All in G-d's hands

In the "Garden of Emunah" it says not to ever give up praying to Hashem for whatever it is that you need in life. The bigger the request the more prayers needed. Moshe Rabbenu prayed 515 times so that he could enter Eretz Yisrael and Hashem told him to stop because if he prayed just one more time Hashem would have no choice but to let Moshe Rabbenu into Eretz Yisrael. However, Hashem did not want Moshe entering Eretz Yisrael, for reasons beyond our comprehension.

Essentially, Hashem knows what everyone of us needs. If you don’t receive what it is you prayed for, it doesn't mean Hashem ignored or didn't hear your prayers. It just means that you don't really need it now. When the time comes Hashem will give it to you with a full heart because He loves His children so much. Just remember stay strong and don't ever forget that Hashem ALWAYS does what's best for YOU! In order to work on our Emunah- Faith- in Hashem we must understand that anything that happens to us in life is from Hashem Himself.

 Additionally, this should shed light onto our own lives and situations we may face. For example, we may encounter people who are extremely difficult for us to deal with; however, we must keep in mind that that person who upset us is just a tool Hashem sent our way in order for us to develop our middot- character traits- and only Hashem knows why we needed that person to evoke that emotion within us.

May all your prayers be answered at the right time. Amen!

Shabbat Shalom

Esther Shamayev

Parsha Vaeschanan -- Pray your little heart out!

                                            

This week’s parsha, Vaeschanan, commences with Moshe pleading to Hashem endlessly to be granted access into the Land of Israel. However, despite all his prayers, Hashem denied him access. Of course we can’t ever come to understand how God thinks and why He thought, in His infinite wisdom, that this was necessary for Moshe to be denied access into Israel; however we must accept Hashem’s course of action and take away any practical lessons we can.

We can conclude that despite the fact that Moshe devoted his life to the service of Hashem, he did not expect anything in return. His service to Hashem was completely out of his love and fear for Him.  Additionally, when we serve Hashem, we too should not do it with thoughts of repayment for our mitzvot. We too, should strive to observe Hashem’s commandments for the utter joy in fulfilling God will.

Furthermore, we see how despite the fact that Hashem continuously denied Moshe’s request to enter the land, nonetheless, Moshe kept praying his heart out. Moshe knew that none of his prayers were said in vain. Even though his tefillot were not answered with tangible results in this world, he was surely rewarded in shemayim.

Similarly, in our own lives, we are too quick to say Hashem is not listening to our prayers, and we give it up. We must remember that patience is the key to prayer. In order to see dire tangible results, we must consistently pray our little hearts out, just like Moshe did, and show Hashem how badly we need something. Regardless if our efforts are rewarded in this world, if the tefillot are genuine, we will experience an internal change, and the reward awaiting in Shemyim will be incomparable.

Shema Yisrael!

                            

The parsha continues discussing the mitzvah of reciting the Shema Yisrael twice daily- 

“Shema Yisrael, Hashem Elokainu, Hashem Echad!”

 “Listen, Israel, Adonoy, our God, Adonoy is one (Devarim6:4).” 

The Shema is our declaration of faith--our ‘pledge of allegiance’ to Hashem. Each morning when we arise, we are proclaiming Hashem as the Master of the universe and that we will strive to keep His mitzvot throughout the day, while keeping ourselves from being enticed by worldly desires. Moreover, we recite the Shema Yisrael at night, before we go to sleep, because the Shema is said to dispel evil, and at night the forces of evil are the strongest. Because it is so easy for one to become trapped by his yatzar hara- evil inclination- Hashem brought forth this commandment to pledge our allegiance before we start out busy day and at night when the craziness subsides, giving us the time to contemplate our relationship with Hashem.

The Shema is also used as a meditation technique that allows us to contemplate on Hashem’s oneness. When we recite the Shema, we should focus on the fact that everything in this creation was created to succumb to that oneness. The Shema is telling us to listen and hear God’s oneness and unity. The Shema is calling out to each member of Bnai Israel to transcend to higher plains of spirituality and consciousness. Hashem wants us to quiet down the mind, and listen to His message of unity.

Moreover, we are saying Adonoy, our God. How powerful it is to think, the Master of the universe, the supernal one, is our God? How lucky we should we feel!

Next time we recite the Shema, rather than routinely reciting it, we should meditate on that ‘oneness.’ We should feel utter awe in acknowledging the unity of Hashem, and Him allowing us to be a part of that unity and oneness!

Mezuza!!!! 30 second DVAR TORAH!

 

This week’s parsha discusses the mitzvah of putting mezuzot on the doorposts of one’s home, as a tangible reminder of Hashem oneness.  Whenever a Jew enters his home, the mezuza is meant to arouse feelings of complete awareness of Hashem, thereby eradicating any worldly thoughts that bear no significance.

The mezuzah acts as a reminder that Hashem is the “Master of this house” and the occupants are merely guests, reminding us that everything Hashem has bestowed upon us is a gift that we should continuously have gratitude for.

Letting those dolla' bills get the best of us!

 

Moshe warns Bnai Israel that they should not forget Hashem’s commandments when they enter the Land of Israel and become wealthy. When people become wealthy, their newfound security builds arrogance; hence people start rejecting any higher authority (i.e. God), or they attribute their success to themselves exclusively. Moshe warned Bnai Israel to remember that Hashem gave them a land that was fully cultivated by the Canaanites, who labored and planted vineyards, olive groves, and dug wells so that the Jews would not have to toil in extra labor. So to, Moshe warned them not to indulge in material pleasures and forget Hashem, but to continuously love and fear Him.

Moshe’s words are still a warning for us today. How easily are we poisoned by a culture that focuses exclusively on amassing materialism? How enticing that world is! However, the drive for material abundance is fruitless. Wealth comes and goes, but the wisdom one amasses from the Torah is eternal. Rather than becoming a slave to one’s wealth, a person can find ways to use his wealth for goodness, rather than serving his own ego (i.e. through giving charity generously, supporting Torah learning, etc.). 

Additionally, this should be a reminder for us all not to chase aimless pursuits. Indeed, it is important to have a well sustained life, but where do we draw the line before the need for excess completely infiltrates our very essence? At the end of the day, what do you want to be remembered for? All the money you made, all the fame and honor you acquired? Or do you want to be remembered for greater things like, being a giving person, or being a devoted student of Torah, etc.? The answer lies in what you choose to value in this world. If financial success, power, money, honor, status, etc. are what you value, than the answer is clear. But for most of you, I am sure your neshama-soul- wants more than those fleeting accomplishments. The answer, my friends, lies in recognizing that you are above all those desires. Once you overcome your yatzar hara's- evil inclination- whine for more, realizing how immature and nonsensical those desires really are, you will feel empowered more than ever and continue on the road to finding the inner essence of your true self.

NO PAIN? NO GAIN!!!!

This week’s parsha, continues with Hashem telling the Jews not to test Him or a true prophet. Moshe warned the Jews, “Do not keep the mitzvot on the condition that you will prosper.”  There will be times in our lives, where despite the fact that we follow Hashem’s commandments, we still endure misfortune or suffering. We cannot ask for Hashem to prove Himself to us during these times of distress. Hashem publicized Himself at yetzias Mitzrayim- the exodus from Egypt- for all future generations to know that Hashem exists. Furthermore, with G-d making Himself known to all Jews, we must follow His laws, even if we cannot fathom why. His commandments are what sustain us in this world, and in the world to come.

Although we may suffer misfortune, and question the point of serving Hashem in our times of distress, we must continuously remind ourselves that although we do not comprehend the entirety of our observance, there are many spiritual benefits to our mitzvot that will be rewarded completely in the next world. (Moreover, any suffering we may endure does not happen in vain. Our suffering is meant to teach us that something is wrong and we need to reevaluate things in our lives, and build ourselves into stronger people). We can never assume to understand Hashem’s Providence over our lives. What we can do however, is focus on the future gratification we will one day achieve from all the mitzvot we have observed, despite the current suffering and misfortune.