Emuna Beams

Since the Creator alone does, does, and will do everything, then why pray? If everything is predetermined, then what difference do my prayers make? Let's get some answers...

In wartime, we all need special protection. Imagine that a person travels the world in search of a solution to his troubles, spends an arm and a leg, and comes home empty-handed. A guardian angel reveals himself and tells the person, "All your problems would evaporate if you only learned to say 'amen' whenever you hear a blessing"...

The crippled son insists on being independent. He sets out on a journey to make a living, only to make a critical mistake that becomes the biggest challenge of his life.  Yet, he neither persecutes himself nor suffers remorse. His perseverance despite the difficulties turns out to be his salvation.

How valuable is a word of prayer? Imagine also that 2-karat diamonds are scattered all over the pavement of a downtown sidewalk. There are so many of these gemstones that people treat them with the same indifference as they would pebbles. This is no exaggeration; it might even be the understatement of the decade...

Today's 10-minute Emuna News analysis offers the key to understanding the current conflict with Iran. Most importantly, we explore the spiritual root of the conflict.

People like me began learning Torah after completing advanced degrees. We are keenly familiar with both sides of the fence, secular and academic education versus Torah education. Let's see objectively which develops more powerful brainpower.

The Seder night is when we tell the story of our Exodus from Egypt. This is one of the Torah's 613 commandments that one can fulfill only once a year on the first night of Passover. The Zohar and the Gemara laud the amazing attributes of this mitzvah. It strengthens emuna and solidifies the family. In addition, it enhances one's inner joy, especially when we tell of the Exodus as if we were there...

The account of the four sons in the Passover Haggadah is like a kaleidoscope where we see many different images. We see how four general types of people relate to emuna. What's more, we learn about four facets that are in each of us. As such, the Passover Seder and the story of the Exodus are as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago.

Passover is our freedom holiday. On Passover night at the Seder, we tell the story of how the Almighty liberated us from slavery in Egypt. Are we free today? Half the world's Jews live under foreign regimes. The other half live in Israel, which is far from independent today, living under dictates and limitations from the White House. What's more, Israel's anti-emuna government and military discriminate against Torah-observant Jews in more ways than one. Is that freedom? If we're not free, then why tell the story of Passover? Let's find out, with this lovely parable that you can tell at your Passover Seder table.

On the eve of the Exodus, it wasn't enough for someone to say, "I have emuna in my heart. I don't need all these rituals." A person like that would have died in Egypt on Passover night. Hashem wanted the Israelites to be proactive in fulfilling His commandments...