“All sevenths are beloved” - this praise is mainly directed to being seventh; the thing is cherished in virtue of being seventh. Its desirability [here referring to our generation, the seventh generation from the Alter Rebbe] does not hinge upon its choice, will, or effort in serving G-d, but just because it is seventh, attaining a special quality simply on account of its sequential position.
It is hard to believe but a Litvishe yeshiva in Yerushalayim has its own shliach, R’ Yitzchok Shneur Zalman Yitzchakov. There was even a Tanya shiur in the rosh yeshiva’s living room! * Presented for Yud-Tes Kislev.
There was a kernel of truth in equating Joseph with Eisav. However, their relationship was one of polar opposites: Joseph as antidote to Eisav’s threat of dominance over the Jewish nation. This reciprocal relationship is underscored by the juxtaposition of the recitation of Eisav’s descendants at the end of last week’s parsha with the discussion of Jacob’s special relationship with Joseph that begins this week’s parsha.
A story about the Rav HaMaggid and the Baal HaTanya, presented for the Yom Hilula of the Maggid and the Chag HaGeula of the Alter Rebbe, on 19 Kislev.
When 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
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.
“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.
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.
“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.”
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.
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.
November 22, 2013