Over the course of time, the Rebbe reconnects “the rope of his soul,” rejoining even the individual strands that had been severed. How much more so does the Rebbe have an impact on those who reflect the positive aspect of “amo” (as above Section 5), helping them attain a state whereby the ruach shtus is unable to cover over the truth, etc.
Since he became involved in Judaism and Chassidus, R’ Kalman Eliezer Rotban has merited to see G-dly providence and the Rebbe’s tremendous love accompanying him with every step he takes. Answers and brachos, miracles and wonders, in his shlichus in Le Raincy in France, during his many visits to the Rebbe and after he made aliya. * A moving life story.
Stories about shluchim who started Torah schools: the difficulties, the successes, and the nachas.
Shortly before Yud Shvat 5710, the Rebbe asked the Chassid, R’ Eliyahu Nachum Sklar for notes of a maamer said by the Rebbe Rayatz in 5683. A few days later, the maamer was published with the famous opening words of “Basi L’Gani.” * A glimpse into the life of a Chassid to mark his passing on 17 Teves 5750.
…the Syrian and Egyptian armies had suddenly attacked from the north and the south. He was agitated and emotionally overwrought, and said that the Rebbe was surely immersed in his prayers and did not know what was going on while the Jews in Eretz Yisroel needed a great salvation.
Only four months after he married, the Chassid, R’ Tzvi Hirsch Lerner was arrested and sent to Siberia for seven years. * An unexpected encounter with a general led to his early release.* His granddaughter shares stories and memories, suffused with Chassidic flavor, about his outstanding character. * Part 2
He went far in his musical studies and then changed the course of his life under the influence of the mashpia, R’ Reuven Dunin a”h. * He came up with the idea of forming a Chabad choir to sing for the public and led this choir at “Evenings with Chabad.” * An overview of the life of the Chassid, R’ Yosef Marton a”h, the man responsible for Chabad’s anthem of U’faratzta, who passed away on Chanuka.
It is the center because it comprises both the right (chesed-kindness) and the left (g’vura-judgment) and synthesizes them. Torah, as the Rebbe stressed, is the epitome of truth. Truth is impartial to arguments from either of the directions. If truth dictates veering to one particular direction then so be it. If truth then demands that we make an about-turn and go in the opposite direction so be it! Truth is unlimited and inviolate and cannot be swayed by any other consideration.
Even when Yitzchak Shamir flew to the Madrid Conference, he too merely wanted to show respect for the Americans – but that was too much for the Rebbe. He toppled Mr. Shamir’s government in order to put an end to any discussions on dividing Eretz Yisroel and placing the security of its millions of Jewish residents in mortal danger, simply in order to “show respect for the Americans”…
…the Rebbe told us the goal of our generation: “This, then, is why the seventh is so cherished: it is he who draws down the Sh’china, in fact, the essence of the Sh’china; moreover, he draws it down into this lowly world. It is this that is demanded of each and every one of us of the seventh generation, and ‘all those that are seventh are cherished.’
Yud Shvat is approaching, the day the Rebbe accepted the nesius. Already starting on Asara B’Teives – “thirty days before the chag” – I began making a spiritual accounting about how to ready myself for this great day with a gift for the Rebbe, a gift worthy of being called a gift.
Chassidic thought was first unveiled by Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760). These profoundly spiritual teachings were later harnessed into a comprehensive and methodical philosophical system by Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (the Alter Rebbe, who was born in 1745 – the same year as Volta).
January 17, 2014