Emuna Beams

Sweet Cleaning

Today's podcast shows how to convert one of the most dreaded tasks of the year into something sweet and enjoyable that we can do with a song in our heart. If you guessed that we're talking about cleaning for Passover, you're right…

Merit of the Patriarchs: Likutei Moharan, Torah 55, Part 5

How do we overcome evil when all the odds are against us? Rebbe Nachman teaches us all about the cogent spiritual weapons at our disposal, especially prayer and the merit of our holy patriarchs.

The Story of Passover: Part 1, Slavery in Egypt

Welcome to our 4-part series on the story of Passover. This series of lessons aspires to give us a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Passover holiday. The more the story of Passover becomes alive in our hearts, the more meaningful our observance and celebration of the holiday, especially Seder night. Our first lesson presents the series of events that led up to Passover, and specifically, how the Israelites became slaves in Egypt.

Meek or Macho?

99% of movies, TV and Modern Society will tell you that its much better to be a macho than a meek person. We all know what Macho's are like – tough guys on the surface, a lot of bravado and all-too-often tyrannical. Girls ooh and ahh at the Macho, but the ones who marry one end up miserable...

The Megilla of Geula: The Purim Story

Megilat Esther, the Scroll of Esther that tells the Purim story, seems like a rapid series of events that happened within a year. Actually, though, the Purim story transpires the events of 13 years. It begins when Achashverosh ascended to the throne of Persia in 3392 (369 BCE) to the time when the Jews overcame their enemies and celebrated the first Purim in 3405 (356 BCE). So too, the decades of significant events that lead to the full redemption of our people, will also come together to form the Megilla of Geula...

The Toothpick Test

Here's an important Purim-week lesson and practical message about Jewish unity. "The Toothpick Test" is something that anyone can do, especially at the family Purim table. We cordially invite Prime Minister Netanyahu and opposition leaders Gantz and Lapid to join us in this test.

3 Voices: Likutei Moharan I: Torah 55, Part 4

In prayer, we must direct our voices exclusively toward the Almighty. When we do, we correct three different voices that mislead us down errant paths. Such directed prayer has the power of a ritual sacrifice in the Holy Temple...
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Every Breath I Take: Psalms 148-150

Today's lesson concludes the Book of Psalms. How do we know when body and soul are in healthy synchronization? With every breath a person takes, he or she revitalizes the body. The soul praises Hashem with every breath…

Purim and the Politically Incorrect

Mordechai wasn't politically correct, but he saved the Jewish People from annihilation. There's nothing new under the sun. We see this with our own eyes how the battle between the liberal Jewish establishment's political correctness and the seemingly antiquated Torah sages that took place in Mordechai's time back in ancient Persia is still taking place right now in the USA and in Israel.
 

The Miser and the Vow

The Miser wanted to rid himself of his wife in the worst way. He couldn't divorce her, because then, he'd have to pay her a large sum of money. He asked the local rabbi what to do...

Anything but Whiskey!

Here's a delightful parable I heard from the renown Novardoker Maggid, Rabbi Yankel'e Galinski, of saintly and blessed memory, about a group of drunkards. This is something to keep in mind not only while preparing for Purim and Passover, but all year long.

Holy Dust: Likutei Moharan, Torah 55, Part 3

Abraham compared himself to dust and ashes. This was not mere humility, but advice to his offspring until the end of time.