Podcasts about Emunah

https://rabbiefremgoldberg.org/living-with-emunah-part-354-run-through-the-wall-or-stop-at-it Wed, 09 Jul 2025 14:23:04 +0000 7077 Rabbi Efrem Goldberg Living with Emunah - podcast no

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 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.

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.

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.

https://rabbiefremgoldberg.org/living-with-emunah-part-353-the-blessings-are-waiting-for-you Wed, 02 Jul 2025 14:21:12 +0000 7072 Rabbi Efrem Goldberg Living with Emunah - podcast no

The Rebbe blesses the recipient for a kosher and joyous Pesach and urges increased influence on others in holiness. He highlights Pesach as the beginning of geirus and true freedom—from the yetzer hara—and notes that eating matzah strengthens emunah. A kuntres is enclosed, emphasizing that the physical nourishment of Pesach deepens faith. https://www.torahrecordings.com/rebbe/004_igros_kodesh/nissan/985

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.

The Rebbe sends a blessing for recovery, especially regarding leg pain, linking it to the role of emunah—symbolized by legs and strengthened through eating matzah, the "bread of faith." As Pesach approaches, he wishes both physical and spiritual healing, along with a kosher and joyous Yom Tov. https://www.torahrecordings.com/rebbe/004_igros_kodesh/nissan/979

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.

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.

"When was the last time you felt the baby move? There is no heartbeat." Those were the words that Rebbetzin Tzipah Wertheimer's doctor told her when she went in for an appointment at 9 months pregnant.Rebbetzin Tzipah bravely shares about the loss of her baby at full term. The sadness and disappointment; the way she handled coming home from the hospital without the baby, and how she was able to move forward. She talks about the mentors from whom she sought advice, and the strength she gained from her Chabad on Campus of Queens. Rebbetzin Tzipah, and her husband, Rabbi Shaul Wertheimer, have been running the Chabad on Campus of Queens (New York) since 2004.Rebbetzin Tzipah goes on to speak about the losses of two other pregnancies, and her relationship with Hashem during these challenging times. She learned to lean into the Jewish traditions of grief and mourning. She also received some poignant advice from one of her mentors: "You don't need to understand everything in order to move forward." In other words, we need to have Emunah (faith) in Hashem that everything He does is good...but we don't need to understand how or why it's good. As human beings, we don't see the big picture. We see the events that are unfolding in front of us, but we don't necessarily see the connection to our past, and we definitely don't see what the future holds for us because of these events (not despite them.)Rebbetzin Tzipah also addresses the question of "Why do bad things happen to good people?"To be connected to Rebbetzin Tzipah, please email Vera Kessler, host of America's Top Rebbetzins: atrebbetzins@gmail.com Vera Kessler (host of America's Top Rebbetzins) is a certified life coach. She specializes in transformational life coaching and accountability coaching. She is also a motivational speaker. Vera's mission is to help women get out of survival mode and start thriving. She works with women who are committed to stepping into their own self-worth and creating the life they want to live--one that is full of joy, empowerment, meaning, and purpose. To learn more, visit:https://innerlifecoachingwithvera.com/

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.

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

Rabbi Shloimi & Feige Steinmetz on Let's Get real with Coach Menachem, Sunday June 22, 2025 # 235How to Move Forward in the Face of Tragedy: Walking the Path of Emunah and ActionHome - Ani Maamin Initiative

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.

https://rabbiefremgoldberg.org/living-with-emunah-part-352-the-jewish-people-are-the-miracle Mon, 23 Jun 2025 14:02:49 +0000 7062 Rabbi Efrem Goldberg Living with Emunah - podcast no

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.

SHELACH: Emunah In The Wonders of HaShem | STUMP THE RABBI (235)https://youtu.be/lFup_tqqrpoExcluding those atheists who choose to deny belief in a superior Creator, most people are fast to believe in the wonders of HaShem. Yet as soon as they are in what they believe is an impossible difficulty, or hear something that is beyond their logical capacity, the questioning and disbelief starts pouring out. Why is it that some have such difficulty having complete Emunah while others have blind faith?To answer this question we'll dig into Parashat Shelach along with some of the most wondrous stories the sages ever told. Perhaps then we will answer this question and also help you uncover where your red line of Emunah limitations is too. This will be followed by live questions from the audience that BeEzrat HaShem will be answers with the wondrous chesed of HaShem. Learn, Share, Enjoy and Be Holy.#Shelach #Wonders #wondersoftheworld #Judaism #Jewish #rabbiyaronreuven #atheist #Parashat #God #Emunah #Creation #World #parashathashavua

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.

https://rabbiefremgoldberg.org/living-with-emunah-part-351-should-you-embrace-your-place-if-your-place-is-a-bomb-shelter Wed, 18 Jun 2025 14:11:56 +0000 7058 Rabbi Efrem Goldberg Living with Emunah - podcast no

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.

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

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

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

https://rabbiefremgoldberg.org/living-with-emunah-part-350-only-competing-with-ourselves Wed, 11 Jun 2025 16:06:37 +0000 7051 Rabbi Efrem Goldberg Living with Emunah - podcast no

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

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

In this episode, I sit down once again with my wife Elisheva to share her personal journey from addiction to recovery and ultimately to her Jewish conversion. We reflect on how both recovery and Torah observance require deep humility, surrender, and a constant effort to align our will with Hashem's. Elisheva opens up about how her experience in the 12-step program helped prepare her for the life of halacha, and how she continues to navigate challenges like alcohol in Jewish life as a recovering addict. We also talk about the importance of community, how recovery has strengthened her Emunah, and the ongoing process of spiritual growth. Whether you're facing addiction or simply seeking to deepen your connection to Hashem, this conversation offers honest insights and encouragement.Join the Conversation! Be part of our growing community—join the Shema Podcast for the Perplexed WhatsApp group to share feedback, discuss episodes, and suggest future topics. Click here to sign up.

2nd shiur - R' Nachman Fried Likutei Moharan Torah 61.Subscribe to our WhatsApp status for exclusive updates, short clips and more. We are also available on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts. Download the English pamphlet hereDownload the hebrew pamphlet with Likutei Halachos here

Rebbetzin Dini (Dina) Coopersmith is the trip leader and coordinator of women's learning trips to Israel through Women's Reconnection Trips. She has a Bachelor's degree in Education and a Master's degree in Jewish History. Rebbetzin Dini teaches in a number of seminaries in Jerusalem, where she lives with her husband and children.From this situation, only good will come, was the central theme of our enlightening conversation. Emunah--the belief that everything comes from Hashem (G-d), everything He does is good, and everything He does has a purpose--is the way Rebbetzin Dini lives her life. This is also the theme that runs through her Reconnection trips with women. The Level Up women's emunah and solidarity missions are designed to help women reconnect with each other, with themselves, and with Hashem, in a truly transformative way. The women visit historical places in Israel and they also spend time with people and families whose lives were directly impacted by the events of October 7. When women connect to women, in an authentic and compassionate way, they have the capacity to truly uplift each other's souls.Rebbetzin Dini also describes some of the classes that Reconnection Trip participants experience. She speaks about a beautiful class where women learn to identify their purpose and their tikkun in life. Also, she speaks, in depth, about a class on emunah that calls women's attention to:A--appreciation for all the Hashem has done for youB-belief and connection to HashemC-communication through prayerD-declaring your beliefs and positive affirmations out loudE-expecting the best from HashemFor more information on Rebbetzin Dini's Reconnection Trips, please visit:https://www.reconnectiontrips.com/For Rebbetzin Dini's YouTube channel, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/@dinicoopersmith Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com Vera Kessler (host of America's Top Rebbetzins) is a certified life coach. She specializes in transformational life coaching and accountability coaching. She is also a motivational speaker. Vera's mission is to help women get out of survival mode and start thriving. She works with women who are committed to stepping into their own self-worth and creating the life they want to live--one that is full of joy, empowerment, meaning, and purpose. To learn more, visit:https://innerlifecoachingwithvera.com/

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

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

https://rabbiefremgoldberg.org/living-with-emunah-part-349-the-most-important-meeting-of-your-day Wed, 04 Jun 2025 14:18:09 +0000 7044 Rabbi Efrem Goldberg Living with Emunah - podcast no

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

1st shiur - R' Shmuel Tabak Likutei Moharan Torah 61.Subscribe to our WhatsApp status for exclusive updates, short clips and more. We are also available on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts. Download the English pamphlet hereDownload the hebrew pamphlet with Likutei Halachos here

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

https://rabbiefremgoldberg.org/living-with-emunah-part-348-do-your-job-and-let-hashem-do-his Wed, 28 May 2025 14:11:56 +0000 7040 Rabbi Efrem Goldberg Living with Emunah - podcast no

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

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

Hi everyone, welcome back to another episode of The Chai on Life Podcast. I'm Alex Segal and today I am so excited to have Rebbetzin, Author and Speaker, Sara Yoheved Rigler, on the podcast. In this episode, we are talking all about her incredible book, Holy Woman, the woman who inspired it — Rebbetzin Chaya Sara Kramer, and some Shavuot lessons we can all take to enter the holiday in the best mindset we can.Rebbetzin Rigler has become someone I've really learned a lot from in my own Jewish journey. I am a member of her weekly marriage webinar run through Jewish Workshops, where she helps women around the world work on themselves and improve their marriages; and I'm also someone who has really benefitted from her books. Even though Holy Woman is technically a biography, it reads like a novel and you become riveted from early on. Plus, Rebbetzin Rigler writes it with takeaways along the way so you can think about your own struggles and choices in life and become more prepared to tackle them.In the episode, we speak about:-Chaya Sara Kramer's life — the prophetic nature she was born with and how she nurtured that -The immense challenges she encountered along the way-How Rebbetzin Rigler met Rebbetzin Kramer and the relationship they developed following-What defines being in a good place versus a bad place in life — this was really life-changing-What we can learn from Rebbetzin Kramer about passing our own tests in life-How Rebbetzin Kramer lived every day with true simcha and what we can all learn from that-Creating more of a Oneness between us and Hashem-What it's like to live with bitachon versus just living with emunah-What Judaism really says about guilt-The main lesson Rebbetzin Rigler applies to her life daily that she learned from Rebbetzin Kramer…and SO MUCH MORE.The reason we are doing this episode now is because it is the 20th yahtzeit of Rebbetzin Kramer and because she didn't have any biological children — something you'll learn more about — she was always concerned no one would light a candle for her. So the goal with this is that all those listening will learn more about her and light a candle for her on her upcoming yahrzeit — gimmel Sivan, which starts on the night of 29th of May and goes into the following day, May 30. The full name for prayer is Chaya Sara bas Mendel Yosef.More about Sara Yoheved Rigler:Sara Yoheved Rigler is the author of seven books on Jewish spirituality: Holy Woman; Lights from Jerusalem; Battle Plans: How to Fight the Yetzer Hara (with Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller); G-d Winked: Tales and Lessons from My Spiritual Adventures; Heavenprints; and Emunah with Love and Chicken Soup: The Story of Rebbetzin Henny Machlis, the Brooklyn-born Girl who became a Jerusalem Legend. Her newest book, I've Been Here Before: When Souls of the Holocaust Return, is the product of 8 years of research into reincarnated souls from the Holocaust. She gives a weekly Marriage Webinar for Jewish women on a spiritual approach to marriage, with hundreds of members throughout the world. She lives in Jerusalem. Her website is: sararigler.com. Her YouTube channel is "From Within the Walls of Jerusalem", where she relates stories, presents gems of Jewish wisdom, and teaches practical life tools.

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

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

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

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