Lazer Brody's Blog, page 334

Regards From Tornado Alley-Bama

Dear Rabbi Lazer,

During the past 24 hours, Roy and I witnessed Psalm 91 in action.  We are located right in the middle of the path of the tornado outbreak that left destruction in Mississippi and across the state of Alabama.  In addition to thanking Hashem for His wonderful protection, we also thank Him for all of your emuna CD's and books.  While other people were gripped with panic and terror, we were completely calm as we put our trust and our lives in Hashem's hands.

I've enclosed a screenshot (above) of one of the tornadoes that was captured live by the local news skycam as it approached Tuscaloosa.  About 30 minutes earlier, this same tornado passed by our house.  Trees were uprooted and tossed about, limbs and other debris were thrown around, blocking streets and causing a lot of damage.  Except in our yard!  Not only did Hashem protect our lives, He also protected our house and our vehicles which came through without a scratch!  Only a few scattered leaves in our yard.  Absolutely amazing.  Thousands of people across the state are still without power this morning.  When I awoke and saw that our power had been restored, I immediately told Roy that we had to tell Rabbi Lazer about this miracle!!!!

Thank you so much for all that you have taught us.  You are truly a "light unto the nations". 

Cookie and Roy D.

Cookie, Roy, and all our special friends in Alabama are always in our prayers, especially now. G-d bless and take care! 

Upcoming USA Tour, June 12 - July 3, 2011

Breslev Israel is announcing our upcoming USA speaking tour that is concentrating on the Southern and Western USA. We'll be landing in New York City on Sunday June 12, and speaking that same evening in Queens. From there, we'll be moving west to Chicago, Denver, Seattle, and from what I understand from our program coordinator, possibly Minneapolis and Memphis. We'll also be in Miami, and our final destination on this trip will be Texas, where we'll be speaking at the International Noahide Conference.

If you'd like us to visit your community, please email Breslev Israel's General Director Yosef Nechama right away, or call 972-2-5323339.

No Entrance!

The sign on the entrance to the main sanctuary of a synagogue in the USA where I spoke several months ago really made me laugh. 

Some people mean well, but they flub it when they try to get their message across. The directors of the synagogue probably wanted to convey to the congregants that it's not respectful to walk in the door in the middle of the rabbi's sermon. Maybe they also wanted to convey that barging-in in the middle is disruptive and distracting, both to the rabbi and to those already seated.

On the other hand, you can interpret the sign comically, as Breslev Israel's General Director Yosef Nechama (who took this priceless photo) and I did: "Hey, Pal - it's dangerous to hear the rabbi talk! Don't come inside!!"

I'm happy to have the laugh on me; at any rate, my weekly shiur (lecture/lesson) in English that's open to the public (both women and men are welcome) resumes today, Wednesday 27 April, at 6 PM local time at the Chut Shel Chesed Yeshiva in Jerusalem, 56 Shivtei Yisrael Street. 

You can see today's lesson live right here at 10:00 AM PDT, 12 Noon Mexico and CDT, 11:00 AM EDT, 4:00 PM in the UK, and of course 6:00 PM Israel time. As soon as we can, G-d willing, we'll post a link to the lesson for all those who couldn't see it live. Best wishes for a healthy Spring and Summer.

Counting the Omer

" By virtue of the Omer that I counted today…may I be purified and sanctified with the sanctity from above, and may this cause an influence of great abundance in all the worlds."(Seder Sfirat HaOmer, terminating prayer).

At the conclusion of each night's counting of the Omer, we ask Hashem that we be purified and sanctified. We also say that our purification and sanctification triggers an influence of tremendous abundance in all the worlds – both material and spiritual.

Before attempting to comprehend the above principles, we have to realize that the people of Israel at Pesach are a nation of newly redeemed slaves. Not only were we newly redeemed slaves at the time of our exodus from Egypt, but every year at Pesach as well. Pesach is the furthest time of the year from the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, when all of Israel makes tshuva out of the awe of Hashem. As the long winter months transpire, we drop our guard and fall slaves to our bodily urges and appetites.

At Pesach time, we complete a process of physically cleaning our domains from chometz, or leavened agents, and begin a spiritual process of cleaning our hearts as a preparation for freedom. Tshuva is the cleansing of the heart from all evil.

True freedom, which includes the liberty from social pressure and bodily urges, comes only from Torah. Therefore, even though we break off the chains of bondage at Pesach, we're not really free until we receive the Torah 50 days later on Shavuot. During the interim 49 days, we count the Omer as a process of preparing ourselves to receive the Torah. Rebbe Nathan of Breslev says that each of the 49 days corrects a character attribute that corresponds to the 48 ways of attaining Torah (see tractate Avos, 6:6 for the entire list), while the 49th day serves as a correction to our prayers.

Rebbe Nathan writes (Abridged Likutei Moharan 63:2) that the 49 days of the Omer also correspond to the 49 gates of Tshuva. By reciting Tehillim (Psalms) every day, one can open each gate of Tshuva. Therefore, concludes Rebbe Nathan, saying Tehillim during each day of the Omer is extremely important.

Rebbe Nathan's principle of Tehillim and Tshuva explains how the purification of our souls during the days of the Omer invokes abundance in all the worlds, as we shall see – with Hashem's grace – in the following parable:

Yashka the farmer worked excruciatingly hard to prepare his field for corn planting in the spring. His hands were scarred and bloody from gripping the leather reigns that held his mighty ox in a straight line while plowing a furrow, and every muscle of his straining back would cry out in pain. When the field was finally prepared for sowing, he'd lovingly place each seed in the ground as if it were a cherished gem. When all was said and done, Yashka would pray for the blessing of rain that would trigger seed germination and subsequent growth.

While weeding the furrows, Yashka derived tremendous satisfaction from the stout young corn plants; the lush green stalks made all the hard work worthwhile. He looked forward to the expected bumper crop, but his joy was short-lived. Just as the fertilized corn flowers turned to baby seed cobs, the crows appeared. The minute Yashka saw the cawing black feathered menaces descend on his field, he ran out of his thatch-roofed house with a pitchfork in his hand, chasing away the crows.

No sooner would Yashka leave the field, and the crows would reappear. Disgusted, he erected a scarecrow in the middle of the field. The scarecrow repelled the crows for a day or two, but as soon as the clever birds realized that the straw-filled dummy with Yashka's old hat and shirt was both harmless and inanimate, they again descended on the crop.

This time, Yashka outsmarted them. His corn field was exposed to the prevailing breezes from all directions. Yashka carved a special flute out of a reed; then, he put the flute in the scarecrow's mouth. Every few minutes, the wind would blow; when it passed through the flute, it would create an amazing tooting sound in three different octaves that scared the crows away. By virtue of the flute, Yashka reaped a full crop of golden yellow corn.

Our Pesach preparations resemble Yashka's plowing and preparation of his corn field. The interim of the growth days between sowing and harvest correspond to the counting of the Omer. Just as Yashka's harvest was corn, the harvest of the Jewish people is Torah. The crows, symbolic of the Yetzer Hora and his accompanying temptations and bodily appetites, must be repelled in order for us to truly merit Torah on Shavuot. Often, we feel like we have no spiritual vitality, just like a scarecrow. But, by reciting Tehillim, we become spiritually vibrant and we scare away the Yetzer; the Tehillim – like a magical flute in a scarecrow's mouth - enable us to properly make tshuva and receive the Torah.

By virtue of Tehillim, we merit Tshuva, subsequently purifying and sanctifying ourselves. With Tshuva, we bring Torah into this world, together with all the accompanying material and spiritual abundance for all people everywhere. Also, when we receive the Torah, we become a truly free people, for there is no freedom without Torah (Avos 6:2). May this year be a year of freedom, abundance, and the true redemption of our people, amen.

The Same One

Tonight (Sunday) at midnight marks the exact time when The Almighty split the Red Sea for the children of Israel. As such, the 7th day of Passover makes for a very inspiring day.

The same G-d who performed miracles 3323 years ago is still around today, performing miracles. Just because a miracle is subtle doesn't make it any less of a miracle. If you examine your own life carefully, you'll find endless miracles.

What's a bigger miracle than the human heart? Guess what - the same G-d that split the Red Sea is personally massaging your heart and mine this very second. No, He didn't create the world and then retire upstairs. He's still with us performing miracles, every second of the day. He's the same One that was at the Red Sea.

A Walk along the Lachish Riverbank

Chol HaMoed, the intermediate days of our Passover festival, is a wonderful time to take a walk in the countryside, especially if you live in the lovely Land of Emuna. So many people don't even take time to look at the blue sky or to look down to see the exquisite tiny wildflowers that are blossoming in Springtime.

You are my guest for an inspiring walk along the riverbank of Nachal Lachish - the Lachish River, one of my favorite spots for personal prayer. This is such a gift from Hashem: in walking distance from my home, we can reach the Mediterranean coast (32 minute walk to the west), the sand dunes of the northwestern Negev (18 minute walk to the south), or Nachal Lachish (22 minute walk to the east). 

Enjoy the four-and-a-half minute clip; a continued joyous Passover!

Who Let the Jews Out?

<

Reb Shlomo Carlebach: The Last Seder in the Warsaw Ghetto

Thanks to Neshama in California for sending us the following clip, which is capable of making a stone shed tears. Remember that our return to Hashem in the holy Land of Israel is the only guarantee that there'll never again be a Warsaw Ghetto. Let's hope that this coming Pesach will be the real freedom holiday for our people Israel, once and for all coming home to the Land of Israel and the rebuilt united Jerusalem, amen.

Beloved Doe

Why did Hashem take us out of Egypt? 

Hashem says to Moses (Exodus 3:12), "I have sent you to take the nation out of Egypt, you shall serve The L-rd on this mountain." 
 
"This mountain" refers to Mount Sinai, and Mount Sinai is symbolic of the Torah, for our forefathers received the Torah on Mount Sinai. In their interpretation of the above passage, our sages teach us that Hashem took us out of Egypt for one reason only – so we can immerse ourselves in Torah, day and night.
 
Sure, we all have free choice. A student has free choice to party in university rather than to apply himself in his studies. But, he'll then flunk out. An employee also has free choice to play around at work rather than to do his job, but he'll soon be fired. A wife and mother has free choice to squander her midday hours on Facebook and in chat forums, but her house will be a mess, her children will be eating junk-food, and her marriage will be in shambles. No one can expect privileges without fulfilling responsibilities. 
 
Our first responsibility as Jews is to devote our lives to Torah. Hashem created the world in such a manner that it only functions at its optimum if a Jew learns Torah and dedicates his life to Torah. Yes, we all have free choice not to do so, but the alternative is a return to slavery just as bitter as bondage in Egypt. 
 
Many a Jew asks, "Why can't I be lawyer or stockbroker who plays tennis in the afternoon and watches DVDs in the evening?" The answer is simple – Hashem created him with a different task in life. A person with a Jewish soul cannot attain perfection or true gratification without Torah. He'll always feel that something is missing and he'll never attain genuine inner peace and satisfaction. A gardener will never be happy as an insurance salesman, no matter how much money he's making.
 
Too bad people don't get to know the Torah. If we can compare a Jewish soul to a young husband, then the Torah is like a gorgeous, faithful young wife. The soul attains a level of ecstasy when it clings in full to the Torah. With this in mind, we can understand the Gemara's remarkable advice (see tractate Eruvin 54b): "If your head aches, go occupy yourself with Torah; if your throat hurts, go learn Torah; if your fingers are arthritic, put your head in Torah; for anything in your body that ails you – learn Torah!" When your soul is intertwined with its true love, it feels no pain. And rest assured, the Gemara's advice really works.

Continue reading Beloved Doe in this week's Passover issue of Breslev Israel web magazine.

Also this week:

Rabbi Shalom Arush: Spiritual Remodeling

Rabbi Nissan Dovid Kivak: Chatzkel and Chaim

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach: Crossing the Red Sea

Racheli Reckles: A Time for Thanks

Natalie Kovan: The Land of the Living

Zev Ballen: The Luncheon

Batya Rosen: The Dawn Will Come

Rivka Levy: The Last Day

Rabbi Erez Moshe Doron: The Ball of Fire, which is the next to the last portion of Warriors of Transcendence

The Beams, Emuna Outreach and Breslev Israel wish you a joyous Passover! May we soon celebrate Passover in our rebuilt holy Temple in Jerusalem, amen. 

Shmura Matzas, Shmura Heart

Passover and preparing for Passover Seder night begin with Breslev Israel.

Don't be overwhelmed by Pesach; stick with us and everything will fall into place. First of all, the Pesach Overview is a brief summary of the basics in preparing for and observing the holiday. The Seder overview will help you prepare for and understand the Seder. In our Pesach Page, you'll find dozens of articles and stories to enrich your holiday, as well as an entire list of Breslever customs for Pesach. Enjoy!

People ask, "What's all the commotion about Shmura matzas? Why should I pay $20/pound for matza?" Read the eye-opening answer here. Also, if you'd like to tell a delightful parable to your family at the Seder table, explain to them why this is G-d's Favorite Night.

Another great story for the Seder table is Rebbe Nachman's Bitter Herb.

My beloved teacher and spiritual guide Rabbi Shalom Arush wants us all to be free this Passover from Slavery of the Mind.

Rabbi Pinchas Winston asks if Hashem went to all the trouble of freeing us from Egypt so that we could continue acting like Egyptians in The Key to Freedom.

Where's Rabbi Shalom Arush and family? While everybody else is cooking, cleaning, and shopping for Passover, the Arush family can be found in the courtyard of the Chut shel Chessed Yeshiva in Jerusalem, packing boxes of food for the poor in Jerusalem. There are only 36 hours left (until Monday at noon) to take part in this lofty mitzva of helping those that have less than we do celebrate a joyous Passover with matza, wine, meat, and everything else they need. How? Donate to the Chut shel Chessed Kimcha D'Piskha fund. You won't regret it.

The Beams and Breslev Israel wish you a wonderful week and a joyous Passover!