STRETCHING TIME

Dear Family,

I hope that everyone is well.

Mazal Tov to Zalmy on passing his Bar exam in LA, and who is therefore now a qualified lawyer. What a great achievement Zalmy! Wishing you much success in all areas and with much joy!

Mazal Tov to Shira Nechama on her birthday tonight. Wishing you continued growth and development, giving your parents much nachas!

And following a few days later is the birthday of Dovber Levy. Wishing the whole Family continued nachas from him with much growth, development and joy BEH!

There are many Chassidishe events in Kislev, and the next few are related to The Mitteler Rebbe, Rabbi Dovber Schneuri, who was the son of The Alte Rebbe, and assumed leadership after his passing.

The 9th of Kislev marks his birth and his Yohrtzeit. He was born in 1773 and passed away in 1827, both on 9th Kislev.

A year before his passing, on the 10th of Kislev in 1826, he was freed from imprisonment after being charged falsely.

The Mitteler Rebbe was famous for his vast knowledge of Torah and in particular CHASSIDUS, and his eloquent ability to expand on his father's teachings, accentuating their profundity in both depth and breadth.

To draw out a practical point that we can use about LEARNING CHASSIDUS, I saw an interesting story from a chassid, Reb Shimon, about his private meeting (Yechidus) with The Rebbe.

The Rebbe asked Reb Shimon what was happening with his learning of Chassidus and Reb Shimon replied that he was learning the daily Tanya (there is a daily schedule of learning which includes Chumash, Tanya, Tehillim - acronym chitas)

The Rebbe responded that chitas is like the alef-beis of learning, but is not the serious study that could be called LEARNING CHASSIDUS. And added that he should learn some Maamorim (deep Chassidic discourses).

When Reb Shimon heard this he said that he would try and find the time (because as far as he understood, he couldn't really fit this into his schedule)

To which The Rebbe replied,

"Eretz Yisroel stretches according to it's inhabitants, because of her holiness.

The time set aside for Torah is the same. Due to the holiness of Torah, THE TIME STRETCHES AS NECESSARY."

Gut Shabbos, and wishing all a month with much light of Torah, Chassidus, and Chanukah