🇮🇱 ISRAEL VIDEO UPDATE
⏳ Week #23
📆 February 1, 2026 → February 7, 2026

Week 23 In Israel:
Roman Caesarea in the Times of Rabbi Akiva

We began this week with Tu Bishvat, the holiday celebrating the birth and renewal of the trees… a time that reminds us that real growth is slow, rooted, and often happening beneath the surface long before it’s visible above ground.

As Tu Bishvat came in at sunset, we were invited to our Rabbi Lauffer’s home for his mother’s Yahrzeit. A yahrzeit is (the annual Jewish anniversary of a loved one’s death, observed according to the Hebrew calendar. It is marked by lighting a 24-hour memorial candle at sunset, reciting the Mourner’s Kaddish, and engaging in charitable acts or study to honor the departed).

I can honestly say this night was completely life-changing for me.

It was one of the most beautiful nights I’ve ever experienced.

All of Rabbi Lauffer’s children gathered around the table. His grandchildren filled the room. The house was overflowing with love, warmth, respect, and family. It wasn’t loud in a chaotic way… it was full in a meaningful way. The kind of full that feels holy.

The home itself was stunning… a truly religious Jewish home… complete with the coolest Batman-lair-style rabbi library I’ve ever seen. Books everywhere. Wisdom everywhere. (I 100% want a library like that in my future home.)

That night showed me what true success really looks like:
A family together.
Love.
Growth.
Happiness.
Generations sitting at one table.

It changed me. It made me realize, deep in my soul, that I am exactly where I’m meant to be… and that this is the kind of life I want to build. I am incredibly grateful to Rabbi Lauffer and everything he has taught us.

To close the night, we enjoyed the most delicious fruits, and the following day we had a massive Tu Bishvat celebration. Sitting at the head of the table was the famous Rabbi Breitowitz, and learning from him while enjoying incredible fruits was surreal. An unforgettable experience.

Later in the week, we had a very powerful event with the students at Aish HaTorah. Jewish students from completely different backgrounds… many who had never met before all came together to learn, sing, dance, and bond as one people. Watching Jews connect like that reminded me how strong and alive our nation truly is.

Our trip of the week was absolutely incredible!!!!! We traveled to Roman Caesarea and walked through history itself… learning about the times of Rabbi Akiva while standing in the very place he once lived and taught.

We explored the ancient theatre, the promontory palace, Herodian amphitheatre, Roman streets, bathhouse complex, fortified medieval city, harbor, temple platform, statue square, synagogue, Roman walls, Byzantine walls, and the hippodrome.

Standing there, it hit me deeply:
Rabbi Akiva lived during one of the most turbulent periods in Jewish history… under Roman rule, facing persecution, destruction, and exile… and yet he taught hope, rebuilding, and unwavering faith. Caesarea wasn’t just ruins… it was a reminder that even when empires fall, Torah and the Jewish spirit endure.

Next stop: an exclusive private tour of Binyamina Winery. We went behind the scenes, learned the entire wine-making process… and then came the best part: tasting the wines alongside the most delicious cheeses ever. Blessed!

We were supposed to go to Mount Carmel (the Mountain of Elijah the Prophet) afterward… but after the wine tasting we were absolutely wasted 😂
So instead, we went to the beach… enjoying the waves, the weather, the views, and playing football right on the sand with the Ancient Roman Wall right behind us.
No complaints!

That night, I experienced something I’ve waited a long time for… my first ever Nissim Black concert, live at the Great Synagogue in Jerusalem. Seeing him perform in person was electric. Powerful. Meaningful.

After the concert, we heard from motivational speaker Gedale Fenster, and as promised, below is where I will be inserting my full notes from his talk:
Notes 📝👇👇👇👇👇👇

Clarity & Energy
By Gedale Fenster
Teachings Inspired by Rabbi Nachman

“Desire must be clarified before it can be satisfied.”
— Inspired by Rabbi Nachman
—————————————————————————
I. The Core Problem of Our Time: Lack of Clarity

The primary struggle today is lack of clarity.
When clarity is lost, everything else collapses.

• Without clarity, execution is impossible
• Without clarity, energy drains
• Without clarity, we don’t stand a chance

Confusion is not random… it is diagnostic.
It reveals that something within us is unresolved.

“All confusion in life comes from confused desire.”
— Inspired by Rabbi Nachman

If we are unsure of who we are, we try to do more instead of clarifying more.

The solution is not intensity.
The solution is clarity.
—————————————————————————
II. Struggle as a Tool for Growth

Struggles are not punishments—they are exposure mechanisms.

• Struggle reveals our weaknesses
• Struggle expands our vessel
• Struggle shows us what needs refinement

Why does God give us struggle?
To expand our capacity to receive.

“The descent is for the sake of ascent.”
— Rabbi Nachman of Breslov

Struggle = expansion of the vessel.

Confusion often means there is a lot of light, but the vessel is unprepared.
— Breslov teaching, light vs. vessel
—————————————————————————
III. Direction Determines Energy

Energy follows clarity.

• Put your energy where you want to go
• Ride the wave once direction is set
• Clarity creates momentum

If you don’t give something 100% energy, it will never be executed.

Lack of energy usually signals fear, doubt, or unclear desire—not laziness.

“When a person knows what they want, they receive strength from Heaven.”
— Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (concept)

Clarity gives energy.
Lack of clarity drains it.
—————————————————————————
IV. Desire, Attachment, and Flow (Mazel)

Mazel does not mean luck.
In Hebrew, mazal comes from the root n-z-l (נזל) — to flow, to drip downward.

“Mazal flows from above according to the state of the vessel below.”
— Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (Kabbalistic framework used in Breslov)

Mazel is flow from above, not randomness.

Flow does not come from force.
Flow comes from alignment.

When desire is clear, the channel opens.
When attachment is desperate, the flow constricts.

“Attachment blocks blessing.”
— Rabbi Nachman of Breslov concept

The world believes the problem is external.
In reality, the blockage is internal.

We look for “the one” instead of becoming the one.
Stop swiping. Start becoming.
— Modern application by Gedale Fenster
—————————————————————————
V. The Four Stages of Giving
1. Receiving to receive
2. Giving in order to receive
3. Giving to give
4. Giving to give — and God gives

“True giving creates a vessel that can receive endlessly.”
— Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (concept)

True expansion happens when:

• You give without receiving
• You give without expectation
• You give even when it’s uncomfortable

Giving to give expands the vessel.

Ask yourself:

• Am I in giving energy or receiving energy?
• Am I acting from lack or from passion?
—————————————————————————
VI. Intensity vs. Clarity

Trying harder is not the answer.

• Intensity without clarity fails
• Intensity + clarity creates flow

“Running very fast in the wrong direction is the greatest danger.”
— Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (paraphrased teaching)

Driving 200 mph in the wrong direction gets you further from the destination.
It’s not about effort—it’s about direction.
—————————————————————————
VII. Anxiety as a Signal

Anxiety is not the enemy.
Anxiety is a message.

It can possibly be a signal that:

• You are not growing
• You are stuck protecting your ego
• You are avoiding expansion

“Pressure comes when the soul is ready to grow but the person resists.”
— Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (concept)

God doesn’t give us what we want when we are in lack—because receiving it in that state wouldn’t make us happy.

Instead, He gives us anxiety to push growth.

Anxiety points to the exit.
Growth is always the exit.
—————————————————————————
VIII. The Formula for Flow
1. Clarification – What do I actually want?
2. Purification – Removing contradictions and distractions
3. Alignment – Thought, speech, and action in sync
4. Flow – Things begin to happen naturally

“When thought, speech, and action align, blessing flows without obstruction.”
— Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (Likutei Moharan I:4, concept)

Most people try to attract outcomes from low energy and low consciousness.

Asking:
“How do I get them to like me / love me / hire me?”
Immediately places you in lack.

Power comes from alignment—not neediness.
—————————————————————————
IX. Ego, Fear, and Forward Movement

Why don’t we move forward?

• Fear of failure
• Ego protection
• Attachment to outcome

“Fear comes from imagining outcomes instead of walking with God.”
— Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (concept)

But failure produces:

• Experience
• Lessons
• The next opportunity

The outcome follows attitude—not force.

God is not interested in what you get.
God is interested in who you become.

“The main thing is not the achievement, but the becoming.”
— Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (paraphrase)
—————————————————————————
X. Relationships, Confidence, and Presence

Showing up fully requires:

• Clarity
• Energy
• Excitement

When something becomes obligation, the light disappears.

“Where there is joy, there is light.”
— Rabbi Nachman of Breslov

This applies to:

• Dating
• Business
• Sales
• Life itself

We affect the observer.
We transmit either power or force.

Confidence creates space.
Forcing creates resistance.
—————————————————————————
XI. Distractions Kill Clarity

If you don’t know what you want, you can’t receive it.

“A divided heart receives nothing.”
— Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (concept)

Examples:

• Want marriage but entertain endless distractions
• Want growth but stay busy with avoidance
• Want clarity but protect comfort

You can’t change the Uber destination every five minutes.

To gain clarity:

• Remove distractions
• Create boundaries
• Prove seriousness through action

Discipline costs less than regret.
—————————————————————————
XII. Hunger, Obsession, and Execution

Interest is not enough.
Hunger means readiness to work.

“Desire without action remains imagination.”
— Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (concept)

You must be obsessed—but in the right direction.

Strategy beats motivation.
Execution beats intention.

Busy people execute because they have clarity.

—————————————————————————
XIII. Spiritual Resistance and Purpose

Opposing energy appears when you move forward:
1. To test how badly you want it
2. To clarify your desire

“Resistance comes before revelation.”
— Rabbi Nachman of Breslov

Bitterness comes before freedom.
If you can handle a little resistance, you earn lasting flow.

The soul came into this world to fix one core issue—that’s why spiritual work feels so hard.

“Each soul descends for one rectification.”
— Rabbi Nachman of Breslov

—————————————————————————
XIV. Commitment and Practice

Rabbi Nachman teaches:

• Pray for something for 40 consecutive days
• You are guaranteed an answer
• Go all-in and observe what clarifies

— Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (Sichot HaRan)

Once clarity is present, action becomes obvious.

—————————————————————————
XV. Final Truth

If you don’t know what you want, no one—including God—can help you.

“Heaven responds to clarity, not confusion.”
— Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (concept)

Life flows through:

• Thought
• Speech
• Action

When these align, anxiety dissolves and excitement returns.

We are meant to be producers, not consumers.
Without clarity, we live in survival.
With clarity, we live to thrive.
—————————————————

To close out an already unforgettable week, I spent an amazing Shabbat in Tel Aviv with my Uncle Aaron, who flew in to visit. We had dinner by the beach, walked through the beautiful chaos of Tel Aviv, and soaked in every moment.

Shabbat day included a peaceful jog along the water, an incredible beachside meal, and watching the sunset over the Mediterranean. After Shabbat ended, I met up with my best friends Nathanial and Ronnie… feeling deeply grateful, grounded, and full.

This week was Parashas Yisro, an incredible parsha, and I’m excited to continue keeping up weekly with the parshios.

I hope you enjoyed this week’s video update and writing!

Sending lots of love from Jerusalem!
— Benny Leshin