Emuna Beams

Emuna and the Noahide

Once we find the harmony within ourselves, we can make the world more harmonious. This newly released book, "Emuna and the Noahide" by Lazer Brody will help us on both counts. Available online here.

Likutei Moharan 2:1 - The Sword of Moshiach

Where does the soul of Moshiach come from? What is the source of Moshiach's power? Will he really be able to triumph over the whole world? How? Today's lesson answers this and other important questions...

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.

One Good Thought

Challenges don't knock people down. Negative thoughts do. With that in mind, today's podcast is an emotional rescue squad. If you're feel worry, depression or anxiety, try this proven ploy.

The King’s in the Pub

A bloke in the back was drinking his beer. One of the patrons in the pub hushed up the party: "The king's in the pub!" His mates thought that he was daft... This is an encouraging parable about life's difficulties.

Likutei Moharan 1:6 - Rogue Wave

The Gemara speaks cryptically about a majestic wave in the ocean with a white fringe of fire at its crest. Rebbe Nachman warns that the wave, which appears to be so beautiful, is none other than a killer rogue wave, the evil inclination in disguise. The white fire at its crest is a lethal dark-side angel. Today, we learn how to fend off the danger.

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.

Emotional Vertigo

A pilot's life depends on his trusting his instrument panel rather than trusting his own logic. For a person to survive emotionally, he or she also must depend on a much more reliable source than their own clouded judgment.

Likutei Moharan 1:5 - Words that Glow

When a person speaks words that shine with charm, they glow in the heart of the listener. That glow makes a deep impression in the listener's heart. Words of prayer that emanate from a soul with with emuna - malchut - attain charm when coupled with the wisdom of Torah - chochma. Together, they glow and make a lasting impression Above.

Noahide Prayer: The Intimate Bond

A Noahide's prayers are not written in any prayer book. They are written on the walls of the Noahide heart.

Etz Chaim: The Tree of Life

On Sabbath Day after the Torah reading, we return the Torah scroll to the ark and sing "Etz Chaim", two moving passages from Proverbs 3:17-18. This is King Solomon's metaphor that the Torah is a Tree of Life. Here is an original melody that came to me during hitbodedut (personal prayer) under the starry sky of one beautiful Sabbath evening here in the south of Israel. This recording features Guy Tzvi Mintz on guitar and vocal with yours truly on Native Israel flutes and background vocal. I hope you enjoy it, for it's a piece of my soul that I'd like to share with you. Feel free to download as you like, courtesy of Emuna Beams.
To enable you to sing along, here are the lyrics, by King Solomon, in Hebrew, English transliteration and English translation.
עֵץ-חַיִּים הִיא, לַמַּחֲזִיקִים בָּהּ;    וְתֹמְכֶיהָ מְאֻשָּׁר
דְּרָכֶיהָ דַרְכֵי-נֹעַם;    וְכָל-נְתִיבוֹתֶיהָ שָׁלוֹם
Etz chaim he, lamachazikim ba; v'tomcheha m'ushar.
Dracheha darchei noam; v'kol netivoteha shalom.
She is a tree of life to those who cling to her; her ways are ways of pleasantry and all her paths are peace.

The Life of a Leaf

This is a parable about our true source of vitality. A leaf thought that the other creatures who had no connection to the tree had a better life than she did. She wanted to be free and to fly in the wind. She decided to sever herself from the tree. Here's what happened: