Emuna Beams

Most people dread Yom Kippur. Yet spiritually, the fast greatly benefits the soul and lifts it to sublime joy. See how the fast of Yom Kippur rectifies the unproductive days of our lives and rejuvenates us with blessings of abundance.

The Gemara says the two best days of the year are the 15th of Av and Yom Kippur. The 15th of Av is "Love Day," a special day conducive to finding soulmates. But Yom Kippur? What's so great about a 25-hour fast? It's Soul Day, the day of the year when the soul parties…

For our own sanity, clarity, and peace of mind, we don't focus on the past and its mistakes. Rebbe Nachman says we must not look back if we want to move forward in the right direction…

People who learn the principles of teshuva often become disheartened. Who can meet these stringent criteria? The evil inclination makes penitence seem impossible. But he doesn't tell you about the fast lane…

Would you like to be much more attractive and charismatic? You'll literally have an appealing look on your face and in your smile that no cosmetics in the world can give you...

For our own sanity and survival, we must cling to happiness. Rebbe Nachman says that if you don't feel happy, force yourself, at all costs…

Leprosy as the result of evil speech is no longer a phenomenon in this generation. Yet we see that evil speech is more rampant than ever. So instead of leprosy, Rabbenu Nachman explains, there's arrogance. Arrogance is not merely a character flaw; it is a spiritual disease. How do we cure it?

No one can say they don't have a private place to speak to Hashem. Not only can you speak to Him in the subway or aboard a crowded flight, but you can even scream out to Him in a way that no one will hear…

"It was only a joke!" These are the famous last words of the malicious individuals who laugh and joke at the expense of others. Hashem reads a person's heart and knows exactly what his or her intent was. While exploring Rebbe Nachman's famous tale, "The Humble King," we learn an important lesson about Elul and self-evaluation as we prepare for Rosh Hashanah.

What determines whether life is heaven on earth or a jungle? How do we create a livable environment? It all depends on how we live our lives...

A person desires to get close to Hashem. All of a sudden, he or she sees barriers in life that they never had to deal with before. They often lose hope, as if Hashem is pushing them away. Could that be?

This exciting story is a translation and adaptation of an old Chassidic parable, first told by Rebbe Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev some 250 years ago. Last year, the Melitzer Rebbe shlit'a retold in the original Yiddish at his Shabbat table. Hidden within the parable are the secrets of the shofar, Elul, and Rosh Hashanah.

Nations and the media accuse us of disproportionate responses. Hashem runs the world measure for measure. Could it be that we unjustly accuse Him of the same? Here is an important message for the upcoming month of Elul.

Rebbe Nachman teaches that a person must always remember that he or she is Hashem's beloved child. We can take advantage of this status and speak to Him whenever we like. Such a privilege is the product of His unconditional love for each of us.

Joy is a person's primary remedy in life. We find joy beyond our intellect, in the realm of emuna. There, we discover that Hashem loves each of us unconditionally. His love knows no limits, and there are no boundaries to his compassion, mercy, and loving-kindness.

When it's stormy outside, or under fire when the bombs are falling, in other words, when life is a rocky road, a person learns very quickly who his or her true friends are. That's not the case when you're on top of the world. Then, all the fair-weather friends pop up like mushrooms after the rain...

Rebbe Nachman says that worldly pleasures are like sunbeams in a dark room. They may actually seem solid, but he who tries to grab the dust motes from the sunbeam finds nothing in his hand. The same is true of all worldly desires…

The Almighty gave us eyes, not only for physical eyesight, but to observe and pay attention to what we see.

Neither the biggest tzaddik, the most eloquent of speakers, nor the greatest poet can describe his perception of Hashem. It's so individual and so very lofty that it remains in the mind's eye…

The Jewish People's turbulent history is one continuous story of Divine Direction. It transcends all logic, military and otherwise. It's beyond nature to the extent that experts in military history and strategy understand everything but Jewish history. That's exactly what Hashem's personal Divine Direction is, constantly defying nature and logic.

The concluding lesson of the "7 Beggars" introduces us to the beggar with no hands, who reveals the deep secrets behind the "Tikkun Klali" and tikkun olam, the final rectification of the world.

We live in a world that is not short of guides. Politicians tell us how society should be run. Clergymen tell us how to live. Wellness experts tell us how to feel. And yet so many of them struggle privately with the very things they teach. Isaac is different. What Isaac gives, he gives from a life fully lived. And he's still going. He practices every word he preaches, every single day. Let's meet him...

Nothing upsets those who strengthen their emuna in Divine Direction. A situation might be physically painful or stressful for them, but they won't feel negative emotions.

"Anyone who believes that all of life's events are the result of Hashem's Divine Direction brings compassion from the Upper World down to this world." If the Bat Ayin said it, it's a signed check we can all trust. Prayer to Mitigate Suffering, based on the Bat Ayin famous quotation: "Master of the World, I firmly believe that my difficulties, troubles, and challenges—especially the one I am facing right now—are from You and are a result of Your precise Divine Direction that never makes mistakes, for You are perfect. Although I may not understand why I am suffering this hardship, I wholeheartedly believe that You love me and are giving me this challenge for my highest good. Please, Father in Heaven, as I willingly accept this tribulation, kindly also accept my prayer for ___________________ (fill in the blank with whatever you wish to ask for). May Your Holy Name be blessed forever and ever, amen."  

The hunchback beggar introduces the concept of "the little that holds a lot." A group claimed they had this attribute. But really, the hunchback was the only one, for he knew how to reach the great tree…

After having learned about Divine Direction in finding a soulmate, we now learn about Divine Direction in making a living. The two subjects logically follow one another, especially since our sages say that both are as difficult as splitting the Red Sea...

The notorious Three Weeks are here again. We thought that the catastrophe of Shabbat Shmini Atzeret, October 7, 2023, would unite us. For a few months, it did. But now, with the smell of elections on the way and the cheap populism of many politicians, intramural hatred between right and left / religious and non-religious has resurfaced like ragweed in an uncultivated field...

The beggar with the seemingly crooked neck actually had a beautiful neck and a magical voice. He could imitate any sound in the world. Only he could bring the two separated rare birds back together…

After learning the general concept of Divine Direction in our three previous lessons, we're now ready to examine how it influences various areas of our lives, especially shidduchim (marital matchmaking).

The beggar who stutters returns to bless the young couple on the third day of the wedding festivities week and tells them the story of how the world is able to exist every day…

This lesson asks a basic question that truth-seekers ask when learning about this vital concept. If Hashem, in His Divine Direction, determines everything, then what's left for our free will?

Hashem loves you – always – much more than you love yourself. His love is the best thing in the world, for it's love with no strings attached. This is an important part of emuna: believing in Hashem means believing that He loves you unconditionally. That's the type of emuna that will always give you happiness and peace of mind.

The deaf beggar returns on the second day of the wedding festivities week to bless the young couple and tells them the story of the gardener and all about the country of vast wealth...

The highest level of emuna is unshakable emuna in Divine Direction. The highest level of emuna in Divine Direction is the equal and loving acceptance of the good and the seemingly bad, just as Joseph ultimately discovered…

The blind beggar returns to bless the young couple on the first day of the wedding festivities week and tells them the story of the 9 sages, where the youngest is actually the oldest. No one understands until the Great Eagle arrives with the interpretation.

Rabbi Yisroel Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760) was the saintly and pious miracle worker who founded the Chassidic movement. He revolutionized Jewish thought and taught that every creation functioned according to the Almighty's personal Divine Direction. In other words, the Almighty personally directs every event of the universe.

The king's greatest wish was to crown his son during his lifetime. However, the king saw in the stars that his son would eventually lose his reign. Still, he told his son to stay happy no matter what...

Super Bowl 2026 tickets sold for an average of $8000. Tickets for the Mundial (World Cup Soccer) Finals in 2025, where Chelsea defeated Paris, ranged from $ 11,000 to $32,000! No one would pay these prices to see only one team on the field. The loftier the goal, the stiffer the opposition, but the greater the reward...

After reviewing the first three parts, we see in part 4 how a poor, righteous convert with every possible social disadvantage becomes the matriarch of kings and the Messianic Dynasty. Ruth teaches that we all have the potential for greatness.

We complete Rebbe Nachman's intriguing tale of the crippled son. This is a parable of how Moshiach will overcome and eradicate evil. But first, we all must learn to water the trees…

If you've ever heard of Rebbe Nachman of Breslev, you've likely heard of hitbodedut, or secluded personal prayer. It sounds like a wonderful idea, but where does one begin? This lesson shows how you can have a private audience with the Almighty and pour your heart out to Him, anywhere, anytime.

Nothing in Hollywood can match the suspense in Chapter 3 of the Book of Ruth. In case you've just joined our 4-part lesson, don't worry. We begin with a review of Chapters One and Two. This eye-opening lesson elaborates on a number of significant topics, such as Moshiach, shidduchim, the Laws of Conversion, levirate marriage, charity and the laws pertaining to the Land of Israel.

The Zohar teaches that where there is a lack of compassion, stern judgment takes over and spills the blood of Moshiach. When the Israelites entered the Land of Israel after 210 years of slavery in Egypt and another forty years of wandering in the desert, they were preoccupied with establishing their own estates. They forgot about compassion, one of Torah's principal requirements of them. Ruth's mission on earth was to bring Chesed, or compassion, back to Israel, and with it to bring Moshiach. Therefore, Ruth is not only the great-grandmother of Moshiach but the key to the rectification of the entire world.

The holy elder and his family settled in a spiritual battleground, where forces of holiness and evil clash. He draws a circle around them to protect them. The demon king accuses them of trespassing and arrives with his demon army to harm them. The wise man remains fearless, unafraid of this terrifying confrontation…

A person with strong emuna can virtually override natural laws through prayer. This is the language of emuna that equals prophecy and can even shape reality. The Torah is full of examples, as we are about to see.

Learning the Book of Ruth is a superb preparation for the imminent coming of Moshiach. The monumental example of Ruth and her lineage show us the extreme efforts that the Almighty makes in order bring Moshiach. The forces of evil do everything in their power to prevent Moshiach's arrival. Today's lesson introduces us to the Book of Ruth and its background and covers Chapter One.

The crippled son, now healed, goes to the Land of the Two Thousand Mountains and discovers a demon trapped inside a cloud. This demon reveals the secret of watering the trees, which all the demons are trying to prevent.

The more we believe in the Almighty, the easier it becomes to develop a personal relationship with Him. As that relationship grows, our emuna also strengthens. It's a beautiful upward cycle…

Why have so many good and upright people died recently, both as a result of the Iran war and from tragedies like drowning and road accidents that weren't at all related to the war? 

Once the cripple can walk again, he returns to the domain of evil and recovers the treasure that the robbers stole from him. Rebbe Nachman's amazing tale alludes to the way Moshiach will fight and subdue evil at the end of days...

Since the Creator alone does, does, and will do everything, then why pray? If everything is predetermined, then what difference do my prayers make? Let's get some answers...