Emuna Beams

The Protective Force: Psalms 90-92

Star Wars is nothing compared to the battles that a soul must endure. If people had completely spiritual eyes, they couldn't live long. They'd faint in fright. The atmosphere is full of toxic enemy and lethal forces, both physical and spiritual. The "Protective Force" is our only safeguard.

"Hashem is with Me": Inspirational Talk with the Maglan Commandos of the IDF

The Maglan* commandos of the IDF are one of Israel's most elite units. They're far from the limelight and few people know what these quiet yet powerful heroes do. Rabbi Lazer Brody was their guest yesterday; here is a 6-minute segment of the inspirational talk he delivered there. It's especially timely for the month of Elul. The talk is in Hebrew, with English subtitles.
*Hebrew for "Ibis", a quietly determined bird 

Tasting the Love: Likutei Moharan I:33, Part 4

There are two types of love. One is based bodily-oriented. It's therefore finite like the body and often is as brief as last night's dinner. But the other, which stems from the soul, is a lasting love that also brings a person to inner peace.

Preserving the Fine Wine

Caesar's daughter couldn't understand how the great Rebbe Yehoshua ben Chanania was so scholarly yet so unsightly. He answered with an interesting comparison, as told here (based on the Gemara, Tractate Nedarim 50b)...

Sound of the Shofar: Psalm 89

The sound of the Shofar invokes unfathomable Divine compassion. As such we blow the shofar and Rosh Hashanah. But that's not all. The shofar heralds the arrival of Moshiach and the reestablishment of David's kingdom, our prayer in Psalm 89.

Proper Breathing Technique for Stress Release

Shavua Tov! Everyone knows how to breathe, right? Wrong! See this:

The Wolf and the Lamb: Likutei Moharan I:33, Part 3

With emuna, a person peels away the layers of concealment that block Divine illumination. The more Hashem's presence becomes apparent in the world, the greater the peace in the world. As such, when the whole world learns emuna; even the wolf and the lamb will be able to dwell together in peace.

Reflections of Justice: Psalms 85-88

In our prayer for Redemption, we plead with Hashem to uplift us from the pit of exile. We yearn for our holy homeland. Where the Torah is observed on earth, truth permeates the land. Where there is truth below, justice reflects from above.

The 10 Commandments of Accountability

A lack of responsibility leads to a breakdown of any relationship or society. The backbone of responsibility is accountability. With that in mind, here are the "10 Commandments of Accountability," all firmly grounded in Torah sources. Fulfilling them is crucial for a healthy relationship. 

Torn Soles

Doubters ask how there could possibly be a loving Divine Creator in the world, especially with all the strife and sorrow in the world. Here is our 3-minute answer.

Every Day Happy

Imagine that every gift in life that we take for granted would disappear. How miserable we'd be! Shouldn't we rejoice when we do enjoy all of life's gifts, especially the spiritual ones? Enjoy these empowering 4 minutes.

The Old Brick Oven

Where's the attack from Iran and Hezbolla? Someone, somewhere, did something really special. One good deed of altruism with no fanfare or ulterior motives can potentially save a person, his family, an entire city, or even an entire world. Our acts of compassion invoke measure-for-measure for ourselves, our families and our communities. A shining example from the Talmud is the story of the old brick oven...