Emuna Beams

When Moses relayed Hashem's message of "Let My people go" to Pharaoh, the Egyptian monarch snarled back, "Who is Hashem that I should listen to Him? Besides, I've never heard of Hashem before" (Exodus 5:2). With such unprecedented insolence, Pharaoh was begging for punishment. The punishment came quickly. There were ten different plagues. Each one was a precise measure-for-measure response to the suffering that Pharaoh and the Egyptians meted out to the Israelites, as we see in today's lesson.

How did a fierce, proud and independent people like the Israelites fall into slavery in Egypt? Why did they have to suffer unspeakable atrocities? Here, in first of our 3-Part "Story of Passover," we gain a deeper appreciation of the Passover holiday and of true freedom. 

The Passover Seder night is not an evening of reminiscing about what happen to our nation 3,336 years ago. Like everything else that's Divinely inspired, it's timeless. The Haggadah is about us - today - and much more relevant than the daily news. Our future is where our past is; without our past, we can't make sense of the present.

Shortly after midnight, Sunday, April 14, 2024, Iran launched an unprecedented 130 ballistic missiles, 30 cruise missiles and over 200 suicide drones against Israel. Is this the beginning of World War III?

Rebbe Nachman explains that one of two things happens to money: either Hashem takes the money away from the person, or He takes the person away from the money. They don't last together. King David wonders why people invest so much in something that slips through their fingers...

Since the dawn of our history, joy has been our mode of survival. Rebbe Nachman says that the lack of joy in life is the root of all problems, including health. Therefore, to hasten the coming of Moshiach and to be ready for redemption, we must strengthen ourselves in joy. Emuna is the only way to do that...

Is your money kosher for Passover? Is it kosher at all? Kosher money carries a big blessing and goes a long way...

Don't ever be down on yourself. With emuna and teshuva, there's always hope. Every soul has the potential of being a priceless jewel in the Almighty's crown. This is our concluding lesson on Rebbe Nachman's famous teaching of how to navigate life's ups and downs.

King David is preparing us for the imminent day when all the nations join together against Israel. They'll advance toward Jerusalem, but they're in for a big surprise.

The pig has a complaint. Why does everyone give it a bad rap? Why is it the archtype of crudeness and bad character? There are plenty of unkosher animals in the world. Why is the pig singled out for such discrimination? Here's a message to live by...

Life is like a ferris wheel. Don't boast when you're on top of the world, because you'll soon go down. But, don't be upset when you hit rock bottom, for you'll soon go up. Rebbe Nachman shows us the awesome secrets embedded in the ability to serve Hashem during good times and the opposite.

What do you do when you feel low? If you play a musical instrument, grab it! If not, clap your hands and start humming the tune that comes into your head. Plug into your true source of strength - the Almighty – which is unlimited. You'll soon be singing a melody of trust that your soul composed. It worked for King David and it will work for us.