Talks

Each year, in the days around the holiday of Shavuos, the Rebbe would deliver a special address to members of the N’shei Chabad Women’s group. Here, we present an excerpt from the Rebbe’s talk at this gathering in 1991.

The Talmud explains that the verse, “He redeemed my soul in peace from battles against me, because of the many who were with me,” refers to, “One who works in Torah and charity…” A business owner isn’t satisfied with the clientele who find him; he publicizes his goods and services. His work also has no end; it is constantly on his mind. To work in Torah and charity means going beyond the realm of ‘obligation’ – developing self-motivation for personal growth, and exerting relentless effort to improve the spiritual and physical welfare of others.

Torah juxtaposes the laws of the Festivals with the laws of charity to teach a lesson: Don’t think that when a Festival ends, the obligation to bring joy to the needy ends with it. Charity is a constant Mitzvah, and it must always be done with renewed enthusiasm.

In a culture of “live and let live” you might convince yourself that another person’s religious commitments are none of your business. But ask yourself what you’d do if you truly cared about your fellow’s welfare. And why should someone’s spiritual needs be any less important than their physical needs.

An address to the supporters of the Machne Israel Development Fund.

An address to the supporters of the Machne Israel Development Fund G-d’s foremost commandment is to give charity. Each of you no doubt maintains a separate account for charity, so that you will not have to stop and ponder from which account to write the check when you are approached for a donation.

Rabbi Shmuel of Lubavitch would travel extensively to advocate for his fellow Jews. He would often return to a surprise.

Generally, the requirements of the Variable Offering change according to one’s financial ability. Yet, within these laws, Maimonides brings a case of a poor person who pledges to bring the offerings of someone with more means than him. How will he afford it? Doesn’t Jewish law only obligate a person according to his means? Yet, this law emphasizes, that if he pledged to bring the offering, he will be given the means to fulfill his promise. When a Jew commits to doing something positive; if he resolves to disregard his own shortcomings and do a favor for another Jew, we are assured that G-d will help him fulfill his pledge – a lesson illustrated by a story of printing the Tzemach Tzeddek.

When the Jewish people returned from their exile in Babylon, there was a shortage of wood for the altar in the Holy Temple.