יום רביעי, ו׳ אלול תשפ״וWednesday, August 19, 2026
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Rabbi Shmuel M. Butman is director of the Lubavitch Youth Organization. He can be reached at Lubavitchyouth@gmail.com.
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The giving of the Torah was a far-reaching spiritual event – one that touched the essence of the Jewish soul for all times. Our Sages have compared it to a wedding between G-d and the Jewish people.
The Rebbe stressed the advantage of making a tumult surrounding the siyumim, as this attracts additional people to join the study.
But there’s one thing that we have to do ourselves, that no one can do for us. Namely, we have to want Moshiach to come.
Time belongs to those things over which man has no control or influence. Time just marches on, and we can neither slow its march, nor speed it, nor can we change its quantity and make an hour last more or less than sixty minutes.
One sees no other way than to instill in the hearts of the children, from their earliest years, a strong belief in Him Who created the world and continues to rule it and direct it.
‘If you see countries bickering with one another, wait for the coming of Moshiach.’ – Bereishis Rabbah
The Rebbe asked that we strengthen the tefillin campaign – not only to put on tefillin ourselves, but also with whomever else we can – and this will help our brethren all over the world.
True simcha knows no bounds and breaks all boundaries. It can transform a person entirely. When one has simcha, a weak person becomes strong and obstacles disappear as if they never existed.
The simcha that a Jew has in the service of G-d demonstrates a true appreciation for the mitzvos. When a person does something with desire and love, they are happy.
It was decided amongst the leadership of the Central Lubavitch Youth Organization that a fitting preparation for the Rebbe’s 120th birthday is to make a collective unified effort to learn all the Rebbe’s printed Torah to be studied jointly by Jews worldwide.
Practically, I would like to suggest a positive custom regarding one’s conduct on the day of their birthday – and for those who wish, this can be in merit of the Rebbetzin.
The Rebbe Rayatz’s sentence was commuted to exile in the distant city of Kostroma. It was his daughter Chaya Mushka who accompanied him.
The mother cried, But he doesn’t keep kosher? The Rebbe said, Love him more.
What is the greatest quality of the Rebbe, or better yet, what is a Rebbe? The definition of a Rebbe is one who cares for every single Jew.
Lower your spirit – act with absolute humility before them. And if you must talk to them, speak “softly… with a restrained spirit...
It was the Alter Rebbe’s fervent wish to quiet the controversy and for there to be peace amongst the Jewish people.
On 10 Shevat in 1951, the Rebbe officially accepted the mantle of leadership, and delivered a maamor that began with the same posuk, expounding upon his father-in-law’s discourse.
It is plausible to say that we can fulfill the mitzvah by buying seforim, as this accomplishes the mitzvah’s goal – the study and knowledge of Torah.
‘The knowledge we derive from a new text amplifies the knowledge we previously had received from other texts. It will also cause a further increase when we study those other texts again.’
Did the quantity of the oil grow eight-fold or did its quality strengthen so that each drop was able to fuel the flame for a longer time?
A simple reading implies that the Yevanim wanted the Jews to stop observing Torah and mitzvos. The physical existence of the Jewish nation didn’t bother the Yevanim – only their religious rituals.
The Maggid told his disciple, the Alter Rebbe, ‘This day is our Yom Tov.’
The Rebbe’s parents, living in the city of Yekatrinoslav (then Dnepropetrovsk), were denied permission from the Soviet authorities to travel to their son’s wedding in Warsaw ... That evening, they held their own wedding celebration in their home, in which the entire community participated.
They live all alone, far from any other religious Jews, and distant from the rest of their family and relatives. The kids only see their grandparents on video calls.
Why was Yaakov holding on to Eisav’s heel? The heel is the lowest part of the body! And why is this fact highlighted for all generations in Yaakov’s name?
For the most part, you will be able to see something – such as a small change in attitude, a keener interest in tradition, or a positive comment.
G-d Almighty says to a Jew: In order for you to succeed in your shlichus (mission) in this world, “Lech lecha,” you must depart, “me’artzechah,” from your land. In a spiritual sense, this refers to materialism. We must depart from our own materialism.
Noach was the tzaddik in a fur coat. He made sure to take care of himself, his wife and children. However, he did not take care of the world at large.
Tishrei is with us a whole year; you're not going to leave Tishrei and Tishrei is not going to leave you. However, there is something we have to do about it – to unpack little by little all the great merchandise that we acquired during the month of Tishrei.
Almighty G-d, being our Merciful Father – more than a banker – accepts our plea and He gives us hakofos, the credit for the new year. He gives us life and sustenance and happiness and nachas. With G-d’s help, during the year, we make sure that we meet our obligations.
When one “comes into a land” and desires to establish his way of life, which involves “working the soil,” it is necessary to bear in mind that the first and foremost, as an idea and as a goal, is “Sabbath unto G-d”; not the “earthly” and material, but the spiritual and sacred.
Bread is a necessity, while wine is a luxury. Not only will every Jew receive the royal food from the King’s table every single day, but they will also receive the royal wine.
When we approach the king to ask for a good year, we should request not only what is good for ourselves personally, and our petition will be granted, but we should request what is good for Klal Yisrael.
During Elul, everyone is able to go over to the King, to G-D Almighty. Once Tishrei starts, however, it is more difficult. Then you need an appointment.
The people with whom he was in contact, the people to whom he taught chassidus, saw in front of them a Jew who lives in this world, but is higher than this world. Whose needs and wants in this world were only spiritual.
The specialty of Reb Yoel is that not only did he remember what the Rebbe said – and he remembered very well – but he also understood what the Rebbe said.
Reb Yoel was the master who knew exactly how to make the Rebbe's teachings accessible to everyone.
Throughout his leadership, he defiantly stood his ground on Jewish principles and never gave in to the pressure and threats from the Soviet government.
To say that he was a Jew who had Ahavas Yisroel is an understatement. He lived the life of all Jews. He felt pain from a fellow Jew’s pain, and rejoiced in a fellow Jew’s simcha.
May Hashem see and hear the prayers and the tears of our brethren throughout the world and send us the righteous redeemer, Moshiach Tzidkeinu, immediately.
We know that G-d is the G-d of mercy and goodness… If so, how are we supposed to understand the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash?
Even in good times, when there is no need for physical mesiras nefesh, there is still a form of self-sacrifice required to give your spirit.
It is difficult for anyone to presume to know the reason behind the Rebbe’s campaign; it is not for us to decide why the Rebbe did what he did.
The women who stood up to the decree of 1854 and continued to cover their hair as before did not encounter this problem when the draft was decreed in 1874. Not one of their sons was drafted.
The Rebbe added that a positive experience in summer camp can – in some respects – influence a child even more than his or her school experience.
You were granted from Above the opportunity to... ease the final moments of a person's life.
In discussing the Holocaust, the Rebbe categorically rejected any theological explanation for it. How can one have the audacity to provide a “reason” for the death and torture of millions of innocent men, women, and children?
Even before Matan Torah, Jews studied Torah. From the days of Avraham, there never ceased to be a Torah academy among them.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe emphasized that Reb Shimon was completely secluded from the world for over a decade. Now, upon returning to civilization, he immediately searches for a way to help without waiting for anyone to ask him.
Logically, they knew that people in their situation are exempt. But as they witnessed all the other Jews performing such a great mitzvah, it deeply bothered them that they couldn’t join them.
If the Rebbe did everything he could, why didn’t Moshiach come? And if he didn’t succeed in bringing Moshiach, how can we?
You can imagine how great this person’s joy would be upon hearing this news and how he would count the days to his release from prison and his marriage to the princess.
The Rebbe wasn’t worrying about Lubavitcher chassidim, chassidim in general, or even observant Jews – he was worrying about one Jew who may be isolated from Torah in one corner of the world!
The Four Questions were composed as a prelude for the father to fulfill his biblical obligation. But what often happens is that a big to-do surrounds the Four Questions while the answers are not given the attention they deserve.
The Shechinah is [so to speak] together with the Jewish people when they are in exile, and when they’re redeemed, Almighty G-d has dictated a redemption for Himself as well. He will come out of exile with them.
The determination of who’s Jewish comes from Almighty G-d. No human being, or body of human beings, can make this determination.
Halacha tells us to obey the law of the land (Nedarim 28a), but this instruction applies only to material matters, not to spiritual matters.
Chabad Chassidus explains that Amalek represents a person who “knows his Master yet intends to rebel against him.” The commandment to remember Amalek calls on us to rid ourselves of any inclination toward this kind of behavior.
We sat on a bench, and he spoke to me about how Hashem guides everything happening in the world. When we see something unusual, in particular, we should realize hashgacha pratis is at work.
As a result of her effort to remain unobtrusive, she was hardly known among the Rebbe’s followers, which is amazing considering the central role of her husband, the Rebbe, in world Jewry.
After such a miracle, how could the Jews possibly think about accumulating material wealth?
He thus encouraged everyone to utilize their talents and natural abilities to influence Jews to reinforce and advance their level of Torah observance.
Although I don't know you... I have heard about you that the spirit of G-d shines in you.
It is known among all the world’s religions that it is impossible for all members of a religion to be equally careful in observing the religion absolutely with all one’s heart and soul in all details.
Prayer with such devotion helps and aids one to withstand one’s evil inclination all day, even after prayer, to fulfill all G-d’s commandments, whether avoiding wrongdoing or doing good…for its memory remains with a person in his mind and heart all day.
This year, Asarah B’Teves falls on a Friday – the only time a public fast day falls immediately before Shabbos. In fact, the fast continues into Shabbos, until three stars appear in the sky.
When the video was shown to the judge, those present in court say he was obviously favorably impressed by the Rebbetzin’s unexpected statement, which probably sparked his ultimately favorable ruling.
For chassidim, Kislev features another celebration. On the 19th of Kislev in 1798, the Alter Rebbe was released from Czarist imprisonment.
At the time of the wedding, many already realized this son-in-law would one day be the Rebbe Rayatz's successor.
It is said of our ancestor Avraham that he didn’t seek to serve Hashem with mesiras nefesh, yet, when it was required of him, he was ready to give up everything for Hashem’s sake.
This story illustrates the Rebbe Rayatz’s prophetic vision because, during the Holocaust, Rabbi Zalman Schneerson saved hundreds of Jewish families and children in France from the Nazis.
Together with my sister, Nechama Purishinskaya, who lived in Vitebsk, I obtained flour from various people, baked bread, and delivered it to the yeshiva. Zalman Kurnitzer [the yeshiva’s dean] paid me money for the bread.”
Despite the investigator’s sophisticated pressure, Kagan almost never specified family names and addresses demanded of him, and those whose names he did give, apparently could no longer be found.
The investigation has established that you took part in a religious ritual – circumcision. Do you confirm?
‘Arouse the holiness of religion in the hearts of the young generation. Give the youth the idea not to forget religion, and that the persecution of religion is a temporary phenomenon, as is its [Soviet] persecutor, which is only temporary.’
Even those never arrested lived lives of constant fear and privation, deprived of basic necessities, often losing close relatives to arrest, exile, and summary execution.
What’s the point of asking his children to stay just one more day after which they will leave anyway?
Emunah is like produce starting to fill out but still far from ripe.
No Jew need be intimidated by the imagined enormity of the leap from non-observance to observance. Moreover, every mitzvah a Jew performs creates a permanent bond with Hashem that can never be erased.
One of the most significant ways of making this world a dwelling place for the Divine Presence is by giving tzedakah.
...G-d deals justly with all beings whereas we – because we have not always acted properly during the past year – have much to be embarrassed about.
When a Jew realizes his exalted inner essence, he becomes infused with joy at being a Jew, a member of G-d’s chosen people privileged to carry out His great plan for the world, so that every mitzvah becomes a joyous act.
Chassidus offers a refreshing approach. Although it takes the soul-searching of Elul very seriously, it emphasizes positivity.
Just as G-d provides places of refuge – arei miklat – for someone who accidentally killed his fellow, so too He provides a special time – Elul – during which we can seek refuge from the effects of our sins.
The anniversary of Adam’s creation is so important that every year Hashem determines the fate of the entire world on it.
Rashi explains: “From the 15th of Av onward, whoever adds nights to the days by studying Torah adds life to his lifetime.”
The Lubavitcher Rebbe points out that this powerful exchange between the Jewish people and Hashem emphasizes our extraordinary special relationship with Hashem.
Most of us aren’t on this level and don’t actually see it, so what’s the point of telling us we’re being shown this vision?
Since the Torah – which is the epitome of truth – states that studying about the Beis HaMikdash is like building the Beis HaMikdash, it must be so, even on a physical level.
Now is an excellent opportunity for whoever has not yet participated in this rewarding study to start, thereby uniting with hundreds of thousands of other Jews around the world.
A birthday marks the day one’s soul descended to earth to fulfill its unique Divine mission. It therefore is an opportunity to take stock of how well one is accomplishing one’s mission.
By expressing, in terms they could comprehend, the Torah’s profound mystical secrets, he provided his disciples a window into his own overarching perspective and exalted vision.
Today, the challenge is to bring the Torah’s teachings, including its deepest mystical concepts, to Jews far from Torah as a means of drawing them back to Yiddishkeit.
Despite decades of intense communist persecution, they had steadfastly remained faithful to the Torah.
Until he got sick, Yudi, of course, had never missed a day of wearing tefillin since his bar mitzvah.
By observing a mitzvah, we rise and become united with, and absorbed in, Hashem’s holiness and infinitude.
The family fled on the last train out, embarking on a long trip to Central Asia. German airplanes strafed the train, and they survived only by miracles, said Rabbi Schwei in recalling the fright all his life.
He never sat in the Rebbe’s presence – he always stood – almost without movement, listening intently to the Rebbe’s every word and watching him for the slightest indication that he might need something.
None of us, of course, can be so presumptuous as to compare ourselves with Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.
It follows that particularly in Iyar, Hashem supernaturally heals, removing sickness as if it never existed.
August 14, 2026 
