TRANSFORM YOUR EMUNAH!

291 - Simcha (Part-4)

As we've discussed, one who lives with sincere emunah and reliance on Hashem will be happy, calm, serene, because they're not anxious about the curveballs that life throws at them, because I know that Hashem is in control of every single most tiny detail in my life, and Hashem is bigger and stronger than any curveball. So besides fulfilling our reason for being alive, as many Torah commentaries discuss, the main way to earn our Olam Haba, our reward in the next world, practicing and growing in our emunah and bitachon, there are many Torah sources that highlight that when one lives with emunah and bitachon, that will lead to happiness. 
When one is anxious, unhappy, much of the time that could be due to the fact that I'm not sincerely relying on Hashem, that He is taking care of me, because if I know I have His insurance through any and every situation, it would certainly make me feel a lot calmer through all of life's tests. Being unhappy when we're able to be happy is a sin to the point that the Torah actually mentions numerous curses that could befall the Jewish people, and the Torah says that the reason these curses could befall the Jewish people is because we did not serve Hashem with happiness. We may have performed all of the mitzvos in the most perfect way; we may have learned Torah; we may have davened and even succeeded and excelled in our personal relationship with Hashem through personal prayer; but if we serve Hashem without enthusiasm, happiness and joy, the Torah warns that numerous very serious and severe curses could befall us just because of our lack of simcha, of joy, of happiness. 
Why is it so important to serve Hashem with simcha? Maybe today we just don't feel the happiness, but at least we're performing everything in the way that Hashem said. It is absolutely vital to perform the mitzvos in exactly the way that Hashem prescribed, because if that's what He said, it must be that is the best way to connect. However, we need to remind ourselves that the Torah specifically highlights curses that could befall us even if we do everything right on paper. But if we're missing the ingredient of joy and happiness in our service to Hashem, we are missing one of the main components of serving Hashem, and that is because our purpose in this world, as mentioned many times by many Torah commentaries, is ultimately to express our belief, our emunah in Hashem. And by being calm and relaxed, that is a result of our true reliance on Hashem, because if we know that He is in absolute control, we will be the happiest people in the world.

290 - Simcha (Part-3)

The most important question that we can ask ourselves, why do I exist? Why am I alive? We've discussed the Torah's viewpoint to this question, is Hashem created us only to give to us, and ultimately that reward we will receive in the next world, we're in this world just to earn our place in the next world, and ultimately our most potent method of earning the next world is by practicing and building our Emunah and Bitachon. Although our ultimate purpose of being alive is exclusively to have Emunah and Bitachon, nevertheless, as we've discussed, an amazing fringe benefit, even in this world, of living a life of sincere Emunah and Bittachon, is that one lives with happiness, with serenity and calm. 
The reason for that is because when we feel that the destiny to our lives belongs in our own hands, that feeling can potentially lead to tremendous anxiety, because if it's all up to me, I've got to be super careful that I don't mess up, and if I do make a mistake, maybe everything is going to go downhill going forward. Whereas, when one is able to acknowledge and accept that everything in my life is personally orchestrated by Hashem to the most minor detail, one is able to live with serenity and calm because I know that the all-powerful Master of the universe is personally orchestrating my life and only does what is good for me. 
Therefore, when one lives with Emunah and Bitachon, automatically one feels a tremendous sense of serenity, of peace, of calm, of happiness, because my happiness is now not related to circumstance. There can be many challenging circumstances that one may have to face, but my happiness is not based on my circumstances. Even if I am experiencing challenges, my feeling of calm comes from the fact that I know I am in the safest place that can possibly be. The verse in Tehillim compares our reliance on Hashem to the reliance a young baby who is still nursing has on its mother. A young baby who experiences any form of stress, maybe it's cold, it's hungry, as soon as the baby begins to feed from its mother, it automatically feels a tremendous sense of calm because the baby knows that this is its safest place in the world. The mother is always the one who has been there for the baby to sustain it and feed it and give it everything it needs. 
The Vilna Gaon based on this verse in Tehillim compares this to the Jewish people's Emunah that we have for Hashem. Just like a baby who relies on its mother feels a tremendous sense of peace, calm and tranquility, so too when we rely on Hashem, we feel happy, calm, peaceful, but not to the same extent that a baby feels towards its mother, a billion times stronger. Because as loving as a mother is, a mother is a human being and limited. Even though she may have the most well-meaning heart, nevertheless, she is still limited by her human limitations, whereas Hashem is completely unlimited, independent of anything and everything else. When we choose to rely on Hashem, we will live a life of happiness, calm and serenity.

289 - Simcha (Part-2)

We've spoken about the fact that when one practices emunah and bitachon and makes this the central focal point of their life, making every effort to grow and grow in our emunah and our bitachon, besides the fact that we're fulfilling our life's mission in being created, as the Ramban and many others say, the only reason that we were created, to have emunah and bitachon. Besides for fulfilling our life's mission, emunah and bitachon leads to a life of bliss, a life of happiness. As recounted by many Torah sources, one who is living by the values of emunah and bitachon will live a happy life, an anxious free life, a life full of serenity.
Now, a person may say, well, that's very nice, but I'm not there. I have many downtimes in my life. Does that mean emunah and bitachon is not for me, perhaps? And the answer is, God forbid. Our life's work is not to succeed in emunah and bitachon and everything that that comes with. Our life's work is to make an effort to try our best to succeed and excel in emunah and bitachon. We do not determine the results in any area of our lives, including how successful we will be in our emunah and our bitachon. But what we do have the capacity to do is to make our maximum effort to grow each day, each moment. 
So if I'm not a hundred percent happy in my life, but I'm growing, and a certain situation that could have triggered me to be 10 out of 10 anxious or 10 out of 10 angry, and now because of my efforts in striving to grow in my emunah, learning about emunah, trying to seek inspiration about emunah and bitachon, and today that same situation presents itself and I'm only anxious 9 out of 10. Still very anxious or still very angry, but only 9 out of 10. This is one of the greatest success stories that there can be. It's not about achieving what people usually see as success. It's about growing each moment. So again, our effort needs to be to grow in emunah and bitachon, which ultimately leads to simcha, to happiness. 
I once came across a fantastic analogy from Rav Shalom Arush that explains this concept beautifully. He said there was a child in a certain family who was absolutely adamant that he had to be the driver of the car, and every time they would get in the car he would go to the driver's seat and they'd have to move him out, and every time they'd move him out he'd scream and shout. So what they did one day, they installed a fake steering wheel in the passenger seat, and this child was placed in the passenger seat, and as they were driving he was steering his wheel thinking that he was driving the car. We all understand that the child was actually doing nothing. The adult in the driver's seat is driving the car. 
In the same way, when we feel that we're the boss of our own lives, when we feel that we're orchestrating and navigating the details to our own lives, that is one of the greatest causes for anxiety, for lack of serenity, for lack of peace, because there are so many dangers, so much evil, so many things that could catch us out, people, situations, and therefore sometimes we act like that little child, as if we're steering the wheel, and sometimes we have momentary fake happiness, thinking, oh wow, look how well I'm steering the wheel of life, look how well I'm running my life. However, when we realize that we're not actually driving the car, or when we have an accident, and then it really hits us how we had no control, all that happiness fades away, and one realizes it wasn't true happiness. 
When one lets go to the real driver and acknowledges and internalizes everything in my life from A to Z is orchestrated exclusively by Hashem, I may have a mitzvah to make efforts, but my efforts do not affect the way the car drives, the way my life will navigate. It is exclusively, only up to Hashem. When I live that way, there can be no greater simcha in the world, and that's why the Torah recounts so many times in many Torah sources that one who lives with true emunah will be serene, will be happy, because I know that the most powerful being, Hashem, is exclusively leading my life.

288 - Simcha (Part-1)

If we were to ask many people as to what the purpose of their existence is, why do they live on a moment-to-moment basis? Many people, well-meaning people, but perhaps who haven't learnt the topic and sources from a perspective beyond our own which can be mistaken. Many people would tend to answer that the reason we are alive is to be happy, to seek happiness. And in fact, many people try to find ways throughout their lives to fulfil this need and want to be happy. Now again, we've learnt before that we are privileged to have the view of Hashem, to see from His viewpoint, the view of the Torah, the undistorted, absolute perfect perspective that only Hashem can have as to why we exist. Very briefly, we broke it down into four steps from the Torah sources. Number one, Hashem created us only to give to us. That's the only reason. He had a desire to give to us. He needed a recipient in order to receive that goodness, and therefore He created us.
Number two, we said that goodness truthfully takes place in Olam Haba, in the next world, not in this world. Although sometimes we may have pleasant experiences in this world, ultimately the real true goodness that we are to receive is not due in this world; it's due in Olam Haba, in the next world, which as the Gemara says, our brains cannot even begin to comprehend the level of pleasure and goodness that we are due to receive there, it is so great. Step number three, that being the case, why did Hashem put us in this world at all? We all know that there are many challenges in this world, so why put us here? Just send us straight to the true intended address, to the next world, to bask in Your great light. And we answered that again from the Torah sources, that we're in this world for one purpose, in order to earn the next world. Hashem in His great wisdom understood that if we have the opportunity to earn something and we're successful in that endeavor, our pleasure in the next world will be much greater than if He just gave it to us as a complete gift. 
Step number four, how does one earn the next world on a moment-to-moment basis? What do we do to go about earning the next world in the most efficient way? And as we've discussed many times, the answer is one word, emunah, faith in Hashem. So again, backtracking, although many people believe that the ultimate purpose of their life is to find happiness, we know from a much deeper place, from Hashem's point of view, that the ultimate purpose is actually not necessarily happiness. The ultimate purpose is to practice emunah, bitachon, and everything that that stands for, and ultimately one day bask in Hashem's goodness and there truthfully be happy in Olam Haba. 
However, many, many verses and other Torah sources from other Torah literature, which B'ezrat Hashem, in the future, we will go through more intricately, many Torah sources explain that somebody who has emunah and bitachon, somebody who's living their life according to the values of emunah and bitachon, will be happy, even in Olam Hazeh, even in this world. So again, we're not ultimately seeking happiness if we're serious about being alive and our purpose, but if we're doing what we're supposed to, striving to live and grow by the values of emunah and bitachon, ultimately, not only are we achieving our purpose in this world, but we will also actually achieve happiness. That goal that many people see as the purpose of their life, somebody who lives with emunah and bitachon will be the happiest person to their maximum potential. 
Let's explain this a little bit further. It's fascinating to point out that the Torah recounts many curses that could befall the Jewish people, and the Torah says that ultimately, the reason those curses could befall us is because we did not serve Hashem with simgah, with happiness. How can there be such severe consequences for somebody who's not being happy? Maybe they just don't feel it today. How can the Torah proclaim that many curses will befall the Jewish people? For which sin? For one sin. Because you didn't serve Hashem with simcha. Maybe we fulfilled all the commandments perfectly, but if we didn't do it with simcha, with happiness, we are potentially, chas v'shalom, susceptible to those curses. How can the Torah be so strict with us and require us to be happy? 
And the simple answer is that somebody who's living with sincere emunah and bitachon feels completely calm and relaxed because they know that Hashem is running their life. The most powerful being in the world, who has control and power over anything and everything else, is intimately involved in my life, orchestrating each detail. What great happiness could there be? Sit back, relax, and enjoy, because I'm in the greatest possible hands, hands that cannot fail, hands that are wiser and more powerful than anything and everyone else, and care about me more than I could care about myself. So when we perform the mitzvos and live our life according to the right practices, but we don't do so with simgah, with happiness, in a sense we're ignoring Hashem. We feel like we're doing something, we're in control, and therefore we come to anxiety, we come to a lack of happiness. Whereas when we truly include Hashem in our lives, we will be the happiest people that can possibly be.

287 - Shushan Purim

We know that there are two days that Purim is celebrated. The first of the two is usually referred to as Purim, while the second is usually referred to as Shushan Purim. Whilst most places in the world observe Purim on the first of the two days, Yerushalayim and some other places observe Purim on Shushan Purim. However, it is important to highlight that the Megillah states that the miracles and celebration of Purim was enacted as Yemei Mishteh V'simcha, days of celebration. Meaning to say, that although the main celebration for most of the world applies on the first of the two days, whereas in Yerushalayim it applies on Shushan Purim, however, ultimately, we all have a mitzvah to celebrate and rejoice on both of the two days. Halachically speaking, although one performs the main mitzvos of the day, such as the reading of the Megillah, Mishloach Manot, Matanot L'evyonim and the like, in most of the world only on the first of the two days, and in Yerushalayim on Shushan Purim, however, there is a mitzvah for everyone to increase their festivities on both days by having a meal with meat and wine and the like, and singing songs and words of praise and gratitude to Hashem. 
We've discussed many times what so many Torah commentaries teach us, that our ultimate job in this world is to develop our emunah, our belief in Hashem. And although there are many things that a life of emunah will lead to, as we've been discussing on this daily inspiration, however, ultimately, perhaps the highest form of true emunah is when one reaches a state of complete joy and happiness. Although it is certainly a tremendous accomplishment when one has a difficult time in their life to reach out to Hashem and pray for things to change, and that is certainly a value which an emunah will lead to. However, perhaps even higher than that is when I stop thinking about my own life and needs and I'm just grateful for the fact that I have been chosen to have a personal relationship with Hashem. I have the opportunity every single day to learn Torah, which if we've learned any Torah sources about, one will understand very quickly, is the holiest of the holy. To fulfill Hashem's mitzvos, words cannot describe the tremendous opportunity that we have. And every single moment we have the opportunity to reach out to Hashem in our own words. 
"Thank you Hashem for these tremendous days of Purim that You've given us the opportunity to experience. Days that all the gates of heaven are open, and we are able to reach the highest heights. Please Hashem, help me to take the energy of Purim with me to the rest of the year, to truly be able to internalize what a tremendous gift I have, that I have been chosen to serve You and tap into the holiness of what it means to have a personal relationship with You. Thank You so much, my Father, for the tremendous gift to be able to perform all Your mitzvos. Hashem, there are many things that I can take with me from Purim to the rest of the year, but perhaps one thing that I ask You in particular to help me, is Hashem, I know that the ultimate expression of emunah is to just be happy, because I trust that You will always only do what is best for me. And therefore Hashem, I ask You, please help me to be so grateful for the opportunity to have been chosen to perform this mitzvah, which as we've been taught, is more potent than anything in this world that I can even begin to imagine. Of course, I'm only going to be able to witness that in the next world, because this is the world of emunah, of belief. But help me, Hashem, to internalize that true emunah, that true belief.
And similarly, Hashem, in general in my life, even when I'm not actively performing a mitzvah, please help me to constantly be in a state of true joy and simcha, because if I trust that I am in Your hands, the Creator of the world, the One who has planned my life from beginning to end, already from the time of creation, and who has power over anything and everything, and is watching over every single step. I have so much reason to just sing and dance, even when things do not look rosy in my situation, because I do not live my life by what I see. I know that as the Gemara teaches, this world is an upside-down world. What we see is upside-down to what true reality is. But we are so privileged to have been given the gift of emunah, to trust and believe, that Hashem, everything that You do will always only be for my best."

286 - PURIM!!!

What a tremendous opportunity we have today to be experiencing the holiest day of the year, a time where all the gates of heaven are open. Let us make use of these 24 hours in the most potent way. Let us remind ourselves that Purim is a day that will never cease to exist because this is a day on par with the holiness of the future, a day so holy beyond even Yom Kippur and all the other tremendous festivals that we have in the Jewish calendar.
"Thank you Hashem for the tremendous privilege you've given me to be chosen to perform your mitzvos, so many mitzvos every single day, and in particular right now the tremendous mitzvos of Purim. But not only to perform them with the intricate details exactly as you've prescribed to us in your halacha, but also to do my best to perform them with true enthusiasm and joy and simcha. What a tremendous opportunity I have to be a Jew. Thank you Hashem for the tremendous opportunity to fulfill your mitzvos." 
And the climax of Purim, as we've discussed, is that a person is obligated to get so happy and elated on Purim to the point that we don't know the difference anymore between cursed is Haman and blessed is Mordechai. And a beautiful idea that the Nesivos Shalom brings from the Maharal is that there are three types of relationships. One type is our relationship with Hashem. The second type is our relationship with other people. And the third type is our relationship with ourselves. And on Purim, we are obligated to reach such a state of happiness where we don't know the difference anymore between the cursed is Haman times and the blessed is Mordechai times. 
And as the Nesivos Shalom explains so beautifully, when it comes to our relationship with Hashem, sometimes Hashem sends us beautiful rosy times. Those are the times that are signified by blessed is Mordechai. And at other times, we endure tremendous suffering and hardships. And those times are signified by the cursed is Haman times. On Purim, we reach a state of such happiness and closeness to Hashem that it doesn't matter anymore, Hashem, whether You send me the greatest gifts in the world or the greatest suffering in the world. I love You so much, Hashem, with all my heart, because I know that You created this world just to give to me. And I trust, even when I can't see with my own eyes, that You will only do what is best for me. Thank You so much, Hashem. I love You so much. Thank You for all those times that You gave me all the money I needed. And thank You for all those times that I was so short of money. Thank You, Hashem, for all those amazing times with tremendous health. And thank You for all those times that I suffered from tremendous illness, because although I cannot see why that is good for me, but I trust that You will only do what is best for me. 
And on Purim, we are also obligated to get so Livesumei that we don't know the difference between the blessed is Mordechai times and cursed is Haman times, with regards to our relationship with other people. Some people are in the category of blessed is Mordechai. You're such a good friend; You always do good for me. I love You so much. Whereas some people might be in the category of cursed is Haman. I really don't like You; I have many reasons why I don't feel good feelings towards You. On Purim, we are obligated just to be so happy and friendly to everybody around us, to not know the difference anymore whether someone is truly the closest friend or perhaps an enemy, because I just love everybody. I have a mitzvah of Ahavas Yisrael; I have a mitzvah to love all those around me. I love everybody to the highest degree; everybody is my best friend. 
And thirdly, when it comes to my relationship with myself, there are times of blessed is Mordechai when things are going so well and I'm succeeding spiritually. I woke up today on time, I davened beautifully; I learned Torah; I gave charity; I dressed in a modest way, and I'm truly succeeding spiritually and I feel great at the end of the day that I'm so close to Hashem. And then there are other times of cursed is Haman where I didn't wake up on time; I missed davening; my Torah learning didn't exist today; I didn't dress in an ideal manner, and I might have committed other sins. And on Purim we reach a state of happiness that regardless of what we've done, of course usually if we have transgressed, we make our maximum effort to repent and for going forward, we do our best to only do mitzvos and stay away from aveiros, whilst at the same time on Purim we reach such a state of simcha that regardless of whether I'm feeling inspired and upbeat from how I've been succeeding spiritually, it's not about what I see and experience about myself but rather what I believe Hashem has taught me - that I am His precious child regardless of my actions, regardless of anything. This close relationship with Hashem can never be tainted. 
"Hashem, my dear Father, please help me to internalize Your true perspective that although I am to make my maximum effort to do Your mitzvos and to do my best in the best way, whilst at the same time my personal relationship with You, the relationship of a parent and a child, can never be broken. And on this day, Purim, Hashem, help me to reach the true state of just being b'simcha and singing and dancing for the fact that I have a personal relationship with You and help me to love everyone around me and help me to love myself and Im Yirtzeh Hashem, Hashem, help me to take this energy not only for Purim but throughout the year. Thank you Hashem for the most incredible opportunity to be a Jew. Thank you Hashem for the most incredible opportunity to have the great and holy day of Purim." A Freilige Purim to everyone!

285 - Purim (Part-4)

What a tremendous privilege and opportunity each one of us has, that shortly we will be moving into a spiritual time period of the future. As we've been discussing, Torah commentaries teach that Purim is the holiest day of the year, to the point that all the other festivals will cease to exist in the future, because the holiness of the future will be so great that the holiness of the festivals will be diluted. Whereas Purim will be with us forever, because right now as we are about to move into this holy period of Purim, this is a time period of holiness on par of the holiness of the future. What a tremendous privilege each one of us has.
And as we've been discussing, seeing as our purpose in this world is to practice emunah, specifically belief, whether we understand or not, whether we connect or not, our starting point should always be to make our maximum effort to fulfill Hashem's commandments exactly as prescribed by Halacha. And in addition to that, to make our maximum effort to perform the mitzvos with true simcha and joy, appreciating the fact that we have been chosen to perform the holiest work in the true real world. After having read the Megillah and performing all the mitzvos of the day, Matanot L'evyonim, Mishloach Manot, and the like, we reach the Purim Seudah. And as we are taught by Torah commentaries, the climax of the Purim Seudah is the mitzvah of Livesumei.
We are taught by many Torah sources that to get drunk throughout the year is a tremendous sin because we are always supposed to be in control of ourselves to be able to serve Hashem to the best degree that we can. However, on Purim there is a specific mitzvah, Livesumei Bepuraya, to get drunk in the holiness of Purim itself. It is not the time and place now to discuss the laws of drinking on Purim, but rather we will be discussing now the real message and idea behind what it means Livesumei Bepuraya, and as the Gemara states, to the point that we are so ecstatic that we don't even know the difference anymore between Cursed is Haman and Blessed is Mordechai. What some Torah commentaries explain, Cursed is Haman refers to the times of our lives that are dark, that in a sense we curse them away because we wish they wouldn't have existed because of the pain and suffering, whereas the Blessed is Mordechai times in our lives refers to those happy and joyful times of bright lights and success. 
On Purim we are obligated to reach a state of such closeness to Hashem that we begin to praise Hashem to the point that we cannot distinguish anymore between the times of Blessed is Mordechai and Cursed is Haman, meaning to say, whether things are smooth and happy in our lives, or whether things are the darkest times that we might begin to imagine, on Purim we are aiming to reach such an elated state that it makes no difference to us anymore whether we are experiencing bright times or dark times because we have emunah in Hashem. We trust that Hashem will always do what's best for us and even when times appear to be so dark, so painful, we trust that Hashem would only do that for our best. 
Now throughout the year it is not always easy to remain with this perspective because when things are very difficult and we are undergoing sometimes tremendous forms of suffering, it is a real challenge to remember and remind ourselves that Hashem is truly in control and only created the world just to give to us and would only do what is best for us. But there is a special energy that we are all privy to experience on the holy day of Purim, where combined by the gift of the holiness of the Purim day itself, as well as our own efforts to truly connect with the holiness of Purim, we can reach the state of truly thanking and praising Hashem just for the fact that I am a Jew and I have the privilege to perform your mitzvos and have a personal relationship with Hashem.

284 - Purim (Part-3)

What a privilege we have that very soon each one of us will have the opportunity to tap into the holiness of the day of Purim. And as we learnt, Torah commentaries teach that Purim is the holiest day of the year, to the point that Yom Kippur is called Yom k-purim, a day almost as holy as Purim. And to the point that just like the halacha states by when someone asks us for charity that we are entitled to investigate the matter, however, when it comes to Purim as the halacha states, when one asks for charity, we do not ask questions, but rather give generously. And similarly, when we make requests of Hashem on Purim, the heavenly courts do not ask questions, but rather give generously.
And we learnt further a fascinating midrash which teaches that in the time of the future, all the Jewish holidays will cease to exist, because the holiness of the future will be so great that there will be no need for the holiness of the Jewish festivals. Whereas as the midrash teaches, the only exception to this is the festival of Purim, which as we are taught, will never cease to exist, because right now, today, the holiness that we are able to experience on Purim is on par to the holiness of the time of the future. So seeing as we have this short period of 24 hours of a tremendous holiness beyond imagination, let us make our maximum effort to prepare ourselves in advance, so that when we begin this 24-hour period, b'ezrat Hashem, we can use every moment to its fullest, and reap its maximum benefits.
So what exactly are we to focus on during Purim? Of course, as always, the first thing is to follow Hashem's guidelines as He is prescribed to us by halacha, because again, whether we understand or not, whether we connect and feel inspired by the mitzvos we might be performing or not, I perform Hashem's mitzvos in exactly the way that He has prescribed, with all of the intricate details involved in each of the mitzvos. So step number one to focus on during Purim is to make our maximum effort to fulfill all the mitzvos of the day, exactly as prescribed by halacha, such as the mitzvah of reading the Megillah, Mishloach Manos, Matanos L'evyonim, eating the seudah according to the details prescribed by halacha, and the like. 
Besides actually performing the mitzvos with the intricate details, which again is certainly step number one, we should certainly make our maximum effort during Purim to perform the mitzvos with tremendous simcha, joy and happiness. Many Torah commentaries teach that performing a mitzvah exactly as prescribed by halacha with all its intricate details, but doing so without a feeling of simcha and joy, cannot even begin to be compared to performing that same mitzvah with true simcha and joy. And of course throughout the year, every mitzvah we perform, ideally we should aim to perform with tremendous simcha and joy. 
However, especially when we come to Purim, the holiest day of the year, let us remind ourselves about the Torah passage which deals with the curses that might befall the Jewish people. And the Torah passage states that the reason that might happen is because we did not serve Hashem with simcha, meaning to say, even if we might have performed all of the mitzvos exactly as prescribed by halacha, with all the intricate details, but we forgot the element of simcha, then God forbid we could be susceptible to those terrible curses. And similarly the great and holy Arizal testified about himself that the reason that he reached such great spiritual heights was not due to his Torah learning, fasting, or any other forms of dedication to Hashem, but rather due to his tremendous simcha that he felt whilst performing the mitzvos. 
"Hashem my dear Father, throughout the year I often get distracted by the fast-paced world that we live in, and forget to truly appreciate what a tremendous privilege I have to be a Jew, to be able to be chosen to perform your mitzvos. Please Hashem help me, as we approach Purim, and especially on Purim itself, and B'ezrat Hashem to extend this message to the rest of the year too, to begin to appreciate what it means to be able to perform a mitzvah. Thank you so much Hashem for the mitzvah of mishloach manot. Thank you so much Hashem for giving me the opportunity to fulfill the mitzvah of giving tzedakah. Thank you so much Hashem for giving me the opportunity to say berachos throughout the day; to wash my hands in the morning upon awakening; to learn Torah; to light Shabbos candles; to have the privilege to listen to the megillah; and Hashem I could spend the whole day here thanking you. Hashem please help me that before I perform your beautiful mitzvos, to stop and be mindful of what a tremendous privilege I have. Thank you Hashem for the tremendous opportunity and privilege to be able to fulfill your mitzvos."

283 - Purim (Part-2)

We are all so privileged that in just a few days, B'ezrat Hashem, we will experience the holiest day of the year. As mentioned, the Arizal teaches that although Yom Kippur is ordinarily viewed as the holiest day of the year, and in a sense easy to relate to why that is, however, Yom Kippur in the Torah is referred to as Yom Kippurim - Yom k-purim - it is a day like Purim, meaning to say that although Yom Kippur is tremendously holy, it is almost as holy as Purim, because the holiness of Purim surpasses all other days of the Jewish calendar. 
And similarly we discussed that throughout the year, when one requests charity, we are certainly entitled to investigate where the money is going to and if this is truly a worthy cause. Whereas on Purim, the halacha states that whoever stretches out their arm, we should just give freely, rather than investigating and asking questions. And as the Torah commentaries teach, Hashem abides by this halacha too, meaning to say that throughout the year, when we make requests, many a time the heavenly courts will investigate the matter to determine whether we are truly worthy to receive what we have requested. Whereas on Purim, Hashem too abides by the halacha that states that when one stretches out their hand to ask, we just give without asking questions. What a tremendous privilege we have in this 24-hour period of the holy Purim day, that all the gates of heaven are open, and it is certainly worth our while to try to prepare ourselves in advance for this holy day to make maximum use of this 24-hour dynamite period.
There is a fascinating midrash which teaches that in time to come, all of the Jewish holidays will cease to exist, except for one - Purim. Meaning to say, there will be no more Pesach, no more Shavuot, Sukkot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur. Although each of the Jewish holidays are imbued with tremendous holiness, however when it comes to the tremendous holiness that B'ezrat Hashem we are due to experience when this world terminates and we move to the future, the holiness of the Jewish festivals are considered insignificant in comparison to the tremendous holiness that will be prevalent in the time of the future, and therefore there is no need for them to exist. Whereas when it comes to Purim, as the midrash teaches, the day of Purim will never cease to exist. And again, the reason for that is because although we will be experiencing such tremendous holiness in the time of the future, however the holiness of the day of Purim is on par with the holiness of the time of the future. 
We are so privileged that in just a few days time, B'ezrat Hashem, we are going to experience such a holy day that is on par with the time of the future beyond the holiness of any and all other Jewish festivals that we have. There are many sources that highlight and explain the intense and incredible kedushah that we are able to attain during this 24-hour period of Purim. Suffice it to say that we certainly want to use these 24 hours in the most efficient way. 24 hours that are a true semblance of the next world, completely beyond our world. 
"Hashem my dear Father, in just a few days, B'ezrat Hashem, I will have the privilege to experience the holiest day of the year, a time which is imbued with the same holiness of that of the future. Hashem although this is certainly beyond my understanding, because as we go through Purim, the way You have prescribed, does not always connote feelings as if we are experiencing the holiest day of the year; I might have expected to be saying tehillim, learning Torah all day, fasting and the like. But again Hashem, my job in this world is not to understand, but rather to believe. And as You have taught us via Your many Torah commentaries, that Purim is the holiest day of the year. Please Hashem help me to truly be able to tap into the power of the day and make use of this tremendously powerful 24-hour dynamite period in the most efficient way according to Your Torah guidelines. Thank you Hashem for the tremendous privilege that You have given me to be able to be a Jew, to be able to follow the guidelines of Your Torah which is Your true perspective, the only true perspective, and to be able to experience the holiest day of the year."

282 - Purim (Part-1)

We are so privileged that every single one of us will have the opportunity b'ezrat Hashem in just a few days, to experience the holiest day of the year. A well-known Torah teaching that many Torah commentaries bring down in the name of the Arizal is that although we are accustomed to referring to Yom Kippur as the holiest day of the year, and in a sense it's easy to relate to that fact when we are all trying to be at our top form, repenting, and making our maximum effort to surround ourselves in holiness through our fasting, prayers, and the many other mitzvos of the day, however, when it comes to the day of Purim, the first thought that might come to our minds in connotation of this day is wine, feasting, and the like. However, as the Arizal famously teaches, that in the Torah, Yom Kippur is referred to as Yom Kippurim, which can also be read as Yom k-purim; it is a day like Purim. Meaning to say, Yom Kippur is an extremely holy day - so holy it is that it is almost as holy as Purim. But it does not match the holiness of Purim, because Purim is the holiest day of the year which surpasses every other day of our Jewish calendar. 
Throughout the year when one is approached for charity, especially if it's a significant sum, one is certainly entitled and sometimes encouraged by halacha to investigate if this is a legitimate and worthy cause. When it comes to Purim, however, the halacha dictates that when one stretches out their hand asking for charity, we don't ask questions; we just give. Of course, that does not mean that we are obligated to give millions of dollars to the entire world, but rather the principle that is being taught is that although throughout the year one is entitled to ask questions, on the day of Purim one's attitude should be that of complete generosity, and within one's budget of what one intends to give to charity, one should just give freely to those who are requesting, rather than investigating by asking the person questions to see if this is truly a worthy cause. 
And many Torah commentaries extend the idea behind this law to our relationship with Hashem. Every single one of us is considered like a very poor person standing before Hashem. Throughout the year, when we ask Hashem for things, many a time the heavenly court begins to investigate the matter to see if we are truly worthy. There are many considerations and do we truly deserve what we are requesting. Whereas on Purim, Torah commentaries explain that the heavenly courts do not ask questions whether we are worthy or not, but rather this is the most opportune time to receive what we might be requesting.
Now, of course, this does not mean that whatever we do ask for on Purim we will for sure receive, because there are many considerations beyond our understanding. Sometimes when we ask for something, Hashem knows that in the bigger picture it will be detrimental for us, and therefore the reason He will not give us what we have requested is not because our prayer did not make its way up, but rather because Hashem understands that this will not be good for us. There could be many other considerations, such as if a person is asked for health or wealth and the like, there are many ways to measure what true health or true wealth is. For a person who was supposed to suffer from tremendous illness, if they now after their prayers will be blessed to only experience mild illness, that could certainly be considered healthy in comparison to what was supposed to be. And similarly when it comes to wealth, if a person has requested that Hashem bless them with financial success, there are many levels as to what is considered to be financially wealthy. 
As we've discussed many times, our job in this world is not to understand things, but rather to believe, to have emunah. And what we are being taught here, loud and clear, from many Torah commentaries, is that Purim is a tremendously holy day, to the point that if any time is going to be the opportune time for our prayers to be answered, Purim is the day. What a tremendous privilege each one of us has that in just a few days' time, we will experience the great and holy day of Purim.