The Weekly Sedra – Parshas Masei

The Rebbe says:

1. This week’s Torah portion discusses how the Land of Israel should be divided up between all the Twelve Tribes,.

2. The Rebbe now asks the first of two questions regarding this:

We find two contradictory instructions regarding the division of the Land of Israel. On one hand the Torah tells us that the land shall be split up logically, as the verse states, “To the many you shall increase its inheritance and to the few shall you decrease its inheritance”. However on the other hand we find that the Torah tells us to split the land according to a lottery which is above logic and reason, as the verse states, “This is the land which you shall divide by inheritance as a lottery”.

The Weekly Sedra – Parshas Mattos

The Rebbe says:

Part One:

1. In the beginning of this week’s Torah portion the Torah begins discussing Nedarim (vows) and says, “If a man takes a vow to Hashem or swears an oath to establish a prohibition upon himself, he shall not desecrate his word; according to whatever comes from his mouth shall he do”. The Torah then goes on to discuss the details of this law and explains that when a woman takes a vow and she is married or under the age to legally be considered a woman, her husband or her father can annul the vow. The Torah then concludes this topic by saying, “These are the Chukim (super-rational commands) which Hashem (G-d) commanded Moshe (Moses) concerning a man and his wife, and a father and his adolescent daughter who is under the jurisdiction of her father’s house”.

2. The Rebbe now lays the foundation for this discussion:

We have mentioned many times that the objective of Rashi (an acronym for Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) is to explain every detail of the verses that are not understood according to their simple meaning. And when Rashi does not explain something which is seemingly not understood, this is evidence that the issue can be easily understood on our own or that Rashi already explained this issue earlier.

The Weekly Sedra – Pinchas – Character Assassination

The Weekly Sedra – Parshas Pinchas

The Rebbe says:

1. At the end of last week’s Torah portion the Torah told us that the law concerning what to do with Zimri the Prince of the tribe of Shimon (Simeon) was concealed from Moshe Rabbeinu (Moses our teacher), Aharon Hakohen (Aaron the High Priest), and all of the elders, however Pinchas (Phinehas), the “smallest” of the congregation, remembered that Moshe Rabbeinu had taught him that if a man has relations with a non-Jewish woman “a zealot may kill him” and therefore Pinchas then went (with the permission of Moshe Rabbeinu) and simultaneously thrust a spear through Zimri the prince of the tribe of Shimon and this Midianite woman.

In the beginning of this week’s Torah portion Hashem (G-d) tells Moshe Rabbeinu that Pinchas deserves a great reward for, “zealously avenging My vengeance”, and therefore Pinchas should now become a Kohen (a Priest).

The Weekly Sedra – Balak – Don’t Make An Ass Of Yourself

Poor Balak and Bilaam. If only they had lived in our generation they might’ve received some respect – favorable media coverage; interviews on CNN and invitations to speak at the Hebrew University to tell their side of the story.

The part about the speaking donkey would certainly make for great feature articles. It would likely be noted that Bilaam is not to be blamed for beating his animal. It’s all really the fault of the Israelites whose aggressive posture is to blame for the whole fiasco.

Yet, no matter what the revisionists might say, as far as the Torah is concerned Balak and Bilaam remain the clowns whose arrogance and greed has left them humiliated and disgraced.

The fall of the original spin artist, Balaam – the non-governmental, not-for-profit, one man organization, proclaiming great ideals while at the same time is available for hire – bears a particularly relevant message.

The Weekly Sedra – Parshas Balak

The Rebbe says:

1. This week’s Torah portion tells us how Balaam, an anti-Semitic gentile necromancer and prophet, was commissioned by Balak, King of Moab, to curse the Jewish people. The Torah tells us that despite his attempts to comply with Balak’s wishes, G-d only allowed blessings to emit from his mouth.

2. One of the Blessings to the Jewish people which inadvertently came out of Balaam’s mouth was: “For from its origin I see it rock like, and from hills do I view it”.

Yechidus Pirsum Rishon! The Hillel Foundation Meets The Rebbe

Why didn’t Chabad establish its headquarters in Israel? What is a Rebbe? What is the Chabad method to meditation and reflection? The above mentioned questions are from a first time released Yechidus with the Rebbe and the Directors of the Hillel Foundation. This fascinating Yechidus took place during then summer of August 1959. I would like to thank all the Editors from The Avner Institute for all of their efforts in helping to publish this Yechidus. Special thanks to Rabbi Groner, one of the Rebbe’s Secretaries, for allowing this Yechidus to be released for the first time from his Archive. To read more beautiful encounters of the Rebbe visit www.inspiringageneration.com.

The Weekly Sedra – Chukas – Mortal Minds Don’t Always Think Alike. . .

One evening during World War II, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman, Kenneth McKellar of Tennessee, found himself fretting over the administration’s request of some $2 billion towards unspecified scientific research.

He proceeded to call the Secretary of War, Henry L. Stimson, demanding answers: “Do you really expect me to sanction this enormous appropriation without any idea as to where it is going?”

After a long pause Stimson hesitantly asked, “Can you keep a secret?” McKellar assured him that he could, Stimson then whispered, “We are about to split the atom.”

McKellar erupted. “Are you crazy? This is a war; we have men out there; we need guns, planes, ammunition! And you There guys are fiddling around with atoms! Only months later did McKellar, along with the rest of the world, discover the true nature of this elusive program.

The Weekly Sedra – Parshas Chukas

The Rebbe says:

1. In this week’s Torah portion Hashem (G-d) sets down the statute of the Red Heifer (the Parah Adumah). The Red Heifer is a young cow that is sacrificed and whose ashes are used for the ritual purification of people who came into contact with a corpse.

2. The Rebbe now discusses the different types of Mitzvos (commandments):

There are three different types of Mitzvos (with regards to how we understand them):

The first type are Chukim/Statutes.

Great News! Major Yechidus of The Rebbe to be Released Pirsum Rishon This Year Gimmel Tamuz!

BROOKLYN, NY [CHI] — In time for Gimmel Tammuz, with help from the Rebbe’s secretaries, a very special Yechidus (Private audience) has been recovered and carefully transcribed. In the summer of 1959 the Rebbe met with a group of directors from Hillel, the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, and engaged in a question-and-answer session. What is the Rebbe’s role in the world? Why didn’t the Previous Rebbe establish Chabad headquarters in Israel, instead of New York?

The Weekly Sedra – Korach – Kabalah Of The Human Entity

Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi once received a silver snuffbox as gift. But the Rebbe did not want to put it to its intended use, and remarked: “There is one part of the body which is not constantly seeking gratification – the nose. Should I train it, too, to be a pleasure-seeker?”

This incident was once related to Rabbi Schneur Zalman’s grandson, Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Lubavitch. As the one telling the anecdote described how Rabbi Schneur Zalman “broke off” the cover of the snuffbox, Rabbi Menachem Mendel remarked: “No, no, my grandfather never broke anyone or thing. He merely removed the hinge-pin which connected the upper part to the lower.”

The Weekly Sedra – Parshas Korach

The Rebbe says:

1. In this week’s Torah portion Moshe Rabbeinu (Moses our teacher) and Aharon Hakohen (Aaron the High Priest) plead with Hashem not to destroy Korach’s entire congregation; rather, Hashem should just destroy Korach because he was the one who incited and convinced everyone to rebel against Moshe Rabbeinu.

The Torah reads, “Hashem spoke to Moshe and Aharon, saying: ‘Separate yourselves from among this congregation and I will annihilate them in an instant’. They (Moshe and Aharon) fell upon their faces and they said, ‘Almighty, the G-d of the spirits of all flesh; if one man sins shall you be angry with the entire congregation?’”

We wish the Rebbe The best in Everything

In connection with Gimmel Tammuz ,the following is a beautiful article that was written about the Rebbe in the Jewish Forum titled “Heir to a Noble Tradition” written By Charles Haddock-May, to learn more about the Rebbe Visit www.inspiringageneration.com

“The Chasidic Coronation of young Schneerson, seventh in line of the Chabad dynasty, marks the first event of its kind in the Western Hemisphere.

The Weekly Sedra – Parshas Shelach

The Rebbe says:

1. In this week’s Torah portion Moshe Rabbeinu (Moses our teacher) sends twelve spies (twelve “Miraglim”) to examine the Land of Canaan (which would later be called the Land of Israel).

When the twelve spies returned from inspecting the land, ten of the spies reported to Moshe Rabbeinu and the entire assembly of the Jewish people that the inhabitants of the Land of Canaan were too strong for the Jewish people to conquer. The Talmud tells us that these spies were even saying that the inhabitants of the Land of Canaan are stronger then Hashem (G-d) and “even the householder (Hashem) cannot remove his utensils from there (because the Canaanites are stronger then He)”!

The Jewish people got very frightened by this report and complained by saying, “We should have stayed in Egypt; even if we would have died there our wives and children would not have been taken captive! Let us return to Egypt!”.

The Weekly Sedra – Bahaloscha – Jewish Nutrition

A joyous farbrengen was held one evening at the humble home of Rabbi Shmuel Betzalel Sheftel (The ‘Rashbatz’). For hours the group of Chassidim sat, toasting L’chayim’s, singing, talking, rebuking and inspiring one another. As the clock marked the passing of the night, the meager platters of ‘Farbeisen’ (food with which to follow up the L’chayim vodka) ran out, so Rabbi Shmuel Betzalel instructed that the lamb being raised in his yard be slaughtered. A hot stew was prepared to fuel the Farbeisen for many an hour to come.

The next morning Rabbi Shmuel Betzalel’s wife came in from the yard with the distressing news that the lamb – which constituted the whole of the ‘family ranch’ – had disappeared! Said Rabbi Shmuel Betzalel: “No, no, the lamb has not disappeared. The lamb is very much here, it has only changed its sound. Yesterday it said meh-eh-eh. . ., today it is saying Echo-o-d. . ., O-o-one. . . ” (as in G-d is one).