Living Torah Archives

During a lively Purim Farbrengen, Chassidim sing a joyous Niggun from the opening verse of the Megillah.

The last discourse that Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, published before his passing commences with the verse “I have come into My garden.” The Previous Rebbe explains that this refers to our world, the innermost dwelling place of G-d. More

The last discourse that Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, published before his passing commences with the verse “I have come into My garden.” The Previous Rebbe explains that this refers to our world, the innermost dwelling place of G-d.

Yet looking around, we see a different picture – good just can’t seem to prevail, and we are tempted to view the world as a wild jungle rather than a garden of G-d. Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak, however, proclaims that there is more to our world than meets the eye.

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Chasidim sing the joyous song, Ashreinu, at a farbrengen.

The Rebbe asks a recent emigrant from Georgia to sing a traditional song of the Georgian Jews.

Chasidim sing a rousing melody at a farbrengen marking the passing of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, the Previous Rebbe.

The last discourse that Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn, the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, published before his passing commences with the verse “I have come into My garden.” The Previous Rebbe explains that this refers to our world, the innermost dwelling place of G-d. More

The last discourse that Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn, the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, published before his passing commences with the verse “I have come into My garden.” The Previous Rebbe explains that this refers to our world, the innermost dwelling place of G-d.

Yet looking around, we see a different picture – good just can’t seem to prevail, and we are tempted to view the world as a wild jungle rather than a garden of G-d.

Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak, however, proclaims that there is more to our world than meets the eye.

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In a letter to one of his disciples, Maimonides describes the taxing daily schedule he endured as court physician to the sultan of Egypt. It not only drained him to the point of exhaustion, it also left him nearly no time to pursue the true joy of his life: Torah study. More

In a letter to one of his disciples, Maimonides describes the taxing daily schedule he endured as court physician to the sultan of Egypt. It not only drained him to the point of exhaustion, it also left him nearly no time to pursue the true joy of his life: Torah study.

Nevertheless, Maimonides writes in his Guide for the Perplexed, that despite any negative or unpleasant element in this world, Torah views it as a place of good, a place of hope.

Similarly, in the life of the Jewish People: Torah informs us that the life of a Jew in exile will be difficult. At the same time, Torah obligates – and empowers – the Jew to serve G-d with joy.

There is a saying, “Even in the king’s chamber, a spider can bite.” But when you’re with the king, you don’t pay attention to it – you’re too caught up in the pleasure of being in the presence of his majesty. This world is the innermost chamber of G-d’s dwelling. Thus, when you’re brought so close to the Kings of kings, it’s impossible to experience anything but joy.

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Between talks at the Yud Shevat Farbrengen in 1972, the Rebbe gives special blessings to a grandfather on the birth of his granddaughter, and to a father on the Bar Mitzvah of his son.

The Rebbe distributes bottles of L’chaim at a Farbrengen at 770.

At the time of the Song of Moses, the Jews were in the midst of a great journey through an awesome desert. They had yet to reach, conquer and establish a Jewish homeland. By contrast, at the time of the Song of Deborah, the Jews were already settled in the Land of Israel. Deborah was called upon to organize a campaign against Canaanite invaders. More

At the time of the Song of Moses, the Jews were in the midst of a great journey through an awesome desert. They had yet to reach, conquer and establish a Jewish homeland. By contrast, at the time of the Song of Deborah, the Jews were already settled in the Land of Israel. Deborah was called upon to organize a campaign against Canaanite invaders.

Both situations are reflected in the overall mission of our People to transform the world into a dwelling place for G-d. The Talmud states, "It is a man's nature to conquer, not a woman's." To venture out and conquer the world - both materially and spiritually, is the man's task. But once the Jewish home is established, it is the role of the woman to defend it from the "intruder" who seeks to infiltrate with un-Jewish influences. In this, her primary area of responsibility, it is the man’s role to assist her.

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At the crossing of the Red Sea, the Jews proclaimed, "This is my G-d, and I will exalt Him!" But the first to recognize G-d's hand were those children born in Egypt during the harsh decrees. G-d Himself had hidden them away in the fields and sustained them. More

At the crossing of the Red Sea, the Jews proclaimed, "This is my G-d, and I will exalt Him!" But the first to recognize G-d's hand were those children born in Egypt during the harsh decrees. G-d Himself had hidden them away in the fields and sustained them.

There are also, in recent times, Jews born "in the fields." The Jews of Georgia and Bukhara were isolated for centuries from the rest of the Jewish world, and even more so recently, under the reign of communism. Yet the Lubavitcher Rebbes sent emissaries to help them keep their traditions alive.

Now that these Jews have finally begun to emigrate, we must make every effort — on both an organizational and personal level — to help them establish themselves materially and spiritually. Their self-sacrifice for centuries will certainly continue to stand them in good stead now and in the future.

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The Rebbe asks a recent émigré from Georgia to sing a traditional song of the Georgian Jews.

“Bosi L’Gani – I have come to My garden.” G-d created this world to be a glorious Divine orchard for His presence. Man is charged with planting and tending this orchard by creating a “fruit-bearing tree” out of his own portion of the world. More

“Bosi L’Gani – I have come to My garden.” G-d created this world to be a glorious Divine orchard for His presence. Man is charged with planting and tending this orchard by creating a “fruit-bearing tree” out of his own portion of the world.

The trees of an orchard constantly grow and produce more fruit with each passing day. The seeds of their fruit then give birth to new trees, each with the endless capacity to grow and reproduce.

My father-in-law, the Rebbe, was never satisfied simply by his own service of G-d; nor was he content with causing another person to increase their observance. Rather, he wanted every single Jew, without exception, to become a “fruit-bearing tree” – to grow constantly, and to have ‘fruits’ – to inspire the growth of others, who will in turn, inspire yet others.

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The Previous Rebbe wrote a discourse that served as his last teaching. Its title quotes the verse where G-d says, “I have come to My garden, My abode.” By choosing those powerful words, the Rebbe taught his generation and future generations, that beneath all its outer appearances, this world is G-d’s own garden and dwelling place. No matter how strong the urge to give in to cynicism or despair, no matter how bad things may appear, this teaching shows and empowers us to search out and reveal the essential goodness and G-dliness of the entire creation.

A lively niggun sung during the times of the Soviet Jewish resistance. “Water will not drown us and fire will not burn us”.

“Let all those seek You rejoice and delight in You, and let those who love your deliverance say always, ‘May G-d be exalted!’” (Psalms 70:5) Although the tune of the Niggun is much older, the words were added in honor of the Rebbe’s sixty-ninth birthday.