One who is [by name] a Chassid but is not a Chassid – this causes the Rebbe to not be a Rebbe. The Alter Rebbe was a Rebbe, so he made Chassidim. And the Chassidim, by being Chassidim and by being accomplished in the realm of the service of the heart [prayer] – they gave strength to the Rebbe.”
R’ Herschel Schachter was well known to numerous American Jews because he filled a long list of rabbinic, leadership and communal roles. * He was drawn to Lubavitch from his youth as the result of a Tanya shiur he attended. * Throughout the years, he was in touch with the Rebbe who gave him various missions to carry out, some of them secret.
Every detail of the Jewish people’s sojourn in the desert was choreographed by G-d. The twelve tribes were divided into four formations, each consisting of three tribes. While each tribe had its own distinctively colored flag, there were an additional four flags, one for each of the tribal formations.
The world-renowned halachic authority Rabbi Shmuel Wosner zt”l was in contact with our Rebbeim. As a youth, he fought for the regular study of Chassidus in Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin. * The unique expression that the Rebbe Rayatz said to the young gaon. * The yechidus in 5736, at the end of which the Rebbe escorted him outside with great honor.
The Torah describes at length the story of Yetzias Mitzrayim, the preparation for Mattan Torah, Mattan Torah itself, and the vicissitudes of the lives of B’nei Yisroel in the desert. We all know that the Torah is not a history book; rather, it is a lesson for our current lives. When we find ourselves in a difficult situation, we can, and always should, look at the Torah for guidance.
Marking forty years of Mivtza Kashrus, we had a fascinating discussion with Rabbi Meir Dovid Bergman, director of the Department for Mitzvos HaTluyos B’Aretz for the Badatz HaEida HaChareidis in Yerushalayim, and one of the experts in the field. * How did an Arab farmer try to smuggle bananas? How did a mashgiach discover the big oranges swindle? What’s the problem with tithed merchandise in the market? How long do potatoes from the sixth year last? And how a family of Arab farmers was discovered to be Jewish!
“Meeeendy, Shmuuuely, Yoooossi, Chaaaaim, Doooovid, hey, is anyone here? Why aren’t you opening up?” Shloimy knocked on the door of the basement as he called his friends’ names one by one. Nobody responded.
May 20, 2015