ב׳׳ה THE SIBLING

FriendshipCircleBrooklyn WAVE LENGTH לע"נ שמואל בן יבלחט"א אשר ורבקה and Sponsored by the Shmuel A"H Karnowsky

Dedicated by Avrohom Meir & Chaya Shuman (Buffalo NY) in honor of ALL of Hashem’s Special Shluchim

Win a $25 Gift VOLUME 7, ISSUE 8 Card to ANYJust IYAR 5780 STORE! send in your answers! Dear Special Siblings from all around the world!

With the spread of Coronavirus, we are all staying home and staying safe. We hope that you are all healthy and doing well. We are now entering the month of Iyar. The אני ה'“ ,letters of Iyar spell out the Passuk I am Hashem your healer”. This“ - ”רופאך couldn’t have come at a better time when so many Yidden are sick and need a Refuah The Jewish Girl Sheleimah. Hashem is showing us now more from Balaclava than ever that He is with us and He is taking care of us. Rabbi Zalman Serebryanski, dean of the Lubavitch Rabbinical College in Melbourne, , once brought Of course, we are davening that not only a girl to Rabbi Chaim Gutnick. “Please, help this girl should Hashem heal the sick among us, but convert,” he asked. to bring Moshiach and stop all the pain and Rabbi Gutnick listened to the girl’s story. She lived in the nearby city of Balaclava, and from her a very young age suffering in this world forever! had felt a strong attraction to Judaism. Whenever she Stay healthy and safe! heard stories of the Holocaust, she was deeply touched. She had been reading and studying about Judaism for a Rochel and Lulu

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long time, and now wanted to convert. she broke down and told her story. She had been raised in an Orthodox Jewish home in England. As a Rabbi Gutnick was touched by her sincerity. However, young girl, she had rebelled against her parents and he was reluctant to allow her to convert. The girl abandoned Jewish life entirely, marrying a gentile was still living at home with her non-Jewish parents. and moving to Australia. She had not given Judaism Would she be able to practice Judaism in her parents’ a thought since. She loved her daughter, however, home? Would her interest continue as she matured and would not oppose her if she into adulthood? Since he could wished to live a Jewish life. not answer these questions, he decided to let time take its course. “What’s Once the girl’s Judaism was If the girl was still interested when established, Rabbi Serebryanski she was older, she could convert happening and Rabbi Gutnick helped her feel then. with the Jewish at home in Melbourne’s Lubavitch Rabbi Gutnick’s refusal plunged the community. She continued to girl into deep depression and she girl from make progress in her Jewish had to be confined to a hospital. Balaclava?” commitment, and today is a Reb Zalman, moved by the depth teacher in a Lubavitch school. of her feelings, continued to visit But Rabbi Gutnick still had a her from time to time. question: How did the know she was Jewish? After several weeks, he called Rabbi Gutnick, telling At his next Yechidus, he mustered the Chutzpah to him of the girl’s condition and asking him whether ask. perhaps he would change his mind because of the The Rebbe replied that, at Reb Zalman’s urging, the strength of her feelings. girl had also written him a letter. “Such a letter,” the Rabbi Gutnick answered that the reasons which held Rebbe declared, “could only have been written by a him back from performing the conversion were still Jewish girl!” valid. Nevertheless, he promised to write to the Rebbe describing the situation. If the Rebbe advised him to go ahead with her conversion, he would happily comply. Think About It!

Reb Zalman told the girl that the Rebbe was being We see the determination of the girl to convert, even at such a young age! consulted, and her condition improved immediately. This shows us that whenever we put our Rabbi Gutnick did not receive an immediate reply mind to something, if we work hard enough, to his letter. Some time later, at the end of a reply to we can do it! another issue, the Rebbe added: “What’s happening with the Jewish girl from Balaclava?” What is one thing you can do to make a difference and bring Moshiach, no Rabbi Gutnick was surprised. The girl and Reb Zalman matter how hard it may be? Remember, had both made it clear that her family was Anglican! determination is the key!

He and Reb Zalman went to speak to the girl’s mother. Email your response to [email protected] or [email protected] and you will be entered into a At first, she continued to insist that she was Anglican, raffle for a $25 gift card to the store of your choice! but as the sincerity of the two impressed her,

2 THE SIBLING WAVE LENGTH | Iyar 5780 Last month’s “Think About It” question was: What is a way to remain positive even when it’s tough? Here are a few of the responses:

Hi! I’m Brachy. When you are going through Hello. My name is Yossi. I think that even in hard a difficult time you have to be joyous and the times we need to be happy because everything Brachos will come along. Hashem does is for the good.

LET’S FIND OUT ABOUT...DYSLEXIA

Hey there, special siblings from around the globe! through multisensory teaching. This means that I’m Avigail and I want to tell you a bit about myself. I use all of my 5 senses to learn how letters form I’m 12 years old and I look just like any other kid on words; since my brain has a harder time figuring my block. I have big blue eyes like my mother and that out on its own. I use playdough to form letters dark brown hair like my father. I’m one of the tallest and use those letters to form words. It might sound kids in my class. I love swimming and dancing. This different to you, but it definitely works for me! My year I joined a dance class in my school and there is reading and writing only gets better as the years go nothing I enjoy better during school than learning by. new dances with my friends. My teachers are very understanding of me and they I go to school every day like every girl my age (and try to help me in any way they can. Instead of giving now because of Corona, I go on Zoom classes of me written tests, my teacher will give me a separate course :)) and that’s where the differences between oral test. I’m so grateful to them for working with me me and other kids start. to overcome my challenge. I can’t read. Baruch Hashem, there are so many areas in my life where I am so happy and I don’t let my Dyslexia I can’t read - and not because I need eye glasses or get to me. I focus on all the goodness around me because I never learned how. I can’t read because - my family, my friends, my love for dancing, and I have a reading disability called Dyslexia. Dyslexia my physical health which is superb! Even within affects 5-15% of children in the United States of my challenge, I do my best to constantly find the America, making it harder for them to read, write or good there. Sometimes it can be hard, after a spell. frustrating therapy session where I feel like I didn’t Classes are pretty hard for me. Homework is super get anywhere, or after failing a test because I didn’t hard. Tests are even harder. When I see letters know the written material from class so well;but joined together to form words, they jump in front then I remind myself that Hashem wouldn’t have of my eyes and I can’t figure out what word is being given me this challenge if He thought I couldn’t pass formed. It’s as though those letters have a life of it. He must believe in me to overcome this challenge their own and I can’t do anything to control it! because He gave it to me. My parents realized I had a harder time reading and I won’t let Him down. writing when I was in second grade. I started going to a therapist and began learning to read and write

THE SIBLING WAVE LENGTH | Iyar 5780 3 אייר ...special days in

אייר Birthday of the Rebbe Maharash .In the year 5594, in the city of Lubavitch, the Rebbe Maharash, Reb Shmuel, was born ב׳

The Yartzheit of the Rebbe’s brother, Reb Yisroel Aryeh Leib אייר On 13 Iyar 5712, Reb Yisroel Aryeh Leib, the Rebbe’s youngest brother, passed away in Liverpool, England at the young age of 45. He moved to Eretz Yisrael and got married י׳׳ג there. Later, he moved again to Liverpool where he passed away. His Kever is in Tzfas, as per the Rebbe’s request.

Pesach Sheini אייר 14 Iyar is when the Yidden who were impure during Pesach and couldn’t bring the Korban Pesach now had their chance to bring their Korban. The Rebbe Farbrenged on י׳׳ד this day , stressing the message that “there’s no such thing as being too late - we can always make up for what was missing”.

Lag B'omer אייר On this day, we celebrate the end of the plague that took the lives of Rabbi Akiva’s students. It is also the yartzeit of Rabi Shimon Bar Yochai who asked us to 24,000 י׳׳ח celebrate this day instead of mourning.

,Birthday of the Rebbe’s brother אייר Reb Yisroel Aryeh Leib כ׳׳א The Rebbe’s youngest brother, Reb Yisroel Aryeh Leib, was born in the year 5666 in the city of Nikolayev.

4 THE SIBLING WAVE LENGTH | Iyar 5780 Leah Langman’s Diary CHAPTER 9

Recap: Chana tells Leah that she has a newborn sister with some joy to their Down Syndrome. They discuss having a sibling with special day and make it an needs and both of them feel better about their special even better day for sibling after. them! During my lunch Monday, 24 Iyar break, I read Rivky a story and she loved Dear Diary every minute of it. Coronavirus is really turning the world as When I finished school, we know it upside down and inside out. I took Chezky bike Everyone is in quarantine, school has riding in the backyard switched to Zoom classes, and the only and he had a blast. After time I ever go outside is to our backyard. supper, I tried to think of Forget trips to the shopping mall - all the a way I could make Avi stores are closed! Only Tatty leaves the happy. I walked into the house for basic groceries. living room and found him sitting on the couch, It’s challenging to be home all day, staring blankly into space. especially with the little kids bored so much of the day. They have Zoom classes “Hey Avi,” I said, smiling too, but only in the morning. I have a full warmly at him. regular day of classes. I have to say, I really He didn’t catch my eye but a slow smile started spreading enjoy it because it gives me something to across his face. focus on and it’s good to see my friends every day - even if it’s through a screen. “Avi, do you want to hear what I learned in school today?” I sat down next to him and took his hand in mine. His hand Tatty said something powerful on Shabbos at the was soft, like a baby’s. meal and it keeps going through my head. He said, “just think about it. One man in China got this virus He mumbled something happily. I told him about my and it spread to the entire world. It’s such a contagious classes that day, and I told him how much I miss seeing my virus! If this is for the bad, then how much more so for friends in real life, and how much I miss real life in general. the good! If we do one good thing, it can also affect the Avi was a great listener. He just kept nodding and smiling at entire world! Goodness is even more contagious than me, and even though he probably didn’t understand what badness.” I was saying he was understanding my vibes. He felt that I Goodness is even more contagious. Now is a time more cared to let him into my life and make him a part of it. than ever to increase in goodness, with so much hardship When I finished talking, he spoke some more to me and I and confusion all around us. No one knows when this will nodded and smiled at him just like he did for me. be over, no one can plan, no one knows what to expect! I felt more connected to Avi than I ever felt before. Building All we can do is just add in goodness. ` a relationship with a special sibling is hard and unique, but So this morning I woke up and decided that every day I so rewarding! will spend time with each of my siblings and give them a For Avi and for me. fun time in whatever way I can. Including Avi, even though it’s a little more difficult to talk to him. This way I can bring TO BE CONTINUED...

THE SIBLING WAVE LENGTH | Iyar 5780 5 LIFE LESSONS

The of 14 Iyar says: the theme of Pesach Sheini is that it is never too late. It is always possible to put things right. Even if one was Tamei (ritually impure), or one was far away, and even in a case of Lachem, when this (impurity etc.) was deliberate - nevertheless he can always correct it. This is a very powerful lesson for us in our own personal Hachlatah of the month: lives. Sometimes we can feel like it’s too late, like we messed Think of an area in your life where you up and there is no way back. But from Pesach Sheini we feel like “it’s too late” and work on your learn that it is never too late. There is always a second chance for us, no matter what. second chance!

J Words of Wisdom J

speaks, the person who listens and the person they are אמור אל :In Parshas Emor, Hashem tells Moshe Rabbeinu You shall say to the Kohanim.” The Parshah talking about. We can understand why the ones who“ — הכהנים goes on to teach us about some of the Mitzvos which the speak and listen are responsible for the sin which they Kohanim must keep. committed, but why should this affect the person they are talking about? He didn’t take part in their conversation. He The name of the Parshah is Emor — “You shall say.” may not even know they were talking about him! we can אמור אל הכהנים and not אמור By just calling it understand that Hashem is also commanding us about Let’s think about what we are doing as we talk. We are things we should say. This commandment seems to be bringing thoughts which are hidden into the open. This hinting that we should talk a lot about certain things. But causes something to happen to the person we are talking ,about. When we speak about the bad within a person אמור מעט ועשה :what? Haven’t we learned in Pirkei Avos Say a little and do a lot”? we are bringing it into the open by our words. That’s why“ הרבה speaking Lashon Hara about a person harms him, because If Hashem is commanding us to say some things, they must it can encourage the bad in him. If we would not speak be words that are good and proper. What might they be? about the bad, perhaps it would stay hidden and he would With the word Emor, Hashem is telling us that we should not do bad deeds. always be saying good things about Now, our Chachamim tell us that good has much more other people. We can see how power than bad. Just think what could happen if we said important this is if we think only good things about others. Being that speech brings about what happens when thoughts into the open, saying a lot of good things about people, G‑d forbid, do not say others will bring out the good that is inside them. This is nice things about others. what Hashem is commanding us to do when He says Emor. Our Rabbis tell us We should be saying good things about others all the time. that when someone Since speaking brings hidden things into the open, we speaks Lashon Hara, should speak about the Geulah with our families and three people suffer: the person who friends, for this will help make it happen sooner.

6 THE SIBLING WAVE LENGTH | Iyar 5780 Sibling Spotlight

What is your name and how old are you? Chana and I’m 10. Where do you live? Florida What type of Shlichus do you do? We work with campus students. What is your favorite part of your Shlichus? Setting up for events. What is something unique about the place you live in? We have a pool in our backyard. What is your special sibling’s name and how old is he? Moshe. He is 12 Can you tell us a bit about Moshe? He has Down Syndrome. It’s hard for him to talk but he can make noises. When he is happy, he’ll flap his hands and smile. When he gets upset, he can scream very loudly but he is also quick to calm down. He loves playing ball games with us from his wheelchair. He loves hearing music. What is one thing you have learned from him? He is very determined to do everything right and just the way he likes it. It teaches me to never give up. How do you help Moshe? He loves listening to music. I play piano for him and he enjoys it. What’s your favorite subject at school? Sewing. What is a talent of yours? Playing piano. If you could visit one place in the world, where would you go? Australia What would you like to be when you grow up? A teacher and a Shlucha. Want to be featured in a future issue? Email [email protected] or lulu@fcbrooklyn for the chance to be featured!

THE SIBLING WAVE LENGTH | Iyar 5780 7 FUN PAGE

RECIPE CORNER Where in the world?

Leah and Levi are on a Zoom video call with all their cousins from around the world. The username of each caller is the location where they live. However, the letters spelling out each location are all mixed up! Can you help Leah and Levi unscramble the usernames so they can figure out in which location each of their cousins live?

ASRLAUTAI Chocolate-Almond- ANDELNG Banana Smoothie SRILAE INGREDIENT S HAINCH • Frozen banana • Almond butter NIFILAROCA • Almond milk • Cocoa powder SISARU • Ice INST RUCTIONS RILOFAD Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into cups, stick a EWN YESREJ straw in if you’d like, and enjoy!

ZAARONI

CENAFR

Yaldei Shluchei HaRebbe Friendship Circle of Brooklyn Merkos Suite 302 792 Eastern Parkway #512 353 Kingston Avenue, Suite 302 Brooklyn, NY 11213 Brooklyn, NY 11213 www.fcbrooklyn.com www.yaldei.com Lulu Feldman Rochel Danow [email protected] SibClix Coordinator [email protected] FriendshipCircleBrooklyn 8 THE SIBLING WAVE LENGTH | Iyar 5780