The first 32 days of the Omer obligate us to curtail joy and joyous occasions. Then comes the 33rd day, 18 Iyar, the anniversary (yahrtzeit) of Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochai's departure from the physical world. Everything turns completely around with singing, dancing, rejoicing and festive meals. What's… [Read more...]

An adequate income doesn't depend on the amount of money one earns, but on the quality of the money that one earns. When our money is clean of such transgressions as dishonesty, short-changing and slander, it carries a blessing of adequacy. See for… [Read more...]

When newcomers enter in to the service of Hashem, it looks like Hashem is pushing them away. They're hit with all kinds of problems that they never had before?… [Read more...]

King David suffered unspeakable emotional and physical hardships. These included imminent death in captivity on more occasions than one. Prophetically, he felt our pain and wrote these Psalms for us… [Read more...]

One good thought is all you need to illuminate the darkness of a depressed mind. Depression feels like your heart and brain just fought nine bloody rounds with the evil inclination. But, the fight isn't over. One good thought is a knockout punch to the… [Read more...]

If you feel that you can't even set aside 5 or 10 minutes a day for a quick exercise routine, try this alternative: fit physical activity into your day, burn a few calories and maintain muscle tone without setting aside anytime at all. Here's… [Read more...]

The heart has a spiritual self-cleaning mechanism that is capable of cleansing it from all forms of impurity. Rebbe Nachman teaches us how to activate… [Read more...]

Sometimes our troubles are so tormenting that we'd be happy to sprout wings like a dove and just fly away to a place of peace. King David felt exactly like that when he had no rest from enemies, both foreign and domestic. Prophetically, he felt our pain and wrote these Psalms for us… [Read more...]

The most critical question on our security agenda: can we win in Gaza? Will the hostages come home? There still over 100,000 residents on our northern and southern borders who are still in a state of exile and can't go home. Even more, as we must look at the news through eyes of emuna, what does… [Read more...]

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, make a person beautiful. They also create the closest distance between the person and the Creator.… [Read more...]

Confessing one's wrongdoings to the Almighty does more than merely cleansing one's soul. It rejuvenates the spirit. A rejuvenated spirit is a healthy spirit, and a healthy spirit is a happy… [Read more...]

A husband and wife must lovingly accept each other's shortcomings. Why? They are two halves of one soul. If you see a blemish in your spouse, see the following poignant story about the holy Rebbe Chaim Halberstam of Sanz; it shines light on the nature of the soul-bond between husband and… [Read more...]