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!