Lazer Beams

The first blemish

Life is a classroom.

I saw a cute 5-year old with curly red payis (sidelocks) in synagogue on the first day of Succoth that was wearing a brand new pair of shoes. When his peckal'e (his little bag of goodies) was depleted, he ran outside to play with the other little tikes. A few minutes later, he ran back in shul, wailing to his daddy; the little guy's spanking new patent leather holiday-and-Shabbat shoes had just received their first nasty scoff. A pat on the head and a piece of toffee calmed him down, and within a minute, he returned to the action outside. By the end of services, the little fellow's new shoes were not only scoffed, but covered with dust and many more blemishes that didn't seem to bother him any more.

There's a profound lesson here: Rav Huna teaches (Talmud, tractate Yoma, 86b) that once a person commits a misdeed for the second time, then it becomes permissible in his or her own mind.

The soul is like a lily-white garment. A misdeed, such as a lie, a dishonest dealing, or an act of adultery blemishes the soul seriously. Human nature is to become extremely ashamed of the first blemish, but once the garment (or soul) is soiled and blemished, then anything goes.

Repeated offenders, such as gossips and those who short-change their employees, have 101 reasons to justify their actions. Repeated misdeeds have a way of desensitizing us, for the cleaner a soul is, the higher its sensitivity.

The soul suffers unfathomable humiliation from each blemish.

A good detergent will clean a garment; Teshuva will clean a soul.

Today is Hoshana Raba; tonight in Israel is Simchat Torah (Shmini Atzeret outside of Israel, and Simchat Torah abroad is on Friday). Now's the time when the judgments and verdicts of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are not only finally signed and sealed, but delivered too. In the next 48 hours, one can certainly do Teshuva that's sufficient to sweeten the most severe judgments. The gates of Heaven are wide open right now - this is a wonderful time for the type of joyous teshuva with love that will completely cleanse our souls. Let's not squander these valuable hours. Dancing with all our hearts not only cleans our pores, but it cleans our souls. Have a wonderful Yom Tov!

Chilik Frank: Dror Yikra

Chilik Frank is one of Breslev Israel's favorite sons and one of the best clarinet players in Israel. Here, he's playing the Breslev version of "Dror Yikra," a niggun that we also incorporate in our High Holiday services in Uman. Enjoy, and have a continued wonderful Succoth.

Profane Speech

Dear Rabbi Brody,
I confess: I'm 17, a junior in religious high school, and I swear a lot. Everyone always goes on and on how using the swearing words are wrong. But why are they? I mean all they are, are a couple words that don't really mean anything, and the only reason I like using them is because when you can't find a word strong enough to describe how you feel, usually one of the swearing words does the job. Whatever, thanks a lot. From Barbara in Long Island somewhere

Dear Barbara,

That was courageous of you to tell me. The soul is surrounded by three garments - thoughts, speech, and deeds. When you use foul language, you surround your soul in stench, kind of like walking around with completely dirty underwear. Sounds gross? Foul words make your soul feel gross, and they chase away Hashem's Divine Presence, which means that a person who uses filthy language loses Divine guidance and protection. That's when real trouble in your life starts.

Please try to break the habit. The best way to do that is to avoid anger. Since anger comes from arrogance, the more modest a person is, the more he or she steers clear of anger. Remember also, a person with a cheap tongue is a cheap person. You certainly don't want people calling you "cheap" behind your back, especially since you're a quality young lady.

People who use foul language are basically no better than pigs. Even if you dress them in in fancy clothes, pigs remain pigs. A person's speech is the showcase of a person's soul.

Barbara, do your soul a favor and weed the four-letter words out of your vocabulary. Tishrei is the time for all of us to decide to be just a little bit better than what we used to be. With blessings, LB

The Way to the Light

"If you're sad, and you feel no joy...And don't know why...if you're lost, floundering around in the fog and darkness, and you don't know the way to the light...

Then come back, my sweet soul, yell with all your might to Hashem; He'll send you an angel to show you the way, and He'll lead you to the light."

Translation of course loses so much, but the above words are the essence of Yisrael Dagan's beautiful song, B'Derech El Ha'or.

My three very special friends, the Kisufim Trio - Mordechai Yitzhar, Moshe, and Aviel - are from the beautiful settlement Tekoah in the southeastern hills of the Judean desert. Tekoah is outside the area that would remain "Israel" (according to the Torah, it will be forever Israel, and that's all that matters) in the US-Israel-PA peace (sic) process.

Worried? No way. We know that Hashem and Moshiach will establish the borders. Meanwhile, rather than worrying and fretting, we keep on singing.

Wait and see who's standing (and singing) when the final bell rings...

Meanwhile, have a wonderful Succoth and G-d bless always.

A non-renewable lease

Life in this world is like a fixed-term rented apartment with a non-renewable lease. When your time's up, you pack your bags and out you go.

In this world, all of us are renters. Hashem's the landlord, and he gives us our bodies as temporary shelters for the soul, so that we can accumulate the gems of Torah knowledge and good deeds that will be valuable to us in the next world.

As renters, we have to pay the rent. If we're smart, we happily fulfill our obligations before the landlord comes pounding on our door. If we don't pay our rent in this world, we pay a severe penalty in the next world.

Succoth reminds us that we all live in temporary quarters, and that we're all at the mercy of The Great Landlord. We have to express our sincere gratitude for every single day that He extends our lease; that's why we need to utilize every single minute for Torah and mitzvot, because we never know when the non-renewable lease terminates.

A glimpse at Lazer's neighborhood in Ashdod - During Succos, we all feel like temporary dwellers

A glimpse inside the Brody Succa

Big Beam blessings for a joyful Succos holiday!

It's a Victory, not a Defeat

Dear Rabbi Lazer,

I'm writing this to you for two reasons: first, you don't know me and I feel really embarassed talking about this to a rabbi that knows me; and second, since you too are a Baal Teshuva, I'm hoping you can understand a fellow BT that was born in the spiritual gutters far away from Torah. I became observant about five years ago, when I finished my masters degree. As a university student and a popular dude at that, I guess you can say that I did about everything and enjoyed it too. I won't go into the reasons that I made teshuva, but I became very disgusted with my lusty lifestyle. I began to learn Torah and was drawn especially to the teachings of the Zohar. I did an about face and made serious efforts in developing my personal holiness. With daily mikva, daily teshuva, and total immersion Torah, I became a new person. Two years ago, I was introduced to a young lady who after three dates became my fiance. We are blissfully married, in no small thanks to The Garden of Peace, which I live by.

So what's my problem? I thought I had deleted my naughty x-rated past from my brain. On Yom Kippur, the Yetzer gave me a triple whammy. During Kol Nidre, a really raunchy image flashed before my eyes which I won't describe, but it was something from the lowest part of my past. The same thing happened during Mussaf, and the same thing happened again in Neila. During the three highest points in the Yom Kippur prayers, I was watching myself in blue movies from my own past, the exact opposite of holiness. Why did Hashem shtup me with these terrible thoughts? What could I possibly have done wrong to be pushed away like this? I had such aspirations of clinging to Hashem with real devotion in this year's prayers, and I blew it. I feel devistated and dejected, as if I've been totally defeated. What can I do? Please help me. Thanks so very much, David from California

Dear David,

The Yetzer - the Evil Inclination - wants you to think that you're a loser. The exact opposite is true - this Yom Kippur, you have attained a lofty and admirable soul correction. You're the winner, my man; here's how:

Back in your university days, you thoroughly enjoyed doing the lewd things that so embarassingly popped into your head during this past Yom Kippur. Yet now, the forbidden acts that you once enjoyed are now a source of shame. Your shame during Yom Kippur is not only a sign of humility and holiness, but a soul correction for the past. Having done teshuva out of love (hear our CD on the subject), your past transgressions now become valuable merits to your credit. What's more, when you did those wrong things, you didn't know they were wrong. You can be proud of yourself, for Hashem is proud of the unbelievable growth that you've made in five short years. Keep growing, slowly but surely, for you're a winner. With blessings for a wonderful year, LB

The Annual Telegram

Imagine that your employer calls you into his office and sits you down for a heart to heart talk. He has a special challenge for you, and he’s confident that you can succeed. But, you’ll be leaving your permanent home for an indefinite amount of time. You agree.

Your employer makes an overseas call and arranges everything you’ll be needing – living quarters, means of transportation, and your every need down to the smallest, most minute detail.

Your employer then tells you that he will be monitoring your every move. You may not feel it, but by virtue of instant messaging, Skype, and all types of new technology, he’ll be virtually with you at all times.

He warns you that your task won’t be easy. But, as a consolation, you’ll be receiving quite a few amenities to make your job more pleasant. Yet, he also warns you not to concentrate on the amenities but to focus on meeting your challenge and completing your mission in the very best possible way. If you’re smart, you’ll heed your employer’s words, for he more than anyone else wants you to succeed.

Three different flights and twenty hours in the air get you to your destination. Sure, you feel awfully lonely. But then again, your employer arranged a beautiful penthouse on the 42nd floor with a breathtaking view of the city and the surrounding ocean. You have a wet bar stocked with all the finest, from 40-year aged-in-an-oak cast authentic Highland-Scotch whiskey to Chateau-de-Rothschild Cabernet, 35 years old. You have a walk-in closet with a complete wardrobe. The fridge and cupboards are stuffed with your favorite foods.

Once a year, you get a telegram (yes, such things still exist) from your employer. He reminds you to focus on your mission, and that the penthouse and all the amenities are temporary. You are always amazed how difficult that is to remember, so you really appreciate the boss’s annual telegram.

* * * * *

Succoth - which begins this week on Wednesday night - is the annual telegram we receive from our beloved Father in Heaven. Hashem is reminding us that life in this world is like a fixed-term rented apartment with a non-renewable lease. When your time's up, you pack your bags and out you go...

Continue reading The Annual Telegram on this week's issue of Breslev Israel web magazine.

This coming Saturday night and Sunday, 18 Tishrei, 5771, is the 200th anniversary of Rebbe Nachman's departure from the physical world. My cherished friend Rabbi Avraham Greenbaum tells us about The Life of Rebbe Nachman.

Hoshana Raba is the 7th day of Succoth. This week, we learn the last Torah portion of the year, Zot Habracha.

My beloved Rabbi and spiritual guide Rav Shalom Arush writes about the 4 aspects of self-composure in A Fortified Wall.

Rivka Levy takes a look at gratitude in Abi Gezunt.

Natalie Kovan learns to bake Challahs in A Jew in Training.

Breslev Kids can enjoy Rebbe Nachman's Story of Trust.

The Seventh Gate is Part 34 of Warriors of Transcendence.

For the scholarly, Rabbi Mordechai Kornfeld writes about The Magnitude of Torah.

You're more than welcome to visit our new VOD page.

Are you feeling down about yourself? You must hear our new CD, This is My Doing; it's sweeter than sugar, and will pick you up like nothing else can. You'll find all of our emuna Cds here. They're perfect for listening in the Succa during the intermediate days of the holiday.

Breslev Israel, Emuna Outreach, and the Beams wish you a fantastic week and a joyous Succoth holiday.