CONTENTS

4 | BEYOND THE DESERT (CONT.) D’var Malchus / Vol. 33, pg. 85-94 6 | REACHING THE MOUNTAINTOP Moshiach / Naftali Estulin U.S.A 10 | ‘I DON’T WANT MONEY; I WANT A PROMISE 744 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409 FROM THE !’ (CONT.) Tel: (718) 778-8000 Fax: (718) 778-0800 Stories / Rabbi Betzalel Wilschanski [email protected] www.beismoshiach.org 14 | WHAT ABOUT THE SOURCES THAT SAY ERETZ HA’KODESH 72915 s cj rpf 102 /s/, THAT THE INGATHERING OF THE EXILES WILL BE (03) 9607-290 :iupky THROUGH THE GENTILE KINGS? (03) 9607-289 :xep

Focus / Rabbi Sholom Dovber HaLevi Wolpo EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: M.M. Hendel 16 | TOMCHEI T’MIMIM: MADE IN BRAZIL ENGLISH EDITOR: Shlichus / BenZion Sasson Boruch Merkur [email protected] 23 | THE POWER OF A STORY Miracles Stories / Nosson Avrohom Beis Moshiach (USPS 012-542) ISSN 25 | SECRET MIKVA IN TASHKENT 1082-0272 is published weekly, except (only once in Memoirs / Rabbi Shneur Zalman Chanin April and October) for $130.00 in Crown Heights, $140.00 in the USA 28 | MOSHIACH IS OUR MOTTO IN LIFE! (CONT.) & Canada, all others for $150.00 per Profile / Menachem Ziegelboim year (45 issues), by Beis Moshiach, 744 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 34 | THE ENEMY WITHIN 11213-3409. Periodicals postage paid Shleimus HaAretz / Shai Gefen at Brooklyn, NY and additional offices. Postmaster: send address changes to 36 | ‘THEY ARE ADDING WHILE WE ARE Beis Moshiach 744 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409. DECREASING’ Feature / Shneur Zalman Berger Beis Moshiach is not responsible for the content of the advertisements.

© Copyright 2006 by Beis Moshiach, Inc D’VAR MALCHUS BEYOND THE DESERT

LIKKUTEI SICHOS VOL. 33, PG. 85-94 TRANSLATED BY BORUCH MERKUR

2. In the teachings of Chassidus (the inner dimension of serving G-d through the way of life in the Land of , the Torah) it is explained [Likkutei Torah Shlach 37b, 38b, namely, the fulfillment of Mitzvos that depend on the land, citing Kabbala texts – see FN 20] that the fact that the spies and Mitzvos that require action in general.) did not want to enter the was actually on Accordingly, we may say that the concept mentioned account of their greatness of stature in the service of G-d; they above – that we learn that ten Jews are considered a sanctified did not want to enter the Land of Israel because they refused assembly specifically from the mention of the term to degrade themselves with the lifestyle of “six years you shall “assembly” with regard to the spies – alludes to the fact that sow your field, etc.” [B’Har 25:3], being the sin of the spies is not to be occupied in physical and coarse understood in the simple sense; they matters, reflecting the saying of Rashbi: The resolution of the merely were mistaken in considering “Could it be that a person plows, etc., the path they had chosen (mentioned and sows, etc. – what will become of opinion of Rebbi Akiva above) as the principal pathway in the Torah [study]?” [Brachos 35b]. Their – that “The generation service of G-d. [FN 28: To note that, will and desire was to remain secluded although the Mishna (Sanhedrin 108a) in the desert (as a continuation of the of the desert has no states that the spies have no portion in Giving of the Torah), cut off from the the World to Come, it is implied in life of settling [the land], without the portion in the World to III (Raaya Mehemna) 376a that hardship of earning a livelihood and they do have a portion in the World to etc. (for G-d provided their needs in the Come” – is that they Come. It is known that the resolution desert by means of the mahn (manna), provided by the text Asara Maamaros food from the heavens [B’Shalach 16:4 have no need for the (Maamer Chikur Din 2:8), among other ff.], water from the well of Miriam World to Come. On places, of the opinion of Rebbi Akiva [, Chukas 20:2], and through the (Sanhedrin ibid) – that “The generation Clouds of Glory, which escorted them, the contrary, they are of the desert has no portion in the killing the snakes and scorpions, World to Come” – is that they have no pressing their clothes [Rashi, above it. need for the World to Come. On the B’Haalos’cha 10:34, Eikev 8:4], and contrary, they are above it. (See Likkutei etc.). In fact, this is the true way to Levi Yitzchok Igros pg. 358 ff). See study Torah and to cleave to G-d, as reflected in the saying of Likkutei Sichos Vol. 23 pg. 102, where this topic is discussed.] our Sages, “The Torah was only given to (be expounded by) But considering their greatness of stature and their those who eat mahn.” prodigious level in the service of G-d – moreover (and this (They failed to recognize, however, that – even in may be deemed primary), their efforts to influence the Jewish comparison to the virtue of cleaving [to G-d] and etc. that people in this matter – this was a great and severe sin. was achieved in the desert – there is a greater advantage in

4 BEIS MOSHIACH - 13 Sivan 5766 3. Furthermore, we may assert that the fact that the source Rather, they were directed in accordance with their will, the of the conduct of the spies is within the realm of holiness is entire generation remaining all their years in the desert! Even alluded to and derived also from the fact that the people of if you want to say that as a result of their sin they were not the generation of the desert remained in the desert for forty deserving entry into the Land of Israel (for since they rejected years [FN 29: as this is expressed in several places (in the the Land of Israel, they did not merit entry into it), Written Torah as well as the Oral Torah), although in actuality nevertheless, how can we explain that the punishment should it was less than 39 years. See the commentary of Rashi (on be that they would remain in the desert in a life of tranquility, our Torah portion 14:33).] but they did not live a life of etc., within the Clouds of Glory and with Moshe and Aharon suffering and hardship. On the contrary, they lived a life of at their head and etc.?) tranquility, for the entire forty years they had mahn as On the basis of the explanation provided above sustenance and water from the well of Miriam and etc., the (according to the inner dimension of the Torah), we may Clouds of Glory protected them and etc. (as mentioned assert the following reason for the matter: [Striving to attain above). and remain steeped in] the elevated spiritual status of the At first glance, this was the argument and will of (the spies desert (which was their intent and it was for the sake of and) the generation of the desert: to remain in the desert and Heaven) is not an error. (It is just that through that approach not to enter the Land of Israel. So how is it appropriate that – and as an outgrowth of it – something mistaken resulted.) their request was fulfilled and they remained in the desert in That is to say that residing in the desert within the Clouds tranquility, the cloud being upon them day and night, etc.? of Glory and etc. unto itself has holiness, but they (Moreover, according to what is known [FN 30: see [erroneously] considered this to be the ultimate purpose – Likkutei Sichos ibid pg. 98 ff., where it is discussed] that the although this virtue is (must be) a preparation to entrance concept of the punishments of Torah is to correct the blemish into the Land of Israel. For in order to arrive at the lofty phase resulting from the sin, to the extent that the state [after the of entry into the Land of Israel, the preparation and punishment] would be rendered the opposite of the concept certification brought about through spending forty years in of sin, it is extremely wondrous that in the topic at hand their the desert is required. will was not annulled and their sin was not corrected and [To be continued be”H] negated ([by means of compelling] entry into the land). LIVE SHIURIM 0NLINE cwwv Anywhere, Anytime ! j,ww, INYONEI GEULA unahj dtukv gbhbh & MOSHIACH rncwwo RAMBAM ckeuyh ahgurho SHIURIM IN LIKUTEI eusa ahju, SICHOS KODESH

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Issue Number 557 - BEIS MOSHIACH 5 MOSHIACH REACHING THE MOUNTAINTOP

BY RABBI NAFTALI ESTULIN, SHLIACH, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA TRANSLATED BY MICHOEL LEIB DOBRY

When we are coming close to the peak of the man Moshe.” Then, as now, “men of Moshe” are confronted by sizable mountain, while the job of climbing becomes portions of the Jewish People, who claim that since they don’t see much harder, it is specifically at this point Moshe Rabbeinu with their flesh eyes, they have to proclaim that that the we can perceive the special nature they “made a mistake” and change attached to every growth and shrub. Now, a course ch”v. The common link here is the moment before we take the summit, and feeling that we’re talking about the most difficult times, as with the especially since we are so close, we need to person who climbs the mountain for a long time, now standing right have greater appreciation for everything that before the peak, yet he is unable to can possibly be done to hasten the reach it. In connection with this point, Redemption. we must remember that on the one hand, we cannot give up hope, while on the other hand, we cannot I once heard from the well- that a Jew does becomes doubly be complacent. We must look for known chassid and shliach, R. important. those tiny shrubs and protrusions Shmuel Dovid Raichik, that when he During these days, after we have that can help us to reach the was with the Rebbe Rayatz during heard from the Rebbe MH”M that mountaintop and go out of the the summer of 5699, he heard the we are in the loftiest and most exile. Rebbe say that the greatest challenge auspicious time for the coming of As is known, in matters of in climbing a mountain is when the Moshiach, with certain aspects of holiness, we must work in order to person gets close to the top. It is the Redemption already beginning – attain the objective. There is the especially at the moment when we we are literally standing close to the concept of getting a “free lunch,” are about to reach the summit that mountaintop; another minute and but in matters of holiness, we need every rock, every shrub, every we’re there. to toil. protrusion that we can get our Yet, specifically at such a lofty In preparation for hands on, has additional moment, we reveal new difficulties 5720, the tenth anniversary of the importance. and concealments that have not passing of the Rebbe Rayatz, the Furthermore, the Rebbe Rayatz existed since the sin of the golden Rebbe sent a general letter to all says that this is literally happening calf, when the children of Israel Anash with arousing words leading now as we approach the coming of reached the conclusion that “we do up to the day of the hilula. The Moshiach, when every little mitzva not know what has become of this

6 BEIS MOSHIACH - 13 Sivan 5766 Rebbe emphasized in his letter that reaching the peak. Rebbe Rayatz once said that one since this marks the tenth yahrtzait, It can also be said that regarding should be a “maven” in the level of there applies the general principle of our outreach activities on the his p’nimius. He expressed “the tenth shall be holy.” In Rebbe’s mivtzaim, we have gotten so resentment at my question, raised clarification of this point, the Rebbe used to doing them, we can say that his voice with much emotion, and added that despite the fact that the they happen “by themselves.” Only cried, “It’s true that I don’t stand up tenth is holy in any event, even the Moshiach Campaign cannot be after every davening and proclaim without effort, “this is all the more done “by itself,” as we constantly ‘Yechi,’ but when someone in the so through avoda with our own encounter new difficulties and the minyan says ‘Yechi Adoneinu’ after initiative.” yetzer ha’ra always finds a variety of davening, I join in with great When this letter reached the explanations as to why it is neither fervor!” chassid, HaRav Shlomo Zevin, he advisable nor appropriate to Rabbi Raichik’s forceful reply and wrote to the Rebbe that “the tenth publicize here and now the Rebbe’s inner character stands before me shall be holy” apparently has no announcement of the Redemption. every time I stand before the amud relevance to a person’s avoda, as Thus, when we talk about and proclaim “Yechi Adoneinu.” when you already have nine, the “malchus,” there’s no “by itself”; Furthermore, when I daven at a tenth comes automatically. He everything has to come through center and several of those compared this to S’firas HaOmer, in the minyan don’t vigorously say which we are commanded to count “Yechi,” I recall the shock on Rabbi for fifty days, but in practice, we Raichik’s face when he heard that count only forty-nine days, as the there were those who said he fiftieth day comes by itself. deliberately refrained from In a letter from the 19th of Shvat proclaiming “Yechi Adoneinu.” 5720, the Rebbe replied that the Weighed in comparison to the concept of “by itself” can only be words of the Prophet, “Why when I with the number fifty, which is came, was there no man, and I connected to the purification of the called and there was no one to Divine attributes. However, when answer?” I ask in anguish: Why we’re talking about the tenth, which when I proclaimed, was there no corresponds to S’firas HaMalchus, one to answer? there is no “by itself.” The Rebbe I can recite by heart all the continues to explain that even in the excuses uttered by certain Anash case of tithing animals, when the members against saying “Yechi,” and person counts nine and the tenth is the common denominator is the sanctified at the moment that it claim that the additional comes out of the sheepfold, even involvement in the subject of without any action taken by the avoda. Moshiach is liable to drive Jews person counting, nevertheless, this On the other hand, however, we away from Lubavitch. I have no does not happen by itself, but have been promised that when we intention of relating to this claim, through an action. The difference is will do the avoda, we will which is wrong both in fact and that the action taken by the immediately reach the level of “the outlook. However, even if there was sanctified object is sufficient, with tenth shall be holy,” to the point of some basis to this claim, why is it no need for any additional action by “the tenth [red] heifer that Melech that even in Chabad circles, in a the person himself. HaMoshiach will make – may He minyan comprised solely of Chabad The point that we can learn from speedily reveal, Amen, may it be His chassidim, they refrain from saying the Rebbe’s letter is that when we’re will.” “Yechi,” and don’t even respond talking about “malchus,” which Since I mentioned Rabbi Shmuel after someone who does say? refers to the Rebbe in general, Dovid Raichik earlier, I recall that I This reminds me of the joke especially in connection with asked him once if it is true what I about that gabbai who didn’t acceptance of the sovereignty, had heard that he doesn’t agree with understand why the shamash of the nothing happens “by itself.” We the saying of “Yechi Adoneinu.” shul got so much honor and respect, have to take action, to work hard, Rabbi Raichik was a truly while in spite of everything that he and then we will succeed in pnimius’dike Jew, of whom the did for the community and shul, he

Issue Number 557 - BEIS MOSHIACH 7 received no such honor. The One of the more interesting gabbai’s wife then came up with an ...However, even if revelations that I have seen in the idea. “Since you say ‘yes’ to sichos is connected to the everything your friend, the there was some basis commemoration of the Rebbe’s 104 shamash, says,” she said, “people years: see that you don’t have your own to this claim, why is it On the Shabbos before Yud-Alef opinion, and therefore, they don’t that even in Chabad Nissan 5751, Shnas HaTzaddik (the give you any respect. Here’s my Rebbe’s ninetieth year), the Rebbe advice to you: The next time when circles, in a minyan emphasized that the eighteenth the shamash says something, you letter of the Hebrew alphabet is say the opposite, and then everyone comprised solely of usually written as “Tzaddi” – will know that you do have your without the Kuf at the end. own opinions, and they’ll show Chabad chassidim, For anyone who had yet to appreciation for you.” The next they refrain from notice this fact, the Rebbe continued evening, the night of Rosh Chodesh, the concept of Shnas HaTzaddik even the shamash pounded the bima saying “Yechi,” and into this year, “Shnas HaTzaddik,” before Shmoneh Esrei, and called as the gematria of “Tzaddi” is 104. out, “Yaaleh V’Yavo!” The gabbai don’t even respond The Rebbe added that the then proceeded to rush up, pounded Congressional resolution to establish the bima, and cried out, “No Yaaleh after someone who Yud-Alef Nissan as a national day of and no Yavo!” (literally, he should education began with the number neither rise nor come). does say? 104! On Shabbos Parshas Acharei- Thus, even during this year, K’doshim 5751, the Rebbe spoke at Moshiach and the Redemption. It’s “Shnas HaTzaddik,” we must utilize length about the need to bring the just that certain s’farim require that all the strengths and brachos that Alef – Alufo shel olam (Master of the you delve into the matter more and the Rebbe gave during Shnas World) – into the galus, thus more, until you reveal that HaTzaddik in order to attain the turning the galus into geula. essentially they also discuss final realization of the task that the In note 118 of this sicha, the Moshiach and the Redemption. Rebbe MH”M placed upon us and to Rebbe explains something Based on this explanation in the bring the hisgalus of the Rebbe, marvelous: The Rambam writes sicha, we find that when we place immediately, mamash, when we will about the coming of Moshiach that the “Alufo shel olam” into the galus, experience the fulfillment of the “all s’farim are filled with this this reveals that the “gola” itself has pasuk that we say at the conclusion matter.” Yet, at first glance, when we actually been transformed into of the Haftora of Acharon shel peruse various Torah texts, we see “geula.” Pesach: “And you shall say on that that most of them do not deal with In light of these words, when we day, ‘Hodu Lashem Kiru Vi’shmo’” Moshiach’s coming, and some of look again and again into the (Praise to G-d, proclaim His them even deal with the subject of Rebbe’s sichos, we discover how Name) – everyone will be saying the galus – the opposite of geula! even those sichos that seemingly Rebbe’s kapitel! The Rebbe explains that the have no connection to Moshiach Yechi Adoneinu Moreinu v’Rabbeinu truth is that all these s’farim actually and the Redemption – actually do Melech HaMoshiach l’olam va’ed! do deal with the subject of deal inwardly with the Redemption.

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8 BEIS MOSHIACH - 13 Sivan 5766 ANOTHER MUST

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A compilation of stories about our Rebbeim and A LUNATIC In Cherson, I met a very elderly their Chassidim that were written down by R’ Jew from the town of Liepli. I asked him if he ever met Reb Yekusiel Betzalel Wilschanski. * From a t’shura by the Liepler, and he told me that he hadn’t, but his grandmother knew Wilschanski family in Morristown. * Part 2 him. He said that he once asked her about him and she said that he was a HE DIDN’T HEAR A THING The nobleman said, “Nu, let him meshugener (a lunatic). When he interrupt for a few minutes and then asked her why she thought him One of the simple Chassidim of crazy, she answered: A Jew that can the Alter Rebbe, or of the Mitteler he can return to his prayers.” The wife explained that it was impossible sit the whole day in Tallis and T’fillin Rebbe, made his living as a and doesn’t realize that the entire day wholesaler of wheat. He was an to talk to her husband during prayer because he didn’t hear a thing. The has gone by is certainly a honest and trustworthy man even in meshugener! his dealings with gentiles. His man refused to believe her and said reputation was such that even the that he is probably faking and NO, THAT’S NOT IT gentiles, who would accuse the Jews pretending that he doesn’t hear, to which the woman responded, “Try it He also told me that Reb Yekusiel of cheating them, all admitted that he would meditate for an hour before was honest. out yourself.” He took out a gun and fired it right next to the ear of the starting “Hodu,” and only then would Once, one of the wealthy nobles Chassid, who didn’t even flinch and he start. After saying the first verse, (poretz) heard about this Jew, who it was clear that he hadn’t noticed. he would interrupt himself and say, had such a sterling reputation, and The nobleman saw that the woman “No, that’s not it,” then he would he decided it was worthwhile told the truth and he picked up and meditate for another hour, start traveling especially to buy from him, left. again, and again interrupt, saying, as he needed a very large order. “No, that’s not it!” Afterwards, he When the nobleman arrived at the Later, after he finished davening, would meditate again, begin again home of the Chassid, he was engaged his wife told him about the poretz and finally continue. Obviously, there in prayer and his wife answered the who came by wanting to make a large were times that he davened door. When she heard what the man purchase, etc. The Chassid asked her, immediately, and there were times wanted, she told him that she could “so why didn’t you sell to him?” She that it took him longer to get started. handle the sale and that it was not answered, “He only wanted to deal necessary to disturb her husband. with you.” Calmly, the Chassid WHY WAS HE SILENT? responded, “In that case, he will When the poretz insisted that he only It is known that the Tzemach surely return.” wanted to deal with her husband, she Tzedek would send young men to explained that he was busy praying.

10 BEIS MOSHIACH - 13 Sivan 5766 Reb in order that he punctilious and stringent in his The man realized that his son guide them in the ways of Chassidus. mitzva observance. The Tzemach must have left a picture in the room, Reb Hillel had the custom that when Tzedek said about him that it is and told him to go back and make he was invited to a simcha (a joyous already three hundred years since sure he gets every, last picture. The occasion), he would bring along all there was such a tzaddik in actual son searched but couldn’t find any of his protégés. There would be a practice. pictures, yet Reb Hillel still stood at special table set aside for them and the door. The son searched again Amongst his stringencies was not he would farbreng for them, and until he saw that there was picture to enter a room that had drawings of anyone who wanted to listen in was hanging on the inside of the door, people on the wall. It wasn’t welcome to do so. but since the door opened inward, it necessary for him to actually enter was hidden from view. After the son Similarly, the Tzemach Tzedek the room to know if there were took the picture down, Reb Hillel would send young men to Reb pictures. As soon as he opened the entered the room. Pesach Malastovker. (Reb Pesach was door a drop, he could sense if there a close friend of Reb Hillel, even was a picture, and he would not (I heard this from the son of the wealthy man, who though he was younger. Reb Hillel enter. was the story’s protagonist.) was short and thin, whereas Reb SUPERFLUOUS Pesach was big and powerful. Reb Pesach was terribly poor, and he The man refused to AGGRAVATION would call Reb Hillel, “the rich man,” Reb Hillel had a practice not to because Reb Hillel learned Kabbala believe her and said spend Shabbos in a place where he and Chassidus, and Reb Pesach only had not spent a Shabbos previously. learned Chassidus.) However, Reb that he is probably Once he arrived in a city where he Pesach would not speak in public, had never stayed for Shabbos, and he except for his students. If anyone else faking and pretending took his lodgings in the home of a was present, he would remain silent certain philanthropist. This wealthy and would not utter a word. that he doesn’t hear, man would always plead with Reb Hillel to stay for Shabbos, but he Once, Reb Pesach was in to which the woman always refused. On this trip, he Lubavitch, and after the Rebbe said arranged things so that Reb Hillel the maamer, he went to review it for responded, “Try it out would have no choice but to stay. his students. One of the Chassidim yourself.” He took out wanted to hear the review from Reb That Sunday, the day Reb Hillel Pesach, so he went to the place a gun and fired it was preparing to leave, someone where he gathered with his students. went and told the authorities that a However, to his surprise, he saw that right next to the ear “gutter Yid” (a Chassidic tzaddik) is Reb Pesach sat silently and didn’t say staying in the home of this wealthy a word. of the Chassid… person. At that time, there was a law prohibiting Chassidic masters from After sitting for an hour in traveling around from place to place silence, one of Reb Pesach’s disciples In each city that he traveled to, he without a permit. signaled him to go outside with him, had a set host where he would stay. and he said, “You should know that Since the man was wealthy, he One of his hosts would set aside a as long as you sit here, Reb Pesach had friends and contacts in the room for Reb Hillel, and before he will not speak. Therefore, it would be various government offices. When arrived, would tell his son to clear all better if you leave, since you are not they heard about the complaint, they the pictures out of the room. One going to hear anything either way. warned their friend that there would time, Reb Hillel arrived without But if you go, at least we will hear.” soon be visitors to his home looking advance warning. When the wealthy The Chassid listened to him and left. for the tzaddik. man heard the wheels of Reb Hillel’s He later said that as soon as he left, wagon outside, he immediately told At that time, Reb Hillel was he could hear that Reb Pesach started his son to remove all the pictures sitting in his room learning speaking. from the room. The son hurried to Chassidus, and he had five different A TZADDIK IN DEEDS take down the pictures, however, volumes open on the table. Shortly when Reb Hillel arrived at the door, before the police arrived, Reb Hillel Reb Hillel Paritcher was extremely he opened it a bit and didn’t enter. stepped out to the outhouse and left

Issue Number 557 - BEIS MOSHIACH 11 the s’farim on the table. The heart, and before every dinner, he homeowner entered the room to “I toiled and labored would review it in its entirety and warn Reb Hillel, and when he saw make a siyum, in order to turn the books on the table, he closed to find some way in supper into a Seudas Mitzva. them and put them on the shelf. which this could THE STONES TESTIFY When the police came, they searched politely in all the rooms, pertain to me, but I Reb Zushe Zhembiner (the uncle but they did not check the bathroom. of Reb Avrohom) served as Rav in When they saw that nobody was couldn’t find any.” Korenitz (I think he was the son of there, they left. Reb Zalman Korenitzer). Once, a Once, when they were all sitting plague struck the city. A number of After they left, Reb Hillel came in his house, he repeated what the children died r”l, and the people, as out and did not say anything, but Tzemach Tzedek said about his was the custom, ascribed it to their began to daven as usual. Afterwards, brother and uncle, but left out what sins, particularly the sin of adultery he prepared to leave. Before he left, the Rebbe said about him. with a married woman. They decreed he said to the host, “You saw I didn’t a fast day, and proclaimed that every want to be here for Shabbos, and Reb Shmuel Groinem, a little person in the city should come to the now that I was here, you had to go tipsy at the time, asked, “And what shul to pray. through great aggravation.” did the Tzemach Tzedek say about Avremel?” (The people present On the night before the day of WHO IS A CHASSID? wanted to give him a thrashing for prayer, Reb Zushe sent his assistant to the cemetery and told him to bring The Tzemach Tzedek once treating his teacher with such stones and rocks from the grave of a expressed himself about the following familiarity, referring to him that certain individual, and to place them three Chassidim: Reb Avrohom way…) in the doorway of the shul, as well as Zhembiner (the teacher of Reb Reb Avrohom asked him, “Did the door to the women’s section. Shmuel Groinem Esterman), his you hear?” Since it was late at night, the brother Reb Dan and their uncle, Reb assistant was afraid to go to the Zushe. He said, “Dani (that is how He answered, “Yes.” cemetery, so Reb Zushe gave him his Reb Dan was called) is a ‘Lamdan,’ To which Reb Avrohom said, “It is walking stick and told him not to be Ziske is a ‘Yerei Shamayim’ and true that the Tzemach Tzedek said afraid. The assistant went, brought Avremel is a ‘Chassid.’” about me, ‘Avremel is a Chassid.’ I the stones, and placed them in the toiled and labored to find some way Reb Avrohom Zhembiner had the doorways as he was told. custom to go on the night of Simchas in which this could pertain to me, The next day, all of the men came Torah to the homes of all the but I couldn’t find any. Thus, I to shul, and one of them fell over the residents of Zhembin and make concluded, that someone who sees stones and died on the spot. Kiddush on wine. His student Reb the ‘point’ of Chassidus, even though Similarly, one of the married women Groinem would go along with him he is only at the beginning of doing fell over the stones in the doorway of and Reb Avrohom would also say the work of avoda – he is already the women’s shul and she too died l’chaim in each house. Afterwards, all called a ‘Chassid.’” immediately. Afterwards, they the heads of households would come A MITZVA MEAL investigated and discovered that the to his house, where once again, he two were involved in an adulterous would make Kiddush. Reb Avrohom Zhembiner was versed in the tractate Horiyus by affair, and the plague ceased.

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12 BEIS MOSHIACH - 13 Sivan 5766

FOCUS WHAT ABOUT THE TORAH SOURCES THAT SAY THAT THE INGATHERING OF THE EXILES WILL BE THROUGH THE GENTILE KINGS?

TRANSLATED BY MICHOEL LEIB DOBRY

In response to requests by our readers, we now Jews will first begin to settle in Eretz Yisroel with the permission of present the third in a series of questions and the upright and pious kings of the land, and the settlement of Eretz answers from the seifer Between Light and Yisroel will be prior to the coming of Moshiach.” The Malbim also Darkness, Rabbi Sholom Dovber HaLevi Wolpo’s writes this in his commentary of Yeshayahu (66:7), and the Radak provocative new guide for the perplexed comments on T’hillim (146:3): “And regarding the establishment regime in Eretz so in the future, the Redemption of Israel will be through the Gentile Yisroel today and the tragic events they have kings.” brought upon the Jewish People. ANSWER: 1. In his commentary on QUESTION: simple interpretation of Tanach, Yeshayahu noted above on the pasuk, “Before she went into labor,” The seifer Shivas Tzion (Vol. 2, p. according to Rashi’s commentary, that the Redemption will blossom the Malbim writes something else 3) states in the name of the Malbim: entirely: “For long before the “I have several proofs from the slowly, as the daybreak grows into the morning light. Furthermore, coming of the Redeemer, a few

14 BEIS MOSHIACH - 13 Sivan 5766 people from the exile will gather the name of the Malbim, it is quite and establish their residence in to the contrary, as it clearly states Yerushalayim. After dwelling there that there will only be “the for many years, the travails of birth settlement of Eretz Yisroel” prior to will come to them – the war of Gog Moshiach’s coming, and he does not and Magog – and then the great mention that this is the ingathering overall ingathering will begin.” On of the exiles. the first ingathering of a few people, 3. Regarding what is written in he writes, “The time will not be the name of the Malbim that the again…which is many years before Redemption will blossom slowly – the time of the Redemption…only a just as we explained the few in number will establish Yerushalmi of “little by little” we can residence there…people few in explain the Malbim. In other words, number.” If so, how does the Shivas even the Malbim admits that the Tzion write in the name of the Future Redemption will start Malbim that there will first be through Moshiach, though he adds is’chalta d’Geula, especially when in that prior to Moshiach’s coming his commentary of Yeshayahu, he there will commence a state of emphasizes that we’re talking about before the time of the Redemption? redemption in the figurative sense, only a small number of people long 2. Even with what is quoted in i.e., redemption from sorrows. It is this that will blossom slowly, followed by the coming of ZIONISM – THE FALSE Moshiach. See Sec. 8 to the answer In his seifer Kovetz (vol. 1, p. 253), the gaon R. of the previous question. Elchanan Wasserman, of blessed memory, writes, “It is known that the 4. Even according to the words Jewish People always suffer from two things: Externally from blood of the Radak, there is no indication libels and internally from false , which first entice with that the ingathering of the exiles promises of going to Eretz Yisroel, but the end of all false messiahs is will not be through Moshiach, the conversion of tens of thousands of Jews. Furthermore, one who rather, that the ingathering of the takes a penetrating look at this will see that even in our times, there is exiles through Moshiach will be such a false messiah that garbs itself in the well-known cult that with the goodwill of the nations of speaks with its mouth about bringing people to Eretz Yisroel, and in the world. See Sec. 1 to the answer truth, it leads primarily to total heresy.” of the next question.

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Issue Number 557 - BEIS MOSHIACH 15 SHLICHUS TOMCHEI T’MIMIM: MADE IN BRAZIL

BY BENZION SASSON

Entering the building of Tomchei finished, “Papa” Samuel asked him, “You give to many organizations, but T’mimim in S. Paolo, Brazil, transports you from do you have a of your own?” Before the man could even digest his the characteristic Brazilian hubbub into a world words, he continued, proudly, “I have a yeshiva of my own,” he said while of calm and quiet, holiness, and sincerity. It is looking pointedly at Rabbi Ende. difficult to connect the yeshiva with the This seems to be the magical effect of the yeshiva, as it is a source surrounding neighborhood, which is one of the of pride not only to the Chabad community, but to all of Brazilian largest commercial areas in the city. This is the Jewry. story of a successful yeshiva, which the Rebbe Just crossing the threshold of the yeshiva is an experience worth Rayatz wanted to start but didn’t actually get off savoring, as the sounds of can be heard on the street, the ground until 11 years ago. * Another despite the clamor of traffic on the installment in the series about the work of the busy avenue. Entering the building of Yeshivas Shluchim in Brazil. Tomchei T’mimim in S. Paolo, Brazil, transports a person from the characteristic Brazilian hubbub into a “Papa” Samuel Klein is one of the visitors to console the mourners was world of calm and quiet, holiness, most respected Jewish philanthropists the Rabbi Shamai Ende. and sincerity. It is difficult to connect in all of Brazil. A few years ago, he At the exact same time, a number of the yeshiva with the surrounding learned about the Chabad yeshiva in highly successful businesspeople, neighborhood, which is one of the S. Paolo, Brazil, and he gave a large men of means, who had dealings largest commercial areas in the city. donation towards refurbishing the with “Papa,” came to visit. One of building. Thanks to him, the them was a major philanthropist who After climbing three flights, I find building is undergoing massive gives vast sums to various myself at the entrance of the study renovations. The building is four community institutions and is hall, and the sight is awesome. The stories high, with 3500 square considered one of Mr. Klein’s main first thing to catch the eye is the aron meters. As the repairs progress, competitors. built in the shape of 770. This is an additional wings of the building are original concept, which adds a The man began the conversation inaugurated. Chassidic dimension to the students by enumerating the sums of money of the yeshiva, as every time they Not long ago, Samuel sat he disburses, listing all the various look up, their eyes and hearts are for a family member. One of the organizations he supports. When he

16 BEIS MOSHIACH - 13 Sivan 5766 with the works of the commentators scattered across the tables, toiling to clarify points in halacha. Then there are, of course, the bachurim shluchim, sent to strengthen the atmosphere of learning in the yeshiva. Presently, they are paired up with the local boys, providing hands-on support. Rabbi Labkowski and Rabbi Zajac (pronounced Zayentz) engage in answering the students’ questions. As a graduate of the yeshiva, I find it especially moving to return and relive directed towards the source, “the students. the sounds and sights. I find myself house of our life.” standing entranced, looking at a On one side of the hall, sits Reb picture both familiar and new, now The hall is filled with students Dovid Naparstek, a teacher in the that I am coming from the “outside.” who are immersed in the atmosphere yeshiva, surrounded by young Bar of Torah. I could hear a mix of Mitzva-age boys who listen intently * * * languages, especially the Portuguese as he explains the material. As recently as 11 years ago, this coming from the Rosh Yeshiva and Amid the roaring sound of yeshiva was no more than a wild Rav of the Chabad community, Reb learning one can clearly make out the dream. For decades, the children of Shamai Ende, as he worked to older Smicha students, huddling over Anash studied in the Machne Yisroel answer the question of a few their large volumes of Shulchan Aruch Yeshiva in Petropolis, under the

Talmidim of the yeshiva davening Shacharis with the aron kodesh in the form of 770 in the background

Issue Number 557 - BEIS MOSHIACH 17 AUSTRALIAN-BRAZILIAN

A 17-year-old bachur with no knowledge of the throughout. He lived in Rabbi Gurary’s house for six language arrives in Brazil, only because his father months. Only when he felt that the ground was firm decided that this place was suitable for him. He under his feet did he move into the dormitory. began learning like anybody else in the yeshiva and His early fears that he would get lost in the large after two years, was fluent in Portuguese and was a crowd dissipated when he saw and felt the personal respected figure in the yeshiva. attention. Whenever he received words of After those two years, he went to learn in Eretz encouragement, they always seemed to come at the Yisroel and then he returned to Brazil because the right time and place. yeshiva’s hanhala wanted him to be a shliach in the After two good years of learning, Mendy left the yeshiva. At the end of the year of shlichus, he started yeshiva for a program appropriate for his age. He the second cycle of the yeshiva’s smicha program went to the Chabad yeshiva in Tzfas for a year. At where he did well. Finally, he is now an active the end of the year, the hanhala of the yeshiva in worker on behalf of the yeshiva, part of the same Brazil asked him to come back and learn, this time yeshiva, where he grew and developed over the as a bachur-shliach. They knew his good points, that years. Today he is married to the daughter of the he had already developed warm contacts with many rosh yeshiva, and he lives in Brazil and is a part of people in the Jewish community, and that he had the hanhala. learned Portuguese. This is the story of Menachem His fond memories of his two Mendel Koncepolski, a story that years in Brazil motivated him to definitely demonstrates the His fond memories of return, this time as a shliach. fruitful results the yeshiva Mendy, who always liked to work produces. his two years in and get involved, channeled his It started in 5758, when energy into helping the yeshiva, Mendy’s father was looking for a Brazil motivated him focusing primarily on running good yeshiva program for his son to return, this time as various “mivtzaim” during the and it wasn’t an easy decision to year. make. Then his father met the a shliach. He finished smicha Menahel Ruchni of the yeshiva in successfully while simultaneously Paulo, Rabbi Gurary, in Sydney, helping tremendously in running who told him about the yeshiva in Brazil and how and maintaining the yeshiva. At the conclusion of the good it is. The father, impressed by Rabbi Gurary, year of smicha, Mendy became a member of the staff decided to send his son to the yeshiva. and devoted his time to the project of the new Mendy, who wasn’t quite 17 at the time, was a building. little apprehensive about the trip to Brazil. He had Today, six years since his arrival in Brazil, he says heard of the dangers there and about the low level of in the interview for this article that without the security in the country. In any case, a year later he support of the yeshiva he doubts whether he could landed in Brazil. have attained what he has thus far. It wasn’t easy at first. The language was strange A few months ago, Mendy came full circle in and the mentality was unfamiliar, and he was a Brazil, when he married the daughter of the Rosh young boy who had to handle it alone. The one who Yeshiva, Rabbi Gurary. The final Sheva Brachos cushioned him from the early difficulties was Rabbi coincided with the Chanukas HaBayis of the new Gurary in whose home he was hosted the first few study hall. Many philanthropists and donors of the months. With Rabbi Gurary’s help and direction, he yeshiva were present as well as the Rebbe’s shluchim slowly began to acclimate to the yeshiva and the throughout the city and the talmidim of the yeshiva. bachurim and he quickly picked up the language. Mendy’s story is unique but still, he is one of He divided his time between the class in Ivrit and many who testify to the wonderful supervision and independent study, and the hanhala helped him educational investment of the yeshiva’s staff.

18 BEIS MOSHIACH - 13 Sivan 5766 Talmidim of the yeshiva concluding Yeshivas Choref, 5758 Talmidim of the machon with Rabbi Ende, learning sh’chita leadership of Reb Avrohom Chabad cheider reached high school one of the city’s quiet neighborhoods. Binyamini. The yeshiva there, age. The administration of the Despite its humble origin, success established decades ago with the cheider realized that the time had and results brought an increase in blessing and guidance of the Rebbe, come to do something about it. They growth. After three years, the yeshiva produced bountiful fruit for Brazilian wrote to the Rebbe. In the response had forty students. At that time, it Jewry. they opened to in the Igros Kodesh became necessary to move, as the was a letter which mentioned the existing place was not suitable, Despite this, it was necessary to name of the city, S. Paolo, and the especially as municipal law did not establish a branch of Tomchei importance of starting a yeshiva. That allow for a public institution at that T’mimim, since the format of the was the beginning of a long process location. On numerous occasions, yeshiva in Petropolis is different than accompanied by blessings and city inspectors and police came in that of Lubavitch schools around the instructions from the Rebbe via the response to complaints from world. The Rebbe instructed that its Igros Kodesh. neighbors about “noise and entire focus be on kiruv of students disturbances.” Each time, the yeshiva who come from homes that are not A while later, the yeshiva opened barely escaped closure. observant. For this reason, the its doors, led by Reb Shamai Ende, schedule and education are different backed by an administrative team Once, the police came, and this than the yeshivos of Tomchei including Reb Sholom Dovber time they were determined to close T’mimim. Gurary, the philanthropist R’ the place down. The officers Shmaryahu Levinson, and R’ Noach evacuated the boys and secured the Already at the start of the Gansburg. building with lock and chain. They interview with Rabbi Ende, he points placed a police seal on the door out that starting such a yeshiva in Shortly after, Rabbi prohibiting entrance and threatening Brazil is something the Rebbe wanted flew in from New York to check out to jail anyone who contravened the for many years. It turns out that as the yeshiva and see if it comported order. far back as 1947, when the students with the spirit of Tomchei T’mimim, of the Chabad yeshiva in Shanghai and as such, whether it could bear “On the next day,” recounts Rabbi had to leave, Reb Yosef Weinberg the name “Tomchei T’mimim Ende, “I arrived at the site and had traveled to Brazil to try to transplant Lubavitch.” After spending a Shabbos no idea what we were going to do. I the yeshiva there. However, the plan in the yeshiva, he was greatly wrote to the Rebbe about the chain of fell through. impressed and wrote a letter to the events, and the answer was a letter of administration authorizing the use of encouragement to the administration The Rebbe’s desire for a yeshiva in the name. From that time on, the of one of the branches of Tomchei S. Paolo came up again forty years yeshiva is known as Yeshivas T’mimim. later, in 1987, when he asked that a Tomchei T’mimim Lubavitch – yeshiva be founded. However, once “I saw then how the Rebbe is Menachem Mendel, S. Paolo, Brazil. again, the plan didn’t come to orchestrating everything, so I decided fruition. A number of years passed, The yeshiva opened with sixteen to act accordingly. I recalled that the and in 1995, the oldest class in the students in a small house located in building had another entrance which

Issue Number 557 - BEIS MOSHIACH 19 the police had not locked. A few the staff members provide personal is packed, and each Thursday the minutes later, the sounds of Torah attention to each student. students study the D’var Malchus of study could be heard coming from the week in pairs. Rabbi Ende: “From the founding the windows of the house. It was of the yeshiva until today, this place Under the direction of the desolate for only one day. has served as a home for the bachurim shluchim, each special date “But the state of uncertainly students. We offer attention and in the Chabad calendar turns into a returned. The neighbors, who personal involvement. At these age special project, during which time, realized what happened, called the groups there must be a total everyone is given the opportunity to police. For some reason, they did not investment in establishing the future make the proper spiritual respond for a few days. They didn’t of the student.” preparations. The high point of the bother to investigate until Erev year is during the month of Tishrei, Rabbi Gurary: “Many times, Rabbi Sukkos, when the building was when most of the students travel to Ende or one of the other staff will empty due to holiday vacation, so 770. approach me and say, ‘I think this they came and they left.” bachur is not happy. He seems “The energy, enthusiasm and In this manner, the yeshiva depressed and something must be dedication that the Brazilians have operated until it moved to its new, bothering him.’ The staff knows each when it comes to Moshiach you spacious home. Today, the yeshiva bachur well, understanding his won’t find anywhere else,” says one boasts a large, beautiful study hall, personal traits and nature. With this of the shluchim in the yeshiva. “Here new classrooms, and dormitory in mind they work to devise a everyone is focused on the goal and housing for the bachurim shluchim strategy to facilitate his growth.” do everything to bring about the and smicha students. Additionally, revelation of the Rebbe. There are Mention must be given here to there is a huge library containing communities where you have to the outstanding staff and their thousands of volumes on a wide explain, to try to relate the subject to contributions. There is the personal array of Jewish subjects, a large the native mentality, but here in attention from the , R’ dining hall, and there are more Brazil they want Moshiach and do Zalman Zajac, the unique and in- things in the works. This massive everything necessary to speed up his depth classes by R’ Levi Labkowski, undertaking is run by R’ Menachem arrival.” and then there is R’ Dovid Naparstek, Mendel Koncepolski, who works who puts a lot into personal The credit for the positive tirelessly to provide for the material conversations with the students, as Chassidic atmosphere felt in the comforts of the students. well as guiding the bachurim yeshiva goes to a large degree to the The move to the new location shluchim and the students of the bachurim shluchim mentioned brought the material standards of the smicha program. previously. They come especially for yeshiva to new heights. Reb Noach extended periods to strengthen the In the yeshiva in S. Paolo, unlike Gansburg, the administrator of the yeshiva and to exert a positive most branches of Tomchei T’mimim, yeshiva, does his all to beautify the influence. The young shluchim spend there are classes in secular studies. place and cause a kiddush Hashem time learning one-on-one with the Most of the students come from and a kiddush shem Lubavitch. students, strengthening them in homes that have become close to various areas, and bringing a fresh Over time, a beautiful mikva was Yiddishkait, and these parents still spirit into the yeshiva. constructed to serve the students, as place importance on a secular well as a heated pool, which is open education. These classes were The shluchim, besides for their during the breaks from learning. incorporated in accordance with work with the students, are active in There is also a sports field, and the standards of taharas ha’kodesh, along the larger community as well. Rabbi landscaping of the yard is with the desire to keep the time Ende recalls fondly the “tumult” that breathtaking, complemented by tall spent on secular studies to a one of the early groups generated trees. minimum. amongst the Jews of the city. Due to their presence, the outreach activities Meanwhile, the student body The students live in a dynamic doubled and tripled in a brief time, reached fifty students, the good name atmosphere of Geula and Moshiach. and the good name of the yeshiva of the yeshiva having spread The joy and dancing to the singing of spread throughout Brazil. This throughout S. Paolo and all of Brazil. “Yechi” is a direct result of the daily inspired many people to send their The yeshiva has a reputation, study schedule of these topics. own children to study there. primarily, as a place of warmth where During these study sessions, the hall

20 BEIS MOSHIACH - 13 Sivan 5766 Lag B’Omer gathering arranged by talmidim of the yeshiva, Rabbi Shamai Ende giving a in the yeshiva in the spirit of Geula in the early years

In the words of one of the : bachurim on shlichus and in the as the rav of the Chabad community “The drastic change amongst the smicha program.” and a member of the Beis Din of S. students was so profound that even Paolo. “Although there are many Credit is also due the bachurim in we staff members were stunned. It smicha programs in the world,” he the smicha program, which operates started with Chassidic conduct, says, “each place has something within the yeshiva. Who would traveling to the Rebbe for Tishrei, unique to offer. I always felt that the believe that in Brazil, the smicha mivtzaim, full participation in the traditional study of the material program would already have voluntary study periods on the topic lacked an in depth study of the celebrated its third round of of Moshiach and Geula. But the main sources.” graduations? Who would believe that yield was that the boys began to from S. Paolo, Brazil, there would go Four years ago, he realized his grasp what exactly Tomchei T’mimim forth fully ordained rabbis, many of dream with the opening of a smicha is all about. Thanks to the various whom already serve in communities program with ten students from groups of shluchim, we have around the world? around the world. The syllabus published to date, eleven includes in depth study of the compilations of chiddushei Torah This was an old dream of Rabbi Gemara and commentaries, as well as (original Torah insights), written by Ende, who is greatly involved in most of the commentaries on the students, the staff, and the rabbinic matters in the city. He serves Shulchan Aruch. The first graduating class tested successfully by: Rabbi Yosef Feigelstock the Rav, Av Beis Din of the Chabad community in Argentina; Rabbi Y. Y. Yaroslavsky the Secretary of the Beis Din of Rabbanei Chabad in E. Y.; Rabbi Shmuel Havlin the Rav and Rosh Kollel of the Yavneh community in S. Paolo; Rabbi Gertzenstein of the Institute for Dayanus in Yerushalayim; and Rabbi Ende. Over the years, the student body of the yeshiva with the help of the staff and bachurim shluchim, set up a huge network of mivtzaim, which Talmidim of the smicha program receiving certificates, sitting from right to left: focuses on activities carried out on Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Shamai Ende; Rabbi Shmuel Havlin, Rosh Kollel K’hillas Yavne S. Paulo; Mashpia Rabbi Mordechai Zajac; Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Feigelstock, Fridays and around the Jewish Rav in Argentina, Rabbi Yaroslavsky and Rabbi Hirsh Leib Begun, Menahel holidays. The huge city has close to Mosdos Chinuch Lubavitch 19 million residents, 60,000 of

Issue Number 557 - BEIS MOSHIACH 21 Model of the yeshiva building presently under construction whom are Jews. The mivtzaim every person wrote his own letter the immense project, will never activities cover all the areas of the (the women through an appointed forget the day of the Hachnasas Seifer city, whether independently or proxy). Torah in the Chabad yeshiva, which assisting the Chabad Houses spread drew hundreds of participants. The The boys met up with hundreds throughout the city. The T’mimim many media outlets in S. Paolo and of thousands of Jews throughout also carry out home visitations, and throughout Brazil covered the event, Brazil, generating a huge spiritual bring the mitzvos of the holidays to which fanned the flame of Jewish awakening. Wherever the crew the Jewish residents. pride throughout the country. arrived, they saw to it to hold public One of the most outstanding and gatherings of the local Jews to teach * * * successful mivtzaim has been the them the importance of writing a When I ask Rabbi Ende about campaign to have every Jew purchase letter in a Seifer Torah. They also future plans, he smiles and says, a letter written in a Seifer Torah. visited the children in their schools. “Currently, with the large plot of land Rabbi Ende realized that the Rebbe’s Many Jews were inspired to put on we acquired, we definitely plan on instruction that every Jew have a t’fillin, many for the first time in their growing and expanding. Our plans letter in a communal Seifer Torah was lives. Additionally, reports poured in include a yeshiva g’dola, a yeshiva for never implemented in S. Paolo. He of thousand of good resolutions to baalei t’shuva with dormitory initiated a campaign, but decided to strengthen Torah and mitzvos facilities and a mikva, as well as take it a step further by having a observance. other ideas in the works.” Seifer Torah written for the unity of At the end of the extended all the Jews in the country. As part of This is the story of the yeshiva in campaign, over 200,000 letters were the campaign, the students traveled Brazil, established in a city devoid of written, and thousands of people put during their vacation throughout all outward signs of Jewishness, on t’fillin, in addition to hundreds of Brazil. They reached even the most which now serves as a Chassidic- productive home visits as recorded in far-flung places where Jews reside. A spiritual lighthouse for the tens of the final report of the campaign. unique feature of the project was that thousands of Jewish denizens. Rabbi Noach Gansburg, who oversaw

22 BEIS MOSHIACH - 13 Sivan 5766 MIRACLE STORY THE POWER OF A STORY

BY NOSSON AVROHOM

I heard the following story from the rabbi’s weakness, he would not went for “dollars.” Even before he Rabbi Rachamim Nimni, director of be able to withstand the procedure opened his mouth, the Rebbe gave Ohr Torah V’Chesed: to correct it. On the other hand, if him two dollars and said, “Yehi they did nothing, his health was ratzon that the verse, ‘pure heart,’ Every week I give a shiur on the endangered and he was vulnerable will suffice without an operation.” weekly sidra based on the Rebbe’s to a heart attack at any moment, if sichos at the home of a member of Rabbi Wolfson was stunned by not worse. the Sephardic community in the this prophetic answer and despite neighborhood. Baruch Hashem, They left the choice up to him his doctors’ concerns he did not there’s a nice crowd and many and asked him to make a decision undergo the operation, and baruch people get a taste of Chassidic within a few days. These were Hashem, he is alive to tell this tale. teachings. I repeated this story at my shiur About a month ago, I sat down in Flatbush. Some of the people at to a Chassidishe in 770 the shiur personally knew Rabbi and heard one of the speakers talk Wolfson and they were all amazed about the importance the Rebbe by the story. attributed towards miracle stories of When the shiur was over and I the Rebbeim. About a week later, by left, I noticed a Jew standing on the Divine providence, I saw this same street waiting to hitch a ride. I inyan mentioned in a sicha where realized that he must have come the Rebbe expands on this idea on from Eretz Yisroel because Jews the importance of publicizing don’t hitch rides in New York as miracles. Since then, I decided to they do in Eretz Yisroel. I stopped read a miracle story of the Rebbe at for him. the beginning of the week so that I will have a story to relate when the The man asked whether I was opportunity presents itself. heading towards Boro Park and I Rabbi Rachamim Nimni said that I was going to Crown The very week I started doing Heights, but since it was late at this, I heard an incredible story that night I would take him to Boro happened to Rabbi Moshe Wolfson difficult days for him and he Park. During the ride, we got into a shlita, a well-known rav in Boro decided to put his trust in Hashem. conversation and he asked me about Park of the Emunas Yisroel Shul and Each night, before going to sleep, he myself and what I do. I told him mashgiach in Yeshivas Torah Vodaas. would say the verse, “Hashem, about my work that I see as part of Rabbi Wolfson has had many create a pure heart for me,” and the shlichus-empire the Rebbe miracles with the Rebbe. would pray for salvation. established. One time, doctors found a Rabbi Wolfson decided to go to When I mentioned the Rebbe, blockage in one of the arteries of his the Rebbe and ask for his advice the man sighed. Now it was my turn heart. They faced a big problem and bracha, and one Sunday he to ask questions. The man launched because they were afraid that due to

Issue Number 557 - BEIS MOSHIACH 23 into a litany of complaints about had said and for his opposition to Chabad, saying that the faith of The man on the line the Rebbe and wondered what he Chabad Chassidim that the Rebbe is could do to make up for it. I Moshiach is apostasy, Heaven apologized to me for suggested that he teach to his forbid. He even brought examples talmidim, but the man was reluctant from history about messianic what he had said the to undertake that. He was afraid movements that rose and fell, taking that he would be fired despite his many Jews down with them. night before about the position. I decided to tell him the miracle Rebbe... So I suggested that he include story that Rabbi Wolfson inyanim in Chassidus in his Gemara experienced, in fulfillment of my shiurim without the talmidim corroborate the story, but he had decision that I would tell a miracle realizing that it was Chassidus. He spent a long time telling him story when the opportunity agreed and I saw that he took this additional miracles stories about the presented itself. I related the story seriously. To make it easier for him, Rebbe, those that happened to him and the man said, “Listen, I know I bought him a set of Lessons in and those that happened to people Rabbi Moshe Wolfson. He can’t Tanya. he knows. possibly admire the Lubavitcher That night I went to 770 and Rebbe the way you say he does. The man on the line apologized told this story. One of the men there Tomorrow morning I plan on to me for what he had said the night who heard the name I mentioned davening Shacharis with him and before about the Rebbe. He added reacted strongly. Apparently, the after davening, I will ask him that his brother is a famous Litvishe man I had given the ride to was a whether this story is accurate. Give rosh yeshiva in Eretz Yisroel who big opponent of Lubavitch. me your telephone number and if signed a letter against the Rebbe on you were right, I’ll call you back.” some occasion, and that he himself Just a few days later, I realized is a mashgiach in a Litvishe yeshiva the wonderful hashgacha pratis in I gave him my phone number in B’nei Brak and has raised an what had happened. The very week and we parted ways. entire generation of bachurim to that I decided to relate stories about The next day the man called. He oppose the Rebbe and his teachings. the Rebbe, the Rebbe showed me said he had asked Rabbi Wolfson the power in storytelling. He expressed regret for what he and not only did Rabbi Wolfson

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24 BEIS MOSHIACH - 13 Sivan 5766 MEMOIRS SECRET MIKVA IN TASHKENT

BY RABBI SHNEUR ZALMAN CHANIN

wartime was virtually impossible. How do you dig a secret mikva? Definitely in Neither private people nor private the cellar of a building, on a side street, only companies had cement. In Soviet Russia, everything belonged to the at night, with hand-tools, and you secretly state and all the companies manufactured cement for the dispose of the dirt. * But a cement truck has to government for the war to strengthen the frontline trenches make its delivery to this little side street! and rearguard defenses. So what did the Chassidim do? TOP SECRET They gave the responsibility over to R’ As soon as Lubavitcher families Chaikel Chanin, who, with his G-d- began arriving in Tashkent, even given talents would find a way of before worrying about their personal getting cement, and Hashem would needs, the Chassidim began taking help him succeed. care of the basics of our religion: The one heading the founding a school for the little construction was the gaon and children, a yeshiva for the older Chassid, Rabbi Avrohom Eliyahu bachurim, and a shul. The top of Plotkin, an expert at building the list was building a mikva for mikvaos. He, together with a group women. of distinguished Chassidim – The g’dolei ha’Chassidim and including Rabbi Nissan Nemenov, askanim met clandestinely in order Rabbi Peretz Mochkin, Rabbi Yisroel to figure out a plan and divide up Neveler, Rabbi Yona Cohen, Rabbi the work. Is it a simple matter to Avrohom Drizin, and Rabbi Mendel side entrance; the earth in the cellar build a mikva in Soviet Russia? Each Futerfas – took part not only in had to be soft so they could dig step of the way was fraught with planning the operation but with hand-tools. They had to know tremendous danger. They had to personally toiled, along with some ahead of time how they would ensure that nobody found out about young men, in digging the pit for remove the dirt and where they it, that nobody noticed that the mikva. would dispose of it; they had to find something illegal was going on. an engineer to check every detail of They manually dug the pit that In order to carry out this the plan. And all this had to be would contain forty measures of complicated project, they needed to done with the utmost secrecy. water. They personally carried out find a building on a quiet street that the dirt in pails, each one heading The main problem, however, was they could get into secretly; the in a different direction so they could obtaining cement in order to pour building had to have a cellar with a scatter the dirt. However, the pit the foundation. Obtaining cement in could not be filled with water

Issue Number 557 - BEIS MOSHIACH 25 because they had no cement. truck after another passed by and with the driver, to speak to him not a single driver stopped. I didn’t about his family, his wife, children, THE MILITARY FORTRESS know what to do. Time was passing parents, and about his work as a My father relates: and my fellow Chassidim were driver and his parnasa. The driver, waiting impatiently and fearfully for who was an Uzbeki, was open and I had the job of getting the cement. Would I really have to friendly and he told me about his cement so we could pour the return to them empty-handed? paltry salary that wasn’t enough to foundation of the mikva. I carefully support his family. He told me that began making inquiries about a I stood there on the side of the he was hungry for bread and he cement factory and found out about road, bemoaning my situation and didn’t have decent clothes to wear. a large factory in Tashkent that the situation of all the Chassidim belonged to the military. I went to who needed Heaven’s mercy. I I got up my courage and offered see the place for myself in order to prayed in my heart, “Do it for Your him a great deal in which he could come up with a plan about how to sake if not for our sake. You are the make a lot of money in a short time. get cement from there. One Who commanded us in the He raised his eyebrows quizzically. mitzva of tahara. Why do You make He was willing to do anything so he What should I tell you? When I it so difficult for your people, would have a few coins with which saw the place, my heart sank. It was Israel?” he could buy food and clothing for a huge military fortress, where himself and his wife and children. thousands of soldiers and civilians worked. The factory operated 24- I warned him that this project hours-a-day producing weapons and That night we put was for Jews who believe in G-d and other vital products, which were was a bit dangerous, but I promised sent directly to the front. I people on guard to him that my fellow Jews and I wondered how little me could would pray for him and G-d would pierce this force of impurity. look out for anybody surely protect him. The driver was a religious fellow. He thought it over I began sniffing around to see suspicious entering and then agreed to hear what I was whether it was possible to buy suggesting. cement, legally or illegally, but the neighborhood. I nobody wanted to risk the danger of I told him that I needed one being judged as a traitor or a spy didn’t sleep a wink truckload of cement to build a who aided the enemy by stealing secret shul in the cellar of some vital products from the army. After that night. You can’t building. I promised him 500 rubles everything was ready for imagine how terrified for his efforts. His eyes nearly constructing the mikva, the pit was popped out of their sockets. Not dug and the notches in the walls of I was. only had he never seen such a sum the mikva ready, I went to the in his life, he had never dreamed of factory with another idea, in the such a large amount! He agreed. hopes that Hashem would help me. I stood there sadly and raised my He asked some technical questions: how would he be able to AN ORIGINAL IDEA hand yet again to signal to the driver to stop and take me, and take a truck and drop off the cement I stood a few blocks from the wonder of wonders, the driver and return without anyone noticing? factory’s main gate, from where all stopped and asked me where I was How would he be able to take the the trucks loaded with cement went headed. When I told him one of the big truck into a small side street out and I raised my hand in the main streets of Tashkent, he agreed that was narrow even for a horse signal of one seeking to hitch a ride. to take me. I got on the truck and and wagon? Who would unload the I thought that when I would be on sat next to the driver. The truck was cement and how would they do so the truck and could speak face to especially large, and seemingly new, with the necessary speed? face with the gentile driver, I would different than the other trucks I had I calmed him down, telling him it be able to convince him to take the seen. would all work out just fine and that chance. I would take care of everything. We I stood there for hours, signaling THE UZBEKI DRIVER agreed to meet at the same spot the to every driver who passed, but We began to move while I tried next day at 4 a.m., when he would nobody paid attention to me. One to get into a friendly conversation

26 BEIS MOSHIACH - 13 Sivan 5766 come with a truck full of cement. informed on me. Then not only next until the cellar. would I be in danger but so would I have no words to describe that EARLY MORNING DELIVERY everybody involved. Once again, I amazing scene. It that reminded me prayed that the merit of the many I headed straight for where the of the description of the Korban should help us, especially when I Chassidim waited for me. They Pesach and how the silver and gold was involved in building Jewish didn’t know what to think at that vessels traveled up and down the families on the foundations of point and were more concerned line of Kohanim: Chassidim with purity. about me than the cement, as maybe beards, some graying, wearing I had been arrested. After many With the hope that Hashem gartels and big yarmulkes, tzitzis of hours of waiting for me, they would watch over us, I went to the many of them blowing in the wind, rejoiced when I finally arrived. spot where I was supposed to meet stood in a line and schlepped pails I told them about my adventures the Uzbek driver, at 4 a.m. full of cement. In the line were and that I had managed to get Rabbi Avrohom Eliyahu Plotkin, R’ cement that would arrive early in PAILS FULL Peretz Mochkin, R’ Nissan Nemenov, the morning, b’ezras Hashem. We I could see the truck from the R’ Avrohom Maiyor-Drizin, R’ had to round up healthy, strong distance. The driver stopped and I Mendel Futerfas, R’ Yona Cohen, young men, I said, who would got in. He began driving very quickly and R’ Ben-Zion Shemtov. They were unload the cement from the truck as in order to be able to get back in sweating profusely, as they were quickly as possible. time without anybody noticing unused to this manual labor, as well anything untoward. We approached as from fear of arrest. That night we put people on the street where the mikva was being guard to look out for anybody Baruch Hashem, it all worked built and the side street was too suspicious entering the out fine. The mikva was built narrow and the truck couldn’t get in, neighborhood. I didn’t sleep a wink according to the times and so the driver stopped. We quickly that night. You can’t imagine how conditions of the place. It served arranged a line of men who terrified I was. Who knew what the Anash for the years that they were transferred pails of cement one to the goy did. Maybe he went back and in Tashkent until they left Russia.

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Issue Number 557 - BEIS MOSHIACH 27 PROFILE MOSHIACH IS OUR MOTTO IN LIFE!

BY MENACHEM ZIEGELBOIM

He is the rav of the fourth largest city in Eretz your responses?” I said I did not. Then he told me to keep a record of Yisroel (200,000 residents), member of the them. It was clearly not Rabbi Chadakov’s instruction but the Beis Din Rabbanei Chabad in Eretz Yisroel. Rebbe’s instruction. Afterwards, I thought about the He also heads the Machon Oholei Shem that significance of his instruction and publishes early manuscripts and he is the concluded that my purpose in rabbanus centered on Torah. author of s’farim. * We interviewed Rabbi Throughout the years, I emphasized Torah study. I have been in Cholon Eliyahu Yochonon Gurary and asked him to for 17 years now and I give ongoing shiurim in Halacha, Gemara, and tell us about his rabbanus, about his Jewish Thought, and I am careful not to miss them (except when I traveled encounters with the Rebbe, and about his to the Rebbe). Thanks to these Chassidishe daas Torah on timely topics. * shiurim, many families have drawn close to and Chassidus. Presented for Shavuos, which is also called Some of them now live in . “Chag HaMorei Tzedek.” Part 2 of 2 You took on a position in a huge neighborhood, how did you manage A new young rav comes in – I once went to 770 for Shavuos. It with the sheer volume of questions where do you begin? was early in the morning and I went you were asked and with dealing with I didn’t show up with a definite down to daven in the large zal. Rabbi the community? plan in mind. Over time, I saw to it Binyamin Klein saw me and said that It’s not simple. They came to ask to fill the role with additional Rabbi Chadakov wanted to speak to me many questions and often I was substance. I devoted most of my me. I suggested going up after afraid to pasken on my own until I attention to teaching Torah and davening but he said I should go up did shimush (training) with Rabbi hafatzas Torah. immediately. Shmuel Wosner, a leading Israeli There are rabbanim who operate When I entered his office, Rabbi . as a – putting up Chadakov began asking me questions A short while after my mezuzos, putting t’fillin on people, about rabbanus. I knew he was asking appointment, I was placed in charge encouraging kashrus, etc. I put the with some reason in mind and he of the marriage department of the emphasis on spreading Torah, giving soon got to the point. He asked, “Do rabbanut. This entails hard work and shiurim, and answering halachic you write down all the questions you many complicated questions that queries. are asked in Shulchan Aruch as well as pertain to family life. It wasn’t easy

28 BEIS MOSHIACH - 13 Sivan 5766 Standing before the Rebbe: Rabbi Gurary on the right with his son Yossi

handling it, but once again, I saw the Rebbe during this period of your siyata d’Shmaya and the help the early years in rabbanus? Rebbe gave me. I received lots of encouragement In the office of the department sat and brachos. Whenever I passed by Rabbi Yitzchok Glickman. He was a for “dollars,” the Rebbe blessed me genius of the caliber of geniuses of with, “may you live long in your reign previous generations. He had a [as rav].” The Rebbe would also give complete grasp of all areas of the me a bottle of vodka at “kos shel Torah. We sat together in the same bracha.” And I received many room for about ten years and I answers. learned a lot from him. He helped me What was your motto throughout with questions regarding marriage, your years in rabbanus? checking out whether immigrants As I said earlier, as soon as I were Jewish – and thus, I did started I put the emphasis on giving shimush daily with an outstanding shiurim and my success was primarily Torah scholar. in the constancy of these shiurim. Cholon is a big city and there That was only one aspect though, as I were questions constantly being also devoted so much time to the asked, regarding all aspects of life, marriage department, conducting all and not just about aveilus the correspondence and clarification Rabbi Eliyahu Yochonon Gurary, rav of (mourning)… regarding Jewish identity with battei Cholon and member of the Beis Din Did you receive answers from the din around the country. I made Rabbanei Chabad in Eretz Yisroel

Issue Number 557 - BEIS MOSHIACH 29 chuppos every night because in those hindsight, I realize that the Rebbe had time, my wife wrote to the Rebbe days there were hardly any rabbanim this position designated for me from about my rabbanus and the Rebbe in Cholon. when I was a child, which is why the marked the line and wrote, to “push I also wrote s’farim and started an Rebbe inquired about my learning him” to be rav of the city of Cholon. institute called Oholei Shem and what I was up to. It was all in I once wrote the Rebbe that Lubavitch in Kfar Chabad Beis. order to push me towards rabbanus. I perhaps I wasn’t deserving of such a You told us how being elected to have no other explanation as to why, position. The Rebbe crossed off the the rabbanus in Kiryat Sharett was a when the members of the hanhala of words “perhaps I am not” and surprise. As far as I know, the chief the yeshiva went to the Rebbe, the underlined the words, “deserving of rabbinate of Cholon was also a Rebbe inquired specifically about my this mantle.” surprise for you. learning. How does the Rebbe view the (Smiling): That’s a long story. It Once I was in Eretz Yisroel, I was position of a rav, aside from was in 5759/1999. There were a offered enticing rabbinic positions in paskening and the like? number of candidates for the position Europe. When I wrote to the Rebbe The Rebbe wants a rav to be a of chief rabbi of Cholon, including about them, the Rebbe said, leader of his community, the mara some practicing rabbanim of “precedence to Eretz Yisroel.” One d’asra. As I said earlier, the nature of neighborhoods in Cholon. I did not submit my candidacy. At a certain point, I realized that MACHON OHOLEI SHEM the Rebbe wanted me to be rav of the Rabbi Gurary heads the Machon Oholei Shem, which prepares and city. I knew that the Rebbe was publishes manuscripts of the Rebbeim and the g’dolei ha’Chassidim. If pushing for this over the years and I you visit Rabbi Gurary’s home in Cholon you will be amazed by his said to myself, if the Rebbe wants me huge Torah library. Apparently, his love for s’farim runs in the family. as rav of the city, then I would jump His father’s grandfather, the Chassid Rabbi Nosson Gurary was an into the race at the last minute. In avowed lover of s’farim. He had a giant library in his home and years fact, I submitted my candidacy a few later his s’farim were transferred to the Rebbe Rayatz’s library. hours before the deadline, but even after that I didn’t promote myself. His father owned a large s’farim store (four stories!), and whenever The afternoon of the elections, in he was able to, Rabbi Yochonon visited the store and looked through the midst of the commotion, I sat at the s’farim. That is how his own collection grew. home and didn’t try to convince He himself has written s’farim including the Toldos Yitzchok Isaac, anybody from the election committee HaSeifer B’Halacha, Tzitzis Halacha L’Maaseh, and others. He received to vote for me. Of course, it was many instructions from the Rebbe regarding publishing s’farim. The highly unlikely that I would win. Rebbe saw that he had received approbations from non-Chabad Some people tried to persuade me rabbanim and the Rebbe asked him why he did not receive to withdraw my candidacy, including approbations from Chabad rabbanim too. family members, who said, “What do “The Rebbe told me how to publish a book, how to name it, getting you need it for?” I told them all that into all the nitty-gritty.” it wasn’t about me but that the Rebbe wanted me to be rav of the city. The Rebbe displayed a special fondness for his s’farim and once, I wrote the Rebbe a letter and said when the production of one of his s’farim was delayed, the Rebbe that if the Rebbe wanted me to, I’d be asked him, “When is it coming out already?” – This was while the rav. The answer I opened to in the galleys were sitting for two years on the Rebbe’s desk! Igros Kodesh was clear (see part 1 of This love for s’farim spurred him to open the machon to publish the article). s’farim. At its peak, 22 men worked at the machon, deciphering and Can you give us an example of editing the writing of the Rebbeim. how you saw that the Rebbe was The machon has produced over 30 s’farim including: Kitzur pushing you towards being the rav of Shulchan Aruch Admur HaZakein, seven volumes of teachings of the Cholon? Tzemach Tzedek on topics in Shas, B’Kerem Chabad – 2 volumes, It was clear all along. In fact, it is Shulchan HaMelech – 3 volumes, Oholei Lubavitch – 4 volumes, Oholei the only way to understand how I got Shem – 9 volumes, and more. the position altogether. Today, in

30 BEIS MOSHIACH - 13 Sivan 5766 Eretz Yisroel, what do you think the role of Chabad rabbanim is today? A Lubavitcher rav has different abilities than any other rav. This is apparent in answers the Rebbe often gave “to ask a Chabad rav” or “inquire of a Chassidishe rav.” Every rav zeros in on “what does the halacha say about this,” but a Chabad rav goes beyond that. He is also knowledgeable in the customs and way of life of a Chassid. A Lubavitcher rav, aside from his knowledge of Shulchan Aruch and its commentaries, is also well versed in sichos, letters, horaos, yechiduyos, and even tzetlach (personal responses) from the Rebbe on various topics, and so it’s easier for him to pasken on timely issues. When you ask a rav a timely question, for example, someone asked me about a Rabbi Gurary as part of a delegation of rabbanim in Cairo, Egypt for a siyum ha’Rambam compensation package in a certain mosad, whether you have to give one the rabbinic position is according to everything, but practically speaking I or not. The Rebbe writes that in the personality of the rav, and each don’t think rabbanim need to be principle, there is an inyan of rav emphasizes something else. I involved in material matters. The rav’s ha’anaka (the Torah obligation to send think that the first thing a rav must job is to handle spiritual matters. off a Jewish slave with gifts) and one do is learn and teach. Chabad rabbanim have traveled to should give compensation. Just as a doctor has to keep up the Rebbe for Shavuos. Why Shavuos? This week I was asked about with the latest medical Since Pesach is a very busy time adoption, a very complicated and breakthroughs, a rav’s success hinges for rabbanim with numerous sensitive issue. There are many on his constant learning. When a rav questions, they must stay home. questions like whether it’s preferable learns, the community respects him Rabbanim took the opportunity of to adopt a Jew or a goy, a boy or a more and it increases the kiddush going to the Rebbe for Shavuos, when girl. You need to be aware of Hashem of Chabad. there are hardly any questions, in problems that can arise. A rav must also be involved in order to receive the Torah with him Everything comes up in the hafatza of mitzvos and “spreading the with simcha and p’nimius. This is Rebbe’s teachings: medicine, wellsprings outward,” but success in why, in Lubavitch, they called shidduchim, adoption, money these areas too, depend on Torah Shavuos, “Chag HaMaTzos” (a play matters, administrative issues, etc. study. The more a rav learns, the on the biblical name for Pesach, The Rebbe’s s’farim are replete with a more respected he is and the more he alluding to the abbreviation for Morei full, rich, amazing derech in life. So is listened to, his influence is greater Tzedek, meaning halachic poskim.) the perspective of a Lubavitcher rav is and he is more capable of spreading There is also the idea of receiving not the same as that of other the wellsprings. the Torah anew and when the rav rabbanim, who need to struggle with What do you mean by a rav goes to the Rebbe and the Rebbe weighing issues that are not dealt “being in charge,” being the balabus? gives the chayus for the entire year. with explicitly in Shulchan Aruch. This is essentially, receiving the Torah A rav must be strong, like the Nevertheless, it seems as though anew from the Rebbe. balabus over one’s house. the Chabad tzibbur, even rabbanim, Should a rav also be balabus over We don’t openly see how we are are confused. There are so many material matters? receiving the light from the Rebbe. As questions without answers in matters He should be balabus in a Lubavitcher rav and member of the concerning chinuch, medicine, emuna Beis Din of the Rabbanei Chabad in

Issue Number 557 - BEIS MOSHIACH 31 and hashkafa. We could be hearing marriage and kashrus departments of rabbanim louder and clearer and the the rabbanus of Cholon. There are I believe that rabbanim could be more forceful… also four Chabad mikvaos in Cholon. I agree with you. We don’t see the Aside from this, there are other everybody received Rebbe and we don’t feel the Rebbe Chabad rabbanim: Rabbi pushing us the way we used to. Nachimovsky and Rabbi Pinkowitz, and absorbed from There’s no question that the rabbanim who spread Torah. the Rebbe and the also need a push. How do you manage all these At the same time, consider the fact roles: rav of the city, member of the p’nimius is equal in that Chabad Chassidim are spread all Beis Din Rabbanei Chabad, giving over the world. There are rabbanim shiurim, running Oholei Shem, and our hearts. Although who have Lubavitcher k’hillos and author of s’farim? rabbanim whose k’hillos are not Baruch Hashem, I see a bracha in there are different Chabad. The rav’s role and approach time. I write s’farim at night and views, you must look differs from place to place and there during the day I deal with rabbinic is no national policy to unite them. responsibilities. In the afternoon, I favorably at The political and security give shiurim and when I have to sit situations in Eretz Yisroel are terrible. on the beis din, I do so. Just today, everybody, because People are very down, and one would we sat for four hours in dinei Torah think that rabbanim could find fertile at the beis din. we are all children of ground to make an impact, to unite We are living in a time where, on one father and we are people and ignite a fire of emuna… the one hand, we don’t see the Rebbe On the one hand, rabbanim are but on the other hand, it’s the all brothers. not listened to here that much, partly due to the influence of the media. On the other hand, on a grassroots level there is a big hisorerus. Since I’ve come to Cholon there has been a tremendous awakening. How do you see this? Many yeshivos were opened as were Talmud and mosdos Torah. The mikvaos are full. Once upon a time only Lubavitchers used the mikva every morning, but now the mikva is open from four a.m. until afternoon and there are always people there. The shuls are also full and there are shiurim throughout the day. In the big shuls there are rabbanim who give shiurim. Baruch Hashem, the Lubavitcher community has also grown. Today we have 40-50 Lubavitcher families in Cholon. Two more Lubavitcher rabbanim have taken positions as rabbanim here, Rabbi Pinchas Altheus in the Rasko neighborhood, and Rabbi Meir Halperin in Kiryat Avoda. Both are very successful and beloved, and accepted by their communities. They work in the Rabbi Gurary looking for gravesites in Lubavitch before Perestroika

32 BEIS MOSHIACH - 13 Sivan 5766 It’s not a halachic matter but a matter of emuna and therefore, there cannot be any p’sak din about it. As I said, people react differently, each based on their type of hiskashrus to the Rebbe. You can’t lay down a clearly defined policy. But as I said, despite the various views there must be love between Chassidim, real love. What is the “bottom line” that we all need to adhere to? First, everybody must believe that all the Rebbe’s inyanim continue as before, and that the leadership is ongoing – unlike certain groups who thought that Chabad was finished. On the contrary, if you notice how Chabad has developed in recent years, see how many shluchim have gone out, how many Chabad houses have opened, the growth in the yeshiva world, how many mosdos Torah have opened – you realize that Rabbi Gurary receiving a dollar from the Rebbe the Rebbe is continuing to give us incredible kochos. “hechste tzait,” right before the truth and all want to fulfill the We must continue with the Geula… Rebbe’s wishes as the Rebbe really Rebbe’s inyanim, with the Rebbe’s I’ll tell you my “Ani Maamin” wants them fulfilled. There are derech, and do what the Rebbe about today’s confusion. I think that various forms of expression with wants. everyone, without exception, is in a people reacting in different ways. One The main shlichus is to prepare general sense equal in their shouts, another internalizes, a third is the world to greet Moshiach. How do hiskashrus to the Rebbe. All mean the pained, and a fourth puts the we strengthen this inyan? emphasis on simcha. But we have to Simply by sitting and learning the walk the middle path, which is the sichos on Moshiach and Geula. The love between one Rebbe’s way. Reviewing the sichos repeatedly and I believe that everybody received implanting them in our children so Chassid and another and absorbed from the Rebbe and the that they live with them. The Rebbe p’nimius is equal in our hearts. instilled the idea of Moshiach within must be unlimited Although there are different views, us and we must live with it. Moshiach you must look favorably at everybody, – this is the theme of all of life, and love and because we are all children of one we Chassidim have to learn, nonstop, unconditional love. father and we are all brothers. The the Torah of Moshiach. love between one Chassid and If we take for example, the inyan You cannot dismiss another must be unlimited love and of learning inyanei Beis HaMikdash unconditional love. You cannot that the Rebbe spoke about for years, someone because of dismiss someone because of his views there is no group in the world that since you cannot know what is in has learned the Rambam’s Hilchos his views since you someone’s heart. Beis HaBechira like Lubavitchers. The Why aren’t we hearing more from Rebbe prepared us for Geula. This is cannot know what is the rabbanim about how to spread the Rebbe’s koch. in someone’s heart. the Besuras HaGeula?

Issue Number 557 - BEIS MOSHIACH 33 SHLEIMUS HA’ARETZ THE ENEMY WITHIN

SHAI GEFEN

A FIFTH COLUMN return, they are converted by the The things taking place today are We recently celebrated Shavuos, military rabbinate. Those who know the fulfillment of a prophecy. What a when Hashem separated us from the just a little about what is going on in pity that instead of chareidi public nations and chose us to be His special the army are horrified. Unfortunately, figures admitting they were wrong and nation. Sadly, the Chosen People do this is happening not only in the army acknowledging that the Rebbe is right, not acknowledge their chosen-ness and but also within some civilian sectors by they continue to aid those things that they readily agree to accept more and religious people. oppose shleimus ha’Am and shleimus ha’Aretz. more gentiles into their midst, who did This serious problem starts with not commit to Hashem’s Torah. men who wear kippot who think that A WARNING TO the way to solve the problem of goyim On Shavuos 5731, the Rebbe spoke COLLABORATORS about the tzaros that would result by in Eretz Yisroel is to accept them An official investigation on possible allowing goyim into the Jewish people. among us. These are the ostriches who police cooperation with underworld The Rebbe spoke about the story in don’t see our enemies. The Rebbe leaders has prompted demands for the Megilas Rus, when Naomi did not warned that bringing goyim into our resignation of top officials, including agree to accept Orpa and convert her nation in Eretz Yisroel would adversely Police Commissioner Moshe Karadi. since Orpa did not agree to convert affect our security and would breach The Zeiler Commission sent letters to according to halacha. The Rebbe all boundaries. Karadi and 12 other officials, warning warned that bringing gentiles to Eretz Amazingly, the more breaches in them of a June 6 deadline for them to Yisroel and having them enter the the divisions between Jews and goyim, defend themselves before the Jewish nation would create a fifth the more we have seen our security commission publishes its findings. column. compromised. When the Rebbe fought Karadi and his police led the The Rebbe asked that this sicha be the decree of Mihu Yehudi, expulsion from Gush Katif last translated into Hebrew and distributed representatives of the chareidim fought summer. Take for example Negev everywhere. Naomi’s “cruelty” and her the Rebbe and ruined attempts to Commander Niso Shaham from the insistence upon a halachic conversion amend the law by saying that this issue police force. He was recorded on prevented a terrible tragedy. Naomi did did not affect them. We all remember Channel Ten as cursing the protestors not take into consideration the fact that. at Kfar Maimon, telling Border Guard that the Jewish people in its land Now, one of the things they are officers to beat them with clubs in the needed more men and that Orpa’s son trying to hush up are chilling stories, “lower part of their bodies” and saying, would definitely serve in the Israeli which have recently come to light, “let them burn.” He also said that he army. She knew that Galyas serving in about talmidim in yeshivos, who after wants “lots of arrests,” and used the army was dangerous, for he was a they marry or upon becoming various vulgarities in referring to how fifth column, and so she pushed Orpa engaged, discover that they are goyim. he wanted them treated. off. Just last week I heard some of these Despite all this, Shaham still serves It’s no secret that the I.D.F. is doing stories that took place in distinguished in a senior position as Negev a terrible thing with its wholesale Litvishe yeshivos. Who doesn’t Commander with the full support of conversions. There is a “conversion remember how the Rebbe screamed Headquarters. In the implementation campaign” to convert tens of that the son-in-law of the rosh yeshiva of the Disengagement there were thousands of gentile Russians. They might be a goy who learns Gemara, if people more senior than him who were send soldiers to quickie courses of a G-d forbid, they do not amend the law responsible for the moral crime and few weeks duration and upon their of Mihu Yehudi. destruction, but they are either

34 BEIS MOSHIACH - 13 Sivan 5766 politicians, who are motivated by himself in hot water. Nobody believed political considerations, or military that the Zeiler Commission would types who managed to keep their reach the Police Commander, but we thoughts to themselves. Niso Shaham, know that all those who headed the on the other hand, is someone who, expulsion machine, the cabal that despite his publicized vulgar urging of endangered Am Yisroel, will get their violence, continues to serve in the just desserts sooner or later. Jewish police force and receives a In a chilling and unprecedented salary from the state. sicha, the Rebbe promised that he In a chilling and Karadi and his men are not the first would personally (referring to himself ones to be punished after the by name) fight against those who give unprecedented sicha, Disengagement. We saw what away land. Amazingly, we have seen happened to the man who orchestrated what has happened to prime ministers, the Rebbe promised last summer’s tragedy. He is lying starting with Begin, then Shamir, comatose for months, and his son is Netanyahu, Rabin, Barak, and Sharon. that he would about to serve a prison sentence. And None of them finished their terms with Rabbi Yisroel Weiss, chief military honor. Some even ended their terms personally (referring chaplain, is no longer serving in that tragically and in dishonor. Harming position after openly saying that our people and our land is quite risky! to himself by name) soldiers should not refuse orders. As for Olmert and his colleagues, I fight against those who After the publicity about the would suggest that you learn from warning letters sent to him and the “Sharon’s legacy” and see what is the give away land. public tumult this has caused, Karadi end of the one who orchestrated the announced that he will continue to run expulsion, how on the very day that he Amazingly, we have the police force. He told the media that announced that he would continue his he should be remembered for his Disengagement Plan from Yehuda and seen what has successful operation last summer. Get Shomron, promising to serve as Prime it? Minister until 2010, he was felled. He happened to prime often boasted and promised but we all To Karadi, the destruction of know what his bitter end is. thousands of people’s homes and ministers, starting communities are a reason to let him Anyone who thinks that it won’t retain his position. He winks at the happen to him, should know that there with Begin, then Left and reminds them why they is no way around having to answer to should be grateful to him. G-d. Those who plan on participating Shamir, Netanyahu, in the Convergence Plan should be Apparently, Karadi forgot the aware that it just isn’t worth it, on a Rabin, Barak, and maamer Chazal which states that personal level. Remember the liar whoever flatters a wicked person will named Gonen who supported the Oslo Sharon. None of them ultimately fall into his hands and that Fiasco and is rotting in jail today. the favors of the wicked are There was someone who led the Shas finished their terms incomplete. party, and he too is among those who Karadi’s good friend for decades is brought Oslo upon us, and he too with honor. Some even Rabbi Yigal Kirshnzaft, who begged finished his political career Karadi on the eve of the expulsion not prematurely and in great shame. ended their terms to go through with it, telling him, I’m not talking about Heavenly “One can acquire his world in one tragically and in calculations, but we know that hour.” At that meeting, the Rebbe’s whoever plays around with our shluchim begged Karadi not to do this dishonor. Harming security and aids the enemy, the land to his good friend of 30 years. But simply spits them out, especially when Karadi chose to serve the evil State. our people and our the Rebbe said that he would fight Less than a year later, Karadi finds against them. land is quite risky!

Issue Number 557 - BEIS MOSHIACH 35 FEATURE ‘THEY ARE ADDING WHILE WE ARE DECREASING’

BY SHNEUR ZALMAN BERGER

That is how Reb of THEN THERE WERE NO QUESTIONS Vilna responded to the mockery of one of the Over the years, many Chassidim have seen the video of the encounter Lithuanian rabbis, over the fact that between the Rebbe MH”M and one of the Lithuanian roshei yeshiva from Chassidim made a new “Rosh HaShana,” Eretz Yisroel, at the distribution of dollars. The rosh yeshiva raised the referring to Yud-Tes Kislev. * At the question about the “shocking rumor” that Chabad Chassidim do not sleep in convention of rabbis, in the year 5670 (1910), the Sukka. In a unique departure from Reb Chaim Ozer proclaimed before the entire his usual conduct, the Rebbe responded quite sharply and expressed assembly and the Rebbe Rashab that the dismay over those attempting to renew the age-old dispute between Chassidim divide between Chassidim and no and Misnagdim. Especially, as the greatest Lithuanian leaders of the longer exists. Those words had great impact previous generation, amongst them Reb Chaim Ozer, maintained a deep on the entire Jewish world. * A deep bond connection with the Chabad Rebbeim: Reb Chaim Ozer was a great existed between the Lithuanian Torah genius lamdan and the Chief Rabbi of Vilna. He worked together with my father-in- and the of Chabad as they joined law the Rebbe, and his father the Rebbe (Rashab) nishmaso Eden. And forces in various struggles for the sake of Klal there were no questions about whether Yisroel. * The first of two installments deals he had to ask anyone for “permission” or not. with the important activities in which Reb In this matter, it will not help any effort from here, from the side that is Chaim Ozer took part together with the Rebbe affected. It is preferable that they find one of the students of Reb Chaim Rashab. * Part One Ozer, who follows in his ways, and he

36 BEIS MOSHIACH - 13 Sivan 5766 should write and raise a cry about this. He should also publicize the letters of Reb Chaim Ozer about the activities he carried out together with my father-in-law the Rebbe, and his father the Rebbe (Rashab) nishmaso Eden. More than fifteen years have passed since then, and the Rebbe’s suggestion has yet to be implemented. Beis Moshiach Magazine has undertaken to lay out the wide spectrum of activities of the Lithuanian genius, who worked tirelessly in his massive efforts for the sake of the Jewish people, activities carried out with the full cooperation of the Chabad Rebbeim. They worked hand in hand, despite the substantive differences of views between the teachings of Chassidus and the Misnagdic approach to Judaism. We recommend that the readers publicize these facts amongst those in the Lithuanian yeshiva community, so that they be aware of the truth that the dispute which originated in the early days of the Chassidic movement has long since passed from the world. NON-STOP WORK Reb Chaim Ozer (1863-1940) was one of the greatest Lithuanian Torah giants of the previous generation. Already in his youth, he gained renown as the “Ilui (prodigy) of Ivya (his hometown),” and was one of the outstanding students of Reb Chaim Brisker in the yeshiva of Volozhin, which he attended at the age of 15. At the age of 22, he was appointed a judge on the renowned Beis Din of Vilna, and in later years was elected to serve as the rav of the city. From that point on, he served as one of the primary guiding forces of Lithuanian Torah Jewry, in all matters personal and communal, Torah related or otherwise. This article deals with the contacts Reb Chaim Ozer had with our Rebbeim. * * * On of the most difficult periods for the Jewish people in recent centuries was during the full-scale and bitter war, waged by the Torah Leaders and Chassidic Masters against the winds of apostasy and Zionism, which blew fiercely and conquered the hearts and minds of many of the youth. The captains of Torah-True Judaism understood with their farsighted view that the Zionists were not the champions of the “Zion” of holiness, but of licentiousness and decadence. Therefore, they marshaled their forces to stem the tide sweeping the nation towards Zionism. Those who stood at the forefront of this battle in were Reb of Brisk, Reb Dovid Friedman of Karlin, Reb of Telz, and Reb Chaim Ozer Grodzinski. One of the deciding stages in the battle between the religious camp and the Zionists began with gathering of G-d-fearing rabbis in the city of Kovno, in Sivan of 1899. The Rebbe Rashab masterminded the event, and the participants included many eminent rabbis from the area. For Lithuanian Jewry, the stakes were high, as its yeshivos were filled with thousands of students who were prime targets for the Zionist movement. At the closing ceremony of the convention, the rabbis issued a Reb Chaim Ozer at a resort near Vienna stinging proclamation against the Zionists, and this ratcheted up the

Issue Number 557 - BEIS MOSHIACH 37 conflict between the two camps. The keep the seifer Ohr LaYesharim in his Rashab vol. 3 p. 125). Zionists labeled the participants of the home, as per the prohibition, ‘You shall The Chareidi rabbis in Vilna felt convention, “The Black Bureau.” not allow iniquity to dwell in your trapped between the hammer and the In the winter of 1900, the rabbis of tents.’” anvil. They opposed Zionism, but the Kovno issued the seifer Ohr The Rebbe Rashab penned a elderly rav of the city came out LaYesharim, which contained letters response to this attack in a letter to the strongly against the seifer. Their and proclamations condemning Chassidic philanthropist, Reb Yeshaya dilemma resulted in resounding silence Zionism. Amongst the letters, there is a Berlin: on the part of the majority, except for letter from the Rebbe Rashab against “The fact that HaMeilitz opened its Reb Chaim Ozer and Reb Meir Noach the Zionists (published in Igros Kodesh mouth – do not pay attention to it, Levin, who protested to Reb Shlomo Admur Rashab vol. 1 p. 210). because when I wrote the letter, I knew over his shaming words, and In response to the seifer, the the dogs would bark and cry out compelled him to issue a retraction. periodical HaMeilitz published a bitterly. I agreed to it anyway, because I THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST blistering diatribe against the work saw the urgency in a matter affecting from Reb Shlomo HaKohen, the the foundation and preservation of the THE ENLIGHTENMENT elderly rav of Vilna. In conclusion, religion, which the destroyers are In the year 1900, Reb Chaim Ozer they wrote, “Therefore, it is forbidden trying to weaken by digging worked on a number of fronts together for any son of the Jewish people to underneath” (Igros Kodesh Admur with the Rebbe Rashab. In those years, the Association for the Dissemination of Enlightenment GREAT IN TORAH AND PUBLIC SERVICE founded many schools throughout Russia. When they encountered Reb Chaim Ozer Grodzinski was one the Torah greats of Lithuania in the financial difficulties, they applied for previous generation. He was born in the town of Ivya, Lithuania, to his assistance from the French father Reb Dovid Shlomo, who was rav of the town. He became known far, Organization for Jewish Settlement. and wide, as the “Ilui of Ivya.” Later, he studied in the , After much deliberation, they were where he became close to Reb Chaim Brisker. This close relationship granted one million francs, a huge sum endured throughout their lifetimes. of money. It was clear to everyone that At age twenty-one, he married the daughter of Reb Lazer (Eliyahu when the money actually arrived, the Eliezer) Grodozenski, son-in-law of Rabbi Yisroel Salanter and a posek in educational infrastructure of the Vilna. Maskilim would grow tenfold, and the In 5647/1887, he was appointed as a judge on the renowned Beis Din of spiritual condition of Russian Jewry Vilna, and in later years, he became the rav of the city, and was active in the would decline even further. Torah and communal life of the city. In the book Lithuanian Jewry, it is The Rebbe Rashab began a massive stated that no public activity took place in the city without his participation. campaign to try to cancel the promised grant. One of the tactics was to gather Reb Chaim Ozer founded a network of Jewish schools that provided signatures of great rabbis on a letter to traditional Jewish education. He also founded the Orthodox Chinuch the organization. The Rebbe appointed Committee of and the Agudas HaRabbanim of Poland (during the Reb Avrohom Abba Person as his years Vilna was under Polish rule). personal emissary in the matter, and he He was one of the founders of the Agudas Yisroel movement. In 1929, saw to getting the signatures of Reb he attended the Great Convention of Agudas Yisroel in Vienna, and was Elya Chaim Meisel of Lodz, Reb Chaim chosen as the honorary president of the movement. He also was a founding Brisker and Reb Chaim Ozer, on the member and administrator of the Vaad HaYeshivos in Lithuania. letter composed by the Rebbe. His approach to Torah learning was in the way of “charifus,” and he The many activities done in wrote many halachic decisions. His halachic responsa were published in the cooperation with these rabbis, led by three volumes of Achiezer. Reb Chaim Ozer, achieved the desired Reb Chaim Ozer passed away in the month of Av 1940 after suffering results, and in the end, most of the from cancer for several years, when WWII was at its height but had not yet funding did not make it to the hands reached Lithuania. He merited a large funeral attended by most of of the Maskilim. A letter on the Lithuanian Jewry and many war refugees from Poland, led by eminent subject, written in the handwriting of rabbis of all the streams of Judaism. the Rebbe Rashab and addressed to Reb Chaim Ozer regarding this matter,

38 BEIS MOSHIACH - 13 Sivan 5766 Reb Chaim Ozer The Rebbe Rashab remains in the archive of the Rebbe setting up a Jewish factory in first time that Yud-Tes Kislev is the Rashab. Dubrovna. To this end, he sent a letter “Rosh HaShana for Chassidus.” Regarding this issue, Reb Chaim to the Organization for Jewish The letter made a great impact and Ozer wanted to meet in person with Settlement, asking them to undertake hundreds of copies were sent to each the Rebbe Rashab, but it didn’t work the funding of this project. He sent the Lubavitch community. In his diaries, out. It was the summer of 1901, when letter to various rabbanim to add their the Rebbe Rayatz recounts how he both men were traveling in Western signatures, including Reb Chaim Ozer. asked his father’s secretary to put aside Europe. Reb Chaim Ozer thought the The strenuous efforts paid off, and all the incoming mail about the Rebbe would pass through the city of the proposal actually became a reality. “Maamer Rosh HaShana Shel Koenigsburg in Germany, and he In 1902, a huge factory for spinning Chassidus,” as it was called then. informed the Rebbe in a letter that and weaving wool went up in the city In Nissan of that year, the Rebbe they would meet there. However, the of Dubrovna. The factory employed Rayatz wrote a summary of the Rebbe did not end up traveling close to two thousand workers! different responses, separating them by through the city and sent a letter in GREAT RESPECT category, and he cites “four letters, place of a meeting. which it’s impossible to not set them in The Rebbe Rashab based his FOR YUD-TES KISLEV a category on their own.” One of these argument on the fact that these schools In honor of Yud-Tes Kislev 5662, is a letter from Vilna: were destroying Jewish tradition, the Rebbe Rashab, who was then in “When we received the holy whereas the purpose of the Moscow involved in communal affairs, epistle, we made a great feast in the organization was to help provide for sent a letter to his son the Rayatz about Aptov Shul. One of the rabbis told the the material needs of the Jewish Yud-Tes Kislev. In the letter, he asks Gaon Reb Chaim Ozer about the holy people. In time, he changed the that they farbreng, “in celebration of letter on the subject of Yud-Tes Kislev argument into a plea for material the holiday, which redeemed with – that it is the Rosh HaShana for assistance for the Jews of Russia. At peace our souls … This day is the Rosh Chassidus. This rabbi made a joke of that time, the Rebbe Rashab was HaShana for Chassidus…this is the day it, saying that the Mishna only working to save Jews from starving by of the beginning of Your deeds.” The mentions four days as Rosh HaShana Rebbe, in this letter, revealed for the

Issue Number 557 - BEIS MOSHIACH 39 and the Chassidim have five. great and the Lubavitcher Rebbe at that Vilna in Nisan of 1907. Later, they met “Reb Chaim Ozer was upset with time, it is worth citing a few incidents on numerous occasions at various this rabbi, despite his being a member which demonstrate the great esteem in rabbinic gatherings and conventions. of the Rabbinical Court and was which the Rebbe Rashab held Reb According to a law passed by the considered one of the great rabbis. Chaim Ozer. Russian Tsar, it was necessary to hold This was because he had instituted a In the month of Shevat 5662/1902, periodic conventions of rabbis in number of leniencies regarding the fast the Rebbe Rashab wrote, “The rav of Petersburg. At these gatherings, vital days of BaHa”B [the custom to fast a Vilna has recently become very decisions were reached to strengthen series of three fasts after the major involved in communal matters. There Jewish communities and institutions. holidays, on Monday, Thursday and is a correspondence between us and he However, the “official rabbis” also the following Monday], as well as Yom promises to cooperate with the attended, and they would try to use Kippur Koton and other matters. This requisite energy” (Igros Kodesh Rashab their status to draft resolutions not in caused Reb Chaim Ozer a great deal of vol. 3 p. 329). the spirit of traditional Judaism. pain, and so, when he told him about At that time, when the Therefore, before each such the letter of Rosh HaShana of philanthropist Reb Yeshaya Berlin convention, there was a great deal of Chassidus, Reb Chaim Ozer traveled to Vilna, the Rebbe instructed concern, and the traditional rabbis had responded: him to visit Reb Chaim Ozer in his to prepare carefully. “‘By them, it is increasing, and by home. In 1908, the government us it is decreasing.’” In the year 5666/1906, there was recognized the Chareidi organization On this subject, there is a letter discussion about electing a Chief Rabbi Kneses Yisroel in Russia, under the from the Rebbe MH”M addressed to in the city of Petersburg, the second leadership of Reb Chaim Ozer. When someone who asked a number of largest city in Russia. Reb Chaim Ozer he informed the Rebbe Rashab, the questions on Chabad customs, was mentioned as one of the Rebbe responded that it was now including that it is brought that Reb candidates amongst a host of others. In necessary to organize a meeting of Chaim Brisker and Reb Chaim Ozer a letter to the wealthy Chassid, Reb rabbis, open only to singular related to this matter [Yud-Tes Kislev] Shmuel Michel Treinin, the Rebbe individuals. The proposed gathering with great respect. The questioner negates two of the candidates and then was pushed off repeatedly, and in the points out that this doesn’t make sense he writes, “Regarding what you wrote interim, Reb Chaim Ozer met with the and asks for the source for this. that Reb Chaim Ozer does not Rebbe. The Rebbe responded: understand Russian [as he was from During the month of Av, 1908, the Regarding how the aforementioned Lithuania]. It seems to me that he has Rebbe wrote to his son the Rayatz: related to Yud-Tes Kislev – in that it is a sufficient knowledge of Russian and Regarding Reb Chaim Ozer, you the Rosh HaShana for Chassidim and German, and I already wrote to you must meet with him (Igros Kodesh Chassidus – a copy of his diaries was about him. Regardless, he is a G-d- Rashab vol. 4 p. 316). The Rebbe given to be published by my father-in- fearing man and he has forcefulness on enclosed in the letter copies of his law the Rebbe… Certainly, you are key issues, which he wishes to rectify. correspondence with Reb Chaim aware of the regular meetings between As to the ones mentioned previously, Brisker. the aforementioned three [the Rebbe he is a far better choice than them Shortly after this letter, the Rebbe Rashab, Reb Chaim Brisker, and Reb (Igros Kodesh Rashab vol. 4 p. 133). met himself with Reb Chaim Ozer, Chaim Ozer], which were of a friendly Ultimately, Reb Dovid Tevel during the period that the Rebbe nature, not necessarily over communal Katzenellenbogen was chosen to be the stayed in Koenigsberg, Germany. At matters. Although, it is a shame that rav of Petersburg. this meeting, they agreed upon a this is not known to the public in Reb Shmuel Levitin, one of the preparatory gathering of the traditional enough detail. Because, then certainly, honored Rabbanim in Chabad, rabbis to take place in Vilna, to plan it would cancel many of the sayings, corresponded with Reb Chaim Ozer their moves for the upcoming general questions, rebuttals, and arguments, during his tenure as the rav of Rokshik convention of all rabbis in Petersburg. which are not always grounded in in Lithuania, and the two discussed At the close of their meeting, the holiness. halachic issues. Rebbe Rashab asked Reb Chaim Ozer to apply for a permit to hold the earlier WE HAVE AN EXCHANGE OF CRUCIAL DECISIONS gathering. LETTERS The first meeting between the In Iyar 1909, the preparatory In order to appreciate the unique Rebbe Rashab and Reb Chaim Ozer meeting took place in Vilna. Twenty atmosphere between the Lithuanian took place during the Rebbe’s visit to rabbis participated, including the

40 BEIS MOSHIACH - 13 Sivan 5766 The Gaon Reb Chaim of Brisk – The Gaon, the Chafetz Chaim – Reb Levi Yitzchok Schneerson

Rebbe Rashab and his son the Rayatz, on those who participated in the the Russian language, and he should the Rebbe of Ger, Reb Avrohom convention. In no time, the word handle the birth and marriage Mordechai Alter, author of Imrei Emes, spread to the communities of certification. Reb Chaim Ozer, and other eminent Chassidim and Misnagdim, far and The minority view led by the Rebbe Chabad and Chareidi rabbis. near. Rashab, held that a rabbi should be Reb Chaim Ozer served as the WORLD WAR I CANCELED under no obligation except in the Acting Chairman, and the supervisors knowledge of Torah, and there should were the Rebbe Rayatz and the THE CONFLICT be a separate functionary to handle the philanthropist Reb Yosef Levin. Recognition of rabbinic authority certification. The general rabbinic convention was an important matter, which came Actually, there was no practical took place in the month of Adar II up for discussion at this convention. result of the resolutions passed by the 1910, in Petersburg. It included Until that point, every community had convention. The protocols, which were dozens of the greatest rabbis in Russia, its own rav, as well as a government handled by the Rebbe Rashab, were which included Lithuania at that time, appointed rabbi to administer birth presented to the authorities. The and among them the Rebbe Rashab and marriage certificates. At the officials in charge delayed dealing with and Reb Chaim Ozer. At the convention, representatives of each the issue, each time with a different convention, they focused on issues region in Russia were elected, and they excuse. When they finally went to relating to the rabbinate and decided unanimously that the work on the matter, they did so with communal life. For many rabbis from authorities needed to recognize the real excruciating slowness, until the winter throughout Russia, it was the first rabbis. Everyone agreed on this point, of 1914, the time of the Beilis trial, opportunity to see the Rebbe Rashab however, the government insisted that when the priorities of the Jewish and Reb Chaim Ozer working together. a rabbi must have a general secular community shifted focus. By the time The amazement grew when Reb education. On this issue, some held the trial ended, World War I broke out, Chaim Ozer addressed the gathering that there was no choice but to comply. and all the differing views were on the topic of Chassidim and This time, Reb Chaim Ozer held a sidelined in the face of the difficulties Misnagdim. He explained that there differing view from the Rebbe Rashab. and tribulations facing the Jewish was no longer any conflict, and it was The “modern” representatives felt that community in Russia. a rabbi should have a higher degree, necessary to work together. In his THE PLOT WAS FOILED words, “The separation between and should speak perfect Russian. Chassidim and Misnagdim has been Most of the attendees leaned towards Shortly before, in the summer of nullified and passed from the world.” the view of Reb Chaim Ozer that a 1914, the government issued a decree to close all the traditional chadarim, His words made a great impression rabbi should have minimal secular knowledge as well as familiarity with which taught according to Jewish

Issue Number 557 - BEIS MOSHIACH 41 tradition, and to replace them with When the Rebbe found out where during the brief democracy in Russia “modern chadarim.” This decree came he was, in Yekaterinaslav, he renewed prior to the Communist revolution]. about due to the political efforts on the their correspondence. In one of his Amongst those elected to the part of the Association for the letters, the Rebbe writes, “I wanted to committee were the Rebbe Rashab, the Dissemination of Enlightenment. meet with Reb Chaim Ozer on the Admur of Bobruisk, the Admur of In order to compensate the teachers road between Rostov and Skver, Reb Avrohom Dovber Shapiro who would lose their jobs, the Yekaterinaslav, but it did not happen. the rav of Kovno, Reb Chaim Ozer Association for the Dissemination of We will see what will be iy”H after the Grodzinski the rav of Vilna, the Enlightenment offered to pay a half upcoming Yom Tov.” Chafetz Chaim, the Rogatchover Gaon, million rubles to the government to On 16 Sivan, the Rebbe wrote to and other rabbis of cities small and cover the compensation. The terrible Reb Levi Yitzchok, “In my opinion, it large. decree was publicized throughout the is also essential that there be a Signed on the general committee of Jewish areas, and was slated to go into preparatory meeting…and according to the organization, those who actually effect on July 10, 1914 – 16 Tammuz your letter, you told him [Reb Chaim ran the convention, are in order of 5674. Ozer] to write to me. Most likely the appearance: In an effort to annul the decree, a letter will arrive.” Reb Yaakov Yitzchok Rabinowitz secret meeting took place, reported by The correspondence between the the rav of Minsk, the Rebbe Rashab, the Rebbe Rayatz: Rebbe Rashab and Reb Chaim Ozer Reb Chaim Ozer Grodzinski the rav of “At that time, a secret meeting took continued throughout this period. A place in the presence of my father, the number of the letters dealt with the structure of the upcoming convention, Gaon Reb Chaim of Brisk, the Gaon WE WILL WAIT FOR THE Reb Chaim Ozer, and two others. I was its location, and the signing of also present. I was charged with Rabbanim on a public announcement ARRIVAL OF REB LEVI traveling out of the country together calling to participate. They also YITZCHOK with another Jew, in connection with considered the possibility of holding a Due to the war, Reb Chaim this decree. Shortly after, the world pre-convention meeting of the eminent Ozer was forced to leave his home war broke out, and the plans of the rabbis to plan their moves for the and his city towards the Russian Association for the Dissemination of general convention. interior. He traveled the difficult Enlightenment were cancelled.” Meanwhile, other groups organized wartime road until he reached On June 28/4 Tammuz 5674, the to hold a different gathering in Yekaterinaslav [now Austrian Crown Prince was shot by a Moscow, and the Rebbe announced Dnieperpetrovsk]. In Serbian rebel, igniting the old that he would not attend, but would memorial book for Yekaterinaslav- animosities between the European only come to the general convention. Dnieperpetrovsk, it recounts how countries and leading to world war. On this subject as well, he the residents of the city accorded I DON’T KNOW WHERE HE IS corresponded with Reb Chaim Ozer, him great honor. and together they reached important During the month of Nisan At that time, the rav of the city decisions regarding the convention. 5677/1917, the Rebbe Rashab began was Reb Levi Yitzchok Schneerson, working to organize a general The preliminary meeting took place the father of the Rebbe, and the convention of rabbis. The discussions in Petrograd [Petersburg became two were in regular contact and dragged on for a few months. Petrograd from 1914 to 1924], during accomplished a great deal in On Chol HaMoed Pesach, the the days of 12-15 Av. The general communal matters. Rebbe wrote to Reb Itze’le of convention, held also in Petrograd, was from 26-28 Av. This was a huge Reb Ponovezh, urgently calling for such a recounted, “Once, Reb Chaim Ozer convention. In the letter, the Rebbe convention called for by the greatest Torah leaders of the time, including called a meeting of rabbis in his points out that he doesn’t know the house to discuss a number of whereabouts of Reb Chaim Ozer, due the Rebbe Rashab, Reb Chaim Ozer, the Chafetz Chaim, and others. pressing issues. The people arrived, to his wandering during the war years: but he did not open the meeting. At the conclusion of the “This is the first time that I am When those present urged him to convention, they elected a committee approaching His Honor. I don’t know begin, he responded, ‘The in charge of arranging a convention to where my dear friend Reb Chaim Ozer discussion will not begin until Reb organize elections for the General is currently. But you must certainly Levi Yitzchok, the rav of the city, Jewish Congress, which was to know.” arrives.’” represent the Jews of Russia [this was

42 BEIS MOSHIACH - 13 Sivan 5766 Vilna, Reb Avrohom Dovber Shapiro important that the convention be a because immediately following the the rav of Kovno, Reb Menachem smashing success for the benefit of all elections the Communists took power Mendel the son of the Admur of Russian Jewry, and Reb Chaim Ozer and did not recognize the Jewish Bobruisk, Reb the supported this view. representation elected under the rav of Slutzk, and Reb Shmaryahu In the beginning of 5678, the previous government. Yehuda Leib Medalia the rav of Rebbe Rashab received a summons After the end of WWI and the Vitebsk. from the ministry of religion to come Communist revolution, Reb Chaim THE CONGRESS NEVER to Petrograd for a consultation. In the Ozer returned to Vilna, then under month of Cheshvan, the Rebbe set out, Polish rule, and the Rebbe Rashab CAME TO SESSION also hoping to meet with Reb Chaim remained in Rostov under Soviet rule. Early of 1917, the rabbis Ozer in Petrograd to discuss the Since we have no documentation of an appointed to the committee held a planned general convention. However, ongoing connection between our meeting. Following this meeting, there while he was traveling, the Communist Rebbeim and Reb Chaim Ozer in the was continued correspondence revolution broke out and he only made years following, it appears that due to between the Rebbe and Reb Chaim it to Moscow, unable to reach circumstances the correspondence Ozer on the subject. At that time, Reb Petrograd. Thus, the Rebbe returned stopped. Chaim Ozer was working to create a home to Rostov. The connection began anew when bloc of various groups in order to win Eventually, the Orthodox parties the Rebbe Rayatz left the a larger mandate for the Orthodox in succeeded in organizing as a bloc in in 1927. the projected elections, and the Rebbe’s many places, and reaped great success Regarding the contacts between the letters address this issue. in the democratic congressional Rebbe Rayatz, the Rebbe MH”M and Many plans came and went election held in early 1918. However, Reb Chaim Ozer – in the next concerning the planned convention. the congress never came to session, installment. The Rebbe Rashab saw it as vitally

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