Moshe Rabbeinu was eighty years old when he redeemed the Jewish people from Egypt. The Messianic, final redemption is related to Moshiach at age ninety. * Chapter Twelve of Rabbi Shloma Majeski’s Likkutei Mekoros.
This year of 5776 has been a very special year. The Rebbe›s campaign about the inyan of Hakhel was felt and continues to be felt everywhere. It seems that every community and family is having Hakhel gatherings and there is a general feeling of unity. As mentioned last week, this must continue. Even more so, we should be creative with new ideas as we are still in Shnas Hakhel.
In a dramatic pronouncement, the Rebbe Rashab established that all T’mimim are soldiers fighting the wars of Dovid. When soldiers go to fight, they give a conditional writ of divorce to their wives. * A fascinating study about the gittin that soldiers gave their wives in the event that they did not return, about the rabbinic approach to the matter, and when the soldiers refused orders and did not give a divorce like this. * “When you go out to war” – Parshas Ki Seitzei.
Rising for a parent when they enter a room is one aspect of the mitzvah of kibbud av va’eim (honoring a parent)—or according to some opinions, the mitzvah of mora (fear).
“If a bird’s nest happens to be before you on the road, on any tree or on the ground, young birds or eggs, and the mother is roosting on the young birds or the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young. You shall surely send away the mother and take the young for yourself, so that it will be good for you and prolong your days.”
When we talk of Swords into Plowshares, we usually think of the superpowers like the U.S., Russia and China, and the European nations—countries that were directly involved in the Cold War. We don’t usually think of the African nations. Yet South Africa was deeply involved in military activity during this time both internally, fighting against revolutionary factions, and externally, fighting against the armies of communist-supported African nations. In fact, during those years South Africa itself was dominated by its military
He has been at the helm of the Chabad yeshiva in Tzfas since it was founded forty years ago. Five sons also lead yeshivos or learning programs. * We met with Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Wilschansky, the rosh yeshiva in Tzfas, and his oldest son, R’ Menachem Mendel, rosh yeshiva in Haifa, for a talk about the chinuch and guidance of T’mimim in the world of yeshivos. * Presented for 15 Elul, marking the founding of Yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim in 1897.
A selection from the Rebbe Rashab’s Hemshech Ayin-Beis (pg. 146-148), dealing with t’shuva at the levels of Nefesh, Ruach, and Neshama. * Presented in the Month of Elul, when we make a soul-assessment of our service of G-d throughout the year
R’ Berel Chasniker was the devoted follower of the Rebbe of Chernobyl. Just three quarters of a day separated Chasnik from Chernobyl but in his heart he constantly yearned to be with his Rebbe.
September 14, 2016