What purpose is there in saying “nishmaso Eden” when it is easier and better to say “nishmaso bi – his soul resides within me”? So too with regard to the Rebbe: I don’t say “nishmaso Eden” but “nishmaso bi” [the soul of the Rebbe Rayatz resides within me]!
53 years ago this month, eighty-eight students in the Chabad yeshiva in Agadir, Morocco perished in a powerful and devastating earthquake that rocked the city. It was one of the worst disasters to befall the Chabad world in a generation. Several years later, Yitzchak Nimtzovitz of “Galei Tzahal,” Israel’s Army Radio, brought the story of Avraham Dabra, a student in the Chabad yeshiva in Morocco, who lost his entire family in the tragedy. He emigrated to Eretz Yisroel soon afterwards, learning in the Kfar Chabad vocational school. In this deeply moving interview, he spoke with great emotion about his family and classmates.
It may be asked: what difference does it make which flag flies there? It is irrelevant, does not bother anyone, and has no halachic problem. But the public is not grasping how frightful such a step is. Some years ago it was absolutely untenable that Jerusalem be ruled by several governments. It was further ruled out that Jerusalem be given the status of ex-territorial. Now a gentile has the audacity to state that he has total rights over Hebron, Sh’chem, and the Old City of Jerusalem. And more: he demands that the Holy of Holies be handed over to him, the Foundation Rock (of the Creation), and that he be given the rights to raise there the Jordanian flag!
R’ Zalman’s history with the Hungarian community was not positive. In the past, they had sent their children to his yeshiva, but when their rav came and opened a yeshiva, they immediately removed their children from the Chabad yeshiva. Then, when their rav left, they sent their children to Chabad. This instability had a negative effect on the yeshiva, so R’ Zalman hesitated to respond positively to their request…
The obvious question is as follows: In modern times, we all have access to cars and trains and other modes of modern transportation. Anyone living in Eretz Yisroel can come to Yerushalayim in only a matter of a few hours. If so, would this exclusion of “living too far” not apply in the times of Moshiach when all these modern conveniences will be available to us?
He finally decided that although he could not make such a promise, nor could he forgo the opportunity. Let Jews keep Torah and mitzvos for several months and what would be would be. He hoped with all his heart that when they made such an enormous commitment, that Hashem would bless them. He did not want to think about what would happen if things did not work out.
Despite his extraordinary memory, R’ Shneur Zalman spent three hours a day learning the teachings of the Tzemach Tzedek. He said that hiskashrus to a tzaddik is not possible without learning his teachings every day. * Reb Shneur Zalman Fradkin, the author of Toras Chesed, was one of the greatest Chabad rabbis of all generations. He served for twenty years as the rav of Lublin, and spent the last ten years of his illustrious life as the leading rabbinic authority of the Chabad community in Yerushalayim.
Buried deep within the closet behind all the antiques was an old box. When we opened it, we found to our horror that this innocent-looking chest was filled with a collection of … * As Jewish homes are beginning the process of cleaning in preparation for the holiday of Pesach, one of the shluchim in Europe gives us a first-hand account of a thrilling story in connection with these preparations, resulting in a miraculous personal salvation.
The title accorded to Moshiach is Melech – King. The word Melech is said to be an acronym for mo’ach (brain), lev (heart) and kaved (liver). These three parts of the human anatomy parallel the three areas that we must tackle to bring about our total return to G-d, which after all is the function of Moshiach.
R’ Mintzberg suffers verbal abuse as he walks along, which actually shows how much these people are aware of his presence and activities. Two of the regular offenders are an older couple who ride their bikes every Shabbos morning near the yishuv. When the rabbi and his children show up, they meet this couple who ridicules them. “You’re not sick of coming here? It’s not hot for you with the tallis and those black clothing?”
A Chassid who wants to speed up the hisgalus of the Rebbe MH”M knows that the direct way of doing this is through learning Inyanei Moshiach and Geula. A Chassid who gives shiurim knows that his most popular shiur is on the weekly sidra. If he can combine the parsha shiur with Inyanei Moshiach and Geula, that would be perfect. But how can you find a connection between the parsha and an interesting Geula idea every single week? * “Moshiach B’Parsha” is a new project which got underway at the Kinus HaShluchim. It is the solution for any shliach and Chassid!
March 15, 2013