The Ben Ish Chai tells a story about two Jewish merchants from Turkey who were aboard a ship in the Mediterranean. A terrible storm hit the ship at sea and wrecked it. The ship's crew scrambled to the life boats, but the two Jews were left behind; this poignant story helps us in our preparation for Passover, and for life.
Hashem is so fantastic! Just yesterday, I posted a full-length shiur about the importance of fulfilling the mitzvoth of the Land of Israel, especially with Tu B'Shvat a week from Thursday. After the shiur, I had this gnawing feeling at my heart. As a lover of the Land of Israel and a tree-fruit farmer who has planted hundreds, maybe thousands of trees all over Israel, I can't begin to explain the importance of planting fruit trees in settling our holy homeland. You see, a high-tech professional can work from his desktop or labtop anywhere, but a tree farmer has his hands, heart and entire life here in the Land of Israel. In fact, when you partner with a Torah-observant tree-fruit farmer in Israel, you also partner in the mitzoth of orlah, neta reva'i, trumah, maaser, shemittah and yishuv ha'aretz, settling the Land of Israel.
With amazing Divine Providence, my good friends at IsraelTrees.org, a branch of Zo Artzeinu, contacted me this morning and asked if I'd like to offer people the opportunity to plant fruit trees in the Land of Israel. They had to be kidding! Of course! Right now, farmers in Israel begin planting now for the upcoming Shmitta; you can share in this fantastic mitzva and in the blessing that goes along with it. But I made a deal with them - if anyone comes to them from my recommendation, they have to double the plantings. I don't care how they do it, but they agreed - a deal's a deal, and everyone's a winner. Here's your chance for a really meaningful Tu B'Shvat. When you order the trees, fill in the Promo Code box, "Lazer", and you'll get double the trees to your credit. Hashem says, "I will ordain My Blessing for you" (Leviticus 25:21); double the planting, double the Blessing!
Emuna Beams is delighted to host one of the world's foremost experts on the mitzvoth of the Land of Israel, Rabbi Moshe Bunim Mintz shlit'a, head of the Halichot Ha'aretz rabbinical seminary in Israel. In the course of the lesson, which we hope will be the first of a series, we also learn the importance of living in the Land of Israel. The lesson is in Hebrew, with English translation by Rabbi Lazer Brody. 38 minutes.
For those who had difficulty downloading the mp4 video of Yisgadal V'Yiskadash, here is a much lighter file of the vocal only. Click the link below the audio player, and you be directed to our emunabeams.com site where thanks to our loyal donors, you can get a free download. This is a vital message about Aliya and sanctifying Hashem's Name, so there's big rewards in sharing this with as many people as possible. Hope to see you soon in Israel, with Moshiach and our rebuilt Holy Temple, amen!
Fitness trainers have an expression: “Get it right!” Any exercise, from simple breathing to the most complex routine, must be done in the best possible form to ensure optimal performance, gain and benefit to the body. Just as doing exercise is a workout for the body, doing mitzvas is a workout for the soul, making the soul strong and healthy. In that respect, good spiritual form is important for fulfilling a mitzva, so when it comes to observing the Torah, we have to "get it right" too.
Thanks to our esteemed donors, you are welcome to download the mp3 of this shiur free of charge to listen anywhere on your own device and to share with whomever you like.
How would you like to have an adequate income of all the money you need whenever you need it? Today's podcast is a signed check from our sages; take 3 minutes to hear about it, and G-d willing, you too will have a plentiful income.
Thanks to our wonderful donors, may Hashem bless them, you can download your free mp3 of this podcast here.
Nicknames, especially hurtful ones, are dangerous. Our names are by far one of our most important assets and determine so much in our lives, as we learn today:
For your free download of the above mp3, thanks to our wonderful donors may Hashem bless them, click here. Feel free to share it with whomever you like.
How do I repay a person who taught me how to light Shabbat candles or to put on tefillin? A million dollars? A billion dollars? That doesn't come close to compensate for even one time of lighting Shabbat candles or putting on tefillin. There's a big difference between paying back a material favor and paying back a spiritual favor. Enjoy today's 3-minute podcast and have a lovely Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan:
Click here to get your free mp3 download of the above podcast and share it with whomever you like.