All the Amenities

From Living Torah (Volume 65, Episode 260)

Mr. Ron Nachman, Mayor of Ariel, Israel, visits the Rebbe:

You can double the population of Ariel by launching a publicity campaign. Promote the physical amenities that the residents will enjoy, in addition to all the spiritual amenities, which are especially necessary in the Holy Land.

Also in this Episode:
* Guardian at the Gates
* Niggun Utzu Eitza-Ach Tzaddikim
* “Check Your Mezuzahs”

“Un-expert” Advice

From Living Torah (Volume 65, Episode 258)

Dr. Velvl Greene is Professor Emeritus of Epidemiology and Public Health at Ben Gurion University. An original participant in NASA’s Exobiology program, he served as Professor of Public Health and Microbiology at the University of Minnesota for 27 years.

Also in this Episode:
* The King Awaits
* President Zalman Shazar
* New Start

Maariv

From Living Torah (Volume 65, Episode 257)

The Rebbe leads Evening Prayers on the Yahrzeit of his mother, Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson.

Also in this Episode:
* A Journey Ends; Another Begins
* Fill the Void
* The Schneerson Resolve

“And the Rebbe Teaches the Small Children Alef Beis…”

From Living Torah (Volume 64, Episode 256)

The Lubavitcher Rebbes were emphatic that children be taught the Hebrew letters and vowels separately, and only afterwards how to pronounce them together — for example, to recite: "Kumatz-Alef — Uh". Each individual letter, vowel and sound was given at Sinai, and therefore, each must be articulated in its own right.

My father-in-law explained the meaning of Kumatz-Alef — Uh: It instills within the child the first letter of the Ten Commandments, the Alef of “Anochi — I am the Lord your G-d.” “Anochi” encapsulates the whole first Commandment, which encapsulates all Ten Commandments, which encapsulate the entire Written Torah, which includes the entire Oral Torah… This is all included in the Alef of "Anochi."

The letters of "Anochi" themselves form initials: "Ana Nafshi Ksovis Yehovis – I have inscribed and given My Soul in Torah.” The Alef of "Ana — I” refers to G-d A-lmighty’s very Essence. At that level vowels are entirely immaterial, for a vowel is already commentary on the letter. Children, therefore, must first be given the chance to absorb the Alef on its own — representing G-d’s absolute oneness, and this forms the very foundation of their Judaism.

Also in this Episode:
* Reb Levik’s Niggun
* Angioplasty
* Kumatz-Alef — Uh