Lazer Beams

The Way out of the Tunnel

Even the nations of the world know that the biggest liar is one who lies to himself. In Shakespeare's Hamlet, Polonius says to son Laertes, "But above all, my son, to thine own self be true."

When a person lies to himself, and he tries to be someone else or something he's not, he become a double loser: first, he can't possibly be the other person, because he doesn't have the tools that Hashem gave that other person to do his or her job on earth. Second, he's not himself, and he's not using his own special tools to accomplish his own designated task on this earth.

Many people who speak to me often tell me that they're embarrassed of their true inner aspirations.

That's a tragedy.

Your dreams, goals, and inner aspirations are your spice of life. They give you the power to fly out of bed in the morning. What do you care what other people think? Do they care if you're happy or not? Don't bet on it.

Henry David Thoreau said, "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." How did Thoreau come to this amazing conclusion? He spent hours on end in solitude. He came to the conclusion that the Creator dwells not only in all of creation, but in every person's soul.

So what if people turn their noses up at your music. Flow with your own melody and step to the beat of your own drum, for that's exactly what Hashem wants from you.

Above all, be straight with yourself...

Continue reading The Way out of the Tunnel on this week's exciting issue of Breslev Israel web magazine.

Also featured this week:

Rabbi Shalom Arush explains the Mitzva of VeShinantam, teaching your children. Dr. Zev Ballen talks about the importance of speech in My Voice. Rivka Levy fights darkness and depression in Three Miles Down. Racheli Reckles meets challenges of parenting head-on in The Parent Whisperer.

This week's Torah portion is Vayishlach, and Rabbi Dovid Charlop gives a wonderful elaboration on it in Sparks of Good. Dovber HaLevi gives us a lift in Rising Above Mediocrity.

Editor's Choice: If learning Gemara scares you like it does so many people, or if you know someone (like your husband!) who's either having a rough time learning Gemara or is hesitant to start, then Tal Rotem's Who's Afraid of Gemara is absolute required reading.

Brand New! No parent should be without this book (click on the bookcover photo to order online):

Bright Beam blessings for a wonderful week!

Sex, Religion, and the Middle East

I just completed a great read - provocative, stimulating, and fast moving. This is Dovber Halevi's new book, "Sex, Religion, and the Middle East."

This is a book on the positive effect of a sexually moral lifestyle by someone who transformed himself from a singles "player" to happily married man who now lives by teachings of "personal holiness." Dovber has been writing for Breslev Israel for the past three years. His book has personal stories, tons of history, and insights from Jewish Sages about the link between the safety of the Jewish People, our personal satisfaction in life, and our commitment to a sexually moral standard of conduct.

Dovber discusses how he hit rock bottom and what he needed to do in order to free himself from the chains of a cruel master. He illustrates the steps he took to clean himself up and reach heights in his life he never imagined possible. It was very insightful to discover how changes in pharmaceuticals, media, and culture – very recent changes, transformed the common attitude about sex from a special intimacy between husband and wife into an obsession that has entrapped our generation. It is inspiring to learn how this is also a pitfall that can be overcome.

Finally, he devotes an entire section to our guarding the covenant and the impact we make on events happening in the Middle East. This book is not judgmental. It starts with the conviction that we are all good people living in the most challenging times ever. It encourages us to rely on our strongest attributes to overcome lusts that are destroying everything we cherish most. We have it in our ability to elevate mankind to the next level and usher in an era of everlasting and eternal peace.

I highly recommend this book!

Bnei Avraham Ahuvecha: Gerim (Righteous Converts) in Chassidic Thought

Received via e-mail from my good friend Dov ben Avraham:

I am pleased to announce the release of a book that will enthusiastically be sought after by Jews who were not born Jewish, and those on the path to becoming Jewish. This book - full of teachings from Breslov literature - has received glowing approbations from Rabbi Lazer Brody, Rabbi Yitzchok Meir Morgenstern, Sudilkover Rebbe, Bostoner Rebbe, Hornsteipler Rebbe, and Rabbi Dovid Meisels.

Unlike numerous books already published in English on conversion to Judaism, this book is not a personal narrative, how-to manual, digest of relevant laws, or academic historical overview.  This book presents the story behind the story — the mystical teachings found within Chassidic literature that illuminate the hidden inner world of the ger.  

Until now, these teachings were scattered in an unorganized manner throughout countless volumes and inaccessible to those unfamiliar with the Hebrew language. With this book, Bnei Avraham Ahuvecha: Gerim in Chassidic Thought, relevant Chassidic teachings are collected, translated from Hebrew into English, organized topically, and further elucidated, when needed. Interspersed with these translated teachings, stories- both old and new - are included to help bring them to life. In addition, this book includes supplementary essays written by Rabbi Chaim Kramer, Rabbi Ozer Bergman, Rabbi Dovid Sears, Rabbi Avraham Chaim Bloomenstiel, and Mrs. Talya Lipshutz (based on conversations with Rav Elazar Mordechai Kenig of Tsfat).

Bnei Avraham Ahuvecha: Gerim in Chassidic Thought is now available for purchase online here and also on Amazon.com here.

It's Here! The Universal Garden of Emuna

It's no rumor - it's true: there now a Universal Garden of Emuna, completely non-denominational, for all of mankind. If we want to save planet Earth of ours, then we should spread this book far and wide.

There's no bigger mitzva than spreading emuna in the world. We say thrice daily in the "Aleinu" prayer, that we await the day when all living flesh will call Hashem's Name. Let's invoke Divine compassion by hastening that day. You can use you maaser (tithe) money to buy these books and distribute them among your non-Jewish neighbors. One of the Arab judges in the Jerusalem Municipal Court read this book and told Rav Shalom that he should translate it into Arabic too. True emuna has the power to bring peace to mankind. There's no other solution.

Introducing "The Garden of Gratitude"

With Hashems's loving grace, this book is the most significant life-changer since The Garden of Emuna. And congratulations everyone - you can now attain your brand new copy of The Garden of Gratitude here.

 
The Garden of Gratitude by Rabbi Shalom Arush and translated by Rabbi Lazer Brody is an ever-so-bright spiritual light that is guaranteed to illuminate your life in a way you can't begin to imagine. This book is the next step up the ladder of inner peace and self-realization from Rabbi Shalom Arush's multi-million copy international best-seller, The Garden of Emuna.

Written in a reader-friendly and readily comprehensible style, The Garden of Gratitude explains how to make a quantum leap in your personal and spiritual growth – through gratefulness! The attribute of gratitude is a prerequisite to true happiness and success in all of our interpersonal relations, especially marriage.

If life seems to be like a brick wall or a dead end, then learning to give thanks is the key to a new tomorrow. As you'll see in this amazing book, gratitude defies nature and invokes miracles of every type. People surrounded by the darkness of supposedly-terminal diseases or apparently insurmountable debts saw the light of day after taking the advice of this book.

Imagine that your life is digital washing machine with 26 cycles, but you only know how to use 3 of them. The Garden of Gratitude will teach you how to learn the other 23 and get the most out of your life. Reading this unforgettable book will make a dramatic change in your life for the better and will do wonders for your interpersonal relationships. This book is something you owe yourself.

Deluxe softcover, 384 pages.

Beams Bulletin: It's Here!

If Hashem sent Rav Shalom Arush 200 Watts of Moshiach's light with the multi-million copy best-selling Garden of Emuna, then there's 400 Watts of Moshiach's light in The Garden of Gratitude, which we had the privilege of translating and adapting for the English speaking public. The book just arrived in Jerusalem from the printing presses, and will go on sale in the Breslev Israel online store later today. You have no idea what this book will do for you... More details forthcoming soon, G-d willing.

New! The Garden of Riches in English!

In medicine, they say that a good prognosis is half the cure. The same principle holds true in finances. With that in mind, as soon as you lay your hands on your new copy of The Garden of Riches, half your financial woes will be over. This is a book with loads of advice that the best advisors on Wall Street won't be able to give you. With The Garden of Riches, you tap into the unlimited financial reserves - Hashem's. Learn how a weak economy and a recessive job market have no bearing on you whatsoever. Learn how to escape from the most seemingly hopeless debt situations. Find out how to have enough for everything you need.

The Garden of Riches – A Practical Guide to Financial Success by Rabbi Shalom Arush is the English-language version of B’Gan Ha’osher, translated by Rabbi Lazer Brody. This book has already become immensely popular in Israel. It’s an amazingly enjoyable, reader-friendly and informative guidebook for attaining an adequate, stress-free income and a debt-free life; this is no small blessing in light of the global economy crumbling all around us.

Whether you’ve a professional, an independent businessperson, a salaried worker, a housewife or a student, The Garden of Riches will surely become your trusty companion and practical guide to a pleasurable, worry-free livelihood. It's now available at a special introductory price with free international airmail shipping online at Breslev Israel, or by calling:

In Israel: 02-5323339 or 052-2240696; From outside of Israel: +972-2-5323339 or +972-52-2240696. You'll be glad you did!