What are inspirational notes by aleph institute about’?
Inspirational Notes by Aleph Institute is a 5x7, four-page pamphlet filled with meaningful influence on vital topics in Judaism. Written by carefully selected authors, who bring home the message. Aleph launched the inspirational notes pamphlets project after visiting many hospitals, prisons, and state facilities around the county. Whilst observing the lack of easily attainable Jewish inspirationfor those in desperate need. Our hope here is that we are able to reach those Jews who are searching for whether they are affiliated with Judaism or not.
How did we select the topics that are in the pamphlets?
We tried to focus on core and essential beliefs that are fundamental to every Jews' faith in G‑d. We as well wanted to speak to the human and the heart. When an individual is in crisis, they need to hear the right message concisely and practically. We have provided topics that lead to practical outcomes. In the Chabad philosophy, everything we do is vested in thought, speech, and action. This is the natural process our body and soul need to go through, ultimately we need to make sure whatever inspiration we have learned or discovered. Is apparent in physical action with our physical body. G‑d puts us in a physical world, which we need to elevate by doing things in a physical way.
This pamphlet focuses on the final redemption, Moshiach/Messiah. It will be bestowed upon the world by G‑d. The Jews have been wondering and have been in ‘exile’ without a secure home, living amongst often hostile nations of the world, who only want their destruction, for thousands of years.As Painful as this exile has been for the Jewish nation, it is equally if not more painful for the collective Jewish Soul. The Moshiach/Messiah will be a time when there is full G‑dly revelation. The whole world will be able to see it and understand it.
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the 7th Chabad Rebbe said’’Tracht Gut un vet zein Gut’’-” Think Good and it will be Good.’’How can this actually help me make things better in my life? Should I just think more positively without acting upon anything? The effect is much greater when we pursue and determine ourselves with positive outcomes in life. When we are able to put our faith in G‑d, the sense of serenity is immense.
A disciple of the Alter Rebbe -Rabbi Schnuer Zalman of Liadi(the first Chabad Rebbe) came with his wife, with a desperate plea. He and his wife were childless after 25 years of marriage. The Rebbe asked him for some money to release some Jewish Prisoners. He did well in business but he was going through hardships and the sum that was requested of him was too large. His wife did an extraordinary act that led them to many blessings.
Death in Judaism does not mean the end of something, it simply means a transition from one world to the next. If we take a look in the Torah when Jacob (Genesis 49:33) died, the Torah does not use the words ‘he died’, it says ‘expired’.The Talmud says that our Father Jacob did not die..just as his children are alive, so is he alive.’’ We come to learn what the meaning of death is in Judaism and how our outlook can change.
When the Talmudic sage Shamai was asked by a prospective convert to capture the entire Torah’’in the amount of time which I can stand on one foot’’, the scholar chased him away. However when the man approached the Talmudic sage Hillel, and posed the same request. Hillel response was,‘’ What is hateful to you do not do unto others, that is the entire Torah, the rest is commentary, Now go learn’’.From this, we learn the lengths in life that we have to go through, in order to be kind to an individual, even if it means going against our natural will and it stretches us. This is what G‑d wants, be kind to your neighbor.
‘’Man is born to toil’’, that is true of the Jewish people as a nation, as well as the individual man God commanded Moses at the time of the birth of our people.’’When you will take this person out of Egypt you shall serve G‑d on this mountain.’’The Jews were taken out of Egypt in order to be able to serve G‑d properly. G‑d wants us to receive rewards, at the same time G‑d requires us to work hard on ourselves and in our life. The question arises why do we need to struggle and toil to remove many obstacles and boundaries? This seems almost the opposite of G‑d infitness kindness. There is a deeper reason why G‑d wants us to work hard in this world.
What is the purpose of every ant that crawls on the earth to deepen our question, what is the purpose of me and every human? In comparison to the Creator, we are minute and insignificant.Do the decisions and actions of humans really impact G‑d?? The Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Chassidus, taught that G‑d’s providence extends to every little action in the world, everything that happens has a purpose. To the extent that a little leaf falling off a tree serves to protect a worm from the sun.
When you visit the sick, often we wonder if is this helping them at all. Does it benefit them??? The Torah commands us that we need to visit the sick because it indeed does help them. The correlation between body and mind is tremendous.
‘’Greater is the day of death’’ wrote King Solomon than the day of birth.’’ How are we to comprehend this teaching? We first need to understand the soul that is sent down to this earth. At birth, we begin our mission that was allocated for our soul. We may never know what the soul's mission is, but the soul spends its entire life trying to complete its mission.As soon as the soul's mission is done, the soul returns to heaven. It doesn't take away the pain from their loved ones left in the world, but it does fill us with a sense of understanding and meaning.
This is the million-dollar question. WHY ME ???? You are not the first person to have asked these questions. This question is as old as the world. The question is asked: Whose reality are you anyways? Chassidus tells us about two very different realities, each of which plays a role in our lives the ‘revealed world’ and the ‘concealed world’.The Revealed world refers to our realities, in which everything seems to be understandable and at face value and the ‘concealed world ‘is where we don't understand anything but there is a purpose to all that goes on.
Learn About the Authors
Rabbi Shais Taub
Rabbi Taub grew up in a Chassidic home in Chicago. As a teen, he studied in the Central Lubavitch Yeshiva in Crown Heights and as well received his Rabbinic ordination. He credits his father's work as influential in his decision to pursue a career in ‘addiction therapy’.He started working in this field without any prior education, he started by leading his first recovery group for Jewish men at a Chabad house in Milwaukee in 2006. Following he started his own research and then went on to write his first book, G‑d of our understanding: Jewish Spirituality and Recovery from Addiction, in 2009. In his book, Taub points out ‘’ that drugs are the addicts' solution rather than his problem, and that those people who turn to chemicals or other compulsive behaviors such as overeating, gambling and the like are attempting to fill a spiritual void’’
He has an incredibly influential effect on the Jewish world through his classes, lectures, and books. He has also reached beyond the Jewish world, following his visit in February 2012 to Boys Town Nebraska, where Taub trained clinical staff on addiction treatment. The New York Times wrote ‘’In saying overtly what the recovery movement often leaves deliberately ambiguous…Rabbi Taub has become a phenomenon. Even as he is anchored within the Chassidic world, he has transcended it, first by reaching unaffiliated and secular Jews and then, most unexpectedly, by finding an eager audience among Christians’’
Rabbi Taub is extremely well-versed in Chassidic teachings, he gives Torah Lectures and classes to global audiences. He writes in the AMI magazine as well as several groundbreaking works on Tanya including: the Tanya map teaching tool, the soul maps curriculum, and the audio series mapping the Tanya.
Mrs. Lieba Rudolph
Lieba Rudolph was born and raised in local Pittsburgh, PA. She and her husband Zev, returned to observant Jewish life in 1987, after a Chabad Shabbaton with Rabbi Sholom Lipskar. When they decided they wanted to become observant, despite the fact that they were over thirty and didn't know anything about Judaism.What they did know, was that they liked seeing grandparents sitting with their grandchildren, talking about G‑d and the meaning of life.
Currently, after spending equal amounts of time in both worlds she shares the joys and challenges of her journey, through her writings.She is a writer and expounds on many topics. One of those is ’why would anyone want to become religious.’ She has written articles for the Times of Israel,Chabad.org, the Algemeiner and many others.She has a BA from the University of Michigan,and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh.In addition over thirty years as a diligent student in the ways of Chabad Chassidus.
She is an author of two children's books’ The Best Call Of All’ and ‘The Living Letters’. Additionally is the editor of the women of valor coffee table book.It is a book of Jewish women's stories , their life events and how it impacted them.She is grateful for the family she is blessed to have .She lives an observant lifestyle where she is working with her best efforts on helping bringing the Moshiach-the messiah
Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Kagan
Born in the UK, Rabbi Kagan’s studied at the Lubavitch Yeshiva in Israel, the central Lubavitch Academy in New York, and the Rabbinical College in Montreal,where he received his Rabbinic ordination. In 1966 Rabbi Kagan joined the Michigan Chabad-Lubavitch.( A Chasidic sect that originated in the Russian town called Lubavitch. Lubavitch also means ‘brotherly love’ and Chabad is an abbreviation for a philosophy that pursues wisdom, understanding, and knowledge of G‑d.) For thirty-five years he worked tirelessly to expand the Lubavitch Foundation's presence in Michigan
Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Kagan was associate director and Shliach of the Lubavitch Foundation in Michigan. He expanded the foundation's presence by establishing Chabad houses in Ann Arbor, Flint, and Grand Rapids. Additionally developing the ‘’Campus of Living Judaism’’, where he counseled students and tended to the spiritual development of countless individuals.
Rabbi Kagan's reach was beyond Michigan. He is an innovative educator, and author. He was considered one of the great orators and communicators of Chabad-lubavitch in the last generation. He compiled ‘A Thought for the Week’, adapted from the works of the Lubavitcher Rebbes. Rabbi Kagan taught Chassidic Philosophy at various universities in Michigan and was a sought-after speaker at many Jewish functions. This beloved Shliach, friend, Rabbi,father, and husband was tragically killed in tragic car accident in 2001.After hosting an inspirational Shabbaton at the Rebbe’s Ohel for visiting Chabad House members of Montreal.
Michigan's US Senator Carl Levin submitted a congressional statement to the President to honor Rabbi Kagan's Shloshim.(30 days period of mourning from the time of death) In the letter he mentioned what a beloved person he was to so many people.He acknowledged the hard work and dedication to the ideals of Chabad-Lubavitch and the incredible impression he made upon countless individuals. He said ‘’his deep faith,keen intellect, and concern for others have led him to give generously of himself.’’
Rabbi Chayim Friedman
Rabbi Friedman has almost 20 years of educational experience. In particular in directing Jewish high schools, in the US cities of Tucson, AZ, and S. Paul, Minnesota. Rabbi Chayim Friedman excels at connecting and empowering students to develop their unique potential. His love for his students is palpable and apparent.
