Here is the edited lecture that we gave last night in virtual Miami, a most encouraging preparation for Yom Kippur.

You can download the 45-minute mp3 at no charge at this link, thanks to our wonderful donors of Emuna Beams, who like me, want to make emuna lessons available to anyone around the world.

Rav Yosef Galimidi shlit'a of Miami asked me to post a synopsis of the Zoom lesson we gave earlier this morning, "Emuna, Effort and Expectations", particularly the ten benefits of a pure soul.

Yom Kippur only atones for those who return to Hashem and believe in its power of atonement, but it doesn't benefit a person who scoffs it and doesn't believe in its power of atonement (Code of Jewish Law, O.C. 607:6)

From this Halacha, we derive a formula for success on Yom Kippur, success that will influence a person's entire year for the very best –

EMUNA – believe in Yom Kippur's power of atonement and believe that Hashem will forgive you of all your sins

EFFORT – asssess yourself, make teshuva and return to Hashem

EXPECTATIONS – a clean bill of spiritual health: not only forgiveness for all your sins, but purification of the soul which is a magnificent gift from Hashem, with the following 10 benefits:

1) inner peace, 2) happiness, 3) patience, 4) no anger, 5) forgiveness, 6) prayers answered, 7) spiritual awareness, 8) understanding of Torah, 9) no outstanding judgments, 10) no fear

Gmar Chatima Tova and much love from the Land of Emuna, LB

Welcome to Emuna News, where you find out what's really happening in the world. Today's news update and message is, "Avalanche or Birth?" It sounds weird, but it's an exact description of current events right, where we find out the connection between COVID 19, wildfires, BLM, Geula, Moshiach and Yom Kippur.

The mere idea of Yom Kippur is enough to raise the anxiety level of many people; that's because no one ever explained to them how Yom Kippur is the happiest day in the Jewish calendar. For real? Hear this.

Confused? Scared? Don't know what to do first at the last minute? Here are three simple yet vital ways to guarantee a favorable judgment on Rosh Hashanah. Enjoy, and may the Almighty inscribe you in the Book of a long and happy life for a wonderful New Year 5781:

Throughout Tanach, "Hashem's vineyard" (see Isaiah 5:7, for example) is a metaphor for the Land of Israel and the vines symbolize the Jewish People. On the Sabbath, we sing the ancient "Dror Yikra" sonnet that was composed over a thousand years ago by Donash ben Labert from Spain, where he alludes to a prophecy in Jeremiah 2:21 when Hashem promises that He will replant the "cuttings" - those who have been cut off from their ancient homeland - in His vineyard. As such, the flourishing vineyards in the Land of Israel are a clear sign of the imminent redemption and ingathering of the exiles, as is we see today with our own eyes.

Jeremiah the Prophet says that right before Moshiach comes, vineyards will be planted in the Land of Israel. Throughout the Tanach, vines are a parable for the Jewish People. Both the sons and the vines grow best on their native soil.

Our sages all through the Gemara juxtapose Jerusalem and Rome – when one succeeds, the other fails; when one rises, the other falls. This is the same battle between faith and fate, and it's the secret of Rosh Hashanah, when the outcome of our entire coming year is determined, as we see in the current events that manifest themselves, such as Coronavirus. This is an eyeopener, and a vital tool to prepare for Rosh Hashanah:

Here is a dream deal for you, underwritten by the Baal Haturim, the Chid'a, the Chofetz Chaim and all the sages of the Gemara. I challenge anyone to try and beat this deal, that guarantees the best blessings at a tremendously discounted price. This is no gimmick, but the "real deal." 

"If we knew that a rare gift was concealed within our difficulties, we could laugh; but with emuna, we start laughing even before we discover the gift." 

Shavua Tov! An old parable about a donkey in trouble gives us a different perspective on life's difficulties. Here's two-and-a-half minutes of encouragement:

Thanks to our wonderful supporters, you can download this mp3 here, free of charge, share it and listen to it on whatever platform you desire.