#therebbe

Today is the 121st year since the birth of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in Mykolaiv, Ukraine. Considered the most influential rabbi in modern history, even after his passing in 1994 he continues to inspire countless lives through his teachings and thousands of Shluchim- emissaries. During his extraordinary lifetime The Rebbe would mark his own birthday by requesting from everyone to add in extra acts of goodness and kindness in his merit. On this auspicious day, let's all do something special in his honor. 

Happy Birthday Rebbe!

Today is the 120th year since the birth of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in Mykolaiv, Ukraine. Considered the most influential rabbi in modern history, even after his passing in 1994 he continues to inspire countless lives through his teachings and thousands of Shluchim- emissaries. During his extraordinary lifetime The Rebbe would mark his own birthday by requesting from everyone to add in extra acts of goodness and kindness in his merit. On this auspicious day, let's all do something special in his honor. Happy Birthday Rebbe! 

I write to you today from New York City, where I am celebrating the anniversary of passing of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Schneerson who founded the Chabad organization, and whose mission continues to inspire the work of thousands of Chabad Centers across the globe.

Many people are uncomfortable with the concept of a Rebbe. They don’t understand the place he has in our lives, and why we revere him so. Their concerns are legitimate, for we know that in Judaism no person needs a conduit to G-d, we all have our own direct connection to our creator. Then what is the purpose and position of a Rebbe?

These questions have been raised before, in fact we read about them in this week’s torah portion Korach. Korach was a Levite who sparked a rebellion against Moshe, claiming that he is greater then no other man, “so why does he raises himself above this G-dly people”. If indeed the Jewish people as a whole are a special people, then why is leading us? What makes him greater then everyone else?

Korach’s mistake was that he failed to understand what Jewish leadership is, even at the highest levels. A leader is about function not status, their role is not to represent the people, but rather to inspire the people that they may connect to G-d and realize their fullest potential as a human being. That we might each discover our own individual spirituality, and express it in every dimension of our lives. They make no claims to be greater then anyone else, indeed Moshe is often referred to as G-d’s servant, and the humblest man on the face of the earth, because he understand that leadership was merely the job he had been given, not the mark of his greatness.

The Rebbe echoed these qualities. For decades he inspired men, women and children, to believe in themselves and actualize their potential to transform the world for good. The Rebbe pushed each and everyone of his students not to see the world and its people for what it is and who they are, but for what they can become. This perspective on life fueled Rabbi’s, their wives and children to move across the globe in search of another person to uplift and elevate. The Rebbe never claimed his own greatness but rather focused on the greatness we each posses ourselves.

That is why Dina and I continue to look to the Rebbe for guidance, inspiration, and confidence to fulfill our mission of making the world a better place for all.

Good Shabbos & Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Mendy Dubrowski

צמאה לך נפשי  תהלים ס"גצָמְאָה לְךָ נַפְשִׁיכָּמַהּ לְךָ בְשָׂרִיבְּאֶרֶץ צִיָּה וְעָיֵףבְּלִי מָיִםכֵּן בַּקֹּדֶשׁ חֲזִיתִךָלִרְאוֹת עֻזְּךָ וּכְבוֹדֶךָ

תהלים סג, ב-ג

Tehillim - Psalms - Chapter 63