ELUL: THE TIME FOR CHANGE

Why do we need an entire month to do t’shuva when one thought is enough to switch from rasha to tzaddik? * What is the practical implication of the King displaying a smiling countenance? * What is the difference between bittul and lack of self-esteem? * How does lack of self-esteem affect a person’s service of Hashem? * These and other questions were asked of Rabbi Nadav Cohen, sought after lecturer and author of a book on Tanya. He clarifies what our job is in the month of Elul

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OPEN YOUR HANDS AND SEE

“If there will be a destitute person among you, any of your brothers, in any of your cities, in the Land that G-d, your G-d, is giving you. You must not harden your heart or shut your hand from your destitute brother. Rather you must surely open your hand to him…”

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A.D.H.D. MYTHS

In the two previous articles of this series, we discussed the reasons and modes of treatment for attention and concentration disorders with the help of two of the most prominent experts in the field. In this third and final installment, we have chosen to deal with the prevalent myths surrounding conventional treatment. For this purpose, we have been assisted by a well-known specialist in diagnosing and treating children with attention disorders – Dr. Gil Maor (“Dr. Keshev”).

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FARBRENGING ON SCOTCH

Aging whisky is an art that endeavors to produce optimal taste and smoothness with a precise blend of ingredients and method. Many producers (specifically of Scotch whiskies) have reintroduced the practice of storing the spirit in casks that were previously used for wine, called “sherry finishing.”

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“A TRULY GOOD FRIEND”

About the Rebbe’s sofer, R’ Yeshaya Matlin, a Chassid who had mesirus nefesh for Torah and mitzvos. He was the Rebbe’s sofer and he worked in the Rebbe’s room as he checked the Rebbe’s t’fillin. * Presented for his yahrtzait on 2 Elul

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Chabad’s First Vocational School - Part Two

One of the first projects of the Rebbe in Israel was the establishment of a vocational youth village in Kfar Chabad, which included various schools where students learned a trade * In this week’s installment we learn about the construction of the schools and the Rebbe’s detailed involvement with the expansion of the school * A International Kinus HaShluchim in the JDC offices in 1960? * Part Two

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JUST THE RIGHT STORY

It was Erev Shabbos a few weeks ago. The Freiman family packed their things and left their house in Kfar Chabad and got on a bus traveling to Yerushalayim. In Yerushalayim, in the Holyland neighborhood, there is a Chabad House run by the mother’s brother. That Shabbos, the Freiman couple was asked to take the shluchim’s place so the shluchim could go to Kfar Chabad to their parents.

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770 LIFTS UP THE LAND OF THE 70 NATIONS

Uplifting the world in this way is in virtue of “Beis Rabbeinu,” located in the Lower Hemisphere. Beis Rabbeinu is the place from which light shines forth to the rest of the world.

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UNDERCOVER MISSION IN SOVIET RUSSIA

On Rosh HaShana, the Rebbe called for the Chassidim who left Russia that year to come up to the bima and be near him during the blowing of the shofar. Chassidim sensed that at this time, the Rebbe was thinking about the Jews of Russia who were in distress, and was working, spiritually, on their behalf. * 51 years have passed since the Rebbe sent Rabbi Binyamin Katz on a secret mission to the Soviet Union. * He was only 25, but with ingenuity, cleverness and stealth, he was able to outwit the KGB agents who dogged his steps.

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BRINGING THE BEIS HAMIKDASH TO THE PEOPLE

One of the most popular speakers on the topic of the Beis HaMikdash is R’ Mordechai Persoff, director of the Midrasha L’Yeda HaMikdash, or as it is known in English, the Mikdash Educational Center. * For twenty-five years he has been making all aspects of the Mikdash accessible to the public. He has many stories that show the deep connection we have to the Mikdash, and that includes those who are not yet religious. * For the month of Av and all year round

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DEALING WITH AN UNFOLDED TALLIS

Parents divorce and their son lives with his mother for the first six years of his life. At age six, he is to go live with his father, as outlined by the Beis Din at the time of the divorce*. The child refuses. The father states, “If my son doesn’t come live with me, I will no longer support him. That’s what the Shulchan Aruch says.”

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OVER THIRTY YEARS OF DEVOTED SHLICHUS

When R’ Moshe Freedman arrived on shlichus in the industrial port city of Bahia Blanca, Argentina, he did not receive a warm welcome. * With tremendous work, dedication and hiskashrus to the Rebbe, he overcame all the hardships. * In his thirty years on shlichus, he was mekarev hundreds of Jews with dozens becoming baalei t’shuva. R’ Freedman’s family and mekuravim tell Beis Moshiach about this dynamic shliach who passed away after a serious illness

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TEACHING TANYA BASED THERAPY

R’ Gil Barak had a long and winding journey from when he was a party boy to his spiritual search in an Indian ashram, until the night when his neshama was shaken up and he escaped. A short time later he met the Rebbe’s shluchim, learned some Chassidus, and his neshama found peace. * Today, R’ Gil is a psychological counselor who uses Chassidus combined with modern means to convey his messages

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