Lazer Brody's Blog, page 342
February 15, 2011
Our Emuna Girl at Barnard
The following email from Rachel Bolnick at Barnard was my favorite for the day, the type of encouragement that makes everything worthwhile:
Dear Rav Lazer Brody shlita,
I have been having an extremely difficult transition to Barnard college this year, coming back from an amazing and uplifting experience in seminary last year. I fought long and hard to stay in seminary for a second year (Haredi equivalent to teacher's college for women - LB), and when that didn't work, I fought long and hard to go to Stern College instead. My parents were unyielding to say the least.
First semester here I was miserable because I refused to believe that this is where Hashem wanted me to be, so I therefore refused to be happy. Over winter vacation I did a lot of learning, cheshbon hanefesh (soul searching - LB), and hisbodedus (secluded personal prayer - LB), and that is what ultimately pulled me out of my downslide. This semester baruch Hashem has been drastically different. I now realize that for some reason, this is where Hashem wants me to be. I just found out the reason.
I decided to take advantage of being at a secular college to do kiruv (outreach - LB), and began learning Garden of Emuna with an unaffiliated girl. Slowly I saw the progression she was making- she began attributing all of the troubles she had to Hashem, and doing her own form of prayer in English. She switched to the kosher meal plan, started wearing some of my skirts, and tore up her fake ID and stopped going to parties. Today she thanked me profusely saying that this book has helped her so much connect to Judaism and to Hashem. She just texted all my friends "Emuna :)" and left me a voice message saying "The reason why I've been making a lot of new promises with myself (to change) is because of the book we've been reading. Your such an huge inspiration, I just wanna let you know that." This is why Hashem put me here.
I thank the Rav so much for all his inspiration. B'simcha tamid (Happy always - LB), Rachel
* * * * *
Rachel is certainly an inspiration to all of us. Take her wonderful example and start spreading emuna in your family, on your campus or in your place of employment. You'll be saving lives and you'll see big miracles. Nothing brings greater gratification to Hashem, and you'll be hastening the Geula, the full redemption of our people, speedily and in our days, amen!
12 Words and 12 Seconds
A Jew starts his morning by saying "Modeh Ani", thanking Hashem for returning his soul and giving him a new day. We say this as soon as we open our eyes, before we even get out of bed...
Yehudit Levy writes:
My brother in law was speaking to a doctor friend of his who had just returned from a medical conference. He told him that they had learned the best way to overcome morning dizziness and low blood pressure was to sit up on the edge of the bed immediately upon waking, legs down, for at least 12 seconds. The doctor was absolutely amazed by this medical fact since he then realized there are exactly 12 words in Modeh Ani....
February 14, 2011
The Secret of Achievers
This moment will never return - utilize it to the hilt.
Folks don't realize their potential because they're too busy fretting about the past and worrying about the future. Meanwhile the present is slipping through their fingers.
The past is history - let it go. The future is a mystery - tomorrow's show.
Rebbe Nachman tells us that we have nothing other than the moment at hand. Concentrating on the present is the secret of maximizing potential and attaining success, no matter what our area of endeavor is. Work on this point, and you'll suddenly discover that your doubling and trebling your performance.
Easier said than done? Not when you learn emuna; with emuna, we know that Hashem did everything, for the best, and for a good reason. We're therefore free from wallowing in the muck and mire of the past and free from worrying about tomorrow. Try it - it works great! Emuna is the secret of our people's greatest achievers.
February 13, 2011
The Picnic
Many people look at the mitzvah of Ahavat Yisrael - loving your fellow Jew – as some nicety from children's books. Then, they turn around and allow themselves to hate, disdain, despise, and discredit those other Jews who may be different from them or who belong to a different group. And heaven forbid that their accent, the color of their skin or the color of their kippa should be different…
Those who fit the above description are following in the footsteps of the Yetzer Hara, the Evil Inclination. The Evil Inclination is more than happy for you to be frum – particularly stringent – in the area of the food you eat. Don't trust anyone other than your own group's kosher certificate. Think that anyone else is a heretic. Badmouth other groups' spiritual leaders. Oh yes – you can learn Gemara and even Tosefot all day as long as you don't smile or say hello to any Jew who doesn't belong to your narrow circle.
The Yetzer Hara loves super-stringencies because they keep a person constantly frowning. In fact, the Yetzer will let you do anything as long as you don't strengthen your emuna and love your fellow Jew. Why? Emuna and Ahavat Yisrael are the double-lane expressway to Hashem. Emuna and Ahavat Yisrael are also the direct route to happiness.
Conversely, you will always find that a frowning person lacks both Emuna and Ahavat Yisrael. Such a person is a prisoner in the Yetzer's jail. Yet, he doesn't realize what he's missing, especially if he considers himself frum.
Breslever thought teaches that our entire quality of life depends on loving every Jew. People forget that unconditionally loving every Jew is a commandment of Torah no less important than tefillin or eating kosher...
Continue reading The Picnic in this week's stimulating issue of Breslev Israel web magazine.
My beloved teacher and spiritual guide Rav Shalom Arush, may Hashem bless him always, shows us how Every Last Drop of desire is ever so precious; a must-read...
Breslev Israel is proud of its all-star lineup of feature writers: Psychotherapist Zev Ballen tells about the Cybersex Tsunami. Racheli Reckles throws us the key to a good marital relationship in Cure-all. Rivka Levy explains why we so badly need 60 Minutes of personal prayer a day. Yehudit Levy writes An Open Letter to Rebbe Nachman. Chaya Ovadia examines our daily blessings from morning till night in Cycle of a Day. Yehoshua Goldstein describes gratitude in The Highest Level of Speech.
Rabbi Erez Moshe Doron presents us with part 55 of Warriors of Transcendence, The Game of Forces.
This week's Torah portion is Ki Tisa.
New English-Series CD Releases from Breslev Israel
With Hashem's loving grace, we have 3 new very important CDs newly released. The first is The King's Daughter, and it's a must-hear for women from age 12 to 112. the second is Most of All, Desire, a CD that shows you how to super-achieve. And third, there's Emuna with Love, an amazing CD that tells you what real unconditional love is all about.
Have a wonderful week!
February 12, 2011
February 10, 2011
Learning to Love Yourself
This 7-minute clip is not only the key to your happiness, it could save your life:
February 9, 2011
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.
February 8, 2011
Brett Keisel: Breslever Chossid?
Uri Rosenzweig told me a rumor about Pittsburgh Steeler's Brett Keisel: is the big bad bearded defensive lineman really a Na Nach?
February 7, 2011
The Empowered Woman
Uman Experience and Ark 18 together with Breslev Israel are sponsoring an amazing women's retreat to Rebbe Nachman's holy gravesite in Uman, Ukraine from March 3-6, 2011, with an option of an additional two days of touring in the Ukraine. "The Empowered Woman" is your chance to fill your batteries before Purim and Pesach.
VIN News Interview, New York City
This is the first of a 4-part interview that I had 2 weeks ago in New York City with VIN News:
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