Redemption Unfolding part I

With all the events that are happening today in the world. We have to know that Hashem is for sure sweetening the judgments, for it were not so we would experience all of this terrible and fearful events all at once Hashem forbid. We are told that in these times our job is just to hang on. For those that can't well they will be swept away. Hashem forbid! (But these are not my words but the words of Chazal). 

So this begs the questions. Where is it safe? How can we make through? Who can we trust?  What do we hang on to?

The Tzaddikim of previous generations begged not to be alive for these times. They knew or saw the contractions they were aware of the suffering, that each relax would bring in the next contraction, with every release of shefa spiritual bounty 'compassion' brought an elongation to the Galus. We have to look past our desire to not suffer and know and believe that each and every thing we experiencing is only a manifestation of Hashem's unfathomable mercy. With each earthquake, and fiscal collapse, He is showing us great mercy. We for are part need to be very thankful for these events and realize that He is showing us His control over every single event even down to the minuteness detail. 

So on to the questions. 

Where is it safe?  The Torah is not just a story or history book it is not that. What it is, is a guide book for every generations to follow, to hold on to, it is the one constant through out all of history. The Torah of truth is the only source we can trust, for we see with our eyes and hear with our ears the sheker (lies) of the world today, all is truly vanity. It is has all become Insanity, the heresy of the world today is so overwhelming. And there is only one thing to do! Chazal tells us that the safest place will be only the land of Israel. I'm not a Zionist. In the time of Noach the only place that was unaffected by the flood was the land of Israel. (look in the Zohar and Midrashim the Alshich Hakodesh for example, and many other places you'll find it there.) So as it is today the least effected area will be in the holy land. And in the holy land, the triangle between Beit El, Hebron and Beersheva, will offer the most safety. Where the our Avos (our forefathers) lived seems to offer the best protection. But ultimately it will only inside the words of our great sages, to find ourselves in the Torah, and that is where we will find our safety and security.

 The Eitzah: My advice is the advice of the sages.  Rebbe Nachman, speaks of this extensively, if we follow the zack of the Rebbe we will then find Yeshuv HaDaas, (a settled of mind and spirit), and from here we will know what and when to do. But how, Reb Nesnael, first runaway, steel way time to spent in the presence of Hashem. Steel time to learn Torah and to find quietness from within the source of all. 

The Torah! It was the blueprint that Hashem used to build the world, all the answers are found within it. We only have to search for them with a full heart, and there we will find them. Turn our eyes away from evil, close our ears to the sheker. Keep our eyes on the truth for the lie will sweep us away like a flood. It is written that in the last days "there will be flood upon the earth, but not a flood of water but a flood of Heresy", we are witnessing this today a flood of a literal insanity and sheker, of heresy and deep delusion, so great we were told not to even look up at it, "for he who shall, will be swept away with it." OY!

How to make it through? 

 In the marines we had S.O.P.'s standard operating procedures, they were always simple, easy to remember and easy to follow the same is true here. Remember there is a way and a plan lain down by our sages. Rebbe was straight with us he said many times serve Hashem with simplicity.

So I tell you again keep it simple. Like any disaster preparedness plan keep it simple. 

KEEP YOUR EYES IN AND ON THE TRUTH! The Torah again is the answer, do not look up from it day and night. 

DO NOT LISTEN TO SHEKER! Listen to and attune your ears only to the words of the holy sages of yore.

GUARD YOUR TONGUES FROM SPREADING FALSE HOOD! Be very careful not to speak or spread negativity. This anti Emunah and destroys hope, this is forbidden. Also never ever let a word of complaint escape your lips this is the most destructive of all forces as it shows you really do not believe in Hashem. I was the sole cause of us having to prolong our stay in the midbar, and thus it is the main reason we are in the galus today.   

DOING UNRESTRICTED ACTS OF KINDNESS!  The sages tell us we can soften the judgments in these times by increasing you chessed. By doing acts of kindness we prove that we are children of Avraham, and demonstrate that we are Hashem's people.

  

Who can we trust? Only our father in heaven, and His Torah and His holy Tzaddikim. For we are told that He consulted the Torah and the soul of the Tzaddik HaEmes before He made the world.

What do we hang on to? We have our faith, and the direction of the Tzadik HaEmes, He promised to rectify everything, He told Hashem that he would be the Orev (the guarantor). When Hashem thought to make man the holy angles came and said "what are you doing don't you know man will turn on you, and disobey your laws" He thought to relent, and the soul of the Tzadik HaEmes the 'Mosiach' stepped forward and said "I'll be the Orev"! So Hashem made man with all his faults, and we are told it is from this very soul, that will come the Righteous Redeemer. Moshe Rebbenu z''l was an aspect of this very same soul as will be the Moshiach, may he come soon in our days. 

So take heart and know we are in a long line of hopeful people, the sons of righteous man who also waited as we wait. And know we can make it for a day no matter how hard it might seem, it's only a day away.   

Practical steps one might take in these trying times. there are no political, financial,military, medical nor psychological solutions to spiritual problems, not withstanding there are physical steps to help you as well. "Liquidate your American and European holdings and move as fast as you can to Israel. Time is very short now and the spiritual projection is being removed in slow motion from the lands of the nations, 'this doesn't mean you can dismiss it all together' it means Hashem is giving you time to flee, like LOT, in the parsha. OK so the writing is on the wall and you just need to without panic, arrange everything and get on the plane and come home.  "this is my opinion, take it or leave it I'm not navi, just a concerned person wanting with all my heart to help"

The merit of the nations ran out this last Rosh Hashanah, 5772. The year תשע''א  was the spiritually the year of Hashanah Rabba and with it's close, the merit of the nations was used up, so now those out side of Israel will now start to feel uncomfortable. When the judgment is carried out by an agent, and not Hashem, then the righteous suffer with the unrighteous, this is a klal of Torah, Zohar parshas Noach. You are on borrowed time outside the land. 

This year תשע''ב is he spiritual year of shemini atzeres. Thus is a year for the Jews of the land to rejoice,may it be a year full of simcha and blessing, and may we merit to over come all the negative decrees issued against us.

Rebbe Nachman's teaching are a guide to these perplexing times and if with follow the Eitzah (advice) of the Rebbe then we will have an advantage over the others who will fleeing in panic. We can rest assured that we this advice is sound.

This just might be the day of our yearning, so look up by happy for the signs are everywhere and be joyful for every Jew has a place in Olam Haba!

Blessings Reb Nesanel Levi

Sefirah

The Omer counting. Part I

Rebbe Nachman taught: The 49 days of Sefirat Ha'Omer correspond to the 49 gates of teshuvah, as I mentioned in a previous post. These 49 Gates, in turn, correspond to the 49 letters which make up the names of the 12 tribes of Am Israel. Thus, each tribe has individual gates for each of it's members, so that everyone can return to Hashem through his own gate. And then there is the 50TH Gate, the highest gate: SHAVOUT. This gate is, as it were, the TESHVUAH, "The Return", of Hashem.

The way for a person to to come to his individual gate is through the Tehillim. Thus, during the 49 days of Sefirah, as well as on all other days of repentance i.e. (The month of Elul, Rosh Hashannah), we should recite Psalms. This will be us to our gate of repentance. And by achieving this, we will merit purity and coming back to Hashem.

That these day are a most amenable time for reciting Psalms and repenting can be learned from the begining of the book of Shemos. The verse reads, "these are the names of the children of Israel who went down to Egypt; each man and his wife, they came." In Hebrew, the last letters of these words make up the words Tehillim and Teshuvah. The verses which follow then list the names of the Tribes (their 49 letters). They correspond to the 49 days of Sefirah, corresponding to the 49 Gates of Teshuvah (Likutey Moharan II, 73).

Shevi'i Shel Pesach

The Splitting of the Red Sea:

Rebbe Nachman taught: "Even if a person should fall to the lowest level, he must never assume that he is beyond hope."

Our forefathers found themselves in similar circumstances on the shores of Red Sea. Before them, the sea; behind them, the Egyptians; wild animals and wilderness on either side. In the worst possible situation they did not give up hope. They cried out to Hashem and were heard. Similarly, no matter how far one is from Hashem, there is still hope. Atik is the highest, most lofty spiritual level in existence (Etz Chaim, Sha'ar Atik).

It is from there that assistance comes to a person, even if he is to be found in the lowest levels. Thus, the miracle of splitting of the Red Sea can be summed up this way: even though all seems lost, there is still hope for a redemption (Likutey Moharan I, 21).

Reb Nosson teaches a further concept tied in with the splitting of the Red Sea is the breaking of haughtiness. Pharaoh said "Who is Hashem that I should listen to Him!" During this entire episode, Moshe Rabaynu tried to convince Pharaoh that Hashem rules the world and that He could destroy Pharaoh completely. However, the Egyptian ruler had declared himself a deity. Thus Pharaoh, like most people in a position of power, is characterized by arrogance and haughtiness. The splitting of the Red sea demonstrated how this arrogance could be completely broken. Moshe turned the sea bed into dry land. Earth is associated with the concept of modesty. Great rushing water, with it's powerful waves 'sure of it's strength and unchallenged power' is everything that a person views as the epitome of greatness. Yet, within a short period of time, Hashem destroyed the water's arrogance by changing it into dry earth. Thus the song that Moshe and the Jews sang when the red Sea split was one of praise to Hashem, for He is great and rules over all those who are arrogance and haughty (Likutey Halakhot, Orlah 4).

When the Jews left Egypt and came close to Hashem, they received great wealth. This is because wealth is rooted in the same source of holiness as the soul. However, there is one bad trait through which it is possible for a person to lose all his wealth. This trait is ANGER. When the opposing forces see that a person is about to receive wealth and blessings, they try to bring him to anger. CHeMaH, anger, creates a breach in his CHoMah, his protective wall, which is also his wealth (Likutey Moharan I,68).

It is forbidden to eat Chametz on Pesach, for chametz is the concept of anger. Chametz rises. Like arrogance and anger, it's blown up. Likewise, we must avoid exaggeration in our lifestyles. The way we live should not be arrogant and blown up. When the Red Sea split, the waters stood like a wall (chomah) for the Jews. Afterwards, the Jews were able to withstand any anger (chemah) and were permitted to have Chametz. This is why, after the Seventh Day of Pesach (in Israel, the eighth day outside of Israel) Chametz is permitted (Likutey Halakhot, Harsha'ah 4).

Chag Samayach! Reb Nati

Video post a new format

by Reb Nati at Yesh Ma L'Asot

The Greatness of Hitboedut!

by Reb Nati Yesh Ma L'Asot


“This practice is for every Jew!”
“For it is something that everyone has the ability to do!”

A person’s Prayers before Hashem in Hitbodedut are a form of Ruach Hakodesh (Divine Inspiration).
This is how King Dovid made up the book of psalms. He aroused himself to pray and to speak before Hashem. “To You, my heart spoke” (psalms 27:8), he said. Rashi explains: “To You” in your service, as your messenger “My heart spoke.” His heart served as the messenger of the Holy, delivering the words which Hashem Himself provided for King David to pray before Him. From these words, words of divine Inspiration, the book of psalms was formed. Each person’s level of Divine Inspiration is determined by the extent that he draws upon himself these words which come from Hashem. (Likutey Moharan I,156)
Reb Noson was once describing the greatness of hitbodedut. “Try to picture the high priest as he entered the holy of holies at the one time of the year that this was permitted, Yom Kippur. In describing his appearance, the liturgy states that the high priest looked like “one who sits in solitude to pray before Hashem.” “Imagine,” said Reb Noson, “the high priest entering the holy of holies is likened to the person who sits and pours out his heart before Hashem” (Hishafkut HaNefesh)
Through Hitbodedut, we can, as it were, enter the holy of Holies each and every day! Rebbe Nachman gave the following analogy. You’ll see that all the thieves generally gather around the well know and often used roads, waiting to set upon the innocent passers-by. Someone who wants to outwit them has to find a new road, so that the thieves won’t notice him. The same is true when it comes to prayer. The standard, often used prayers are well know to the “thieves” The other side.
Hitbodedut, on the other hand, is entirely new path. Taking this approach, and using new words and original supplications, deceives these spiritual “thieves” Then our prayers are able to asend without hindrances (Likutey Moharan II, 97). Reb Noson, Test it out. Practice Hitbodedut for forty days straight. I guarantee you’ll see results (Aveneha Barzel) pg.66) The Rebbe prescribed different devotions for each of his followers. Yet there were two devotional practices that were universally prescribed for all his followers in his generation and for all time. They are the daily study of the Shulchan Aruch and the codes and Hitbodedut. He said “this advice is for everyone, because it is something that every Jew has the ability to perform (Rabbi Nachman’s Wisdom #185)

Waking up

by Reb Nati Yesh Ma L'Asot

Well, everyday that your first thought is not Modeh Ani, is a lie as we will see.

We really have to get into our heads that this life, in this body is just an avatar our souls animate our body. The body we are told, is a golem and only slightly resembles our soul so when we look in the mirror we see a very blurred and distorted version of our real selves.

Our struggle in this state is to be aware and to stay aware of this fact and to as hard as it is, to focus on our real true mission here. You see this is a wonderful world if you view it from reality, it is a Gan Eden. But if you fall into the distraction, then it is a living hell of Gehenom.

You and I choose multiple times a day in which way we will to view it. It has been simplified by the rabbi’s who have shown us the right and correct way to connect to the ‘real’ the ‘alive’ instead of the ‘dead’ of the lie. The structure of our prayers and our learning are designed to help us to from the minute we wake up till we go to sleep focus on the Tachilit the, Emeser Emes, the truth of truth.

 It not easy, even, for those of us who have made it our whole lives’ goal. Just to try and stay focused; we find it at times very difficult to interact with others and events of this world. The World around us by design was to be a perfect place in which every interaction was to be a total reminder of the One who made it. He desired our presence just so He could commune as it were with His children. He longed through the ageless eternity to have essence.  

He created us so that we would choose to be, and to commune with Him. Many of us fall and return daily from this level of consciousness. For some this is hourly. Our hope should be to increase the rate at which we are conscious. These flashes are the result of the constant struggle to remain attached to the source of all the truth and the life. This is our sustenance and our very ‘soul’ lives depend on our attachment to this source.  But sadly to say there are those of us who have just given up and have chosen to just fall asleep and let our time run out. This hospice mentality is a deadly one, just to stay spiritually drugged up until the end. There are two levels of chesder, or concealment.

One is a chesder within a chesder, concealment within a concealment, and this is where most of the world is holding today.

This is the worst situation of all where they do not even realize that they are in a comatose spiritual vegetative state. There is no hope of waking without the greatest of professors i.e. Tzaddik Emes coming and pulling them out of this state. Then there is just a single concealment and this where, the rest of us are. In this state we know vaguely, as we are wake sometimes and asleep at others, we have glimpses of understanding, and later remembering that we are phasing in and out of consciousness. In this state we also need the Tzaddik to come and help us to stay awake. If we at one of these alert times see and find ourselves by the tzaddik then we have grab him and cling to him. Only he can help us and teach us how to remain in a state of consciousness. It takes total commitment and stubbornness to cling to him. 

The whole point of the story of our Exodus from Egypt is to be an example of our coming from this spiritual coma the 49th level, of spiritual unawareness to a state of spiritual alertness of the 50th level. The whole the example of this is to show us those who clung to the Tzaddik ‘Moshe Rabbenu’ and thus were attentive and succeeded in entering the land and the reverse is also true it shows the failure of those who wished to remain spiritually asleep.

Our history as a people is replete with examples of both cases.   At this late hour we really need to review the text of our Exodus and learn from it the sublime essence of the story, which is to cling to and to be bitul to the Tzaddik Ha Emes. The whole of the Torah is to explain to us how to remain awake and enjoy the beautiful garden we are here to tend. May it Hashem’s will that many be awakened at this time in a manner which is both gentle and lasting. May the essence of this truth alive and quicken us in anticipation of our forth coming and final Redemption, May it be soon and may be ready for it, Amen