Emuna Yomi Tweets
Based on the book The Garden of Emuna by Rabbi Shalom Arush, translated to English by Rabbi Lazer Brody.
started 2 Shvat 5777 (Jan. 29, 2017).
#EmunaYomi
1: Emuna is the solution to all problems, grants happiness & inner peace, has power to help a person bloom into their very best.
2: All of life’s questions have one universal key: Emuna. Emuna is like the master key to life’s locked dilemmas.
3a: Emuna: Original biblical Hebrew term for a firm belief in a single, supreme, omniscient, benevolent, supernatural —
3b: — & all-powerful Creator of the universe, which we refer to as God.
4: God alone cares for each of us in a unique, tailor-made fashion according to our own individual needs.
5: Everything that happens to us in life is the product of God’s will & personal intervention in our lives — Divine Providence.
6: Divine Providence is designed to help us perform our task in life.
7: Divine Providence determines events on a global scale & the tiniest details in the universe, even the evening meal of a worm.
8: God decides when we succeed and when we fail, when times are easy and when times are hard.
9: Completing one’s soul correction (Tikkun) is the loftiest achievement a person can accomplish in this material world.
10: Often must suffer or have hardship to reach higher spiritual level or correction of the soul. Like athlete suffers training.
11: Once develop deep sense of Emuna, then the puzzle-pieces of life suddenly come together in a picture of striking clarity.
12: God has one simple request from each of us — that we get to know Him.
13: Daily events & experiences are personal messages from God, to stimulate our Emuna, encourage us to speak to Him.
14: The closer one gets to God, the better one gets to know Him.
15: Proximity to God & thereby getting to know Him are the ultimate soul correction, our individual goal & mission on earth.
16: God, in His limitless love for each of us, directs our lives in a manner that helps us successfully achieve soul correction.
17: Understand that all in our lives is for our own ultimate good. Allows to cope with situations without stress, worry, anxiety.
18: When we ignore God’s personal messages, He is compelled to send “louder” messages (situations of greater difficulty).
19: If fail to know God when all good, risk of getting trouble with no natural or logical solution. Then can only cry out to God.
20: The more we cooperate with God to achieve our ultimate soul correction, the easier our lives become.
21: Zohar: God wields rod, leads son on straight path. Mishle “God reproves those He loves & like a father, mollifies the child.”
22: If God reproves those He loves, then doesn’t reprove those He hates. A life without trials & tribulations isn’t a good sign.
23: Ignorance of fact that God loves us & is helping us reach our soul correction is root of suffering, worry & anxiety.
24: Those constantly seeking God don’t need the superfluous “wake-up calls” of extreme tribulations.
25: Those that think they alone control their fate are prime candidates for suffering and emotional ills.
26: God often gives us a “jolt” in the form of some difficulty or challenge that forces us to seek His help.
27: God closes those doors that aren’t beneficial for our souls, yet opens the doors that lead to what’s best for each of us.
28: Task is to develop our spiritual antennae & to discern, by correctly processing God’s messages to us, what He wants from us.
29: Athlete knows & trusts that coach wants to build him or her up into winner & champion. Need same knowledge of & trust in God.
30: With hindsight, we’d understand that God did something that seemed harsh at the time, for our ultimate good.
31: Emuna turns hindsight into the foresighted knowledge that God is leading each & everyone of us on the very best path.
32: Without Emuna, a person is doomed to a life of confusion, frustration & costly mistakes that could have been avoided.
33: A person that ignores God’s messages creates a lack of communication with God.
34: Stubborn people that lack Emuna force God to send them all types of obstacles to prevent them from wasting their lives.
35: Those who squander their days trying to satisfy physical appetites, while ignoring God’s commandments, can expect misery.
36: Strife among nations impossible in world of Emuna. Each nation would realize has its own task in the global scheme of things.
37: Just as a carpenter doesn’t compete with a butcher, the nations of the world would cooperate in peace, rather than fight.
38: R’ Nahman: As knowledge of God increases, there will be no more damage & cruelty. Mercy & compassion will spread.
39: Only the fear of getting caught & punished deters unbelieving person from theft, embezzlement, murder & adultery.
40: Where there’s no Emuna, there’s corruption and anarchy. Injustice becomes the norm and humans become heartless.
41: Emuna restrains & refines a person, by teaching them to be satisfied with their lot & not to covet what God gives neighbor.
42: Truth prevents conflict & mass destruction. Can obtain truth only via Emuna. Emuna needed for world’s continued existence.
43: Emuna girds us with phenomenal inner strength & enables us to successfully weather life’s difficult tests & challenges.
44: Emotional breakdowns & despair all result from a lack of Emuna. Life is unbearable when one loses hope.
45: King Hezekia: Tradition from King David: Even if a sharp sword is at throat, don’t lose hope in Divine mercy. Berahot 10a.
46: Everyone has Emuna, but most people fail to “live” it. They don’t know how to apply the concept of Emuna to daily practice.
47: We tap our cogent resources of Emuna once we begin speaking with God and asking for all our needs.
48: Eumna isn’t activited in its entirety until a person begins a daily dialog with God, namely through prayer.
49: Doubts: that have power & privilege to speak to God in our own language & words, whenever we wish.
50: Doubts: that God listens to us, heeds our prayers & those of every creation; loves each of us & desires to help us.
51: Doubts: that God’s power & mercy are limitless & has abilities to help us in any situation, even when we don’t deserve it.
52: With true Emuna, any person, w/ simple personal prayer & dialog w/ God can transcend any natural limitation & work wonders.
53: Don’t ever forget that God listens to, sees, and personally provides for the lowest and simplest creatures in the universe.
54: Each prayer has its power, & each request requires a certain amount of prayer or spiritual power to bring it about.
55: The Zohar explains that entrance-level Emuna is the cognizance of a world to come, far beyond the limited material world.
56: If a human does things for a purpose only, then rest assured that God does nothing without a specific and very good purpose.
57: Every mineral, plant, animal, and human has an important task to perform in the overall scheme of creation.
58: God gave humans fabulous intellectual potential, physical capabilities & spiritual power for a definitive purpose.
59: We can surmise that there must be a continuation of spiritual life far beyond physical demise.
60: Our powers of cognizance are enhanced when we realize our lives began long before we’re born & continue long after we die.
61: The knowledge that God does everything for our eternal benefit should be engraved on our hearts and minds.
62: Mind-boggling set of Divine considerations influences a person’s life & longevity: deeds, former lives, public edicts & more.
63: Don’t be surprised if hear of young, upright people that die suddenly. They’ve completed their soul correction & mission.
64: Arizal: Encounter most resistance in area of our mission on earth. Evil inclination doesn’t want us to complete successfully.
65: The more we’re hampered by the Yetzer Hara, the evil inclination, the more we have to accomplish on earth.
66: Sometimes, soul makes brief visit to earth. Soul of R’ Yosef Karo returned as baby & died right after his circumcision.
67: Lack of even one small but critical detail makes God’s lovingkindness seem like cruelty. Entire picture seems flawed.
68: Emuna, our unshakable belief & trust in God, fills in the missing pieces that our limited vision sometimes creates.
69: God gave mankind, and the Jewish people in particular, clear instructions as to one’s purpose in life.
70: We have holy Torah & commandments, & righteous sages & spiritual leaders of every generation that lead us on path of truth.
71: Can’t achieve & internalize genuine Emuna w/o Torah. Humans, swayed by own interests & appetites will decide warped “truth”.
72: Life is a labyrinth of utter chaos in the absence of Torah, where confused people live lives of folly and fantasy.
73: Without Torah, the world is a heartless hothouse of strife, hatred, slander, theft, revenge, cruelty, adultery & injustice.
74: A life of Torah is like a smooth ride in a new car when the owner fulfills all the manufacturer’s instructions.
75: Torah: God’s manual for welfare of our body & spirit, shows us how to be happy, respect our fellow man & raise our children.
76: True Torah observers deal honestly, help others, rejoice when they’re happy; live worthy fulfilled lives, make world better.
77: Unfortunately, if a person learns Torah without striving for Emuna, then the power of Torah becomes lethal and damaging.
78: Instead of turning to God for all needs, they put their hopes in futile man, become easily worried, upset, quarrel w/ others.
79: Unbroken chain of righteous extends from Moses until today. They help us understand Torah, commandments, individual purpose.
80: Each of us must search for tzadik (righteous) of true spiritual stature to help find way to apply Torah to our daily lives.
81: 3 levels of Emuna: Basic, belief that all is from God; Intermediate, everything is for best; Upper, for specific purpose.
82: Everything that happens to us spiritually, materially, accidental, intended, no matter who or what the catalyst, is from God.
83: Rule of thumb to apply in daily life: anytime something happens that upsets us, we should let Emuna precede our intellect.
84: Anyone or anything that influences our lives, for better or for worse, is merely God’s messenger & an agent of Divine will.
85: God is on the scene, the cause behind all events, to create certain situations – personal messages for our ultimate benefit.
86: Law of spirituality: Any situation of tension, stress, or sorrow is none other than a test of faith. Need Emuna to overcome.
87: The intellect tries to grasp “rationale” straws that lead to sorrow, anger & frustration, which cause depression & despair.
88: R’ Nathan of Breslov explains that God designed the universe in such a way that prayer can effect a change in nature.
89: Complete Emuna enhances a person’s chances to be saved from any peril. A breach in Emuna is the gravest danger of all.
90: Before making a mistake, a person has free choice not to make a mistake. But after the fact, must believe that God willed it.
91: Our successes are a result of God’s intervention in our lives, & likewise our failures are the result of God’s intervention.
92: God knows what is best for us. We should accept our failures lovingly and with Emuna, just as we accept our successes.
93: If don’t accept setbacks lovingly, as arrogant as those who take pride in their successes. Attribute fate to themselves.
94: Failure is a true test of Emuna. Have to acknowledge that our mistakes, bad decisions or any other setbacks are God’s will.
95: “God is good to all, merciful.” Can’t say that believe in God while complaining about lot in life; contradiction in terms.
96: Intermediate-level Emuna is the belief that everything God does is for the very best, even though it may appear otherwise.
97: Mortals can’t see all variables God takes into account. Often, we see in retrospect how a bad situation turned out for best.
98: At other times, we never become privy to God’s considerations for putting us through a certain trying & rigorous situation.
99: Only God knows optimum tailored path that’s perfect for each of us. At times we see purpose of suffering, other times, don’t.
100: In midst of difficult tribulation, can’t SEE how predicament for our own good, but with Emuna can BELIEVE that for own good.
101: Our faith, our Emuna, gives us the strength to cope and to function at our best under any situation.
102: Intermediate-level Emuna not separate from basic-level Emuna. Stronger cognizance that EVERYTHING comes from God & for best.
103: Requirement: Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law) Orach Chaim 230:5: Each of us must believe that all God does is for best.
104: Belief that EVERYTHING is for the best doesn’t mean ALMOST everything. Can’t say “everything is for the best, except this.”
105: Understanding situation for the best isn’t Emuna that all is for the best. Spiritually, comprehension is lower than Emuna.
106: When brain no longer understands how God is doing everything for best, Emuna begins. Emuna kicks in when brain kicks out.
107: With Emuna we rejoice rather than succumb to despair/depression. When we’re happy, our brains operate much more efficiently.
108: R’ Natan: If would always believe in God & that all for best & give thanks & praise to Him for good & bad – get redemption.
109: Simple and pure Emuna neutralizes severe judgments, just like an alkaline neutralizes an acid.
110: Complete & simple Emuna of person that tries best to fulfill the Torah’s laws will lead to a life of gratifying sweetness.
111: God has no joy from the Torah and Mitzvot of a person with a sour attitude. They are incomplete without Emuna.
112: Observant person’s lack of Emuna shows their fulfillment of Mitzvot is mechanical. Proper intent connects person w/ Emuna.
113: Life’s difficulties are steppingstones; lead us to the destination God predetermined for the ultimate benefit of each of us.
114: Against our will & for no clear reason, we often face grueling physical, emotional, interpersonal & financial challenges.
115: Accept life’s trying times with Emuna. Such a positive outlook assures that the tough situation will soon reverse itself.
116: W/o Emuna, person is bitter, broken in spirit, disgruntled & virtually defeated. Bitterness & dark moods draw more troubles.
117: Emotional/spiritual burns lead to arguments, anger, worry, tension, stress, jealousy, sadness, revenge, despair, depression.
118: In actuality, choices begin with something very basic; namely, choosing whether we’ll be happy with our lot in life or not.
119: If fail to make initial choice of being happy w/ our lot, we can’t possibly weigh our options w/ clarity of thought & mind.
120: By being happy with whatever we’re doing right now and with our current circumstance, we repel depression and confusion.
121: When we desire a change in our life, yet can’t, it’s a sign that God wants us to continue in our current situation for now.
122: When can’t change situation, we should accept God’s will happily, & know that current situation is for our ultimate benefit.
123: We should express all our aspirations in prayer, & devote a special timeslot to telling God about our aspirations & desires.
124: Once we spend an hour a day pouring out our hearts to God, we are able to spend the remainder of the day in happiness.
125: Talk to God daily, ask Him help to fulfill aspirations; try best at what doing; accept current situation happily & w/ love.
126: Lack of spiritual success, despite best efforts, atones for period in our lives when we put much less effort in serving God.
127: God delays granting spiritual success if we aren’t strong enough to receive the enhanced Divine light of the higher plateau.
128: God delays spiritual success until we can properly learn to nullify our egos, so that the success won’t lead to arrogance.
129: God often delays success to encourage us to make a 2nd, more concerted effort. Delayed spiritual success is a test of Emuna.
130: Accepting interim situation happily, prepares us as suitable spiritual vessels to receive Divine light of spiritual success.
131: R’ Recanati, 1300s, prayed all life to study Torah, was merchant until age 80, then in 2 yrs wrote 40 texts of Torah/Kabala.
132: To attain genuine Emuna: spend one hour a day of introspection, confessing our wrongdoings to God and assessing our Emuna.
133: We must evaluate ourselves and ask, “Am I putting my Emuna to practice in all phases of my daily routine?”
134: Understanding God’s messages, spiritually awakening & learning how to correct ourselves, are products of upper-level Emuna.
135: At mid-level Emuna should be accepting life’s challenges w/ happiness. Then ready to understand message in each challenge.
136: Devoid of a good hold on intermediate-level Emuna, one shouldn’t attempt to understand God’s messages.
137: Without believing that God does everything for the best, a person can’t possibly reach a truthful conclusion.
138: Truth comes from a free and clear mind, and that comes from the happiness in knowing that God does everything for the best.
139: We therefore need intermediate-level Emuna in order to avoid erroneous conclusions in discerning God’s messages.
140: R’ Nachman of Breslev: happiness & freedom from worry lead to liberty of the brain that facilitates true mental composure.
141: If don’t use events of our lives as opportunities for growth, & constant introspection, maintaining hold on Emuna is tricky.
142: Silver lining in cloud of tribulation is that stimulates us to seek God. Our purpose in life is to seek & get to know Him.
143: Upper level Emuna belief that God does everything for specific purpose & conveys messages to help us perform our task.
144: Moreover, upper-level Emuna teaches that God sends us incessant stimuli that call us to strengthen our connection with Him.
145: OBSERVATION: God exposes me to a certain event or experience in order to convey a message or teach me something.
146: INTERPRETATION: I should do my best to relate God’s message to something in my life that needs reinforcement or improvement.
147: IMPLEMENTATION: Need to correct bad habit, atone for sin, strengthen service of God, awaken from spiritual slumber, etc.
148: Must all make an ongoing effort to observe the Divine wisdom in everything, & to connect to the Divine wisdom in everything.
149: When we connect, the Divine wisdom of a particular creation/event illuminates our brains & souls, drawing us closer to God.
150: If neither observes nor connects self to Divine wisdom of a particular creation or event resembles Esau, scorned birthright.
151: Nachmanides: A person doesn’t earn a share in the Torah until he believes that every thing or event in life is a miracle.
152: One who believes that God torments His creations for nothing consequently has a warped notion of Emuna.
153: If think that tribulations are the result of fate, chance, or natural course, contrary to Emuna.
154: If believe in Divine Providence, must believe that any sorrow, trouble, difficulty, and deficiency in life comes from God.
155: Our blemished souls diminish ability to get God’s divine light & prevent us from reaching optimal place in world to come.
156: God sends us tribulations that can cleanse our souls. Life’s difficulties aren’t punishments, they’re soul corrections.
157: Belief that no tribulations without transgressions brings us happiness when seize opportunity as trigger for soul-searching.
158: By viewing our difficulties in life as growth opportunities; we attain true and complete Emuna.
159: A devout person does daily soul-searching & confesses own misdeeds to God. If don’t soul-search, think you’re your own boss.
160: Love and devotion motivates the most laudable servant. Fear of punishment motivates the less commendable servant.
161: Since the “boss” thinks he can do whatever he wants whenever he wants, he doesn’t feel there’s anybody around to punish him.
162: By lacking the fear of punishment, the boss doesn’t even reach the spiritual plateau of the least commendable servant.
163: W/ even minimal fear of punishment, we fear results of sin & therefore make a daily accounting, confess to God & ask pardon.
164: Entrance-level servant knows that he or she will be rewarded for good conduct and punished for laziness and negligence.
165: Entrance-level Emuna begins with the belief in reward and punishment: Whatever happens in life, good or bad, comes from God.
166: If person remains in spiritual slumber & acts like a boss & not a servant, life’s difficulties become even more unbearable.
167: If attribute life’s difficulties to anything or anyone other than own transgressions, light-years away from minimal Emuna.
168: If fail to account for actions, never repent, fall deeper into spiritual slumber and becomes far removed from God.
169: Sadness: 1st & most common cause of suffering. Nothing invokes severe judgments as complaints & dissatisfaction w/ life.
170: By taking their blessings for granted & focusing on their difficulties, sad people make their lives even more insufferable.
171: Express unhappiness, Heaven examines closely & always discovers that really deserve more troubles & triggers new troubles.
172: Disgruntlement w/ lot in life is main cause of own suffering; goes hand in hand w/ ungratefulness to God & lack of Emuna.
173: Prolonged anguish often result of sins against other. Caused pain to other, can’t clear own sins until forgiven by victim.
174: As long as one’s injustices against a fellow human go uncorrected, severe judgments linger.
175: Tribulations can also indicate that either doing actions forbidden by Torah, or not fulfilling Torah’s obligatory actions.
176: God often uses suffering to deflate inflated egos. Proverbs: “Pride precedes destruction & arrogance comes before failure.”
177: Arrogant can’t get close to God. “Arrogant & I can’t dwell in same world.” When God removes His presence, suffering sets in.
178: God judges measure for measure. Samson pursued desire of eyes, eyes taken out. Absalom haughty about hair, hung by hair.
179: Diphtheria, stomach disease then blocks throat, punishment for slander. Negative “gut” feeling lead to slander. Shabat 33a.
180: Brahot 5b: R’ Huna had issue w/ field tenant; 400 wine casks soured; repented & accepted decree; price of vinegar shot up.
181: Rashi: Josef suffered measure for measure: told father 3 negative tales about brothers, his suffering related to each tale.
182: Jacob was away from parents 22 years, caused them anguish. Josef missing, thought dead 22 years, caused Jacob great anguish.
183: Baal Shev Tov: Trouble with children=neshama=thoughts, wife=ruach=speech, money=nefesh=deeds. Hint what needs to correct.
184: Son disobedient, parent likely disobeys God. Insolent children from insolent parents. Children treat us as we treat parents.
185: Wife is mirror of husband. Sees through her his traits. Marital difficulties can indicate lack of faith, arrogant, or lewd.
186: Berahot 5a: God sends suffering to those he loves, for soul-correction. Doesn’t bother with those who are steeped in evil.
187: Tribulations of love are an additional type of suffering designed especially for the righteous and the pious.
188: When suffering, self-evaluate & repent. If didn’t do anything wrong, was lax in Torah study; not lax, tribulations of love.
189: Most people not evil or righteous. Have trouble, figure out what did wrong, confess to God, remorse, apologize, improve.
190: Nobody wants trouble, but if comes, good sign. Shows that God cares about us very much & calling us to get closer to Him.
191: “God, help me understand what I did wrong. Have mercy on me & explain my suffering. I want to get close to you. Help me.”
192: If don’t understand reason for troubles, must resort on Emuna & remember that God does everything for a purpose.
193: If after prayers trouble doesn’t go away & still don’t understand reason, believe that for best AND for a specific purpose.
194: Accept tribulations w/ love & a subjugated heart. Invokes Divine compassion. Often, as soon as reconcile, trouble vanishes.
195: Thinking not strong enough to handle trouble shows lack of belief in self. God doesn’t give us troubles we can’t withstand.
196: Desire to live in “peace” is request not to repent or correct soul. Can’t strengthen without being tested from time to time.
197: Only by trials & tribulations build Emuna, achieve tranquility of soul. Running from difficulties makes more unbearable.
198: God doesn’t give up. He knows what we need to correct; the soul-correction we need to do in this life or in reincarnation.
199: Sages warn that any difficulties in this life are preferable to an additional reincarnation.
200: Can’t sit on sidelines in this world; pick up ball of life’s challenges & run with it toward our goal. W/ Emuna, win game.
201: True gratification and success, both in material and in spiritual endeavors, come from Emuna.
202: If unwilling to invest effort in correcting soul life, will ultimately suffer a worse collection of trials & tribulations.
203: Whenever we strengthen ourselves in Emuna, prayer, and the fear of God, we make life so much easier.
204: This world is a classroom of Emuna. Since purpose of life on earth to learn Emuna, all that happens to us is test of Emuna.
205: Believe that our current predicament is from God & exactly what He wants. No need to blame self or harbor malice to others.
206: Believe that what’s happening to us now is for our own ultimate good. Cast aside thoughts that what’s happening isn’t good.
207: Believe that everything in life has a reason and a purpose, and that there are no tribulations without transgression.
208: Troubles are God’s catalyst to start process of soul-searching & repentance for what we may have inadvertently done wrong.
209: I.e. pulled over ‘cuz of traffic violation, “natural” circumstance merely vehicle of Divine justice designed to arouse us.
210: Talk to God before policeman comes: “God, don’t punish me with police. Help me identify & correct reason deserve punishment.
211: Spiritual law: when trust in anyone other than God, fall into hands of object of trust. Nobody has God’s mercy, compassion.
212: Without Emuna, people easily insult, harbor ill will, harm, or take revenge upon those who conceivably caused them damage.
213: As long as sins between man & fellow man go uncorrected, severe judgement hovers like an ax over the transgressor’s neck.
214: If harm others have to make arduous efforts in begging forgiveness of all victims. Otherwise, God won’t listen to prayers.
215: Charity prevents penalties. Many penalties and other forms of financial loss occur when a person gives insufficient charity.
216: Income & losses preordained on Rosh Hashana. $ to charity takes place of $ losses (taxes, fines, med bills, repairs, etc.).
217: Heavenly accounting exacting to the penny. When give charity, prevent anguish of losing money in negative circumstances.
218: Without charity person is a triple loser: loses money against will; suffers pain of money loss; loses benefits of charity.
219: Satisfaction of donating to poor, sick & for advancement of Torah, better than losing $ on medical bills, repairs & taxes.
220: If lack of charity reason stopped by policeman, then pledge of charity can tip scales of harsh judgement the other way.
221: A person in a real world court case is judged at same time in Heavenly court, checking person’s spiritual credits & debits.
222: Once Heavenly court reaches verdict, God instills “upstairs” verdict in heart of judge/jury in the “downstairs” courtroom.
223: Be prepared for unwanted outcomes. Efforts at repentance don’t always suffice to clean the entire list of Heavenly debts.
224: Our Emuna undergoes a special test in face of negative outcomes or judgement. This is the time to summon power of Emuna.
225: Task at hand is to accept (Heavenly & earthly) court’s decision lovingly & w/ Emuna & increase repentance efforts & prayer.
226: Repentance: spared from harsh judgments; get closer to God; avoid slander, anger, frustration, bitterness & earn happiness.
227: Above fruits are immediate rewards in this world. Dividends of repentance & Emuna assure eternal bliss in the next world.
228: Nothing brings person closer to God than passing difficult tests of faith in this lowly & often confusing material world.
229: People that lack Emuna think that flesh-and-blood judges, juries, attorneys, and witnesses dictate the outcome of a case.
230: When they put their trust in their lawyers, their lawyers frequently become the reason of their failure in court.
231: Incarceration is an extreme test of faith. Can’t blame anyone for the situation. God puts people in jail to atone for sins.
232: Innocent of charge but convicted by court, may be guilty of something else that led to Heavenly verdict of imprisonment.
233: Prisoner’s daily routine should involve repentance, prayer & charitable deeds. Ask for strength, guidance & quick release.
234: Confessing to God vital to spiritual & emotional welfare, repentance, remorse for sin & deciding to improve from now on.
235: To merit true & complete repentance, must pray constantly for God’s assistance & guidance, and ask to be lead on right path.
236: Pray God protect from negative friends/influence, send good messengers to help correct life. Prayers in own language better.
237: Facing hard & taxing test of faith, muster Emuna & inner strength to accept w/ love, entire situation can turn for better.
238: Josef kept cheery disposition in prison. Led to being in charge there. Suddenly released, became powerful, 2nd to Pharaoh.
239: If Josef would’ve lacked Emuna, complained, depressed, God’s presence departs, might’ve rotted in jail, suffer living death.
240: Imprisonment frequently substitute for much more serious punishment. Person should actually thank God for being in jail.
241: Most inmates have plenty of time at their disposal; God gives them conditions conducive for introspection & repentance.
242: Many former inmates testify jail term was turning point in lives; completed emotionally, spiritually stronger & healthier.
243: Sickness severe test of Emuna. God sends it. Don’t attribute to natural causes; for ultimate benefit; self-evaluate, repent.
244: Physical treatments, medication can’t cure ailing soul. Body & soul connected. Their health depend on more than natural law.
245: Each day changes: income problems, kid issues, health crisis. God sending individual messages to stimulate soul correction.
246: Divine Providence plays a greater role in a person’s health than in any other area of a person’s life.
247: Pains and afflictions of the body are God’s prime tools in arousing people to correct what they need to correct.
248: Few are able to ignore something that directly affects their own bodies, such as sickness or severe negative emotions.
249: No test of faith is as difficult as sickness or injury. Job’s steadfast faith was shaken once his entire body was afflicted.
250: What good is money, diamonds & jewels to a person w/ an ulcer, diabetes, and a cardiac condition, who can’t enjoy a meal?
251: The body resembles the Torah. Body: 613 parts: 248 appendages, 365 tendons. Torah: 613 Mitzvot: 248 positive, 365 negative.
252: Each of a person’s appendages corresponds to one of positive Mitzvot & each tendon corresponds to one of negative Mitzvot.
253: When person transgresses particular sin, God arouses person to repent by afflicting corresponding appendage or tendon.
254: God runs world based on our actions. If people upright, world has harmony. Injustice, immorality & cruelty bring calamity.
255: Doctors can’t take into consideration patient’s spiritual debits & merits, his efforts to atone & improve, and so forth.
256: If God decrees that person should be sick for a week, no treatment in the world will help him get well any faster.
257: If God decrees that a person will recuperate – despite all medical logic – then that person will get well immediately.
258: Though health defies nature, must make every effort to care for our health, proper diet, exercise, avoid tobacco, alcohol.
259: Many are ensnared in the trap of the intermediary: believe in God, but also that the intermediary determines their fate.
260: God is the cause of all causes, the reason of all reasons. Must believe in God only, not in any intermediary or other cause.
261: Talmud: before disease & suffering hit person, sworn to leave certain day, hour, by certain person & certain medical agent.
262: Going to the doctor without prior spiritual effort shows lack of Emuna. Seek good health from He who grants life – God.
263: God makes ailing person sick for their own benefit & welfare. This awareness allows person to thank God. Faster recovery.
264: Thanking God for apparent calamity such as sickness is highest expression of Emuna. Recognizes that all from God & for best.
265: Gratitude to God is apex of Emuna & conducive to good health. Opposite true, lack of Emuna is often root cause of disease.
266: If sick, should pray for Emuna that everything for best & ability to thank God. When start thanking God, life gets better.
267: R’ Nachman: Certain illnesses from lack of Emuna. Can’t be cured physically. Need prayer, repentance & strengthening Emuna.
268: Doctors usually compassionate. Must avoid arrogance. Remember only messengers of healing. God decides who lives & dies.
269: Physicians, pray daily before work that God should help you be a worthy emissary. Should be agent of healing & not death.
270: Doctor’s slightest misjudgment can have tragic, fatal results. Should plead for Divine assistance in everything they do.
271: Medical professionals should also plead to God and ask for patience, understanding, and a sensitivity of their patients.
272: Physicians are granted a Divine license to heal, not to dishearten patients. Terrible mistake to say how long has to live.
273: Medical research shows that optimism & a happy attitude play an important role in healing, recovery & resistance to disease.
274: R’ Nachman stressed the importance of maintaining happiness and avoiding sadness and depression at all costs.
275: R’ Nachman emphasizes that sickness and disease are the result of a breakdown of happiness (Likutei Moharan II:24).
276: A doctor must avoid saddening or encouraging despair. One of his most important tasks is encouraging a patient.
277: A doctor’s encouraging word carries far more weight than a layman’s word. Should also use his influence to reinforce Emuna.
278: A doctor’s spiritual and emotional support is inestimably beneficial to every patient.
279: Claims that doctor must give patients truthful assessments is a fallacy. Patient shouldn’t be robbed of hopes of recovery.
280: Even if the sick person is destined to die, he should still be surrounded with optimism and encouragement.
281: Doctors who discourage patients, who forecast how long patient has to live, are robbing them of any chance for recovery.
282: God doesn’t reveal the day of death; could have detrimental effects. How can mortal be so presumptuous to think he knows it?
283: Negative prognoses are sometimes completely inaccurate. Gloomy prognosis robs patient right to die with optimism & faith.
284: Sick person can recover in spite of all negative predictions. Commitment to repentance or a Mitzvah can lead to recovery.
285: Doctors often pressured to tell “truth.” Careful to say that seems critical, but experience that God’s hand can change all.
286: Best to avoid saying anything of committal nature; say “too early to tell,” or “not enough info for accurate prognosis.”
287: Blind trust in doctors & medicine form of idolatry. People mistakenly think life depends on man w/ stethoscope around neck.
288: Reciting psalms, names of Tzadikim (righteous) & prayers of healing to God demonstrated to help heal where medicine failed.
289: Even if sharp sword @ neck, never give up hope. “Hope” means prayer. Most cogent prayer is sick person’s prayer for himself.
290: R’ Noah of Lachovitch: if doctors say no cure & patient reinforces complete trust in God, all gates of healing are opened.
291: Don’t wait to turn to God. Putting complete trust in God not only facilitates healing but helps keep healthy people healthy.
292: Bedridden can use available time for soul-searching that can lead to full recovery, instead of wasting time on folly.
293: God gratified when we pass test of faith that comes w/ affliction. Reinforcing faith can insure health of body, mind & soul.
294: Soul & Emuna 1 aspect. Emotional health directly related to level of Emuna. Emotional disturbances from breakdown in Emuna.
295: Emotional confusion results from confused Emuna. Emotional weakness outcome of weak Emuna. Rule of thumb for mental illness.
296: Born healthy & succumb to fear, anxiety, depression, other mental & emotional difficulties; blemished Emuna root of problem.
297: The more a person corrects and strengthens Emuna, the more he or she will enjoy mental and emotional health.
298: All suffer some emotional problems: boredom, no satisfaction, anger, worry, nervous, mood swings, +. Emuna cures these ills.
299: Fear is expression of lack of Emuna, particularly that all God does is for best. Person w/ Emuna doesn’t fear anything.
300: Devote 1 hr/day in self-evaluation, repentance & prayer, have nothing to worry about. God doesn’t have to send wake-up call.
301: The result of an hour a day in personal prayer is increased happiness and decreased stress and worry.
302: Stringencies in religious observance are madness. Do what can with innocence and simplicity of thought and intent.
303: Remember that the Torah wasn’t given to angels, but to human beings with human limitations.
304: Those who demand angelic deportment from themselves are therefore candidates for frustration, gloom & disappointment.
305: Person connected to the truth is happy serving God the best way they can, without going into hair-splitting stringencies.
306: Ignoring the wise can cause insanity. A person acts insane only because he ignores the advice of others.
307: Belief in the words of the wise together with Emuna in God is the key to mental health.
308: R’ Nachman of Breslov teaches: “by learning Torah, one is saved from madness.” (Abridged Likutei Moharan 1:1).
309: The evil inclination wants to drive a person crazy. A person doesn’t sin unless the spirit of insanity enters his brain.
310: As the evil inclination wants a person to sin, he injects that person with a dose of insanity.
311: The evil inclination has all kinds of ploys to trap a person, and uses a variety of temptations to twist one’s judgement.
312: Only way to guard against the pitfalls of the evil inclination is by strengthening Torah learning and strengthening Emuna.
313: “Evil thoughts & contemplations of lust make people crazy.” Strong correlation between personal holiness and mental health.
314: The more a person succumbs to lust, lewd thoughts, the less sane he becomes. People do insane things to fulfill their lusts.
315: Guarding one’s eyes & mind from lewd & forbidden input is just as important as guarding one’s mouth from swallowing poison.
316: It’s easier to poison the mind than it is to poison the body.
317: Guarding one’s eyes from impure books, movies, magazines, websites, helps escape lust that makes normal person insane.
318: Quality of person’s livelihood depends on their Emuna. Serious efforts to reinforce trust in God can improve livelihood.
319: God sustains all His creations, from the one-celled amoeba to magnificent galaxies. He who gives life also gives livelihood.
320: If one believes that God is the life-giving Creator, one should also believe that the Creator sustains His creations.
321: Complete trust in God includes the trust that livelihood is part of God’s Divine Providence over every creation.
322: One who trusts in God is relieved of worry about livelihood & free to focus on their specific task on earth w/ a clear mind.
323: The distinct sign of trust in God is when a person’s thoughts don’t focus on money; don’t worry where next meal coming from.
324: Even when money is tight, those w/ trust in God know their financial problems come from God. Don’t blame selves or others.
325: During $ loss, consider: all from God; this is exactly what He wants; it’s for the best; message to stir self-evaluation.
326: Best way to compensate for $ deficiency is by fixing misdeeds & praying for God’s compassion; can glide thru $ problems.
327: Those who lack trust in God blame $ problems on long list of “villains”: selves, others, curse bad luck, omens, nonsense.
328: Those without trust in God think of a hundred different ploys to make $, including cheating on taxes or outright stealing.
329: Without trust in God wrack brains deciding whether to beg, borrow or steal; work overtime at expense of health & family.
330: W/ Emuna, understand that God provides livelihood within framework of Torah’s commands. $ destined to get, by honest means.
331: $ gotten by transgressing Torah laws (lying, cheating, withholding salary, fraud, stealing) is cursed, & damages “kosher” $.
332: Best advice for solving $ problems: strengthen trust in God. Great method: learn Gate of Trust, from Duties of Heart book.
333: Best way to learn chapter of Gate of Trust: learn up to 15 lines/day; review 15 lines 3x/day; when finish chapter, repeat.
334: Prayer coupled w/ learning the chapter of Gate of Trust, from the book Duties of the Heart, is a remarkable income enhancer.
335: Want to solve $ problems once & for all, do “root treatment”, don’t ask for $ in prayers, ask God for Emuna & trust.
336: When pray for $, temp solution, won’t solve core $ problems. Unless reinforce trust in God, 1 $ crisis will lead to other.
337: By strengthening Emuna, trust in God, end $ problems. God wants us to trust Him. If do, doesn’t need to prod us w/ $ issues.
338: With Emuna and trust, we merit a pleasant and sufficient livelihood for life.
339: Those buried in debt should spend >1hr/day in personal prayer, seek God’s help, repent, correct deeds that generated debt.
340: Pray to God for Emuna & trust, creating strong spiritual vessel of trust, worthy recipient of Divine blessings of abundance.
341: Once believe with complete faith that God is the only address for solving income problems, our heart fills with joy & trust.
342: God doesn’t cast loving child away. Just as always sent measure of sustenance in past, He’ll continue to do so in future.
343: God gives a person a livelihood with no connection to that person’s abilities or righteousness. Grants life & sustenance.
344: Certain sins lead directly to $ issues: fraud, theft, dishonesty, infidelity, anger, sadness, worry, family purity breach.
345: $ key proving ground for Emuna. Can’t fake it. Either believe God provides or you run around in frenzy thinking you provide.
346: Story of R’ Yitzchak Breiter, lost job, no jobs to be found, sat & learned Torah & received income from unexpected sources.
347: Say Psalm145(Ashrei) 3x/day, get portion in afterlife. Leads to Emuna: You open Your hands & provide for every living thing.
348: Main efforts in making a living should be constant strengthening of Emuna & trust in God. W/ Emuna, all needs are fulfilled.
349: Businessperson that prays for enhanced Emuna learns to manage affairs w/o stress & anxiety; nothing upsets or frightens him.
350: “Financing” is a disease. God decides how much $ we have. Gives us what we need. If don’t have funds for car, sign not time.
351: By trying to circumvent God & purchase things on credit or loans, people dig deep financial pits that eventually fall into.
352: Suppose want to open business but only have $50k. Look for small business; don’t borrow $500k to finance something bigger.
353: People who lack Emuna are prone to inflated egos; “What, I should sell candy or ballpoint pens?” They think should do more.
354: Some people think that they’re making big money by juggling money that’s not really their own. “Juggler” bankruptcy common.
355: Jugglers entertain fantasies of grandeur. W/ Emuna realize God decides $ they make on daily, weekly, monthly, yearly basis.
356: W/ Emuna, person stops juggling, makes best out of resources at hand. Frugal, run business, spend $ on uninflated scale.
357: King Solomon: “Man of faith will increase blessings, but the impatient to be rich will not be exonerated.”
358: People of faith are satisfied w/ God’s blessing, & by virtue of their satisfaction, they get even bigger blessings.
359: People of faith are careful with their money, don’t spend needlessly and consequently don’t fall into debt.
360: Prayer: God, thanks for providing. Guide business so makes profit, so can give charity & do commands. I accept all w/ faith.
361: Jeremiah: Curse man who trusts in people, makes his strength. Trust in anyone or thing other than God formula for failure.
362: Fundamental Emuna principle that underlies one’s efforts to earn $, is that livelihood is predetermined from Rosh Hashana.
363: No one can detract from income that God designates for a person. One human is incapable of touching fellow human’s portion.
364: With trust in God, a person doesn’t think about money all day long. Peace of mind is only two words away – God provides.
