I've been to a night club or two in my life, and one of the most entertaining parts of my evenings out was to huddle up with my girlfriends and size up the competition. "Hey, check that one out," I'd say, nodding in the direction of the Barbie doll supermodel that looked like she dunked her head in a bucket of Clorox. It was South Beach, after all. "She be thinkin' she's all that with her goods on display." "Mmm, hmm, just look at her dress... she wishes she was as hot as you." Then we'd high-five and go dance some more.
Okay, so this was totally my imagination gone wild. I hated going to clubs and I rarely drank. But, seriously, sizing others up is a problem that all of us face from time to time. It's easy to judge others for not being as good-looking, wonderful, smart, funny, well-dressed, blah, blah, blah, as we are. Actually, it's more than just easy; it's human nature.
In reality, we're all delusional. All of us think that we're more perfect than we really are. That reminds me of South Beach, too. Oh, how many women I saw sauntering down the street in short dresses and too-tight tank tops when they really shouldn't have been. Really. Did they have one of those special circus mirrors at home that magically erased all of their imperfections? And if so, how can I score one?
Hey, all you BT's in da house... don't think you're not delusional, too. You are still human, right? Rav Shalom Arush explains that Baalei Teshuva are particularly prone to suffering from self-righteous delusion. Your beard can be so long that you're stepping on it, but that don't make you righteous. You're still the same person with the same baggage as you were before you decided to make teshuva. Every new BT wonders why he is suddenly bombarded with problems shortly after making the decision to lead a Torah lifestyle. Elementary, my dears! Rav Arush explains it all in his latest, Rebbe Natan and the BT's. Sounds like a music group from the '60's, no?
Hmmm. Apparently there's a theme of delusion running through this week's Breslev Israel webmag. Rav Lazer Brody is telling us that if we think that Moshiach is going to come and wisk all of our problems away like Cinderella's fairy godmother, then we're in for a BIG surprise. Ain't no such thing gonna happen! So what's the point in Looking Forward to Moshiach if our fantasy lives of never-ending Tahitian vacations and 'round the world cruises don't await us? Great question! But I'm not going to tell you the answer - read it for yourself!
Ah, yes. More delusion. This time it's my turn to show y'all how delusional you are. I'm doing a series of shocking articles regarding diet and health. The Protein-Cancer Connection is the first in this series. While we're on the subject of delusion: did you know that most people don't relate what they eat to their state of physical health? Doesn't that seem a little crazy? But the craziest info is in this article. Please write me and tell me just how low your jaw dropped when you read what I wrote about the relationship between animal protein and cancer.
This next story is an amazing one. Dr. Zev Ballen writes about the holy Rebbe Klonymus Kalmish Shapira, who served as a ray of hope and emuna in the dark and terrible years of the Holocaust. How can a person endure such horrific tortures and still be a source of inspiration and strength for others? Read about this amazing tzaddik (who wasn't delusional in the slightest) and his Faith in the Face of Pain.
Rebbetzin Yehudit Channen, our amazing and well-loved Emuna Therapist, will send chills up your spine when you read her crazy (and not delusional) story about a little argument she had with her husband over where to have lunch. She learned the hard way that what seems to be unfair was actually the best thing for her in Your Money or Your Life. Seriously, don't miss this one.
Dennis Rosen must have been a straight-A student in school, because I have no idea how he remembered so much detail in Rav Arush's and Rav Brody's lectures in Uman, and without taking notes! Anyhow, enjoy their Gifts From Uman, courtesy of Mr. Hyperthymesia. Just kidding, Dennis!
Jennifer Woodward is way too organized for me as she describes her Spiritual Business Plan for 2017. It is 2017, right? Didn't I ask that already?
And the Delusional Award of 2017 goes to David Perlow, for his unbelievable flight mix-up. Okay, so it's not so unbelievable to think you're flying on a different day than you actually are, but what do you do when you realize you've only got four hours to board your international flight? Speilberg, Emuna Take-Off is your next blockbuster. I want a 10% commission. Okay, 20%.
Wishing you every blessing!
~Racheli (I'm really loving that squiggly thing!)