Elul 5775. My five-and-a-half-year-old decided that he must go to the Rebbe for Hakhel. Our financial situation at the time did not enable us to get up and go, and yet how could we not go in a Shnas Hakhel? We could not decide what to do.
Rabbi Teitz of Elizabeth, New Jersey, made twenty-two trips to Russia in the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. Even during the height of the Communist empire and the secret police, he managed to secure permission for his visits. He had good contacts in the government, and they trusted him. Nevertheless, he was often able to utilize his visits to secretly smuggle in important Jewish paraphernalia, such as tefillin and prayerbooks, for the benefit of the oppressed Jews of the USSR.
This Shabbos, Parshas B’Shalach, is the special day of 11 Shvat. While the official day of the acceptance of the Nesius was on Yud-Shvat, the Rebbe puts a special emphasis on the following day, the first official day of Dor HaShvii, the seventh generation. In the sicha of VaEira 5752 (also see Besuras Geula, chapter 59), the Rebbe speaks about the specialty of our generation that began on the 11th day of the 11th month and the year 5711.
Rabbi Elimelech Shachar is the intensely busy director of the Chabad schools in Rechovot, while Rabbi Yaakov Reinitz is the legendary madrich of the Chabad yeshiva in Lud for the past 55 years. Both of them connect Jews to the Rebbe and serve as an address for those who wish to write to the Rebbe.* They speak about their special shlichus in guiding people to write to the Rebbe and the challenges they encounter. * How do they explain what Chitas is and why it’s important to attend a farbrengen? What do they do when there isn’t a clear answer in the Igros? And what does “azkir al ha’tziyun” mean? * As well as… a rare note from the Rebbe with detailed instructions about writing to him. All this, plus stories and miracles.
Every Chassid knows that he has to prepare himself and his family for the great day of Yud Shvat. * How does one prepare for this day? Why does hiskashrus to the Rebbe need to be a part of our lives? How does it affect our daily lives? * Rabbi Sasson Gabbai, mashpia in Yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim in Netanya, shares his thoughts regarding the Rosh Hashana L’hishkashrus
They wear knitted yarmulkes, jeans and T-shirts, but are well-versed in maamarei Chassidus, farbreng on auspicious days in the Chabad calendar, daven from a T’hillas Hashem Siddur, observe some Chabad customs, and what interests them is avodas Hashem in t’filla, closeness to the Creator and refining their middos. * The phenomenon: meet the students from Zionist-Chassidic yeshivos, a new strain of religious-Zionist youth, who have spiritual ambitions and find in Chassidus the answers that they seek. * We met with Chassidim from this demographic and at a spontaneous farbrengen we asked them about the impact of Chassidus, about hiskashrus to the Rebbe and going to him, about crossing lines and why Chabad specifically.
Thirty years ago, the Rebbe started the campaign urging people to “asei lecha rav,” that every man and woman, boy and girl, appoint a mashpia to help them in their avodas Hashem. * By examining the Rebbe’s sichos and talking with mashpiim, we clarify the details of the campaign that the Rebbe referred to as a “soul request.”
How do we stay strong 22 years after Gimmel Tammuz? And what is the significance of this day? How do we handle the challenges of the times and how do we teach our children about hiskashrus to the Rebbe? * Rabbi Moshe Kornwitz, rosh mesivta and mashpia in the Chabad yeshiva in Natzrat Ilit, in a fascinating farbrengen for Gimmel Tammuz
Twenty-two years have passed since we last saw the Rebbe. Many ask how we can be truly mekushar under these circumstances. * Let us go back many decades to life behind the Iron Curtain where many Chassidim were trapped without a direct connection to the Rebbe, where the bond of love and longing connected them and melted any iron curtain that threatened to separate between them and the Rebbe. * Presented for Gimmel Tammuz
One of the special things about the Ohr Menachem school for girls in Tzfas is how they are taught to connect to the Rebbe through writing to him via the Igros Kodesh. This starts with the principal, Mrs. Nechama Navon, continues with the staff of supervisors and teachers, and on to the parents and students themselves. * How is this done? What positive influence does this have? How do the professionals from the Education Ministry react? * An interview with Mrs. Navon
They grew up in old-time Lubavitcher families and were raised on Geula and Moshiach from childhood. The ability to explain things, along with their fascinating lectures, were known already in their youth, and at a relatively young age they displayed superlative talent in their life’s work – raising the next generation of Chabad. * In this joint interview, R’ Gershon Avtzon of Cincinnati and R’ Sender Wilschansky of Milan, discuss the integration of the pleasantness and appeal that is characteristic of Chabad along with unyielding firmness, the inner source for a lack of involvement in publicizing the Besuras HaGeula, and their common chinuch approach: no to compromise and yes to principles.
July 2, 2019