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CHAI ELUL: A KING IN THE FIELDS 4 D’var Malchus | Sichos In English
MOSHIACH: A MATTER OF LIFE AND 7 LIFE Thought | Rabbi Zvi Homnick
JEWISH REVIVAL IN THE CITY OF THE 14 TYRANT Shlichus | Nosson Avrohom
IN THE MERIT OF THE CHILDREN 24 Chinuch
CHASSIDUS AND MUSAR [CONT.] 28 Insight | Yisroel Yehuda USA 744 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409 Tel: (718) 778-8000 Fax: (718) 778-0800 WOMEN AND ELUL: CONCEPTS AND [email protected] 32 www.beismoshiach.org CUSTOMS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Elul M.M. Hendel ENGLISH EDITOR: TEACHING THE TEACHERS Boruch Merkur Moshiach & Science | Dr. Aryeh Gotfryd, PhD HEBREW EDITOR: 38 Rabbi Sholom Yaakov Chazan [email protected]
THE TRAIN OF LIFE AND DEATH 40 Feature | Sholom Dovber Crombie Beis Moshiach (USPS 012-542) ISSN 1082- 0272 is published weekly, except Jewish holidays (only once in April and October) for $160.00 in Crown Heights, Brooklyn and in all other places for $180.00 per year (45 issues), by Beis Moshiach, 744 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409. Periodicals postage paid at Brooklyn, NY and additional offices. Postmaster: send address changes to Beis Moshiach 744 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409. Copyright 2010 by Beis Moshiach, Inc. Beis Moshiach is not responsible for the content of the advertisements. 755_Beis Moshiach 23/08/2010 6:13 AM Page 4
d’var malchus CHAI ELUL: A KING IN THE FIELDS
From Proceeding Together — Volume 2. Sichos In English In the case of comprehensive souls, the 2. ARE YOUR FELLOW CREATURES PLEASED souls of those whose only concern WITH YOU? throughout their lives was a total These three loves are so interconnected that they are in fact dedication for the sake of their disciples one.[599] As the Mishna teaches:[600] and for those who were bound to them “Anyone with whom his fellow men are pleased, G-d is pleased with and for all of Israel, there is no external him; but anyone with whom his fellow men are not pleased, G-d is factor that can separate them from not pleased with him.” their “flock,” their main concern. The choice of the word brios (here translated “fellow men,” but lit., “creatures”) recalls how the 1. HOW TO CLIMB THE paved a way that enables every Alter Rebbe explains (in ch. 32 of BAAL SHEM TOV’S single Jew, even the very simplest, Tanya) our Sages’ description[601] LADDER. to serve G-d; the Alter Rebbe of Aharon: “loving creatures and showed how every single Jew, even drawing them near to the Torah.” Concerning[591] Chai Elul, my the very simplest, can serve G-d. There the Alter Rebbe notes: “This revered father-in-law, the Rebbe Elsewhere[596] he uses a different means that even those who are far [Rayatz], writes[592] that it is the image: The Baal Shem Tov set up a from G-d’s Torah and His service, birthday of our mentor, the Baal ladder so that everyone (including for which reason they are classified Shem Tov, and of the Alter Rebbe. simple people) would be able to simply as creatures” — i.e., their And, as is well known, on a ascend; the Alter Rebbe showed sole quality is that they are G-d’s person’s birthday his soul- people how to climb the ladder. creatures — “one must attract with root[593] is dominant. (Like every Though the meaning of the path strong cords of love... to draw them subject in nistar, the mystical and the ladder are not spelled out close to the Torah and the service of dimension of the Torah, the source explicitly, it is clear from other G-d.” (The concept of being “G-d’s for this, too, is hinted at in nigleh, teachings of my revered father-in- creatures” figures in an encounter the Torah’s revealed dimension — law[597] that the major theme of the recorded in the Gemara:[602] in the Talmud Yerushalmi.[594]) Baal Shem Tov is the love of G-d, a When R. Elazar one day Hence, on Chai Elul the teachings love of the Torah and love for a commented on an ugly man whom of the Baal Shem Tov and the Alter fellow Jew.[598] Sometimes this is he met, the latter retorted, “Go and Rebbe are infused with new expressed in ascending (instead of tell the Craftsman Who made strength. descending) order: love for a fellow me....”) And just as those who are As it is expressed by my revered Jew, a love of the Torah and the love called mere creatures are to be father-in-law, the Rebbe of G-d. loved and drawn near to the Torah, [Rayatz],[595] the Baal Shem Tov so, too, in our present context, it is
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the opinion of exactly such fellow one’s heart comes to feel that no obligation to hear Kiddush” — even Jews that the Mishna considers: separation is possible between one’s though one who is himself not “Anyone with whom his fellow men love of a fellow Jew, of the Torah obliged to hear Kiddush cannot [lit., creatures] are pleased, G-d is and of G-d, because they are all one enable others to discharge their pleased with him; but anyone with — just as Israel, the Torah and the obligation.[609] The explanation is whom his fellow men [lit., Holy One, Blessed be He, are all that Rabbeinu HaKadosh is not creatures] are not pleased, G-d is one. included in the category of men in not pleased with him.” general who have died and who are From the earlier-mentioned 4. THE REBBE STILL free of the mitzvos; rather, he has interconnection between the three HAS OBLIGATIONS. the obligation of Kiddush (like all loves, it follows that a lack of other obligations) as previously. ahavas Yisroel (“his fellow men are Explaining the content of the In this light, too, we can not pleased with him”) proves that twelve days from Chai Elul to Rosh understand the episode recorded in there is a lack of ahavas ha’Torah HaShana, my revered father-in- Emek HaMelech[610] in which and ahavas Hashem (“G-d is not law, the Rebbe [Rayatz], Avraham Avinu was once counted pleased with him”). teaches[603] that they should be a towards a minyan — because, To examine this connection time of spiritual stocktaking for the unlike the departed in general, he is more closely: Ahavas Hashem alone twelve months of the year, a day for not free of the mitzvos. can lead a man to isolate himself each month. For a start, Chai Elul In the case of comprehensive from people in general and from itself is the day of cheshbon souls,[611] the souls of those simple folk in particular. Similarly, ha’nefesh for the past month of whose only concern throughout ahavas ha’Torah alone can make a Tishrei — when many of those their lives was a total dedication for man so precious in his own eyes present today were together with the sake of their disciples and for that he keeps himself distant from my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe those who were bound to them and his fellow Jews. These two loves [Rayatz] during his lifetime in this for all of Israel, there is no external alone are thus insufficient. And not world. factor that can separate them from only is ahavas Yisroel And since the Rebbe [Rayatz] their main concern. Hence now, indispensable: a lack of this love says that Chai Elul is the day of too, they are not separated from indicates (as above) that one is cheshbon ha’nefesh for the past their flock[612] — now, too, they lacking in one’s love of G-d and of month of Tishrei, it is certain that are present in this world and under the Torah. he himself is also taking stock of obligation in all matters of the Loving one’s fellow Jew fortifies last Tishrei. Torah and the mitzvos — and help one’s love of the Torah and makes Now there are people who are and support them in all their affairs. one’s love of G-d true. And [true] afraid that after the histalkus there They enable Jews at large to fulfill Ahavas Hashem and ahavas is a state of being[604] “free their obligations. Not only are they ha’Torah bring about ahavas among the dead.” In truth, not “free” of the mitzvos, but they Yisroel. however, this phrase does not apply are under obligation in all matters to everyone. Thus Seifer Chassidim as before. Indeed, their obligation is writes[605] that tzaddikim, who even greater than before, because 3. THE THREE LOVES are referred to as alive even after ARE REALLY ONE. the limitations imposed by a finite their passing,[606] are not like body no longer exist.[613] (It is In this matter Chai Elul plays a other men[607] who have died and likewise explained in Tanya,[614] major role: Even if throughout the who are free of the mitzvos; rather, that “even a perfect tzaddik who year these three loves and their even after their histalkus they have serves G-d with awe and with a love interconnection were somewhat all their previous obligations. that delights in Him,” is neglected, they and their With this in mind we can nevertheless an entity who loves — interconnection are revitalized with understand the statement in the which is not the case when the the arrival of Chai Elul — the Gemara[608] that after his passing limitations of the body cease to birthday of the Baal Shem Tov and Rabbeinu HaKadosh used to visit exist.) the Alter Rebbe, the day on which his home every Friday evening for Thus, in relation to the their teachings are infused with new Kiddush. And Seifer Chassidim605 stocktaking of Chai Elul for the strength. adds that “his recitation of Kiddush past month of Tishrei, even after In plain words, this means that enabled others [i.e., members of his the histalkus the Rebbe [Rayatz] is one’s brain comes to realize and household] to discharge their obliged to do so, and indeed does
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so, as in the past — like last year, as the Rebbe [Rayatz] wants us to s.v. Ahavas Yisroel, sec. 6 (p. 827ff.), like two and three years ago, and do, it is as if we knocked on his and references there. like thirty years ago, since the time door — so it wouldn’t be right to 600. Avos 3:10; see also HaYom Yom, that he utterly dedicated himself to get up and leave.... On the entry for 6 Tishrei. the needs of his disciples and of contrary: we should utilize this 601. Avos 1:12. those who are bound to him, to help opportunity and bond ourselves 602. Taanis 20b. and support them in all their affairs. with the Rebbe, by studying his teachings and picturing his face in 603. Seifer HaSichos 5703 [1943], p. 177 and p. 179. 5. KNOCKING ON our minds. 604. T’hillim 88:6; see also Shabbos THE PALACE DOOR. All those who saw the Rebbe, let them picture his face. The idea of 30a, and references there. The stocktaking that the Rebbe doing so is more than reinforced by 605. Sec. 1129. [Rayatz] is making on Chai Elul for the statement of Rabbeinu 606. Brachos 18a. last Tishrei also includes all the HaKadosh in the Gemara:[618] blessings that he gave last Tishrei. “The reason that I am sharper than 607. Note the wording in the above- quoted Gemara (Shabbos 30a): “Once He once told me that he had my colleagues is that I saw R. Meir never gone bankrupt (G-d forbid): a man (adam) dies he becomes free of from behind; if I had seen him from the Torah and the mitzvos.” I.e., this he had remained firmly reliable in the front I would have been even statement applies to men in general the payment of all his dues. If so, he sharper.” Indeed, the Talmud (adam), though not to tzaddikim who will certainly see to the fulfillment Yerushalmi relates[619] that “R. are at a lofty level... (cf. Maharsha in of all his blessings. Meir’s cane was in the hand [of one Chiddushei Aggados on Bava Basra As far as he is concerned, since of the Galilean elders], and from it 164b) — as stated by Chida in Shem he made promises he is certainly he gained understanding.” HaG’dolim, Part I, Maareches able to fulfill them, otherwise he And through hiskashrus with the G’dolim, Letter Alef, s.v. R. Eliezer B”R Nosson. would not have promised. There is Rebbe, all his blessings will one condition, however: hiskashrus certainly be fulfilled. 608. K’subos 103a, and see with him, and faith that now, too, Chiddushei Aggados of Maharsha he is able to fulfill — and in fact NOTES: there. will fulfill — all his promises. 591. The above text is taken from 609. See the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Speaking of the alien unauthenticated notes recorded by Aruch, Orach Chayim 271:7. See also thoughts[615] that sometimes listeners when the sicha was delivered Vol. I in the present series, pp. 40-41. distract people during prayer, the on Chai Elul, 5710 [1950]. 610. Sec. 10; reproduced in Toldos Rebbe [Rayatz] once offered a 592. HaYom Yom, entry for Chai Elul; Chabad B’Eretz HaKodesh, ch. 15, p. parable. A man knocks on the and elsewhere. See p. 147 above, and 88. king’s door, but when the king footnotes there. 611. The singular form of the original approaches and opens the door for 593. In the original, mazal. is neshama klalis. him, he walks away. Our Sages 594. Rosh HaShana 3:8, and see 612. See Igros Kodesh (Letters) of the teach[616] that “one should first Korban HaEida there. See also Seifer Rebbe Rayatz, Vol. I, p. 141. See also recite G-d’s praises in order, and HaSichos 5748 [1988], Vol. I, p. Vol. I in the present series, p. 11. then pray.” The former stage 331ff.; and Vol. II, p. 398ff., and 613. See Tanya — Igeres HaKodesh, corresponds to knocking on the references there. the Biur — i.e., Part (b) — of Epistle king’s door; the actual prayer 595. HaTamim, Vol. II, p. 58; Seifer 27 (in Lessons In Tanya, Vol. V, p. corresponds to the moment of HaMaamarim 5708 [1948], p. 292; 175ff.). goodwill at which the king opens see also Likkutei Sichos, Vol. XIX, p. 614. Ch. 35; see also ch. 37. the door; and if a person allows his 246ff. and 251ff. mind to wander to alien thoughts 615. In the original, machshavos 596. Seifer HaSichos 5705 [1945], p. zaros. while praying, it is as if he walks 120. away at the very moment at which 616. Brachos 32a; and see references 597. See Seifer HaMaamarim 5710 there. the king opens the door for [1950], p. 105 and p. 160; and him.[617] elsewhere. 617. See also Seifer HaMaamarim To connect this with our subject: 5699 [1939], p. 95. 598. In the original, ahavas Hashem, Since we all immersed ourselves ahavas ha’Torah, ahavas Yisroel. 618. Eruvin 13b. today in a mikveh, and have 619. Moed Katan 3:1; Nedarim 9:1. gathered together for a farbrengen, 599. See Seifer HaErchim — Chabad,
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827ff.), as was the custom of Chassidim before traveling to the Rebbe. m Yom, I invited all the members of the Kollel and proceeded to make all MOSHIACH: the necessary preparations for the farbrengen (including taking down from the wall the picture of a 943], p. certain individual who my landlord obviously admired, but whose habbos A MATTER OF visage would be offensive to my Lubavitch guests). As the farbrengen got underway, it became obvious to me that the mashpia in question was adopting above- LIFE AND LIFE the approach of treating me as if I : “Once was already a member in good s free of e., this standing in the Chassidic brotherhood. This was despite the neral By Rabbi Zvi Homnick im who fact that I was still clean shaven rsha in and had yet to make any Basra In the Rebbe’s talks...there is also a significant changes in my lifestyle n Shem and practices. I remember thinking tremendous emphasis on the in a bemused observer sort of way iezer that it was actually a pretty astute importance of drawing down a sweet psychological gambit, as by nature I tend to prefer confronting issues sha good year in all of one’s material as they really are rather than needs... Similarly, when speaking about having to wade through the ulchan sugarcoated version first. See also Geula, although the main focus is on In that spirit, he quoted a 40-41. renowned Chassid and mashpia oldos the spiritual service needed to finally from Russia who was known for . 15, p. his acerbic tongue as well as his complete the process, there is also a colorful and off color language original (emphasizing the lowliness of the tremendous emphasis on the animal soul and generally aimed at s) of the importance of all the material blessings himself). This legendary Chassid See also was once leading a farbrengen 11. that go along with it. when one of the participants asked Kodesh, him how one goes about explaining Epistle Chassidus to a Misnaged. His went. I had spent the previous few V, p. CROSSROADS OF LIFE somewhat indelicate response was months day and night in a nearby At the very beginning of 1991, I to the effect that attempting to do Chabad shul really getting into was preparing to return with my so is the equivalent of trying to Chassidus, and had gotten to know family from Eretz Yisroel to attend explain the experience of the os the members of the afternoon the wedding of my wife’s sister. reproductive act to a eunuch. Chassidus Kollel who were based The happy event had pushed back Even as I got a kick out of the erences in that shul. The leader of the our planned return date by almost caustic and canny rejoinder in the Kollel, a well-known mashpia, two months, and the impending aforementioned anecdote, along upon hearing that I was returning arim Gulf War forced us to leave a week with the fact that he thought I was to the US with the intention of or two earlier than our revised ready to hear and appreciate it, I going to the Rebbe as a Chassid, plan because they were expecting was also intrigued by the substance suggested that I arrange a all planes to be grounded once the of the comment. I knew that this m 9:1. farbrengen in my rented apartment deadline of January 15th came and Russian Chassid had, like myself,
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originally learned in yeshivas that universal concepts of spiritual light” is not simply a flash of identified as being opposed to enlightenment and ebullience. illumination or clarity regarding a Chassidus, and would often Every person who has ever localized (G-dly) topic, although it bemoan that fact in the most chosen to pursue a spiritual path, may manifest primarily as such. extreme terms. So why would even those rooted in the most Just as light guides a person’s someone who had himself made degenerate and dissolute belief steps as well as his perceptions of the journey negate so absolutely systems, has experienced extremely reality on all levels, experiencing the possibility of explaining intense moments of being filled G-dly light means to see everyone Chassidus to a Misnaged, and in with “spiritual light” and/or and everything including self from terms that categorize a Misnaged “spiritual energy.” Those that a G-dly perspective, even if it is only as being beyond the realm of persevere on their path will for a brief moment in time during relating to Chassidus in the least? generally over time have less prayer. So too, “G-dly life” is not And then of course there was the intense “moments,” but will level simply a burst of excitement and question, why not go with the off at a heightened state of inspiration over a specific (G-dly) more traditional and publicly spiritual consciousness and energy, activity, although it may manifest palatable “color to a blind man?” which will reach progressively primarily as such. It is about Was he simply exploiting the shock greater “heights” over time. Torah experiencing how every fiber of value to drive his point home or observant Jews, for the most part, your being is nothing more than a was the analogy chosen tend to assume that what channel for G-d and the G-dly life deliberately? And then, of course, distinguishes their spiritual force that He has invested in you, there was still the possibility that experiences from that of their and is focused entirely on carrying these people were all crazy and I idolatrous counterparts is that the out His will. should run for my life before I got spirituality which they experience That is why it is utterly in too deep. is sourced in holiness, whereas all impossible to explain Chassidus to other spiritual movements derive a Misnaged as long as he insists on G-DLY LIFE their “light” and “energy” from the maintaining his oppositional realms of impurity. stance, because with all the words One of the greatest challenges Chassidus, however, warns that in the world you can’t explain the facing the uninitiated (and even it is quite possible that your concepts of “G-dly light” and the born and bred), when “spiritual experience” may well be “G-dly life.” Only when one is attempting to plumb the mysteries rooted in the spiritual source of prepared to let go of his inborn of the often abstruse arcana at the the animal soul and as such is obsession with self, even if it is a heart of Chabad Chassidic nothing more than the “light” of highly refined and spiritual self, theosophy, is to not only master its self and the “energy” of self, even can he begin to glimpse and unique vernacular but also to if it was precipitated by meditation perhaps even taste what Chassidus translate it into terms that have in prayer or the study of Torah. is all about. Yes, anybody can real life relevance. For example, The true seeker must know that it make the journey, and that is why Chassidus explains that the is not spirituality that he should be we have to reach out even judgment that takes place on Rosh pursuing, but it is Ohr Eloki and (especially?) to those Jews, but it HaShana does not only cover one’s Chayus Eloki, and he has to know is not about finding the right material lot for the coming year, how to distinguish those from their words to explain Chassidic ideas but also deals with the divine flow not quite G-dly counterparts. The that will trump their opposing of spiritual bounty one is slated to most obvious distinction from the arguments. It is about opening receive, specifically Ohr Eloki (lit. perspective of Chabad Chassidus is them up to something that is G-dly light) and Chayus Eloki (lit. whether one experiences a beyond their finite little self- G-dly life). On the most obvious heightened sense of self during the absorbed worlds. level this would be referring to experience in question, in which In Kabbala and Chassidus it is spiritual illumination (light, case it is inherently suspect, or if explained (in the context of awareness, clarity) and spiritual one loses oneself in the experience. providing an analogy for the inspiration (life, energy, The more I am sensing “I,” the Divine Attribute of Yesod and the enthusiasm). However, a deeper less G-dly it is. The more I am unification of Yesod and Malchus) study reveals that this choice of sensing G-d, the less awareness of that the reproductive act is unique words is very specific and is in fact self I have. amongst all human behaviors in meant to contrast with the more Even more specifically, “G-dly that it channels every aspect of the
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main focus is on the spiritual It became obvious that the mashpia service needed to finally complete was adopting the approach of treating the process, there is also a tremendous emphasis on the me as if I was already a member in good importance of all the material blessings that go along with it. standing in the Chassidic brotherhood. “With our youth and with our elders, with our sons and with our This was despite the fact that I was still daughters...” “Healthy souls in healthy bodies...” “Their gold and clean shaven and had yet to make any silver with them...” significant changes in my lifestyle and In that future time, we will experience the great G-dly light practices... and G-dly life that will be revealed from the highest levels of spirituality, but that will pale person’s being in a heightened In fact, through the teachings before the G-dly light and G-dly state, from his pleasure drive and of Chassidus, one can begin to life that will be revealed in the desire to his intellect and appreciate that material abundance physical, primarily through the emotions. He feels hyper aware, and spiritual plenty are not only physical body of the Jew. And yet, hyper alert, hyper alive and hyper not mutually exclusive but are the Rebbe is telling us that even as focused. However, if he is even the actually complementary. When you we are in the preparatory days least bit distracted, with part of learn to see all things from the before the ultimate revelation, him being elsewhere, then the perspective of the G-dly light, then much as Elul serves as the whole experience is compromised both the material and the spiritual preparation time for the revelations to the point that the two are nothing more than of Rosh HaShana, Yom Kippur, experiences have almost nothing in manifestations of the divine and Sukkos and Simchas Torah, we common except the mechanics. So exist only in order to reveal G-d in need to open ourselves up to those go and try to explain Chassidus to this world. Not only that, but the revelations. We can’t be the a Misnaged. material actually derives from a Misnaged who is waiting for a higher divine source and is the compelling explanation, because all means through which we reveal the LIFE ITSELF the explanations and descriptions infinite aspects of G-d that cannot There are many insights in the world won’t help. be expressed in the spiritual. gleaned and explanations given for Just as we know that the However, we will not fully realize the fact that both the Baal Shem revelations of Chassidus are here that revelation until after Moshiach Tov and the Alter Rebbe were born and whoever follows the path laid comes and ushers in the on the 18th of Elul, or as it is out by the Rebbeim can experience Redemption. commonly referred to, Chai Elul. the “light” and the “life,” even if That is why in the Rebbe’s What all those ideas and insights he was once completely opposed; talks, although the main focus is have in common is the idea that so too, the revelations of Geula are on the spiritual service of Elul and they both came to infuse Judaism here, and if we follow the path that the many forms and aspects of and Jewish practice with Chayus – the Rebbe laid out for us we will those efforts, there is also a with life (Chai), particularly in the experience the “light” and the tremendous emphasis on the month of Elul, the month of “I am “life” of Geula. And then we will importance of drawing down a to my Beloved, and my Beloved it merit to see and experience the sweet good year in all of one’s to me,” as this is the time of the ultimate revelation of “the King in material needs, generally classified year when the focus is on each Jew His palace” as revealed to us by under the main headings of taking the initiative in his Moshiach, “the king in his glory,” offspring, life and sustenance, and relationship with G-d so as to and expressed through the eternal all of them in abundance. merit an abundance in material life of the soul and the eternal life Similarly, when speaking about blessings as well as spiritual plenty of the body of each individual Jew, Geula (both in general and in the form of G-dly light and G-dly amidst infinite material and regarding its specific connection to life. spiritual abundance, immediately, the month of Elul), although the NOW!
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state of bitterness, for law and judgment are simply not things that make people happy. THE ELUL OF The teachings of chassidus turned everything upside down, emphasizing that the main concept of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and the Ten Days of T’shuva is not REDEMPTION just one of judgment, but primarily the time for crowning the King. Furthermore, this must be done with joy, just as we joyously crown the Interview by Sholom Ber Crombie king with shofars blowing and Translated by Michoel Leib Dobry trumpets blaring. From a chassidic approach, our inner soul searching during the “The Rebbe revealed a whole new month of Elul is not only in order to receive a meritorious judgment, but foundation to the very avoda of the also to repair our misdeeds and make us worthy of fulfilling the month of Elul,” stated Rabbi Chaim coronation of the King of the Nisselevitch, mashpia in Yerushalayim. Universe in a befitting manner. In any event, don’t we place a In this timely interview, he explains the special emphasis upon the avoda of t’shuva as we prepare to crown special avoda of the “chassidishe month the King? During chassidic farbrengens of Elul,” the meaning of “the Days of held in the month of Elul, we discuss how the month of Elul Awe” and connects them to the Rebbe’s represents the concept of crowning innovative approach to the spiritual the King, and I once heard R’ Yoel Kahan explain how chassidus can be service of every Jew and how it all leads summed up in the three Rosh Hashanah brachos of the Musaf to the Redemption. prayer: “malchios,” “zichronos,” and “shofros.” As we begin the month of Elul, “the Holy King” and “the King of First of all, there must be the the question is asked: How do we Judgment” between Rosh Hashanah “malchios,” the job of crowning the prepare for the “chassidishe Elul” and Yom Kippur, the main concept king. A person can ask himself: Who and how does it differ from the during these days is law and am I to crown the King of the Elul of the rest of the world? judgment. According to this World, the Holy One, Blessed Be In general, the innovation of approach, the month of Elul must He? I’m just flesh and blood, a chassidus regarding the month of follow the same line; if Rosh created physical being, and if a flesh Elul is an inward look at the very Hashanah and Yom Kippur are days and blood king can be crowned only essence of the month. According to of law and judgment, then the by his equals, then this surely Musar s’farim – and what is also preceding days must be an applies regarding the King of all accepted according to Shulchan appropriate preparation for the kings, Alm-ghty G-d! It would be as Aruch – the concept of Elul is one judgment. The atmosphere is tense, if animals came and asked a human of law and judgment. This is how as we seek to repair our deeds for being to be their king! people primarily talk about the the purpose of receiving a The answer for this comes in the month of Elul. While there is also meritorious judgment. There are second part of Musaf: “zichronos.” the concept of crowning the King stories of Jews who would spend the How can we arouse the desire of the and the halachic obligation to say entire month of Elul in a somber King to reign over us? Through the “zichronos,” i.e., fulfilling the
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remembrance of the Covenant. And how do we make a covenant? We take a whole animal, cut it into two halves, and pass between the pieces. This is how a covenant is made between two who love one another. The question is asked: If the essence of the concept of a covenant is to create unity between two parts, then why is the covenant made through the totally opposite action of dividing a whole object into two? It is explained that the covenant reveals and symbolizes that just as the animal divided was a whole object and the two halves passed between are not separate from one another, rather they are simply two halves of the same whole object – similarly, when two friends make a covenant by passing between the pieces, in practical terms, they are one whole metzius that has been divided in two. G-d Above” within us so that we Such is the covenant between us NOT JUST AN ACRONYM can crown Him as King. and Alm-ghty G-d. It reveals that we The Rebbe frequently would Yet, these days are still called are two halves of the same thing, for mention the acronyms for the “the Days of Awe.” the Jew is “truly a part of G-d month of Elul. What was the main In the general letters that the Above.” As G-d’s other half, we point to this? Rebbe customarily sent to all possess the strength to arouse within Indeed, there are the well-known chassidim before Rosh Hashanah, Him the desire to reign over us acronyms of “Ani L’Dodi V’Dodi the Rebbe explains why Rosh when we remind Him of the Li,” indicating Torah, t’filla and Hashanah and Yom Kippur are covenant – “He Who remembers the tz’daka, but the Rebbe also called “the Days of Awe.” The covenant.” mentioned other acronyms related to Rebbe also reveals that while in However, there is yet another t’shuva and geula. simple terms, this is a concept of question: How is it possible for us, First of all, the Rebbe mentions dread and judgment, and thereby the Jewish People, to reveal that we the acronyms dealing with Torah, they are “awe-filled” days, we are part of G-d when it doesn’t t’filla, and tz’daka. These are the perceive these days in terms of fear appear so in the external sense? three pillars upon which the world of the king and not fear of the This brings us to the third part of stands, and they represent a Jew’s judgment. “Fear of the king” refers the Rosh Hashanah Musaf prayer: first step in this month as a to a servant standing before his “shofros.” Shofros is a derivative of preparation for the great royal sovereign in a state of awe – fear of “shipru maaseichem” (improve your coronation. Afterwards, there are majesty, not fear of punishment. deeds) – to remove the covering the acronyms that deal with the For the purpose of crowning the upon that which is “truly a part of avoda of t’shuva – “Ina L’Yado king, we need the Ten Days of G-d Above,” proving that we really V’Samti Lecha.” Then, as the T’shuva in order to crown him with are G-d’s other half. crowning achievement, the Rebbe each of the Ten S’firos. This is the essential concept of came with new Elul’dike acronyms Furthermore, since Elul represents a the chassidic month of Elul. In order dealing with the subject of preparation for this process of that we can crown the King, to be Redemption. coronation, we must do it with joy, worthy of arousing the desire of the It would seem obvious that we for can there be a more joyous, King, Alm-ghty G-d, we must need the acronym on t’shuva lofty, or exalted sight than crowning improve our actions to make us because if someone is not doing as the king anew? worthy and reveal the “literal part of he should in the areas of Torah,
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t’filla, and tz’daka, he must repent concept of t’shuva. and make amends for his misdeeds. This is the essential connection However, what does the concept of revealed by the crowning of the king – Redemption have to do with the a Jew’s bittul to the Essence of G-d, avoda of the month of Elul? As with and from there we arouse G-d’s other such matters, the Rebbe desire to reign over us. explains that the main objective is to reach the Redemption. Therefore, UNITING FOR THE we need t’shuva not just to make the PURPOSE OF CROWNING necessary repairs, but in order to bring Geula to the world. THE KING deeds During later years, the Rebbe How do we prepare for the raised the standard in the order of crowning of the King? What level n the avoda, explaining that t’filla and of avoda must we fulfill? ness, tz’daka exist in a manner of t’shuva The whole concept of crowning – even if you fulfill them in a this love for G-d is also in a manner the King is man’s bittul to G-d, and ng or befitting manner, there is still the of complete self-nullification. for this purpose, we must increase concept of returning to G-d. Our There’s nothing but G-dliness. in the avoda of Ahavas Yisroel. , we avoda is “repentance and good Redemption means that you The Rebbe explains that as a deeds,” in that order, despite the totally go out of your own metzius result of the essential connection with fact that it would seem that it should and are in a state of absolute bittul. between a Jew and G-d, and the be the opposite, i.e., first a person What is the proper order in the self-nullification that exists at the ulting does good deeds and afterwards he avoda of t’shuva? coronation of the king, we reach the de a comes to a state of t’shuva! In Likkutei Sichos, the Rebbe hisgalus of “on the designated day But this is the whole idea of explains the three levels during the of our holiday,” as revealed on the and doing t’shuva out of love. There are Ten Days of T’shuva: first Torah and Yom Tov of Sukkos. In other words, good deeds that are still within the mitzvos, afterwards t’shuva which is Sukkos brings into actualization the lives. realm of darkness, without any higher than mitzvos, and then the avoda of the Ten Days of T’shuva feeling or vitality. Therefore, we coronation of the King – a level and the Days of Awe. Furthermore, must do good deeds with t’shuva, higher even than t’shuva. Sukkos represents the concept of and the resulting strength will Regarding the pasuk, “Seek G-d unity: joy breaks through all provide a feeling a joy and while He may be found, call upon boundaries and causes unity. The illumination in our lives. Thus, the Him while He is near,” chassidus sukka also unites everyone within it, closer we get to Alm-ghty G-d, the explains that “these are the ten days “and spread over us the sukka of greater the feeling of G-dliness in between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Your peace.” Similarly, the Dalet our Torah and mitzvos, instilling us Kippur.” This invites the well- Minim symbolize the unity of the with more life and light. known question: Aren’t there only four types among the Jewish People. Thus far, the Rebbe has given a seven days between Rosh Hashanah This unity comes through the avoda majestic explanation of the avoda of and Yom Kippur, not ten? It is of the Days of Awe and the bittul of t’shuva during the month of Elul. explained that the Sages wanted to Am Yisroel, reaching their climax of Yet, a Jew might think to himself: emphasize the essential quality of unity at the king’s coronation. Now that he is already aflame with a Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Then, of course, when we speak feeling of love towards G-d, and his i.e., their connection with atzmus about the concept of the crowning Torah and mitzvos also illuminate, u’mehus, which is higher than Torah of the king and the aspect of what more can there possibly be? and mitzvos and higher than “essence,” through our essential Everything is in proper order. The t’shuva, which is connected with bittul to G-d – and naturally to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, then Torah and mitzvos. Therefore, Rosh Melech HaMoshiach as well – this comes with the innovation of yet Hashanah and Yom Kippur are not also represents the concept of another concept in the avoda of included in the Ten Days of kabbalas ha’malchus, which must be Elul: Redemption. This is love on a T’shuva, and since they reveal the with an emphasis upon the true totally different level – not only do I deep connection of the essence of unity of one metzius, without any love G-d with my “yesh,” as is the soul and their entire concept is divisions between one Jew and explained in chassidus (I’m the one one of “essence,” they are far higher another. who’s burning with love for G-d), than and are not included in the What type of unity is required?
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There are three levels of Ahavas Yisroel. The first level was revealed This is love on a totally different level – to us by the Baal Shem Tov, who not only do I love G-d with my “yesh,” brought to the Jewish world the tremendous innovation that every as is explained in chassidus (I’m the Jew has a special quality. Until the Baal Shem Tov, there were two one who’s burning with love for G-d), types within the Jewish People: the “upper class” Torah scholars, and this love for G-d is also in a manner of the simple “lower class” Jews, whom no one thought possessed any complete self-nullification. There’s special quality. The Baal Shem Tov nothing but G-dliness. came along with a totally new approach, stating that every Jew has Alter Rebbe, you simply can’t see a passing up his own personal a unique worth, and bringing to Jew as completely wicked, rather the interests to the point that it becomes light the pure faith of simple Jews entire Jewish People are perceived as to his benefit that this Jew will and the great merit and sincerity one metzius without any divisions – return home without being they possess. all of them literally as brothers with inconvenienced by the rainfall. The In fact, this was such a true no difference between them, “truly a needs of another Jew are my needs. revolution that at first, even the Baal part of G-d Above.” This is the innovative approach Shem Tov’s disciples had a hard This explains the concept of that the Rebbe taught us regarding time accepting this approach. unity that we must bring about as the coronation of the king and the The Mezritcher Maggid followed preparation to the avoda of avoda in preparation for this great with another new level in Ahavas crowning the king. event in the days that precede it. Yisroel. He told Rabbi Elimelech What is our avoda of Ahavas from Lizhensk that in the higher * * * Yisroel in light of the Rebbe’s worlds, they say that a completely One might think that during the sichos? wicked person is in fact a complete month of Elul one must prepare by Finally, the Rebbe MH”M came tzaddik. This means that we must working on unity, but the Rebbe with another original concept in the also love the completely wicked, in explains in one of his maamarim avoda of Ahavas Yisroel, On Zayin whom we don’t see any faith that during the month of Elul, when MarCheshvan, the Rebbe would whatsoever, in exactly the same way the King is in the field, the People of speak about how the Jews of Eretz that we love the completely Israel are already in a state of unity. Yisroel waited until the very last Jew righteous. This level reveals the For when the King is in the field, he who came to Yerushalayim for avoda of Ahavas Yisroel even for breaks through all the boundaries in Sukkos returned to his home at the those whose inner qualities or merits the field – “a king breaks through river Euphrates, before they began are nowhere in evidence. The boundaries” – until everyone is as to pray for rain. Despite the millions Maggid introduced the idea that we one metzius and the boundaries of acres of fields, orchards, and must love them just as we love have been completely nullified. vineyards in need of these rains, the tzaddikim. Thus, even before the king’s thousands of farmers passed up on In the ensuing generation, the coronation, the entire nation is their own desires, their livelihood – Alter Rebbe came with still another already in a wondrous state of unity. all until one Jew, the last one, finally level, one of even greater and more This is the unity that is required returns home. inner depth. The Alter Rebbe states when we stand before the king and The Rebbe’s lesson is a in Tanya that “all have one Father” – ask him to reign over us. This is the tremendous innovation, befitting the all Jewish souls are exactly the same concept of Redemption – complete level we must reach when we stand and all of them have a quality. It’s bittul to the very essence so that ready to crown our King. The fact not that you look at a Jew and see there is no difference between one that the Jewish People don’t ask for someone completely wicked but you Jew and another, nullifying the “me” rain doesn’t mean that they’re all still love him, rather you are looking and leaving only the metzius of suffering just for the sake of one Jew at a Jew who appears to be holiness. who hasn’t come home yet. The completely wicked from an external Yechi Adoneinu Moreinu benefit of this Jew is for my benefit! viewpoint, yet you see him as a v’Rabbeinu Melech HaMoshiach This is the true benefit of every Jew, complete tzaddik. According to the l’olam va’ed!
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shlichus JEWISH REVIVAL IN THE CITY OF THE TYRANT
By Nosson Avrohom
– they renovated the shul, many On first thought, he couldn’t bear the additional young people have become aware of their Judaism, and idea to go on shlichus to a city named quite a few Jews have strengthened their observance of Torah and for one of the most terrible enemies of mitzvos. He has already stopped the Jewish people but then he realized counting how many brissin have been done. that it was the city closest to Mezhibozh Although Bogdan Chmelnicki is responsible for the pogroms in where the Baal Shem Tov was born and which tens of thousands of Jews were murdered in 1648-1649 in the Baal Shem Tov aroused the Jewish Poland and the Ukraine, he is considered a national hero by people from its faint after the atrocities Ukrainians. They erected a statue in committed by Chmelnicki. * Rabbi the center of the city which is named for him. There’s no question that the Yehoshua and Menuchi Raskin went on Jews were massacred but Ukrainian historians claim that it was done in shlichus to Chmelnicki and under the cause of national liberation and wasn’t due to anti-Semitism. difficult circumstances began spreading Under Soviet rule, the symbols of Ukrainian nationalism were erased Judaism. * Presented in honor of 18 as well as the statue in his honor but Elul, the birthday of the Baal Shem Tov. after the dissolution of the Soviet Union at the beginning of the 90’s, his statue was taken out of hiding This year marks one decade Chmelnicki, Ukraine. In the past and replaced on a granite base in the since Rabbi Yehoshua and Menuchi year they have seen great center of town to honor the national Raskin went on shlichus to development in the mosdos they run hero.
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stronghold of ‘chutza’ and this place too needs to be prepared to welcome Moshiach.”
NO LANGUAGE, NO FAMILY; ALONE. JUST US AND THE REBBE R’ Raskin is not a talker. He prefers to stay away from the limelight and take action. Before going to the Ukraine he served on shlichus in Ofakim for two years with Rabbi Yisroel Hershkowitz from whom he learned a lot. “Half a year after we got married we went to Ofakim and helped R’ Hershkowitz open a school and with many other activities. We were there for two years, a period of time that inspired us to want to open our own Chabad house and prepare another place to welcome Moshiach. “When my wife told Faigy Bukiet “When they suggested that we go his soldiers to kill the Jews “in order of Kfar Chabad about our decision, on shlichus to Chmelnicki in the to save Ukraine,” but not to loot. Faigy told her that her brother, R’ Ukraine I recoiled. I should be a The soldiers marched down the Shlomo Wilhelm, the shliach in shliach in a city named for our bitter main street of the city and then Zhitomir and western Ukraine was enemy?! But then I heard that there dispersed to Jewish homes. The Jews looking for a couple for shlichus. We is a large Jewish community there weren’t ready and were empty contacted him and he offered to and on second thought I dismissed handed. Within three hours the send us tickets so we could go and my apprehensions. Chassidim say Cossacks had murdered 1600 men, check out the city he was talking that the Baal Shem Tov came to the women and children. Nevertheless, about. We accepted his offer and world following the G’zeiros Ta”ch the Jewish community soon from Zhitomir we traveled three v’T”at (1648-1649) in order to heal recovered and at the start of Soviet hours with him to Chmelnicki. the Jewish people who were so rule they were the largest community “A few months earlier R’ Wilhelm broken, similar to the Rebbe’s within the city. had opened a Chabad school in leadership after the Holocaust.” The Jews of Chmelnicki still had Chmelnicki and it was difficult for In 1648, the city was captured by not had their fill of tzaros. In 1941 him to run it long distance and the Cossacks led by Bogdan the Nazis entered the city and soon among other things, he was looking Chmelnicki. They wreaked havoc formed a ghetto for the 8000 for a couple who could run a school. and worse among the Jews. In 1795 remaining Jews. In the winter of “We were unsure about the idea the city was annexed by Russia. 5702 they were murdered together but when we wrote to the Rebbe During the Civil War it was captured with 7000 Jews of Prokhorov and through the Igros Kodesh we alternately by the Ukrainians, Poles Nikolayev. This is the city the opened to a clear answer. The Rebbe and finally by the Soviets but even Raskin couple went to on shlichus. wrote (quoting Avos) that in a place then there still wasn’t peace and “As we know, hashgacha pratis is where there is no person, strive to be quiet. a foundational teaching of the Baal a man; in a place where only you are In 5679/1919, pogroms took Shem Tov. I knew that if the city able to work in ways of pleasantness place against the Jews. That year, named for our bitter enemy is the and peace, you need to be there. the Cossack commander Samsenko city closest to Mezhibuzh, this is not “The Rebbe added: and Hashem decided to take charge of the city by happenstance. I concluded that granted you the appropriate talents after a communist uprising. He told apparently this is the final for this and if you don’t do it, nobody will do it. At the end of the
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Her parents began to convince the PERSONAL CONNECTION WITH 90% OF THE chassan to remove his beard and to eat JEWISH COMMUNITY whatever they served ... The couple was Chmelnicki has about 270,000 residents out of which about 1700 under a lot of pressure and we were are Jews registered in the k’hilla’s registry. afraid that the wedding would be called “It is estimated that there are three times that number of Jews. I off... have personal relationships with 90% of the Jews who are officially listed. letter, he wrote mazal tov on the caused us a lot of problems. He was They are our guests on Shabbos and birth of your son. At that time we unwilling to allow farbrengens to Yom Tov and we visit them. The sad hadn’t had children yet and this take place in the shul and did all he thing is when I meet people who answer was unambiguous and could so Chabad’s presence identify as Jews but are not willing to reassuring. We consulted with wouldn’t be felt in the city. give me any information. Their mashpiim and rabbanim and all were How did you start off? names are Jewish names and they in agreement that the Rebbe wants We arrived on 11 Kislev 5761. As tell me about customs and mitzvos us in Chmelnicki. I mentioned, a few months earlier a that they remember, but they refuse “Within a month we had sold all Chabad school had been opened and to have a connection. our belongings, packed and had we were supposed to run it. We got “We are trying to discover all the flown to Chmelnicki without a warm welcome from the parents hidden Jews and reach them. A knowing where we would live, and the students. generation is passing and who without kosher food, without “For the first two weeks we lived knows whether, in the coming years, knowing the language, without in a hotel on broken beds which you we will be able to rescue any of family, friends, a k’hilla. We were could barely sleep on. There was no them. It is hard to explain what alone; just us and the Rebbe. hot water except for Saturdays and causes this behavior, whether it’s “I had a little knowledge of the Sundays. After this two week anti-Semitism or fear of what the language since my father was born nightmare the head of the k’hilla neighbors or friends will say, but this in Russia and when I learned in finally found us an apartment to rent is the reality and I encounter it a Tzfas I worked a lot with Russian but it was actually going from the lot.” Jews.” frying pan into the fire. The living Recently, R’ Raskin decided to And your wife? conditions were horrible. Black do more to find all those Jews and “My wife is a sociable person and water emerged from the faucets. he came up with a plan of action. the isolation was very hard for her. There was no water in the shower “People here honor the dead. The mentality of the people here is and we had to bathe with pails of Honoring the deceased is part of the completely different from that of water. There was no gas and we culture. We are working on a project Israel. People look around bought a small electric hotplate on that calls upon the Jews to honor the suspiciously; there is no trust at all which we cooked. The apartment dead and come to shul where there among people. It isn’t easy working had some old furniture and two will be a special t’filla of ‘Keil Mallei under these conditions, especially rickety chairs. One morning the Rachamim.’ We hope that more and since we ran an organization that landlord, an old drunk, suddenly more Jews will dare to surface and had employees. We did not walked in. My wife was there alone come to shul.” experience anti-Semitism but we did and very frightened. From then on, experience jealousy and vandalism for a period of time, she went SHIURIM IN caused by drunks etc. everywhere with me. PRACTICAL JUDAISM “As soon as we came we realized “Hashem helped and thanks to just what the Rebbe meant in his the tremendous help of Rabbi Moshe The shul serves as the center of it letter to us that we have to work Kotlarsky we bought an apartment all. Daily activities around the year with everyone peacefully. A number that first year in the center of town, take place mainly in the shul. In the of organizations were already opposite the shul. We renovated it early days on shlichus the shul was operating here and the rav of the city and that’s where we live.” neglected until R’ Raskin took over was a new baal t’shuva, Litvish, who so that now, members of the k’hilla
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are proud of it. “The shul was built 120 years ago but the communists confiscated it as they did in other cities. In 5754 it was returned to the Jewish community but the k’hilla didn’t renovate it. The walls had the smell of mold, the walls were broken, chairs were rickety and it was filthy, not exactly a place of prayer to be proud of. “This past year we had a fundraising project and managed to prevail on a number of members of the community to take the initiative and renovate the place with the help of Mr. Igor Ratoshnei. After months of work you wouldn’t have believed Lag B’Omer parade in Chmelnicki it was the same place. It’s clean and beautiful. Now more people participate in programs. “In addition to the davening we have regular shiurim for adults and youth. We have shiurim on the parsha and lectures for the intellectuals in which I discuss various topics and show them what Torah has to say. We recently had a series of lectures for Jewish doctors who live here. We focused on practical issues that come up in the medical field like euthanasia. The goal is to show that Judaism is not merely history but relevant today.”
Rabbi Raskin reading the Megilla on Purim A HAPPY JEWISH WEDDING THAT cooperation with other shluchim to shidduch. We didn’t know if the SHATTERED THE MYTH expand the number of people they shidduch would work but after a few R’ Raskin puts in a lot of effort meet and we’ve had some successes. months they decided to get engaged into young people. Although Ohr “We had a Jewish secretary with the kalla promising the chassan Avner closed last year because of working for us who was an older to observe kashrus, Shabbos and money problems, R’ Raskin allocates single. Her parents observed no family purity. We hosted the a lot of resources towards the youth. Jewish traditions. She was a plain, engagement party. “Intermarriage is our worst modest girl who once came to shul “Then the problems set in. Her problem. There is not a single Jewish and asked that we give her a Jewish parents began to convince the youth in the community who does name – Golda. She attended shiurim chassan to remove his beard and to not know our view, the Torah view, and told us that she lit Shabbos eat whatever they served. They also about the dangers of assimilation. candles. As with many other Jews, it exerted pressure about the wedding We have various ways of helping wasn’t out of the question that she being mixed men and women and Jews boys and girls marry one would marry a non-Jew. not compelling their daughter to another. We’ve set up groups for “Then the shliach, Rabbi Meir keep kashrus and Shabbos. The young Jews from all over the city Holtzberg suggested one of his couple was under a lot of pressure and neighboring cities in mekuravim, a widower, as a and we were afraid that the wedding
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LIFE CHANGES FAITHFUL TO HIS PROMISE Step by step, R’ Raskin has been TO THE BAAL SHEM TOV working to breathe life into the The new mayor of Chmelnicki, Sergei Melnick, credits his success Jewish community. The work isn’t in the elections to the Baal Shem Tov! During the campaign preceding easy. Seventy years of communism the elections, R’ Raskin suggested that Melnick ask for a bracha from wreaked much havoc but he is the Baal Shem Tov. Melnick took him seriously and went to Mezhibuzh persistent and sees results. with R’ Raskin and with R’ Raskin’s guidance he promised, in a letter to the Baal Shem Tov, that if he won, he would be good to the Jewish “When we arrived in Chmelnicki the community. head of the k’hilla was an interesting The miracle happened very quickly. Out of 25 candidates for mayor, man by the name of Moshe Lerman. Sergei Melnick was elected. He went back to Mezhibuzh to thank the He’s over 70 and an intellectual. Baal Shem Tov. This intellectual bent of his Melnick promised once again to help the Jews especially with speedy prevented his emuna from coming permits to build a shul, mikva and Jewish center. forth. He was more Zionistic than “This is a significant ‘Didan Natzach’ since until he was elected religious. He championed the need there was an anti-Semite as the mayor and he refused to meet with me. to learn Hebrew and admired Hertzl Time after time he rejected attempts made for a meeting and he didn’t and Ben Gurion and knew the want to listen to anything concerning helping the k’hilla. The Jews of history of the State of Israel by Chmelnicki rejoiced when Melnick won and Melnick has kept his heart. promise and has been very helpful in our obtaining permits that allowed “I started learning Torah and us to renovate the shul.” Chassidus with him. Nearly every Shabbos he would come to us for meals with his wife and would be would be called off. My wife taught sadly shared his disappointments. exposed to another mitzva and other the kalla the laws of family purity “There was a Jewish fellow from Jewish concepts but it was very hard and the chassan learned with Rabbi the community whom I tried to to get him to make a practical Feldman of Odessa. introduce to Jewish girls but change in his life. “My wife baked for a week and unfortunately, it didn’t work out. He “As the years passed he softened. worked hard to decorate the hall. We met a gentile woman and decided to Chassidus and farbrengens had an ourselves raised some of the money marry her. All my attempts to effect on him. Then my father, R’ for the wedding expenses from local dissuade him failed. When I saw that Shlomo Raskin of Tzfas, came to Jews. The chuppa took place in Adar he was determined I gave him a visit us. He farbrenged with the and I was the mesader kiddushin. dollar from the Rebbe; perhaps it community on Purim night, told We invited a lot of young people in would be the thing to change his stories and demanded that they order to show them what a Jewish mind. Well, a few months later he make good hachlatos. This head of wedding looks like, so they could see returned the dollar to me and they the k’hilla asked what he could take that a Jewish wedding can also be married. on and my father told him to grow a joyous. More than once I heard “I was very troubled by this. His beard. To my surprise, the man them complain that a Jewish family felt rejected by our not agreed. wedding is a degrading ceremony recognizing the marriage. They had “Unbelievably, he actually did it. and so this wedding shattered that hoped that this gentile woman would The k’hilla was shocked. He is a myth. participate in all the Jewish very distinguished person, a doctor “The couple had a daughter that programs and would become a Jew. by profession, and for him to grow a first year. He keeps mitzvos and It’s hard to explain to someone who beard … but he was unfazed by the conducts himself in every way as a wasn’t educated Jewish what a comments. Once he did that, he did Chassid. She learns from him and Jewish neshama is. not take off his yarmulke and then does a lot out of respect for him. “The family was offended but he added other mitzvos. In his Her parents are happy with their there was no choice since this is the lectures he began conveying son-in-law despite the beard and Torah and this is the halacha. His messages of Torah and mitzvos and despite his hat.” children aren’t Jews and I explained he convinced Jews to return to their Even with their successes, and this to him but I still invite him to heritage. This man used to be a there are quite a few, R’ Raskin daven at the shul.” sworn communist!
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“He loved books and every Jewish book I brought him he read avidly. One year he read an article in the L’Chaim which is published in Moscow about the truth in authentic Judaism and how the second and third generation of Reform Jews tend to assimilate while those who preserve authentic Judaism are loyal to their traditions. He discussed this with me and enthusiastically said we need to be religious. He did a lot to be mekarev his friends to Torah. “On 24 Sivan two years ago on Motzaei Shabbos after Havdala he fell in his house and died suddenly. It was very sad and many attended his funeral. He showed the Rabbi Raskin with his father-in-law at his son’s upsheren community that even at age 70 you can still change.” R’ Raskin told me about another person who was inspired and joined the army of shluchim: “A few years ago two new students came to our school, a brother and sister. When we asked the mother how she got to us she said she was sitting in the beauty parlor and met a friend who praised the school which her son attended and she decided to transfer her children even though it was the middle of the school year. “The boy, Kiril, was tall and thin and he went to eighth grade while Rabbi Raskin with the mayor who was elected in the merit of the Baal Shem Tov his sister Alona was in sixth grade. The boy was very smart and very little boys began asking their parents eat. We took care of him as though opposed to religion. He refused to for a bris. Kiril’s name was changed he was our own child. wear a yarmulke and he didn’t want to Dan and he was given t’fillin and “Later on he went to yeshivas to study Hebrew and Judaism but he a mezuzah as gifts. We also held a Tomchei T’mimim in Moscow. was willing to attend the school we bar mitzva for him. On Pesach he Three years ago his mother had an opened on Sundays. He came went with his family to his open miracle from the Rebbe. For a regularly and asked a lot of good grandmother in Russia and only ate long time she felt strong pains and questions. One day he surprised me matza, fruits and vegetables. tests showed she had cancer. She when he asked for a bris mila like “His mother was perturbed by all began chemotherapy and needed an Avrohom Avinu did and he wanted it this. The hardest thing of all was operation. She was very frightened as soon as possible on condition that kashrus which made her hysterical and the day before surgery we went his grandmother never find out and offended her that her son who to see her in the hospital to about it since she was afraid and had previously loved her food was encourage her. My wife gave her a vehemently opposed it. suddenly not eating it and buying dollar that she received from the “Kiril even went from boy to boy kosher food. My wife would prepare Rebbe. in school and every day he hot meals for him and baked challa “She kissed the dollar and began convinced more children to undergo and cake so he would have what to to cry. We told her the amazing a bris. He was socially accepted and
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miracle story that was published MOVING DREAM at the time in Beis Moshiach “When we went on shlichus we were which had to do with a dollar married for two and a half years and had from the Rebbe. She made a no children. Doctors suggested that we good hachlata and boruch follow a certain protocol for which we Hashem the operation was a would need to remain in Israel for at success and she was healed. She least half a year. We knew that if we left soon returned to work and told the country, the next time we would be everybody that the Lubavitcher able to visit would be in the summer and Rebbe healed her. Dan was that would only be for one month. learning in Moscow at the time. According to the doctors, the chances of “The strong connection succeeding with this treatment in such a between the son and the rest of short time were slim. Advised by the family during this difficult rabbanim and mashpiim and in light of time was mekarev them to us. the answer we opened to in the Igros His mother, who had been so Kodesh, we decided to go on shlichus, nervous about her son becoming knowing that there was no comparable religious and was uncomfortable Rabbi Raskin with his son treatment in the Ukraine. about what the neighbors and Shneur Zalman “When we were in Israel during the relatives would say (Will he summer break my wife remained for an become a fanatic rabbi? How extra month under observation and I returned to Chmelnicki. We were in will he support himself?), began touch daily and she told me everything she was undergoing. We asked the singing a different tune. Rebbe many times for this nightmare to end. It was a really tough time. “Two years ago we went to “One night, after a long conversation with my wife, I fell into a deep Dnepropetrovsk to attend Dan’s sleep. I dreamt that I was in 770 sitting at the table where the farbrengens wedding. His wife Orly went to take place, facing the Rebbe’s farbrengen bima. I was sitting with some Beis Chana and became frum in other Chassidim whose identity I forgot as soon as I woke up. We sat and a similar way to him through the farbrenged, said divrei Torah, sang niggunim, and the atmosphere was one shluchim Rabbi Sholom Gopin of a true Chassidishe farbrengen. Then suddenly, to my amazement and and his wife. Last year I flew to excitement, I saw the Rebbe approaching the table. He looked young, with Moscow to be the sandak at their a black beard as he looks in the pictures from the early years of his nesius. son’s bris. Rabbi Lazar saw how He sat down to my right. The Rebbe looked at me and asked in Yiddish, serious this couple is and he ‘What is happening in your city?’ I remember wanting to hear the Rebbe appointed them as shluchim in ask about my wife but I didn’t dare to bring that up. I answered, ‘It’s hard.’ Penza, Russia.” “The Rebbe asked again, ‘What is happening in your city?’ and I answered again, ‘It’s hard.’ The third time the Rebbe asked the same SPECIAL CONNECTION question I burst into tears. Then the Rebbe took my head to his chest and I TO THE BAAL SHEM sobbed for a long time. I could hear the Rebbe crying with me. A few TOV’S TOWN moments later I woke up. “I remembered the dream and felt greatly relieved. I told my wife the Mezhibuzh, the holy Baal dream and we felt that good news was on the way and indeed, boruch Shem Tov’s town: Although it’s a Hashem, our oldest son, Shneur Zalman, was born. popular place for Jewish tourists “We named him that because we had gone to Haditch to the gravesite to visit with thousands going of the Alter Rebbe where we davened and said the entire book of T’hillim. there from all over the world, the Outside it was minus twenty degrees. We wrote a pidyon nefesh and asked Jewish community consists of an that he arouse great mercy so we would have a son and we would name older Jewish couple with whom him Shneur Zalman. When I related all this at the bris, there wasn’t a dry R’ Raskin is in touch. eye. R’ Raskin tries to visit “Three years ago my wife flew to the Kinus HaShluchos where she Mezhibuzh a few times a year davened for additional children. That year our daughter was born and we with his k’hilla. Occasionally he named her Baila for a grandmother whose yahrtzait was that week.” does brissin there. “There was a family where the son wanted us to give him a
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bris but his father refused since he They don’t speak the language and *** was a Christian while the mother we act as their interpreters. We are Since I have visited the CIS was Jewish. We didn’t back down so often asked to go to Mezhibuzh to several times and I know that one of fast. We visited and spoke to them help visitors. There was a man, a the difficulties is the great distance about the mitzva. The father’s Gerrer Chassid from B’nei Brak, separating Chabad centers, I asked argument was that we were taking who was part of a group that was R’ Raskin about this and his answer away the boy’s choice of religion but visiting graves of tzaddikim. When surprised me. we negated that of course. The he got to Mezhibuzh did not feel “It’s not easy but there are places father asked for three days to think well and fainted. His sister and her where the distance between shluchim it over and to discuss it with his husband were on the tour and they can only be traversed by plane. Yes, I priest. We were surprised afterwards called for an ambulance and called often feel the need to sit with fellow when he gave his okay and even his wife. She went to the Chassidic Chassidim and farbreng and that’s more surprised to hear the name he library in B’nei Brak and I was why a few of us in the area try to picked, Avrohom. The bris took contacted from there in the evening. meet every so often for Shabbos. It place and it was a big simcha. “I took the head of the k’hilla, a strengthens us. What really helps is “That was just the beginning of doctor, with me and went to knowing that we have the privilege the story. After four years they had Mezhibuzh. The place we met the of being the Rebbe’s shluchim.” another son, Yosef. This time it was man was horrifying. It was an old What about the children – how the father who took the initiative and building about to collapse, light do they manage and get a proper asked for a bris for his son. The years away from a modern hospital. chinuch here? eighth day fell out on 18 Elul and we Together with the head of the k’hilla “Dugma chaya! That is one of decided to make a big ‘shturem.’ we brought him to a far better the most important principles of The plan was to go the gravesite of hospital in Chmelnicki. His sister chinuch and that’s how it works the Baal Shem Tov in Mezhibuzh. and her husband stayed in a local with every shliach. When the child The big problem was the mentality – hotel. I didn’t leave the sick man’s sees that his father is permeated with here, you don’t take an infant out of bedside for two days. I told the the spirit of shlichus and doesn’t the house the first month because of doctors to give him the best medical complain about it but is happy with fear of the evil eye. In any case, we treatment. Thank G-d, the next the privilege, he becomes part of the presented the idea and surprisingly, morning his condition was vastly shlichus. they agreed. improved and he could get on the “Before Purim my son asked me “On 18 Elul we went to the flight with the rest of the tour. He whether we will be in Beit Shemesh gravesite of the Baal Shem Tov along made the trip to the airport for Purim with his grandparents. I with students from the school and accompanied by a male nurse that explained to him that there are Jews some people from the community. we arranged. Till today the family is here who cannot manage without us. That day, there were many Jews in touch with us and they always He asked why we can’t leave from Israel and other countries thank me for saving his life. hamantashen for them and leave and present. We also met the shliach “We have marked all the Jewish I explained that I also have to read from Odessa, R’ Wolf. When he saw milestones at the gravesite of the the Megilla. He thought a bit and the mohel he asked that he Baal Shem Tov: brissin, upsheren, then said, ‘You are right Abba. We circumcise an older man who had bar mitzva, chuppa and even a need to be here for Purim.’ I was come with his group. Many of the funeral. We have done Lag B’Omer thrilled by his response. people present were moved to tears. parades, seminars for families and “I felt that he was learning that We brought plenty of food for a young people and Shluchim we have to forgo our personal seudas mitzva and all took part in it. conferences. desires for the sake of the shlichus. The tourists could see the revival of “I often get letters and requests He is a sociable child and tries to Judaism in the Ukraine under the from people to daven at the tziyun help in shul. He helps a lot just with leadership of the Rebbe. This event and every week or two I go there his presence. He is like many other made a big commotion back in and try to read all the names. Each children who are shluchim in their Chmelnicki regarding the mitzva of time I recall how the Rebbe stood own right.” mila. for hours at the Ohel and patiently How do you feel that the Rebbe *** read the letters with great kavana is with you? “Tourists who need medical help and think how we should learn from “In every way. Whatever I have don’t know how things work here. him.” done thus far is all with the Rebbe’s
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kochos. If it was our own kochos, it have to first work on awakening would not have been possible. THANK YOU people to their Jewish identity. “For a long time I had to raise a I would like to thank all Those who are close to us hear very large sum of money for salaries. those who help us with our about the Rebbe and the Besuras At the beginning of every month I shlichus in Chmelnicki: Ha’Geula. I find that people like to had no idea where the money would Our dear parents who hear me talk about Moshiach. It’s come from but experience proved support us morally and important to me that they are not that the money came, sometimes in financially: ignorant on the subject. Previously, unusual ways. We knew that the R’ Shlomo and Esther when I asked people who is Rebbe does not abandon us. A year Raskin Moshiach they answered, G-d, an and a half ago, when I went to the R’ Refael Tzvi and Rivka angel. Some of them even said - you Kinus HaShluchim, I wrote to the Tova Hartman are. Today they know the truth. Rebbe about the terrible financial The directors of the Ohr “We are here as shluchim situation. I had just finished the Avner fund, the Leviev fund because the Rebbe taught us that we letter when a shliach came over to and all the employees in have to be not where we want to be me and gave me an envelope with Moscow but where we are needed. From the money and explained that for a long The generous Rohr family Rebbe we get the strength and time already he had wanted to give it R’ Shlomo Wilhelm, the people realize this. Before my trip to to me. The amount in the envelope shliach to Zhitomir and rabbi the Kinus HaShluchim people send did not get us out of debt but I felt of Western Ukraine letters with us with requests for me that it was a situation of ‘before they to give to the Rebbe. People know call, I respond.’” that we are not crazy people who How do you publicize about needing to strengthen another decided to come to their city from Moshiach? mitzva and how another good deed Israel to spread Jewish knowledge “Every Shabbos they hear about hastens the Geula. It’s much harder but we are part of a worldwide Moshiach. After Krias HaTorah, in the day to day work. Jews don’t organization whose goal is to when I say a d’var Torah, I conclude know what Modeh Ani is, never illuminate the world and to prepare with something practical about mind t’fillin or mezuzah and so we it for Moshiach.” 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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news NEW GLOBAL WEBCAST SERIES ON LIKKUTEI TORAH
and classes on diverse subjects. A new global series will be launched Presently, Rabbi YY Jacobson’s this Wednesday, 15 Elul, in Likkutei weekly Parsha classes on TheYeshiva.net draw thousands of Torah by the Alter Rebbe. viewers. * The renowned Chassidus TheYeshiva.net. “At the last The launch of the new series teacher Rabbi Yossi Paltiel, Kenus Hashluchim Farbrengen of will take place on Wednesday, the mashpia of Chovevei Torah and 1992, the Rebbe requested that 15th of Elul, the founding day of director of insidechassidus.org, every Shliach studies the weekly Tomechi Temimim, four days will present the first-ever video Likkutei Torah, in order to before the birthday of the author webcast in Likkutei Torah Parshas prepare the word for Moshiach. of Likkutei Torah, the Alter Ki Savo, this Wednesday, 8:30 This was the last public message Rebbe. PM EST, at www.TheYeshiva.net to the Shluchim,” Rabbi Jacobson What is the significance in the Sponsored partially by “The remarked. fact that this the Rebbe’s last Chanin Fund,” this new series, “Likkutei Torah captures the public request from the accompanied with a full essence of Chassidus,” said Shluchim? We ask Rabbi curriculum, will open the Mendy and Shmulik Chanin, the Jacobson. incredibly rich world of Likkutei directors of The Chanin Fund. “Who can know for sure?” he cwwv Torah to both advanced and Till today the learning of Likkutei says. “But the focus of that beginner students of Chassidus. Torah was only available for the farbrengen was that now we must Rabbi Yossi Paltiel, who has been learned Jew, fluent in Hebrew. prepare the world for Moshiach. teaching Chassidus for twenty Our goal is to allow Jews globally When the Rebbe Maharash asked years to students and adults, will to study ‘the Chassidishe Parsha’ the Tzemach Tzedek why teach the maamar inside, with inside, allowing them to truly Moshiach did not come in the explanations, illustrations and learn, appreciate and internalize “ketz”-year of 5608 (1848), the stories. Chassidus.” year designated as the “ketz” by “The Rebbe suggested TheYeshiva.net, the home of the Alter Rebbe?! The Tzemach numerous times that each of us these classes, is a website Tzedek responded: “What do you study the weekly Likkutei Torah,” designed to create a global mean? The Likkutei Torah was said Rabbi YY Jacobson, dean of Yeshiva experience with courses published!”
Mendy Chanin Shmulik Chanin Rabbi YY Jacobson Rabbi Yossi Paltiel
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chinuch IN THE MERIT OF THE CHILDREN
A compilation of sichos and letters on sue 707, the topic of chinuch. Presented for the
^^^ beginning of the new school year. ^^^^ ^^^^ in-law. ^^^^ THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR IN ELUL The Rebbe the Tzemach Tzedek, ^^^^ It was mentioned several times recently (and I asked that it be as is known, was a giant among the publicized) about making a special effort for the education of Jewish Torah greats of his time and was boys and girls, especially the education of young children starting from famous as a halachic authority, and the littlest ones. Especially nowadays when the schedule in these a genius in Chassidus and Kabbala, countries is that the new school year begins in Elul, we need to use this as his many s’farim attest. In time (as Chazal say: when you go to a city, follow their customs) to addition, he was a leader who was register boys and girls so they learn in kosher schools and better – often called upon by the government schools where they are taught al taharas ha’kodesh, even to the point of in Petersburg for consultations about chinuch that is kodesh. And then – as in the saying of the Rebbeim – Jewish matters in that critical time. “the way you harness (i.e. commit) yourself that’s the way it goes, and Despite all this, he set aside his own when you set the harness straight, it goes straight” – and when the learning, his writing, and the rest of beginning of the year is with kosher chinuch and with chinuch al his responsibilities in order to taharas ha’kodesh, then the entire year will be in a straight and good personally test his young way. grandchildren once a month and he (Likkutei Sichos vol. 14 p. 261) would give them monetary prizes for excellence. These stories – and the fact that MESIRUS NEFESH BY was a teacher of little children. His they were told to us, proves their THE REBBEIM devotion and love for the children pertinence to each of us – teach us was endless. His successor, the to what extent mesirus nefesh for One of the main themes of famous Maggid of Mezritch wished chinuch al taharas ha’kodesh goes: Chabad-Lubavitch is the emphasis that when he kissed a Torah scroll he not just easy forms of mesirus on chinuch, an emphasis that is would feel what the Baal Shem Tov nefesh such as donating money and expressed in wide-ranging activity felt when he kissed a little child! personal exertion but also the hard with mesirus nefesh. This tradition This tradition continued with the forms of mesirus nefesh, removing comes from the Baal Shem Tov, the Maggid’s disciple and successor, the oneself from his personal learning founder of Chassidus, who began his Alter Rebbe and all the Chabad and other matters, as important as educational activities even before he leaders until the Rebbe, my father- they are, for chinuch al taharas was revealed [as a tzaddik], when he
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dependent on him. It shows clearly just how greatly he regarded chinuch for children, both for them and for our entire nation whose future depends on them, as Chazal say, “If there are no kids [young goats] there are no goats.’ The lesson, which is readily understandable to all boys and girls in all locations, is that if their education in Torah and mitzvos comes before everything else, to the point of mesirus nefesh, their desire and diligence in Torah study and fulfillment of mitzvos will be apparent, especially since there are no impediments from without; on the contrary; it depends solely upon their will. (Likkutei Sichos vol. 13, p. 248-9)
A GOOD MELAMED ha’kodesh is even more important. whether to those great in Torah or The Rebbe Rayatz said that a (Igros Kodesh the Rebbe MH”M, vol. 24, p. simple people, and he concerned “good melamed” is not just someone 47) himself with the chinuch of b’nei who is successful in teaching the and b’nos Yisroel (and apparently he student the inyan they are learning THE ALTER REBBE – considered starting Likkutei Amarim then and there, but someone who DUGMA CHAYA Tanya, with the section called teaches him how to learn so he can “Chinuch Katan,” but because of The Alter Rebbe was a dugma learn on his own. reasons unknown it was printed as chaya (role model), even in his From this we understand that part two). personal life (if one could use such Torah education achieves its goal (Igros Kodesh of the Rebbe vol. 22 p. 399) an expression) for everything he when those who were taught have instructed and conceived in his themselves become teachings, even before he emerged in THE MESIRUS NEFESH mechanchim/educators. Therefore, his role of leader and Nasi b’Yisroel. OF THE REBBE RAYATZ it stands to reason that those who As for our matter there are three are involved in chinuch are The main point to contemplate is expressing the ultimate impact of main points: the inyan of helping the mesirus nefesh of the Baal another, which generally speaking is Hashem’s chinuch efforts. Ha’Geula for the education of little (Toras Menachem vol. 4, p. 91) tz’daka; disseminating Torah, Nigleh Jewish children and youth. He toiled and p’nimius ha’Torah; and the to found and maintain yeshivos for central beam which connects these them. This work particularly aroused LUMINARIES OF LIGHT two things which is chinuch the wrath of the hostile regime and From a sicha of the Rebbe according to the Torah al taharas was one of the main reasons for his Rashab in 5662/1902: ha’kodesh. It is this that joins imprisonment. Chassidishe melamdim are the together both disseminating Torah The point that stands out here is real “luminaries of light,” in Jewish and the inyan of tz’daka, spiritual that he devoted himself to the homes. Chassidishe melamdim who tz’daka which is given to those being education of children, knowing that are baalei avoda are the “Avrohom educated and literal tz’daka of those by doing so he was endangering his Avinu” in every generation. They who support Torah. life and all of his work to maintain publicize G-dliness in Jewish homes. … As for disseminating Torah – shuls, mikvaos and all the other vital The Mitteler Rebbe would be it is known that he was involved in matters for the adults who were also mekarev the melamdim more than teaching Torah to the public,
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EXCERPTS FROM A SICHA OF THE REBBE The time has come for everybody to recognize the RAYATZ WHICH WAS SAID AT THE END OF truth, that the material and physical existence of every NISSAN, 5701/1941, ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE Jew and all the Jewish people depends on the spiritual OF A KOSHER JEWISH CHINUCH state achieved through observing Judaism. The state of the Jewish people throughout the A CHILD NEEDS PHYSICAL AND world is very sad. Everybody knows how great the danger to the Jews of Europe is. One who is not too SPIRITUAL FOOD short-sighted also sees the danger which hangs over It is clear and known that in order to sustain the (ch”v) the Jews in those parts of the world which are physical life of a child and in order that he develop still quiet. normally, he needs food and air, and when a child is … Jews who can seriously contemplate on not given enough bread to eat and enough air to occasion and are ready to admit the truth, must agree breathe, this puts his life in danger, G-d forbid. And that only by establishing Jewish education according one who does this is simply a murderer. to its proper standard, i.e. chinuch of Torah according Likewise, if the bread is exchanged for rocks and to Torah, can the Jewish people be saved physically pure air for nitrogen this endangers the child’s life. and spiritually. Even if you were to call the rocks “bread” and the A feeling of responsibility demands of me to make nitrogen “oxygen” – changing what they’re called clear to all the state of Jewish education, how it is won’t change the reality and the child will remain in today and how it ought to be. danger. Love for every Jew and responsibility for Klal Just as the child’s organism needs bodily Yisroel forces me to say the truth as it is. sustenance and physical development, so too a Jewish We have had enough of fooling ourselves; enough child needs spiritual nourishment for his education flattering one another and saying that all deficiencies and his spiritual development. are advantages; and yet, one need not stab one another and quarrel. THE PURPOSE OF A JEW The Jewish nation in general, and every Jew in WHAT MUST WE DO TO SOLVE THE particular, has a purpose given him by Hashem. The PROBLEM? purpose of every Jew is to live as the Torah tells us. We need to discuss in a friendly manner: Without Torah, the existence of a Jew and the Jewish Until they all begin to understand the significance people is not possible! and importance of Jewish chinuch. Torah study is the spiritual food for the Jewish Until the Jewish askanim build the requisite neshama. Chinuch in the spirit of Torah and the number of Torah schools. fulfillment of mitzvos is how every Jew and the Jewish Until the Jewish teachers raise the level of the nation develops spiritually. schools to the highest level of Torah study and Jewish Just as you cannot exchange eating bread for chinuch. eating rocks without endangering your life, so too Until all Jewish parents acknowledge their Torah study through authentic Jewish chinuch cannot obligation to send their children to Jewish schools, be exchanged in any way without endangering a those from which we can hope will emerge Torah and person’s neshama. yiras Shamayim.
the rabbanim. The Mitteler Rebbe involved in chinuch. Our generation, mesugal (capable). said: The melamdim make Jews the generation before Moshiach, is Although our generation is “a “receptacles” for Elokus. one of “double and redoubled generation of dwarfs” compared to (From the introduction to kuntres U’Maayan p. darkness.” Therefore everyone must earlier generations, those of the 36-7) do his all to transform the darkness earlier generations, the holy to light and primarily through the Rebbeim, endowed every one of us, THE MAIN JOB education of Jewish children to even the smallest, with kochos and The main job of our generation is To r a h . instructions and guidance for chinuch. Everyone, not just adults Everyone, big and small, not only success in the holy work of chinuch. but little boys and girls too, must be must be involved with chinuch but is (Likkutei Sichos vol. 24 p. 424)
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THE BREATH OF GREAT IS THE MEASURE FOR MEASURE CHILDREN RESPONSIBILITY The saying of the Rebbe, my … To try with all kochos and The pasuk says that man is a tree father-in-law, is known, based on efforts that every Jewish boy and girl of the field, the vineyard of Hashem, the statement of Chazal that is found in the tent of Torah and and the fruits are children like sons Hashem responds measure for yiras Shamayim, in other words, in a and like daughters. How great is the measure. All those who are involved Torah educational framework. Every responsibility of the leader and in proper chinuch, Hashem repays Jewish child should be involved with gardener in whose hands the owner them measure for measure that they Torah in a way of “v’shinantam,” of the vineyard entrusted his raise their children with the “candle “when you sit in your house and go vineyard! Chazal say that the of mitzva and light of Torah” etc. on the road and lie down and get teaching of children is called G-d’s (ibid vol. 4 p. 424) up,” and proclaims loudly: “Torah work, and how great is his z’chus tziva lanu Moshe morasha k’hillas that Hashem appointed him to HASHEM’S EMISSARIES Yaakov.” This will lead to watch his vineyard. We see that … Especially regarding youth, for neutralizing all enemies and every improvement, even a slight man is a tree of the field, and any avengers and everyone will be one, in the seed, leads to much minor change in the sapling, all the redeemed from his personal exile beauty and improvement in the tree more so in the seed, can affect the and all of Am Yisroel will be that grows from it. entire life of the tree for better or redeemed from galus with the true (Igros Kodesh of the Rebbe vol. 1 p. 83) worse. This is especially so and complete Geula. nowadays, when destructive winds It should be emphasized that DANGER TO LIFE blow not only on the streets, but even boys and girls have a great they have penetrated schools and z’chus and responsibility, for even … Especially regarding proper even yeshivos. How much greater is though they themselves need chinuch which is one of the main the responsibility (and consequently counselors and teachers they are things in every place and every time, the privilege) of all those who have capable of raising up and especially our time of double and the ability to be influential and sustaining the Beis HaMikdash by redoubled darkness in which the whose voice is heard by the youth. learning on their own and with words of the prophet are fulfilled in These educators and influential others. their entirety, “woe to those who say people need to regard themselves as The children, with the breath of bad is good and good is bad” shluchim of Hashem in location X their mouths, in their Torah study, (Yeshaya 5:20). This is in the and time Y, to illuminate, to bless, to are capable of more impact than category of danger to life, and not refine, and to sanctify their even Abaya and Rav Puppa – say just to bring them to life in the surroundings with the “candle of Chazal. They are capable of taking World to Come but also to protect mitzva and light of Torah” and the their parents, all Jews and even the them in this world. As we see the illumination within Torah. Sh’china out of galus, and bringing wildness and licentiousness etc. and Melech HaMoshiach. it is not permissible to go on at (Igros Kodesh of the Rebbe vol. 8 p. 190) length regarding the degradation etc. (ibid p. 425) (ibid p. 222)
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insight
humiliation. Therefore, it is vital to follow the path of the Baal Shem Tov of azov taazov imo (i.e. working with the animal CHASSIDUS soul).[14] Another interesting letter is to someone who apparently asked whether the things said at farbrengens are part of our shita AND MUSAR of Musar. The Rebbe responds: Regarding the sidrei ha’yeshiva, you surely know that the way of Chabad is not the way By Yisroel Yehuda of Musar. The fact that sometimes words of hisorerus In the month of Elul students of Musar are said which include expressions that don’t increase focus on the fear of judgment before one’s pleasure is not due to the love of giving rebuke but the Hashem on the high holy days. How hope that it will lead to practical results; that by saying this the does Chassidus regard Musar? What situation will change, if it differences are there between the two requires change …[15] The Rebbe Rayatz writes a long approaches? Where and when did the letter to one of the early T’mimim about the importance of founding Musar movement begin? How did the yeshivos in various places in the spirit of Tomchei T’mimim. Rebbeim relate to the study of Musar? * That summer, R’ Yehoshua’l of Minsk visited me. He is one of Part 2 of 2 the elders of the generation and maintained a yeshiva for over [Continued from last week] who only learned Nigleh and not fifty years and he came to THE WAY OF CHABAD IS even those who learned Musar. Leningrad to raise money for his Based on the testimony of dozens NOT THE WAY OF MUSAR yeshiva … He is a gadol and hundreds of people who ba’Torah, a true yerei Elokim, In other letters the Rebbe were there – many of whom are who cherishes those who study wrote that the way of Musar, with now in Eretz Yisroel – the fact Torah with genuine fondness. He all its advantages, is not effective stands, and that which is well- asked me to write brief synopses in strengthening yiras Shamayim known does not need proof.[13] of the Musar lessons of like Chassidus is. In an interesting To someone else the Rebbe Chassidus for the talmidim who letter, the Rebbe states that in wrote: have come to realize that dry Soviet Russia, during the terrible Although in earlier Gemara is not enough and the decrees against Jewish life, only generations it was possible to Musar of Chassidus is better those who learned Chassidus suffice with the system of than the Musar that they have stood strong: spiritual self-flagellation i.e. (his words) and I have received Especially now, these days, we Musar which lowers a person letters from other places that are see that among those who were and causes him sorrow etc., along the same lines.[16] under Soviet rule, out of all nowadays this could lead to those who attended yeshivos, to sickness or infirmity spiritually, our great sorrow the only ones i.e. becoming more downhearted THEY ALSO who withstood the test for or depressed G-d forbid, or the OPPOSED MUSAR decades were those youth who body and animal soul and Evil One of the recurring themes learned Chassidus and not those Inclination will rebel against the that we see in the writings of the
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Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel (1849-1927), Rabbi Naftali Amsterdam (1832- Rabbi Yitzchok Blazer known as R’ known as the Alter of Slabodka, a famous 1916), one of the first proponents of Itzele Peterburger, who was a student Musar proponent in Eastern Europe. the Musar Movement in Lithuania and of Rabbi Yisroel Salanter (d. 1907) Many of his students became leading one of the students of Rabbi Yisroel Torah figures in the US and Israel. Salanter
Rebbeim about Musar is the An example of this would be fearing than in those yeshivos in tremendous opposition that Rabbi the study of Musar in yeshivos which they do not learn Yisroel Salanter encountered when which the g’dolei ha’geonim Musar.[19] he wanted to disseminate his opposed fiercely. [18] The Rebbeim derive from this teachings. Today, the study of The Rebbe Rayatz offers that just as the yeshiva world Musar is a given in the yeshiva firsthand testimony to the strong grasped how important the study world, but back then, Litvishe opposition from Litvishe roshei of Musar is in the yeshivos, so too roshei yeshivos strongly opposed yeshiva to the study of Musar: in the future they will begin to it. At the beginning of the winter understand how important it is to The student of Rabbi Yitzchok of 5655/1895, I had occasion to learn Chassidus in yeshivos. Blazer describes his meeting with be present at a meeting which In another place the Rebbe Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik (1853- was attended by the great men of Rayatz describes a secret meeting 1918) in which he tried to the time. Most of the Litvishe in which Litvishe roshei yeshivos convince him that Musar should roshei yeshiva were present and admitted that Musar was a must in be studied in his yeshiva in they spoke about learning Musar order to establish yiras Shamayim: Volozhin: in the yeshivos. Due to “the 42 years ago, when I was just “We in Volozhin – said R’ honor of Elokim” I won’t over 15 years old, I was sent by Chaim – are boruch Hashem, mention the names of the my father [the Rebbe Rashab] to healthy in soul and body and study g’dolim who were opposed and I one of the conferences in a town Torah and we have no need for won’t repeat their exceedingly in Lithuania. Most of the people castor oil (a foul tasting common harsh words against the study of were the great rabbanim of the remedy of that time). If the sages Musar in yeshivos. Misnagdim. As for Chassidim, of Kovna and Kielce need to drink And now we have tangible there was only the person who bitter medicine, let them drink to proof for the learning of Musar went with me and myself. their heart’s delight but they in yeshivos because today we see The meeting was secret and shouldn’t invite other people who that every yeshiva where they devoted to communal matters are healthy to drink with have the practice to learn Musar, and the members of the meeting them.”[17] especially where the hanhala of were sorrowful since it was This was the attitude in other the yeshiva is in the hands of a within the Shloshim of the places, too, and as the Rebbe menahel ruchni, the talmidim of famous gaon and askan for the Rayatz wrote: this yeshiva are more G-d good of Klal Yisroel, Rabbi
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At this opportunity I will make another point about the study of Chassidus with which, it seems, from between the lines of your letter, that you are not very pleased, and I will rely on what I heard several times from the Rebbe, my father-in-law from what he himself saw, which is: It is known that in previous years there were a number of approaches regarding learning with youth, whether it should be only Shas, Rishonim, Acharonim and Poskim or also Musar and Chassidus, and it is known that about sixty-seventy years ago, the Rabbi Yerucham Levovitz (1873- Rabbi Yechezkel Levenstein (1895- geonim in the Litvishe yeshivos 1936), famous mashgiach and baal 1974), mashgiach in the Mir after strongly opposed the learning of Musar in Mir, Poland Rabbi Yerucham Musar saying that learning Shas and Poskim are enough and that When he went to take a volume to learn, Torah protects and saves, as can be extrapolated from the fact that he noticed the Derech Chaim on the even one who veered from the path – the light [within Torah] shelf and he felt a pain in his heart so restores him to the right way. But as the decades passed, life he hid it behind the other s’farim. On has shown in living proof that each occasion when he would see it, he some study that speaks directly of middos, feelings and duties of would once again feel a pain to his the heart are necessary, and even the g’dolim of Lithuania heart so he gave it to a bookbinder to conceded and agreed about the study of Musar, to a larger or bind it again, though not with the red smaller extent.[21] … But in our generation, and binding that it had previously… especially in recent years, when decrees and annihilations have Yitzchok Elchonon [Spektor, d. One of the rabbanim delivered came upon us and confused the 1896, the chief rabbi of Kovna a sharp speech in which he said world, boys and men are faced and Jewish leader in Russia. He that what we need are yerei with very difficult tests. To our was considered one of the greatest Shamayim and not those sorrow it is almost impossible poskim and Torah giants of his scholars who are capable of that they not encounter those time]. ruling matters however they like who cast doubts on everything One of the sessions of this in 150 ways. To be a yerei sacred, even the fundamentals of conference was designated for Shamayim you need to learn our faith. It is [therefore] discussing the curriculum in Musar. essential that they know what is yeshivos. A few of the rabbanim If, forty years ago, they said in the teachings of the Baal suggested that they should realized that they need to learn Shem Tov and his disciples’ establish the study of Musar in Musar, one should understand disciples … so they won’t pay yeshivos while others opposed that in order to be a yerei any heed to what they hear from this, saying that it would take Shamayim we need to learn others … away from the diligence of the Tanya and divrei Chassidus. [20] In other words, the Rebbe says study of Gemara. The Rebbe writes similarly: the only way to withstand
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questions to faith is through “The Rebbe Rashab sat down previously … Chassidus, which creates a real and asked, ‘What does a The Rebbe Rashab asked this immunity against this evil Chassidishe yungerman learn on Chassid several times to learn affliction. Shvii shel Pesach?’ On my table Derech Chaim with the bachurim, was the Derech Chaim and my but he said: “I will learn whatever CHASSIDISHE MUSAR father was asking me what I was the Rebbe wants but I can’t learn learning?! I said that part of my Derech Chaim.”[24] Does Chabad have sifrei shiurim was to learn a piece from Musar? The Rebbe says in regard Derech Chaim before Krias Shma. NOTES: to Tanya, “the first and third parts “My father said that although it 13-vol. 11 p. 337 can serve, to the baalei Musar, as is Chassidish to learn at the an exemplar of a Musar 14- vol. 5 p. 235 proper times all the maamarei work.”[22] 15-vol. 11 p. 6 avoda, starting with Igeres Derech Chaim of the Mitteler HaT’shuva and Derech Chaim, 16-Igros Kodesh Rebbe Rayatz vol. 2 p. Rebbe is also a Musar work, as the still there are times to arouse the 103 complete title indicates: Derech track of simcha, especially on 17-HaPardes shana 32 choveres 1 Chaim V’Tochachos Musar. Shvii shel Pesach which is the I will conclude with two short 18-Igros Kodesh Rebbe Rayatz p. 348 source of simcha …”[23] stories about Chabad sifrei Musar. 19-ibid *** The Rebbe Rayatz relates: 20-Igros Kodesh Rebbe Rayatz vol. 4 p. “Shvii shel Pesach, 5664/1894, It is told that there was a 202 melamed in a village who learned at eight pm, my father (the Rebbe 21-vol. 8 p. 77 Rashab) entered my room. I was a lot in Derech Chaim so that he learning Shaar HaEmuna (in walked and cried all the time … 22-vol. 2 p. 102 Derech Chaim), chapter 50, where When he went home and went 23-Derech Chaim 5762 edition in the the Mitteler Rebbe explains that the over to the bookcase to take a addendum about what the Rebbeim said refinement process of the G-dly volume to learn, he noticed the about the work soul which refines the animal soul Derech Chaim on the shelf and he 24-and it adds there: “and this I heard is an inyan of ma’h adam mevarer felt a pain in his heart so he hid it from the Chassid and mashpia R’ ba’n b’heima (and he explains this) behind the other s’farim. On each Michoel ha’zakein Blinner, who once by way of an analogy – with the occasion when he would see it, he learned the Ani L’Dodi in Likkutei Torah in a way of applying it to himself and boiling brought about by fire, the would once again feel a pain to his heart so he gave it to a bookbinder afterwards could not look at the good is separated from the bad in maamer for seven years. a cooked food. to bind it again, though not with the red binding that it had
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BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 755 31 755_Beis Moshiach 23/08/2010 6:13 AM Page 32
elul WOMEN AND ELUL: CONCEPTS AND CUSTOMS
uniqueness of Elul permeates all Rabbi Menachem Mendel Gluckowsky, aspects of it, not just in a spiritual rav of the Chabad community in sense, like the service of Hashem with inspiration, t’shuva and mercy Rechovot and member of the Beis Din but also in a physical way – affecting even the light of Elul, the Rabbanei Chabad in Eretz Yisroel, air of Elul, the scent of Elul. Why is this month singled out for an responds to questions about the month abundance of light and chesed? Elul is the time that Hashem was of Elul particularly as it relates to appeased for the Sin of the Golden s section, women and girls. Calf and answered Moshe Rabbeinu, “salachti ki’d’varecha,” in a joyous ^^^^ manner. This is why the month was ^^^^ I don’t see any “Hilchos Elul” was oleh regel, he had to bring three designated for forgiveness. Since ^^^^ in the Shulchan Aruch HaRav… korbanos: a korban olas r’iya, then, these days are yemei ratzon for ^^^^ There are no special halachos for shalmei chagiga, and shalmei the month of Elul. Most things in simcha. Each korban had to be free t’shuva, t’filla and coming close to Elul are customs. In the laws of of any blemish and so they prepared Hashem. Rosh HaShana there is an entire people thirty days before the holiday One of the customs of Elul is to siman about the customs of the so they would have time to pick the blow the shofar. When does this month of Elul. Another thing is the animals. Even after the churban this take place and do women have to practice of learning the laws of a takana was not abolished. hear the shofar in Elul? holiday thirty days before the Nowadays, when we don’t bring The custom of blowing the holiday. This is brought in halacha korbanos, we study the laws of the shofar was always after davening in regarding Pesach where it mentions upcoming holiday. shul throughout the month of Elul, this idea of thirty days before the Today, our t’fillos are in place of excluding Shabbos and Erev Rosh holiday, i.e. from Purim we learn the korbanos: Musaf on Shabbos and HaShana. Women are not obligated laws of Pesach, from the 5th of Iyar Yom Tov, the Korban Tamid of the to hear the shofar in Elul. If there we learn the laws of Shavuos, and morning corresponding to Shacharis are gatherings of women during this from 14 Elul we learn the laws of and the evening Korban Tamid month, perhaps they should hear the Sukkos. corresponding to Mincha. Maariv shofar being blown but I have not The reason that the chachamim corresponds to the remains of the seen that people are particular about established that the public speakers korbanos which burned all night. this. review the laws thirty days before the The month of Elul is known as In Elul we bring to a close the holiday is because when the Beis auspicious for t’shuva. The Rebbe matters of the previous year and HaMikdash stood and every person Rayatz explains that the prepare for the coming year; it is a time for a spiritual accounting.
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There is nobody who has nothing the month of Elul? to ask forgiveness for, and nobody One story that always comes to who has no requests for the future. mind in Elul is the story of the Baal What is the practice in Chabad Shem Tov: regarding Slichos? Do women say When he was still a hidden Slichos? tzaddik, the holy Baal Shem Tov We start saying Slichos on the would go from town to town in Motzaei Shabbos before Rosh order to see the state of Jewish life HaShana, close to midnight. If Rosh and to encourage the simple Jewish HaShana is on Monday or Tuesday, folk. During the period of the this wouldn’t give us four days of Yomim Nora’im he would make a Slichos so we begin on the Motzaei great effort to be the chazan on Shabbos of the week before. Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur and Many women go to recite Slichos he would seek out that role in on the first night but I have not seen different places. any requirement for this. Women are On one of his trips he arrived in not particular about reciting Slichos. a town a few days before Yom We do, however, have the custom It is also customary to give money Kippur and entered a beis midrash of adding three chapters of T’hillim for the p”n (it can be given to Kupas in order to see how things were run, every day in Elul. This represents an Rabbeinu) but this need not be what the customs of the place were increase in prayer alluded to in the mentioned within the p”n. and who the chazan would be on acronym “Ani l’Dodi v’Dodi Li.” We How should the pidyon nefesh Yom Kippur. The sincere Jews there also increase tz’daka during Elul to be written? told him that the rav of the town was fulfill the acronym of “Ish l’reieihu At the top of the page you write the chazan for all the t’fillos and he u’matanos la’evyonim.” We learn the words pidyon nefesh without the had a special custom of reciting the inyanei t’shuva like Igeres addition of “Boruch Hashem.” Vidui in a happy tune, with one of HaT’shuva of the Alter Rebbe and Underneath that you write the line the hakafos niggunim. The Baal Derech Chaim of the Mitteler Rebbe, ana l’orer rachamim rabbim and Shem Tov wondered why he did so; and maamarim connected with this then you write for whom, using the what connection was there between time of year. All this is an increase in person’s name and their mother’s Vidui and Simchas Torah? To r a h . name. For example: for me X He found the rav and got into a These inyanim pertain to women ben/bas Y, and for my son X ben Y discussion with him. The rav too. In addition to her own personal and so on. You end with b’bracha realized that the passing stranger matters, a woman, as a wife and l’kesiva v’chasima tova. was a yerei Shamayim and a Torah mother, makes a cheshbon ha’nefesh The Rebbe Rayatz says in one scholar and was thrilled at the about the mitzvos that pertain to her of his sichos that his father would opportunity to talk to him. After which are the things associated with commit to a new hiddur every Erev gaining his trust, the Baal Shem Tov the home. She needs to make a real Rosh HaShana. Why did he do said to the rav, “I heard that you are cheshbon ha’nefesh about the that? the chazan on Yom Kippur…I have kashrus of the home, tznius, taharas I once saw that this is so that the the custom of leading the davening ha’mishpacha, chinuch … inspiration that we merit in the of all the Yom Tov t’fillos.” The rav Do women make Hataras month of Elul should not remain just agreed to step down and allow the Nedarim? as an inspiration. In order for it to Baal Shem Tov to lead the prayers. No. We don’t want to overburden have a “hold” in our reality, we need “I also heard that you say Vidui them. to make a good resolution, an added with a happy niggun, one of the Some people go to kivrei hiddur in a mitzva. hakafos niggunim.” tzaddikim on Erev Rosh HaShana You are known as a source for “Indeed,” said the rav with a or around that time and some visit stories, sippurei Tzaddikim and smile. their parents’ graves. What is the sippurei Chassidim that illuminate “Why do you use a hakafos Chabad custom? and inspire the heart to understand niggun for the Vidui of Yom In Chabad the custom is, on Erev and sense deep and lofty inyanim. Kippur?” Rosh HaShana, to go to the Ohel of Do you have a story for us that The rav said he would respond the Rebbe Rayatz if possible and to would give us a sense of the with a story. write a pidyon nefesh to the Rebbe. preciousness of this special time, In a faraway land there was a
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great trepidation. ELUL-TISHREI – GREETING THE KING IN THE “I see that you are working FIELD AND CORONATING HIM WITH LOVE energetically,” said the king in a kind voice. “Take your tools and go Elul brings in the light of Elul, the air of Elul, and the scent of Elul. to the edge of my estate which is off When Elul comes in, the revelation of the 13 Middos HaRachamim are of the main road and over there shining, and from Above is poured forth the “Dodi li” – the King, remove the garbage and dirt. Hashem, goes out to the field and welcomes everyone graciously, as Perhaps you will be able to restore long as he approaches to welcome the King with genuine affection - that corner to its former beauty.” with an inner effort and arousal, fulfilling the “Ani l’Dodi.” Then the The servant was shaken by the hearts of the Jewish people are inspired: unexpected recognition by the king. To T’shuva – “u’mal Hashem Elokecha es levavcha v’es l’vav The monarch had never zaracha to love Hashem your G-d with all your heart and all your soul; acknowledged him before, yet now To Tz’daka and Chesed – “ish l’reieihu u’matanos la’evyonim” he, the lowly servant, had personally To T’filla – “ani l’dodi v’dodi li” – I serve the Master of the world heard the voice of the king who is my beloved… “T’shuva, T’filla, and Tz’daka do away with the addressed to him! evil of the decree.” When he arrived at the area the And we escape directly to the G-dly City of Refuge – the Torah – king had sent him to, he began “Ina l’yado v’samti lecha” working enthusiastically. Joy filled And doing all these avodos in a way of Geula – “ashira L’ Hashem his heart and he felt like a young v’yomru leimor” man again. He jumped with alacrity With the strength of the month of mercy which showers us with and nimbleness as he removed the Hashem’s love and mercy, each of us dares to raise our head to look putrid garbage, mounds and mounds straight into ourselves without any personal bias and to make a of which he carried out and sorted “cheshbon nefesh to think and meditate upon what happened the into piles for disposal, and as he did previous year, to regret that which is not good with utter remorse and so he sang a sweet and uplifting to resolve to be careful in the future in doing mitzvos b’hiddur, to toil tune. He paid no attention to the diligently in Torah and T’filla and to habituate ourselves in good sweat streaming down his face. He middos” – “we will search our ways and return to Hashem.” ignored his thirst and hunger and he When he returns to Hashem, truly and sincerely and arouses his did not hear the sounds of the love for Him, then “as water reflects a face” Hashem will shine His face passersby on the road next to him. towards him, forgiving his sins and fulfilling his requests with kindness He suddenly felt the silent and mercy. presence of someone behind him. In this way we all prepare ourselves to welcome the King with a “What is the joy about?” thundered genuine cheshbon ha’nefesh, so we merit to stand before him on Rosh a voice. HaShana purified and cleansed, and to willingly accept His Kingship. He turned around and saw a distinguished looking man. “What great king. His country extended hole in the fence that bordered on are you doing with a pitchfork in over many miles of fertile land, with the main thoroughfare. The your hand, your feet in the garbage, natural resources, forests, numerous passerby treated it as they sweating and breathing in foul air, mountains, rivers and lakes. He was pleased, leaving behind their bending and lifting, and singing?” known for his great love for nature. garbage, which had accumulated “I will tell you. True, I am His magnificent palace was over time and gave off unpleasant working hard. True, I am sweating surrounded by a huge expanse of odors and attracted flies and and thirsty and a bit hungry and it’s forests, gardens and orchards, animals. hard to breathe with this unpleasant outstanding in their beauty. The The king returned to his palace odor, but I’m happy! Do you know king loved to walk in his gardens. greatly perturbed by the neglect and why? Because we are standing in the This is when he thought and made the filth. How poorly his precious king’s garden and I had the singular decisions with peace of mind. and beloved parkland had been privilege of receiving an order One day the king became very treated. He noticed a servant directly from the king! I have the upset when he went to a distant part vigorously cleaning the courtyard of privilege of cleaning the king’s of his gardens and a bad smell rose the palace. He ordered the servant to garden. I am removing this garbage to his nostrils. His nose led him to a approach, which the servant did with for the king! How could I not sing? How could I not rejoice?”
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“That is us, the Jewish people, on the Yomim Nora’im,” concluded the rav. “Oshamnu, bagadnu…that is real rancidity, but we are cleaning the king’s garden, the King of all kings. Shouldn’t we rejoice?” “If so,” said the Baal Shem Tov, “then you are doing well and should continue.” And that is how it is for us today, just like in the story. We have the custom of saying Vidui with a niggun…the main thing being that we should always be b’simcha. Rosh HaShana is called Yom Trua for the blowing of the shofar, Yom HaZikaron – for being remembered, and Yom HaDin – for being judged, and Rosh HaShana – because on this day we are judged for the entire year. We have two great and awesome days filled with long t’fillos, the blowing of the shofar arousing our heart, lavish Yom Tov meals, Krias Ha’Torah, the saying of T’hillim, Tashlich … What should women busy in the home focus on during these fateful days? On the first day of Rosh HaShana we read about the birth of Yitzchok Avinu and about the birth of Shmuel HaNavi. It says that Sarah Imeinu and Chana were each remembered for a child on Rosh HaShana. On the second day of Rosh HaShana, in the Haftora, we “The darkness of galus is double and read about Rochel Imeinu crying for her children. We know that Rochel redoubled and enticements dance forwent burial next to Yaakov Avinu in the M’aras HaMachpella and before their eyes, while Gan Eden you preferred to be buried alone on the road in Beis Lechem so that in the left in the Reishis Chochma [a Musar future she would be able to help her children who would need her work]. If You had done the opposite prayers and tears. That is the and made Gan Eden dance before their mesirus nefesh of a mother; it is personified in Rochel crying for her eyes and hid the enticements of the children. With Sarah and Chana we see yetzer in s’farim, then I promise that the mesirus nefesh of a mother for her child. It says that after giving You would not have one child of Yours birth to Yitzchok, Sarah expelled Yishmoel because of his negative sinning.”
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what one child can do – Yitzchok, ON ROSH HA’SHANA IT’S BETTER Shmuel … and the most essential TO SAY TEHILLIM thing is chinuch. We see that in order to see good products, we need One Rosh HaShana, the children of the Tzemach Tzedek and mesirus nefesh for chinuch! This Chassidim went to hear Chassidus from him while the congregation pertains to all generations. said T’hillim. When the Tzemach Tzedek opened the door, he said, What is the halacha regarding “The congregation is saying T’hillim now and you want Chassidus? It’s women and eating before hearing better to say T’hillim.” And that’s what they did. the shofar on Rosh HaShana? They can be lenient. I personally LIMUD ZECHUS would not rule stringently in this. The Shpole Zeide would hide from everyone on Rosh HaShana In shul, seats are bought before before the t’kios. Nobody knew what he did in the privacy of his room. Yom Tov. It sometimes happens One year, a man from Reisin was there for the Yomim Nora’im, and he that a guest or even an older was curious to know what the Shpole Zeide was doing at such an woman in the community sits in exalted time. The man peeked through a crack and he saw a frightening one of these seats and then along sight. comes a girl who wants to daven The Shpole Zeide lay full length on the floor with his hands and legs and she finds a woman sitting in outstretched and he cried, “Master of the universe, what do you want the seat she had paid for. Often, from Your people Israel? Honestly, if I hadn’t seen with my own eyes the girl will speak up and say it’s the mitzvos and good deeds that Your children do, I would not have her seat. Another situation that believed that in such a long and bitter galus that they could do one arises among those who did not mitzva! Especially now, when the darkness of galus is double and purchase seats in advance is often redoubled and enticements dance before their eyes, while Gan Eden there are arguments over seats and you left in the Reishis Chochma [a Musar work]. If You had done the people come early to get a seat and opposite and made Gan Eden dance before their eyes and hid the to hold places for others … enticements of the yetzer in s’farim, then I promise that You would not If you have any natural sense of have one child of Yours sinning.” Ahavas Yisroel, if it’s an older Then the Shpole Zeide rose, wiped his tears and with his face woman you forego your seat, but shining with joy, he went out to the shul and raised his voice three there should be enough seats for the times in a victory cry and began the t’kios. congregants and for guests. Selling (Taken from the book Elul-Tishrei) seats is a time-honored practice. It’s a way to raise money for the shul’s expenses throughout the year. influence. She did not want Yitzchok women who have babies and young When children disturb during to be exposed to it. Chana also children belong at home and not in the davening, how should we displayed mesirus nefesh for shul? respond? chinuch. After giving birth to Yes indeed. Women must take That is the job of the parents. Shmuel she was not oleh regel with care of their children. That’s the first They need to watch their children. the rest of the family as she had priority. And they should hear the What kavana should we have done in previous years but remained shofar with their children. when hearing the shofar? home with the child for his first two So what we learn from the During the blowing of the shofar years to raise him properly. She did Krias ha’Torah and the Haftora of we are crowning the King, accepting not take him along to the Mishkan Rosh HaShana is women’s role ol malchus Shamayim. The purpose so she would be able to give him the and main shlichus? in blowing the shofar is also to attention and time that he needed. Correct. The house, the family, arouse us to t’shuva, to remind us She did this even though Elkana was the children – these are the most about Maamad Har Sinai and to wealthy enough to hire servants and important things to a woman and bring up the memory of the mesirus anything else she would need to be how she fulfills her purpose. nefesh of Yitzchok Avinu at the oleh regel. The Rebbe emphasizes From the devotion of these three Akeida. There are ten reasons for the this in a sicha and says that Chana women – Sarah, Rochel and Chana blowing of the shofar which are opted to raise Shmuel under the best – we learn to fulfill the mitzva of pru brought down in the book Elul- possible conditions. u’r’vu properly – those who can Tishrei. Do we learn from this that bring children into the world. See There is also the mashal of the
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Baal Shem Tov about the prince who how to say anything. All he could do Meluket vol. 1 from 5743, where the was sent by his father to a distant was utter a cry from the heart and Rebbe explains these two meshalim. land in order to study wisdom and when the king heard his cry he The Rebbe would say k’siva acquire the tools to be able to run recognized the voice of his son. va’chasima tova, l’shana tova the country. The prince ended up This cry is the sound of the u’mesuka. Why mesuka? becoming immersed in coarse things shofar. The Rebbe explained this The Rebbe explained that and he forgot his noble origins and mashal and the mashal of Rabbi Levi mesuka-sweet refers to revealed the language of the country that he Yitzchok of Berditchev of the king goodness. came from. When he had the lost in the forest, in the famous sicha K’siva va’chasima tova, l’shnas opportunity to recall who he was in volume 4 of Likkutei Sichos. ha’Geula ha’imitis v’ha’shleima in all and he wanted to return to his There is also the maamer of the its sweetness! father, he was unable to remember Rebbe in Seifer HaMaamarim
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BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 755 37 755_Beis Moshiach 23/08/2010 6:13 AM Page 38
moshiach & science
has changed. The result is – no Creator, no soul, and no meaning to life, and all in the name of a science that nowadays takes an opposite TEACHING view. Thanks to innovations like quantum physics, relativity and chaos theory, the new view of science includes faith friendly THE TEACHERS notions such as these: That there is some indivisible wholeness, even a consciousness that underlies all physical reality; that there is some By Aryeh Gotfryd, PhD transcendent self that is associated with our physical bodies; and that When wisdom is not properly the other three seasons a kind of yes, our lives are meaningful, even utilized, and one forgets to seek the exalted moral status – come integral, to the whole of nature, from prior causes and sources, truth September, you are not just goofing the subatomic all the way to the becomes distorted. It is even off, you are getting an Education! intergalactic. possible to deify a particular Indeed there are many good Sadly, none of this matters to creature or creation, as a result of reasons for getting a good most people. The kids are too naïve, forgetting about the original cause education. It teaches you skills, their parents are too busy, teachers - the Creator of the universe. socialization, language, critical are just doing their job as they were --The Rebbe, Mind Over Matter, Ch.6. thinking, math, arts, culture – the trained to, and those that teach the list goes on. But what if the price of teachers were themselves taught by Faith. this ostensibly good education teachers that inherited the old Science. includes getting indoctrinated, mentality from their forebears. So Two solitudes. implicitly at least, in the atheistic now we are stuck. Or so it seems. dogma that underlies so much of Or are they? The fact is there are solutions, our secular curriculum? Do we One G-d made them both, and some can be implemented fairly actually want our children to learn in So why don’t they mesh? quickly. school that the Creator of the Let’s take for example a Chabad- Or do they? universe is basically irrelevant, that style high school that teaches science They work together pretty well in there is no reason to consider the from secular textbooks. About a the summertime, out in “G-d’s existence of a soul, and that human half-year ago, you may have read my country.” You watch a sunset – life is insignificant in the grand article called “Scientism in a Chabad heavenly. You study a bug on a leaf scheme of things? School,” which was specifically or watch a waterfall – miraculous. Whether we like it or not, these about such a case. In that detailed Listen to the birds singing in the three “pillars” of secular society are article, I analyzed the space science woods in the morning – divinely imprinted on our minds from and biology units, identified the awesome. childhood by the secular nature of problem areas, reviewed various But then fall lands and you’re our educational system. That system ways of dealing with the situation, back in the city. And if you happen itself is shaped by a rational and settled on one approach that to be a teenager in public school or materialistic dogma that took root in seems to hold the most promise. even your typical religious school for the 18th Century, flourished in the The story there was that issues that matter, the very same exquisite 19th, and was then displaced by arose over the origin and age of the natural wonders that switched on scientific advances early in the 20th. universe, the motions of stars and your soul in the summer, are now The ironic thing is that now in planets, and how biological species plain facts coldly framed in the the 21st Century, while science and came to be. On the surface of mechanistic ideology of your run of popular culture have evolved way things, science has one explanation the mill science curriculum. past those archaic, mechanistic views and Torah has another very different Well, what can you do? Summer of nature, our science curriculums one. How does one deal with that? is vacation, an escape from the keep plodding along as if nothing reality of everyday life. That gives Some use apologetics to resolve
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such issues. This promotes assuming material that my teachers and archive. that Genesis is more literary than parents say I must know. Second, Here are some of “scientism’s” literal, and that therefore one may when the Tanya says secular science articles of faith posing as science interpret Torah verses to be verifying contaminates the soul, that’s not so fact in our kids’ high school whatever scientific theory is important either. After all, according textbooks. currently fashionable. Applying this to science, I don’t necessarily have *The universe was created 14 approach, one translates “Let there one. And if I do, it’s not accountable billion years ago; be light” into the Big Bang and the to any divine Being. Moreover that *The universe originated in a Big six creation days into 13.7 billion Being may or may not exist, and if Bang event; years. It also invites one to interpret He does exist, there’s no proof of *The universe has evolved over Torah’s teachings about everything Him in history anyway because the billions of years to form stars and revolving around the earth as being tradition from Sinai is just one planets including the sun and the anything from simplistic to religion on the menu. Furthermore earth; downright wrong. nothing I do makes any difference *The earth is not unique, but because life is just a cosmic hiccup But while that approach may there are countless planets just like it and my life in particular is absolutely work well for some, Chabad has many of which have life; another standard in education – the worthless because I’m just a tiny *The diversity of life on earth Rebbe’s. For the Lubavitcher Rebbe, speck in an enormous galaxy in a evolved through random mutation the consummate Torah scholar who gargantuan universe. and natural selection over billions of is also tremendously erudite in the One recommended way of years; sciences, these answers just don’t dealing with this issue is to provide a *The earth orbits the sun just like work. For the Rebbe, the six days counterpoint companion curriculum those distant planets orbit their were just that, the earth is central that could be taught before each stars; and things turn around it, and the questionable unit and subunit of the diversity of life was specifically regular curriculum. There needs to *The earth spins on its axis created and did not happen by any be ready sample lesson plans and which explains day and night and kind of Darwinian evolution over resource material that is grade the motion of the stars; millions and billions of years. appropriate and that can be open- *Modern observations on earth So how does the Rebbe deal with ended enough so that the student or and in space confirm all this; the science? Simple. He fights fire teacher who wants to delve deeper *Scientists the world over agree with fire. He turns the questions has ready tools to do so. on all this. around and puts the burden of proof Of course very few teachers None of these statements are on the scientists, claiming that they could come up with such material true, either according to science, or have misapplied their own craft and on themselves, so it would have to according to Torah. Allowing them come to conclusions that science be provided to them. The school to sit unaddressed in our school itself does not require in any way, administration needs to be on board curricula can only increase the shape or form. as well in order to require that the confusion, ignorance, laxity and The Rebbe’s arguments and material be distributed and taught to apathy that all too often characterize counterclaims are of course the students and tested as well. our youth. May our efforts to refine impeccable and compelling, but for Chabad schools are typically the minds of our youth bear fruit whom? Do the students who are undercapitalized so my resolution is and empower them to realize their slaving away towards passing their to try to develop suitable material for potential as proud, informed and Regents have any clue what those high school use over the coming inspired Chassidim of the Rebbe and arguments and counterclaims are? weeks and present some of it in my proceed with clarity and Not really. They are busy doing what weekly column, and the rest to wholehearted commitment to greet they are “supposed” to do, namely archive online. I invite any and all of Moshiach NOW! to assiduously learn, understand and you to contribute to this effort. Dr. Aryeh (Arnie) Gotfryd, PhD is a commit to memory a whole raft of If you can contribute any age- chassid, environmental scientist, author concepts that their Rebbe appropriate handouts or lesson plans and educator living near Toronto, Canada. To contact, read more or to diametrically opposes. that can address these specific issues book him for a talk, visit The implicit messages are from a Chabad perspective, please www.arniegotfryd.com or call 416-858- troublesome – For one, the truth do so (via [email protected]) 9868 doesn’t matter, what matters is this and I will try to include them in the
BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 755 39 755_Beis Moshiach 23/08/2010 6:13 AM Page 40
feature THE TRAIN OF LIFE AND DEATH
By Sholom Dovber Crombie A terrible train accident turned a routine trip from Kfar Chabad to Beer Sheva into a traveling Chabad house.
For two years now, R’ Shmuel “When I began traveling on this was formed and the shul became Levin has been taking the same train line there were only a few guys permanent, Shmuel decided to see route every day: Beer Sheva-Kfar who would daven on the train, five what he could do on the trains ^^^^^^ Chabad, and Kfar Chabad –Beer or six passengers. When we wanted returning south in the afternoon. He ^^^^^^ Sheva. During this period of time he to form a minyan we had to look already knew the regular passengers ^^^^^^ has managed to form a large minyan throughout the train for people who who traveled the same line he did. ^^^^^^ for Shacharis that takes place every would agree to join us. After a while Together they began having ^^^^^^ morning on his way there and a we decided to do it in an organized minyanim for Mincha, followed by a ^^^^^^ minyan for Mincha on his way back. way, and each of us told our daily shiur in a sicha of the Rebbe. ^^^^^^ Sometimes there is even a minyan acquaintances that we were starting Shmuel had soon formed a group ^^^^^^ for Maariv. There are many people a minyan that would convene on a of people who learn the Rebbe’s ^^^^^^ who are happy to use their travel regular basis. I also sent around a teachings every day. The shiur also ^^^^^^ time for t’filla. Every morning the flyer and that is how our minyan attracted new faces. When a member ^^^^^^ first passenger car of the train is took shape every morning on the of the shiur became engaged he ^^^^^^ transformed into a shul, and 6:30 train.” quoted the Rebbe’s bracha in his ^^^^^^ definitely the most original shul in These days, nobody needs to invitation, “an everlasting edifice on ^^^^^^ the country, at that! look around for a tenth man for the the foundations of Torah and ^^^^ A year ago, at the end of Elul, minyan. Even when there are mitzvos.” And at his chuppa he p. 20 right: the shul on wheels received a Torah vacations, the minyan still takes played the Four Bavos. “It was a p. 21 top: The scroll, and since then the minyanim place. They start Hodu in Beer only a culturally traditional on Mondays and Thursdays also Sheva, in Kiryat Gat they get up to wedding,” says Shmuel, “but we felt have a Torah reading. The Torah is Yishtabach so that the people the Rebbe at every step.” brought on the train in a portable boarding in Kiryat Gat get to hear It was a pleasant surprise for Aron Kodesh which is on wheels and Barchu. Davening is over in Lud. By Shmuel. “I do my work every day after a day’s work, it returns, the time they get to Tel Aviv, the and learn the sicha with them but I together with the afternoon train, to passengers are able to roll up their never thought that it was having Beer Sheva, from where it is taken t’fillin and get ready to debark. such an impact. Suddenly, I come to the next time the Torah is read. Once the minyan for Shacharis the wedding and discover how
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R’ Shmuel Levin The minyan he organized on the train.
mekushar this man had become to the shiurim on the train is an officer half of the trip had proceeded the Rebbe. in the IDF whom Shmuel has normally. First there was a minyan “On the train there is nowhere to known for years. Previously, when for Mincha and then the men sat run. They have to wait until the trip they attended university, they down to learn. That day they learned is over, anyway, so what do they learned the Rebbe’s sichos together the Rebbe’s sichos on inyanei care if they listen to you … The every day. Moshiach and Geula and the shiur people are with you until they get to “One day he came over to me wasn’t long. When they finished, their stop and this gives me plenty of and asked me to arrange a bris mila they returned to their places while time to talk. As time goes on, more for him for 11 Nissan. Of course I Shmuel remained with his officer and more people get to know me was very surprised. The bris took friend to learn a sicha on the parsha. and every morning they are happy to place and later on I met him and he The conductor announced their put on t’fillin and to listen to points was holding tallis and t’fillin. To my imminent arrival in Kiryat Gat and from the Rebbe’s sichos that I astonishment he told me that he had the passengers got up and collected review. become a baal t’shuva and was now their belongings. “On the trip to the center of the completely frum. Then we met again “Suddenly the train slowed down country I always have an extra pair on the train, traveling every day on and stopped. A siren began to wail of t’fillin with me so that if someone the same Beer Sheva-Tel Aviv line and the lights went out. Something gets on who didn’t know about the and back. We decided to renew our had happened. They were still minyan, I lend him the t’fillin so he chavrusa partnership and since then unaware of the terrible tragedy that can daven. This helps those who we learn every day.” took place only meters away from want to join the minyan even though where they peacefully sat. On the they don’t usually put on t’fillin on a SUDDENLY, THE LIGHTS train they did not feel the impact regular basis. People see that there is WENT OUT with the minibus. People did not fall a minyan and they’re on the train out of their seats as a result of the anyway so they figure why not daven On Thursday, August 5, Shmuel sudden stop and even those who one morning?” and his friend the officer were in the were standing in the aisles remained One of the people who has middle of learning a sicha on the on their feet.” gotten close to Chassidus thanks to parsha when the train tragically The passengers remained where collided with a minibus. The first
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mourning, asked someone else to join him for the recitation of Kaddish for those who had just been killed. *** Shmuel says that there are people currently organizing to provide all trains with a Chitas and pushka as the Rebbe advised should be placed in vehicles of transportation. The fatal accident “I saw how all the holy activities they were and waited for the train to gotten under the tracks, the train on the trains, and on this particular continue but nothing happened. would have been derailed and all of train, are greatly empowering and “Panic set in when time passed them would have been in grave have an effect b’gashmius and and we were left on the train without danger. certainly b’ruchnius too. To all the any information. We saw helicopters Of course the first person the passengers it was clear that thanks above and heard the wailing of passengers turned to was Shmuel. to the fact that we had a Torah on ambulances. We still had no idea People went over to him to ask him the train we experienced a what had happened. about the miracle they had tremendous miracle. In the normal “As we waited uncertainly we experienced. They all asked whether way of things, the train would also suddenly heard a shout outside the he had said T’fillas HaDerech. have been affected and yet in this train asking if there were any Although they were devastated by case not one passenger was hurt.” paramedics. That’s when we realized the news of the people who were Shmuel’s plans for the future are that an accident had occurred. Later crushed in their minibus, they knew to obtain additional Sifrei Torah so a paramedic returned from the scene that it could have been a lot worse. there can be other minyanim on of the accident looking grim, and we “As soon as night fell, we morning train lines. realized that the situation was grave. arranged a minyan for Maariv. I was “Other lines, like the train Later we learned that only the driver uncertain whether to have the between Beit Shemesh and Tel Aviv, and the son-in-law who were sitting minyan on the train because of the also have potential for a minyan and in the front were alive – the rest of situation. I finally decided that this when people go to work every the passengers had been killed. was a good time to daven with a morning at 6:00, minyanim on trains “We on the train were very minyan and to my surprise, despite are their only davening option. frightened. One passenger had a my uncertainty, people happily “Anybody who wants to recite heart attack but nobody was joined in and davened with great Kaddish and hear Krias Ha’Torah physically injured by the collision.” feeling. It was very special and will have the opportunity to do so. It whoever was present will certainly is a z’chus ha’rabbim.” A MOVING MAARIV not forget it. I saw people without *Seven members of the Bernstein family kippot joining the minyan and were killed: Both parents, Aryeh 43 and When details of the tragedy davening. It wasn’t your everyday Rivka Bernstein 41and their four trickled in, they realized what a kind of minyan.” children: their pregnant married daughter miracle had taken place. Traffic By the time they finished Malki Gotstein, 21, and her one and a experts explained that if the train half year old son, 16 year old Yochanan, davening they learned that seven hadn’t stopped so slowly and just 14 year old Chaya, and 9 year old members of a family had been killed one piece of metal would have Mordechai. a”h*. Shmuel, who is in a year of
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