Weekly Letter: Free Will and Freedom of Action and Rosh Hashana
The Rebbe explains in his letter how we can reconcile being inscribed for a happy New Year on Rosh Hashanah with the idea of free will and freedom of action.
The Rebbe explains in his letter how we can reconcile being inscribed for a happy New Year on Rosh Hashanah with the idea of free will and freedom of action.
With Yom Kippur comes the well-known prayer of Kol Nidrei – a prayer about vows. We present a letter to a businessman regarding his neder/vow – where the Rebbe shares his halachic insights.
As we are now beginning the new year, 5787, which is a LEAP YEAR – we share a letter where the Rebbe explains to a group of Yeshivah students what the Jewish leap year is, the special lesson it teaches us and gives some practical guidelines.
In this month of Elul – as we prepare for Rosh Hashana and focus on teshuvah – we share a letter which the Rebbe writes to one desiring a life of Torah and mitzvos and asks for direction in achieving this goal. The Rebbe explains some basic points of teshuvah.
As we celebrate the auspicious birthday on Chai Elul of the two luminaries of chassidus – its founder, R’Yisroel Baal Shem Tov and the Baal Ha’Tanya, R’Schneur Zalman – we share a letter of the Rebbe, in answer to a young man who says he doesn’t have anything to take out from his periodic study of the Tanya. The Rebbe clarifies a misconception and gives some specific advice.
The Rebbe gives advice to one who is concerned about the state of the world in general and in this country in particular – advice to benefit the world and contribute to peace.
In our parsha regarding the obligation to appoint public servants – judges and police, we share a letter of the Rebbe to the newly elected mayor of an American city. In it, the Rebbe thanks the mayor for the honor of presenting him with the Key of the City and explains the responsibilities that come with it and the symbolic significance of the Key. The Rebbe gives the mayor his blessings and reminds him of his duty as mayor – to benefit all the citizens of the city, to each and every segment of the city, including the Jewish community.
During a time when we are experiencing fearful confusion and insecurity besetting the young generation of today, frequently erupting in open defiance and revolt against the elementary laws of human society – we are sharing a letter of the Rebbe in which he analyzes this problem and gives clear directives. As reflected in the teachings of Chabad.
As the topic of “socialism” has come to the forefront of our political discussion today – we share a letter In which the Rebbe clarifies what is true social justice – as taught in the Torah.
On this Shabbos Nachamu, following the sad day of Tisha b’Av,, when a period of comfort begins, we present a letter of consolation from the Rebbe. In it, the Rebbe gives his insight into the words we use when comforting the bereaved “The Almighty comfort you in the midst of all mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.”
During the mourning period of the Nine Days – we share a letter of the Rebbe in answer to one who has come closer to Yiddishkeit yet is troubled by the fate of European Jewry during recent years (Holocaust) and asks how to reconcile this with the basic beliefs of our religion.
The Rebbe’s letter – during this time of resentment and hatred towards Jews by an increasing number of non-Jews – is in answer to a woman who finds it difficult to understand why Jews feel so strongly that Gentiles are not well disposed towards them, as she herself does not feel that way about the Jews.
Now during the period of the Three Weeks and a time when Jews are experiencing increased antisemitism worldwide, we share a letter of the Rebbe in which he gives us the proper and practical perspective on the matter and his advice.
As we celebrate Yud Bais/Yud Gimmel Tammuz – we share a letter where the Rebbe refers to a message of the Frierdiker Rebbe on the first anniversary of his redemption and connects it to the answer he is giving to one who wishes to donate for the building of a children’s hospital.
With the start of summer vacation, we share the Rebbe’s vacation message to Jewish children – in which he clearly explains that vacation time cannot signal the stoppage of study – but is rather a redirecting of study. Just as there cannot be a stoppage of life, there cannot be a stoppage of study.
On the topic of shlichus – as we learn in this week’s parsha of the sending of emissaries by Moshe Rabbeinu on a mission – our letter this week deals with shluchim of the Rebbe – and a basic and clear guideline for them in connection with Chabad shlichus.
To one questioning whether or not Gentiles have a neshama, the Rebbe clarifies the point of the chosenness of the Jewish people and how the soul of the Gentile and the soul of the Jew differ in their nature.