Wednesday
Nov202013
THE TANYA COLLECTOR
November 20, 2013When we went to his house to look at his collection, which includes over 1500 editions of Tanya, it was clear that this wasn’t just a hobby; R’ Chaim lives and breathes each seifer
Tuesday
Nov192013
MESIRUS NEFESH FOR THE STUDY OF ZOHAR
As Yud-Tes Kislev, Rosh HaShana L’Chassidus, approaches, we present a compilation of stories about the Alter Rebbe and about the Tanya which we start learning on this day • From the notes of R’ Avrohom Weingarten a”h, l’ilui nishmas his son, R’ Matisyahu Aryeh Leib, may Hashem avenge his blood.
Tuesday
Nov192013
MOSHIACH AND YUD-TES KISLEV
“In these times – the days of Moshiach – in which we now find ourselves, we only need to open the eyes. Then we will see that the true and complete Redemption already exists, in the simple sense. All the Jewish people, ‘with our youth and our aged, etc., with our sons and our daughters,’ are prepared, in every single, last detail, ‘to approach and sit at the table,’ the table prepared with every delicacy and delight, beginning with those of the Redemption, Leviasan, Shor HaBar and Yayin HaMeshumar.
Tuesday
Nov192013
THE JOY OF TORAH OPENED THE FLOODGATES
Rabbi Zalman Bernstein and his wife Shaindy, the Rebbe’s shluchim in Cochin, India, had been waiting for several years since their wedding to be blessed with children. At a certain stage they heard about a dollar from the Rebbe that helped many couples to be blessed with “zera shel kayama.” Numerous spontaneous events took place along the way, giving them the feeling that the path to receiving the long-awaited bracha had finally been opened. A very moving miracle story.
Tuesday
Nov192013
GIVE YOUR SHLIACH A BIRTHDAY PRESENT
“In our community in New Zealand there is a woman who is an aguna. Her husband is in New York and for twelve years he has been refusing to divorce her. Whenever I come to New York I go to his house and beg him to release his wife, but he always refuses … This year, the miracle happened and he was willing to give her a get.”
Tuesday
Nov192013
ALL JEWS ARE THE SAME, ESPECIALLY TO A MISSILE
During the week when the United States showed a glimmer of sanity as it decided not to support the agreement designed to give carte blanche to Iran’s uranium enrichment program, voices were heard in Eretz Yisroel, of all places, calling for cooperation on the division of Yerushalayim. Furthermore, it was specifically the ultra-Orthodox Knesset Members who seemed to forget that the Torah has something to say on this issue as well.
Tuesday
Nov192013
IN BUBBY’S WASHING MACHINE YUD-TES KISLEV
I was looking forward all week to my visit today at my grandfather’s house. “It looks as though you can’t wait,” said my grandfather, reading my thoughts. He led me right over to the washing machine.
Friday
Nov152013
THE HEARTS OF KINGS – IN MOSHIACH’S HANDS
“We already see the beginning of the activities of Melech HaMoshiach upon the Gentile nations … insofar as G-d Alm-ghty directs the hearts of the kings of the nations (“the heart of kings and ministers are in the hand of G-d”) to resolve and to proclaim together about the initiative of ‘they shall beat their swords into plowshares.’”
Thursday
Nov142013
MOSHIACH FOR DUMMIES AND BEYOND
One of the questions the soul is asked in the next world, the Talmud states, is: “Have you eagerly awaited salvation?” The obvious concern for many Jews today is, how does one who does not feel that sense of yearning and desire for Moshiach develop these feelings?
Thursday
Nov142013
STARTING WITH THE ZOHAR
When I learned the sicha of Tazria-Metzora 5751, the words “starting with the book of the Zohar,” caught my attention. It gave me the idea of compiling statements from the Zohar that have to do with Inyanei Moshiach and Geula. * The popular lecturer and author on the topic of Moshiach, Rabbi Chaim Sasson, tells us about his new book, Zohar HaGeula.
Thursday
Nov142013
REMEMBERING MIRA – HER LIGHT CONTINUES TO SHINE
Rosh Chodesh Kislev reminds us of the shluchos to India, Rivka Holtzberg and Mira Scharf, may Hashem avenge their blood, who were murdered on this day. * Reminiscences from relatives, friends and tourists about Mira. She acted quietly, modestly, far from the spotlight; she was an exemplary Jewish mother and devoted wife, daughter, friend, and Chassida of the Rebbe MH”M. * May we immediately march forth, led by the shluchos, to the third Beis HaMikdash!
Thursday
Nov142013
WHEN CHAPTER SIX OF TANYA BEGAN AFFECTING THE LEFTIST WRITER
Avigdor Hameiri (1885-1970), a celebrated writer who was identified with the Leftist camp, became friendly with R’ Meir Blizinsky. As a result of this relationship, he had yechidus with the Rebbe and even began learning Tanya. However, when he finished learning chapter six, he wanted to stop learning since he began to feel the effect of Tanya in his life. * Presented for the upcoming Rosh HaShana L’Chassidus, the Chag HaGeula of the Baal HaTanya.
Thursday
Nov142013
THE REBBE RASHAB’S LESSON PLAN
The fifth Rebbe, the Rebbe Rashab, had such a unique style of presentation that the most respected elder Chassidim of his time entitled him “the Rambam of Chassidus.” The Rebbe Rashab drew from many thousands of Chabad discourses by his predecessors and, based on them, explained the most profound concepts in clear terms, comprehensively and in an orderly progression of ideas.