As we begin the Torah “from the beginning” we share a letter in which the Rebbe explains to one who has a “novel analysis and rendering of the Genesis Recording in the Torah” that creation needs to be understood in its literal sense. The letter, written originally in English, is from the archives of the Rebbe’s trusted secretary Rabbi Nissan Mindel.
Sharp eyed Shomrim volunteers assisted the police in apprehending a thief who stole a package from the porch of a Crown Street home. He was arrested as he was tearing open the package to inspect his loot.
With its narrow cobblestone alleys and boutique shops, Manhattan’s West Village is known for its colorful, artistic residents and the alternative culture they propagated. Now the West Village will be home to a new Chabad center, headed and co-directed by Rabbi Berel and Chana Gurevitch, working under the auspices of Tzeirei Agudas Chabad.
As is known, beginning from Simchas Torah 5716 and continuing through Simchas Torah 5724, the Rebbe taught ten nigunnim. (On Simchas Torah 5724, the Rebbe taught two niggunim). What is less known is that four other niggunim were taught by the Rebbe at various times throughout the year. This week’s story is about the niggun Asader L’seudasa, which the Rebbe taught on Shabbos Parshas Balak 5717.
The events that I am about to relate took place in 1958, when I was just twenty-four years old. I was enrolled in rabbinic studies at Yeshiva University, whose Rosh Yeshivah, Rav Joseph Ber Soloveitchik strongly encouraged his students to serve in the armed forces. He felt that the United States had been very good to the Jewish people, and that we had an obligation to do our part in serving the country.
Courtesy of Lubavitch Archives, we present a photo of The Rebbe distributing dollars in 770.
This Shabbos at the Besht, Rabbi Bentzion Elisha, an award winning photographer and author of the book, “18 Frames of Being,” a compilation of short stories, will lead a discussion titled “Personal Redemption Via Soul Stories” A retelling and analysis of several Chasidic stories, to hold unto, as we foray into the new year.
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