Living Torah Archives

During a farbrengen celebrating the Alter Rebbe’s liberation from Czarist imprisonment on 19 Kislev, chasidim sing the nigun, Podoh V’sholom.

The open miracles that G-d has shown the Jewish people in the Holy Land in our own times are a powerful reminder of its importance and centrality to the entire nation.

It is customary on Chanukah to organize special gatherings for children. It is also the custom to make family gatherings which include activities such as playing dreidel, staging plays and distributing Chanukah gelt.

The nations of the world are watching and waiting: “When will Jews begin to say what they’re really thinking about the Land of Israel?” When a Jew starts talking diplomatic jargon, begging the nations to take more and more land, thinking that in this way he’ll find favor in their eyes – the non-Jew doesn’t believe him, because he’s not talking like a Jew.

Tractate Brachos in the Jerusalem Talmud concludes with the passage: “Torah scholars increase peace in the world, as the verse states, ‘All your children shall be disciples of the L-rd, and your children’s peace shall increase.’”

Government is responsible to use its authority to promote the rule of law and protect the welfare of its citizens. Ultimately, law and order can be maintained when people fear the government. But relying on fear tactics means that otherwise there would be chaos.

One of the purposes for which the Jewish children’s organization, Tzivos Hashem, was founded is to gather Jewish children together outside of school where they will be impressed with the message that they are soldiers in G-d’s Army.

Chassidim sing a favorite Niggun of the Rebbe’s father, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, of righteous memory.

In his or her free hours after school, a child should not be left to fend for himself against the untoward influences that often surround him. Even well-intentioned individuals who are concerned about education sometimes wait until a teenager finds himself in trouble, and then their concern focuses on how to cope with yet another young “threat to society.”

Students benefit from the guidance and supervision of their educators for only a limited number of hours a day. The environments in which children spend much of their after-school hours, whether at home or on the street, exerts a strong influence that is often in conflict with the values they absorb at school. School administrations often overlook this fact.

At the Giving of the Torah, G-d’s voice was heard throughout all of creation proclaiming, “I am the L-rd your G-d Who took you out of Egypt.” Is this really G-d’s greatest accomplishment? Why didn’t He say, “I have created heaven and earth?”

The Rebbe announces the opportunity for everyone to join the communal study of Talmud by accepting the study of one Tractate within the coming year. Paper and pen are passed around. The Rebbe, as well, writes his own commitment. The Rebbe then encourages the singing.