Emuna Beams

One good deed, or mitzva, that one person does for someone else has the power to invoke miracles. This particular good deed, on Highway 34 in the south of Israel, ultimately saved three lives.

Can there ever possibly be peace in the world? Rebbe Nachman answers an emphatic "yes" and shows each of us what we must do.

In Israel, there's no longer anyplace to hide. With missile attacks now reaching every area of the country, everyone is exposed to potential danger. Increasing threats of antisemitic violence overseas means that there's no escaping from the storm of stress and anxiety anywhere in today's world. Yet, there is one place where a person can find quiet within the storm. Open up Psalm 62...

Earlier today, a Hezbollah missile struck a number of civilian vehicles near the northern community of Dovev, near the border with Lebanon. Six of the casualties were Israel Electric Corporation employees who had arrived to repair damaged power lines. Such an attack against civilians would cross any nation's red line. Yet Israel, despite daily threats to Nasrulla and Hezbolla, still acts in restraint. In stark contrast, the narrative of Samuel I:30 is uncanningly similar to today's war. Let's see how King David reacted after consulting with the Almighty. The lesson of Ziklag is the Tanach's definition of deterrence.

Life's challenges are like a thick fog. We often can't discern or understand what's happening and we lack clarity. Most people try to escape the fog. Rebbe Nachman says charge right into it.

Anxiety and even panic often occur when a surprise trouble or challenge hits the unsuspecting victim. Unfortunately, most people are unprepared when life's unpleasant surprises ambush them. Some rise to the occasion, but many others crack under the pressure or fall into despair. We don't want that to happen. In that respect, this lesson is a life-saver, literally.

For the morally bankrupt UN, funneling fuel to Hamas is "humanitarian aid." Freeing orphaned toddlers from the hellish nightmare of captivity in murderer's dungeons is not. Why? The toddlers are Jewish. 

Today's Emuna News analysis discusses how Israel and the IDF now face a terrible dilemma. The prudent course of action would be to tighten the siege around Hamas in the tunnels until there's no more fuel and food. Yet, that can take time. And, with every passing day, world opinion turns against us. That's not all. Our supposed friends called Biden and Blinken are pressuring Israel into doing things against our own best interests. They want us to allow fuel shipments to the Gaza strip in addition to other so-called humanitarian aid that will certainly end up in Hamas hands.
On the other hand, if Israel races time and tries to force Hamas out of the tunnels via conventional combat means, our soldiers could suffer terrible losses. Is this, Heaven forbid, a no-win situation? The answer, as expected, is not a logical one...

The conclusion of Torah 112 is uncanny, timely and prophetic. Rebbe Nachman explains the only way to break free from captivity.

No one on earth, no matter how it might seem otherwise, has a trouble-free life. Therefore, bitachon - the firm trust in the Almighty - is a priceless spiritual asset. A person's level of true bitachon is gauged under fire, when he or she is bombarded with troubles. Trying times put a person's bitachon to the test, as the Torah itself testifies: "In your distress, when all these troubles befall you" (Deuteronomy 4:30). Here's what happens when a person has strong trust in Hashem...

Israel celebrates the heroic and miraculous mission in Gaza that led to the release of captured IDF Pvt. Ori Megiddish last night. The success of the mission is result of the marvelous cooperation bewteen Israel's military and secret services. In addition to the power of unity, we also learn the power of another mitzvah, the challah offering. This was a mitzva that Ori's mother, family and friends performed on the day before the previous Shabbat.

What do you do when life is pitch-black darkness and the pain is unbearable? What happens when there's no apparent reason for hope or the slightest optimism? Have you been trying to escape from the emotional or physical dungeon but it's so dark that you can't find an opening? Rebbe Nachman shows the way out.