The bright light of the candles chase away the darkness; our happiness chases away darkness too.
One of the reasons we speak so much about physical health and nutrition here at the Beams is because a healthy body is conducive to a happy soul and bubbly emotions. For example, the overweight people stuffing their faces at the buffet of the wedding aren't the ones who are enjoying themselves. Neither are the drinkers and the smokers. Substance use and uncontrolled eating are signs of depression and other big-league hangups. The ones dancing the most are having the best time. If you've never done any serious Chassidic dancing, then don't try unless you're in good shape.
For those who think that Chassidic Jews are wimps, check this out...
Passover is only 11 days away. OK, since you're surfing on the web instead of preparing for the holiday, here's a little Passover review in a rap, courtesy of Matt Bar (see lyrics below film clip). Have fun, and a great Shabbat!
CHORUS: Moses at the red sea, like “who’s gonna follow me?” Pharoah’s in the tide, we gonna ride, to our destiny, In back of me, so sad to see, them bodies in the red sea chariots get buried, b-b-buried in the red sea Pharaoh sat and laughed when a staff became a snake, too long we’ve been your slaves, just let us go and pray, said "don’t make this mistake," no pardon his heart was hardened, so started what we regard as: the days of 10 plagues...
ONE: blood in the river gonna shiver, gonna freak out lips take a sip now there's blood in your mouth
TWO: frogs in your house on your beds on your plate don't matter what's for dinner better like frog legs
THREE: knats buzz buzz watch the dust turn to bugs itch itch hard to think with all the lice in your mugs
FOUR: beasts roam your streets when you step outside there's a tiger on your tail nowhere to hide
Five: death of your livestock, flesh dries up b-b-bodies in your barn Pharoah when you gonna wise up?
CHORUS
SIX: boils on your flesh no less than torture careful of the ash in the air it'll scorch ya
SEVEN: hail rains down beats your brains down like a message from the heavens better lay our chains down
EIGHT: locusts from the coast you can hear their wing click eating crops eating trees til they're used as toothpicks
NINE: darkness, dispatch, 3 days pitch remember when this started and you thought it was just witchcraft
Death of the first born how did it come to this TEN is what it took so we all would remember this
Our "Yiddishkeit is Cool" department is delighted to present the "Eighth Day" Band, who've come out with a delightful song that enhances Jewish unity - we commend them and are pleased to feature them on the Beams. Going to the Supermarket can be fun...
Yoseph Joe Urso is a magnificent Jewish Country-Western musician and composer. "Down-home" for the both of us today doesn't mean south of the Mason-Dixon line, but west of the Jordan River. So here's Joe's latest down-home ditty, special for the last night of Chanuka which begins tonight, with all "Eight Candles Burning" - you'll enjoy this. Happy Chanukah!
Continuing the good time we're having during Chanukah here at the Beams, here's a clip for the whole family to enjoy: the Maccabeats are students from Yeshiva University in NYC, where we had the privilege of speaking during our recent North American tour. So many people don't realize that Yiddishkeit is both fun and cool. Happy Chanukah from the Land of Emuna and miracles.
The Jewish Reggae star Matisyahu is sick of war - so are we. His new song "One Day" is really special, so for a weekend treat, we here at the Beams are happy to share it with you. By the way, a little bird tells me that Matisyahu is getting close to Breslev; maybe we'll see him in Uman this year...
