INBOX: Today is Yud Tes Kislev, Rosh Hashana for Chassidus

by Rabbi Avraham Raskin – London, England

In many of the Yud Tes Kislev Fabrengen’s, the Rebbe would quote the expression of the Rebbe Rashab, that Chassidus is Or Vechayus Nafsheinu, the light and energy of our Neshamos.

As Chabad Chassidim, we celebrate today the revelation of Chassidus, which brings us to a higher and deeper meaning in life, Torah and Mitzvos.

As Rosh Hashana is also a day for reflection, and a time to reflect on the effect that Chassidus actually does affect our lives, and how much we focus on learning Chassidus.

Most readers of this article grew up as Chabad Chassidim, may have even grown up as Shluchim, with dedication to the Rebbe and the Rebbe’s mission, are careful to learn the daily Shiurim of Chitas and Rambam, and have some sort of Kvius in Chassidus. Some may have their kvius in the weekly Chassidishe Parsha in Likkutei Torah, or learn the project Likkutei Sichos, others may have a kvius in a particular year of Maamorim or spend time in a different seder, which are all important, and are the very lifeline of a Chabad Chossid.

Yet despite the set times we may set aside to learn, many people often feel that Chassidus is an endless field of topics beyond our scope of understanding, and each Maamer of Sicha we learn has more and more details and depth that we do not fully grasp. Many people feel that they can never get a full picture on any topic and are always learning more keys and details in a tremendous map of Seder Hishtalshlus, and always learning more complex details about Hashem, and every Maamer also brings a unique detail in Avodas Hashem.

In a Maamer of the Rebbe (Vayaancha Vayarivecha 5723) the Rebbe mentions how Pnimiyus Hatorah is likened to the Mon that our forefathers ate in the Midbar, which, because though the Mon had taste, it still didn’t have the colour of regular food and therefore didn’t bring full satisfaction. The same way, the Rebbe explains, when we learn Nigleh we understand what we learn, which causes satisfaction, but because Pnimiyus Hatorah is a study of lofty ideas, we never feel ‘full’ after learning.

Yet, as much as we can, we need to spend time and effort to learn, understand and internalise the teachings of Chassidus. Chassidus Chabad was created that we should be  able to internalise the message, and not suffice with nice short passages of inspiration, as was done before and in other circles.

After the Alter Rebbe was freed, he asked Chassidim if they could explain certain concepts like Igulim and Yosher, and when he saw that they didn’t properly grasp the concepts, the Alter Rebbe started to explain concepts in an orderly manner. The same way, the Rebbe wrote and mentioned a few times the need to learn chassidus in a way of clear topics, to comprehend the ideas in a clear manner.

As we come closer to the Geula, new projects have been developed to learn Chassidus properly with clear understanding. And in this article, I would like to share with the reader the value of the Kollel Dach project of Merkos Torah, which is a project under Merkos Linyonei Chinuch, and is geared towards any Chossid who seeks to attain this goal.

Aside from the lack of time, the most common challenge to properly learn any idea in Chassidus is a lack of clarity.

There are hundreds of Maamorim and Sichos, each bringing out a certain point. Most of the Rebbe’s maamorim are based on previous Rebbeim’s Maamorim, which may have a flow of development from the Maamer in Torah Or, which is further explained in great length the Mitteler Rebbe, with further details by the Tzemach Tzedek, further explained in the Rebbe Rashabs Hemsheichim etc. To gain a full understanding in any topic, it seems daunting to delve in the hundreds of Seforim.

Even if you are ready to spend time, and ready to delve into a full topic, it is hard to know where to look, what to focus on, and which sources are primary. Many times a Maamer mentions a topic as a side point and is really focused on a different topic. It is important to know what we are trying to understand and focus on gaining clarity and depth of that particular point.

Kollel Dach presents you with a presentation of a Sugya from the Alter Rebbe to the Rebbe, with a clear Seder, enabling you to know what you are learning, where you want to get to, and what is the message of the Maamer.

Another challenge many people have, is the lack of clear SMART goals. Smart stands [acronym stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound]. In today’s rushed and pressured society, there is an acute need for clear goals, that from the start you know how long you will be spending on this Sugya, and that you will end up with a certain clarity, and will find practical meaning in Avodas Hashem. Kollel Dach is extremely thought through, and each topic is extremely relevant in our personal Avodas Hashem.

A third challenge many people have is guidance. Though there are many shiurim available online on certain Maamorim, they are still only a minority. Kollel Dach provides clear Shiurim on the chosen Maamorim and sichos. Kollel Dach has chosen two of the leading Mashpiim, Rabbi Yossi Klien and Reb Osher Farkash, who both give a weekly shiur, and each Shiur shines tremendous insight and clarity in the weekly learning.

Another two major challenges are who to ask, and who to talk it through with. If you decide to learn a particular Maamer yourself, it is hard to find someone who is available to give you the time and learns enough who can answer your questions, or even a regular equal who is knowledgeable enough to discuss any random topic. Kolel Dach offers a Whatsapp group where anyone can present their questions, and even have a hired Shoel Meishiv to answer any question posed. Many of these questions may be later discussed by the Mashpiim in their Shiurim.

As Kollel Dach nears two years from its’ inception, close to two hundred people have made this program part of their schedule, and have made it their Seder Chassidus. Many Shluchim learn it with a Chavrusa over the phone, and others learn it themselves and listen to the Shiurim either live, or later on the recording. Personally, I learn this program with several people a week, each of them Chassidim from other circles who wanted to deepen their understanding in Chassidus, and I often share with them the tremendous depth I hear in the Shiurim. At the recent Kinnus Hashluchim, it was amazing to see how many Shluchim carved out time for this learning, and how much this brings joy and meaning to Limmud Hachassidus.

To finish off, the Rebbe finishes Hayom Yom with a bracha “Leshana tovah Belimmud Hachassidus uvedarkei Hachassidus Tikseivu Veseichaseimu”.

Kollel Dach requires and encourages a set Seder in learning Chassidus, which naturally brings the Darkei HaChassidus.  If you are not yet part of it, try it!

Check out kolleldach.com