Hashem loves tzadickim

"Hashem loves tzadickim. Therefore our job now is to find out who are the people He loves. So now some people, they come from Crown Heights will say Lubavitcher Rebbe.  Hashem loves Lubavitcher Rebbe. If you come from Monsey, certain parts of Monsey, Hashem loves Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky.  If you come from the East Side, they Hashem loves Rav Moshe Feinstein. If you come from Williamsburg, Hashem loves Satmar Rav. And in my mind there's no doubt that they are all right. But it's not enough for us. Hashem loves tzadickim, He loves the Jew who lives in Crown Heights. Plain Jews. He loves the plain Jews who live in Monsey. They are the tzadickim. Tzadickim means people who keep the Torah."

Rav Avigdor Miller, #204 "Loving His People" 

I’m a Clandestine Chabadnik, Rav JB Soloveitchik Says in Recording - COLlive

I’m a Clandestine Chabadnik, Rav JB Soloveitchik Says in Recording by COLlive reporter

Excerpt:

In his talk, Rav Soloveitchik attested that his family tradition confirms the attempt of the Alter Rebbe to visit the Vilna Gaon in an attempt to persuade him to abandon his opposition to Chassidus (except that in the Brisker family tradition it was Rav Levi Yitzchok of Berdichev who accompanied the Alter Rebbe on this visit, whereas according to Chabad tradition, as recorded by the Alter Rebbe himself in his Igros Kodesh letter 52, it was Rav Mendel Horodoker).

The Rav then revealed that the reason the Vilna Gaon refused to meet the Alter Rebbe was because the Vilna Gaon was so awestruck by the holy countenance of the Alter Rebbe (which he saw through a crack in his door) that he felt that if he allowed the Alter Rebbe in, he would be persuaded to leave hand-in-hand with the Alter Rebbe and would (not only desist from opposing him, but, on the contrary, would) join him in spreading Chassidus

The Rav contended that although Rav Chaim Volozhiner wrote his magnum opus “Nefesh Hachaim” at the request of the Vilna Gaon with the express purpose to contradict and refute the contents of the Tanya and demonstrate that its philosophy is contrary to the accepted beliefs of Torah – in reality, the opposite is true and the Nefesh Hachaim overwhelmingly confirms the tenets, principals and beliefs articulated by the Alter Rebbe in the Tanya (and the areas of apparent disagreement are marginal and primarily semantical).

Basi L'Gani

Basi L'Gani

An English translation of the last Chassidic discourse written by Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Shneersohn, Yud Shvat 1950, and the first Chassidic discourse delivered by Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, Yud Shvat 1951.

Presented here is an English translation of the last Chasidic discourse written by Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, before his passing on Shevat 10, 1950 (January 28, 1950)

Chasidim customarily study Basi L'Gani each year in honor of the yartzeit, and each year his successor, the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson (1902-1994), of righteous memory, explained another of its chapters in depth.

Chabad, Ponevitch Rosh Yeshivos Meet - colive

https://collive.com/chabad-ponevitch-rosh-yeshivos-meet/

Rabbi Berel Povarsky, Rosh Yeshiva of Ponevezh in Bnei Brak, hosted Rabbi Moshe Havlin, Rosh Yeshiva of Chabad in Kiryat Gat, in his home and studied together sichos of the Rebbe.

By COLlive reporter

A beautiful encounter took place on Thursday night when Rabbi Berel Povarsky, Rosh Yeshiva of Ponevezh in Bnei Brak, hosted Rabbi Moshe Havlin, Rosh Yeshiva of Chabad in Kiryat Gat, in his home.

For over an hour, the two learned together sichos of the Rebbe on the Parsha and discussed various topics in the Shulchan Aruch Harav authored by the Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi.

Arranging and joining was their mutual friend Rabbi Meir Elituv who has written a series of seforim on the Rambam’s Mishneh Torah based on the Rebbe’s teachings.

While Ponevitch was once a bastion of opposition to Chassidus, the elder Rabbi Povarsky kept close contact with Chabad and has been learning the Rebbe‘s teachings on a regular basis.

As a child, Rabbi Povarsky learned in Chabad’s Yeshiva Achei Tmimim in Tel Aviv led by the known chossid and mashpia, Rabbi Chaim Shual Brook.

Rabbi Havlin, Chief Rabbi of Kiryat Gat and Member of Beis Din Rabbonei Chabad in Israel, gifted Rabbi Povarsky a new edition of Likuttei Sichos.

The Rebbe and the Rav

The Rebbe and the Rav

By Sholem B. Kowalsky

I had the opportunity to facilitate a meeting between the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, and Rabbi Joseph Ber Soloveitchik, "the Rav," at a sad time.

It was 1964. The Rebbe's mother, Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson, had passed away on Shabbat, four days before Yom Kippur, and the Rebbe was sitting shiva. The usual seven days of mourning were cut short, as the holy day of Yom Kippur fell on Wednesday, bringing shiva to an end.

Every year during the Ten Days of Repentance, the Rav would deliver a rousing lecture on the laws of repentance which thousands of people would attend.

continue

We’re Not Strangers

And that’s why we identify with all observant Jews,
whether they’re Jews in Teiman or Lakewood or Lubavitch
or Bnei Brak or in Boro Park or Baltimore. Wherever they
are, we identify with them because we’re one with them.
Whether they’re Sephardi Jews, whether they’re Syrian
Jews, whether they’re Egyptian Jews. All the Jews who are
loyal to the Torah, that’s our people. That’s the Am Echad
of the Hashem Echad and we have to identify with them –
you can’t feel like he’s an outsider. A Galicianer can’t think,
“I’m a stranger to a Hungarian Jew.” No, we’re not strangers
to anybody if they’re loyal Jews.

Toras Avigdor : Parshas Vayechi
R' Avigdor Miller Zt"l

A Moment with Rabbi Avigdor Miller Zt"l #507 (Chasidish versus Litvis...what's the difference)

QUESTION:

Is there a difference between the chasidim and the litvish today, and what are the differences?

ANSWER:

I'll tell you a little story. Once upon a time there was a wealthy man. He had two kitchens, a fleishig kitchen with a cook, and another kitchen for delicious milchig meals. His fortunes took a turn and his wealth began to decrease, so he had less and less meat and more and more potatoes, also less and less cheese and more and more potatoes. After a while he only had potatoes, so he said why make milchig potatoes and fleishig potatoes, they're all potatoes!

     Once upon a time there were chasidim, with avodas Hashem, firedik chasidim – old chasidim were fire. Misnagdim, Torah – learning all the time. Little by little... chasidim began to learn too, misnagdim started learning mussar – today there's not much difference.

     By the way there is a difference, and I say each group should maintain its differences, we shouldn't become one. Hakdosh Baruch Hu wanted all the shevatim should be separate shevatim, Reuvain separate, Shimon separate, each shevet had its own characteristics, every shevet had its maalos. Those who are chasidim should remain chasidim, we need them. Misnagdim, who are all for learning Torah and yiras shomayim, each one should improve. It could be eventually that they will all become the same, all will become tzadikim gemurim! Very good, but in the meantime don't give up your idiosyncrasies.

     Hakadosh Baruch Hu loves Reuvain, He loves Shimon, He loves chasidim, He loves misnagdim, He loves them all...כן ירבו וכן יגדלו

Good Shabbos To All

R' Dalfin

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein #1

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein #2 - Defends Rebbe Raayatz

Chabad & Friends #10 Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky of Torah Vodaas

More of R' Miller and Lubavitch

Rav Miller: The answer is, it's bluff; they
don't want any guidance. It's
just mischief they're looking
for. The ones who want
guidance are getting it.
Thousands come to the
Lubavitcher Rebbe. He gives them plenty of guidance in
everything in life. The Satmar
Rabbi is giving guidance in
everything in life. And the
reason that the Roshei
Yeshivos are not giving
guidance is because people
are not coming to ask them.
That's all. Plain and simple.
They're not asking them.

Rav Miller: If he came on
television he's not a gadol,
forget about it! No gadol
comes on television!
And now I just told you one
way to recognize a non-gadol.
I'll tell you another way.
Anybody who has an American
first name, he calls himself
Norman or Alfred, anything
like that he's not a gadol. He's
not even a katan. So that
takes out 99% of the so-called
great men.

Questioner: Now, up until now I
personally, outside of perhaps
you Rabbi, I haven't met very
many gedolim.
Rav Miller: I'm not a gadol,
very far from it.
Questioner: Well, I'm very
much impressed with your -
Rav Miller: I'm not a gadol
Questioner: Well, I'm very
impressed with your delivery -
Rav Miller: A gadol doesn't
have any good delivery. A
gadol stammers when he
talks. A man who has good
delivery is not a gadol. He's a
public speaker.

Questioner: Well, I think you
understand the subject
matter, I think you have some
element of gedulah.
Rav Miller: I'm a speaker. A
gadol can't speak. A gadol can
think!
Questioner: I'm still looking
for gedolim.
Rav Miler: You're looking! I'll
show you where they are!
What are you looking so long
for? I'll tell you an address,
sure, sure! I mentioned a
couple of them but I'll
mention some more. Baruch
Hashem, we have gedolim.

Hyrcanus’ Downfall

a very great man

Questioner: That should be
the question.
Rav Miller: Alright, so the
question has to be discussed -
but not here, you understand.
My point is that a question of
such importance has to be
discussed among our great
men. That's their job and you
can be sure it has been
discussed and it's being
discussed. And therefore they
are our parliament.
Let's say for example, the
Bobover Rav. He is a man with
a very good head and he is
very much interested in
people. If the Bobover Rav
doesn't come out and say “Go
out and protest”, it's a p'sak
that you shouldn't. The
Lubavitcher Rebbe is a very
great man and he knows all
about what's doing in Soviet
Russia. There's nobody who is
as conversant with conditions
in Russia as the Lubavitcher
Rebbe is. Nobody, even the
American intelligence, foreign
intelligence, does not know
what's doing in Russia as much
as the Lubavitcher Rebbe. I
can tell you this. Because, he
has his agents; the whole of
Russia is covered with his
agents. And he is in contact
with them constantly. And if
he didn't come out and say:
“Protest”, then it's a p'sak din
from one who is most
competent both from the
point of view of knowing the
facts and the point of view of
loving the Jewish people;
because he loves the people,
and also the point of view of
being a gadol, he's a gadol.
So, he's most competent.
Now, that's only the beginning
because there's a whole list of
great men in whom we have
full confidence. They know
the facts. Now, if they don't
say “go out”, it means it's a
p'sak din, because they're
responsible people. If they
felt that it was necessary or
useful, they wouldn't keep
quiet. We know that they're
the kind of people that
wouldn't keep quiet. And
therefore, if they do keep
quiet, it's a p'sak din. That's
why I asked if you have names
of authorities who sanctioned
this, come out with them,
let's hear!
Questioner: Well, okay. I
would say that the rabbis in
our community, the Sephardic
community, have endorsed
this.
Rav Miller: Rabbi Katzin came
out for it?
Questioner: I would say that
he authorized.
Rav Miller: It's either yes or
no. Did he or didn't he?
Questioner: He sympathized,
but +
Rav Miller: Sympathized is
something else. Did he say
you should demonstrate?
Questioner: He didn't say you
shouldn't.
Rav Miller: He didn't say you
shouldn't! So how can he keep
quiet in this important issue?
Questioner: But you're
criticizing those who have
demonstrated.
Rav Miller: Get me straight,
get me straight. Don't put any
twist in my words. I'm saying,
"Did Rabbi Katzin say you
should go out and do it? If it's
important, how can he keep
quiet?"
Question: Others have in the
community.
Rav Miller: So he didn't, so
he's off the question. Now,
who else?
Questioner: You cannot say
that the Lubavitcher Rebbe
from here knows what's going
on in Russia because Russia
has big secrets that nobody
knows.
Rav Miller: The Lubavitcher
Rebbe knows all the secrets. I
tell you, he knows all the
secrets. I know he knows
because he has his followers
in Russia. The headquarters of
Lubavitch up till recently was
in Russia and he has a lot of
very good people still there.
And when they come out -
they're coming out little by
little - and they tell what's
happening, they know.
They're organized and they
have contacts and they are
not saying anything about
making trouble for Russia.
Questioner: The people who
have left have said, as a
matter of fact. The people
who know a lot have said to
start trouble.
Rav Miller: The question is if
we'll take these people on one
side, and the Lubavitcher on
the other side and let's weigh
them, who is more
responsible? Who has more
worries for the Jewish nation?
Whose utterances bear more
weight?
Questioner: The people
who've been there have more
reliable information.
Rav Miller: So what? The
Lubavitcher have just come
from there! The Lubavitcher
come all the time from there.
Questioner: So, I'm saying the
people who've come from
there have said to speak out.
Rav Miller: But the
Lubavitcher don't say that.
Lubavitcher, they are coming
and don't say that.
Questioner: The people
coming from there are saying
that! The people!
Rav Miller: The Lubavitcher
are people too! Lubavitcher
are people!
Questioner: They're out
protesting. It's not something
quiet. They're trying to show
to the world that they care.
They want this struggle to be
brought in front of the world.
Rav Miller: The fact that
they're trying to do it doesn't
mean that they're sanctioned
by great men or that it's the
right thing to do. The
question we're coming down
to is the original thing that I
had pointed out before. Who
makes policy for the Jewish
nation? That's the question.
That's all. Who makes policy
for the Jewish nation? Rank
and file? Or the ziknei hador?
If we are Torah people, it's
the Torah leaders. That's all
we look to. We don't look to
anybody else.
It's a question of being a Jew.
A Jew knows where to look
for leadership. A Jew doesn't
look for leadership to anybody
else. You just can't help it.
You can't get away from the
principle of the Torah, שאל
לך אביך ויגדך זקניך ויאמרו - ask
your elders, the sages, they'll
tell you. You can't ask
anybody else. That's why I
asked, did Rabbi Katzin say
that? So you say somebody
did, let's hear their names.

Hyrcanus’ Downfall
Tape #R-22

Rav Shach and the Rebbe

Rav Shach to Yosi Wallis: "The fact is Arachim does work all over the world, and in many of those locations there is no Yiddishkeit or kosher food... No Jewish infrastructure at all other than shluchim sent by the Rebbe. I think it makes a lot of sense for Arachim to work in tandem with the shluchim of Chabad, so as to accomplish the maximum for Klal Yisrael in remote areas around the world."

Rav Shach to Yosi Wallis in response to the Rebbe's blessing of him: "Please send my blessings in return, and tell the Rebbe that I wish him health as well. He's a good man, and he should be healthy and strong. Please pass on my wishes to him."

Incredible!2 by Nachum Selzter: pp. 224-5