Living Torah Archives

In 1988, one month after the passing of his wife, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, the Rebbe launched the Birthday Campaign in her memory. At a farbrengen marking his own birthday in 1983, the Rebbe explained the significance of the occasion.

All important things need preparation, and education is certainly no exception. We need not wait to respond to our children; by being proactive, we can be sure that they’re properly engaged. This is especially true by the Passover Seder. Much of the ritual that surrounds the Passover Seder involves the participation of our children. By properly preparing, all our children, no matter their personalities, can feel welcome and involved.

The Haggadah relates that “Torah speaks to four sons”. Although they are all different they are placed one beside the other to emphasize the innate value of each.

Song Lyrics: “May it be Your will, L-rd our G-d and G-d of our fathers, that the Holy Temple be rebuilt speedily in our days; and grant us our portion in Your Torah.” (From the Amidah Prayer)

The Rebbe distributes dollars to the Mitzvah Tankists at the conclusion of a Farbrengen.

My father-in-law, the Rebbe, writes that on one’s birthday one should recall and contemplate his past experiences and make resolutions to improve for the future. But if it is called a “birthday” one must also contemplate the very concept of birth.

Some ask: “What benefit results from the Tefillin campaign? You put Tefillin on a Jew only one time, and you have no idea if it has any lasting effect on him?” Every Mitzvah forges an eternal bond between a Jew and his Creator. In addition, the Talmud teaches that a Jew who dons Tefillin even once, becomes worthy of his share in the World to Come; his entire eternal future, depends on it.

Vacationing at sea, a successful Jewish businessman was diligent to recite his daily prayers and inquired of the captain which direction was eastward. The captain asked, “Why your sudden interest in the boat’s navigation?” The businessman explained that our prayers ascend through Jerusalem, and a Jew faces there three times a day to beseech G-d.

We begin the Seder by announcing, “Whoever is hungry come and eat; whoever needs come celebrate Passover.” It is admirable to give money to someone who hungers, but even greater to provide prepared food so he need not exert any effort before quieting his hunger. Although we give money to the needy so they may acquire their Passover needs, we go further to invite them to our prepared Seder meal; all they must do is come in and they will immediately be able to eat!