An outstanding chassidishe woman held in high esteem by the Tzemach Tzedek and Rebbetzin Rivkah‘s grandmother, Rebbetzin Leah Golda was was always calm and collected, never getting angry over wrongdoing or complaining when she suffered.
They Learned 18 Hours a Day and Played Chess as a Break
A talmid of Reb Nechemia of Dubrovna and an incredible gaon, Reb Yosef Tumarkin related how they would learn 18 hours a day, and between sugyos of gemara they played some chess, so they wouldn’t confuse the two sugyos.
GPS Won’t Tell You Where to Go
Article by Rabbi Mordechai Lipskier: Google and Waze are up to date with road construction, closures and traffic, but they’ll always be limited by finite intelligence. They can get us where we want to go, but they can’t possibly know if it’s good for us to be there.
He Didn’t Realize That the Czar was Deposed
Reb Dovid Kievman “Horodoker” was known amongst chassidim for being completely absorbed in Torah and oblivious to his surroundings, and Reb Itche Masmid said he wasn’t as mufshat as Reb Dovid…
The Rising Star of Chabad in Russia
Born to the esteemed chossid Radatz, Reb Mendel Chein was a gaon in Torah and an eloquent orator who served as a spokesperson for the Rebbe Rashab and Reb Chaim Brisker at the 1910 Rabbinic Conference.
‘One More Day of Tefillin…’
Reb Zalman Dovid Amliner was an incredible oved and would practice intense iskafya. When his end was near he regretted it, since one day of tefillin was worth even more. But Chassidim had something to say about that.
Wouldn’t You Prefer to Shoot a Missile?
Article by Rabbi Mordechai Lipskier: Do you ever get the feeling that you’d like to send a missile and end the war in Eretz Yisroel? One of the messages of the bow and arrow on Lag B’Omer is that the closer we pull the bowstring towards ourselves, the farther away the arrow will reach.
It Smelled Like Moshiach In His Home
A leading talmid of the Baal Shem Tov and Mezritcher Maggid, Reb Mendel Horodoker was the Alter Rebbe‘s Rebbe until he moved to Eretz Yisroel. Yet, he could not tell inside his house if Moshiach had arrived.
They Carried Him Outside While He Was Davening
The son of Rebbetzin Fraida, the Alter Rebbe‘s daughter, Reb Ahron of Krementchug married Rebbetzin Rivkah‘s mother after her first husband passed away. Once, a fire broke out while he davened, and they carried him outside completely oblivious to what had happened.
A Din Torah by the Rebbe Rashab’s Door
Though Reb Zalman Havlin offered to pay up the Horoditch yeshiva’s debt, the Frierdiker Rebbe tricked him into a din Torah by the Rebbe Rashab. Though he was exonerated, he paid it with shadchonus gelt he received.
Secular Morals Have Gone Bankrupt, Again
Article by Rabbi Mordechai Lipskier: In recent weeks, we witnessed once again the lack of morals, ethics, and even basic civility from both students and leaders at prestigious universities. Pirkei Avos reminds us at the start that Torah is the only source for good, pure, and true guidance.
He Was Teaching Torah Under the Floor
When young Shula came looking for her father, Reb Yitzchok Elchonon Shagalov, the chossid who opened the door began moving a large table in the center of the room. He then bent down and removed three planks of wood from the floor.
The Chossid Who Was ‘The Rebbe’s Golam’
As a youth, Reb Bereh Volf Koz’venikov suffered from a terrible stutter, yet, he devoted himself to teaching the simpletons in his town basic Torah teachings. When he shared this in yechidus, the Tzemach Tzedek bentched him, and he was changed forever.
Download and Print: The Rebbe’s Pre-Pesach Message
Every year, the Rebbe would issue a michtav kloli before Pesach, addressing the theme of the Yom Tov. In this letter sent in 5725, the Rebbe wrote about the steps needed to go free from Egypt. Read and download here.
Heal the Nation: Actualizing the Rebbe’s Vision for America
In honor of the Rebbe’s birthday, a project has been launched to actualize the Rebbe’s vision for a non-denominational prayer in American public schools. We sat down with the organizer, R’ Hillel Hellinger, to find out what the Rebbe said about it and why now is the time.
Sometimes It’s Better Not To Notice
Article by Rabbi Mordechai Lipskier: As parents or spouses, we often see “afflictions” in members of our households that need correction. Yom tov, and particularly Erev Pesach, can be an especially tense time. But let’s consider how Hashem tells the kohen to turn a blind eye so that the Yid can experience simchas yom tov.
He Battled His Yetzer Hara Ruthlessly
Undoubtedly an unconventional chossid, Reb Zalman Moshe Hayitzchaki was devoted to the truth with his whole heart. He fought hard with his yetzer hara, using harsh and sometimes colorful terms to put it away.
The Bochur Who Stumped the Rogatchover Gaon
When Reb Berel Garfinkel was twenty-one, he knew all of Shas with Rashi, Tosfos, and other rishonim, as well as all the printed maamorim – by heart! Yet, he carried no air of pride or feigned “humility.”
The Chossid Who Resolved that Tomorrow Would be “Gur Andersh”
Though he suffered many hardships, Reb Gershon Ber Paharer was always thankful for the good things that happened to him. A great chossid, he would resolve every night that the next day be different than the one that passed.
It’s Your Fear That Causes You to Fail
Article by Rabbi Mordechai Lipskier: The Maharal shares an interesting experiment: Place a beam of wood over a river and notice that most people won’t succeed in crossing to the end. Place the same beam on the ground and no one will fall off. It’s the thought of falling that causes us to fall.