Biblical Events

One might have imagined that the Rebbe's standards for, and expectations from, his own followers might have declined, since his outreach extended to people entirely unaffiliated with Judaism.

A lifeless staff blossoms, and a young boy astounds his listeners with a profound mystical response -- both presumably a result of being touched by holiness. What do we do when we are denied such an opportunity?

Likkutei Sichos, Vol. VI, p. 107ff. I. “And on the third day, when it was morning, there were sounds (Kolos) and lightning; and there was a heavy cloud on the mountain. And the sound (Kol) of the shofar [resounded] very powerfully... And the sound (Kol) o...

Likkutei Sichos, Vol. XVI, p. 475ff. I. After the Torah describes the erection of the Sanctuary in detail,Shmos 40:17ff. it relates that the Divine Presence rested upon the Sanctuary, as it is written:Ibid.:34. “And the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting a...

Likkutei Sichos, Vol. VI, p. 13ff. I. TheTalmud explainsSotah 11b. that the verse:Shmos 1:14. “And they embittered their lives with mortar and bricks, and all [sorts of] work in the field, all their work...,” [reflects a sequence]. First, they compelled t...

Two Approaches to the Giving of the Torah The Torah introduces the Ten Commandments with the verse, Shmos 20:1. “And G‑d spoke all these words, saying....” Our Sages Mechilta on this verse. explain the word leimor (“saying”) as indicating that the J...

Our Sidra opens with G‑d’s command that a census be taken of the Israelites. In fact, there were three such counts taken in the first thirteen months following the exodus from Egypt. What is the spiritual significance of the counting ordained by G‑d? Why ...

The Torah reading of Bamidbar begins with G-d telling Moshe that he and his brother Aharon, the Kohen Gadol (High Priest), were to tally the number of the Jewish people.Bamidbar 1:1-3. The verse goes on to stateIbid., verses 48, 49. that G-d told Moshe “n...

This week’s Torah reading concludes the census of the tribe of Levi. When taking a census, everyone - those on the highest spiritual rungs and those on the lowest levels - count equally. No one is given greater priority than anyone else. This is true, not...

The Jewish people studied Torah and observed its precepts long before they actually became obligated in them at Sinai. Moreover, the Ten Commandments were composed largely of laws already commanded to the non-Jewish world. What, then, was so important abo...