Lazer Beams

Spiritual Plastic Surgery

Teshuva is an amazing mitzvah. Many people find difficulty in believing that it’s for real. Many an email asks me, “Does Hashem really forgive me for what I did?” The simple, categorical and indisputable answer is a resounding and emphatic yes! It doesn’t matter what you did or how serious the Torah regards the transgression. Not only does Hashem forgive, but He loves us and trusts us enough to always give us a new beginning. You know what that means? Stop wringing your hands about past mistakes!

Black is Beautiful

There's an amazing spiritual revolution going on in Seattle. Several of Seattle's finest African-Americans have been developing an almost insatiable spiritual hunger and are finding their satisfaction in Orthodox Judaism. One such righteous convert is dynamic rapper Damian Black, whose is now called up to the Torah by his new name Nissim. Nissim Black (image, above) is now making a dramatic comeback to the music world with an all-new message. Read all about it in Tal Rotem's article Black is Beautiful, in this week's Breslev Israel web magazine.  

One of the most important things that Rebbe Nachman and Rebbe Natan teach us is taht there's a general truth, but within that truth (not outside of it) there's an individual truth. In other words, what's true for one person is not necessarily true for another person. Don't let anyone try to force their "truth" on you. You can read more about it in my Breslev Israel article this week, Core Truth.

In order to be happy, a person must count Every Little Blessing, as Rabbi Shalom Arush shows us.

Also featured this week:

The Land of Emuna, by Rachel Hayyim. SWAP for Emuna by Dr. Zev Ballen. Roasting Chestnuts by Chaya Ovadia. No Regrets, by Dovber HaLevi. Adventures of a Sheitel, by Yael Karni. The End of the Game, by Racheli Reckles. 

This week's Torah portion is Vayichi. Rabbi Dovid Charlop elaborates on it in The Power of an Ox.

We send you bright Beam blessings for a smile-filled week!

Double Strike

Only weeks after Hurricane Sandy hit the USA East Coast, tragedy struck again, this time in Connecticut. Nothing is random; so what's the message Hashem is conveying? 

10 Teveth: Rebbe Natan's Yahrtzeit in Pictures

Image 1, above: Praying by the holy gravesite of Rebbe Natan Sternhartz, 1780-1845, known as "Rebbe Natan (Nosson in Yiddish) of Breslev", Rebbe Nachman's prime disciple, who wrote down all of Rebbe Nachman's teachings. Today, 10 Teveth, is his "yahrtzeit", the anniversary of his passing from the physical world. The gravesite is located in Breslev, Ukraine.

Image 2, above: Rebbe Natan's gravesite, outside view.

Image 3, above: The Bugg River and the view of the Ukrainian countryside from Rebbe Natan's gravesite in Breslev, Ukraine.

Image 4, above: Personal prayer along the banks of the Bugg River, at the same exact spot where Rebbe Natan would spend hours pouring his heart out to Hashem.

May Rebbe Natan's holy and immortal soul intervene in our behalf, amen!

Parshat Vayigash: The Moment of Realization

In one of the Torah's most dramatic episodes, Yosef comes to the realization that the worst moments of his life were truly all for the very best. The same goes for us, as we'll see in today's 8-minute mini-lesson on this week's Torah portion. Don't miss this, and have a great Shabbat!

True Love

How do you know if you really love someone?

When you willfully put someone else's desires before your own, then you love that person. And, when you cherish a person so much that his or her desire is your desire, then not only do you love that person but your connection with him or her is unshakable.

If your own desires are dearer to you than your spouse's desires, for example, then you love yourself more than you love your spouse. The entire Hollywood notion of love is nothing other than selfishness and self-indulgence. People are out to take rather than give. A taker is never a lover, much less a true lover. How many people lie to others and say, "I love you", simply because they're trying to take something? Millions are - the vast majority of modern society.

We can apply all of the above to our relationship with The Creator. When we place His desires before our own, we really love Him. When we induldge in ourselves while ignoring what He really wants from us, there's no love and no relationship.

When we ponder the zillion blessings that Hashem does for us every day, it's really embarrassing to think how we're lax in doing what He wants us to do, whether it's refraining from gossip, dressing modestly or making Aliya. At least, let's be honest with ourselves. The way to build a relationship with someone is to begin talking to him/her. The same too applies with Hashem. The more you get to know Him, the more you'll love Him. And wait and see how He answers you. Just be open and honest; even if we're not yet doing His will 100%, Hashem loves when his children speak to Him openly and honestly. Nothing is so beneficial to the soul as a daily hour of personal prayer. Try it - you'll love it.

Blood Libel, 2012

Iran’s state-run news network blames ‘Israeli death squads’ for Sandy Hook shooting

Millions of gullible Americans are liable to believe some neo-Nazi redneck's lies, which Iran spreads with glee. So when the holy Rabbi Yehuda Zev Leibowitz of saintly and blessed memory warned of difficult times ahead for US Jews, he knew what he was talking about.

The blood libels of the Middle Ages, when people like Harris and the Iranians accused Jews of baking matzas with the blood of non-Jewish children, are now back, big time. To paraphrase our sages, the wise man has eyes in his head.

It's time to come home. Please don't ignore Hashem's messages.