Living Torah Archives

On Shemini Atzeres, 1977, the Rebbe suffered a massive heart attack during the Hakofos celebration. Dr. Ira Weiss flew in from Chicago to join the medical team treating the Rebbe at 770. Subsequently, he became the Rebbe's cardiologist.

In discussing the mechanism of legal agency, Jewish law sees the "principal" working through the "emissary" in three possible ways: 1) The emissary's final achievement is attributed to the principal 2) The emissary's every action is attributed to the principal 3) The emissary completely embodies the principal.

The Rebbe distributes bottles of L’chaim to Shluchim and special guests.

Shluchim bring devoted supporters to receive the Rebbe’s blessing.

During the 1930s, the Previous Rebbe would often visit a health clinic in Paris. On Shabbos, he would stay at the home of Yankel and Baila Lax. Their son, Berel, was about twenty years old at the time, and recalls the Rebbe visiting his father-in-law at their home quite frequently.

Sarah, the first Jewish mother, is a shining example of the great power that every woman has over her family and our entire nation. It was Sarah who insisted that Isaac, not Ishmael, continue Abraham’s progeny. It was she who raised Isaac in his formative years, instilling within him the fortitude to stand up to all tests, and to become the second Patriarch of the Jewish People.

The Rebbe gives a bottle of L’chaim to be distributed among participants at the Farbrengen.

If you will be healthy, your wife will be healthy and the Shliach will be healthy, then I will be healthy as well. So from South America you can effect my health all the way here in Brooklyn.

Dr. Susan Handelman is Professor of English Literature at Bar Ilan University in Israel. While working on her PhD in 1977, she came to study in Crown Heights, with some suspicions as to what she would find to be the woman’s place in Chassidic life.

All human beings are commanded to believe in G-d. But must they “trust” in Him, as well?

Vintage footage of a Farbrengen held on the fourth Yahrzeit of the Rebbe’s father-in-law and predecessor, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn of Lubavitch.

When a blessing is given for an endeavor, it should be connected with a physical action, thereby putting the blessing into effect. All endeavors to build Judaism must be carried out with absolute maximum effort.

Herbert Weiner is the author of Nine-and-a-Half Mystics, and served as the leader of a Reform congregation in New Jersey for forty years. He discussed with the Rebbe Chabad’s unique approach to reconnecting Jews with their faith.

Classic Torah sources teach two conflicting ideas when it comes to “Trust in G-d”: On the one hand, a person is commanded to rest assured that G-d will deliver him from any predicament, in a way that will be openly and clearly good. On the other hand, he must joyfully acknowledge that G-d is the source of all good, and that everything He does is good - so the present state is also “good.”

The Rebbe sends a pamphlet of Tanya to one of the photographers at the Farbrengen, suggesting that he study a bit before photographing.

May the leader of Israel’s current government be strong like “the Shamir,” which was a unique creature that could split even the hardest rock. May he break through the “hearts of stone” around him. May this help spread Torah’s waters throughout Israel.

Herbert Weiner is the author of Nine-and-a-Half Mystics. During his private audiences with the Rebbe in the mid-1950s, he raised some questions about the nature of faith in Judaism.

The Rebbe addresses a children's rally: The subject of your new contest is Jewish Unity. The present month, Cheshvan, is when King Solomon and the Jewish People completed the First Holy Temple. It is an auspicious month for Jews to unite together to merit the Third Temple which we will build with Moshiach.

Coordinators of the children’s rally receive rolls of dimes from the Rebbe, to distribute to the children for charity.

I am very happy to hear about your pledge of one million dollars to the Jewish school. May G-d bless you that next time you will pledge twice as much, and G-d will provide for you five times more.

After the first El Al plane was hijacked to Algiers, the story began to circulate of the Rebbe’s advice to Ariel Sharon not to board that flight. Rabbi Zev Segal decided to corroborate the story with the Rebbe himself.

We have just completed writing the first Sefer Torah for Jewish Unity, and are about to commence writing the second one. When we join the last letter of this scroll, Lamed, to the first letter of the next scroll, Bet, it creates the Hebrew word "Lev - heart." Torah is the heart of our people, and it unites us all.

The Rebbe distributes wine from his Kos Shel Brachah.

Rabbi Chaim Yaakov Goldwicht, Rosh Yeshiva of Kerem B’Yavneh visits the Rebbe. "In your son’s case, he should not leave his full-time Torah study to take up a paid position. He should continue to learn Torah for its own sake, not for personal gain."

In 1961, Rivkah Blau was Vice-President of Yavne, one of the first Orthodox student organizations on American college campuses. In a private audience, the Rebbe asked Rivkah and her friend numerous questions on the realities of Jewish outreach in university. As it turned out, her friend came with some questions of his own.

On the sixth day of Sukkos, Joseph visits every Jew. Joseph spent most of his long life in the immoral environment of ancient Egypt. He was second-in-command to Pharaoh, and was thus in constant contact with the local population. Yet, from among all his holy brothers, the sons of our forefather Jacob, only Joseph is called "Joseph the Righteous;" his righteousness and virtue were even more pronounced, given the immoral place in which he was forced to live. And the society did not ostracize him for his righteousness; in fact, the righteous manner in which he lived his life won him the admiration of all the Egyptians around him.

On the day before Sukkos, elder Chassidim receive the Four Species in the antechamber to the Rebbe’s office.

New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind visits the Rebbe. "If you were so impressed by Kfar Chabad, why not model your district here in New York after it. It will be a welcome competition. Don’t worry, Jews are accustomed to accomplishing difficult things."

In spring of 1944, the Rebbe’s parents were stranded in Kazakhstan, having just completed five years of Soviet-imposed exile. Mrs. Rochel Lipskar and her family lived a few hours away,

The first ten days of the year, beginning with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Yom Kippur, are called "the Ten Days of Repentance." But the commentaries liken the seven days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur to Chol Hamoed - as if they were intermediate days of a joyous Festival. How can these days of awe be joyful days at the same time?

On the 25th Yahrtzeit of his mother, Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson, of righteous memory, the Rebbe leads the prayers, addresses the Chassidim, and distributes a gift for the New Year.

In case it has been decreed upon a person to turn to others for help this coming year, it should already be fulfilled now, by receiving this sweet cake.

Rabbi Shmuel Lew continues recounting his Yom Kippur mission. Just one day before he was to leave for Greenland, the Rebbe’s mother, Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson, suddenly passed away.

Thank you to all who conveyed their good wishes for the New Year. May G-d’s promise be fulfilled: "I will bless those who bless you." It is difficult to answer individual questions during these months of Elul and Tishrei. But when a person truly connects with his inner Divine Soul, G-d illuminates his mind and heart with the wisdom to make the right decision.

On the day before Rosh Hashanah, the Rebbe recites Hataras Nedarim - Annulment of Vows.

If you will write an article asking Jewish leaders to march in solidarity in Crown Heights, it should only mention the positive goal of such a demonstration; it should not resurrect, or immortalize in print, negative events of the past.

A few days before Yom Kippur in 1964, a sudden request came to 770 from a Jew who worked on a US Air force base in Greenland, to send a Shliach there to conduct the Yom Kippur services. Rabbi Shmuel Lew was called to duty.

Torah teaches: “You are what you eat.” The holy books tell us that non-Kosher food desensitizes the person, G-d forbid, and instills cruel traits within him. How crucial it is then for Jewish food to be Kosher to the highest standard!

24-25 Elul, 5736 • September 19-20, 1976
Selichos with the Rebbe in 770. Chassidim sing a Niggun composed by the Rebbe’s maternal grandfather, to the words: “May the Merciful One, Who answers the poor, answer us. May the Merciful One, Who answers the broken-hearted, answer us.”

New Year’s blessings – for every letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

Shortly after her engagement, Chana Sharfstein had an audience with the Rebbe. To her surprise, the Rebbe asked if she was planning to wear a Shaitel after her marriage. But that wasn’t the only surprise in store for her.

Soldiers spend most of their time training and carrying out missions. Periodically, they assemble at a parade, where their performance is checked, and medals are awarded.

Chassidim sing the Maamar Niggun in preparation for a Chassidic discourse.

With your encouragement, Mezuzos were put up on a number of Israeli embassies where you served as Ambassador. Your name “Meir” means “to shine”. May your Mazal shine, and use your influence to have Mezuzos put up in as many places as possible.

Living in Australia during the early 1950s, young Shmuel Gurewicz wished to study abroad in a more established Yeshiva. The Rebbe instructed him to remain in Australia, to spread the light of Torah to others there. Some time passed, and Shmuel decided to try again…

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.

At a children’s rally in the weeks leading up to Rosh Hashanah, children sing a joyous Niggun: “May you be written and inscribed for a good and sweet year”.

Blessings in your work to ensure that garments in Israel are Shatnez-free. But may we soon merit to use Shatnez properly in the third Holy Temple. A double portion of blessing for everything in the Land of Israel.

Thirteen year-old Shmuel Gurewicz arrived with his family to Australia in 1949. He was among the first students of the Tomchei Temimim Yeshiva in Shepparton, Australia. But he had “bigger” plans…

Assembled here together, in a tangible demonstration of unity, is a diverse range of people: businessmen from every walk of life, and scholars who specialize in various realms of Torah study.

The Rebbe is called to the Torah. Overseas guests recite Hagomel.

Despite events in the Middle East, the days leading into Elul should not be categorized as “difficult days.” To the contrary – at this time of year, G-d is even closer to every single Jew, and especially to the Jews in the Land of Israel.

Dr. David Luchins served on the staff of US Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan for twenty years. In 1983, he attended a retirement party for Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm of Crown Heights, where she revealed the identity of a most important mentor.

An address to children: We are commanded to appoint judges and policemen in all our cities. A judge of Torah law teaches people how to live their lives happily and productively. The policeman's task is to maintain law and order and to keep bad influences away.

The Rebbe distributes L’chaim in honor of recently opened institutions.

May G-d Almighty bless you to protect all the people of New York, and especially in your district of Brooklyn – but by protecting them! I am not so interested in prosecuting people, as much protecting as many people as possible.

Mr. Joseph Cayre is a business leader and a prominent member of the Sephardic community.

When someone passes on, the bond they share with their loved ones below is not severed. Family and friends alive in this world can continue to bring the soul joy and happiness.

Chassidim sing “Reb Levik’s Niggun”, a favorite tune of the Rebbe’s father, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson.

I give each of you a second dollar for the King of Morocco. It will be a good idea to build another Chabad House in Morocco, and certainly the King will be happy about it.