Rebecca Duesterbeck

Madison, WI, United States

Retired Stormtrooper/Insurance

Posted

05 Jan 17:35

First commercial flying car now in production | NewsNation Live

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kXPAwMMYrk

Posted

05 Jan 15:28

What’s Really Going On in the World Right Now

A Torah perspective on this historic moment and how to live these closing days of the Galus-to-Geulah transition with real clarity and joy.

(Part 1 of 2)

You are not lost.

If the world feels increasingly unfamiliar, if world events bring sudden shifts of emotion, and if your own challenges feel heavier in the middle of it all, pause. You are not lost, and what’s happening is not random chaos.

The shaking and upheaval we are witnessing around the world is a carefully guided process unfolding exactly as it needs to.

This is Part 1 of a two-part message.

*In Part 1,* we will look at what is really happening in the world through a Torah lens.

*In Part 2,* we will explore what these times ask of us personally and how to live them well.

The uneasiness many of us feel in response to what we’re seeing unfold in the world is not a weakness or a failure to cope. It is a sign that your soul is no longer comfortable with exile, and that is a healthy and meaningful response.

The sense of disbelief and unsettledness many people are feeling as they watch what is unfolding in the world is completely understandable. We are witnessing things like:

• Rising antisemitism that feels more blatant and less restrained

• Growing moral confusion and the blurring of basic right and wrong

• Increasing instability in governments, institutions, and social norms

• A feeling that the world is hurting and in trouble

The calm and clarity we are able to hold in the midst of all this does not come from denial. It comes from seeing these developments for what they truly are, through a Torah-informed lens that brings meaning, context, and a clear sense of direction to what we are witnessing.

Our Torah has spoken about times like this for generations.

It describes the final stage of the transition from Galus to Geulah, a time marked by confusion, brazen unholy pride, rising hostility toward the Jewish people, and deep struggle, ultimately giving way to a world of truth, universal harmony, and revealed goodness.

Our sages explained that before the higher and more truthful world of Moshiach can be revealed, the old structures of the world must be shaken and give way. This process of purification and preparation is what our sages called the birth pangs of Moshiach.

Some changes feel freeing. Others feel disruptive. Both are part of the same process.

This is why those who place their sense of security and hope in political leaders, systems, or headlines ultimately leads to increases anxiety. They respond and react, but they do not decide outcomes.

Hashem alone guides history.

Hashem alone determines where this story is going.

Our security was never meant to come from human power. It comes from recognizing the One who is guiding everything.

When we see the world with this Torah-based clarity, something inside us settles. The heart softens. Deep clarity and inner calm set in. We stop absorbing the fear and chaos around us and begin to prepare ourselves and those around us for the unfolding Geulah, with confidence, strength, and quiet joy.

What matters most right now is not getting too caught up by the political particulars developing around the world, or what exactly will happen next, but understanding where we are and what our focus has to be.

This is not a time meant to frighten us.

It is a time meant to awaken us.

To steady us.

And to turn us back to Hashem, so we can bring more Divine light into the world through the special mitzvot that can only be done in Galus, in these last precious moments.

——

In the next post, Part 2, we will turn inward. We will explore what this moment asks of us personally and how to live these days with calm, trust, and even joy.

Posted

05 Jan 15:14

Growth is not linear. There will be days of clarity and days of confusion, moments of progress followed by pauses that feel like regression – when energy is low, motivation fades, and self-doubt becomes louder. These days are not evidence of weakness, and none of this means you are failing.

Life is a marathon, not a sprint. Learning requires repetition, missteps, and time. Wisdom is not rushed – it develops through reflection, through lived experience, and perhaps most importantly, through patience.

Setbacks can feel disorienting and disheartening. They challenge the narrative you told yourself about how things were supposed to unfold. It’s easy to interpret them as failure. When momentum slows or breaks, it can shake your confidence and leave you questioning your judgment, your ability, or even your worth.

But these moments of interruption are often moments of recalibration. They invite you to reassess, to deepen your understanding, and to approach the next step with greater clarity. What matters most is not how consistently inspired you feel, but how gently you respond to yourself when inspiration wanes. The pauses, the uncertainty, and the moments of doubt are not disruptions to growth; they are part of its texture. When you stay present through them – without harsh judgment or panic – you allow learning to settle more deeply and honestly than constant momentum ever could.

In time, you begin to see that progress is often happening beneath the surface, quietly shaping you in ways that only become visible later. Trust the pace that is unfolding. Honor the effort it takes simply to remain engaged. Even when the path feels uneven, each step is still carrying you forward.

Inspired by the teachings of Rebbe Nachman (1772-1810)

Posted

05 Jan 12:46

Millions Are Discovering They Are Jewish

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8HlWS5ZqFY

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02 Jan 18:01

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02 Jan 17:53

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02 Jan 17:45

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02 Jan 17:40

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02 Jan 15:11

Every person is a work in progress. Let’s not criticize the rough draft.

Based on the teachings of Rabbi Avraham Twerski (1930-2021)

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Posted

01 Jan 18:48

Life doesn’t always unfold the way we imagine it will. Along the way, we may stumble, lose momentum, or drift from the path we once felt so sure about. But a detour is not a dead end. What matters most is not how far we may have wandered, but our willingness to find our way back, one small step at a time.

You are not the sum of your past mistakes. Each day arrives with the invitation to realign, and to begin again with clearer intention and renewed resolve. Guilt and fear may try to convince you to stay where you fell, but they have no authority over your future. Progress, even when slow and uneven, is still progress.

The past is not a compass for your future. Missteps are meant to guide your next steps, not prevent them. Give yourself permission to chart a new course, informed by experience but not imprisoned by it. Every choice forward, no matter how small, loosens the grip of yesterday.

The past has its place – it shaped you, taught you, and may have even broken you a little. But healing doesn’t happen by staring in the rearview mirror. Growth begins when you find the courage to pursue what you deserve. Rebuilding can happen quietly, piece by piece, one honest step at a time. Setbacks aren’t the end of your story – they’re the chapter where your comeback begins.

Inspired by the teaching of Reb Noson of Breslov (1780-1844)