Thursday
Dec062012
LETTER TO MIRA
December 6, 2012A heartfelt, pain-filled letter to her best friend, Mira Scharf, may Hashem avenge her blood.
Thursday
Dec062012
STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE AS A CHILD IN THE SOVIET HELL ON EARTH
It is ten years since the passing of the Chassid R’ Zalman Levin a”h of Kfar Chabad. He walked among us but he belonged to the generation of giants, Chassidim who lived lives of mesirus nefesh. In a series of meetings with him, he recounted the story of his childhood in a Chassidishe home in the Soviet Union where children learned Torah and where kosher meat was secretly slaughtered.
Thursday
Dec062012
WHY CHANUKA GELT?!
Even if we do call it “Chanukah gelt.” Money is supposed to be the root of all evil, gelt is blotteh, and it is symbolic of everything that is negative in the world. This is not merely folklore; in Chazal we find that the title “Bnan Shel K’doshim” – basically a holy person – was bestowed on R’ Menachem ben Simai specifically because he refrained from even looking at money!
Thursday
Dec062012
CHINUCH WITH PURE OIL
Chanuka is from the root “chinuch,” and from the youngest of ages we need to provide children with uncompromising chinuch. Yes, there are times when leniencies are permitted, but when it comes to chinuch, we shouldn’t rely on them. Chinuch needs to be uncompromising, pure olive oil.
Thursday
Dec062012
ESCAPE IN THE DARK OF NIGHT
Dark nights, winding roads, hired smugglers. * The escape of a Jewish woman from darkness to light. * A personal Chanuka story.
Friday
Nov302012
EVEN DIMINUTIVE DEEDS BRING THE REDEMPTION
It is possible that a minor action done by a little child should be the final “blow of the hammer” that will bring about the redemption! * At first glance though, how could we be hopeful that another small addition in Torah and Mitzvos will change anything? The Jewish people have been awaiting the coming of Moshiach for thousands of years, and throughout all the generations they have already done a huge quantity of Torah and Mitzvos!
Friday
Nov302012
YOUR TEARS ARE IN VAIN. DO THE REBBE’S SHLICHUS!
One Chassid wrote to me that from the time of the histalkus he has been extremely broken, and at times, when he is alone, he breaks down in tears… * What has been accomplished through his tears? Is this the Rebbe’s objective? Did he ask him to cry? * And in the meanwhile, the Rebbe’s shlichus has been neglected!
Thursday
Nov292012
ESCAPE INTO THE COLD DARK NIGHT
It is ten years since the passing of the Chassid, R’ Zalman Levin a”h of Kfar Chabad. He walked among us but he belonged to the generation of giants, Chassidim who lived lives of mesirus nefesh. In a series of meetings with him, he recounted the story of his childhood in a Chassidishe home in the Soviet Union where children learned Torah and where kosher meat was secretly slaughtered. * Part 2 of 3.
Thursday
Nov292012
FIGHTING THE AMALEK OF THE FUTURE
Why was Amalek singled out from all nations that fought with the Jews to be eradicated? * We will remember Amalek as an encouragement for our learning as a reminder from history as to what happens if Jews do not toil in Torah.
Thursday
Nov292012
LEADING US, EVEN THROUGH TRAGEDY
Amazing answers received through the Igros Kodesh in response to the terrible tragedy in Nachalat Har Chabad.
Thursday
Nov292012
THE WAR OF DISENGAGEMENT
The tremendous pain associated with the deadly missile attack on Nachlat Har Chabad is twofold. There is the great pain over the tragic loss of life (may G-d avenge their blood), and there is equal pain over the fact that all this could have been prevented if they would have heeded the warnings of the leader of the generation.
Thursday
Nov292012
THE THREE INSTRUMENTS OF PERFECTION
Although Jacob certainly preferred to work things out with his brother, as he eventually did by way of his elaborate gift, Jacob had to be fully prepared at the outset to fight. If Esau would have detected Jacob’s reticence and vulnerability in the face of war, he would have taken advantage of it and attacked him.
Thursday
Nov292012
19 KISLEV: THE DAY HAS ARRIVED
The light of day (of the Geula) has already begun to shine and the darkness is powerful and it has become very dark. We don’t need to wait for the light of day, because when the day will shine brightly everyone will know that day has arrived, something even a blind man can see!