Emuna Therapy

The Very First Words

By Dr. Zev Ballen

Rabbi Lazer Brody, who for years has been a steadfastly loyal pupil of Rav Shalom Arush, told me that though many people know that Rav Arush is a tzaddik, they still don't know what level of tzaddik he is - his spiritual powers are simply awesome.
 
The following two stories prove it.
 
I heard from Rav Dror Moshe Cassuto that there was a large gathering of people, here in Israel, several years ago. Thousands of people came to participate and hear a panel of distinguished Rabbis speak. 
 
The organizer of this event had the merit to drive Rabbi Dovid Stern from Bnei Brak to the gathering. Rabbi Dovid Stern is the son of one of the thirty-six hidden tzaddikim of our generation.  On the way, in the car, the organizer of the event remarked to Rabbi Dovid Stern,  

that there is someone who makes CD's, his name is Shalom Arush.  He said, 'I simply cannot stand to hear that man's voice.' 
 
Rabbi Dovid looked the man squarely in the eyes and said: 'You obviously don't know who you are speaking about. Rabbi Shalom Arush has achieved something than no human being has achieved since the creation of the world.' 
 
If you have any doubt about it - read this:
 
My chavrusa (study partner) told me this story. He heard it from Rav Dror.
 
There was a man living here in Israel. He was a non-religious Jew whose wife divorced him. The man was given a terrible judgment in court. He had to pay almost his whole salary to his ex-wife every month. As time went on, he became more and more depressed.  It was bad enough to lose his family, but to work like a dog for the rest of his life and have nothing for himself - that was too much to bear. He decided he would end his life. 
 
He took his car out on the highway. He put his foot all the way down on the accelerator and thought that eventually he would crash into something - then his suffering would be over. 
 
The car raced up to 90mph...then 100mph...then 115mph - When all of a sudden, the young man saw one of Rabbi Shalom Arush's CD's sitting next to him.  One of Rabbi Shalom Arush's students had given it to him at an intersection. He had never listened to it. 
 
Seconds away from disaster, his hand inexplicably reached for the CD. He thought that if he listened to it as he was leaving this world at least he would go out listening to something holy. He was hoping that this would help him in the next world. He shoved the disk into the player and hit the button a few times. By now he was flying at 120 mph. He didn't care about listening to the disk from the beginning. It started someone in the middle. 
 
The very first words that he heard Rabbi Shalom say were: "WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL YOURSELF?" Continue here...

Have a Blessed week!

Dr. Zev Ballen

Why the Three Weeks?

Translated by Rabbi Lazer Brody   The Three Weeks of calamity begin on the 17th of Tammuz and terminate on Tisha B’Av, the infamous date when the First and Second Holy Temples were destroyed, the Jews were expelled from Spain, and many more national disasters all the way down to the recent exile of our brothers in Gush Katif six years ago.   To this day, we as a nation are still suffering. Why? Hashem said the the Jews would be punished for posterity because of the crying, whining, and complaining following the Sin of the Spies. But is that fair? Why be punished for posterity because of one night’s crying? Let’s see…   Our forefathers coming out of Egypt complained and whined on several occasions. But, the complaint that broke the proverbial camel's back was the baseless crying of the People of Israel upon hearing the words of the spies. The spies slandered the Land of Israel in the Book of Numbers (Parshat Shelach). Holy One, Blessed Be He said: You have cried for no reason, I will give you something to cry about for generations!” The needless crying triggered a devastating punishment: Thousands of years of terrible exile, replete with suffering and hardship.   The punishment that the Creator decreed on the Jews because of the sin of the spies is shocking. Do the People of Israel throughout the generations really deserve such retribution just because they baselessly cried for one night? The destruction of two Holy Temples and the subsequent unspeakable torture and deaths of millions that have plagued the Jews throughout this prolonged, arduous exile? The Spanish Inquisition? Other tragedies throughout history, including pogroms and th Holocaust? Is that Divine justice?   Our own generation deals with troubles in clusters: massive international pressure threatening our homeland, terrible marital problems, diseases, traffic accidents, terror, and dire economic problems, may G-d have mercy. These are just the tip of the iceberg of this generation’s tribulations. Are the trials because the People of Israel needlessly cried once? Is that really so awful? After all, what did they do? They didn't engage in debauchery, nor did they worship idols. All they did was cry. Must they suffer such reproof generation after generation? There is no sin in the Torah that invokes even a fraction of such bitter punishment!   The answer is amazingly simple: Hashem despises ingratitude more than any other sin. He can’t stand self-pity, either. Hashem is fully aware that people have evil inclinations and that they are encumbered by lusts. While disdained, these human faults don’t come close to the bad trait of ingratitude. Look at all the kindness that Hashem does for a person: He gives him life, showers him with goodness, and uplifts him from the sewers of promiscuity and bodily lusts. Hashem frees a person from the slavery of body and spirit. Hashem personally operates every part of us. Hashem feeds us every meal. After all the years filled with G-d's salvation, that person is still crying? Baseless tears? Hashem then teaches that complaining and needless crying are the worst forms of behavior. Hence, the punishment for baseless crying is the greatest one of all.    The main reason that the punishment for crying needlessly in the desert continues is because...Continue here...   With Blessings, Dr. Zev Ballen

 

 

Jerusalem Forever

By Dr. Zev Ballen

“Any nation that is foolish enough to attempt severing any part of the Temple Mount and Jerusalem from the Jewish people hasn’t learned the lessons of history.” -Rabbi Lazer Brody
 
Lately I’ve been going to the kosel HaMaaravi (the western wall) to do hisbodedus (personal prayer).  I got excited about the idea when I heard that the legendary Rabbi Levy Yitzchok Bender (1897-1989)  -  the spiritual guide for thousands of Breslever Chassidim – many of them baalei teshuvah, used to walk to the 

Kosel for Hisbodidus every single day that he lived in Jerusalem. Rabbi Bender was known to have not missed one night ofreciting Chatzot (the midnight prayer lamenting the Temple’s destruction) and hisbodedus in seventy five years. It is also known, in Breslever circles, that there is no other place where Rebbe Nachman’s spiritual presence can be felt more than the Kosel – with the exception of Uman.
 
Standing at the most revered site in Judaism – literally the spiritual junction of heaven and earth - I was reminded of G-d’s promise to the Jewish people: “Behold, He (G-d) stands behind our wall… What is special about the Western Wall…G-d swore to the Western Wall that it would never be destroyed” (Midrash Raba, Shir Hashirim).
 
Also - in his vision of the future third Temple, the prophet, Ezekiel saw that at end of our present exile, upon the re-building of the Temple, that Hashem’s Glory will fill the new Temple and G-d will once again dwell on the Temple mount as he did in the Temple built by King Solomon. (Ezekiel, 43:2-5). Ezekiel prophesized that the next Temple, may it come speedily in our days, will be an eternal edifice and permanent dwelling place forthe G-d of Israel on the temple mount in Jerusalem – my friends – you can take that to the bank.
 
It also states in Genesis Rabba (an early Jewish text), that the site of the Temple mount is one which the nations of the world cannot taunt Israel and say “you have stolen it”, since the site was purchased by King David “for its full price.” 
 
So how should Israel respond to those who are denying our right to the spot that G-d designated for our Holy Temple? 
 
My beloved spiritual guide, Rabbi Lazer Brody, cuts right to heart of the matter: “The entire world and certain evil leaders are denying our right to the area of our own Holy Temple. Once again, we have no cause to be angry at them, for as soon as we make real teshuva, they will crumble. But, until we make teshuva, those evil leaders should be forewarned that by disenfranchising Israel from what they call East Jerusalem, they are in effect trying to disenfranchise The Almighty. Cherished brothers and sisters, that won’t happen, period.”
 
Unfortunately we need not go back very far in history to see the evidence of our beloved Rabbi’s warning to the nations - when the world witnessed the tragic downfall of Japan a mere ten days after they entered into an agreement to sell nuclear rods to Iran and publicly denied Israel’s right to Jerusalem.
 
We are all so blessed to be in the prayers of my spiritual guides – Rabbi Shalom Arush and Rabbi Lazer Brody, May Hashem Bless them always. It is rare that Tzadikkim reveal to us the nature of their prayers to G-d on our behalf – but at particularly trying times – like these - for their own reasons, Tzadikkim sometimes do share their most private conversations with G-d openly with us – possibly because, after they receive a strong revelation of G-d’s Will, they want us to join them in praying for what G-d revealed to them. 
 
Rabbi Brody continues...

Blessings Always,

Dr. Zev Ballen

Abraham's Legacy

By Dr. Zev Ballen

Let’s see what the Torah says about spreading emuna. G-d said to Abraham “…I will make you the father of a multitude of nations.” Here we see that G-d’s intention for Abraham was not limited to converting people to Judaism. G-d saw that Abraham possessed the unique spiritual DNA to do far more than that. Hashem appointed Abraham to be the father of the world – not just Israel. G-d’s covenant with Abraham was to develop a nation – Israel – who would spread faith in monotheism - so that a “multitude” of nations will know Him and live by His fundamental principles.

The prophet Yeshayahu writes, “I will set you for a covenant to the people, for a light to the nations.” This was G-d’s sole intention for the Jewish people and the reason that we were created - to spread emuna in Hashem to the nations of the world. 

Continue from the beginning...

Wishing you Blessings Always,

Dr. Zev Ballen

Don't Miss Rabbi Lazer Brody

Rabbi  Lazer Brody is my front-line-mentor and Spiritual Guide. Please don't miss the opportunity to see him and speak with him personally.  He was Hashem's messenger to change my life; if you let him, he'll change yours too.

With Blessings Always,

Dr. Zev Ballen

A Woman's Call For Help: Update

There is a well-known story about president Dwight Eisenhower. It happened once, that the president saw, from his car, a woman crying in the street. The President ordered his driver to stop, and he ran into the street to help the distressed woman. At that moment, the president's car burst into flames.

There has been a great outpour of generosity and support for Chavi ( see: A Call for Help) - who is the homeless young widow, due to give birth in two weeks, who has six orphaned children and lost everything she owns last Shabbos in an electrical fire. Those of you who have contributed, have brought Blessing, reward and honor to the Jewish people. There is no better way to protect the security of Israel's borders than for Heaven to see us pulling together in this spirit of oneness and love for each. Like any parent, so-to-speak, there is no one who Hashem rewards more than the person who runs to save her children, the Yiddisher kinder, the holy children of Israel.

Chavi sends her thanks and Blessings to all of you who have helped. She has asked me to tell you that Rav Arush's book, The Garden of Gratitude, contains "a powerful message that works!" Her copy of the book , replete with her own personal highlights and notes in the columns, has been with her literally day and night. She says that this book, along with her personal meeting with Rabbi Lazer Brody, has been her chut shel chesed (lifeline) to the holy tzaddik, Rebbe Nachman of Breslev, may his prayers continue to protect us all.

Please continue to support this holy woman who never complains and only thanks Hashem for her life and the lives of her children. You can help her to re-build her life!

Please send your tax-refundable check made out to Dr. Zev Ballen: 4 Ariel Street, Jerusalem Israel, 94386. Or, preferably, you can email me your credit card information, (card number, expiration date, security code) to: zevballen@yahoo.com or call me directly and I'll take the information over the phone. In the US: (845) 362-8600. In Israel: (02) 650-2936.

In the merit of your generosity, may you and your loved ones see speedily, in your days, the coming of the true King of Israel and the rebuilding of our Holy temple. Amen.

Wishing you Blessings Always,

Dr. Zev Ballen

Emuna in Asia Tour

Imagine, Only Good Thoughts

 

 

In this classic footage of Rabbi Shalom Arush that was filmed and translated by Rav Lazer Brody, the Rav reveals how he worked on himself to become a person who enjoys only wonderful wholesome thoughts and has no negative thoughts whatsoever. In these precious eight minutes, the Rav reveals the essence of Emuna Therapy and how it differs from secular therapy. Based on a teaching of Rebbe Nachman of Breslev, the Rav explains that a person is essentially made up of his thoughts and that the goal must be to overcome unwholesome thoughts with good thoughts.  The failure of secular therapy results from people trying to battle against bad thoughts on their own. The Rav says that we can only succeed by inputting a large amount of new information from outside of ourselves (the Torah). Then we will start thinking differently. The Rav admits that when he first started out, as a young bal teshuva, he too had many bad and unwholesome thoughts but that he didn't confuse himself and pressure himself about this. Instead he accepted that this was the level that he was on and simply decided that he had to study and work hard to put good data into his brain. He was successful because he programmed himself like a computer with a large amount of "new data" about emuna. By immersing ourselves in learning about emuna and talking to Hashem, the Rav says that we too can be completely free of negativity. Enjoy!

Wishing you Blessings Always,

Dr. Zev Ballen

 

Rav Arush and Rav Brody Flying to Uman

by Dr. Zev Ballen

Rav Berland, the Rebbe of Rav Shalom Arush is known as a human angel -  his service to Hashem is so intense that he has gone for periods of three days without sleeping and eating. When Rav Berland was young and new to Breslever Chassidus he was a chavrusa (study partner) with the famous Steipler Rav. One year, before Rosh Hashana, Rav Berland informed the Steipler that he would be traveling to the gravesite of Rebbe Nachman in Uman for Rosh Hashana.  Somewhat taken back the Steipler expressed his concern that Rav Berland's trip would disturb their learning schedule.  Rav Berland then asked the Steipler Gaon if he could make him the same guarantee that  Rebbe Nachman made to all of us. The Rebbe promises to save the soul of anyone, from hell, who says a short prayer by his gravesite and gives a penny to charity. To this the the Steipler humbly answered that he could not give such a guarantee.

Just imagine what a spiritual giant Rebbe Nachman was to make such a promise.  The Rebbe promised us that if we will just remember him for one second and say the  tikkun hakalali (general remedy of ten psalms) that he will erase all of our sins and renew us like newborn infants. Our job is to believe in the power of the Rebbe's promise. He said that we could count on him and by attaching ourselves to him there is no need to worry about anything. He will open the paths for everything that we need.

It is a Breslev custom to pray at the holy gravesite of Rebbe Nachman of Breslev before Pesach (Passover) the time of our national redemption from Egypt. Rav Arush will be flying to the Uman on Thursday, G-d willing. This is a very auspicious time to connect yourself to Rav Shalom Arush - the Light of Rebbe Nachman in our generation. By supporting Rav Shalom you give him the ability to advocate for you and your family in the most critically important ways.

The Rebbe also wrote beautiful melodies. Here is a very special rendition of one of the Rebbe's melodies for the Friday night Kabbalas Shabbos prayers of Breslever Chassidim by Rabbi Lazer Brody and the Kisufim Trio. Enjoy!

 

 

Wishing you Blessings Always,

Dr. Zev Ballen

The Emuna War

by Dr. Zev Ballen

Wherever our thoughts are, that’s where we are. (Likutey Moharan I, 21)

In the final war before Mashiach, the forces of Holiness and the forces of impurity are scrambling for the upper hand. The two annual summit conferences are now officially in session. You are invited to listen in:

The Devil’s Workshop

Bad Angel #1:(speaking to the Devil) Yo, boss man. Look what’s going on down there. Rav Arush is up to his old tricks again. He just sent some of his students to France where they sold 400 of his books. Did you hear me, FRANCE! We broke our backs, in France, to achieve a 75% rate of intermarriage? Then to make matters worse, on Rosh Chodesh Nissan, Rebbe Nachman’s birthday, Rav Arush sent the Yeshiva to do a 6 hour hisbodidus in Beit Shemesh and Rabbi Brody and Rabbi Nechama to pray at Rebbe Nachman’s gravesite in the Ukraine. But what’s really worrying me, is that Rav Arush made travel arrangements for the whole Yeshiva to fly to Uman for this upcoming Rosh Hashana.

Satan: You idiot. He sends them to Uman every year!

Bad Angel #1: I know boss, but I don’t trust them. Rav Brody is almost done translating Rav Arush’s latest book The Gate of Gratitude into English. Do you know how many Jews read English? If the Jewish people start expressing their Gratitude to Hashem for all he has done for them, we’re going to need a bigger weapon to deal with this. It looks like they are really close to bringing Mashiach. Continue reading right here...

Wishing you Blessings Always,

Dr. Zev Ballen