B”H Erev Shabbat Tzav - Shabbat HaGadol, 9th of Nissan, 5780; April 3rd, 2020 237

After hearing this story I asked him what I Will Always Be With You happened next. He told me what I knew; that he had been to Brunoir and had then In honor of the birthday of the come to Eretz Yisrael. He went on to Lubavitcher on the 11th of Nis- relate that one fine summer’s day, his san, we present the following story: went to the Kever of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai in Meron. Whilst he A little over three years ago, arriving was there somebody pointed out to him a early to shul one Friday night, I noticed a book that he was not familiar with, ‘Igrot young man standing at the back of the Kodesh (letters) of the Lubavitcher Reb- shul quietly and demurely, looking a be,’ and suggested that he write to the little bewildered and out of place. I Rebbe. He wrote a letter asking the Reb- walked up to him and asked him if he be for help and guidance in his studies had a place to eat for Shabbos. He spoke and placed the letter randomly into the neither Hebrew nor English but I man- book. He nearly passed out when upon aged to communicate with him in broken opening the book to where he had placed French. He said he would love to join his letter, he read the words, “why are me and so, after davening, we walked you concerned? I told you that I have home together and spent a pleasant Fri- taken responsibility for you. I will be day night and Shabbos lunch together with you in all your endeavors. Just with my family. concentrate on learning .” That is The guest, who we will call David, did Painting by Shmuel Halimi, Munbaz.com exactly what David did from then on. not tell us too much about himself except courtship he married David’s mother, a As mentioned above, there was only one that I gathered that he was a fairly new Jewess, and after she gave birth he dis- other Jew in the university of Bordeaux, baal teshuva who had studied for a short appeared never to be seen again. David’s a medical student who David had court- while at the Lubavitcher yeshiva of mother was vehemently anti-religious ed. After a couple years, David re- Brunoir on the outskirts of Paris, but was and warned him that if he were to be- turned to Bordeaux to renew this court- unable to cope with its high level of come involved in in any shape ship. The girl had become religious as learning. So he came to to study or form she would immediately disown well, despite having a background as far at the French speaking yeshiva in Ramot him. That was how David was raised. away from Judaism as David’s was. She where I live. He was older than all of Nevertheless he developed a deep desire too had a non-Jewish father who had the other boys and the only Lubavitcher. to find out about Judaism, learning and come to live in France; he had come We invited him a few times and told him reading up as best as he could, never from Libya. And just like David’s, her he would always be welcome. Then he daring to tell his mother. Furthermore, mother was fiercely against Judaism. disappeared into the ether. he befriended a young Lubavitcher fami- The young couple had agreed to marry About a year later, one Friday night I ly living not far from his university and and the reason why David was back in was sitting in my place davening when they encouraged him in his quest. was to get married on the day after that Shabbos. somebody blocked my light and stood in One night he fell asleep and had a front of me. It was David. With a gi- dream: He was standing in front of the continued on page 3 gantic grin on his face and obviously in a Lubavitcher Rebbe’s desk and the Rebbe really joyous and happy state of mind he picked up a letter from a pile in front of said, “well you said I could come when- him and read out loud, “we have in our Shabbat Times ever I want, so here I am.” We hugged town, a young man named David who is and back he came to eat with us and this searching for meaning in life and we Candle Lighting Motzei Shabbat time we heard the whole long story of have befriended him. However, there is his life and how, amazingly, against all Jerusalem 52:6 82:7 no in this section of Tel Aviv 52:: 82:7 odds, he had become a baal teshuva. Bordeaux who could help him. Would He told us he came from the town of the Rebbe please send a shaliach to help Haifa 52:6 82:7 Bordeaux in France. He had been study- him become a properly committed Jew.” Beer Sheva 52:: 82:7 ing at the university, and was one of the The Rebbe put the letter down and, ad- New York 8276 7275 only two in the whole institute. His dressing David, said “no, I will not send grandfather had been an officer in the a shaliach. I will take responsibility my- self to bring this young man to Judaism.” Chabad Of Israel Nazi (yemach shemo) army and had es- Rabbi Joseph I. Aronov caped justice by running away to South He told me to leave university and go to Published by M.L.S. (03) 3731777 America. The officer’s son, David’s yeshiva and that he would be with me Editor: Aharon Schmidt father, went to France to seek his for- wherever I went; there was nothing to be [email protected] tune. He remained a rabid anti-Semite frightened or concerned about. Please guard the sanctity of this publication throughout his life. After a lightening Everyone is Essential powerful spiritual effects it produces or vice despite the fact that he has lesser po- not. tentials should make him worthy of respect This week’s Torah reading, Tzav, begins and honor. with the command to remove the ashes And this is so regardless of what service from the altar. At night, the limbs of the we are asked to perform. R. Sholom Preparing the World for Moshiach sacrifices would be offered on the altar and Dovber (the Rebbe Rashab) would say: in the morning, the priests would take the “Even if G‑d had commanded us to chop G‑d desires all these different modes of ashes from the altar and bring them to a wood — i.e., an activity that appears to service. For His intent is that every ele- special place outside Jerusalem. have no spiritual content — we would do ment of this world — from the top to the so happily.” bottom of the spectrum — should be ele- There were priests chosen to offer animal vated. sacrifices and others chosen to bring the I Place G-d Before Me incense offering. And there were still oth- For this reason, when Mashiach comes, no ers who were given the task of cleaning the The communicated this Jew will be left behind. Bringing the world ashes from the altar. concept in his interpretation of the verse to its desired state depends on each per- .G-d before son’s individual contribution - שויתי - in : “I placed the root of the - שוה ”.Happy to Serve our Creator me at all times also means “equal”. When Each one has a certain dimension that only - שויתי word Our Sages emphasize that this was a lesser G‑d is before me at all times, everything is he can add. Through that contribution, he service, so much so that it could not be equal for me. There is no difference which will elevate that portion of the world that performed while wearing the ordinary path of service I’m given, whether the was designated for him. priestly garments, but instead required most sophisticated or the simplest. Every special, less dignified robes. positive act is a means of connecting to As each individual prepares his personal Him. Every positive act brings us one bit corner for the Redemption, the larger pic- Nevertheless, those priests also performed closer to the coming of Mashiach. ture comes into focus. We appreciate how their jobs eagerly. They were serving our missions interlock, for the world is G‑d in the Temple. It did not matter how Similar concepts apply with regard to the greater than any one of us and we begin to they were serving Him. As long as they Jewish people. There is no Jew who is understand how the world as a whole is were serving Him, they were happy. better than any other. Each person was G‑d’s dwelling. created by G‑d with different potentials Outside of the Temple, G‑d’s presence is and challenges. A person with one set of Adapted from the teachings of the Lubav- not overtly revealed. Thus we do not have gifts should not look down on a person itcher Rebbe. Reprinted from Keeping In the same inspiration to carry out His ser- with lesser potentials. Touch, Vol. 2, Sichos in English. From our vice. But that is only because we are una- Sages & Moshiach Now! reprinted from ware. From His perspective, our service is On the contrary, the fact that the other per- www.LchaimWeekly.org – LYO / NYC cherished whether we are aware of the son is able to continue in his Divine ser-

Reciting the Haggadah

This is the law...and of the sacrifice of the awakens an eternal G-dly fire. "It shall On the first night of Pesach, 5723, after peace offerings (Lev. 7:37) not go out" - this merit will stay with him visiting the yeshiva dining room and giv- forever. The Rabbi of Lublin used to say: It is far ing his blessing before the seder, the Reb- better to have an imperfect peace than a () be returned to 770 to conduct his seder perfect controversy. It is preferable to live upstairs in the Previous Rebbe’s apart- in peace with one's neighbor, even if that ment. peace is only superficial and not with a And here, the child asks (from the Ha- As the Rebbe walked in, he asked a few full heart, than to engage in controversy, gada) yungerleit (young men) who were stand- however well intended. Said Rabbi Aaron of Karlin, in the name ing in the lobby if they knew the tune to of his father, Rabbi Asher of Stolin: which the Previous Rebbe would chant the Haggada. They didn’t. A perpetual fire shall be burning on the "Here," on the night of the seder, every altar, it shall not go out (Lev. 6:6) Jewish child may request of his Father in The Rebbe said, “They say that Yoel Heaven anything he wishes, and he will Kahn catches a tune well…”, but Reb A Jew must be careful to preserve the receive extra strength and vitality for all Yoel also did not know it. The Rebbe spark of his attachment to G-d throughout of his needs. turned to Reb Avremel Shemtov, but he the day, thus ensuring that the love he also could not be of help. feels for the Creator can be easily rekin- (Beit Aharon) dled at any time. If, however, the spark is The Rebbe explained that the reason it is allowed to cool off, the "fire" must be re- For not only one stood against us to de- not clear to him, is because he also heard lit whenever he wishes to pray or study stroy us (from the Hagada) the Haggada from his father. Torah. Reb Yankel Katz, who would traditional- (The Baal Shem Tov) Why have our enemies sought to destroy ly lead the Haggada recitation at the Reb- us? Because we were "not only one." be’s seder, said, “Anyways, I don’t want Lack of unity among the Jewish people is to spend a long time on the Haggada.” A fire shall continully be kept burning the primary cause of all our troubles. The Rebbe replied, “But I do…” upon the altar; it shall not go out. (6:6) (Sefat Emet) reprinted from Merkaz Anash, on-line at A person who studies Torah with a friend TheWeeklyFarbrengen.com

Leaving Egypt The Mishna teaches that in each genera- One must give tzedakah without limita- Don’t Mention That Word tion a person must see himself as if he tions. One must daven properly; even if personally left Mitzrayim (Egypt). In Tan- he thinks that his busy schedule and busi- After maariv on the first night of Pesach, ya, the Alter Rebbe adds that the obliga- ness life doesn’t allow him to daven with the Rebbe would visit various Pesach tion is not only in every generation, but a minyan and have adequate kavana seders. At first only the yeshiva students each and every day! Chassidus explains (intent), he should pay no heed to these were visited, but as the years passed, there is more to going out of Mitzrayim thoughts. The same is true with setting other institutions were added. The visit than just leaving the actual confines of the times for , especially on Shab- to (a seminary for young land of Egypt; the word, Mitzrayim, can bos. One must study Torah in a manner women that hadn’t received a religious also mean, boundaries and limitations. that transcends all limitations. education) in 5739 was truly a lesson for everyone. As the Rebbe went from floor So what is leaving our personal Mitz- In Egypt the Yidden suffered backbreak- to floor and room to room he attempted rayim? The Previous Rebbe explains: A ing labor. The Gemara interprets this as to open one door which proved to be person sets up his life by planning and “women’s tasks were assigned to men and locked. Mrs. Ganzburg, the dorm mother, scheduling everything according to his men’s tasks to women.” This was espe- explained, “[It’s closed because] there is needs. First and foremost, a person must cially difficult, for even if the tasks were chometz inside.” The Rebbe immediately go out of Mitzrayim. That is, regardless of not so hard, the workers were not accus- replied, “It is not appropriate to mention his plans and schedules, he must add a set tomed to such work. In our time as well, that word on Pesach.” He then gave the time to study Torah every day, and to leave this galus, we don’t necessarily Ganzburgs a special blessing. properly devote himself to davening. need to do the biggest and most difficult

tasks. We need to break ourselves by do- Reprinted from Derher After going out of Mitzrayim there is the ing those things that we are not accus- splitting of the sea. Once a person starts tomed to— changing our usual habits. on the path of the service of going out of Mitzrayim, he will immediately encounter It’s about pushing to go the extra mile. As various disturbances along the way. For the Alter Rebbe quotes in , when I Will Always Be With You that, one will need Hashem’s help, much one hired a donkey driver for ten parsa, he like the splitting of the sea was performed paid one zuz; but to go eleven parsa the cont. from page one: He told me that by Hashem Himself. But in order to re- rate was two zuz. Because the extra parsa there was not a single guest from either ceive the Heavenly assistance, one first made the trip longer than the usual dis- side of the family who would be attend- needs to “jump into the sea”—the ap- tance, it cost the rider double, even if it ing the wedding, apart from his mother. proach of self-sacrifice. Then, Hashem wasn’t double the distance. She had become reconciled with David’s will turn the “sea” into “dry land,” remov- return to Judaism and had even begun to ing all the obstacles along the way. In our generation, we only need to com- plete the small tasks in order to bring keep mitzvoth herself. Sadly, the bride’s The Rebbe teaches, “the only important Moshiach. Everything else was accom- mother refused to go to the wedding. My thing is to serve Hashem and do what He plished by our predecessors. We need to local Chabad shul in Ramot arranged an wants without any limitations whatsoev- do things small but significant, small but impromptu ofruf for David. The French er.” Practically this means: “Every person difficult for our nature. With that we will yeshiva sent students to sing and dance at must have his own personal geulah; going merit the geulah from today’s Mitzrayim. the wedding, and then sent them again to beyond his limitations and constraints. liven up all of the sheva berachot. Adapted and reprinted from Derher The end of the story is even more aston- ishing. Whilst in Bordeaux David went to visit his Lubavitcher friends and told them about his dream and the letter that the Rebbe had read to him and his com- A Single All-Encompassing Intent ments. The wife went pale and barely managed to articulate, “on what date was your dream?” David told her and she "All the days of your life" as including the Era of Moshiach. (Hagada) promptly fainted. When she had recov- ered somewhat she told him that the let- ter the Rebbe had read out to him was the Le'havi translated as "including" literally means "to bring." Thus, this Talmudic pas- very same letter that she had written ask- sage, quoted in the Hagada, can be interpreted as a directive: All the days of your life ing the Rebbe to help him, and she had should be permeated by a single intention: to bring about the coming of the Era of placed it into on the morn- ing immediately preceding his dream. Moshiach. By Rabbi Yaakov Cass. Rabbi Cass is a Lubavitcher chossid living in Jerusalem. (The Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe) Until recently he was a senior official in the Israel Ministry of Health. Question: I have so much anxiety about the Coronavirus. I am scared that my family will On-Line get it. I can’t sleep, I am tense, I am constantly cleaning the house—I can’t relax. I try and Mayanot Yeshiva in Jerusalem has not ignore, push it away and feel happy, but the allowed coronavirus lockdown to stop anxiety returns. It won’t leave me. I need relief. the learning of Torah, moving its clas- ses online for students. Answer: In Chapters14 and 17 of Tanya the Thanks to modern technology the post Alter Rebbe explains that only Tzaddikim have -high school program director Rab- control over their hearts. A tzaddik can arouse a cally attached, but the Torah has been love of G‑d, directly, without employing his bi Shneur Broh will continue to deliv- the connecting force for Jews over the er classes to his students using Zoom intellect to arouse his emotions. On the other centuries. It will continue to bind us hand, every person is born with the inherent remote video conferencing program, from around the globe, through online so that they will be able to login any- capability for the mind to rule over the heart. Torah classes.” Therefore, although not in direct control of where in the world, for several hours a day and take part in classes on Hala- one’s heart, as is a tzaddik, everyone has the Other Mayanot Rabbis including Rab- potential to influence the heart by way of the cha – Jewish law, Chassidut, and Ge- bi Meir Levinger, Rabbi Yitzchok mara. mind. Along these lines, in Chapter 12, the Kaufmann, Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov, Alter Rebbe explains that one should push away and Rabbi Shlomo Gestetner will be As Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov, the Execu- unwanted thoughts with both hands. Two hands offering classes online as well. At the implies not even acknowledging the existence of tive Director explained, “we might not Mayanot Women’s Program, Torah be here together in Jerusalem physi- the thought. In other words, the person is not classes will be led by Adi Silverman required to actively push the thought away; he and Rivka Marga Gestetner. simply ignores the thought, and diverts his atten- Cooking Tip of the Week tion to a different topic. By so doing, the un- Rabbi Shlomo Gestetner, Dean of wanted thoughts will eventually disappear. How do you make food tasty with Mayanot added, “...corona-virus has no spices throughout Chol HaMo- taught us how truly interconnected the This is regarding thoughts. However, as men- ed Pesach? Marinate meat (or chick- world is. One clear lesson is that we tioned above, most of us do not have direct con- en) in a mixture of wine and fresh must utilize the tools we have at our trol over our emotions. Therefore, ignoring, squeezed citrus juice, then grill or disposal with online platforms to uni- denying and running from an emotion usually bake. Ideally marinate it overnight. fy the world and bring more light, leads to an intensification of the emotion or the Torah and G-dliness to all.” emotion finding expression in other ways, i.e. Alizah Hochstead, stress, depression, physical symptoms, etc. [email protected] Adapted and reprinted from When unwanted emotions surface, allow the COLlive.com emotions to simply be. Do not criticize your- self, flee or fight with the emotions. However, Halacha Corner – The Search for Chametz every emotion has its source in conscious or subconscious thoughts. Although we cannot Bedikas chametz (the search for chametz) is conducted after Ma’ariv. Vari- simply push away an emotion, our thoughts are ous options are presented in Shulchan Aruch, but the accepted practice is to in our control and can be used to influence and conduct the search immediately after Ma’ariv. (See also , vol. change our emotions. 17, p. 434.) For this reason, Ma’ariv must be recited in its due time and not delayed. As the Alter Rebbe explains, “Since Chazal established a time [for As devastating and traumatic as the Coronavirus bedikas chametz], one who fails to conduct his search at that time is not is, we must remember that Hashem is in control merely considered slothful [in fulfilling his duties], but he is called a trans- and Hashem is all good. Now is an opportunity gressor, for he has transgressed an enactment of Chazal” (Shulchan Aruch to deepen our faith in G-d and Divine Provi- Admur HaZaken, Kuntras Acharon). From approximately half an hour prior dence. I recommend reading, As a Father to nightfall (tzeis hakochavim), it is prohibited to sit down to a meal or to Loves His Only Son, which can be found on the study, to perform work, or to enter a bathhouse (activities that may easily Sichos in English website, sie.org. grow protracted, causing him to neglect conducting the search). In conclusion: 1. Allow the anxiety to simply One who intends to travel on erev Pesach in order to spend Pesach in a dif- be; don’t criticize, flee or be afraid of the feel- ferent location should not sell his entire property to a non-Jew as chametz. ings; 2. Read and listen to classes on the topic Rather, he must leave at least one room that will not be included in the sale, of faith and Divine Providence. Constantly fill in order to be able to perform bedikas chametz the night of the fourteenth of your mind with these thoughts. As your fear is Nisan in at least part of his home. One who travels before the fourteenth of replaced with thoughts of trust in Hashem, the Nisan, need not leave a room unsold. Instead, he is obligated to perform bed- feelings of anxiety will subside. ikas chametz the night of the fourteenth wherever he may be. Aharon Schmidt - marriage, pre-marriage & individual coaching. For an appointment or to Day-To-Day Halachic Guide, Pesach 5779, Rav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, shlita, share a question contact: Member of the Badatz of Crown Heights, crownheightsconnect.com [email protected]