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722_Beis Moshiach 14/12/2009 5:48 AM Page 3 contents AN END AND A BEGINNING 4 D’var Malchus THE POWER OF THE BOOK 6 Thought | Rabbi Zvi Homnick WRITING FOR PERPETUITY 10 Insight THE REBBE, OUR FATHER 15 Shlichus | Rabbi Yaakov Shmuelevitz CHASSIDISHE CHINUCH IN SOVIET 18 USA RUSSIA 744 Eastern Parkway Memoirs | Prepared for publication by Avrohom Rainitz Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409 Tel: (718) 778-8000 Fax: (718) 778-0800 IT’S ALL ABOUT LIGHT [email protected] 24 www.beismoshiach.org Chanuka | Dr. Aryeh Gotfryd EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: M.M. Hendel ENGLISH EDITOR: MOSHIACH: WHAT WE BELIEVE Boruch Merkur HEBREW EDITOR: 25 Moshiach & Geula | Rabbi Gershon Avtzon Rabbi Sholom Yaakov Chazan [email protected] THE PEOPLE OF THE BOOK 28 Feature | Menachem Ziegelboim Beis Moshiach (USPS 012-542) ISSN 1082- 0272 is published weekly, except Jewish holidays (only once in April and October) for $160.00 in Crown Heights, Brooklyn and in all other places for $180.00 per year (45 BUILDING BRIDGES TO THE issues), by Beis Moshiach, 744 Eastern 36 REDEMPTION Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409. Periodicals postage paid at Brooklyn, NY and Profile | Nosson Avrohom additional offices. Postmaster: send address changes to Beis Moshiach 744 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409. Copyright 2009 by Beis Moshiach, Inc. Beis Moshiach is not responsible for the content of the advertisements. 722_Beis Moshiach 13/12/2009 9:15 PM Page 4 d’var malchus Mikeitz, which focuses on the release of Yosef from prison. AN END AND Yosef serves as an analogy for the entire Jewish people. [3] For the name Yosef meaning “increase” refers to an infinite and unbounded potential for growth, A BEGINNING [4] i.e., the soul we all possess which is “an actual part of G-d from above.” [5] Moreover, the prayer Rachel Sichos In English recited when naming Yosef, [6] “May G-d add on (yosef) to me another son (ben acher),” reflects Hidden with the challenges of the last the spiritual mission of the Jewish people. moments of exile, are G-dly sparks of a Entities which have hitherto been acher (“another” - estranged truly lofty nature. Confronting these from their G-dly core) are brought challenges taps these G-dly energies close and manifest the intimacy of ben (“a son”). and brings to ketz ha’yamin, the The prison refers to the body and to material existence as a beginning of the redemption. whole. Such a setting confines the THE TRUTH OF TORAH separate entity, but rather an infinite power of the soul and denies it expression. Among people at large, there is extension and an outgrowth of spiritual existence, whatever Although G-d gave man His a difference of opinion regarding Torah, His will and wisdom, [7] the narratives of the Torah. happens in the spiritual realms is also reflected in this world. the Torah is also affected by the There are some who maintain limits of material existence, and its that all the stories of the Torah Every narrative in the Torah is a record of an actual event, but the G-dly source is not always should be considered as evident. symbolism and allegory. event is not a dry historical fact, Their intent is to teach us but rather a dynamic movement lessons in our divine service, not beginning within the sublime AN END TO LIMITATION to chronicle history. spiritual planes and having These concepts are alluded to The traditional view differs and ramifications on all levels of in the opening phrase of this states every narrative in the Torah existence. week’s Torah reading: must be considered as a true This approach expresses the Va’yehi mi’keitz shnasayim record of events which actually positive dimensions of both the yamim, “And it came to pass at the transpired. [1] views mentioned previously. end of two years time.” Chassidic thought takes a On one hand, the historical “Two years” refers to the Torah different approach, to quote a integrity of the Torah is preserved. which contains two elements, the kabbalistic expression: [2] Conversely, however, the Written Law and the Oral Law. The Torah speaks about the relevance of the Torah is not as a [8] upper realms, and alludes to the book of records, but as a spiritual As the Torah exists within the lower realms. guide, reflecting truths manifest in confines of material existence, its The intent is that the narratives the spiritual realms that should be power appears to have a ketz, an of the Torah are descriptions of applied in our divine service. end and a limit. the interrelation between Divine Nevertheless, because Yosef - attributes in the spiritual realms. INFINITY IN SHACKLES in analogy, the Jewish people - is Nevertheless, since material These concept are reflected in essentially unlimited, the ketz, the existence is not, heaven forbid, a this week’s Torah reading, Parshas restrictions of worldly existence, 4 Rosh Chodesh Teives 5770 BEIS MOSHIACH 722_Beis Moshiach 13/12/2009 9:15 PM Page 5 ultimately becomes “va’yehi”, a first two years - of his assumption 2. Asara Maamaros, Maamer Chakor thing of the past. of power. HaDin, sec. 3, ch. 22; Shaloh, p. Yosef leaves prison and According to the first 13b, 161a. becomes the ruler of Egypt. interpretation, mi’keitz refers to 3. Therefore the entire Jewish people In the analogue: a Jew is sent the most difficult challenges Yosef are at times referred to with the name into the world to reveal G-dliness. faced in Egypt, for it is before Yosef as Psalms 80:2 states “You lead This is the purpose of his being daybreak that the darkness Yosef as [a shepherd leads] sheep.” and eventually this purpose will be becomes most powerful. [13] See Rashi and Metzudas David to achieved. According to the second that verse. The material nature of worldly interpretation, mi’keitz refers to 4. See Toras Chayim p. 87a. existence may initially restrict the the dawning of Yosef’s 5. Tanya, ch. 2. expression of a Jew’s inner nature, redemption. but the constraints will be There is a connection between 6. Genesis 30:24. temporary. the two concepts. 7. Tanya, ch. 4. Ultimately, just as Yosef Hidden with the challenges of became the ruler of Egypt, every ketz di’smola, the last moments of 8. Torah Or 31b. Jew will become a source of exile, are G-dly sparks of a truly 9. See the gloss of Rav Avraham Ibn influence and power, showing how lofty nature. Confronting these Ezra to Numbers 13:25, infinite G-dliness can permeate challenges taps these G-dly Deuteronomy 15:1, 31:10, Psalms material existence. energies and brings to ketz 119:96. See also the gloss of the ha’yamin, the beginning of the Maharsha to Niddah 58b. MAKING THE END redemption. [14] 10. Rashi in our Torah reading. A BEGINNING The entire Jewish people are at times referred to with the name 11. Zohar, Vol. I, p. 193b. The latter concept can be Yosef. [2] 12. Zohar, Vol. I, p. 54a, c.f. the amplified by the coupling of a May the motif experienced by conclusion of the Book of Daniel. point of Hebrew grammar with a Yosef become manifest for our mystical concept. people as a whole. 13. Likkutei Dibburim, Vol. I, p. 68a, b [English trans. p. 150]. The word mi’keitz can mean For we have confronted the “at the beginning” [9] or “at the hardships of exile and we are 14. This enables us to appreciate the end”. [10] awaiting the revelation of ketz interrelation between the name Similarly, the Zohar speaks of ha’yamin, the first rays of the mi’keitz and the Torah reading which the ketz di’smola, “the left end,” redemption. follows. Even according to the interpretation that mi’keitz refers to [11] and the ketz ha’yamin, “the May this take place in the right end.” [12] the last two years of Yosef’s immediate future. imprisonment, it is still appropriate To apply these concepts to our Adapted from: Likkutei Sichos, Vol. V, p. that it serve as the name of the Torah reading: 198ff, Vol. XXIII, p. 37-38 Sichos Shabbos Parshas Mikeitz, 5751 reading that deals with his The question is whether redemption. For it was the mi’keitz refers to the end - the confrontation of those challenges of final two years - of the trials and Notes: that period that brought about his tribulations Yosef suffered in 1. See the Responsa of the Rashba, redemption. Egypt, or to the beginning - the Vol. I, Responsum 413. Raskin's Consistently “if it grows we have it” Superior Fruit and Produce Emporium WHOLESALE & RETAIL Michal & Aaron Raskin We Deliver 335 Kingston Ave. Brooklyn NY 11213 * Tel: (718) 756-3888 756-2221 * Fax: 756-2440 BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 722 5 722_Beis Moshiach 13/12/2009 9:15 PM Page 6 thought word got out that the Rebbe had announced that “all the doors were open” for all requests, and that any note with a request THE POWER would be taken to the resting place of the Rebbe Rayatz. Bags and bags of letters and notes poured into 770 Eastern Parkway, even from places like OF THE BOOK Williamsburg, which was considered a stronghold of opposition. This friend of mine became the “letter carrier” for By Rabbi Zvi Homnick many of those in Lakewood who wanted to take advantage of this A ROOMFUL OF BOOKS books covering many different unique opportunity, and he traveled there almost daily during Whenever we begin to branches of the movement, I that week. When he approached approach the special day of 5 began to devour them.