Lazer Beams

Nyet, Nyet, Nikavo!

Today, we'll learn a lesson in Russian:

Nyet nyet nikavo krome yivo adnavo. Translated, this means, "No, no, there is no one other than Hashem - His Name is One."

With the ink barely dried on my weekly column at Breslev Israel, Salvation Month, and once again Hashem is fighting our battles for us, causing an awesome explosion in Iran's nuclear facilities at Isfahan, only 2 weeks after Hashem blew an Iranian missile depot sky high. If that's not enough, only 5 days ago, a Hizbulla stronghold in southern Lebanon was rocked by a tremendous blast. Hashem's fingerprints are all over the place. Shouldn't we all be saying "Thank You" and praising Hashem's Name? The month of Chanuka is the perfect time for expressing our gratitude, and gratitude invokes even more miracles!

I miss the Lubavitcher Rebbe - he knew how to praise Hashem. Let's watch him sing "Nyet Nyet Nikavo" also during the month of Kislev, 5747 (December 1986): 

Meet Zev Ballen

Less than two years ago, I met someone who I knew would turn out to be a rare asset for our Yeshiva and for Breslev Israel. My dear friend Zev Ballen was a prominent New York psychotherapist for more than 30 years when he discovered our emuna broadcasts and English translations of Rav Shalom Arush’s books. Once Reb Zev found the truth there was no turning back for him. We encouraged Zev to make Aliyah. He came to Israel with his wife and children and changed his whole life. I watched with joy as Zev made a complete "180" from his “comfortable” professional life in New York to becoming a full-time student in the Chut Shel Chesed Kollel. He is even studying for his Rabbinical Ordination.

From the start, we recognized that Zev had committed his life to helping people. As an accomplished writer and lecturer, we asked him to write a weekly column geared to helping families on Breslev Israel web magazine to give a live weekly broadcast from our Yeshiva. Since then, Zev has faithfully been steering people away from secular-based psychotherapy towards finding true emotional healing and happiness in the emuna-based teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslev, doctor of the soul of all times. You can tune into Zev’s weekly live broadcasts and hear how he draws from his years of experience in working with thousands of people to illuminate the true path to happiness. I have been so impressed with Zev’s ideas that I suggested that he consolidate them into a book, a project that Rav Shalom Arush was happy to bless.

You can hear Reb Zev every Wednesday at 5:00 PM Israel time at 56 Shivtey Yisrael, Jerusalem, on the first floor (women’s entrance on the right side of the building). It’s open to the public, everyone is welcome. You can the broadcast in LA and the West Coast at 7:00 AM; in Denver at 9:00 AM; in Mexico and CDT at 11:00 AM; and the UK at 3:00 PM. We wish Zev and family much success!

New Album for Shlomo Katz

Shlomo Katz is one of my favorite people - a holy Cohen, an extremely talented singer and composer, a tzaddik, and a cherished spiritual brother. We're therefore delighted to introduce his newest album, recorded live this past Tishrei in Melbourne, Australia, and wish him the greatest success. Shlomo Katz Live from Melbourne is a gem you'll want to add to your collection. Have a peek:

Salvation Month

This week marks the new month of Kislev. We are all under the underlying tension of the Iranian threat – will there be a war or not? What's more, it looks like Israel, as usual, has only Hashem to depend on. At any rate, that's the good news. Kislev is a great month for the Jewish people. Why? The light of Chanuka awaits us.

One candle is enough to illuminate the pitch-black darkness. King Solomon compared the candle to the human soul. Thus, the Chanuka candles can teach us a lot about our inner selves.

Despair and depression are darkness. Judaism - particularly the Chanuka holiday - teaches that there is no room for despair and depression in the Jewish lexicon, no matter who threatens us with atomic weapons or with anything else. There's always hope. The Gemara teaches that even if a sharp knife is resting on your throat, don't despair - trust in Hashem's magnificent and merciful lovingkindness.

The Yetzer Hora, or Evil Inclination, wants us to lose hope. He doesn't want you to believe that redemption can be right now, at any minute, and that Moshiach is right around the corner. By convincing you that the Jewish notion of eagerly anticipating the Geula is false and ridiculous, he eventually convinces you that all of Torah is false and ridiculous, G-d forbid.

On the contrary, when a doctor tells an expectant mother that she must abort, that's false and ridiculous. When a person is told that he or she has a terminal disease, that's false and ridiculous.

The light of a Chanuka candle - which the holy Ariza’l says is symbolic of emuna, or faith - carries a person above the clutches of nature. Torah, Teshuva, and prayer do the same. A soldier can be pinned down, with no logical way out; yet, Hashem has solutions...

Continue reading Salvation Month in this week's stimulating issue of Breslev Israel web magazine.

Also featured this week:

Rabbi Shalom Arush: Start Enjoying Life

Rabbi Nissan Dovid Kivak: Every Little Movement

Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh: Rebbe Zusha

Rabbi Avraham HaCohen Kook: Parshat Vayetze - Rivalry

Dr. Cherie Murdock: Holy Sage

Rivka Levy: All Puffed Up and A New Start

Big Beams Blessings for a wonderful week! And yes, it's true - we'll be in the USA, G-d willing, from Dec. 5-19, 2011 - details forthcoming later this week right here on the Beams.

Sweetening the Sorrow

People are frequently their own worst enemies by doing things that invoke stern judgments. This week's emuna lesson shows how to mitigate them. Have a wonderful week!

Sunday Night in Efrat

Join us in Efrat Tonight!

Sunday November 27, 8:00 PM, following Maariv

Beit Knesset Zayit Raanan, Givat Hazayit Efrat

For more info, contact: Eitan Ashman, 052542155

Topic: "The real meaning of Thanksgiving"

Esau the Red

This week's mini Torah-portion lesson shows how a comparison between the eating habits of Jacob and Esau reveals their entire orientation in life, giving us a choice between two distinctly contrasting role models. Have a wonderful Shabbat!