In those years, a yechidus before one’s Chassunah was for just a few minutes. Together to their pa”n (pidyon nefesh – request for brochos), the Chosson would give the Rebbe an invitation and the Rebbe would quite often ask him a few questions about the preparations to the chassunah.
Boys of Oholei Torah learned thousands of mishayos, perakim of tanya, blatt gemorah and yedios kloliyois by heart and were awarded in a grand ceremony.
As it is our custom to say Pirkei Avos from Shavuos until Rosh Hashana – in addition to the general custom of saying it from Pesach until Shavuos – we present a letter in which the Rebbe makes a brief point about the introduction which we say before Pirkei Avos: Kol Yisroel yesh lohem cheilek… It is a letter in answer to one who is not religious, asking if it is proper for her to read the Tanya. The letter, written originally in English, is from the archives of the Rebbe’s trusted secretary Rabbi Nissan Mindel.
Courtesy of Lubavitch Archives, we present a photo of The Rebbe giving a child a coin to give to Tzedakah.
This Shabbos at the Besht, Rabbi Binyomin Kriegsman, who grew up in crown crown heights, and is currently in Kolel pursuing rabbinical studies, will lead a discussion on the topic of Chodosh and Yoshon: The Waiting Periods Between Meat and Dairy.
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