29 Kislev 5780 Bringing Moshiach Values December 27 2019 Into Our Homes Price: $4.95 no. 1194

יחי אדוננו מורנו ורבינו מלך המשיח לעולם ועד ב"ה From the Columns In This Issue { 7 } Halachic Times And Daily { 4 } Moshiach Through His { 8 } Can I Use A Sefer As Shiurim Successor Shtender? Besuras HaGeulah with English By Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun { 10 } Gate & Gates translation The Rebbe's Kapitel { 41 } Chassidus: One Core Point; { 6 } We Need More Books Of The Rest Is Footnote { 59 } Chanuka In Siberia Light By Heschel Greenberg Story for children From the Rebbe's pen { 42 } The Seforim That Opened { 62 } The Plot { 46 } Chanukah With The My Eyes Comics about Moshiach Rebbe By Rabbi Gershon Avtzon Moments with the Rebbe { 12 } { 44 } The Guide To Buying Women’s Corner Nutritious Storybooks Op-Ed by Levi Liberow { 49 } The Uniqueness Of Ubiquity Features { 32 } { 46 } The Mysterious Silver Mrs. Chaya Chazan Goblet { 12 } “Baruch Hashem! The Rebbe Rabbi Nissim Lagziel with a { 50 } How To Punish Children Won’t Suffer Any More!” Moshiach thought on the Parsha Chinuch Rabbi , Shliach of the Rebbe and of , relates the events { 54 } Meeting The “Challenge” surrounding “Hei Teves – Didan Notzach” Mrs. Sara Yitta Gopin from the perspective of a bachur in 770. { 55 } The Gambler - #8 { 32 } The Machanayim Library: Serial Rabbi and Mrs. Gershon and Penina Burkis of Lod tell us in an exclusive interview about the hundreds of books Published by: published over the years World Center to Greet Moshiach 744 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11213

{ 22 } Olden Day Methods, Modern About the Cover: BMoshiach.org { 22 } Day Speed The Rebbe at Birkas [email protected] For Hei Teves, Beis Moshiach brought Hachamah outside 770, 718.778.8000 together Rabbi Zalman Chanin of the 4 Nissan 5741 BeisMoshiachMagazine.org Va’ad L’Hafotzas Sichos who prepared the [email protected] Rebbe’s sefarim for print, and Rabbi Motel Chein, of Empire Press who handled the technicals, for a nostalgic interview. Editor-In-Chief: Rabbi Boruch Merkur • Editor: Levi Liberow • Managing Editor: Shraga Crombie Director: Rabbi M.M. Hendel • Rabbinical Advisor: Rabbi Yaakov Chazan

2 BEIS MOSHIACH This magazine contains holy texts, please treat it with respect. 27 KISLEV5780 3 ָי ִביאוּ ֵתּ ֶכף ִוּמ ָיּד ַמ ָמּשׁ ֶאת ( ַה ִגּלּוּי ְוּשׁ ֵלמוּת ֶשׁל) they, collectively, will bring about in an ַה ָשּׁ ִל ַיח ָה ִﬠ ָקִּרי ְו ָה ֲא ִמ ִתּי, ַי ַחד ִﬠם ִגּלּוּי ֶﬠ ֶשׂר ַהכּוֹחוֹת imminent manner the revelation (in perfect ֶשׁלּוֹ – form) of the primary, ultimate shliach (with his ten faculties revealed) — Moshiach. Besuras HaGeulah —Th e Rebbe here is alluding to a famous gimatriyah he mentioned earlier at this (as is numerically valued at 348, and with an additional 10 (the שליח well as many other times) that משיח — ten soul-faculties — see chapter 3), we arrive at 358 which is the numerical values of " ְשׁ ַלח ָנא ְבַּיד ִתּ ְשׁ ָלח", -The Rebbe on the imminence of the Redemption Th is would be the fulfi llment of Moshe’s re quest from Hashem to “send now the one You will eventually send:” ַה ָשּׁ ִל ַיח ֶשׁ ְבּ ֵדוֹרנוּ – כ"ק מו"ח ַאְדמוֹ"ר ְנ ִשׂיא the primary shliach of our generation — my ֵדּוֹרנוּ – .Moshiach Through his SUCCESSOR sainted father-in-law, the Rebbe N’sie Doreinu Here, the Rebbe adds a clarifying line which sheds light on many similar statements: מח. חלק משיחות ש"פ חיי שרה, כ"ה מר-חשון, מבה"ח כסלו תשנ"ב (תרגום מאידית) ְוּכ ִפי ֶשׁ ָה ָיה ַבּדּוֹר ֶשׁ ְלּ ָפ ָניו, שכ"ק מו"ח ַאְדמוֹ"ר ,Just as it was in the previous generation 48. Parshas Veyera, 18 Mar-Chesvhan, 5752 – October 26, 1991 (5) ִנ ְת ַא ֵחד ִﬠם ָא ִביו, ֲא ֶשׁר הוּא ָה ָיה ְבּנוֹ ְי ִחדּוֹ, -when my sainted father-in-law the Rebbe, be At the International Kinus Hashluchim of 5752, the Rebbe defi ned the goal of shlichus came unifi ed with his father, the Rebbe Rash- now as greeting Moshiach. Th e Rebbe off ers practical guidance on how to get this done: ab (being his only son)

In other words, the revelation of the Previous Rebbe as the Moshiach of the generation is — ְו ַה ַּכָּו ָנה ְּב ַפ ְשׁטוּת ִהיא – :Simply put through his successor, the Rebbe himself. If so, we have a fi nal count of seven Rebbeim, and ֶשׁ ִמּ ִּכנּוּס ַה ְשּׁ ִלוּחים ְצִר ִיכים ָלבוֹא ְוּל ָה ִביא ַה ְח ָלטוֹת Th e outcome of the Kinus HaShluchim thus, we have a completion of seven gen- ָכּ ֶשׁ ֵיּשׁ ֶאת ַה ְשּׁ ֵלמוּת ֶשׁל ָכּל " ִשׁ ְב ַﬠת ְק ֵני -must be good resolutions on how every shli erations of Chabad Rebbeim alluded to by the טוֹבוֹת ֵּכ ַיצד ָּכל ָשׁ ִל ַיח ָצִרי ְל ִה ְת ֵכּוֹנן ְּב ַﬠ ְצמוֹ ַה ְמּ ָנוֹרה", ָכּל ַה ֶשּׁ ַבע דּוֹרוֹת. ach must prepare himself seven branches of the Menorah. ְוּל ָה ִכין ֶאת ָּכל ַה ְּי ִהוּדים ִּב ְמקוֹמוֹ ְוּב ִﬠירוֹ ְוכוּ' and all the Jews in his place, city, etc., to ְועוֹד ְו ִﬠ ָּקר: ֵמ ַא ַחר ֶשׁ ְּכ ָבר ִס ְּימוּ ֶאת ֲﬠ ַבוֹדת Moreover: since the service of shlichus has ְל ַק ָּב ַלת ְפּ ֵני ָמ ִשׁ ַיח ִצְד ֵקנוּ, .greet Moshiach ַה ְשּׁ ִליחוּת – ָּבא ָּכל ָשׁ ִל ַיח ֶאל ַה ְמּ ַשׁ ֵּל ַח ָה ֲא ִמ ִתּי, already ended, every shliach needs to approach ַה ָּקדוֹשׁ- ָּברוּ-הוּא, ִוּמוֹד ַיﬠ: -the m’shalayach — Hashem — his true “send ַﬠל- ְי ֵדי ֶשׁהוּא ַמ ְס ִּביר ֶאת ִﬠ ְנָינוֹ ֶשׁל ָמ ִשׁ ַיח, Th is should be done through conveying the :er,” and declare ַכּ ְמּבֹ ָאר ַּב ָתּוֹרה ֶשׁ ִּב ְכ ָתב ַוּב ָתּוֹרה ֶשׁ ְּב ַﬠל- ֶפּה, ְּב ֹא ֶפן concept of Moshiach as it appears in both the Written and the Oral Torah — scripture and ָﬠ ִשׂ ִיתי ֶאת ְשׁ ִל ִיחוּתי, ְו ַﬠ ְכ ָשׁו ִה ִּג ַיﬠ ַה ְּז ַמן ֶשׁ ִא ָתּהּ, I’ve done my shlichus and now the time“ ַה ִמּ ְת ַק ֵּבל ֵא ֶצל ָּכל ֶא ָחד ְו ֶא ָחד ְל ִפי ִשׂ ְכלוֹ ַו ֲה ָב ָנתוֹ, talmudic-midrashic sources — in a manner ְּכ ַבָּיכוֹל, ַתּ ֲﬠ ֶשׂה ֶאת ְשׁ ִל ְיחוּתcame that You, as it were, do Your shlichus:”  graspable by every individual according to his " ְשׁ ַלח ָנא ְבַּיד ִּת ְשׁ ַלח" – ְשׁ ַלח ָלנוּ ֶאת ָמ ִשׁ ַיח — ”intellectual capacity. “Send the one You will eventually send send us our righteous Moshiach in actual reality! ִצ ְד ֵקנוּ ְּב ֹפ ַﬠל ַמ ָמּשׁ! ֵכּוֹלל ִּב ְמ ֻי ָחד – ַﬠל- ְי ֵדי ִלמּוּד ִﬠ ְנְי ֵני ָמׁ ִש ַיח ְוּג ֻא ָּלה, Th is includes, in particular to encourage [ ֶשׁ ַּגם ַה ָּקדוֹשׁ- ָּברוּ-הוּא הוּא ָשׁ ִל ַיח (" ַמ ִּגיד Hashem too is a shliach, as written in the — ִוּב ְפָרט ְּב ֹא ֶפן ֶשׁל ָח ְכ ָמה ִּב ָינה ְו ַד ַﬠת. -them to study about Moshiach and the Re ְד ָבָּריו ְל ַי ֲﬠ ֹקב גוֹ'"demption, specifi cally in an intellectually verse; “He tells His word to Yaakov” which the ,(11 comprehensible manner. Midrash famously explains to mean “He com- ”.mands to do that which He Himself does ֶו ֱהיוֹת ֶשׁ ִזּוֹהי ָה ֲﬠ ָבוֹדה ַּב ְּז ַמן ַה ֶּזה, ֲהֵרי ָמוּבן ֶשׁ ֶּזה Now, since this is the unique Divine service -Th e Rebbe deduces thus, that Hashem is Himself a shliach because he commanded us to be shlu ַשׁ ָּי ְל ָכל- ֶא ָחד-ְו ֶא ָחד ִמיִּ ְשָׂר ֵאל, ְּב ִלי ֵיוֹצא ִמן ַה ְּכ ָלל. of the time, it’s then obvious that it applies to every Jew with no exception whatsoever! chim. Furthermore: just as when a shliach invests his entire self — his ten soul-faculties — into his mission, he brings about Moshiach, similarly, * * * ְוּבַי ַחד ִﬠם ֶﬠ ֶשרׂ ַה ְּס ִפירוֹת – ֲהֵרי ַﬠ ְצמוּתוֹ ַוּמהוּתוֹ Hashem Himself, together with His ten ִו ִיהי ָרצוֹן, ֶשׁ ַﬠל- ְי ֵדי ֶשׁ ָכּל ָשׁ ִל ַיח ְי ַמ ֵלּא ֶאת -May it be Hashem’s will, that by every shl ְבּ ַﬠ ְצמוֹ, ְכּ ַבָיּכוֹל, הוּא ָמ ִשׁ ַיח ִצ ְד ֵקנוּ]: .as it were, is Moshiach Tzidkeinu , ַתּ ְפ ִקידוֹ ִבּ ְשׁ ֵלמוּת, ְבּ ָכל ֶﬠ ֶשׂר כּוֹחוֹת ַה ֶנּ ֶפשׁ, iach fulfi lling his mission perfectly, using all the ten faculties of his soul, Th is can also be explained in Kabbalistic terms: Exile is a state of Divine concealment, when G-dliness is not completely manifest in the world. Th e Redemption, by contrast, is a state of being ִוּב ְפָרט ֶשׁ ָכּל ַה ְשּׁ ִלוּחים ְיִת ַא ֲחדוּ ְו ָיִכּ ְנסוּ ָבּ ֶזה – especially since all the shluchim will — wherein all of Hashem’s “essence” is openly manifest in the world. All Divine manifestations occur unite around this mission and “get into it” — through the ten supernal Sefi ros, hence Hashem as the shliach, plus 10 Sefi ros, equal Moshiach. —

4 BEIS MOSHIACH 27 KISLEV 5780 5 shabbos ל‘ כסלו 12/28

Candle lighting Sunrise Latest shema Midday Sunset Shabbos ends 4:17 7:18 9:38 11:57 4:35 5:22 ג' פרקים: הל' שמיטה ויובל פ' ו-ח. פרק אחד: הל' זכיה ומתנה פרק ז. ספר המצוות: מ״ע קמ. קלו. קלז. מל״ת רכד. רכה.רכו

Sunday Monday ב‘ טבת 12/30 א‘ טבת We Need More Books of Light 12/29

Sunrise Latest shema Sunset Sunrise Latest shema Sunset In connection with Hei Teves, a Yom Tov connected with sefarim, we present a handwrit- 7:19 9:38 4:36 7:19 9:38 4:37 ten note from the Rebbe regarding the publication of additional books of Chassidus: ג' פרקים . הל› שמיטה ויובל פ› יב-יג, הל› בית הבחירה פ› א› ג' פרקים . . . . . הלכות שמיטה ויובל פרקים ט-י»א פרק אחד ...... הלכות זכיה ומתנה פרק ט פרק אחד ...... הלכות זכיה ומתנה פרק ח ס' המצוות .מל״ת קסט. קע. מ״ע קפג. מל״ת רכח. מ״ע כ ס' המצוות ...... מ״ע קלח. מל״ת רכז. מ״ע קלט

Tuesday Wednesday ד‘ טבת 01/01 ג‘ טבת 12/31

Sunrise Latest shema Sunset Sunrise Latest shema Sunset 7:19 9:39 4:38 7:19 9:39 4:38

ג' פרקים...... הלכות בית הבחירה פרקים ה-ז ג' פרקים . . . . . הלכות בית הבחירה פרקים ב-ד פרק אחד ...... הלכות זכיה ומתנה פרק יא פרק אחד ...... הלכות זכיה ומתנה פרק י ספר המצוות ...... מ״ע כא ספר המצוות ...... מל״ת עט. פ

לפני כו“כ [=כמה וכמה] שנים הו"ל [=הוציא/ו לאור] - כמדומני מתורת הבעש"ט ערכין ע"ס [=על סדר] הא"ב ולא ראיתי אלא ח"א [=חלק א']. ולכאורה כדאי היה להמשיך. Thursday Friday ואם עוברי רצונו ר"ל [=רחמנא ליצלן] מוסיפים בס' [=בספרי] חושך, עאכו"כ שצ"ל [=על אחת כמה וכמה ו‘ טבת 01/03 ה‘ טבת 01/02 שצריך להיות] הוספה בס' [=בספרי] אור ובפרט מן המאור שבתורה, וזכות הרבים מסייעת. You have published many years ago — so I believe —teachings of the Ba’al Shem Tov, ar- ranged by encyclopedia-like alphabetical entries, but I have only seen one volume. It seems Sunrise Latest shema Sunset Sunrise Latest shema Sunset to be worthwhile to continue this project. 7:19 9:39 4:39 7:19 9:39 4:40 If those who transgress His will, Heaven forbid, are increasingly publishing books of dark- ג' פרקים הלכות כלי המקדש והעובדים בו פרקים ג-ה ג' פרקים . הל› בית הבחירה פ› ח, הל› כלי המקדש פ› א-ב פרק אחד ...... הלכות שכנים פרק א פרק אחד ...... הלכות זכיה ומתנה פרק יב ,[ness, how much more so does there need be an addition in books of light [ and Torah ספר המצוות ...... מל״ת פה. פב. מ״ע לד. מל״ת פו ספר המצוות. מ״ע כב. מל״ת סז. מ״ע לה. מל״ת פג.פד , and specifically in books of the source of light,i.e., books of Chassidus. The merit of therabim the community, will assist you in this. ■

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27 KISLEV5780 7 and one puts another sefer or Siddur on top as a caveat against marking a book as a private of it, there is absolutely no problem and that possession. Instead, we quote the passuk, LaSh- is permissible. Otherwise, taking a sefer from em ha’aretz u’mloah, attributing ownership to ASK The Rav elsewhere and using it as a shtender for anoth- Hashem. er sefer or Siddur is unacceptable. (Halacha2go. (There are opinions that contend with this com #6) interpretation of Reb Yehuda Hachassid’s tza- Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun Because my Books Aren’t Really Mine va’ah; some maintain that he is addressing an entirely different issue. “Refrain from labeling Many affluent individuals enjoy displaying a book as yours” is not a directive to the owner, their impressive library of sefarim. Some house but rather to the author of the work, cautioning so many books—with the shelves reaching him from taking credit for his achievements. from floor to ceiling and stretching from wall Indeed, we find a similar prohibition cited in Can I Use a Sefer as Shtender? to wall—that their libraries are worth millions! Reb Yehuda Hachassid’s Sefer Chassidim. The Owner of the greatest library on earth, Nonetheless, in current times, it has become which includes every book ever printed, is customary for the writer to identify himself In honor of the special day of Hei Teves Hashem, the Creator and Master of the World— as a tool for the reader in assessing the book’s we present a collection of halachos from AskTheRav.com & Halacha2Go.com and the Possessor of everything it contains. We content.) by Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, Mara D’asra and member of the Crown Heights Beis Din acknowledge this by inscribing LaShem ha’aretz u’mloah (To Hashem is the land and all within Practically, the terms mi’sifrei— (from the it, Tehillim 24:1) in all of our sefarim even be- library of) or shayach l— ([this book] be- longs to) may be used when preceded by the is לה"ו Changing Children in front be appropriately covered in front of sefarim fore marking our name. The acronym verse LaShem ha’aretz u’mloah, testifying to as well. often used instead. of Objects of Kedushah Hashem’s true ownership. Certainly, in the case A solution for changing a diaper in a room While there is an issue, in general, of writ- According to halacha, a child’s soiled gar- of a book donation, there is no issue of writ- where there are mezuzos, sefarim, or Shab- ing three consecutive words of a passuk (To- ment—or any inyan of tinuf (dirt)—should ing, nidvas (donated by…) or the like. bos or Yom Tov candles (or ordinary candles)— rah verse) in vain, the words LaShem ha’aretz not be within the sight of a mezuzah; there- On the topic of sefarim ownership, honor- is for the person who is changing the diaper u’mloah are not subject to this restriction, since fore, one should not change diapers in front able mention should be given to the Jewish to stand in a way that effectively blocks the the word “laShem” is only representative of the of a mezuzah. custom of purchasing a chumash, tehillim, sid- view from the mezuzos, sefarim, or candles. actual shem Hashem that appears in the verse. There is aminhag not to have young chil- (Halacha2go.com #354) dur, and (lehavdil) tzedakah pushka (charity The basis for this practice can be traced to dren walk around undressed in front of Shab- box) for each child to be placed in a conspic- Is a Sefer as a Shtender ok? the Talmud, which tells of Reb Chiya bar Ab- bos or Yom Tov candles out of respect for the uous place in their room. Each sefer, as well ba’s visit to the city of Ludkia. There he wit- as the pushka, if possible, should bear the mitzvah. In fact, it is considered a sakanah (dan- There is amachlokes between the Mogen nessed how a golden table, its top adorned with words LaShem ha’aretz u’mloah and the child’s gerous) to walk around undressed in front of Avrohom and the Taz whether one is allowed silver work and laden with delicacies, spices name, so they may learn, daven and give tze- candles, even during the week. to put a sefer under another sefer in order and perfumes and set with luxurious table- dakah using their personalized items. (Hala- to lift the latter up so that it should be more There are those who suggest that if one is ware, was carried by sixteen servants before cha2go.com #844) ■ comfortable to learn from. Since this is a dis- changing a diaper or dressing a child in front his host. When they set down the magnificent agreement related to Kovod Hasefarim (respect of a candle, it’s not a problem as long as the table, the servants called out, “LaShem ha’aretz to sefarim), of course one should be strict and child is uncovered for a very short time, since u’mloah!” testifying to the fact that all one owns * References are available for this Halacha not do what is commonly done, piling up a most likely it was inevitable before the advent truly belongs to HaShem. on the websites: www.Halacha2Go.com and few sefarim on top of each other in order to of electricity. www.AskTheRav.com elevate the top‐most sefer or Siddur to a more Another more direct source for writing Nevertheless, one should not allow a child to comfortable height. this passuk in sefarim appears in the tza- Please note that these halachos apply in run around in an untzniusdik (immodest) state. va’ah (will) of Rebbi Yehuda HaChassid: Re- general situations, if you are unsure whether If the sefer is already there, that is a dif- The Alter Rebbe writes that children should frain from labeling a book as yours; instead, the halacha applies to your particular ferent halacha. Once a sefer is already there merely inscribe your name. This is understood situation, please consult a Rov.

8 BEIS MOSHIACH 3 CHESHVAN 57857800 9 ,Rightful entrance chastisements (see 118:18). In accordance - שערי צדק Hashem treated him with the attribute of justice The Malbim explains that these gates are according to his actions, and not in accordance called “gates of justice” because King David’s sal- with the attribute of [undeserved] kindness. TheRebbe's Kapitel vation came by means of [atonement through] כ. ֶ ֽז ַה־ה ַּׁ֥ש ַער ַֽלה', ַ֜צ ִ ּד ִ֗יקים ָי֘ ֹ֥ב ּאו ֽבֹו: This is Hashem’s gate; the righteous will enter .20 An anthology of commentaries therein. ֶזה ַה ַשּׁ ַﬠר. ֶשׁל ֵבּית ַה ִמּ ְק ָדּשׁ ֶשׁהוּא ַלה' ְו ַה ַצּ ִדּ ִיקים ,This is the… gate:of the Temple, which is the L-rd’s ָיבוֹאוּ בּוֹ, ְו ָשׁם …and the righteous will enter therein and there ָ כא. ֣אֹו ְדך ִּכ֥י ֲע ִניתָ ִ֑ני ַו ְּת ִה ִ֜֗י־לי ִֽל ׁיש ּו ָֽעה: ,I shall thank You because You answered me .21 Gate & Gates and You were my salvation. ְאוֹד ָךּ ִכּי ֲﬠ ִנ ָית ִני ִמן ַה ָגּלוּת: .I’ll thank You for You answered me: from the exile What is the gate? fear of Heaven is like a treasurer to whom they - זה השער קיח. gave keys to the inner doors of the treasury בו יסופר גודל הבטחון שהיה לדוד והרבה תהלות להש“י שקיים לנו מה שהבטיח אותנו: In Tzava’as HaRibash (ch. 66), a teaching but they did not give keys to the outer door.” This psalm relates the great bitachon King Dovid had in Hashem, from the Ba’al Shem Tov is cited: and many praises to Hashem for fulfilling what He promised to us See more about this in Tanya, ch. 41. “When you wish to pray, first bring yourself ?Who is the gate - צדיקים to a state of awe, for ‘this is the gate to enter יט. ִּפ ְת ּחו ִ ֥־לי ַׁשֽ ֲע ֵר ֶ ֑י־צ ֶדק ָֽא ֹב ָ֜֗א־בם ֘אֹו ֶ ֥דה Open for me the gates of righteousness; I .19 before G-d.’ Another teaching of the Ba’al Shem Tov on ָֽי- ּה׃ .shall enter them and thank G-d (Say in your heart: ‘To whom do I wish to this verse is cited in Butzina Di’Nehora (p. 25a“ ִפּ ְתחוּ ִלי ַשׁ ֲﬠֵרי ֶצ ֶדק. ְו ֵאלּוּ ֵהן ַשׁ ֲﬠֵרי ֶצ ֶדק: Open for me the gates of righteousness: And these [following gates] are the gates of righteousness. attach myself? To the One who created all a collection of teachings from Reb Baruch of worlds by His word, gives them existence and Mezhibuzh, the Ba’al Shem Tov’s grandson: sustains them.’ Contemplate His greatness “My grandfather, the Ba’al Shem Tov ex- Help me Praise These seven gateways can potentially be and exaltedness, and then you will be able to - פתחו plained the verse so: ‘This is the L-rd’s gate, the used also for negative things. That’s why the enter the supernal worlds.” The Radak explains the phrase “open for Torah commands us to “place judges and offi- righteous’. So as to say, that [connecting to] me the gates” as an analogy: King David is re- cers at all your gates,” to ensure — both by an This contemplation is, in fact, a prerequisite tzaddikim is the gateway to Hashem.” questing the sages and the knowledgeable to to prayer, as the Shulchan Aruch (I:98:1) rules, understanding of the laws of the Torah, “judg- ...Only Tzaddikim Allowed - צדיקים יבואו בו -assist him (“open for me”) in singing praises that before prayer “one must think of the exalt es,” and through kabolas ol, “officers,” — that to Hashem edness of God and the lowliness of man.” only good things pass through them. The Alshich points out in his commentary not one gate only... This is based on the Zohar (I:7b): on Tehillim Romemos Kel, that in verse 19 it - שערי If the “judges and officers” do their job ad- is written “Open the gates ... I will praise Y-H,” The Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach (in Ma’am- equately by ensuring “mishpat tzedek,” then “‘Fear of G-d is the beginning of wisdom.’ while in verse 20 it is written “this is the gate of (Tehillim 111:10). ‘This is the gate to G-d’, for ar Shoftim V’Shotrim 5716)explains: the gates serve as sha’arei tzedek; if not, they Y-H-V-H” — Hashem’s full name. surely without entering that gate one will nev- become sha’arei tzalmaves, G-d forbid. “Sha’arei tzedek” in this verse are mentioned er gain access to the Supreme King because He explains this so: “This gate of the Beis The Right Thing To Do He is exalted, hidden, and concealed, and has HaMikdash will be associated with the full - שערי צדק -in plural. We find in Iyov (38:17) a similar con cept: “Sha’arei tzalmaves — the gates of death.” made gates for Himself, one behind the other. name of Hashem, Y-H-V-H, at the time when These many gates refer to — as explained in The Ibn Ezra explains that “sha’arei tzedek” At the end of all those gates, He set up a gate only “the righteous will enter therein, which Sefer Yetzira — the “seven gateways to the soul: which can alternatively mean “the gates of jus- ... He said, ‘Whoever wants to reach Me must is at the third Beis HaMikdash, at which time only complete tzaddikim will exist among the the two eyes, two ears, the mouth, and the two tice,” into which one enters to thank Hashem first pass through this gate. Whoever enters nation of Israel ... Before then, however, [the nostrils.” These are called “gateways,” because are called so because “He who was rescued [as this gate, may enter!’” gate] cannot be associated with [the full name man communicates with the world around him described in the earlier verses of this psalm], The Gemara (Shabbos 31b) relates similar- of Hashem] with all its four letters, only with through them, both by giving and receiving. he is obligated to thank Him. This is justice.” ly: “Rabba bar Rav Huna said: Any person the name Y-H.” who has Torah in him but does not have

10 BEIS MOSHIACH 27 KISLEV5780 11 12 BEB ISS MOSO HHIACH 272 KISLEV 578080 133 Rabbi Berel Lazar •

L’chaim! I am sitting here with you TENSE TIMES L’chaim and farbrenging in hon- or of Hei Teves. Thanks to At one of R’ Yoel Kahans’ in 770, v’livracha! you, I have the privilege of he spoke all about Hei Teves. He explained that farbrenging in connection on Yud-Tes Kislev there was a kitrug (heavenly with this day because if not for this opportu- accusation) about the revelation of Chassidus, nity, I would be busy with other things. Then, on 12 Tammuz there was a kitrug on a higher suddenly, comes Hei Teves, and I think, where level, but on the “light-source” itself there was am I and where is Hei Teves? Where is the Hei never a kitrug. The question arose in heav- Teves of yesteryear and where is the Hei Teves en during the court case, whether there is a of today? “Rebbe” or not. The kitrug was so great that the Rebbe sadly said, in a farbrengen, “I want The truth is that we need to recall and relive to prepare Rashi but I cannot since there is a this day, as the Rebbe explains on the verse, matter that is disturbing.” “these days are remembered and done.” Not merely remembered, but in a way that pertains Now let’s try to imagine for ourselves what to our times and not just as they occurred in constitutes a “disturbing matter” for the Rebbe. 5747. The Rebbe received letters from around the world with the biggest of problems, person- to standing relatively distant during farbren- tion, the other side did all it could to prevent When you go on shlichus, you will see that al problems, shlichus problems, communal gens. How far? Far enough that he was not al- Anash and bachurim from sitting there. They every time you are involved in worldly matters, problems and individual problems and yet, ways able to hear every word the Rebbe said. maintained that by many of Anash coming to it might be interesting at first but the second the Rebbe said there was one problem which But this time, he heard a number of snippets of the courtroom it was an attempt to exert pres- time it is less interesting, and so on. What really did not allow him to concentrate, i.e. the great words quite clearly from his place, despite the sure on the judge. Also, people from a certain gives a person chayus? When he remembers kitrug against him. fact that the crowd was singing. Among other Chassidic group that opposed Chabad sent his time in 770. things, the Rebbe said, “The Alter Rebbe, the their people to take up seats. During World War II the Rebbe sat in Vichy Speaking about Hei Teves, those days were Mittler Rebbe, etc” raising his voice with each as bombs fell around him unceasingly, and still, The courtroom wasn’t particularly large. the ultimate peak of the time period when I Admor, until he almost shouted, “Der shver!” he wrote reshimos, he learned in the greatest There were two rows and in each row there was in yeshiva in 770. I don’t think there was depth; while here, in New York, the Rebbe said For a year and a half we bachurim sat in were five or six fine wooden benches. Each a time in Chabad history when there was such that Chumash with Rashi was hard for him to 770, in an atmosphere of tremendous tension. bench could seat about 18 people comfort- inspiration and such revelations. In any case, I concentrate on. I don’t know if I can describe the tension we ably. About 20 bachurim squashed onto these did not see anything close to this. felt. The bachurim, without exception, would benches. Some sat with one foot on the bench You can see this in the following incident: I was personally very connected to every- get up every morning to say Tehillim with a and the rest of his body on his friend’s foot. One Shabbos, before the court case began, thing having to do with the court case over the minyan that began before Chassidus seder at This was before factoring in the coats they held, Rashag went over to the Rebbe, as they sang sefarim. I was a bachur in 770 and together 6:00. This went on until we heard the Rebbe volumes of , sandwiches, etc. You can niggunim, to the get mashke for the dinner for with some bachurim I wrote an entire book that say that this was not his intention. picture it … . He took the opportunity to describes what happened then, starting from say something in connection with the sefarim. IN THE COURTROOM More than once, the courtroom usher an- when the Rebbe began talking about it, the Then and there, the Rebbe turned white and nounced that there were too many people on rumors, and the grand Didon Notzach finale. Every morning, at 8:15, a bus left 770 for turned his face away and began speaking in a a bench and some had to leave. People didn’t We had this very interesting book and then the the courthouse. Every day, there was a lottery frightening way that we were not accustomed exactly jump up at this, so the judge himself Rebbe suddenly said a sicha about not talking for which bachurim would go to court, as the to. had to make the announcement. about it and not writing and publicizing about courtroom had about 150 seats while there it, so the book went wherever it went … One of the Chassidim at that time, was used were many more who wanted to go. In addi- The truth is that all those who sat in the

14 BEIS MOSHIACH 27 KISLEV5780 15 courtroom and followed the proceedings did are clear today to every child were not known examination ensued and our lawyer asked That night, 4 Teves, was the wedding of one not think there would be a victory, definitely to Anash. People did not know “who was him questions that blew up his entire claim. of the bachurim. All the bachurim who learned not the absolute victory that we had. against who.” There were witnesses from our He tripped him up on small details, so that it in 770 at the time, went to his wedding. Natu- side who went up to testify who did not know At a certain point, the Israeli bachurim got became clear that he hadn’t actually typed the rally, the place was empty at Chassidus seder what yes to say and what not to say. Sometimes, sick of going and listening to eight hours of letter. At that point the librarian withdrew his the next morning but since I suffered from jet they innocently spoke to our detriment and hearings in high-flown English. At first, some testimony. lag, I got up early. There was hardly anybody every time there was cross examination, we at Chassidus seder. asked their friends to translate for them into After it was discovered that some people were terrified. Hebrew or French and several times, the judge listened in to the Rebbe’s conversation with After shacharis and breakfast, I went back to had to quiet them down. EAVESDROPPING the lawyers, the next meeting was held in the 770. There were about seven bachurim (today, library building. it is hard to imagine only seven bachurim in In the end, the Israeli bachurim looked Every so often, there were meetings between 770). I sat down to learn. I remember where for a “sacrificial lamb” to do the translation the lawyers and the Rebbe. I remember that Throughout that time, there was tremendous I sat … Suddenly, in came R’ Shimon Hecht, work. Since I knew English and Hebrew and I one of the meetings took place in gan eden tension among the Chassidim. Nobody knew completely discombobulated. He whispered to could also write a good Hebrew, that made me ha’tachton after the Rebbe returned from the what would be. There was davening and fasting. me, “The judge ruled that all the sefarim belong a prime candidate. The American bachurim . They took a table from the small zal and Interestingly, the Rebbe went to the Ohel to the Rebbe.” I noticed that he tried to keep only knew English and the only knew put it there. The Rebbe sat on one side and the nearly every day, in the afternoon, at the con- it a secret but as I was a bit “drunk” from the Hebrew. lawyers on the other side. clusion of another day of legal arguments. trip, I began screaming, “Didon Notzach!” I Fortunate am I that I got to be their repre- We, a handful of bachurim who heard that remember it like it was today. sentative in the courtroom and to be present at GREAT NEWS! the meeting was arranged, got up the nerve to all the proceedings and to document all of the It came out that the judge accepted the rul- sneak up to the second floor, abovegan eden I remember how the Didon Notzach news proceedings. I sat with a writing pad and wrote ing that the library belongs to Agudas Chassi- ha’tachton. We stood behind the door and came. How could I forget? a translated summary in Hebrew of what was heard what the Rebbe said. dei Chabad and told the lawyers on both sides. said. When I completed a page, I tore it out and A little before Chanuka 5747, I was asked to Our lawyers told a number of people, Rabbi someone gave it to all the chevra who waited The Rebbe spoke about a letter of the Rebbe travel to for a winter seminar for recent Shneur Zalman Gurary, Rabbi JJ Hecht, R’ outside. They passed it further to the whole Rayatz that he wrote to Dr. Marcus. The Rebbe newcomers to Jewish practice, but I refused Yudel Krinsky. R’ Hecht heard the news and world via fax (these were some of the pages of urged the lawyers to emphasize this letter in since we knew that the verdict would soon be his son Shimon (today a shliach in Brooklyn) the book that we did not end up publishing). their arguments. The lawyers weren’t thrilled announced. They pressured me and I finally ran to 770. This was at 11:10 in the morning. for they thought the letter did not say anything agreed. Still, every day I would order a car and a Another Chassidishe fact from the court- Throughout that time, we lived in great an- significant, legally speaking, as it could be in- ticket in the event that the Didon Notzach news house – every day, the rosh yeshiva, Rabbi ticipation of this news so that we even had a terpreted several ways, but the Rebbe spoke would be announced. In the evening I would Mordechai Mentlick, came to the courtroom. bottle of “96” in our locker. I always said that strongly and said the letter was the greatest cancel and in the morning I would reorder. I He got on the bus with the bachurim every day, our waiting for Moshiach needs to be like our proof that the sefarim belong to Aguch. did this throughout the seminar (which, by wearing a gartel, and he would stand all day. It waiting at that time for victory in the court- the way, was held in a small Italian town that wasn’t easy, since the case began in the morning I remember how just about every sugges- case. We were literally tensed up and ready. The had not one Jew and we got the order to light and ended at night, except for a short lunch tion/argument that the lawyers raised, the bottle of mashke was ready for the moment we a even where gentiles live. We break. Aside from him, other senior Chassidim Rebbe dismissed and said something else. The heard the news. would come like Rabbi Bukiet, Rabbi Moshe Rebbe maintained his position but wanted the were miraculously able to put up a menorah Pinchas Katz, Rabbi Tenenbaum, Rabbi Meir lawyers to put forth these arguments not be- and pictures from there were put in the second We took the “96” and within a few minutes Avtzon, and others. It wasn’t easy to clear a cause he said so, but because they understood album that was published by direct instruction we were drunk. We went outside and began space for them each time on the front bench. and agreed that the Rebbe’s approach was right. of the Rebbe). dancing, just we seven bachurim. The time period of the actual court case in This letter did in fact come up in the argu- The seminar ended on Monday, 4 Teves. It was at this time that one of the secretaries general was one of ups and downs; there were ments as the person who had served as librar- That same day, I rushed to leave Italy for New went to the Rebbe’s office to formally tell him more successful days in the courthouse and ian at the time, in the Rebbe Rayatz’s library, York. My parents were angry at me since I was Didon Notzach. It’s not so nice, but it turns out those that were less so. The mood would quick- claimed that he typed the letter and prepared already in Italy and why didn’t I go and vis- that the Rebbe heard (and he certainly heard ly change depending on the events and argu- it for mailing and therefore, he knew precisely it them, but it was clear to me that time was it!) the screams and commotion of Didon Not- ments. It is important to state that things that what the Rebbe Rayatz’s intention was. Cross precious and the victory news was imminent. zach before he officially got the news.

16 BEIS MOSHIACH 27 KISLEV5780 17 Then someone announced that there was not come. To us it was obvious that this was the a chassan. The Rebbe accepted this and they way to go. You’re a Chassid? If so, you need to continued davening a regular davening without be in 770 at this time. tachanun. The chassan saved us. One of the people who we badgered about We thought that with this, mincha was fin- this was the rav of Bnei Brak, Rabbi Moshe ished but then the Rebbe turned around and Yehuda Leib Landau. For him, it was really me- began to say a sicha. He began with, “There is sirus nefesh to come for at that time, his rabba- the known expression of the Alter Rebbe that nus was in the midst of a storm of opposition we should live with the time.” from the Misnagdim. A trip like this could only add fire. Afterward, R’ Dovid Mondshine said The Rebbe continued the sicha and there that he stood next to R’ Landau when the Rebbe were amazing words said that even if we sat went to the Ohel and the Rebbe saw him for here until the morning, we could not say them the first time after he received the rabbanus. It all. is hard to describe how pleased the Rebbe was. WHERE ELSE SHOULD A By the way, the night of 10 Teves, motzoei When the Rebbe heard the news from the Shabbos and Yom Tov did he come downstairs. LUBAVITCHER CHASSID BE? Shabbos, the Rebbe thanked all the guests for secretary he began to ask whether the decision Now, they were announcing that the Rebbe was coming. Our mood was through the roof. During those seven days of celebration, the could be appealed. They saw that the Rebbe coming down to daven. simcha was so great that bachurim did not AN AUSPICIOUS TIME IN HEAVEN heard the news differently than the Chassidim. The Rebbe came down and we were in an know what it meant to sleep. There was no While to us, it was literally “gilui Moshiach,” Then the events got an additional boost: outstanding mood of exaltation. The chazan such thing as going back to the dormitory. We the Rebbe was much more restrained, if it’s On Tuesday of Didon Notzach, the Rebbe an- began Ashrei and we felt that something was danced all night and when we finished dancing, possible to say so. nounced that this is a special time, an auspi- amiss. We had danced and sung and the Rebbe we fell asleep in 770. cious time, and everyone could send a pidyon There were those who asked why the Rebbe was davening as usual and even the chazan was We got up in the morning, bought a new nefesh and ask for brachos. It was tremendous did not openly rejoice and they answered: the davening as usual. A regular mincha. shirt, davened, and went on mivtzaim. Then news. We realized that it wasn’t only a time Rebbe is waiting for Moshiach while we are In the middle of Shmone Esrei, we said to we returned to 770 for mincha and maariv. We of joy and victory but that the kitrug against waiting for a victory. We used to say then, that the chazan, today is not a regular day! Today is sat down to farbreng again and then to dance the Rebbe had been broken, after a year and Moshiach needs to be revealed so the Rebbe a Yom Tov! If he didn’t want to conduct himself until our strength gave out. We slept, bought a a half that was so tense. It was the stage when would be happy, but for us, it was good with the new shirt, and went on mivtzaim … we realized that it was a real Didon Notzach. Rebbe, literally heaven on earth: a farbrengen accordingly, he should have himself replaced every Shabbos, an edited likut that came out by another chazan. I remember going back to my dorm room Imagine that the victory was only 98%, that every week. What more could a Chassid want? He began the chazan’s repetition in the usual after seven days and seeing that everything was the judge had ruled that ten sefarim out of the like before... It was all the way it looked before hundreds that were taken, should remain with Not much later, we raised $5000 and took a way and then began incorporating niggunim as he davened. Hei Teves. I felt that after Hei Teves, the entire the opposition, or even one sefer. Remember, delivery truck to the store on Troy and filled it world had changed … there were people who were willing to pay with bottles of vodka. Slowly, more and more At the end of the chazan’s repetition, he re- thousands of dollars to get back the sefarim At this time we got a lesson in the power of people joined us. Then came a band and we alized there was no getting around the issue. to the library of Aguch but the Rebbe was not “an arousal from below,” what young bachurim danced for hours, from after 11:00 until 3:00. There were hundreds of bachurim present and willing to pay even one dollar. Because the can accomplish, and you don’t need to wait if he didn’t do as they said, then … Instead of question was absolute: does it belong to the DAY OF CELEBRATION for the great Chassidim or geonim, to create saying tachanun, he began kaddish. The Rebbe Rebbe or not? This was the kitrug. a revolution. At 3:00 we were told that the Rebbe was turned and motioned in surprise: What’s this? Then, the Didon Notzach wasn’t 100% but coming down to daven mincha in the zal down- Why did you skip tachanun? We thought that In those days, we sat and recorded a message 1000% because we knew that the victory was stairs. Do you understand what this means? in light of the circumstances, if the Rebbe came that said: all Lubavitchers must come to the absolute. We didn’t need more than that. Today, it is hard to appreciate the subtlety of downstairs for mincha, that meant it was a Yom Rebbe at this time. There was no such thing as the feelings we had then. In those years, the Tov and we do not say tachanun. We were mo- not coming. We sent the message by phone to The Rebbe spoke about an auspicious time Rebbe davened in the small zal and only on mentarily taken aback by the Rebbe’s surprise. all those we thought should come and might and that people could ask for brachos; that ev-

18 BEIS MOSHIACH 27 KISLEV5780 19 eryone should write a pidyon nefesh and he should submit panim because it was a special with all due respect to them, does it really make in Russia at that time, I met the famous Chas- would take it to the Ohel. eis ratzon. a difference whether there are 400 sefarim more sid, baal mesirus nefesh, R’ Getshe Vilensky, in the big library or 400 sefarim less? a Chabad Chassid in Moscow who preserved We knew what was meant when the Rebbe Aside from this, we had bachurim sitting at Yiddishkeit there for many years. I told him said “Ohel” and what “Rebbe Rayatz” meant; telephones in offices in the 788 building with It was a kitrug on the Rebbe’s very leader- that, boruch Hashem, Didon Notzach, and during the court case the lawyers had asked the the phone numbers advertised everywhere ship. Following Hei Teves, the Rebbe asked that he said with satisfaction, “Nu, now the Rebbe Rebbe, when the Rebbe says, “the Rebbe, my and they got many calls from people who they put more and more new sefarim in the won’t suffer.” father-in-law, Nasi Doreinu,” in farbrengens, wanted brachos from the Rebbe. I can tell you library. At the time, there were bachurim with who does the Rebbe mean? The Rebbe said, that every Poilishe and Hungarian in the reli- a “koch” to bring more sefarim to the Rebbe’s R’ Getshe was a simple Jew and for many “I mean myself.” gious neighborhoods of New York, including library. years he was physically disconnected from Beis many Satmar Chassidim, called and asked for Chayeinu. He didn’t care about the sefarim here Nu, what can you say about that? That was What really pertains to us is that the Rebbe brachos. Grandfathers said, “I have a grandson or there; he had one desire, that it should be a real “squandering of the treasures.” In order won. There is nothing beyond that. The point who doesn’t have children,” each of them with good for the Rebbe. to be victorious in war, the Rebbe squandered their particular problems. There were families on which our world stands in its entirety is We could say that after Hei Teves a new the treasury by exposing all the secrets. who had a child born nine months after Hei the Rebbe. era began in Lubavitch, along the lines of the Suddenly, on the third day of the seven days Teves. There were people who found a shid- LUBAVITCH CHANGED AFTER HEI TEVES 5747 expression “after Petersburg,” a concept estab- of rejoicing, there was a sicha in the small zal duch, in the merit of this eis ratzon. lished after the release of the Alter Rebbe from and the Rebbe said it was an auspicious time Less than a year later, on 2 Kislev 5748, the On the appointed day, the Rebbe left 770 for jail which divided the Alter Rebbe’s leadership and if people would bring panim within the sefarim were returned to the library. I wasn’t the Ohel with eight bags and then with another between what was before and after his impris- next 24 hours, he would take them to the tzi- learning in 770 anymore. I was in Russia as a ten bags full of panim. onment. So too with the Rebbe, you cannot yun. bachur-shliach. What happened then? They We saw how this day, when there had been announced that the sefarim were coming back compare Chabad before Hei Teves to after Hei We felt that it was impossible not to uti- kitrugim against the “light-source,” the Rebbe to 770 and this was after the appeal made by Teves. A revolution began in all areas, mainly lize this opportunity for the good of the entire took it and made something entirely different the other side, an appeal that was rejected. This with Moshiach, Chabad Houses, Seven No- Jewish people. We went around with tanks to out of it. The entire order and all of the rev- was on 25 Cheshvan 5748. There was rejoicing ahide Laws, Shnas Ha’Binyan, the hafatza in all the religious neighborhoods in New York. elations of that time were completely novel, then too but no comparison to the joy the first Russia, etc. At night, we went to Boro Park and hung up far loftier. time. It’s like when a person remarries; it’s not L’Chaim v’livracha! ■ big signs everywhere, announcing that people with the excitement of the first marriage. L’chaim! Transcribed and translated from a WHAT IS DIDON NOTZACH? Then, when the sefarim returned to 770, farbrengen with the t’mimim at Yeshivas the Rebbe wanted it done quietly. When I was Tomchei T’mimim - There is a question that every Chassid needs to ask himself: what is Didon Notzach? There was a question ,, Didon is the sefarim. What sefarim? Did we about whether the Rebbe is see these sefarim? We know that Didon is the the Rebbe and this wasn’t in Rebbe. There was a question about whether the Rebbe is the Rebbe and this wasn’t in 5710 but 5710 but in 5745 and 5746. What in 5745 and 5746. What was a given in 5710 was a given in 5710 suddenly suddenly became unclear. To the Chassidim it became unclear. To the was clear and maybe to other people, but it was a question in heaven and as the Alter Rebbe Chassidim it was clear and writes about the kitrug of Yud-Tes Kislev, the maybe to other people, but it time came for even ministers and the peoples of the world to recognize this. was a question in heaven. The Didon Notzach wasn’t only about the sefarim. The sefarim are in the bookcase, and

20 BEIS MOSHIACH 27 KISLEV5780 21 22 BEIS MOSHIACH 27 KISLEV 5780 23 Avrohom Reinitz • casting process, the machine would return the we would put in those corrections that the Reb- matrices back to the magazine, ready for setting be added after the printing. another line. That is how lines were cast into AFTER ALL THE EDITING, REDOING THE WORK You may metal, and these lines were called “slugs.” Line the large number of new books director of the publishing house of Kehot, and after line would be placed in a special metal tray R’ Chein: When we got corrections from have being published lately. Every two R’ Mottel Chein, who runs Empire Press where that was called a “set” or “galley tray.” the Rebbe, every line that had a correction in noticed or three weeks, there is an an- all of Likutei Sichos from volumes 5-39 were After the metal tray was filled with enough it had to go through the entire process again. If nouncement about another new prepared for print, as well as many other sifrei lines, they would take the tray to the proofing the correction was only where letters had been Lubavitch book. One of the rea- chassidus, I asked them to describe the techni- machine, where they would smear the letters exchanged, it only involved that line alone, but sons for this enormous output in recent years, cal stages of printing back then. with black ink, place a paper over the tray, and if the correction was that a word was missing is the digital revolution in preparing books R’ Chanin: As an example, I will describe run it through a wheel press that would press or the Rebbe added a sentence, the last word for print. What was once called arranging and how Likutei Sichos were printed as a weekly the paper against the letter on the tray. The final on the line had to be moved to the next line. typesetting is today, simply called “graphics.” booklet with a sicha prepared for print by the product was the “galleys,” a page with the lines This meant retyping and resetting the next line Nowadays, most authors type their material members of Vaad L’Hafotzas Sichos and edited of type printed as is, without any proper layout too and so on, until the end of the break. This on a computer and when they decide that it is by the Rebbe: work. That was more than enough to be able would happen often and it turned out that ev- ready for print, all they need to do is click on to proof it for printing errors. ery edit made it necessary to recast nearly all After the members of the vaad finished “send” and the graphic designer has the entire the lines again. going over the sicha including footnotes and R’ Chanin: When R’ Mottel would call to book. If it’s a standard book, without pictures, sources, they would type it all up on a type- tell me that the galleys were ready, we would When it was the Rebbe’s sichos, which had a speedy graphics person can send the book writer, double-spaced between the lines, to rush to submit them to the Rebbe. There were footnotes and numbered sources, if the Rebbe for proofing within a day or two. When he gets allow room for corrections. These pages were always corrections on the first galleys, first, added a footnote, in principle we would have the corrections back, it will take a few hours submitted to the Rebbe. because it was all retyped and so, there were to change the numbers of all the following to put them in and the book is ready to print. new errors, and second, every time something footnotes but since this was very hard work When we got the corrections, the members When the corrections are made, the fact that was submitted for editing to the Rebbe, there and also because often footnotes sometimes of the vaad would retype the portions that were a word that he added or deleted changed the were additional things that weren’t there in the referenced earlier footnotes, we had to choose changed and quickly send it to Empire Press, entire spatial layout makes no difference. The earlier editing. the easier way. So if the Rebbe added a footnote, the print house run by R’ Tzvi Hirsh Gansbourg graphic design program will align the whole for example, after footnote 10, it would get the a’h and R’ Mottel Chain. R’ Tzvi Hirsh Gansbourg, who worked for thing. In the worst case scenario, he may have number 10*. the Rebbe from 5710, once told me that he sub- to manually input the changes which will just R’ Chein: Back then, most of the authors mitted a maamar to the Rebbe for correcting Speaking of editing, I am reminded that extend the job for a brief time. gave handwritten manuscripts to be printed but several times and each time, the Rebbe correct- in 5725, the Rebbe assigned the members of even when we got typed pages, we had to start When the graphic designer finishes his job, ed and added new things. At a certain point, the kollel to produce marei mekomos (prima- the entire process from the beginning. The first he exports the book to a PDF file which is the Rebbe said, “After you enter the corrections, ry sources) for Torah Ohr and Likutei Torah. stage was typing the text on a linotype machine sent to the printer via email. The pagination send it straight to the printer and don’t bring it The system was that every week, a different which, at that time, was the height of modern program will automatically set up the pages in to me edit again. Otherwise, the maamar will kollel member was responsible for finding all technology. Inside the machine, there was a their proper places for print, and the worker never be published…” The Rebbe smiled and the sources for the Chassidishe parsha of that “magazine” containing letters engraved in lead at the print shop just needs to click “print” so explained, “Since the Torah is ‘longer than the week. On motzoei Shabbos, they would go in that were called “matrices” (plural of matrix) that the plate machine will print metal plates earth is its measure,’ every time you submit it, to the Rebbe and give the Rebbe the sources in English. When the typesetter would type the of all the pages. The plate is taken directly to I will have something to add.” for editing. the printing machine and within an hour or letter alef on the keyboard a piece of metal that two, the printing can commence. had the letter alef engraved on it would drop Despite it all, there were times that after It was very hard work because we did not down onto the line of text. When the line filled printing, the Rebbe asked to add and/or change have the search engines and Torah databases In the 60s, it was altogether different. up, meaning there was no more room for the something and then we had to print the cor- that we have today. When it was my turn and I IT’S A LONG WAY TO PRINTING next word, the typesetter would raise a lever rected paragraph in the next pamphlet under went in for yechidus after Shabbos, the Rebbe that would start the automatic casting process the heading of hashmotos (omissions) or luach asked me: How many times did you check this? In an interview I did with R’ Shneur Zalman which resulted in a strip of lead with the raised ha’tikun (corrections). Of course, when it was I said I had gone over it only once. The Rebbe Chanin, director of Vaad L’Hafotzas Sichos and letters of one line of type. At the end of the prepared for publication in an actual volume said: Nu, Hashem will check it …

24 BEIS MOSHIACH 27 KISLEV5780 25 In the mid-70s, we brought in a teletype-set- unusual … I usually arrived at candle-lighting ter system. This system split the work into two time. and enabled it to be done quicker. One worker When the Rebbe wanted a book printed, would type the words into the teletype ma- we had to print it as soon as possible. Nothing chine which would come out as series of holes could be postponed. Sometimes, the Rebbe punched into a strip of paper. After the typist asked for a detailed report about what each finished his work, he would give the paper tape one did, how much was the output of the typist, filled with holes to the technician running the how much was the output of the typesetting linotype machine, which had a machine that process, how much progress was there in the would “read” the tape and operate the key- pagination and the printing... board. This system doubled the speed of the typesetting stage, but we still had to do all the One time, R’ Chadakov came to me on Sun- rest. day morning and asked for the report of the day before. I said: It was Motzoei Shabbos … WORK AROUND THE CLOCK WITH NO BREAK but the Rebbe did not accept that and his reac- tion was: There were a few hours when it was PORTION OF THE REPORT TO THE REBBE REGARDING THE WORK OF EMPIRE PRESS ON THE “KESSER SHEM TOV.” How long did the entire process of printing THE REBBE’S RESPONSE IS WRITTEN IN HAND ON THE SIDE. possible to work on Motzoei Shabbos and why the weekly likut take? didn’t they work? R’ Chanin: Usually, the Rebbe would send R’ Chanin: As everyone knows, in Likutei needed for print preparation such as projecting R’ Chein: In general, we had no vacation out the edited version on Thursday and then Sichos there are two columns and underneath images onto panels and the like, so we had to year-round. My children remember how began the great rush because it made no differ- are footnotes and sources. At Empire Press, during bein ha’zemanim, when all their friends go to the printing press in where ence when the Rebbe produced the edits - the they would set the main text separately and the would go on trips, the most I could do was take they would produce the panels for us. likut had to be ready in 770 before Shabbos! footnotes separately. Every column was also them to the park with my wife in the morning In cases where we got the edits on Thursday done separately. After we got the final product, The period when we printed by R’ Mottel and go back and pick them up in the evening. I afternoon, we knew we would not sleep that after all the editing, the pagination work began: was already the good days. Before that, we had worked all day to prepare the Likutei Sichos or night and there was one time, on a long sum- aligning the two columns next to each other to print everything with Ezra Press (also called other sefarim that the Rebbe wanted printed. mer Friday, that the Rebbe sent us the edits on with the footnotes on the bottom. This was Balshan Press). It was a print house founded Friday and we miraculously manged to print done by hand and R’ Sholom Jacobson was in in 5710 by R’ Mordechai Shusterman in accor- the weekly likut. charge of this. dance with instructions he got from the Rebbe Mrs. Chanin emphasized an important Rayatz two years before (by the way, one of the It was work around the clock. We previously In the offices of the vaad we had over-sized point: times that the Rebbe returned from the Ohel described the many technical stages we had to paper, the size used for printing, on which we and it was close to sunset, he stopped at the go through until the final product. But aside Every time one of the staff working on the printed lined outlines of the Likutei Sichos. sichos had a family event on Friday, like a bris, print house that was on the way and davened from this, take into account that the machines Every page was separate and within each page the Rebbe would make sure to send out his mincha there). back then often got stuck, each time for another were signs for the title line and lines that bor- edits on the sicha earlier, so the sicha could be reason. When the linotype machine was new, dered the rows of text, leaving space for foot- Ezra Press was located in Brownsville which, prepared for printing on Thursday night and it all worked without a hitch but R’ Mottel’s notes. Sometimes, there wasn’t enough room in those days, turned into a bad neighborhood the family simcha could be celebrated. machine was not new and often, letters got for a footnote and then we had to cut a line or and it was scary to go there. We did not have stuck. Sometimes the supply of lead ran out PRIVATE CUSTOMERS WAITED FOR US TO two from upper text and so on. our own cars and had to travel by taxi and wait and it once happened that the lead squirted FINISH THE SICHA After the paper version was ready, we had there until the galleys were ready, then return on R’ Mottel … till today, he has a scar from to photograph the paper onto film. Then they to 770 to submit them to the Rebbe. Afterward, that burn. Empire Press was a private business that would take the film and project the image onto we had to go back to them with the corrections worked with many publishers. I asked R’ Chein: So you weren’t home on Fridays … print panels made of aluminum. In the offices and after everything was corrected, we had to What did you do when you had an urgent proj- of Vaad L’Hafotzas Sichos there was a print- go from there to Manhattan in order to get the They both smiled and R’ Chanin said: If I ect from the Rebbe? How did you handle your ing press but we did not have the equipment film and panels. came home an hour before Shabbos, that was regular customers?

26 BEIS MOSHIACH 27 KISLEV5780 27 R’ Chein: What’s the question? All my cus- In those days, it wasn’t an accepted thing In tandem with the work being done on the tomers knew that the moment something came for a Chassid to take money from the Rebbe. content, I was mainly involved in the technical from the Rebbe, everything else was set aside. In later years, when the Rebbe began giving side of the printing and I will never forget the If they had an urgent job, they went to some- money to shluchim it became normal but then, the difficulties we had during those weeks: it was unheard of. I had no intentions of taking one else. If they were patient, they waited. But For this sefer, the Rebbe said the printing money from Merkos and also, when my father they all knew that when a sicha came from the should be done on a “lead press” machine - this heard about it, he said that he would pay for Rebbe, everything stopped! machine would print with the actual rows of the ticket. When the Rebbe said to print Hemshech lead, meaning that every published page had to Before we left for Eretz Yisrael, the Rebbe pass through the actual printing plates, which 5672, we closed the print-house to other cus- sent out six edited sichos! Obviously, R’ Mottel were called “cliches.” tomers for a few months. We got photographs had a hard time getting it all done within a few of the manuscript and had to type it from the To speed things up, we decided to split the days but in the end, so we thought, it would work: the hard work of preparing the lead plates manuscript. It wasn’t easy and took a lot of be worth it for the break we would have in the would be given to Empire Press. The printing time. We arranged three eight-hour shifts so weeks that followed. that we printed for 24 hours straight, only this itself we arranged to do with Shulsinger. The project. I personally had the third shift and Then, a short time after I returned from editing staff worked at full speed and the ma- would go to work in the middle of the night. Eretz Yisrael, erev Chanuka 5733, R’ Chada- terial that was ready was immediately given kov called us and said that the Rebbe was really to Empire Press which began working on it HIGH PRESSURE WORK pleased by our speed in preparing the Likutei 24 hours a day. Sichos for print and therefore wanted us to After a week of work, a new obstacle arose: Aside from Likutei Sichos, which was done re-edit the Kesser Shem Tov and prepare it for the supply of lead from which the letters were under pressure every week, were there other print. sefarim that were printed especially quickly? made was used up. We had to get new lead Considering the printing technology of that which was a job in itself. Hashem helped and R’ Chanin: One of the sefarim that was done time, we thought we could rush it and manage we managed to borrow lead from several print extra quickly was Kesser Shem Tov. It came in to get it done in a few months. You can imagine houses for a few weeks. It seemed that the A photocopy of the first likut that was published in 5729, the middle of a vacation of a few weeks that the our surprise when we were told that the Rebbe work was starting to move. We worked days which was the first likut set to type by Empire Press Rebbe arranged for us. This is what happened: wanted it to be ready within four weeks so that and nights and when the cliches were ready for it would be available for sale by 24 Teves. print, we had to find a way to get them to the In Cheshvan 5733, a short time after I got print house belonged to a union and whoev- Shulsinger Brothers in Manhattan. married, I had yechidus in connection with The Rebbe even asked that we be made er wasn’t a member of the union was not al- my birthday. During the yechidus the Rebbe aware that since the goyim have their holiday It was a tough job, nearly impossible. We lowed to work on anything having to do with asked me whether I planned on going to the celebration in this month, we needed to take took the cliches on special trays and went. the printing. into account that many of the print-houses Those familiar with the cliches know that the wedding of R’ Sholom Jacobson who was get- We laughed because we naively thought that and binderies would be closed and the print lines and letters are not attached to each other ting married in Eretz Yisrael on Rosh Chodesh he was kidding but a few minutes later we saw house that would be willing to work at that time and so, every bump the car made took out a Kislev. I realized that the Rebbe wanted me to would be operating under technical limitations. few lines and letters and it was a disaster. Ev- he meant business. The owner, Mr. Samuel go and I said yes. Therefore, said the Rebbe, we had to take into erything moved out of place. The rows turned Shulsinger himself came and asked us to leave. The Rebbe said: You need permission from account that we had less than three weeks to over and the pages changed, it was chaos. When We had to leave against our will and wait and the hanhala of the kollel. I will speak with them prepare the sefer. we arrived at the print-house and saw all the hope that some employee and member of the trays with the letters, we realized how big a about giving you permission. He asked: Do you The Rebbe also said that on all the letters, union would be able to take charge. Hashem problem we had. have money for a ticket? When I said yes, the notes and questions that we wrote to him about sent R’ Yehoshua Dubrawsky. He was one of the Rebbe asked: How do you have money? I said: printing this sefer, we should mark it “regarding R’ Nachman Shapiro was with me and we veteran employees of Shulsinger and he took I recently got married and I still have money. Kesser Shem Tov,” so the Rebbe would easily both started fixing the pages and putting each it on himself to make order out of the chaos. The Rebbe said: Don’t use that money. Go to find these notes among the piles of notes and row where it belonged. Then another problem Boruch Hashem, after a few days, everything Merkos and they will give you participation in letters and could respond immediately, before cropped up. One of the managers came over was straightened out and the printing finally the cost of the ticket. other letters. and said we had to leave immediately. Their began.

28 BEIS MOSHIACH 27 KISLEV5780 29 and they began the Every night, after we finished preparing the shop and type in the updated list of every Tanya research and prepa- pages for print, which we received in the eve- ever published so that the edition would be rations for printing. ning, the pages were submitted to the Rebbe. complete. R’ Chanin fought with the printing The Rebbe would take the galleys to his home presses until nearly the start of Yom Kippur At the end of and in the morning he returned with the cor- when he managed to print the entire sefer and 5741, a very sharp rections. carry out the Rebbe’s wishes. note written by the Rebbe was re- Of course, they remember the Tanyas that ceived, in which he the Rebbe gave out on 5742 when the demanded that the But all the effort was worth it as R’ Chanin instruction to prepare the sefer came shortly editing process be concludes: before that. They had to add pictures of the sped up even more. The printing of the final “packet” of pages frontispieces of all the editions that were print- The Rebbe asked for was finished on erev Shabbos Vayishlach and ed until then (from the first edition and on), a report to be sub- the members of the vaad made every effort so manage to print and bind over 10,000 copies The printing was completed on time and mitted weekly about that they could give the first sefer to the Rebbe within a few days, and it all had to be a secret. we were able to bring the printed pages to the the pace of the work along with the pages that before Shabbos. It was already after midday and They also recalled the Yahel Ohr Tehillim binder before their holiday. All ended well. In had been prepared for printing that week. it was a miracle that they managed to bind the that the Rebbe wanted printed within a few honor of 24 Teves, the hilula of the Alter Rebbe, From that point and on, we were in a mad race sefer and bring it 770 a minute before Shab- weeks, when the Rebbe received manuscripts we gave nachas to the Rebbe MH”M and gave against the clock. During the coming months, bos. After the first sefer finally made it to the from the Tzemach Tzedek and it turned out that him the new edition of Kesser Shem Tov. all members of the vaad were cloistered in the Rebbe, the members of the vaad and the team the printed edition was missing some things. of workers went home. This was after months In a letter that I wrote to the Rebbe after the vaad’s offices and hardly saw the light of day. In connection with this, R’ Chanin emphasized of barely seeing their families. The next day, that when he suggested to the Rebbe that the printing, I mentioned the role played by the In order to speed up the printing, it was during the farbrengen, when they saw the Reb- entire sefer be reprinted, the Rebbe said no, and printers of Empire Press and the Rebbe wrote: decided to print the sefer on the printing ma- be’s tremendous nachas, they realized “there is he said just to prepare the missing lines and Fortunate is their lot and the merit of the many chines of the Vaad L’Hafotzas Sichos which a reward for your labors.” to incorporate them within the existing sefer. assists them. was in the office building over 770. The Rebbe The Rebbe walked in with the new sefer and agreed to this and in the spirit of the speedy THE MOST COMPLICATED PROJECT: the farbrengen was replete with otherworldly pace that he demanded he included this in- pronouncements about the greatness of the TANYA FIRST EDITION struction with his consent: Being that this is R’ Chanin concluded the interview with a matter. The Rebbe said that “this corrected the case, there is no need to wait to finish the message which the Rebbe derived from their R’ Chanin: The sefer that was the most com- what the Alter Rebbe wanted in his time, that entire sefer and then give it to print; but each speed in printing the Tanya First Edition: the plicated from a technical perspective and which the Tanya be printed before Yud-Tes Kislev, packet of pages should be printed immediately. Rebbe connected it with the Geula and said was also done under a time pressure was the which did not happen.” that in this merit, it is possible to demand Tanya mahadura kama (first edition published As mentioned, the printing was the final The Rebbe also praised the editors for the from Hashem that the Geula also come that by the Alter Rebbe). In 5738, when manuscripts stage in a process most of which took place in work they put in to complete the printing so quickly. R’ Chanin recalls that one time, when that had been in captivity came from Warsaw, R’ Chein’s print house. He also remembers the quickly and said, “To me, it wasn’t even within he gave the Rebbe many editions of the Tanya there were manuscripts of the first edition of publishing of the scholarly edition. the parameters of belief that it was possible; just that were printed around the world, the Rebbe Tanya. The Rebbe told us to prepare a “scien- R’ Chein: When dealing with a scholarly edi- belief in the power of Chassidim!” said, “When Moshiach comes, we will first start tific” study edition citing all the differences tion, it is necessary to differentiate between the printing Tanyas.” among the editions until the edition which is LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING text of the first edition and the text that was Both agree that the enforced “vacation” in printed today. BACK TO WORK! added or missing in other editions. To do so, recent years is way too long and they are wait- Since the members of the vaad were not you have to constantly change fonts and font The interview went on and on as the two ing for the moment when they will be called experienced in producing scholarly research sizes. This is a job that even in the computer of them recalled other urgent projects like the upon, once again, to report for active duty and materials, it took time until they understood era of our times is not easily executed; all the Tanya that the Rebbe wanted printed erev Yom print the “Torah chadasha” from the Rebbe, precisely what the Rebbe wanted it to look like more so, back then. Kippur 5739. R’ Chein had to open the print Moshiach Tzidkeinu, teikef u’miyad mamosh! ■

30 BEIS MOSHIACH 27 KISLEV5780 31 3232 BBEEIS MOSHIIACA H 277 KISLEV 577800 3333 Mendy Dickstein • Right after we got married, we moved to real and one day, I “caught” my son holding a Migdal Ha’Emek. We were among the first cou- newspaper that reeked of fish … He so wanted ples who went on shlichus to spread Torah. At to read, and hadn’t found anything interesting that time, there wasn’t yet any religious litera- so he read the newspaper that the fish were Friday Shmulik Burkis and Shloimy tzaddikim and read them at bedtime or at our ture. When our children were born and were wrapped in. Kupchik, two bachurim who family Shabbos table. My children grew up on growing up, we needed to buy quality, clean in La Paz, We realized that we had to do something. came on shlichus for a few stories of tzaddikim. literature for them, so they would be occupied On the one hand, you cannot forbid children Bolivia months, felt in seventh heaven. in the afternoons. “Later, the children themselves said they to read; on the other hand, we could not go on Literally. Bolivia is located in were unable to have a real relationship with the Andes Mountains with the highest point without providing them with reading material. a non-Jewish woman because in their minds’ Having no choice, like many frum families at reaching 6542 meters above sea level. The oxy- that time, we bought books from the general gen is thin and breathing was difficult, but that eye they see tzaddikim, the heroes of the stories market and “fixed them up” by adding tzitzis didn’t stop them. they grew up with.” and yarmulkas, censoring inappropriate mes- In Tammuz 5737/1977, the couple flew to They made calls, went around with old lists The lady of the house went over to the closet sages, fixing here and fixing there. As time went the Rebbe for the first time. They were tremen- of addresses and looked for Jewish families. The and took out a bunch of booklets in Spanish on, the lack of books became a real problem. dously excited. At the end of the spiritual expe- spiritual situation in Bolivia is poor. There is with the blue-yellow cover. “These are the The children got older and were always looking rience of the Chag Ha’Geula, they had yechidus. no future for Jewish youth and the assimilation books our children grew up on,” she said, as for interesting reading material but we could In the note that they submitted, R’ Burkis wrote rate is nearly 100%. Parents who want their she put them on the table. not allow them to read the books that every- that he wanted to publish books for children children to marry Jews have to send them to Shmulik was so moved he couldn’t speak. one reads. that were in the spirit of tradition, the kind that school far away where there is a larger Jewish would convey the values of middos tovos, yiras When he recovered, he said, “These are the They had friends whose parents were more community. shomayim and emunas chachamim. Machanayim books that my parents pub- willing to compromise and who allowed their The bachurim finally found a Jewish home lished!” he exclaimed. children to read adventure stories and myster- Mrs. Burkis, who saw the note before the where a little bit of tradition was kept. The man The lady jumped up excitedly, “Wow, what a ies, but we were adamantly opposed to allowing yechidus, was astonished. She said the idea of the house welcomed them warmly. After privilege it is to host you! These books are what these books into the house. But the need was wasn’t practical and couldn’t be done. But R’ sitting down, their host described the spiritual saved my children from assimilating! These are devastation there. Most Jews were very far from the books my children grew up on.” living a Jewish life. The second generation was even further, and were mostly assimilated. THE REBBE’S FACE SHONE This man’s own children were not observant. No doubt, this story is a great “lead-in” for They went to local schools, were influenced by the interview I held with Rabbi and Mrs. Ger- the environment, but unlike their peers, they shon and Penina Burkis, the names behind insisted on marrying Jews. All his children the popular Machanayim books for forty married Jews. years. These books are read by religious and Shmulik asked, “How did you accomplish not-yet-religious children. that? How did you educate them so success- “This is one story out of dozens of stories fully?” we have heard over the years,” they say, with “The truth is that it didn’t really come from immense satisfaction. the education I provided them,” he admitted. This family had the vision to be the “Our home isn’t strong enough to make the “Nachshon” in publishing books for religious next generation proud of its heritage. But there children and they are just the people to inter- was one thing we were particular about with view for Hei Teves, the holiday that celebrates our kids and that was, in their childhood we books. told them many stories of tzaddikim. My wife bought every children’s book with stories of How did you get started?

34 BEIS MOSHIACH 27 KISLEV5780 35 Burkis insisted on writing it since the problem day, when we would have begun digesting the recommended that we include stories from We met and … the rest is history. was real and present in their lives. deeply powerful experience, we should return the chachamim of the Sefardic and Yemenite After their meeting and agreement, they all to the secretariat where they would help us. groups which broadened the horizons of the After the Rebbe answered some of the ques- began working on the first story, “The Power And that’s what we did. distribution to a larger variety of clientele. tions they had asked, he came to the line about of Tehillim,” the story about the little children the idea of publishing books for children. “Three days later, we already had two full Once the story was ready, the hard work worriedly waiting for their father; the father pages of practical ideas of how to realize the began for which we had also received instruc- “I remember it until today,” said R’ Burkis. was supposed to return home and did not. The tions from the Rebbe in that yechidus. We had “The Rebbe’s expression changed completely. Rebbe’s vision (about half of them have been Rebbe Maharash surprises them with a visit to find an artist to illustrate the story, an artist He had been serious up until then and then, his actualized). to their home and he suggests that they read who could convey purity and yiras shomayim face lit up. ‘Regarding what you wrote about “We returned to Eretz Yisrael, motivated to pesukim from Tehillim. They plead that their with a paintbrush in a way that words alone publishing illustrated books for children, this begin. First, we published two coloring books father return home safely. And their father re- cannot. The truth is that we didn’t even know is very, very important. Do it with a good art- for children on Jewish concepts. One on good turns! After he relaxes from the rigors of the where to begin to look for the right artist. ist, print them on the highest quality paper, deeds and one on Shabbos. Then we got down road, he tells them about a wicked non-Jew and make sure the stories will be acceptable to working on the first books in the series.” WHAT BROUGHT YOU HERE? who tied him up and planned on killing him. to all streams (of religious Jews).’ Each time the children read Tehillim, Hashem STORIES APPRECIATED BY EVERYONE As a fan of the Machanayim books, I know removed him from another danger and pre- “For five minutes (out of the thirteen minute that you roped in the legendary Mr. Hecht- pared the way for his rescue. In the end, he was yechidus), the Rebbe described, with a glowing How did you begin? kopf. How did you get to him? able to run away and return home. face, what we needed to do and how, so the R’ Burkis (smiling): I will confess that from a ‘sefarim project’ would get underway. It wasn’t easy. At that time, there was no young age, I’ve had a great love for stories, sto- Google to make the search easier. While look- R’ Burkis: We chose this story because “Among other things, the Rebbe offered an ries of Chazal, stories of emunas chachamim, ing, my wife visited the Steimatzky bookstores children can relate to it. The goal was to show interesting and unique suggestion. At that time, stories about Jewish wisdom and Jewish her- and reviewed the existing books for children. children that their prayers can bring about mir- there was a regime change in Israel with the oism. In any encounter with books or older She flipped through pages, examined the il- acles, for the world depends on the “breath of Right rising to power. The Rebbe wanted to take people, I try to fish out a good story and file it lustrations, compared artists, and came across the mouth” of youngsters. advantage of this to spread Torah and he told away in my head. I took on the job of finding the series of Temunos Mesapros published by With every illustration, we sat and thought us that since, for the first time, the Education stories to publish. I started by collecting stories Yavneh. She liked the drawings, the faces were about how it would convey the message in the and Culture ministry was being given to some- from the Gemara, stories of the Sages, stories drawn with a certain charm, and she thought best way. one religious (Zevulun Hammer of Mafdal), of the Baal Shem Tov and his talmidim, and there was a purity and yiras shomayim on the and apparently, the entire policy approach that stories of our Rebbeim. faces. THE HECHTKOPF SECRET ruled until then would change for the better, Once the story was chosen, we started with At the beginning of the book there appeared religiously speaking, he recommended that we The illustrations are terrific. I am always the work of bringing it “down” to the level of the name of the artist, a name that later be- try and partner with consultants in the min- amazed – where did Hechtkopf get this abil- understanding of young children. The first six came legend, Chaim Henryk Hechtkopf. His istry in its new incarnation in publishing the ity to convey images in such a special way, books were written by Bella Golombowitz a’h. opening line in the first conversation we had sefarim, which would be a great benefit. with faces full of yiras shomayim and Jewish Later, the writing was done by Bracha Kno- was so unique that I remember it till today. In purity? “We left the Rebbe’s office stunned, not blowitz, and my wife worked on turning the a stilted somewhat biblical Hebrew he said, knowing what to think. We stood at the exit content into such that it would go into the ears “Hello, you are speaking with the illustrator First, he descended from holy forbears. He from gan eden ha’tachton and couldn’t move of a small child. Henri Hechtkopf. What brought you here?” was a descendant of R’ Pinchas of Koritz and on further. The secretary, R’ Groner, who saw our This is how short, historic stories turned into We told him that we were about to publish a his mother’s side he was from the Soloveitchik confusion, asked us what happened. We told a gripping plot. As the Rebbe instructed, we did series of children’s books for religious children family. Although he himself was not religious, him that we did not understand what the Rebbe all we could to make the stories acceptable to all and we were looking for an artist to illustrate he grew up in a religious home and was a scion wanted regarding the idea of publishing books. types and we collected stories about all groups the story for children and make it accessible to of families of gedolei Torah and giants of the How should we go about it? Where should we of Jews. We were particular that every story in their world. He paused and then asked wheth- spirit. He left it all during the Holocaust, when begin? the Machanayim series have a strong message. er we thought his drawing would be suitable he lost his entire family. His parents lived next “R’ Groner calmed us down and asked us to The Rebbe’s instruction to consult with experts for this project since, until then, he illustrated to the Gerrer Rebbe in Poland, so he grew up go to our home to rest and recover. The next at the Education Ministry was carried out. They books for secular Israelis. with these sights.

36 BEIS MOSHIACH 27 KISLEV5780 37 still another, until you finally have a want to draw at less than his full ability and so this article). This goes way beyond what we TRANSFORMATION THANKS TO completed product. Sometimes, he had he wanted to resign. expected. to reject some drawings due to con- MACHANAYIM BOOKS “Of course, we appreciated his outstanding THE REBBE STOPPED THE DISTRIBUTION cerns that it might convey a wrong integrity and honored his request but we were The Burkis couple relates: message. When he had questions about left without an illustrator to continue the se- How did the Rebbe, who urged you from the “kashrus” of a drawing, R’ Burkis Some time ago, a religious woman from Beitar ries,” says R’ Burkis. the beginning to do this, react to this project called and said she used to live on Moshav Safsufa asked Rabbi Yaakov Landau z’l. over the years? After much searching and try-outs, Mr. in the north, where she lived a secular life. Since What kind of questions did you In response to this question, R’ Burkis took Samchov Zali, a Russian Jew who moved to she was over her head in work, she felt guilty about ask? out a collection of photos from when the Rebbe Eretz Yisrael with the big wave of immigra- not putting enough into her children. gave out dollars for tzedaka on 7 Tishrei 5752. In the story “The Boy Who Saved tion in the 90s was found. His expertise was in One day, when she returned home late from In the pictures, you see R’ Burkis bringing the the Ship” (the ship was about to sink drawing huge murals on main streets of Russia work, her children crowded around her and said Rebbe thirteen Machanayim books that had because of a storm, the goyim took out or ones that played starring roles in the grand that a Chabad mitzva tank had come to the yishuv just been printed in Russian. their idols and asked the idols to save parades that the Russians make. “Despite the which had books that they really wanted to buy. them but were not saved; the Jewish efforts he put in, we still lacked the special char- After R’ Burkis gave the books to the Rebbe, At first, she waved them off in her exhaustion and boy sitting in the bowels of the ship acter of Henryk Hechtkopf,” he said. “In the the secretary took them and put them in a spe- tried to talk them down, but her conscience began davened to Hashem and they were end, we published only sixteen books with his cial bag but the Rebbe stopped the distribution to bother her. Here she had a chance to make it saved), at first the artist gave us a sketch drawings. Now we have another thirty stories and asked R’ Groner to give the books back up to them, in a small way, for not being at home. in which goyim were holding idols that are waiting to be published but we don’t to him. The Rebbe then began to quickly go and praying to them. We rejected that That is why she went to the mitzva tank and have a quality illustrator.” through the illustrations on the covers. Then he took her children inside and bought the colorful immediately – why show this to pure asked R’ Groner to prepare dollars correspond- Machanayim books for them. She thought that children? We asked R’ Landau who ad- The distribution eventually grew to a global ing to the amount of booklets he received. was that. vised us to draw the goyim carrying scale. After the tremendous success in Hebrew, sacks on their backs and the idols are the books were translated into eight additional THE REBBE INQUIRES IN YECHIDUS But the children thought otherwise, Every in the sacks. languages: English, French, Yiddish, Spanish, day, they asked their tired mother to tell them In Tishrei 5741, the Burkis couple had ye- a bedtime story. First, she did it because she felt Another example is in the story “The Portuguese, Russian, Flemish and Georgian. chidus: They were received with great appreciation she had to, but little by little, she was captivated Torn Coat,” a story (told by the Ben Ish When we went in, the Rebbe asked many by the stories and the beautiful illustrations. This Chai) which describes the misbehavior and today, a third generation is enthusiasti- cally reading them. questions about the books and it seemed that was the start of her taking an interest in Judaism, of a child toward his father, we had a he truly cared deeply about the matter. The a process that led her to do teshuva and commit dilemma. The main character is a Jew SUCCESS BEYOND EXPECTATION Rebbe asked detailed questions like who were to a religious way of life. and when you draw a Jew, he has to the distributors in Eretz Yisrael, who were the have a yarmulka, a beard, peios, tzitzis, Did you anticipate such success? distributors abroad, whether they had stores or but you can’t draw a picture of someone As I said, back then, there were no books they were agents going from store to store. The He was quite familiar with the town, the looking like a tzaddik when he behaves like a that were geared for religious children. Today, Rebbe’s questions showed how much he cared. original shtetl, the typical Jewish look, the rasha! However, we didn’t want to have a pic- with the blessed explosion of such works, it is We felt as though it was his personal project. special innocence of long ago and the daily ture of a rasha so a child wouldn’t think he is hard to understand the degree of lack. The first difficulties and anti-Semitism. He was able to a goy. We went through a number of sketches At the end of the yechidus, the Rebbe said generation read the books because that’s what infuse his drawings with life and spirit. He had until we came up with one that depicts a Jew to us, “It is a very good thing and it needs to a strong emotional bond with Jewish tradition who is not religious. there was while the second generation read be distributed as widely as possible.” To me, although it did not find expression in his daily them because their parents had fond memories this was an explicit stamp of approval from the life (more about him in the sidebar). 30 STORIES WAITING IN THE PIPELINE of them and bought them for their children. Rebbe both for the publication and the content. The magic vanished one day, after 104 book- Even adults enjoy reading our booklets. The On another occasion, when I went for dol- lets. Hechtkopf informed the Burkis couple that truth is we never dreamed that these books lars without the books, the Rebbe gave me an It is not easy to convey messages through he was weak and couldn’t continue giving the would draw adults to Yiddishkeit or prevent additional dollar for tzedaka and said, “For all drawings. One sketch and another sketch and drawings his all; at the same time, he did not assimilation (as described in the beginning of the stories that you print.”

38 BEIS MOSHIACH 27 KISLEV5780 39 A BBookook ThatThat ChangedChanged MeMe

In the winter of 5742, we went to the Rebbe the artist’s invention, we added the source in again and on that occasion, we submitted the the Yerushalmi. new books in the English edition. Friday after- The second story was “The Torn Coat.” We noon, the Rebbe sent out a response which said, were afraid people would look askance at the “Received and much thanks and it is a thing in story because it tells of a respected Jew who its time – close to 15 Shevat, Rosh Hashana for Rabbi Trees, man is a tree of the field, I will mention threw his father out of the house, so we added Heschel Greenberg it at the tziyun.’” the source: Niflaim Maasecha by the Ben Ish Chai. Once, when R’ Burkis asked the Rebbe about working in tandem with the Sharsheres compa- FIRST BOOK IN THE NEW SERIES ny which wanted to buy its share from him (a Chassidus: one core point; What impact have your books made on the series of books also illustrated by Hechtkopf), religious though not Chabad communities? the Rebbe said, “Not worthwhile,” even though the rest is footnote R’ Burkis was sure that if the deal was made, I’ll tell you something. Many years ago, the it would give a huge boost to the distribution British government decided that religious stu- of the Machanyim brand that had just begun dents have to know English by way of certain had the great zchus (privilege) to be a I remember hearing that the Rebbe’s phy- I co-translator, with Prof. Shaina Sarah (Su- sician, Dr. Resnick, was conversing with the to develop. messages conveyed through English literature. san) Handelman, of the landmark work, Inya- Rebbe about the newly published book, On the The messages that the British Department for WHEN A SOURCE WAS CITED na Shel Toras Hachasiddus, gleaned from the Essence of Chassidus. The doctor remarked that Education suggested were the standard ma- Rebbe’s talks. Per the Rebbe’s instruction, the it contained very little text while the rest were Why didn’t you include the source of the terials that are studied in public schools like translation was entitled in English, “On the copious footnotes. The Rebbe’s insightful and story? Shakespeare etc. Obviously, they have no place Essence of Chassidus.” powerful response was that all of Chassidus The truth is that we thought of doing that, in a religious school. was essentially that: “one nekudah, one core What this talk and its subsequent publica- but since the first story was about the Rebbe This lack of original Jewish content in En- point; the rest is footnote.” tion did for me was to bring clarity as to what Maharash, and we wanted these books to be glish was filled by the new booklets that had Chassidus is all about. It tied together all the Some people, myself included, like to see ev- accepted everywhere, we refrained, on prin- erything fit together neatly. We sometimes feel just been translated into English. Additionally, “loose ends,” all the superficially disparate de- ciple, from citing the source. We didn’t want unsatisfied when we see a puzzle that is in- we published workbooks to go with the sto- tails and concepts scattered though Chassidic those who are not Chabad to reject the books. complete. Although each piece of the puzzle ries in line with all of the required educational literature that made me yearn for a so-called may look nice; we still crave to see the whole It is interesting to note that despite this, two standards. “unified field” approach to Chassidus. stories had a written source, one was about puzzle solved and the entire picture appear. To When my wife went to England with the Dama ben Nesina and respecting parents, Before the publication of this talk, we all get to the core of a teaching that unifies all of new books and workbooks, principals were which is from the Gemara. Tosfos there asks: knew that Chassidus brought light, warmth, joy the particulars makes the teaching that much thrilled. The principal of the big Satmar school Dama could have broken open the box and re- and life to Yiddishkeit and the Jewish people. more effective intellectually. And when our in London told the rav who paskens for their moved the gem without waking his father who We knew that Chassidus gave us a fresh and understanding is complete it will prove to be had the key. Why didn’t he? The answer Tosfos school, “Such a project suits the Lubavitchers.” inspiring perspective on G-d, Torah, Mitzvos, more inspiring, as well. gives is from the Gemara in the Yerushalmi souls, . the Jewish people, etc. The second aspect of this ground-breaking (which is less well known) where it says that But what I felt was missing in my own appreci- work is that it provided me with a foundation he could not break the box since it was under They recently published the start of a new se- ation for Chassidus was a conceptual approach for the belief in Moshiach in general and the his father’s feet and he was afraid it would wake ries of Machanayim books for the very young. that unified all of its disparate components and belief in the Rebbe as Moshiach in particular. tied all the loose ends together. his father. It’s a large book with the pictures we are fa- When I was a child of about 10. I stayed I guided Henryk to draw the father sleeping miliar with from the original series, but with The Essence of Chassidus did that for me by with my grandparents a”h. One day they were with the box at his feet, but since the story in simplified text. Each story is in rhyme which establishing the idea that Chassidus is the Ye- visited by the Rebbe’s brother-in-law, Rabbi Sh- the Gemara Bavli is what people know, and makes it easy to remember for those who are chidah-Essence of Torah and is inextricably in order to clarify the fact that this wasn’t just first learning to read.■ bound with Moshiach, the Yechidah of souls. cont. on p. 43

40 BEIS MOSHIACH 27 KISLEV5780 41 A BBookook TThathat CChangedhanged MMee

of their own ego and personal recognition. It know where you will go”. By reading the Mem- is a true reminder of what Avodas Hashem is oirs of the Frierdike Rebbe, the reader enters all about. a world of truth in this world. It is where we, Chabad Chassidim, come from and what we TheMemoirs change the way we view “sim- should aspire to grow into. It was one of the Rabbi ple Yidden”. Besides the fact that you become greatest gifts that I received, and I personally Gershon aware that a simple person might turn into encourage all the readers of this article to read Avtzon being a real tzaddik, the Memoirs show you and internalize these special books. the true value of every Yiddishe Neshama. The reader realizes very quickly that great love and To me, personally, the Memoirs is not just appreciation that the Tzaddikim had for the a throwback to the past, rather a glimpse into the future. The true Avodas Hashem, purely The Memoirs: The Seforim simple Yidden who served Hashem with such to serve Hashem, that one is exposed to in the Temimus. that opened my eyes pages of the Memoirs is a foretaste of the Avo- In every aspect of growth, it is important das Hashem in the times of Moshiach. Take to “know from where you come” in order “to a peek! ■ a very young age, I was an avid learn of Chassidus, yet there are From reader. I would read any Jewish certain life-lessons that one can only receive A Book That Changed Me, cont. from p. 41 book that I could get my hands on. While today, from stories of real people. The Memoirs are maryahu Gurary, known as, “the Rashag.” When The following is based on my recollection of BH, there has been such an explosive growth of filled with such life-lessons. Here are some my grandmother wanted to impress the Rashag what the famous Chosid Rabbi , choz- examples: Jewish material to read (fiction and nonfiction) with her “perfect” einelkel-grandson, what did er of the Rebbe (the person charged with the that one can be kept busy reading all day and The history of the city of Lubavitch and the she choose to say about me: “My grandson says responsibility to review the Rebbe’s talks that night; thirty years ago, the selection of Jewish father of the Alter Rebbe. Just reading about the Rebbe is Moshiach!” The Rashag, the great he committed to memory) and (Chas- books in English — especially those that can sidic teacher and mentor) said in this regard. the lives of the founders of Lubavitch, and the chosid of the Rebbe, smiled affectionately. be read and appreciated by children — was deep Ahavas Yisroel of the people that settled The Ba’al Shem Tov said about the Alter Reb- very limited. I was raised with this belief from the time I there inspires the reader to a higher purpose be, the founder of Chabad, that he had a nesho- was a small child. My father, of blessed mem- I will never forget the evening, I was about and a deep connection to Hashem and to our mo chadasha, a new soul. In this work, the Reb- 8 years old, my father called me over and in- fellow Yidden. ory, instilled this belief in me that the Rebbe is be cites the explanation in Likkutei Torah that a Moshiach just as he believed that the Previous troduced me to the set of books called “The You really appreciate the revolution of Chas- new soul is one that was not incorporated in the Rebbe was the Moshiach of his generation. Lubavitcher Rebbe’s Memoirs: Tracing the sidus. In today’s day, it is really hard to imagine soul of Adam and which possesses the general origins of the Lubavitch movement”. He told the complete separation that existed between My belief, as well as the belief of so many Yechidah soul. me to take my time reading the books and that the “Lomdei Torah” and the “Anashim Peshut- others, was based on the notion (which is also From this connection established in this I should try to read both volumes every year. im”. It is also hard to understand how conceited rooted in the Rebbe’s talks) that the Rebbe is the work, it became clear that the designation of the He explained to me that it might be a challenge those that were involved in learning were and greatest tzadik and leader of the generation, and Alter Rebbe as a new soul is synonymous with for a young boy to read, as it was written for how condescending they were to those that since Moshiach is the ultimate leader who will the foregoing explanation in Likkutei Torah that adults, but I should try and he would explain were not given the opportunity, or ability, to lead us out of galus, it makes perfect sense that a new soul is a Yechidah soul, which transcends to me anything that I did not understand. I learn. The reader falls in love with the followers the soul of Adam. Thus, the Alter Rebbe, and the leader of the generation is also the Moshiach was excited about the challenge and began the of the Baal Shem Tov that are introduced to by extension all of the Chabad Rebbeim, who of the generation. If our generation is worthy journey to my own roots. him - like the famous Yitzchak Shaul, the third are one continuum, possess the Yechidah soul, then the leader assumes the title and role of son-in-law of the blacksmith of Dobromysl - the soul of Moshiach, who teaches and reveals Looking back, this was probably one of the Moshiach. It was as simple as that. best Chinuch decisions a father could make. and the love that they showed to all Yidden. Chassidus, the Yechidah of Torah: These two sefarim opened my eyes to a whole Learning about the Nistarim/hidden Tzad- However, the landmark sicha provided us In short, this work ties together all of Chas- new world and gave me a real outlook on how dikim allows the reader to enter a world of peo- with a much deeper conceptual understanding sidus and demonstrates how the study of Chas- to view Chassidus, the world and the people ple who dedicated their lives to truth and to of Moshiach and the relationship between our sidus is so crucial for our preparation for the around me. It is obvious that every person must spread Yiddishkeit without any consideration Rebbe and Moshiach. ultimate Redemption through Moshiach. ■

42 BEIS MOSHIACH 27 KISLEV5780 43 OOp-Edp-Ed

Particularly young children need to be “fed” these stories, which provide generous doses of Emunah and Yiras Shamay- im. As your mother always Levi told you: “If you eat well, you Liberow will be a big boy…” If we want our children to become “big” in their Yiddishkeit, we’ve got to feed them well… The Guide to Buying b. Sipurim Memulaim: There is the second category of niggunim – niggun memulah. Nutritious Storybooks A song filled with meaning. Not every note of it is spir- food is for a belly, a book is for There is aniggun mechuvan – that conveys itually precise. Still, it was What a brain. These days, we are very a true and precise message; composed from the depths of their own, the second category includes many mindful (or at least should be...) about what we a Chassid’s heart during his a niggun that says something [described good “read it to me” storybooks for preschool- eat, and equal or more discretion should go into fervent davening. elsewhere as a niggun memulah], of the kind ers. the stories we read to our children. that the early Chassidim had; and Applying this to storybooks, there exists a whole class of books that share the same “prop- The second category of Sippurei Chassidim The Frierdiker Rebbe, coming to Ameri- a niggun shoteh – a mindless niggun that says erties” of a niggun memulah. I would divide – stories written by Chassidim, includes story- ca, decried the situation in which people were nothing and is composed according to no clear them into two: (1) Sippurei Chassidim – stories books like most of the entire excellent Hachai careful about “what goes into the teppelach principles. about Chassidim, and (2) stories written by series. They are mostly books of fiction, or (pots), but are oblivious to what goes into the A “niggun mechuvan,” the Rebbe explains, Chassidim and G-d fearing people. books helping to acquire basic skills (counting keppelach (heads).” numbers, telling colors, etc.). is “a niggun either composed or chosen by a The Rebbe once told Reb Abba Pliskin that But how can we know what’s good and what Rebbe.” Each note of that niggun has a precise “the bachurim need to be told stories of people These books conveymiddos tovos and core isn’t? meaning and conveys a G-dly concept. Such a who were ‘Chassidishe Yidden.’ I mean specifi- Jewish values like tznius, Hashgachah Pratis, niggun, obviously, does the best that a niggun cally of Chassidim, and not of Rebbeim, because and more, (think the fantastic Yossi & Laibel In today’s world, manufacturers are required can do to a person, placing him in a higher, there can be an assumption [that Rebbeim series, Messes of Dresses, Who’s that Sleep- by law to include the nutrition facts of the prod- G-dly, atmosphere. In the same sicha (ch. 75), stories are not relevant, due to] the spiritual ing on My Sofa Bed and many others). Those uct on its wrapper. But it takes an educated the Rebbe says that stories of Rebbeim, like distance [of a Chassid from a Rebbe], but from teaching basic life-skills, give the child a clear consumer to know how to read that label. Are their niggunim, connect us with them. stories of Chassidim, practical lessons can be message that everything was made by Hashem 10 grams of sodium per serving good for you? So let’s take this useful “categorization” of taken.” and for His sake (like Red is My Rimon or The It depends on what sodium is. niggunim and apply it to the world of books. The Rebbe encouraged elder Chassidim to Very Best Book). How do we categorize books? a. Sipurim Mechuvanim – Stories of Tzaddi- write their memoirs and publish them. We now When it comes to older children who can kim: These are the best stories to read (to your- have an abundance of such books, mainly in read themselves, things get trickier. There are self and especially to your children). They’re Hebrew, but English titles keep coming out, good novels out there teaching valuable mes- and these can fill the minds of young and old sages, but caution needs to be taken with many What a book is for a brain, music is for a 100% good for you. TheOur Sages Led the Way readers alike with a lot of good things, like Me- so-called “frum” novels: Some belong to the soul. series, the Machanyaim set, Rabbi Sholom Ber Avtzon’s Rebbeim series, Sefer HaZichronos sirus Nefesh, Hiskashrus and many more great third category, which we will discuss below, The Frierdiker Rebbe writes (Sefer HaSichos and many more such excellent titles, are nota- “vitamins” essential for our spiritual growth. and some teach ideas that while not untrue, 5703 p. 106) that “there are three levels of nig- ble examples of many others available today While “Sippurei Chassidim” are generally gunim: on the market. more fit for older children who can read on cont. on p. 48

44 BEIS MOSHIACH 27 KISLEV5780 45 When the brothers of Yosef are accused of stealing the cup, they protest, “Chalila that your FOR CLASS PRESENTATION: servants would do such a thing (44:7).” Rashi PARASHA In short: Why does the Torah tell us Of The Future explains, “chalila that your servants” to mean, “it is chulin to us, a word that means shameful.” that the goblet that was “stolen” from Yosef was made of “kesef” (silver)? The Rebbe explains that to a Jew, matters Rabbi Nissim Lagziel that are chulin/mundane (like money) are Summary of explanation: Too much of shameful. Although a person goes to work each a focus on and involvement with “kesef” (money), matters of this world, is what day, earns money, buys and sells, borrows and led us into exile. Adopting the proper lends, he is never “into” that. He elevates the perspective on “kesef” is what will lead THE MYSTERIOUS SILVER GOBLET physical, he sanctifies the material, he refines us to Geula. the matters of the world and all that derive from them, but that a Jew be immersed in chulin?! A JOKE TO BEGIN WITH Yosef asked the person in charge of his That is the most shameful thing! This is what ludes to a lack in their feeling that “chulin” is house to incriminate Binyamin. He pretends led us to Egypt. After a series of precipitous drops in the Tel that his personal silver cup was stolen, one of “shameful” for a Jew and that which leads him Aviv stock exchange, the management decided Yosef’s servants conducts a bogus “search” in We know that the Rebbe Rayatz said that to … Egypt. to construct a row of concrete barriers around the brothers’ sacks, and to their dismay, the cup only a Jew’s body is in exile, while the nesha- If exile is ultimately the result of an incorrect the front of the stock exchange to create a sepa- is “found” in Binyamin’s sack. This confirms ma, being a “part of G-d above, literally,” is not perspective, then correcting this outlook will ration between the street and the exit from the that Binyamin “stole” it. under any dominion. It is not submissive to any lead us to the Geula. When we exercise domin- stock exchange. outside force other than Hashem. Therefore, as ion of form over matter and soul over the body, As we know, every detail in Torah is precise long as the body and its matters (like money Reporters and photographers descended upon when we look correctly at money and parnassa, and teaches a lesson in avodas Hashem. Why and parnassa) don’t have any import to the the scene and demanded an explanation for the direct result will be that galus will disappear is it important for the Torah to tell us that the Jew, the exile and the servitude to the nations this bizarre decision. The director of the stock and we will “open our eyes” and see the Geula. goblet was made of silver? Does it make a dif- cannot rule over him. It all depends on a per- exchange announced that it was for “modesty ference in the story? The theft of a china dish son’s perspective. When in his private life he TO CONCLUDE WITH A STORY reasons.” or a snakeskin wallet would be more forgivable “lives” with the neshama, raising his neshama When asked by the reporters what connection than a silver cup? above his body in all aspects of life, and he We will end with a Chassidic story about the difference between the two outlooks, spiritual there was between the drop in stock values and The story of the silver goblet represents the expresses the dominance of the soul by not and material. The story (based on a similar tznius, he said in a choked voice, “We came to turning point in the story that led to the de- being involved with … “chulin” (except for the story told by the Rebbe Rayatz) was told by the the conclusion that whoever invests in the stock scent of the tribes to Egypt and the start of the sake of heaven), then, from the perspective of exchange in Tel Aviv ‘loses his pants,’ so we de- servitude and exile there. What develops from the neshama, there is no exile and no Egypt! Rebbe at the Yud-Tes Kislev farbrengen 5730. cided, having no choice, that we must build a this story is that Yosef reveals himself to his It is only when a person gives dominance Two brothers, beggars, lived together in wall to preserve modesty.” brothers and tells them to come down, with to his body and matters of this world over his a small town in Europe. One day, one of the WHO CARES WHAT WAS “STOLEN”? their father and the entire extended family to soul, when he looks at life superficially, with brothers decided to travel to the United States Egypt for 210 years! a material perspective, when the question is, and try his luck. He did well in business and This parsha, Mikeitz, tells the story of Yosef Looking deeper, we can say that the involve- “What about money?” that the exile rears its within a short time, he became very rich. One Ha’Tzaddik who goes from lowly prisoner to ment with kesef (money/silver), the coin and ugly head with all of the hardships that brings. fine day, the rich brother sent a ticket for a sea second to the king within minutes. At the end voyage to his brother overseas. The brother the metal as in both meanings of the word, is This is the reason that the last event that of the parsha, after Yosef makes the lives of his wasn’t particularly happy about the voyage but what led the Jewish people to the first of the brought Yaakov and his sons to Egypt was the brothers miserable with all kinds of questions since he had several eligible daughters and no exiles. story of a silver cup. The fact that they had a and interrogations, and forces them to bring his money for dowries, he decided to go and ask silver cup in their possession, despite their younger brother Binyamin, we read the story WHO CARES ABOUT MONEY? his brother for help. lack of knowledge, despite this being against of the silver goblet. In a fascinating sicha, the Rebbe explains their wishes, alludes to a certain spiritual lack When he arrived in the United States, his this idea with a deep explanation of Rashi. in their negative feelings about … kesef! It al- brother welcomed him warmly, brought him

46 BEIS MOSHIACH 27 KISLEV5780 47 A BBookook ThatThat ChangedChanged MeMe to his house and started showing off his wealth. When his brother finished mincha, the rich He showed him all the rooms in the house, man said, “I’m showing you all of New York fifteen in all! The poor brother didn’t look im- and you pray?!” pressed so the rich brother brought him up to His brother replied, “I’ll tell you the truth. the roof of the skyscraper he lived in to show I don’t understand you. I live in one room in a him the stunning New York skyline. That would small town with hardly any gentiles and still, I Mrs. Chaya impress him! have many disturbances in my life. You live in Chazan an apartment with fifteen rooms and millions With the two on the roof, the host broth- of gentiles around you. How can you bear this er began to explain what he was seeing, Fifth headache? When I saw your situation I decided Avenue on the left, the river to the east, and that for now, it’s better to daven mincha.” The Uniqueness of Ubiquity on and on. Good Shabbos! ■ He suddenly felt that his guest wasn’t with Based on a sicha in vol Navi. Sichos. History. Unbelievably, the answers were in the book him; he was standing and davening mincha! 15, sicha 3 of Parshas Mikeitz Chumash. Math. Tanya. Just an- that we had fifty copies of. Now I began to ap- other segment in a long day of classes, anoth- preciate not only the later perakim, but even OP-ED, cont. from p. 45 er subject to write notes on and take tests for, those first ten I had learned time and time another teacher teaching from another book. again. may not be what Chassidus chooses to em- ers, and they might even be “kosher,” with no The real delight was when I started to phasize. “problematic” content. Without even knowing it, I had learned Tan- ya along with alef bais and the first pesukim teach it, first to other girls who didn’t attend Lubavitch schools, and then to my own stu- By the way, I prefer that the stories I read to I like to apply the following test to determine of Bereishis. The concepts were familiar, unin- if this book should enter my child’s keppeleh: dents when I became a teacher. I tried to imbue my children before bed — the ones they will spiring and lackluster. It didn’t help when each dream about, will be stories of Tzaddikim or my Tanya lessons with the enchantment that I If by changing a few words and illustra- subsequent teacher restarted with the hakdama lucked into. I taught perek mem alef in “Kollel at least stories about Chassidim. tions, I could have easily found this book at and the first ten foundational perakim. The Chassidus” classes before davening while my the Brooklyn Public Library, I get worried. concepts of “benoini” and “rasha v’tov lo” may students sipped on hot drinks and rugelach. We I’m especially wary about the “psycholog- have been innovative in the Alter Rebbe’s day, learned perek lamed beis as a way to combat Well, now for the third category: ical” books that have flooded the market in but learning it for the fifth time felt more te- bullying that was happening in the class. recent years. These books subtly transmit not dious than wondrous. c. Sippurei Shotim – a story “that says Perekim chaf vav and chaf zayin became only skills, but also values that need to be care- nothing and is written according to no clear I tried to learn the daily chitas with the help dear, familiar friends during the two years of fully vetted. principles.” of “Lessons in Tanya,” but the high vocabulary my father’s illness and aveilus. Those lessons Just like music, which can be meaningless and intangible discussions were too difficult and those notes carried me through, day by day. but puts you in a good mood, these stories may to follow. I feel fortunate to have uncovered the unique be entertaining, and they may even teach prac- One area which still can use a few more in the ubiquity. ■ Then came 11th grade and a Tanya teacher tical and emotional skills. Still, they do this children’s books is Moshiach. Two amazing who did not start from perek alef. She picked “with no clear principles.” books came out over two decades ago (What Will the world Look Like and The Best Call of perek chaf vav. And for the first time, I real- In other words: the author – besides at- All – one of my favorites by the way) and some ized that Tanya actually discusses practical is- tempting to teach the child colors or how to more for young readers, but we need much sues and realistic advice. That was the year of ,, for the first time, I handle stress or anger – does not have any more. There are a few good books in Hebrew the Mumbai massacre and our Tanya classes realized that Tanya actually other underlying principles, like Emunah or that are waiting to be translated, and whoever took on new meaning. How do we deal with discusses practical issues Bitachon, guiding him on the way. can help grow that market will be doing Jewish hardship? Why do bad things happen to good children (and adults…) an awesome service. and realistic advice I’m not speaking of books by non-Jewish people? What could we tell ourselves to help authors. They may be books by frum publish- A Freilichen and memulah’dike Hei Teves! ■ us cope?

48 BEIS MOSHIACH 27 KISLEV5780 49 THE ONLY SLAP said: “When I give you plied, “children must also listen to the path, noted the “flaw” in his conduct in need of an order, you listen to voice of their father, who is responsible repair, and what the proper conduct should be. The Rebbe Rayatz recalls in his memoirs, what I say.” for their supervision.” “When I was about six years old, my father For example, a parent should not say to a once called for me and instructed me to make I sobbed and said, “If Putting the child in his place is quite clear, child, “You’re lazy”, rather “You push things off several times (or many times) until you have no a bracha on the tzitzis. I told him that I had you’re supposed to bless before especially when he gets a slap for being stub- time left.” Name-calling and stigmas are nei- already made the bracha on tzitzis that day. G-d – I already did, but if you have born. However, the main lesson to be learned to bless before the person command- ther proper nor appropriate, causing harm to “Nevertheless,” my father told me, but I re- from this story is regarding the method used: the essence of a child’s existence. On the other fused to do so. ing you…” The Rebbe Rashab didn’t call his six-year old hand, showing the existing mode of conduct My father gave me a light slap (this was the “While you must make a bracha because son by a name that would insult him or sound and the contrasting acceptable behavior – is only time my father ever slapped me) and then G-d commanded you to do so,” my father re- like a personal rebuke; he merely defined the both correct and definitely possible.

50 BEIS MOSHIACH 27 KISLEV 5780 51 SHARPENING, DIRECTING, REVEALING and sat with my friend on one of the benches cup of water, when for an older child, such a expected to understand and take responsibility facing the window to my father’s room. demand is an obvious conclusion. for the results of his conduct. We must reveal When we want to reach an understanding things to him, point things out, help him to with the child regarding what essentially hap- “While my father had seen that I had given We have previously mentioned here that for understand the limitations of responsibility, de- pened and what is the proper way to act, there my friend some of the watermelon I had re- this purpose, it is most important to recognize the general stages in a child’s development, and spite the fact that it’s much easier for the child usually is no reason to ask him, “Why did you ceived, he still called me over and said to me: properly diagnose where exactly this specific simply to ignore. At this age, it is already pos- do that?” Young children don’t know how to “‘I saw that you offered to your friend as well, child is on the development scale at any given sible to impose pertinent obligations at home, respond to a “Why?” when they do a certain but you didn’t give it to him with a full heart.’ moment. If this is not handled properly, we thing they should have refrained from doing. while assisting him to derive benefit from the “He then began to explain to me the concept can lose the effectiveness of his education ac- Instead, the parent should provide a factual de- reactions of his environment when he meets of a ‘generous eye’ and a ‘stingy eye.’ cording to his current age and development, those obligations. scription of the situation (you came in without and this can ch”v harm his future development. “I was so upset by my father’s reprimand permission / you spoke to your sister in a very It’s important to apply the tools of “initia- that I burst into sobs lasting half an hour, and When a child is one-year old, he begins to abusive manner), and we again explain quite tive” – provide the child with direction in es- simply and clearly the expected and appropri- I eventually threw up everything I had eaten. learn what independence is. At this point, his direction and education focuses on setting tablishing the connection between actions and ate mode of conduct. “My mother came in to the sound of my boundaries on the permissible and the forbid- results (“You didn’t pick up your toys, I took crying, and when she learned what had hap- It’s permissible to ask “What caused you den, while the main emphasis is on practical them away”). You can also confront him with pened, she said to my father, ‘What you do want to do such a thing / to come to such a state? demonstration of these concepts – less talk, arbitrary yet proportional results in coordina- from the boy?’ How did this happen?”, et al, when the de- more action. tion with his inner development and abilities: sired purpose is to try to discover an order of “‘It’s good,’ he told her, ‘it will cause good Between the ages of two and four, the need For example, we cannot ask a child with an things, thereby understanding the process and qualities to take root in him.’” for setting boundaries grows as a child’s mot- its relevant causes. These are questions that a attention deficiency disorder to sit at the table The Rebbe Rashab praised his son’s action, to becomes “I can”, while on the other hand, child has an easier time answering, and they for an entire Shabbos meal. However, we can while noting its shortcomings. Afterwards, he there are significant educational elements of can even help him reach greater understand- set clear guidelines for him regarding when explained the essence of the concept: what is refraining from various things he had been ing and proper conclusions. It’s also possible he can get up (say a dvar Torah / sing the first a “generous eye”, what is a “stingy eye.” He said accustomed to do. The proper mode of edu- to take steps using the sharpening approach: niggun, etc.) and when he must return to the nothing about the boy himself, rather a study cation that will not harm a child’s healthy de- making a short clear comment practically de- table – carrying clear results. of the concept. However, since we’re talking velopment is proving and praising his abilities signed to provide future direction. This was a about someone who would eventually become (including naturally the ability for restraint) on Sometimes, it’s necessary to punish a child, very prominent element in our opening story: the sixth Rebbe of Chabad, the influence was the one hand, while simultaneously exposing such as grounding him or sending him to his a short and succinct statement that pecks away immediate and especially powerful. Neverthe- him to absolute boundaries. Such a form of room, and this is fine, provided that it is done at a child’s mind and outlines the path awaiting education will not only cause no harm to the less, his father remained steadfast that this was in a manner correlating to his level of devel- him. Whatever the case may be, placing a stain child and help keep him in line, it will also give the proper method in education. opment, thereby giving him the necessary di- on the child’s character is absolutely forbidden, him a sense of independence with self-confi- regardless of his age! It’s suitable to define the EDUCATION TO FIT A CHILD’S AGE dence and limitations. rection to apply the educational lesson he has action (“That was a very irresponsible thing to learned. AND DEVELOPMENT This is also an age of “weaning” from those do”), but not the child under any circumstances habits, legitimate at an early age, which the It is impossible to conclude this piece with- (“You are an irresponsible child”). When we speak about “putting a child in his place”, it’s most important to be aware of those child is now expected to change. Weaning is out making a fervent request to our Father in WITH A FULL HEART cycles we previously mentioned regarding the also accompanied by a crisis, and when we Heaven: approach developed by my mother and teacher, become aware of this, we must not give up or Another story from the Rebbe Rayatz’s We, “children who have been exiled from Mrs. Ester Meizlish: development, tendency, apply stigmas. Instead, we must constantly ex- memoirs will properly illustrate this concept: plain the foreseeable process, hoping together their father’s table”, we have understood the and time. An integral part of education is the lesson, and we can wait no longer. Bring us “On Rosh Hashanah 5648, when I was ap- ability to recognize a child’s aptitude in relation for better results in the future (“Next time you’ll back to your “Shabbos table” and you will see proximately seven years and two months old, to his age and identify his capacity to learn. have greater success”). that we will properly behave ourselves! my grandmother, the Rebbetzin Rivka, gave It’s inconceivable to demand of a one-year old At the age of five or six, the child reaches me a new fruit (watermelon). I went outside child to take responsibility when he spills a the “responsibility crisis” – when he is clearly Moshiach Now! ■

52 BEIS MOSHIACH 27 KISLEV5780 53 A BBookook TThathat CChangedhanged MMee 9 Mrs. Sara Yitta Gopin Meeting the “Challenge”

first time I encountered Lubavitch tien, my teacher, had no idea how much this The was when I was in eleventh grade and one sentence affected the course of my life. on my way home from my studies in Ramaz, a Before I returned “Challenge” to the library Review: In the present, Hadas and Yonasan Modern Orthodox school in Manhattan. Total- I decided to read the sections of the book that are having shalom bayis problems, with ly intrigued by the sight of bochurim putting I had overlooked. The brief overview of the each one looking at matters from a differ- Tefillin on total strangers, I resolved to find historical beginnings of Chassidus was fasci- ent angle. In the past, Leibel lost money out more about the Lubavitch movement for nating. In addition, there were explanations of designated for the kollel students in a card my upcoming Jewish history research project. concepts such as teshuva, ahavat yisroel and game, and he realizes that he must face up I entered the school library and was extreme- Divine providence. The book emphasized the to his mistake. His wife Raizele feels that ly grateful to find one book, “Challenge - An ongoing struggle between the body and the something is wrong. Encounter with Lubavitch - Chabad.” (The first soul and gave practical implications of Jewish edition was published in 1970 by the Lubavitch observance, such as the basic laws of Shabbos Foundation of Stamford Hill.) and Kashrus. This book was an eye-opener for me, es- On Sundays I began to visit the Jewish bookstore on the Lower East side searching pecially the section that described outreach 5778, Tzfas. “There’s a lot of activities in such faraway places as Italy, Mo- for books that explained Chassidic philosophy. Adar food left,” Limor complained rocco and Australia, with photos attached. At This was in the early seventies, and the English as she started to clear the table. selection was minimal. Yet the more I read, the that moment I began to understand the essen- more I yearned to learn. “We’re not big eaters,” Hadas apologized, tial difference between a rabbi and the Rebbe and she got up to help. M”HM. The greatest closeness with the Rebbe Many years have passed and I am a grand- The children were used to falling asleep is achieved not necessarily when a Chassid is in mother. Today every Jewish bookstore carries a in the middle of the seuda. Even Yonasan, close proximity, but when he carries the Rebbe’s plethora of books on Lubavitch that are suited who loved good food, ate very little during message wherever it is needed. for people of all levels, languages, backgrounds and personality styles. Baruch Hashem, it has the Shabbos evening meal. My research paper was ready, and it focused become so hard to choose from such a rich Sometimes, this makes her feel very in- on showing Lubavitch as a global movement selection. But that sweet moment of joy when sulted. She works hard to prepare salads and of dedicated shluchim. A comment appeared I discovered the book “Challenge” on the shelf special dishes, and he barely touches them. when it was returned: “Your study did not in- in the Ramaz High School in Manhattan will “I’m tired,” he always said apologetically, his clude the teachings of Lubavitch.” Mr. Berns- never be forgotten. ■ eyes half-closed.

54 BEIS MOSHIACH 27 KISLEV5780 55 “He’s clearly not getting enough sleep,” she to her arguments – how does he find the strength But it wasn’t just this. There were many other ,, When she raises issues suddenly thought. He gets up at five o’clock to chat with friends? issues, many of them came about before he of considerable importance, in the morning to have enough time to go to adopted this exhausting schedule. She felt offended, and she couldn’t restrain the mikveh and daven Shacharis before work, such as the children’s herself, telling Yonasan exactly what she thought. After bentching, Limor suggested that they and then spends all day at his job – sometimes learn something together, but Hadas preferred chinuch, for example, he extra hours, sometimes at two jobs. Finally, he “It makes me feel better,” he replied to her to sit on the couch, wrapped up in a blanket, goes to sleep close to midnight because he has quite simply. half-listens, complaining and continue reading the memoirs. She wait- to finish davening, his daily shiurim, going to of exhaustion. However, “A Chassid does what does good for Hashem,” ed with dread for the terrible moment when the store, and helping at home. Keeping such she retorted. Raizele’s dreams would finally crumble. For with one of his friends, he a busy schedule is bound to make someone some reason, even Leibel, the one shattering extremely tired by the week’s end… He didn’t respond. He stretched out on the can talk or chat online for couch again, this time with a Rambam. these dreams, aroused some empathy within In truth, however, she forgot to add the most her. His pain touched her heart. hours. About what? About obvious item to this list – his idle conversations “You didn’t finish washing the dishes!” she total nonsense! with friends well into the night. reminded him. “In a minute,” he replied.

She recalled an episode from the past. “Now!” she demanded vehemently. She herself Av 5697 (1937), didn’t understand why she was reacting this way. Menachem “How does he have the strength to speak with Yerushalayim. The Yonasan gave her a surprised look, closed the them?” she thought, feeling a burning sense of rosh kollel was happy to see him and warmly Rambam, and went back into the kitchen. humiliation. shook his hand. There were two more plates in the sink. He When she raises issues of considerable impor- “Tell me about the journey, R’ Leib,” he re- finished washing them within a minute and then plement the family income, while he devoted tance, such as the children’s chinuch, for exam- quested. turned towards the bedroom. all his time, day and night, to Torah study. ple, he half-listens, complaining of exhaustion. He spoke briefly about it and then tensely In the meantime, there were no kollel sti- However, with one of his friends, he can talk or “Rambam,” she reminded him. “I’m tired; I’ll waited for the rav to ask him about the money. pends, the carpentry shop was closed, and Rai- chat online for hours. About what? About total finish it tomorrow,” he replied as he took off his However, the rav asked nothing. Apparently, zele still hadn’t decided which handicraft she nonsense! shirt and went over to the small sink near their he reasoned that the money was still with Reb could do to help bring in some money. bedroom to brush his teeth. Even on this occasion, while he was washing Naftali. “We’re in Hashem’s hands,” she said as she the dinner dishes, she tried to speak with him When she recalled how she had conducted His courage left him. They parted from one tried to strengthen her faith, “and He is the about the fight Mendy and Shneur had before herself, she was embarrassed and even had pity another, and he had a strong feeling that he had One who provides for everyone.” going to bed and his very improper response, on him. But she didn’t have the courage to apol- wasted an opportunity. in her opinion. He quietly listened to her com- ogize. However, this was not an easy trial. plaints, and then the cell phone in his pocket “The cupboard is bare,” Raizele sighed. Maybe he really was tired. “When are they returning?” Raizele asked began to vibrate. He apologized, turned off the Today, she’ll put a pot of pea soup on the when her husband came home for lunch from faucet, and stretched out on the couch with the When she slept less than seven hours stove and serve it with a slice of bread, some the beis medrash. phone close to his ear. straight, she couldn’t function, going around oil, and a tomato. But what will be tomorrow? the whole day nervous and upset. “Who are they?” Leibel asked. “Reb Naftali He spoke for an hour with Manny, a friend The paltry household budget was enough for and his nephew,” Raizele replied. Leibel turned Were five or six hours of sleep enough for from yeshiva now serving as a shliach some- the most basic food items. Thanks to the prof- pale. “In a few days,” he answered. “Why didn’t Yonasan? Turns out that not. A tired person where. And what did they talk about? Not about its periodically earned by her husband at the they send the money with you?” she continued just can’t function. Chassidus or mivtzoyim. Instead, they chatted carpentry shop, sometimes there was a chicken to ask. “At least they could have given you your about routine matters, even spicing up their sto- It would seem that his lively discussions with for Shabbos. Leibel wanted to work regularly wages.” ries with a few silly jokes.. friends are a way for him to escape from the for Reb Naftali on a part-time basis, but Rai- The Kollel-wives of the men have been wait- As he plugged his cellphone into the charger, tiring routine. He appears to draw strength zele was categorically against it. On numerous ing, longing for Reb Naftali to return. Raizele she thought about the hypocrisy. If he’s so tired from them, just as she draws strength when occasions, she said that if necessary, she would had spoken about this only yesterday with that he doesn’t even have the strength to respond she talks with her friends. do some handicrafts, and her salary would sup- Feige. They presumed that the money sent with

56 BEIS MOSHIACH 27 KISLEV5780 57 Leibel would prevent them from enduring sev- erything is getting even more complicated,” he eral days of hunger. “Why did your husband thought with a feeling of dread. However, he return by himself?” Feige wondered aloud. knew that he was unwilling to lie. MadorKids He was angry with Yankel, who isn’t letting Corner kids him speak with Reb Naftali privately. Yet, he The underlying answer to this question had no excuse to get him to leave. made Leibel grow even paler. Now, he was as STORY TIME white as the walls in the house after a visit by “Yankel has already seen me playing chess the painter just before Pesach. with a group of drifting and reckless youth. He also knows that I often spent time in his uncle’s “I don’t know,” he mumbled. “We hope that carpentry shop instead of learning. So he knows they’ll return before we perish from hunger,” that I also drank and gambled. Big deal,” he tried CHANUKA IN SIBERIA she said, as she turned to pick up the crying to console himself, masking his emotions with Devora’le. They sat down to eat, and only Yos- an expressionless look on his face. He looked sel’s gurgling broke the eerie silence. Chassid, R’ Refael Kahn (Fole) The next day, I went to the police from side to side and then spoke quietly: The When Raizele went to wash the dishes, Lei- grew up in Soviet Russia and station. They interrogated me thor- “I didn’t hand in the money because I was bel went over to his knapsack. While his per- oughly but did not get me to say any- afraid to admit that I am responsible for half was moser nefesh to keep Torah and sonal wallet was empty, he still had a bundle of it being lost.” “What do you mean ‘lost’?” mitzvos and spread them. He was not thing. of several dozen one hundred lira bills – an Yankel asked in bewilderment. amount enough to keep the kollel going for at at all fazed by the wicked government “We will free you if you come to least another six months. “This is it. There’s no escaping it now. The of those days. us once a month and tell us a little terrible truth will now be revealed.” He trembled. Yesterday, he was unable to gather the cour- In a fascinating book, Behind the about the Chassidim, what they do, age to tell the rosh kollel what had happened. In a stammering voice, he told them about Iron Curtain, he tells about his life and what they talk about,” winked one of- Now, matters have grown even more compli- the card game on the train. the miracles that he experienced until ficer. Of course, I refused. cated. However, enough of these thoughts. Jews “A card game? Have you lost your mind?” don’t have to starve because of him. He will give Yankel cried out in shock. “After all our ef- he left Russia for Eretz Yisrael. I was sent to Siberia and went the money to the kollel secretary, and if he asks forts…I am absolutely speechless!” He The following is a moving story through much hardship while also why he didn’t bring it to him until now – he’ll clenched his fists. experiencing great miracles. be forced to say that a portion of the money had about mesirus nefesh to light the Cha- Reb Naftali motioned for him to be quiet. been lost, and he had been too embarrassed to nuka menorah: In my exile, I was in a small village admit it. Naturally, he wouldn’t give any details “Yankele, go home and rest. Feigele and the near the North Pole where it is 75 de- on the circumstances behind the loss… On Shabbos, 18 Sivan 5690/1930, I children are impatiently waiting for you. Just grees below zero! He met them at the entrance to the beis me- promise me that you won’t reveal to anyone received a letter which said I had to drash, tired and sweating, with the suitcases what you heard now.” present myself to the police. I was very One day, I received a wonderful still in their hands. Yankel tried to argue with his uncle, but he frightened. Who knew what they had package from my mother of warm eventually relented. Although he said that he The words stuck in his throat, and the bun- made up about me and what would boots. She made sure to tell me that dle in his pocket felt like hot coals searing right doesn’t customarily take oaths, and he will not the boots were checked and did not through his clothes. divert from that custom here, he will remain happen to me? silent. contain shatnez but I did not rely on “What did they say about the nice amount I knew that I had done “forbidden” this. “Maybe she wrote that just be- “I knew that it was impossible to rely on you. we collected?” asked Yankel. Leibel felt the You aren’t on the inside as you appear on the things. I was devoted to mikva, the cause of pikuach nefesh.” I did not ground burning under his feet. Intense fear outside,” he muttered angrily towards Leibel as chadarim of Tomchei Tmimim, and filled every fiber of his body. “Why didn’t I say wear them and despite the tremen- he left the beis medrash courtyard.■ that I had been robbed? Now, the rosh kollel is more. But that was all done in secret. dous cold and danger I was in, I con- sure that the money is with Reb Naftali. Ev- To be continued… How had they found out? tinued to wear regular shoes.

58 BEIS MOSHIACH 27 KISLEV 5780 59 The results were that I became sick and said, “Tomorrow, at two o’clock, I moved the hands by half an hour bos and I did not have to play those and had a high temperature. present yourselves to sign in.” so it should look like 1:30. When the dangerous tricks. alarm rang at two, everyone presented One day, I received a letter from Oy, we had to show up on Friday. themselves, although it was actually Aunt Yeze (the nickname for the Chas- Surely you are wondering, what’s 1:30, but only I knew that. Later, this Chassid left Siberia and sid, R’ Yankel Zuravitzer. At that time, wrong with two o’clock on Friday? left Russia for Eretz Yisrael. On his we were afraid to write real names and The problem was that in this village, The officer was boiling mad and way, he stopped in to see the reveal a connection with Chassidim). that was shortly after Shabbos began. screamed, “Why did you appear now? It is only 1:30, not 2:00!” Rebbe Rayatz to whom he was devot- He promised that the boots were What to do? ed with all his heart and soul. kosher and had no shatnez. Aside I thought and thought until I came The prisoners began arguing with him. “It’s 2:00!” The Rebbe Rayatz blessed him, from that, he said that it was permis- up with a daring idea. I informed all “May we hear good news from one sible for me to wear them in any case, the prisoners that the officer in charge The officer saw that this was a waste another.” due to the danger to life. Especially had made a change and told us to of time and said, “Okay, fine. Sign.” When he boarded a train with his when they were sent by a Jew. come at one o’clock. Everyone passed I signed first and then ran. I arrived, the message along that we had to show family, to his surprise, he saw the But how could I wear them from the out of breath, at the apartment. I man- up at one. Rebbe MH”M with chocolate for the outset? The word “shatnez” contains aged to light the menorah on time as children. The Rebbe said that the Reb- the Hebrew letters of “Satan az!” And, All the prisoners showed up at one. well as Shabbos candles. be Rayatz asked him, “to see how you a sin remains within the three impure The officer was angry. “Why did you How did I have a menorah, you traveled.” kelipos forever and gives power to im- come now? It’s one o’clock and I said ask? That’s a good question because to come at two!” In Eretz Yisrael too, R’ Kahn con- purity! Now, by Hashem’s kindness, in to obtain candles in a place like that tinued to be devoted to spreading light of what the Chassid said, I had The prisoners looked at one another was veryy hard. thethe wellspringswellsprings andand wwasas knowknownn for his warm boots. in surprise and said, “We heard we My familyfamily sentsent me cancandlesdles fforor strongstrong faithfaith inin thethe had to come at one.” “Yeah, I also In this village, I had to report every ChanukaChanuka eveneven thoughthough there weren’tweren’t coming ofof Moshi-Moshi- heard that.” “Me too.” five days to the police and sign in, to enoughenough ttoo llightight the rightright amountamount ev- achach aandnd hhisis ttre-re- menmendousdous longlong-- show I was present. Thankfully, for The officer turned red and shouted, eryery dayday (when(when sstuck,tuck, oonene can llightight oneone ccandleandle eeachach dday.ay. Ed).Ed). From thisthis inging ttoo sseeee ththee a long time, the signing-in day did “Enough! Get out of here! Come back packagepackage I llitit oonene cacandlendle fforor CChanukahanuka GGeula.eula. ■ not fall out on Shabbos. Sometimes, at two.” aandnd fforor SShabbos.habbos. a miracle occurred and when the sign- Oy. My trick did not help. Now in day fell out on Shabbos, just then, what? AfterAfter t hthisis m imiraculousraculous sstory,tory, iitt hardlyhardly hhappenedappened thatthat I waswas the person in charge wasn’t there. In Do you think I gave in? Think again. these cases, when he returned, all the requiredrequired toto signsign onon Shab-Shab- I was young and quick, thank G-d. I prisoners had to start counting five ran to where the exiles lived and took days again. the only alarm clock there. It was the On the fifth day, one time, two days only clock we had at that time. Pris- before Chanuka, the person returned oners did not have their own watches.

606 BEISIS MOOSHIH AACH 2277 KISSLEV 55778080 61 3 •The plot Recap: Yoav, owner of a souvenir shop in Akko’s shuk is missing from his home.

In the house of the Pinchasi family: Hallo, Rabbi Shlomo? Its Menachem talking… I have an from the Tanya shiur. Can I bother you for a idea! few minutes?

What is it?!

Well my friends, the situation doesn’t seem Don’t cry Eli, I’m positive. Signs of struggle in the yard are heading right over. Wait evident. I’m afraid that the gang is responsible for me! for the mysterious disappearance of Yoav… Menachem! I’m always happy to hear from you, but I’m I will keep you updated just about to begin a class… with any development, But Rabbi, maybe call back in an hour? I ask of you the same – this is an please contact us with any emergency!!! A additional information. matter of life or death!!

Tatty was kidnapped?!

Excuse me, I have an emergency. We will begin shortly... We had a big tragedy. My brother Yoav, who is also my Yoav, Yoav! partner in our souvenir shop Where are you?... was kidnapped by a dangerous gang. The police are helpless, and the family is very worried.

Menachem, what do we do?! How will we save tatty? Eli?!

62 BEIS MOSHIACH 27 KISLEV5780 63 THE ONLY SLAP said: “When I give you plied, “children must also listen to the path, noted the “flaw” in his conduct in need fo an order, you listen to voice of their father, who is responsible repair, and what the proper conduct should be. The Rebbe Rayatz recalls in his memoirs, what I say.” for their supervision.” “When I was about six years old, my father For example, a parent should not say to a once called for me and instructed me to make I sobbed and said, “If Putting the child in his place is quite clear, child, “You’re lazy”, rather “You push things off several times (or many times) until you have no a bracha on the tzitzis. I told him that I had you’re supposed to bless before especially when he gets a slap for being stub- time left.” Name-calling and stigmas are nei- already made the bracha on tzitzis that day. G-d – I already did, but if you have born. However, the main lesson to be learned to bless before the person command- ther proper nor appropriate, causing harm to “Nevertheless,” my father told me, but I re- from this story is regarding the method used: the essence of a child’s existence. On the other fusedseds to dod so.so ing you…” The Rebbe Rashab didn’t call his six-year old hand, showing the existing mode of conduct My father gaveg me a light slap (this was the “While you must make a bracha because son by a name that would insult him or sound and the contrasting acceptable behavior – is onlynlylyy timet my ffathefa er ever slapped me) and then G-d commanded you to do so,” my father re- like a personal rebuke; he merely defined the both correct and definitely possible.

50 ɢɬɺʠʊʐɬɺʠʊɬɺʠɺʠɺʠɺʠʊʠ ʐʠɹʐ ɹɺɗɣɹ 27 KISLEV 5780 51

Op-Ed

Particularly young children and one puts another Sefer or Siddur on top as a caveat against markinkinkiingnngg a bookbook as a privap te need to be “fed” these stories, of it, there is absolutely no problem and that possession. Instead, we qquouotee ththee passukpassuk, LaShL - which provide generous doses is permissible. Otherwise, taking a Sefer from em ha’aretz u’mloah, attribtribributirributingg owoownerswnerswnernershiphihipp to of Emunah and Yiras Shamay- ASK The Rav elsewhere and using it as a Shtender for an- Hashem. im. As your mother always other Sefer or Siddur is unacceptable. (Hala- (There are opinions that contendndd witwwiithith thisthhishiiss told you: “If you eat well, you cha2go.com #6) Levi interpretation of Reb Yehuda Hachassid’siddd’s’ss tzatztzaz - will be a big boy…” If we want Liberow Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun va’ah; some maintain that he is addressing aann our children to become “big” Because my Books Aren’t Really Mine entirely different issue. “Refrain from labeling in their Yiddishkeit, we’ve got Many affluent individuals enjoy displaying a book as yours” is not a directive to the owner, to feed them well… their impressive library of sefarim. Some house but rather ttoo tthehe autauthorhor ooff tthehe worwork,k, cautionincautioningg The Guide to Buying b. Sipurim Memulaim: so many books—with the shelves reaching him from taking credit for his achievements. There is the second category of from floor to ceiling and stretching from wall Indeed, we find a similar prohibition cited in niggunim – niggun memulah. to wall—that their libraries are worth millions! Reb Yehuda Hachassid’s Sefer Chassidim. Nutritious Storybooks A song filled with meaning. Can I Use a Sefer as Shtender? The Owner of the greatest library on earth, Nonetheless, in current times, it has become Not every note of it is spir- which includes every book ever printed, is customary for the writer to identify himself itually precise. Still, it was There is a niggun mechuvan – that conveys In honor of the special day of Hey Teves Hashem, the Creator and Master of the World— as a tool for the reader in assessing the book’s What a brain. These days, we are very a true and precise message; composed from the depths of we present a collection of halachos AskTheRav.com & Halacha2Go.com and the Possessor of everything it contains. We their own, the second category includes many content.) mindful (or at least should be...) about what we a Chassid’s heart during his by Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, Mara D’asra and member of the Crown Heights Beis Din acknowledge this by inscribing LaShem ha’aretz a niggun that says something [described good “read it to me” storybooks for preschool- Practically, the terms mi’sifrei— (from the eat, and equal or more discretion should go into fervent davening. u’mloah (To Hashem is the land and all within elsewhere as a niggun memulah], of the kind ers. library of) or shayach l— ([this book] be- the stories we read to our children. Applying this to storybooks, there exists a it, Tehillim 24:1) in all of our sefarim even be- that the early Chassidim had; and longs to) may be used when preceded by the whole class of books that share the same “prop- The second category fo Sippurei Chassidim Changing Children in front be appropriately covered in front of sefarim fore marking our name. The acronym ÙŲØá is The Frierdiker Rebbe, coming to Ameri- verse LaShem ha’aretz u’mloah, testifying to a niggun shoteh – a mindless niggun that says erties” of a niggun memulah. I would divide – stories written by Chassidim, includes story- as well. often used instead. of Objects of Kedushah Hashem’s true ownership. Certainly, in the case ca, decried the situation in which people were nothing and is composed according to no clear them into two: (1) Sippurei Chassidim – stories books like most of the entire excellent Hachai A solution for changing a diaper in a room While there is an issue, in general, of writ- of a book donation, there is no issue of writ- careful about “what goes into the teppelach principles.” about Chassidim, and (2) stories written by series. They are mostly books of fiction, or According to halachah, a child’s soiled gar- where there are mezuzos, sefarim, or Shab- ing three consecutive words of a passuk (To- ing, nidvas (donated by…) or the like. (pots), but are oblivious to what goes into the books helping to acquire basic skills (counting ment—or any inyan of tinuf (dirt)—should A “niggun mechuvan,” the Rebbe explains, Chassidim and G-d fearing people. bos or Yom Tov candles (or ordinary candles)— rah verse) in vain, the words LaShem ha’aretz keppelach (heads).” numbers, telling colors, etc.). not be within the sight of a mezuzah; there- On the topic of sefarim ownership, honor- is “a niggun either composed or chosen by a The Rebbe once told Reb Abba Pliskin that is for the person who is changing the diaper u’mloah are not subject to this restriction, since fore, one should not change diapers in front able mention should be given to the Jewish But how can we know what’s good and what Rebbe.” Each note of that niggun has a precise “the bachurim need to be told stories of peo- These books convey middos tovos and core to stand in a way that effectively blocks the the word “laShem” is only representative of the of a mezuzah. custom of purchasing a chumash, tehillim, sid- isn’t? meaning and conveys a G-dly concept. Such ple who were “Chassidishe Yidden.” I mean Jewish values like tznius, Hashgachah Pratis, view from the mezuzos, sefarim, or candles. actual shem Hashem that appears in the verse. dur, and (lehavdil) tzedakah pushka (charity a niggun, obviously, does the best that a nigg- specifically of Chassidim, and not of Rebbeim, and more, (think the fantastic Yossi & Laibel There is a minhagg not to have young chil- (Halacha2go.com #354) In today’s world, manufacturers are required The basis for thisp ractice can be traced to box) for each child to be placed in a conspic- gun can do to a person, placing him in higher, because there can be an assumption [that Reb- series, Messes of Dresses, Who’s that Sleep- dren walk around undressed in front of Shab- by law to include the nutrition facts of the prod- Is a Sefer as a Shtender ok? the Talmud, which tells of Reb Chiya bar Ab- uous place in their room. Each sefer, as well G-dly, atmosphere. In the same sicha (ch. 75), beim stories are not relevant, due to] the spiri- ing on My Sofa Bed and many others). Those bos or Yom Tov candles out of respect for the ba’s visit to the city of Ludkia. There he wit- as the pushka, if possible, should bear the uct on its wrapper. But it takes an educated the Rebbe says that stories of Rebbeim, like tual distance [of a Chassid from a Rebbe], but teaching basic life-skills, give the child a clear mitzvah. In fact, it is considered a sakanah (dan- There is a Machloikes between the Mogen nessed how a golden table, its top adorned with words LaShem ha’aretz u’mloah and the child’s consumer to know how to read that label. Are their niggunim, connect us with them. from stories of Chassidim, practical lessons gerous) to walk around undressed in front of Avrohom and the Taz whether one is allowed message that everything was made by Hashem silver work and laden with delicacies, spices name, so they may learn, daven and give tze- 10 grams of sodium per serving good for you? can be taken.” candles, even during the week. to put a Sefer under another Sefer in order So let’s use this useful “index” of niggunim and for His sake (like Red is My Rimmon or and perfumes and set with luxurious table- dakah using their personalized items. (Hala- It depends on what sodium is. to lift the latter up so that it should be more and apply it to the world of books. The Rebbe encouraged elder Chassidim to The Very Best Bookk). There are those who suggest that if one is ware, was carried by sixteen servants before cha2go.com #844) ■ comfortable to learn from. Since this is a dis- How do we index books? write their memoirs and publish them. We now changing a diaper or dressing a child in front his host. When they set down the magnificent a. Sippurim Mechuvanim – Stories of When it comes to older children who can agreement related to Kovod HaSeforim (respect have an abundance of such books, mainly in of a candle, it’s not a problem as long as the table, the servants called out, “LaShem ha’aretz Tzaddikim: These are the best stories to read read themselves, things get trickier. There are to Seforim), of course one should be strict and Hebrew, but English titles keep coming out, child is uncovered for a very short time, since u’mloah!” testifying to the fact that all one owns * References are available for this Halacha (to yourself and especially to your children). good novels out there teaching valuable mes- not do what is commonly done, piling up a and these can fill the minds of young and old most likely it was inevitable before the advent truly belongs to HaShem. on the websites: www.Halacha2Go.com and They’re 100% good for you. The Our Sages Led sages, but caution needs to be taken with many few Seforim on top of each other in order to What a book is for a brain, music is for a readers alike with a lot of good things, like Me- of electricity. www.AskTheRav.com the Way series, the Machanyaim set, Rabbi so-called “frum” novels: Someme belong to the elevate the top‐most Sefer or Siddur to a more Another more direct source for writing soul. sirus Nefesh, Hiskashrus and many more great Sholom Ber Avtzon’s Rebbeim series, Sefer third category, which we will discuss below, Nevertheless, one should not allow a child to comfortable height. this passuk in sefarim appears in the tza- Please note that these halachos apply in “vitamins” essential for our spiritual growth. The Frierdiker Rebbe writes (Sefer HaSichos HaZichronos and many more such excellent and some teach ideas that whilele nott untrue,t run around in an untzniusdik (immodest) state. va’ah (will) of Rebbi Yehuda HaChassid: Re- general situations, if you are unsure whether If the Sefer is already there, that is a diff- 5703 p. 106) that “there are three levels of nigg- titles, are notable examples of many others While “Sippurei Chassidim”” are generally The Alter Rebbe writes that children should frain from labeling a book as yours; instead, the halacha applies to your particular ferent Halacha. Once a Sefer is already there gunim: around today on the market. more fit for older children who can read on cont. onn p. 448 merely inscribe your name. This is understood situation, please consult a Rov.

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