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RIPPLES OF INNER MOVEMENT 4 D’var Malchus

WISDOM AND HUMILITY – THE 6 HALLMARKS OF MOSHIACH Thought | Rabbi Zvi Homnick THE REBBE’S AHAVAS YISROEL 10 Stories | Rabbi Leibel Groner

CURING THE LOVESICK IN MEXICO 16 Story | Avrohom Jacobson

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d’var malchus RIPPLES OF INNER MOVEMENT

Sichos In English

YISRO’S IDENTITY ACKNOWLEDGING G-D spiritual powers, he rejected their Few of the weekly Torah readings To resolve this question, it is worship, declaring: [10] “Blessed be are named after individuals. As such, necessary to understand the source G-d.... Now I know that G-d is whenever such an association is for idol worship. greater than all the deities.” made, it commands special attention. The Rambam writes: [6] And if this is true with regard to “During the time of Enosh, THE MICROCOSM any Torah reading, surely it applies to mankind made a great error....They Yisro’s acknowledgment of G-d this week’s reading, Parshas Yisro, said that G-d created stars and was not merely a personal matter. which contains the story of the giving spheres with which to control the His words of praise brought about of the Torah. Naming the reading world. He placed them on high and “the revelation of G-d in His glory in Yisro indicates a connection between treated them with honor.... the higher and lower realms. him and the giving of the Torah as a Accordingly, it is fit [for man] to Afterwards, He gave the Torah, in whole. praise and glorify [these entities], perfect [confirmation of] His Who was Yisro? and to treat them with honor.” dominion over all existence.” [11] The Torah describes [1] him as Thus the worship of false What is at the heart of this pattern the Kohen of Midyan. divinities is rooted in the concept that of causality? Our Sages offer two definitions G-d conveys influence to this world In microcosm, Yisro’s for the word Kohen: [2] through intermediaries. acknowledgment of G-d expressed A) “Ruler.” Yisro had governed This is true, as our Sages the purpose of the giving of the the Land of Midyan. comment: [7] “There is not a blade Torah. And this prepared the B) “Priest.” He had led the of grass on this [material] plane, that macrocosm, the world at large, for Midianites in their worship. Indeed, does not have a spiritual force such a revelation. our Sages relate [3] that Yisro had compelling it and telling it to grow.” To explain: recognized all the false divinities in The gentiles, however, attach The Rambam states: [12] “The the world. independent authority to these Torah was given solely to create peace The connection between the first intermediaries, thinking that they within the world.” interpretation and the giving of the have control over the influence they Peace is not the purpose for the Torah is obvious, for it reflects the disperse, and therefore, view them as Torah’s existence. extent of Yisro’s commitment. gods. The Torah existed before the Although he lived amidst wealth In truth, however, these creation of the world. [13] and comfort, he was prepared to intermediaries are merely “like an ax It is G-d’s wisdom, [14] at one journey forth to the desert to hear the in the hand of a chopper,” [8] with with Him. [15] words of the Torah. [4] no importance or will of their own, Thus just as G-d’s existence But the second interpretation is and therefore, it is wrong - and transcends the concept of purpose, problematic. Why does the Torah forbidden - to worship them. [9] so too, the Torah’s. mention this fact? Our Sages teach By saying Yisro had recognized all The Rambam, however, is [5] that it is forbidden to tell a the false deities in the world, our focusing on the *purpose* of the convert: “Remember your previous Sages implied that he was aware of all giving of the Torah, why the Torah deeds.” the different mediums through which was granted to mortals who live in G-d channels energy to the world. this material world. Despite his knowledge of these He explains that the Torah was 729_B_Beis Moshiach 01/02/2010 8:25 AM Page 5

given, not merely to spread Divine accomplished this objective. dichotomy will be permanently light, but to cultivate peace. From his involvement with “all the resolved and in a complete and false deities in the world,” he come to abiding manner, we will realize that RECOGNITION OF a deep recognition of G-d. [20] our world is G-d’s dwelling. [24] G-DLINESS ON EARTH The transformation which he May this take place in the underwent made possible the giving immediate future. Peace refers to the establishment of the Torah which in turn brings Adapted from Likkutei Sichos, Vol. XI, p. 74ff; of harmony between opposites. In an about a similar transformation in Vol. XV, p. 379ff; Vol. XVI, p. 198; Sichos Shabbos Pashas Yisro, 5751 ultimate sense, it refers to the world at large. resolution of the dichotomy that Notes: exists between the physical and the 1. Exodus 18:1. spiritual, that a world where G-d’s FROM DARKNESS 2. See the Mechilta to this verse. presence is not outwardly evident TO LIGHT 3. Mechilta to Exodus 18:11, Zohar, Vol. II, p. 69a, Rashi, Exodus 18:9. should recognize and be permeated The Zohar [21] associates the 4. Rashi, Exodus 18:5. by the truth of His Being. transformation of material existence 5. See Bava Metzia 58:13, quoted in Mishneh On the verse, [16] “the heavens with the verse: [22] “I saw an Torah, Hilchos Mechira 14:13. are the heavens of G-d, but the earth advantage to the light over the 6. Mishneh Torah, Hilchos Avodas Kochavim He gave to the children of man,” our darkness.” 1:1. Sages explain [17] that originally, The word Yisaron, (Yud Tav Reish 7. B’Reishis Rabba 10:6, Zohar, Vol. I, p. 251a. there was a Divine decree separating Vav Nun, sharing the same root as 8. Cf. Isaiah 10:15. See the maamer V’Yadaata the physical from the spiritual, i.e., the name Yisro) translated as 5657 (English translation, Kehot, 1993) where this concept is explained at length. the nature of material existence “advantage,” can also be rendered as 9. See the fifth of the Rambam’s Thirteen prevented one from truly “higher quality,” and thus the verse Principles of Faith (Commentary to the Mishna, appreciating spiritual reality [18] and can be interpreted to indicate that the Introduction to the Tenth Chapter of Sanhedrin). integrating it in one’s life. higher quality of light comes from the 10. Exodus 18:10-11. At the time of the giving of the transformation of darkness. 11. Zohar, Vol. II, p. 67b. Torah, however, G-d “nullified this There are two implications to this 12. Rambam, Mishneh Torah, the conclusion of decree” and allowed for unity to be interpretation. Hilchos Chanukah. The Rambam’s source is a matter of question. established between the two. Firstly, the transformation of The Tzemach Tzedek (Or HaTorah, Mishlei, p. Moreover, true peace does not darkness brings about a higher 553) cites Gittin 59b. See Likkutei Sichos, Vol. mean merely the negation of quality of light than is usually VIII, p. 349ff. opposition. revealed, and secondly, that this light 13. Midrash T’hillim 90:4, B’Reishis Rabba Instead, the intent is that forces does not stand in opposition to the 88:2. which were previously opposed material nature of the world. On the 14. Tanya, ch. 3. should appreciate an inner contrary, it is the darkness of the 15. Zohar, Vol. I, p. 24a. commonality and join together in world which is the source of this 16. Psalms 115:16. 17. Shmos Rabba 12:3. See the essay entitled positive activity. higher light. What Happened at Sinai (Timeless Patterns in Similarly, the peace that the Torah The Path to Redemption Time, Vol. II, p. 91ff, Kehot, 1994) which fosters does not merely involve a The Tanya [23] describes the elaborates on this concept. revelation of G-dliness so great that giving of the Torah as a foretaste of 18. Indeed, the very Hebrew word for “world.” Olam, shares the same root as the word Helem the material world would be forced to the Era of the Redemption. For when meaning “concealment.” acknowledge it. the Torah was given, all existence 19. Tanya, Shaar HaYichud V’HaEmuna, Instead, the Torah’s intent is to stood in a state of absolute oneness Chapter 1. bring about an awareness of G-d with G-d. 20. The intent is that Yisro willingly within the context of the world itself. At the time of the giving of the acknowledged G-d’s presence and endeavored to modify his life to conform with his appreciation There is G-dliness present in Torah, however, the revelation was of His existence. Other nations were also awed every element of existence. For at dependent on G-d’s initiative. by the miracles of the Red Sea and recognized every moment creation is being Since the world had not been G-d’s power, as it is written (Exodus 15:14-16): “Nations heard and shuddered.... The renewed, and were G-d’s creative refined, its nature stood in opposition [inhabitants of] Canaan melted away. Fear and energy to be lacking, the world would to the manifestation of G-dliness, and dread fell upon them.” Unlike Yisro, however, return to absolute nothingness. [19] the revelation did not endure. they did not seek to internalize their appreciation of G-d in their conduct. The Torah allows for the In the centuries that followed, 21. Zohar, Vol. III, p. 47b. appreciation of this inner G-dliness, however, mankind’s observance of 22. Ecclesiastes 2:17. and enables us to live our daily lives the Torah and its mitzvos has 23. Chapter 36. in harmony with it. integrated G-dliness into the fabric of 24. Cf. Midrash Tanchuma, Parshas B’Chukosai, In a personal sense, Yisro’s the world. sec. 3. acknowledgment of G-d In the Era of the Redemption, the 729_B_Beis Moshiach 01/02/2010 8:25 AM Page 6

thought WISDOM AND HUMILITY THE HALLMARKS OF MOSHIACH

By Rabbi Zvi Homnick

simple faith were far more ready to Never before in Jewish history, including sacrifice everything, including their Chassidic history, had any leader made lives, for that faith. It was the philosophers and intellectuals who such a huge deal over the passing of any were far more likely to jump ship. Later, I discovered that the Rebbe woman, even the most righteous biblical responded in a letter that recent history in Russia had more than figures, which made the whole thing refuted this argument and allayed this concern as Chabad Chassidim seem entirely out of proportion. displayed a degree of personal sacrifice far beyond anything that WISDOM Volozhin as well as other works came before, particularly those FOR THE MASSES based on the teachings of the Vilna immersed more deeply in the study Gaon and chronicles of his life, in of Chassidus. However, the letter Growing up in an environment addition to the writings of the only addresses the fallacy in the that was less than approving of Maharal, the idea that higher levels factual conclusion of that argument Chabad Chassidus, I heard many of Divine Wisdom can be revealed but doesn’t resolve the paradox. and varied complaints and to lower generations since they How does studying deeper and accusations against the movement, need more potent medicine to more intellectually rigorous esoteric especially in its current incarnation. arouse them to love and fear of G-d, ideas lead to greater readiness to One of the common arguments, seemed not only legitimate but quite sacrifice one’s life and do more for which I didn’t find compelling even sensible. G-d? in my most rabid phase, was to cite If anything, in my later studies, I Over the years, the Rebbe did the early Kabbalistic prohibition found the strong opposition from and said many things in public that against the study of Jewish other Chassidic masters, who were provided much material for those mysticism before the age of forty, concerned about the intellectualizing looking to criticize. One of those and even then only if one was on a of matters of faith, far more that seemed tailor-made was when high spiritual level. Having learned persuasive. History had shown that the word got out that the Rebbe Nefesh HaChayim of Reb Chaim of those who related to G-d through had called for girls to learn more.

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This included gaining a broader and man do not often go together. accepted and followed and deeper knowledge of Chassidus unquestioningly. I was living in as well as learning those parts of WOMAN OF WISDOM Eretz Yisroel then, at the height of the Oral Torah, traditionally the political war that split the main Throughout the year following considered off limits for the fairer religious party, with Lubavitch the passing of Rebbetzin Chaya gender. The way that the Rebbe being the main issue of contention Mushka, on the 22nd of Shvat framed the issue was that since the between the Chassidic groups and 5748/1988, and at this time of the main concern regarding teaching the yeshiva world. This split was year in later years, the Rebbe spoke Torah to women is the fact that felt at all levels of Israeli religious about the need to learn life lessons intellectual development enhances society and arguments and debates from the life of the departed. Oddly the negative capacity for, and broke out in every shul and on enough, one of the most notable tendency of, rationalizing as a every corner. Encountering one characteristics of the Rebbetzin was means to get out from one’s such heated exchange between a that she was so intensely private obligations, nowadays women are group of yeshiva men and their that very little was known about her getting the intellectual stimulation Lubavitcher counterparts, which life. From the bit of anecdotal anyway, but from secular sources. was conducted in rapid fire material that we do have, what As such, they would be better off Hebrew, I stood off to the side and emerges is a portrait of a woman exerting their minds over a difficult listened in. The argument ended who was exceptionally intelligent, passage in the Talmud or when it deteriorated to the level learned and well educated, commentaries, which are holy, that one of the fellows made some possessed of a great deal of rather than secular disciplines, snide remarks about how Chabad wisdom, while imbued with which are unholy. Chassidim are very involved with Chassidic self-nullification that This pronouncement was mourning their Rebbetzin, and the manifested in the form of extreme greeted with universal shock. Those Lubavitchers reacted angrily and personal sacrifice and avoidance of communities that work actively to stormed off. any and all public attention, along minimize the exposure of their I well understood why they with a genuine concern for others. female progeny to any aspects of would find the comment offensive, Since Jews are naturally the Oral Torah, reacted with utter as it was meant to be, but it was compassionate, one would expect derision, with their more hostile equally obvious to me that they not that even the most hate-filled elements proclaiming that this was only had no adequate response, opponent of Chassidus would proof that Chabad of today was they were actually embarrassed by consider such a tragedy off limits headed in the wrong direction. the whole thing. This was an eye- for digging up reasons to be Even those who provide a broader opener for me. Seeing the groups critical. However, the fact that the education for girls, teaching a wide go their separate ways, I sort of Rebbe kept going on about it in range of Torah commentaries, as trailed along with the group of terms of its impact on the Divine well as ethical and philosophical Chassidim to hear what they would service of every person in the works, responded with strong say amongst themselves. One of the generation was seen by those who negativity. As one very thoughtful Chassidim tried to explain to the did not see themselves as followers educator told me, it was not simply others, through some convoluted of “the leader of the generation” as an issue of whether the study of the reasoning, that the Rebbe was first a bit over the top. Never before in Oral Torah is permitted or not. The and foremost a Chassid of his Jewish history, including Chassidic far greater challenge in educating father-in-law, and as such was not history, had any leader made such a religious young women is finding mourning the person who was his huge deal over the passing of any the correct balance between feeding wife but the mystical connection to woman, even the most righteous their minds and not corrupting his Rebbe... Not only were they biblical figures, which made the their natural propensity for simple uncomfortable with what their whole thing seem entirely out of faith in G-d and His Torah. This is Rebbe was doing and saying, they proportion. especially crucial since the wider felt the need to come up with some At that time, I witnessed world is actively working to abstruse Chassidic bromide to ease something that really shook my denigrate the traditional role of the their discomfiture, born of a lack of view of the world. As an outside Jewish woman, since it is seen as understanding. observer, the one thing we all knew more supportive and subservient in In my later queries into how the for certain was that no matter what nature. Simply put, intellectual current incarnation of Chabad the Rebbe said, the Chassidim prowess and humility before G-d Chassidus could be seen as

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their parents. That is why in the It was not simply an issue of whether secular world, the more educated the study of the Oral Torah is permitted are less likely to marry, less likely to stay married, less likely to have or not. The far greater challenge in children, and almost never have more than one child. These trends educating religious young women is are far more pronounced with highly educated women. That is the finding the correct balance between bad news. The good news is that when two feeding their minds and not corrupting people with minds of their own their natural propensity for simple faith realize the need to connect with the other and create a unity that in G-d and His Torah. transcends each one’s individual ideas and feelings, that unity is much more powerful than that consistent with, and a direct often colorful terms of “raising up between one dominant party and continuation of, its hallowed the Sh’china from the dust” or one submissive party. So, each of historic tradition, I discovered that “reconnecting the final Hei [of G-d’s these types of relationship has an there were many things that the four-letter name] with the first advantage that the other lacks. A Rebbe said and did that made his three letters.” Another relationship between “equals” is Chassidim uncomfortable. In fact, anthropomorphic image that is much more intense and brings the one Chassid reassured me (with a used to describe what we are trying two closer, but there is always the few others nearby sagely nodding to accomplish is the danger of drifting apart. An their heads approvingly) that no “reconstruction of [malchus] the “unequal” relationship where one is real changes were made in the feminine aspect [of the Divine].” entirely submissive to the other Chabad educational system for girls To explain all of the above in tends to be more permanent but in response to the aforementioned great detail is beyond the purview less passionate. Having the best of call of the Rebbe except for a few of a brief article, but Chabad both seems close to impossible. token tweaks. Clearly, he (they) Chassidus gives us the tools to On the first Friday of Creation, thought that it was a good idea to understand the larger plan as well in the Garden of Eden, the first not get carried away and take the as what we can and must do to woman decided to think for herself Rebbe too literally, and that this bit bring that plan to fruition. If in and partake from the fruit of the of information would make the earlier generations, this was true in tree that promises the ability to world of Chabad more attractive to a more general sense, in our “know good and evil,” not just me. generation we have been given far being told by an overprotective more information with greater husband not to even touch the tree, detail and specificity. In fact, you WISDOM OF HUMILITY and decided to share her new just have to “open your eyes” to see A key foundational principle of knowledge with her husband. At that everything that happened, is the mystical tradition of Torah is Mount Sinai, the Jews had learned happening and will continue to the fact that all of existence is part the lesson about the dangers of happen, is all part of the plan. Even of a larger cosmic “Divine plan,” independent thinking and things like spiritual descents, which which culminates with the events recognized the need for a leader to come from being “lower” and more associated with the “future time”; whom they could submit and follow “distant” from G-d, are actually the coming of Moshiach, the without question. When their leader part of bringing us closer to the resurrection of the dead and the didn’t return when he said he ultimate revelation than ever before. seventh millennium. And it is would, they [i.e., the men; the In most relationships, unity is through Torah and Mitzvos as well women did not participate] created more readily achieved when one as other aspects of the Divine one that would not think half of the relationship does the service of the Jew that all this is independently, but simply be a thinking for both. When both halves accomplished. In the early mindless conduit for the word of of a relationship each have a mind Kabbalistic literature, our mission G-d, a calf of gold. of their own, they tend to drift in exile is described in varied and We have been working to apart as grown children do from correct the spiritual impact and

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devastation of these past events for WISDOM AND HUMILITY submissive roles of wife, mother and thousands of years. Chassidus It says in the HaYom Yom of homemaker. The indication that we provides us with the means to Rosh Chodesh Av, “The unique moved into the final stage before the resolve the tension between quality of Moshiach is that he will Redemption was when the wife of independent thought and being be humble. Though he will be the the leader of this generation, who totally submissive to and completely ultimate in greatness, as he will embodied that synthesis of wisdom one with G-d’s Oneness. Since it is teach Torah to the Patriarchs and to and humility, moved on to the next the wisdom of the inner secrets of Moshe Rabbeinu, still he will be the stage of existence indicating that the Torah that reveals the G-dly ultimate in humility and self- this phase was completed. reality and shows the person his nullification, as he will also teach Similarly, in the address to the own nothingness, it grows the mind the simple folk.” Shluchim (Chayei Sarah 5752) the while bringing the person to ever Moshiach is the embodiment of Rebbe explained that the final greater levels of self-nullification the completion of this process – the preparations for Moshiach require and submission to the Divine Will. ultimate greatness in matters of the us to use our faculties for Although it is true that we represent mind and the ultimate greatness in independent thought in carrying out the feminine aspect in relation to self-nullification – which is the shlichus while being totally G-d, but until recently this has only accomplished by our generation, the nullified to the “sender,” and to been the work of the Jewish male final one of exile and the first of channel that specifically into with the actual females raised in Redemption. The ultimate studying the subject of Moshiach such a manner that independent expression of that would be women and Redemption, as this leads to thinking was not developed or who learn Torah and Chassidus and actually experiencing that reality of encouraged. their learning spurs them to greater “all will know Me” and “on that day commitment to the traditionally G-d will be One and His name will be One,” immediately, NOW!

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stories

a gift from their community, to travel to Eretz Yisroel on vacation. The husband called and asked for an appointment to receive the Rebbe’s THE REBBES parting bracha. He and his wife had yechidus. When they left, the wife said to me, “Eh, what did we need this for?” I asked her what she meant and AHAVAS she said, “The Rebbe ruined our vacation.” “What happened?” I wondered. “The Rebbe said to us, ‘You are going to Eretz Yisroel? That’s a very YISROEL good thing, but before you go, I would like to give you a shlichus. A few weeks ago I was informed that in a country in Europe (if I am not By Rabbi Leibel Groner mistaken it is Romania), they opened an old age home for Jews. I The Rebbe said: “I will tell you my was told that there is no kosher food in this home. Since you are perspective on life. The past ought to traveling, I would like to ask you to stop off in this country, travel to that encourage the present and the present city, and speak with the head of the k’hilla. Say you are there because I ought to strengthen the future. That is, sent you and I want him to arrange kosher food for the people in the every period in a person’s life should home. I am ready to pay half the cause the next period to be better than expenses. The people there were used to eating kosher at home and was it was until now. Tomorrow must be why should they now, in their old age, no longer do so?’” much better than today, and so on.” * The woman concluded, “Can you envision what this entails? It’s a city Stories about the Rebbe’s Ahavas that nobody knows about but the Rebbe found out that there is an old Yisroel to inspire us to better age home there without kosher food tomorrows. * Said at a Melaveh Malka and he wants to do something about it. He asks someone who is going on farbrengen. vacation to stop off there and make sure there is kosher food.” Every person has his personal UNLIMITED We saw many other times how the Rebbe takes care of Jews. matters and those things that he AHAVAS YISROEL does for others. We all know about One night, I was in the Rebbe’s The Rebbe’s Ahavas Yisroel was the many important activities the room and there was a chuppa going not limited only to Chassidim and Rebbe does throughout the world - on outside because it is customary to people the Rebbe knew, but was spreading Judaism and Chassidus make a chuppa near the Rebbe’s extended to any Jew. If the Rebbe and providing material aid as well. room. We heard the exclamations of heard about Jews who needed help, But not many people are aware of mazal tov as the chassan broke the whether spiritual or otherwise, he the Rebbe’s personal acts of glass, but not the music that usually took the first opportunity to help kindness to others. follows. The Rebbe noticed this and them. I’ll give you one example. asked me, “What happened?” I There was a family that received replied that due to financial

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constraints, unfortunately no musician had been hired for the The Rebbe told me, “It says, ‘when a simcha. man has a worry in his heart, he should The Rebbe told me to immediately hire a musician who talk it over,’ and by doing this, he is lived nearby to play at the wedding, and the Rebbe said he should send calmed down. If so, what do you care if the bill to him. If they asked who hired a musician, he shouldn’t say the person repeats himself? Each time anything, just “I heard there is a wedding without a musician and so I he does so, another stone is moved off came.” his heart...” Around 25 years ago, I was sitting in the office Erev Pesach food for Yom Tov. The woman that I come into his room and I took when the phone rang. On the line offered her a loan but the neighbor the opportunity to tell the Rebbe was a woman crying. She said that refused to take it. about the phone call. I thought the unlike previous years, there were no The woman related all this and Rebbe would tell me to find people smells of cooking from her neighbor ended with, “How can a family be who could help her, but no! The who lived next door. She managed left without food for Pesach?” I told Rebbe opened his drawer, took out to get inside the house and her that I would see what I could do $500 and told me to put it in an discovered that the oven was empty. and took down the information. As envelope with no indication where it The lady of the house admitted that soon as I hung up, the Rebbe asked came from and tell one of the they didn’t have the money to buy

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bachurim to put it under the door rush him?” few words, the Rebbe already and leave immediately. The Rebbe considered every grasped the whole thing and Three hours later, the woman minute to be an entire year; but that immediately explained to me what called back. “R’ Groner, I don’t was for himself. When it came to my question was. Needless to say, know what happened here but now I others, there were no limits. Even if the Rebbe gave me excellent advice. can smell cooking …” something would take a long time, if I would not have believed that after That’s the way it was with the it would benefit someone else, make eight hours I would not see any Rebbe. When he heard that someone things easier for him, and he would signs of tiredness. The Rebbe’s level needed help, he dealt with it and did feel better, then the Rebbe forwent of concentration is so high that it so secretly. his personal matters. was like I was the first person to see We saw this by the Rebbe many It was amazing to see the him.” times. Not only did he endeavor to Rebbe’s patience, to sit for hours The Rebbe gave each person the instill in others the importance of upon hours and listen to people’s feeling that he was the only one in Ahavas Yisroel, he was a role model problems. The Rebbe listened quietly his world and nothing else mattered himself of someone who helped to each one as though he was the to him but that individual and his others materially and spiritually. first to enter. The Rebbe listened to problem. That’s how the Rebbe wants us every detail and asked questions. to behave, to help others with The Rebbe’s patience is THE REBBE REVEALED everything and not to wait, but to do indescribable. People were blown HEAVENLY MATTERS FOR it ourselves. away by it. When the Rebbe spoke to a doctor, he inquired about medical PEACE IN THE FAMILY THE REBBE DEVOTES HIS matters; when he spoke to a judge, In New York lived a family belonging to a different Chassidic PRECIOUS TIME TO US! he asked specific questions, and all without displaying fatigue. group that had a sixteen year old Time is the most precious and One time, a big Litvishe rav son. For various reasons, he was important commodity to the Rebbe, asked for yechidus. I told him to sent to learn in 770 and not in the as his father-in-law, the Rebbe come at midnight because I wanted school of his own Chassidic group. Rayatz said, “By my son-in-law, to first let in those people whom I When he became of shidduch-age, every moment is like a year.” I can thought would be brief. He finally an suggestion was proposed and tell many stories to which I was a got his turn at four in the morning. both of them asked the Rebbe witness about how the Rebbe did not Before he went in, he said to me, “I whether they should meet and waste a moment. At the same time, have a very serious problem, but the received a positive response. when the Rebbe received people for Rebbe has been sitting already for The bachur called his parents yechidus, people who wanted to ask eight hours and receiving people. I and told them about the shidduch questions, be blessed or receive am sure he is exhausted and I doubt and that the Rebbe gave his approval advice, there were instances when he can concentrate on the serious for them to meet. His parents asked they repeated their story over and matter I want to bring up.” He him to tell them about the girl so over and the Rebbe responded considered coming back at another they could inquire about her. A few patiently once, twice, and a third time. I told him, “Go in now and if, days later, his mother said that time. As the person in charge of when you come out, you tell me that although they heard nice things arranging appointments, there were the Rebbe wasn’t as involved as you about her, she didn’t think the girl times that I walked in and asked that would have liked, I will give you an was suitable for him. they leave, but the Rebbe motioned appointment for another day and The bachur, who trusted the for them to stay. you will be one of the first on line.” Rebbe’s positive answer, met with When I went into the Rebbe’s He spent about twenty minutes the girl and after some time they room after the end of yechidus one with the Rebbe and when he came both decided to get engaged. They night, the Rebbe told me, “It says, out he said to me, “R’ Groner, if I wrote to the Rebbe for his consent ‘when a man has a worry in his didn’t see it myself, I would not have and blessing. The bachur added that heart, he should talk it over,’ and by believed it! Even after eight hours in his parents did not approve. They doing this, he is calmed down. If so, which the Rebbe heard tzara after received the Rebbe’s positive answer what do you care if the person tzara, when I walked in to the about the marriage. repeats himself? Each time he does Rebbe’s room, he looked as alert and The bachur told his mother that so, another stone is moved off his fresh as though I was the first. When he had a positive answer from the heart and he feels better, so why I began speaking, after I’d said just a Rebbe but she insisted, “We are your

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parents!” When the bachur told his Above and when I see that there is characterizes a diamond? Hashem parents that he planned on marrying no obstacle I give my approval. put diamonds deep in the earth. A the girl (in accordance with the When your son and the family of the miner digs it up and it is covered halacha that in two matters a son girl asked whether they should meet, with layers of dirt. He cleans it and does not have to listen to his I checked all the s’farim and there then gives it to someone whose job parents: where to learn and who to was nothing standing in the way of is to cut it and polish it. marry), they were very upset and their meeting. When I received a As long as the diamond was in said they would not attend the second letter which said that his the earth for thousands of years, wedding, they would not help parents were opposed, I thought nothing touched it; it remained what financially, and the family would cut perhaps I had overlooked some book it was. So too with a Jew who is off ties with him. where it said the match was not compared to a diamond. He has a A week later the mother went to good. I reviewed all the books again holy neshama which Hashem gave 770 and went to the room where the and did not see any opposition and him. A Jew can do whatever he bachurim learned. She went over to so I gave my consent and blessing.’ wants with his diamond, even things her son and slapped him in front of “If a tzaddik who can go up that are, sadly, against Torah. Even all his friends and commanded, “You Above and review the books of then, his neshama is still connected will not marry her, no matter what.” shidduchim tells us that he checked with Hashem and remains as pure as The boy did not respond out of them and there is no opposition in ever. It’s just that the mud and other respect for his mother, but when she Heaven, who are we to oppose it?” things that cover over his neshama left the beis midrash his friends It is known to what extent the hide the great light within. followed her and reasoned with her, Rebbe went to hide things like this The Rebbe enjoins the shluchim “You sent your son to Lubavitch and and here, in order to make peace in to look at each Jew like a diamond you know that if you come to the family, he made an exception with a holy neshama. Despite Lubavitch you become a Chassid and revealed hidden matters. Again, whatever he experienced until that who consults with the Rebbe. If you we can see how great is the Ahavas moment, he remains connected with have reasons why the girl does not Yisroel of the Rebbe. Hashem; he is a Jew who can be suit your son, go to the Rebbe who called a tzaddik, “and Your people gave his approval and present your EVERY JEW IS are all tzaddikim.” “Even though he side. The Rebbe might agree with A DIAMOND sins, he is Yisroel.” you.” It says, “How good are your Their logic, plus the chance that For several years, the Rebbe tents Yaakov, your dwelling places maybe they could accomplish stood every Sunday and gave out Yisroel.” “Yaakov” is the category of something, motivated the parents to dollars for tz’daka. Since our Sages Jew who is more involved in matters come and tell me the story. I told say that “great is tz’daka for it of this world, material things. Those them to come back two days later, hastens the Geula,” the Rebbe did called “Yisroel” are the ones involved on Thursday night, and I would try what he could so that Moshiach in more spiritual pursuits. to get them in even though the day would come that much sooner. This When a Jew does a serious sin, had been booked months in advance. is one of the reasons that the Rebbe Chazal don’t say “even though he They spent 15 minutes in the stood for hours and gave money for sinned, he is Yaakov,” the lower Rebbe’s room while the bachurim tz’daka to thousands. level, but the G-dly soul within him waited tensely outside. When the There is a famous response from is still on the highest level and, “he is parents emerged the mother said the Rebbe to a woman who asked Yisroel.” that they no longer opposed the him how he could stand there so When you speak to a Jew about a shidduch. One of the bachurim long. The Rebbe said that every Jew Jewish matter, you are not giving dared to ask, “We don’t understand. is a diamond and just as you don’t him something new that he does not You slapped your son publicly the get tired when you count diamonds, have, because from the moment he other day and now, within 15 you don’t get tired when receiving was born he is already a complete minutes, you changed your mind?” Jews. Jew; he has a pure neshama which The mother answered, “When we Chazal say that even the idle talk yearns to do Hashem’s will. We told the Rebbe our reasons for of Torah scholars should be studied, merely try to help him reveal what opposing the shidduch, the Rebbe so we need to understand the he has. A Jew can despair and think: said, ‘When I am asked about a significance of what the Rebbe if I did those things, maybe I’m a shidduch, before I answer I look at meant when he said that he views lost cause? To this the Rebbe all the volumes of shidduchim up every Jew as a diamond. What responds: No! You are a diamond.

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when I went to the Rebbe Rayatz I “I heard the rabbi’s speech and got a smile and a thank you, the although I am eighty years old, and all smile of the new Rebbe will be even broader!” my life I conducted myself in various When he went to the Rebbe and gave the Rebbe the report, the Rebbe [non-Jewish] ways, my neshama is still read it from beginning to end and then said, “R’ Yochanan, this was all whole; it is still pure and connected to you could do? No more?” R’ Gordon said afterwards that if there G-d. The time has come to uncover my had been a hole to crawl into, that’s neshama.” where he would have gone. The Rebbe realized how Nothing affected that reality; you are polished. This is what the Rebbe discomfited he was and encouraged whole like every Jew; at this moment wants – not to create something new him by saying, “Why don’t you take you can be a Jew in every way. You in a Jew but to reveal the truth that an example from me. You know that just have to remove the junk that already lies within. every night we say the bedtime conceals it. Shma and as we do, we are Three or four years ago, I was supposed to make a spiritual TO LEARN FROM THE accounting of how the day went, invited to Australia. One of the REBBE HOW TO MAKE A shluchim had a group of wealthy what should have been and what supporters, and he wanted to make a SPIRITUAL ACCOUNTING actually was, what needs to be added special farbrengen for them. In that Every community has a gemach and what needs correcting. Every farbrengen I discussed this concept. – a free loan society. Crown Heights night, when I make a spiritual After the farbrengen, an elderly has several gemachim, one of which accounting, I say to myself – is that woman asked me whether a shiur is called Gemilus Chassadim all I did today?” could be arranged at her house once Shomrei Shabbos. The Rebbe Now, you have to know what the a week. I told her I was just a guest Rayatz was the president of this Rebbe’s day was like. The Rebbe in Australia but the shliach lives organization. slept only a few hours a night. The there and she should speak to him. Every year on Shabbos Parshas rest of his time was devoted to The next day, the shliach called me Mishpatim, the gabbai of the learning and working on behalf of and said, “Leibel, I would never have gemach, Rabbi Yochanan Gordon, the Klal. Besides being Rebbe, he believed that this woman would want would go to the Rebbe and give him was the executive director of the to have a shiur. Every time I asked a report of all the year’s activities, organization that is Lubavitch her to take on some mitzva, she how many loans were given, for throughout the world, a huge refused. She was unwilling to put up what sums, how many were repaid, empire, and yet, since 5710, for a mezuza or light candles, and did and how many people gave money dozens of years, the Rebbe did not not have a pushka in her house. She to expand the gemach. take a single day off! . The Rebbe always said, ‘It’s not for me.’ Now Each time he gave the Rebbe a was in his office every weekday, on she wants a shiur in her house! I report, the Rebbe smiled and said Shabbasos, on Yomim Tovim, on asked her what happened all of a thank you. After the Rebbe Rayatz’s Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur. sudden and she said, “I heard the histalkus, R’ Yochanan went to the When I told this to a group of rabbi’s speech and although I am Rebbe and suggested that the Rebbe businessmen, one of them asked, eighty years old, and all my life I accept the presidency of the gemach, “How could the Rebbe be in his conducted myself in various [non- and the Rebbe agreed. office on Shabbos, on Yom Tov, on Jewish] ways, my neshama is still For the first Parshas Mishpatim, Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur?” whole; it is still pure and connected he prepared the annual report and I explained, “First, you have to to G-d. The time has come to saw that that year was far more understand what kind of office the uncover my neshama.” successful than ever before. The Rebbe had. This was not the office We see, then, how important it is scope of the loans was greater, many of a business, stocks, or real estate. to tell Jews about their neshama and more people repaid their loans and His office was to help people, to how it is like a diamond which, there had been an impressive receive people, to give brachos and despite being buried in the earth for increase in contributions to the advice. The Rebbe even told us that centuries, can be cleaned off and gemach. The gabbai thought, “If if, on Yom Kippur there was an

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emergency in which someone had to WHAT IS MOSHIACH you like me to convey to the world?” undergo an operation and he WAITING FOR? The Rebbe responded, “Tell the wouldn’t do it without the Rebbe’s world that Moshiach is on the way. I will conclude with a little story. consent, we had permission to enter He is closer than ever but he is One Sunday, an important American his office to ask him about it. And if waiting for us to finish our job – to journalist came to observe the Rebbe a woman was having trouble in add in acts of goodness and giving out dollars. He wanted to see labor, we should come in. That is kindness to others. If I did much what kind of people visited the what it means to work continually goodness and kindness today, Rebbe and how the Rebbe interacted on behalf of others without any tomorrow I can’t say that yesterday I with them. He stood there and took reservations. did so many good things so today I notes of what he saw. After a few “And after all that, the Rebbe said am taking a vacation. On the hours, he came over to me and that when he made a spiritual contrary, today needs to be better asked whether it would be okay if he accounting at night he asked than yesterday. went over to the Rebbe for a dollar. himself, is that all I did?” Of course I said that would be fine. *** The Rebbe said to R’ Yochanan, He went over to the Rebbe and I That is what Moshiach is waiting “I will tell you my perspective on introduced him as a journalist. The for, for each of us to care about life. The past ought to encourage the Rebbe gave him a dollar and then others, whether in spiritual or present and the present ought to gave him a second dollar and said, material matters, and we need to do strengthen the future. That is, every “With success in what you write.” as much as we can to help others. period in a person’s life should Then the journalist said, “I can Moshiach is waiting. The more cause the next period to be better reach the entire world because my goodness and kindness we do, the than was it was until now. newspaper has a large global faster Moshiach will come. L’chaim, Tomorrow must be much better than readership. What message would l’chaim! today, and so on.”

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story

Refael scanned the supermarket shelves, trying to find products with a kosher symbol. He took down CURING THE some boxes and put them in his cart, and quickly moved on when he suddenly noticed a person staring at him. He wasn’t surprised. In the two LOVESICK IN weeks since he had arrived in Mexico City, he had gotten used to stares from the locals. Among the millions of dark-skinned Mexicans he definitely stood out. But this MEXICO time, the gaze was different. It wasn’t a look of surprise at his yeshiva-look and the tzitzis poking out from his suit, but one of great By Avrohom Jacobson interest. Refael sensed that the stranger wanted to talk to him but didn’t know how to approach him. Within a few minutes his assessment was proven correct. “Excuse me for bothering you,” the man addressed him and his friend, Yossi. “You look like Lubavitcher Chassidim.” The two of them nodded and he went on, “So I’m sure that you will have time to listen to an amazing miracle with the Lubavitcher Rebbe, which I experienced.” The three men stood among the boxes of pasta as the stranger recounted the following fascinating story. *** It was in the 70’s and assimilation in Mexico had reached a new high. Many Jewish leaders expressed concern about the total abandonment of basic Jewish values. As a traditional family, my parents felt that they were giving us the maximum in Jewish education and in their worst dreams they did not see themselves facing a personal war against assimilation. But the epidemic was contagious and it affected our family too. My older brother came home one day and announced that he was engaged to a non-Jewish girl. The truth is, his decision wasn’t

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made overnight. They had been friends for a while but none of the In the two weeks since he had arrived in family had realized that the Mexico City, he had gotten used to relationship had gone deeper. My parents’ trust in the education they stares from the locals. Among the had given us was so great that they didn’t try to break up the friendship. millions of dark-skinned Mexicans he They just did not envision their son ever wanting to marry a Gentile. definitely stood out. But this time, the At first, my parents tried to convince him to drop the terrible gaze was different... idea but he went ahead with his plans and announced a date for the to do everything the Rebbe told us to tzaddik. A second later we were in wedding. At this point, my parents do. the room, standing before the despaired. The atmosphere in the The flight from Mexico City to Rebbe. house was oppressive. Each passing New York took six hours, which The Rebbe looked at me day, my parents aged a year. gave me plenty of time to think encouragingly. I found it hard to Then a measure of hope was about the sad situation we had meet his gaze but I felt that his eyes kindled by a Lubavitcher Chassid gotten ourselves into. I tried to think radiated great power and they gave who knew my father. When he heard of what the Rebbe would suggest but me a secure feeling that after the of the impending tragedy he as much as I wracked my brains, I Rebbe gave his bracha it would be suggested flying to the Lubavitcher couldn’t think of anything that fulfilled. Rebbe and asking for a bracha. hadn’t already been tried – and I gave the Rebbe the letter I had At first my father rejected the failed. written and the Lubavitcher told the idea. He knew his son and was Because of the urgency of the Rebbe in brief what had happened certain that if he had failed to matter, our friend the Lubavitcher with my brother and said there was a dissuade him from his plans, there had been able to get us an date set for the wedding. was no chance that someone else appointment with the Rebbe for that There was a moment of silence would succeed. “If I, the father, week and so there I stood, late at which seemed like an eternity to me. didn’t convince him, what can the night, in the hallway before the The Rebbe looked at the note that I Rebbe do?” he asked. Rebbe’s room. The silence that had given him and then looked at But the Lubavitcher didn’t give prevailed at that hour contrasted me and said, “First of all, don’t up so fast. He told my father miracle with the constant hum of voices of worry. He won’t marry a non-Jew, stories of the Rebbe in which boys yeshiva students throughout the day but you have to observe three things: or girls were on their way to and added to the feeling of holiness. 1) kashrus, 2) check t’fillin and marrying a non-Jew and the Rebbe I used the waiting time to write a mezuzos, 3) give tz’daka in amounts succeeded in saving them from long letter to the Rebbe in which I of 18 every day.” intermarriage at the last moment. detailed everything that had The Rebbe took out three dollar Slowly but surely, his words sank in. happened to my family in recent bills from his drawer and gave them One day, my father told me that the months and noted that my father to me. The Lubavitcher understood following week we would be going had resolved to do everything the that the yechidus was over and to New York together with his friend Rebbe said so that his son would gently pulled me out of the room. the Lubavitcher in order to meet the return. When I returned home I was still Rebbe and ask for his guidance and The person ahead of us on line under the spell of the yechidus with bracha. came out of the Rebbe’s room and it the Rebbe. My father was eager to When the day of our trip arrived, was time for us to enter. I suddenly know what the Rebbe had said and my father did not feel well and could felt weak in the knees, a strange as soon as I walked into the house I not travel. Though I was only twenty feeling that I had never felt before. told him about the yechidus, the years old, I went alone with his At the threshold, a moment before Rebbe’s promise and the three friend. There was no other choice; my eyes met those of the Rebbe, I things. I gave him the three dollars we couldn’t forgo this last chance. said to our Lubavitcher friend that and felt that by doing so I was Before I left the house, he asked me he would have to explain the transferring the strong faith I had in to try and remember every word the situation to the Rebbe because I the fulfillment of the Rebbe’s Rebbe said because he had decided couldn’t open my mouth before the promise.

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 729 17 729_B_Beis Moshiach 01/02/2010 8:25 AM Page 18

We immediately implemented the and said he knew that my brother He left her house brokenhearted Rebbe’s instructions. As I mentioned was planning on marrying out. He and returned home. We tried not to earlier, we were a traditional family. also knew that we were vehemently pour salt on his wounds and let him We kept kosher except for one thing. opposed to this step and suggested a recover gradually from the big Whenever my father traveled on short-term solution. disappointment. Boruch Hashem, he business to Switzerland he would “If you are interested, I can soon forgot her and a few months bring back Swiss cheese which he ensure that he stays in the hospital a later, when he had gotten more really enjoyed. This cheese, which bit longer.” involved in Jewish observance, he did not have a hechsher, was placed We promised to keep the scheme married a religious girl. in a particular spot in the a secret, and the doctor said he A few years later, I heard that the refrigerator and only my father took would keep him in the hospital until daughter of a friend of mine had a a bit of it every so often. He knew a day after the wedding. Till this gentile boyfriend and intended to that this must be what the Rebbe day, I don’t know who told the marry him. My friend tried to was referring to, and he rushed to doctor about my brother’s wedding dissuade her, to no avail. the refrigerator and threw the cheese plans and how he knew about our When I went to express my in the garbage. He promised that he opposition to them so that he solidarity with him, I found him at would never buy products without a endangered his position and called home in a terrible state. I told him hechsher anymore. us with this plan. If it was about my brother and, confident that As for the second instruction, discovered he would be fired, but I this would help him thwart his that the same day we brought the didn’t think of all this at the time. It daughter’s plans, I gave him one of t’fillin and mezuzos in to be was clear to me that this was part the dollars I had received at that checked. And from that day on, we one of the realization of the Rebbe’s yechidus. I told him that tremendous gave eighteen coins of the local promise that my brother would not blessings are within these dollars currency to tz’daka every day. marry a non-Jew. I was just left from the Rebbe and he could be sure The day of the wedding was wondering what would happen after his daughter would not marry out. rapidly approaching. We were doing my brother finally left the hospital. I added that in order for the everything the Rebbe had said to do That was the longest week of my Rebbe’s bracha to be fulfilled, he had and impatiently awaiting the life. The day of the wedding passed to commit to three things: kashrus, fulfillment of the promise. About a while my brother lay in the hospital checking t’fillin and mezuzos, and week before the wedding it under doctor’s orders not to get up. giving tz’daka every day in multiples happened. My brother became Then “miraculously,” he was of eighteen. suddenly sick and after a routine pronounced healthy and was When I visited him a few weeks examination by the family doctor he released the next evening. later, he told me that when he was hospitalized. We thought this That is when we saw the started following the three would be our salvation but it turned complete fulfillment of the Rebbe’s instructions, his daughter’s out that his illness was mild and bracha. When he left the hospital my relationship with the gentile within two or three days he would brother went straight to his boyfriend started cooling off and be out of the hospital. girlfriend’s house, where an they had recently broken up. Then the phone rang in our unpleasant surprise awaited him. (With thanks to Refael Tawil who told house. On the line was one of the She spoke to him coldly and barely me what he heard from the man in the doctors at the hospital where my responded to his questions. It took store in great detail) brother had been hospitalized. He him a while until he realized that it identified himself as a religious Jew was all over. 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

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moshiach & science SWAYING IN TIME

By Dr. Aryeh Gotfryd

Time is a creation of G-d, brought into existence through experimenters could not guess what the hypothesis was. a process of tzimtzum and hispashtus, constriction and No room for bias here. Everything was out in the open expansion. This is analogous to the ebb and flow of vitality except for the whispered instructions I gave to the in the human respiratory and circulatory systems. The lung volunteers. “When I ask each question, check the or heart creates a vacuum, similar to the Divine position of each student’s head as they think of the withdrawal in the first tzimtzum. Then the void is filled answer. Only record those which are noticeably tilted from beyond, whether the lung with air, the heart with upward or downward. You tally the ups and downs in blood, or the first tzimtzum with Divine light. the back half of the class while you, check the front.” —The Rebbe, Mind Over Matter, p. 82. With a research assistant ready on each side, I posed the first problem. “Without writing anything down, just It was snowy and cold that Friday in February, but using your head, do the following multiplication: the butterflies had returned - to my stomach at least. Calculate the product of 17 times 17. Don’t worry, take True I had done this all before, but never on such a your time. Once you get the answer, just raise your hand large scale. A hundred pairs of eyes faced mine, waiting, until we notice you and then put it down.” That last bit wondering what was next. about raising their hands was just a red herring to make I asked for two volunteers from the audience and them think that we were interested in seeing how long it several hands went up. In a multicultural setting like takes for them to answer. this, I made sure my selection was equitable - a male Once the markers finished recording their and a female, one white, one colored. I would administer observations on that question, we were ready to the test and the volunteers would record and tally the continue. “It’s time to move on to the next question so student responses. don’t worry if you didn’t finish the first one. We have Although I was the Professor and they were my 3rd the data we need. The next question is: What exactly did year undergraduate class, the tables were turned, for this you eat for breakfast this past Tuesday and at what time it was they who were bemused and I who was time?” nervous. They already knew that the questions I was Again the markers made their up and down “head about to pose were in no way an evaluation of their counts” and once that was done, the quiz was over. academic performance in my Faith and Science class. Glancing at their sheets I breathed a sigh of relief. The But what they did not yet know was that they were numbers were diverse enough to make a strong about to become participants in a test of something statement. immeasurably more important - the truth of the Torah. “Please report your findings to the class. Overall, in On the surface, it seemed a little sacrilegious, putting which direction did students tend to tilt their heads G-d to the test as it were. And besides, who could when answering the first question.” possibly have the naivety - or worse, the gall - to test “Down,” “Down,” they replied. such a thing? As the saying goes, “For the skeptic, no “And overall, in which direction did students tend to proof is sufficient while for the believer, no proof is tilt their heads when answering the second question?” necessary.” On the other hand, if Chassidus and “Up,” Up,” they replied. Kabbala were prepared to go out on a limb to make a “Alright class, I’d now like to read you something falsifiable psychophysiological hypothesis, then hey, why and hear what you think. It’s a story told by the not test it? Lubavitcher Rebbe in Volume 2 of his edited talks So test it I did, and fairly I think, as befitting a (Likkutei Sichos, p. 364-5). course offered in the University of Toronto’s Faculty of One year, in 1894 or 1895, medical science Arts and Science. We used a double blind methodology discovered an artery in the brain, which facilitated in which the student / experimental subjects did not memory and concentration. So the fifth Lubavitcher know what was being measured, and the volunteer Rebbe’s brother came into the room and told the Rebbe

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about the discovery. This Rebbe went into the next room and came back with a small manuscript of Chassidus In psychology today, our that was written by his great grandfather the second experience of time is now Lubavitcher Rebbe some hundred years earlier. He showed him where in that discourse, there are six considered to be entangled or seven lines, where the second Rebbe mentions that in the brain there is this artery that has a variable vapor with our spatial sense. In pressure causing it to shift position thereby stimulating either memory or concentration. When this artery is modern physics too, relativity facing the part of the brain that supports chochma and bina (wisdom and understanding), it helps to remember. theory has us thinking in When it is directed toward the part of the brain that space-time, where time is just contains the daas, knowledge, it helps concentration. That’s why when a person wants to remember, he looks another dimension, like the up, tilting his head upwards, and when a person wants to concentrate, he tilts his head downwards. three dimensions of space. The brother replied to the Rebbe saying that the Mitteler Rebbe must have been a great medical scientist. These disciplines have The Rebbe Rashab said to him, “No. The Mitteler Rebbe knew how the spiritual template of man works in the somehow fast forwarded to upper worlds, and therefore he could predict how the the past, converging on a physical human being works as well.” * * * truth that has been Prof. Robert Jastrow, founder of NASA’s Goddard Institute and Director of the Mount Wilson Institute has embedded in the Torah this to say, in his book, “G-d and the Astronomers”: l’olam, meaning in all places “This is an exceedingly strange development, unexpected by all but the theologians. They have always and all times as one. accepted the word of the Bible: In the beginning G-d created heaven and earth... [But] for the scientist who sway when we pray to fulfill has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story the concept of “All ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountains of my bones shall ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; speak” and [and] as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is that Torah greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting study there for centuries.” should Here’s an extension of these ideas from today’s news. also Researchers at the University of Aberdeen have discovered that when people reflect on the past, they tend to sway backward but when they contemplate the future, they move forward. This study on chronesthesia, or mental time travel, shows how tightly linked our senses of time and space really are. It just may be that the very same blood vessel to the brain is involved, since the backward movement associated with memory of the past will normally cause an upward tilt of the head, while the forward motion for concentrating on the future, normally causes the head to incline downward. Those of us familiar with Jewish study and prayer will immediately recognize this back and forth swaying motion as the universal choreography that goes so well with Torah and t’filla. Our sages tell us that we should

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involve a physically dynamic so that back, and the latter scholars and This is all part of the the learning will be preserved. chassidic masters of more recent convergence of Torah and science, Now after thousands of years of times. We integrate all the present prophesized so long ago by the swaying to their studies and prayers, implications for how we live and Zohar, as a sure sign that world is science may finally be casting light project the impacts onto the Days of about to be filled with the knowledge on how exactly that works. Moshiach before us. of G-d as waters cover the sea. All of our studies and prayers are Even the subject matter Now if only we could sway the highly chronesthetic. Take the transcends time. For example, One Above to bring about that time quintessential Shmoneh Esrei prayer discussing the status of a lost object here and now. Maybe the way to do for instance. We start the first involves analyzing whether an that is to lean forward into the blessing by acknowledging “our G-d owner’s future discovery of his future perspective, so He will do the (the present) and G-d of our present loss makes him despair of same. ancestors (the past). Then back to finding it retroactively to when he Dr. Aryeh (Arnie) Gotfryd, PhD is a the present (“He does kindness”) lost it, in which case it would be chassid, environmental scientist, author and off to the future (“Who brings permissible for someone who finds it and educator living near Toronto, the redeemer to his descendants.”) now in the interim to keep it if he Canada. To read more or to book him for Even G-d’s very name is a finds it first. We need to sway just to a talk, visit his website chronesthetic experience, as the imagine it! at www.arniegotfryd.com. letters Yud, Hei,Vav and Hei, also In a more spiritual vein, we have * * * refer to past, present and future, the time-travelling power of higher Announcement: Baruch both individually and collectively as t’shuva, repentance out of love, that Hashem, a second edition of Mind Over grammarians will explain. has the unique quality of being able Matter: The Rebbe on Science, When we go on to pray for to transform past misdeeds into Technology and Medicine, is well under health, prosperity and meaning in shining merits, by virtue of having way. Among the many improvements is life, we sway. The backward motion impelled the penitent to the inclusion of dozens of never-before- published letters. stimulates memory as we are subsequently attach to G-d so Call for letters: The publisher, reminded of others who are not so intently. SHAMIR Books, is offering a well off as we. Forward is In psychology today, our complementary pre-release copy of the anticipation, as we concentrate on experience of time is now considered book for each contributor of material what the world is going to be like to be entangled with our spatial included in the upgrade. Please email when Moshiach comes. sense. In modern physics too, [email protected] or call (416) In Torah study too, our swaying relativity theory has us thinking in 858-9868 if you are able to share a bona accompanies our consciousness as space-time, where time is just fide letter pertaining to science, we bridge epochs in time. Whether a another dimension, like the three technology or medicine. Call for assistance: There is Talmudic tractate, a compendium of dimensions of space. These a modest budget for someone to make a Bible commentaries, or a chassidic disciplines have somehow fast proper index of the book according to discourse, every page integrates forwarded to the past, converging on Chabad standards. Reply by email if and Scripture from 3000 years ago with a truth that has been embedded in only if you can demonstrate Torah Mishnayos and midrashim of 2000 the Torah l’olam, meaning in all scholarship, a command of years ago, Rishonim of 1000 years places and all times as one. written English, and familiarity with the material.

ADD IN ACTS OF GOODNESS & KINDNESS TO BRING MOSHIACH NOW!

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miracle story

has a letter already prepared and he doesn’t require any introductory assistance, all he needs is for the letter to be placed in one of the ONCE IN A volumes of Igros Kodesh. “I told him that I would be at the shul in a few minutes. When I arrived, he put the letter in one of the volumes of ‘Igros Kodesh’. I 100 YEARS perused the response that he received, but I didn’t see any clear answer for him. “I carefully tried to interpret the By Nosson Avrohom meaning behind his letter, as he Translated By Michoel Leib Dobry told me why he had written it. He had been married for two months. When I stood before the Rebbe, I was Just a month before the wedding, doctors had discovered a astounded by his penetrating eyes. dangerous growth in his fiancé’s throat. They suggested delaying the Nevertheless, I got up my courage and requisite operation until after the wedding so that she should look asked the Rebbe for a bracha to find a her very best on the most important day in her life. shidduch. The Rebbe heard what I had “The doctors then proceeded to to say, then gave me a dollar as he explain how serious the danger was, greatly intensifying their blessed me with… “a complete worry and concern. Upon hearing their emotional distress, one of the recovery.” I was then pushed past the couple’s friends suggested that they write a letter to the Rebbe, Melech doorway, and I found myself outside – HaMoshiach and ask for his bracha. A Chabad chassid who bewildered and confused. I’m totally lived in their neighborhood gave healthy – what does the Rebbe want the husband my number. “All this happened on a from me? Thursday, with the operation scheduled for just four days later, on the following Monday. Rabbi Nir Gavriel is the Rebbe’s noticed on my cell phone that I had “Despite the fact that he didn’t shliach in the Florentine received three unanswered calls see the Rebbe’s bracha openly, his neighborhood of Tel Aviv. His vast from the same number. Initially, I faith was strengthened by the belief array of activities spreads thought that I should daven first that he will surely receive his throughout the community. He and then get back to the caller to blessing, and he promised to keep knows many stories about how see what I could do to help. the good resolution that he had Jews have come closer to However, when the same number made when he wrote the letter. Yiddishkait and chassidus, flashed again on my mobile, I “The young man went on his including numerous miracles from answered the call. On the other end way, but I couldn’t stop thinking the Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach. of the line, I heard a very worried about him. The plight of this This one, however, stands out. young man, who told me in a voice couple deeply touched my heart. choked with emotion that he is *** Such young people, only starting standing at the entrance to the shul “One morning a few months out in life, having to suffer so and he must write a letter to the ago, as I stepped out of the local much. I thought about them the Rebbe. He added that he actually mikveh,” Rabbi Gavriel began, “I whole Shabbos, and I davened and

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according to their findings, the ‘We started operating, but as we began tumor was spreading into my to deal with the afflicted area, her heart lungs, and unless they performed an immediate operation, they stopped beating. After struggling over couldn’t expect me to live for more than three or four months. I now the matter for several moments, we understood the meaning of the Rebbe’s bracha. decided to stop the operation, despite “‘I took the Rebbe’s dollar with me, and when I went in for the the fact that we still hadn’t removed operation, the dollar was under my most of the growth – which means that pillow. “‘Shortly after the operation she doesn’t have much time left to live.’ commenced, the doctors left the operating room and told the friend who had accompanied me in very hoped that the operation would be got up my courage and asked the clear terms: ‘We started operating, successful. Rebbe for a bracha to find a but as we began to deal with the “On Sunday, I made my regular shidduch. The Rebbe heard what I afflicted area, her heart stopped rounds along the neighborhood had to say, then gave me a dollar beating. After struggling over the storefronts to offer Jews the as he blessed me with… ‘a matter for several moments, we privilege of putting on t’fillin. I complete recovery.’ I was then decided to stop the operation, noticed a new store that sold pushed past the doorway, and I despite the fact that we still hadn’t bedding, linens, and ornamental found myself outside – bewildered removed most of the growth – decorations, and decided to go in and confused. which means that she doesn’t have and get acquainted with the store- “‘I’m totally healthy – what much time left to live.’ owners. When I came in, I met a does the Rebbe want from me? I “‘The doctors added that while middle-aged woman arranging the was crushed by disappointment and my days are numbered, no one shelves. I introduced myself as the virtually inconsolable. I sat at home should tell me anything about this. Rebbe’s shliach in the for a whole week, depressed to the “‘My friend was stunned, but he neighborhood. She looked at me point that I didn’t want to leave the promised to act in accordance with with piercing eyes and said, ‘I house. I felt that a tremendous the doctors’ advice. When I woke know quite well who the opportunity had gone to waste. My up from the operation, he told me Lubavitcher Rebbe is. There are friend, who had sent me to the that everything was fine and two dollars in my house that I was Rebbe, reasoned that due to his convinced me to travel to Eretz privileged to receive from him, and heavy burden, the Rebbe didn’t HaKodesh and pray at the they are part of a miraculous story hear my request correctly. She gravesites of the tzaddikim. I about how my life was saved in the suggested that I go back to the agreed. merit of the Rebbe’s bracha. Rebbe next Sunday, and this time I “‘Just before my scheduled trip “The woman then happily, and should speak more clearly. Full of to Eretz Yisroel, I went for a with great emotion, proceeded to hope, I joined the lines once again follow-up examination with the tell her story: the next Sunday, but incredibly, the doctor, who couldn’t believe me “‘About twenty years ago, I was Rebbe again gave me a dollar and when I told him that I felt terrific. I living in Brooklyn. I was about blessed me with ‘a complete thanked him for the operation, but thirty years old and still not recovery’, adding that I should give I couldn’t understand why he kept married. I saw much success in my the dollar to someone who needs it. asking me again and again if I felt personal life, but not in this area. A “‘It was only a month and a half okay. friend of mine suggested that I go later that I fully understood what “‘The doctor furrowed his brow to the Rebbe, whose blessings have the Rebbe had said. I felt a choking in amazement and asked if he saved many Jews, and ask for a sensation in my throat, and test could examine me. A series of bracha. I arrived in the Rebbe’s results showed that I had a serious additional x-rays were made, and court, and when I stood before the tumor there. when the doctor looked at the Rebbe, I was astounded by his “‘After a series of x-rays, the pictures and the test results, he penetrating eyes. Nevertheless, I doctors informed me that almost collapsed in shock. There

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was no sign of the tumor the successful. I felt like a huge weight doctors had detected prior to the lifted from my chest. The dollar, of operation. course, had been placed under her “‘The doctor called my friend pillow in the operating room. in and told him, ‘Do you “Two weeks passed. Suddenly, remember what we told you the telephone rang. The young earlier? Well, you can forget it. In husband was on the line, and he the tests we just did, we found cried out with great excitement, nothing. The hand of G-d found ‘Rabbi Nir, you must hear this!’ He the way to remove what we proceeded to tell me that they had couldn’t.’ It was only then that I just come out of a meeting with learned the true story behind the one of the finest surgeons in Eretz operation and the doctor’s Yisroel for growths of this type. inexplicable excitement. I realized ‘Initially, he asked us general that it was all in the merit of the questions and how she felt after the bracha I had received from the operation. ‘What difference does it Lubavitcher Rebbe.’” make?’ my wife replied. Rabbi Nir Gavriel then picks up ‘Chemotherapy or laser treatment? the story: Tell us already what to expect Rabbi Nir Gavriel “When she concluded, I next?’ suddenly felt myself shaking with “The doctor’s lips formed a emotion. I told her about the Here is a sheet of hidden smile. We didn’t understand young man who had come to me to what he wanted. He then told my write a letter to the Rebbe about paper with the wife, ‘Look, here is a sheet of his wife, who had also been protocol of the paper with the protocol of the diagnosed with a growth in her treatments you would need in the throat. I then asked her if she still treatments you coming months to prevent the had the dollar that the Rebbe gave return of the growth.’ As he spoke, her ‘to give to someone who needs would need in the the doctor took the sheet of paper, it’. She said that she did, and I crumpled it, and tossed it into the asked if she would be willing to coming months to waste paper basket. ‘Something give it to this couple. She happily prevent the return like this you see perhaps once in a agreed. Finally, after so many hundred years,’ he said. years, the dollar would reach its of the growth.’ As ‘Everything that we thought up proper destination. She asked if I until now was one big mistake. We would watch the store for her while he spoke, the took the growth that we removed she dashed to her home nearby to during the operation for a get the dollar. Meanwhile, I called doctor took the pathological examination, and we the young man and told him the sheet of paper, were stunned to discover that it whole story. was not a malignant tumor, rather “When he heard the purpose of crumpled it, and a lump of fat… May I wish you a my call, he and his wife long and happy life. You have no immediately headed out to the tossed it into the need to come back here again…’ store. They arrived within a few “It took some time to absorb minutes, accepted the dollar and waste paper the enormity of the miracle,” Rabbi heard the woman’s unique story basket. ‘Something Nir Gavriel concluded, “but it had first-hand. to be shared. The Rebbe writes that “The following evening, the like this you see we should publicize the miracles young man called and excitedly that people experience, so that very related that his wife went through perhaps once in a week, we made a huge farbrengen the operation successfully and was with Rabbi Chaim Ashkenazi, now in the recovery room. He hundred years,’ he attended by dozens of local added that according to the said. residents who were thrilled to hear doctors, the operation was quite the amazing story for themselves.”

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profile THE PILOT, THE BANKER, AND THE CHASSID

By Menachem Ziegelboim From playing music in clubs in Krayot to Torah and Chassidus, R’ Shlomo Kalish’s life has taken some interesting turns. Described as “one of the most influential people in the Israeli high-tech industry,” he merges the material world of investment banking with the spiritual world of Shlomo Kalish and Torah, Mitzvos his friend, R’ Gidi and Chassidus. Sharon

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When Major Shlomo Kalish Our order was to attack whatever we presents himself for Reserve duty at saw. We flew low so the missile the flight school at the Chatzerim radar wouldn’t discover us and a few base, the young pilots sometimes kilometers from the Kinneret we saw suspect that someone is playing a Syrian tanks. We went into attack trick on them. What is this bearded mode and I suddenly felt a mighty man with a black kippa and tzitzis explosion and saw a plume of doing in the operations room? smoke. My plane had been struck by Before they have a chance to ask an enemy missile! I checked things what’s going on, Shlomo enters the out and saw that the plane was dressing room and puts on his flight flying fine but a red warning light suit. He then invites the stunned was lit. I completed my mission and young pilots to enter the training managed to land in Ramat Dovid room because they will soon be with my engine and tail severely flying. damaged.” W It usually takes several moments About a year after the end of the before the young pilots realize that war, Shlomo decided to tour South a the religious Jew who looks like he America. When he was planning his just came from shul, is to be their itinerary he was referred by a friend a flight instructor. to a pilot by the name of Gidi Despite becoming a baal t’shuva, Sharon. Though they had never met f it didn’t occur to Shlomo to stop before, this cemented a friendship serving in the Reserves. He finished between them. Today they are both e the course for combat pilots, was Chassidim and involved with inyanei s assigned to the Skyhawk fleet and Moshiach. flew combat missions, including Shlomo’s commanding officers s attacks across the border, and was a wanted him to remain in the air pilot in the front lines in the Yom It usually takes force, offering him a permanent s Kippur War. position as a pilot of a Phantom jet, *** several moments the most advanced plane the IDF R’ Shlomo Kalish was born and had at the time. His interests, M raised in a typical home in Haifa and before the young however, lay elsewhere. went through the public school pilots realize that He went to Tel Aviv University, p system, excelling academically. He where he got a degree in loved music. “I played guitar in the religious Jew mathematics while continuing to fly u clubs and when I was 16 I started a during Reserve duty in the rock band.” who looks like he Skyhawks fleet. In one training w His parents had left tradition session he flew too low and hit a a behind when they moved to Israel just came from suspension cable in the south, which from Europe, and Shlomo distanced knocked out electricity in Eilat for a c himself even further from the few shul, is to be their few hours. Today, with the hindsight religious practices they maintained. flight instructor. of someone who believes in b Even on holidays, when the entire hashgacha pratis, he doesn’t think it family went to shul, he refused to was coincidence. Ron Pekkar, t stationed in the center of the join them. He had Leftist, anti- Brigadier General (Res.), who was country. Young though he was, in religious views. Among his friends the commander of the base, sent him c the Yom Kippur War he was veteran he was a role model of success. for 21 days of detention in Prison enough to fly missions over the d When he was drafted, he was Six. There, in the officers’ tent, he border. assigned to the air force. He met Major (Res.) Motty Karpel, who “I set out on an attack mission in m successfully completed the difficult was then a captain in the armored the Golan Heights on the second pilot courses and in the winter of corps. Karpel would eventually be morning of the war. After waiting in 5732 he got his wings. He was one of the people who was mekarev the air over Tzfas, we were directed assigned to the Skyhawk fleet Shlomo. to fly from the Kinneret to Nafach. There were other providential

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encounters along the way. One day I but ultimately they accept me just was called up to Reserve duty. I fine.” arrived at the base in Chatzerim for Do you speak about Judaism? training in a simulator. As I got off “I don’t go to Reserve duty in the transport plane I noticed a order to be mekarev people, religious Jew smiling at me and although I certainly don’t mind if waving. I wondered what a dos that happens along the way. Of (derogatory word for religious Jew) course you make an impression but was doing at the air force base. Then that’s not why I’m there. There are I realized it was Gidi Sharon, the definitely plenty of conversations one who had given me advice about about Judaism and you see a shift in my trip to South America and had the way people think about their become religious.” heritage.” A few years later, Shlomo met *** Karpel on the street in Chaifa and Following army duty, and some discovered that he, too, had become math studies in university, he got a baal t’shuva. Karpel invited him to involved in the world of business. his house and quickly drew him in to After getting his first degree he went his religious world. for a post graduate degree doing his His growth in Yiddishkait was research project at MIT in Boston, gradual. “I was very self-conscious which has the reputation of being and concerned about what people one of the best schools in the world. would say about me becoming Then he got a job as a professor at religious so I was reticent at first, the University in Rochester, New but I finally made the move.” York. In the Piper fleet of the flight Shlomo at 16 “I seemed to have achieved my school, where he had already served dreams but I still felt that something in the Reserves, he was accepted thing. The world didn’t change but deeper in my soul was waiting to be fully with kippa and tzitzis. “At first I another dimension was added to the discovered. I didn’t recognize it as was nervous. It seemed to me like meaning of life. In general, pilots are the yearning of my soul for more moving from one world into ambitious and suspicious, looking Yiddishkait and I thought I was another, but I quickly realized that for answers, especially after homesick for Israel.” this was not the case. It was a lot experiencing things like war. They He left the promising position less scary than I thought it would be. ask tough questions and look for and returned to Israel. I did not feel that their opinion of meaning.” “Back in Israel I wondered about me had gone down.” Shlomo is well aware of the fact my impulsive move. What had made There have been quite a few that he is different than the rest of me leave an excellent position with a pilots who became frum. Is there a those in Reserves in the air force. great salary and go home? Why did connection between combat flights “Sometimes that I am the first one I agree to return to Israel and work and returning to your roots? the young pilots meet in the course, for 20% of what I had earned in “Flying and the danger that pilots and they don’t understand what a America? The question troubled me experience in the air force get a religious guy is doing there.” and I knew that I had to find an person out of his apathy. A pilot flies Unlike many other pilots who answer.” extremely high and sees how puny began leading a religious life, he Hashgacha guided him and he he is and asks himself who am I, continues to fly as always. “It’s met, unexpectedly, a childhood where do I come from and where am much easier to go to yeshiva, say friend who had become a baal I going? When you fly you are busy there is nothing in the world and t’shuva. The friend invited him to with things that are beyond the usual close yourself off.” learn something. It was a maamer daily occupations. Many people How do you get along with the Chassidus of the Rebbe Rayatz. dream of being pilots, of flying; a men in the pilot’s course? “I was reading when I suddenly person is used to a two dimensional “The young pilots are usually got it,” says Shlomo about when he world and knows there is another flabbergasted. There are often first became acquainted with the dimension that he can’t get to. debates, questions and conversations world of Chassidus. “I realized that Becoming a baal t’shuva is the same

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Judaism is not primitive, the way I had thought. I found very deep intellectual analyses, the best of modern thinking. “I was impressed by the haskala (intellectual component) of the maamer. I saw there were answers to all the questions that bother an intelligent, irreligious person, for example the questions of man’s significance and the purpose of creation. These questions bother people, especially thinking people, and I found clarity on these topics in that maamer and in other maamarim that I learned afterwards.” It was at this time that he was appointed a senior lecturer in the In 5732 Shlomo Kalish got his wings Business Administration department of Tel Aviv University and gradually became more involved in Judaism. “Back in Israel I wondered about my The first time he met the Rebbe impulsive move. What had made me was in 5747. “I participated in a Shabbaton organized by R’ leave an excellent position with a great Nechemia Vogel, the shliach in Rochester. I went to 770 and saw salary and go home? Why did I agree to the Rebbe. I watched thousands of Chassidim dancing and jumping return to Israel and work for 20% of when the Rebbe motioned with his hand, and I must admit that it what I had earned in America?” appeared a little strange to me. “The second time I was more use in the business world. Shlomo Kalish became one of the ‘into’ things. It was Simchas Torah, He left academia and in 5754 most influential people in the Israeli 5748. I went to Crown Heights and started a company called Jerusalem high-tech industry. Besides being met my old friend Gidi Sharon. He Global, a company that raises one of the founders of the industry, and some other guys grabbed me investment capital and provides he was also the first believer – the and brought me into the chaos business development for high-tech one companies turned to when which is Simchas Torah in 770. The companies. The original idea was nobody else believed in them. He Rebbe looked at me several times. that the company would supply all supported them in the tough times My eyes met his and I felt the Rebbe the high-tech companies with a full and made them successful. ‘grabbing’ me forever.” array of services, from consulting Israeli journalists have praised his His break into the world of and setting up a working strategy to abilities and talents – “a business began when he was a marketing and financing. phenomenon called Shlomo Kalish,” lecturer at Tel Aviv University. It was a modest beginning. In and have called him “one of the “I taught my students how to 5754, the company garnered 5.6 powerhouses of Israeli high-tech,” create a business plan and be million dollars for three companies “one of the most influential people successful but they all said to me, whose total worth today is three in Israeli high-tech,” etc. He spends ‘Wait a minute – if you’re so clever, billion dollars! In the years to come, most of his time between New York how come you’re not rich?’” he was able to attract investment in and Yerushalayim, but nearly every At the beginning of the 90’s, the hundreds of millions of dollars week he also lectures on when Israeli high-tech began to through private and public stock international marketing initiatives at explode, Shlomo anticipated what offerings for various companies. the business school of Tel Aviv was coming and decided the time Within the first five years that University. had come to put his knowledge to Jerusalem Global was in operation, He founded his investment bank

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fulfilled. We see how within a short time, people can get a lot of ‘delicacies,’ sometimes without even intending to … “Another thing, the Internet has a certain spiritual significance because of its ability to connect everyone. Whether for holy purposes of G-d forbid the opposite, this unprecedented capacity to connect everyone is very Moshiach’dik. Today, a person goes to a virtual store, a virtual school, or visits virtual homes. He goes wherever he likes and does just about everything he wants and it’s virtual, not actual. “People relate to the idea that it’s possible to live in a spiritual reality, Combining the world of Torah, mitzvos and Chassidus in a certain sense at least. Years ago, with the world of investment banking people were unable to accept the idea, challenging, ‘How will we be able to keep Torah and mitzvos and He and some other guys grabbed me disconnect from the physical world that surrounds us?’ – We see it’s and brought me into the chaos which is possible. “If you want a concrete example Simchas Torah in 770. The Rebbe of combining Chassidus with the looked at me several times. My eyes met Internet, there’s no better example than Otzaro shel Moshiach, a site I his and I felt the Rebbe ‘grabbing’ me launched with Gidi Sharon. With Otzar shel Moshiach you can locate forever. all of the Rebbe’s teachings. The site does so much to spread the Rebbe’s in Yerushalayim in the eastern In one moment you are able to teachings on a global scale, unlike foothills of Har HaChotzvim in the convey information to every place in anything we’ve had until now. The north of the city. On the hill, which the world. There are no limitations. site has 70,000 pages of a hundred used to be the exclusive province of A hundred years ago people couldn’t basic s’farim of the Rebbe’s library Intel, advanced high-tech enterprises understand it like we do today. It fits and it’s available to all.” are popping up one after the other well with publicizing the Besuras How do you combine the and dozens of start-up companies, Ha’Geula.” business world with the Torah- big and small, are quickly filling the Do you see a connection Chassidic world? buildings. between high-tech and the coming “It’s not easy, but this is what Shlomo sees Chassidic lessons to of Moshiach? Chassidus teaches us, not to be learned from the Internet: “Definitely. First of all, starting disengage from the world but to “The Internet connects the entire high-tech companies and developing reveal Elokus in everything. I see my world and makes it into a small the ideas that my company, work as a shlichus. I utilize the time global village, which demonstrates Jerusalem Global, deals with, turns I spend at work to spread the light how the world is ready for people into millionaires within a of Judaism and Chassidus, to make Moshiach. People ask how it can be short time, reminiscent of the way people smile, to convey a Jewish that in the time of Moshiach ‘the that in Yemos HaMoshiach message. Between that and my daily earth will be full of the knowledge of ‘delicacies will be available like dust.’ shiurim, I am continuously working G-d’ - it seems impossible. The This is also the response to those to bring the light of Chassidus into Internet explains how it’s possible. who ask how this promise can be my surroundings.”

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shlichus BE A MENTCH!

By Rabbi Yaakov Shmuelevitz, Shliach, Beit Shaan

Let us imagine, for as an Ofer said he wanted a bracha that he be example, a shliach who is planning a mentch. R’ Mendel answered with his his son’s bar mitzva. He invites hundreds of friends and relatives to characteristic cleverness, “If you are a the celebration and he calls a rav in Kfar Chabad and says, “It’s very mentch, then you’ll be a mentch.” In important to me that you come.” The rav says he hopes to make it. other words, it depends on you and your Comes the day of the bar mitzva and the rav is very busy that evening and behavior. his wife needs the family car, but the rav was personally and sincerely In the Rebbe’s Hagada, in the that the last time he spoke with the invited and so he has no choice but first footnote of this amazing work, mashpia, R’ Mendel Futerfas on the to call a cab and go to the bar the Rebbe quotes the Rebbe Rayatz phone, before his passing on 4 mitzva. as saying, “Once, my father said, Tamuz 5755, R’ Mendel said: “Ofer, The hall was full and the father ‘Yosef Yitzchok, we need to think what blessing do you want from of the bar mitzva boy was busy [during the seider] about being a me?” greeting his guests. The rav from mentch and Hashem will help. Ofer said he wanted a bracha Kfar Chabad goes over to him to Especially when opening the door that he be a mentch. R’ Mendel wish him mazal tov and the father [for Eliyahu HaNavi], not to ask for answered with his characteristic shakes his hand and then gashmius but to ask for ruchnius.’” cleverness, “If you are a mentch, immediately moves on to the next Perhaps we can say that Pesach then you’ll be a mentch.” In other guest. The rav doesn’t even find a night, a holy night, the Leil words, it depends on you and your place to sit and he feels slighted Shimurim, one would have expected behavior. about how he was treated. from elevated people like the Rebbe Being a mentch is one of the R’ Mendel told his mushpa, “If Rashab and his son the Rebbe most important things but also one you’ll be a mentch, then you’ll be a Rayatz that they would ask about of the hardest things on shlichus. On mentch.” You have to try and you “heavenly” matters, Chassidishe the one hand, a shliach is are guaranteed to succeed. Be a conduct, kavanos of the Arizal, to be enthusiastic about shlichus. The goal mentch. a maskil, an oveid, something of the is clear – he has to transform his I know a number of shluchim world of Atzilus, but no! The request city, preferably the entire world, who, despite their busy day and is simple, to be a mentch! That is establish mosdos and chesed having some event or another nearly what the Rebbe Rashab told his only organizations, raise a lot of money, every night with dozens or hundreds son and this is the first statement in bring the Geula etc. At the same of people, are still able to give the Rebbe’s first Torah composition: time, he needs to constantly attention to each person. This has Be a mentch! remember the little person and not positive consequences. to trample on or offend anyone in the heat of the battle. To see the R’ MENDEL FUTERFAS’ THANKS TO PAYING GUIDANCE other person and be sensitive to their feelings, whether it’s his wife or ATTENTION Rabbi Ofer Maidovnik, mashpia neighbor, his children, partners or R’ Yitzchok Gruzman, shliach in in the Chabad yeshiva in Tzfas, once competitors. He needs to be a Rishon L’Tziyon, relates: related at a Chassidishe farbrengen mentch. A few months ago, one of my

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friends told me a fascinating thing. about the consequences of proper stayed for the shiur and for Maariv Eight years ago, he said, “I walked behavior. Someone walked into the and since then I haven’t missed a into a Chabad house for a minute in Chabad house and said to R’ t’filla ever since. I wear a kippa and order to look for a certain brochure Karniel, “Have you noticed that for I am observant to the best of my about day camp, and you, R’ half a year now I have been wearing ability.” Gruzman, came over to me and a kippa? Do you know that it’s I heard another story about R’ asked me what I needed. A brief thanks to you?” Karniel from R’ Sagi Har Shefer, the conversation ensued and you asked R’ Karniel did not remember how shliach in Nes Tziyona: me whether I put on t’fillin every it was thanks to him and he listened There was a Hachnasas Seifer day. I told you that even though I curiously to the story the man told Torah in Gadera at the Chabad owned a pair of t’fillin, I didn’t put him: house. The event was advertised not them on every day. You concluded only in Gadera but also on the the conversation by asking, ‘My dear shluchim forum and in invitations fellow, if you have the t’fillin already, that were sent to all the shluchim in why not put them on?’ the area. I made an effort to attend “That night, when I went to and although I had a chuppa and sleep, that question reverberated in two other events that evening, I went my mind. In the morning when I for a few minutes for the writing of woke up, I heard it again. I went to the final letters. I congratulated R’ work and came home and the Karniel and went on my way. question kept replaying in my head. Late that night I was pleasantly I finally took the t’fillin out of the surprised when R’ Karniel called me closet and began putting them on and said, “I’m calling to thank you every day. Eight years have passed in for coming.” That’s an example of which I haven’t missed putting them being a mentch because usually, on every day and it’s all thanks to a after an event like that you are tired short conversation in which you and you just want to go to sleep, but gave me a little attention.” he didn’t forget to call a colleague *** who took the time to attend his R’ Gruzman added: event and to say thank you for A few years ago, we opened a coming. soup kitchen in the center of town. Another story was told me to me The owner of a butcher shop next to by someone who wishes to remain the soup kitchen was very opposed anonymous: The Rebbe Rayatz: “Yosef Yitzchok, we to our opening and as we put up the I was about to leave the house to need to think [during the seider] about attend the bar mitzva of a friend. large sign with many people in being a mentch.” attendance he began shouting and Just as I left the house, my wife threatening and a fight nearly broke asked me to help her for a few out. I immediately told all my friends “Half a year ago, I was walking minutes. I told her that I was and supporters who were there not down the street near the Chabad rushing to the bar mitzva and I left. to respond to him. The man saw house and you asked me to come Near the house I met a neighbor that nobody was attacking him or inside and complete a minyan for who is a journalist. I said hello and reacting to him and he quickly Mincha. That day I was rushing and started talking. The conversation calmed down. I said I didn’t have time. To my lasted a long time until it was too He eventually became one of the surprise, instead of being annoyed, late to go to the bar mitzva and I closest friends of the Chabad house. you blessed me. That made a went home. That’s when I realized Today he is one of our main tremendous impression on me. that I was not a mentch. My wife members. He travels twice a week to Although you were trying to had asked me for a few minutes of learn Chassidus in Kfar Chabad and complete a minyan before sunset help and I didn’t help her because it’s all thanks to a simple, one-time and I was unwilling to help, you supposedly I was in a rush, but I mentchlichkait when I asked that blessed me. I thought about this all ended up having plenty of time to people not respond to his outcry. that day and the next and as a result, talk to my neighbor. The next time I R’ Binyamin Karniel, shliach in when it was time for Mincha I felt I will try to be more thoughtful when Gadera, also told me a nice story wanted to go to shul and daven. I my wife asks me something.

32 21 Shvat 5770 BEIS MOSHIACH 729_B_Beis Moshiach 01/02/2010 8:25 AM Page 33

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memoirs

mikvaos and sh’chita in Samarkand, Tashkent, and the surrounding cities and towns. He did this holy work for SAMARKAND nearly thirty years off and on, until someone informed on him to the government and he had to flee back to Israel. Five years after that, in SHPITZ 5685/1925, the Rebbe Rayatz sent R’ Simcha Gorodetzky to Samarkand. (I have special memories and feelings about this giant of a Chassid. I will, G-d CHABAD willing, write about his askanus and mesirus nefesh separately.) He learned with adults, organized yeshivas Tiferes Bachurim, started Prepared for publication by Avrohom Rainitz Talmudei Torah for hundreds of Bucharian children and sent talented bachurim to yeshivos Tomchei For dozens of years the Chabad Tmimim in Poltava, in central Russia. Afterwards, they became community in Samarkand was known leaders in their community. R’ Simcha was arrested by the as a particularly Chassidic community secret police on several occasions, as with all the hiddurim and “shpitzkait,” R’ Folye Kahn related in his book Shmuos V’Sippurim. In 1944, he to the point that Chassidim in Russia was arrested and sentenced to death together with R’ Chizkiyahu would say “Samarkand shpitz Chabad.” Kayikov, the rabbi of Bucharian Jewry in Samarkand (who was one In this chapter, Rabbi Hillel Zaltzman of talmidim that R’ Simcha sent to Tomchei Tmimim in Poltava). Then draws the reader into the world of there was an announcement from Chabad in Samarkand. Stalin that those sentenced to die would be sent instead to Siberia for A bachur with illustrious ancestry Chabad community in Samarkand; 25 years of hard labor. They were asked the Rebbe in yechidus about a the Chassidic warmth, the released after Stalin’s sudden death. shidduch. After the Rebbe gave him Lubavitcher hiddurim and the R’ Simcha invested extensive a positive answer, the bachur alluded heartfelt simplicity. efforts into Samarkand for 19 years, to the fact that the girl was not The original Jews of Samarkand but it had not yet acquired the gezha (of Chassidic ancestry). The were Bucharian (Sefardic) Jews. reputation of a Lubavitcher city and Rebbe responded, “Nu, so if she They are called after the city it certainly was not known as shpitz wasn’t in Samarkand, so what?” Buchara, which was once the capitol Chabad. Indeed, the Chabad community of the district. They descended from in Samarkand was known as a Persian Jews who came there 900 THE MINYAN particularly Chassidic community years ago. OF SHPITZ CHABAD with all the hiddurim and The first Chabad presence in The foundation of the Chabad “shpitzkeit,” to the point that Buchara was 120 years ago in k’hilla in Samarkand was laid in Chassidim in Russia would say, 5650/1890, when the Rebbe Rashab 1941, when refugees began arriving “Samarkand shpitz Chabad.” sent R’ Shlomo Eliezerov to from the Nazi front. Among the In the following chapter I will Samarkand. He had served as rav in refugees were tens of thousands of describe the inner world of the Chevron. He worked on fixing Jews from Poland and other

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A farbrengen in the Chabad k’hilla in Samarkand. Sitting from right to left: R’ Chaim Zalman Kozliner, R’ Dovber Yaffee, the author - Hillel Zaltzman, his father R’ Avrohom Zaltzman. The little boy is Benzion Mishulovin, Dovid’s son.

countries, including a few dozen A bachur with illustrious ancestry asked families from the cream of Chabad Chassidus. Despite the starvation the Rebbe in yechidus about a shidduch. and epidemics in which hundreds of Jews perished, the Chassidim After the Rebbe gave him a positive established schools, yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim, and shuls. answer, the bachur alluded to the fact Years of diligent study in these yeshivos produced scholars who had that the girl was not gezha (of Chassidic implanted within themselves the ancestry). The Rebbe responded, “Nu, spirit of Chassidus and fear of Heaven. The bachurim davened at so if she wasn’t in Samarkand, so length, spent a long time contemplating Chassidus before and what?” after davening, and all of them were suffused with the spirit of Chassidus. Samarkand had tremendous demanded and succeeded in Chassidishe farbrengens in Chassidishe warmth. The mashpiim affecting the correction of middos

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etc. and poured out their souls with tears over their not being genuine Chassidim as they should have been. They farbrenged until late into the night discussing the question “Who are we?” Are we Chassidim as the Rebbe wants? How can we lie? Are we Misnagdim? Chas v’shalom! So then, who are we? By the end of the farbrengen they came to the conclusion that we are on the level of “those who want to be Chassidim.” The famous Chassidic artist, R’ Hendel Lieberman (the brother of R’ Mendel Futerfas) studied art in Moscow, which gave him occasion to attend some impressive events. During World War II he also ended up in Samarkand. He once farbrenged with R’ Yisroel Noach HaGadol and stayed until late at night under a weak light that flickered from the kerosene (a small lamp that was used in those days). When the farbrengen ended towards morning, he said in amazement, “Ah, I was in Moscow at a number of gala events with big and beautiful electric lights, but it wasn’t as clear and lit up for me as it was in the dimness at the farbrengen with Yisroel Noach …” That was the kind of farbrengen there was in Samarkand. No description could capture the The author, Hillel Zaltzman, on the right with his friend Yaakov Lerner Chassidic depth, the genuineness and emotion that could be felt every They farbrenged until late into the moment of each farbrengen. Nor can mere words aptly depict R’ night discussing the question “Who are Yisroel Noach’s minyan, which was called “der shpitz Chabad minyan,” we?” Are we Chassidim as the Rebbe where they davened with avoda for hours not only on Shabbos but wants? How can we lie? Are we throughout the week. Samarkand acquired its Misnagdim? Chas v’shalom! So then, Lubavitcher reputation during the who are we? By the end of the years from 1941-1946. At that point most of the Chassidim left farbrengen they came to the conclusion Samarkand for Lvov, and from there they made their way to free that we are among “those who want to countries. The few Lubavitcher families that remained for another be Chassidim.” 25 years tried to preserve the

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R’ Moshe Nisselevitz The Mishulovin brothers. On top from right to left: Eliyahu and Dovid. On bottom from right to left: Michoel and Yitzchok Chassidishe atmosphere and After farbrengens like these, the managed, to a great extent, to be deserving of the title “shpitz bachurim went out different than they Chabad.” came in. A certain change was apparent INFLUENCE in every one of them in thought, speech, OF THE YOUTH After 1946 a new period began in or action. Samarkand. It was very difficult spiritually since the great Chassidim Dovid and Eliyahu learned in Chassidish and were particular to had left Russia. In addition, the Tomchei Tmimim in Samarkand the nth degree regarding halacha Soviet police force was no longer during the war. R’ Mendel Futerfas and Chabad customs. They devoted distracted by the war and intensified saw that these two boys were good themselves to the chinuch of their its persecution against religion. candidates, and he made sure to get younger brothers, with Dovid The Chabad k’hilla that remained them into yeshivas Tomchei focusing his attention on his brother in Samarkand was comprised of Tmimim, where they were educated Yitzchok and Eliyahu focusing his Chassidishe families such as ours in the spirit of Chassidus. About attention on his younger brother who were afraid to take the risk and them can be said what the Rebbe Michoel. We knew Eliyahu as a cross the border. There were also said to R’ Moshe Herson in clever person and a person of great some Lubavitcher families who had yechidus, when he opened a yeshiva. intellect. tried crossing the border but failed, The Rebbe said: “You should know Shortly afterwards, another returning to Samarkand that there are talmidim who don’t bachur returned to Samarkand. R’ brokenhearted. need special attention from the Moshe Nisselevitz (who was known Among them were Dovid and Eli mashpiim. The very fact that they as Maishke der geller) was also Mishulovin. The 16 and 18 year old are in yeshiva affects them and they unable to cross the border. This brothers hoped to join up with a grow up properly.” The Mishulovin small group contributed a lot to the Polish family and be able to cross the brothers grew in Torah and yiras development of the Chassidic border. They were unsuccessful and Shamayim from being within the environment in Samarkand. In their returned home. They were walls of Tomchei Tmimim and behavior, conversation and despondent about their failure but benefited as well from the inspiration farbrengens, they had a tremendous were happy they had escaped the and guidance they received from influence on the younger ones and clutches of the KGB and had not their mashpiim. the entire environment. They were been arrested. The brothers were very the ones who created the

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atmosphere of shpitz Chabad. CARE IN MITZVA engraved in my mind despite the Though there were many pious OBSERVANCE many years that have passed since Jews in Samarkand, they had no then, that whenever I see someone In order to illustrate how great connection to us, the young ones. It take the cup without any was the care that the group took in was only this small group of preparations and quickly pour three mitzva observance, I will try to bachurim who had a tremendous times, it makes me cringe. describe how they washed their influence on the younger boys and Learning Chassidus, the hands. It was an avoda permeated indirectly, on the Chassidishe davening at length, the hiddur in all with yiras Shamayim and made an balabatim in Samarkand. aspects of halacha and Chabad enormous and unforgettable I think it was a mazal that we all custom, was something they did impression on me. lived together in the old city. It was matter-of-factly, with an inner First, they washed their hands of also our mazal that our “school” chayus. We young ones found this any dirt and then dried them well. If with R’ Benzion Maroz was in the behavior contagious and tried to they were not dried well enough, Mishulovin home and we saw all the emulate them. The topics of their they would blow on them. Then they Chassidishkait and p’nimius and conversations were halacha and would scrutinize their hands, koch. Chassidus, and sayings of the especially their nails, to make sure Their relative from Tashkent, R’ Rebbeim that they heard from the there was no dirt underneath. Then Aharon Zubrovsky (who later lived great Chassidim who were in they examined the edge of the cup Samarkand during the war.

During his interrogation, when the CHASSIDIM OF OLD interrogator tried to take his tzitzis off When they farbrenged with us, they would describe the Chassidim of him, he did not think twice but who left Russia after the war. With great nostalgia they described that slapped the man on the cheek. period and the farbrengens of the senior Chassidim. When they by running their finger over it to wanted to sum up that era in one in Kfar Chabad), often visited. He make sure there was no flaw that sentence, they would say, “Es hut zich would come to Samarkand to spend would invalidate it. After that, they gigasin Elokus mamash” (G-dliness time in the company of the dried the handle, the inside, and literally poured forth). Mishulovin brothers and Moshe even the outside of the cup. This Their vivid descriptions brought Nisselevitz. Although he was older was necessary because if someone the davening of the Chassidim of than the Mishulovin brothers, they had touched it with impure hands, those days to life before our eyes. R’ formed one cohesive group. R’ i.e., without netilas yadayim, that Asher Sossonkin (Batumer) delved Aharon, Arke as he was known, was would make the water tamei and into his davening and emoted each a big yerei Shamayim and particular when they added other water to it word precisely. Then he would about mitzva observance. He would for netilas yadayim, all the water suddenly be roused from his spend an hour learning Chassidus would be become tamei. d’veikus and cry out some words before davening and then would put After all that, they would take a (those who knew R’ Asher Batumer, on t’fillin and pace the room in towel, check to make sure it was know what I’m talking about). contemplation. He would daven at completely dry, fill the cup with (R’ Asher was once farbrenging great length with his face creased in water and pour it on one hand. If with some Chassidim in 770 and at concentration, sometimes snapping they suspected that the water might the height of the farbrengen, after his fingers with a heartfelt niggun. not have covered the entire hand at some cups of mashke, someone One day, I saw a bachur older once, they would dry their hands called him, “you Russian.” He than them in the Mishulovin house and start again. replied, “If only I remained a and I felt that they were concealing Moshe Nisselevitz took it a step Russian …”) his identity from me since he was further than his two friends. Even They also spoke a lot about the hiding there. It was only later that I after all these precautions, he still davening of R’ Nissan Nemenov (R’ found out that it was Yaakov Notik did not trust himself and ate with Nissan der geller), R’ Yisroel Noach (who was known as Yankel der rubber gloves on his hands. This Blinitzky and many others. geller). remains his practice until today. R’ Yisroel Noach worked as a These precautions are so cashier at a factory and as part of

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R’ Dovid Mishulovin before he left Russia R’ Chaim Zalman Kozliner (right) learning in Samarkand

his job he had to go to the bank been there since he had to go to the mikva with a towel around their every day. One time, after drinking house right after the davening in neck (so as not to carry). To them, mashke at a farbrengen, he said order to take care of his paralyzed this represented the epitome of a about himself that there wasn’t a wife, but he was very interested in coarse, materialistic balabus who single stone between the factory and knowing what happened had needed to be thanked for the fact the bank that he trod upon without transpired. that he even went to the mikva. thinking Chassidus. R’ Michel said they had spoken Eliyahu Mishulovin suffered from They would tell us these stories about a certain inyan that needed a heart disease and needed to be in order to arouse within us the additional effort. Two months went extra careful not to get chilled so he desire to learn Chassidus in every by and R’ Michel had not effected had no choice but to dry himself circumstance. My uncle, R’ Boruch any changes. R’ Simcha said to him, after the mikva. He therefore was Duchman, once told us: “Bachurim, “How can that be? You told me that careful not to go to the mikva when learn Chassidus! The time will come Chassidim farbrenged and said that anyone else was present, lest they when you will be covered in a tallis this inyan needs fixing!” That was not realize that his health required (i.e. you will get married) and you what a Chassid was about – after he him to dry himself and do likewise. will want to think Chassidus. You heard that Chassidim, younger than He didn’t want to be a bad influence should have what to think about.” he, had farbrenged and spoken on anyone. At farbrengens they didn’t just about correcting a certain area, it Once some bachurim came to repeat nice aphorisms but demanded was a given for him that it would be the mikva while he was there drying actual avoda, changing middos, etc. done. himself. He was mortified and After farbrengens like these, the quickly explained that he was sick bachurim went out different than “HERGEISHIM” THAT and had to be extra careful not to they came in. A certain change was TURNED INTO get chilled and therefore he had to apparent in every one of them in dry himself. thought, speech, or action. CHASSIDIC RULES I recently went to the mikva on In the 60’s, R’ Michel Vishedsky There were hergeishim that Shabbos and heard some men lived in Tashkent with his brother- turned into a custom or Chassidic talking about this inyan. One said in in-law Mordechai Gorodetzky, and rule. For example, drying yourself a tone of amazement, “I knew two Simcha Gorodetzky lived there too. with a towel after the mikva was out older Chassidim who never dried off R’ Michel told me that when he of the question and despised. They after the mikva – Yisroel Jacobson came back from a Shabbos would look critically at those and Shmuel Levitin.” I told him that Mevarchim farbrengen, Simcha balabatim who found it so important in Samarkand I barely knew any asked him what they spoke about at to dry themselves after the mikva Chassidim who dried themselves. the farbrengen. R’ Simcha hadn’t that on Shabbos they went to the However, in the sicha of Rosh

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Chodesh Cheshvan, 5743, the Rebbe itch afterwards?” He made a thought, speech, action). He would spoke about drying the body after dismissive motion with his hand and speak passionately about how when mikva and said that although it says laughed. a Chassid went out in the street he in the writings of the Arizal that he I remember that when they did not need to look around but to did not dry himself after the mikva complained to R’ Berke Chein that just look in your dalet amos on Erev Shabbos, we are particular the mikva water was dirty or cold, (immediate vicinity). He would often about drying ourselves. The Rebbe he would always say, “Yes, true, we say that speech is like a mixed salad said that whoever wanted to conduct are dirty, smelly and cold.” that has everything in it – it has a himself according to the writings of little bit of idle chatter, some the Arizal could leave an area of the R’ BERKE’S INFLUENCE derogatory remarks, a sprinkling of body not dried, thereby allowing the rechilus, etc. When R’ Moshe Nisselevitz k’dusha of the water of Shabbos to At farbrengens they spoke about began urging us to get involved in spread to the entire body. various areas that needed Klal work, the groundwork had been In light of this sicha, drying improvement. Among other things, prepared. It was in this period that yourself off is fine. In Samarkand they said that a Chassidishe house these young men raised the banner they cherished the water of the should not have a radio and that of Chabad in Samarkand. mikva to such a degree that they Shabbos ought to be “completely would not dry it off. sacred,” and how completely out of Unfortunately, I sometimes see the question it is to have a secular bachurim or men who don’t cherish newspaper on the table because it the water of the mikva at all. They desecrates the honor of Shabbos. immediately go shower after I remember that from to time immersing, and some even use soap when they spoke about the and shampoo! It looks very importance of chinuch, they would megusham (coarse). It hurts me repeat from the Rebbe Rashab, when I see bachurim showering after “Give your son to Aryeh the the mikva and when they are asked melamed. She (the wife) yells? So, why they do this when in Chabad let her yell … She cries? So let her this was unheard of they say cry … She won’t die.” impudently, “We are Chabad That’s what the farbrengens were sh’b’Chabad.” like and that is the chinuch they About ten years ago a instilled in us. Chassidishe man told me, in all innocence, that he showers after the THE ATTRACTION mikva with soap. It was the first time OF SAMARKAND I heard such a thing and I was R’ Moshe Nisselevitz shocked. I asked, “How could you The Chabad k’hilla in do that?” He tried to justify himself Samarkand, like that of Tashkent, When R’ Berke Chein came, the by explaining that he had to shower was comprised primarily of group became even stronger in yiras after the mikva because otherwise Chassidim who came during the war Shamayim and hiddur mitzva. The his body itches (presumably from the from Russia. The Bucharian Jews in “keilim” were ready and R’ Berke’s chlorine). “At least go home and do Samarkand, who were sent by R’ behavior and manner made a great it there, or dry off after the mikva Simcha Gorodetzky to Tomchei impact even though he was in hiding and then shower,” I suggested, “but Tmimim and returned as full-fledged most of the time. don’t shower with soap right after Chassidim, lived on their own and At his farbrengens, R’ Berke immersing.” were not involved in the Ashkenazi would demand of himself and others Some years later I spoke with Chabad community. This was mainly to improve their actions, avodas him again. I had already forgotten because of the difference in ha’t’filla, hiddur mitzva, and study of our conversation but he remarked, mentality and language, and was Chassidus. He would say, “Be “Since then I haven’t showered after exacerbated by the suspicion that careful with your madam” (madam the mikva.” I immediately recalled had become second nature among is Russian for woman but he was our conversation and I asked, “Well, Russian Jews in those terrible years using it as an acronym, mem, dalet, how do you feel?” He didn’t know under Stalin. mem – machshava, dibbur, maaseh – what I meant and I said, “Don’t you In the 50’s and 60’s there were a

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few Ashkenazi families in Samarkand who did not come from a Lubavitcher background. They slowly became friendly with the Lubavitchers until they became inseparable from the community, and when they made aliya at the end of the 60’s and the beginning of the 70’s, they continued to live as Chabad Chassidim in Chabad neighborhoods. They all established beautiful Lubavitcher families and their children are rabbanim, shluchim or in chinuch in Chabad communities around the world. The Chabad community in Tashkent was larger but since it was spread out over several areas of the city, it lacked the strong sense of When my father first saw the Siddur community that was felt in Samarkand. We all lived in the old T’hillas Hashem a Chassid had gotten city in an area one kilometer square and even after we moved to the new from Moscow, he so desired it that he city, the distance between us was small. paid 700 rubles [the equivalent of a The Chabad population of monthly salary] for it because it had Samarkand fluctuated over the years. After most Lubavitchers left been arranged and printed by the Russia in 1946, we barely had a minyan, and only on holidays. In the Rebbe. 60’s the Chabad k’hilla in Samarkand grew until by the time counting diamonds and pearls. If a separately. Each one of them we left Russia in the 70’s, there were word did not come out right he deserves entire pages of praise and several minyanim every Shabbos would go back and repeat the line. honor but I did not spend a long with 15-20 people in each minyan. You could almost see the words of time with every one of them so I will There were even minyanim on the davening as they emerged from not be able to write about them as weekdays here and there. his mouth. Before Borchu he would they would deserve. The expansion of the k’hilla was spend a long time meditating on I also remember someone named due to three reasons: 1) natural Chassidus. Till today, his pleasant Aharon Friedman who would daven population growth 2) mekuravim 3) davening rings in my ears. nusach Ashkenaz. I think he was the Chassidim who were drawn to Then came R’ Chaim Zalman brother-in-law of Yitzchok Zilber. R’ Samarkand from other cities in Kozliner (ChaZaK) and his family, Aharon came from prison where he Russia. who contributed a lot to the was thrown after he tried to cross For example, in the 60’s R’ Yosef atmosphere in Samarkand. R’ Dovid the border in 1946. R’ Aharon would Greenberg (Yossel Besseraber) Okinov and his family came. He was walk openly to shul with the came. He was a yerei Shamayim and also an asset to the community and fearlessness usually reserved for the a baal mesirus nefesh. Then R’ his children attended our elder Chassidim, even though he was Sholom Vilenkin came with his underground yeshiva. R’ Chaim in his thirties. We, who were very family. He was a warm Chassid who Volovik followed. Not only were his wary of the secret police, were afraid knew how to farbreng with vitality. I children part of the yeshiva, his son to have him join our k’hilla. can’t forget his pleasant davening as Yosef later became a maggid shiur. He tried to say Kaddish at every he sat facing the open Siddur and R’ Yaakov Notik contributed a lot to opportunity with “vikarev keitz uttered each word like someone our k’hilla and I will write about him meshichei” (and He should bring

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according to his level. We all looked During our first Rosh HaShana in Eretz inside the Siddur and uttered each Yisroel, I davened with tears. To be word clearly, focusing on the meaning of the words. honest, it wasn’t so much from the (When my father first saw the Siddur T’hillas Hashem a Chassid atmosphere of Rosh HaShana but in had gotten from Moscow, he so desired it that he paid 700 rubles yearning for Rosh HaShana in [the equivalent of a monthly salary] for it because it had been arranged Samarkand. and printed by the Rebbe. Then we were able to be more exacting in the close the end date of his anointed T’hillim. nusach.) one – part of nusach Sefard R’ Moshe Nisselevitz would come When the chazan reached the according to the Chernobyl to the place where the minyan was Shmoneh Esrei, some of the people Chassidim) and would say it with held on Erev Rosh HaShana with his were still up to the P’sukei D’Zimra. awe inspiring motions, his long walking stick and bag containing his We waited until there were at least yellow beard swaying to and fro. On food etc., because he did not spend six people ready and for chazoras Yom Kippur he would come to shul the Yomim Nora’im with his family. ha’shatz we waited for nine, but we wearing a kittel on top of which he After we found out about the never tried to hurry anyone in his wore an old and dirty bloodstained custom in Lubavitch to make shifts davening. Nobody dared to interfere coat. He said that during his so that T’hillim would be recited with someone else’s davening. interrogation, when the interrogator constantly throughout the 48 hours, The Shmoneh Esrei had a unique tried to take his tzitzis off of him, he we did so too. We didn’t make shifts flavor; whispered voices, rising and did not think twice but slapped the with a full minyan because we didn’t falling, with the sound of quiet man on the cheek. Of course he was have enough people but we divided sobbing in the background. One beaten for this and the blood which the hours between us and each of us cried, another sighed, and a third ran from all over his body stained took a shift. Each person began his shed tears onto his Siddur. his coat. “I want to daven with this shift ten minutes before the official After chazoras ha’shatz we tried coat on Yom Kippur before start of the shift and concluded ten to wait for those who were still in Hashem,” he said. minutes later than the official end so the middle of davening so that by as to ensure that there was no the blowing of the shofar we would interruption in the recitation of THE YOMIM NORA’IM be up to the same point. While some T’hillim except, of course, during I remember the davening on still davened, others said T’hillim. the davening. Yomim Nora’im in Samarkand. In The saying of the preliminary As I write this, the memories Elul already you began to feel the prayers and the blowing of the draw me back to those wonderful change in the atmosphere and shofar took R’ Berke an hour, with days. I am there and it is hard for everybody tried to increase in Torah his tears dripping on the Siddur and me to describe the feelings that and mitzvos and to minimize the table. We youngsters, before and suffused us in the room where the material pursuits. We could feel the after bar mitzva, were enthralled. minyan was held. approach of the Yomim Nora’im. After the davening, when we went R’ Berke Chein (who was known The 48 hours of Rosh HaShana outside, we walked with our faces as R’ Chaim while he hid) stood in were an awesome and frightening down and restricted our gaze to our one corner covered with his tallis time. The minyan took place in a immediate vicinity. and saying T’hillim in a soft and private home with about fifteen men. When we left Russia and saw tearful voice. R’ Moshe Nisselevitz Each person sat in his place, other conduct on Rosh HaShana, we stood in another corner and he immersed in his davening and very found it hard to take. During our recited the words quietly. Dovid and careful not to utter words unrelated first Rosh HaShana in Eretz Yisroel, Eliyahu Mishulovin sat with their to the holiday. Even for matters I davened with tears. To be honest, it talleisim over their heads and said related to the holiday they preferred wasn’t so much from the atmosphere T’hillim with great kavana, as did to motion with their hands so as not of Rosh HaShana but in yearning everybody. to get caught up in idle talk. Every for Rosh HaShana in Samarkand. When the minyan began, each free moment was devoted to saying person prayed with great kavana

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