Lazer Beams

The Sword of Moshiach

This is the generation of Moshiach. Rebbe Nachman of Breslev says that the sword of Moshiach is prayer. That means that Moshiach will fight all of his battles against Hashem's enemies solely by spiritual means. That's exactly why I believe with all my heart that a page of Gemara, an hour of personal prayer, and a recitation of Perek Shira will work miracles, whereas politics and conventional activism will not. Why? Prayer is above the stars and therefore above the restrictions of nature. Above the stars, miracles are normal.

Let us all search deep down within our hearts: If we really believed in the power of prayer, would we resort to lobbying? Would we spend time writing to Congressmen when we could be writing Torah nuances?  

The personal prayers ascending to the heavens from Kansas, Oregon, Alabama, Florida, Texas, Kentucky, Hawaii, the Phillipines, Germany, Alaska and all the other faraway places are making a major impression in the Heavens. Emuna pins are quickly filling the world map.

"Some with chariots, and some with horses, but we, in the name of Hashem, our G-d, will call out (Psalms 20:8)". Hashem wants us all to learn how to skillfully use the Sword of Moshiach..

Where is Moshiach?

Where is Moshiach? That and a few more important questions are answered in the following 9-minute clip:

The Navajo Connection

Thanks and blessings to David from South Florida for inspiring the following post. Photo at left - a classic example of Navajo weaving

Is the mystery of Navajo roots connected to the Priestly Garments dating back to the time of Moses, Aaron, and Betzalel? Is Navajo weaving the "Ma'ase oreg" mentioned in the Torah? Could the Navajos be another lost tribe of Israel?

The Temple Institute's announcement of the completion of the The Blue Robe of the Kohen Gadol has created quite a buzz. The show-stopper for me is that master artisan Yehudit Avraham chose the famed Navajo weaving technique. Was she divinely inspired? Could be, but practically, the Navajo technique is a maas'e oreg, or "weaver's work" that fulfills Torah criteria. Amazing?! I had to run this by Grandmother White Eagle.

Grandmother White Eagle took time from her busy schedule and wrote:

Osyio (Cherokee greeting - LB) Rabbi Wolf Brother!!!

The news about the weave of the High Priest’s robe is so exciting that I got the chills up and down my spine! I will share some of what I have gathered about the Navajo from my experiences on their reservation.

First let me share that I have been receiving many questions lately about other native peoples in America that could be lost tribes of Israel too (since your Trail of Tears series was posted).

The Navajo is a tribe you would love. Their refusal to assimilate is astounding and continues to this day. There are many on the Navajo rez that still do not speak or read English. They are very loyal and the only tribe here that refuses to allow the sins of gambling on their reservation (considered a tax on the poor). They are very private about their native worships and very matriarchal. It is believed by some spiritual leaders here that just before Moshiach, the Navajo will be raised up by HaShem and become the spiritual forerunners of America (maybe because of the least sin of any natives, and maybe because they too are Jews?). The fact that the Master weaver Yehudit Avraham wove the robe using the Navajo weaving technique is no accident. In my humble opinion I believe it is a confirmation.

The native flute that I play in sacred ceremonies is a Navajo flute. Its sound carries very far without amplification. It is most amazing and the natives say it is because I have strong medicine from the Creator, but I also believe it is a divine instrument. (I prayed and asked for a 1 Samuel 16 anointing when playing any musical instrument as King David did, to bring healing to a hurting soul).

The Navajo have suffered much the same persecutions as the Cherokees and other tribes. They had their own “Trail” by the white man. Historically, the Navajo era of prosperity came to a sudden and traumatic end in 1863. Seven thousand Navajo were rounded up by troops led by Kit Carson and held captive for four years at Bosque Redondo, New Mexico. Only one-quarter of these Navajo survived, and when they were released, they found their homes, pastures and flocks destroyed, and their homeland reduced to one-fifth of its original size (sound familiar?).

Please have your readers pray for this tribe. Most are very poor. You would not know that you are in the USA while visiting there. Many still live in one room log cabins called a Hogan. Most do not have running water, electricity and only a dirt floor. We helped sponsor a trip last month to take food, clothes and toys to some kids on the reservation.

As for the weaving, most tribes use “earth tone” colors in their clothes and rugs. However, the Navajo tribe has much respect for the color blue. It represents the sky and things that come from above. The color of the Jewish High Priest's robe - what you call Tchelet - is exactly what they call Navajo blue, their ritual and favorite color.

The number four (4) permeates traditional Navajo philosophy. In the Navajo culture there are four directions, four seasons, the first four clans and four colors that are associated with the four sacred mountains. In most Navajo rituals there are four songs and multiples thereof, as well as many other symbolic uses of four. If I remember correctly the number four in Hebrew is a number of letters in the Creator's holy name?

This is getting exciting, Wolf Brother. Wado equa and blessings, Grandmother White Eagle

Wado equa - thanks ever so much to you, Ulisi Unegv Wohali - Grandmother White Eagle, and may the sun shine upon your path always! Most respectfully, Wa ya Udo (LB)

Who Goes First?

Rebbe Natan tells about a dispute between Hashem and the Jewish People that delays the final redemption. Hashem says, “Come back to Me and I will come back to you” (Malachi 3:10). Hashem wants us to take the initiative, awaken ourselves, and repent. Then, He will come back to us and redeem us.

The Jewish people say, “Bring us back to You and we shall return” (Lamentations 5:21). They claim the opposite - first Hashem should bring us back and redeem us and then we will repent. In other words, let Hashem take the initiative.

Hashem wants us to make the first move and we want Hashem to initiate. This dispute is holding up the redemption.

Who's right? Who has to make the first step? Watch this week's lesson, Who Goes First?, and you'll find out.

"I Await His Coming"

We are delighted to share with you a magnificent clip of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of blessed and saintly memory, speaking about Moshiach. Seeing and hearing a true tzaddik is in itself a purification of the soul. Have a wonderful Shabbat and weekend.

The End of Days: Gog and Magog

Do you think your life is difficult? Are you aware that you begged Hashem to come down to this world and experience the challenges that you now have? Hear all about it in this eye-opening 6-minute clip:

Have a wonderful Shabbat B'haalotcha and a relaxing weekend.

The Wheels of Geula

1. Russia to the West: Hands off the Ukraine.

2. North Korea challenges the world.

3. Iran dispatches 6 warships to international waters.

4. Israel: Home front drill not a scenario.

5. US Dollar: Plunging, having fallen 6% in the last 4 weeks.

The wheels of the Geula are already turning...

I'm off to the Ukraine for 5 days, to spend Shavuot in Uman by the holy gravesite of Rebbe Nachman in Uman. You are certainly in my prayers.

Last Generation Before Moshiach

Longing for Beit Hamikdash

You can feel it in the air, here in Israel. It defies words, but something is happening. The scent of Geula and Moshiach is in the air; it's subtle still, but if a person can't smell it, he really needs an ear, nose, and throat specialist.

Rina from Los Angeles sent me a very special email earlier today: "I dreamed that I was on a cattle car with a bunch of other Jews from our synagogue, and they were taking us to a concentration camp somewhere in the Nevada desert. All of a sudden you appeared, Rabbi Lazer. You unlocked the door and started pulling people off the train. You yelled, "There's no time to lose, either jump now or die!" You extended your arm to me, motioning for me to approach the door. I was so afraid. You whispered, "Jump, Rina!" I did, and when I opened my eyes, I was at the Kotel in Jerusalem. The Levites were singing the Hallel for Rosh Chodesh..."

Francis from Singapore also had a dream two nights ago, where he saw me talking about Rosh Chodesh.

Dreams notwithstanding, we long for our Holy Temple, the Beit HaMikdash.

Come on Home!

Holocaust Day this year falls on Monday Night and Tuesday, 20-21 April, 2009.

Many people are asking if there could be another holocaust, G-d forbid, and particularly in the "Land of the Free." For the last three weeks, people have been sending me a steady stream of emails asking for my opinion on Nava's post (Dreaming of Moshiach, one of the most popular Jewish blogs on the web) from April 7 entitled American Jews: Leave Now!, where she brings a number of sources that urge US Jews to leave write away.

Not long ago, Rabbi Shalom Arush said, “Those who don't come to Israel while they still can may be lucky to escape from the USA with a plastic bag and a pair of pajamas in the not so distant future.” Unlike some of the sources Nava brings, Rabbi Shalom says that they shouldn't feel like a gun is pointing at their head, but that all the Jews of the Diaspora - not just America - have an obligation to do their utmost to Come on Home to Israel as soon as they can.  

Rabbi Shalom Arush discusses the root cause of the Holocaust in One Infamous Night, our feature article in this week's Breslev Israel web magazine.

Were it not for a tragedy that happened to my own mother in Grodno, Poland (now Belarus) right before WWII broke out, your friend Lazer wouldn't be here. Read how even tragedies are all for the best in The Pin Cushion, this week's absolutely must-read.

Read about the Death Train and a dozen more gripping original Holocaust Day articles in this week's issue.

Rabbi Erez Moshe Doron says that if one really wants the truth, he or she will find it in Keep Searching.

Rivka Levy talks about what it feels like when all your neighbors are having babies and you're not in Maybe Baby.

Oded Mizrachi tells part 2 of Girl of Sinai and Shlomo Brunell tells us part 6 of his personal odyssey from Presbyterian Minister to Orthodox Jew in Strangers No More.

Alice Jonsson asks a tough question in Who are You to Judge? Sara Azulai writes about this year's Blessing in the Curse. Breslev Kids get more Perek Shira for kids.

This week's Torah portion is Tazria - Metzora. Here's wishing you a week of blessings and success.