Living Torah Archives

In the Beginning G-d created the heavens and the earth. But in order to make room for a finite world, the Kabbalah teaches that G-d who is infinite, had to limit some of His own light.

The Torah relates how our forefather Jacob behaved when he dwelled with Laban. Overcoming all the challenging circumstances he found himself in, he remained loyal and true to serving G-d despite them. While this steadfastness was a clear demonstration of where Jacob’s true allegiance lay, it still wasn’t the true fulfilment of his potential.

The nineteenth of Kislev marks the liberation of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi from Czarist imprisonment for his efforts in spreading chasidic teachings.

The nineteenth of Kislev marks the release of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi from imprisonment in Czarist Russia. He was imprisoned as a result of his efforts in spreading chasidic teachings, but it was only after this that he was able to continue his work without hindrance, and with greater success and intensity.

Maimonides rules that a non-Jew must keep the Seven Noahide Laws, not because he agrees with them intellectually, but because they were commanded to him by G-d, through Moses at Sinai.

The fact that a parent feeds and clothes a child does not mean he may do with the child whatever he wants… The parent himself is a possession of G-d; how much more so their child, who is only entrusted to the parent for safekeeping. There is only one path – the straight path, the path of life: to educate them and raise them to Torah, marriage and good deeds.

Anticipating his brother’s hostility, Jacob sent Esau a message of peace. Jacob’s message, however, began not with words of conciliation, but with the declaration, “I lived with Laban for 22 years, yet I scrupulously fulfilled all 613 Mitzvos.”

“In his days may the righteous flourish, with much peace until the moon is no more.” (Psalms 72:7) Chassidim sing a Niggun composed for the Rebbe’s 71st birthday.

“Jewish nation have no fear, Moshiach will be here this year. We want Moshiach now, we don’t want to wait!” Chassidim sing the Tzivos Hashem anthem.