Tonight: Nittel Nacht
Just a reminder that tonight is “Nittel Nacht” and the custom is that we don’t learn as to not be “adding Chayus”.
The Rebbe says in a Sicha that we shouldn’t “waste our time” but involve ourselves in something like chess which exercises the mind or any other chore that needs to be done. And the Rebbe related a story in the Sicha where a Bochur would save all the sewing of the buttons on his cloths to “Nittel Nacht” to be productive in a “non Adding Chayus” way.
According to the Sefer Haminhagim: “The Rebbe Rashab once said that the reason for not studying Torah on Nittel-nacht, is that ”one should not elicit an increase in life-force.“ This restriction on study applies only until midnight.” [Hayom Yom of the 17th o fTeves]
Cool Picture
I wonder who took that picture, and I wonder who won?
Not a Nittle Nacht Picture
It’s well known this picture was not taken on Nittle Nacht.
from when
is this from shkia or tseis?
thanks
thanks for the reminder as i would not have known otherwise
anyone know
who won? did they play every year?
picture not from nittel nacht
this is what I read….
Chosid
I was always wondering who won the chess game?
Yitzchok c Jerusalem
Does anyone know if this custom applies in Eretz Yisroel? I don’t need a lecture just an answer will do fine. I’m sorry if my ignorance offends anyone!
Mottel
That photo was not taken on Nittel Nacht. Rather the photo is from the time the Frierdiker Rebbe spent in the Purkersdorf sanatorium in 1935.
Can someone pls share
who won? Who else would the rebbe involve himself in chess with? What did the rebbe do after?
GG
Yitzchok (#8): no harm in asking! The prevalent custom seems to be that it does not apply in Eretz Yisrael. In one of his letters (printed in Likkutei Sichos vol. 18), the Rebbe notes that perhaps this is because for much of history Eretz Yisrael was under Muslim rule.
Honestly
The story is the Rebbe was letting the previous Rebbe win, and the previous Rebbe admonished the Rebbe that he should play honestly to try to win.