EMUNA AT ZERO HOUR

Immediately following Chof Zayin Adar, the concern and davening of the Chassidim was peppered with a liberal amount of faith, hope and optimism. Many were speculating about whether we would see the Rebbe by Purim; Yud Aleph Nissan was not even a question in anyone’s mind. At that time, one prominent Chassid went around saying: “They’re talking about Purim and Yud Aleph Nissan; we’ll be lucky if the Rebbe comes out for Rosh Hashanah!” * I remember the shock everyone felt at such heresy. Didn’t we all witness the swift and miraculous recovery of the Rebbe in 5738? Surely we shouldn’t expect any less now! We had seen clearly enough that the Rebbe was not confined to the limitations of natural laws.

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A CHASSID IN ALL SEASONS AND ALL PLACES

Charkov, Samarkand, Paris, New York, S. Paulo, Rio de Janeiro – in all of these places, Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Chitrik a”h made a Chassidishe environment. * Profile of a Chassid, a distinguished resident of Crown Heights, who recently left us.

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WHAT DID NETANYAHU TELL OBAMA?

If there is one issue that has been identified with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu more than any other, it’s the Iranian nuclear threat. Netanyahu is the one who invented the concept of “the axis of evil.” He’s the one who turned the Iran issue into an election slogan, declaring that the nuclear crisis is top priority on his policy agenda.

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JEWISH UTOPIOSOPHY

Perhaps, then, this is the innovation of Moshiach and the Jewish utopia: That with the leadership of a wise and selfless sage we will transcend our normal human limitations and attain perfection both inside and outside – which will no longer contradict each other.

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THE SHABBOS GUEST

This time it was Mommy who answered. “If Hashem gives someone a talent, obviously He wants that person to use it. Of course, it has to be used the right way and for the right purpose. Every talent can be developed in a kosher way. Every talent can be used to serve Hashem. When the Jews in the desert were building the Sanctuary, the women used their unique talents to make the roof-coverings.”

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GUSH KATIF MUSEUM DINNER

“Why are people ignoring what looks like Germany in 1938?” — Glenn Beck * On Wednesday night February 22, over 600 people gathered in Brooklyn to give honor and support to the Gush Katif Museum in Jerusalem and its director, Rabbi Sholom Dov Wolpo.

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AND MY EYES OPENED ONCE AGAIN

Even before his mother managed to recover fully, Heishke fell sick. * The doctors were pessimistic about his chances of recovery and he felt his strength ebbing. * With the last of his strength, he managed to squeeze out a request for forgiveness. Delirious, he tried to say Vidui. Then he lost consciousness.

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WHO’S WHO IN THE TIMES OF MOSHIACH

Our current series is unique. Instead of focusing on the era of Moshiach or Moshiach himself, we will be discussing the characters of Yemos HaMoshiach. This will include, among others, Moshiach Ben Yosef, Gog the king of Magog, the Sanhedrin, and the role of all previous Jewish leaders in Yemos HaMoshiach.

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THE FEMININE MYSTIQUE

Although the Jews still remained subjects of the Persian Empire, the Purim miracle serves as the catalyst in exile for the unleashing of the ultimate Redemption when we will see the fulfillment of King Solomon’s declaration, “A woman of valor is the crown of her husband” through the feminine quality which will unleash the full revelation of the infinite Messianic G-dly light.

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‘EVERY PLACE WHERE THE WORD OF THE KING REACHES’

The lady from Rishon L’Tziyon who was surprised to discover her grandchildren learning about Purim in Delhi, India * The Indian police officers who discovered mashke at the Purim seuda * The sand artist in Russia who kept the children quiet and enthralled at the Megilla reading and the Moroccan architect who was no longer angry. * A round-up of Purim stories from shluchim around the world.

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FROM YESHIVA TO THE CHUPPA

Many people around the world, Lubavitch and non-Lubavitch alike, are talking about the “Age for Marriage Guidelines” pamphlet that they received in the mail or viewed online. * Menachem Ziegelboim and Avrohom Rainitz follow up with the story behind the story.

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CHASSIDIC WARMTH MELTS FREEZING EUROPE

Europe’s record freezing temperatures have claimed hundreds of lives, snarled traffic and trapped tens of thousands of residents in remote villages across Serbia and Romania. * Many of the Rebbe’s shluchim have had to contend with the unusually cold weather. * Beis Moshiach spoke to a number of them about how they are managing to warm things up.

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ZACH ADAR: PURIFYING THE TZIMTZUM ITSELF

What did the Rebbe say about Chaf-Zayin Adar? * The letters Chaf-Zayin spell “zach – pure,” with all the connotations of cleansing, refining, and purifying said of the Era of Redemption. Indeed, the ultimate state of purification and refinement is accomplished by revealing the intent underlying the tzimtzum itself, the contraction and concealment of G-dliness associated with the Divine name Elokim.

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