We are all still under the influence of the “Didan Natzach” of Hey Teives and the release of Rabbi Shalom Mordechai Rubashkin from his cruel prison sentence. One participant in the spontaneous farbrengen in Cincinnati, when the entire community joined together to give thanks to Hashem, said: “We will always remember where we were when we got this special news.
We recently learned in the HaYom Yom about how a Chassid prepares for Shabbos. The Frierdike Rebbe, at the farbrengen of 20 Kislev 5693, shared a few more details that relate to its background.
This Shabbos is the Shabbos before 9-10 Kislev, the birthday, yahrtzait and Chag HaGeula of the Mitteler Rebbe.
The chassid Reb Zalman Zezmer was a student of the Mitteler Rebbe, as he was very young in the times of the Alter Rebbe. He was brilliant and an intellectual person in his very essence.
There is a popular stereotype that Chassidim are not organized and not punctilious to use out their time to its fullest.
We recently learned the following story in the HaYom Yom (6 Cheshvan): When the Alter Rebbe wished to bless R’ Yekusiel Liepler with wealth, the latter said he did not want it; he did not want wealth to distract him from studying Chassidus and from his involvement with avoda. When the Rebbe wished to bless him with longevity, his answer was: But not “peasant years” - men that have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear, who do not perceive G‑dliness nor do they hear G‑dliness.”
This week, the week of Parshas Lech Lecha, marks the beginning of our second journey through the HaYom Yom. We started the week of Parshas Lech Lecha last year and we intend to go through another year as well. Last year we focused on the HaYom Yom and the lessons to be learned in our Avoda to bring Moshiach. This year we will be adding something as well: a lesson from the sichos of 5738.
We are all preparing for the joyous Yom Tov of Sukkos, when we celebrate the forgiveness we have merited and the receiving of the Torah. We complete the annual cycle of reading the entire Torah on Simchas Torah, and through joyous dancing we bring down tremendous spiritual lights and blessings
The story is told that when Reb Mendel Futerfas came to Eretz Yisroel, after spending years suffering behind the Iron Curtain of the former USSR, a huge farbrengen was held in his honor by the Anash of Eretz Yisroel. During the farbrengen, he was asked to describe the Avoda of Elul of the Lubavitcher Chassidim in Russia. They were expecting to hear about the intense davening and T’shuva of the great Chassidim. After singing a few niggunim, he replied: “Elul in Lubavitch…was travelling to the Rebbe!”
This Shabbos (Nitzavim-VaYeilech, 25 Elul) is Shabbos Mevarchim Chodesh Tishrei. While the minhag Chabad is to say T’hillim and have a farbrengen on this Shabbos as we do every Shabbos Mevarchim, we will not say the “Birchas HaChodesh” in davening.
This Shabbos is Chai Elul, the birthday of the holy Baal Shem Tov in 5458 (1698), the date on which his holy master (Achiya HaShiloni) was revealed to him in 5484 (1724), and the date on which the Baal Shem Tov was revealed [as a Rebbe] in 5494 (1734). It is also the birthday of the Alter Rebbe in 5505 (1745).
One of the most famous teachings of the Baal Shem Tov is (HaYom Yom 9 Iyar): “Our master, the Baal Shem Tov, taught: Whatever a person sees or hears is a directive for his service of G‑d. This is what Divine service consists of — understanding and deducing a way to serve G‑d from everything [one sees or hears].”
As Chassidim, we are constantly encouraged by our holy Rebbeim to add in our recitation of T’hillim. As the Rebbe writes (HaYom Yom 24 Shvat): “If you only knew the power that lies in the verses of T’hillim and their effect in the celestial heights,” the Tzemach Tzedek once said, “You would recite them all the time. Know that the chapters of T’hillim break through all barriers and soar aloft from level to level, unimpeded. They intercede before the Master of the Universe and secure their effect with kindness and mercy.”
January 4, 2018