Lazer Beams

Garden of Emuna shiur, Part 2

College Crossroads

Dear Rabbi Brody,

I am a 20-year-old college sophomore in the US, and lately I have been worrying about whether or not I am on the right path in life. I know I'm still young, but I feel I am ready to be married and start a family, and I live somewhere with very few Jewish males, none of whom are particularly religious. While I've always pictured myself as finishing college, lately I am not sure if this is the right thing to do. I was always an excellent student but lately I have been having a very difficult time finishing assignments because my mind is elsewhere, and even so, the liberal arts program I'm in is not likely to lead to many career opportunities. Also, so unbelievably many random things keep going wrong, making it more difficult to continue in school, and I don't know whether to take this as a sign from Hashem that maybe I should head in a different direction, or just as another challenge in life to overcome. I don't want to waste any more time if this is not what I should be doing with my life, and end up unmarried, having wasted what should be an exciting time in life on unfruitful studes. Should I spend at least the next two and a half years finishing my BA degree, or is it time to change directions? I would greatly appreciate any advice you might offer. Thank you so much for your time.

Wishing you happiness always like you make others happy,
Alicia in the western USA

Dear Alicia,

Good girl - you've done a good job of understanding the messages that Hashem has sent you. It's definitely time for you to seriously search for the right person and to raise a family.

The restlessness in your soul is straight from Hashem. A liberal arts program in a university is a waste of your valuable time and money. As far as a livelihood goes, you can take one of many inexpensive aptitude tests available on the web, determine a skill you like, and then pursue a six-month occupational course, such as computers, graphic design, dental tech, or whatever. So, I recommend that you check out of university, move to an area where there are Jewish studies for women your age, and then simultaneously strengthen your Judaism and acquire an occupational skill.

On the other hand, my blue-chip advice for you would be to come to Israel, enroll in a women's seminar for Jewish Studies such as Midreshet Beerot Bat Ayin which I'm sure you'll love, or EYHAT (Aish Hatora women's seminary) or Neve Yerushalayim as possible alternatives. That way you'll be able to strengthen your Judaism and find the exact guy you want. You'll be a smashing success, G-d willing. May Hashem bless you and lead you in the right path. Feel free to write. With blessings, LB

Garden of Emuna Shiur, Part 1

Join us in the Midreshet Beerot, the Bat Ayin Women's Seminary, for our Garden of Emuna Lecture series:

Discrimination, Scan Style

 Copenhagen - time for Denmark's 7000 Jews to read the writing on the wall? 

Scandinavia has traditionally been known for its amicable liberalism of freedom. That's true in many ways, as long as you're not Jewish.

Sweden that prides itself on religious freedom is actually vigorously anti-Jewish. Jewish ritual slaughter of kosher meat (shechita) is against the law in Sweden and in Norway. Furthermore, a certified Jewish mohel may not perform a brit (ritual circumcision) in Sweden unless a medical doctor and an anesthesia nurse are looking over the mohel's shoulder. If that's not enough, reported anti-semitic crimes have been on a steady rise in Sweden since the 1990's.

Now, Denmark is joining the anti-Jewish bandwagon. The Copenhagen Post reports a new proposal on its way to Parliament that would outlaw mail circumcision.

Everything Hashem does is for the very best. A Jew cannot possibly live in a place where brit mila is outlawed. This is our holy covenant with Hashem, a mitzva that we have martyred ourselves to preserve since the dawn of Jewish history. The bare truth is that outlawing circumcison is a de facto prohibition of Judaism.

It's high time that our 7000 beloved brethren in the benevolent butter-cookie diaspora of Denmark read the writing on the wall and come home to the Land of their Forefathers while they still can. Hashem wants you here.

Talking to Hashem

By talking to Hashem, one connects to Hashem, as you'll see in our weekly English emuna shiur (lesson) from the Chut Shel Chesed Yeshiva in Jerusalem, which you can see right here.

Breslev Israel needs Web Marketing Manager

Breslev Israel is looking for a dynamic, self-starting Web-Market Manager. This individual should be fluent in English and Hebrew; knowledge of French and/or Spanish is also desired. The preferred candidate is charismatic, goal-oriented, and a strong believer in what he does, particularly in spreading Rebbe Nachman's teachings around the globe. Proven experience in web marketing required. Applicants should send their resume to Rabbi Yosef Nechama, breslev@breslev.co.il, General Director of Breslev Israel.

Weekly English Emuna Lesson

Here's a reminder that our weekly lesson in English - every Wednesday 5 PM at the Chut Shel Chessed Yeshiva, 13 Shmuel HaNavi Street, Jerusalem - is open to the public. Both men and women are welcome. You can say today's lesson live right here at 10 AM EST or 5 PM Israel time. Tomorrow, G-d willing, we'll post a permanent link to today's lesson.

No smoker, please

Dear Rabbi Brody,

I'm an orphan, age 21, and I have the untasteful job of having to screen out my own prospective shidduchim (marital proposals - LB). I'm under tremendous pressure from an important Rosh Yeshiva and his rebbitzin (wife - LB) to marry one of their "top" guys. Everybody brags that he's the "shpitz" (no. 1 - LB) of the Yeshiva. Yet, when I checked things out, I found out that the guy smokes. When I confronted the Rosh Yeshiva with that fact, he made light of it and told me that I won't be able to find a better match. I don't like the smell of the high pressure tactics or of the cigarette smoke. Please come to my aid, Rabbi, and give me urgent advice. Thank you, RB, NYC

Dear RB,

I agree with you - I don't like the smell of the shidduch either. Don't let the Rosh Yeshiva and his wife intimidate you. Usually, the most serious, G-d fearing Yeshiva boys who are earnest in their learning stay far away from cigarettes. In my experience, it's the hotshots who smoke and not the serious, good boys. A person with true Torah learning doesn't deliberately destroy his lungs, nor is he a slave to any form of substance usage, including nicotine. With all the confirmed proof of how utterly unhealthy tobacco consumption is, one has to be a monkey to smoke.

Don't look for the "shpitz" - find a boy with a good heart, good character traits, and who's serious about Torah study and his relationship with The Almighty. I suggest you pass on this shidduch, and put the blame on me. Please let me know if I can be of assistance in the future. Don't worry - with Hashem's help, you'll be a bride before the year's over. You're not an orphan, either - you have a loving Father in Heaven who cares more about you than you'll ever dream of. With blessings for all your heart's wishes for the best, LB

Ashdod in Hamas Cross-hairs

Exactly three months ago, Emuna News and the Beams reported that Nasser 4 rockets from Gaza were about to threaten Ashdod. Unfortunately, these rockets are now fully operational, and my beloved home town of Ashdod is now within Hamastan Gaza's rocket range. With this in mind, the Ashdod school system has been quietly drilling children in rocket-defense procedures. Kiddies have been closing their notebooks, crawling under tables on cue and crouching in protective position. Ashdod has just now been included in the Red-alert early-warning system similar to the one in Ashkelon, which purportedly gives us thirty seconds to prepare for a bombardment.

Meanwhile, the inane anti-emuna lame-duck and spineless interim government led by Olmert and Barak is doing nothing. During the last 24 hours, ten more rockets fell in the south of Israel, while the Prime Minister and Defense minister do nothing but issue idle threats. Meanwhile, we've been ordered here in Ashdod to have our bomb shelters in order and fully operational.

One has to give credit to the Hamas. They are not only outsmarting the silly Lilliputian-statured politicians that comprise the Israeli government, but are dictating the way the game is played. Let's face it - non-emuna Israel, ever since the unilateral withdrawal from Southern Lebanon seven years ago, the disengagement from Jewish Gaza three years ago, and the fiasco of the second Lebanese War two years ago, has become none other than a paper tiger in the Arab world's eyes. Hamas is not afraid of a massive Israeli invasion; Hamas knows that the world will yell and scream, and Israel won't be able to finish its mission which by all estimates will carry a high price tag in human blood.

Guess what - Hamas also wants the Israeli right to emerge victorious in the coming February elections. Why? Assuming that the right won't agree to any PA or Abu-Mazan peace plan, then the Fatah will lose face in the West Bank and the Hamas will successfully complete its coup over the entire Palestinian Authority. Hamas estimates that it will be a winner either way.

Yet, there's one factor that both the Hamas and the interim Israeli government fail to consider: You're right, Beams readers - Hashem. The road might be a little bumpy here, and some folks will be scared out of their wits, but when the smoke clears, the entire world will be different. Those who are doing their best to cling to emuna and return to Hashem with all their hearts will have front-row seats to see the coronation of Moshiach. Soon, faster than any of us imagine, amen.

Aliya Success Story

Breslev Israel is delighted to introduce you to Rivka Levy, one of the most special people you'd ever want to meet. She and her husband Reuven with their two daughters came to Israel from the UK several years ago. Since their arrival, they've been investing their main efforts in strengthening the spiritual side of their lives, particularly emuna. The Levy family is a picture-book aliya success story. Even though they live in Gush Etzion with hostile neighbors close by, they can still declare that Eretz Yisrael is The Safest Place on Earth.

Rav Shalom Arush teaches us that with emuna, we know that all our difficulties in life are simply cobblestones in the path of life that Hashem designates for us, all tailor-made and all for the very best.

A seventeen year-old wants to strengthen his faith. He finds himself in a King-Solomon type dilemma, torn between his father and Hashem. Be sure to read Who Do I Pick, Dad or God?

Truth is eternal. The Torah is just as true and alive today as it was 3,321 years ago when Hashem gave it to Moses on Mount Sinai. For example, health and nutrition experts are rediscovering the wealth of the Rambam's advice. Read all about it in The Relevance of the Rambam.

Breslev Israel continues with its weekly lessons in Kabbalah and Family Purity.

The root of our ills is Jerusalem - the lack of our Holy Temple and the Divine Presence within our midst. Rather than crying out to Hashem, most of us are tacitly agreeing to the dissection and ultimate surrender of Jerusalem, G-d forbid, the heart of the Jewish people. Read all about it in this week's editorail, Radiated Pain.

Descending from the Throne will help us appreciate our parenthood. Breslev Kids can enjoy Part 8 of the Boastful Buck.

This week's Torah portion is Chayei Sarah. We wish you a wonderful week, with success and good tidings, amen.

The Garden of Emuna - live at Bat Ayin

Here's a reminder that I'll be in Bat Ayin this evening for the first of our winter "Garden of Emuna" lectures for women, sponsored by Midreshet Be'erot Bat Ayin. The lesson will be in English, and will start G-d willing at 8 PM. If you're anywhere near the Bet Shemesh - Jerusalem - Gush Etzion area, we hope to see you there.