Wednesday nights - Rav Benzion's Tanya shiur..........Please continue to daven for the good health of the Rebbe (Yechiel Michel ben Devorah Leah) and Rebbetzin (Feiga bas Sarah).

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Rav Sheya visits Rachmistrivka in Yerushalayim

Two pictures from Rav Sheya's visit with the Rachmistrivker Rebbe in Yerushalayim:




Thanks to Reb Chaim Shmeel of Beitar for the pictures.

Video: Elul 22 5771 and Havdala Bereishis 5772

Here are some YouTube links:

Havdala Motzei Shabbos Bereishis 5772
Singing on Elul 22 5771 (Reb Motele's yahrtzeit)

Thanks to Ben Vineburg for posting these.
Yasher Koach!

Friday, October 7, 2011

Gmar Chasima Tova

G'mar Chasima Tova to everyone,
a git gebentched yuhr,
and have an easy fast!

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Realistic is Relative (Kol Nidrei 5767)

Often times, in a moment of inspiration and clarity, we vow to better ourselves. When the moment fades and we find ourselves basically back where we started, we can barely imagine how foolish we were to have thought that we could sustain such a high and actually hold to the levels we aspired and committed to. So we get depressed thinking that we are failures, unable to solidify what we believed were genuine feelings of conviction and clarity.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Shabbos Shuva Drasha at WITS 5772 (audio)

I haven't written up the Rebbe's Shabbos Shuva Drasha yet because I don't think I "chapped" fully yet. Thankfully, the Rebbe spoke today at WITS as he does every Aseres Y'mei Teshuvah and he repeated most of what he said on Shabbos. Here is a recording from WITS. (I shaved off the beginning introductions to make the file size smaller.) DOWNLOAD



After the drasha, a few of the bochurim took advantage of the opportunity to receive their "Erev Yom Kippur Berachos" from the Rebbe.

Yom Kippur with the Rebbe, ztz"l

Below is another excerpt from Generation to Generation describing Yom Kippur with the Rebbe, Rav Yaakov Yisroel, ztz"l.


The day before Yom Kippur, at the morning meal, Father would sing the ‘portion of the Selichot (prayer for forgiveness) services for that day. The melody penetrated every crevice in one’s soul, and brought one to a profound state of atonement.

A Lesson in Exchange

Here is an excerpt from Reb Sheya's book, Generation to Generation:

Before Yom Kippur, there is a traditional ritual of "kapporos," or "exchange." Essentially, the person seeking forgiveness is given to understand that in his defying Divine will by committing transgressions, he has forfeited his right to life. However, he is permitted to offer an "exchange" for his life by having a chicken slaughtered in his stead. The apparent rationale for this is that rather than the concept of capital punishment being a total abstraction, the penitent sees his penalty carried out in actuality on a lower form of life, and this should help him recognize the gravity of his transgression. The chicken is then given away to the needy.

One of the disciples of Rebbe Elimelich came to the Master before Yom Kippur, asking for a more profound understanding of the “kapporos” ritual. “I cannot help you," Rebbe Elimelich said, ”but if you will go to the inn in the nearby village, the innkeeper may be able to instruct you in the concept of ‘exchange.’

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Brachos from the Rebbe, shlit"a

The following notice was sent out from the shul:

The Rebbe is not physically capable of distributing the Brachos this year on Erev Yom Kippur. The Rebbe wishes to be able to give Brachos on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights after Maariv for one half hour. This will take place in his Shul office immediately after Maariv. Please do not utilize this time for Shaalos or any other issues, to enable everyone to receive a Bracho.

NO ONE should approach the Rebbe on Erev Yom Kippur to receive a Bracha.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Mind, Heart, Action

The following piece was written by the Rebbe, Harav Michel Twerski, shlit"a, for the Tishrei season in 1969 and was originally published in "Turning Pages". The first part is geared for before Rosh Hashana but the rest is for Yom Kippur and Succos. Practically speaking, although we are technically past Rosh Hashana, I would venture to guess that we can still apply the ideas contained in the first section as well.

As we approach the Rosh Hashanah holiday, it would be of interest to us to see if we can discover a relationship between the celebration of the New Year and the rich holiday season which it ushers in. We note that the New Year is rapidly followed by Yom Kippur, Succos and Simchas Torah. Are each of these meant to be taken as independent occasions, or is there some meaningful concept which brings them all together?

Extra Chumros During These Days

In Shulchan Aruch we find a very perplexing proposition laid before us for the Aseres Y’mei Teshuva: to take on extra stringencies and hidurim such as, keeping "pas Yisroel" for someone who isn’t careful about it the whole year. The interesting thing is that this is only intended to last the duration of these ten days. That being the case, what it the point? Are we trying to trick the Master of the World by quickly accruing merits to somehow bluff our way through these Days of Awe? It surely is intended as something more authentic.