You Can Now Join a ‘Trip’ to Kazakhstan on a Regular Basis

By Rabbi Avrohom Brashevitzky – Chabad of Doral, Florida

There’s a story told about the legendary Chosid Reb Shmuel Munkis and one of his trips to his Rebbe, The Alter Rebbe. From time to time whenever Reb Shmuel would feel a need for a spiritual recharge, he would suddenly pick up and travel to Liozna. Even if this occurred in middle of the night, he would just get up, put on his coat and hit the road; walking. Reb Shmuel could not afford to hire a coach.

Once on such a trip during a wintery storm, he was offered a ride by a kind spirit’s delivery man. It wasn’t a particularly comfortable wagon, as it was a plain uninsulated cargo bed full of barrels of vodka, but it was certainly better than treading in the snow with his “holy” boots.

It didn’t take long for the wagon to pick up speed and Reb Shmuel began to freeze. The wind was pouring in with very little protection provided by the simple wooden walls of the wagon. Reb Shmuel banged on the wall untill the drive stopped to inquire what he wants. “Can I ask you for a small gulp of your vodka? I’m freezing, and can use the help in keeping warm”. The generous man gave him some Mashke and very soon they arrived at their destination.

Upon entering the Rebbe’s room, Reb Shmuel announced that he’s already heading right back home, as he has already accomplished the purpose of his trip. What is it? inquired the Rebbe. “I came here for inspiration, and i received it on the way here. I was in a wagon full of Vodka, yet I was freezing cold. Only after ingesting some of the vodka was I able to feel warmer”.

The lesson is very clear: in order for something to have an effect on us, we must internalize the matter.

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Recently, a group of dedicated Chassidim made the very long trip to Kazakhstan to holy burial site of Harav Levi Yitzchak Shneerson OBM father of our Rebbe. Certainly, the investment of time, money and energy is a clear indication of their commitment and dedication. However, based on the above anecdote it is obvious that sufficing with the physical trip alone, is just not enough. In truth, the real and ultimate way to connect with a Tzaddik is through his Torah – teachings.

The reality is that the majority of people don’t and will likely never have a chance to visit the Kever, due to the distance and cost. However, there’s an amazing, even greater way “to visit” with Rabbi Levi Yitzchack OBM. Yes, I’m offering you a free trip to Khazakstan, albeit not to Almaty.

Let me explain: over many years, Reb Levik wrote and wrote, and wrote. His holy wife Rebbetzin Chana recounts in her diary how she begged the KGB officers to not confiscate her holy husband’s reams of manuscripts. She knew how much they meant to him, especially considering that he requested her to watch over them as he was being taken away on the night of his arrest.

They did relent, but sadly all these manuscripts are lost due to the Nazi invasion of that region, etc. At the end the only writings we have from The Rebbe’s father are those which he wrote in exile in Khazakstan under the hardest of conditions. We all know the famous story how his dedicated wife collected herbs and various ingredients in order to produce ink. With the total absence of paper, he wrote from memory, on the margins of the very few Seforim which Rebbetzin Chana managed to bring him.

So, at the end, the only access we have to the thinking and scholarship of this great holy man, are those very concise notes which he squeezed into the slim margins of the pages. These were, all written somewhere deep and remote, in Khazakstan. By virtue of the fact that Reb Levik wrote these in short hand and without references, these teachings even when they were finally published by The Rebbe, were almost inaccessible to most.

This all changed several years ago when Rabbi Dovid Dubov, Shliach to Princeton NJ, took it upon himself to decode and decipher all the teachings and publish them in a manner that to could be appreciated by the common learner. Several volumes have already been published. About a year ago, Rabbi Dubov took this project a step further. He began a weekly short recording of a teaching from Reb Levik on that week’s Parsha or Yom Tov.

In these amazing seven minute (on average) renditions, Rabbi Dubov masterfully takes some of the deepest – what would otherwise be off limit – thoughts, and brings them down to a level of understanding for everyone. When I say everyone, I mean even people who are not versed in Torah learning, as my experience with some of my Mekuravim has proven.

Until now, these amazing revelations were shared on WhatsApp groups and the Chayeinu Torah Study booklet. Now, with COLlive.com beginning to host these amazing weekly recordings, they will be available for the wider Chabad community and the Jewish public. We thank them for their ongoing commitment to the spreading of Chassidus and the Rebbe’s Inyonim.

This is your chance to join Rabbi Levi Yitzchak deep in Khazakstan. Now you have the opportunity to get connected to this great Tzadik, in his moments of joy and holiness; as Rebbetzin Chana describes his great joy and elevated spirit as he would write his thoughts. This trip is absolutely free. All you need to invest is approximately seven minutes a week, and perhaps the commitment to spread the word about this wonderful opportunity, to your friends.

This week’s Shiur:

Podcast
https://open.spotify.com/show/4vOKnAonLoeRZK7GgZsIdR
העניק תעניק לו מצאנך ומגרנך ומיקבך…וזכרת כי עבד היית במצרים

Questions;

A) Why does the Torah mention specifically these 3 items – to gift a slave when he goes free – Sheep,Grain,Wine?

B) What is the connection of the Pesukim?

for more visit Irguntorah.org

Download and Print a Teaching from R’ Levi Yitzchok – the Rebbe’s father – on the weekly Parsha, in English!

The CHAYUS publication is a weekly PDF, published by Chayenu, which includes a short insight from:

~ Kesser Shem Tov (from the Baal Shem Tov)
~ Shaar HaBitachon (Gate of Trust)
~ Geulah & Moshiach

Plus:
* Sicha Summary of 1 of the weekly Sichos from Project Likkutei Sichos

* Weekly teaching from R’ Levi Yitzchak Schneerson זצ”ל

Print one for your Shabbos table or multiple copies for your local Shul on Shabbos.

To subscribe (for free) to receive the weekly CHAYUS visit Chayenu.org/Chayus
Past archives are at: Chayenu.org/chayus-archives

Click here to download Chayus publication.