Lazer Beams

L'Shana Tova Tikatevu - Happy New Year 5769

 

Ki Va Moed: The Appointed Time has Come

King David says to Hashem (Psalms 102:14), "You shall arise and comfort Zion for it's time to pardon her, for the appointed time has come."

Ki Va Moed means "the appointed time has come." When all the people of the world call begin to call Hashem's name, then you know that Moshiach is near. When you see the Ray Chews Boys' Ensemble from Harlem singing it in the original Hebrew, then you had better purchase your plane tickets to the Holy Land right away. Emuna Outreach salutes the Chabad Telethon for this magnificent sanctification of Hashem's name. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do. Big Beam blessings to Rafi W. from Chashmonaim for his contribution to this post. 

This week's Torah portion is Nitzavim. Warm regards from the chilly Ukraine and blessings for a wonderful Shabbat.

Gerrer Rebbe shlit'a on davening in Uman

Last year, during a convention of the leading educators in the Gerrer cheder (elementary educational - LB) network, the Gerrer Rebbe shlit'a told the participants: "Too bad we don't have a place in Eretz Yisroel where our children can see davening (praying - LB) like in Uman!"

Guardians of Jerusalem

With external threats and internal Israeli politicals up in the air, many folks are asking me what'll be the fate of Jerusalem, and particularly of our holy Western Wall remnant of our sacred Temple. This new "Lazer Beams" cartoon by Disney artist Baruch Becker from LA provides the answer:

 

In case you're new to the Beams, the two characters above are Rabbi Lazer on the left and Emuna Outreach mascot Nachman Emuna on the right. Emuna Outreach and the Beams send our blessings and heartfelt appreciation to Baruch Becker, and pray that Hashem grants him all his heart's wishes for the very best, amen.

Praying with Intent

Dear Rabbi Lazer,

What can one do to maintain intent while praying? It is not mundane matters that enter my mind, but all the troubling thoughts of what the many threats that face us at the moment. I try to concentarte on with the prayer book, but at the same time, I hear my mind asking all these other questions of Hashem for help with all my personal challenges and with Israel's challenges in general. I also have this trauma because our apartment was badly damaged during one of the rocket attacks in Tzfat two years ago (thank G-d, my husband, three children and I came out without a scratch). I struggle to stay focused on the words before me, yet cry because all these other emotions are running through me at the same time. What do I do? Thanks for your availability and your help, with best wishes for the New year 5769, Ilana from Tzfat

Dear Ilana,

I know it sounds like my personal mantra, but the only solution is emuna. The more we strengthen our emuna, the more we realize that we are standing before Hashem and that He is personally listening to everything we say. The more we feel that we are standing before Hashem and that He is personally listening to everything we say, the better our intent during prayer. We should always remember that Hashem does everything for the best, whether or not we understand how or why. This will take the worry off your mind. Don't forget that emuna needs constant reinforcement - this is our major test in the generation of Moshiach. Blessings for a Ktiva V'chatima Tova and a Happy New Year, LB

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Here's a reminder that our weekly Emuna Update on Tamar Yonah's weekend edition of Israel National Radio is every Sunday at 3:10 PM Israel time (8:10 AM EDT).

Uman, Uman

G-d willing, I'll be in the Ukraine for Rosh Hashanah from Wednesday, Sept. 24 until Friday, October 3, 2008. The Emuna Outreach office will be closed during the above dates, so any book and CD orders received after 2 AM EDT Tuesday, Sept. 23, won't be mailed and processed until October 5th. So, please get your book and CD orders in early.

With Hashem's help, I'll be saying two public shiurim (lessons) in Uman, and will post the exact times after Shabbat.

This week's Shabbat portion is Ki Tavo. Selichot for Ashkenazim begin on Saturday night. Check your local synagogue for prayer times. Have a wonderful Shabbat and weekend!

An Open Letter to Tzipi Livni

B"H

Dear Ms. Livni,

When you arrived at the Kotel, the Western Wall remant of our Holy Temple in Old Jerusalem this past Tuesday night with your husband, I had just finished my hour of personal prayer. I was begging Hashem for the future of the People of Israel in the Land of Israel and particularly that the holy places in our Holy Land remain in Jewish hands forever.

The humble and unobtrusive manner that you arrived at the Wall were clear indications of your sincerity. Unlike Mr. Obama from the USA that visited the Wall recently, no one escorted you except for your husband and a few bodyguards that must accompany our Government Ministers by law. There were no shutters clicking and flashes flashing, and no bevy of reporters at your heels. You were facing a major milestone in your life, and you turned to Hashem. That's what emuna is all about. Your visit to the wall took a lot of flak from the rightwingers (who accuse you of being soft in negotiations) and ridicule from the leftwingers (who suffer from the psychosis of Jewish self-hate). But on this issue, you have my wholehearted backing. As a daughter of Israel, you have as much right as anyone else to visit the Kotel and turn to Hashem whenever you want. Indeed, this is not only a Jew's right but his or her duty as well.

Despite the pollsters who predicted a landslide victory, you won the Kadima primaries by a mere 431 votes, a 1% margin. This was no doubt a gift to you from Hashem in return for the sanctification of His name. Hashem listens to prayers.

I'm not asking you to cover your hair and become Orthodox, or to change one iota of your lifestyle. We both know that there're still many obstacles ahead before you become Prime Minister. All I ask is one thing, and if you listen to me, I guarantee you success in everything you do. Bring Emuna into your life, and subsequently into the Prime Minister's Office once you get there. Sound cryptic? I'll explain: say a short prayer in your own words before everything you do. Before you meet with other party heads, say a one-minute personal prayer, like this: "Hashem, help me negotiate a new coalition for the Government of Israel. Let us be worthy messengers for Your Holy Land and for Your beloved sons and daughters. Let us be just and fair to the non-Jewish residents of our country, and help me avoid the pitfalls of corrupt coalition partners. Give me wisdom and good advice, and bless my efforts..."

In the above manner, take a few seconds to say a short prayer before everything you do. Prayer will make you stronger than all the macho men that you defeated in the primaries. It will also give you the courage to deal with Israel's cruel enemies who have no interest in peace.

Please remember that Hashem runs the world. Don't let foreign leaders - especially apparent allies - intimidate you. All you have to do is to call Hashem's name and He'll be right there with you. We all make mistakes but the month of Elul is a great time to declare a new beginning. By adding emuna to your private and public life, you will not only become Prime Minister, but you will succeed as well.

With blessings for an inscription in the Book of Life for a wonderful New Year, 5769, Lazer Brody

Without Prayer... - Video Rerun of 17 Sept. Lesson in Jerusalem

Breslev Israel and Lazer Beams are delighted to share with you the video replay of yesterday's live Rabbi Lazer broadcast lesson in the Chut Shel Chesed Yeshiva, entitled "Without Prayer, Without Hashem." Fortunately, the opposite is also true - with prayer, you're right there with Hashem. 

See and hear the video here.

Our next live lesson will be after the High Holidays, G-d willing. Blessings for a wonderful New Year 5769.

Wednesday, 17 Sep: Live from Chut Shel Chesed in Jerusalem!

Today's live broadcasts from the Chut Shel Chesed Yeshiva in Jerusalem:

5 PM (10 AM EDT): Rabbi Lazer Brody's lesson in English - live!

9 PM (2 PM EDT): Rabbi Shalom Arush's broadcast in Hebrew - live!

To view the live broadcast, click here. For those who miss the live broadcast, a separate archive link will be posted tomorrow, G-d willing.

The Jerusalem area public is invited to attend these shiurim at the Yeshiva, 13 Shmuel HaNavi Street. The women's section will be open too.

Hot Investments

For the last two years, as many of you know, I've been telling those who have asked me to sell their investments and/or real estate in the USA, and to purchase real estate here in Israel. With the acute housing shortage here, real estate prices are shooting sky high. Flats in Ramat Bet Shemesh for example are today worth almost double of what they were selling for two years ago. Now, with the economic crisis, investing in Israeli real estate makes all the more sense, especially since everyone will be clamoring for a place to live here as soon as Moshiach reveals himself.

I can't take credit for the successful advice - Rabbi Eliezer Berland and Rabbi Shalom Arush are on record nearly a year ago for predicting that a major economic crisis would hit the USA right before Rosh Hashanah, 5769 - in other words, now. Today alone, the US Dollar dropped nearly 4% from 3.61 to 3.49.

The closer we get to Moshiach, the more material entities will utterly lose their value. Therefore, one would be best advised to start investing more in spirituality. Emuna is something that will always protect and comfort you, and that no one can ever take away from you. The dollar is the opposite - it will disappoint you and never be faithful to you. Rebbe Nachman used to say that one of two things happens to money - either the money is taken away from the person or the person is taken away from the money. But, they never stay together. Your Torah and your emuna will never leave you. Take your pick.