Mosaic_Hol2010_mag_01v7.qxd:Mosaic_Passover01_mag_2007.qxd 8/2/10 12:23 PM Page 1 FALL 5771/2010 • ISSUE 25 A PUBLICATION OF THE MONTREAL TORAH CENTER BAIS MENACHEM CHABAD LUBAVITCH JOANNE AND JONATHAN GURMAN COMMUNITY CENTER • LOU ADLER SHUL BAIS MENACHEM CHABAD LUBAVITCH Mosaic_Hol2010_mag_01v7.qxd:Mosaic_Passover01_mag_2007.qxd 8/2/10 12:36 PM Page 2 Gleanings From the Rebbe’s wisdom Fortitude Maybe you feel you just can’t hack it. You know there is nothing to fear, but you are afraid. Your mind affirms that there are no obstacles that cannot be overcome, but your heart is unable to overcome even its very own pangs. It’s true; there are people who do not run from anything, who know no fear of beast or man, of life or of death. Even as they enter this world, they remain above and beyond; their feet barely touch the ground. They are the tzadikim, those who never enter the monster’s lair. But if they never enter that place, how could they ever slay the dragon? You, on the other hand, you face that awesome fear inside on its own ground. So you will make a partnership. The tzadik will lend you his power and with it you will wrestle the dark monster to the dust. For all of us are a single soul. MONTREAL TORAH CENTER BAIS MENACHEM CHABAD LUBAVITCH INDEX Joanne and Jonathan Gurman Community Center • Lou Adler Shul Rabbi Moishe New Rabbi Itchy Treitel Editorial . .3 Pizza-in-the-Sukkah . .21 Rabbi Zalman Kaplan Adult Education Director MTC’s Sponsors of the Day . .4 Around our Table . .22 Nechama New Pre-School & Day Camp Director Zeldie Treitel Program Director Brothers, Part 2 . .6 MTC Pre-School . .23 Velvel Minkowitz Administrator Kabbalah . .7 Mumbai Update . .24 Rabbi Dovid Weinbaum Youth Director MTC Draw 2010 . .8 Day Camp . .25 Joannie Tansky Managing Editor The Rebbe and Viktor Frankl . .10 Kids in Action . .26 Mushka New and Mushky Treitel Youth Programming Mazeltovs & Sympathies . .14 An In-Depth Look at Chana . .28 Publication Mail Agreement No. #40030976 Questions or return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Simchat Torah Celebration . .15 A Non-Parting Party . .30 The Montreal Torah Center, 28 Cleve Road, Hampstead PQ H3X 1A6 Tel. 739-0770 • Fax 739-5925 MTC Moments . .16 Being Jewish . .32 Email: [email protected] • www.themtc.com Running Springs California . .18 Our thanks and appreciation to Ponctuation Grafix 2 Mosaic_Hol2010_mag_01v7.qxd:Mosaic_Passover01_mag_2007.qxd 8/2/10 12:36 PM Page 3 Editorial The following correspondence was forwarded to me by a young shliach (Chabad emissary) requesting my advice on how to proceed. Dear . Good People. I find more peace with the filled – namely that ‘untimely’ death I hope you’re enjoying your summer. way I understand his theology – that it (And what of ‘timely’ death? And what is not Divine judgment, but an accident of life itself?) can have no meaning or Before you dismiss this, I ask you to that is to blame for infants to be born sanctity, for it is merely the product of please consider the following for a with birth defects – than numerology or random ‘natural causes’. (Additionally, moment. You may often find that after concepts that defy values I share. the whole notion of G-d’s un-involve- a full day at the office you just want to ment in natural disaster is incompatible get home and relax. You’re certainly not In short, I don’t think that my sitting in a room to learn now, after having asked for with the premise of a Creator, once one looking to go take a class or study at the has fathomed the nature of creation to local synagogue. answers over the years, receiving none, is an effort I think we should undertake. begin with.) I want to offer you a great opportunity What I am saying is, that before the to study one on one with me, a subject Again, I thank you for your offer – it came from a good and warm place. question of bad things happening to of your interest, at a time and place that good people can be dealt with, serious works for you. Sincerely, study is in order. The result of this You’re guaranteed to learn a lot and . knowledge goes far beyond answers to enjoy it, or your money back! questions – it grants serenity, enlight- enment and direction in a world that is Regards My suggested response: often cold, dark and oh-so painful… . Dear . Dear . ., should you desire to embark on this fulfilling journey navigated by Thank you for your sensitive and honest the Divine wisdom bequeathed to us by Dear . response – one that I mulled over since our forebears, I would be honored and receipt of it. Please allow me to offer I thank you and appreciate the offer, but humbled to make that journey with you. respectfully decline. I say respectfully the following thoughts for your consid- With every best wish and with esteem (because I genuinely respect you and eration. and affection, your work), and because I have present- The question of why bad things happen ed questions addressing theology to to good people is, of course, not a new . Orthodox Rabbis when . died. one and possibly the most challenging I was also present in the hospital when question to faith in G-d. I share this with our readership by way of invitation to the surgeon came down and told the As you probably surmise, this question those of you who are not benefitting from the learning entire family. had incurable cancer. is one that has occupied the minds of opportunities that MTC has to offer – specifically on The Rabbis called everyone together and religious thinkers and scholars through- those subjects referred to above. Everybody has ques- announced that what needed to be out the ages. Clearly, the answer is not tions. Sometimes it’s easier to leave them unanswered done was to say the 61st psalm (That was a simple one, given to ‘sound-bite’ than make the effort to find the answers. But, like all her age plus one. I might be off by a year, responses or brief exchanges. The truth things meaningful, the road with the least resistance but you get the idea.) and then put as is, that Torah has much to say on the leads to…nothing. much money as possible in the ‘pushke’ subject, shedding illuminating insight on that was passed around. Upon her death, this and related problems and questions. So allow me to encourage you to make the investment. I asked the Rabbi “What happened – In order to have some understanding and You will be richer for it. everyone did what was asked of them?” with it, some measure of inner peace, but His answer was, “She lived longer than most importantly, to know what ought to she would have, had the effort and be our response to tragedy, one needs to charity not been given.” I further asked invest effort and time in acquainting May we merit true and lasting peace the Rabbi, “How could shiva – the mourn- ourselves with the concepts and truths in Israel. ing of the loss of a parent – be ordered that lie at the core of the matter. I am to be suspended because as ‘luck’ (G-d’s May we stand tall, resolute and proud, referring to the existential questions earning the admiration and respect of will) would have it, ….. died two days relating to the purpose of life in general: before Passover? It is a demand that is the world – our destiny ever since the the nature of the soul; life before birth first Jews, Abraham and Sarah, forever contrary to the best of our instincts – and after death; the existence of evil; mourning the loss of a parent.” changed the nature of human discourse the definition of good and ultimately, by exposing the false gods and revealing Frankly, I never got anything close to the nature of G-d. Without an under- the truth of Hashem Echad. an answer, no less one that was satis- standing of these subjects, we cannot factory. The opportunity to ‘teach’ me possibly begin to intellectually approach Nechama, Itchy and Zeldie join me in then was palpable. I learned nothing in why things happen the way they do in wishing you a good and sweet year. Publication Mail Agreement response to my questions. reconciliation with belief in a loving, No. #40030976 Shana Tovah and Chag Sameach, Questions or return undeliverable just and merciful Creator. Canadian addresses to: When my first son had heart surgery The Montreal Torah Center 28 Cleve Road, at age four, after being diagnosed at Rabbi Kushner offers relief in the exclu- Hampstead PQ H3X 1A6 6 months of age, I read Rabbi Kushner’s sion of G-d from tragedy, but leaves us Tel. 514-739-0770 Fax 514-739-5925 Rabbi New Email: [email protected] book Why Do Bad Things Happen to ultimately with a void that can never be 3 Mosaic_Hol2010_mag_01v7.qxd:Mosaic_Passover01_mag_2007.qxd 8/2/10 12:36 PM Page 4 All MTC activities and programs on that particular day are attributed to the day’s sponsor. Each sponsorship is recognized on our website; in our weekly Mosaic Express and in this magazine. The sponsorship amount is $1800 per day and is billed annually, creating a consistent form of annuity contributing to MTC’s financial stability. BE A PART OF THE TEAM THAT MTC CAN RELY ON. CALL ITCHY AND BECOME A PROUD MTC SPONSOR! Tishrei 7 Shmuel and Chani Gniwisch in honour November 14 Evan and Osnat Feldman in honour of the birthday of the birthday of Shaina of Olivia Raquel Tishrei 12 Shmuel and Chani Gniwisch in honour November 24 Cola Families in honour of the birthday of Kimberly Stacey of the birthday of Yosef Chaim Tishrei 16 Stanley and Carole Satov in honour Teves 2 Cola Families in honour of the birthday of Edward Israel of the yartzeit of Mr.