Maybe you're thinking that this commandment is superfluous. A decent person asks himself, "Who in his right mind would blaspheme? Who could possibly be so blatantly insolent that they'd curse the Almighty?" You'd be… [Read more...]

Nothing so powerfully infuses the soul with trust in the Almighty, or bitachon, as the mitzvah of ma'aser does. Ma'aser means tithing one's income and giving the money to a worthy cause. The act of tithing shows that a person trusts Hashem for income and therefore is not afraid of fulfilling this… [Read more...]

The twelfth of our Thirteen Principles of Emuna requires us all to eagerly anticipate Moshiach. I don't think that there's anyone, observant or not, who doesn't want Moshiach, so where is he? Let's find… [Read more...]

Since emuna and idolatry are mutually exclusive, the first Noahide Law that prohibits idolatry is actually a law that obligates emuna. Without emuna, a person is vulnerable to all types of idolatry, some in very subtle forms. In spirituality, there is no vacuum; where there's no emuna, idolatry… [Read more...]

Interested in learning the teachings of Rebbe Nachman in a way that you'll truly understand? Here's your chance, beginning June 1, 2023. The lesson will be live on Zoom and the replay will appear here at lazerbeams.com the next day, G-d… [Read more...]

The photo you see are not fireworks; they're the recent missile attacks on the south of Israel where I live. Here's what I was thinking during the barrage this past Shabbat, These are the three words that we must engrave on our hearts, for they will always rescue us in times of trouble. You're… [Read more...]

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...]

Emuna teaches us to cast our human logic aside and to subjugate ourselves to Divine logic. “Subjugation” is a harsh word. But when we surrender our intellect to Hashem and to His Divine intellect, it's sweet subjugation, just what the soul… [Read more...]

A flat tire is definitely not the end of the race. You can change it! Rebbe Nachman of Breslev says that if you believe you can ruin something, then believe that you can rectify it. This is not just a pleasant expression, but a signed promise in the Torah and a fact of life.… [Read more...]

Today's lesson teaches how emuna deeply permeates each of the 7 Noahide Laws. Were it not for emuna, the pure and complete belief in the Almighty, one's observance of the Noahide Laws would be ever so weak, vulnerable to persuasion and political… [Read more...]