If one seeks to derive pleasure from a physical thing unto itself, he separates it from G-dliness. Conversely, when he desires the G-dliness of the physical thing, he elevates it, allowing it to openly reveal how it is nullified to G-dliness.
Since the Alm-ghty is the very essence of goodness, and the nature of the good is to bestow benevolence upon others, G-d fulfills this person’s wish and shows him the exalted heights of the Rebbe – that the Rebbe transcends even the Seventh Heaven – and this person remains below [i.e., distant from the Rebbe]…
A point from the weekly D’var Malchus with a relevant message to our lives. * Is the avodas Hashem of the month of Elul connected only with “ani l’dodi” or also to ‘v’dodi lee?”
Gush Katif was a beautiful area near the Mediterranean Sea. It was comprised of small yishuvim whose residents felt like one big family. They lived happily in spacious homes, except for constant attacks that Arab terrorists perpetrated against them. Despite some tragedies, there were big miracles too. Hashem’s constant supervision was felt daily.
A Jew’s most important prayer is the well-known Shma, which contains three paragraphs, the second of which is taken from this week’s parsha of Eikev. When we contrast the first two paragraphs of the Shma we can see many similarities and many differences between them.
It has been thirteen years since the passing of the esteemed mashpia, R’ Reuven Dunin a”h, who was a model of a Chassid and mekushar to the Rebbe MH”M. Thirteen year, and still hundreds of his mekuravim miss him and think of him every day. * Stories and sayings of R’ Reuven about hiskashrus to the Rebbe, Geula and Moshiach
Chazal teach us, “A person should always learn where his heart desires, as it says, ‘for his desire is in the Torah of Hashem.’” Since the talmid loves camp, where he is inspired in a positive way to learn and behave properly, and he is provided with Chassidic warmth, it changes him from one extreme to another, because this is what “his heart desires.”
A shocking tragedy: a shliach of the Rebbe, R’ Boaz Lerner a”h, an expert on mikvaos, founder of the Nachalat Menachem neighborhood, passed away in the middle of a farbrengen in honor of laying the cornerstone of the Chabad mikva in the Philippines. * Every move he made was for one purpose, to give nachas to the Rebbe
Tzachi was an outstanding drama student at Tel Aviv University when he first met R’ Fishel Jacobs at the students’ club. Today, R’ Yitzchok Francis is a busy shliach, a sought after speaker who reaches hundreds, even thousands, a month, and a talented actor known to thousands of bar mitzva boys and their families through the Chabad House of Yam HaMelach’s bar mitzva program. * In a conversation with Beis Moshiach, the two of them tell of their first encounter, their deep talks, Shabbos meals, struggles and the dramatic decision that changed the life of the student. * About the Igeres HaT’shuva, which was read with tears on the university lawn, the secret to success in kiruv, and shlichus at the lowest point on the globe.
August 7, 2015