Following is a story that I heard over Pesach, that apparently was only publicized recently:A yungerman, by the name of R’ Yisroel Zussman, was compelled by his circumstances to go into business after his wedding. This yungerman was a scholar of note and a serious individual; therefore, despite meeting with great success in his business endeavors, it always irked him that he had been unable to pursue his true goal of continuing his learning.One of his acquaintances, aware of his inner turmoil, suggested to him that perhaps he would feel more satisfaction if he would enter an age-old Yissochor-Zevulun...


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By Rabbi Akiva Wagner, Rosh Yeshiva of TorontoThe unforgettable chosid Rabbi Reuven Dunin of Petach Tikva, enjoyed a very unique relationship with the Rebbe over the course of many years. The following incident was related by him:When R’ Reuven was in NY, he spent as much time as possible with the Rebbe, and grabbed every opportunity possible to see the Rebbe again and again. On those nights that there was yechidus, meaning that the Rebbe would be spending most (or all) of the night receiving people for yechidus. R’ Reuven would spend the night at 770, waiting for the Rebbe to leave – at the end of yechidus...


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By Rabbi Akiva Wagner, Rosh Yeshiva of TorontoIn connection with 9th and 10th of Kislev, days that are connected with the Mitteler Rebbe, here is a story that has a connection with the Mitteler Rebbe:One of the disciples of the holy Baal Shem Tov lived in great poverty. His house was decrepit, the clothing worn by his family were threadbare, and the food that he managed to put on the table was barely enough to keep body and soul together. Now, poverty itself is a difficult enough trial for a person to endure (as our sages teach: poverty can cause one to lose his mind and become distanced from...


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By Rabbi Akiva Wagner, Rosh Yeshiva of TorontoOn Chanuka, the primary Mitzva is Pirsumei Nisa. And the Rebbe taught us that this includes, in addition to publicizing the miracle of Chanuka, using the opportunity to publicize miracles and wonders in general, as a means of strengthening our faith, and thus illuminating the darkness of the world around us. With that in mind, here are some stories:It was a few days before Pesach, and a chosid from Arizona was passing by the Rebbe. The Rebbe, unexpectedly, stopped the chosid and remarked: “You are going to ____ (here the Rebbe named a small city in Texas),...


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By Rabbi Akiwa Wagner, Rosh Yeshiva of TorontoRecently Mendel Deitch (who was a shliach in Toronto for 2 years) shared with me the following story, that the Frierdige Rebbe tells in his sichos:R’ Hillel Paritcher, who was one of the renowned Chassidim of the Alter Rebbe, the Mitteler Rebbe and the Tzemach tzedek, used to travel around from place to place as a “shadar” (a shliach of the Rebbeim) to influence and inspire Chassidim.One of the main subjects that R’ Hillel would address with his listeners was the subject of avodas hatefila. One of the focal points of chassidus (as is known,...


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ב"ה כ"ו אלול, ה' דסליחות, חודש הרחמים והסליחות, "מלך בשדה", שנת "שבעת" לפ"ק Dear Alumni Sheyichyu! Sholom U’Brocho! Mazel Tov to our son Yisrolik Wagner on the occasion of his Bar Mitzva. May he grow to be a true CHaYoL, and provide much nachas to his family and to the Rebbe.  Mazel Tov to Lavy Kossovsky on the occasion of his engagement. Mazel Tov to Zalmy Brownstein on the occasion of his engagement. May they use out the special period of Yokor Mikol yokor to its’ utmost! Mazel Tov to Rabbi & Mrs. Zelik Langsam on the birth of their...


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By Rabbi Akiva Wagner, Rosh-Yeshiva Beis Midrash Toronto A Gut chodesh and a כתיבה וחתימה טובה לשנה טובה ומתוקה בטוב הנרוה"נ בגו"ר! ב"ה א' אלול, חודש הרחמים והסליחות, "מלך בשדה", שנת "שבעת" לפ"ק Sholom U’Brocho! The Caribbean is a region consisting of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (most of which are enclosed by the sea), and the surrounding coasts. The region is located southeast of the Gulf of Mexico and North America, east of Central America, and to the north of South America. One of the U.S....


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By Rabbi Akiva Wagner, Rosh-Yeshiva Beis Midrash Toronto The following anecdote was once related by R’ Mendel Futerfas: Once, on Simchas Torah, the celebrated chosid R’ Itche der masmid asked two elder Chassidim to join him in the formation of a beis din. The two were both old and respected – one was a chosid by the name of R’ Meir Markowitz who was a chosid of the Tzemach Tzedek and was at that time over 1oo years old, and the other, a chosid from the times of the Rebbe Maharash, was in his 80’s – but R’ Itche der masmid was held in the highest esteem by all, and they complied. As...


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By Rabbi Akiva Wagner, Rosh-Yeshiva Beis Midrash Toronto Good Shabbos! Good Yom Tov! קבלת התורה בשמחה ובפנימיות!! Sholom U’Brocho! The following anecdote was once related by R’ Mendel Futerfas: Once, on Simchas Torah, the celebrated chosid R’ Itche der masmid asked two elder Chassidim to join him in the formation of a beis din. The two were both old and respected – one was a chosid by the name of R’ Meir Markowitz who was a chosid of the Tzemach Tzedek and was at that time over 1oo years old, and the other, a chosid from the times of the Rebbe Maharash, was in his 80’s...


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By Rabbi Akiva Wagner, Rosh-Yeshiva Beis Midrash Toronto   The following story was once shared by Reb Mendel Aronow, from his personal experiences in his youth, and I bring it to you (to the best of my memory) in his words: ‘As a child in Russia, I had a friend, a very chassidisher boy, by the name of Leizer Mishulovin. One day, as I was returning to school after the afternoon break, I saw Leizer in a state of great excitement. ‘Mendel’, he called to me as soon as he saw me, ‘I just experienced a great miracle!’ And he proceeded to share with me the following: In Russia, at that...


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