Emuna Beams

The Assuta Hospital in Ashdod does fabulous work. They've treated many of our injured soldiers that were injured in Gaza. When Rabbi Tzvi Goodman, the Rabbi of the Bet Chabad at the hospital told me that they lacked Rabbenu Tam tefillin, we took it upon ourselves to provide a brand new, super "mehudar" set. We presented it to them on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024.

Lewd, evil and idolatrous thoughts all come from Fantasy World. This is a domain under the exclusive control of the evil inclination. It shows a person illusions of extreme pleasure which are none other than dark-side spirits to lower the victim to the depths of depression. Here's how to avoid it.

Psalm 107 is the psalm of thanksgiving, especially obligating a person who survives a dangerous situation. The psalm mentions four cycles of peril and deliverance. These constitute the four groups who are particularly required to thank Hashem for rescuing them.

An interviewer once asked me what I most like about Lebanon. I answered: the cedar trees. He asked me what else. I answered: the mosquitoes, between JabJennine and Sultan Yacoub. In 1982, they saved my life. Here's the story. 

The evil inclination with its three layers resembles an almond. On the outside, there's a course shell. Once you break through that, there's a thin husk that clings to the meat of the nut. Yet on the inside, there's a fine biochemical – glycoside – that's dangerous, because the body breaks it down into cyanide. That's a metaphorical insight into the angelic evil inclination that wants us to do premature things that ultimately cause damage. They must be mitigated and purified.

Imagine that a rich man is cruising on his yacht. He's a billionaire with every amenity in life. Yet, he's always complaining. That's the "whine-o", addicted to whining and the biggest ingrate imaginable. On a national level, such behavior is catastrophic…

As a person moves up the ladder of spiritual awareness, his or her evil inclination is no longer down at the level of coarse lust and animal-urge temptation. People on high levels of emuna and observance of Torah rise to a level where their evil inclination is a holy angel. On a very high level, we find lofty type of angel that fought with Jacob. A similar angel pounced on King David, in the episode of BatSheva.

King David reviews the magnificent miracles that Hashem did for the Jewish Nation since the dawn of its history. Psalm 105 is also the certificate of birthright that Hashem grants His chosen people – the deed to the Land of Israel.

There are times when a person suddenly contemplates a desire to get closer to Hashem. At that cherished moment, he becomes an upright individual. Don't ignore such a magnificent gift from Above.

Today's Psalms are a cure for body and soul and especially cogent for healing the sick. A mere superficial look at the beauty of the Almighty's creations is sufficient to gratify the soul. A closer look makes the soul break out in joyous song. Let's take a moment to contemplate Hashem's glory and pay attention to the remarkable favors He does for each of us, just like King David did all day long.