In one terse retort, Moshe Rabbeinu makes the terms of our impending geulah crystal clear. “Kulanu Nelech” – we’re going, and we’re taking EVERYONE.

In one terse retort, Moshe Rabbeinu makes the terms of our impending geulah crystal clear. “Kulanu Nelech” – we’re going, and we’re taking EVERYONE.
Music has always been at the heart of Chassidic life and practice. But perhaps even more so than even Modzitz, there may not be another chassidus whose essence revolves around music more so than it does in Chabad. Many of us know that there are hundreds of Lubavitch niggunim – many of us can even sing a healthy handful of them with relative ease. But what many do not know is that the rescue and preservation of the music of Lubavitch can be directly attributed to Rav Yosef Yitzchak, zt’l.
A house full of spiritual light. A house full of Torah. A house full of holiness – THIS is a Jewish home. A house that is infused with these qualities will proudly proclaim “Du voint a Yid” – A Yid lives here.
A song of such caliber deserves a different kind of introduction, which is why I am proud to present you with an article found in this week’s The Voice of Lakewood (pg. 199) that was brought to my attention earlier this evening by my youngest brother Eli. The excellent essay was written by Yitti Berkovic and paints says it all. So without further ado… Yitti, take it away.
When we speak of Reb Shayele, we quickly recognize his excellence in the middah of having a Lev Tov. He loved each and every person no matter their financial, social or spiritual status. He didn’t focus on the sins, mistakes, or bad habits of others. He saw each person as they truly were – a beautiful, pure neshoma with unlimited potential.
His eyes glimmered like crystal and were filled with love and kindness. His smiling face was warm and radiant. His voice was pleasant and sweet. Just who was this Tzaddik, about whom so many amazing things have been said? Why exactly did everyone so greatly admire and adore him? Let’s read a few things about one of the greatest figures of Yerushalayim, a man simply called Reb Aryeh, and then maybe we’ll have a better idea.
While the man was bent and broken from the horrors he had witnessed and survived, in his mind remained the vibrant glow of his Rebbe’s countenance and the everlasting lesson he imparted; That the greatest thing you can do in the world is to do someone else a favor.
No matter who you are or where you find yourself, you must remember that failure is apart of growth, and that it’s never too late to get back up and start over again.
If you will find it in your heart to take me back, then I will see this flag and know that I am welcome to return. But if you cannot bear to see me again after all the grief I’ve put you through, and please know that I would understand if you felt this way, then simply don’t show up at all and I will remain on the train as it passes on through.
With love and respect,
Your Son
Shabbos has served as a weekly reminder that even though we don’t know what awaits us in the coming week, we do know that Hashem is here with us and is orchestrating the entire thing. That knowledge alone has given us the comfort and hope that we have desperately needed in order to regain our focus and to forge on another 7 days…