Beis Moshiach presents Chapters 2 and 3 of the maamer the Rebbe MH”M delivered on Yud Shvat 5717, in accordance with the custom established by the Rebbe to review each year a section of the Rebbe Rayatz’s maamer Basi L’Gani of 5710. • This year we focus on the seventh section of the profound and foundational Chassidic discourse.
The most powerful Biblical drama is arguably the poignant moment Yoseph tells his brothers that he is their brother Yoseph! But before he utters these powerful words that triggered the rapprochement between Yoseph and his brothers, the Torah relates the following: Now Yoseph could not restrain himself in the presence of all who stood before him, so he called out, “Remove everyone from before me!” Thus no man stood with him when Yoseph made himself known to his brothers.
Both of them hold senior Torah positions in Chabad in Eretz Yisroel. Both undertook positions of great responsibility and initiated programs that have had far reaching impact beyond the mosdos they run. They are the brothers, Rabbi Meir and Rabbi Chaim Aharon. * R’ Meir heads a kollel for dayanus, “Ohr Yaakov – Ohr Zarua.’ His younger brother R’ Chaim is rosh yeshiva of the Yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim, Meor Menachem, in Rechovot. * We met with the brothers for a fascinating conversation on an array of subjects
In the HaYom Yom of 14 Teves the Rebbe tells a story about the Shpoler Zeide, who was a man of ardent feelings, more so than the other disciples of the Maggid of Mezritch. When he visited the Alter Rebbe in Liadi, in the year 5569 (1809) or 5570 (1810), he related that when he was three years old and saw the Baal Shem Tov, “he placed his holy hand on my heart, and from that time onward, I have felt warm.” A gesture of a tzaddik, and even more so seeing him or hearing his voice, should generate an effect that will never be forgotten.
The man asked if he could read the answer himself and then asked me: ‘The Rebbe is explicitly writing here about my son. Why don’t you ask me about him?’” Two astounding ‘Igros Kodesh’ stories as told by Rabbi Yaakov Segal, the Rebbe’s shliach in Neve Monosson
R’ Azriel Schanowitz a”h, a Chabad Chassid in Crown Heights, passed away on 11 Cheshvan. His children gave Beis Moshiach his memoirs along with fascinating anecdotes from their father’s life. He was a modest Chassid who sold Chabad books published by Kehot all over New York. * He went from underground Tomchei T’mimim yeshivos to kiruvim from our Rebbeim, to devoting his life to spreading Chassidus throughout the metropolitan area.
In order to fulfill the mitzvah of learning Torah one is required to utter the words. Otherwise he does not fulfill the mitzvah of ve’limadtem osam, which is to verbalize the words of Torah. Indeed, when emphasizing the importance of studying Torah at all times, the expression used in the Torah is, “Lo yamush sefer ha’Torah hazeh mipichah,” the words of Torah should not cease from your mouth. However, when one is intent on understanding a concept in learning or a halacha in depth they need not enunciate the words, as one can’t concentrate when speaking.
January 3, 2017