TRANSFORM YOUR EMUNAH!

We've been discussing one of the most important and fundamental components to Judaism and Torah. As mentioned, the only animal offering that will remain in the future is the offering of the Todah, because although we might reach such a high spiritual level in the future that we will not need the other offerings, however, the offering that is brought in light of our gratitude to Hashem remains fore...

We've been discussing how one of the most important fundamentals of living a happy life is being able to notice all the blessings we receive on a daily basis, which will thereby lead us to expressing gratitude to Hashem for the many blessings He constantly gives us.  Expressing our feelings of gratitude to Hashem is clearly one of the fundamentals and most basic principles of the Torah. As we've l...

We've been discussing how when we adopt an approach to life, of seeing everything that we receive from Hashem as a gift, rather than assuming that it's something owed to us, that will lead us to feeling constant feelings of appreciation and gratitude to Hashem, which will ultimately also lead to being joyful and besimcha, and of course, having a constant close relationship with Hashem.  Of course,...

We've been discussing how one of the most important foundations in our service to Hashem is following Hashem's commandments and in general, living our lives with a feeling of joy and simcha. When we have the right perspective, it is much easier to live our lives in a mode of joy and simcha. However, sometimes we get used to receiving so many of our needs and gifts beyond our needs that we begin to...

The Gemara in one place teaches us that since the time of the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash, the gates of prayer have been locked. The Gemara elsewhere, however, teaches that even were there to be such a strong separation, such as an iron wall dividing us away from Hashem, nevertheless we would never be separated from Hashem, and our prayers always have the potential to make their way up to Ha...

There is a fascinating teaching that helps us to digest emunah and the way that we pray in a powerful way. Rabbeinu Bechayei and other Torah commentaries write that before every single neshama descends into this world, each soul is given the opportunity to outline and choose all the details of what will transpire throughout their lives. And each one of us goes and chooses exactly what type of bein...

We've discussed that the Torah commentaries outline that there are many chambers in the heavenly realms and sometimes a specific prayer can only make its way up if certain criteria are met, perhaps related to our righteousness, to our commitment and performance of the mitzvahs, to how sincere we were in verbalizing that prayer and many other factors. We've also discussed that Torah authorities out...

HaShem knows all of our thoughts and all of our needs, and the question then arises, why should I pray for anything? Because if HaShem knows exactly what I need and will come through for me in exactly the way that I need according to what's best for me, why should I pray for anything to be different? Although this might be a good question, as discussed many times, if we use our own perspective, th...

Imagine you are up to write an important exam, and all the students are informed that if you would like, you are welcome to come over and see the exact questions that will be asked on this exam. Not only that, but we will also show you the correct answers to the questions that will be asked. Of course only a fool would skip such an opportunity, because after seeing the questions and knowing the ri...

There are different approaches taken on by Torah leaders, where some focus more on the fact that Hashem is a loving, forgiving Father always looking out for our best, and others focus more on the fact that there are severe and serious consequences for our actions. It is very clear from many Torah sources that both of these aspects are true. On the one hand, Hashem created the world just out of lov...

How do I know if I'm doing well in terms of my spiritual scorecard? The truthful answer is that I don't know. But that's okay. I'm not meant to know because I'm not the judge. Hashem's job is to take an accounting of all our actions in order to reward us appropriately and fairly in the next world, B'ezrat Hashem, whereas our job in this world is never to know exactly how we are doing, but rather a...

We've discussed some of the concepts that the Torah authorities outline to us, with regards to the world to come - Olam Haba. However, as many of them mention, ultimately, we don't know exactly what is going to transpire, until we actually get there and see for ourselves. However, one thing that is clear according to all opinions, is that in the next world, there is no more opportunity. Olam Haba,...

We've been discussing about the components that the Torah commentaries outline to us of what will transpire in the next world, after we pass on from this world. We know that there are two seemingly paradoxical forms of serving Hashem. One is when we employ the side of fear and the consequences for our actions, and the other is motivation out of our absolute love for Hashem. Many commentaries teach...

The Mishna in Pirkei Avos, chapter 4, mishna 17 teaches, that this world is like a corridor before Olam Haba. And therefore the mishna advises: prepare yourself in the corridor, in order that you may enter the palace. If I like a certain type of food, and I don't restrain myself from overeating, altough I might enjoy those moments indulging in that food, however if I am irresponsible, I will pay t...

We've been discussing the tremendous importance that there is to try to build our belief in the next world, in Olam Haba. Although, a believing Jew understands that this world is certainly not our final destination, and we are all going to another place called Olam Haba, however, there are many levels in what it means to believe so. The first thing that we might do in trying to internalize this be...

We've been discussing how there are many concepts that are often thrown out such as Moshiach, Olam Haba, Gehinnnom, Gan Eden, and the like. And it is worthwhile to break down each of the segments to understand better what is in store for us. As we've discussed, when our neshamah leaves our body, if it is necessary, there is a process called chibut hakever, where a person has to undergo suffering i...

We've been discussing the process of what the Torah authorities outline to us happens after we leave this world. As discussed, after one dies and departs from this world, one needs to go through a cleansing process called chibbut hakever, where there is some form of suffering that one needs to experience in one's burial place. And as the Torah authorities outline to us, there are many levels of wh...

Many people have heard terms such as Mashiach, resurrection of the dead, hell, Gan Eden, Olam Haba, and the like. It is helpful to understand what the Torah commentaries teach us about the exact process and direction of what is supposed to happen. So let's break it down, b'ezrat Hashem. Every one of us is comprised of both soul and body. At some point, our souls depart from this world, also known...

The Mishnah in Pirkei Avos, chapter 4, mishnah 17, states, "This world is like a hallway in comparison to the future world. Prepare yourself in the hallway so that you may enter into the banquet hall." Although this is a well-known mishnah that one might have heard many times previously, again there are many levels as to what it means to believe in the world to come. We are taught that this world...

We've been discussing the topic of Olam Haba, the next world where we are all destined, b'ezrat Hashem, to make our way towards. And as mentioned, we don't know exactly how it's going to be and we cannot see and understand the information for ourselves, and therefore we are called on to practice our Emunah, our belief in what we are taught from the Torah sources and commentaries. Let's try and app...

We've been discussing the topic of Olam Haba, the next world, and the tremendous importance there is to learn about this topic and contemplate on the fact that as the Torah commentaries teach us, ultimately Hashem created the entire world in the first place just in order to share His goodness with us and give us pleasure. And ultimately that is going to take place in the next world. The only reaso...

We've discussed that the Torah commentaries outline to us what Hashem's perspective is. The only absolutely unmistakable perspective with regards to what we are doing in this world. Step number one. Although Hashem doesn't need anything outside of Himself, He nevertheless decided to go ahead and create this world. And the only reason He decided to do so was because He desired to share His goodness...

We've discussed many times, with regards to the most fundamental question of why Hashem decided to create the world in the first place. As mentioned, seeing as Hashem is a completely perfect being and could have certainly existed without creating the world and everything contained within it, why then did Hashem decide to go ahead and create the world? And as we've discussed, when we answer any que...

As discussed many times, our purpose in this world is to grow in our emunah and bitachon. And because this is the main purpose for our existence, Hashem has created a world where much of what transpires around us seems to contradict the perspective of emunah and bitachon, making it difficult for us to succeed and excel in our emunah and bitachon journey. Sometimes we find an exceedingly righteous...

As discussed many times, we were created to have emunah and bitachon in Hashem. Emunah and bitachon are a muscle that we have to work throughout our lives, climbing up the ladder of emunah and bitachon. One of the complications and challenges in order to excel in emunah and bitachon is the mitzvah of hishtadlus, where we are commanded to make our own efforts through our endeavors. And many a time...