Living Jewish

A Shavuot to Remember

Living Jewish — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:35:50 +0000

A group of Chasidim of the Shpoler Zeide from a rural area had been suffering for years under the heavy yoke of their cruel landlord, a high-ranking member of Poland’s nobility, who owned all the land in that area. He was constantly raising the rents on their homes and the leases for their businesses. What [...]

A LIFE OF BEARING FRUIT

Living Jewish — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:33:54 +0000

In this week’s Torah portion, the tribe of Levi is chosen by G-d to perform the service in the Mishkan (Sanctuary) and later, in the Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple). “Bring the tribe of Levi near,” G-d said to Moses. The Levites were chosen to represent the entire Jewish people, and it was through them that [...]

BaMidbar – From our sages

Living Jewish — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:33:02 +0000

Take the sum (literally “lift up the head”) of all the congregation of the Children of Israel (Num. 1:2) Why is this command to count the Jewish people referred to as “lifting up the head”? Because through this census every Jew became a member of Tzivot Hashem (the “Army of G-d”), a Jewish [...]

the shepherd’s sling

Living Jewish — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:32:08 +0000

Shavuot is the anniversary of the passing of King David. King Shaul had lost grace in the eyes of G-d. G-d told the Prophet Shmuel to travel to Beit Lechem, where he would find the new king among the sons of Yishai. When David was summoned, Shmuel knew at once; this boy would be the [...]

Festivals and Moshiach

Living Jewish — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:31:35 +0000

A Jew who is steeped in “awaiting his coming every day” seeks the link of every mitzva and of every festival with the coming of Moshiach. For it is in the days of Moshiach that the true essence of every mitzva and of every festival will be fully revealed. (The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Miketz, 5751) [...]

Learning Torah with Life

Living Jewish — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:30:54 +0000

For this Reason was the Torah Given..? The Rebbe Rashab (Rabbi Shalom DovBer, the fifth Rebbe of Chabad) was once sitting amongst a gathering of other Rabbis and was invited to speak. While he was speaking he said, “The Talmud says in Baba Batra” and quoted a teaching from the Sages. A Rabbi who [...]

Ayin Beis

Living Jewish — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:30:02 +0000

This coming Shavuos marks the 100th anniversary of Ayin Beis, a collection of 144 Maamarim which the Rebbe Rashab, “the Rambam of Chassidus,” composed over a four year period. The Hebrew letters Ayin Beis stand for 72 from 5672, the year the Rebbe Rashab began writing and delivering them. These Maamarim form the longest [...]

Ask Dr. Yosef – BaMidbar

Living Jewish — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:29:36 +0000

Question: Recently I have been having a hard time. After being married for 10 years and have 4 children my husband had to take a job abroad. He now only comes home twice a year for two weeks at a time. We were very close and this was not easy for me. However, to [...]

Shavuos – Halacha Corner

Living Jewish — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:28:54 +0000

On the first day of Shavuos [in Eretz Yisrael Shavuos is only one day] it is customary to stay awake until Alos HaShachar and say Tikun Leil Shavuos.● It is not our custom to say the Kaddeishim at the conclusion of Torah, Neviim, Ksuvim, Mishnayos. (Otzar Minhagei Chabad) ● It is customary to immerse in [...]

Cooking Tip – BaMidbar

Living Jewish — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:28:18 +0000

With summer here we all look for easy dessert recipes. Many call for graham cracker or cookie crumb crusts. A good idea from Esther Adler of Efrat is to save one’s cookie crumbs and then put them on the bottom of the pie or spring pan. Tastes good and is a good use of all [...]