One of the first talmidim in Tomchei Temimim, Reb Avraham Dovid Poizner was an outstanding tomim who was removed from worldly matters. When someone mocked his hafshata, saying that he left shechita since he was “too afraid of the animal,” the Rebbe Rashab retorted that it was Hashem who he was afraid of.
He Took the Entire Blame on Himself
The rov of Starodub, R’ Meshulam Zalman Neimark was arrested with 80 community members, accused of helping Yidden evade the draft with guidance from the Rebbe Maharash. Not wanting the Rebbe to suffer, he took full blame and spent two years in prison, where he learned and davened ba’avoda.
A Radiogram in Middle of the Atlantic Ocean
While on a ship in the middle of the Atlantic, two bochurim were brought a Radiogram from the Rebbe. And not a moment too soon, because over the next few days, there were very strong storms at sea and the travelers were scared. The boys gathered the Yidden as the Rebbe had instructed and the results were powerful.
‘It Seems That Someone Else Is in the Room’
Rebbetzin Fraida, the Alter Rebbe‘s daughter, was an illustrious woman and was very dear to her father, who would recite Chassidus privately for her. Her brother, the Mitteler Rebbe, would give her a question in Chassidus to ask their father, and then hide in the room to listen to the answer.
They Wouldn’t Let Him Browse the Seforim
Reb Shneur Zalman Fradkin, known as the “Gaon of Lublin” or by his sefer “Toras Chesed”, was a chossid of the Tzemach Tzedek and an exceptional genius. The seforim seller only allowed him to look at the cover pages, since once he flipped through a sefer, he knew it by heart.
Should a Farbrengen Be Assessed by Its Content or the Speaker?
Should one assess a farbrengen by what was said or by who said it? It has been pointed out that the information age in which we find ourselves has caused an erosion of trust and respect for experts and authority.
‘For a Mashpia in Lubavitch, This Is Also Too Much’
Reb Alter Simchovitch was an outstanding chosid of the Rebbe Rashab and Frierdiker Rebbe who served as a mashpia in various branches of Tomchei Temimim. When a bochur expressed surprise at his meager seudas Shabbos, Reb Alter shared his ideal for a mashpia in Lubavitch.
‘It’s Erev Rosh Hashana and Nothing is Set Up?!’
Titled “yedid beis Rebbe,” Reb Elye Chaim Althaus was a devoted chossid of the Frierdiker Rebbe and stood by his side in all his activities. When Reb Yisroel Jacobson expressed surprise that the Rebbe’s shul was not ready on erev Rosh Hashana, Reb Elye Chaim turned the question around.
He Just Sat There Looking at the Sky
Reb Moshe Yitzchak of Yasi, a chossid of the Alter Rebbe and Mitteler Rebbe, was returning from the mikvah one erev Shabbos, when he suddenly looked up to the sky and became very excited. The incident remained a mystery for years until the Tzemach Tzedek explained it.
He Mixed Something Good Into His Ink
A misnagdishe communal leader in Vilna, Reb Meir Refoel’s became an ardent chossid after witnessing two incredible mofsim by the Alter Rebbe. Despite the attacks the Vilna chassidim faced, he insisted on keeping the peace.
‘Healing’ Is Not Our Guide to Life
“I’m not intimating that ‘healing’ in itself is idolatry, there is, however, a sentiment that people openly vocalize that ‘healing’ is paramount. Concerns and questions about particular methodologies, even questions like ‘Is it Avodah Zara?’ are scoffed and dismissed as out of touch.”
He Waited Hours and Gave Away Everything for Strings
A misnagdishe communal leader in Vilna, Reb Meir Refoel’s became an ardent chossid after witnessing two incredible mofsim by the Alter Rebbe. Despite the attacks the Vilna chassidim faced, he insisted on keeping the peace.
He Was Fired Up by Just a Few Lines of Tanya
Blessed by the Rebbe Maharash to be a lamdan and a gevir, R. Zalman Schneerson of Lodz was indeed both, as well as a profound oved. When he couldn’t take mashke, a few lines of Tanya about the joy from HaShem’s omnipresence was enough to fire him up in vigorous dancing.
The Census Brought Them to Their Senses
Article by Rabbi Mordechai Lipskier: Today, we are very occupied with respecting people’s privacy, preferences, and rights. Many youth today aren’t being shown the true Torah path because people are afraid of infringing on their freedoms. Perhaps we can learn a lesson from Reb Levik and have more faith in our youth.
The ‘Cowards’ Who Keep their Frontline Brethren Alive
With the recent ruling against the exemption for yeshiva bochurim from being drafted to the army, tensions are running high in Eretz Yisroel at yeshivos across the country. As chassidim, it is worthwhile to explore the Rebbe’s view on the subject.
Soup and Noodles Wasn’t What the Alter Rebbe’s Had In Mind
Reb Yosef Yitzchok of Avrutch, son of the Tzemach Tzedek and son-in-law of Reb Yaakov Yisroel of Tcherkas, settled in Horonsteipel and visited Lubavitch from time to time. When he asked his father on one visit why in Chabad they didn’t say all the zemiros, his father had a strong response.
“Where is the Jewish Bravery, the Jewish Flag?!”
In a heartfelt letter to Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, the Frierdiker Rebbe describes the tragedies that occurred on Tisha B’Av throughout Jewish history, and how once again the Jewish people are being tested by those pretending to be their friends.
‘Thank You’ Is Nice, But What’s Really Needed is Appreciation
As a Rebbi, I’ve had the privilege of working with wonderful students and their supportive families. However, there’s a common misunderstanding I’ve noticed among many parents: the difference between simply saying “thank you” and really appreciating what Rebbis do.
‘Eretz Yisroel is the Safest Place’: Is That Still True?
It is well known what the Rebbe said, especially during the Gulf War, that Eretz Yisroel is the safest place in the world. Is this promise subject to conditions? Is it applicable today? Alaska Shliach Rabbi Yosef Greenberg addresses the question.
There Are Some Common Misconceptions About Teachers
From the Anash.org Inbox: In response to a recent article from the Rebbe about teachers being paid like professionals and a commenter questioning the need for a raise in teachers’ pay today, a melamed addresses some common misconceptions about teachers.