R. Shmuel Betzalel Sheptel, known among chassidim as Rashbatz, was a prominent chossid of many Rebbeim, the melamed of the Frierdiker Rebbe, and later a mashpia of Tomchei Temimim in Lubavitch. His sayings and meshalim guided generations of chassidim.
Special episode for Chodesh Elul: Here are the shofaros that the Rebbe used over the years of his nesius, including one which only went on display a number of days ago.
Article by Rabbi Mordechai Lipskier: “Where are our leaders?” many people ask. But as the people, we should primarily ask a different question: “Where are the followers?” There are many qualified Rabbanim and mashpiim to lead us with the Torah as their guide, the question is if we are willing to follow.
A wealthy chossid who lived in the capital city of Petersburg, R. Shmuel Michel Treinin was a supporter and activist for the Rebbe Rashab. But when he proudly showed the Rebbe his huge factory, the Rebbe reminded him whose davening brought it.
Article by Rabbi Mordechai Lipskier: There has never been a more confusing time than ours. We are exposed to endless information on how to live our lives; choose priorities; educate our children; and be married. But we need to be open to the possibility that these ahhhs may one day prove to be oys.
Ahead of his wedding, a young R. Nochum, was called in by his grandfather, the Alter Rebbe, who tried to discourage him from getting fitted with a collar of the latest fashion, and promised him Gan Eden – but only if he really meant it.
Article by Rabbi Mordechai Lipskier: The Rebbe Rashab‘s granddaughters had a teacher who taught only Torah matters which could be explained logically. When the Rebbe Rashab heard about this, he ordered that this teacher be dismissed.
Reb Pinchas “Reizes,” so named after his mother-in-law who supported his becoming the Alter Rebbe‘s chossid, was a wealthy chossid and devoted choizer. When the Alter Rebbe would sometimes fall to the floor in dveikus, he would drop near him to catch every word.
Special episode for Chof Av: Rabbi Berel Levine showcases the precious few seforim that had belonged to the Rebbe’s father and mother and survived and are currently housed in the Rebbe’s library.
A mashpia, menahel and a secretary for the Frierdiker Rebbe, Reb Chatche Feigin was a towering intellectual and a courageous leader. He had a keen discernment for sincerity and he raised his students to be discerning themselves.
Perfect Tisha B’av reading material: The Rebbe’s library contains hundreds of cards filled out by chassidim with their personal details, a treasure trove of Chabad history.
A legend of Tomchei Temimim, R. Shmuel Groinem Esterman was the first and foremost mashpia in Lubavitch. His insights and stories set hundreds of talmidim in the ways of Chassidus, and continue to enlighten today.
When a bus of boys coming to farbreng got stuck in the mud, it took two vehicles and coordination to get it out. At the ensuing farbrengen, we derived two important lessons. Article by Rabbi Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin.
One especially unique collection in the Rebbe’s library is an archive of over 50,000 photos. It contains photos of chassidim, their families, and Chabad activities from across the globe.
Living in the shadow of one of the greatest chassidim of all time, R. Sholom R. Hillel’s was himself an impressive chossid and oved. But one comment from a villager did more for his avodas Hashem than the Chassidus that he learned from his great mashpia.
You can just imagine this wretched rasha stroking his goatee, clearing his throat, and giving rational, reasonable life advice to the massed Jewish soldiers. “If you ask me,” he told them, “you should drop this whole thing.” An article by Rabbi Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin.
Special Episode: Rabbi Berel Levine retells the entire sequence of events of the Chabad battle with Russia for the seforim of our Rebbeim, beginning with the secretive mission to the USSR in the 1980s.
Article by Rabbi Mordechai Lipskier: During the Three Weeks, we revisit and repair any breach that may threaten the integrity of our Yiddishkeit. But there’s another kind of wall that we should be breaking during this time.
One night, the Alter Rebbe came with a candle to see how the chassidim slept. R. Moshe Vilenker woke up bewildered and asked the Alter Rebbe, “What is a neshama? What is Elokus?” The Alter Rebbe told him to go back to sleep, but later said a maamar on the topic.
Rabbi Sholom Ber Lipskar, director of the Aleph Institute, shares a fascinating unpublished response that he received from the Rebbe advising him to turn to “true Torah leaders” with questions on education and the like and not “outside books.”
