Weekly Letter: “Making Peace With G-d”

The Rebbe’s letter this week is about the Zayin Mitzvos – addressed to a non- Jew who asks about “making peace with G-d” – which, the Rebbe says, is not an end in itself, but rather it is the fulfillment of one’s destiny which should be one’s goal. The letter, written originally in English, is from the archives of the Rebbe’s trusted secretary Rabbi Nissan Mindel.

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Weekly Letter: Beginning the Torah from the Beginning

As we begin the Torah “from the beginning” we share a letter in which the Rebbe explains to one who has a “novel analysis and rendering of the Genesis Recording in the Torah” that creation needs to be understood in its literal sense. The letter, written originally in English, is from the archives of the Rebbe’s trusted secretary Rabbi Nissan Mindel.

Weekly Letter: What is the Origin of Saying Tehillim?

It is customary to recite additional chapters of Tehillim from the beginning of Elul until and including Yom Kippur. This weeks letter is in answer to questions about the reciting of Tehillim  such as – when and why the origin of saying Tehillim take place? why is it most often used by laymen? The answers are  based on chassidic sources among others. The letter is signed by Rabbi Nissan Mindel, the Rebbe’s personal secretary, who on occasion would sign the Rebbe’s letters upon the Rebbe’s request.

Weekly Letter: Checking Tefillin in Elul

As it is customary to check our mezzuzos and tefillin in the month of Elul, we share a letter of the Rebbe  about the mitzvah of mezzuza, in which the Rebbe discusses the validity of pointing out the benefit/reward of doing a mitzvah – as when he initiated the mezzuza campaign and pointed out the benefit of a mezzuza.  The letter, written originally in English, is from the archives of the Rebbe’s trusted secretary Rabbi Nissan Mindel.

Weekly Letter: Is doing a Mitzvah for an Ulterior Motive Hypocritical?

In preparation for Rosha Hashanah – as we make an accounting of our deeds and resolutions for improving our deeds, we present a letter in which the Rebbe encourages the writer in the actual doing of the Mitzvos, even if doing so for an ulterior motive – and explains why this is not hypocritical. Also touching upon  a message for Rosh Hashanah. The letter, written originally in English, is from the archives of the Rebbe’s trusted secretary Rabbi Nissan Mindel.

Weekly Letter: Comforting a Mourner

In preparation for Rosh Hashanah, during yemei teshuvah, we present a letter of comfort from the Rebbe to a mourner, where he explains the deeper meaning of teshuvah, as explained in Chassidus with particular emphasis on the saying that “the living should take to heart.”

Weekly Letter: Reconciling Freedom of Choice

Entering the month of Elul and in preparation for Rosh Hashanah – when we are inscribed for a good and sweet year – we present a letter in which the Rebbe answers the question: How can Kesivo va’chasimo tova be reconciled with the idea of freedom of choice and action – as this inscription implies predestination? The letter, written originally in English, is from the archives of the Rebbe’s trusted secretary Rabbi Nissan Mindel.

Weekly Letter: No Adding or Detracting

This week we present a fascinating letter the Rebbe writes in answer to an artist who wishes to add a stone to the Western Wall. In it the Rebbe explains the injunction in Parshas Vo’eschanon (as well as in another parsha) to neither add nor detract from the words of the Torah. The letter, written originally in English, is from the archives of the Rebbe’s trusted secretary Rabbi Nissan Mindel.

Weekly Letter: Advice on the “Nine Days”

During the period of the Nine Days, we share a letter of the Rebbe in which he refers to the Nine Days and its connection to the advice he is giving the writer regarding his question. The letter, written originally in English, is from the archives of the Rebbe’s trusted secretary Rabbi Nissan Mindel.

Weekly Letter: Addressing a Business Promise

In connection with the topic of a neder [vow] in this week’s parsha, we present a detailed letter of the Rebbe  to a businessman – in which the Rebbe advises on the question of a neder that the businessman  made and connects it to other relevant matters of the business. The letter, written originally in English, is from the archives of the Rebbe’s trusted secretary Rabbi Nissan Mindel.

Weekly Letter: Advice on Sources

We traditionally learn Pirkei Avos throughout the summer months – the fascinating letter we share this week is to an author of a book on Pirkei Avos.  In it, the Rebbe gives the author constructive criticism and advice regarding the sources he uses in the writing of his book. The letter, written originally in English, is from the archives of the Rebbe’s trusted secretary Rabbi Nissan Mindel.

Weekly Letter: Why Jews have Remained Loyal to their Faith

As we enter the three weeks – a time of tragedies in Jewish history, we present a letter of the Rebbe in answer to a writer, whose search for the truth lead him to the Old Testament. He asks why it is that Jews have remained loyal to their faith in spite of the many persecutions and suffering. The letter, written originally in English, is from the archives of the Rebbe’s trusted secretary Rabbi Nissan Mindel.

Weekly Letter: Trailblazing in the ‘New World’

In preparation for Yud Beis Tammuz we present a letter of the Rebbe to the chairman of a Chassidic Event – in which the Rebbe refers to the trailblazing activities of the Frierdiker Rebbe here in America and encourages all to be inspired by his boundless dedication and mesiras nefesh. The letter, written originally in English, is from the archives of the Rebbe’s trusted secretary Rabbi Nissan Mindel.

Weekly Letter: A Tzaddik Lives on Forever

In preparation for Gimmel Tammuz, we are presenting a letter that the Rebbe wrote to the Neshei Chabad Convention in 5723 which took place around Tu B’Shvat, in which he connects the significant day of Tu B’Shvat and the Yom Hilulo, Yud Shvat  of the Frierdiker Rebbe. The theme being that a tzaddik lives on forever. The letter, written originally in English, is from the archives of the Rebbe’s trusted secretary Rabbi Nissan Mindel.