בס“ד Menachem Av 5776/2016 SPECIAL DAYS IN MENACHEM AV Volume 27, Issue 5 Menachem Av 1/August 5/Friday Rosh Chodesh "When Av comes in, we minimize

happiness" (Taanis 26B)

"In the nine days from Rosh Chodesh Av on we should try to make Siyumim." (Likutei Sichos Vol. XIV: p. 147)

Mountains emerged above the receding Flood waters (BeReishis 8:5, )

Plague of frogs in Mitzrayim. (Seder HaDoros)

ShnasHakhel Yartzeit of Aharon HaKohen, 2489 [1312 BCE], the only Yartzeit recorded in the – , (BaMidbar 33:38) (in Parshas Masaei, read every year on the Shabbos of the week of his Yartzeit)

Ezra and his followers arrived in Yerushalayim, 3413 [457 BCE]. (Ezra 7:9) Menachem Av 2/August 6/Shabbos Titus commenced battering operations In Av 5331 [430 BCE] there was a debate against the courtyard of the Beis between Chananya ben Azur and Yirmi- HaMikdash, 3829 [70]. yahu. Chananya prophesized that Nevu- chadnetzer and his armies would soon The Previous Lubavitcher arrived in leave Eretz Yisroel, and all the stolen vessels Eretz Yisrael, on his historic visit, 5689 from the Beis Hamikdash would be re- [1929]. turned from Bavel along with all those who were exiled. Yirmiyahu explained, that he Menachem Av 4/August 8/Monday too wished that this would happen, but the Nechemiah began building a wall around prophesy is false. Only if the Jews do Yerushalayim, 3413 [444 BCE] Teshuvah can the decree be changed. (Nechemiah 6:15). Yirmiyahu also said that in that year Chananya will die, since he spoke falsely in Yartzeit of R. Menachem Azariah of Fano, the name of Hashem. And so it happened. the RaMa MiPano, author of Asarah (This occurred around seven years before Maamaros and Alfasi Zuta, Halachist and the destruction of the first Beis Hamikdash) Kabbalist, cited extensively in Chasidus, N LEVI YITZCHAK (Yirmiyahu 28). 5385 [1625].

In the eleventh year of the reign of Tzid- Menachem Av 5/August 9/Tuesday kiyahu, on Rosh Chodesh Av, the year of the Yartzeit of R. Yitzchak Luria, the Ari Zal, destruction of the Beis Hamikdash, 5332 [1572]. He passed away at thirty- Yechezkal said a prophesy, that the king- six, in Tzfas. dom of Tzur will be destroyed by Nevu- " . . . All Israel accepted him as the chadnetzar King of Babylon, because they final Posek in all matters of the hidden celebrated Jerusalem’s destruction. parts of the Torah and its secrets, there is

(Yechezkal 26) no room for argument and the Halachah is Chodesh Menachem Av 5776 Av ChabadChodesh Menachem CONGREGATIO as the words of the Ari Moshiach born on the day of the a Roman colony, Aelia Capatolina, Zal" (Kovetz Lubavitch, Vol. II: p. destruction of the Beis HaMikdash 71 [3831] (Taanis 26b). 61) (Yerushalmi Berachos 2:4, Eichah Yartzeit of R. Gedalyah Hayun, Rabah 1:51). This Day, Shabbos, Betar, last independent outpost head of the Yerushalayim reveals only the positive aspects of under Bar Kochba fell to the Kabbalists, founder and head of the day that Moshiach was born. Romans, 3895 [135]. (Taanis the Kabbalists Yeshivah, Beis E-il, (Sichah, Shabbos Chazon, Av 9, 26b) 5510 [1750]. The Baal Shem Tov's 5748) brother-in-law, R. Avraham Edward I of England ordered the Gershon Kitover studied in this Yartzeit of R. Yaakov Yitzchak, the expulsion of all Jews, 5050 Yeshiva. "Chozeh" of Lublin, author of [1290]. Divrei Emes, 5575 [1815]. Yartzeit of R. Chaim of Krasna, There is a vort of the Ferdinand of Spain expelled the student of the Baal Shem Tov, Chozeh’s student that my father, Jews, 5066 [1492]. 5553 [1793]. Rabbi Menachem Shmuel Dovid Raichik, OB”M, often repeated 3,000 Jews perished in the Menachem Av 6/August 10/Wed which he heard from the Rebbe, Chmielnicki massacres, 5408 Sukkos 5716/1955. In Tehillim [1648]. Nevuchadnetzar occupied the we say (Psalm 126), “Hashem has First Beis HaMikdash, 3338 [423 done great things for these (the Deportation of Jews from the BCE]. Yidden). Hashem has done Warsaw ghetto started, 5702 great things for us: we were [1942]. Menachem Av 9/August 13/ joyful.” When the Geulah will Shabbos Chazon come the nations of the world will Birth of Yisachar son of Yaakov (Fast is deferred to Sunday) ask “Why does Hashem do such Avinu, 2196, and his Yartzeit, in great things for the Jewish 2318 (Midrash Tadshe). Reb Hillel of Paritch would say in people?” The Yidden will the name of R. Levi Yitzchok of respond, “Hashem was so great Yartzeit of R. Dovid Furkas, Berditchev: "Chazon" means with us - because we were always student of the Baal Shem Tov, vision; on Shabbos Chazon, joyful.” It is well known how 5532 [ 1772 ]. HaShem shows every Jew a vision much the Chozeh did to try to of the Third Beis Hamikdash". bring Moshiach in his times. Beis HaMikdash destroyed by a fire started the preceding "...Appropriate with the end of the M. Av 10/August 14/ Sunday afternoon, (Taanis 29a). Haftarah of Shabbos Chazon, Fast of Tisha B’Av (deferred) "Tzion in justice will be redeemed M. Av 11/August 15/Monday and its returning with Commemorates the destruction of Yartzeit of R. Hillel of Paritch, righteousness" (Yishayahu 1:27): the first and second Beis Chasid of the Mitteler Rebbe and Justice, 'Mishpat', is Torah (Likutei Hamikdash and many other the Tzemach Tzedek, author of Torah, Devarim) and tragedies that happened on this Pelach HaRimon, Shabbos righteousness, 'Tzedakah', is all of day. Nachamu 5624 [1864]. the Mitzvos, which includes the He never saw the Alter Mitzvah of Tzedakah, we should, The Exodus generation Rebbe but he did hear a D’var in these days add in the study of condemned to die in the desert, Torah from him. Reb Hillel tried Torah and doing Mitzvos, 2449. [1312 BCE] (Devarim 1:35; to meet the Alter Rebbe, as he had especially the Mitzvah of Taanis 26b) a question for him on the Tractate Tzedakah." (Sicha, Shabbos Erchin (discussing the evaluation Chazon, Av 9, 5751a) Nevuzaradan set fire to the Beis of things for the Bais Hamikdosh). The Rebbe would hold a far- HaMikdash 3175 [586 BCE]. Every time he came to meet the brengen on this Shabbos and ad- Alter Rebbe the Alter Rebbe wasn’t vised that spreading The Romans destroyed the Second there. simcha with Ahavas Yisroel be Beis HaMikdash, 3829 [69]. Reb Hillel decided to find held on this Shabbos The Romans plowed the site of the out where the Alter Rebbe Beis HaMikdash to convert it into planned to be one time. He went

VOLUME 27, ISSUE 5 Page 2 early and hid in the room so that Lady Judith were given lifetime when the Alter Rebbe would come seats in the Chabad Shul. The Romans permitted the burial in he would be able to speak to of Jews killed at Betar in the Bar him. When the Alter Rebbe Kochba rebellion, 3898 [138] entered the room he said, “If a M. Av 14/August 18/Thursday (Ta’anis 30b); At that time the young man has a question on Erev Tu B'Av - Chachamim added the Brachah, Tractate Erchin, he has to evaluate No Tachanun at Mincha "HaTov Ve-Ha-Meitiv" to the himself.” Hearing this, Reb Hillel Birkas HaMazon. fainted. When he came to, the The Alter Rebbe settled in , Alter Rebbe had already left. 5561 [1801]. Wedding of Rebbitzen Chayah It is known that Reb Hillel Sarah, daughter of the Mitteler Paritcher was exceedingly M. Av 15/August 19/ Friday Rebbe, with R . A h ar o n scrupulous in his performance of Tu B'Av– No Tachanun Alexanderov of Shklov, 5586 mitzvohs throughout his life. As " . . . There were no days [1826]. They were the parents of the Rebbe explained - because of more joyous than the Fifteenth of Rebbitzen Rivkah, the Rebbe what Reb Hillel heard from the Av and Yom HaKipurim" [Taanis, MaHa-RaSh's wife. R. Aharon Alter Rebbe he constantly 26B] printed the first Torah Or, in evaluated and reevaluated himself Shklov. regarding his observance of the "In connection with Tu B'Av, we mitzvos. (Likutei Sichos Vol 22, should make Farbrengens M. Av 16/August 20/Shabbos pp. 171-172) everywhere with great joy, to Shabbos Nachamu gather, speak Divrei Torah, make The Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe The Alter Rebbe left Peterburg for Siyumim, and make good left Eretz Yisrael for the United Liadi, after his second decisions to add in Torah, Mitzvos States, 5629 [1929]. imprisonment, 5561 [1801]. and Tzedakah and all good things. (Sichah, Shabbos Chazon, 5751) M. Av 17/August 21/Sunday. M. Av 12/August 16/Tuesday Arab riots in Chevron; sixty seven Disputation between the Ramban The last of the Exodus generation Jews were murdered, among them and the apostate Pablo Christiani, stopped dying in the desert; almost the entire Slonim family, 5023 [1263]. HaShem resumed speaking to who were descendents of the Mit- Moshe Rabeinu. (Ta’anis 30b). teler Rebbe’s daughter Menuchah Wedding of the Alter Rebbe and Rochel, and the Jewish the Rebbitzen Sterna, 5520 Intertribal marriage permitted to community (including the central [1760]. post-exodus generations (Taanis Chabad Community of Eretz 30b). Yisrael) was forced to move to The Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe Yerushalayim, 5689 [1929]. and Permission was given to the tribe The Friediker Rebbe was purchased , of Binyamin to marry into other on the ship coming to the United World Lubavitch Headquarters, tribes, saving them from States, he was informed of the ri- 5700 [1940]. extinction (Shoftim 21:21; Ta’anis ots and destruction in Chevron, 30b). where he had visited just the pre- M. Av 13/August 17/Wednesday vious week. The Rebbe fell seri- King Hoshea restored pilgrimage ously ill from this news, on the Yartzeit of R. Nasan Shapiro of to Yerushalayim, removing road- ship there was a Doctor Wallach, Cracow, Kabbalist, author of blocks put by King Yeravam. a German Jew, founder of Shaeri Megaleh Amukos, 5393 [1633]. (Ta’anis 30b) Tzedek Hospital who assisted and cured the Rebbe. Our Rebbe at a Yartzeit of Sir Moses Montefiore, "Wood Bringing Day", observed as related a story that outstanding philanthropist, 5645 a holiday by Jews who brought after the Friediker Rebbe got well, [1885]. In 1839, Sir Moses visited wood contributions to the Beis Dr. Wallach went into Yechidus, the Chabad community in HaMikdash, the last day of cutting and asked for a Tikkun. The Chevron (then the Chabad center wood for the Mizbeach, "The Day Friediker Rebbe asked him why in Eretz Yisrael) at the of Breaking the Axes" (Taanis he needs this Tikkun and he re- community's invitation. He and 30b). plied that since he was on the ship he feels responsible for the Rebbe VOLUME 27, ISSUE 5 Page 3 falling ill. Hashem wouldn’t have During WWII R. Shimon footsteps of Mashiach…” (Days in made the Rebbe sick without a of Amshinov traveled to Vilna and Chabad p. 246). sure cure in sight, since the Rebbe then Shanghai. He encouraged is a Nasi Yisrael, a leader of Klal the use of Japanese Visas. The M . Av 21/August 25/Thursday Yisroel, and Klal Yisroel needs Rebbe Rayatz said that if Yartzeit of R. Aharon Rokeach of him, so he would not be able to be communication is cut off to the Belz, Chasidic leader, 5717 sick with no cure. So, he feels re- Rebbe due to the war the [1957]. See letters of the Previous sponsible and is asking a Tikkun bochurim should seek the Rebbe, (Vol. 5, pgs. 326-327, from the Friediker Rebbe. Amshinover Rebbe’s advice and footnotes 329, Vol. 6, pg. 26, and The Rebbe explained the follow what he says. He passed Vol. 14, pg. 371), about the lesson of this story. Many times away in New York and was buried Friediker Rebbe’s involvement we feel great that Hashem gave us in Teveri, next to the talmidim of trying to save R’ Aharon during the Zechus to help someone in the Maggid. The Rebbe went to WWII. (Vol. 8, pgs. 187-189) The need, but what we must feel is menachem ovel his son (comfort Rebbe inquires from Chassidim, that possibly the reason for this the mourner) at his home in how R’ Aharon is feeling, and how person needing help is only to Brooklyn. he settled in Eretz Yisroel. (Vol. give us the opportunity to do 14, pgs. 392-393) Rosh Hashanah Chesed, as the Medrash quotes “If M. Av 20/August 24/Wednesday letter bentching R’ Aharon that everyone were rich, with who Yartzeit of R. Levi Yitzchak the Rebbe sent to him, and would you be able to do Schneerson, father of the Rebbe, requesting a Brochah from R’ Chessed?” So, sometimes our Rav of Yeketrinislav, who passed Aharon in return. thoughts must be, if not for us away in exile in Alma Ata, 5704 maybe this person would not need [1944]. He had been exiled by the R. Mordechai b. Hillel, famed help. (Likutei Sichos, vol. 30, pg. Russian government for his Talmudist, author of the 67) activities in spreading Yiddishkeit. Mordechai, perished in Nuremberg with his wife and five M. Av 18/August 22/Monday Of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak’s last children in the Rindfliesch T h e Ner Maaravi w a s hours we have this eye-witness massacres, 5058 [1298]. extinguished in the Beis account: A friend and I were priv- HaMikdash (Megilas Taanis, ileged to serve him, passing all of M. Av 22/August 26/Friday concluding chapter). Tuesday night at his bedside. We Yartzeit of R. Meir of Premyshlan, heard his lips murmur ceaselessly Chasidic leader, 5537 [1777]. Yartzeit of R. Yaakov Culi, author through his voice made no sound. (See Likutei Diburim Vol. 2, 25 of MeAm Loez, 5492 [1732]. He Suddenly, he stirred, opened his Shevat 5696,1936 part 3, chapter also edited and assembled the eyes and asked for water to be 3. In the English Version Vol. 2, Sefarim, Mishneh LaMelech on brought for him to wash his pgs. 205-207) The Rebbe states the Rambam's hands. This was done, and taking that known story of R’ Meir [with his own explanatory the water, he said: “It is time to Premyshlan and his comment “If a comments in brackets] and get ready to cross to the other man is bound up on high, he does Perashas Derachim, of his teacher side.” These were the last words not fall below, Meir is bound up R. Yehudah Rosanes after the he uttered. on high and that’s why he can go latter's passing. up and down a slippery hill.” The next day, Wednesday, 20 M. Av 19/August 23/Tuesday Menachem Av, he continued to M. Av 23/Aug 27/ Yartzeit of Shimon Sholom Kalish, decline and his sufferings reached Shabbos Mivorchim Elul Rabbi Shimon of Amshinov in a new intensity, but his lips never 5715 (1954). My father, Rabbi ceased their murmuring. One of M. Av 24/Aug. 28/Sunday Raichik, OB”M, was sent to those present bent down near to Yartzeit of R. Moshe Meisles, Otvosk by the Amshinover Rebbe him hoping to make something of Chasid of the Alter Rebbe, head of with his recommendation, the broken phrases and the sighs. the Kahal of Vilna, 5609 [1840]. without which he would not have Thus much he heard: “ ‘And Thy In 1816, he moved to Eretz been accepted in the Lubavitch footsteps were not known…’ Ay! Yisrael, and in 1823, became one Yeshiva. the footsteps of Mashiach...the of the heads of the Chabad community and Kollel Chabad, in

VOLUME 27, ISSUE 5 Page 4 Chevron. He died at ninety and is World War II arrived in Shang- Kesherim & Ben David Inc. buried in Chevron. hai, he and his wife did every- Established 1947 thing for them. M. Av 25/August 29/Monday Diamonds, Rubies The Alter Rebbe leaves Liadi on Many stories are told about the & Sapphires Erev Shabbos Mevarchim Elul, endless dedication which he had because of the advancing French to help all the yeshiva bochurim Army under the lead of Napolean, and refugees, no matter which and the Alter Rebbe did not want yeshiva or town they came from. to be under Napolean’s rule. Hashem made it that R. Ashkenazi was in Shanghai for many years, Yartzeit of R. Yisochor Dov of which enabled him to be of great 706 S. Hill Street # 320 Zlotchov, student of the aid to all. The Lubavitcher bo- Mezeritcher Magid, author of Bas churim had less than everyone Los Angeles, CA 90014 Eini, 5555 [1795]. eles, and my father (who ran the Tel: 213 910-1700 Yeshiva) was in the Rav’s house to M. Av 26/August 30/Tuesday report to him almost every day [email protected] The Tzemach Tzedek left about the condisions of the yeshi- *** Petersburg after the conference, in va, physically and spiritually. Any 5603/1843, that the Russian gov- telegrams were signed “Ashenazi- Shomer ernment convened to restructure Tmimim). A story told by Rabbi Insurance Agency the established way of Jewish edu- Chaim Bukiet, o.b.m.: One day a Insurance Specialists cation and of the Rabbinate and member of the local Jewish com- other issues. This conference last- munity came to Rabbi Ashkenazi Joseph Schneerson ed many months. The Tzemach and said that a very distinguished Principal & Broker Tzedek was steadfast against any rabbi had appeared in his dream change and was arrested 22 the past night and had asked why 4221 Wilshire Blvd. #222 times. At one point he was told doesn’t he take care of his chil- 323 934-8160 that his conduct was a act of in- dren. Rabbi Ashkenazi showed surgency against the Czar. He re- the man a picture of the Previous License #0717982 plied, “One who rebels against the Rebbe and the man recognized the *** king forfeits his life in this world. Rebbe as the rabbi in his dream. On the other hand, one who re- So Rabbi Ashkenazi explained that Martin Fishman bels against the kingdom of Heav- the dream meant that the man & Assoc. Inc. en forfeits his soul. Which of should take care of his children - INSURANCE them is the most grave?!” (HaYom the Lubavitcher bochurim of the Yom, 23rd of Cheshvan) Yeshiva. 6300 Wilshire Blvd. After the conference he Los Angeles, CA 90048 was asked how he could put him- M. Av 28/Sept 1/Thursday self in such danger, what would Moshe Rabeinu came down after Tel: 323 866-0830 be with the Chassidim. The his second ascent to Har Sinai, Tzemach Tzedek replied, “(A) I 2448 [1313 BCE] (Bava Basra License # 04188981 have my children, and (B) the 121A, Rashbam). *** unity of Chassidim will keep them until Moshiach.” (Sicha, Nissan M Av 30/Sept 3/Shabbos Frank Revere Lawyer 13, 5726/1966). First Day Rosh Chodesh Elul Revere & Wallace

Yahrzeit of HaRav HaChasid R. We start saying "L’Dovid HaShem 355 S Grand Ave #2450 Meir Ashkenazi, Rav of Shanghai Ori" at Shacharis and Minchah. Los Angeles, CA 90071 in 5714 (1954). Rabbi Ashkenazi [email protected] was sent to the Jewish community Elul 1/Sept 4/Sunday Phone: 213-943-1333 of Shanghai to serve as Rav in the Second Day Rosh Chodesh Elul Fax: 213-403-4847 1920s by the Previous Rebbe. In Cell: 213-422-5408 1941, when the refugees of We start blowing the Shofar.

VOLUME 27, ISSUE 5 Page 5 The Nine Days & Tishah B’Av FAST DEFERRED TO MOTZEI SHABBOS/SUNDAY, Av 10, August 13 and14 From Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av until after Tishah The Fast B’Av we don’t buy or make new clothes or shoes, even Av 10/ August 13 and14 to wear after Tishah B’Av. On Motzei Shabbos, change out of your leather shoes when the Chazan says “Barchu”. (He changes before We don’t do house construction or improvements, ex- Barchu, but first he says, “Baruch Hamavdil Bein Ko- cept to remedy a danger; we don’t do house painting. desh L’chol”.) If you aren’t in Shul, say, “Baruch We don’t eat meat (or chicken) or drink wine (or grape Hamavdil Bein Kodesh L’chol, and take off your juice), from Rosh Chodesh onward. On Shabbos and at leather shoes right after Shabbos. a Seudas Mitzvah (Bris, Pidyon Haben) it is permitted. We take the Paroches off the Aron Kodesh. After After Rosh Chodesh, it’s forbidden to wash the whole Shemoneh Esrei we say Kadish Shaleim with Tiskabel. body, even in cold water. We dim the lights and read Megillas Eichah. We don’t say “Veyehi Noam” but we say “V’ata Kodosh” Swimming is forbidden. If there’s a reason for a bath followed by Kadish Shaleim with out Tiskabel. or shower, (I.e. a woman going to the Mikveh, a worker who got dirty, or one who needs to for medical reasons) We don’t say Havdalah, except to say the Brachah, it’s permitted. “Borei Meorei Ha-eish” Try to say it before Eichah. In which we read “He placed me in dark- We don’t wear freshly laundered clothes during the ness…”(3:6). If one forgot to say “Ata chonantanu” Nine Days. It’s a good idea to prepare clothes to wear in Shemoneh Esrei, or women who don’t Daven before Rosh Chodesh by wearing them briefly. It is Maariv must say “Boruch Hamavdil Bein Kodesh customary not to wash clothes or linens, even to be L’chol.” We don’t say Veyitein Lecho. worn after Tishah B’Av.

We may wash diapers and soiled baby clothes. The Restrictions Five principal restrictions apply to the night and day Shabbos Matos /Maasei of Tishah B’Av: eating and drinking, washing, Av 2/August 6 anointing, wearing leather shoes and marital rela- On Erev Shabbos Matos/Masaei, August 5 (and also tions. A couple should conduct themselves as they Erev Shabbos Chazon) we prepare as for any other would during the Nidah period. Shabbos. We may wash our face, hands, feet and head Pregnant or nursing women fast; a person feeling ill in hot water in honor of Shabbos. Those whose custom should consult a Rav. is to go to the Mikveh on Erev Shabbos may do so. We wear Shabbos clothes and observe no customs of We can’t wash, even with cold water. In the morn- mourning on Shabbos. ing and after using the bathroom, wash your fingers until the knuckles. (We may wash dirt off our Shabbos Chazon hands.) We can’t rinse our mouth. Oil, soap or cos- Av 9/August 13 metics on the skin are forbidden, except for medical This Shabbos is similar to the previous Shabbos. There purposes. are no customs of mourning, except for abstaining from marital relations, unless Friday night is the night We can’t wear leather or partly leather shoes; rubber of the going to the Mikveh. We wear Shabbos clothes or canvas shoes are permitted. and it’s like a regular Shabbos. The Rebbe would de- mand that we should be B’Simcha, since it’s the day We only study Torah that deals with the destruction that Moshiach was born. of the Beis Hamikdash, or mourning: Megilas Eichah and its commentaries, laws of Tishah B’Av and We don’t say Tzidkoscha at Mincha. We don’t say Pirke mourning in Shulchan Aruch, the tragic parts or Avos. The Rebbe encouraged us to do our daily shiurim Yirmiyahu and the third chapter of Moed Katan, etc. of Rambam and Chitas before Midday. It’s customary to sit on a chair lower than three We can eat meat or drink wine until sunset; at sunset Tefachim, (about nine inches) until after midday. we stop ALL eating. We don’t say “Good Morning” or “Hello.” (If a per- son who doesn’t know the law greets you, answer softly, so you don’t hurt his feelings.)

VOLUME 27, ISSUE 5 Page 6

We don’t say the Brochah, “She’asah Li Kol Tzarki” We make regular Havdalah on wine without the Bra- (the Brochah for shoes). We don’t wear Tallis or Tefil- chos for fire and spices) and drink the wine. lin at Shachris, but at Minchah. We say Kiddush Levanah (preferably after changing At Shachris we say Kinos after we put away the Sefer into leather shoes, washing our face, saying havdala Torah. After Kinos we say Ashrei and U’va Letzion and eating something, ONLY IF we can do this and leaving out the posuk V’zois Brisi, followed by Kadish still say it with a .) Shaleim without Tiskabel. Then Aleinu, skipping shir shel Yom and Ein Kelokeinu. No Tehillim is said. After Those that need to make Havdalah at home should say Davening, we read Eichah on our own. kiddush Levana with a minyan before going home. We don’t do any work until midday. We don’t take pleasure walks or smoke. NOTE: One may not eat before Havdalah.

Chitas may be learned after mid-day., Rambam after We don’t eat meat or drink wine (except for Havda- the fast. lah) tonight. Since the fast was deferred to Tenth this Mincha is davened while wearing Tallis and Rashi Te- year, washing clothes and showering are permitted fillin. We say Shma and finish what was omitted in after the fast. Shacharis (Shir Shel Yom,, Ein Kelokeinu and Tehillim) then begin Mincha. Then Krias HaTorah and Haftorah. We add Nacheim and Aneinu in Shemoneh Esrei. After Mincha we put on Rabbenu Tam Tefillin. This is a very brief summary of the laws of Tishah B’Av. Consult a Rav for special circumstances. After The Fast After the fast, wash your hands three times, as you would in the morning, without a Brochah.

CHOF AV -Yartzeit of Rabbi Levi Yitzchok - the Father of the Rebbe

Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Schneerson, father of the Lubav- selves enthusiastically about his scholarship and oth- itcher Rebbe was born on Nisan 18, 1878, in the small er great qualities. town of Padabrianka, near Homel, White Russia. His In 1900, he married Rebbitzen Chanah, daughter of father, Reb Boruch Shneur, a Chasid of the Rebbe Ma- R. Meir Shlomo Yanovsky. At his father-in-law’s HaRaSH, named his son after his own father who had home in Nikolayev, R. Levi Yitzchok spent ten years been Rav of that town and had passed away at the ear- in intensive eighteen hours a day. ly age of forty four. He would study each night until 5:00 am, when he Reb Boruch Shneur’s grandfather, R. Boruch Sholom, would read the Shema in Tefillin and lie down for a was eldest son of the Tzemach Tzedek, third Rebbe of short rest. By 9:00 am he would already have fin- Chabad. ished his prayers with the regular Minyan. “From his earliest years,” writes the previous Lubav- In Nikolayev his eldest son, the Lubavitcher Rebbe itcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok (his cousin and was born. Mechutan), “Rabbi Levi Yitzchok showed extraordi- nary brilliant intellectual talents.” In his early twenties, he was drawn by the Rebbe RaShaB into communal work. From 1902 on, he His published works—unfortunately only a tiny por- participated in all meetings of communal leaders, tion of his literary output– attest to the breadth of his and campaigned to provide Matzos for Jewish sol- erudition in all branches of Torah and to his profundi- diers in the Far East during the Russo-Japanese War ty in original Torah thought. of 1904-5. He received Semichah from twelve of the greatest To- The Rebbe RaShaB considered him one of his three rah authorities of his time, including the famous Rabbi greatest Chassidim about whom he would say, “with Chaim Soloveitchik, Rav of Brisk, and Rabbi Eliyahu these three I can be proud in this world and the Chaim Meislish, Rav of Lodz, who expressed them- next”. (The other two were Rabbi Mendel Chein,

VOLUME 27, ISSUE 5 Page 7 Rav of Niezhin, who died a martyr’s death at the hand beloved by the entire city, Jews and non-Jews. of Denikin’s anti-Semitic “White” troops in 1919, and In most large Russian cities before the 1917 Revo- Rabbi Shneur Zalman Schneerson, son of Rabbi Leib, lution, there were two Rabbis, one for the Chasi- Rav of Velizh). dim and another for the non-Chasidim. When the A sign of the high regard the Rebbe RaShaB had for him non-Chasidic Rav of the city passed away, the en- was that he sent him, when he was eighteen, several tire Jewish community decided to accept R. Levi years before his marriage, to check the Mikvaos in Ger- Yitzchok as their Rav. many. The prominent Rabbis of Germany were im- pressed with the young Rav’s intellect and erudition He continued his activism in national Jewish af- and presented him with a gold watch and chain as a fairs. As one “amazingly expert in the words of token of their esteem. Kabalah”, as the previous Rebbe writes, he was en- It was a critical time for Russian Jews, including those trusted by the Rebbe RaShaB in preparing for the of Yekatrinoslav. Government-backed pogroms had defense of Mendel Beilis in the blood libel trial of killed hundreds of Jewish victims and destroyed Jewish 1911. The priest responsible for the accusation stores and homes, ruining their economic mainstay. claimed to find support in Kabalah for his libel, This was a direct cause of the mass emigration of the and the Rebbe RaShaB referred all queries to R. Le- vi Yitzchok. Polish and Russian Jews to Western Europe and Ameri- ca. He was active in organizing relief for the Jewish It also contributed to the spread and secular ideologies refugees from Poland and Lithuania who were among young Jews in search for a solution to the Jewish blamed by the commander-in-chief of the Russian plight. forces, the Czar’s uncle, Prince Nikolai Nikolevitch, for his defeat by the German army. When Jews needed strong leadership and encourage- ment, the choice of the Yekatrinoslav Chasidic commu- These innocent Jews were turned out of their nity leaders fell on R. Levi Yitzchok. homes near the fields of battle to evacuate into the Russian interior. Many came to the Ukraine where The Rebbe RaShAB strongly encouraged him to accept R. Levi Yitzchok made it his personal concern that the position and he became Rav at thirty one in 1909. they be adequately supplied with food and shelter. It was his first and only rabbinical post and he occupied His own home was made available to the refugees. the position for over thirty years –as last Rav of Yekatri- noslav, under the communist regime. [Today, Yekatri- The Bolshevik Revolution at the end of 1917 noslav (Dnepropetrovsk), has a Rav, R. Shmuel Kami- opened a new and bloody era for the Jews of Rus- sia. netsky, sent in 1990 by the Lubavitcher Rebbe.] He immediately threw himself into the problems of the The 1917 Revolution brought chaos and civil war. community. Discovering that the Mikveh for women As the situation began to stabilize during the was no longer usable, he called a meeting to discuss 1920’s, the new Soviet regime proceeded to imple- ment its anti religious policies. plans for a new one. The community leaders com- plained that they were unable to afford such a costly The Jewish masses, though loyal in the most part to project. Judaism, found it increasingly difficult to keep The young new Rav rose, took off the expensive new Mitzvos. Jobs where one could keep Shabbos and frock coat he had donned for the first time in honor of Yom Tov were almost impossible to find; religious his new position and declared: “Take this expensive articles and books were prohibited. Also banned coat as a beginning for the building fund of the Mik- was Jewish Education and few were courageous veh”. The leaders immediately decide to find the finan- enough to risk sending their children to the under- cial means for a superlative Mikveh. ground cheder-schools established by the previous Rebbe and his Chasidim. R. Levi Yitzchok conducted communal affairs proudly and fearlessly, allowing nothing to interfere with his They tried to inculcate into their children the fun- duties. damental of Yiddishkeit, but it seemed infinitesimal in comparison with the systematic indoctrination “An exceptionally good-natured person”, as the previ- they received at school and in their entire environ- ous Rebbe describes him, he was blessed with a rare ment. talent for clear analysis of any situation. These qualities When Jews were weighed down with economic made his adjudication of disputes according to the To- hardship, it fell to “Reb Levik” to raise their spirits rah-law (Din Torah) famous. He was respected and and provide encouragement.

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This was made difficult by the penalties the govern- the international press –with a caricature of a se- ment imposed on Rabbis and the harassment of the cret police agent pointing his pistol at a bearded Yevsektsia (Jewish section of the Communist Party). Rabbi forcing him to sign the paper before him. Seeing how little they could accomplish many rabbis On a questionnaire for a government census, each simply resigned their positions. One of the few to person had to declare whether or not he believed in remain till the end was Reb Levik. He continued to G-d. Many feared writing the truth. Reb Leivik fulfill in secret all his previous rabbinical functions. stormed publicly that to do so was forbidden by the

Many, even party members, would still secretly ap- Torah. One man was so affected by Reb Leivik’s proach the Rav to have their children circumcised or words, that, on learning that his wife had filled out to perform marriages. Once, when a young couple the form in his absence, answering for him that he came in the dead of night to request a Chupah, he was not a believer, he immediately went to the Cen- insisted on finding ten Jews. After managing to sus Office and demanded that they return the form, scrape together nine, he finally requested the tenth, as it had been incorrectly filled out. the government supervisor of his building, whose job When Reb Levik was later arrested, his public call it was to spy on his religious activities! The Jew not to sign for denial of G-d was included among agreed and thankfully no more was heard about it. the charges. He answered that he had simply called

When the Bolshevik war on religion reached its peak for Soviet citizens to answer questions honestly… and details began seeping through to the outside There was difficulty in obtaining Kosher Matzos. world, the Vatican called for a crusade against the He inquired until he found highly-placed contacts Soviet Government. The regime didn’t find it in their through whom he succeeded in reaching the Presi- best interest to have world opinion so solidly against dent of the USSR, himself. The government agreed them, and sought means for weakening the damage. to supply all Jews with Matzos according to R. Levi One ruse was calling a meeting at Minsk of thirty Yitzchok’s requirements. two rabbis of White Russia, at which they were co- At 3:00 am on Nisan 9, of 1939, loud knocks were erced into signing a paper declaring that there exist- heard at Reb Leivik’s door. NKVD agents searched ed no religious persecution in Soviet Union. the house, sifting through his valuable library and his own manuscripts, packing them all into cases. Intoxicated with their success, the government called By 6:00 am they were through. “Rabbi, put on a similar meeting at Kharkov of all Ukrainian rabbis. your coat and follow us”. Realizing it was unlikely They realized R. Levi Yitzchok would be the hardest he would be home for Pesach, he requested and nut to crack. The local NKVD chief called him to a was granted permission to take with him two kilos personal interview to explain the significance of such of Matzah. a declaration and how it could contribute to the na- tional cause. He offered R. Levi Yizchok a first class So began the ten long months, three hundred and train ticket– compliments of the NKVD. three days, the sixty one year old Rav was impris- oned. After six and a half months he was informed R. Levi Yitzchok was not flattered. Thanking him for that he had been sentenced to five years exile in his kindness, he politely refused, coolly informing chilli, a primitive Tartar village in remotest Kha- him that he could pay for his own trip. The NKVD zakhstan, Central Asia, a few hundred miles from chief had not expected such a slap in the face from a the Tibetan border. rabbi but he had not choice to accept it in silence. So broken physically was Reb Leivik that when Reb- In Kharkov, a stranger, a government agent, moved bitzen Chanah was finally able to see him briefly among the rabbis. They were afraid to utter a word. before his departure for Alma Ata, capital of Kha- Not Reb Leivik. He expressed his firm opinion that it zakistan, she could barely recognize him. He hun- would be wrong to sign a false declaration. gered there for lack of kosher food and had gone The Ukrainian Minister of Education called in R. Levi without medical attention. His first wish was to tell Yitzchok to reprimand him. He warned him that him how many days Cheshvan had that year, so he these actions could be viewed as treasonous and would know when to light candles for Chanukah. counterrevolutionary. Reb Leivik refused to budge The journey to Alma Ata took a month. Reb Leivik and convinced his colleagues to resist and pressure. was upset by the lack of water for Negel Vasser. The meeting ended in failure. For eleven days only limited quantities of water Meanwhile, Reb Leivik discovered a person about to were given each prisoner. Reb Leivik used it for leave the country. He sent a messenger imploring Negel Vasser, exchanging even the bulk of his ra- him to inform the world press of this coercion. The tions for a little extra water. sensation was smeared all over the front pages to

What hurt Reb Leivik most was his lack of Torah books sponded in kind. After experiencing hell on earth for study, and paper to record his stream of original in their flight, separated from families, friends, To- Torah insights. Besides the rare scraps of paper that rah mentors, they found here a Torah giant to came his way he utilized the page edges of the whom they could look for direction, advice and and Zohar that the Rebbitzen had managed to bring comfort. But it was all too brief a period of time. him for writing commentaries. The impossibility of ob- Despite his increasingly critical sickness and past taining ink was remedied by Rebbitzen Chanah manu- suffering for his work for Yiddishkeit, Reb Leivik facturing her own from local herbs and crushed pencil bravely resumed his exhortations in public, to leads. strengthen observing Mitzvos despite all who seek Upon publication of the five volumes of “Likutei Levi to prevent it. His fiery words on Shavous were Yitzchok” in 1971-3, the Torah world was amazed at heard in astonishment and fright by those in shul; the originality of Reb Leivik’s new approach to Torah they hadn’t heard such words in years, especially explanation, based on the intimate relationship be- from one who held a prominent rabbinical position tween every single detail of Torah phraseology, even and suffered so terribly. the most seemingly irrelevant, with the underlying The NKVD spies were in shul. Reb Leivik’s home Kabbalistic significance. was visited frequently during the next weeks by They were further amazed at his unbelievable erudition NKVD agents, who found him confined to his sick that knew no bounds, quoting verbatim from every sid- bed. As the end approached, many Jews found ex- ra of the Torah, every book of Tanach, every tractate of cuses to absent themselves from work to spend Gemara and numerous other Halachic and especially time with the dying Rav. Kabbalistic works, all of which he is known definitely They could not tear themselves away from his cap- not to have had with him in his exile. tivating personality, wisdom and counsel, his en- Sadly, most of his voluminous writings from before his couragement to remain strong to Yiddishkeit even imprisonment were apparently destroyed during the in such times. And he, too, sensing how much they Nazi occupation of Yekaterinoslav, when his second craved his words, fought with his last strength to son, Berel was also tragically murdered, HY”D. fulfill their spiritual needs. As the five lonely years of exile drew to a close in 1944, The final hours came. He barely spoke, his lips he was shocked to learn that the government planned were murmuring continuously. The evening be- to extend all expired terms of imprisonment and exile fore his passing away, he suddenly opened his eyes fro even longer. Before an official order would be re- and requested that his hands be washed. “It’s time ceived by the local NKVD office it was necessary to to get over to the other side…” were his last spo- forestall it with a release document. But how? ken words. Since the Nazi invasion of Russia in 1941, thousands of The next morning, Menachem Av 20, his situation Jews fled to inner Russia. Many found their way to worsened considerably. His pains were unbearable Tashkent and Samarkand, others to Alma Ata, among and he indicated several times they should turn them Lubavitcher Chasidim and friends of Reb Leivik. him over. His lips continued moving ceaselessly They gathered a large sum of money and endangered and Reb Hishel Rabinovitz, who put himself out for their own lives, bribing government officials to issue an Reb Leivik more than anyone else, put his ear close order for his release. On Pesach of 1944 he was free to to hear. leave. They were words from Tehillim 77: “Ve’ikvosecha He arrive in Alma Ata totally broken in body from his Lo Nodau” ( Your footsteps are not know) “Oy, harsh imprisonment and subsequent exile. He was dy- Ikvos Meshicha...Ikvos Meshicha (The footsteps of ing of a critical sickness and barely four months left to Moshiach, the period of suffering, physical and his life. His devoted friends went out of their way to spiritual, right before the coming of Moshiach). take care of all his needs, and to make the last months So passed away the last Rav of Yekatrinoslav of of his life comfortable. that time period, the great leader of Russian Jewry, Meanwhile, his spirits took and upward turn. Here a man of invincible courage to rise above the storm were hundreds of refugees, Chabad Chasidim, Polish and inspire all with his bravery and fortitude. Chassidim, Misnagdim - he had Jews with whom to Farbreng. His joy know no bounds. The Jews of Alma Ata re-

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Page 11 CHABAD CHODESH MENAC HEM AV 5776– SHNAS HAKHEL

Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av V’Eschanan Av 1/August 5/ Friday Shabbos Nachamu Av 16/August 20 Matos Masei Light Candles Friday August 19: 7:16 Shabbos Chazak Shabbos Ends: 8:19 Av 2/ August 6 Last Time To Read Shema: 9:36 Light Candles Friday August 5: 7:31 Pirkei Avos Chapter 3 Shabbos Ends: 8:34 Last Time To Read Shema: 9:33 Eikev Pirkei Avos Chapter 2 Shabbos Mevarchim Elul Av 23/ August 27 Light Candles Friday August 26 7:07 Tehillim 8:15 Shachris 10:00

Devarim Shabbos Ends: 8:10 Shabbos Chazon Last Time To Read Shema: 9:38 Av 9/August 13 Pirkei Avos Chapter 4 Light Candles Friday August 12 7:24 Shabbos Mincha 5:30 Re’eh Stop eating by 7:41 Rosh Chodesh Elul Day One Shabbos Ends 8:27 Av 30/Sepember 3 Ma’ariv 9:00 Light Candles Friday Sept 4: 6:58 Last time to Read Shema 9:35 Shabbos Ends: 8:01 Fast Deferred to Sunday Last Time To Read Shema: 9:40 Pirkei Avos Chapter 5 Start saying L’Dovid Hashem Ori

Rosh Chodesh Day Two FAST of AV 9 (deferred) Elul 1/September 4/Sunday

Av 10/ August 14/ Sunday CALENDAR TIMES ARE FOR LOS ANGELES TIMES FOR ARE CALENDAR Shacharis (First Minyan) 8:00 Molad of Elul Shacharis (Second Minyan) 9:00 Friday/Av 29/August 17 Shachris (Third Minyan) 10:00 1:13 pm + 7 Chalakim Chatzos 12:57 Mincha with Talis/Tefillin-First minyan 1:30 There will be a Siyum ,IY”H every night after Maariv from Rosh Cho- Mincha with Talis/Tefillin-second minyan 6:30 desh Av, Thursday night, August 5, Fast Ends: 8:15 thru Tu B’Av, August 18.

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רהקערה רוה רקיעה - Directives of the Rebbe for Menachem Av

1. Learn the halachas pertaining to the Nine Days. day properly. 2. We should add in learning Torah and giving 8. Make a farbrengen on the Fifteenth of Av, and Tzedakah. publicize what the Gemorah says that from the 3. We should learn about the building of the Beis Fifteenth of Av the night becomes longer and we Hamikdash from Sefer Yechezkel (from Chapter must add in our learning of Torah. (Since the 40 on), from the Mishnayos of Midos, and from nights were created for learning) The far- Rambam - Laws of Beis Hamikdash, also how it’s brengens should be made for men, for women, explained in Chassidus. and for children. 4. We should try to make a Siyum each of the Nine 9. We should add in our learning of Moshiach and Days, as well as Tishah B’Av and up until Av 15. Geulah, as they are in the Rambam laws of Mela- chim and in the Gemorah in Sanhedrin, and as 5. We should make the Siyum as public as possible, explained in Chassidus. We should make this even get small children involved.( I.e. Shuls, learning as public as possible. Camps etc..) 10. We must add in Ahavas Yisroel - Ahavas Chi- 6. We should connect the Siyum with giving nom. Tzedokah.

7. On the Fifth of Av, the Yartzeit of the Arizal, we should add in Torah and Tzedokah, utilizing the May it be the will of Hashem that these days change to days of happiness and joy.