Lazer Beams

Emuna's Emissary

Artist Ilan Aronovici recently completed a portrait of me playing the flute, which he calls "Emuna's Emissary". I'm deeply touched, Ilan. May Hashem bless you with success in all your endeavors.

Shlomo and Lazer: Niggun Simcha, the Happy Melody

There's nothing like a melody to ward off sadness and depression, and there's no one like my cherished spiritual brother Shlomo Katz to come up with special niggunim. What wonderful children Hashem has! Big Beam blessings for a wonderful Shabbat!

Shlomo and Lazer: Etz Chaim, Melbourne Niggun

This clip has two parts: in the first half, I teach my dear spiritual brother Shlomo Katz my "Etz Chaim" niggun. In the second half, Shlomo sings his new Melbourne niggun. May you always have a niggun (melody) in your heart and a smile on your lips. Shabbat Shalom!

Avraham Abutboul, of blessed memory: The sweet strains of a Breslever

His music was honey from the portals of kedusha. He spoke to Hashem every single day, for he was a true Breslever chassid.

Internationally, Avraham Abutboul wasn't quite the household word. But, he was a brilliant composer whose music oozes with emotion.

Fourteen short years ago, Avraham Abutboul was one of secular Israel's favorite actors and singers. But, the magnitude of his shining neshama needed a lot more nutrition than what the stage, the theater, and Tel Aviv's Bohemian coffee-house circuit could give him. In short, Avraham became a Baal Tshuva, a student at "Chut shel Chessed" - Rav Shalom Arush's yeshiva in Jerusalem, and a Breslever chassid.

"Chut shel Chessed" in recent years has become a spiritual magnet for actors and musicians. Shuli Rand, award-winning star of Ushpizin, is also a student of Rav Arush's. In Ushpizin, Avraham Abutboul made his cinema comeback as a Haredi, starring alongside Shuli.

Avraham wrote his own music, and applied the heavenly words of Rebbe Nachman of Breslev to his own divine strains. If you can imagine a Chassidic Leonard Cohen with the strumming ability of a Joan Baez, you can begin to understand where Avraham was coming from. 

Avraham hated war and violence of any kind. Here, he is singing his "Milchama Arura", cursed war, that was a big hit in Israel, even in the secular world.

2 short months ago, Avraham was diagnosed with cancer; the nasty disease consumed him like a wildfire. He left the physical earth last week. We mourn him and miss him, and pray that Hashem comforts his widow and orphans.

We don't forget you, Avraham!

There's not enough about G-d

This post is dedicated to the full recovery of my cherished friend David ben Miriam, David Dome.

David Dome is an optometrist in the UK and one of my favorite people. He's not only a brilliant individual and super-talented musician and composer, but he has a spiritual thirst that nothing seemed to quench until he was introduced to the teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslev.

For over six years already, David has been in contact with me, all the time looking for better ways to serve Hashem. He incorporates his guitar into his daily hitbodedut - both David and guitar pour their souls out to Hashem. The results are phenominal; with David's kind permission, we're going to share a bit with you:

David went to an apparently Orthodox wedding where the folks that were celebrating forget about the star of the evening that made everything possible - Hashem! The food was London's finest glatt cuisine, and the band was the area's best. There were many speeches, with no one thanking Hashem! No one praised Hashem! David was beside himself with pain and frustration: "How can Sabbath-observant people give 13 speeches and 24 toasts with no one thanking Hashem?" He came home, grabbed his guitar, and began talking to Hashem. Here's what David sang (takes a few seconds to load):

It's a spectacular evening with good food and wine

All of us dressed up to the nines.

Converstaion is flowing and music is playing

And speeches are all said on time.

 

I try to relax with this small talk at large

Discomfort with having to pretend

Well you're happy to see me and I'm happy to see you

When we both know it's a means 'til the end.

 

And you're talking about T.V. and the latest movie

Opinions are easy BUT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ABOUT G-D.

 

The desserts are amazing and the coffee's just fine

And only the best is gonna do.

The food keeps on coming in and it seems never ending

Is this what it means to be a Jew ?

 

I don't sense the Shechina when it should be here

Resting above me and you

And now he's praising his mother and he's thanking her father

But no mention of Hash-m is coming through

 

There's laughter and singing and guitars are ringing

A spectacular evening BUT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ABOUT G-D.

 

Help me to see

Help me to see

Help me to see

Help me to see

Help me to see

Help me to see the good.

 

It's a spectacular evening BUT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ABOUT G-D.

a smile from David and guitar

David is a strong representative of this generation's emuna revolution that will most certainly bring Moshiach; we wish him a clean bill of health and all the very best, amen!

 

Fiddler Raises the Roof

Daniel Ahaviel is one of the Jewish world's top fiddlers; he's also our dear friend and spiritual brother. He's the one who plays the violin on our Judean Dream album. There's no one who can fiddle and dance like he can. Daniel lives and breathes the joy of serving Hashem. Rebbe Nachman teaches that you can't make teshuva if you're not happy, so we need to put smiles on our face before Yom Kippur, and not be sullen like some folks think. And by the way, Yiddishkeit is cool...

The Joy of Rosh Hashana

Here is a 13-minute segment of a very special evening of song and inspiration that I spent with Shlomo Katz last week in Ramat Bet Shemesh. Have a wonderful Shabbat!