Lazer Beams

Moral Responsibility

There's a term that's seriously lacking in the lexicon of Israel's anti-emuna self-serving regime that's built on corruption and personal gain: Moral responsibility. Where there are no morals, there's no responsibility.

Despite the successive fiascoes of the Disengagement from Jewish Gaza, the failure to protect Sderot and Ashkelon from constant Hamastan missile fire, the total failure of the Defense establishment in the Second Lebanon War, and unprecedented corruption, those responsible continue to warm their padded Israeli-government chairs.

Indian Home Minister Shivraj Patil was a lot less responsible for the terrorist attack in Mumbai than Olmert, Barak, and Livni and their anti-emuna cronies are for the total deterioration of Israel's deterrent power and failure to protect its citizens. Yet, Patil took complete moral responsibility and resigned this morning. Unfortunately, Moral Responsibility is a headline that you'll never see in the decadent anti-emuna annals of Israel's current coalition and those infamous parties that comprise it.

Moyshel'e, You're an Orphan

Moyshel'e Holtzberg (photo, left, AP via Jerusalem Post) keeps bleating like a little lamb, "Mommy" and "Totty." But Mommy and Totty - Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and Rebbetzen Rivka - are no longer in the flesh, may Hashem avenge their sacred and martyred souls. The bitter word of their murder at the hands of bloodthirsty subhuman forces of darkness reached us in Israel as soon as we departed from the sacred Sabbath. Moyshel'e, with his irresistable belkalech (fleshy little cheeks) will soon celebrate his second birthday as an orphan.

Here is a list of Rabbi Gavriel's and Rebbetzin Rivka's "crimes":

* The gave up a cushy living in the West to live in the primitive and difficult conditions of India.

* They dedicated their lives to Jewish Outreach.

* They devoted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to uplifting lost souls.

* They were Jewish.

* They were Lubavitcher Chassidim.

* They had American and Israeli passports.

People are already writing me and asking me what we can do to sanctify the memories of Rabbi Gavriel and Rebbetzen Rivka, may Hashem avenge their sacred and martyred souls. The answer is simple - continue their legacy. Do whatever you can for Jewish Outreach. If you're not Jewish, then spread the seven Noahide commandments. Send links to leading Jewish websites to all your friends, family, and acquaintances, especially those who haven't yet discovered the sweetness of emuna and a true and meaningful connection with Hashem. Help spread the word and hasten the full redemption of our people. This is the least we can do for the martyred Holtzbergs.

Moyshel'e, you're an orphan. But when you grow up, you'll realize that your parents helped make this world a better place. They were brave front-line soldiers in the war for redemption. One thing I can promise you - thousands of Jewish Outreach activists will raise your parents' fallen torch. We won't rest until Moshiach comes and Hashem revives the dead as He promised. Soon, G-d willing, your parents will return to take you in their loving arms, amen.

Just and Lasting Peace

The only way to achieve a just and lasting peace in the world is by emuna. With pure and complete emuna, a person knows that everything in his or her life all comes from Hashem and is all for the best. Such a person bears no malice toward any other human on earth. As such, real peace is one of the wonderful outcomes of real emuna.

Here's my cherished friend and spiritual brother Menachem Herman singing "Oseh Shalom," the Peace Song, at one of our recent Emuna Fests here in Israel. The Beams and Emuna Outreach send Menachem, his very special wife Shira, and their son Yaacov Moshe a hearty "Mazal Tov" on the occasion of the Yaacov Moshe's engagement a few hours ago to Sarah, the daughter of Rabbi and Mrs. Dov Goldstein from Ramat Bet Shemesh Aleph. May Hashem bless the young couple and their parents with all the joy in the world, amen.

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

Rabbi and Wife Held by Terrorists in Chabad House

Gabriel Holtzberg, 30, the Chabad Outreach rabbi in Mumbai, India, and his wife Rivka, 28  - together with another 10-15 Israelis - are currently held hostage by Islamofascist terrorists in Mumbai. They're situation is gravely dangerous. Please join the Beams, Emuna Outreach, and Breslev Israel in praying for their safety. Their names are Gavriel Noach ben Freida Bluma and Rivkah bat Yehudit. May Hashem deliver them to freedom together with all their brethren in captivity around the world, amen.

Stress Management

The deeper the world sinks into recession, the more stress-related SOS emails I receive.

HERE'S A WORD ABOUT STRESS MANAGEMENT:

Dealing with stress without emuna and spiritual awareness is like trying to run a marathon when you're fifty pounds overweight - you'd fall on your face after fifty meters! Modern 24/7 lifestyles cause the bulk of our stress. Yet, the same lifestyle that sorely needs the tools of emuna and spirituality in order to cope - scoffs at those very tools! That's the same as laughing at a person with a heart condition because he or she wears a pacemaker.

So what happens? The folks who try to handle stress without emuna end up drinking, smoking, popping pills, spending a fortune on analysis, overeating, losing their health,or a combination of the aforementioned.

There's no need to succumb to stress. Yesterday, I received the following e-mail from a Canadian who has been reading our books and listening to our CDs for the last eight months or so:

Dear Rabbi Lazer,

Yesterday was our anniversary. With the money I saved on analysis and pills during the past six months, thanks to the Beams (which both my wife and I read with our morning coffee), The Garden of Emuna, and The Trail to Tranquility, I bought my wife a diamond ring. She's on cloud nine! Thanks from the both of us, CG from Vancouver

Basically, all CG and his wife did was to add The Almighty to their lives. Together, they began having a restive and enjoyable wind-down on the Sabbath, and they turned their 24/7 lifestyle of separate and parallel lives into a 24/6 lifestyle, where the 7th day is one of intimacy and family togetherness. That alone did wonders for their marriage and took a major load of stress off their shoulders.

With emuna - real emuna, not the rote rituality or superficial declaration-of-faith religion - you can beat stress too. Your wife also deserves a glittering flawless one-carat diamond on her finger.

Don't Ignore the Dent

30 Oct., 2008

Dear Rabbi Brody,

I enjoy your teachings, especially the effect that The Trail to Tranquility has had on my husband, who is much calmer and nicer since he read your book. So, this is the first time I am writing to you for personal help.

Lately, I've been accident prone. I have a one year-old Toyota, and lately I seem to be making little mistakes all the time - parking the car in the rain and dark, and bumping the rear of the car into a pole; rushing while driving my children to music lessons, and the tire hit the curb and the tire cover popped off; pulling out into traffic, and I lightly grazed a fence and now have a streak on the side of the car.

None of these incidents involved harming myself, anyone else, or anyone else's car (thank G-d!), they are purely incidents of damage that I have done - completely inadvertently, but clearly, something is going on! I was actually distressed by how nice  my husband has been - I thought he should yell at me and tell me to be more careful, slow down, why aren't you taking better care of our car?  But he has been downright kind!

I've prayed for help in understanding what these small, but clearly repetitive, mistakes mean, but I haven't received any answers. In your opinion, what should I do?

In general, B"H, I am modern Orthodox, 38 years old, married happily for 15 years to a better-than-ever husband, we have 4 beautiful daughters, and we are blessed with an adequate income. I am grateful for all of these blessings, and in general, I am a happy person. This is the one area I need help with. With appreciation for your advice and help, Suzanne R., Midwest USA

* * * * *

B"H, 31 Oct., 2008

Dear Suzanne,

These are personal wake-up calls from Hashem to catch your attention. The dents in the car (blemishes in the machine's outer appearance) indicate that you have things to fix in your outer appearance. Without knowing you personally, I'd say that the repeated mishaps are probably a call to improve your modesty in dress and head covering. Blessings always, LB

* * * * *

23 Nov., 2008

Dear Rabbi Brody,

I want to thank you for your note from October 31st. You had no way of knowing this, but I hadn't been covering my hair at all. After I received your note, it all fell into place: I decided it was time to buy some head-coverings.

The next day when I drove home from work with my head covered for the first time, I had a co-worker with me. As soon as I entered the highway, she said, "Slow down! The speed limit on this road it 50, not 60, and you might get a ticket." I felt Hashem's love and protection being channelled through my friend, and I immediately relaxed and drove more slowly.  Thank G-d, I haven't had any incidents with the car since.

So thank you very much for your advice. It helped me a great deal. Most sincerely, Suzanne

Beware of Borrowing

With the world slipping into a recession and everyone feeling the economic crunch, one must especially Beware of Borrowing money.

A true leader must be A Man of Compassion.

One has to admire the optimism of the American populace, who are Hopefully Hopeful.

The terror that many Israelis are forced to live with on a daily basis seems far removed to someone drinking his morning coffee and reading the newspaper in Golders Green, Great Neck or in Southfield. With the current Gaza ceasefire crumbling, here's a glimpse how Missiles in Ashkelon affect a family and their child. This is something you won't see on CNN or on Fox News...

In Kabbalah, we start learning about Adam Kadmon. The Rambam teaches us how to Safeguard our Health. In addition, we have our fifth lesson in Family Purity.

Did you ever ask yourself Why Uman?

For Breslev Kids, there's a new episode of The Boastful Buck.

This week's Torah portion is Toldot. Breslev Israel and the Beams wish you a wonderful week.

College Crossroads

Dear Rabbi Brody,

I am a 20-year-old college sophomore in the US, and lately I have been worrying about whether or not I am on the right path in life. I know I'm still young, but I feel I am ready to be married and start a family, and I live somewhere with very few Jewish males, none of whom are particularly religious. While I've always pictured myself as finishing college, lately I am not sure if this is the right thing to do. I was always an excellent student but lately I have been having a very difficult time finishing assignments because my mind is elsewhere, and even so, the liberal arts program I'm in is not likely to lead to many career opportunities. Also, so unbelievably many random things keep going wrong, making it more difficult to continue in school, and I don't know whether to take this as a sign from Hashem that maybe I should head in a different direction, or just as another challenge in life to overcome. I don't want to waste any more time if this is not what I should be doing with my life, and end up unmarried, having wasted what should be an exciting time in life on unfruitful studes. Should I spend at least the next two and a half years finishing my BA degree, or is it time to change directions? I would greatly appreciate any advice you might offer. Thank you so much for your time.

Wishing you happiness always like you make others happy,
Alicia in the western USA

Dear Alicia,

Good girl - you've done a good job of understanding the messages that Hashem has sent you. It's definitely time for you to seriously search for the right person and to raise a family.

The restlessness in your soul is straight from Hashem. A liberal arts program in a university is a waste of your valuable time and money. As far as a livelihood goes, you can take one of many inexpensive aptitude tests available on the web, determine a skill you like, and then pursue a six-month occupational course, such as computers, graphic design, dental tech, or whatever. So, I recommend that you check out of university, move to an area where there are Jewish studies for women your age, and then simultaneously strengthen your Judaism and acquire an occupational skill.

On the other hand, my blue-chip advice for you would be to come to Israel, enroll in a women's seminar for Jewish Studies such as Midreshet Beerot Bat Ayin which I'm sure you'll love, or EYHAT (Aish Hatora women's seminary) or Neve Yerushalayim as possible alternatives. That way you'll be able to strengthen your Judaism and find the exact guy you want. You'll be a smashing success, G-d willing. May Hashem bless you and lead you in the right path. Feel free to write. With blessings, LB

Garden of Emuna Shiur, Part 1

Join us in the Midreshet Beerot, the Bat Ayin Women's Seminary, for our Garden of Emuna Lecture series:

Discrimination, Scan Style

 Copenhagen - time for Denmark's 7000 Jews to read the writing on the wall? 

Scandinavia has traditionally been known for its amicable liberalism of freedom. That's true in many ways, as long as you're not Jewish.

Sweden that prides itself on religious freedom is actually vigorously anti-Jewish. Jewish ritual slaughter of kosher meat (shechita) is against the law in Sweden and in Norway. Furthermore, a certified Jewish mohel may not perform a brit (ritual circumcision) in Sweden unless a medical doctor and an anesthesia nurse are looking over the mohel's shoulder. If that's not enough, reported anti-semitic crimes have been on a steady rise in Sweden since the 1990's.

Now, Denmark is joining the anti-Jewish bandwagon. The Copenhagen Post reports a new proposal on its way to Parliament that would outlaw mail circumcision.

Everything Hashem does is for the very best. A Jew cannot possibly live in a place where brit mila is outlawed. This is our holy covenant with Hashem, a mitzva that we have martyred ourselves to preserve since the dawn of Jewish history. The bare truth is that outlawing circumcison is a de facto prohibition of Judaism.

It's high time that our 7000 beloved brethren in the benevolent butter-cookie diaspora of Denmark read the writing on the wall and come home to the Land of their Forefathers while they still can. Hashem wants you here.