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contents

THE POWER OF SIGHT 4 D’var Malchus | Sichos in English

A BEACON FOR BAALEI T’SHUVA 6 Shlichus | Nosson Avrohom

CLOSE TO ALL WHO CALL HIM 16 Miracle Story | Nosson Avrohom

DARK YEARS IN CROWN HEIGHTS 20 Feature | Avrohom Ber

EYES TO SEE – LESSONS LEARNED ON USA 29 744 Eastern Parkway SHLICHUS Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409 Shlichus | Rabbi Yaakov Shmuelevitz Tel: (718) 778-8000 Fax: (718) 778-0800 [email protected] ALWAYS UNITED! www.beismoshiach.org 32 Chassid EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: M.M. Hendel ENGLISH EDITOR: Boruch Merkur YOUR INSTITUTION IS IN THE REBBE’S [email protected] 38 ROOM! HEBREW EDITOR: Thought | Rabbi Yosef Hecht Rabbi Sholom Yaakov Chazan [email protected]

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dvar malchus THE POWER OF SIGHT

Sichos in English

^ Parshas Re’eh is read on the still think objectively about the particulars, it is far easier for them Shabbos on which the month of Elul matter and consider the merits of to be offset by other points of is blessed. Indeed, this year, Parshas the defendant. information. Re’eh is read on the day preceding If, however, he has seen the Rosh Chodesh Elul. crime perpetrated himself, he will TO SERVE G-D The Alter Rebbe describes (in be so deeply affected that he cannot BY CHOICE Likkutei Torah, Re’eh, p. 32b), Elul withdraw and contemplate the as the month when “the king is in matter without bias. These concepts are relevant with the field.” “Anyone who so desires is Seeing and hearing operate regard to this week’s Torah reading, granted permission [and can] differently. Parshas Re’eh which begins: [2] approach him, and greet him. He When a person sees an event or “See that I am placing before you receives them all pleasantly, and an object, it penetrates deeper than today a blessing and a curse.” shows a smiling countenance to his conscious mind, establishing an The portion continues to allude all.” inner connection. to the principles of free choice and Elul is a time of Divine favor, a The impression created remains reward and punishment: [3] “The time when we can make requests of with him, constantly strong and blessing [will come] if you obey the Him, and they will be granted. powerful. commandments... and the curse Therefore, it is a time when Jews When, by contrast, he hears [will come] if you do not heed... wish each other a kesivah about the matter, even if his source and go astray from the path which I v’chasimah tovah, that they be is reliable, such a connection is not have commanded.” inscribed for a good and sweet year, established, and his conception of Moshe is telling the people that including the ultimate expression of the matter is intellectual alone. their observance of G-d’s good, the coming of the Therefore, he can weigh it back and commandments will not be a Redemption, and the era when forth and see other perspectives. spontaneous response. Instead, “those who repose in the dust will There is another difference they will be required to make a arise and sing.” (Isaiah 26:19) between these two senses: conscious choice. When we see an object or an Why does G-d grant man event, we grasp it in its totality, and choice? To elevate him to a higher PENETRATING plane of Divine service. [4] PERCEPTION only afterwards, do we focus on the particulars. When we hear, by Were man’s choice between Our Sages state: [1] “A witness contrast, we begin with the good and evil to come naturally, he may not serve as a judge.” And they particulars and work toward the would not have any sense of explain the rationale: “Once a comprehension of the entire accomplishment. What would he person has seen [a crime] picture. have earned? committed, he can never find These two points are For this reason, at every stage of justification for the perpetrator.” interrelated: his spiritual progress, man is This teaches us that sight does Because one sees the entity in its confronted with challenges which more than convey information. totality, it penetrates deeper. And he must overcome on his own When a judge hears the details conversely, when all the initiative. [5] of a crime from witnesses, he can information one receives is By nature, evil has no substance,

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and as darkness is repelled by light, good that he can achieve through the monthly cycle of the Jewish evil would be subdued by the power positive choice, and when he sees year. Parshas Re’eh is read either of holiness. that the entire reason evil has been on the Shabbos on which the month Nevertheless, in order to allow given any substance is to allow him of Elul is blessed or on Rosh for free choice, evil is granted the to make that choice, he will surely Chodesh Elul. The name Elul serves power to present a obstacle to the choose positively. as an acronym for the Hebrew forces of holiness. Alternatively, the word “see” can words Ani L’dodi V’dodi lee which Indeed, the forces of evil are be interpreted as a command.[8] mean “I am my Beloved’s and my granted sufficient strength to The objective of man’s Divine Beloved is mine” (Song of Songs parallel even the highest spiritual service should be to labor to reach a 6:3). levels. state that he sees Divine purpose in Our Rabbis (Or HaTorah, For this reason, we see that at his life. Parshas Re’eh, p. 791) interpret times, man is motivated by a desire When this purpose is “seen” and this phrase as indicating that man for material things which goes not merely comprehended takes the initiative in establishing beyond his understanding, to the intellectually, he will feel inspired to this bond of love. See the essay point that he is even willing to risk carry out his Divine service with entitled, “The King in the Field,” his life for these goals. increased vitality. Moreover, the (Timeless Patterns in Time, Vol. II, Nevertheless, these challenges word “see” can be interpreted as a p. 153ff). have one purpose: that man face promise that we will in fact reach 6. In this context, we can derive them and overcome them. this level of awareness. a concept from the verse cited Through these endeavors, the above: “See that I am placing good which man spreads within the SEEING THE TRUTH before you today a blessing and a world becomes his own doing. He curse.” The Hebrew word nosen The ultimate expression of the is not merely a recipient of Divine translated as “placing” has the potential of sight will be in the Era favor; he makes a contribution of implications of a generous gift (see of the Redemption with the his own. [6] Bava Basra 53a). fulfillment of the prophecy: [9] Seemingly, the possibility of “The glory of G-d will be revealed “the curse” is the opposite of SIGHT AS ASSISTANCE, and all flesh will see.” generosity. Based on the above, A COMMAND, AND In contrast to the present era, however, there is no difficulty. For when we can see only material A PROMISE the ultimate purpose of the entities and G-dliness is perceived as On one hand, the challenges possibility of a curse is that man an external force, in that future time, man confronts must be real. reach more consummate we will see directly how G-dliness is If they do not require that he tap achievement in the sphere of the truth of all existence. his inner resources of strength to holiness. Nor is this merely a promise of overcome them, they do not grant 7. In this context, seeing helps the distant future. him the opportunity to express prepare for man’s Divine service. The Redemption is an imminent these powers of achievement. 8. In this context, seeing comes reality, so close to us that a On the other hand, G-d does as a result of man’s Divine service. foretaste of its revelations are not want man to fail. 9. Isaiah 40:5. possible at present. He invests within him the power 10. This also leads to another Indeed, it is already possible to to overcome the challenges he faces point. As mentioned, sight operates see [10] the manifestations of the and aids him in this endeavor. on a plane above intellectual blessings of the Redemption. One of the means of comprehension. Often, we see empowerment is alluded to in the things that we do not fully Notes: above verse: “See that I am placing understand. 1. Rosh HaShanah 26a. before you....” G-d allows man to Similarly, in the context 2. Deuteronomy 11:26. see the truth of “the blessing and of mentioned above, although signs of 3. Ibid.:27-28. the curse.” [7] Mashiach’s coming are visible, for 4. See also the essay “Choosing As explained at the outset, when certain individuals, the matter may Our Mission” in this series which something is seen, it is perceived in still be beyond complete also touches on the concept of free its entirety and a deep impression is comprehension. This factor does choice. made. not, however, detract from the truth 5. The importance of man’s When man sees the nature of the of our perception. initiative reflects a connection to

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shlichus A BEACON FOR BAALEI ^ TSHUVA

By Nosson Avrohom Shliach, Shaul Yosef Benshimol took a group of mekuravim to a seminar at a French retreat in a magnificent castle. * A few days later they made a frightening discovery and at the end of the retreat they received a direct invitation to visit the Rebbe from 18 Elul until after Sukkos. * Mosad HaAderes V’HaEmuna has produced hundreds of baalei t’shuva and Chassidishe families. It was founded by direct order of the Rebbe. * Even the shlichus, including bona fide miracles. Yet, if you ask him, he feels French Secret Service wanted to know like he is just starting out… His own life story is unusual. why it was called “Mosad” * The amazing Although he comes from a family of kabbalists in Morocco, he story of a shliach and a shlichus that was abandoned Judaism in his youth and led by the Rebbe’s hand. entered the world of film and theater in Paris which at that time set the tone for the entertainment industry Hundreds of Chabad families, showed them the way, teaching them throughout the world. When he felt including teachers and shluchim about Judaism and exposing them to that he was reaching the top of his throughout France, owe a debt of the beauty of Chassidic teachings. R’ field, he met the legendary gratitude to veteran shliach, Rabbi Benshimol has 35 years worth of playwright Henry Korman and Shaul Yosef Benshimol, director of shlichus stories about his began working with him. the organization “HaAderes mekuravim, the Rebbe’s They began working together on V’HaEmuna” in Paris. It was he who extraordinary involvement in his

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Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Since they understood his life changing enjoys being interviewed and getting had heard that Shakespeare used decision. Benshimol’s first visit to publicity. On the contrary, his work Jewish mystical motifs in his plays, the Rebbe was all he needed to over the years has been done they thought it would be a good idea conclude his inner journey. modestly. I met him in the home of to learn something about Jewish Just one year later, the Rebbe one of his daughters in Milan and mysticism. While looking for the told him to start an organization to was happy to have the opportunity right place to study they came across spread Judaism. “I was to talk to him. At first he tried a Kabbala class given by a Chabad flabbergasted. I didn’t know how to sidestepping the journalistic shliach in Paris. The rest, as they learn Tanya well enough and limelight but in the end he gave in say, is history. certainly not other Chassidic works, and agreed to tell the story of his One shiur followed another and but when the Rebbe says something, shlichus. He makes a very fine within a short time, Benshimol you do it.” impression – with his warmth and shocked the movie industry in This special regard the Rebbe ever-present smile, his genuine France when he decided to drop it had for him was just one link in a humility and charismatic personality. all and go back to his roots. Of all long chain of unusual kiruvim. His passion is irrepressible as he people, it was Henry Korman who R’ Benshimol is not the type who describes his encounters with the

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big thing in the world of theater. One shiur followed another and within Since he asked me, I began looking a short time, Benshimol shocked the for a class on mysticism and that’s how I got to a shliach in Paris. It movie industry in France when he was before Pesach and the shliach spoke about the holiday and about decided to drop it all and go back to his the inner meaning of Judaism. I followed his talk with interest since I roots. Of all people, it was Henry found that the points he made fit wonderfully with the main themes in Korman who understood his life the play. I was very impressed and changing decision. Benshimol’s first amazed by this.” visit to the Rebbe was all he needed to FIRST YECHIDUS conclude his inner journey. One shiur followed another and Benshimol loved the ideas he was learning. Rebbe, their written correspondence Sheini at a very old age, was known “Suddenly, the world of theater and the special favor the Rebbe in Morocco as a woman with ruach didn’t interest me and I only wanted showed him. ha’kodesh. She told my mother that to learn more and more and get One of my friends, a young she would merit to see Moshiach. close to G-d. I remember the day shliach in Paris, told me that he “My mother spoke to me about that I decided to do t’shuva. I was attended some classes on Moshiach Moshiach from when I was four. with another friend who had gotten and Geula given by R’ Benshimol in There’s no question that my involved in Judaism and both of us the shul at the Sinai school and was grandmother’s bracha was fulfilled decided to mark the occasion as a completely enthralled. “He spoke when my mother came with me for day of celebration for us, the day we with such enthusiasm you would yechidus. It’s interesting that my discovered our inner essence. I think he was presenting the material uncle, the mekubal Rabbi Chazan began to feel that up until then I had for the first time. The Talmudic Aziza, told me one time that been in the dark, in an empty world dictum ‘And it should be in your Moshiach would come from the which didn’t truly satisfy me. eyes like new’- surely is exemplified United States.” “Henry Korman, who realized he by R’ Benshimol. He’s a shliach who The breakthrough in his career was losing me, spoke to me frankly ‘lives’ Moshiach, feels Moshiach, was when he met the famous and said, ‘Although I am losing out and publicizes about Moshiach.” playwright from South America, by your getting involved with The secret to R’ Benshimol’s Henry Korman. religion, I am happy for you that you success in reaching out to people is “I met him in Paris at a meeting found the inner point that will make this: Lots of chayus, love, joy, and of actors. I got into a conversation you happy.’ Some of my friends smiles. Here is a shliach who is a with him and afterwards he wanted were shocked and some said they source of great inspiration. to meet me and said that for over knew this would happen. two years he had been looking for “I came across a book of INFLUENCE someone like me to work with him Chassidic stories written by Martin FROM THE HOME on Hamlet. He planned on putting Buber. The book fascinated me and on the play in many countries in an brought me closer to the world of Even when he slipped off the unprecedented performance with Chassidim. path and immersed himself into the singers and first-rate actors. The “I went to the Rebbe for the first decadent theater subculture, where storyline is about the soul and time on Chaf Av 1972. I didn’t know traditional faith is hard to find, he introspection. I agreed to work with it was a special date. I entered 770 never abandoned kashrus. him and we got started. in the middle of the Rebbe’s “My mother put this into our “One day, as we worked on the farbrengen. I found many wonderful veins.” And then he added play, he sent me to research the people who invited me to their something surprising, “At home we Jewish angle. At that time, nothing homes and provided me with full always lived Moshiach. My maternal interested me aside from the play room and board. I was amazed by grandmother, who died on Pesach which we thought would be the next the tremendous Ahavas Yisroel that I

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encountered for the first time in my life. “On my first Shabbos I was hosted by Rabbi Shmuel Horowitz who knew a little Moroccan from the time he learned in Brunoy, when the yeshiva was full of talmidim from Morocco. Later on I was a guest of Rabbi Leibel Mochkin who was a congenial host. “A few days after I arrived, I had yechidus. I was so overcome by emotion and awe that I could barely open my mouth. I gave the Rebbe the paper with my questions and requests and remained standing. I hardly understood anything in that Rabbi Benshimol at a farbrengen-shiur with mekuravim at a restaurant in Paris yechidus. The Rebbe spoke in Ivrit, French, and some Yiddish. “The highlight of the yechidus was that I suddenly remembered a very important question that I hadn’t written in my note. I was standing there and thinking about it when the Rebbe pulled out a letter from a pile of letters on his desk. I could see it was the letter I had written to the Rebbe about that problem when I was still in Paris. I hadn’t received an answer and here was the Rebbe taking out the letter and responding to the question! “I was bowled over by the Rebbe’s ruach ha’kodesh. My feet literally shook and my teeth The opening and dedication of the mosad, “HaAderes V’HaEmuna” chattered. Maybe it was because of with the hachnasa of three Sifrei Torah with a blue, white and red paroches, that, that I couldn’t concentrate on the colors of the French flag the rest of the yechidus. When I left the room, R’ Mochkin asked me “My mother spoke to me about what the Rebbe said and I answered that I didn’t remember much. I only Moshiach from when I was four. There’s remembered that the Rebbe spoke to me in three languages and if I wasn’t no question that my grandmother’s mistaken, I heard the word ‘dayan.’ “He decided from what the bracha was fulfilled when my mother Rebbe had said that I had to continue with my learning and he came with me for yechidus. It’s took me to Rabbi Yisroel Jacobson interesting that my uncle, the mekubal who ran yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim and he sent me to learn in Hadar Rabbi Chazan Aziza, told me one time Ha’Torah by Rabbi Goldberg. I told R’ Mochkin that I was an only child that Moshiach would come from the and could not remain in New York United States.”

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added that I had to get involved in MIRACLE FLIGHT kiruv. I was surprised by this During Chanuka 5741 my family and I were in Crown Heights. The answer. I should get involved in visit was marred because one of my daughters had a double ear kiruv? I was just a young baal infection. When this happened in the past, she would get an injection t’shuva… which would soothe the infected area. This time, there were a few days “The Rebbe apparently had other left before we would be going back to France and we went to Dr. plans. In those days, Rabbi Feldman. Binyamin Gorodetzky was the When he examined her ears and heard about our upcoming trip, he director of the European office and said the pressure of the altitude could cause her irreversible problems the Rebbe’s representative. In a two and unbearable pain. He said he could give her an injection but we hour yechidus, the Rebbe spoke to should ask the Rebbe whether we could travel with her in this him about my opening the third condition. mosad in Paris. When R’ The next day I went to R’ Klein and asked him to bring a letter from Gorodetzky left the yechidus, he met me to the Rebbe. The day of the flight was approaching and I had no with me and another member of the response. Before Mincha on the day of our flight, I asked my wife to “Lishka” (name of the first Chabad stand with our daughter in the entranceway to 770 where travelers organization in France), Rabbi stood to get the Rebbe’s bracha. If the Rebbe would give a bracha, we Refael Wilschansky, who spoke would know all was well. fluent French and was the After Mincha, the Rebbe returned to his room and didn’t say interpreter between us. anything but I was happy when R’ Klein came over to me and said that “During that visit, the Rebbe a positive answer had been given about the trip and the Rebbe included decided to pay half the travel two French bills, one of 100 francs and the other 10 francs. I don’t expenses of whoever had come to know why that amount – perhaps because the gematria of the word nes 700 with me from Paris. He asked (miracle) is 110. that upon my return there, I should I told my wife that there was nothing to worry about, that the Rebbe visit the Lishka and get the money! had given his bracha. The truth is that it was difficult because our The following Shabbos was 12 daughter cried hysterically all the way to the airport. When the plane Tamuz and the Rebbe told R’ Groner took off she suddenly became quiet and fell into a deep sleep. Nothing at the farbrengen to call me to the could disturb her. When the plane landed she woke up and cried again. farbrengen dais. The Rebbe opened In the afternoon, when we went to the doctor, he yelled at us for a bottle of mashke and poured some not coming sooner. When we told him that we had just arrived from for me to say l’chaim. Then the America that morning, he laughed, “To fly with a child in this Rebbe arranged for a bottle for me condition…” Another doctor who regularly attends my shiurim, and and said, ‘This is for your friends in saw my daughter, said that to the best of his knowledge it was a Paris.’ I can’t describe how I felt at miracle. that moment. “The next day, Sunday 13 Tamuz, there was another for long since my mother would my mekuravim, an extremely farbrengen and after the special worry and also because I took care talented musician named Yitzchok niggun for Russian Jewry I heard the of her, but he promised me that he Bitton. I had a number of questions Rebbe suddenly say, ‘There is a would take care of my mother and and I wanted answers from the group here from France and they would send money and I should Rebbe regarding my personal life. will probably sing ‘HaAderes devote myself to my learning.” Till this day I try not to do anything V’HaEmuna.’ The Rebbe looked at without asking the Rebbe. me and waited and R’ Groner, with THE REBBE SAID TO “In one day I was thrilled to get his hand motions urged me to begin. Who me? I should sing in front of SING: HA’ADERES three answers through the secretaries, to three different letters. the Rebbe? V’HA’EMUNA One of the questions I asked was “I wanted R’ Bitton to sing but “About two years after I got about the proper way to be mekarev he was shy and that left me alone married, in Tamuz 1976, I had a Jews in France and the Rebbe said with all of 770 waiting for me. I yechidus together with my wife, my there was indeed a special way and finally began to sing and afterwards eldest son, my mother and one of not everybody merited it and he I myself was surprised by how well it

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sounded. My wife says that the Rebbe adjusted my voice. Those were unforgettable moments. The Rebbe smiled broadly and encouraged me with his hands. This is why I called my organization ‘HaAderes V’HaEmuna.’”

SHOCKING DISCOVERY IN THE CASTLE As soon as he returned to Paris, R’ Benshimol started the mosad which the Rebbe asked him to establish. The place chosen for it th Two bills included with the Rebbe’s was the 18 Arondissement and response, “I will mention it at the t’fillos, shiurim, mivtzaim, and gravesite. The enclosed is for tz’daka outreach began. over there.” A letter from the Rebbe to the mosad “It isn’t described as ‘under the leadership of the Rebbe shlita’ because R’ Gorodetzky told me later The Rebbe looked at me and waited… I on that except for two mosdos, the finally began to sing and afterwards I yeshiva in Brunoy and Beis Rivka, the Rebbe did not want any French myself was surprised by how well it mosad to be publicly under his leadership. In the early years, when I sounded. My wife says that the Rebbe saw that Rabbi Hillel Pevzner davened near us in a small Sefardic adjusted my voice. The Rebbe smiled shul, I asked him to join us. Later on, when he built the Sinai campus, broadly and encouraged me with his he made a shul there and he asked hands. This is why I called my me and the entire k’hilla to join him.” organization ‘HaAderes V’Ha’Emuna.’ Over the years, R’ Benshimol merited unusual kiruvim from the Rebbe. He related this special went on vacation like this and it was mekuravim who went to shower at instance with great emotion: very successful. Forty families joined the castle ran out in a fright and said “In the early years, we would go us including many young people and there was blood on the walls. When together, the entire group, to spend for every age group we arranged we went in to look, we didn’t see the summer outside the city and we shiurim on various topics and Jewish anything but the frightened face of had shiurim and t’fillos together. R’ activities. We arrived at the resort someone we knew to be a rational, Yosef Dery was one of the people with the castle in the center some stable person alarmed us. A few who helped arrange these retreats. time before Tisha B’Av and hours later, another one of the The story I want to tell you everything fell into place. mekuravim, someone who ran one happened in the summer of 1979. “A day after Tisha B’Av, we felt of the biggest jails in Paris, came We looked for a suitable place to that something was amiss because racing out of the storage room stay and found a vacation resort in a people seemed uptight. At first we where we kept fruits and vegetables, village, in the center of which was a were afraid that people weren’t screaming that someone threatened castle surrounded by orchards and happy with the gashmius which was to kill him. flowers and streams. Many people a bit strange since it was all “Once again, a number of us from the k’hilla joined us and wonderful, but later we began to went inside and didn’t see a thing. registration was closed. hear stories from people that seemed He insisted that he wasn’t dreaming “This was the second time we delusional. but had seen a man who threatened “For example, one of the him. Something strange was going

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work without working on Saturdays. Word got around and it turned out that This would mean missing over a most of the people had heard the cries month of work! “At first I tried to deflect him, but but each one kept it to his or her self R’ Gorodetzky repeated his message, saying he was conveying the Rebbe’s either because he thought he was request and this wasn’t subject to discussion. The Rebbe wasn’t imagining it or because he was afraid of satisfied with just Sukkos or Simchas Torah, but wanted what others would think. everybody, with no exception, to be in 770 from 18 Elul until after on! “The souls of hundreds of Jews Shabbos B’Reishis! “All this happened in one day. who did not merit burial were the “It took me some time until I The final incident that convinced us ones who did not let us live there in grasped that there was something that something was seriously wrong peace. We had a meeting and I told behind this request that surely had was when one woman told her the families the story and we all said to do with the castle. When I asked friend that on Tisha B’Av, during the chapters of T’hillim around the the k’hilla who were witnesses to reading of the Kinos, she had heard castle with some people crying. that phone conversation, I was cries coming forth from the ground. From then on, we dedicated the surprised to hear their unanimous Her friend said she had also heard shiurim to the memories of these agreement. If the Rebbe wants it, the cries but didn’t want to tell holy Jews. we’re going! This was despite the anyone lest they think she was crazy. “As I did every week, I sent the fact that virtually of them were not “Word got around and it turned Rebbe a report and I told him the yet Chabad Chassidim, at least out that most of the people had shocking discovery we had made. according to their outward heard the cries but each one kept it The retreat concluded a week later. appearance. to his or her self either because he The frightening stories ceased and “We arrived on Chai Elul. Rabbi thought he was imagining it or everybody enjoyed their vacation. Moshe Yaroslavsky a”h went out of because he was afraid of what others On the last day we decided to travel his way to help us and this entailed would think. together to the Chabad house and finding hosts for forty families. The “When I heard all this I realized from there, each family would go next morning, as I walked to 770, R’ that the problem was not with our home. We thought we’d have coffee Groner met me and asked me program but with the location. I together and sum up the experience whether we had settled in nicely. I asked Yosef Dery to go into the before parting, but someone had said that we had. The next day he village and inquire of the gentiles other plans… approached me again and asked me about the castle and whether they the same question. I gave him the knew something we didn’t know. THE REBBE WANTS TO same answer and offered some When he began asking around, they SEE YOUR K’HILLA details of our arrangements and said were silent and he realized there was there were no complaints. This something they were hiding. He “The moment we entered the repeated itself for two weeks. intensified his efforts to find out the Chabad house, the phone rang. R’ “One morning I asked him, truth about the place. Gorodetzky was on the line and he ‘Leibel, why do you ask me the same “He finally spoke with one of the said: I came from the United States question every day when I answered village elders who invited him into today and in the yechidus I had you yesterday?’ He gave me a look his home and told him that the castle before I left, the Rebbe asked me to and said: The Rebbe asks me how had been used by the Gestapo and tell you that he wants to see you and you are doing every morning and in many Jews had been brutally all the members of your k’hilla in order to answer him, I have to ask tortured and murdered there and 770 for Tishrei. you. around it and not even buried. The “I was stunned. Who would “I was very touched by the Nazis played a game in which they agree to spend another large sum of Rebbe’s personal interest. In general, made believe they were asleep and money in such a short period of throughout our stay, the members of when the Jews tried to escape the time? And people could lose their the group and I enjoyed an amazing castle to the fields of wheat, they jobs for this. Remember that in and unusual relationship with the would shoot them. those days it wasn’t easy to find

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Rebbe, kiruvim that until today make me tremble when I remember them. Before Sukkos, R’ Gorodetzky called me to the secretariat where R’ Shmuel Azimov was waiting. He gave us the Dalet minim intended for France. I received the esrog, R’ Azimov the lulav, and the Rebbe told us to be partners for the hadasim. “I cannot possibly describe our excitement. I still hadn’t digested the kiruv when I had gotten the esrog from the Rebbe, and on Simchas Torah, at the fifth hakafa, R’ Groner motioned that the Rebbe was looking for me. In order to reach the Rebbe, another mekurav and I had A farbrengen which took place at the mosad when they received to walk on people’s shoulders since the kuntres “Beis Rabbeinu Sh’B’Bavel it was so crowded. The Rebbe instructed that two Sifrei Torah be “One morning I asked him, ‘Leibel, why given to us for the hakafa. “Shluchim from France that were do you ask me the same question every with us, as well as little me, couldn’t begin to absorb all these kiruvim day when I answered you yesterday?’ from the Rebbe. It was a real gilui Elokim. He gave me a look and said: The Rebbe “A few days before we returned asks me how you are doing every to France, I had yechidus and the Rebbe asked whether the secretaries morning and in order to answer him, I had given us answers to all the letters. When I said they hadn’t, the have to ask you. Rebbe said to ask the secretaries because he wanted to answer all the afterwards that the Rebbe did not Arondissement. The Rebbe picked up questions. When I left the Rebbe’s return to his room until we had the box and wrote the number 18 in room for the secretaries, we disappeared off the horizon. The pencil and then put the box on his searched through all the letters Rebbe did not explicitly connect all desk. designated for France and did not these kiruvim to what happened on “Two months later, on Chanuka, find responses. our retreat but every member of the I had yechidus again and my wife “The morning of our flight we group felt there was a connection.” pointed out that the box with the key received answers to all the questions that we had given the Rebbe in of all the members of the group. In THE KEY THAT Tishrei was still on the desk in the the meantime, we sent in a letter to REMAINED IN THE same spot. This made me feel the Rebbe that said that we were wonderful for the Rebbe was given leaving for the airport in the REBBE’S ROOM many keys and yet our key remained afternoon after Mincha. R’ Benshimol described another on the desk. “Before Mincha, R’ Groner told marvelous kiruv: “On my way out I asked R’ us that the Rebbe said he would “In Tishrei 5741/1980 I had Groner about it and he said that he escort us. Those were glorious yechidus in order to give the Rebbe cleared off only those things which moments: The group filled two a fine gold key to our mosad. The the Rebbe told him to clear off and buses. We danced and sang and the Rebbe picked up the key and asked the Rebbe didn’t say anything about Rebbe came out of his room and where it was from and I said, from the key. When I related this in Paris, looked at us and clapped. One of my Paris. The Rebbe asked from where people didn’t believe me. Seven friends who was there told me in Paris and I said from the 18th months later, in the summer, Yosef Dery had yechidus and was

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 707 13 707:Beis Moshiach 09/08/2009 10:54 PM Page 14

sat with him in his car. There was a He would travel two hours from the lot of traffic and we were afraid that south of Paris to shiurim and when he we wouldn’t reach all the Jews we wanted to reach. wanted his wife to come along she “At a certain point he pressed a button in his car and within minutes would say … ‘I would not have married some police cars pulled up. He showed them his document and they you if you were religious. I don’t have to escorted us around all the traffic jams. When we got past the go along with your whims.’ I told him congested area they asked whether not to pressure her but to merely ask her this was all right with us and when he said yes, they disappeared. He’s to attend classes… Eventually they both brilliant and the government will do anything for him. became baalei t’shuva. “We once inadvertently got into trouble because of this. On the door astonished to see the key still on the thinking said we would visit the next to the Chabad house I wrote, desk. time, but that was not meant to be.” ‘Mosad HaAderes V’HaEmuna,’ and “During that yechidus in Tishrei the police who saw him going in and 5741 there was another very special out of our shiurim and t’fillos did WHEN THE BIG some research. When they realized thing. The Rebbe told me that he SCIENTIST JOINED would give each member of the that in Hebrew the place was called group who came with me a Siddur MIVTZA PURIM a mosad, they associated this with and Tanya with his signature. Many Jews transformed their the Israeli Mosad and feared that he Afterwards, R’ Groner told me that lives, thanks to R’ Benshimol. He was giving them information. when the Rebbe signed them, he told us about one of them: “For a long time they kept close would let me know. The final day of “In our k’hilla there was a special tabs on us. They gathered our visit came and went and the person by the name of Claude information on every person who Rebbe still had not sent out the Gaugnim, a scientist and inventor visited the Chabad house. A secret signed s’farim. who worked for the French military. agent once approached one of our R’ Benshimol sadly related Among other things, he developed people near the Chabad house and another thing that has still not been advanced missiles and had a share in said to him, you don’t know me but fulfilled: developing some of the French I know you well, and to the man’s “I have one big regret. We made Mirage fighter jets. In all of France surprise the agent told him all his copies of all our flyers and sent them there were only two other people personal information. to the Rebbe and I received a with such a high security clearance “Claude’s t’shuva process was response for every mailing. When I and he always had a card on him very interesting. He came from a once had the thought that I was that gave him complete freedom of very intellectual background and bothering the Rebbe with trivial movement throughout France. No Chassidus won him over quickly. things, I found out that the Rebbe policeman could stop him and every His wife though, was not interested. brought home all these copies to the official had to fulfill any request of He would travel two hours from the Rebbetzin. his. In some respects, he has more south of Paris to shiurim and when “This piece of information was power than the Prime Minister. he wanted his wife to come along confirmed when we were in New Policemen are stationed around his she would say, ‘When we got York before the Rebbetzin passed house and they accompany him married, you weren’t like this. I away and right before our flight the wherever he goes. would not have married you if you secretary R’ Klein told me that the “One year in the middle of were religious. I don’t have to go Rebbetzin had prepared tea and cake Mivtza Purim, I sent a convoy of along with your whims.’ and she wanted to meet the women cars loaded with mishloach manos to “I told him not to pressure her of the HaAderes V’HaEmuna many places throughout the city so but to merely ask her to attend organization. Because we were in they could do mivtzaim. Claude and classes so she could experience it for such a rush I hastily and without his car took part in the mivtza and I herself. One time she agreed to

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come and she liked it! Shabbos and kashrus were the first mitzvos they took on and eventually they both became baalei t’shuva. They recently made aliya.”

SHLICHUS PERMEATED BY MOSHIACH R’ Benshimol is a shliach who lives with inyanei Moshiach and Geula. In addition to his big ‘Yechi’ yarmulke, everything he does is directed towards hastening the hisgalus. When asked what he thinks should be done to raise Moshiach awareness, he said to learn inyanei Moshiach as they are taught in the Rebbe’s sichos, particularly in the “Here’s a story for you. The “The Rebbe looked at it and D’var Malchus. musician who was standing with me asked whether another line could be “You can see how the Rebbe when the Rebbe asked me to sing added, ‘yehi ratzon she’yihiye b’karov wasn’t speaking about the past but HaAderes V’HaEmuna, Yitzchok mamash.’ He was very excited for about the present and future. It’s Bitton, is a talented composer. He there could be no greater amazing every time to see how the wrote a song about Geula and he approbation to the song than the Rebbe’s sichos are as relevant as asked me whether he should show it Rebbe adding some words to it. If ever even when they were said to the Rebbe. I said that he should you hear the song you will notice fifteen or twenty years ago. and the next time he had yechidus, that he repeats the line the Rebbe he showed the song to the Rebbe. added to it several times.” LIVE SHIURIM 0NLINE cwwv Anywhere, Anytime ! CHITAS j,ww, INYONEI GEULA unahj dtukv gbhbh & MOSHIACH rncwwo RAMBAM ckeuyh ahgurho SHIURIM IN LIKUTEI eusa ahju, SICHOS KODESH

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BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 707 15 707:Beis Moshiach 09/08/2009 10:54 PM Page 16

miracle story

Mrs. Devora Beshari, serves on shlichus together with her husband and children in the village of Biriya, CLOSE TO ALL near Tzfas. She has kept this miraculous and amazing story to herself for many years. Only a limited number of friends and family members knew about the exciting and fantastic chain of events to this WHO CALL HIM story. However, a few years ago, when Mrs. Beshari saw the tremendous power this story By Nosson Avrohom possessed for the purpose of giving Translated By Michoel Leib Dobry Jews spiritual strength and bringing them closer to the path of their forefathers, she decided to tell it at I remained alone with five little every opportunity. Mrs. Beshari felt deeply that she children, the oldest only six years old – had been given a rare privilege to and it was very difficult. My only experience the Rebbe MH”M’s ruach ha’kodesh in a tangible way. “I consolation was that my husband would feel that the Rebbe has been accompanying me at every step, ever surely give the letter to the Rebbe, but to since I was a child, when I merited to learn in the first Chabad my great shock… kindergarten opened by Mrs. Rochel Zamir in my hometown of Cholon. This continued with the early days of the Chabad school opened in our city by Rabbi Itche Gansbourg, under the auspices of ‘Reshet Oholei Yosef Yitzchok.’ “It was in 5750,” Mrs. Beshari began her story, “in the days leading up to the Chanukah holiday, when Rabbi Aharon Eliezer Ceitlin, shliach of the Rebbe MH”M and director- general of the Chabad kindergarten network in Tzfas, organized an extensive group trip for members of the local Jewish community to travel to Crown Heights, experience the unique atmosphere of ‘Beis Chayeinu,’ receive the Rebbe’s holy brachos and become personally connected with him. When Rabbi Ceitlin asked my husband to join that particular group as an escort and bring his instruments to provide musical accompaniment on the trip, he was overjoyed. “The Chabad niggunim played on his clarinet added much to the Photo by S. B. Goldstein

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visit and created much joy for the was that my husband would surely blue envelope in our mailbox from group members. It also intensified give the letter to the Rebbe, and we America – the type that came from the wonderful chassidic atmosphere. would all merit to receive his the secretariat of the Rebbe, Melech For his part, my husband was most blessings as requested. I will never HaMoshiach. I was so stunned that I pleased and even excited by this forget how much I longed for his had to catch my breath. I tried to golden opportunity to see and be return, not only because I would recall the last time that I had written seen by the leader of the generation. have his help with the children, but a letter to the Rebbe, but I couldn’t To be perfectly honest, however, I also because I was most curious to remember. A flood of emotion was not quite as thrilled. At the time, hear what happened during the visit. gripped me as never before, and I we had five children, all of whom “As high as my hopes were, even quickly made my way back to the were very young, and I expected that deeper was my heartbreak and house. it would not be easy to deal with disappointment upon his return “I washed my hands and made a them totally on my own. It’s safe to when I discovered to my shock and few appropriate preparations before say that I grimaced a bit, but I dismay the brown envelope opening the letter from the Rebbe. eventually gave my blessing for the containing my letter still sitting in With trembling fingers and trip. his luggage. chattering teeth, I slowly opened the “We were living in Tzfas’ Kiryat “I was beside myself with envelope. The Rebbe’s letter was Chabad community at the time, and anguish. Tears of deep emotional addressed to me. I kept trying to many chassidim came to our home prior to the trip to give letters and The girl told my daughter… a miracle Panim to my husband, which he would submit to the Rebbe’s story that she had heard… at the home secretariat upon his arrival at 770. The flow of people was constant, of a Chabad family, while she was and my husband packed all the letters into a file folder for staying at the ASCENT Institute… my presentation to one of the Rebbe’s secretaries. Naturally, I also didn’t daughter started to smile broadly. “Why pass up this opportunity, and I sat are you smiling?” the girl asked well into the night writing a letter that included the names of all the “Because that story happened to my members of my family – my parents, my brothers and sisters, my mother!” Today, that young woman is a grandparents, my brothers-in-law – about forty names in all. Chabadnikit “I remember sitting and writing until one o’clock in the morning. I pain rolled down my cheeks as I remember when I had sent a Pan to put my whole soul into that letter, asked my husband how he could the Rebbe that had not elicited a pouring into it everything hidden have forgotten. He sighed and told response. I always kept copies of within my heart, and the letter just me that the visit was so full and letters I sent to the Rebbe, and as I got longer and longer. intense that he simply forgot all went through all of them, I “Before my husband left the about the envelope. He had planned discovered no unanswered house, I gave him the lengthy letter to submit it separately from all the correspondence. After a few more in a large brown envelope, and he others, but in the end, he gave those minutes, I realized that I was packed the letter in a compartment letters in to the secretariat and experiencing something out of this separate from the other letters. His totally forgot about the separate world, true ruach ha’kodesh. plan was to present this letter to the brown envelope! The Rebbe replied as follows: Rebbe in a more personal fashion. “With a heavy heart, I placed the B”H, the 3rd of Teives 5750 “During their ten day trip to the letter in one of our cabinet drawers Brooklyn, N.Y. Rebbe, I remained alone with five and thought to myself that I would Mrs. Devora, tichye little children, the oldest being my send it in the mail at the first Bracha v’shalom! six year old daughter – and it was opportunity. Her Pan from the 16th of very difficult. My only consolation “A few days later, I received a Kislev has been received and will

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 707 17 707:Beis Moshiach 09/08/2009 10:54 PM Page 18

be read in an auspicious hour at seeing how the Rebbe had felt her guests from the ASCENT Institute the Tzion of my holy and revered deep anguish and took care of her as in Tzfas. father-in-law, the Rebbe, of blessed the faithful shepherd of the Jewish “I can’t finish this story without and righteous memory, his soul People, she didn’t waste any valuable relating another small episode,” Mrs. rests in the hidden treasures of time. She went out that very day to Beshari concluded. “One of my Heaven, may his merit protect us. buy a bottle of mashke and other daughters was traveling home, and a “When I saw that the date of my refreshments, and then quickly girl sat next to her on the bus. The submission of this Pan that the traveled to her family members in girl was obviously in the early stages Rebbe had mentioned was the 16th Cholon, who had been included in of her journey back to Yiddishkait, of Kislev, I ran to the drawer where the letter to the Rebbe, to inform and the two began to chat with one I had placed the Pan that my them primarily that the Rebbe would another. The girl told my daughter husband had forgotten to submit to pray for their good and welfare at that what had moved her to start on the Rebbe. Imagine how shocked I the gravesite of his father-in-law, the the path to traditional Judaism was a was to see that the date on the letter Rebbe Rayatz. miracle story that she had heard was in fact the 16th of Kislev! I went As mentioned at the beginning of when she went for a Shabbos meal for days afterwards in a state of this article, Mrs. Beshari had kept at the home of a Chabad family, stunned disbelief. this story to herself for many years, while she was staying at the “Another interesting aspect to and only a small circle of family ASCENT Institute. She then began this letter: The original typewritten members and friends were aware of to tell the story, and my daughter text read: ‘His Pan’, and the Rebbe it. “At a certain stage, when I started to smile broadly. changed it in his own handwriting to understood the great unharnessed “Why are you smiling?” the girl ‘Her Pan’, meaning that the letter potential within this story for asked in wonderment. was clearly meant for me.” bringing Jews closer to their Father “Because that story happened to When Mrs. Beshari realized that in Heaven and to the Rebbe, Melech my mother!” my daughter replied. she had merited an open HaMoshiach, I decided that I would “Today, that young woman is a demonstration of the Rebbe’s ruach begin telling this story publicly. I Chabadnikit, studying in the ha’kodesh, and her great privilege of often tell it over to our Shabbos Machon Alte Institute of Tzfas…”

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18 26 Menachem-Av 5769 BEIS MOSHIACH 707:Beis Moshiach 09/08/2009 10:54 PM Page 20

feature DARK YEARS IN CROWN

^ HEIGHTS

By Avrohom Ber Within a few years, tens of thousands of Jews and others left Crown Heights in fear of the criminal element that was moving in. They sold their homes in haste at ridiculously low prices. Shuls, mikvaos and businesses were abandoned. Walking in the streets in the evening and at night entailed real danger to life. Yet the Rebbe urged people to remain and bolster the community. * Part 2

[Continued from last week] them, and even killed them. left empty. Brownsville was deserted. It is relatively safe to walk in Whoever walked on Kingston alone About 200 shuls were abandoned. Crown Heights in the evening or at night was considered to be taking This is what happened throughout even at night these days. At the end his life in his hands. America. I remember visiting my of a farbrengen or simcha you can It is painful to read the first brother in Detroit. There was a get into your car and drive home or person testimony that was related by Young Israel shul, a beautiful even walk there. For many years Mendel Shemtov at that time. He building. The walls weren’t finished though, it was very different. Crown served as the head of the Vaad yet and they had already sold it for a Heights was frightening at night. HaKahal: church. You could not walk in the street after The neighborhood changed. The The accepted thing to do was to nightfall. Actually, even earlier in the moment gentiles began flooding the flee and abandon mosdos. Of course, day it wasn’t safe but at night it was area, the Jews fled and abandoned when you run away you leave behind really dangerous. Gangs of bandits the k’hillos. It happened in Bedford many elderly Jews who are unable to ambushed and robbed people, beat Stuyvesant. Shuls and mosdos were move and others who can’t afford to

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Eastern Parkway corner of Utica – in the sixties this was the busy Jewish shopping center. In the seventies, it was dangerous to walk there.

do so. They remained. We are Rebbe particularly addressed himself about those askanim who came in making a lot of noise about 500 Jews to the askanim. for yechidus promising to take who remain in an Arab country and Unfortunately, precious years action but then doing nothing: “Why we still have Jews who remain as passed before the askanim got do you say lies in the room where prisoners in their own homes. If involved. For several years they the Rebbe Nasi Doreinu held everybody else moves and they don’t sufficed with consultations and yechidus?” have the resources or they are used to meetings, as well as requests for At that same farbrengen, the where they live, they are abandoned. brachos from the Rebbe. In the Rebbe said: “If you don’t want to As was described at length in the sichos of those years, the Rebbe do, so don’t do, but don’t go and previous article, on Acharon shel cried out about this and said that he publicize that I also think that way. Pesach, 1969, the Rebbe raised this had stopped answering questions If you want to move to Flatbush, issue publicly and demanded that submitted on this subject since he gei gezunterheit, take your bundles everybody do all they could to saw that all his answers didn’t help. and move to Flatbush along with strengthen the neighborhood. The The Rebbe spoke unusually sharply the Conservative rabbi and may

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you be successful. Crown Heights will manage without you. This is not about me; it’s between you and the Shulchan Aruch.” Regarding the askanim who wrote up various plans and asked for a bracha, the Rebbe said: “A bracha needs to go on something – that is what the Taz says at the beginning of Hilchos Chanuka – and here nothing is being done and they ask for a bracha. In East Flatbush they acted without a bracha and in other places they acted without a bracha – why are you asking me for a bracha? First do something.” There were some who did work on behalf of the community but they were few and were unable to stem the tide. The serious efforts that the Rebbe asked for began only at the beginning of the 70’s, when a special organization was formed that bought houses in the neighborhood so that Jews would be able to live there. In those years there was also a lot of effort made to save shuls in the area.

IT WON’T BE ANY BETTER OVER THERE Most of the Jews who fled at the beginning of the 60’s, moved south, to East Flatbush and Canarsie, but not too long afterwards gentiles began moving in there too. In several sichos the Rebbe referred to the fact that running away didn’t help them. He related that someone Chassidim and African Americans side by side came to him who had left the – a picture of Crown Heights from the eighties. community. He had gotten a p’sak from a rav that he was allowed to leave since a person should not stay The Rebbe spoke unusually sharply in a dangerous place, but he soon discovered that in his new residence, about those askanim who came in for he found himself in the same situation as before. When the Rebbe yechidus promising to take action but asked him to publicize this so that others wouldn’t leave, he refused then doing nothing: “Why do you say because he didn’t want to bring lies in the room where the Rebbe Nasi down the price of his new house. He was getting ready to move again. Doreinu held yechidus?” Furthermore, the Rebbe clearly

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connected the lack of security even in the new neighborhood to the fact that people had left Crown Heights against G-d’s will. On Acharon shel Pesach, 1969, the Rebbe said: You can see that the neighborhood that they started to run to was calm until they began fleeing there. How much more so are they lacking in peace of mind there, since they went there against the Shulchan Aruch and against Hashem. The Rebbe spoke about the futility of running away on Shabbos Parshas VaYeishev, 5730: They bring a proof that it is permissible to move – since the Yeshiva bachurim on the streets of Crown Heights in the eighties. Conservative rabbi moved, that’s maaseh rav … and the Poilisher At that same farbrengen, the Rebbe gutter Yid moved and if so, that’s proof that it’s permissible. But they said: “If you don’t want to do, so don’t don’t pay attention to what’s happening, that when this one and do, but don’t go and publicize that I that one left, he had a robbery, and when this one and that one left, he also think that way. If you want to move had a fire… to Flatbush, gei gezunterheit, take your The phenomenon that took place a few years earlier in Crown Heights bundles and move to Flatbush along repeated itself two miles away. The Jewish families packed their with the Conservative rabbi and may belongings and left, selling their homes, shuls an mikvaos at rock- you be successful. Crown Heights will bottom prices. Rabbi Michoel Teitelbaum, manage without you. This is not about founder of Oholei Torah, was a me; it’s between you and the Shulchan shamash in one of the shuls in East Flatbush. The shul emptied out. He Aruch.” heard that the gabbai intended on selling the shul and he fought continued to maintain a minyan at cleaned the shul himself. against this plan. It ended up in the shul with utter devotion so that In addition, R’ Michoel court and for a long time R’ Michoel the shul would not fall into gentile maintained the mikva in his was such a regular visitor at the hands. When the last Jews left the neighborhood and later even moved courthouse that people joked that his neighborhood, R’ Michoel had to live in the mikva building. To this office had moved to the courthouse. Chassidim from Crown Heights go day, the mikva is still in use by At the end of a long legal wrangle, every day to daven in the shul. Until dozens of Chassidim every day. the court ruled that the gabbai did his final day he had a minyan there On Shabbasos, R’ Michoel would not have the right to sell the shul as three times a day. daven in the shul in East Flatbush long as worshippers were still In later years, R’ Michoel moved and after Shacharis he would walk interested in praying there. his preschool to the shul in East for nearly an hour to the Rebbe’s R’ Michoel, who continued to live Flatbush, thus establishing a steady farbrengen in 770. During the short in East Flatbush long after most Jewish presence there. R’ Michoel winter Shabbos days he did not stay Jews had abandoned the area, didn’t stand on ceremony but until the end of the farbrengen

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because he had to go back to sell their homes to the first person organize the minyan for Mincha. They don’t pay who showed an interest and to move attention to what’s to where they believed it would be THOSE WHO TOOK more white, usually far from ACTION WERE happening, that Brooklyn, with the exception of those who remained in Flatbush or SUCCESSFUL! when this one and Boro Park. We see that there were two The situation grew worse. Jews neighborhoods where they publicly that one left, he of various backgrounds left the announced that they would remain Jewish neighborhood. Fewer and and they were successful. Take had a robbery, and fewer Jews could be seen on the action so that over here it will be when this one and street. Shuls and mikvaos closed and like in Williamsburg and hundreds of storekeepers lost their Washington Heights, where they that one left, he parnasa and sold their businesses ended up building new buildings and homes for next to nothing to and brought in more Jews and they had a fire… goyim. The neighborhood became were successful! (Acharon shel more unsafe with the arrival of new Pesach 1969) people where there isn’t heavy traffic residents. It was dangerous to walk The Jewish neighborhoods of on Shabbos. in Crown Heights and people who Williamsburg and Washington The deteriorating security in did walk the streets were beaten, Heights were the antithesis of New York bothered the Rebbe, and robbed and sometimes stabbed. Crown Heights and East Flatbush. not only because of the Jews. The Every night the streets emptied The askanim there stood strong and Rebbe’s secretary, Rabbi Nissan out. Women stopped attending did not allow the situation to Mindel related that on Erev Lag events and store owners looked deteriorate. Till today, those B’Omer, 1969, the Rebbe spoke to around fearfully before opening their neighborhoods are populated by him with great shock and in bitter stores. The most horrifying incident thousands of frum Jews. The Rebbe tones about an event that happened was an attack on a Lubavitcher demanded, in many of his sichos, the day before in a white church, woman who did not lock her door that people learn from them and with a large crowd in attendance. A while her children played in the yard. stand firmly like them. well-known black agitator walked in She was dragged out of her Those neighborhoods were very and demanded half a million dollars. apartment at knifepoint and slashed successful. Williamsburg became a The Rebbe was concerned about in an attempted rape. huge community which continues to everybody. There was an attack with iron grow. About 100,000 Jews live there The demographics of entire New chains on yeshiva boys and their today, nearly all of whom are York neighborhoods changed almost teachers during recess. The elderly religious. (Those for whom overnight. The Jewish flight did not and poor could not leave and, as Williamsburg brings back unpleasant begin with Crown Heights. In earlier Mendel Shemtov described it, they memories of Tahaluchos of years years Harlem was emptied of Jews. lived like prisoners in their own gone by, will be happy to know that After that, other neighborhoods in homes. They were simply afraid to today hundreds of T’mimim walk the Bronx, Manhattan and Brooklyn go outside. Some Chassidim took through the neighborhood singing emptied. Brownsville and East New care of them, bringing them hot niggunim and are greeted warmly. York, to the east of Crown Heights, meals, which were placed in a basket Many Satmar Chassidim invite them and Bedford Stuyvesant to the that was raised from the window in for something to eat.) south, were the first in Brooklyn. since the elderly were afraid to open Washington Heights, too, Then came Crown Heights. In 1960, the door. remained a religious enclave in the 71% of the 200,000 residents of When Bobover Chassidim asked northwestern part of the big city - Crown Heights were white. By their Rebbe, who lived in Crown Manhattan. The neighborhood 1970, it was only 27%. Heights, whether to try to work on where thousands of Jews from the Blacks moved into a house or an the police to add patrolmen to the German Jewish community as well apartment building and home streets of Crown Heights, he said as the staff and students of owners on the entire block panicked. that in his father’s time there was an RIETS/YU, live might be the only Fear of living in an unsafe anti-Semite who threw a stone at place on the island teeming with neighborhood and of the value of their window. Within a short time he their homes decreasing led people to

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The Rebbe encouraged the establishment of Hatzalah.

contracted gangrene and his hand had to be amputated. “That’s better protection than the police,” he said. It didn’t change the fact, though, that a few months later the Bobover Chassidim sold their beis midrash and yeshiva building and left for Boro Park. When the Bobover Chassidim left en masse, this increased the pressure on Lubavitcher Chassidim, who were increasingly feeling like they were the last ones to remain in a war zone. More Chassidim asked the Rebbe whether they should or could move. This may have been the reason for the sicha that was said on Residents of Crown Heights increasing security in the community. Acharon shel Pesach, 1969, in which the Rebbe spoke about the topic In 1960, 71% of SHMIRA after years of not discussing it in A few years earlier, in 1964, public. the 200,000 when the security situation began to The Rebbe said several times that deteriorate, a Lubavitcher named it wasn’t his job to mix in but there residents of Crown Shmuel Schrage started an was nobody else stopping the flight. organization he called Maccabees – The only one who urged people to Heights were a Citizen’s Safety Patrol. The do something was the Rebbe, who unarmed volunteers of the asked that action be taken to support white. By 1970, it organization would cruise Kingston the Jewish residents of the was only 27%. and Eastern Parkway between 6 PM neighborhood. and 2 AM and offered free escorts to

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When the ambulance team showed up EVENTS TO TAKE PLACE IN CROWN HEIGHTS and identified him, the black It was announced previously about the Melaveh Malka paramedic on the scene said, “I’m not farbrengen of Chadrei Torah Ohr going to dirty my uniform for this Jew.” … they deserve a special yashar ko’ach for making the celebration gathering here in Crown Heights, those who needed it. The neighborhoods, it was unwilling to which is the neighborhood where organization greatly increased the help. Presumably, additional Hashem commanded the blessing security of the neighborhood – pressure on the part of askanim, as here, everlasting life … this should Schrage said it cut crime by 90%. the Rebbe wanted, would have made be a good start for all simchos to Blacks and gentiles joined the patrol. Crown Heights look entirely take place here in Crown Heights. The organization, which at first different today. This is not a command but good was not recognized by the Some years later, when the advice that all happy events take authorities, caused a media storm in Rebbe was given a copy of the place here in Crown Heights. This the wake of the rape and murder of contract between the Crown Heights will make it better not just a Jewish teacher in an elevator of an Jewish Community Council and the spiritually but materially (sicha, apartment building. Many articles security company hired to patrol the VaYeishev 5730). were written about the Maccabees, neighborhood, the Rebbe’s response The Rebbe urged that simchos some positive and some negative. was: …fortunate is their lot and and events take place in Crown The police first denounced them as a great is the merit of each person Heights. In 5732, the Rebbe vigilante movement but then grew to involved in this and the like, with responded to a mosad outside of tolerate them as long as they were energy and strength. Crown Heights that held its dinner unarmed and restricted themselves Sadly, Shmuel Schrage died of a in Crown Heights: to observing and reporting incidents heart attack when quite young. I will mention it at the to the police. When the ambulance team showed gravesite, especially that it took “If she would have called, she up and identified him, the black place in Crown Heights where would have been saved,” screamed paramedic on the scene said, “I’m Hashem commanded the blessing – the headlines, while other articles not going to dirty my uniform for to show the people of the land that decried taking the law into their own this Jew.” At first they refused to the Jewish people are the nation of hands. The media storm concerning take him on a stretcher. Then they His closeness. Crown Heights and the security refused to allow Yingi Bistritzky of That Shabbos Parshas VaYeishev, situation adversely affected real Hatzalah to resuscitate him. They 5730, the Rebbe sadly mentioned estate prices even more and some finally tied him to the stretcher so the fact that many weddings took Lubavitchers who worked in real sloppily that he fell off a few times. place outside Crown Heights: estate pressured Schrage to back off. “They killed him,” said those who When there is a wedding, what When he asked the Rebbe, the witnessed this. do they do? They go somewhere Rebbe said, “Don’t back down and His wife asked the Rebbe, in a else and make the wedding and strengthen it more.” letter, to dedicate a Hatzalah they write me that if I am the Shmuel Schrage was involved in ambulance in his memory. “I don’t mesader kiddushin, they will do me a project with the city to rehabilitate want something like this to happen a favor and make the wedding prosperous neighborhoods, like to others,” she said later. nearby. If you hold so much of me Crown Heights, to avoid a The Rebbe responded positively and you are my good friend, why recurrence of what had happened in and indicated that it should be done don’t you make the wedding Brownsville and the Bronx – white with some urgency. He also asked nearby? Why don’t you make the flight. The project took off but then for a list of the donors and tenaim [i.e. vort or l’chaim] elections took place and the new contributed $100 and another $20 nearby? You claim there’s no place mayor, John Lindsay, canceled it as bill. Mrs. Schrage raised 18,000 to do it, so build a hotel! Lindsay part of the changing of the guard of dollars ,with the remaining half of [the mayor of New York] gives the new administration. the cost collected by Bistritzky and money for this! You just have to Ironically, although it was in the other members of Hatzalah. take action! Why are you going far city’s interests to protect the away?

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As a result of this sicha, a chassan and kalla (R’ Avrohom Boruch Gerlitzky and his wife) informed the Rebbe about their wedding on 27 Adar I in the Young Israel in Crown Heights. The Rebbe responded with a handwritten note: Thank you, thank you for the good news and I will mention it at the gravesite. Many should see this and arrange simchos in Crown Heights, even those who live (for the meantime) in other neighborhoods. The wedding of Gershon Schusterman, son of R’ Mordechai, took place on 13 Sivan in the same hall. Raskin’s fish store R’ Chaim Ciment, the menahel of yeshivas Achei T’mimim in Boston, When a wedding took place in Crown asked the Rebbe whether his daughter’s wedding should take Heights on 13 Tishrei, a date when the place at 770 as the family wanted or whether, since he was a public Rebbe would farbreng, the Rebbe’s figure, he owed it to the parent body and supporters of his mosad to secretary called to ask permission of make it in Boston, as the custom is the chassan and kalla for the Rebbe to to make the wedding where the kalla lives. The Rebbe’s response was: So farbreng on the day of their wedding. shall they do it, in a good and auspicious time (in New York). Of course permission was granted and The story is told that one time, when the Rebbe went back home at the Rebbe invited the couple to join the ^ night, he passed a crowd returning ^ from a wedding. He said to R’ farbrengen after the wedding and to ^ Chadakov who was traveling with have Sheva Brachos during the him, “Look, how nice; couples walking in the street at night.” In farbrengen, which indeed they did. those scary days, it was a rare sight. When R’ Michoel Teitelbaum Jacobson, didn’t know what to do solution. bought the Oholei Torah building and he asked the Rebbe whether to R’ Jacobson put up a huge tent in from the Conservative synagogue, he make the wedding outside of Crown the yard of Beis Rifka and that’s opened a hall for events, as the Heights so the kalla’s grandfather where the wedding was held. Many Rebbe wanted. Yet there were people could attend. The Rebbe answered: people attended the wedding, in Crown Heights who refused to If they make it outside this including many public figures who enter the building because they community, chas v’shalom, it will knew R’ Jacobson from his work as didn’t want to enter a Conservative be counter to all the efforts to a journalist. The wedding was a big synagogue! bolster the community and since it demonstration of Jewish strength A wedding was going to take will be done by a newspaper editor and strengthening of the community. place there in 1979 and the it will be “contrary with a bang” When a wedding took place in grandfather of the kalla, R’ Yaakov etc, as is obvious. Since making it Crown Heights on 13 Tishrei, a date Lipsker, said he would not enter the in the neighborhood is essential, when the Rebbe would farbreng, the hall. His son-in-law, R’ Gershon Ber surely you will find a good Rebbe’s secretary called R’ Yechezkel

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Kornfeld, the shliach who was promoted at the time for every those stores whose customer base mekarev the chassan, to ask Jewish boy and girl, the organizer was primarily Jewish. The halacha permission of the chassan and kalla asked the Rebbe whether to make it says, “the poor of your city take for the Rebbe to farbreng on the day in Boro Park, Flatbush, or Crown precedence,” and the Rebbe said of their wedding. Of course Heights. people should patronize the stores in permission was granted and the The Rebbe crossed off the first Crown Heights. Buying from stores Rebbe invited the couple to join the two suggestions. This answer was in Crown Heights enables the farbrengen after the wedding and to surprising to the women since the shopkeepers to have ample parnasa have Sheva Brachos during the event was not for Lubavitchers. In and in turn support those involved in farbrengen, which indeed they did. the end, over 60% of the participants holy works and the entire The Rebbe asked that mosdos were from other neighborhoods and community benefits. and organizations have their events only a small percentage were The Rebbe was also concerned in Crown Heights. In 5733/1973 Lubavitchers - and not due to a poor about goyim. In July, 1977, there there was a gathering of descendents showing of the locals. was a blackout in New York which of the Alter Rebbe which took place The organization FREE that paralyzed much of the city’s in the Young Israel. It was the first works with Russian immigrants, held infrastructure. The new black such gathering. Even in later years, all its big events which were residents of Crown Heights took when the neighborhood stabilized, attended by thousands of people advantage of the situation to loot. the Rebbe still urged holding events from all of New York, especially Dozens of stores on Utica were only in Crown Heights. Brighton, in Crown Heights, with broken into and robbed. The For example, the Rebbe told the the Rebbe’s encouragement. This damages were estimated at many hanhala of N’shei Chabad in was despite the fact that only few thousands of dollars. 5744/1984 that all meetings and Russian immigrants lived in Crown R’ Yisroel Rosenfeld, one of the events should take place in Crown Heights. askanim of the community, received Heights: There were a number of ongoing a phone call from R’ Groner, who The main session must take events that attracted large crowds to told him that the Rebbe wanted to place in the main community and Crown Heights, such as the Rebbe’s know the sum total of damages that only afterwards, somewhere else… farbrengens. Hundreds of people were caused to stores of Jews and It is preferable to organize the from nearby communities and many non-Jews. aforementioned at times when guests would go to Crown Heights “Even of non-Jews?” he asked in people come here from other especially for the farbrengens. The surprise, and was told yes. When he locations in any case. number grew on special dates during came up with the amount, the Rebbe When the directors of Tzivos the year. Till this day, a symbol of asked if it would be possible for him Hashem asked the Rebbe whether to pride for the community is Tishrei to donate towards their losses. In the hold their Pesach Experience “here when thousands of guests come to end, they got federal aid. When they in Crown Heights or somewhere the Rebbe and fill the streets of the informed the Rebbe about this, he else,” the Rebbe made a line under community. They thereby fulfill the asked whether this meant he did not “here” and added, “my opinion is Rebbe’s wish that Crown Heights be have to pay and R’ Rosenfeld said known and your doubt is rather full of Jews and that Jews be able to no. surprising; I will mention it at the walk the streets without fear. In the eighties, the business gravesite.” district on Kingston Avenue was first When N’shei Chabad of Crown STRENGTHENING established, an area that is a source Heights held a Jewish carnival on PARNASA of parnasa for many residents of the Chol HaMoed Pesach 5742/1982 community. The Community for the purpose of conveying the The storekeepers who could not Council helped by securing loans of idea of mivtzaim, especially the leave Crown Heights lost many tens of thousands of dollars for campaign of having a letter in a customers. Grocery store owners people who opened new businesses. Torah scroll, which was being and tailors suffered the most, as did www.MoshiachForKids.com Check it out!! Educational and Fun!!

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shlichus

customs and would suffice with whatever was done in his home. Towards evening, the guests EYES TO SEE asked where they could immerse in honor of Shabbos. Once again, their host yelled at them and nearly threw them out of the house until they gave up on their audacious LESSONS idea. They promised they wouldn’t bother him and wouldn’t sing any z’miros or say divrei Torah so he wouldn’t be disturbed. The brothers endured a LEARNED ON miserable Shabbos with prayers said hastily and meager meals without divrei Torah. When it came time for the third Shabbos meal, the brothers sat down and SHLICHUS whispered disconsolately, “We did not merit hearing words of Torah from the hidden tzaddik; let us at least speak some divrei Torah By Rabbi Yaakov Shmuelevitz, Shliach, Beit Shaan amongst ourselves.” Since it was Parshas R’ei, they R’ei anochi – look at yourself, i.e. make delved into the meaning of the words, “R’ei anochi,” – that you a spiritual accounting. How is your need to see the “anochi Hashem Elokecha.” They shared secrets of avodas Hashem? It’s not enough to fly the Torah and in the meantime their host paced the house while to the heights and explore deep noisily eating from a large commentaries on the words “Anochi watermelon. They didn’t notice that he was listening to every Hashem Elokecha.” You need to look at word. He suddenly approached them your own situation and fix what needs and, continuing the thought of “R’ei anochi,” he said, “And I say, fixing. r’ei anochi – look at yourself, i.e. make a spiritual accounting (since it was Shabbos Mevarchim of The two righteous brothers, R’ would enable them to observe the Elul). How is your avodas Zushe of Anipoli and R’ Elimelech behavior of a hidden tzaddik for an Hashem? It’s not enough to fly to of Lizensk, requested several times entire Shabbos. the heights and explore deep of their teacher, the Maggid of It was Erev Shabbos Parshas commentaries on the words Mezritch, that they merit to see a R’ei, Shabbos Mevarchim Elul. The ‘Anochi Hashem Elokecha.’ You hidden tzaddik. They had heard a two tzaddikim knocked at the door need to look at your own situation great deal about a group of hidden and asked to be hosted for and fix what needs fixing.” tzaddikim and pleaded to be able Shabbos. The homeowner, who The two tzaddikim realized that to see one for themselves. did not seem at all like a tzaddik, this was the message they had been At last, the Maggid agreed. He yelled at them coarsely to scram sent to hear and they returned told them to travel to a certain because he didn’t want to host happily to their homes to carry out village for the upcoming Shabbos rabbis with all their prayers and what they had heard. and to stay with a particular customs. The brothers promised person who lived there, and this they wouldn’t impose any special

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THE COUNSEL WANTED politely; I need a tough and “R’EI ANOCHI” MESIRUS NEFESH uncompromising battle!” And he WITH CONSOLING raised his voice and said, nearly It often happens that a shliach of THE BEREAVED screamed, “I need suicidal maniacs, the Rebbe is in the middle of a you understand? Suicidal maniacs! It’s the third yahrtzait of Chaya project, lecture, shiur, or Mesirus nefesh!” Mushka Atyah, the daughter of the conversation with someone who R’ Kastiel knew that it was not shliach to Chevron. The little girl needs advice, and he hears a line by chanced that he overheard this was killed in a fire. The Atyah that strikes him, “look at your own exchange. “I also have to be tough family is very special and situation,” and he thinks – how and devoted to the success of my immediately after the tragedy they important it was for me to hear that. cause with mesirus nefesh,” he told worked on building a beautiful This is one of the gifts of shlichus. himself. R’ Kastiel continued his Chabad house in Kiryat Arba in her I heard the following story from work with renewed energy and memory. Pushkas with the girl’s Rabbi Tamir Kastiel, shliach in boruch Hashem got a permit to picture on them were distributed. A Katamon in Yerushalayim. He had build a Chabad house. Although the tz’daka fund for the Chabad house been looking for a long time for a lot was “not suited for in her memory was started and piece of land to build a Chabad construction,” it was apparently within a short time a building was house. He finally noticed a terrific suited for a building for the Rebbe. erected. It’s huge, with rooms for location in the center of the R’ Kastiel always makes an effort guests, a shul, shiurim and a soup neighborhood that for some reason to process anything he hears and kitchen. had not been built on. He made tries to help to the best of his ability. R’ Atyah says that when he first inquiries at the Tabo (Land Registry One day a young man from the heard the terrible news he felt he Office – the name is a holdover yeshiva in Katamon approached him didn’t have the strength to go on. from Turkish times) and found out and asked permission to go home Then he remembered that just that KKIINNGGSSTTOONN HHOOTTEELL that there was an annotation because he had a court case the next morning he had been menachem regarding this lot, “not suited for day. avel someone who was mourning construction.” None of the clerks at “What’s the case about?” asked the death of his son. He had the Tabo knew why this was so. R’ Kastiel. The bachur said that a consoled the man with words of R’ Kastiel went to the few years before, when he was 15, faith, pointing out that everything is municipality and asked for land in EEsstthheerr’’ss PPaarrttyy GGrriillll he stole a car and had run away from Hashem, etc. the neighborhood. The director of from the police, and had done a few R’ Atyah took the words he had the department looked on the map other things. said that morning and applied them and said there was no available lot. “Do you have a lawyer?” asked to himself, and was strengthened R’ Kastiel had already done his R’ Kastiel. with that emuna. It was in this way homework, and he pointed at the “No.” that he was able to move forward in empty lot and said, “There, that’s R’ Kastiel spent the following a manner that had people marveling available.” It was looked into again, day with him and stood by his side about his strength. He was able to once more the annotation was in court. The prosecutor wanted to take a tragedy and turn it into a noted, neighbors got embroiled, the put the boy in jail for two years. vision; thoughts into actions, and attorney of the city council got “What do you have to say?” words of consolation into amazing involved, etc. asked the judge. The boy was so deeds. “You need to look at One day, R’ Kastiel went to the shaken that he couldn’t say a word. yourself.” municipality to see how he could get He could only point at R’ Kastiel. things moving. As he waited in the R’ Kastiel approached the bench RENEWAL AFTER hall he saw the legal counsel of the and said, “Whatever was said here municipality come in and walk 20 YEARS may be true about the Amir (a briskly to his office where two older A Torah scroll was written in the pseudonym) of once-upon-a-time, Yerushalmi fellows were waiting. z’chus of all the shluchim in Eretz but today he’s a different Amir. They had come to join forces with Yisroel. There was a raffle among all Today, Amir learns in yeshiva, the counsel in his battle against the shluchim at a Kinus in Nir contributes to society with Mivtza destroying some landmark building. Etzyon and Rabbi Yehoshua Adot, T’fillin, and helps the needy.” R’ Kastiel heard the counsel shliach in Binyamina, won. The The judge was convinced and loudly explain to the two men, “It’s Hachnasas Seifer Torah took place Amir was not penalized. not enough that you come here in Binyamina and was attended by

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hundreds of local people, as well as moment he heard he had won the Chassidus and mosdos Chabad. hundreds of shluchim who came raffle. He felt it was a gift from They came to a place with no Torah, from all over the country. It was a Heaven for twenty years of shlichus k’hilla or activity. On their own, celebration that was the joint project in Binyamina. It gave him the they built the place up and slowly, of Chabad in Binyamina and Tzeirei encouragement and ability to brick by brick, they established a Chabad and made a great Kiddush continue with renewed strength, to Chabad house. They even brought Hashem throughout the entire area. expand his activities in quality and another shliach, R’ Menachem I asked R’ Adot what he felt quantity. Lerner, who has done amazing during the program - the writing of R’ Adot and his wife have done work and was the spirit behind the the letters, the dancing, the parade the unbelievable in Binyamina. They Hachnasas Seifer Torah. They got a with torches, the meal, brachos etc. came after only a few years of gift and they deserve it! He said that it started earlier, the learning and familiarity with

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know that if Hashem put him together with another Jew, that’s an indication that it’s possible, and they ALWAYS have to get along with Ahavas Yisroel. At one of his farbrengens, after he began with a famous line of his that became a slogan for Ahavas UNITED! Yisroel: “she’tamid nihiyeh yachad” (we should always be united), he continued as follows: “It says, ‘and Yisroel camped’ in A chapter from the book, “The Rebbe’s the singular and we learn, ‘as one man (ish echad) with one heart (lev Tractorist” about the mashpia, R’ echad).’ This is the inyan in kabala of joining the lower echad (oneness) Reuven Dunin a”h, which was with the higher echad (oneness), i.e. if you want to be connected to the published in time for his yahrtzait on 11 ‘true oneness,’ namely Hashem, you must embody and reflect that unity Menachem Av. within yourself. The ‘Yisroel camped’ is eternal. If you want the BEGINNING AND ‘One’ to be revealed in you, then you ENDING WITH AHAVAS must know that the ‘secret of echad’ YISROEL is attained through echad – oneness with all Jews. Ahavas Yisroel has to R’ Reuven Dunin a”h was an directly and speedily lead to achdus Ohev Yisroel and the topic of Ahavas and if it doesn’t, it’s the opposite of Yisroel was always on his lips. Elokus. Whatever topic he spoke about at a “This is what each of us says farbrengen inevitably ended up being after declaring that he accepts the connected somehow to this subject. mitzva of loving his fellow Jew, when “It is not possible,” he would he puts in effort in order to stand exclaim, “that a Jew says before properly before Hashem, ‘Bless us, davening, ‘I accept upon myself the our Father, all as one – with the positive commandment of ‘love your light of Your countenance.’ Because fellow like yourself,’ and right after it is only when we are as one that davening cause pain to another there can be a blessing and the inner person as though he didn’t obligate revelation of ‘the light of Your himself to anybody!” countenance.’ His entire day revolved around “Therefore, we have to put a bit the avoda of Ahavas Yisroel. He more thought into it. The Rebbe demanded of his mushpaim the says in the HaYom Yom that Ahavas avoda of the bedtime Shma when a Cover of the book Yisroel is a condition and a gateway Jew says, “I forgive whoever angered about R’ Reuven Dunin for prayers to be answered. and provoked me, etc.” He said it Understand, if we pride ourselves on should be recited in such a way that Reuven about a certain problem that being frum, it doesn’t work without it was a preparation for saying, he had. R’ Reuven told him: “It Ahavas Yisroel, r”l. It is possible that “hareini mekabel…” before seems there is someone in your life a Jew finishes his life in this world Shacharis! that you don’t get along with.” The and if, heaven forbid, he did not R’ Reuven repeatedly emphasized man agreed but added that in his fulfill Ahavas Yisroel that would that Ahavas Yisroel is a basic opinion he was not obligated to be mean that in his life he did not precondition for receiving brachos the close friend of every single Jew. daven! He went to shul and said the from Above. Someone once told R’ R’ Reuven explained: “A Jew must

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words and he thought that he davened but without Ahavas Yisroel how can he stand before his Maker? If you believe that ‘you are children of Hashem your G-d,’ how can you push His children away just so that you can stand in your place more comfortably as though only you are a Chassid and tzaddik? It doesn’t work that way! “Don’t forget,” R’ Reuven would constantly exhort his mushpaim, “Ahavas Yisroel is both a mitzva in the Torah and one of the Rebbe’s mivtzaim. Who wants to fail in it?” “The foundation of the entire Torah is Ahavas Yisroel. The Rebbe says, ‘We begin and end with Ahavas Yisroel!’ Whenever the Rebbe lists R’ Reuven receiving kos shel bracha from the Rebbe the mivtzaim at a farbrengen, he starts with Ahavas Yisroel, and when that the gabbaim had sent such a or about him in this way, certainly he speaks about Mivtza Chinuch he chazan up. This loud criticism not in public. In the best case emphasizes, ‘chinuch of yourself and greatly offended the chazan. scenario, they expected the man to chinuch of others’ (and this is a Everybody kept quiet because they get up and storm out, but horaa onto itself: to be careful not to were afraid to speak up. amazingly, R’ Reuven kept on skip ‘chinuch of yourself,’ which After the davening they sat down talking on the topic and the man sat must precede ‘chinuch of others’). to farbreng and R’ Reuven and listened. It was apparent that R’ When he finishes enumerating the immediately spoke about the Reuven was making an impression mivtzaim, he mentions again that it importance of Ahavas Yisroel. After on him. The rebuke, which was said starts with Ahavas Yisroel.” speaking about the concept for some out of real Ahavas Yisroel, time he moved on to the practical penetrated and was accepted. REBUKING – application and described, from When R’ Reuven finished talking, WITH OPEN LOVE another perspective, what took place the man said l’chaim to R’ Reuven after the davening (without and continued to sit at the Most of the time, R’ Reuven, mentioning names): farbrengen. More than their with his direct approach and genuine “They asked someone to daven amazement about how the person Ahavas Yisroel, did not hesitate to Musaf. Maybe he was nervous by had accepted the rebuke, they were say it the way it is. He was once a the honor he was given or maybe amazed by R’ Reuven’s courage for guest for Shabbos in one of the this was the first time he davened for he had told the man whatever was Lubavitch communities in Eretz the amud for Musaf. Then someone on his mind and did so Yisroel. The chazan for Musaf gets up and speaks insensitively and straightforwardly. wasn’t the greatest, to say the least. in a way that is far from Ahavas On another occasion, he spoke He didn’t know the usual tune for Yisroel.” about an interesting phenomenon he this t’filla and he mixed in various R’ Reuven spoke at length, had observed in nature: melodies. Although the tunes describing the feelings of the Baal “I was watching a chicken coop irritated some of the people, they T’filla and what the critical man had and everything looked yellow and I kept quiet. done and showed the ugliness of the could hear the noisy cheeping. It There was a prominent person deed. Everybody present was seems that in the tray with water there who was known to all as a surprised by what he said and were that they were given there was strong-minded individual who afraid of the reaction of the tough something sharp and one chick got always tried to impose his view. guy. They knew that this person scratched. A red dot of blood Nobody dared to oppose him on any didn’t take it sitting down from appeared on its yellow feathers. topic. After the davening, this man anyone who dared to speak to him Another chicken noticed the red dot protested loudly and complained

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and went to check it out, giving a me a loan from his fund. I told him I he accepted the money with great peck at it. The redness spread and didn’t need it but he tried to feeling and thanked her profusely, another chicken noticed it and also convince me to take the loan “Thank you Ima, thank you so much gave a peck. anyway, while emphasizing that he for your help.” “Within seconds, all the chicks wouldn’t be lacking because of it When his friend asked him began to fight over the right to since he had a special gemach fund.” afterwards why he got so excited check out the interesting red dot. It Ahavas Yisroel suffused him and over fifty shekels when he had so didn’t take long before the because of it, he gave so much of his much money in his pocket, and unfortunate chicken died of all the time and energy. When it came to maybe he should have refused the little pecks.” material assistance, whoever had a money and let his mother use it for The nimshal is sometimes a connection with him knew that he something else, he explained, “You person has a problem and people could be relied on. If someone don’t know what a good feeling she point it out in public and in an needed to talk to him, he would go had that she is able to help her son.” inappropriate manner, without to their house and sit there even for R’ Reuven had golden hands and thinking that their words can hurt. several hours, in order to help. he used his talent to help people. The first one merely revealed a small R’ Chaim Benet, the composer When he noticed a need, he fault that the person had and tried to for the Seret-Vizhnitz Chassidus in immediately started thinking how he “dig around” just out of curiosity. Chaifa, related: could help. When his son Shmuel The problem is that after some of his “During the first Gulf War I saw learned in the yeshiva in Tzfas, friends do the same thing, the a Scud missile explode not far from Reuven once went to visit him and wound is likely to be deeper and where I live. This scared me so went to his dormitory room. While very painful and even more than much that I couldn’t sleep at night. talking to his son, he noticed that that. B’hashgacha pratis I met Reuven on the door of the closet of one of the On the positive side – when R’ the street and I told him about my roommates was broken. Reuven spoke with his fellow fears. He asked me when I would be He asked why it was broken and Chassidim, he always conveyed the home and then he came to visit (I the boy said it was like this for a message in the spirit of the aphorism live on the fourth floor and although long time and the people in charge that Chassidim are one family. R’ it was very hard for him to climb were unable to fix it. Yechezkel Sofer related, “One many steps he did it unhesitatingly). “Would you be happy if it was evening, I went to Kfar Chabad and During the visit he repeated the fixed?” asked R’ Reuven. met R’ Reuven who was the mashpia Lubavitcher Rebbe’s calming words “Sure,” said the bachur with a in Tiferes Bachurim at the time. I and didn’t leave until I assured him smile, without realizing what R’ was happy to see him. I went over to that I was no longer afraid.” Reuven was getting at. him, hugged him, and said, ‘It’s so R’ Reuven was a giving person, a The next day, when the bachur good to see you!’ R’ Reuven man who loved to give. Real giving went to his room during the lunch immediately said, ‘Really? If you are doesn’t begin in the pocket but in break, he saw R’ Reuven sitting on so happy with me, let’s see you take the heart. With such a love for the floor with a drill, fixing the door. me now, in your car, to Rechovot!’ giving, you can even give while Mrs. D. Shefi, owner of the That line was a lesson for me about receiving. He once went with a Refuah Shleima clinic in Chaifa the meaning of genuine Ahavas friend to buy a car from someone related: Yisroel.” who lived in B’nei Brak. He had a “In my clinic there was an old lot of money on him, tens of box that had bottles of herbal LIVING TO GIVE thousands of sh’kalim, which he was remedies in it. One day, Reuven TO OTHERS going to use to buy the car. came to the clinic and built me a On the way he decided to stop in massive wooden box that the bottles R’ Reuven did many deeds of and see his mother (who lived in the fit in exactly, so that it would be chesed which were the practical home of his sister, Zehava easier for me in my work. In outcome of his feelings of Ahavas Markowitz in B’nei Brak). At the general, in the last years of his life, Yisroel. He ran a gemach and you end of the visit, when he was ready when he was our guest for a few could see how much he really to leave, his mother took a fifty days, he kept looking for ways to wanted to help the needy. One of his shekel bill out of her little purse and help fix up the house.” mekuravim relates: gave it to him. Although at that When he spoke about the “R’ Reuven thought I was having moment he had a lot of cash on him, importance of Ahavas Yisroel, he financial problems and he offered

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emphasized that there are people who speak nicely about Ahavas Yisroel but when it comes down to it, they don’t ‘walk the talk.’ “I don’t want to limit in any way the obligation of Ahavas Yisroel,” he would say, “because you have to love every Jew no matter whom, but first you have to strengthen the love for those close to you, those with whom you come in daily contact. Even though all Jews are brothers and equal, there is still the idea of ‘the poor of your city take precedence.’ That is the only way to attain Ahavas Yisroel for all Jews.” Rebbetzin Weissblum of the Nave Shaanan neighborhood of Chaifa R’ Reuven reaching out to other Jews related: “Our neighbor, an older man by Older Chassidim in the north still the name of Barry, asked me whether I knew R’ Dunin. When I remember how before Yud-Alef Nissan said that I knew him, he said, ‘You think you knew him but I really 1979, R’ Reuven organized a Kinus knew him. He was a tzaddik who did many acts of kindness. For Achdus for all the Lubavitchers who nearly forty years he would come and help fix my washing machine were scattered throughout cities in the (when he was first married, R’ north, including Chaifa, Kiryot, Reuven supported himself by fixing washing machines). In later years, it Natzrat Ilit, Migdal HaEmek, Afula, was hard for him to climb the stairs to my floor because he had problems and Kiryat Tivon. The Kinus took place breathing. I remember how he came to my house out of breath and said, in Migdal HaEmek and about fifty ‘Give me a minute to catch my breath and I’ll start working right families participated. away.’ He lived in order to give to others.” Migdal HaEmek, Afula, and Kiryat them. He once gave this analogy: Tivon. The Kinus took place in Even if you put eight teaspoons of LOOK AT WHAT CAN Migdal HaEmek and about fifty sugar into a cup of tea, if you don’t SEPARATE BETWEEN families participated. mix it, the tea won’t be sweet. On CHASSIDIM! At every possible opportunity, the other hand, if you put in just one especially in the last years of his life, teaspoon of sugar, but you mix it, One of his pet topics was achdus he stressed how much nachas the the entire cup of tea will be sweet! among Chabad Chassidim. Older Rebbe has when he sees his By the same token he Chassidim in the north still Chassidim living in unity and what underscored the absurdity of remember how before Yud-Alef aggravation he has when it’s not that disunity. R’ Shmuel Frumer relates: Nissan 1979, R’ Reuven organized a way. “One of the Shabbasos that I Kinus Achdus for all the When he spoke about the spent at R’ Reuven’s home, we went Lubavitchers who were scattered importance of achdus, he stressed to the mikva early in the morning, throughout cities in the north, that when Chassidim live together walking side by side. On the way we including Chaifa, Kiryot, Natzrat Ilit, and mingle, it adds “flavor” to all of noticed dog excrement in the middle

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“I am prepared to sit with each “How can this be? If there is a fight, person, calmly, like brothers, like G-d forbid, among two brothers, is the Chassidim, and to put it all on the table. True, you cannot command solution for the family to cut off ties something in the heart in either direction, but we have to remember with both sides? On the contrary! that none of us is the Goel aside from the Rebbe. Those who are concerned about “Regarding the Geula it says, ‘You will be gathered one by one, the machlokes should attend both Jewish people.’ We have to gatherings and not miss either of understand that it doesn’t work like a military system where everyone them!” marches together in lockstep; it doesn’t play out through the masses. of the sidewalk. Reuven went around The Chassid, R’ Tal Nir, a family In truth, there is an emphasis on it from the right and I went around doctor from Nachalat Har Chabad, each person as an individual.” it from the left. related the following: When asked his opinion as to “When we returned to the house “On 3 Tammuz 5756 I sat with what prevented achdus among us, he on Rechov Borochov, Reuven asked him at a Kinus Achdus of Chassidim said, “We have to eradicate yeshus me, ‘Did you see what separated in Kfar Chabad, men, women, and (ego). That’s what messes between us when we walked to the children. He had so much nachas everything up. I look at friends from mikva?’ ‘Yes,’ I said. Reuven got all from all the Chassidim sitting the early years and I’m shocked by excited and said, ‘Do you get it? It together, as children of one father. what they say. At the same time, makes no sense that excrement can He shed a number of tears during when I meet a friend like this, won’t separate between two Chassidim! the niggunim when all the I kiss him? Won’t I heartily shake What happens? They circumvent it participants united in an atmosphere his hand? And if he doesn’t want to and get back together…’” of elevation and striving higher, an shake hands, I am likely to jump him He would always explain to his atmosphere that stirred the warm, and kiss him anyway! I know one mushpaim the way to get around the Chassidishe heart of Reuven. Also thing – the Rebbe says that every obstacles to unity: during the moving speeches, he matter of holiness comes through “We must be battul to the Rebbe cried many times.” interconnectedness. If there is because when you’re battul to the When he spoke about the lack of separation, that means there isn’t Supernal will, even incompatible achdus he was so aggravated. His k’dusha. I don’t want there to be powers can join forces like fire and heart bled when he spoke about the separation because of me. Ever.” water did in the plague of hail. The possibility of realizing the Rebbe’s “I am very pained,” he said on fire remained fire and the water promise of “hinei zeh ba” in a way the same occasion, “that energy is remained water but they were battul that was so accessible and not invested to try to be unified. to the command of Hashem and immediate, and about how the How can there be people among us they came down together from promise is distanced from us as a who are able to live with this heaven and completed their result of nonstop attempts by the separation? Not to mention those mission.” forces of negativity to create who invest money and energy to When he saw disunity among disunity. And it’s all because of hurt one another…” Chassidim, he was heartbroken. A stupidity and the wiles of the Yetzer. Unfortunately, R’ Reuven’s young Chassid once asked him, Because of this he would go from efforts were not always successful. “How was it possible that Korach, place to place, from city to city, and He was witness, on a number of who was Moshe’s relative and one of from yeshiva to yeshiva. He went to occasions, to two separate Chabad the distinguished people, aroused a all Chabad centers in the attempt to events on the same day and at the controversy against Moshe?” make shalom and mend the rift same time. After one of these On the spot R’ Reuven shot back among Chassidim. It was all in order occasions, at a farbrengen that took with his answer which was said with to give some nachas to the Rebbe. place on 3 Tammuz, he asked one of a bitter smile, “Usually a headache This is an excerpt of what he said the people there, “Which gathering begins with the head…” on this topic: did you attend?” To his dismay,

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many of the people said they did not the Rebbe’s honor in connection attend either gathering because they with other things?” did not want to take sides in the How apropos it was that the dispute. topic of achdus among Chassidim Reuven was horrified by this and was the one most discussed at R’ he cried, “How can this be? If there Reuven’s last farbrengen. It was is a fight, G-d forbid, among two Shabbos Parshas D’varim 5762, the brothers, is the solution for the last Shabbos of his life, when he sat family to cut off ties with both down to farbreng with his family and sides? On the contrary! If Chassidim mekuravim. In the middle of the of the rank and file need to attend meal he addressed everyone. He one gathering, those who are began by speaking strongly that the concerned about machlokes should Rebbe says our generation is the attend both gatherings and not miss generation of Geula and that we either of them!” have to do all we can to hasten the R’ Doron Shefi says that in the Geula and that nothing changed in years when there were two this regard since 3 Tammuz. gatherings on the same date, R’ R’ Reuven Dunin In connection with this he Reuven asked him to take him to farbrenging on Chanuka mentioned what it says in the both gatherings while expressing his Chassidishe parsha, in Likkutei disappointment that they didn’t most was the fact that the excuse for Torah on Parshas D’varim, that the manage to arrange one gathering. disunity was supposedly concern for fulfillment of mitzvos has to be in a Not to attend either gathering was the Rebbe’s honor. When he once way of “every day they have to be as out of the question, as far as he was spoke about this, he said, “I can see new to you,” and as the Rebbe says, concerned. you want to hear a joke. It often “really new!” He emphasized that R’ Yitzchok Goldberg, rosh happens here that a driver cuts the avoda done in this way, without yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim in someone off and they meet at the laziness and with lots of chayus, Migdal HaEmek, who attended one traffic light. Harsh words are hurled hastens the Geula. of the gatherings that took place against the guy’s mother and the Then he spoke a lot about the recently, described R’ Reuven’s person shouts, ‘How dare you talk importance of Ahavas Yisroel, Ahavas Yisroel like this: that way about my mother?’ especially among Chassidim. He said “When R’ Reuven stood at the “The truth is that this is a false that the first mivtza of the Rebbe podium and spoke about the claim. When was the last time you was Mivtza Ahavas Yisroel and said opposite of Ahavas Yisroel, he spoke spoke to your mother that you are we place an emphasis on loving Jews about the idea of a barrier and asked suddenly taking up the cause of her who are not Chassidim when there’s all present to resolve to get rid of the honor? a lot of work to be done on the unity barriers between us. He spoke from “The same is true for us. We within Chabad as part of our avoda his heart so that everybody knew attack people who we think don’t in hastening the Geula. what he meant.” care enough about the Rebbe’s Not surprisingly, these were his The thing that bothered him the honor but do we really care about final words said in public.

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that brings an end to the exile and leads us to the Redemption and the hisgalus of Melech HaMoshiach, YOUR immediately mamash. The “mosdos” have always been one of the most important things in the Rebbe’s eyes. We all know how much strength the Rebbe devoted to INSTITUTION the institutions and how many brachos he bestowed upon them, those who work for them, and their students. IS IN THE THE MOSDOS – A GIFT TO THE REBBE To illustrate the Rebbe’s unique warmth towards the institutions, I often mention the farbrengen of REBBES Yud-Alef Nissan 5732, when the Rebbe celebrated his seventieth birthday. The excitement among Anash in attendance was tremendous. Everyone realized that ROOM! we had attained a certain high point, and yet felt that this marked only the beginning of many such new By Rabbi Yosef Hecht, Shliach and Chief Rabbi of Eilat, Member of Chabad achievements by the Rebbe, as he Rabbinical Court of Eretz HaKodesh conquered the world with the light Translated By Michoel Leib Dobry of the Redemption. At the Yud-Alef Nissan farbrengen that year, Chassidim Delivered at the closing session of last sang the niggun “Becha Hashem Chasisi Al Avosha L’olam,” the first month’s conference in Tel Aviv for pasuk of the Rebbe’s new chapter of Chabad institution directors in Eretz T’hillim. The crowd sang with great exuberance for a lengthy period of Yisroel, sponsored by Agudas Chassidei time, and if you noticed – it seems to me that you can see this on the Chabad video as well, there was a slight smile on the Rebbe’s lips throughout the singing of the niggun. The “Fortunate are we, how good is Rebbe surveyed the crowd from our portion, and how pleasant is our right to left, as his holy eyes lot, and how beautiful is our constantly moved from one side of inheritance!” the shul to the other, sweetly smiling “How good is out portion” – that all the while. The Rebbe saw that we run and actively work in the those assembled were in a state of Rebbe’s institutions, “how pleasant great elation, as they sang with is our lot” – that his holy name and much devotion and enthusiasm. his holy brachos accompany these They seemed to be calling: “Here we institutions every hour of every day, are, Rebbe! We will do whatever you “how beautiful is our inheritance” – ask of us – some new mitzvah that we know that this is the avoda campaign, whatever you want us to

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carry out in the world to lead us to nothing more beautiful than these administering the mosdos, he must the Redemption – we will fulfill!” beautiful vessels – the Rebbe’s prepare the beautiful vessels for the When the singing stopped, the institutions spread throughout the revelation of the king. The Rebbe said that he was happy to see world, and this is especially so in institution that he establishes, the that everyone is enthusiastic, and relation to the Rebbe’s institutions in institution that he runs, the since he intends to impose a new Eretz HaKodesh. institution where he conducts campaign upon them, it is therefore When we increase light, increase activities – this is one of the good and most important that they in holiness, increase in Ahavas important vessels in the eyes of the accept it joyfully. Yisroel, the filth is automatically king. As a result, it is imperative that What was the “decree?” In honor nullified and no longer takes up any this institution should be run of his seventieth birthday, the Rebbe space. properly and operate properly – in asked for the establishment of Many people look upon this order that not a speck of anything seventy-one new institutions generation as one that is somewhat undesirable or contrary to holiness throughout the world. detached from Jewish values and should attach itself to it. These are At the time, this seemed like Jewish traditions, and everyone the beautiful vessels through which something totally unrealistic and ponders how it is actually possible to we shall welcome the king. extremely difficult to achieve. The deal with such a world. As world Rebbe spoke about the great merit and strength associated with this effort, and how he would help and The Rebbe lifted his holy eyes from the give support, etc. We saw that this wasn’t a back burner issue; we had note and said to him: And why didn’t to conquer new ground and bring the light of the Redemption to the you ask that everything should work out whole world. In the end, far more than without an operation?! The chassid seventy-one institutions were established… suddenly realized what he had done, and immediately told the Rebbe, ATTRACTIVE VESSELS IN HONOR OF MOSHIACH “That’s exactly what I meant; this was We can understand this concept my question!” But it was already too through a chassidic parable: Moshiach is coming soon and G-d’s late… Divine Kingdom will be revealed over the world – “And G-d shall THE REBBE FEELS THE become King over all the earth; on leader, the Rebbe shows how even a that day shall G-d be one, and His little light dispels a great deal of PAIN OF THE name one.” Chassidus explains that darkness, and how much more so INSTITUTION DIRECTOR when we invite the king, we must when there is much light. As I have mentioned, in the make certain of two things: a) the The Rebbe’s institutions are Rebbe’s unique way of combining house must be clean of all dirt; b) lighthouses that the Rebbe has light and warmth, love and a smile – we must place attractive, dispersed to the four corners of the things of an undesirable nature are praiseworthy, and exceptional vessels earth. They radiate warmth, Ahavas driven out. I would like to show you in the house – befitting the honor of Yisroel, and light. The light draws this evening a previously the king. forth all Jewish souls, as it drives unpublished note that the Rebbe It appears to me that in his away all undesirable things without wrote to my father, of blessed efforts to prepare the whole world the need to do anything to battle the memory, on the subject of for the coming of Moshiach, the negativity directly. institutions. We see from it how Rebbe accepted the responsibility for Every institution director must much the mosdos mean to the placing new, beautiful, and proper consider this mission and its Rebbe, how important they are, and vessels all over the world – namely, importance in everything he does. In how much we have to work to make the Rebbe’s mosdos. You have

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certain that everything should be just in my opinion as well, their place director of every institution and all right. is not limited to that location at its employees – that the institution Anyone who was even slightly all, and it’s as if the institution is will be “tip top,” not tainted in the familiar with my father knows that in my room in 770, and not in the slightest ch”v, as it is in the Rebbe’s he had a unique style in writing to courtyard in 770. – The Rebbe has room – together with the Rebbe the Rebbe, and there was also a established: Just know that the place himself. unique style to the answers that the does not stop there, in the opinion of Do we have any idea what “the Rebbe gave him. The following case the administration, the Rebbe writes, Rebbe’s room” means? The truth is in point took place about forty years and possibly in my opinion as well. I that we don’t. We only know what ago, when my father was the thought to myself: What is the chassidim have said that it’s the director of the Chabad institutions in meaning of “possibly”? If the yechida of the entire Jewish People. New Haven, Connecticut. A most institution director accepts the fact Yechidus – the Rebbe’s yechida, the difficult financial situation was that his mosad is in the Rebbe’s yechida of the entire Jewish People, prevailing there at the time, and my room, then so do I. And if this is not and your yechida! When you are father was in need of assistance in a so clear to you, then perhaps this is with the Rebbe in his room, your variety of areas. He simply cried out my opinion as well… level of yechida is revealed at that to the Rebbe for help, otherwise he However, take notice of the moment! The level of yechida within didn’t see how the institutions could amazing points that the Rebbe your soul must be in a state of continue to operate. Within every reveals: a) I know what is happening constant revelation – twenty-four word of this letter, the Rebbe in all the mosdos all over the world hours a day! Total self-sacrifice for obviously saw his pain and anguish. and about their problems. It’s simply the issue at hand! Don’t be moved The Rebbe replied to my father’s fantastic and quite unbelievable how by any difficulties or delays! Don’t letter: Even though I naturally feel the Rebbe describes this in such let anything deter or weaken you! his pain, “and I behold from my detail. b) The situation hurts me no Anyone who is not in the Rebbe’s flesh,” for in addition to the pain less than it hurts you, because the room – becomes weak! However, about the situation in New Haven, place does not stop there, and the someone who is in the Rebbe’s room as I also have a connection to the institutions are in my room in 770, – is not weakened! His level of institution, I am also sorrowed and not in the courtyard! yechida is revealed! pained about a similar situation or An institution director who I’ll tell you a story that will the like in our other institutions considers each morning that he is clearly illustrate for us the meaning crying out for such help. dealing with something in the of “the Rebbe’s room”: In the early The Rebbe continues to specify Rebbe’s room should be filled with years, there was a very well-known those institutions in need of awe as he gets to work on his holy chassid who had a certain health assistance: activities! In addition, his heart problem, and the doctors were Two in Yerushalayim (may it be should be filled with joy by the uncertain as to which type of rebuilt and re-established), two in knowledge that he is together with operation they should perform on Kfar Chabad, two in Lod, five in the Rebbe in his room, educating him. Each suggested procedure was the [kindergarten] network, three children, running the institution. complicated with its own benefits in Paris and the vicinity, two in Such things must give a person an and drawbacks. The chassid said London, one in Melbourne, – Do entirely different feeling towards the that under the circumstances, he you grasp what’s happening here? institution itself and how he relates must ask the Rebbe. The Rebbe simply sits down and to it! He went into the Rebbe, gave writes all his institutions with the Perhaps before the existence of him a note stating that the doctors same problem as my father has. – this note came to light, he simply have doubts over which operation and those in the United States that didn’t know what it was all about they should do, and asked the Rebbe I don’t want to list, as that would and how it related to him… He was for his advice. The Rebbe lifted his reveal a secret known to the unaware how the Rebbe perceived holy eyes from the note and said to directors. Similarly, I have not and looked upon such things. him: And why didn’t you ask that mentioned those in need of help of However, when he sees this clear everything should work out without a different type, and I have a opinion in the Rebbe’s holy an operation?! The chassid suddenly connection to these institutions. handwriting, it must bring a special realized what he had done, and Furthermore, in the opinion of sense of awakening, another immediately told the Rebbe, “That’s their administration and possibly expression of will, joy, vitality to the exactly what I meant; this was my

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question!” But it was already too late… The Rebbe told him (so I heard): Just know that anyone who passes the threshold of that door and enters this room with simple faith brings forth success in a manner beyond nature. You didn’t have this at the appropriate time when you needed it. Thus, what exactly is “the Rebbe’s room”? The Rebbe’s room means the simple faith that draws from a level far higher than nature, higher than seider hishtalshlus – success in spiritual matters and success in material matters beyond all measure. This is where the institution that we run should be. This is where the institution director should be every day, how he should feel, how he should relate to the task put before him. This is where he Rabbi Yosef Hecht and Natzrat Illit Chief Rabbi Yeshayahu Hertzel unveil the must be! plaque summarizing Chabad institution activities in Eretz HaKodesh. If only we could hold at the level the Rebbe has set for us in this note the G-dly light that comes from a you had something blocking between and feel it. I believe that many things farbrengen with the Rebbe? At a the warmth of the farbrengen and would be quite different if we would farbrengen, the Rebbe draws G-dly your body. actually feel things in this way. light into the world. Thus, the rains This is what the Rebbe says! I will conclude with a story that cannot interfere – on the contrary, Rabbosai, we must use our illustrates how much the Rebbe gives they only help. common sense and not do the to us and showers us with brachos. The Rebbe took off his coat, and wrong thing at the wrong time. We It took place during the holiday placed it on the chair. When the don’t put on a coat if there’s no of Sukkos more than forty years ago Rebbe removed his coat, all the need for one, and we don’t wrap (5726-7-8). During those years, the chassidim followed suit. It may have ourselves in some barrier! It is Rebbe would farbreng twice in the been difficult for them, but they all written that even a partition of iron sukka – on the first night of Chol removed their coats. Can you cannot separate Israel from our HaMoed and on Shabbos Chol imagine? The Rebbe removes his Father in Heaven, but sometimes a HaMoed. Before then, until 5724, coat, and you sit at his farbrengen person does something foolish or there was also a farbrengen during with your coat on? Unthinkable! incorrect, and this is what prevents Simchas Beis HaShoeiva, which the There was one man – half that unique warmth of the Rebbe Rebbe later stopped. On one chassid, half not – who had come as from radiating upon all the occasion, when the Rebbe went out a guest and he had some difficulty institution directors and all those to farbreng, it was pouring rain, with this trial… So he kept his coat involved in institution activities. literally. Everyone was in the sukka, on, since he didn’t want the rain to May G-d help us that we should some with winter coats, some with drip all over him. It was a most understand where we are, what the raincoats, and some with hat joyous farbrengen, but he, of all institution is in the Rebbe’s eyes, the coverings. The Rebbe arrived at the people…caught a cold – and a bad warmth the Rebbe radiates, and we farbrengen with his coat, and rain one at that. should accept this with love and was actually pouring into the sukka, After the farbrengen, he wrote a hope that through our final not just dripping from the s’chach. letter to the Rebbe: I participated in activities, we will merit the hisgalus But this was the time for the the farbrengen in the sukka, but I of Melech HaMoshiach, Rebbe’s farbrengen, and since when caught a cold and got sick, and I ask immediately, mamash. Amen, may it does rain prevent the revelation of for the Rebbe’s bracha. The Rebbe be His Will! wrote to him that this was because

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