Chukat: Beyond Understanding
Dear Friend,
This past week, Frank Lautenberg, senior US Senator from New Jersey, passed away. Before entering politics, he was very active in a number of Jewish organizations.
In the 1970s, he met the Rebbe. After a long night of discussing communal matters, the Rebbe steered the conversation toward the personal, encouraging Mr. Lautenberg to introduce more Jewish practice in his life, saying, “[if] you will looktomorrow morning in the mirror, and you will see the same Lautenberg from yesterday – that means that I have achieved nothing.”
“You have achieved plenty, plenty!” exclaimed Mr. Lautenberg.
“That all depends on you,” the Rebbe responded.
The Rebbe loved every person unconditionally for who he was and where he was at. At the same time, though, he saw the infinite potential of what each of us could be and precisely because of that encouraged—and lovingly demanded—that we reach higher.
The Rebbe’s empowering message: Wake up tomorrow morning and see a new view of yourself. Yesterday was good, buttomorrow can be even better.
This week marks 19 years since the Rebbe’s passing in 1994. Let’s take the Rebbe’s message to heart. Let's do another mitzvah and make sure that today is different from yesterday and that tomorrow is even better.
The Chabad.org Editorial Team
Thirty one years after the Rebbe's passing, his impact and influence remain stronger than ever. His teachings continue to inspire and guide us, and his insights are as novel and relevant as if they were given today. Each of us is a beneficiary of the Rebbe's inspiration somehow, and his visionary leadership has transformed the Jewish world as we know it today.
I was in my early thirties, so I suppose I was too young for a midlife crisis—or maybe I arrived at a midlife crisis earlier than most people—but around this time, I was torn with a number of very pressing questions.
It is the third of Tammuz, the anniversary of the Rebbe’s passing, and I find myself reflecting on the meaning of the day, desperately searching for answers to questions that still remain, unanswered . . .
The Rebbe had a certain vision, a very radical vision, of heaven, earth and the human being. Radical, but somehow completely grounded in the same tradition in which all these crazy modern values are rooted.
Miriam’s self-sacrifice and determination serve as an ever-present inspiration.
Life and light are often paired together. We seek life, and we seek light. Yet sometimes we seem to hit a patch of darkness. What happens then?
Just as some businessmen become traumatized by the mistakes of their early career and refuse to ever again venture into uncharted territory or speculative investments, it must have been so tempting for the Jews to play it safe and await further orders.
The red heifer; Miriam dies, and her well dries up; and Moses hits the rock, and is denied entry to the Land of Israel. Aaron dies, and venomous snakes attack the Israelite camp.
When a large number of human bones mixed in with pages containing Hebrew words were discovered at a building site in the town of Netishyn, Ukraine, the few local Jews turned to the only rabbi they knew for assistance.
I am happy in my relationship, and things are getting quite serious. But I have nothing to compare her to, because I have never been in this type of relationship before. I feel that perhaps, before I commit, I should see some others . . .
Is it true that traditionally, Jewish marriages were arranged marriages? I’ve also heard that this is still the practice amongst the more religious Jews . . .
G‑d tells Abaraham, “Whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her voice.” In this class we examine the dilema between doing what others expect of us and doing what is best.
Lubavitch World Headquarters, known as “770,” is where the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory, spent his life working to impact the world in a positive way.
Pamela Spadino, of Highland Park, Ill., never thought her son Chase would be able to be called to the Torah for his bar mitzvah—let alone be tutored in Hebrew by a fellow 12-year-old.
“Frank Lautenberg was a proud American Jew,” said Rabbi Levi Shemtov, director of American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad). “He was crucial in easing the burden of Soviet Jews, a staunch supporter of Israel and a household name for Jewish people following Washington.”
“Every day, the Torah must be new to you.” (Sifrei)
Torah is our life, and life is here and now, forever new.
Which means that for you to be truly alive, the Torah you learn today must touch the core of your soul.
And the same tomorrow. And the next day as well.
To live with Torah is to be forever newly born.
