Living Torah Archives

At the end of a farbrengen, the Rebbe recites the Grace After Meals and then hands out dollars to be given to charity.

The Jerusalem Talmud states: “If the Holy Temple is not rebuilt in your lifetime, it’s as though it were destroyed in your lifetime.” The commentaries learn from this that the Temple’s destruction is an ongoing event.

During a lively nigun at the Yud Beis Tammuz farbrengen, the Rebbe invites the JEM camera crew to join in saying L’chaim.

The Jerusalem Talmud states: “If the Holy Temple is not rebuilt in your lifetime, it’s as though it were destroyed in your lifetime.” The commentaries learn from this that the Temple’s destruction is an ongoing event. On Tisha B’av, we do not mourn events that occurred 1,900 years ago… The destruction of the Temple takes place every single day – and a Jew is expected to cry out for Redemption as if he has witnessed that destruction today!

The Mishneh Torah was not written only for great Torah scholars. Maimonides himself writes that he composed it in a clear unambiguous style for all Jews – “for small and great alike.”

Although Columbus “discovered” America, obviously these lands and their inhabitants existed before he arrived. They were just unknown to those living on the other side of the globe.

“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 daily prayers.

When it appears to a person that he is a minority standing against the jungle of the world, he has the example of my father-in-law, the Rebbe: One lone individual who stood against a ruthless, powerful regime - and triumphed, for he had G-d on his side.

A song in Russian: “G-d is One, His name is One, besides Him there is no one.”

Chasidim sing a nigun that is attributed to the Rebbe Rashab as preparation to the Alter Rebbe’s niggun (Daled Bavos).

In the Holy Temple, a Korban Olah, a Burnt sacrifice, was offered up twice daily, in the morning and at dusk. Our Sages teach that while we are in exile, “the prayers were established in place of the daily offerings.” ‘Korban,’ offering, shares the same Hebrew root as ‘Kiruv,’ closeness. The purpose of an offering is, that through it, we become closer to G-d. True closeness to G-d can be achieved when our prayers, like the Burnt Offering, are in order to connect with G-d, not for personal gain.

Wisdom and Torah are not identical. The Rabbis tell us that wisdom may be found in the world at large, but not Torah. When ethics come from G-d, they are unalterable. Only this formula, based on Torah, G-d’s wisdom, can make true ethical life possible. Every person must then perpetuate that life by “raising many students” — continuing to make true morality known so that all may live in true peace and harmony.

Our Sages teach us that we should view the Torah as being new every day, not merely renewed. How do we resolve this statement with the reality that lies before our eyes, a world that appears to be the same on awakening as it was yesterday?