Zeide did not say whether the bear never got up again or just lost consciousness, but now all the brawny shkotzim fled in every direction. Why? Because Yisroel Koshitzker went over to the large boulders. The shkotzim thought he was going to pay them back but good, but Yisroel merely grabbed the rocks and hurled them one by one in order to vent his agitated spirit. It was, after all, a large and angry bear…
Most of the obstacles are actually self-generated. Whether it is a propensity toward anger, self-aggrandizement, lethargy, or uncontrollable temptations and addictions, the negativity I generate from within and project outwards form barriers that block the light, or make me unable to appreciate it when it is there. On a deeper, more existential level, the obstacle that blocks the light is, ironically, me.
The niggun that expresses the Rebbe Maharash’s approach to life is called “L’chat’chilla Aribber.” * In the biography that the Rebbe wrote about the Rebbe Maharash, he says that the source of the Rebbe Maharash’s inspiration was the book written by the mekubal R’ Emanuel Refael Chai Riki. * This is the inspiring story of a niggun and the story of a tzaddik and mekubal. * Presented for Beis Iyar, birthday of the Rebbe Maharash.
Over the years, the Rebbe did what he had to do to bring the Sh’china down to this world. What is demanded of us is to bring out the Nachshon within us, the point of mesirus nefesh. How do we do that? We each need to consult with our mashpia and come up with a plan.
A wondrous story of Divine Providence involving a series of well-timed meetings, enabling the shluchim of the Rebbe MH”M in the North Tel Aviv neighborhood of Ne’ot Afeka to save a Jewish girl from the depths of spiritual destruction.
Clearwater, Florida attracts millions of tourists and sports enthusiasts every year. Sadly, the assimilation rate in Clearwater is 95% and most men are in the “karkafta” category. * Rabbi Shmuel Reich and his family are out on the front lines in Clearwater, where they are contending with a most challenging though rewarding shlichus.
There is no point in measuring ourselves up to the Rebbe in his manner of avoda. The Rebbe asks that we do according to our abilities and strength. That means he doesn’t expect me to do as he does; he expects me to do as myself.
If the theme of Pesach is “jumping” to the mindset of redemption, it would only make sense that there must be something that we do on Pesach that helps us leave our boundaries and enter the world of Redemption.
The following installment is a testament to the indomitable Jewish spirit that managed to survive the smokestacks of the Nazi crematoria. * Part 2
Most of the participants at the s’darim at Chabad houses in India fall into the category of the “Fifth Son” whom the Rebbe said must also be brought to the table. * The “Fifth Son” comes in many guises – as a Wise Son, a Wicked Son, a Simple Son, and One Who Does Not Know How to Ask. And there is the fifth son within the category of Fifth Son who doesn’t even show up and ends up making a Seder for himself. * Rabbi Dror Moshe Shaul, the Rebbe’s shliach to Dharamkot, Dharamsala, together with his family and the bachurim Eliyahu Sebbag and Mendy Taib, tell about five special people.
That child-like innocence that hasn’t yet been tainted by our intellectual nature may be lying dormant. We must do something drastic, unorthodox and unconventional to awaken it.
What attitude should we have towards the children’s cleaning and preparing for Pesach? What do we need to be careful about when it comes to Chol HaMoed trips? How can we strengthen the family during Yom Tov? What sort of atmosphere should we be aiming to achieve in the home during Yom Tov?
Episodes from the life of a young man who made his way through the spiritual minefield that was Soviet Russia.
April 24, 2012