Melava Malka Stories

The Hug I So Desperately Needed

I am originally from Melbourne, Australia and despite the fact that the overall community is traditional, I grew up with minimal Jewish exposure. I would have wine and challah on Friday nights, attend Pesach seders, and go to Shul for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, but that was the extent of my involvement with Yiddishkeit (Judaism).

The Brocho That Didn’t Make Sense

Naglar was a Jewish landowner, had owned a huge alcohol tank on his property, which was nine feet tall. One of the nearby gentile farmers dreamed about access to the tank. His mind was made up – come what may he would find a way to steal some of the whiskey. Stealthily, he made his way to the alcohol tank and set up a tall ladder by it. He climbed up and as he reached the top and leaned over, he lost his balance and fell into the alcohol tank and drowned.

The Rebbe Maharash And The Old Men

The Rebbe Maharash would travel for health purposes, using the opportunity to visit and consult with overseas rabbinic and communal leaders on matters of public concern. At this particular trip he traveled incognito, accompanied only by his assistant, the gabbai Pinchas Leib. The Rebbe Maharash relates:

Reb Yisrael Of Skoli Austria

During the Hungarian revolution against Austria, in the year 1848, the chasid Reb Yisrael from the town of Skoli, Austria, was in the city of Debrecen in Hungary for business purposes. At that time, the city of Debrecen was in the hands of the Hungarian rebels. Thus, R’ Yisrael was forced to remain in Debrecen against his will.

Esther Langsam* And Her Double Miracle

Many young Jewish men were saved from being enlisted into the ruthless Russian army by the efforts of a fearless young Jewish woman. She befriended a Russian woman working in the NKVD, the Russian secret police, who supplied her with blank Polish passports. These were filled out for the Jewish men who now appeared as Polish citizens. Once the passports were officially stamped, the person owning it would not be enlisted.

The Last Words Of Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov*

It was with heavy hearts that a group of senior Chasidim assembled in the home of their master and teacher, Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov*, the “Bnei Yissaschar”.
Their Rebbe had fallen ill, and it was understood that his moments were numbered. They joined his children and grandchildren to be with him in his closing hours of physical life and perhaps hear some final instruction from their mentor and guide.

Chanukah Mivtzoim 5781

Monday evening, I received a call from my eleven year old granddaughter, Rochel Leah, “Bubby, I want you to take me on Mivtzaim tomorrow”.

Reb Zalman Senders And The Alter Rebbe

Reb Zalman Senders was one of the prominent Chassidim of the Alter Rebbe, having attended his Yeshiva as a young man. He was a very successful merchant who was generous in his philanthropy with family and anyone in need. He was a tremendously great and well-known Torah scholar and served G-d joyously.

Chabad of Cyberspace

The questions come from the far reaches of the world; from a scientist in Antarctica, who is holding a seder thousands of miles away from his family, from a student in New Mexico wanting to know if smoking marijuana is permitted before Shabbat services; from a mother who wants vegetarian recipes for Passover.

The “No” That Brought Him Closer To Judaism

Every summer, Chabad Yeshiva boys travel to outlying Jewish cities and towns where there is no permanent rabbi to uplift and inspire the Jewish people living there. This important connection for our Jewish brethren to their heritage is one of the many programs instituted by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi M.M. Schneerson, in the early years of his leadership. The Rebbe’s love for every Jew, no matter where and no matter their level of observance, is legendary. And this love he bequeathed to his Chassidim.