Lazer Beams

Shavuot: Today You are a Nation

This coming Motzaei Shabbat (Saturday night) is our national birthday. Happy Birthday, Jewish People!

V'hi She'amda: The Eternal Promise

The Gemara (tractate Sanhedrin 97b) says that the Nation of Israel (aka the Jewish People) will be redeemed as soon as they make teshuva, in other words, return to Hashem and the ways of His Torah. The Gemara then asks, what happens if the Nation of Israel doesn't make teshuva? Rebbe Yehoshua answers that if Israel doesn't make teshuva, then Hashem places them under the influence of a wicked king whose evil decrees are as severe as Haman's, and then they make teshuva.

We cannot fathom The Almighty's love for us and His infinite mercy. Despite the fact that we haven't made Teshuva from Love, which is what we need to do in order to be redeemed, and despite the fact that our own misdeeds put us under the boot of each generation's wicked kings, Hashem has made an eternal promise to deliver us from their hands. That's the V'hi She'amda prayer that we recite each year in the Haggada.

Let me share with you something additional about Hashem's love for His people: The Heavenly Altar and Throne is known as Upper Jerusalem; it is situated directly above Mount Moriah, the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, which is known in the Zohar, Midrash, and Gemara as Lower Jerusalem. Hashem refuses to dwell in Upper Jerusalem until His permanent dwelling on earth - the Holy Temple - will be rebuilt in Lower Jerusalem (see Gemara tractate Taanit 5a, Midrash Tehillim 122, Vilna Gaon's elaboration of Zohar, Safra DeTzniuta, ist Chapter). The entire world and certain evil leaders are denying our right to the area of our own Holy Temple. Once again, we have no cause to be angry at them, for as soon as we make real teshuva, they will crumble. But, until we make teshuva, those evil leaders should be forewarned that by disenfranchising Israel from what they call East Jerusalem, they are in effect trying to disenfranchise The Almighty. Cherished brothers and sisters, that won't happen, period.

Hashem has no gratification by forcing us to make teshuva. When we strengthen our emuna and seek Hashem on our own accord, we sanctify His Holy Name. Let's wake up, beloved brothers and sisters. It's either nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles or emuna books and CDs; the choice is ours.

V'hi She'amda is a Passover song whose words come from the Haggada. It conveys a very timely message for the Jewish people: He who stood by our forefathers stands by us to deliver us from the hands of our enemies in every generation.

One of Jewish music's favorite sons, Yonatan Razael, wrote a beautiful melody for this song, which he sings here with the king of Jewish singers, my very special friend Yaacov Shweikey. You'll get shivers up your spine and tears in your eyes listening to them. We're sure you'll enjoy this musical treat as much as we do. G-d willing, we'll be singing this same melody on the Brody seder table this coming Monday night. Meanwhile, have a wonderful Seder Night, Shabbat, and Pesach!

Thank You, Hashem

Today is Rosh Chodesh Adar. There is so much to be thankful for, both on a natiional level and a personal level. Hashem has been doing awesome miracles for us; if we had the slightest inkling, we'd be dancing all day long. At this moment He continues to do awesome miracles. I want to share one of the most widely viewed video clips that Emuna Outreach ever made; it's the type of clip you can see dozens of times, and never get tired of it. In the same manner, when we never tire of thanking Hashem, we know that our souls are healthy.

Pass this clip on to your friends and relatives, especially if they're still far from Hashem. If it doesn't warm their hearts, then send them for an urgent EKG. Chodesh Tov!

Lecha Dodi

The Holy Ariza'l and his disciples used to usher in the Shabbat by praying out in the field on late Friday afternoon. I dream of ushering in the Shabbat on our gorgeous Ashdod riviera sometime. Meanwhile, someone had a similar dream and put it to film, together with Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach of blessed memory singing his classic rendition of Lecha Dodi. I'm sure you'll love this as much as I do:

Click here to download this week's Chut Shel Chesed Parsha Sheet in English, courtesy of Breslev Israel and edited by our sweet friend Rabbi Yehoshua Goldstein. Shabbat Shalom!

Birkat Cohanim: The Priestly Blessing

Close your eyes, and imagine that we're together in the Holy Temple in rebuilt Jerusalem. Here is a blessing for all of our viewers and readers, from the mouth of a "Cohen", a member of Israel's priestly tribe, my cherished friend with the golden honey-coated voice, Shlomo Katz.

Did You Thank Hashem Today?

In only takes a few moments - why not say "Thank-You" to Hashem?

Pereq Shira

Say Pereq Shira for 40 days in a row, and you'll see big miracles. Enjoy: