Gratitude

Gratitude is one of the most vital - if not the most vital - character trait a person could have. It's the key to happiness and to faith. So much so, that the Almighty personally taught Moses how very profound gratitude is. We see this lesson in this week's Torah portion, Va'era.

Expressing gratitude reveals the light of truth, for gratitude is truth. Going a step further, Rebbe Nachman teaches us that truth perfects our speech. In that respect, gratitude leads to perfect speech.

We all know that when a person encounters danger, his or her heart pounds. One can easily identify physical parameters of the cardiovascular system, such as pulse and blood pressure. But spiritually, what's going on inside the heart and the blood stream? Rebbe Nachman explains…

Rebbe Nachman teaches that a people are capable of uplifting themselves from the pits of depression with no outside help. What's more, they can even taste paradise. We learn today how to bask in the light of the World to Come already in this world. This is a level of happiness that no one can attain by material means. It's attainable too.

Chanukah is a time of gratitude. It's also one of the best opportunities for soul-searching and self-assessment. Sitting by the flickering candles of holiness, we open a window to our souls. Let's look inside and ask ourselves why we're not happy...

Today's podcast is an emotional first-aid treatment. People have a terrible tendency people to blame themselves for things that go wrong in life. Taking responsibility for our actions is productive. Self-blame is not. Here's how to avoid it.

From the pristine beach of Israel's southern Mediterranean coast, Rabbi Lazer provides a basic and effective plan for personal prayer. Nothing is so gratifying as your own personal relationship with the Almighty. Relationships begin with communication...

With Emuna, we know that every tiny amenity that we have in life is a huge blessing. Who can take every little sip of water or every breath of air for granted? These and a myriad of other blessings in life - every moment - are products of Hashem's magnificent Divine Direction. These gifts are customized for each one of us. By simply pondering them, we're immediately happy.

Sea Cucumbers are invertebrates from the echinoderm family, like starfish and sea urchins. They look like a fat aquatic caterpillar. Found mainly in the Far East, they live on the ocean floor. Although many humans consider them a delicacy, they are bottom-feeding scavengers who eat anything, especially waste materials. Their 10-12" bodies are tubular, with a hole on one side for eating and a hole on the opposite side for excreting. Let's ask ourselves: what makes a human any better than a sea cucumber?

"Beholden" is a synonym for "grateful". The Oxford Dictionary defines beholden as, "Owing thanks or having a duty to someone in return for help or a service." The sample sentence the dictionary uses is, "I don't like to be beholden to anybody." An attitude like that in a relationship is devastating, whether it's a relationship with the Almighty or with your spouse. Grateful people are never bitter but bitter people are never grateful.

The Gemara makes a seemingly strange statement: "No one thanked Hashem until our matriarch Leah said, 'This time, I will thank Hashem' (Genesis 29:35)." Adam, Noah and Abraham all thanked Hashem way before Leah did. So what's the Gemara talking about?

The insurance company invites you to contact them for a quote. They don't list the prices of their various cardiac insurance policies because you'd be turned off on the spot. But at any rate, what are you getting for the high price of cardiac insurance? Can anyone insure you a healthy heart?