In honor of his grandson’s Bar Mitzva, Rabbi Raphael Tennenhaus of Hallandale Beach, Florida published a special Teshura of the Rebbe’s insights on the first mesechtos of Shas, translated into English for the first time.
By Joseph Obermeyer
At the Bar Mitzvah celebration last night of Mordechai Elimelech Tennenhaus, son of the Shluchim Rabbi and Mrs. Mendy and Endi Tennenhaus, of Hollywood Florida and Dania Beach, a Teshurah/Memento was given out with a sampling of the Rebbe’s profound insights on the Talmud, specifically the Tractates Brochos, Shabbos, Eruvin, and Pesachim.
Rabbi Raphael Tennenhaus, grandfather of the Bar Mitzvah boy, compiled the Teshurah, translating many Torah teachings that are now in English for the first time, and showing the original source for each Sicha that is found in the Teshurah.
“Boruch HaShem, we get hundreds of Yidden every year from Manhattan, Brooklyn, Lakewood, Monsey and elsewhere, who come to our Shul to Daaven, and then sit down and learn Gemarah in a very comfortable setting and atmosphere. I find that many are totally unaware of the Rebbe’s unparalleled greatness in Gemorah, both in the Rebbe’s Bekius and in the Rebbe’s depth of learning. It is my hope that this Teshurah will reach these Yidden and beyond, and that the format will benefit both Chassidim who are familiar with the Rebbe’s Sichos, and to non-Lubavitchers, who will get a glimpse of the Rebbe’s unparalleled greatness in Torah,” Rabbi Tennenhaus said.
The Teshurah contains over 60 areas in the Gemara that the Rebbe speaks about, some albeit briefly and some long Sichos, including the entire English translation of the Rebbe’s Siyum on Eruvin. With Pesach around the corner, many insights from the Rebbe on Pesachim are ideal to discuss at the Seder.
Being that today is Beis Nissan, readers will enjoy an incredible insight brought by the Rebbe Rashab, on the “strange term” forty less one, referring to the forbidden labors on Shabbos. Unlike the traditional commentaries, the Rebbe Rashab explains that there ARE forty labors on Shabbos. Thirty-nine labors are forbidden, and the 40th labor, to study Torah diligently on Shabbos, is permitted!
In the comprehensive introduction to the Teshurah, Rabbi Tennenhaus expresses hope that this is a new step in spreading the wellsprings (as much of the Rebbe’s insights on Shas includes Chassidus) to the חוצה, to the most remote and outside environments, and thanks the individuals who helped publish the Teshurah, including Rabbi Eli Phillips, Rabbi Eli Schochet, Mrs. Chana Eliyahu, and Mrs. Goldie Tennenhaus.
Is there anything like this in Hebrew that anyone is working on?