Over the years, the Rebbe answered tens of thousands of letters, a portion of which are printed in the series known as Igros Kodesh. In these letters, we find a treasure trove of compassion, wisdom, faith, and practicality—but perhaps most importantly, a direct path to personal insight into the Rebbe's approach to a vast range […]

The inaugural class of a series on studying the published letters of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Rabbi Taub provides a brief background about the letters printed in Igros Kodesh and then studies one letter. This letter was addressed to the men and boys of Kfar Chabad in Israel and discusses the need to balance chasidic fervor […]

The Rebbe asks someone who deals with Israeli soldiers if he can encourage them to correspond with him.

The Rebbe writes to a mashgiach in the Toras Emes yeshiva in Jerusalem about the importance of educating students beyond their academic studies.

The Rebbe writes to a group of young women and protests the self-deprecating manner in which they describe themselves.

In the second letter of a double class (see previous episode), the Rebbe disagrees with a mother who claims to have no "mazal" in life at all. The Rebbe's proofs are taken straight from the woman's own letter.

The Rebbe writes to his relative Mrs. Devorah Leah Horenstein that nostalgia and memories must bring to practical action.

The Rebbe addresses a woman's doubts about her ability to teach her young students.

The Rebbe writes to a father about the efficacy of removing his son from his present school for health reasons.

The Rebbe responds to someone who wants to know how to get started carrying out Chabad outreach activities.

The Rebbe outlines the program for a women's gathering to honor 10 Shvat, the yahrzeit of the Previous Rebbe.

The Rebbe explains what it requires for the blessings of a Rebbe to be effective. Just as rain only makes things grow after plowing and planting, so must the recipient of a blessing make adequate preparations for the blessing to take hold.

This letter was written by the Rebbe to a young bride encouraging her to be an "early adopter" of certain chasidic customs including covering her hair with a "sheitel."

The Rebbe speaks to those who were affected by a shocking tragedy and explains to them why they should not leave the place where it happened. (This letter was written following a terrorist attack in the village of Kfar Chabad. Israel.)

The Rebbe explains why it's so important to make a personal habit of writing to the Rebbe with good news.

The Rebbe explains why writing often to report one's activities will bring out hidden potentials and abilities that would otherwise lie dormant.

The Rebbe writes to a father about his son who is extremely preoccupied with concerns of how he will make a living.

The Rebbe guides parents whose adult son has strayed from the path of Jewish observance.

The Rebbe writes to the Shomrei Shabbos Free Loan Society on the occasion of their yearly dinner and explains the unique spiritual greatness of the mitzvah of giving a loan. In memory of R' Yochanon Gordon and R' Shimon Goldman. Dedicated by their Families.

The Rebbe writes to a teacher about the importance of focusing on the small, everyday details that ultimately make the biggest difference in a child's life.

The Rebbe writes to a father and husband who says that he was rejected from a job opportunity because of his beard.

The Rebbe writes to someone who has experienced the favorable resolution of a problem regarding which they have written to the Rebbe in the past.

This letter, written to R' Chaim Zalman ("Chazak") Kramer of the illustrious Kramer family of early Chabad supporters in America, underscores the importance of education as the future of the Jewish people.

In response to a woman who feared she was infertile, the Rebbe tells her to hold strong in her trust in Hashem and then calls upon her to actualize her potential to influence her surroundings.

The final letter of the 30 Letters in 30 Days series is learned at a special farbrengen at the Ohel.

In this letter written to R' Shlomo Chaim Kesselman, the Rebbe urges his chasidim to reach out to Jews beyond their own community and speak to them about the importance of connecting to the Previous Rebbe.

The Rebbe responds to a rabbi who has questions about the wording of a Lubavitcher's bar mitzvah invitation.

The Rebbe writes to the great Sefardic sage, the Baba Meir (son of the Baba Sali) Abuchatzeira about maintaining a connection to a tzaddik who has passed away. In a second letter, the Rebbe writes to philanthropist Julius Stulman about the need to rise to a higher spiritual level to receive the blessings of a […]

The Rebbe gives comfort and encouragement to a guilt-ridden woman.

A letter to the chapters of N'she U'Bnos Chabad (Chabad Women's Organization) highlights the importance of ahavas Yisrael and relates a story of the Baal Shem Tov to help explain the love that we must have for our fellow Jew.

The Rebbe encourages a young educator, Rabbi Yosef Marton, to throw himself enthusiastically into his holy work as well as advising him on how not to be dissuaded by the naysayers.

Joy is one of the most important ways of serving Hashem. The need to do teshuvah to repair past wrongs is no exception, for even that must be done joyfully.

In response to someone who says that he is afraid to identify as Chabad because he does not want to have to learn chasidus, the Rebbe gives several reasons why the letter writer should reconsider his apprehension.

The Rebbe writes to a husband who blames his lack of spiritual growth on his wife. The Rebbe does not accept this excuse and implores him to resolve his own lack of clarity and then he will see that his wife is his greatest support.

The Rebbe writes to Louis Finkelstein of the Jewish Theological Seminary about the need for every individual to fully use their G-d-given potentials to have a positive effect on the world and, in his specific case, to use his influence to introduce more practical observance of mitzvos among his movement.

Two letters are learned in this class. First, the Rebbe responds to a rabbi who has chosen to leave his congregation and explains to him that one is not allowed to merely do what is best for oneself while neglecting the community. In the second letter, the Rebbe speaks about the importance of telling every […]

The Rebbe writes to an Israeli judge about the secret to reaching the younger generation in Israel. Even when Jews have been uprooted from their tradition, the connection to Judaism is still present inside of their souls.

The Rebbe writes to a mother about her dilemma over whether to give her children food that may not be up to her usual standards of kashrus.

The Rebbe responds to a woman who says that her life has never been good and she therefore expects that it will never be good.

A newly observant yeshiva student complains that his current yeshiva is not living up to his expectations and says he wants to leave. The Rebbe gives him another way of looking at things.

The Rebbe comforts a couple who lost their son and gives them direction on how to best benefit the departed's soul.

The Rebbe helps a young man overcome his feelings of failure and guilt so that he can move on and plan a future for himself. The Rebbe writes to the administration of the Chabad yeshiva in Montreal on the occasion of the yearly fundraising event and explains to them the eternal and enduring role of […]

The Rebbe urges Israeli politician, Eliezer Livneh, to take the initiative to introduce a more religious tone to his new organization.

The Rebbe guides a teacher regarding a student whose mother is complaining about his refusal to partake in sports and other physical activities.

The Rebbe gives advice to Rabbi Herschel Shusterman a"h of Chicago about dealing with both youth and adults.

To someone complaining of pain in his feet, the Rebbe recommends a specific spiritual path to healing.

A letter to Rabbi Yechiel Michel Dabruskin encouraging him to continue his work with Rumanian immigrants. Rather than viewing this as a burden, he should see this as an opportunity to help himself by helping others.

The Rebbe encourages a teacher of agriculture to appreciate the importance of his job.

In the first letter, the Rebbe responds to artist Meir Ben Uri's critiques of the cover art of the Talks and Tales monthly magazine. In the second letter, the Rebbe explains to a mother why true Jewish education must continue after bar mitzvah.