Lazer Beams

Ancestral Merit

What's so special about our forefathers? Find out in this week's eye-opening emuna talk is entitled Ancestral Merit.

"Waving Flags" at Camp Simcha

Rabbi Yechiel (my candidate for future head rabbi of the UK) and Rebbetzen Ruthie Portnoy are some of my favorite people. They built the gorgeous Jewish community in Hale of South Manchester with their own two hands; when I talk about building, I mean souls, not wood and stones. Their children are sweet fruit from this most special Portnoy tree, and fantastic musicians. I'm especially proud of Mendi and Sruli Portnoy, for the music project they did for Camp Simcha, an overnight camp for children battling cancer. I'm sure you'll like this as much as I did:

Winning back the Land of Israel

It's our solemn duty to do our best to preserve our security in the Land of Israel, and to win back those parts of our homeland that we've lost control of, such as Joseph's Gravesite in Shechem.

Scheduled for today is another uncalled-for provocation, an outright defamation of Jerusalem's sanctity. In the name of liberty and democracy, 3000 people will publicly flaunt their same-sex attractions in the streets of Jerusalem this afternoon, with full government support and protection. There's no difference between this Impurade and a ham-and-bacon festival on the sidewalks of the holiest city on earth, homeland of a people who live by the eternal Holy Torah that forbids eating ham and bacon.

We certainly have no right nor any desire to tell others how to live their lives or what to do behind closed doors. But there are light years of difference between whatever consenting adults do with their free will behind closed doors and between making a nauseating public display of Torah-prohibited abominations on the streets of Jerusalem.

Achmedinejad and his nukes don't scare me. Neither does Nasrulla and the Hizbulla. But such public debauchery here in the Holy City of Jerusalem is terrifying. As much as individual liberty and free choice must be maintained, there's the responsibility of our special privilege of living here. This parade of an expected 3,000 participants is not only a slap in the face to half a million Jerusalemites, but to people around the world. Besides, this is the worst threat to our security here in the Holy Land. How? Open up your Gemara to tractate Sanhedrin, 93a: "The Lord of Israel despises debauchery." When we need so much Divine compassion, who is so daft as to arouse Divine wrath? That's national suicide! In the name of 'free speech'? Why not play Russian Roulette for those who so desire in the Western Wall Plaza? That's free expression too...

The Islamic media is having a field day with such pink-promoted policies here in Israel. Whenever any society became decadent, it crumbled from within. Our hostile neighbors therefore hope for a big turnout at the Impurade.

The key to holding on to the Land of Israel is personal and national holiness. Anyone who preserves personal holiness (Shmirat HaBrit) is a true warrior with the spiritual power to overcome all adversaries. One who doesn't preserve personal holiness will be enslaved by his enemies just as he's enslaved by his own evil inclination. With this in mind, a person clearly is not fit to rule a nation if he can't rule over his own evil inclination.

With the above in mind, join me on Mount Gerizim overlooking Joseph the Tzaddik's holy gravesite in Schechem:

Introducing "Calming Waters"

We are delighted to announce the release of our new musical CD "Calming Waters," available online for immediate purchase here at the Breslev Israel Store.

Coming Soon! The Emuna Show on Israel National Radio

It certainly is far from a dull week here at the Beams and at Emuna Outreach. Starting Tuesday, August 3, 2010, Rabbi Lazer will be hosting his own weekly show on Israel National Radio, entitled "The Emuna Show," a weekly hour of inspiration, encouragement, song and spiritual vitamins. The show will be aired live at 10 PM Israel time (3 PM EDT), and afterwards will be downloadable on MP3. More details forthcoming...

Emuna and Patience

Why doesn't Hashem give us what we want right now? You'll get the answer and more in this past week's emuna lesson, Emuna and Patience. 53 minutes duration; this lesson is an important spiritual vitamin that we all need.

Finding Emuna: The Story of Rabbi Shalom Arush

This week on Breslev Israel, we have the first of an exclusive four-part series entitled, Finding Emuna - this is the story of how Rabbi Shalom Arush first became a Baal Teshuva - a must-read! Rav Shalom also warns against Sleeping Your Life Away.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe explains the importance of spreading the Seven Noahide Commandments in The Yacht.

Too much light is dangerous, as we learn in Safeguards Against Overload, based on Rebbe Nachman's Likutei Moharan I:49.

Waiting is Part 26 of Warriors of Transcendence by Rabbi Erez Moshe Doron.

Rivka Levy does some serious soul-searching in how we treat our fellow human in Easing Up on Others. Natalie Kovan syas that we can learn about roles in life from Penguins.

For Breslev Kids, this week we have part 10 of Hardboiled Eggs. Alexei's Merit is part 15 of The Baal Shem Tov - Early Years, a delightful series for the whole family.

This week's Torah portion is Ekev, and we're fortunate to have Bread and Torah, Rav Kook zatza'ls elaboration on this week's parsha.

Big Beam Blessings for a wonderful week!

Great News Bulletin: Calming Waters will be released G-d willing this week!