1 CROWN HEIGHTS ~February 29, 2008 כאן צוה ה’ את הברכה CommunityNewspaper

פרשת ויקהל | כג' אדר א, תשס”ח | בס”ד February 29, 2008 | Adar I 23, 5768 weekly vOL. i | NO 17 ON A TRIP "The trip to Israel was a dream come true not just for me, but for the 25 women who went." Mrs. Bassie Morris on the Vaad Hakohol - sponsored voyage to the Holy Land • Page 2, 7-8

GEDALIA PROTECTING THE GREAT ASSESTS IN TAXING TIMES Pg. 8

RECIPE: Juiciest roast chicken OUR HERO - PAGES 4-5

Beis Din of Crown Heights CORRECTED 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.39 or 718-604-0770 Sunday-Thursday 9:30 PM-11:00PM ~Friday 2:30PM-4:30 PM ☎Tel. (718) - 771-8737 or 718-604-0770 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. Raitport is available by appointment. ☎ 718~604~8000 ext 39 Rabbi Y. Zirkind: ☎ 718~604~8000 ext 39 Erev Shabbos Motzei Shabbos Rabbi S. Segal: ☎ 718~604~8000 ext 39 ❖ Sun ~Thu 5:30pm -9:00pm or ☎718 -360-7110 Rabbi Y. Osdoba ☎718~604~8000 ext 38 ❖ Sun~Thu: 10:0am -11:30am ~ Fri 10:am - 1:00 pm or ☎ 5:28 6:28 718 -604-0770 Rabbi S. Chirik: ☎ 718~604~8000 ext 38 ❖ Sun~Thu: 5:00pm to 9:00pm Gut Shabbos 2 CROWN HEIGHTS ~February 29, 2008 The Vaad Hakohol

By Rabbi Shlomo Segal eats the egg in a permissible way and not rely on the option of nullifying it. By: Moshe Rubashkin Member of Crown Heights Bais Din Based on the above, this would also Question apply to the chairs. One would not be Regarding the able to handle any of the chairs because case when one it may be the chair that had the candles who has placed on it. Since after Shabbos the original Shabbos candles chair will become permissible anyway, on a chair which it is considered as something which then is consid- is forbidden for a designated time; ered a “ ba se therefore, it is not nullified by being for something outnumbered even by a thousand. I would like to dedicate this issue to Ari forbidden”, and But from the Nodeh B’yehudah Halberstam who sacrificed his life for becomes muktza, (Tinyona, Eben Hoezer chapt. 38), the Rebbe and whose yahrzeit is the i.e. is not to be handled on Shabbos as there is a reason given for permitting 23rd of Adar. From what we know, they cited in Shulchan Aruch (chapt. 277): to handle and use the chairs without were really going after the Rebbe. He After the Shabbos seuda, the worker needing to wait until after Shabbos. He was killed al Kiddush Hashem at the in the house removes the candles develops a new ‘chidush’ in the Halacha young age of 16 in 1994. We can never and places the chair amongst other principle that “Something forbidden forget him, and his legacy will live on chairs, and the original chair cannot and will eventually become permis- forever. Er Zol Zein a Gutte Beter for be identified. Is there any concern that sible cannot be nullified by being out his whole family and for all of us. We one may not handle any of the other numbered even by a thousand.” There is will never forget you. chairs because the original chair may a difference between a food which will be amongst them? later become permissible and an object I would like to take this opportunity Answer that can be used numerous times. to thank the distinguished individuals thank yous which should really being According to Halacha, when a forbid- A food is something that is eaten once. for making something really wonderful going to you. Below is one of them. den object is amongst other permissible Therefore, our sages instituted the happen which never happened before. They have brought all the brochos objects and the forbidden object is not above-mentioned principle because The effects of it will continue forever. they accumulated in Eretz Yisroel and obvious, if the permissible objects are we could explain to the person, “Why Yerushalayim, Ir HaKodesh, back to us Rabbi Shaya and Steryl Boymelgreen greater in number, then everything is do you need to eat it today when it is here in Kan Tziva. permissible. This Halacha is referred forbidden. You have the option of eating Rabbi Hillel Dovid and Suri Krinsky to as “Bitul Brov”, nullified by being it tomorrow in a permissible way, and Baruch Hashem, the JCC rec center is Rabbi Moshe and Brocha outnumbered, and it is derived from the you won’t have any loss.” continuing in full force. Stay tuned for Bogomilsky verse “You should follow the majority” more updates. On the other hand, when we speak (Shmos 23:2). Rabbi Yossi and Chani Garelik about an object that is used quite often, Good Shabbos. Good Chodesh. It But our sages instituted that some- if we will instruct the person not use You have enabled me to make this trip should be a wonderful, simchadike thing that potentially will become it today but tomorrow, the person is a reality and very successful in every week and Chodesh for everyone. permissible cannot be nullified by being losing today’s use of the object. In way. I have received many very special outnumbered, even by a thousand other such an instance, our sages did not say objects. For example, a forbidden food it cannot be nullified. The reason is that which will eventually become permis- we can not say that the pleasure that he sible, because it is forbidden only for derives in using it today, he will have a certain time, cannot be permitted tomorrow?! The benefit that he will have through being considered nullified by from the object in the future cannot being outnumbered. This Halacha is compensate for the present benefit of stated in the Shulchan Aruch (Orach its use today. Chaim chapt. 322:1): “An egg which Therefore, it seems from the Nodeh was produced on Shabbos--one is not to B’yehudah, that when relating to han- handle it and even when it got mingled dling an object, we do not apply the amongst a thousand eggs, because it is principle of, “Something which will forbidden only for the Yom Tov, and eventually become permissible cannot tomorrow it will be permissible to be be nullified by being outnumbered.” eaten.” This can also be applied regarding the The reason for this Halacha is that there chairs--that it is permissible to use all is an option which will render it permit- of the chairs. ted; therefore, it is preferable that one But I found in the Alter Rebbe’s Shul- chan Aruch (chapt.310:19; 498:24) where he writes regarding Muktza. CommunityNewspaper Something that is not food, which is muktza, that was mixed with something 392 Kingston Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11225 that is not considered muktza, is forbid- den to be used because, “Something Published & edited weekly by the Vaad Hakohol of Crown Heights. forbidden for a designated time cannot be nullified by being out numbered Moshe Rubashkin, Rosh Hakohol Dr. Tzvi (Harvey) Lang, Chairman even by a thousand.” The same is cited Rabbi Plotkin, Secretary in the Chasam Sofer (chapt. 156) that Leyout: SimplyUnique ([email protected]) this principle of applies also to objects All material in this paper has been copyrighted. It is the that are used quite often. exclusive property of this newspaper, unless otherwise attributed., and cannot be reproduced without the consent of the publisher. Based on the above, we can not differen- tiate between food which is used once Composition responsibility: This newspaper will not be liable for errors appearing in advertising, beyond the cost or any object which is used numerous of the space occupied by the error. Advertiser assumes times, and they are all forbidden as responsibility for errors in telephone orders. All adver- muktza, because eventually they will tisement designed and prepared by the CHCommunity Newspaper are the property of the newspaper and cannot become permissible. be reproduced without the consent of the publisher February 29, 2008 ~ crOWN heights 3 From Shedlitz to Safety

many Jews tried to cross the river and A Young Jew’s Story of Survival enter Russian territory. Though Jews generally despised the Russians and their Communist rule, many correctly By Rabbi Shimon Goldman torture was performed in the cruelest the community building. In those realized that living under German possible manner. The soldiers shaved days, every store had two doors — one command was far worse. Exerpted from the book with the author’s these beards in all sorts of shameful opening to the street, and the other permission ways, by shaving off only half the beard leading into to the back courtyard. On One day, I heard that Rabbi Eichenstein or great clumps of hair. (Nonetheless, Sundays — when trade was officially had decided to try crossing the river Continued from last week not one Jew shaved his beard off upon prohibited — many storekeepers kept along with the Tzukers, a prestigious returning home.) the front door locked and the back door Gerrer family living in Shedlitz. The A Fearful Festival open. This way, people could sneak into rav even chose the exact date he would I remember when my father came the store via the back courtyard and buy attempt to enterR ussian soil. Benzion That night, the eve of Rosh Hashana, home, broken and shattered by the the things they needed. Tzuker — the father of the family we davened at home. Most people felt grueling tasks forced upon him. Rabbi accompanying the rav — had many apprehensive about leaving their homes Eichenstein became physically ill from This particular store sold kitchenware children, all energetic and capable. I at night, but the next day hundreds of the trying ordeal and was confined to and other utensils. The German officers remember his three sons: Yehoshua, people made their way toward their bed. He lay in the community build- were keenly interested in getting their Leibel and Yudel. Yudel was the most respective synagogues. Our rav at the ing — the “Gmeina” near the roads hands on the merchandise inside, but talented of all the children. He was a time was Rabbi Eichenstein, popularly leading to Warsaw — weakened and both doors were locked. As part of their Chassidic boy who was a keen Torah known as the “Chodarov Rav” for his dishonored by the menial tasks he efforts to gain entry into the store, the student, and he also had quite a grasp rabbinical stint in the city of Chodarov. performed and the public embarrass- officers walked into the building and of worldly matters. Yudel even owned He sent messengers to every synagogue ment he experienced. began searching the building. Soon a small bank, and people gossiped in town, announcing that the prayers they found myself, Rabbi Eichenstein, that he owned half a million coins in I sometimes accompanied my father would not start until the authorities and an older girl from Beis Yakov. The foreign currency. Though they did not when he went to visit Rabbi Eichenstein. granted permission to bury the many Germans began asking us all sorts sport beards, the Tzuker children had My father was very close with the rabbi Jews killed during the bombing. Their of questions about the store, trying Jewish features, and they wore the and I often played with theE ichenstein corpses still lay buried under fallen to get informa- traditional hat. From the entire family, houses and buildings. tion about how only Yudel had the courage to escape to get in. “I know with the rav. Thus started a most unusual Rosh who the owner Upon hearing about this plan, I too Hashana. Instead of prayers and tears, is,” I said. “If you decided to escape. I approached Rabbi the congregation put their siddurim want, I can go and Eichenstein and he gave his immediate away and began walking through the ask him for the approval, but my parents were not too city, pulling Jewish bodies from build- keys.” thrilled when they heard my daring ings destroyed by the bombing. They “We’ll do it dif- idea. “How can you do such a thing?” combed the devastated neighborhoods, ferently,” they they asked in fright. “We can’t let you trying to locate the Jewish corpses. Oth- answered cru- go. You have no relatives in Russia; no ers went to bring horses and wagons in elly. “You stay one will look out for you. You don’t even order to bring the deceased for burial. here with us and have any money. How do you expect just tell this girl to live?” It took many hours, but finally the job where the owner was done, and it was time to begin Bug River Bridge nr Treblinka Yet, despite their objections, I resolved lives. She will go the Rosh Hashana prayers. The entire children. During one of our visits, Rabbi to go. I was never a rebellious child and I get us the keys while you stay here Jewish community headed by Rabbi Eichenstein made an observation that did not enjoy contradicting my parents, as “ransom.” If she comes back soon, Eichenstein left the city streets and aptly described our frightful situation. but I felt a powerful inner force urging you’ll go free. If she doesn’t, we’ll take began walking back to the synagogue, “O enemy, your ruins are [gone] forever me to get out of German territory if I care of you.” when they suddenly experienced the (Psalms 9:7),” he said. “Even when the expected to survive. Thus, I formulated true colors of our “courteous conquer- foe is vanquished and the war is over, a plan. I became very frightened by this omi- ors.” The Germans rounded up the Jews the destruction brought on the world nous threat. I already knew that the On the day we planned to leave, I got up and forced them all to march toward the — and particularly the Jews — will be Germans were capable of terrible as usual and packed “all” my belongings main marketplace. Once they arrived, everlasting.” The wise words of the rav atrocities and I hardly dared to imagine for the trip. My entire fortune consisted the Jews were forced to participate in stayed with me for a long time. what they planned to do with me. I gave of a second shirt, which I wore over all sorts of distasteful chores while they This encounter with the Germans the girl detailed instructions where the only other shirt I owned. After my endured a barrage of humiliations and brought many people to the realization the storekeeper lived and she ran out, father left the house, I accompanied my curses from the German soldiers. that our “courteous conquerors” were leaving us alone with the S.S. officers. mother outside, ostensibly to stand with hardly human beings at all, never mind The minutes passed with maddening her in the long lines of people waiting The Germans then turned their atten- courteous. Some of us had heard all slowness. I prayed to Hashem that for a loaf of bread. I could feel my heart tion to the rabbi. They undressedR abbi sorts of nightmarish accounts from the girl would find the right house pounding furiously as we joined the Eichenstein in front of us and put his other places, and those who preferred and return with the keys. Indeed, she end of the line and waited there, with rabbinical garments on a clean-shaven to ignore these reports now experienced soon returned with the right keys and more people arriving with every pass- teenager. Then they took the clothes this inhuman treatment firsthand. opened the store for the S.S. officers. ing minute. And then, the second my of the teenager and forced the rabbi to Even those ignorant about the ongoing They took whatever they wanted and mother turned her head away, I let go wear them. “There you go rabbi!” they war suddenly became aware of our left peacefully, but the experience shook of her hand and bolted. I ran and ran, shouted maliciously. “What marvelous uncertain future. Although I was a me to the core. I now knew for certain out of the line, out of the neighborhood, new clothes you have in honor of the young boy, I truly understood that we that I had to escape German rule, and out of Shedlitz. new year!” could not expect to survive under such the sooner the better. There simply was It was terribly degrading for the entire cruel captors. no other choice. As I approached the community build- community to see our esteemed rabbi ing where the rav still lived, I could During one of my visits to Rabbi My Great Escape shamed in such a way, and this was see the rav and Yudel Tzuker putting Eichenstein, I had a close encounter only the beginning. Next, the Germans together some parcels containing the with the German beasts, one that After the Germans conquered Poland, instructed the Jewish population to barest necessities. They finished their almost ended in tragedy. As mentioned they divided the country between start sweeping and scrubbing the final preparations within an hour after previously, the community building themselves and Russia, using the floor of the marketplace. After forcing I arrived, and we set out for the Bug stood near the road that led to Warsaw 480-mile-long Bug River as a temporary everyone to participate in all sorts of River, hoping and praying we could and, as I looked out the window one divider. The land on one side of the river degrading labor, the Germans began make it safely across the river and into morning, I could see a group of S.S. belonged to Germany, while the Rus- their next sport: shaving off every Russian territory. officers standing around a store near sians controlled the other side. Many, Jewish beard. Even this humiliating 4 CROWN HEIGHTS ~February 29, 2008 Our Heroes

He was strongly impressed with Reb tory. He was born in 1945 to second Reb Gedalia Shaffer Gedalia’s personality and shocked generation Americans, proud of their when he saw the many seforim that Yiddishkeit and supporters of Torah In honor of the Yahrzeit, 17th of Adar Reb Gedalia, “He was probably the only filled the room.W hen Rabbi Gansburg organizations. Some people assumed yungerman in the shechuna to whom returned home, he told his wife, “This that Reb Gedalia was a Baal Teshuva, (Based primarily on an article in the Kfar we personally delivered the new issue is for Bronya.” and when asked if he was, he would Chabad written by YL Ceitlin) of the Haoros Ubiurim. Although he answer, “I have not yet done Teshuva.” himself did not write hoaros, we felt (1946 -2007) Bronya or Bryndel Slavin was born in But can you find a Chossid that has in that he needed to see it. He would Paris. Her father, Hachossid Reb Yosef his youth studied Likutei Torah with receive his copy on Friday, review it Rabbi Michoel Seligson Chaim, escaped with his family from his grandfather? His grandfather, Reb completely, and on Shabbos he would Russia. He was present in Paris in 1947 Yehuda Leib Frank, arrived in the ask and comment on the contents of the To write about Reb Gedalia is not an when the Rebbe met his mother, the United States as a child, and his father Haoros. I valued him as a ‘Baal Habos’ easy task. Many people in the com- Rebbetzin Chana, after she leftR ussia. was a Chossid of the Tzemach Tzedek. whose whole essence was Torah.” munity described him as a ‘Baal Habos’, He later established the Lubavitch Bais Before Reb Gedalia and Bronya’s working to support his family, whereas Rivka in Montreal. wedding, regarding Reb Yehuda Leib, Seforim on the bookshelves his main interest in life was studying the Rebbe commented, “He is a Chas- Torah. Reb Gedalia was a person who, “There was not one thing that he did sidisher Yid.” “Everything you see here is him,” com- by example, taught people the value not know, and with all his knowledge, mented his wife Bronya who sat with of time. He conducted himself as a he didn’t show any arrogance,” she said, Reb Gedalia felt very close to his her oldest son, Yosef. Bronya, a gracious Baal Midos par excellence and kept referring to the Reb Gedalia’s picture on grandfather. Once, his grandfather was and aristocratic individual, represents religiously to a structured schedule. the table. It is interesting to note that in hit by a car while on his way to shul. He the Chassidic-Orthodox perspec- Sitting at the computer and waiting for the picture, which was taken at a wed- asked the driver to take him to shul so tive at conferences and symposiums, the program to load, he would have a ding, Reb Gedalia is studying a sefer. that he shouldn’t be late for davening. speaks at Chabad Houses on topics sefer in front of him, so as not to waste People would always see Reb Gedalia After davening, he went to the hospital of family purity and married life, and even a minute or two of time. looking into a sefer while walking in with cuts in his lungs. counsels individuals and couples. She the street, just as he did at a wedding is a resident scholar for AskMoses.com One of the articles published after his or other events. Reb Gedalia studied in Yeshivas Achei and Chabad.org. petira described him in this way, “Shaf- Tmimim of Dorchester, founded by the fer was not famous, although he was Rabbi Noson Gurary, the Shliach in Buf- Previous Rebbe. He also befriended Every new published sefer found its beloved by all. He was not a mashpia, falo recalled Reb Gedalia, his chavruso the Rabbonim Gaonim, Rabbi JB way to him. One of the big seforim although his advice and way of life Soleveitchik and changed the lives of many. He lived Rabbi Mordechai in Crown Heights and was not a rich Savitzky. person, but his house was always open to the stream of visitors that enriched Rabbi Chaim Melul, his life, and the countless seforim a Shliach in France that ignited what was viewed as an and married to Reb intellect without boundaries.” Gedalia’s sister, recounted, “My A Library in the House father-in-law Reb Michel Shaffer was The many seforim in the Shaffer home the honorary presi- always attracted the attention and dent of the Yeshiva. interest of visitors. The wall-to-wall, Gedalia, the oldest, ceiling to floor bookshelves loaded had an influence on three rows to a shelf with new and old the whole family and seforim; the common denominator was very serious. He of all them was that the owner of the did not sleep much, house studied them. learned a lot, and prayed seriously. Although by nature a quiet person, When I would trans- Reb Gedalia was a dominant presence distributors in Boro Park would make after their respective weddings: “He late Kehot Seforim into French, he in his family. Family members would a stop at Reb Gedalia’s house to deliver was a dear young man, outstanding, always gave me sound advice. When awaken daily to the sound of Reb newly published seforim. an inward person, delicate and very he was asked about a certain topic, he Gedalia studying Gemoro starting at spiritual. I think he was above most would answer that he wasn’t familiar 5:30 A.M. By 6:30 he was already pres- “We once estimated between eighteen people. He involved himself not only with the subject but would answer ent at the first minyan of the Skverer and twenty thousand seforim. We do in studying but in spirituality. This when pressed. He was an expert and shul on Kingston Avenue or at the Bais not have an exact figure and do not is what the Rebbe wants, that people a profound thinker. When he would Binyomin Shul. One of the members know where all the seforim are located. should interest themselves in G-dliness visit different sites around the world, of the shul recalled that Reb Gedalia Gedalia actually knew every sefer or at and the intention of G-d. He was not in he would study them not as a tourist would put on Tefillin with some of least the topic of the sefer. He evaluated this physical world.” but as a philosopher. For everything, he the people who collected Tzedoko. old and rare seforim and manuscripts found a source in Torah. Not everyone Reb Gedalia would give each of them but did not collect them. For him, For the people of the community, is able to reach his level. He was one a dollar so that they would return the seforim were not just for the appear- including the ones who knew him, of a kind.” next day. ance but for knowledge. There was no Reb Gedalia Shaffer was a puzzle such concept as a sefer not being used. whose solution will forever remain AfterR eb Gedalia’s wedding, he wished Before he left for work, Reb Gedalia We have seforim that are unknown to concealed. Reb Gedalia was a blend of to study in the Kollel. TheR ebbe agreed would speak with his sons and daugh- us that people still come to use for the many different factors. He was a worldly on the condition that it would not inter- ters. He would also review the many research purposes.” person but was particular about taking fere with his studies at the university. newspapers and publications that he his children to the Rebbe’s Farbrengens TheR ebbe inquired about mathematics subscribed to. His home was also a The seforim and their contents are what on Shabbosim. This included summer although Reb Gedalia was studying center for the distribution of charity on brought about the shidduch of Bronya Shabbosim when many people left the practical physics. He intended to delay Sundays and weekday evenings. and Gedalia. When Reb Gedalia was city. After the Rebbe would conclude these courses for six months, but the in the doctoral program in physics and the Maamor, Reb Gedalia would tell Rebbe advised him not to; rather, to The Gaon and Chossid HoravA vrohom mathematics at Princeton University, his cousin which earlier Maamor the complete them, graduate with flying Gerlitzky, one of the Roshei Yeshiva in Reb Hershka Gansburg A’H, on a mis- Rebbe this Maamor on. colors, and attain a reputation in this Oholei Torah who also publishes the sion for the Lubavitch Youth Organiza- field. He studied in the Kollel for half “Haoros Ubiurim”, commented about tion, visited his room in the dormitory. Reb Gedalia had an interesting his- of the day. One day, he was approached February 29, 2008 ~ crOWN heights 5

well researched and well sourced. He Legal Scholar and Rabbi to Rabbis Passes Away at 79 had an incredible knowledge in Jewish law.” By Dovid Zaklikowski – two youngest children to learn in stein delved into his studies with other the Rebbe’s newly-opened Lubavitch American students. Encouraged by “He approached every issue with truth Associates of Rabbi Zelig Sharfstein, yeshiva. the Rebbe, he took part in New York’s and seriousness,” added Rabbi Nochum the chief rabbi of Cincinnati, Ohio’s Release Time program, which allowed Kaplan, director of the Central Com- Sharfstein’s father once asked the Rebbe Vaad Hoir rabbinical authority who yeshiva students to teach public school mittee of Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbis for a blessing that his children would be died on Monday, remembered him students about Judaism for an hour each in the United States and Canada, who accomplished in their Torah studies, as a brilliant authority on Jewish law week. In 1947, he traveled with two would speak to Sharfstein several and the Rebbe responded, in Yiddish, who spent hours each day responding other rabbinical students to the Catskill times a week. “He was somebody who that for that, he couldn’t give a blessing: to questions from around the globe. Mountains resort area to spend a month was able to see past all the extraneous “They need to want [it], and place the Sharfstein, a New Yorker by birth, teaching vacationers about Judaism. things that cloud an issue, to see the effort on their own.” was 79. heart of it. According to accounts, Sharfstein lived In the late 1940s, he and other rab- Born Ezriel Zelig Sharfstein on Man- the Rebbe’s exhortation. binical students assisted the Rebbe’s “He took upon himself things that hattan’s Lower East Side in 1928, his son-in-law and the future Rebbe, others were scared to take upon them- father, Avraham Zev Sharfstein, was a Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, selves,” added Kaplan, who noted that Latvian immigrant who served as the of righteous memory, in preparing he responded to thousands of requests, unofficial rabbi in NewY ork City’s first several volumes of Chasidic thought many from lay people all around the Lubavitch synagogue. for print. world.

Trained as a ritual slaughterer, Sharf- Sharfstein received his rabbinic ordina- “He was always available,” said Rabbi stein’s father came to the United States tion in 1952, and at the instruction of Zalman Wolowik, co-director of in 1911 and lived a modest life. After the Rebbe, he expanded his learning Chabad-Lubavitch of the Five Towns his spouse suddenly passed away, in Jewish law. He later taught in the in New York. “He understood right to he married Esther Rutman, a Polish Lubavitch schools in Bridgeport, Conn., the core of every issue.” immigrant, in the mid-1920s. and Pittsburgh, Pa., until the passing of his father in 1954, when he returned to “I never heard a word from him that It was his mother’s family who intro- Brooklyn. was not true,” said Kaplan. “If he wasn’t duced Sharfstein’s father to Chasidism, sure about something, he didn’t give which her brother-in-law, Isser Yaffe, A few months later, Sharfstein married an answer. would study with him every Shabbat Reba Kazornovsky and was hand picked morning before prayers. In one of his When he was 11, his father sent him by Rabbi Eliezer Silver, chief rabbi of “He was not afraid to engage people visits, Rabbi Ezriel Zelig Slonim, a trav- and his brother Mottel to spend the Cincinnati, to teach in the city’s Jewish when someone questioned him on what eling emissary of the Sixth Lubavitcher High Holidays at Lubavitch World Day School. In 1964, Silver, then the he said,” he added. “He was always will- Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneer- Headquarters in Crown Heights. The president of the Agudath HaRabbonim ing to explain what his sources were.” sohn, of righteous memory, saw the pair brother related many years later in an and one of American Jewry’s foremost learning, a novelty in a country then interview with Jewish Educational leaders, promoted him to principal. “He was a very humble person,” said considered by the Jewish world to be Media that the experience left a great Balk. “He did not show off what he treif, or not kosher. impression on them. Following Silver’s death in 1968, knew, he wouldn’t flaunt his learning. Sharfstein took over as chief rabbi But you asked him something, and sud- Slonim wrote to the Rebbe about “I was amazed when I saw Rabbi Avra- of Cincinnati’s Vaad Hoir, a posi- denly his vast knowledge came out. the “wondrous sight,” and the Rebbe ham Ziskind praying,” said the brother. tion he filled until his last day, with later began a correspondence with “He stood for the [the silent standing the encouragement of Rabbi Moshe “He was a rabbi to rabbis. [His passing] Sharfstein’s father. When he visited the prayer] for an hour and a half. I stood Feinstein, one of modern Jewry’s most is a great loss to our community.” United States in 1929, the Rebbe ate the for the [prayer] for about five minutes influential halachic decisors. Feinstein fowl slaughtered by the father. and was very exhausted, [but] he stood held Sharfstein’s command of Jewish Sharfstein is survived by his wife Reb- there for a very long time. law in high regard. betzen Reba, his children Rabbis Zevi Years later, the Rebbe escaped from war- and Mendel of Brooklyn, NY, and his torn Poland and moved to the Crown “I could not believe that there should “I do not remember having a subject daughters Esther Gutnick of North Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, be another Jew that could pray like matter for which he did not have an Bondi, Australia and Shiffy Landa of N.Y. Sharfstein’s father, despite his [that].” answer,” said Rabbi Hanan Balk, St. Louis, MO. advanced age, frequently walked on Decisor in Jewish Law chairman of the Rabbinical Council of holidays to the community from his Reprinted with permission from Chabad.org. Cincinnati and rabbi of the Golf Manor Lower East Side home. He sent his During his time in the yeshiva, Sharf- Synagogue. “[His answers] were always

Reb Shaffer respect for him.” Torah. Anyone who knew my father Reb Shimshon on Purim. Despite his knew that he never rested.” knowledge and the fact that he was an by Russian academic colleagues with Over the course of the years, Reb eloquent speaker, he usually remained a mathematical problem. It took him Gedalia met with professionals in On the Shabbos before his trip, Reb on the sidelines and kept silent. A a month to complete the research, and many different fields. His lifestyle as Gedalia studied his usual shiurim, photographer recorded Reb Gedalia he then understood why the Rebbe a religious person in general, and as a including the sefer Akedas Yitzchok sitting in the Stock’s house listening to had inquired about mathematics in Chossid in particular, left them with on the Torah. the conversation amongst the people. particular. a positive impression and a strong This would be not only his last picture, feeling for Judaism, Chassidus, and On Purim, directly after Shabbos, the but one of few pictures that are left of Reb Yosef Shurpin, his business part- the Rebbe. house was full of people collecting him. Over the course of the years, he ner, described Reb Gedalia, “He was Tzedoko. “He was a generous person refused to be photographed. Speaking sparkling, to say the least, and knew The last tractate that Reb Gedalia who not only wrote the check but in public and attracting attention were how to work with people. In difficult studied was Moed Koton. He had interested himself in the welfare of alien to his personality. times, he acted as a diplomat and tried completed the Talmud two times. the person and the reason that the On Wednesday, the 17th of Adar, the to settle everything. He knew what The tractate concludes with the verse, person was collecting money,” said a bitter news arrived that Reb Gedalia’s to say and was able to relate even to a “Torah scholars do not have peace in the family friend. Every person was seen life had been cut short. A close friend child. He used to say that everyone had world to come.” Reb Gedalia’s son adds, by him as a whole world and received noted that on this day in Jewish his- an expertise in a certain field, and we “We think that Torah scholars do not his full attention and concentration. tory, Reb Yosef Karo completed the could learn from him. The non-Jewish have rest in this world also, because they Reb Gedalia managed to console Shulchan Aruch. Reb Gedalia was truly clients loved him and had a special are constantly studying the everlasting the Stock family at the passing of Continued on page 15 6 CROWN HEIGHTS ~February 29, 2008

Israel Trip February 4-11, 2008

Tuesday, February 5 supervisor who was not frum told him, tons) and discussed how it was car- a red artistic structure over the kever, “I want you to metaher (to clean up/ ried there. The stones in the Kosel fit symbolic of a flame. I suppose there The Kosel, the southern wall excava- to purify) this area.” Shefer said to his perfectly into each other and are exactly are fourteen points. tions (Davidson Center) and the tunnel soldiers, “Let’s go into the Dome of the meshed, with no concrete. It is “dry tours Meron-Rebbi Shimon bar Yochai Rock. Lets go in and daven Mincha.” building”. To move the stones, there Davening, kissing the stones and just His men said, “We don’t know how were twenty thousand skilled workers We light bonfires here because as he staring at the enormity of the Kosel. to daven.” Eiezer told them,“Just say and fifty thousand slaves.E very stone lay dying, his bed was surrounded by Why is the Kosel holy? Because this is Amen.” When he started, he didn’t is a half inch “in” so that it appears flames. The Malachim made a big cel- the only place where we were allowed know which way to face. This was the straight. We ended on a stone street ebration to welcome him, and so, down to go. We Jews sanctified it. Mincha of his lifetime. Five hours later, two thousand years old. This road is here, we also make a big celebration on Moshe Dayan gave the keys back to a continuation of the road we walked his yahrzeit. Davidson Center. the Arabs. The moment that he gave on in the Southern Wall excavations in Tzefas When we say the Beis HaMikdash, we the keys back to the Arabs justified to the morning. The road is unfinished mean the Herodian temple (this is what them that the area belonged to them. because Hordus died. Tzefas is one of the four holy cities the Mishnah refers to). In the year 324, The Arabs and the Jews play different together with Yerushayaim, Hevron Wednesday, February 6 Tiveria and Constantine goes to war and wins. He games (checkers and chess). We think: and Tiveria. For the last five hundred Tzefas takes the cross and changes the Roman “We are so strong that we can afford to years there have been Jews living here. empire to a Christian empire. He builds give it back.” They think: “You are so We drove east toward the Yam The four elements (earth, water, air and a new city which he calls Byzantine. weak…” Hamelach and the Jordan river valley. fire) parallel the four cities, and Tzefas Yerushalayim has been conquered First we passed the border between is compared to air. We pass a narrow Story: (Why Neturei Karta wear their by Romans, Byzantines, Christians, 1948 and 1967 and saw the bullet holes. alley and hear about “Safta Devorah”. striped coats) In the late 1800’s a group Moslems, Turks and others. Only the We drove through a small tunnel under Everyday she would climb up with two of Ashkenazim came to Israel (until names change. Har Hazeitim, passed a roadblock and cups of tea. Someone once asked her then there had only been Sephardim). entered the Judean desert. We passed why two cups. She answered “Don’t you The Kosel was not part of the Beis The Arabs issued a court order that Maale Adumim, going down until we know? Mashiach is coming today.” HaMikdash. But it is the only wall left all the Jews should leave because of were below sea level. Yam Hamelach standing. Herod (Hordus) was insane. an argument about an Ashkenazic The word “tzefas” means to expect and is the lowest point on earth. We used He was constantly attempting to change Jew borrowing money and not paying to wait. The people here are walking on to travel north through Yericho but nature. He wanted to beautify and it back. The Sephardim argued that air, waiting for Mashiach. Our guide now we use a bypass because of the enlarge the Beis Hamikdash, and he they had never borrowed money and said that when Hashem made the world, danger. We pass date trees. The raw did. The Har Habayis is the size of that they should be allowed to stay. he made all kinds of Jews, including starkness and beauty of the desert eleven football fields. It was the biggest The Arabs agreed. And so, when the hippie Jews. He put them all in a salt lulls us into imagining what it must man made space at that time. Ashkenazim wanted to return, they shaker and sprinkled them around the have been like…. We are fifty feet dressed as Sephardim (the “zebra world. When he got to Tzefas, the lid Southern Wall Excavations from the Jordanian border. There is an striped coats” which only the Neturei fell off. electronic fence, which sends signals to Now we step outside and see what is Karta in Yerushalayim are allowed to the military when touched. There are We briefly learn the history of Tzefas. left. W e are standing on a street built by wear). three levels (red, yellow and orange The Zohar, written by theR ashbi, was Hordus four hundred years afterE zra. There is a mosque in the middle of the meaning under fifty pounds, over fifty written nearby, in Meron. In 1492, It was the market place two thousand Rova (Jewish quarter). The story is pounds or the fence is cut). When there was the Inquisition, a catastrophe years ago. There was an arch,R obinson’s that a few hundred years ago a Jewish a light goes on, all the surrounding for the Jewish world. The few remaining Arch, which connected the lower city boy converted. His mother contributed settlements are notified. Jews made their way to Tzefas. One (market) to the upper city where the money to build this mosque. Today, it man built a textile factory along the Kohanim lived. When the Romans Why is it called the Yarden? Because is used by Jeff Seidel as a Yeshiva. river, and he made money, thus support- destroyed the Arch, it made a hole in “yarad mi Dan. The Gemara says ing the Ari, Moshe Cordovero, Yosef the street which we see. The Leviim Ramban’s Shul that it feeds two bodies of water, the Caro, the Alshich, and other. In 1837, would blow the shofar five times a day Kineret and the Yam Hamelach. The About eight hundred years ago, a ship an earthquake destroyed the city. every Friday enabling the Jews to get Yam Hamelach only takes and does not docks in Israel and five Jews disembark, ready for Shabbos. We see a posuk give back. TheK ineret takes and gives TheA ri, Rav Yitzchak Luria, comes to including the Ramban. He comes to from Yeshayahu engraved on one of back. So it is with people…. Tzefas at age 36 and stays only two and a Yerushalayim and asks his talmidim to the stones . half years. Rabbi Moshe Cordovero was find him a shul and a minyan. This was Rabbi Meir Baal Hanes the chief rabbi of Tzefas at the time. His We see what was the gate of Hulda about the year 1200. At first they could The view of all those candles and the students wanted to write his teachings (three arches). There were strict laws find no Jews. Finally, they heard that Kineret on one side and the mountains down, but he refused. What we have is about how one entered the Beis Hamik- there were two brothers in Shechem, on the other is breathtaking. We are from his student, Rabbi Chaim Vital. dash to maintain order. The steps were and somehow they got a minyan. That in Tiveria, the “tabor” or center of the The Alcabez, who wrote Lecha Dodi, constructed one short, one long so became the Beit Knesset HaRamban. world. This kever is very Moroccan. We lived here. The Ari said that to welcome that a person could not run. Everyone Tzemach Tzedek Shul see many people eating by the kever. Shabbos they should dress in seven entered from one gate and exited from The custom began by a Yahrzeit. One layers of white and go to an orchard another except for the excommunicated We davenned mincha there, and Rav wants to hear as many amens as possible outside the city. We are sitting in what and the aveilim so that they would Deutsch showed us the beauty of the and so they start with “shehakol….” might have been that orchard. He then be recognized and people could say shul. Rochel Dagan remembered that said “Do you want to come with me and “Hamakom yenakem eschem…” the Alter Rebbe’s Igros were there. Hil- Amuka welcome Shabbos in Yerushalayim?” lel, Sara Zalmanov’s son- in-law found Shaar Hulda is blocked and closed, Rabbi Yonasan ben Uzziel. Some say They asked for five minutes, just to tell the sefer and read us the bracha. but there are tunnels behind it. About he never married. Some say he married their wives, but when they came back ten years ago, the Arabs started to dig, Tunnel Tours but very unhappily. But he would not it was too late. clearing the dirt to make more space divorce his wife as it would cause her The Kosel as we know it is 1500 feet. We The Ari never davened in the same for their mosque. They tried to sys- pain. Perhaps that is why his brochos saw a scale model of the Beis Hamik- shul twice in a row. There are two Ari tematically erase every trace of a Jewish are so successful. dash comparing it to the Dome of the shuls. There is something missing in presence. One night they brought 150 Rock (the Dome is tiny in comparison). Rambam the Ari’s shul--a mezuzah. The Torah trucks and dumped all the dirt into We learned about the Even Hashtiya, says to make a mezuzah in your home different dumps. The Jews found out The Shelah and the Rambam are also the foundation of the world. Today the where you eat and sleep. Today when and took the rubble back and until today buried near here. The story goes that Dome of the Rock is said to be under we build a shul, we say that it is also a are sifting through it. the Rambam died in Egypt. They put the Even Hashtiya, and that is why it beis medrash, so we can put a mezuzah the niftar on a camel and pointed it Story: In 1967, the Jews reclaimed the has never been destroyed (the El Aksa up. But this was built only as a shul, toward Israel. The camel traveled and Kosel and the old city. A paratrooper Mosque has been destroyed many so there is no mezuzah. There is a side stopped “here”. We walk between named Eliezer Shefer, one of the few times). We learned about Mamlukim. room to eat with a mezuzah. the fourteen pillars, each named for frum soldiers there, was one of the We saw the biggest stone in the world one of the “Mishne Torah”. There is Until 1948, there were ten thousand men who conquered Har Habayis. His (nine feet high, twelve feet deep, 600 February 29, 2008 ~ crOWN heights 7

Adar Yahrzeits 28th of Adar Women Horav Hachosid 24th of Adar This week we continue with theY ahrzeiten of people who lived in our shechuna. Hatom im R eb By mentioning them, we come to “v’Hachai yiten el Libo”. We learn lessons Mrs. Chana Leah Zirkind Tzvi Elimelech from their lives that we can incorporate into our own. This column includes the Spalter The daughter of Horav Hachosid Reb Yahrzeiten of the 24th of Adar through the 29th of Adar. Yisroel Tzvi, she was nifter in 1995. The son of Horav Men Horav Hachosid Her grave site is in New York near the Hachosid Reb Mor- Hatomim Reb holy Ohel. dechai Gershon, he 24th of Adar Yaakov Yehuda was amongst the Majesky 25th of Adar Habochur Chaim Shlomo Zalman mekushorim to the Rebbe. He was Hakohen Brisky The son of Reb devoted to inyonei Tzedoko Mrs. Miriam Dreilich Chaim Naftoli and generously involved The son of Reb Yosef, he was nifter in The daughter of Horav Hachosid Reb Hertz, he served himself in saving the Jews 2005. His grave site is in New York near Chaim Mordechai, she was nifter in with devotion and who left Russia. He was the holy Ohel. 2000. Her grave site is in New York dedication as the nifter in 1978, and his near the holy Ohel. Horav Hacho- dean in Bais Rivka for twenty years. He grave site is in New sid Hatomim was nifter in 1973, and his grave site York near the holy 29th of Adar Reb Elchonon is in New York near the holy Ohel. Ohel. Rivkin Mrs. Fruma Cherna Gordon Yosef Meir Malek 29th of Adar The son of Reb The daughter of Horav Hachosid Reb The son of Reb Elya Malek, Shmuel Men- Horav Hachosid Michoel, she sacrificed her life to bring he was nifter in 1958. His achem Mendel, Hatomim Reb up her children in the ways of Torah. grave site is in New York he was born in Yekusiel Zal- Her house was open to all, and she near the holy Ohel. Klimovitz in 1924 on the 3rd candle man Levine involved herself in visiting the sick and of Chanuka. He was beloved by his in the Mitzva of charity. She was nifter The son of friends and was good-hearted towards 27th of Adar in 1986, and her grave site is in New Horav Hacho- his fellow Jews. He was nifter in 2003, York near the holy Ohel. Horav Hachosid sid Reb Yehuda, and his grave site is in New York near Hato- he was amongst Leah Mindel Gerlitzky the holy Ohel. mim Reb the distinguished 25th of Adar Moshe Eli- Temimim from Russia. The daughter of Horav Hachosid Hato- yohu Hakohen Reb Yekusiel, with great mim Reb Avrohom Yitzchok Boruch Horav Hachosid Hatomim Reb Blesofsky self sacrifice, brought up his Gerlitsky, she was nifter in 1995. Her Benzion Shafran children according to the teachings grave site is in New York near the holy The son of Horav of Chassidus. He was arrested and Ohel. The son of Horav HachosidR eb Shimon Hachosid Reb Sch- exiled to ten years of hard labor. He Elozor, he was one of the first shluchim neur Zalman, he was Those who would like to have any of their was mekushar to the Rebbe’im until of the Rebbe to Yeshivas Toras Emes. known as a Baal Midos Tovos. He was relatives mentioned in the yahrzeit column, his last day in 1987. His grave site is in He was nifter in 1994, and his grave site nifter in 1989, and his grave site is in please email the name, father’s name, date New York near the holy Ohel. is in New York near the holy Ohel. New York near the holy Ohel. of the petira, and some details to chp5768@ gmail.com. A picture can be included.

Continued from page 6 you got rid of them? Take them back”. Arabs living here. Now there are none. Arba. There is no one outside. D anny The highest point of Jewish Hevron And he did. The stones are here in a The Arabs said that they were going and Batsheva Cohen meet us, and we go is the kever of Menucha Rochel, the small garden. to kill all the Jews. The army would to the Avraham Aveinu shul, a Sephardi granddaughter of the Alte Rebbe. She only send 35 men. The miracle is that Ascent shul. It was destroyed by the Arabs was the Rebbetzin of Hevron, and many the soldiers came. As one of the men in 1929, and they used it as a public people came to her for brochos. Until Rebbetzin Kaplan spoke movingly is davening, he bows low and a bullet bathroom and a place for their goats. recently, it was filled with garbage, but and beautifully of her struggles as an ricochets over his head (we see the Professor Tauber came from Russia with the help of Professor Tauber and almanah, and we all spoke. One story: hole). and was arrested for trying to clean it. other Lubavitchers, it was cleaned up. A woman came to the Besht on Motzei Most of the Jewish community here Danny Cohen has a beautiful relation- Abuhov Shul Shabbos crying that she had no money was Sephardi. The Ashkenazim came ship with the soldiers. They hug him, for her daughter’s chasunah. TheB esht Yitzchak Abuhov dies in Spain, and after the earthquake in Tzefas. The two and we saw one of them kissing his asked how much she needed and she his talmidim come to Tzefas. One has communities had difficulty davenning hand. The Cohens usually have 40-50 told him $700. The Besht turned to a dream, and Rav Abuhov comes to together, so they would take turns. soldiers every Friday night. We heard his talmidim and said “Put your hands him, saying: “The Goyim are coming The Mittler Rebbe’s shul was bought about Beis Hadassah and about Sara in your pockets, and put your money to Toledo and will take over my shul. 180 years ago. It was the first Chabad Nachshon. About thirty years ago, on the table. There was exactly $700. You must do something.” He has the property bought in Eretz Yisroel. The they tried to resettle Hevron. There are Now what was the miracle? That it same dream night after night. And so Mittler Rebbe collected money, even now about 85 families. There was an was exactly $700? That it was Motzei he builds the shul in Tzefas. There are from poor people, so that everyone emergency meeting and in the middle Shabbos and they had money in their three Aron Kodesh in this shul (one would have the zechus of owning land of the night women and children moved pockets? That knowing it was Motzei is for genizah, one is regular, and one in Eretz Yisroel. The Chassidim moved into Beis Hadassah (men had been Shabbos, they still had emunah--no holds a Sefer Torah written byA buhov from Tzefas to Hevron in 1823 after the forbidden). There was no running one commented or objected and they himself. It was used until one hundred MittlerR ebbe told them to go. Between water and no electricity. The women put their hands in their pockets? years ago. In 1948, the Jews were afraid 1823 and 1929, this was the center of remained for eight months. The men and hid it in a nearby kibbutz. The next Thursday- Kever Rochel and Hevron Chabad. This was where money and would come every Friday night to morning they went to check it, and it people were sent. Some of the Chabad make Kiddush. One Friday night, six We drive through the bypass past Gilo was gone. Finally, they found an old properties are now in Arab hands, wait- bochurim were killed, and after that, with its 60,000 people and past Har man who said, “It’s back in Tzefas.” ing to be redeemed. There is a special the men were allowed to remain. The Homah, and we are out of Yerusha- They said no, but he insisted. And so Sefer Torah from Neve Dekalim in the Rebbe compared these women to Bnos layim. We are crossing a checkpoint they ran back to Tsfas, and there it was. shul. In the other shul, there is an old Tzalafchad. Torah Emes existed here between Yerushalayim and the Arab Maybe that man was Abuhov…maybe. Sefer Torah. The same man who took until World War I when the Turks areas. We daven at Kever Rochel. About ten years ago, someone was reno- it out in fifty years ago has put it back. expelled the Jews. vating the shul. But he started to have Hevron Money for the Mittler Rebbe’s shul There is so much more. I hope each of bad luck. He went to a mekubal and was donated l’ilui nishmas Yocheved Eighty per cent of Hevron is Arab. you adds your own memories. explained what he was doing. “What, Beitelman’s father. Eight thousand people live in Kiryat you took holy stones from a shul, and 8 CROWN HEIGHTS ~February 29, 2008

The Juiciest Roast Chicken You’ll Ever Eat 718.692.2442 pepper with a little olive oil to meld Place the potatoes and onions in your By Jesse Blonder, Director, Center the flavors together. To make, mix the roasting pan and mix together in order of Kosher Culinary Arts & Happy Butterflied Roast Chicken with first ingredients together in a small to distribute the onions evenly. Season Home Potatoes bowl and season to taste with salt and with at least 1 tablespoon salt, pepper Everybody loves a nice, juicy piece pepper. Then add just enough olive oil to taste, 1 ½ tablespoon chopped fresh of roast chicken! But many cooks are 1 2 ½ to 4 lb. whole “broiler” or “roaster” to lubricate the mixture. thyme, and a little olive oil. afraid of making it. How long do you chicken Since we are roasting at such a high To Roast cook it for? How do you know when it’s 4 – 5 Idaho or Russet Potatoes temperature, the seasoning is placed ready? Why does it always dry out? 1 large onion Wipe the skin of your chicken with UNDERNEATH the skin of the 4 cloves garlic, chopped paper towels so that it is completely dry! The key to a moist, flavorful roast chicken. Otherwise it would surely ¼ bunch fresh thyme leaves stripped This will help the skin to crisp.L ightly chicken is to cook it at very high heat. burn. To do so we must first gently from the stems & chopped rub the bird with oil. But you can’t just throw a whole bird loosen the skin from each chicken the zest of 2 lemons (zest is the fragrant, in to a 500 degree oven! The top skin breast and thigh by wiggling our fingers Place the bird on top of the potatoes. yellow part of the lemon peel and can be would burn and the breast would dry between skin and flesh. Then, put a You will notice that the breast naturally removed from the pith, the white part out before the legs & thighs had time to small heap of the mixture on to a small sits higher than the rest. In order to cook of the peel, using a peeler, or a device cook. No! You need to butterfly it first. spoon and carefully insert it underneath evenly, every part of the bird should specifically sold for this purpose called This means to cut the bird open so that the skin of each piece. Slide it off the sit at the same height. To achieve this, a microplane zester) it lies flat (and it’s a lot easier to do than spoon with your finger ABOVE the mound the potatoes underneath the salt it sounds). Once your chicken is flat, it skin. Then, also using your fingers areas that sit lower than the breast. This pepper will cook quickly & evenly. ABOVE the skin, slide the seasoning will raise them closer to the height of olive oil around so that it is spread evenly over the breast. Here’s a great recipe for a simple, butter- Preheat your oven to 500 degrees. each part of the chicken. It may be hard flied roast chicken with a built-in side Place the bird on a rack positioned to get it all the way down to the leg, so dish. The juices from the bird will run To “butterfly” the chicken: in the lower third of the oven. Roast don’t worry if you cannot! down on to the potatoes, keeping them for 45 - 50 minutes, checking every Using a strong pair of kitchen shears, moist and adding amazing flavor. It also For Potatoes twenty minutes or so to see how it’s cut straight down on each side of calls for seasoning the bird between progressing. The bird is ready when, the backbone in order to completely Peel Potatoes and thinly slice using skin and flesh, a great technique for after a fork is inserted in to the flesh, remove it. Reserve for the stock pot or either a mandolin or slicing blade of keeping the seasoning in place and the juices that pour out or “run” are for chicken soup. food processor. It is a good idea to keep preventing it from burning. Enjoy! clear (not blood red). the peeled potatoes and then the slices Flip the bird over, so that it is skin side Questions/comments about the recipe in a bowl of cold water until you need Let rest for 15 – 20 minutes. This is up. With both hands, apply pressure can be emailed to Jesse at culinary@ them. This will prevent them from important. If you carve the bird imme- on top of the bird in order to break the happyhomepage.com. turning red. diately after removing from the oven, breast bone and have the bird lay flat. all of the lovely juices will pour out on The Center for Kosher Culinary Arts Cut each onion in half, lengthwise. To Season to the carving board! @ Happy Home Peel off skin and first outer layer. Then, The seasoning we are using is a mixture thinly slice each half. Carve and serve! 1407 Coney Island Ave. (bet. J & K) of thyme, garlic, lemon zest, salt and YOUR. AD. HERE. EMAIL [email protected] for rates flyer - Chinuch final2:flyer - Chinuch final2.qxd 2/12/2008 4:34 PM Page 1

vWc PROJECT EDEN in conjunction with THE IGUD MENAHALEI HAYESHIVOS OF CROWN HEIGHTS Presents A Parenting Workshop for Parents of children in preschool through grade six Raising Emotionally Healthy Children

Topics: Communicating With Your Children about Personal Safety Monday, March 3, 2008 | 8:00 PM Presented By: David Mandel LUBAVITCHER YESHIVA David Mandel is the Chief Executive Officer of OHEL Children's Home and Family Services. 570 Crown Street (entrance on Albany Ave.) Improving Self Esteem to Promote Educational Success ADMISSION IS FREE Presented By: Benzion Twerski, Ph.D. Refreshments Will Be Served Dr. Twerski holds a Ph.D. in psychology from University of Pittsburgh Every parent should make their utmost effort to attend this event for the sake of their child’s chinuch Welcoming Remarks as the Rebbe states in Hayom Yom (22 Tevet 5703), Presented By: Honorable Charles J. Hynes “…so too is it an absolute duty for Charles Hynes is the Brooklyn District Attorney every person to spend a half hour every day thinking about the Torah-education of children…” The Rebbe’s Message on Chinuch Presented By: Rabbi Ari Raskin Shaliach of the Rebbe to Brooklyn Heights. Happy Children Create Happy Families A question and answer period will follow the presentation. For more information please call (718) 774-6437 February 29, 2008 ~ crOWN heights 9 Parshas Hashavua

Vedibarta Bam ~ Vayakhel

the Jewish people, for the beginning Alternatively, in the merit of observing Mishkan, brought their husbands with of Vayakheil, the ingathering of the Shabbat properly, Hashem sends His them to show that they were giving with exiles. On the contrary, the Jews will berachah into the work done during spousal consent. first gather together inE retz Yisrael, and the week, and the success experienced (ספורנו) afterwards there will be a census. is much more than anticipated and “וכל הנשים אשר נשא לבן אתנה .disproportionate to the efforts בחכמה טוו את העזים” מהתועדות אחרונה של כ”ק אדמו”ר, כ”ה אדר א’,) -The Torah alludes to this fact by tell (תשנ”ב ing us that during the six days “ All the women whose hearts stirred“ ּתֵ עָ ׂשֶ ה “ויקהל משה את כל עדת בני ישראל ” — work will be done for us if them up in wisdom spun the goat’s מלאכה ויאמר אלהם אלה הדברים אשר צוה By Rabbi Moshe Bogomilsky the seventh day (Shabbat) is observed (hair.” (35:26 ה’ לעשת אתם” .properly as a holy day of rest “ויקהל משה את כל עדת בני ישראל” “Moshe assembled the entire Israelite QUESTION: Rashi says, “This was a “And Moshe assembled the entire ( ) special skill, for they spun the goat’s hair עיטורי תורה community and said to them: ‘These Israelite community.” (35:1) ”.upon the backs of the goats “לא תבערו אש בכל משבתיכם ביום ,are the things that G‑d commanded השבת” (to do them.’ ” (35:1 QUESTION: What message does Par- Hashem’s instructions for the Mishkan shat Vayakheil impart to every Jew? QUESTION: The words “la’asot “You shall not kindle fire in any of your do not require that the goat’s hair be otam” — “to do them” — appear dwellings on the Sabbath day.” (35:3) spun on the back of the goats. Why does ANSWER: Generally, the parshi- superfluous? the Torah convey to us the technique yot Vayakheil and Pekudei are read QUESTION: Why is it customary to by which the women spun the goats’ together. Vayakheil, “And you shall ANSWER: “Vayakheil” indicates eat cholent on Shabbat? hair? gather,” points to the unification of all that Moshe made a “convention” of the entities in this diverse world, uniting B’nei Yisrael. It is normal for a conven- ANSWER: In the times of the Sages of ANSWER: The Torah is teaching a them within the domain of holiness. tion to consist of speeches, thoughts, the Gemara there was a group of people very important lesson: When people Pekudei, by contrast, means “count- and resolutions which do not lead to known as the “Tzedokim” (Sadducees). possess special talents it is important ing,” and highlights how every entity concrete results. Hashem commanded They accepted only theW ritten Torah for them to remember that Hashem possesses its own unique importance. Moshe to ensure that the thoughts and and refused to follow the explanations blessed them with these talents so that For every creation was given a unique resolutions shared at this “convention” and interpretations rendered in the Oral they may be used to make this world a nature with which it can serve G‑d. were “la’asot otam” — brought down Torah. Their philosophy was that Torah dwelling place for Hashem. to actual practical results. should be translated literally. According Although the sequence of the two to them, the pasuk “Do not kindle fire Since there were women who were parshiyot indicates that Vayakheil ( ) in any of your dwellings on Shabbat” blessed with the unique skill of spinning לקוטי בתר לקוטי prepares one for Pekudei, Vayakheil forbids one to have any fire burning dur- hair still on the backs of the goat, they “ששת ימים תעשה מלאכה וביום represents an independent service in its ing Shabbat, even when kindled before utilized this skill for the holy purpose השביעי יהיה קדש שבת שבתון לה’ “ own right. This concept receives greater Shabbat. Thus, on Shabbat they would of making a Mishkan, in which Hashem emphasis when Vayakheil is read and sit in the dark and eat cold food. would dwell. studied as a separate parshah. “Six days work shall be done and the seventh day shall be holy, a Sabbath of To demonstrate that we have no affili- (456 ’ ” ) לקוטי שיחות חט ז ע (In particular, the message of Vayakheil rest to G‑d.” (35:2 ation with the Tzedokim and their “ראו קרא ה’ בשם בצלאל בן אורי בן applies to the Jewish people and alludes erroneous theories, we intentionally let חור למטה יהודה” to their being gathered together to form QUESTION: Man was created to food cook on the fire during Shabbat a single collective entity in the spirit of labor (Job 5:7). Why does the Torah and eat it for the afternoon meal. the mitzvah, “Love your fellow man talk about work in a “passive” form “See, G‑d has called by name Betzalel as yourself.” This is possible, because “ ” — “work shall be done” son of Uri son of Chur, of the tribe of The importance of eating hot food on ּתֵעָׂשֶ ה מלאכה all Jews share a single essence; all are — instead of using an active form “ Yehudah.” (35:30) Shabbat is mentioned in the Shulchan ּתַ עַ ׂשֶ ה “truly a part of G‑d above.” (See Tanya, ” — “You shall do work”? Aruch (Orach Chaim 257:8), which מלאכה chapter 32.) QUESTION: Why is it necessary to states that one who does not observe ANSWER: A chasid of the Mitteler list Betzalel’s genealogy? this custom should be investigated for The importance of this service is Rebbe, Rabbi DovBer Schneersohn (the heresy. emphasized by the fact that the Alter second Lubavitcher Rebbe), went into ANSWER: The Jewish people antici- Rebbe, Rabbi Shneur Zalman, the the business of producing overshoes. pated Moshe’s return from heaven at ( ) a specific time. When, according to פרדס יוסף founder of Chabad Chassidism, placed It was soon apparent that his mind ,their calculations, he did not return ”ויבאו האנשים על הנשים“ in the Nusach Ari Siddur the declara- was more preoccupied with business tion “Behold I accept upon myself matters than the observance of Torah they approached Aharon requesting a the fulfillment of the mitzvah ‘Love and mitzvot. Once, when he visited “And the men came with the women.” new leader. His nephew Chur opposed your fellowman as yourself,’ ” at the Lubavitch, the Rebbe said to him, (35:22) them vehemently and was killed by the very beginning of the prayer service, “Feet enveloped in overshoes are com- violent crowd (see Rashi 32:5). making it the foundation of one’s daily monplace, but imagine a ‘head’ sunk in QUESTION: Why did the women activities. overshoes!” bring their husbands with them? As a means of atonement for the sin of worshipping the golden calf, Hashem This is the message of ParshatV ayakheil, The Torah is in favor of people working, ANSWER: Everybody wanted to have ordered the construction of the Mish- that one seek to unite with every mem- but is against the entire person (head, the merit of participating in building kan, for which much gold was to be ber of the Jewish people. Striving to mind, heart, and soul) being completely the Mishkan. Men and women were used. Due to the link between the unite with one’s fellow Jews, will lead immersed in the work. Therefore, even eager to contribute their most valuable Mishkan and the golden calf, Chur, who to the ultimate fulfillment ofV ayakheil, during the six week days “work shall be possessions for this holy purpose. Since died “al kiddush Hashem” — sanctify- the ingathering of the Jewish people to done” (as if it is done on its own), but many women do not have their own ing Hashem — merited that Hashem Eretz Yisrael. one’s primary preoccupation should be income, it is permitted to take only a select his grandson as the architect of Torah and mitzvot. small contribution from them. Taking the Mishkan. A significant lesson results from the a large sum is forbidden because the (משך חכמה) husbands may not agree (Yoreh Dei’ah (לקוטי שיחות ח”א) fact that Vayakheil and Pekudei are read as separate parshiyot. There is no 248:4). The women, wanting to donate need to wait for Pekudei, the census of their expensive gold jewelry for the 10 CROWN HEIGHTS ~February 29, 2008 CHJCC

Call The Emergency Assistance for young children while the parent goes to school or training. Anything CHJCC One of the main goals of the Crown ations, the Family Crisis Intervention that might be considered as providing Heights Jewish Community Council Program is here to assist you. It is not a transformation in your life that car- 718~778~8808 is to help the residents of our com- a typical government program. Most ries with it some financial need could munity to access various government of the time, it is special funds coming qualify for this program. For our elderly CHILD/FAMILY HEALTH entitlements. However, many times in through various channels which help population, sometimes a hearing aid, INSURANCE our daily work, we come into contact the client to pay these extra expenses. new glasses, or some device or appliance with situations and families for whom It may be rent, emergency donations of that might make life more convenient ENTITLEMENT SERVICES the help provided by government food, furniture, or shelter. It may be a can be provided by the program. There Rivka Shur...... ext. 24 entitlements is simply not sufficient. utility bill that got out of hand. It may be is a wide range of possible assistance Our families are large; our expenses tre- home care when a new baby is born. You Eliezer Yarmush...... ext. 30 mendous; our bills are out-of-hand, and will be asked to provide documentation Over the years, we have helped numer- VOCATIONAL COUNSELING & many times we see how the demands similar to the kind you provide when ous families to pay rent or some type of life are becoming more and more applying for a government entitlement of mortgage payment or outstanding SERVICES overwhelming for many families. program. This may include ID and utility bills preventing disconnection Rivka Shur...... ext 24 It could be seniors, young families, Social Security cards for you and your of service. We have also provided sub- middle-aged families who for one family members and proof of your stantial help to mothers in the form of Bela Vilenkin...... ext. 23 reason or another find themselves in expenses such as rent, utility, medical, cleaning help and emergency child care. FOOD STAMPS difficult circumstances. The cause or tuition bills. You will be asked to We are here to alleviate the financial and could be a fire, an illness in the family, provide proof of any emergency if you life stress that sometimes get the best of Eliezer Yarmush...... ext. 30 a disabled child or some other special can attain it. You may also be asked to all of us. To get assistance through this FAMILY SERVICES needs child. The cause could also be provide bank statements. program, please contact one of the case a family simcha, a bar mitzvah, or workers at the Crown Heights Jewish The program can also accommodate Phyllis Mintz ...... ext. 28 wedding. Whatever the case may be, Community Council, (718) 778-8808. special situations where individuals are the family’s resources and budget are Mrs. Phyllis Mintz, Extension 28 AP ARTMENT LISTINGS striving to improve their lives through limited to the extent that not one more Mrs. Rivka Shur, Extension 24 further schooling or training. The type Penina Metal...... ext. 21 penny can be added to it. In such situ- Eliezer Yarmush, Extension 30 CRIME VICTIMS of assistance could include childcare Batia Brandel ...... ext. 22 The CHJCC [email protected] is partnering with the OU (c) 917~618~0279 to create a Galina Pindrick...... ext. 31 job readiness workshop to 718~771~9000 help people FEMA prepare for interviews Fruma Junik ext. 10 and perfect 718~774~3999 t hei r sk i l l s so that they YAM~ Youth Action can improve Movement their chances of obtain- Yosef Kanofsky ing gainful [email protected] employment 718~774~9213 (See Flyer). SHALOM CENTER Even if you are not able Shimon Herz to v iew the workshop live, we will enable individuals or The HEAP Program groups to view Outreach Workers will the workshop f r o m o u r come again to process Heap offices at des- applications at our office on ignated hours. You will not Tuesday, March 4, have to travel to benefit from 2008 this service. @ the Crown Heights Jew- F o r m o r e ish Community Council, information, ple a s e c a l l 387 K ingston Avenue Bella Vilenkin, (corner Crown St.), (718) 778-8808, 9:15 AM - 3:30 extension 23. PM. Please come early -- First come, first served February 29, 2008 ~ crOWN heights 11 Shiduchim

affects the most substances. Metals cor- by gold. The durability of gold and the Vedibarta Bam ~ Marriage rode, tarnish and rust with the passage vibrancy and life of wood were merged of time. Fabrics rot, disintegrate and in fashioning the Ark. Eternity and life become fray, tear, and fade. were forever to be the symbols of the Afew weeks ago in Parshat Terumah we into which the wooden box was placed. Torah. learned of G‑d’s instruction to Moshe Then a third smaller one was made of Gold is a rare exception to this phe- to make the Mishkan — Tabernacle gold which was put inside the wooden nomenon. It is durable and strong, and My dear Chatan and Kallah, you are set- — and all its vessels. Moshe was also one. Thus, the middle wooden box was resists time and decay. It was, therefore, ting out to build your miniature Sanc- told the various materials that would covered with gold inside and out. proper that the Ark which housed the tuary. It will indeed be one in which the be necessary for the construction. This Torah of Hashem should be made of Ark and the Torah are preeminent. But week in Parshat Vayakhel, Moshe has a Considering that the Aron contained gold to symbolize the enduring worth of you must always remember the message meeting with K’lal Yisrael and charges the Jewish people’s most sacred treasure Torah and the eternal values it conveys of the golden and wooden Arks. them with the privilege of building the it is therefore most fitting that gold, the to us. Torah, like gold, is something that Mishkan according to the instruction most precious metal then and highly time or prevailing conditions cannot TheA rk and the Torah within it are our he received. valued even today, should be used to ever change. most precious possessions, symbols construct the Ark. Since gold represents of eternal values. But eternity alone The uniqueness of the Jewish people is the highest concept of value, it is associ- Therefore,K ing David in Psalms (19:11) is not enough. Every generation must its Torah. G‑d selected us from among ated with everything we hold most when talking of Torah compares its contribute its share to imbue new life to all the nations of the world and gave precious and we can well understand teachings to gold and says “They are the Torah, to make our traditions grow the Torah to us exclusively. The Aron the making of two golden aronot to more desirable than gold, than even and expand, and each individual must — Ark — which housed the Tablet on house the Tablets. But why the use of much fine gold.” personally go from strength to strength which were the Decalogue, was the wood in the construction of the Ark? in his Torah study and observance of central and most prominent feature. Wood is of no particular value. Is wood Gold, however, has one chisaron — one mitzvot. We cannot rest on the laurels of a fitting tribute to our most valued and drawback. It is lifeless. Wood has the the past. The Torah is eternity — zahav Quoting the Sages in the Gemara cherished Torah? ma’aleh — the advantage — that it — but it must also be eitz chayim, an (Yoma 72b), Rashi explains that when comes from a living thing, it grows, has eternity which lives. the Torah states that it be made of acacia An understanding of the nature of these roots, produces foliage and fruits. The wood and covered with pure gold from substances will explain this seeming Torah, therefore, is compared not only Torah is a tree of life to those who hold within and without, it means the fol- enigma. Each of these materials has to gold but also to a tree. “It is a tree of on to its eternality and grow spiritually lowing: Three receptacles were made. a particular unique quality and these life to them that grasp it” (Proverbs with it and through it. May you reach The primary one was of acacia wood. two qualities combined are relevant to 3:18). What gold lacks is provided by these heights and be a happy and A second, larger box was made of gold Torah. Gold is durable and strong. Time wood, and what wood lacks is provided fortunate Torah-minded couple.

into making a match. Telephone calls shidduch and everything seemed to Finding A Needle in a Haystack and emails are just a part of it. We may be smooth sailing until one side found never know how much effort a shadchan out the prospective chosson had been By: Sarah Junik reveal any information about a prospec- has put into our case. When there are no married previously. Of course they got tive shidduch or what happens on their Continued from last week tangible results the shadchen could have upset with the shadchan who actually date, to a friend. Even if the friend might made numerous calls but had nothing had been as much in the dark as they An unfortunate habit get offended because they are "kept to offer at this time. It does not mean were. The shadchan is there to make out" this should not influence the boy It has become common for boys and the shadchen ignored you. One may ask things go smoothly, but he cannot do or girl to disclose this information. It is girls to discuss with their peers details why does the shadchan not let me know that if he does not have all the facts. unfortunate that friends feels slighted of the dates they have been on. that they made calls but there was no but it cannot be helped. Where is their Some shadchanim will lead you through results. Please realize you are not the This is certainly forbidden and has no caring for the friend's privacy? Girls from the beginning suggestion to the only person the shadchen is working constructive value. If a bochur or a girl do not realize that this is not another lechaim. Some shadchanim are more on behalf of. If they had to take time feels that someone he/she has gone sleepover secret whispered under the hands off, and unless you specifically out to call you and reassure you that out with may fit one of her/his friends, covers. This is a time when you make ask them to involve themselves more, they are working for your child, they they should approach their parents, a life altering decisions. A serious matter, they will stay on the sidelines. Explain would not have time to work. Until mashpia or some other person who is not something to be shared in girlish your preference to the shadchan. Moshiach comes (Now!) we do not live capable to “redt” the shidduch and have confidences. Clarify whether you wish to have the in a perfect world. them do so in the regular way. To simply shadchan micromanage the shidduch It will help our S/D if we, as parents, gossip about the “dates” one has had is Let us give the shadchanim the benefit or be there only if you call. explain to them how any information pure loshon hora with no redeeming of the doubt. Whether a match comes having to do with shidduchim, either Unfortunately, in many cases we believe qualities. together or not, we should be apprecia- at earlier stages or even during dating, people know what we mean or want, tive of the work that was expended on An inadvertent comment may ruin should not be given out. even when we did not articulate it. our behalf whether we know about it someone’s shidduch, as that boy/ Most of us do not have ESP (Extra There is a much debated Mishna which or not. girl will have a preconceived notion Sensory Perception). We cannot read enjoins one not to gossip a lot with a about the prospective shidduch which In fact, there is a story of Rabbi Levy minds, but we often expect others to woman (“Al tarbe sicha im haisha”). may be quite erroneous and therefore Yitzchak of Barditchev, who would pay know intrinsically what we have not Chazal say the language of the posuk harmful. the shadchanim even when a match requested. Let us be clear, even if we for talk is sicha which is translated as did not pan out for his son. So the might come to repeat ourselves. In the matter of shidduchim, it is most light conversation, not an intellectual shadchanim stopped coming to him necessary to conduct oneself with exchange of ideas or even general practi- Find out at the outset what are the most with offers. When he asked them why tznius and not advertise with whom cal matters. Some commentaries men- convenient hours to call the shadchan, they stopped, they replied that they felt and when one went out. Brocha only tion that the posuk expressively says and then try to keep to those times bad being paid for something that did comes if things are done quietly and ‘HaIsha’ (the woman) and the article unless it is unavoidable. Get back to the not materialize. Rabbi Levy Yitzchak modestly, and this should be especially “the” denotes a wife. So we are warned shadchan with requested information replied to them that every failed match so with shidduchim. not to gossip even if it is just between as soon as you can. was bringing his son closer to his one husband and wife. Imagine how much There is an enormous amount of peer true zivug, so in reality, their efforts Walk a fine line. Do not be hesitant to more we are enjoined not to gossip pressure, certainly among the girls, to on his behalf were bringing the final call the shadchan. On the other hand, among friends and acquaintances. share one’s experiences when one goes shidduch to completion; therefore, he do not be a nudge. out, or to keep best friends “in the loop” Shadchanim had an obligation to pay them. Any constructive comment is welcomed when names are offered as possible Returning to the topic of Be up front with any problems or by the editor. Write to CHP5768 @ shidduchim. shadchanim: impediments there might be. A shad- gmail.com or directly to the author at It is not correct for a girl or a boy to chan told me once he had arranged a [email protected]. Shadchomim put a lot of time and effort 12 CROWN HEIGHTS ~February 29, 2008

The Rebbe’s Sicha: Vayakhel 5749

Parshas Shekalim with those of Israel. And so we have community and said to them, “You may Mattan Torah. 27th Day Of Adar I, 5749 learned: On the first ofA dar proclama- do work during the six weekdays, but In this context we may understand that tion is made regarding the shekalim.’ Saturday must be kept holy as a Sabbath Published and copyright © by Sichos In just as Jewish unity was a prerequisite (Megillah 13b) of Sabbaths to G-d. Do not ignite any English to Mattan Torah, it was also necessary fire on the Sabbath, no matter where In this light, our mitzvah to donate for the Jews to be united in preparation The month ofA dar brings with it several you may live.” half-shekels to the Temple serves as “a for the Mishkan, hence Moshe had to special themes: cure before the illness,” to anticipate After this introduction, the Torah goes gather them in a unified assembly. The “When the month of Adar begins we the miracle of Purim. on to speak of the various items to be “spark of Moshe” in every Jew caused increase joy” (Taanis 29a); donated for the construction of the this post-Yom-Kippur assembly to “On the first day of Adar proclama- Since the shekalim were used for the Tabernacle. take on the same aspect of unity that tion is made regarding the Shekalim” communal daily sacrifices and since prevailed before the Torah was given, (Shekalim 1:1). the Torah is super precise, we can say Why did Moshe preface his appeal for back in the month of Sivan, when the that Purim also has a connection to the Mishkan with a discussion of the What do these themes have in Jews camped “as one man,” facing the sacrifices themselves. It remains laws of Shabbos? Rashi explains: “...to common? Mount Sinai. to be clarified how the joy of Adar is teach us that the construction of the The holiday of Purim has an indirect associated with the shekalim of Adar. Tabernacle did not suspend the laws The common theme of Mattan Torah as connection with the practice of giving Another point to clarify is how all this of Shabbos.” well as the construction of the Mishkan a half-shekel for the Sanctuary. The connects to the portion of Vayakhel is to bring the Shechinah to rest in the Gemara states: A moment’s reflection will engender which we read on this Shabbos when lower world. This means that even in the some serious puzzlement. After all, the ‘It was well-known beforehand to Him we bless the month of Adar. “public domain” of the material world, main topic discussed in Vayakhel is the at whose word the world came into it becomes evident that the world is the At the start of Vayakhel the Torah Mishkan -- the mention of Shabbos being that Haman would one day pay “private domain” of the “One Ruler of relates: seems to be only an ancillary remark, to shekels for the destruction of Israel. the world.” Even in a place of dissention, Moshe assembled the entire Israelite remember not to desecrate the Shabbos Therefore, He anticipated his shekels the unity of the Holy One, Blessed be in the enthusiasm for the Mishkan. If so, He, will prevail. THE SHALOM SENIOR Craftsmen Inc.”, a Manhattan-based it would have been more appropriate to CENTER ANNOUNCES A NEW organization that works with seniors put this reference to Shabbos at the end This requires a solid base of Jewish throughout the five boroughs. Profes- CULTURAL PROGRAM FOR THE of the discussion of the Mishkan. unity. When Jewish souls descend to the sional teachers will be coming for the 12 physical dimension, there is a potential SPRING. week session to the Shalom Center and Its prominence at the introduction to for dissention, separation, and disparity conducting the classes. the Mishkan reveals to us that there was The Shalom Center in conjunction with as was the case in the encampments the New York City Department for the Their mission is to help men and women a more profound connection between before Mattan Torah. In order to be Aging, the New York City Department 60 and older be creative, productive the two, and in fact, the observance of cultural affairs, and the NewY ork City and independent, and to seek broader ready and worthy for G-d to give us the of Shabbos served as a preface and Council is pleased to announce a 12-week recognition by the general public of the Torah it was necessary to reach a state of workshop series entitled: skills and capabilities of older people. preparation for the work of building unity. This goal is achieved through the “Stepping Forward, Looking Back-A Elder Craftsmen Inc. has been working the Mishkan. creative Journey portfolio.” with seniors for over 50 years. process of raising the soul to its place Why does the Torah single out fire here of pre-eminence above the corporeal Using music, writing (poetry, story The Shalom Center will be opening these workshops to all seniors in the as an example of the prohibition on bodies of physical existence, so that telling), drawing, painting, collage and community. In order to hold a place for other media, seniors will be “looking the session, a reservation will be needed. Shabbos? There seems to be an indica- in each Jew there was a revelation that back” through a guided creative journey tion that the main aspect of Shabbos they were all compatible and “we all of their lives, experiences and cultures Please call the Shalom Center at (718) and “stepping forward” by producing a 774-9213 and ask for either Jenya or which prepares for the Mishkan is have one father.” This brought to the Shimon. Places are limited so we urge somehow connected to this prohibition attitude of “one man with one heart” portfolio of their creative works that will people to act quickly. be shared with the community. not to kindle fire on Shabbos. at that point, to draw down and reveal the unity of G-d in the world which is We have retained the services of “Elder Another question: the general goal of Mattan Torah. In the Why was it necessary to gather all the case of the Mishkan, the Jewish unity Jews as a preface both to the laws of was more than just an attitude of “one Shabbos and to the laws of the Mishkan? heart,” for it expressed itself in action, We do not find such a practice in most a unified act of donating the objects other cases of Torah commands. needed for the Mishkan. The explanation: In the human experience one thing that The inner theme of the Mishkan is to often brings to disunity and competi- bring the Shechinah to rest among the tiveness is the accumulation of wealth. Jewish people. The Midrash states: Most problems that arise between “When did the Shechinah dwell on people are in matters of money. By earth? On the day the Sanctuary was nature man is very concerned about his erected” (Bamidbar Rabbah 13:2); with wealth, and this often leads to dissent the Mishkan the process of drawing and strife among people. G-dliness down to the physical world was completed. This process had begun When the Jewish people united in their with Mattan Torah when there was desire to donate their possessions to the a revelation from Above, and it was Mishkan, they showed their underly- completed with the efforts of the Jewish ing unity even in the area of material people below -- bringing donations wealth. As a result, their wealth did not for the Sanctuary and building the lead to dissention; rather, it revealed Tabernacle. their unity, for they all brought of their possessions for the Mishkan. This aspect is focused on by the timing of Moshe’s command to the Jewish Our sages say that wealth is called “the people. As Rashi explains, he gathered substance that was at their feet” (Deva- the people on the day afterY om Kippur. rim 11:6), meaning the wealth which It was on Yom Kippur that the process puts a person on his feet. Although in a of Mattan Torah had been completed, qualitative sense these matters are even for on Yom Kippur Moshe received lower than a person’s feet, nevertheless the second set of Tablets. It was on the they provide a foundation upon which following day that Moshe gathered the he can stand himself. In this manner, people and told them of G-d’s desire for the unity of the Jewish people is actually a Sanctuary, because the Mishkan was enhanced, and the unity of the Holy the sequence to Mattan Torah and in One, Blessed be He, is revealed in this a sense it served as the completion of world. February 29, 2008 ~ crOWN heights 13 Shleimus Haaretz Phases In The Israel-Arab Conflict: The Gulf War Part II: The Rebbe, by contrast, reassured the surround us and are still bent on our And when there is a military detente, world that chemical weapons would not destruction. This is a reality which we there is a chance that the socio-econom- Published and copyright © by Sichos In be used in Israel. He publicly referred to must honestly face rather than blindly ics of a world economy that is pressing English Israel as “the safest place in the world,” hope for peace. toward the ideal of a global village will In 1990, almost six months before the and urged Americans to travel there. make the Arabs consider peace as an Moreover, accepting that reality makes Hebrew year 5751 began, the Rebbe When Major J. Goldstein, a chaplain option. Today, all the world’s leading peace a more practical option. When declared that the Hebrew letters indi- dispatched by the US army to the war countries are turning towards peace, the Arabs know that Israel will not cating the numerical equivalent of the zone, asked about the projected length not because they have become more continue to concede, and that she coming year also formed an acronym of the hostilities, the Rebbe assured refined and peace loving, but simply will not fight wars with her hands tied for the Hebrew phrase meaning, “This him that the war would be over by the because it is in their self-interest. The behind her back, they will begin to will be a year when I [G-d] will show festival of Purim (which, as is widely benefits of peace and the costs of war genuinely understand how serious the them [the Jewish people] wonders.” known, is exactly when hostilities outweigh any possible gains that could option of war is. And this will hopefully ceased). be achieved on the battlefields. As Before the previous year, the Rebbe lead to peace. Israel and the Arab countries become had foretold that it would be “a year There is no need to recount the entire Take a look at the Cold War: Militarily, involved in this motif, it will affect of miracles,” and indeed that year was saga of how the Rebbe’s vision was it was a standoff.E ach side had enough them as well. marked by the collapse of the Iron vindicated. It is sufficient to point to arms to deter the other from attack. The Curtain and the emigration of hundreds the repeated expressions of thanks Similar concepts apply with regard to lines were drawn, and fear protected of thousands of Soviet Jews to our Holy given by Prime Minister Shamir for the Palestinian problem. The Palestin- one side from the other. Then one day Land. And yet, the Rebbe assured his the strength and confidence which the ians are tired of losing their sons and it was over. The totalitarian backward- listeners, the wonders of 5751 would Rebbe imparted to people throughout their daughters; they are frustrated by ness that characterized Russian society surpass those of 5750. Israel. the fact that they haven’t been able to could not stand up to the challenge of work freely and advance themselves While the Rebbe was delivering this What The Future Has In Store the times, and the Kremlin collapsed. financially for the last decade. When message, preparing the Jewish people America, by contrast, had a strong and Israel is at a turning point in its history. they recognize Israel’s firmness, and and the world at large for these devel- vital society which was able to adjust. If the path of previous governments is understand the limits of what they can opments, urgent preparations of a to be followed, it will find itself making possibly achieve through the Intifada, different kind were being made in a Similarly, in the case at hand, when the concession after concession until the they will focus their attention on their distant corner of the world. In August Arabs realize that Israel is strong, and Arabs will have established themselves own lives and the options that are open of 1990, Saddam Hussein marched the is not making further concessions, they confidently enough to wage war. to them. armies of Iraq into Kuwait, plunging will have to come to terms with the the entire world into panic. As heads There is an alternative: to stop, to situation. If they choose war, at least These are real possibilities.W hen Israel of government, opinion- makers in the retrench; to realize that Israel has the Israel will be able to defend itself from decides to take its future in its hands, media, and ordinary men and women potential to develop a creative society, a position of strength. and with faith and trust in G-d, focuses in the street reacted in fear, the Rebbe one which is strong internally, and on strengthening its security and build- Most likely, however, that position of spread a message of quiet optimism. which has the vitality to endure the ing a strong and viable society, it will strength will make war less of an option. challenges posed by its neighbors; to be able to face the future confidently. Unless Israel continues to compromise In Israel, gas masks were handed look to the guidelines of the Rebbe The miraculous half-century of growth its security, no Arab country will dare to out in fear of chemical warfare and outlined above. that has followed the Holocaust can be attack it. Consider:W hy didn’t Jordan thousands fled from the land in dread followed by even greater advances. And Are we condemned to perpetual war? enter the Yom Kippur War? Why didn’t of Iraqi missiles. So complete was the hopefully, these advances will include First of all, we must look ourselves Syria open up a second front on the fright that when Yasser Arafat stood the dawning of the age in which “nation squarely in the face and say, “Perhaps.” Golan in the Lebanon War? This choice together with Saddam Hussein and will not lift up sword against nation, nor For the answer to that question does did not stem from any great love for offered an Iraqi pullback in return for will they learn war any more.” not depend on ourselves alone. We did Israel. It was a practical decision. Their a Palestinian state, there were Israelis not start any of the previous wars. They capitals were too close to the front to who urged acquiescence. were all started by belligerent foes who take the risk.

Update: and public and world officials so that they can see up close what the real Oholei Torah PTA Achdus Baskets The Shleimus HaAretz Talk Show story is in S’derot. One outcome of his by: Rosalynn Malamud Mrs. Tamar Adelstein, host they feel to get one basket filled with “histadlus” is an article that appeared in One day, over lunch with some friends, delicious treats from so many friends. Is anybody listening??! the New York Times on January 9, 2008 the conversation turned to the upcom- After all, it is erev Pesach and the good after Noam arranged for journalist On our last show, we spoke with Rabbi ing Yom Tov of Purim. Purim is a wishes remain long after the delicacies Steve Erlanger to tour S’derot. Yehuda Rubin, Lubavitcher shliach in wonderful joyous time of the year, but are eaten. Elon Moreh in the heart of the Shom- On the upshot, we had a fascinating a very hectic time. There is Megillah I have been a participant in this project ron. Rabbi Rubin spoke about the on- interview with Rabbi Michael Cohen reading, Mishloach Manos for family from its inception. I have been both a going construction freeze and its deeper who is affiliated with the Arava Insti- and friends, a Seuda to prepare and sender and a recipient and I am very implications for Eretz Yisroel’s future tute which studies the environment, enjoy and if things aren't tumultuous grateful to the committee of the Oholei territorial integrity. Most shocking was water, and solar power in the Arava enough, this year Purim falls out on Torah PTA. Thanks to their efforts and learning that President Shimon Peres Desert. Although Rabbi Cohen holds Friday - as in "erev Shabbos" Friday. devotion, Purim is a wonderful joyous has created a financial incentive fund some views on Shleimus HaAretz The Oholei Torah PTA has created a time of the year! with his pals from Germany--that’s that need some “tweaking”, his true wonderful project. "Achdus Baskets" right GERMANY!!--to persuade love for Eretz Yisroel and real joy at Try it! You will most certainly agree. are a totally win-win situation for one residents from Yehuda and the Shomron coming on a Lubavitch talk show was and all. For more information or to place to take the money and leave now before palpably felt. an order, please call Aida Junik at they are expelled (and there will be an Firstly, the Oholei Torah PTA uses Please join us on our next show this (718) 953-3197, Kayli Malamud (718) attempt to expel them!) rather than the profits it makes for enrichment coming Tuesday, March 4 from 363-1618, Sarah Popack (718) 735-2484, be left with nothing like the Jews from programs for our boys. We, who send Noon to 1:30pm. To join us live, or Shuffi Telsner (718) 774-2778. Gush Katif. Mishloach Manos through the Achdus dial 712-451-6000, Access Code Baskets, are able to let our friends and Order deadline is March 10, 2008. We also spoke with Noam Bedein, a 505946#. To retrieve via phone call family know we are thinking about young journalist, who moved to S’derot 641-715-3486, Access Code 505946# them and the cost is nominal. Plus, a little over a year ago to be able to report or go to www.Sanesite.org, click classes, the shopping and delivery is all done firsthand on the trials and tribulations click Shleimus HaAretz. (Periodically, for us. people live through there. Noam also the website is down but all shows are arranges tours for other journalists eventually archived there.) The recipients have told me how nice 14 CROWN HEIGHTS ~February 29, 2008 Money Matters

Recession Ready: Protecting Assets During Challenging Business Times By Mordechai Schachter, Agent marketing to keep cash flowing for at future benefits. Now may be an ideal for the eventual transfer of your com- New York Life Insurance Company the next several months. First of all, time to explore 401(k) or other quali- pany at your own retirement or death. advertise, so your customers know fied plan options. Do your homework Also, look at key executive insurance If you=re like many small business you=re still there. Call or write pre- today. Then, if you like, defer the actual to help protect your company from owners, it may not feel like much of a ferred customers (and today they=re implementation until later in the year. loss if a valued employee should die recovery, at least not yet. Actually, this all preferred customers) to thank them This strategy gives your employees a prematurely. could still be the most dangerous time for past business and remind them vision for the future. Plus, it boosts their for businesses, with resources cut to that you=re still there for them. Invite faith that there will be a future. 4. Protect Your Company=s and Your the bone and few reserves remaining them to drop by for a cup of coffee. Family=s Investment in You in the emergency root cellar. All the Consider short-term price reductions. Also, now is the time to consider a more reason to tighten that belt one No business owner likes to discount benefit package designed to retain While it=s not polite to brag, you are more notch, plan for the future, and take products or services, but if one of your select key employees by utilizing a your business=s greatest business asset, steps to protect your assets during the customers is looking to lower expenses, form of deferred compensation known the linchpin that holds everything lean times that may remain while the it may be better to offer a reduction as Agolden handcuffs.@ The concept together. So, protect yourself. Review recovery picks up momentum yourself than find out that he or she is simple: Using a written agreement, your company=s life insurance pro- went elsewhere. select employees that will agree to gram. That way, if something happens Now is the time to develop a four-step remain with your company until retire- to you, your business and your family strategy that brings your business 2. Protect Your Employees ment or some other specified period of will be financially protected. through the next few months and time. In exchange, they are promised positions it for growth as the economy Do what it takes to retain quality additional compensation to be paid at a A Tall Order? Not Really. Plus, strengthens. employees, your greatest business later date. (Or, if they die prematurely, There's No Reason to Go it Alone. assets. They=ve stayed with you this their family is promised a life insurance 1. Protect Your Customer Base long; don=t let them slip away now. benefit.) This can be a valuable way to For further information on how insur- retain top performers. ance and other financial products can Your customers are vital assets. They First, do not cut pay or benefits. They=ll be used in business planning, please provide the cash to make everything think your ship is sinking, and they 3. Protect Your Business Infrastruc- contact Mordechai Schachter, Agent, else happen. Take steps to keep them. may jump. Instead, consider expanding ture and Long-term Plans New York Life Insurance Company, at your benefit package. No, you don=t (718) 915-3438. Start with some creative, short-term need to do it right now. Instead, look Draft or update your buy-sell agreement February 29, 2008 ~ crOWN heights 15 Human Interest

in mind when going to pay a Shiva Rabbi Hecht, is chairman of the board of the National Committee for Thirdly, we should give the bereaved call is not to sound like you’re judging the Furtherance of Jewish Education (NCFJE), continuing the tradi- encouragement and strength when tion of social services management and outreach that began with his another person’s loss. Every loss in a going to a Shiva house. father, the Rabbi Jacob J. Hecht A’H. He is a Rabbi and activist in the person’s life hurts on some level. The Jewish community, focusing on family crisis intervention, guiding and loss of an unborn child or an old or sick So often I meet someone who tells me, advising troubled youth and their families, marriage counseling, and person also hurts. We may not say to “I took over my father’s business after drugs and cults counseling and consultations. He can be reached at someone who is grieving, “You’ll have [email protected]. • he died, and I did a great deal today. I Rabbi Shea Hecht other children;” “You have others that felt my father’s presence with me.” can comfort you;” “At least he’s not Comforting the Grieving (Part 2) suffering any more;” “Thank G-d, he I tell them it’s true. Their loved one My father, obm, used to say that death is and looked at each other- each in their lived to a ripe old age.” Every loss hurts. was present. The Zohar says that when a part of living. Even though this is true, own pain. How much easier it would All of those are seemingly judgmental a person dies, their spirit can be with many people feel anxious and unsure of have been for them if close friends had comments that sound like their gauging those they care about. A soul is infinite themselves with Shiva rituals and are come over and sat with them those first another person’s loss. and can be in many places. We should even reluctant to pay a Shiva call. They difficult three days. encourage a person to take strength in worry. What is the correct thing to say Secondly, when paying a Shiva call, we this fact and utilize the loving presence when you pay a Shiva call? Or better The Talmud says that when paying a must show sympathy and empathy and of the deceased as a daily source of yet, is there a correct thing altogether? Shiva call, one should allow the person recognize a mourner’s loss and pain. fortification. Can it be that one thing is right for one sitting Shiva to start to speak first. Sometimes, though, the best way to person, but wrong for someone else? Therefore, we should be conscious do this is to simply say the words, “I’m Furthermore, when a person dies, that we permit the mourner to choose sorry for your loss, but I don’t know those that are left behind feel a void. A successful Shiva call can be broken to speak if they want to. Additionally, what to say.” When the positive work of a loved one down into three parts. should a mourner choose to speak they is continued, the vacuum is filled, and should address the topics they want to. I have found that the best time to Firstly, those who go to pay a Shiva call the person’s memory lives on, which This will allow them to grieve as they practice this maxim is when someone should provide a shoulder to cry on and strengthens a family and community. feel comfortable. suffers a loss of any kind that I have listening ear. This can be accomplished A consoler can encourage a mourner never experienced. When I was 14 years by following a few guidelines. to satisfy that void by continuing the Something else we must keep in mind old, a good friend and classmate of mine good deeds that their loved one took is that people have different ways of lost a father. I recall spending quite a The Talmud states that the first three special pride in. grieving. There are those who can’t bit of time in his home during the week days of Shiva are set aside for crying. cry at all and those who can’t stop of Shiva. I found that my classmates In conclusion, when paying a Shiva There are some people who understand crying. We should be sure not to make and I did very little talking to the boy call we should provide a shoulder this to mean that one should not pay a someone feel uncomfortable because of who was sitting Shiva for his father. I to cry on and a listening ear, show Shiva call in these three days; however, their method of grieving- be it more or remember the frustration we felt that sympathy, empathy, and acknowledge though the three days are for crying, less than what was expected. Everyone we could not find the correct words to the mourner’s pain, and offer encour- there is comfort in crying with someone mourns differently in every situation. say, yet wanting to give comfort to our agement and strength to those sitting you feel close to. My sister, who was This is especially true of children who friend who was suffering. In retrospect, Shiva. Concentrating on these three in Israel for a cousin’s Shiva, said the mourn loss in “age appropriate” ways I realize that being that none of us were areas will allow the consoler to feel hardest part of the Shiva was the first that may look callous or uncaring to in the same situation, the best thing comfortable walking into a house of three days when the family was hurt- an adult. would have been to say, “I don’t know mourning and the mourner to feel cared ing and few people showed up to pay what to say.” for and consoled. Shiva calls. They sat those three days Another very important point to keep

Continued from page 5 Rabbi Shaffer we had.” “A man of the book”. He internalized “In conclusion, I feel strange that an Torah knowledge and Jewish law in article and a picture will appear in the ADVERTISE every aspect of his life. newspaper. Do you know the difference YOUR between last year and this one? Last He left a brother, Reb Benzion, in year, you would not have been able to Boston, and two sisters, Mrs. Bitman in write an article on Gedalia Shaffer.” FUNCTION Baltimore and Mrs. Melul in France. Yehi Zichro Boruch! May Reb Gedalia’s WORKSHOP His wife, Bronya and his children: Liba memory serve as an inspiration for and her husband Reb Yehuda Goldman awakening concern and consideration ORGANIZATION in Teaneck, New Jersey; Nechama and for one another, and for the utilization her husband Reb Efraim Simon, on of every moment as a cherished trea- shlichus in Teaneck, NJ; Devorah and sure, fulfilling our mission of studying FUNDRAISER her husband Reb Doron Slutzkin, in Torah and doing Mitzvos. Switzerland; INFORMATION We should speedily witness, “The ones Batya and her husband Reb Ari Kiev- who dwell in the dust will awaken and BUSINESS man; Chana and her husband Reb rejoice” with Reb Gedalia amongst Shlomo Minkowitz; Yosef Chaim, them. SALE Yehuda, Shaina, Yitzchok and Michal. Right here in the Crown Heights Community Paper 3500 copies distributed Door-to-Door every week to When Mrs. Shaffer was asked about Would you like to receive the community. her feelings, she said, “Sometimes you this newspaper by email meet a person, and you say I would have Internet Version is posted on crownheights.info and col. liked to have known him more. I wish every Thursday? org.il weekly and downloaded all over the world! I would have had more time with him. Send an Email to chp5768@ Get out your message in the paper that everyone If I should ask questions of G-d I could ask, why did I merit to have Gedalia chjcc.org with the word is talking about—the paper that is only positive as a husband for thirty-eight years. I subscribe in the subject and "ohr". tell my children, look how our life has line. For more information, call (718) 771-9000 x 17. been formed through the blessing that 16 CROWN HEIGHTS ~February 29, 2008 Our Mosdos The Sparks Boys Choir put on a memorable, inspiring performance at the Darchei Menachem Chinese Auction on Sunday Night at Beis Rivka Campus Chomesh. All those who attended were amazed by the performance and are still raving about it. “This is Lubavitch. This is beautiful,” commented one of the attendees.

NIGHTLIFE! Attention Girls Upcoming Events Thursday, Feb.28th, 8pm Bas Mitzvah and Older: The Ultimate Shadchan: G-d Or Man? Guest Speaker: Rabbi Simon Jacobson Motzei Shabbos, March 1st, 8:30pm Shalhevet of Crown Heights is back, Painting The Soul Canvas: Painting Workshop with Neria Cohen better than ever! Monday, March 3rd, 8pm Male Dominance In Judaism Part II: The Bottom Line Coming Motzei Shabbos Adar Beis Guest Speaker: Rabbi Yossi Jacobson Thursday, March 6th, 8pm • Featuring Motzei Shabbos Topic To Be Announced Guest Speaker: Rabbi Shea Hecht Event for seventh graders All programs are held at The NIGHTLIFE Lounge: Rubashkin Residence - • Tuesday night creative workshops 1349 President Street email: [email protected] for girls over bas mitzvah Blog: www.CHnightlife.wordpress.com • More details to follow in next week's paper NightLife programs are a joint project of CHJCC and BYIT and sponsored by the CHJCC A project of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council