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. (Chelek Chof Alef pg 181)

*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 us 1) 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. *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 everywhere, without restraint! SO: Go with chessed! Put it all out there! Spread chassidus! Feel both of these opposing emotions! And when not sure how to act, err on the side of chessed! Be there for someone else, instead of pulling away! May this month of Geulah being the ultimate chessed, the ultimate hug, with the coming of Moshiach! (Likkutei Sichos Chelek Chof, Page 100)

Thought Question: *What do we celebrate in our family?* Which actions, or accomplishments or moments do we celebrate – and how that passes on to our children! 20 Av was a personal Yom Tov for a family that got to donate wood to the mishkan annually on that day. This sicha breaks down the story of their celebration – the what and how and why – and how the zchus came from their ancestors Dovid Hamelech & Yoav ben Tzruya – and how it continues to pass on for generations to come. The family celebrated their ability to give wood to the mishkan, a commodity at this time of year, that can be a part of helping another yid who needs to bring a korban! Reb Levik’s yartzeit is 20 Av – he combined the traits of Dovid & Yoav as a Torah Giant who cared and sacrificed for every Jew’s simple needs, and this was something he celebrated! You too have something special, Torah & Chassidus, and in each individuals capacity are able to share it with others! This is a celebration! And when we celebrate this, and pass this message on to our children, it brings incredible joy in ahavas Yisroel which brings Moshiach! Likkutei Sichos Chelek Daled, page 1103

The Aibershter Loves You! Sometimes we have an issue. We feel slighted, but we’re able to express our frustration and request an explanation. Then there are times that we’re generally dissatisfied. We can’t point to specifics, so we just grumble under our breaths. “She hates me, he doesn’t care about me, etc… These are baseless assumptions, created by our own issues, that we project onto others. Before his passing, Moshe emphatically stresses to the yidden, The Aibershter Loves You! Those mutterings in your tents that Hashem hates you were completely false. Hashem never wavers in His love for you, knowing this with certainty will make you love Him and each other. (Chelek Lamed Daled, page 17)

Hashem wants bright, strong, and happy homes and counts on the Jewish woman and her daughters to direct them. He wants a bright, strong, happy world and again turns to them. We can take a house and turn it into a home. We can light up the most mundane with our joy and dedication. For quality control, we must always check that our actions reflect the will of the true Master of the home. Our three special Mitzvos repair the sin of Adam and Chava in Gan Eden. Adam was called the challah, light, and blood of the world. Most importantly, our dedication to being mothers and supporting motherhood is our ‘Shofar’ - like ‘Shifra’ the midwife. It’s our greatest contribution and merit on Rosh Hashana.

We are living in a time where we have all types of children asking all types of questions. In parshas Bo it says "Tomorrow when your son will ask you, what is this? Answer: Hashem took us out..." Rashi tells us "machar" can refer to present day or far-off future. The Rebbe fleshes this out even more. "Machar" can mean tomorrow, or further in the future, or a different mindset, a topic/mind-shift. A child can come to ask the question because hes in a totally different mind-space or mindset and doesnt "get" whats going on here. The Rebbe digs deeper: we can have 2 types of children who ask questions. One who just simply doesnt know, when we teach them, they join in, and the other who doesnt get it, they are "machar sh'l'achar zman" This child "doesnt know yosef" - doesnt know the Rebbe, doesnt relate, maybe isnt even sure if they believe what you are saying. What should we do with such a child? Talk with them, answer them, connect! Do not give up! He is YOUR child. This is your zchus and achrayus. We need to tap into an even greater love for this child! (Likkutei Sichos, Chelek Lamed Alef, Parshas Bo page 61)

Avraham is committed to spreading the word of Hashem to the world & having hachnasas orchim. Avraham plants the Eishel Tree, and then right after that story comes the Akeida. Whats the Eishel tree? Leafy tree, orchard, full on hotel - pleasurable for guests! Message for us? Jewish DNA is chessed and gemilus chasadim. Help them physically and also to lighten others soul burden. Hachnasas Orchim is more than tzedakah, you make the person feel welcome - like escorting them out to the door. How far do we go? ....While in a place that is comfortable, good times, plant an Eishel and give over to help another person, going all out in the most beautiful way - that kind of approach enables them to then go into an Akeida bsimcha. Lesson for all generations: A person can give to others, not just the basics, but the best of the best in Torah and Mitzvos, this is how we raise a generation of mesiras nefesh. We are ready to go all out! Serve every person coming through our eishel. Raise children around that and they will grow up ready to do whatever is needed for Torah & mitzvos. Hashem pays you back in huge, beautiful ways. (Likkutei Sichos Chelek Gimmul Parshas Vayera page 765)

"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 "Im 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)

THINK: Is there an area in life I wish I could do better? Or I want to improve but feel that I fail? This Sicha is based off a posuk about Arei Miklat, that if a person needs to go to one, he should have everything there that he needs to live. Including his teacher! Why would your teacher be required for you to live? ....If a person is stuck in golus, make sure you have a Rav or a Mashpia there to help you. You want things to improve, and a Rav/Mashpia goes in with you, understands you, "gets" you and meets you where you are at. Discuss with a mashpia and ask Hashem for help (and ignore voice of despair). (Likkutei Sichos Chelek Chof Tes, page 33)