SoulWords

In this famous letter to Israeli President Yitzchak Ben-Tzvi, the Rebbe explains that wealth and influence are divinely entrusted responsibilities, obligating one to actively strengthen Torah and Jewish identity. Beyond this, the letter offers a rare personal glimpse, as the Rebbe shares his lifelong vision of redemption and explains why he avoids the title “president,” reflecting his deep, authentic sensitivity to the pain of the Jewish people in exile. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-30.pdf

The signs of a kosher animal serve as spiritual benchmarks to ensure our physical involvements remain refined. The juxtaposition of the Mishkan's inauguration with prohibitions against eating insects teaches that even the most spiritually exalted individual requires the discipline of divine decrees to remain grounded. King David's "leaping and dancing" before the Ark in this week's Haftarah represents a state of joy that transcends intellect, serving as a model for our own connection to Hashem as we approach the era of Moshiach. This class, taught by Rabbi Shais Taub, is based on Parshas Shemini in Likkutei Sichos Vol. 1.

The Rebbe acknowledges the writer's improved health but challenges his confusion about priorities. Despite clear guidance, he is misreading his situation and considering reducing his involvement in Chabad. The Rebbe insists his true purpose is to focus on spiritual work in his current place, not pursue distracting alternatives for livelihood. Parnassah will follow with less struggle, while avoiding this path only adds unnecessary complications and concealment. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-29.pdf

In the first letter, the Rebbe responds to someone overwhelmed by a new position, claiming he has no time for learning, serving Hashem, or helping others. The Rebbe firmly rejects this, reminding him that a Jew's purpose is to serve his Creator. In the second letter, the Rebbe discourages the letter writer's practice of fasting, explaining that Chassidus does not promote afflicting the body. True avodah is refining the animal soul—through restraint in behavior, speech, and interpersonal conduct—without harming one's health, thereby preserving strength for Torah and mitzvos. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-27-28.pdf

Addressing the letter writer's concerns about balancing outreach with his own son's education, the Rebbe emphasizes that fulfilling the mitzvah of influencing others will not harm his child's chinuch—on the contrary, it will enhance it through the principle of mitzvah goreres mitzvah. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-26.pdf

Pesach is supposed to be a time of freedom—but for many parents raising sensitive or easily overwhelmed children, it can feel like anything but. In this webinar, Rabbi Shais Taub and Dr. Ilyssa Bass address the real challenges of preparing for Pesach with a “complex child”—kids who feel things more intensely, struggle with transitions, and can become overwhelmed by the demands of Yom Tov. No unrealistic expectations. No “perfect child” fantasy. Just practical clarity for a calmer, more manageable Pesach. Rabbi Shais Taub is the creator of Soul Parenting and has guided thousands of parents with a Torah-based approach to raising children. Dr. Ilyssa Bass is a psychologist and leading expert helping Jewish families parent children with complex needs. To register for our upcoming course: https://www.drilyssabass.com/joy

The Rebbe responds regarding a Chabad-affiliated agricultural school, emphasizing that its standards and spirit must fully align with Chabad values without compromise. The institution should not lower its standards for students who do not adhere to them. However, guidance should be given pleasantly—educating and inspiring rather than rejecting. The focus should be on promoting the positive through Chassidic farbrengens, stories, and niggunim, while maintaining appropriate safeguards. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-25.pdf

One must recognize that involvement in the Rebbe's work is a personal merit, not a favor being done. As long as one feels otherwise, no persuasion will help. Honest reflection and humility will lead to clarity, cooperation, and a more peaceful, productive path. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-24.pdf

In response to a letter proposing that identifying certain nations as lost tribes could hasten Moshiach, the Rebbe emphasizes that our direction must come from Torah and its clear guidance. Rather than pursuing speculative approaches, our focus should be on what Chazal teach—that redemption depends on teshuvah and good deeds. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-23.pdf

Jewish security is not determined by political reality but by spiritual alignment. A Jew's passion for Yiddishkeit must remain constant—both in inspiration and in struggle. Our finite effort awakens an infinite response from above that creates real success. Redemption follows a process: preparation and purification come before transformation.This class, taught by Rabbi Shais Taub, is based on Parshas Tzav in Likkutei Sichos Vol. 1.

The Rebbe writes to Rabbi Yitzchak Isaac Small, acknowledging his longstanding connection to Chabad and asking him to support relief efforts for Sephardic Jews in crisis. Beyond the immediate need, the Rebbe emphasizes a broader principle: in matters of ahavas Yisrael, there is no concern for competition—on the contrary, one should welcome and encourage others to join and even expand the work. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-22.pdf

The first letter addresses a man overwhelmed by overthinking. The Rebbe urges him to stop analyzing his inner state and instead live simply: care for the body, act with sincerity, and begin without overplanning. The second letter teaches that how we look at others shapes them—seeing with a generous eye draws out their best and brings true nachas. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-20-and-21.pdf

A young man asks if he should follow his own preference as to where to study and is gently but firmly redirected: a yeshiva bachur is not guided by personal will, but by the guidance of his teachers. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-19.pdf

In this letter, the Rebbe thanks the noted Hebrew author Eliezer Steinman for writing about Chabad Chassidus—but then adds a deeper point. To write about something truthfully, it's not enough to understand it intellectually. You have to live it. Only when an idea becomes part of your own experience can you express it in a way that resonates most effectively with others. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-18.pdf

The Rebbe responds to a report of someone feeling spiritually discouraged. He explains that a feeling of brokenness can sometimes be constructive—like a seed that must first decay in the ground before it can grow—but only if it leads to renewed effort and increased action in Yiddishkeit. If, however, it weakens a person's resolve and diminishes their activity, it is not healthy bitterness but harmful sadness. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-17.pdf

The spiritual "offering" (Korban) is the process of drawing near to G-d by harnessing and dedicating one's animalistic drive—the "animal soul"—to holiness, which elicits a light far higher than the godly soul can reach alone. Throughout history, the enemy Amalek uses two tactics—direct coldness toward spiritual passion and a deceptive "Canaanite" disguise that encourages Jews to secularize their mundane lives. This class, taught by Rabbi Shais Taub, is based on Parshas Vayikra in Likkutei Sichos Vol. 1.

A man writes that he has “never seen good in his life.” The Rebbe sharply challenges this claim: a person blessed with a spouse and children walking in the path of Torah cannot call himself deprived. Ingratitude blinds one to visible blessings—and may itself block further blessing in health and livelihood. Gratitude and joy reopen the channel. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-16.pdf

In a powerful letter to an educator discouraged by what he perceived as a lack of success in influencing his students, the Rebbe explains why despair is more dangerous than being overly satisfied. Influence, especially on youth, is never wasted—even if the results only become visible years later. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-15.pdf

The first letter of the evening, to a yeshiva bachur, explains how acceptance of Hashem's yoke begins with disciplined adherence to the yeshiva's daily schedule, without exceptions—even for seemingly holy reasons. Consistent structure, he explains, gradually cultivates genuine inner submission and spiritual growth. In tonight's second letter, the Rebbe addresses the letter writer's discouragement about finding a match, insisting both the possibility and the path exist—and urging him not to delay pursuing a shidduch through proper intermediaries. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-13-14.pdf

When a person feels a strong urge to help the public, how can he know if the motive is truly pure? The Rebbe explains why overanalyzing intentions can actually block good action—and offers a practical test for recognizing when a thought comes from a healthy source. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-12.pdf

The Rebbe firmly redirects a writer who had become interested in mystical “segulos,” urging him to abandon such paths and return to a far more reliable source of wisdom. In the same letter, he also challenges the writer's assumption that he lacks the ability to make a meaningful difference in helping others. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-11.pdf

When people unexpectedly come into one's life, it may reflect a deeper spiritual purpose. Just as physical food contains a divine spark that nourishes the soul, encounters between people can be opportunities to help another Jew strengthen their connection to Yiddishkeit. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-10.pdf

The Torah repeats the details of the Mishkan to emphasize that the ultimate revelation of the Divine comes not from the spiritual plan alone, but from its realization in the physical world. Tefillah is the ladder that lifts every part of a person—even the most mundane aspects of life—into connection with the Infinite. The concealment at the end of Sefer Shemos prepares the way for the deeper revelation that begins Sefer Vayikra, teaching that darkness itself becomes the catalyst for greater light. This class, taught by Rabbi Shais Taub, is based on Parshas Pekudei in Likkutei Sichos Vol. 1.

The Torah's wording that work “shall be done” teaches that a Jew's relationship to livelihood must remain external—performed with the hands but never allowed to occupy the heart and mind. The 39 melachos prohibited on Shabbos correspond to the activities used to construct the Mishkan, revealing that all human labor has the potential to transform the world into a dwelling place for Hashem. The joy of Adar reflects the ultimate transformation of darkness into light, revealing the deepest Divine presence specifically through the challenges of exile. This class, taught by Rabbi Shais Taub, is based on Parshas Vayekhel in Likkutei Sichos Vol. 1.

The brothers reflect on the structure of Jewish mourning, the experience of saying Kaddish three times a day, and some of the strange, funny, and sometimes questionable moments that happen during Shiva. Along the way they explore the psychological wisdom built into the halachos of Aveilus, the strange transitional period of Aninus, and why communal prayer can become an unexpected tool for processing grief. They also share stories—from cryptozoology museums to Shiva pranks—and reflect on how humor and structure help people navigate difficult moments in life.

The challenges facing Jewish youth have not disappeared—they have simply changed their disguise. The Rebbe warns that modern spiritual tests can be even more dangerous precisely because they appear clothed in the language of holiness. Looking back at earlier generations, he explains why Torah study alone was not enough, why even mussar proved insufficient, and why the inner fire of Chassidus became the force that enabled young people to withstand the storm. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-09.pdf

A student writes in despair, convinced his spiritual struggles prove failure. The Rebbe rejects this conclusion entirely. Inner turmoil is not proof of weakness—it can be the very fuel for powerful spiritual awakening. The key, he explains, is to stop endless self-analysis and redirect energy into action: helping others grow in Torah and mitzvos, maintaining the discipline of yeshiva life, and becoming a living example for one's peers. Through this, the confusion itself becomes a catalyst for growth. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-08.pdf

In the first letter of this class, the Rebbe acknowledges news about the beginning of Tomchei Temimim activities and blesses their success in spreading the wellsprings of Chassidus. He objects to delaying sharing Chabad teachings with someone until after leaving the hospital, explaining that both healing and Torah study should not be postponed. In the second letter, the Rebbe responds to a student who feels he has not changed after a year of study. The Rebbe explains that a person cannot judge himself objectively and attributes such discouragement to the yetzer hara. He insists real change must have occurred and advises practical steps to deepen spiritual growth. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-06-07.pdf

The Rebbe responds to a teacher who feels less motivated to teach a weaker class than the previous year's students. The Rebbe explains that the opposite should be true: students with fewer abilities should inspire greater dedication, since a person's purpose is to elevate their unique portion of the world using the talents Hashem gave them. Educating such students fulfills this mission and brings special reward. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-days-30-letters-5.pdf

The Rebbe urges a father to dedicate real time and energy to influencing his family with warmth and closeness, stressing that this is a matter of holiness and the continuity of the Jewish people. Time devoted to one's family is not a loss, but a sanctification of time itself, bringing further blessing and holiness. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-4.pdf

The letter responds to someone who says he lacks time and focus for spiritual matters and imagines things would improve if circumstances were different. The reply challenges this, noting that if one can concentrate on intellectual matters, one can do so for the Divine soul as well. Each person is placed in a specific time and situation with the strengths needed to fulfill their mission; speculating about alternative scenarios only weakens present responsibility. Instead, one must choose action in the current reality, especially as one connected to Chassidus is empowered to do so.

The letter praises the recipient's efforts but says they are far below what is truly possible—especially in Eretz Yisrael today. It points out that even secular leftist movements succeed because they act with passion, discipline, unity, sacrifice for the collective, and obedience to leadership—qualities Chassidus demands for holy work—while Chassidim often fail to fully harness the blessing available to them due to complacency or division. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-2.pdf

The fiery half-shekel teaches that true atonement comes when the fixed discipline of obligation is fused with the passionate upward striving of the soul, revealing the equal, essential core within every Jew. Eliyahu's rebuke of “vacillating" exposes that spiritual indecision rooted in self-interest is more corrosive than open rebellion, yet even those who waver can return with redoubled strength. This class, taught by Rabbi Shais Taub, is based on Parshas Ki Sisa in Likkutei Sichos Vol. 1.

The Rebbe urges that in communal matters—especially chinuch—one must not rely on personal opinion or local entanglements, but listen to objective guidance from above. Just as people seek expert counsel in private affairs, how much more so must they heed the Rebbe's direction in matters affecting the many. The Igros Kodesh are the published volumes of the Rebbe's correspondence with people from every background and stage of life—addressing subjects ranging from profound scholarly matters to everyday concerns of health, family, finances, and emotional struggle—through which we gain a rare glimpse into how the Rebbe approached life itself, and from which we learn how to look at our own lives through that lens. For the thirty days leading up to 11 Nissan, the Rebbe's birthday, join us each night for a live class with Rabbi Shais Taub exploring another letter from Igros Kodesh. In honor of the 2nd birthday of Yehuda Meir ben Bracha Pesha and the yarhzeit of Yehuda's great grandmother, also on 11 Adar, Chavole bas Zev Velvel PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-1-1.pdf

The deepest dimension of Torah, like oil, must not merely inform the mind but permeate and transform the entire person. The incense service represents the highest form of avodah—private devotion that exists solely between the soul and Hashem. The Jewish mission is not to escape the physical but to transform it into a vessel for revealed G-dliness. True joy flows from a broad consciousness that reframes physical needs as gifts and aligns them with a higher purpose. This class, taught by Rabbi Shais Taub, is based on Parshas Tetzaveh in Likkutei Sichos Vol. 1.

The half shekel donation for the sockets of the Mishkan represent the bitul that serves as the foundation for everything else we accomplish in our lives. The capacity for folly that leads one astray must be transformed into “holy craziness,” a willingness to go beyond habit and limitation in the service of Hashem. Ufaratza means bursting past the confines of schedule and calculation that hastens the ultimate breakthrough of Mashiach. This class, taught by Rabbi Shais Taub, is based on Parshas Terumah in Likkutei Sichos Vol. 1.

Join of a 22 Shvat farbrengen in honor of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, livestreamed from the SoulWords House with Rabbi Shais Taub and special guest Rabbi Manis Friedman.

The laws of watchmen describe how different animal drives can cause a person to lose touch with their G-dly soul, with the sheep's pull toward social conformity emerging as the most subtle and dangerous challenge. Because Hashem lends each person their abilities out of essential love, no spiritual failure or lack of standing ever removes the obligation to learn Chassidus. A free loan reveals a glimpse of the infinite within the finite, since lending to another is considered lending to Hashem Himself, whose repayment is enduring and without limit. This class, taught by Rabbi Shais Taub, is based on Parshas Mishpatim in Likkutei Sichos Vol. 1.

The purpose of Matan Torah is to bring holiness into everyday life, so that ordinary activities are not separate from serving Hashem. What is considered “hidden” or “revealed” Torah depends on the needs of the generation, and in our time the teachings of Chassidus must be openly learned. Our generation's main spiritual challenge is excess ego, and Chassidus is the remedy that breaks down that excess. Physical health and material success are not rewards for spirituality, but tools meant to give a person the strength to serve Hashem with joy. This class, taught by Rabbi Shais Taub, is based on Parshas Yisro in Likkutei Sichos Vol. 1.

In this powerful lecture marking the shloshim (30-day memorial) of his mother, Rivkah bas Avraham obm, Rabbi Shais Taub weaves personal memory with Torah insight in a way that is both intimate and intellectually arresting. Drawing on his mother's life as a speech pathologist, he explores what it truly means that the human being is defined by speech—how words emerge from the deepest levels of the soul, and how language can shape identity and destiny. Along the way, he shares formative childhood stories, including how she taught him to write, the first (and last) time he ever lied to her, and the quiet moments of parenting that profoundly shaped his inner life. The lecture moves beyond biography into unexpected territory, tracing a line from Tanya and Onkelos' description of the human soul as a “speaking spirit” to modern linguistic theory. Rabbi Taub recounts how his mother found support for Noam Chomsky's ideas about language in the writings of the Alter Rebbe, including a clip from Rabbi Taub's own conversation with Chomsky. He also reflects on her lifelong love of Chabad niggunim—first learned as a teenager from Zalman Schechter—and her remarkable positivity through twelve years of serious illness. Timed to Tu B'Shvat, the lecture becomes a meditation on the power of gratitude and positivity.

The Haftarah of Parshas Beshalach is the Song of Devorah (a woman) because women suffered more deeply under Pharaoh's decree against children, and therefore their joy in the redemption was greater than that of the men. Unlike Pharaoh, who stood between the Jews and their past (Egypt), Amalek stood between the Jews and their future (Torah), teaching us that while we rely on God to handle physical threats, we must fight with every ounce of our own strength against apathy or anything that cools our excitement for holiness. The "New Year for Trees" reminds us that true growth is defined by our ability to produce "fruits"—students and influence—that actually reveal their potential in the world. This class, taught by Rabbi Shais Taub, is based on Parshas Beshalach in Likkutei Sichos Vol. 1.

The Jewish people displayed immense courage by keeping the Egyptian deity (a sheep) in their homes for four days, teaching us that redemption comes from performing Mitzvos with pride and without fear. The difference between the letters Hey (Matzah) and Ches (Chametz) illustrates how humility allows for teshuvah. The Frierdiker Rebbe's unique approach was characterized by "going big" in actuality and prioritizing material aid to others as a necessary vessel for spiritual influence, rather than starting with rebuke. Amidst the confusion at the Red Sea, Nachshon ben Aminadav taught us to ignore the debates of competing factions and move decisively toward the goal even if it requires self-sacrifice. Biographical stories about the Frierdiker Rebbe, including his grandfather's prediction at his bris, receiving a "Chassidic kiss" (a Maamar) from his father, and being designated as a successor at age 17. This class, taught by Rabbi Shais Taub, is based on Parshas Bo in Likkutei Sichos Vol. 1.