Info for the Schapira Bris

The Bris of the Rebbe's newest einikel will IY"H be this Thursday. Davening Shachris @ 8:00 at the Ganei Geulah Shteiblach, followed by the bris at 9:30. The seudah will follow at the Ulam Beis Yisroel (Ezras Torah).

Chanukah: A Time for Prayer

Rebbe Shloime Bobover (I)

That one should take advantage of the auspicious time of Chanukah lighting to daven for one's children, is aptly illustrated by the following story (as heard from Rav Bentzion Twerski):

Once, when the Rebbetzin Devorah Leah was a young child of five, she came in to the room where her saintly grandfather, the first Rebbe Shloimeh of Bobov, was lighting the Chanukah menorah.

"Zeide, why are you crying?"

"I'm davening that you should have a good husband."

The next night she came in and found her grandfather crying by the menorah again.

"Zeide, why are crying tonight?"

"I'm davening that you should have good children."

Such were the kavannos of the great tzadikim - always thinking of the future generations.

Pictures from Eretz Yisroel 5771

In lieu of photos from this year...

Minhagim: Chanuka Lighting (English edition)

Thank you to those who expressed an interest in an English translation of the minhagim. Here is a synopsis of what I posted previously.:

Maoz Tzur

The Divrei Chaim lit in this menorah for 14 years.

The nigun the Rebbe, shlit"a, uses for Maoz Tzur is the same one his father, Rebbe Yaakov Yisroel, would sing. Although the nigun is sung in today's Bobov, I heard from the Rebbe that it comes from earlier than the Kedushas Tzion, and possibly even back to the Sanz of the Divrei Chaim.

DOWNLOAD

Vayeshev: Dreams

This past Shabbos, the Rebbe, shlit"a, said the following:

 

Targum Yonosan ben Uziel says that Yosef HaTzadik could have interpreted the dreams whichever way he wanted and that would have been the outcome.

 

That being the case, what did Yosef have against the Sar HaOifim?

 

The mefarshim say that each one knew the interpretation of his friend's dream. The Sar Hamashkim had a good reason for not telling the Sar Haoifim - he didn't want to make him feel depressed by hearing of his fate. But the Sar HaOfim, who knew that the Sar Hamashkim would be set free, and yet he saw his friend get up with a sour face and didn't tell him the good news to make him happy. For that, Yosef decided, he deserved to get the bad interpretation!

 

(Shkoyach to Burich Twerski who was with the Rebbe for Shabbos and to Reb Yankel Londoner for sending it my way.)

The Rebbe's Trip to Eretz Yisroel

To the Chevra in Eretz Yisroel...

Please, please stay in touch with each other as to when the Rebbe will be seeing people and doing things for the public. Think of who would like to be included and make sure they find out.

In the name of all the chevra who turn to this blog as the resource for Torah and news from the Rebbe...

To our brethren in Eretz Yisroel:

A call to arms!

Whenever there is an opportunity, grab your cameras, your voice-recorders, your pens and paper (I know some of you still have those laying around), smartphones, laptops and tablets - anything at all!

Please send pictures, audio or video recordings, comments, and anything else you can think of, to

twerskitorah@gmail.com 

and I will post it here for all to benefit from.

Do not let your brethren in the Diaspora be left in the dark!

Chanukah with the Rebbe Reb Yaakov Yisroel, ztz"l

An excerpt from Reb Sheya's book, Generation to Generation:

"Some of my most cherished memories relate to the Yomim Tovim (holidays), and I was fortunate that the modern super-industrialized commercialism had not deprived me of these experiences.

Chanukah Holiday by Boris Dubrov

The joy of Chanukah actually began several days before the holidays. Father (Rebbe Yaakov Yisroel) would use a beeswax candle to light the wicks of the oil-burning menorah (candelabra), and since beeswax candles were unavailable commercially, he would make them himself, eight of them, one for each night. He would also make one extra candle to put away for use in the search for chometz (leavened bread) on the night before Passover.

Chanukah: Humility and Insignificance

Written by the Rebbe, shlit"a, Rav Michel Twerski of Milwaukee (from "Turning Pages", 1984)

"Humility" is a much used and abused word. It is, without question, the premium virtue amongst the attributes of Jewish "Midos" (personality qualities). The Torah records as the greatest achievement of Moshe, his incomparable humility. It is, however, also frequently misapplied and interchanged with such concepts as "meekness", "worthlessness". and "insignificance." Humility is many things, but certainly none of the latter. At one time or another, we have all been confronted with our personal limitations and on our interdependence with others. We have been able to say to ourselves, "You don't have to swallow the whole world - rule it - own it - or desire it. Live and let live!" "Be content with your portion in life - rejoice with your own blessings." "Don't be envious or jealous of others." These expressions are statements of humility. They represent a recognition of limits, of building happiness from within, and living with others in a world big enough for  everyone. "Insignificance" on the other hand says to us, "You are worthless and unimportant! Neither you nor your deeds make any difference whatever." "Insignificance" assumes that man is a cosmic accident, and that he is nothing more than a microscopic speck upon the canvas of eternity.

Chanukah: Responding to the Challenge

The words of Rebbe Reb Yaakov Yisroel Twerski, ztz"l (from "Turning Pages")

During the weeks between the High Holidays and the festive time of Chanukah, we find ourselves treated by inspiring and very interesting Torah readings in the Sabbath Service. These portions deal with the very beginnings of our people, and deal with the lives of the spiritual giants of our early history: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the Matriarchs, the Twelve Tribes - all are part of the unfolding story of spiritual commitment, determination, and courage.

Minhagim: Chanuka Lighting (Hebrew)

Above is a photo of the Rebbe's menorah on Zos Chanukah (Day 8). One can learn many specific minhagim just from this one picture alone. Here is a PDF (in Hebrew) that I put together last year of many minhagim of the Rebbe's that are not specifically "rebbishe minhagim", rather they are also for the general population that wishes to follow his custom. DOWNLOAD or VIEW

Tanya Shiur #3 (RBT)

Last night's Tanya shiur, from Rav Benzion Twerski.

DOWNLOAD (7.16 MB)

For times and dial-in info, click here.

Video: The Tree Song

Thanks again to our iPhone cameraman, Ben Vineburg, for this clip from the most recent Melava Malka (Motzei Shabbos Vayeitzei 5772). In the clip, the Rebbe is singing his original "Tree Song", a famous ballad describing the longing of a young child to climb a tall tree and how he slowly forgot about his aspirations. At the end, the boy, now an old man, promises that while he may have been unable to fulfill his lifelong dream, his children can benefit from his experiences and maybe they themselves will one day reach the heavens.

The post includes audio of the complete song and full lyrics as well. Enjoy!

Tanya Shiur #2 (RBT)

As the title of the post so creatively describes, here is last night's Tanya shiur from Rav Bentzion Twerski, the second in the series.

DOWNLOAD (6.17 MB)

Click here for information regarding how to hear the shiur live.

Tanya Shiur #1 (from Rav Benzion)

Last Wednesday night, Rav Benzion started a Tanya shiur. Here it is for those who missed it. This way you can be up to date with the shiur which continues tonight. DOWNLOAD (17.5 MB)