Surfing into Elul

Yosef Karduner: One afternoon, I was rehearsing with my rock band. Half way through the rehearsal, I was disgusted with the emptiness of the heavy metal – lots of noise with no message. Tears started streaming down my face. I wanted to be somewhere else – I couldn’t go on as a rock & roller for another minute. The band thought that I was out of my mind.

BreslevIsrael: So you put your guitar in the closet?

Yosef Karduner: Yes – it collected dust for nearly five months. I was immersed in Torah learning and personal prayer. Then, all of a sudden, I was doing hitbodedut in a citrus grove not far from Pardess Katz, and while I was taking to Hashem, this wonderful melody came into my mind. I was so inspired and excited that I ran home, grabbed my guitar, and started playing. I then wrote down the music....

BreslevIsrael: What was that first special melody that you received during hitbodedut?

Yosef Karduner: Shir Lamaalot, Psalm 121.

BreslevIsrael: From that song, everything else is history…

Yosef Karduner: There’s no question that Shir LaMaalot brought me into the public eye, but something even more special happened to me because of that song.

BreslevIsrael: What was that?

Yosef Karduner: Rabbi Yaakov Meir Schechter summoned me to come see him. Not only is he a leading Breslever, he’s one of the leading Ashkenazi Kabbalists of this generation. It’s virtually impossible to gain an audience with him. He asked me to sing Shir LaMaalot for him. I sand and strummed on my guitar, and he sat back in his chair, closed his eyes, and rocked his head gently from side to side. He was “riding” on the melody like a surfer rides on a wave. I wish I knew where the melody took him....

A Wet Noodle, in Scottsdale, Arizona

"Being loving and kind is wonderful, but if we’re only loving and kind, we’re like a wet noodle. We also need strength, giving us the ability to say “No” when we need to, without getting angry. We don’t need to drop an atomic bomb to destroy an outhouse; just a firm “No” will do. To do this, we must first be able to firmly say “No” to ourselves. It can simply be, “No, not today, thank you.” No matter how many times it comes up, we say “No”."

http://www.beyond12gates.com/id72.html

Our teacher, Rabbi Michael Shapiro, is a life-long student of sacred Jewish texts, Hebrew, Aramaic, the Kabbalah, and other ancient spiritual practices. He is a meditation teacher, musician, and storyteller.

An open offer from the holy wagon driver...

Rav Reichman is coming to Eretz Yisrael July 15 or 16. He will be here for at least several weeks. If anyone wants to do a trip with him to north or south , email trips@613.org

Be blessed,

fs

I have had the honor to learn the Daf with Rebbe over the past few weeks. It has been rewarding learning Sotah with Rebbe as Rebbe has been able to provide me with a unique glipmse into the depth of Aggadah. I often attempt to learn the daf with my Schver on Shabbos and noticed that Rebbe always stays two or three Daf ahead of the Daf yomi cycle. I was wondering if he lost count or perhaps there is some deeper message that Rebbe is trying to transmit to me? A lifeline please?

Question for Rebbe (and the rest of the Revolution)

I was having a discussion with the Minister of Propaganda, and the following question came up: Is Gefilte P. Fish a lawyer or not? According to episodes "Goldstein, Goldstein & Fish Legal Services," as well as "Crisis in Egypt," it would seem like Mr. Fish should be Gifelte P. Fish, esq. However, due to a lack of a diploma and consistent legal practice, we are unsure. Does any member of the RRRR know the answer to this question? And if so, will he be the offical lawyer of the RRRR?

The Minister of Agricultre and the Lieutenant Guv'nah

The Queen of England's Nova Scotian representatives meet with Rebbe's Minister of Agriculture.

Pleasantries were exchanged, as the MoA presented the Nova Scotians with a basket of bananas and mangos.

Rebbe, Breslov and a Namesake - A Deeper Connection?

"Rabbi Herschel Reichman (d. 1967) was a devoted Breslover from Radomishla, Poland, who similarly helped establish the Breslov kehillah upon his arrival in America and printed the Rebbe’s seforim. As a yeshivah bochur, Reb Herschel overcame all obstacles in order to attend the Rosh Hashanah kibbutz in Lublin, once suffering to travel there atop a farmer’s wagon full of manure. During the last year of his life he succeeded in going to Uman to recite the Tikun HaKlalli beside the Rebbe’s grave. He considered this to be a heavenly reward for the mesirus nefesh he had demonstrated in his youth by traveling to Lublin under such inglorious circumstances."

http://asimplejew.blogspot.com/2008/01/guest-posting-by-rabbi-dovid-sears_08.html

Henceforth, his hair shall never be washed...

BBQ in Teaneck?

Rebbe has expressed interest in a RRRR BBQ at some point in June, before Rebbe sails to Eretz Israel in early July.

I'm thinking Teaneck - Bellino's or Mischel parents, perhaps? on a Sunday evening this June...

Anyone around?

Daas Rebbe! Submit your Questions!

Ever wonder about Rebbe's opinion on Mexican immigration? Owning pets? The Ring Ding vs. the Yodel?

Now is your chance!

Submit your Questions!

Rebbe has agreed to participate in a Question and Answer Session, exclusive to the Ruach Revival!

We will accept questions for the next few weeks before meeting with Rebbe to discuss life's most pressing issues...

Always available for his Talmidim, the Rebbe scales great heights -- climbing the mountains of life with one hand, while the hand of chessed cradles the expressed concerns of the devoted.

Contemplating the leafless forest before its explosive bloom, Rebbe ponders Sod HaIbur, the secret of rebirth and rejuvenation.

Shabbos at the Reichman's

I had lunch at the Reichman's today. It was wonderful! The table was full with guests, and the food was delicious. I believe that there were representatives from more than twelve U.S. States present. It was really amazing to see.

Rebbe spoke about Shmitta and Yovel through the lens of Individuality vs. Collective. Specifically, he noted the tension between the two, and asked: which does Judaism focus on? Rebbe, quoting the Shem Mishmuel then explained that Yetziat Mitzrayim (Exodus) was representative of the Collective, while Har Sinai (Mount Sinai- Revelation), was actually an Individualistic event. Yovel, and to a lesser extent, Shmittah, are times when the focus shifts from the Individual (ie- wealth gathering), to the Collective. Yovel allows the collective body to regain what is theirs, Smitta allows the same, and allows those who are less fortunate to partake. The answer is thus that Judaism focuses both on the needs of the Individual and the Collective.

We also spoke about the efficiency of the Yovel and Shmittah system. I asked Rebbe how the system made sense from an Economic standpoint. Rebbe pointed out that only loans which orginally were structured to come due during Shmitta would be cancelled, and that, as a result, smart lenders would schedule the repayment for the Eighth year. Thus, in Rebbe's view, the halacha of Shmitta results in a net gain for borrowers-- lenders will usually grant an extra year to avoid loan cancellation.

Lastly, I spoke with Rebbe about the events in China. I asked what our obligations were regarding the suffering there and in Tibet, Darfur, etc. Rebbe replied that Jews do have a duty to be the moral conscience of the world, and that we should use our power of influence and access to media to publicly come out against the forces which perpetuate this suffering. Further, we should urge our non-Jewish brethren to take action to help the suffering. We should do so, however, while still keeping our own Jewish communal needs paramount. Thus, allocation of resources should be considered carefully, and should usually weigh in favor of Jewish causes, while still working to end human suffering in the world at large.

VICTROY WEEK!

Yidden-

This week of the omer is the week of Netzach, or Victory. It is therefore appropriate to commemorate this week with song and remembrance. Some examples include singing the Rebbe Reichman Victory niggun composed by Rebbe, or Didon Netzach composed by our Lubavich tag team partners.

However, my brothers in France do things a little different, as seen here.

Viva La Rebbe, Viva Le Revolution...And Viva La Victoire.

Kol Tuv,

Lig'et

Is it time for a Rebbe Haka?

A Tribute - U'faratzta!

For a small taste of the great work being done by our Field Commander:

http://www.yutorah.org/showShiur.cfm/723372/_Journal:_Chavrusa_Magazine/CHAVRUSA_Pesach_5768

Bring us to the Promised Land!

From Slavery...

To Redemption!

Danimuncle!

Mazel Tov to the Danimal on the birth of a baby nephew!

May the young Bloom be zocheh to follow in the footsteps of Rebbe, his Uncle, and the the other young soldiers of the revolution!

Jerks, Jerks

It is by now well known that Rebbe reveals to us the deepest of teachings on Purim. This year was no exception.

Upon speaking to Rebbe during the height of the Seudah, Rebbe repeatedly stated, so that we would not forget, that Haman and Achashverosh were JERKS, JERKS, JERKS! Only a JERK would think he could destroy Klal Yisroel!

Why did Rebbe describe our hated enemies, may their memories be blotted out, with specifically this term?

With a little gematria, the answer is obvious:

Jerk (gimmel / yud / reish /kuf) = 313

Haman = 95

Saddam = 105

Snag = 113

Snag + Haman + Saddam = Jerk

Ruach Revival Conference

coming this summer

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