Volume 24, Issue 2

CONGREGATION LEVI YI TZCHOK OF HANCOCK PARK 5773/2013 Iyar

Chabad Chodesh Iyar 5773 –Shnas Hamosayim

Beis HaMikdash, 2928 [833Beis HaMikdash,2928 BCE]. HaMelech Shlomoh lim- and calculations above its.” [Sichah,Tishrei13,5739]. that’s way a in place”, first the in over “go said MaHaRaSh “over” go above you limit, go and measure to have you and enough, not that’s when and calculations, make not place”: first the in over “go to have in we Mitzvos that and Torah is this of meaning simple The place.” you obstacle, an under say I and over, go to have go can’t world you “The if saying, says his by is work summarized and best life “..His [1833]. 5593 MaHaRaSh the Omer, of SheB’Tiferes Tiferes Rebbe on Rebbe, Chabad "The Teacher and Shmuel, Master holy our of Birthday Iyar 2/April12/Friday 3391 [537 for laid Foundation Plague of Blood. (Seder Olam, 3) Second DayRoshChodesh Iyar 1/April11/Thursday First DayRosh Chodesh Nisan 30/April10/Wednesday S leader ofthe Chasidim. become Rebbe Alter the that insisted and him) with go to wanted had Rebbe Alter (the Yisroel Eretz to moved Mendel R. 1777 In Rebbe Rebbe. as his colleague, Alter former his the Mendel, R. passing, accepted Magid's the After Lithuania.and Chasidimof Russia the of leader Mezeritcher Magid,5548 [1788]. the of student leading a HaAretz, Pri of author Shulchan of Yartzeit the finish ShulchanRebbe's Aruch]. to Aruch]" they him . encouraged . . [and much Pinchas very very, it extolled and it praised R. Master our his brother, and Shmelke, R. Master our world, the of pillars holiness, highest of Geonim famous the those to illuminators golden two Pesach] Hilchos and Tzitzis Hilchos 5538 HaShem, Nazir [1778]. and Shmuel, of author Divrei Magid, Mezeritcher the of student of Yartzeit PECIAL

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Iyar 5/April 15/Monday Yartzeit of R. Yitzchak AlFasi (RiF), Shemos 16:35) and thus, another ". . . The Early Authorities codifier of the Gemara, author of reason for the custom of eating established, when the Beis Sefer HaHalachos, 4863 [1103]. Matzah. [Sidur of R. Yaakov Emden]. HaMikdash stood, to teach publicly " . . . the RiF, the Rambam, "The theme of Pesach Sheni the laws of any holiday thirty days and the RoSh, are the pillars of is that it's never too late. It's always before, that is . . . from Iyar 5 and Jewish Law, which all of Israel bases possible to put things right. Even if on, to study the laws of Shavuos . . . itself on." [Introduction of the Beis one was impure or far away, and Because all who live in Eretz Yisrael Yosef to the Tur] even when the impurity was must bring three Korbanos on the deliberate, nonetheless, he can holiday, and every Korban must be Yartzeit of R. Meir Margolis of correct it". [, Iyar 14]. clean of blemish and other Lemberg, author of responsa Meir disqualifications. The Chachamim Nesivim, student of the Baal Shem Second imprisonment of the enacted teaching the laws to remind Tov, 5550 [1790]. Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, in the people of the holiday, so they Lubavitch, 5662 [1902]. wouldn't forget to prepare animals Iyar 12/April 22/Monday fit for the Korban, within thirty Yartzeit of R. Yeshayaha of Yanov, Yartzeit of R. Meir Baal HaNes, 3881 days . . ."[Alter Rebbe's Shulchan student of the Mezeritcher Magid, [121] is observed in Teveria. Aruch, Orach Chaim: 429:1] compiler of Tzavaas HaRiVaSh, [one of the first collections of the Baal Iyar 15/April 25/Thursday Iyar 6/April 16/Tuesday Shem Tov's teachings], 5554 [1794]. Hashem promised the Jewish people Yartzeit of R. Levi b. Gershon In 1796 it was burned in the streets that they will receive Mannah from (RaLBaG), philosopher, astronomer, of Vilna; the Alter Rebbe wrote a Heaven. and commentator on Chumash, letter to the Chasidim of Vilna about 5104 [1344]. this [printed in Beis Rebbe, chapter Iyar 16/April 26/Friday 12] and wrote a letter [, Igeres First day the Mon fell in the desert; Yartzeit of R. Leibish of Mezeritch, HaKodesh, chapter 25] defending its first evening the quail fell to supply student of the Baal Shem Tov, 5535 ideas. Bnei Yisroel with meat, 2448 [1313 [1775]. " . . . The compilers did not BCE]. That year this day fell out on a know how to determine the exact Sunday. (Shemos 16:1 Rashi) Iyar 7/April 17/Wednesday phraseology . . . for the Baal Shem "Day Of Yerushalayim Wall Tov, of blessed memory would say Moshe Rabeinu composed the first Dedication", once a holiday (Megilas Divrei Torah in Yiddish, not in Brachah of Birkas HaMazon, 2448 Taanis, 2). Nechemiah dedicated Hebrew . . . but the intent is [1313 BCE], (Berachos 48b). new walls around Yerushalayim, absolutely true". [Tanya, Igeres 3426 [335 BCE] (Nechemiah, HaKodesh, 26]. Yartzeit of R. Meir (MaHaRaM) of 12:27). He also compiled Or Torah, Lublin, commentator on Gemara, Years later the Jewish of the Mezeritcher Magid. 5376 [1616]. defenders of Yerushalayim surrendered these walls to the Iyar 13/April 23/Tuesday Iyar 17/April 27/Shabbos Romans on this day in 3830 [70 CE]. Yartzeit of R. Nesanel Weil of Erev Lag BaOmer (Josephus, The Jewish Wars, 5:7). Prague, author of Korban Nesanel, No Tachnun at Minchah commentary on the RoSh, 5529 Iyar 8/April 18/Thursday [1769]. Yartzeit of R. Yechezkel Landau of Jewish community of Speyer was Prague, author of Noda BiYehudah, massacred in the First Crusade, Yartzeit of R. Yisroel Aryeh Leib 5553 [1793]. 4856 [1096], commemorated in the Schneersohn, of blessed memory, Kinah "Mi Yitein Roshi Mayim", we brother of the Rebbe, 5712 [1952]. Yartzeit of R. Moshe Chaim Efraim say on Tisha BiAv. He is buried in Tzefas. of Sadlikov, grandson of the Baal Shem Tov, author of Degel Iyar 10/April 20/Shabbos Iyar 14/April 24/Wednesday Machaneh Efraim, 5560 [1800]. The Aron HaBris was captured by Pesach Sheini the Pelishtim. Yartzeits of Chofni We don't say Tachnun. We eat Iyar 18/April 28/Sunday and Pinchas, who died in the war, Matzah today to commemorate Lag BaOmer and of their father Eli, the Kohen Pesach Sheini. We don't say Tachnun. Gadol and Pinchas' wife who died The last day the Jews ate the upon hearing the news of the Aron, Matzos they took out of Mitzrayim, The students of R. Akiva stopped (Shmuel I, 4) (Megilas Taanis). which had in them the taste of the dying. Mon, 2488 [1313 BCE] (Rashi,

VOLUME 24, ISSUE 2 Page 2 Yartzeit of R. Shimon Bar Yochai. Yartzeit of R. Menachem Mendel of Iyar 27/May 7/Tuesday " . . . There's a custom to eat Rymanov, student of R. Elimelech of Once a holiday, "The Day The carob, because R. Shimon Bar Lyzensk, 5575 [1815]. Crowns Were Removed From Yochai, hiding from the Romans in a Yehudah And Yerushalayim", a day cave for thirteen years, survived on Iyar 20/April 30/Tuesday of Greek idol worship, eradicated by carobs from a tree outside the Yartzeit of R. Mordechai of the Chashmonaim, (Megilas Taanis, 2). cave" [Sichah, Rosh Chodesh Iyar, Czernobyl, 5598 [1838]. 5742] Yartzeit of R. Shlomoh Zalman of " . . . By the Mitteler Rebbe Iyar 21/May1/Wednesday , grandson of the Tzemach Lag BaOmer was one of the special The previous Lubavitcher Rebbe Tzedek, son of R. Yehudah Leib, Yom Tovs. They would go out to the founded , in Eretz author of Magen Avos, 5660 [1900] fields . . .at that time they would see Yisrael, 5709 [1949]. After his father's passing in 1867, he many miracles, mostly about became Rebbe in Kopust.. [having] children. The whole year Iyar 22/May 2/Thursday they would look forward for Lag In the year of Yetziyas Mitzrayim Iyar 28/May 8/Wednesday BaOmer..." [HaYom Yom, Iyar 18] this date was the first Shabbos the Yerushalayim was liberated, Yidden kept in the Midbar, they did including Har HaBayis and the Kosel Yartzeit of R. Moshe Iserles, (the not collect the Mannah on Shabbos, HaMaaravi, in the Six Day War, ReMA), author of the Mapah, on the but collected two portions on Friday. 5728 [1967]. Shulchan Aruch, the definitive authority of Ashkenazic Halachic Iyar 23/May 3/Friday The RaMBaM celebrated this day as practice, 5333 [1573]. Jews of Worms were massacred by a Yom Tov: he found the Sefer Torah " . . . We follow the Crusaders, 4856 [1096], written by Ezra HaSofer and saw Shulchan Aruch, wherever the commemorated in the Kinah "Mi that it exactly paralleled the Parshah ReMA doesn't disagree " [Alter Yitein Roshi Mayim", we say on divisions he had copied for the Rebbe's Shulchan Aruch I:256:6] Tisha BiAv. Mishneh Torah, from the Sefer " . . . The Gaon and Torah in Egypt. Kabbalist, R. Moshe Isereles of Iyar 24/May 4/Shabbos Cracow, in his Sefer Toras HaOlah, Shabbos Mevarchim Sivan Yartzeit of R. Yitzchok of Corbeil, explains in detail all aspects of the The only Shabbos Mevarchim on author of Sefer Mitzvos Katan Beis HaMikdash below and in the w h i c h w e D O s a y " A v (SeMaK), 5040 [1280]. higher worlds, and in the powers of HaRachamim": it was written in Man. The early Chasidim, those of response to the destruction of Jewish Iyar 29/May 9/Thursday great intellect, would study the Sefer communities during the First Yartzeit of Shmuel HaNavi 2882 Toras HaOlah as one of the Sefarim Crusade, throughout Sivan of 1096. [878 BCE]. (Megilas Taanis). of divine comprehension and service" [Likutei Diburim, p. 973] Iyar 26/May 6/Monday Sivan 1/May 10/Friday Yartzeit of R. Saadiah Gaon, head of Rosh Chodesh Sivan Tenaim of Rebbitzen Sheina, the Yeshivah of Sura, Talmudist and youngest daughter of the previous philosopher, author of Emunot Lubavitcher Rebbe with R. VeDeiot, first philosophical Menachen Mendel Horenstein, presentation of Judaism, 4702 grandson of the Rebbe MaHaRaSh, [942]. 5692 [1932]. Yartzeit of R. Moshe Chaim Luzatto, Iyar 19/April 29/Monday Kabbalist, author of Mesilas Yartzeit of R. Meir of Rotenburg, Yesharim, Choker UMekubal, teacher of the RoSh, outstanding KeLaCh Pischei Chochmah, and Talmudic authority of his other Kabbalistic works cited in the generation, author of commentary Chasidus of the Tzemach Tzedek, on the Gemara, and responsa. He 5507 [1747]. died in the fortress of Eisenheim, 5053 [1293]. Held for ransom, he Yartzeit of R. Yitzchok Aizik HaLevi refused to be redeemed, saying it Epstein of Homel, author of Chanah would put every rabbi in Europe in Ariel, and Shnei HaMeoros, one of danger of being kidnapped. the greatest students of the Alter Rebbe, Chasid of the Mitteler Rebbe, and Tzemach Tzedek, 5617 [1857].

VOLUME 24, ISSUE 2 Page 3 Beis Iyar ~ The Birthday of the Rebbe Maharash

After the fire in Lubavitch in 5592 (1832), though the name with her. He announced that the baby Tzemach Tzedek’s house wasn’t burnt, he decided to should be prepared for the Bris. purchase a large lot and build a house and Beis Medrash. Count Lubomirsky ordered his manager to The Tzemach Tzedek was the Sandek. The baby provide all the wood and had the beams brought to the cried and the Tzemach Tzedek took his left hand site and provided the labor for free. from under the pillow and patted him on the head, the baby stopped crying. Immediately after The Tzemach Tzedek wanted to move in before Shavu- the brochos of the Bris the Tzemach Tzedek said to os and the Rebbetzin wanted to give birth there. start Minchah. The chazzan was the Mitteler When labor began, she went to the new home. There Rebbe’s son, R’ Menachem Nachum, the Tzemach were no furnishings, just the Pesach dishes. They Tzedek’s brother-in-law. The Seudah was after brought straw and she laid it on the large wooden Minchah. Shmurah flour sifter. During the meal, R’ Yehudah Leib asked the The Tzemach Tzedek hurried to his new home and re- Tzemach Tzedek the source of the name Shmuel. mained until the birth. He asked his children to say “Perhaps,” he asked “for Shmuel Hanavi?” Tehillim. He asked the midwife to immerse in the Mikvah before the birth and to receive the child in a The Tzemach Tzedek said it was for a water carri- special white cloth he provided. On Iyar 2, Tiferes er in Polotzk, and a Chacham is greater than a SheB’Tiferes, one hundred years after the Ba’al Shem Navi. Tov’s revelation, the Rebbe Maharash was born. ***

On the eighth day, the Tzemach Tzedek asked that The Poritz of Batchkeckov in Vitebsk was a good Shachris be early. By ten in the morning the family hearted person and he provided the Jews on his gathered, with R’ Chaim Avraham, the Alter Rebbe’s estates with a livelihood. The poor Jews as well as son. the Rav, Chazan, Schochet and Melamdim were exempt from taxes. He provided free pasture for In the early afternoon the Tzemach Tzedek was still in the poor. his room. R’ Chaim Avraham sighed, “The Rebbe is certainly involved with finer guests than us.” As he became older and weaker he gave over the governing of his lands to his manager, an anti- A half hour passed. The Tzemach Tzedek came out semite. A new priest arrived, also an anti-semite. holding a hanker-chief. His eyes were red from tears; Jews could no longer earn a livelihood and the he was very serious. “The Bris will be today,” he an- poor had to pay taxes. Most of the Jews were nounced. He waited for a moment and returned to his Chasidim of the Rebbe Maharash. They went to room. Lubavitch regularly and received the Rebbe’s bro- chos, but no one wanted to tell the Rebbe about R’ Chaim Avraham rested his head in his hands, deep the Poritz’s manager. in thought. The Tzemach Tzedek’s children discussed Torah. The Rebbetzin wanted someone to ask the A chosid, Reb Shmuel, still dealt with the Poritz Tzemach Tzedek about the delay, but R’ Chaim Av- himself. He had a good name as a trustworthy raham held the messenger back. businessman and was learned, additionally he gave Tzedakah with a generous hand. In Yechi- After three, the Tzemach Tzedek came out again and dus, the Rebbe Maharash asked him about the joyously told his guests to eat - the Bris would yet be. Jews in his vicinity. Reb Shmuel said things were He returned to his room. At four he returned to the worsening from day to day. The Rebbe said Dr. guests and told them not to daven Minchah yet, the Berteson told him that the poritz was very ill. Why Bris would be very soon. He returned to his room, left, didn’t any of the Chassidim tell him? and went to the Rebbetzin’s room to discuss the child’s

VOLUME 24, ISSUE 2 Page 4 He thought and said, “Go home, tell the poritz this: I wood, straw and so on, he would give to him and know he is critically ill and the doctors have given not to her. up hope. Let him help the Jews in his cities, villages, inns and estates, and Hashem Yisborach will give He had her pay the salary for the children’s teach- him one month of healthy life for each Jewish fami- ers, but he did the accounting. I possess one year’s ly.” income and expense account in his own handwrit- R’ Shmuel wanted to see the poritz but it seemed im- ing. possible. One summer day the doctors said that the poritz should be driven about in the fresh air. The Every six months, before the holidays (of Tishrei and poritz lay down (he couldn’t sit up) for the ride. R’ Pesach), he would buy back her jewelry that she had Shmuel saw this, and it hurt him to see how ill the mortgaged (to finance her projects of providing old poritz was. The poritz asked R’ Shmuel to ride dowries for poor brides, supporting Torah scholars, with him. and the like.) There must have been some reason she financed these projects in this way, since she R’ Shmuel told him the message from the Rebbe. The had enough money of her own to use for these pur- poritz asked R’ Shmuel to make a census of the Jews poses. in the city and outlying areas. The list should be kept secret. In the city there were one hundred and sixty *** families and tens of families in the outlying areas. The poritz agreed to the terms that the Rebbe had The Rebbe Maharash used to go himself and test the outlined. The Jews regained their livelihood and the children who learned in the classrooms surrounding poritz returned to good health. the central courtyard in Lubavitch.

In the poritz’s garden grew Lulavim and Hadasim. *** In 1881 he sent some to the Rebbe Maharash for Sukkos. The Tzemach Tzedek used to call his sons (and like- wise his daughter Devorah Leah) into his study to In 1894 R’ Shmuel told the story to the Friediker consult with them on various matters. The Rebbe Rebbe. He said the poritz is very old now and for Maharash did not do this. fourteen years has been healthy, never sick or weak. Last week he felt poorly, and told me I must go to *** the grave of the Rebbe Maharash and tell him the poritz feels weak and according to his census he still It was the custom of all the Rebbes, from the Alter has one year and seven months to live and the Rebbe Rebbe on, to speak to their Rebbetzins after Minchah should fulfill his promise. on the day before Rosh Hashanah, on their way to daven in the synagogue, to bless them and request Sefer Hasichos 5703, Acharon Shel Pesach their blessings. (By the way, the custom of reciting Psalms before the evening prayer of Rosh Hashanah *** is also very longstanding.)

The following is an excerpt from the Rebbe’s Reshi- On the day before his last Rosh Hashanah in this mos of 17 MarCheshvan 5693 (1932), in which he world (1882), the Rebbe Maharash went to see his records the previous Rebbe’s accounts of the Rebbe wife, the Rebbitzin Rivka. After they spoke about the Maharash, and his wife, Rebbitzen Rivka. current outbreak of pogroms, he said to her: “My father (the Tzemach Tzedek) told me that the Divine “The Rebbe Maharash greatly honored his wife, the decree has been broken, and that there will be no Rebbitzen Rivka, and she showed him tremendous more physical pogroms. But there could still be respect in return. For example, she never sat while spiritual decimation. Take care of the children.” he was standing. The Rebbitzin understood from this that he was tell- The Rebbe Maharash would give money to his at- ing her that he would soon pass away. She began to tendant, Reb Yosef Mordechai, for the household cry, saying that he would surely recover and they expenses, for the Rebbitzen Rivka did not tend to would together be able to care for their children. these matters. Whatever money was needed to buy

VOLUME 24, ISSUE 2 Page 5 He answered: “I have taken the severity of the decree gerous item for? What’s in your pocket? Show upon myself (to expiate through my death). We will me!” indeed be together, but from different worlds. I will ascend thirty-one spiritual steps, while you will as- When the young man heard this, he turned cend thirty-one physical steps. Don’t forget, my fa- white. He took a revolver out of his pocket. The ther assured you a long life. Rebbe took it from him and threw it out the window. My grandmother (Rebbitzin Rivka) told me all this in 1908. I didn’t understand what these “thirty-one He then said to Reb Yaakov Rashal: “You have- physical steps” were until her passing, which oc- n’t davened yet. Take my tefillin and use them.” curred thirty-one years after this incident. And he added: “but be careful not to think any stray thoughts. This applies until one’s last day.” *** Reb Yaakov went out with the tefillin and When the Rebbe Maharash would travel, he would davened. first go to the train station at Rudnia (which was the closest to Lubavitch). He would stay there a few When he later came back the Rebbe Maharash minutes or a quarter of an hour, and visit his niece asked the young man if he would perhaps like to Fruma Zuckerman. If necessary, the train would daven. The latter began to wail. The Rebbe pat- wait for him. ted him on the shoulder and said: “Someone who acts wickedly not of his own accord is not Once, when he was visiting his niece, he asked for a considered evil.” Reb Yaakov found a tallis and cup of tea. He sent his coachman to the train station tefillin for him. to tell the conductor he would not be traveling that day. He sent also a rider back to Lubavitch to tell the When Reb Yaakov came again into the Rebbe’s household not to worry, that he changed his mind compartment, the Rebbe said to him: “King Da- and decided to embark on his journey the next day. vid said: “If [G-d] will say thus, here am I.” But So the train went ahead without him, and lo and be- one should in any case strive to be buried among hold, near Vitebsk there was an accident. Jews. Daven, and you can get off at the next sta- tion.” The young man had already gotten off be- This incident did not become widely known, howev- fore this. er, since we did not talk much about these kinds of stories out of fear of the government. The Rebbe then delivered a short Chassidic dis- course. *** On one occasion the Rebbe Maharash traveled out of It became known later that the Maskilim had Russia via Dvinsk, to the border town of Birballen. planned to assassinate the Rebbe Maharash, who From Dvinsk, he was accompanied by a scholarly fought them fiercely. chassid by the name of Reb Yaakov Rashal. Reb Yaa- kov intended to get off the train when the Rebbe Ma- As for Reb Yaakov Rashal, in the years following harash went to sleep that night, so he didn’t bring his the Rebbe Maharash’s passing he followed tallis and tefillin with him. But the Rebbe told him: (Rabbi Chaim Shneur Zalman of) , and later “Come with me as far as the border.” The Rebbe’s on (after the Rebbe Rashab began to assume var- gabbaim, Reb Levik and Reb Pinye Leib, came too. ious aspects of the leadership), he visited both Lubavitch and Liadi. Nonetheless, he was al- The Rebbe Maharash used to daven very early. He ways considered a loyal Lubavitcher chassid. He called Reb Yaakov Rashal into his compartment at had ups and downs in his business career, 7:00 am. When he came in, the Rebbe was sitting which took him as far as S. Petersburg. When with his eyes closed, smiling. Reb Yaakov stood, he passed away, it was only through great effort waiting. When the train reached the next station, a that people succeeded in burying him in a Jew- young, intelligent-looking man got on. The Rebbe’s ish cemetery. compartment had six seats in it, and this young man sat down on one of them. Translated and adapted form Reshima 131 by Rabbi Moshe Wisnefsky The Rebbe then opened his eyes and said to the young man: “What do you need to carry a dan- Reprinted from the Kfar Chabad magazine VOLUME 24, ISSUE 2 Page 6 LAG B’OMER

Rabbi Akiva years, until Eliyahu HaNavi came to tell them the Em- Rabbi Akiva was the son of Yosef, a convert. Born peror was dead. into poverty after the destruction of the Second Beis Hamikdash, he tended flocks for Kalba Savua, who The Torah they studied was the basis of Kabalah. was as rich and cultured as Akiva was poor and ig- How are R’ Akiva and R’ Shimon bar Yochai connected norant. with Lag B’Omer?

Kalba Savua’s daughter Rachel heard of Akiva, who During the Omer period, several thousand of R’ was know for his fine and gentle character. She said Akiva’s disciples perished in a plague visited upon she would marry him if he would go to study in the them because of their failure to treat each other with Yeshiva. He agreed. complete respect. The plague continued until the thir- ty-third day of the Omer. Therefore, during the Kalba Savua disowned his daughter. Rachel, who Omer, Jews mourn, avoiding music, marriage and fes- had known only comfort and luxury, moved into tivities, among other restrictions. On the thirty-third Akiva’s hut. day, the restraints are lifted, and we celebrate.

Akiva promised her, “One day I will buy you a gold- Lag B’Omer is also the Yartzeit of R’ Shimon bar en brooch with Yerushalayim carved into it.” That Yochai. promise, made by the illiterate shepherd, was ful- filled years later by the Sage whose knowledge laid Before he died, R’ Shimon commanded that the anni- the foundation for the whole Mishkan. versary of his death be a day of rejoicing, to commem- orate the day he was reunited with his Creator. He also kept his promise to learn Torah, but he was overcome by doubt. Once, he came to a spring. In On Lag B’Omer, thousands of Jews go to R’ Shimon’s the pool beneath the spring, he noticed that where grave at Miron, to celebrate. the water splashed onto the stone, was a round We tell children about R’ Akiva and R’ Shimon to smooth hole. bring them to a love and mastery of Torah.

“Who cut the hole in the stone?” he asked. “The wa- A child could respond: “Am I smart enough to be like ter made the hole by trickling onto it year after year. R’ Akiva, or even one of his students? If my father Torah is like water. If my brain is like stone, if the were like R’ Akiva, maybe I could learn something Torah trickles down on me, some of it must eventual- from him.” ly penetrate..” On the other hand, the father says, “I’m too old. Be- At Yavneh, Akiva entered even greater poverty. Ra- sides, R’ Shimon lived in a cave for thirteen years, but I chel, barely able to support herself, sent him the have to make a living. I don’t have time to learn To- money she obtained by selling her long hair. rah.”

Twenty-four years later, Rabbi Akiva returned home R’ Akiva and R’ Shimon provided the answer. with twenty-four thousand disciples. People lined the street to honor him. Rachel pushed her way R’ Akiva’s father was a convert to Judaism. He was through to approach him. His attendants leaped for- poor. He was ignorant. He couldn’t give his son a ward to prevent her, but Rabbi Akiva restrained Jewish education. It was up to the son to start from them, “All you have learned from me and everything scratch. I know, belongs to her.” Thus, it is up to every Jew to break with past weak- Rabbi Shimon nesses and limitations and forge a new path. R’ Shimon was wanted by the Romans for the crime of criticizing the Emperor, punishable by death. R’ R’ Akiva was forty before he could read or write. But Shimon fled with his son, R’ Elazer, to a cave in the it is never too late to start learning. We all want to see desert near Teveriah. They studies there for thirteen a miracle. But R’ Akiva was inspired by nature, not by

VOLUME 24, ISSUE 2 Page 7 a miracle. He saw a stone with a hole in it, carved and that represented the full spectrum of Yiddishkeit. smoothed by a trickle of water. From this he learned the power to achieve any goal through diligent and They were all dedicated students of Rabbi Akiva, continuous application. but they were not a monolithic group. Rabbi Akiva allowed each student to develop his Most of us don’t have enough time to devote to learn- own approach to serving Hashem. ing. The Sages said of R’ Shimon that “the Torah was his livelihood,” because he devoted the same time and There was room in Rabbi Akiva's Torah for diversi- energy to the Torah that a businessman would devote ty of opinion and ideology in a Halachic frame- to his business. work. Within Torah, there are many valid ways of serving Hashem. One Jew may emphasize love of This teaches us that even if we have only a short time Hashem, the other fear of Hashem. One person each day to devote to Torah study, during that time we serves Hashem through joy, the other through have to devote the same energy, attention and concen- study and meditation. tration to our learning as we would to our business. During that time, nothing exists outside of Torah: no Rabbi Akiva taught his students to believe in their telephone, no disturbances, no responsibilities and no convictions. He exemplified absolute devotion to distractions. That time has to become for us like the his beliefs, as he said when he was martyred by the cave of R’ Shimon bar Yochai, in which nothing else Romans, “All my life I wanted to serve Hashem ful- matters but the Torah. ly and make this sacrifice…”

In this way, may we become worthy of the legacy left Rabbi Akiva’s students emulated his dedication. But to us by R’ Akiva and R’ Shimon, and thus hasten the they had become so obsessed by their own ways, revelation of Moshiach speedily in our days. they had no tolerance for a different perspective. Each student felt his way was the only one. A Lesson in Unity Only after true Achdus and unity could B’nei Yisrael They believed strongly in Ahavas Yisroel. They receive the Torah. But people are different. Each has loved their fellow to the extent that they couldn’t his/her own way. How can we experience true unity? rest until their friends shared their perspective. They tried to change their opinions so they too The answer is provided by Lag B’Omer. could see the truth they perceived.

The historic significance of Lag B’Omer dates back to This misplaced idealism was their undoing. They the time of the Mishnah. Rabbi Akiva’s students were didn't understand that Rabbi Akiva’s dedication struck by a plague, and 24,000 died between Pesach was tempered by a peaceful tolerance and respect and Shavuos. The plague stopped on Lag B’Omer, for another’s view. The Talmud says Rabbi Akiva which came to be celebrated as a day of life and broth- was able to enter the Heavenly paradise of Torah erhood. study in peace, and then also to exit in peace.

The Talmud says the students were punished because Lag B’Omer celebrates the triumph of brotherly they didn’t respect each other. How are we to under- love and unity over death and division. “Unity” stand this? Lack of respect is inappropriate and unbe- doesn’t mean a unity of clones who thing alike. coming for any students, especially Torah scholars. It Ahavas Yisroel means not merely to love and show would certainly be out of character for students of kindness to another person, but to respect his Rabbi Akiva, who taught “Loving of another Jew is the unique opinion and attitude in serving Hashem. basis of the whole Torah.”

There must be more to this. Certainly the students of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai Rabbi Akiva must have respected each other. Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai had to run away from his family and hide out from the Roman’s with his son Indeed, it was their love and concern that created the for 13 years. problem. The Gemorah teaches us that one of the first things The dynamic, broad, and creative force of Rabbi that Rabbi Shimon did upon leaving the cave, was Akiva’s teachings raised a diverse group of students to help a community. There was a road in the city

VOLUME 24, ISSUE 2 Page 8 that ran through an unmarked cemetery. The Kohanim were not able to use that road, and they had to travel a long distance around it. Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai came and he marked the places under which were graves, and that way the Kohanim were able to use this road.

This teaches us the level of Ahavas Yisroel that we should have. Even if we are only helping a minority (the Kohanim) and even if we are only making things easier for them and it is not a life-threatening situation, still we should and must go out of our way to help others. Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai was one of the students of Rabbi Akiva and he made it his life’s work to correct the imbalance that existed among Rabbi Akiva’s stu- dents.

From Sichos of the Rebbe - Lag B’Omer

PESACH SHEINI

When you've missed the boat there's nothing you can do past and return to Hashem. It also emphasizes the but wave to the passengers. If the train has already left the power of a Jew's initiative. When a Jew cries out, from station, you might as well sit down and wait for the next the depths of his soul and with a genuine desire to ful- one to arrive. There are many things in life that depend on fill Hashem's will, Hashem listens to his plea and being in the right place at the right time; if you're late, grants his request. you've missed that opportunity forever. There is an additional message of Pesach Sheini. Likewise, the Torah tells us that there are specific times What, in fact, was the cause of the ritual impurity for doing specific mitzvot. There is a proper time to put on which excluded some Jews from participating in the tefilin, a proper time to light Shabbat candles, a proper sacrifice? The Torah states: "There were people who time to eat matza, and a proper time to sit in the sukka. were defiled by contact with the dead and were unable to offer the Passover sacrifice on that day." According The Torah's narrative about Pesach Sheini - the "Second to one opinion in the Talmud, these Jews were in- Passover" (always on 14 Iyar), thus expresses a very radi- volved in the mitzva of burying a dead person found cal concept in Judaism. on the roadside who had no known relatives to do so. Even a kohen (priest) and even a High Priest - neither In the first year in the Midbar, Hashem commanded us to of whom is normally permitted to come in contact offer the Passover sacrifice, on the 14th of Nisan. One of with the dead - is obligated to defile himself by bury- the requirements, however, was that a Jew had to be in a ing the dead person. state of ritual purity. As a result, not everyone was permit- ted to bring an offering, and the Jews who were excluded This concept applies on a spiritual plane, as well. felt terrible. "Why should we be left out?!" they demanded When we encounter another person who is spiritually of Moshe. They were so eager to observe the mitzva that "lifeless" we are obligated to get involved with him, Hashem relented, granting them another opportunity to even if it takes us away from our own spiritual pur- bring an offering one month later, on the 14th of Iyar. suits.

This story reveals the unfathomable depths of the Jewish Ultimately, Pesach Sheini teaches us that we must soul and the infinite power of teshuva, repentance. It never despair or give up on ourselves, on others, and teaches us that every Jew is so intimately connected to especially in bombarding Hashem with our demand Hashem that when he makes a sincere and heartfelt de- that He send us Moshiach immediately mand, it "forces" Hashem, as it were, to open up new channels through which to send us His abundant bless- Reprinted from lchaimweekly.org ings. As the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe explained, the lesson of Pesach Sheini is that it is never too late to correct the

VOLUME 24, ISSUE 2 Page 9 Pesach Sheni - When Jews Make Demands of G-d

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VOLUME 24, ISSUE 2 Page 10 CALENDAR TIMES ARE FOR LOS ANGELES Nisan 30/AprilNisan 10/Wednesday Light Candles FridayLight 19: April Candles FridayLight 12: April Light Candles FridayLight 26: April Iyar 24/Wednesday 14/April Last Last Time ReadShema: To Last Time ReadShema: To Last Time ReadShema: To Don’t forget to Matzah eat Don’tforget Rosh Chodesh DayRosh Chodesh Two Rosh Chodesh DayRosh Chodesh One Iyar 1/April 11/Thursday Pirkei Avos3 Chapter Pirkei Avos2 Chapter Pirkei Avos4 Chapter No Tachnun issaid Tachnun No Achrei Tazria Tazria Iyar 20 10/April Iyar 27 17/April Shabbos Shabbos Ends: Shabbos Ends: Shabbos Ends: Iyar 3/April 13 Pesach SheniPesach - – Kedoshim Metzorah Emor

9:38 8:07 7:04 9:29 8:18 7:15 9:33 8:12 7:09

Light Candles FridayLight May 10: Shabbos MevarchimShabbos Sivan Light Candles FridayLight May 3: Last Last Time ReadShema: To Last Last Time ReadShema: To 7:49 am and and Chalakim am 7:49 16 Iyar 28/Sunday 18/April Sivan 1/May 10/Friday Rosh Chodesh SivanRosh Chodesh Pirkei Avos5 Chapter Pirkei Avos6 Chapter Behar Behar No Tachnun issaid Tachnun No Shabbos Chazak Shabbos Sivan 2/May 11 Molad ofSivanMolad Shabbos Shabbos Ends: Shabbos Shabbos Ends: May 10/Friday Iyar 24/May 4 – Lag B’Omer Lag Bechukosai Bamidbar Shachris: Tehillim:

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רהקערה רוה רקיעה - Directives of the Rebbe for Iyar

Beis Iyar - we should make a in honor of “I have received many questions from people con- the birthday of the Rebbe Maharash. We should learn cerning crossing the International Dateline during the Torah/Chassidus of the Rebbe Maharash making Sefira. Those going to and coming from Australia af- sure to bring in the quality of “Lechatchilah Aribar” ter Pesach. The questions included girls who don’t going above and beyond in all aspects of Torah and count Sefiras Ha’Omer: Is there a problem concern- Mitzvos in our daily life. ing them? We present here a written answer from the Rebbe. (All those who crossed the international date- Pesach Sheini - We should publicize to all the guid- line should consult a Rav concerning how to count ance and power that was given to this utilize the Sefirah and the Yom Tov of Shavuos) strength that this day gives us; to correct that which is missing and to add. We should make a farbrengen of “I’ll mention the above [in prayer] at the resting Simchah in honor of this day. To emphasize the pow- place [of my father-in-law]. The enclosed should be er given to this day of correcting the negative and returned. strengthening the positive. Attention should be called to the inappropriateness Lag B’Omer - Prepare for Lag B’Omer; Do this by of crossing the International Dateline during making parades or rallies, especially for children and Sefiras Ha’Omer (even for one who does not fulfill the theme should be “Yachad kol yaldei yisroel” - All the mitzvah of Counting the Omer...)” Yidden should be united together. Many times the Rebbe stressed the importance of preparing for Lag B’Omer in a public way.