ב"ה Tammuz 11, 5780 - Friday, July 3, 2020

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YUD BEIS TAMUZ ⬢ AVOT CHAPTER 5

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‘SPONSOR OF THE DAY’ PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENTS The ‘Sponsor of the Day’ program creates a consistent form of annuity, contributing to MTC’s financial stability. Each sponsorship is recognized on our website, in our weekly Mosaic Express, in our Mosaic Magazine and on the screens in our lobby. To become a sponsor of the day, please contact Itchy @ 739.0770 ext 223 SHABBAT SCHEDULE Earliest Candle Lighting..………..….7:15 pm Candle Lighting……....…….....….....8:28 pm First Minyan Mincha*...…….....….....6:45 pm Second Minyan Mincha*...... ….....8:30 pm Shacharit*…………...…….....…...10:00 pm HEART-TO-HEART TH ‘’ FOLLOWING DAVENING FAST OF THE 17 OF TAMUZ IN HONOUR OF YUD BEIS TAMUZ Pre-Shabbat sermon THURSDAY, JULY 9 (see page 3) Friday at 5:00pm Mincha*………..…....…….....….....8:30 pm Fast begins 3:30 am Maariv*/Shabbat ends...…...... ….....9:43 pm themtc.com/Zoom Mincha 8:20 pm

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TORAH READING he fast of the 17th of Tammuz, known as Parshat Chukat-Balak & Haftorah...... T Shiva Assar B'Tammuz, is the start of a *Shabbat indoor and outddor services, Torah Classes three week mourning period for the destruction of Jerusalem and the two Holy by reservation. RSVP at & Prayer Services www.themtc.com/shabbatservices Temples. for the week of July 5th The fast commemorates five tragic events

that occurred on this date: YASHER KOACH TO OUR LEARNING KIDDUSH CO-SPONSORS!  Sunday morning at 9:20 for a class 1. Moses broke the tablets when he saw the on the weekly Parsha. This is a Jewish people worshipping the Golden Calf.

class geared for both the novice KIDDUSH SPONSORSHIP FUND 2. During the Babylonian siege on Jerusalem, and the more advanced student. LAST SHABBOS: the Jews were forced to cease offering the Dovid & Chana Azoulay  Monday thru Friday morning at daily sacrifices due to the lack of cattle. Johnny & Wendy Galambos 8:00, a more advanced class on Uncle Zigi Gestetner Chassidus related to the Parsha 3. Apustmus burned the holy Torah. and Holidays. This is followed by a Elza & Meir Hirsh 4. An idol was placed in the Holy Temple. Dr Jeffrey & Joanne Indig chassidic story. Oiknine family  Tuesday 11:00am, a class for 5. The walls of Jerusalem were breached by Gaby & Sheila Segal women, held until now in the the Romans, in 69 CE, after a lengthy siege. Michael & Tina Spiro home of Debbie Cons. (Three weeks later, after the Jews put up a Itchy & Zeldie Treitel valiant struggle, the Romans destroyed the PRAYER SERVICES second Holy Temple on the 9th of Av.) The THIS WEEK: Jerusalem Talmud maintains that this is also Sandy Mamane in memory of  Shacharis: Monday through Friday the date when the Babylonians breached the Mordechai Mamane obm - 7:00 am. walls of Jerusalem on their way to KIDDUSH CO-SPONSORSHIP IS $136  Sunday, 10:00 am. destroying the first Temple.  Mincha 8:40 pm, Maariv 9:25 pm During the three weeks, weddings and other MTC WISHES A HEARTY joyful events are not held during this period; like mourners, we do not cut our hair, and MAZAL TOV TO various pleasurable activities are limited or Kaufman & Howard families on the proscribed. birth of a daughter to Sarah & David The three weeks concludes with the fast of Kaufman Join a live class or prayer service on zoom. the 9th of Av (Thursday, July 30), the date Lorne & Lisa Levitt on the Bar Mitzvah when both Holy Temples were set aflame.⬢ VISIT THEMTC.COM/ZOOM of their son Cameron

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ALIYAH SUMMARY

Tammuz 12, this year on Shabbat land (which is south of Canaan) on the way to the Promised Land. Edom refuses the Jews July 4, is the passage. The Jews are therefore forced to birthday of the sixth circumvent the land of Edom, and approach Lubavitcher Rebbe, Canaan from the east. Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak of Lubavitch (1880-1950). It is also the day Third Aliyah: The Jews arrive at Mount he was officially granted release from General Overview: This week's Torah Hor, where Aaron then passes away and is his sentence of exile to Kastroma in the reading, Chukat-Balak, begins with a discussion mourned. The Amalekites, disguised as regarding the laws of the Red Heifer. Miriam and Canaanites, attack the Jews. The Jews pray to interior of Russia. Aaron die. When the Jews are in need of water, G-d and are victorious. When the Jews Moses strikes a rock and waters stream forth; but complain about the manna, G-d dispatches Twenty-seven days earlier, the Rebbe Moses is banned from entering Israel. Amalek serpents into the Israelite encampment, and had been arrested for his activities to battles the Israelites and is defeated. Edom and many Jews die. Following G-d's instructions, preserve Judaism throughout the Soviet Moab refuse the Israelites passageway to Israel. Moses fashions a copper serpent and places it empire and sentenced to death. His The Israelites battle Sichon and Og, and are atop a pole. The bitten Jews would look at this sentence was miraculously commuted snake and be healed. The Jews journey on, victorious. King Balak of Moab retains the sorcerer to exile and ultimately the Rebbe was Balaam to curse the Jewish people. Instead of making their way towards the eastern bank of liberated. The actual release took place curses, only blessings come out of his mouth— the Jordan River. Encrypted in this section is a including prophecies concerning the Messianic great miracle which occurred when the Jews on Tammuz 13, and Tammuz 12-13 is redemption. Moabite women entice some of the passed through the Arnon valley. Tall cliffs rose celebrated as a "festival of liberation" by Israelites to sin, resulting in a plague amongst the from both sides of this narrow valley, and in the the Chabad-Lubavitch community. Jews. Phinehas zealously kills two of the high- clefts of these cliffs the Emorites, armed with ranking offenders, and the plague comes to an arrows and rocks, were waiting to ambush the end. Jews. Miraculously, the mountains moved towards each other, crushing the Emorite guerrilla forces. This section ends with a song of First Aliyah: The most severe of all ritual PARENTING POST impurities is tum'at met, the impurity contracted praise for the well which sustained the Jews through contact with a human corpse. This section throughout their desert stay — and whose now- details the purification process for an individual or bloodied waters made the Jews aware of the object which has contracted this form of impurity. great miracle which G-d wrought on their By Sarah Chana Radcliffe A red heifer is slaughtered and is burned together behalf. with a few added ingredients. Water from a Neither your child nor your stream is added to the ashes. On the third and Fourth Aliyah: The Jews approach the land spouse enjoys criticism or seventh day after contracting tum'at met, this of the Emorites, on the east bank of the Jordan correction, so how can you get mixture is sprinkled upon the individual or object. River. They ask Sichon, king of the Emorites, for your point across? After immersion in a mikvah (ritual pool) the permission to pass through his land en route to Canaan. Sichon refuses and instead masses his person or object is freed of this impurity. The Criticism and correction are hard to take. impure individual may not enter the Tabernacle or armies and attack the Jews. The Jews are Temple until the purification process is completed. victorious and occupy the Emorite lands. Og, You may be "right" but you also need to Miriam dies in the fortieth year of the Israelites' king of Bashan, then attacks the Jews. The know how to get your message heard. sojourn in the desert. With Miriam's death, the Jews are triumphant again, killing Og and Telling someone straight out "That's the waters which flowed from the miraculous "Well of occupy his land, too. Balak, king of Moab, wrong way to do it" tends to get their back Miriam" dried up. The people complain bitterly worries that his nation would be the Israelites' up and their ears down. In order to get about the lack of water. next victim. He sends messengers to the Land of Midian, to Balaam, a famed non-Jewish prophet through, try experimenting with questions Second Aliyah: G-d tells Moses and Aaron to and sorcerer, asking him to come and curse the instead of statements. "Would you like to take a staff and gather the people in front of a Jews. G-d appeared to Balaam that night and know how I would have done it?" "Did you instructed him not to go to Moab. "You shall not certain rock. They should speak to the rock, and it ever try doing it this (other) way?" "Did you would give forth water. Moses strikes the rock and curse the people because they are blessed!" it gives forth water. In the course of this episode know that some people actually do it this he commits a grave error, the conventional Fifth Aliyah: Balak sends more prestigious way?" In summary, when you find that your explanation being that he struck the rock instead messengers to Balaam, promising him great remarks are eliciting defensiveness instead of speaking to it. This caused G-d to punish Moses riches in return for his services. Once again G-d of enlightenment, adjust your strategy. Do and Aaron, barring them from leading the Jews appeared to Balaam. This time allowing him to you think that might work sometimes?⬢ into Israel. Moses sends messengers to the King go — provided that he only speak the words of Edom requesting permission to pass through his (Continued on page 5)

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(Continued from page 3) which G-d dictates. G-d sends an angel with a drawn sword to block Balaam's path. While Balaam couldn't see the angel, the she-donkey he was riding did, and refused to move onwards, causing Balaam to strike her. The donkey miraculously speaks, admonishing Balaam for striking her. Eventually, G-d "opens Balaam's eyes," and he sees the angel. A conversation between Balaam and the angel ensues, wherein Balaam is chastised for his behavior towards his donkey, and again he is reminded only to say what G-d dictates to him. After this humbling episode, Balaam arrives in Moab.

Sixth Aliyah: Upon Balaam's instructions, Balak builds seven altars and offers sacrifices to G-d. G-d "chances" upon Balaam, and dictates to him the words he should repeat to Balak and his ministers: "How can I curse whom G-d has not cursed, and how can I invoke wrath if the L-rd has not been angered?..." Balaam then proceeded to shower the Israelites with blessings and praises. When Balak responds angrily to the blessings, Balaam reminds him that he can only say that which G-d tells him to say. Balak takes Balaam to another location, hoping that this new venue would be more inauspicious for the Jews. They again build altars and offer sacrifices, and again G-d dictates blessing for the Jews which Balaam repeats.

Seventh Aliyah: Balak takes Balaam to yet another place. For a third time they build altars (Continued on page 6)

MOSAIC EXPRESS 5

(Continued from page 5) and bring offerings, and for a third time, only blessings issue from Balaam's mouth: "How PARSHA INSIGHTS goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel! ... G-d, who has brought them out of Egypt with the strength of His loftiness He shall consume the nations which are his By Yanki Tauber, Chabad.org adversaries..." Balak despairs of accomplishing Pressing its point, it insists: so what happened in his goal, and sends Balaam on his way. Before the end? The days of David and Solomon saw the leaving, Balaam prophesies about the end of OUR GOODLY TENTS fulfillment of Balaam's blessings. But then days: the Messianic Redemption as well as everything began to fall apart. The people the eventual destruction of Esau, Amalek and The Talmud asks the darnest questions. I abandoned their G-d, the nation was rent by Assyria. Following Balaam's unsuccessful mean, we all heard the story of how King attempt to curse the Jewish nation, Moabite strife; the Davidic dynasty was dethroned, the Balak summons Balaam to curse the Children and Midianite women seduce many Jewish Holy Temple destroyed, the proud nation of Israel and how G-d transforms the curses men. In the course of their seduction, they also expelled from their land and subjugated and in the wicked prophet's mouth into blessings. entice the Jewish man to worship the Baal persecuted for centuries. Peor deity. G-d commands Moses to execute We read the verses flowing from Balaam's the guilty people, and simultaneously a lethal lips, which include some of the most So in the end Balaam's curses prevailed! G-d plague erupts amongst the Jews. A Jewish exquisite things ever said about the Jewish transformed them into blessings, but we leader, Zimri, publicly displays the Midianite people. Beautiful story. But only the Talmud transformed them back into Balaam's original princess with whom he was consorting. asks: What did Balaam want to say? What format. The beautiful story came to a ruinous Phinehas, Aaron's grandson, kills them both, were those curses of his that were end. and the plague is halted.⬢ transformed into blessings? But there is one blessing which we have Well, follows the Talmudic logic, if the retained. "How goodly are your tents, O Jacob," curses were transformed into blessings, then proclaimed Balaam from the Heights of Peor. the curses would be the diametric opposite These, says the Talmud, are the houses of prayer of the blessings. If we wish to know what and the houses of learning planted in the heart Balaam wanted to say, we should take a of every Jewish community. closer look at the words he actually mouthed. These tents and dwellings have never folded. What did Balaam bless? That great kings After two dozen centuries as "children banished shall arise in Israel, establishing a dynasty from their father's table," we still commune with that will span generations and never be G-d three times a day in our houses of prayer. disrupted; that Israel shall be sovereign in Thirty-three centuries after Sinai, the Torah is her land forever, the greatest and most still studied, expounded and debated in our powerful in the family of nations, the Divine houses of learning. Presence dwelling in her midst, leading mankind in their quest to know and serve To this blessing we have held fast. And this their Maker. So what did Balaam want to blessing shall restore all the others to us.⬢ IS YOUR say? The exact opposite, of course: that CAR LEASE UP? Israel's kings shall fall, her royal dynasty be cut off, her sovereignty cease, the Divine AND FINALLY... Do not return it so fast!!!! Presence in her Holy Temple depart, her I’ll take care of your power fail, her leadership fade. I have worked as a chef for 20 years. buy-back and put in Where has the thyme gone?⬢ your pocket. But the Talmud doesn't leave it at that.

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6 MOSAIC EXPRESS ב“ה

For this week’s episode ערב שבת פרשת חקת-בלק, י׳׳א תמוז, תש״פ ISSUE of Living Torah, 390 Erev Shabbat Parshat Chukat-Balak, July 3, 2020 visit 70years.com HERE’S my STORY THE HEART OF Generously A MOTHER sponsored by the MRS. LEAH MOSCOWITZ

hen I was three years old, my parents were told by doctors in Israel — where I was born and raised — Wthat a valve in my heart was damaged and would eventually need to be replaced. However, I was able to lead a normal life, get married at age twenty, and give birth to two daughters. It was not until my husband, Rabbi Moshe Moscowitz, and I moved to Chicago in 1983 — where we both accepted teaching offers — that my lingering health problems escalated. I started feeling extremely fatigued, and I ended up in the hospital for tests. That is when Dr. Ira Weiss, the Rebbe’s cardiologist who lived in Chicago, became my cardiologist as well. After seeing the results of my echocardiogram, he told me, “Leah, my advice to you is to have your heart valve replaced immediately.” After a year had passed, Dr. Weiss determined that I could discontinue the blood thinner. With G-d’s help, I started to Having a major surgery at the age of twenty-three was feel much better and said I wanted more children, but Dr. frightening. I also knew — having been told this before Weiss felt that it would be dangerous for me to become — that it would mean the end of my childbearing, and I pregnant. However, he promised to consult the Rebbe on could not fathom such a thing since I looked forward to this issue the next time he visited him. raising a large family. I told Dr. Weiss, “Without the Rebbe’s blessing I will not agree to the surgery. You have the best “How many children does Mrs. Moscowitz have?” the connection, so please ask him for me. Whatever the Rebbe Rebbe asked Dr. Weiss. says, I will do.” “A boy and a girl” was his response. Shortly afterwards, Dr. Weiss got back to me: “The Rebbe “If she and her husband have already fulfilled the said not to operate, but to treat you with medication.” commandment ‘to be fruitful and multiply,’ why put her life There was a risk of my damaged heart valve causing a in danger?” the Rebbe asked. stroke, so Dr. Weiss prescribed Coumadin, a blood thinner, However, Dr. Weiss was mistaken. We did not have a to prevent this. But I was absolutely forbidden to become boy and a girl —we had two girls, Goldie and Chaya, and pregnant while taking this particular medication as it was therefore we had not fulfilled that commandment. And known to damage the fetus. Furthermore, as a side effect, when we learned the Rebbe had been given incorrect it caused me bleeding ulcers, and I was hospitalized several information, we called his secretary, Rabbi Binyamin Klein, times. to correct matters. Dr. Weiss often told me how the Rebbe took a personal The answer came back that we should consult a halachic interest in my health condition, asking him “How is your authority. We asked Rabbi Hershel Shusterman, who ruled favorite patient?” and discussing with him my heart rate that — since the Rebbe was clearly concerned that my life and other aspects of my condition. might be put in danger — I should be careful not to get pregnant. continued on reverse

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

[email protected] | myencounterblog.com | © Copyright, Jewish Educational Media, 2020 continued from reverse But I was not ready to give up. I consulted four more In 1991, at the age of thirty, I gave birth to another boy, doctors, and they all forbade me to have more children. whom we named Shmuel. Meanwhile, I realized I was running out of time. If I were to Eleven years later, I was told that the time had finally come have more children, my doctors insisted that I do so before to deal with my defective heart valve. Open-heart surgery age thirty. I felt up to it and decided to ask Dr. Weiss again was necessary —five hours in the operating room — but about getting a blessing from the Rebbe to have another they were able to put a metal ring around the valve without child. replacing it. Only recently, did I have the valve finally replaced. Dr. Weiss told me, “There is a world-renowned cardiologist — Dr. Rolf Gunnar — who happens to be one of my mentors, There is a postscript to this story. Years after the Rebbe’s and if he agrees that it is safe for you to become pregnant, passing, at Menachem Mendel’s Bar Mitzvah celebration, I will ask the Rebbe.” Dr. Weiss gave a most amazing speech. He said, “I am so sorry, I forgot to give you this dollar from the Rebbe. We had to wait four months for the appointment, but Thirteen years ago, when I told the Rebbe that Menachem after a full-checkup, this doctor told us, “I believe another Mendel was born, he gave me this dollar for you, and I held pregnancy will go well, but you should be monitored by onto it all this time.” There was not a dry eye in the house. high-risk gynecologists and be sure to take it easy.” We all felt the Rebbe’s presence. We were ecstatic and immediately phoned Dr. Weiss with ______the news, “Dr. Gunnar gave us permission! Please tell the Mrs. Leah Moscowitz has worked a teacher at Cheder Lubavitch Rebbe.” of Chicago for over thirty years. She was interviewed in September After Dr. Weiss did so, he reported back: “Leah, the Rebbe of 2015. smiled from ear to ear, and said, ‘We should only hear good news — they want a boy so much.’” One evening a few months later — just three days after the This week in…. passing of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka in February of 1988 — לע“נ ר‘ ישראל יעקב וזוגתו מרת קריינא ע“ה לאקשין the Rebbe was alone in the company of Dr. Weiss. All those who came to pay a shivah call had left, and they were going up the stairs so Dr. Weiss could give the Rebbe a medical > 5735 - 1975, the Rebbe spoke about two new checkup. At that moment, with all the things on his mind, campaigns for the mitzvot of eating kosher food the Rebbe turned around and asked, “Is there any news from Mrs. Moscowitz?” Dr. Weiss answered that he did not and keeping the laws of family purity. Both these know. The truth was that we did not know either. We only mitzvot, the Rebbe explained, rest primarily on found out later that I was already pregnant at that time! the shoulders of Jewish women and affect the When our Menachem Mendel was born, the words of the very makeup of our people. In order to help Rebbe — “they want a boy so much” — echoed in our ears! those transitioning to a kosher home, the Rebbe established a new fund to cover half the cost of Five months after Mendel’s birth, I was having difficulties 1 nursing because he grew more dependent on the bottle buying new dishes. 16 Tammuz than on me, while I was constantly running back and forth to the hospital. It was Friday night and I recall vividly how, > 5736 - 1976, the Rebbe spoke about the Israeli after I lit the Shabbat candles, I was gazing at the picture of operation in Entebbe in which 102 hostages were the Rebbe with tears rolling down my cheeks. I said, “This successfully rescued. He called the results nothing is your baby. Please help me. I just want to nurse him a less than miraculous, proving that with the help while longer.” of G-d, even a small group can overcome a large Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and to my adversary. On the other hand, there were four astonishment, it was Dr. Weiss, who lives some five miles Jewish casualties and the survivors had suffered away! severely. This not only signals the need for “I recently visited with the Rebbe,” he explained, “and heightened global aviation security, but also for he asked me if you were still nursing the baby, adding, Jews to strive for greater spiritual security. Among ‘Please give her a message that it is important and healthy a number of recommendations, the Rebbe called to nurse a child for at least the first twelve months.’ I’m for the individuals who were saved to check their sorry, Leah, that I did not have a chance to tell you before. 2 It just happened that today I was stuck in the hospital with mezuzot. 13 Tammuz a patient when Shabbat came in, so I’m walking home now 1. Likkutei Sichot vol. 13 page 256 2. Sichot Kodesh 5736 vol. 2 page 413 and decided to stop by.” I just could not believe this! Within seconds of speaking to the Rebbe in my thoughts, I got his answer and his blessing. While we have done our utmost to authenticate Thank G-d, I was able to continue nursing. these stories, they reflect the listener’s recollection and interpretation of the Rebbe’s words.

In honor of Supported by members of Rabbi Chaim and Rebbitzen Aidel Zaiklos who brought me back to the tribe

ואתה תצוה… להעלות נר תמיד Steve Sillen

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LA SIDRA DE LA SEMAINE

‘HOUKAT-BALAK 4 JUILLET 2020 12 TAMOUZ 5780 AVOT 5

VIVRE AVEC LA PARACHA

‘HOUKAT abattue sur le peuple. de Youd Beth Tamouz instaura le commencement d’une nouvelle phase dans CHABBAT PARACHA ‘HOUKAT-BALAK, D.ieu enseigne à Moché les lois de la « la diffusion des sources de la ‘Hassidout YOUD BETH TAMOUZ « Vache Rousse ». vers l’extérieur. » Elle apporta la ‘Hassidout en Amérique, « la moitié inférieure du Après quarante ans d’errance dans le désert, Ce Chabbat, le 12 Tamouz, nous célébrons la monde », c’est-à-dire là où le mode de vie le Peuple juif arrive dans le désert de Tsin. libération des prisons soviétiques du était le plus bas, et la transforma en source Miryam quitte ce monde et le peuple, privé précédent Rabbi de Loubavitch, Rabbi Yossef d’influence qui diffuse ces sources dans le du puits de Miryam, réclame de l’eau. C’est Its’hak. monde entier. Tout cela est donc lié au but alors que Moché va frapper le rocher pour Cette libération partage un lien très ultime de la diffusion de ces enseignements : qu’en jaillisse de l’eau (au lieu de lui parler). particulier avec la Délivrance ultime qui sera la venue du Machia’h. L’eau jaillit mais ni Moché ni Aharon ne conduite par le Machia’h. Nos Sages pourront entrer en Terre Sainte. expliquent que toutes les délivrances, même La date du 12 Tamouz fait également allusion à la venue de Machia’h parce qu’alors les 12 Aharon meurt et son fils Eléazar lui succède. celles qui n’impliquent pas une libération tribus seront toutes libérées. Le peuple parle encore une fois contre D.ieu totale de l’exil, sont connectées les unes aux autres. et Moché et une épidémie le frappe, enrayée Le Rabbi précédent fut informé de sa par un serpent d’airain brandi par Moché. Cela s’applique tout spécialement à celle libération le 12 Tamouz mais elle ne fut véritablement effective que le 13. Ce chiffre a Moché mène des batailles contre les rois d’un Nassi (dirigeant) d’une génération. aussi un lien avec l’ère messianique puisqu’il Si’hon et Og, conquiert leurs terres, à l’est du Dans son commentaire de l’un des versets de a la valeur numérique du mot E’had, « un » et Jourdain. la Paracha de cette semaine, Rachi déclare : qu’alors, l’Unité de D.ieu sera révélée dans BALAK « le Nassi de la génération est équivalent à l’univers entier. toute la génération ». Balak, roi de Moav, engage le prophète Cette année, différents facteurs intensifient Bilaam pour maudire le Peuple juif. Incapable Dans la lettre qu’il envoya en relation avec sa encore la relation entre Youd Beth Tamouz et d’y parvenir, ce sont des paroles de libération, le Rabbi précédent souligne ce la Délivrance par Machia’h. bénédictions qui sortent de sa bouche ainsi point dans ces termes : « Youd Beth (12) Parmi eux, citons le fait que tout d’abord, que la prédiction de la venue de Machia’h. Tamouz, D.ieu ne m’a pas libéré moi seul ; ceux qui chérissent notre sainte Torah, ceux Youd Beth Tamouz tombe Chabbat. Or Le peuple faute avec les filles de Moav qui qui observent les Mitsvot et quiconque Chabbat lui-même évoque l’ère de Machia’h. les poussent à pratiquer l’idolâtrie. L’un des appelé Israël l’ont été également. » Ainsi à propos du verset « un Psaume, un chefs de tribu conduit publiquement une chant du jour du Chabbat », nos Sages princesse Midianite dans sa tente. Pin’has En d’autres termes, sa libération affecta le commentent : « un chant pour l’ère qui est les tue alors tous deux, ce qui met Peuple juif tout entier. entièrement Chabbat et un repos éternel. » SUITE A LA PAGE 11 immédiatement fin à la plaie qui s’était L’on peut encore aller plus loin : la libération MOSAIC EXPRESS 9

LE RECIT DE LA SEMAINE

dans la ville et que tu n’enseignes pas ! Pourrais -tu donner un cours, de Talmud par exemple, pour ma communauté ? ». xLe Rabbi était une personnalité tout-à-fait Puis le Rabbi me surprit encore davantage : Un cynique pourrait ricaner. Pour moi, ce fut un inhabituelle : calme, pondéré, réfléchi, héritier miracle absolument inexplicable. Je date le d’une remarquable dynastie ‘hassidique. Un - On dit que vous aviez été une fois un étudiant début de mon retour à la normalité et ma ingénieur éduqué à la Sorbonne. Maitrisant de Rav Aharon Soloveitchik (le professeur de la confiance en moi à ce merveilleux Chabbat à une douzaine de langues. Père sans enfants Yechiva où j’avais étudié et dont j’avais pris Crown Heights, chez les Groner. Et je suis d’un demi-million de disciples. congé en très mauvais termes, vingt ans plus conscient que le premier pas pour me sortir de tôt. Comment le Rabbi le savait-il ? Je cette terrible dépression fut l’idée d’un homme Ma propre relation avec le Rabbi avait connu l’ignore !). Voici : je vais donner de l’argent à la qui, avec une incroyable intuition et foi en des hauts et des bas, parfois plus proches, Tsedaka (charité) dans l’espoir que vous l’humanité, opéra une intervention altruiste, parfois plus distants mais, d’une manière ou rétablirez la paix avec lui ! précise et thérapeutique dans mon esprit. Et il d’une autre, j’avais toujours été attiré vers lui ne demanda ni mon adhésion à son mouvement Bien que cette entrevue m’ait fortement comme par un aimant. Je me sens toujours ni ma contribution financière comme impressionné sur le moment, une année passa redevable envers le Rabbi, non pas tant pour récompense : retrouvez la paix avec vous-même. et je n’avais rien fait pour suivre les conseils du son influence globale sur les Juifs du monde Mettez de côté colère et frustration. Réconciliez- Rabbi. Ce fut une année dysfonctionnelle, entier que pour ma rencontre personnelle avec vous avec les autres. lui, moins de trois ans avant son décès. sombre et pénible, débordant d’ennuis de santé et surtout de récriminations et de rage. Comme A-t-il été un « sauveur » ? Si on définit le Rabbi J’avais eu la chance de connaître Rav Yossi je retournai à New York, je me retrouvai assis à en termes d’influence sociale, politique ou Groner, son émissaire en Caroline du nord. la table de Chabbat des Groner : spirituelle, on risque de passer à côté des C’est le fils du regretté Rav Leib Groner qui fut milliers d’interventions précises qu’il a - Avez-vous enseigné ? s’intéressa Rav Groner. pendant des dizaines d’années le secrétaire pratiquées dans la vie de tant d’êtres, des âmes personnel du Rabbi. - Euh… Ce n’était pas vraiment faisable… qu’il a sauvées du désespoir et à qui il a redonné vie. Cette rencontre avec le Rabbi eut lieu juste Vous comprenez, dans ma situation… quelques mois après mon deuxième divorce - Le Rabbi a dit ! insista-t-il… Qu’en est-il de la réconciliation avec mon qui avait terni ma carrière rabbinique et professeur d’antan ? Je dois avouer que je ne m’avait plongé dans un trou noir de - Oui mais… me suis pas empressé de la mettre en œuvre et dépression et de dépendance. Accompagné je repoussai continuellement cette requête qui - Il n’y a pas de « mais » ! Le Rabbi a dit ! par le père et le fils Groner, j’avais eu droit à me coûtait énormément tant la rancœur était une entrevue d’à peine une demi-minute : Comment aurais-je pu concrétiser tout cela ? tenace. Où ? Quand ? Je ne voyais pas le début d’une - Parfois, remarqua le Rabbi en , un Mais quand j’ai appris que le Rabbi avait quitté solution. Mais « le Rabbi a dit »… Confus et profane dévoué peut être incomparablement ce monde pour un monde plus juste et vrai, ce déstabilisé, j’étais de plus en plus misérable : plus efficace qu’un rabbin ! fut la première initiative que je réalisai enfin. par où commencer ? A la sortie du Chabbat, - C’est-à-dire… balbutiai-je. j’écoutais mon répondeur téléphonique… D.ieu Après tout… « Le Rabbi a dit ! ».⬢ m’est témoin : j’entendis la voix d’un ami oublié - Vous devriez enseigner, peut-être le Talmud, depuis longtemps, un rabbin d’une banlieue Marc Wilson même si ce n’est qu’à une ou deux personnes d’Atlanta : « Marc ! J’ai réfléchi pendant tout The Charlotte Observer - chabad.org dans votre salon… Chabbat : quel dommage que tu sois de retour Traduit par Feiga Lubecki

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LE COIN DE LA HALACHA

QU’EST-CE QUE LE 17 TAMOUZ ?

Cette année, le jeûne du 17 Tamouz tombe le (CONTINUER DE LA PAGE 9) Machia’h, déclarant que nous devons jeudi 9 juillet 2020. Chabbat est un microscosme du monde futur. « attendre sa venue chaque jour ». Pour Si cela est vrai de n’importe quel Chabbat de nous préparer à cet événement, nous On ne mange ni ne boit depuis le matin à 3h l’année, a fortiori cela l’est-il d’un Chabbat devons augmenter notre étude de la Torah 25, jusqu’à la tombée de la nuit à 22h 45 (heure valable pour l’Ile-de-France). On récite où l’on célèbre Youd Beth Tamouz. et tout particulièrement des sujets qui la prière « Avinou Malkenou » le matin et parlent de la Délivrance messianique, par D’autre part, la Paracha de cette semaine, et l’après-midi. exemple les chapitres qui clôturent Hil’hot comme le souligne Rabbi Chnéor Zalman, Mela’him, (les lois des rois), appelé C’est en ce jour que Moché Rabbénou (Moïse « nous devons vivre avec la Paracha », notre Maître) brisa les premières Tables de la également Hil’hot Mélè’h HaMachia’h (les contient des références explicites à la Loi à la suite du péché du veau d’or. Bien plus lois du Roi Machia’h). L’étude de ces sujets Délivrance par Machia’h. tard, le sacrifice quotidien fut interrompu lors hâtera la venue du temps où les prophéties du siège de Jérusalem. Une première brèche Dans Hil’hot Mela’him, le Rambam se matérialiseront. apparut ce jour-là dans les murailles de la (Maïmonide) écrit : « celui qui ne croit pas ville sainte. Enfin, Apostomos installa une Il est également adéquat de continuer à (dans le Machia’h) ou n’attend pas son idole dans le Temple et brûla un rouleau de la répandre les enseignements de la arrivée, ne dénie pas seulement les Torah, toujours un 17 Tamouz. ‘Hassidout, et en particulier de mettre prophéties des autres prophètes mais (il l’accent sur les enseignements du Rabbi Durant les trois semaines suivantes, jusqu’au dénie) également la prophétie de Moché… Précédent. 9 Av (jeudi 30 juillet 2020), on augmente les La portion de Bilaam parle et prophétise sur dons à la Tsedaka. On évite d’acheter de deux rois oints : le premier roi oint, David… Il est évident que les jours qui viennent : nouveaux vêtements et on ne prononce pas la et le dernier roi oint, (le Machia‘h) qui se les 13, 14 et 15 Tamouz seront l’occasion bénédiction « Chéhé’héyanou » (par exemple lèvera et sauvera Israël… » de célébrations de la libération du Rabbi pour un fruit nouveau). On ne se coupe pas les Précédent. Il convient que, dans chacun de cheveux et on ne célèbre pas de mariage. On Le Rambam explique ensuite comment les évite de passer en jugement. ces trois farbrenguen (célébration prophéties qui commencent dans Bamidbar ‘hassidique), l’on prenne trois résolutions Cette année, le 17 Tamouz, les Juifs du (24 :17) se divisent en deux parties : la positives (une dans chacune des sphères monde entier célébreront le 39ème Siyoum première se référant à David et la seconde à de la Torah, la prière et les actes de (fin de l’étude) du Michné Torah du Rambam Machia’h. Ainsi, quand nous lisons cette bienfaisance). (Maïmonide) selon le cycle de trois chapitres Paracha en public, que nous récitons des par jour et le 13ème Siyoum selon le cycle bénédictions avant et après cette lecture, ces Que ces activités conduisent à la d’un chapitre par jour puis entameront avec concepts reçoivent davantage d’emphase. transformation du jeûne du 17 Tamouz en enthousiasme le 40ème (14ème) cycle le un jour de célébration, avec la venue du lendemain. En outre, lors de la prière de Min’ha, nous Machia’h. Que cela se produise Suite à l’appel du Rabbi, à partir du 17 commençons à lire la Paracha Pin’has qui, immédiatement !⬢ Tamouz, nous intensifions l’étude des lois de elle-aussi, annonce la venue de Machia’h. la construction du Temple (dans le livre Nos Sages assimilent en effet Pin’has au d’Ezékiel, le traité Talmudique Midot et le prophète Eliyahou qui annoncera la venue de Rambam – Maïmonide). Machia’h. Durant les neuf jours qui précèdent le 9 Av (à Il est donc approprié de souligner partir du mardi soir 21 juillet 2020), on ne l’importance de renforcer la foi en la venue mange pas de viande et on ne boit pas de vin. de Machia’h et l’impatience avec laquelle Par contre, on assistera à un Siyoum (ou on l’écoutera à la radio), ce qui est une joie nous devons l’attendre. Le Rambam indique permise durant cette période.⬢ l’importance de souhaiter la venue de

MOSAIC EXPRESS 11

EDITORIAL

12 TAMOUZ : LE SENS D’UNE VICTOIRE

Il existe des dates qui changent le monde l’exil ne dura concrètement que et dont l’effet se ressent encore quelques jours. Rabbi Yossef Its’hak aujourd’hui malgré l’écoulement du libéré, son action allait se démultiplier temps. De telles dates ne sont pas de partout dans le monde. L’oppression et simples accidents de l’histoire, elles la dictature avaient reculé devant la ETINCELLES DE MACHIAH touchent à la structure des choses et conscience, la grandeur et l’obstination l’observateur sait qu’après leur passage, de la liberté. c’est une transformation profonde que LA MANIÈRE JUIVE Ceci n’est pas qu’une histoire de l’on peut relever. Peu importe combat victorieux. Rabbi Yossef Its’hak l’importance, apparente ou non, reconnue Un jour, alors que le Tséma’h Tsédèk – le sut le dire : « Ce n’est pas seulement ou pas, de l’événement, c’est sa simple troisième Rabbi de Loubavitch – était moi qui ai été libéré mais tous… » C’est occurrence qui opère le changement. encore un jeune homme, il s’assit parmi un dire que le 12 Tamouz n’est pas une groupe de ‘hassidim qui discutaient de la C’est ainsi qu’il faut voir le 12 Tamouz, simple journée d’histoire glorieuse. question : « Qui sait quand Machia’h va qui intervient, cette année, en ce C’est un jour qui concerne chacun. Cette venir ? » Chabbat. Ce jour-là, en 1927, le liberté retrouvée est aussi la nôtre. A Il commenta : « Ce type de discours précédent Rabbi de Loubavitch, Rabbi tous ceux qui voudraient voir s’éteindre rappelle la manière de Bilaam, le prophète Yossef Its’hak Schneersohn, fut libéré. la lumière du judaïsme, à tous ceux qui non-Juif qui déclara à propos de Machia’h : Cela se passait en URSS. Il avait été voudraient que cesse de retentir notre ‘Je le vois mais il n’est pas proche ; je le arrêté par la police de Staline pour son voix, à tous ceux qui nous menacent, perçois mais pas dans l’avenir immédiat’ – activité de diffusion du judaïsme, avait dans notre chair ou dans notre esprit, il comme si la Délivrance était lointaine. Un été condamné à mort pour finalement faut savoir dire que nous sommes Juif, lui, doit espérer et attendre chaque être envoyé en relégation dans une petite éternellement libres et que rien ne nous jour que Machia’h arrive ce jour même. »⬢ ville de l’Oural. Au moment de partir pour contraindra jamais. cet exil, qui avait été prononcé pour de Cette liberté chante, cette semaine, longues années, Rabbi Yossef Its’hak dans notre cœur et notre âme. Et ce affirma de la fenêtre du train qui devait chant monte comme le prélude au l’emmener, devant tous les ‘hassidim cantique majeur, celui de la venue de héroïquement assemblés sur le quai de la Machia’h. gare : « Seul notre corps est en exil, notre ⬢ âme est éternellement libre. ». Miraculeusement, la peine fut annulée et

12 MOSAIC EXPRESS