Living Torah Archives

On the 22nd of Shevat in 1988, the Rebbe's wife, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson, passed away. The Rebbetzin was extremely modest, so not much is known about her life and little footage exists to allow for a comprehensive biography. This presentation, comprised of the Rebbe's own words following her passing, and first-hand accounts from people who merited to have met her, gives us a peek into the modest loyalty and sacrifice that the Rebbetzin showed. She stood unwavering at her husband's side, and by extension, dedicated her life to the Rebbe's thousands of followers around the world.

The Sages say: “Who is a worthy wife? One who does the will of her husband.” Chassidism explains that the Hebrew word, ‘Oseh – does’ also means ‘creates.’ Therefore, “Who is a worthy wife? One who creates the will of her husband.”

The Rebbe urged all people to realize their G-d-given potential in whichever possible way, and when it came to Yeshiva students, it was no different. This presentation highlights the Rebbe's efforts and input in encouraging Yeshiva students to publish Torah journals with discussions, questions, and explanations about their studies.

Throughout the ages, it just wasn't a possibility for most people to publish their own Torah ideas. But today, authentic Torah study must be encouraged. Even if you are uncertain, don't hesitate when it comes to writing and publishing Torah.

A special presentation highlighting the fascinating events that led up to the Rebbe accepting leadership of the Chabad movement on the 10th of Shevat in 1951. It was a watershed moment in Chabad that ultimately ended up changing the landscape of Judaism all across the world.

Our sages teach that “Jacob never died. As long as ‘Zaro – his seed’ is alive, he too is alive.” What is the significance of the word “zaro – his seed?” “Zaro” can mean “his children,” but it can also mean “what he has sown.”

The seventh of Adar marks the birth of Moses, which came in the wake of Pharaoh’s decree that all newborn Jewish boys be cast into the Nile. It was not only a decree against the Jews as a whole; it was a decree targeted specifically against Moses himself.

When you visit Peru, find the Chabad Shliach there and assist him in the way that only a visitor can. Sometimes a visitor can help more than someone who has been living in a community for many years.

Rabbi Sholom Ber Gorodetsky was appointed by the Rebbe to serve as the director general of the European and North African Bureau of Chabad-Lubavitch. The Bureau was established by his father at the request of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson, the Previous Rebbe, shortly after the family's arrival in the United States from Europe.

There are many similarities between Maimonides and the Alter Rebbe, the Founder of Chabad Chasidism. They both issued decisions on Jewish law that guide all later generations.

On the eve of 24 Teves, the Rebbe conducts a special farbrengen in honor of the 150th year since the passing of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of Chabad Chasidism.

“The Alter Rebbe writes that in the merit of the study of Mishnah we will be redeemed from exile. May you bear good tidings in your project to encourage Mishnah study in memory of those who perished in the Holocaust.”

Eitan Ben-David is a businessman and philanthropist living in Jerusalem, Israel. In the early ‘70s, his wife had become pregnant, but the doctors deemed the pregnancy unsafe due to a condition that she was suffering from, and advised them to go through with an abortion. Unsure about how to proceed within the parameters of Jewish law, they penned an urgent letter to the Rebbe.

As a young child, the Tzemach Tzedek once asked the Alter Rebbe how Jacob’s best years could have been in Egypt, a land of immorality.

“On the day that a Tzaddik passes away all his life’s work is revealed – “and effects salvation throughout the world.” How much more so in regard to Maimonides, who taught the entire Torah to “young and old alike.”

“The Alter Rebbe extols the greatness of charity given to the Holy Land. All charity hastens the Redemption, but in Israel even more so.”

In the late 1950s, Chana Chanowitz and her Husband, Chaim Chanowitz, were living on the Upper West Side of New York City. At one point, Chaim was plagued by terrible stomach ulcers. The doctors urged an urgent surgery, but when they asked the Rebbe, they received different advice.

The Tenth of Teves commemorates the siege of Jerusalem, the beginning of a series of events that lead to the eventual destruction of the Holy Temple and the Jews’ captivity in Babylonia.

The Rebbe is called to the Torah and recites the Haftorah during the afternoon prayers on the fast of the Tenth of Teves.

You were complaining that you don’t have enough clients; may you soon have many, but peaceful cases. You don’t necessarily need disputes for business, since people also need lawyers for peaceful matters.

Rabbi Nachman Sudak was the director of Chabad’s operations in the United Kingdom for over five decades. At one particular point of financial strain, he turned to a supporter asking for help. The amount they had to come up with seemed way beyond their reach, but with faith, perseverance, and many blessings from the Rebbe, the story finally came to a happy end. (mid 1980s)

We all know the story of Chanukah: With all the odds against them, the Jews were victorious over their enemies. However, when they returned to the Holy Temple, they found that all the oil for the Menorah was defiled. God made a miracle and the oil lasted for eight days until they could procure new oil that was pure.

The 5th of Teves marks the day that Chabad won the court case surrounding the ownership of the Chabad library. On this day in 5749, during the year of mourning for his wife, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushkah, the Rebbe leads the afternoon services.

Like the Chanukah lights that shine outside, education, too, must illuminate the “outside.” May you be blessed with a speedy recovery and have no need of a cane, and be able to dance joyously on Chanukah. (Collage)

Rabbi Yisroel Rubin has served as the director of Chabad of the Capital District in Albany, New York, for over forty years. In the summer of 1970, he was on the staff of Camp Gan Israel of Montreal, Canada. He wanted to do something to encourage the children to study Chitas, a daily portion from the Chumash, Psalms, and Tanya. His project ended up lasting longer than the short summer he had planned, and the Rebbe’s blessings and encouragement motivated him throughout.

During Chanukah in 1985, a joint rally was held at 770 for groups of seniors and young children. Addressing the gathering, the Rebbe explained their shared lessons and the rally’s special connection to Chanukah.

The full Menorah, with all its lights, being kindled in 770 during a special children’s rally on the eighth night of Chanukah.

May you distribute the Chanukah Menorahs to the Jews in Russia in an auspicious time with blessings and success.

In the early 1950s, Shmuel Langsam was a young child growing up in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York. It was Chanukah time when his mother received some frightening news from the doctor. In 1952, this cancer wasn’t something that could be cured. In desperation, they pulled all the strings they could, for her to receive the Rebbe’s blessing. When they finally got to the Rebbe, he wasn’t worried at all, much to their relief.

The founder of Chabad Chasidism, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, known as the Alter Rebbe, was arrested by the Czarist authorities in Russia. He was accused of treason, aiding the Czars enemies in the Ottoman Empire. In reality, he was simply urging his followers to send charity to the poor Jews of Israel. Spiritually speaking, there was another reason that heaven orchestrated the arrest: the Alter Rebbe was spreading the secrets of Chasidism too widely.

During a Farbrengen marking the Alter Rebbe’s liberation from Czarist prison on the 19th of Kislev, Chasidim sing a Nigun with words from Psalms that he was reciting at the time of his release.

You should decide your particular position after trying your hand at different things. Then you can decide if you should continue the same thing or try something else. In general terms, a Jew’s purpose in life is to study Torah regularly, and observe its commandments meticulously. (Collage)

Rabbi Sholom Ber Schapiro is a veteran educator living in Brooklyn, New York. In the early 1980s he was a teacher in the Yeshiva of Brooklyn when he was approached by a student’s parent who had an offer for a business opportunity. After receiving the consent of his boss, he asked the Rebbe for a blessing which he received with a condition. A story about making sure every Jewish child has a letter in a Torah scroll.

The Mitteler Rebbe’s imprisonment came about after the wellsprings of the Baal Shem Tov had already swept the Jewish People, nourishing tens of thousands of souls. Despite all this, there descended a darkness so profound that it challenged even such a great light, and resulted in an imprisonment. But when denser darkness is conquered, the resultant light that shines forth out of the darkness is ever the brighter.

The Rebbe encourages the Chasidim to sing the song “Podoh B’sholom” in honor of the birthday and Yahrzeit of the Mitteler Rebbe, Rabbi Dovber of Lubavitch.

You should be careful to hear kiddush and havdalah – it helps to keep the eyes healthy. May G-d help you see many good things with both eyes, and in an ever–increasing manner. You’re spreading the light of Torah, so you need healthy eyes. Why lose something that God Almighty has given you? You must hold onto it, and G-d Almighty will help you to be successful. (Collage)

In the 1960s, Moshe Kagan was a student at 770, the Central Lubavitch yeshiva in Brooklyn, New York. It was during this time that his father was in a car accident which caused him to lose his eyesight. His father wanted to avoid bringing any unnecessary pain to his family, and suggested to the Rebbe that he might not participate in his own son’s wedding. The Rebbe did not agree, and gave him a very special blessing.

On the occasion of his eightieth birthday, the Rebbe gives spirited advice to those approaching the age of retirement: Since “man was created to toil,” if G–d gives us another year in this world, it is proof positive that we still have something to accomplish.

Chasidim sing the “Rosh Chodesh Kislev Nigun” as the Rebbe distributes dollars to those who lead the Mitzvah campaigns on Chabad’s famous Mitzvah Tanks.

May G–d bless you by healing all your patients. Then you can focus on practicing preventive medicine for healthy people. Instruct your patients about kosher diet and lifestyle, which will bring them G–d Almighty’s blessings.

Dr. Louis Teichholz is a leading cardiologist. In 1977, he was a Head of Cardiology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. When, on the holiday of Shmini Atezers in 1977, the Rebbe suffered a massive heart attack, he was asked to join a team of doctors treating the Rebbe at 770. It was there that he merited to converse with the Rebbe about many fascinating topics.

Many observers remain stumped by the unparalleled success that Chabad continues to see in its efforts in Jewish outreach. How is it, they wonder, that the movement can maintain such a rigid adherence to Jewish law and observance, while still welcoming Jews of every stripe, no matter their background or level of observance? In this fascinating talk, the Rebbe reconciles the apparent paradox and lays out his approach to Jewish outreach, for every time and every place.

During the International Conference of Shluchim, and on the day before the books of Chabad’s precious library were returned to 770, the Rebbe is greeted by an excited crowd as he enters the afternoon prayers.

May the city be true to its name, Tel Aviv. “Aviv – spring” is the beginning of growth for the entire year. The Chabad House in Tel–Aviv is the most important thing, as it is a lighthouse for all of its surroundings.

Rabbi Yaakov Reitzes has served as rabbi of Yesod Hama’ala and the Upper Galilee in Israel for close to forty years. In 1976 he was part of a delegation of students sent by the Rebbe to Israel, where he remained and married. After receiving an offer to move as the Chabad emissary to Yesod Hama’ala, a tiny settlement at the time, he and his wife asked the Rebbe if it was worth their time and effort. By now, they know it was and continues to be.

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.

On the birthday of the Rebbe Rashab, Rabbi Sholom DovBer of Lubavitch, the Rebbe distributes a special edition of the discourse “Heichaltzu.”

The twentieth of Cheshvan marks the birthday of the Rebbe Rashab, Rabbi Sholom DovBer of Lubavitch. It’s an auspicious day on the chasidic calendar and provides an opportunity to cultivate joy.

Rabbi Shmarya Katzen was a beloved teacher for close to five decades. After becoming observant in the 1960s and spending several years in yeshivas, he began to think about his life ahead. The Rebbe encouraged him to take an aptitude test to discover how to best use his unique talents, and it was this that led him to his long career as an educator, with the Rebbe’s guidance and blessings.

The Kabbalists teach that within every created thing lies a spark of G-dliness. The role of the Jew is to redeem those sparks through his service of G-d, and elevate the world in the process. A task which is not without its challenges.

During a Farbrengen marking the passing of the founder of Chabad, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, Chasidim sing a Chabad classic, Aimosay.

May you lead your community for many long years, and speedily lead them to the Land of Israel; when they go with Moshiach, they’ll need their rabbi at their head. There is nothing too difficult for G-d, whether it’s Brazil or other countries.

An excerpt from the Jewish Educational Media film, Switch. Shortly after his arrival from Israel in 1963, Rabbi Chaim Benyamini established the Machneh Israel yeshiva in Petropolis, Brazil, which he headed for over three decades.

In Temple times, Jews from far and wide would make the annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem to celebrate the festival of Sukkos. The last of them would return home some two weeks after the festival on the seventh of Cheshvan, and the prayer for rain was delayed until then.

Following a month packed with festivals and joy, the Rebbe holds a special farewell audience for the guests who came to spend Tishrei with him.

The meaning of the word ‘congress’ is when people gather together – to bring unity among Jews. No easy task, but it can be done. May it be in an auspicious hour.

Rabbi Elchanan Jaacobovez is a veteran educator living in Nachlat Har Chabad, Israel. He was married in 1966. (Mid 1970s)

In Temple times, the seventh day of the month of Cheshvan meant that the festivals of the month of Tishrei were well and truly behind us. It was the date that the last of the pilgrims would return home from Jerusalem.

Following the festival of Simchas Torah, the Rebbe distributes from the wine of Havdalah to the Chasidim gathered.