Since the Alm-ghty is the very essence of goodness, and the nature of the good is to bestow benevolence upon others, G-d fulfills this person’s wish and shows him the exalted heights of the Rebbe – that the Rebbe transcends even the Seventh Heaven – and this person remains below [i.e., distant from the Rebbe]…
We met with R’ Boaz Jurkowicz, rav of the Chabad community in Lud, for a talk about preparing for Pesach. He spoke about doing the preparations without stress or arguments; about spiritual preparations for Yom Tov; about the extra care taken on Pesach; and about the joy of the Yom Tov.
“As he approaches his 90th birthday next month, the Rebbe’s power has never been greater.” With this sentence, a New York Times reporter described the Lubavitcher Rebbe in a magazine article entitled, The Oracle of Crown Heights, before 11 Nissan 5752.
A compilation of stories and short sayings about Pesach from our Rebbeim and the great Chassidim over the generations.
Chol 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.
Today, more than ever, we can say with certainty: the world is ready. All the delays, all the obstacles, the perspective that maybe we should change or hide things so people will be receptive, are only in our heads. They don’t really exist. When we acknowledge that the problem is only with us, we can find a solution. * An essay from a seasoned Israeli journalist published in the winter of 5772.
The unforgettable Pesach night with the Rebbe began one day in Nissan of 5724/1964 when R’ Moshe Leib Rodstein, the secretary of the Rebbe Rayatz and later the Rebbe’s secretary, asked me, “Are you interested in working upstairs?”
I remember that seder until this very day even though over sixty years have passed since then!
When the editor texted me asking for a column about a special seder in my life, the first thought I had was that I could whip up an article like that in a second. How many words? I texted him back. 600/700 he responded. No problem, I’ll send it, I wrote him.
Thirty-eight years ago, like today, we lived in Afula. For Pesach 5736/1976 we planned to be with our parents which is why, although we cleaned the house, we did not kasher the kitchen. Instead, we packed our suitcases, shopped and were busy with Mivtza Matza.
One of the significant aspects of the Seder is the emphasis we place on questions, and specifically, the Four Questions.
Naava Karmon has many miracle stories to share as well as her journey from Moldavia, working in the high-tech arena and becoming a baalas t’shuva through Arachim, and finally becoming a shlucha of the Rebbe.
This Shabbos is Shabbos HaGadol, the Shabbos before 11 Nissan and Chag Ha’Pesach. These two Yomim Tovim complement each other. Chazal tell us that Pesach not only marks the liberation from Mitzrayim but also marks the beginning of the process of the final Geula. The process of geula will ultimately culminate through the avoda of Melech HaMoshiach, whose birthday is 11 Nissan.
August 6, 2015