Do you wish to enhance your Hiskashrus? To dig the essentials of a Chossid?

I started reading the kuntress Od Avinu Chai on the way back from the Rebbe to Thailand last week. I completed it on my way to NY now.. It’s like taking a quadruple dosage of vitamin hiskashrus.

Written in a clear and concise way, it contains the essentials of every chossid and shliach. Its presentations, sources, stories, maanos, כתי''ק, speaks to the mind and captures one's heart. 

I think it's required reading by all in our dor as it gives oisiyos for ourselves and those who look to us for guidance regarding hiskashrus in our unprecedented tekufah.. A daily schedule of limmud would be beneficial. 

I strongly recommend buying a hard copy.

The new english booklet עוד אבינו חי - is a must have.

It is a tremendous education opportunity, responding to the silent and not so silent questions and struggles of young and not so young chassidim, men and women (boys and girls), on the ענינים עקריים of Rebbe, Hiskashrus, connection today, as well as addressing the ענינים of "הוא בחיים", Moshiach and more. 

Ever tried explaining to a teenager what his or her connection with the Rebbe is? The importance of going to the Ohel? Connecting to the Rebbe today, so many years after Gimmel Tammuz?

This great compilation has both the sources from the Rebbe, as well as אותיות to understand for us and for others.

Do yourself a favor and get yourself a copy, you will be happy you did, and spread the word

I cannot recall a pamphlet that I have ever read that impressed me as much as Od Avinu Chai. Rabbi Shmotkin does a masterful job of presenting one of the deepest concepts in חסידות the relationship of חסיד and רבי, in terms that are both relatable and understandable. In a time of terrible darkness, he sheds much needed light onto this subject, for both חסיד as well as (most importantly) want-to-be חסיד. If I were to have my way, I would would make it required reading in every Chabad mesivta all over the world.
 

The booklet Od Avinu Chai authored by my friend R' Israel Shmotkin, is obligatory reading for every one of Anash, both those who merited to see our Rebbe with their physical eyes and connect to him, and those who did not merit this but whose soul's desire is to connect to אילנא דחיי, yet do not know the meaning of this התקשרות and how to be מתקשר. It is their duty to read and study this booklet.

May we all merit to see our great Rebbe with our physical eyes, בביאת משיח צדקנו.

I want to bring your attention to a very important publication about the Rebbe and hiskashrus - “OD OVINU CHAI” put together by Rabbi Yisroel Shmotkin. 

It is a comprehensive discussion on the meaning of HISKASHRUS, all based on the Rebbe’s sichos and igros. Thoroughly exploring the various aspects of this most important inyan, which is so central to the life of each and every chosid.

In this kovetz, questions that are not usually discussed, but relegated to “hergesh”, are discussed comprehensively and clearly.  

Examples of a few questions it deals with: What is a Rebbe, why a Rebbe is so important in terms of a yid’s relationship to HASHEM, why this is so central to yiddishkeit and chassidus, how do we relate to the Rebbe now after Gimmel Tamuz, what are the mechanisms of hiskashrus, where do we go from here, etc. etc. the list goes on and on. 

The kovetz Od Avinu Chai is a comprehensive work, it’s a textbook on hiskashrus. It opens up the whole inyan for us. It takes hiskashrus and deals with it head on. Issues that are left unspoken are dealt with lucidity and not skirted. Rather than remaining in the dark about such an important and central inyan, the reader can become empowered as they gain clarity to the inyonim. It is organized into sugyos, dealing with issue after issue....

Personally, I think this should be taught in our mesivta’s, it’s such an important “subject” and today nothing can be taken for granted. We need to give our children (and ourselves…) the HISKASHRUS in a fashion that can be explained and understood, making it part of our CHABAD....

 So, I’m just giving my chaveirim a heads up about this. I’m not involved in this project, I cannot take an ounce of credit for this, nor am I involved in the hafotzo of it. I’m just writing to you, one Shliach to another, to let you know about a kovetz which was hugely helpful to me in the above inyonim....

Recently, the booklet עוד אבינו חי was published, compiled by Rabbi Israel Shmotkin.

Its content is a wonderful compilation and broad explanation on the topic of התקשרות in general, its preciousness and necessity, especially in these times when החושך יכסה ארץ and the path to התקשרות is much more difficult than it was in the days of light.

The booklet has been received with great appreciation, and many in the Chabad community are praising the author for his good work.

Unfortunately, especially in these matters which are very relevant to Chabad Chassidim and particularly to תמימים, there is great confusion due to the darkness of גלות. This confusion causes weakness, ר"ל, in all matters of goodness and holiness – for why be a חסיד and a ירא שמים if we don't know that it's possible now. 

Apparently, this collection has the power to illuminate the minds and hearts of the תמימים, to guide them on the דרך הישרה and to revive souls. I myself have read parts of it and it truly revives (and obligates) souls.

 There are no words to express what a tremendous thing the booklet עוד אבינו חי has done for so many, specifically with the latest edition in English.

Firstly, the enormous amount of rich information that is shared gives us the knowledge, understanding and feeling of what hiskashrus means in our life.

Even moreso, the chizzuk a person gets from reading it, and seeing how accessible and reachable the Rebbe is to us, is uplifting, encouraging and empowering.

Every parent, whether Mashpia or businessman, would gain tremendously from this book -- for themselves and, even more so, it will give them the words necessary to address the topic of Hiskashrus to their children, students or friends.

There are times that I open the book in the morning to start off my day and it infuses strength, knowing that the Rebbe is with me throughout the day.

Yasher koach for this amazing publication and Hatzlacha Rabba with all that you do!"

The kuntereds Od Avinu Chai, although it reads like a chassidishe farbrengen - peppered with many stories and vertelach - it is thorough and articulate. Its deep ideas are presented in a humble and simple way.

I would highly recommend it for all Shluchim, Anash (men and women), bochurim and girls and it could be used as important conversation starters. Even shluchim who live in remote areas have opportunities to engage with young chassidim, (merkos shluchim, camp counselors, visiting groups, stranded travelers etc.) and these conversations are critical.