Rabbi Yitzchok Minkowicz, director of Chabad Lubavitch of Southwest Florida, delivers his insights on the holiday of Simchas Torah. This week Rabbi Minkowicz answers the question: How can we be joyous even during challenging times?
In this week’s edition of Letter & Spirit, in honor of Shabbos Bereshis, we present a letter of the Rebbe in which he makes it very clear that the duration of ‘one day’ in the narrative of creation is a day as we know it (and not, as many would try to interpret, as many thousands or millions of years). The letter was written through the Rebbe’s trusted secretary Rabbi Nissan Mindel, and was made available by his son-in-law Rabbi Sholom Ber Shapiro.
The volunteers of the Crown Heights Shomrim, who every year pitch in with their time an efforts to ensure that the Simchas Beis Hashoeva celebration and its vicinity remain safe, posed last night for a group portrait in front of the Shomrim Mobile Command Center.
The immense joy of Simchas Beis Hashoeva in Monsey, which was organized by the local Chabad Kehillah, was momentarily interrupted by extremist demonstrators from Neturei Karta, who viewed the Yomtov celebration as ‘heresy.’
Tzei’rei Chabad’s well-known Tefilin stand at the Kotel was repurposed during Chol Hamoed Sukkos to afford the multitudes of Jewish locals and tourists the opportunity to perform the Mitzvah of Arba Minim, which tens of thousands happily did.
Rabbi Shmuel Lesches, Maggid Shiur in Yeshiva Gedola of Melbourne, Australia, has compiled a guide to the laws of Hoshanah Rabbah, Shmini Atzeres and Simchas Torah for the benefit of the wider Lubavitch community.
In contrast to the gloomy weather, the atmosphere at Monday night’s Simchas Beis Hashoeva on Crown Heights’ Kingston Avenue was one of unbridled joy, with thousands dancing to the live music until the wee hours of the morning.
Around 60 people attended Lubavitch of Scotland’s annual Sukkos barbecue, with great food and a fire-juggling show enjoyed by young and old alike.
The Civil Calendar’s Columbus Day vacation during Chol Hamoed Sukkos helped Chabad of Albany strengthen Jewish Awareness in general and especially the Mitzvos of Sukkah and Esrog/Lulav.
Crown Heights children were treated to a Chol Hamoed family fun day on Eastern Parkway Monday afternoon. The fair included rides and shows, as well as face painting and food.
Anash in Montreal, Canada gathered on Chol Hamoed Sukkos for a Kinus Torah which was held in Beis Medrash Lubavitch. Speakers included Rabbi Berel Bell and Rabbi Moshe Stern.
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