Feel the power of your neshama

BH

I have a dare for you. I guarantee you that your life will change for the better. I would sign a promise to you in fact, I am so sure.

 

Start out with 5-10 minutes a day, every day, working up to 60 minutes eventually, just speaking out your neshama to Hashem in your own words, at a time when you are alone with Hashem (baby is fine but no one else should hear you). Connect yourself to your good will, your will to serve Hashem. For instance: “Hashem, I want to accept ol malchut Shamayim. Help me. Please Hashem, let me serve you in truth, b’emet. Please Hashem, help me fulfill my mission in this world. Please Hashem, show me the truth. Show me how you want me to serve You.” You can tell Him even that you’re not sure what to say – please help me speak to you Hashem. This is also very good. Even silence. But the best is to speak. Take my words even and adapt them to yourself and read them. Write letters to Hashem and read them. Whatever works! But take the time out, every day.

 

This is the essential part. You can also speak to Him about whatever else is on your mind, your questions, your difficulties, whatever. Talk to Him about me if you want – “She is sending me all this stuff and it doesn’t speak to me at all! Help me understand what she is trying to relate to me, in a way I can hear it.” Talk to him about your kids, your husband, your deep-seated questions. Thank Him for EVERYTHING in your life, from your every breath, to every organ that functions, to every thing that you own, everything, in great detail. That’s also very good, but the most important is the first advice, to ask Hashem to help you serve Him properly.

 

I am in no way trying to intimate that you are not currently serving Him properly per say. This is the general advice for everyone, because none of us are tzaddikim – we are all benonim, we all have what to work on. We all have our confusions, our lusts and desires, our places where we are weak, tired, lazy, whatever, the places where we don’t have enough clarity on what Hashem expects of us, etc. etc. Just the emotional experience of feeling your neshama expressing its will to serve Hashem – it’s an experience that does not have words but it changes your life, forever, and gives you power beyond something you can comprehend. And the joy that comes from the experience is also life-changing – that’s how you know that you really “reached Hashem” so to speak. Some days you’ll feel it more, some days you’ll feel it less, but slowly but surely it changes a person into a being that lives from the neshama, instead of illusions. It’s AMAZING.

 

In case you’re wondering from where I am pulling this advice, it isn’t just Breslev. The Chofetz Chaim did 2 hours of praying like this and also doing cheshbon hanefesh, reviewing his day, every single day. The Ramchal speaks about it in Mesillat Yesharim. Rebbetzin Heller discusses it in her books. There are many, many more sources for it. But the most important is to try it, you’ll feel how good it is with Hashem’s help! And if you can’t feel it, ask Hashem for that too. It’s Geshmak.

 

I really hope you’ll try it. And if you want to share your experience, I would love to know how it goes. Like I said, start with 5 minutes. And if I’m a total nut case, you’ve lost 5 minutes. It’s worth it to try it, no?

Holiness and Modesty

First off, this is a video that everyone must watch. Don’t tell me it’s too long – it is an edge of your seat, can’t turn it off video. I don’t have enough words to talk about this video. I admit it is rare that I share something not emuna oriented, but as far as I am concerned this is essentially also emuna oriented, since it speaks about the truth, and all truth is connected. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpflBfazqUc - "My Life After Death Experience" with Alon Anava.

 

He also has an INCREDIBLE video set about modesty http://www.atzmut.com/the-power-of-modesty/ - and for those guys, I want you to know that this shiur is a fundamental shiur for EVERYONE. In order to explain this concept in detail like I have never heard of it explained before, he goes through a whole tour of the Torah, of Zohar, of truth, including many concepts fundamental to Judaism. He also explains many concepts which apply equally to men and women (which in case you didn’t know, modesty in dress also applies to men even, although he doesn’t state it here). You’ll learn more about the concept of modesty than you could imagine, and you’ll also learn a lot of incredible Torah in the process which can be applied to many other areas of life.

 

For other news:
This is TERRIFYING. But it's from Hashem. Which means it is somehow for the best! We can't change anything with Iran really. What we need to do is change ourselves. Especially we need to work on holiness!!! Modesty for women in dress, speech and thought, and guarding the eyes for men.
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/obamadeal-us-to-protect-iranian-nuke-sites-from-israeli-attack/2015/07/20/
http://www.jewsnews.co.il/2015/07/15/it-gets-better-america-will-now-train-iran-on-how-to-protect-their-nuke-facilities-from-israeli-attacks/

Here is the text:
Here's the text:

Nuclear Security
E3/EU+3 parties, and possibly other states, as appropriate, are prepared to cooperate with Iran on the implementation of nuclear security guidelines and best practices. Cooperation in the following areas can be envisaged:

10. Co-operation in the form of training courses and workshops to strengthen Iran's ability to prevent, protect and respond to nuclear security threats to nuclear facilities and systems as well as to enable effective and sustainable nuclear security and physical
protection systems;

10. Co-operation through training and workshops to strengthen Iran’s ability to protect against, and respond to nuclear security threats, including sabotage, as well as to enable effective and sustainable nuclear security and physical protection systems.

 

OK Now onto the emuna news! Honestly so much is going on here that it’s hard to know what to talk about first or have time to write it all up for you guys. I am trying. I am hoping actually to be spending a bit more time with updates more frequently because everything is happening so fast.

I think the most important thing right now is discussing kedusha – holiness. Rabbi Arush was a lion last Wed evening – like my husband and I don’t remember ever seeing him before. Usually he speaks softly, and laughs and jokes, and even as he tells you deep truth he is soft about it. Sometimes he gets a bit harsh, and says something like “Usually I am all smiles, just strengthen emuna, but sometimes we need to wake up a little…” And that’s as harsh as it gets.
Not this last week. Rabbi Arush was on fire, incredibly strong and intense, like a lion roaring the entire lesson. First off, he did not mince words in stating that a woman, and especially an unmarried one, should NEVER go to a Rabbi directly. You think he is such a tzaddik? The bigger the man the bigger the Evil Inclination. And all the real tzaddikim that are checking themselves, do not accept women alone!!! For sure, we want to help women – send us a note, something short – no long stories, you get more help with something short and to the point, a sentence. Your name, your request, your question, whatever – we want to help. But to meet with a woman directly? No way. In fact, he went so far as to absolutely ban such meetings with an unusual proclamation of such in his name. (Note, I BELIEVE this aspect to be in response to a number of recent scandals where “rabbis” have been charged with all sorts of sexual misconduct with women, usually revolving around personal meetings with them).

In fact, he reminded, a man and a woman should have no connection whatsoever, not under any circumstances. A man’s Torah, his soul rectification, his everything is dependent on guarding his eyes which is guarding his mind and his brit. So much so, that for the first time we’ve ever heard, he said that a person should not spread emuna if he is going to have even the slightest chance of falling because of it! No hafatzah! Or only do it in a place where there is enough kedusha that you’re not going to be p’gam habrit, not the slightest chance.

Then he discussed a wedding he had been to the night before. As he was leaving, he saw out of the sliver of his eye off to the side something of the women’s side – and he was well, speechless, shocked, mortified, hard to describe the words. He said that he already doesn’t remember what he saw at all, but this tiny glimpse was enough for him to get the picture. He spent that entire morning of the shiur after this happened to him the night before in long hitbodedut with Hashem. And he said, this was a chareidi wedding! Don’t think this is just about the non-religious. No, this was unfortunately people who believe themselves to be religious already.

For the future, he said – don’t invite me! (Rabbi Arush NEVER says anything like this. Never). And it is completely forbidden to go to a wedding, an event, a brit, whatever where there is not “separation and holiness.” You cannot go! He said – “Me – I don’t see anything. But if there is not holiness and separation and a man could G-d forbid see an immodest woman, you cannot go! Ussur!” He reminded us: “You invite your relatives to a wedding. Avraham, Yitzchak, Yaakov, Moshe, Aaron, David, other tzaddikim all go to a wedding, but they will not be there if it is not holy! What do you want a chuppah for if they will not be there?!” Even more, he said that Eliyahu Hanavi will not go to a brit if there is not separation and holiness – “What do you want a brit if the zachor latov will not be there?”
For women he said little, besides a general focus on tzniut (this is normal, he does not give specific guidelines, just “be very modest!”) but he did outright say, which I know is how he holds but I have never heard him say it publicly: “And cover your hair properly with a head covering! Not hair! A head covering!” (BTW I have just learned some very serious, very incredible daat about wearing sheitls. If you have the ability to hear it, contact me. This is a very, very serious reality about wigs. Don’t think just the Sefardim ban them. The Ashkenazim ban them too. What Rabbi Elyashiv zt”l said against them will make your hair stand on end. Rabbi Ovadia Yosef zt”l rattles off an incredible list of the greatest Ashkenazic poskim who forbid them).

 

One of the foundational mitzvot is “Be holy for I Hashem am Holy” – “kedoshim t’hiyu.” In everything we do – in dress, in speech, in thought we have to check ourselves – is this holy? Is this like the non-Jews around me, or is this from the Torah? What does Hashem tell me to do in this situation? For a woman to wear anything that catches the eye G-d forbid…this isn’t just about elbows and knees. That is just the very beginning. The Rabbis leave much up to the woman because we are supposed to have an inner sense of tzniut, we’re not supposed to be cookie-cutters like the men. What is very tzniut on one woman could be (even appropriately sized) not modest on another woman. We have different body types. Each woman must see for herself that she is dressing like a Bat Melech – a princess, a daughter of the King of Kings – and not like a non-Jewish woman trying to attract a mate – not even the same styles just with a shell underneath to make it “frum”!

 

As Rabbi Brody quoted Harav Arush: “You think you’re dressing like Little House on the Prarie? You might just be saving the Jewish people!” Rabbi Arush says we cannot understand the importance of holiness and modesty. If you hear sirens in the streets, if there is suffering in Klal Yisrael, it is because there is immodesty in the streets. Just the Jewish women dressing truly modestly – just this alone can bring the Geula! In fact more than one tzaddik has said that the reason why Moshiach has not yet come is just because of women wearing wigs…This is the real deal. Why is it so hard? Because it is our essential mission! The Midrash says that in every limb of Chava that Hashem formed he said “Be modest! Be modest!” So of course the Evil Inclination fights us so hard on every tiny detail of tzniut – because it is everything for a woman. Most of a woman’s judgment after 120 – is on tzniut!

 

There is much more to say but this must suffice for now. The greatest thing that each person can do is to take on some additional thing in holiness, man or woman these 9 Days of Mourning. However small, do something, change something, for the sake of the entire Jewish people!

 

I would love if you will tell me what you are taking on, and I will publish it separately, anonymously. I myself have taken on something small, in the merit of Shimon Machluf ben Miriam Varda for a refuah shleima. Share with me what you are doing and I hope to post a list which will inspire everyone!

Holiness

I don’t want to just constantly quote Rabbi Brody, but he has really been spot-on.

 

In case you missed it, here is the alarming article about this coming Erev Rosh Hashanah – the end of a Shmitta year has brought a major financial “correction” every time for the last 5+ Shmittas! http://lazerbrody.typepad.com/lazer_beams/2015/06/september-2015-economic-doomsday-for-the-usa.html

 

Then you have an emuna op-ed: http://lazerbrody.typepad.com/lazer_beams/2015/06/is-the-pot-about-to-boil-over.html

 

And then this one about the Obamanation - http://lazerbrody.typepad.com/lazer_beams/2015/06/the-imminent-geula-mister-v-before-and-after.html yes he wants to make this place an Obama Nation all right.

 

And now his recent post: http://lazerbrody.typepad.com/lazer_beams/2015/06/a-hole-in-de-fence.html Yup our defense minister would be a lot better off worrying about defending our country than arguing in favor of gay marriage here in Israel Hashem yishmor. Including our number 1 defense system, which is Hashem – and our number 1 spiritual defense through which Hashem protects us - which is kedusha.

 

The world is becoming more polarized, and Rabbi Brody explains why – the time for sitting on the fence is over. Hashem is separating those who will follow Him no matter what the world does and at the very least WANT to do His will (regardless of our human failings) and those who could care less. Middle ground is becoming harder and harder to find.

 

The biggest thing that each one of us can do is to really starting praying about becoming more holy and doing our best by taking on one new aspect of kedusha – holiness. Doing more to guard our eyes, guard our hearts, guard our minds from the filth around us, and be more modest in our ways and our dress and most importantly to ask Hashem that we should be more holy, to increase our level of holiness every day. In Hebrew, Rabbi Arush says it like this: “Zakeini l’hosif l’kedusha yom yom.” We cannot begin to imagine what the tiniest increase in holiness does for the Jewish people and the world. How much it protects us. Rabbi Arush says that if you hear sirens in the streets, it is because the women are not modest…and goes even further, stating that just all Jewish women dressing modestly would bring us the redemption immediately!!!

Countdown to the 3 Weeks and Video Awesomeness

Thank you to my good friend Mrs. Roseberger for pointing this one out to me: https://emunahchannel.com/make-god-your-best-friend-amazing-advice-on-how-to-connect/

And a particularly awesome shiur from Rabbi Cassouto: https://emunahchannel.com/be-yourself-find-who-you-are/ I had such hashgacha pratis listening to this - I had paused it, and then something happened. Someone questioned me strongly on someting I had said standing on the side of kedusha and I was confused. Then my son said - turn the shiur back on. And there was Rabbi Cassouto - so what if the world is against you! Believe in yourself! If the whole world is against you then you are on the side of kedusha!

 

Now onto some world news: http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/us-officials-warn-of-isis-attacks-on-july-4/2015/06/27/ US Officials are warning that ISIS may be planning terror attacks this coming Shabbos July 4 – even though we fast on Sunday because of Shabbos, this Shabbos is still the infamous day of mourning called the 17^th of Tammuz when the walls of Jerusalem were breached, among other major terrible things that happened to the Jewish people on that date. The situation is Europe doesn’t look much better, what with a major anti-semitic rally being planned for this Shabbos as well in the religious community of Golders Green – the posters on Facebook for it look like something straight out of the Holocaust. Outright ghastly. I can’t bear to copy it but if you want to see it head over here: http://palmtreeofdeborah.blogspot.co.il/2015/06/the-one-week-countdown-to-17th-of-tamuz.html. Who can forget the Freedom Flotilla III happening as we speak and the death of Bar Kappara Erev Shabbos Hashem should avenge his blood – he was a 70 year old farmer beaten to death by Muslim “Palestinians” (amazingly his name means “son of / being an atonement) and a sweep of terrorism around the world including Tunisia and France.

 

What does this all have to do with emuna? Well Rabbi Arush always says forget the news, the news is everything is for the very best! Let’s go deeper though. It is so easy and common to throw your hands up and say “We need Moshiach now! There is so much suffering in Klal Yisrael! Sicknesses, terrorism, anti-semitism, everyone is suffering! Dai! Enough!” In fact, I feel like I hear this all the time – “There are so many tzaros in Klal Yisrael.” Rabbi Arush had harsh words for such talk in the weekly newsletter for the Yeshiva for this past Shabbos Parshas Chukat – “To speak like this is Lashon Hara against Hashem and it is kefira gemura – total heresy.” I gasped – what harsh words! But it is true! Total heresy! Speaking against Hashem as if He is doing something bad, so to speak! Gasp! And I think like this all the time…

 

Hashem loves us and does EVERYTHING for the best – EVERYTHING bar none. He explains that we aren’t continuing to be punished for the crying we did in the desert at the Sin of the Spies, when Hashem said we will “cry for generations.” We are still being punished because even today, we are still crying and complaining – just like this. “There are so much tzaros in Klal Yisrael.” Wait, is Hashem evil G-d forbid? Is he doing something unjust to the Jewish people? Such statements bring on harsh judgments because then Shamayim opens up the records – is something wrong happening, something unjust? And they find only that Hashem is actually being too lenient with us! Just the opposite is true – Rabbi Arush stated emphatically twice “Everything is just fine with Klal Yisrael. The only singular lacking and problem that we have is that we lack daat – holy knowledge.” That is the daat to thank Hashem for everything. That is the daat to have the emuna to know that ein od milvado – there is only Hashem – no anti-Semites, no ISIS, no Supreme Court, no mother, no father, no husband, no wife, no kids, no mother in law – only Hashem who uses various sticks to prod someone to return to Him. And that since He does everything, and everything He does is good, with no exceptions – this is also good. But in order for it to be truly good for eternity, we have to use these sticks to get closer to Him, to repent from our sins, to change our lives, to yearn to serve Him better.

 

And I am afraid to say this, but here goes. Rabbi Arush mentioned also in the parsha sheet that someone who recognizes that everything is from Hashem, and uses everything in His life to do teshuva and improve Himself, then everything is really good for him and he feels no suffering at all. Since the purpose is to get closer to Hashem, and all his suffering is fulfilling this purpose, then really everything is for his eternal good and he actually feels no suffering in it at all, since He is enjoying the closeness to Hashem! There is no evil in the world at all! But in The Garden of Emuna Rabbi Arush mentions something else that brings this point even farther – he says that such a person cannot be touched by anything evil at all, since he relies completely on Hashem. But G-d forbid if a person lacks this emuna, and thinks that things are random G-d forbid, or thinks that there is evil in the world and does not see Hashem and His goodness – then G-d forbid, something evil can befall such a person. This is because of the spiritual rule that whoever you fear, that thing rules over you. So if you see Hashem and fear Hashem, and know Hashem has complete control over your life - then Hashem really does have complete control over your life, and truly no evil can befall you. But if you fear anything else, and think something else has power, then Hashem c”v hands the control over that person to the object that he fears!!! Since that person has chosen to see X in place of Hashem, then that X will be made to look like it has power, since Hashem has to continue to give the person the free choice to see Him – or not. It is truly terrifying, Hashem should save us all!!!

 

We must go into these Three Weeks of Mourning only with thanking and praising Hashem for everything. If we could truly do that, then we would completely correct the sin of crying and complaining for no reason, and instead of needing a reason to cry since we are crying anyway Hashem yishmor, and instead of more tears coming to correct the sin of tears of complaints against Hashem, we can correct those tears of complaining with songs and praises to Hashem – and then these weeks will be weeks of joyous celebration, the coming of Moshiach b’rachamim, and the rebuilding of our holy Temple in Jerusalem, speedily and in our days AMEN.

Dropping the Vacuum Cleaner

First things first – welcome back from a long break! There has been lots going on here, including Pesach and a trip to Ch”l but Baruch Hashem we are basically back on time, and back on track, now. Not that the Pesach notes have finally been finished, but at least I got my kitchen turned back over before Shavuos! And I think I mostly have found everything too, which is a nice bonus.

 

Due to a special wedding, next week the Chabura restarts but on MONDAY evening June 8, 2015 – 8:15PM. Please come on time since we want to be done with introductions and learning by 8:30PM at the latest with Hashem’s help. Thereafter it will again be on Tuesday evenings, 8:15PM. No need to RSVP but if you plan on coming, do let me know. Also if you are interested in coming but want a different day of the week, please let me know since there is some flexibility and we’ll do what works for the most people! And of course be in touch if you need help getting here (near Shimon Hatzadik train and bus stops).

 

In the meantime, I admit that I have not gone ahead in Women’s Wisdom but I did finish the chapter I was learning in The Garden of Gratitude. Interestingly, I feel like whatever I am learning in Rabbi Arush seems to be happening in my life (I mentioned this to my husband, who warned me not to read some of his books in that case! Ha ha). Anyway, for the past few weeks I feel bombarded with little trials, which Rabbi Arush explains are real suffering, but compared to big problems can hardly be called suffering at all. But he gives an incredible formula based on the difference between the 3 days it took to get to the border of Israel from the Yam Suf, versus the 11 days it should have taken, and the 40 years punishment we received. Based on these ratios, the example is like this: You are judged to lose $100 in order to atone for some sin. Hashem sends you a test – you lose $20. If you accept losing that $20 with love and most importantly recognize that it came as a result of Divine providence from Hashem, thanking Hashem for losing the money and doing your best to do teshuva – then not only did you just pay only 1/5 of what you really owe, but then Hashem wipes from your sins the equivalent of $100,000!!! In fact, He wipes all your sins clean, just for the tiny suffering of losing $20, which is hardly suffering at all. But don’t accept it with love, thus denying Hashem’s goodness and start complaining, thus bringing more judgment upon yourself, and now the entire $100,000 stands to be lost G-d forbid.

 

It’s a very powerful parable. Of course most of our lives we cannot see these spiritual accountings with such clarity – that’s the whole point of the test. Anyway I feel absolutely bombarded by days where things just don’t go my way, but thank G-d nothing is really “wrong” so to speak. Well, the baby going to sleep at 2AM really IS wrong if you ask me, but that’s the whole point – working on recognizing that things are not all supposed to go just so. Maybe that is easy street but it isn’t the point of life to be on easy street, hanging out on the beach with a cocktail, plenty of money in the bank and all your needs provided and secure. In fact, that is actually the curse of the snake – to eat dust, and thereby never have any need for a connection to Hashem. Indeed, Rabbi Arush says that if someone doesn’t experience even the slightest bit of suffering for 40 days, they should be quite terrified, since clearly Hashem is repaying their good deeds in this world and they have no share in the World to Come!

 

What I realized is that the main point is recognizing that you don’t really want that super easy life you think you want. That’s what your body wants, but living for your body is pretty miserable, since it’s always uncomfortable and no matter how much you try to satisfy it, it continues to want incrementally more. Besides which, physical pleasure doesn’t hold a candle to any form of spiritual pleasure – the best proof of that is that no amount of money in the world will make a healthy parent sell their child. That’s because the physical pleasure of money can’t touch the spiritual pleasure of being a parent. So when faced with an obstacle, the question is NOT what your Evil Inclination wants you to think, which is “I don’t want this! This is pain, this is difficult, and I want easy street!” Really, you don’t have that option, because Hashem loves you, and hence you are not on Easy Street (see above). Really the only question is: “Do I recognize Hashem and try to say thank you and accept His Divine providence, even though I don’t understand it – or bring more judgment upon myself by denying that and complaining?” That is really the choice. You will suffer whether you like it or not – it’s the acceptance of the suffering by recognizing the Source, or not, that is actually in your power.

 

Of course training yourself to do this in everyday life takes, well – a lifetime! So Rabbi Arush says – ask Hashem to help you, and then every day review your inevitable failings, do teshuva, recognize at that point that what happened was from Hashem, apologize for not accepting it at the time and getting angry, blaming the messenger, or whatever, and move on. Hashem won’t hold it against you, so neither should you! He also adds to expect this stage to last years – yes, YEARS – before you start actually living your emuna in the moment and not losing it in the moment. So don’t beat yourself up or expect yourself to just get it right away. Like everything from Rabbi Arush, it is abundantly simple and yet incredibly difficult to actually do.

 

So for instance, I recently worked on thanking Hashem for the vacuum cleaner dropping on my foot since the handle broke, and having to ice my big toe a few times a day for days. Thank G-d the nail survived. Thank G-d the foot survived. Thank G-d it healed and no long term effects noted. My option was not to avoid having this happen. Really, my option is – accept this with love, or take upon 5,000 times more suffering than this very painful big toe! Well, I guess I’ll take just the toe! I almost screamed out “That’s it, we’re replacing this vacuum cleaner NOW!” But thankfully my husband was nowhere around for me to complain to him, and by the time he came home I was much calmer. And noted – yes I need to be more careful with it, yes we do need a new one, and yes Hashem also caused it to drop on my foot either way.

Update on the Arushes

BH

I had the pleasure of speaking tonight again with Daniela Arush. Overall, the news is good. Rabbi Arush shlita, who was not feeling well last week, is BH much better – he started feeling better on Lag B’Omer. Nachman, the oldest child, who just a little while ago was still in a wheelchair, is doing much better and no longer needs regular monitoring. Miriam is also doing much better, although they are still monitoring her internal injuries which have not healed fully. But the doctors are very optimistic and right now are not considering any interventions. Both kids returned to school after Pesach, giving Daniela a little time to breathe as well.

The news from baby Odelle’s ultrasound is also encouraging. She does indeed have a scar on her skull – the force of the collision was strong enough that even the amniotic fluid could not protect her head from ramming into her mother’s pelvis in utero. The good news is that the doctors believe that Baruch Hashem, she does not have any brain damage or other adverse effects, just a scar. She will continue to have the scar monitored.

The hardest news is Rav Shimon Machluf ben Miriam Varda – Daniela’s husband, and Rabbi Arush’s son. Daniela said that he is the only one who still needs prayers – but he still needs them. He is still extremely weak, and now has a motorized wheelchair to get around. If you only knew him before the accident, the one who practically built the new Yeshiva himself, who knows how to weld, electrical stuff, can install air conditioners in a flash and more, this shadow of himself is very hard to get used to. Please continue to daven for him to have a full recovery!

You can continue to get emuna and Arush family updates at my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/emunagal1.  

Purim is Here! Everything you need

B’H

The holy days of Purim are here! Harav Arush stresses that all 3 days of Purim have special holiness and the ability to bring down special salvations – the Fast of Esther, Purim, and Shushan Purim. The very best thing is to do 6 hours of hitbodedut on all 3 days, and especially the Fast (all fasts are days for teshuva and he holds that on every single one a person should do 6 hours, and this one is certainly no exception) and whichever Purim you do not celebrate ie you more time without running around fulfilling all the other mitzvot of Purim.

Now, let’s get into the details of what to do and remember on Purim itself – whichever one you celebrate. First off, it is absolutely ussur to drink at night! Rabbi Arush said “One who drinks at night breaks the entire Torah, and it is forbidden. He drinks out of his lust and his idol worship.” The evening of Purim should be very simple – after Megillah, a simple, quick meal and then off to sleep for a few hours. Then wake up at midnight and recite Tikkun Chatzot and go out to the field to do hitbodedut until Netz/Shachris. Remember that you must go to the field happy! Praising Hashem and singing – not crying!!!

Hearing the Megillah – every single word of the Megillah is emuna. After Moshiach comes all the texts will be cancelled except this Megillah. Even more than the Torah itself, every single word is emuna!

Now we come to the Feast itself. First of all, the mitzvah is only to drink WINE. That is why it is called “The Feast of Wine” in Hebrew. Absolutely no other alcohol can be consumed! In fact, Rebbe Nachman warned very much about alcohol for the entire year, and it is a Breslev custom to drink wine only at Purim because Rebbe Nachman commanded us not to!!! (and some drink wine for the 4 cups on Pesach).

Secondly, Rabbi Arush asked – Is it possible that of all days, on Purim Hashem wants a person to lose his seichel, his mind/intellect? Most certainly not! The point of the wine is to receive daat – holy knowledge. You cannot get that if you have lost your seichel getting drunk! Therefore, you must say the special prayer (I have it attached here in Hebrew, and in English which is a rough translation and slightly different since every year Rabbi Arush changes the wording slightly) before every single cup. And if you notice that you are losing your moach, your mind, your hold on yourself – stop drinking! Tikkun habrit – rectification of the brit – is tied to Tikkun Hadaat – you cannot risk losing your daat! What you ARE supposed to be receiving, as I said, is daat. The daat to know that everything is for the very best and to say thank you. The daat to know that suffering is good. The daat to say Cursed is Mordechai – sadness is not the path to teshuva! (RT adds here – see my previous emails if you have not yet already for explanation of this) No sackcloth! And the daat to say Blessed is Haman – even the most evil have no free will, and it was through him that the Jewish people were saved and came closer to Hashem! So everything is good!!!

Finally, I also attached the Shabbat lesson from Rabbi Arush which also summarizes all these concepts from last week’s lesson.
FREILECHEN PURIM – it should be filled with meaning and salvations!
*Side note – this advice is all for men. Us women, we have to adjust accordingly. Chassidim hold that it is always forbidden for women to drink, because for women the moach/mind is tied up with tzniut, so drinking always lets a woman become loose, which she can never let herself do c”v. So Purim is definitely no exception, especially when sadly there are a lot of honestly drunk men out there. Nor is a woman expected to be able to do 6 hours each day, especially with her husband not around to help, nor is she generally going to be waking up at midnight. But for sure at least a solid hour of hitbodedut every day, and as much as possible in general are certainly in order.
**Side note number two – Harav Arush again stressed that fireworks and the like are strictly forbidden, especially since they scare people. In previous years he has gone into some length about the terrible suffering awaiting someone in Gehinnom who scared people. It is very important to make sure that one’s children are not involved in this very serious sin.

Return again to who you are...and Purim

This lesson is a blowout, incredible lesson. Count on Hashem because Hashem is with you! And connect yourself to who you are, truly, inside. Also some incredible advice on humility and coming to the land of Israel. A must watch!!!

http://emunahchannel.com/return-again-to-who-you-really-are/

And for Purim…
Rabbi Arush brings some amazing insights from the Klausenberger Rebbe about the dispute between Mordechai and Esther, after they discovered the evil plot by Haman to kill the Jews.

Mordechai went through the streets wearing sackcloth and ashes, crying bitterly. Esther sent him clothes - what he didn't have clothes? Saying - you cannot come before the King wearing sackcloth! What she was saying was this: I was raised in your house and you, Mordechai, taught me that when things... get difficult, you go put on your best Shabbos clothes and dance and thank Hashem. You know that you cannot come before the King - Hashem - except with joy. If you are not able to come before Hashem, how will the decree ever get overturned?

Mordechai answered that although she was right, the people needed to know that they needed to do teshuva - hence, he was trying to awaken them to the seriousness of their plight in order that they should return to Hashem.

Her response was that this was still not the way! By getting people depressed and upset, they are only going to be connecting to the Klipah of Haman and Amalek more, through crying and complaining. Every smile wipes away Amalek - so crying makes Amalek even more powerful. Even more, being sad is in and of itself a sin, since it means that you don't accept Hashem's will. You are only adding sins to Klal Yisrael, in a supposed attempt to do teshuva! How can this ever work? Teshuva through more power to Amalek and sinning through sadness? The people know to do teshuva already. Tell people instead - Do teshuva! Strengthen your emuna in! Hashem is waiting for our prayers! But don't be sad!
Mordechai did not agree, and cursed Esther if she did not go before Achashverosh. Now, she was afraid, because the conditional curse of a tzaddik stands no matter what - hence she told the people to fast "alai" - on me. Not on the decree, but on Esther herself, since Mordechai had cursed her!

The Klausenberger Rebbe added, that if Mordechai had agreed with Esther and they had been only happy and thanking Hashem, they wouldn't have just killed Haman and his sons - they would have totally wiped away Amalek! But in the end Mordechai recognized that Esther was right, and hence the Megillah is called Megillat Esther - not Mordechai.

Purim is Coming! Special learning for Purim

Countdown to Purim! Harav Arush spoke about Purim on Wednesday both to the Yeshiva and in his weekly class. There were some amazing thoughts and important pointers - over the next week I will G-d willing be emailing even daily with important tidbits from Harav Arush on this holiday, which is the most important holiday according to Harav Arush - even Yom Kippur is "yom" the day "k-Purim" like Purim, a day we get close to the holiness of Purim. Over the 3 days of Purim (the fast of Esther, Purim and Shushan Purim) a person can bring down incredible salvations. Even more, Purim sets the calendar for the entire year - everything begins with Purim. Rebbeinu also explains that a kosher Pesach depends on a proper Purim.

Let's begin with the basics - who is Amalek?

Rabbi Arush chuckled - he said in order to know how to erase Amalek, we first have to know who and what he is! So we must speak about him!
Klipat Haman-Amalek - the dark side force of Haman and Amalek (Haman was Amalek, and the most notable one, but this influence began before him and continues today) - is the force of denial of Hashem (kefirah).... Interestingly, the most bold manifestation of this is denying the good - that is how closely tied denying the good is to heresy. Everything that comes to a person comes to him from Hashem - this is a basic tenet of emuna. So if a person denies the good done to him by the messenger of Hashem (the flesh and blood person doing him the good, for instance) then if a person denies the messenger, they certainly also deny the one who sent him!

The famous example Rabbi Arush brings is that Haman had 10 sons, and incredible wealth and power. Everyone bowed down to him in the streets! Yet the fact that one little Jew, Mordechai, would not bow to him - he says "it is all like nothing in my eyes." This is the greatest denial of good possible and the quintessential example of denying the good and letting the "dark spot" in your life overwhelm all the good in it, to the point where you feel like the dark spot is everything and the good is like nothing - when really, if you could see clearly all the good being done for you and properly appreciate it, you would feel the exact opposite!
So the war against Amalek is the war of emuna, against kefirah (heresy). This is also the war of every person, at every moment - to strengthen themselves in the emuna to see Hashem, appreciate the good, and know Hashem is doing everything for the best - or to deny that G-d forbid, and question Hashem instead - "What's going on here? What does Hashem want from me? Why is this happening?"
Don't forget to start praying NOW already for a meaningful and inspiring Purim!

Ahavat Yisrael

Rabbi Arush says that the highest form of Ahavat Yisrael (loving your fellow Jew) is hafatzah - distributing emuna. Everyone needs to learn about emuna, the simple belief in Hashem. Because Hashem is the only address for everything a person needs, both physically and spiritually, and the path to true happiness and fulfillment in life is found only through emuna, helping another Jew (or any person, really!) learn about emuna is enabling them to also find that happiness and fulfillment and joy in their life. Even more, emuna enables a person to reach their highest potential and fulfill their purpose in life - certainly helping a person achieve that is the best good you can do for them!

So when Rabbi Arush said at the funeral that we need to focus on Ahavat Yisrael (hence the inspiration for this learning in her merit) and hafatzah, really they are the same thing. Granted, Rabbi Arush was specifically speaking about getting rid of machloket (fighting), but with increased emuna through hafatzah this also happens - being able to make peace is dependent on emuna as well. How can you make peace with someone or something if you don't recognize that they are really just a stick in Hashem's hand? Without emuna, this is extremely difficult - with emuna, it's easy.

Rabbi Arush has been stressing lately just how much merit there is in spreading emuna - endless merit. He had one of his students tell his story in one of the lectures, which is basically that someone gave him the CD "Stop Crying" in Hebrew and it changed his life. He did teshuva and joined the Yeshiva, and now has given out thousands of books and CDs himself. All of that is in the merit of the person who gave him one single CD, someone who didn't even know him. He also uses the analogy of a father who has a son who is very distant - what reward is that father willing to give to someone who helps bring his wayward son closer?!

Maybe you're wondering how you can really get involved in spreading emuna. Not everyone is cut out to speak to random people, after all, and I still struggle with it. Here are a few suggestions:

Carry emuna materials with you, and leave them around! I always have some Margoliot (mini books) and CDs with me - and guess what they are now in English! The Gems series! Contact me for info on how to get them sent to you and you can get them super discount in bulk in order to give out as well. Anyway, I keep a mix of them in my purse, and I leave a few in a waiting room wherever I am, wherever I go, with the other books and magazines usually out at such places. Leave them next to the cashier at a Jewish bookstore or restaurant. And you might be surprised how many easy situations Hashem sends you - oftentimes people ask me about my kemea (special necklace with Likutei Moharan inside) and end up with some mini books or a CD in their hands. It's actually very easy - have you heard of the Garden of Emuna? If they say yes - great, here is some more! And if they say no, I hand them Pearls of Emuna mini book - here, find out what it's all about, it changed my life and it can change yours too. Also, if you know someone going through a rough time, send them a book or a mini book or a CD. When someone sends me a story of someone in need, I send them The Garden of Emuna along with a donation anonymously. Pray about it and Hashem will certainly give you lots of great ideas that will be super easy for you!

Don't forget, of course, to do hafatzah with yourself. Carve out a few minutes a day or a week to read a book, listen to a CD, download one of the Chabura recordings, listen to a shiur on Emunah Channel - whatever! Personally, my few minutes of learning is like grounding time, time that then affects the rest of my day, because now I'm starting from a place of emuna, trying to remember emuna, connected to Hashem and to the truth. And even if my learning is at the end of my long day, it still makes a difference. All the difference, in fact.