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.
That book is part of the very life of the Rebbe – in the past, the present, and the future, until the end of all generations (for “his progeny is alive,” as above). It follows that taking his seifer is tantamount to taking part of the Rebbe’s life, may G-d have mercy!
When I told R’ Michoel Nudelman that I’m calling from Beis Moshiach about the outreach activities that he does, he asked me, what activity? I thought he was being modest but he really wanted to know which of his activities I wanted to write about. That’s the way it is when you do mivtzaim at work, write and compose music and perform for Russian immigrants, run a shul, and go on mivtzaim to kibbutzim!
A compilation of stories about the Rebbe and Chassidim that were told by R’ Yekusiel Farkash of Yerushalayim.
One of the important teachings of Chassidus is that the curses contained in the Torah, particularly the curses mentioned in this week’s parsha, known as the tochecha (as well as in the expanded version of the tochecha in the book ofmD’varim), are really blessings in disguise. Many a Torah commentator has demonstrated that the curses that sound most painful and harsh are actually positive and sublime blessings.
A point from the weekly D’var Malchus for Behar-B’Chukosai with a relevant message. * If achdus means the concession of one side or even of both sides, how come the conceding side always remains with a bitter taste in their mouth?
Beis Moshiach Magazine recently sat with Rabbi Eliyahu Yonah Benyaminson to discuss his work in translating the sichos of D’var Malchus 5751-5752 into English.
On that spring evening, the second night of Rosh Chodesh Iyar, Fedayeen terrorists burst through the orchard into the agricultural school in Kfar Chabad and sprayed the forty students who were davening Maariv with bullets. Five were killed along with their madrich, Simcha Zilberstrom, may Hashem avenge their blood. * Much has been written about this tragedy but hardly anything has been written about Simcha. * Let us learn a bit about this remarkable bachur who managed to accomplish so much in his short life.
The keynote address in Hebrew at this year’s Kinus HaShluchim was delivered by the tireless shliach, Rabbi Dudi Caplin, Chabad Shliach to Cozumel, Mexico and founder of six Chabad Houses for Israeli Tourists in Central America.
May 20, 2015