Lazer Brody's Blog, page 341

Parshat Vayakhel: Your Own Special Talent

This week's 9-minute Torah-portion mini lesson is all about the significance of the Holy Tabernacle and what it means to you on a personal level. Click here to see.

Oil and Aliya

Things are happening with head-spinning speed here in the Middle East. Just 48 hours ago, when you could by as many thousands of barrels of oil as you like for $86/each, I wrote here on the Beams to expect the price of oil to double in the nearest future. Well, folks, today's futures for crude hit $100/barrel - a 16% rise in two short days.

One way or another, the price of oil will continue to skyrocket. In Libya, the opposition has seized many towns; nobody's manning the rigs and production is way down - it could be screeching to a halt, but we don't have a reliable source to verify. On the other hand, Madman Muamar Qaddafi is holed up in Tripoli; as a last desparate act, he's willing to cut off his nose to spite his face and either blow up his own oil fields or sabotage the oil pipelines to the Mediterranean. Italy is in big trouble, for it's dependant on Libyan oil. But, when one supplier slows production, the whole world will feel the squeeze. It won't be long before the price-per-gallon in US retail gasoline pumps start shooting upward too. If you want to start a new business in the USA, I'd suggest you consider bicycles - you're bound to succeed.

You don't have to be a PhD in economics to know what the price of oil does to the cost-of-living index. Growing food requires lots of fuel; so does getting agricultural produce from the farm to the urban markets, especially in the winter when there's no homegrown produce. And, even if you do have hothouse tomatoes and cukes up north, it takes a lot of fuel to warm those greenhouses in winter. Food will go up and so will electricity. Salaries won't go up, so the average family will have a financial bind.

Throughout history, who gets blamed when the economy is tight? We both know. Rav Shalom Arush made another urgent call for aliya today. Who's listening?

Why do the Nations Tremble?

The prophet Zecharia tells us in Chapter 14 of his prophecy that in the end of days, all the nations will gather to attack Jerusalem. The same prophecy appears in Micah 4:11 and in Psalms 2:1, according to the Malbim's elaboration of King David's question, "Why do the nations tremble?"

Without emuna, a person won't be able to withstand the fear here in Israel. Yet, Isaiah promises us that we need not worry (see Isaiah 41:14). Zecharia too promises that Hashem will fight our battles for us.

The Land of Israel will continue to be the safest place on earth for a Jew, as long as he does his best to observe Hashem's commandments. Maybe a person would have the gall to violate the King's laws in the outlying districts, but in the King's palace? That's not too bright.

How can anyone turn a blind eye to the fact that the whole world is changing, both politically and geophysically? The volcanos, yesterday's earthquake in New Zealand, the heavy blizzards in North America, the typhoons in the Far East, and the shakeup of governments around the globe are all wakeup calls from Hashem. The more one ignores the alarm clock, the louder it gets. Only a fool puts his head in the ground like an ostrich...

The Arab world will continue to become more radically Islamic. This past Friday, two million people gathered in downtown Cairo of "moderate" Egypt to chant for the "liberation" of Jerusalem, claiming that they're all ready to become shahidim, or suicide bombers. This phenomena will only spread. But, with Hashem's loving grace, our prophets and sages have prepared us. We need to arm ourselves spiritually with more and more emuna to withstand the challenges that will soon be upon us. By the way, strengthening emuan is the very best preparation for making aliya. We hope to see you here soon.

What to Expect in the Middle East

My good friend Dan Friedman from NYC asked me for my call on latest events here in the Middle East. With Hashem's loving grace and time permitting, I hope to show in the coming days how recent events are exactly according to prophecies. Meanwhile, while looking at events through emuna (not political!) eyes, here's what to expect in the Middle East

* No democracies will emerge from the rubble of the upheavels in the Arab countries. The secular tyrants will be replaced by Islamic rule. More specifically:

* Qaddafi's fall in Libya is a matter of days. As a secular tyrant, he beat down the Muslims. They will now emerge to unite the country under Islam.

* Expect to see a figure like Sheikh Yusuf el Qaradawi became the Islamic leader of Egypt; Egypt too will unite under Islam. Imagine the ramifications of the Muslim Brotherhood controlling the Suez Canal.

* Abdulla II's days are numbered in Jordan. It may take a little longer, but Jordan will become Islamic too.

* Today crude oil is $86/barrel; expect that price to double in the nearest future.

* Hamas will soon overthrow the corrupt PA in the West Bank; sounds like a longshot, but it's part of the scenario. Why? It will complete the noose of radical Islam that surrounds Israel's neck. But out of this fear, G-d willing, will sprout a marvelous return to Hashem and a miraculous redemption.

* What can the West look forward to? It looks like major oil shortages, skyrocketing food prices, and much more economic difficulties; remember, these factors are historically fertile ground for antisemitism in the Diaspora.

Brothers and sisters, I know things look scary over here, but I urge you to start thinking about aliya right away.

Little Yankie's Story: Emuna yes, Ritalin no

SR sent me the following moving account of his son, who we'll call "Yankie". The educators said that Yankie would need Ritalin in order to learn. SR and his wife looked for a better solution; here's what he writes:

I am writing this in order to offer encouragement and hope to parents who may be faced with same challenge that we were faced with.

At the age of 4, our son entered a regular pre-school class and continued the following year. He was not thriving,  was socially immature and struggling to reach developmental milestones (speech, language and comprehension to name a few). In addition to this he was ignored by the teacher who lacked the necessary skills and more obviously the individual time to give him.

We had him take some psychometric tests and it was determined that he needed special education. The lady responsible for the special education pre-school network was particularly concerned about his difficulties. She expressed concern that the local special education pre-school would not be able to handle his challenges and suggested that he travel on a daily basis to a more expert place. My wife felt that the travelling would be too much for a 5/6 year old and it was agreed that he could attend locally. The following 2 years saw a remarkable change in our son – reaching significant milestones in his development. The above mentioned person remarked that his progress was miraculous and she and the staff derived endless joy from observing his progress. However, all the time Yankie was struggling with concentration and focus and obviously struggle to progress in his ability to learn the alphabet and hence read.

Over the course of 2 years we met with her and the staff some 4/5 times. Each time it was suggested (not forcefully -  may I add to their credit) that he see a Neurologist and begin ritalin. We stood our ground and refused to resort to drugging our child with a cocaine equivalent drug. We also consulted with 2 leaders in the Breslev movement who both supported our decision. The one particularly emphasized that the salvation is dependent on prayer. Some 6 months before the end of his final pre-school year, the organizer expressed her concern that Yankie would have to go to a special education school if we decided not to pursue the ritalin option. We maintained our position and they subsequently stopped teaching him the alphabet claiming that they needed to concentrate on other kids who were moving onto regular schooling. This caused us pain, but not despair and we were prepared to follow the course that HaShem would unfold.

After much pidyon nefesh, many blessings from the Tzadikim, prayer and charity and a trip to Kivrei Tzadikim in the Ukraine – just some 5 months into the school year – he is now reading!

The western world has fashioned a culture of instant need and instant gratification. Unfortunately this has also influenced the religious world - people seek instant solutions to their challenges and struggle to exercise patience and fail to invest effort and emunah in reaching their desired goals.

We bless parents who find themselves in similar situations - that they should have the strength to resist grabbing at instant solutions and rather to allow HaShem to unfold events and present healthier and happier solutions. Our story is not a story of me and us and what we achieved – rather it is a further revelation of HaShem's constant kindness to us and His Heavenly assistance.

 

Yitzie's Story: A Miracle in Uman

Hi, my name is Yitzie. I'm from New York State. I grew up "chassidish" but went totally of the path. I started working in the Big Apple and got involved in everything guys get involved in when the leave the shtetyl and go to Manhattan. You know…

Until this year at Shabbos Chanuka, I was still a chef downtown. I was on the train to the city to go to work. Suddenly, something came to my mind that I want to go to Uman for Shabbos Chanuka. I don't know why – it was so strange - no one ever told me to go. I have friends that are Breslev, but ME? "I would never go to Uman," I told my friends. Like I was being pulled, somehow I decided to go for shabbos. I bought my ticket that night.

I went to Uman for Shabbos and my whole life changed around. We had major obstacles on the way to Uman:

I spent 3 whole days running from airport to airport and suffered from canceled flights - it was a mess. But we didn't give up. We got to Uman a half hour before candle-lighting on Friday afternoon.

After 3 days not sleeping and not eating normal, my friends went to daven mincha I haven't kept Shabbos for over 2 years. But I decided Shabbos in UMAN I have to keep. We finished davening and we went to our apartment to make the meal which I cooked actually. It was a very nice meal. And we went to sleep we were all tired after what we went through.

At 1am, I woke up and I saw my friend walking out from the apartment we rented. I asked him where he's going. "To the tziyun (gravesite)," he answered. "You want to come?" he asked me. It was 1 AM Friday night - I was tired but something told me get out of bed and go. So that's what I did.

I came into the shul that's built over Rebbe Nachman's tziyun and my friend told me to go up to the tziyun and tell Rebbe Nachman and what happened with you the past 3 days. "But before you go, please come to mikva," he said. I told my friend, "No way I'm going to mikva - I haven't been to a mikva for 10 years." So I went to Rebbe Nachman's kever (grave) and started talking to him, just like this: "Holy Rebbe, I don't know why I'm here, but you sent me a invitation to come to you so here I am - after 3 days of traveling all over Europe, I'm here by you. What on earth do you want from me?"

I started telling Rebbe Nachman my story; not long ago, I got separated after 6 years of marriage. I went on telling him everything what's going on in my life. And in the end, I told Rabbenu Nachman, "I'm in your hands I will do whatever you want me to do but show what you want from me..."

You can read the exciting continuation of Yitzie's Story in this week's issue of Breslev Israel web magazine.

My beloved teacher and spiritual guide Rabbi Shalom Arush says life is a choice between Emuna or Gehennom.

Now's your chance to enhance your Shabbat table; Rabbi Yitzchak Shapira teaches us the Breslev Shabbat Songs.

Zev Ballen gives a lot of people the surprise of their lives in his eye-opening article that discusses the correlation between Sexual Primiscuity and Suicide.

Rivka Levy shows us how to bring Moshiach Now, the Easy Way. Yehudit Levy shows how the spiritual strengthening of the home contributes to the Rebuilding of Our Holy Temple. Racheli Reckles helps us strengthen the family unit in Family Revival Day.

Chaya Ovadia looks for a natural remedy in Wonderberries.

Rabbi Erez Moshe Doron presents The White Emperor, gripping part 55 of Warriors of Transcendence.

This week's Torah portion is Vayakhel. May Hashem bless you with a fantastic week!

1600 Executioners

This week's 50-minute emuna lesson is a spiritual anatomy of anger and its perils, entitled 1600 Executioners. Enjoy, and have a wonderful new week!

Parshat Ki Tisa Mini-lesson

Emuna teaches us that everything comes from Hashem; even the Golden Calf? Hear the answer in our 6-minute nutshell lesson for Parshat Ki Tisa. Shabbat Shalom!

My Pop, of Blessed Memory

This year is a Hebrew leap year, and since we have an entire leap month of Adar Aleph, today is called "Purim Katan" or "little Purim", since it's the 14th of Adar Aleph; regular Purim in a leap year is celebrated a month from now, during "Adar Bet", or 2nd Adar.

My beloved father, Yaacov ben Yitzchak of blessed memory, left this earth on the 15th of Adar Aleph, 5760, eleven years ago. Pop's yahrtzeit - this anniversary of his death - is Friday night and Shabbat. This post is dedicated to him.

Pop was born in Winnipeg, Canada in 1921. His father came from the Ukraine, a shtetyl called Yanov, half way between Breslev and Berditchev. Like a lot of immigrants, my grandfather left observant Judaism behind in the Old Country, so my father was born into a secular home. Yet, he spoke perfect Yiddish and was the warmest Jewish heart you'd ever want to meet. He gave loads of his money to charity; he supported widows and poor Torah scholars. He loved everything Jewish, from traditional food to music. He had no problem polishing off a bottle of vodka with a plate of herring and black bread. He had the voice of a cantor, and when he'd sing, the neighbors would ask what radio station we're listening to.

Pop was the only Jewish combat pilot from Western Canada in the RCAF in WWII. He had a double enemy - the Nazis and the antisemitic Canadian peers who more than once tried to sabotage him.

He wasn't religious, but my Pop had a love for Israel, for his fellow Jews, for widows and orphans, and for Hashem. He had more emuna than most. His famous expression was, "Wait to worry." He never ever complained about pain or discomfort, and profusely thanked Hashem for every new day. Pop's legacy includes three generations of Torah-observant Jews in Israel.

I miss you, Pop.

Here are two treats in Pop's loving memory: The first is one of his favorite Yiddish melodies, Oyfen Pripitchik, played by violinist Boris Savchuk. The second is a beautiful Dvar Torah written by my youngest brother - also a Baal Teshuva - ZZ (Zeev Zalman). Enjoy both and have a great Shabbat!

Zev Zalman's Dvar Torah in Loving Memory of our Father, may he rest in peace:

On the 15th of Adar 1 5771, it will be 11 years since my Papa was Niftar (passed away) Alav HaShalom (May The Peace Be Upon Him). May this D'var Torah elevate his Neshama (soul)!

This weeks Parsha, Ki Tisa, has so many memorable moments, I will focus on one that I can apply to my life and embodies a part of who my Papa, Yakov Ben Yitzchak, Zechrono L'Vracha (May His Memory Be For Blessing) was. He was a Baal Chesed (someone who epitomizes loving kindness) and was always very generous in giving Tzedaka for Israel's well being!

It says at the beginning of the Parsha ,"Vayidaber Hashem el Moshe laymor, Ki Tisa et rosh Bnai Yisrael lifkudayhem V'NATNOO eesh kofer nafsho laHashem bifkod otam v'lo yihiyeh vahem negef bifkod otam" ("Hashem spoke to Moses saying, when you take a head count of the Children of Israel according to their numbers, THEY SHALL GIVE, every man shall, an atonement for his soul to Hashem when counting them, so that there will not be among them a plague when counting them.") Hashem says you cannot count a Jew in a normal fashion, you must collect a Machatzit Hashekel (Half Shekel) which will be used for the building and upkeep of the Mishkan (The Tabernacle) and these Shekalim will be counted. Rich and poor alike, the same amount is to be collected, symbolizing everyone has an equal share to the Mishkan and the Torah. What is so amazing is the language that is used. The Baal Turim (Author of "The Turim" or "The Tur" -Rabbi Yakov ben Asher), Zechrona L'Vracha,) points out that the word, "V'NATNOO" (they shall give) is a palindrome. It is read the same forwards as backwards, symbolizing that whatever you give, you will get back. This was referring to the Tzadaka, but let's take it a step further. Giving is a means to really connect with Hashem! When we are selfless with our Spouses, our Children, our Parents, and our Communities, it gives Hashem much nachas from his Children. Why was the amount a half shekel and not a whole? To show that when we do things on our own we are not complete, and most times neither are our tasks, but when we come together, showing unity and a communal purpose , we can accomplish anything! When we daven alone, we are scrutinized, all of our faults are magnified, but when we come together with one voice of Tefillah, the communal good is focused on by Hashem. This Kehilah (congregation), Minchas Yitzchak, is a beautiful model of this.

We have people from many different places in life, different professions, different incomes, different religious minhagim (customs), but we come together and in unified song and Tefillah, we reach the upper portals where I believe our Tefillah is accepted due to our communal good! By the way a "Tzibur" (community or congregation), consists of 3 letters ; Tzadi, Beit, and Raysh. Tzadi stands for a Tzadik, (a righteous one) Beit stands for Benoneem, (people in the middle, neither righteous nor wicked) and Raysh stands for Rashayim, (wicked ones). Thank Hashem no one at Minchas Yitzchak falls into this last category, even so, all are part of the Machatzit Hashekel!

A beautiful vort (word, thought) brought down from Rabbi Moshe Chaim Levinson, Zechrona L'Vracha, talks about the Half Shekel. The word that is used for half is "Machatzit" which consists of 5 letters ; Mem, Chet, Tzadi, Yud, Taf. The Ztadi in the middle of the word represents the Tzadik, the two letters surrounding the Tzadi on each side are Chet and Yud, which spell, "Chai" (life) the two letters farthest away on each side are Mem and Taf, which spell, "Met" (dead). When we connect to and surround The Tzadik we are spiritually alive. When we distance ourselves from The Tzadik we lose our spiritual life!

Let us always be connected to The Tzadik and always remember how much we need our Spouses, Children, Parents, Families, and Community in order for us to be whole, and may we take part in giving Half Shekalim with the building of the Third Bais Hamikdash and the coming of Mashiach, speedily in our days, Amen.

Loving Hashem Unconditionally

Some think that loving Hashem unconditionally is a matter of piety; on the contrary, it's the basic requirement...