ChabadLife.TV Street Farbrengen

In this week’s Street Farbrengen, Reuven shares a gripping “Hasidic geneiva” Yechidus story that an elder chossid confided to him—how, at his brother’s bar mitzvah, he slipped the Rebbe a three-page letter about a toxic mashpia, his confusion, and the urge to leave yeshiva. The Rebbe’s response was razor-clear: in Lubavitch there are always two mashpiim—find the one you connect with; then “forget...

There”s an old joke about  the man shipwrecked on a deserted island who builds the shul he goes   to and the   shul he'd never step into"? But what happens when both of those shuls live inside the same room, or in the same heart and mind??  In this episode, we dive into the “two shuls within one shul” phenomenon—where some come to daven and others come to schmooze, and the tension it cre...

The awesome and wonderful month of Elul begs participation. It asks for something new from you. A " cheshbon hanefesh ”  What is it, this "tally of self? Street Farbrengen looks at the control and chaos of making good for a full year by peering into the self from the past year

Are We Living Our Spirituality Dynamically? In this week’s episode of Street farbrengen we dive into a thought-provoking question sparked by a morning shul conversation: Do we live our spirituality symbolically, practically, or dynamically? Using the famous Talmudic scenes of Rabbi Akiva at the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash, we explore how two different moments — seeing the Temple’s ruins from...

What does it take to go against the grain? How do you defy the gravity of culture of  'this is the way things are' and lift off into your intended orbit? “Zacharia, I am almost twice your age ", remarks Reuven in this week's episode of Street Farbrengen! "People insist I should slow down and "act my age". Chill out they say! But, I am in a renewal and on a number...

The 12th of Tammuz highlights courage and sacrifice in the fight for your values and truth -  no matter the size and authority of your opponent! In this episode of Street Farbrengen let's tackle how to bridge  with the Yud Beis story and ask "Is the behavior of the Rebbe leave me inspired or aspiring!?

 Chassidic circles stress   the story of the spies' reluctance to enter Israel as the choice  for spiritual  isolation and comfort over  the task of grappling with the physical realities of turning a land ( of Israel) into a heavenly  oasis. How is it possible not to be eaten alive by the time consuming and emotional rollercoaster of making a living, raising a family, fighting wars, or the pu...

We often call success  winning, like when you cross the goal line.  We look to the end of the line, to know the end game, and to finding our cherished goal at the “end of the rainbow.” There is the “ end of days.”  When Zechariah and Reuven last met they pledged to contemplate for 30 days the scene of Rabbi Akiva by the river seeing a constant drip of water on a rock by the side of the river makin...

A Street Farbengen is a focus on the road; on the path to take after all the talk and exchange between friends. Reuven and Zacharia continue the focus on Rabbi Akiva by the river. A constant drip on a rock burrows an indent. So too, thinks Rabbi Akiva, can the Torah drill a hole in my heart.  Sometimes the rock is  the dream unheeded and met. Sometimes the water is the dream that shall hit the roc...

Rabbi Akiva saw drops of water falling on a stone  making a deep hole. What  power there is in a drop of water,” thought Rabbi Akiva. “Could my stony heart ever be softened up that way?” Lag B'omer is the Yom Halula of the Holy Rashbi. His teacher Rabbi Akiva gives us the picture of how to approach the  'stones and boulders' along the path's we walk. What are your boulders  blo...

The letters of the month Iyar are an acronym for “I am G-d your healer.”  What is your attitude towards  health? Do you believe that good health is a gift from heaven, our days are numbered anyway and health is not your issue; or, is health a gift package from heaven which must be opened, user - manual read, then put in the batteries and press “On”? No surprise, Reuven votes for the latter, he is...

What did the Rebbe mean when he said on Nissan 28th “I  have done what I can do ... and now I give it over to you?”  Was he intimating retirement, or even 3 Tammuz? Reuven suggests that we had it all wrong. The 28th of Nissan is not a lesser relationship between Chassid and Rebbe, but a stronger one more than ever. “ Most of us sat at farbrengens at the feet of the Rebbe like “ the scullery maid a...

“If you don’t apply yourself in Avodah ( to grow spiritually) then you are an atheist!” This needs explanation.  This segment of Street Farbrengen struggles with  the period of Sefiras Ha'omer. Intertwined with the counting of the Omer is  the kaleidoscope of emotional traits that make up who we are.  How do we take Sefira out of the dark basement and shine a  light we can see? It starts with...

Be it in business, sports, and even in health, there is an emphasis on “The Target”, where is the bullseye, what’s your target? Reuven asks what is the target of a Chassid? We read that a Tzaddik is not the goal, and halavay, it should be a Benoni for an hour! So then do we conclude we have no target?! What’s the target you have in mind for yourself?

We enter the starting gate of the season of leaving Egypt. A Chassid asks him or herself “ what area  of slavery do I live in?”  Living in slavery  is also formed  in the mind,  with a picture you have of yourself deep within.  It creates an often unconscious identity,  a  glass ceiling, to contradict the very goal and desire you have in mind you to accomplish .  Zacharia and Reuven farbreng on ”b...

Present day culture has the Purim bright lights highlighting the Mitzvah of “ mitzvah to intoxicate” (with wine - Rashi ) The dropped walls that foster  camaraderie  around the Purim feast is unique. The costumes allow  us to play and act on our own stage is a unique moment in the calendar. But when the lights go out and the music stops Reuven and Zacharia  ask “ what is all this ad da lo yada all...

We live in an economy that a hundred years ago would be  viewed  as a fantasy!  Nevertheless it’s possible to have “wall to wall carpets and California kitchens”  and remain a pauper. The difference lays between attitude and focus.  In this week’s “Street Farbrengen” Reuven and Zacharia dig into the art of thinking higher!

Do you know people - or maybe even you - who days before are  anxious about scheduling  their aliyah  for the Shabbos before or Shabbos Yud Shevat?  Reuven floats a question on this week's Street Fabrengen:  I am wondering whether this is  provocative, downright insane, against the rules, genius, or maybe all of these? ....We do not mark the Yartzheit of the Rebbe Rashab, the Maharash, and th...

Yud Shevat makes sense ? Do you sometimes feel that those special days connected to our Rebbes are “ blasé”  or confuse you or maybe give a twinge of anxiety? How do you not feel tzaaamished and feelings of  senseless overwhelm , given what we have heard and yet here we are! Street Farbrengen agrees it’s all senseless. And that is exactly each of us is  Mendel Futerfas in the making . 5785 - 2025 ...

Action with mitzvahs makes His Ratzon, Will. Not through the spirituality of intention... Maamar 5666 There is “The Thinking Mind” which never stops, especially when it faces the joy of simplicity!  Is the search for reasons and meaning behind  the latest news an embrace of the Holy or an escape  of the Thinking Mind. A Street Farbrengen on Trump, Messianism, and the magic with black magic!

“ I sought out  G-d and He answered me….. He saved me from all my terrors” Tehillim - Psalms  34. "He even saved me from all me fears"  (Commentaries) Dovid was no stranger to conflict, war, famine, and more. He doesn’t  ask or praise G-d for removing his fears , but for getting through them all. Why not  ask to have no more fears altogether? In this weeks Street Farbrengen Zachariah  an...

This episode of Street Farbrengen takes a different look at the time of Hey Teves through Yud Shvat.  The relationship between Chassid and Rebbe can be demanding and complex. At its core is "the Rebbe is my Rebbe but am I a Chassid?”  Reuven thinks he’s a Trans Chassid!  A fun look at being confused and sincere and striving to be a Chassid.

We have seen an uptick of Chassidim looking for direction and help in unfamiliar places: sweat lodges, drum circles and offices of psychotherapists, psychiatrists and other wellness oriented sources. This brings up the question what is the role of Chabad Chasidim for each other in sharing their personal problems and challenges.

What is the relevance of Yud Tes Kislev in this  generation? Reuven has the nerve to suggest “ don’t go to a Yud Tes Kislev Farbrengen because  you feel should.”  And, if you ask who the heck am I to make such a statement… just a  slob farbrenging….. The Rebbe writes: On this day, that light is called forth, in a general way, for the entire year. It is our duty, on this day, to awaken our hearts w...

Life begins small and in time grows into maturity. There is spiritual maturity and immaturity as well. I can live with  G-d with the neediness of a child or the sophistication and maturity of a grown adult. Leaving the womb of the month of Tishrei to walk into the New Year as full grown adults demands a further shift into the self. The goal,  to be spiritual and mature