Lazer Beams

Core Truth

Tomorrow is the 10th of Teveth, the 174th yahrtzeit of our cherished rabbi and teacher, Rebbe Natan of Breslev, in whose virtue we have the teachings of Rebbe Nachman. Rebbe Natan was the prime disciple who not only wrote down Rebbe Nachman's teachings, but greatly expanded them and elaborated on them for the benefit of subsequent generations. 

We don't stop and think how much we live and breathe Rebbe Nachman's and Rebbe Natan's teachings, which permeate every phase of our lives. For a Breslever, talking to Hashem is second nature. Everything we have in holiness, in emuna and in Torah are all the fruit of Rebbe Nachman's teachings as we received them from Rebbe Natan. Read all about it in Core Truth, in this week's new issue of Breslev Israel web magazine.

Last week was a rough week in Israel. Increased terrorist activity claimed the price of our children's blood, including the two fallen soldiers from the terrorist attack at Givat Assaf last week, 1st Sgt. Yuval Mor Yosef, 20, from Ashkelon, and Sgt. Yosef Cohen, 19, from Beit Shemesh, as well as the Ish-Ran baby who was mortally wounded in a terrorist drive-by shooting last week. Our brothers and sisters abroad have also paid the price of blood, simply for being Jews, as was the case with the Pittsburgh eleven from the synagogue shooting on Oct. 27, 2018. Many people have asked what constitutes a martyr according to Jewish Law - you'll find the answer in my article, Who is a Martyr? 

Also featured in our all-star literary lineup for this week:

Rabbi Shalom Arush - Three Partners

Rabbi Nissan Dovid Kivak - The Mud of Emuna

Racheli Reckles - Why Men Don't Respect Women

Dr. Zev Ballen - Reclaiming Your Real Self

Gedale Fenster - Generating Happiness

David Ben Horin - Mitzvoth by the Millisecond

We are delighted to introduce Rivka Malka Perlman - don't miss How Shame Hurt My Emuna - it's amazing.

Blessings for a wonderful new week!

Guest Post: Meir the Cabby from Ashdod

I'm Meir. I drive a taxi in Ashdod. This is a picture of my rig to the left. Hey don't get me wrong, I'm not religious or anything, and I'm certainly not a Haredi. I enjoy a good soccer match (especially Betar Yerushalayim) on Shabbat. Some people think hackers are dumb, but not us Israelis. I can speak 4 languages - Hebrew, French, Arabic, and English. Rabbi Lazer said I could write whatever I want, and that he'd only correct spelling mistakes, so he can't sell me down the river.

The truth is, that before I met Rabbi Lazer, I used to work like a dog for 7 seven days a week. In case you're wondering about moving here, life ain't easy with 4 kids and a wife that likes to serve meat or chicken every day and to get her hair done once a week.

Once, I drove Rav Lazer to a lecture of his in Ashkelon. Even though he's a Haredi, we hit it off great. He didn't nag me about religion, just took an interest about my family and me. I told him I was in debt up to the nose. He asked me if I worked on Shabbat. I said yes. He said let the rig rest on Shabbat, have a nice meal with the family, and take a walk on the beach with the wife and kids, and he promises I'll get out of debt. I said, "Rabbi, with all due respect, you're nuts. How can I work less hours, and forfeit Saturday double-time tariffs, and make more money? Where the heck did you learn math?"

He only smiled. He said that I'll save the money on tires and repairs. I didn't believe him.

The following Saturday, I got a great fare from a French tourist who wanted to go from Ashdod to Tzfat via the Kinneret. Fat city! The fare was 1850 shekels round trip and the madamoiselle gave me a 250-shekel tip and payed for lunch. I laughed all the way home with 2100 shekels in my pocket...until Sunday morning.

The next morning, a cop pulled me over and claimed that I crossed a solid white line: 4 points and 600 shekels down the drain. The points on my license hurt more than the dough. An hour later, I passed a construction site and got two flat tires from nails on the road. The tires were shot, another 900 shekels. Then, I had engine trouble. Diesel engines use cheap fuel, but their maintenance is more expensive. Another 800 shekels. I made a lousy 200 shekels that day, but lost 6 hours and 2300 shekels, all the money I made the day before and the few fares that I made before the day was up.

At 7 pm, exhausted, I got a call from guess who - Rabbi Lazer. He wanted me to take him to one of the moshavim in the area for another of his gigs. To make a long story short, I put 2 and 2 together and figured that you can't fight city hall, especially when Hashem is the mayor.

Hey, that was 18 months ago. I'm not gonna tell you I'm religious or anything, but I don't work on Shabbat anymore. I've repaid 80% of my debts, and my home life is a zillion times better. So do yourself a favor - don't work on Shabbat. Take it from me, Meir the cabby from Ashdod.

Rabbi Lazer gave me one more piece of advice - buy gas from a station that closes on Shabbat. I do; here's proof:

Ashdod gas station, near the port: The neon sign says, "Open 24 hours, station observes the Sabbath".

This is really cool being on the web like this. I guess if I ever retire, I'll start a blog. You can't imagine how many juicy stories Israeli cabbies can tell. And I mean juicy...

When you come to Ashdod, look me up. L'hitraot from your friend Meir the cabby from Ashdod. Hey, how do you like my English?

Hanging Tough

Shavua Tov! No one of true greatness was born with a silver spoon. The great tzaddikim, even the ones with righteous parents, suffered unspeakable difficulties and rock-bottom descents on their way to the top; enjoy this week's emuna lesson and have a lovely new week:

Chanukah in Afghanistan

Emuna Outreach's mailbox is always exciting. Here's an email we received from our esteemed friend and partner in spreading emuna, the top-ranking US Army Jewish chaplain in Afghanistan, Lt. Col. Yoni Zagdanski:

Shalom Aleichem Rabbi Lazer!! 

Hope you had a wonderful Chanukah in Eretz Hakodesh. Below are pictures of 5th night in Kabul and 8th night in Kandahar province. All the booklets that Emuna Outreach sent are gone and hopefully will bring Harav Arush Shlita's message of Emuna to our soldiers. 

With great respect, Yoni Zagdanski 

Photo #1: 5th night of Chanukah with US Army in Kabul, Afghanistan

Photo #2: 8th night of Chanukah with US Army in Kandahar province, Afghanistan

Emuna Outreach is now preparing a new emuna book&pamphlet shipment to the US Military in Afghanistan. By giving us your generous help, you become a full partner in this phenomenal mitzva and also benefit from a US tax deduction for 2018, as the American Friends of Emuna Outreach is a US-recognized 501(c)(3) public charity. Donate to Emuna Outreach - you'll be glad you did, in this world and in the next. 

A Special Request for a Special Man

Our dear friend, Tzvi Hirsch ben Simcha, a beloved member of the Breslev Israel family, is having a heart operation next week. Please keep him in your prayers for a speedy and complete recovery. Thank you and Shabbat Shalom! 

~Racheli

Rabbi Lazer adds:

Thanks for posting this, Racheli. The prayers of the Beams community (we cherish you all), Rabbi Arush and the Chut Shel Chesed Institutions, Breslev Israel and its General Director Yosef Nechama and everyone at Emuna Outreach have Harold in a spiritual full-court press of prayers for his good health and speedy recovery. It's no coincidence that the post on top of this is about spreading emuna in Afghanistan, because the Lerner family for years have been staunch supporters and full partners with Rav Arush and Emuna Outreach in spreading emuna around the globe, from Hong Kong to mainland China to Miami. May Hashem personally be Harold's attending physician and may we hear great news from him soon, amen!

Parshat Vayigash: Avoiding the Blame Game

After Joseph reveals himself to his brothers and outfits them with all the need to make the journey to Canaan and bring Jacob their father down to Egypt, he warns them not to argue on the way. What was his apprehension? Enjoy this week's mini-lesson on the Torah portion, because it has an important message for each of us. Blessings for a lovely Shabbat!

Yearning for Hashem: Yedid Nefesh, Friend of My Soul

The anti-emuna media here is like a coin or two in a jar - shake the jar and it makes a lot of noise. If the jar were full of content, it wouldn't make noise.

The true picture in Israel is that people are coming back to Hashem right and left. They see that the only thing that can save a soul from depression and despair is emuna and a connection with Hashem. As such, there are virtually no Baal-teshuva yeshivas or seminars with empty seats.

Many of Israel's finest singers and musicians are coming home to their spiritual roots and making teshuva. Several have got together and created a Shabbat-Song Project, where voluntarily, they're recording Shabbat songs so that everyone can learn them. Our appreciation to Roni Eylon and "Shamayim" Center. Enjoy - already on Thursday, we start looking forward to the light of the coming Shabbat, the day that we put aside worldly matters and spend completely with Hashem, Father in Heaven and Friend of our Soul.

How To Make Your Child Successful

As much as I hate giving David credit for stuff, I am forced to give him credit for this video. You know, he really doesn't deserve credit, now that I think about it. It's not like he was in the video, or he filmed the video. He just sent it to me. So no credit is due.

In case you're too lazy busy to watch it, I'll quickly tell you what it's about. (To be honest, I didn't watch the whole thing either, because I'm also very lazy busy.) But what I did watch was incredibly moving. 

This guy was speaking at some school graduation. I don't know if it was college, grad school, medical school, whatever. By the sound of his voice I'm assuming it wasn't high school. Okay, so I didn't really pay attention that well. But I did kinda listen to what he was saying, and wow, was it powerful!

He spoke about the secret to his success. He gave one very special person all the credit to helping him become who he is today. 

That person was his father. 

Because of his father's example as a very hard-working man, he learned what it means to put forth effort in order to get what you want.

But what I found even more special was the way he spoke about his father's use of motivation. Whatever that means.

His father used to constantly build him up and tell him he could do anything. He told his son he was smart. Whatever he wanted, he could accomplish with diligence and hard work. And all kinds of stuff like that.

You know, I really hope I got that right because as I type this, I'm seriously doubting if I remember that speech correctly.

In any case, my point is the same.

Every parent wants to see his kid succeed. But what many parents don't realize is how much of the kid's success is tied into the parent's moral support and motivation.

Giving your kid constant reminders about putting forth effort, believing in himself, pushing himself to do better and better - all these things impact your kid in a very deep way.

Building your kid up is the secret to his success in life.

Let's not take it for granted that our kids may be smart, or they may already be doing well in school. Every kid needs constant positive reinforcement and building up. 

G-d willing, one day all of our children will look back on their childhoods and remember our support as being one of the most influential aspects of their success.

Here's another secret: even if your kid isn't doing well in school, and he's not making any effort, that's even more reason to lie to them and give them all that positive reinforcement. You'll see that just by saying wonderful things to them, they will become the hard-working kid that actually does their homework. Supposedly. I mean, I'm not making any promises here. 

But it if works, please let me know! 

Don't wait another minute to tell your kids how wonderful, smart, talented, hard-working, and beautiful they are! 

Oh, and this little secret also works for women! For example, if your wife isn't the best cook, compliment her cooking as you choke down her overdone hamburgers that are dry like the Sahara desert.

Better yet, take her out for dinner.  

~Racheli

p.s.- Don't miss Rav Brody's weekly Emuna talk tonight! Details below.

Hanging Tough

During my many years of coaching people, both on a spiritual and physical level, I've heard repeatedly such expressions and excuses as, "Yeah, I could have been better if I had the been born with athletic/intellectual/business/spiritual prowess;" or, "I could have been great too if I had the advantages that a tzaddik has. I wasn't born the son or daughter of a big rabbi or Rosh Yeshiva." People who talk like that then go back to their plasma screens and their bowl of potato chips...

I personally don't know anyone of greatness who was born with a silver spoon. The great tzaddikim, even the ones with righteous parents, had unspeakable difficulties, ascents and rock-bottom descents on their way to the top. By no small coincidence, the truly great people in other endeavors of life can say the same thing.

What's the secret to true greatness? Rebbe Natan of Breslev calls it hitchazkut - in loose translation, calling it "hanging tough." That's the name of today's lesson, which is not only a key to greatness but a key to survival.

Don't miss today's emuna lesson and live broadcast from Jerusalem entitled "Hanging Tough", which will take place, G-d willing, on the ground-floor main sanctuary of the Chut Shel Chessed Yeshiva on 13 Shmuel Hanavi Street in Jerusalem at 7 PM Israel time; the shiur is open to the public - both men and women are invited. You can see today's lesson here - the broadcast, as well as our lessons posted from now on - are Mac and iPod compatible. If you tune in too early to the live broadcast link, you'll be sent to the main page of the Breslev Israel website, so try to tune in on time.  If you are not able to view today's broadcast live, then G-d willing, you'll be able to see the video tape of it later this coming week on Lazer Beams. 

 

It Don't Come Easy

Nothing in my life was ever easy. In athletics, everybody on the team had more talent than I did. In the army, all my buddies were stronger and faster than I was. In Rabbinical Yeshiva, I was always the last one in the class to understand a concept. Sounds like a curse, doesn't it, as if Hashem was giving me a raw deal, Heaven-forbid...

It was the biggest blessing. If fueled my desire and made me work harder. The desire and the willingness to sweat are what makes the tortoises of the world surpass the hares.

Due to the nature of the unit where I was privileged to serve in the IDF, our training was gruelling, long and forever challenging, both mentally and physically. In one instance, during a night-time run with full backpack on rough terrain, my legs and lungs were about to give out. Anyone who wouldn't complete this run would be kicked out of the unit. I had no more physical strength. The game was about to be over for me. Suddenly, one of my favorite songs from way back when popped into my head: it was Ringo Starr singing, "It Don't Come Easy". I kicked into gear with a second wind and a surge of strength, playing that song over and over in my head until I finished the run. This is the song that became my personal theme song during all my years of army service. And thanks to you, Ringo:

The problem with the internet and Ipod generation is that they expect instant gratification, a great life with no effort. Sorry, youngin's, things don't work that way. If you want to succeed big time, you have to take The First Step.

The Book of Life

Our beloved teacher and spiritual guide Rabbi Shalom Arush writes that desire is the root of Creation and the purpose of the entire Torah. Desire is the path, the instrument and the power with which to attain everything in life. Desire is the entire character of a person and of his or her service here in this world. And practically speaking, one's desire is the very character of his or her life! A person without desire is dead, and a person with desire is alive. Rabbi Shalom relates, "I once went to a yeshiva to deliver a talk. I saw that although the students were learning and praying, they were gloomy and rigid, almost dead. I asked them, “Is this a yeshiva or a cemetery!?” If a person’s Torah learning doesn’t inspire him to constantly kindle his desire to get close to Hashem, then the very essence of that learning is lacking...

Continue reading Rabbi Shalom Arush's The Torah of Life in this week's new issue of Breslev Israel web magazine.

Also featured this week:

Rabbi Nissan Dovid Kivak - It's Not the Intermediaries

Rabbi Lazer Brody - The Kidnapped Baby

Dr. Zev Ballen - The Emuna Pause

Racheli Reckles - A Misused Torah

David Ben Horin - Dissent from Decadence

Dennis Rosen - Real Gratitude

Tziporah Barabi - The Fruit in the Mirror

Enjoy, and have a Happy 8th Day of Chanuka and a wonderful new month of Teveth!