The chossid Reb Nateh, the Rov of Malastirzineh, was a prominent chossid of the Mitteler Rebbe and the Tzemach Tzedek, and was known for his exceptional bittul. When young chassidim in Lubavitch tried throwing out of the Rebbe’s shul, Reb Nateh was not offended – and even defended them.
The Rebbe Sent Me a Message About Shlichus Standards
Shliach Rabbi Gershon Sandler, who heads camp CGI in the Poconos for non-frum girls, brought a campaign brochure to the Ohel, when suddenly one of the pieces of paper flew out over the walls. When he picked it up, he got a shock – and a clear message.
Shlichus Is All About Mesiras Nefesh
Article by Rabbi Mordechai Lipskier: This past week we were shaken to the core by the murder of Rabbi Zvi HaKohen Kogan Hy”d, murdered shortly before the Kinus Hashluchim. Certainly, this is not by chance. Zvi is a testament to the dedication that exists by all Chabad Shluchim and their families.
The Mashpia Who Faithfully Followed Every Word
Reb Yehoshua Aizik Baruch, a mashpia in Kovno and Vilna, stood out in his genuine sincerity. When the Rebbe asked him to deliver regards to Anash, he made sure to relay it to every person he met, and when he missed the special Tehillim on Rosh Hashana, he said them on Rosh Hashana l’Chassidus.
Islamic Terrorism: What’s Really Behind It?
Anash Magazine: 15 years ago, the world stood shocked when Islamic terrorists entered Chabad of Mumbai and murdered shluchim Rabbi Gabi and Rivky Holtzberg. A talk by Harav Yosef Heller shed light on “Galus Yishmoel” according to Chassidus and what it means today.
How AI Failed Me
Article by Rabbi Mordechai Lipskier: With all the automation around us, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to be personally invested in things. Yiddishkeit is not about the outcome but the output. If I use AI to write a thank-you speech, I may gain automatic entry through my listeners’ hearts, but the door to my heart will remain closed.
He Stood with One Foot on the Mantel Throughout the Maamar
Reb Boruch Sholom, the eldest son of the Tzemach Tzedek, had a special relationship with the Alter Rebbe. Once during a packed maamar, he tried climbing onto the fireplace, but unable to move, he remained with just one foot on the mantel for the duration of the maamar.
The Shochet Who Was Afraid of Hashem
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.