Why Does Every Jew have to be Connected To a Rebbe?

What is a Rebbe? Why dose every Jew have to be connected to a Rebbe? The following is a very unique Yechidus that took place in the winter of 1969 with a Chabad supporter who came to see the Rebbe, special thanks to the “Zionist Archives” of Jerusalem to learn more about the Rebbe visit www.inspiringageneration.com

Question: The Rebbe’s energy is so instrumental in helping us serve Hashem properly, how is it possible that we still have free will?

The Weekly Sedra – Shoftim – Pinchas or Korach?

When Kaiser Wilhelm sought to invade Belgium, he was reminded of the signed treaty agreements to which his action would be in blatant contradiction. Dourly brushing the matter aside the Kaiser declared: “We shall take Belgium! As for the inconsistencies, let not your heart be troubled; the philosophers can be well trusted to supply the necessary explanations.”

A contemporary thinker once opined, “Philosophy is simply the formation of bad reasons for what we believe on instinct.” No wonder that Judaism has a healthy suspicion of man’s capacity to rationalize.

One does not have to be a genius to realize that for what there is a desire, the mind will produce ample logical arguments to justify its pursuit.

The Weekly Sedra – Re’eh – A Vote Against “Change”

When Robert A. Rockaway, a recognized authority on Jewish-American history, decided to chronicle the story of the Jewish mob, he sought out Jewish old-timers, their family and friends, in order to gather information on this less than reputable element.

Once, while talking to his mother about the reprehensible conduct of a particular mobster, his mother stopped him short in his tracks: “All that you say may be fine and good, no one said the guy was a saint. Between you and me, he was known to have made a few people disappear… But you shouldn’t rush to judgment. Don’t forget that he was always kind to his mother! Does that count for nothing? Trust me; the man was a real Mentch!”

The Weekly Sedra – Parshas Eikev

The Rebbe says:

1. The first words of this week’s Torah portion are, “And it shall be, because you listened to these ordinances of Hashem (G-d)… He will love you, bless you and multiply you…”.

Rashi (an acronym for Reb Shlomo Yitzchaki) points out that the Hebrew word “Eikev” which is simply translated in this verse as “because”, also means “heel”. Consequently, explains Rashi, the verse is alluding to the sort of Mitzvos (commandments) that people regard as relatively unimportant so they tend to “trample on them with their heels”. Thus, the Torah is assuring the Jewish people that if they are careful to observe even these neglected commandments, they can be certain that Hashem will reward them with His kindness.

The source of Rashi’s explanation is from the Midrash Tanchuma who says this in a slightly different way; “When the Torah says, ‘Eikev’”, says the Midrash Tanchuma, “it is referring to “light” Mitzvos which people are not careful to keep and they throw them away under their heels”.

The Weekly Sedra – Va’eschanan – This Is The Torah

In the early 1900’s, the tenements of Manhattan’s Lower East Side were populated with Jewish immigrants. A Rabbi, who resided in the ghetto-like community, once attended an ecumenical function at which a notoriously anti-Semitic Episcopalian Minister was in attendance.

“Oh!” replied the minister, “in Jewish Heaven children with unclean faces, shirts un-tucked and clothes un-pressed, play in the dirt. Women haggle with fruit-vendors, as panhandlers rudely interrupt. Wash hangs from a maze of clotheslines, the dripping water adding to an already muddy surface. And of course,” continued the minister with a wry grin, “There are plenty of Rabbis running to and fro, with large tomes tucked under their arms!”

The Weekly Sedra – Parshas Va’eschanan

The Rebbe says:

1. In this week’s Torah portion Moshe Rabbeinu (Moses our teacher) sets aside three “Cities of Refuge” for people who have accidentally killed someone and are afraid of the families’ vengeance, or for people who have purposely killed someone and are awaiting trial,.

2. The Rebbe begins discussing a certain aspect of the “Cities of Refuge”:

Our Sages tell us that the road to the “Cities of Refuge” was not only paved and broadened so that people could run there quickly; there were even signs pointing the way at the intersections saying “Refuge, Refuge”.

The Weekly Sedra – Parshas Devarim

The Rebbe says:

1. With this week’s Torah portion we will read and study a new Book in the Chumash (the five books of Moses). So far this year we have experienced the Book of Bereishis (Genesis), the Book of Shemos (Exodus), the Book of Vayikra (Leviticus) and the Book of Bamidbar (Numbers). This Shabbos we begin the Fifth Book- the Book of Devarim (Deuteronomy).

2. It has become a custom to call this week’s Shabbos (Sabbath) “Shabbos Chazon – The Shabbos of the (prophetic) vision”. This is simply because the Haftorah this week begins with the words, “This is the (prophetic) vision of Yeshayahu son of Amotz…”.

3. The Rebbe brings an additional reason as to why this week’s Shabbos is called “Shabbos Chazon – The Shabbos of the (prophetic) vision”:

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?