Finding Our Sons

So many blog posts and articles have already been written about three teenagers who were snatched off the street on their way home from school in Israel last week. 

My goal isn't to repeat what has already been said but to enlighten those who are in the dark. For some reason, International Media has chosen to keep quiet about this atrocious act, as if it didn't happen at all. Is it because it wasn't in their own backyard or perhaps because we are of a different religion, nationality, and thousands of miles away? The truth is, they could be anyone of your sons, brothers or friends. They are just regular kids minding their own business who were suddenly, unwittingly and savagely thrust into a world of terror, with their family and friends suffering right along with them.

It seems like every man, woman and child in Israel is concerned about these boys to the point of obsession. It would be nice if others cared. We are all human beings, are we not?

Here is a bit about each of these kids who are now political pawns at the mercy of ruthless terrorists. If they remind you of your own kids, or of the boy next door, that is because they are just the same. Just kids! 

Post by Israel Defense Forces.

If you want to help bring these young men back to their family and friends, please contact your government to take action. 

Help them to be able to sleep in a warm, soft bed tonight instead of in a cold and dark dungeon.

Last but not least, please pray for their safe return and for the safety of all the soldiers trying to free them and rid the world of evil. They may be far away, but the evil lurks in every corridor of the world. 

Yakov Naftali ben Rachel Devorah, Gilad Michael ben Bat-Galim and Iyal ben Iris Tshura

Together we can make a difference!

Bottom of the 9th

בס"ד

Bottom of the 9th  

I am dedicating this previously published article l’iluy neshmat Yoseph ben Yitchak Dovid z”l, my beloved Father who left this world one week ago.

Originally published on www.breslev.co.il  6/3/2011

Baseball season is now upon us. The truth is, I am not a big sports fan and never really understood all the rules of the different games, but during high school, I enjoyed a baseball game now and then. My father on the other hand, may he be well and live a long life, can tell you anything you want to know about any sport and then some. However, when one becomes religiously observant, and advances in spiritual pursuits, sports and other similar forms of entertainment lose their appeal as they take us away from more lofty objectives. Since our sages, including Rebbe Nachman of Breslev zt’l (may the memory of the righteous be for blessing), say one can and should elevate all mundane matters into the realm of holiness, let’s give it a try. When it came to sports, I was never much of an athlete. As a result, in high school, when our whole school participated in tryouts for the girls’ basketball team, I was shocked when I made it through to the second round. It made me step back and think, ‘hey, maybe I CAN do it’. If the coach had confidence in me, I must have some potential. The same holds true for all of us in this material world. G-d, our Master Coach, would never have brought us here with our individualized tasks, if He didn’t think we could achieve our goals. That awareness should give each of us some encouragement. During a baseball game, there are always players sitting in the dugout, but they don’t have to remain there. In order to get a turn on the field, a team member first must prove himself. By hard work and making an effort to progress, anyone can be in the first lineup (allegorically, gain entry to the World to Come). But one won’t get a chance to play in the major leagues if he doesn’t even get up to bat. He must first take the initiative to improve and when he finally gets his break, he shouldn’t waste a second of this prime opportunity. Similar to a batter who spends several minutes in the batter’s cage warming up before his turn up at bat, we ought to also prepare ourselves as a prelude to our prayers and other sacred undertakings. If we don’t strengthen ourselves in emuna and holiness, we will surely strike out. Even if this happens, don’t despair. Rebbe Nachman says “There is no despair in the World”. If we get knocked down, we must pick ourselves up and try again. In baseball, we are given only 3 chances… three strikes and you’re out.  In life, we have as many new opportunities as we desire. Contrary to the rules of baseball, Rabbi Lazer Brody teaches that if HaShem does something three times, we can assume He will do it again.   The catcher, just like our yetzer hara (evil inclination), is anxiously waiting to cash in on our failures. One blunder can make the difference between sending the ball high into left field or right into the catcher’s mitt. If we hit a foul ball, we simply need to adjust our strategy slightly and accept helpful tips from the coach. In baseball, once the hitter is already at the plate it’s too late to review the rules, but in the game of life, constantly strengthening our knowledge of Torah is primary. “Torah study has the power to direct a person with the proper and correct advice in all of his endeavors. It is vitally important to have faith in the Tzadikkim. Then, by studying their words, the Torah will guide man to his proper course in life” (Likutey Moharan 1, 61:1). Life has a way of throwing curveballs at us when we’re least expecting it. Understanding that it is all from Hashem and for the very best, we can overcome the difficulties with a clear and tranquil mind. Occasionally, we are presented with situations in order to be united with others, even those with whom we don’t always see eye to eye. One rule of thumb in sports is to know your opponent which is also beneficial in making peace with a family member, neighbor or friend. Rebbe Nachman tells us to seek out the good points in both ourselves and others to bring about happiness.  Sometimes, a well-placed bunt into the infield is all you need to get on base and bring your teammates home.                                                       Despite all his hard work, occasionally a batter may be replaced by a pinch hitter. Unfortunately, in baseball, the substituted player is never allowed back into that game. Rabbi Brody explains in his lesson ‘Unconditional Love’ that Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai zt’l states in the Zohar, when someone gets angry, they lose their Neshama and Ruach, (parts of the soul), the Nefesh  (basic soul) takes a walk and sends a pinch hitter (from the dark side) to fill in. If this happens, the Jewish Neshama (soul) is lost, a far worse penalty than losing out on one baseball match. Once the pitcher warms up, he situates himself on the pitcher’s mound, intent on striking the batter out. He is on the ‘other side’, the same team as the catcher, so a staunch performance is paramount in foiling their plans. If the batter is prepared and has trained sufficiently, he will be able to outmaneuver them. Sure enough, a fast-ball makes its way to the plate and with one crack it flies into the air, but alas, it is caught before it hits the ground. With 2 out and bases loaded at the bottom of the 9th, nothing short of a miracle will win the game. The batter says a prayer as he knows he cannot win the game alone. He hits the ball so perfectly that he can’t believe his eyes. But wait…..the outfielder tries to grab the ball and it instantly disappears!  Poof! "All of the desires of this world are like rays of light. - You try to catch them in your hand only to find there is nothing in your grasp." (Rebbe Nachman's Wisdom #6) The batter wakes up to find that it was all just a dream. We too will wake up one day and realize that our existence was more fleeting than we understood. Only Torah and Mitzvot (good deeds and following the commandments) are eternal and worthy of our time and efforts.  The world in which we live today can be compared to the bottom of the 9th inning. It is only with HaShem’s help that we will merit to triumph, and only if we do our utmost to prove our commitment to our Creator and His Manual (Torah). With the World Series looming, isn’t it time to step up to the plate and give it all we’ve got?  And one more thing ~ it’s still not too late to slide Home!

23rd of September, 2012 ~ Worldwide Prayer for Moshiach

Rabbi Lazer Brody wrote:
The Chafetz Chaim said: "If only thousands and millions of sincere Jews would show to Hashem how they truly desire Mashiach, he would surely come immediately." Let's follow the advice of the Tzaddik and pray all together, giving tsedaka right before. The moment will be on September 23, 2012 at 18:00 Israel time, 8:00 AM Los Angeles, 11:00 AM New York, 10:00 AM Peru, 12:00 Noon Buenos Aires,17:00 Paris, 19:00 Moscow, 23:00 HongKong, 1:00 AM Sept 24 Sydney...

This is on the 7th of Tishrei, between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur!!

Damage Control

Tel Aviv - Photo credit: Uri Ovadia

B"H

I realize I am a bit late in writing this. It seems like it should be old news, after all. The truth is, sadly, I fear it is just the beginning. Like a snowball full of dirt and hard stones, this whole episode has become quite an unpleasant and dangerous game. I am referring to the recent occurrences of intolerance and distasteful (to put it mildly) actions within our own people. 

The list of intramural hatred in Israel is endless and I know it won't go down well with many when I say that we should all be held accountable. The frightening thought is that if we don't do something to rectify it soon, the consequences may be devastating. G-d promised to protect our land and our people if we obey His laws but did we forget that also includes “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Leviticus 19:18)? With thousands of missiles aimed at our heads, we must ask ourselves the ultimate question; Do we deserve HaShem's Divine protection?

The Talmud (Tractate Yoma) tells us that Sinat Chinam, baseless hatred destroyed the Second Temple. According to the Gemora, Tractate Yevamos (62b) it was also the cause of the loss of Rabbi Akiva's talmidim (students), twenty four THOUSAND, to be exact. Their fatal failure was the lack of respect towards one another. This is no small matter.

The media is the worst culprit of all as it feeds the evil inclination's need for gossip and the cultivation of distortion and lies. We are subjected to so much misinformation; truth is ne'er to be found. 

The facts are shameful and embarrassing to write. Men who call themselves G-d fearing, who outwardly reflect the look of righteous individuals, physically and emotionally attack young girls and soldiers, all in the name of Torah. Their actions are counterproductive and reek of hypocrisy with a misplaced belief that what they are doing is 'l'shem shamayim' (for the sake of Heaven). I don't know of any Jewish Holy writings that condone this type of behavior. For a youngster in the formative stage of life, it is not a nurturing message to send. We are not livestock that can be kept in line with the sting of a whip or a cattle prod. Those who have no understanding of the sanctity of religious life will only be pushed farther away. Plus, it creates a whole slew of further sins including loshon hora (slander), taking revenge and holding a grudge, to name a few. Just yesterday I read about a secular man who spit on an ultra-orthodox girl. Other accounts say he allegedly kicked her. Tit for tat? What is going on here? I think it's time to tell people to grow up! This is not child's play.

It hurts. It really hurts to see the dissension and the name-calling. I can only imagine how our Father in Heaven feels watching His beloved children at each other's throats like vultures over their prey. Do we really want to end up as the satan's lunch?

What is even more painful is when I hear about our brothers and sisters being brutally dragged out of their homes by our own 'protective' armed forces, our own sons. What happened to the pride of developing our land, when being a settler was something we longed for, not something to detest? It is bad enough that it is against G-d's Will to remove anyone from their dwellings in this Land, but to do so in the middle of the night without warning and with such venom? It happened in Gush Katif and now it is happening at other outposts. Where is our humanity? Where is our sense of compassion, if nothing else? We treat our enemies with more respect. We have totally lost our perspective.

We each have to take responsibility for the improper actions of the few because we are all one. It is not 'him' or 'her' or 'them', it is US! Since everything that happens is for a reason, we must look within ourselves and find something to change, something to improve. Like a spoken word, the damage caused by hurtful conduct is next to impossible to repair, but we have to try. A smile, a kind comment, a helpful deed - there are so many redeeming ways to erase the darkness.

We must stop this cycle of madness. If our enemies choose to act like barbarians they will simply self-destruct. Do we want to be on that level? They would probably like nothing better than to witness a civil war within Israel. But that is not the endgame of the Jewish People. Our purpose is to be a source of G-dliness, a Light unto the Nations. Through love and unity we can surely accomplish that goal. Once we master that tenuous and challenging task, HaShem will gladly be our strength and our shield, as He has been always.

As we say in our morning prayers, “Enlighten our eyes in Your Torah, attach our hearts to Your commandments and unify our hearts to love and fear Your Name….may we exult and rejoice in Your salvation”.  Please, may it be soon. Amen.

Giving it Over to Him

It isn't always easy trying to do something which is out of the ordinary.  As the modern expression goes, I am acting 'out of the box' and am praying that I will gain strength and flourish along with it.  After so many changes and periods of growth, this is yet another extreme test of my emuna.  The difference is, this one was self-imposed.  I trust in HaShem and I have no doubt that He exists and is ever-present in my life.  I also believe with all my heart and soul in the teachings of Rebbe Nachman, of blessed memory, and all the beautiful lessons of life that have sprouted forth from him through Rav Shalom Arush, Shlita and Rabbi Lazer Brody, Shlita, may they be blessed always.  Therefore, I am taking their advice (as I interpreted it) with regards to our parnassa, income. Rabbi Brody explains that our income is designated for us at Rosh Hashanah and whether we work 50 hours a week or 10 hours is irrelevant as parnassa is in the Hands of HaShem. As long as one’s time is spent in spiritual pursuits either by learning or practicing the laws of Torah, then the expression “G-d will provide” is a reality.


They also teach that it is the husband’s responsibility to support his family and while I have tried to contribute my fair share, it has been very difficult for me as a working mother and wife. It’s all very nice to try to be superwoman, to work outside the home, look after the family’s needs and still have a grain of time left for myself. In reality though, it is impossible and something has to give.  In my case, it is usually the home which suffers. Before we made aliya and when our older children were small, I made it my occupation to be a mother and would never think of going out to work.  If the house was a mess, it was only because my energies were spent looking after my family and the physical home was secondary in importance.  Now that our kids are no longer children, it’s a whole different story, complete with a new set of expectations and requirements.

I tried to internalize my role as a wife and mother (as stated in Women’s Wisdom and elsewhere) and came to the conclusion that I must spend more time doing what I am meant to do in my life and fulfill my true purpose in the world.  I found that I was unable to do that in my present job.  The organization in which I was employed was beneficial for the time being and fulfilled its purpose, but then things changed.  About a year ago they reorganized the job descriptions and moved everyone around. There were so many internal changes and politics, I found it was no longer conducive to my personal or spiritual growth. On the contrary, it became a enormous effort to refrain from participating in loshon hara. Before the summer, I had a talk with my boss who felt there wasn’t much work for me unless I was willing to do work which was not my ‘cup of tea’.  The choice was either doing work I didn’t enjoy or be laid off.  So I conceded and pushed off the inevitable until after the Chaggim, Rosh Hashanah through Sukkot.

At the same time, I began to have an urge to stay home more to be able to cook properly for Shabbat, invite more guests, bake challah and keep the house in order. As it was, I had no energy left by the end of the week. I wanted to leave my job but I felt if HaShem gave me this opportunity, who am I to quit and pass up much needed income? I also preferred to be fired than to quit so I could receive severance pay plus unemployment benefits which I have been paying into.  I was going to ask my Rav what to do, but decided to go straight to my Boss for his opinion; That is HaShem. I told Him how I felt and explained that I was thankful for the job and did not want to sound unappreciative, G-d forbid, but I really want to be a full-time homemaker once again, and have more time for my writing and spreading His Light. I was giving the decision over to Him and asked that He should guide me in the right path. 

The next day my boss (employer) called me into her office. I knew things were very slow and wasn’t surprised when she said she was giving me 30 days notice. She felt very bad as she did not want to let me go but she had no choice. I told her it was fine but it was more than fine. I was overjoyed.  I don’t think she understood how I had a smile on my face as she was firing me, but I couldn’t help myself. 

As usual, that wasn’t the end, as the yetzer hara (evil inclination) had to stick his head into the equation.  The following day, after rethinking the situation, my boss called me into her office again. She told me that they really didn’t want me to leave and she offered me a different position in the organization.  I considered it for about 10 seconds but then politely refused. That was 30 days ago. 

A bit of background on the beginnings of this job is also amazing and a clear-cut acknowledgment of G-d’s intervention.  When I began working for this wonderful organization almost two years ago, my husband and I were just in the early stages of learning with Breslev and trying to get our marriage back on track.  I wanted my husband to attend Rav Arush’s Yeshiva, but it was far and complicated to reach from where we live so he only went once.  It was no coincidence that my place of employment was just around the corner from the Chut Shel Chesed Yeshiva so I made it my mission to convince him to join me each morning on the journey to work. It became a daily routine which gave us some quality time together and he is now committed to attending Gemara classes every day regardless of whether I accompany him or not. 

So here I am feeling like I have repossessed my life. I am free to fulfill my true goals as I see them and with HaShem’s help, I pray that we will never want for anything despite my unemployment.  May it be His Will that we merit to receive all we need to live our lives in abundance according to his Divine Plan.  Amen.

On a Need to Know Basis

Photo Credit - www.aaronovadia.com

Everyone views things differently; we each have our limits and topics that interest us can vary significantly. The very things that I find exciting may cause someone else to turn away in boredom. But what frustrates me is when I want to relate something which I am very passionate about to my kids and they refuse to hear about it. Well, actually most of my children indulge me when I try to share with them, but one of them simply can’t give me that. It’s nothing to do with respect, but some topics are just too difficult to bear. The mention of a chosen few topics creates panic so before anyone has a chance to totally freak out, I have to change the subject or leave the room. Moshiach, terrorists, war, redemption… these words are like a head-crushing, suffocating vise to some people. This creates a lot of tension for me, because there is so much I need to impart to my family, especially now and specifically on those particular ‘forbidden’ topics.

Recently we have come to an agreement. I was informed that any information on these subjects will be handled on a ‘need to know basis’. If there is something urgent to pass on, I can say it, otherwise I will keep my views to myself.  In theory that sounds fair but the problem is everyone NEEDS TO KNOW NOW!

As a mother, despite the fact that my children are adults in their own right, I have a responsibility to them. It’s not like I’m in some elite club of people who have an inside track on the future but I feel like there is a minority of us who really see what’s happening in the world. Is it denial or just spiritual blindness on everyone else’s part? One doesn't have to be spiritual to read the news. With all the countries itching to take Israel down, all the natural disasters occurring throughout the world and all the man-made catastrophes to boot, doesn't it kind of make you wonder ‘Who’ is doing all this? If you think it’s just natural phenomenon, think again. If you believe that there have always been wars so that is nothing new, take a closer look. G-d has allowed man to create such amazing technology that we are now sitting ducks waiting for total annihilation in our own backyard. Never before have there been such weapons of massive destruction that could potentially destroy the whole planet. That is precisely what HaShem planned. As in the past, He knows that a hateful portion of man would misuse their free will and intelligence with evil intent. The difference today is that the only antidote for this horrifying scenario is a true, major, eye-opening miracle. But the definitive word is ‘eye-opening’. Open your eyes people! The only way to ensure a miracle is to make changes now, BEFORE it’s too late. This is our window of opportunity to guarantee our survival.

In the time of Noah and the Ark, everyone laughed at him until the rain began to fall. Even then, it wasn’t until there was no let-up in the flood that people understood that it was not a joke. The Bible isn’t some storybook made up for reading in Church or Synagogue; it is an authentic journal of history. What happened then could happen now. I don’t fear for the continued existence of mankind since prophecies tell us that there will be a time of true peace and a period of Redemption. But I need to know that everyone I care about, all of my family, all of our people and all the G-d fearing people of the world will grab this chance to implore HaShem to have mercy on us. It is only through prayer, charity and repentance that HaShem will save any of us. Miracles don’t come easy and without a genuine effort why should we be blessed with this gift? The choice is ours to make. If we turn our eyes upward to see past our homes, clothes, cars, jobs and vacations we may, G-d willing, have the merit to witness Divine Wonders.

May Moshiach come immediately to lead the way!

My Prayer Book

This Tuesday will be, G-d willing, my birthday. I won't give away my age but if you go by the expression, "you're not getting older, you're getting better", I must be WAY better! Joking aside, I do feel that after all these years, I am finally getting the hang of life. It took me awhile to finally accept that I am not here to make myself happy but to serve G-d. That may sound like my happiness doesn't matter, but on the contrary, it turns out that I am much more content than I have ever been in my life. I have given myself over to a Power (HaShem) greater than myself with the knowledge that it is ALL GOOD. I can basically just hang on and enjoy the ride, knowing that if I give it my best effort, I have nothing to worry about.

When my birthday comes around, there is one person who always comes to mind, for without her I would not exist.... that is my beloved Mother, a'h. There is a great deal one can say about one's mother, so I won't bore you with my personal feelings and stories. But I would just like to say for the record, that she not only gave me life by physically giving birth to me, but she gave me the gift of spirituality. She instilled in me the sensitivity to G-dliness and her holy essence passed through to me. Here is one example in the form of a poem:

My Prayer Book

My book was blue and shiny
And I read it every day
My Mommy bought it for me,
To teach me how to pray

My book was blue and shiny
Adorned with stars so bright
I read the prayers sincerely
When I went to bed at night

I was so young and tender
The book was mine to keep
The supplications calmed me
And helped me go to sleep

I was so young and tender
When “Shema” was in my heart
My mother raised me wisely
And shaped me from the start

That book was oh so precious
I treasured it with love
It was my first awareness
Of Our Father up Above

That book was oh so precious
It achieved its crucial goal
Mommy nourished both my body
And my new and precious soul


In those days, there was no Rabbi Lazer to tell our parents to read the Shema with their child, but somehow my Mother knew that it was important. Such a simple thing as a prayer book for children can make an enormous impact on a youngster's internal thoughts and psyche.

I thank HaShem for blessing me with such wonderful parents. May my Father live a long and healthy life, and may my Mother a'h reap the eternal rewards from all her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.