Lazer Beams

Untrodden Sands

I'd like to invite you to a three-minute dream excursion on the untrodden sands of the Negev desert in southern Israel for a session of solitary personal prayer (hitbodedut) with Hashem. You don't have to be a righteous saint to speak to Hashem any time you like, anywhere. Your prayers - with the background accompaniment of the mineral, plant, and animal creations - are a symphony that ascends to the highest portals of Heaven and never come back unanswered.

This week's Torah portion is Teruma. Have a wonderful Shabbat!

The Sycamore, the Sagebrush, and the Snail

This world is a spiritual desert, and one must learn how to survive, as you'll see in the following 6-minute clip that is part of this week's "Land of Israel" series:

The Wisdom of the Banana Grove

This week, you'll be my guest travelling around the exquisitely beautiful Land of Israel, seeing all the wonderful messages that we learn the wisdom that's instilled in every grain of soil, plant, and animal here.

In Transit to Toronto

This is a reminder that there won't be a live broadcast of our regular Wednesday English shiur from the Chut Shel Chesed Yeshiva in Jerusalem, for Yosef Nechama (General Director of Breslev Israel Communications) and I are on the way to Toronto. G-d willing, our regular 5PM (10 AM EST) Wednesday lesson will be resumed next week in Jerusalem, March 4.

We look forward to seeing all our dear friends in Toronto and Hamilton. For schedules and appointments, please contact breslovtoronto@gmail.com . Happy Rosh Chodesh Adar!

Emuna Update: Hamas, Iran, Bibi's Coalition

If Bibi plays his cards right and keeps the promise he made to Rav Ovadiah Yosef shlit'a (Shas could have made Livni Prime Minister before the elections, but let her fail in seeking a majority coalition. Bibi in return promised Rav Ovadiah that he would make no government without Shas), and puts together his 65-seat right wing coalition, we estimate that 8-10 of Kadima's right wingers will bolt and come back to the Likud, giving the government a strong coalition of 73-75. Here's more:

Secret of Happiness

What is the antidote for the person who feels so heavy, so depressed, that no words of encouragement or advice have any effect? Rabbi Nasan Maimon will tell you in Rebbe Nachman of Breslev's Secret of Happiness in this week's issue in Breslev Israel online.

It's hard to be married to a husband that acts like a Drone, as Rabbi Shalom Arush writes this week, in an answer to a troubled young wife. Our female readers will also enjoy reading about One Woman's Liberation.

The Gemara in tractate Avoda Zara compares the belligerent Iranian tyrant to a bear. Bears and Tyrants never learn.

Purim is only two short weeks away. Here in Israel, mothers are feverishly preparing costumes for the children and planning Mishlochei Manot, the food-gift baskets that we send to other people on Purim. The Melitzer Rebbetzen describes the pre-holiday excitement in A Happy Purim!

Alice Bacchini writes her first article for Breslev Israel in a very practical and informative piece that gives great Advice for Overdoers.

The more we open our eyes to Hashem's blessings, the more we gain a New Enthusiam in the service of Hashem.

This week's Kabbalah lesson is Limbs and Lights. Breslev Kids can enjoy Part 21 of The Boastful Buck.

This week's Torah portion is Teruma. We hope to see all of our Canadian friends this week in Toronto and Hamilton. For information and appointments, write breslovtoronto@gmail.com. Blessings for a wonderful week!

Defeating Haman and Amalek

Women in the Jerusalem-BetShemesh-Gush Etzion-Hevron area are cordially invited to the Midrashia in Bat Ayin this evening at 8 PM, for our monthly emuna shiur. Tonight's lesson is entitled, "Defeating the Klipa (impure spiritual force) of Haman and Amalek." Hope to see you there!

Purifying the Impure

"One is not considered a scholar unless he is able to purify the impure," our sages teach us (see tractate Sanhedrin 17a and the Meiri's commentary). One has to give credit to President Obama, for he apparently is doing precisely that. He is brilliantly using his influence behind the scenes to twist the arm of Hamas and get them to agree to a unity government in a cosmetic coalition with the PA (Fatah). As such, according to the Laws of Mixtures (see Shulchan Aruch, Yura Dea, Chapter 98, clause 1), Hamas loses the name of Hamas (unkosher) and the entire mixture with Fatah (kosher, according to the USA) is rendered Kosher as the "Palestinian Authority".

Good try, President Obama, but it's not so simple. If you are discussing 2 separate species, and the minority unkosher type mixes with the majority kosher type, then the entire mix is rendered kosher as long as the minority unkosher type is completely blended and indistinguishable from the majority kosher type, according to the Torah. Yet, Rabbinical Ordinance requires that the minority unkosher type be no more than 1 part in 60 for the entire mix to be rendered kosher.

As such, President Obama's attempt to make the Hamas "Kosher" by encouraging a unity government with the Fatah does not succeed for the following reasons, according to Jewish Law:

1. The Fatah does not have a majority over Hamas, much less 60:1.

2. The Fatah in itself is not kosher, but just as much terrorists as Hamas. (Remember, The Tanzim and the Islamic Jihad are part of the PA and Fatah, and not part of Hamas.)

Smooth rhetoric and demogoguery works on the masses, but it doesn't reflect truth. President Obama and his advisors will have to learn much more Gemara before they'll be able to purify the impure.

Simple Survival

Quote of the month: "A few select people used to strive for emuna as a means to attain high spiritual levels; today, everyone needs emuna for simple survival." Rebbetzen Yehudit Brody

Ani Avdecha: I am Your Servant

The greatest declaration a Jew can make is "Ani Avdecha," when he can look up at the Heavens and declare, "Hashem, my entire life is devoted to You. I am Your Servant!" King David, Hashem's anointed and the great grandfather of Moshiach, was able to make this lofty claim (see Psalms 116:16). After hearing Ari Goldwag sing this Psalm, we'll all be aspiring to walk in the path of King David. Have a wonderful Shabbat Mishpatim/Shekalim.