Emuna Therapy

The Best Advice

By Dr. Zev Ballen

How do you make important decisions? Do you worry before or after making decisions? Do you feel depleted from the stress and pressure of not knowing what to do? If you answered "yes" to even one of these questions, this lesson is for you!

 

Live Broadcast: My Brother's Joy

Jealousy can be lethal as it was when Cain killed his younger and more successful brother Abel. In contrast, what kind of parenting enabled Aaron to be elated for his younger brother Moses even when Moses succeeded him as the leader of the Jewish people?  This is the subject of today's live broadcast called My Brother's Joy. You can see it right here.

With Hashem's Loving Kindness, we will be broadcasting live today, Wednesday at 5:00pm Israel time from the Chut Shel Chessed Yeshiva, 13 Shmuel Hanavi Street, Jerusalem. The broadcast, as well as our lessons posted from now on - are Mac and iPod compatible. If you tune in too early to the live broadcast link, you'll be sent to the main page of the Breslev Israel website, so try to tune in on time as follows:

10:AM in NY, 7:00 AM in LA and the West Coast, 8:00 AM Denver, 9:00 AM in Mexico and Central Daylight, 3:00 PM in the UK, and 5:00 PM Israel time. If you are not able to watch the lesson live, we will, G-d willing be posting a link to it soon. If you can't see the broadcast, you might need to download a new version of Flash Media player which you can do here. We hope you enjoy the broadcast.

Wishing You Blessings Always,

Dr. Zev Ballen

 

 

The Old Neighborhood

My friend has a son who he loves dearly. From the moment of his birth, my friend has loved and sheltered his child from harmful influences. When the boy was about ten, my friend moved his family to an ultra-orthodox neighborhood, and further insulated his son from the world-at-large. One day, Alan told his father that he wanted to go back to the old neighborhood to visit his childhood friends. His father was against it, but Alan was determined to go. Alan left his father to explore his roots. He missed his old friends and was curious about the life that his parents had led before he was born. 

My friend knew that Hashem was leading his son in this way, so he turned to Hashem with tears saying: "Hashem, I know that it's You who is taking my child to that place where You Yourself won't dwell! - and I know that I can't stop You, though I wish that I could.

  

You are testing me, Hashem, and You are testing my son too. So I'm begging You, G-d of Mercy - return my precious child to me at once!" 

The boy arrived at the Los Angeles airport and his uncle picked him up. Alan's uncle immediately lavished him with attention. He took him straight to the shopping mall and bought him expensive gifts. When they got home, Alan prayed the mincha service and unpacked some of his food from Israel. "Why do you have to eat that food?" asked the uncle. "And why do you have to pray three times a day? Do you really think that G-d cares about these things?" "Of course He cares", Alan answered. "I'm doing these things for Him." "Oh that's ridicules, said the Uncle, you've been brainwashed. There's so much in life that you're missing. Your parents haven't educated you properly. But I'll take you out and show you how to have fun. I want you to enjoy your stay with me. Now is the time to expand your horizons, Alan. We'll go horseback riding and then I'll take you to a club where they have music that you'll really love." Then he took the boy to his room and said: "Douglas is away, you can stay in his room, Alan. There's a computer in it. I know that teenagers can't be without a computer. You'll have complete privacy to do whatever you want here." Alan closed the door and felt a deep sadness. He never felt more alone in his life.

As he looked up at the computer, Alan's heart froze. He understood the new "privilege" he had been given...Continue reading here.

 Blessings Aways,

Dr. Zev Ballen

 

The Old Neighborhood

By Dr. Zev Ballen

My friend has a son who he loves dearly. From the moment of his birth, my friend has loved and sheltered his child from harmful influences. When the boy was about ten, my friend moved his family to an ultra-orthodox neighborhood, and further insulated his son from the world-at-large. One day, Alan told his father that he wanted to go back to the old neighborhood to visit his childhood friends. His father was against it, but Alan was determined to go. Alan left his father to explore his roots. He missed his old friends and was curious about the life that his parents had led before he was born. My friend knew that Hashem was leading his son in this way, so he turned to Hashem with tears saying: "Hashem, I know that it's You who is taking my child to that place where You Yourself won't dwell - and I know that I can't stop You, though I wish that I could. I know that   You are testing me, Hashem, and You are testing my son too. So I'm begging You, G-d of Mercy - return my precious child to me at once!" The boy arrived at the Los Angeles airport and his uncle picked him up. Alan's uncle immediately lavished him with attention. He took him straight to the shopping mall and bought him expensive gifts. When they got home, Alan prayed the mincha service and unpacked some of his food from Israel. "Why do you have to eat that food?" asked the uncle. "And why do you have to pray three times a day? Do you really think that G-d cares about these things?" "Of course He cares", Alan answered. "I'm doing these things for Him." "Oh that's ridicules, said the Uncle, you've been brainwashed. There's so much in life that you're missing. Your parents haven't educated you properly. But I'll take you out and show you how to have fun. I want you to enjoy your stay with me. Now is the time to expand your horizons, Alan. We'll go horseback riding and then I'll take you to a club where they have music that you'll really love." Then he took the boy to his room and said: "Douglas is away, you can stay in his room, Alan. There's a computer in it. I know that teenagers can't be without a computer. You'll have complete privacy to do whatever you want here." Alan closed the door and felt a deep sadness. He never felt more alone in his life. As he looked up at the computer, Alan's heart froze. He understood the new "privilege" he had been given...Continue reading here.   Blessings Aways, Dr. Zev Ballen

A New Bill: Only Filtered Internet

Dear Friends,

   

A new Bill was submitted for Knesset approval which would force internet suppliers in Israel to supply only filtered internet to the public without open access to pornography. People who would like to have un-filtered internet would have to request to have it open.

We all know how pornography is destroying society. The average age of exposure to online pornography is 11. The largest group of internet porn viewers is youth between the ages 12 to 17.

If this bill passes, it can accomplish much more than the big internet Assifa in Citi-Field last week. It will automatically give filtered internet to millions of Jews, both religious and non-religious. We must do all we can!

Please add you name to our petition to help pass this bill.

Please sign at:  http://www.atzuma.co.il/safekids

Just enter your name at the top right hand corner and e-mail (optional).

Please forward to all your contacts!

G-d Bless,

Dr. Zev Ballen

Shavuos in Uman

By Dr. Zev Ballen

Rabbi Shalom Arush is in Uman at the Holy gravesite of Rebbe Nachman of Breslev for the Shavuos Holiday. Uman is not an easy trip for a Jewish person to make. Still, the hardships of the journey cannot be compared to the dangers that existed during the time of the communists reign. In those days,  relatively few people made the pilgrimage compared to the 33,000 Jews who went last Rosh Hashanah. Then, there was a real threat of imprisonment and even murder at the hands of the anti-Semitic fascists.  Almost all of the tzadikkim of that generation discouraged people from making the trip. There were those who were actually murdered in sanctifying  G-d's name as they attempted to reach the holy gravesite. Despite this warning, there were a handful of fearless Jews who with their fake passports and indestructible belief in Hashem scratched and clawed their way to Uman year after year. Two of those who went despite the grave danger were Rabbi Eliezer Berland and his main disciple Rabbi Shalom Arush. It was only due to their flawless emuna and determination that Uman was refurbished and re-opened for all of us today.

I can tell you with complete certainty that my Rabbi, Rabbi Shalom Arush, will be praying for every one of you on Shavuos. I personally witnessed the awesome power that Rav Arush's prayers can accomplish just yesterday. It only took a few seconds, but before leaving for Uman,  I saw the Rav literally bring new life to a complete stranger.  

Here is the Bamidbar/Shavuous edition of the Yeshiva's newsletter. I hope you enjoy it!  Download CSC NL Week 24 Bamidbar (2)

In the merit of Rav Arush and all the tzadikkim, may you and your loved ones taste the sweetness of our Holy Torah, this Shavuous, and savor it until the coming of the Messiah - May he come soon!

Good Shabbos and Yom Tov,

Dr. Zev Ballen

Taking the Leap of Faith

By Dr. Zev Ballen

Hashem tests us in the darkness. He tests us in the places where we are unsure what the right course of action is. If you are sure that it is wrong to eat non-kosher food, Hashem is not likely to test you with food. If, however, you are still not sure whether it is wrong to punish your children, you can be sure that Hashem will test you in this area.  When Moses came down from Mount Sinai and saw that the Jewish people were sinning  he smashed the tablets - but G-d never told him to do that. How could Moses be sure that he was acting correctly?  One second ago Moses received the Holy Torah  from the Hand of G-d, and now he is taking it upon himself to shatter them without Hashem's permission? How could Moses do such a thing? Imagine the enormity of the consequences for the world and Moshe himself if he was making a mistake by breaking the Torah that G-d gave him.

This is where we all must stand - it's exactly where a parent is who is beginning to parent with emuna instead of power tactics will find herself.  When you start trusting your children to Hashem, you will soon find yourself in situations where  it will be difficult to abdicate your former parental role and just trust Hashem.  So what do you do at that moment, on Shabbos or Yom Tov, when there is nobody to ask and you must decide?

This is the moment when you lift your eyes up to the Master of the World and say: "Hashem I trust You. I know that You are going to  help me." This is the moment of total darkness when you demonstrate your complete confidence in Hashem even though you are blind and cannot see the path that He will take you on.  You are counting on nothing but your Faith. As it says, "the Faith is in the night" (in the darkness).  Just pray that Hashem will save you from the wrong decisions. Pray that He will help you and give you the wisdom to be a parent.  "I'm choosing You, Hashem. I know that You will never leave me. It says "The person whose confidence is in Hashem, Grace will surround him." You will succeed for sure!  If then the situation seems to be getting worse say: "Hashem I trusted You and everything is falling apart. What's going on here?" Then just hold on and stubbornly refuse to stop believing in the power of Hashem's deliverance even while you are falling. Hashem will never let you hit the ground. He will catch you and hold you securely.  Inspired by Rav Dror Moshe Coussoto.

Wishing You Blessings Always,

Dr. Zev Ballen

 

Live Broadcast Today

How do you make important decisions? Do you ever worry before or after making decisions? Do you feel depleted from the stress and pressure of not knowing what to do? If you answered "yes" to even one of these questions, today's lesson is for you - it's called The Best Advice. You can see it right here.

With Hashem's Loving Mercy, we will be broadcasting live today, Wednesday at 5:00pm Israel time from the Chut Shel Chessed Yeshiva, 13 Shmuel Hanavi Street, Jerusalem. The broadcast, as well as our lessons posted from now on - are Mac and iPod compatible. If you tune in too early to the live broadcast link, you'll be sent to the main page of the Breslev Israel website, so try to tune in on time as follows:

10:AM in NY, 7:00 AM in LA and the West Coast, 8:00 AM Denver, 9:00 AM in Mexico and Central Daylight, 3:00 PM in the UK, and 5:00 PM Israel time. If you are not able to watch the lesson live, we will, G-d willing be posting a link to it soon. If you can't see the broadcast, you might need to download a new version of Flash Media player which you can do here. We hope you enjoy the broadcast.

Wishing You Blessings Always,

Dr. Zev Ballen

 

The True Path of Repentance

I am delighted to present this video of Rabbi Dror Moshe Coussoto, who is a highly inspiring lecturer at the Yeshiva of Rabbi Shalom Arush.  As a close student of Rabbi Arush for almost 10 years, Rabbi Coussoto is special in his ability to clearly illuminate the teachings of Rabbi Arush. In this amazing video, Rabbi Coussoto sheds light on the true path of repentance according to Rabbi Arush. Enjoy!

Wishing You Blessings Always,

Dr. Zev Ballen

 

 

Worldwide Phenomena

The Garden of Emuna has inspired a vast number of Jewish people from diverse backgrounds to discover what it means to trust Hashem in their every day lives. In this clip, Rabbi Bloomenstiel provides some insight into the book's tremendous popularity. What a great gift to give before recieving the Torah on Shavuos! Order from: breslev.co.il.

 

Wishing You Blessings Always,

Dr. Zev Ballen