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contents
REMEMBERING WHAT SHOULD BE 4 FORGOTTEN D’var Malchus | Sichos In English
THANKS (BUT NO THANKS) FOR THE 6 PAIN Thought | Rabbi Zvi Homnick
R’ YITZCHOK GRONER’S MEMOIRS 10 Memoirs
CRAZY FOR MOSHIACH… WITH 16 SEICHEL Moshiach & Geula | Rabbi Chaim Ahkenazi a”h
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d’var malchus REMEMBERING WHAT SHOULD BE FORGOTTEN
Sichos In English
A SAGE AND HIS THE POWER of false deities. CONDUCT OF THE TORAH And when he studies the Torah, this awakens this inner desire, The Talmud relates: [1] The above difficulty can be inspiring him to dedicate himself to When Ulla came [to Babylon resolved based on the explanation of the Torah and negate all other forms from Eretz Yisroel],... Rava asked Rabbi Yochanan’s teaching offered by of worship. him: “Where did you spend the the Yereim: [5] “Since the Torah And “For the same reason that the night?” [Ulla] told him: “In mentions [the name of a false deity], Torah mentions [a false deity], we are Kalnebo.” it has already been negated. For the entitled to mention it.” [Rava] responded: “Is it not same reason that the Torah mentions When a Jew studies the Torah and written: [2] ‘And you may not it, we are entitled to mention it.” identifies with it, he taps the G-dly mention the name of other deities’?” The statement of the Yereim potential it contains. [Ulla] answered: “Rabbi cannot be understood in a simple, This empowers him, and enables Yochanan taught as follows: [The literal interpretation. his mention of a false deity to bring name of] any false deity which is For there are false deities to which about the negation of its influence. recorded in the Torah may be the Torah refers, e.g., Baal Peor as [9] mentioned.” mentioned in the conclusion of this On the surface, the question week’s Torah reading, [6] whose arises: Although it is permitted to worship was perpetuated long A SPIRITUAL mention the name of a false deity afterwards. [7] TRANSITION which is recorded in the Torah, Instead, the intent appears to be Based on the above, we can seemingly, it is not desirable to do that the Torah’s mention of the false understand the conduct of Ulla. so. What purpose could this serve? deity negates the deity’s importance Our Sages state: [10] “A Jew Moreover, our Sages emphasize in the eyes of a person who would living in the Diaspora serves false [3] the importance of refined speech, study that portion of the Torah. divinities in purity.” noting how in several instances, the The Torah’s words will impress For in Eretz Yisroel, G-d’s Torah adds extra words [4] rather him with the futility of the worship of providence is more overtly revealed, than mention the word tameh all other deities - that these deities are while in the Diaspora, Divine (“impure”). of no benefit to those who revere influence is hidden with the natural Surely, Ulla could have found a them, and that when the Jews have order. way to answer Rava’s question erred and worshipped them, they As such, just as in a literal sense, without mentioning the name of a were punished severely. the worship of false divinities involves false deity. Going further, every Jew desires bowing one’s head to them, so too, to observe the Torah and its mitzvos figuratively, when living in the [8] and therefore to shun the worship Diaspora, one is required to
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subjugate one’s thinking process to manifest with the coming of the Talmud (Sanhedrin, loc. cit.) and the the forces controlling the natural Moshiach. [14] Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh Dei’a 147:4-5) order. [11] Thus the name Balak refers, not mention the above law in direct Upon leaving the holiness of Eretz only to the negation of evil, but also conjunction with the law permitting the belittling of false deities through jest. Yisroel and entering Babylonia, Ulla its transformation into positive The activities permitted by both laws sensed the transition in spiritual influence. serve the same function; they degrade sensitivity, and felt it necessary to the false deities and nullify their emphasize the negation of false THE FRUITS OF influence in the eyes of others. deities. UNBOUNDED 10. Avoda Zara 8a. Therefore summoning up the power of the Torah acquired through COMMITMENT 11. See the maamer, V’Yadaata, 5657 (English trans. To Know G-d, p. 42ff). his study in Eretz Yisroel, he During several years, Parshas mentioned the name of a false deity Balak is read together with Parshas 12. As reflected by his willingness to with the intent of nullifying its Chukas. For it is the selfless accept Bilam’s suggestion which involved influence. commitment implied by the name to have the Moabite maidens seduce the Jewish men, and his sending his own Chukas [15] which makes possible daughter to participate in this endeavor. NULLIFYING AND the transformation of evil into good alluded to in the name Balak. 13. Yoma 38b. TRANSFORMING When a person taps the spark of 14. Significantly, there are very few The above discussion sheds light G-dliness within his soul and allusions to the coming of Moshiach in on an obvious question raised by the expresses it through unbounded the Chumash, and none are as explicit as name of this week’s Torah reading: devotion to the Torah, he influences Bilam’s prophecies. Balak. his surrounding environment, The transformation of good into evil and Balak was a wicked man, an negating undesirable influences and the manifestation of this concept in the immoral [12] king, who hated the transforming them into good. [16] assistance and support the gentile Jewish people and wanted to destroy As this pattern spreads nations will offer the Jewish people is one of the fundamental themes of the them. throughout existence, we draw closer Why then is his name Era of the Redemption, as it is written to the fulfillment of the prophecies (Yeshayahu 49:23): “And kings will be immortalized as one of the weekly mentioned in this week’s Torah your butlers....” To highlight this Torah readings? reading: [17] “A star shall emerge concept, the prophecies which describe Our Sages state [13] that a from Yaakov, and a staff shall arise in this era are themselves a reflection of person should not be named after a Israel, crushing all of Moab’s princes, this principle, transforming the wicked wicked man. Surely, this applies with and dominating all of Seth’s designs of Balak and Bilam into good. regard to the name of a portion of the descendants.” 15. See the previous essay in this series To r a h ! May they be fully manifest in the entitled “Beyond the Reach of Based on the above, however, the immediate future. Knowledge.” intent is clear. 16. The parshiyos Chukas and Balak are Naming the Torah reading Balak NOTES: often read during the weeks before and is a means of negating the forces 1. Sanhedrin 63b. after the celebration of the Previous associated with him. Rebbe’s redemption on Yud-Beis-Yud- As the Torah reading relates, 2. Exodus 23:13. Gimmel Tammuz. The saga of the Balak’s intent was thwarted entirely. 3. P’sachim 3a. Previous Rebbe’s imprisonment and liberation is a reflection of this dynamic. In a similar manner, the name 4. Although generally, the Torah employs Arrested because of his selfless Parshas Balak is an eternal source of the minimal amount of letters necessary, commitment to spreading Jewish positive influence frustrating any and that thrust is waived in favor of refined practice (Chukas), he was ultimately speech. all powers that seek to harm the released from prison. The news of his Jewish people. 5. Sec. 75. release inspired the continuation of The narrative in our Torah 6. Numbers, ch. 25. Jewish practice in Russia, and reading relates, moreover, not only throughout the world, reflecting how the that Balak’s intent was foiled, but that 7. See Sanhedrin 64a which relates that entire sequence served as a source of this deity was still worshipped in the Bilam whom Balak brought to curse positive influence (Balak). Talmudic Era. the Jewish people showered powerful 17. Numbers 24:17. blessings upon them, including the 8. Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Hilchos Gerushin, conc. of ch. 2. Adapted from: Likkutei Sichos, Vol. XVIII, p. ultimate blessings which will become 300ff, Vol. XXIII, p. 166ff 9. On this basis, we can understand why
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thought THANKS (BUT NO THANKS) FOR THE PAIN
By Rabbi Zvi Homnick
offering any clarity on the issue of When it comes to “Why me?” especially “Why me?” regarding pain and suffering incurred “The Rock, His works are perfect” was understood to mean before the “age of punishment,” you’re that G-d is the ultimate in fairness, but we don’t see the whole picture not going to get anything remotely until we pass from this world, whether to the “world of truth” resembling a satisfactory answer, so following expiration or the “world to come” following redemption don’t ask. and resurrection. In fact, the prevalence of pain and suffering as PAIN MANAGEMENT my belief and faith were never well as the apparent inequities of Growing up in a religious home shaken by any real doubt, one still this world in confluence with the and environment where Torah can’t stop the mind throwing out absolute belief that G-d is good study represented “the” supreme the question, “What do You want and fair, are often cited in ethical value, and matters of faith were from my life?” and philosophical works as proof sort of taken for granted but not Yes, I was well aware of the fact that this world is only a temporary often addressed explicitly, dealing that Moshe Rabbeinu and Dovid corridor that we need to pass with the theological implications of HaMelech, as well as countless through on the way to entering the the pain and suffering of this greats throughout our long and “palace” where G-d’s fairness and world tended to be a lonely painful history, had wrestled with goodness will become truly business for those wrestling with the question of the suffering of the apparent. that particular issue. As someone righteous and the prosperity of the I could go on endlessly citing that providence decreed should live wicked. And yes, by the time I was various nuanced and often through the loss of a mother at the well through my teens, I could seemingly conflicting offerings on tender age of four-and-a-half, as rattle off any number of biblical the topic of “Why all the pain and well as many other painful exhortations along with statements suffering?” but they all basically challenges, familial and individual, of the early and latter Sages that lead to the same conclusion. When the issue tended to be more offer insight into the suffering of it comes to “Why me?” especially personal than puzzling out the this world in general and exile in regarding pain and suffering overworked “Where was G-d particular, but those only provided incurred before the “age of during the Holocaust?” question. not quite satisfactory answers as to punishment,” you’re not going to Although, as mentioned previously, “Why them?” without really get anything remotely resembling a
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satisfactory answer, so don’t ask. From a faith based perspective, larger goal/s with which they Life in this world is meant only to this resolves a lot of the questions associate great pleasure actually be a test, therefore you just need and issues that people struggle look forward to and welcome the to accept the fact that G-d decided with on a personal basis. It’s all often painful hardships and that this is what your soul good, whether I see it now or not, challenges related to those needed/needs for its own and the more I accept the fact that pursuits. Whereas those who lead personalized test, and the better it is good, I will actually get to see lives of “quiet desperation” just you “grin and bear it” the greater how it’s all good even in this trying to fulfill their responsibilities your reward will be when payday world, and even more so in the and make it through the day, even comes. “world of truth” and the “world to if they devote their leisure time to To wit, pain and suffering are come.” However, this raises more grabbing some of life’s more easily lousy, but they serve a good purpose questions than it answers, as it obtained pleasures, tend to shy in the long run, so grit your teeth seems to conflict with so much of away from the slightest of troubles and hang in there. And of course, scripture and tradition, including and inconveniences, let alone real there are the stories; stories of great the Kabbalistic tradition which pain. people who bore their suffering devotes a great deal of its That is because those who see stoically, stories of simple people teachings to explaining the pain and pleasure as things that who accepted their miserable lots existence of evil and its exist outside of themselves and with utter faith, and so on and so manifestations in this world, in the come from the outside, also see forth. I am sure there are many context of the cosmic struggle them as things that they have little people for whom those stories are between good and evil. or no control over. So, if a little really inspirational and How to reconcile the many pleasure comes your way, enjoy it, transformational. As for me, as seeming contradictions to this and try to avoid pain as much as inspiring as I found those stories to teaching is addressed in Chabad possible, although inevitably you be, there were still times that I Chassidus extensively, on the will end up experiencing more pain couldn’t help but feel that G-d was individual level, on the national than pleasure in life because that is “picking on me,” as well as feel level, and on the macro level. This just the way the world works. guilty for those feelings, which article is not intended to provide Conversely, those that recognize resulted in wallowing in self-pity and an overview of the massive amount that all pain and pleasure originate being paralyzed by guilt. As much of material on this topic, but to from within, albeit stimulated by fun as all that was, there was still a explore the basic principle of things outside oneself, understand part of me that believed that there different levels of perception based that pain is actually the currency had to be some way of divining on whether one sees and of pleasure. More pain actually “Why me?” or at the very least, experiences the world from the equals more pleasure, if you “What do You want from my life? “outside in” or from the “inside channel that pain properly. out,” and how even from the The harder you work, the more “GOOD PAIN” VERSUS “inside out” there are as many you deny yourself, the more “BAD PAIN” layers of “inside” as there are challenges and upsets that you spiritual worlds and levels. (Yikes, encounter in the pursuit of your Pain and suffering, everybody’s that came out sounding all pleasure, the greater the pleasure. favorite topic, like every other philosophical and complicated, so So much so that successful topic in Judaism, takes on a whole let’s keep it simple). wealthy people who can afford any new light in the teachings of the When a person starts with the and all of the pleasures of this Baal Shem Tov and Chassidus assumption that pain is bad, it is world and who understand this Chabad. To begin with, the obviously an inverse corollary of principle, find themselves looking fundamental premise is radically the assumption that pleasure is back nostalgically at the early days different. The Baal Shem Tov good. So it would follow that the when they were still struggling and taught that G-d is the essence of greater the premium that a person feel compelled to find new vistas of absolute goodness, and “nothing puts on pleasure, the more he ambition and challenge or else lose bad comes from Above.” If a would be averse to pain. And yet, any enjoyment in life and wither person experiences any pain and when we look at the world around up. suffering it comes entirely from us we discover a fascinating That is why in the future time, himself, as a result of his phenomenon. Those who devote the fast days, starting with the perceptions. their lives to the pursuit of some 17th of Tammuz, when “the
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out and given by G-d Himself, if The Rebbe cries over the pain and their contents can be used to suffering of each Jew and all of the Jews reflect negatively upon the Jewish people. as a people, but we need to know that Similarly, in our generation, the Rebbe cries over the pain and the only reason he even exists on our suffering of each Jew and all of the Jews as a people, but we need to level where he recognizes and know that the only reason he even exists on our level where he acknowledges the existence of pain and recognizes and acknowledges the suffering is in order to lead us to the existence of pain and suffering is in order to lead us to the point point where we will see for ourselves where we will see for ourselves that “G-d is good” and that the that “G-d is good” and that the pain we pain we experience now is only pleasure not yet realized. The experience now is only pleasure not yet Rebbe has indicated repeatedly that we have in fact been given realized. (had revealed within us) the necessary abilities and strengths to Tablets were broken and the city of each generation, experiences achieve that final goal, including (Yerushalayim) was breached,” will reality from the perspective of the the ability to relate to the be transformed into days of Divine Essence, and from that experience of the Rebbe to some celebration. Obviously, there will perspective there is nothing bad in degree, and actually see the world no longer be any reason for the world and there is nothing as perfect and be concerned only mourning, once those negative lacking in the world. Everything is that everybody else see and situations have been fully rectified G-d and G-d is everything, so experience the true reality of and things are even better than nobody is lacking anything, “There is naught else but He.” before, but what reason is there to everything is perfect and is exactly There are some who focus on celebrate on these very days? The the way it should be. Just as G-d the fact that the Rebbe is with us answer is that due to our lowers himself to the level of the more than ever during this period, superficial exile-clouded people and since they are as we see the many ways that perceptions we see and experience experiencing pain and difficulty, people can still turn to the Rebbe o the pain and suffering associated He “hears their cries” and feels when they are going through with those events as “bad.” their pain, and ultimately saves and something difficult or painful, or w Conversely, in the time of “Then redeems them from their suffering, experiencing some painful lack. s shall you delight Upon G-d,” when so too Moshe Rabbeinu as their Almost sixty years ago, when he the Divine Pleasure in creation is leader, feels their pain and sees the officially accepted the leadership of revealed and experienced by us, we causes of their pain and hardship the Chabad movement, the Rebbe will actually experience the as negatives. made it clear that although he “pleasure in the pain.” At the same That is why he insists that would do all those things that a time, we will look back wistfully at “Send in the hands of the one You Rebbe does to care for and tend to the time of exile when we could will send in the future time,” and the needs of his flock; that was not have actually accomplished that is why he cries out “Why have his ultimate mission. From day something in the production of You done bad to this nation, and one, and even more so after nearly that very pleasure through our why have You sent me?” If I am to sixty years, it has always been sacrifice and efforts. lower myself to their reality and about doing whatever it takes to feel their pain, then I insist that finally transcend and say goodbye PAIN? WHAT PAIN? You send the Final Redeemer to to the pain and suffering of exile relieve them of their suffering The Rebbe explains in a and to experience the infinite forever, or at the very least don’t number of places that Moshe delight of Hashem in His “dwelling make things worse. He is even Rabbeinu, and similarly the Rebbe in the lower realms” immediately, willing to break the Tablets carved NOW!
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memoirs
there at the hotel and the Rebbe came down n a wheelchair wearing a shtraimel. When we went in, the R YITZCHOK place was packed and not only with Lubavitcher Chassidim. I remember that the Rebbe began with “gut Yom Tov.”The sicha is printed in Seifer HaSichos 5700. GRONER S At that Purim farbrengen the Rebbe made a collection for his talmidim and people said how much they were giving. When they said that my father gave $25 the MEMOIRS Rebbe looked all around to see where my father was. Rabbi Jacobson went over to my father after the farbrengen and said, “R’ Mordechai, did you see? The We present a compilation of stories that Rebbe looked for you!” were told by Rabbi Yitzchok Groner a”h THE REBBE RAYATZ about his observations and experiences SPOKE ABOUT HIS SON- with the Rebbe Rayatz and the Rebbe IN-LAW’S GREATNESS The first time I saw the Rebbe MH”M. * Presented in connection with Rayatz in yechidus was the night of 28 Sivan, 1941, the night before his yahrtzait on 4 Tammuz and the his son-in-law, the Rebbe arrived Chag HaGeula of Yud-Beis Yud- in America. As I waited with my father in Gan Eden HaTachton, R’ Gimmel Tammuz Yisroel Jacobson came out of the Rebbe’s room and went directly over to my father and said in MEMORIES OF Then we went to the Greystone amazement, “R’ Mordechai, the 9 ADAR, 5700/1940 Hotel where we davened. They Rebbe said, ‘The yeshiva should go said the Rebbe came down at 1:00 I remember the day my father out to welcome my son-in-law. My but it was actually 3:00. The told me that we were going to son-in-law is proficient in Shas, Rebbe said the well-known sicha welcome the Rebbe (Rayatz). It Tosafos, Rosh and RaN and all about the three bonds that are was on 9 Adar II, 5700/1940. At printed Chassidishe s’farim.’” interconnected. I remember Rabbi the dock were thousands of Jews Then we went in for yechidus. Mentlick standing there and Rabbi and it was so crowded you The Rebbe Rayatz blessed my Shneur Zalman Gurary with a couldn’t get up close. I saw a father and then said to him, “You Polish cap. Jewish journalist from The New should learn Kitzur Shulchan York Times go over to a sergeant Aruch.” My father didn’t (in America in those days a police THE REBBE understand and asked whether he sergeant had gold bars) and ask to LOOKED FOR YOU! meant the Shulchan Aruch HaRav. The Rebbe said, “The Kitzur be allowed through. Suddenly the The next time I saw the Rebbe Shulchan Aruch with Misgeres Chassidim began singing the was on Purim. The Rebbe was the (HaShulchan) and then Shulchan Rebbe Rayatz’s hakafos niggun first Chassidishe Rebbe to leave Aruch HaRav.” The Rebbe blessed and I knew that the ship was Poland after the bombing and the him again and we left. approaching. I remember how they capitulation to the Nazis and Of course I was quiet brought the Rebbe off the ship in a consequently many Polish Jews throughout the yechidus. Even wheelchair. came to see the Rebbe. We waited when I had yechidus by the Rebbe
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and I had to say something I would ask permission. That was my first yechidus with the Rebbe Rayatz, but afterwards I merited to have my own yechidus with him.
SHABBOS WITH THE REBBE One of the years, the Rebbe Rayatz came downstairs for the Yud-Beis Tamuz farbrengen in his wheelchair. That year, they placed a platform and the Rebbe had to walk up the step. I remember seeing Rabbi Volosov a”h crying. My mother saw Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah coming down the stairs. When she saw my mother she said, “Oh Zamke’s Chevroner?” (My grandfather was called Zamke Chevroner. He was a Lubavitcher Chassid throughout the years). Then she began to talk about “main kroin” (my crown). At first, my mother thought she was talking about her son (the Rebbe Rayatz) but then realized she was speaking about her husband (the Rebbe Rashab). I remember when the Rebbe Rayatz had a heart attack in 1945. We were learning by R’ Shmuel Levitin and I remember R’ Yisroel Jacobson running in the hall, all farbreng only with the bachurim THE TIME HAS COME shaken up. R’ Jacobson, R’ Shmuel from Otvotzk. Nevertheless, there TO DO SOMETHING! and my father met for an urgent were a few others who went in and In 5703, I went to R’ Shmuel meeting. The situation was serious I was one of them. I saw the Rebbe Levitin’s class. He usually taught and the Rebbe did not come out eating the Shabbos meal. First they the hemshech of the Rebbe Rashab for farbrengens or maamarim for a served fish, then the Rebbe ate a from the year 5666, but he taught month. piece of chicken, potato and kugel. us the maamarim of the Rebbe One Friday night there was a The Rebbe and R’ Shmuel Rayatz from 5703. One day, in the rumor that the Rebbe Rayatz Levitin would eat with the Rebbe middle of the shiur, the secretary wanted to farbreng with the Rayatz on Shabbos. R’ Shmuel R’ Chaim Lieberman knocked at bachurim who came from Otvotzk. would eat there because he had no the door and said that the Rebbe Of course a large crowd family. The Rebbe did not usually wanted R’ Shmuel. immediately formed and waited. have festive meals with the R’ Shmuel immediately put on After some time his son-in-law, the Chassidim, like his father. The big his sirtuk and went up to the Rebbe, came down and said in the koch in Lubavitch on Shabbos was Rebbe’s room. I was a close talmid name of the Rebbe Rayatz that the maamer. Bachurim would of R’ Shmuel and I can still see the there was a maamer from the make Kiddush at one-two in the following image in my mind. When Tzemach Tzedek on the verse, “ein morning after hearing the maamer he came down he looked ois omer v’ein d’varim b’li nishma and chazara. kolam” and the Rebbe wants to mentch (completely beside
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wife was expecting. When I The big koch in Lubavitch on Shabbos returned to Buffalo my daughter was the maamer. Bachurim would make Shterna Sara was born already. Then we moved to New York, Kiddush at one-two in the morning where I worked for yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim. I was after hearing the maamer and chazara. responsible for the yeshivos out of town and I also fundraised. I made himself). We asked him what for yechidus and told the Rebbe he a trip to Chicago and at that time happened and he said that in the is going to devote himself to the there were thousands of Jews living middle of the yechidus the Rebbe issues of the day and what does there who davened Nusach Ari. grasped his beard and said, “It is the Rebbe ask? Are you involved in There were some big Nusach Ari time to do something.” This broke avodas ha’t’filla!” For two straight shuls: B’nei Reuven, Tzemach me completely; because what we hours he went over this vort. Tzedek, and others. There were can we say after that? When I returned from Buffalo I two shluchim there, R’ Shlomo worked for Rashag (the Rebbe’s Zalman Hecht and R’ Tzvi brother-in-law) in fundraising for Shusterman. Rashag would go FIVE CANDIDATES there to raise money and R’ TO WRITE A SHULCHAN the yeshiva. Rashag wanted me to go to Australia. In those days it Shmuel Levitin and R’ Eliyahu ARUCH was a 55 hour trip. Before going, Simpson would go there, too. The I heard from the Rebbe Rayatz the Rebbe Rayatz blessed me night of Yud-Tes Kislev there that the Maggid wanted a new mamash like a father blesses a son. would be a big seuda following Shulchan Aruch to be written and “Travel in good health and return which they would go to the there were five candidates for the in good health and be successful Rebbe’s farbrengen. job: The Alter Rebbe, R’ Levi etc.” The Rebbe told me to go “if The period of time when I went Yitzchok of Berditchev, the the weather is good.” to Chicago things were quite bad. brothers R’ Shmelke and R’ The big shuls had been sold except for B’nei Reuven. A Jew named Pinchas Horowitz, and the Noam SHLICHUS IN AUSTRALIA Elimelech. Of the five, the Maggid Shlomo Palmer davened there. He picked the Alter Rebbe. AND IN CHICAGO built Kfar Chabad and he would I was in Australia for four attend the Rebbe’s hakafos THE STORY OF months and then I went to New upstairs. He was one of the Zealand for six or eight weeks. yoshvim (full time post marriage THE ARREST TOLD When I wrote to the Rebbe and students) in Lubavitch and a LIKE THE MEGILLA asked for permission to go, the famous chazan who already in the On 12 Tammuz, 5702/1942, Rebbe wrote me on 9 Adar, 5708 30’s and the beginning of the 40’s the Rebbe called us to his room (printed in the Igros Kodesh vol. would get $5000 for an and began telling the entire story 9): “Even in Australia you rushed appearance. One of the attendees of the arrest and the Geula of his your work.” Upon my return I was Moshe Shayewitz. These Jews father-in-law, the Rebbe Rayatz, went to Buffalo. donated a lot of money and I mamash like the reading of the I went back to Australia in davened with them at the shul Megilla. 5714. By that time there were during this period. already Anash there, unlike the After some years, on Motzaei ARE YOU INVOLVED IN first trip, and the Lubavitcher Simchas Torah, 5717/1956, I left Chassidim even had a building on after kos shel bracha for my home AVODAS HA’TEFILLA? Hotham Street. This was a much on Crown Street and I saw two I had a yechidus before I went harder trip for my wife. The first people from Chicago near the to Rochester – a moiridike trip, when I was away for six subway station. (awesome) yechidus. The Rebbe months, was a month after our The next day my brother Leibel Rayatz asked me, “Yitzchok, are wedding. It wasn’t easy for a newly told me that the Rebbe wanted me you involved in avodas ha’t’filla? married couple to separate for six to come to him. I went to the When I told R’ Shmuel, he months but by this second trip it Rebbe’s room after Maariv. This discussed this at a farbrengen for was even more difficult. We had wasn’t a yechidus on a regular two hours. “A bachur (me) went in three little children already and my yechidus night and the desk was
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full of papers. The Rebbe told me that the time had come to do something for the Jews of Chicago. They wanted Groner to go there and this would help prevent them from selling the shul and it was with the consent of Rashag. I dared to ask the Rebbe (after asking permission) whether the channels came from above or below (i.e. where did this idea for shlichus come from, from the Rebbe or from these Jews) and the Rebbe said it came from below. The shlichus in Chicago was for a few months and I reviewed Chassidus in the shuls.
THE REBBE SAID TO SPEAK R’ Yitzchok Dovid Groner was known as a powerful speaker. The Rebbe referred to this on a number of occasions, as R’ Groner relates: -At the end of the first Lag B’Omer parade, they took the children to the Botanic Gardens. The Rebbe traveled there by car together with R’ Chadakov, R’ Kazarnovsky and my brother Leibel. The Rebbe listened to the speech I made to the children. When I had yechidus for my birthday the Rebbe told me to passed by the Rebbe for dollars the THIRTY DOLLARS attend the meeting about the Rebbe gave me an additional dollar FROM THE REBBE parade and to give a report. and said, “For the speech.” FOR THE WEDDING -When I had to go to Toronto -In 5744 or 5745, I got a the Rebbe told me to speak about phone call from R’ Chaim Farro of Before my wedding I went with Mihu Yehudi. The Rebbe lifted his Manchester. He had bought a big my parents to invite Rebbetzin hand and said, “k’yad Hashem building and wanted to have a Nechama Dina. Rebbetzin ha’tova alav” (using your generous festive event. He brought Yehuda Nechama Dina was unable to hear G-d given gifts). Avner, who was Israel’s ever since her daughter Chana was -At the first dinner R’ Sholom ambassador in London, Chief born. The problem was so acute Duchman made for Kollel Chabad Rabbi Jacobowitz, and other public that when Nazi planes bombed at the Brooklyn Museum, figures and rabbanim. He called to Warsaw she only heard buzzing. rabbanim such as Rabbi Menashe invite me to be the guest speaker. She would read lips and always Klein and Rabbi Gavriel Tzinner They had presented a list of names had a pen and paper next to her so attended. They asked me to speak of speakers to the Rebbe, and the people could write to her. When in English and I spoke for a few Rebbe chose me. People were we arrived, the Rebbetzin opened minutes. The dinner was on amazed by my speech and I saw the door and said, “Oh, chassan Motzaei Shabbos and the next that I wasn’t speaking alone; the kalla.” We sat down and she served morning, before dollars, I wrote a Rebbe helps in a way that is above lekach. We sat there and she told report for the Rebbe. When I the natural order. stories until R’ Moshe Leib
BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 746 13 746_B_Beis Moshiach 21/06/2010 8:41 AM Page 14
store. When I met him he said My father once wrote a pidyon nefesh to about the Rebbe that what he [the the Rebbe and afterwards, when he had Rebbe] did – the Alter Rebbe and the Baal Shem Tov did not do. yechidus, the Rebbe asked: “You are Fifteen years later he wrote a book called Portrait of a People – well? Why didn’t you tell me?” Then the the story of the Jews from ancient to modern times. When he came Rebbe said to himself: “They only write out of yechidus he told my brother Leibel that he asked the Rebbe the no-good things to me…” how to write about Yoshke, as that Rodstein came out and interrupted with the title “my mechutan”)? would have to be included in a us. I said yes. The Rebbe did not historical overview. The Rebbe Among other things, she told us end up staying for the meal but he gave him advice on how to avoid that the Tzemach Tzedek had a gave me $30 drasha geshank (lit. the topic in a sensitive manner so nickname for each of his sons. R’ speech honorarium, i.e. wedding as to avert any problems as a result Boruch Sholom was a “balabus.” gift) and not the ten or twelve that of that issue. Maharil was a “Chassid” and he usually gave. Maharin, her grandfather – the When I was on my way to the WE HAVE TO BE father of her father, R’ Avrohom badeken R’ Shmuel Levitin saw me HOLY OURSELVES Schneersohn – was “gaon.” and said that the Rebbe Maharash I heard from Rabbi Yaroslavsky Maharin was in the Tzemach once said, “The way a Jew will be that R’ Shaul Bick (the son of a Tzedek’s beis din with R’ Yosef under the chuppa is how his whole family of rabbanim in Mezhibuzh, Tumarkin, the rav of Kremenchug life will be.” This vort gave me a the son-in-law of the Mishmeres and the author of Toras Chesed. zetz so that when I went Sholom of Kaidinov, and the Most of the Tzemach Tzedek’s downstairs, my brother Yankel saw author of a work on hilchos nidda) t’shuvos were to them. She said me and asked me whether I was once waited on line for yechidus that when her grandfather would going to my chuppa or to my with the Rebbe Rayatz. The Rebbe daven Shacharis he had to change funeral, I was so shaken up. That unexpectedly walked by and when his shirt four times. is the avoda of a mashpia, to he noticed this, he stood up. The During the lifetime of the prepare you to stand under the Rebbe asked him why he stood up Rebbe Rayatz, Rashag was usually chuppa the way it is supposed to and he said: “You are the son of the mesader kiddushin (officiating be. holy people.” rabbi) at weddings. There were The Rebbe responded: “We some exceptions, like the wedding THE WRITER CHARLES have to be holy ourselves.” of the daughter of R’ Eliyahu RADDOCK AND HIS Simpson with Mendel Feldman, when he himself was mesader RELATIONSHIP WITH WE MUST COVER kiddushin. THE REBBE THE COSTS Before my wedding Rashag told There was an American writer I grew up in Brownsville, a half me he had an important meeting by the name of Charles Raddock . hour walk from 770. On Pesach and he asked me to wait for him. He was a big Chassid of the Rebbe we would go back and forth He did not show up and I had the and before him, of the Rebbe several times for davening, for the z’chus of the Rebbe being my Rayatz. My brother Leibel was in second seder (which finished a mesader kiddushin. There are touch with him and brought him in little before Shacharis) and for some pictures of my wedding in for yechidus whenever he came. Shvii and Acharon shel Pesach. which the Rebbe is standing in the He would write in respected One time, the Rebbetzin told entrance of 770 and speaking to magazines and newspapers and he my father in the name of the Rebbe Kazarnovsky. I asked the Rebbe to did some interviews with the Rayatz that he would not be stay for the seuda and he asked, Rebbe. coming out and he shouldn’t “Why? Karov (i.e. relative; the The first time I met him was in bother to come for the meal on Rebbe called my brother Yankel 5710/1950, when I worked on the Acharon shel Pesach. My father relative, and I once got a letter East Side near Leibel Bistritzky’s didn’t listen and he went. The
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Rebbe came down and said they Jewish people being one body and R’ Gershon Mendel Garelik and had to cover the costs (i.e. make it how when you hurt another Jew gave him a cup of wine, and he worth the while of those who you are actually hurting yourself. called me and gave me a cup of walked from far away) and he sat After the dinner he went over to wine as well and said, “this is for and told stories. It was a very daven Maariv and he counted the Australia.” small crowd – my father, R’ Omer after Aleinu as is their People asked me afterwards Yochanon Gordon, and R’ Dovid custom. He said the bracha on why the Rebbe called me and were Shifrin (who came to Lubavitch in S’firas HaOmer at such length and amazed by what the Rebbe said. 5659/1899 and then became so sweetly that R’ Chaikel Chanin, That year we both went on president of Aguch in America). who was standing next to me, shlichus; R’ Gershon Mendel left couldn’t restrain himself and said: before Yud-Tes Kislev and I left I WILL GO TOGETHER Listen to how a Jew makes a afterwards. When R’ Gershon WITH ALL THE JEWS bracha! Mendel left on shlichus the Rebbe went outside and watched the car One year, my brother Leibel until it disappeared. arranged for the Rebbe to have a YOU WERE BY THE SHVER? special place at hakafos. The R’ Meir Rabkin was a Rebbe told him: “Don’t mix in to Chassidishe Yid. After the WHY DIDN’T my business; I want to go together histalkus, whoever wanted to go to YOU TELL ME? with all Jews.” the Ohel of the Rebbe Rayatz had My father once wrote a pidyon to go by train and bus, a difficult nefesh to the Rebbe and LISTEN TO HOW A JEW trip. He went one time and the afterwards, when he had yechidus, Rebbe arrived while he was there. MAKES A BRACHA! the Rebbe asked: “You are well? Afterwards, when the Rebbe saw Why didn’t you tell me?” The Skulener Rebbe once him in 770, he asked: “You were Then the Rebbe said to himself: walked in the middle of a by the shver (father-in-law, the “They only write the no-good farbrengen and the Rebbe raised Rebbe Rayatz) today?” things to me …” himself up a little in his honor. On Simchas Torah, 5719, there That’s the reason that my The Skulener Rebbe once made was a farbrengen in the sukka brother Leibel tells everyone to a Melaveh Malka and asked me to since the shul was too small and write good things to the Rebbe, to come and speak. I asked the Rebbe the crowd was very large. The rain make the Rebbe happy. and the Rebbe told me go. When I came in and it was terrible. During got there, he spoke about the the farbrengen the Rebbe called for Raskin's Consistently “if it grows we have it” Superior Fruit and Produce Emporium WHOLESALE & RETAIL Michal & Aaron Raskin We Deliver 335 Kingston Ave. Brooklyn NY 11213 * Tel: (718) 756-3888 756-2221 * Fax: 756-2440
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BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 746 15 746_B_Beis Moshiach 21/06/2010 8:41 AM Page 16
moshiach & geula
What is this daas that we ask for every day? The usual answer is that we are literally requesting seichel, CRAZY FOR maturity in our thinking to know what is important and what is trivial in life. This is true, but that’s not all. It’s not enough to know what is important and what is trivial - daas MOSHIACH is a higher level than that. A person can know that the main thing is fulfilling Torah and mitzvos and can put a lot of effort into that and yet he can still stumble and even bring WITH SEICHEL others down as well when it comes down to actual practice.
DAAS DIRECTS US TO By Rabbi Chaim Ahkenazi a”h ASCEND IN HOLINESS We can see an example of this We ask Hashem for “daas” in the from a doctor who is good at diagnosing illnesses and prescribing Shmoneh Esrei and then we are medication but does not know how to properly dispense it – how much supposed to be “crazy about Moshiach.” and how often. If you don’t have the proper medication it can cause a How does that work? * Part 1 of an tragedy ch”v. This is the case with daas too. article prepared by Rabbi Chaim Daas is not only about going in the Ashkenazi a”h for Beis Moshiach prior way of Torah but doing so with the precise balance and measure. to his tragic and untimely passing and The Rebbe Rashab once heard a maamer from his father, the Rebbe given to us by his family. Maharash, and the maamer so “grabbed” him that he was deep in There are a number of stories ask for. When you have seichel you thought about ideas in the maamer about people who were given the know, and when you don’t have for quite some time and couldn’t opportunity to ask Hashem for seichel and daas then you lose the think about any other topic in Torah something and who used that opportunity when you could have and avoda. When he had yechidus auspicious time for trivial things. I asked for something significant.” with his father, he learned (see remember that when I learned by R’ The t’filla of ata chonantanu, HaYom Yom for 23 Sivan) that the Chaim Shaul Brook a”h, we planned which is recited on Motzaei Evil Inclination is called the animal a trip to the gravesite of Rashbi in Shabbos, is about the havdala soul not necessarily because it’s Miron in the month of Elul (it was (separation) between the holy and unintelligent. Sometimes it can be a customary to visit the graves of the mundane. Our early sages fox, the most cunning of animals. tzaddikim before Rosh HaShana). instituted it in the bracha where we The Evil Inclination has seichel Before we left there was a ask for daas. The explanation given and daas so how can we know farbrengen in yeshiva and R’ Shaul by Chazal is, “Without daas, how whether our thoughts are coming asked the talmidim: What will you can there be havdala?” In other from the animal soul or the G-dly ask for when you are by Rashbi? words, it is only after requesting and soul? Each one said what he would receiving daas that we can The Rebbe Maharash answered, request. R’ Shaul told us, “I think differentiate between that which is “If it pertains to actual avoda, then you should ask for just one thing, kodesh/holy and that which is any opposition to it comes from the seichel! Then you’ll know what to chol/mundane. animal soul.”
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The Rebbe Rashab concluded: Merely dispensing medicine is “Until then I didn’t know that there not the solution. There needs to be could be a pious animal soul, never daas, bonding – the doctor must mind a Chassidic animal soul!” ensure that the medicine suits his A person can be involved in patient’s age and medical history, spiritual pursuits and the learning of and he has to be convinced to take Chassidus yet still be following the it. So too in avodas Hashem. It’s not counsel of the “old and foolish enough to understand that the main king,” the Evil Inclination. The Evil thing is to follow the Torah; we need Inclination can be a cunning fox and to know the correct dosage as it come in the guise of a Chassid and relates to ourselves and to others. trip us up, ch”v. For example, a Lubavitcher once So it’s not enough to be granted entered a mikva and heard a child seichel. We need more than that in screaming. He ran to investigate and order to be able to discern whether saw a man trying to drag his something is coming from the side hysterical son into the water. When of evil or the side of good. he asked the father what he was The question then arises: How doing, the man explained that he can we know whether our activities wanted to get his son used to down, some part of him always are the counsel of the Evil immersing. “Don’t you see,” the remains uncovered. Inclination or the Good Inclination? Chassid chastised him, “that if you The doctor from the previous The answer the Rebbe Maharash force the terrified child to immerse, analogy is giving the right medicine, gave is, to see whether actual avoda you will have a pure son in the short but in the wrong dosage. If he is the result. Does it aid or interfere run but you will lose out on a pure makes it too strong, then in the with avoda? If it increases avodas son for the rest of his life. After such short run he will be successful Hashem, then this is the desire of an experience, the boy would never because the pain will stop and the the G-dly soul. But if this activity - agree to go to the mikva again.” temperature will drop. But there will which might be a spiritual activity This is an example of a good be negative repercussions, that seems holy – causes a spiritual thing that is done in the wrong sometimes irreversible ones, in the descent in the person or in those dosage and time. True, immersing in long run. If he makes it too weak around him, this is the desire of the a mikva is very important. Not only because the medication is bitter or Evil Inclination. does it purify from a state of tuma, painful and he wants to minimize but it also increases tahara, as in the the side effects, the patient will be time of the Mikdash when they DAAS – THE happy and in the short run the immersed even when there was no LONGTERM VIEW doctor will be pleased that he known impurity in order to eat satisfied his patient. But in the long The concept of daas, as truma and kodshim. However, the run he did not target the source of explained in Chassidus, refers to “dosage” of immersing a child who the illness and it is likely to spread to hiskashrus, bonding. When you is afraid of the water or the depth the rest of the body. bond with something, you see it as it can result in the opposite of what Being shortsighted and not is within the larger context, but one intended. looking at the long term effects when you are not connected, you Another example of chinuch that means that daas was lacking. It’s like only see one aspect or a few details. is done with good intentions but a man who visited a doctor and got A person looking in this latter without daas, without thinking about a prescription. He bought the manner considers only whether it’s the long term, is when a parent has medication at a pharmacy but when good in the short run, and if he’s his children sit down on Shabbos he went home he threw it away, excited by it he continues further. Mevarchim to say the entire T’hillim. reasoning: I went to the doctor But he doesn’t understand that That would seem to be Chassidishe because the doctor needs to earn a although he is involved with chinuch but if the parent demands living. I bought the medicine something positive, he is still losing that they say the entire thing without because the pharmacist needs to out on some important things. It’s a break, they probably will grow up make a living. And I threw the like a person who covers himself not wanting to look at a T’hillim. medicine in the garbage because I with a short blanket – however There are many other similar also need to live! much he pulls it up and pulls it examples.
BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 746 17 746_B_Beis Moshiach 21/06/2010 8:41 AM Page 18
because he is not changing anything The tyrant sees only himself. He decides in Torah, ch”v, but is seeing what how he wants things and compels others the people he is dealing with can handle. As in the example brought to do his will. He doesn’t listen to before of having children say the entire T’hillim, the father has to others, whether at work or at home, know how long each of his children can concentrate and plan because he doesn’t have the daas and accordingly. Before all the other requests in connection to those around him. the Shmoneh Esrei we ask Hashem to grant us With long term thinking you can someone who is a tyrant. What is chochma, bina, daas. After praising Hashem in the first also know what a person is like, is the difference between them? three brachos, the first thing we ask he a baal chesed or a squanderer? A Both have intelligence and want for is daas so we can see others with squanderer doesn’t think afterwards order and some degree of structure their abilities and limitations and about what he did and why he did it in the home and to avoid chaos. find ways of dealing with them. and he doesn’t even think Both put thought into how to reach beforehand – what is the purpose in their goals. But the tyrant sees only this expenditure? What will result? himself. He decides how he wants THE TZADDIK IN What will I profit? Or, what will I things and compels others to do his FURS AND THE CHASSID lose if I hold back. Since he has no will. He doesn’t listen to others, WITH A STOVE daas he did not think before or after. whether at work or at home, because The discerning between good Daas connects; it requires a person he doesn’t have the daas and and evil, between the long and short to check things out before and after. connection to those around him. term, and between others and The results of his behavior won’t be oneself entails a deep bond with the positive because he is trying to twist DAAS – CONCERN FOR performance of mitzvos, with daas. his surroundings to suit himself. If OTHERS, NOT FOR SELF Maybe this is something like the line something is pliable it bends and if “Don’t be right, be smart” when on A person with daas doesn’t worry it’s hard then it breaks, but neither the highway because acting with about himself but thinks about the of them will remain straight. wisdom is higher than being right. welfare of others. The question However, if he acts as a balabus The highest level in avodas would be: does he see others or does he has to see everyone around him Hashem is not the level of a tzaddik he see the world only through the because he is in charge of them and but the level of a Chassid. As the prism of seeing himself? In other that includes everything that goes on Gemara says, a tzaddik buries his words, who is he connected to? in the house. He takes into nails and a Chassid burns them (so A story is told about a consideration their abilities and nobody steps on them and is descendent of Rothschild who, when desires and doesn’t force anyone endangered). The tzaddik did what a poor man dressed in tatters came into anything, but sits and talks to he was supposed to do in burying to him, would tell his servants: “Do them in order to get them to carry them so they cannot be stepped on, me a favor and take him out of here out what they need to do. but the Chassid goes a step further immediately. I can’t bear seeing him A person with daas listens to and considered what would happen like this.” others and adjusts his demands to if there was a strong wind and the That’s an example of someone their abilities. When you see a nails were uncovered, and he burns who is only concerned about banana, you know you cannot them. himself. He isn’t looking at the other straighten it since it was created this Why doesn’t the tzaddik burn person, but only at how that person way, with its unique characteristics. them too? Chazal say that the affects him. If the concern is for Similarly, a person can’t make tzaddik is afraid to burn them others, however, he connects to the unreasonable demands of his because there is danger in burning situation of the other and feels his household. He has to tailor his something that comes from his body, pain or rejoices in his joy. demands to the abilities of each but the Chassid doesn’t take this Herein lies the distinction family member. into consideration. This is not between a person who runs his He shouldn’t worry that by doing egotistical self-prioritizing on the house as someone in charge and so he is compromising the Torah part of the tzaddik, but in truth this
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is not his cheshbon at all. He looks exempt from mitzvos since he has no two things, how to sew and how to to do the right thing and he does the daas. That doesn’t mean he is steal the remnants. Your son knows right thing, although he doesn’t take stupid; many children are in fact 50% of the work already…” The “what ifs” into account. quite smart. It means that they only father was happy with his son’s The saying goes “a tzaddik in see one side of the coin. This one- progress. peltz” (in furs). This compares the sided view is a lack of daas. If he If the ultimate goal of growth tzaddik to someone who is cold in can’t envision the long term and progress in the way of Torah the winter who puts on a warm fur repercussions then he doesn’t and Mitzvos is not being met, then coat and warms himself up. When progress in his avodas Hashem and strictly short term gains will end up the Chassid feels cold he lights the he hurts others. The connection to doing more harm than good. stove and then it’s warm for Hashem is lacking, and even if it This confusion between actions everyone. seems as though he is making done with daas and actions done I remember that one time there spiritual gains in the short term, he without it can be seen in all areas of was a strike by oil suppliers in New is likely to lose out in the long run. life – whether in man’s actions York in the winter and as a result The story is told of a person who between him and G-d or in actions there was no heat in 770. The Rebbe opened a business and when a long between man and his fellow, like told one of the secretaries to check time had passed they asked him how going on mivtzaim. The goal of whether a heater needed to be the business was going. He said: mivtzaim is to publicize Hashem and turned on for Rebbetzin Nechama They told me that at first you need what he wants every Jew (and Dina a”h. Those who went to check to invest and I’m still investing. l’havdil, every non-Jew) to do, and did not think to find out whether the Then there’s the one about especially the main mivtza, as the Rebbe’s room was cold too. someone who sent his son to Rebbe put it: preparing oneself and apprentice with a tailor and after a one’s household and all around him MAKING THE MEANS while the father asked the tailor how to welcome Moshiach. More about daas and the B’suras FIT THE ENDS his son was doing. The tailor said: “They say a tailor needs to know HaGeula in Part 2, G-d willing. The halacha is that a minor is LIVE SHIURIM 0NLINE cwwv Anywhere, Anytime ! CHITAS j,ww, INYONEI GEULA unahj dtukv gbhbh & MOSHIACH rncwwo RAMBAM ckeuyh ahgurho SHIURIM IN LIKUTEI eusa ahju, SICHOS KODESH
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BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 746 19 746_B_Beis Moshiach 21/06/2010 8:41 AM Page 20
story MAKING A MOVE FOR CHILDREN
By Nosson Avrohom Translated By Michoel Leib Dobry
Rebbe and the teachings of I stood out in the beating sun to get in chassidus. “I was born in the merit line again, and when I came before the of the Rebbe’s bracha,” he states with the utmost simplicity. Rebbe a second time, I requested His mother, Mrs. Chana Daniel, was glad to share the story dollars for my parents in Eretz of one of the tens of thousands of children to be born in the merit of HaKodesh. Hundreds of people had the Rebbe’s bracha. Mrs. Daniel’s voice fills with passed by the Rebbe in the meantime, excitement as she tells the story for each one managing to stand before him the umpteenth time, albeit the first time for a wide public audience. for a brief moment. Yet, when I made Her son, who sat near his mother the entire time, emotionally noted my request to the Rebbe, he asked, at the end of the interview that there were several details that he “Weren’t you already here?” and he personally had not known before and had discovered now for the immediately gave me another two very first time. dollars. I was gripped by a feeling of When she was a young girl, about a year before the outbreak of tremendous awe and was left totally the Yom Kippur War, Chana emigrated from Tashkent to Eretz speechless. Yisroel with her parents, and the family went to live in Ashdod. If you want, you can meet the twenties, filled with the vigor of Inexplicably, the Communist bachur Gavriel Rothschild Daniel youth. He has spent most of his regime began to give numerous any day at the Orange Company life with his parents in Kiryat exit visas to Jews who wanted to store in the Ayalon shopping mall Seifer, a town with a very Litvishe emigrate to Eretz Yisroel, and in Ramat Gan. Gaby, as he’s nature. Nevertheless, both he and many of them took advantage of known to his friends and family, is his parents have always kept a the opportunity and left the a delightful young man in his warm place in their hearts for the country. “At the start of 5733, we
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didn’t go back to Kfar Chabad, and we continued our studies closer to home. Our parents even began to get used to life in Eretz Yisroel. Several years later, I married my husband and we established our home in one of the neighborhoods of Tel Aviv, and we joined the community of R’ Avraham Chafuta. “The first years of our marriage were quite rosy. We were blessed with two children born easily and in good health. Our joy was great indeed, and we felt that all of our hopes and dreams were being realized. “Then, the problems started. We wanted another child, but every time shortly after a pregnancy began, it came to a sudden and landed in Eretz Yisroel. Our joy “My younger brother went to premature end. This repeated itself was immeasurable. Long years of study at Ohr Simcha, which had again and again without any dreams and aspirations had finally just then opened its gates. We warning or way to prevent it, and been realized. Many members of remained in these institutions for our anxiety grew. We didn’t know our family came to greet us, along several long months without seeing where to turn. The doctors with with our friends and our parents, as the options for whom we consulted couldn’t give acquaintances, including the contacting one another were not as us a proper diagnosis for our Ladiovs, who knew our family they are today. The counselors and problem. when we were living back in teaching faculty did everything to “This fact intensified the level Tashkent. make us feel at home. Their of our worry and concern. They “One of the Ladiov children devotion to us was great. There couldn’t tell me what to do in had convinced my parents to send were others in the dormitories in order to keep this from happening us to learn in Kfar Chabad, where the same situation, and this made again – which it continually did. they promised we would enjoy it much easier to endure our Our anguish merely grew with good material and spiritual longing to go home. every passing day. Only a woman conditions. It was by no means “We were in Kfar Chabad for who went through all this can easy to be separated from our eight months, during which we understand the emotional difficulty parents. We had only recently learned Hebrew, a lot of Judaism, that accompanies such an come out of the darkness and into Shulchan Aruch, and Mishnayos. experience. My desire for another the light, and there was nothing we We also heard and learned about child was great, and there were wanted more than to spend our the Rebbe and the teachings of those who suggested that maybe I first few days and months chassidus. should give up this dream, but I together, especially since the “Then, the Yom Kippur War wouldn’t hear of it. Despite all the Hebrew language was still hard for began. This military conflict disappointments, I continued to us. But the enthusiastic chassid’s caught us all by surprise and believe. convincing – and the fact that they instilled much fear and dread in “During 5746, we flew to New were still unemployed and were the residents of Eretz Yisroel, York for a family visit. We enjoyed having difficulty working things particularly the new immigrants some marvelous experiences while out financially – pushed our who were not used to wars. My we were there, but they all seemed parents into making this decision. parents contacted our schools and small after our relatives suggested I remember well our first day in asked that my brother and I return that we accompany them on a visit the Beis Rivkah dormitory, where home to Ashdod. to 770, where the Lubavitcher the Talmud Torah is located today. “At the end of the war, we Rebbe gave out dollars for charity
BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 746 21 746_B_Beis Moshiach 21/06/2010 8:41 AM Page 22
each Sunday as a bracha to Jews he asked, ‘Weren’t you already healthy and normal pregnancy, and who came to meet with him here?’ and he immediately gave me gave his consent to our request personally and receive his blessing. another two dollars. I was gripped regarding our move to Kfar I happily agreed to join them. I by a feeling of tremendous awe Chabad. had been well aware of the Rebbe’s and was left totally speechless. I “We were very excited to read great reputation as a miracle took the two dollars that the Rebbe the letter. We immediately looked worker from the time when I was gave me and departed. for a house to rent and we found a still a young girl living in Tashkent. “The Rebbe’s voice stayed with place owned by the Nachimovsky Thus, we found ourselves waiting me for the next several days. I was family, near the home of the mara in a long line preparing to enter very worried about how the Rebbe d’asra, Rabbi Mordechai Shmuel 770. had been strict with me, and when Ashkenazi. We lived in Kfar “People from all sectors and I returned to Eretz Yisroel, I Chabad for about a year. Shortly backgrounds stood in line – decided to do something about it. after we moved there, I became religious Jews, secular Jews, even “I composed a long letter in pregnant again. There were Gentiles. All of them came for the which I wrote to the Rebbe that I concerns about the baby’s irregular privilege of standing before the wanted to give back the two heartbeat, but in the end, the Rebbe. dollars that I took for my parents, pregnancy went to full term “After waiting for hours, my and that he was right – I had without any difficulties and we moment with the Rebbe came, and already passed by once. were privileged at year’s end to the emotion that engulfed me then “After seeing the Rebbe’s welcome the birth of another son.” has accompanied me to this very righteousness with my own * day. I couldn’t remember anything physical eyes, I decided that I Chana is filled with pride when except to request dollars for my would ask the Rebbe for a bracha she speaks about this son. He son and my daughter. The Rebbe to have another child. I wrote to received two names: Gavriel, after gave me another dollar and blessed the Rebbe in great detail about his maternal great-grandfather, me with much success. In the heat what I’d gone through in recent and Rothschild, after his paternal of all the excitement, I decided to years – the miscarriages, the grandfather. pass by the Rebbe again to ask for hopes, the disappointments, and In any event, the Daniel family dollars also for my parents, as this the unending pain. At the end of today lives in Kiryat Seifer, an would surely be the greatest gift I the letter, I wrote that I wanted to ultra-Orthodox town that has not could possibly give them when I move to Kfar Chabad. The given much of a favorable reaction returned to Eretz Yisroel. memories from those months when to Chabad activities. “The only “So I stood out in the beating I learned in Kfar Chabad were Chabad minyan is on Shabbos,” sun to get in line again, and when most pleasant, and I hoped that says Gaby, “and it takes place in I came before the Rebbe a second the saying of our Sages, ‘Change the women’s section of the time, I requested dollars for my the place you are at, and you will synagogue where my father serves parents in Eretz HaKodesh. change your luck/destiny,’ might as gabbai. It can safely be said that Hundreds of people had passed by be what will bring the bracha. this represents a small expression the Rebbe in the meantime, each “After a few weeks passed, we of gratitude to the Rebbe, in whose one managing to stand before him were privileged to receive a letter merit I was born.” for but a brief moment. Yet, when of response from the Rebbe. The I made my request to the Rebbe, Rebbe gave us a bracha for a Make a “Mivtzah Kashrus” in your own computer! Introducing JNET-The world wide web without the world wide worryTM While The Internet can be a helpful tool for business, experts that will solve your problems fast. education and personal use it can also be a potentially Most important, you can now get the JNET Advantage for dangerous one. only a bit more than non-filtered on line providers. That's why J Net was created. If you're ready for the world wide web without the world wide Using exclusive multi-tiered intelligent filtration, the J Net worry, you're ready for JNet. portal is probably the most effective consumer resource for DIAL UP DSL Unlimited Access 24 Tech Support eliminating material not conducive to our needs. 4 Profiles per More than virtually foolproof, J .NET is also easy - both to Account Web Mail install and use. Plus its available in both dialup and high Call us toll free at 1-866-866-JNET (5638) speed DSL and backed by highly trained customer service (mention code “770” for special ANASH Rate)
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shlichus PLEASANT WARFARE
By Rabbi Yaakov Shmuelevitz Shliach, Beit Shaan Sometimes wars need to be waged, against the Yetzer Hara or other foes. Shluchim often have to contend with opposition and the Rebbe tells us how to go about it – with simcha. they were successful; other times a kibbutz establish equal rights for WAR WITH A SMILE they weren’t. The Rebbe was all members. If, for example, the The Fash family, has been living involved in all these situations. kibbutz votes that every boy who at Kibbutz Ein HaNetziv in the They have dozens of letters of becomes thirteen gets a certain Beit Shaan Valley for nearly forty encouragement and guidance kind of t’fillin from the kibbutz years. At first they were regular arranged in an album. The wars office and there is a Lubavitcher kibbutznikim with no connection didn’t end but, as the Rebbe said, family who wants Chabad t’fillin to Chabad, but thanks to the they were fought with joy and which cost more, there is no way Rebbe’s shluchim in the area, gladness of heart. At least they that this will be approved. notably the Dunins and Sossonkins tried. Remember, members of a kibbutz of Taanach and the Rosenbergs There was also a war over (at least back then) did not go from Afula, R’ Issi and Ziva Fash chickens with Lubavitch sh’chita. around with money in their became close to the Rebbe and Then they needed a freezer in pockets. All their earnings were Chassidus. They are actually the which to store the chickens and pooled and the kibbutz took care first shluchim in the Beit Shaan other products with a better of all their needs. Valley. hechsher. Hours at the pool for So they had to fight and explain I know the situation well and I separate swimming. Each issue and cajole and raise money from can tell you that it isn’t easy to be was discussed by the members of other sources at the expense of shluchim on a kibbutz. This the kibbutz and then voted on. other needs. It wasn’t easy, but the difficulty came up in a yechidus I won’t get into the details of all Rebbe had told them “with a smile that the Fash family had with the the wars but I can give you a on your lips.” Rebbe in 5737/1977. “Remain at partial summary. At this point, Then there was the issue of the kibbutz,” the Rebbe told them. there are several shiurim that take where the children would go to “You will have many battles but I place weekly at the Fash home, for school. The Fash family wanted to ask you to wage all these wars with men and for women. Big send to a Chabad school, but the joy and gladness of heart and a farbrengens take place on Yomim kibbutz rules required sending smile on your lips.” Tovim and special days. Two of children to the communal school. And battles there were. For their children are on shlichus in So there were wars. Sometimes those who don’t know, the rules of Efrat and Kiryat Malachi, and their
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of our friends to oppose the mikva. more people attend the shliach’s Finally, an urgent meeting was shiurim and programs. That held where the majority voted caused the rav to step up his against building a mikva. campaign against him. The shliach, We assessed the situation and on the other hand, gave the rav decided that we had to take much honor and respect, inviting another approach. We began him to every event, speaking nicely communicating with the people we of him, but it didn’t help. needed. We spoke personally with At a certain point, the rav many residents and turned to the decided the shliach had to leave. right ministers and Knesset When he approached him with this members. We found out the law demand, the shliach responded, and followed it. In the end, the “The Lubavitcher Rebbe sent me administration of the yishuv was here and thank G-d the shlichus is convinced and the mikva was built. successful. I have no reason to Today, many families thank us. leave.” They use the mikva and are getting The rabbi found out who is in more involved in Jewish life. Three charge of shlichus and asked to families on the yishuv have already meet with askanei Chabad in Kfar taken on the practices of Chabad. The rav explained to them Chassidus as their way of life and that this shliach was taking over all many other families regularly his work and he had to be participate in shiurim, t’fillos, and terminated. Chabad house activities. The askanei Chabad were skeptical and the shliach remained A bridge over a river (illustration) A STRANGE BATTLE where he was. He continues to recommend to all who are willing children and grandchildren attend A shliach in Eretz Yisroel (out to listen to him – “Run away from Chabad schools. A mikva was built of respect for the rav of his city we machlokes, don’t get involved in at the kibbutz according to Chabad cannot say what city it is nor the politics, and give the proper specifications and dozens of name of the shliach) began his respect to every rav or Chassidim from the area use the shlichus some years ago and was representative of the community. It mikva every morning before quickly accepted with great love. usually works, although in my davening. The members of the community all situation …” enjoyed his speeches and invited YOU NEED A STRATEGY him to simchos as well as funerals BATTLE OVER Rabbi Shneur Halperin, shliach and memorials. Children prepared to thirteen yishuvim in for their bar mitzva with him, THE BRIDGE mountainous Hermon region in people consulted with him on The following story was told at the north, also knows about halachic matters and came en a farbrengen in 770 by R’ Avremke battles, and he told us about one masse to events he organized. Kozliner (son of R’ Mottel) about of them: Just one person at the yishuv his father-in-law, R’ Nosson A few years ago, when we were was unhappy with his success and Gurary, shliach in Buffalo. still young and inexperienced, a that was the rav. The rav felt that R’ Gurary opened his Chabad family living on one of the the shliach was taking over and house near the university campus yishuvim where we work became soon the residents would forget with only a river channel involved in Jewish practice and that they had an official rabbi. So separating the university from the they needed a mikva on their at every opportunity he Chabad house. Among the tens of yishuv. We announced our plans to badmouthed the shliach. thousands of students, lecturers build one. The yishuv wasn’t quite Surprisingly (and maybe not) and university staff were thousands religious and there was massive people realized that this wasn’t of Jews. Many of them walked a opposition. Each one tried to right and that his comments were long way on Shabbos and Yom Tov convince the others in a certain mean-spirited. Instead of keeping to reach the bridge that spanned direction, which caused even some them away, this only made even the river in order to visit the
BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 746 25 746_B_Beis Moshiach 21/06/2010 8:41 AM Page 26
Chabad house. and pay a fine. absolutely opposed the idea of his For Rosh HaShana (thirty years For Yom Kippur, he hired a department paying for a bridge for ago), R’ Gurary came up with an contractor to build a high bridge Jews. He even threatened, “It’s idea to make a small footbridge that would not block the boats. either me or them!” – i.e. if they directly opposite the Chabad house The contractor came with his decided that he had to pay, he so many more people would easily workers and by Erev Yom Kippur would resign. Indeed, within a be able to attend services on Rosh the bridge was ready. Hundreds of short time, the priest passed on HaShana and hear the shofar. He people attended services and from this world while the legal got a number of rafts and, with the returned to the university when the dispute over the payment went to help of some ropes, fashioned a fast was over. court. bridge. When the bill from the There were some compromises The two days of Yom Tov went contractor for over a million offered but the shliach had gotten by peacefully but towards the end dollars came, R’ Gurary said the instructions and a bracha from the of Yom Tov there was a huge payment should be made by the Rebbe not to compromise but to traffic jam of boats and ships that university since the bridge was for insist that the university pay for all couldn’t move down the river; the the students. The administration of the expenses. bridge was in their way. In case the university deliberated over The court concluded that the things weren’t lively enough at that which department had to deal with university had to pay and we got a point, police cars and fire trucks this, and they finally decided to story about how a shliach operates showed up and they all discussed give it to the department for in a way of l’chat’chilla aribber, what to do. They finally concluded religious services. The problem and fights a battle for his that the rabbi of the Chabad house was that the head of the principles. was responsible and he had to department was a priest who immediately dismantle the bridge wasn’t a big Jew lover. He EEsstthheerr’’ss PPaarrttyy GGrriillll 463 Albany Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11213 718-735-4343 CATERING ON OR OFF THE PREMISES CORPORATE ACCOUNTS WELCOME. w SHLUCHIM; SPECIAL RATES FOR SAVE MONEY SHABBATONS & PARTIES COME SEE TODAY!! OUR BRAND NEW SUSHI BAR Get a FREE analysis on your credit Card Processing! OPEN FOR IN HOUSE DINING Call Today 888-468-3256 x 2770 TAKE OUT & CATERING Better rates guaranteed – If we can’t save you money we will pay you $100 For a limited time – get your CC Terminal or software set up absolutely FREE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE It’s a matter of ONE minute and ONE fax. BEIS DIN CROWN HEIGHTS
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moshiach & science
no color adjustment and no optical zoom. But it takes 10 seconds to figure out how to use it, fits in your shirt pocket, and TOO MANY costs very little. The list of good-enoughers goes on: we get facts from Wikipedia, breaking news from blogs, telecommunications from CHICK PEAS Skype, and ads from Google. The US military today relies on the new unmanned MQ-1 Predator that cannot fly as fast, as high or By Aryeh (Arnie) Gotfryd, PhD as heavily armed as most craft. But it’s simple, portable and As we are currently learning the laws of relatively cheap - the MP3 Effect. What about the perfectionists maaser in the chapter-a-day of of this world? A perfectionist will certainly care that Wikipedia isn’t Rambam, here’s a thought that relates quite as reliable as the Encyclopedia Britannica, that to the importance of letting go. bloggers don’t use fact checkers, that Skype drops calls, and that Asian trappers have a neat the Good Enough Revolution and Google ads don’t grab attention. trick for catching monkeys. They it stands on a tripod of three But when it comes to most things, hollow out a coconut through a factors - simplicity, convenience do we really need perfection? Are small hole, fill it with chick peas, and low cost. Until recently you investing your life savings and wedge it firmly between rocks technology has been driving based on wikinformation? Are you or fasten it to a tree. Smelling the product offerings to greater and treating a lethal condition based chick peas, the monkey gingerly greater heights of quality, with on a health blog you found? Are sidles over to the treasure trove, more and more features. But all you calling a once-in-a-lifetime surreptitiously slips his hand into that is changing now. business contact on a VOIP line? the hole, grasps a fistful of Take for example the MP3. Surely these are the times to raise goodies, and... oops... he’s stuck - These highly compressed audio the bar - to pay more for quality - stuck between two options - drop files have quickly become the but those times are rare. Most of the peas and slip his hand out, industry standard even though the time, good enough is just our hang onto them and get sound-wise they are of low great. caught himself. The monkeys are quality. The explanation is that A good-enough guy works to smart but the peas win out. they are also simple to use, live, he doesn’t live to work. Good We’ve all got our chick pea convenient to store and share, and enough means sometimes letting a traps - obsessions big or small very inexpensive. loved one be right even when that cost us our freedom. The same thing happened in wrong. Good enough earnings let Businesses that devour our the video recording market. Pure you take more meaningful jobs. families, inboxes that gobble up Digital owners Jonathan Kaplan Depending on the day, good- our days, diversions that distract and Ariel Braunstein launched the enough parents might drop the us from our greater goals. The $150 Flip video camera in a world dishes to play ball or drop the ball lesson is obvious. Sometimes you where a mid-priced Sony was to do the dishes. A good enough just have to let go. running $800. Like the MP3, they attitude lets you know when to The art of letting go is much slipped in at the bottom of the drop the chick peas for things that more than a self-help tool. It’s market and two years later are the matter more. also integral to a pervasive best-selling video cameras in the But how do we know how megatrend sweeping world culture US. True, the images are grainier, much is good enough? Is there a and world markets. Analysts call it the viewing screen is tiny, there’s way to quantify our priorities? KKIINNGGSSTTOONN HHOOTTEELL Analysts and managers have a tool
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to do just that. It’s called the the 20 percent you need to focus Pareto Principle or the 80/20 on. If something in the schedule Depending on the Rule and it’s named after a turn- has to slip, if something isn’t day, good-enough of-the-century, Italian economist going to get done, make sure it’s who noticed that 20% of his not part of that 20 percent.” parents might drop countrymen owned 80% of the In the 80/20 Rule, good- nation’s wealth. Since then, a enough marketers of good-enough the dishes to play flood of observations of all kinds products see a way to turn good- have supported the general idea. enough profits. Practicing Jews ball or drop the Business analyst John Reh says see a way to spend those profits - that “Project managers know that on tz’daka, or charity. ball to do the 20 percent of the work (the first Ever since Sinai, Jews have dishes. A good 10 percent and the last 10 been tithing their produce and percent) consume 80 percent of their income and giving it away. enough attitude your time and resources. You can In temple times, ten percent went apply the 80/20 Rule to almost to the Levite (hence the term to lets you know anything, from the science of levy a tax), and another ten management to the physical percent went to holiday when to drop the world. You know 20 percent of celebrations and gifts to the poor your stock takes up 80 percent of - about 20% altogether. Today, chick peas for your warehouse space and that 80 Jews are obliged to give at least a things that matter percent of your stock comes from tenth of their earnings to charity 20 percent of your suppliers. Also and Chassidim, Chabad included, more... 80 percent of your sales will come still give a fifth. According to the from 20 percent of your sales Tanya, the fifth we give brings chick peas and eat them, too. staff. Twenty percent of your staff purpose and elevated significance And since tz’daka brings will cause 80 percent of your to the rest. Moshiach, there will be enough problems, but another 20 percent Perhaps the two 80/20 rules chick peas to go around for of your staff will provide 80 are related intrinsically, embedded everybody, monkeys and trappers percent of your production. It in nature and society like the included. And on that day the works both ways. divine proportions of the golden whole world will know that letting “The value of the Pareto rectangle. Be that as it may, there go of 20% really was the way to Principle for a manager is that it is something more to the charity make a good enough world truly reminds you to focus on the 20 rule. While clever businessmen great. percent that matters. Of the trade off their 20’s against their things you do during your day, 80’s to maximizing their gains, Dr. Aryeh (Arnie) Gotfryd, PhD is a only 20 percent really matter. the simple Jew has it all - the 20% chassid, environmental scientist, author Those 20 percent produce 80 he gives away is a mitzvah and and educator living near Toronto, percent of your results. Identify that’s his forever, while the 80% Canada. To contact, read more or to and focus on those things. When he keeps becomes exalted along book him for a talk, visit www.arniegotfryd.com or call 416-858- the fire drills of the day begin to the way. 9868. sap your time, remind yourself of That way you get to have your
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BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 746 29 746_B_Beis Moshiach 21/06/2010 8:41 AM Page 30
profile A RESTAURANT WITH A SHLICHUS
By S. Malachi
they got there. They were the pages At an exclusive dairy restaurant in the of the morning brachos and the heart of Petach Tikva’s business district, Shma in nusach Arizal and from then on, Lia began reading them a popular venue for the religious crowd, every morning. Her attitude towards Judaism remained the phone is answered with a cheery, alienated and she did not sense the contradiction. “Tova’le, shalom, Yechi HaMelech!” We When Itai, their oldest son was born, Lia heard about the came to learn the secret to their traditional hair cutting in Miron successful combination of work and and loved the idea. Although this wasn’t accepted practice in their shlichus; between spreading the Besuras circles, she decided not to cut Itai’s hair until he was three. She had no Ha’Geula and the Goel and dealing idea that three years later she with customers. The secret is soon would be wearing a skirt and wig. revealed: the world is ready for Geula! A HECHSHER FOR THE LUBAVITCHERS A LOST SOUL she was reading it but Lia did not The turning point for the Perr Lia is a spiritual sort, the kind have an answer. Her attitude family began when they bought a who is constantly searching for towards Judaism was distant and restaurant in a mall in the center of truth and meaning. The secular reserved, but the eternal words of Petach Tikva. The restaurant was society in which she was raised the prayer found a way to her named for Shlomo’s mother, could not provide her with answers heart. It began a few years earlier Tova’le, the youngest child pictured and could not deal with her with a line she heard from a friend, in the restaurant’s famous logo. questions. During the course of her “There are sentences in the Siddur In its previous incarnation, the tumultuous life she became a Reiki that are said every morning and restaurant was kosher. When it was master and a palm reader, learned they make the day go better.” It reopened by the Perrs, many of the to read tarot cards and other was a friend she admired and Lia old customers showed up and unholy ideas, but nothing satisfied decided she wanted to familiarize asked whether it was still kosher. her hungry soul. She was left herself with those sayings. The reaction they got was feeling isolated and lacking. A short while later, on Pesach, antagonistic because Lia’s One day her husband, Shlomo, she noticed some laminated sheets sentiments were - who needs a was surprised to see Lia reading of t’filla among the Hagados that hechsher? Half a year later, the the bedtime Shma from a were on a table in her parents’ couple realized that a hechsher was laminated sheet. He asked her why home. Nobody could explain how worth their while from a financial
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standpoint. From the day they received the hechsher of the local rav, Rabbi Solomon, the business flourished. And at the same time, a nearby kosher restaurant closed its doors and Lior, the chef, went to work for Shlomo and Lia. At some point he asked: Why don’t you get the Lubavitchers to the restaurant? He explained that Rabbi Solomon approved three hechsherim: 1) Rabbi Laudau’s 2) the Badatz Eidah HaChareidis 3) Sh’eiris Yisroel. If they did not use Sh’eiris, the Lubavitchers would patronize the restaurant. This he had learned at the previous restaurant. Little did Lior realize that what he set in motion would transform his employers into Lubavitcher Chassidim. Previously, Lia had never met religious Jews. “I read about them in the newspapers, I saw them on television, and I heard about them in jokes but when I met them at the restaurant I saw something different, something special, and I really liked it. I saw a young couple that came by bus at eleven o’clock at night with a month old baby in a carriage. There was a peacefulness about them that was unfamiliar to me.” One night, a young Chassid came to the restaurant holding a BIO brochure with the Rebbe’s picture Shlomo Perr grew up in Petach Tikva in a family with a deep on it. Lia, who wanted to get to feeling for Judaism but he went along with friends who lived lives know her Lubavitcher clientele, got devoid of Jewish content. into a conversation with the He lived for eight years in the United States and for a period of bachur. He was a baal t’shuva from time he even lived in Crown Heights, near 770, but the time hadn’t the yeshiva in Ramat Aviv and he yet come. “My hosts told me to get a dollar from the Rebbe but I came to the restaurant to meet a stayed away. I felt no connection.” girl for a shidduch. At the end of Years passed and Shlomo returned to Petach Tikva, met Lia and the evening, the girl suggested to they married twelve years ago. They bought a restaurant and when Lia that she have a regular Tanya customers asked for a hechsher they were initially annoyed but learning session. The shidduch did ultimately gave in for financial reasons. When the chef told them to not work out but the shiur did. get a hechsher that would appeal to Lubavitchers too, it was the Every week the girl would visit the start of a spiritual journey. restaurant and open a window to a Today, at Tova’le they serve dairy delights spiced with world that Lia never knew, a world Chassidishe emuna and with an aroma of Geula. of Judaism. The internal spiritual
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upheavals in Lia’s soul began to Shlomo the letter she had opened thought she had gone overboard. occur quickly and actions soon to. It was a letter that the Rebbe “No way!” he declared. followed… wrote to someone on the topic of Lia persisted, trying again and From the moment the first business (volume 10, p. 265) again, and Shlomo finally connection was made with Chabad, which said: Although all the conceded, “Maybe we’ll talk about Lia felt that she was not in control treasures of the world are not it at the end of the year. I don’t of the process, that the Rebbe took enough to pay a Jew for the steps want to transfer him in the things into his own hands. What he makes to come close to middle.” Lia knew up until then about the Hashem, he still has to make the Lia couldn’t wait and she Rebbe was “he is a good man and proper vessels or garments. The turned to the Rebbe with a request in school we got his picture and Rebbe then goes on to cite the for a bracha. The Rebbe’s answer twenty agurot for Chanuka gelt.” Chassidic interpretation of the was to make sure the child received verse about the beautiful captive, a Chassidic education. Lia was FAMILY OR WIG “And she should shave her head excited but Shlomo was not. He and grow her nails,” as it relates to had not changed his mind. Shlomo saw the changes taking business matters, continuing the “Please reconsider,” she begged place with his wife but he did not analogy of a garment by saying that him. But he insisted that he would want to consider that this was a the clothing can’t be too short… not transfer their son mid-year. serious matter. A few weeks after Since then, whenever Lia writes Itai suffered from fluid in the the beginning of the Tanya shiur, to the Rebbe, whether for herself or ears and the doctors recommended Lia wanted to keep Shabbos. with other people (Chassidim, surgery. As if that wasn’t enough, Shlomo happily agreed, as he Litvish, Ashkenazim, Sefardim), he became sick and all the tests thought: No more nerve wracking she gets amazing answers. they conducted didn’t show what trips to the beach; no more sand, was wrong. The doctors could not crowds and chaos. explain what was ailing the toddler. A month went by and Lia told “GO TO THE DOCTOR For over a week the child stayed Shlomo she wanted to buy a wig. LESS AND LESS” home with a high temperature. Lia Shlomo was stunned. “Are you Time passed and Lia’s world suggested that they write to the normal? Why a wig? Why be changed while Shlomo watched Rebbe. She wrote and Itai drew a extreme? What will people say?” and did not comment. Lia called picture. The Rebbe’s answer was But Lia insisted because she Rabbi Dov Tevardovitz of Kfar that the child be given a Chassidic knew that a wig would make her Chabad so he could kasher their education and go to doctors less part of the religious community kitchen at home and Shlomo and less until he did not need them and would obligate her to change continued to observe the goings-on anymore. Lia knew this was about her behavior. Shlomo, however, without mixing in and without her child’s spiritual and physical was adamantly opposed. saying anything (“just paying the health and she called Shlomo and Lia turned to the Rebbe for bills …”). He did not like the said, “At least give me enough help. She wrote a letter and changes but gradually began credit that I won’t do anything that summed up the dilemma as: understanding that his life was also will adversely affect him.” Shlomo shalom bayis or a wig? She put her changing. Lia was wearing a wig agreed. letter into a volume of Igros and he wore a kippa and did not When Itai went to the Chabad Kodesh and read the pages she watch soccer games on Shabbos school for the first time, the class opened to. The answer was so “for the sake of the home” – but was saying the p’sukim. To her direct that she was taken aback. his inner world had not yet surprise, Itai went to the front and She closed the volume and sat on changed. declared, “I also want to say a the couch in shock. Without prior When Itai was two and a half, pasuk.” To Lia it was a clear introduction, Shlomo turned to her Lia learned about the importance indication that this was the best and said, “You know what? You of chinuch al taharas ha’kodesh place for her child. From then on, want a wig so badly and I don’t from a young age. Her son was Itai no longer needed treatment for want to stand in your way. Go buy attending a private playgroup in his ears. one.” Just like that - a complete Kfar Sirkin, an exclusive state of Rabbi Zvi Katzavi, shliach in one hundred and eighty degree the art place. When she told Ramat HaSharon, began visiting turnabout! Shlomo that she wanted to switch their house to give shiurim in The next morning Lia showed him to a Chabad school, Shlomo Chassidus.
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“In addition to taking care of our children, the demanding nature of the work at the restaurant centers around the evening hours and does not enable me to go to shiurim and lectures, and so I bring the rabbis to me,” explained Lia with a smile. When the shiur was over, she would go back to the restaurant for the night shift and Shlomo would come home. Shlomo took no interest in Chassidus but enjoyed talking to Rav Katzavi and the two of them spent hours farbrenging together. Without realizing it, Shlomo was getting more involved in the world of Torah and Chassidus. Lubavitchers celebrating a Sheva Brachos at Tova’le
A JEW CANNOT “I read about them in the newspapers, BE APART I saw them on television, and I heard Lia continued to learn and progress while Shlomo continued about them in jokes but when I met to observe without getting involved. Lia did not try to convince him; them at the restaurant I saw something she was preoccupied with the changes she was undergoing. In different, something special, and I hindsight, it is possible that the really liked it.” space she gave him is what preserved the family structure and seminar, he agreed without extricate himself from it but was led Shlomo to his own decision to knowing where he was going. not able to, as the string stuck to get involved in Jewish life. When he arrived at the hotel he him. It was a strong, palpable Her progress continued rapidly. was shocked to see it overrun with feeling and he would later see that “From the moment I discovered the religious Jews in black! They it was spelled out clearly in the truth, nothing else interested me. I looked bizarre to him. He was HaYom Yom (21 Sivan): “A Jew knew that I belong to the Rebbe.” further taken aback to see them neither wants nor is able to Customers who knew the couple spitting during the davening (when separate, heaven forbid, from G- previously were flabbergasted. Even they said Aleinu). dliness.” the shliach Rabbi Asher Deitsch, But along with the strangeness When the seminar was over, Lia who constantly supported them, he began to recall sweet scenes – for the first time since she began tried to slow Lia down. “Better to from his childhood. Seeing Lia say taking an interest in Judaism – do things slowly and in a grounded T’hillim reminded him of seeing his tried convincing her husband, “The way,” he said, but Lia couldn’t grandmother sitting and reciting beard looks so good on you. Try wait. T’hillim with simple faith. growing it for a while longer.” And It was Pesach and Lia knew that S’fira began, and Shlomo felt Shlomo agreed. she wouldn’t be able to be uncomfortable shaving as usual With Shavuos approaching, Lia particular about hiddurim in when nobody around him was had a radical idea. She suggested kashrus. She could imagine doing so. “I’ll grow a beard for a that she take the morning and Shlomo’s reaction to food without week until the end of the seminar,” evening shift at the restaurant so he spices, food without gebrokts…and he said. On the last night of the could learn Torah. Shlomo liked then she came up with an idea, to seminar he had a dream of a string the idea but thought he’d rather go away for Pesach. When she descending from above and use the time to study law … suggested that they go to a sticking to him. He tried to
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THE MERIT OF WOMEN yeshiva, in which he became a and the sister wrote: “Rebbe, I One day, in one of those Tamim, the nicest year of his life. have been in shidduchim for three unforgettable conversations with R’ Lia continued to run the house years already. What’s going to be? Katzavi, the shliach said to him: and the restaurant, carrying the How long can I wait? Should I “Shlomo, your son is growing burden herself but thrilled that her wait for a Gerrer Chassid or older. He’ll soon start attending husband was studying Torah. She should I listen to suggestions for the Chabad elementary school. felt she was following in the shidduchim about people from How do you think he will feel footsteps of Rochel, the wife of other groups?” about you?” Rabbi Akiva. The Rebbe’s answer in the The question shook him up. He A year passed and Shlomo Igros Kodesh was direct: “Mazal woke up to the changes taking returned to work but now he felt tov, mazal tov. I was happy to hear place in his family and realized he himself to be a Chassid, mekushar about the engagement of your had to invest more effort. heart and soul to the Rebbe daughter.” After much thought he told Lia MH”M. Lia said goodbye to the sisters that he was ready to go to yeshiva. with wishes of mazal tov and a Lia immediately called R’ Katzavi CULINARY SHLICHUS week later the woman called with the news that her sister was and asked him to arrange a Shlomo and Lia wanted to sell engaged. A month later, the first meeting with R’ Yossi Ginsburgh, the restaurant. They wanted a woman alos had a simcha, she rosh yeshiva of the Chabad yeshiva more spiritual vocation. They got a gave birth to a son and she named in Ramat Aviv. nice offer and had started thinking him Menachem Mendel. “My husband will go learn about moving to the north of the One day, Lia left her car with there,” she explained. R’ Katzavi, country. When they wrote to the her husband and went to the who knew Shlomo, could not Rebbe the answer was: Stay in restaurant by taxi. The driver believe the news. your place of shlichus. seemed upset. Even when he spoke R’ Ginsburgh warmly welcomed They understood that they via walkie-talkie with the other the couple. He was used to couldn’t leave the restaurant, drivers he sounded irritated. interesting life stories but meeting which had become a center of “What a sad day this is,” he said. a 58 year old student surprised hafatza for Judaism and hiskashrus Lia tried to inquire but the driver even him. Shlomo was accepted to the Rebbe. The work there didn’t answer. Throughout the trip and the Perr family became an included having an influence on she told him about the Rebbe, the inseparable part of the Ramat Aviv the staff, which numbers dozens of Nasi HaDor and said he could k’hilla. They celebrated Yomim employees, as well as a broader write to the Rebbe at any time. Tovim with the k’hilla and many a influence – spreading the light of Before she left the taxi she Shabbos with the Ginsburghs. Chassidus and Geula to their suggested he come into the When Shlomo went to yeshiva customers, most of whom were restaurant and write a letter. the first thought he had was: religious, Chassidic and Litvish “I’ll come when I can,” he said “What am I going to do all day and who came from all over the and left. Fifteen minutes later he with these blacks [derogatory country: Yerushalayim, B’nei Brak, was back with a kippa on his head. Israeli slang for religious Jews]?” Netanya and even from the south After making a good hachlata to But he quickly discovered that and north of the country. put on t’fillin every weekday he yeshiva life was wonderful. Lia met a special woman who wrote to the Rebbe. When he left His day began with mikva in was from the Gerrer Chassidic he looked like a different person, a the morning, learning Chassidus, group. The woman adopts children much happier man. davening and then more learning. who are sick with terminal When a person is in yeshiva he illnesses. She has incredible inner lives differently, thinks differently strength to support these children WORKING IN and obviously, learns differently. physically and emotionally. She THE ERA OF GEULA For an entire year Shlomo sat in often heard stories about the The staff is comprised of this extraordinary yeshiva in the Rebbe from Lia and one day she dozens of employees. There are center of a secular, exclusive called and said: “I’m coming with shifts of waiters, waitresses, cooks, neighborhood. He was guided and my sister. She wants to write to a barman, and maintenance staff supported by Rabbi Omer HaLevi. the Rebbe.” and they all have become He considers the year he spent in The two came to the restaurant acquainted with the Rebbe and
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Chassidic ideas. All the men put on t’fillin and the women receive THAT’S HOW OUR MARRIAGE WAS SAVED Shabbos candles. Even the One day, a religious young man walked into the restaurant with mashgiach, a Poilishe Chassid and an older woman who did not look religious. Lia immediately a mekurav to Chabad, does mivtza realized this was a baal t’shuva and his mother and she noticed that t’fillin with owners of neighboring the mood was very tense between them. The young man went out stores. somewhere and the woman seemed to want to unburden herself. When you combine business She told Lia about how hard it was for her that her son had with mivtzaim, everybody benefits. become a baal t’shuva. When she learned that Lia is Lubavitch she For Shlomo and Lia, every Yom said that it seemed to her that those who became baalei t’shuva Tov is a reason to give their through Chabad treated their families differently. The discussion employees a Judaica gift, whether went on to Chabad’s approach and then her son appeared and said: it’s a book of stories of the Rebbe, “I greatly admire the Lubavitcher Rebbe but I cannot understand a pushka, etc. On special dates the your belief that the Rebbe is Moshiach and about writing to him employees have outings They visit with the Igros Kodesh.” Ascent and the gravesite of the Lia suggested that he write to the Rebbe himself. The letter he Arizal, the Kosel or Kever Rochel. opened to in the Igros Kodesh was in Yiddish and Lia called Rabbi A barbeque for the waitresses in a Mordechai Garelik to ask him to translate it. R’ Garelik said he’d be scenic area, combined with a shiur available in a few minutes but the young man said, “I came here for in Tanya from a mashpia, is most a hearing at the Rabbinate before I divorce my wife. In another enjoyable. week and a half I will be back for a second hearing and you’ll tell The teenage waitresses appear me the answer then,” and he left for the parking lot. to be as distant from Jewish Just then R’ Garelik called back to translate the answer. Lia tradition as one could possibly be, quickly followed the young man and his mother and handed him the but when Lia engages them, she cell phone so he could hear the answer directly from the shliach. reveals another world: From one second to the next his tense face changed and a smile lit “They come from homes where up his sad eyes. He didn’t say much, just hung up and told Lia: they heard nothing about mitzvos “Yechi HaMelech HaMoshiach.” but when I see their tremendous He did not return for the second hearing and Lia had nearly thirst I ask myself: Why don’t I forgotten about him. One evening a religious couple walked into the dare to do more?” restaurant and went over to Lia. The husband said to his wife, “This Two days before Holocaust is the Rebbe’s restaurant where our marriage was saved.” Remembrance day, she told the waitresses, “Come, let’s take advantage of this day for k’dusha. Bring your friends, your mothers The answer we opened to said: ‘Why and your friends’ mothers and we’ll spend time together.” That share the profit with other partners evening, Lia herself was surprised by the turnout. Dozens of women when you can earn it yourself.’ We and girls showed up, an eclectic group of various ages and hadn’t written about this subject and we backgrounds. A picture of the Rebbe and a Siddur was placed at had no offer of a partnership, but we every place setting and they soon saw that the Rebbe’s advice farbrenged, learned, and davened Maariv with tremendous preceded the offer. inspiration. There is constant turnover MIRACLES AND behaviors and had joined up with amongst the waitresses (they are WAITERS members of the underworld. With girls who are looking for Lia’s guidance the girl wrote to the The brother of one of the temporary jobs) but the deep Rebbe. When she was finished, she waitresses (from an irreligious connection they make at the gave a coin to tz’daka and went to restaurant is ongoing. family) got involved in delinquent
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One day, a waiter went to take a If a shift goes by in which I haven’t plate from the dryer and to the spoken about Judaism and Chassidus, I surprise of all, he found a baggie with a picture of the Rebbe and a feel the evening was a waste. 100 shekel coin, Chanuka gelt from 5745. The plate and the baggie get the volume of Igros Kodesh. discovered a malignant tumor in were still wet and nobody could She returned with a Derech her grandfather, over the kidneys, explain how it ended up on the Mitzvosecha of the Tzemach and the doctors said he needed plate. Tzedek and Lia exchanged it for surgery. The girl sat down to write the letters of the Rebbe. to the Rebbe after making a THE REBBE OF ALL The letter they opened to dealt hachlata to learn Chassidus. The I visited the restaurant to see it with bris mila and included a Rebbe’s answer was: “I was happy for myself. The waiters greeted me reference to a maamer about the to hear about the start of your new with “Yechi HaMelech”. The boy mitzva of mila in the Derech path… As far as what you write with me jumped around and sang Mitzvosecha, the volume the girl about the treatment of your Yechi and little Menachem Mendel had just brought. It also happened father…there is fear that the gave me a Moshiach card with a to be a maamer that Lia was treatment will harm the kidney and picture of the Rebbe. learning at the time. “I asked her, you should consult with another “What do people think of this?” ‘what happened with your brother’s doctor.” I wondered. “After all, your bris?’ but she didn’t remember customers are from the religious anything in particular.” She called ANSWER IN ADVANCE sector which is considered the her mother and asked and her Even in running the restaurant, toughest group to deal with when it mother said that the bris took place Shlomo and Lia receive loving comes to the Besuras Ha’Geula.” on Shabbos and the father insisted guidance from the Rebbe. Says Lia, It didn’t look as though Shlomo on having a certain mohel who was “I often wrote to the Rebbe and and Lia understood my question. an older man. The day of the bris said I was disgusted by this work They said, “When you are sincere was especially hot and the mohel with gashmius and I wanted to go and natural, people accept what was perspiring heavily and injured on real shlichus. Each time the you say.” the child. The bris was called off Rebbe’s answer was to stay, that Lia finds it very important to and afterwards they had to have it this is my place, my shlichus. convey the message, “It’s the time fixed. “Here’s an open miracle that of Geula and there is no need to Lia said, “I knew that if I the Rebbe showed us. Around hide this fact. When people come referred the young man to Bris Sukkos time we wrote to the Rebbe to the restaurant I welcome them Yosef Yitzchok, nothing would about something and the answer with ‘Good evening, Yechi happen, so I made sure to take him we opened to said: ‘Why share the HaMelech.’ They all smile. If there myself. Rabbi Aryeh Amit profit with other partners when you people ask me who the king is, checked him and when he left the can earn it yourself.’ We hadn’t that’s great. We get into a serious room he said with a smile: ‘As written about this subject and we discussion about Geula and usual, the Rebbe is not mistaken. had no offer of a partnership, but Chassidus. If a shift goes by in The boy’s bris mila was not done we soon saw that the Rebbe’s which I haven’t spoken about properly.’” advice preceded the offer. That Judaism and Chassidus, I feel the He was taken to the operating same night a very wealthy looking evening was a waste. room and was given a halachic bris. couple came into the restaurant. “When people realize this is The seudas mitzva that followed One of the waiters came over to us real, that the Rebbe is running the took place at Tova’le with the and said that they wanted to talk to world and we don’t just say it, they members of the happy family. the owners because they were very accept it readily. When you truly On another occasion, one of the impressed by our restaurant and feel that the Rebbe’s being is a waitresses told Lia a sad story. they wanted to become partners. global phenomenon and not just a After her parents divorced in her Even before we went over to them personal one, there is no problem in childhood, she was raised by her to tell them we were not interested, saying Yechi HaMelech and being grandparents, who cared for her as we showed the waiter the Rebbe’s mekasher people to the Rebbe. parents would. Now they had amazing answer.” Rabbi Moshe Yeret, a shliach here
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who was with us during big and you don’t have to be smart; you small events in our lives, told me THINGS THAT need courage.’ several times: you must have a I’VE LEARNED “I related to this and I’ll add connection to the Rebbe. the following: You need courage -When you convince “One day, an old memory in order to forego the exile way of someone to write to the popped into my mind. When I was thinking which accompanies us Rebbe, he becomes mekushar a girl I had a certain health wherever we go, even as we go to -Simplicity and truth are a problem and I vaguely remembered reach out and be mashpia. We sure recipe to reach people that they had asked for a bracha need courage to discern the -“Yechi HaMelech” as an for me. I asked my mother and she ‘lights of Tohu’ in what the Rebbe opener changes the referred me to my aunt, whose said and bring them into our conversation. husband, Shlomo was a sailor. I daily lives while accepting that we discovered that he had visited the and the world are ‘keilim of Rebbe and on that occasion he had Ches Nissan sicha in which the Tikkun.’ asked for a bracha for me. I also Rebbe says, ‘I did my part. You “The avoda that remains to be found out that he had even gotten do all that you can … May there done needs to take place within a dollar for me, a dollar that I be one, two, three who can devise each one of us. Total devotion to received years later in the month of a plan of what to do …’ that the Rebbe, following what the Sivan, the same month in which it really got to me. At the shiur Rebbe said, arousing that spark was given to my uncle originally.” given by Rabbi Rottenstein on which is part of the ‘general inyanei Moshiach and Geula, he soul.’ If even one of us would get EPILOGUE said the following: ‘In order to it absolutely right, we would all be redeemed. Keep it simple and “When I learned the Chaf- understand what the Rebbe said, ‘Yechi HaMelech!’”
[Continued from page 38] (Gemara Sanhedrin 88b). He the morning you felt that here was AS RELATED BY never pushed himself to the front a genuine Chassid who loved and was satisfied with what he was Torah and those who study it, who MEMBERS OF THE given – something we should learn loved to come to shiurim, Gemara, KOLLEL: from. We know the Rebbe MH”M Tanya etc. He especially enjoyed The following was written urged constantly that we live with when they learned the Rebbe’s about him by members of the the verse, “and the living take it to sichos and he had a special chayus kollel: heart” (Koheles 7:2), that we need from the shiur of stories which we “We are shocked at his passing to learn from a departed person’s have in the kollel every day during and don’t have the words to good deeds. the last few minutes. He would describe our friend R’ Zalman a”h. It says in the Mishna (Avos talk about this at home, that he He was outstanding, an old-time 3:10), “Anyone with whom his greatly enjoyed the shiurim and the Chassid, a quiet person who did fellowmen are pleased, Hashem is stories. not fight for his honor and did not pleased with him.” In Yeina shel Every morning he would call consider himself special, but really Torah it explains this to mean that his son Shmuel to make sure he he was. someone whose behavior and was coming to take him to the Whenever we remember him we actions are pleasing to others, kollel and he would show up no are amazed by how this person Hashem is pleased with him – he matter what the weather - even in lived modestly and simply without causes nachas ruach to Hashem by the heat, cold, and snow - because considering himself a yesh and a his behavior and good deeds. of his great love for Torah. metzius to the point that he When you think about this He was mekushar to the Rebbe reached the level of gadlus Chassid, R’ Zalman, who was a MH”M with all his heart and soul, (greatness). The phrase “pashtus beloved person “below” and with true faith. We can only say, v’gadlus (simplicity and consequently beloved “Above,” you “It is a shame over those who are greatness)” suits him. see how this Mishna applies to lost and none can be found like Chazal say about people like him. He was always happy with his them.” May his memory be for a him, “Who is a ben Olam Haba – lot and pleasant with others, and blessing. a humble and lowly person” when he walked in to the kollel in
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obituary
and worked as a shochet for thirty years. At this time there were R SHNEUR ZALMAN hardly any Chabad Chassidim in Toronto and R’ Shneur Zalman spread the light of Chassidus there. He was appointed gabbai of the YEHOSHUA LIGHT A H shul he davened in and welcomed everyone who came to the shul. He saw to it that Chassidishe farbrengens were held on special days in the calendar. He was also treasurer of Lubavitch mosdos in Toronto. During the Shiva, people from Toronto described R’ Shneur Zalman as a baal middos tovos and modest person. He was beloved by all who knew him and was a model of a genuine Chassid. When the Rebbe asked that Kollelim – Tiferes Z’keinim Levi Yitzchok be founded everywhere, he started a kollel in the shul where he davened and gave shiurim to the participants, some of whom were new immigrants from Russia whom he was mekarev. Five years ago, when he was Crown Heights is bereft of one the Rebbe’s father. already well past 90 and he of its elder Chassidim with the For some years he wandered couldn’t find a suitable place to passing of R’ Shneur Zalman Light and learned together with his learn in Toronto, he and his wife last month at the age of 98. R’ fellow T’mimim by the great decided to move to Crown Heights Zalman was born on the fifth day Chassidim R’ Yehuda Eber, R’ where there is an active kollel of Chanuka, 5672/1912, in Yechezkel Himmelstein, R’ Chatshe Tiferes Z’keinim organized by the Polotzk. His father, R’ Dovid Feigin and others. gabbaim of 770. This move meant Liachov was a melamed and he During that period of his life he he lost a large part of his Canadian was his son’s first teacher. was imprisoned for two weeks for pension and gave up life in his own When he turned 12, his father the “crime” of spreading Torah. home. was killed in a pogrom in Polotzk. When he got older he studied When he moved to Crown It was at this time that the mashpia accounting and worked in this Heights he was one of the regulars R’ Avrohom Maiyor and the profession in Moscow. at the kollel and hardly ever missed mashpia R’’ Shlomo Chaim When the war began he fled to a day. Kesselman arrived on shlichus Tashkent, and in 1944 he married R’ Shneur Zalman Yehoshua is from the Rebbe Rayatz. R’ Shlomo Yenta Minkowitz. survived by his wife, his sons Chaim took the young Shneur He was among the Chassidim Shmuel and Berel (Fairlawn, NJ), Zalman under his wing and began who left the country in the daring and his daughters Brenda Eber preparing him for his bar mitzva border-running operation of 1946- (Crown Heights), Minna Rivka and even bought t’fillin for him. 7, and in 1948 he arrived in Rappaport (Toronto), Gitty Later, he sent the boy to learn in Toronto where he joined his Weingarten (Crown Heights), underground Chabad yeshivos in brother Chaim Tzvi, who had grandchildren and great- Nevel, Vitebsk, Snovask and enabled him to get a visa to grandchildren, some of whom are Yekaterinoslav, where he met Canada. shluchim of the Rebbe. Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Schneersohn, In Canada he studied sh’chita [Continued on page 37]
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feature REUNITING PRECIOUS SOULS
By Hillel Zaltzman
flight. He was so amazed by this The father was Jewish, his wife was that he resolved that from that day Ukrainian, and his son-in-law was onward he would try to eat only kosher food. Jewish but his daughter was with her The Jewish organizations who took care of his flight arranged a parents in New York and the husband hotel room for him in Manhattan. He didn’t realize how far absconded. Manhattan is from Brooklyn and since R’ Betzalel told him to go to One summer day in the mid Jewish center, they opened a 770 Eastern Parkway, he decided to 70’s I was davening as I usually do Chabad house and many Russian go immediately. It was a longer in 770 when a Lubavitcher Jews were niskarev to Torah and walk than he had expected but he approached me with a Jew who mitzvos there. kept going, and two hours later he wasn’t religious and said, “This The man I met in 770 followed arrived at 770, where he met me. man came from Russia. Be mekarev this route. After leaving Russia he Having experience dealing with him.” And he walked off. chose to go to Italy and wait there Russian immigrants, in the very I shook his hand and began for an invitation from a Jewish first meeting I try to ascertain talking to him in Russian. In those community in the United States. In whether they are Jewish. Since this days, the only way to get out of Italy he met R’ Betzalel Schiff at the man did not speak nor understand Russia was if one had received an Chabad house, who was greatly Yiddish, I began talking to him invitation extended by a relative mekarev him. When R’ Betzalel about his family. He said he came abroad who requested that the heard that he received an invitation to NY with his mother, his wife, person be allowed to leave Russia to from the community in Baltimore and two daughters, 19 and 17. His unite with the family. Thousands of and was planning on going there, family name wasn’t particularly Jews left Russia with the he suggested that he travel to New Jewish but he insisted that both his “unification of families” excuse. York to 770, “where they will surely parents were Jewish. He said his These invitations generally came help you,” he promised. father was killed in the war but his from Eretz Yisroel and the recipient mother was alive and had had to travel from Russia to Israel. KOSHER FOOD accompanied him. If they wanted to settle ON THE FLIGHT I had occasion to meet with his elsewhere they would travel to Italy mother and saw that she was and wait there for an invitation On the flight from Italy to New indeed Jewish. She spoke Yiddish from a Jewish community York a stewardess told him that and knew basic things that Jewish somewhere in the world and then kosher food had been ordered for women of that time knew. go there. Since this process took him. After decades of religious As for him, he impressed me as months, the Joint rented a hotel for persecution, he found it hard to a simple Jew who yearned to learn these Jews in Ladispoli, Italy. When believe that he was being served and do things Jewish. He became Lubavitchers heard about this new kosher food on an international quite attached to me and every day
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between mincha and maariv he first time I was seeing her and she apartment with their daughters, would come to the shul near my looked like a typical Ukrainian who were also interested in home and ask me to teach him gentile to me! converting. Judaism. I taught him the alef-beis After Rosh HaShana I gently but he wanted to know more and inquired about his wife and whether THE MISSING HUSBAND more. He wasn’t ashamed to ask she was Jewish. He said that she I was very involved in the my then seven year old son Efraim was a Ukrainian gentile “but you conversion process and I spent a lot to sit on his lap and teach him what don’t have to worry because when of time with the family. At some he learned in school. Efraim we were in Italy they gave her a point, I found out that the older became his teacher and taught him Magen Dovid necklace and she daughter was expecting. I was alef-beis and then Chumash, which became a real Jew!” shocked to hear this because I had he translated into Russian. He I explained to him that a Magen thought she was single. But where slowly began to read on his own, Dovid doesn’t transform you into a was her husband? When I asked and his at first frequent mistakes Jew. Being Jewish is something her father he said that the fellow didn’t stop him from continuing to spiritual and is much more she had married back in Russia learn. complicated than that and only could not be included when they One day I spoke to him about after a period of preparation could got their exit visas but he was trying the importance of a bris mila. To she go through a proper to leave Russia and would soon my surprise he told me that conversion. He was taken aback to reunite with them. When I asked although he was born in the period hear that his wife was not Jewish whether he was Jewish, he said, “Of after the Revolution when it was and since he had already gotten a course!” dangerous to make a bris, his taste of authentic Judaism and was It seemed somewhat strange to parents had had him circumcised. determined that he and his family me but since we were in the midst had to live a full Jewish life, he of preparing for their conversion, I greatly desired that his wife convert. A TROUBLING couldn’t delve into the matter more. He asked me to guide him in this. DISCOVERY ON THE WAY In the meantime, his wife and I went to Rabbi Yehuda Kalman daughters learned about Judaism, TO TASHLICH Marlow a”h and told him the story. the laws of Shabbos, kashrus, I invited him to daven with me R’ Marlow said he had to meet with family purity etc. Mrs. Mariasha in 770 on Rosh HaShana. Since the couple to see if they were Garelik a”h guided them in the reading was still difficult for him, I sincere. We arranged a meeting and practice of daily Jewish life. suggested that he start with Shma I went with them to R’ Marlow. After a few months they and be up to the Shmoneh Esrei R’ Marlow asked the woman underwent conversion with R’ with everyone else, but he insisted why she wanted to convert and Marlow and they ran a Jewish on starting from Hodu. It was only explained that in converting she home. Whoever knew the woman when the chazan was almost up to would have to commit to keeping could testify about her yiras Barchu that he agreed to start 613 mitzvos as well as Jewish Shamayim and her sincerity. A few saying Shma. I don’t remember customs. He made it clear that years later she died suddenly, and how much he managed to say but I there was no going back and after was buried in Montefiore cemetery cannot forget the moving sight of she converted she would not be able in the Lubavitch section. this Jew standing and davening to revert to being a non-Jew. She After the conversion process was Shmoneh Esrei for two hours. He listened carefully and said that she concluded, I began thinking about put his feet together and stood wanted to be a part of the Jewish the husband of the older daughter. there, his face buried in his siddur, people. When I inquired about him, the oblivious to the passage of time. I R’ Marlow asked him his age father told me that they heard he was truly envious of him. and when he said he was 45, R’ had gotten a visa and hoped to Then he asked me what else he Marlow said that if she wanted to arrive in New York shortly. Two should say. I had pity on him and convert they could not live together weeks later he told me that his son- said he should rest a bit but he said as a married couple and had to in-law had left Russia but had not that he felt he wanted to make up separate for three months. They yet arrived in New York. for everything he had missed in life. immediately agreed to this As I mentioned, if you wanted to In the evening, when I went to condition and said that starting that come to the US you had to spend a Tashlich, I met him on Kingston night he would sleep at his mother’s period of time in Italy until you Avenue with his wife. This was the place and she would sleep in their
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received a formal invitation but from the little bit of information I had received in speaking to the father and daughter, I had a feeling that her husband had decided to leave her and wasn’t necessarily planning on coming to New York. I contacted my colleagues in Chamah in Eretz Yisroel and told them about the young man and the estimated time that he left Russia. I asked them to find out through the Jewish Agency whether he had arrived in Israel and where he was. A few days later I was told that my assumption was correct. He had arrived in Israel and was in an absorption center in Beer Sheva. The daughter’s plight touched me and I decided to go to Israel and R’ Hillel Zaltzman at work in the offices of Chamah back then convince her husband to return to he said: “What are you talking offhandedly said that he wasn’t her. about? She’s not my wife and that’s Jewish but Ukrainian. not my daughter. We were married I had come from the US to get a A TRIP TO ISRAEL briefly but then she decided to leave Jewish husband back together with You are surely wondering why I for New York and I came here. We his converted Jewish wife but he got so involved. The truth is that I parted ways.” said he was Ukrainian! From my asked myself the same question but I began talking to him and experience I knew that sometimes I felt that I just couldn’t ignore the learned that his parents had the mother is Jewish but the daughter’s plight. I figured that if I emigrated to Canada. I also learned children think their religion is was successful then it was a great that when he found out that his established by their father and are z’chus to build a Jewish home. In wife was going to give birth he sure they are goyim. I decided to the meantime, the daughter gave became scared of the family inquire about his mother and he birth to a girl and was raising her responsibilities at his young age and said, “Actually, my biological by herself without a husband by her decided to go as far away as parents were both Jews, but after side. possible. This is why he had not left my father died, my mother married A short time later I had occasion with his parents to Canada and a Ukrainian gentile and since he to travel to Israel in connection preferred to remain in Israel. Now, adopted and raised me like a son, with my work with Chamah. Upon here I was, giving him regards from he registered me as a Ukrainian.” arriving there I wasted no time and his wife and daughter – oy vey! After carefully inquiring about went to Beer Sheva the very next Although he wasn’t pleased to his family I concluded that he was day. I easily located the absorption see me, he was happy that someone speaking the truth and he was a center which was comprised of ten was taking an interest in him and Jewish man, the son of Jewish caravans. I walked into the main he continued talking to me. I parents. I felt relieved and decided hall and called out his name and a observed him and thought he to do whatever I could to get him young man, about twenty years of looked more Ukrainian than Jewish, back to his wife. age, got up and said: “That’s me, which was an unpleasant surprise. I I explained to him that what do you want?” thought: “Oy, I was hoping to according to Jewish law he was a I shook his hand and said I had reunite a Jewish family but here’s Jew. He told me that he hadn’t arrived the day before from New another goy …” wanted to be registered as a York and I had regards for him I asked him about his Jewish Ukrainian but he hadn’t been given from his wife and baby daughter. As background and whether his a choice. Now that I was telling him I had anticipated, he was stunned. parents had made him a bris. He that he was Jewish he was very When he recovered from the shock didn’t understand the question and happy and said he was proud to be
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a Jew. When I suggested that he be After Rosh HaShana I gently inquired circumcised he agreed immediately about his wife and whether she was and said that he wanted to have a Jewish name. He explained that the Jewish. He said that she was a origin of his present name was Italian and it meant “life” and so he Ukrainian gentile “but you don’t have wanted the name Chaim. I was surprised by this because in Russia, to worry because when we were in Italy “Chaim” was a derogatory nickname for a Jew – when they they gave her a Magen Dovid necklace wanted to deride a Jew they would and she became a real Jew!” call him “Chaim.” Within a short time the people at Chamah had arranged a bris for as though I had succeeded. He and since this was after the Rebbe him and he was named Chaim. said it was easier for him to first announced (on Purim After the bris I asked him how he go to Canada and then to New 5736/1976) that people should felt and he said he was in great pain York from there. I would have also put on Rabbeinu Tam t’fillin, but he was very happy and proud to been more pleased if he went he bought those too. be a complete Jew. directly to New York but that was He eventually bought a sirtuk After the bris I invited him to impossible since he didn’t have all but did not want a hat and only spend Shabbos with me in Nachalas the necessary papers. wore a yarmulke. He once asked Har Chabad, with the intention of My friends at Chamah in Eretz me in some annoyance: “Why do convincing him to return to his wife Yisroel helped him fly to Canada the guys in 770 care if I only and daughter. On Friday night I and I waited impatiently in New wear a yarmulke and no hat?” He spoke to him until two in the York. Each day that he tarried in didn’t understand what difference morning. Aside from the time spent Canada seemed like an eternity to it made. on davening and the Shabbos me. I was afraid that his parents Naturally, I was thrilled with meals, most of Shabbos was would try to keep him there, his progress. You can imagine devoted to long conversations with saying he was too young and had how I felt when Chaim told me him. He maintained that he was too a future ahead of him and why that his wife had bought a big young to have a family and if he should he take on the burden of a Shas for his birthday! went to the US it would take years family just because Hilke They eventually had another until he found a job. How would he Zaltzman told him to … three children and have two sons support them? Boruch Hashem, Chaim and two daughters. Chaim greatly I mustered all my powers of showed up two weeks later and appreciated what I did for them, persuasion in order to describe to met with his wife and daughter. saving a Jewish family and setting him what a good life he would have Since they hadn’t been married them on the right path. He would in America. I elaborated on the according to halacha, we held a always say: “Hilke, I’ll never connections we had there which we proper Jewish wedding for them. forget what you did for me.” would use to help him. I also Chaim was really very bright After he finished his praised his special talents and said and by the time he came to the accounting course he got a good that in America they looked for US he knew fluent English but he job with a bank and the fantasy I people with abilities such as he had had difficulty finding work. Since had conjured up for him that and he could go far there. I I felt responsible for him, we Shabbos in Nachalas Har Chabad explained the importance of family hired him at Chamah so he could came true. He was promoted and life and highly praised his young start earning something. At the became vice president of the wife so as to arouse his feelings for same time he started studying bank! Today he lives in an upper her once again. accounting and was very class neighborhood in New York, successful in this. He also studied close to the local Chabad house, alef-beis and Hebrew. Within a and he and his children daven MISSION short time he was able to daven there and lead full Jewish lives. ACCOMPLISHED! and understand some of the By Motzaei Shabbos it looked t’fillos. He bought Rashi t’fillin
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