The Weekly Sedra – 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 (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:

The Weekly Sedra – Shemos – What You See Is What You Get

Among the volunteers who visited the thousands of World War II survivors, that were held-up in displaced-persons (DP) camps throughout Germany and Poland, was Rabbi Eliezer Silver.

Disturbed by the man’s solemn indictment of fellow Jews – ravished martyrs of the most dreadful atrocities perpetrated against humanity – Rabbi Eliezer asked if he would please explain what had so badly soured him.

The Weekly Sedra – Vayechi – Is Perception Truly Everything?

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.

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 – VaYigash – A Time To Cry, A Time To Act

The unmistakable echo of hulking walking boots pounding 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 Samarkant.

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. This week’s Torah portion starts off and says that Yehuda (Judah- one of the Twelve Tribes) approached his brother Yosef (Joseph- another one of the Twelve Tribes) to discuss the issue of forcing Binyamin (Benjamin- the youngest of the Twelve Tribes) to remain in Egypt.

The Midrash Rabah tells us that when Yehuda approached Yosef he was ready for anything, even war.

Why did Yehuda take such a firm stance for his brother Binyamin and not any of the other Twelve Tribes? Because Yehuda had promised his father Yakov (Jacob) earlier on that he would be responsible for Binyamin, as the Torah continues this story and quotes Yehuda telling Yoseph, “Because your servant has assumed responsibility for the boy”.

A Chanukah Sicha

The Rebbe says:

1. The Rebbe begins by stating that the lights of the Chanukah Menorah (Chanukiah/Hanukiah) are different then any other lights:

The lights of the Chanukah Menorah (Chanukiah) are different than any other lights which are part of a Mitzvah (commandment) because they are not a means to an end; all we want is the light itself.

2. The Rebbe now explains this in detail:

The Weekly Sedra – Miketz – Life is to Precious to Waste

A hard working Jewish peasant, who eked out a meager livelihood farming, loved his small parcel of land and yearned for more.

The duke approached the praying Jew: “Chaim, I overheard your petition and am deeply moved. Now, I am willing to make you a generous offer: The day after your fast, you are to present yourself early in the morning at the gate of my palace. At dawn you will begin to walk through my fields and orchards. All the land that you will cover until sunset will be yours. But you must return to my palace by sunset, should you fail you will get nothing.”

A Chanukah Sicha

The Rebbe says:

1. Chanukah celebrates the rededication of the Beis Hamikdash (the Holy Temple) after the successful Jewish revolt against the Seleucid monarchy (the Greeks). The Talmud tells us that the victorious Jews found only enough ritually pure olive oil to light the Menorah for one day, but the supply miraculously lasted eight days until a new supply could be obtained. As a remembrance to this miracle, we light a Menorah (Chanukiah/Hanukiah) on Chanukah.

2. The Rebbe now asks three questions:

Question one: If the Chanukah Menorah we light today is a remembrance for the Menorah that we had in the Beis Hamikdash, why do we light eight candles? The Menorah in the Beis Hamikdash only had seven candles!

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.

The Weekly Sedra – Vayeishev – When The Going Gets Tough

Spotting an extraordinary teacup, a middle age couple who shared a deep appreciation for fine antiques and pottery, asked the proprietor of a local antique shop if they might have a closer look: “We’ve never seen a cup quite as beautiful,” they told the lady while she handed them the delicate article.
“I’ve not always been a teacup, you know,” whispered the antique as they took her into their hands. “There was a time when I was just a lump of clay.” “Oh, please tell us more,” urged the awestruck couple.
“As I said, I was once just a lump of red clay when my master took me and rolled me and repeatedly pounded and patted me. ‘Don’t do that,’ I yelled. ‘I don’t like it!’ But he only smiled and gently repeated, ‘Not yet, not yet.’
Then, wham! I was placed on a spinning wheel and suddenly I was spun around and around. ‘Stop it! I’m so dizzy, I’m going to be sick!’ I screamed. But the master only nodded and muttered quietly, ‘Not yet’.
He spun, poked and prodded and shaped me to suit himself and then put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I yelled and knocked and pounded at the door. ‘Help! Get me out of here!’

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 the verse, “And your name shall no longer be called ‘Avram’; it shall henceforth be called ‘Avraham’”.

The Weekly Sedra – Vayishlach – Confronting Chutzpah

Confronting Chutzpah with Chutzpah.
Well, the neighborhood bully, he’s just one man,
His enemies’ say he’s on their land.
They got him outnumbered about a million to one,
He got no place to escape to, no place to run.
He’s the neighborhood bully.
The neighborhood bully just lives to survive,
He’s criticized and condemned for being alive.
He’s not supposed to fight back, he’s supposed to have thick skin,
He’s supposed to lay down and die when his door is kicked in.
He’s. . .
The neighborhood bully been driven out of every land,
He’s wandered the earth an exiled man.
Seen his family scattered, his people hounded and torn,
He’s always on trial for just being born.

The Weekly Sedra – Vayeitzei – Ladies First

A cow once stumbled upon a wounded bird lying on the ground in pain and discomfort. Doing what cows do best, the bird was left covered in a heap of manure. Suddenly she felt warm and cozy. So happy was the bird with her newfound comfort, she began to sing.

Drawn by the sweet sounds, a farmer working in a nearby field made his way to the singing bird. The farmer was dismayed to find the poor bird lying on the ground submerged in dung.

The farmer immediately removed the bird from her wretched surroundings. Painstakingly he cleaned the bird and carefully placed her down. To his great surprise the little bird would no longer sing, in fact, she was noticeably withdrawn.

Realizing that he had upset the bird by removing her from her comfortable and cozy surroundings, the kind farmer looked at the bird and said: “Little bird, little bird, let me teach you some very important lessons in life:

First of all: Not everyone that makes you feel comfortable is necessarily your friend. Secondly: Not everyone that makes you feel uncomfortable is necessarily your enemy. Finally, Dear Birdie: When you are wallowing in manure, it is not the time to sing.”

The Weekly Sedra – Parshas Vayeitzei

The Rebbe says:

1. This week’s Torah portion begins with 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:

The Weekly Sedra – Parshas Toldos

The Rebbe says:

1. The Rebbe explains that all four answers must be connected:

Even though these are four different explanations of this verse, they must all be connected to each other because they are all explaining the same verse.

A proof to this logic:

The Torah says , “You may not wear Shaatnez (a combination of wool and linen together)”. Our Sages in the Mishnayos teach us that the word “Shaatnez” is really made up of three different words- “Shua – smoothed”, “Tavui – spun”, and “Nuz – woven”. The Talmud learns that since these three different words were contracted into one word, one is not liable for wearing a combination of wool and linen unless all three of these processes were done together; only when it was smoothed, spun, and woven together are you liable for the Biblical prohibition of “Shaatnez”.

The Weekly Sedra – Toldos – To Whom Does The Progeny Belong?

Reb Mendel of Riminov once pointed upward and proclaimed, “This heaven that you behold with your very eyes, through skepticism it is possible to entirely deny, even prove its inexistence.”

Everyone these days seems to have an opinion about Chabad. On the one hand it is flattering that the once referred to as “sectarian” and “ultra” orthodox organization, to which I belong, has found its way into the minds and hearts of the broader Jewish community. It has even caught the attention of the non Jewish world.

On the other hand, some of the ideas ascribed to the movement – especially regarding its inexplicable success – are often distorted and perplexing. Equally baffling are the sources whence some of these critiques stem.