A Sicha from the Rebbe on Parshas Va’eira!

The Rebbe says:

1. In this week’s Torah portion Hashem (G-d) tells the Jewish people that they are going to be redeemed from their unbearable exile in Egypt. Hashem first uses four descriptions of how He will redeem them- “I will transport you out”, “I will rescue you”, “I will redeem you”, and “I will take you out”. Hashem then uses a fifth description, “I will bring you to the land about which I have raised My hand to give it to Avraham (Abraham), Yitzchak (Isaac), and Yakov (Jacob)”.

2. The Rebbe now discusses the four descriptions of redemption, and the additional fifth:

It is well known that the four descriptions of redemption correspond to the four redemptions that the Jewish people had throughout history, beginning with our redemption from Egypt. Bearing this in mind we can understand that the fifth description corresponds to the final and complete redemption when Moshiach (the Messiah) will come and take us out of this exile with the third and final Beis Hamikdash (Holy Temple).

The Weekly Sedra – Parshas Shemos

The Rebbe says:

1. During it’s description of the horrible Egyptian exile, the Torah says, “They embittered their lives with hard work, with mortar and with bricks…”.

2. The Rebbe analyzes this:

The true life of a Jew is not his physical life; it is his spiritual life. Therefore, when the Torah says that the Egyptians embittered the lives of the Jewish people it must also be referring to their spiritual lives, their true life.

3. The Rebbe now questions this:

Recording of a Beautiful Yechidus with the Rebbe in 1982

The Avner Institute is happy to present an audio recorded yechidus that Reb Zalmon Jaffe–author of My Encounters with the Rebbe–and his wife Roselyn had with the Rebbe after mincha, Sivan 16, 5742 (1982), in Gan Eden Hatachton (the area right outside the Rebbe’s office). Below is the audio recording. To learn more about the Rebbe Visit: www.inspiringageneration.org

Present: Yechidus of Zalman and Roselyn Jaffe (of Manchester, England), after mincha, Sivan 16, 5742 (1982), in Gan Eden Hatachton (the area outside the Rebbe’s study).

Full transcript in the Extended Article!

Vayechi: I Know my Son I know….The Need to Trust a Tzaddik

A seasoned businessman, who for many years earned his living in the lumber industry, was getting on in age. He decided to turn his business over to his sons who were more than happy to step in.

Having little experience in this field, the novices were careful to consult their elderly father before every major decision. The father was eager to share his lifelong knowledge and expertise in this profession.

An opportunity had one day arisen for the brothers to procure 1,000 trees in a forest at what seemed like a very fair price. As usual, they sought the skilled guidance of their retired father. After listening to the proposal, the father inquired about three aspects before offering his advice:

The Weekly Sedra – Parshas Vayechi

The Rebbe says:

1. In this week’s Torah portion Yakov Avinu (Jacob our forefather) blesses each one of his twelve children.

When Yakov Avinu blesses his son Asher he says, “From Asher- his bread is rich, he will provide kingly delicacies”.

Rashi (an acronym for Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) explains this blessing and says: “The food which comes from the land that Asher received as an inheritance is rich and fat because there are many olives in his portion which give oil like a spring. As we see, Moshe Rabbeinu (Moses our teacher) also blessed Asher by saying, ‘And he will (even be able to) dip his feet in oil’”.

Vayigash: Tears to and End – A Time to Cry, A Time to Act

The unmistakable echo of hulking boots pounding the pavement was enough to strike terror into the hearts of the small band of Chassidim gathered in a dimly lit basement in the Russian city of Samarkand.

As the Farbrengen lingered into the wee hours of the night the discussion was heightened and the atmosphere intense. A number of younger Chassidim were weeping bitterly as they poured out their hearts to the presiding Mashpia (spiritual mentor) regarding their deficient spiritual state.

The Weekly Sedra – Parshas Vayigash

The Rebbe says:

1. Towards the end of this week’s Torah portion the Torah tells us that Yakov Avinu (Jacob our forefather) traveled down to Egypt to see his son Yoseph Hatzadik (Joseph the righteous one).

The Torah tells us that before Yakov Avinu went down to Egypt he sent his son Yehuda ahead of him to set up a Yeshiva (a Jewish institution for Torah study) there first because Yakov Avinu did not want to go to a land that did not have a Yeshiva ready.

2. The Rebbe now stresses how important it was for Yakov Avinu to have a Yeshiva ready for him in Egypt:

The fact that Yakov Avinu did not want to go down to Egypt unless there was a Yeshiva there ready for him is especially significant because Hashem (G-d) had already promised Yakov Avinu that He would go down to Egypt with him. In other words, even though Hashem had told Yakov Avinu that He would be with him in Egypt, Yakov Avinu did not rely on this alone and he still needed to set up a Yeshiva there before he even got there.

A Tale of Two Dreams – The Importance of Human Effort

“Nothing you have acquired is real unless you worked for it. If you were born a nice guy, the niceness isn’t yours. If you started off not so nice, and now you do a little, that’s Divine.”

– Tzvi Freeman, Be Within Stay Above

“Nothing of real substance comes without work. Our pioneer forebears could never plow a field by turning it over in their minds. They had to put their hands to the plow and walk forward. The work is, by and large, easier now than in earlier times, but the principle is the same. There must be work, and what a great and wonderful privilege it is. . . When pleasure or recreation becomes an end in itself, we are in danger. We are in trouble. We simply cannot expect to refine the substance of character from hunks of pleasures.”

– Gordon Hinckley, Standing For Something

Never having flown before, an old-timer was about to embark on his first such venture. Standing at the check-in counter he queried the ticketing agent: ”Nu, so tell me, how does the plane stay up in the air?”

The Weekly Sedra – Parshas Mikeitz

The Rebbe says:

1. Last week’s Torah portion told us about Yoseph Hatzadik’s (Joseph the righteous’) dreams and the dreams of the cupbearer and baker of Pharaoh, and this week’s Torah portion tells us about Pharaoh’s dreams.

2. The Rebbe now points out that all these dreams were the cause of the exile in Egypt for the Jewish people:

When we think about the story of how the Jewish people were enslaved in Egypt, we will realize that this all happened through dreams; through the dreams of Yoseph Hatzadik, the dreams of the cupbearer and baker of Pharaoh, and the dreams of Pharaoh:

The Weekly Sedra – Parshas Vayeishev!

The Rebbe says:

1. In this week’s Torah portion the Torah tells us that Yoseph Hatzadik (Joseph the righteous one) was a man who was “Yefas To’ar V’Yefas Mar’eh – handsome of form and handsome of appearance” and he would curl his hair. The Torah continues and tells us that this caused the wife of his master Potiphar to cast her eyes upon him and want to lie with him, and this eventually landed him in jail. However, even while he was in jail Hashem was with him and he was successful in whatever he did.

In short, there are two parts to this story; 1) Yoseph Hatzadik was “Yefas To’ar V’Yefas Mar’eh – handsome of form and handsome of appearance”, and 2) the issue of Potiphar’s wife.

Obviously, since the Torah is an everlasting guide for our lives, and every singe story has a lesson for us to learn from, there are lessons to be learned from each part of this story.

The Weekly Sedra – Yud Tes Kislev

The Rebbe says:

1. The Previous Rebbe, Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson , (our Rebbe’s father-in-law), once gave a parable to explain what Chassidus is, and these are his exact words:

“Pearls are found at the bottom of the ocean on the ocean’s floor. Coals, which make heat and give light, are found in the depths of the earth. The method to finding and unearthing coals in the depths of the earth is to have an instructor who tells the digger where to dig and where exactly he can find the coal. The digger can rely on the instructor’s smarts and he must follow the instructor’s guidance exactly to the tee if he wants to get the coals. However with regards to having the air of life from the atmosphere above ground, the digger cannot rely upon the air that the instructor has; the digger must have his own air or else he will be lifeless and fall unconscious. This also holds true for someone who is finding pearls at the bottom of the ocean; he must have his own air supply.

The lesson from this parable is easily understood: Chassidus gives light and warmth (like the coals) but we must dig deep to unearth it. Also, when we go deep into the earth we must be connected to an air supply above ground”.

The Rebbe Pointed At Me: Here Is G-D

The following is a part two of the encounter that took place in the front of 770 where a group of Bachurim (yeshiva students) saw a young man in long hair and boots approach the Rebbe, who waved his finger around and then pointed at this man’s chest. What happened there? What did the Rebbe say? The encounter is retold by the former “young man” himself. Note The picture of the Rebbe is a First time released picture, to learn more about the Rebbe Visit: www.inspiringageneration.org

The Weekly Sedra – Parshas Vayishlach

The Rebbe says:

1. In this week’s Torah portion Hashem (G-d) tells Yakov Avinu (Jacob our Forefather) that his name would no longer be called “Yakov” (Jacob), it would now be called “Yisroel” (Israel).

2. As the preface to a question, the Rebbe now quotes the Talmud which discusses this verse:

The Talmud tells us that whoever calls our Forefather Avraham “Avram” (which was his original name), transgresses on the verse, “And your name shall no longer be called ‘Avram’; it shall henceforth be called ‘Avraham’ ”.

The Weekly Sedra – Parshas Vayeitzei

The Rebbe says:

1. This week’s Torah portion begins by saying, “And Yakov (Jacob) left Be’er Sheva and went to Charan”.

To be sure, this verse is actually repeating something we already knew from the end of last week’s Torah portion.

2. The Rebbe points out that the Torah must be teaching us something by telling us this twice:

In the Torah everything is exact. In fact, our Sages learn out many Halachas (laws) from one extra letter in the Torah. Therefore, if the Torah repeats this story twice, it must be teaching us something that we can implement into our daily life. Let us find out what the Torah is teaching us:

Why Do Bad things Happen to Good People

In regards to the terrible tragedy that occurred today, to the beloved directors of Chabad-Lubavitch of Mumbai, Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg two very Special Neshamas that were taken from this world.

I would like to present an answer the Rebbe gave to parents of a young girl Miriam, who at six years old was killed in a car accident in Berkley, California (Erev Pesach 1989). Following the death, the parents wrote a long letter to the Rebbe with many different questions regarding the nature of these types of tragedies. The Rebbe’s response did more than comfort – it provided a new focus to the mourning family. Also included is interesting picture of the Rebbe. The Rebbe attending a funereal in the winter of 1991. to learn more about the Rebbe see: www.portraitofaleader.blogspot.com.