Living Torah Archives

Regarding the annual study of Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah, when study of a part of Torah is completed, it must at once begin anew, as was just done on Simchas Torah. You probably don’t need a reminder, but you can remind your students. (Collage)

Rabbi Shimon Bekerman serves on the board of the Chabad Youth Organization in Israel. In 1965 he traveled to New York for the month of Tishrei and had his first audience with the Rebbe.

The nights of the festival of Sukkos are marked by Simchas Beis Hashoeva, dancing and joyous celebration reminiscent of the festivities in Temple times. The final day of Sukkos, Hoshana Rabbah, is marked in a more solemn way, as it is the day on which the judgement that began on Rosh Hashanah is sealed. But that should not be a reason not to celebrate.

A special video montage of the morning prayers on Hoshana Rabbah, including the Rebbe reciting Hallel and waving the Four Species.

The Rebbe advises someone to dance on Simchat Torah to help bring physical healing.

Yisroel Swimmer is a chief financial officer living in Lawrence, New York. In the 1980s, he was a child growing up in Johannesburg, South Africa. (1983)

During the Holiday of Sukkos, we take a palm branch, citron, and branches of myrtle and willow, and wave them together in every direction. In fact, it was the custom of our Rebbes that when waving the lulav, they would not only extended it forward and bring it back, but would move it out in each of the six directions, give it a shake, and then bring it back towards the chest.

The Rebbe distributes the Four Kinds to dignitaries on the day before the holiday of Sukkos.

This will be for a special blessing to be diligent in your studies. May you study Torah and fulfill the commandments. And this you can give as your first Mitzvah, to give this dollar to charity. (collage)

Rabbi Mendel Lipskar is the Executive Director of Chabad of South Africa and serves as rabbi of the Shul at Hyde Park in Johannesburg. He grew up in Toronto, Canada, where his father was on the staff of Camp Gan Israel. To his surprise, when he went to visit the Rebbe with his father, the Rebbe made him an offer that he could not refuse. (1960)

In his work, Iggeres Hateshuvah, the Alter Rebbe explains that there are two levels of repentance. While the first brings about a change in the person’s conduct, it is the second, higher level, which revolutionizes his entire inner world.

Scenes from the Rebbe’s distribution of honey cake on the eve of Yom Kippur in 1990.

Thank you for the picture of my mother, Rebbetzin Chana. May you have good tidings. (collage)

Rabbi Nochum Stilerman is an accomplished fundraiser for various Jewish charities and institutions. As a teenager in the late 1950s, he ran deliveries for his father’s grocery store in Brooklyn, New York. His customers included Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson, the Rebbes’ mother. The Rebbetzin enjoyed talking to him, and on one occasion, he decided to ask her a question. He didn’t know that she’d tell the Rebbe all about it.

But why does G-d need our efforts? Can He not accomplish His goals without us? A pre-Rosh Hashanah message.

Chasidim sing a soul stirring nigun, Yemin Hashem, attributed to the third Rebbe of Chabad, the Tzemach Tzedek.

Give this to charity in London, and this is for great and increasing success. You probably know that we’re both connected to the Tzemach Tzedek. Being that we carry his name, it’s a sign of our connection. May we be connected with him at the time of the resurrection. (Collage)

Professor Shlomo Eckstein is the former president and director of Bar Ilan University in Tel Aviv, Israel. In the 1950s, he was a leader in the B’nei Akiva youth movement and was disappointed by his lack of results. After writing a letter to the Rebbe expressing his feelings, he received a response that changed his entire perspective.

At the commencement of Elul, the month preceding Rosh Hashanah, we begin to reflect on the year that passed, and on improving our relationship with G-d. The Alter Rebbe, the founder of Chabad, compared the Almighty during the month of Elul to a king who goes out to the field to make himself accessible to all. But it’s our responsibility to take full advantage of this time - after all, soon the King will return to his chambers.

Scenes of the Selichos prayers at 770 on the eve of Rosh Hashanah in 1983.

May it be in an auspicious hour and may Chasidim have the upper hand. We have that guaranteed by the Alter Rebbe and the Baal Shem Tov. As in the Haggadah, may they be up all night in Bnei Brak, discussing the era of Moshiach.

Rabbi Ephraim Rosenblum serves as principal of Yeshiva Boys School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In the 1950s, he was a student at the Central Lubavitch Yeshiva in Brooklyn, New York. The students would go out to different cities and disseminate the books of Chasidism and talk to people. Everything was going smoothly until they were involved in a scary accident. (1954)

One of the earliest Chasidic texts, Tzavoas Harivash, is a manual of insights and guidance culled from the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov and his successor, Rabbi Dovber of Mezritch. Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, known as the Alter Rebbe, was their foremost student and the founder of Chabad, and is known for his seminal work, the Tanya.

Meaning of the song: “When will the Master come?” This question was asked of Moshiach by the Baal Shem Tov, founder of Chassidism, during a visit to his chamber On High. “When your Wellsprings (of Chassidism) will spread to the outside,” was Moshiach’s response.

May the Yeshiva building be an edifice of truth, as befitting Tomchei Temimim. May you have much success.

Yaakov Abrams is a business appraiser and author on business evaluation, living in Los Angeles, California. He was married to his wife Chana in the mid-1980s. (1986)

As part of his campaign, launched in 1974 to encourage Jews to affix mezuzahs in their homes, the Rebbe also urged checking them in order to ensure that they are indeed kosher.

The Rebbe partakes in the morning prayers at 770.

A special video collage on the importance of checking tefillin and mezuzahs to make sure that they are Kosher.

Born in the Soviet Union, Rabbi Mottel Chein is now a communal activist living in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn. In the late 1950s, he was a student at the Tomchei Temimim yeshiva in Lod, Israel.

How many times does every parent ask him or herself: “Am I giving my child the very best that’s out there?” Here, the Rebbe argues that “the best” is not just wishful thinking, it’s an obligation.

Before a special children’s Rally during the month of Elul, the Rebbe joins for the Mincha prayer service.

The redemption will come in the merit of the righteous women of that generation, so It depends, to a large extent, on you. God has always helped you, you just need to “cash” in and raise righteous women in Israel. (Collage)

Rabbi Osher Ehrenreich has served as dean of Bais Yaakov High School for Girls in the Boro Park section of Brooklyn for over six decades. In 1968, he and a group of supporters had an audience with the Rebbe.

In June of 1982, war broke out between Israel and terrorist factions in Lebanon. Dubbed Operation Peace for Galilee, it was hoped that it would end years of strife in the region. In an address just one week after the war began, the Rebbe urged Israel’s leaders not to repeat the mistakes of the past.

Vintage footage taken from a farbrengen marking the passing of the Rebbe’s father, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson.

There are crucial decisions to be made in the Land of Israel, associated with the “Integrity of the Land,” the “Integrity of the Jewish People,” and the “Integrity of the Torah.” Don’t be concerned if you need miracles; even miracles will occur.

Gedalya Schreiber has served as director-general of Israel’s Religious Affairs Ministry and as director-general of its Chief Rabbinate. In 1980, he joined the entourage of the Sadigura Rebbe for an audience with the Rebbe.

The Rebbe’s father saw kabbalistic significance in every event in his life. Was this a humble approach?

Vintage footage taken of a farbrengen held in honor of 15 Av.

The Jewish Congress must also have a charity box, put this in the charity box at the Congress, it couldn’t hurt. You can put the computers to use and perhaps calculate when Moshiach will arrive. As long as it doesn’t delay his coming…

Israel Singer is a Jewish activist, academic and former secretary general of the World Jewish Congress. In the mid-1970s, he taught political science in New York and served on the staff of President Gerald Ford. When he visited the Rebbe in preparation for a trip to the Soviet Union, the Rebbe asked him for a personal favor. The feeling of privilege from carrying out the Rebbe’s wishes at that time, has remained the most special experience of his life to this day. (1974)

Concerning the future Redemption, the prophet declares, “I will offer thanks to You, G-d, for Your wrath,” for at that time, the good hidden in all mankind’s suffering will be made clear. But why must this be concealed from us until then?

Havdala following the fast of Tisha B’av

You can tell the Zablitover Rov that it is not only a feeling that the “birth pangs” of Moshiach are over, it is reality. G-d Almighty bless you to be the bearer of good news.

Eitan Ben-David is a businessman and philanthropist living in Jerusalem, Israel. In the 1970s, with his father suffering from a heart condition, they were unsure whether to operate or not. After writing to the Rebbe, they finally received a response: no surgery was necessary. His doctor wasn’t too confident about the Rebbe’s ability to know the details of the case, but couldn’t override the patient’s wishes.

The verse states: “They shall build me a Temple, and I will dwell within them.” Our sages teach us that “within them” refers to every Jewish heart. Each and every single one of us, and the entire Jewish people, all share the mission of bringing the light of Judaism out to the entire world.

Distribution of dollars for charity in the days preceding Tisha B’av

Rashi states that G-d took the two Holy Temples from us as collateral for our sins. By Jewish law, collateral must be returned in one piece; nothing can be missing. May we go from “G-d’s presence filled the Tabernacle” to “G-d called Moses”, with everything that follows.

Ronnie Romberg and her husband, Dr. Henry Romberg, met at Case Western University in Cleveland, Ohio and were married in 1968. Having long dreamed of making Aliyah and moving to Israel, they had all their plans set. All until a Chabad friend of theirs convinced them to ask the Rebbe’s advice first. To make a long story short, they didn’t get the answer they were expecting.

The Mishnah instructs us to “Be a student of Aaron,” love peace, pursue peace; love G-d’s creations...” Notably, the passage concludes, “and bring them close to Torah.”

Nigun composed for the Rebbe’s 81st birthday with words from Psalm 82.

Good tidings for all of El Al, with much success. Your name Kurtzag means brief, but you should do everything at a steady pace, with abundance... The meaning of “El Al” is that one must always strive for higher.

Rabbi Dr. Chaim Shine is a professor of law in Israel and a columnist for the Israel Hayom newspaper. In the late 1970s he joined his uncle, David Shine, then director of El Al in North America, for an audience with the Rebbe. Concerned with the flight security on El Al’s planes, Mr. Shine brought up the issue with the Rebbe. The Rebbe’s advice surprised him at first, but taking heed of the Rebbe’s words, he led the effort to implement them at El Al. (Late 1970s)

The Seventeenth of Tammuz is a fast day commemorating the breach of the walls of Jerusalem before the destruction of the Second Temple. When it falls on Shabbos, the fast is postponed until Sunday, the 18th. More than a scheduling difference, this holds a deep lesson for every Jew.

The Rebbe leads the prayers in his house on the fast of the 17th of Tammuz. Chasidim sing the nigun, Avinu Malkeinu.

May the merit of working with the Almighty’s children help you with your own daughter to have good news. And may the merit of the Holy Land assist you to have good news and much success.

David Mayer lives with his family in Los Angeles, California, where he was an executive in the toy industry. (Early 1980s)

The Twelfth and Thirteenth of Tammuz marks the release of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Scheersohn, the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, from Soviet imprisonment. His self-sacrifice on behalf of Jews of all stripes serves as a testament to the true nature of leadership.

At the end of a farbrengen, the Rebbe recites the Grace After Meals and then hands out dollars to be given to charity.