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It's the Women - Mishpatim 22 Shevat 5785

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Today, 22 Shevat, marks the opening of the International Kinus Hashluchos, the international conference of Chabad emissaries for the women. It is always held on or around this date the Yartzeit of our Rebbetzin, the Rebbe’s wife, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson. Women from literally all over the world will be coming together to discuss current issues facing the global Jewish community, to share ideas, successes and challenges, and to enjoy each other’s company. Many of these unsung heroes live in far-flung corners of the world, on islands and in deserts without any local peers, and they dedicate their days and nights to serving the communities and to bringing redemption to the world. They often have large families whom they raise without typical schools and without similarly observant friends. They are raising these children to be Jewish leaders, aware of all the secular world has to offer and recognizing the beauty and deep meaning of a Torah life. When the Rebbe sent emissaries to ...
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From Seed to Fruit - Tu B'Shvat, Yitro 5785

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Something magical happens when a seed is planted in the ground. If you think about the process, it seems counterintuitive. (Please note: The following is based on the teachings of Chassidus. I know that these are not the words of biology, which describes the process differently. While it may seem to be a contradiction, I believe Torah and science often use different words and a different set of terms. I am presenting my understanding of what is taught in Chassidus. I’m sure that with time the two will come together.) The seed decostructs - Chassidus refers to this process as the “rotting” and decomposing of the seed. Then a new tree grows, that will eventually produce thousands of fruits with many thousands of seeds. There is not a progression, a seed first expanding and then slowly growing. There is a complete breakdown of the original seed and then the new tree, or whatever it is we planted, grows. This is one of the lessons we learn on Tu B’Shvat, the “New Year” for trees, which is ...
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Hashem's Beautiful Garden - Yud Shevat 5785

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It was the year 1950 - 5710 on the Jewish calendar.  The Tenth day of the month of Shevat.  The great luminary who had shepherded the Jewish people through Communism and the Holocaust passed away.  Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson, known as the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, had placed himself in mortal danger, to preserve Judaism in the Soviet Union, where the dreaded NKVD had dedicated itself to eradicating Judaism.  He had maintained an underground network of schools, Yeshivas, synagogues and Mikvahs throughout the country. He had been arrested and sentenced to death, then had the sentence commuted to exile, then miraculously released a short time later.  He had to leave the country, and after ten years in Poland, he miraculously escaped the Warsaw Ghetto. He then came to the US, where he created another miracle, reviving traditional Jewish life in this country and around the world, and working to rebuild the shattered communities of Europe.  The impact he h...
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I'm With You! - Bo 5785

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I have been spending a lot of time over the last couple of weeks working on the completion of our Bikur Cholim House, the house we are building behind ours to house visitors who come here for critical medical care. It is very exciting to see it all coming together. I will be happy to give you a personal tour. Please contact me if you would like to come by. You can also see more about it here . What would you tell someone you are sending on an errand for you?  “Go to the store and buy this.” “Go to the neighbor and give them this message.”  So when Hashem is sending Moshe to Pharaoh to bring him a message, you would think He would say “go to Pharaoh and tell him…)  That is not what Hashem said.  He said “come to Pharaoh.  In fact, that is the name of the entire Parsha that we read this week that includes the Exodus – “Bo” – “come.” One way to understand this, and the message it is teaching us, is by recognizing the mystical forces at play here.  Everything ...
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Wine of Punishment or Wine of Blessing? - Va'era 5785

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One of the well known practices at the Seder is to pour off some wine from the wine cup for the Ten Plagues (seven of which we read about in this week’s Parsha).  Some people have the custom to dip their finger in the cup for each plague and put a drop in a container.  Another custom, and this is the Chabad custom, is to actually pour a drop of wine into a broken container. There are many explanations for why we pour off the wine.  One is that although the Egyptians were wicked and their punishment and defeat were necessary, we still feel bad for their suffering.  They are after all human beings, created by Hashem.  This is the Jewish heart that empathizes even with our enemies. Another explanation is that the pouring off  of the wine symbolizes the punishment the Egyptians received.  Kabbalah explains that wine is related to judgement and the broken container represents impurity.  We are symbolically pouring judgment to the impurity. What do we d...
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Redemption? Nu? - Shemot 5785

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Redemption from Egypt was close.  The Jewish people were excited that the long awaited moment of their release from the vicious captivity and slavery had arrived.  The feeling of relief must have been overwhelming. The events leading up to this moment were earthshaking.  Hashem had appeared to Moshe in a burning bush that didn’t burn up, and given him three miracles to perform.  A stick turning into a snake, a healthy hand instantaneously becoming diseased with leprosy and then returning to full health, and water turning to blood.  Moshe and Aaron came to the leaders of the Jewish people,  informed them of the great news, and performed the miracles.  The people  wholeheartedly believed them and were elated!  Mission one successful! Then Moshe and Aaron confidently went to Pharaoh and told him to send the people out of Egypt to serve Hashem.  Not only does he refuse, but he ramps up the slavery!  Now the slaves have to find their own...
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Rebuilding - 10 Tevet 5785

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Tomorrow, Friday, we experience a rare phenomenon - a public fast on a Friday.  The tenth of Tevet is a fast day commemorating the beginning of the Babylonian siege on the City of Jerusalem in the year 587 BCE - 3175 from creation. (Pardon the interruption.  The “year 3175 from creation” may sound strange to some, given scientific studies that show the age of the universe to be billions of years.  This subject will be discussed at length by our remarkable guest speaker Rabbi Krisch, scientist, former science writer for the New York Times and Rabbi, this Saturday night.  Please see the details here .) Fasting on Shabbat is generally not allowed, because it is a day of joy and pleasure.  A day when the physical becomes elevated to a higher level, and it is a Mitzvah to enjoy food on Shabbat.  The only exception isYom Kippur. The prohibition against fasting begins right at the beginning of Shabbat, at sunset, and we therefore make sure to at least eat or drink...
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