In order to clarify his intent, the Rebbe qualified the term by saying, “long life – chayim aruchim.” Everyone knows that “chayim aruchim” means “life” in the literal sense, physical life (as the term is used in nusach ha’t’fillos, in Slichos, and the like).
R’ Hillel Zaltzman, known to our readers for his fascinating memoirs of life in Samarkand, shares another chapter, this time about his uncle. R’ Benzion Pil was so outstanding in his tz’daka and chesed that even R’ Itche der Masmid was amazed by him. R’ Mendel Futerfas admired him and said that from him he learned how to dispense tz’daka freely. * Chassidim of a previous generation.
The life story of R’ Boruch Sholom Schneersohn, the Rebbe’s grandfather’s grandfather; the great-grandchild whom the Alter Rebbe loved exceedingly; the great-grandchild who was with his great-grandfather until he passed away and was a broken man from then on. The tzaddik whose behavior was so modest that he was the only one of the Tzemach Tzedek’s children who did not take on an Admorus. As a reward for this, he was promised that the Admorus would come back to his descendants.
Ronnie explained: “Everything that happens in this world is nonsense, transient, false. There is nothing but G-d, everything is G-dliness.” Daniel could not stop crying. “Do you know these words?” wondered Ronnie. “Why are you crying? Can you explain what’s going on?”
“Secular” Jews were not Jews, Chassidim were heretics, and only the holy Torah could save me from the blazing fires of Gehinom… My goal was to be the Gadol HaDor…
Musician Yishai Lapidot was in Ulm, Germany. He was invited by a shliach to visit there to celebrate a Chanukas HaBayis. He shared his impressions with the listening public on his “Ishi B’Shishi” radio program.
Two weeks ago, on the 24th of Teves, about half a million people watched a special television program on Israel’s Channel 10 about the Rebbe and the faith of his Chassidim that he is Melech HaMoshiach. Beis Moshiach Magazine presents a review of this film, which includes a discussion with its director, Yoav Shamir. We asked him how he came to be so excited about this project and what he would personally ask the Rebbe if he were only able to do so.
In a discourse delivered for this Shabbos (forty years ago) the Rebbe elaborated on how the dual modalities of right and left will change in the Messianic Age. In that era evil will cease to be. The prophet Zecharia prophesized, “the spirit of impurity I will obliterate from the earth.” Yes, there will still be two modalities. But rather than opposing forces of right and left, both entities will be associated with the right. There will be no evil and we will no longer need to negate it. Both of our forces will be directed to spiritual growth and elevation.
Mushka Sudri of Delhi and Shaindy Berstein of Cochin write about their fellow shlucha, the unforgettable Mira Scharf, may Hashem avenge her blood. * Small stories about a great woman
January 25, 2013