Living Torah Archives

After being elevated to second in command of Egypt, Joseph saved the entire region by storing grain during the seven years of plenty, in preparation for the seven years of famine. The Talmud records that the wealth Joseph accumulated for Pharaoh from the sale of that grain filled three treasure houses, bolstering Egypt’s position as a world superpower.

A person is allotted time on this planet appropriate to his life-mission.

One might think that he must first perfect himself before he can try to perfect the world. But Torah commands us to transform this world into a beautiful garden for G-d, and this is a top priority. There is no conflict here: G-d empowers every person with the ability to simultaneously elevate himself as well as others - as my father-in-law, the Rebbe, proved in his own life, and through those who follow in his footsteps.

The Chassidic discourse entitled "Bosi L'Gani" opens with a quote from Song of Songs, where G-d exclaims: "I have come to My garden…" G-d's Divine Essence originally dwelled in our world. But a series of unfortunate events caused a decline in the world's spiritual state. It was through the righteous deeds of Abraham and his descendants, that G-d’s Divine Presence was finally restored to this world.

The Talmud teaches that on Rosh Hashanah G-d asks His people to sound the shofar in order to make Him their King, and to “remind” Him of their meritorious past.

Cantor Moshe Teleshevsky leads the singing of Sheyibaneh.

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

Sung by Chassidim as they traveled to the town of Lubavitch to visit the Mittler Rebbe, the words allude to their hopeful yearnings: When they reach the Rebbe, they will drink from “the well of Torah and Chassidism,” and lack nothing.

It has recently been discovered how the most minute quantity of matter, an atom, can unleash the most immense power in nature. Although it can be used for destructive purposes, atomic energy can be harnessed for the good. By simply pressing a button, one can achieve immediate positive transformation across the globe.

“Victory is Ours” (--quoted from Midrash). This Niggun was adapted to these words to express the desire for the return of the holy books to their rightful place and refers more broadly to the "victory" of all things holy.

“And they will know that You, whose Name is the L-rd, are alone, Highest over all the Earth” (Psalms 72:7) The Chassidim sing a niggun composed for the Rebbe’s eighty-third birthday.