Living Torah Archives

The Mitteler Rebbe’s imprisonment came about after the wellsprings of the Baal Shem Tov had already swept the Jewish People, nourishing tens of thousands of souls. Despite all this, there descended a darkness so profound that it challenged even such a great light, and resulted in an imprisonment. But when denser darkness is conquered, the resultant light that shines forth out of the darkness is ever the brighter.

Chasidim sing during a farbrengen marking 9 Kislev, the birth & passing of Rabbi Dovber of Lubavitch.

The Chanukah Menorah is kindled at twilight. “Twilight” represents a dual state: on the one hand, there is darkness; but at the same time, the sun is still fully there, albeit obstructed.

At a farbrengen honoring the Mitteler Rebbe, the second Rebbe of Chabad, Chasidim join the Rebbe in singing “We Want Moshiach Now.”

Our sages declare that the night was created for girsa – Torah study. They chose their words carefully: Girsa denotes a cursory type of study, intended to cover ground in Torah. It is not necessarily deep. Yet, the sages maintain that nighttime was created specifically for this type of study.

At a Farbrengen on the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Dovber of Lubavitch, the Mittler Rebbe, the Rebbe requests a Niggun that was sung by the Mittler Rebbe’s court choir.

The teachings of the second Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Dov Ber, add unprecedented length, breadth and depth to concepts in Chassidic Philosophy – enabling the human mind to achieve even greater union with the Divine wisdom.

Now that we stand two weeks before Chanukah, it is time to raise some points as to the nature of the Chanukah campaign: The Chanukah Menorah is kindled at twilight. “Twilight” represents a dual state: on the one hand, there is darkness; but at the same time, the sun is still fully there, albeit obstructed.

God’s promise to Jacob: “I will do good to you, and I will make your offspring as the sand of the sea which is too numerous to count.” (Genesis 32:13)

This Niggun was sung by the choir of the Mitteler Rebbe, Rabbi Dovber of Lubavitch.

On the tenth of Kislev, 5587, December 10, 1826, the second Lubavitcher Rebbe Rabbi Dovber, known as the Mitteler Rebbe, was released from prison after being falsely accused of treason. The many outreach activities demanded by the Rebbe may not be used as an excuse to not pay attention to one’s own spiritual needs.