Living Emunah By Rabbi David Ashear podcast

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The Torah tells us in this week's parashah, Chukat, that the nation of Kena'an waged war against Bnei Yisrael. Rashi explains that they weren't actually Kena'anim, but Amalekim who disguised themselves as Kena'anim. Their goal was that when the Jews would pray to Hashem to save them from Kena'an, their prayers would go unanswered—because in reality, the attackers were Amalek. The next pasuk says that the Jews made a neder: if Hashem would help them succeed in the war, they would donate all the spoils to Him. And indeed, the next pasuk states: וַיִּשְׁמַע ה׳ בְּקוֹל יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּתֵּן אֶת־הַכְּנַעֲנִי וַיַּחֲרֵם אֶתְהֶם וְאֶת־עָרֵיהֶם וַיִּקְרָא שֵׁם־הַמָּקוֹם חָרְמָה Hashem heard their voice, gave them victory, and they fulfilled their promise by dedicating everything to Him. We find a similar idea with Yaakov Avinu when he fled from Esav. He made vows to Hashem in the merit of being protected. Although in general Chazal discourage making nederim, they allow it in times of distress. The Gemara in Masechet Eruvin (64a) learns from the vow the Jews made regarding their war against Amalek the tremendous power of using one's money for mitzvot in order to receive Hashem's extra mercy. The Gemara explains that if a convert passes away without any heirs, his possessions become ownerless. If someone acquires them and suddenly becomes wealthy, that wealth is at risk due to ayin hara. But if he uses part of it for a mitzvah, like buying a sefer Torah, the mitzvah protects the rest of the wealth. Another opinion says this also applies to someone who marries a woman who brings a large dowry into the marriage; he should use part of that money for mitzvot to guard it. A third opinion adds that even someone who profits handsomely from a business deal should invest part of the earnings in mitzvot to protect the rest from ayin hara. A final opinion mentions a sofer who writes tefillin. Rashi explains that even buying tefillin helps guard the wealth. However, the Maharsha explains differently: even a sofer who doesn't make much must use part of his earnings for mitzvot. Why? Although he may not have ayin hara on him, he might think his parnasah is coming from his skill and beautiful handwriting, forgetting that Hashem is the One giving him success. That attitude— כֹּחִי וְעֹצֶם יָדִי עָשָׂה לִי אֶת הַחַיִל הַזֶּה —can itself be a danger. To counter that, he must give some of his earnings to Hashem to express true recognition that He is providing. The Maharsha explains this is why the Gemara uses the case of Bnei Yisrael's war with Amalek as a proof rather than Yaakov's flight from Esav. In war, they could have believed it was their own strength that brought the victory. But they showed they knew it came from Hashem by pledging everything to Him. And this is why the Pasuk uses the words אם נתן תתן regarding the Jewish people's vow. Meaning אם נתן -if it will look like things are happening on their own in the natural way of the world, then please Hashem, תתן - we want to recognize that you are the One giving us the victory. The Me'iri writes similarly: people with yirat shamayim constantly reflect that their success comes only from Hashem. That awareness makes them enthusiastic to use what they have in Hashem's service. May we always remember that all we have and achieve is from Hashem, and may our recognition fill us with sincere hakarat ha-tov that drives us to give back with open hearts. Shabbat Shalom.…

Living Emunah By Rabbi David Ashear

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How to Respond Correctly

2 days ago

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The Gemara teaches that at the time of conception, Hashem decrees whether a person will be strong or weak, wise or foolish, rich or poor. The Shomer Emunim adds that included in this decree is how many tests a person will need to face—whether due to physical weakness, financial strain, or any other challenge. In other words, before a person even enters this world, his entire life is mapped out—each detail depending on what he was sent into this world to accomplish. This includes how much suffering, whether physical or emotional, the person will endure, and what kinds of experiences he will have with his spouse or children—whether joyful or difficult. If someone insults or embarrasses him, that moment was already decreed before he was even born. If a spouse is hurtful or harsh, he must believe that Hashem is placing those words in the other's mouth—unless, the Shomer Emunim clarifies, the person himself initiated conflict using his own free will. In that case, he may be bringing upon himself extra suffering that wasn't originally decreed. But if he is behaving appropriately and still suffers from others, it is part of his mission from Hashem. The Shomer Emunim continues: If a person, when confronted with difficulty, recognizes that it is coming from Hashem and doesn't complain—but instead takes it as a wake-up call to do teshuva —then the decree can be drastically reduced. A year-long suffering could be cut down to a single day. We know that Hashem's attribute of kindness is 500 times greater than His attribute of judgment. Yosef HaTzaddik was supposed to be freed from prison after two more days, but because he placed his trust in man instead of fully in Hashem, those two days turned into two years. The meraglim sinned for 40 days, and were punished with 40 years of wandering. If this is how the measure of punishment works, then surely, when it comes to reward and kindness, the impact is even greater. A year-long decree could be erased in moments. The pasuk says, הֲלֹא כִּי אֵין אֱלֹקַי בְּקִרְבִּי מְצָאֻנִי הָרָעוֹת הָאֵלֶּה —the Shomer Emunim explains that when a person believes his suffering is not from Hashem ( כי אין אלוקי בקרבי ), then מצאוני הרעות האלה —the afflictions persist. But when he recognizes that the suffering is from Hashem and responds with teshuva , the suffering can stop. There's a story told by a great tzaddik from earlier generations about a man who endured terrible suffering his whole life. After his passing, a malach told him that this suffering was necessary for his tikkun . But the malach added that he could have completed his mission much more easily if he had regularly said רבוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, צַדִּיק אַתָּה עַל כָּל הַבָּא עָלַי, כִּי אֱמֶת עָשִׂיתָ וַאֲנִי הִרְשַׁעְתִּי לְפָנֶיךָ. יְהִי רָצוֹן שֶׁבְּאֵלוּ הַיִּסּוּרִים יְכֻפְּרוּ עֲוֹנוֹתַי "Master of the Universe, You are righteous in everything that happens to me. You have acted truthfully, and I am the one who sinned. May it be Your will that these afflictions atone for my sins." If he had accepted his suffering and acknowledged it came from Hashem, it would have fulfilled its purpose. But because he didn't accept it, the suffering didn't accomplish its goal—and he had to return to this world to complete his mission. When a person recognizes his yisurim (sufferings) as coming from Hashem and accepts them, not only does it reduce what remains, it also increases the value and effectiveness of what he has already endured. Hashem is waiting for our response when He sends us yisurim for our benefit. If we can train ourselves to respond with emunah, we will be the ones who gain the most. May Hashem help us respond correctly—and through that, remove all suffering and harsh decrees from among us.…

Living Emunah By Rabbi David Ashear

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Hashem Helps Those Who Strive to Grow

3 days ago

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Our main purpose in this world is to be true servants of Hashem. We are here to continuously grow in our observance of Torah and mitzvot. Every step we take in that direction is incredibly valuable. Some steps may be easier than others, and some may feel like mountains—but we are never alone. Hashem is always with us, waiting to help us succeed. Hashem loves when we turn to Him and ask for help in serving Him better. He often responds in ways that clearly show He is listening and appreciating our efforts. Sometimes He even orchestrates events so that the answer comes quickly and inspires not only the person who asked, but many others who hear the story afterward. A man shared that he was listening to a shiur in which the rabbi told a story about a woman who accepted upon herself to cut her wig shorter to be more modest. As he listened, he quietly said to Hashem, "I wish my wife would cut her wig, too." Literally within a minute, his wife called him out of the blue and said she felt she wanted to cut her wig shorter. He was stunned by the immediate siyata dishmaya—Hashem had heard his simple request and responded right away. During the recent war in Eretz Yisrael, a woman wanted to take on a kabbalah to share in the suffering of her fellow Jews. She decided she would sleep with only one pillow instead of two. But she felt she needed some chizuk to carry it out. She called a chizuk hotline, and the class she randomly selected spoke about how during World War I, the Chafetz Chaim slept on a hard bench and used his hands as a pillow to empathize with fellow Jews in pain. She couldn't believe it—Hashem had guided her to exactly the message she needed in that moment. A man told of his son, who learns in a top yeshivah in Eretz Yisrael. The son had returned home briefly for a family wedding, but when war broke out, his flight back was canceled. Once flights resumed, the travel agent said it would take at least a week—possibly longer—to find him a ticket. A few minutes later, a friend called and mentioned that he was at the kever of the Ribnitzer Rebbe. The man asked his friend to also visit the kever of his own rabbi, Rabbi Yehudah Davis, who was buried nearby, and ask him to pray that his son would return quickly to his learning. The friend agreed. Amazingly, just ten minutes after the tefillah, the travel agent called back and said he had suddenly secured a flight for the boy—leaving in just two days. Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Friedman shared another remarkable story in his popular Gilyon Noam Siach . He had decided to dedicate a special issue of the publication to the teachings and stories of the Kossover rebbe who had passed away last year. Unbeknownst to him, a young man had just entered the stage of shidduchim and felt lost without the guidance of that very rebbe—someone he had turned to his whole life. At this crucial juncture, he went to the rebbe's kever and prayed for direction. A few days later, someone handed him the new issue of Noam Siach , which "happened' to include a section of the rebbe's teachings specifically about shidduchim . It was exactly what he needed. Hashem had answered him so directly and clearly, it filled him with joy and gratitude. Hashem loves when we grow in Torah and mitzvot—and He especially loves when we turn to Him for help in doing so. He answers, encourages, and uplifts those who sincerely strive to get closer to Him. May we all continue to grow and fulfill our true potential. Amen.…

Living Emunah By Rabbi David Ashear

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Every Step Is Guided

4 days ago

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It is so calming to know how involved Hashem is in every detail of our lives. He cares deeply about everything we do, and He is constantly with us, guiding us every step of the way. A woman shared that she had just moved into a new home and needed to buy curtains. One night, she planned to browse online, and in her excitement, she hurried through cleaning up dinner—but forgot to say borei nefashot . She sat down with her husband, opened their laptop, and began typing the word "curtains." After typing the first four letters—C-U-R-T—she looked at the screen and froze. The language bar was still set to Hebrew from when her husband had last used it. On a Hebrew keyboard, typing those four letters spells out: בורא ( boreh ). At that moment, she remembered she had forgotten to say borei nefashot . She said she usually typed without looking at the keyboard, and had she done so now, she would have realized on the first letter that the keyboard was in Hebrew. But this time, Hashem made her look down—just so she would type the word boreh and be reminded of the berachah she had missed. Another story was shared by a man who was looking for a good chavruta to learn with his son at night. He mentioned it to his wife, and she suggested a specific nephew who would be perfect. The problem was that his son was in high school, while the nephew was already learning full-time in a beit midrash with a chavruta his own age. It seemed unlikely that he would want to learn with a high school student. Still, the man had hope. At 11 o'clock that night—perhaps too late to call—he decided to send a text asking if it was a good time. The nephew replied that he was still in yeshiva talking to his chavruta, and that he would call shortly. When he called, the uncle asked if he'd consider learning with his son. The nephew's response left him speechless: "That's exactly what I was just talking about with my chavruta," he said. "I've been thinking I want to start learning at night with a high school boy." Amazing! Hashem had planted the idea in the nephew's mind just before his uncle reached out. Hashem knows the future and arranges everything in advance to help us. A woman who works in an office building said that one morning, her regular parking spot was taken, so she had to park somewhere else. That day, she especially needed to leave quickly after work. When she returned to the lot, she saw three Hatzalah vehicles completely blocking her usual spot. But the place where she had parked was totally clear. She immediately thanked Hashem for arranging in advance that she wouldn't be blocked when time was so tight. Another woman recalled something that happened 15 years ago. She had read an article about children who suddenly developed extreme OCD-like behaviors or severe emotional swings. The article explained that these behaviors could often be traced to untreated strep or Lyme disease—and once treated, the children returned to normal. For some reason, she was drawn to the article and even clipped it out, along with letters from parents describing what their children went through. Thirteen years later, her own child suddenly changed. Her behavior became extremely negative. Therapy didn't help, and she couldn't attend school. No one could figure out what was wrong. Every day, this mother prayed to Hashem to open her eyes and show her the solution. Then one day, she suddenly remembered that article. She found it, reread it, and had her daughter tested for strep and Lyme. Baruch Hashem , they found the cause. With proper treatment, her daughter returned to her normal self within weeks. She thanks Hashem for planting the interest in that article so many years earlier. It turned out to be the key that helped save her daughter. Hashem is with us every second of the day—guiding us, helping us, preparing everything in advance. We need to recognize His hand in our lives and constantly thank Him.…

Living Emunah By Rabbi David Ashear

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Hashem’s Hand in Our Modern-Day Victories

5 days ago

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The pasuk at the conclusion of Parashat Beshalach reads: וַיִּבֶן מֹשֶׁה מִזְבֵּחַ וַיִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ ה' נִסִּי Moshe built a Mizbeach after the Jews defeated Amalek, as a commemoration for the miracle that Hashem did for them. To defeat such a powerful nation, Moshe made this Mizbeach. Rabbi Menashe Reizman quoted the Ktav Sofer who asked: was this the only miracle that Hashem did for the Jewish people at that time? There were the Ten Makot, Keriat Yam Suf, the Man, the Be'er Shel Miriam. Why did Moshe make a Mizbeach only to commemorate the miracle of winning the war against Amalek? The Ktav Sofer answered that until that point, all of the miracles that the Jews had experienced were beyond the realms of nature, and it was obvious that Hashem and only Hashem performed them. However, the miracles in the war against Amalek came in the natural way of the world. Men were appointed to be soldiers and physically fight Amalek. It was people with swords doing battle, and there it may have seemed that it was their strength that enabled them to win the war. Therefore, specifically by that miracle, Moshe needed to do something to proclaim that it was Hashem's doing and that the people should recognize it through that Mizbeach and attribute the victory to Him. As we just experienced a victory in war, eliminating threats from Iran—who have been threatening to annihilate the Jewish people for decades—it behooves us to take a step back and recognize the Yad Hashem in this war as much as we can. We learn from Megillat Esther how to connect the dots of Hashem's involvement in world events from years before they take place. In Shushan HaBirah, the king moved his palace to where Mordechai and Esther lived. He killed his wife Vashti and then Esther came into the palace. Mordechai overheard the plot of Bigtan and Teresh and saved the king's life. It all came together when Haman decreed to annihilate the Jewish people. Hashem had been setting this stage from thirteen years in advance for those critical moments when everything had to be exactly the way it was to save the Jewish people. Here as well, Hashem was working in advance to pave the way for the destruction of our enemies. Chazal tell us we are like a sheep among seventy wolves, waiting to devour us, but we have Hashem—and therefore nobody ever will. In this instance, Hashem used America to assist us in this war, primarily through the actions of President Trump. Looking at it from the natural way of the world, which Hashem hides Himself inside of, it was because Trump is president that Israel had free reign to do as they pleased regarding their surrounding enemies. Nobody was putting restraint on them as previous administrations had done. It was the president's decision to enter the war and wipe out those dangerous nuclear facilities. The fact that this man is the current president is an open miracle. After the January 6th uprising on Capitol Hill after his defeat in the last election, it was obvious that Trump would never be back in politics. Yet, he was able to make the biggest comeback of all time. Obviously, Yad Hashem. Hashem made the man who he ran against in the last election feeble-minded to pave the way to his presidency. He was nearly assassinated, with bullets grazing his ear, yet he emerged alive and stronger than ever. When America got involved, it could easily have triggered World War III. Russia and China are great allies of Iran. However, Hashem had occupied Russia with their own war for the past three years, which kept them far away from this one. Trump decided to make tariffs on foreign countries, with China being the highest, and therefore they had back-and-forth negotiations over the past couple of months. China and America came to a happy agreement and made a peaceful relationship through those tariffs, so that they would stay out of this war as well. Hashem has heaped chesed upon His nation in wondrous ways, and it is incumbent upon us to show our hakarat hatov. We don't understand all the ways of Hashem, but we do know that since October 7th, there has been a renaissance of ba'alei teshuvah, people getting closer to Torah and mitzvot. Furthermore, the events of October 7th opened the door for Israel to decimate Hamas and Hezbollah. We pray for Hashem to bring back the rest of the hostages. We feel that we are very close to the geulah. Rabbi Reizman quoted the Chazal that says, "Whoever reports something in the name of the person who said it brings redemption to the world," and the Maharal there explains that to mean: the one who Hashem chooses to bring the geulah has to be someone who is going to give the credit of the salvation to Him. Someone who is able to give credit where credit is due is someone who will potentially be part of the upcoming geulah. We pray for the day when everyone in the world will recognize that Hashem is the King, and that He controls and rules over everything. We have just witnessed with our own eyes how President Trump thanked Hashem numerous times—first for saving his life and enabling him to do his mission, and now in his role in the war, Trump has said, "We love you, G-d." And then we saw Netanyahu tell the world that Israel's strength comes from Hashem's heavenly help. The world is hearing that success comes only from Hashem. We hope that we are at the doorstep of geulah. May we see the geulah sheleimah b'karov. Amen.…

Living Emunah By Rabbi David Ashear

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Every Thought Counts in Avodat Hashem

8 days ago

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Every single good deed—and even a good thought—in Avodat Hashem is incredibly precious. When a person sees in the future the immense reward given for even the smallest intention, he will wish he had done more. Sometimes, even one thought of teshuvah can change everything. In this week's parashah, we read about the earth opening up and swallowing all those who joined in Korach's rebellion. Yet the Torah tells us that the sons of Korach did not die. Chazal explain that at the very last second, just before they were swallowed, they had a thought of teshuvah—and that alone saved them. The Midrash emphasizes that they didn't even have enough time to speak a word of repentance. Hashem accepted their teshuvah based solely on a thought. In last week's parashah, we learned that Kalev was promised he would enter the Land and that his children would receive an inheritance there. Rav Moshe Feinstein, in Darash Moshe , asks what Kalev did to earn such a great reward. He answers that when Kalev spoke up against the spies and expressed Emunah that Hashem could bring them into the land, for a brief moment the Jewish people believed him. Although they quickly reverted to fear and doubt, that fleeting moment of emunah was considered a moment of teshuvah. It was so precious that it brought great merit—not just to the people—but to Kalev himself as their source of inspiration. We should never underestimate anything we do in our service of Hashem. It is never "all or nothing." Every small act counts. A man shared that he had been walking with his friend Chaim, when Chaim's phone rang with a reminder that his hour of shemirat halashon was about to begin. The man found it odd—why keep it for only one hour if we are obligated to guard our speech all the time? Chaim explained that of course we try to keep these halachot at all times, but even setting aside one hour of extra vigilance is extremely valuable. It's a way to strengthen ourselves and build up consistency. Every extra moment of self-control is meaningful. Chaim then told a story he knew firsthand. His parents' neighbor, Nitzan, once called him asking for guidance on how to become fully observant. Until then, Nitzan had not kept mitzvot but said that something happened that completely changed his outlook. A few months prior, he had decided to keep a small part of Shabbat—from midnight on Friday night until 10 a.m. Shabbat morning. People laughed at him when they heard this, thinking it strange and inconsistent, but he felt it was a meaningful step he could take. He kept his commitment seriously. On one Friday night, he was out driving with friends and saw that it was 11:30 p.m. He told them firmly that no matter where they were, he would be getting out of the car at 11:50. His friends tried to persuade him to stay with them until around 12:15, but he wouldn't budge. At 11:50, he stepped out of the car and turned off his phone. He was far from home, so he slept on a bench and planned to take a taxi at 10 a.m. when his personal observance of Shabbat would end. When he got home the next morning, his parents were overwhelmed with joy and tears. They had just heard that the car he had been in the night before was in a devastating accident. Everyone in the car had died. They thought he had been with them. He told them that it was his decision to keep even a small part of Shabbat that had saved his life. That moment became a turning point for Nitzan. He decided from then on that he wanted to become fully observant. Every little act in Avodat Hashem matters. Even a moment of restraint, a fleeting thought of teshuvah, or a limited commitment can be the key to transformation—or even salvation. We can never underestimate the power and value of the smallest efforts or intentions. Shabbat Shalom…

Living Emunah By Rabbi David Ashear

1
Nothing Is Too Small to Ask Hashem

9 days ago

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There is nothing too big to ask Hashem for, and there is nothing too small to ask Him for. Sometimes a person may feel that what he wants is too insignificant to "bother" Hashem about—but in truth, the opposite is true. When we turn to Hashem for even the smallest things, we demonstrate our belief that He is involved in every single detail of our lives. A woman shared that late one night, someone knocked on her door asking for tzedakah. She looked in her wallet and saw she barely had any cash, but she gave the man ten shekels. The next day, she went to the grocery store and bought many items. Without a car, she wondered how she would possibly carry everything home. She realized she didn't have enough cash left for a taxi. If she still had the ten shekels from the night before, it would have been enough—but she refused to regret doing a mitzvah. Instead, she turned to Hashem and asked for help. While she was paying, the customer ahead of her realized he had forgotten to pay for a melon. He asked her to add it to her credit card and offered to reimburse her in cash. She agreed. The cashier weighed the melon—it cost exactly ten shekels, the precise amount she needed for a taxi. A small request, a small solution, but a powerful reminder that Hashem listens. Another young woman recalled that when she was fifteen, she started listening to emunah classes and began involving Hashem in her daily life. Once, she and a friend wanted to put personalized photos on beach towels. They designed them, but the towels were too expensive. With the emunah they had built, they decided to pray to Hashem to lower the price by 50%. The next day, the price hadn't changed. They still really wanted the towels and didn't have much time before camp, so they ordered them anyway, continuing to pray for a price reduction. When the towels arrived, the company said there had been a slight error, and if they weren't satisfied, they could get replacements. A very small part of one picture had been cut off. The girls explained they wouldn't receive replacements in time and asked for a discount instead. The company responded by giving them a full refund. Just like that, their tefillah had been answered—they received the towels for free. Another story was told by a man named David. One evening, he stopped at a convenience store and saw a small display of toys. He decided to pick something up for his four-year-old son—something he had never done before—and chose a small toy police car. When he arrived home, his son was already asleep. He handed the car to his wife, telling her it was for their son. She was visibly shocked. She explained that earlier that day, their son had asked her about praying to Hashem. She told him that he could pray for whatever he wanted. He then said, "Hashem, could you please give me a toy car?" And now, his father came home with one that very night. The next day, when the boy received the car, he wasn't even surprised. His mother had told him Hashem listens, so he prayed—and Hashem answered. That was enough for him. We should all strive to have the emunah of a child: simple, pure, and full of trust. Hashem wants to hear our voices. He cherishes our prayers—whether they're for "big things" or the smallest everyday needs. Nothing is too small to ask for.…

Living Emunah By Rabbi David Ashear

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Hidden Miracles and the Hand of Hashem

10 days ago

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The Gemara in Masechet Avodah Zarah tells a remarkable story about Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, who was afflicted with severe intestinal pain. As a remedy, he required a particular apple cider that was produced only by idolaters. To ensure its kashrut—that it contained no wine—it needed to have been stored for seventy years. Naturally, Rabbi Yehuda was not in a position to wait that long. His attendants searched until they discovered a man who had an entire storeroom filled with seventy-year-old bottles of this cider. Rabbi Yehuda drank the cider and was cured. In response, he proclaimed: "Baruch HaMakom SheMasar Olamo LeShomrim" —Blessed is Hashem who entrusts His world to guardians. He praised Hashem for planting the idea in someone's mind to store that cider decades earlier, so that it would be ready at just the right moment. This story has a striking parallel in modern times. Recently, the American Air Force deployed fourteen bunker-buster bombs to destroy Iranian nuclear facilities that posed a threat to Israel. These were said to be the only bombs in the world that could penetrate the depths necessary to destroy the underground nuclear facility. These highly specialized bombs had never before been used in warfare. Developed about fifteen years ago, each bomb costs millions of dollars, and the aircraft capable of delivering them costs over $2 billion. These powerful weapons, designed and built long ago, had been waiting for the exact moment they would be used to protect Am Yisrael. Baruch HaMakom SheMasar Olamo LeShomrim. In the past week alone, we have witnessed numerous miracles—clear signs of Hashem's hand in our lives. A missile struck Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva, hitting the exact location of the internal medicine department. Yet miraculously, just the day before, the staff had worked with incredible urgency to evacuate all patients to an underground facility that had never before been used as a regular hospital unit. Only after everyone was safely relocated did the missile hit. What caused that sudden urgency? It was Hashem guiding their hearts. In Haifa, a Belzer family lived in an old building with no safe rooms and no bomb shelter. Sirens didn't sound in their area, but when they received a phone warning, they ran to the dining room and huddled under their table. Minutes later, their apartment took a direct hit. Half of it collapsed—but every family member, including small children, was rescued without a scratch. So many other miracles continue to emerge. Over 1,000 drones and more than 400 ballistic missiles were launched at Israel, and yet we were protected time and again. So many potential escalations could have taken place—Russia could have gotten involved, but Hashem kept them occupied with another war. China could have entered the conflict, but Hashem held them back. Baruch HaShem , the war has ended. May we always be zocher to recognize the loving hand of Hashem shielding His people from harm and orchestrating every detail of salvation—even decades in advance.…

Living Emunah By Rabbi David Ashear

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Following the Cloud: Trusting Hashem Through Uncertainty

11 days ago

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In Parashat Beha'alotckha, the Torah devotes many pesukim to describing how the Jewish people followed Hashem's command throughout their travels in the desert. Again and again, the pesukim emphasize that they journeyed "al pi Hashem" and encamped "al pi Hashem" —by the word of Hashem. The Seforno explains that these pesukim are praising Bnei Yisrael in many ways for their remarkable emunah and trust. First, they were willing to encamp wherever the cloud of Hashem rested, even in barren, desolate places. They remained there as long as the cloud stayed, without moving to more comfortable or fertile areas. Second, at times they were camped in ideal locations—beautiful, spacious places that were perfect for them and their cattle—but when the cloud lifted shortly after, they packed up and left without hesitation. Third, there were times the cloud rested for just one night. They had barely unpacked, perhaps hadn't even set up their belongings completely, when morning came and the cloud signaled it was time to move again. Yet they followed it with full emunah , never questioning, never resisting. For forty years, they followed the cloud of Hashem without complaint. This unwavering loyalty is one explanation of what Hashem refers to in the pasuk: " זכרתי לך חסד נעורייך... לכתך אחרי במדבר " "I remember the kindness of your youth... your following Me into the desert" (Yirmiyahu 2:2). Hashem will always remember this faithfulness. The Ramban emphasizes how extraordinary this Emunah was. Imagine large families with small children, elderly grandparents, and all their belongings. After finally settling into their tents, they are told the next day it's time to move again. Or worse, remaining in an uncomfortable place for weeks, months, even years—all without questioning Hashem's plan. This was an act of great avodat Hashem , of complete submission and trust in Him. Today, many people are experiencing a modern version of this test. Due to the war, countless individuals are unable to fly or reach their desired destinations. Plans have been canceled, semachot delayed, families separated. Some have tried to leave or return to Israel and have encountered roadblocks, flight cancellations, or border issues. Others have driven for hours through neighboring countries only to be turned back. Some are missing, or will miss, close relatives' weddings. Both those making the weddings and those missing them now have a profound opportunity: to demonstrate unwavering emunah in Hashem's perfect plan. Every person is exactly where Hashem wants them to be. No one is "stuck." We are all placed . A person will board a flight the exact moment Hashem decides it is right. Of course, we make hishtadlut —we try. But the outcome is in Hashem's hands alone. And if a person can rise above the frustration and say with full heart, "I trust that I am exactly where Hashem wants me to be, and I accept this with love," —then he will soar to spiritual heights beyond what he could ever reach by getting on any plane. May Hashem give us all the strength to trust in Him completely, and may we merit to see true peace and tranquility-Amen…

Living Emunah By Rabbi David Ashear

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Recognizing Hashem’s Hand in Our Victories

12 days ago

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One of the most difficult tests in life is when a person achieves something through effort, wisdom, and strength—and is then told not to attribute the success to himself, but to Hashem. Most people feel proud of their accomplishments, their clever strategies, or their brilliant ideas. But the pasuk reminds us כִּי הוּא הַנֹּתֵן לְךָ כֹּחַ לַעֲשׂוֹת חָיִל , and the Targum explains, that even our ideas—every single thought that passes through our minds—are gifts from Hashem. It's natural to feel proud after a major achievement, but it is up to each of us to pause and recognize that it was all from Hashem. So often, we fail to see the broader picture—how Hashem orchestrated every detail in advance, setting the stage for us to succeed in a way that appears seamless and "strategic." Recently, the world has witnessed Israel's remarkable military achievements, particularly in the face of Iranian threats. From eliminating key leaders and scientists to achieving aerial dominance, the successes have been astonishing. Add to that America's undetected, precision strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure, and one could easily fall into the trap of thinking it's all the result of human intelligence and power. But here, too, we must remember: " לא בחיל ולא בכח כי אם ברוחי אמר ה׳ " —victory does not come through strength or power, but through the spirit of Hashem. All wars are fought and won by Hashem— and only by Hashem . For decades, Israel has known about Iran's nuclear ambitions, yet was unable to act, as Iran lies over a thousand miles away. The logistics of such an operation seemed impossible. Israeli fighter jets could not pass through Jordan, Syria, or Iraq without being shot down. The southern route through Saudi Arabia was blocked, and the northern route through Turkey was a non-starter. But then Hashem changed everything. In December 2024, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown, ending his family's 50-year regime. Hashem opened the Syrian skies. Jordan didn't just permit the use of its airspace—it actively helped shoot down Iranian missiles during the April attack, when Iran launched 300 ballistic missiles toward Israel. Iraq no longer has the capabilities to shoot down planes. Every obstacle was removed—by Hashem. Iran had feared this moment. For years, they armed Hezbollah and Hamas so that if Israel ever struck, they could retaliate from multiple fronts. But over the past year, Hashem gave Israel the strength and intelligence to neutralize the missile capabilities of both Hezbollah and Hamas. And when the moment came to strike Iran, there was no one left to respond. We should be proud of Israel's accomplishments—with the clear understanding that they are Hashem's accomplishments . America's support? Also orchestrated by Hashem, as it says: " לב מלכים ביד ה׳ " —the hearts of kings and leaders are in the hands of Hashem. Hashem can eliminate our enemies without a single soldier taking action. We saw this just a year ago, when the president of Iran and other officials were killed in a helicopter crash—without any military involvement. We saw it when a Turkish legislator who was publicly condemning Israel suddenly collapsed and died of a heart attack. " ה׳ איש מלחמה " —Hashem is a Man of War. He fights—and wins—our battles. The current operation has been referred to as " כִּלְבִיא יָקוּם " , and the Chatam Sofer once explained the word כִּלְבִיא spells out the passuk : כִּ י לֹ א בְ כֹחַ יִ גְבַּר אִ ישׁ - it is not by human strength that wars are won, but through Hashem alone. May Hashem continue to protect His people and bring the final geulah with Mashiach speedily in our days. Amen.…

Living Emunah By Rabbi David Ashear

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Parashat Shelach: The Test That Began Centuries Earlier

15 days ago

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The pasuk in this week's Parashat Shelach tells us that the Meraglim (spies) came to a place called נחל אשכול , the Valley of the Cluster, and there they removed a massive cluster of grapes. This enormous cluster was later used to frighten the Jewish people, as the spies described the giants who inhabited the land and implied that Bnei Yisrael had no chance of conquering it. Then the pasuk says the place was named אשכול —"Cluster"—because of the cluster they took. But the Sefer Minchat Ani asks an important question: it seems the place was already called נחל אשכול before the cluster was taken, as the Torah says they arrived at the Valley of Eshkol before picking the grapes. The Midrash resolves this by explaining that the place was already called Eshkol, all the way back to the time of Avraham Avinu. The Midrash quotes the pasuk " מגיד מראשית אחרית "—Hashem reveals the end from the beginning—and teaches us that Hashem sees the past, present, and future all at once. One of Avraham's close companions was named Eshkol, and Hashem placed that name in the minds of Eshkol's parents because of the future cluster that would be taken by the Meraglim in that very location. But this raises an obvious question: why? Why would Hashem cause a man to be named "Eshkol" because of an event that would occur hundreds of years later? The Minchat Ani brings another Midrash that sheds light on this. When Avraham was commanded to perform a brit milah , he consulted his three friends. Aner told him not to do it—he was too old to harm himself. Eshkol warned that if he did it, he would be weakened and vulnerable to attack. But the third friend, Mamre, encouraged him, saying: "The same Hashem who saved you from the fiery furnace, from the four kings, from famine—He is now commanding you. He will protect you." This powerful moment became a lesson passed down through generations. Every Jewish child would grow up learning how Avraham courageously performed the brit milah , how Mamre showed emunah , and how Aner and Eshkol doubted. And now, centuries later, that same test returned. The Meraglim echoed the voices of Aner and Eshkol, casting doubt on Hashem's power to bring them safely into Eretz Yisrael. They cut the Eshkol—the very cluster that symbolized the mistake of the man Eshkol from generations before. And just like Mamre, Caleb stood up and proclaimed his emunah , telling the people that Hashem, who had always protected them, would continue to do so. Hashem arranged it all—placing the Meraglim at the same site as Eshkol's legacy, giving them a chance to correct the mistake of the past. This wasn't random. Their test had been developing for centuries. Nothing in this world happens by chance. Every test a person faces is custom-designed by Hashem, planned with precision before that person even enters the world. We have no idea how much our actions matter, how intentional each situation is, and how carefully Hashem prepares our challenges. In the case of the Meraglim , Hashem gave them every opportunity to succeed. He placed them at Nachal Eshkol , at the exact site where history had already taught the lesson they needed to learn. But they failed. Still, the message for us remains: Tests are given to make us great. Hashem not only gives us challenges, but also provides us with the strength, wisdom, and circumstances to overcome them. Every test we face is hand-tailored to help us grow, elevate ourselves, and earn eternal reward. If we internalize this, we'll face our own tests with clarity and strength. And with Hashem's help, we'll overcome them—and fulfill our unique mission in this world. Shabbat Shalom.…

Living Emunah By Rabbi David Ashear

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Trusting Hashem to Guard Our Children

16 days ago

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In a world filled with potential dangers, it's only natural for parents to worry about their children when they leave the house. Some are overwhelmed by fear, constantly imagining the worst, and this robs them of peace of mind. But a parent must recognize a fundamental truth: even when a child is physically near them, it is not the parent who provides protection—it is Hashem. He watches over us, and He watches over our children. And if, chas v'shalom , harm ever does befall a child, we believe with emunah sheleimah that it would have happened regardless of where the child was or who was with them. It is never the circumstances themselves that bring about outcomes. Everything happens only through the word and will of Hashem. Every day, there are countless unseen miracles where Hashem protects children—sometimes found in naïvely dangerous situations, yet guarded from harm. Knowing this should bring us calm: wherever our children are, Hashem is with them. As it says in Tehillim: " הנה לא ינום ולא יישן שומר ישראל " —Behold, the Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. A Rebbe in a yeshivah shared a remarkable story. He had a student with a severe allergy to milk products. The Rebbe admitted that it was impossible to personally guarantee that not even a crumb of dairy would reach this child—but he did his best and placed his trust in Hashem, the true Guardian. Still, the Rebbe took every precaution. Any student sitting near the allergic boy during lunch was required to notify him if they brought dairy. Most of the time, those nearby were considerate and only brought parve food. However, mistakes do happen. One day, a boy who sat next to him noticed he had dairy and immediately informed the Rebbe . The Rebbe called the allergic boy over to sit beside him instead. When the boy opened his lunch, the Rebbe noticed what looked like an American cheese sandwich. The boy was about to take a bite when the Rebbe quickly stopped him. The boy insisted, "It must be parve. My parents know not to send me dairy." But the Rebbe , not taking any chances, called the boy's home. The mother was alarmed. She said there may have been a terrible mistake—her other son had requested a cheese sandwich that morning, and it was possible the lunch bags had been switched. Sure enough, the sandwich contained real cheese. Baruch Hashem , on the very day the allergic boy accidentally brought a cheese sandwich, his friend also "accidentaly" brought dairy and reported it, triggering the Rebbe to call the allergic boy over—averting a potentially life-threatening situation. It was clearly the hand of Hashem. Hashem is our constant protector. He knows every danger and precisely how to guard us from it. Another story illustrates this beautifully. A woman shared that one evening, about a half hour before sunset, she and her husband decided to go for a walk in a forest near their home. While walking, they encountered three little boys who approached them, asking how to get back to the road. After speaking with them, the couple realized these were three six-year-old boys who were completely lost and had no idea how to exit the forest. They escorted them safely back and then called one of the mothers to let her know her children were with them. The mother was deeply grateful. She had been driving around searching for them in a panic. It was min hashamayim that this couple had decided—at that exact moment—to go for a walk. Hashem had arranged for His messengers to find those boys and lead them to safety. As it says: " כי מלאכיו יצוה לך לשמרך בכל דרכיך " —For He will command His angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. It is not our job to live in constant fear. Our responsibility is to pray, to trust in Hashem, and to remember that no matter where our children—and we—are, we are always under His watchful care.…

Living Emunah By Rabbi David Ashear

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Trusting Hashem with Our Expenses

17 days ago

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Life can get very expensive—whether it's housing costs, tuition, weddings, bar mitzvahs, or even just the basic day-to-day expenses like food and clothing. When someone doesn't have the money available to cover these costs, it can become a source of great stress. Fortunately for us, Hashem is fully aware of every expense we face, and He is the One in charge of covering them. If He deems it best for us to afford these costs through our own income, He will send the money in the way He sees fit. And if He decides that we must rely on others for help, we must believe that this too is what's best for us. The key is to recognize that whatever happens, it's Hashem orchestrating it for our benefit. Sometimes, people must live in less-than-ideal conditions for a while. But when Hashem determines it's time for a change, He opens new doors. He can give someone a bigger home or a better location—without them even needing to figure out how to make it happen. A rabbi shared a personal story. Every summer, he works away from home at two jobs—leading a minyan and running a day camp. Each year, beginning in January, he starts searching for a rental near his summer responsibilities. In previous years, he and his family lived in small, distant basement apartments—sometimes more than a 30-minute drive away. One year, he split the cost of a house rental with his brother in the ideal location. That summer, every morning, an elderly woman walked past their rental home as she exercised. The rabbi's daughter, waiting for her camp bus, would always greet the woman with a polite "hello." Later that summer, the woman told the rabbi she was planning to move to Florida and would be selling her house right up the block. She said she wasn't interested in maximizing profit—she just wanted a nice family to live in it. And because of the way his daughter greeted her every day, she wanted to offer it to them first. She promised to reach out again when she was ready to sell. A few months later, she called the rabbi and told him she had freshly painted the home, renovated two bathrooms, and even installed a brand-new roof. She was ready for them to come see it. The rabbi and his wife came to visit. After showing them around, the woman asked what they could afford. They offered less than half the market value—and she gladly accepted. In the end, they purchased the home with a down payment of just $57,000. The woman was genuinely happy to help them. It was clear this was all from Hashem. When He decided it was time for the rabbi and his growing family to have their own home, He placed it right in their hands. Another man told me that he had once been very successful financially, but fell on hard times last year. This year, with many large expenses looming, he had no idea how he was going to pay for them. His business was not generating the necessary income, and the pressure was building. Then, one day, a check arrived in the mail—completely out of the blue. It was from the government, with an explanation that it was a refund for tax overpayments made over the past ten years. The amount? $250,000—the exact sum he needed to cover his upcoming expenses. And after all his bills were paid, and life returned to normal, his business was still underperforming. Then he received yet another unexpected check—this time for over $9,000—from an old investment he had long forgotten about. Hashem has infinite ways to provide. As it says in the Torah: " ואכלת ושבעת וברכת את ה' אלוקיך על הארץ הטובה אשר נתן לך " Hashem provides for us fully—so we may eat, be satisfied, and bless Him for it. We must internalize this truth: Hashem knows every single one of our expenses, and He will help us pay for them in the way that is best for us. Whether through work, through people, or through seemingly miraculous events, Hashem is always the One covering the cost.…

Living Emunah By Rabbi David Ashear

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With Perfect Faith

18 days ago

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On our quest to acquire perfect emunah and think correctly, we want to purify our minds with the right hashkafa according to the Torah. The pasuk in parashat Ekev warns, if a person becomes well-to-do, he will forget about Hashem, saying, it is my might and strength that made me this wealth. The Saba from Kelm points out, the Torah does not say, maybe he will say this, because the nature of a person is to automatically think that way. It is only with proper training that we can uproot this thought process. If we see a successful businessman, what are our thoughts about his wealth? Do we think about what appear to be the immediate causes that brought him his wealth, like the product he sells or the stocks he bought? Or do we think that Hashem wanted him to be wealthy and He gave him his wealth? If we see an army successful in battle, do we think about their great strategies and war tactics? Or do we attribute their success to HaKadosh Baruch Hu? This is one way in which we could test our level of emunah, seeing if our initial thoughts have adapted to the way that Hashem wants us to think. The Gemara says in Masechet Berachot that Rav Huna had four hundred barrels of wine that soured, and when the Rabbis heard about it, they immediately told him to check into his deeds. Rav Huna asked the Rabbis why they suspected him of doing something wrong, and they replied, because without a question it was Hashem who made the wine sour, and it was a kapara for something that the Rabbi did wrong. Rav Huna looked into his deeds and indeed discovered his error in a different business dealing, and right after he made teshuvah , the issue of the wine went away. The baalei mussar point out from here, usually the way it works is when someone experiences some type of misfortune like this, he thinks about all the different natural causes of why the wine may have spoiled, but Chazal are teaching us with their pure emunah that the natural causes don't matter. Everything that takes place is because of Hashem. If we fix what Hashem wants us to fix, then the issue goes away. The Apta Rav used to say, the way of the world is when someone makes a certain hishtadlut and it doesn't work out the way he hoped, he thinks, “If only I would have done things differently, then I might have gotten what I wanted.” If the person said something he wishes he didn't say, he would think, “If only I would have said something else, then I would have gotten what I wanted.” Both of those reactions are incorrect. The outcome that took place was exactly the outcome that Hashem wanted to take place. And if the outcome could have been different because of different words or a different hishtadlut , then Hashem would have put those thoughts in the person's brain at the time he was making the hishtadlut . It is extremely difficult for someone to put in a lot of effort into something and then believe that the result had nothing to do with his efforts. But this is the way Hashem wants us to think, because this is the absolute truth. This is the way He runs the world. Even if someone says, “I did it and Hashem helped me do it,” that is tarnished emunah. אין עוד מלבדו , there is nothing other than Hashem. He doesn't need our help. He wants us to put in our efforts for various reasons. One of them is to test us in this very area, to see if we'll believe it was Him, even though we had to put in the effort. The more we train ourselves to think this way, the better we'll get at it. And b’ezrat Hashem, we will train ourselves to the point where our initial thoughts are with pure emunah.…

Living Emunah By Rabbi David Ashear

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Achenu Kol Beit Yisrael – Feeling the Pain of Our Brothers

19 days ago