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If you're in Israel, here's your chance to meet the Melitzer Rebbe shlit'a and to get a blessing from him. Monday night, 19 Tishrei (1 Oct., 2007), at 8:30 PM, there'll be a Simchat Bet HaShoeva (Intermediate-day Succoth celebration with chassidic music and dancing) at the Melitzer shul, HaRotem 29, Rova Chet, Ashdod. Yours truly will be there too, G-d willing. Bring the whole family!
Saturday night and Sunday, the 18th of Tishrei, is the yahrtzeit of our beloved rebbe, master, and spiritual guide, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, of blessed and saintly memory. Beginning at 9 pm, there will be a joyous Simchat Bet HaShoeva celebration at the Chut Shel Chessed Breslov yeshiva on Shmuel HaNavi 13 in Jerusalem. G-d willing, I'll be coming in from Ashdod. You'll also be able to meet one of the biggest tzaddikim of this generation, Rav Shalom Arush shlit'a, the head of the Yeshiva. Come on by!
Just the mention of Rebbe Nachman brings his holy gravesite Uman to mind, so right away, we start singing and tapping our feet:
This year, Succoth falls on Thursday; Wednesday night, we make Kiddush and eat in the Succa. This meal has the equivalent importance of Seder night on Passover, so make every effort to eat in the Succa. The Zohar tells us one who dwells in the Succa is completely encompassed in The Divine Presence. For that reason, it calls the Succa tzila d'mehemnusa, or the shadow of emuna. Dwelling in the Succa is very conducive for emuna, since a person attains phenominal proximity to Hashem within the walls of a kosher succa. The finer one's spiritual antennae, the more one feels elevated within the domain of the succa.
Bucharian Market, Jerusalem - here's a LB photo essay of last-minute shopping for the 4 species:
Spiritual Weapons: Hashem's soldiers inspecting lulavim with greater care than a combat sergeant would check his weapons.
The Spiritual Arsenal: Etrogim and lulavim going fast - the fanciest Etrogim are as high as 300 NIS (about $70) and a perfect Deri Lulav can go as high as 160 NIS (about $37).
Ritual 3-leaf myrtle from the Upper Galilee - the nicest haddasim are being sold for 30 NIS (about $7.00) each
This Jerusalem resident has his own kosher aravot (willows) growing on his front sidewalk
Many people decorate their Succa with photos of their favorite tzaddikim - the second picture from the bottom is Rav Lazer Berland shlit'a
Simchat Bet Hashoeva: To commemorate the water libation in our Holy Temple, we have nightly singing, dancing, and partying during Succoth. Here's a glimpse our our pre-Succoth Chassidic-jammin' warmup (with emuna in your life, you have good reason to party all year long):
Many think that the spiritual war is over after Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur – but that is not so! Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are only the beginning of our renewed annual war against evil.
Onlookers often ask why observant Jews take such painstaking measures in choosing the four species for Succot. Read why here...
Have a wonderful Shabbat and Joyous Succos Holiday.
My good buddy Yankel'e "Dry Bones" Kirschen, the creator of Emuna Outreach's mascot little Natty Emuna , really hits home. The perenniel post-holiday problem of many Jewish people is the added calories, pounds, flab, and cholesterol of a week of eating and rejoicing in the Succa. As the Beams is committed to the health of body, mind, and soul, we've composed a few guidelines to combat the expanding Succoth waistline.
Beware of the cakes: Many people want to make a blessing on the Succa every time they enter it. But, one really shouldn't make a blessing unless he eats something. For that reason, many folks eat cake ("mezonos", at a minimum amount of a little over and ounce) so they can say the "Leshev B'Succa" blessing, the blessing to sit in the Succa. If a person eats 2 ounces of cake 3 times a day, that adds another 840 calories to his daily intake. The Melitzer Rebbe shlit'a says that one should make a "Leshev B'Succa" blessing only when eating a proper meal that includes washing your hands and breaking bread. So, don't eat cake for the purpose of making a blessing to sit in the Succa. If a person eats 3 average-sized portions of cake a day for the 9 (outside of Israel, 8 in Israel) days of the Succoth/Simchat Torah holiday, he'll gain more than two pounds. We suggest eating sliced fresh carrots or sliced green apples instead of the cake.
Beware of the liquor: Many people make a "Lechayim" every time they visit the Succa of a friend and relative. In Israel, quite a few people that barely touch alcoholic beverages all year long keep them on hand to serve guests, and end up toasting glass-per-glass with the guest. A one-ounce shot of vodka or 86-proof Whiskey is 70 calories, while an ounce of a 72-proof liqueur such as Kahlua or Banana Liqueur is a hefty 117 calories. 3 "Lechayims" a day is enough to pick up another half pound during the week of the holiday. Adding that to the cakes (see above), you've already gained 2.5 pounds during Succoth. Putting the weight on is so much easier than taking it off.
Beware of sweet beverages: Succoth is a time when parents allow the Pepsi and the Coke to flow frely all week long. Now hear this - an 8-ounce glass of Coke Classic is a whopping 97 calories, just as caloric as the equivalent amount of beer or of a slice and a half of bread. A person that drinks 6 glasses of cola a day will gain almost a pound on Succoth, please wreck his teeth in the process. We suggest that you reach for the mineral water, sparkling water, or herb tea instead, for they have zero caloric value.
Beware of snacks: People like to munch in the Succa. We all know that you can't eat one Frito or potato chip - therefore, those plastic bags empty fast. One ounce of fritos, potato chips, or our Bamba and Bisli add another 160 calories to your calorie-aglore score. If a person drinks two glasses of cola and consumes two ounces of snack foods a day, he'll gain over a pound during Succoth. Again, fresh carrot and cucumber sticks are a virtually non-cloric and healthy replacement for the junky snack foods.
So, with the cakes, the l'chayims, the cokes and the snacks alone - without the heavy meals that include kugel and fat meats, you've already gained close to 5 pounds. And, if you drink diet beverages and use artificial sweeteners, you might not gain the weight but you'll be likely to suffer from headaches and anxiety.
True, tradition is important; that is, as long as it doesn't ruin your health. Here at the Brody homestead, whole-grained rice, buckwheat groats and quinoa have replaced fried farfel and oil-dripping kugel. We don't fry, but boil and bake. We eat loads of veggies and fresh fruit, and drink a great brand of Golan-Heights mineral water. Fish and lean poultry have replaced the beef and veal. Dessert is homemade applesauce, fresh cantelope cubes, or an almond-stuffed fresh date. Our bread is home-baked and whole-grain. We want to control what enters our bodies; the manufacturers care about making money, not about our health. That's why we don't buy their products. Our bodies weren't designed to digest the myriad of chemical additives and preservatives that they force-feed us.
The Rambam gives an important reminder - don't eat until you're full. The stomach resembles a washing machine - if you overload it, it can't do the laundry. By the same token, an overloaded stomach can't digest, resulting in indigestion, another common Succoth ailment.
A great way to combat the the expanding Succoth waistline is to walk for an hour a day. Better yet, while you're walking, talk to Hashem in personal prayer. That way, your body gets its exercise and your soul gets its nourishment, that is none other than connecting with Hashem. What could be better? Emuna Outreach and the Beams wish you a happy and healthy Succoth with no indigestion and no expanding waistline, amen.
Understanding the mechanics of corrupt anti-emuna politics is rather simple here in Israel. The judiciary system is controlled by a leftist oligarchy that prides itself on its disengagement from Torah and Talmudic law. So, if you're a corrupt leader and you're threatened with the hot seat, you merely adapt yourself to the desires of the bald-headed expresso-sipping elite. Suddenly, all the charges against you will disappear. Unfortunately, Jewish homes on sacred Jewish land disappear too, Heaven forbid. Such is the cause-and-effect of corruption.
Gadid, before and after disengagement. Then also, Prime Minister Sharon was faced with a number of investigations. The disengagement from Jewish Gaza "strangely" led to the disappearance of all charges against him.
The Succoth festival, when we dwell in temporary thatch-covered booths, reminds us that we're in exile as long as there's no Holy Temple. It should also remind us of our brothers and sisters from Gush Katif who lost their homes two years ago, and to this day are still exiled, living in temporary dwellings. May Hashem hasten the coming of Moshiach and the full redemption of our people, amen!
Congratulations to Eurostar for winning the Beams' humor-photo award of this past year.
By the way, don't forget to get a haircut before Succoth, and tell the barber to be careful not to chop your payis (sidelocks).
A tip of the spuddik to Akiva K from Ashdod for sending us the above photo.
The biggest symphony of the year in the Chassidic neighborhoods of Ashdod is the harmony of hammers, buzz-saws, and power drills following Yom Kippur, as folks here begin building their Succas.
When it's all done, my neighborhood looks like this:
Having cleansed ourselves of sin on Yom Kippur (for those of us who begged Hashem for forgiveness), we're now preparing to dwell in the Succah, together with Hashem's Divine Presence. We're going higher!
In that vein, here's an exclusive Emuna Outreach clip featuring Elyon (Eliezer Kosoy and Yonason Hill) singing "Going Higher." Enjoy it.
The Worry Worm characters: Uncle Fred, nephew Robbie, and the two worm sisters Wilma and Wendy. Illustration by Rebecca Shapiro.
The Worry Worm has received a wonderful review in the Jewish Press. Reviewer Yocheved Golani writes, "This first entry in the debuting Little Lazer series of emunah educational materials is a must-have for anyone who loves little ones, and is a lap-sized charmer for the whole family, classroom and pediatrician’s office." See the whole article here.
Midreshet Be'erot Bat Ayin, one of the best women's Judaism seminars I know, is especially suited for young women who want to discover and cultivate their Jewish spiritual potential to the hilt. Not only is it a fantastic place for ba'alot Teshuva (young women who are striving to get closer to Hashem) on all levels, it's also a great place for non-Jewish women who are looking for a conversion-studies program. Rebbetzin Chana Bracha Siegelbaum is an outstanding educator with a superb staff. This is the perfect place for a creative, spiritually-thirsty young lady that seeks true fulfillment in life.
I just found out that Midreshet Bat Ayin is accepting new students. Contact Rebbetzin Siegelbaum, and tell her that Lazer sent you. You won't be sorry.
Now that Yom Kippur's over, once you've fasted and made your best effort to repent, don't worry any more about the outcome! Rebbe Nachman of Breslov said, "Ma lachem lid'og, you have nothing to worry about because I'm paving the way for you." Those of us who are connected to the tzaddik know that we must make our best effort, and leave the rest up to the tzaddik, who paves the way for our true and complete soul correction by helping us get closer to Hashem. I shudder to think where I'd be without my beloved Rebbe Nachman. With that in mind, grab your hammer and nails, put a big smile on your face, and start building your succa! Here's a niggun to help you get started:
A delightful story by Rabbi Lazer Brody and beautifully written and illustrated by Rebecca Shapiro, the Worry Worm teaches children the concept of emuna. This book is now offered at a subsidized price to enable more and more children to learn that there's a Master to this Universe.
This is the internationally best-selling life-coaching manual by Rabbi Shalom Arush and translated by Rabbi Lazer Brody that's taking the world by storm. You owe yourself the gratification that this book will give you. (Softcover, 251 pages)
280 pages. "This book turns you into the best person you can be." (Tamar Yonah, Israel National Radio - Arutz 7)
Here's the delightful family book of the weekly Torah portions, enhanced with Rav Lazer Brody's original parables. A must for every Shabbat table! Kalcom Publishing, 254 pages.
