Lazer Beams

Setbacks

A setback in life is really beneficial, as long as a person doesn't lose heart from it. If a setback stimulates a new beginning and a better second effort, it's wonderful! Rebbe Nachman cites Jonah's cry from deep inside the belly of the whale (see Rebbe Nachman's Discourses, 302) as the type of prayer we should all strive for. Only the earnest cries of a broken heart can pierce all barriers, and uplift the world from the depths of impurity

Rather than losing heart from the setback, one needs to arouse oneself and earnestly seek to reveal the concealed emuna, which makes the person – and the world – much more beautiful than if the emuna were never concealed at all. A setback and its subsequent yearning and renewed effort bring out the best in a person. Life's extreme difficulties reveal such lofty traits as valor and dedication, which make a person and the world so much more beautiful.  

This Shabbat is Shabbat HaGadol - "The Great Shabbat". It is especially conducive for turning a setback - like all the painful events of recent weeks - into a marvelous triumph. All we have to do is to believe that Hashem loves us and to do our very best to get closer to Him. Shabbat Shalom!     

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach: Rebbe Nachman Says...

More Public Sacrifices

A mere week after the tragic killing of Rabbi Yonatan Sandler and his two sons in Toulouse, tragedy - one of the worst in memory - has struck in Rehovot, here in Israel. Last night, a fire broke out in a pre-fab house and within minutes, Guy Shaer and his five children were carried in a fiery flame out of this world.

Within moments, Avivit Shaer - Guy's wife - lost her husband and 5 children. There are no dry eyes in Israel today.

The Shaer children were all holy sacrices between the ages of 1 and 11. They never sinned. Guy was a tzaddik. Hashem takes the unblemished sacrifices to atone for all of Israel.

With the untimely deaths of the Sandler family and the Shaer family - together with the loss of so many of this generation's greatest tzaddikim, we learn that there must have been a harsh decree demanding a mega-catastophe, Heaven forbid. The sword of stern judgment hovers over us, and we must all do the most serious form of individual soul searching fast. We've already shed enough pure and holy blood. And, whatever is happening is Hashem's mercy, to mitigate a 5,000-time stiffer judgment. Isn't it time for us to wake up before these horrid wakeup calls become even louder?

Ploy for An Easy Birth

Rachel T. from Israel has discovered a ploy for an easy birth.

The doctors told her to expect a rough delivery because of certain complications, in this, her fourth childbirth. Rachel strengthened herself in emuna, and reminded herself that Hashem decides what kind of childbirth experience she'll have and not the doctors.

Rachel wrote me an email and said: "I went into labor at 9 AM on Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh Nissan, Rebbe Nachman's birthday. I figured that the best thing I could do would be to fulfill Rebbe Nachman's advice, to do an hour of hitbodedut (personal prayer). I went into hitbodedut, and started talking to Hashem. The stronger the contractions, the more I spoke with intent to Hashem. At exactly 10 AM, when I finished my hour, a healthy baby boy was born naturally with no complications. This was the easiest childbirth I ever had. You can guess what the baby's name will be..."

Hitbodedut in labor - what an idea for an easy birth! Mazal Tov to Rachel T & family. We here at the Beams pray that all expecting mothers have healthy pregnancies and safe and easy deliveries, amen! 

Shabbat HaGadol, 5772

This coming Shabbat is known as Shabbat HaGadol, the great Shabbat. Here in Israel, we feel the tension and excitement of a massive upheaval that's about to take place with world-shaking ramifications.
 
Rabbi Amnon Yitzchak shlit'a said a month ago that war would break out before Pesach. Will Israel attack Iran? Will Iran dare a preemptive strike? Can the USA be trusted?
 
Ask these questions to Rav Shalom Arush, and he'll smile patiently. None of these things concern us. In fact, they sidetrack us from what we should be doing – preparing for Shabbat HaGadol, doing teshuva and cleaning the garbage out of our souls as well as out of our houses, and preparing for Pesach.
 
Shabbat HaGadol is symbolic of dedication in performing a mitzvah and spiritual emancipation...

Continue reading Shabbat HaGadol 5772 in this week's issue of Breslev Israel web magazine.

Also featured this week:

Rabbi Shalom Arush: New, Nissan, and Nachman

Rabbi Dovid Charlop: Cycles

Rebbetzin Chana Bracha Siegelbaum: Four Cups, Four Mothers

Rivka Levy: Elijah the Prophet

Dr. Zev Ballen: Longterm Challenge

Chaya Ovadia: Reserved Parking

Dovber Halevi: The Whatever Argument

Natalie Kovan: Keep it Simple

Natan Hayyim: Today's Miracles

Tomorrow night in Raanana: We'll be speaking tomorrow night at the Raanana Kollel at 8 PM - the shiur is open to the public, both men and women.

Have a great week!

Time to Come Home

Before Shabbat, my beloved teacher and spiritual guide Rabbi Shalom Arush told me the following:

1. Despite all the threats against Israel, the Land of Israel is the safest place to be and no Jew will be hurt here, as we witnessed with the recent 220+ missile attacks in the South of Israel and no Jew was hurt other than minor scratches.

2. The Jews outside of Israel should start making a serious effort towards Aliya.

3. Hashem knows what's in your heart - even if you can't make aliya at this time for whatever reason, you should be praying to Hashem every day to enable you to make aliya.

Have a wonderful week!

A Tribute to Rabbi Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg, zatza"l

The following clip is a moving tribute to one of this generation's greatest tzaddikim, who we so painfully lost this week. Shabbat Shalom, and may we hear good tidings.

You're welcome to download this week's Torah Portion Sheet, Vayikra, courtesy of Breslev Israel.