Lazer Beams

You Don't Need to Change

In this eye-opening video clip - one of the best I've seen yet of the Lubavitcher Rebbe - the Rebbe addresses those of our brothers and sisters that say they can't be observant because of their secular backgrounds. The Rebbe says, "You don't need to change, only to return to your true essence." This one sentence contains everything a person needs to know. The Rebbe also speaks about the significance of life's difficulties, which are all tests from Hashem. His holy words are just what we need to hear now. This is required viewing.

Obama and Aliya

  Not only does Hashem do everything for the very best, but Hashem has a fantastic sense of humor.

For example, Haman did more to advance the Teshuva movement among the Jewish people worldwide than any rabbi ever did. Every day in purgatory, Haman is showed how he brought so many Jews closer to Hashem - this for him is the supreme torture.

Hashem continues to laugh. Since Aliya from America is the lowest it has been in years, Hashem has made a presidential candidate out of a slick-tongued freshman senator with no experience that rubs shoulders with a bunch of major-league Jewhaters like General Tony McPeak and Preacher Jeremiah Wright. Obie and his cronies are doing more to encourage Aliya than the Jewish Agency and the Israeli Absorption Ministry combined.

It doesn't matter who you vote for. All the politicians are funny little puppets with Hashem pulling the strings.

"Yikach": It Takes what it Takes...

"Yikach MaShe'Yikach" means "it takes what it takes", but we'll get there in the end. An ancient people isn't afraid of a long road.

Some folks think ancient isn't cool. My good buddy and Breslev's rock & roller Adi Ran is a prime example of a generation that was born far away from any morsel of spirituality and holiness, but that has discovered that the ancient is really cool - a lot more than anything doing on the side of the fence where they came from.

Adi Ran is only one example of a long list of Israel's leading performing artists that have made come back to their roots in recent years. For a Beam's Weekend treat, here's a unique clip from one of Adi's live performances, when he sang "Yikach MaShe'Yikach". I can't even begin to tell you the acrobatics we did to obtain this clip, but I have to thank Breslev Israel's General Director Yosef Nechama and Chaim Chazin of Indik Productions for letting us use this on the Beams. Here we go...

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This week's Torah portion is Vayichi, which you can find here, including a story for the Shabbat table and a Chassidic Pearl.

Enjoy, and have a wonderful Shabbat and weekend!

Terror and Truth

It's amazing the way The Almighty maintains a perfect balance of good and evil in the world, in order to allow each of us free choice. Outside the context of free choice, the notion of reward and punishment is meaningless.

Two men of Yemenite origin cause the entire world to tremble at about 9.3 on the seismographic fear scale. Yet, to keep the world in spiritual balance, one is the epitome of evil while the other is the symbol of righteousness. Who are they?

Excuse the juxtaposition, but the evil one is the icon of terror, Osama Bin Ladin, whose goal is to destroy the world. The other is my esteemed friend Rabbi Amnon Yitzchak, the icon of truth, who's trying to save the world from destruction.

As it turns out, people are equally scared of truth as they are of terror. Why? If you acknowledge truth, that the world is not a random happenstance creation and that there is an all-powerful spiritual force who not only created but continues to sustain each and every creation, you simply have to clean up your act in life. Millions of people are terrified at Tshuva, the idea of morally and spiritually cleaning themselves up. By the way, their evil inclinations and Bin Ladin both play for the same dark-side team. The only bigger terrorist than Bin Ladin is one's own evil inclination.

Here's a clip of Rabbi Amnon in action, battling the lies of the Yetzer Hara:

To Beard or not to Beard

Dear Rabbi Lazer,

You might laugh at this question, but here goes anyway: I became religious three years ago, and thank G-d, my wife is cooperating (shabbos, kashrus, mikva, etc., although she still doesn't cover her hair). A year ago, I began learning Breslev books and I love them. I also own most of your CDs and live by them - they've helped me tremendously. Two weeks ago, I came to the Melave Malka in Thornhill where you spoke; maybe you remember me - I'm the person that told you that your beard and payis are outrageously cool. After your talk, I was driving home with my wife and without thinking I told her that I would love to look like Rabbi Lazer Brody - a guy who's not ashamed to walk anywhere as a proud Jew. She went beserk, and told me that if I change my appearance, she's out the door. We then had a war, and I'm still picking up the pieces. What do I do?

With respect and admiration, Mike from the Toronto area

Dear Mike,

Slow down, partner. Your wife is right - no change in your appearance at this point! As it is, shaving with an electric razor (in other words, not shaving with a blade razor) is a tremendous mitva. Religious law doesn't require a Jew to look like me. When you're spiritually ready for a change, your wife will encourage it. Meanwhile, cherish her and respect her, because if you upset her, her mitzva observance might faulter, heaven forbid. Look at her great points - she's observing Shabbat, keeping a kosher house, and going to mikva. Thousands of other men that aspire to have observant homes would be jealous of you.

In her eyes, you - as a baal tshuva - represent observant Judaism. If you're a kind, considerate, and loving husband, she'll want to please you and she'll cover her hair. If not, don't be surprised if she takes a slide, and it will be your fault. So have patience, my man, and toughen up your Torah learning, your praying, and your knowledge of religious law, and your treatment of her. Make anger and criticism worse in your eyes than pork, and treat your wife with love and constant respect, no matter what. If you sincerely want to be a beard and payis chossid, don't worry; you'll get there - together with your wife when she decides to cover her hair.

Now, for first aid, take her out to the Glatt Chinese restaurant on Brathurst Boulevard, buy her flowers, and apologize for arguing. Then, you can invite me to your next bris or kiddush.

With blessings always, Lazer Brody

"Tzarich Lihyot Baki"

Rebbe Nachman of Breslev teaches (Likutei Moharan I:6) that in order to make tshuva properly, "Tzarich Lihyot Baki", in other words, one must know how to serve Hashem from either direction, when times are tough or when he seems to be on easy street. My beloved friend and Breslev's sweet singer Rav Yosef Karduner put these words to music:

Gmar Chatima Tova, an easy fast, and a wonderful Yom Kippur to all of you from all of us here at the Beams and at Emuna Outreach.

Two Brothers, Two Paths

  Dear Rabbi Lazer,

I love my brother dearly, he's an outstanding, loving person and we have a deep connection. Unfortunately, our life paths led us in different directions. He became a 'Ba-al teshuva' in Israel and I'm on my own spiritual journey in Canada. I have married out of the religion. My wife, a special individual herself, is trying to do her best to understand our culture and religion. As you can imagine there was friction and emotional storms in the family. However, things have calmed down and everybody is trying to do their best to accept (sometimes without understanding) one another. Recently, we have started to help my brother and his family financially (we do it with love, not as a burden), since he is devoted to the studies of the holy scripts. He is very grateful and writes me a thank you letter for every check we send him. However, he never acknowledges that my wife is also part of our help to him. When I interpert the thank-you letters that he writes, I tell her that he thanks us both (yes, I admit, I lie on that part), but its only to keep the peace in the family. I'm not comfortable lying to her and know that this lie will make me lie again to cover the lie. On the other hand, I have no desire to wake another emotional storm. My own logic tells me that if he accepts money from us he should acknowledge us both, if for some religious reason he can't acknowledge her than he shouldn't accept the help. Or maybe I'm missing a point or a religious rule that I'm not aware of. I know that my brother would never do anything out of malice and my wife - she doesn't understand all the religious rules, doesn't expect a knighthood medal just a simple one time thanks. I'm in the middle of all this, trying to work it out. Please help... Peace, D.L., Edmonton

Dear D.L.,

Your letter warms the deepest chambers of my heart. You're doing you own thing in Canada, married to a non-Jew, and you're sending money to support your Kollel brother in Israel!?! In the name of the Jewish people, I salute you!

Your brother means no harm, heaven forbid... As a matter of good taste, modest men try to refrain from referring to another man's wife. For example, they'll post a wedding invitation to "Harry Goldberg and family" rather than "Harry and Mildred Goldberg". I guarantee you that this is the root of your brother's omission of your wife's name, and I'm a million percent sure that he feels gratitude toward the both of you. The situation is a bit awkward for both sides, so don't make it harder by standing on ceremonial protocol. Since I promise you that your brother appreciates your help - including your wife (who I'm sure is a special person if she landed a husband like you) - you are not lying by telling her so. That's a signed check from me. You write that you are on your own spiritual journey and that your wife is spiritual too. As a Baal Tshuva myself, I have been around the world looking for truth. There's no place like home, and that's Torat Yisroel. Try learning more about your own beautiful heritage, and share it with your wife. Thank you for your beautiful letter, and may Hashem bless you in every way. Yours always, Lazer

The Lesson of the Reeds

Here in Israel, we're now entering our hottest and driest month of the year. Come join us in the dry wadi of what in winter is the Lachish river in the south of Israel, to see what we can learn from a clump of reeds there.

A Ceasefire with Hashem

Will there be a war this summer? What can we do? With Hashem's guidance, this 3-minute clip, filmed right after sundown near the gravesite of Dan ben Yaakov Avinu in the Judean Hills to the west of Bet Shemesh, will provide the answer.

SCAR Treatment

Many people have written and asked, "How does a person do tshuva? How does a person mend a blemished and scarred soul?" The answer is in this 8-minute clip. Come join us for another mini emuna cruise out in the Mediterranean.