Lazer Beams

Rosh Chodesh Iyar

Today and tomorrow mark the beginning of the new Hebrew-calendar month of Iyar. This time of the year is gorgeous in Israel, and particularly in my beloved hometown of Ashdod on Israel's southern Mediterranean coast. The air here is perfumed with the fragrance of citrus blossoms. The sky is a clear deep blue. The wheat is ripening. The sea is calm. Let me share a few photos with you, to start off a lovely week and a beautiful new month: 

Image #1: Wildflowers east of Ashdod

Image #2: The late afternoon sun seen through river canes on Lachish River Wadi

Image #3: Wheat ripening in the field, to be harvested shortly before Shavuot

Image #4: Ashdod Marina

Image #5: Wall of Ancient Ashdod

Image #6: Citrus blossoms

Blessings for a wonderful need week and month!

R & R, Judean Style

A few people have been asking me what I do to relax: the answer is one of 3 things - learn Torah, speak to Hashem, and play my flute. Once or twice a year, I sneak away to the hills for 24 hours to recharge my battery. Photographer David Bader - my special friend - accompanied me to a solitary cabin up in the Judean Hills, in the same holy area where King David grazed his sheep, played his flute, and composed the Psalms while speaking to Hashem. Let's let David Bader's camera do the talking: 

Image 1: R & R, Judean-Hill style - 

 

Image 2: Lazer's 24-hour hideout in the Judean Hills

 

Image 3: Judean Hills

Image 4: Playing a Shepherd's Flute, made in Judea

Image 5: Returning from Personal Prayer

You too could be enjoying our holy homeland; what are you waiting for? Have a wonderful Shabbat Nachamu!

Emuna Down the Hatch

We need Moshiach super fast.

While Hamas is busy renewing missile attacks on the south of Israel today, the IDF top brass reacts by removing Hashem's name from the army Yizkor prayer. 

If the IDF top brass is kicking Hashem out of the front door, then Emuna Outreach will not let up in continuing to bring Hashem through the back door; better yet, we're trying our best to bring emuna right down the hatch of every tank and ATC on the Gaza border.

Above - Emuna books that have been stashed in the hold of an IDF armored troop carrier; emuna right down the hatch!

Earlier this week, I spent the day with a platoon of Golani soldiers on the Gaza border. Next week, G-d willing, we'll be featuring a full-length article with film clip on Breslev Israel Magazine, but in the meanwhile, here are a few glimpses:

Above - Gaza border patrol

Above - An Emuna briefing with Rabbi Lazer

Rabbi Lazer and Golani on the Gaza Border

Photography by David Bader and courtesy of Emuna Outreach

Have a great Shabbat! Don't forget to spread Ahavat Yisrael - say "Shabbat Shalom" to others with a big smile on your face.

Wings of a Dove

Join me in a 3-minute trip across the length and width of the USA - this is the pictorial diary of the places where we did personal prayer during our recent USA speaking tour. Yes, you can speak to Hashem in the USA too (only from Israel, it's a local call). Have a great Shabbat!

Mizmor L'David - Psalm 23

"I will fear no evil, for You are with me (Psalm 23)." That's what emuna is all about. Here's my cherished friend Yosef Karduner with his version of "Mizmor L'David," Psalm 23.

This week's Torah portion is Chukat. Have a wonderful Shabbat and weekend.

 

California Loves Hashem

Regards from the USA

Here are a few special moments from our current USA speaking tour:

Photo 1 - Monsey, a laugh with Zev Braver and Lipa Schmeltzer

Photo 2: Hitbodedut on Lake Michigan outside of Chicago

Photo 3: With Chief Sitting Owl of the Tennessee Cherokees in Memphis

See you tonight in Memphis and this Shabbat in Seattle. Warmest regards and blessings...