Commemorate Chof Av with the Rebbe’s Farbrengen

This Chof Av, Sichos in English brings a Chof Av farbrengen of the Rebbe to you. Honor the Rebbe’s father by learning an abbreviated transcript of the Chof Av 5745 farbrengen with the Rebbe, which commemorated Rabbi Levi Yitzchok’s 41st yahrzeit. 

An auspicious day cherished by the Rebbe is a day marked by Chassidim as well. Such is Chof Av, the yahrzeit of Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Schneerson, the Rebbe’s father. Living under the communist regime, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok is known for his infallible mesiras nefesh and devotion to Hashem and the Jewish People. 

In countless sichos, the Rebbe explained the significance of a yahrzeit. “The involvement in Yiddishkeit on the yahrzeit of a Tzaddik strengthens the influence of the Tzaddik.” The Rebbe showed deep appreciation to those who partook in commemorating his father’s yahrzeit. When commemorating one’s yahrzeit and learning the baal hahilula’s Torah, both the tzaddik and the learner are reaping benefits.

This Chof Av, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok’s yahrzeit, Sichos in English brings a Chof Av farbrengen of the Rebbe to you. Honor the Rebbe’s father by learning an abbreviated transcript of the Chof Av 5745 farbrengen with the Rebbe, which commemorated Rabbi Levi Yitzchok’s 41st yahrzeit. 

Learn the Farbrengen

Sichah 1 — A Mesirus Nefesh Yid

Learn about the true nature of a Yid, undeniable Mesiras Nefesh, through which Rabbi Levi Yitzchok lived his life. Though Rabbi Levi Yitzchok’s entire life was filled with self-sacrifice and sanctity, the Rebbe focuses on his histalkus, a seeming halt to his life work, illuminating it with positivity and purpose.

Sichah 2 — Is a Yahrzeit a Positive Event or Not?

When understanding the effect of a yahrzeit, there’s a paradox and a question. It seems positive, but the reality is sad. Is a yahrzeit positive or negative? The unique dynamic of finding significance in less opportune moments is explained through understanding how to live with emunah and bitachon simultaneously — having faith that what happens is for the best, yet demanding a favorable outcome.

Sichah 3 — A Yahrtzeit is Enlivening

This Sicha discusses how a yahrzeit should lead to an increase of life. Life is characterized by growth, and the Rebbe connects this feature of life to children who display it the most. Included are directives in connection to chinuch, specifically through the summer months. 

Learn the Farbrengen

May the learning bring to fruition the Rebbe’s words in this farbrengen, “Commemoration of a yahrzeit in this manner [learning] adds to the merit of the Jewish people as a whole and hastens the coming of the Mashiach and, afterward, the ultimate reward of Techiyas Hameisim.”

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Discussion
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  1. You translated:

    “This story is rather difficult to comprehend. After these events,
    Rabbi Yosef Caro composed the Beis Yosef and the Shulchan
    Aruch, two great Halachic works that have guided our people
    for generations. If he would have died Al Kiddush Hashem, these
    texts would never have been written. Thus, we are forced to say
    that had he died Al Kiddush Hashem, he would have attained an
    even higher spiritual rung.”

    I don’t understand the logic here. On what basis must we conclude: “Thus, we are forced to say
    that had he died Al Kiddush Hashem, he would have attained an
    even higher spiritual rung.”? Perhaps in some sense he would have reached a higher “spiritual rung”, but didn’t he actually serve HaShem – so to speak – even better now that he “composed the Beis Yosef and the Shulchan
    Aruch, two great Halachic works that have guided our people
    for generations.”?
    Am I missing something here?

    1. Assuming that the translation is accurate here, then I certainly have no question Chas V’shalom on what the Rebbe says. I would just like to understand it better.

      Also, where/how can one see these and other posts?

  2. For a long time I have not been able to find a satisfactory answer to the question: “Does a strong body help, or hurt, one’s avodat HaShem”

    Now, in your translation of 20 MENACHEM AV, 5745 (1985), I have found a one:

    “This is implied by the Rambam’s statement: “[Maintaining] the

    body’s health and complete state is among the paths of the ser-
    vice of G-d.” The Zohar declares12 “The strength of the body is

    the weakness of the soul.” However, that does not imply any
    contradiction to the above. Rather, when the emphasis on the

    body’s strength comes from the body, it weakens the soul. How-
    ever, if the emphasis on the body’s strength comes because of

    the Torah’s command, it will surely strengthen the soul. On the
    contrary, such an approach will weaken the material nature of
    the body and make it a more complete vessel for the soul.”

    Nice!

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