By Levi Yitzchok Klein
As the world is celebrating hei teives, perhaps the most auspicious day in our dor hashvii calendar, I would like to bring up a nekuda which the Rebbe brings, on how to bring the inspiration of this special day throughout the year.
It is fascinating to notice the thread between yud tes kislev, yud beis tammuz and hei teives – three major Yomim Tovim in the Chabad calendar. All three are celebrating a major kitrug against our Rabeim and on all three, we are told by our Rebbeim, to celebrate with making hachlotos toivos (by the farbrengens etc.) to establish shiurei Torah b’rabim.
Yud Tes Kislev: The Rebbe brings in Hayom Yom that is is a day of farbrengens and hachlotos toivos for fixed times for shiurim in nigleh and chassidus b’rabim.
Yud Beis Tammuz: towards the first anniversary of Yud Beis Tammuz (5688) The Friediker Rebbe sent out a letter about celebrating yud beis tammuz, where he mentions that he was saved in the merit of the shiurei Torah b’rabim, and a maamer “asoro sheyoshvim” to be learned on Yud Beis Tammuz which speaks about the G-dly power achieved by learning Torah b’rabim.
Hei Teives: On the first anniversary of Hei Teives (5748) The Rebbe spoke at length and made it clear that Hei Teives will be a Yom Tov and eis rotzon forever. The Rebbe said that the way to prove that “didan notzach” is by strengthening public shiurim of Torah b’rabim:
(free trans:) “Simply put: to add in fixed times for Torah including and especially – learning b’rabim “ten people sitting together and studying Torah”, with “dibuk chaveirim” and “pilpul hatalmidim.”
The tremendous importance and indispensable need of strong daily shiurim in souls and homes for the infrastructure of every healthy frum community is well known to all.
Suffice it to say that during coronovirus, Rabbi Braun seemed to be more concerned and worried about canceling the shiurim – Torah b’rabim then of canceling minyonim for davaning- tefilah b’rabim.
Our Rebbeim speak endless about the importance of this. The igros kodesh of our Rebbeim are full of nonstop encouragement to people to establish and strengthen shiurim of Torah b’rabim.
We aren’t discussing nice cute extras. Shiurei Torah b’rabim are the backbone of the Jewish existence, and of the Jewish community.
Now, if you’re taking this op-ed seriously, I believe your next question will be, what subject should the Shiurim be on? Well, thank God, The Rebbe also also makes this clear, in the same, above-mentioned sicha:
(free trans:) “First and foremost to know what we should be doing and what we should not.. – we should arrange shiurim in Halacha i.e. Shiurim in Rambam, Shulchan Aruch and in pnimiyus hatorah, Chassidu, which is also halachicly necessary in order to fulfil the constant mitzvos of Emunah, yichud Hashem, love and fear etc.
(See the Sicha in detail, Sefer Hasichos 5748 p. 187)
When discussing which subjects should be studied b’rabim, I must mention, that after the above-mentioned sicha, starting from Shabbos Tazria-Metzora 5751 the Rebbe began to mention again and again about the importance of learning Moshiach and Geulah and studying it B’rabim, how this is the fastest way to bring Moshiach etc. etc. (See also bolok, voeschanen, 5751 vayeitze 5752 and many more.)
Boruch Hashem we have seen, especially recently, the unprecedented energy, ibergegebenkiet, and tremendous mesirus nefesh that the Askonim of Chabad and Askonim of Crown Heights have. It would be a beautiful thing if we could lead the way – in the light of the ho’roos of our Rebbeim – for Jewish communities around the world in establishing successful and appealing Shiurei Torah B’rabim.
This will no doubt bring great nachas to the Rebbe, and bring imminently our only wish – the hisgalus of Moshiach immediately.
