When the Rebbe said to learn Inyanei Moshiach and Geula, he said this is the direct way to bring the Geula. A few months later, the Rebbe said that by learning, we can open our eyes and see how the world is ready for the Geula. At the same time, the Rebbe said that if we want the learning to open our eyes, we need to learn in a very unique way
After the Rebbe distributed the maamer “V’Ata Tetzaveh,” we wondered – does the Rebbe want us to continue living with the same mesirus nefesh that we needed in Russia? But the reality is different here and there is no need to be moser nefesh for Shabbos observance, t’filla and chinuch! * R’ Hillel Zaltzman discusses mesirus nefesh in a country and era with no religious persecution
The Talmudic Sages (Sanhedrin 74a) derive from this verse that the Mitzvos were given for the sake of life, not death. With the exception of three cardinal sins (idolatry, forbidden relations and murder) the preservation of life takes precedence over the performance of a Mitzvah. For example, one whose life may be at risk by fasting on Yom Kippur does not have to fast, and indeed, is forbidden to fast.
One of the fundamental aspects of Bitachon is recognizing and internalizing that everything that happens in our life is ordained by Hashem. Parshas Acharei Mos provides for us an opportunity to internalize this message. To preface this message we will first discuss a component which is integral to seeing Hashem’s relevance in practical life
In 1954 Rabbi Gorodetzky travels to Tunisia to see if he can establish a Chabad presence there * The JDC refuses to sponsor, and the program got delayed to 1960 * How did Shlichus begin in Tunisia in 1960? * What did the Rebbe think about Rabbi Pinson’s Mikvah project? * Part Ten
The story began in Adar of a year ago. A young bachur, only fourteen years old, was diagnosed with a serious illness. This was in addition to the sad fact that he was orphaned of his father. Since he was a relative of R’ Yosef Yitzchok Lieder, a busy shliach in Rishon L’Tziyon for decades, the boy’s mother contacted him and told him the terrible news.
He raced between the houses, looking for a place to hide from the conquering soldiers. After a while his lungs burned from the effort but he continued to run, distancing himself from the place of danger. He constantly looked right and left. The fear that he would encounter enemy soldiers kept him on high alert, knowing that an encounter like that would cost him his life.
From Chapter Six of Rabbi Shloma Majeski’s Likkutei Mekoros
During the first wave of immigration from the Soviet Union, I was the Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv-Yaffo. One day, as I sat in the beis din that does conversions, a 42 year old doctor came in. He had come from the Soviet Union the day before with his wife and two daughters. He came for documents affirming his Jewishness for all the institutions that required it. He even brought witnesses with him to testify that he was Jewish, a son of Jewish parents. His mother was a pediatrician who runs a cardiology department in Moscow and his father, who was no longer living, had been a surgeon.
At nearly every 11 Nissan farbrengen, the Rebbe would begin with “and I will bless those who bless you,” with the Rebbe blessing all those who blessed him. The Rebbe, who received spiritual gifts from his Chassidim in honor of his birthday, also gave gifts. On nearly every 11 Nissan in later years, the Rebbe gave out something, whether a pair of t’fillin to someone who committed to using them, a new kuntres that was published, something new in hafatza or a Tanya. The following collection of diary entries covers some of those events
This is the bread of affliction that our fathers ate in the land of Egypt. Whoever is hungry, let him come and eat; whoever is in need, let him come and conduct the Seder of Pesach. This year [we are] here; next year in the land of Israel. This year [we are] slaves; next year [we will be] free people.
When the goyim knew that the Jewish holiday was approaching, they would jack up the prices. * We knew we had to open the door for Eliyahu but the door had to be closed so we wouldn’t be sent to Siberia. * Did you know that Mitzrayim has the same numerical equivalent as ס.ס.ס.ר (in Hebrew)? *The seder table brought back many Jews to Judaism. * Fascinating excerpts from an interview with R’ Notke Berkahan a”h that was published in Yediot Acharonot in the Erev Pesach 5733 issue
Beis Moshiach spoke with the shliach to Rutgers University in New Jersey, R’ Yosef Tzvi Carlebach, who runs a Chabad empire with a multi-million dollar annual budget, wanting to hear the secret of how to fundraise. * What is the best way to connect with wealthy people? * What do you do when the rich man tells his security guards to throw you out of his office? * How do wealthy donors react to the Besuras HaGeula and how should a shliach react when he is threatened that a large donation will be retracted because of publicizing the identity of Moshiach?
May 8, 2016