Here's a reminder that there'll be an unforgettable evening of song and inspiration tonight (Sunday, 17 May), 8:15 PM at the Carlebach Shul in Ramat Bet Shemesh Aleph, Nahal Dolev 70, featuring Shlomo Katz and Rabbi Lazer. The topic will be "Living in Stressful Times." Don't miss it!
Women in the Jerusalem-BetShemesh-Gush Etzion-Hevron area are cordially invited to the Midrashia in Bat Ayin this evening at 8 PM, for our monthly emuna shiur. Tonight's lesson is entitled, "Defeating the Klipa (impure spiritual force) of Haman and Amalek." Hope to see you there!
This week's emuna lesson in English entitled "On the Tip of the Tongue" talks about verbal abuse and its effects on family life - you won't want to miss it. It will be broadcast live today (Wednesday) at 5 PM from the Chut Shel Chessed Yeshiva, 13 Shmuel HaNavi Street, Jerusalem. The lesson is open to the public, and both men and women are welcome. You can see today's lesson live right here at 10 AM EST, 3 PM in the UK, or 5 PM Israel time. Our weekly emuna lessons let you feel like you've got a front row seat in our yeshiva, thanks to the technical staff at Breslev Israel.
Here's a reminder that I'll be in Bat Ayin this evening for the first of our winter "Garden of Emuna" lectures for women, sponsored by Midreshet Be'erot Bat Ayin. The lesson will be in English, and will start G-d willing at 8 PM. If you're anywhere near the Bet Shemesh - Jerusalem - Gush Etzion area, we hope to see you there.
With Hashem's loving grace, I'm back home in Eretz Yisroel after an astounding Rosh Hashanah by the holy gravesite of Rebbe Nachman of Breslev in Uman. Over 30,000 Breslevers and guests from around the world flocked to Uman this year. There's a lot to tell, but I'll continue later this week, G-d willing.
This trip was especially meaningful since quite a few Beams readers joined us for their first time in Uman.
On a personal note, I was especially gratified that once again, 3 generations of Brodys were in Uman - my son BenTzion, my grandson Yaacov Yosef, and yours truly. When my grandfather left the Ukraine in 1905 for Canada, he took a serious spiritual slide. My father was born into a home that didn't observe Shabbat. And here we were in Uman - the Ukraine revisted - three generations of payis-wearing Breslever Chassidim; it felt wonderful.
I'm pleased to tell you that the first thing I did on my arrival to Uman - after mikva, selichot, and shacharit prayers - was to pray for you by Rebbe Nachman's gravesite last Thursday morning. I placed your kvittlach directly on the tziyun after praying for each name. A Gmar Chatima Tova to everyone!
G-d willing, I'll be in the Ukraine for Rosh Hashanah from Wednesday, Sept. 24 until Friday, October 3, 2008. The Emuna Outreach office will be closed during the above dates, so any book and CD orders received after 2 AM EDT Tuesday, Sept. 23, won't be mailed and processed until October 5th. So, please get your book and CD orders in early.
With Hashem's help, I'll be saying two public shiurim (lessons) in Uman, and will post the exact times after Shabbat.
This week's Shabbat portion is Ki Tavo. Selichot for Ashkenazim begin on Saturday night. Check your local synagogue for prayer times. Have a wonderful Shabbat and weekend!
Here's a reminder that our weekly Emuna Update on Tamar Yonah's weekend edition of Israel National Radio is every Sunday at 3:10 PM Israel time (8:10 AM EDT).
I have always believed that true peace in the world can only be attained by people of Emuna, pure and simple faith in Hashem. I was therefore surprised and delighted when Tamar Yonah forwarded me the following email:
Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:00:54 -0000 (GMT)
Subject: Rabbi Brody's weekly spot
From: abujalad@
To: TamarY@IsraelNationalRadio.com
User-Agent: SquirrelMail/1.5.0
Dear Ms. Yonah,
As a journalist here in the Gulf, I like to follow the different streams
of opinion in Israel, ranging from Haaretz to Arutz 7. I am amazed at your
Rabbi Brody. Although he seems to be an extreme right-winger at first
glance, he is a man of truth that defies labels. His courage in speaking
out against the regime is honorable and his analyses of world events are
simply superb. Where are your Rabbi Brodys in the government and at the
peace table? You sorely need leaders like him. Sincerely, Abu Jalad, Qatar
I'm sorry to disappoint Abu Jalad, but I have no political aspirations. Nevertheless, I sincerely appreciate his thoughts. He seems like a good partner for a peace dialogue. Time will tell...
Menachem Herman and Naftali Anshin have organized a big house in Uman this year, complete with cooking facilities. I will also being staying there, G-d willing, from the Thursday before Shabbat Nitzavim to the Fast of Gedalia, the day after Rosh Hashana. We will be having Shabbat and YomTov meals together, complete with singing and words of Torah around the table.
left, Menachem and Lazer
Menachem has informed me that a few places are still vacant. If you'd like to spend Rosh Hashana with us, please contact Menachem immediately at mhorchestra@gmail.com . Relative to the normal local lodging conditions, this is a dream opportunity.
A wonderful new month of Elul! From today, we wish each other an inscription in the Book of Life for a wonderful New Year 5769, only 30 days away.
Ben Bresky of Israel National Radio did a really lively interview with Menachem Herman and Lazer on his popular show "The Beat" the day before yesterday. It's a half hour long, lots of fun, and interspersed with Menachem's fantastic music from our new emuna project. Enjoy! A Big Beam Blessing to Cookie Dalton, Emuna Outreach's staffer in Alabama, for preparing this post
With Seder night only a week away, here are a few important announcements:
CD and Book orders: All orders that reach us after 1 PM EDT this coming Wednesday, 16 April, 2008 will be processed and mailed only after Pesach; in other words, on April 28, 2008. Therefore, if you need any Emuna Outreach CDs or books, please get your order in before Wednesday.
Correspondence: The intermediate days (Chol HaMoed) of the Pesach and Succoth festivals are my annual vacation time, when I double up on Torah learning and attention to my family. Therefore, during the period of Friday, April 18 - Monday, April 28, 2008, I will be responding, G-d willing, to letters of an urgent nature only.
Lazer Beams: The Beams will be up during Chol HaMoed on an auto-pilot mode. G-d willing, we'll be resuming daily posts on Monday, April 28, 2008.
A joyous Pesach holiday to everyone. Don't forget to burn the anger with the chometz.
