TVERIA, ISRAEL [CHI] — In conjunction with today’s Siyum of the yearly learning of Rambam, Crownheights.info has obtained photos of a new film being produced by Malka Touger (Producer of the videos I Am A Chassid and Hand in Hand) in collaboration with JEM. The new Rebbe video for kids is reported to be a tour through special sites of Chassidic interest in Eretz Yisroel, woven together with the Rebbe’s words about them.
It was the Baal Shem Tov’s custom to draw out his prayers on Friday evenings. His disciples, who typically finished before him, would wait for their Rebbe to conclude, so that they may join him in the Shabbos meal.
It happened, on a given Friday, that one of the participants felt rather hungry. He thought to himself: “There is still plenty of time before the Baal Shem Tov will complete his prayers; I ought to go and eat something. In all likelihood, I will be back before he’s done. Besides, there are plenty of others around; I shall certainly not be missed.”
Seeing him slip out the door, another fellow decided to do the same. This started a chain reaction and soon the Baal Shem Tov was left to himself. Imagine their embarrassment, when, upon their return, they found their Rebbe sitting all alone waiting for them.
The Baal Shem Tov lovingly explained to them that a head is only as high as the body on which it rests. He said that his ability to stay “up there,” and function as their head, depended entirely on the degree of their individual and collective commitment.
CrownHeights.info presents this weeks Living Torah excerpt, A Parent Feels.
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NCFJE ‘Released Time’ instructors gathered today for a group picture in front of 770 today. Photo by Israel Teichman.
MOSCOW, RUSSIA — In a meeting Monday between Russia’s Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar and President Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s Jewish students were granted permission to postpone upcoming state exams conflictingly scheduled for the first day of the Shavuot holiday.
The Rebbe says:
1. This week’s Torah portion (as well as next week’s Torah portion) discusses the Mishkan (the Tabernacle) which was in the desert with the Jewish people and the jobs associated with bringing it from place to place with them.
2. The Rebbe tells us the lesson we can learn from this:
This passage emphasizes that even when the Jewish people are in a desert they have the strength to set up a place of holiness for Hashem’s presence (the Shechinah) to rest among the Jewish people in general and within every single Jew individually.
Furthermore, just as there is a desert in the physical sense, which is a barren wasteland where extremely calamitous elements dominate, so too there is a desert in the spiritual sense where terrible ideas and ideals dominate the atmosphere. Indeed, there can be a spiritual desert in a land which is physically a blooming garden.
CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — Arguments before the State Appellate Court was heard a short while ago and judge Daniel Angiolillo granted a stay of the Temporary Restraining Order which barred the elections from taking, clearing the way for the elections to still take place.
Contrary to rumors which have been spreading, the victory in court today only reflected on the TRO that was granted yesterday, which was the only item that was contested. The case is still set to be heard on June 3rd in which the merits of the case will be argued.
In honor of the Siyum Ha’Rambam and the beginning of the new cycle – for those who study three chapters daily, those who study one, as well as those who learn sefer Hamitzvos – and in honor of the 25th year of the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s establishment of takanas limud ha’Rambam, Chabad.org has launched a new Rambam Section.
Chabad’s mitzvah-smart mobile was a sight in contrasts at last week’s Cannes Film Festival. During the week-long event, the city’s normal population numbers of 70,000 swells to 200,000. Many were pleased to meet up with Chabad, and welcomed the offer to do a mitzvah and take a few minutes to reflect amid the endless partying.
Everybody is concerned about the plight of the Palestinian people. Peace process, roadmaps, united nations and Arab leagues. And even some bleeding heart Jews.
For over 60 years a group of Arabs have been held up in refugee camps in various Arab countries. Not allowed to settle down or to acquire citizenship in any Arab country.
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