The groom writes to his bride in the k’suba, the marriage contract, “I will honor, and provide food, and support, etc.” At first glance, though, this is puzzling, for our Sages say, “A man is only granted sustenance for the sake of his wife.” How then can the groom pledge, “I will honor, and provide food, and support”? [How can he be charged with providing for his wife’s needs when apparently he plays no role in the process?]
It’s quite clear to everyone, including Messrs. Bennett and Lapid, that we should not expect to see hundreds of eighteen-year olds in army uniforms walking down the streets of B’nei Brak and Mea Sh’arim anytime during the next few years. They honestly can’t imagine that the rule of law will shut down the yeshivos and the world of Torah will be an endless source of IDF recruits. Yet, they continue to push the empty wagon of compulsory draft legislation, as if there’s no Iran and no Pakistan – merely a few ultra-Orthodox scholars sitting in yeshiva in B’nei Brak whose noses must be extricated from their Gemaras.
The Rebbe referred to the double Adars as “Sixty Days of Simcha.” We spoke with R’ Kuti Rapp, director of the Matteh Shira V’Zimra, who organizes joyous dancing every night of Adar in 770. We heard about the connection between simcha and bringing the Geula and what happened behind the scenes with the singing of Yechi on Rosh Chodesh Kislev 5753. * A happy interview.
“Moses gathered the whole community of the children of Israel and he said to them, ‘These are the things that G-d commanded to be done.’” The Torah then enumerates two things that G-d commanded: Shabbos and the building of the Mishkan, the portable Sanctuary… “These are the things that G-d commanded,” implied that these were the only things G-d commanded. How could that be, considering the fact that all 613 commandments were given at Mount Sinai, not only Shabbos and the construction of the Mishkan?
The first Chabad House in Nicaragua in Central America opened three years ago. The shluchim, R’ Dovid Attar and his wife have established a veritable lighthouse, which sends forth the wellsprings of Chassidus and the Besuras Ha’Geula in the picturesque town of S. Juan del Sur. • Preparing the world for Geula.
From the life of R’ Yehoshua Shneur Zalman Serebryanski a”h
In recent years a world war has been raging between the pure neshamos of our children and the enticements of the Internet, the computer screen, and the Smartphone. Parents are not always aware of the extent of the problem. They prefer hiding their heads in the sand, leaving their children contending with it on their own. * We present voices from the front lines: a Mashpia who calls upon parents to recognize the challenge and deal with it; a girl who was caught in the net and managed to extricate herself after suffering heavy damage; a mother who warns of the destruction of the family unit, and a therapist who explains the source of the problem and how to treat it.
“I changed out of my nun’s clothes and made my way to 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn. I waited for a lengthy period of time, as many women stood in front of me and behind me in a long line. When my turn finally came, the Rebbe handed me a dollar, and within in an instant, I found myself heading outside. Suddenly and totally unexpectedly, the Rebbe called me back. He handed me another dollar as he said, ‘This is for Ireland.’ I was positively thunderstruck. How did he know?” An amazing story about “the rabbi whose headquarters is Beis Moshiach,” as told by someone whose son had heard it first-hand.
At first glance it is difficult to understand how the narrative of the production of the covers of the Sanctuary, which were spun from goat hair, is relevant to us. This was strictly a onetime activity necessary for the construction of the Sanctuary in the desert. It is something that is not even applicable to the Third Holy Temple (which won’t need to be fashioned on our part at all, for “it is built and stands ready, etc.”). * These wise women devoted their talents to making G-d’s Sanctuary notwithstanding the fact that it was within their capacity to utilize their special talents for their personal concerns instead…
February 21, 2014