Lazer Beams

Calling up the Emuna Reserves

12:40 PM - I just spoke with Rav Shalom Arush on the phone; two busloads of Chut shel Chesed Yeshiva students are on the way to Ashdod, and will be handing out free emuna books and CDs to strengthen and encourage those who have been under missile attack for the past 3 days. Only emuna will win this war.

Emuna Outreach is distributing free emuna books for children of English-speaking families and free "chizuk" books for Hebrew-speaking families in the south of Israel within a 20-mile radius of Gaza. If you're in the vicinity of Sderot, Ofakim, Netivot, Ashkelon, Ashdod, send an email to Emuna Outreach to get your copy, while the supply lasts.

Emuna News bulletin: Two Katyusha Missile Attacks in Ashdod

During 9 and 11 PM Israel time Monday night, alarm sirens sounded twice, giving us 45 seconds to prepare for the unthinkable. As opposed to the missiles that fell here on Sunday, this evening's barrage was very close; one of them was a mere half a mile down the road from our house. The explosions were still loud and distinct. One woman has been killed, her sister seriously wounded, and 3 others have been slightly wounded from a Katyusha that fell near a bus stop. All in all, four missiles have hit Ashdod in the last three hours. We cannot say exactly where, because any info could be feedback to the Hamas as to the accuracy of their firing. I can say one thing - this is no joke and the Katyusha (GRAD) fire is critically dangerous.

At this point, none of our children in the neighborhood are sleeping. The explosions are frightening enough for combat-seasoned adults. We're teaching our little ones emuna under fire - a cup of hot chocolate, a story, and Shma Yisrael. With Hashem's help, they'll emerge from this with a strong inoculation of faith.

The type of rockets that are striking Ashdod are much bigger and more deadly than the homemade Qassam type that is fired in the Gaza-vicinity settlements. The 122 mm GRAD/Katyushas with a 36 km range that can reach Ashdod carry about 20 lbs of TNT and a 30-lb warhead.

May Hashem protect us, and may we hear good tidings, amen.

Operation Cast Lead: Sirens in Ashdod

Operation "Cast Lead" began today in Gaza, destroying Hamas security compounds in Gaza.

Over 60 IAF planes attacked Gaza. As the planes begin their 40-60 second bomb-run descent over my hometown of Ashdod, we always know when something is brewing. There's a distinct difference in the whine of the jet engines when they're on a patrol or maneuver and when it's the real deal. At the Melitzer synagogue in Ashdod, we were in the middle of the Torah reading at exactly 11:13 AM Shabbat morning when dozens of jets flew overhead southward toward Gaza, some 24 km (15 miles) away. Since the IDF doesn't perform maneuvers on Shabbat, we had all the more reason to believe that the age of restraint was now coming to an end.

The Israeli airstrike was deadly accurate, destroying several Hamas training camps and even bombarding a Hamas terrorist graduation ceremony. The badly bleeding Hamas countered by firing dozens of Qassam rockets and Grad (Katyusha) missiles.

At 2:10 PM, while I was walking home from my Shabbat afternoon hitbodedut (personal prayer session), the Color-Red Warning Siren went off for the first time in Ashdod. An unconfirmed report here said that a Grad missile fell in the sand dunes about a mile south of the southern entrance to Ashdod, near a shopping mall that's open on Shabbat. Grad missiles also fell for the first time in Kiryat Gat. Beber Vaknin of blessed memory was killed in Netivot. More than 80 missiles and mortar shells rained on communities here in the south of Israel. One synagogue received a direct hit.

Now is the time for unity. We pray that Hashem gives our leaders the necessary wisdom to make the best decisions. We also pray for the success and safety of our soldiers as well as for the welfare of our citizens within rocket range from Gaza.

I have a feeling that's difficult to substantiate or to put into words; my heart tells me that Operation Cast Lead is a significant stepping stone toward the full redemption of our people. Time will tell.

Aishet Chayil: A Woman of Valor

A Woman of Valor, called Aishet Chayil in Hebrew, is a hymn which is customarily recited on Friday evenings, after coming home from synagogue. Aishet Chayil is a twenty-two verse sonnet that King Solomon wrote as a conclusion to the book of Proverbs (Proverbs, chapter 31). The verses of the sonnet are arranged in the order of the Hebrew alphabet, from Aleph to Tav. It praises the woman of valor as virtuous, righteous, and capable. According to the Midrash, Aishet Chayil was originally composed by our forefather Abraham as a eulogy for his wife Sarah.

Singing Aishet Chayil at the Shabbat table after Shalom Aleichem and before Kiddush is very conducive to marital bliss. It's a lofty way for a husband to display his high regard for and his gratitude to his wife. According to Kabbalah, Aishet Chayil refers to the Shabbat Queen, the spiritual soul-mate of the Jewish people. It is also a reference to the Shechinah (Divine presence) and to the neshama, the soul. The fact that Judaism describes these exalted concepts using the Jewish woman as the metaphor shows the enormous regard that Judaism has for women. Aishet Chayil is a tribute to her.

Yosef Karduner and I recorded the following clip so that you'll be able to sing the original Breslever version of Aishet Chayil at your Shabbat table. For your convenience, below the video player are the complete lyrics in transliteration and in translation.

Aishet chayil mi yimtza v'rachok mip'ninim michrah
An accomplished woman, who can find? Her value is far beyond pearls.

Batach bah lev ba'lah v'shalal lo yechsar
Her husband's heart relies on her and he shall lack no fortune.

G'malathu tov v'lo ra kol y'mei chayeiha
She does him good and not evil, all the days of her life.

Darshah tzemer ufishtim vata'as b'chefetz kapeiha
She seeks wool and flax, and works with her hands willingly.

Haitah ko'oniyot socher mimerchak tavi lachmah
She is like the merchant ships, she brings her bread from afar.

Vatakom b'od lailah vatiten teref l'vetah v'chok l'na'aroteiha
She arises while it is still night, and gives food to her household and a portion to her maidservants.

Zam'mah sadeh vatikachehu mip'ri chapeiha nat'ah karem
She plans for a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

Chagrah v'oz motneiha vat'ametz zro'oteiha
She girds her loins in strength, and makes her arms strong.

Ta'amah ki tov sachrah lo yichbeh balailah nerah
She knows that her merchandise is good. Her candle does not go out at night.

Yadeha shilchah vakishor v'chapeiha tamchu felech
She sets her hands to the distaff, and holds the spindle in her hands.

Kapah parsah le'ani v'yadeiha shil'chah la'evyon
She extends her hands to the poor, and reaches out her hand to the needy.

Lo tira l'vetah mishaleg ki chol betah lavush shanim
She fears not for her household because of snow, because her whole household is warmly dressed.

Marvadim astah lah shesh v'argaman l'vushah
She makes covers for herself, her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Noda bash'arim ba'lah b'shivto im ziknei aretz
Her husband is known at the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.

Sadin astah vatimkor vachagor natnah lak'na'ani
She makes a cloak and sells it, and she delivers aprons to the merchant.

Oz v'hadar l'vushah vatischak l'yom acharon
Strength and honor are her clothing, she smiles at the future.

Piha patchah v'chochma v'torat chesed al l'shonah
She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the lesson of kindness is on her tongue.

Tzofi'ah halichot betah v'lechem atzlut lo tochel
She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Kamu vaneha vay'ash'ruha ba'lah vay'hal'lah
Her children rise and praise her, her husband lauds her.

Rabot banot asu chayil v'at alit al kulanah
Many women have done worthily, but you surpass them all.

Sheker hachen v'hevel hayofi ishah yir'at Hashem hi tit'halal
Charm is deceptive and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears God shall be praised.

T'nu lah mip'ri yadeiha vihal'luha vash'arim ma'aseha
Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

Your wife deserves to hear you sing Aishet Chayil this Shabbat. Wait and see how she smiles at you!

This Shabbat is very special - Shabbat Miketz, Chanuka, and Rosh Chodesh. May your Shabbat Rosh Chodesh Chanuka be especially lovely. Don't forget how much Hashem loves you, and the smile will never leave your face, amen.

New CD Spree

We're delighted to announce the release of 5 new Emuna CDs: We Thank You, My Land of Israel, Without Prayer-Without Hashem, Nonstop Joy, and Talking to Hashem.

The regular price of CDs has gone way down, so take advantage and get some emuna CDs for yourself or for those you care about. Here's a deal you can't resist: For the new discounted price of 3 CDs, you'll receive all 5 of the above new release. Rather than ordering them one by one, order them from the "Emuna Outreach Special Offers" section on our right-hand toolbar.

Here's more good CD news: You can now obtain Yosef Karduner's new Mikdash Melech CD and his classic Road Marks double-length CD for a really low price right here at the Beams. If you buy both, you get an additional discount. Do your soul a favor and feed it Yosef Karduner's music. See the left-hand toolbar to order.

Let Hashem take care of Achmedinejad

Iran needs for the price of crude to be $90/barrel in order to balance its budget. Hashem has knocked the price of crude down to $35 before the futures market closed for winter holiday. With elections coming up and public unrest and disgruntlement on the rise, Achmedinejad is hurtin' for certain, which just goes to show us that we should all do what we're supposed to do, and just let Hashem take care of everything else. Let's get back to our Gemaras...

Gaza: Hashem has put us in a Stalemate

We can't retake Gaza and its 1.5 million people, but we can't go on being sitting ducks to Hamas and Jihad missile attacks. Hashem has put us in a stalemate, as we'll hear on this week's emuna update, courtesy of Israel National Radio and Cookie Dalton.

Emuna News Bulletin: Siege in the South

Over 60 Qassam missiles and Katyusha rockets have been fired in the last 15 hours from Gaza into Southern Israel. The residents of Sderot, Netivot, and Ashkelon as well as the neighboring kibbutzim and moshavim have been in and out of bomb shelters since early this morning. Several homes and a children's playground suffered direct hits, but miraculously, no one has been physically injured. Nevertheless, several dozen children and adults are now being treated in Barzilai Hospital for shock.

What's the spiritual message here? Hashem is waiting for us to turn to Him. We certainly can't depend on anyone else around here...

I wonder what would happen to Mexico if Mexican-government owned and operated terrorists were to fire seven upgraded Katyusha rockets on El Paso, Texas.

Chanuka, 2008: The Struggle against Hellenism

An old Breslever saying says that when one lights Chanuka candles and believes that the miracle of Chanuka only took place once upon a time in history without believing that it's still taking place this very minute, then he isn't properly fulfilling the mitzva.

The Maccabees not only fought against the Greeks, but fought against the assimilationist Jews, then known as Hellenists. The Maccabees, from the Hasmonean family of Cohanim (priests), were virtually the only loyal, steadfast Torah-observant Jews of their time. The Greek occupation of Israel was very benevolent on a physical basis. The Greeks encouraged Jewish participation in all their institutions - athletics, academic, and political. They only outlawed three "tiny" mitzvas - Shabbat, circumcision, and the lunar calendar. Very clever - no Shabbat means no emuna that Hashem created the world. No circumcision means no covenant of holiness and no Jewish identity. No lunar calendar means no Jewish holidays. All three prohibitions meant the death of Judaism, G-d forbid.

99% of the populace assimilated back then. Only the Maccabees and their tiny band of followers remained loyal to Hashem and His Torah.

According to Rebbe Natan of Breslev (see Likutei Halachot, Chanuka, Halacha 2.1), an evil regime is that which attempts to terminate our Divine service and Torah learning. Anyone who harbors a  design to kill Jews certainly qualifies as evil, since a dead person can't serve Hashem or learn Torah. Yet, there's no difference between the Hellenists of today - those who lead what they proudly call "the secular revolution" in Israel, whether it be the media, a political party, or whoever else - and the Hellenists of yesteryear. Both did and do everything in their power to spread hate, especially against Torah-observant Jews, the Torah, and the holy Yeshivot.

Rebbe Natan says that the only way to defeat such evil is through a connection with a powerful tzaddik that has the power of holiness to defeat evil. Our connection to Rebbe Nachman gives us that power.

Today, we don't fight against evil with spears. We use the light of the tzaddik, which we put in suitable vessels like Emuna CDs, The Garden of Emuna or The Trail to Tranquility. Rather than killing evil, we convert the evil to holiness. That's how we intend to bring Moshiach. It doesn't matter who gets elected in Israel, because ultimately, Livni, Barak, and Bibi will all do teshuva. A little flicker of Rebbe Nachman's light defeats tons of Hellenistic darkness.

G-d willing, 5 new Emuna CDs will be released tomorrow, with big news of an Emuna Outreach special sale

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach: A Taste of God

My cherished friend and soul brother Shlomo Katz sent me an exquisite Chanuka present, a rare audio clip of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, of blessed memory, quoting Rebbe Nachman of Breslev on Chanukah, which we're now privileged to share with you. Rabbi Shlomo teaches us in Rebbe Nachman's name that the light of Chanukah is a taste of G-d. Not only that, but if a person is so-called religious, but still has a desire to fight with others or slander them, he hasn't yet tasted the light of G-d. Here's Rabbi Shlomo:

Chanuka is both immensely meaningful and deeply joyous; this is a perfect description of the following rare video clip of Rabbi Shlomo singing "Ani Avdecho" ("I am your servant," from Psalm 116 that we say in the "Hallel" every day during Chanuka) with Mordechai Ben David. Enjoy, and have a happy Chanuka.