The Jewish Year under a Chassidic Microscope
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Sichos In English
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ISBN 1-8814-0040-9
This book is dedicated to the memory of my father-in-law HaRav HaGaon Reb Avraham ben Reb Yaakov Boruch z"l Karp who passed away on 19 Elul, 5758.
My father-in-law was born on 15th Teves, 5680 (1920) in Frampol, Poland. At the age of ten his thirst to learn Torah led him to enroll as a student in the renowned Yeshivah in Navardok. So great was his attachment to his studies that he chose to celebrate his Bar Mitzvah in the Yeshivah rather than leave for home. After a number of years of intense and assiduous study there he continued his learning in the Yeshivah in Kletsk.
On the outbreak of World War II he tried to flee to the Far East but was captured by the Russian army and exiled to Siberia.
In Siberia, despite the total lack of kosher food, he would not allow non-kosher food to pass his lips. Without proper nutrition his health began to fail, he became bed ridden and, lacking any proper medication, the doctors gave up his case as hopeless. At the last minute a local Jew took over his care and obtained for him bread and other kosher food staples. Slowly he recovered.
When the war finished, he eventually found his way to Paris, France. There he once again devoted himself to learning Torah day and night. During those years in Paris he was introduced to Chassidus. It did not take long before he was studying Chassidus as diligently as he studied Gemara.
In 5711 (1950) he married Rivkah Slavin (may she live a long and good life) and in 5712 moved to Montreal, Canada. There his qualities were quickly recognized and he was appointed Rosh Mesivta in the Mesivta Reishis Chochmah. In addition to his erudite teaching he was also extraordinarily successful in imbuing his students with Chassidus and yiras shomayim. That his students from all those years ago continued to visit their "Rebbi" up to the time of his passing is witness to his enduring bond with his talmidim and his unforgettable effect on them.
After a time he began teaching in the Lubavitcher Yeshivah in Montreal, and continued to do so to his last years.
In 5727 (1967) my father-in-law began to deliver a daily Daf Yomi shiur in the Lubavitcher shul in Montreal. With his marvelous ability to elucidate even the most difficult of concepts, with his penetrating and acute insights, and with his remarkable breadth of knowledge these shiurim became so well known that they attracted tens of participants each night, many of them non Lubavitchers.
Tapes of those shiurim were disseminated in their thousands. To this day so many people continue to learn Gemara with the aid of "Reb Avrohom".
He merited to complete the study of the entire Shas four times. He was known as a baki beshas.
My father in law's entire life was Torah. Nights, too, were for learning Torah, not sleeping. Indeed, he would be awake the entire Thursday night studying. When in his last years he became ill and it became difficult for him to go to shul he would not forego the Daf Yomi shiur, giving it instead in his house. Even when it became almost impossible for him to speak he gave his shiurim, exerting himself to exhaustion.
His influence extended further than his learning. So many people would come to "Reb Avrohom" to receive the benefit of his wise and kind advice. Of him our Sages said: "Whomever occupies himself with [the study of] the Torah for its own sake...people derive from him the benefit of counsel and wisdom, insight and strength" (Avos 5:1).
My father-in-law was, above all, a chassid of the Rebbe, and worked tirelessly to disseminate the works of the Rebbeim. This book of the Rebbe's teachings is dedicated to his memory.
Yosef HaLevi Loebenstein
Shem HaShem, 11 Tishrei, 5759
These days are remembered and kept throughout every generation.
(Esther 9:28)
By remembering the events of the past we keep them alive every year. Jewish holidays do not just commemorate historical events; they also have spiritual meanings and messages for all times.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe has been interpreting and articulating those messages for over forty years. The essays in this volume are adaptations of some of the talks of the Rebbe delivered on festivals, Chassidic holidays, fast days and other Jewish days of note.
The essays presented here represent only a fraction of the Rebbe's thoughts on these topics. From the immense wealth of material available we have chosen one essay for each holiday as a representative sample of the Rebbe's works.
The essays are arranged in the order of the Jewish calendar beginning from Rosh HaShanah. They include essays on all the Biblical festivals, the Rabbinic festivals, the fast days, special Shabbosim, other days of note such as 15th of Av, the themes of some of the months, and Chassidic festivals. The Chassidic festivals associated particularly with the Rebbe, such as 11th Nissan, have not been included as they would require a separate volume to do justice to such a subject.
The Rebbe's talks were delivered in Yiddish. These essays, which are both translations and adaptations, of necessity depart from the Rebbe's literal words. As such, all responsibility for their accuracy is the translator's.
Yosef Loebenstein adapted and translated the texts from their Yiddish originals. Yosef Yitzchok Turner was responsible for the elegant layout and typography. Rabbi Yonah Avtzon encouraged and supervised the project from inception to conclusion.
May we very soon merit to hear again the Rebbe's talks in the future Redemption.
Erev Sukkos, 5759
