Emuna Beams

The Book of Esther is a living blueprint: the Purim story—unfolding over 13 years—reveals patterns that mirror today’s geopolitics and upheavals, showing how Hashem’s hidden hand directs history. Using parallels between Ahashverosh and modern leaders, and the choices of Mordecai and Esther, the episode emphasizes teshuva, faith, and how apparent threats can become redemptive when people repent and trust God. The lesson also reviews Purim customs (fasting, reading the Megillah, feasting, gifts and charity) and the holiday’s core message that no decree is irreversible and divine providence remains constant.

Rabbi Nachman teaches the “Pasture Pastoral,” a concise exploration of Likutey Moharan (Torah 63, with links to Torah 11) revealing the secret of Perek Shira: every level of creation and every pasture has its own niggun (melody) that sings to Hashem. Using shepherd imagery, flute music, and the Land of Israel, he shows how these melodies uplift the soul and unite human prayer with the natural world. Clear and practical, the lesson explains why music and place matter in prayer, how food and fields carry sparks of holiness, and how each person is a shepherd responsible for tending and correcting their part of creation.

Gravity and natural ability are very similar. Both are strong limiting forces. But pull us down. Yet, we can overcome by applying a sustained upward force that is greater than their downward pull…

The closest distance between two points is a straight line. In spirituality, straightness means simplicity and honest innocence. The two traits, which are really one, makes a person beautiful. They also create the closest distance between the person and the Creator. They're also he key to happiness...

So what if we made a mistake? Rebbe Nachman promises us that all we have to do is to declare a new beginning, and start all over with enhanced faith and enthusiasm. Even a turkey can make a new beginning…

Astrology is certainly real. A person has reason to fear an unfavorable horoscope. The good news is that those who cling to emuna uplift themselves above the influence of the stars. There, pain and affliction no longer exist...

Did you ever wonder how a little 105-pound Korean Karate specialist can break a whole stack of bricks? We can utilize his same technique to obliterate any obstacles that stand in the way of our goal, but we won't need a fist...

Rebbe Akiva was born with every disadvantage. He was the son of a poor convert. Until age 40, he was an illiterate migrant worker. Yet, he became the the greatest of sages and surpassed the monumental greats of his generation. How did such an underdog become the father of the Oral Torah?

How can an upright person become a common thief? The slightest compromise with the evil inclination is a tiny breach that will soon grow wider…

Don't let anyone in the world discourage you from pursuing your goal. Putting your own dreams and aspirations aside while bending to the will of others is a formula for frustration and bitterness. People-pleasers are never happy, nor do they rise above mediocrity…

A beautiful story in the Gemara tells of a young man who valiantly saved a lass from drowning in a well. This story teaches that breaking a promise is a severe transgression of Torah that triggers extreme difficulties in life. These difficulties frequently manifest themselves in a measure-for-measure manner. That way, a person with spiritual awareness can recognize what he or she did wrong and atone accordingly.

The digger had every reason to be deeply disappointed. Nevertheless, he maintained the smile on his face at all costs. Hashem then gave him a real reason to smile. Rebbe Nachman's lesson about happiness…

In our formative years, different people stuck all types of labels on us. Even worse, they stuck the labels on a bottle and put us inside. As children, we subconsciously thought that our parents, teachers, and peers knew what they were talking about. They most likely did not. The acute problem is that most people spend their lives stuck inside that same bottle. It's time to break out...

Rebbe Nachman reveals the template of Jewish history in this allegorical tale of treachery and innocence. In every generation our enemies rise up against us, but the Holy One rescues us from their hands...

The Creator has already packed our backpacks for us. He has given us the tools we each need for our journey in life and to reach our individual destinations. Our job is to become acquainted with those tools, refine and cultivate them, and utilize them properly.

Menachem Herman and I got together for an evening of song and inspiration in Netanya last night. As a soul correction of our past, we've taken quite a few melodies and uplifted them with an emuna slant and lyrics. This is one of our favorites, which we originally did in 2008, when the UN and Obama were threatening to split Jerusalem: Sweet Home Jerusalem Based on the original song "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1974 Guitar, adaptation by Menachem Herman Lyrics by Rabbi Lazer Brody Eagles' wings keep on flying Carry me home to see The King Singing songs about my City Jerusalem you're in my dreams And I'm gonna sing, yes Well I heard the UN talk about her But a Jewish boy won't drink this brew Uncle Sam please remember, that "Jerusalem, won't be split in two!" Sweet Home, Sweet Jerusalem Where the skies are so blue Sweet Home, Sweet Jerusalem L-rd I'm coming home to you We're all waiting for Moshiach You can bet he's coming soon We'll all be dancing in Jerusalem And we'll all be singing the same tune Now that's the truth Sweet Home, Sweet Jerusalem Where the skies are so blue Sweet Home, Sweet Jerusalem L-rd I'm coming home to you The wise men of the Holy City They've been known to pick a song or two They help my soul when I'm hurting They give me joy when I'm feeling blue Now how about you? Sweet Home, Sweet Jerusalem Where the skies are so blue Sweet Home, Sweet Jerusalem L-rd I'm coming home to you Sweet Home, Sweet Jerusalem Where the skies are so blue Sweet Home, Sweet Jerusalem L-rd I'm coming home to you

To keep the fish in our aquarium happy and healthy, we must follow specific guidelines, otherwise the fish will suffer. Are we any less important that the fish?

Rebbe Nachman’s classic short fable tells about a simple yet greedy villager who didn't believe in the forces of the dark side. These demons, the evil-spirit agents of the Evil Inclination, decided to have some fun with him...

Don't be afraid to ask yourself some serious questions in life that most people avoid. This is a necessary step in finding ourselves, choosing the right goal and living a life of fulfillment and gratification.

I love trees and the imagery that our Torah is a tree of life. Before I became a rabbi, I was a tree-fruit farmer. I've planted hundreds ( maybe thousands) of trees all across Israel, from the Golan to the Negev. With that in mind, Hashem gave me this melody, which I hope you'll catch on to quickly. Menachem Herman made this lively arrangement, and is playing guitars and singing. Well-known Jewish music producer Jeff Horvitch is on the keyboards. Yours truly is playing the native-Israel flutes. Enjoy this (lyrics below, in translation, transliteration and original Hebrew): Translation: She is a tree of life to those who hold on to her, and happy are those who uphold her (Proverbs 3:18). Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace (Proverbs 3:17). Bring us back to You, Hashem, and we shall return; renew our days as of old (Lamentations 5:21). Transliteration (to sing along): Etz chaim he, lamachazikim ba, vetomcheha me'ushar; deracheha darkei no'am, vechol netivoteha shalom. Hashivenu A'donai elecha venashuva; chadesh yameinu k'kedem.