Educating Children for the Month of Teves - Rabbi Yosef Avraham shlita

00:02 Speaker 1 You’re listening to the “Lema’an Yishme’u” podcast from Machon Halacha Chabad.

00:10 Speaker 2 5 Teves. What do we teach on 5 Teves, as teachers and as parents? We’ve already said that teachers are parents and parents are teachers. So what do we do on 5 Teves? The Rebbe himself sets out many things, many directives, and what matters most is that we do them. The heart follows our actions. First of all, what happened on 5 Teves? It’s the day when the victory in the court case over the sefarim became clear for all to see, in a United States federal court. The case concerned the sefarim and writings of our Rebbeim in the Lubavitch Library. The ruling came in 5737. The whole affair is well known: a family member took sefarim, sold them, and wanted to sell more because he needed money. The Rebbe saw this as a very serious matter. This was the Frierdiker Rebbe’s library, and the Frierdiker Rebbe wanted it to be a library for everyone, not the property of private individuals, even family members. So it had to remain in the Lubavitch Library, in the Ohel Yosef Yitzchak Lubavitch building at 770, where the Frierdiker Rebbe had established its place. The Rebbe gave profound, spiritual explanations of how serious this was, how much pain it caused the Frierdiker Rebbe, and how sefarim have a soul and need to be in the place chosen by the Frierdiker Rebbe, the owner of the library. Moreover, challenging the ownership of the sefarim also meant challenging the continuation of the Frierdiker Rebbe’s leadership. Spiritually, that made it all the more serious. This matter caused the Rebbe great pain. In the end, the judge ruled that the sefarim had to return to the library. The decisive statement that helped the judge understand the heart of the matter came from the Rebbetzin. The lawyers for

03:23 Speaker 2 the opposing side asked her, “What do you say? Who did the sefarim really belong to—your father, the Frierdiker Rebbe, or the chassidim? Were they private property that could pass to family members, or did they belong to the chassidim as a whole?” Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, may her merit protect us, answered: “The sefarim belong to the chassidim, because my father himself, the Frierdiker Rebbe, belonged to the chassidim.” Let’s turn now to the practical directives the Rebbe gave us. These directives also apply to children; the Rebbe explicitly says they apply to men, women, and children. First, on 5 Teves every year—and in general, not only on that day, but on that day or as a result of it—everyone should add to or expand their personal library. Especially important is a children’s library in their own private Chabad House, their room, their Tzivos Hashem room. They should acquire sefarim by our Rebbeim and holy books in general. The Rebbe also says that one of the lessons of the victory of the sefarim—Didan Notzach, “our side prevailed,” 5 Teves, the day of Didan Notzach—is to increase our set times for Torah study, including and especially public study. First and foremost is the study of Mishnayos: “In the merit of the Mishnayos, the exiles will be gathered in.” Study must lead to action, including the study of practical halachos in the Rambam and Shulchan Aruch on [unclear], and extending to the inner dimension of Torah. This teaching of our Sages about the Mishnayos also applies to studying halachos—clear rulings without disputes, especially in the Rambam. And the Rebbe says to encourage many others to do this. So it applies to every one of us: we should influence our children and also make them shluchim in this matter, so they influence others. As for acquiring holy books in connection with the inspiration of 5 Teves, on the day itself, throughout the year, and every year: every Jewish home should have holy books, including in the dining room. Alongside a Chumash, siddur, and Tehillim, there should be foundational works; in a chassidic home, there should also be a Tanya, and so on. This includes, especially, books of practical halacha for daily life, and they should be studied often. Every boy and girl should have holy books of their own in their room. Explain to them that they needn’t worry if a book gets torn from so much use. If it does, buy them new, even more beautiful sefarim. And give holy books as gifts to children, too, in honor of a personal celebration or a Yom Tov. The Rebbe also says that some sefarim of our Rebbeim are still out of place in Russia. When every Jew—again, men, women, and children—buys sefarim, it hastens the release of those captive sefarim and the release of the entire Jewish people in the true and complete Geulah. Of course, 5 Teves is a happy day, a day of rejoicing. The Rebbe also said that it is an auspicious day and a favorable time for requests. In other words, it’s a good day to write a pan, a pidyon nefesh, to the Rebbe. Encourage the children to do so too, and rejoice with them. It’s a day for farbrengens, Tzivos Hashem gatherings, and activities with Jewish children. May we indeed merit the true and complete Geulah. As the Rebbe said in connection with 5 Teves, “A person must speak in the words of his teacher”: all that remains is to prepare for the building of the third Beis Hamikdash. Another date in Teves is 24 Teves, the yahrzeit of the Alter Rebbe, author of the Tanya and the Shulchan Aruch. The Alter Rebbe passed away in the village of Piena. Everything surrounding his passing is fascinating and teaches us a great deal. If you want to learn the details and discover how much there is to this story—the Rebbe says it is a joyous hilula, because the Alter Rebbe wanted people to rejoice. Before his passing, he was happy and tried to bring joy to others despite his great suffering.

06:01 Speaker 2 The food, basic books in addition to a Chumash, siddur, and Tehillim—and in a Chassidic home, a Tanya as well, and so on—including, and especially, books of practical halachah for everyday life, books they will study often. Every boy and girl should also have their own holy books in their room, and they should be told not to worry if the books tear from so much use. If they tear, they will be bought new books, even more beautiful ones. Holy books should also be given as gifts, including to children, for a family celebration or a Yom Tov. The Rebbe also says that there are still books of our Rebbeim in Russia that have not yet been returned to their rightful place. When every Jew buys books for themselves—again, men, women, and children—this hastens the redemption of those captive books and the redemption of the entire Jewish people in the true and complete Geulah. Of course, 5 Teves is a happy day, a day of rejoicing. The Rebbe also said it is an auspicious day and an opportune time for requests. That means it is a good day to write a pan to the Rebbe, a pidyon nefesh, to encourage the children to do so as well, and to rejoice with them. It is a day for farbrengens, for Tzivos Hashem gatherings and activities with Jewish children. So may we truly merit the true and complete Geulah. As the Rebbe said regarding 5 Teves—one must speak in the words of one’s teacher—all that remains is to prepare for the building of the Third Beis Hamikdash. Another date in the month of Teves is 24 Teves, 24 Teves, the yahrtzeit of the Alter Rebbe, author of the Tanya and the Shulchan Aruch. The Alter Rebbe passed away in the village of Piena. The whole subject of the Alter Rebbe’s passing is very fascinating and has much to teach us. If you want to learn about the details and the richness of this whole subject, as the Rebbe says, it is a joyous yahrtzeit because the Alter Rebbe wanted people to rejoice. Before his passing, he was joyful and tried to bring joy to others despite his great suffering.

08:53 Speaker 2 It’s all in the book Hamasa LeHaditch, a wonderful book with vowel markings. It was written for children, but when it comes to our Rebbeim, we’re all children. Anyone can read it, give it to their children to read, and tell them the story of the Alter Rebbe’s hilula. What happened in the period before his passing? There was the war with Napoleon and the Alter Rebbe’s involvement in it. The Alter Rebbe prophesied that Napoleon would win, and said, “This will be your sign.” Like a prophet who gives a sign and a wonder: “You shall listen to him.” He said that the enemy’s downfall would be the sign that “within days, the delight of your eyes will be taken from you.” At first, they didn’t want to understand what he meant, but afterward they realized that the Alter Rebbe was saying that in those days “the delight of your eyes will be taken from you”—meaning that he would pass away. It is known that the Alter Rebbe was supposed to live another ten years. He gave up those ten years so that Napoleon would lose and Russia would win, because he believed that would be better for the spiritual lives of the Jews. So that’s a very brief account of 24 Teves. Again, I recommend reading Hamasa LeHaditch. It lets you experience the whole story, not just understand the idea. Perhaps I should first mention, more generally, the Rebbe’s directives concerning any yahrzeit, hilula, or birthday of one of our Rebbeim. The Rebbe says that on that day, as was his holy practice, one should connect with that Rebbe. If you didn’t manage to do it that day, make it up afterward. One should study that Rebbe’s teachings. From an educational perspective, I would add that we should, of course, tell stories about them. That, too, is a way of following in their path and connecting with them. About telling the

11:45 Speaker 2 Then they experience him. The same is true of niggunim. The Rebbe’s niggunim, the niggunim associated with that particular tzaddik—singing them is also a way of connecting to him. It brings us closer to him and brings the whole subject to life within us. The Rebbe also says to give tzedakah to institutions run in his spirit, and to hold a farbrengen with good resolutions. More generally, I want to say something about farbrengens, because it applies to all Chassidic dates. In a cheder, for example, or a girls’ school, it’s good to bring a guest into the classroom. That guest could be one of the parents—one of the fathers or mothers of the girls in the class—to farbreng with the students. But something else is very important educationally, whether the farbrengen is at home with the family or in the classroom: arrange things and help the child prepare so that the child speaks, so that the children speak. When a child tells a story or shares a thought on Torah, the child experiences it personally, and the others do too. You know, it’s well known in psychology that children identify first and foremost with children their own age. When a child from the class says it and experiences it, that connects the other students to it even more. So when we organize a farbrengen in class or at home, yes, it’s important to bring in a guest, a new face. At the same time, it’s important for the children themselves to tell stories and speak. As an aside, we often say, “We explained it to them, we told them about it, we said it to them.” True. But the question is: what stayed with them? That’s the crucial question. The Rebbe teaches us this when he gives his blessing that there should be active farbrengens. What are active farbrengens? Farbrengens where people make good resolutions and carry them out. That’s what makes a farbrengen active: something comes out of it, not just

14:07 Speaker 2 a spiritual uplift at that moment—which should not be dismissed—but something practical. Action is the main thing. On one occasion, the Rebbe told the chief rabbis, “I am a practical person.” So farbrengens need to be active. Now let’s return to 24 Teves, the yahrzeit of the Alter Rebbe. The general points we’ve discussed apply to every date, whether or not we go into each one later. Let’s remember what matters: studying his teachings, telling stories about him, singing the tzaddik’s niggunim, giving tzedakah to institutions run in his spirit, and holding a farbrengen where good resolutions are made and carried out. Now, specifically regarding 24 Teves, the Rebbe says: “Every man, woman, and child should take advantage of this auspicious time of 24 Teves to increase, first, in Torah study: to add to their study of the revealed and hidden dimensions of Torah, including Chassidus. Study at least one chapter of Mishnayos beginning with one of the letters of his holy name, and also study the teachings of the one whose yahrzeit it is: a section of his Shulchan Aruch—the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch, which people call Shulchan Aruch HaRav—on a subject of their choosing; a chapter of his holy Tanya; and a subject from his maamarim of Chassidus. Better still, study something he explained in Torah Or on the weekly parsha.” It’s like homework the Rebbe gives us. Also, at a 24 Teves farbrengen toward the end of year two, the Rebbe instructed that the Alter Rebbe’s niggun of the Four Stanzas be sung, along with the niggun “Nye Zhuritsi Khloptsi,” a niggun of the Mitteler Rebbe’s chassidim. Okay. So here again we see the emphasis on his niggunim. The Rebbe also says to add in the service of prayer. Again, he says this applies to men, women, and children: to pray from the Alter Rebbe’s siddur, which is suited to everyone, and also to study his maamarim of Chassidus on prayer, beginning with the maamar “Hakol Kol Yaakov,” printed in the introduction to Siddur Im Dach, the Alter Rebbe’s siddur. And to give tzedakah.

16:34 Speaker 2 Better still, give to a cause connected with the particular work of the one whose yahrzeit it is: all the institutions engaged in his work and in the work of our Rebbeim and their successor. Hold a joyful farbrengen on this great yahrzeit—literally, a great joy associated with a hilula, because a hilula is a wedding. That’s precisely what the word hilula means in the words of our Sages: a wedding. So from the outset, there’s no question of how we can hold a farbrengen on a yahrzeit. It’s a day of joy, the joy of the tzaddik’s soul. At the farbrengen, those assembled should take upon themselves good resolutions in Torah and mitzvos. Section 212: Obviously, if for any reason this didn’t happen—if these instructions, or some of them, weren’t carried out on 24 Teves—then they should be made up and completed in the following days. So we see how the Rebbe spells it out. The same applies to every date, but here, first of all, it applies especially to the yahrzeit of the Alter Rebbe, the founder of Chabad Chassidus, the author of the Tanya and the Shulchan Aruch. He is the founder whose path and light we all follow, and each Rebbe adds, reveals, and brings something new. That concludes our discussion of 24 Teves, the yahrzeit of the Alter Rebbe.