Lazer Beams

Beating the Rap of Stern Judgments

It's pretty scary to listen to what the Kabbalists have to say nowadays. And if we open our eyes to observe what's going on all around us on both sides of the ocean, the picture isn't exactly wine and roses, to say the least.

But don't lose heart. Moshiach doesn't have to come the hard way. We can mitigate all the stern judgments. The Zohar says that nothing so invokes Divine compassion as outreach - bringing another person close to Hashem. For that reason, we here at Breslev Israel, the Beams, and Emuna Outreach are working around the clock to spread emuna everywhere, on every single continent, north, south, east and west.

With the above in mind, we hold our esteemed front-line emuna spreading partners in highest esteem. One such individual is Captain Ephraim, the Jewish chaplain at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. This week's issue of Breslev Israel web magazine tells all about Emuna at Fort Bragg.

Also featured this week:

In Removing Your Own Stains, our beloved teacher and spiritual guide Rabbi Shalom Arush gives us some vital pointers in child education. Dr. Zev Ballen says that a six-year old's behavior isn't exactly befitting for a forty-year old in Let's Speak. Tal Rotem introduces us to one of the most brilliant Torah scholars alive, Rabbi Yaakov Addes, in The Amazing Divrei Yaakov.

Channa Coggan gets unexpected help in Strange Messengers. Dovber HaLevi talks about things that hold us down in Breaking Free. Rivka Levy barters with Hashem in The Challah Deal. Yehuda Frischman presents us with Rebbe Nachman's 21 Thoughts About Joy. Racheli Reckles speaks about acute dangers to children in Stolen innocence.

This week's Torah portion is Shemot. Rabbi Dovid Charlop elaborates on it in The Wandering Jew.

We flash you bright Beam blessings for a lovely week!

Spiritual Maturity

We all know what physical and emotional maturity are. But what does it mean to be spiritually mature? Why is spiritual maturity so very vital to our longterm success? Let's learn all about it in this week's emuna lesson:

Parshat Vayichi: Blessing Our Children

When we bless our children, we bless our girls to be like our holy matriarchs. But the boys, we bless to be like Ephraim and Menashe instead of like the patriarchs. Why? 

Bright Beam blessings for a wonderful Shabbat!

Happy With Yourself

People think that their happiness is dependant on outside stimuli. That's a big misconception. Happiness comes from within. First, you have to be happy with yourself, as you'll see in the 2-minute clip that follows:

Why is My Life So Hard?

Here's an important lesson that we gave in Dallas several weeks ago. Enjoy it; we certainly hope it helps reinforce your good feeling about yourself:

Affordable - and Beautiful - Israel

Dear Rabbi Brody,

I really want to make Aliya with my family, but people have been telling me that if I don't have a half million US bucks, I won't be able to get a decent apartment. I don't want a mortgage, and with property values in my area, I'll barely clear $200,000 when I sell my home. What can I possibly buy in Israel with that amount of money? Thanks for your time and attention, Gerald from Midwest USA

Dear Gerald,

if you're looking for a flat with in an American neighborhood of Ramat Bet Shemesh or Jerusalem's Ramat Eshkol or Har Nof, $500,000 is roughly what you'll pay. But, if you're willing to both live and think outside the Anglo-Israeli box, then you'll have some wonderful opportunities, where $200,000 or less will suffice.

Gorgeous places up north with growing observant communities are Maalot, Nazareth Illit, Tzefat and Kiriat Shemona.

As far as the south of Israel goes, Arad has the cleanest air in the world and it's also gorgeous. For $200,000 or less in Ashkelon, you can get an apartment in walking distance to the Mediterranean. If you go to a place like Ofakim or Yerucham, you can get a palace for $150,000 or less.

Contact my dear friends at Nefesh B'Nefesh, because there are usually several incentive programs for moving to the Galilee up north or to the Negev down south. Both are wonderful places to raise your family. Remember also that education here is virtually free, but you'll have to a bit of legwork to find the right schools for your children. It's well worth it. The younger they are, the easier they'll adapt. May Hashem help you succeed! Blessings always, LB

This Week's Live Broadcast - Spiritual Maturity

With Hashem's loving grace, our weekly emuna lesson and live broadcast takes place this Wednesday evening at 7:15 PM local time, at our Chut Shel Chessed Yeshiva, 13 Shmuel Hanavi Street, Jerusalem, in the main sanctuary. Everyone is welcome, both men and women.