Lazer Beams

Wings of a Dove

People ask me where I get the stamina to hold up under such a gruelling tour schedule, for each road trip is usually 17-21 days with multiple daily engagements and often more than 18,000 miles of traveling. The answer is, I get my energy - and everything else I have - from Hashem. But what keeps me going is my daily hour of personal prayer. I'd like to share with you this pictorial diary of the places where I was privileged to do personal prayer during one of our USA speaking tours two years ago. Yes, you can speak to Hashem in the USA too (only from Israel, it's a local call). The background music is from the Madregot, two fantastic Israeli singers, who sing Ever Cayona, "Wings of a Dove". Have a great Shabbat!

The Eerie Pyramids of 2013

Egypt? Peru? The Moon? New York City!?!

Via Yahoo News: The sand dunes pictured above are the result of the cleanup from Hurricane Sandy, the deadly superstorm that swept through the New York area in October. While the storm has long since passed, many signs of its devastation remain. Photographer Stephane Missier, aka Charles le Brigand, captured these images of the otherworldly mounds on the Rockaways in Queens, in the parking lot of the Jacob Riis Park.

Nothing in the world is happenstance or random. What's the message Hashem is sending us? Are there parallels between ancient Egypt and modern-day USA? You be the judge. We'll be happy to hear your thoughts, which you're welcome to share with us simply by clicking on the "comments" button at the bottom of this post.

10 Teveth: Rebbe Natan's Yahrtzeit in Pictures

Image 1, above: Praying by the holy gravesite of Rebbe Natan Sternhartz, 1780-1845, known as "Rebbe Natan (Nosson in Yiddish) of Breslev", Rebbe Nachman's prime disciple, who wrote down all of Rebbe Nachman's teachings. Today, 10 Teveth, is his "yahrtzeit", the anniversary of his passing from the physical world. The gravesite is located in Breslev, Ukraine.

Image 2, above: Rebbe Natan's gravesite, outside view.

Image 3, above: The Bugg River and the view of the Ukrainian countryside from Rebbe Natan's gravesite in Breslev, Ukraine.

Image 4, above: Personal prayer along the banks of the Bugg River, at the same exact spot where Rebbe Natan would spend hours pouring his heart out to Hashem.

May Rebbe Natan's holy and immortal soul intervene in our behalf, amen!

Photos of the Month: Emuna in the IDF

Our photo of the month award goes to Reuters, for their exquisite photo of a group of Breslevers who snuck past all the road blocks to reach troops on the Gaza border and lift their morale. Nobody in the IDF has been able to explain how they managed to join the troups, but they did! In the end, their was no ground invasion, but the infantry stayed in shape by dancing...

Here's another superb photo that has been rolling around in emails, and we thank the photographer although we don't know who to credit. This shows the what many of our soldiers rely on. We pray the the entire IDF will strengthen itself in emuna. May Hashem protect them and keep them strong in mind, body, and soul, amen!

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.