Rabbi Abrams Blog

During the 1960's and especially after the Six Day War in 1967, the Rebbe saw a huge opportunity in the rebellion and awakening of that time, and later lamented that it wasn't adequately seized to teach Jews about their heritage and incorporate Torah and mitzvos into their lives. I believe we are on the brink of possibly an even greater opportunity than the 60's and it’s on us to be prepared for it. Here’s why: A few months ago, I wrote about a fascinating book called " The Power of Habit , " which in my opinion is a must read.  In it, the author explains why people are more likely to change the brand of orange juice they drink after big life changes like moving, marriage, baby, divorce etc. than any other time. The reason is because people are creatures of habit and once a habit is created, it's impossible to undo (he explains the biology of it in the book, and how you can change the routine of a habit, but not undo the habit itself).  On the oth...

Many people have asked me questions about the Rebbe, and what a Rebbe is, and I don't always have great answers.  Recently I read a story to my children from a book Sippurim Noraim, that I think explains it better than anything I've ever come across. It actually has to do with the namesake's namesake of our new son, Shalom Dovber.  It takes us back a couple hundred years to the city of Carlsbad (Germany), where the famous scholar, the Pnei Yehoshua lived.  He had a yeshiva, and was the prominent Rov of the city.  Every once in a while, he would be visited by a younger Rabbi, Rabbi Dovber, who would visit Carlsbad to soak his feet in the hot springs to help his foot problems.  Rabbi Dovber was a rising star in his Torah knowledge, and was well versed in the Talmud as well as Kabbalah.  That being said, he was strongly against the Baal Shem Tov and his ways (the Baal Shem Tov was the founder of the Chassidic movement, which is the precursor...