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.
Teachers Should Be Paid on Level with Businesspeople
From the Anash.org Inbox: I’ve been following the discussion about teachers in our mosdos, and I feel like I must add in my input – which is actually just the Rebbe’s words: teachers’ salaries must be equal to their businessmen peers for the success of our children’s chinuch.
The Devoted Chossid Who Wasn’t ‘Mekushar’
A devoted gabbai of the Rebbe Rashab and the Frierdiker Rebbe, Reb Chonye Morozov was accused by some as not being ‘mekushar‘ enough. But when he explained his definition of hiskashrus, the tables were turned.
We Need Not Have a False Sense of Protection or Dread
Article by Rabbi Mordechai Lipskier: Being armed from without shouldn’t give us a false sense of protection, and being threatened from without shouldn’t give us a false sense of dread. We have it within ourselves to connect with Hashem and overcome any and all obstacles.
How Do We Deal with the Situation Today?
From the Anash.org Inbox: In recent months, there has been a move to introduce various religious items and prayer in public schools. Should Jews be getting involved? This question was the subject of a debate between the Rebbe and R’ Moshe Feinstein 60 years ago.
The Chossid Who Was Nicknamed ‘The Cold Firebrand’
Amongst the intellectual giants of Chabad, R. Chaim Ber Vilensky stands out as an independent thinker and a silent leader. Though he rarely shared his thoughts and feelings, his inner world was very much alive, leading Chassidim to nickname him “The Cold Firebrand.”
They ‘Got Us’ When We Were Tormented
Article by Rabbi Mordechai Lipskier: Chassidim have always had those who “pursued” us, mocking us for our ways. But “bein hametzarim,” when Yidden in Russia were engulfed in aguish and the Chassidim stood out with pure and relentless mesiras nefesh, that’s when “all our pursuers” began to grasp and understand our ways.
Chabad Yeshivos Publish Thousands of Pages of Chidushei Torah
Marking 30 years to Gimmel Tammuz, many kovtzei he’aros were printed by Yeshivos worldwide with articles from the respective Rabbanim, Bachurim, Anash, accumulating over 2,500 printed pages of chidushei Torah. Now available online.