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contents

THE ETERNAL INTERNAL SANCTUARY 4 D’var Malchus

THE REBBE WAS THINKING OF US IN 6 WAR-TORN WARSAW Stories for 9 Adar

ENTERING THE HOLY OF HOLIES 14 Insight

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d’var malchus THE ETERNAL INTERNAL SANCTUARY

Translated and adapted by Dovid Yisroel Ber Kaufmann

will dwell in them.” The Sages The commandment “Make for Me a explain the use of the plural pronoun as a reference to the Jewish people: Sanctuary” applies to every individual. “Make Me a Sanctuary,” G-d tells the Jewish people, “and I will dwell The holiness of a Divine Sanctuary within you.” Make of yourselves a applies to the materials, the place and Sanctuary, a place of holiness, and the Divine Presence will dwell within the builders. Nowadays, we must build each and every individual. Of course, this is more than an “small sanctuaries,” making our exhortation, a sermon, or a play on words. There is a practical synagogues, yeshivas and especially our application. Although obviously inspirational, the Rabbinic dictum homes miniature sanctuaries. When explains a Divinely ordained they are imbued with Torah, prayer and commandment. G-d has told the Jewish people to make a Sanctuary, a Acts of Loving-kindness, they become place of holiness where the Divine Presence can dwell. On the simple permanent dwellings for G-dliness. The level, this means a physical building, either the Tabernacle in the collective building of “small wilderness or the Temple in Yerushalayim. But since the verse sanctuaries” leads to the building of the speaks in the plural, it must also large Sanctuary, the third holy Temple, mean that in some sense there is to be more than one Sanctuary. While the through Moshiach. Torah imposes on each of us the obligation to construct a physical This week’s Torah reading contains the famous dwelling place, an edifice of brick and passage, “Make for Me a Sanctuary and I will dwell in stone for the Divine Presence, it also requires us to build them.” There is an obvious and well-noted grammatical an internal sanctuary, a structure of Torah and mitzvos. anomaly in the verse. The Sanctuary – whether the Just as a building has rooms with different purposes – an Tabernacle in the desert or the Temple in Yerushalayim – office, a conference room, and so on, so our internal is a singular object. The pronoun should have been the structure, must have times set aside for different singular “it” – “I will dwell in it.” But the verse says, “I purposes: a time for learning, a time for prayer, and so

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on. until the actual revelation of Moshiach – we cannot erect Of what relevance are these observations to the the edifice itself, it seems we must be content with concept of Moshiach? First of all, one of the fulfilling our obligation by studying the laws concerning accomplishments of Moshiach will be the rebuilding of the Sanctuary. For at least that much we can do, and the Temple. Indeed, this is one of the final proofs of certainly we need to know the what and how of the Third Moshiach’s identity! Obviously, then, anything connected Temple before laying the first cornerstone. with the Temple is perforce connected with Moshiach. The rabbis declare that an object, a Sanctuary, made The laws of the Sanctuary, its building and maintenance, specifically as a dwelling place “for G-d” will not be should not be viewed as a theoretical exercise, but as moved, not in this world and not in the World to Come. something of immediate relevance. The lessons and True, the holiness will not be removed from the pieces of morals are more than associated analogies; they are the stone and wood; true, the holiness will not leave the place blueprint for our inner Sanctuary, a structure as solid and where it was built. But most important, the physical as even the holiest building. commandment doesn’t move. Further, the rabbis comment that the phrase, “Make Yet, simply studying the laws of the Temple is not for Me a Sanctuary,” indicates that whatever is being sufficient. We must build something. After all, that is our made, since it is being made “for G-d,” will endure duty – to make a Sanctuary. We can’t make it in only a forever. As a dwelling place for the Divine Presence, the spiritual sense. We have to make something physical – in physical object becomes united with spirituality. Once the this case, a miniature Sanctuary – the synagogue and the Divine Presence ‘settles into’ a place, so to speak, it leaves yeshiva. a trace. The physical is affected permanently. This trace We can now understand the comparison between the of the Divine Presence will not be moved, not in this world Sanctuary in Yerushalayim and the miniature Sanctuaries and not in the World to Come. throughout the ages. The Temple was the place of Divine The idea of permanent holiness applies not only to the Service; there the sacrifices were brought. The synagogue site and material of the Sanctuary, but to those is also a place of Divine Service, for there the Jewish commanded to build it. Implicit in the commandment people pray – and prayer follows the form of sacrifice. “Make for Me a Sanctuary.” is an assurance that the Thus, the way to actually rebuild the Sanctuary, to Sanctuary will not be removed from this world. But where bring about the coming of Moshiach and the Third and what is the Sanctuary in this world now, after the Temple, is to make sure our miniature sanctuaries – our Temple has been destroyed? The Sanctuary is the synagogues and yeshivas – function the same way as the synagogue and the yeshiva, in all their multitude. For Sanctuary in Yerushalayim itself functioned. these are described as a Mikdash M’at – a miniature The Temple contained all three pillars of the world: Sanctuary. In other words, the Sanctuary that remains in Torah, Divine Service, and Acts of Loving-kindness. In this physical world is not the actual Temple, but a the Temple rested the ark and the tablets with the Ten Sanctuary in miniature, a representation and reflection of Commandments; there the Sanhedrin taught Torah; in the the Temple itself. Actually, there are a multitude of Temple, the sacrifices were brought and the people drew Sanctuaries at this time, for all the synagogues and closer to G-d; and in the Temple places were set aside for yeshivas are, each of them, a small Sanctuary, a Mikdash tz’daka – where the rich could give in secret and the poor M’at. could take without being noticed. Similarly, the miniature When G-d commands, “Make for Me a Sanctuary,” Sanctuaries – our synagogues and yeshivas – must be true the eternal holiness can apply to three things: the physical places of Torah, Divine Service and Acts of Loving- object itself – the stone and wood of the Tabernacle and kindness, where guests are indeed welcome. Temple; the location of the Sanctuary – the place where it In fact, this applies to the miniature Sanctuaries in stands; and the people commanded to make it. which we live, our homes. Every man, woman and even The Tzemach Tzedek – the third Lubavitcher Rebbe – child must strive to “Make for Me a Sanctuary,” wherever stresses the last point: the obligation of the Jewish people they dwell. The Divine Presence dwells within the Jewish to make a Sanctuary is an eternal responsibility. In the home. What is true of the Temple in Yerushalayim, and phrase, “They shall make for Me a Sanctuary,” the the synagogues throughout the world, is even more true emphasis is on “They shall make.” of our private dwellings. We must fulfill the command to Now since at all times and all places it is incumbent “Make for Me a Sanctuary,” making our homes a place of upon the Jewish people to be busy with making a Torah, Divine Service and Acts of Loving-kindness. In Sanctuary for the Divine Presence, it is clear that even this way, collectively we fulfill the command in its entirety, now there is a duty to occupy ourselves with the thus bringing Moshiach and revealing the Third Temple. construction of the Sanctuary. Since for the moment – (Based on Likkutei Sichos 36, pp. 123-130)

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~CORRECTION RE ISSUE #685~ The article, The Rebbe Was Thinking of Us in War-Torn Warsaw, contained inaccuracies: 1) In the account of the miracle which surrounded my birth, the lady traveled by herself to Vilna where she consulted the doctor. The doctor absolutely made no mention of aborting the fetus. He told her that in order to have a healthy child, she must return and be in the hospital for the last two or three months of the pregnancy in order to hopefully have a healthy child. When she returned, her husband did not agree to do anything without asking the Rebbe first. The Rebbe's response was, and this is a direct quote. “She should remain at home and Hashem will bless her with a healthy living child.” After the baby was born healthy, he wrote a letter to the Rebbe stating that his wife had, thank G-d, a healthy boy, and he asked for a brocha that he and his children should be genuine chasidim. He placed the letter into a Tanya and he gave some money for tzedokah. 2) My father was not present at the Yechidus, as he had already come to America (in 12/32). I have only one sister. Everybody cried except me, as I was too young to understand. 3) We were living not in Manhattan, but in Brownsville, Brooklyn. My father woke up the entire family, not only myself. 4) On p. 12, the response of the Rebbe should read, “when the Jewish people are experiencing tzaros, the simcha can only can only be expressed in the heart, it cannot be displayed (rather than “ought”; and it “does not need to be”) There are further minor inaccuracies, which will not be discussed now. When this article was published last year in the Hebrew edition of the magazine, I called up the editor at that time, and told him about the inaccuracies. So you can imagine my shock when it was printed in the English edition, still containing the same wrong information! The Rebbe is always very careful that when a story is transmitted, that all the details be accurate. It would also behoove your writers to verify the accuracy of all future stories. Rabbi Y. Gordon

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stories for 9 adar THE REBBE WAS THINKING OF US IN WAR-TORN WARSAW

Enthralling stories told by elder PARTICIPANTS: Chassidim at a farbrengen in 770 one Rabbi Mordechai Altein Tes Adar, the day the Rebbe Rayatz Rabbi Yisroel Gordon Rabbi Yehuda Leib arrived in America in 1940, and the Posner wellsprings started to spread out from Rabbi Yosef Dov Krinsky Rabbi Mordechai the lower hemisphere (see HaYom Yom Scharfstein 9 Adar II).

L’CHAIM ON SODA mashke. My older brother Zalman, who was R’ Posner: L’chaim, l’chaim! I see So l’chaim, l’chaim! It’s on soda already past his bar mitzva, was sent that I’m getting looks for saying but at least we can say l’chaim. to New York in order to learn in l’chaim over soda, but to me, it’s a yeshiva and he was one of the people reminder of a story with the Rebbe PHONE CALLS who welcomed the Rebbe. I did not Rayatz. In the early days of the TO WASHINGTON go to New York until Sukkos 5701. One of the memories etched founding of yeshivas Tomchei THE NIGHT OF SHEMINI T’mimim in 770, the Rebbe Rayatz deep in my mind are the events of would send instructions to our ATZERES Shmini Atzeres 1940 in Chicago. At maggid shiur, R’ Zalman Gurary Here we are, some graduates that time, the Chassidim were under a”h, which also dealt with trivial from the yeshiva. When I first came terrible stress. The Rebbe and his things like how to dress properly. to yeshiva, they were already the entourage were in Warsaw which One time, the Rebbe told him older bachurim, and now we are was being bombarded, and they were that when he farbrenged with meeting again, Baruch Hashem. in great danger. talmidim, the farbrengen had to be When the Rebbe arrived on 9 The night of Shmini Atzeres, without mashke but just tea or Adar 5700/1940 I was not in New after Maariv, one of the Chassidim lemonade and Hashem would help York. At that time, we lived in involved in rescue work came to our that this would have an effect like Chicago and I was eleven years old. house and spoke with some askanim so that they would try to exert their

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influence in Washington in order to that we were Sholom Posner’s he hadn’t yet come and he had rescue the Rebbe Rayatz. children and the Rebbe blessed us. promised us a yechidus, what were The Rebbe Rayatz’s situation was During that year, the Rebbe we supposed to do? He said to go to so bad that Chassidim did not want decided to open a yeshiva for lower R’ Shmuel Levitin. to lose even a second’s time. Every grades. We were learning in Torah We told R’ Shmuel Levitin the moment could make a difference. Vodaas at the time and every so situation and he said to go to Chaim One of the askanim, a Chassid by often we’d hop over to 770. (Chaim Lieberman, the Rebbe’s the name of Shlomo, sat in our We were supposed to go home secretary). house and made a phone call to New for Pesach but since I was going to We went to his office and York or Washington, and did what celebrate my bar mitzva on 11 knocked at the door and told him he could to get things moving. Nissan that year, I asked for the situation. He said, “Go down Even we, the talmidim, yechidus with my brother before we and go in.” We looked at him in understood that if a Chassidic Jew left for Chicago. shock but he said, “Nu, nu, go in.” was making a phone call on Yom In those days, yechidus took Before we went in, I told my Tov, it was because of danger to life, place three times a week, Sunday brother that he should knock at the but it was a bizarre sight. A night, Tuesday night, and Thursday door. He knocked and opened the Chassidic Jew, on the night of Yom night. Since we had to leave by bus door a bit. The Rebbe was sitting at Tov, talking on the phone … That on Sunday afternoon, our yechidus his desk and he looked at us as we night the Chassidim made dozens of appointment was for Thursday entered. I noticed that when he saw phone calls in the attempt to rescue night. Rabbi Simpson called us at us, he smiled. Our fear dissipated a the Rebbe Rayatz. ten o’clock and said it was late and little. In the end, as we all know, they the Rebbe was tired and we would We walked in and stood near his were successful and the Rebbe go in at the next earliest opportunity. desk. The first thing the Rebbe arrived here on 9 Adar. We told him that we had to leave asked was, were we returning by on Sunday afternoon and we bus. “MY SPIRITUAL wouldn’t be able to have yechidus on We looked at him … perhaps we CHILDREN” Sunday night. He said that in that hadn’t heard what the Rebbe had case, we should have yechidus on said. It was very hard to understand When we arrived for my first Motzaei Shabbos. him since the Rebbe spoke very yechidus on Sukkos 5701, Rabbi It was Motzaei Shabbos and unclearly at that time. Simpson escorted my brother Rabbi Simpson, who lived in Boro The Rebbe repeated his question Zalman and I in to the Rebbe’s Park, had still not arrived. It was late and we answered affirmatively. The room. R’ Simpson told the Rebbe so we called him and said that since Rebbe asked whether we would

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daven on the bus and we answered WHAT IS PUBLIC there, after many difficulties, we affirmatively once again. “With MOURNING ON managed to arrive in Riga. The t’fillin too?” he asked. When we said SHABBOS Lubavitchers in Riga were very yes, he said, “good.” Chassidish. R’ Itche der Masmid was Then the Rebbe said: Everything R’ Mordechai Altein: The in Riga at that time. He would daven has to be according to the place and passing of the Rebbe Rayatz was on all day. I remember him learning time and according to the place and Shabbos, 10 Shvat. The Shabbos Chassidus for a few hours and then time, I am satisfied with you. But before that, 3 Shvat, my father-in- davening Shacharis for hours. When your father, who was in Lubavitch, law, Rabbi Yisroel Jacobson, sat it was time for Mincha, he would that was completely different. You Shiva for his mother who passed remove his t’fillin and daven Mincha have to know that when your father away on Rosh Chodesh Shvat. Since with a tallis over his head. When he was in Lubavitch it was completely his father had passed away on 3 finished Mincha, it was time for different. Still, from you, more is Shvat 5708, there was a big question Maariv and he davened Maariv. demanded than of “kinder from the about whether he needed to daven After davening he would learn street.” before the amud. On the one hand, Likkutei Torah with the bachurim (When we repeated this to R’ he was in the middle of Shiva and and then we would accompany him Shmuel, he corrected us, using the public mourning is forbidden on Yiddish word for “street,” but we Shabbos. On the other hand, it was told him that the Rebbe had used the his father’s yahrtzait. English word, “street.”) My father-in-law asked me to ask “You are my children,” said the the Rebbe who was called “the son- Rebbe. “To your parents, you are in-law” at the time. I spoke to the fleishigdike kinder (children of the Rebbe and asked the question. The flesh), but to me, you are spiritual Rebbe told me that since all the children.” people in the minyan would know Then we spoke about the that he was davening because of his upcoming bar mitzva and the Rebbe father’s yahrtzait, and not because of wished us a good trip. the mourning for his mother, refraining from davening before the amud would be an act of public IF THE DESIRE IS PNIMI mourning. The Rebbe said that The way it is today is that when a although he wasn’t a rav or a posek, boy becomes bar mitzva, he starts this was an accepted thing. putting on two pairs of t’fillin. Back This took place a week before the then, we didn’t put on Rabbeinu Rebbe Rayatz’s histalkus. Tam t’fillin until the age of 18-19, When they printed the maamer and before doing so we asked the that the Rebbe produced for 10 Rebbe for permission. Shvat – Basi L’Gani – the first Half a year before I turned 19, I maamer was dedicated l’ilui nishmas asked the Rebbe Rayatz whether I R’ Yisroel Jacobson’s parents. could start wearing Rabbeinu Tam That was by way of introduction. t’fillin. On 4 Kislev 5707 I received Writing the following answer that I will read THE REBBE ASKED: from the original letter that I have to the Rebbe is with me: WHAT’S HAPPENING “In response to your question WITH THE BACHURIM? your responsibility. regarding putting on Rabbeinu I was among the group of Tam t’fillin, if the desire is p’nimi bachurim that the Rebbe Rayatz said Answering you is – then it is a proper thing to do. A should go to Otvotsk before the war. Rabbeinu Tam bachur must have a When the war broke out, we went the Rebbe’s devotion and dedication to through seven levels of Gehinom. responsibility. diligence in the study of Nigleh and We traveled to Warsaw, as the work on correcting middos, and Rebbe said to do, to arrange the Write! Hashem will help you materially necessary papers to travel and from and spiritually.” --R’ Mordechai Altein

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to his home and talk to him. the Rebbe even when it doesn’t seem The Rebbe, who was trying to as though the letter will get to him. leave burning Warsaw for Riga, The Rebbe answered: Writing to the asked that a group of bachurim wait Rebbe is your responsibility. for him in Riga. We waited several Answering you is the Rebbe’s weeks and in the meantime, Anash responsibility. Write! in Latvia began to get very nervous since the Nazis were very close to MIRACLE Latvia. Latvia is a country that can R’ Yisroel Gordon: There’s a be crossed in half an hour. They story of a Chassid who lived in forced us to leave Latvia. Russia in a small town where there From there we went via Sweden was no fire department, running and Norway until we arrived back in water, or medical services. This America. We arrived shortly before Chassid lived there and raised a the Rebbe arrived in Riga on 5 family with several children. Teives. His wife was pregnant and When the Rebbe arrived in Riga, became ill. Since there was no his first question was, “What’s doctor and her condition was happening with the bachurim?” worrisome, they traveled to the big Anash told the Rebbe that we had city of Vilna where they saw a arrived in America already, and he doctor who decided they had to go asked: Why am I not informed about to a hospital and abort the fetus what is happening with them? since otherwise, she and the baby We rejoiced upon hearing that were in danger. the Rebbe had gotten out of Warsaw The Chassid, of course, did not and arrived in Riga. We then learned If a Chassidic Jew agree to do anything without asking that the Rebbe had asked about us. the Rebbe. He wrote to the Rebbe was making a On the one hand, we were happy Rayatz what the doctor had said and that the Rebbe inquired about us; on asked what to do. phone call on Yom the other hand, we felt bad that we The Rebbe said the woman hadn’t told the Rebbe what had should remain at home, without Tov, it was because happened to us. aborting, and the child would be We wrote to the Rebbe and of danger to life, fine. That’s what happened, and the apologized, saying that since the child was born healthy. This isn’t Rebbe was in Warsaw, we could not but it was a bizarre just “one of those stories,” since I write to him about what was am the child who was born! sight. A Chassidic happening with us. The Rebbe’s Since there was no telephone or response was that even when he was telegraph in the town where I was Jew, on the night of in Warsaw with the bombs falling, born, my father did not have a way whenever he got word about the of informing the Rebbe of my birth. Yom Tov, talking on bachurim, he felt much better! He took money as a pidyon and the phone… That *** placed it in a Tanya. In the pidyon In general, we know that a nefesh he wrote that his wife had a night the Chassid must write to the Rebbe healthy boy and he asked that he about what’s going on with him. merit that he become a genuine Chassidim made There are stories about Chassidim Chassid. who wrote to the Rebbe and From this story we learn that dozens of phone although the Rebbe did not Chassidim always knew about the physically receive the letter, he great love the Rebbe had for them calls in the attempt responded. and they reciprocated with great love to rescue the Rebbe When the Rebbe was in Paris, a towards him. Lubavitcher asked him whether there The Rebbe Rayatz says in his Rayatz. was an inyan in writing a letter to sichos that the Rebbe’s love for a --Rabbi Yehuda Leib Posner

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Chassid is greater than the love small town and had never seen sugar parents have for their children. and now that I saw it, I was excited Everybody knows how much parents and I grabbed. “Let him be, he is love their children, and yet the allowed a small taava.” Rebbe’s love for Chassidim is much greater. HEI TEVES – THE REBBE ESCAPED! WHY IS EVERYONE On 5 Teives 5700, we got the CRYING? news that the Rebbe had finally left We arrived in America in 1934. Warsaw and managed to get to Riga We stopped in Warsaw on the way, via Berlin. The date that is so where the Rebbe was. I was five familiar to us from the court case of years old but I remember that the the s’farim, was also the day the Rebbe received us graciously and Rebbe Rayatz was rescued from the smiled at us. Germans. The Rebbe, who knew my father We rejoiced. Chassidim gathered from Lubavitch, spoke with my spontaneously for a farbrengen at father, with my brothers Nissan and the homes of Rabbi Simpson or Sholom, with my sisters, with me Rabbi Jacobson. I remember that and my mother. Everybody cried. I one of the Chassidim picked up a didn’t understand why everyone was cup and said, “L’chaim, l’chaim, the crying when the Rebbe was smiling Rebbe got out,” and he began to cry at us. from great joy. He couldn’t talk, he Only later, some weeks or was so overcome by emotion. The Rebbe told months later (before that I was too There were great Chassidim young to comprehend) did I present but none of them could about the understand why they had all cried. speak. You can imagine the feeling – The Rebbe said that my father is a the Rebbe escaped! experiences they Tamim. Now that we were going to had in the America, which is a land which NESHAMOS THAT WERE consumes its inhabitants, we had to INSPIRED IN WARSAW know that there would be many bunkers in difficult tests and he expected us to When the Rebbe arrived in New withstand them. York, we were living in Manhattan at Warsaw and said the time. My father woke me up at that in the 5:30 in the morning to go to the A VISIT TO REBBETZIN mikva. The Rebbe had arrived and bunkers were all SHTERNA SARAH we had to go to the mikva before When we were in Warsaw we seeing him. kinds of Jews, visited Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah, the Then, when the Rebbe began to widow of the Rebbe Rashab. She disembark from the ship, and he was Jews with peios went to America later on and lived in a wheelchair, and people began to on the second floor of 770. see the Rebbe, they didn’t know how and Jews without Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah to react. One started saying the head coverings, received us with great honor. She SheHechiyanu blessing, one said the gave my mother tea with sugar. I bracha “sh’chalak mei’chachmaso but when the was a little boy and seeing sugar, I lireiav.” Each one said a different grabbed some of it. My mother was bracha. There was such excitement. bombs fell they all taken aback and she began scolding We rejoiced and cried me that I had to behave like a simultaneously. The Rebbe was here! cried out Shma mentch and not grab sugar in front It felt a bit strange seeing the of the Rebbetzin. Rebbe. When I had seen him six Yisroel. The Rebbetzin calmed my years earlier, he looked so different. --R’ Yisroel Gordon mother and said that I came from a Then the Rebbe spoke and

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thanked America for saving him, and Sunday so that 9 Adar II was on a process. all the Jews who took part in his Tuesday. At night there was a My father was born to a Litvishe rescue. farbrengen and the Rebbe spoke and family and his journey to Chabad The Rebbe went to the Greystone told stories, some of which are was via Chassidus Kopust as Hotel on Broadway. We traveled printed in the sichos of 5700. The follows: there by subway. Rebbe told about the experiences My father was married three There was a special farbrengen they had in the bunkers in Warsaw times. His first two wives died in there. Purim that year was on a and said that in the bunkers were all their youth. He had a son from the kinds of Jews, Jews with peios and first wife, a son and daughter from Jews without head coverings, but the second wife, and then he when the bombs fell they all cried married my mother. The second out Shma Yisroel. wife had a brother who was a Chassid of Kopust and he was THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE mekarev my father to Chassidus WAITED ON THE Kopust. Around1928, R’ Ezriel Zelig PLATFORM Slonim, the Rebbe’s shadar R’ Mordechai Scharfstein: On (fundraising emissary) came to New the morning of the day that the York and on Shabbos he davened in Rebbe Rayatz arrived, my father my father’s shul. came from shul and took us to greet R’ Slonim came to shul at 8:30 the Rebbe. Not all were permitted to in the morning and saw two men approach the ship. Only those to with full beards. He was very whom Agudas Chassidei Chabad had impressed and excited to see two given a ticket were allowed to Jews with beards sitting and learning approach the ship. before the davening in materialistic, When the Rebbe arrived, there cold America. He decided to see were thousands of people on the what Midrash they were learning but platform and there was a big when he approached them he said, problem – everybody wanted to see “Oy vey, they’re not learning the Rebbe, and there was terrible Midrash; they’re learning Magen pushing. Over the years I learned Avos” (written by the Admur of how to push, but in those days I still Kopust). When the Rebbe didn’t know how… He sat and learned with them an The police escorted the Rebbe inyan in Chassidus and then got arrived, there until he went to the hotel. The busy with the avoda of t’filla. Before Rebbe and his entourage traveled to Mincha he learned Midrash with were thousands of the hotel in two taxis. My father also them. Then he spoke with these two went to the hotel, behind the Rebbe. Jews, my uncle and my father, and people on the I don’t remember whether my convinced them to write to the father went in for yechidus the day Rebbe. platform and there the Rebbe arrived but I remember The Rebbe wrote to my father to was a big problem that my father took me with him work on avoda in t’filla and to say a when he had yechidus. When the lot of T’hillim. The Rebbe gave my – everybody Rebbe saw my father, he gave him a father a bracha. big smile and said, “How are you R’ A year later, when the Rebbe wanted to see the Avrohom?” The Rebbe was very arrived in America at the end of happy to see him. 5689 and my father went to see him, Rebbe, and there My father had seen the Rebbe on this was a decisive factor in his move his previous visit, at the end of to Lubavitch. During that visit, the was terrible 5689/1929. At that time, my father Rebbe ate from my father’s sh’chita. pushing. was in the process of becoming a My father was an ordained shochet Lubavitcher, and seeing the Rebbe’s with kabbala from great rabbanim. --R’ Mordechai Scharfstein face was a decisive factor in this

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TO SEE OTHERS’ SIMCHA IN THE HEART that Hashem said to Moshe GOOD QUALITIES R’ Yisroel Gordon: Kinderlach, I Rabbeinu “and he [Aharon] will see you and rejoice in his heart.” Why R’ Yehuda Leib Posner: Sixty want to share some of my memories would he rejoice merely in his heart? years ago, around this time of year, with you. When the Rebbe Rayatz Because when the Jewish people are before Purim, I sat and learned arrived in America, they looked for a experiencing tzaros, the simcha Chassidus in the small zal. It was place for him to live. ought to be in the heart. about 8:00 when suddenly, R’ In Lakewood, which later became The Rebbe went on to say – I Chadakov entered the room and said a big center of Jewish life with a thank you for your heartfelt wishes he wanted to speak to me. famous yeshiva, there was a wealthy and hope that you will help us with He took me to the office of man by the name of Kalev Fastan. the yeshivos and Talmudei Torah, Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch which He asked the Rebbe to live in but the simcha ought to be “in the was near the zal and the Rebbe was Lakewood and promised to place his heart” – it does not need to be there. The Rebbe told me that I had mansion at the Rebbe’s disposal. displayed. to go to New Jersey, Delaware and Rabbi Mentlick and other Pennsylvania on behalf of Merkos Chassidim went to his house and L’Inyonei Chinuch, to advertise the made the arrangements and the TO SAY MUSSAR publications that Merkos L’Inyonei Rebbe arrived in Lakewood a few WITH A NIGGUN Chinuch sold. days before Pesach. The wealthy I remember that my brother, At that time, Lubavitch was not man came with his entire family and Sholom Ber a”h, who was a shliach as big as it is now. I was able to take they served and treated the Rebbe and rav of a shul in Newark, had all the s’farim in one bag. I was with great honor tremendous difficulties. His shul was supposed to travel for a week, There was a rav there – I forget very modern, without a bima in the return, and then take the train to his name – a very successful center etc. He asked the Rebbe (I’m Pittsburgh where we lived at that lecturer, who gave dramatic talking about 1944-1945), “What time. speeches in Yiddish and English. He am I supposed to talk to them about Before I left, I had yechidus with welcomed the Rebbe and said we in shul? I speak about Shabbos and the Rebbe. The Rebbe told me: have the Gaon HaDor and the kashrus and it doesn’t go. People in When looking at others, see their Tzaddik HaDor, the Lubavitcher shul do all kinds of kuntzin in order good qualities; when looking at Rebbe shlita, who did so much in to avoid complying, what can I do?” yourself, see your deficiencies. Russia etc. The Rebbe told him that when Chassidim say that the Torah was The Rebbe looked down and you go down the street and shout at given in different sized letters.” people could see that he couldn’t someone and give him Musar, he The Rebbe told me that in the stand these words of flattery. When won’t accept it. When you sit in shul Torah there are asvon ravrevin and the darshan finished speaking, the and sing a niggun and say a vort, the asvon z’eirin (large letters and small Rebbe thanked him, and said that Musar is accepted. letters). At first, I didn’t understand the Halacha is that when reading the By the way, I was reminded of a what the Rebbe meant. It was very Torah and there is doubt about a story that I heard from my brother hard to make out what he was certain letter, whether it’s a Chaf or Sholom Ber. When he was in saying and I asked the Rebbe to a Beis, a Vav or a Zayin, you ask a Dokshitz, he learned by a Chassid of repeat it. Then the Rebbe said in child, “Who is neither smart nor the Rebbe Maharash who was Yiddish “big letters and little letters,” foolish.” Why? Because just as too outstanding in his avoda of t’filla. and I understood. foolish is no good, too smart is also He would go to shul, learn The Rebbe was saying that the no good. Chassidus for a few hours and then other person’s good qualities had to The Rebbe was telling him what close himself up in a room by be seen with big letters, while their he thought of what he said. himself and daven for about two deficiencies should be seen with When the Rebbe returned to New hours. It was very special to watch small letters. The Rebbe concluded York, the members of the Agudas him. with a bracha for a good trip. HaRabbanim met him, Rabbi One time, my brother asked him I think this is a point that Rosenberg and Rabbi Shapiro and about the Mishna in Bava Metzia everyone should know. May Hashem other distinguished Jews. There too, that when two people deposit money help us see the Rebbe here already, to the best of my recollection, the with someone, one person leaving b’gashmius, l’chaim! Rebbe was not pleased with the great $100 and the other $200, and both honor they gave him. show up and claim $200, the The Rebbe told them that it says halacha is the money remains there

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That is how a Chassid of the were supposed to put them on Rebbe Maharash learned p’shat in benches on Eastern Parkway. Some the Mishna. bachurim put them on subways. One of the bachurim was asked by a I CAME TO WELCOME policeman what the stickers said. THE SH’CHINA, NOT The bachur told him that it was a political sticker which said: Vote for TO PUSH LaGuardia (the mayor of New York On Shavuos 1946 there were at that time who had a Jewish many people and naturally, they all mother). wanted to daven with the Rebbe. People standing in the hall tried to SAVED FROM THE ARMY enter the room and there was terrible pushing. THANKS TO TZITZIS A man stood there who did not During the war, all the bachurim look Lubavitch. He had long peios were called up by the army and had and wore a bekeshe. He was very to go for physicals. Those yeshiva tall. My brother Sholom asked him bachurim who were granted why he was there and he said that he exemptions were designated 4D and was a Skverer Chassid from Boro those who were unfit for service, Park and he wanted to see Shavuos were designated 4F. in Lubavitch. He asked the Skverer In general, at that time, Rebbe permission to go to Lubavitch throughout all of New York, there and he answered him: If I could, I were only 3000 boys learning in would go with you, go gezunterheit. yeshivos. All the other Jewish boys in My brother asked him: Why New York attended public school. If don’t you push inside? Why are you someone went to yeshiva, it was People who are so standing here? considered as though he wanted to religious that they He answered: There’s no need to be a rabbi because otherwise, why push. There’s a verse in Parshas Ki go to yeshiva? even wear tzitzis Sisa which says, “And all who sought All the bachurim went for Hashem went out to the Tent of physicals and saw all the doctors: for at night did not Meeting.” Rashi says, from here we the head, feet, stomach etc. After all see that seeking out the countenance that, they were interviewed. belong in the army of an elder is like welcoming the Many of the bachurim passed the Sh’china. I came from Boro Park to medical exams and were given and were see the face of an elder and to designations that required them to designated 4F. welcome the Sh’china, and pushing serve in the army. In the interview, is not necessary. they were asked what they were --R’ Yosef Dov Krinsky I think that this can give us much wearing (referring to the tzitzis). chizuk especially in the situation They said it was a religious garment. until Eliyahu comes. What’s the we’re in now, how much we should “Do you wear it at night?” connection to Eliyahu? As great as want to see the Rebbe which is “Yes, we wear it at night.” he is, he is still just one witness? synonymous with welcoming the “Then you are released.” The melamed answered that Sh’china. People who are so religious that there’s a verse in T’hillim (43), they even wear tzitzis at night did “Send Your light and Your truth, L’ALTER L’GEULA ON not belong in the army and were and they will guide me.” Rashi designated 4F. explains that “Your light” refers to EASTERN PARKWAY When they came back and told Moshiach and “Your truth” refers to R’ Yosef Dov Krinsky: In 1943 the Rebbe, the Rebbe was not at all Eliyahu. Eliyahu will come to bring the Kol Korei of the Rebbe, pleased that they had been truth to the world. The man himself “Immediately to t’shuva, designated 4F and not 4D. will come and admit that the $200 immediately to Geula” was Baruch Hashem, all the bachurim isn’t his. publicized. Machne Israel printed except for one were exempt from stickers with this on it and bachurim army service.

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insight

Rebbe’s living quarters and how the Chassidim related to it: “The ‘Heichal,’ as the Chassidim ENTERING refer to the Rebbe’s dwelling, is in a spacious yard with rows of trees, a vegetable garden and various other buildings. “It is a long house, about 25 THE HOLY cubits in length and about 12 cubits wide. Over it is an attic about twenty cubits long and the width of the house. The house is divided into two apartments, with an OF HOLIES entranceway dividing it. The apartment on the right is the Nasi’s private dwelling and on the left is a small shul where people wait to see Chassidim enter the Rebbe’s room the the Rebbe, which the Chassidim call ‘the lower Gan Eden.’ In the attic way the Kohen Gadol would enter the are two rooms, separated by a foyer. One room is the Nasi’s meditation Holy of Holies. * A compilation of room and the other room is where he receives people for private stories that describe how Chassidim audiences, what Chassidim call ‘the viewed the Rebbe’s room, presented in upper Gan Eden.’” connection with Parshas Truma, in THE LOWER AND UPPER which we read the mitzva, “and they GAN EDEN The Rebbe Rayatz related, “I shall make Me a sanctuary and I will heard from senior Chassidim that the room before the yechidus room dwell among them.” was called ‘the lower Gan Eden,’ and the yechidus room was called THE FOUR CUBITS OF “R’ Hillel told us that the ‘the upper Gan Eden.’ THE REBBE ARE THE Rebbe’s d’veikus elevated and placed “Before a Chassid went in for yechidus, he would resolve that he FOUR CUBITS OF G-D him within a completely different four cubits. The Rebbe’s four cubits no longer wanted that which he One time, when the tzaddik, R’ are the four cubits of Hashem. From desired. It goes without saying that Hillel, was in yechidus with the the day the Beis HaMikdash was this wasn’t about forbidden desires, Tzemach Tzedek, the Rebbe entered destroyed, Hashem has nothing in for what is forbidden is forbidden. a state of great d’veikus. R’ Hillel His world except the four cubits of What is meant is not to want at all would say that to merit to see and Halacha, which contain the same that the heart desires, even feel this d’veikus, it was worth revelations that there were in the permissible things.” walking to the Rebbe ten times on Beis HaMikdash.” (Sicha Purim 5688/1928) foot. (Likkutei Dibburim vol. 2, p. 210) His disciple, R’ Gershon Dov, FEELING OF BEING related: “We, the young married disciples THE ALTER REBBE’S OLEH REGEL of R’ Hillel, lived for many months “HEICHAL” The Alter Rebbe would conduct with this line, and the t’mimus The following is a description the hakafos in the lower Gan Eden. (simple sincerity) with which it was from Shimon the Heretic, who spent The Chassidim referred to them as said instilled us with a chayus for some time with the Alter Rebbe and “the Rebbe’s yechidus hakafos.” avoda. his disciples. He described the These yechidus hakafos placed a Chassid in an entirely different

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standing. the eyes – something visual, the name of the Chassid, R’ Yaakov “I remember,” recalls the heart – emotions, and so on. Shimshon: Chassid, R’ Pinchas Reizes, “the However, there is a type of pleasure His father, R’ Zalman Yitzchok, first time I was present at these that causes pleasure throughout all prepared him for half a year before hakafos and how they transformed the limbs and organs simultaneously his wedding so he could have me. I became another person. For until all the senses and abilities are yechidus (this was in 5585 (1825), the first time, I had a clear image of nullified in it. This pleasure was felt with the Mitteler Rebbe). His how a Jew felt in the Beis by a Chassid during yechidus grandfather, the Chassid R’ Nachum HaMikdash when he was oleh regel hakafos with the Rebbe. Dovber, did not suffice with this, and saw the revelation of the (Likkutei Dibburim, vol. 2, p. 502) and for two months he explained to Sh’china in the Beis HaMikdash.” him what it means to have yechidus Every limb and organ of the body WHEN TO KISS with the Rebbe. has a certain pleasure in accordance “Among Chassidim,” explained with the function of that limb. The THE LECTERN his grandfather, “the Rebbe’s house head enjoys something intellectual, The Rebbe Rayatz relates in the was the Heichal of the Mikdash and his room was the Holy of Holies. We had a majestic inner awe towards the earth on which the Rebbe’s house was built, and all the more so for the ‘lower Gan Eden.’ “After much preparation, deep soul searching, and immersion and purification in the mikva, we would occasionally allow ourselves to kiss the lectern from which the Rebbe davened. “If you had seen with what elevated awe and holy love the elderly Gaon and Chassid (who was 90 years old), R’ Yerucham Moshe of Shepitovka, approached the Rebbe’s lectern to kiss the area where the Rebbe placed his hands as he davened, you would have some understanding of the significance of the place where the Sh’china rests. “We received as a tradition from the senior Chassidim that you go to yechidus only after intense and lengthy preparation. There were those whose preparation for yechidus took over three years.”

SEVEN YEARS FOR YECHIDUS For three years, R’ Moshe Vilenker prepared himself for yechidus with the Alter Rebbe. He then remained in Liozna for another seven years, in order to translate the yechidus into actual avoda. (HaYom Yom 18 Tamuz)

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ON THE THRESHOLD NEW CREATURE enlivened them with the light of the The elder Chassidim would say in R’ Nachum Dovber related to neshama. the name of the original Chassidim: his grandson that there were They left yechidus as a new “At the threshold of the beis midrash Chassidim who, after intense being, with a healthy G-dly soul, a of our Rebbe, we abandoned our preparation, would come for their happy and encouraged Good natural middos. The mezuzos of first yechidus and, standing on the Inclination, a dismembered natural ‘lower Gan Eden’ effected a yearning threshold of ‘the upper Gan Eden’ soul, and a crushed Evil for love and fear.” before going in to see the Rebbe, Inclination. The senior Chassidim, said the would sense the pleasure of (Seifer HaToldos, Admur Rayatz, vol. 2, p. 221) Rebbe Rashab, before entering for apprehending G-dliness. Their yechidus, worked on themselves so natural feeling was refined, and ORDER OF THE DAY that what they longed for – they did seeing the Rebbe’s Holy of Holies The night before yechidus, a not do. opened a channel from the Chassid would read the bedtime On these birthing stones was neshama to the ruach and nefesh. Shma as he did a spiritual born the congregation of Chassidim. During yechidus, the Rebbe accounting. He would get up for (HaTamim, vol. 2, p. 136) elevated the nefesh and ruach and Tikkun Chatzos, feeling the churban

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of the Mikdash and the exile of the know about the Mishkan that Sh’china from his own spiritual Moshe built in the desert according “R’ Yerucham state. He would feel the destruction to G-d’s command? Do you know Moshe approached and desolation of the inner essential about the special chamber that was Mikdash about which it says, “and there, in which the Holy Aron (Ark) the Rebbe’s they shall make for Me a sanctuary with the Luchos stood? Do you and I will dwell in them.” Hashem know that once a year, on Yom lectern to kiss the gave him a G-dly soul and this soul Kippur, Aharon the Kohen Gadol was in exile. would enter that chamber to light area where the He would thus say the Tikkun the incense and to pray for all of Chatzos with genuine bitterness, Israel? Tell me, who entered the Rebbe placed his crying and wailing with inner Holy of Holies together with the hands as he bitterness from the depths of his Kohen Gadol on Yom Kippur?’ heart. Then he would study Torah, asked Father? davened.” purify himself in the mikva, learn “‘Only the Kohen Gadol – no his regular schedule of Chassidus one else!’ I replied. me. Then, the realization struck before davening, and daven with “‘And now,’ asked Father, ‘do me: Father and I had just been his head and heart, pleading before we have a Beis HaMikdash and a inside the Holy of Holies, and we G-d that He help him do t’shuva. Holy of Holies?’ now found ourselves in the Beis He fasted that day and delved in “‘No,’ I replied with a sigh, HaMikdash. What a wondrous To r a h . ‘Now we have neither a Beis idea! Very awesome indeed! (Igros Kodesh Admur Rayatz, vol. 3, p. 165) HaMikdash nor a Holy of Holies.’ I “As these thoughts about the then turned to Father and asked, Beis HaMikdash and the Holy of ‘Why, then, is everyone dancing so GOOD AND RIGHT Holies went through my mind, I joyfully? After all, the Beis heard Father speaking to me again. The Chassid, R’ Hillel of HaMikdash is destroyed…’ “‘Are you aware, my son, that Paritch, relates, “For the four “Father replied, ‘You are right, after Moshe deposited the Aron and months that I prepared myself to my son, you are very right. The the Luchos in the Holy of Holies, see the Mitteler Rebbe for yechidus, Beis HaMikdash that stood in the he was able to hear G-d’s voice I worked on my body so it should Holy City of Yerushalayim (may it speaking to him from between the be on the level of tov/good and not be speedily rebuilt) is now K’ruvim on top of the Aron?’ just the level of destroyed. When the Jews do “‘Yes,’ I replied, ‘I heard Mother tzedek/righteousness.” t’shuva, then Hashem will send us reading about this to my aunt.’ One of the yoshvim (full time Moshiach, our righteous redeemer, “‘The words that the Rebbe learners), Moshe Dovid of Avtzuha, who will gather us from the four speaks to each chassid entering his was very moved by R’ Hillel’s corners of the earth and take us – chamber for yechidus,’ father statement. He cried copiously and together with our houses and our continued, ‘are the word of G-d, said, “Now I know why my two furniture – to the Land of Israel, Just as the Kohen Gadol used to yechiduses didn’t help. In order to where he will rebuild Yerushalayim enter the Holy of Holies all alone, go to yechidus you have to prepare and the Beis HaMikdash. so too, whoever enters the Rebbe’s with actual avoda, for without it the “‘Until that time, we have room, which is our Holy of Holies, yechidus does not help.” neither the Beis HaMikdash nor the does so all alone. That’s why the (Likkutei Dibburim vol. 3, p 1040) Holy of Holies. In the meanwhile, audience is called yechidus. And Lubavitch is our Yerushalayim, the just as the Kohen Gadol and all of shul where the Rebbe davens is our HOLY OF HOLIES Israel rejoiced when he emerged Beis HaMikdash, and the room The Chassid, Maskil and Oved, from the Holy of Holies, so too, we where the Rebbe sits is our Holy of R’ Avrohom Dovber, son of Chassidim all rejoice and celebrate Holies. The Rebbe himself is our Yirmiyahu of Bobruisk, described a the great kindness that G-d has Holy Aron containing the Luchos dialogue he had with his father shown us by giving us the privilege of G-d’s Holy Torah.’ during a trip to the court of the of entering our Holy of Holies and “Father’s solemn facial Rebbe in 1832, when he was six receiving our Rebbe’s holy expression as he spoke these words years old. blessing.’” made an awesome impression on “Father asked me, ‘Do you (HaTamim, vol. 2)

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memoirs PURIM 1953: THE RISE AND FALL OF A MODERN DAY HAMAN

Prepared for publication by Avrohom Reinitz Another chapter of R’ Hillel Zaltzman’s memoirs * A most frightening period in our history and the amazing denouement with the death of Stalin on Motzaei Purim after the Rebbe’s heavenly intervention on Purim 1953* Part 1 of 2

Every year, as Purim approaches, was quashed. I think back to the fear and dread Stalin was aided in his reign of that were our daily fare in the days terror by his secret police which was before Purim 1953. It was the called the Cheka at first and later height of the Doctors’ Plot and we became known as the GPU, NKVD breathed a sigh of relief when we and KGB. These purges included got the news that our mighty enemy, arrests, torture, forced labor in the Stalin, had died. His death meant gulag, exile, execution, the end of the doctors’ trial and that imprisonment, and show trials. the threat that hovered over us and Between the years 1936 and millions of Jews in the Soviet Union 1938, the Minister of the Secret was eliminated. Police, Yezhov, arrested religious So that a modern-day reader will people, Jews and non-Jews. Many be able to understand the Lubavitcher Chassidim were background of the Doctors’ Plot, we arrested during that terrible time have to go back in time to my early and shot to death in the cellars of childhood years. In those days, the KGB on Lubianka Street (a Stalin carried out the “Great Purge” name mentioned with dread; people in which he had nearly two million were afraid to go anywhere near it) people murdered to establish his or sent to labor camps in Siberia. All control of the Soviet Union. All of them were arrested under opposition or perceived opposition Paragraph 58 which forbade ‘anti-

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Soviet’ activity. highlighted as a hero, the creator, raised with blind admiration for this By the outbreak of World War II, the father of his nation. unparalleled monster. Stalin had annihilated most of the One of the methods used was In the midst of the World War II, Bolsheviks who had played a visual propaganda. The number of when the enemy had invaded deep prominent role during the Russian portraits, posters, pictures and into Russia and the number of dead Revolution or in Lenin’s statues representing Stalin was became known, the artificially government. Only two of them virtually uncountable. An entire induced personality worship which remained – Vyacheslav Molotov and industry was devoted to producing had until then been dictated from Stalin himself. portraits of Stalin. Writers and ‘on high’ was transformed into a real At the same time as the purges poets, movie producers and artists and heartfelt source of hope for the were being carried out, Stalin were directed by the government to consolidated his leadership by produce works that conveyed four Below: The Rebbe put his hands cultivating a cult in which he was main messages about Stalin: As a together to form a triangle and worshipped in a manner father, creator, hero, and powerful announced three times, “Hoo-ra, hoo- ra, hoo-ra” at the Purim farbrengen unprecedented in the history of the leader. The newspapers published 1953. (Thanks to Rabbi Levi modern world, perhaps even of all only laudatory articles about him. An Goldstein for this picture from his mankind. Stalin had himself entire generation of children was family archives)

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An example of his paranoia of THE AUTONOMOUS even his own people, were the JEWISH REGION members of the Jewish Anti-Fascist Stalin supported the idea of a Within a short Committee, an organization which Jewish state but fought Jews who was founded during the war in time, all the Jews requested to go there. Stalin’s order to help the Soviet Union in position was that anti-Semitism its war against Nazi Germany by whose names can’t be prevented in capitalist gaining the support of world Jewry. countries and therefore, one could appeared on the To establish the committee, they understand the need for a Jewish joined together high-ranking state. However, since a communist list were arrested Jewish members of the Soviet country has no anti-Semitism, government, along with unwitting contact between Jews in communist and sent to labor Jewish leading lights who fell into countries and Israel is unacceptable. the Soviet trap. The organization’s camps in Siberia. When the first Israeli diplomatic goal was to advance the interests of mission arrived in Moscow, the Jews the Soviet Union during the war Many of them of Russia welcomed them joyfully. with the help of propaganda which The Jews, most of whom had lost disappeared and was based, supposedly on the many relatives in the Holocaust, condition of Jews in the Soviet hoped that the State of Israel would till today it is not Union. be able to help them out of Russia. After the war, Stalin used the When Golda Meir, who headed the known where they members of the committee to further delegation, went to the main shul in the battle against those Jews who are buried. Moscow on Archipova Street, wanted escape the Soviet Union. thousands of Jews approached her The members of the committee, public at large. If there was one man with tears of joy and asked that she some of whom were Yiddishists, who could save the country, it was help them make aliya. published a newspaper in Yiddish Stalin. When Golda Meir brought up the called Einikait (Unity) in which they Stalin took the highest military subject with Stalin, he asked her to wrote hateful articles against Jews designation for himself, Major- give him a list of people who wanted who wanted to leave the Soviet General, but he did not suffice with to leave. In their naivety, the Union. These Jews were referred to this title since there were other delegation prepared a list and gave it as reactionaries and cosmopolitans. generals and so he took the unique to Stalin’s office. To their enormous After a few years though, Stalin title of Generalissimo. When his own dismay, within a short time, all the became suspicious of the members son was taken prisoner by the Jews whose names appeared on the of this organization, all of whom Germans and the Germans offered list were arrested and sent to labor were Jews. He dispersed the to exchange him for one of their camps in Siberia. Many of them members with the excuse that it had field marshals, he turned them down disappeared and till today it is not turned into a center of “anti-Soviet and said he wouldn’t exchange a known where they are buried. propaganda.” The chairman, young officer for a general. At that time, Stalin tried to Shlomo Michaels (Vofsi), the artistic advance the idea of an autonomous director of the Jewish theater in Jewish region. The autonomous STALIN PERSECUTES HIS Moscow and one of the greatest region was actually started twenty LOYAL JEWISH SUBJECTS Jewish actors, was murdered by the years earlier in reaction to two At the end of World War II, Soviets in a staged car accident in a threats to the Soviet Union: the Jews Stalin presented himself as the dark alleyway of Minsk in 1948. were a threat to atheism and the celebrated war leader who led the Over the course of the next year, the Zionists who were part of a Soviet Union and saved it from the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee was nationalist movement were a threat Germans. Then he turned his disbanded and its members were to the international Soviet vision. attention back to eliminating his arrested. After years of The solution, in the communists’ enemies from within. He gradually interrogations and torture, the death opinion was to establish a Jewish became paranoid and murdered penalty was decreed for thirteen of region which would provide Jews anyone who was suspected of being them. with a national homeland, though less than absolutely loyal to him. not in Israel, where the language

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would be Yiddish, not Hebrew. of an autonomous Jewish area. The Efforts were made to promote government advertised that whoever Eventually, they emigration to the area. Posters were went there would receive a farm approached his made and forms dropped from the animal for free and a gift of 18,000 air over areas where Jews lived. rubles. Lubavitchers joked and said hiding place and Books were written in Yiddish about that was the best case scenario, but the socialist utopia. The government in fact those Jews would be lucky to stabbed him in the even produced a movie in Yiddish receive a Jewish burial. called “Those Who Seek Happiness” head. It was only about a family which left the United SHOCKING ARRESTS by a miracle that States because of the poor economy IN SAMARKAND and arrived in this region. he wasn’t killed by The propaganda was so effective Unlike the great purges that took that even thousands of Jews who place in the years prior to World the bayonet. He weren’t Soviets emigrated there War II that were directed at the including hundreds who had lived in general population, a wave of arrests shouted out in Palestine. At a certain point the between the years 1948-1953 number of Jews in the region targeted Jews, religious and pain and that is reached a peak of about a third of irreligious. the local population. Between 1945 Where we were in Samarkand, how his hiding and 1948 the total Jewish population there were many arrests of Jews place was was about 30,000. whose only crime was that they were With the founding of the State of associated with Chabad Chassidim. discovered. Israel, Stalin went back to his idea That was enough to earn one the title of counter-revolutionary.

Rabbi Z’vulun Leviev. On his right is Rabbi Avrohom Chaim Ladaiov, after their aliya to Eretz Yisroel

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R’ Simcha Gorodetzky, who was stabbed him in the head. It was only the Bucharian Jews; the shochet sent to Samarkand by the Rebbe by a miracle that he wasn’t killed by Mulle Yosef, and others. Rayatz, sent bachurim from there to the bayonet. He shouted out in pain They once arrested a blind Jew, a learn in Tomchei T’mimim yeshivos. and that is how his hiding place was very simple person whose name was After they returned to their discovered. Rebbi (a common name among communities they taught Torah and I remember how they brought Bucharian Jews). When he was Judaism in Samarkand and its him to jail. At the time, we all lived interrogated, he maintained that he environs. Many of these Chassidim in the Jewish quarter in the old city. was a simple person who couldn’t were arrested. It was like a closed ghetto and even learn on his own and why were One of those arrested was Rabbi everybody knew about everybody. they accusing him of activities Avrohom Chaim Ladaiov who, When they came to arrest someone, against the government? during the war, built a mikva in the they came with many men and We don’t care, said the cellar of his home. The mikva was began to search and the entire interrogators. We know that you say used by the many refugees who procedure took about two hours. the T’hillim after the davening, one came to the city and was known as During this time, the news spread of the enactments of Rabbi “Avrohom Chaim’s Mikva.” After the throughout the Jewish quarter and Schneersohn, and that’s enough to war, when the persecutions began incriminate you for associating with against the Jews, R’ Avrohom Chaim a counter-revolutionary was afraid and he removed the water organization. from the mikva. He covered the pit My uncle, a shochet named R’ with blankets and shmattes. Chaim Boruch Duchman, was loved Apparently someone tattled to the by all and when they found out that KGB and their agents went to arrest the KGB had their eye on him, some him. They found him sitting at the local Jews went to warn him to run, table in his home. Since the arrests otherwise he would be arrested. He were accompanied by massive fled immediately and hid in another propaganda in the newspapers, the neighborhood of the city. He KGB searched for a way to present remained hidden there until Stalin him as a dangerous criminal who died, a year and a half later. was fleeing the law. They took him The fear of the unknown was so down to the cellar, removed some of powerful that upon the death of R’ the blankets, put him in the pit and Moshe Yachovov, a Bucharian covered him with the blankets and Chabad Chassid and a friend of R’ they photographed him. In his file Mendel Futerfas, my mother said: R’ appeared the picture of a traitorous Moshe is a lucky man. He died in Jew who tried to hide from the law. his bed, was given a Jewish burial, A horrifying thing happened his children accompanied him to his when they went to arrest R’ Z’vulun resting place and they can visit his Leviev, the grandfather of the hundreds of Jews, men, women, and grave. As for the dozens of Jews who philanthropist Lev Leviev. A member children would show up. When they were arrested, nobody knows what of the household noticed the police found the person at home, will happen to them. We can assume approaching the house and R’ everybody would cry, for they knew that they will be shot or die of forced Z’vulun quickly hid in a hiding place what the end would be. labor in Siberia and nobody will that he had prepared long before. Even according to what we were know where they are buried. One of the walls of the house was a used to in those days, with arrests In the end, as will be related, the double wall and a person was able to happening every day, his arrest was situation changed for the better with hide there. a terrible sight. Blood flowed from the death of Stalin, and most of It seems that whoever informed his temple as two KGB men dragged those who were arrested were on him supplied the KGB with the him and put him in the black truck. released and returned home. That’s information about the hiding place, Policemen armed with rifles stood when my mother repeated the for when the policemen didn’t find on either side of him. aphorism – you can return from him, they began to poke the walls In those dark days they also anywhere but not from there … with their bayonets. Eventually, they arrested Rabbi Mulle Chizkiyahu [To be continued be”H] approached his hiding place and who was the only Chassidic rav of

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moshiach & geula ~ The Final Era ~ TORAH STUDY IN A WAY OF HE DOESNT KNOW

By Boruch Merkur

It should be with the self-sacrifice of ‘he heal.’124 “Likewise, there should be an increase in doesn’t know,’ and at the same time, in the preparation for Torah study. Namely, insofar as Torah study benefits from being a manner that it permeates the person’s preceded by the service of prayer125 – the entire being, including his physical fusion of the two approaches of Torah and [the] service [of the heart] (as discussed body. That is, toiling in the study of above in Section 6). “Simply speaking, there must be an Torah to the point that it effects a increase in Torah study, both in quantity change in one’s body and one’s conduct. and in quality (with a newfound vitality, etc.). In fact, it should be with the self- * Tracing the Rebbe MH”M’s sacrifice of ‘he doesn’t know,’ and at the same time, in a manner that it permeates instructions on how to perfect our the person[’s being], including his physical body. That is, toiling in the study Divine service in the Final Era. of Torah to the point that it effects a change in one’s body and one’s PURIM IN ACTION conduct.126 In light of the above teachings regarding our service of “In addition to working on ourselves, we must strive to G-d, the Rebbe MH”M instructs us to put these thoughts reveal the power of self-sacrifice (the revelation of the into action, as follows: Yechida) in other Jews, to the extent that in this manner we unite all Jews with whom we are acquainted, through the call “Insofar as it is Purim, when ‘these days are reflected upon of ‘gather all the Jews,’ notwithstanding their present status and enacted,’ there is the new and renewed achievement of being ‘scattered and fragmented among the nations.’ This (even refered to as “chadashim”121) of the concept of ‘they message is especially vital being that this is a Year of Hakhel fulfilled what they had already accepted’ at the Giving of the [regarding which it is said]: ‘Assemble the people, the men, Torah’ … the women, and the children, etc., in order that they hear, and “We must derive strength from the Days of Purim for an in order that they learn and that they fear G-d, your L-rd, and increase in the fulfilment of Torah study, an increase with they will observe to do all the words of this Torah, etc., all the regard to both the revealed part of Torah and the inner days that you live on the land.’127 dimension of the Torah, as they are studied as a singular “Work must also be done with regard to one’s worldly To r a h 122 (the soul of the Torah and the body of the portion, gathering and uniting all the sparks of holiness, To r a h 123), in a manner of ‘I strike (machatzti), but I [also]

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~ The Final Era ~

which are presently ‘scattered and fragmented among the nations,’ and reveal, within nature, the Yechido Shel Olam Work must also be done with (the Singularity of the World [i.e., G-d]), to the extent that regard to one’s worldly even King Achashverosh changes his mind to do good: ‘The very mouth that said, “to do to the [Jewish] nation as you portion, gathering and [the wicked Haman] see fit,” is the one that said, “And you [Mordechai and Ester] write [a decree] regarding the Jews uniting all the sparks of 128 as you see fit.”’ holiness, which are presently “Indeed, this effort empowers the general service, in the present time, of influencing the gentile nations to keep the ‘scattered and fragmented Seven Commandments of the Descendants of Noach,129 and acts as a forerunner to, ‘And kings shall be your among the nations,’ and assistants [who raise your children] and their princesses your wet nurses.’”130 reveal, within nature, the

NOTES: Yechido Shel Olam, G-d, to

121 See commentary of Rashi on Yisro 19:1; Eikev 11:13; the extent that even King Savo 26:16. Achashverosh changes his 122 See Footnote 99 in the original. mind to do good. 123 See Zohar III 152a.

124 As was the case with Rashbi, who nullified the wall VaEs’chanan ; Likkutei Torah L’HaArizal ibid (in Taamei (mechitza) between the revealed part of Torah and the inner HaMitzvos). See the maamer [of the Rebbe Rashab] beginning dimension of Torah – Hemshech “Chayav Adam L’Varech” with the words, “V’Avrohom Zakein” 5666.) 5638 Ch. 25. 127 VaYeilech 31:12 ff. 125 See Likkutei Torah Bracha 96b; Kuntres Avodas HaT’filla 128 Ch. 11 ff, Ch. 25, and 33. Torah Ohr 94b. 129 126 To note the manner of the Arizal, who would tremble Rambam Laws of Kings Ch. 8, end. when he studied Torah. (Shaar HaMitzvos Parshas 130 Yeshayahu 49:23. 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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BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 685 25 685:Beis Moshiach 23/02/2009 8:22 AM Page 26

rosh cfheoadteusrhe kislev A PURIM PROJECT IN DISGUISE

By Libby

in her memory. Her grandmother Mrs. Rina Leichter and her family have had always loved rejoicing and agreed to remove the disguise which making others happy, so this was the perfect project in her merit. My covers their chesed project and older daughters reflected on their childhood and how much they publicize it to encourage others to do benefited from Mrs. Feld’s wonderful costume Gemach in the same. * The costume gemach in Rechovot. “Nechama Feld has been a warm Tzfas. family friend since her student days in the Machon Alte seminary in A colorful sign attracted the the residents of the community. For Tzfas. She wanted to help out our attention of the children of Tzfas: “A some families, it means a savings of large family and decided to send Costume Gemach will be open on hundreds of sh’kalim. costumes for all our children, the 11th and 12th of Adar I, When excited children show up according to the size, age and desire between the hours of 3-10 at the with their mothers or older sisters, of each child.” Leichter home, 220/113 Kiryat the house is full of “light and joy.” *** Chabad, entrance Gimmel, 12th The line extends from the stairwell Mrs. Feld’s Gemach was founded floor. First come, first served!” until the famous bridge of the Kirya. in the memory of her grandmother, The word Gemach might bring The convenient location in a and for many years she devotedly to mind old, stained, torn clothes – building in the heart of the ran it, buying quality costumes and in a word, shmattes. Sometimes, community makes it very easy to even sewing for it. Now, however, going to a Gemach entails take advantage of the service. the Gemach is no longer burrowing through mountains of The Gemach saves people not operational, so when she heard clothes or stacks of cartons, stuck in only money but also a tedious trip to about Rina Leichter’s idea to start a some dark, stifling, out-of-the-way town, going from store to store in costume Gemach, she decided to place. search of something suitable for a donate her large stock l’ilui nishmas In this case, that depiction Chassidic child that meets the her son Moshe, a soldier who was couldn’t be further from the truth. budget of a large family. killed during his military duty. This The Leichter family’s Gemach runs How long has the Gemach been enabled the Gemach to expand and in the most dignified manner. The in existence? continue. spacious room full of mirrors makes “My mother-in-law passed away Mushka, a daughter, describes: this Gemach seem like any shop. six years ago,” begins Mrs. Rina “At first we went from apartment The items are new and high quality Leichter. “On the day of her funeral, to apartment in the Kirya to collect garments in a selection of sizes and the younger children were going to donations of costumes. People gave colors, all pressed, organized and school in their Purim costumes. My us plenty, though much of it was hung neatly. It’s simply a pleasure to daughter, Shoshi Rosenberg, had the funny dresses or partially ripped use this Gemach, which services all idea of starting a costume Gemach

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costumes. We washed, fixed, ironed, We do our utmost to present the trying to get permission to store it and added trimming, and bought merchandise in the nicest, most on the roof of the apartment some new costumes. We arranged it dignified way. Each costume is hung building. The storage unit was a big all nicely and hung them on string in nicely on a separate hanger, along expense, but the continued success the living room. Some of it we with accessories. of the Gemach required it. The spread out on the couch. “We examine the costumes of living room is starting to become too “People loved it and everything previous years and spruce them up small for all our “merchandise” and was grabbed up. We charged only a so they look like new. We sort out the demand.” token fee, helping many families. and get rid of any unsuitable Do you have standards The children found it exciting to go costumes. The preschool teacher regarding the characters portrayed to the “Gemach store” and look across the way is very happy to get in the costumes? through the costumes, to try things our rejects for her dress-up corner.” “Of course. As religious Jews and on and leave satisfied. The happy It can’t be easy to store all Lubavitcher Chassidim, we ensure parents were thrilled with the those costumes for an entire year. that the design and theme are convenience of outfitting their “At first we packed them all into positive and in the proper spirit. We children without much effort or bags and suitcases and the married don’t use any of the not-kosher expense. sisters took them. We took apart the animal costumes, no matter how “From year to year we were able rolling racks and stands, and stuffed cute or popular they were. We have to expand the Gemach. We got whatever we could into the small no witches or other scary things. No donations from stores. Many were storage room. That became too super heroes. We are happy to offer costumes that were worn only once small to hold everything, and last lots of chicks, ducks, roosters, and so they were as good as new. We year we had to buy a plastic, even some cows and sheep. also buy new stock from time to modular unit to store it in. We keep “We are stocked with Kohanim time. it on the balcony for now, but we are G’dolim, kings, policemen and

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encouragement to take just one was neshama of a Jewish child!” ‘I don’t know what futile, as it was too hard for him to What are your rules? to do,’ she said. ‘I decide which to leave behind. The “We set a token fee of five mother finally took both and the shekels for each costume. We ask explained to him child left jubilant. that the costumes be returned in “Later on, the phone rang. It was reasonable condition (preferably that we have to the mother. ‘I don’t know what to washed). Of course there is the do,’ she said. ‘I explained to him inevitable wear and tear. The money return the that we have to return the costumes covers part of the expenses – to the Gemach when we’re done costumes that are bought and costumes to the with them and he cried! He was sure accessories that are ruined have to Gemach when we were keeping them. He has so be replaced. There are certainly no latched on to these two tzaddikim profits. we’re done with and he doesn’t want to give them “As time went on, we started up. Would you sell them to me for a asking for a deposit that is returned them and he token fee?’ when the costumes are returned on “We were touched by her story time. Unfortunately, people cried! He was sure and agreed on a price. That’s a sometimes need to be encouraged to we were keeping

them... THE CUSTOM OF DRESSING UP ON PURIM It is customary to dress up, especially children. Various reasons are soldiers. We have Moshe Rabbeinu, given for this custom: Dovid HaMelech, Shlomo 1-It is customary to dress up in the clothing of non-Jews. This is HaMelech, Yosef HaTzaddik and, of along the lines of what the Sages say, “ad d’lo yada” (until he doesn’t course, Mordechai HaYehudi. know). When people are in costume, you don’t know who is who and “For the girls there’s a selection maybe the person is really not Jewish. of white dresses that would put a 2-To show that even as Jews sin and appear like goyim, it’s just on bridal boutique to shame! We also the surface, i.e. that just as those who are dressed up appear like goyim have colorful dresses for the Queen but are actually G-d fearing Jews, so too, the Jews of that generation Esters and Shabbos queens, and a were G-d fearing Jews and only bowed down to the statue of variety of flowers, strawberries, Nevuchadnetzar on the outside. As Chazal say (Megilla 12a), the Spanish dancers, Chinese ladies, etc. students of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai asked him – why were the “Last year we gave each enemies of the Jews in that generation sentenced to annihilation? borrower an explanatory page about He turned the question back to them, and they offered, “Because the custom of dressing up on Purim they enjoyed the feast of that wicked one.” (see box). We take into He countered, “If so, only those in Shushan should have been consideration the needs of the girls sentenced to be killed. it was because they bowed to the statue.” and the requirements of tznius. We They asked, “Was Hashem showing favoritism by saving them?” have made it possible to turn a He answered, “They only did it for show; so too, Hashem only clown’s pants into a dress, and make made the decree for show.” sure that the royal ball gowns are 3-This custom is based on what it says in Chulin (139b). Where do modest. we see an allusion to Esther in the Torah? “And I will surely haster astir “One year, a woman who was – hide my face.” This is why people hide their face on Esther’s day. becoming religious came with her 4- The hatred of Amalek for the Jewish people comes from their son, who went to a Chabad school. ancestor Eisav, who hated Yaakov for wearing his clothes and getting He looked through the costumes and the brachos. Once again, we dress up in his clothes to show that this found a Moshe Rabbeinu and a wasn’t a sin. We are worthy of inheriting Eisav’s portion and being Rambam. The surprised mother blessed, even if Yaakov wears the clothing of Eisav suggested, “You’re better off taking 5-Because of the poor who are embarrassed to ask for tz’daka. a soldier or policeman costume,” but When they dress up and are unrecognizable, they can receive tz’daka he wanted the costumes of anonymously. tzaddikim, both of them. All

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return them. forgot to bring earlier) or who returned the bag (because “One time, a woman and her son came, all excited they changed their mind). Then there are those who about our advertisement for costumes for five shekels. make endless exchanges. In short, it’s work but it’s The soldier costume they picked was too large for the happy work.” child and we tried to suggest something else. ‘It’s When are you open for “business?” okay,’ said the mother. ‘It will be good for next “Usually, close to Adar, for two days at certain year too.’ Obviously, she didn’t understand hours. Unofficially though, people knock at the door that the costumes had to be returned!” all day and into the night. Who runs the Gemach? “During a leap year we can be open during the first “The responsibility is mine and my Adar and free ourselves up before Purim. But as long daughters’, and now the grandchildren join in as we still have costumes and families still want them, too. There’s a lot to do. The place has to be we try to be accommodating later on too. There are made ready, things put together, and every always children who come at the last minute in the detail checked – washing, fixing, ironing, hopes that they’ll find something. hanging, sorting and matching accessories. “Once, someone who came late was looking Then there’s advertising. Last year we for something original, and wasn’t excited by the printed colorful flyers and gave them out few clown and soldier costumes that were left. to the children in school so everyone Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. A would know the date and other details. father had come to return an unusual costume “In previous years, we were sorry to that did not fit his child. Sure enough, it hear that some people missed the flyer turned out to be perfect for the person who we posted near the grocery store. We was looking for a costume! tried to enable people to come and “Another time, a boy came when look through what was left in the only a few things were left. He looked hopes that one more person would around and exclaimed in amazement, walk out with what they wanted. ‘Wow, so many costumes!’” “When the Gemach opens, we How many costumes were have to deal with registration and borrowed [at the time of this collection of fees, and helping and interview] so far? guiding people to find the right As of now, 450 children have nice size. After the first influx of costumes. “customers,” we can breathe a little, organize what’s left, It’s a happy Gemach. The children and parents are and update the list of who sent money (because they excited and it’s worth all the effort.

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BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 685 29 685:Beis Moshiach 23/02/2009 8:22 AM Page 30

memoirs AND THEY JOURNEYED AND THEY ENCAMPED: LUBAVITCHER REFUGEES IN POST-WAR POLAND

By Rabbi Shneur Zalman Chanin

Palestine at that time. My parents and a group of Chassidim The European countries ended escaped Russia and arrived in Krakow, the war in May of 1945 with the Allies triumphing. However, more but the Russians were on to them… than a year later, the aftershocks of war continued to disrupt life in Europe, and chaos reigned. After a long break, the series Upon their arrival in Poland, my Many cities in central Europe about my father, R’ Chaikel Chanin parents as well as the other were hard hit and even destroyed resumes. Chassidim, benefited from the aid and some of the borders between In the previous installment I of the American Joint Distribution countries were completely wiped told how a group of Lubavitcher Committee, known as the Joint for off the map. In most of Eastern Chassidim, 46 people, including short. This included the Vaad Europe the Red Army ruled with my parents and my two sisters, HaHatzalah, the Jewish Agency, small countries swallowed up by arrived in Poland after crossing the Agudas Israel, and Mizrachi, who the Soviet Union. Western Europe Russian border illegally on collectively provided them with was controlled by the Americans Thursday, 21 Sivan, 1946. clothing, medication and doctors, and British who were joined by the In that installment, I mentioned and set up hostels, soup kitchens free French forces. Germany lost that because of the pogroms in and shuls. But the main help they its sovereignty and was divided into Kielce that took place a few days received came from the Bricha four zones: American, Russian, before they arrived, a wave of anti- movement that became their British, and French. France and Semitism broke out in eastern patrons from the moment they set Britain, who were considered super Poland which threatened to foot in Poland and until they powers until the war, were annihilate the Jews there. The reached safety. superseded by America and Russia. Russians controlled Poland at the In order to understand the A cold war ensued between the two time and threatened to apprehend Bricha movement, who directed it powers, one communist and one and deport them back to Russia but and what connection Lubavitchers democratic and capitalist. Their my parents, with this band of had with this movement, we need differences of opinion were the Chassidim, fled westward to save some historical background as well source of great tension and left themselves, like thousands of other as to familiarize ourselves with the Europe and the entire world with survivors of the Holocaust. political situation in Europe and in many unresolved questions.

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As for the human toll, over 35 leaving the horrors behind them. country to absorb them. million people, among them nearly They hoped to find some of their The British viewed Palestine as 20 million in Russia and 8 million loved ones or retrieve their an ideal location as far the British Germans, were killed in World War property. They were disappointed. monarchy’s interests were II. Over 10 million refugees of They discovered that their homes concerned. Palestine was a vital many nationalities were without a were destroyed or stolen and their transportation route to countries in roof over their heads and had no relatives and friends were gone. the British Empire that were in the source of livelihood. Among them Anti-Semitism was alive and Far East. They considered the oil were political prisoners, prisoners well throughout Europe and in wells a valuable commodity that of war, and forced laborers who Poland more than anywhere else. would provide them with a fortune. had been freed from detention Jews were attacked on the streets They did not view Jewish aliya camps, labor camps, extermination and trains. They were beaten and favorably and they feared that the camps and concentration camps. killed. In some parts of Poland more Jews that would enter One of the first goals of the there were even organized Palestine, the smaller their chances Allied armies was to return all pogroms. In the eleven months of being able to continue ruling those who had been uprooted to after the liberation of Poland, 351 that country. This is why they their homes. Indeed, most of the Jews were killed throughout the issued very few certificates, i.e. refugees had started making their country. permission to settle the land. way across Europe towards their In addition to the antipathy of countries of origin, from east to the British there was the hatred of west and from west to east. the Arabs. The Arabs, who were the However, there were also those majority of the population, did not refugees who did not want to want the Jews to rule the area and return, mainly those who did not push them out. They pressured the want to be under communist rule. British to forbid Jewish aliya and to These refugees were declared prevent Jews from buying property displaced (displaced from their in the Holy Land. homes) and they resided in special Britain’s excuse for not wanting DP camps that were set up by the Jewish aliya was that the land could Allies in former concentration not absorb more than this quota camps. and that the new immigrants were Most of these DP’s, Jews and liable to become a burden on the non-Jews, were concentrated in the residents of the land and would British zone in northern Germany push Jewish and Arab employees and in the American occupied zone out of their jobs. in southern Germany, and were Despite Britain’s callous sustained by the UNRWA (the In mourning and despair, with policies, the Jews of Palestine United Nations Relief and Works the cursed earth burning beneath joined the British in fighting the Agency). The DP’s lived in their feet, the Jews sought a way to Germans. They joined her Royal crowded conditions behind the get out. The only questions were: Majesty’s army in a special unit barbed wire of the former where to and how? called the Jewish Brigade. More concentration camps and under than 30,000 Palestinian Jews sub-standard nutritional and BRITISH POLICY volunteered to serve in the British sanitary conditions. Armed Forced, 734 of whom died Eretz Yisroel was affected As for the Jews, out of the 7 during the war. economically and politically by the million Jews who lived in Nazi- Therefore, after the war, the war. Palestine was under British occupied Europe, only one million Jews and leaders of the Jewish rule. Although the British had remained alive. Six million had settlement in Eretz Yisroel expected promised a national homeland for perished in the Holocaust. Out of Britain to change its White Paper the Jews, they continued their 3.5 million Jews in Poland, only policy and enable Jews to freely White Paper policy which stated one tenth survived. Some tried to make aliya. They hoped that after that Jewish aliya would be return to their homes and towns in the British had seen their loyalty, restricted by quotas and according the hope of starting life anew and and especially after the British had to the economic ability of the

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be protected from anti-Semitism accept this conclusion and claimed At the time, my and would experience much that Palestine could not serve as improved living conditions. the solution to the problem of DP’s father emphasized Altogether, 46 DP camps were set in Europe; rather, their problem the comparison up for 250,000 Jews. The Soviets, should be solved within the of course, refused to concede that European countries themselves. between the the plight of the Jewish refugees Bevin wanted to please the was different than that of other Americans but didn’t want to irk details of the refugees and displaced people in the Arabs. So he said that Britain the areas they occupied and did not and America should establish a Jewish flight from set up separate camps for Jews. joint investigative committee to Therefore, most Jews wanted to make recommendations to the two Egypt in Biblical reach the American occupied Zone nations about the best way to solve times and their in Germany or Austria. the problem of the DP’s and the Harrison’s report also problem of Palestine. He promised exodus from post- concluded that the only solution to he would follow the the plight of the Jews was their recommendations if they would be war Russia. emigration to Palestine, and that unanimous. Britain should grant 100,000 Bevin appointed Richard witnessed the Holocaust and the certificates. Britain’s new Foreign Crossman, one of his own to head suffering of the Jews of Europe, Secretary Bevin did not want to the Anglo-American Committee of they would agree to open the border to the survivors. However, the British AGAINST ZIONISM, IN FAVOR government ignored their pleas and OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION the gates of Eretz Yisroel remained locked. At the same time, even the G’dolei Yisroel, led by the Rebbe Rashab, opposed the Zionist DP camps that were set up to help movement and fought it since the Zionist ideal called for liberating the them conspired against them and Jewish people by establishing an autonomous country that would be run the suffering was unbearable. like any other country and against the statutes of the Torah and the spirit of authentic Judaism. An exception to this position was the Rebbe’s view of illegal SPECIAL CAMPS immigration, even though it was a Zionist movement. The Rebbe did FOR JEWS not only approve of the Aliya and Bricha movements and look favorably At first there were no special on their activities. He even spoke positively about it in public and camps for Jews, but in August blessed those who were involved with it with mesirus nefesh. At the 1945 after the death of Roosevelt same time, he wished and prophesied the downfall of the British. This and the ascension of Harry Truman is what the Rebbe Rayatz wrote to Rabbi Shlomo Yosef Zevin in Tishrei to the presidency, the condition of 1948: the Jews in Europe and Palestine In response to your question about the situation in Eretz Yisroel, changed. Truman gave Earl as I understand the content of your question – which you write only Harrison, formerly the United obliquely – there are two issues, the corrupt practices and the States Commissioner of distorted views of the British monarchy and the righteous deeds of Immigration and Naturalization, those who run the organization. and the then representative of his It is obvious and certain that the English Commissioner and with Government on the him all those who hold of his opinion and his work, will fall into the Intergovernmental Committee on nether depths of history with eternal shame, and blessings will be on Refugees, the task of inquiring into the head of our brethren who work on bringing our brothers to the problems and needs of the Eretz Yisroel, and the olim will succeed in all things. And may Jewish refugees among the Hashem arouse the heart of those involved in aliya and the hearts of displaced persons. the olim, to strengthen in the observance of Torah and mitzvos and Based on Harrison’s report, it may Hashem have mercy on us all and send us the righteous was decided to establish DP camps redeemer with kindness and mercy. exclusively for Jews so they would

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Inquiry into the Problems of European Jewry and refugees to the ports and get them on board the ships, Palestine. The committee’s report, submitted in April and then escort them to Palestine. The illegal 1946, included a recommendation for 100,000 Jewish immigration activities began in 1939 and continued “displaced persons” to be permitted to enter Palestine. until 1941 when it ceased. Crossman later said, “They [the Committee members] It actually started when groups of Jewish young had smelled the unique and unforgettable smell of men from the Katowicz area organized and fought the huddled and homeless humanity.” Germans, and succeeded in escaping for Eretz Yisroel. Immediately after Europe was liberated by the Allies, ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION the movement was joined by partisans and those who had fought in the ghettos who were mostly from youth On 13 Sivan 1946 Britain decided not to movements. Their goal was to leave cursed Europe implement the recommendations of the committee and escape. Most of them considered Eretz Yisroel enabling the displaced persons to enter Palestine. their final destination but when emissaries from Consequently, the heads of the Jewish Agency and Palestine, soldiers of the Jewish Brigade, Jews from the leaders of the Yishuv in Palestine resolved to fight American army, members of the Joint and Aliya Bet Britain and renew illegal immigration which had joined them, the organization became a full-fledged started before the war. Zionist movement. The branch of Hagana that dealt with illegal immigration was called the Mosad L’Aliya. Its function was to buy ships for this purpose, hire crews to ready LIKE THE EXODUS FROM EGYPT the ships for passengers and to sail the ships, to bring Returning to the tale of my parents 1946 escape to freedom, when their group (including R’ Nissan Nemenov and my uncle R’ Chaim Minkowitz) arrived in Poland, they immediately sent a telegram to the Rebbe Rayatz informing him about their whereabouts and asking for instructions about how to proceed. They yearned to see the Rebbe but as Chassidim, they were ready to do whatever he said. At the time, my father emphasized the comparison between the details of the Jewish flight from Egypt in Biblical times and their exodus from post-war Russia. About the Exodus we read (Shmos 14), “And it was told to the king of Egypt that the nation had fled … and he harnessed his chariot and he took his people with him … and he chased after the Jewish people …. And Egypt chased after them and caught up with them The train with refugees coming from Lvov, camped at the sea … and the Jewish people raised up on the border of Russia, to Krakow in Poland. their eyes and behold, Egypt was traveling after them and they were very frightened and the Jewish people cried out to Hashem … and Moshe said to the nation, do not be afraid, stand and see the salvation of Hashem that He will do for you today, for as you have seen Egypt today you will no longer see them again, forever … And Hashem said … tell the Jewish people to travel.” My father, mother and the group of Chassidim who went to Krakow, were in precisely the same situation. They had managed to sneak out of Russia but very soon, “and it was told (to the NKVD agents) that the nation had fled…” The Russians figured out that some groups of Chassidim, menaces to the Soviet regime, counter-revolutionaries, had slipped out between their The refugees crossing the border via routes arranged by the fingers. Bricha (those who smuggled Jews into Palestine) What did the enemy do? They sent telegrams to

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the secret police in Poland which and are in Lodz and a special Regarding my great friend, was under their influence, to catch blessing to (you) my friend for precious amongst men, R. M. D. the Chassidim. “And he chased his positive efforts to hurry and (Rabbi Mordechai Dubin), if after the Jewish people … and save them from there, and may there is a safe and quick way out Egypt chased after them and Hashem grant you material and to the nearest country, I agree. caught up with them camped at the spiritual success. May Hashem protect him and sea…” They chased after them and I asked my friend, R’ help him in all matters, material were about to catch them. Mishkovsky to convey my opinion and spiritual. “And the Jewish people raised to my friends the T’mimim and My father never mentioned the up their eyes and behold, Egypt Anash Lubavitch in Russia and instruction to travel to Paris at this was traveling after them and they stage, when they were still in were very frightened and the Jewish Krakow, but at a later point, when people cried out to Hashem…” “Blessings will be they were already in Germany. After the head of the k’hilla in It is possible that the instruction Krakow told them that the secret on the head of our did not reach them or that they police was on their trail and they were unable, due to time or other realized in what danger they were brethren who work reasons, to fulfill it immediately. It in, “because they are confused in is also possible that since the the land,” they were at a loss as to on bringing our official policies and conditions at what their next step should be. brothers to Eretz the borders changed constantly, the “Because the desert had closed in Rebbe’s instruction changed on them” – behind them were the Yisroel, and the accordingly. In a letter, the Rebbe Russians who wanted them sent mentions that he is sending an back to Russia. Before them were olim will succeed emissary from America to help the Poles, who hated the Jewish rescue them, referring to Rabbi people and wanted to drown them in all things. And Yisroel Jacobson, as I will mention in the sea of anti-Semitism. later in these memoirs. “And Moshe said to the nation, may Hashem On 26 Tamuz 1946 (apparently do not be afraid, stand and see the arouse the heart because of a change in the salvation of Hashem that He will situation regarding receiving entry do for you today, for as you have of those involved permits to various countries) the seen Egypt today you will no Rebbe wrote: longer see them again, forever … in aliya and the Inform them and all those who And Hashem said … tell the Jewish are trying to travel that they people to travel.” I don’t know for hearts of the olim, should travel to the places under sure when the Rebbe’s answer the jurisdiction of the US in arrived and whether my parents to strengthen in Germany and then they will be and the other Chassidim received it the observance of able to more easily, with while they were still in Krakow, Hashem’s help, get visas for the since they had fled before it would Torah and United States. be too late. However, I found a At every step they witnessed letter from the Rebbe dated 1 mitzvos.” Divine Providence, although not to Tamuz 1946 to R’ Binyamin Mintz, the extent of the Exodus. which was printed in Igros Kodesh Nonetheless, their belief in Hashem (vol. 9, p. 143) that shows it was a Poland, that they should try to go and the Rebbe (“and the nation clear instruction to them. This is to Paris; may Hashem grant them feared Hashem and they believed in what it says: material and spiritual success. At Hashem and in Moshe, His I was pleased to read your the earliest opportunity one of my servant”) and their yearning to letter of 19 Sivan about the friends, the rabbanim, will travel meet the Rebbe face to face gave farbrengen you held with my from here to Europe to participate them the strength and desire to precious, those close to my heart, together with (you) my friend and continue onwards. the T’mimim and Anash your colleagues to assist in Lubavitch who came from Russia rescuing them.

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purim story A STONE CRIES OUT

By Nosson Avrohom Translated By Michoel Leib Dobry For the Bakush family, the last few AGONIZING PAIN “After a few days, I began to feel months have evolved into a veritable intense, nagging, and unbearable pain in my back. At first, I thought Purim shpiel of Divine interventions, it was just an after-effect from the accident, and it would subside with thanks to the Rebbe’s help. time. However, as the pain became even more annoying, I decided to In a voice charged with emotion, didn’t know what to do. place an urgent call to our family Shlucha Mrs. Naomi Bakush of “I quickly called my husband physician, Dr. Matti Irlechtman. I Yishuv Beit E-l relates her amazing from the hospital and asked him to told him about the accident, and he story that began this Rosh HaShana write to the Rebbe MH”M via took this fact into consideration and just recently reached its happy ‘Igros Kodesh’ to request a bracha when he made his examination. His climax. “As I was lying in bed after and guidance. We were under final diagnosis literally made my all the pre-surgical examinations, I tremendous pressure. On one hand, heart jump. ‘This is not a pain promised myself that if G-d would the doctors were ordering us to stemming from any injuries you miraculously cure me in accordance stay, telling us a variety of medical received during the accident,’ he with the Rebbe Melech problems, pains (or worse) that explained. ‘You have a kidney HaMoshiach’s blessing I received might appear in the coming hours, stone.’ via the ‘Igros Kodesh,’ I would do but on the other hand, the children “I was in shock. It was quite everything in my power to publicize refused to consider the possibility unexpected. He went on to explain this miracle in every way that I can. of postponing or canceling their that I didn’t have to rush into an I am now fulfilling my promise” trip to the Rebbe for Yom Tov. operation, but should rather wait and see if the stone would pass *** “After a few minutes which naturally without medical “It all started a few days before seemed forever, my husband called us back and said that the Rebbe’s intervention. His words calmed me Rosh HaShana, as I was escorting down a bit and gave me some hope, three of my children to Lod Airport answer in Igros Kodesh dealt with a trip to ‘summer camp’, and the however, the pains continued and for their flight to New York to even intensified. spend Tishrei in 770 with the Rebbe explained the importance of making the trip. “Simchas Torah arrived in Beit Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach. We E-l. We usually participate in hired a van service for the occasion “We felt that the answer was clear, but in order to calm myself a Hakafos with the Sephardic but unfortunately, just thirty community, dancing joyfully minutes into the journey, we were bit from a mother’s natural fear and concern, I also called my mashpia. together with everyone. We did so involved in an accident and got sent this year as well, and the simcha to the nearest hospital. Thank G-d, After she also said that she had written to the Rebbe and had was simply boundless, but my we escaped with only minor injuries feelings of joy were cut short. – bumps, bruises, and the like – received an answer indicating that that they should make the journey, “Just a few minutes after we nevertheless, the hospital staff returned home and my husband stubbornly urged us to remain in we left the hospital encouraged and headed for the airport. We felt pains made Havdala, I felt that I couldn’t the ward for further observation. move any longer. The pains were My children saw the hands of the here and there, but we arrived at Lod in time, and the children made excruciating, and we went clock ticking, and envisioned the immediately to the Har HaTzofim plane leaving without them. They their flight just in the nick of time.”

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Hospital in Yerushalayim, where simply afraid. farbrengen, when everyone was they made an x-ray and confirmed “What didn’t I do during those wishing me good health, the what our family doctor had already days to avoid an operation? I tried participants made good resolutions determined: the source of the pains everything from Chinese and he asked for the Rebbe’s was a large kidney stone. They acupuncture to reflexology. I drank bracha via ‘Igros Kodesh’. The prescribed some medications and a variety of herbal teas designed to Rebbe’s clear and precise answer suggested that I continue with this soften the kidney stone and enable amazed him and all his friends. form of treatment through my local it to leave the body naturally, but When he called to tell me about this health clinic. I took their advice. nothing seemed to help. My clear and amazing answer, despite “A few days later, as the pains condition remained the same, while the fact that I regularly write to the once again became unbearable, I the pains just got worse. Rebbe, I was very excited and decided that I couldn’t take it “In the meantime, my children deeply moved. The answer received anymore and went straight to the returned to Eretz Yisroel, and appears in Vol. 22, pg. 259: Shaarei Tzedek Hospital in quickly came to the ward where I In response to his letter, in Yerushalayim. The doctors on call was hospitalized. In general, the which he writes about the state of did a CT exam and looked at me situation was not all that pleasant, his health and the opinion of the with eyes agape. They couldn’t and instead of dealing with the doctors: understand how I could have joyous and happy preparations for It is correct what he writes that remained in such a state. ‘A kidney my daughter’s wedding, I lay in a in many cases similar to his, and stone of this size,’ they explained, hospital bed, writhing in pain. perhaps even more serious, the ‘no longer has any chance of “The shliach who brought me a stone passes through proper passing naturally. You must have an ray of hope was our new son-in- treatment without an operation, operation to remove it.’ I was law, HaTamim Netanel Alon. When and the stated treatment includes hospitalized in the urological ward he heard about my medical hot baths and drinking in large for a few days, yet despite the condition, he made a farbrengen in quantities, but it is also customary intense pain, I rejected the advice of ‘Beis Chayeinu’ in my merit and for that the fluids include a quantity the doctors to have surgery. I was my recovery. At the climax of the of vegetative fats and the like, and

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it would be proper to ask the managed to get it moved up for a somewhat resentful, but also doctors about this. few days earlier. I was determined sympathetic. In the end, he agreed It’s not so clear from his letter to rid myself of these pains no to my request and I went in for the where the stone is located, for matter what it took, and after my CT exam. sometimes it can be reached efforts to solve the problem “After a few minutes, the doctor through an appropriate clamp to through alternative medicine had suddenly entered the room and said break it up, and then it will go failed to bear fruit, I decided to go to me, ‘Madam, you can go home. down much more easily. with the surgery option. While it There’s nothing for you to do here.’ May G-d Alm-ghty, the Healer was true that having surgery right At first, I didn’t understand what he of all flesh Who performs before the wedding in the midst of wanted from me. ‘What do you wonders, heal him through all the preparations was not a mean, I can go home?’ I asked in a appropriate treatment and a particularly inviting though, but bewildered tone. The doctor then proper doctor. faced with the physical pain that said matter-of-factly, ‘You have And surely there is no need to had turned my life into a horrific nothing; the stone has disappeared.’ elaborate that through the nightmare, I was left with no “‘How do you explain that?’ I increase in matters of Torah and alternative. asked him. mitzvos, in addition to what has “Still, the Rebbe’s clear and “‘I don’t explain it. This is been commanded, and also amazing answer continued to flash simply a medical miracle. Not so primarily to go higher in matters much because the stone came out – of holiness at all times, the The Rebbe’s that happens quite often, but when increase will add in G-d’s it passes, it is usually very painful, blessings, and it has been ruled. answer had given yet you felt nothing whatsoever. “As mentioned earlier, my son- That’s the miracle.’” in-law was quite excited by this me no rest, and answer and told me, ‘You have even though my “PUBLICIZING TO THE nothing to worry about. The Rebbe ENTIRE GENERATION” doesn’t disappoint.’ “In the meantime, I had left the request seemed a Shocked and deeply moved by hospital, and I made a copy of the bit ridiculous to the great miracle she had just letter, carrying it wherever I went. experienced, Mrs. Naomi Bakush “Incredibly, not long afterwards, the medical staff, left the hospital and promised we traveled to Yerushalayim to herself that she would do everything make further preparations for the I steadfastly she could to publicize this episode upcoming wedding. Late that to as many people as possible. afternoon, we stepped to ‘Heichel insisted upon it. In addition to her shlichus, Mrs. Menachem’ to daven Mincha, and I Bakush also serves as a teacher in saw a volume of ‘Igros Kodesh’ on in my mind, although I didn’t the Beit E-l school, and was already the table. Without saying a word, I actually know how to interpret it. back at work the following Sunday, casually opened the seifer, and “On Sunday, the day before the printing the letter that she had gasped at what I saw. It was the surgery was due to take place, I received from the Rebbe and exact same volume and opened to appeared at the hospital for a posting it in the faculty lounge so the exact same page that my son- preparatory check-up. After I went that all could see and hear about in-law had opened for me. I was through all the required the story. speechless. examinations, the final step before Several months have passed, and “Despite all this, the kidney going into the operating room, I so have the pains that accompanied stones continued to cause me great decided to ask the doctor to do one her for so long. Mrs. Bakush tells agony, and I decided that come more CT scan. The Rebbe’s answer about the tremendous effect that what may, I must make an had given me no rest, and even has taken place as a result of the appointment for an operation and though my request seemed a bit miracle story and its exposure. “As put an end to this, once and for ridiculous to the medical staff, I a result of this miracle, many all. The surgery was originally steadfastly insisted upon it. ‘I feel women I’ve met have written to the scheduled for two days before my better than I did yesterday,’ I said Rebbe and seen amazing answers daughter’s wedding, but I to the doctor. He looked at me for themselves.”

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moshiach light SHIR CHADASH THE NEW SONG

By C.D. Schwartz

We are all yearning for the achdus, deeds of goodness and they will sing praises to Hashem Geula. We can’t wait anymore! We kindness, tz’daka, and more. for miracles before they even occur, work, we learn, we pray, we do We need to do all these things, and with this greater level of faith chesed; another mitzva and another. yet perhaps not everyone is familiar we help to actually hasten the We are on the edge of our seats with the details of another activity Redemption. hoping the next deed will tip the which was blessed by the Rebbe Can you imagine! King scales, especially after the MHM, that will also hasten the Chizkiyahu had been on such a high excruciating korban in Bombay – we Geula.1 Women and girls, please level he’d had the potential to be cry in anguish, ad masai! We long to take note! We have a special ko’ach revealed as the Moshiach in his have everything we need in revealed to help bring the Redemption, in the generation, and yet because he blessings in ruchnius and gashmius: merit of a new and amazing level of praised Hashem after as opposed to Illness and death removed from the faith that we have the power to bring before the miracles, he and his world, all the nations united in into actuality. It is so easy yet so generation (and all of us) lost out on service and worship of Hashem, the powerful! Please read the following the complete Redemption! That is Beis HaMikdash, and all the other to learn how: mind boggling. We learn from this incredible blessings of the Geula. The Gemara in Sanhedrin 84a two major things. One is the power Most of all, we want Hashem’s relates that Hashem wanted to of gratitude and the importance of Kingship revealed for His sake, and appoint King Chizkiyahu as praising and thanking Hashem for His sake alone, that the Sh’china Moshiach. However, because he miracles, and in fact the Rebbe should no longer be in exile and all failed to praise Hashem for the two MHM encouraged us to publicize created beings should praise His miracles he experienced by being miracles for it hastens the Geula. Holy Name as One! That the yetzer saved from Sancheriv and by being The second lesson, and amazing should be taken away, and we will be healed from illness, he did not merit revelation, is that we can and in able to serve Hashem with a whole to redeem the Jewish nation. fact we should work on having a heart, fulfilling all the mitzvos in the The Shloh HaKadosh (on very high level of faith in Hashem, Torah with the highest love and awe Parshas B’Shalach, from the seifer so much so that we are certain He possible for our Holy Loving Father. Shnei Luchos HaBris) asks how this will redeem us and are confident We long to finally give all our heart, could be, as we see (Yeshayahu enough to thank and praise Him soul and might to Him without any 38:9) that Chizkiyahu did, in fact, for the miracles of the redemption, confusion, distractions or obstacles. sing in praise of Hashem. In answer, before they even occur! Baruch Hashem, we already have he explains that this praising was Led by Miriam the Prophetess, a clear list and guidance from the only after the miracles were the righteous women and girls in Rebbe MHM on a number of things wrought on King Chizkiyahu’s Egypt also displayed great faith in to do that hasten the Geula: The behalf. The Shloh HaKadosh Hashem, believing that HaKadosh quickest easiest route is to learn concludes with: “Sing to Hashem a Boruch would redeem them from about it in the sources (Rambam’s New Song” referring to the time of their slavery with miracles. They Hilchos Melachim) and in the Rebbe the Final Redemption. This song is expressed their faith by bringing MHM’s sichos and maamarim called “new” as it will be the first tambourines and drums with them explaining these subjects, accepting time that the Jewish nation will have into the desert when they left Egypt, The Rebbe’s malchus as Moshiach, had such great faith in Hashem that in anticipation of singing praises to

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Hashem for the miracles that they “TO GREET MOSHIACH” were sure they would experience. Inspired by the whole inyan of the New Song, my good friend and That was a very high level of faith. fellow shlucha, Noga Cohen, gave me a little maaser money and asked In fact, the Shloh HaKadosh me to make a tape of songs appropriate for tambourine parties. It was a teaches us that it was in the merit of tall order: Finish the tape in two weeks in time for Rosh Chodesh their great faith that we were Nissan for her tambourine party, and on a budget of only 250 shekels redeemed from Egypt, and that in a (about $60) no less! This was in Adar of 2003, under the threat of new similar fashion, the Final missiles landing on us from Iraq, and Erev Pesach to boot, when I had Redemption will be brought about in to squeeze in cleaning and recording! the merit of the even higher level of I opened Igrot Kodesh and received a blessing to do the project, faith of the righteous women and that it was really important and not to underestimate its importance girls in the generation of the Geula. (this was 6 years ago, so I apologize I couldn’t locate the exact letter in The Ari Zal wrote that the time for this publication). Hashem and the Rebbe MH”M really helped, generation that was redeemed from and above nature, all the areas where money was lacking were donated Egypt, the generation of the desert, (extra studio time, the printing of a beautiful color cover free, etc.). will be reincarnated in the time of The songs, recording, the Geula (Shaar HaGilgulim, cover design and printing Preface 20; Seifer HaLikutim Shmos were all done in a 3, 4) and we are in fact the ridiculous two weeks reincarnation of that generation. flat! Titled “To Greet Specifically now even greater faith is Moshiach” (Kabbalat expected of us to help hasten the P’nei Moshiach), the process. This singing and praising 250 promo tapes sold Hashem for the miracles, before they out in record time, with all occur, is now our wonderful requests for more to privilege. We are blessed to merit this day. Due to lack of singing this New Song now! time and funding, only The truth is, we have already four songs were on the witnessed so many miracles already tape. Our hope is to (like the Gulf War) associated with find another donor(s) the time of the Redemption, it really to be partners in re- doesn’t take such strenuous effort to issuing a new, more have a high level of faith. It just professional CD with takes learning and familiarizing more songs (possibly oneself with the prophecies and how with two separate recordings/CD’s, one with they have been and are still being male vocalists this time so everyone can hear the songs). fulfilled before our very eyes. One of the songs is a dynamic and inspiring instrumental orchestral Learning the sichos of the Rebbe piece composed by my husband/composer, Yisroel Ephraim Schwartz, MH”M from 5750-5753 is the well titled “To Greet The King” (Kabbalas HaMelech) and can be heard on to drink from and get inspired – ask his web site (in progress) at www.myspace.com/yisraelschwartz. This your local Chabad Shliach and/or piece was composed to provide kingly and inspiring music appropriate Rabbi to show you where and what to greet the Rebbe MH”M. Another song is called “Shir Chadash” with to learn. words from T’hillim 149, the next is “Hodu L’Hashem” about praising There are numerous T’hillim Hashem for the miracles of the original and our modern day Purim of (psalms) that refer to singing a the Gulf War, and the last is “The One Thing Left”, an original Yechi “New Song” in the time of the Adoneinu song. These last three songs are for women/girls only, and Redemption. There are also a until we are able to re-issue a new CD, I’m making them available number of explanations of why it is online for free (females only) – contact us at: [email protected] called the New Song [the M’Am and put a note you want the downloads of “To Greet Moshiach.” Those Lo’ez brings some down on Parshas interested in becoming partners to make a new CD may also contact us B’Shalach]. There are ten special at the same e-mail address. Divinely inspired songs throughout our history. Nine of these songs

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have already been sung throughout it works!) One of the last words or they can prepare like Miriam the the history of Am Yisroel, and commands from the Rebbe MH”M Prophetess and the righteous women recorded in our sources, Midrash was “B’rov shira v’zimra”. Surely we and girls of their generation. Have Zuta on Shir HaShirim: One by all understand that it takes a lot of an appropriate speaker give over this Adam, another by Avraham, at the work (joyful work!) and dedication information at the gathering, along parting of the sea – Az Yashir, at the to fulfill all the Rebbe MHM’s with the Rebbe MH”M’s prophecies Well – Ali Be’er, Moshe – Haazinu, directives, and many activities are about the Geula. (For help and Yehoshua – Shemesh B’Givon Dom, necessary. Yet this one simple guidance on how to organize a Devorah the Prophetess – Shiras activity has the tremendous power gathering, refer to the story on Devorah, King David, King Shlomo, of combined faith and simcha, and Shoshana Levy in the box.) Then go Shir LaOlam HaBa – the New Song. is one of the key things that propels ahead and sing, dance, praise and (Other opinions include Chana – us forward to the Geula Shleima. thank HaKadosh Baruch Hu for the perek bet Shmuel Aleph, Yehoshafat, What a simple and joyful way to help miracles of the Geula now, to help or King Chizkiyahu.) the process – with the greater bring the Geula Shleima into The New Song is this tenth song, power of faith, song and simcha, actuality! a song of faith, the highest level of which breaks all barriers, let’s Making gatherings is an excellent faith yet experienced or expressed, kindle our hearts and our hope and way to publicize and participate in specifically through the righteous sing this New Song! this inyan, and again we were women and girls of our generation. With the Rebbe MH”M’s bracha, blessed by the Rebbe MH”M to do It is termed “new” as the song women and girls have been so. But we do not need a special embodies this new level of faith organizing tambourine decorating gathering to sing the New Song. achieved only in the time of the parties with the intention of singing Many of us women do it by Redemption. What an incredibly the New Song, on a worldwide basis ourselves in our homes on a daily humbling and simultaneously for years already. Anyone could basis. After our morning, prayers we uplifting feeling to know about this organize these gatherings by simply pick up a tambourine and sing and and be able to participate! buying tambourines at toy or music dance, praising Hashem with the We are living in times with such stores, and provide decorations for T’hillim, other songs, or words from contradictory events – we are living them (special pens, glitter, beads) so our heart. We also include our girls through the Geula mamash, with so many encouraging signs, so many blessings spiritually and materially – and on this side we experience the PREPARING FOR GEULA WITH SIMPLE FAITH hope and joy. Yet at the same time Even before I had learned of the details of the New Song, I had we suffer the anguish of the birth heard of tambourine parties. I decided to organize one in my pangs of Moshiach: Our individual neighborhood, and asked a friend (Shoshana Levy of Bat Ayin) to help and collective suffering, of the Holy with the tambourine side of things, as she was experienced at putting Korbans of our soldiers and citizens on these gatherings for years. I called up a Rabbi for sources on this in Israel, and the latest devastating subject, so we could give over more information at the gathering. I was tragedy at the Chabad House in amazed at what the Rabbi shared from the commentaries of the Shloh Bombay – we are in anguish and cry HaKadosh, having had no idea how much more there was to learn out in our pain – ad masai (How about this inyan. long must we wait)?! I called up Shoshana all excited by the commentaries, and she The Rebbe MH”M explained to surprised me with an amazing fact of hashgacha pratis (Divine us that we can have such opposite Providence). She herself was very moved and inspired, as here she was, emotions simultaneously – the pain organizing tambourine parties for years with the idea of imitating on one side of our heart, the hope Miriam the Prophetess in preparing for the Geula with simple faith, and joy on the other.2 The Rebbe with no prior knowledge of the deeper meanings we had now just MH”M also brings down that we learned about the New Song and its importance in hastening the Geula, tried everything to bring the Geula, and by hashgacha pratis her husband is a descendent of the Shloh the only thing we didn’t try yet is HaKadosh! 3 simcha of the Geula. And the Shoshana is happy to give free advice on how to put together and run a Rebbe MH”M adds “Nasu tambourine party – she may be reached by regular phone at (02) 993-4097 (or V‘Yivachechu!” (Try it and you’ll see from America (972)-2-993-4097).

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(our boys can also participate – Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach at the our tambourines to bring the Geula. The encourage your whole family!) third Beis HaMikdash NOW! Rebbe MHM highlighted the fact that that the soul root of the Matriarchs is gathering together a few minutes in Web Sites: Music – especially check out the afternoon after school, and on even higher than that of the Patriarchs, the songs Ad Masai, Shabbos and Ata and every Geula in our history has Shabbos and Yom Tov. We also B’chartanu at always been brought about in the merit make sure to include singing Yechi www.broadjam.com/cdschwartz of the righteous women. Adoneinu Moreinu V’Rabbeinu (downloads available), Melech HaMoshiach L’olam Va’ed! www.myspace.com/cdschwartzmusic; and 2. This inyan is from the Zohar and written in the Tanya – Likkutei Amarim, May we all merit to greet the my comedy site (simcha breaks all barriers!) geared for the not yet affiliated end of chapter 34 and for those already frum – 3. The Rebbe MHM’s Sicha 5748, www.myspace.com/cdschwartzcomedy Parshas Tetzei – free translation: “We made a lot of ‘shturm’ to bring NOTES: Moshiach, decades went by and 1. From the Kuntres on Yud Shvat Moshiach Tzidkeinu didn’t come. The (5752), Parshas Bo and B’Shalach, free question is: What can we do that we translation and synopsis: The Rebbe haven’t done yet? What wasn’t done is stressed the special advantage/strength the right simcha to bring Moshiach... that women have to bring the Geula, and There was simcha of mitzva, but here we that it will be in the merit of the talk about pure simcha, avoda of simcha righteous women and girls that the towards the goal of the coming of Geula will come. He encouraged women Moshiach. And of course with this, they to take up tambourines and have will bring Moshiach b’poal mamash gatherings where we sing and dance with quickly, “Lo Ikvam Keheref Ayin” and “Adraba” “Yenasu V’Yivachechu!”

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