Medrash: Chukas 5771

In this week's Medrash Shiur, the Rebbe spoke about Moshe hitting the rock. Here are some main highlights from the parts that were more l'maaseh:
1. Everything is suffused with Hashem's presence and glory. You don't need to fight against the world. If approached correctly the world will surrender itself to you
2. While there is a concept that we don not rely on miracles, nothing is beyond Hashem and each and every one of us have every right to ask anything from Hashem. Nothing is removed from Him.
3. We must be prepared to do whatever it takes to bring about the honor of Heaven, no matter what is at stake, even or own ruchniyus or eternity.
4. Never, ever underestimate your words of Torah and tefilah, your acts of kindness, or anything else that you do. To do so is to underestimate Hashem Himself.

36 minutes, 8.3 MB PLAY DOWNLOAD

Oldie of the Week: Shma B'ni

Here's a link to the Rebbe's Shma B'ni from a 1976 Pirchei Album. If your filter blocks out all YouTube content you can hear it here as well. DOWNLOAD

Yahrtzeit: Rebbetzin Devorah Leah Twerski, a"h

The 29th of Sivan 29 is the yahrtzeit of the Rebbe's mother, Rebbetzin Devorah Leah, a"h. 

On the shul website there is a page dedicated to the Rebbetzin's memory. It has the hespedim from her children, articles about her life and a picture gallery. Click here to be transferred.

On the yahrtzeit in 5767, the chaburah in Eretz Yisroel asked the Rebbe to speak about his mother, the Rebbetzin, a"h. At the end of the chaburah, the Rebbe did so briefly. Here is the recording from then. Sorry for the poor quality; the Rebbe was speaking over the phone and I recorded it from the speaker. Better than nothing, I guess. Enjoy!

6 minutes, 2.7 MB

Yahrtzeit: Rebbe Yechiel Michel of Kurima (Sivan 25)

Born to Rebbe Tzvi Menachem Mendel of Dinavitz (son of the Rebbe Reb Zisha of Anipoli) and Rebbetzin Sima (a great-granddaughter of the Baal Shem Hakadosh) in the year 5535 (1785).

After his father's passing, he served as Rav of Dinavitz.

The minhag in Hornosteipel was to say in the berachah of V'lamalshinim, "v'chol haminim v'hamosrim k'regah yoveidu". Reb Nuchim from Tel Aviv (son of the Rebbe Reb Leibele) wrote that this addition came from Reb Mechel of Kurima "who suffered immensely from mosrim (informers)". After suffering at the hands of the mosrim in his home town, some say he was held in prison for two years in Dinavitz. Somewhere between 5596-5570 it was ruled that he was to be taken to Siberia with the Rizhiner (who also had just been taken prisoner). On the way, his chassidim rescued him, and he ran to Kurima where he was appointed Rav.

Before his passing (in 1856), he told his children that no one should visit his tziyun (trans. grave, see left) without first saying the entire book of Tehilim twice!

His son was Rebbe Meshulam Zisha Yitzchak of Tolomitch, the father of the Rebbe Reb Motele of Hornosteipel, zy"a.

There is much more to be said but it will have to wait for another opportunity. Meanwhile, for more info see MiGedolei HaChassidus, pg. 86-88, Rabeinu Hakadosh MiTzanz, pg. 441-444, Devarim Areivim, pg. 114, 182. Also here (English) and here (Yiddish and Hebrew). The second link is to a forum where someone posted a gripping account of the entire story of how Reb Mechel Kurimer was captured and ultimately rescued. The account is from a handwritten manuscript (in Hebrew) by the Keretzkier Ruv, a son-in-law of the Kedushas Yom Tov. More later...

Seder Hayom (3): First Thoughts

Previously, we learned that immediately upon awaking in the morning one should be mekadesh, (consecrate) the three garments of the soul. Of course this applies to all three facets of human expression including action and speech, but the seforim place a greater emphasis on thought. In this post, let's take a look at some of the specific thought processes that the seforim mention.

Increasing Awarness, Changing Habits (audio)

This morning the question was posed regarding how to increase awareness of something in avodah, for example, Hashem's presence or the needs of others. In this short shiur, the Rebbe succinctly explains how to make concrete changes in one's habits by proactively contriving situations that will increase his consciousness as opposed to simply responding to what comes your way.
At the end of the shiur, the Rebbe tells a story of the Chernobyler Magid that relates the importance of doing mitzvos and chesed not because it makes sense to us or because of our good nature, rather because Hashem told us to.

5 minutes, 1.2 MB PLAY DOWNLOAD

Chukas: Tumah and Taharah (audio)

This morning, the Rebbe, shlit"a, fielded a question about the nature of tumah and taharah, ritual purity and impurity. In the shiur, the Rebbe discussed the idea that Hashem defines reality how He sees fit, and that we are not privy to knowing the rhyme or reason behind it. Just like we don't why copper has the qualities to make it a good electrical conductor and why rubber lacks those characteristics, so too we have no insight into why certain things render tumah or taharah. This idea is brought out best by the parah adumah which has the seemingly contradictory qualities. On the one hand it purifies the one who was impure, but at the same time the one who is administering the tahara becomes tamei. It is a chok and a secret, its metziyus (reality), something that the Ribono Shel Olam determines to be. However, once we clarify that truth, we can then step back and ask, "But what can I learn from this?" Chazal suggest insights into the parah adumah; there are lessons to be learned. But the reasons why Hashem established the particular peculiar nature of the parah adumah in the manner that He did remains a chok.

Using tzaar baalei chayim as an example, the Rebbe said that the same concept applies to Jewish morality. The Torah-based set of morals that we adhere are not like universal ethics. Hashem defines what is ethical, not man. So we have to remember that when Hashem says not to pain animals, that is not because it is unethical to do so; it is because Hashem established it as important. When there is a purpose for causing pain to an animal such as shechting an animal to eat or cancer research, Hashem mandates that there is no longer an issue with harming an animal. Once we know that midos and derech eretz are not valuable in and of themselves but only because Hashem defined them as a way of coming close to Him and a means of perfecting man, then we can begin to explore the other comprehensible implications and lessons to be learned.

At the end of shiur the Rebbe quoted a famous vort from the Shem MiShmuel about the nature of tumah.

19 minutes, 4.5 MB PLAY DOWNLOAD

Drops of Rain: Korach 5771

For those of you who haven't seen Drops of Rain from Parshas Korach yet, here it is. Sorry for the delay.

DOWNLOAD

Your Life Can't Wait

When Korach and his entourage filed their complaint, Moshe told them to come the next day with their ketores and they would see who Hashem chooses. They agree and come back the next day.

 

The Rebbe once explained that Moshe Rabeinu wanted to discern for himself where Korach was coming from. Something that is relevant to your very essence, to your life's mission in this world, cannot wait for another day. If it can wait, if it lets you sleep at night, then it must not be part of your purpose. Korach could have replied, "How can I come back tomorrow? You're asking me to put off the purpose of my existence for another time?" Had he done so it would have been evident that he truly was doing this for the sake of Heaven. Once Moshe Rabeinu understood that Korach did not feel urgency in his own campaign, it was clear that there was no redeeming angle about Korach's position. If it means something to you then it can't wait for tomorrow.

Der Geller's Nigun

The Rebbe, shlit"a, asked that everybody learn this new-ish nigun, and that we implement it in the davening. In Lubavitch it is known as Reb Shloime Der Geller's Nigun. Reb Shloime had a flowing yellow beard, hence the name Der Geller (yiddish for "The Yellow One"). He was a melamed in the city of Nevel and he used to sing this song while on the way to the Rebbe in Lubavitch. Here is a heimishe recording with Reb Moshe Menachem Friedman on keyboard and the Rebbe's grandson Sruli Ausch singing. This nigun is the first track on Avraham Fried's album, Avinu Malkeinu..

PLAY DOWNLOAD

Update About New Tefila Yeshara Siddur

To see the first post about the new siddur, click here.

UPDATE: About 15-20 of the chevra in shul have been using the new siddur for a number of months now. I also have warmed up a bit more to it and purchased my own copy. The k'sav ashuris is actually quite nice once you get used to it and not having to flip around looking for Ashrei is a major plus.
Currently, everyone is sold out of the first print (you can try here). Rav Veiner is working on fixing a few things and printing a second edition. in addition to the Shabbos and Yom Tov siddur. BS"D, we'll keep you up to date.
UPDATE: The Shabbos and Yom Yov siddur has been printed in small and large formats. I got a copy brought from Eretz Yisroel and am seriously considering using it instead of the old one. Something about the new font and layout feels more appropriate for Shabbos than weekdays. Also, it was printed on nice yellow paper which makes up for some of the other issues I have with it. Very excited!


For the differences between the Rebbe's nusach and the new siddur for weekday Shemoneh Esrei, click here.

Interestingly, a special edition of the siddur Tefilah Yesharah was printed in Germany in 1946 for Holocaust survivors in the DP camps (see left and below). That this siddur was viewed as a necessary item and chosen to be from the first printed seforim for the DP camps may be indicative of the popularity of this siddur and its nusach before the Holocaust.

Inside of the Yafeh edition, Fernwald 1946

  Reprinted in Fernwald 1946
by Rabbi Yaakov Friedman, Yafeh edition

In the Name of Korach (audio)

Here is this morning's post-Shachris shiur. The Rebbe spoke about the multiple meanings of the word "Korach" (ice, tearing away and bald), how these concepts helped shape Korach's argument and their connotations for us in our avodas Hashem. Towards the end of the shiur the Rebbe spoke about Korach's position that if everyone in Klal Yisroel is holy, we shouldn't need leaders or tzadikim. Of course, each and every one of us is holy and special in Hashem's eyes. Yes, we can reach lofty heights and attain intense closeness with Hashem. But the flow comes to us through (or in the merit of) our leaders. Moshe Rabeinu was the head, the pathway and pipeline for Klal Yisroel and Korach's own elevated holy state.

24 minutes, 5.5 MB PLAY DOWNLOAD

Yahrtzeit of the Beis Aharon

Today (Sivan 17) is the Beis Aharon's yahrtzeit. He was the grandson of Rebbe Aharon HaGadol of Karlin.

This morning before Ashrei, while the oilam was putting on Rabeinu Tam's, the Rebbe repeated what he often says from the Beis Aharon: A Yid is supposed to be b'simcha every day. I'm not referring to the madreiga of simcha. I am talking about basic joy. Saying the berachah of שלא עשני גוי, that Hashem did not make me a non-Jew, should generate intense, profound joy. If one truly thought about what it means to be a Jew and all of its implications, he would surely be dancing in the streets."

See also here from a week ago.

What Planet Are You On?

There are two worlds a person can live in. When we say "world", we really mean perspective or "mind-space". When a person perceives the people and things around him to be separate from the Divine energy and hence from the Divine influence, that is a world of pirud, of division and schism.

The second space a person can live in is a world of ichud, of oneness and unification. Recognizing that when one person is Klal Yisroel defies the edict of Hashem, it is as though each one of us individually have sinned. Similarly, when one person performs a mitzvah, in essence we all have done that mitzvah. I am you and you are me and there is no difference. It is a place of ahavas yisroel, of positivity and constant connection with Hashem. Everything has its source in Hashem. Linking every situation, every person and thing we come in contact with to its Source, and experiencing the inner core of everything as opposed to getting caught up in the "bubble-wrap" (as the Rebbe often gives as a mashal), is what the Maor Einayim and others refer to as the embodiment of the pasuk חכם עיניו בראשו, "a wise person's eyes are in his head" (Koheles 2:14). The Zohar Hakadosh (Parshas Balak 187a) asks the obvious question. Inasmuch as that every person's eyes are in his head, not just the eyes of a wise person, the Maor Einayim explains this pasuk to mean that a person who is wise, is someone who always looks to the head, the source, the beginning of everything. From where did this thing emanate? He sees things as they are in their source.

The Rebbe said that the first step towards spending more of the time connected to the Source of everything is to identify the differences between life lived in pirud-world as opposed connected, oneness-world. Once we can picture the kinds of things that stem from living in the world of pirud, then when we sense ourselves slipping into those areas or those kinds of behaviors, we can train ourselves to have a signal go off in our heads. At that point we can step back into the right space. By reacting to those signals, we can slowly learn how to stay in the right mindset more and more often.

If I were seeing things clearly, how would I behave? What would my speech be like? Would I see things in a better light? Would I be more tolerant of others, of the situation, of myself? How would I spend my time? How about the converse? And when I am not seeing things as connected, what does my world look like?

These are the types of questions we need to ask. Once we have a clear picture of both worlds then we can be cognizant of where we are and take the requisite steps towards where we want to be.

Drops of Rain: Sh'lach 5771

The past two weeks survived somehow without any Drops of Rain. In a last minute effort to break the chazakah, here is Drops of Rain for Parshas Sh'lach. It includes the previous post about Rav Shulem Leizer of Ratzfert. Enjoy and a wonderful Shabbos to all.

And for your listening pleasure, a gitten Shabbos...