Its Time to get Mad – The Downside of Unholy Tolerance

While in search of a new community in which to relocate, Reb Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev had arrived with his followers at a particular village. Upon looking around, it seemed like the town might’ve just been right for the Rabbi and his growing Chassidic sect to set up shop, at least from their viewpoint. As for the townsfolk, they appeared to have a slightly different perspective.

In a not-so-subtle display of their feelings, the locals gathered to greet their prospective new neighbors with a generous pelting of raw eggs. Upon witnessing this, the tzaddik turned to his entourage and said: “Ah! This is where we shall stay.”

In response to their dumbfound reaction, he added, “At least the people here cannot be accused of being apathetic. They possess true enthusiasm for their cause. . . I find this rather refreshing.”

The Rebbe Corresponds with U.S. Presidents

In connection with this week’s Presidential inauguration, The Avner Institute would like to present glimpses of correspondences between the Rebbe and former U.S. presidents Johnson, Carter, and Bush senior. It’s an excerpt from the new Book on The Rebbe “The Rebbe Inspiring a Generation” Visit: www.inspiringageneration.org.

A Sicha from the Rebbe on Parshas Va’eira!

The Rebbe says:

1. In this week’s Torah portion Hashem (G-d) tells the Jewish people that they are going to be redeemed from their unbearable exile in Egypt. Hashem first uses four descriptions of how He will redeem them- “I will transport you out”, “I will rescue you”, “I will redeem you”, and “I will take you out”. Hashem then uses a fifth description, “I will bring you to the land about which I have raised My hand to give it to Avraham (Abraham), Yitzchak (Isaac), and Yakov (Jacob)”.

2. The Rebbe now discusses the four descriptions of redemption, and the additional fifth:

It is well known that the four descriptions of redemption correspond to the four redemptions that the Jewish people had throughout history, beginning with our redemption from Egypt. Bearing this in mind we can understand that the fifth description corresponds to the final and complete redemption when Moshiach (the Messiah) will come and take us out of this exile with the third and final Beis Hamikdash (Holy Temple).