In this week’s Street Farbrengen, Reuven shares a gripping “Hasidic geneiva” Yechidus story that an elder chossid confided to him—how, at his brother’s bar mitzvah, he slipped the Rebbe a three-page letter about a toxic mashpia, his confusion, and the urge to leave yeshiva. The Rebbe’s response was razor-clear: in Lubavitch there are always two mashpiim—find the one you connect with; then “forget the past—have Kabbalas Ol—and your job is to learn.” From there, the conversation dives into Elul: what it really means to drop the victim narrative, choose responsibility, and serve with authentic joy—echoed through the Baal Shem Tov’s “kukarikoo” tale and Dr. Edith Eger’s insight that we are not prisoners of our past. A raw, timely exploration of exchanging gvul for bli-gvul—limits for boundlessness—and how Kabbalas Ol can cut the tether to yesterday so we can actually show up today.

There”s an old joke about  the man shipwrecked on a deserted island who builds the shul he goes   to and the   shul he'd never step into"?

But what happens when both of those shuls live inside the same room, or in the same heart and mind?? 

In this episode, we dive into the “two shuls within one shul” phenomenon—where some come to daven and others come to schmooze, and the tension it creates in Chabad communities worldwide.

Why does this culture of tolerance exist? Is it compassion, or just avoidance? And most importantly, what does it mean for our children, our values, and the future of our davening?

From practical solutions—like creating quiet spaces or forming grassroots leadership—to deep questions of Chassidus about emes, values, and Elul’s demand for authenticity, this farbrengen doesn’t just point out the problem. It asks: what do we really stand for in shul, and what are we teaching the next generation?

The awesome and wonderful month of Elul begs participation. It asks for something new from you.

A " cheshbon hanefesh” 

What is it, this "tally of self?

Street Farbrengen looks at the control and chaos of making good for a full year by peering into the self from the past year

Are We Living Our Spirituality Dynamically?

In this week’s episode of Streetfarbrengen we dive into a thought-provoking question sparked by a morning shul conversation: Do we live our spirituality symbolically, practically, or dynamically? Using the famous Talmudic scenes of Rabbi Akiva at the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash, we explore how two different moments — seeing the Temple’s ruins from afar and witnessing a fox emerge from the Holy of Holies — reveal distinct ways of experiencing reality. Is spirituality just an abstract picture, or an unfolding event we actively connect to? And how can that shift change the way we approach our faith, memory, and lived experience today?

What does it take to go against the grain? How do you defy the gravity of culture of  'this is the way things are' and lift off into your intended orbit?

“Zacharia, I am almost twice your age ", remarks Reuven in this week's episode of Street Farbrengen! "People insist I should slow down and "act my age". Chill out they say! But, I am in a renewal and on a number of new journeys. Today and tomorrow are not yesterday. And, I am just getting going!"

What does it take to go against the stream? 

Street Farbrengen unpacks  some more on inspiration vs aspiration. One keeps you in place while the other launches rockets.......make your choice!

The 12th of Tammuz highlights courage and sacrifice in the fight for your values and truth -  no matter the size and authority of your opponent!

In this episode of Street Farbrengen let's tackle how to bridge  with the Yud Beis story and ask "Is the behavior of the Rebbe leave me inspired or aspiring!?

 Chassidic circles stress   the story of the spies' reluctance to enter Israel as the choice  for spiritual  isolation and comfort over  the task of grappling with the physical realities of turning a land ( of Israel) into a heavenly  oasis. How is it possible not to be eaten alive by the time consuming and emotional rollercoaster of making a living, raising a family, fighting wars, or the pulling the weeds between the vegetable  rows?

Street Farbrengen  continues the conversation around  drops of water making a change on  the rock they fall upon. There are times when the greatest joy is the moment of decision to live for engagement - spread out rather than reticence and hesitation. The water hits the rock. Will I choose  fear or leaning in and moving forward?

We often call success  winning, like when you cross the goal line. 

We look to the end of the line, to know the end game, and to finding our cherished goal at the “end of the rainbow.” There is the “ end of days.” 

When Zechariah and Reuven last met they pledged to contemplate for 30 days the scene of Rabbi Akiva by the river seeing a constant drip of water on a rock by the side of the river making an impression on the stone. What is our rock to making an everlasting imprint? What is the water? 

Today we explore the significance of “repetition” and the consistency as its own virtue and strategy for success. Ironically perhaps, consistency is created when the definition for success is when there is no end game! 

A Street Farbengen is a focus on the road; on the path to take after all the talk and exchange between friends.

Reuven and Zacharia continue the focus on Rabbi Akiva by the river. A constant drip on a rock burrows an indent. So too, thinks Rabbi Akiva, can the Torah drill a hole in my heart. 

Sometimes the rock is  the dream unheeded and met. Sometimes the water is the dream that shall hit the rock.

This episode of Street Farbrengen ends with a surprise; a pact between Reuven and Zacharia to accomplish until 3 Tammuz to live with and be Rabbi Akiva by the river.

Rabbi Akiva saw drops of water falling on a stone  making a deep hole. What  power there is in a drop of water,” thought Rabbi Akiva. “Could my stony heart ever be softened up that way?”

Lag B'omer is the Yom Halula of the Holy Rashbi. His teacher Rabbi Akiva gives us the picture of how to approach the  'stones and boulders' along the path's we walk.

What are your boulders  blocking the road? What is the water that can make a dent in them? Are you willing to embrace the long road of drip by drip?

Street Farbrengen and Lag B'Omer: What are you making a dent in?