Lazer Beams

Rav Moshe Halberstam, of blessed and saintly memory

The Jewish people mourn the loss of one of this generations greatest rabbis and most formidable personalities - a scholar of immense stature, religious court judge, lawgiver, educator, leader, and a charitable sage of phenominal piety and modesty - Rabbi Moshe Halberstam, zatza"l. Despite Rebbe Moshe's gentle manner, he was a fierce lion who feared no one but his Creator, and stood as a bulwark in his perpetual vigil of everything that is holy to Judaism. It's no wonder that his pure soul was recalled on Wednesday afternoon, the 13th day of the Omer (26 Apr., 2006), which indicates the holy sphere of Yessod Hagvura, the holiness of fierce heroism - nothing better could describe Rebbe Moshe zatza'l.

Rabbi Moshe Zatza'l was a scion of a long line of Judaism's greatest scholars.

I owe a personal debt to Rabbi Moshe Halberstam zatza'l for all the encouragement he had given me over the past dozen years. He agreed, despite his unbelievably busy schedule, to read the first manuscripts of a young Baal-Tshuva rabbi (yours truly!) when nobody else would give me the time of day. When my Hebrew book "Nafshi Sidom" first appeared, he bought eight copies, and ordered all of his sons and sons-in-law to learn the book. He gave me the blessing, "Chaicho l'oraissa" - may you use your strength for Torah, which he wrote in one of his approbations to my books.

We don't even realize who and what we've lost.

Rav Moshe Halberstam, please beg Hashem to put an end to 2000 years of diaspora and to the suffering of our people. Surely, there is no portal in Heaven that will deny you access. May your saintly, blessed, and beloved memory be a supplicant for your people Israel before the Heavenly Throne, amen.

image courtesy of ladaat.net

7th of Pesach

Tonight, the eve of the 7th day of Pesach, was the night that the Red Sea split, allowing the Children of Israel to escape from Pharaoh and his pursuing armies. The Midrash tells us that all the waters of the world split at the same time.

The 7th day of Pesach is also the day that Moses sang his famous "Shirat Hayam", the Song of the Sea, after Hashem miraculously led Israel across the Red Sea.

In keeping with the spirit of the day, here are my "Good YomTov" greetings to you, from Ashdod's exquisite coast. The roar of the waves drowns out my voice, but I'm sending you my blessings and warm regards from beautiful Eretz Yisroel.

Looking for a minyan in Iraq?

Captain Alex is one of my favorite people. He's a veteran Blackhawk pilot with the US Army Airborne Corps. Yet, one of his greatest accomplishments is that he founded the synagogue in Taji, Iraq. Hashem even arranged for a Cohen to be stationed at Taji, so if you're in the area and you need a minyan, drop on by!

Sergeant Cohen (left) and Captain Alex (right), Taji, Iraq

Captain Alex in the chopper cockpit

Captain Alex with a view of a chopper's "luxurious" interior - this particular rotor-bird gets airborne troops to the hot spots fast.

Teaching violence and then picking up the pieces

Margie is a special education teacher in Memphis; here's what she wrote me earlier today:

Dear Rabbi Lazer,

I could not agree more with your posts on appropriate sports for boys and young men. I might add that in this day and age where girls (cringe) are increasingly playing sports like ice hockey it applies to them as well. There's not much difference between the activities of our youth and the training of gladiators in decadent Rome.

I'm very close to someone who has two boys and a husband who play tons of ice hockey and when the kids aren't playing hockey or lacrosse (not much better) they are glued to the TV playing violent video games or watching football and more ice hockey. I'm disturbed to tell you that the bigger of the two boys has punched his mother on numerous occasions leaving large bruises (I've seen them), has very nasty temper tantrums, curses at her ("Your chili tastes like sh@t"), can't be controlled, etc. When he's feeling good, he's a very charming and neat kid. Both the parents have gotten physical with the kids too (sometimes in self defense) so even if her husband would consent to counseling, she's afraid that Child Protective Services would be called on them. I have talked with her about this on numerous occasions and given her sound advice that never gets taken. I just pray that she takes my advice to walk away next time he throws a fit instead of trying to control him.

Here's the thing Rabbi Lazer, these are highly educated people who deeply love their kids. They know better but out of fear, exhaustion, and denial give in to this Ritalin junk over and over. It's so ridiculous - over here, people zap their kids full of violence, then drug them to come down. Good ol' America glorifies violence, and then gets high as a kite trying to pick up the pieces.

Your suggestions of Tai Chi really seem to be an elegant solution. Isn't there an Israeli version of that? I think that we can learn a lot from you guys. Keep up the great work.

With Tons of Admiration, Margie from Memphis

PS: We just watched the film "Ushpizin". It was phenomenal. I know you may not see it, but I can't remember a film with such a gorgeous spiritual message. (Did you write that thing Lazer? Fess up. I can keep a secret.  Come on now...)

Dear Margie,

Great to hear from you. No, I didn't write "Ushpizin" but the stars of the flick are mostly Breslever Chassidim from Jerusalem, students of Rav Shalom Arush, and good friends of mine. As far as the original Israeli version of elegant martial arts, it's called Abir (Hebrew for "knight"), and it's a father-to-son tradition from the Sofer family, an esteemed clan of Breslever Chassidim.

Grand Master the "Abir Knight" Yehoshua Sofer is the kindest, most gentle, and virtuous person you ever want to meet. His pupils learn character values and human respect. He's done wonders in his programs for problematic kids. Any child in Abir wouldn't need Ritalin, G-d forbid; Abir children also don't back to their parents, much less raise a hand against them.

An Abir 11 year-old: More than anything, Reb Yehoshua teaches children how to fight the Yetzer - these kids don't mouth off to their parents, it's beneath them!

Thanks for your sweet letter and warmest regards to PJ. Take care and G-d bless, Lazer

Peaceful warriors

Dear Rabbi Brody,

Your website has strengthened my emuna considerably and you have helped me so much in my derech. Your post on the ADD child was beautiful. I am planning to enroll my son (11) in martial arts (not an ADD child...just small physically).

How do I explain to my dear, Christian friend that martial arts is not bound up with negative, harmful "eastern" spiritual elements. She is really quite concerned.

Chag Sameach, MM

Dear MM,

Thanks for your sweet note. Tell your friend that I only suggest things for "peaceful warriors" only, those who fight the Evil Inclination. Specifically, Tai chi, is unlike Western exercises/contact sports primarily based on competition (look at all the fist fights in hockey, football, baseball, etc.). Tai chi is not competitive but highly personal. Its overriding philosophy - which Yehoshua Bin Nun and Avner ben Ner were well versed in - is to get in touch with your own mind, body and spirit, being mindful always of the subtle shifts that occur during stretches, movements and holding of positions. Also, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov combined bodily movement (walking in the fields) with meditation (hisbodedus). Peaceful warriors do pretty much the same.

Tell me - which sports activity do you prefer for your child, this or this? I rest my case...

Have a wonderful Pesach! Yours, LB

My tremendous thanks to the Israel Tai Chi Center

Update

On Motzaei Shabbos, my mailbox was jammed with Jewish parents all over the place asking why I recommend Tai Chi, and expressing fears that it borders on idol worship.

First of all, one of the biggest Tai Chi masters in the world is former IDF Special Forces commando Nir Malchi (pictured at left), a remarkable gem of a person and an astounding baal tshuva who's now pitched in the battle of his life against the nasty big C. Grand Master Nir, a yarei shamayim merabim, is head of the Israeli Tai Chi Center.

Second, before Shabbos, I explained to the Melitzer Rebbe all about Tai Chi. The Rebbe said that he was sorry that so many religious people and schools neglect the health of children's bodies and the need for wholesome, regular, exercise. The Rebbe shlit'a also said that according to my description, Tai Chi exercises (not combat) sound like a perfect idea, and he stands behind my recommendation. I don't agree that you send your child to a Taoist monk to learn Tai Chi, but from a place similar to the Israel Center, it would be fine to learn.

Third, you'd be amazed to see how much Tai Chi exercises help you concentrate in davening and learning.

Two parents have written to me that their kids have been kicked out of schools in New Jersey for not agreeing to take Ritalin. The Melitzer Rebbe shlit'a says that you should thank Hashem - no parent should send a child to a school where they drug the kids.

I reemphasive that a phys-ed program such as Tai Chi (hiking, cross-country running, and weightlifting are also good - I'd pick the activity with the best coach) together with a Torah tutor has beat the Ritalin problem in five cases that I've been involved in during this past year alone.

Ritalin pushers rank high in my book of villains, together with the doctors that misread sonograms. Drugs have no place in Jewish education. Period.

The Modzitzer's roar

My good buddy Yitz from Heichal Hanegina sent me the following note & story:

Hi Reb Lazer!  Regarding your tobacco/Shabbos post, I'd like to share an incident which I heard from the brother of the one who heard it first-hand.

As you know, I have a connection to Chassidus Modzitz. One of the Modzitzer Chassidim lives in the Lower Galil, on Kfar Gideon, just outside of Afula. As you can imagine, someone dressed in Chassidic garb is a bit unusual to find on the Egged buses in this part of the country. So my friend's brother, R. Avraham, is travelling on the bus; a man spots him and asks him if he's a Gerer Chassid. Avraham says, No, I'm a Modzitzer. So the man says, "nuch besser" - even better - I have a story to tell you about your Rebbe.

Of course by now Avraham's curiosity was piqued, and he was "all ears."
 
  When Rebbe Shaul of Modzitz ZT"L [grandfather of the present Rebbe Shlita] was still in Europe, a young man was seen in his Beis Medrash, smoking on Shabbos! The Chassidim didn't know what to do with this, so they went & told the Rebbe. When the Rebbe, who was a big man - tall and broad - heard this, he began to run towards the man who was smoking. But the man just continued, undaunted, to puff away. When Rebbe Shaul approached him, he said to him, "B'farhesia - in public - you dare to do this?"

Reb Lazer, I've been told that Reb Shaul had a voice like thunder! You can be sure that these words penetrated the very being of this man! How do I know? Read on...

From that day on, the man never smoked on Shabbos. All week long he would smoke, but not on Shabbos. Other than that, he was completely non-observant. He came to live in Eretz Yisrael, and raised his family in one of the secular Kibbutzim in the Lower Galil.

His children couldn't figure it out - this man didn't keep Shabbos, he smoked all week long, yet on Shabbos, Abba never lit up! It got to them so much that they decided to investigate what Shabbos is all about. I probably don't have to tell you that they are fully observant Jews by now - just from that "B'farhesia?" statement of Rebbe Shaul of Modzitz! And yes, the one who told the story was one of these children!

As Reb Shlomo Carlebach used to say, "You never know!"

best regards, yitz