Weekly Dvar Torah: Rebbe, I Have Good News For You!

This Wednesday, the 11th of Nissan, marks the Rebbe’s 123rd birthday—a day cherished by all who love the Rebbe, live by his guidance, and are blessed by his presence in our lives. As we prepare to celebrate, we think about the best gift to give to the Rebbe, one that would truly bring him joy and satisfaction.

Across the globe, Chassidim are preparing presents in numbers of 123 to honor the Rebbe. Some are ensuring that 123 Jews receive Shmurah Matzah for the Seder, while others are organizing 123 Jews to attend a Seder who otherwise might not have a place to go. In New York, 123 Mitzvah Tanks will parade through the metropolitan area, helping Jews fulfill Mitzvos—putting on Tefillin, committing to lighting Shabbos candles, and raising Jewish pride in every neighborhood they reach.

Torah study is flourishing in the Rebbe’s honor, with students dedicating 123 extra hours to learning—some diving into Talmud, others immersing in the Rebbe’s teachings or additional Chassidus. Around the world, farbrengens are being held to strengthen our commitment to Torah, Mitzvos, and the Rebbe’s holy work. Simple celebrations of song, dance, and L’Chaim resound wherever Lubavitchers are found, bringing hearts together to wish Klal Yisrael blessings and peace.

This celebration of the Rebbe’s birthday is deeply rooted in his teachings. The Rebbe emphasized that the head of the generation’s birthday is a time for all his followers to be born anew, to begin again with fresh vigor and purpose. But amidst all the joy and excitement, I can’t help but wonder: What gift would truly touch the Rebbe’s heart?

In my opinion, the most precious gift we can offer is the resolution to maintain a regular, written connection with the Rebbe. This idea took root in my heart when I remembered a story from 1992—the last day the Rebbe distributed dollars and blessings. A man approached the Rebbe to express gratitude for a blessing that had come to fruition: he and his wife had been blessed with children. The Rebbe, with a radiant smile, thanked him for sharing the good news, remarking on how rare it was for people to report good news, even though they frequently turned to the Rebbe in times of distress.

The Rebbe’s response made a deep impression on me. It was clear that, too often, Chassidim only reached out when they faced hardships, forgetting to share moments of joy and success. The Rebbe’s yearning to hear good news is not just about being informed—it is about staying connected, nurturing the bond between Rebbe and Chossid, even when life is going well.

One Simchas Torah in 5746 (1985), I personally experienced this message. I approached the Rebbe with a heavy heart, asking for a blessing for a gravely ill family member. The Rebbe gave a warm blessing for long and good years. Miraculously, the next day, I heard that my relative felt better. Realizing that I had bothered the Rebbe on such a holy day, I decided it was only right to inform him of the improvement. To my surprise, the Rebbe responded with a note: “So you should continue to report good news forever in matters of revealed good.” I was astounded by the Rebbe’s encouragement and his wish to always hear positive updates. Though the relative passed away shortly after, the message remained clear: staying in touch and sharing good news was vital. When I shared my thoughts with the Rebbe, he responded affirmatively.

In another instance, in 1999, a few years after Gimmel Tammuz, when a young child in my family suddenly began to stutter, while visiting at the Ohel, I wrote to the Rebbe asking for a blessing. The next day, while in shul, I opened a book of the Rebbe’s letters. To my amazement, the letter I found addressed a similar situation, suggesting that the stuttering was a reaction to fright. Indeed, we later discovered that a cat had startled the child. After calming the child, the stuttering ceased, just as the Rebbe’s letter predicted. The Rebbe had directly responded to my plea.

Stories like these taught me an essential lesson: the Rebbe not only wants to hear from us in moments of crisis but longs to be part of our lives when things are good too. The Rebbe once expressed his pain about Chassidim only writing during hardships, emphasizing that G-d may send challenges just to compel people to reconnect. If we write regularly, sharing the good and the blessings, we may avert difficulties by maintaining that bond of closeness and love.

Since realizing this, with the Rebbe’s approval, I made it my mission to encourage others to write good news to the Rebbe. I began a campaign to spread this practice, and though I can’t quantify its success, I know that I have kept my promise. To this day, I write to the Rebbe every week, sharing updates from my personal and communal life. Each time, I feel the Rebbe’s presence and guidance—whether in a dream, a book, or a seemingly coincidental message. The Rebbe finds a way to respond, blessing me and my family with insights and encouragement.

This 11th of Nissan, as we prepare our gifts to the Rebbe, let us resolve to give the most precious present of all: a commitment to writing good news regularly. Whether monthly or at whatever interval suits you, set it in stone and make it a practice. Let the Rebbe know about your family, update him on what’s going on in your life, about your achievements, your growth, your triumphs, and your efforts in spreading Torah and Mitzvos. I assure you, the Rebbe will respond—perhaps not always in the way we expect, but in a way that shows his continued love and care for every one of his Chassidim.

May we all merit to give the Rebbe the ultimate gift by living lives filled with Torah, Mitzvos, and spreading goodness and kindness. And may this connection hasten the coming of Moshiach, when we will be reunited with the Rebbe once more. L’Chaim!

Have a Happy Pre-Birthday of a Shabbos,
Gut Shabbos

Rabbi Yosef Katzman