The murmuring of waves could be heard even through the stone walls. The sound they made as they broke against the rocks were like a pleasant musical background for those sitting inside. “Welcome to Beit Chabad,” said the sign. It was meant for the Jewish tourists visiting the vacation spot in South Africa. Many Jews went there for Shabbos, to enjoy a warm, Jewish atmosphere.
When my son was released from the hospital after a month-long stay, the doctors were talking about a “medical miracle.” Recovering from such a serious injury was totally unprecedented. The Hadassah Women’s Organization, entrusted with collecting money and providing public relations services for the Hadassah Medical Center in Yerushalayim, took my son with them to the United States to speak about his miraculous recovery, a literal case of “You have given those who fear You trials with which to be tested.” The fact that our son is with us today, alive and healthy, is a totally unnatural phenomenon. They didn’t know that everything came from an explicit bracha from the Lubavitcher Rebbe…
The Jewish people were governed by four sources of authority: The monarchy, judiciary (the Sanhedrin), priesthood and prophecy, all of which are discussed in this week’s parsha. Each of these institutions had specific requirements to qualify as a member. Two institutions, the Sanhedrin and the priesthood, had as a peculiar requirement that their physical bodies should not be blemished or defective.
At the Giving of the Torah, we encountered the values of modesty, Jewish unity, appreciation, and kabbalas ol. Each of these concepts and values is a teaching unto itself. How do we teach children according to these values and how do we bring them to a state of implementation in their day-to-day lives? Beis Moshiach presents a fascinating discussion on education with Rabbi Chaim Yosef Kumer, first-grade teacher at the “Ohr Menachem” Chabad Talmud Torah in Tzfas, commemorating his seventeen years of work in the field. “Our children are our guarantors
About the Chassid, R’ Moshe Levertov, who combined scholarship and askanus. The Chassid who was a wanted criminal at the age of ten, an outstanding talmid in Tomchei T’mimim, mashpia and menahel ruchni in Pittsburgh and director of Lishkas Ezras Achim for nearly 25 years. * To commemorate his passing on 6 Elul
What job opportunities are there for Lubavitcher young men? * They married and started families, but to a certain extent, they are like chicks that just emerged into the world. How can they support themselves? What professions should be chosen? Are there preferred occupations and “undignified” professions?
Forty years ago, R’ Alexander Bin-Nun wrote fascinating notes with deep Chassidic explanations along with stories of Chassidim that were not well known. * The Rebbe saw these notes and told him to publish them but they disappeared and were only found recently and given to Beis Moshiach to publicize. * We are pleased to present part two of his notes which include unknown Chassidic thought, especially those which he heard from the Rebbe’s father.
It should be announced and publicized in all places - with heartfelt words - that G-d says through His servants, the prophets, to each and every Jew: “Behold I am placing before you today a blessing,” so much so, that literally today we will see with eyes of flesh the blessing of the true and complete Redemption.
Strict adherence to the Rebbe’s words is necessary because even the slightest deviation enables the possibility for one to err as did the Meraglim. * Part 2 of Chapter Eight of Rabbi Shloma Majeski’s Likkutei Mekoros continues with the focus on how accepting that the Rebbe is with us as before enables us to be devoted to the Rebbe’s directives.
August 19, 2015