ב"ה Cheshvan 26, 5781 - Friday, November 13, 2020

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2 MOSAIC EXPRESS

ALIYAH SUMMARY

drink as well," would be the proper choice for . Immediately a young lady General Overview: In this week's Torah approached and in response to the servant's reading, , Sarah dies and request for a drink, she offered to give his THIS WEEK’S CLASS purchases the Cave of Machpela as camels to drink too. Upon questioning her, a burial plot for his wife. Abraham's servant he discovered that she was Abraham's great- RISING REAL-ESTATE: niece, Rebecca. travels to Aram to find a wife for Isaac. Isaac ABRAHAM’S marries Rebecca. Abraham dies. ACQUISITION OF THE Fourth Aliyah: Rebecca ran to tell her CAVE OF MACHPELAH First Aliyah: Sarah died at the age of 127, family about the man at the well, and her and her grieving husband Abraham identified brother, Laban, went out, greeted the A closer reading of a few unusual words in a plot in the city of Hebron that he wished to servant, and invited him to spend the night. Rashi's commentary resolves puzzling procure for use as a family burial ground. This The servant told Rebecca's family the questions in the narrative of Abraham's plot, a cave situated in the Machpela field, purpose of his mission to the city, and purchase of the Cave of Machpelah as a belonged to Ephron the Hittite, so Abraham recounted the heavenly sign that designated burial place for his wife Sarah. This novel approached the Hittite tribe and asked for Rebecca as his master's son's wife. insight affords a powerful message for our times permission to purchase the parcel of land. Rebecca's family agreed that the match was Originally Ephron wished to give the plot to divinely ordained, and consented to the View this class at themtc.com/tapestry Abraham as a gift, but after Abraham insisted proposed match. on paying full price the acquisition was concluded with Abraham paying 400 premium Fifth Aliyah: Rebecca's family silver coins. celebrates the engagement together with Abraham's servant. Next morning, the Second Aliyah: Having acquired the servant insisted on immediately returning to PARENTING POST land, Abraham buried Sarah in the Cave of his master with the maiden in hand, and Machpela. At this point, Abraham summoned after Rebecca agreed, the two set out for his servant and charged him with the mission Canaan. Isaac married Rebecca, loved her, By Sarah Chana Radcliffe of finding a suitable wife for his son Isaac. and finally found consolation for the loss of Abraham had his servant swear that he his mother. You can't do the same parenting in the would not take a wife for Isaac from the local second decade that you did in the first... Canaanite women. Instead, he asked him to Sixth Aliyah: Abraham remarried and Older kids as well as teens need more space to travel to Aram, his native land, and find a fathered several more children. Before his do things their own way. Parents, on the other wife for Isaac there. death, however, Abraham gave gifts to his hand, want to help their kids do things the best other children and sent them all away, and way, the safest way, the rightest way - THEIR Third Aliyah: The servant set out for his bequeathed all the rest of his possessions to way. They often suffer tremendous anxiety in master's homeland and evening time found Isaac. Abraham died at the age of 175, and letting go of the reigns. If you feel a strong need him beside the city well. He prayed for was buried by Isaac and in the cave success in his mission, and asked for a of Machpela beside his wife, Sarah. to give your older child lots of instructions, heavenly sign to confirm his choice of a girl remember this: he learned everything you had to for Isaac. He would ask a maiden for a drink Seventh Aliyah: Ishmael's progeny are offer in his first decade. You did a great job. of water, and the one who would answer: detailed in this section. Ishmael passed Now he needs to make some mistakes, find his "Certainly, and I'll also give your camels to away at the age of 137. ⬢ own solutions and become his own person. If you continue to treat him the same way you did when he was 5 (directing his every move), he SHARE THE LIGHT will either vehemently resist you (harming your relationship) or he will comply (and remain a Be Chanukah's ambassador and give a cool, MTC branded, Chanukah child forever). Your child needs your trust now Travel Kit to a friend, co-worker or family member who otherwise far more than he needs your minute-by-minute would not have the opportunity to fulfill this beautiful mitzvah. Kits include a Menorah, candles, dreidels, chocolate-gelt and the Mosaic supervision.⬢ Holiday Guide. Contact [email protected] to order your Kits.

MOSAIC EXPRESS 3

RABBI LORD JONATHAN SACKS, Z”L

By Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, Lubavitch.com

The global Chabad-Lubavitch movement mourns sweeping scholarship, moral wisdom, and elo- the passing, Shabbat morning, of the former quent oratorical skills, had a profound influence chief rabbi of Great Britain, Lord Jonathan on the larger Jewish community, and well be- (Yaakov Tzvi) Sacks. He was 72. His passing is yond it. a tragic loss that will be felt around the world. A student of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Rabbi Sacks was a rare luminary who, with his Sacks spoke often of how the Rebbe shaped his attitude to leadership and moral responsibility. Esteemed within the highest echelons of aca- demic, social, political and religious circles, Rabbi Sacks led with the courageous, moral voice of Torah Judaism, which will be greatly missed. Yehi Zichro Baruch. ⬢

*Advanced

MAKING G-D PERSONAL SUNDAY MORNING 8:30 - 9:15 in MTC and on Zoom at By Baila Olidort, Lubavitch.com themtc.com/zoom, Password 770 I had an hour and a half interview with Rabbi Jonathan Sacks in 2014.

As he responded to my questions, the editor in me marveled. His prose was poetry; there would be nothing to edit. There wasn’t. I asked him how a rabbi can make God personal to people.

Here’s what he said:

“My father had to leave school at fourteen and sell shmattes on Commercial Road, our equivalent of the Lower East Side in New York. They never had an education, but we saw from our parents how they loved Yiddishkeit; it made them walk taller.

“I don’t know if my father could even understand all the davening, but he knew who he was. And I had the biggest privilege in my life seeing him walk on crutches up the steps of the S. John’s Wood Shul to open the Ark at my induction as chief rabbi.

“And I thought: ‘Dad, I love you. You never had the education that I had, but you made sure I had the education you didn’t have. I hope I gave you a little pride, but I want you to know that I learned emunah [faith] from you. You taught me what it is to have a personal relationship with Hakadosh Baruch Hu.’

“And when you do that, you can communicate it to anyone, but first you have to feel it.”⬢ 4 MOSAIC EXPRESS

THE EMISSARIES

By Yanki Tauber, Chabad.org

What do you do if you have a vision, and are determined to see that vision implemented in the life of every man, woman and child on the face of the earth? Only you can make others see what you see, only you can communicate its urgency, only you can impart the motivation and empowerment to make it happen. But you are a single individual. How to bridge the miles, not to mention the cultural and psychological expanses, that separate you from them?

"From the time that I was a child attending cheder," the Lubavitcher Rebbe states in a letter he wrote on his 54th birthday in 1956, "and even earlier than that, there began to take form in my mind a vision of the future redemption: the redemption of Israel from its last exile, a redemption such as would explicate the suffering, the decrees and the massacres of galut."

The Redemption, of course, is not just the vision of a very exceptional child growing up in the pogrom-smitten city of Nikolayev in the first decade of the 20th century. The vision of a future world free of ignorance, suffering and strife — a world which embodies and exhibits the goodness and perfection of its Creator — is the subject of numerous biblical prophesies and the aspiration of a hundred generations of Jews. But no man in recent memory has made this vision the stuff and substance of his life, and has achieved so much towards its realization, as has the Rebbe.

Upon assuming the leadership of Chabad in 1950, the Rebbe set himself a goal: to reach every person on the face of the earth and inspire them to turn to the Torah as the guiding light by which to achieve personal and global redemption. To attain this goal, the Rebbe invented the shaliach.

—

Man is a creature of contradiction.

On the one hand, the human being is the most egotistical of G d's creations. Other life forms are content if their daily labor secures them food and shelter; we want to know "Are my talents being fully exploited?" and "Am I producing something VLNTRs operating The Family Store’s (Continued on page 6) Digital Pantry and getting more food to more people. Thefamilystore.org

MOSAIC EXPRESS 5

(Continued from page 5) of the Talmud, "A person's shaliach is as he prowess and personality. that is distinctly my own?" Other creatures toil himself." Never before in the history of our people has to survive and perpetuate their kind; we strive There exists a halachic model (the eved or one man built a following so large in number, also for recognition, fulfillment and "self "slave") for one who has abnegated his will, so diverse, so highly motivated, and so realization." personality and very identity to that of his successful in the furtherance of his vision. At On the other hand, we are constantly seeking "master." There also exists the model of the the core of this phenomenal success is a union and fusion with something greater than "employee" (sachir), who assumes the seemingly benign legal dynamic, first employed ourselves: a community of which we may be obligation to perform a certain task for more than 3,600 years ago when Abraham sent part, a personality or cause which we might someone else, but whose personality and Eliezer to find a wife for his son. submit to and serve. Deep within us resides a identity remain separate and distinct from the — craving for self-abnegation — a desire to shed personality and identity of his "employer." The the trappings of the ego and be absorbed shaliach is unique in that he or she retains a This weekend, the Chabad-Lubavitch within the universal and the divine. great degree of autonomy in carrying out his community in New York is hosting the annual mission, yet at the same time becomes a virtual conference of the Rebbe's sheluchim. Employers, political leaders and military extension of the person who commissioned him Thousands of the Rebbe's emissaries will commanders — anyone who needs to motivate (the meshaleiach). gather virtually to share experiences and ideas, other people to do his or her bidding — usually discuss their commonalities and differences, enlist one or the other of these human traits. The shaliach does not abnegate his intellect, and rededicate themselves to their mission. An employer might, for example, encourage will, desires, feelings, talents and personal creativity, initiative and the attainment of "style" to that of the one whom he represents; The urgency of the Rebbe's vision has never "personal best" in the workplace. Or, he might rather, he enlists them in the fulfillment of his been more acute. Our hurting world needs him take an opposite approach, placing the mission. The result of this in not a lesser bond more than ever. Yet in a certain sense, he is emphasis on teamwork and company loyalty, between the two, but the contrary: the here more than ever, a tactual presence in the thereby tapping his employees' instinctive meshaleiach is acting through the whole of the thousands of lives imbued with his passion and striving for an identity which transcends the shaliach — not only through the shaliach's compassion, his wisdom and commitment.⬢ personal. physical actions, but also through the shaliach's personality, which has become an extension of Each approach has its drawbacks and the meshaleiach's personality. limitations. For while each cultivates one of the DOSE OF INSPIRATION above basic human qualities, it also runs The Rebbe took the halachic concept of contrary to the other, no less fundamental shelichut and transformed it into a calling and a property of the human soul. way of life. In the five decades of his ENTER YOUR DAY leadership, he recruited, trained, motivated and And then there is the approach of the shaliach. commissioned thousands of men, women and By Tzvi Freeman, Chabad.org children to act as his personal representatives — and emissaries in hundreds of communities “And Abraham was elderly, come into Shaliach — the word means "agent" and throughout the world. days.” (Genesis 24:1) "emissary" — is a halachic (Torah-legal) term Intrinsic to the role of shaliach is the challenge Abraham, we are told, was not just for a person empowered by someone else to to bring one's own initiative, resourcefulness act in his stead. The shaliach first appears in elderly, but “come into days.” Meaning, he and creativity to the task. The Rebbe did not the Torah in the person of Eliezer, whom had entered into his days, every one of allow his sheluchim the luxury of mindless Abraham commissioned to find a wife for his them. obedience to his dictates. Instead, he insisted son, Isaac. Rebecca was selected and that Chabad's programs and activities arise Whatever it was he needed to do, whether betrothed as a wife for Isaac by Eliezer — she from the particular strengths and inclinations of was legally Isaac's wife without her actual to teach wisdom or to graze sheep, to the shaliach and the particular needs and husband having ever set eyes on her or having throw himself into fire or to feed hungry circumstances of his locality. exchanged a single word with her. In the words strangers, to command or to obey, to love But neither did the Rebbe send his emissaries or to fight—in every act of life he invested to tackle their mission on their own. He his entire being. empowered them to be "as he himself," so that a shaliach's every deed is imbued And so he owned every day of his life. His with the awareness that he is acting as life was his.⬢ an extension of the Rebbe's very person; that his thoughts and feelings, choices and deliberations, efforts and AND FINALLY... satisfactions, while the product of his own prowess and personality, are now I’ve decided to sell my vacuum cleaner this serving as extensions of the Rebbe's week… It’s just collecting dust.⬢

6 MOSAIC EXPRESS ב“ה

For this week’s episode ערב שבת פרשת חיי שרה, כ׳׳ו חשון, תשפ״א ISSUE of Living Torah, 409 Erev Shabbat Parshat Chayei Sarah, November 13, 2020 visit 70years.com HERE’S my THE PRINCIPAL WHO STORY DIDN’T WANT TO GO Generously TO SCHOOL sponsored by the MRS. SHANA TIECHTEL

y parents — Rabbi Meir and Sima Itkin — were part Mof a group of Lubavitch chasidim who escaped the Soviet Union after World War Two and came to the United States at the direction of the Previous Rebbe. As our family awaited permission to immigrate, we stayed in Paris. I was a baby at the time, but I remember the story being told of the visit by the Previous Rebbe’s son-in-law — Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the future Rebbe — who came to escort his mother to America. You can imagine the excitement of the refugees at his arrival, with everyone rushing to meet him. My father told me later that Rabbi Schneerson realized the need of the chasidim to connect with the Rebbe through him, and so he took the most personal thing that each person owns — his name — and spoke about it. To my father he said, “Your name, Meir, comes from ohr meaning extension of 770, and I grew up around many legendary light. You will light up the world.” This short conversation chasidim, listening to the stories that they had to tell. set the stage for my father’s lifelong attachment and devotion to the future Rebbe. An incident that made a lasting impression upon me occurred when I was thirteen. I was about to enter high To both my father and my mother, the Rebbe was school and I wanted to go to Beis Yaakov where my older everything. He epitomized the philosophy they believed in, sister had gone. But as luck would have it, Chabad had the values they held dear, and most importantly, the love recently opened a new high school for girls, Beth Rivkah, that united all Jews. And whatever he said — or even hinted and my father said that I had to go there. at — was of utmost importance to them; they followed his directives to the letter. I objected. I said I didn’t want to go to a school that was just beginning to establish itself; I didn’t want to be So it was no accident that they bought the house at 760 experimented on. So my father said — as I could have Eastern Parkway, as close as one could possibly get to the predicted — “Write to the Rebbe. Whatever he says you Rebbe’s headquarters at 770. My father had considered will do.” another property at first, not on the main street but a few blocks away where other religious families lived, but the I wrote a letter to the Rebbe and delivered it without first Rebbe asked him, “Don’t you like me as your neighbor?” So showing it to my parents. I explained to him why I didn’t that was that. want to go to Beth Rivkah, and I used the expression, “I don’t want to be a guinea pig.” Definitely not the right Because of our location, we had a steady stream of visitors. choice of words. We never knew how many people would drop by on a given Shabbat following prayers while they awaited the start of But the Rebbe knew just how to answer me — a teenager the Rebbe’s farbrengen. In a sense, our home became an who wanted to conquer the world, to be special, to be continued on reverse

Marking 70 years from the anniversary of the Rebbe’s leadership, each week, JEM will be focusing on one event, idea or personality in the Rebbe’s life.

[email protected] | myencounterblog.com | © Copyright, Jewish Educational Media, 2020 continued from reverse unique. And he did it so simply. He crossed out “guinea The stand-off was resolved some months later when my pig” and he wrote “pioneer.” father had an audience with the Rebbe on the occasion of his birthday. “My daughter thinks that the Rebbe gave her Of course, I wanted to be a pioneer. I’d climb a mountain, permission to go to Israel with stops in Europe,” my father I’d ford a river, I’d do anything! He appealed to my sense began. of independence and pride. And of course, I went to Beth Rivkah. “She didn’t go yet?” was the Rebbe’s response. After I graduated, I wanted to do something very special. That ended all objections. I was allowed to go, and I went, I wanted to be a journalist because I loved to write. With spending quite a bit of time in Israel. I badly needed to my parents’ approval, I applied to Columbia University, was make this trip, as the Rebbe understood so well. accepted, and even won a Regents’ Scholarship. And I was very excited to go. Upon return, I continued to teach at Beth Rivkah and then I met my future husband. Although I felt that we were very Then the phone rang. It was Rabbi Mordechai Hodakov, the compatible, one concern caused me to hesitate before Rebbe’s secretary, asking my father to come meet with him. committing to a future together. I feared that the cultural My father went and was told, “We hear that your daughter divide between us was too great. I quoted Robert Frost and wants to go to university. We don’t think it is the right thing he quoted Yehuda Halevi. I grew up in America and he in for her to do right now.” My father’s immediate response Israel. was: “No problem.” Of course, to him it was no problem; to me it was a big problem. Naturally, I wrote about it to Rebbe. And the Rebbe — as busy as he was with his countless responsibilities When my father came home and said, “You’re not going — understood me once more. He answered my concerns to university,” I was devastated. This was my dream. I was about marrying an Israeli with a rhetorical question, “But going to become a famous journalist who made a major weren’t you in Israel already?” difference in the world. Now I had no hope; I had no future. I do believe that when the Rebbe approved my trip back However, I did as I was told and enrolled in the Beth Rivkah then — when it wasn’t normal for an eighteen-year-old girl Teachers’ Seminary, feeling that all my hopes and dreams to go traveling the world alone — he foresaw that it would and aspirations were going down the drain. be a pivotal factor in my life. And, indeed, it was. My visit to Israel made all the difference. But, again, the Rebbe knew what was best for me, which is not to say that the Rebbe ignored my teenage angst at Looking back, I am amazed at the Rebbe’s sensitivity, his the time. caring, his love, and I am so grateful that he guided my life. ______That he understood my need to expand my horizons was For more than thirty years, Mrs. Shana Tiechtel has served as demonstrated a short while later, when I proposed taking principal of the Beth Rivkah High School. She was interviewed in a trip to Israel with stops in Europe to visit some of the famous cultural centers there. I had a private audience with April of 2015. the Rebbe around Purim, prior to which I submitted a long letter pouring out my frustrations and unhappiness. “If I can’t go to university and become a famous journalist,” I This week in…. wrote, “then at least I want to travel and see the world.” לע“נ ר‘ ישראל יעקב וזוגתו מרת קריינא ע“ה לאקשין The Rebbe actually approved of my travel plan, which was delayed until the following summer because I had to earn > 5722 - 1961, as refugees fleeing the Algerian War the money to pay for it. This I did by teaching in the Beth migrated to France, the Rebbe sent a letter to Rabbi Rivkah elementary school, an experience I enjoyed. At the Nissan Nemenov of the Chabad yeshivah in Brunoy, time, I did not foresee that I would end up happily spending the rest of my life at Beth Rivkah and eventually becoming France. The influx is steadily growing, the Rebbe principal of the school. wrote, and among them are many young Jews whom the Chabad yeshivah must be prepared to I was busy saving up money and looking forward to my trip, absorb.1 27 Cheshvan when a new wrench was thrown into my plan. My father would not agree to it. “An eighteen-year-old girl traveling 1. Igrot Kodesh vol. 22 page 30 through Europe by herself? That’s unheard of. You must have misunderstood the Rebbe.” While we have done our utmost to authenticate these stories, they reflect the listener’s recollection and interpretation of the Rebbe’s words.

Supported by members of לזכות הרה׳׳ח ר׳ עקיבא גרשון בן רחל בתי׳ שיחי׳ לבריאות ונחת והצלחה עד בלי די ואתה תצוה… להעלות נר תמיד

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LA SIDRA DE LA SEMAINE

CHABBAT PARCHAT ‘HAYÉ SARAH 13 NOVEMBRE 2020 26 ’HECHVAN 5781

VIVRE AVEC LA PARACHA

‘HAYÉ SARAH etc. », six fils. Si l’on observe le déroulement ‘ maintenant que je suis à un âge avancé, le des événements, il apparaît clairement que désir de mon cœur serait-il exaucé ? Mon mari Sarah meurt à l’âge de 127 ans et est enterrée cela se produisit immédiatement après le est vieux !’ » dans la grotte de Ma’hpélah à ‘Hévron mariage d’Its’hak et de Rivkah. qu’Avraham a achetée à Ephron le Hittite pour L’étonnement et la méfiance de Sarah quatre cents chékels d’argent. Au début de la Paracha Toledot (que nous s’appuyaient sur son âge mais également sur lirons la semaine prochaine) il est rapporté l’âge avancé d’Avraham. Plus tard, quand Le serviteur d’Avraham, Eliézer, est envoyé à qu’Its’hak avait 40 ans lorsqu’il épousa Rivkah Its’hak vit le jour, dans sa louange à D.ieu, elle ‘Haran, chargé de cadeaux, pour trouver une et Rachi fait les calculs suivants : déclara à nouveau : « Voici, j’ai donné femme pour Its’hak. Au puits du village, Eliézer naissance à un fils dans son vieil âge. » En demande à D.ieu un signe : quand les jeunes « Car lorsqu’Avraham revint du Mont Moriah, il d’autres termes, il apparaît donc qu’un miracle filles arriveront au puits, il demandera de l’eau apprit que Rivkah était née. Its’hak avait 37 extraordinaire s’était produit pour qu’Avraham pour boire. Celle qui proposera d’abreuver ans, puisqu’à l’époque où Sarah mourut, et puisse engendrer un enfant à 100 ans. également ses chameaux sera celle qui est depuis la naissance d’Its’hak jusqu’à la Akéda destinée au fils de son maître. (le sacrifice d’Its’hak), date à laquelle Sarah Et maintenant, comme en passant, la Torah mourut, il y avait 37 ans. En effet, elle avait 90 indique que quarante ans plus tard, alors qu’il Rivkah, la fille de Bethouel, neveu d’Avraham, ans à sa naissance et elle mourut à 127 ans… est âgé de 140 ans, Avraham engendre six fils apparaît au puits et réussit le « test ». Eliézer Its’hak avait donc bien 37 ans. A cette époque, et nulle mention n’est faite de l’aspect est invité dans sa maison où il relate à naquit Rivkah et il attendit jusqu’à ce qu’elle surnaturel de la situation ! nouveau les événements du jour. Rivkah soit apte au mariage : trois ans, et il l’épousa. » revient avec Eliézer en terre de Canaan où ils Si malgré cette ellipse, nous estimons que ce rencontrent Its’hak, priant dans un champ. Avraham avait 100 ans à la naissance d’Its’hak fut miraculeux, Its’hak épouse Rivkah, l’aime et est consolé de donc à présent, il avait 140 ans. Et pourtant, la  Pourquoi la Torah ne présente-t-elle pas la perte de sa mère. Torah relate qu’à cet âge, il engendra six fils et il n’est nullement fait mention du miracle que cet événement comme tel ? Avraham prend une nouvelle épouse, Ketoura cela représentait ! () et engendre six autres fils mais Its’hak  Quel était le but de ce miracle ? En effet, est désigné comme son seul héritier. Avraham A la naissance d’Its’hak, il avait donc 100 ans, si Its’hak devait être la « semence » meurt à l’âge de 175 ans et est enterré, à côté et cet événement avait été considéré comme d’Avraham, D.ieu devait faire un miracle de Sarah, par ses deux fils aînés, Its’hak et extrêmement miraculeux. pour permettre sa naissance. Mais ses fils Ichmaël. de Ketoura seront renvoyés, pour ne pas Lorsque l’ange avait annoncé la bonne qu’ils nuisent à Its’hak. D’où viendrait LES SIX DERNIERS FILS D’AVRAHAM nouvelle : « Je reviendrai vers toi, à cette donc la nécessité d’un événement période, l’an prochain, et ta femme Sarah, aura surnaturel pour qu’ils viennent au Vers la fin de la Paracha, la Torah déclare : « un fils », Sarah ne pouvait croire que cela monde ? Avraham se maria avec une autre femme dont puisse arriver : « Sarah rit en elle-même et dit : le nom était Ketoura. Elle lui donna Zimran, Et ce qui est encore plus mystérieux tient au

MOSAIC EXPRESS 9

LE RECIT DE LA SEMAINE

funéraire se met en marche. Le ministre de l’intérieur, le défunt Shimon Peres, décide d’interdire l’inhumation et dépêche des soldats pour l’empêcher. Exprimant leur sollicitude pour la mère éplorée, les soldats se dressent C’était le 28 Adar 1975. Rav Barou’h Nachshon Barou’h et Sarah avaient décidé de braver néanmoins devant le convoi pour qu’il n’avance et son épouse Sarah mirent au monde un petit toutes ces mesures et, poussés par un pas plus loin. C’est alors que Sarah prend le garçon. Barou’h est un peintre reconnu dont les idéalisme inébranlable, de procéder à la Brit corps de son fils dans les bras et s’avance, tableaux ornent des milliers de maisons juives Mila de leur fils dans l’enceinte même du déterminée : interloqués devant sa démarche, de par le monde et se reconnaissent facilement Caveau des patriarches : après tout, Avraham les soldats s’écartent. Les Arabes massés par leur aspect poétique teintés d’une vision n’avait-il pas été le premier à pratiquer la devant le cimetière s’étaient déjà réjouis à biblique et même messianique. Barou’h et circoncision ? Ce fut une cérémonie pratiquée l’idée d’assister à des émeutes entre Juifs… Sarah sont parmi les premiers résidents de la presque de façon clandestine, avec juste la Averti par téléphone, le ministre finit par ville des patriarches, ‘Hévron, la ville reprise présence d’un petit Minyan de dix hommes : s’incliner. On procède à l’inhumation et Sarah par les forces israéliennes lors de la guerre que depuis plus de 700 ans, les différents déclare : « Il y a des milliers d’années, Avraham lui avaient imposée les pays arabes voisins, en occupants musulmans avaient interdit de telles a acquis au prix fort la caverne de Ma’hpéla à coalisant plus d’un million de soldats contre le pratiques et ce bébé fut donc le premier Juif à ‘Hévron pour enterrer son épouse Sarah. Et moi, jeune état juif : celle qu’on appela « La Guerre être circoncis sur place. Ses parents Sarah, je viens enterrer mon fils Avraham et des Six Jours ». l’appelèrent Avraham - Yedidiah, d’après ainsi acquérir - cette fois pour le peuple juif Avraham notre père qui fut « Yedid - Yah, le tout entier et pour l’éternité - ce terrain sacré ! ‘Hévron est une ville très spéciale, une des premier ami de D.ieu ». ». premières villes mentionnées dans la Bible : c’est le premier terrain que notre patriarche Malheureusement, ce bébé ne vécut que C’était il y a 45 ans. Avraham acheta pour une somme considérable quatre mois. afin d’y enterrer son épouse Sarah, l’ancêtre du Cette année, le 22 Tamouz, la famille Nachshon peuple juif. C’est aussi un des premiers Sarah sa mère décide qu’il sera aussi le s’est rendue comme chaque année au cimetière endroits où des Juifs s’installèrent quand des premier Juif enterré dans l’ancien cimetière de de ‘Hévron pour les prières traditionnelles et le ‘Hassidim décidèrent de monter en Terre Sainte la ville, celui qui a été largement profané Kaddich. Et, de là, tous se sont rendus à la au 18ème puis au 19ème siècle. En 1929, un durant l’occupation jordanienne (1948 - 1967). Caverne de Ma’hpéla pour procéder à la Brit terrible pogrome y avait éclaté, plus de 60 Juifs Les derniers défunts juifs enterrés là, dans une Mila d’un nouveau petit-fils, le fils de leur fille de tous les âges y avaient été massacrés sous fosse commune, furent les victimes du Hadass et de son mari Chmouel ! Grâce à la le regard des occupants anglais censés faire pogrome de 1929. Même cet endroit fut détermination de Barou’h et Sarah Nachshon, régner l’ordre entre les communautés transformé en champ agricole et les pierres de nombreuses Brit Milot se sont tenues depuis religieuses. Jusqu’en juin 1967, aucun Juif tombales avaient été utilisées sans vergogne à ‘Hévron. Les seules restrictions sont n’avait plus habité dans cette ville sainte. pour les habitations arabes… Comme le maintenant celles dues au corona. Bizarrement, la reconquête israélienne n’avait constate amèrement le Talmud : « Tu as tué et pas été suivie d’effets immédiats, très peu de même hérité… ». En attendant, les autorités Et le nouveau-né s’appelle… Mena’hem Juifs avaient été autorisés à acheter des israéliennes n’avaient pas osé restaurer cet Mendel. terrains ou même à se réapproprier les maisons ancien cimetière et surtout, avaient interdit « De même qu’il est entré dans l’alliance, pillées par les assassins de leurs grands- toute inhumation juive sur place. puisse-t-il arriver à l’âge de la Bar Mitsva, du parents… Même le tombeau des patriarches Mais Sarah Nachshon, elle, était décidée : son mariage et des bonnes actions ! ». était resté sous l’autorité des religieux arabes fils avait été le premier Juif circoncis depuis si et les heures d’ouverture aux Juifs étaient Am Israël ‘Hay ! Le peuple juif vit ! longtemps dans la ville, il serait aussi le ⬢ strictement limitées. premier qui serait enterré dans l’ancien Traduit par Feiga Lubecki cimetière. Le 22 Tamouz 1975, le convoi

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(Continued from page 9) A la naissance d’Its’hak, la Torah rapporte les allaiter de nombreux bébés : un miracle fait que Rachi ne s’arrête pas à ces questions paroles de Sarah : « D.ieu m’a donné le rire. Et surabondant ! Dès lors, nous pouvons et ne propose aucun commentaire. celui qui entendra cela rira de moi. » également expliquer que ce miracle prouva également la paternité d’Avraham. Nous savons que lorsque Rachi se tait, cela Rachi élabore : tient soit au fait qu’il n’y a pas de paradoxe La naissance d’Its’hak fut un miracle si grand, « … De nombreuses femmes stériles furent dans le texte, qui est littéral et lisible, ou bien se répercutant dans tout l’univers, que tous rappelées (exaucées) en même temps qu’elle, qu’il s’appuie sur un commentaire précédent ceux qui en avaient conscience durent se de nombreux malades furent guéris en ce jour, pour éclairer la difficulté présente. rendre à l’évidence : il n’avait pu s’accomplir de nombreuses prières furent satisfaites avec que de manière convenable, que si Avraham Apportons donc un éclairage à ces questions. les siennes et il y eut une grande réjouissance était réellement le père. dans le monde. » A propos de la naissance d’Its’hak, l’élève de En fait, pour contrer les « moqueurs » de la cinq ans (à qui s’adresse a priori Rachi) a déjà Le miracle de la naissance d’Its’hak génération, niant la paternité d’Avraham, « appris que d’autres miracles furent associés à s’accompagna de nombreux événements D.ieu façonna les traits de visage d’Its’hak ce miracle principal. La naissance d’Its’hak se surnaturels dans le monde (non des miracles (pour qu’ils soient) identiques à ceux produisit alors qu’Avraham et Sarah étaient supplémentaires mais un miracle de portée d’Avraham, ce qui attestait donc bien âgés et après de nombreuses années de universelle.) qu’Avraham engendra Its’hak. » stérilité. Il y eut un autre miracle, nécessaire Il va sans dire que pour Sarah elle-même, le pour montrer au monde qu’il était bien vrai que miracle fut d’une telle intensité qu’elle put (Suite a la page 12) Sarah avait enfanté Its’hak. Il est ainsi exprimé dans la Torah : « Sarah avait allaité des enfants », verset que Rachi commente :

« Quelle est l’importance du mot ‘enfants’, au pluriel ? Le jour du festin, les princesses apportèrent leur nourrisson avec elles et Sarah LE COIN DE LA HALACHA les allaita. Car ces femmes avaient dit : ‘Sarah n’a pas donné naissance à un fils ; elle l’a apporté à la maison après l’avoir trouvé dans la rue’. » EST-ON OBLIGÉ DE PARTICIPER AUX ENTERREMENTS SI ON NE CONNAÎT NI LE DÉFUNT NI SA FAMILLE ? Cela soulève un nouveau paradoxe. Pour montrer que Sarah avait bel et bien donné naissance à Its’hak, il eut été suffisant de voir C’est une Mitsva positive où se trouve un défunt), on cache les qu’elle l’allaitait, lui. Le lait maternel ne vient (MideRabbanane) d’assister à un Tsitsit. Pendant la procession, on récite le qu’après une naissance ! Pourquoi était-il enterrement juif si la procession passe Tehilim (Psaume) 91 (avec les deux nécessaire qu’elle ait tant de lait pour pouvoir près de chez soi. versets qui le précèdent) et la prière Ana allaiter les bébés de ces princesses ? Be’hoa’h. Pour une femme, on récite aussi On marchera au moins quatre Amot le chapitre 31 de Michlé (Proverbes - En outre, le fait d’allaiter ne prouvait que le (environ 1,20 mètre) derrière le convoi Echet ‘Hayil, la femme de valeur). fait que Sarah avait enfanté mais ce n’était (et non devant) et on attendra sur place pas une preuve de la paternité d’Avraham ! jusqu’à ce que le convoi se soit On évite les conversations futiles qui suffisamment éloigné pour qu’on ne le constituent un manque de respect pour le Et bien que l’élève de cinq ans n’ait pas encore voit plus. On peut alors reprendre ses défunt. Il est bon de donner la Tsedaka entendu parler de l’accusation des « moqueurs » de l’époque qui faisaient courir la rumeur que activités. pendant l’enterrement en faisant circuler une boîte parmi les participants. On veille l’enfant était le fils d’Avimélè’h (qui avait La Mitsva consiste à le suivre si possible à la séparation entre hommes et femmes, enlevé Sarah), il l’apprendrait bientôt, quand il jusqu’au cimetière. étudierait la Paracha suivante : Toledot. par respect, tout au long de la cérémonie On s’efforcera d’assurer la présence d’un et surtout au moment de la dispersion. Il nous faut donc résoudre cette problématique. Minyan (dix Juifs âgés de plus de treize En quittant le cimetière, on se lave les La combinaison de ces deux questions lève le ans). Dans le cimetière (et dans la pièce mains rituellement sans bénédiction.⬢ mystère.

MOSAIC EXPRESS 11

EDITORIAL

DONC, ÇA RECONFINE… ETINCELLES DE MACHIAH

Et oui, il fallait s’y attendre : la période de d’une telle vision. Elle signifie que rien ne liberté que nous avons vécue connaît peut jamais porter atteinte à notre liberté LA VOIX ET LES MAINS sinon un terme du moins une pause. Le essentielle et que tout ce qui nous limite Le texte de la Torah (Gen. 27 : 22) enseigne : confinement est de retour, même sous une n’a de prise que sur notre corps, jamais au- « La voix est celle de Jacob et les mains sont forme allégée. Certes, chacun espère que delà de lui. celles d’Esaü ». Sachant que Jacob cela sera de courte durée mais nous Bien sûr, nous vivons un temps bien savons tous que rien n’est sûr à ce stade. représente le peuple juif et que Esaü est différent de celui de Rabbi Yossef Its’hak et C’est alors comme une sorte d’angoisse l’ancêtre de l’empire romain, les Sages ce n’est pas de contraintes politiques que qui peut monter, cela ne s’arrêtera-t-il donnent à cette phrase un sens plus profond. nous sommes aujourd’hui victimes. donc jamais ? Et comment vivre de façon Quand on entend la « voix de Jacob », celle Cependant, la limitation de la liberté d’aller satisfaisante, c’est-à-dire humaine, avec de la Torah, disent-ils, alors les « mains et de venir, de nous rendre là où nous le toutes les limitations que la santé et la d’Esaü », sa force matérielle, n’ont aucun désirons, même pour des sujets spirituels logique imposent ? pouvoir. Mais, quand la voix de la Torah importants, évoque une situation du même s’affaiblit, les mains d’Esaü peuvent Une anecdote célèbre du précédent Rabbi type. Ainsi nous pouvons nous inscrire dans l’emporter. de Loubavitch, Rabbi Yossef Its’hak, les pas de Rabbi Yossef Its’hak, nous s’impose ici à l’esprit. L’histoire est inspirer de lui, de son attitude et de sa Cette idée se concrétisa à l’époque de la connue : il fut arrêté par le pouvoir force : notre âme est libre. C’est dire que, destruction du Temple. C’est ce que dit le communiste à l’époque de Staline, jugé et même en ces jours de confinement, nous prophète Jérémie : « Pourquoi la Terre a-t- condamné à mort avant que sa peine soit pouvons continuer notre œuvre de elle été perdue ? Car ils ont abandonné Ma commuée en relégation à l’intérieur de la libération, personnelle et collective. Nous Torah ». En notre temps, par l’étude Russie. Sans nous attacher aux pouvons porter en nous cette liberté renforcée de la Torah, nous pouvons donc circonstances précises de ces parfaite et l’exprimer. Nous ne pouvons pas, annuler la cause de l’exil et ainsi amener la événements, on constate qu’elles se de manière générale, nous éloigner Délivrance.⬢ caractérisent par des limitations imposées beaucoup ? Par notre âme, nous pouvons et par la privation de toute liberté. nous transporter où nous le voulons. C’est Pourtant, avant de partir pour cet exil dont alors que le lien avec D.ieu montre sa nul ne sait s’il en reviendra, le Rabbi fait vigueur, que l’étude peut nous emporter une déclaration qui éclairera longtemps haut et loin. N’hésitons pas : ce temps de toutes les mémoires : « Seul notre corps a confinement peut être le temps d’une été envoyé en exil, notre âme reste liberté nouvelle. Profitons-en, à nous toujours libre. » Il faut mesurer la grandeur d’effectuer cette transformation !⬢

(Continuer de la page 11) d’Avraham, alors qu’il avait 140 ans, n’est pas qui concerne Avraham, le miracle de la fertilité Cela nous permet, en dernier ressort, considérée comme un nouveau miracle. était si puissant qu’à 140 ans, il put encore d’expliquer pourquoi la naissance des six fils Puisque le miracle de la naissance d’Its’hak engendrer six fils !⬢ avait affecté tout l’univers, il est clair qu’en ce

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