A Taste of the Rebbe’s Farbrengens – Shavuos

The Rebbe held 43 farbrengens on Shavuos. The sichos from these farbrengens span close to 1,400 pages in the Yiddish Hanochos (transcripts) in Sichos Kodesh, and around 150 pages in the English Hanochos published by Sichos in English.

Each farbrengen is a priceless treasure. It was the highlight of the week for those fortunate to be present when the Rebbe farbrenged. Nowadays, these farbrengens are preserved in thousands of pages, waiting to be relived by every chossid.

To get a taste of these farbrengens (Some selected highlights appear below), visit berel.me/taste/shavuos to explore this week’s “Taste”. You can download and print it for Shabbos, with curated suggestions for which farbrengen to learn, along with a qr code to access each one.

To receive the “Taste” each week, subscribe for free at berel.me/taste/subscribe

May we merit to once again experience a farbrengen with the Rebbe—now!

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Selected excerpts from this edition of the “Taste”

Shavous 5742
The lesson to be derived from this story is that Jewish children have to be taught Torah and must memorize it. Then, when a non-Jew stops them in the street, they will have a Torah answer.

We must dedicate ourselves to this task and make sure it is accomplished. G-d gives us a reward for noble thoughts but on a practical level, nothing is accomplished with thoughts alone. Even if you have no proper intentions, even if the only reason you get involved in Chinuch is because someone else forces you, your thoughts don’t matter. What is important is the ultimate goal: the education of Jewish children.20

Shavuos 5749
There is another point relevant to this concept. According to Torah law, every moment of one’s day should be devoted to Torah study. However, because one also has an obligation to support one’s wife and family and, therefore, must devote a large portion of one’s day to mundane activities, one is allowed to fulfill one’s obligation of Torah study by setting aside a portion of time for Torah study each morning and evening. Thus, should G-d grant a person additional wealth and prosperity, he must devote more time to Torah study.

The holiday of Shavuos shares a particular connection to material blessings as implied by our Sages’ statement: “Everyone agrees that on Shavuos, ‘lechem’ (material satisfaction) is required.” When a person is granted these material blessings, he will be able to devote more time and energy to Torah study.

If a person will argue, “I am not involved in business for myself. The reason I am so deeply involved is so that I will be able to give more to charity.” The way to determine if this is so or not is to see how he conducts his business. Does the person do only what is necessary in order to make a vessel for G-d’s blessings and use his free time for Torah study or does he follow a worldly perspective, accepting whatever leniencies in Torah he can find?

Shavuos 5751
When a person does not realize the purpose for his existence which is “to serve His Creator”  he can never experience true tranquility and calm. On the contrary, the changes and multiplicity in the world at large disrupt and disturb him. When, however, a person is aware of the purpose for his existence and for each aspect of his life, he rises above all this treadmill of activity. This, in turn, allows a person to reach a state of fulfillment and development.

Furthermore, the awareness of one’s purpose generates tranquility, not only for the person himself, but for the activities which he carries out in the world at large. This allows them to be carried out with added perfection and success; and thus spreads rest and tranquility throughout the world.

Similarly, in regard to the giving of the Torah: When the Jews received the Torah, the purpose of the entire creation that it was brought into being for the sake of the Torah and for the sake of the Jewish people was revealed. When the Jews observe the Torah and its mitzvos, and influence the gentiles to observe their seven mitzvos, they transform the world into a dwelling for G-d, and in this way, spread rest and tranquility throughout the world, encompassing every particular dimension of existence.