ChabadLife.TV Street Farbrengen

Every Geulah is fashioned  from a prison. “The Rebbe # Tammuz 5710” Zechariah suggests that “prison” is associated with “Nisayon,” a test, different then birurim, extracting the good from the negative. The Rebbe states that  the work of birurim is finished. Does this mean that today is the work of “nisyaon”? Why is our time to be approached with the attitude of nisayon? Why is this Moshiach like?

Gimmel Tammuz is a real modern challenge for the serious Chassid. How do I relate to who and what is the Rebbe himself beyond ‘scholar’? Is Rebbe the writings and videos left ‘below’? Zacharia and Reuven attempt to understand a 4th level of Rebbe-Chassid paradigm refer to as Maor and Ohr.

Zacharia and Reuven prepare for Gimmel Tammuz.... Why does it feel that Gimmel Tammuz is an exercise in renewing my membership in the Chabad club? Is the Chassid's mission these days to promote the Rebbe? We're only half way through the discussion on Legacy vs the Power of Self...

How deep a dive inside must I take, and how specific do I engage  with my  darker side? Do I need to know the source of why I am triggered by something  or why I have a specific type  of desire or failing?  In other words, how do I conquer my city as the Alter Rebbe writes in Tanya? Do I inspect my landscape before I begin to conquer it? How do I avoid the pitfalls of the spies that saw themselves...

The blessing given for Shavuous is to receive the Torah B'pnimius - integrate the Torah from within.  What exactly is this core that integrates this Torah? How do I incorporate Torah in such a manner? A heart to heart talk on Street Farbrengen on pnimius and making it work on Shavuous.

Zacharia and Reuven take a different look on the day of the 28th of Nissan. In place of a response to the  message of the day by finding ways to convince the public  of the agendas the various factions that Chassidim have developed over the years - “tut altz “ do what you can, how about a response of being all you can….and mentor. You will want to listen carefully to this one. Don’t be afraid to s...

In this week’s Street Farbrengen we ponder freedom. Are we really free if we are in the habit to make weak or wrong choices ? Can we be free if we are afraid to make choices ? This Street Farbrengen concludes that freedom is Pesach and of all things freedom begins with sweeping, scraping and making our houses and cars and backyards free of the dreaded chometz! Pesach cleaning can be a curse or a b...

“The older I get and the more Chassidus I digest the more I realize just how lazy and stupid I can be...And that’s going to change in Adar. I have all the tools! Why don’t I use em!???” There are two approaches to Chassidic material. One is ready for “what is it saying should be”! The other asks “what will this be asking me to do?” When you hit a wall, what is your go to? "I should” or “what...

Do you consider yourself a disciplined individual?  Can I be disciplined and also be in a joyous state? Welcome to Street Farbrengen 48 - Fun is not Joy and Discipline isn’t a dirty word.

Does G-d need you as his defense lawyer? Does truth need you to defend it?  Do we move forward when we “drink the Koolaid?” How honest do we be with our children?  Street Farbrengen tackles the challenge of “truth and consequences”.

A fundamental slice of Chabad life is action. We know the what - hiskashrus to the Rebbe , learning sichos and maamarim etc. But how often do we attend Farbrengens and hear 'the what' but much less of the “how”? Join in on a Street Farbrengen presentation on a small dose of “how.”

“I admit I have a PHD in sarcasm” Reuven tells Zacharia.  The use of sarcasm at some chassidic gatherings is common enough to be a concern for discussion on this week’s episode of Street Farbrengen. Sarcasm is a cover for something very important that must be addressed: do we feel capable to live up to the standards and goals of Chabad Chassidus?

Reuven  opens tonight's farbrengen   with the theme song  from a hit movie during the 1960’s, “The Good The Bad and The Ugly.” "It came up for me as part of our farbrengen topic tonight:   I’ve been thinking for awhile:  I am not interested in religious organization …. even Chabad Lubavitch.

Religious people in general , Chassidim in particular, and Chabad Chassidim specifically, are often accused of being dreamers. Often enough they even may be considered mildly delusional! Zacharia asks when do you know you dreams are real and when they are not?  The finger of delusion  often points to Moshiach. But as the song goes, “you don’t have to be Chabad  to want Moshiach, but you have to wa...

Culture:  “The customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group.” What is the modern day Chabad culture? Reuven and Zacharia explore the connection between Hey Teves and the culture of Chabad.

What is your  framework  which contributes to  your approach to Chassidus? Is Chassidus a system of thought? Is Chassidus the system for personal transformation ? Perhaps it’s the key to being a member of your particular clan? This week”s episode of Street Farbrengen concludes Chassidus is an invitation to “meet G-d”

" That year, during Tishrei, the Rebbe was extremely joyful. He mentioned to the chassidim who were close to him that he had not yet made a seudas hoda'a for his geula, as one is obligated to do, al pi halachah. From this, they understood that the coming Yud-Tes Kislev would be something out of the ordinary.” What do I learn and use as a guide that the Alter Rebbe waited one full year to...

One generation comes and another goes. Do the expectations to be considered a chassid from one Rebbe to the next stay the same (and get increased) or is the slate wiped clean?  Reuven and Zecharia ask if the desire of the Mittler Rebbe’s stated request that he have Chassidim who when they meet will speak about Yichudah Ilaah and Yichudah Tataah (Upper and Lower Unity) is something as a relic or wh...

Is there any practical relevance to having unlimited potential when it seems that nobody has attained it? (How much do we ask  about the  relevance of Chassidus?)   Zacharia and Reuven delve into the extremely high expectations of accessing the infinite. Or are we just wasting our time?

Picking up where we  left off last Farbrengen, we  continue about living with extremes both within and on the outside . Does cancel culture apply when one side wants to sweep the other under the rug? Or is it time for them to learn how to coexist? The answer is with the one who decides......

How do you deal with the stark reality of war while miles away from the rockets and the fighting?  Do you seek  ways to explain the evils with Torah sources Moshiach mentions or Prophecy predictions? When you find them, do you feel better? Zacharia and Reuven dive into the emotional sides of "theology and reality".

The military runs “ a post mortem” report on military operations performed in battle . In this week of Ki Tetzei - when you go to battle- Reuven and Zacharia review some thoughts and feelings about  the three weeks. The focus is on breaking walls and making walls. Sometimes you just need to want to go to war!

Chassidus focuses extensively on the  emotions: How does mind interact with emotions, what is the source of mind and heart? What sort of emotional response is there in the mind itself and because of the mind? At the base of it all,  emotions have a major role in spiritual work and perhaps are the driving force of the work. Too often  the spotlight shines on ridding oneself of the  negative side of...

The hallmark of Matan Torah is the stance the nation chose na'ase v'nishma . As I prepare for Shavuous this year, in what way do I reignite “we will act and then understand”? And how do I understand the Baal Shem Tov's love of “a posheter” yid - simple can still be quite sophisticated!

The 28 Nissan Bike Ride Do you remember learning to ride a bicycle, when your coach/trainer let go of his or her grip on the seat?  " I am solo!" When you realized you are on your own, what did you do?  How did you feel? Scared?   Exhilarated?  Did you fall? Zacharia and Reuven dive into the generations' most important bicycle ride: 28 Nissan and we are up and riding.