Emuna Beams

A Week with Hashem

Hashem is always with us, wherever we are. But there's a chance - once a year during Succoth - to be with Him. What's the difference? It's tremendously different when Hashem is with us in our domain than when we're with Him in His domain...

First to Forgive

Forgiveness brings up some sticky questions: "How can I forgive someone who’s done me wrong when part of me doesn’t want to forgive?" When you don't forgive, the wound of whatever damage someone did to you festers, and turns into negativity that ruins your day, or even your life. Don't go there, for your own benefit...

The Best Day of the Year

The thought of Yom Kippur doesn't usually bring joy to people's hearts. Why? They see it as a day of torture, deprived of drinking, eating and fun. They're right. It is a day of torture, for the evil inclination...

Express Checkout

The mere idea of Yom Kippur is enough to raise the anxiety level of many people; that's because no one ever explained to them how Yom Kippur is the happiest day in the Jewish calendar. For real? Hear this.

The Call of the Shofar

The call of the shofar is the hallmark of the most important events in Jewish history, from our ancient past to the future. Happy is the nation that knows the call of the shofar. Today's lesson explains the significance of blowing the shofar on Rosh Hashana. We also see a dramatic repeat of ancient history unravelling this very day.

Guarding our Emuna: Likutei Moharan I:35, Part 3

Once a person attains more emuna, he or she must be careful. They have succeeded in learning more Torah or purified the way they conduct their business affairs or both. Now, they have more Divine illumination. Just as ants in the kitchen are attracted to sugary substances, the dark-side forces will try to attach themselves to, feed off of and hijack our emuna. We therefore must guard our emuna like the royal guard in Buckingham Palace guards the Hope Diamond.

The Desert Owl: Psalms 100-102

In my old army days, I was on a lone navigational maneuver at night deep in the Negev Desert. No one was around. I suddenly heart a scream in the night, like a young person in dire distress. It was unnerving, to say the least. Then I saw the rustling in the branches of a lone acacia tree not far away…

One Crucial Choice

Imagine that during Rosh Hashanah of last year, an angel world would suddenly appear and reveal everything that would happen this year. What would you do if you had advanced knowledge of the Hamas onslaught on Simchat Torah, the hostages and the impending war?

Renewing the Brain: Likutei Moharan, Torah 35, Part 2

It's not enough to guard our brains from so-called intellectual disciplines that are outside the realm of holiness. We must renew our intellect constantly. Rebbe Nachman shows us how.

A New Song: Psalms 96-99

Imagine the age of Moshiach and the Holy Temple. After He subdues Amalek and triumphs over Gog and Magog, Hashem will no longer hide His countenance. In the presence of His power and majesty, all the earth will be singing a new song.

Rucking: The Dream Exercise

Rucking is the dream exercise that combines both cardio and resistance training. People of any age can ruck. It even appeals to people who don't like exercising. Just take a walk on your favorite riverside or wooded path with a weighted rucksack on your back. Here's more about this great activity:

Etz Chaim: The Tree of Life

We recite the "Etz Chaim" prayer after reading the Torah portion, when we return the Torah scroll to the ark. I love trees and the imagery that our Torah is a tree of life. Before I became a rabbi, I was a tree-fruit farmer. Even the symbol of my old IDF unit is a very famous Israeli oak tree that overlooks the Sea of Galilee. With that in mind, I composed this melody, which I hope you will find soothing and inspiring. In this recording, I am playing the native-Israel flutes. Yosef Karduner and Guy Tzvi Mintz are playing guitars and singing. Enjoy this.