Living Torah Archives

Like the human body, a nation comprises of a “head” which guides their direction and “feet” to do the lifting and lead them towards it. The Zohar teaches that in every generation there’s an individual, who like Moses, serves as the head of the Jewish nation, injecting life and vitality into all those connected to him.

More than just the period of time in which he lived, each generation is essentially intertwined with, even defined by, its spiritual leader. This ccentuates the tremendous responsibility of those who merited to live in the same generation as a Rebbe. This extends also, to those who did not see him during his lifetime, or were born after his passing. If one studies his Torah teachings, and fulfills his directives, then he is bound to the Rebbe, and all that he represents. And this bond must transcend merely being connected; it should define and express his entire identity.

The verse in the Torah which addresses the Jewish people, divides them into ten categories, from “the heads of your tribes” to “your water drawers.”

Rabbi Zalman Sudakevitch was living in Paris when the Rebbe traveled to France to escort his mother to the United States, three years before he assumed leadership. He recalls meeting the Rebbe for the first time in the Rebbe’s hotel room, and learning a lesson about the connection of a chosid to his Rebbe. (1947)

After having made numerous trips to New York to see the Rebbe, Rabbi Avrohom Michoel Halpern, the rabbi of Givat Tzarfatit in Jerusalem, tells the Rebbe that he still feels no change in their connection.

Sometimes, quite out of the blue, we can experience thoughts of repentance, of growing spiritually, and of bettering ourselves. Far from random, the Talmud relates that such thoughts are the soul’s response to a call which issues daily from Heaven.

Reb Mendel Futerfas, imprisoned in a Soviet gulag and unable to communicate with the outside world, composed a unique letter in his mind and “sent” it off to the Previous Rebbe. Reb Mendel’s wife was shocked to receive a letter from the Previous Rebbe in reply to her husband’s “telegram.”

My father-in-law, the Rebbe, gives a parable for what it means to be a Chabad Chasid: A miner digs deep into the ground for coal, which provides warmth and light.

The verse states: “He gave his own bread to the destitute.” The Talmud explains that this refers to Moses giving the Torah to the Jewish people. But every word of the verse is precise..

Torah expects a tzaddik to not be satisfied with his own righteousness; his mission is to influence his fellow Jews to follow G‑d’s path, and to help them become in turn sources of inspiration to others as well.

Yehuda Avner served on the personal staff of five Israeli Prime Ministers. In 1977, after meeting with President Carter at Camp David, Menachem Begin sent him to report to the Rebbe.

Attorney Nathan Lewin was one of Chabad’s main lawyers in the federal court case over ownership of the Previous Rebbe’s library. He tells the events which led up to the case, and the vital roles of the Rebbe and Rebbetzin in that court victory (1985 – 1987).