Living Emunah - delivered directly to your computer and/or mobile device https://itorah.com/living-emunah/search/3 en-us Copyright 2026 iTorah.com Fri, 01 May 2026 00:01:11 GMT Fri, 01 May 2026 00:01:11 GMT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss itorahwebsite@gmail.com Rabbi David Ashear Living Emunah by Rabbi David Ashear - delivered directly to your computer and/or mobile device. Living Emunah Given Daily by Rabbi David Ashear. Please check back frequently to get the latest content. episodic Torah Learning Resources. itorahwebsite@gmail.com No https://learntorah.com/content/8af6903b-2ec6-4dd8-b2c7-b901ebe77edd.mp3 Part of the mitzvah of honoring Hashem is honoring the people He created in His image. Imagine a man speaking words of praise to a king, while at the same time spitting on a picture of that very king. That is what it is like when a person dishonors others—it is a direct lack of respect toward Hashem Himself. We are currently mourning the deaths of Rabbi Akiva's 24,000 students, and the question is striking: how could such great Torah scholars have lacked proper respect for one another? The Chafetz Chaim makes an eye-opening observation. Rabbi Akiva taught: ואהבת לרעך כמוך זה כלל גדול בתורה —a person must love his fellow as himself. This mitzvah means we must treat others the way we want to be treated. The students of Rabbi Akiva were working on humility. They did not seek honor for themselves, and they minimized physicality. As a result, they did not feel the need to give honor to others either. They misunderstood that true humility does not mean withholding honor—it means elevating others. Rabbi Akiva's teacher, Rabbi Eliezer HaGadol, taught: יהי כבוד חברך חביב עליך כשלך —a person should value his friend's honor like his own. But after the tragedy, Rabbi Akiva taught his new students with a deeper emphasis: a person must treat his friend even better than himself. From this came the teaching: יהי כבוד חברך כמורא רבך ומורא רבך כמורא שמים —one should honor his friend as he fears his rabbi, and fear his rabbi as he fears Hashem. This means that honoring another person is, in essence, an expression of honoring Hashem. Rabbi Akiva himself later said: חביב אדם שנברא בצלם —man is beloved because he was created in the image of Hashem. If a person would pass us on the street and we ignored him, and then someone told us that this was the top student of the Gadol Hador, we would likely run back to greet him properly. The truth is, we should feel that way about every person, because each one carries the image of Hashem within him. Rabbi Yerucham Levovitz made a remarkable observation from the following halachah. During Keriat Shema, when we are praising Hashem, we are not allowed to even gesture or signal with our hands—even for the sake of a mitzvah. Imagine a case where someone walks into the shul during Shema selling etrogim, and if we do not signal to him to wait, no one in that shul will have an etrog for Sukkot. Even then, we are not allowed to make a gesture. And yet, if someone greets us and would be offended if we do not respond, we are permitted to answer him. What do we see from here? That honoring another person is so significant that it takes precedence even at a moment when we are directly praising Hashem. It would be a contradiction to honor Hashem while causing embarrassment to one of His creations. When we give kavod to another person, we are giving kavod to Hashem. Pirkei Avot teaches: "Who is honored? One who honors others," and it brings the pasuk: כי מכבדי אכבד —those who honor Me, I will honor them. The connection is clear: when a person honors others, it is considered as if he is honoring Hashem Himself. As we prepare for Matan Torah and the upcoming חג of Shavuot, we remember that the Torah was given when the Jewish people stood in unity. Now is the time to strengthen ourselves in giving honor and respect to others. We must recognize that every person is deserving of dignity. When we honor others, we are honoring Hashem—and in turn, Hashem will honor us. Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:01:11 GMT Rabbi David Ashear Rabbi David Ashear No Living with emunah Learn emunah and bitachon daily with Rabbi David Ashear Daily, Bitachon, Emunah, Faith, Trust https://learntorah.com/content/7403c593-ba28-41ac-a6c9-f1b75586215b.mp3 The Torah tells us again and again that Hashem has separated us from the nations of the world to be His people. We have a different set of guidelines for how to live our lives, and we are meant to remain distinct, not influenced by foreign societies. At the end of Parashat Kedoshim, on the pasuk וָאַבְדִּל אֶתְכֶם מִן הָעַמִּים לִהְיוֹת לִי , Rashi brings from Chazal that Hashem says: when you separate yourselves from the nations, then you are Mine. We must recognize that we are a nation that is self-sufficient— הֶן עָם לְבָדָד יִשְׁכּוֹן וּבַגּוֹיִם לֹא יִתְחַשָּׁב . We do not need anyone's help in this world, because we have the One Who runs the world. Throughout history, we have often found ourselves surrounded by powerful nations, facing challenges that seemed impossible to overcome. Yet, time and again, we have seen that our survival, our success, and our redemption did not come from alliances or from human strength. They came only from Hashem. One of the criteria necessary to receive our final redemption is to know with clarity: אין לנו להישען אלא על אבינו שבשמים . We do not rely on any human being for help—only on Hashem. When a person feels that he needs a certain individual or a certain country to help him, he is lacking in this belief. History has shown us this lesson repeatedly. The Jewish people once lived in Egypt under the leadership of Yosef, who saved the entire country from famine and made it the wealthiest empire in the world. Pharaoh owed everything to him. And yet, the Torah tells us: ויקם מלך חדש אשר לא ידע את יוסף . A new king arose who forgot Yosef, and the slavery began. The same pattern repeated itself in Spain. Initially, the country was struggling, and the Jews helped elevate it with their wisdom and wealth, until that era became known as the Golden Age of Spain. The great Rabbi Yitchak Abarbanel served as Minister of Finance. The Jews were deeply connected and highly respected. Yet suddenly, everything turned. A new leadership arose that did not know Don Isaac Abarbanel, and on Tisha B'Av in 1492, a decree was issued: either renounce Judaism or be exiled. They expelled the Jews and confiscated their wealth. All of their connections did not help them in the slightest. Centuries later, the same thing happened in Germany. Jews were leaders in banking and deeply integrated into society. They felt secure and established—but that did not protect them when everything changed. It is true that Hashem sometimes uses messengers to help us. But we must remember that this is all they are—messengers. If a person feels that he needs a specific individual in order to succeed, then he is placing his reliance in the wrong place. When someone says, "We must accomplish as much as possible while this leader is still in power, or else we will be in trouble," that is placing trust in a human being. Hashem alone takes care of us. He can use whoever He wants as His messenger, or He can accomplish everything without any intermediary. We must never feel dependent on any person. We are a nation unto ourselves. ה׳ אִישׁ מִלְחָמָה , and אֵלֶּה בָרֶכֶב וְאֵלֶּה בַסּוּסִים וַאֲנַחְנוּ בְּשֵׁם ה׳ אֱלֹקֵינוּ נַזְכִּיר . How fortunate we are to have Hashem with us. We are on the winning side. We know the future. We know the glory that awaits us. Our task is to do our part and to feel that we already have everything we need, because we have HaKadosh Baruch Hu. He is our Savior. He is our King. He is our Father. The more we rely on Him, the closer we come to bringing the Geulah. Wed, 29 Apr 2026 00:01:11 GMT Rabbi David Ashear Rabbi David Ashear No Living with emunah Learn emunah and bitachon daily with Rabbi David Ashear Daily, Bitachon, Emunah, Faith, Trust https://learntorah.com/content/9fb497d8-3779-4c82-a9fc-d82935e63ae6.mp3 How fortunate we are to be the children of Hashem. He is there to help us twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and He loves each and every one of us more than a parent could ever love a child. We should feel proud to merit being the ones who follow His Torah. The pasuk says: כִּי הִיא חָכְמַתְכֶם וּבִינַתְכֶם לְעֵינֵי הָעַמִּים . When we live our lives according to the Torah, we are showing the world what true wisdom is. The Torah makes us a nation of kings and queens, and it is our greatest privilege to serve Hashem. Therefore, we should never be embarrassed to follow any mitzvah. If a gentile buyer asks a person to go to a non-kosher establishment, he should not say, "I'm not in the mood for that kind of food right now." Rather, he should say, "I'm sure the food is great, but my religion only permits me to eat in kosher establishments." If an executive asks for a meeting at a time that would cause a person to miss his set time for learning Torah, he should not be embarrassed to say, "I set aside time every day to learn and cannot miss it." All success comes from Hashem, and when we stand up for His honor and follow His Torah, He sends His blessings. The pessukim tell us about Daniel, who was taken as a young man to serve in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar. An official in charge told him he had to eat the finest foods from the royal table—rich meat and wine—so that he would appear strong and refined for service. Daniel said he wanted only grains and water, for kashrut reasons. The official explained that he would get in trouble if Daniel did not look robust like the other servants. Daniel suggested a ten-day test: give him grains and water and compare him to the others. At the end of the ten days, Daniel looked healthier, stronger, and more vibrant than the servants who ate the king's finest delicacies. Health and appearance come from Hashem, and He is the only One who needs to be impressed. Chazal tell us that because Daniel kept kashrut under duress, he merited protection later, even when he was thrown into the lion's den. Anyone who knows who the real Boss is will never compromise any level of Torah for any reason, especially in business. On the contrary, he will keep Torah even more carefully, knowing that success comes only from Hashem. Once a year, the largest retailer in the world, Walmart, holds a massive gathering for its top 1,500 suppliers, including Apple, General Mills, Frito-Lay, Procter & Gamble, and many more. They give awards for the best suppliers in each category, culminating in the Vendor of the Year award. At the last gathering, there were many Jews in attendance but an overwhelming majority of gentiles. The top award went to a religious Jew who keeps all halachot meticulously. On stage were many executives, including women, who normally extend their hands to congratulate winners—but in this case, they were instructed by the executive vice president to respect his religion and not do so. When he spoke, he did not praise his product or his skill. Instead, he said, "I attribute all of our company's success to the One Above." Later, other gentile vendors expressed how impressed they were that he publicly recognized G-d. This man does not own a smartphone. He appeared on that stage with a full Omer beard and does not compromise his Torah learning for work. Over the decades, many people have felt pressure to compromise standards to impress companies like Walmart—but this is unnecessary. Companies will respect Torah principles. In this instance, Walmart was more concerned with respecting his religion than he was with impressing them. All success comes from Hashem. If we are proud to be His people, we should also be proud to follow His Torah. True success comes not from pleasing people, but from standing strong in Hashem's Torah—He will make all things prosper. Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:01:11 GMT Rabbi David Ashear Rabbi David Ashear No Living with emunah Learn emunah and bitachon daily with Rabbi David Ashear Daily, Bitachon, Emunah, Faith, Trust https://learntorah.com/content/3b7587c1-e4ed-45ea-9798-ae3663d19e4b.mp3 The Chovot HaLevavot writes in Shaar HaBitachon, Perek Dalet, that a person must believe that his efforts in earning a parnassah do not in any way enable him to earn even one more penny than Hashem already decreed for him to have. He is only making the effort because that is what Hashem wants, and once he makes a reasonable effort, he has fulfilled that obligation. Therefore, if a person is earning a lot of money through the means that he chose to put his efforts in, it is not proper for him to think that it is the business that is bringing him success. Accordingly, it is incorrect for him to add more effort and more hours simply because he is seeing success in his business. For example, if a person is working a regular eight-hour day and earning a good livelihood, he should not say, "I will add a couple of more hours to my workday so I could earn even more money." That would be an act that shows he believes it is the means that are giving him success and not Hashem. If he already created a pipeline for Hashem to send the parnassah, he does not need to add more time to his regular workday to earn more. If Hashem decreed that he should earn more, He will send it through his existing efforts or from some other channel. And even if the person does put in more effort and sees that he is earning more money from it, that would not disprove anything the Chovot HaLevavot is teaching us. Hashem runs the world in a natural way, and if it makes sense naturally that working extra hours will produce more money, Hashem is not going to stop that. However, the person will still not earn even one more penny than Hashem already decreed for him. He may be taking the money earlier than it was supposed to come, or if it is not meant for him, he will lose it in some other way. A person can never gain by doing something that Hashem does not want him to do. I once heard a question. The Midrash says that when the Jewish people conquered and settled the land, they found all of the hidden treasures of the Emorim in the walls of the homes. How did they find them? If someone had tzaraat on his house, he would have to demolish the house, and then he would find the treasures. The question is: usually tzaraat comes from sin. Does that mean that a person profits by sinning? The answer is that Hashem decreed that those treasures were going to be given to His nation. If people had not sinned, they would have received those treasures in a much nicer way. For example, by simply banging a picture frame into the wall and discovering the jewels behind it. But if someone sinned and his house contracted tzaraat, he would only find the jewels after having to demolish his entire home. That is not a gain. Similarly, says the Chovot HaLevavot, if someone earns more money by doing something wrong, he must know that if it was meant for him, he would have received it in a much nicer way, with blessing attached to it, and his efforts would have brought him benefit in this world and the next. But now, by doing something wrong, he only lost out. He would have received that money anyway, but instead, he committed an aveirah, which will be negative for him. If a person wants to increase his parnassah, it will not come through extra effort beyond what is necessary. Rather, it can come through bitachon—by understanding that Hashem is the One providing. The bitachon that a person has is a tremendous zechut, which can bring him more blessing. We must never be fooled by the way things appear in the natural world. It may look like extra hours bring more money. It may look like doing something wrong brings more profit. But that is part of the test. Emunah means to see beyond what appears to be and to believe that Hashem is running the world. And when we follow His system, that is where all the blessing lies. Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:01:11 GMT Rabbi David Ashear Rabbi David Ashear No Living with emunah Learn emunah and bitachon daily with Rabbi David Ashear Daily, Bitachon, Emunah, Faith, Trust https://learntorah.com/dailyemunah/1553.mp3 The pasuk says in the beginning of the second parashah this week קדושים תהיו , and Rashi writes, most of the body of the Torah is dependent on this commandment. The Mefarshim discuss, what is it about this mitzvah that is so intrinsic to the fulfillment of the Torah? The Imreh Yitzchak explains, the mitzvot were given to elevate and sanctify us, like we say קדשינו במצוותיך. But in order to attain kedusha from the mitzvot, we need to imbue the body of every mitzvah with a neshama and that neshama is the kavana that we put into them. In the words of the Ben Ish Hai in parashat Beha'alotecha , the entire tikun that is supposed to be brought out by each mitzvah cannot take place without us putting the kavanot into it, because a mitzvah without kavana is like a body without a soul. And this, explains the Imreh Yitzhak is one explanation of the words קדושים תהיו – we are supposed to become sanctified through the mitzvot and that requires us to think before we do each one of them, that we are doing them to fulfill the will of Hashem, and thereby connect ourselves to Him. And that is why this is so intrinsic to the fulfillment of the entire Torah. Rabbi Dessler writes, the future rewards of delighting in the radiance of the Shechina will come about through an extremely strong bond of connection to Hashem. Therefore, if one's mitzvot here are done with the desire to connect to Hashem, that is what is going to establish that great level of connection and enable Hashem, kavayachol , to reward the person with a connection that is many thousands of times greater than that. A little thought can elevate a person's Olam Hazeh and Olam Haba to unimaginable levels. Someone once asked Rav Shlomo Zalman Aurbach about the Mishnah which says, רצה הקב"ה לזכות את ישראל לפיכך הרבה להם תורה ומצוות – Hashem wanted to give merits to the Jewish People so He gave them an abundance of Torah and mitzvot. The man's question was, isn't more Torah and mitzvot seemingly more of a burden? The Rabbi answered, "There are so many mitzvot which involve actions that people are doing anyway, such as putting on their shoes in the morning. Hashem, in His infinite kindness, wanted to give us merits by turning all of those actions into mitzvot by attaching commandments to them, telling us to put on our shoes a certain way, right before left, just to give up more reward." Similarly, there are so many other actions that we do anyway. If we simply have in mind that we are performing a mitzvah when doing them, we will be rewarded for them. I received a sefer called Ka'asher Tziva Hashem , translated into English, written by Rabbi Daniel Garfinkel. The Rabbi opens our eyes, in this sefer , to countless mitzvot that we could fulfill just by having the correct thought process while we are doing them, namely because Hashem commanded us. For example, a young man hears the cries of his newborn baby in the middle of the night. He sees his wife is in a deep sleep and doesn't hear the baby. His initial reaction would be to call to his wife and wake her up. But suddenly, he realizes, putting the baby back to sleep would be a mitzvah from the Torah of gemilut chasadim to both his wife and the baby. He then gets up happily and thinks, לשם מצוות חסד כאשר ציווני ה' , and he goes to put the baby back to sleep, acquiring eternity. Washing one's face in the morning fulfills the mitzvah of kiddush Hashem, brushing one's teeth fulfills the mitzvah of ונשמרתם מאד לנפשותיכם , buying something from a fellow Jew fulfills the mitzvah of וכי תמכרו... , paying a worker fulfills the mitzvah of ביומו תתן שכרו . However, in order to get the proper credit and bring about the kedusha and connection that we want from these actions, we need to have the kavana that we are doing them to fulfill the will of Hashem. Someone who goes about his day having these intentions is living with Hashem on a constant basis. He remembers Hashem in everything he does and thereby establishes a very strong bond with Him. We are in this world to elevate ourselves and become kedoshim and connect ourselves with Hashem for all eternity. The more we can train ourselves to have the proper kavanot , the greater our connection will be. Shabbat Shalom. Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:01:11 GMT Rabbi David Ashear Rabbi David Ashear No Living with emunah Learn emunah and bitachon daily with Rabbi David Ashear Daily, Bitachon, Emunah, Faith, Trust https://learntorah.com/content/590392eb-6d05-4766-8a92-ec44c71f9c50.mp3 There are times when a person feels lacking—something he needs that is very important to him. It may seem small in the grand scheme of things, yet at that moment it means everything. And then, in a way he could never have planned, Hashem provides that exact need at the perfect time. When that happens, a person feels more than ever that Hashem is not just running the world at large, but that He is caring for each individual in the most precise and detailed way imaginable. A rabbi related that his daughter was progressing with a shidduch, and what weighed on him most heavily was the immediate expense he would have to pay the shadchan. It may sound trivial, but for someone who does not have the money, it is a very real pressure. Someone shared with him a powerful story about having bitachon in Hashem, and it gave him a great deal of chizuk. His daughter became engaged, and he knew the shadchan would be at the engagement party—but he still did not have the money. He continued strengthening himself in bitachon, knowing that Hashem has infinite ways to provide. That very day, he received a call regarding a boy who learns in the yeshivah where he teaches. The boy's father explained that his son was returning to the dormitory after being ill and asked the rabbi if he could help him settle back in. This rabbi had helped the boy greatly in the past, which is why the father turned to him. He agreed, and on his way to the engagement, he stopped at the yeshivah and helped the boy organize his belongings. While doing so, he noticed an envelope in one of the boy's bags addressed to him. Later, he opened it and found a heartfelt thank-you letter—and inside was two thousand euros. It was enough to pay the shadchan, to buy a Shas for the new chattan, and there was even some left over. The rabbi was awed at how Hashem provided him with exactly what he needed, at the exact moment he needed it. A man told me that he needed a dining room table very badly, but they were far too expensive for him. The cheapest table he could find, one that matched his dining room and met his needs, was two thousand dollars—still beyond what he could afford. He said to himself, Hashem can give us a dining room table without us having to spend so much money. That very day, he heard about someone giving away a dining room table. He inquired and discovered that it was the perfect size—and it matched as well. He told them he would like it if possible. Within twenty minutes, the table was delivered to his home and set up in his dining room. Just like that, he had received a ten-thousand-dollar table completely free of charge. Hashem is concerned with all of our needs, and if something is good for us to have, He will provide it—often in ways we never could have imagined. Another man said that his wife bakes challot every week, and sometimes they have extras that they know they will not use. Usually, they give them to family members. But the week before Pesach, she told her husband to bring them to shul to see if anyone there might need them. That day, he missed his regular minyan and went to a different shul. There, he gave the challot to the rabbi and asked him to see if anyone might need them. Shortly afterward, a man in that shul saw the rabbi carrying challot and asked about them. It turned out that his housekeeper had accidentally thrown out all of their challot from the freezer while cleaning it for Pesach , including those they had prepared for that very Shabbat. He was overjoyed to receive fresh challot. The man who had brought them later reflected: look how Hashem guided me to a different shul, just so I could bring challot to someone who needed them at that exact time. Whether it is money, a dining room table, or challot for Shabbat, every person has different needs at different times. And it is very comforting to know that Hashem is involved in each person's life—down to the smallest details. Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:01:11 GMT Rabbi David Ashear Rabbi David Ashear No Living with emunah Learn emunah and bitachon daily with Rabbi David Ashear Daily, Bitachon, Emunah, Faith, Trust https://learntorah.com/content/43e721d7-496d-43b0-ba11-c8ac5b954022.mp3 The Zohar HaKadosh writes that a bara mehemna —a faithful child—is one who asks Hashem for his sustenance every single day, even when he already has enough food to eat. And when he does this, Hashem blesses him with more. What is it about this behavior that makes a person so special? Why does this earn him the title of a child of emunah ? We know that when Yaakov Avinu was fleeing from Esav, he was robbed by Eliphaz and lost all of his money. The pasuk tells us that Yaakov then asked Hashem for לֶחֶם לֶאֱכֹל וּבֶגֶד לִלְבֹּשׁ —bread to eat and clothing to wear. The mefarshim ask: seemingly, the words le'echol and lilbosh are unnecessary. Of course bread is for eating and clothing is for wearing. Why did the Torah phrase it this way? The sefer Birkat Hamazon BeKavana explains that perhaps Yaakov was saying to Hashem: I want to be a faithful son, one who turns to You every single day. Therefore, please give me only enough bread for today—without extras—and just enough clothing to wear—without extras—so that I will always need to come back to You. However, this explanation is difficult, because we know that later Yaakov became extremely wealthy in the house of Lavan. Was Hashem telling him that He no longer wanted to hear from him every day? Of course not. Rather, the sefer Birkat Hamazon BeKavana explains that being a faithful child has nothing to do with how much a person possesses, but with his attitude. If a person feels that he needs Hashem just to be able to eat and to get dressed each day, then he is considered a bara mehemna . He does not rely on what he has. Instead, he turns to Hashem like a poor beggar, understanding that everything he owns is meaningless unless Hashem wills him to have it. This is what the Zohar means. Even if a person already has what to eat, he must still ask Hashem for his food every day. This is how Hashem wants us to feel, like we always need Him. And when we do, we are called children of emunah—and we draw down extra blessing from Shamayim. After the Jewish people experienced one of the greatest miracles in history at Kriyat Yam Suf, they traveled for three days in the desert without finding water. Then they arrived at a place called Marah, where there was water—but it was too bitter to drink. The Ben Ish Chai asks: why would Hashem bring them to such a situation immediately after such an incredible miracle? He answers with a mashal. There was a boy who dreamed that everything he touched turned to gold. Instantly, he became the wealthiest person in the world. But after some time, he became thirsty and went to drink water. When he touched the cup, it turned to gold. When the water touched his lips, it also turned to gold. He panicked, realizing that despite all his wealth, he could not even drink something as simple as water. He begged for this power to be taken away. Then he woke up—and immediately ran to get a drink of water, appreciating it like never before. After crossing the Yam Suf, the Jewish people collected the gold and jewelry that washed ashore. They became extraordinarily wealthy. There was a danger that they might begin to feel self-sufficient. So Hashem brought them to a place with no drinkable water, to teach them a crucial lesson: no matter how much a person has, without Hashem, he cannot even take a single sip of water. This lesson was essential, because Hashem wants us to succeed—and true success depends on relying on Him, not on what we possess. No matter what a person has, he must understand that he needs Hashem for everything. And when he truly feels that way—when he turns to Hashem daily for even the simplest needs—then he becomes a bara mehemna , a faithful child, worthy of abundant blessing. Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:01:11 GMT Rabbi David Ashear Rabbi David Ashear No Living with emunah Learn emunah and bitachon daily with Rabbi David Ashear Daily, Bitachon, Emunah, Faith, Trust https://learntorah.com/content/76e5dcf5-6b32-4ba0-b7af-e4fe08a1d147.mp3 Sometimes in life, we are called upon to do things that are difficult. Our initial reaction may be to think, why do I need this now? At that moment, we need what is called mesirut nefesh—to dig down deep and give of ourselves for the sake of Hashem, even though it is hard. When we are moser nefesh, Hashem appreciates our efforts tremendously. Very often, what we perceive as a sacrifice ends up becoming the source of a blessing we could have never imagined. When we give of ourselves, even though it is uncomfortable, knowing that we are working for Hashem, it becomes an act of emunah—recognizing that Hashem sees all of our efforts and values every bit of toil we invest in His service. A man—let's call him Ralph—told me that a couple of years ago he met the head of a platoon in the IDF, and they developed a friendship. Recently, this platoon leader called Ralph and explained that his unit was being stationed on the border with Lebanon. Their boots were old, worn out, and completely insufficient for the harsh conditions ahead. The soldiers desperately needed new boots, but they did not have the funds to pay for them. The platoon leader asked Ralph if he might be willing to help. Ralph asked how much was needed. The answer was clear: boots for thirty-two soldiers, at about two hundred dollars per pair—approximately six thousand dollars. Without hesitation, Ralph responded, "No problem. I'll cover two thousand myself, and I'll call a couple of friends for the rest. Together we'll take care of it." Ralph called his first friend and explained the situation, asking if he could contribute two thousand dollars. The friend hesitated and ultimately declined. He then called a second friend, who also said he was unable to help at that time. Now Ralph faced a real test. His initial thought was, if no one else is helping, why should I? That would have been the easy way out. But instead, he paused and said to himself, Hashem gave me enough money to help these people. They need help now, and I can help them—so I am going to. With courage and determination, he called the platoon leader back and said, "I will cover the entire expense. Tell me where to send the check." Ralph later said he felt tremendous joy for overcoming that initial hesitation—the natural resistance that comes when giving, especially such a large amount at once. He felt he had truly been moser nefesh, placing his trust in Hashem and believing that Hashem values every effort done for His sake. Then something remarkable happened. Ralph is a retired war veteran who was injured while serving in Vietnam. For years, he had been receiving government compensation. The previous year, he had requested a reassessment of his benefits, explaining why he believed he was being underpaid—but his request was denied outright. Now, the very next day after he demonstrated such mesirut nefesh to pay for all the boots himself, he received an email from the veterans office. They had decided to reopen his case—without any new request from him. Upon review, they concluded that he was indeed entitled to a higher payment. Not only that, they backdated the increase, and within a few days, he received over twenty thousand dollars of completely unexpected funds. Ralph immediately understood that this was no coincidence. Why would they suddenly reopen a closed case without any prompting? Hashem was showing him clearly: you did not lose anything by giving for My sake. On the contrary, you gained far more than you could have imagined. Whenever we stretch ourselves to do what is right, even when it is difficult, it opens the door for greater berachah to flow down from Shamayim. Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:01:11 GMT Rabbi David Ashear Rabbi David Ashear No Living with emunah Learn emunah and bitachon daily with Rabbi David Ashear Daily, Bitachon, Emunah, Faith, Trust https://learntorah.com/content/155e913e-4758-4854-9f81-5ab38c0ccd4f.mp3 The Midrash says at the beginning of Parashat Tazriya, regarding a woman giving birth to a baby boy: give praise to the name of Avraham Avinu, who came from afar, as it says, וַיִּרְא אֶת הַמָּקוֹם מֵרָחֹק . The Mefarshim are bothered: what does Avraham Avinu have to do with this parasha, and why do Chazal refer to him as "the one who came from afar"? The Chidushei Harim explains that starting with the woman who gives birth, the parasha speaks about different individuals who may feel pushed away by Hashem. The woman who gives birth to a boy has a certain form of tum'a. She is not allowed to eat korbanot for forty days, which means if she gave birth before Pesach, she would not be able to bring the korban Pesach—not on Pesach Rishon, nor on Pesach Sheni. She may think to herself: I was involved in performing a great mitzvah, and now I am banned from the Beit HaMikdash. The next parasha speaks about someone who contracts tzara'at. The Gemara says tzara'at is a mizbe'ach kapara—a mizbe'ach that gives the person kapara. Some explain that it is yesurin shel ahava —afflictions of love. Not every case of tzara'at comes as a result of a sin. When a person is suspected of having tzara'at, he must be in quarantine for a week or two. If it is confirmed, he must be isolated away from everyone. He cannot attend shul, pray with a minyan, or answer Kaddish. He may feel: why is Hashem pushing me away like this? Further on, the parasha speaks about other people who become tameh through no fault of their own. They may feel the same sentiments. Imagine a family on their way up to Yerushalayim for one of the shalosh regalim, attempting to bring a korban to Hashem on the Chag, and after their long travels, they arrive at the Beit HaMikdash and discover that the man of the house has become tameh and cannot participate at all. It will definitely feel like Hashem is rejecting him. For those instances, the Midrash tells us to see what Avraham Avinu would do under such circumstances. Avraham spent his entire life teaching the world about Hashem. All he wanted was a child who would continue in the same path. After decades of waiting, he finally received a miracle child at an advanced age. Imagine the love Avraham had for this child. As the child grew, Avraham was able to teach himTorah and the ways of Hashem. Imagine the love Avraham had for Yitzchak at age five—much greater than at his birth. The love he had at age ten was even greater. He invested so much time and energy into Yitzchak, who was to continue his life's mission. Then, when Yitzchak was thirty-seven, in the prime of his life, Hashem told Avraham to slaughter him. In one second, all of Avraham's hopes and dreams were being denied. All of the love he had for his son was about to make this task extraordinarily difficult. He could have felt, "All I am trying to do is promote the name of Hashem in the world, and now He is pushing me away." Yet Avraham said to himself: if this is what Hashem wants me to do, then this is what I want. Instead of feeling rejected, he marched forward with zerizut and did Hashem's will to the best of his ability. This was one of the greatest acts of service of all time. Hashem was not distancing Avraham. He was elevating him. Hashem never distances anyone. A person may feel distanced, but that is only because he does not understand the ways of Hashem. When a person becomes tameh, it is not Hashem saying, "I do not want your korban." It is Hashem saying: "I want a different service from you now. I want you to accept that this is what is best for you, and serve Me from the place I have placed you." For that, a person will gain far more than he would have from bringing the korban. When people feel that Hashem is not interested in their service, yet they still do the best they can, that service elevates them enormously. Hashem may appear to be far from us at times, but He is always close. He always wants our avodah, no matter how it may seem. If we strengthen ourselves during those times and continue to serve Him joyfully, to the best of our ability, we will rise to the greatest levels. Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:01:11 GMT Rabbi David Ashear Rabbi David Ashear No Living with emunah Learn emunah and bitachon daily with Rabbi David Ashear Daily, Bitachon, Emunah, Faith, Trust https://learntorah.com/dailyemunah/1329.mp3 During these days of sefirat ha'omer , we are supposed tobe working hard on improving our mitzvot ben adam l'chavero . Chazal tell us shalom is so great that Hashem allows His sacred Name to be erased justto help bring peace between husband and wife. Bringing peace between people isthe vehicle that is going to bring the Shechina out of it's long exile. Chazal also say there is no vessel that can hold beracha other than shalom. Itis incumbent upon us to be mivakesh shalom. We have to humble ourselvesand forgive people, and humble ourselves and treat people with respect. Shalomopens all the gates of beracha . Rabbi Yaakov Shaish told a story which I most probably have toldonce before because I recognized it when I heard it, but hearing it againinspired me, so it can't hurt to repeat. It began when a representative from acertain yeshiva in Israel came to Montreal to collect. Every year this Rabbimade his regular stops and collected enough for the yeshiva to operate. Oneyear in Montreal at a wealthy man's home, he noticed the man looking verydepressed. He inquired about it and then the man broke down saying, "Lookaround, I have the most beautiful home but it's empty because Hashem did notbless us with children." The Rabbi started telling the man about differentorganizations that help with fertility. And then the man interrupted himsaying, "Rabbi, you don't understand. The doctors told us there is nothingwrong with me and there is nothing wrong with my wife. I'm pretty sure I knowwhy this is happening to us. When I was in yeshiva in Israel one year on Purim,I was a little drunk and I started humiliating one of my friends there. I wenton and on until that boy was too embarrassed, he couldn't even show his facethere. Later on I begged for forgiveness, but he adamantly refused. I have beentrying year after year, but this person, who is now a man, refuses to even talkto me". The Rabbi asked for this person's information and said he would try tobring about shalom between them. When the Rabbi got back to Israel, he went to that man's house.The moment he mentioned the reason for his visit, the man politely asked him toleave his home. The Rabbi said, "Please, this man regrets what he did, he issuffering now. He has no children and he desperately wants you to forgive him." The man said, "I hope he never has children! Please leave." As the Rabbi was walking out, he said "please allow me to tellyou just one more thing. I know that after 120 you are going to face theHeavenly Court and at that time, any humiliation you ever went through willappear totally insignificant, it will not bother you in the slightest bit.Hashem is going to tell you, There was a Jew in Canada who desperatelywanted to have children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren and he wasbegging you to help him. It was your hakpada that prevented all of thoseneshamot to enter into the world in his family. And when you're there, Iknow you're going to regret not forgiving him. But, it's never too late. Now,you still have a chance to do it." The man was silent and he asked the Rabbi to give him a minuteto think. Fifteen minutes later he said, "Okay, I forgive him." The Rabbi said, "No, that's not enough, you have to tell him.Can I get him on the phone?" He said, "Okay." The Rabbi dialed the number and then told thewealthy man he was there with his friend and he was ready to forgive him. Theman took the phone and he said, "I don't want to talk to you, but I want totell you that I forgive you." The wealthy man from Canada immediately beganapologizing and expressing his remorse again and again. Then he asked if hecould please give him a beracha to have children. At first this man saidno way, but then the wealthy man began crying and begging. Finally the managreed and he said, "May it be Hashem's will that you have children." By the end of that year, this man was holding his first child.There is nothing in the world that can hold blessing like shalom. Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:01:11 GMT Rabbi David Ashear Rabbi David Ashear No Living with emunah Learn emunah and bitachon daily with Rabbi David Ashear Daily, Bitachon, Emunah, Faith, Trust https://learntorah.com/content/2ccef84c-afb9-44da-bac1-39a3a398fca7.mp3 The more a person pays attention to the hashgachah of Hashem in his life, the more he will come to appreciate Hashem, and the more he will come to rely upon Him. Rabbi Pinchas Shefer related that a man told him that as Pesach was approaching, he and his wife realized there were many things they needed. They decided to take out two sheets of paper. On the first sheet, they listed everything that Hashem had already given them—family, health, talents, children, a home, jobs, and much more. They continued adding all the different items they owned, their furniture, their belongings—everything they had only because Hashem wanted them to have it. The list kept growing longer and longer. Then they took out a second sheet of paper and began listing all the things they would need for Pesach. That list also became very long. They even included items that were not strictly necessary, but would enhance their simchat Yom Tov. Looking at the two lists strengthened their emunah tremendously. They clearly saw how much bounty Hashem had already given them, and their belief that He would continue to lovingly provide for all of their needs—and even their wants—became very real. And indeed, Hashem did not let them down. As the days and weeks passed, they kept crossing off more and more items from the second list and adding them to the first. Some they were able to purchase, and some they received "incidentally". There were even very expensive items on their list, and by the time Pesach arrived, they somehow had every single one of them. Hashem takes care of our big needs and our small needs—it is up to us to recognize it. A woman living in Eretz Yisrael said that one day she wanted to go for a walk, but she had no pockets to hold her phone and house key, so she wore a jacket. It was a very hot day, and she was uncomfortable wearing it. As she walked, she thought how nice it would be to have a small shoulder purse to carry her things instead. When she returned from her walk, she noticed that someone had left a bag of clothing and accessories near a public bin for anyone who wanted them. As she looked through it, she found exactly what she had wished for—a perfect leather shoulder purse. She felt tremendous joy seeing how Hashem had taken care of even such a small detail in her life. A man—we'll call him Jack—told me that he was recently on a train during allergy season and began sneezing. Usually, he carried tissues in his jacket, but that day, because of the warm weather, he had not worn it. With his nose running and a forty-minute ride ahead of him, it seemed like it would be a very uncomfortable trip. He tried thinking of ways to get a tissue, but nothing worked. He then decided to simply read his daily Tehillim as usual. Just then, someone sat down next to him. As the man sat, a small pack of tissues slipped out of his pocket and landed directly on Jack's lap. Jack picked it up and told the man that he thought it had fallen from him. The man thanked him, and Jack politely asked if he could have one tissue. Of course, the man agreed. Jack was in awe. Hashem had practically placed the tissue directly into his hands at the exact moment he needed it. And he realized something powerful: Just as Hashem can provide for our smallest needs in an instant, He can just as easily take care of our greatest needs in an instant. The more we open our eyes and recognize the constant hashgachah that Hashem has over every moment of our lives, the more at ease we will feel, knowing that we are always in His hands. Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:01:11 GMT Rabbi David Ashear Rabbi David Ashear No Living with emunah Learn emunah and bitachon daily with Rabbi David Ashear Daily, Bitachon, Emunah, Faith, Trust https://learntorah.com/content/4a40b0d7-8ccc-4eda-8269-a84530fd2709.mp3 A person who lives his life with bitachon in Hashem merits to receive extraordinary heavenly help. The more we believe and trust in Hashem, the more He shows us that He is taking care of us. Having bitachon—recognizing that Hashem is the only One in control, and feeling that He is our loving Father Who is waiting to help us—is an enormous zechut. It brings down abundant blessing from Shamayim. Rabbi Yisrael Brog told an amazing story that took place recently. The rabbi, with Hashem's help, opened many kolelim in Eretz Yisrael this past year. The way he did it was by approaching individuals and asking them if they would be interested in opening a kollel for very chashuv learners. People would often respond that they had never heard of sponsoring an entire kollel on their own. The rabbi would then gently explain: if a person can own multiple homes by himself, he can certainly consider owning a kollel by himself as well. He would describe the tremendous zechut of supporting twenty to thirty scholars who are learning Torah full-time. Baruch Hashem, to date, he successfully established ten different kolelim. For the eighth kollel, the man he approached was convinced and agreed to take it upon himself. He committed to sending tens of thousands of dollars each month, every ערב ראש חודש . The rabbi told him, "You are fortunate to have the zechut to support Torah in such a way." A few weeks later, ערב ראש חודש arrived, and the money had still not come. The rabbi called the man and said, "Shalom Aleichem, Eli." The person on the other end replied, "My name is not Eli. It's Yonasan." The rabbi immediately apologized for dialing the wrong number and then proceeded to call Eli. Eli answered and explained that he felt bad, but the month had not gone as expected financially. He admitted that he had jumped into the commitment too quickly and now wished to withdraw. Instead of pleading with him—even though he was now left with a tremendous financial obligation—the rabbi simply responded, "I am sorry that you do not have the merit to own your own kollel. But I bless you that in the future, you should merit it." The Rebbetzin, who had overheard the conversation, asked her husband what he was planning to do about the large sum of money that was now missing. The rabbi replied with a remarkable display of bitachon: "Do you think Hashem will not take care of me? He has taken care of me my entire life. Why should this be any different?" He then began to think about whom he should call. Perhaps, he thought, Hashem had already prepared the salvation—even before he realized that Eli had backed out—by causing him to dial that wrong number. After all, what are the chances that he would call from Cleveland to New York and mistakenly reach a fellow Jew who introduced himself as Yonasan? The rabbi called that number again. He began, "I just called you a few minutes ago by mistake—" The man quickly interrupted him. "Please stop right there. My rabbi taught me that there is no such thing as a mistake in this world. Everything is מן השמים ." The rabbi smiled and said, "I like your rabbi. What is his name?" The man replied, "Rabbi Yisrael Brog." At that point, Rabbi Brog introduced himself. He then said, "I have no doubt that you are the one Hashem has in mind to open this kollel." Yonasan responded immediately, "I agree with you one hundred percent, Rabbi." The rabbi explained that the cost would be tens of thousands of dollars each month. Yonasan answered calmly, "Yes, I know. That's fine." The rabbi, surprised, asked him, "Do you always have that kind of money available?" Yonasan replied, "Because of you, Rabbi—now I do." He then explained. A few months earlier, he had heard a class given by Rabbi Brog. Someone had asked whether it would be wise to open a second business when he already had one successful business. The rabbi answered with a mashal from the Chafetz Chaim. It is like a person who has a barrel of wine with one spigot. If he opens a second spigot, it will not increase the amount of wine—it will only cause the wine to flow out faster. So too, if a person has a functioning business, Hashem will send him everything that is destined for him through that business. Opening another one will not increase his income; it will only spread his efforts. The rabbi concluded that investing significant time and energy into a second business would be foolish. Yonasan said that he already had a successful family business, and about a year earlier, they had opened a second business that was also doing very well. Not wanting to act foolishly, he shared the class with his brothers, and together they decided that all the profits from the second business would be dedicated solely to supporting Torah. "That," Yonasan concluded, "is why the money is available." He then added, "Hashem used you to prepare the funds that you would eventually need." The yeshuah that the rabbi experienced was truly extraordinary. He trusted that Hashem would take care of him—and Hashem showed him, clearly and openly, that He does. Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:01:11 GMT Rabbi David Ashear Rabbi David Ashear No Living with emunah Learn emunah and bitachon daily with Rabbi David Ashear Daily, Bitachon, Emunah, Faith, Trust https://learntorah.com/content/f1e02ff7-2231-44b5-a16d-5d29dd72c827.mp3 We are living through a time when the Yad Hashem is being revealed in a very obvious way. Thousands of missiles have been fired toward Eretz Yisrael. Missiles designed to destroy, to devastate, and רחמנא ליצלן cause unimaginable loss of life. And yet, the numbers tell a story that defies all logic. We are witnessing open miracles. Missiles landing in areas that should have been crowded, and somehow they were left completely empty. Buildings taking direct hits with people inside who walk away unscathed. Sirens going off seconds before impact, giving people just enough time to reach safety. A rabbi from Bnei Brak told me that on Pesach, he felt like he was experiencing miracles similar to those of Yetziat Mitzrayim. He felt the ground shaking all around his neighborhood from explosions, and not one of them caused even a single injury. Part of a cluster bomb landed directly on top of a yeshiva, but it never exploded. A man from Bnei Brak said that on one Shabbat, he was sitting in his home, peacefully immersed in the study of Torah. His son's family was staying with them, and the atmosphere was perfectly suited for a calm, beautiful Shabbat afternoon. But at 4:30, suddenly, he was startled by a tremendous explosion. He immediately realized it was not just a distant interception, but rather a direct impact somewhere very close. He opened the door to his room, and to his horror, black smoke immediately rushed in, accompanied by the smell of fire. He was stunned. The missile had hit his home. He managed to reach the hallway near the living room, and there he saw his son, completely white from head to toe, covered in thick dust. Around them was devastation. In a matter of seconds, the entire house had become a pile of ruins. A fear of Hashem overtook them, and in the midst of it, he stood alive next to his son, who was also alive—and then his grandson joined them as well. They looked around and saw that what was once a home had turned into nothing, and they were unable to comprehend the open miracle of how, in the midst of destruction, their lives were spared. They felt the hashgachah peratit crying out from every shard of glass, every piece of concrete, and every fragment of metal. The missile had landed in the very room where his son and grandson had been learning. He discovered afterward that his other children were alive on the balcony. His son-in-law lived in the apartment above, and all ten windows in both of their living rooms had shattered completely, flying apart with tremendous force. The concrete ceiling had broken apart, and huge, terrifying, heavy chunks of concrete hung in the air, supported only by iron rods that managed to hold them. They felt the words of a pasuk in Tehillim: יִפֹּל מִצִּדֶּךָ אֶלֶף וּרְבָבָה מִימִינֶךָ אֵלֶיךָ לֹא יִגָּשׁ -"A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right, but it will not come near you" Everyone survived—including a one-and-a-half-year-old baby who had been sleeping, his daughter-in-law and her newborn, as well as her son and two daughters who were staying with them. Not only did they survive, not even one drop of blood was drawn from them. There were also twenty people caught in the stairwell trying to get to a safe room, and none of them were harmed. It was so clear that Hashem was protecting them. The hashgachah that Hashem has upon His children is truly amazing. A rabbi from Eretz Yisrael told me that this past year there was an avrech who learns full-time in a kollel standing at the checkout line in a grocery store, and the cashier told him he owed 1,500 shekels. The man on line behind him said he wanted to pay it. The avrech thanked him and said he was okay paying himself. The man insisted, and then explained that he works with the Iron Dome. Other countries have asked Israel to help them set up the same system in their countries, and he is very involved in this. However, those countries—such as Azerbaijan—have only about a 50 percent success rate, while in Israel it is over 90 percent. It is the exact same system. There is no rational explanation. He said, "It must be in the zechut of people like you, who are protecting us with your Torah learning. That is why I want to pay your bill." The Yad Hashem is so clear and so obvious. Let us appreciate how much He is always protecting us. Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:01:11 GMT Rabbi David Ashear Rabbi David Ashear No Living with emunah Learn emunah and bitachon daily with Rabbi David Ashear Daily, Bitachon, Emunah, Faith, Trust https://learntorah.com/content/b8453a67-2126-4417-8adc-fc26f293010b.mp3 The pasuk says that the Jewish people cried out to Hashem in tefillah during their harsh slavery in Mitzrayim, and Hashem heard their tefillot and remembered the treaty He made with Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov, and then He redeemed them. Although Chazal tell us many reasons for what brought about the ge'ulah from Mitzrayim—such as the emunah that they had in Hashem, the merit of the righteous women, the fact that they stayed separate in name, language, and dress, that they remained morally pure, and that they did not speak lashon hara—it seems from the pasuk that the final catalyst to bring the ge'ulah was their prayers. It is brought down in the sefer Chafetz Chaim al HaTorah that toward the end of the Chafetz Chaim's life, at a seudah shelishit on Parashat Shemot in front of many gedolim, the Rav said, "that it is known the Jewish people were finally redeemed from Mitzrayim because of their tefillot. And we have a tradition from the Navi Micha that our future redemption will be just like the one from Mitzrayim, as it says: כִּימֵי צֵאתְךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם אַרְאֶנּוּ נִפְלָאוֹת In Mitzrayim, everything was ready for the ge'ulah to happen. Moshe Rabbeinu was already born, and everything was in place. Yet it appears from the pesukim that without tefillah, they would not have been redeemed. All Hashem was waiting for was His children to cry out to Him that they wanted to be redeemed. For our ge'ulah, which we hope will come very soon, our tefillot are essential to bring it about. It could be that everything is ready, and all that is necessary is our tefillot to finish it off. Therefore, I am going to travel to the Gadol Hador, Rav Chaim Ozer, and ask him to tell Klal Yisrael to strengthen themselves in prayer for the ge'ulah, and then we will finally be zoche to be redeemed from this long and bitter exile." After seudah shelishit, the Chafetz Chaim told the chazan in the shul to go a little quicker so he could leave to go see Rav Chaim Ozer. In the end, the Chafetz Chaim's family convinced him not to travel due to the life danger it would pose at his advanced age. So the Chafetz Chaim told someone to send a message to Rav Shimon Shkop to tell him to go instead. However, due to technical difficulties, that did not happen either. After the Chafetz Chaim found out that nobody went to Rav Chaim Ozer, he said, "We just missed an opportune time for the ge'ulah." The message of the Chafetz Chaim at that time is actually a Midrash in Shemot Rabbah, which quotes Hashem as saying that when the Jewish people cry out to Me, their salvation will come. That is what happened by the burning bush, that is what happened during the days of Gidon, and that is what will happen for the final ge'ulah to take place. We are still in the month of Nisan, which Chazal tell us is a very opportune time for ge'ulah. There are major things going on in the world at large, with a focus on Eretz Yisrael. Who knows what kind of opportunity we have at this time. It is incumbent upon all of us to strengthen ourselves and pray for the ge'ulah shelemah. We put so much emphasis on praying for things that we need—like parnassah, refuah, and shidduchim. We cry and beg Hashem for salvations, but we must not put any less effort into praying for the ge'ulah shelemah. It is going to be our prayers that will produce the moment that all of Klal Yisrael has been anticipating since the beginning of time. The Mashiach may very well be here and waiting. It is up to us to make it happen. Let us put more focus in the Amidah on the berachot that have to do with the ge'ulah, and be'ezrat Hashem, Hashem will hear His children crying out to Him and give us the Mashiach Tzidkeinu b'karov. Amen Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:01:11 GMT Rabbi David Ashear Rabbi David Ashear No Living with emunah Learn emunah and bitachon daily with Rabbi David Ashear Daily, Bitachon, Emunah, Faith, Trust https://learntorah.com/dailyemunah/1538.mp3 One of the lessons we learn from Yitziat Mitzrayim is never to despair no matter how bad things seem to get. When Moshe Rabbenu first informed the Jewish People that they were going to be redeemed from their torturous slavery, things only got much worse. And even when the makot finally began, the Jewish People still had to wait an entire year to be freed. Sometimes the process of salvation takes time but we must consider the fact that the wheels may already be in motion to salvation and our emunah to keep going and do the best we can in our avodat Hashem will only hasten that process. Sometimes it is precisely our ability to move forward during the hard times that ultimately proves to be our merit to gaining salvation. There was an 8 th grade girl with exceptional middot but had very poor grades. And because her grades were so bad, she had a very hard time getting accepted into a high school. The high school that all her friends were going to rejected her and no matter how hard her parents tried to get the school to change its mind, they were adamant about their decision. When the new school year came around, this girl had nowhere to go. Her parents felt dejected and their spirits were broken, but the girl herself was still in good spirits. On the first day of school, she decided she wanted to be productive and so she volunteered at one of the local hospitals. She spent the day tending to a sick girl, a little younger than her, and was able to lift her spirits a lot. That afternoon when she was about to leave, a woman entered the room and was happily greeted by the patient. The woman was the patient's grandmother. She asked the other girl why she wasn't in school. The girl was a little embarrassed to admit the truth, but she told her it was because she couldn't get into high school. The woman said to her, "As of tomorrow, you will be in school." Turned out, this woman was the principal of the school which all her friends got accepted to. Now, seeing her superlative middot , she changed her decision and she accepted her despite her poor grades. This girl's ability to keep going happily, despite her rejection, was the catalyst to her salvation. On Erev Pesach of 2021, an avrech from Elad, who moved to Israel from France, was given a very large food package as a gift to help him for the holiday. In addition, he was given two pounds of hand made matzot with an excellent hechsher . He was very grateful to the generous donor who gave that to him, but he had already bought all of the matzot that he needed for the holiday and really didn't need these. He asked his friends and neighbors if they needed any and they replied they already had. That afternoon, his wife asked him to pick up something from the store. He was almost sure the store would be closed, being that it was already 1:45 in the afternoon, but he went anyway. When he arrived, he saw the store was closed and got back into his car, but before he pulled away, he noticed another man knocking on the store window, which caught his attention. He got out of his car and asked that man what he needed. The man replied, his boss made him stay at work extra and he didn't get a chance to buy matzot yet for the Seder. He said when he saw the store was closed, he didn't want to give up, he was hoping maybe someone would still be inside and would open the door for him, so he knocked. The avreich told him not to worry, to follow him to his house because he had two pounds of matzot there that he could give him. The avreich was so happy when he gave that man the matzot, he told his Rabbi the story that night in shul. The Rabbi told him, if that man would have just left the store without knocking, you would have never noticed him and you would have left and he wouldn't have gotten matzot. In truth, Hashem had matzot set aside for him in Elad. When he didn't give up, but rather knocked on the door making that extra effort, then he was able to access the gift that Hashem had waiting for him. Our ability to always be hopeful and do our jobs happily, despite going through difficulties will truly make us great. Shabbat Shalom. Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:01:11 GMT Rabbi David Ashear Rabbi David Ashear No Living with emunah Learn emunah and bitachon daily with Rabbi David Ashear Daily, Bitachon, Emunah, Faith, Trust https://learntorah.com/dailyemunah/997.mp3 When Yosef told his brothers that their descendants would one day be redeemed from Mitzrayim , he added that they should make sure that they take his bones with them when they leave. The sefer Tiferet L'Moshe writes, it seems from the way the pasuk is written that there is a connection between the redemption and Yosef's bones. He brings from the sefer Milo HaOmer who explains the connection as follows: When the Jewish People were almost at the end of that geula, trapped at the Yam Suf with the Mitzrim chasing them, there was a midat hadin upon them, saying that because they were still worshiping idols, they should not merit to be saved miraculously and have the sea split for them. The Midrash says, it was because of the zechut of Yosef's aron that the sea ended us splitting, as it says הים ראה וינוס – the sea saw and then it split. What did it see? Arono shel Yosef . Which means, Yosef had seen in ruach hakodesh that in order to complete the geula , his bones were necessary to be there to split the sea. And that is why he told his brothers to make sure their descendants take his bones with him when they leave Mitzrayim . What was the zechut of Yosef more than the other Shevatim ? After all, all of their aronot were at the Yam Suf as well. The Milo HaOmer explained, as great as a person is, if he has any averah , the midat hadin may prevent blessing or miracles from coming to him due to that averah. However, if a person is מעביר על מידותיו – he forgives others who wronged him, that overrides the midat hadin . Therefore, even if he has a sin, he'll still be helped. Because Yosef overlooked what his brothers did to him and forgave them with a whole heart, his bones were able to be the catalyst to save the entire nation and bring about their geula shelema . This is a lesson not just for what happened at Yam Suf , but it can be applied for any circumstance that a person finds himself in when in need of a yeshua . We don't always remember all of the avonot that we have to be able to make teshuva for them, and we hope eventually we will make teshuva for every avon . But if someone is standing by his own personal Yam Suf , feeling trapped with difficulties, one of the greatest things he can do is to be מעביר על מידותיו and forgive someone who wronged him. That can override any midat hadin that might be upon him. Recently, I related this chiddush to a group of people and shared the story of a man who had a life filled with difficulty. In his words, he always carried around with him a grudge against someone. It consumed his life. When he was finally able to forgive that person, his entire life changed for the better. A man in the crowd told me the following day that he became very inspired and made peace that night with a relative of his who he hadn't been speaking to for over two years. As hard as it was, he called the relative and apologized for not being on speaking terms. And then the relative apologized for what he did to him. The man told me he felt so good about ending that dispute. Another man told me, he became inspired to forgive but he couldn't think of anybody that he needed to forgive. That night in his dream, he recalled someone who wronged him years before and he still felt animosity towards him. He thanked Hashem the next morning for the reminder and was able to forgive that person. Forgiving people is wondrous. If we sincerely want to be at peace with everyone, but we are unsure of who we need to forgive or who we need to ask forgiveness from, we should pray to Hashem and ask for His help to remind us. And if we need the strength to be able to forgive, we should ask Hashem for help with that too. Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:01:11 GMT Rabbi David Ashear Rabbi David Ashear No Living with emunah Learn emunah and bitachon daily with Rabbi David Ashear Daily, Bitachon, Emunah, Faith, Trust https://learntorah.com/content/3_27242.mp3 Part of the glory of emunah is that a person is able to feel accomplished in every circumstance that he finds himself in. If the person does his best to perform in any given circumstance with the knowledge that Hashem put him there for a reason and he acts in the way that he thinks Hashem wants him to act, then he will be doing avodat Hashem in every circumstance in life. Even what appears to be the most mundane chores are in reality just more ways for us to serve Hashem, and if we view them like that we will always feel accomplished. The mefarshim tell us, when the Jewish people were working with back breaking labor in Mitzrayim , the angels in Shamayim were in agony that the children of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov had to suffer like that. However, after they left Mitzrayim with all the wealth of Egypt, the angels were in such joy. The Gemara says that the money that the Jewish people received was their payment for all the work that they did over the 210 years. Then Hashem commanded them to make a Mishkan in which His Presence would dwell. The cost of the materials necessary for Mishkan were astronomical, but the Jewish people were easily able to afford it because of the money they got in Mitzrayim . When it was finally complete, they saw the Aron and the Keruvim and all the other utensils and they marveled at their beauty saying, “It was worth the effort of every brick we had to produce in Mitzrayim to merit the construction of this Mishkan .” If Hashem would have told them in advance, before they went to Mitzrayim , that all the work they would do would enable them to be able to build a house for Him in which He would permanently dwell with them, it would have been a completely different experience. They would have felt that they were putting forth self-sacrifice in the service of Hashem every day and they would have done it with joy. Every brick that they had to lay would have been viewed upon as another tool in their service of Hashem and that would have given them so much chizuk . In reality, that is what was happening, but for reasons that only Hashem knows He did not inform them of that. Based on this, Rabbi Menashe Reizman gave a new explanation for the words in the Haggadah: עבדים היינו לפרעה במצרים ויוציאנו משם – we appeared to be slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt and Hashem took us out of that false premise, He revealed to the people that they were really working for Him all those years and He showed them all of the other tikkunim and accomplishments that they made by experiencing that bondage. This is the way it always is. Wherever we are, we are working for Hashem. He is our only boss. And in every situation we find ourselves in, there is an avodat Hashem to be done. Our job is to go through our experiences with emunah, recognizing that they were planned for us by Hashem and to always think, How would Hashem want me to act now? If we do this, we will always feel accomplished and we will earn unimaginable rewards for serving Hashem all day long, every single minute of our lives. Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:01:11 GMT Rabbi David Ashear Rabbi David Ashear No Living with emunah Learn emunah and bitachon daily with Rabbi David Ashear Daily, Bitachon, Emunah, Faith, Trust https://learntorah.com/content/b38cdb3e-b81a-4ed0-a483-1852a85a540a.mp3 The Mishnah Berura writes at the end of siman 218 in Ohr HaChaim , in the name of the Acharonim , that if a person had some type of miracle performed for him, he should set aside money according to his means and give it to Torah scholars and say, “May it be the will of Hashem that this takes the place of the Korban Toda that I owe.” It is also proper for the person to do something on behalf of the community and every year, on the anniversary of the miracle, he should privately thank Hashem and then, with joy, relate the miracle to others. The Mishnah Berura writes elsewhere that if he makes a seudah to celebrate the miracle and say words of thanks and praise to Hashem, it's considered a seudat mitzvah . None of this is obligatory. It's a suggestion of how Hashem would want a person to express his gratitude to Him. Tonight at the Seder, Hashem told us exactly what He wants us to do to give Him hakarat hatov for the wonders and miracles that He performed for us in taking us out of Mitzrayim . He wants us to spend this night telling over everything that He did then. He wants us to feel so much gratitude that the praises are freely flowing from our mouths. The Zohar HaKadosh writes about this night, that if a person is truly happy to say over the Sipur Yetziat Mitzrayim , he will be invited to rejoice with the Shechina HaKedosha in Olam HaBa . Someone who is happy doing this mitzvah is considered a person who is happy with Hashem and merits that Hashem personally comes to help him. Hashem takes so much delight in hearing us relate this story. So many mitzvot that we have are all just a zecher l’Yetziyat Mitzrayim . Tonight we have the mitzvah of actually being מספר יציאת מצרים . Hashem gets so excited, kavayachol. It says that He gathers all of the angels together and He tells them, go listen to the words that His children are saying about Him. The Zohar mentions the word joy over and over in just a few lines. All of the segulot come to a person if he does this mitzvah with joy. We should feel as if there are angels surrounding our tables who were sent to listen to every word we say. They were sent by Hashem who is taking so much delight in everything we say. When the angels hear about our praises, they go back up to Hashem and thank and praise Him for the miracles He did for us. And this gives Hashem, kavayachol , so much strength. The Pirkeh d’Rebbi Eliezer writes that the night of the Seder was sanctified by Hashem during the six days of Creation. It was on this night that Yitzhak Avinu called to Esav to give him the berachot . He said, “My son, on this night the entire Jewish world will say Hallel. The storehouses of blessing are open. Prepare for me the food that I like so that I can bless you on this holy night.” Then Rivka called to Yaakov and she said to him, “Tonight the storehouses of blessing are open. The angels in heaven are singing to Hashem on this night. Hashem is going to redeem His children in the future from slavery. Go prepare tasty foods for your father so that he could bless you.” The night of the Seder is compared to Yom Kippur. There is so much joy in Heaven, especially when we say the story of Yetziat Mitzrayim with joy. It's a night of miracles. The Mishnah says, after we pour the second cup of wine, “ כאן הבן שואל ” - here is where the child is supposed to ask. The Bet Aharon said, besides for the simple meaning here of a child asking his father the Ma Nishtanah , it is also hinting to us, the children of Hashem, that we have an opportune time to ask from our Father as well. Let us utilize it to ask our Father on this night to redeem us and bring an end to this long galut . May we be zocheh to fulfill all of the mitzvot of the night the way Hashem wants us to and bring so much joy to the heavens and arouse our Father to bring the Geulah Shelema . Amen. Chag kasher v'sameach . Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:01:11 GMT Rabbi David Ashear Rabbi David Ashear No Living with emunah Learn emunah and bitachon daily with Rabbi David Ashear Daily, Bitachon, Emunah, Faith, Trust https://learntorah.com/content/39bc7857-b7b6-4eb6-941c-4c8edbc1a1a1.mp3 We say in the Haggadah that if Hashem did not take us out of Mitzrayim, we would still have been slaves to Pharaoh there. The mefarshim ask: didn't Hashem promise Abraham that He would redeem his children from Mitzrayim after 400 years? So even if we did not leave early at 210 years, Hashem would still have had to redeem us eventually. So how could we say that we would still be slaves there even until today? The Beit HaLevi answers based on the words of the Arizal, who said that if the Jewish people would have remained in Mitzrayim any longer than they did, they would have sunk into the fiftieth level of tumah. At that point, they would have lost their connection to the holy Avot and would no longer be considered the zaro(seed) of Abraham, similar to Esav and Yishmael. In that state, indeed, they would never have been redeemed. Rav Leib Chasman writes that we see from here the awesome power of a moment in time. Instead of being stuck in Mitzrayim on the fiftieth level of tumah, Hashem rushed the Jewish people out of there at the last moment. They then became elevated to be the Am Hashem for all eternity and to receive the Torah at Har Sinai. How quickly things can change in just a single moment. When a person is going through a hard time and it seems like things will never change, he must strengthen his hope and belief that Hashem can change everything in a moment. A man related that he was working in an office with little potential for growth. There were days when he would sit for hours upon hours with nothing to do. His boss kept telling him things were going to change, but they never did. He had no choice but to send his resume to other companies. He was told about a great job opportunity at a wholesale company and quickly sent his resume there. They called him shortly afterward, saying it looked like the position was already being filled. He found himself once again stuck in a job with little potential, and there were not many good options available. One day, he said to himself, "I am exactly where Hashem wants me to be, and therefore I have to do whatever work I have with joy." As he was waiting for instructions from his boss that day, he called a hotline and listened to a few clips on emunah. He became so encouraged. He walked down the hallway of that office building feeling so happy. At that moment, he received a call saying that the other job was available and that they wanted him. It was an amazing offer with a very high salary. He became so strengthened, seeing the hand of Hashem pulling him out of a job he was not happy with to a job that was perfect for him. All it took was one moment. A young woman shared that this past year she began reading a book on emunah to give her strength while going through shidduchim. Recently, she realized she was getting close to the end of the book and was dating a boy very seriously. She was thinking to herself how nice it would be if she could finish the book right as she got engaged. But a couple of days later, they both realized they were not for each other, and it ended. It was obviously very disappointing for her. She then pictured herself having to start the book all over again once she finished, needing the strength to continue on. However, Hashem, in His infinite kindness, sent her the boy that was meant for her literally the next day. Baruch Hashem, they had a very smooth and quick dating experience, and she finished the book just as she got engaged to him. She thought there would be no way for that to happen, as she was nearing the end of the book with nothing to look forward to. And then, all of a sudden, in one moment, Hashem sent her the greatest yeshuah, and she celebrated her engagement shortly afterward. So much can happen in one moment of time. We must never underestimate the ability of Hashem to give us the most glorious salvations in the blink of an eye. Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:01:11 GMT Rabbi David Ashear Rabbi David Ashear No Living with emunah Learn emunah and bitachon daily with Rabbi David Ashear Daily, Bitachon, Emunah, Faith, Trust https://learntorah.com/content/40efac1c-9b3a-473e-aeea-c14021963f1a.mp3 Part of our responsibility in bringing the Geulah Shalema is to yearn for it, to believe that it could happen at any moment, especially now in Nisan, the month of Geulah. In Mitzrayim, they were redeemed even though they were still worshipping idols, almost on the forty-ninth level of tum'ah. In Sefer Shoftim, Perek ו׳, it says that at one point in history, the Jewish people were being persecuted by the Midyanim for seven years because of their bad deeds, yet even while they were still involved in worshipping avodah zarah, they cried out to Hashem for help, and Hashem redeemed them in a miraculous way. We must believe today that no matter what level the people are on, the moment Hashem decides to bring the Geulah, it will come. The Midrash on the words "מְדַלֵּג עַל הֶהָרִים מְקַפֵּץ עַל הַגְּבָעוֹת " says that in Mitzrayim, because Hashem desired to redeem His people, He broke the rules and redeemed them early, even though they were not on the level to be redeemed. When an angel of Hashem appeared to Gidon to tell him he was chosen to save the Jewish people from the Midyanim, he was commanded to take a bull that his father fattened for avodah zarah for seven years and offer that to Hashem. Even though generally it is forbidden to bring such an animal as a korban, Hashem made an exception, breaking the rules because He desired His people. Although the Jews were still worshipping the sheep in Mitzrayim, He told them to bring that as a korban to Him, once again breaking the rules because ahavah mekalkellet et hashurah—love causes one to act beyond the normal course.The same is true regarding Hashem's love for us. When the Jewish people were redeemed from Mitzrayim, it was obvious that Hashem was doing it. When Hashem told Gidon to wage battle against the Midyanim, He told him to take only three hundred people, in order that they would not glorify themselves, thinking they achieved the victory. Part of Geulah is us understanding that Hashem is the One bringing it. As Rabbi Menashe Reizman pointed out, a person does not have to be a great mekubal to see how Hashem has been controlling events over the past few years. On October 7th, He showed us that we have no power on our own to defend ourselves. And after that, He has given us extraordinary siyata diShmaya to overcome our enemies. Recently, He has brought America to act on our behalf and fight our battle for us. We must understand—we are completely in the hands of Hashem. He does not need missiles or warplanes to wage war, but He chooses to act through the derech ha'teva. It is apparent from the words of the Ramchal that our final redemption will come through derech ha'teva. Mashiach may not necessarily raise his staff and block missiles from Iran, but rather, when the Megillah is written about our times, it will say "that in such and such a year, Hashem put it in the minds of wise men to create a system called the Iron Dome that would knock down the missiles of our enemies. And Hashem made wondrous miracles, knocking down all those missiles and protecting His people." We are witnessing today miraculous salvations—a full month of ballistic missiles being fired, each one that could, lo alenu, be catastrophic—and our people are still rejoicing in their preparations for Pesach, still living everyday life, feeling protected, learning Torah, and praying stronger than ever. We hope in the coming days to see the ultimate yeshuah and celebrate the Geulah Shalema. Amen. Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:01:11 GMT Rabbi David Ashear Rabbi David Ashear No Living with emunah Learn emunah and bitachon daily with Rabbi David Ashear Daily, Bitachon, Emunah, Faith, Trust https://learntorah.com/dailyemunah/790.mp3 This week is Parashat Tzav as well as Shabbat HaGadol . On Shabbat HaGadol , the final Shabbat that the Jewish People were in Mitzrayim , Hashem commanded them to begin the process of offering the Korban Pesach . Why did Hashem command the Jews to take the sheep for the korban four days before they were going to offer it? The Midrash answers, the time of the Geula had arrived but the Jews did not have the merits to be redeemed so Hashem gave them an additional commandment regarding the korban to help them. Look how precious a mitzvah is! Even the preparation of the Korban Pesach was able to give the Jews the merit to be redeemed. The parshiot we are reading now are discussing the korbanot . The pasuk says when a Jew brought a korban, it was considered a ריח ניחוח לה' – it brought up a pleasing aroma to Hashem. What did Hashem love so much about a korban ? Perhaps we can explain from a question asked by the Acharonim : Why is it that the construction of the Mishkan did not override Shabbat while the offering of korbanot did? Seemingly, the building of a home for the Shechina to dwell in should be more important than offering sacrifices there. Rabbi Menashe Reizman quoted the sefer Nachat Yaakov who answered that the construction of the Mishkan was primarily done by Hashem. It was not humanly possible for a person to put it up, as the pasuk says הוקם המשכן. Many of the vessels as well were made by Hashem. The Menorah, for example, Hashem told Moshe to throw it into a fire and the Menorah came out. All the embroidery was miraculously made. Regarding the construction of the Second Beit HaMikdash, there were enormous stones, some 30 feet tall. How was it possible for a person to lift them so high upon a wall. The Yerushalmi says, when the people made the effort, Hashem miraculously lifted those stones for them. So therefore, since the Mishkan and the Beit HaMikdash were made by Hashem, although it was very important to Him, that did not override Shabbat. The korbanot , however, were performed exclusively by us. All of the difficult tasks involved in bringing a korban were done by the sweat of the people and Hashem loved their deeds so much. He loves when we put toil in to fulfill a mitzvah. That is what is so precious to Him and that even overrides Shabbat. Although today we cannot put in the same efforts of offering an actual korban , there's still a lot that we can do. The Midrash at the beginning of this week's parasha brings a mashal about a king who was traveling through the desert and his good friend came there to give him a basket of figs and a barrel of wine. The king told him, "You have honored me greatly by coming all the way here to give these thing to me." The friend replied, "My master, the King, this is just a small token of the honor that I want to give you. When you come back to your palace, you'll see there how much honor I'm really going to give you." That's the mashal. The nimshal is Hashem tells us, "זאת תורת העולה – You have honored Me by bringing a korban olah ." And we tell Hashem, "This is just a small token of the honor that we're capable of bringing You. When You come back to Your palace, there we're going to give You the real honor." This Midrash is obviously talking about today's time when we can't offer a real korban . So what temporary honor are we giving Hashem? Learning about the korbanot , drawing lessons from the korbanot . That in it of itself is so precious to Hashem and He considers it like we are honoring Him. But we tell Hashem, "Soon, when You bring back the Beit HaMikdash, there we're going to truly honor You, the way we're supposed to." As for today, we're still learning the lessons of korbanot , we're seeing how precious the nitty gritty involvement of a Jew in a mitzvah is to Hashem. We hope that just like Shabbat HaGadol was the last Shabbat for the Jews in Mitzrayim , so too it will be our last Shabbat in this long exile. B'ezrat Hashem, we should see the rebuilding of the Beit HaMikdash and be able to bring Hashem true glory inside of it. Shabbat Shalom. Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:01:11 GMT Rabbi David Ashear Rabbi David Ashear No Living with emunah Learn emunah and bitachon daily with Rabbi David Ashear Daily, Bitachon, Emunah, Faith, Trust https://learntorah.com/content/6b44d28d-c0cf-4fc6-bbd4-586303a511b2.mp3 The Sefer HaBatim writes regarding the mitzvah of Sippur Yetziat Mitzrayim on the night of the Seder, that in this mitzvah, number 150, we are commanded to speak about how Hashem took us out of Mitzrayim in order to strengthen our emunah in the hashgachah of Hashem upon us and in the wonders that He performs. This means that one of the primary messages we are meant to internalize on the night of the Seder is that Hashem runs the world and everything that takes place within it. On the night of the Seder, there is a special segulah for emunah that we can take with us for the rest of the year. The same divrei Torah that a person can say at any time during the year carries even greater value on the night of the Seder, when the matzah and maror are placed before us. It is certainly important to strengthen ourselves all year long in emunah in Hashem's hashgachah, but on the night of the Seder, we are able to receive the ultimate strength in it. It becomes so clear how much Hashem is involved in even the smallest details of our lives. Michael Cohen, the head of the Mitzvah Man organization, related that he received a phone call asking if he could help a woman who was living in a small apartment with three young children. She did not have a washer and dryer, and three times a week she had to take her children to a laundromat and wait there for an hour or two until the laundry was done. She needed a special washer-dryer unit that would fit into her small apartment. It was called a gas top-loaded dryer. The caller asked Michael if he happened to know anyone who had such a machine available for donation. He replied that he had never even heard of such a thing and did not know anyone who would have one. The very next day, he received an email from someone who owned an appliance store in the neighborhood that was going out of business. The man wrote that the only item left in the entire store was a gas top-loaded dryer, and he was wondering if Michael knew anyone who might need it. Michael could not believe what he was reading. Within a day, the machine was installed in the woman's apartment, and she had tears of joy as she thanked everyone involved, knowing she would no longer have to struggle to do her laundry. The hashgachah of Hashem is truly remarkable. Another woman related that she had received hand-me-down dining room chairs a couple of years earlier. One day, as she walked past them, she thought to herself that they could really use an update. She did not mention this thought to anyone. Three days later, someone texted her a picture of a set of gently used dining room chairs, asking if she would like them. She felt as if she had received a gift directly from Hashem, Who alone knows a person's thoughts and desires. Another woman said that she later realized she had not given proper kavod to a certain Rosh Yeshivah. Every time she thought about it, she felt a deep discomfort. After several months, she began praying to Hashem to give her an opportunity to ask forgiveness. Shortly afterward, she was with her sister, who asked her for a favor. Her sister had an important meeting that she could not reschedule, but at the same time she had a phone meeting with someone else who was supposed to help her with a certain matter. She asked her to answer the call on her behalf. Astonishingly, the call came in from that very Rosh Yeshivah from whom she had been hoping to ask forgiveness. She immediately took the opportunity and apologized. How could such a thing happen? How does a random woman get the chance to speak directly to a Rosh Yeshivah at just the right moment? The answer is clear — the hashgachah of Hashem is everywhere. The more we look for it, the more we will see it. Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:01:11 GMT Rabbi David Ashear Rabbi David Ashear No Living with emunah Learn emunah and bitachon daily with Rabbi David Ashear Daily, Bitachon, Emunah, Faith, Trust https://learntorah.com/content/272e35a6-bbdc-454d-860e-ea6cfc4a6360.mp3 Yesterday we spoke about the feeling of rejection when it comes to relationships between people. Unfortunately, there are those who feel rejected by Hashem as well. They have been praying and improving for years, yet they have not seen the results they were hoping for. They begin to wonder if Hashem truly appreciates their efforts, and some even entertain thoughts of stopping. There are those who have already stopped praying altogether, thinking that Hashem is not interested in their tefillot. If they would only know how much they are accomplishing with their tefillot and good deeds, and how much Hashem cherishes everything they do, they would be running to continue. Not being answered is not an indication that Hashem does not love their tefillot — it is just the opposite. Sarah Imenu was not answered for decades, and Chazal teach that Hashem delayed because He desired her prayers so much. When Kayin felt rejected by Hashem, he committed a terrible aveirah. Yet Hashem Himself told him, " למה חרה לך ולמה נפלו פניך… אם תיטיב שאת " — why are you upset? I am not rejecting you. All you need to do is improve. Hashem never rejects anyone. At one point, a heavenly voice was heard regarding Elisha Acher, saying that everyone is welcome back except him. Acher had committed extremely grave sins. Yet the Reshit Chochmah writes that even that heavenly voice did not mean that Hashem did not want him back. In the end, he was accepted in the upper worlds, even without doing teshuvah — and certainly had he done teshuvah, he would have been accepted even more so. That heavenly voice was a test. He was meant to respond, "No — I still want to come back." As Chazal teach, כֹּל מַה שֶׁיֹּאמַר לְךָ בַּעַל הַבַּיִת עֲשֵׂה, חוּץ מִצֵּא , whatever the Baal HaBayit tells us to do, we must follow — except if he tells us to leave, then we do not go. Hashem is the ultimate Baal HaBayit, and even when it appears as if He is pushing us away, it is only a test. Hashem desires every Jew to be close to Him. His love for us is beyond comprehension. We may not understand His ways, but we know with certainty that He always wants us. If we would understand even a fraction of how much He desires our avodah, we would serve Him with far greater enthusiasm. Rabbi Ephraim Wachsman told a story about a man we will call Reuven, who hired a well-known singer to perform at his daughter's wedding. A few weeks later, another man, Yehuda, called that same singer to ask if he was available for his daughter's wedding — which happened to be scheduled for the very same night. The singer declined. Yehuda wanted this singer very badly and asked for Reuven's number. He called Reuven and offered to pay for another singer if he would be willing to give up his booking. Reuven politely declined. Yehuda then offered to pay part of the wedding expenses. Again, Reuven declined. Eventually, Yehuda even offered to pay for the entire wedding — and still, Reuven refused. Yehuda was astonished and asked him to explain. Reuven answered that when his father had been ill, his mother cared for him tirelessly, day and night. The entire family felt tremendous gratitude toward her. When she heard the name of this singer, she remarked how meaningful it would be if he could perform at the wedding. "For me," Reuven said, "having this singer at the wedding is kibbud em. There is no amount of money that would make me give that up." The singer later said that when he performed at that wedding, he sang with more heart and enthusiasm than ever before, because he understood how much they wanted him and what they were willing to give up for him to be there. When a person feels wanted, his performance is on an entirely different level. If we would only realize how much Hashem wants our avodah, we would serve Him with that same excitement. Hashem never rejects anyone — it may appear that way sometimes. In truth, He is waiting to see that even without the results we hope for, we continue striving to come closer. And when we do, our reward becomes infinitely greater, allowing us to merit closeness to Hashem for all eternity. Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:01:11 GMT Rabbi David Ashear Rabbi David Ashear No Living with emunah Learn emunah and bitachon daily with Rabbi David Ashear Daily, Bitachon, Emunah, Faith, Trust https://learntorah.com/content/d135b395-3c9d-4894-a59b-8573b88e73bf.mp3 As I was speaking to different people about the various issues they were going through, it struck me that all of them, deep down, were suffering from the same kind of pain. One person was struggling with shidduchim, another was having difficulty finding a job, another was dealing with family issues, and the list goes on. Yet beneath all these different situations, there was one common thread — the pain of feeling rejected or excluded. The hurt of feeling unwanted was just as painful as not being married or not having an income. In fact, studies have shown that the same regions of the brain that become active when a person experiences physical pain also become active when someone experiences social rejection. Even a brief moment of rejection can sting — for example, when a phone call is declined or when someone passes by without acknowledging us. All the more so when friends gather and one person is not invited, when teams are formed and one individual is left out, or when a party is planned and someone is not included on the guest list. All of these experiences can cause deep emotional pain. The Gemara tells us that Rachel, the daughter of Kalba Savua, wanted to marry Akiva the shepherd because she recognized his great qualities, even though at that time he was unlearned. Tosafot ask that there is another Gemara in which Rabbi Akiva says about himself that before he became learned, he wanted to bite Torah scholars like a donkey bites — which seems to indicate that he did not have good character. Rabbeinu Tam answers that in truth he did possess good character, but he became angry at the Torah scholars because he felt that, since he was an am ha'aretz, they were distancing themselves from him. In other words, he felt rejected by them. In general, when a person feels rejected, it causes him pain, and naturally a person tends to dislike someone who causes him pain. People have a deep need to feel wanted, accepted, and included, and when that need is not fulfilled, it creates real suffering. How is a person supposed to deal with this pain? Fortunately, we know that every amount of pain a person experiences is precisely calculated and given by Hashem for his benefit. The Chovot HaLevavot teaches us that people are not truly capable of hurting us; they are merely messengers of Hashem. When a person experiences rejection, he should not think that there is something inherently wrong with him. Rather, he should believe that Hashem determined that he needed to be excluded at that moment for his own good. When someone is rejected in shidduchim, it is because those individuals are not the ones Hashem intended for him or her. When someone is turned down for a job, it is because Hashem knows that position is not good for him. It is true that a person does not necessarily need to experience rejection in order to get married or find employment, but if he does go through it, it is because that experience is necessary for his growth and benefit. The Reshit Chochmah writes that when it comes to kaparah, emotional pain can accomplish even more than physical pain, and if a person is embarrassed, it can erase countless sins. We do not fully understand all the benefits of suffering, especially emotional suffering, but when we trust that Hashem knows what is best for us, it becomes easier to bear. Moreover, when a person feels rejected, instead of remaining stuck in the pain, he should channel those feelings into heartfelt tefillah to Hashem. Leah Imenu felt tremendous pain when Yaakov chose Rachel over her. What did she do with that pain? She turned to Hashem and cried out for children and blessing. As a result, she merited to have six of the twelve shevatim. She became the mother of the bechor, the mother of the kohanim and levi'im, the mother of the kings, and the mother of Mashiach Tzidkeinu. Feeling excluded or rejected may be very painful, but we must remember that it is always for our ultimate good, and if we respond correctly, we can gain immeasurably from it. Tue, 24 Mar 2026 00:01:11 GMT Rabbi David Ashear Rabbi David Ashear No Living with emunah Learn emunah and bitachon daily with Rabbi David Ashear Daily, Bitachon, Emunah, Faith, Trust https://learntorah.com/content/55d7fc88-fa7b-44d6-8cd2-942f3b23006f.mp3 The salvations of Hashem can always come in an instant. Our belief and hope in Hashem's ability to help us is a very important part of our service to Him. It never matters if it looks like we can or cannot be helped, and it never matters how long we have already waited. Hashem can always bring salvations in the simplest ways. A woman related that after twenty-one weeks of pregnancy, her doctor suddenly told her that she was at high risk of giving birth too early for the baby to survive. She reached out to Jewish organizations for help in finding a specialist, but they were unable to find anyone for her. The community organized a tehillim group on her behalf, and a couple of weeks later her doctor transferred her to a hospital closer to her home, which he believed had a better team of doctors to handle her specific issue. Once she was admitted, the first doctor she saw told her that she was in the middle of conducting a research study on the very condition she had. She explained that this woman was a perfect candidate to try a procedure that had never been done this late in pregnancy. No other hospital in the country would have offered her this procedure. Baruch Hashem, it was performed successfully, and the baby was born perfectly healthy after a full nine months and two days. The hospital, which was literally a five-minute drive from her house, was the one that Hashem brought her to in order to save her baby. A man related that he had a tenant living in his basement for five years. The first three years were good, but then one day the tenant became angry with them and stopped paying rent. For the last two years, they suffered a great deal of aggravation from him. He turned the basement into a disaster; it became completely unrecognizable. It was an illegal apartment, and since the tenant knew that in the laws of New York they often side with tenants, he took full advantage of the situation. On one occasion, he even called the police and had their twenty-year-old son arrested, claiming that he had scratched him — which was completely fabricated. The hot water tank was accessible only through the basement, and out of spite he repeatedly shut it off. The police told the family they were not allowed to enter because he was living there. This past year, from after Yom Kippur until after Sukkot, they had no hot water at all and had to go to neighbors to use their shower. No one was able to help them with this. All the lawyers they contacted said that the tenant had the upper hand and that they would have to comply with whatever he demanded. Recently, this man decided to strengthen his belief in Hashem's power to help him. He worked on his emunah, bitachon, and tefillah. The tenant, wanting to aggravate them even more, called HPD to complain that he was not getting hot water. The next day, inspectors came down to check the property, and when they saw that it was illegal, they told the tenant he had to vacate within two weeks. They posted a notice and left, but he tore it down. Two weeks later, they returned with the police and the Red Cross. It took three hours to remove him because he resisted, but in the end they succeeded in getting him out. Everyone told the man they had never heard of HPD removing a tenant like that. Here, Hashem used the tenant himself to bring about their salvation and remove him. Another man related that he had been without an income for a couple of years, and with a large family his situation had become very difficult. He had sent out his résumé to over twenty companies and received little to no response. Recently, he accepted upon himself to add a significant amount of hours to his Torah study. After that, the salvation came quickly. The very next day, he ran into a friend who had no connections at all in the business world. He was a rabbi in a yeshivah and certainly did not seem like a useful resource for finding a job. But the man said to himself, Hashem is the One who gives me parnassah — it does not matter whom I ask. He told this rabbi that he was looking for a job. The rabbi replied that he knew of a company that was desperately looking for someone, and he made the connection. Within a week, the man had the job. Salvation can always come in any form. It is up to us to believe it and to feel it in our hearts. Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:01:11 GMT Rabbi David Ashear Rabbi David Ashear No Living with emunah Learn emunah and bitachon daily with Rabbi David Ashear Daily, Bitachon, Emunah, Faith, Trust