Monthly Rays -Elul 5780
Click above to open PDF version of the Rays of Breslov magazine
Good Shabbos and Shabbat Shalom
Dear Rachelle,
I know what you’re doing right now: you are lying in bed trying to figure out your daughter. She’s what, eleven now, nearly twelve? You are trying to understand how such deep, profound thinking can be coming from the brain of such a young girl. If she’s this smart now, what are we gonna do with her when she’s older?
You’ve been talking to yourself a lot and I know it’s been really helpful for you. That long commute is good for something besides singing with the radio, right? Well, I have to let you in on a secret: Hashem is listening to everything you say. There’s a special word for the conversations you’ve been having: hitbodedus. I know you’re unfamiliar with the word, but not the concept, you’re pretty good at it. You have analyzed and reanalyzed yourself so many times, and Hashem has heard you. And He understands. And He’s gonna help ya!
Remember the first time she stunned you? You had just moved into the big, new house and she had a big, new bed with plenty of room for Mommy. She was six, headed for first grade, and observant enough to realize that her mommy sometimes had some difficulties talking and moving. You had her lie on her tummy while you ran your fingers up and down her spine, explaining how the brain sends messages out to the body and the body sends messages back to the brain, and sometimes Mommy’s brain sends the wrong messages. Remember what she said?
C’mon, I know you remember. You were tickling her back, up and down, and she asked you –
“Like the angels on Jacob’s ladder?”
Okay, even I can’t remember how you ended up on the floor, stunned into silence, unable to fathom the metaphor she had just presented.
And tonight! She asked such a simple question, she wanted to know why we weren’t keeping kosher since we’re Jewish. You parroted the same answer you received when you asked the same question: it’s old-fashioned, our grandparents couldn’t, and other excuses usually about how difficult it is. And while your answer may not have been original, her response sure was:
“Mommy, that’s stupid!”
So now you’re lying on your big, empty bed, trying to figure out how you are going to keep kosher, and wondering what she will come up with next?
Wish I could reassure you that you are doing all the right things. Wish I could tell you that kashrus is going to be easier than you are expecting. Wish I could tell you that the pains you have been experiencing are only going to require minor surgery and the biopsy will be negative.
And most of all, wish I could tell you that our daughter has grown to be an amazing young woman. She is a teacher, she takes good care of herself, and there is an amazing young man looking for her somewhere. Ya did good!
Somehow, I have a feeling that even then, you knew everything was going to be just fine.
Sincerely,
Future Rachelle
On Erev Rosh Chodesh Elul, we welcome the coming month of (spiritual) action. There’s so much to do as we prepare for the Days of Awe. Are you ready to step up? Great! If not and you need to add a little pep to your teshuvah step, join Chaya Rivka Z. of BreslovWoman.org and get an introductory boost to Elul with a Breslov discussion of the coming month and a short but sweet lesson of Rebbe Nachman’s about seizing the day.
In Likutey Moharan 272 the Rebbe offers encouragement to help us get started on the spiritual tasks that lie ahead. Combine this with an introduction of a Breslover’s approach to Elul and the preparations for the Days of Awe and give yourself a boost.
Scroll down for audio of the latest Breslov Learning (Wednesdays at 12:15 pm (NY Time)
To join the WhatsApp group for daily mini-lessons and announcements for live phone, video and in-person classes use this invitation:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/invite/0K6yMTGZyDyBvUI0WMpDQP
Or this invitation if the above group is full:
It’s Elul, the time to prepare for Rosh HaShana, the Jewish new year. Women are learning May You Have a Day on their own and together with friends and family. They tell me a chapter or two a day is making a real difference in their life. (There are 120 chapters!) Read a chapter such as the one below. Share your thoughts with a friend, relative or a child. Talk it over with Hashem. Get started. You never know how far you can go unless you begin.
From Chapter 4: Beginning with Prayer
Rebbe Nachman said that people will wait until they are at the end of their ropes before they pray. They will change their diets. They will go to doctors. They will fill in dozens of job applications. They’ll go for a jog or to the gym. They’ll rack their brains, have long complicated arguments, and even temper tantrums. People will do anything and everything to solve their predicament – except pray. Only when they can’t take it anymore, then they will pray. Then they’ll talk to God and ask for His Help.
Rebbe Nachman told us to do the opposite. He says: Begin with prayer. When you begin with prayer you are showing that you believe that God is the source of everything. You are demonstrating that He is the only address where you can find salvation.
We think of habits as negative things. But some habits are good. You can get into the habit of turning to God first, before you take action. If you do, you may end up standing taller, feeling stronger, and seeing solutions sooner.
May you have a day in which you turn to Hashem first.
Read more. Get your copy today.
Photo credit: Osprey by Chana Sneider
Rebbe Nachman’s advice on the importance of simplicity in prayer and connection with Hashem, and avoiding complex kabbalistic intentions. Scroll down for audio of the latest Breslov Learning (Wednesdays at 12:15 pm (NY Time)
To join the WhatsApp group for daily mini-lessons and announcements for live phone, video and in-person classes use this invitation:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/invite/0K6yMTGZyDyBvUI0WMpDQP
Or this invitation if the above group is full:
There’s so much to do as we prepare for the Days of Awe. Are you ready to step up? Great! Whether you are ready or you need to add a little pep to your teshuvah step, join Chaya Rivka Zwolinski of BreslovWoman.org, author of the new Breslov book, May You Have a Day: Making Every Day Better with the Teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, for a discussion featuring main points from the classic Elul lesson, Torah Vav.
In Likutey Moharan 6, we learn the main lessons for the month of Elul. We’ll touch on some of the main points including humility, embarrassment, cultivating the ability to remain silent in the face of offensive words, how to maximize the energy when you are on a spiritual ascent, and how to strengthen yourself when you are struggling, accomplishing more with your teshuvah, etc.Scroll down for audio of the latest Breslov Learning (Wednesdays at 12:15 pm (NY Time)
To join the WhatsApp group for daily mini-lessons and announcements for live phone, video and in-person classes use this invitation:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/invite/0K6yMTGZyDyBvUI0WMpDQP
Or this invitation if the above group is full: