Emuna Beams

Retuning

Imagine the tragedy of throwing away a rare vintage acoustical guitar simply because it's out of tune. Even more tragic is disposing of a soulmate because the relationship is out of tune. Here's a time-tested way to return the harmony to a marriage. And, if there never was a harmonious relationship, we learn here how to build one.

The Sea Cucumber

Sea Cucumbers are invertebrates from the echinoderm family, like starfish and sea urchins. They look like a fat aquatic caterpillar. Found mainly in the Far East, they live on the ocean floor. Although many humans consider them a delicacy, they are bottom-feeding scavengers who eat anything, especially waste materials. Their 10-12" bodies are tubular, with a hole on one side for eating and a hole on the opposite side for excreting. Let's ask ourselves: what makes a human any better than a sea cucumber?

Clarifying the Truth

What do we do when we're not sure what path to take? Whose advice do we seek? Here's a simple but very cogent way to clarify the truth in our minds.

Every Cherished Minute

One of the prime ways that outstanding achievers became great was through their utilization of time. To fulfill our maximum potential, we must cherish every single minute in life. Time is one commodity that's irreplaceable...

The Tongue Trigger

If the mouth is a gun, then the tongue is the trigger. Not only is it the trigger, but it's the hand that pulls the trigger. What's worse is that the tongue can misfire. When it does, it's every bit as dangerous as a loaded pistol.

Heal Yourself

Suffering severe abdominal pain, Rabbi Shalom of Shatz made a rare visit to a physician. Before the examination, the Rabbi asked the doctor to diagnose the source of the pain. "Doctor, I simply need you to tell me which internal organ is not functioning properly. I don't need any treatments or medication." Today, we learn his age-old secret to self-healing.

Moshiach, When?

The more world events become apocalyptic, the more people begin talking about Moshiach. From time to time, we hear voices that claim to know when Moshiach is coming. Is it possible to really know when Moshiach will arrive? Let's get some answers. 
Did you know that belief in Moshiach is a main foundation of our faith? Read all about it in 13 Principles of Emuna.

Dirty Old Men

The old wagon-master was lamenting the broken-down inn that no longer stood, while bitter-sweetly reminiscing about what he used to do there in his youth, but can no longer do in his old age. What was Rebbe Nachman conveying in this seemingly lewd parable?

Midnight Breeze

Rebbe Nachman of Breslev lauds the virtue of personal prayer, especially at night and away from the beaten path. He writes that when a person speaks to the Creator in his or her own words, all of creation joins in. I took my flute at midnight to a hill in Judea where King David used to pray. A melody came into my head that I never heard before. I could feel that the midnight breeze was singing with me. It was sweet, calming and innocent. Allow me to share this poignant experience with. Here's the melody, and you're welcome to download the mp3 free of charge.

The Bond of Abundance

A realtor can work 200 hours and show 60 houses in a month and not sell a single one. On the other hand, his colleague works part-time as a realtor for an hour or two every evening. The colleague's wife was having a baby so he couldn't work much that month. His evenings were devoted to caring for his children. He showed one house that month and sold it. The commission he earned was sufficient for the entire month. Spiritually, what's going on?

Educating Our Children: Parshas Bo

In two words, the Torah tells a parent how to educate and raise emotionally-healthy children. The converse of these same two words shows what a parent should avoid doing.

5-Minute Warmup for Walking

Walking is the king of exercises for all ages. For walking to safest and most beneficial, we need a proper warmup. Warmups are not only vital for strenuous workouts like sprinting or weightlifting. Without a warmup, muscles are cold, tight and prone to strains, pains and pulls. So, for your walk to be healthy and pleasurable, follow this 5-minute, 5-step stretching warmup.