Living Torah Archives

The Alter Rebbe’s release on 19 Kislev was so surprising that even government ministers were awed by the course of events. The same ministers who ordered his arrest and forbade the dissemination of Chassidism, gave him freedom and allowed him to continue spreading Torah.

In 1985, the U.S. Supreme Court heard a case about an Alabama law allowing public school teachers to start each day with a moment of silence for meditation or voluntary prayer.

Hebrew, the Holy Tongue, is utterly precise. In Hebrew, “Exile” is called “Golah.” But this very word also hints the path to redemption. By inserting the letter Alef, the word “Golah — Exile” becomes “Geulah — Redemption.”

In the laws of ritual purity, Maimonides’ appears to make contradictory statements: First, he rules that one who is not eating sacrificial food, should not concern himself whether he or his food becomes impure. But in the next law, he makes a statement that seems to be at odds with this: Maintaining purity through restraint, even where it is not ritually necessary, is one of the greatest virtues.

The Talmud explains that the verse, “He redeemed my soul in peace from battles against me, because of the many who were with me,” refers to, “One who works in Torah and charity…” A business owner isn’t satisfied with the clientele who find him; he publicizes his goods and services. His work also has no end; it is constantly on his mind. To work in Torah and charity means going beyond the realm of ‘obligation’ – developing self-motivation for personal growth, and exerting relentless effort to improve the spiritual and physical welfare of others.

A deep meditative Niggun attributed to the Alter Rebbe. It is sung only on special occasions.

“May it be Your will, Lord our G-d and G-d of our fathers, that the Temple be speedily rebuilt in our days, and grant us our portion in Your Torah.” From the daily prayers.

The seminal book of Chasidic philosophy, the Tanya, teaches that each Jew has two inclinations within themselves. One is good, advising him to follow the Torah and perform Mitzvos, and the other is the opposite.