The renowned Chasid, Reb Yechezkel (Chatche) Faigin, was said to have been a very strong hearted individual. Few were the times he was wont to allow himself the luxury to breakdown and cry. One such rare occasion, however, was when he served as secretary of the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe – Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson.
The times were extremely dire and the means extraordinary meager. Much of the weight of the underground activities, carried out by Chassidim who risked their lives in defiance of the communist government, fell on his shoulders.
Reb Chatche toiled day and night with compete self-sacrifice, in order to sustain the holy work of the Rebbe – underground Day schools, Yeshivas, Mikvaos, etc. He carried out his responsibilities loyally and honestly, never a complaint or a thought of self pity.
However, there was one problem. His time was so absorbed with his work that he had no time for his own spiritual nourishment. Oh how he ached to study a Chassidic discourse; to spend a little more time meditating in prayer. His soul was parched for the spiritual waters of Chassidus, but the clock did not allow.
One day, when he could take it no more, he decided to present his case to the Rebbe. Perhaps, when hearing how distressed he was over his situation the Rebbe will agree that he ought to snatch some time from his holy work for his own spiritual needs. He pleaded with the Rebbe four a half hour; just a half hour!
After pouring out his broken heart to the Rebbe, he waited in anticipation for the Rebbe to reply. The Rebbe listened carefully to his passionate and painful plea and then tuned to him saying: “But in this and this place there is still no Yeshiva, in that place there is still no Mikvah. . .” Reb Chatche understood the response, but he could not control his emotions and burst into tears.
Upon seeing this, the Rebbe, himself in tears by now, waited several long minutes and then said: “If we afford ourselves the luxury to do ‘what we desire,’ what will be with the work that must get done? Do you think this is the Divine desire!?
The renowned Chasid, Reb Yechezkel (Chatche) Faigin, was said to have been a very strong hearted individual. Few were the times he was wont to allow himself the luxury to breakdown and cry. One such rare occasion, however, was when he served as secretary of the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe – Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson.
The times were extremely dire and the means extraordinary meager. Much of the weight of the underground activities, carried out by Chassidim who risked their lives in defiance of the communist government, fell on his shoulders.
Reb Chatche toiled day and night with compete self-sacrifice, in order to sustain the holy work of the Rebbe – underground Day schools, Yeshivas, Mikvaos, etc. He carried out his responsibilities loyally and honestly, never a complaint or a thought of self pity.However, there was one problem. His time was so absorbed with his work that he had no time for his own spiritual nourishment. Oh how he ached to study a Chassidic discourse; to spend a little more time meditating in prayer. His soul was parched for the spiritual waters of Chassidus, but the clock did not allow.
One day, when he could take it no more, he decided to present his case to the Rebbe. Perhaps, when hearing how distressed he was over his situation the Rebbe will agree that he ought to snatch some time from his holy work for his own spiritual needs. He pleaded with the Rebbe four a half hour; just a half hour!
After pouring out his broken heart to the Rebbe, he waited in anticipation for the Rebbe to reply. The Rebbe listened carefully to his passionate and painful plea and then tuned to him saying: “But in this and this place there is still no Yeshiva, in that place there is still no Mikvah. . .” Reb Chatche understood the response, but he could not control his emotions and burst into tears.
Upon seeing this, the Rebbe, himself in tears by now, waited several long minutes and then said: “If we afford ourselves the luxury to do ‘what we desire,’ what will be with the work that must get done? Do you think this is the Divine desire!?
This weekend, communities around the world will be discussing the story of two prominent Jews named Abraham. The first fled ancient Mesopotamia, the land of his father. He escaped with the core of monotheism and in the pursuit of G-d’s will. The second broke free from the Soviet motherland, following the path of providence and the dream of raising a family that would freely worship the G-d discovered by his biblical namesake.
Abraham the first set a high standard for generosity and hospitality, while his descendant stands as an exemplar of that excellence, par excellence. Both are patriarchs of celebrated dynasties. The first fathered the Jewish people. The second is father to one of its most beautiful families.
Essays require introductions, while Abraham and Avraham Aaron Rubashkin do not.
This weeks edition of the Crown Heights Newspaper, available for print.
MADISON, WI — University of Wisconsin students and Madison Jewish community members will soon have an on-campus synagogue due to a conditional use permit granted to the Chabad organization.
The property, located at 223 W. Gilman St., is currently owned by Chabad, which provides education and services for the local Jewish community.
CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — Transfer orders for Captain Mark DiPaolo, Executive officer for the 71st Precinct, came in this past Friday, October 30th. The XO was promoted and given his own precinct, the 84th which is located in Downtown Brooklyn near the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges.
BERLIN, Germany — Berlin police arrested two teenagers suspected of attacking a van carrying Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi Yehuda Tiechtel and several students of the local Lubavitch yeshiva.
According to news reports, the 16- and 18-year-old men confessed to the crime, which saw a car abruptly reverse in the direction of Tiechtel’s van the night of Nov. 1. The two occupants of the car, the rabbi told police, then shouted anti-Semitic insults and threw a flaming object at the van.
Although the late Israeli President, Zalman Shazar OBM, visited the Rebbe several times throughout his lifetime, one particular visit in the summer of 1966 was of special significance, as it was the first made in his official capacity as head of the Jewish state. The following is a description of some the controversy that led to the meeting and a glimpse of what was discussed during the Yechidus. to learn more about the Rebbe Visit: www.portraitofaleader.blogspot.com
This weeks Living Torah, titled “Leaving Paris” (Volume 55, Episode 217)
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Also available with Hebrew, French, Russian and Spanish subtitles in the Extended Article.
The Rebbe says:
1. At the end of this week’s Torah portion the Torah tells us that Hashem (G-d) came to Avraham Avinu (Abraham our Father) and told him to circumcise himself .
2. The Rebbe now asks a question on this :
The Talmud tells us that Avraham Avinu kept the whole Torah even though it was not given yet to the Jewish people . If so, why did Avraham Avinu wait for Hashem to instruct him to give himself a circumcision if he did not wait to fulfill all the other Mitzvos (commandments) until he was instructed?
3. The Rebbe begins the answer:
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