Lazer Beams

One Hour a Day

Do you remember the song "Peace of Mind" from way back when, by a group named "Boston"? Well, Menachem Herman and I got a hold of it. I changed the lyrics and called it "One Hour a Day," turning it into a song about hitbodedut, talking to Hashem for an hour a day in personal prayer. Menachem of course plays the music better than the original, just like he did in Sweet Home, Jerusalem. Here's something to really brighten your day:

ONE HOUR A DAY

Music by "Boston", performed by Menachem Herman and Emuna - Lyrics by Rabbi Lazer Brody

Now if you're feelin' kinda low 'cause your soul is cryin'
The Geula's coming much too slow
And you shout in the darkness 'cause you feel like dyin'
There doesn't seem to be any place to go
Yeah, yeah, yeah

I understand about deep depression
But I don't care what people say
My heart and my soul need their daily expression
I'll talk to Hashem for one hour a day. (yea...)

Now you're lookin' around for some real action
Something that's good for your head
But wherever you search you get a bad reaction

So why not try Hashem instead?

I understand about deep depression
But I don't care what people say
My heart and my soul need their daily expression
I'll talk to Hashem for an hour a day.. 

One hour a day, an hour a day, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah...woa!

Now everybody's got advice they just keep on givin'
Doesn't mean too much to me

Lot's of people out to make-believe they're livin'
'Cause emuna they don't yet see.

I understand about deep depression
But I don't care what people say
My heart and my soul need their daily expression
I'll talk to Hashem for an hour a day.. 

One hour a day, an hour a day, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah...woa!

Everything is Certainly for the Best

One of Rebbe Nachman's most important, yet profoundly simple teachings is the key to emuna, to life itself, and to happiness: since everything comes from Hashem, everything is certainly for the best. The original words in Hebrew are:

Me'achar vehakol me'Ito Yitbarach, Bevadai Shehakol Letova.

Learn these words, and sing along with Menachem Herman and me. Remember this song - it's a lifesaver for difficult times.

Emuna Outreach and the Beams wish you a wonderful Shabbat Ki Tetze.

Everywhere I Walk, I Walk in the Land of Israel

Concluding our Eretz Yisroel series this week, here is a clip of Guy Tzvi Mintz and I singing Rebbe Nachman's famous quotation, "Wherever I walk, I am walking in the Land of Israel." A basic tenet of Breslever Chassidic thought is to strive to move to the Land of Israel. Even if one can't, one should yearn so much for the Holy Land, that one's thoughts and feelings are actually here. The more you love someone, the more you think about them.

A Tribute to Rabbi Noah Weinberg, zatza"l

I'm amazed to see the sunrise once more each day; it's simply hard to imagine that the world keeps going without our beloved Rabbi Noah Weinberg, of saintly and blessed memory. Who can count the tens of thousands of souls that Rabbi Noah brought home to Hashem? Singlehandedly, he built a prodigious outreach army that includes yeshivas, kollels, synagogues, seminars, adult education, and entire communities all over the world.

I'd like to describe a very poignant, personal, and unforgettable moment I had with the Rosh Yeshiva, of blessed memory. We were thirteen graduates in Aish Hatorah's Rabbinical graduating class of 1992. Before we received our ordination during an impressive ceremony at the Ramada Hotel Ballroom in Jerusalem, Rabbi Noah talked to each of us privately. When it was my turn to enter his hallowed office, he told me, "Lazer Raphoel, from this moment on, I want you to imagine that every non-observant Jew you meet is on the train to Auschwitz. You have a minute or so to pull him off. If you fail, there may be no one to save him from the spiritual gas chambers. It's all up to you. Don't ever let up..."

That's the way the Rosh Yeshiva was. He taught us that we were responsible for the whole world and particularly for the Jewish people. He also taught us never to pass the buck, and to believe in our ability to change the world.

This week's Breslev Israel editorial is a tribute to the Rosh Yeshiva, entitled Rabbi Noah and the Big Six.

Rebbe Nachman of Breslev says that this world fools us completely. It makes a person think that he is constantly earning. But in the end he has nothing. Most people who work for years in business and trade in the end have nothing to show for it. Even if a person does accumulate money, it is taken away from him. A man and his money cannot remain together. Either the money is taken from the man, or the man is taken from the money. But one never finds that a person remains together with his money... Accurate, or what? Is Rebbe Nachman Laughing at the World?

Apropo money, Rabbi Shalom Arush talks about making a No-stress Income.

David's Story is a must read. Batya Rosen writes about Hashem's Special Forces. Our ever-so-popular Noahide correspondent Alice Jonsson tells how to Love the Mess you're in. The Melitzer Rebbetzen describes the delightful little things that happen Only in Israel.

This week's Kabbalah lesson is The Light of the Four Names.

Breslev Kids are treated to Part 20 of The Boastful Buck.

This week's Torah portion is Mishpatim. Big Bright Beam Blessings for a wonderful week!

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach: A Taste of God

My cherished friend and soul brother Shlomo Katz sent me an exquisite Chanuka present, a rare audio clip of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, of blessed memory, quoting Rebbe Nachman of Breslev on Chanukah, which we're now privileged to share with you. Rabbi Shlomo teaches us in Rebbe Nachman's name that the light of Chanukah is a taste of G-d. Not only that, but if a person is so-called religious, but still has a desire to fight with others or slander them, he hasn't yet tasted the light of G-d. Here's Rabbi Shlomo:

Chanuka is both immensely meaningful and deeply joyous; this is a perfect description of the following rare video clip of Rabbi Shlomo singing "Ani Avdecho" ("I am your servant," from Psalm 116 that we say in the "Hallel" every day during Chanuka) with Mordechai Ben David. Enjoy, and have a happy Chanuka.

How the Holocaust Began

Here's the amazing story of the 24-hour personal prayer (hitbodedut) vigil that the Breslever boys in the Lubliner Yeshiva maintained for over 7 years, until September of 1939...

This week's Torah portion is Vayeshev. Have a wonderful Shabbat!

Who do I vote for?

Obama or McCain? Livni or Bibi? With elections imminent in the USA and 90 days away in Israel, many people ask me who they should vote for. Rather than give them my answer, I tell them what Rebbe Nachman of Breslev said (see the Tale of the Clever and the Simple, the ninth of Rebbe Nachman's Thirteen Tales): To rule a nation, one does not need a high intelligence and cleverness, only simplicity and integrity.  

Important notice: Rabbi Lazer's weekly English talk at the Chut Shel Chesed Yeshiva, 13 Shmuel HaNavi Street in Jerusalem, will take place today (Wednesday, 29 Oct., 2008) at 5 PM. The general public is invited and the women's section will be open.

Rebbe Natan's Yahrtzeit

Today, the 10th of Teveth, is the 163rd anniversary of Rebbe Natan (Nosson) of Breslev's passing from this world. Rebbe Natan is dear to us beyond words. My editorial this week at BreslovWorld is about him, and there're 3 other fantastic articles about him there written by Rebbetzin Debbie Shapiro.

Here at the Beams, we're commemorating Rebbe Natan's Yahrtzeit with some photos we took in Breslev, Ukraine this past summer.

Photo 1: Rebbe Natan's Gravesite

Photo 2: View of the Ukranian countryside from Rebbe Natan's gravesite

Photo 3: The River Bugg, here Rebbe Natan would pour his heart out in personal prayer

Photo 4: Lazer praying at Rebbe Natan's gravesite

Photo 5: A Breslever sunset - fire in the sky over Rebbe Natan's gravesite

Lev Tahor - A Pure Heart

Rebbe Nachman of Breslev says that hearing the music of an upright musician is beneficial to one's soul and spirituality; that's why it's so good to hear the music of my very dear friend and "brother", Guy Tzvi Mintz, may Hashem bless him always. Even if you don't understand the Hebrew, you'll find the music lifting you higher. G-d willing, the Jewish music world will be hearing a lot more from Guy Tzvi - he's as pure and as invigorating as the late afternoon breeze in the Judean Hills.

This song is entitled "Lev Tahor," and based on Likutei Moharan I:156. Enjoy it!

Hamilton, Ontario Kiddie Sing-along

Where there are no lambs, there certainly won't be rams. That's why Emuna Outreach places such a big emphasis on kiddie outreach, as you'll see in the clip below: