A Kosher Foot

The pig has a complaint. Why does everyone give it a bad rap? Why is it the archtype of crudeness and bad character? There are plenty of unkosher animals in the world. Why is the pig singled out for such discrimination? Here's a message to live by...

The Gate of Humility

Humility is a wonderful trait, the opposite of arrogance. One who attains humility saves himself untold grief and circumvents many of evil's ensnarement. The Almighty cherishes every morsel of effort that a person invests in seeking humility, as we learn in today's lesson on the classic book of ethics, "Ways of the Righteous."

The Gate of Arrogance

Arrogance is the first "gate," or chapter, of the classic ethics book "Ways of the Righteous," which we learn in today's lesson. The author addresses this character trait first because it's the root of many additional character flaws. In fact, it's the most damaging of negative character traits. Learning how to avoid it is therefore the foundation of character refinement.

Ways of the Righteous

"The Ways of the Righteous" is one of Judaim's prime guidebooks to character refinement and improvement. We humans have the bodies of mammals but the souls of angels. The more we strive to refine character, the more our souls can channel our bodies in the upright path. This wonderful book teaches how to do just that. Today's lesson introduces us to the art and challenge of improving our character.

Above the Clouds

No one strengthens character from eating chocolate ice-cream. Coping with difficulty is like spiritual resistance training that strengthens one's spirit. Therefore, when the Almighty wants to uplift a person to a higher spiritual level, He first sends them some sort of verbal abuse. Verbal abuse breaks a person's heart. Yet, in striving to overcome a broken heart, a person builds an emotionally-stronger heart. Here's a lesson in spiritual resistance training...

Refining the Gold

Metaphorically, raw gold symbolizes the soul, whose mission on earth is to refine and purify itself from its unrectified blemishes. Extreme heat is not a punishment for the raw gold, but a mode of purification. Extreme tribulations in like manner remove the blemishes from the soul.

Low Clearance

A semitrailer was cruising down Florida Route 887 on the way to the Port of Miami tunnel. The driver saw a warning sign that fifteen feet was the maximum height for entering the tunnel. He was sure that his rig was no higher than 14'6" – he made a big mistake. The truck was actually 15'1"...

Cry Today, Laugh Tomorrow

Our sages tell of a wise old man who sits at a crossroads and warns travelers, "There's a road whose beginning is rocky and its end is smooth, and there's a second road whose beginning is smooth and the end is rocky." The wise man is relating a fact of life that applies both to material and spiritual endeavors, as we learn in the following thought-provoking parable.

My Name is Bailie, not Bilky

Nicknames are dangerous. Our name is by far one of our most important assets and determines so much in our life, as we'll learn today.

The Tools in Your Backpack

A hiker, climber or biker will prepare a backpack with all the tools he or she needs to complete their task and attain their goal. Metaphorically, the backpack is each one of us. The tools are the unique talents, skills and aptitudes that the Creator gives each one of us in order to successfully perform our individual mission on earth. Once we learn this important lesson, we're never again jealous of anyone.

How to Be Yourself

Today's lesson teaches us something that most people never learned - how to be yourself! We learn how to live your own life and not according to anyone else's expectations. We don't have to play other people's games by their rules. Then, we're free to play our own game by our rules, what we know and believe is right. While expressing our true individuality, there's no need to compete with others. Indeed, we to compete with ourselves strive higher. That way, we cultivate our good points to the max and fulfill our personal potential in a way we never dreamed of. Let's learn how:  

At Peace with Yourself

Today on "Emuna Hour", we learn how to be at peace with ourselves. Even more important, we learn how to be our own therapist. It's easier than you think and it's ever so gratifying.