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A JOURNEY BACK AND FORTH 4 D’var Malchus

‘THE SAW ME AND THAT’S 6 WHAT COUNTS!’ Shlichus | Chani Nussbaum

TO CONQUER THE WORLD WITH 11 Shlichus | Rabbi Yaakov Shmuelevitz

A SHTURM ABOUT HAKHEL 14 Insight | Interview by Menachem Ziegelboim

USA 744 Eastern Parkway MORE SOUL STORIES FROM INDIA , NY 11213-3409 22 Shlichus Stories | Eli Shneur Tel: (718) 778-8000 Fax: (718) 778-0800 [email protected] www.beismoshiach.org

RABBI BINYAMIN ZILBER Z”L EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: 29 Obituary M.M. Hendel ENGLISH EDITOR: Boruch Merkur [email protected] LIVING WITH TISHREI YEAR-ROUND ASSISTANT EDITOR: 30 Thought | Interview by Nosson Avrohom Dr. Aryeh Gotfryd HEBREW EDITOR: Rabbi Sholom Yaakov Chazan [email protected] MESIRAS NEFESH FOR 36 Feature | Yehoshua Kenig Beis Moshiach (USPS 012-542) ISSN 1082- 0272 is published weekly, except Jewish holidays (only once in April and October) for $140.00 in the USA and in all other places for $150.00 per year (45 issues), by Beis Moshiach, 744 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409. Periodicals postage paid at Brooklyn, NY and additional offices. Postmaster: send address changes to Beis Moshiach 744 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409. Copyright 2008 by Beis Moshiach, Inc. Beis Moshiach is not responsible for the content of the advertisements. 669:668.qxd 11/3/2008 7:43 AM Page 4

d’var malchus A JOURNEY BACK AND FORTH

Translated and adapted by Dovid Yisroel Ber Kaufmann

On the seventh of MarCheshvan, In Lech Lecha, Abraham was told to the Jewish people started praying for leave his land and journey to Israel. rain for the land of Israel. The prayer for rain began fifteen days after This portion is always read in Sukkos, so that the last traveler from would reach the Euphrates conjunction with the seventh of river. Sukkos, of course, was one of the three pilgrimage festivals in which MarCheshvan, fifteen days after Jews were required to bring an offering to Jerusalem from wherever Sukkos, when the last Jew arrived at the they lived. It was a two-week journey Euphrates River, ready to leave Israel. – fourteen days – from Jerusalem to the Euphrates River, the Biblically This going forth and coming back, ordained eastern border of the land of Israel. Thus, by the seventh of leaving and entering the material MarCheshvan, everyone who had gone to Jerusalem for the festival of world, is not a contradiction. Both are Sukkos and was now returning home had reached the border of Israel. The part of transforming the world into a rain in Israel would not trouble their dwelling place for G-dliness. journey home. However, the significance of the seventh of MarCheshvan is not simply This week’s Torah reading, Lech Lecha, begins with negative, the day until which the rains of Israel are delayed. G-d’s command to Abraham to leave his home and his Rather, that very negative – the delay of the rains until the father’s house and go to the land that G-d will show him. travelers reach the border – indicates that the seventh of Our Sages tell us that the narratives about the patriarchs MarCheshvan has a deeper connection with the holiday and matriarchs indicate the path their descendants – the itself. After all, it’s a two-way journey to Jerusalem. Jewish people – should follow. Their actions paved the Celebrating the holiday of Sukkos included both going to spiritual pathway for us, revealing the how and why of our and coming from Jerusalem. In other words, as long as the Divine Service. Jewish people had not reached the border, the river The Torah reading starts with the words, “Go out from Euphrates, it seemed to them as if they were still rejoicing your land, your birthplace and the house of your father in and observing the holiday. and go to the land that I will show you.” Abraham is Thus, the fourteen days after Sukkos were seen as an commanded to ascend to the land of Israel, to leave all else extension of the festival. The seventh of MarCheshvan, behind and go on a journey of self-elevation. then, marked the final completion of every activity To truly understand the meaning of this concept – and associated with the holiday. It was a day of descent from its importance for us – we must first take note of a the heights of holiness the people experienced in the significant fact about the calendar: the seventh day of the Temple in Jerusalem. month of MarCheshvan always occurs during the week of That being the case, there seems to be a contradiction Lech Lecha. between the lesson of the seventh of MarCheshvan and the

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lesson of the Torah reading. The words Lech Lecha mean outside of Israel. Since the journeys are superficially in the “go out.” That is the theme of the Torah reading. It teaches opposite direction, there must be something about the us to follow in Abraham’s footsteps, to leave home – to journeys themselves that connect the Torah reading of leave our material concerns and comforts – and ascend to Lech Lecha and the seventh of MarCheshvan. the land of Israel – to elevate ourselves spiritually. The A true journey brings one to a completely new level. seventh of MarCheshvan teaches us to follow in the One reaches a stage unconnected with and incomparable footsteps of those who observed Sukkos in Jerusalem, to to the place one stood before the journey. Thus, the return home – to go back to our involvement in the journey of Abraham into Israel and the journey of the Jews physical world – and descend from the land of Israel – to away from Israel after Sukkos must bring each to the same descend from the heights of spirituality. new level. That is, the spiritual pathway paved by Abraham Granted that there’s a point to both concepts – must be the same one traveled by the Jews and completed elevating one’s self spiritually and involving one’s self in on the seventh of MarCheshvan. In this way the worldly concerns – still they seem to be diametrically correspondence of the Torah reading of Lech Lecha and opposed. Why is it that every single year they occur the seventh of MarCheshvan can be explained. together? Since nothing happens by coincidence, but all is The words “Lech Lecha” – “go forth” – are a a result of Divine Providence, that the seventh of command from G-d. Prior to this command, Abraham MarCheshvan always falls during the week of Lech Lecha acted based on his own understanding. As he came to emphasizes the connection and interrelationship between recognize the existence of G-d, he taught others about the the two ideas. But, how does this relate to us now, Creator. But his answers and understanding came from his specifically as we find ourselves in the days of Moshiach? reasoning and comprehension. As a result, the Actually, elevating one’s self spiritually and involving transformation he could achieve, the degree to which one’s self in worldly concerns are inter-related. The Abraham could teach others to recognize the G-dliness purpose of Lech Lecha – of going forth – is to create a within the world, was limited to an intellectual level. dwelling place for G-dliness. This dwelling place can only However, after G-d commanded Abraham Lech Lecha – be created through transforming material objects and go forth – Abraham acted as G-d’s emissary. His actions mundane concerns into vehicles for holiness. And this were based not on his own understanding; rather, he acted transformation can occur only through the Torah and simply to carry out the command and directive of the One mitzvos of a Jew. So, when all of a Jew’s activities are “for who sent him. In this way Abraham could connect and the sake of heaven” the common and everyday are filled unite creation with its Creator. The connection with, with the spiritual. G-d’s presence dwells and is revealed relationship to and perception of G-dliness was not limited within the physical world. by one’s intellect or logic. It penetrated the entire being. The spiritual elevation – the ascent to the land of Israel And this is also the lesson of the seventh of – indicated by the journey of Abraham is not an end in and MarCheshvan: one must take the inspiration and the vision of itself. Rather, it provides the inspiration and direction, of G-dliness received at the Temple in Jerusalem during giving a Jew the ability to “go forth” into the world and the festival and go forth with it as G-d’s emissary, bringing transform it into a dwelling place for G-dliness. This a recognition of G-dliness – through Torah and mitzvos – return home, this descent to the material world outside the to the whole world. In this way there will be a revelation of land of Israel, which completes and fulfills the purpose of G-dliness and an actual seeing of the spiritual. the ascent, occurs on the seventh of MarCheshvan. The task and yearly journey of Lech Lecha, as we Still, we must look a little deeper into the question, experience it on the seventh of MarCheshvan, reaches its since the journeys of Abraham in the Torah reading of culmination and completion precisely now, in the days Lech Lecha are from outside Israel into the land of Israel, when the coming of Moshiach is imminent and we will while the journey of the seventh of MarCheshvan is from complete the journey Abraham began, transforming the inside Israel – from Jerusalem – outward to the lands world into a dwelling place for G-dliness. (Based on 20, pp. 54-60) www.MoshiachForKids.com Check it out!! Educational and Fun!!

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shlichus THE REBBE SAW ME AND THATS WHAT COUNTS!

By Chani Nussbaum

that ignited the hidden Mrs. Devorah Wagner, a shlucha in spark in many people. The achdus was fantastic, and it accomplished Johannesburg, South Africa, tells us of amazing things. Two bachurim helped the shliach at his restaurant. her many travels, how she uses the Those who wanted to farbreng, who wanted something more, would go “power of cooking” to spread Judaism, to the . and shares her Igros Kodesh stories with “We saw many fruits from those farbrengens. My husband found a us. common language with everyone. When people asked about Moshiach, When the oldest Wagner child, year and got engaged about a week if they were simple people he would who is eight years old, returned from after my return to the U.S. respond with stories; if they were 770 last year, his four year old “After my husband learned in learned, he provided sources in brother asked him, “Did you see the in Crown Heights, we went Halacha and the Gemara. Many Rebbe?” on shlichus. Unlike many others, we people left with the feeling that the Menachem answered, “The have been in several places, and we Rebbe is chai v’kayam and, at the Rebbe saw me, and that’s what always feel the kochos of the Rebbe very least, can be Moshiach. The counts!” with us. best proof was when Misnagdishe That’s the answer of a child who visitors left singing Yechi! has been given a good chinuch! “The Jews who visited constantly SPREADING expressed their amazement with the Mrs. Devorah and Rabbi Noam THE WELLSPRINGS Wagner have been on shlichus in atmosphere in the yeshiva and the several places on multiple IN VENICE bachurim. There was lots of hafatza, continents. “First we went to Venice, where and it was special. Every day, they Mrs. Wagner relates: we spent three years. My husband put t’fillin on many people, dozens “I was close to Lubavitch, but I was the Menahel Ruchni of the of whom who had never put on actually became a Lubavitcher only yeshiva there, and the local shliach, t’fillin before. Venice drew many after I finished high school. That’s R’ Benin, was the Menahel Gashmi. tourists , including many Jews. when I discovered that other paths The yeshiva was in the Jewish ghetto “Mivtza Neshek was also wildly were not for me, and resolved to (the first Jewish ghetto in ). successful. Many of the young become a Lubavitcher. “My husband gave everything he women who passed through Venice “I went to Tzfas to study for a had to the yeshiva. There were committed to lighting Shabbos

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candles. I was also active at the university. I remember a student whom I met who did not even know she was Jewish. The only thing she knew was that her grandmother, her mother’s mother, was Jewish. I informed her that this made her Jewish. We kept in close touch, and today she is a shlucha herself in a city in Italy. “I remember that one time, two girls from the Gateshead Seminary in England came. They had a problem with the hotel, so we invited them for Shabbos. They asked many questions about Moshiach and we sat and talked into the night. Afterwards, we received letters from them which they ended with Yechi. That’s despite the fact that they came to us with tremendous opposition to anything associated with Chassidus. “I also informed women about the laws of Family Purity, and helped those who wanted to keep the mitzva. At that time, the mikva in Venice wasn’t kosher and it was necessary to travel to Bologna, a two and a half hour train ride away. “We had a video that explained Taharas HaMishpacha, and a couple who stayed with us watched it and decided to keep this mitzva. I’ll never forget the woman who did not have children for seven years, who insisted on keeping the mitzva of Taharas HaMishpacha with mesirus nefesh and had a child! Back then she only observed these laws and Yom Kippur. Today she has become more observant, and she has two children. Rabbi Noam Wagner “At the end of Pesach, when we held the Moshiach Seuda, a girl “Many Jews were inspired in Venice, people who dropped in. I invited her to sit down, came just to eat a hot meal at the restaurant and stayed and she enjoyed herself very much. for the blowing of the shofar on Rosh HaShana or for Boruch Hashem, we have kept in the Ten Commandments on Shavuos. This was work touch, and today she is in that was done outside the walls of the yeshiva. shidduchim and looking for a “When our oldest was two years old, he knew to ask religious man to marry. people, “Are you Jewish?” – and who could refuse a “We told the Jews we met how to sweet little boy … contact in the cities they came from, and tried to keep in FROM VENICE TO MEXICO touch with them. Many visitors kept “When we had to leave Venice, we went to Mexico in touch via e-mail for a long time for a year, to assist the shliach there, Rabbi Meizlich, in after they left Venice. the yeshiva he started. “In Mexico there was great opposition to Chassidus

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“Here’s a story for you. On Erev “Through the Rebbe’s guidance. Many people left Shavuos, my husband’s driver came That is how I became a Lubavitcher. to us. My husband had been trying It began in a roundabout way and with the feeling for a long time to convince him to now it’s more direct. For me, to get put on t’fillin, but he always refused. an answer in the Igros is like getting that the Rebbe is He went through the war and didn’t an answer from my father. We have want to hear about t’fillin. to remember that we are conduits chai v’kayam and, “When he came Erev Yom Tov, and the Rebbe works through us. We my husband was in the middle of a need to do what he wants. In my at the very least, phone call and I invited the man in experience, remembering this point can be Moshiach. to eat some cheese cake and blintzes gives you the strength to handle the that I had made. When my husband hard times. We need to remember The best proof was tried to persuade him, once again, to that we aren’t doing anything for put on t’fillin, he no longer refused. ourselves.” when Misnagdishe Later, he came around to the Tell us more about your yeshiva. Lately, he informed us that shlichus. visitors left singing he has been trying to put on t’fillin “Although I sometimes want to regularly, and on a day that he does do something else, I am generally Yechi! not, he feels it wasn’t a good day. involved in the yeshiva. My husband “He is 70 years old, and from his needs my help, and this is my and Chabad, but my husband found moving story I learned that it is shlichus. My husband, children and I a way to reach people. He first never too late. In addition, I learned “live the yeshiva.” Bachurim from spoke to them a lot in Nigleh and that although a kitchen is a place of our yeshiva go on shlichus around only then in Chassidus. Boruch physicality, it can also lead to the world – to America, South Hashem, we were very successful, spiritual attainments. This is the America, Australia, Russia – and and we give the credit to the Rebbe reason that I put effort into my they keep in touch with us. Every who helped us throughout. cooking and baking. My shlichus Shabbos four to six bachurim eat “When we had to leave after only taught me that a hot and tasty meal with us, which enables us to a year, after we had just gotten used is mekarev people.” establish a personal relationship with to the new shlichus, it was very hard. *** them. We reminded ourselves that we were We are in a Hakhel year. What “It’s also great for our five being led by the Rebbe, and only he can you tell us about this as it children to have known, since they could guide us. pertains to your shlichus? were little, what a is, “In Hakhel, you unite. In all the what a Chassidishe niggun is, to have heard a wealth of Chassidishe FROM MEXICO TO places I’ve been, I have seen how achdus manages to break barriers stories and breathe in a Chassidishe SOUTH AFRICA and make things flow. I see this atmosphere. The bachurim are like “We are here for five and a half especially with the community here, our children’s older brothers and like years. Our shlichus focuses primarily which is outstandingly united. Our our children. on Tomchei T’mimim. My goal this year is to add more “One night, my husband let the husband is the , and I shiurim, through which we will madrich go somewhere, and told me try to help him as much as I can. He increase our achdus, and certainly he would put the children to sleep. It is the boys’ father and I am their this will make all obstacles disappear was ten at night and our children mother. If a bachur is sick, I look until we see Moshiach. were sleeping already. Then I after him, call a doctor if necessary, “My message for Hakhel is that realized that he meant the bachurim make sure he eats, etc. each of us has to see just the good in yeshiva.” “At times that I feel down, I write in others and focus on it. This is the to the Rebbe. I would like to work way we will unite.” GUIDANCE FROM more with the community, to give You’ve been on shlichus in THE REBBE shiurim to women, but the answer I several places so perhaps you can “Igros Kodesh answers are not open to is always to help my tell us – how do you relate to a only a source of miracles, but our husband in the yeshiva. That is what different type of community than guidebooks in life. My nine year old the Rebbe wants of me, that I should you have been used to? How do wanted to go to sleep-away camp be like the bachurim’s mother. you unite?

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this year and I wasn’t sure whether did not receive an answer when I answer with the Rebbe’s bracha for he was ready. He suggested that we wrote. I consulted with my , the trip, my request, and success in write to the Rebbe and he asked me who told me, “I don’t know why I my work. whether, if the Rebbe said yes, I am telling you this, but try again and “While I waited for an answer, I would agree to send him. I said of again until you get an answer.” As looked for a flight, but the planes course. the Rebbe told a Chassid, “Even were booked. There was also a “He put a lot of effort into the when I don’t answer you when you financial problem. But the moment I letter. Before writing it he learned knock the first time, knock a second made the decision to carry out the by heart with my husband, he and third time and come in horaa I found out about an available learned a sicha, and he went to the whenever you want, because I’ll spot on a flight to . That mikva. always hear you.” My mashpia day we also got a donation that “In the answer he opened to, the emphasized that it was only now, in covered the cost of the flight, as well Rebbe gave a lot of encouragement this specific situation, that she was as our work in general. It all worked for learning Tanya and Mishnayos telling me to write again and again out. by heart and then the Rebbe blessed until I was answered. “It was, indeed, a very busy him with a healthy summer. We had “Each time I wrote, I opened to a month. I spent time in Montreal no choice but to send him to camp. horaa that was hard for me to do. At with my parents, and worked with Sometimes, we have to learn from first I decided to do it under certain many women. I did mivtzaim as the kids how to live with the Rebbe. conditions, but I immediately much as possible, and it was “We write to the Rebbe about all realized that the Rebbe wasn’t really supernatural because by of our activities and we get answers. interested in my conditions and nature, I am shy. I truly felt that It has become a part of our lives. wanted me to do it wholeheartedly. it was only the Rebbe’s kochos. I “Last year, I very much wanted As soon as I made the decision to do returned to my work here with to go to the Rebbe for Tishrei, but I as the Rebbe asked, I opened to an lots of energy.” “Our little girl, who is seven months old, is a walking miracle. She was born in the seventh month and was in the NICU. While I was there with her, I met a woman and I wondered whether she was Jewish. She told me that though she was Jewish, she was married to a non- Jew and lived far away, where gentiles – and Jews who wanted to forget their Judaism – lived. “I was pleasantly surprised when she was willing to take a Shir LaMaalos card from me, and we keep in touch. My goal now is for her son to attend the local Jewish school.” In conclusion: “My husband went to the Rebbe, and he came back for Simchas Torah, in order to give over the chayus to the k’hilla. In our last phone conversation I told him, ‘Save me a good spot in 770 because Moshiach is about to come; Shnas Hakhel is underway.’” Yechi Adoneinu Moreinu V’Rabbeinu Melech HaMoshiach Rabbi Noam Wagner at a farbrengen with Rabbi Tuvia Bolton L’olam Va’ed! at the Chabad yeshiva in Johannesburg

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shlichus TO CONQUER THE WORLD WITH TORAH

By Rabbi Yaakov Shmuelevitz, Shliach, Beit Shaan

Geula. There are many mivtzaim of the Rebbe, This column is devoted to some stories about shluchim and their for all sorts of people, but the thing that students, who are conquering the most affects a Jew is when he discovers world with Torah study. the depths of Torah. More than BRANCHES, AND BRANCHES OF anything else, this is what changes BRANCHES, OF TOMCHEI people. T’MIMIM The Chabad yeshiva in Tzfas has In 1971, a group of bachurim study, was something the Rebbe been a pioneer when it comes to went on shlichus to Australia. The spoke about a lot in 5731. opening additional branches. It Rebbe told them, before they left, R’ Wilschansky adopted this started in Chaifa, and continued in “You probably know that the approach and he and his talmidim – Dalton and Natzrat Ilit. Other purpose of this shlichus is to and I am among them – conquer the yeshivos g’dolos are following in its conquer Australia through Torah world, opening more and more footsteps, like the yeshiva in Migdal study.” (Likkutei Sichos vol. 7, p. branches of Chabad yeshivos in all HaEmek, which opened a branch in 351) sorts of places; you may not have Chadera. Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok even heard of these yishuvim. They Today there are branches big and Wilschansky, shliach and rosh open Chabad houses where many small of Chabad yeshivos, with the yeshiva in Tzfas, was one of those shiurim are given. People learn, and goal to conquer another city, yishuv bachurim. He explained that this the world is conquered with the or neighborhood, and prepare the approach, to conquer via Torah power of Torah, preparing it for the world for Moshiach. It started ten years ago in Chaifa. The yeshiva was started as a joint venture by the hanhala in Tzfas and shluchim in Chaifa, led by Rabbi Leibel Schildkraut. The hanhala and the T’mimim wanted to spread Judaism and Chassidus, and the shluchim in Chaifa were looking for manpower to augment their programming. The yeshiva is a success story. Hundreds and thousands of people were niskarev to the Rebbe and Chassidus thanks to the yeshiva. Talmidim in the Chabad yeshiva in Chaifa listening to a People walk in and out of the

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Then they sent a final warning, “If it is not taken down, a special team will be sent … and you will have to pay for it.” R’ Wilschansky spoke to whoever he needed to, and while the city was preparing its evacuation team, a representative from Agudas Yisroel, who is not a Chassid but is happy to help all kinds of Jews, showed up and convinced the mayor to write a letter giving permission for the picture to remain. Now we all wait to see the A shiur in the Chabad yeshiva in Dalton Rebbe with the hisgalus, not just in a picture. yeshiva at all hours of the day. The Wilschansky to present his position. bachurim learn with them, some This is how all the boys were participate in shiurim, t’fillos and exposed to Chassidic ideas, and they HAVE YOU HEARD farbrengens, and that’s how learned that a yeshiva had opened in OF DALTON? Chassidim and baalei t’shuva are Chaifa and were all invited to come The yeshiva in Dalton, a small made. and learn. moshav between Tzfas, Amuka and Another Chassid who began his Miron, was started four years ago. It A BAAL T’SHUVA journey towards religious observance also began as a branch of the main AND THE SHINUI YOUTH thanks to R’ Wilschansky is also yeshiva in Tzfas, but today it serves from Russia. His name is Shaul, and as an independent lighthouse of DIRECTOR back in Russia he had come in third Torah and Chassidus for the entire The rosh yeshiva in Chaifa, place in marksmanship. After area. Rabbi Menachem Mendel becoming niskarev to the Rebbe he About fifty bachurim learn there, Wilschansky relates: has started an entire network of and they spread the light of As soon as the yeshiva opened, shiurim in Chaifa for Russian Chassidus not only in all the nearby the bachurim began running immigrants, a beautiful shul, a two yishuvim, but the entire moshav Mesibos Shabbos for children in story learning center, an office, a itself has been impacted by the Chaifa neighborhoods. Near my mitzva tank etc. yeshiva. The people who rent house, some Russian children R’ Wilschansky is familiar with guesthouses on the moshav, as well (among others) showed up. One of all the religious groups in Chaifa. as many of the residents of the them began wearing a kippa in a Not long ago, about fifty Chinuch moshav, go to the yeshiva for secular school. He was the only Atzmai teachers convened for a davening or to learn. They are all person wearing a kippa among 3000 course in Halacha and higher Torah impressed by the T’mimim and their children! knowledge. Every week, all the yiras Shamayim and Chassidishe joie A few joined him, and four boys teachers, young men from every de vivre. kept in touch with me and showed Chassidic group, gather and hear a Someone walked into the up occasionally to learn in the shiur in Halacha for 4 hours, given yeshiva, a ben Torah of about 60, yeshiva. Today, three of them are by Rabbi M.M. Wilschansky. The and he listened to a short shiur in Lubavitchers and G-d willing, they ones who made the “shidduch” Chassidus from the rosh yeshiva, will establish fine, Chassidishe between him and dozens of teachers Rabbi Chaim Eliezer Wilschansky. homes. were Rabbi Tomer Wirth and Rabbi Right after the shiur he introduced One of them, as he become more Avrohom Moshe Komer. himself as a Litvak whose sons all observant, was active in the Shinui A huge picture of the Rebbe learned in top Litvishe yeshivos, but youth movement (not a Chassidishe graces the yeshiva building, covering in his youth he had been in 770 and party …) and he became the all four floors, to the glory of Crown Heights and had even director. There was a debate at the Rechov Arlozorov, a central street in experienced a miracle story with the movement’s club about Shabbos Chaifa. The municipality sent Rebbe. observance versus religious coercion. warnings that they should take it He said to the rosh yeshiva, “You This new director invited R’ down. should know that I’m jealous of the

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yiras Shamayim of the bachurim from my community in Eretz Yisroel disseminate. here. I can testify that my sons, in and the world at large, as compared *** top yeshivos, don’t compare to the to the lands near Libya, like It’s all nice but not nearly yiras Shamayim of a Lubavitcher Morocco and Tunisia, which have enough. We must increase and bachur who is busy doing mivtzaim many rabbanim. expand the shiurim many times over. at the malls and universities. Despite “Then I heard a Moroccan rav R’ Wilschansky (of Chaifa) everything he sees there, he is not talk about the Rebbe’s shluchim, maintains that all the Chabad influenced; he does the influencing, who went to Morocco and Tunisia websites are mainly news and and it just strengthens his yiras 60 years ago and started hundreds mivtzaim related. With the help of a Shamayim.” of Torah classes, for boys friend, who became niskarev to Even the rav of Dalton, of Libyan and for girls. That’s when I Judaism thanks to the yeshiva in background, has become a part of understood that it’s only thanks to Chaifa, he started a Jewish website the atmosphere of the yeshiva, and is the Rebbe and his shluchim that which enables people to learn, via becoming more and more mekushar hundreds of rabbanim were live broadcast, maamarei Chassidus, to Toras HaChassidus, the Rebbe, produced by these countries. Libya Daf Yomi, three chapters of and the Besuras Ha’Geula. Recently, did not have shluchim, and we don’t Rambam, etc. in a candid moment, Rabbi Boublil have many rabbis.” As we said: Conquering the said to the rosh yeshiva, “It’s a few This illustrates how many world with the power of Torah. years now that I’ve been wondering generations are influenced by the why there are hardly any rabbanim Rebbe’s shluchim and the Torah they RADIO MOSHIACH AND REDEMPTION IS BROADCASTING ON 91.9 FM DAILY IN BROOKLYN AND OTHER SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS FROM 12:05 AM (MIDNIGHT) TILL 6:00 PM

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Insight A SHTURM ABOUT HAKHEL

Interview by Menachem Ziegelboim

He is well known for his clear The following is an interview with writing style which suits a broad Rabbi Yosef Karasik, rav in the Bat array of people from the Chassidic to the not-yet-religious. His major Chefer district – Emek Chefer, one of the literary accomplishment is HaBayis HaYehudi B’Mishnas HaKabbala Chabad rabbanim in Eretz Yisroel, and V’HaChassidus, in which he explains the topic of the Jewish home from a frequent contributor to Beis various angles. He wrote and edited another book in the same style, Moshiach. He spent two Hakhel years HaShabbos B’ Kabbala with the Rebbe, once in 5741, as a U’B’Chasidus (two volumes). He also published a book on tz’daka young boy and a talmid in the yeshiva in and the laws of interest from a Chassidic perspective, which was Lud, and then in 5748, as a talmid in recently published in Russian. He is invited by shluchim throughout the Tomchei T’mimim-770 and a chozer of country to speak. For a few years, R’ Karasik was the Rebbe’s sichos in Lashon HaKodesh. the chozer in 770. After the He shares his impressions of those years farbrengens, he would sit and review the sichos the Rebbe had said, with us. translating them into Lashon HaKodesh for his friends, and explaining them as well. I still Our readers are already familiar He has successfully been remember hundreds of guests with Rabbi Karasik, since his mekarev Jews of many backgrounds crowding around him after a column on the parsha as seen in and communities, who were so far farbrengen. Chassidic thought often graces our from the path of Torah and mitzvos. R’ Karasik spent two Hakhel pages. R’ Karasik has been serving In his gentle way he broke down years in Crown Heights, and I asked in rabbanus for 18 years, first as a barriers and reached people’s hearts. him to share his memories of those rav and shliach in the Central Arava Whoever has seen the magnificent years with us. region of the country and then in shul he established in Sapir in the Bat Chefer-Emek Chefer. In both Central Arava area, as well as the areas he has made the name of numerous people who regularly WHAT IS SPECIAL Heaven beloved among his flock, frequent it, will understand what a ABOUT HAKHEL who look up to him not only as their “something from nothing” feat this First of all, as we begin the Rav but also as someone pleasant to was. Beforehand, there were no Shnas Hakhel, please give us a deal with, someone whose door is shuls in the area – and nobody who description of Hakhel during the always open for them. asked for one either. Temple times.

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Once in seven years, after the king prayed to Hashem on behalf of his final day. Shmita year, on the first day of Chol the nation, that they be blessed with The Hakhel gathering was HaMoed Sukkos, all the Jewish success in all matters, both material preceded by the blowing of people gathered – men, women, and and spiritual. He concluded with trumpets. On the morning of that children – in the courtyard of the seven blessings for the nation, the day, Kohanim scattered throughout Beis HaMikdash, in the Ezras malchus, the Kohanim and the Beis Yerushalayim and blew golden Nashim. A special wooden platform HaMikdash. trumpets, in order to remind the was built, upon which the king sat The Torah reading was from a people that the special day had and read sections from the book of Torah that was used only once in arrived and they had to go to the D’varim which urged the nation to seven years, and from several Temple Mount. observe mitzvos. sources it sounds like it was the What else took place then? After reading from the Torah, the Torah that Moshe wrote himself, on There were no speeches by distinguished rabbis, not even by the High Priest. It was only the king who read most of D’varim from the Torah scroll. We can assume that it took at least an hour or more. The main topics the king read about were: the mitzva of belief in G-d, accepting the yoke of Heaven and the yoke of mitzvos, about the mitzvos dependent on the Land – the section about truma and maaser for the priests and levites, the mitzva of gifts to the poor, and the curses and blessings. Why was this gathering regarded with such importance when there was nothing new in what the king read? Indeed, the king did not impart anything new. He read verses that everybody knew. Yet everybody was commanded to come and stand silently and reverently, with “great kavana,” because the goal was not to acquire new information. The goal was to strengthen the nation’s belief in Hashem, and urge them to go in the ways of the Torah. By the king reading those passages, he implanted a d’veikus (cleaving) to the path of uprightness and truth. There is an expression in one of the Rishonim (the Chinuch, mitzva #612) which says, “This mitzva is a strong pillar and great glory in our religion.” I assume millions of Jews assembled to listen to the king. How did they all hear him? It was an enormous crowd of millions of Jews, and we can assume

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that some people did not hear the Hakhel, when the king read from the from mundane work in the field and king; but more than hearing, the Torah so that the nation could, as it his time was dedicated to Hashem main thing was to see and were, relive Mattan Torah. and His service. At the end of the experience. Just being present and This idea is based on Rambam Shmita year he went back to work – seeing the king and all the people (Hilchos Chagiga) which says that plowing, planting, harvesting and gathered together at the Beis the participants in Hakhel have to other mundane activities. In order HaMikdash, had a tremendous listen with awe like at the event of that his daily work would not spiritual effect on everyone. Mattan Torah, and when the king weaken his fear of Heaven, the The entire event was an read from the Torah, the Jew had to Torah commands him to go to the outstandingly uplifting one, which consider it “as though he was just king and hear words of inspiration left an indelible impression for at commanded and that he heard it from him. least seven years, until the next from Hashem.” So the Rambam From this we see how powerful Hakhel gathering. compares Hakhel to Mattan Torah at Hakhel was. It was an event that Sinai! took just a few hours, yet it left such THE HAKHEL So you can imagine the great an imprint that it enabled the Jew to GATHERING WAS LIKE excitement people felt at this once- serve Hashem in the six years to in-seven-year’s event, which was come! MATTAN TORAH reminiscent of Mattan Torah, when How did such a short event The Rebbe made an issue of the all the Jewish people heard the Ten educate people to d’veikus to the topic of Hakhel. What’s the Commandments. ways of Torah? Rebbe’s approach to it? In the Rebbe’s sichos, the The Rebbe once explained this as At the farbrengen Erev Shnas expression “Shnas Hakhel” follows: The Shmita year was Hakhel, 5734, the Rebbe explained appears, not “Mitzvas Hakhel.” actually a year of Shabbos. Just as something amazing about Hakhel – The mitzva ended after an hour or on Shabbos, a Jew transcends his that it was actually a sort of Mattan two yet the Rebbe extended the idea weekday affairs and hovers in more Torah at Sinai experience revisited. to the entire year. Why? elevated realms, so too, in a way, The Rebbe said: In order to arouse The term “Shnas Hakhel” that throughout the Shmita year a Jew and strengthen the nation to cleave the Rebbe used countless times is transcended daily life by being to Torah and mitzvos, Hashem not self understood. It’s one thing to forbidden to work the land. established that once in seven years call the seventh year “Shnas When the Shmita year was over, there would be something like Shmita,” because the mitzva of he had to return to the daily grind Mattan Torah at Har Sinai. This was Shmita applies to the entire year by descending from his spiritual when the land must not be worked, high. This is inherently dangerous, but Hakhel was done on the second because in the transition from the day of Sukkos only. So why did the rarified atmosphere of “Shabbos” to From this we see Rebbe refer to the entire year as the weekday, a person can lose his how powerful Shnas Hakhel? Why would a mitzva bearings. This is why we were that applied at the beginning of the commanded to go to the king, who Hakhel was. It year provide a name for the entire confers the strength to transmit the year? holiness into the mundane world. was an event that It’s the Rebbe’s chiddush. Since The mitzva of Hakhel was like a the event was exceedingly dramatic, Havdala ceremony that the king did took just a few with the uniting of all Jews around for the people at the end of the king, it affected the entire year. Shabbos- the year of Shmita. hours, yet it left How does Chassidus view the In the Rebbe’s letters and such an imprint mitzva of Hakhel? sichos he emphasizes the children The mitzva of Hakhel gives a Jew in the mitzva of Hakhel. Why is that it enabled the the strength to prevail in the there an emphasis on children mundane world and preserve that when in other mitzvos they are Jew to serve spiritual atmosphere during the next exempt? six years (until the next Shmita). The Torah says explicitly to Hashem in the six In the year before Hakhel, the gather everyone, men, women and years to come! Shmita year, the Jew was cut off children. In the tractate Chagiga,

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Those who spent a Shnas Hakhel in 770 felt that it was something like the actual Hakhel, as people gathered around the Rebbe, our king and leader of the generation, as he stood on the nights of Sukkos and taught us Torah.

Chazal ask why the children have to be brought, “The hiskashrus to the Rebbe. men come to listen; the women come to see; but why do the children come?” Rabbi Elozor ben Azaria answers, THE REBBE’S CONDUCT “To give a reward to those who bring them.” IN A HAKHEL YEAR On such an occasion, it would only be proper if there was utter silence so people could concentrate on hearing What was special about a Hakhel year in Beis the king, that even a bird would not fly or chirp like at Chayeinu? Mattan Torah. But when you think of millions of Hakhel years in 770 were special. To a certain extent, children being present, who are bored being there for so those who spent a Shnas Hakhel in 770 felt that it was long, what do you think they did? They cried, played something like the actual Hakhel, as people gathered and generally caused chaos. You would think that this around the Rebbe, our king and leader of the would adversely affect the ceremony. How could people generation, as he stood on the nights of Sukkos and pay attention to the Torah reading with millions of taught us Torah. children distracting them? In the Hakhel year of 5741, the Rebbe began to say Furthermore, the Aliya L’Regel, especially for those sichos each night of Sukkos. He also announced Mivtza who lived far from Yerushalayim, was a difficult trip Simchas Beis HaShoeiva, namely that every night of involving walking for days and weeks. They were told to Sukkos we should go out and dance in the street and bring the children so they would have a greater reward. rejoice. What does this mean – to endanger a child in order that Hakhel emphasizes children, whereas other mitzvos the parents have a better seat in Gan Eden? in the Torah do not address children directly. Indeed, at The words of the Tanna, “to give reward to those the hakafos of Hakhel 5741, something unusual took who bring them” has a deeper meaning: place for children: There is no greater reward for parents than children The established custom was that at the hakafos the who are raised to Torah and fear of Heaven, to faith and rabbanim, distinguished members of Anash, and connection to the king. The assemblage of the nation at honored guests were honored, but before the fifth hakafa the Mikdash with the king would be engraved in their there was an enormous surprise when the Rebbe called tender souls and pave the way for a lifetime of Torah up all the children (and their educators) for the hakafa. and mitzvos. The Rebbe himself went to the hakafa with the children, This is the great reward that the parents, who and he held the Torah for about ten minutes. He danced brought their children to Hakhel, received. The trip may vigorously and with great joy that cannot be described in have been difficult, but it resulted in years of nachas and words. That hakafa was like the great Hakhel when the peace of mind. king read from the Torah before the people, including This is also true for our trip to the Rebbe in galus. the children. We need to bring the children to Beis Rabbeinu Since then, in many shuls of Anash the custom is Sh’B’Bavel. This will positively affect them, and educate that fifth hakafa is dedicated to the children and their them to Torah and Chassidus with d’veikus and teachers, especially in a Hakhel year.

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farbrengen. He said a maamer, was able to hear him, which made The sweet taste they sang a niggun etc. On me elated. Shabbos HaGadol of that year, In my mind’s eye I can see that of that simcha which fell on 14 Nissan, Erev special moment when the Rebbe Pesach, the Rebbe held a suddenly began to speak. A tumult and brotherly, farbrengen (the refreshments were erupted as people pushed to get water and bananas since on Erev close to be able to hear the sicha. In Chassidishe love, Pesach we don’t eat food that is the first seconds this created a lot of used Pesach night). I remember noise, so the Rebbe paused and and tremendous that the T’mimim connected these waited until the crowd more or less love for the unusual events with the fact that it settled down, and then he continued was a Shnas Hakhel. speaking. For me personally it was Rebbe, are In earlier years, the Rebbe would very special, since I finally got to farbreng only on Shabbos hear a sicha from the Rebbe on Yom engraved in my Mevarchim or on Shabbasos that To v . were close to some special date, but After the sicha, in which the heart forever. from Shnas Hakhel 5748, the Rebbe Rebbe said we should dance and farbrenged every Shabbos, not only rejoice, the T’mimim in 770 felt that when there was a reason to do so they had to do something. I should add that the Rebbe also because of the date. Spontaneously, the simcha and founded the Something that stood out in dancing burst out and over to that organization that Sukkos. those Hakhel years was the famous corner, at Kingston and Can you tell us more about tremendous simcha, especially Montgomery. Till this day, I what the Rebbe did in a Hakhel during Sukkos. That’s the way it remember the second night of Yom year? was in 5741 when the Rebbe Tov, when the T’mimim and Anash In many farbrengens and sichos, announced Mivtza Simchas Beis began dancing in the street. I believe the Rebbe mentioned the mitzva of HaShoeiva, and all the nights of this was the first time that they Hakhel and explained that with Sukkos they danced till dawn. That’s blocked the street with their dancing. every mitzva and holy action that when the dancing on Kingston and Close to dawn, they all danced you do during the year, you have to Montgomery began. their way back to 770. On the way, feel that it is part of Shnas Hakhel. In 5748 there was also they passed by the Rebbe’s house on There were years when, in nearly tremendous and special joy at the President Street, where the simcha every sicha and farbrengen, the Simchas Torah hakafos. They were exploded. From there they continued Rebbe mentioned the significance of longer, and the simcha was with song and dance towards 770, the year and connected the inyan of unusually great. Many interpreted and most people dispersed and went the day to Hakhel. this as being associated with a Shnas home. A handful of T’mimim In the Hakhel years of 5741 and Hakhel (in addition to it being ten continued to dance in the zal 5748, there were many additional years since the Rebbe’s heart attack upstairs. “Hakhels”, which the Rebbe himself and recovery in 5738). I was just a little past my bar made. The Rebbe farbrenged or said You were present that Sukkos mitzva and I fell, exhausted, on to a sicha on nearly every possible 5741, when they started the the Rebbe’s upholstered bench, occasion, and he participated in Simchas Beis HaShoeiva dancing where he sat during Mincha and many Tzivos Hashem children’s every night. What do you Maariv in the upstairs zal. But the rallies. remember? older T’mimim did not let me rest. As was previously mentioned, The sicha of the first night of They picked me up on their starting from Hakhel 5741 the Sukkos was a surprise; nobody shoulders and for a long time they Rebbe began to say a sicha every expected it. I was a young boy and I sang and danced with tremendous night of Sukkos. That year, the was unable to find a place close to joy, “Ashreinu sh’anu Chassidim.” Rebbe even farbrenged on two very the Rebbe during farbrengens, and it The sweet taste of that simcha unusual occasions, which he had was hard for me to hear the Rebbe and brotherly, Chassidishe love, and never done before: on Shabbos when there was no tremendous love for the Rebbe, are Purim afternoon, which was a microphone. During that particular engraved in my heart forever. Friday that year, the Rebbe entered sicha I was close to the Rebbe and The second night of Sukkos of the zal upstairs and held a brief

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TRAVELING TO THE KING, IN OUR GENERATION It seems the Rebbe wanted to create a revolution through the mitzva of Hakhel. At some farbrengens and in some sichos, mainly in 5748, the Rebbe explained that in a Hakhel year we must have gatherings at every opportunity, and use them to inspire people to fear Hashem. This is reminiscent of the great Hakhel gathering which the king addressed in the Beis HaMikdash. The gatherings should take place all year long, and not just on Sukkos (see box). How should every one of us prepare himself for this special avoda that the Rebbe gave us for a Shnas Hakhel? Just as we learn the laws of each holiday from Shulchan Aruch, so too we must learn and know the Rebbe’s horaos for a Shnas Hakhel from the sichos of the last Shnas Hakhel we had with the Rebbe, 5748. that year, 5741, it wasn’t clear whether the Rebbe would They are printed and available in various anthologies. In say a sicha. People didn’t know whether the sicha of the addition, every Chassid and Tamim should study and first night was a one-time thing, or the Rebbe had review the rest of the sichos in which the Rebbe explains started a new practice. Together with another two what Hakhel is all about (a partial list is provided, see friends from yeshiva, we decided it was worth coming box). early to reserve a place so we could hear a sicha if one Many people want to travel to the Rebbe at some was said. point this year. They also want to take their families. By three in the afternoon we had already taken places What do you think about this? and indeed, the Rebbe said a sicha and I was able to The Hakhel gathering is about hiskashrus to the hear him. I was the happiest person on earth. king, with the emphasis on the entire nation coming You had a yechidus with the Rebbe in a Shnas before the king, seeing him, and listening while he Hakhel … davened and read from the Torah. From this experience I had yechidus in Tishrei of that year but it was a one drew strength for the next six years. When we are in general-yechidus. I remember the moment we entered the Rebbe’s room, and it is one of the most moving scenes I experienced that Tishrei 5741. LEARNING AND BEING PREPARED A group of us T’mimim from Tomchei T’mimim in The following is a partial list of five fundamental Lud stood in Gan Eden HaTachton for personal sichos about Hakhel, which teach what the mitzva yechidus, when it was suddenly suggested that all the is and the ramifications for nowadays: T’mimim from the yeshivos in Lud and enter together. All the T’mimim and the hanhala agreed *Likkutei Sichos, volume 14, for Parshas VaYeilech to the suggestion, and we all entered the Rebbe’s room, (the role of the Kohanim in blowing the golden where we stood in a semi-circle and received the Rebbe’s trumpets on the day of Hakhel) bracha. *Likkutei Sichos, volume 19, for Sukkos (about In that yechidus there were about thirty bachurim. bringing little children to Hakhel) That was, more or less, the number of bachurim who had come to the Rebbe that Tishrei. Most bachurim *Likkutei Sichos, volume 24, for Parshas VaYeilech remained in Eretz Yisroel. Chabad has expanded (the mitzva of Hakhel at the end of Shmita, the tremendously in Eretz Yisroel, and the unbelievable verses that the king read at Hakhel) number of T’mimim who traveled this year from Eretz *Likkutei Sichos, volume 34, for Parshas VaYeilech Yisroel to 770 was over 1000 T’mimim! In 28 years the (Hakhel in the Mikdash like Mattan Torah at Har number grew forty times over! Is there a bigger miracle Sinai) than this? *Likkutei Sichos, volume 34 for Sukkos (fulfilling the mitzva when in galus)

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galus and we don’t have the Beis and it appears from that sicha that phrase, “Shnas Hakhel,” and he said HaMikdash or a king, the best place the Rebbe very much wants us to go many times that throughout the to hold a similar event is in 770. to 770 in a Shnas Hakhel. entire year gatherings should be In 5748, after Tishrei, the Rebbe It is important to stress another made that are like the original thanked all those who came to him, point. Since the Rebbe coined the Hakhel, someone who was unable to go to 770 for Sukkos, or in Tishrei at all, should at least see it as his A CHASSID IS A KOHEN. WHAT IS HIS ROLE? obligation and privilege to go to 770 On Simchas Torah in the Shnas Hakhel 5727, the Rebbe focused on a at some point during the year. very fascinating point in the mitzva of Hakhel. On the morning of Prices of tickets from Eretz Hakhel, on the second day of Sukkos, Kohanim went around Yisroel and other places have gone Yerushalayim and blew trumpets to remind people to come to the Beis up significantly, which makes it HaMikdash. Chazal in Tosefta say that a kohen who did not blow a challenging to travel, but this is an trumpet in Yerushalayim “appears not to be a kohen.” attempt by the Evil Inclination to That is seemingly quite odd. The main avoda of the Kohanim is in the prevent people from going. There is Beis HaMikdash itself, bringing korbanos, incense etc., while blowing a no doubt that being in Beis Rabbeinu trumpet on the day of Hakhel is not an essential job of the kohen. In in a Shnas Hakhel has a tremendous addition to which, it was only done once in seven years. spiritual power for the coming years, So why is it that a kohen who devoted himself for seven years to the so people should try to overcome all service in the Mikdash, who only once in seven years, on the day of obstacles and do what they can to go Hakhel, did not carry out this seemingly trivial task, puts into question to Beis Rabbeinu at least once during his entire standing as a kohen? Can we say that blowing the trumpet in Hakhel. Yerushalayim was more important than the avoda in the Mikdash? Since the mitzva of Hakhel is And why did they blow trumpets anyway? Who needed to be also for the children, even in our reminded about the event they had come for? Who waited to hear the day, in galus, children should be trumpet blasts of the Kohanim? Was it possible that someone would brought to 770. This will touch their forget this amazing event when the entire nation gathered, which took hearts, and educate them to Torah place only once in seven years? Wouldn’t the noise and commotion of and Chassidus with d’veikus and masses of people walking to the Beis HaMikdash alert everybody, so that hiskashrus to the Rebbe. nobody remained sleeping? After all, as soon as day broke, everybody ran to the Beis HaMikdash to participate in the Hakhel gathering – who ACHDUS needed trumpets? Aside from gatherings, what It is reasonable to assume that the person who waited to hear the other significance is there to kohen’s trumpet and did not go on his own was spiritually cold, lacking Hakhel? in enthusiasm for the Hakhel gathering, and the job of the kohen was to Firstly, it’s important to go to him and wake him up from his spiritual lethargy. The blowing of emphasize the Rebbe’s horaa, that in the trumpet by a man of chesed and love succeeded in arousing even a Shnas Hakhel there ought to be those stragglers, to get up and go. gatherings in every community, city This is the actual job of the kohen, to draw close the hearts of the and country – and this was said, people to their Father in Heaven. first and foremost, to Lubavitcher Although the kohen’s work is generally in the Beis HaMikdash, where communities around the world. everybody goes when they are inspired to serve Hashem, sometimes the According to the Rebbe’s horaa, kohen goes on “shlichus” outside the Mikdash in order to wake up those there should be Hakhel gatherings who are slumbering. The kohen does this with a golden trumpet, with for all of Anash and the T’mimim in simcha and enthusiasm and awareness of the importance of this job. every location. Chazal say – what indicates that the seven years of service of the Secondly, these gatherings have kohen in the Mikdash is complete? When he is also ready to go out and an additional purpose, especially spread the wellsprings to those who strayed from the source of holiness. nowadays: From this the Rebbe taught that the role of every Chassid in a Shnas It’s no secret that there are Hakhel is not to stay closed up with the Sh’china in the Beis HaMikdash, people outside of Lubavitch who but to go out and blow trumpets, raising a hue and cry and inviting the think that there is a lack of unity nation to the Hakhel gatherings taking place in every location, in order to among us. We need to show them draw people’s hearts to their Father in Heaven. that the truth is that we are all

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brothers and are united. differences between us are merely cannot speak negatively about any We are all Chabad Chassidim and trivial in nature. Chassid, rav or mashpia, that will the Rebbe’s talmidim. We all strive Everybody knows that the Rebbe remain with him forever, and it will to fulfill the Rebbe’s horaos and to spoke nonstop about Ahavas Yisroel be a protective wall for his continued learn his teachings. True, there are and Achdus Yisroel. At the last education in the way of Torah and differences of opinion in how to farbrengen we had, on Parshas mitzvos. understand various sichos and what VaYakhel, 5752, the Rebbe focused The only way to stop the the Rebbe meant about how the on the topic of Ahavas Yisroel and machlokes is through learning Besuras Ha’Geula should be spread, being careful with our words so as Chassidus, which refines the middos but Chabad was, and will remain, not to hurt another person, even if and subdues the trait of arrogance, one united entity forever. Nothing he holds differently than us. so that each of us looks at another will cancel our love and Chassidic Speaking negatively about from the bottom-up, and accepts fraternity, as it was from the day someone presents an enormous every Chassid with love and not with Chabad Chassidus was founded by spiritual danger, for chinuch as well: criticism. the Alter Rebbe over 230 years ago. When a child hears his father or Hakhel gatherings in all It will continue further, with teacher speaking derogatorily about a Lubavitcher communities, cities and Hashem’s help, until the hisgalus of rav or mashpia, or any Chassid, the countries are mandatory in order to Moshiach, may that be now! message the child absorbs is the fact fulfill the Rebbe’s horaa and to show It is vital that we preserve a united that his father or teacher can criticize the world that we are “one man, front and don’t splinter. The bottom a rav or mashpia etc. Who, then, will with one heart.” line is that we all want to educate our guarantee that when the child grows The “Order of the Day” is to children in the way of Chassidus and older, he won’t also speak bring Moshiach. Ahavas Yisroel and in 99% of things we are on the same derogatorily about a rav or mashpia? Achdus Yisroel at Hakhel gatherings page. We are all Lubavitchers and the But if the child is taught that we is the way to hasten the hisgalus.

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shlichus stories MORE SOUL STORIES FROM INDIA

By Eli Shneur

of the sounds and called out to What do the shluchim in Pushkar do them. Within a few minutes the when their child needs medical doors of the opened and a group of tourists burst in, attention? What do the shluchim in eager to find a haven. We immediately offered blankets Poona do when there’s no money for and warm drinks because they were suffering from the cold. After they Shabbos meals and they have a drank and recovered a bit, we prepared a meal and sat down in the mountain of debts? What motivates an dark to farbreng into the night. The Indian gentile to leave his family and truth is we could barely see their faces. convert? * A selection of stories from They had come from the village of Arambul, which was a half an life on shlichus in India. hour drive away. They came to shop in the flea market but the storm The local market in Goa is a flea People ran for their lives and caught them as they were heading market which attracts thousands of people with stalls and their back to their village. tourists from all over the world. The belongings ran and screamed as they “We looked for a place to escape Rebbe’s shluchim in Goa maintain a searched for shelter. We took but didn’t find anything. At first we stand there, so that tourists can put pictures of some of the scenes. waited at the stalls but the winds on t’fillin. The shluchim have a People skidded on their scooters and lifted them up into the air like paper. rotation of two hours each. the sounds of their cries merged We began to run, exposed to the One day, when it was my turn to with the wailing of the wind. elements, and didn’t know where we man the stand, I took the motor Then we noticed a dangling were going. Someone shouted that scooter and planned on riding to the electric wire shooting sparks. We there was a Chabad house nearby. In market, but then I looked up and were new to India and didn’t know the dark we couldn’t find it and we saw how dark the sky was what would happen. Within a short wandered around for over an hour becoming. I turned around time the wire fell and we were left in looking for you, as the storm immediately and returned to the the dark with the sound of wind and continued to drench us. Luckily you Chabad house. rain howling in the background. The were here, otherwise we would be in Just as I crossed the threshold of storm was at its peak. trouble and who knows if we would the Chabad house there was a After a few hours the winds died have survived the night.” mighty clap of thunder and the rain down and the weather calmed. There are those moments that came pouring down, accompanied Within the silence we could hear the you enjoy hearing the tourists praise by storm winds. The many tall sound of someone shouting in Ivrit. the Rebbe’s work that reaches all the coconut trees, which are found there We realized there were Israelis lost way to faraway Goa. It’s very in profusion, bent over on their sides and roaming in the dark. We satisfying. When you do a Jew a and looked like they would break. concentrated to locate the direction material favor hearts open up and

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it’s a good opportunity to instill G-dliness and Judaism as Avrohom did in his time. Since the rain kept falling When Rabbi Shimmi told his we passed the time with interesting Chassidic insights, miracle stories of the Rebbe and divrei Torah. family about his daring When the storm died down they continued on their way. plan, they were A few months later I went to the Chabad house in flabbergasted. “India?! Why Vata Canal, in southern India. One day an Israeli showed up whose voice sounded familiar to me but there?” But he was whose face was unfamiliar. It took me time to figure out where I knew him from. He was one of the guys who determined, and he began took shelter with us in Goa. I had barely seen his face at the time, but I knew that voice! getting ready to go.

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These visits are important and even touch with.” He meant the Rebbe. That week, what have advantages over visits at the Having no choice, the family Chabad house, as they enable a accepted this and they set off for particularly deeper level of influence. India. weighed on his The next day I went with Ran When they arrived in Poona, he Shamir and headed for Ron’s house. opened a Chabad house and began mind was a loan Of course, we took t’fillin along. working with Israeli tourists. One When we got there, Ron welcomed day, the baby got sick and had fever. of $3,000 that us and asked us to sit down. After His wife Zelda wanted to call the top we schmoozed about the world from pediatrician and Shimmi told her would come due the perspective of Chassidus, that he would be coming soon … Judaism, Moshiach and the Rebbe, I The truth is that Shimmi knew the following got up my courage and suggested what to do but when there’s a sick Tuesday, but you that he put on t’fillin. child with temperature you can’t just He hesitated, but finally agreed. pray. He knew he had to do couldn’t tell by Then he said, “You know, I haven’t something. put on t’fillin since my bar mitzva … A few hours later a local Indian looking at him. and you know what, that day in Goa came to the Chabad house and when we ended up at the Chabad inquired about their work. They After a few words of introduction house in the storm changed responded as they did to every I invited him to the Chabad house to something in my life … I will never curious Indian. As they conversed, enjoy the delicious baked goods forget that night!” Shimmi asked him what he did. “I’m made by Arik Louson. Since it was an expert in family medicine,” he nighttime, I had to postpone t’fillin THE PEDIATRICIAN said. But the biggest surprise was when Shimmi discovered that the for another time. When the Goldstein family man was Jewish from a Jewish During his stay in the village, he arrived on shlichus in Pushkar, it family. urged other tourists to visit the was a far more difficult challenge Shimmi triumphantly turned to Chabad house. For example, when it they had to face than that of the his wife and said, “The top doctor was a cold and rainy Shabbos and shluchim today. The India of today arrived.” the Chabad house was nearly empty, is nothing like the India back then. He was one of the experts in the he went and located the tourists. To be more precise, the Goldsteins area in the field of pediatrics and Suddenly, in the middle of the were the “Nachshons” who jumped they used his services whenever they davening, which took place without into the sea which was India. Until needed them, until the man made a minyan, two minyanim of Israelis they arrived, shluchim would go to aliya. landed at the Chabad house. India on brief stints, mainly to run Until then, for some reason, I Pesach s’darim and to read the hadn’t suggested that he put on Megilla on Purim. THE WAYS OF DIVINE t’fillin. Perhaps we met at night or When Rabbi Shimmi told his PROVIDENCE on the street. But the day finally family about his daring plan, they The following story happened arrived. I suggested that he put on were flabbergasted. “India?! Why t’fillin but he declined. I was upset. after the Kupchik family arrived on there?” But he was determined, and shlichus in Poona. A few weeks after What had I asked of him already, he began getting ready to go. just t’fillin. Apparently his animal they landed, they had almost no At that time, the Goldstein family money left. Their financial state was soul knew the significance of this consisted of two little children. One and held him back. bleak and R’ Betzalel Kupchik of the issues that bothered the family struggled over every cent. Among his Then one day he told me that he was the question of medical care in was planning on traveling onward first supporters were people who had the event that one of the children given him loans of thousands of with his friends the following became sick. Shimmi couldn’t Monday. He complained that I dollars. The problem was that he dismiss this concern. had to repay them. hadn’t visited the tourists at the He tried to calm them and guest houses and he invited me to It was Erev Shabbos. The answered in this creative way, Chabad house was made up of a few do so the next day. “Everything is okay. There is a top I realized that he was right. guest rooms right near the family’s pediatrician there that we are in rooms. Due to their financial straits

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they thought perhaps they should not invite guests for Shabbos and avoid embarrassment, but that idea was quickly rejected. That week, what particularly weighed on his mind was a loan of $3,000 that would come due the following Tuesday, but you couldn’t tell by looking at him. He seemed as calm as always, not displaying any stress and certain that G-d would come through for him. The Kupchiks prepared Shabbos with the last of their food and tried to make the meal as festive as they could. Among the participants at the meal was a visiting Israeli who was there on business. After the meal, Betzalel accompanied him to his hostel and used this opportunity to discuss Jewish ideas. When they got to the man’s room they said goodbye. On Sunday, the man returned to Israel but he didn’t forget the At the Chabad house, Ziv the righteous convert, is in the center Chabad house. The impression it had made on him was so powerful to support the daring venture. That their Shabbos guest on the line. that he felt he had to do something day, Betzalel got a phone call; it was “What is your bank account number?” he asked. A few hours later they found out that the man had deposited $3,000, precisely the amount he needed to repay the loan.

THE STORY OF ZIV, THE CONVERT One day, as we sat in the Chabad house in Poona, an Indian wearing an Eastern turban came in. We greeted him respectfully but soon realized that our initial assumptions were mistaken. When we asked who he was and what he wanted, he surprised us by saying he wanted to convert. He said he came from a very distant place for just this purpose. This was certainly odd! That an Indian would decide to convert, out of the blue! The first step is to turn potential converts away but the Indian wasn’t fazed. He said he was prepared to go through the entire complicated The gravesite of R’ Avrohom Mota in the middle of a residential neighborhood process as long as he could be

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addressed was none other than wasn’t enough for me, and I went to It was quiet at Shneur Kupchik! Israel to convert. I spent eight He did not ask for Israeli months in Yerushalayim and that hour of the citizenship or for financial aid. He afterwards we converted.” morning but then had one purpose only, and that was During davening Ziv closed his to convert, along with his wife and eyes and davened with fervor. He we noticed an old son, and then to return to India. It closely followed the Kiddush and the took the family eight long months. meals. He listened carefully to the woman at a He took the name Ziv. divrei Torah which were translated Two years after he appeared the for him, loved the singing, and was windowsill, sitting first time, he showed up again and moved by the wonderful stories that said he wanted to spend Shabbos were told. and davening out with us in order to experience it in When Shabbos was over, we gave loud and order to convey it to his family in him chocolate and candies for his their distant city. wife and son, because of course they wholeheartedly When I asked him why he had kept kosher now and only ate decided to separate from his nation vegetarian products. He asked us to from a Siddur. and religion he told me: teach him some niggunim from the “I live in southern India, a three davening, and recorded them so he Like a Baal Shem day trip by train from here. I never would have them at home. heard of Jews or their religion. All He returned to his family on Tov story! When my life, like the rest of my family all Sunday. He is making a Kiddush she noticed us she these years, I worshiped what they Hashem as he publicizes to all about worshiped and believed in other one G-d and the Seven Noachide cried. She was so gods. That’s the way it goes when Laws. you have a tradition for thousands of happy to see Jews years and nobody asks questions. JEWISH REMNANTS “I own rice fields and a coconut IN COCHIN proudly looking business, from which I make a nice living, and I lacked for nothing On our way to Pushkar from Jewish. material. One day, I saw a book at Vata Canal, from the south of the my friend’s house. When I leafed country to the north, we spent sheltered under the wings of the through it I saw that it spoke about Shabbos in nearby Cochin (eight Sh’china and be counted among the Jews and Judaism, something foreign hours away). Jewish people. Then he was told to to me. I asked permission to borrow Cochin is an ancient Jewish, go to Israel and the Chabad house it and I read it avidly. I connected to Indian city. They say that the first forgot about him. the material so strongly; I felt that Jews arrived in India during the A few months later the telephone this was something that I was reign of Shlomo HaMelech but the at the Chabad house rang. It was missing. I wanted to read more and community really became established Shneur Kupchik, who was learning more about these topics. with emigrants from Iraq and those in Yeshivas Chassidei Chabad “They told me that on the expelled from Spain and Portugal. Lubavitch in Tzfas. “Ima, there is an Internet I could find anything I The Jewish residents today are few Indian here who knows you ...” wanted. I searched the Internet and in number, just seven old men and The Indian had been serious; he began reading with increasing four women. They usually do not had paid an astronomical amount of curiosity about these subjects, until I have minyanim but on Friday nights money by Indian standards and gone was finally convinced that our during the tourist season the ancient to Israel to convert. When he got to worship was a lie, nothing but shul cannot contain all the tourists Tzfas, he saw people who looked human fabrication. The only truth who want to see a former center of like the people at the Chabad house was in the Jewish religion. Jewish life in southern India. in India. When one of them passed “Since then, I convinced my We arrived in Cochin at seven in nearby he shouted, “Kupchik!” in entire family that it’s all foolishness the morning and went directly to the the hopes that he would understand based on legends and made up ideas ancient Jews’ street; the street sign that he knew a Kupchik from India. that have no basis in reality. But that actually said “Jews’ Street.” We were By Divine providence, the person he very excited to see the Magen Dovid

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on the houses. Finally, something went outside in my t’fillin to look for come here today to beseech you on Jewish within the sea of idols in him. behalf of our unfortunate, oppressed India! Dozens of curious eyes of locals brothers who live in Russia and in It was quiet at that hour of the and tourists stared at me. Out of the the countries under its power. Fear morning but then we noticed an old crowd, two people especially stood and trembling have seized us since woman at a windowsill, sitting and out. When I passed near them, the we heard of their terrible and davening out loud and woman pointed at the man with her dangerous situation and lot. There wholeheartedly from a Siddur. Like and said, “He’s Jewish.” have reawakened the voices of those a Baal Shem Tov story! The man, about sixty, was from who heap scorn and disgrace on the When she noticed us she cried. New York and was familiar with name Yisroel; a spirit of hatred has She was so happy to see Jews Lubavitch. We suggested that he put burst forth with wicked libels and proudly looking Jewish. Before we on t’fillin, but he declined, saying he empty accusations. These brethren of said goodbye she pleaded that we did so only at home. We convinced ours are bitter as mutes who cannot come back and visit her because she him to come to the house of Mrs. open their mouths and who do not was lonely and sad. Cohen and after pleading with him, have the wherewithal to respond; to We rented a room that faced a he finally agreed to put on t’fillin. whom shall they turn in this time of nice lobby and tried to locate His voice was emotional as he read woe if not to You alone, and upon Israelis, so we could farbreng with the Shma in the ancient Jewish city whom shall they rely in their them over Shabbos. The truth is we of Cochin. confusion if not for You? didn’t think we would find any That day we put t’fillin on with “Father in Heaven, holy one of Israelis there, but as we walked other Jews for whom it was the first Israel and its Redeemer, remember down the street wearing our hats time in their lives. that Your children are the remnants and jackets, we were stopped by We found a special t’filla on the of Your nation who remain few in Jewish passersby who asked us bima of the local shul on the second number after the destruction of the whether we would be having a floor. This t’filla was obviously holy communities of former glory, communal Shabbos meal. written during the time that the prisoners of hope are they, yearning We bought food and new utensils Soviets ruled Russia. When word of for the light of the redemption, and began cooking for Shabbos. the plight of the Jews there reached craving Your salvation. Please, Father Friday night, we went to the ancient the Jews of Cochin they composed a of mercy who hears the groan of the shul and invited whoever we saw. prayer for Russian Jewry: prisoner, please listen to their We had about ten Israelis for the “Master of the universe, we have whispers and hear their prayers when meal. We spoke into the night until we noticed a bunch of Indians gathered at our door. The landlady discovered that we had brought a whole gang to her home and she alerted the entire neighborhood. We went to the shul to daven on Sunday morning. For many hours hundreds of people came to the gate of the shul with great respect, removing their shoes as is customary. We put t’fillin on the Jews among them. When we had gone to the shul we had hired a rickshaw and asked him to wait a few minutes for us because we had to get change for our bills, but as time went on we forgot all about him. When we finished davening we suddenly remembered that he was waiting for us outside with the meter running. I With one of the few remaining Jews in Cochin

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they call out to you silently. Remove on them including names and dates, The shluchim are back in India, them from their imprisonment and covered over or even set into the each to their place, Poona – mystical provide for them relief and salvation, walls of the courtyards. As we capital of India, Pushkar – tourists’ redemption and deliverance in walked down one of the paths, we delight, Vata Canal – the Israeli freedom, speedily in our days, and a were shocked to see the gravesite of village, etc. The summer months redeemer shall come to Tziyon, so one of the local tzaddikim. “R’ were a time to raise money for the may it be Your will, and let us say Avrohom Mota” was his name. The upcoming months, for the expenses amen.” locals say that when the graves were that will run into tens of thousands When we walked around a desecrated they also tried to of dollars. This is an opportunity to nearby neighborhood which up until desecrate his grave, but any Indian help and be a part of the incredible a few years ago had been a who tried to break the monument work being done in India in cemetery, we discovered gravestones died on the spot. hastening the Geula. in the courtyards with Jewish writing *** 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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Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation (Required by 39 USC 3685) 1. Publication Title Beis Moshiach 2. Publication Number 0 1 2 - 5 4 2 3. Filing Date Sep.28th, 2008, 4. lssue Frequency Weekly (except once in Oct. & April & Jewish holidays) 5. Number of issues Published Annually: 45. 6. Annual Subscription Price $140.00 per year 7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication (Not printer) (Street, City, county, state, and ZIP+4) 744 Eastern Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409 Contact Person Boruch Telephone (718)778-8000 8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher (Not printer) Beis Moshiach, Inc. 744 Eastern Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409. 9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor Publisher (Name and complete mailing address) Beis Moshiach, Inc. 744 Eastern Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409. Editor (Name and complete mailing address) Mendel Hendel. 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obituary RABBI BINYAMIN ZILBER ZL

The gaon, Rabbi Binyamin Zilber, passed away on 25 looks out for all Jewish people, not only his own people Elul at the age of 96. That evening, the large funeral was … We are obligated to join in and encourage the attended by many g’dolei ha’Torah, including the Rebbe’s work in spreading Judaism to the entire world. Vizhnitzer Rebbe and the Gerrer Rebbe. Rabbi Zilber consistently supported the Rebbe’s Rabbi Zilber authored dozens of s’farim on Halacha mivtzaim and signed a proclamation of g’dolei Yisroel in and Jewish Thought, the most famous among them the support of Mivtza T’fillin, as well as the proclamation in series of responsa called Az Nidberu. support of Mivtza Neshek. In his Az Nidberu (vol. 6, Rabbi Zilber was born in siman 67) he brought proofs in 5672 (1912), and that little girls should also light even as a child he excelled in Shabbos candles, and cited the unusual yiras Shamayim. He Rebbe on this topic. was gifted and put his talents to As an indication of his good use in diligent study. He esteem for the Rebbe, he sent was known as one of the Torah insights to the journal outstanding talmidim in the that was published for the famous Novardok yeshiva in Rebbe’s birthday in 5737, and Bialystok. wrote, “Here are my A childhood friend, R’ chiddushim on the tractate Shmuel Ben-Artzi, related: Shabbos … in the honor and “He came to us from the merit of the lofty and honorable yeshiva k’tana in Brisk. He did Lubavitcher Rebbe, who is not study much Musar. He was moser nefesh for Klal Yisroel, a member of the ‘chabura’ but upon reaching his 75th year. did not work on ‘peulos’ May Hashem Yisborach (Novardok outreach activities). strengthen him and fortify him, He was a masmid and davened and may his days and years quietly, unlike in Novardok. We increase until the coming of the envied and admired him, and righteous redeemer.” he drew attention because of For the Kavod Chachamim his diligence and refinement.” –Ateres Paz, which was Over the years, Rabbi Zilber published in 5749, he sent became known as a halachic divrei Torah in honor of the authority in the laws of Orach Rebbe. He also participated in Chaim, especially in the laws of the Maadanei Melech that was Shabbos,. He became a member of the Moetzes G’dolei published in connection with the Rebbe’s enactment of HaTorah, and with his efforts, a number of religious daily study of Rambam. breaches in Eretz Yisroel were corrected. Rabbi Zilber was adamantly opposed to the political As for his relationship with the Rebbe – in 5751, he splintering of religious Jewry in Israel in 5749. attended the Yud-Alef Nissan farbrengen in Kfar In later years he lived in Beitar and served as Chabad. In his address he said: Boruch Hashem, the Mashgiach in various yeshivos. May his memory be for a Jewish people are not orphaned. The Lubavitcher Rebbe blessing.

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thought LIVING WITH TISHREI YEAR-ROUND

Interview by Nosson Avrohom How do we draw down the energy of a Rabbi Gershon Avtzon 770 Tishrei into the rest of the year? To Rosh Yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim Lubavitch in whom did the Rebbe write not to waste Cincinnati, Ohio his money to come to him? Why is it that bachurim who were never in 770 Rabbi Yitzchok Akselrod Mashpia of Yeshiva K’tana before, are now moser nefesh to jump at Chabad – B’nei Brak

the opportunity? How do we infuse life Rabbi Avrohom Mann into the inyan of “being with the Mashpia in Yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim Lubavitch in Toronto, Rebbe?” * This and more in a Canada discussion amongst mashpiim who also Rabbi Meir Mizrachi share their memories of their Tishreis Mashpia in Yeshivas Tomchei over the years. T’mimim Lubavitch – Lud

You just spent Tishrei with the Since the Rebbe is chai v’kayam, come in different forms. Rebbe in 770. As mashpiim, how he gives the strength and the chayus The best example of this is the do you instill an inner chayus to to the Chassidim and he watches miracles the Rebbe does every day in the T’mimim about the inyanim of over us so that we don’t fall and we the areas of children, health and Rebbe, Tishrei and 770? continue to be in the category of “I livelihood, for thousands of Jews, R’ Mizrachi: I once heard an am within.” Today, the hiskashrus of through the Igros Kodesh. This interesting vort from the mashpia, the T’mimim is no less than it was in chayus, that the Rebbe lives and Rabbi Zushe Posner. It says the past. leads as he always did, has to be “600,000 feet of the nation, which I Those who want to feel the instilled in the T’mimim. am within,” – Moshe Rabbeinu Rebbe can feel; those who want to In the past, the job of the refers to the Jewish people as his feet receive chayus from the Rebbe, can mashpiim was easier. When the and he says that he is present there. receive chayus; there are T’mimim saw the Rebbe, they felt So too, the Rebbe MH”M, who is “yechiduyos” today too, there are ashamed. One look from the Rebbe the Moshe Rabbeinu of this farbrengens, there are giluyim, and was enough to have a powerful generation, is there with his there is everything we had in the effect on the soul of a bachur. Chassidim. past. However, today these things Today, the preparations for the trip

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to the Rebbe have to be more doing open miracles now more than he returned to . When he spiritual and more p’nimius’dike. We ever. Today a bachur can picture the went to the shul where he davens, have to speak to the T’mimim more Rebbe and ask for whatever he one of the people there was happy to about the power of thought and the wants. Writing to the Rebbe through see him and proceeded to tell him an power of visualizing. the Igros Kodesh, the answers amazing thing that happened to him. I heard from a mashpia that the people receive, and the results, are The night before, he dreamt that the Rebbe once said that a certain just amazing. Rebbe came to him in a dream and woman asked for a bracha for A few years ago, Rabbi Reuven asked him where he davened. The something and it disturbed the Matusof was in 770 on Erev Rosh man said he davens in “Beis Rebbe’s sleep. The Rebbe feels us HaShana and he wrote a pa’n which Moshiach.” The Rebbe asked, “Who Chassidim, he feels everything. he read, at first, near the Rebbe’s else davens there?” and the man The same is true today. In fact, shtender and afterwards, near the answered, “Rabbi Matusof.” When the Rebbe is giving brachos and Rebbe’s room. After Rosh HaShana the Rebbe heard the name he said, “He was by me.” We must review and stress to the Today...we have T’mimim, whether at farbrengens or in personal conversations, that there to speak to the is no substantive change. The only change is in the “garments.” The T’mimim more Rebbe is the same Rebbe. In the past about the power the Rebbe was not what we saw with eyes of flesh. The Rebbe is an inner of thought and reality, and we have this today, more powerfully than ever. the power of Before I came to 770 one year, I was very uncertain about whether to visualizing. go for all of Tishrei or only or half a --Rabbi Meir Mizrachi month. I wrote to the Rebbe through the Igros Kodesh and the answer I opened said to add, not to diminish. I understood this to mean that the

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Rebbe wanted me to remain for the T’mimim who fill 770 and says to seriousness, that nothing changed. If entire month. me in , “give a look.” See the T’mimim see that the mashpiim After I ordered a ticket, one of how beautiful it is, look at this live this, they will accept it too. How the mashpiim in the yeshiva emuna, see their fire. The T’mimim should this be conveyed? Everybody reprimanded me for wanting to go live with the Rebbe no less than in has their hergesh but the main point for an entire month. He said that I the past and they are particular has to be that there is no change in had a family, I wasn’t a bachur, and about Chassidishe hanhagos and the the Nasi HaDor, and there can’t be. how could I leave my family for a Rebbe’s horaos no less than in the When this is explained, it is month. When I told him about the past. accepted. Some need to see it in the answer I opened to, he said the R’ Avtzon: It depends on how sichos; others are satisfied by stories answer wasn’t that clear. the mashpia presents it. When a and by seeing that the Rebbe I sat down to write again and the Tamim sees a mashpia talking about continues to lead us. answer I opened to was in volume 9, 770 with a smile, he understands The second approach – although p. 152. The letter is addressed to the that the mashpia lives with, and is it is the opposite of the first mashpia, Rabbi Shlomo Chaim happy with the idea. When he hears approach – entails speaking about Kesselman and the Rebbe expresses the mashpia tell a story about the the details. It is very hard to live with his surprise that the T’mimim are Rebbe and sees how the mashpia is something abstract even if it’s Atzmi allowed to go home for the month of enthusiastic about a letter of the (of the Essence). It’s hard to Tishrei, saying that the hanhala of Rebbe that he saw or learned; when connect to p’nimius with emuna the yeshiva had to be with the he sees that the mashpia holds a alone. You have to tell the talmidim T’mimim even if this interfered with sicha of the Rebbe and talks about how Tishrei used to be, with all the their family … My doubts were laid the Rebbe in the present tense and giluyim, describe it in detail, and to rest. talks excitedly about this at then say that we have the same thing R’ Akselrod: First, I have to be farbrengens – all this arouses a love today. honest and say that there is no for those things in the bachur. We see an interesting chiddush in rational explanation for the When you refer to people’s recent years that the Rebbe asked hiskashrus of the T’mimim today, to grandfather, the grandchildren that Chassidim zolen zich kochen the Rebbe and his horaos, which is “wake up” and it has an effect on (should take a great interest) in the sometimes far and away greater than them; all the more so when you details of the Rebbe’s holy conduct. it was in the past. This hiskashrus, mention inyanim of the Rebbe. The The Rebbe wrote to Rabbi Boruch which demands mesirus nefesh, mashpia needs to do this in such a Kahane, who served then as the proves that the Rebbe is chai way that he piques the bachur’s editor of the periodical, “Beis v’kayam. interest so that the bachur catches Chayeinu,” which described the I heard a nice vort from someone the enthusiasm. When a mashpia events in 770 at the time, as well as that the T’mimim of today were says, “Last night at a farbrengen I every move the Rebbe made, babies when the Rebbe spoke about heard a great miracle story about the “Whoever describes in detail is not having images of impure animals Rebbe,” or “I heard an inspiring praiseworthy.” in the house. This prepared them for Chassidic saying,” or a horaa or a With Moshiach too, we saw that this kind of emuna. moral lesson, it shows the T’mimim the Rebbe asked that it come down The avoda today is not only to that the concept “Rebbe” and all that into the details and that we should daven five or six hours, but to go on goes along with it, is alive for him. learn the subject, going beyond the mivtzaim for hours, to forego All this is, of course, in addition eternal belief in Moshiach. Today personal comforts and it’s all to learning the Rebbe’s sichos and too, beyond the emuna p’shuta that because the Rebbe said this should , and especially regarding we need to have, which the talmidim be done by way of preparing the 770 – learning the kuntres “Beis today have, it’s very important that world for Moshiach. The T’mimim Rabbeinu Sh’B’Bavel,” as that adds the mashpiim delve into the details today have a “Chassidishe light,” a fire to the hiskashrus. The mashpiim and giluyim of the Rebbe too. purity that is no less than that of the have to live it in a way that fills their How do you “take” all the great Chassidim of the previous very being, and not just by rote. enormous giluyim that we generation. R’ Mann: There needs to be two, absorbed here during Tishrei and Whenever I go to 770, I meet the simultaneous approaches. The first “translate” them in a way that Chassid and baal mesirus nefesh, approach entails emuna p’shuta, to affects the year to come? Leibel Mochkin. He points at the explain to the T’mimim, in all R’ Mizrachi: We have the power

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of visualization. The Rebbe Rayatz round. In the yeshivos they speak happened with a friend of mine. His says that through the power of about Tishrei and live it in the most father would take him every Shabbos visualization you can veritably live sincere way. to daven with him in 770. One time, the thing you are picturing, as R’ Avtzon: The Rebbe referred to he was outside 770 and someone though you are experiencing it for this too. It’s analogous to friends who knew his father asked him the first time, even if it was who want to remember someone and whether he davened in 770. My something you experienced many so they give him a gift that will friend, who was a boy at the time, years ago. remind him of all his friends and the said no. The father’s friend later Whenever they feel down, the pleasant days they spent together. asked the father why he didn’t bring T’mimim have to picture themselves The same is true for Tishrei. Every his son to 770. standing in 770 at farbrengens, at Tamim has to make a hachlata that The father smiled and said, come the t’fillos and the learning sessions; and I’ll show you how to ask the the feelings they had at certain question. He asked his son, “Do you times. By picturing all the details, daven in the Rebbe’s shul?” you can re-experience the emotions. The boy answered, “Of course!” This is one of the reasons that the That’s the chinuch we were raised Rebbe asked that a replica of 770 be with. built in Kfar Chabad, so that R’ Mann: The Rebbe explains in someone who cannot travel, who a maamer what Chazal mean when needs a bracha or advice, materially they say that during davening it has or spiritually, will go there and have to be “the heart upward and the eyes the same experience. downward.” This means that if 770 is Beis Chayeinu where you during davening, a person finds that receive the chayus and ko’ach to his heart and concentration are accomplish. You can see T’mimim soaring upward – then he need to who come to 770 for the first time, direct his eyes downward, i.e. he has who never saw the Rebbe, who insist to think about what will happen after on getting good spots for the t’fillos, the davening; how will he preserve insist on getting in for the Birkas the lofty state he reached during the HaBanim, who give their all in order davening. to get another “piece” of 770 in a The same is true for traveling to tangible way. This itself proves that You cannot work the Rebbe and the days that follow. the Rebbe hasn’t left us, even if we Of course, emuna p’shuta shines in don’t see him. It’s not a coincidence on the talmidim 770 and clearly isn’t lacking by the that the Rebbe had the kuntres “Beis and sell them bachurim who work hard to come to Rabbeinu Sh’B’Bavel” published a the Rebbe. What’s needed is the half a year before the stroke on 27 stories while not inyan of “I await him every day that Adar. 770 is the place from where he come” – that it should be as the we draw the chayus and kochos for living it yourself. Rebbe explains in Parshas Balak the entire year. 5751 that he has to change his R’ Akselrod: Every Tamim has to --Rabbi Gershon Avtzon whole way of thinking, which is focus on one hachlata and this will accomplished through learning remind him of Tishrei. A bachur, will remind him of Tishrei; a inyanei Moshiach and Geula, as it who until he came for Tishrei, hachlata of “Chassidic warmth,” of will affect the mind and then the learned one chapter a day of Chassidic feeling – to think heart and then one’s thoughts, Rambam, should commit to learning Chassidus for a few minutes before speech, and actions. three chapters a day. This gives a every t’filla or to be careful not to The way to achieve this is when certain chayus to the entire stay in talk from the beginning of davening you’re in 770, to think how you 770 and not just for Tishrei. till the end. When he has a hard time want to go back home. Throughout the year he will standing by his commitment, he will Recently, a short and sharp remember what made him make that always remember when and why he response from the Rebbe was commitment. made it, as well as the lofty spiritual publicized in which the Rebbe writes Furthermore, the truth is that the experience he had at the time. to someone, “I told you the previous T’mimim today “live” 770 all year I want to tell you a story that time to sit and learn diligently and

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you looked for easier work. Don’t farbrengens intensified my desire to line once again, I felt a strong desire waste money on coming here again.” go to the Rebbe. In Tishrei 5749, to pass by the Rebbe. I had a The point is not to discourage after much effort, I was able to powerful thought of t’shuva and got anyone from traveling to the Rebbe; realize my dream. I arrived at the back on line. on the contrary. We must go to the end of Elul, in the evening. The When I reached the Rebbe, he Rebbe but we must put more effort Rebbe returned from the and I gave me a special smile that melted in and think about how (with what) was overwhelmed by emotion as I me. These things cannot be we want to leave 770. recited the SheHechiyanu bracha explained rationally but my If for example, a bachur has a upon seeing the Rebbe for the first Chassidishe hergesh told me that the problem concentrating while time. Throughout that month I was Rebbe knew what I had been learning, he should make a firm on an indescribable spiritual high. thinking. When you go to the Rebbe commitment to be particular about We did not look for giluyim or you have to make the proper this; to put more attention into kiruvim back then. A Chassid is preparation, and the main thing you davening with kavana, in learning mekushar to the Rebbe with his need is bittul. before davening, in Chassidishe essence, not with giluyim. The There was a strong feeling that hanhagos, and in any area that needs sweetness and inner joy lay in the you were in the Rebbe’s presence chizuk. This is what will draw down fact that we were in the Rebbe’s and nothing was hidden from him. the “lights” of Tishrei into the entire presence. Just as the head feels what is going year. There is one moment from on in the foot, the Rebbe feels what As bachurim you went to 770. Shabbos Parshas Noach 5752 that you feel and whatever you think. Can you describe how you felt and is engraved in my mind. I would It was hard b’gashmius in Tishrei what you experienced? usually stand in the eastern pyramid but knowing that we were going to R’ Mizrachi: I went for the first from where you could only see and the Rebbe, material comforts meant time for Tishrei 5749 as a talmid in barely hear. Before that Shabbos I nothing to us. That feeling is felt shiur beis in Tomchei T’mimim in found out that there was a bench today too. You can see how the Lud. Back then there was a special opposite the Rebbe that was T’mimim put aside their comforts, chayus about traveling to the Rebbe reserved for guests. It was my last maybe more than in the past. and everybody yearned to spend Shabbos that Tishrei with the Rebbe R’ Akselrod: The first time I Tishrei with the Rebbe in Beis and I wanted to hear the Rebbe’s went to the Rebbe was Tishrei 5746. Chayeinu. voice! That year I was learning in yeshivas At a younger age I waited eagerly My friend, R’ Aryeh Kedem, and Tomchei T’mimim in Lud and they to join the “welcome home I took turns watching our places on spoke a lot about preparing before farbrengen” that was organized in that bench from Friday afternoon, the trip. Shikun Chabad in Lud by the including Friday night and during On Simchas Torah of that year, mashpia, Rabbi Moshe Levitin. t’fillos. Every few hours we would many of my friends and I went on Those farbrengens were special and switch. This was all leading up to the Tahalucha to . We ran all the full of Chassidishe chayus and very special farbrengen. That way back in order to make it to the hergesh and bubbling with Shabbos, the Rebbe spoke more Rebbe’s farbrengen which took place hiskashrus to the Rebbe. All the loudly than other Shabbasos and he before hakafos in 770. I arrived Chassidim who had spent Tishrei spoke animatedly about the exhausted but who worried about with the Rebbe would come to those advantage of t’shuva that comes things like that. I went to the farbrengens which would be from simcha. farbrengen and managed to get right attended by many people from the I listened closely to the Rebbe near the Rebbe. It was at the end of Shikun who could not go that year, and felt that it was being said just the farbrengen and there were as well as children and T’mimim. for me. I left that farbrengen so amazing things. The Rebbe asked Those who came back from the deeply inspired that I never felt that everyone to turn over their cups. At Rebbe would describe their spiritual way again, not even at N’ila on Yom that farbrengen, the Rebbe spoke experiences while we listened avidly Kippur. about the gematria of Moshiach with and lapped up every detail about the Motzaei Simchas Torah 5752 I the addition of the letter Yud which Rebbe and certainly anything the was in 770 and I wondered whether alludes to the ten soul powers. Rebbe said. I should pass by the Rebbe for kos At the davening on Simchas The mashke at these farbrengens shel bracha. I would decide to go Torah morning, R’ Yisroel Duchman was plentiful and we looked forward and start walking but then I would would make kiddush on mashke and to this farbrengen all year. These change my mind. When I left the he would sing “HaRebbe shlita.” I

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remember that that year the Rebbe R’ Mann: I went to the Rebbe strongly and cried a lot. smiled and then signed to him, with for Tishrei many times but the first Till this day, I have a powerful his finger to his lip, to stop. It was time I was there, when I was a boy, image in my mind of the Rebbe’s an amazing and unusual sight. Two and the events that took place, are majesty when I saw him that Tishrei. years later, in 5748, the Rebbe more memorable than later visits. It After Shabbos B’Reishis some of us encouraged the singing of this song. was 5742. The year before, the families had yechidus. I remember R’ Avtzon: I can tell you about Rebbe had spoken about Tzivos that the Rebbe asked me if I have a the Tishrei atmosphere in Crown Hashem. I remember that on Yom letter in a Torah scroll. For months Heights when I was a boy growing after that Tishrei I was on a high up. It was always a very special and still caught up in the incredible feeling when Tishrei arrived and atmosphere of that Tishrei with the guests came from around the world. Rebbe. As a child, I looked forward to I remember something special Tishrei. from 5746. It was the Rosh Throughout the year my father HaShana farbrengen and I sat under davened in the Sasnovitz shul the Rebbe’s table because I wanted, between Kingston and Albany and at least, to hear the Rebbe, since he went to 770 only for the both hearing and seeing the Rebbe farbrengens. In Tishrei we went to was nearly impossible for someone 770 for the t’kios, for N’ila and who did not have a regular spot. especially for Napoleon’s March. We The Rebbe asked that they sing a also went on Simchas Torah and it happy niggun and they sang his was something extraordinary. I father’s hakafos niggun. I came out looked forward to it all year. from under the table (the older My father had a place near the Chassidim allowed me to do so since Rebbe and I always knew that when I promised to only say l’chaim). I I would be older, I would be next to will never forget the sight – the the Rebbe all the time. At the I will never forget Rebbe, looking ecstatic, got up and davening Simchas Torah morning, I danced and strongly encouraged the remember asking my father why it the sight – the singing with his hands. was so empty and many T’mimim I remember something that were not there. He told me, “When Rebbe, looking happened in Tishrei 5751 that can you get older, you’ll understand.” serve as a lesson. That year, When I got older, I understood that ecstatic, got up Shabbos B’Reishis (Shabbos many of them had returned Mevarchim) was immediately exhausted from Tahalucha and the and danced and following Simchas Torah and when mashke from the first day was still strongly the Rebbe came in to say T’hillim at affecting them. 8:30, it was a relatively small crowd. We lived at Crown and Kingston encouraged the When the Rebbe went over to the and so we felt the Simchas Beis shtender, he placed the T’hillim on it HaShoeiva whether we wanted to or singing with his and encouraged the singing for not. We were a part of it. Even a about a minute, in all directions, just child in Crown Heights understood hands. like at hakafos. Whoever was there and felt that Tishrei with the Rebbe --Rabbi Avrohom Mann for T’hillim that morning saw this was something special. I remember wondrous sight. that on the first night of Sukkos we The Rebbe said, on Shabbos had a bachur as a guest who Kippur, at N’ila, we children were Parshas Tetzaveh 5727 that when apparently had drunk more than on the bima. There were older Moshiach comes, he will ask each enough mashke. Before he fell asleep Chassidim who wanted to take us one of us how many Jews we got to he yelled, “Get me up to get a place down but the Rebbe motioned to say T’hillim on Shabbos Mevarchim. on line to shake the Rebbe’s lulav!” leave us alone. Another thing I Those are a few of my memories That was the atmosphere, living with remember well is that we sang of Tishrei with the Rebbe, memories the Rebbe, Tishrei is with the Rebbe, “Avinu Malkeinu” before the March that keep me going all year round. and we were raised with this. and the Rebbe encouraged us very

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feature MESIRAS NEFESH FOR GEULA

By Yehoshua Kenig

Ro’i, Darkei T’shuva, Tzvi Tiferes) The following article is about the and Rabbi Chaim Elozor, author of Admur Chaim Elozor Shapiro, Av Beis the Minchas Elozor. Din in Munkatch, known as the BIOGRAPHY Minchas Elozor for the book he The gaon, Rabbi Chaim Elozor Shapiro, was born on 18 Teives, authored. * Why did he write a small 5632 (1872), in the town of Strizov, Torah scroll on deer hide, and when in Poland. His father was R’ Tzvi did he demand mesirus nefesh for the coming of Moshiach? * What connection did he have with Lubavitch? * This is the second in a series on G’dolei Yisroel and Anticipating the Geula.

ROOTS because of the prohibition of causing The roots of Chassidus pain to animals. This p’sak din Munkatch in Hungary began with created trouble with the wealthy men the great-great-grandfather of the of the city, who made their money Minchas Elozor, Rabbi Tzvi by raising fattened geese. He Elimelech Shapiro of Dinov, who returned to Dinov, where he later was the first Chassidishe rav of the passed away. city. The family name of the In 5642/1882, Rabbi Shlomo Admurei Munkatch was Langsam, Shapiro, the author of Shem but in order to avoid army service, Shlomo, grandson of Rabbi Tzvi Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech changed the Elimelech, was invited to become family name to Shapiro. rav, and that is when the Shapiro Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech, author of dynasty was established in the famous B’nei Yisaschar, did not Munkatch. This lasted three last long as the rav in Munkatch, generations: Rabbi Shlomo, Rabbi since he forbade fattening geese Tzvi Hirsh (author of Beer Lechai

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Hirsh and his mother was Esther, he married Rochel Perel, daughter of daughter of R’ Chanina Horowitz, Yaakov Moshe Safrin of Kamarna. As a child, his rav of the city Olinov. When he was In 5673 (1913), upon the death three, he became seriously ill, and of his father, he was appointed gifts were the name Chaim was added, upon Admur and head of the Munkatcher apparent. He the advice of the Divrei Chaim of Kollel in Eretz Yisroel. He founded a Tzanz. yeshiva and chadarim, which he began writing his As a child, his gifts were named Darkei T’shuva. Hundreds of apparent. He began writing his first bachurim learned in the yeshiva, first book on book on Shulchan Aruch at age coming from all parts of Europe. eleven. R’ Chaim Elozor was known Rabbi Chaim Elozor was a Shulchan Aruch at for his fine character and staunch opponent to Zionism, but compassionate heart. He was the this did not stop him, in 5675 age eleven. type to unhesitatingly take off his (1915), from purchasing land in courtyard. coat and give it to a poor man. His Yerushalayim for the purpose of relationship with simple Jews was building homes for the members of like that of a father to his children. the Munkatch Kollel. The Battei FOCUS ON MOSHIACH He lovingly guided them, and helped Munkatch neighborhood was built The Minchas Elozor never them in all ways. on the land he bought. The small diverted his attention from His first wife was Chaya Chasha, neighborhood was similar to other anticipating the Geula. His heart and daughter of Shraga Yair Rabinowitz Yerushalmi neighborhoods of that soul burned fiercely with longing of Bialbezog. He divorced in 5666, time, being comprised of three and faith in the coming of since they had no children. In 5687, buildings surrounding a central Moshiach.

Below: The Admur Chaim Elozor Shapiro, the Minchas Elozor, with the city of Munkatch of today in the background Photo by Alex Zelenk

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His Talmid, Rabbi Moshe Yaakov atmosphere for us bachurim. After would prostrate himself on the Weiss, Rav of the Neve Achiezer every Yom Tov, bachurim would graves of his ancestors and pray for neighborhood in B’nei Brak, relates: print his Divrei Torah, and there you the Geula. When he was asked how “There wasn’t a day that my can see how he would speak he could do that on Yom Tov, the Rebbi did not talk about Moshiach. I fervently about Moshiach. He would answer he gave was that the din is will never forget Rosh HaShana not divert his attention for even a that during a time of sorrow, or even when, before the t’kios, he would moment from the coming of a plague affecting animals, we blow stand and address the congregation Moshiach. the shofar to arouse mercy, even on with copious tears, saying, ‘Jews, “In Munkatch, when people Shabbos; so certainly nowadays, drop all side issues. I know that blessed one another, they would when it is a time of misfortune for everyone has problems with health add, ‘May we merit to see one Yaakov with inestimable misfortune, and parnasa, but the thing that we another together with the coming of physically and spiritually … all need to daven for on Rosh Moshiach.’ That was the accepted A Chassid who witnessed his HaShana is Moshiach.’ bracha among the Chassidim in prostration on the gravesite of his “In Munkatch, in the era of the Munkatch.” father, the Darkei T’shuva, gave the Minchas Elozor, no one was following moving description: distracted from the topic of the A TIME OF CRISIS “With great arousal and much coming of Moshiach. That was the crying, Rabbeinu shlita cried out: On the second day of Sukkos, he ‘My father, my holy father! The Jewish people are wrung out and dislocated spiritually and materially, THE CITY OF MUNKATCH and the Torah is in a very low state. The city of Munkatch is in the Carpathian region in Western Why are you quiet there in the upper Ukraine. Before World War II, the city was under Czech, and then the Gan Eden with all the tzaddikim? Hungarians took over. Arise, those who dwell in the dust, The Jewish presence in Munkatch began over 360 years ago. The to arouse mercy on our behalf, and first mosad to be built was the shul, which was rented from the town to send Moshiach Tzidkeinu! Please government. Then schools were set up, a Beis Din was established, and speak favorably on behalf of the a rav was appointed – Rabbi Yehuda Leib, the first rav of Munkatch. Jewish people, to seal us for a year Munkatch became famous in the Jewish world for its rabbanim and of Geula and salvation, speedily, Admurim, who earned a reputation as fearless and strong Rabbanim now, amen.” who established a beautiful Chassidic dynasty. The city had mosdos The fire of anticipation and belief Torah and chesed, and even a yeshiva run by the Admur, which was were perhaps even more outstanding called Darkei T’shuva. in his numerous s’farim (over 30). When trouble began to loom, it also affected the community in Apparently, his yearning for Geula is Munkatch. The city was taken over by the Hungarians, who happily what motivated him to write his collaborated with the Nazis. Persecution of Jews began, even before the s’farim. In the introduction to his Nazi conquest, by the Hungarians, who robbed them of their Divrei Torah, he quoted the Gaon, citizenship, taxed them, and enlisted them in forced labor. When the Reb Shlomo Kluger of Brody, on the Nazis came, they locked the Jews in a crowded ghetto. verse, “asos s’farim harbeh ein ketz” In the spring of 1944, the Nazis burst into the ghetto, packed most (making many, endless s’farim) – of the Jews into cattle cars, and transported them to concentration that when you see that the ketz (time camps. Most of the talmidim of Darkei T’shuva were killed Al Kiddush for Moshiach to come) does not Hashem. The names of many of them remain unknown. arrive, one should write many The Jewish community in Munkatch was almost completely gone, s’farim, “because perhaps additional but the spirit of Munkatch continues to thrive in beautiful k’hillos in the Torah works need to be published … United States and Eretz Yisroel. and this will bring the coming of the In its heyday, under the Minchas Elozor, about half, or even more, Redeemer closer.” of the 30,000 residents of Munkatch were Jews. Today, out of nearly 100,000 residents, only about 300 Jews live there. TORAH FOR MOSHIACH Rabbi Menachem Mendel Teichman, shliach and rav in Jewish Shavuos of the year 5686 (1926) communities in the Carpathians, including Munkatch, looks after the is engraved in the memories of all material and spiritual needs of the tiny community. the residents of Munkatch. On this

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The old shul in Munkatch

bring about the coming of Moshiach immediately. Rabbi Alfandri responded with the words of the verse, “Behold, he stands behind our walls.” The listeners did not hear more than that. Rabbi Alfandri died a few days later. He was over 100. Wherever the Minchas Elozor went, his fiery yearning for the Geula was prominent. When he went, for example, to the grave of Rabbi Yochanan HaSandler, he said, “Now, in the period called “the heels of Moshiach,” we need a good sandler (shoemaker) to fix the heels… So too, when he went to the grave of the Amora, Rabbi Yirmiya, he recited T’hillim and mentioned what the Talmud Yerushalmi relates that Rabbi Yirmiya said before he died: “Dress me in white, pressed clothing; dress me in distinguished clothing. Put shoes on my feet, place my stick in my hand, and lay me on my side, so that I will be ready when Moshiach comes.” His visit sent shockwaves throughout the country, and the written media covered it extensively. He returned to Munkatch less than two weeks later, where day, there was a Hachnasas Seifer Torah for a Torah he received a royal welcome, as his student, Moshe that the Minchas Elozor had commissioned to be written Goldstein described: “We arrived at the courtyard of the for himself. It was a small scroll, written in beautiful royal house … and everyone called out, ‘Yechi Adoneinu script on deer hide, by a G-d fearing, Yemenite scribe in Moreinu V’Rabbeinu,’ he should lead us forever and Yerushalayim. towards Moshiach Tzidkeinu, speedily in our days, The Torah was brought from the home of the amen.” Minchas Elozor to the Beis Midrash, with much singing and rejoicing. Suddenly, a loud proclamation was heard from the Admur. “This Torah is in my possession only NONSTOP DEMAND: AD MASAI temporarily,” he said, as tears poured down his face, Upon his return, Rabbi Chaim Elozor increased his “for when Moshiach comes, speedily in our day, he will efforts to build up Judaism in his city. Under his need two , one for his treasury and one to keep energetic leadership, the Jewish community in Munkatch with him wherever he is, as the Laws of Kings dictates. grew until it numbered more than half of the residents of This Torah needs to be small, so that it can be with him the city. Mosdos Torah were established, along with constantly. I dedicate this Torah that, with Hashem’s tz’daka and chesed organizations. Many street names help, will be speedily, in our days, brought as a gift for Moshiach ben Dovid.” The Minchas Elozor pleaded MYSTERIOUS VISIT TO ERETZ YISROEL In Iyar, 5690 (1930), the Minchas Elozor spent with the Mekubal to bring thirteen days in Eretz Yisroel. During his stay, he visited about the coming of the holy sites and the Munkatch neighborhood. One of the outstanding incidents that took place during his stay, Moshiach immediately. was a visit shrouded in mystery with Rabbi Shlomo Elozor Alfandri, a Rav and Mekubal in Yerushalayim. Rabbi Alfandri responded The visit took place on the eve of 14 Iyar, Pesach Sheini. That evening, the Minchas Elozor entered the with the words of the verse, room of the Mekubal and asked to speak with him privately. The crowd that remained outside tried to listen “Behold, he stands behind from the windows and cracks, and heard snippets of an our walls.” Rabbi Alfandri intense conversation about the coming of Moshiach. The Minchas Elozor pleaded with the Mekubal to died a few days later.

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Park, and Rabbi Yitzchok Yaakov learn Likkutei Amarim Tanya with There is a letter of Rabinowitz is Admur in the boys, in my opinion … they are the Munkatcher, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. a balm for the eyes and they purify the heart and soul. That which is which he writes HIS RELATIONSHIP famous needs no proof … it can be WITH THE REBBE of great benefit, especially in unequivocally that America, where wantonness and RAYATZ heresy abound, Heaven protect us.” we need mesirus The warm connection between In 5748, after the Rebbetzin Lubavitch and Chassidus Munkatch passed away, the Admur, Rabbi nefesh for began in the time of the Rebbe Yaakov Rabinowitz, came to be Moshiach to come, Rayatz, who corresponded with the menachem the Rebbe. He said to Minchas Elozor. the Rebbe: “My grandfather, the similar to the The Rebbe Rayatz and the Minchas Elozor, highly praised the Minchas Elozor met at the healing Rebbe Rayatz.” mesirus nefesh for spas, which they went to on Older Chassidei Munkatch doctor’s orders. It is said that the described the high esteem in which the three things Rebbe MH”M once accompanied letters from the Rebbe Rayatz were his father-in-law on his trip to the received at the home of the that it says, “be spa, and met with the Minchas Minchas Elozor. In general, the killed and do not Elozor there. special connection between their During their stay in Marienbad, Rebbe and Lubavitch was well transgress!” the Czechoslovakian resort known known. for its mineral springs, they would were changed to Jewish names, such walk together. On one such THE LUBAVITCHER as “Darkei T’shuva.” occasion, the Munkatcher suddenly stopped walking and began REBBE AND THE His name became famous even MINCHAS ELOZOR among non-Jews, and many leaders breathing deeply. The Rebbe Rayatz visited him and consulted with him, asked him whether he wasn’t The Rebbe’s relationship with including Thomas Masaryk, the first feeling well and wanted to return. the Minchas Elozor was unusual. president of Czechoslovakia, Edvard The Munkatcher said no. A few The Rebbe even indicated that in Benes, who was appointed president minutes later, the Munkatcher many instances, he conducts after the death of Masaryk, began breathing deeply again, and himself according to the teachings Wilhelmina, Queen of Holland and said, “I am smelling the scent of of the Munkatcher, even when his others. k’dusha.” The Rebbe Rayatz father-in-law did not. On Pesach The Minchas Elozor passed away smiled. night, 5730 (1970), Rashag asked on 2 Sivan, 1937, in Munkatch. He When the Admur, Rabbi Yehuda the Rebbe whether the Rebbe left behind hundreds of talmidim, Leib Rabinowitz, visited the Rebbe Rayatz took the head of the geonim and famous rabbanim, and MH”M, the Rebbe told him that he maror. dozens of s’farim on varied Torah once saw a letter which his father- The Rebbe replied: “No, it’s my subjects. But more than anything in-law had written to the Minchas kuntz.” else, he left behind his example of Elozor with superlatives in the Then the Rebbe added: “I hold someone with a fiery faith in the heading - several rows of them! of the Munkatcher.” He quoted coming of Moshiach. He was a role what it says about the model of one who did not stop LEARNING TANYA WITH Munkatcher, “For maror he took a asking “ad masai.” YOUNG CHILDREN TOO bit from the hard root of the horseradish, which wasn’t ground, In 1933, his only daughter The Minchas Elozor wrote a married Rabbi Boruch Yehoshua and added to that to complete a letter to the Rabbis of Mesivta k’zayis from the ground up Yerachmiel Rabinowitz, who later Torah Vodaas, which seems to be a succeeded him. Today, two sons of horseradish.” response to their complaint about In letters of the Rebbe that deal Rabbi Rabinowitz serve as one of the teachers, who learned Admurim. Rabbi Moshe Yehuda with halachic topics, he often Tanya with the boys. In his refers to p’sakim of the Minchas Leib Rabinowitz is Admur in Boro response he said, “As to whether to

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Elozor: for example, the heter to change the Nusach menachem avel, the Rebbe also spoke about printing HaT’filla to but not the reverse, his grandfather’s s’farim and said: “It is worthwhile bachurim putting on T’fillin D’Rabbeinu Tam, the and proper to try and publicize the s’farim of the obligation to grow a beard, laws of mourning, etc. Minchas Elozor … Surely you know that in Also, in the book of minhagim that was compiled Lubavitch we try to reach every single place, from what the Rebbe said, many references to the ‘spreading the wellsprings outward’ …This activity Minchas Elozor’s s’farim are cited. hastens the coming of Moshiach, like the Baal Shem The special relationship between Lubavitch and Tov wrote in his famous letter.” Munkatch continued into the seventh generation. On The Rebbe also suggested that he publish his several occasions, Rabbi Moshe Yehuda Leib and grandfather’s letter about the benefit of learning Rabbi Yitzchok Yaakov Rabinowitz came to the Tanya. Rebbe. At the Siyumei HaRambam which take place every When Rabbi Moshe Yehuda Leib came in 5725, year in Crown Heights, the Munkatcher Admur sends the Rebbe spoke highly of the s’farim of the Minchas his brother-in-law, R’ Mordechai Leib Weiss, Rosh Elozor, which draw clear legal conclusions. The Yeshiva in Munkatch, as his personal representative Rebbe inquired about manuscripts of the Munkatcher to the event. that were not yet printed, and encouraged the reprinting of the s’farim that were already in print. PEARLS FROM THE MUNKATCHER In 5748, when Rabbi Y.L. Rabinowitz came to be It is permissible to ask for the Geula as reward menachem avel, the Rebbe asked again about for a mitzva – It says “eikev tishmiun”, and Rashi reprinting the s’farim of the Minchas Elozor which says this refers to those easy mitzvos which a person are unique in combining Nigleh and P’nimius treads upon with his heels (eikev). In Ikvisa ha’Torah. When Rabbi Y.Y. Rabinowitz came to be d’Meshicha, one must be extra careful with easy as well as hard mitzvos, for we don’t know the reward for mitzvos. This is seemingly difficult to understand, for we are told, “Be like servants who serve the master not for the sake of reward!” Rather, surely … in order to receive the reward, i.e. to hasten the Geula thereby … it is permissible to ask for this reward, that he redeem us speedily in our days, since this rectifies the world to its ultimate purpose and the Will of Hashem (Chaim V’Shalom). To ask again and again, we were not told “do not add” – In the Midrash and s’farim it says that Moshe Rabbeinu davened 515 prayers, like the numerical equivalent of the word “VaEschanan.” If he had davened one more prayer, he would have been able to enter the land, but Hashem told him not to. This is a lesson for those who err in our times and think we shouldn’t daven excessively for the Geula. They maintain: “Why add to what we pray in the Shmoneh Esrei?” From this we see that if Moshe would have davened one more t’filla, he would have been answered. Since we were not told not to daven more, then surely it is a great mitzva to pray and pour out our soul … and may we merit the Geula shleima b’karov, speedily. One who says he will come later is a heretic! – the Rambam writes in his commentary, in Hilchos The Minchas Elozor Melachim, that one who does not believe in the

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coming of Moshiach, or does not waiting for Hashem to say, “for about the fervent and copious await his coming - and he is My sake I will do it”. This is speaking about the coming of clearly drawing a distinction with obvious and clear. Moshiach Tzidkeinu – there is a the word “or”, that even one who These times and signs are letter of the Munkatcher that was believes in his coming but does surely true, but they are not recently reprinted, in which he not await his coming and says he absolute prerequisites. writes explicitly and can come at a later time - is called (Divrei Torah) unequivocally that we need one who denies Toras Moshe. The Geula is not with my mesirus nefesh for Moshiach to (Hagada shel Pesach – Shaar Yisachar) strength and the power of my come, similar to the mesirus To be aware of Moshiach’s hand but from Heaven – We nefesh for the three things that it suffering – In truth, if a person believers of Yisroel believe, and says, “be killed and do not thought about the anguish that the must believe, that after all the transgress!” holy Sh’china has, and the pain many misfortunes and tzaros The Munkatcher is accepted that Moshiach Tzidkeinu suffers - which have come upon us, our by all groups as a great man and for there is no end to the salvation is near. But do not, a gadol b’Yisroel … and he afflictions that he suffers from in heaven forbid, attempt to writes explicitly that one should every generation - then surely our materialize the Geula in a natural be moser nefesh for Moshiach’s own suffering would not be way. It will not be through man’s coming, explaining at length that considering suffering at all, and power and might, for a natural this mesirus nefesh is like that of we would ask for mercy solely for and human Geula is not called the three sins. Moshiach’s coming. Geula. If only they publicized this (Mashmia Yeshua) (Divrei Kodesh) letter, which has already been To wait every day? But Ben printed in his book! Whoever Dovid does not come etc. – It is MESIRUS NEFESH FOR wants to can buy it and see the letter for himself. says in the Zohar, “Do not MOSHIACH’S COMING anticipate the footsteps of In connection with this, one of Moshiach until you see a rainbow The Rebbe called 5744, Tihiye his talmidim related how one time with clear colors shining in the Shnas Divrei Moshiach. The he spoke about the mesirus nefesh world.” A person might ask, “But Rebbe urged everyone to demand needed to bring Moshiach, and he we are commanded to believe and the true and complete Geula said in Yiddish: “Zol lozen wait for his coming every day?” through Moshiach immediately. At shecht’n” (he should allow himself The answer is: You can ask one of the farbrengens of that to be slaughtered) in order to further on the Gemara, where it year, the Rebbe said: bring Moshiach! states many signs like that - “Ben … As for those who complain Dovid will not come until everybody is either entirely guilty or entirely innocent,” and “until REMAZIM - ALLUSIONS coins are gone from pockets,” and At a farbrengen in 5744, the Rebbe related that the Minchas Elozor many others. Surely, Chazal did learned a lesson in Torah and K’dusha from everything that happened not mean to say that we shouldn’t in his daily life. For example, when he traveled by train he tried to find anticipate Moshiach’s coming an allusion and lesson from the number on the compartment in which until these signs are fulfilled, and he sat! thus negate the main idea of “I “This conduct is in accordance with the teaching of the Baal Shem await his coming every day.” Tov, that from everything a Jew sees or hears, he should learn a lesson These signs are not in his avodas Hashem.” prerequisites. There is a similar In the kuntres “Beis Rabbeinu Sh’B’Bavel”, the Rebbe explains the inyan where it says, “Yisroel is not remazim in the number of his beis midrash, his “home,” 770. In redeemed except through t’shuva footnote 85 he alludes to this story about the Munkatcher: – once they do t’shuva, they are “The conduct of g’dolei Yisroel was to learn lessons in avodas immediately redeemed.” Even Hashem even from mundane matters like the number of a train when a person knows that he did compartment, which is something transient. All the more so for one’s not do a proper t’shuva, still, “I permanent home, and especially in this case, when the address becomes await his coming every day,” the name of the building, as is mentioned in the text.”

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