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CONCEIVING NEW LIFE 4 D’var Malchus | Sichos In English

MOSHIACH: VICTORY AT ALL COSTS 6 Thought | Zvi Homnick

FUNDING THE ’S EXODUS 10 Memoirs | Rabbi Schneur Zalman Chanin

WE CAN DO IT - WITH THE REBBE’S 16 KO’ACH! Moshiach & Geula | Rabbi Boaz Kali

‘MY SOUL IS BOUND WITH HIS SOUL’ 22 2 Iyar | N. Sofer USA 744 Eastern Parkway , NY 11213-3409 Tel: (718) 778-8000 Fax: (718) 778-0800 LOST ORPHANS RETURN TO LUBAVITCH [email protected] 26 www.beismoshiach.org [CONT.] EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Feature | Shneur Zalman Berger M.M. Hendel ENGLISH EDITOR: SHLICHUS STORIES Boruch Merkur Shlichus | Rabbi Yaakov Shmuelevitz HEBREW EDITOR: 29 Rabbi Sholom Yaakov Chazan [email protected]

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In an ultimate sense, the fruit of the seeds will be the Redemption, the era when the G-dliness invested CONCEIVING in the world through the Divine service of the Jewish people for thousands of years will flourish in overt revelation. [9] This will remake the nature of NEW LIFE our existence, allowing us to appreciate the inner Divine core within all being. Since the world itself will Sichos In English become conscious of its G-dly nature, this redemption will never THE DEEPEST INTIMACY term translated as “conceives” be followed by exile. For G-dliness One of the analogies used to means “gives seed.” will never become concealed again. describe the relationship between This term also is of metaphoric G-d and the Jewish people is the significance. For a seed is planted in the THE WONDER bonds of love between a man and a OF CONCEPTION woman. [1] earth; there its shell must On the human level, this decompose entirely. Only then is it Our Sages [10] interpret the relationship is multidimensional, possible for it to become a medium expression “When a woman including the deepest levels of to express the infinite growth conceives” as implying that it is she intimacy. potential contained within the who initiates the intensification of Similarly, with regard to the earth. the love relationship. spiritual counterpart, the love This motif applies for our Similarly, in the analogue, the between the Jews and G-d is not people as a whole, and for every implication is that man does not languid in nature, but rather a individual. merely respond to G-d. Instead, dynamic union. “The Holy One, Our lives are also earthy; they he penetrates to the core of his Blessed be He, and Israel are one” center around material entities. being and summons up the inner [2] - joined in an ardent bond, for Even with regard to our Divine energy to heighten his connection which the prophet [3] finds service, it is the actual observance with G-d. appropriate the simile, “Your of the mitzvos, not the meditation On this basis, we can Maker is your mate.” or feelings they arouse, which is of understand why the verse Moreover, on the mortal plane, primary importance. highlights the importance of physical intimacy is more than a Yes, “G-d desires the heart.” [5] conception. connection between the man and But if one would meditate on the Although, at birth, new life is the woman; new life is conceived. Shma all morning with love and brought into the world, the fetus [4] fear and not actually recite the already exists. It is at conception Similarly with regard to the words, or one would be inspired when that life is brought into bond between G-d and the Jewish with heartfelt compassion for a existence, this being the closest people, the relationship is not self- poor person, but would fail to example in our lives to creation contained; it propagates vitality. actually give him charity, one’s something from nothing. [11] Divine service would be tellingly Chassidic thought [12] inadequate. For “deed is what is explains that the potential to PLANTING SEEDS most essential.” [6] create something from nothing lies The opening verse of our And thus mitzvos are referred to in G-d’s essence alone. reading alludes to this concept, as “seeds,” as it is written, [7] Since He is not, Heaven forbid, stating: “When a woman conceives “Sow for yourselves for charity.” dependent on any other cause, He and gives birth.” The “woman” [8] has it within His potential to create refers to the Jewish people who For every is an infusion something - material existence - bring new life into the world at of Divine-energy into our material out of absolute naught, without this large. world, which when cultivated will something having any cause More particularly, tazria, the blossom and bear fruit. preceding it.

4 2 Iyar 5770 BEIS MOSHIACH G-d has imparted His essence the sake of retribution, but rather which states that all marital relations to man, and thus the core of every to absolve a person’s sin and enable create new souls. soul is “an actual part of G-d.” him to correct his inner faults. [19] If a couple are found worthy, the [13] Tzaraas clearly expresses this creation of a soul is also associated As such, man also has the power principle. with the conception of new life in the of creation, but in reverse. Because a person created strife material realm. He lives in this material world, and friction between others, he 5. Cf. 106b. Note ’s and makes “nothing from becomes afflicted with tzaraas, and commentary. See also the association something,” revealing the G-dly as a result, is required to stay alone, of this verse with the teachings of the potential that exists within Himself outside his ordinary habitat. [20] Tov. and his environment. Only when he has cleansed the 6. Cf. Avos 1:17. This is the power of conception influence of friction from himself it 7. Hoshia 10:12. Note the reference to possessed by “the woman,” is possible for his body to be this verse in the commentary of the Or mankind. become purified from its malady HaChayim cited previously. Through the expression of this and for him to rejoin society. 8. Here too, there is a connection with potential, we become G-d’s Thus tzaraas is not a negative the analogy of birth for our Sages say “partner in creation,” [14] factor, but rather a Divine (Rashi beginning of Parshas Noach): fashioning the world into a instrument intended to prod an “The progeny of the righteous are dwelling for Him. [15] individual to personal refinement good deeds.” and to encourage the spread of 9. See also the commentary of the Or LIFE AND DEATH peace and love within our world. HaChayim mentioned previously. As such, it is an extension of the Tazria which underscores the 10. Nidda 31a, cited in the theme of Tazria which focuses on theme of conception is the name of commentary of the Or HaChayim our efforts to improve ourselves the entire Torah reading and thus is mentioned previously. and our environment. connected not only to the opening 11. See the series of Tzaraas is employed as an passages, but to the reading in its entitled Samach Tisamach, 5657. analogy [21] to describe the status entirety. 12. See , Igeres HaKodesh, of our people in the present age, for This presents a difficulty, for Epistle 20. we are in exile - “alone, with our although the beginning passages dwelling outside of the camp.” [22] 13. Tanya, ch. 2. speak about birth, the main body of As explained above, our Divine 14. Shabbos 119b. the Torah reading concerns itself service centers on Tazria, sowing with tzaraas, a bodily affliction 15. Cf. Tanchuma, Parshas seeds of G-dly influence through identified with leprosy. B’Haalos’cha, sec. 3. our observance of the mitzvos. Tzaraas is the very opposite of 16. Nedarim 64b. See the commentary And soon, we will reap the new life. of the Maharsha in his Chiddushei harvests of these efforts with the Indeed, our Sages state [16] Agados. coming of Moshiach. May this be in that a person afflicted with tzaraas 17. , the conclusion of the immediate future. is considered as if he is dead. What Hilchos Tzaraas. Adapted from : Vol. I, p. place does such a subject have in a 236ff; Vol. VII, p. 78-79; Vol. XII, p. 70ff; Vol. 18. Therefore, in the present age, Torah reading associated with new XXII, when the spiritual level of the Jewish p. 70ff; Seifer HaSichos 5749, p. 379ff; people has descended, they are not fit life? Seifer HaSichos 5751, p. 490ff This difficulty can be resolved for such Divine wonders to be openly on the basis of two concepts: revealed in their flesh. Hence, the NOTES: phenomenon of tzaraas is no longer Firstly, tzaraas is not merely a 1. See the commentaries to the Song present (Likkutei Torah, VaYikra 22b). physical malady, it is, to quote the of Songs. Rambam: [17] “beyond the natural 19. See Brachos 5a. Note also Kuzari, pattern of the world... a Divine sign 2. III, 73a. Discourse II, ch. 44. and a wonder [18] for the Jewish 3. Isaiah 54:5. Note the connection 20. Erchin 16b, Rashi, commenting on people to warn them against between this verse and the opening of Leviticus 13:46. speaking Lashon HaRa (gossip and our Torah reading in the commentary 21. VaYikra Rabba, the conclusion of slander).” of the Or HaChayim. sec. 17. Secondly, all the punishments 4. See the commentary of the Or 22. Leviticus 13:46. prescribed by the Torah, are not for HaChayim mentioned previously

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 737 5 thought MOSHIACH: VICTORY AT ALL COSTS

By Rabbi Zvi Homnick

was the youngest son of the Why leave doubts and questions that Tzemach Tzedek, and that the can only be resolved over the long run of movement had divided into a number of groups led by the history, and even then not to the different brothers, the largest being centered in under the satisfaction of all? Why should two leadership of the eldest of the sons to become a Rebbe at their father’s bachurim be talking over a behest (the actual firstborn, Reb Boruch Shalom, the Rebbe’s direct hundred years later about whether the ancestor, declined any leadership Rebbe Maharash was the proper role). This son passed on shortly after his father, and in turn, was successor of the Tzemach Tzedek? And succeeded by his son known as the Magen Avos, who claimed that he what does all of that have to do with my had a direct tradition that Chassidus was only meant to last own personal service, beyond knowing for a hundred and fifty years. In fact, during the early years of the that there is only one Rebbe? leadership of the Rebbe Maharash in Lubavitch, he had the smallest My friend’s mother was one of PERSONAL VICTORY following with most of his followers three sisters, two of whom married Memory oftentimes works in being the more simple folk. prominent Lubavitcher Chassidim. strange ways. Oddly enough, I have The underlying premise of our As someone with close relatives in a very clear memory of a conversation was that it is possible the movement, who had been raised conversation that took place over to be opposed to latter day in an environment opposed to twenty-five years ago with a friend Lubavitch while professing undying , and as one of the few of mine on the subject of Lubavitch. respect for its early leaders, and people that in their high school I can picture exactly where we were although I may have on occasion years did not attend secular studies standing (in a Beis Midrash that said things that were derogatory of classes, he had used the extra time has long since been torn down to the entire Chassidic movement as a available to him to read up on build a much larger one), when he whole, for the most part I saw various Jewish topics that were not informed me of the details of the myself as someone who did respect part of the classroom curricula. transition following the passing of its progenitors while bemoaning One of those topics was the history the Tzemach Tzedek. That was (somewhat insincerely) its of the Chabad-Lubavitch probably the first time I heard any unfortunate decline. This of course, movement. substantive information regarding was in contrast to the Lithuanian In that discussion, he informed the Rebbe Maharash and the other yeshiva movement (along with its me of the fact that the Maharash sons of the Tzemach Tzedek. greats) that was enjoying an

6 2 Iyar 5770 BEIS MOSHIACH unprecedented renaissance during close to him in the town of hod and yesod are the inner engine the postwar years, in America and Lubavitch? (Although the Rebbe in that drives the implementation of a abroad. a talk on Rosh HaShana 5752 – given course of action, which is In retrospect, the memory of Sichos Kodesh 5752 p. 11 – brought to fruition by malchus, that interchange does little for me indicates that the Tzemach Tzedek through thought, speech and except perhaps to make me feel a saw to install him during his action. little stupid (and grateful that I lifetime, it was not readily apparent In the world of the military, overcame that stupidity), but back then). Perhaps this story is there is a clear divide between the perhaps it was what planted the meant to shed light on that decision making echelons and the seed for what would later become a question. The Tzemach Tzedek was fighting men. The study of military particular fascination and curiosity saying that despite his youth, he strategy and planning, the regarding the Rebbe Maharash. embodied “tiferes of tiferes,” and as emotional struggles and turmoil What we know about him and his such would “do well” in the face of involved in the gut-wrenching life comes from the talks and “tests” and challenges to his decision making process are diaries of the Rebbe Rayatz, which absolute leadership. This was borne exclusively the domain of the the Rebbe himself compiled into a out by history as the other branches civilian and military leaders. In fact, small book in 1947, and that of Chabad faded into oblivion. military rules generally prohibit the material actually leaves one with Although it is a fine insight, it soldiers from discussing their more of a sense of puzzlement in still begs the question, why set it up personal opinions or feelings about the face of an enigmatic personality in such a way to begin with? Why any combat assignments or than any sense of clarity. leave that generation and campaigns. The soldier is expected subsequent generations with doubts to marshal his emotional energies HISTORICAL VICTORY and questions that can only be only towards getting the job done, resolved over the long run of and this is primarily through The entry for the 2nd of Iyar in history, and even then not to the channeling his netzach, the emotion the says as follows: satisfaction of all? Why should two that when fully aroused manifests My grandfather (the Rebbe yeshiva bachurim be talking over a as absolute determination to Maharash) was born on this day in hundred years later about whether achieve victory at all costs, along 5593 (1833). When he was seven the Rebbe Maharash was the proper with his hod that allows him to years old he was once tested on his successor of the Tzemach Tzedek? submit and commit to the necessary studies by his father, the Tzemach And what does all of that have to do steps and actions needed to further Tzedek. My grandfather did so well with my own personal service, the cause and attain the ultimate that his teacher became so excited beyond knowing that there is only goal. that he couldn’t restrain himself one Rebbe, which is certainly not Wars often end up being long and said to the Tzemach Tzedek, explicit in the story? drawn out affairs. For all of the “Ha, what do you say, he did soldier’s inner drive for victory, well?” The Tzemach Tzedek there are times that he finds himself answered him, “What is all the MILITARY VICTORY struggling simply to hold the line excitement about when tiferes of In most human endeavors there and survive, in order to live and tiferes (corresponding to the is a decision making process fight another day. In addition there seventeenth day of s’firas ha’omer) followed by an implementation are losses and setbacks, tragedies does well?” process. That is why the emotional and heartbreaks, which all serve to I once heard a Chassidic makeup of the person includes sap the drive and determination explanation as to what we could “decision” emotions and needed to pursue a protracted possibly learn from this story. Since “implementation” emotions. Love, military course. For that we have it is a Chassidic precept that there fear and compassion, and the the attribute of yesod to provide the is only one Rebbe, how does this related expressions of , g’vura resolve and perseverance to staying comport with the conduct of the and tiferes, are the feelings that the course. It is only when victory Tzemach Tzedek who placed all of provide the inclination one way or is finally in sight and the focus is on his sons in leadership roles, another as to how we relate and achieving the final objective and specifying in his will that they all be respond to any given matter. bringing about the cessation of equal in terms of inheritance, and Determination, devotion and hostilities that the soldier, whose only singled out the Rebbe committed attachment, along with entire existence is one of Maharash in that he had him live the related expressions of netzach, submission to his leader, to his

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 737 7 Tzedek, all represented divine We must remain focused on our final revelations that reflect the will and objective and pursue it at all costs, but desire, the mindset and decision making that go into the ultimate in the end it is really only about actually military campaign of the “Armies of G-d” for world conquest. As such, getting there, “tiferes of tiferes.” That is they are known as the Avos of Chassidus, and are almost the message and battle cry of universally respected and accepted to some degree, and it was during l’chat’chilla aribber. the reign of the Tzemach Tzedek that most opposition to Chassidus superiors, to his cause, must sources indicate that Moshiach faded. actually adopt the mission as his himself must face challenges to his The Rebbe Maharash who very own and awaken within leadership all the way until the final corresponds to the divine attribute himself the capacity to take charge objective is achieved with the of netzach (see Sicha Simchas and show initiative, his malchus. recapture and resettlement of Eretz Torah Day Meal 5745, Seifer When King Shaul set out to do Yisroel, the destruction of Amalek, HaSichos Rayatz), represents the battle with Amalek, he led the and the rebuilding of the Beis beginning of the final people to complete victory in the HaMikdash. This is because implementation stage. His military sense. However, he fell netzach, which means both victory anointment took place in secret and short of the final objective to and eternity, is only fully realized faced many competitive challenges. obliterate every last vestige of when victory is complete and Much like Dovid, he attracted a Amalek by leaving their king and everlasting. Only then, will the small number of some of the their livestock alive. Because of this, malchus of Dovid that is rooted in greatest Chassidic minds and the continuation of his kingdom netzach be fully accepted without characters of the time, but most of was taken from him, and Dovid was challenge for all eternity. “Victory his following were the more simple anointed king and promised the at all costs” makes for a fine and Chassidim. Those very same simple kingdom for all eternity, stirring slogan, but ultimately Chassidim who exemplified the very culminating with Moshiach who means less than nothing unless reason that the Alter Rebbe chose descends from his line. When Shaul victory is finally achieved. as his base of operations asked Shmuel if there was a chance Early Jewish history can be when the disciples of the that his loss of the kingdom be broken down into two general Mezritcher divided Eastern given reconsideration, the answer periods, the period from the Avos, , which was that they make was, “The Eternal One (Netzach) of the Patriarchs, through the exile the best soldiers. And like the Yisroel will not lie and will not and exodus from Egypt and the kingdom of the House of Dovid, relent, for He is not a man (lo giving of the Torah, until the Jews the full validation of his leadership adam) to relent.” Chassidus entered the Holy Land, which laid and that of his subsequent heirs to explains this to mean that the the groundwork for the actual job the throne will only take place after malchus of the House of Dovid is of conquering the world for the final victory with the coming of rooted in the divine attribute of holiness, and the period following Moshiach. netzach, which in turn is rooted in their entry into Eretz Yisroel until the divine Essence which is infinite today. The second period did not and transcends all the see the Jewish people fully FINAL VICTORY anthropomorphic manifestations of established until Dovid was There is a well-known aphorism divinity (lo adam). anointed king and his son Shlomo of the Rebbe Maharash that the Although Dovid was promised built the Beis HaMikdash. Rebbe repeated on more occasions the kingdom for all eternity, his Similarly, Chassidic history than one would care to count, “The anointment was held in secret and reflects these two stages, the world says that if you can’t go his leadership was challenged from “planning stage” and the under, go over. And I say you the very beginning and came under “implementation stage.” The Baal should initially go over (in , repeated attack throughout his Shem Tov and the Mezritcher l’chat’chilla aribber).” The fact that lifetime. This continued in Maggid, the Alter Rebbe, the the Rebbe repeated and explicated subsequent generations and many Mitteler Rebbe and the Tzemach this saying numerous times is

8 2 Iyar 5770 BEIS MOSHIACH somewhat mystifying. Yes, it seems about getting caught up in the local have that, then from the perspective like a sound piece of advice (and struggles and small victories that of malchus as rooted in netzach many secular sources have adopted happen along the way, or even rooted in the divine Essence, and adapted this idea), and yes, it is winning the entire battle and just everything we did until now is for important to know that spiritually leaving one little old king and a few naught. this means that we are given the heads of cattle. It is about “What else can I do so that all power to transcend most obstacles remaining focused on your final sons of Israel will raise a tumult rather than wrestling endlessly with objective and pursuing it at all and cry out for real, and they will them, but still, it seems a bit out of costs, but in the end it is really only accomplish bringing Moshiach in proportion. about actually getting there, “tiferes actuality...the only thing I can do However, when we look at the of tiferes.” That is the message and is give it over to you: do role of our generation, the battle cry of l’chat’chilla aribber. everything in your power...to generation of malchus, which In that context, the talk of the actually bring our righteous stands at the verge of complete 28th of Nissan 5751, a few short Moshiach, immediately and victory, and as such, requires that days before the 2nd of Iyar is not a literally NOW!” each and every one of us take the mystery at all. In fact, the Rebbe Positive comments and constructive initiative to capture and rehabilitate was pretty much stating the criticism welcome: [email protected] ever expanding territorial and obvious. He just did it a little more population areas, it begins to make forcefully than usual. At this stage [Correction: Issue #735; The Jewish a little more sense. We, of all of the game, we need the initiative people did not cross the Jordan River on the sixth of Nissan. On the seventh people, cannot afford to get caught and stubbornness, built on the of Nissan, they finished mourning up in the process of warfare, the desire to reach the final objective Moshe Rabbeinu and Yehoshua sent the individual struggles and obstacles, and the complete rejection of the two spies, and on the tenth of Nissan, which can cause us to lose sight of possibility of having this drag on they miraculously crossed the river.] the final objective. Netzach is not even one more day. If we don’t EEsstthheerr’’ss PPaarrttyy GGrriillll 463 Albany Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11213 718-735-4343 CATERING ON OR OFF THE PREMISES CORPORATE ACCOUNTS WELCOME. SHLUCHIM; SPECIAL RATES FOR SAVE MONEY SHABBATONS & PARTIES COME SEE TODAY!! OUR BRAND NEW SUSHI BAR Get a FREE analysis on your credit Card Processing! OPEN FOR IN HOUSE DINING Call Today 888-468-3256 x 2770 TAKE OUT & CATERING Better rates guaranteed – If we can’t save you money we will pay you $100 For a limited time – get your CC Terminal or software set up absolutely FREE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE It’s a matter of ONE minute and ONE fax. BEIS DIN CROWN HEIGHTS

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BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 737 9 memoirs FUNDING THE REBBES EXODUS

By Rabbi Schneur Zalman Chanin Translated by Menachem Har Zvi

“We decided that it was emigration was impossible. Letters organized and great awakening for imperative to send four thousand and telegrams with the call of SOS this matter. They shall raise the dollars immediately. However, the were sent abroad, in particular to the appropriate funds from their Kramer brothers asked in chassidim in the . relatives [Chabad chassidim and astonishment, ‘How will we come On the 21st of the son- admirers in the U.S.]. The money up with such a large sum?’” in-law of the Rebbe, R. Shmaryahu raised shall be sent either to you or This chapter relates the details Gurary, sent a telegram to R. Shraga to R. Mordechai [Dubin]. of R. Yisroel’s efforts to help the Faivish Zalmanov in Warsaw. And in America? Rebbe leave Russia, his journeys You will surely write to his sons Rabbi Jacobson writes in his from the United States to visit the [the chassidim], R. Eliyahu memoirs, “The news of the Rebbe’s Rebbe in Europe, the great [Simpson] and R. Yisroel imprisonment arrived rather late.” kiruvim - affection which he [Jacobson], requesting that they Nevertheless both the Jewish and the received from the Rebbe, and a extend the appropriate efforts. The secular press gave the news ample great lie, created out of half-truths, aid of his relatives, may they be coverage. which caused a storm. well [the funds raised in the USA] In addition, Jacobson and It was Tammuz of 1927. The shall be sent to you and to his Simpson received the letters of R. Rebbe Rayatz, although recently cousin R. Mordechai, son of R. Chatche Fagen and R. Yakov freed from jail, remained forbidden Zalman Dov [Dubin] . . . You Zuravitzer and consequently to return to his hometown of must quickly notify your brother convened with anash to discuss the Leningrad. Consequently he settled R.B.S. [R. Boruch Shalom Kahn], means to provide aid. Sam Kramer, in Molochovka, a small village father of Folek [Kahn], situation a prominent attorney, traveled to outside of Moscow. The GPU permitting. Washington to apply diplomatic authorities, enraged that their Your brother Ben Menachem pressure on the Soviet Union with authority was overridden by Soviet [the Rashag, son of R. Menachem the help of Republican Senator officials because of the Rebbe’s Mendel Gurary]. William Borah of Idaho. Yet only a release, sought any pretext by which The following day the Rashag minimal amount of funds was raised. to implicate the Jewish leader. sent an additional telegram to There was a reason for the The situation was grave. After Zalmanov: lukewarm response. Overall, great efforts the Chassid and activist We must encourage HaRav American Jewry was not overly R. Mordechai Dubin, obtained for HaGaon R. Menachem Mendel alarmed by the Rebbe’s arrest. Even the Rebbe an exit visa from Russia Leib [Lokshin], R. Eliyah those who did lend help failed to and an entry visa to Latvia. [Simpson], and R. Yisroel grasp the urgency. American Jewry, However, due to lack of funds, [Jacobson], to generate an never having experienced the fear of

10 2 Iyar 5770 BEIS MOSHIACH the Cheka or the them and they returned dungeons of the GPU, to the office and began could not fully countering to send understand the danger to only one thousand or the Rebbe’s life. How fifteen hundred was American Jewry to dollars. I said know that the Rebbe forcefully that we could possibly be sent to cannot send less than the gallows without a four thousand dollars. trial, an advocate, or It was Erev legal counsel? How Shabbos in early could they sense the winter . . . They degree of suffering suggested that we leave experienced by the the matter until the Rebbe if they themselves next Monday, since the had never experienced day was short and they genuine fear? Even had to close the Chabad chassidim who factory. had arrived in the U.S. from Russia The monies were sent from here My heart was greatly aggrieved. in the preceding decades could not to Riga, and R. Mordechai Dubin I said, “I will not move from here fathom the conditions of the USSR would allocate the funds wherever until four thousand dollars are in 1927. and whenever necessary. We sent immediately.” We pledged to Rabbi Jacobson mentions that R. gathered on Erev Shabbos collect and repay the entire sum. Avrohom Dov Levin (the “Malach” – B’Reishis in the office of Agudas At first they did not take me angel) preferred to deny the news Chassidei Chabad. We decided that seriously. However, Rav Lokshin completely, dismissing anything it was imperative that four told them that they should be printed in newspapers as false. Even thousand dollars be sent aware that I would keep to my after Rabbi Jacobson showed immediately. Who decided? R. word and not leave the factory members of Agudas Chassidei Eliyah Simpson and myself. until they sent the sum of four Chabad the letters urging the Rebbe R.M.L. Lokshin agreed with us but thousand dollars. With gratitude to to leave the USSR at once, and the he did not forcefully state his Hashem we were successful and dire need for funds, few were opinion. they cabled four thousand dollars convinced. I stated that this must be done. to R. Mordechai Dubin in Riga. Rabbi Jacobson writes, “I was in The Kramer brothers asked in On Monday we received the news the country for only 1½ years. I astonishment, “How can we come that the Rebbe and his family could do very little.” The meaning of up with such a large sum?” Maybe arrived in Riga. what R. Yisroel describes as “very you should first collect and then Immediately upon receiving news little” can be seen in the following send the money. Surely the Rebbe of the Rebbe’s arrival in Riga, R. story related in Seifer Zikaron won’t be withheld because of the Yisroel and R. Eliyah [Simpson] sent L’B’nei Yisroel.1 The story portrays money. Or perhaps they can a telegram blessing the Rebbe with R. Yisroel as a most resolute, firm, borrow money there [in the USSR] “Boachem L’Shalom – May your and decisive character, completely and we will repay later. coming be in peace.” In response the focused on the objective. The Kramer brothers went back Rebbe expressed his gratitude for the We were notified from Riga that to their office to conduct their funds sent on his behalf. the situation is one of grave danger business. We were left stunned in The sum of eight thousand and that a large sum is required to the office, not knowing what to do. dollars which you sent to our help the Rebbe leave the USSR Their attitude was that it was esteemed friend Mr. Dubin [over with his family and all his completely out of the question and the course of the summer until the possessions. As the Rebbe had that they had absolutely no present] I have duly received. This already received an exit visa, it is intention of doing so. is less than half of the expenses crucial that his departure not be We began to beg Rav Lokshin to accrued during my imprisonment delayed due to shortage of funds, go and explain to them that the and the period in which efforts for who knows what each new day severity of the matter requires that were extended for an exit visa. I do may bring. this must be done. He spoke with not yet have a residence for us. The

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 737 11 expenses are great; Hashem will Europe during that period. It is not times, on other days twice, and on surely help. known of any other chassidim who other days just once. Each day the I herewith give to you and to all traveled to the Rebbe from America Rebbe would number the sum total our friends – anash, T’mimim – during this period. of responses that he had already my gratitude and blessings for your R. Yisroel traveled from the given. support. May Hashem help you United States to Poland to visit the Among the issues discussed were materially and spiritually. Rebbe twice. On the first visit R. the Rebbe’s financial situation and In late 5687 (1927) R. Yisroel Yisroel left the United States on the the financial status of the yeshiva. R. was appointed Director and Queen Mary ocean liner on the 28th Yisroel stated that he hoped to raise Secretary of Agudas Chassidei of Tammuz, 5697 (1937). He for the Rebbe five thousand dollars Chabad. He worked diligently, but returned to New York on the 10th of annually, through charity boxes, on a strictly volunteer, non-paid that same year. appeals, and women’s committees. basis. Nevertheless, his activities The purpose of R. Yisroel’s visit In addition, he stated his hope that with anash in particular and with was twofold: first, to bring regards the Achei T’mimim [Brothers of the American Jewry in general broke the from American Jewry to the Rebbe; T’mimim] would raise for the ice and helped lay the groundwork second, to serve as representative of yeshiva 350 dollars annually. for the Rebbe Rayatz’s visit to the American Jewry to renew their bond The Rebbe requested that R. U.S. in 5690 (1929-30), which with the Rebbe. Agudas Chassidei Yisroel send students from the lasted nearly a year. Chabad provided financial assistance United States to study in Tomchei for the expenses of the trip. (The T’mimim in Poland, and that R. 23 HOURS IN YECHIDUS cost of a ticket was $127 each way.) Yisroel organize frequent WITH THE REBBE They also put a notice in the Agudas in the “old,” traditional chassidic Chassidei Chabad bulletin, which spirit. RAYATZ had a wide circulation, that panim, The Rebbe related to R. Yisroel R. Yisroel continued to be active letters and requests could be sent to details regarding his own health. At and to accomplish great things for the Rebbe with R. Yisroel. first the doctors stated that there American Jewry. However, his soul Upon his arrival in Europe, R. was no chance for him to be cured. yearnings for the Rebbe were very Yisroel traveled to Purkersdorf, However, Dr. Garzan gave the powerful. His friend R. Yitzchak the Austria, a small city 40 minutes Rebbe a strict diet and various Masmid encouraged him to travel to outside Vienna, to visit the Rebbe, medications. This regimen caused a Poland to meet with the Rebbe. who was staying at a sanitarium in marked improvement in the Rebbe’s In a letter written in 1936, R. that city. R. Yisroel stayed there for condition. Yitzchok the Masmid writes to R. eight days. He then traveled to The Rebbe discussed at length Yisroel: Otvotzk, where he visited the various issues related to Agudas The time has come for his Rebbe’s family. From there he Chassidei Chabad of America. The honor to visit the Rebbe Shlita. returned to Purkersdorf. R. Yisroel Rebbe explained that its purpose and You have not been with the Rebbe spent many hours in the Rebbe’s function is to bring all anash (men for over ten years. Although you yechidus room, as a chassid, as a and women) closer to “the rock did see the Rebbe in America, this representative of hundreds of from whence they were hewn”2 – is not significant. One must travel individuals who sent panim their roots, and to strengthen their to the Rebbe. (requests and letters), as the director religiosity. The Rebbe requested that . . . As I estimate your of Agudas Chassidei Chabad of the “Agudah” be recognized by the financial state (may G-d broaden America, and as a representative of government as a legal body, and that your lot) I know that this amounts American Jewry. The Rebbe the membership fee should be two to mesiras nefesh- self-sacrifice. discussed with R. Yisroel numerous dollars annually. In addition, each However, traveling to the Rebbe contemporary issues relating both to city should give an additional annual requires mesiras nefesh. And then the community and to individuals. fee to cover the costs of the Agudas (with hope to G-d) the visit has its On each one of those days, R. Chassidei Chabad office. With desired good effect. Yisroel merited to have yechidus with regards to the bulletin published by R. Yisroel resolved to visit the the Rebbe at appointed times. The Agudas Chassidei Chabad, the Rebbe despite the many challenges appointed times were at 10:50 a.m., Rebbe suggested that in addition to which stood in his way. It is very 2:30 p.m., and at seven in the paid advertisements, the bulletin likely that R. Yisroel was the only evening. On some days R. Yisroel should also carry mazal tov blessings chassid who traveled to the Rebbe in had yechidus at all three appointed and various notices free of charge.

12 2 Iyar 5770 BEIS MOSHIACH The Rebbe requested that there Rebbe said, “This week I be a special section for the devoted 33 hours to you. You young readers, and an spent a total of 23 hours in my additional section devoted to room. It took me another ten the history of Ari shuls hours to compose responses in the United States, and to and to prepare for my talks the history and lineage of with you. You brought 213 various individuals. tzetlen – notes. I counted The Rebbe added that them. I put aside a match for Agudas Chassidei Chabad each note. It took should send the bulletin to approximately eight hours to each one of its members. In hear the regards from America. addition the Agudah must This refreshed the image in invite every member to memory of my visit to America participate in the occasional which took place eight years farbrengens. When a member ago. During the past eight has a personal simcha, the years the image had become Agudah should send a blessing somewhat clouded. However, and a gift. This will remind the now the image has been recipient of his roots. reawakened.” The Rebbe requested that On Sunday, a day prior to the s’farim and maamarim of R. Yisroel’s departure, the chassidus be disseminated, and Rebbe said that he should that members travel to various come see him with his luggage cities to establish additional right before his departure. The branches and increase next day the Rebbe discussed membership. Members who with R. Yisroel various issues devoted two weeks activity for and various directives. the benefit of Agudas Afterwards, the Rebbe gave Chassidei Chabad were titled him the maamer “Acharei” of 3 by the Rebbe as “active Elul 5697 (1937). The Rebbe members.” The Rebbe then said, “I am making you a requested that T’mimim devote shliach mitzvah – a mitzvah a total of four weeks a year for messenger. This maamer the “sacred work.” should be learned during the The Rebbe spoke about the months of Elul and Tishrei . . . establishment of “Achei T’mimim,”- “Chatche’s wife Rebbetzin Sasha you shall transcribe all that you have Brothers of the T’mimim, and Fagen is here now. She will enter to seen and heard.” “Achos HaT’mimim,”- Sisters of the see me tomorrow around twelve T’mimim. The Rebbe related to R. o’clock. That’s the way it is . . . AN UPROAR REGARDING aside from everything else, I am a Yisroel that in Riga there were A “STORM” AT SEA already 58 girls in “Achos father, a mother, a brother, and a HaT’mimim” who study “light” friend.” R. Yisroel traveled to the Rebbe maamarei chassidus, and that the One morning the Rebbe told R. in Poland a second time in the effects of the learning were apparent Yisroel, “Yisroel, today (he then summer of 5699 (1939). He in their character and behavior. paused briefly, seemingly in thought, departed New York on the S.S. Isle then he continued) in davening I de France on the 22nd of Menachem Av 5699, together with WONDROUS KIRUVIM - expressed praise and gratitude to Hashem for giving you the idea to six students whom he brought to AFFECTION come here. I cannot express in study in Tomchei T’mimim in One evening, when R. Yisroel words the pleasure which you have Otvotzk. The students were able to was in the Rebbe’s room, the Rebbe given me.” escape from Poland at the outbreak conversed with him in a most In the last yechidus before R. of World War Two and somehow personal manner. Yisroel traveled to Otvotzk the reach Riga, where they would stay

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 737 13 HALF TRUTHS VERSUS FACTS If the author of The Kennedy Curse had conducted the proper research, he would have discovered the following facts. First, Rabbi Jacobson did not return to the United States together with the six students whom he brought to Europe from the United States. Second, Rabbi Jacobson was a person of pure character with pure language, one who would never curse, and third, Joseph Kennedy was not even on that boat! Based on documents found in archives, Joseph Kennedy sent his The S.S. George Washington wife and family back to the United during the High Holy days. There is father of the Kennedys very harshly. States at the outbreak of the war. a letter from one of the students According to Klein, the following Kennedy himself remained in dated 19 Tishrei, sent from transpired on the ship. England until he left his post as U.S. Stockholm, Sweden. From When Joe Kennedy returned to Ambassador to England in October Stockholm the students set sail to the U.S., the transatlantic ship also of 1940. New York carried Israel Jacobson, a poor In the Photostat images of the After some research I learned Rabbi who was a Lubavitcher ship documents shown here, one can that R. Yisroel did not tarry in chassid, and six yeshiva students. see that Rabbi Jacobson traveled on Otvotzck. Following the Rebbe’s Kennedy complained to the captain the same ship as the Kennedy directive he immediately returned to that the Jewish passengers were family. However, the name of Joseph the United States. On the 28th of making too much noise during Kennedy does not appear among the Elul he boarded the S.S. George their New Year’s prayers. He passengers. Washington in Le Havre France. The demanded that the captain prohibit There is a popular saying that ship arrived in New York on the 5th the passengers to continue their any big lie is based on half-truths. 1. of Tishrei.. prayers because they disturb the It is true that Rabbi Jacobson Members of Rabbi Jacobson’s surrounding passengers. Rabbi traveled by ship at the outbreak of family relate that R. Yisroel boarded Jacobson cursed Kennedy and all the war. 2. He was a poor Rabbi. 3. the ship, along with other Jews, just his male descendants. This is the He was on the ship on Rosh moments prior to the ship’s cause of the tragic fate of the Hashanah. (It is safe to assume that departure. The ship which was full Kennedys. he organized a minyan and davened to capacity did not have space for This story which was published publicly.) However, to the best of additional passengers. However, the seven years ago received additional the knowledge of Rabbi Jacobson’s captain of the ship emptied the publicity just recently when Senator family, he did not come in contact swimming pool, which was located Ted Kennedy passed away. with any of the Kennedys during the in the first class and set up seats for Unfortunately, the publication of course of the trip. R. Yisroel and the other last minute this story which attributes the An additional truth – Joe passengers. Kennedy curse to Rabbi Jacobson Kennedy was known as an anti- About seven years ago, R. has caused much pain to his family. Semite who related to Jews with Yisroel’s trip on the ship became Anyone who knew Rabbi Jacobson disrespect. On more than one known throughout the world. Author knows that despite his firmness and occasion, he said publicly that Edward Klein in his best seller The uncompromising stance he was a although there are a few individual Kennedy Curse: Why Tragedy has gentle soul who would not hurt any Jews that are okay, the Jews as a Haunted America’s First Family for creature. Rabbi Jacobson had no whole are not. He did not hide his 150 Years writes that during that connection to curses, having never disdain for Jews, calling them by the trip, Rabbi Jacobson cursed the cursed anyone. derogatory term of “kikes.” He also

14 2 Iyar 5770 BEIS MOSHIACH said that the Jews ruin everything that they touch. Joe Kennedy approved of the Nazi cruelty towards the Jews, publicly stating, “Good, they brought it upon themselves.” [Elder chassidim related that during the war Joe Kennedy did everything possible to ensure that Jewish refugees not receive visas to the U. S. Consequently, a Rav in England cursed him. Editor’s note] On a side note, the derogatory term “kike” used by Joseph Kennedy should awaken feelings of pride within us. Apparently, the term originated in Ellis Island. Religious Jewish refugees from Europe found it difficult to sign their names next to an “X” because of its association with the Christian cross. Before signing, they would change the “X” to an “O.” This practice became quite common and the officers at Ellis Island began calling the Jewish refugees “kikel”, (Yiddish for “circle”) or “kike”, a term which eventually assumed negative connotations. I am aware that I have wandered from our primary topic. My intent was to provide a sketch of R. , to describe how the Rebbe Rayatz loved him and to explain (in my humble opinion) why the Rebbe Rayatz chose him to be his shliach in 1946. The previous chapters will serve as an introduction for the publication of the letters which I found in his archive. In the next chapter, I will, G-d willing, begin to publish the letters which I found in the archive. The letters reveal many unknown incidents of that period of uncertainty, when my father and many chassidim fled Russia and wandered without finding a place of rest. NOTES: 1 Memoirs of Rabbi Jacobson, Kehot, 1996. 2 Yeshayahu 51:1

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 737 15 moshiach & geula

remove them first?” R’ Shmuel exclaimed, “What?! It really bothers you? Physical beauty WE CAN DO is truly important to you? I naively thought that it’s all superficial to you and wealth plays no role in your Chassidic life. Well, you should know, my friend, that I won’t be IT - WITH coming here anymore!” With that, he took his belongings and rushed out. R’ Pinchas, who dearly loved R’ Shmuel, ran after him and tried to THE REBBES appease him, ask his forgiveness and invite him back, but R’ Shmuel remained unmoved. Finally, R’ Shmuel said, “I am willing to come back on one condition. If you take a KOACH! broom and ride it through the streets of the city like a meshuganer, all will see that you, R’ Pinchas, the town g’vir, are a Chassid who is By Rabbi Boaz Kali truly nullified and naught, and all the wealth and honor mean nothing to you.” In the sicha of Chaf-Ches Nissan the R’ Pinchas complied with this condition. When he finished making Rebbe did not assign jobs and positions. a fool of himself in public, he happily went back home with R’ He empowered us and then entrusted us Shmuel to farbreng. Humbly, R’ to successfully achieve our goal. Pinchas asked his friend what this was all about, and R’ Shmuel explained, “I heard that the Alter “LIGHTS” OF R’ SHMUEL would expect of the town g’vir. It Rebbe once passed near your house IN “VESSELS” OF R’ was large and had wall to wall in a carriage and when he heard PINCHAS carpets, velvet armchairs and other that this mansion was yours he expensive and ornate furnishings. In the famous sicha of Chaf- wondered: ‘What does R’ Pinchas R’ Shmuel climbed the stairs, need such a beautiful home for? Ches Nissan, 5751, in which the oblivious to the dirt his boots left on Rebbe placed on our shoulders Does a Chassid need a house like the shining marble, and knocked at this?’ (which are apparently not as narrow the door. When R’ Pinchas’ wife as we are used to thinking they are) “When you were asked about told him that her husband was this, you answered, ‘I really didn’t the task of bringing the Geula, the about to come home, he stretched Rebbe coined the phrase “lights of want to have a house like this. With out his weary feet, boots and all, on each brick that was laid I cried that Tohu in vessels of Tikkun.” In order the couch while he awaited his to understand this concept let’s I, a Chassid, have to conduct myself return. R’ Pinchas’ wife saw the dirt with such external trappings of review the famous story about R’ he had tracked in and decided to Shmuel Munkes. wealth. But I figured that as the keep quiet and let her husband deal g’vir of the town, if I have a big, It was a cold and wintry day and with his friend. the white snow had long since beautiful house, it will be the place When R’ Pinchas arrived he where meetings take place and turned into black slush. R’ Shmuel greeted R’ Shmuel warmly and then was on his way to visit his friend, decisions are made regarding the asked him in surprise, “Tell me, did melamdim, shochtim etc. Since der the wealthy R’ Pinchas Roizes. R’ you have to lie on the couch in your Pinchas’ house was as fancy as one vos hut di meia, hut di deia (the one filthy boots? Couldn’t you at least with the money is the one whose

16 2 Iyar 5770 BEIS MOSHIACH opinions prevail), I will be able to the months Himself until Rosh decide that money should be given Chodesh Nissan, the month of to the melamdim and that there are Geula in which Hashem said, “this shochtim who are G-d fearing, etc.’ month is for you the head of the The Alter Rebbe accepted this months.” That is when Hashem answer and went on his way. gave us the ability to sanctify the “Now,” continued R’ Shmuel, “it months ourselves. seems, to my surprise, that what Nowadays, as the Rebbe often you told the Rebbe wasn’t genuine brings in his sichos, the only month and you really do care about which we do not bless is the month externals. If you are a faker, I don’t of Tishrei. Tishrei is blessed by want to be your friend.” Hashem Himself and this enables us *** to sanctify the rest of the months of There is a lot to learn from this the year. story. As for our subject, “lights of The same is true with Chaf-Ches Tohu in vessels of Tikkun,” we must Nissan. When the Rebbe says, “I remember that there always were give this inyan over to you,” this is Rabbi Boaz Kali, director of Chabad not merely a transferring of jobs. and always will be Chassidim who mosdos in Krayot and chairman of the On the surface it’s puzzling. We were of the “lights of Tohu” variety. Matteh Sheva Mitzvos B’nei Noach The world meant nothing to them and they faifed (lit. whistled, i.e. disdained) on the world and its “What?! It really bothers you? Physical conventions. Contrariwise, there are beauty is truly important to you? I Chassidim who live within the world’s conventions and do so in an naively thought that it’s all superficial orderly, methodical way within the to you and wealth plays no role in your world of Tikkun. Everything is thought through; there are minimal Chassidic life. Well, you should know, surprises and no radical changes. Then the Rebbe surprised us by my friend, that I won’t be coming here saying we need to act in such a way that within one individual there are anymore!” both aspects: R’ Pinchas (as he appeared initially) as well as R’ “I AM GIVING IT OVER” were born into exile, raised in it, Shmuel. Both together! In the Chaf-Ches Nissan sicha, and deal with galus every day; how On the one hand, the highest the Rebbe uses the expression, “I can we bring the Geula? How can levels of Tohu which means that the give the inyan to you.” A friend we suddenly get ourselves out of world with its limitations, views and pointed out to me that this is an galus and bring Geula to the world? conventions means nothing to us; on unusual term for the Rebbe to use. After all, we know that “a prisoner the other hand, in the way that The Rebbe could have said, “I did cannot free himself from jail?” Chassidus explains, “the world all that I could and from now on, it The Rebbe, being Moshiach, (Heb. olam, from the root helem, is up to you to do all that you can.” lives Geula and sees things from a meaning concealment) was created What message lies in the choice of Geula perspective. The world for me (i.e. to refine the words “I am giving?” doesn’t conceal anything for him (as concealment through working within My friend went on to say that the Rebbe taught us what a Rebbe is the boundaries of the world).” And there is a Talmudic parallel for the that “he is not subject to the it’s not paradoxical to use all the expression “I am giving over” from limitations of nature” and the tools and gimmicks of this world in which we can understand the deeper imprisonments of the Rebbeim were order to change the world in a deep message within the Rebbe’s words. “self-limitations,” and so on). It is way and to demonstrate to all that Midrash tells us, in connection with understandable that such a person the world is ready for Geula as the Kiddush HaChodesh (sanctifying has the ability to take us out of Rebbe says it is. the month), that Hashem sanctified galus and turn the gola into Geula.

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 737 17 But how do we have the ability to do the fair. He provided her with were given a mission by the Rebbe this? detailed instructions as to what she to transform this world into a place This is why the Rebbe tells us: should do there, what to buy, and of Geula, to build a dwelling for the it’s not that from now on you have how to go about purchasing the Ikar Sh’china and to reveal to do some task which is impossible merchandise. The woman went to Moshiach in the world. There have from the perspective of your the fair and found the goods her always been people who despaired, abilities, but rather just as Hashem husband had described. She closed like the spies who entered Israel, sanctifies the month of Tishrei and a deal and was about to pay and go but we don’t have that privilege – with this ko’ach we can sanctify the home when she discovered that the we have no permission to give up rest of the months of the year, so bundle of money, which included on this shlichus! too here, the Rebbe gives us kochos, loans in addition to all of their There is a Talmudic concept “I give over the inyan to you” so we savings, was gone! called “yiush sh’lo mi’daas.” As it can successfully achieve our goal. She was devastated by this relates to our situation, it means tremendous loss, the work of a year that one can despair only when YIUSH SHELO MI’DAAS down the drain and no prospects there is no daas (common usage: for parnasa for the coming year. It knowledge, but also means The message and strength we didn’t take long for the man who bonding), i.e. hiskashrus with a need to take from Chaf-Ches had found the money to be found. very strong bond for a specific Nissan is that we cannot even think Unfortunately though, he wasn’t purpose. about giving up. Such a thought interested in doing the generous We need to remember and must be put aside in the manner the thing, nor was he susceptible to continuously remind ourselves that Alter Rebbe prescribes in regard to pangs of conscience. He quoted the Rebbe said “do all that you having a bad thought about halachic sources that pasken that can.” We often say to ourselves: someone, “repeatedly push it away the money belonged to him. The “I’m trying, I’m doing, I’m making like one dispersing smoke and like basis of this claim is that the money the effort and I’m doing the best I an actual thought of idol worship.” had no identifying signs. In such a can.” We are not being asked to try It is only natural in an exile- situation the Gemara states that the but to do “all that we can” in world for despair to spread among loser certainly gave up hope and the order to actually bring Moshiach. many fine people. So many years despair of the owner allows the have passed since the sicha was said finder to keep it. and it looks as though nothing is OUR STRENGTH The woman called the man to a changing and that not only are we IS IN OUR UNITY din Torah, and after the rabbi heard not making progress, but things the claims, he ruled that the finder Hypnotism is used for purposes seem to be getting worse because had to return the money to the of healing as well as entertainment. since we don’t see the woman. The man obediently The Rebbe, so I heard, doesn’t hold Rebbe. Nonetheless, we cannot give returned the money, though he of it, not even for healing. Israeli up! asked the rav on what basis he was law prohibits using hypnotism as A vivid example of this is required to do so. entertainment and limits its use to conveyed in the following story. The rabbi answered, “This healing by those who are certified There was an individual who woman was sent by her husband to practitioners. But since the idea supported himself and his family by buy goods. The husband gave her exists, we can learn a lesson in purchasing merchandise at the the ability and permission and avodas Hashem from it. annual fair in Leipzig and selling it power of attorney etc. so that she For entertainment purposes, a at a nice profit in the city he came could buy what she found suitable. hypnotist has someone put his head from. Every year he would take a He relied on her judgment to pay on a chair and his feet on another sum of money he had saved up, the right price when it came down chair while his body remains supplemented with loans from to an actual deal. But there was one unsupported. The hypnotist then friends, and go to the fair. thing he did not give her permission tells him that his body is made of One year, the man fell ill. He for – to despair. True, she iron and is able to stand on him to knew that if he didn’t go to the fair, despaired, but she had no demonstrate the power of he wouldn’t be able to support his permission to do so and therefore hypnotism. family for a year, yet he simply did not relinquish possession of the In other words, the mind has the wasn’t well enough to make the money. power to control and affect the trip. Instead, his wife traveled to The same is true for us. We body and go beyond its limitations.

18 2 Iyar 5770 BEIS MOSHIACH with big ideas of “lights of Tohu” We were given a mission by the Rebbe to and then wonder how to actually do transform this world into a place of it. For this too, we should be consulting a . Geula, to build a dwelling for the Ikar (Parenthetically, coaching and having a personal trainer, which are Sh’china and to reveal Moshiach in the so popular these days, are very much this same idea. The role of a world. There have always been people coach is to guide a person in actualizing his abilities.) who despaired, but we don’t have that If we sharpen the definition of privilege – we have no permission to “vessels of Tikkun,” I think we must focus on . It may give up on this shlichus! not sound connected to Moshiach – “lights of Tohu in vessels of A person has incredible powers; it’s through the daily struggles and Tikkun,” but from the Rebbe’s just that they are not utilized and challenges in the office, at home sichos we see to what extent Torah remain unexpressed. A person’s and on the street, and this doesn’t affects everything starting with the potential is largely unrealized; it is seem feasible. ironclad rule: that the Torah and its claimed that we use only a fraction But the Rebbe, in that Chaf- rulings affect the world. The power of our brain power. Ches Nissan sicha, has an answer of the rabbanim, and their p’sak Back to our subject – the “lights for that. The Rebbe goes on to say that the Rebbe is Moshiach, greatly of Tohu” which the Rebbe wants us that we need to find ten stubborn affected the world and learning to put into vessels. Chassidus people, i.e. we cannot go it alone. inyanei Moshiach and Geula opens teaches that there were many lights We need to join together with our eyes and hearts and enables us and too few vessels to contain others and it is only by having a to feel and think with a Geula them, so the vessels broke and it mashpia and consulting with others mindset. was necessary for the “great light to that we will be able to “bring things In Haifa, for example, we be removed.” On the face of it, it down” from the level of speech and decided that every activity has to be seems impossible to resolve that thought to actual deeds - as the connected to Torah. Whether it’s a conflict. And then the Rebbe tells Rebbe put it, “to actually bring meeting of the staff of the mosdos us: bring the subject of Moshiach Moshiach.” or a meeting with the mayor or down to the world in vessels of another distinguished personage, Tikkun, in a systematic, rational TIKKUN=TORAH STUDY the meeting begins with a d’var way! How can this impossibility be Torah. One time, when we began I can tell you a personal story accomplished? building our educational campus, that will illustrate what I’m talking First, the Rebbe said that one, Amram Mitzna was the mayor and about. When I was younger and a two, or three need to devise a plan he said, “Nu, it’s time to begin.” I bit more serious, I wrote to the of how to get the “lights” into raised my hand and said that we Rebbe and asked, “How can I reach “vessels.” A demand was made of begin with a d’var Torah. a state where all my activities, in us and surely, along with the Experience has shown that: 1) thought, speech, and action, will be demand, we were given the ability principles are accepted with consistent with the Rebbe’s to carry it out. Take for example the understanding, simcha and opinion?” The Rebbe wrote me as feeling on Simchas Torah. We admiration, 2) the Torah has follows, “If you want to make dance and rejoice and disdain the greater power than we realize. decisions based on my opinion, do world which seems to us, in those Everything – Moshiach, a flag, so based on advice given by moments, not to exist and certainly slogans – must be connected with knowledgeable friends, and not something that can interfere. Torah; otherwise, we didn’t regarding halachic matters – do as There are no debts, no exhaustion, accomplish anything. It remains a rav, moreh horaa tells you.” no difficulties, no stress; only pure “lights” which, although powerful, We sometimes look for tall simcha. We are being asked to take dissipate without vessels to contain mountains to climb and forget that that way of thinking and bring that them. as Chassidim we were told by the into everyday life, while going The yeshiva in Ramat Aviv is a Rebbe what to do. We come up great illustration of a mosad which

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 737 19 The famed R’ Mendel said that The mind has the power to control and money isn’t a prerequisite to affect the body and go beyond its achieve your goals. The first requirement is to be “crazy” about limitations. A person has incredible the idea. If you are single-minded and persistent about something, the powers; it’s just that they are not obstacles will go away and you will get the money somehow. utilized and remain unexpressed. A Chassid, on his way to bringing the Geula, needs to have a clearly conveys that the Rebbe is with the natural world order – working plan. Can you make a plan Moshiach and is chai v’kayam and including order and cleanliness, for a million, twenty million, a will imminently redeem us, and is beauty and esthetics, dignity and billion dollars? Do you have ideas also a place where people sit and majesty, expansiveness and about how to get big projects off learn. The “lights of Tohu” are put abundance – then all the “Who’s the ground? When you make into vessels of Torah, and people Who” come to shiurim and the “vessels,” the lights will come down accept all the messages while special events hosted by the yeshiva. into them. Money, success and learning the Rebbe’s sichos on the whatever else is needed to bring the topic of Moshiach and Geula. The WHAT ABOUT MONEY? hisgalus will fall into place. May facts on the ground are the greatest Hashem help so that we The Rebbe said that each of us proof. immediately see the results of all is a shliach and each of us has the From Ramat Aviv we also learn the work, speeches, and projects – responsibility to bring Moshiach. that when the “lights of Tohu,” the the hisgalus of the Rebbe MH”M Often it seems impossible to most powerful messages, are now! undertake big projects when the combined with “vessels of Tikkun,” funds are simply unavailable. Raskin's Consistently “if it grows we have it” Superior Fruit and Produce Emporium WHOLESALE & RETAIL Michal & We Deliver 335 Kingston Ave. Brooklyn NY 11213 * Tel: (718) 756-3888 756-2221 * Fax: 756-2440

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20 2 Iyar 5770 BEIS MOSHIACH 2 iyar

PESACH 5626/1866 THE TZEMACH TZEDEK IN LUBAVITCH The scribe from Beshenkovitz, WROTE REGARDING HIS the old Chassid R’ Zalman Ber, described Pesach 5626/1866 in Lubavitch, the first after the passing SON MAHARASH: of the Tzemach Tzedek: The first night of Pesach, R’ Boruch Sholom, the Tzemach Tzedek’s oldest son, reviewed a maamer Chassidus on the verse, MY SOUL IS “when your son asks,” and before he began the maamer he said, “Whoever says something in the name of the person who said it brings Geula to the world; the BOUND WITH maamer isn’t mine but my father’s.” The second night, R’ Chaim Shneur Zalman (the Admur of ), the Rebbe’s third son said a maamer Chassidus, as did his HIS SOUL brother R’ Yisroel Noach (the Admur of Niezhen), who prefaced with, “Whoever says something in By N. Sofer the name of the person who said it,” like his older brother, R’ Boruch Sholom, had done. A compilation describing the transition period of the leadership of the Rebbe THE FIRST MAAMAR The Rebbe Maharash, who was Maharash, immediately following the the youngest of the brothers, also said a maamer Chassidus on the passing of the Tzemach Tzedek. * second night of Pesach, on the verse, “I am Hashem your G-d who took Presented for Beis Iyar, the birthday of you out of Egypt.” This was the first maamer he said during his nesius the Rebbe Maharash. and in one of the manuscripts (#1777, 37a) in the heading of the maamer was written, “The first Torah from K’vod K’dushas HaRav HaKadosh HaRav Shmuel shlita.”

THE MAAMAR MI KAMOCHA It is interesting to note that the subject of the first maamer is identical to the well-known maamer on the verse “Mi Kamocha” which the Rebbe Maharash would often repeat “in order to purify the air.” The maamer discusses the unity of G-d, that even though the world truly exists and is not an illusion for

22 2 Iyar 5770 BEIS MOSHIACH it says, “In the beginning G-d marked 100 years since this wanted to see them daven and he created the heavens and the earth,” monumental maamer, the Rebbe made the rounds of the minyanim to still we need to know that the world said a maamer on the verse, “I am observe them. He said afterwards doesn’t exist on its own but is Hashem your G-d” which is based that in each of the brothers he saw completely nullified to G-dliness so on and explains this discourse. The something unique: that its entire existence is G-dliness Rebbe emphasized a great chiddush and “there is nothing but Him.” (a gevaldiker oiftu). Chassidus THE DAVENING OF By repeating this maamer, the explains that the revelation of the MAHARIL OF KOPUST Rebbe Maharash instilled in his 50th Gate cannot happen through Maharil was known as an Chassidim a genuine awareness of man’s own avoda; we don’t have the intensely emotional person and his G-d’s unity, that the world is ability to draw it down at all – it davening was with an outpouring of nullified to G-dliness and that “there comes down from Above as a gift. the soul and d’veikus. In his great is nothing but Him” and therefore, And yet, in his very first maamer, the excitement he would pace back and there is no reason to get excited Rebbe Maharash declared that in forth in the middle of davening, and about matters of this world. order to complete the 50th Gate you sometimes break out in joyous don’t need any prior spiritual dance. In his great enthusiasm, his L’CHATCHILA ARIBER healing, and not even minor healing. slippers would fly up to the ceiling. In a number of sichos (leil 6 of Meditation in avodas Hashem and When he davened chazaras Sukkos 5742; Simchas Torah and avoiding that which causes damage ha’shatz they had to tie him to the Shabbos B’Reishis 5743) the Rebbe is sufficient, and this is what draws lectern so that he wouldn’t move th spoke about this maamer. down and completes the 50 Gate. away in his great excitement, but in He explains that the maamer “Mi This chiddush that he innovated at his great d’veikus he would drag the Kamocha” that the Rebbe Maharash the beginning of his nesius continues lectern till the western wall of the would often repeat expresses and afterwards, too, for the words of shul. emphasizes the special inyan and tzaddikim live and endure forever The men who were the yoshvim avoda of the Rebbe Maharash which and have a lasting effect on the (lit. sitters, i.e. young married men is ‘l’chat’chilla aribber” as in his world. devoted to full time learning and well-known aphorism, “The world divine service) in Lubavitch who thinks that when it’s impossible to THERE WAS NO REBBE davened in Maharil’s minyan often go underneath then you go from LIKE THIS BEFORE asked him not to spend such a long above, and I say that from the outset time on his davening because they After Pesach, the other children you need to go from above.” couldn’t daven so long. Maharil of the Tzemach Tzedek – the In other words, we have agreed each time, but as soon as he Maharil from Kremenchug and something and its opposite. The began to daven, he forgot what he Rayatz from Ovrutch – returned to Rebbe Maharash first establishes told them. Lubavitch for the year of mourning. that the way of the world is to go Maharil said about his father, under, and then he nevertheless “There was no Rebbe like this THE DAVENING demands l’chat’chilla aribber – to go previously. From one line of his OF R’ YISROEL NOACH from above straightaway. Chassidic lectures you can construct OF NIEZHIN In this maamer, too, we have an entire maamer.” His brother, the something and its opposite. The R’ Yisroel Noach cried and Rebbe Maharash noted, “Not only Rebbe Maharash emphasizes that we sobbed throughout the davening. from one line but even from one need to know that there is a world Every day, as he began to daven he word.” and that the world is a genuine would burst into tears, which would When they said this to the Rebbe reality. At the same time, he says not abate until the conclusion of the (on 13 Nissan, 5711), he said, “The that the world is completely nullified t’filla. His sobs moved the drushei Chassidus of the Tzemach to G-dliness and “there is nothing congregation to tears as well, and Tzedek are a vast treasure. Every but Him.” they would cry along with him gloss of his is a vast treasure.” throughout the davening. During the year of mourning, the The men once asked one THE REBBE MAHARASH’S holy brothers led the prayers at the another: “Why are we crying? It’s INNOVATION amud and said Chassidus. The one thing that R’ Yisroel Noach is At the on the second davening of each of the brothers was crying. He knows why he is crying; night of Pesach, 1966, which different. One of the Chassidim but what are we crying about?”

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 737 23 They decided that from that day Tzedek, the Chassid went to see the result it wasn’t clear to the on they would try with all their minyan of the Maharash. He related: Chassidim who should take over. might not to cry. The next day, “I saw something special with The oldest of the six sons, R’ when R’ Yisroel Noach began to each of the holy sons but with the Boruch Sholom, did not want the daven and burst into tears, they youngest son, the Rebbe Maharash, position and R’ Yosef Yitzchok restrained themselves with all their I did not notice anything. His already led a group of Polish might. After a while, one of the men davening was said slowly and with a Chassidim in Ovrutch. The issue could control himself no longer and quiet tune and he davened word by concerned the remaining four son burst into tears, and the others soon word. There was no clamor, no (Maharil of Kopust, R’ Chaim followed suit. Seeing that self- commotion, no dancing, no unusual , R’ Yisroel control was insufficient, they movements. Noach of Niezhin, and the decided they would strengthen each “I also noticed one thing. After Maharash) and Chassidim had other. The next day, if one of them the final Kaddish, the Rebbe varied opinions on the matter. began to cry the others would pinch Maharash would cover his face with him to remind him to restrain his tallis for a few minutes. I noticed RABBANEI ANASH himself. this every day and I was very curious GO TO LUBAVITCH Sure enough, when R’ Yisroel to know what he was doing under Noach began to daven, once again there. One time, I gathered the Distinguished Chabad rabbanim one of the men could not control courage to peek underneath and I gathered in Lubavitch to discuss the himself and he burst into tears. The saw him changing the t’fillin shel matter. Among them were: R’ others pinched him but the pain only rosh of Rashi with the t’fillin shel Shneur Zalman of Polotzk (and later caused him to cry even more, and rosh of Shimusha Raba. Obviously of Lublin) the author of Toras soon they were all sobbing once he didn’t want anyone to see him. Chesed, R’ Peretz Chein of again. The congregation conceded “When he saw me looking at him Chernigov, R’ Yosef Tumarkin of defeat and acknowledged there was he gave me a shnell (a finger flick) Kremenchug, R’ Shlomo Zalman of nothing they could do about it. on the edge of my nose.” Liepli, and R’ Avrohom Ashkenazi of The Chassid concluded, Rudnia. THE DAVENING OF R’ “Although I got flicked I still got to At first, when the rabbanim went to Maharil and suggested a CHAIM SHNEUR ZALMAN see what the Rebbe was doing.” Another Chassid added that compromise they did not include the The avoda of R’ Chaim Shneur although they did not see any special Maharash because of his youth. Zalman was ahava b’taanugim (lit. movements with the Rebbe Maharil asked them: What about my love in rapture, i.e. he would be Maharash, when he reached younger brother? completely absorbed in the higher VaYevorech Dovid his forehead was One of the rabbanim asked: Is worlds). His davening was noisy and beaded with sweat. the youngest also a sidra (Torah with intensity to the point that he portion, in another version “a broke the hearts of those who heard masechta,” a tractate of the him and even a heart of stone melted WHO WILL BE THE )? from his davening. The other men in REBBE’S SUCCESSOR? Maharil answered: A big sidra his minyan found it difficult to In the initial period following the (masechta), a sidra (masechta) all its daven. passing of the Tzemach Tzedek it own! As soon as he began davening he wasn’t clear which of his holy sons started to sing and dance, his holy would succeed him. One of the I AM OLDER WITH face aflame. He would completely reasons for this was a letter the OUR FATHER’S YEARS forget the world he was in and it Tzemach Tzedek had written about would be some time until his spirit his son, Maharil of Kopust, a few At this time there was a would return to him and he could years earlier, from which people discussion among the brothers, continue to daven. understood that he would be the during which Maharash displayed successor. But in the winter of 5626, great proficiency in Nigleh. R’ THE DAVENING OF the Tzemach Tzedek wrote to the Yisroel Noach (who was known as a THE REBBE MAHARASH Chassidim about his son Maharash, big scholar) asked him, “Where do “Listen to him like you listened to you know that from? Bekius in Having observed the davening of me.” He also told his other sons to Nigleh! You are a young man!” the other children of the Tzemach review maamarei Chassidus. As a Maharash answered, “You are

24 2 Iyar 5770 BEIS MOSHIACH older with your own years and I am needs to be put into writing, they said they agreed to be equals. older with our father’s years.” regarding what I wrote previously All of the brothers signed and a copy In one of the sichos (Likkutei concerning my son RYL ben was sent to all Chassidic settlements. Sichos vol. 7, p. 124) the Rebbe Moussia, I retract that completely This announcement was sent to raises the question: Bekius is and request from Anash that all my Anash together with an affidavit acquired through learning a lot over sons should be equal in all things. signed by the rabbanim who took many years, so how did it help that “I request that Anash support my part in the decision-making process, he was older with his father’s years? son R’ Shmuel because my soul is who affirmed the authenticity of the The Rebbe explained: Since he bound with his soul and his parting announcement. was born in his father’s older years, from me is difficult for me and the Tzemach Tzedek’s great wisdom therefore I make this request of FINAL RESOLUTION that he had at that time was given to Anash on his behalf.” him as an inheritance. At the end of these letters was Maharil moved to Kopust, where written (the following is from one of he led as Rebbe for half a year until his untimely passing on 3 Cheshvan, THE SECRET IS OUT the handwritten copies that were sent to Anash): “These letters were 5627. R’ Yosef Yitzchok, who had At one of the internal meetings of copied from the actual handwriting started leading as a Rebbe like Polish the rabbanim with the children of of C”K Admur Z”l… to Anash, Admurim even in the lifetime of his the Tzemach Tzedek the Rebbe which he gave to someone while he father, returned to Ovrutch. Maharash showed them – as per his was alive so that it would be The four brothers, R’ Boruch father’s order and despite his preserved and hidden and remain Sholom, R’ Chaim Shneur Zalman humility – a number of handwritten unopened until after the Shloshim. of Liadi, R’ Yisroel Noach of notes from his father in which his Therefore a copy is being sent to Niezhen, and the Rebbe Maharash, father gave him a full Anash so that they know and they remained in Lubavitch. smicha/ordination and told him to should be so good as to show the The eldest, R’ Boruch Sholom, take over the nesius and Anash people of their city and nearby did not want to lead as a Rebbe and should accept his leadership. towns and likewise, we will send it to he remained in Lubavitch until his He informed the rabbis and his many places. Whoever wants to see passing on 16 Shevat, 5629/1869. brothers that he was the only one to the Rebbe’s handwritten letter R’ Chaim Shneur Zalman stayed in whom his father had shown the should come to Lubavitch and see Lubavitch for a few years and in secret of how to receive pidyonos it.” 5629 he went to Liadi, where he and how to see to the fulfillment of began to lead as a Rebbe. R’ Yisroel the petitioner’s request for good and Noach also stayed in Lubavitch for a blessing. THE DECISION few years before assuming In addition, he showed them that OF THE RABBONIM leadership as a Rebbe in Niezhin. his father told him to mention to Based on these letters and notes, The Rebbe Maharash succeeded each one of them the questions they and in agreement with the holy his father in Lubavitch and began his had asked when in yechidus and brothers, sons of the Tzemach nesius immediately. what he answered them and they Tzedek, the rabbanim decided that were all amazed by the open and all of them would undertake the DIVIDING THE MONEY, revealed prophecy. leadership of Chassidim equally and THE S’FARIM AND THE the Maharash would take over their MANUSCRIPTS A LETTER FROM THE father’s place in Lubavitch. TZEMACH TZEDEK When the rabbanim perused the Even after the decision of the notes that the Tzemach Tzedek rabbanim there still remained the After the conclusion of the wrote about his son, Maharash, they money, s’farim and manuscripts to Shloshim, some letters from the personally all became his Chassidim. discuss. In the end, the money and Tzemach Tzedek that were given to printed s’farim were divided a certain Chassid to be opened after ANNOUNCEMENT TO amongst the brothers, but the the Shloshim, were read. The manuscripts remained in Lubavitch Tzemach Tzedek had written that he ANASH FROM THE HOLY with the Rebbe Maharash, excluding wanted his sons to be equal in BROTHERS the ones that his brothers had everything and he asked Anash to After the rabbanim made their received from their father in his support the Rebbe Maharash. decision, the holy brothers wrote an lifetime. “It is so that the truth and justice announcement to Anash in which

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 737 25 feature

doubt you’ll forget everything I’m teaching you, and you’ll eat treif there.’ LOST “‘Father, I won’t forget. I’ll throw away the meat in the soup under the table, and I won’t eat treif,’ I answered with the innocence of childhood.” ORPHANS Before they left, they asked Feigel to look after her younger brother. For a year she was able to fulfill their request since both of them were in the Chelyabinsk RETURN TO area of Siberia, but then Feigel was sent to study mechanics and she tearfully parted from her brother. When she finished the course, LUBAVITCH she was sent to the area of the city of Omsk where she did various jobs on kolkhozes and in factories. They once told her to By Shneur Zalman Berger clean huge pipes, another time to scrape horsehides that gave off an intolerable stench and another The story of six children, out of time they had her do field work or shepherding cattle and sheep. hundreds, who returned to Lubavitch: After a period of suffering and Zelig Altheus, Rivka and Mussia bitterness, she heard that a group was forming to return to Shapiro, Feigel, Rochel and Zalman Leningrad and she joined it. When she got there the siege had Kleiman. * Part 3 of 3 ended but the starvation was unbearable. She was hired to do [Continued from last issue] he had with his father: military industrial work and was “When my parents were given a place to live together with “SURELY YOU WILL informed that they had to send my other girls within the factory FORGET EVERYTHING sister and myself to the children’s compound, since her parents’ I TAUGHT YOU” home, they were extremely home had been destroyed in the worried about what would happen bombing. She tried to find out Let’s go back to the evacuation to us. Would we remember that what had happened to her parents from Leningrad. After the we were Jews? Each day my but received no new information. evacuations of the schools were father taught us the alef-beis, and In the meantime, her brother completed, the government began then reading from a and Zalman was constantly suffering to hurriedly evacuate the rest of Chumash too. He did this when from persecution and the children without investigating he came home from work. degradation. He completely forgot why they had not been evacuated “One day as we sat to learn, I his spiritual background. He was along with the schoolchildren. On suddenly saw tears in my father’s an eight year old child among one of the trains were Rochel’s eyes. I asked him, ‘Father, why gentiles, many of whom were sister and brother, 13 year old are you crying?’ bigger and stronger than him. In Feigel (Fania) and 8 year old “‘I’m not crying,’ he said. the diary he wrote afterwards he Zalman. “Then he drew me close and described the gangs of children R’ Zalman described in his patted my head and said, ‘No who preyed on younger and memoirs a touching moment that powerless children. He wrote

26 2 Iyar 5770 BEIS MOSHIACH about one child, Borinka, who was a sadist and ruled the class. All the children followed his orders. Whoever didn’t obey him was beaten and shamed. It was forbidden to report him since tattling was considered especially lowly. So the children suffered in silence. The bully even took the little bit of food they were given. Zalman forgot his home and the Chumash he learned with his father before they parted. He was educated as a communist and atheist.

ITTA, THE CHILDREN! R’ Zalman Kleiman standing first on the left, at the Rebbe’s farbrengen in Paris Shortly before the siege, Yaakov Kleinman managed to repeated itself, she felt she had to meet with his sister, Itta tell him what was going on. She Sassonkin on the border of began telling him that this was the Leningrad. They promised each third night that her brother was other that whoever remained alive coming to her in a dream and would make sure to look out for demanding that she take care of the other’s children. his children. Itta managed to escape “Do you know where they Leningrad with her children and are?” asked Rabbi Sossonkin. after much wandering and “Yes,” she answered. “I have hardships she arrived in their addresses.” Samarkand in Uzbekistan. This “So why were you quiet until was after she learned of the now? You must save them!” whereabouts of her father-in-law, The next day they worked on Rabbi Shmaryahu Nachum obtaining a visa and a ticket for Sossonkin. She quickly contacted the long trip from Samarkand to him and he sent her a message Siberia. While working on her telling her he was in Samarkand. R’ Zalman Kleiman travel plans, Itta received a One night she dreamed that telegram from the children’s home her brother was waking her up But her brother didn’t let up. that Zalman was in. The telegram with a light tap on her shoulder. As soon as she fell asleep, he was sent by Zalman’s teacher, one He said, “The children.” appeared again in her dream and who didn’t get along with a She woke up trembling and said, “Itta, the children!” This teacher who intended on adopting immediately realized what he went on for three nights. She Zalman. The telegram said, “If meant. She had promised her would fall asleep and her brother you want to meet the boy, hurry! brother that whoever remained would wake her up. The third He’s adopted!” alive after the war would take care night, she decided not to go back Now they understood of the other’s children. She to sleep, and she began pacing the everything, why the father hadn’t rejected the impractical idea of room at a loss as to what to do. rested until they began the rescue saving the children from Her father-in-law sat, as he operation. assimilation by bringing them to always did, and learned. He heard At the end of the exhausting her father-in-law, thinking “I’m his daughter-in-law walking trip, Itta Sassonkin arrived at the staying with my in-laws at a time around and he asked her why she children’s home where her of famine. How can I burden wasn’t sleeping. She answered nephew Zalman was already them with my brother’s children?” evasively. When the vision formally adopted by the teacher.

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 737 27 Zalman if he enjoyed music, and R’ Zalman became a full-fledged said that there were people who Chassid and used his natural talent for did not daven, but they went to the davening in order to hear the painting, becoming an artist whose niggunim. That was all he said. Zalman maintained his work has inspired countless thousands opposition to anything associated with religion, and then Rabbi of Jews. Sossonkin told him, “Whether you want to believe in G-d and He loved the teacher and was Leningrad where they met their Torah or not, you should know happy to return with her and all older sister, Feigel, and they all what it’s about.” the other children, to Leningrad. traveled to Samarkand and were Zalman, who loved to read, Itta tried to convince the school’s welcomed with open arms by R’ accepted the challenge. He administration and the teacher to Shmaryahu and Malka Sossonkin. enrolled in the underground forego the adoption. She Talmud Torah run by Rabbi explained to them that she was Gurevitz who was an excellent ALLOW ME TO teacher and had a rapport with the boy’s aunt, and that her EDUCATE THEM brother, the boy’s father, had the children. Zalman relearned the asked her to raise him if he died Although the physical trip was alef-beis, how to read, stories in the war. over, the spiritual task of from the Torah and writing. Itta also worked on convincing reacquainting the children with With Rabbi Sossonkin’s wise, 12-year-old Zalman to join her. Yiddishkait was quite a challenge. no-pressure approach, Zalman When they asked him if he wanted The sisters Feigel and Rochel became involved in Yiddishkait. A to go with his aunt, he said he remembered their home and few months later, he celebrated didn’t because he didn’t know returned to the path of Torah and his bar mitzva. All of Anash in her. Itta did not have documents Chassidus but Zalman, whenever Samarkand participated. Zalman attesting to the oral instructions their aunt Itta tried to convince reviewed a maamer Chassidus, her brother had given her. It was him to wear a yarmulke or to say which left his audience amazed by her tears that finally worked, and a bracha, he adamantly opposed the child who, just a few months Zalman was given over to her. her. This was thanks to the anti- before, didn’t remember the alef- They left for the orphanage in religious, communist education he beis and didn’t speak Yiddish. Siberia where Rochel was. Rochel had received for four years. The three of them left Russia describes what happened: When Rabbi Sossonkin saw together with relatives and arrived “I waited impatiently and they them arguing, he told his in Paris where Zalman attended a finally arrived. The meeting with daughter-in-law, “Itta, you did farbrengen with the Rebbe who my brother was very emotional. what you had to do. You rescued had come to Paris to arrange his We hadn’t seen each other for the children from the gentiles. mother’s trip to the United States. four years and Zalman was 12 Now, allow me to educate them.” R’ Zalman became a full- and a half and I was 13 and a He took on the role of fledged Chassid and used his half. We looked at each other and mechanech and said that the natural talent for painting, didn’t recognize one another. We children had to get used to their becoming an artist whose work just quietly looked at each other new home before anything else. has inspired countless thousands until my brother salvaged the They were not to be pressured of Jews. situation by asking me about about religious matters. The *** certain books, if I had read them, adults needed to wait, and the These six pure souls, and what I thought of them. My children would adapt. So when it Chassidishe neshamos, were aunt, on the other hand, didn’t came Yom Kippur and the entire nearly lost to their people but stop crying and kissing me and family went to a makeshift place were miraculously returned. looking at us as though she to daven, Zalman stayed home Sources: So’aros B’Dmama, Shlichus couldn’t believe it.” alone. At night, when the fast was Chayai, Geza Chassidim, , Mishpacha Chassidis From there they went to over, Rabbi Sossonkin asked

28 2 Iyar 5770 BEIS MOSHIACH shlichus SHLICHUS STORIES

By Rabbi Yaakov Shmuelevitz Shliach, Beit Shaan

to have a complicated operation and He approached R’ Gliss and hugged him chemotherapy to eliminate the like a child returning home after years malignant tumor in her throat. As soon as Amir heard this, he said he of being away and told him about the would be coming to his house “because we need to find a way to memories that had come back to him. save your wife.” Amir came to their apartment, He informed him that he was going to where he heard the whole story. About a month before the wedding, start doing t’shuva... Dedi’s wife discovered a mass in her throat. She went to a doctor, who IN THE MERIT OF continued learning where I had left said it must be removed TANYA PEREK ALEF off in Israel.” immediately. The operation was postponed to the week following the Shliach Rabbi Shimon Yardeni wedding. relates: MORE ABOUT AMIR The fact that her uncle was also One of the regular visitors to the About a year later, Amir returned sick with cancer added to our in Azur was Amir from Italy, got married and settled dread. The couple tried to spend as HaLevi. Amir grew up in Azur, in Afula, where he was guided by much time as they could with him, excelled in school and in the army, Rabbi Dovid Kretz, but he kept in but sadly, he died a few days after visited the Chabad house touch with R’ Yardeini and with the the wedding. Now it was Dedi’s occasionally for a t’filla or a shiur Chabad house in Azur. wife’s turn to deal with this terrible and then went off to university in One day, about three years after illness. A week after the wedding Milan, Italy, where he met the returning to Eretz Yisroel, he she underwent an operation to see shliach, Rabbi Tzemach Mizrachi. suddenly remembered his good what kind of tumor it was. Ten days In Milan he slowly but surely friend Dedi Levi. Dedi had worked later they were told that it was furthered his connection with the in Milan when Amir was there, and malignant and required further Rebbe and Chassidus, and was an they had attended shiurim and all surgery as well as chemotherapy. active member of the Chabad the Chabad house activities The procedure was scheduled for community. together, but since he returned to the following Monday. Rabbi , Israel they hardly ever met or spoke As it was then before Pesach, shliach in Milan, discovered Amir’s on the phone. He decided it was Amir brought three matzos along special abilities and “adopted” him time to reconnect. with him and said that the Rebbe as a talmid, friend and helper. When Amir called Dedi and asked how wrote that matzos are called ‘food I asked Amir what attracted him to he was. Dedi told him that a few of healing.’ He also suggested that Chabad in Italy he said weeks earlier he had also gotten they write to the Rebbe and ask for unhesitatingly, “When I was in Azur married and he lived in Tel Aviv and a bracha. Dedi and his wife wrote to I once learned the first chapter of all was well, but Amir sensed that the Rebbe and did a marathon of Tanya with R’ Yardeini. I was so things were not as fine as his friend davening, segulos and shiurim. excited by it that as soon as I met was making them sound. Indeed, Together with Amir they contacted the shliach, R’ Mizrachi in the ‘Beis Dedi eventually confided that his some shluchim, R’ Yardeini of Azur HaTalmud,’ I went over to him and wife was sick with cancer; she had and R’ Nir of the Florentine

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 737 29 operation. Dedi apologized drily, “What are you talking about? You don’t “What is the point in asking when need any treatments!” the doctor we are anticipating a year’s worth of chemotherapy?” exclaimed. He told them that in all his “What are you talking about? You don’t need any treatments!” the medical experience he had never seen doctor exclaimed. He told them that in all his medical experience he had anything like this. Statistically, such a thing never seen anything like this. Statistically, such a thing occurs occurs once in several thousand cases. “The once in several thousand cases. test shows that your wife is perfectly fine “The test shows that your wife is perfectly fine and there is no need and there is no need for further treatment. I for further treatment. I consider this consider this a miracle.” a miracle.” T’FILLIN WITH neighborhood in Tel Aviv, a shliach woman opened a new store and at the Chabad center on Sheinkin while setting up the store she found THE TRAFFIC COP Street. The shliach who arranged that dollar. When R’ Nir went to put In the past I wrote of a few their wedding, Rabbi Eliezer Brod a up in the store, she told situations in which shluchim didn’t of Karmei Yosef, also encouraged him about the dollar she had found. get a ticket thanks to their shlichus. them to ask the Rebbe for a bracha “It was 4:00 on Sunday when Before I tell you the next story, I through the Igros Kodesh. my husband and I went to get the want to make it clear that in no way dollar from her. She even showed us do I advocate ignoring traffic laws. CLEAR SIGNS THAT the picture of her receiving the On the contrary! Be careful with all the rules and you’ll protect your life THERE WOULD BE A dollar from the Rebbe personally. To our amazement, we saw in the as well as your pocket. MIRACLE photo that the woman received the A shliach told me he often “We strongly felt the spiritual dollar from the Rebbe at 4:00 (the knocks on doors and asks people to encouragement of all the clock is visible in the picture). put on t’fillin. Most of the time Lubavitchers who didn’t stop “On our way back home from people are happy to oblige but praying for us, calling, encouraging the woman’s house we were so sometimes he gets yelled at and the and blessing us,” relates Dedi’s excited. I remember feeling that all door slams in his face. One Friday, wife. “As the date of the operation the tzaddikim were accompanying he went knocking on doors at the got closer, we saw clear signs that a us and enveloping us in a protective yishuv and about ten minutes before miracle was about to happen. The hug, and with Hashem’s help we Shabbos he arrived at the home of a first sign was in the letter we would be done with this awful (volunteer) traffic cop, who was opened to in the Igros Kodesh. disease.” known as a tough guy and a stickler There was a line there that spoke Dedi recalled that when they about every detail in the traffic code about a miracle of rescue on returned home from the shliach’s of law. The shliach was a bit Monday and a bracha for health. house in the south of Tel Aviv with nervous about how the man would The day before the operation, R’ Nir the dollar, his wife was literally react to his suggestion but not only called us again and told us that just crying in great emotion. Of course, did he willingly agree, a senior that day he found a dollar from the they took the Rebbe’s dollar to the official in the traffic department Rebbe for us. operation. who was visiting was also happy to “R’ Nir explained that the owner The operation was successful put on t’fillin. of a store in Tel Aviv, who used to and the doctor instructed Dedi and About two weeks later, the live in the United States, once went his wife to come in a week to shliach’s wife took the nine-seater to the Rebbe to ask for a bracha for arrange dates for a series of family van and was stopped by a a shidduch. To her surprise, the chemotherapy treatments. policeman. It seems that a month Rebbe blessed her with health. By A week later the doctor censured earlier a law had been passed amazing Divine Providence, today, a Dedi for not asking what they had requiring all cars designated as day before the operation, the seen in the test done after the “little buses” to have a special

30 2 Iyar 5770 BEIS MOSHIACH registration, and she didn’t have it. the next 22 years, either. knew what he had to do; he decided The policeman explained that she What changed? The man started that the next morning he would find had to take the van to a hearing at a local radio station in Dimona and t’fillin and start putting them on the police station in Beit Dagan, every Friday afternoon for an hour, every day. He approached R’ Gliss where it would be impounded for a R’ Gliss and R’ Nissim Chamu and hugged him like a child month. In addition, she would broadcast divrei Torah, Chassidishe returning home after years of being receive a fine plus a summons to stories and updates from the away and told him about the appear in court. The fine would be Chabad house. He listened to it and memories that had come back to increased by 100 shekels each day it had an effect on him. him. He informed him that he was the van wasn’t brought in, up to a He got an invitation to R’ Gliss’ going to start doing t’shuva. total of 3000 shekels. daughter’s wedding in Kfar Chabad This man attended the 3 The shliach consulted his friend and decided to attend. As he heard Tammuz farbrengen and he who the traffic cop, who in turn spoke to the Dalet Bavos before the chuppa had run away from t’fillin and a friend in the prosecution began, he suddenly began to cry. He mitzvos for decades was now department of the police. He found remembered that twenty years joining R’ Gliss on mivtza t’fillin. out that the new law wasn’t yet in earlier, this had been sung at his As a follow-up to the farbrengen, effect as regards enforcement, and wedding. Though he’d chosen to get someone suggested that they raise the hearing and the fine should be married far away from rabbis, money to buy this man a pair of canceled. His friend the cop called religion and , having the t’fillin. Hearts and pockets opened him and told him the ticket was ceremony on the beach in Eilat, and enough money was donated to canceled and he could go back to fortunately for him, a young rabbi buy t’fillin. his learning and mivtzaim. came to officiate by the name of A child who had been sitting Rabbi Yosef Hecht. This rabbi had there got up. Ten year old Arke ONE FARBRENGEN arranged for the band to play the Gliss – to the astonishment of his IN DIMONA Dalet Bavos, which was also father – said that he was donating recorded on the video and he 20 shekels towards the t’fillin. Later, On 3 Tammuz there was a watched it occasionally. he told his father that he had found farbrengen in Dimona with a few Now it all came back to him and a 20 shekel bill on his way to the dozen Chassidim and mekuravim. he remembered his parents’ home farbrengen. He’d been thinking R’ Gliss announced that he wanted and the religious education he had about what game or book he would to say his hachlata. He introduced it gotten. He recalled all the years he buy with it but when the money was by saying that he had just been at a had been estranged from k’dusha being raised he decided to give what Sheva Brachos in Kiryat Gat where and he cried throughout the he had towards the t’fillin. he met a Chassid from the chuppa. There, at the wedding, he community who visits the local high school once or twice a week to put t’fillin on with interested students. He had decided that he would do the same in Dimona. Immediately, one of the people present said, “R’ Gliss, I will join you. Just tell me what time to be there.” A minute went by and someone else said that in the event the first person couldn’t make it, he volunteered to take his place. This latter person was not religious. He had previously voted for a communist party called Rekach in the Knesset elections only because there was no party more Leftist than that. He used to say that for 22 years he had not put on t’fillin and would not be doing so in

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 737 31 moshiach & science

beard, kippa or tzitzis. In fact I was as secular as they get. I remember being distinctly irritated by this odd crusader. OF FACTS Obviously if I’m not religious I don’t consider it my Torah. And if it is my Torah what business did he have meddling in it or in my beliefs? But he was twice my AND age and three times my size so I just said, “Oh really. How’s that?” “The fact is the Torah makes a bona fide falsifiable zoological FEELINGS hypothesis.” Noticing that he had caught my attention Dr. Jacques continued, “You probably know that there are two traits that By Dr. Aryeh Gotfryd distinguish kosher mammals. They need to have split hooves As we have spent much of Nissan and chew the cud. The Torah specifies that there are just four reading Parshas Shmini, here is an types of mammals that have only one of those two signs - the anecdote featuring a controversial camel, the hyrax, the hare and the pig.” claim that this Parsha contains a Now Moses lived over 3,000 scientific proof that the Torah is Divine. years ago. All he knew was a part of the Middle East and a little corner of Africa. How many The Ramsay Wright Zoological noting my long pony tail, plaid mammal species could he have Institute takes up a city block of flannel shirt and threadbare, possibly known? 50? 100? Vast downtown Toronto, a tall, broad faded blue jeans, the informal regions of the world were slab of offices, laboratories and uniform of the non-conformists completely uninhabited. He would classrooms at the heart of the of the 1970’s. have no knowledge whatsoever of University campus. On my first He must have also noticed my the Americas or Australia. Even day of graduate school, after ethnically distinct nose for he Northern Europe and the far East settling into my very own cubicle opened the conversation with were quite inaccessible in his day. on the fourth floor, I went on to words you normally first hear Yet the Torah went out of its way meet with Roger Hansell, the from a Lubavitcher. “Are you to claim that there are just these distinguished professor who was Jewish?” he asked me. four types. And you know what? charged with supervising the No one had ever asked me that By now we have catalogued over development my doctoral thesis in before. It was the last thing I 5,000 mammalian species and applied ecology. expected to hear. “Yes,” I replied still no fifth kind. We were deep into discussion tentatively, and just to be friendly How could Moses have been when his office door opened and returned the question, “Are you?” privy that arcane zoological fact? in sauntered a neighboring “No, actually my background Obviously that text could only professor from down the hall. is Catholic. But I could prove to have been composed by One with Jacques Berger, a microbiologist, you that your Torah is of divine knowledge of all the world’s was as big a man as his subject origin.” fauna. Now Who or What might matter was small. He had come Why in the world, I wondered that be?” in, it seems, to size up his to myself, is this non-Jew trying Having concluded his little buddy’s new graduate student. to convince me to believe in the dissertation, he paused waiting He looked me up and down, Torah? Back then, I didn’t have a for my response. Prof. Hansell

32 2 Iyar 5770 BEIS MOSHIACH looked bemused, wondering what boom and bust. learning about the subject as the I would say. But all I could Suddenly the Torah was Rebbe says in the D’var Malchus muster was, “That’s interesting.” relevant. That’s when I needed to of Tazria-Metzora, but what But truth be told it wasn’t have all the scientific questions about people who aren’t interesting. The whole subject left addressed. I wanted to make sure interested? The key is to find out me high and dry, basically bored. I wasn’t getting sucked in to what they are interested in and Since I wasn’t really looking for some dumb religion or mindless talk about the Moshiach G-d, it didn’t really matter to me cult. dimension of that! Once you have if I found Him, especially not in Satisfied with the Truth of their attention, they will be more the Torah. Torah, I went on to a lifestyle of receptive. But what a gentile studying and practicing it. As the Rebbe says (quoted in microbiology professor could not Looking back I see that mastering Mind Over Matter, p.11), “We accomplish, a shliach of the the science of living beings is see clearly that in areas of the Lubavitcher Rebbe could. A few indeed impressive, but it’s soul, the emotions have a far years later, I found myself mastering the art of being alive greater effect than the intellect.” listening to Rabbi Manis that is truly compelling. Friedman address a gathering of There’s a lesson in this about Dr. Aryeh (Arnie) Gotfryd, PhD is a college students about love, Moshiach and Geula as well. chassid, environmental scientist, dating and relationships. He Many times we see that people author and educator living near Toronto, Canada. To contact, read showed how the Torah way of life are apathetic to the facts about more or to book him for a talk, and love preserves dignity and the Rebbe being Moshiach and contact him at 416-858-9868 or sustains passion compared to how his prophecy of immediate [email protected]. secular relationships basically redemption. The best antidote is LIVE SHIURIM 0NLINE cwwv Anywhere, Anytime ! j,ww, INYONEI GEULA unahj dtukv gbhbh & MOSHIACH rncwwo RAMBAM ckeuyh ahgurho SHIURIM IN LIKUTEI eusa ahju, SICHOS KODESH

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BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 737 33 shlichus

variety of ways. The response among local residents has been tremendous, and you can see it in WHO every corner, on every street, and in every home. He is referred to here among his many admirers as “the wandering shliach.” With youthful DOESNT spirit he unhesitatingly leaps along the muddy and rocky terrain, courageously facing wild dogs as he makes his way to another Jew, bringing a little light to his soul LOVE THE and trying to instill him with hope and faith. We recently joined him on one of the two trips that he makes on a weekly basis. We met with people REBBE? up close, detected the sparkle in their eyes, and saw the great appreciation they have for him. We participated in a class on chassidus By Nosson Avrohom in a location cut off from Translated By Michoel Leib Dobry civilization, and we left totally amazed. En route to Moshav Shefer, our Rabbi Aharon Shiffman is the Rebbe’s first stop, as the car windows overlooked Meron’s green shliach in charge of Chabad activities vineyards, we spoke with Rabbi Shiffman about his younger years at Moshav Shefer and Kibbutz Farod, in Yerushalayim and his studies in located in the heart of the mystical the Litvish Itri Yeshiva. Rabbi Shiffman shared with us the forests and groves of the region of Mt. feelings that engulfed him as a youth and his constant search for Meron. Here is the story of his long and the flavor that would bring excitement to his Torah learning. It circuitous journey from the Lithuanian- turned out that he wasn’t the only one in his class who felt that way. brand Itri Yeshiva in Yerushalayim to He and nine of his friends formed Chabad to the mountains of the Galilee. an underground group, going out early in the morning for classes in chassidus with Rabbi Berel Shur, of The sun is shining, and the serves as their address for all blessed memory, one of the buds of spring are visible in every matters of Yiddishkait – Rabbi Rebbe’s shluchim in Eretz corner of Moshav Shefer and Aharon Shiffman. Even rainy HaKodesh. nearby Kibbutz Farod, both located winter nights and oppressively hot R’ Dovid Kramer was the living at the foothills of Mt. Meron. For summer days do not dim his spirit in the yeshiva. He was the the past two decades, the residents characteristically kindhearted smile one who brought many of the of this traditional agricultural as he visits these two yishuvim to students to the chassidus shiurim. settlement and this United Kibbutz give over classes in chassidus, Though he was a third year Movement cooperative have been encourage greater participation in student, his circle of influence privileged to benefit from a shiurim, and spread the light of encompassed even first-year dynamic and vigorous shliach who Yiddishkait and chassidus in a students just starting their yeshiva

34 2 Iyar 5770 BEIS MOSHIACH studies. “In my class, there were nine students who were drawn after him, and there were more students who came from other classes. Among these students were Rabbi Yaakov Shmuelevitz, who today serves as the Rebbe’s shliach in Beit She’an, Rabbi Shlomo Berkowitz, shliach in Rosh Pina, Rabbi Yaakov Steinberger from Yerushalayim, and many others. We all felt that there was a degree of enthusiasm missing in our learning, and we were looking for the spice that would arouse us to a greater sense of enjoyment in our Torah study. “We found all this in the Rabbi Aharon Shiffman (second from right) saying “L’chaim” with local residents at a chassidic farbrengen chassidus classes. Learning about the need for preparation before davening, mivtzaim, and the No bachur outside of our group was Rebbe’s sichos gave us tremendous enthusiasm. I remember how we allowed to know about our connection would go out every Motzaei Shabbos Mevarchim to listen to the to the Rebbe and Chabad chassidus, so broadcasts of the Rebbe’s sichos at that the yeshiva administration Toras Emes. We would take the last bus at midnight, when wouldn’t find out about it and stop us. we knew the counselors would no longer be on the yeshiva grounds, up with us. He called us in on Chabad yeshiva: We studied and we returned to yeshiva on the Sunday morning, when we came chassidus, went out on mivtzaim, first bus at six in the morning. This back from the broadcast at Toras and spoke amongst ourselves with was in 5738, when the Rebbe’s Emes. He asked where we had just great appreciation for the Rebbe. Motzaei Shabbos farbrengens were come from, and we had to tell him “In 5740, when we completed broadcast in Eretz Yisroel and the truth. our studies in yeshiva k’tana and throughout the world. We became “To our great surprise, not only began discussing where we would regular guests at Toras Emes. didn’t he make any problems over learn in yeshiva g’dola, we declared “Even though we were a the matter, he reacted by saying, ‘If that we wanted to continue our relatively large group of bachurim, only they would all be like you.’ I studies at Yeshivas Tomchei we conducted ourselves still remember him asking, ‘What T’mimim in Kfar Chabad. clandestinely. No bachur outside of are you ashamed of?’ He was quite Tremendous shock reigned in the our group was allowed to know impressed by the fact that instead yeshiva that such a large group of about our connection to the Rebbe of wasting our time and resting in bachurim wanted to go learn in a and Chabad chassidus, so that the our room, we trudged all the way Chabad yeshiva. It was no easier yeshiva administration wouldn’t to hear broadcasts of the Rebbe’s for our parents, but with the find out about it and stop us. Each sichos and give other Jews the passage of time, they got used to it. Shabbos, we would walk a opportunity to fulfill mitzvos. We soon started to build our considerable distance to the nearby “In fact, we also used to walk chassidic world in Tomchei Baka neighborhood to make every Friday to the Allenby border T’mimim. Shabbos groups for the local police station for ‘T’fillin “After two years in Kfar children. I’ll never forget the Campaign’ activities. Though we Chabad, I joined the then-fledgling Shabbos when one of the yeshiva were students in a Litvish yeshiva, Chabad yeshiva in Tzfas. From counselors, Rabbi Moshe Shmuel we acted as if we were learning in a there I continued on to a year of HaKohen, a Gerer chassid, caught

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 737 35 organize numerous classes and Though we were students in a Litvish rallies here throughout the year.” yeshiva, we acted as if we were learning We didn’t have much time to delay, as Rabbi Shiffman had in a Chabad yeshiva: We studied scheduled us to meet several families that he visits regularly chassidus, went out on mivtzaim, and before each holiday. We proceeded first to the home of Mr. Meir Ben- spoke amongst ourselves with great Ezra, a retired brigadier general who today serves as head of the appreciation for the Rebbe. settlement’s local council. It was difficult to miss Ben-Ezra’s smile k’vutza, just like any other Chabad of avreichim arriving in the Holy as he noticed the appearance of bachur. City. Even before my marriage, I Rabbi Shiffman. While we were “During my year on k’vutza, was offered a position as a teacher there, Shiffman said of Ben-Ezra, 5744, I was privileged to merit with the Menachem Chabad “To his credit, he arranges the several expressions of closeness boys’ school, and I’ve been police permits for each Lag from the Rebbe. Since I didn’t working there ever since – over B’Omer parade, enabling us to pass come from a Chabad home, it twenty-six years! by the barricades set up all over wasn’t always easy to cope. I “Yet, throughout this period and due to the masses who come to remember one occasion when I was beyond, I have always felt that in celebrate on Mt. Meron.” standing outside 770, feeling rather addition to my shlichus in the field The compliments were by no down. Suddenly, the Rebbe came of education, I also had an means one-sided. “You should just out of his room, and when he obligation to spread the wellsprings know that Rabbi Shiffman is a part noticed me, he turned in my of chassidus.” of the moshav’s landscape,” Ben direction, looked at me, and gave The conversation continued. Ezra informed me. “I don’t know me a strong gesture of Time passed quickly, and we found what we would do without him. For encouragement. That gesture ourselves in the meantime at the the past twenty years, he reminds washed away all the difficulties and entrance to Moshav Shefer, a us prior each holiday about its brought me back in line. pastoral and magical little significance. Before , he The most interesting thing that settlement with a breathtaking view comes with mishloach manos, and happened during my k’vutza year rich in forest green and blooming with a Hagada and shmura matzos took place at the end of . I flowers. The sounds of the gushing before Pesach. He is invited to was having serious thoughts about streams outside the moshav are every event, and participates in returning to Eretz Yisroel, and I testimony to the sizable rainfall that every simcha. He’s not a guest; decided to break with the the region has been blessed with he’s our brother!” As Mrs. Ben- customary student yechidus during the recent winter season. Ezra offered some kosher schedule and go in for a general Before visiting the homes of l’mehadrin refreshments, Rabbi yechidus in the middle of the year, several local residents in Shiffman shared with us the story on the 23rd of Kislev. preparation for the Pesach holiday, of the moshav’s Tanya printing, “Years later, I discovered that we first made a stop at the local which took place in 5744 with my wife, Libby a”h, had been in the synagogue, where I was surprised Rabbi Aharon Eliezer Ceitlin. same yechidus. She had come to to see the words “Chochma, Bina, The printing was in memory of spend Chanukah in Beis Chayeinu, Daas” over one of the rooms. “This two soldiers from the moshav, Mr. and it turned out that this was the room was set up by the Ben-Ezra’s brother and a member first and only time each of us had a synagogue’s gabbai, Rabbi Shimon of the Atedgi family. The two were yechidus with the Rebbe! We Kadosh. He appreciated our killed in the Tzur tragedy during looked at this as an indication of activities and decided to build a the First Lebanon War. Mr. Ben- how the Rebbe had bound our room especially for us. When he Ezra fondly remembers that many souls together. completed the construction, he local residents took part in the “At the conclusion of the k’vutza decided to give it this name. Tanya printing. “The Tanya was year, I returned to Tzfas. Several “All the activities with the local printed before Shavuos,” recalled of my friends had also come to children take place in this room,” Rabbi Shiffman, “and Rabbi Ceitlin town, resulting in a whole stream Rabbi Shiffman explained. “We made certain to send several copies

36 2 Iyar 5770 BEIS MOSHIACH from the printing to the Rebbe’s secretariat. Incredibly, the Rebbe came down for the Shavuos farbrengen with this Tanya and placed it on the table where he sat. This brought these two families closer to chassidus, as they saw how the Rebbe is involved not only with the Jewish People as a whole, but with them personally as well.” At this point, we parted from our first host and continued on our journey to the next family, the Vaknins. Rabbi Shiffman knows every nook and cranny of the moshav quite well. “This family lives here, and that family lives there,” he points out, as if there are his own children. The father of the Vaknin family is not home, but we met with his wife, who runs a pair of family-sized guest rooms in the courtyard of their home. After exchanging greetings, Mrs. Vaknin shared with us the story of a miracle from the Rebbe that she personally experienced. “For several years, we hadn’t been privileged to have any children,” she confided. “We tried everything that the medical world had to offer, but nothing helped. We endured twelve years of grief, sorrow, fear, and concern. Then we met with Rabbi Shiffman, and we wrote a letter to the Rebbe (top): Rabbi Shiffman (speaking) at a farbrengen at Moshav Shefer in 5753 together. Some time afterwards, he (bottom): Rabbi Aharon Shiffman at Lag B’Omer activities on Moshav Shefer returned to us with an answer in a miracle had been performed for related her experiences in Beis the form of a bracha from the them. The answer came after he Chayeinu. Among the women Rebbe. We then waited to see how organized a large gathering in present was Mrs. Vaknin, who told things would develop. I was to be Moshav Safsufa, where everyone the story of how her son starting a fertility treatment shortly Masas serves as the Chabad was born with the Rebbe’s thereafter, but the Rebbe’s bracha shliach. Many women came for this bracha…” was realized first, and I discovered gathering, and a raffle was held for The clock showed that it was that I had become pregnant an airline ticket to the Rebbe. The nine o’clock in the evening, and without any medical intervention! winner joined a group that Rabbi Rabbi Shiffman hurried to the next Nine months later, we were blessed Ceitlin organized for the coming destination: his regular chassidus with a healthy baby boy, and more winter. When she returned to Eretz class in the special tent erected by children eventually followed, all Yisroel, there was a tremendous Moshe Genish, avowed nature completely naturally.” spiritual awakening. “Since we lover and talented musician, When we left Mrs. Vaknin’s wanted everyone to catch the located among the wooded forests house, Rabbi Shiffman told me that excitement, we held a ‘Kabbalas at the outskirts of Moshav Amirim. for several years, he wasn’t sure Panim’ assembly, during which she During the brief ride, I asked whether the couple recognized that

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 737 37 the difficulties that were heaped in Chazal tell us that all beginnings are our path. We continued to spread difficult, but ours was especially so… the wellsprings of chassidus there through Torah classes and one-on- Threats of banishment were made one activities with those with whom we had already established a against anyone who rented us a connection. Amirim has recently acquired its own shliach – R’ building. Nocham Einav – who operates and lives on the premises and does Rabbi Shiffman to complete the protest, trying to cause problems tremendous work there. picture of the shlichus here and tell for us and put a stop to our “About a decade ago, Kibbutz me how all this essentially activities. These were not easy Farod, located near Moshav Shefer, materialized, where does it stem times. Threats of banishment were joined the list. During the Purim from, and when did it all start. made against anyone who rented us seuda at the home of Rabbi David “In 5747, the Rebbe spoke a building. Things came to a head Dahan, rav of Shefer, we met a much about the establishment of at the 5748 Lag B’Omer parade. recent baal t’shuva living in Farod Chabad Houses. Among the more Many people took part in the event, named R’ Mordechai Mizrachi. He well-known sichos, the Rebbe said and the son of the woman who led suggested that we make a Tanya on the pasuk in Parshas VaYeira, the efforts against us won first class in his home, and we happily ‘And Avraham planted an eshel’. prize in the raffle. Nevertheless, we agreed. What did he establish? A Chabad were unable to complete the parade “Numerous residents of Farod House!…” activities as planned. People and the surrounding yishuvim came A tremendous aura of organized confrontational for the class. Rabbi Yitzchak excitement reigned that year in demonstrations against us, and the Kadosh of Tzfas joined me Tzfas among the avreichim. They event broke up. regularly and made his car available accepted the task of establishing “We left the gates of the yishuv for these activities, and he has Chabad Houses on the moshavim rather embarrassed, but continued to do so until this day. and kibbutzim throughout the immediately decided that we would With the passage of time, the class Upper Galilee region and along the not give up. We entered the nearby moved to a shelter that serves as northern border. “The Rebbe’s Moshav Shefer settlement, passed the kibbutz synagogue, and for the shturem on the subject was through the streets, and invited the ten years since then, the class has continuous. I spoke with Rabbi children to a spontaneous Lag taken place on a regular weekly Dovid Aharon Notik, then a young B’Omer parade. We had no candies basis. Many of those who avreich in the community, about to give out and no organized participated in the shiur during the starting a Chabad House on one of program. Yet, within a short period early years have since established the moshavim in the region. We of time, many children had Torah observant homes, and a approached Rabbi Yitzchak Lipsh, gathered in the center of the number of them have even adopted director of Chabad House activities moshav and we held a special the ways of Chabad chassidus and in Tzfas, and he suggested the parade. The moshav residents, the Rebbe. This class has also led naturist settlement of Moshav mainly traditional in their to activities on Chanukah, Purim, Amirim. We accepted the mission, observance, accepted us with open and Lag B’Omer.” and within a few days, we made arms and much affection. We One of those who got closer to our way to the yishuv and publicly decided at that moment to include Yiddishkait as a result of the class announced the foundation of a Moshav Shefer in our activities as and made a 180 degree turn in his local branch of Chabad. We well, and the rest is history. Since lifestyle is R’ Ronen Malul, who immediately started home visits and then, outreach activities on the lives today in Tzfas and is now Torah classes. moshav have merely grown and supplementing what he had been “Chazal tell us that all intensified. All the threats simply missing in his Torah studies as part beginnings are difficult, but ours led to greater expansion and of the kollel program in the local was especially so. While there were development. Chabad yeshiva. He now tells his many local residents who favored “However, the activities in own personal story: our activities, there were also Shefer have not been at the “I was born in Kiryat Shmona several who raised their voices in expense of those in Amirim, despite and, like every young Israeli, went

38 2 Iyar 5770 BEIS MOSHIACH through school and then the army. At the conclusion of my military AND ALL THOSE WHO ASSIST service, I worked as a security IN THE HOLY WORK inspector for the Arkia domestic Among those who participate on a regular basis are R’ Avraham airline. Afterwards, I studied Asayag, R’ Yitzchak Kadosh, R’ Gil Heller, R’ Yosef Yitzchak Bronstein, biotechnology at Tel-Chai R’ Shlomo Benisti, R’ Moshe Gueta, Rabbi Malkiel Machputz, and Academic College, and upon Rabbi Meir Masas. completing my studies, I was However, none of these activities could have been made possible offered a job with the Intel Co. in without the help and support of his wife, Mrs. Libby Feigele Malka Kiryat Gat. Shiffman, of blessed memory, whose first yahrtzait was commemorated “From a material standpoint, I this year on the 6th of Nissan. “I couldn’t have done a thing without had it all. I was earning a good her,” Rabbi Shiffman recalled. “She accepted guests cheerfully and salary, had rented a house at a invested immeasurable efforts in our outreach activities. Despite the nearby kibbutz, and was a regular long hours that I spent out of the house, she was a constant source of guest in hotels. Yet I began to encouragement and support, as she believed that these activities would experience a tremendous feeling of hasten the Rebbe’s hisgalus. May it be G-d’s Will that the destined emptiness – a deep and heavy promise of ‘Arise and sing, those who dwell in the dust’ will soon be sense that there was something realized, and she will be among them.” lacking in my life. I have had such feelings from time to time in the past, but I was always able to calm myself with the belief that with Rabbi Shiffman would call me sufficient material wellbeing, the feelings would eventually occasionally to ensure that everything dissipate. But when this approach was going all right, both materially and didn’t seem to be helping, I decided that in order to quench spiritually. That’s true devotion. my thirst, I would have to start working on my spirituality. I settlement of Ohr HaGanuz. I to establish a connection with him. commenced a program of study in decided to go study there, renting a “Rabbi Shiffman invited me to alternative medicine, including house in nearby Kibbutz Farod to his house for Shabbos on healing, meditation, Bach flower reduce travel expenses. numerous occasions, but I would remedy – almost everything “By Divine Providence, a group always find an excuse not to come. available in the field – but the of young baalei t’shuva was formed Finally, I decided one week to feelings persisted. As a final on the kibbutz and I started getting accept his invitation, and I was resort, I bought a one-way ticket close to them. Each of them had fascinated by the Shabbos table, to India. I was sure that I would been influenced by a different the well-educated children, and his eventually ‘find myself’ there, and organization – one through eishes chayil Libby a”h, who served would have no reason to return to Breslov, a second through HaRav everything with great devotion and Eretz Yisroel. I never considered Kook, a third by Chabad, and dedication to everyone’s great looking into Judaism, as I had another by all of them together… satisfaction. I was enthralled. I saw always perceived it to be a vast From my new friends I began things that I had never seen world of meaningless laws with hearing about Judaism and even anywhere before. Someone who little spiritual value. started putting on t’fillin, but I still has been exposed to this since birth “I traveled to numerous places didn’t become a part of the group. can never possibly understand how in India, but my spiritual hunger I felt that this was a step in the truly unique it is. The entire only grew and intensified until it right direction, but it wasn’t “it”. experience, together with Rabbi became frustrating and All this changed when I met Rabbi Shiffman’s unwavering display of burdensome. I was becoming Shiffman. He gave classes on the concern and vigor, how he was totally disgusted by Indian kibbutz and in R’ Moshe Genish’s always there to break my fall and , and I decided to return tent on the slopes of Moshav lift me up again, brought me to to Eretz Yisroel. I heard from a Amirim. His explanations seemed Chabad.” close friend that there was a college valid and it didn’t take long for me [To be continued be”H] in Chinese medicine at the Galilee

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 737 39 shleimus ha’aretz NETANYAHUS GHETTO: YERUSHALAYIM

By Raanan Isseroff

that, but Jews the world over are All the signs point to “Tricky Bibi” at given two choices: The first choice work once again. How can we know? is: “Total Building Restrictions”. The second choice being the backing of a Look at what is going on: Mr. government that defiantly (nay: “Boldly”) “fights” the enemies of Netanyahu agrees to ANY restrictions Israel who are “twisting her arm” forcing the Jewish withdrawal from on building and then “appears defiant” her capital city by only allowing “limited construction”. over a little bit that is not adhered to? The Jewish public is supposed to The fact that he is able to agree to any believe that these are the ONLY choices open for Israel today. building restrictions shows clearly that This of course, is a preface to the present political powers and in fact Israel is in control and is individuals who hold sway over Israel’s governing bodies to give willingly choosing to give away its over total control of to foreign entities. Entities who governing powers over Jerusalem. traditionally, religiously and historically despise Jews. In accordance with the A number of political shell games No matter. The PR machine is Lubavitcher Rebbe’s directive not to have been created to make this seem working overtime to cleverly create give away even one inch of Eretz as if this is a true issue by the the false impression that removing Yisroel, I would like to discuss one creation of false choices that in Jewish control over these areas is a of several confusing issues that are reality take away the choice of Jews “necessary” option. The question presented to Jewry worldwide. It’s to live in their own land. A land they wish to create in everyone’s important to see through the promised to them by G-d as it says minds is that “how much” control emotional ultimatum that “we must in the Torah and l’havdil, the books will the ghetto Jew of Jerusalem accept” their compromising terms: of various major religions. A land allow himself to be left with? Terms that give Israel’s land to those upon which Israel was unfairly “Israeli Jew” thunders Israel’s who hate us and leave Israelis attacked in four wars and won, government: “You have a choice.” exposed to more death and more gaining all of her present territory. Which Ghetto will you create for suffering. Today’s shell game in the yourself? The Jerusalem Ghetto of The latest “issue” that has been continued efforts to give-away land “No Building Allowing” (and No manufactured is that “Jews must and mask it in a cloak of Babies either by the way) or a give up Jerusalem with righteousness is that “we must have Ghetto in which you will at least compromises” (as quoted a number building restrictions” on any have some “freedom of choice” to of times by former PM Olmert). construction in Jerusalem. Not only build a “little bit”. But please

40 2 Iyar 5770 BEIS MOSHIACH continue to back us politically (and the thought that Mr. Netanyahu Yossi Beilin, a Labor Party of course send us your American gave away land before when he was negotiator in the Israeli-PLO dollars (we do take credit cards) so Prime Minister previously in June of accords worked out secretly in that we can further your “choices” 1997 and now he has been Norway in 1993, welcomed of having no-choice…” resurrected by the political powers Netanyahu to the “Oslo Club.” We are told that the options are that be to engineer an Israeli land Mr. Netanyahu is a very as follows: Total restrictions on give-away again! Not only that, but experienced politician whose building or what the Netanyahu he wants us Jews to rally to “Show mandated mission as part of the government is offering: “Limited him support”. Support for another “Oslo Club” is to give away the city construction”. Without mentioning land give away that is. So clever. of Jerusalem while preserving the the embarrassing question of why a Mr. Netanyahu is affable, Israeli government’s image of “being sovereign ruling government is charming, debonair, polite and good for the Jews” at the same time. making deals to give away it’s diplomatic. In short an Israeli Only a man of his talents and constituencies land that will “Poster Boy”. Political qualities that qualifications might be capable of ultimately remove its power and are the complete opposite of his pulling off such a feat. cease its ability to protect its Jewish brutish predecessor former PM All the signs point to “Tricky citizens? Olmert. Bibi” at work once again. How can Certainly, anyone who voted for While the qualities are different we know? Look at what is going on: any of the people in power did not and his image in the media much Mr. Netanyahu agrees to ANY do so in order that they should put more popular, but his mission does restrictions on building and then their voting citizenry in any sort of not appear to be any different than “appears defiant” over a little bit that danger! In fact, one might even view his predecessor as evidenced by his is not adhered to? The fact that he is such acts as contrary to their declaring only weeks after his able to agree to any building mission of furthering the safety and election that he wishes to resume the restrictions shows clearly that in fact security of the country. There are a stalled Peace Talks last spring. Today Israel is in control and is willingly few names for such people and acts, is the good result of his trip to choosing to give away its governing but I want to take a look at the Washington last May. powers over Jerusalem. “confusing issues” so that we can Let’s look back in time to Why pray tell, did Mr. properly understand how this goes thirteen short years ago. This was on Netanyahu agree to ANY restrictions against what the Rebbe has asked of the front page of the Baltimore Sun to begin with? Because my dear Jews the world over and us, his January 19, 1997: reader, this is all just a sham. A Chassidim in the proper spirit of not Hebron accord breaks course theatrical show cleverly being a “Tzaddik in Pelts”. Netanyahu becomes the first choreographed to build public What is a Tzaddik in Pelts? Likud leader to give up biblical support for a cause no normal There are two kinds of people. One land person would ever agree to. National sees that it is cold outside and puts January 19, 1997 suicide. on a coat (A fur coat is called a By Ann LoLordo, SUN Previous Israeli governments “Pelts”). He is nice and warm, while FOREIGN STAFF already secretly gave away everyone else is cold. The second JERUSALEM — When Israeli everything and agreed to ALL guy sees it is cold, makes a nice fire, Prime Minister Benjamin restrictions on building. CIA and others benefit from its warmth. Netanyahu signed off on the deal factbook maps of Israel, West Bank This is the Jewish way. As it says to withdraw Israeli forces from and Golan available on the Internet that Jews are “Bayshanim, Hebron last week; he became the are ample proof of this. However, Rachamonim and Gomlei first leader of the Likud bloc ever Israel cannot do anything publicly Chassidim” (Shy, Merciful and to give away a piece of Eretz Israel until its citizens agree to make these Doers of Kindness) — the biblical . secret agreements legally binding. I received an email recently in He departed from the The powers that be in Israel are not which the writer asked for protesters fundamental principle of his wing stupid. They know that the Israeli to please come and rally in of Zionism: land for peace — up public will never put up with such a Manhattan to support the Israeli to a point; biblical Judea and move. So they are going through Prime Minister in his bid to “defy Samaria — not an inch. For this this “show” to sucker Israelis and building restrictions” on he was reviled by some of his own you and me into believing that this is Yerushalayim. staunchest constituents and the “Only Option For Peace”. Looking at this, I was struck by applauded by the other side. Look at Google Earth, which

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 737 41 depicts the borders of Jerusalem according to the 1949 armistice Bibi will raise his hands saying: “What lines! can I do? My hands are tied! Scream at Then look at the CIA’s factbook website: https://www.cia.gov the United States…” While the sad /library/publications/the-world- factbook/geos/we.html truth is that he designed the whole plan The borders of Jerusalem are mostly gone. In fact about half the in conjunction with America and the city is gone! The borders of Israel are Arabs to “peacefully” give away mysteriously shrinking too, even Jerusalem in the first place! This is Mr. though there has been no “official” discussion on the subject. See: Netanyahu’s forte for which he will https://www.cia.gov/library/publ ications/the-world- probably get a Nobel Peace Prize. factbook/geos/is.html Not only that but Golan is no press is not even approaching this While the sad truth is that he longer Israeli, but belongs to Syria. question. designed the whole plan in https://www.cia.gov/library/publ The reason is that, Bibi will now conjunction with America and the ications/the-world- appear in the media to be “defiantly Arabs to “peacefully” give away factbook/geos/sy.html (You can also championing” the cause of breaking Jerusalem in the first place! This is do a “Google-Earth” fly over of the the restrictions on building while in Mr. Netanyahu’s forte for which he Golan) reality he is “giving all”. This rally will probably get a Nobel Peace What is described in these maps feeds right into what Mr. Netanyahu Prize. was done secretly and now the and the Israeli government is all The proof is that when he got present Israeli government is about. The next scene in this show elected he could not get to mandated to bring it all into reality. will be that Bibi will appear to “have Washington fast enough to reopen This is what Netanyahu is about. no other choice” and be “forced” by talks. Remember? Part of the secret agreement is big-bad-America to then “cave in” So all of this is only another trick that those in power in Israel cannot and restrict all building and then the to pull in support for Netanyahu “lose face” in the process (leaving restrictions on having babies will from the Israeli and American Jewish them powerless to carry out the have to be enforced as well. Creating public and this rally only feeds his “final solution” G-d Forbid) and so a true Ghetto out of Yerushalayim. sickness. More specifically from the they have to end up looking rosy to Thank you very much Mr. religious community which “just their Israeli public. Netanyahu. You will have achieved happens” to be in all the areas Israel And Today we see that yes, Bibi what Hitler could not achieve. wants to give away. is the great “Hero” for championing Walking the Jews of Jerusalem Raanan Isseroff is administrator of The the cause of a few unrestricted willingly into a Ghetto. Shtetl Foundation in New York, and can building areas. Nobody bothers to Bibi will raise his hands saying: be reached by email at ask why Bibi agreed to any “What can I do? My hands are tied! [email protected]. restrictions in the first place! The Scream at the United States…”

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42 2 Iyar 5770 BEIS MOSHIACH