1 CROWN HEIGHTS NewsPAPER ~January 16 2009 כאן צוה ה’ את הברכה CommunityNewspaper פרשת שמות | כ' טבת , תשס”ט | בס”ד WEEKLY VOL. II | NO 12 JANUARY 16, 2009 | TEVET 20, 5769 24th OF TEVES: THE HISTALKUS OF THE ALTER REBBE " To the Alter Rebbe, it did not matter if the needy individual was a chossid or not. To him, all Yidden even his opponents were equally worthy of the same assistance." ASK THE RABBI: How Do I Explain Israel’s Actions in Gaza? Page 12 MOLLY RESNICK GETS A REPLY FROM DR. PELCOVITZ ACHOSSID EB HAIM H R C PAGE 9 HALEVI HURWITZ Beis Din of Crown Heights 390A Kingston Avenue, Brooklyn, NY Tel- 718~604~8000 Fax: 718~771~6000 Rabbi A. Osdoba: ❖ Monday to Thursday 10:30AM - 11:30AM at 390A Kingston Ave. ☎Tel. 718-604-8000 ext.37 or 718-604-0770 Sunday-Thursday 9:30 PM-11:00PM ~Friday 2:30PM-4:30 PM ☎Tel. (718) - 771-8737 Rabbi Y. Heller is available daily 10:30 to 11:30am ~ 2:00pm to 3:00pm at 788 Eastern Parkway # 210 718~604~8827 ❖ & after 8:00pm 718~756~4632 Rabbi Y. Schwei, 4:00pm to 9:00pm ❖ 718~604~8000 ext 36 Rabbi Y. Raitport is available by appointment. ☎ 718~604~8000 ext 39 ☎ Rabbi Y. Zirkind: 718~604~8000 ext 39 Erev Shabbos Motzoei Shabbos Rabbi S. Segal: ☎ 718~604~8000 ext 39 ❖ Sun ~Thu 5:30pm -9:00pm or ☎718 -360-7110 Rabbi Bluming is available Sunday - Thursday, 3 -4:00pm at 472 Malebone St. ☎ 718 - 778-1679 Rabbi Y. Osdoba ☎718~604~8000 ext 38 ❖ Sun~Thu: 10:0am -11:30am ~ Fri 10:am - 1:00 pm or 4:37 5:40 ☎ 718 -604-0770 Gut Shabbos Rabbi S. Chirik: ☎ 718~604~8000 ext 38 ❖ Sun~Thu: 5:00pm to 9:00pm 2 CROWN HEIGHTS NewsPAPER ~January 16 2009 The Vaad Hakohol REBBE'S STORY “When one tells a story about his Rebbe he connects to the deeds of the Rebbe” (Sichos 1941 pg. 68) Enhancing Achievement Reprinted from the book To Know Rabbi Keselman once again. With the advice of the Rebbe’s secretary, I consider marriage. I sought the and To Care a thoughtful look, he responded, ‘I Rabbi Hodakov, I wrote a second Rebbe’s advice. Instead of extending think the Rebbe is waiting for you to time. There was still no reply. But his usual blessing for this type of Published and copyright © by Sichos decide for your- a month later I question, the Rebbe responded, ‘Do in English self whether did receive the not pursue this matter at all until Rabbi Yitzchak Vorst is one of the y o u w a n t Rebbe’s answer, the end of the school year, or at least dynamic forces behind Lubavitch to continue which clearly until after the holiday of Shavuos.’ activity in Holland. He is well suited your yeshivah indicated that “The answer surprised me. I won- to the job, because precise tim- studies.’ I should return dered about the two dates which the ing and calculated scheduling are to help build I had already Rebbe had mentioned. What did he ingrained in his Dutch culture. the Dutch Jew- come to the mean by this response? He has also been the recipient of ish community. conclusion numerous “timely” responses when Wondering why “Only later did I grasp the extent that I should corresponding with the Rebbe. It is this answer had of this time frame. In Brunoy continue the obviously not a simple question of been so long (near Paris), there is a well-known course of study culture. in coming, I Lubavitch family called Kalman- I had begun at glanced at the son. Sometime after I received the Rabbi Vorst relates, “World War II yeshivah. So on date of the reply. above answer from the Rebbe, their could not sever my family’s seven- Friday morn- It was the 9th of daughter considered a trip to the generation link with the Dutch ing, I wrote the Elul, exactly two States. Her intention was two-fold; Jewish community. After the trials Rebbe of my years since that to see the Rebbe, and to inquire and tribulations of the war, my father decision. I went first reply which about a suitable match. She debated devoted himself to rebuilding Jewish out to mail the I had received whether to spend the holiday of life here, while at the same time urg- letter, only to while still study- Shavuos in Crown Heights or to set ing the youth to emigrate to Israel. discover two ing in Israel: to her departure date for the end of the When I graduated as an engineer, I days later that continue study- school year. postponed my career, choosing to a letter for me had arrived from ing for at least two years! taste deeper Torah study. I enrolled New York, posted before the Rebbe “That young woman later became in the Lubavitcher Yeshivah in Lod, received my letter. “While I was studying in New York, my wife. It now became clear that Israel. I had another experience with the the time when I was to begin acting “The Rebbe’s reply to my question Rebbe’s ‘expertise’ in proper timing. on my future had depended upon “During the spring, I spent the was clear. He advised me to continue I was twenty-five, and my friends the departure date on her Paris-New yeshivah break in the then small studying for at least two years. The and relatives had gently hinted that York plane ticket.” town of Ashdot Yam, by the sea. I letter was dated the 9th of Elul. learned that a new harbor was being “After an inspiring year at yeshivah in built there. Considering my future, I Israel, I felt that it was time to travel inquired about possible employment to the States and see the Rebbe. at the project. My application was Shortly after my arrival, I prepared readily accepted. Having spent two myself for a private yechidus. My let- months of study at the yeshivah, I ter contained several questions and desired to seek the Rebbe’s advice requests for blessings. I also included Kol Kevudah presents and blessing before making a final a note about my father vwwg, the late decision and signing a contract. chief Rabbi of Rotterdam, reiterating Understanding Our Students’ Struggles “I wrote the Rebbe a letter, but I did a previous requests that the Rebbe On Motzei Shabbos at 9:45 p.m. not receive a response. I consulted appoint an official shaliach to fill the st th with the yeshivah’s mashpia - Rabbi urgent needs of the Dutch Jewish 21 of Teves -January 17 Shlomo Chaim Keselman, who community. To date, my father had Parshas Shemos served as a spiritual mentor to the not received a reply. students. ‘Perhaps the letter was “After responding to my personal A Live Teleconference lost in the mail,’ he suggested. I questions, the Rebbe addressed wrote again. Still no reply. I asked himself to my father’s request and Don’t miss this unique opportunity that has already inspired said: ‘I have not yet found the appro- priate person who both desires and hundreds of mechanchos nationwide. Newspaper is capable of filling this position.’ Guest speaker: Mrs. Chany Feldbrand Community At this point, the Rebbe’s eyes met Founder of Ateres & Beloved High School Mechaneches mine, and he looked at me with a 392 Kingston Avenue broad smile. Brooklyn, NY 11225 Topic: Making Tznius Come Alive [email protected] “Later, contemplating on this yechi- dus, I suspected that the Rebbe was Published & edited weekly by the Vaad Hakohol of Crown Heights. hinting that I assume this responsi- Guest speaker: Mrs. Rivky Friedman bility. I decided to ask the Rebbe if Moshe Rubashkin, Rosh Hakohol Dynamic Tznius Curriculum Coordinator Dr. Tzvi (Harvey) Lang, Chairman this was his intention. The Rebbe’s Rabbi Plotkin, Secretary answer was short and to the point: Topic: Igniting the Spark of Tznius in the Elementary Years Layout: SimplyUnique ([email protected]) ‘Continue your studies.’ All material in this paper has been copyrighted. It is the exclusive property of this newspaper, unless “Months passed, and I concentrated otherwise attributed., and cannot be reproduced without the consent of the publisher. vigorously on my studies. Eventually, Call: 646- 519- 5860 Pin#: 2213 my visa rights were nearing expiry Composition responsibility: This newspaper will not be liable for errors appearing in advertising, beyond and I consulted the Rebbe again. I the cost of the space occupied by the error. Advertiser was debating whether to return to assumes responsibility for errors in telephone orders. Together, we can make a difference. All advertisement designed and prepared by the CH Israel or to extend my stay in the Community Newspaper are the property of the States. All our previous teleconferences can be accessed by calling newspaper and cannot be reproduced without the Kol Halashon at 718- 906 6400 and then press 1 o 5 o12o3 consent of the publisher “I did not receive an answer. Upon January 16, 2009 ~ crOWN heights NewsPAPER 3 The Rebbe's Sicha Parshas Shemos A thought for the Week from Likutei Sichos Volume VI, pp. Isaiah ibid. 1-8 Tanya Chapter 2 By Rabbi YM Kagan that of any other star — all these Exodus 1:1 merit that each be called by its own Genesis 1:26 and see Rashi on These are the names of the chil dren name, as the prophet declares, G-d Isaiah 40:26 Genesis 17:1 of Israel who came to Egypt: Reuven, “ .