Lazer Beams

All for the Best

Dear Rabbi Brody,

The underlying theme of many of your teachings is that everything Hashem does is for the very best. My husband, 4 children and I live in a lovely home in Gush Etzion, a half hour south of Jerusalem. Now, the threat that we might lose our home is becoming more and more real. What's worse is that Bibi is cracking under American pressure and construction of new units has stopped. Many people here are worried that this is only the beginning.

3 questions:

A) How is the threat that we may soon be refugees and exiles in our own homeland be for the good? It seems to me to be outright cruel!

B) How can President Obama, who you yourself have wiped the floor with, be for the best?

C) How can the Israeli Government's surrender to American pressure be for the best?

Thanks for your time and patience. I'm not trying to argue politics, I just need some answers from an emuna standpoint to give my emuna a shot in the arm. Sincerely, Shirlee from one of the Etzion bloc towns (settlements, according to the media)

Dear Shirlee,

Good questions. All three reflect Hashem's magnificent loving kindness. With Hashem's loving grace, here are your answers:

A) Many people enjoy comfort-zone spirituality. They think that by being "religious", they're exempt from teshuva. The fact that our very homes are threatened is a wake-up call from Hashem for us to do teshuva. I for one thought that the disengagement from Jewish Gaza and the exile of 8500 Jews from their homes would trigger a mass teshuva movement; it didn't. Instead, many people put their energies in political activism. The political activism has proven a tragic waste of time. Hashem can't send us Moshiach and build the Holy Temple as long as we're in spiritual slumber. He therefore is sending now a stronger wake-up call, with nearly 300,000 Jews having a sharp sword hovering over their homes, G-d forbid. Once the People of Israel make teshuva, we'll see enormous miracles and the threat will melt way. This is all for the best.

B) Mr. Obama is none other than a puppet in the hands of Hashem. If we get out of line, Obama will simply be another of any zillion of Divinely-employed messengers to growl and grab our trouser's leg in his teeth. Mister Obama is certainly for the best - he will expedite the ingathering of the exiles because he'll unwittingly stimulate more American immigration to Israel than even the Israeli Ministry of Absorption will. Hashem is also using Mister Obama to help us do teshuva, just like Hashem used every other tyrant - it's all for the best.

C) The Israeli Government's buckling under American pressure shows how ridiculous it is to put one's trust in any politician or political party. Bibi's government has more ex-Special Forces commandos than any other, but they all get wobbly knees as soon as Hillary opens up her mouth. What could be more of a joke? Hashem has a great sense of humor and is telling us, in the tone of a most-loving Father, "My beloved kinderlach (Yiddish for kiddies), trust Me only; it's time to make teshuva and to come home to Me." If Bibi and Barak were so tough, people might be fooled into trusting them. Even Benny Begin and Boogie - as good people as they are - don't give the government the backbone it needs. We have no choice but to put all our trust in Hashem. This is one of the lessons we came to this earth to learn. So you see Shirlee, it's all for the best.

Since Hashem does everything for the best, we have to thank Him profusely all the time, even for the things you write about. When we thank Hashem for our seemingly bad, He gives us really good reasons to thank Him more and more. With blessings always, LB

Fran's Dream

Shalom Rabbi Lazer,

1st June was my aunt's 4th memorial. A few days prior to that, she appeared in my dream where I was pressing a sore I had on my left pinky.

She asked me to press once more and out came a drop of blood.

Then I was shown how that drop of blood became magnified and I saw a few substances that resembled nuts rolling or swimming in that cell.

She declared, "Healthy!" and then asked me to squeeze one last time.

Like the previous drop, it became magnified and I saw a piece of pebble rolling in it. When it dropped onto the ground, it sort of rolled away.

Then, like telepathically, I heard her saying something along these lines,

Everyone has their unique problems BUT IT IS FOR THEIR OWN GOOD, and to PURIFY ourselves for the ULTIMATE REDEMPTION.

When I heard those lines, I know it is the essence of Breslev teachings so I nodded my head vigorously. She grinned and disappeared.

From what I understand about the dream, the 'sore' represents the rage and disatisfaction I have with the working life, particularly with middle and upper management. 

The nuts showed how I have to let those nutty feelings I have ejected out of my emotions (represented by the blood) as well as those little annoyances like gossips (the small pebble).

The funny thing is, once they are out of our blood stream, our so-called problems were really puny, small, insignificant. Why make a mountain out of a mole hill, right?

Your lesson last week on Gog u Magog, reinforced this. I thank HaShem for you and Rav Arush. Without the both of you, I think my life would still be in the dark.

Thank you thank you thank you! The world needs people like you!

May HaShem continue to grant you good health and vitality to be a light unto the nations. And may it shine real bright!

Sincerely, Fran (one of your Noahide friends in the Far East)

Who's Ringing the Door Bell?

Dear Rabbi Lazer:

The day before yesterday my husband and I were listening to one of Emuna English CDs.  I was in great need of strengthening my Emuna in one specific area of my life. Namely, by telling Torah's truths to my son, he broke contact with us, and consequentely we don't see our grandson. We didn't hear from him for the last two months, and I was doubting about own Emuna.

My husband and I listen at least 3 of your Cds each day. One of them touched me deeply, shaking my soul.  Suddenly I decided "to negotiate" with Hashem and said : "Ok Father, I want to believe in all that I hear, but would you be mad on me if I ask for a sign?"  (I know we should not ask Hashem for a sign).  And I was pondering the next few seconds for a sign, and continued by asking: "Will You please let our son call today"?

Five minutes later, the bell rang  twice and luudly  - "ding dong - ding dong!" My husband was out of the room at that moment, and I was convinced that the noise was coming from your CD, because sometimes we hear sirens and phones on the background. I yelled to my husband: "Where was that ding dong coming from, from Lazer"s CD?"

"No," he said, "it's our own bell."  What? How come ? So I run to open the front door...  

A man was standing outside , communicating with his hands, asking for Tzedakah.  The man was deaf and dumb. I made a sing for him to wait, and run to my husband. "Where is your wallet?" I asked. He gave it to me and added - "Whatever you have in your heart, double it!"   And that was exactly what I did. 

You must be asking by now... where is Hashem in all this?  Well we have two bells, one at the gate or the house, and another at the front door.  The bell at the gate, lost both wires, and is completely disconnected. The bell at our front door has no batteries. Both bells are silent and  and havn't worked for the last 5 years! 

Nevertheless, we stopped the CD player, went outside, and kept pushing both buttons for the next 10 minutes - no sound at all!

The lesson was deep and a double one: The sound of the "ding dong" bell was a supernatural one, meant for us to hear only; for that reason, Hashem sent a deaf person. Since he was also dumb, I understood that Hashem was telling me, "How blessed you are Devorah, for being able to talk to Me, to pray, to do hitbodedut. You are able to praise Me with words.... look at this man at your door, he can't do any of this!"  At the same time, He allowed us to do the great Mitzvah of Tzedakah!  What a love and compassionate Father. Baruch Hashem!

Hashem is His infinite wisdom and mercy  granted my  request, by giving me a sign - His sign, not the one I asked for. I understood that the time has not yet come for our son to call, but B"H he will do soon, after doing Teshuvah! Amen!

No need to say that my Emuna is on the top of our priority scale now. What a marvellous G-D we have! Who am I to be honored by His visit? I felt humbled and full of joy at the same time! We are literally dancing all day, singing, clapping hands, and telling Hashem how much we love Him, thanks to your emuna CDs!  We start our day with spiritual music, and that's the way I do my Hitbodedut in my backyard garden, between gorgeous flowers and the sound of praises. What a blessing!

May Hashem  hear all our prayers and answer all our cries in the day we call! With fear and gratitute, DMS, Ramat HaGolan

Beating the Tight Job Market

Dear Rabbi Brody,

My wife and I spoke to you briefly before you left for Toronto two weeks ago. We were having tremendous income problems in light of the recession and very tight job market.

You instructed me to read The Garden of Emuna and said that it would be just like sitting with you personally for a series of hour-long consultations. To be honest, at the time, I thought you were just politely cutting our conversation short.

Anyway, I had purchased the book long ago from your website but never got around to reading it. I had no idea what I was missing.

I read the first half of the book before an interview with the leading firm in my field. I had interviewed with the company three years previously and wasn't hired. To make matters worse, they have a drawn out hiring process. You have to write an essay, take computer exams, conduct an initial interview, and then - if you're fortunate enough - you get called back several weeks later for a second interview.

Miracle #1: When I left the first interview that day, I was informed that I would be contacted in two to three days regarding a call back for a second interview. I continued to read "The Garden of Emuna" on the train home.

Miracle #2: Only twenty-four hours later, I received a call from their personnel department offering me the job.

I now have a better, higher paying job than I did with the company I was laid off from four months ago. I thought you might like to hear. I plan to keep rereading that wonderful book until it's second nature. Emuna and miracles are for real. With appreciation, Stuart from Colorado

No, it's not Boloney

Dear Rabbis Shalom Arush and Lazer Brody, Shalom from my heart to yours!

A few months ago a young man came to our house and knocked on the door. He spoke good English and offered me your book, The Garden of Emuna. He wrote his name on the inside cover but I can't read it. Anyway, he came back again at the end of summer and asked if I had read the book. I told him that I hadn't.  He seemed a little hurt but he offered me another book of yours, the Garden of Peace. I told him I'd read it and that I'd call him.  I put the book on the table and forgot about it. My wife saw it and spent one Shabbat reading it from cover to cover. She was blown away by the insight you have about woman. She told me that if every husband would take this book to heart, there would be no more unhappy wives, one of which was her. 

Of course, I didn't want to read the book but I knew that I was a long way from being the husband my wife deserved. The morning after she read the book she told me about her needs that I wasn't meeting. She spoke differently and I was able to listen to her for the first time at that level. I told her that I was afraid of the severe judgments that would be waiting for me if I were to fail. Just admitting this to her opened a flood gate of tears in my eyes. I never admitted such a thing before. I also admitted, "I don't know how to be a good husband."  Who taught me to be a good husband?  Nobody! I've been on my own and failing miserably. Then I took your book in my hands, went downstairs to my work area and started to read. It was a difficult beginning for me as I was having a very hard time accepting the concept that everything my wife said was as if Hashem was saying it through her to me.

In fact, when I first read it I made a note, 'boloney', in the margin. I didn't give up though but kept reading. My heart started to soften when you explained the female part of me and described how it manifested itself in criticisms, critique, argumentiveness, not accepting blame, blaming my wife, behaving like a female instead of a male. That was the beginning of change for me. You made sense to me. I'm now half way through the book a second time and do not think anything is boloney. It's an incredible blessing to me. I especially like knowing not to expect anyting from my wife; my purpose is to receive from Hashem and give to her. I don't need honor, recognition, praise, sex or anything from her.  I'm complete with what I receive from Hashem.

As I become more established, I'm seeing how my wife is changing towards me. The anger is going away and she's able to feel that the changes in me are real and that I'm not pretending anything. Another huge insight that I've incorporated into my daily life is the constantly examine the state of my personal holiness. I'm no longer consumed by bodily lust. I feel much stronger in my spirit and I have great expectations for the future as I'm finally able to relate to life as a man. You opened my understanding of myself and I can look forward to becoming more united with Hashem, for the My wife will be blessed everytime I'm blessed by Hashem.  She'll soon know no need as I'll have no need. As Hashem supplies all my needs, I'll supply all of hers. She'll lack nothing because I will have finally been able to make her first place in my life, something she is beginning to feel for the first time in our 17-year marriage.  The changes have happened quickly because the insight was so helpful. Thank you so much; My wife keeps asking, 'how did a man gain such insight into the needs of a woman?' She thinks if every man would accept your teachings, war would end and the world would live in peace. She's right. With greatest appreciation, Martin from Canada

Nasty Flashbacks of the Past

Dear Rabbi Lazer,

I'm sure if I wrote my biography, it would be a million-copy bestseller. In college, I went out with three different guys a week. Let's put it this way - there's not much I didn't do. With perfect poetic justice, I was diagnosed with breast cancer the week after I graduated. To make a long story short, I had a mastectomy. My doctor then urged me to have a contralateral prophylactic mastectomy. So here I was with the banner headlines of my once gorgeous body gone forever.

Really, that's when my happiness started. I turned to Hashem and became a complete baalas teshuva doing my best to repent for all my sins. I attended a seminar for newly observant young women like myself and loved every second of it. My teachers and the other girls were phenominal. Two years later, I was introduced to a wonderful guy from a Baal Teshuva Yeshiva who scrapped a successful electrical engineering career in order to learn Torah. I told him straight away that I wasn't packing The Manufacturer's standard equipment. He didn't care. I told him that I might have difficulty getting pregnant, but he also didn't care. "We'll both pray harder," he said with a smile.

Anyway, I've been married for four years now and we already have two children. My shalom bayis is the greatest, and my husband is not only the kindest, most gentle and loving person a woman could dream for, but he's fast becoming an giant in Torah learning. You wouldn't believe his humility despite his talents.

So what's my problem, Rabbi Lazer? Ever since I did teshuva, I've been doing everything possible to cleanse myself of the old sins, including saying Tikkun Klali every day, being super meticulous in the modesty of my appearance and head covering, exacting about every detail of kedusha (holiness - LB) above and beyond the basic laws of family purity, even guarding my eyes from looking at other men. Yet recently, I've been getting nasty flashbacks of the past during my most intimate time with my husband. You can't imagine my anguish and sorrow. I've been begging to Hashem every day to wipe the images of other men and my old sinning self off of my heart. I do an hour of hitbodedut every day. Yet nothing has helped. Am I so far from Hashem and teshuva that these flashbacks have returned to torment me? Why all of a sudden after a full two or three years that I didn't think about them? Rabbi Lazer, I'm sorry for this long letter and I know you're super busy, but I feel you're the only one that can understand me. I just can't spill my past out to any rabbi. Please help me. With deepest appreciation, Chani from Israel

Dear Chani,

I am really touched by your letter. Don't fret, everything is for the very best as you'll soon see. Not only does Hashem love you, but I guarantee you that you are one of His favorite daughters.

First, you ask about the nasty flashbacks, "Why all of a sudden after a full two or three years that I didn't think about them?" Rebbe Nachman of Breslev explains this clearly in Likutei Moharan (Part 1, Torah 25), namely, that when a person ascends to a higher spiritual level, he is bombarded with lusts and/or fantasies that he thought he had already overcome.

True, at your previous spiritual level, you had overcome the old garbage and had properly done teshuva. But, at your new spiritual level, you have to do more hard work to further cleanse the tiny blemishes that are still on your soul. In simple terms, you're now playing in a higher, more demanding league. You think you have digressed, but the opposite is true. You have made and are making fabulous spiritual progress.

Second, you anguish in seeing these nasty flashbacks is in itself a lofty form of teshuva. When they actually happened, you wantonly enjoyed every minute of what was going on. Now, when you see the same images, you are deeply disgusted and embarrassed. Rest assured that your anguish and embarrassment are better than a beautiful sin offering in the altar of our Holy Temple, may it be rebuilt soon, amen.

Chani, serve Hashem happily. Prayers with a song and smile are on a much higher level than prayers with tears. Just keep doing what you're doing, strengthen your emuna always, and you can forget about the nasty flashbacks. With your kind permission, I'll publish this letter (not revealing anything that might give away your true identity), and you'll have the merit of anyone that derives chizuk (strength) from it. With blessings always, LB

Regards from Qatar

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...

No Easy Way Out

Dear Rabbi Brody,
I'm not religious, but I get a kick out of your column and your broadcasts, even though I disagree with you plenty. One thing I particularly don't like is the fact that you're always hounding Jews about keeping all of the 613 commandments. So what if I'm Jewish? Why can't I just keep the seven Noahide commandments like you tell the non-Jews to? How come you're so nice to the non-Jews, and you're all over the case of the Jews. That doesn't seem fair. Please explain. Thank you, GA from Ohio

Dear GA,

Diesel fuel is fine for a diesel engine, but it won't propel a jet engine. The spiritual profile of a Jew differs that of a non-Jew. Therefore, the spiritual diet that can keep a non-Jew healthy won't get a Jew off the ground. A non-Jew can eat shrimp and lobsters all day long, and as long as he/she observes the seven Noahide laws, he/she is considered righteous. If you eat 28 grams of shrimp, you put a gaping hole in your soul. Whenever you turn on a light bulb with a tiny flick of the finger on the Sabbath, you cut yourself off from Hashem. On the other hand, a non-Jew can do whatever he or she pleases on their Saturday.

If a Jew keeps 612 out of the Torah's 613 commandments, and willfully breaks #613, he or she is considered a transgressor. Not fair? Consider this - if a grain of sand lands on your hand, nothing happens. But, if it lands in your eye, you suffer excruciating pain. Not fair? A hand and an eye - while both being very necessary parts of the body - are built differently with different strengths and sensitivities; the same goes for a Jew and a non-Jew. While both are Hashem's beloved creations, they have different strengths and different sensitivities because of their different tasks in the world. Yet, like an eye and a hand, both are vital.

Since you're a Jew - whether you like it or not - the only way for you to guarantee yourself true happiness in this world and in the next is to keep all 613 mitzvas. There's no easy way out. We all came down to this lowly world to perform a difficult task, and not to have fun and games. Yes, I will continue to get on your cage for your own good - if that's so distasteful for you, why do keep on reading the Lazer Beam? I'll tell you why, GC - deep down, it makes your soul feel good. Think about it, GC. If you add some emuna to your life, you'll feel great. With smiles & blessings, Lazer Brody

Big Business, or Why ask a Rabbi?

Dear Rabbi Brody,

I'm an experienced retailer, and until 3 years ago, enjoyed a six-figure-plus income. Lately, whatever business I try turns sour. My neighbor, an orthodox Jew, suggested that I write you and ask for advice, a blessing, or both. I understand the blessing part, but why ask for your advice? Are you a Wharton MBA? Do you understand about business? What's this middle-ages gunk of running to a rabbi for every little thing? I'm not being a wise guy, I just want to know. Yours, Ralph from Detroit

Dear Ralph,

No, I don't have an MBA from Wharton, but I do understand about business. You see, I'm sort of a broker; I help people invest their lives in those endeavors that pay the best dividends. I also help arrange deals between small businessmen like you and between a major investor who'd be interested in helping you succeed. You see, as an orthodox rabbi, I represent a firm with unlimited capital and vast multinational resources. Therefore, people ask for my advice from all over the world.

I don't solicit new business, and I certainly won't be upset if you don't seek my assistance, because I'm already up to my eyeballs in an ever-increasing pile of mail, that I try my best to answer the same day. To be honest, I'm not that bright, but the Chairman of the Board of the firm I represent likes my performance, so He fulfills almost any promise I make to people. You see, the Chairman of the Board does whatever He wishes whenever He wishes; it's His power and brains that I depend on, not my own. So, in effect, when you ask me - or any other qualified rabbi who dedicates his life to helping people - a question, you're really getting the answer from the Chairman of the Board. That way, you end up succeeding in whatever you do. So, if your business has had tough times the last couple of years, you won't lose anything by asking a qualified rabbi. People that don't ask questions, and that rely on their own brainpower, often make mistakes, and mistakes carry a big price tag.

By the way,  I can arrange for you to meet the Chairman of the Board at your convenience - you can pick the time and the place. You can even call Him by his nickname - "Hashem". Best wishes for your success, Lazer Brody

The Land of Emuna

Thank you so much for all the beautiful feedback about Hashem's Pharmacy. Here is one letter, that is an especially poignant follow-up with an amazing lesson of Hashem's constant and complete intervention in the tiniest details of our daily lives. Yes, emuna is for real:

Dear Rabbi Lazer, I  just watched your "Hashem's Pharmacy" video and  was astounded at the end with Rabbi Nachman of Breslev's concept that the more Emunah, the more fruits and vegetables.

My husband and I made aliyah 20 years ago and he went into the IDF during the Gulf War. Money was limited, and I didn't have much food in the house. He came home on leave one evening and we went for a walk. I was thinking about salad but not concerned believing that the next day everything would work out and I'd get my fruits and veggies. As we were walking along the road, I saw something up ahead, it was already dark but there was a full moon. Something on the sidewalk ahead looked like small round objects. As we approached, I became more sure that what I was seeing was fruit or tomatoes or something like that. Sure enough, we arrived at the spot and that is exactly what I found. A couple of tomatoes, some small cucumbers, two peppers and even an onion! These veggies were in perfect shape, no bruises and not even a speck of dirt. I could have eaten them right there. It was a  still night and I looked around for a plastic bag to see if they had been dropped and there was none to be seen anywhere around.

It was very unusual for me to have a bag in my purse but I looked and I just happened to have one that night!  I gathered the produce and we went home. My husband was a little freaked that I would eat food I found on a public sidewalk by the road but I KNEW it was from HaShem.  It was the best Israeli Salad I have ever eaten and I never lacked for veggies after that.

Lacking something in life? With prayer and emuna, you won't lack a thing. Blessings for a wonderful week!

Blessings and warm regards, Meira Yolanda and Yeoshua Shmuel