a plowed field

Clouds Of Glory

2009-10-04T11:58:00.004-04:00

On the fifteenth day of the seventh month (Tishrei) when you gather into your silos the year's produce, you shall celebrate the holiday of Hashem for seven days.... In Sukkot (literally, protective tents) you shall reside for seven days... in order that the generations to come shall know that I provided Sukkot for the Bnei Yisroel when I took them out of Egypt. (Vayikra 23:39-43)

Read the article in it's entirety here...

Mar 13:26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.

Aspects Of The Soul

2009-03-07T13:45:00.004-05:00

Map of the Inner Life
"The soul fills the body, as God fills the world. The soul bears the body, as God bears the world. The Soul outlasts the body, as God outlasts the world. The soul is one in the body, as God is one in the body, as God is one in the world. The soul sees and is not seen, as God sees and is not seen. The soul is pure in the body, even as God is pure in the world…"

—Rabbi Simeon Ben Pazi

The inner life that we experience, and the roots of thought that reach down into the darkness of the subconscious, are features of the life of the soul.

ASPECTS OF THE SOUL

Neshama

Neshama is the most elevated and purest aspect of soul and it shines at the deepest core of our being. "In my body he has kindled a lamp from his glory," begins a poem by Moses ibn Ezra, referring to the light of the neshama. In the morning prayers it says "God, the soul [neshama] you have given me is pure".

Ruach

The next dimension of the soul that Mussar identifies is called ruach, that aspect of the soul that is the source of animation and vigor - no more, and no less, than the "spirit of life."

Read more here...

Joy of Emuna

2009-02-01T11:47:00.015-05:00

As it is read in a letter by one of the brothers of Yeshua Rabbeinu,Yaakov haTzaddik (James the righteous), he says ..."Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything".

Various trials are not comfortable and we really wish for smooth sailing day to day. However, as we have just read, James says we are to count it as pure joy!

One of todays contemporary sages, of great respect, R. Shalom Arush writes in his book, The Garden of Emuna, "HaShem doesn't want us to suffer: He wants us to live upright lives and to be happy. Life's difficulties are wake-up calls to initiate soul-searching on two levels, namely, to prod us to seek HaShem and to stimulate tshuva and charracter development. if we were always successful, we would most certainly become smug and arrogant, never seeking HaShem, and never correcting a single character flaw. So, if we had everything, we'd really have nothing".

Here's to having a life of pure joy, L'chaim!

Spiritual Evolution

2009-01-23T20:53:00.008-05:00

Stuart Chesner, Ph.D., a well known psycologist had this to share...

Our kids show us

a lot of ugly behavior that they would not display elsewhere...why?

1. They do it because they know we are the only people in the world who

accept it and won't throw them out on the street for it!

2. They do it because they are unsure if we love them enough and are

testing us.

3.They do it in order to show them a piece of ourselves that we would rather

not acknowledge.

In any long-term relationship, we see each other without make-up, with bad

breath, in foul moods, with diarrhea etc.. How we cope and love within these

moments is the true mettle of our humanity and our commitment. Any idiot

can love a kid who cleans up his room, gets up on time, brings home 100's on

tests and is always respectful. So what? Loving someone like that doesn't

really teach us anything or help us evolve spiritually. Learning to love,

nurture and cultivate the parts of our children and ourselves that are not

so refined and developed is the real pay dirt...That is where our real

spiritual evolution occurs...

Let's take this to heart, I know I will...

painting by Nancy Wait

What?

2008-11-29T16:50:00.000-05:00

What?

You do speak with people? You should ask them: What?

WHAT???

It is right to put this question to people who don't think about their purpose in life:

“What?”

Life is full of needless friction and arguments, distractions, obstacles, complaints, claims and counterclaims... You have many reasons and excuses as to why you are far from God.

Even so, after all this, at the end of everything – what is going to be with you? What will you do at the very end?

What will you answer the One Who sent you?

You surely understand that you are but a stranger on this earth. All the days of the years of our empty vanity are “like a passing shadow and a scattered cloud”.

All this a man knows very well. If so, what do you think? WHAT???

Heed these words carefully and bring them deep inside your heart. Don't throw them behind your back. “Turn them and turn them over and over again” – so that you may gain your soul as your prize.

Sichot Haran #286

Season of Introspection and Repentance

2008-09-27T13:40:00.000-04:00

" Master of all worlds! Not in the merit of our righteousness do we cast our supplications before You, but in the merit of Your abundant mercy. What are we? What is our life? What is our kindness? What is our righteousness? What is our salvation? What is our strength? What is our might? What can we say before You, Lord our God, and the God of our forefathers - are not all the heros like nothing before You, the famous as if they never existed, the wise as if devoid of wisdom and the perceptive as if devoid of intelligence? For most of their deeds are desolate and the days of their lives are empty before You. The preeminence of man over beast is non-existent for all is vain."

These are familiar words to many as we start each day. The point here is, if we are willing to take an honest look inward we will see, we are truly full of vanities!

Once we do see will we be willing to change our minds and consequently, our beliefs, our actions...

An unfortunate reality is, we have been trapped. We have been trapped, here in the West, by our society, by the pure necessity of providing for our families in this present age. There is a way out however, if we are willing to scale down, to live on less, to not chase after the bigger house, the latest model automobile, the latest fashion...These things are nothingness, a distraction from reality. Here is a reality, we have entered this world naked and we will leave it naked.

What will you leave your children? Will you leave them money for a formal education? A formal education is good and could be beneficial, but what about compassion? What about mercy, love, goodness, respect, honesty, meekness, devotion to God? Without these things what will their life truly be like?

" A life fulfilled is a life that seeks The Creator of all things" Let us be willing to look into ourselves and change those things that hinder the journey...

photo Matt
Seattle, WA, United States

Self Control

2008-08-24T21:08:00.000-04:00

A wonderful quote found in the book "Positive Parenting, Developing Your Child's Potential" will be provided here. It is from page 62...

"The physical body is selfish, and in pursuit of it's desires may cause a person to act with lust, greed, envy, and hostility. It is these characteristics that comprise a barrier which prevents the unity between man and G-d.

A person must therefore strive to overcome these physical tendencies, to eliminate the barrier that precludes identifying with G-d, and his neshamah will then, by it's very essence, be attracted to it's Divine source. The scriptures state that the human neshamah is like the flame of a candle (Proverbs 20:27), and our ethicists explain this simile to mean that just as we when we hold a candle near a large flame, the flame of the candle is attracted to the greater flame, so is the neshamah attracted to it's Divine source, and seeks to be absorbed within it, something which could be achived if the barrier between it and the source was eliminated".

We can also see this concept being presented by Yeshua ben Yosef, Rabbeinu, in some of the apostolic writings of the first century, prior to the destruction of the second temple. It takes practice and a determined mind to enter this place...

We can enter it it, if we want...

Hitbodedut

2008-06-30T21:32:00.000-04:00

Rebbe Nachman teaches that the main "weapon" of Mashiach–and of every Jew - is prayer. Every tefilah (prayer), every bracha (blessing), every whispered thanks, every Psalm and every hitbodedut (private, secluded prayer in one's own words) brings the geulah (Redemption) that much nearer.

The intrinsic power of sincere and heartfelt prayer is beyond our comprehension. One of Rebbe Nachman's greatest legacies to us is his teachings on hitbodedut in addition to formal prayer.

What is hitbodedut? Secluded meditation with G-d. During hitbodedut, we speak to G-d, ask Him for whatever we need, confess our wrong-doings and thank Him for all the good that He has done for us.

When we take time out of our busy lives to be alone with our Creator, to pour out our hearts to Him, to ask Him for guidance and forgiveness and share our troubles with Him, we are binding with the Almighty through bringing Him into our daily lives.

This and more can be found here on BreslovWorld...

I would like to add, this applies to every righteous gentile as well who also has a place in the world to come. As human beings, together, we are on the mind of the Maker of Heaven and Earth...

Sfirat haOmer

2008-05-19T06:58:00.000-04:00

As we count down the days to Shavuot aka Feast of Weeks, there are daily meditations of introspection to help us along the way. The entire meditation can be found here at Aish.com.

Here is the theme for the fifth week and then for today the 29th day of the Omer count.

WEEK 5 - HOD - HUMILITY

During the fifth week of counting the Omer, we examine and refine the emotional attribute of Hod or humility. Humility -- and the resulting yielding -- should not be confused with weakness and lack of self-esteem. Hod or humility is modesty -- it is acknowledgment (from the root of the Hebrew word "hoda'ah"). It is saying "thank you" to God. It is clearly recognizing your qualities and strengths and acknowledging that they are not your own; they were given to you by God for a higher purpose than just satisfying your own needs. Humility is modesty; it is recognizing how small you are which allows you to realize how large you can become. And that makes humility so formidable.

A full cup cannot be filled. When you're filled with yourself and your needs, "I and nothing else", there is no room for more. When you "empty" yourself before something greater than yourself, your capacity to receive increases beyond your previously perceived limits. Humility is the key to transcendence; to reach beyond yourself. Only true humility gives you the power of total objectivity. Humility is sensitivity; it is healthy shame out of recognition that you can be better than you are and that you can expect more of yourself. Although humility is silent it is not a void. It is a dynamic expression of life that includes all seven qualities of love, discipline, compassion, endurance, humility, bonding and sovereignty.

Day 29 -- Chesed of Hod: Loving-kindness in Humility

Examine the love in your humility. Healthy humility is not demoralizing; it brings love and joy not fear. Humility that lacks love has to be reexamined for its authenticity. Sometimes humility can be confused with low self-esteem, which would cause it to be unloving. Humility brings love because it gives you the ability to rise above yourself and love another. Does my humility cause me to be more loving and giving? More expansive? Or does it inhibit and constrain me?

Exercise for the day: Before praying with humility and acknowledgment of God, give some charity. It will enhance your prayers.

In the letter to the Romans 8:13: For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Communion

2008-03-20T07:44:00.000-04:00

The only way to return to the roots of one's being and merge in the unity of God is through nullifying the self. One has to efface the self completely until one becomes wholly merged in God's unity. The only way to achieve this state of self-transcendence is through hitbodedut. By secluding oneself and giving voice to one's inner thoughts in the form of personal prayers to God, one is able to remove all negative traits and cravings to the point that one nullifies all materialism in oneself. Then one is able to become merged in the Source.

True hitbodedut is practiced in the depths of night, at an hour when everyone is free from their toil in the material world. During the day people are so busy chasing after the material world that it distracts the spiritual seeker from attaching himself to God. Even if he personally is quite detached from the material world, the mere fact that everyone else is then busy chasing after the vanity of the world makes it very difficult to attain self-transcendence at such a time.

Hitbodedut must also be practiced in a special place outside the city on a "solitary path" (Avot 3:5) in a place where no-one goes. For in a place where in the daytime hours people are busy chasing after the vanity of the world, even though they may not be there at this hour, it is still a distraction from hitbodedut, making it impossible for the spiritual seeker to attain the state of total communion with God.

For this reason it is necessary to go alone at night on a solitary path to a place where no one goes even by day. There one should seclude oneself and empty one's heart and mind of all worldly involvements until one attains the state of true self-transcendence and communion.

This is a step-by-step process. First the person should devote this solitary night-time hitbodedut to talking and praying to God at length until he succeeds in nullifying one negative trait or desire. Next he should devote his hitbodedut to working on nullifying a second trait or desire. He should go on like this night after night in this solitary spot until he nullifies everything.

Even then, something is still left of him, namely some residue of human pride and arrogance. He still considers himself to be something. He must persist with hitbodedut and carry on working hard until he nullifies this too, until nothing whatever is left of him and he is in a state of true self-transcendence. Then, when he attains true nothingness, his soul becomes merged in its root, namely in God.

Rebbe Nachman

Likutey Moharan I, 52

A Testing of Faith

2007-12-12T06:02:00.000-05:00

Have you ever felt wrongly accused or perhaps made to look like an idiot in front of your peers?
This is a test of your emuna, or faith. A normal response, for many, is to defend yourself to make sure the truth is known!
There are times that we must let it go, to accept what is happening because these are instruments of HaShem to strengthen our character.

In the book of James it says in chapter 1 verse 2, My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have it's perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

As we trust that HaShem has us on His mind and is with us, then depression, anger, the need to defend ourselves will flee. So no matter how unbearable things may seem to be we can take comfort in knowing that we are in our Father's total care.
In the midst of our trials we must make tshuva, or repentance. We are here correcting our souls, to become righteous people to glorify HaShem with our lives!

Make TSHUVA! We must love our wives, our children, our fellow man! We must work toward this and the various trials that we endure will help facilitate the development of a righteous soul. Speak to HaShem throughout the day, acknowledge your short comings give thanks for the trials that our loving Father brings your way!

Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Chanukah

2007-12-06T07:45:00.000-05:00

May our emuna be increased this season.

As in any battle, our Father in Heaven, Blessed be His Name, is with us and will direct us. It is according to our own good that he orchestrates the elements in our lives.

May we hear clearly what it is that we are to do in every occasion for the sake of His great Name!

It is no hard matter for many to be shut up in the hands of a few; and with the God of heaven it is all one, to deliver with a great multitude, or a small company: For the victory of battle standeth not in the multitude of an host; but strength cometh from heaven. They come against us in much pride and iniquity to destroy us, and our wives and children, and to spoil us: But we fight for our lives and our Torah laws. Wherefore the LORD himself will overthrow them before our face: and as for you, be ye not afraid of them. (1 Maccabees 3:16-22)

Lonely Road

2007-11-16T07:33:00.000-05:00

Questions, questions...

There are many questions today, within myself, concerning this walk of righteousness. I have been through normative christianity, moved away from that many years ago, and the the misnomer of "messianic Judaism". I say misnomer because within orthodox Judaism the Mashiach is hoped for and waited upon. The Mashiach is a Jewish or Hebrew concept, not christian in origin. Most within the "messianic" movement are non-Jews and maintain a christian bent in their teachings and practice.

I have gone through a sort of "two house" phase and even considered trying to be a noachide. Approaching HaShem from those angles felt as though something was lacking, not quite right. In the midst of all of this I have practiced what would be more closely identified as a form of Judaism. This is observed in our home and out in the workplace etc..

I feel closer to our Father in Heaven as I have lived this way. I have no ulterior motive other than to get closer to HaShem and become more of a righteous person. I have a long way to go in this, but I have great desire for it and am moving that way.

The point here is, this has been a lonely road many times. When you are born a non-Jew, believe that Mashiach has come in the form of ben Yosef (not a christian understanding) and desire the Torah, Israel and the people of Israel with all of your being... it's like looking into the window from the outside many times.

The "wedge" for many is the understanding of HaMashiach. I am at the point where much has been left to HaShem, in my mind. Meaning, there is so much there, the concept is so huge that I do not pretend to know the totality of Mashiach... perhaps our Father will reveal more in His timing. In the mean time, my focus is trying to find what my roll is here on this earth. I was born the man that I am for a reason, I am trying to find that reason and act upon it.

...and so, D'varim or Deuteronomy chapter 6, is the essence of my existence.

May we be pleasing to the God of Israel, the Creator of all things, Blessed be His Name, in this life and in the life to come.

photo by Katherin Erickson

The Time is Short

2007-10-19T07:30:00.000-04:00

With our world, which is so caught up with materialism, in such turmoil we should become "masters of repentance". Here in America we have had several generations of 'keeping up with the Joneses'. Many are consumed with making money, acquiring newer cars, bigger homes, the latest fashion, etc., that we have become oblivious to the world around us.

The Master Yeshua told us this, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; rather lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Do you believe this? You know the truth. How much time did you spend speaking with HaShem today? The time is short and we must make our relationship with our Father in Heaven, Blessed is He, a priority.

How will we even know the needs of our spouse, or those around us if we are so consumed with the material aspects of this life?

Yes, we need to make a living and provide for our families, but we must have a proper balance of those things which are weightier , which are eternal...

Community

2007-10-12T08:23:00.000-04:00

The Torah of Adonai, Blessed be His Name, was given as instruction for Israel to live in harmony. Israel was/is to love Adonai and each other completely.

When Noach was instructed to bring both clean and unclean animals on board the ark, they were to be cared for equally. I can imagine that Noach did not say to the unclean ones, "you are unclean, fend for yourselves". No, just as he cared for and met the needs of all under his care, we too should have the same attitude for one another.

Yeshua said in the book of John 13 34 ...love one another; as I have loved you, ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

This is a Torah commandment from D'varim (Deuteronomy) not to be forsaken. In the so-called 'messianic' movement, and other movements, this is not well practiced. Why? Perhaps arrogance, selfishness, the belief of 'knowing it all', etc.. I too have been guilty and we must endeavor to fulfill this mitzvah to love. It takes practice and total submission to the will of our Father and not our own will.

To know God is to keep His commandments

3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

1 John 2:3-11

art by Michael Yosef Robinson

Suffering Messiah

2007-09-20T21:14:00.000-04:00

Since the passing of the Yom Kippurim I thought it would be appropriate to look at the Mashiach. In my search of references to Him, specifically what many of the ancient sages understood and taught, I came across the site The Four Questions. Joshua has laid out some of the examples I was looking for from the Zohar, Mishna, etc.. Go here for some examples.

Here is one example:

When God desires to give healing to the world He smites one righteous man among them with disease and suffering, and through him gives healing to all, as it is written, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities... and with his stripes we are healed” (Isa. 53:5). A righteous man is never afflicted save to bring healing to his generation and to make atonement for it, for the “other side” prefers that punishment should light upon the virtuous man rather than on any other, for then it cares not for the whole world on account of the joy it finds in having power over him. Yet withal another virtuous man may attain to dominion in this world and the next; he is “righteous and it is well with him,” because God does not care to make atonement with him for the world. I said to him: If all suffered alike, I could understand, but we see a righteous man in one place who is sick and suffering, and a righteous man in another who enjoys all the good things of the world. He replied: One or two of them are enough, since God does not desire to smite all of them, just as it is sufficient to let blood from one arm; only if the sickness becomes very severe is it necessary to let blood from two arms, and so here, if the world becomes very sinful all the virtuous are smitten to heal all the generation, but otherwise one is smitten and the rest are left in peace. When the people are healed the righteous are healed with them, but sometimes all their days are passed in suffering to protect the people, and when they die all are healed.

Zohar, Section 3, Pages 218a-b

Watch

2007-09-07T07:10:00.000-04:00

In Parashat Nitzavim (Deut. 29:9f) we can see Moshe renewing the Torah Covenant for Israel, present and future.

An important element for us to remember is found in the beginning of this parasha, specifically Deut. 29:17-18. We must not allow ourselves to fall into this category. We can see in Shaul's, aka Paul, letter to Timothy (2 Tim. 3:1-17) he also warns of this happening in our days.

We must make effort to keep a constant watch over our souls, to guard our hearts, to safeguard the Torah of The Living God of Israel. Keep watch my friends lest we too fall into the snare which leads to death.

There is no sacrifice for willful sin, let us not fool ourselves... Deut. 29:19 ; Hebrews 6:1f

Let us seek the Lord diligently, while He still may be found.. Isaiah 55:6

Focus

2007-08-30T07:08:00.000-04:00

In the midst of this hurried world, our own hurried worlds, we must maintain a level of focus. A focus that cuts through the ratty mess that tries to overcome us.

Effort is needed on our part to have our minds on 'things above', see Colossians 3:2f, and not on the earthly things which so easily ensnare us. During your work day, if it's like mine, you may never have, or take, a moment to even think about our Righteous Master, but we must. We must stop for a moment, throughout the day, to give thanks to our Father for His mercies which are everlasting. We must stop for a moment to give thanks, because He has provided for us the things/circumstances that will help mature us in righteousness as sons and daughters.

Put a note on the monitor on your desk, create a wallpaper on your desktop, anything to keep the words of Torah in front of you. Effort my friends is needed today, if you are a part of this hurried world, to maintain a proper focus.

Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy- meditate on these things. "Phillipians 4:8

Shalom Aleichem

2007-08-24T06:40:00.000-04:00

"Mark the perfect man and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace". Tehillim 37:37

The perfect man in this case is understood to be a pious man, a man of gentleness.

As we seek our Father in this time of introspection, with a heart of humility, a heart of repentance and forgiveness, it is written that HaShem will guard that man. In the midst of the evil that may surround you, the oppression or depression that may try to overcome you, HaShem will keep you.

It is written, "the end for that person is shalom".

May it be that our faith is strengthened according to the mercies and loving kindnesses of Avinu Shebashamayim, our Father in Heaven...

Perseverance

2007-08-15T05:29:00.000-04:00

Do you ever grow weary?

I have found , when ever I am tired physically and mentally it can be a real challenge to maintain emuna. Sometimes a feeling of being alone tries to creep in... You know the feeling. Our lives, here in America, can be quite demanding. Our in-office environment is not always conducive to holiness. There is foul language, placement of blame, backbiting, this and more seems to be commonplace. You come home at the end of the day to your sanctuary and even then you can have challenge.

With HaShem's will, He will provide what is needed for you to become the man or woman that you were created to be! It is up to us to accept it and run with it! He loves us and will give us what we need for today!

Remember... "Love Adonai, all His devout ones! Adonai safeguards the faithful, but He repays the haughtiness on one who acts with arrogance. 25 Be strong, and let your hearts take courage, all who wait longingly for Adonai." Tehillim 31:24-25

Humble, Repentant

2007-08-05T09:02:00.000-04:00

It is necessary to maintain a heart of humility.

Tehillim (Psalms) 10:17: 'The desire of the humble You have heard, HaShem ; guide their heart; let Your ear be attentive...'

Maintaining a repentant heart is of utmost importance as well.

David provided a striking example of this in Tehillim 51:3... 'Show me favor, O God, according to Your kindness, according to Your vast compassion erase my transgressions. 4 Abundantly cleanse me from my iniqity, and from my sin purify me. 5 For I recognize my transgressions, and my sin is before me always. 6 Against You alone did I sin...'

We should be as such, so that our hearts are free to hear clearly, the way in which we are to walk.

Everything is for the best!

2007-08-02T06:38:00.000-04:00

In the book "The Garden of Emuna" by R. Shalom Arush, as translated by R. Lazer Brody, it says, 'Intermediate-level emuna is the belief that everything HaShem does is for the very best, even though it may appear otherwise'.

I have found this to take practice and if you really want your emuna to be strengthend, the opportunity for practice will come! This is all about re-newing your mind, changing the way you may have thought about things previously, subduing a negative mindset, if you will.

'Since everything that HaShem does is good, one cannot say that he or she believes in HaShem while complaining about their lot in life - such is a contradiction in terms'.

The Father does not necessarily want us to be stagnate and remain where we are from now on, but learning to be content from day to day, knowing that everything is from our Father and it is for our own good, we will have greater peace of mind and shalom bayit (peace in the home).

HaShem is good to all; His mercies are on all His works. Tehillim (Psalms) 145:9

The Herald of Zion

2007-07-29T09:34:00.000-04:00

Ascend upon a high mountain, O herald of Zion; raise your voice with strength, O herald of Jerusalem! Raise it, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, 'Behaold your God! Behold, my Lord, HaShem/Elohim, will come with a strong arm, and His arm will dominate for Him; behold, His reward is with Him, and His wage before Him. He is like a shepherd who grazes his flock, who gathers the lambs in his arm, who carries them in his bossom, who guides the nursing ewes.

Isaiah 40:9-11

The Garden

2007-07-27T07:14:00.000-04:00

Without emuna (faith), we have nothing. With emuna, we have everything!

By way of emuna, life in this world is more beautiful, and by the power of emuna, the entire world is like a blossoming garden that sprouts limitless varieties of exquisite plants, wonderful fragrant herbs and sweet fruit.1

Rebbe Nachman of Breslov said, "When one places a grain of wheat upon fertile land, then it sprouts and grows well, and no winds nor lightning and thunderbolts can harm it. Emuna is essentially the power of growth..."

1.The Garden of Emuna, R. Shalom Arush

God Most High!

2007-06-07T11:15:00.000-04:00

I cry out to You, for You hear me and Your ear is not deaf to my cry. O God, You know my heart cry, and only You can fill that empty place inside. By faith, emuna, I will wait for Your hand of deliverance, Elohim Elyon, God Most High...

He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake. Psalm 23:3