What’s Emuna?

Here's a one-minute answer to a question everyone asks: what really is emuna?

It’s All Emuna

Filmed in the Shoreshim Outreach Center in Mexico City, this enjoyable 10-minute clip is in both English and Spanish. We learn here about King David's intention when he said, "All Your mitzvoth are emuna."

Why Prayer?

A person might ask that if the Creator alone did, does and will do everything, then why pray? What do we need prayer for? Isn't everything predetermined? So what difference do my prayers make? These are the questions that today's Emuna Hour answers...

The Language of Emuna

If prayer were a commodity on the futures market, it would be the best investment anywhere. What's more, the dividends are phenomenal as we learn in today's inspiring podcast.

Emuna and the Four Sons

The account of the four sons in the Passover Haggadah is like a kaleidoscope where we see many different images. We see how four general types of people relate to emuna. What's more, we learn about four facets that are in each of us. As such, the Passover Seder and the story of the Exodus are as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago.

The Optimalist

It's great to be an optimist, but life is even better for an optimalist; here's the difference:

We Were There

The Seder night is when we tell the story of our Exodus from Egypt. This is one of the Torah's 613 commandments that one can fulfill only once a year on the first night of Passover. The Zohar and the Gemara laud the amazing attributes of this mitzvah. It strengthens emuna and solidifies the family. In addition, it enhances one's inner joy, especially when we tell of the Exodus as if we were there...

Wars of Emuna

Here's a look at current affairs through eyes of emuna. Emuna wins wars, while lack of it loses wars, both for nations and individuals.

Rich Man, Poor Man

The Chassidic Movement began in the Ukraine, founded by the holy Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760). Many of the Chassidic Masters came from the Ukraine, such as the Maggid of Mezeritch, Rebbe Nachman of Breslev, Rebbe Zusha of Annipoli and many more. Both my teacher and I are also Ukrainian Jews. We have a rich past of total dedication to the Almighty and His Torah, even in the face of the most dire persecution throughout the ages. But we have a very rich folklore, with poignant stories that teach us life's true values. This is one I cherish, which shows what true riches are.

A Father’s Caress

Ponder these four important characteristics of a loving parent, as follows:
The loving parent favors his/her child more than anything else in this world.
The loving parent focuses on his/her child's good points.
The loving parent is forgiving.
The loving parent attends to all the necessary needs of his/her child.
How many parents do you know who can objectively and honestly say that they fulfill the above four criteria? We can't possibly know, but one fact we do know. No parent on earth fulfills the above four criteria so completely as our Father in Heaven does. Let's see how:

Beyond the Brain

Logic and intellect see things through physical eyes. Just as physical gravity brings an object down, logic and intellect knock a person down. Their interpretation of events is negative and pessimistic. On the other hand, emuna sees through spiritual eyes. Spiritual gravity lifts one up. Emuna is beyond the brain and beyond the realm of negativity. With emuna, there is truly no despair.

Don’t Fear the Lion

Without emuna, life's tribulations look like a lion about to devour us. No wonder so many people succumb to fear and anxiety.
With emuna, life's tribulations still look like a lion. Yet, the lion is only a costume that our loving Father in Heaven is dressed up in. That changes our outlook completely, as we're about to learn.