Emuna Beams

King David spoke from the soul. As the Almighty's anointed, his soul contained the sparks of all of our souls. His exquisite words are the protocols of his intimate discourse with the Almighty. These words illuminated his soul in the darkness that he faced his entire life. Therefore, when we say them too, they also glow and illuminate our souls in the midst of today's darkness that stands between us and happiness.
The Book of Psalms in Spoken English is now available online at Amazon in 3 distinct formats: hardcover, paperback and ebook. Let King David's glowing words brighten your soul. The feeling is somewhere between exquisite and sublime, somewhere lofty in the realm of inspiration where everything glows.

After reviewing Part 1, we continue with Rebbe Nachman's classic tale, which hints at the painful, seemingly endless exile of the Divine Presence. Even more painful are the frustrating efforts of the true Messiah to reveal himself. He too must suffer exile and tribulations. This is poignant portrait of dedication shows the national characteristics that will surely hasten Moshiach.

Some of history's most brilliant minds have misconstrued the concept of "One perfect, infinite and inseparable whole…perfectly unified." We are talking about the very core of monotheism. The principle of Divine Unity is therefore universal, not just Jewish. The reason that great minds and intellectuals so frequently fail to understand the notion of Divine Unity is because it defies intellect. Emuna in general and the principle of Divine Unity in particular only begin where intellect leaves off...

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In one of Rebbe Nachman's most cryptic allegories, he encapsulates the historical cycle of exile and redemption. This is a beautiful portrait of dedication, simplicity and purity, the national characteristics that hasten Moshiach.

Ein Od Milvado - there is no one but Him. Hashem is everything. We need not look anywhere else for anything we need in material or spiritual abundance and salvation. For anyone who yearns for inner peace, Hashem is your one-stop shopping address. Today's lesson teaches us the first of the 13 Principles of Emuna.

After we review parts 1 and 2, we see the completion of the dramatic turnaround. The Simple One becomes a wise and successful national leader who rises to the pinnacle of success. The Clever One falls into ignominy and finds himself neck-deep in the evil-angel's swamp...

Why bother learning emuna? Why bother searching for truth at all? What difference does either make? Modern society says, "Let me enjoy my life and don't bother me with the details." The problem with that type of attitude is that a life oriented toward appetite – fulfillment and material enjoyment - never attains what it seeks, let alone lasting happiness and fulfillment.

Guide for the perplexed: Rabbi Lazer Brody explains why Israel had no other alternative than making an immediate preemptive strike against Iran, its military infrastructure and its nuclear facilities. This is a current-events report with an emuna orientation.

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

An inherent law in creation is that the Creator lowers the haughty to ground-level zero but uplifts the humble above the clouds. No one should ever disdain another human being, for often, there's a turnaround, as Rebbe Nachman shows us in Part 2 of "The Clever One and the Simple One."

Rebbe Nachman's classic tale inspired me to compose this melody. Not only is this my favorite story, but the "Simple One" is my favorite character. It's the story of the underdog. Wherever he goes, people are smarter, stronger and more talented than he is. He's the brunt of endless ridicule and disparagement. He has one major virtue - simple emuna. Rebbe Nachman shows us where that takes him. See the lyrics below in English and in Hebrew.
Credits:
Guitar, arrangement: Guy Tzvi Mintz
Violin: Daniel Ahaviel
Melody, Lyric, native Israeli flutes: Rabbi Lazer Brody
English
I’ll tell you a story from old, about a simple person with a plain mind. Despite that fact that people ridiculed him, by virtue of his innocence and integrity, he became the Viceroy of the kingdom.
People call me simpleton
But that just suits me fine
I don’t look at other folks
I’m happy with what’s mine
So what if they have a high IQ
And I’m not very smart
They complain all the time
But I’m happy with my part.
 
Everyone makes fun of me
But I really do not care
It’s better to be a simple guy
Than some high-brow debonair.
 
עברית
אספר לכם סיפור מימים ימימה, על איש תם עם שיכל פשוט. למרות שכולם לעגו לו, בסופו של דבר, בזכות תמימותו וישרותו, נהיה משנה למלך.
זה מעשה שלו
וזה מעשה שלי
למה לנו לסתכל
ולדבר על אחרים
אז מה אם כולם חכמים
ואני תמים לרוב
הם תמיד מתלוננים
ולי תמיד טוב...
 
כל העולם צוחק עלי
בלב כה רם
אך טוב יותר להיות תמים
ולא להיות חכם! 
 
החכם אוכל אומצת בקר
ואני אוכל פרוסה
הוא רודף תענוגים
ולי אין שום תאוה
הוא אף פעם לא מרוצה
ולי יש הסתפקות
החכם תמיד מדוכא
אך אני תמיד מבסוט!
 
כל העולם צוחק עלי
בלב כה רם
אך טוב יותר להיות תמים
ולא להיות חכם!