The Rebbe on Parnassah

"Greeting and Blessing:

On the first day of Shevat, as the Torah relates (Deut. 1:3), Moshe Rabbeinu [Moses] began the recitation of the Book of Devorim [Deut.] - Mishne Torah [Repetition of the Torah].

The timing of the Repetition of the Torah was significant for the Jews in that it served to prepare them for their entry into the Promised Land. On the verge of leaving a place where for years they had no material care, since all their needs in the way of food, clothing and shelter had been miraculously provided (by means of the Manna, the Well, the Clouds of Glory, etc), and before settling down in a land, and way of life, which necessitate tilling, sowing, reaping, and all other mundane preoccupations - the Jews had to receive a special measure of spiritual invigoration and admonition, so that they should not become materialistic and debased in the material world that lay ahead, but - on the contrary - would instill holiness into, and spiritualize and elevate, the material aspects of daily life, transforming the material into the spiritual, by means of the Torah and Mitzvoth [commandments], Tzedoko [charity] and acts of lovingkindness.

Such is also the function of yeshivoth, especially in recent generations.

Some people think that the main purpose of a Yeshiva is to train Rabbis, Shochetim [ritual slaughterers], and other Jewish clergymen. This is not so, for the essential and main purpose is to create Jewish laymen, who, before going out into the world of business, trade, or profession, would be imbued and permeated with Torah and Yiras Shomayim [fear of heaven], and later, living within this world, would be capable of elevating their entire environment by inspiring every Jew they come in contact with, with love of G-d, love of the Torah, and love of fellow-Jew - in actual daily practice.

Letters By the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Vol. I, Tishrei-Adar, p. 260 and LChaimWeekly



Is this not the most encouraging message about earning a living that you have ever heard? One usually hears that either one may forced to earn a living but while you are there you can practice your honesty in the filthy environment -- not the most encouraging send off message. With Hirsch, you are contributing to your host society, which is more encouraging. Here you are sanctifying the physical and sharing love. Wow. 

Why We Need Mitzvos

Notes on Acharei Mos

Aharon's sons died because they approached G-d from pure spirit and did not tie it back to physical acts as symbolized by their entering Holy of Holies, not wearing all the proper garments, not marrying or having children (Midrash). Mitzvos are garments of the soul.

Blog note: this can explain why even if limud Torah has special properties that mitzvos don't have we still need to do mitzvos. Hashem wants us to rectify, bring holiness into the world and we need mitzvos for that. The Baal HaTanya explains that Torah study brings the soul closer to Hashem but mitzvos bring the sechinah into the world and that is our purpose, to make the world a dwelling place. This is why mitzvos displace Torah study if there's nobody else around to do the mitzvah. Why can the mitzvah be done by another? Because the important thing is that somebody does it. The goal concerns Hashem.

Lubavitcher Rebbe

R' Avigdor Miller explains that our goal is to become an eved Hashem and for that we need to use our free choice to surrender our free choice to do His will. (YK note: the mitzvos are His will. How can you be an Eved if you are not doing anything.) He says we must learn from the mitzvos and not just do them.

See also Tehillim 119 on the love for commandments.

The Rebbe on the Greeks

"They would have allowed the Jews to study Torah and observe mitzvos — the mishpatim and the eduyos — so long as they did not mention that the Torah was G‑d’s and that the mitzvos were “the decrees of His will.”  Hayom Yom: Tackling Life's Tasks - 2 Teves, Day 7 of Chanukah

I can think of "Orthodox" groups that seem to approach life this way. They'll study Torah all day long but mention G-d, hardly ever.

Tanya - End of Chapter 8

Following what seem like disparaging remarks on secular studies, we see this:

"Unless he employs [these sciences] as a useful instrument, viz., as a means of a more affluent livelihood to be able to serve G‑d, or knows how to apply them in the service of G‑d and His Torah. This is the reason why Maimonides and Nachmanides, of blessed memory, and their adherents, engaged in them."

The only thing that can help you

"See Joseph Telushkin, Rebbe: The Life and Teachings of Menachem M. Schneerson, the Most Influential Rabbi in Modern History (New York, 2014), p. 189, who quotes what the Rebbe told R. Leibel Groner: "When it comes to a marriage, not I can help you, not your father can help you, not your mother can help you, not your seichel [your intellectual faculties] can help you. The only thing that can help you is your heart. If you feel for her, go ahead. If you don't do not."

R. Hershel Schachter, Gedolim, Rachel Morpurgo, and More - Marc Shapiro

Who Did It?

"There was a story that happened in Williamsburg about 40 years ago. There was a Yungerman who was very sick. He went around to different Rebbes and got many brachos. Baruch Hashem, he had a refua shelaim. Each circle of chassidim were trying to figure out which rebbe did the mofeis. One circle said their rebbe did it, another circle said their rebbe did it, etc. They went to the Satmar Rebbe and asked him, which rebbe did the mofeis. The sSatmar Rebbe answered that In Shamayim, it depends on how many chassidim said their rebbe did it. So the rebbe that had the most chassidim saying that their rebbe did it was the one that did the mofeis. But then the Satmar Rebbe said, "If you want to know the truth who did it, it was the Ribono Shel Olam, and He doesn't have that many chassidim who say He did it.""

yeshivaguy45 from http://www.theyeshivaworld.com forum

The Difference

It could be that if a person is really hooked into the insight and holiness that can come from really seeing what is special about a tzadick that it's natural for him see that person as moshiach for right now that person is a kind of moshiach for him. The difference between Chabad and the talmidim listed in that Gemara (San. 98b) is that for one the Chabad moshiach is no longer alive. so we have to resort to other obscure gemaras to someone make it acceptable for moshiach to come from the dead. So we have layers of mental gymnastics going here. But I can live with all that. What's hard to accept is the immodesty of Chabad in this matter. I live in Israel and the Rebbe's picture with the words moshaich appear in acts of vandalism all over the country. I'm talking about stickers plastered on signs on every road, on bus stops, on walls. In addition to breaking the law here, it's so immodest, so cheap, so tawdry. If you humbly and quietly believed Rebbe was moshiach that would be one thing. But Chabad shoves it in everyone's face. And according to Steinsoltz this is in violation of the Rebbe's desires. He said all you are going to accomplish is turning people away from Chassidis. And that surely is the case.