The Rebbe says:

1. The first words of this week?s Torah portion are, ?And it shall be, because you listened to these ordinances of Hashem (G-d)... He will love you, bless you and multiply you??.

Rashi (an acronym for Reb Shlomo Yitzchaki) points out that the Hebrew word ?Eikev? which is simply translated in this verse as ?because?, also means ?heel?. Consequently, explains Rashi, the verse is alluding to the sort of Mitzvos (commandments) that people regard as relatively unimportant so they tend to ?trample on them with their heels?. Thus, the Torah is assuring the Jewish people that if they are careful to observe even these neglected commandments, they can be certain that Hashem will reward them with His kindness.

Chof Av is the Yom Hilulah of the Rebbe's father, Reb Levi Yitzchak.

Reb Levik and Rebbetzin Chana risked a lot and toiled greatly to make sure that Reb Levik's novel insights in Torah would be preserved.Thanks to their perseverance we have Toras Levi Yitzchak, and learning it will most assuredly give nachas to his Neshama.

CrownHeights.info and The Avner Institute would like to present a profound letter from the Rebbe to a philanthropist involved in Jewish causes in New York and Israel. The Rebbe describes his thoughts on the Jewish Diaspora and the exciting Kiddush Hashem made by Israeli Prime Minster Menachem Begin at the White House, July 1977, during his meeting with President Carter.

As part of our mourning for the destruction of the Temple and the exile of Israel, we abstain from many pleasurable activities on the night and day of Av 9?starting with sundown on the eve of the day before, and concluding with the following nightfall (click here for exact times in your location).

In NYC the fast begins tonight at 8:23pm and ends tomorrow at 8:54pm. See the link for times in your location.

Reflections On Tishah B?av

Napoleon Bonaparte was passing through the Jewish quarter in Paris when he stopped to investigate the strange cries and laments emanating from the local synagogue. His curiosity had peaked when he was informed that it was the Ninth of Av and that he was listening to the Jewish people wail over the destruction of their Holy Temple in Jerusalem. ?When did this thing happen?? probed the inquisitive Emperor. ?Some 1700 years ago,? came the nonchalant reply. Upon hearing this Napoleon remarked in a tone of awe and conviction: ?A people who refuse to forget their past, are destined to forever have a future.?


?Whoever mourns for Jerusalem, will merit to witness her rejoicing,? as the Prophet (Yeshayahu 66:10) declares: ?Rejoice with her greatly, all who mourn for her.? ? Talmud

The Rebbe says:

1. With this week?s Torah portion we will read and study a new Book in the Chumash (the five books of Moses). So far this year we have experienced the Book of Bereishis (Genesis), the Book of Shemos (Exodus), the Book of Vayikra (Leviticus) and the Book of Bamidbar (Numbers). This Shabbos we begin the Fifth Book- the Book of Devarim (Deuteronomy).

2. As we have previously discussed, the portion of Devarim begins a new era in the life of the Jewish people. They are now beginning a life of exile where they would not see miracles every day, nor would their necessities be taken care of for them by G-d.

Moreover, as we have also previously discussed, Rebbe Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev explains that on this Shabbos of Parshas Devarim, which is called, ?Shabbos Chazon ? The Shabbos of the (prophetic) vision?, a vision of the third and final Beis Hamikdash (Holy Temple) is shown to the Soul of every single Jew.

We are pleased to present our eighth online class in the ?Torah in Ten? series, presented by the editor-in-chief of Kol Menachem, Rabbi Chaim Miller, to receive this class the your Inbox subscribe here: www.torahinten.com

"Behold a people that rise up as a Lavi (lioness) and as an Ari (lion) does he lift himself up? (Balaam?s narrative to the Israelites: (Num. 23:24).

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?When the Lord will return the exiles of Zion, we will have been like dreamers. Then our mouth will be filled with laughter and our tongue with songs of joy; then will they say among the nations, ?The Lord has done great things for these. The Lord has done great things for us; we were joyful.? Lord, return our exiles as streams to arid soil. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He goes along weeping, carrying the bag of seed; he will surely return with songs of joy, carrying his sheaves? (Psalms 126)

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You probably never thought you?d see the day when worthy Torah lessons might be gleaned from raw political culture, but is it not said that ?Life is stranger than fiction?? Perhaps it?s a sign of the times; the Messianic era has long been described as an age of contradiction. Be that as it may, there is at least one valuable lesson that seems to mimic politics:

The Rebbe says:

1. This week?s Torah portion discusses how the Land of Israel should be divided up between all the Twelve Tribes,.

2. The Rebbe now asks the first of two questions regarding this:

We find two contradictory instructions regarding the division of the Land of Israel. On one hand the Torah tells us that the land shall be split up logically, as the verse states, ?To the many you shall increase its inheritance and to the few shall you decrease its inheritance?. However on the other hand we find that the Torah tells us to split the land according to a lottery which is above logic and reason, as the verse states, ?This is the land which you shall divide by inheritance as a lottery?.

During a stopover in Sacramento, on a flight from Seattle to San Francisco, sat a blind man with a guide-dog lying quietly underneath the seat in front of him.

It became obvious to the passengers on board that the man had flown this very same flight before when the pilot approached him and calling him by name said, ?Keith, we?re in Sacramento, would you like to get up and stretch your legs??

The blind man replied, ?No thanks, but perhaps the dog would like to stretch.?

Picture the scene at the gate when travelers waiting to board the flight, looked up and saw the pilot, who happened to be wearing sunglasses, coming down the gangplank lead by a guide-dog!

Not only have the passengers scattered within seconds, scrambling to change planes, many insisted on not flying the same airlines!