Lazer Beams

The Master Nurseryman

Did you ever wonder why a greenhouse is also called a nursery, and the horticulturalist (also known as greenhouseman or plant farmer) is also referred to as a nurseryman?

Any plant farmer with a soul knows that his plants have souls. He cares for each plant like a baby, no matter how big his greenhouse is or how many plants he has. The same goes for a tree farmer with a soul; no matter how big his orchard is, he treats each tree as an individual, which in spirituality, it truly is.

In the photo above, taken from a greenhouse in the Samarian Hills, you see a classic example of drip irrigation. An individual hose and dripper reaches every plant, feeding it water and liquid nutrients just like a baby. The plants in the greenhouse are just like babies in a nursery. That's why the plant farmer is called a nurseryman, watering and feeding each one of his green "babies."

Don't worry about where your next meal will come from. Hashem is a much more loving Nurseryman than the best of tree farmers. He has His own method of drip irrigation to give us exactly what we need when we need it.

Overwatering and excess nutrients can kill a plant; Hashem knows also that excesses are not good for us, so we should always be happy with what we have. The Master Nurseryman knows what's best for each of us.

The Lesson of the Tangerines

We can learn so much from all of Hashem's creations. During this time in Israel, the air smells like perfume from the intoxicating fragrance of the first citrus blossoms. Come with me for a walk out to the groves east of Ashdod:

Planet Earth

As a preparation for Shabbat, we'd like to share with you a 13-minute glimpse of Hashem's might and majesty. Can you really walk away and say that creation is a random occurrence? Not after this: 

The Blessing of Isolation

This exquisite photo of an Israeli Ibex ("Yael") near Ramon Crater courtesy of Joshua Gedalia

Moses blessed the People of Israel before he died, "And Israel shall dwell in security isolated." This is one of the best blessings of Torah, if only we'd heed it...

In the south of Israel in the Negev Desert, lives an amazing creature, the Yael - the Ibex, or Israeli mountain goat. You won't find a more sure-footed animal in creation. It's breathtaking to see the Yael walk along steep and narrow mountain ledges, where the slightest slip means plunging down hundreds of meters to the canyon below. But the fact that the Yael lives in such rugged and trecherous terrain is also his protection. He dwells alone, where no predator or enemy can reach him.

When we the people of Israel dwell on a spiritual high of unshakable emuna, no predator or enemy can reach us either. Perhaps one of the reasons that the Shofar is made from the horn of a Yael is to teach us to be like him. When we put all our trust in Hashem, we too are surefooted and never fall.

The important news is that Chanuka is almost here, reminding us to rid ourselves of any and all foreign influence and dependence. The insignificant news is that Britain and France, the two countries in Europe that will be the first to be taken over by Islam, are threatening (if they haven't already) to recall their ambassadors because of the new housing that's scheduled to be built in Jerusalem, Judea, and Shomron. Sirs, feel completely free to go home to your two-faced and immoral governments.

Any time throughout history when Israel depended on a foreign power led to submission and tragedy. It's about time we did what Hashem wants us to do and not what foreign governments want us to do. The cowardly building freeze in Israel during the last few years as a capitulation to the White House did not bring peace; it only created a shortage of at least 20,000 housing units and drove apartment prices here through the roof. The 3,000 units that the Israeli Government is currently planning are certainly welcome, but still a drop in the bucket.

Don't be afraid as the nations of the world isolate us - Hashem is doing this for our very best and as preparation for the imminent redemption of our people - the Geula. You'd like to be part of the Geula, wouldn't you? Or do you prefer to continue hiding your kippa in your pocket and wearing a baseball hat or a beret so that your hostile neighbors won't know that you're Jewish?

Live like a Yael, with no fear of anyone but Hashem. Vayishkon Yisrael betach badad - "And Israel shall dwell in security isolated."

The Lesson of the Sycamore

On Yom Kippur, Iran's Achmedinejad once again repeated his threat to annihilate Israel. Predictably, less than a handful of nations voiced other than perfunctory luke-warm objections. As the Gemara teaches us, we have no one to depend on but our Father in Heaven.

Most suitably, this week's Torah portion - Haazinu - warns that our only chance of survival in the Land of Israel is by clinging to our roots.

The Sycamore tree is a living example of what the Torah's talking about; join me for a 5-minute boost of emuna...

Have a wonderful Shabbat and joyous New Year 5773!

Dakuwaqa's Dream

We are pleased to share with you a magnificent celebration of creation, the untouched underwater world of Fiji in the south Pacific. The photography and film production are the exquisite work of Nick Hope, and the background melody is by Skanoir Music.

A mere glance at Hashem's magnificent universe is enough to make even an insensitive person cry out in love of Hashem. Our job in Elul is exactly that - to enhance our love of Hashem and to get closer to Him. Once we do so, the High Holidays become a sublime pleasure and not a dread, Heaven forbid. Enjoy!

Gentle Green Souls

Do plants have souls? Can you really talk to our little green friends? How do we know that they understand and answer?

Rebbe Nachman of Breslev teaches (Likutei Moharan II: 11) that when a person prays in the field, all the neighboring plants, grasses, and trees help him, and add power and a wonderfully enhanced dimension to his prayer.

Where did Rebbe Nachman learn that from?

Throughout the Psalms, King David writes about the ability of the trees and grasses to speak. The Gemara also tells us that Rebbe Yochanan ben Zakai, as well as the wise men who preceded him, understood the language of plants and animals.

Any tree farmer with a soul knows that his trees have souls. A sensitive farmer can sense the needs of a tree.

The holy Ariza'l, whose yahrtzeit is this coming Tuesday, teaches that when we make a blessing over a fruit or vegetable, we elevate the soul that was in the fruit or vegetable.

Do you find that difficult to believe that plants have souls? Try this simple experiment:

Continue reading The Gentle Green Souls in this week's stimulating issue of Breslev Israel web magazine.

Also featured this week:

Rabbi Shalom Arush: Loving Friends

Rabbi David Charlop: What is a Tzaddik?

Racheli Reckles: Mister TYO

Rivka Levy: Baba Sali's Advice, Clever One - Simple One, 2012

Yehudit Levy: A Letter to Jerusalem

Chaya Ovadia: Celebrations

Dr. Zev Ballen: The Thread of Happiness

Dovber Halevi: The Open Miracle

We hope you have a lovely new week. Please drive carefully - Hashem loves you, and so do we here at the Beams.