Our sages all through the Gemara juxtapose Jerusalem and Rome – when one succeeds, the other fails; when one rises, the other falls. This is the same battle between faith and fate, and it's the secret of Rosh Hashanah, when the outcome of our entire coming year is determined, as we see in the current events that manifest themselves, such as Coronavirus.

Here is a dream deal for you, underwritten by the Baal Haturim, the Chid'a, the Chofetz Chaim and all the sages of the Gemara. I challenge anyone to try and beat this deal, that guarantees the best blessings at a tremendously discounted price. This is no gimmick, but the "real deal." 

Today's podcast is not only enjoyable and inspiring, but it gets quite a bit done in 6 minutes, as follows: 1. Takes the confusion out of our task in Elul; 2. Provides simple but effective preparation for Rosh Hashanah; 3. Guarantees good health and adequate income. Who can refuse such a deal? Not only does it not cost you a cent, but you may download this mp3 and share it with as many people as you like, courtesy of Emuna Beams and our wonderful supporters who, with Hashem's loving help, make this happen.

This old Jewish parable helps us prepare for a wonderful New Year, with advice that's good for all of us, no matter who we are.

Many of us want to change, yet we expect it to happen automatically, with no effort on our part. Life doesn't work that way. An old Hebrew expression says, "Even a journey of a thousand kilometers begins with a first step." What does that have to do with Moshiach, Geula? Do we really want them, or do we want to continue with exile, Diaspora and fasting on Tisha B'av?

It's not easy to swim against the current, especially social currents, but the only type of fish that do so are kosher fish...

Here's a delightful parable I heard from the renown Novardoker Maggid, Rabbi Yankel'e Galinski, of saintly and blessed memory, about a group of drunkards. This is something to keep in mind not only while preparing for Shavuot, but all year long.

Today's podcast, in addition to helping us put life's challenges in proper perspective, helps us prepare for Lag B'Omer and invokes Divine blessings for you and your loved ones...

Rebbe Nachman of Breslev says that if you believe you can ruin something, then believe that you can rectify it. This is not just a pleasant expression, but a signed promise in the Torah. The second chance we all get is a much more effective way to beautify and overhaul ourselves than plastic surgery, and a whole lot cheaper...

During the Omer, Rebbe Akiva's 24,000 students died because they didn't properly respect one another. We still mourn them, almost 2,000 later, because we haven't yet corrected their sin. We're all still guilty of intramural hate. Do you know why? We haven't yet learned the lesson of the Four Sons on Seder night. Let me explain, with an amazing story from sixty years ago, about my father, of blessed memory...