Of the Kohen Gadols 8 garments, 3 were worn - not for service, but for representation. They needed to BE there. The choshen, the eifod and the me-il. Each symbolize different levels of Yidden, and show us how ALL are needed. Connecting to Hashem = connecting to Yidden. The Kohen Gadol brought all of us in, and only THEN did the service. Every yid is precious just for who he/she is. Now more than ever we need to look at each other as worthy precious jews. We get the strength and clarity to do this by connecting ourselves to the Rebbe. Ashreinu! That we are taught to see eachother as such precious gems. Together - with ALL of Yidden - we will walk together to Moshiach.

*This month is Chodesh HaGeulah, a month filled with joy and celebration. Yet, our hearts are heavy with the reality of what’s going on in Eretz Yisroel and for our nation right now. How do we navigate these 2 opposite spaces?*In parshas Toldos we learn that Hashem made a big miracle to respond to the scoffers, to make Yitzchaks face look just like Avraham. This doesn’t seem like such a big deal – but in connection to the language used by krias yam suf, we learn that its “a big deal / difficult” when 2 opposites are held in one space. (By krias yam suf – the waters miraculously saved the Jews, and destroyed the Egyptians – these 2 realities were the “difficulty” of that miracle).Here we also have 2 opposites. Avraham is complete chessed, while Yitzchak is gevurah. Hashem made Yitzchak (gevurah) look like Avraham – *both outside AND from the inside!* This is the difficult thing Hashem did. True chessed is chessed WITH gevurah. To pour water unconditionally, a person could drown, but to pour water with gevurah – the receiver can drink and benefit from the water – truly a chessed! *Chessed WITH Gevurah allows the good to be accessed.*What can we take away from this? Everything we learn about the Avos is a lesson for us1) Each one of us can combine within ourselves the power of Avraham, Yitzchak & Yaakov. Yitzchak looked like Avraham is the ultimate combo of bringing together Chessed and Gevurah. A heart can carry tears and joy at the same time. With our relationship with Hashem, we can truly combine them.We could pick a time to be sad, and then flip and pick a time to be happy. OR, more challenging but also more pnimiusdike, we can contain this bitterness and joy at the SAME TIME. B”H *Joy & Fear Simultaneously *-P’ Toldos “Rabbi, how can people dance now, isn’t it inappropriate?”“Hashem changed Yitzchok’s face to mirror Avraham’s.”Yitzchok who was gevurah/fear, began exuding joy and loving kindness.Because we’re connected to the Infinite One, we can hold opposing emotions simultaneously.So we danced that Simchas Torah, and continue to do so.When not sure how to react, always err on the side of Chessed - in our homes and with our fellows.And keep dripping the Chassidus IV on every Jew you meet. They’re each Hashem’s long lost sons whom he longs for to come home. Based on Chasidus Once a Week with Mrs. Fruma I. Schapiro: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4zTTZlMbjGhnK1v06AY3DJ?si=3LT0Axe9S6WbDLJbd90ubA *We are the children of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov and when the world around is in a state of horror, we can maintain BOTH the scream of Ad Mosai and the joy of knowing Moshiach is coming now!* Each one of us can aim for this goal, have moments of both emotions at the same time.2) When Hashem was figuring this all out – Whose image was formed to match whose? Avraham was first! Sometimes we have to choose on the approach of chessed or gevurah - err on the side of chessed. Take your “Yitzchak moment” and make him into “a chessed moment”. When a challenge comes our way and we are not sure which way to respond – with kindess or restraint, follow Hashem’s example. *Better to err on the side of overly kind, than the side of being overly gevurah-dik*3) Toldos in Kislev – the month where Chassidus gets spread everywhere, pouring out! Feel comfortable to bring messages of chassidus into ALL types of situations. Take these ideas all the way to chutzah. Spreading chassidus outward is an act of chessed. Initially, chassidus was held back (gevurah). But the essence of the Jewish people is connected to the essence of Hashem. Unity has the ability to combine together chessed and gevurah.Yitzchak should be similar to Avraham. What is meant to be hidden, Hashem made revealed. And so we should spread Chassidus...

Empowering & beautiful sicha! Chinuch for ourselves ~ how do we view ourselves? How do we view others? Through a conversation with the Tzemach Tzedek & the Alter Rebbe, our Rebbe highlights an integral message Torah is telling us - Adam is written with a big Alef, even after the "Chait Eitz Hadaas" - because of his G-d given incredible greatness, essential to him, unmarred by his mistakes. In Vayikra, the alef is written in small - telling us of Moshes humility. Moshe KNEW of his greatness - did not let it "get to his head" and he seeked to compare himself to others, and note of their greatness. This is not just a simple piece, its a direct Chinuch Answer from A"R to T"T ~ and a DIRECTION for each of us! (Adam in Us) We must have an honest awareness of our essential greatness! We are a piece of Hashem! We must know our abilities and inherent greatness, regardless of our mistakes or our past. (Moshe in Us) And yet, we must understand that greatness can be a "trip up". We remain humble and understand the bigger picture, being able to make proper choices in life. #1 Ingrain in yourself that your talent is a GIFT, I didnt make it, I only choose what to DO with it. and #2: Seek out the greatness in others! Get to know how incredible you are and then tap into it! Right now - you have the big Alef ~ you can rise above! you can accomplish! Regardless of my previous habits, past, etc. And look at others and realize, if someone else had these gifts, they could use it better. Look at others & seek out their greatness, talent and beauty!

Yud Shvat is a day to recomit ourselves to the Rebbes work. A time to dig deep and be honest in how we can strengthen ourselves in the Rebbes avodah - and with zrizus! We are here to do Hashem's work and it has to happen now! But what IS Hashems goal? "Nisaaveh Hakadosh Boruch Hu Lihios Lo Yisbarech Dirah Btachtonim." a) Lo Yisbarech - essence of Hashem b) Dirah - consistency, permanence c) Btachtonim - here in the lowest place - tachtonim in Torah, mitzvos and people. The essence of Hashem can be found in a true, permanent way, down here in this world. This being our goal - we need to conduct ourselves in these specific ways. a) Lo Yisbarech - I need to do my job because its what Hashem wants, not me. b) Dirah - as a human its hard to be consistent, i can only be consistent if I have a higher agenda - if I stick with Hashems agenda, and the Rebbes agenda (which is Hashems agenda. And where should this be? c) In Tachtonim - halacha (torah), maaseh bpoel, action is the main thing to do (mitzvos) and specifically focusing on the children! (people) Practically where does this all lead us to needing to focus in on? There must be a tremendous focus on chinuch al taharas hakodesh. We can impact our children, our schools, the chinuch of our children!!! This that the Frierdiker Rebbe had such huge mesiras nefesh for, and Chassidim literally lost their lives for, we must focus on our childrens chinuch - being Al Taharas HaKodesh!!

"Eikev" means heel, referring to "light mitzvos" that someone may value but prioritize as lower on their list of things to accomplish. In CORE foundation - a mitzvah connects us to the essence of Hashem - each mitzvah, regardless of big or small - connects us to Hashem. The yetzer hora could box you in "I'm not that type". Break out of the box we put ourselves into! We are the Rebbes generation, we can jump in and do it. Give our children the Chinuch of: miracles and above nature, Hashem does great things, we have a Rebbe. We put ourselves in to Mitzvos and Ahavas Yisroel above nature, and Hashem will respond in kind, with brachos above and beyond.(Likkutei Sichos Chelek Yud Tes, page 89)