Lazer Beams

The Lesson of the Sagebrush

The sagebrush doesn't worry about drought. It rejuvenates itself, and takes advantage of every single water molecule. Come on out with me to the desert, and see what we can learn.

Emuna News Bulletin: Olmert Announces Resignation

Prime Minister Olmert just announced his resignation, which will take effect after the Kadima party primaries in another 8 weeks, scheduled for September 17. The main contenders are Transportation Minister Mofaz and Foreign Minister Ms. Livni. To the best of our knowledge, Condoleeza (CFR)-owned and operated Ms. Livni (who is also on the same page with Barack Hussein Obama) will attempt to make quick ersatz peace deals with the Pallies and with Syria, giving away tremendous chunks of our Holy Land while the enemy ties his noose tighter around our neck. This, G-d forbid, will be the scenario if we fail to make national teshuva fast. 

I can't emphasize the importance of spreading emuna far and wide as fast as possible.

The winner in the Kadima primary will have until October 26 to submit his new government for approval by President Shimon Peres. In case the elected leader fails, the president customarily grants another 90 days to form a government; after the 90 days are up, if no coalition is formed, a general election is scheduled, thus theoretically enabling Olmert to remain in power until March 2009.

After the primary Olmert will remain in office as prime minister of a transitional government, until his successor in Kadima manages to forge a new coalition or until general elections are held.

Teshuva time, folks. Hashem is waiting for us with the open arms of a Loving Father more than any of us can imagine.

A Marked Man: this week at BreslovWorld

Breslever Chassidim say that when the month of Tammuz comes around, we already begin sniffing Rosh Hashana in Uman. Rebbe Nachman taught us that anyone who does his best to do teshuva and comes to him for Rosh Hashana has nothing to worry about all year long. “What are you worried about, since I’m leading the way for all of you,” declared Rabbenu. Rabbi Shalom Arush tells us all about it in Leading the Way on this week's new edition of BreslovWorld.

Rebbe Nachman especially loved his daughter Sarki (nickname for Sarah), whom he called a “myrtle in the wilderness."

We're in the middle of the Three Week period both Holy Temples were destroyed. My article The Heart of Judaism tells about the significance of the Holy Temple to the Jewish people.

A Kuwaiti journalist quipped yesterday that arch-terrorist Samir Kuntar is an ingrate. He came out of 29 years in Israeli prisons in perfect health, weighing 200 pounds with a double chin, and with a university degree that the prison authorities allowed him to complete in correspondence with an Israeli University. In an Arab prison, he'd have emerged as a body bag. The ingrate Kuntar once again opened his fat mouth in Beirut yesterday, declaring how many Jews he plans to kill. Guess what, Kuntar - you're on target, sucker! The dude is definitely a marked man - he's in Hashem's cross-hairs.

Pierre Van Paassen (1895 – 1968) was a Noahide Dutch-Canadian journalist who personally witnessed the 1929 pogrom against the Jews of Hevron, which he wrote about in his nonfiction bestseller, “Days of Our Years,” from which this article is taken from. Van Paasen proves that the Mufti of Jerusalem was behind the riots and slaughter and accuses the British administration of aiding and abetting the Mufti. Read his account of The Hevron Massacre, and understand what our neighbors would do to us were it not for Hashem's personal protection of His people Israel.

This week's lesson in Kabbalah with Rabbi Avraham Greenbaum is called the Divine Line. Rabbi Yaakov Luban talks about The kosher kitchen in part 3 of the Kosher Primer.

Alice Jonsson draws on Rebbe Nachman’s teachings to show that positive thinking lifts us to new heights in Moments of Triumph. Rebecca Shapiro treats Breslev Kids (the big ones, too) to Part 20 of Little Nachman.

This week's Torah portion is Masei. Check out Rabbi Pinchas Winston's Just Passing By - it's especially good, all about reincarnations in Judaism. Have a wonderful week!

Lazer Beams, by Baruch Becker

Our wonderful friend and well-known Disney illustrator Baruch Becker, the father of Emuna Outreach mascot Nachman Emuna (image, left) , has presented us with the first of the "Lazer Beams" comic strip, featuring Nachman Emuna and Lazer. We hope they put a smile on your face.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Lazer's weekly Sunday broadcast on Tamar Yonah's weekend edition of Israel National Radio will now be at 3:10 PM Israel Time (8:10 AM EDT) instead of 4:30 PM, starting from today. Tune in!

The Seal of Truth

Nir Abujam grew up in a secular home in South Tel Aviv. As a young man after the army, he did everything that fun-loving young people like to do. A few years later, he went into convulsions and blacked out, dying a complete clinical death. His soul was taken to the upper worlds and to the Heavenly Court, which he describes in the following 68-minute clip that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Nir's testimony matches precisely the descriptions of life after death in the Gemara, Midrash, and Zohar. This gripping clip is not for the faint of heart or for those who wish to continue their lifestyles of Disneyland and McDonalds. But, if you watch this clip, it will change your life and help you readjust priorities. This will be an hour well-spent.

The film is in Hebrew with very good English subtitles. At one stage, Nir talks about the power of outreach and giving books and CDs to people. We sincerely thank the Chagvei HaSela organization of Tiberias for preparing this wonderful film, "The Seal of Truth."

This week's Torah portion is Mattot. Here's wishing you a wonderful Shabbat and weekend.

The Rise of Mister V

veneer - a superficially or deceptively attractive appearance, display, or effect (Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, pg. 1387)

barak (Hebrew) - lightning; flash; glitter, shine; veneer

Image, left: Israeli President Peres with Obama, "Mister V"

Mister V is a great code-name for Bara(c)k Hussein Obama for two "V" reasons: First, according to the way we're reading the spiritual map, BHO will be victorious in the upcoming Presidential election. That's right, it looks like he'll be the next President of the United States. Second, he's got the best veneer in town, a smile that Colgate or Crest would pay millions for, and a kaleidoscopic tongue that plays whatever music his listeners want to hear.

Hashem makes drastic changes overnight to expedite the process of Geula, the full redemption of our people. Overnight, an insignificant beer-guzzling Austrian barstool-jockey corporal named Adolph Shicklegruber (aka Hitler) came out of nowhere to become the Fuhrer - the absolute dictator of Europe's most cultured nation that also overnight turned into a country of bloodthirsty savages.

Mister V is part of the Geula blueprint. Hashem took him out of nowhere too. He hasn't even finished his freshman term in the Senate, and he's already the Dem's candidate for 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW. How did it happen?

On July 27th, 2004 Senate candidate Barack Obama spoke to delegates during the Democratic National Convention in Boston.  Some call it "The Speech", a 17 minute star-making turn.  Obama walked on stage an unknown, and walked off as a star. Four months after the convention, Obama won the U.S. Senate seat in a landslide.

Now hear this: July 27th, 2004 was the 9th day of the Hebrew month of Av, "Tisha B'Av." This is a perpetual day of calamity for the Jewish people when among other disasters, both Holy Temples in Jerusalem were destroyed.

Mister V, finishing up his glittering tour of Israel today, has wrapped all the anti-emuna feeble-brained politicians around his pinky finger. Abu Mazen and Said Ereket of the Palestinian Authority are dying for Mister V to be elected. We know all the triple talk that he said to the Jews, but we don't know a thing of what he said to the Arabs. I wonder why they're so fond of him...

Your friend Lazer says once again that it's high time for teshuva. By teshuva, I don't mean simply going through the motions of Jewish rituals, but establishing a sincere and personal relationship with Hashem.

Don't think that the rocky road to redemption is only our problem over here in Israel. Many thousands of people are waking up here, for there's no lack of stimuli. But, if our beloved brothers and sisters outside of Israel don't wake up on their own, then the Global Jihad just might remind them that it's time to return to Hashem.

Here's a Geula prediction: Mister V will negotiate (and be buddies) with Iran, Syria, and everyone else, and Israel will stand alone with no one to turn to but Hashem. I like Mister V because I'm looking forward to that day. Wait and see how emuna will win and reign. This is getting exciting.

Emuna News OpEd: Cop in Every Cupboard

Less than three weeks after a terrorist-driven bulldozer killed three and maimed dozens in Jerusalem, an almost carbon-copy attack took place in another downtown area of Jerusalem hours ago, directly across the street from the King David hotel.

Like it or not, terrorist attacks are the result of stern judgments incurred by our transgressions. They don't happen for no reason. The arena of today's attack is the exact location of last month's abomination called the gay-pride parade. Coincidence? There's no such thing in Hashem's universe. You may recall that we wrote, "Jerusalem is Hashem's palace, but with 2,000 unclad gays flaunting their debauchery in the streets of Jerusalem, Hashem won't be there. When Hashem leaves, the Samech-mem (Satan) walks in the front door... a bulldozer gone berserk - is proof that the Satan himself planned the attack."

Unfortunately, nothing has changed. Rather than ask themselves what the nature of Hashem's message is and respond accordingly with national tshuva, a strengthening of holiness, and a firm commitment to improve, the anti-emuna regime and its internal security organ have come up with other conclusions: just as they sent 2000 cops to protect the 2000 gays against the 25 demonstrators, they now plan to send 2000 cops to police the building sites where Arab workers are employed. This in their opinion will stop terror.

It's scary how inane people are without emuna. No teshuva. No modesty. No asking Hashem's forgiveness. Continued corruption. Business as usual. Eureka, more cops! That's the answer!?! Do PM Olmert and internal security Minister Dichter believe that they can assign a cop to every angel of vengeance that Hashem sends to arouse and/or discipline a nation that snores in a deep spiritual slumber? At this rate, there will soon be a cop in every cupboard - Heaven forbid, this is what's called anti-emuna prosperity.

When people live their lives according to Torah, one doesn't need a single cop on the street. Quality of life means that you don't have to lock your front door, because there are no terrorists and no thieves.

Doesn't anyone understand that we are in serious trouble, and that there's no solution other than teshuva? Nobody seems to care. That's what scares me more than the terror. G-d forbid, if we don't wake up now and cry out to Hashem, especially during this period of the Three Weeks, who knows what subsequent wake-up calls could be?

Teshuva in every heart is a lot better than a cop in every cupboard.

Emuna News Analysis: Red, White & Blue Sellout

US Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman and the Pentagon's top military officer Admiral Mike Mullen was asked about a potential military flare-up with Iran. He answered, "Right now I'm fighting two wars and I don't need a third one." According to his answer, one might think that Admiral Mullen is fighting the war in Iraq and Afghanistan by himself. But, despite Mullen's annoying egotistical tone, here's food for thought: Iraq is no match for Syria and the Taliban in Afghanistan couldn't defeat the Hizbulla in Lebanon. Without even thinking about Palestinian terror from the Hamastan in Gaza and from the PA in Judea and Samaria, Israel has a more difficult struggle than the USA. Yet, I've never heard Gabi Ashkenazi or any other Israeli Commander in Chief cry and complain, "I'm fighting two wars." Obviously, Mullen's inane comment is policy filtering down from his bosses, namely that a red, white, and blue sellout of Israel is underway. The USA is backing down big-time from the much more cunning Persian bear.

Anti-Israel and pro-Iran lobbies on Capital Hill are celebrating the first fruits of the US change in policy. Despite Bush's declaration two months ago that the US wouldn't negotiate with terrorists and radicals, all of a sudden you have US Undersecretary of State William Burns sitting with Iranian negotiators at the seven-nation nuclear talks in Geneva this past week. Iranian basketball players are now playing in the USA, remindful of the ping-pong diplomacy with China. What has happened?

A Druze scout who I once did recon maneuvers with told me an old Arab expression: "If you want to stab your enemy in the heart, don't fight him. Hug him, then gently insert the dagger into his chest."

In like manner, Achmedinejad has laid a classic trap for the naive USA. All of a sudden, Ahmadinejad's aide, Iranian vice president Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie, declared several days ago that "today, Iran is friends with the American and Israeli people. No nation in the world is our enemy, this is an honor." Iran won't stop enriching uranium or building nuclear weapons. But, she's softening the American stance with flattery. Bush, Mullen, Condi, and everybody else has already declared that America won't attack Iran. The futures market went crazy celebrating the new no-more-war message from Tehran. This caused a drop in crude oil prices from $143/barrel to $128/barrel - big money in America's pocket. Behind closed doors, the rednecks in the State Department will tell you that it's cheaper to burn Jews than burn oil. The Iranians have decided to be "nice" to Uncle Sam, who will in turn close his eyes to continued Iranian nuclear development. Down the road, the Ayatollas will slip a dagger into the heart of the USA - wait and see. The USA needs Israel 50 times more than Israel needs the USA - this is the spiritual truth. It could be that America's only right to exist is because of her support of Israel. If she doesn't support Israel, then she just might bcome superfluous in the world. Think about it.

* * * * *

British PM Gordon Brown made a big deal also of about how much of a friend of Israel he is, but also made big waves about freezing the "settlements." He hasn't learned from Condi and Bush. Maybe he wants some floods or other natural catastrophes in his home country? Mr. Brown, please go home to your tea and crumpets, and don't tell the sons of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob where they can live in the Holy Land or where they can't.

* * * * *

America's double-talk is bipartisan. Mr. McCain and Hawaja Barack Hussein Abu-ama, we don't need your empty declarations of support. FDR allowed the first holocaust, and neither of you will lift a finger to avoid a second, G-d forbid. When it comes down to nuclear hi-noon, we won't be able to trust anyone but Hashem. This actually makes me happy that the USA is pulling their support, because the worst-case scenario from an emuna standpoint is if we trust flesh and blood to protect us.

If America is selling us down the river, then that's just fine, for everything Hashem does is for the very best. Don't forget though, the weeds of appeasement will come back to haunt America. In a few years, Iran will have a nuclear missile that can hit New York City. Now you worry, America. I'm going to sleep, because I live in the safest place on earth - right here under Hashem's protective wings. Nighty-night. Shma Yisrael...

Heart of Stone

We have now entered the period of The Three Weeks, and we pray that Hashem will turn our mourning into the joy of redemption, amen.

Are we really ashamed of our misdeeds to the point of embarrassment when we face Hashem? Rebbe Nachman told Rebbe Natan that true shame and remorse for a misdeed means that someone stands before Hashem in prayer and his cheeks burn from embarrassment. Can we say this about ourselves? If our cheeks don’t burn, then it’s a sign that we’re not really embarrassed by our sins. If one isn’t ashamed of oneself, then there’s no remorse. If there’s no remorse, there’s no teshuva. If there's no teshuva, then we're stuck in the muck and mire of exile and diaspora, and there's no geula (redemption). Only the trues tzaddik can get our national and personal wagons out of the mud, as Rav Shalom Arush explains in the Heart of Stone, part 2 of our "Connecting to the Tzaddik" series.

The nightmarish Iranian state-of-the-art Shahab 3 rocket, with a warhead of one ton and a range of 2000 kilometers, can be a fiery meteor that shrieks down from the heavens or an illuminating bright star, depending on who you are. Read about the Shrieking Shahab, my editorial this week at BreslovWorld, Breslev Israel's English website. If you're more comfortable in Hebrew, then see the article here at Breslev Israel's Hebrew site.

Rebbe Nachman honored the women of his family. Due to his mother's great spiritual merits, the Rebbe asked that we refer to him as “Nachman Ben Feige.” Read about Feige the Prophetess in Part 2 of Rabbi Dovid Sears' wonderful series about Women in Breslev.

Here's another special treat that no one will want to miss. The Melitzer Rebbetzen reveals some amazing intimate details about “The Rov”, her husband the Melitzer Rebbe shlit'a, and explains what the term “Torah scholar” really means.

Part 3 of our Hevron Series features two wonderful stories about the City of our Patriarchs. Did you know that Hevron brides wear an iron chain with the key to the Machpela cave around their neck when they get married? Read all about it in The Iron Necklace.

In our Kosher Primer series, Rabbi Yaakov Luban of the OU explains the basic of Kosher Meat.

Do missionaries buzz around your front door like pesterous flies? Alice Jonsson tells you what to do about it in Sorry, Mister Missionary. A must read...

Attention all Breslev Kids! Little Nachman shows you this week how you can talk to Hashem in your own words! Even if you don't yet know how to read, you can still pray to Hashem as much as you want and whenever you want. Isn't that great?!

This week's Torah portion is Matot. Breslev Israel, BreslovWorld, and the Beams wish you a bright and bubbly week with beaucoups of blessings.

The Geula: Ever so Close

It's all coming down. The various prophecies about the Geula (the full redemption of our people) that appear throughout the Gemara have been fulfilled to the letter. So why is Hashem prolonging the exile?

Rebbe Nachman of Breslev says (Likutei Moharan I:7), that the exile and diaspora are perpetuated because of a lack of emuna. For that reason, Rav Shalom Arush and I have dedicated our lives to spreading emuna in the world.

Emuna Outreach is doing everything in its power to make emuna books and CDs readily accessible to everyone. Despite the fact the the dollar has lost 26% in value during this past year, we haven't raised prices. How? We've been working day and night to find less expensive alternatives for our printing and CD recording, and we've been printing in much greater amounts. All these savings have been passed on to our consumers. Thanks to our wonderful supporters, we've not only sent spiritual care packages of books and CDs to border settlements, to the spiritual rehab program of local prisons, and not only to the IDF, but also to the US forces in Iraq, Afghanistan, and more recently to Korea.

Now, we're taking another step forward for our private consumers. We have separated the shipping expenses from the book and CD prices. So, all unit prices are lower. On top of that, Emuna Outreach is now providing free international airmail shipping to anywhere in the world for orders over $25. For orders over $150, Emuna Outreach is providing free EMS (4-business-day) shipping.

As you'll notice on the top right-hand toolbar, we now have sets of 20 CDs each packed in an attractive CD carrying case and also at a considerable discount.

Rav Shalom Arush says that the greatest lovingkindness a person can do in this generation is to help someone strengthen emuna. Today, that's a simple mitzva - just hand the person an emuna CD or a copy of The Garden of Emuna.

The faster we spread emuna, the quicker we'll see our own personal redemption, as well as the national redemption of our people, very soon, amen!