Hashem's Creations

“If you don’t understand anything about horses, you certainly can’t make judgments about tzaddikim” (Rebbe Yisroel, the ‘Yanuka’ of Stolin). If you love horses and you love Chassidic stories, you’ll love this.

Superficial, exterior looks at people, things or events are always misleading and very inaccurate. The essence of any creation is the Divine wisdom that is inherent in that creation. Once we connect to that Divine wisdom, we connect to the Creator. That way, our insight, intellect and potential rises to a much higher level. We attain fulfillment, success and happiness.

Did you ever stop and ponder Hashem's magnificent creation of Planet Earth, with all its wonders like the Northern Lights, the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls and much more? That vast Planet Earth of ours is only a miniscule part of the solar system, and only one-millionth the size of the sun. Yet, our entire solar system is like a grain of sand within the Milky Way Galaxy, which in turn is like a fleck of dust within the vast super-galaxies that extend beyond our imagination. Now stop and think: Hashem momentarily turns aside from His entire vast universe to create a rain drop, make a flower blossom and help a newborn chick hatch out of the egg. Imagine what He does to perfectly direct every tiny facet of our lives in mind-boggling Divine Providence. Why? Because He loves you so very much, more than you can ever imagine.

Is there a contradiction between Divine Direction and free will? If Hashem directs everything, like we learn in the first principle of emuna, what's left for us? We find our answer in a most unlikely place. The frogs come to enlighten us.  

Suddenly, on Monday morning June 7, 2021, the ground of Jerusalem opened up into a tremendous sinkhole. What could possibly be the message that Hashem is conveying here?

Elija the Prophet went up to Heaven with horses of fire. Fire in Hebrew is "Aish", Aleph-Shin. This are also the first letters of "Emuna" and "Shalom" - emuna and peace carry us high also.

We're spellbound when we saw a rainbow, because it's one of three sights that refect the Divine Presence. Therefore, whenever we see one, we should immediately make the blessing of "zocher Habris:" Baruch ata A'donai, E'loheinu melech ha-olam, zocher habrit v’ne’eman biv’reetoh v’kayam b’ma’amarav. Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who remembers the covenant, and is faithful to His covenant, and keeps His promise. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֶ'לוֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם זוֹכֵר הַבְּרִית וְנֶאֱמָן בִּבְרִיתוֹ וְקַיָם בְּמַאֲמָרוֹ

Throughout Tanach, "Hashem's vineyard" (see Isaiah 5:7, for example) is a metaphor for the Land of Israel and the vines symbolize the Jewish People. On the Sabbath, we sing the ancient "Dror Yikra" sonnet that was composed over a thousand years ago by Donash ben Labert from Spain, where he alludes to a prophecy in Jeremiah 2:21 when Hashem promises that He will replant the "cuttings" - those who have been cut off from their ancient homeland - in His vineyard. As such, the flourishing vineyards in the Land of Israel are a clear sign of the imminent redemption and ingathering of the exiles, as is we see today with our own eyes.

Think about what you'd rather be - a leaf, a branch or a root. This is a parable about our true source of vitality.

In today's empowering podcast, we learn to love ourselves and to appreciate the special qualities that Hashem gives each of us. No more jealousy and no more being down on yourself...

Today's shiur is dedicated to the loving memory of Hannah Suzanne Margaret Callen, ob'm Many people have tremendous difficulty in coping with the concept of death and believing in life after death, which is the Thirteenth tenet of our faith. The Almighty helps us understand with His own living parable of life after death, the butterfly. 

The Creator gave you the power to attain greatness. If you haven't yet done that, it's not because you lack talent and ability; it's simply because you haven't yet channeled your power in the right direction. Today's podcast is a must-hear for your realization of potential and personal development.