshe Sternbuch asked, why did Balak become afraid specifically from the Jew beating the Emorim ? They had done much greater things before this which should have caused Balak to become afraid of them, like obliterating the Mitzrim or Kriyat Yam Suf . The Rabbi quoted from the Kli Yakar who answered, what Yirsrael did to the Emorim is referring to a different episode, namely when Yaakov Avinu, whose name is also Yisrael, defeated the Emorim with his tefilot back in parashat Vayechi , before Yetziat Mitzrayim . Balak said to himself, if the Jews can take down an entire nation using their prayers, how are we going to stand up to them? This is why he hired Bilaam, who also had powers with his mouth. Later on in the parasha , when Bilaam blessed the Jewish People, he was in awe of how they wake up every morning like lions to grab mitzvot , putting on tallit and tefillin and reciting keriyat shema . These are our greatest treasures. The more we use the power of our mouths for good, the more blessing will come down from Hashem. Rabbi Elimelech Biderman related a story that a rabbi from New York told him. The rabbi said this past year around Hanukah time, he read an amazing story about an older boy who was having a lot of difficulty finding his zivug. Baruch Hashem, this year, that boy got engaged on Thursday night, the 11 th of Kislev. At his engagement, his younger ten year old brother showed him a piece of paper which had written on it, Today the 21 st of Cheshvan, year 5781, Saturday night, I, so and so, accept upon myself to say kriyat shema looking inside the siddur and having kavana in each word in the merit that my brother gets engaged by the 11 th of Kislev . And that's exactly what happened. He said shema every night the way he's supposed to and his brother got engaged on the 11 th of Kislev. The rabbi in New York got so excited after reading this story, he related it to his own family at the Shabbat table that week. He also had an older son not married and he also has a ten year old son. When his ten year old heard that story, he accepted upon himself on Rosh Chodesh Shevat the same kabbala . He wrote on a piece of paper, For 30 days, I will say kriyat shema al hamita from a siddur the right way in the zechut that my brother gets engaged. On the 30 th night, that young boy fell asleep without saying shema . The next morning, when he realized what happened, he started to cry. He told his father that he took on this kabbala and did it for 29 days in a row but then missed it last night. His father told him not to worry, it didn't hurt his kabbala . He said, "You accepted 30 days and you did 29 of them." The father then told his son to do the last day that night and it will still count. Amazingly, the very next day, on the 2 nd of Adar, 31 days from the time this boy made his kabbala , which was also the day he finished his 30 days, his brother got engaged. We have tremendous powers with our mouths. We can say kind words to others, we can read Tehillim , we can learn Torah, we can pray to Hashem. These are our strengths. This is what Balak feared, and this is what Bilaam knew was our secret. Let us utilize these precious gifts that Hashem gave us and do them all the right way.

For a 10% discount on Rabbi David Sutton's new book A Daily Dose of Perek Shira click the link below https://www.artscroll.com/Books/9781422644584.html Welcome to Daily Bitachon . We continue with Rabbenu Avraham ben HaRambam's levels of Bitachon. The third level, which has many nuances to it, is, in his words, when someone relies on Hashem to get what he needs, מאמין בזאת/and he believes this, בוודאות—with conviction, ובלי ספיקות/without any doubts. That's a very high level. He says that מעלת בטחון שלישית זו, לא ישיגוה רוב בני אדם/ most people won't reach that level. Shedding more light on this level of Bitachon, he adds, הנעלה ונישגבה שבמעלות הבטחון/this is the highest and most elevated level. ולא בנקל תושג/ And it's not easy to attain. An example of this, he says, is found in the Mishnah in Masechet Berachot , where we see that Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa would pray for people who were sick. And he would say, " This one is going to live, and this one is going to die. " They asked, " How do you know? " He replied, " If my prayers come out clearly, I know he's going to live. If not, then not." Rabbenu Avraham gives this as an example of someone who had a Vadai/he knew for sure. In other words he felt that if his prayers came out right, that was an indication of his Bitachon. He goes on: ומהיות שבעלי המעלה הזאת בטוחים בהשגת מבקשם/these people are guaranteed in receiving what they seek. Not because they are relying on their righteousness, but rather because they rely on Hashem's Hessed, as it says: ואני בחסדך בטחתי/I rely on Your kindness. Now , I'm not quoting every word of his, and I'm taking some things out of context, but it's important to know that such a level exists. There is a concept that I can rely on Hashem with certainty and receive what I seek. However, he clearly says that this is not for everybody—it takes a lot of hard work. But it does exist and we need to know that. Are we Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa? Obviously not. Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa is known for En Od Milevado. He's the one who the witch's daughter cast a spell on, and he said, "You can't touch me. It says En Od Milevado. " Rav Chaim Volozhin brings this down in his sefer also says it's not something for all times, and it's not easy—but it exists. So we must know this concept exists. Another example he gives is about Hillel HaZaken. The Gemara in Berachot 60A tells that Hillel HaZaken was walking on the road and heard a cry, and said, "I am certain this is not coming from my house." They bring a pasuk in Tehilim in: משמועה רעה לא יירא/he's not afraid of bad news. Why ? נכון לבו בטוח בה—because his heart is steadfast; he relies on Hashem. The Gaon of Vilna explains that this is one of the sources for this level of Bitachon. It's not so easy, and this cannot be overstated. Some people hear this concept and say, " You know what? I relied on Hashem, I really believed in Him, and I didn't get what I wanted!" But that level is not easily reached. The people he gives as examples are very, very great people—Hillel HaZaken and Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa! It's like any other great level. Yes it's a great level to be able to learn Torah for ten hours straight, but not everyone can do it. Some people can, some people can't. Some can learn four hours, some can learn two hours. It's not all or nothing. There could be a moment in time that you feel it, and then it fades. As much as you have it—that's how much you get it. Again, let's return to Rav Chaim Volozhin's En Od Milevado rule, where he says: To the extent that you believe there is nothing else but Hashem, all other forces will be annulled. It's not an all-or-nothing concept. Even within this level of relying on Hashem with certainty, it comes and goes. Things fluctuate. Rav Chaim Volozhin discusses this regarding the high level of learning Torah Lishma , where it says: מתוך שלא לשמה בא לשמה/from doing something not for God's sake, you eventually come to do it for Hashem's sake. He says it could be that you have it for one moment, and not for another. So we work on it, we try to reach it, we aspire to it. But we understand that it's not so easy, and it's not for everybody all the time. Still, we must know that this level exists, and that we can aspire to it on some level. The main point is to realize that ultimately, Hashem can do anything. Hashem is reliable if you rely on Him. Are you at that level? Only Hashem knows. I hope this sheds a little clarity on this concept that constantly comes up.

For a 10% discount on Rabbi David Ashear's new book LIVING EMUNAH VOL 8 click the link below https://www.artscroll.com/Books/9781422644645.html Many people say, "If only I had a lot of money, I would help so many people. I would support yeshivot, fund chesed organizations, and provide for families in need." It's a beautiful sentiment that reflects a generous and noble heart. But often, this thought remains just that—a distant dream. In reality, a person does not need a lot of money to become a true baal tzedakah . If someone has a genuine desire to give, Hashem can open doors and make that desire a reality. A young mother raising several little children had no income. She noticed that many families in her building lacked toys, games, and books for their children. She sent a simple voice note to a group chat asking if anyone had toys in good condition to donate. Within a week, her hallway was filled with donations. She organized them into bins, labeled them, and opened her apartment one day a week for mothers to come and take toys for their children. No budget, no money—just heart and effort. Another young woman noticed that many families in her neighborhood were struggling to afford clothing for Yom Tov. Instead of just feeling bad, she decided to act. She received permission to use a high school gym on a Sunday, made flyers requesting donations of clean, gently used clothing, and organized volunteers to sort and set up. Families came to shop with dignity—free of charge. One man shared how Hashem gave him extraordinary siyata dishmaya to help people in large proportions. A few years ago, he was a bank clerk heading home when he noticed a flyer requesting furniture for a newly established beit midrash . They were seeking tables, chairs, and bookshelves and would appreciate any donation. He didn't think there was any way he could help, but he felt a strong desire to be involved. He tore off one of the tabs at the bottom with the contact number. The very next day, he arrived at work to find a carpenter dismantling his desk. The branch had just opened a month earlier and was furnished with upscale, elegant furniture. But management had decided it was too fancy and were replacing everything. The carpenter turned to him and asked, "Do you know anyone who might want this?" Suddenly, he remembered the flyer. He called the rabbi of the beit midrash and told him there was a huge amount of high-quality furniture available. They arranged a truck and were stunned by the quantity and beauty of the furniture. The beit midrash was now elegantly furnished, and the man was thrilled to have played a role in beautifying a house of Hashem. But that was only the beginning. His name was added to a list in the bank's construction department as someone who knew people and institutions that could use furniture. Just days later, the architect from another department called him: they were closing an entire floor in a Tel Aviv branch and needed someone to take the furniture. He didn't yet know who needed it—but he knew what to do. He called one yeshiva, then another. Two large trucks were dispatched to one yeshiva, and two more to another. Weeks later, another branch in Yerushalayim was closing, and again he arranged for the furniture to go to two more yeshivot. Over time, his number became well known. He helped dozens of institutions and families. Once, a yeshiva contacted him asking for 500 pieces of furniture. He had never dealt with such a quantity before but said he would try. Less than two months later, a carpenter from the bank called him—they were closing two large branches in Netanya and had 500 units of furniture available. He was able to fully furnish one of the larger yeshivot in the country. This man does not have wealth. But his yearning to give made him a shaliach to provide hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of furniture to yeshivot and organizations across the country. Everyone has what they need to be successful in avodat Hashem . The more we yearn to do good, the more siyata dishmaya we receive.

For a 10% discount on Rabbi David Sutton's new book A Daily Dose of Perek Shira click the link below https://www.artscroll.com/Books/9781422644584.html Welcome to Daily Bitachon. Rabbenu Avraham, son of the Rambam, in his sefer HaMaspik L'ovdei Hashem, talks about different levels of bitachon . Previously, we discussed lackings in bitachon. Now we will discuss the positive. The first level he mentions is a person who hopes and yearns for the fulfilling of his needs from Hashem, because of Hashem's great mercy, although, at the same time, he's concerned and worried about getting what he wants because he thinks his sins might prevent Hashem's mercy. This means he believes in Hashem's mercy, and he knows he can receive it even though he's sinned, but he's still concerned that maybe he won't merit that mercy from Hashem. This, Rabbenu Avraham says, is called meyachel lechesed Hashem—hoping for the kindness of Hashem— and it's a great thing. David HaMelech talks about people like this throughout Tehillim and Rabbenu Avraham cites many of these pesukim. He says this type of person is given a title—he is called a Ba'al ma'alah zo. Someone who is on a certain level. What's the level? He is a Ba'al yir'ah v'tikvah/ He's a person who is both fearful and hopeful . That might sound like an oxymoron, but it's not. He's hopeful for Hashem's mercy, but fearful that maybe he won't merit His mercy. There are ways to receive Hashem's mercy. One of them, the Gemara says, is kol hamerachem al habriyot, merachamim alav min hashamayim—whoever has mercy on Hashem's creatures, has mercy upon him from Heaven. So we know Hashem has mercy, and we have to merit that mercy. It's not a contradiction to the fact that you get things through your bitachon, because you still need Hashem's mercy. Maybe I won't merit it. He brings a pasuk in Tehillim 147:11 that we've heard before, but he adds a beautiful explanation. It says: רוֹצֶ֣ה יְ֭הֹוָה אֶת־יְרֵאָ֑יו אֶת־הַֽמְיַחֲלִ֥ים לְחַסְדּֽוֹ / Hashem desires those who fear Him, those who hope for His kindness . The simple explanation (which we must always start with) is: Hashem is happy with those who fear Him—God-fearing people . And separately, He also likes people who hope for His kindness. That's definitely an explanation. But Rabbenu Avraham comes along and says no—they're not two different people. They're one person. They are yera'av/they are fearful. What are they fearful of? They're fearful of His punishment. And even though they are fearful of His punishment, at the same time, meyachalim lechasdo/they're hoping for His kindness. So it's a mixture of feelings, a mixture of emotions. And that's a wonderful level. That's level number one. Level number two is when beside hoping and yearning for Hashem to fulfill his needs, he also has what Rabbenu Avraham calls bikush penimi shebalev/an inner request of the heart— and an external one, on his tongue. He is actually asking. And that, he says, is called Doresh Hashem/He's searching…he quotes many pesukim like that… mevakesh panav korei el Hashem , Uvikashtem misham es Hashem Elokecha—you will search, you will ask for Him. This is a very interesting concept: He's taking a level of hope alone, where the person hasn't done anything yet. He didn't even ask. Hope doesn't mean I asked Hashem. I'm just hoping for the best. Hope is a wonderful thing— kivui , hope . But it has not yet turned into an actual, what we'll call, dialogue. It's just a hope. The next level is when I've taken that hope and turned it into bikush penimi—an inner request—and bikush chitzoni—an outer request , an expression of what's going on inside of me. And on this, he says, David HaMelech says ( and this is the pasuk that I say at the end of the Amidah, which starts with a ד , ends with a ד —my name is David. So I'll have an additional understanding tomorrow): דִּרְשׁ֤וּ יְהֹוָה֙ וְעֻזּ֔וֹ בַּקְּשׁ֥וּ פָנָ֖יו תָּמִֽיד׃ / Search for Hashem and His strength, constantly seek His presence. Which means: keep on asking, keep on yearning. He brings many pesukim for this point—that this is also included in a level of bitachon, the bitachon of bikush added on top of the hope. It's not separate. You can ask—just asking, that's a tefillah. That doesn't yet mean you have hope . You could ask without it coming from hope. But this is a bikush that's coming from hope. I'm looking for the connection, I'm looking for Hashem. Dorshei Hashem—those that are searching for Hashem, they will not be missing anything. Bakshu et Hashem, search for Hashem—kol anavei eretz, all those humble people. And he says there are endless pesukim talking about this level. So we have two levels: 1. The hope level 2. The prayer that is an expression of that hope.

A young man was diagnosed with leukemia, Lo Aleinu. Baruch Hashem, he is now responding well to treatment. One day, his rabbi noticed that he was praying the Amidah with deep concentration and asked what inspired such intense kavanah. The young man replied that his doctor had recently explained to him how cancer begins. He said, "If even one single cell in the body mutates and begins to do the wrong thing, and then multiplies, it can become cancer." The young man continued, "I learned that the human body has more than 37 trillion cells, and all it takes is for just one to go off track." This struck him deeply. He began to think about the 37 trillion cells in his body that were doing exactly what they were supposed to, every moment. He realized how much he owed Hashem and felt an urge to say thank you for each and every one. So he did the math: if he wanted to say thank you for each cell, and it took just two seconds per "thank you" with real kavanah, and he did it nonstop 24 hours a day, how long would it take? His calculation came out to nearly 2.5 million years . That's what inspired him to say the Amidah with more heart and awareness—because he realized how Hashem is sustaining him with countless daily miracles. Each microscopic cell in our body is like a miniature city, with roads, factories, and workers. Cells contain tiny "machines" that produce energy, repair damage, send signals, and make proteins. Red blood cells deliver oxygen to every part of the body, completing a round trip in just one minute. There are about 25 trillion red blood cells alone. The cells send chemical messages to each other that instruct them to grow, heal, or repair. The brain, meanwhile, has 86 billion neurons firing electrical signals at lightning speed. Inside each cell lies a copy of a person's DNA, a blueprint so compact that if stretched out, it would measure six feet long—but it's packed inside something invisible to the eye. Even as we sleep, these trillions of cells continue to work— repairing damage, rebuilding muscles, cleaning waste and growing new tissues. —without pause. We could never fully thank Hashem for all He does for us. But we do get an opportunity each time we say "Asher Yatzar" to acknowledge and appreciate the intricate wonders of our body. We conclude that berachah by saying: רופא כל בשר ומפליא לעשות — "Healer of all flesh and Performer of wonders." Those wonders include our immune system, our blood cells, our nerve cells, our brain cells, our skin, our organs—and everything else that keeps functioning perfectly without our even noticing. Rebbetzin Silverstein recently shared a remarkable story. A mother had a child who could not control his bladder or bowels, and because of it, he was unable to attend school. Doctors could not help, and the parents were devastated. Then, the mother learned about the segulah of saying Asher Yatzar slowly, with kavanah, standing still, and reading it from a printed card. She began doing this every single time. Just a few weeks later, her son was miraculously healed. The doctors were stunned. The mother also said that recently, while shopping, she needed to use the restroom but couldn't find her Asher Yatzar card. She felt torn—not wanting to lose her kavanah. Just then, as if sent from Heaven, a man walked in and hung up an Asher Yatzar card on the wall. She was overwhelmed with gratitude. Hashem had answered her need at the perfect moment. We could thank Hashem every minute of our lives and still not come close to what He deserves. But the thanks we do give—if offered with heart and focus—can be incredibly powerful. Let us treasure every breath, every heartbeat, and every functioning cell—and use our moments of awareness to thank the One who never stops giving. If anyone would like to read a short write-up on specific kavanot to have during Asher Yatzar, click on the link at the bottom of today's transcript. To receive the email, you can sign up at livingemunah.com or send a request to livingemunah123@gmail.com . https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/pyh95lif97je64ncdavei/Asher-yatzar-booklet-inside.pdf?rlkey=ypna9iig1pfqhrmif6bzpktqt&st=1ti1iv74&dl=0

Ultimate Answer to Enemies

Ultimate Answer to Enemies

For a 10% discount on Rabbi David Ashear's new book LIVING EMUNAH VOL 8 click the link below https://www.artscroll.com/Books/9781422644645.html A man in Israel who works in the sound system industry bought a large van to transport his heavy equipment. Before using it for business, he made a personal commitment to first use it for a mitzvah—to do a chesed for someone else. He posted an ad offering his services but didn't receive any responses. Eager to begin using his new van for parnasah but determined to keep his word, he sat in the parked van one day and prayed sincerely that Hashem send him a mitzvah opportunity. Just minutes later, an avreich walked out of his kollel, saw the van, and knocked on the window. He asked the man if he could help him move apartments for just 300 shekels. The man agreed on the condition that others help carry the furniture. He ended up spending hours over the next few days helping the avreich move. When the job was done, he refused to accept any payment. The avrech was overwhelmed with gratitude. He told the man that he had been praying for days to find someone who could help him move at an affordable cost. The man was thrilled to be the one Hashem had chosen to answer that tefillah. He then asked the avreich if he could speak to the kollel to give them some chizuk. He shared how just a few years earlier he was drowning in debt with no way out. Then he read a book about the segulah of saying Birkat Hamazon slowly, with kavanah, and with joy. He also internalized a critical truth: his parnasah did not come from his work, but only from Hashem. He realized a person could work day and night and make nothing—or work just a little and earn a fortune. Everything is determined solely by Hashem. After that shift in perspective and practice, his debts disappeared and his business began to thrive. Another story was shared by a man named Yehuda, who still learns full-time in kollel. Ten years ago, he was eating at someone's home who honored Shabbat in a special way. When it came time for Birkat Hamazon , the host brought out a beautifully handwritten Birkat Hamazon written on klaf , like a mezuzah. The host explained he only used it on Shabbat, to give honor to the day. Yehuda was inspired and hoped that one day he, too, would own such a special item. Years passed. Yehuda recently mentioned to a friend that he was looking for a Birkat Hamazon on klaf and asked if he knew any sofer who might have one. The friend said it was rare and would likely be expensive. Two days later, that same friend told him he had just met a sofer who happened to have one available. Yehuda went to see it and was amazed—it was exactly what he had imagined, with inserts for all the holidays and beautifully handwritten. The sofer said the price was $1,500 but was willing to sell it for $1,000. Yehuda asked if he could pay $100 a month over 10 months, but the sofer said he couldn't do that. Yehuda turned to Hashem and said, "Hashem, this Birkat Hamazon is Yours. I know You can give it to me even if I can't afford it. Just because I can't buy it doesn't mean You can't give it." He prayed with real emunah that Hashem would find a way. A few days later, a friend told Yehuda he had just bought a Birkat Hamazon on klaf as a gift for someone, but that person couldn't use it because it didn't have vowels. Yehuda asked to see it, and to his astonishment, it was the exact same Birkat Hamazon he had hoped to buy. The friend had no use for it and gave it to Yehuda as a gift—for free. Hashem can give us everything we need. The more we believe in His absolute control over our parnasah, the more blessing it brings into our lives.

RESENDING THE EMAIL WITH THE CORRECT AUDIO FILE For a 10% discount on Rabbi David Ashear's new book LIVING EMUNAH VOL 8 click the link below https://www.artscroll.com/Books/9781422644645.html A man in Israel who works in the sound system industry bought a large van to transport his heavy equipment. Before using it for business, he made a personal commitment to first use it for a mitzvah—to do a chesed for someone else. He posted an ad offering his services but didn't receive any responses. Eager to begin using his new van for parnasah but determined to keep his word, he sat in the parked van one day and prayed sincerely that Hashem send him a mitzvah opportunity. Just minutes later, an avreich walked out of his kollel, saw the van, and knocked on the window. He asked the man if he could help him move apartments for just 300 shekels. The man agreed on the condition that others help carry the furniture. He ended up spending hours over the next few days helping the avreich move. When the job was done, he refused to accept any payment. The avrech was overwhelmed with gratitude. He told the man that he had been praying for days to find someone who could help him move at an affordable cost. The man was thrilled to be the one Hashem had chosen to answer that tefillah. He then asked the avreich if he could speak to the kollel to give them some chizuk. He shared how just a few years earlier he was drowning in debt with no way out. Then he read a book about the segulah of saying Birkat Hamazon slowly, with kavanah, and with joy. He also internalized a critical truth: his parnasah did not come from his work, but only from Hashem. He realized a person could work day and night and make nothing—or work just a little and earn a fortune. Everything is determined solely by Hashem. After that shift in perspective and practice, his debts disappeared and his business began to thrive. Another story was shared by a man named Yehuda, who still learns full-time in kollel. Ten years ago, he was eating at someone's home who honored Shabbat in a special way. When it came time for Birkat Hamazon , the host brought out a beautifully handwritten Birkat Hamazon written on klaf , like a mezuzah. The host explained he only used it on Shabbat, to give honor to the day. Yehuda was inspired and hoped that one day he, too, would own such a special item. Years passed. Yehuda recently mentioned to a friend that he was looking for a Birkat Hamazon on klaf and asked if he knew any sofer who might have one. The friend said it was rare and would likely be expensive. Two days later, that same friend told him he had just met a sofer who happened to have one available. Yehuda went to see it and was amazed—it was exactly what he had imagined, with inserts for all the holidays and beautifully handwritten. The sofer said the price was $1,500 but was willing to sell it for $1,000. Yehuda asked if he could pay $100 a month over 10 months, but the sofer said he couldn't do that. Yehuda turned to Hashem and said, "Hashem, this Birkat Hamazon is Yours. I know You can give it to me even if I can't afford it. Just because I can't buy it doesn't mean You can't give it." He prayed with real emunah that Hashem would find a way. A few days later, a friend told Yehuda he had just bought a Birkat Hamazon on klaf as a gift for someone, but that person couldn't use it because it didn't have vowels. Yehuda asked to see it, and to his astonishment, it was the exact same Birkat Hamazon he had hoped to buy. The friend had no use for it and gave it to Yehuda as a gift—for free. Hashem can give us everything we need. The more we believe in His absolute control over our parnasah, the more blessing it brings into our lives.

For a 10% discount on Rabbi David Ashear's new book LIVING EMUNAH VOL 8 click the link below https://www.artscroll.com/ Books/9781422644645.html People sometimes see others giving millions to tzedakah and wonder why they don't have the same zechut to give such large amounts. Others see children with exceptional middot and ask themselves, "Why do they have such great children, while ours are so difficult?" Some struggle to grasp even the basics of Torah learning, while others seem to understand the most complex sugyot effortlessly. It's natural to wonder why Hashem didn't give everyone equal opportunity, especially when the purpose of this world is to serve Him. In Parashat Chukat, we read how the Jewish people complained when they had no water. The pasuk says: " וירב העם עם משה ויאמרו לאמר ולו גוענו בגוע אחינו לפני ה '" They quarreled with Moshe and said they wished they had died like the rest of the people in the desert. They asked why he brought them out of Egypt just to die in a wasteland. This happened almost 40 years after they left Egypt—this was the new generation that was supposed to enter Eretz Yisrael—and yet they were speaking just like their parents had. Moshe could have thought that everything he had done over the past 40 years was for nothing. He had worked so hard to prepare this nation to be Am Hashem and build the Beit HaMikdash, and now it seemed like nothing had changed. But as Rav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch explains, a person is not judged by results—because results are in Hashem's hands. A person's greatness is measured by effort and pure intentions. We don't know Hashem's calculations. We don't know why things turn out one way for one person and another way for someone else. But we do know we are sent here with a mission—to act the way Hashem wants us to act, regardless of the outcome. Some people appear to succeed in life with very little effort, while others see little success despite their hardest work. A person who has a brilliant mind and understands the Gemara instantly, yet doesn't review or put in much effort, receives little reward for that understanding—it was a gift from Hashem. On the other hand, someone who works tirelessly to understand even a little, even if he never reaches the same level, will be rewarded far more for his toil. Parents who are blessed with children who naturally have strong middot and a love for Torah, yet do little to raise them that way, will not receive nearly the same reward as parents who devote hours upon hours to raising children with learning disabilities or challenging personalities—even if those children struggle. Hashem rewards effort , not results. A person struggling to make ends meet might earn more reward for a small donation than a wealthy person who gives large amounts easily. It's all relative. What matters is how hard it was to give, not how much was given. A rebbe who teaches day after day and sees no apparent nachat from his students is not a failure. Results are not in his hands. Effort is. Hashem pays us for our hishtadlut —our effort—not our outcome. Imagine if Rabbi Akiva had given up after losing his 24,000 students. The world would have missed some of the greatest sages who ever lived. But he didn't give up. He started again. He knew that his mission came from Hashem, and that the results were not the measure of his success. The Gemara tells us that after 120 years, a person will be asked: " עסקת בפריה ורביה ?" —Were you involved in trying to build a family? It doesn't say, "Did you succeed?" because that part is not up to us. We are also asked, " קבעת עתים לתורה ?" —Did you set times to learn? Not, "Did you master Torah?" Everyone truly does have equal opportunity—because everyone is judged by their effort, not their results. And effort is something that each of us can choose to give, every single day.

Chanie Werzberger's life reads like a dramatic novel, but every moment is real. In this emotional and powerful interview, Chanie shares her incredible journey: from a childhood in Argentina torn apart by her parents' separation, to a secret escape with her father to America, her entrance into the Satmar Hasidic world, and the many painful transitions she endured as a young girl without her mother. We explore her resilience through being moved from home to home, her complicated but deep love for her father, her eventual reconnection with her estranged mother after 21 years, and the health battles she fought for her daughter, Simmy. From a child longing for love to a mother fighting for her child's life, Chanie's story is one of strength, transformation, and unshakable faith. This interview is a testament to the human spirit, the power of choice, and the miracles that can arise even in the darkest moments. You can purchase Chanie's book here: https://www.artscroll.com/Books/9781422644539.html?srsltid=AfmBOoqXqdSJfA1WItrXf2PlkJzo2qePOPGggv-SJQKX8Fc6GKd5UryP   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  _______________________________________ ► Colel Chabad Pushka App - The easiest way to give Tzedaka  https://pushka.cc/meaningful  _______________________________________ ► Say Kaddish -  the Ultimate Sign of Love and Respect For centuries, we have honored our parents and loved ones who have passed on by reciting Kaddish in their merit. Saying Kaddish serves as a great virtue and does wonders for the soul of the deceased. https://saykaddish.com/ _______________________________________ ►YIEP Now enrolling: The YIEP online Counseling Master's program is fully CACREP-accredited and designed for frum adults seeking a meaningful and flexible career in mental health.  Enrollment is now open for our Clinical Mental Health Counseling Master's cohort, beginning this August. The program is fully online, follows the Jewish calendar, has competitive pricing, and is designed to support working adults and busy families — so you can advance your career while balancing life. Learn more and apply now at https://theyiep.com/new/ — or call or WhatsApp me at 917-861-6707 with any questions. _______________________________________ ► Toveedo Visit- https://toveedo.com/ Use Promo Code MM10 for 10% off! _______________________________________ ► Lalechet     We're a team of kosher travel experts, here to carry you off to your dream destination swiftly, safely, and seamlessly in an experience you will forever cherish.  https://www.lalechet.com ___________________________________________ ►Rothenberg Law Firm Personal Injury Law Firm For 50+ years! Reach out Today for Free Case Evaluation https://shorturl.at/JFKHH ____________________________________ ► NRS Pay - Honest, clean credit card processing. https://nrspay.com __________________________________________________ ► Town Appliance - Visit the website or message them on WhatsApp   https://www.townappliance.com https://bit.ly/Townappliance_whatsapp  ______________________________________ ► Faith It Till You Make It Join Rabbi Ari Bensoussan's course on Bitachon sponsored by Censible Marketing! Your guide to keeping your faith in today's complicated world! www.Meaningfulminute.org/censible  ____________________________________________________ ► Subscribe to our Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.   https://apple.co/2WALuE2  https://spoti.fi/39bNGnO Or wherever Podcasts are available! Editor: Sruly Saftlas

The Torah tells us in this week's parashah, Chukat, that the nation of Kena'an waged war against Bnei Yisrael. Rashi explains that they weren't actually Kena'anim, but Amalekim who disguised themselves as Kena'anim. Their goal was that when the Jews would pray to Hashem to save them from Kena'an, their prayers would go unanswered—because in reality, the attackers were Amalek. The next pasuk says that the Jews made a neder: if Hashem would help them succeed in the war, they would donate all the spoils to Him. And indeed, the next pasuk states: וַיִּשְׁמַע ה׳ בְּקוֹל יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּתֵּן אֶת־הַכְּנַעֲנִי וַיַּחֲרֵם אֶתְהֶם וְאֶת־עָרֵיהֶם וַיִּקְרָא שֵׁם־הַמָּקוֹם חָרְמָה Hashem heard their voice, gave them victory, and they fulfilled their promise by dedicating everything to Him. We find a similar idea with Yaakov Avinu when he fled from Esav. He made vows to Hashem in the merit of being protected. Although in general Chazal discourage making nederim, they allow it in times of distress. The Gemara in Masechet Eruvin (64a) learns from the vow the Jews made regarding their war against Amalek the tremendous power of using one's money for mitzvot in order to receive Hashem's extra mercy. The Gemara explains that if a convert passes away without any heirs, his possessions become ownerless. If someone acquires them and suddenly becomes wealthy, that wealth is at risk due to ayin hara. But if he uses part of it for a mitzvah, like buying a sefer Torah, the mitzvah protects the rest of the wealth. Another opinion says this also applies to someone who marries a woman who brings a large dowry into the marriage; he should use part of that money for mitzvot to guard it. A third opinion adds that even someone who profits handsomely from a business deal should invest part of the earnings in mitzvot to protect the rest from ayin hara. A final opinion mentions a sofer who writes tefillin. Rashi explains that even buying tefillin helps guard the wealth. However, the Maharsha explains differently: even a sofer who doesn't make much must use part of his earnings for mitzvot. Why? Although he may not have ayin hara on him, he might think his parnasah is coming from his skill and beautiful handwriting, forgetting that Hashem is the One giving him success. That attitude— כֹּחִי וְעֹצֶם יָדִי עָשָׂה לִי אֶת הַחַיִל הַזֶּה —can itself be a danger. To counter that, he must give some of his earnings to Hashem to express true recognition that He is providing. The Maharsha explains this is why the Gemara uses the case of Bnei Yisrael's war with Amalek as a proof rather than Yaakov's flight from Esav. In war, they could have believed it was their own strength that brought the victory. But they showed they knew it came from Hashem by pledging everything to Him. And this is why the Pasuk uses the words אם נתן תתן regarding the Jewish people's vow. Meaning אם נתן -if it will look like things are happening on their own in the natural way of the world, then please Hashem, תתן - we want to recognize that you are the One giving us the victory. The Me'iri writes similarly: people with yirat shamayim constantly reflect that their success comes only from Hashem. That awareness makes them enthusiastic to use what they have in Hashem's service. May we always remember that all we have and achieve is from Hashem, and may our recognition fill us with sincere hakarat ha-tov that drives us to give back with open hearts. Shabbat Shalom.

Lessons of Bitachon, Authority Structure and Chukim (Chukas 5785)

Our main purpose in this world is to be true servants of Hashem. We are here to continuously grow in our observance of Torah and mitzvot. Every step we take in that direction is incredibly valuable. Some steps may be easier than others, and some may feel like mountains—but we are never alone. Hashem is always with us, waiting to help us succeed. Hashem loves when we turn to Him and ask for help in serving Him better. He often responds in ways that clearly show He is listening and appreciating our efforts. Sometimes He even orchestrates events so that the answer comes quickly and inspires not only the person who asked, but many others who hear the story afterward. A man shared that he was listening to a shiur in which the rabbi told a story about a woman who accepted upon herself to cut her wig shorter to be more modest. As he listened, he quietly said to Hashem, "I wish my wife would cut her wig, too." Literally within a minute, his wife called him out of the blue and said she felt she wanted to cut her wig shorter. He was stunned by the immediate siyata dishmaya—Hashem had heard his simple request and responded right away. During the recent war in Eretz Yisrael, a woman wanted to take on a kabbalah to share in the suffering of her fellow Jews. She decided she would sleep with only one pillow instead of two. But she felt she needed some chizuk to carry it out. She called a chizuk hotline, and the class she randomly selected spoke about how during World War I, the Chafetz Chaim slept on a hard bench and used his hands as a pillow to empathize with fellow Jews in pain. She couldn't believe it—Hashem had guided her to exactly the message she needed in that moment. A man told of his son, who learns in a top yeshivah in Eretz Yisrael. The son had returned home briefly for a family wedding, but when war broke out, his flight back was canceled. Once flights resumed, the travel agent said it would take at least a week—possibly longer—to find him a ticket. A few minutes later, a friend called and mentioned that he was at the kever of the Ribnitzer Rebbe. The man asked his friend to also visit the kever of his own rabbi, Rabbi Yehudah Davis, who was buried nearby, and ask him to pray that his son would return quickly to his learning. The friend agreed. Amazingly, just ten minutes after the tefillah, the travel agent called back and said he had suddenly secured a flight for the boy—leaving in just two days. Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Friedman shared another remarkable story in his popular Gilyon Noam Siach . He had decided to dedicate a special issue of the publication to the teachings and stories of the Kossover rebbe who had passed away last year. Unbeknownst to him, a young man had just entered the stage of shidduchim and felt lost without the guidance of that very rebbe—someone he had turned to his whole life. At this crucial juncture, he went to the rebbe's kever and prayed for direction. A few days later, someone handed him the new issue of Noam Siach , which "happened' to include a section of the rebbe's teachings specifically about shidduchim . It was exactly what he needed. Hashem had answered him so directly and clearly, it filled him with joy and gratitude. Hashem loves when we grow in Torah and mitzvot—and He especially loves when we turn to Him for help in doing so. He answers, encourages, and uplifts those who sincerely strive to get closer to Him. May we all continue to grow and fulfill our true potential. Amen.

It is so calming to know how involved Hashem is in every detail of our lives. He cares deeply about everything we do, and He is constantly with us, guiding us every step of the way. A woman shared that she had just moved into a new home and needed to buy curtains. One night, she planned to browse online, and in her excitement, she hurried through cleaning up dinner—but forgot to say borei nefashot . She sat down with her husband, opened their laptop, and began typing the word "curtains." After typing the first four letters—C-U-R-T—she looked at the screen and froze. The language bar was still set to Hebrew from when her husband had last used it. On a Hebrew keyboard, typing those four letters spells out: בורא ( boreh ). At that moment, she remembered she had forgotten to say borei nefashot . She said she usually typed without looking at the keyboard, and had she done so now, she would have realized on the first letter that the keyboard was in Hebrew. But this time, Hashem made her look down—just so she would type the word boreh and be reminded of the berachah she had missed. Another story was shared by a man who was looking for a good chavruta to learn with his son at night. He mentioned it to his wife, and she suggested a specific nephew who would be perfect. The problem was that his son was in high school, while the nephew was already learning full-time in a beit midrash with a chavruta his own age. It seemed unlikely that he would want to learn with a high school student. Still, the man had hope. At 11 o'clock that night—perhaps too late to call—he decided to send a text asking if it was a good time. The nephew replied that he was still in yeshiva talking to his chavruta, and that he would call shortly. When he called, the uncle asked if he'd consider learning with his son. The nephew's response left him speechless: "That's exactly what I was just talking about with my chavruta," he said. "I've been thinking I want to start learning at night with a high school boy." Amazing! Hashem had planted the idea in the nephew's mind just before his uncle reached out. Hashem knows the future and arranges everything in advance to help us. A woman who works in an office building said that one morning, her regular parking spot was taken, so she had to park somewhere else. That day, she especially needed to leave quickly after work. When she returned to the lot, she saw three Hatzalah vehicles completely blocking her usual spot. But the place where she had parked was totally clear. She immediately thanked Hashem for arranging in advance that she wouldn't be blocked when time was so tight. Another woman recalled something that happened 15 years ago. She had read an article about children who suddenly developed extreme OCD-like behaviors or severe emotional swings. The article explained that these behaviors could often be traced to untreated strep or Lyme disease—and once treated, the children returned to normal. For some reason, she was drawn to the article and even clipped it out, along with letters from parents describing what their children went through. Thirteen years later, her own child suddenly changed. Her behavior became extremely negative. Therapy didn't help, and she couldn't attend school. No one could figure out what was wrong. Every day, this mother prayed to Hashem to open her eyes and show her the solution. Then one day, she suddenly remembered that article. She found it, reread it, and had her daughter tested for strep and Lyme. Baruch Hashem , they found the cause. With proper treatment, her daughter returned to her normal self within weeks. She thanks Hashem for planting the interest in that article so many years earlier. It turned out to be the key that helped save her daughter. Hashem is with us every second of the day—guiding us, helping us, preparing everything in advance. We need to recognize His hand in our lives and constantly thank Him.

Hi everyone, welcome back to another episode of The Chai on Life Podcast. I'm Alex Segal and today, I have Dr. Feigie Russ on the show.Dr. Feigie is a licensed psychologist specializing in anxiety and OCD. With over 20 years of clinical experience, she blends her psychological expertise with a deep love for Hashem, to help individuals navigate their inner struggles. This week, she is releasing a brand new book called Letting Go: Overcoming Anxiety Through Emunah and Bitachon.When I learned about this book I was intrigued, but when I got to look through an early copy, I was blown away. At the beginning, I was skeptical — how would this book be different than others out there on emunah, bitachon and anxiety? Dr. Feigie Russ totally turns the whole concept on its head by bringing ego into the mix. It's a unique perspective that I hadn't heard before, one that really clicked for me and is also super comprehensive — the book is more than 400 pages so she really tries to address every aspect around the topic. In this episode, I speak to Dr. Feigie about:-What prompted her to write this book-Her own relationship with love for Hashem and building her emunah and bitachon-How she dealt with a really painful experience and came out the other side stronger-A refreshing perspective on navigating anxiety and really overcoming it from a place of understanding-How to handle uncertainty-How ego gets in the way when it comes to personal growth AND the appropriate place for ego in living a healthy, balanced life that serves Hashem in the way you want to-How the most difficult relationships in our lives can both teach us the most about self-love and actually get us to that place-How to know when giving is coming from a real place or a people-pleasing place and further, how to overcome a people-pleasing nature -The conversation to have with yourself about knowing how you're genuinely feeling about giving and doing more…and so much more!To get in touch with Dr. Feigie, you can email her at drfeigieruss@aol.com.

Trusting the Generous One

Trusting the Generous One

The pasuk at the conclusion of Parashat Beshalach reads: וַיִּבֶן מֹשֶׁה מִזְבֵּחַ וַיִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ ה' נִסִּי Moshe built a Mizbeach after the Jews defeated Amalek, as a commemoration for the miracle that Hashem did for them. To defeat such a powerful nation, Moshe made this Mizbeach. Rabbi Menashe Reizman quoted the Ktav Sofer who asked: was this the only miracle that Hashem did for the Jewish people at that time? There were the Ten Makot, Keriat Yam Suf, the Man, the Be'er Shel Miriam. Why did Moshe make a Mizbeach only to commemorate the miracle of winning the war against Amalek? The Ktav Sofer answered that until that point, all of the miracles that the Jews had experienced were beyond the realms of nature, and it was obvious that Hashem and only Hashem performed them. However, the miracles in the war against Amalek came in the natural way of the world. Men were appointed to be soldiers and physically fight Amalek. It was people with swords doing battle, and there it may have seemed that it was their strength that enabled them to win the war. Therefore, specifically by that miracle, Moshe needed to do something to proclaim that it was Hashem's doing and that the people should recognize it through that Mizbeach and attribute the victory to Him. As we just experienced a victory in war, eliminating threats from Iran—who have been threatening to annihilate the Jewish people for decades—it behooves us to take a step back and recognize the Yad Hashem in this war as much as we can. We learn from Megillat Esther how to connect the dots of Hashem's involvement in world events from years before they take place. In Shushan HaBirah, the king moved his palace to where Mordechai and Esther lived. He killed his wife Vashti and then Esther came into the palace. Mordechai overheard the plot of Bigtan and Teresh and saved the king's life. It all came together when Haman decreed to annihilate the Jewish people. Hashem had been setting this stage from thirteen years in advance for those critical moments when everything had to be exactly the way it was to save the Jewish people. Here as well, Hashem was working in advance to pave the way for the destruction of our enemies. Chazal tell us we are like a sheep among seventy wolves, waiting to devour us, but we have Hashem—and therefore nobody ever will. In this instance, Hashem used America to assist us in this war, primarily through the actions of President Trump. Looking at it from the natural way of the world, which Hashem hides Himself inside of, it was because Trump is president that Israel had free reign to do as they pleased regarding their surrounding enemies. Nobody was putting restraint on them as previous administrations had done. It was the president's decision to enter the war and wipe out those dangerous nuclear facilities. The fact that this man is the current president is an open miracle. After the January 6th uprising on Capitol Hill after his defeat in the last election, it was obvious that Trump would never be back in politics. Yet, he was able to make the biggest comeback of all time. Obviously, Yad Hashem. Hashem made the man who he ran against in the last election feeble-minded to pave the way to his presidency. He was nearly assassinated, with bullets grazing his ear, yet he emerged alive and stronger than ever. When America got involved, it could easily have triggered World War III. Russia and China are great allies of Iran. However, Hashem had occupied Russia with their own war for the past three years, which kept them far away from this one. Trump decided to make tariffs on foreign countries, with China being the highest, and therefore they had back-and-forth negotiations over the past couple of months. China and America came to a happy agreement and made a peaceful relationship through those tariffs, so that they would stay out of this war as well. Hashem has heaped chesed upon His nation in wondrous ways, and it is incumbent upon us to show our hakarat hatov. We don't understand all the ways of Hashem, but we do know that since October 7th, there has been a renaissance of ba'alei teshuvah, people getting closer to Torah and mitzvot. Furthermore, the events of October 7th opened the door for Israel to decimate Hamas and Hezbollah. We pray for Hashem to bring back the rest of the hostages. We feel that we are very close to the geulah. Rabbi Reizman quoted the Chazal that says, "Whoever reports something in the name of the person who said it brings redemption to the world," and the Maharal there explains that to mean: the one who Hashem chooses to bring the geulah has to be someone who is going to give the credit of the salvation to Him. Someone who is able to give credit where credit is due is someone who will potentially be part of the upcoming geulah. We pray for the day when everyone in the world will recognize that Hashem is the King, and that He controls and rules over everything. We have just witnessed with our own eyes how President Trump thanked Hashem numerous times—first for saving his life and enabling him to do his mission, and now in his role in the war, Trump has said, "We love you, G-d." And then we saw Netanyahu tell the world that Israel's strength comes from Hashem's heavenly help. The world is hearing that success comes only from Hashem. We hope that we are at the doorstep of geulah. May we see the geulah sheleimah b'karov. Amen.

Danielle Renov—best known as the creative force behind “Peas, Love & Carrots”—joins the Meaningful People Podcast not to share recipes, but to open up about something far more raw and real: living through war in Israel as a mother. In this emotionally charged episode, Danielle shares what life is like in Yerushalayim under missile fire, separated from her husband and holding down the home with extraordinary resilience. She opens up about fear, faith, and motherhood in a war zone—describing what it means to remain strong for her children while the world around her is shaking, quite literally. From her roots in the Five Towns to raising a family in Israel, Danielle speaks about the deeper spiritual mission of living in Eretz Yisrael, the complicated emotions surrounding Aliyah, and why she refuses to leave even in the most dangerous moments. This conversation is not just about war—it's about the strength of Jewish mothers, the reality of daily life in Israel, and the unshakable emunah that guides Danielle through it all. Hear how one of the Jewish world's most beloved influencers was navigating some of the most difficult days of her life—with raw honesty, deep faith, and surprising humor.   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 _______________________________________   ► Colel Chabad Pushka App - The easiest way to give Tzedaka    https://pushka.cc/meaningful    _______________________________________   ► Say Kaddish - the Ultimate Sign of Love and Respect   For centuries, we have honored our parents and loved ones who have passed on by reciting Kaddish in their merit. Saying Kaddish serves as a great virtue and does wonders for the soul of the deceased.   https://saykaddish.com/  _______________________________________   ► Toveedo Visit- https://toveedo.com/   Use Promo Code MM10 for 10% off! _______________________________________   ► Lalechet     We're a team of kosher travel experts, here to carry you off to your dream destination swiftly, safely, and seamlessly in an experience you will forever cherish.    https://www.lalechet.com ___________________________________________ ►Rothenberg Law Firm   Personal Injury Law Firm For 50+ years!   Reach out Today for Free Case Evaluation   https://shorturl.at/JFKHH   ____________________________________ ► Growtha - We get you more leads.   https://growtha.com __________________________________________________ ► NRS Pay - Honest, clean credit card processing.   https://nrspay.com   __________________________________________________ ► Town Appliance - Visit the website or message them on WhatsApp     https://www.townappliance.com     https://bit.ly/Townappliance_whatsapp ______________________________________   ► Faith It Till You Make It Join Rabbi Ari Bensoussan's course on Bitachon sponsored by Censible Marketing! Your guide to keeping your faith in today's complicated world! www.Meaningfulminute.org/censible    ____________________________________________________ ► Subscribe to our Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.     https://apple.co/2WALuE2    https://spoti.fi/39bNGnO Or wherever Podcasts are available! Editor: Sruly Saftlas

Every single good deed—and even a good thought—in Avodat Hashem is incredibly precious. When a person sees in the future the immense reward given for even the smallest intention, he will wish he had done more. Sometimes, even one thought of teshuvah can change everything. In this week's parashah, we read about the earth opening up and swallowing all those who joined in Korach's rebellion. Yet the Torah tells us that the sons of Korach did not die. Chazal explain that at the very last second, just before they were swallowed, they had a thought of teshuvah—and that alone saved them. The Midrash emphasizes that they didn't even have enough time to speak a word of repentance. Hashem accepted their teshuvah based solely on a thought. In last week's parashah, we learned that Kalev was promised he would enter the Land and that his children would receive an inheritance there. Rav Moshe Feinstein, in Darash Moshe , asks what Kalev did to earn such a great reward. He answers that when Kalev spoke up against the spies and expressed Emunah that Hashem could bring them into the land, for a brief moment the Jewish people believed him. Although they quickly reverted to fear and doubt, that fleeting moment of emunah was considered a moment of teshuvah. It was so precious that it brought great merit—not just to the people—but to Kalev himself as their source of inspiration. We should never underestimate anything we do in our service of Hashem. It is never "all or nothing." Every small act counts. A man shared that he had been walking with his friend Chaim, when Chaim's phone rang with a reminder that his hour of shemirat halashon was about to begin. The man found it odd—why keep it for only one hour if we are obligated to guard our speech all the time? Chaim explained that of course we try to keep these halachot at all times, but even setting aside one hour of extra vigilance is extremely valuable. It's a way to strengthen ourselves and build up consistency. Every extra moment of self-control is meaningful. Chaim then told a story he knew firsthand. His parents' neighbor, Nitzan, once called him asking for guidance on how to become fully observant. Until then, Nitzan had not kept mitzvot but said that something happened that completely changed his outlook. A few months prior, he had decided to keep a small part of Shabbat—from midnight on Friday night until 10 a.m. Shabbat morning. People laughed at him when they heard this, thinking it strange and inconsistent, but he felt it was a meaningful step he could take. He kept his commitment seriously. On one Friday night, he was out driving with friends and saw that it was 11:30 p.m. He told them firmly that no matter where they were, he would be getting out of the car at 11:50. His friends tried to persuade him to stay with them until around 12:15, but he wouldn't budge. At 11:50, he stepped out of the car and turned off his phone. He was far from home, so he slept on a bench and planned to take a taxi at 10 a.m. when his personal observance of Shabbat would end. When he got home the next morning, his parents were overwhelmed with joy and tears. They had just heard that the car he had been in the night before was in a devastating accident. Everyone in the car had died. They thought he had been with them. He told them that it was his decision to keep even a small part of Shabbat that had saved his life. That moment became a turning point for Nitzan. He decided from then on that he wanted to become fully observant. Every little act in Avodat Hashem matters. Even a moment of restraint, a fleeting thought of teshuvah, or a limited commitment can be the key to transformation—or even salvation. We can never underestimate the power and value of the smallest efforts or intentions. Shabbat Shalom

There is nothing too big to ask Hashem for, and there is nothing too small to ask Him for. Sometimes a person may feel that what he wants is too insignificant to "bother" Hashem about—but in truth, the opposite is true. When we turn to Hashem for even the smallest things, we demonstrate our belief that He is involved in every single detail of our lives. A woman shared that late one night, someone knocked on her door asking for tzedakah. She looked in her wallet and saw she barely had any cash, but she gave the man ten shekels. The next day, she went to the grocery store and bought many items. Without a car, she wondered how she would possibly carry everything home. She realized she didn't have enough cash left for a taxi. If she still had the ten shekels from the night before, it would have been enough—but she refused to regret doing a mitzvah. Instead, she turned to Hashem and asked for help. While she was paying, the customer ahead of her realized he had forgotten to pay for a melon. He asked her to add it to her credit card and offered to reimburse her in cash. She agreed. The cashier weighed the melon—it cost exactly ten shekels, the precise amount she needed for a taxi. A small request, a small solution, but a powerful reminder that Hashem listens. Another young woman recalled that when she was fifteen, she started listening to emunah classes and began involving Hashem in her daily life. Once, she and a friend wanted to put personalized photos on beach towels. They designed them, but the towels were too expensive. With the emunah they had built, they decided to pray to Hashem to lower the price by 50%. The next day, the price hadn't changed. They still really wanted the towels and didn't have much time before camp, so they ordered them anyway, continuing to pray for a price reduction. When the towels arrived, the company said there had been a slight error, and if they weren't satisfied, they could get replacements. A very small part of one picture had been cut off. The girls explained they wouldn't receive replacements in time and asked for a discount instead. The company responded by giving them a full refund. Just like that, their tefillah had been answered—they received the towels for free. Another story was told by a man named David. One evening, he stopped at a convenience store and saw a small display of toys. He decided to pick something up for his four-year-old son—something he had never done before—and chose a small toy police car. When he arrived home, his son was already asleep. He handed the car to his wife, telling her it was for their son. She was visibly shocked. She explained that earlier that day, their son had asked her about praying to Hashem. She told him that he could pray for whatever he wanted. He then said, "Hashem, could you please give me a toy car?" And now, his father came home with one that very night. The next day, when the boy received the car, he wasn't even surprised. His mother had told him Hashem listens, so he prayed—and Hashem answered. That was enough for him. We should all strive to have the emunah of a child: simple, pure, and full of trust. Hashem wants to hear our voices. He cherishes our prayers—whether they're for "big things" or the smallest everyday needs. Nothing is too small to ask for.

The Gemara in Masechet Avodah Zarah tells a remarkable story about Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, who was afflicted with severe intestinal pain. As a remedy, he required a particular apple cider that was produced only by idolaters. To ensure its kashrut—that it contained no wine—it needed to have been stored for seventy years. Naturally, Rabbi Yehuda was not in a position to wait that long. His attendants searched until they discovered a man who had an entire storeroom filled with seventy-year-old bottles of this cider. Rabbi Yehuda drank the cider and was cured. In response, he proclaimed: "Baruch HaMakom SheMasar Olamo LeShomrim" —Blessed is Hashem who entrusts His world to guardians. He praised Hashem for planting the idea in someone's mind to store that cider decades earlier, so that it would be ready at just the right moment. This story has a striking parallel in modern times. Recently, the American Air Force deployed fourteen bunker-buster bombs to destroy Iranian nuclear facilities that posed a threat to Israel. These were said to be the only bombs in the world that could penetrate the depths necessary to destroy the underground nuclear facility. These highly specialized bombs had never before been used in warfare. Developed about fifteen years ago, each bomb costs millions of dollars, and the aircraft capable of delivering them costs over $2 billion. These powerful weapons, designed and built long ago, had been waiting for the exact moment they would be used to protect Am Yisrael. Baruch HaMakom SheMasar Olamo LeShomrim. In the past week alone, we have witnessed numerous miracles—clear signs of Hashem's hand in our lives. A missile struck Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva, hitting the exact location of the internal medicine department. Yet miraculously, just the day before, the staff had worked with incredible urgency to evacuate all patients to an underground facility that had never before been used as a regular hospital unit. Only after everyone was safely relocated did the missile hit. What caused that sudden urgency? It was Hashem guiding their hearts. In Haifa, a Belzer family lived in an old building with no safe rooms and no bomb shelter. Sirens didn't sound in their area, but when they received a phone warning, they ran to the dining room and huddled under their table. Minutes later, their apartment took a direct hit. Half of it collapsed—but every family member, including small children, was rescued without a scratch. So many other miracles continue to emerge. Over 1,000 drones and more than 400 ballistic missiles were launched at Israel, and yet we were protected time and again. So many potential escalations could have taken place—Russia could have gotten involved, but Hashem kept them occupied with another war. China could have entered the conflict, but Hashem held them back. Baruch HaShem , the war has ended. May we always be zocher to recognize the loving hand of Hashem shielding His people from harm and orchestrating every detail of salvation—even decades in advance.

Klal Yisroel is described as Am Kelavi Yakum but the reason why differs from that of similarly named Operation Rising Lion.

In Parashat Beha'alotckha, the Torah devotes many pesukim to describing how the Jewish people followed Hashem's command throughout their travels in the desert. Again and again, the pesukim emphasize that they journeyed "al pi Hashem" and encamped "al pi Hashem" —by the word of Hashem. The Seforno explains that these pesukim are praising Bnei Yisrael in many ways for their remarkable emunah and trust. First, they were willing to encamp wherever the cloud of Hashem rested, even in barren, desolate places. They remained there as long as the cloud stayed, without moving to more comfortable or fertile areas. Second, at times they were camped in ideal locations—beautiful, spacious places that were perfect for them and their cattle—but when the cloud lifted shortly after, they packed up and left without hesitation. Third, there were times the cloud rested for just one night. They had barely unpacked, perhaps hadn't even set up their belongings completely, when morning came and the cloud signaled it was time to move again. Yet they followed it with full emunah , never questioning, never resisting. For forty years, they followed the cloud of Hashem without complaint. This unwavering loyalty is one explanation of what Hashem refers to in the pasuk: " זכרתי לך חסד נעורייך... לכתך אחרי במדבר " "I remember the kindness of your youth... your following Me into the desert" (Yirmiyahu 2:2). Hashem will always remember this faithfulness. The Ramban emphasizes how extraordinary this Emunah was. Imagine large families with small children, elderly grandparents, and all their belongings. After finally settling into their tents, they are told the next day it's time to move again. Or worse, remaining in an uncomfortable place for weeks, months, even years—all without questioning Hashem's plan. This was an act of great avodat Hashem , of complete submission and trust in Him. Today, many people are experiencing a modern version of this test. Due to the war, countless individuals are unable to fly or reach their desired destinations. Plans have been canceled, semachot delayed, families separated. Some have tried to leave or return to Israel and have encountered roadblocks, flight cancellations, or border issues. Others have driven for hours through neighboring countries only to be turned back. Some are missing, or will miss, close relatives' weddings. Both those making the weddings and those missing them now have a profound opportunity: to demonstrate unwavering emunah in Hashem's perfect plan. Every person is exactly where Hashem wants them to be. No one is "stuck." We are all placed . A person will board a flight the exact moment Hashem decides it is right. Of course, we make hishtadlut —we try. But the outcome is in Hashem's hands alone. And if a person can rise above the frustration and say with full heart, "I trust that I am exactly where Hashem wants me to be, and I accept this with love," —then he will soar to spiritual heights beyond what he could ever reach by getting on any plane. May Hashem give us all the strength to trust in Him completely, and may we merit to see true peace and tranquility-Amen

Don't Put Faith in Humans

Don't Put Faith in Humans

One of the most difficult tests in life is when a person achieves something through effort, wisdom, and strength—and is then told not to attribute the success to himself, but to Hashem. Most people feel proud of their accomplishments, their clever strategies, or their brilliant ideas. But the pasuk reminds us כִּי הוּא הַנֹּתֵן לְךָ כֹּחַ לַעֲשׂוֹת חָיִל , and the Targum explains, that even our ideas—every single thought that passes through our minds—are gifts from Hashem. It's natural to feel proud after a major achievement, but it is up to each of us to pause and recognize that it was all from Hashem. So often, we fail to see the broader picture—how Hashem orchestrated every detail in advance, setting the stage for us to succeed in a way that appears seamless and "strategic." Recently, the world has witnessed Israel's remarkable military achievements, particularly in the face of Iranian threats. From eliminating key leaders and scientists to achieving aerial dominance, the successes have been astonishing. Add to that America's undetected, precision strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure, and one could easily fall into the trap of thinking it's all the result of human intelligence and power. But here, too, we must remember: " לא בחיל ולא בכח כי אם ברוחי אמר ה׳ " —victory does not come through strength or power, but through the spirit of Hashem. All wars are fought and won by Hashem— and only by Hashem . For decades, Israel has known about Iran's nuclear ambitions, yet was unable to act, as Iran lies over a thousand miles away. The logistics of such an operation seemed impossible. Israeli fighter jets could not pass through Jordan, Syria, or Iraq without being shot down. The southern route through Saudi Arabia was blocked, and the northern route through Turkey was a non-starter. But then Hashem changed everything. In December 2024, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown, ending his family's 50-year regime. Hashem opened the Syrian skies. Jordan didn't just permit the use of its airspace—it actively helped shoot down Iranian missiles during the April attack, when Iran launched 300 ballistic missiles toward Israel. Iraq no longer has the capabilities to shoot down planes. Every obstacle was removed—by Hashem. Iran had feared this moment. For years, they armed Hezbollah and Hamas so that if Israel ever struck, they could retaliate from multiple fronts. But over the past year, Hashem gave Israel the strength and intelligence to neutralize the missile capabilities of both Hezbollah and Hamas. And when the moment came to strike Iran, there was no one left to respond. We should be proud of Israel's accomplishments—with the clear understanding that they are Hashem's accomplishments . America's support? Also orchestrated by Hashem, as it says: " לב מלכים ביד ה׳ " —the hearts of kings and leaders are in the hands of Hashem. Hashem can eliminate our enemies without a single soldier taking action. We saw this just a year ago, when the president of Iran and other officials were killed in a helicopter crash—without any military involvement. We saw it when a Turkish legislator who was publicly condemning Israel suddenly collapsed and died of a heart attack. " ה׳ איש מלחמה " —Hashem is a Man of War. He fights—and wins—our battles. The current operation has been referred to as " כִּלְבִיא יָקוּם " , and the Chatam Sofer once explained the word כִּלְבִיא spells out the passuk : כִּ י לֹ א בְ כֹחַ יִ גְבַּר אִ ישׁ - it is not by human strength that wars are won, but through Hashem alone. May Hashem continue to protect His people and bring the final geulah with Mashiach speedily in our days. Amen.

Yishai Fleisher joins Nachi Gordon for a powerful conversation that dives deep into the heart of Am Yisrael. Broadcasting from the diaspora, but with his soul in Israel, Yishai opens up about the war with Iran, his personal longing to return to the front lines, and the spiritual and political crossroads facing the Jewish people today.  From his work in Chevron and his role as a councilman in Efrat, to organizing international tours with figures like Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, Yishai shares the mission behind his advocacy for a stronger, prouder Jewish state. This episode explores the challenges and opportunities of Aliyah, the erosion of Israel's global narrative, the beauty and struggle of sovereignty, and why taking small steps—like buying an apartment or drinking Israeli wine—can anchor the Jewish future in Eretz Yisrael. It's a passionate, no-holds-barred discussion about Jewish identity, responsibility, and the road ahead. 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://toveedo.com/   Use Promo Code MM10 for 10% off! _______________________________________ ►Rothenberg Law Firm   Personal Injury Law Firm For 50+ years!   Reach out Today for Free Case Evaluation   https://shorturl.at/JFKHH   ______________________________________   ► Colel Chabad Pushka App - The easiest way to give Tzedaka    https://pushka.cc/meaningful __________________________________________________ ► Growtha - We get you more leads.   https://growtha.com __________________________________________________ ► Uri Kaufman: American Intifada: American Intifada: From acclaimed historian Uri Kaufman—whose analysis of the Yom Kippur War was hailed as a "masterpiece" by the CIA's Center for Intelligence—comes the urgent new book: "American Intifada: Israel, The Gaza War and the New Antisemitism."   "American Intifada"—Truth that cuts through propaganda. Essential reading for understanding our moment. Available now on AMAZON from Republic Book Publishers. Order now: https://a.co/d/dXoz8AP __________________________________________________ ► NRS Pay - Honest, clean credit card processing.   https://nrspay.com   __________________________________________________ ► Lalechet     We're a team of kosher travel experts, here to carry you off to your dream destination swiftly, safely, and seamlessly in an experience you will forever cherish.    https://www.lalechet.com __________________________________________________ ► Town Appliance - Visit the website or message them on WhatsApp     https://www.townappliance.com     https://bit.ly/Townappliance_whatsapp ______________________________________   ► Faith It Till You Make It Join Rabbi Ari Bensoussan's course on Bitachon sponsored by Censible Marketing! Your guide to keeping your faith in today's complicated world! www.Meaningfulminute.org/censible    ____________________________________________________ ► Subscribe to our Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.     https://apple.co/2WALuE2    https://spoti.fi/39bNGnO Or wherever Podcasts are available! Editor: Sruly Saftlas

The pasuk in this week's Parashat Shelach tells us that the Meraglim (spies) came to a place called נחל אשכול , the Valley of the Cluster, and there they removed a massive cluster of grapes. This enormous cluster was later used to frighten the Jewish people, as the spies described the giants who inhabited the land and implied that Bnei Yisrael had no chance of conquering it. Then the pasuk says the place was named אשכול —"Cluster"—because of the cluster they took. But the Sefer Minchat Ani asks an important question: it seems the place was already called נחל אשכול before the cluster was taken, as the Torah says they arrived at the Valley of Eshkol before picking the grapes. The Midrash resolves this by explaining that the place was already called Eshkol, all the way back to the time of Avraham Avinu. The Midrash quotes the pasuk " מגיד מראשית אחרית "—Hashem reveals the end from the beginning—and teaches us that Hashem sees the past, present, and future all at once. One of Avraham's close companions was named Eshkol, and Hashem placed that name in the minds of Eshkol's parents because of the future cluster that would be taken by the Meraglim in that very location. But this raises an obvious question: why? Why would Hashem cause a man to be named "Eshkol" because of an event that would occur hundreds of years later? The Minchat Ani brings another Midrash that sheds light on this. When Avraham was commanded to perform a brit milah , he consulted his three friends. Aner told him not to do it—he was too old to harm himself. Eshkol warned that if he did it, he would be weakened and vulnerable to attack. But the third friend, Mamre, encouraged him, saying: "The same Hashem who saved you from the fiery furnace, from the four kings, from famine—He is now commanding you. He will protect you." This powerful moment became a lesson passed down through generations. Every Jewish child would grow up learning how Avraham courageously performed the brit milah , how Mamre showed emunah , and how Aner and Eshkol doubted. And now, centuries later, that same test returned. The Meraglim echoed the voices of Aner and Eshkol, casting doubt on Hashem's power to bring them safely into Eretz Yisrael. They cut the Eshkol—the very cluster that symbolized the mistake of the man Eshkol from generations before. And just like Mamre, Caleb stood up and proclaimed his emunah , telling the people that Hashem, who had always protected them, would continue to do so. Hashem arranged it all—placing the Meraglim at the same site as Eshkol's legacy, giving them a chance to correct the mistake of the past. This wasn't random. Their test had been developing for centuries. Nothing in this world happens by chance. Every test a person faces is custom-designed by Hashem, planned with precision before that person even enters the world. We have no idea how much our actions matter, how intentional each situation is, and how carefully Hashem prepares our challenges. In the case of the Meraglim , Hashem gave them every opportunity to succeed. He placed them at Nachal Eshkol , at the exact site where history had already taught the lesson they needed to learn. But they failed. Still, the message for us remains: Tests are given to make us great. Hashem not only gives us challenges, but also provides us with the strength, wisdom, and circumstances to overcome them. Every test we face is hand-tailored to help us grow, elevate ourselves, and earn eternal reward. If we internalize this, we'll face our own tests with clarity and strength. And with Hashem's help, we'll overcome them—and fulfill our unique mission in this world. Shabbat Shalom.

In a world filled with potential dangers, it's only natural for parents to worry about their children when they leave the house. Some are overwhelmed by fear, constantly imagining the worst, and this robs them of peace of mind. But a parent must recognize a fundamental truth: even when a child is physically near them, it is not the parent who provides protection—it is Hashem. He watches over us, and He watches over our children. And if, chas v'shalom , harm ever does befall a child, we believe with emunah sheleimah that it would have happened regardless of where the child was or who was with them. It is never the circumstances themselves that bring about outcomes. Everything happens only through the word and will of Hashem. Every day, there are countless unseen miracles where Hashem protects children—sometimes found in naïvely dangerous situations, yet guarded from harm. Knowing this should bring us calm: wherever our children are, Hashem is with them. As it says in Tehillim: " הנה לא ינום ולא יישן שומר ישראל " —Behold, the Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. A Rebbe in a yeshivah shared a remarkable story. He had a student with a severe allergy to milk products. The Rebbe admitted that it was impossible to personally guarantee that not even a crumb of dairy would reach this child—but he did his best and placed his trust in Hashem, the true Guardian. Still, the Rebbe took every precaution. Any student sitting near the allergic boy during lunch was required to notify him if they brought dairy. Most of the time, those nearby were considerate and only brought parve food. However, mistakes do happen. One day, a boy who sat next to him noticed he had dairy and immediately informed the Rebbe . The Rebbe called the allergic boy over to sit beside him instead. When the boy opened his lunch, the Rebbe noticed what looked like an American cheese sandwich. The boy was about to take a bite when the Rebbe quickly stopped him. The boy insisted, "It must be parve. My parents know not to send me dairy." But the Rebbe , not taking any chances, called the boy's home. The mother was alarmed. She said there may have been a terrible mistake—her other son had requested a cheese sandwich that morning, and it was possible the lunch bags had been switched. Sure enough, the sandwich contained real cheese. Baruch Hashem , on the very day the allergic boy accidentally brought a cheese sandwich, his friend also "accidentaly" brought dairy and reported it, triggering the Rebbe to call the allergic boy over—averting a potentially life-threatening situation. It was clearly the hand of Hashem. Hashem is our constant protector. He knows every danger and precisely how to guard us from it. Another story illustrates this beautifully. A woman shared that one evening, about a half hour before sunset, she and her husband decided to go for a walk in a forest near their home. While walking, they encountered three little boys who approached them, asking how to get back to the road. After speaking with them, the couple realized these were three six-year-old boys who were completely lost and had no idea how to exit the forest. They escorted them safely back and then called one of the mothers to let her know her children were with them. The mother was deeply grateful. She had been driving around searching for them in a panic. It was min hashamayim that this couple had decided—at that exact moment—to go for a walk. Hashem had arranged for His messengers to find those boys and lead them to safety. As it says: " כי מלאכיו יצוה לך לשמרך בכל דרכיך " —For He will command His angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. It is not our job to live in constant fear. Our responsibility is to pray, to trust in Hashem, and to remember that no matter where our children—and we—are, we are always under His watchful care.

Life can get very expensive—whether it's housing costs, tuition, weddings, bar mitzvahs, or even just the basic day-to-day expenses like food and clothing. When someone doesn't have the money available to cover these costs, it can become a source of great stress. Fortunately for us, Hashem is fully aware of every expense we face, and He is the One in charge of covering them. If He deems it best for us to afford these costs through our own income, He will send the money in the way He sees fit. And if He decides that we must rely on others for help, we must believe that this too is what's best for us. The key is to recognize that whatever happens, it's Hashem orchestrating it for our benefit. Sometimes, people must live in less-than-ideal conditions for a while. But when Hashem determines it's time for a change, He opens new doors. He can give someone a bigger home or a better location—without them even needing to figure out how to make it happen. A rabbi shared a personal story. Every summer, he works away from home at two jobs—leading a minyan and running a day camp. Each year, beginning in January, he starts searching for a rental near his summer responsibilities. In previous years, he and his family lived in small, distant basement apartments—sometimes more than a 30-minute drive away. One year, he split the cost of a house rental with his brother in the ideal location. That summer, every morning, an elderly woman walked past their rental home as she exercised. The rabbi's daughter, waiting for her camp bus, would always greet the woman with a polite "hello." Later that summer, the woman told the rabbi she was planning to move to Florida and would be selling her house right up the block. She said she wasn't interested in maximizing profit—she just wanted a nice family to live in it. And because of the way his daughter greeted her every day, she wanted to offer it to them first. She promised to reach out again when she was ready to sell. A few months later, she called the rabbi and told him she had freshly painted the home, renovated two bathrooms, and even installed a brand-new roof. She was ready for them to come see it. The rabbi and his wife came to visit. After showing them around, the woman asked what they could afford. They offered less than half the market value—and she gladly accepted. In the end, they purchased the home with a down payment of just $57,000. The woman was genuinely happy to help them. It was clear this was all from Hashem. When He decided it was time for the rabbi and his growing family to have their own home, He placed it right in their hands. Another man told me that he had once been very successful financially, but fell on hard times last year. This year, with many large expenses looming, he had no idea how he was going to pay for them. His business was not generating the necessary income, and the pressure was building. Then, one day, a check arrived in the mail—completely out of the blue. It was from the government, with an explanation that it was a refund for tax overpayments made over the past ten years. The amount? $250,000—the exact sum he needed to cover his upcoming expenses. And after all his bills were paid, and life returned to normal, his business was still underperforming. Then he received yet another unexpected check—this time for over $9,000—from an old investment he had long forgotten about. Hashem has infinite ways to provide. As it says in the Torah: " ואכלת ושבעת וברכת את ה' אלוקיך על הארץ הטובה אשר נתן לך " Hashem provides for us fully—so we may eat, be satisfied, and bless Him for it. We must internalize this truth: Hashem knows every single one of our expenses, and He will help us pay for them in the way that is best for us. Whether through work, through people, or through seemingly miraculous events, Hashem is always the One covering the cost.

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

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.

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.