"I Love Yidden!"

In addition to the previous vertlach in preparation of the upcoming yahrtzeit of the Rebbe Reb Yaakov Yisroel, here is a tidbit about his exceptional ahavas Yisroel.

Last year (5770), Reb Aharon Twerski, shlit"a, said that Reb Yaakov Yisroel's "ahavas Yisroel was indescribable. If ten portions of ahavas Yisroel were sent down to the world, my father took nine." Reb Aharon described how when the Rebbe, ztz"l, came to Milwaukee there was a certain Rav who "really had it in for my father, [but] my father never responded with any hate. They turned out to be the closest of friends because my father could only show people love. The fact that somebody else hated him, that was [the other person's] problem."

The King in Exile

כל רודפיה השיגוה בין המצרים - איכה א, ג

"All her pursuers overtook her in narrow straights" (Eicha 1:3).

The Rebbe Reb Dov Ber, the Mezritcher Magid, zy"a, said:

The Three Weeks (Bein Hametzarim) are especially opportune for spiritual attainments and drawing nearer to the Shechina Hakedosha, more-so than during the rest of the year.

Similar to a king who while in exile is approachable to all, and upon his return to the palace he will surely remember to fulfill the pleas of his loyal subjects. Surely the most appropriate and auspicious prayer during this time would be that the King should be reinstated in His rightful place.

Medrash: 17th of Tamuz 5771

Today's Medrash Shiur was about the five things that are recorded as having occurred on the 17th of Tamuz. Interestingly, the Sin of the Golden Calf is not listed even though it too took place on the same day. The Rebbe expounded on the numerous levels of unity (achdus), and set forth the appropriate level of unity that is characteristic of Yidden. The Rebbe also said over how these ideas translate into practical service in Torah learning, davening and ahavas Yisroel.

DOWNLOAD - 45 minutes, 10.36 MB

Finding Meaning in Fasting (audio)

Today after Shachris the Rebbe responded to a question regarding how to make sure that a person is not the same at the end of Shivasar B'Tamuz or Tisha B'Av as he was the day before. In other words, how does one find meaning in fasting when that is the whole avodah of the day (as opposed to Yom Kippur, for example)?

One thing the Rebbe said at a different time (hence it is not in the recording) is that one who wants to "get in touch" with the loss and what it means to be in galus, he can imagine everything he wants to get out of ruchniyus and where he wants to be in a relationship with Hashem, in addition to how good the world could be if everything were right and in its proper place, so to speak. Multiply that by as much as your mind can handle. Then imagine having it all and having it all ripped away. If we felt like that on these fast days, who would be able to stomach anything at all? Towards the end of this three-and-a-half minute recording, the Rebbe talks about the "positive" aspect, as opposed to the aforementioned method, both of which are important.

DOWNLOAD "FINDING MEANING IN FASTING"

Three Weeks (audio)

From the popular tape series Experience the Essence of Yom Tov, here is a shiur for the upcoming Three Weeks.

DOWNLOAD "THE THREE WEEKS"

Click here to see the full three Essence of Yom Tov tape series, along with many more shiurim and music albums available from the shul website.