Now, when you lie in bed at night and have difficulty falling asleep, you don’t count sheep. No sirree, not you! You just count all of the dollar bills that Mr. Madoff is increasing on your behalf, and you immediately fall into a blissful sleep, with a smile of contentment on your face. You have a hard time concentrating by Shmoneh Esrei, because you are so busy daydreaming about your astounding portfolio…
Reb Leibel Groner offers us a rare glimpse into the Rebbe’s inner sanctum, along with some lessons we can draw from the Rebbe’s tireless devotion to the welfare of others.
He finally decided that although he could not make such a promise, nor could he forgo the opportunity. Let Jews keep Torah and mitzvos for several months and what would be would be. He hoped with all his heart that when they made such an enormous commitment, that Hashem would bless them. He did not want to think about what would happen if things did not work out.
Today, everyone is screaming different versions of “We Believe.” Some are screaming that we believe that the Rebbe is still our Nasi. Some are screaming that we still believe that the Rebbe is Moshiach and some are screaming that we believe that the Rebbe is still alive. Whichever version you proclaim does not interest me. All I want to know is one simple question: “Who is ready to volunteer?”
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!
In the Daled Amos of the Rebbe there are different standards. Here one is not governed by the same laws of nature, nor is he restricted by physical impediments.
The atmosphere that was present in the Teiva of Noach resembled the atmosphere that will prevail when Moshiach will arrive.
From a sicha of the Rebbe Rayatz on the night of Simchas Torah 5707/1947.
We indicate out readiness to continue doing our job – which is to enable Him to do His job – so that we can get a shot at being rehired.
When I was in front of the Rebbe, someone said “This is the lady who had the dream.” The Rebbe immediately responded, “It wasn’t a dream, it was reality!”
What is it about this particular tale that gave it the distinction of being the one and only story to be included in Seifer HaMinhagim? * When I once shared this question with a friend, he suggested that this story was included because of the great importance of distancing sadness. This answer, however, didn’t satisfy me…
What to write to the Rebbe? What do you mean? This is your Rebbe! Write what’s on your heart. Write what you want, what you need, and what you feel.
The following is a transcript of a farbrengen by Rabbi Yossi Paltiel last year in Melbourne, Australia in honor of Yud-Beis Tammuz • Part II
April 24, 2013