Emuna Beams

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.

99% of movies, TV and Modern Society will tell you that its much better to be a macho than a meek person. We all know what Macho's are like – tough guys on the surface, a lot of bravado and all-too-often tyrannical. Girls ooh and ahh at the Macho, but the ones who marry one end up miserable...

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...