.”יפוצו מעיינותיך חוצה“ THE STORY OF A MILESTONE ACHIEVEMENT IN PRESENTED IN HONOR OF YUD-TES KISLEV, CHAG HAGEULAH OF THE ALTER REBBE AND ROSH HASHANAH L’CHASSIDUS.

CHASSIDUS ON THE FRONT LINES

KISLEV 5776 14 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER For a frum Jew living in the 21st century, it is taken for granted that technology can and should be utilized for Jewish causes. Of course Jewish events should be broadcast on television— how else would the larger community be informed? Of course there should be Jewish websites—how else can millions of Jews be reached? This concept is so baked into our identity that it’s difficult to imagine otherwise. But if you turn the clock of history back a mere few decades, the idea of using technology—for any purpose whatsoever—was far from accepted. And, when you think about it, it isn’t too difficult to understand why.

KISLEV 5776 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 15 The contrast between life in the couldn’t even get one if they wore a The Dilemma alte heim (old home) and America beard. The War had just ended. Millions could hardly have been starker. When you look back at it today, of Yidden had been murdered in the Take Lubavitch as an example: forty it seems inevitable that the Jewish Holocaust, and hundreds of frum years earlier there had been tens of community would eventually get back communities had been decimated. thousands of Lubavitcher Chassidim on it’s feet and flourish in the new In the place of flourishing yeshivos spread throughout Russia and world. But at the time, this was far and thriving shtibelach, there were Ukraine, and a flourishing yeshiva from assured. Judaism was hanging now ghost towns. In the place of with hundreds of students. Now there on by a thread, and the future was booming communities with hundreds was hardly a minyan on Shabbos. precarious. of thousands of Chassidim, there were Whereas the Yidden had previously What does one do in such a now a few stray survivors. The Yidden lived in close-knit frum communities situation? How do you deal with of the U.S.S.R. were hardly spared, as surrounded by like-minded brethren, this vast new world that despises Jewish life was quickly being destroyed they were now vastly outnumbered everything you stand for? How do you by the terrors of communism. in this new country. Although it was create a Jewish, chassidishe home in Those who were able fled to the nominally a country of religious such an inhospitable environment? welcoming shores of America, the land freedom, the American culture There were two major approaches of freedom; but when they arrived, despised anyone who was different; to this issue. The first was to they found themselves in a strange frum Yidden often lost their jobs for compromise where you must, and country, hostile to everything religious not working on Shabbos, and they keep what you can. This meant that and G-dly. many frum Yidden were sending their kids to public school, and almost everyone was sending them to college. Growing a beard was almost unheard of. You did what you needed in order to blend into the secular world. The other approach was to try re- creating the experience of a shtetel—to retreat to insular communities where the secular world was kept at arm’s length, shying away from any contact with the outside world. In order to keep them in the fold, children were often taught that those outside their

MILLIONS OF YIDDEN HAD BEEN MURDERED IN THE HOLOCAUST, AND HUNDREDS OF FRUM COMMUNITIES HAD JEWISH IMMIGRANTS FROM EUROPE DISEMBARK ON THE SHORES OF THE UNITED STATES FOR A LIFE IN THE "NEW WORLD" BEEN DECIMATED.

KISLEV 5776 16 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER community were abhorrent human beings, deserving of only disgust and contempt. And then the Rebbe demonstrated that there was a third way—a truly revolutionary approach that demanded unfathomable courage, but that ultimately paved the way for a flourishing Judaism in the 20th century and beyond. On the one hand, the Rebbe fought tirelessly to remove the influences and hanachos of the outside world

from the Jewish home. In an era when FRIEDMAN FAMILY Chassidishe communities from other THE REBBE TAUGHT TO EMBRACE TECHNOLOGY AS A MEANS OF SPREADING YIDDISHKEIT AND CHASSIDUS krayzen were teaching their children limudei chol—how could you not?!— of the distant past. And if you didn’t themselves giving long interviews the Rebbe was pushing to have it listen to the radio, you belonged in a about their Merkos Shlichus at local removed from schools. At a time when different century. radio stations. many frum women did not wear head- Again, there seemed to be two The Rebbe’s way was met with coverings, the Rebbe was persuading approaches. Some people—many of fierce opposition, both from the one person after another to wear a them frum, G-d fearing Yidden— left—for casually shrugging off the shaitel. compromised. Others rejected conventions of the new world, and Yet, at the same time, the Rebbe technology completely, outlawing the from the right—for openly engaging didn’t shy away from the outside world use of radio and television altogether. with it. Ultimately, though, the —he showed the Chasidim how to Here, too, the Rebbe showed a third Rebbe’s path proved to be the only transform it. He trained generations approach. In a time when many, many correct one, and slowly but surely the of Chassidim that instead of fearing chassidishe homes had televisions, Jewish world caught on. A college the outside world, they should when it seemed inevitable that this education—which once seemed so conquer it. He sent young bochurim was the new normal, the Rebbe rallied absolutely critical for a Jewish boy—is all over America to bring their Jewish against it. When the worst things in now off the table for a chareidishe brothers closer, confident that the the world are but a click away, who’s bochur. Wearing a beard—which was bochurim would be the ones doing to guarantee that you’ll keep to the once out of the question for a non- the influencing and not the other way better channels?! “How can you bring radical—has become normal. The around. Instead of building a moat the galach into your own home?!1” kiruv movement— which was once around his Chassidim, hoping the Slowly but surely, the Rebbe ripped so vehemently criticized—is now secular influences won’t seep in, the this mindset out of the Lubavitch emulated across the spectrum of the Rebbe sent his Chassidim out to the mind; today, the ultimate symbol of Jewish world. world to make it a holier place. a Lubavitch home is that it has no And the use of technology for These issues were especially television. holiness has become so commonplace evident when it came to dealing But this was only with regards to that no-one can remember when it with technology, the symbol of Chassidim using these technologies wasn’t. the new world. With the advent for their own entertainment. When The shiurei on the radio were of television and radio, outside an opportunity arose to utilize them from the first entryways of hafaztas influences were sneaking into the for Yiddishkeit, the Rebbe didn’t hamaayanos through technology, frum home like never before; and hesitate. Lubavitchers who had never and were a symbol of the Rebbe’s these new technologies were on the watched television in their lives found revolutionary outlook. rise, becoming ever more prevalent. themselves under the hot glare of Indeed, having a television was almost camera lights explaining the message In the Beginning an American emblem, and those that of Chanukah. Bochurim, who wouldn’t As early as 5712, the Rebbe was didn’t have one were looked at as relics dream of listening to the radio, found encouraging the use of modern

KISLEV 5776 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 17 up to the Rebbe. “Rabbi Teitz2 has a considering that Eretz Yisrael had shiur in Gemara. Why don’t we make a already established one. shiur in Tanya?” Again, the Rebbe did not agree. The Rebbe thought for a second. After a few weeks had passed, Then he answered, “The time has not Rabbi Wineberg decided that he had yet arrived.” to try actually doing something. And Rabbi Wineberg’s first thought was so, he compiled a sample shiur to give that the Rebbe had rejected the idea in to the Rebbe, together with a letter because of the serious responsibility in which he explained why he thought involved in giving such a shiur; a he was capable of shouldering such responsibility that a single person a weighty task; namely, that he was couldn’t possibly shoulder alone. relying on the shiurim he had heard in He quickly said that he did indeed Otwock from the legendary recognize the responsibility involved Rabbi Boruch Friedman hy”d. and had never considered preparing Suddenly, everything changed. the shiurim all on his own. Maybe, Shortly afterwards, he received the RABBI YOSEF WINEBERG IN HIS YOUTH he proposed to the Rebbe, he could shiur back from the Rebbe, and it prepare the shiurim, and the Rebbe was full of the Rebbe’s ha’aros and technology and radio broadcasting for could review them. corrections. Together with the shiur spreading Chassidus; in a letter that But the Rebbe’s answer remained. was a hundred dollar bill for the year, the Rebbe wrote to a “The time has not yet arrived.” expenses of the shiur, and the Rebbe’s askan in Eretz Yisroel commending A year passed. Rabbi Wineberg brocha for success. him on the use of radio broadcasting found out that Rabbi Nochum for hafotza. But it would take Goldshmidt had started a Tanya shiur Bringing it Together several years until there would be a on the radio in Israel. So, when he Now that the shiur finally had the systematic, weekly shiur on the radio. went into yechidus for his birthday, Rebbe’s blessing, the real challenges As with many of the ideas of he asked again for permission, began. hafatza in dor hashvi’i, the Rebbe left Some people weren’t ready to room for the Chassidim to initiate accept the idea of Tanya shiurim on them. This is true of the systematic the radio; one of them, a prominent shiurim on the radio as well which the Chassid, took Rabbi Wineberg to Rebbe agreed to when it was proven task about it. “How do you have the that there was someone ready to chutzpah to take upon yourself such a dedicate himself to the idea. responsibility!?” he demanded. In the summer of 5718, Rabbi Yosef “If I don’t do it, no-one else will,” Wineberg, a prominent activist for the Rabbi Wineberg replied. central Yeshiva Tomchei Temimim, But this was from the smaller began a weekly shiur on the radio. It THE REBBE SHOWED issues. Arranging a shiur on the radio was a way of drumming up support for THAT THERE WAS took much effort and there were the yeshiva, and while speaking about A THIRD WAY - many technical details involved; it various topics of Torah and Chassidus, was a big workload for one person. he would mention the importance of AN APPROACH Rabbi Wineberg called a meeting supporting the yeshiva. THAT DEMANDED with a few of his friends and asked Giving this shiur made him realize UNFATHOMABLE them to become part of a vaad which the potential of the radio, and— would assist in making the technical encouraged by all the feedback he was COURAGE, BUT arrangements. Several of them receiving—he got the idea to start a ULTIMATELY agreed to get involved, taking upon themselves the various responsibilities Tanya shiur on the radio. The next SHOWED THE WAY time he had yechidus with the Rebbe, of putting the shiur together. In the in Cheshvan 5719 (in proximity to his FOR JUDAISM IN end, though, Rabbi Wineberg found birthday), Rabbi Wineberg brought it THE 20TH CENTURY. himself working pretty much alone.

KISLEV 5776 18 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER Although Rabbi Wineberg was fundraiser for Tomchei Temimim and comments, notes, and sometimes only just beginning to scramble the his duties to his family. even lengthy explanations. These shiur together and figure out what The Rebbe smiled, and said, “Nu... were incorporated into the shiur by he was doing, the Rebbe already had You can call another meeting!” On a Rabbi Wineberg, who would retype plans for far in the future. In a biur on serious note, the Rebbe told him, “You the entire shiur again with the Rebbe’s the second perek of Tanya, the Rebbe must take upon yourself an absolute additions. commented, “For the first time—this hachlata to learn through the entire Although the actual shiur was will suffice,” i.e. the next time this Tanya at least once.” only fifteen minutes long, it occupied perek will be covered it will be with The shiur was ultimately arranged much more time in Rabbi Wineberg’s more explanation. Not only did the through the Vaad Lehafatzas schedule. First he had to prepare the Rebbe expect the shiur to complete Chassidus, of which Rabbi Wineberg material, and then he had to give the the entire Tanya—itself a task that was chairman. Preparing the shiur shiur itself, which included making spanned decades—he was already was a long and involved process: First, the trip to the studio, recording the planning for the second time around! Rabbi Wineberg would prepare a shiur, and making the return trip During a yechidus shortly draft. This draft was given for editing home. The short, fifteen minute shiur afterwards, Rabbi Wineberg spoke to Rabbi Mendel Tenenbaum, a friend took up sixteen or seventeen hours a to the Rebbe of the difficult time he of his from Otwock, who was also week! was having arranging the shiur all on a member of the Vaad. Once a final [Later on, recording the shiur itself his own, especially since he had to draft was completed, it was given to became much easier, since he began juggle it with his responsibilities as a the Rebbe. The Rebbe would add edits, recording in the WLCC broadcasting office. In the last few years, he delivered the shiur over the phone.] Keeping Focussed From the outset, Rabbi Wineberg’s plan was to focus the shiur solely on the simple meaning of the Tanya, only explaining the concepts of Chassidus that were crucial for understanding the text, without elaborating on the concepts of Chassidus that came up on the way. And that is what he did for the first few shiurim. And yet - he wondered if he was doing the right thing. In the shiurim in Israel, Rabbi Goldshmidt would elaborate at length on the themes of Chassidus that came up in Tanya, even ones that had no direct relation to the text at hand, and his shiur was very successful. Maybe that was the right way to go? He wrote his question to the Rebbe: Should he continue with a shiur focussed on the simple pshat, or should he switch to a shiur only loosely based on the text, mostly centered on explaining concepts of Chassidus? The Rebbe’s answer was definitive. THE REBBE CROSSED OUT A LENGTHY EXPLANATION ON THE FIRST PEREK OF TANYA, EXPLAINING THAT IT The shiur should be simple and to the יבלבל המתחילים -“ WOULD CONFUSE THE BEGINNERS JOINING THE SHIUR, AS THEY ARE THE PRIORITY point, and—to the extent possible—it ”שהם העיקר דהשידור

KISLEV 5776 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 19 IN HIS HOLY HANDWRITING לופט TO - ווינט AS רוח THE REBBE CORRECTS RABBI WINEBERG’S TRANSLATION OF THE WORD

should be accessible to every single this. For example: in the first perek in the later years, only a handful of person tuning in, even beginners. of Tanya, the Alter Rebbe writes that publications merited such personal the neshama is editing from the Rebbe. Thus, the fact—משביעין אותו תהי צדיק When Rabbi Wineberg noted that Rabbi Goldshmidt was teaching sworn that he will be a tzaddik. The that the Rebbe edited the shiurim is differently, the Rebbe replied, “There, Tzemach Tzedek explains that the the biggest testament to their unique .prominence by the Rebbe ,שובע sworn, also hints to ,משביע in Eretz Yisroel, it’s different.” word According to Rabbi Wineberg’s satisfied; meaning that the neshama Although the Rebbe’s biurim are understanding at the time, the Rebbe is satiated with the kochos to do its quoted as such in Shiurim B’Sefer wanted the shiur to serve as a vehicle avoda. This is a famous biur, one that Hatanya, a lot of the Rebbe’s input to bring all types of people closer to the Rebbe mentioned in sichos and is not visible to the eye, since much learning Chassidus, even beginners. many times, and Rabbi of it consists of small, yet significant So it was crucial that they be easy to Wineberg included it in the shiur. edits that are incorporated into the understand. However, when it was edited by the explanations: a corrected word, a This style was kept throughout the Rebbe, he crossed it out, explaining deleted line, an edited paragraph, etc. lifetime of the shiur, and at times it that “it will confuse the beginners, When seeing the original documents was the Rebbe himself who ensured who are the priority in the shiur.” of the Rebbe’s hagahos, one is amazed On Motzei Shabbos parshas Yisro, by the sheer volume of hagahos and 5720 - the two hundredth year since biurim, ranging from simple tweaks the Histalkus of the Baal Shem Tov to the translation, to long, profound - the first Tanya shiur on the radio explanations; from basic clarifications began. in pshat to groundbreaking commentaries. The Rebbe’s Biurim The Rebbe paid close attention to THE REBBE SHOWED The shiurim clearly had a very every detail, even changing individual important standing by the Rebbe, and words. For example, in the first perek THAT THERE WAS this is seen first and foremost in the of Tanya, the Alter Rebbe mentions A THIRD WAY - fact that the Rebbe reviewed them the four yesodos that make up the AN APPROACH and added his notes and explanations. world: aish, ruach, mayim, and afar. To put this into perspective, in those Rabbi Wineberg translated them into THAT DEMANDED years, in the 5720s, the Rebbe rarely Yiddish as faiyer, vint, vasser, un erd— UNFATHOMABLE edited anything—even his own Torah. fire, wind, water and earth. It was a rarity for a muga’dike maamar COURAGE, BUT Stop for a moment and look at the to come out from the Rebbe. (When translation. ULTIMATELY the chozrim asked for more maamarim See anything wrong? SHOWED THE WAY to be edited, the Rebbe answered that The Rebbe crossed out the word he didn’t have time for it.) The same FOR JUDAISM IN vint [wind] and replaced it with luft was true with sichos; there were very [air]! THE 20TH CENTURY. few muga’dike sichos at that time. Even

KISLEV 5776 20 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER FACSIMILE OF THE ORIGINAL KSAV YAD KODESH OF THE REBBE’S BIUR ON PEREK 49, WRITTEN ON MOTZOEI SHABBOS CHANUKAH 5738. THE REBBE SPENT THREE HOURS WRITING THIS BIUR. JEM/THE LIVING ARCHIVE ID: 23581 MOTZOEI SHABBOS CHANUKAH 5738, THE REBBE’S SECOND PUBLIC APPEARANCE SINCE THE HEART ATTACK SOME TWO MONTHS PRIOR.

A subtle change - yet significant. one had even thought to ask before. was getting late and Rabbi Wineberg Sometimes it wasn’t about the Though most of these are short biurim wouldn’t have time to incorporate it content as much as the delivery; the sprinkled throughout the prakim, into that night’s shiur, the Rebbe called Rebbe would cross out material that some of them are quite lengthy. One of Rabbi Binyomin Klein and told him, wasn’t crucial for understanding the the longest is a biur on perek mem tes, “Git dus Vainberg’in, zol er tun mit dem perek, or add a couple of words that and it has a fascinating backstory. vos er vil—Give this to Wineberg, let framed the following few lines. On Motzei Shabbos Chanukah him do with it what he wants.” [Due For example: In the first page of 5738, the shiur was up to perek mem to its length and profundity, Rabbi Tanya, as part of a litany of questions tes; since it was shortly after the Wineberg spent the next three weeks on the conventional understanding Rebbe’s heart-attack, the Shabbos explaining it to his listeners.] of the beinoni, the Alter Rebbe farbrengen was scheduled for later This was only one biur on one brings down a certain maamar Razal that night. [From after the heart perek. It’s impossible to estimate how describing the persona of the beinoni. attack until the winter of 5740, the many hours the Rebbe poured into In the original draft, Rabbi Wineberg Rebbe would hold the regular Shabbos these hagahos and biurim throughout wrote a full paragraph explaining how on motzei Shabbos the years. this maamar razal would be explained instead of shabbos afternoon]. These biurim and hagahos forge later on in Tanya, in perek yud gimmel. Although the Rebbe had already a fundamental commentary on the Crossing it out, the Rebbe wrote, finished editing the perek, he wrote Tanya, navigating a reader through shayach l’perek yud gimmel, it belongs another long biur—which took three difficult concepts and complicated in perek yud gimmel. [It seems that hours (!) to complete. Seeing that it language, and revealing entirely the Rebbe saw it unnecessary, or even confusing, to answer the Alter Rebbe’s questions before he did so himself.] And then there were the actual biurim. Focussing almost solely on the simple meaning of the perek, these explanations clarified difficult passages, explained confusing language, resolved contradictory texts, RABBI WINEBERG’S LETTER WHERE HE NOTIFIES THE REBBE OF HIS IDEA TO TEACH A PART OF THAT WEEK’S RASHI SICHA ON THE RADIO. THE REBBE’S RESPONSE, ENCOURAGING RABBI WINEBERG AND and answered questions that no- UNDERTAKING HALF OF THE COSTS, CAN BE SEEN IN THE REBBE’S HOLY HANDWRITING.

KISLEV 5776 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 21 hroughout the hagahos and ”ולכן נקראו בני ישראל אחים ממש“ THE REBBE’S HA’ORA ON TANYA PEREK 32 biurim, the Rebbe shows how every single word of Tanya is In a short hagaha, the Rebbe explains that this preciseT and exact. The following is one small example. innocent looking word is actually crucial to the text. In perek lamed beis the Alter Rebbe explains that In other places in Torah, the word achim doesn’t when a person makes his neshama primary, he will necessarily mean brothers. For example, in parshas be able to truly fulfill the mitzvah of ahavas Yisroel. Lech Lecha, when Avraham Avinu tells his nephew One of the reasons for this is that the neshamos of all Lot that they are “achim,” he means to say that they Yidden come from the same father, Hashem; as such, are relatives (or, according to another pirush, that they all Yidden are “achim mamash—literally brothers.” looked alike). The Alter Rebbe therefore emphasizes When a person focusses on his neshama, loving a that when we say that Yidden are achim, we don’t mean fellow Yid becomes as natural as loving a brother. achim as in relatives, or achim as in look-alikes, rather Why does the Alter Rebbe write that Yidden are achim mamash, literally brothers. .ולא קרובים או דומין :achim mamash [literally brothers]? In the Rebbe’s words Reading it superficially, it seems that the Alter And not relatives or look-alikes (as in Lech Lecha perek Rebbe is simply emphasizing his point. yud gimmel, passuk ches.)

been a “great admirer of the shiurim on Tanya and sichos” (see below for further details on this point), he was thinking that it might be kidai [a good idea] to buy another fifteen minutes of airtime and begin delivering the Rebbe’s sichos every week, not only on Shabbos Mivarchim. Since these were weeks without a farbrengen, he would take sichos either from the Likutei Sichos or from the unpublished sichos. He wasn’t sure if the idea was practical, though, since he didn’t have a source of funding to buy the extra airtime, and it would be difficult to fund it himself. Regarding the general proposal, the Rebbe circled the word kidai—

JEM/THE LIVING ARCHIVE ID: 103445 meaning that he should go ahead with A FARBRENGEN IN THE EARLY 5720S. RABBI WINEBERG CAN BE SEEN STANDING TO THE REBBE’S LEFT. it. Then the Rebbe wrote: “וזה מחזק סברתי להתועדות –בל“נ ]=בלי נדר[– בש“ק ]=בשבת קדש[ במשך השנה עכ“פ new depths in the Alter Rebbe’s ]=על כל פנים[ בקיצור בכמות words. They are a critical tool for Sichos understanding the Tanya, and it would On the weeks of Motzei Shabbos - This supports my thought to be foolhardy for anyone approaching Mivarchim, Rabbi Wineberg would farbreng, bli neder, [every] Shabbos the Tanya to miss them. And, in take some time from the shiur to during the entire year; at least short truth, almost anyone who learns deliver a selection of the sichos from ones - time-wise.” Tanya is benefiting from the Rebbe’s the Rebbe’s farbrengen. In 5725, after In other words, the Rebbe was explanations—whether he knows it or Rebbetzin Chana passed away, Rabbi considering the idea of beginning to not—since they are baked into most Wineberg wrote to the Rebbe that, in farbreng every Shabbos, and Rabbi major commentaries on the Tanya. memory of the Rebbetzin who had Wineberg’s proposal to deliver the

KISLEV 5776 22 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER Rebbe introduced the revolutionary The Rebbe’s mother, Rebbetzin Chana, Rashi sichos. When Rabbi Wineberg once said to the Rebbe: When it comes chazzered these sichos on the radio, to chazzering the sichos, there are a few the public’s reaction was one of pure types of people. There are those who amazement. deliver it in a manner which easy to For the first few years, the sicha understand, but lacks in the depth. would be given in to the Rebbe for There are others who deliver it in a hagaha (together with the Tanya manner that retains the depth, but is shiur), and this continued until 5727. impossible to understand. Then there During that year, Rabbi Wineberg had is the way it is said on the radio, the a wedding to attend in Eretz Yisroel, Rebbetzin concluded, which is both and he prepared a recording of his easy to understand and retains the shiurim before the trip. As always, he profundity. She asked the Rebbe if he submitted the sicha for hagaha before agreed with her assessment. “Oifin A LETTER FROM RABBI WEINBERG TO THE REBBE he recorded the shiur, but he noted veg,” the Rebbe answered. (“In the FROM 5725, ASKING THE REBBE’S ADVICE HOW that there may not be enough time right direction…”) TO DELIVER THE SICHA ON THE RADIO. THE REBBE’S COMMENTS ARE WRITTEN IN HIS HOLY for the Rebbe to edit it and for him to HANDWRITING. record it before the trip. Surprise Listener The Rebbe answered that it is not Then it was discovered that the sichos on the radio was supporting necessary for the shiur to be muga this Rebbe himself listened to the shiurim. that decision! [Ultimately, as we all time, being that all past shiurim have One week Rabbi Wineberg was out know, the Rebbe did indeed farbreng been perfect, and the future ones will of town, and realizing that he wouldn’t every week of 5725.] surely continue to be as well. Better be able to give the shiur, he called In regards to funding, the Rebbe that there be more time to prepare the Rabbi Hodakov and asked him what to half is on shiur. do. Rabbi Hodakov quickly relayed the—מחצה עלי“ ,answered me(!)”3 This answer, which was a powerful question to the Rebbe, who instructed Once the Rebbe undertook half of vote of confidence in the way the that Rabbi Moshe Pinchas Katz should the costs, Rabbi Wineberg decided sichos were being delivered, made substitute for him. In a subsequent that, instead of looking for other Rabbi Wineberg realize that the yechidus, the Rebbe told Rabbi Katz, people to sponsor the second half, Rebbe didn’t find it necessary to be “I closed the door to my room and he would pay for it himself, and he magiha the sichos—which meant that listened to the shiur, and it was good.” hastened to inform the Rebbe. Shortly sending them in for hagaha would The Rebbe encouraged Rabbi afterwards, in a yechidus with Rabbi put an unnecessary inconvenience on Wineberg along every step of the way, Wineberg’s son, Rabbi Avraham the Rebbe’s time. So from then on, he Weinberg, the Rebbe said: “Tell your stopped submitting them for hagaha. father that he should let me know how In truth, there had been another much my share in the partnership is. vote of confidence a few years prior. Your father knows which partnership [I am referring to]…” When he got the message, Rabbi Wineberg hurried to update the Rebbe on the amount. Thus, in addition to the regular Tanya shiur, Rabbi Wineberg began chazzering the Rebbe’s sichos every week, garnering enthusiastic feedback from the public. During the first year, 5725, the Rebbe farbrenged every week (as mentioned, the Rebbe said that these shiurim played a part in his decision to do so), and it was THE SICHA OF 15 SHEVAT 5723 WITH THE REBBE’S HANDWRITTEN HAGOHOS, WHERE THE REBBE SPOKE AT during these farbrengens that the LENGTH ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TANYA SHIURIM ON THE RADIO.

KISLEV 5776 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 23 JEM/THE LIVING ARCHIVE ID: 206070 THE REBBE HANDS RABBI WINEBERG A STACK OF SINGLE DOLLAR BILLS FOR THE WOMEN AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE EREV ROSH HASHANA FARBRENGEN, 5742

The shiur following the histalkus of the Following the heart attack on Simchas Torah Rebbe’s mother, Rebbetzin Chana, was dedicated in 5738, in a bid to minimize the Rebbe’s workload, her honor, but Rabbi Wineberg didn’t consider it Rabbi Wineberg decided that, for the next while, important enough to inform the Rebbe during shiva, he wouldn’t give any new shiurim to the Rebbe for and only wrote about it after Yom Kippur. The Rebbe review. Instead, he would take the shiurim that had answered, “Thank you for informing [me] about this. already been prepared and stretch them out for an At any time, a person constantly awaits good news, extra few weeks. After a single week passed, the and especially in such a time, etc.” [I.e. during a time Rebbe asked Rabbi Groner, “Why aren’t the shiurim of aveilus.] coming?”

KISLEV 5776 24 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER the Rebbe’s new hagahos, and he didn’t have time to review the farbrengen. After the shiur he wrote the whole story to the Rebbe, admitting that he לא” נמסרו was afraid that the sichos had not been given over—”כראוי correctly. Crossing out the word נמסרו the Rebbe left the words ,לא —”were given over correctly“—כראוי the—וזכות הרבים מסעייתו“ ,and added merit of the public aids him.” Every year, on the anniversary of the shiurei Tanya (usually on Shabbos parshas Yisro), the Rebbe would make special mention of the occasion, and on significant ones (like the first, second, seventh, tenth, etc.) he would expound on the meaning of that specific anniversary. When the shiur concluded the entire Tanya for the first time, a task that took twenty two years (!), the Rebbe marked the momentous occasion, speaking about the importance of the shiurim and instructing that the Alter Rebbe’s niggun, which is only reserved for special occasions, be sung three times.4 There were even times that the Rebbe publicly praised Rabbi Wineberg personally for his initiative, a rare phenomenon at the Rebbe’s farbrengens. At one farbrengen, the Rebbe said: “Some people do not involve themselves in hafatzas hamaayanos, with the excuse that ‘I can’t do it alone, and no-one else will help me!’ They have a living example from the shiurei Tanya on the radio: and helped him through some of the There was no time to re-record They were arranged by one man alone, challenging moments. Often Rabbi another shiur before Shabbos, so it without any assistance from others, yet Wineberg would pre-record the Tanya would have to be delivered live. they have continued for seven years!”5 shiur on Friday and deliver it to the Here came the problem. Usually, In addition, the Rebbe would radio station in Manhattan. That way Rabbi Wineberg would have the Tanya occasionally take time at a farbrengen he would only have to chazzer the shiur completely ready by Motzei to explain the Tanya being learned sicha live on-air. One Friday, after he Shabbos, and he would spend the on the radio at that time. [One classic had returned from the studio late in drive to Manhattan preparing his example is the farbrengen parshas the afternoon, he received a call from chazzara of the farbrengen. But now noach 5725, when the Rebbe gave a Rabbi Hodakov: The Rebbe had made he had to spend the entire drive to lengthy biur on perek mem alef, later some changes in the shiur—there was Manhattan preparing the shiur with printed in Shiurim B’sefer Hatanya, a mahadura basra - a second edition. and in Lekutei Sichos.]

KISLEV 5776 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 25 Rebbe, Rabbi Weinberg was careful not to make any real changes. The work took quite a while, but once the sefer was published, it became a best-selling pirush on Tanya, translated in many languages and published in countless editions. THEN THERE IS THE WAY IT’S SAID ON THE Controversy RADIO, THE REBBETZIN CONCLUDED, From the very beginning, there were always people who complained WHICH IS BOTH EASY TO UNDERSTAND about the idea of giving shiurim on AND RETAINS THE PROFUNDITY. SHE the radio, their argument being “how ASKED THE REBBE IF HE AGREED WITH can you use such an impure object for such a holy goal?” HER ASSESSMENT. “OIFIN VEG,” THE Addressing these arguments on REBBE ANSWERED. numerous occasions throughout the years, the Rebbe often quoted a It was during these farbrengens the ability to “turn the button off” and famous Midrash: “The world itself that the Rebbe gave us a glimpse into go against Hashem’s will, r”l.7 was unworthy of using gold. Why was why he considered the shiurei Tanya so it created? For the Beis Hamikdash.” significant. On one occasion the Rebbe Into a Sefer Seemingly, the Rebbe said, this As time went on, many people explained: In general, when Chassidus Midrash applies to every single began asking Rabbi Wineberg for is publicized to the world—when the creation in the world, for everything recordings of previous shiurim, ma’ayanos are spread to the chutza—it was created for Hashem’s glory. Why which they wished to review. Thus, can only reach so far. When sifrei is gold singled out? Because gold is Rabbi Wineberg began recording the Chassidus and kuntreisim are printed a unique creation, and it is therefore shiurim and making them available and distributed, it can go only as far more obvious that it was created for the public, a project that merited as the physical paper; when shiurei solely for the direct use of the Beis the Rebbe’s personal involvement in Chassidus are taught, they can only Hamikdash. Similarly, the Rebbe the smallest details. (The Rebbe was reach as far as the words can be heard. explained, the radio is a unique even involved in the lettering on the There always remains a part of the creation: it transcends the regular envelope containing the shiurim.) world—a chutza—where Chassidus limitations of time and space, reaching In the end, the project fizzled out, has not yet touched. the entire world in miniscule amounts and only a few shiurim were recorded. However, when shiurei Chassidus of time. Such an extraordinary Then, Rabbi Moshe Leib Rodshtein, are given on the radio, the words creation was surely created in order to one of the Rebbe’s secretaries, came of Chassidus spread throughout be used for kedusha.8 up with the idea of turning the the entire world simultaneously, to The Rebbe illustrated this point shiurim into a sefer. At first, Rabbi every chutza there may be. Thus, the with the oft-repeated story of his Wineberg found the idea strange; radio is the ultimate tool for hafatzas grandfather, Reb Meir Shlomo 6 but, nevertheless, he wrote the new hamaayanos chutza. Yanovsky, and the Rebbe Maharash.9 proposal to the Rebbe—who turned it The Rebbe also taught fascinating Shortly after his wedding, Reb down. lessons in avodas Hashem from the Meir Shlomo traveled to the Rebbe The next morning, Rabbi Wineberg radio itself—for example, from the Maharash’s court to be a zitzer, to zitz was in for a surprise: the Rebbe on-and-off button. You always have (sit) and learn for a few months, a had decided that the sefer should be the choice to turn it on, and hear common practice in those days. published. Thus, the work on Shiurim what’s going on in the world, or turn it Now, the Rebbe Maharash lived in B’sefer Hatanya began. off, and shut the world out. The same great luxury, and all his personal items All the shiurim had to be re-edited choice faces every Yid, the Rebbe said. were made of gold: a gold cigarette and adapted to a written format, but If he “turns the button on” he will hear holder; a gold snuffbox; two gold since they had been edited by the the words of Hashem; but he also has watches, each with gold chains; a cane

KISLEV 5776 26 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER with a gold handle; and gold cutlery. Chassidus, which, briefly, goes as towards technology, modernity, and His clothing and carriage were covered follows: Superficially, the world looks the world in general. The universe is in gold. and feels like a physical, limited world. dira betachtonim waiting to be made— When Reb Meir Shlomo returned The purpose of a Yid is to reveal that we just have to go out and make it. to his hometown, he told them there is more to the world than it 1. See Likutei Sichos vol. 18 p. 459. about it, and a certain Chassid—a seems—it is a manifestation of Elokus. 2. Rabbi Pinchas Mordechai Teitz was a baalibatishe Chassid—criticized this This is accomplished by following prominent Rav in Elizabeth, New Jersey. behavior. “What kind of seder is this? Torah and mitzvos, thereby revealing Rabbi Teitz knew the Rebbe from Riga, where Is having everything made of gold the Elokus hidden within the world. the Frierdiker Rebbe told him that he could really such a necessity? The Rebbe However, Yidden need something take questions to the Rebbe, and he received should give that money to tzedaka and to remind them that the world isn’t much kiruv from the Rebbe, especially with regard to his traveling to the former Soviet survive on bare essentials!” just how it seems. Therefore, Hashem Union to strengthen the Jewish communities Reb Meir Shlomo answered: put something in the world that defies there. During a yechidus in 5714, the Rebbe “Petach, petach! Fool, fool! For whom its limitations, a limitless creation encouraged Rabbi Teitz to give a weekly do you think gold was created for? in a limited world—namely, radio Gemara shiur on the radio, and he later hosted a weekly radio program called “Daf HaSHavua For me and for you? Or for the goyim, waves. Radio waves are not bound by - Talmudic Seminar of the Air”. See Igros .קל"ו .l’havdil? It was created for him!” the regular rules of time and space, Kodesh vol. 8 p The same is true in regards to reaching across the world in miniscule 3. See ksav yad kodesh in Derher the radio, the Rebbe said. The sole amounts of time. supplement, Vov Tishrei 5775, p. 19. reason it was created was for shiurei And this is why Hashem created 4. Farbrengen Shabbos Parshas Tazria- Chassidus! the radio (and telegrams, etc.)—to Metzora 5742. Many years later, in the 5740s, the show a Yid that he, too, is not bound 5. Shabbos Parshas Mishpotim, 5725. controversy again erupted about the by the constraints and concealments of 6. 12 Sivan 5720. 7. Purim 5721. fact that Lubavitch was using the radio the world; he has the power to reveal 8. Shabbos Parshas Mishpotim, 5722. for shiurei Chassidus. Using sharp the Elokus hidden deep inside. (The 9. 12 Sivan, 5720, Purim, 5728. terms, the Rebbe strongly defended radio does have some limitations, and 10. Lekutei Sichos vol. 26 p. 359 and on. the practice and admonished those it does take some amount of time for 11. Ibid. acting in an hypocritical manner the radio waves to impede hafatzas hamaayanos: to travel—after campaigning against the use of all it does exist technology for Chassidus while using in our physical, it for their own business. The Rebbe limited world. reiterated his explanation from the Nevertheless, previous years, that everything in the it defies the world must be used for kedusha, and regular, normal pointed to the Midrash that “gold limitations of was created for the Beis Hamikdash,” the world, thus even though it was used for idols for demonstrating thousands of years before and after the that there is Beis hamikdash was built.10 something This time, though, the Rebbe went beyond the one step further. He didn’t suffice with limitations.)11 addressing the question of why the This is how radio may be utilized for kedusha; he the Rebbe addressed a different, more interesting explained the question, the type of question which existence of doesn’t usually get asked, much less the radio, and answered. Why did Hashem create this was but radio waves in the first place? one reflection The Rebbe went on to give a long, of the Rebbe’s in depth explanation according to general attitude A RECORD OF RABBI WINEBERG’S RECORDED SHIURIM ON THE RADIO

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