Emuna Beams

I don't know how to express my concern for my beloved country that is now the victim of unprecedented intramural hate and discord, so I invented Old Charlie. He's the type of leader we need, especially now.

A Ukrainian villager had a pain in his hand. Three visits to the country doctor didn't help at all. He finally traveled to the big city and scheduled an appointment with the big professor... This is an old Chassidic parable that explains Tisha B'av and exile.

Neither the biggest tzaddik, the most eloquent of speakers, nor the greatest poet can describe his perception of Hashem. It's so individual and so very lofty that it remains in the mind's eye…

The Jewish People's turbulent history is one continuous story of Divine Direction. It transcends all logic, military and otherwise. It's beyond nature to the extent that experts in military history and strategy understand everything but Jewish history. That's exactly what Hashem's personal Divine Direction is, constantly defying nature and logic.

The concluding lesson of the "7 Beggars" introduces us to the beggar with no hands, who reveals the deep secrets behind the "Tikkun Klali" and tikkun olam, the final rectification of the world.

We live in a world that is not short of guides. Politicians tell us how society should be run. Clergymen tell us how to live. Wellness experts tell us how to feel. And yet so many of them struggle privately with the very things they teach. Isaac is different. What Isaac gives, he gives from a life fully lived. And he’s still going. He practices every word he preaches, every single day. Let's meet him...

Nothing upsets those who strengthen their emuna in Divine Direction. A situation might be physically painful or stressful for them, but they won't feel negative emotions.

"Anyone who believes that all of life's events are the result of Hashem's Divine Direction brings compassion from the Upper World down to this world." If the Bat Ayin said it, it's a signed check we can all trust. Prayer to Mitigate Suffering, based on the Bat Ayin famous quotation: "Master of the World, I firmly believe that my difficulties, troubles, and challenges—especially the one I am facing right now—are from You and are a result of Your precise Divine Direction that never makes mistakes, for You are perfect. Although I may not understand why I am suffering this hardship, I wholeheartedly believe that You love me and are giving me this challenge for my highest good. Please, Father in Heaven, as I willingly accept this tribulation, kindly also accept my prayer for ___________________ (fill in the blank with whatever you wish to ask for). May Your Holy Name be blessed forever and ever, amen."  

The hunchback beggar introduces the concept of "the little that holds a lot." A group claimed they had this attribute. But really, the hunchback was the only one, for he knew how to reach the great tree…

After having learned about Divine Direction in finding a soulmate, we now learn about Divine Direction in making a living. The two subjects logically follow one another, especially since our sages say that both are as difficult as splitting the Red Sea...

The notorious Three Weeks are here again. We thought that the catastrophe of Shabbat Shmini Atzeret, October 7, 2023, would unite us. For a few months, it did. But now, with the smell of elections on the way and the cheap populism of many politicians, intramural hatred between right and left / religious and non-religious has resurfaced like ragweed in an uncultivated field...

The beggar with the seemingly crooked neck actually had a beautiful neck and a magical voice. He could imitate any sound in the world. Only he could bring the two separated rare birds back together…

After learning the general concept of Divine Direction in our three previous lessons, we're now ready to examine how it influences various areas of our lives, especially shidduchim (marital matchmaking).

The beggar who stutters returns to bless the young couple on the third day of the wedding festivities week and tells them the story of how the world is able to exist every day…

This lesson asks a basic question that truth-seekers ask when learning about this vital concept. If Hashem, in His Divine Direction, determines everything, then what's left for our free will?

Hashem loves you – always – much more than you love yourself. His love is the best thing in the world, for it's love with no strings attached. This is an important part of emuna: believing in Hashem means believing that He loves you unconditionally. That's the type of emuna that will always give you happiness and peace of mind.

The deaf beggar returns on the second day of the wedding festivities week to bless the young couple and tells them the story of the gardener and all about the country of vast wealth...

The highest level of emuna is unshakable emuna in Divine Direction. The highest level of emuna in Divine Direction is the equal and loving acceptance of the good and the seemingly bad, just as Joseph ultimately discovered…

The blind beggar returns to bless the young couple on the first day of the wedding festivities week and tells them the story of the 9 sages, where the youngest is actually the oldest. No one understands until the Great Eagle arrives with the interpretation.

Rabbi Yisroel Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760) was the saintly and pious miracle worker who founded the Chassidic movement. He revolutionized Jewish thought and taught that every creation functioned according to the Almighty's personal Divine Direction. In other words, the Almighty personally directs every event of the universe.

99% of movies, TV and Modern Society will tell you that its much better to be a macho than a meek person. We all know what Macho's are like – tough guys on the surface, a lot of bravado and all-too-often tyrannical. Girls ooh and ahh at the Macho, but the ones who marry one end up miserable...

The king's greatest wish was to crown his son during his lifetime. However, the king saw in the stars that his son would eventually lose his reign. Still, he told his son to stay happy no matter what...

Super Bowl 2026 tickets sold for an average of $8000. Tickets for the Mundial (World Cup Soccer) Finals in 2025, where Chelsea defeated Paris, ranged from $ 11,000 to $32,000! No one would pay these prices to see only one team on the field. The loftier the goal, the stiffer the opposition, but the greater the reward...

After reviewing the first three parts, we see in part 4 how a poor, righteous convert with every possible social disadvantage becomes the matriarch of kings and the Messianic Dynasty. Ruth teaches that we all have the potential for greatness.

We complete Rebbe Nachman's intriguing tale of the crippled son. This is a parable of how Moshiach will overcome and eradicate evil. But first, we all must learn to water the trees…

If you've ever heard of Rebbe Nachman of Breslev, you've likely heard of hitbodedut, or secluded personal prayer. It sounds like a wonderful idea, but where does one begin? This lesson shows how you can have a private audience with the Almighty and pour your heart out to Him, anywhere, anytime.

Nothing in Hollywood can match the suspense in Chapter 3 of the Book of Ruth. In case you've just joined our 4-part lesson, don't worry. We begin with a review of Chapters One and Two. This eye-opening lesson elaborates on a number of significant topics, such as Moshiach, shidduchim, the Laws of Conversion, levirate marriage, charity and the laws pertaining to the Land of Israel.

The Zohar teaches that where there is a lack of compassion, stern judgment takes over and spills the blood of Moshiach. When the Israelites entered the Land of Israel after 210 years of slavery in Egypt and another forty years of wandering in the desert, they were preoccupied with establishing their own estates. They forgot about compassion, one of Torah's principal requirements of them. Ruth's mission on earth was to bring Chesed, or compassion, back to Israel, and with it to bring Moshiach. Therefore, Ruth is not only the great-grandmother of Moshiach but the key to the rectification of the entire world.

The holy elder and his family settled in a spiritual battleground, where forces of holiness and evil clash. He draws a circle around them to protect them. The demon king accuses them of trespassing and arrives with his demon army to harm them. The wise man remains fearless, unafraid of this terrifying confrontation…

A person with strong emuna can virtually override natural laws through prayer. This is the language of emuna that equals prophecy and can even shape reality. The Torah is full of examples, as we are about to see.

Learning the Book of Ruth is a superb preparation for the imminent coming of Moshiach. The monumental example of Ruth and her lineage show us the extreme efforts that the Almighty makes in order bring Moshiach. The forces of evil do everything in their power to prevent Moshiach's arrival. Today's lesson introduces us to the Book of Ruth and its background and covers Chapter One.

The crippled son, now healed, goes to the Land of the Two Thousand Mountains and discovers a demon trapped inside a cloud. This demon reveals the secret of watering the trees, which all the demons are trying to prevent.

The more we believe in the Almighty, the easier it becomes to develop a personal relationship with Him. As that relationship grows, our emuna also strengthens. It's a beautiful upward cycle…

Why have so many good and upright people died recently, both as a result of the Iran war and from tragedies like drowning and road accidents that weren’t at all related to the war?