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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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
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!
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:
Rebbe Nachman's niggun for Lecho Dodi that we sing during the Kabbalat Shabbat service on Friday night makes any Breslever start swaying and yearning for Hashem. It's definitely one of my favorites.
Here's a rare two-minute clip where you'll hear the sounds of the night by the riverbank of Nachal Lachish, east of Ashdod, one of my favorite spots for hitbodedut, or personal prayer. There's also a personal message for you, too. Special thanks to my cherished friend, Rav Yosef Karduner, for his exquisite background music.
