Lazer Beams

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach: Rebbe Nachman Says...

Rebbe Natan's Wisdom

The Tenth of Teveth is a very special date on the Hebrew calendar. Not only is it a public fast day, but it also marks the anniversary of Rebbe Natan's departure from the physical world. Thanks to Rebbe Natan, we have the rich legacy of Rebbe Nachman's teachings. In fact, Rebbe Nachman himself once said, “Were it not for Natan, there wouldn't be a single sheet of my teachings!”

Rebbe Natan personifies the lofty element of bitul larabo, one's total self-nullification to one's rabbi, teacher and spiritual guide. Even though Rebbe Natan had a prodigious IQ and a magnificent talent for learning Torah, as proven by his total mastery of Talmud and religious law by age 22, he cast aside his own logic and intellect in favor Rebbe Nachman's way of thinking. Rebbe Natan's total internalization of Rebbe Nachman's teachings enabled him not only to think like his beloved and exalted teacher, but to author an entire compendium of nuances, elaborations, and esoteric commentary on The Shulchan Aruch Code of Jewish Law, known as Likutei Halachot.

Each minute of Rebbe Natan's life was a priceless pearl that he guarded carefully. No wonder he accomplished so much in his lifetime of 65 years.

Alim LeTrufa (Healing Leaves, abridged English edition) is a collection of Rebbe Natan's letters, most of which he wrote to his son, Reb Yitzchak. These letters are a source of inspiration and encouragement that defies any price tag. No matter where you open the book, you can find practical advice to help you get through the day a little bit easier. Rebbe Natan, the understudy and prime disciple of one of Judaism's great doctors of the soul, always seems to have the right words to encourage us. He is the master of hitchazkut, the art of  spiritually and emotionally strengthening oneself against all odds.

As a loving memorial to Rebbe Natan, of saintly and blessed memory, here are a few morsels of his advice, ever so relevant to the challenges of contemporary times:

Continue reading Rebbe Natan's Wisdom on this week's online edition of Breslev Israel magazine.

Also featured this week:

Rabbi Shalom Arush: The Daily Reminder

Rabbi Pinchas Winston: Moshiach Ben Yosef

Zev Ballen: The Therapeutic Wasteland

Howard Morton: A Hollywood Refugee

Rivka Levy: Back to Basics

Dovber HaLevi: A Conversation with Hashem

Racheli Reckles: The Good Fight

Chaya Ovadia: The Chameleon

Gila David: Returning Citizen

Emuna Outreach and Lazer Beams want to reemphasize our vehement opposition to religious fanaticism and violation of human rights, be it sexual, racial, or any other discrimination. But, we also condemn the media's incitement against the religious population, and its vulgar attempts to dehumanize and deligitimize observant Jews. We'll have a lot more to say on this matter, either here on the Beams or on our weekly show at Israel National Radio. Have a good week! 

Never Give Up!

Here is a priceless gem: Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach of blessed memory, one of the greatest storytellers that ever lived, tlls a story about a banker on the verge of bankruptcy who was saved by Rebbe Nachman of Breslev.

Now that the holidays are over, we are facing challenging times. But all we have to do is listen to our holy Rebbe Nachman, may his sacred memory illuminate our lives, and never give up! There is no such thing as despair for a person with emuna.

A bright Beam blessing to the Bell family of Ramat Bet Shemesh for their contribution to this post.

The Coronation

Rosh Hashana is the King's coronation, when we crown Hashem as our King. People ask me why we leave our holy Land of Israel to go to the Ukraine on Rosh Hashana. The reason is simple: Rebbe Nachman himself told us before he left this world, Ish bal ye'ader - No one shall be missing, in other words, we Breslevers have a directive from our holy Rebbe of blessed memory to spend Rosh Hashana in Uman. This tradition was continued by Rebbe Natan zatza'l and by all subsequent generations of Rebbe Nachman's disciples.

Intrinsically, the main coronation of The King takes place in the Kloiz, the cental prayer hall near Rebbe Nachman's holy gravesite in Uman, which was the site of one of the greatest sanctifications of Hashem's name in history. During the Cossack pogroms of 1728, 33,000 Jews were brutally slaughtered after they refused to give up their ancient faith. Uman is the biggest teshuva and emuna factory in the world. Amazingly enough, last year there were 33,000 Jews praying together in Uman. This year, many more are expected.

G-d willing, we'll be flying to Uman on Sunday. A week later, we'll be flying to Los Angeles for one day, where we'll be speaking at a big teshuva gathering for women together with our dear friend and brother-in-arms, Rabbi Zecharia Wallerstein, may Hashem bless him. Big Beams blessings for a good Shabbat and a wonderful New Year 5772!

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 Mishpotim, which is also Shabbat Mevorchim Adar Aleph, the Shabbat before the new month.

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 my cherished friend - singer, composer, and Torah scholar Avi Goldwag, who was the child-prodigy lead singer of the Miami Boy's Choir - singing Ani Avdecho ("I am your servant") from Psalm 116 that we say in the "Hallel" every day during Chanuka. This melody brings me to tears of joy and a yearning to cling to Hashem. Enjoy, and have a happy Chanuka and Shabbat Miketz. Hashem loves you and so does your brother Lazer.

The Prayer Factory

Last year, during a convention of the leading educators in the Gerrer cheder (elementary educational - LB) network, the Gerrer Rebbe shlit'a told the participants: "Too bad we don't have a place in Eretz Yisroel where our children can see davening (praying - LB) like in Uman!"

Uman is a prayer factory. Sure, some of the 30,000-plus who make the Rosh Hashana pilgrimage to Rebbe Nachman's gravesite are thrill-seekers and carnival-goers. But to the mainstream of Breslever Chassidim, prayer - especially the High Holiday prayers - is a chance to be with The King. Uman on Rosh Hashana is The King's coronation. Uman therefore leaves a lasting impression on a child's soul, the type that the Gerrer Rebbe wants to engrave on the hearts of all children.

In Uman, you'll find Torah lessons from morning until night. You can hear lectures from Breslev's foremost rabbis and mashpiim, or spiritual guides. There are prayer quorums everywhere, all day long. When people aren't praying prescribed prayers, they're engaged in personal prayer, some in the woods, some down by the river, and many flocked around Rebbe Nachman's holy gravesite.

If you're looking for spirituality, for meaning in your Judaism, and for real emuna, then Uman Rosh Hashana is the place for you.

Sure, beloved sisters, it's not easy to spend Rosh Hashana alone with the kids. But if you knew the benefits that you derive by sending your husband to Uman, you'd force him to go.

Consider this your personal invitation to the prayer factory. Rosh Hashana is only 8 weeks away.