Jewish Holidays

Washing hands in prescribed ritual manner is called netillas yada'im. It seems like an insignificant mitzva, but the exact opposite is true. There is an amazing connection between netillas yada'im and Purim. What's more, this mitzva is very conducive for strengthening emuna and personal holiness. Our sages promise that those who observe this mitzva will never lack an adequate income.

During Chanukah, we recite daily the "Al Hanisim" prayer, which offers our thanks to the Almighty. We say, "And [we thank You] for the miracles, for the redemption, for the mighty deeds, for the saving acts, and for the wonders which You have wrought for our ancestors in those days, at this time." As we learn today, this prayer alludes to the fact that Chanukah was not a lone miracle that happened 2300 years ago. Chanukah is still with us, every generation and every year.

Today's 8-minute podcast is a 4-in-1:
1. It's a preparation for Succoth, telling about the significance of the Four Species;
2. It tells a traditional story, well known to Iraqi Jewry;
3. It's an ethics lesson, and -
4. It has a special message about rescinding the harsh decree of the Corona-virus pandemic.
Enjoy it, and feel free to share and download it at no charge, thanks to our wonderful supporters.

Today's podcast is entitled, "The Last Minute", and it's an emergency message designed to rescue all of us in the last moments before Rosh Hashanah. Many people don't even know where to begin in rectifying themselves. Oftentimes, they fall into despair and just do nothing. There's good news, though. Here's an effective, last-minute way to grab the train of penitence, to be absolved of wrongdoing and to be inscribed in the Book of Life for  a fantastic New Year.

Emuna Hour this week is all about Passover and particularly a preparation for a meaningful Seder Night, showing how the "Festival of Matzoth", as the Torah refers to Passover, is every bit as relevant today as it was 3,331 years ago when Hashem freed us from bondage in Egypt.

Amalek, the arch-evil personification of the Sitra Achra (literally "other side", the antagonist of holiness) in every generation, has one main task - to destroy emuna and everyone who spreads it. 

This week's Emuna News shows how the similar pattern of politics on both sides of the Atlantic is a clear sign of the way Hashem is preparing the world for the new era of Moshiach.

The age-old struggle against Hellenism has been going on ever since the beginning of our history, when Esau became the first assimilationist and nemesis of his brother, our forefather Jacob. If Jacob could defeat Esau's angel, as he did in this week's timely Torah portion, then he can beat Esau. The miracles are still with us; just three days ago, the Iran's sinister top nuclear scientist who devoted his life to eliminating Israel, Heaven forbid, got eliminated himself. And just yesterday, the commander of the Iranian Republican Guards in Syria was terminated too... 

Here is a formula for success on Yom Kippur, success that will influence a person's entire year for the very best –
EMUNA – believe in Yom Kippur's power of atonement and believe that Hashem will forgive you of all your sins
EFFORT – asssess yourself, make teshuva and return to Hashem
EXPECTATIONS – a clean bill of spiritual health: not only forgiveness for all your sins, but purification of the soul which is a magnificent gift from Hashem, with the following 10 benefits:
1) inner peace, 2) happiness, 3) patience, 4) no anger, 5) forgiveness, 6) prayers answered, 7) spiritual awareness, 8) understanding of Torah, 9) no outstanding judgments, 10) no fear
Gmar Chatima Tova and much love from the Land of Emuna, LB

Welcome to Emuna News, where you find out what's really happening in the world. Today's news update and message is, "Avalanche or Birth?" It sounds weird, but it's an exact description of current events right, where we find out the connection between COVID 19, wildfires, BLM and Yom Kippur.

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."