Lazer Beams

Fear One, and Fear No One

Rabbi Shalom Arush says that a person that seeks a sweet and satisfying life of emuna, teshuva, and joy – a life devoid of worry, anxiety, or fear of anything – must set aside an hour a day for personal prayer, self-evaluation, and simply to share his innermost thoughts with Hashem. It’s impossible to overestimate the benefit one’s soul derives from this daily hour of being completely together with Hashem.

Such daily personal prayer, says Rav Shalom, saves the wear and tear of fearing the police, the criminals, terrorists, stray dogs, the government, income tax or anyone else. Fearing Hashem is therefore like one-stop shopping: He who fears One, fears no one. The fear of Hashem is the gate to spiritual awareness, Torah comprehension, and humility.

Continue reading What Are You Afraid Of? on this week's web edition of Breslev Israel magazine.

Rebbe Natan of Breslev teaches us not to be too Hard on Ourselves.

Also this week: Each Individual Miracle, a delightful article about Chanukah which begins this coming Friday evening. The Heart of a Lioness is Rebbetzen Siegelbaum's eye-opening elaboration on this week's Torah portion, Vayeshev. For Breslev Kids, there's Always Humble, part 7 of David the Shepherd Boy. See also what's Between the Braids of your Shabbat challa.

Don't miss The Little Thank-You Book, Concealment, or Hashem's Year-end Stimulus.

Before you yell at your kids, read The King's Little Children.

Have a wonderful week; may bright Beam bessings bring you beaucoups of bliss, amen!

Weekly Emuna Live Broadcast

Our weekly emuna lesson will be broadcast live today (Wednesday) at 5 PM from the Chut Shel Chessed Yeshiva, 13 Shmuel HaNavi Street, Jerusalem. This week's lesson is entitled, "Little Lanterns" and is open to the public, both men and women are welcome. You can see today's lesson live right here at 11 AM EDT, 4 PM in the UK, or 5 PM Israel time (we are now on the winter clock). Tomorrow night, G-d willing, we'll post a link to the lesson for all those who couldn't see it live.

It's not Bull

Martin from Canada had the attitude that The Garden of Peace is a hunk of baloney. His wife got a hold of the book and literally forced him to read it. He tells us about what happened in No, it's not Bull in this week's Breslev Israel web magazine.

Rabbi Shalom Arush speaks about the interdependence of Torah and prayer in The Elixir of Life. He also says that if you lack money, give more charity. Sound weird? Read The Illogical Chomesh.

Don't sell yourself short. Rebbe Nachman of Breslev writes how important it is to write down our Torah nuances in Creating Rivers of Torah.

Don't miss reading about The Photographer from Uman. Are your neighbors always borrowing things and conveniently forgetting to return them? If so, then Chronic Borrowing is a must-read for you too.

Here's the best advice for today: With Hashem, You Can't Lose.

Forgiveness makes this world bearable.

The Praying Shepherd is Part 3 of David the Shepherd boy, our current series for Breslev Kids.

This week's Torah portion is Noach, and you'll especially want to read about Yiskah.

Details of our forthcoming trip to the Baltimore and NYC/North Jersey areas are being finalized, and we'll let you know dates, times, and places as soon as we get them. Meanwhile, have a wonderful week!

Howdy, Baltimore and DC!

Surprise - G-d willing, we'll be in Baltimore for a special evening of emuna and inspiration on Tuesday evening, November 3, 2009. We hope to see all our friends from DC, Silver Spring, Rockville, Potomac, College Park, and Columbia as well. Details forthcoming...

Rebbe Nachman's Yahrtzeit

Monday night and Tuesday, the 18th of Tishrei, is the yahrtzeit of our beloved rebbe, master, and spiritual guide, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, of blessed and saintly memory. Beginning at 9 pm, there will be a joyous Simchat Bet HaShoeva celebration at the Chut Shel Chessed Breslev yeshiva on Shmuel HaNavi 13 in Jerusalem. G-d willing, I'll be coming in from Ashdod. You'll also be able to meet one of the biggest tzaddikim of this generation, Rav Shalom Arush shlit'a, the head of the Yeshiva. Come on by!

Meet Breslev Israel

Many people have written me lately asking if and when I'll be in the USA/Canada/UK/Australia/ South Africa during the coming year. Let me preface my answer by saying that all my international travel and speaking is done under the auspices of my beloved rabbi and spiritual guide, Rav Shalom Arush and Breslev Israel.

Tal Rotem, one of Breslev Israel's talented staff writers, invites you to Meet Breslev Israel.

With the above in mind, Breslev Israel's 5770 (2009-2010) schedule is filling up fast. If you'd like us to visit your community, please write Breslev Israel's General Director Yosef Nechama or Program Coordinator Eric Fuchs right away. You’ll be glad you did. 

Peace of Mind in One Word - "Gamzu"

Whenever the holy Nachum Ish Gamzu would undergo body and mind-breaking tests of faith, he knew that everything was for the best. That’s how he got his name, for he used to say, gam zu letova, "this is also for the best." Read about "Gamzu - all for the best" in this week's issue of Breslev Israel web magazine.

Silent Shouts pierce the heavens.

This week is "Shabbat Shuva" and the Torah portion is Haazinu. Don't miss Rabbi Winston's Ear for Teshuva or Rebbetzen Siegelbaum commentary about Mother Earth.

Successful child-rearing leads to kids that are Happy and Proud about who and what they are.

Breslev Kids conclude this week the kiddy version of Perek Shira.

Geraldo Silver's personal story is amazing. Read it in Sure Winner. Candy and Ray - two of our very special Noahide friends from the Emuna State of Alabama - give us A Taste of Heaven.

Final Request is the gripping Part 4 of The King and the Woodsman.

May you all be signed and sealed in the Book of Long and Happy Life for a wonderful New Year 5770, amen!

Uman: the Dog or the Lion?

Uman has the attributes of the holy of holies. From one standpoint, it was the site of one of the greatest sanctifications of Hashem’s name in history. In 1768, only four years before Rebbe Nachman was born, the evil Cossack leader Gonta and his henchman attacked the Jews of Uman. The Jews that weren’t slaughtered in the fierce hand-to-hand and house-to-house fighting were told that anyone who passed under a certain canopy in front of the church would be spared. But, in order to do so, one would have to prostrate oneself before the cross. Not a single man, woman, or child of Uman’s 33,000 Jews agreed to do so, despite the fact that parents were slaughtered in front of their children and children were brutally maimed in front of their parents, all becoming holy martyrs.

Uman is also an aspect of “holy of holies” in that it is the eternal resting place of Rebbe Nachman, who yearned to lie among the martyrs.

Just as in the holy of holies in the Beit Hamikdash, travelers to Uman must be forewarned that one can encounter both proverbial dog and lion in Uman.

We certainly want a “lion’s share” from all the expense, preplanning, and dedication that it takes to make the trip to the holy kibbutz (gathering) of Breslever Chassidim in Uman on Rosh Hashanna. Nobody wants their trip to go to the dogs. In a nutshell, a person must be on strong spiritual guard in Uman, guarding his time, his eyes, and his tongue. One who guards all three will certainly reap all the benefits that the holy pilgrimage to Uman has to offer, including a soul correction for oneself, one’s spouse, and one’s family. Let’s see how:

Continue reading Uman: Dog or Lion in this week's cyber issue of Breslev Israel Magazine.

Walk, Don't Fly is an excerpt from the holy Zohar about Rosh Hashanah, which falls this coming Shabbat and Sunday. While we're on the subject of Rosh Hashanah, read about the esoteric implications of Apples and Honey, one of our customary foods on the Jewish New Year. Want some good advice for Rosh Hashanah? Forgive and be Forgiven.

Rabbi Shalom Arush teaches us more about personal prayer in Success for Everyone.

How do we understand the notion of teshuva? The Lubavitcher Rebbe talks about Return, Not Repentance. Rabbi Pinchas Winston gives another amazing explanation of teshuva in Why the Window.

In her wonderful series on child education, the Melitzer Rebbetzen writes that a mother must is Not a Peer Pal, but Mom.

Your buddy Lazer writes that during times of stress, intellect and logic don’t deliver the goods. To paraphrase the tire dealers, emuna’s what you can depend on where the rubber hits the road. Therefore, the only way to keep our cool under fire is by Putting Logic Aside.

Whatever you do, don't miss part 3 of the King and the Woodsman, entitled High Treason.

The Beams, Breslev Israel, and Emuna Outreach wish you and yours an inscription in the Book of Life for a wonderful New Year 5770.

PS: It's not too late to send your Pidyon Nefesh to Rabbi Shalom Arush - you won't regret it.

No Such Thing as Bad

My beloved teacher and spiritual guide Rav Shalom Arush writes, "The obligation of prayer is none other than an incentive for us to cultivate a close relationship with Hashem. The main connection to Hashem is by way of speech. In the case of personal prayer, this connection becomes beautifully intimate in that each person can determine the time, place, language, dialect, and length of conversation. This type of from-the-heart dialogue with Hashem was practiced by our ancestors way before Moses received the Torah on Mount Sinai. Hashem’s accessibility to each of us has been our source of strength and encouragement through two thousand years of exile and diaspora. The medium of personal prayer is centuries older than the prescribed prayers we pray today. In fact, the prescribed prayers were established by the Sages of the Great Assembly so that the oppressed and exiled masses wouldn’t forget how to pray altogether." Read his article The Main Connection in its entirety on this week's Breslev Israel web magazine. This is a segment of his new book In Forest Fields, which you can purchase online at the Breslev Israel Superstore.

Rav Shalom talks about shalom bayit and the classic showdown between wife and mother-in-law in The Duel.

Be careful not to fall into the Judgment Trap, especially during Elul.

Even though Jewish law requires us to thank Hashem for the seemingly bad just as we thank Him for the good (see Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 222:3), it’s a lot easier to thank Hashem when we realize that by looking at the world through eyes of emuna, there really is no bad in the world! Learn here that There's No Such Thing as Bad.

In commenting on this week's Torah portion Nitzavim, Rebbetzen Siegelbaum explains the separation of the sexes in Judaism in her excellent article Separated in Holiness. In Parshat Vayelech, she elaborates on the mitzva of Hakhel in Learning to Listen.

Chaya Ovadiah tells us about the meaning of a Candle. Don't miss Alice Jonsson's dlightful article about The Chicken Lady.

Vassily's New Clothes is Part 2 of our gripping High-holiday Series, The King and the Woodsman.

Rebecca Shapiro has Part 19 of Perek Shira for kids.

The Beams Book & CD store has now totally merged with the Breslev Israel Store. Go there for all our books and CDs.

Don't miss the opportunity to give your Pidyon Nefesh before Rosh Hashanna. There's no better insurance in town.

May you be blessed with a wonderful week!

The Path of Teshuva

The custom of Breslever Chassidim is to learn Torah #6 in the first section of Likutei Moharan during Elul. Rebbe Nachman says, "The only way to attain God's glory is through repentance. And the true sign of a person who has returned to God is the ability to hear himself insulted and remain silent. He endures even the most murderous abuse with patience, thereby reducing the blood in the left side of his heart (seat of the animal soul) and annihilating his evil inclination. Such a person is worthy of a share in God's glory." He goes on to describe the Path of Teshuva. Don't miss it on this week's Breslev Israel web magazine.

Rebbe Natan of Breslev explains the spiritual side of Jewish ritual slaughter in Freeing the Spirit.

Beyond Logic is segment 3 of In Forest Fields, Rabbi Shalom Arush's new book on personal prayer which G-d willing will be released in English later this week. Rabbi Shalom also talks about shalom bayit (marital peace)this week in Taking the Right Side.

Apropo marital peace, don't miss Marital Bliss, Satan, and the Vampire, a hair raising account of Leib Chaim Krainess's as a divorce attorney.

The Melitzer Rebbetzen continues her excellent series on child education Decisions for a Lifetime with Developing Good Habits.

Noahide correspondent Alice Jonsson writes about the Magical Seven, the mystics of the number seven.

Especially for Elul and the High Holidays, we're happy to bring you the old Chassidic allegory of the King and the Woodsman.

Here's Part 18 of Perek Shira for kids.

This week's Torah portion is Ki Tavo - don't miss Rebbetzen Siegelbaum's commentary in Taking a Stand.

Breslev Israel and the Beams wish you a wonderful week!

Important notices:

Good news for Spanish speakers: The Garden of Emuna is now available in Spanish.

Breslev Israel SuperStore: For those who've been asking, all of our books and CDs are being distributed at unbelievably low prices by the Breslev Israel Online Superstore.