Living Torah Archives

During a Farbrengen celebrating Purim in 1980, the Rebbe leads Chasidim in some lively and spirited Nigunim.

The Rebbe instructs chasidim to sing Shoshanas Yaakov, a nigun with words traditionally recited at the conclusion of the Megillah reading.

The Code of Jewish Law rules that if our enemies set out to besiege Jewish cities, then even if they come for a seemingly benign purpose such as “gathering straw and stubble,” they must be fought off, even at the cost of desecrating the Sabbath.

The Megillah recounts how Haman’s evil decree was reversed. Here is how it happened.

We live in a time of great freedom and prosperity for Jews. However, we must always keep in mind that it is not the “Strength and might of my own hand which has earned me this wealth,” but rather, “It is G-d’s blessing that brings riches.”

From G-d’s blessing to Jacob, “And you shall spread forth to the west, to the east, to the north and to the south.” These words became a slogan for the Rebbe’s call to reach every Jew, wherever he may be.

“Deliver Your people and bless Your heritage; tend them and exalt them forever.” (Psalms 28:9) “Jerusalem shall be as inhabited as vast unwalled cities.” (Zechariah 2:8)

In modern times, G-d has blessed the Jewish People, and the majority of Jews live in countries where they are not persecuted or segregated. But with this comes a new challenge

By creating Adam alone, G-d teaches us that every individual is like a whole world. But this is only half the story. When the Torah requires a donation from every single Jew to connect us all as one to the work of the Holy Temple, it tells each to bring precisely a half-Shekel.