In Yiddish, the word farbrengen means “spending time together.” It has come to describe an earnest and brotherly gathering of chassidim, punctuated by song and talk. When the Rebbe leads a farbrengen, it takes on a more formal atmosphere as he addresses his assembled followers, communicating his Torah thoughts and his messages for the Jewish world at large.

Although the Rebbe would speak at such gatherings for several hours, he would share more than the content. For the individuals present and for the community at large, a farbrengen with the Rebbe is a live experience. And it is some of that vitality which we have tried to capture in the stories that follow.