Tuesday
Mar312015
“IN ORDER THAT YOU SHALL RECOUNT”
March 31, 2015Chol HaMoed, the entire family sits together and munches on matza. For dessert, you might want to serve up a Chassidic tale. * For the holiday that is all about telling stories.
Entries in Story (109)
Monday
Mar302015
THE REBBE SEES THE ENTIRE WORLD
A group of Chabad Chassidim from the city of Telenesht (a city in Bessarabia [now Moldova] in Eastern Europe) made its way to Lubavitch in order to see the third Rebbe, the Tzemach Tzedek. It was a long journey in those days, from their homes to the capitol of Chabad Chassidus. They wanted to spend Pesach with the Rebbe and had left home a few days after Chanuka.
Wednesday
Mar252015
GENTLE PERSUASION
Shmuel Gruzman, shliach to Moshava Migdal which is near Teveria, related: Those who live in Eretz Yisroel are used to the phenomenon of yeshiva bachurim who did not learn in Tomchei T’mimim, touring Eretz Yisroel. Teveria and its environs are frequently visited by them.
Wednesday
Mar252015
AT THE LAST MINUTE
A Lubavitcher Chassid was making a simcha. He went to look for a hall that would meet all his needs. After much research he went to a certain hall in a hotel in Netanya.
Wednesday
Mar252015
THE RAMBAM SAVED THE DAY
This story took place before the Peace in Galilee War. R’ Mordechai Baron, a resident of Kfar Chabad, was called to serve in the Reserves. On the appointed day, he reported to the base from where he went together with his buddies to one of the bases near the front.
Tuesday
Mar172015
ONE GOOD DEED LEADS TO ANOTHER
My father arrived in Lubavitch in the afternoon. To be more precise, it was early evening. He was young, about sixteen years old, and his soul yearned for everything having to do with holiness and Judaism. He left the Litvishe yeshiva in Aix-les-Bains in the early afternoon and in the evening he stepped foot for the first time in Yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim (Brunoy, which the Rebbe referred to as being similar to the actual yeshiva in) Lubavitch.
Monday
Dec152014
JEWISH PRIDE AND A TALE OF TWO BAR MITZVAHS
In the middle of Chanuka six years ago, IDF forces carried out Operation Cast Lead. Naturally, tensions ran high in Moslem countries that tuned into Al Jazeera which incited against Israel. I was working as a shliach in Marrakesh in Morocco at the time, and we could feel a definite tension among the local population.
Wednesday
Dec102014
ROSH HA’SHANA L’CHASSIDUS!
A moving description of the Yud-Tes Kislev farbrengen of 5662, when it was revealed for the first time that Yud-Tes Kislev is “Rosh HaShana L’Chassidus.”
Tuesday
Nov252014
SMALL EFFORTS BRING BIG RESULTS ON SHLICHUS
“The Rebbe quotes the Midrash which says that Moshe was unable to put up the tall heavy beams of the Mishkan until Hashem told him to put his hand to it. Then the Mishkan stood up on its own. The Rebbe connects this with the future Mikdash which, according to the Midrash and Rashi, will descend from Heaven fully made.”
Tuesday
Nov042014
UNEXPECTED TURNAROUND
Not all of us are interested in news about the economy – legal penalties, labor disputes, ups and downs in the stock market, etc. But if you have a vested interest, then it sure does interest you! This story took place ten years ago in Eretz Yisroel. Chanoch and Zissel, a Lubavitcher couple, (pseudonyms) worked for years and supported themselves in a dignified fashion. They managed to keep their heads above water, or – in financial terms – above the overdraft, for the most part.
Thursday
Oct022014
SECRET MISSION
The eve of 13 Tishrei 5643/1882. It was approaching midnight when the Rebbe Maharash got out of bed and sat down. His face shone with a special light. He wore a pocket watch which he detached from its chain. He then took a piece of paper from the table in front of him, turned the hands of the watch to 11:51 and inserted the paper to block the hands from moving. * Presented to mark the passing of the Rebbe Maharash.
Thursday
Oct022014
A LUBAVITCHER SUKKOS IN MODERN AMERICA
Just two years had passed since the Rebbe Rayatz left Russia after a long saga of severe persecution directed at him, his family, his mekuravim and Chassidim. With Hashem’s mercy he had reached safer countries but even there he did not allow himself to rest, despite having many stormy years of communal work behind him….
Wednesday
Sep102014
WHEN THE BAAL SHEM TOV SAID TORAH IN GAN EDEN AND IN MEZHIBUZH
Presented for Chai Elul, the birthday of the Baal Shem Tov.
