Emuna

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 

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.

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.

Since the dawn of history, even the great tzaddikim had near breakdowns of emuna. Moses couldn't understand why the evil had great lives while the righteous were suffering. King David had difficulty in grasping why the wicked succeed when the upright have so many setbacks. So many good people limp along while the crooks ride in Cadillacs…

Sometimes, a person looks around and simply cannot find a single friend, ally or anyone else to depend on. Yet, that's really a blessing in disguise. Alone, with no friend or allie and on the verge of certain death, King David had no one to turn to but the Almighty, his Rock and Redeemer.

Imagine that a stranger knocks on your front door. You look through the peephole to see who it is, and before you know – without your permission – he walks right through the door as if it were thin air. Right away you understand that this is no human. It's an angel. He identifies himself: the head debt-collection angel from the Heavenly bank and he looks serious. Here's how to avoid situations like this... 

Imagine that a stranger knocks on your front door. You look through the peephole to see who it is, and before you know – without your permission – he walks right through the door as if it were thin air. Right away you understand that this is no human. It's an angel. He identifies himself: the head debt-collection angel from the Heavenly bank and he looks serious. Here's how to avoid situations like this... 

Imagine that 40 Nakba special-ops Hamas terrorists are occupying your home. You are locked in the house bomb-shelter and they know it. Explosions, screaming, shouting in Arabic, a raging battle outside - and you are living this nightmare. Hear the first-hand story of Racheli Fricker, who miraculously survived the Be'eri massacre of Simchat Torah, October 7, 2023. See how the merit of charity, Sabbath observance and building the synagogue at Be'eri all stood as a protective force for Racheli and her family.

Emuna is not at all blind faith. It's about actively choosing to trust in God and rely on Him, even when things don't make sense. It's like having a friend who always has your back, no matter what. So, next time you're feeling lost or overwhelmed, let emuna be your guide. It's your GPS...

Don't let society tell you that the important things in life are the curves in your figure or your six-pack abs. Health is important, but a healthy body is not everything. Most horses are much healthier than we are and stronger too. So what makes us any better than a horse?

In the face of peril, King David yearns to be constantly closer to Hashem. He delights in the thought of the Holy Temple and foresees the future of his offspring. He sees that his descendent, the Prophet Daniel, will be facing identical dangers that he faced. King David not only prays for Daniel, but for each of us as well.

Did you ever stop and ponder Hashem's magnificent creation of Planet Earth, with all its wonders like the Northern Lights, the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls and much more? That vast Planet Earth of ours is only a miniscule part of the solar system, and only one-millionth the size of the sun. Yet, our entire solar system is like a grain of sand within the Milky Way Galaxy, which in turn is like a fleck of dust within the vast super-galaxies that extend beyond our imagination. Now stop and think: Hashem momentarily turns aside from His entire vast universe to create a rain drop, make a flower blossom and help a newborn chick hatch out of the egg. Imagine what He does to perfectly direct every tiny facet of our lives in mind-boggling Divine Providence. Why? Because He loves you so very much, more than you can ever imagine.