Emuna Therapy

Pray? Not Me!

A very learned torah scholar asked: "Does Rabbi Arush really think that the solution to everything is to just pray? Here's my answer to him.

Blessings for the new month and the holy Shabbos!

Dr. Zev Ballen

Childhood Trauma

photo by the bop

Research has shown that there's a strong connection between severe childhood trauma and the development of psychosis later on.

Are children who are being raised by parents who live in accordance with emuna principles  less likely to become psychotic? 

Yes they are.

Even more so, adverse or traumatic events during childhood can predispose children who were raised with emuna to even greater levels of emotional and spiritual development than their peers.

How is this so?

There are many examples from the Torah of children who grew up under circumstances that would be considered traumatic by today's standards and they rose to incredible spiritual heights,  for example King David and Rabbi Akiva.

G-d willing, I'll be speaking about this subject in much greater depth tomorrow, in my live broadcast.  The simple explanation for now is that Divine Providence looks upon every soul and knows exactly what it needs to be maximally happy and to fulfill it's purpose in the world.

If, G-d forbid, a traumatic event does take place in childhood, it offers the child of parents who have faith the opportunity to turn to Hashem with their pain, and in so doing Hashem will lead them to find their true purpose in this world. Since fulfilling their true purpose is the only way that they can live lives of true happiness, these kids can end up better off than their peers who never find themselves.

Today, the first day of the month of Nissan (the month of miracles) is Rebbe Nachman's birthday and the first day that we can make a blessing on the trees. To learn about the amazing connection between these two events read this!

With blessings,

Dr. Zev Ballen

 

 

A Lesson From Uman

I was alone in a field when I was accosted by six Ukrainian youth who were demanding my money. I saw on their faces the same insane hatred that senselessly murdered so many of my ancestors. They came at me throwing rocks. As I ran, I heard the rocks whizzing past my head...

Don't miss the dramatic conclusion in this week's article on Breslev Israel.

Here are the rest of this week's articles:

Empty Handed by Rabbi Lazer Brody

The Sound of Music by Rabbi Shalom Arush

The Beauty Exchange  by Racheli Reckles

The Holy Rebbe Mattia by Tal Rotem

The Loisville Slugger by Natalie Kovan

Discovering My Children by Rivka Levy

The Tougher Test  by Rabbi David Charlop

With Blessings,

Dr. Zev Ballen

Rebbe Nachman's Yahrzeit Today

  

                               image credit:tryzub724

The following is courtesy of Breslev.co.il:

He was born on the 1st of the month of Nissan in 5532 (1772) in the city of Mejebuj, in the home of his holy grandfather Rebbe Yisrael the Baal Shem Tov, and passed away in 5571 (1810). Rebbe Nachman of Breslov was a special image in the world of Chassidus. During his youth he acquired expertise in all the holy works and was accustomed to meditate in solitude. At the age of six he authored one of his major works, the “Sefer HaMidos.” His Torah was very powerful but he faced many Rabbis who opposed him. In 1802 he moved to Breslov where he founded Chassidus Breslov. In 1810 he moved to Uman where he passed away. His works include: “Likutei Moharan,” “Sefer HaMidos,” and the “Sippurei Ma’asiyos.” He revealed the “Tikkun Klali - General Remedy” to rectify the blemish of the Covenant and made many miraculous deliverances. He promised his followers: “My fire will burn until the coming of the Messiah.” Multitudes visit his gravesite on Rosh Hashanah in Uman. 

Blessings for a joyous new year 5773.

Dr. Zev Ballen