In the letter which the Alter
Rebbe disseminated upon his release, he focuses on the topic of peace. Why didn’t he choose to emphasize
self-sacrifice for Torah and Judaism?
In this wide-ranging talk on the
anniversary of the Alter Rebbe’s liberation in 1981, the Rebbe pinpoints the best
way to accomplish our God given tasks.
On the 19th of
Kislev, known as “the Rosh Hashana of Chassidism” in 1981, the Rebbe delivers
an address marking “the completion of all the Torah’s commandments.”
The Sages teach that the last
biblical obligation is for every Jew to write a personal Torah scroll. Why do
we not find widespread observance of this command throughout Jewish history?
Drawing upon the historical and
Halachic backgrounds of the Mitzvah, and finding common threads from completely
different fields of Jewish law – from the Four Species on Sukkos, to the
customs of Bar Mitzvah, to Jewish Real Estate Law – the Rebbe offers a
comprehensive analysis of the subject and a revolutionary conclusion.
