ChabadLife.TV Street Farbrengen

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

We often hear that a Chassid is one who is butil - self nullified. Is the emphasis on bitul the nullification of the negative or the spotlight on the possible? Simchas Torah is about the possible - in Torah and in yourself. This is cause for dancing!

What happens after Neilah? Does it disappear as quick as it came? Yom Kippur is not a one night stand! Once you touch soul, you can’t stay away! But you do need a mindset that supports Neilah and Napoleons March. It’s the attitude behind what is a Chassid on Chabad: drilling down to the core with the Rebbe by your side .

It is Kabbalistic thinking that the creation “recedes” on Rosh Hashana and awaits the  prayers and the sound of the Shofar to begin creation anew. Not only is the world waiting for a spectacular creation for the next year, each individual is  integral to this new creation process. Each must  also must want to create again. Street Farbrengen peeks into the world of creation- from inside out!

Chassidic transformation ( avodah) boils down to molding G-d into your best friend. More so , G-d is your spouse  as alluded in many ways beginning in Shir Hashirim, Song of Songs.. But your therapist?  Street Farbrengen lies down on the couch. Who do I trust and  expect to hear guidance from more? My therapist or G-d?

Elul and Tishrei are a basketful of obligation.  Is that my focus at this time of year?  There is another option. Elicit the power of the 'one who is obligated' - after all,  I've been asked to make it all happen! In this week's episode of Street Farbrengen we explore the connection between things we should do, the things we are being asked to do, and who’s being asked to do it...

You can set the bar so high that no one shows up for the track meet! Have  chassidim inadvertently set the cruising altitude so high that we don’t join the voyage to begin with  Reuven and Zacharia tackle Avodah in 5784.... are we in or out? Are we ready or not?

Elul. Chabad owns the month, characterizing it as “the King is in the field.” Is the King not “in the field” all your round? What does this month mean to you and me? What am I supposed to do? Reuven and Zachariah work through the “month of Elul” and conclude, it is about stepping out of control. 

There is an emphasis in Chassidic literature on limiting one’s participation with the physical environment, to measure what is necessary and what is extra and luxury. We call it eskofia , holding back. Is this practice relevant  today? Does  the Chabad culture encourage or train our children and ourselves to “ avoid what’s permitted”? What is the reason for eskafia ? Zecharia and Reuven debate the...

After fire  destroys his  home Reuven wonders about  his calm and joy. Shouldn't I feel guilty or some sort of contriteness for some actions that led to a fire burning down my house? Zacharia and Reuven talk fire, Tisha B'av and the manner the Rebbe  directs to approach and look at the ups and downs and surprises of life.

We open the closet door and let out the secret everybody knows: that the fast days of 17 Tammuz and Tisha B” Av are the essence of Judaism by rote!! Why do we go through this charade?!