Living Torah Archives

In 1939, the Rebbe’s father was exiled by the Soviet government to a remote region of Kazakhstan. At the end of his sentence, he and his wife traveled to the closest large city, Almaty, Kazakhstan. Leibel Raskin and his family were there to greet and assist them upon their arrival.

In his or her free hours after school, a child should not be left to fend for himself against the untoward influences that often surround him. Even well-intentioned individuals who are concerned about education sometimes wait until a teenager finds himself in trouble, and then their concern focuses on how to cope with yet another young “threat to society.”

The Rebbe’s Minyan at 770 on Tisha B’av morning.

The Shluchim need people to offer their personal time and help, besides their financial assistance. Women and girls also play a tremendous role in the Mitzvah campaigns, especially in encouraging all Jewish women and girls to light Shabbos and Festival candles.

Rabbi Dov Levanoni is the author of The Temple in Jerusalem, and an expert on the Holy Temple. His book is based on the scaled model of the Second Temple which he built, and for which he received “a little help” from the Rebbe.

Students benefit from the guidance and supervision of their educators for only a limited number of hours a day. The environments in which children spend much of their after-school hours, whether at home or on the street, exerts a strong influence that is often in conflict with the values they absorb at school. School administrations often overlook this fact.

Cantor Moshe Teleshevsky leads the singing of Sheyibaneh.

May G-d bless you to ensure the security of Jews – and their spiritual security, as well.

Rabbi Yosef Goldstein, an educator and author of the children’s audio-cassette series, Story Time with Uncle Yossi.

The daily study of Maimonides’ works is becoming increasingly widespread. The Mishneh Torah, his Magnum Opus that codifies Jewish Law, serves to guide all Jews through the intricacies of Jewish observance. It is not geared for scholars alone. It guides “small and great alike,” as they pursue their life tasks.

Campers from Gan Israel, New York visit the Rebbe in honor of the Yahrzeit of his father, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson.

Torah says, “Love G-d with all your heart.” When you go in for your heart test, they will find only good things, and a heart filled with love of G-d. Give one dollar to charity when you go in for the exam, and give the other to charity when you leave. May you always give charity in good health.

Professor Herman Branover is a renowned physicist, who received not only spiritual guidance from the Rebbe, but scientific guidance, as well.

When my father-in-law, the Rebbe, was freed in Leningrad, he stated: “It was not myself alone that G-d redeemed, but every Jew, even those who are Jews in name only.”

An audience with overseas visitors, Bar Mitzvah boys and Bat Mitzvah girls, and grooms and brides.

Install a charity box near your seat in the Knesset. May G-d perform charity with the Jewish People, and may we merit, together with Moshiach, the true Knesset – as in the days of our Sages of old.

Meir Lieberman was a camper in Gan Israel, New York in the summer of 1960. He had never heard of the Rebbe before, but apparently, the Rebbe knew of him.

The Stalinist regime that imprisoned my father-in-law, the Rebbe, in 1927, was then a superpower. Despite that, he defied his oppressors. He did not budge an inch in anything that jeopardized his principles. Even at the train station, about to be exiled, he declared publicly: “Only our bodies, not our souls, were sent into exile.” And indeed, his defiance led to his release.

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

A blessing for all the children of your school, who sing “Nyet Nyet Nikavo”. This song should give you added strength in learning Torah and fulfilling Mitzvos.

At the time that the Soviet Union began to open its doors, Shoshana Cardin served as Chairman of NCSJ, the National Conference on Soviet Jewry.

Today is the anniversary of the passing of my revered father-in-law, the sixth Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, on 10 Shevat, 5710 (1950). It is an appropriate time to view this 40-year period in a larger perspective.

A collection of beautiful footage from over the years of the Rebbe’s leadership. Selections from an address about a Jewish leader’s eternal presence and influence in the life of every Jew.

Thank you for supporting the Shluchim in your area. The “thanks” is actually from G-d Himself – I too, am merely an emissary relaying His message that every Jew must help one another, and fulfill his duty to the world, by increasing in Judaism, righteousness and justice.

Yehuda Avner served on the personal staff of five Israeli Prime Ministers. In 1977, after meeting with President Carter at Camp David, Menachem Begin sent him to report to the Rebbe.

Summer vacation must be utilized to grow in one’s Judaism.

The Rebbe asks several senior Rabbis to address the Farbrengen – to issue Halachic rulings that the Land of Israel belongs to the Jewish People.

The most important guidance is stated clearly in G-d Almighty’s Torah: “If you will follow My statutes, if you will go in the way of My Mitzvos, then I will bless you in all your needs.”

The Rebbe and Rebbetzin arrived to America on the 28th of Sivan – June 23, 1941. Rabbi Mottel Sharfstein was a student in 770 during the 1940s. He recalls the first time he heard from his teacher about the Rebbe.

An address to girls graduating from Jewish High Schools: The educational goal of every Jewish school is to instill this G-dly awareness within its students, so that it permeates their lives. May your decision to dedicate this summer to educating other Jewish children in this way, be the final step in bringing the Redemption speedily.

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.

A number of meetings where the Rebbe urges individuals to make charity a part of their daily lives.

Herbert Weiner is the author of Nine and a Half Mystics. In the mid-1950s, he scheduled his first private audiences with the Rebbe, intending to interview him for a series of articles.

Torah instructs: “Provide yourself with a mentor.” But how does one know who to choose as a spiritual guide? The Talmud Tractate Berachos teaches: “A mentor must be like an angel of G-d”. In his code of Jewish law, Maimonides offers a clue to the conduct of an angel: He describes the future world, “when there will be no envy, rivalry, war or hatred,” and concludes: “At that time the righteous will resemble the Ministering Angels.” So to resemble an angel of G-d means, to be free of the corruptions of one’s body.

The Rebbe participates in the annual convention of N’shei Chabad, the Lubavitch Women’s Organization.

Even an “emeritus” must be occupied and use his time productively – and even to be occupied “a little bit” is not enough for a Jew.

Herbert Weiner is the author of Nine and a Half Mystics. In 1955, he was sent by Commentary magazine to report on the activities going on at Lubavitch World Headquarters.

After achieving excellence as a Talmudic scholar, Rabbi Zeira fasted in order to forget the Babylonian Talmud before he began to study the Jerusalem Talmud. How could he have prayed to forget a portion of the Holy Torah? The answer: Before one proceeds to an entirely new level of service, he must let go of his current frame of reference. For example: As the soul ascends the ladder of heavenly realms, it must forget the experiences of the lower realm, so the memory will not “hold it back” from fully receiving higher revelations.

The Rebbe distributes Kos Shel Brachah, as Chassidim sing a lively Niggun.

Now that you have rediscovered your Jewish identity, find another Jew who has forgotten what he learned in his youth, and share your inspiration with him.

Efraim Steinmetz is a businessman from Caracas, Venezuela. He and his wife came to the Rebbe with concerns about their children’s Jewish education. The Rebbe answered with a story from his own childhood.

The Midrash explains that in Egypt the Jews were not united as a people. But with each passing day after the Exodus, they became more unified. And when they finally reached Mount Sinai, they encamped “as one person, with one heart.” It was then that G-d entrusted them with His Torah, “whose ways are all pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.”

“G-d is known in Judah, His Name is great in Israel. His Tabernacle was in Shalem, and His dwelling place in Zion. (Psalms 76:2, 3)

To influence all the Jewish People is a big task. Nevertheless, every Jew has the power to do so, because he acts with the help and blessing of G-d Almighty Himself.

Dov Zlotnik, Professor of Rabbinic Literature at the Conservative Movement’s Jewish Theological Seminary, once delivered a sermon on the importance of Family Purity. As he was to discover, for the Rebbe, a good sermon requires a great ending…

Torah instructs Jewish children: If you see another person who is in need, whether spiritually or physically, reach out to him with love and help him get free of his predicament. Then proceed together, growing from each other’s successes.

The Rebbe participates in a Lag B’omer parade.

If you want me to have Nachas from you, that depends on you. And as much as you will do, I will ask for more. That’s just a part of my nature. The Talmud states: As soon as someone achieves a good thing, he wants to double it.

Rabbi Chazkel Besser of Agudas Yisrael of America knew the Rebbe’s brother, Leibel, in Tel Aviv. In 1948, Rabbi Besser moved to New York, and Leibel sent family pictures with him to give to his mother, Rebbetzin Chana.

Torah juxtaposes the laws of the Festivals with the laws of charity to teach a lesson: Don’t think that when a Festival ends, the obligation to bring joy to the needy ends with it. Charity is a constant Mitzvah, and it must always be done with renewed enthusiasm.

Before the morning prayers on Chol Hamoed Sukkos, the Rebbe hands out coins to children to be given to charity.

The Rebbe tells Professor Paul Rosenbloom: “I had a younger brother who passed away many years ago. He left this unfinished mathematical paper. If you will supervise someone to prepare it for publication, I will be very happy to pay for it.”

Rabbi Chazkel Besser of Agudas Yisrael of America, befriended the Rebbe’s brother, Leibel, while living in Tel Aviv during the 1940s.

In Kfar Chabad, there will soon begin the Bar Mitzvah celebration for the orphans of Israel’s fallen heroes. They commemorate their sacrifice, for their fathers gave their lives defending the Holy Land and its Holy Nation.

“Deliver Your people and bless Your heritage; tend them and exalt them forever.” (Psalms 28:9) “Jerusalem shall be as inhabited as vast unwalled cities.” (Zechariah 2:8)

In Hebrew, “Israel” is an acronym for “Li Rosh – To Me, a head.” This means to say that every Jew must be a “head”, standing tall and strong in all matters of Judaism, Torah and Mitzvos. Then the Torah will be complete, the Land of Israel will be complete and the Jewish People will be complete.

Rabbi Yehudah Leib Posner and his brother were students in 770 during the 1940s. One week, their father came in from Pittsburgh and spent Shabbos with them. Friday night after the prayers, their father asked the Rebbe how he should respond to the controversial topic of the day – the creation of a Jewish State.

Immense waves of energy flood Earth twenty-four hours a day; they have done so without stop since the beginning of creation. Both the sun and moon have a constant, powerful influence on the entire earth – on every man, woman and child, and on every animal, plant and mineral – throughout the entire day.

The Rebbe joins the funeral procession for Reb Schneur Zalman Duchman.

To the Editor-in-Chief of the Russian “Ogonyok – Small Flame” magazine: May yours be a flame that reaches higher and shines stronger, to inspire good change in a country which now shows support for the Jews who live there.