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contents

WHAT WILL WE SACRIFICE? 5 D’var Malchus

G-D’S AUTHORITY TAKES PRECEDENCE 7 The Rebbe’s Letters

NISSAN MIRACLES, BIG AND SMALL 8 Moshiach Light | C.D. Schwartz

THE ESCAPE OF THE ‘GREEKS’ 12 Memoirs | Shneur Zalman Chanin

USA 744 Eastern Parkway THE REBBE GOT THERE FIRST Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409 18 Miracle Story | Nosson Avrohom Tel: (718) 778-8000 Fax: (718) 778-0800 [email protected] www.beismoshiach.org

NEVER ALONE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: 20 Shlichus | Rabbi Yaakov Shmuelevitz M.M. Hendel ENGLISH EDITOR: Boruch Merkur [email protected] WOMAN OF VALOR ASSISTANT EDITOR: 23 Profile Dr. Aryeh Gotfryd HEBREW EDITOR: Rabbi Sholom Yaakov Chazan [email protected]

WHO WOULD HAVE DREAMED? Beis Moshiach (USPS 012-542) ISSN 1082- 25 Feature | Nosson Avrohom 0272 is published weekly, except Jewish holidays (only once in April and October) for $160.00 in Crown Heights, Brooklyn and in all other places for $180.00 per year (45 issues), by Beis Moshiach, 744 Eastern AVREMEL SMARGONER? HE’S A P’NIMI! Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409. 28 Memoirs | R’ Hillel Zaltzman Periodicals postage paid at Brooklyn, NY and additional offices. Postmaster: send address changes to Beis Moshiach 744 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409. Copyright 2009 by Beis Moshiach, Inc. HERE WE EDUCATE Beis Moshiach is not responsible for the 36 Chinuch | Yisroel Yehuda content of the advertisements. 689:Beis Moshiach 23/03/2009 8:11 AM Page 4

Kupas Rabbeinu rchbu eup, Lubavitch vnahj nkl tsnu"r f"e bahtu, ,j,

(718) 756-3337 ^ P.O.B. 288 Brooklyn, New York 11225 ^ (718) 467-2500

B”H 16th of Adar, 5769 MO’OS CHITTIM To All Anash and Temimim wha’ Sholom U'vrocho! Excerpt of a Sicho Kedoisho, which speaks for itself The Jews will be redeemed solely through tzedokah... In particular, this applies with regards to the matter relevant at present, maos chittim, tzedakah given for Pesach that includes all of the needs of the holiday. Our involvement with this must be in a manner of ratzo and shov, i.e., one should not wait for the tzedakah collector, but instead, rush to give him maos chittim on his own initiative (ratzo). Moreover, even after he has already given maos chittim, he should go and give a second time (shov).... For one who has been blessed should increase his gifts according to the blessing he has been given. And who ever increases will be given additional reward. Indeed, there is no limit to this additional reward. From the sichos Shabbos Parshas Vayakhel-pikudei, 5750 It is well known that "Kupas Rabbeinu" endeavors to continue implementing all of the holy projects and activities which the Rebbe has established. Amongst these activities is the Rebbe's practice to extend financial aid to those families in need of their various Pesach necessities. Accordingly, we are at this time urging and requesting each and every Anash member and Tomim uhjha to contribute generously to "Kupas Rabbeinu," in order to enable the administration to provide for these families and thus afford them with the opportunity to celebrate Pesach with contentment and joy. Regarding this Mitzvah it is stated: "Whoever increases (in giving) is praiseworthy." Unfortunately, the amount of families in need of this financial assistance is more than generally assumed. As such, the more generous your contribution to "Kupas Rabbeinu," the greater the number of families receiving assistance will be. And since, with regard to all Mitzvahs we are instructed to act with Simcha and zest, it is all the more pertinent with regard to the aforementioned, as it is of paramount importance that the funds be received and distributed as soon as possible. In the merit of Tzedakah which hastens the Geula, may we merit the true Geula Shlaimah, with the revelation of Melech HaMashiach - The Rebbe Nasi Doreinu, immediately, Mamash.

Chag HaPesach Kosher V'Sameach, Vaad Kupas Rabbeinu

P.S. 1) The traditional "Magvis Yud Shevat, Purim" can also be sent at this time, as well as all other Magvios. 2) All funds should be sent to the following address only; Donations are tax deductible KUPAS RABBEINU, P.O. Box 288, BROOKLYN, N.Y. 11225 In Eretz haKodesh: KEREN KUPAS ADMU"R, P.O. Box 1247, KIRYAT MALACHI – ISRAEL 689:Beis Moshiach 23/03/2009 8:11 AM Page 5

d’var malchus WHAT WILL WE SACRIFICE?

Translated and adapted by Dovid Yisroel Ber Kaufmann

not yet revealed. In this way we work There is an essential difference between towards the full revelation, the mitzvos in general and the sacrifices: materialization, of the Third Beis HaMikdash, the Third Temple. mitzvos emphasize the person fulfilling That said, we can look at the significance of the fundamental G-d’s command; sacrifices emphasize difference between sacrifices and mitzvos. True, the various sacrifices the object through which G-d’s Will is are counted among the six hundred thirteen mitzvos. Nevertheless, the fulfilled. A mitzva should be performed essential nature of sacrifice differs with hiddur mitzva, in the most from the essential nature of mitzvos. The difference lies in which each beautiful manner possible. Even so, this emphasizes. A mitzva emphasizes the action of a person. The person fulfills cannot achieve atonement or a G-d’s command. The object with which the mitzva is performed is only reconciliation after a transgression. a tool, of no inherent interest or value. True, the thing itself may Sacrifice and t’shuva, tz’daka and become invested with some holiness, Redemption, go hand-in-hand. but that is a byproduct. The person has only one intention – do what G-d asks. The “drawback” of a mitzva, if The Book of Leviticus begins by defining what types of we can speak this way, is that there is a someone who sacrifices should be brought and how they are to be does the mitzva. Although a mitzva is an act of offered. Since Moshiach will rebuild the Temple and compliance with G-d’s Will, there is still an individual, an restore the sacrificial service, obviously any discussion ego performing the act. about the Temple or sacrifices deepens our understanding On the other hand, by definition a sacrifice sanctifies of what will be required of us and what life will be like in the object. The sacrifice becomes holy by being offered on the era of Redemption. Such a discussion also helps us the altar. Sacrifices emphasize the status of the object, the prepare for the coming of Moshiach. Needless to say, the material being sacrificed. Whether the sacrifice comes to sacrifices must be seen as having more than just historical fulfill a vow or some obligation, it is made holy by being or theoretical interest. Rather, the restoration of the given away, sacrificed to G-d. The human element is only Temple service is an imminent reality. a preparation and precondition. While the person’s Still, it may be difficult to see the current relevance. intention is important, a sacrifice has significance only Simply understanding the details and technical aspects of when it is offered on the altar. the sacrificial service is not sufficient. In order to We can look at it this way: every other mitzva, and all the recognize that, in a spiritual sense, the Temple exists even accessories with which it is performed, remain the property now, that we can bring actual sacrifices today, we must of the person performing the mitzva. The only mitzva which internalize the meaning, the inner truth of the sacrifices. involves something being “given away” to G-d is a sacrifice. This inner realization inevitably manifests itself externally: So, in general the focus of mitzvos is on the person, while the we must first see the Temple and sacrifices as real, albeit BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 689 5 689:Beis Moshiach 23/03/2009 8:11 AM Page 6

focus of sacrifice is on the thing itself. sacrifice the choicest products of our fields, the first fruits This difference in emphasis also explains an important of our labor. We must give ourselves away, our very distinction in halacha: Jewish law distinguishes between essence, to G-d. hiddur mitzva and bringing a sacrifice from the best of By subduing our desires, our material appetites, by one’s possessions. The concept of hiddur mitzva – of being generous with what we sacrifice, we make ourselves beautifying the mitzva, doing it in the most magnificent pleasing and acceptable to G-d. and impressive manner possible – applies to the person. By Indeed, a proper sacrifice, one that reconciles and making a beautiful sukka, for example, the person adorns atones, may be equated with the subjugation of the yetzer himself before G-d. When the Jew presents himself before ha’ra – our evil inclination, our egotism and selfishness. the Almighty, he appears decorated with a resplendent We derive this principle, that one should sacrifice the mitzva. That is the concept of hiddur mitzva. best of one’s possessions, from the meal offering and Naturally, this is a way of honoring G-d. Just as one which grade of olive oil can be used with it. Olive oil was appears before a human dignitary dressed in the finest, graded according to which pressing – first, second, third, most fashionable clothes, so one should appear before G-d etc. – it came from. Only certain grades were used in the dressed in the finest, most dignified menorah, but all grades were mitzvos. After all, mitzvos are called permitted with the meal-offering. the ‘garments of the soul.’ When the reason Nevertheless, one who wishes to However, a mitzva, even a hiddur subdue his yetzer ha’ra and act mitzva, cannot bring about a for the exile ends, generously will bring from the best of reconciliation or atonement. After a his possessions. One will sacrifice the transgression, a mitzva by itself cannot automatically the clearest and purest of his “oil,” his appease or conciliate. For that we essence. need a sacrifice. The precursor to consequence Why the meal offering, the offering Redemption is t’shuva. And sacrifice is of the poor? In describing the meal the essence of t’shuva. ceases to exist. offering, the Torah says, literally, A sacrifice by definition belongs to Both the “when a soul wishes to draw close.” G-d. True, the person sanctifies it, but That is, when a poor person, who has to be a sacrifice, the object must be destruction of the nothing to give but flour and water offered on the altar. A person may and a little oil, when such a person declare that such and such will be Temple and the brings an offering, G-d accounts it as sacrificed, dedicating it for that if he had offered his very soul. Such a purpose. But the object does not exile are negated, person does not consider himself, but become a sacrifice to G-d until only the offering, the transformation actually brought on the altar. and instantly the of the physical into the spiritual. The This explains why a sacrifice must Jewish people are t’shuva, the sacrifice, of such a person be from the best of one’s possessions. is of the highest order. The most complete and perfect way to redeemed through Surely the relationship to our give something to G-d is to give the times, to the coming of Moshiach is finest of what we own. In simpler Moshiach. clear: when the reason for the terms, the sacrifice must not only be destruction and exile ends, fit for the altar, it must be worthy of the altar. It must automatically and immediately the consequence ceases to reflect an ultimate and absolute commitment to G-d, a exist. Both the destruction of the Temple and the exile are willingness to devote ourselves – who we are and what we negated, and instantly the Jewish people are redeemed own – first and foremost to G-d. through Moshiach. Similarly, everything that can be compared to the altar We must ask ourselves: are we giving the best of our must reflect the same resolve and realization. For example, possessions? Which part of our day, which part of our when building a synagogue, it should be nicer than one’s energy, attention and ambition, are we dedicating to own home. The poor should be fed with the sweetest and Torah, to preparing the world for Moshiach? What are we tastiest food from one’s table. The best, the “fattest,” sacrificing on the altar – not yet the physical altar in the should be sanctified and dedicated. Temple, but the spiritual altar within us? Hiddur mitzva Specifically, matters of tz’daka, such as providing food does not suffice. The concern must be giving the best of and clothing for the poor, affects atonement. Sacrifice and ourselves to tz’daka – to feeding those hungry for Torah, t’shuva, tz’daka and Redemption, go hand-in-hand. The to clothe those naked of mitzvos. In that way, we make proof of our repentance is a willingness, even a desire, to ourselves worthy of Redemption. (Based on Likkutei Sichos 27:8-15)

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the rebbe’s letters G-DS AUTHORITY TAKES PRECEDENCE

From the t’shura distributed at the Simpson-Rivkin wedding of 23 Adar 5769

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moshiach light NISSAN MIRACLES, BIG AND SMALL

C.D. Schwartz

difficult for us to hear as his As I write this story I’m experiencing business was not easily run the miracles all over again and am without a car. We unfortunately couldn’t afford to buy a used car overwhelmed to the point of tears. We in its place. Things were tough financially and we were really have the most incredible, loving and struggling, but we didn’t want to be a burden asking my in-laws for wonderful Father in heaven and please more help than what they had already given. The mechanic G-d we should appreciate the miracles suggested we just sell it to a He really does for us every day just by junkyard, but we wouldn’t get much from doing that so we held breathing and being alive, let alone for off on deciding what to do. We spent a couple months all the myriad kindnesses and gifts He fretting over how to overcome this dilemma while the car barely hung gives us every day that we can so easily in there. We completely ruled out the option of trying to re-sell it as take for granted. that certainly wouldn’t have been honest trying to pass it off as I have a wonderful miracle Gulf War. My in-laws were very anything worthwhile for someone story that happened to our family kind and generous people and else to buy. But the junkyard in the month of Nissan that has from the beginning they would option didn’t solve our problem of been waiting to be told for too lend my husband their old car so how to find enough money to buy long already. I felt an extra inner he could use it to establish and another used car either. What push to publicize the story now run his business here. Eventually could we do? for Rosh Chodesh Nissan, in they gave us their car as a gift, for We did what any Jew would honor of the Rebbe Melech my mother-in-law felt she was too probably do – we prayed to HaMoshiach’s request that we old to drive safely any more and Hashem for help! We really didn’t publicize miracles for this helps to my husband really needed it for see any solution at the time, but hasten the Redemption. his business. It was great of course asking Hashem for help The “4 Miracles in One” as I receiving a free car and it was natural. I even admit that the call it, happened 15 years ago on certainly helped him a lot, but request came with some doubts as Rosh Chodesh Nissan, but to over time it needed frequent visits to how we could possibly solve appreciate the miracles you’ll to the repair shop. the problem, and I see looking need some background One day the repairman gave us back that I certainly had quite a information… the sad news – the car had soured bit of room to grow in the faith We made aliyah to Israel back into a lemon and wasn’t worth department. Hashem made the in March of 1991 right after the repairing any more. This was entire vast universe and runs it

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constantly – how could I possibly another neighborhood she got concerned if the car was okay, doubt His ability to solve such a couldn’t get to us quickly enough. so he pulled over and lifted the relatively insignificant problem? My husband called her up and hood. He didn’t see anything A couple months went by. I offered to drive over and bring wrong at the time, so he got back happened to be pregnant at the her back which was a lot faster, in and continued driving. Only a time with our second child and so she agreed and he took our couple minutes later while they wasn’t feeling well, so a good four year old along for the ride. were driving up a very busy main friend came to help me every day I stayed home to rest but after street in Jerusalem called Bar Ilan, to enable my husband to go to they didn’t return at the expected he suddenly saw some smoke work. She brought along her time I began to get a little coming out of the hood. Realizing sweet little one and a half year old concerned. They showed up about the potential danger, he quickly boy who also was a good playmate an hour and a half later looking a told everyone to get out of the car for our four year old. One day, on bit wide eyed and shaken. Then as fast as possible. Rosh Chodesh Nissan, my they told me the story… Right after all four of them husband was in a lot of pressure After my husband had picked safely reached the sidewalk, the to get to work early and since my them up and started driving back, engine burst into flames and the friend had to take a bus from he noticed a smell of gasoline and whole car quickly became one large bonfire! They stood in shock as they watched the large inferno CHITAS WHEREVER YOU GO burning in the middle of the busy street! Here is a photo of the Chitas that survived the fire. All the pages Someone called the fire had been intact, but because we’ve carried it around with us for so department and the fire engines many years to show to other people, some of the introductory pages came and finally put out the huge unfortunately ripped out of the binding. blaze. It was so badly burned it Note the discoloration around the edges of the pages – that was was totally beyond repair. My from the heat of the fire. It had been considerably darker right after the husband tried rummaging through fire, but quite a bit of the discoloration faded over the last 15 years. what was left of the car to see if We highly recommend following the Rebbe MH”M’s directive of he could salvage anything, but it keeping a Chitas and tz’daka box in every room of the house, in your was so badly burned the key was car and to carry one with you at all times. The Rebbe MH”M also said melted into the ignition to the every child should have his own Chitas and tz’daka box in his/her room point you couldn’t even identify displayed in a prominent place, and we make sure our children carry a what the melted mass even was. Chitas with them wherever they go. But then something caught his eye – he always kept a Chitas (a book that includes the Chumash, Tehillim and Tanya and is called by the acronym Chitas) on the dashboard right next to the front window. There sat the Chitas, the cover itself which was a very thick cardboard had totally burned, but the book itself whose pages are extremely thin and delicate, had miraculously survived intact! It’s completely beyond and above nature that the super thin pages could’ve survived while the cover itself burned. The edges around the pages were colored dark gray and black from the heat of the blaze, but the holy book itself survived in one piece.

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just seemed like another blow to A TEST OF FAITH our predicament. Until my friend Sometimes when we pray to Hashem we don’t always get the suddenly jumped up and said with answer we hoped for. This is when our faith is tested and we need to her voice literally shaking in strengthen ourselves to trust in Hashem that everything is for the good excitement – even when we can’t see it. “But wait – didn’t I remember We can cry out “ad masai” for the Geula in our pain if it’s a you told me your in-laws had put particularly painful test, and perhaps the pain was partially there to full insurance on the car for you? bring us to the point of crying out for the Geula, which will also hasten Don’t you realize what that its revelation. As the Rebbe MH”M said, ultimately we will see how means? You’ll get full coverage everything was for the good in a revealed way when we have the Geula and that will probably be enough Shleima and we will be in awe. money for you to buy another May we only have everything we need in revealed blessings, and used car!” may all our sorrows be transformed into the greatest joy with the full When we overcame our initial revelation of the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach and the Geula Shleima shock and realized that she was miyad mamash. right - there was full insurance and we would most likely now be able to get another used car, we The Rebbe Melech inspiring miracle to experience all jumped up and started HaMoshiach had given a directive right in the beginning of the rejoicing like it was Simchas to keep a Chitas and charity box month of revealed miracles, just To r a h ! not only in every room of the highlighting the miraculous nature We couldn’t believe it – house, but also in cars and any of the whole month for many Hashem had done so many other vehicle one was using, others to witness together. miracles all in one we were emphasizing that it serves as a Miracle number three was completely overwhelmed with joy, form of protection. We had heard finding the Chitas miraculously gratitude and such awe at how He of miracle stories of how in the intact – we have it to this day and orchestrates every event in our merit of having the Chitas, people can show people the depth of the lives, and that something that had been protected and miracle first hand (look at photo even initially looked like a loss miraculously saved from things in the box). The thick hard cover really turned out to be totally like car accidents. But now it had burned yet the extremely thin revealed good and an amazing happened to us! pages remained totally intact! blessing many times over! The first miracle was that What was miracle number As I write this story I’m Hashem in His infinite kindness four? This is really the clincher… experiencing the miracles all over and mercy had made sure that all After they arrived at our house, again and am overwhelmed to the of four of them safely reached the a bit shaken up but Baruch point of tears. We have the most sidewalk before the whole car Hashem recovered enough to incredible, loving and wonderful burst into flames. It gives me relate the miracle story they had Father in heaven and please G-d chills just thinking about it! We just lived through, my husband we should appreciate the miracles owe a very big public thank you to finished telling the story and we all He really does for us every day HaKadosh Baruch Hu for that were very thankful yet still in just by breathing and being alive, incredible miracle – it was only by shock that everyone was thank G-d let alone for all the myriad a matter of seconds that their okay. We were still trying to kindnesses and gifts He gives us lives were saved and they got out process the whole event together, every day that we can so easily without a scratch. and it then occurred to my take for granted. What we see as the second husband and I that it was a pity we Yes, we did get full insurance miracle is that it happened on wouldn’t even be able to get the and we were able to buy another Rosh Chodesh Nissan, the month small fee for the car the junkyard used car that served us well for of revealed miracles – and this might have given us. nearly ten years until we decided was certainly a revealed miracle I remember bowing my head in for various reasons that we didn’t that many people witnessed who disappointment, not that we want to use a car anymore. What happened to be there that day on weren’t overwhelmingly grateful an awe inspiring experience to be that very busy street! What an awe that everyone was safe, but that it able to see Hashem help us in such

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a revealed way – we had really our “Abba” and how we can rely simple and resolute in our faith to been in a corner and saw no way on Him for everything we need in stay positive and not let any out. We cried to Hashem for help, our lives. We certainly have to temporary or apparent steps not even capable of imagining how couple our faith with our own “backwards” throw us off guard. we could be helped, and Hashem efforts to find solutions, but when It could be that dafka those steps in His infinite kindness and mercy we rely on Him, He can respond that look and feel like we’re going answered our prayers in the month even above nature. in the opposite direction are of miracles with a quadruple set of Now that we as a people and actually the stepping stones to our miracles. So we had a problem that also specifically in Eretz Yisrael Geula and they are not really we needed another car but feel surrounded by enemies with backwards steps at all. couldn’t sell the old one to get no apparent way out, just like we In spite of our incomparably another one? For Hashem nothing did when we left Egypt and felt much greater pain and losses is too big or too small. I felt like trapped by the Egyptians pursuing we’ve suffered recently as a He simply “said” – us on one side, and the Sea of people, we need to take note and “Don’t worry, I’ll just make Reeds on the other with no hang onto our faith that even sure you’re all safely out of the obvious way to escape, let’s take it when everything looks as if we car, and then I’ll let it go up in to heart that nothing is too big or don’t have a way out, Hashem can flames so you can use the too small for our loving and do anything and He can certainly insurance to get another one!” wonderful Father and “kadima” turn everything around in the In the scheme of things (go forward) as Moshe Rebbeinu wink of an eye. nowadays, it might seem a bit told us. The Rebbe MH”M told us We have to remind ourselves of trivial to have been so worried we will be redeemed and gave us all the amazing revealed miracles about needing a car when we’ve the work to do, so there’s no need He has shown us as a nation in been facing terror attacks and to hesitate but to just continue our own generation, for example wars. But it isn’t trivial at all to forward following his directives, with the Gulf War parts one and need to keep a roof over our head looking neither to the left nor the two. Before we left Egypt and and feed a family and the car was right, but straight forward with Moshe Rebbeinu went to Pharaoh necessary at the time to help us simple faith and simcha. to tell him to free us, initially the make a living – we had actually HaKadosh Baruch Hu redeemed situation got much worse for us. been homeless for three months at us from Egypt with miracles and The Egyptians increased our labor one point and had to move eight He will redeem us from this last and we suffered even more. But it times in those three months exile with miracles too. was only temporary, like the last between different friends, and this The initial drop and feeling of labor pains before giving birth. was right after giving birth to our despair that we had lost the last We were soon redeemed and we third child. And it wasn’t just that bit of hope to receive even a small will again soon be redeemed, this Hashem helped us above nature to amount of compensation for the time forever with no more exiles, acquire another car, he also car may have seemed out of place only total redemption, please G-d miraculously saved members of considering the immeasurable immediately with the Geula two families from harm in the miracle of everyone being safe Sheleima mamash! whole process. May His name be and sound. But it was only natural Yechi Adoneinu Moreinu blessed forever and ever. I hope to considering our very limited V’Rebbeinu Melech HaMoshiach inspire others to appreciate and perspective of the whole picture at L’Olam Va’ed! have a very deep love and awe for that moment. We need to be

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memoirs THE ESCAPE OF THE GREEKS

By Rabbi Shneur Zalman Chanin

Bricha for help. Their flight was a We continue the saga of the post-War most effectively kept secret, with exodus of Chassidim from Russia details known only to a few in Bricha who made their escape through Poland and on to freedom. possible and whom the Chassidim especially trusted. Pretending to be Greeks, they risked “There was a girl was in charge of the Chassidic smuggling their lives daily between ruthless operation. She excelled in her daring, courage, and mesirus officers, the merciless wilderness, and nefesh. The Russian authorities in anti-Semites all around... Poland, who found out about her work, ordered the Poles to arrest her. Boruch Hashem, the In the previous installment we ran an independent, organized and Chassidim were warned in time read about groups of thousands of secret smuggling operation. and with our help, she was able to Jews, among them Chabad Despite the severe punishments escape to a European nation and Chassidim, who fled anti-Semitic that would be meted out to them was saved. Poland after the war as the Poles in the event they would be caught “It wasn’t easy to remain loyal continued the work of the Nazis, trying to cross the Russian border, to Chassidus and to ties with the persecuting the Jews who and despite the tough border Rebbe while in Russia, which had remained in Poland. The Zionist crossings, groups of Lubavitcher been cut off from the rest of the Bricha organization helped the Chassidim left for the purpose of world for thirty years. Jews escape this blood-soaked making aliya or joining their Nevertheless, secret contact with land. Rebbe in the United States. One the Rebbe continued. They related Bricha was mentioned in my cannot help but respect and this without a trace of arrogance, father’s house with reverence and admire these people, who pulled as though it was something deep gratitude, but I think that the off the seemingly impossible as natural and self-understood. They respect the Chassidim had for the they kept in close contact, through highly praised Bricha, which Bricha people was no less than the mysterious means, with their helped them in their wanderings in admiration the Bricha people felt esteemed Rebbe in America. Europe without asking for for the Chassidim. “The first and hardest stage in payment and without asking them Efraim Dekel, who worked for their journey, which entailed to reveal their great secret, – how Bricha and helped Chassidim cross escaping Russia, was carried out they got out of Russia. the borders, writes: by organized cells of Chassidim “Their leader, who is also the “A magnificent chapter in the without including outsiders in son-in-law of the great Rebbe annals of Bricha will be written their daring deed. It was not until thanks to the Lubavitcher they wished to leave Poland for Chassidim who left Russia in the Czechoslovakia on their way to Right: Talmidim of the yeshiva standing with the Bricha people before first year after the liberation. They other places that they turned to leaving for the Polish-Czech border

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[referring to Rashag z”l, who contacted us in Poland and then in visited the Chassidim in Europe Prague, in order to obtain after the war], had similar praise passports and visas that we for Bricha, which took care of produced or procured, received those who had escaped and even from us everything he needed. He financed their flight. Since he had spoke in a whisper, almost without heard from the Chassidim about saying anything. He would enter the aid and the care that members our office without us realizing he of Bricha had provided them with, had come and wait there quietly. he would mention our names with Only when there was nobody but admiration and thanks at every us in the office did he speak to us opportunity and even bestowed the and make his petition. Rebbe’s blessing upon us. “We would grant his requests “These Jews, who are fervent in to the maximum extent possible their faith and attached to the and provide him whatever he Lubavitcher Rebbe, seem to us like needed. We treated him with the first trickles of that faithful respect, and in friendly jest they and fervent Judaism which was cut would announce his arrival to the we did not stop him from off from us for decades. Among one in charge: ‘the meshulach is continuing to act with the same them were people who had been here.’ He spoke only to the exacting standard of caution and on kolkhozes and factory workers commander, humbly and quietly, secrecy which were also the basis in various Russian cities. We were always taking care that nobody for our work. amazed by the unity amongst them should overhear him. “The fact that they refrained and, above all else, the strong ties “One time, when we referred from telling about their escape and amongst them, the spirit of him to someone of lower rank, he how they had achieved it, seemed discipline and unshakable responded humbly: ‘We are to us a seal of responsibility which partnership in the “unified secret” members of the underground and obligated us to treat them with (which they did not tell even us), our caution is what protected us, seriousness, and to trust in them and the way they had gotten with Hashem’s help, until now.’ and the way they did things. across the Iron Curtain. “We understood him and the “Keeping a secret internally “Their representative, who ways he was accustomed to and among thousands of refugees was They got to the border and gave their list to the Polish border guard. He had a hard time reading such ‘Greek’ names as ‘B’reishis bara,’ ‘Mah nishtana,’ ‘yetzias Mitzrayim.’

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 689 13 689:Beis Moshiach 23/03/2009 8:11 AM Page 14

incomparably harder than keeping our members. Apparently, they had the methods and tactics of this it from the outside, but they were been keeping tabs on us. operation and how they had so careful in disguising their “Then one time, when I was arrived there. identity that their secret was not alone in the room, a man with a “At the beginning of 1947, we revealed.” handsome beard and peios under spoke to Aliya Bet and suggested As for the care taken by the his cap said that he knew that I that those Chassidim already Chabad Chassidim and the quality was a shliach from Palestine and concentrated in various camps of their organization, group the commander of Bricha in this who wanted to make aliya should member and the commander of land, and he was therefore asking sail under cover of secrecy by a Bricha in Poland, Tzvi G., relates: for a certain number of certificates ship that would be called Chabad. “We knew there was a parallel and arrangements to smuggle his Although the Chassidim agreed to Bricha to ours and we knew that it people to Czechoslovakia. try to sneak into Eretz Yisroel, was Lubavitch Chassidim who “He said nothing about himself they did not want to board a ship crossed the borders, whose Rebbe and about their work. He did say called Chabad lest it cause permitted them to hasten the keitz. though that he fully trusted Bricha hardship to their brethren still in We were amazed by their and its people, but he still Russia. Therefore, the Chassidim organization and its tactics in refrained from answering various sailed on various ships, not as a getting over the border and, above questions, turning things around group. all else, we were amazed by the so that he was the one asking “On the ship Yetziat Europa, extreme secrecy which questions. which was at sea for weeks and characterized their smuggling “When I pointed out the error was returned to Germany , there activity. of his approach, he said, ‘Only for were a few dozen Lubavitcher “We knew details about their you, the chief coordinator of families. The passengers endured work but we spoke to them only Bricha and the shliach from Eretz much hardship, yet through it all, when necessary. We indirectly kept Yisroel, will I reveal that which I the Lubavitcher Chassidim tabs on them and when it was have not revealed to anyone aside remained role models for others. necessary we found a way of from our Chassidim.’ He told me “The Lubavitcher Chassidim warning them about danger. We how they had gotten instructions were a disciplined group. Working did not imagine that they knew from the Rebbe in America to with them was a great pleasure for about us and even knew some of leave exile, and he added details of our people, after their attempts at dealing with other groups who were not as organized and disciplined, and were not permeated with that faith and enthusiasm. They even showed loyalty to the country they had fled; they did not speak disparagingly about it, nor did they reveal any of its secrets. “When the Rebbe’s son-in-law [Rashag z”l] arrived in the middle of 1947 to visit the Chassidim in the camps in Germany, he traveled to each location in the impressive car of General Clay, Commander of the American Occupation, which was put at his disposal throughout his visit. The Chassidim took pride in this, saying that their Rebbe was great and esteemed not only by his A convoy of trucks belonging to Bricha before it left Chassidim but also by high for the Czech border with refugees ranking goyim, and even the

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to them later on trucks. Each of them dressed in several layers of clothing, put their bundles over their shoulders and were ready to go. The Bricha people told them that from that point on, until they were given their next instruction, they were Greek citizens and they should not react in the event that someone spoke to them in Polish or Russian. The Bricha provided them with forged certificates from the Polish Red Cross, with the forged confirmation of the Soviet official in the city, that they were a group of Greek repatriates who A group of refugees crossing the border with Bricha men leading the way wanted to return to their homeland. president of the United States was When the soldier Why did Bricha choose to give one of his admirers. the refugees Greek identities? “In various ways, mostly with saw that he wasn’t This had to do with the fact that Aliya Bet, the Chassidim and their Greek was a foreign language, and families and their many children responding, he strange to the Russians as well as arrived in Eretz Yisroel. Most of to the Poles, Czechs, and them worked at agriculture and threatened that he Germans. It would be difficult for integrated into life in the land and them to differentiate between in building it up.” would shoot him Greek and Hebrew, since they It should be noted that when because he was a knew neither. Bricha also warned Dekel refers to the courageous girl them to be quiet and if someone who did so much, he must have fraud. asked them a question, to make been referring to Hadassah believe that they didn’t understand Perman a”h, daughter of R’ Chaim anything. Meir Garelik, the mother of R’ That same day, R’ Leibel escaped I heard from Rabbi Zalman Moshe Perman, shliach in to Prague. Hadassah was arrested, Shimon Dworkin, who took this Venezuela, Rabbi Menashe but with the help of Bricha’s route out of the Soviet Union with Perman, shliach in Chile, and R’ connections she was released and a different group, that in 1947, his Chuna Perman, shliach in Toronto also escaped to Prague, but group passed through the Russian- and the sister of R’ Gershon Svetlana was arrested and shot to occupied zone in Austria or Mendel Garelik, shliach and rav in death (may Hashem avenge her Germany. Although there was a Milan, Italy. blood). treaty between the American After she was already in the government and the Russian American zone in Germany, the THE GREEK JEWS government, and military men Chassidim sent her back to Prague As related in the previous from both superpowers worked to help smuggle Anash who were installment, with the help of together and helped one another still in Poland. While engaged in Bricha, my parents left Krakow for in moving refugees (the Russian this work, together with Bricha, a Czechoslovakia. When the time soldiers were given cigarettes, Russian spy caught on to her and came, they were told to pack sugar, chocolate, and vodka by the two other askanim, R’ Leibel necessities that they could carry. American soldiers), the group was Mochkin – who was one of the The rest of their belongings, which at the mercy of some Russian leaders of the escape of the was the bulk of what they had soldiers who were supposed to Chabad Chassidim in Russia and a taken with them from Russia, was escort them to the American zone. girl named Svetlana. The Russian to be left in Krakow and shipped The members of the group police began looking for them.

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a miracle that he had managed to told the Polish guard not to give They all held their continue playing the role of a them a hard time, It would be breath when, in Greek. If he hadn’t, he would have better to allow them to pass given the entire group up to the through immediately, in deference the course of their Russians. to the Russian officer’s signature. Every so often somewhat And anyway, their faces looked journey, some men humorous incidents took place Greek… because they had adopted a Greek “One time, one of the boys in uniform entered identity. It once happened that from Palestine, who had just some genuine Greeks wanted to returned from bringing over a the compartment cross the border but the border group of ‘Greek’ refugees, got off and shone guards suspected that they weren’t the train and saw a Polish border really Greeks since their guard standing on the platform flashlights in their certificates and their language next to a man in civilian clothes. didn’t match the certificates of the The officer asked the young man faces. “Greeks” who they were used to, to speak with the man in civilian or the language (Hebrew) that dress to ascertain whether he was were extremely frightened. If the they had heard the “Greeks” really Greek. With no other Russian soldiers realized that they speaking. recourse, the young man greeted were Russians they would him in ‘classic Greek,’ ‘yekum immediately send them back to PURE ‘GREEK’ JUSTICE purkan min Shmaya china v’chisda.’ Of course, the Greek Siberia. It was nearly impossible An excerpt from the book had no idea what he was saying. for an entire group of dozens of Bricha: When the Polish officer saw that men, women, and children not to “In the first group there were he did not understand ‘Greek,’ he utter a word. What if one of the few Hebrew speakers, so the ordered him to leave on the first children began to cry and spoke to Bricha people served as leaders of train before he arrested him…” his mother in Russian? Their fear the groups. They were the only increased when Bricha told them ones who could speak on behalf of not to speak to their Russian the Greek repatriates. The rest of IN A CLOSED, soldier escorts at all. the people were told that in the DARK TRAIN One of the Russian soldiers event that they were spoken to Although Bricha operated with apparently suspected that they directly, they should answer with the unofficial permission of the weren’t Greeks and started talking verses from Tanach. They also Polish government, their work still to R’ Zalman Shimon in Russian. taught them how to say a few had to be done with utmost R’ Zalman Shimon made believe Greek phrases like ‘good caution for several reasons. First, he didn’t understand. The Russian morning,’ ‘good night’ and ‘how the communist influence was soldier switched to talking in are you.’ spreading quickly through the Red Polish, then Czech, Hungarian, “After two hours of tutorial and Army, which ruled in Poland, and finally German, but R’ Zalman preparation, the groups were on Czechoslovakia and throughout Shimon made believe he didn’t their way to the train station of Eastern Europe. The Russian understand a word. When the Katowice, dressed in clothing like police could easily catch on to soldier saw that he wasn’t those of the real Greek repatriates. their identities and send them responding, he threatened that he From there they went to the back to Russia. would shoot him because he was a Czech-Polish border. At the Second, they also needed to be fraud. border, they gave their list to the wary of the British, who tried with R’ Zalman Shimon continued Polish border guard, who had a all their might to stymie any plans to act as though he didn’t hard time reading such ‘Greek’ of a Jewish organization. The understand a word until the names as ‘B’Reishis bara,’ ‘mah British government continued to Russian soldier finally gave up in nishtana,’ ‘yetzias Mitzrayim,’ etc. exert enormous political pressure disgust. He muttered in Russian, “A Russian guard came to help against those who helped Jews “He’s not normal.” him and when he saw that the organize in special camps, so they In relating this story years certificates were ‘signed’ by the wouldn’t help Jews cross the later, R’ Dworkin says that it was Soviet commander of the city, he borders. The British knew that

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thousands of Jews wanted to head them, though not before his described how she carried her son eastward, to Israel, and it did buddies had paved the way with for hours through the thick forest. whatever it could to stop them. No bribes and forged documents, There was a terrifying stillness and government wanted to enter into signed and sealed. only the wind whistled among the conflict with its English ally and They walked through fields and trees and covered the sound of so their operation had to be as forests, mountains and valleys. their footsteps. Mrs. Ettya was a undercover as possible. Their T’fillas HaDerech took on widow. She had given birth to her The third and most weighty added significance. Every word son after her husband had already reason was to protect the survivors was said with the utmost died and had named him for his from the anti-Semitic Polish rabble concentration and feeling, “Lead father. She wrapped the baby in a who still filled the cities of Poland. us in peace, and direct our steps in blanket and held him close. Every In light of these considerations, peace, support us in peace … and so often she rubbed his feet and my parents and other Chassidim deliver us from the hands of every breathed her warm breath on were put into a closed train enemy and lurking foe, from them, occasionally even warming without windows that used to be a robbers and wild beasts on the them in her mouth so they cattle car. They all held their journey and from all kinds of wouldn’t freeze. breath when, in the course of their calamities that may come to and The two women recalled their journey, some men in uniform afflict the world.” When morning weakness and exhaustion and how entered the compartment and dawned, they were in their paltry bundles weighed on shone flashlights in their faces. To Czechoslovakia. them to the point that they left everyone’s relief, they left without I don’t know which forests and some of their belongings on the asking any questions. borders they traversed, since they road. They didn’t want to lag After hours of travel in which stole across several borders while behind the group. the train covered more than 300 walking, but I once heard my My mother told of the kilometers, they arrived close to mother talking to Mrs. Ettya temporary anguish when my the Polish-Czech border. There Gurary, sister of R’ Zalman sister’s shoe was lost on the way. they were put into barracks to rest Bronstein and the mother of R’ My father knew he wouldn’t be a bit, eat, and get ready for the Mordechai Gurary. My mother able to take cash out of Russia and nighttime crossing of the border. spoke about the treacherous mud, so before he left, he exchanged his Belongings in hand, they the darkness of the forest, and money for a gemstone and hid it crossed the Polish-Czech border their fear as they walked for hours in her shoe, sewing it into the sole on foot along an obstacle-filled in the vast wilderness. between layers of leather. He road of many kilometers. The What Mrs. Ettya remembered hoped to sell it when they settled Bricha contact went in front of was the freezing cold. She in a free country so they would not arrive as paupers. But as they waded through the mud in the forest, the shoe was lost in the darkness. Till this day, they don’t understand how they managed to find that shoe in the dark forest. They arrived safely on the Czech side of the border and boarded another train – this one an ordinary passenger train, which brought them to the Achad refugee camp. This was intended as a way station where they would spend a few days to muster their strength. They were housed in barracks and given minimal rations as they waited for the signal to continue their journey. The barracks that the refugees stayed in after they crossed the Polish-Czech border

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 689 17 689:Beis Moshiach 23/03/2009 8:11 AM Page 18

miracle story THE REBBE GOT THERE FIRST

By Nosson Avrohom

in my condition, any physical “I didn’t know whether to laugh or to exertion could mean a tragedy for cry. How could the Lubavitcher Rebbe me and the baby. I lay there unable to do anything but think, and my be so sure? The doctors had despaired thoughts just made my mood worse. Every day was harder than of my condition, yet the Rebbe, the day before. It was a very delicate situation and I don’t know unimpressed by their diagnosis, was where I got the strength to reject all attempts at convincing me to assuring me that all would be fine.” terminate the pregnancy. Every day that passed without incident, I One evening, I accompanied R’ “You spoke about the thanked G-d. Ido Rahav, the Chabad shliach in Lubavitcher Rebbe, whose Chassid “After two months of lying in the exclusive Ne’ot Afka you are. In my family, we greatly the hospital, my body started neighborhood in northern Tel Aviv, esteem the Rebbe.” rejecting all the medications I was to a Chanukas HaBayis. A few She proceeded to tell a miracle given. The doctors were at a loss, dozen family members, friends and story that she herself had and explained my situation to my neighbors had gathered to celebrate experienced thanks to the Rebbe’s husband and relatives. I began the occasion. bracha in 5741(1981). feeling labor pains very early, One of the first things the “Though my relatives who are before the 30th week. The doctors family had done when they moved here already know this story, I warned that since the baby’s lungs was to look for a Chabad rabbi or would like to share it with you and were still undeveloped, if I gave shliach in the area, and they had the friends and neighbors who are birth at that point the baby would heard excellent reports about R’ gathered here tonight. A few not survive. Rahav and his active Chabad months after my husband and I “I’ll never forget that terrible house. were married, we joyously night. I felt simply awful. It was A mezuza was put up, as is announced that we were expecting pouring outside and I lay in bed customary, and then R’ Rahav a baby. Then problems set in, crying uncontrollably. Nobody addressed the assembled guests. He taking a toll on my physical and could calm me down. I cried for spoke about the concept of a emotional health. hours. Jewish home and the importance of “The doctors prescribed “Late at night a religious- having a mezuza on every doorpost complete bed rest. Nowadays looking woman came in. Sizing up and concluded by explaining the women in that condition are the situation, she asked Rebbe’s prophecy about the enabled to return home, but back empathetically, ‘What happened? imminent Geula. Then everybody then I had to stay in Tel HaShomer Perhaps I can help?’ sat down to a Seudas mitzva. hospital for two months. “Her soothing voice calmed me One of the guests, Tamar “I wasn’t allowed to move, immediately, accomplishing in a Mordowitz, took the floor. She certainly not to exert myself. The moment what my family and the said: doctors repeatedly warned me that medical staff had been unable to.

18 2 Nissan 5769 BEIS MOSHIACH 689:Beis Moshiach 23/03/2009 8:11 AM Page 19

She sat down next to me and I told Lubavitcher Rebbe be so sure? The her what had been happening the doctors had despaired of my “I wasn’t allowed previous months. As I recounted condition, yet the Rebbe, to move, certainly the doctors’ pessimistic unimpressed by their diagnosis, pronouncements that I ought to was assuring me that all would be not to exert abort because according to their fine. medical knowledge I would not “I’m sure you can guess who myself. The give birth to a healthy child in my was right. It was the Rebbe – condition, I began to cry again. without him seeing me, without doctors repeatedly “I kept telling that religious seeing the doctors’ medical woman, whom I later learned was a opinions. From the moment I warned me that in Lubavitcher, how I did not want to received his bracha, my condition my condition, any lose the baby. I had managed to drastically improved. The doctors hang in there all this time, but now continued to issue their dire physical exertion I was out of strength. She listened warnings and predictions, but I felt closely – she had a wonderful my strength beginning to return. could mean a ability to listen. She looked at me “Amit was born in the ninth tenderly and said, ‘Don’t cry, we month in an easy birth, without any tragedy for me will contact the Lubavitcher Rebbe complications. He is sitting right and what he says, will happen.’ here.” and the baby.” “The assurance with which she Amit got up and introduced said this astonished me, and my himself. about how a shliach often thinks he hope was renewed. Though I had “Amit is a successful is going to connect a family to the been raised in a home with emuna medical student at the Rebbe only to discover that the and tradition, I was amazed by the Technion in Chaifa, Rebbe himself has beat him to it. strength of her faith. after receiving NEW “She asked me for my full name two degrees in vfrc ka xufGood news for Anash & Tmimim and my mother’s name and went biology As in the past, for over 50 years, on her way. The next evening she from Bar The barrels of winethe are Kalmanson family will have came into my room with a smile Ilan from the Rebbe from ear to ear. ‘The baby will be University formulated with fine and you’ll complete the and Hebrew Pesach wine pregnancy in a good and successful University in made by the same formula made for the Rebbe MH"M time,’ she said confidently. ‘The Yerushalayim,” with ABSOLUTELY NO WATER OR SUGAR Rebbe even said he would mention Tamar concluded Due to the limited quantity, first come first served! you for a blessing at the gravesite proudly. of his father-in-law.’ When R’ Ido For orders call: “I didn’t know whether to laugh Rahav and I left the 1-718-316-8138 or 1-718-773-3030 or to cry. How could the house, we spoke Make a “Mivtzah Kashrus” in your own computer! Introducing JNET-The world wide web without the world wide worryTM While The Internet can be a helpful tool for business, education Most important, you can now get the JNET Advantage for only and personal use it can also be a potentially dangerous one. a bit more than non-filtered on line providers. That's why J Net was created. If you're ready for the world wide web without the world wide Using exclusive multi-tiered intelligent filtration, the J Net portal worry, you're ready for JNet. is probably the most effective consumer resource for eliminating DIAL UP DSL Unlimited Access 24 Tech Support material not conducive to our needs. More than virtually foolproof, J .NET is also easy - both to 4 Profiles per Account Web Mail install and use. Plus its available in both dialup and high speed Call us toll free at 1-866-866-JNET (5638) DSL and backed by highly trained customer service experts that will solve your problems fast. (mention code “770” for special ANASH Rate)

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 689 19 689:Beis Moshiach 23/03/2009 8:11 AM Page 20

shlichus NEVER ALONE

By Rabbi Yaakov Shmuelevitz

family and wants to increase his Once again, I felt that in the merit of weekly donation by several shlichus, Hashem had made sure that I hundred shekels. “The waiter wasn’t exactly wouldn’t be alone. losing out from the deal,” related the shliach. “I first met him two months earlier, in a store that The very concept of isolation but it was no less amazing. The sells building supplies. I put on or loneliness is foreign to a family was taken to a city far t’fillin with him, and then he shliach. At the Kinus from the center of the country made a contribution to the HaShluchim, the shliach of the where, away from the spotlight, Chabad house. Five minutes later, Rebbe to Alaska, Rabbi the local shliach committed to his cell phone rang. It was a tour Greenberg, apologized that he helping them from A to Z. Of guide asking to visit his could say nothing on the topic of course, the name of the city and restaurant with a group of loneliness because he never feels shliach cannot be publicized. The tourists. The waiter was certain alone. He has twenty Jews in his Arab husband will soon be that this influx of parnasa was in immediate k’hilla, several released from jail so the the merit of the donation he had hundred throughout the city, whereabouts of the family must made to the Chabad house. friends and acquaintances remain unknown. “A week later, I met the waiter worldwide and besides, the Rebbe The shliach excitedly confided again. He put on t’fillin and again is always with him. that he, and all who extended aid gave a nice donation, Apparently, numerous other to this family, saw incredible enthusiastically relating the shluchim feel the same way. The yeshuos. Helping them is no easy results of the previous week’s following stories illustrate how a task. As a result of the hostile, donation. Believe it or not, five shliach of the Rebbe is never primitive Arab environment in minutes later his phone rang and alone. which the children grew up, they it was the tour director, this time unfortunately lack manners. with two groups of tourists who Merely accustoming them to sit at THE REWARDS were going to his restaurant! a table was a monumental task, OF SHLICHUS Recognizing what had brought let alone a Shabbos meal that him the bracha, when we next An amazing story in the news goes on for an hour and a half. met he pledged to make a last summer displayed Yad Members of the community generous weekly donation.” L’Achim’s heroic extrication of a volunteered to take the children Now, seeing where such Jewish woman and her seven on outings, while the shliach contributions go, he upped his children from a house in the Arab undertook to bring the family donation. When a shliach gets quarter of the Old City in food every day or two. involved in a special project, Yerushalayim. Watching the One of the friends of the Hashem will swiftly send him videotaped rescue, people were Chabad house in the city, a waiter unexpected assistance. And the awed by the daring and by profession, was passing by just one who assists him doesn’t lose resourcefulness of the Yad as the shliach stopped his car out, either. L’Achim workers, some of whom near the family’s house and saw took off their yarmulkes so as to him getting out with the boxes of look like Arabs in order to save food. When he saw him doing the IN FARAWAY PLACES this Jewish family. same thing again two days later, R’ Sagi Har Shefer, shliach in The second part of the story he approached him and said that Nes Tziyona, relates: wasn’t publicized in the media, he sees he’s bringing food to this Some of my shlichus involves

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traveling around the world in mine! I felt that Hashem had order to enable people to take made sure that I wouldn’t be When a shliach part in the Rebbe’s shlichus work alone. gets involved in a (a.k.a. fundraising). When my On another trip, I was itinerary on one such trip traveling in the United States by special project, included a flight between two car. I was wiped out by the work states in the United States, states of the previous days and Hashem will with hardly any Jewish unenthusiastic about the long, communities, much less a lonely trip ahead of me. As I swiftly send him Chassidic one, I resigned myself walked out of my lodgings, I saw to being a bit lonely on this flight. a Polisher Chassid standing at a unexpected I boarded and took my seat, nearby gas station. He was assistance. And looking around me as more heading in the same direction as I people boarded the plane and was, and ended up traveling with the one who found their places. The plane was me in my car. Once again, I felt almost full when, to my that in the merit of shlichus, I assists him doesn’t astonishment, a Lubavitcher got was not alone. on and took the seat next to lose out, either.

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 689 21 QUIZ

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2 Disability income products underwritten and issued by Berkshire Life Insurance Company of America, Pittsfield, MA, a wholly owned stock subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, NY, or The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, NY. 689:Beis Moshiach 23/03/2009 8:11 AM Page 23

profile WOMAN OF VALOR

told her. She went to visit her at the Brief notes on the life of a Chassidic asylum and encouraged her, “Do wife, mother and grandmother, a you want to get out of here? Put on some make-up and brush your tower of strength to her family and sheitel.” The attention to her appearance countless others. * Mrs. Basha (Batya) showed the doctors that she wanted to live and they moved her to a Reinitz a”h. regular room. A few days later they sent her home, but her husband EARLY DAYS influenced others to be happy too. didn’t want her. Batya convinced him not to divorce her, until he Basha (Batya) Reinitz a”h was During the Shiva, one of her good finally agreed to take her back. She born on 9 Elul, 1939, in friends sighed, “What’s going to then came to her friend’s home and Yerushalayim. Her parents were Reb be? Who will cheer me up now?” helped her clean, cook and get into Shmuel Chaim and Yocheved Pesel She saw the good in every little a normal routine. Kubalkin. She grew up in Battei thing. She would say, “I don’t need When the daughters of this Machseh in the Old City. expensive jewelry in order to be woman went to be menachem avel, Her father was a Chassid of the happy; even a little decoration for they said that they would never Rebbe Rashab and later, of the the house makes me happy.” forget what Batya did for them Rebbe Rayatz. He taught Tanya in In her later years she lived in when they were little. She was there various shuls in Yerushalayim and Crown Heights. A childhood friend for them through the difficult times was greatly encouraged to do so by in Yerushalayim said that Batya when their mother was sick. the Rebbe. would call her frequently, despite They lived near the Kosel and the distance, in order to bring her every Shabbos during the winter, joy after she was widowed, PREVENTING her father would give hot tea to something that even her friend in AN AUTOPSY people who came to daven. In the the next building didn’t bother to do. On Shushan Purim, 1971, summer he offered cold water. Batya’s mother passed away in Batya always said that although Hadassah hospital in Yerushalayim. they had almost nothing to eat, WISELY RUNNING Batya was with her in her final every Motzaei Shabbos her father HER HOME moments. When she died, the would take some herring and a She had a good friend who grew doctors asked her to leave the room piece of bread for Melaveh Malka. up with her in the orphanage. After since they wanted to transfer her Her father passed away when her marriage, she fell into a body to the morgue. she was six, and her mother put the depression. Her husband wanted a In those days, autopsies were children into a frum orphanage divorce. He put her in a mental often done without the family’s since she was unable to raise them asylum and told the doctors that she permission. Unwilling to allow herself. wanted to commit suicide. She was anyone to violate her mother’s body, At the age of seventeen she put into a room in isolation. she refused to leave the room. She married R’ Yosef Zev Reinitz and Batya tried to visit her at home a grabbed hold of the bed. The they settled in Beit Ungarin in few times but she wasn’t there, of security guard was summoned and Yerushalayim. course. The husband initially tried he demanded that she leave the to evade her questions as to where room. She yelled back, “You won’t CONSTANT JOY his wife was, but eventually he move me from my mother! Don’t She was always happy and she submitted to Batya’s pressure and touch her! You won’t get even the

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retina from her eye!” bracha. Rebbe!” Her words had the desired When they saw that she was “Thanks to your mother, I went effect and the hoodlums left. The adamant, they tried to trick her into home in a calm frame of mind, next time she went by the Rebbe for leaving the room, saying that her certain that the Rebbe’s bracha “dollars,” the Rebbe gave her a big husband was waiting for her outside would be fulfilled,” said the woman, smile. and wanted to talk to her. She who is now raising several children. Mivtza Moshiach was especially insisted, “I am not budging from Batya always invited guests for dear to her. She once met a here; if he wants to talk to me, he Shabbos and Yom Tov, especially childhood teacher of hers at the can come here.” young people who were first Kosel and told her that she She faithfully guarded the body learning about Judaism. remembered her telling the class of her mother all night, until her Every Motzaei Shabbos, she that Moshiach can’t come on family and the Chevra Kadisha would ask her husband to collect Shabbos. Batya had explained that came in the morning and made the some copies of Yechi HaMelech and Moshiach can, indeed, come on arrangements for the funeral. put them in the Ezras Nashim so Shabbos! the women could enjoy them too. She tried going on mivtzaim CONCERN FOR OTHERS every Sunday to Brighton Beach. Every morning, when her She always loved to help the SERVING THE KING husband went to daven, she would unfortunate and the needy. She She was greatly mekushar to the say to him, “Bring Moshiach!” listened to them without appearing Rebbe M”HM and his mivtzaim. Every Motzaei Shabbos, like her condescending. Batya was a regular She and another woman once went father, she would have Melaveh participant at shiurim in 770. Once, Malka with her grandchildren. They noticing one of the participants would say the Twelve P’sukim and watching as another woman Every morning, Yechi, give tz’daka and tell a story drank her coffee and had a bite to when her husband about the Baal Shem Tov. eat, she went to Kingston and Even during her illness in her bought her a coffee and a sandwich. went to daven, she later years, she was still b’simcha The woman thanked her gratefully and waited for the hisgalus of the and said Batya had revived her. She would say to him, Rebbe. Every day she would daven, continued to buy her a coffee and learn the daily Chitas and Rambam, sandwich nearly every day. “Bring and then use every free moment to Batya was sensitive to others’ say T’hillim, the importance of needs. She was bothered that at Moshiach!” which she constantly stressed. When every farbrengen in 770 there was her pain would keep her up at night, food for the men and nothing for on mivtzaim in Kiryat Yovel in she would take some medication the women. She asked her husband Yerushalayim. At one home, the and then sit and say T’hillim. to bring up some food or to arrange husband emerged with a stick, Sometimes she would finish all of that refreshments be brought up to screaming and threatening to strike T’hillim twice in one day. the Ezras Nashim too. them. Batya grabbed hold of the She passed away this year, on 12 During the Shiva, a woman told stick and told the other woman to Kislev, and is survived by her Batya’s son that twenty years ago, leave, and then quickly followed husband, children, grandchildren, she had gone to the Rebbe for a suit. Her friend, pale and shaken, and great-grandchildren, Chassidim bracha for children. All her wanted to go home but Batya said, and mekusharim to the Rebbe. pregnancies had ended in “No! We have to continue with May she be a melitzas yosher for miscarriages. After she passed by mivtzaim.” us all. Just as she made a shturem the Rebbe for “dollars” and received On a visit to Eretz Yisroel in throughout her life with all the his bracha, she still wasn’t relaxed. 5749, when the Rebbe told people Rebbe’s mivtzaim, especially in She sat in 770, crying copiously as to vote “Gimmel” in the elections, bringing about Yemos HaMoshiach, she recited T’hillim. she saw some T’mimim in B’nei may she make a big shturem up With genuine concern, Batya Brak manning a “Gimmel” booth. A Above and not rest until the Rebbe approached her and asked how she group of hoodlums wanted to comes. “Arise and sing those who could be of help.. After hearing the overturn their table, but Batya dwell in the dust,” and she among woman’s story, she encouraged her screamed at them, “Watch out! You them. to be confident with the Rebbe’s are starting up with the Lubavitcher

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feature WHO WOULD HAVE DREAMED?

By Nosson Avrohom

East Side. He is a middle-aged, By the time he came back the chuppa modern Orthodox man, and I’ve had already taken place. The rabbi been friendly with him for years. Sadly, he first got engaged when rewrote the k’suba at that point but to he was over fifty. The woman was a divorcee who lived in Flatbush. our dismay, we discovered another She had raised and married off her children, and already had problem. This new k’suba had the grandchildren. Their wedding took place in the kalla’s status as “single” rather than living room of someone’s home in “divorced,” so we sent the fellow out Flatbush, but was a joyous affair nonetheless. After so many years of again to bring yet another k’suba. I was bachelorhood, there was great reason to rejoice. I was invited to preoccupied with this the entire time, take part in the simcha, and arrived early, even before the rabbi who but in the meantime, the music began was going to be the mesader kiddushin. and people started dancing. One of the chassan’s closest friends asked to talk to me. He was Rabbi Kasriel Kastel is a pillar up until recently, on the Lower dressed in Chassidic garb but was of the Lubavitch Youth not affiliated with any particular Organization in Crown Heights. Chassidus. He told me that he had His work is done without fanfare, learned in a Chabad school as a for he prefers to stay out of the child for a year or two, but hadn’t spotlight. had any connection to the Rebbe or When I met with him in his Chabad since. He said he had to office in the Levi Yitzchok Library, tell me about a dream he had had he told me an amazing story which the night before. took place last summer. The Rebbe appeared to him in “After this happened,” said R’ his dream and told him two things: Kastel, “we could see how even 1) that he shouldn’t worry about now, when we don’t see the Rebbe, the chassan marrying this woman we have a Rebbe!” (apparently, he had reservations about the shidduch) and 2) despite *** his being a good friend of the I have a good friend who lived, chassan, he shouldn’t sign the Rabbi Kasriel Kastel

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The Rebbe at a wedding as the k’suba is being read

k’suba but should have someone When the rabbi, a local rabbi couldn’t get over it! On the line else do so. from Flatbush, showed up, he where the rabbi was supposed to I told him that the first thing asked me to volunteer to be the write the name of the chassan, he the Rebbe told him was readily second witness to sign on the had written the name of the kalla’s understandable. The Rebbe saw k’suba instead of the friend who father! I quickly pointed this out to that he was anxious for his friend had bowed out. I had no problem him and he conceded that it was a and so he reassured him. I agreeing. The rabbi wrote the name big mistake. He thanked me for personally thought that his dream of the chassan and his father, the asking to read the k’suba first, merely reflected what was on his name of the kalla and her father, rather than just signing mind, and that he was nervous and asked me to sign. As I always automatically. Then he said that about signing the k’suba because of do, I asked to read the k’suba in since he did not have another the circumstances and his worries order to see what I was signing. k’suba form with him, he would that they were not suited to one While reading it, I was cross out the error and write the another. astonished to find a mistake. I proper name, and we would sign

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our initials next to it like you do on that point but to our dismay, we the friend of the chassan came over a check. discovered another problem. This to me and said, “Now you Even b’diaved there is a problem new k’suba had the kalla’s status as understand the Rebbe’s second with making this kind of “single” rather than “divorced,” so instruction. If I had signed the correction, and it was fairly easy to we sent the fellow out again to k’suba, I wouldn’t have asked to go and buy another k’suba. bring yet another k’suba. I was read it. I would have relied on the Nevertheless, the rabbi didn’t want preoccupied with this the entire mesader kiddushin and the couple to wait, and elected to use that time, but in the meantime, the would have had a problematic k’suba for the chuppa. I, however, music began and people started k’suba. The Rebbe, who knew you was uncomfortable about it. dancing. were coming to this wedding, At a certain point, an Admur We had told the chassan, who asked me not to sign so that I who lives in the chassan’s had been informed about the would tell you the dream and you neighborhood walked in, having problem from the beginning, to would replace me and find the also come to participate in the relax and we would take care of the mistake.” simcha. I told him what had k’suba. The man finally returned Once it registered, I just happened and he, too, was not with another k’suba before the couldn’t get over it. I had been the satisfied with the correction that bentching. The rabbi had already Rebbe’s shliach to ensure that this the rabbi had made. He sent one of left, but we took care of the new couple had a halachically correct his assistants to Boro Park to buy a k’suba ourselves. We bentched after k’suba. Even nowadays, we see new k’suba. the k’suba was properly written and how the Rebbe takes care of us. By the time he came back the signed. I recently met the chassan and chuppa had already taken place. It was only afterwards that it hit he thanked me warmly for being The rabbi rewrote the k’suba at me. When we finished bentching, the Rebbe’s shliach.

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memoirs

IN THE HOME OF THE REBBE MAHARASH At a certain point, my father slept AVREMEL in the home of the Rebbe Maharash. This enabled him to see the Rebbe Maharash’s bedroom, dining room, yechidus room, etc. His room in the Rebbe’s house was next to the beis SMARGONER? midrash and every Thursday night he was able to hear the bachurim in the big zal who sat and learned Nigleh and Chassidus through the night, interspersed with niggunim HES A PNIMI! and farbrenging. Before his bar mitzva, my father ate on Shabbos with R’ Hirsch, the Prepared for publication by Avrohom Reinitz butcher of Lubavitch. One Cheshvan night, he was late. By the time he arrived at the butcher’s house, the The first of two fascinating chapters door was closed and the family was written by R’ Hillel Zaltzman about his sleeping. Brokenhearted and very hungry, he went back to the zal. On father, R’ Avrohom, a”h. * Here he the way, he heard the strong voice of the Rebbe Rashab as he said a describes his father’s years in yeshiva maamer in the zal for the older talmidim. until his marriage and the miraculous When he arrived at the yeshiva, his friends advised him to go to R’ birth of his first child. Michoel der Alter, who was known as a Chassid with a heart of gold. My father, R’ Avrohom Gemara Eilu Metzios and was then My father heeded their advice and Zaltzman a”h, was born on Rosh called in for a talk with the hurried to R’ Michoel’s house. He Chodesh Cheshvan, 5660 (1899), menahel, the future Rebbe Rayatz. knocked lightly at the door and was in Smargon. His parents were The Rebbe asked him why he had quickly admitted. It was obvious that Dovber and Shaina Zaltzman, and come to Lubavitch and why he R’ Michoel had already gone to sleep he had ten siblings. preferred this yeshiva to other and had gotten up especially for the A shadar (fundraising yeshivos in Lithuania. The Rebbe young boy. He went to the kitchen emissary), R’ Tuvia Skolnik, came also asked detailed questions about and served my father some lokshen. to town and convinced my the material and spiritual My father recalled that the grandfather, R’ Dovber, to send his circumstances in his home. previous month, on Yom Kippur 11 and a half year old son, my The Rebbe dismissed him night, R’ Michoel had been too ill to father, to yeshivas Tomchei without indicating whether he had daven in yeshiva. Eventually, a bed T’mimim in Lubavitch. The been accepted into the yeshiva. My was brought for him and he yeshiva had a good reputation as a father was very nervous about this. davened lying down. My father felt place of Torah and yiras That year, the Yomim Noraim were uncomfortable for bothering this old Shamayim, and my grandparents, the Days of Judgment in the full Chassid. despite their apprehension about sense of the phrase. On Rosh Less than 24 hours later, on sending a young boy away from HaShana he cried throughout the Motzaei Shabbos, R’ Michoel passed home, gladly took advantage of t’fillos and beseeched Hashem that away. My father felt obligated to join this opportunity. he be accepted into the yeshiva. one of the watches that sat in his My father joined the shadar and He was thrilled when, after house before the funeral and said they eventually reached Lubavitch Yom Tov, he was told he was T’hillim near his bed. The Rebbe a week before Rosh HaShana, accepted. Rashab and his son, the Rebbe 5761 (1910). He was tested in Rayatz, attended his funeral, which

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took place Sunday night. to say T’hillim with the Rebbe [In Beis Moshiach Issue #664 Rashab. The Rebbe would recite it The talmidim would there is a letter that my father wrote out loud and with a special chayus. recite Kiddush to his grandson, R’ Yosef Yitzchok He also remembered how on Erev Zaltzman, shliach in Toronto, about Yom Kippur, as soon as dawn broke, together, and when how he came to be expelled by the the Rebbe Rashab would give the mashgiach for some mischief and chicken he used for Kaparos to the they drank in a was re-instated in the yeshiva after shochet. he pleaded with the Rebbe Rashab.] On Rosh HaShana night, the reclining position Rebbe Rashab spent about two they each leaned on YOMIM NORAIM hours on the Shmoneh Esrei, AND PESACH NIGHT humming to himself the words of the the person next to t’filla. My father would nostalgically IN LUBAVITCH recount how he would stand them. It looked like My grandfather reminisced in a together with the other T’mimim letter to his grandson how on Erev saying T’hillim quietly, and from dominoes, with each Rosh HaShana, before Mincha, all time to time would hear the Rebbe’s the T’mimim, young and old, came sweet voice in prayer. My father also falling to his left.

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related that one Shabbos, at seven in davening in the shul near the Ohel. the morning, he observed the Rebbe That year, the In general, the visits to the Ohel, Rashab returning home from the Yomim Noraim to the gravesites of the Tzemach mikva. Tzedek and the Rebbe Maharash, One year, before his bar mitzva, were the Days of were engraved forever in my father’s my father participated in all the heart. He would often picture t’fillos of Yom Kippur in the shul Judgment in the himself standing next to the next to the Ohel in Lubavitch. The gravesites and saying the maaneh chazan, an old Chassid of the Rebbe full sense of the lashon. Maharash, reported that the Rebbe The night of the Seder held a Maharash came to him in a dream phrase. On Rosh place of honor in my father’s and asked him to daven in the shul HaShana he cried memories of Tomchei T’mimim. A next to the Ohel. That Yom Kippur, small table was set up in the center my father slept on the floor in a throughout the of the zal and a beautifully corner of the shul, covered with handcrafted wooden candelabra was some straw. It was a Yom Kippur t’fillos and placed upon it. This candelabra was that was engraved deep in his soul constructed by the Rebbe Maharash and every Yom Kippur he would beseeched after his doctors told him that picture himself standing and working with his hands would be Hashem. good for his health. It was made out of 613 pieces of wood and it had thirteen (“echad”) holders – one in PLEASE GIVE ME A JEWISH BURIAL the center and two sets around it. I heard the following story from my father, who said it made a deep The outer set had eight holders and impression on him. the inner set had four. A person came to Lubavitch and davened Mincha with great Around that table were eighteen concentration and tears. In those days, this was a typical sight when tables, around which sat 300 new people came to Lubavitch so this did not attract much attention. talmidim. When the Seder began, Some time later, my father went out to the yard and he suddenly heard they would announce: Table 1 – the sound of someone choking in the outhouse. He rushed over and Kiddush, and so on. At every table, found the man lying on the ground with his eyes closed, unconscious, when it was their turn, the talmidim with a smell of poison coming from his mouth. On his chest was a note would recite Kiddush together, and which read: No one is implicated in my death; please give me a Jewish when they drank in a reclining burial. position they each leaned on the My father ran to his friends and they carried the body to the yard person next to them. My father said and tried to resuscitate him. They forced him to vomit until he threw it looked like dominoes, with each up all the poison he had swallowed. falling to his left. On Acharon shel When he recovered, he told my father his story. He came from a Pesach there was a large farbrengen wealthy family and was on his way from Austria to Eretz Yisroel, where with the Rebbe Rashab. his family lived. On the way, he had been robbed of all his money and My father said that he had the was left penniless. For a few days he had had nothing to eat and he z’chus to hold the Mitteler Rebbe’s simply could not bring himself to ask for a hand-out. That day, he pipe and the tobacco smelled fresh. couldn’t take it anymore and after davening that heartfelt Mincha he When my father spoke about tried to commit suicide. Lubavitch, he would describe the My father raised money for the man’s trip, prepared a bag full of small, low, wooden houses of the food and sent him on his way. Before he left, the man said that his last town, which were on the verge of name was a composite of an Austrian and a Hebrew name. He begged collapse. One time, as he went to the my father to look up his family if he ever went to Eretz Yisroel, and mikva near Binyamin Shtibel, he saw they would pay him for his efforts. a little, low house in the corner Over fifty years later, when we arrived in Eretz Yisroel, we asked my which they said was the house of father whether he had found the man’s family. He said that he had Uncle Yossel, the uncle of the heard about a family by this name that lived in the Gadera area but he Tzemach Tzedek. He was a man of did not locate them. great spiritual stature and the

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Tzemach Tzedek greatly respected Narzan, Crimea, where he rented an him. apartment from a Jew. After living My father said that when they there for a year and drinking warm told the Rebbe Rashab about a Jew spring water he was completely named Chasidovsky who lived in healed. Rostov and built a big house on During that year, his landlord Varantchovsky Street, the Rebbe gave him a plot of land and my said, “A big house – great father learned gardening. He loved concealment.” gardening because with this work I once heard that at one of the you see and hope for Hashem’s Yud-Tes Kislev farbrengens, when all blessing and also because it’s very the T’mimim went to the healthy to be outside in the fresh air. farbrengen, my father elected to stay The landlord played the violin and next to the bed of a sick bachur so my father asked him to instruct him. he wouldn’t remain alone. During Over the years, on various the farbrengen, the Rebbe Rashab occasions, my father would play the said that he doesn’t know which is violin for weddings or Chassidishe more important – the bachurim who farbrengens. came to the farbrengen or the After the Bolshevik Revolution in bachur who remained with his sick 1920, there was anarchy in Russia. friend. Various gangs operated throughout Russia. One of the most famous My father playing the violin in Eretz Yisroel MIRACULOUS RESCUE bandit armies, notorious for its anti- ON THE TRAIN Semitism, was the Machnovites under the leadership of the anti- thrown off the moving train. Once, In his youth, my father suffered Semite Machnov. when my father was in his twenties, from asthma and the doctors told In those terrible times, a train he had to travel by train. Since his him to move to someplace warmer. ride was dangerous for Jews. A beard announced the fact that he They recommended the Crimean passenger who fell into the hands of was Jewish, he tried to sit quietly in peninsula. My father went to one of the Machnovites could be a corner of the compartment so as not to attract undue attention. Not far from him sat one of the Machnovites, who began to mock him . Terrified, my father made believe he did not realize they were talking about him, but the hoodlum increased the volume of his curses until he approached my father, grabbed him by the neck and started dragging him to the end of the train towards the doors. My father began pleading with him, saying, “Let me be, I am still young, I also want to live…” but the thug continued to pull him towards the doors, cursing angrily. Suddenly, from a corner of the compartment, a huge man lunged forward. Towering over the Machnovite, he started screaming at him, “What are you doing? Leave him alone!” Chassidic farbrengen with my uncle, R’ Boruch As he said this, he approached Duchman, before he left Samarkand the Machnovite and grabbed him by

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the neck. The Machnovite let go of father with a smile and said, “I my father and began arguing with During the taught that anti-Semite a lesson! If the giant, saying, “He’s just a dirty farbrengen, the he remained alive after I threw him Jew...” The giant grabbed him firmly off the moving train, he will by the neck and dragged him to the Rebbe Rashab remember this until the end of his end of the compartment, opened the life.” door, and pushed him out of the said that he When my father was of age, the racing train. Then he came back to shidduch with my mother, Bracha, the compartment in a calmer frame doesn’t know was suggested. When her brother, R’ of mind and gently asked my father Avrohom Boruch Pevsner, the to come over to him. which is more mashpia in Minsk, asked the Rebbe My father, who did not important – the Rayatz about the shidduch, the understand what was going on or Rebbe said, “Avremel Smargoner? who this man was, was afraid to bachurim who Nu… he is a p’nimi!” refuse. Quaking, he got up and went My father was a Chassid in the over to him. The enormous man said came to the full sense of the word but it was all reassuringly, “Don’t be afraid of me. in a p’nimius’dike way with him. An Come with me and I’ll show you farbrengen or the outside observer could erroneously something.” think he was a simple person. An My father, still trembling, bachur who outstanding example of his yiras followed him to the entrance of the remained with his Shamayim was the fact that compartment. There the man throughout the terrible times he lived whispered to him: “You should know sick friend. through in the Soviet Union, he that I am a Her Tzedek (the never touched his beard and he was Ukrainians say a “Hei” for a man said the first parsha of Shma to moser nefesh for the chinuch of his “Gimmel” and so he meant a substantiate his words. He even children (as will be related in part righteous convert).” My father picked up his shirt and showed my two). looked at him incredulously and the father his tzitzis. He parted from my A SURPRISING INSTRUCTION IN MASHKE FROM POTATOES YECHIDUS My father would occasionally visit his parents and relatives in My father and my uncle, R’ his hometown of Smargon. On one of these visits, he heard about Boruch Duchman, were brothers-in- a man in the city who was having a hard time raising the money law. Both of them were married to he required to marry off his daughter. My father had pity on him the sisters of the mashpia R’ and decided to save him some money. He went over to him and Avrohom Boruch Pevsner. A short said that he knew how to make mashke out of potatoes and would time after his wedding, my father make the amount that the man needed for the wedding. In those heard that the shochet in the town of days, mashke was expensive and this would be a significant Cherepovets, in Siberia, had died. savings. The community was left without a The truth was that my father had never tried producing shochet and many were eating treif. mashke out of potatoes. His ‘experience’ was limited to one time My father went to his brother-in- that he had watched someone else make mashke. But he pitied the law, my uncle R’ Boruch, who lived man and decided to try his luck. in Medvedev near Leningrad, and He mixed potatoes with sugar, as he had once seen, and put it studied sh’chita for three months. in a warm place to ferment. Days went by and nothing happened. Since the community in Siberia was My father felt terrible when he thought that because of him there waiting for him, he rushed his would be no mashke at the wedding. The man regretted having studies and learned the halachos in agreed to this kid’s suggestion – my father was all of 14 at the the condensed s’farim Simla time. In the end, Hashem rewarded my father’s sincere intentions. Chadasha and Meleches ha’Sh’chita. The mixture eventually did ferment and by the wedding, the He spent most of his time at the mashke was ready and it was delicious. town slaughterhouse, where they

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shechted many chickens and cows that came from the merchants in Leningrad (this was at a time when the government still allowed private enterprise to a limited extent). After he finished his studies, and before traveling to Cherepovets, he went to the Rebbe Rayatz. This was in 1927. When he entered the room for yechidus, the Rebbe asked him, “What did you learn?” My father told him the truth, that he had learned the laws of sh’chita and treifos from Simla Chadasha with the commentary of the Levushei Serad. The Rebbe smiled and said, “Ah tendetner shochet (i.e. a natural).” Then the Rebbe asked my father from whom he was going to get a kabbala (certification) for sh’chita. My father answered that he intended to ask Rabbi Shimon Lazarov, who was the Lubavitcher rav in Leningrad. The Rebbe said he should get kabbala from Rabbi Katzenelenbogen. A difference of opinion had recently come to the fore between the Rebbe Rayatz and Rabbi Katzenelenbogen regarding a meeting of rabbanim that the Yevsektzia wanted to have in Leningrad. My father did not understand why he should go to him, but he did not dare say this to the Rebbe directly. He merely asked, “Why him?” The Rebbe replied, “Rabbi Katzenelenbogen is an erlicher Yid (a Jew with integrity).” My father, Rebbe raised his hands and said, Chassidus… who had learned only those s’farim, “You will have children, you will My father later also received since he knew that in the meantime, have children.” kabbala from Rabbi Shlomo Yosef the people were eating treif, said that After the yechidus, my father Zevin, who was a rav in the city of he was afraid that Rabbi went to Rabbi Katzenelenbogen, Kalintzy, in the Ukraine, at the time. Katzenelenbogen would ask him where he saw the fulfillment of the He also received kabbala from Rabbi about the Poskim and Rishonim Rebbe’s bracha. When he spoke to Lazarov. All three kabbalos were which he hadn’t studied. The Rebbe the rav in learning, he managed to later confiscated by the NKVD when assured him, “Vestu vissen (you will impress him like a big scholar. After they searched our house. know).” he examined the knife used for large It is known that shochtim don’t My father utilized this animals three times and found that like giving their knives to others to opportunity to cry to the Rebbe that my father had prepared it properly, check, but my father was the he was married for over six years Rabbi Katzenelenbogen wrote him a opposite. When he met someone and did not have children. The nice kabbala. Before he left, the rav who knew how to check a knife, he warned him not to learn happily gave him his knife.

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In general, my father told children, they would be from her, good news and the Rebbe’s response Lubavitcher men to study sh’chita, at since the Rebbe had promised that was that it would be a healthy child. least how to shecht chickens. He they – plural – would have children. When my mother went to the said that you could never know Moved by my mother’s words, hospital to give birth, R’ Itche der where you would end up and you my father wrote to the Rebbe, saying Masmid said she should take the might live in a place without a that all the doctors said my mother Rebbe’s letter with her to the shochet. If you know how, you can could not have children and would hospital. R’ Itche was not surprised shecht for yourself and others. have children only when hair grew when my parents informed him on the palms of their hands. The they’d had a baby girl. He had THE REBBE’S PROMISE Rebbe’s answer was that my mother understood this from the Rebbe’s FULFILLED should go to a bigger doctor in Kiev. answer, since he had not said, “ben My parents went to Kiev and had zachar.” My parents had gone to the an appointment with the specialist. In great joy over the open biggest doctors and they all said my After examining my mother, he said miracle that happened with the birth mother would never have children. in surprise, “Who said she can’t give of their daughter, R’ Itche My mother once cried to my father, birth?” farbrenged all week in my parents’ “Soon ten years will have gone by When my mother heard this, she house. When my mother returned and we will have to divorce. Why nearly fainted. When she had from the hospital, the house was should you continue to suffer? You composed herself, the doctor gave topsy-turvy. can get married to someone else and her some medication and within a When my sister cried, my father have children!” short time, she was pregnant with would jokingly say, “Who is crying? My father said that if in Heaven my older sister, Fruma Sarah. The daughter of Bracha the akara they decreed that he should have My parents told the Rebbe the (barren woman)?”

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THE REBBE’S NIGGUN Dear ANASH & Temimim This year, in honor of Yud Alef Nissan, the 107th birthday of the Rebbe MH”M Shlit”a – a Lubavitch committee will be formed to choose the new niggun which will assigned as the “Rebbe’s Niggun” for his 107th year. The board will consist of experienced Baalei tefillah and Baalei menagnim who have previously participated in the “Lubavitch niggunim committee.” Niggunim can be sent until the 3rd of Nissan to: E-mail: [email protected] * The Rebbe’s letter that was received 3 years ago in connection to the establishment of the committee: 689:Beis Moshiach 23/03/2009 8:12 AM Page 36

chinuch HERE WE EDUCATE

By Yisroel Yehuda Translated By Michoel Leib Dobry

filled from wall to wall. The students The expectations in a regular cheider are seriously involved in their program does not match the needs of studies, and the full staff of instructors is constantly working to every bachur. In recent years, various provide each student with proper direction and guidance, study with alternative yeshiva programs have him in chavrusa, and help him catch up in the learning material so that arisen tailored to the needs of the every student will attain his full potential. particular student. A growing A large asphalt area on the percentage of students are having surrounding yeshiva property has been set aside for sports activities. At difficulties dealing with the traditional one end of this area is a large shed for holding workshops, alongside an yeshiva framework, and simply getting olive grove that contributes a calming and relaxing atmosphere. In through the year is a challenge for the addition, several students have taken the initiative of raising a collection of student, his parents, and the teaching animals. staff. Now, however, there is a viable The yeshiva students have just finished davening Shacharis and option – the newly expanded Yeshivas eating breakfast, and with the vitality of youth, they rush to utilize the last Chanoch L’Naar of Tzfas. * A personal moments of their break. About fifty boys fill the large newly acquired lot. visit and firsthand experience. Some head for the basketball court, while others go straight to the One morning a few months ago, of Tzfas. computer room. the Holy City of Tzfas awoke to a A visit to the yeshiva’s new A visitor will immediately notice new reality. The telephone service location is a source of tremendous that while the student’s chassidic vehicles and offices that had satisfaction. The zal and dining hall yeshiva dress and mode of inhabited the “Bezeq site” had been are at the heart of the small yet solid expression and the beautiful, replaced by professionals and facility, surrounded by dormitory spacious zal and superbly built tractors. Under the direction of quarters and classrooms. mikveh testify to the place’s yeshiva Rabbi Shneur Zalman Lipsker and The spirit of Tomchei T’mimim nature, there are various administrative staff member Rabbi that envelopes the yeshiva is components which indicate that this Chaim Sholom HaLevi Segal, a apparent from the moment one is a place quite unique in character. massive renovation was underway. enters. There is the ever-present Welcome to the yeshiva k’tana After a prolonged fundraising study of Gemara, tests, going home Chanoch L’Naar! campaign, Yeshivas Chanoch L’Naar for Shabbos – but above all, there is packed up its belongings in nearby the very impressive campaign on Right: A rare and unique combination Moshav Dalton and established its learning pages of Gemara by heart. of personalized study and a vibrant new dwelling place on the outskirts The large and renovated “zal” is Chabad yeshiva atmosphere

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Chanoch L’Naar is not just the difficulty managing a demanding Yeshivas Chanoch L’Naar specifically name of a yeshiva; it’s the name of a learning schedule and disinterest in with these boys in mind. The unique professional educational approach their studies, leading them to start nature to this yeshiva stems from its that comes from the heart. It’s the looking for other ways to occupy deep educational understanding, product of a wonderful and their time, which sometimes results which stands behind every step it dedicated staff, a moniker for a large in strange ideas and diversions. takes. Every class, every chavrusa, chassidic family that constitutes a Until a few years ago, the best a every staff member, every resource, home away from home for the student, his parents, and the and every “ruling” made by the students, and the conduit for their teaching staff could hope for was to yeshiva administration is thoroughly growth and success. “get through the year.” In this “ideal calculated after consultation with situation,” the student would have professionals in the field of AGAINST THE DEMANDS no success in his assignments while education, and testing to determine OF THE YESHIVA WORLD experiencing failure after failure and if the desired educational objective more and more administrative has been achieved. The yeshiva world is a most punishment, leading to a build-up of challenging and demanding one. The frustration that can have an effect on student is expected to invest “THEY BROUGHT his developing personality. ME BACK TO LIFE” considerable effort in lengthy classes Eventually, many students simply left and to persevere in his Torah study the program. The break is over, and the boys and personal avoda, based on a The other alternative was to send leave their various pursuits and rush strict schedule which is not always the student to a non-yeshiva back to class, where their teachers suitable for the needs of each framework, often not Chabad or are already waiting to give bachur. Our Rebbeim established even not religious at all. them a shiur in Yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim – which We’re not talking about boys who Nigleh. At the produces hundreds of pious and have a hard time with the demands entrance to one scholarly young men each year – in of yiras Shamayim. In most cases, of the order that their avoda should these are good boys with strong classrooms, continue to bear fruit. aptitude who are willing and a student In recent years, the need has interesting in making progress in tells us arisen for a more individual-based their Avodas Hashem and becoming his own yeshiva program that fits the needs T’mimim in every respect, except of the particular student. A growing that the learning framework proves percentage of students are having difficult for them. difficulties dealing with the Six years ago, Rabbi Chaim traditional yeshiva framework. Many Eliezer Wilschanski founded capable bachurim are experiencing

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personal story: rather hard,” the young man said as Efraim Bernstein, Rabbi David “I started off learning in a he smiled shyly, “as I already saw Shaer, Rabbi Meir David, and Rabbi regular cheider, and afterwards I my future in Mizrachi. My parents Avraham Rabinowitz. The registered in one of the yeshivos. I had already given up on me, so there uniqueness of Chanoch L’Naar takes didn’t really fit in over there, and I really wasn’t anyone for him to expression both in the actual soon found myself out of the speak with. Nevertheless, he material and in the learning style. program. With no organized activity, wouldn’t give in. He invested many The classrooms have fewer students, I started looking for something to do hours, came to my house, and spoke the classes are shorter, and the to fill my time. Eventually, I with my parents and me until he studies are accompanied by visual registered with a national religious somehow finally got me to agree to aids, worksheets, and a tutor in yeshiva high school in Eretz Yisroel. come for a trial period. In fact, the every class. “I don’t know how exactly, but trial period lasted much longer than The main task of the teaching one of the teachers here – Rabbi originally planned. They brought me staff comes after class. They have Avremi Rabinowitz – heard about back to the life of a yeshiva the added responsibility of personal me, and decided to bring me to student…” educator and advisor of each and Chanoch L’Naar. He had to work The classes are taught by Rabbi every student – a role usually reserved for the mashgiach – and they do it with much affection and A THANK YOU LETTER professional understanding. At Chanoch L’Naar, there is FROM A MOTHER IN ENGLAND considerable emphasis on the Dear Rabbi Wilschanski, sh’yichyeh, seemingly small details, e.g., My husband and I wanted to write to you to express our sincere stringency in the Laws of Orach gratitude and appreciation to you regarding our son’s progress. Since Chaim, proper attire, order, our son entered the yeshiva Chanoch L’Naar, you and your dedicated cleanliness, and so on. Yeshiva staff, who have all joined together to establish this wonderful madrich, R’ Idan Gal explains, “It’s institution, have provided an education that gives our son, and no easy to see that the more orderly a doubt all the other children, an opportunity to grow, develop and bachur is, the more of a mentch he flourish, each in his own way. The yeshiva embodies the [previous] is. His outward appearance is the directive – “chinuch al pi darko.” equivalent to the testimony of a Your dedicated efforts, warmth, and caring attitude have created an thousand witnesses regarding the environment where our son has begun to blossom and show real inner depths of his soul, and to a promise. He enjoys all aspects of the yeshiva and wakes up on time to certain extent, even on his level of get to seider chassidus every morning, as well as davening from the yiras Shamayim. Therefore, we amud and reading the Torah whenever he is asked. invest much effort to educate our He likes the varied schedule and activities, and feels it is a good mix students, even in such ‘little’ details, for him. The levels of gashmius and ruchnius are both high. He has since they represent the very made many new friends, and the boys have been very welcoming to foundation upon which a person is him. He is able to use his Yiddish, as well as brushing up on his built.” Hebrew, all of which he enjoys immensely. The yeshiva’s rabbis maintain Most importantly, his phone calls to us are happy, and we can hear personal contact with each student buoyancy and vitality in his voice as he describes his day and his and his parents. “We provide the learning. He is excited every day, and happy to be learning in a yeshiva student with a slightly different where he says, “The rabbis and the hanhala smile. They talk to the framework,” explains the rosh bachurim with a smile, they really listen to me.” yeshiva, Rabbi Wilschanski. “There Thank you for giving our son this wonderful opportunity, for which are short classes in small groups on he shows his gratitude through his efforts and his diligence. a variety of Torah and professional We wish you and the yeshiva much success in your important work, subjects, interwoven with social and which enables all of our children access to a true Yiddishe, chassidishe athletic activities. The extra- education, where all present and future talmidim will IY”H grow and curricular activities encourage mature and continue to give nachas to the Rebbe and their parents. adherence to the rules of conduct All the best, and Torah study. We don’t Sincerely, M.J. compromise a hair on the

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and kept their worksheets until the end of the year. “But the worksheets created an even deeper change, as they enable us to sell ‘success’ to our students. A student who made an effort once and received a good mark wants to experience this success again, and thus began to invest more time in his studies. Since then, the worksheets have been used for all the yeshiva’s material in nigleh and chassidus, and lo and behold, the students began to love what they were learning.” The teachers conduct regular follow-ups on the progress of each student and are ready to offer assistance at any time. “If a student doesn’t sufficiently understand the learning material in class, he can turn to the rav, and the rav will sit with him after class until everything educational program: Time is time, Regarding the learning is understood clearly,” affirms one conduct is conduct, and rules are approaches, Rabbi Efraim Bernstein of the students. In addition, the rules. Every student knows that he states: “The students in the first year yeshiva has placed a special staff must stick [to] by the tasks set for of the yeshiva k’tana program member, Rabbi Yiftach Luzia, in him, and they come before all else.” started by learning the kuntres charge of private tutoring, to ensure Even in the area of punishment, ‘U’Maayan M’Beis Hashem’, but that no student remains stagnant in the outlook is totally different. An they complained that they couldn’t his learning. emphasis is placed upon the need seem to connect to the material. The results speak for themselves. for the student to see the connection After consulting with our staff Rabbi Bernstein relates, “A student between his actions and the educational advisor, we began to came here from a very difficult punishment he received. When distribute weekly worksheets. While background. While he comes from a things reach a point when a bachur the questions on the worksheets Chabad family, all of his brothers must be disciplined, he is also given were on the learning material, they have left the path of Torah. an opportunity to get his “pledge” also provided them with an Obviously, this bachur’s outlook was back by repairing the error for a pre- additional challenge, offering them quite far from that of the yeshiva determined period of time. prizes if they received good marks

The yeshiva’s new location at the old Bezeq site on the outskirts of Tzfas

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world. By Divine Providence, a counselor at the Oro consideration for my needs, and the feeling of home. Shel Moshiach summer camp, who had remained in A little secret in conclusion: Even when I asked touch with him, convinced him to apply to Chanoch permission many times to stay at home a little while L’Naar. He had, however, already registered at a longer after an off Shabbos and you didn’t agree, I different school. We had to work very hard in order to understood very well why. get him to agree to come here, and then afterwards, to ‘I have no words to describe the appreciation I remove the overall feeling of alienation he had towards have for the entire yeshiva staff. Thank you and thank yeshiva and its demands. To further complicate matters, you again. I thank the Rebbe Rashab and the Rebbe, there was also a family member who was constantly Melech HaMoshiach, for choosing me to be a Tamim, trying to turn the boy away from the Torah world. something that I thought was a punishment just a few “This young man successfully completed his studies years ago. Now I understand that this is the greatest with us, and was accepted as a full-fledged student in privilege that a person can be given – and on the other one of the higher yeshivos. Some time ago, we asked hand, a heavy responsibility that one must bear every our graduates to write something about their day and at every moment.’” impressions from the yeshiva, and this student happily As part of the system to support the teachers and complied. In deeply emotional words, he told his story, counselors in their complex tasks, the yeshiva employs concluding: ‘I want to say ‘Thank you very, very much’ Dr. Michael Band, a clinical educational psychologist, for all the efforts and devotion you invested in me and Rabbi Dr. Uriel Marton, an educational guidance during the three years that I was here, the counselor, to meet regularly with the staff and give them professional direction and advice in all matters pertaining to their work with the students. Rabbi Marton holds regular meetings with each staff member, and visits the classrooms for the purpose of organizing and improving their daily management. In addition, Rabbi Marton meets with students individually, and guides the staff on how to make progress with their students’ education. He holds a special weekly workshop for the teaching staff on “educational incentive” and ways to strengthen the connection between the student and the learning material. Regular meetings among the administration and teaching staff to discuss concrete matters on the students’ progress testify to the yeshiva’s caring and loving concern for the proper development of each of its students.

Holy training NOT A MOMENT TO WASTE The classes are finished, and the students take advantage of the wide variety of interesting ways to occupy their free time available on the premises: computer room, athletic courts, and workshops in carpentry and agriculture. Each Wednesday, the students participate in workshops on intellectual development, computers, physical fitness, and music. Rabbi Wilschanski explained the underlying purpose behind these workshops: “One of the great obstacles that students confront is boredom, which our Sages, of blessed memory, have taught us has the power to bring a person to the lowest and most abysmal state. When a student fails to occupy himself constructively, he is liable to turn to things totally contrary to the essence of a Jew with yiras Shamayim Professional training and, needless to say, a Tamim. Therefore, in the yeshiva

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we make every possible effort to fill words of the Rebbe Rayatz), he built We speak with him warmly and a student’s free time with an entire organization that brought fondly, even in those situations constructive and enjoyable pursuits. hundreds of the finest avreichim to where there’s a need to put the The student’s day is thereby filled to chassidus. student in his place.” overflowing only with positive The students readily share their things, and he goes to sleep filled GIVING ANOTHER appreciation of the teachers and with satisfaction over his success in CHANCE staff, and the love and attention that his studies, after a tiring and most they receive from them in such large fulfilling day.” The students of Chanoch L’Naar measure. In addition, the students The yeshiva also employs student come from a variety of backgrounds know that the staff members are shluchim, who come to provide from all over the Chabad worldwide open to hearing things that aren’t so assistance to the bachurim. Each community. Some of them came pleasant and to handle them without year, the administration chooses the straight from “cheider”, while others “breaking the vessels.” The shluchim appropriate for the arrived from one of the considerate and caring manner with character of the yeshiva program, corresponding yeshivos k’tanos. which they deal with such and these young men embark upon Some came simply because they phenomena gives the student the their shlichus with great vigor. They heard that this place makes it easier awareness that everything is being live with the students, learn with for them to become normal students, done for his benefit. them, and walk with them every step finish yeshiva k’tana, and G-d The students feel that the yeshiva of the way. The shluchim also staff pays attention to their slightest periodically organize their own progress or regression, urging them mivtzaim, adding vitality to all to continue in the right direction. aspects of the yeshiva. Rabbi Dovid Shaer, maggid shiur The variety in the learning and mashpia in the yeshiva from the material of the afternoon classes is day of its inception, sums it up this unique. Besides the standard way: “A student who is stumbling a material in chassidus and Talmud, bit is often hesitant to talk about his the yeshiva also conducts classes on need for help. There is a sense of Moshiach and the Redemption with being afraid or embarrassed to go to Rabbi Meir David (who also serves the hanhala. At Chanoch L’Naar, the as the maggid shiur in Nigleh for the student knows that there’s always older boys), the annals of chassidic someone who notices what going history with Rabbi Chanoch HaLevi on, pulling all the right strings, and Shachar, and Navi with Rabbi Aryeh thus removing the need for the Leib HaLevi Kaplan. student to ‘lodge a complaint’ The students particularly enjoy against himself. The yeshiva’s motto A serious study atmosphere the special class on chassidic history. is to give another chance, and by the Rabbi Shachar, who gives over this same token, to demand progress. As shiur, also works as a computer willing, move on to yeshiva g’dola. a result, the student finds his way network engineer at the Rebecca Others have already been forced out along the proper path, even if he Sieff Hospital in Tzfas. He conveys of standard yeshiva programs, and stumbles once or twice. the history of Chabad from the Alter here they get another chance. Rebbe to our times in a most orderly One of the yeshiva’s major educational successes is that the GOING HIGHER IN and thoughtful manner, and the MATTERS OF HOLINESS results are marvelous. For example, students feel that the faculty and leading up to Yud-Tes Kislev, the staff are “on their side.” The Last year, the yeshiva’s first students learn not only the story of students know that whatever the graduating class completed its the Alter Rebbe’s imprisonment and problem, they can turn to a staff studies, and its graduates were subsequent redemption, but also member, and he will listen to the successfully accepted to the various about his hidden and revealed student and make a genuine effort to yeshivos gedolos. Yet, there was one spreading of the teachings of help him. Rabbi Rabinowitz defines who chose to remain right where he chassidus, when as an outstanding this in simple terms: “It’s important was. “I’ve gone through many commander and scholar (in the that we give the student a feeling yeshivos,” the student disclosed, that we’re not in conflict with him. “and with G-d’s help, I’ll eventually

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make my way to a yeshiva g’dola. students who began their studies in the possibility of his joining Yeshivas But for the time being, I prefer to a regular yeshiva k’tana and are now ‘Chanoch LaNa’ar’. This also refers stay here another year. I’ve found without any organized study to students who began their studies myself here. They understand me program. As long as the student is in a regular yeshiva k’tana and are and give me a desire to progress in prepared to accept upon himself the now without any organized study my learning…” educational framework with the program. As long as the student is Though there are many students general rules of proper conduct in all prepared to accept upon himself the who can thrive in regular yeshivos, that relates to yiras Shamayim – he educational framework with the others can only benefit from has a place with us.” general rules of proper conduct in all programs like Yeshivas Chanoch Which students would be that relates to yiras Shamayim – he L’Naar. Rabbi Wilschanski explains, appropriate for referral to your has a place with us.” “A student who is able to manage in yeshiva? a regular yeshiva program has the Rabbi Wilschanski: “A student wonderful privilege and obligation to who is able to manage in a regular learn in one of the fine yeshivos yeshiva program has the wonderful k’tanos existing today, thank G-d, in privilege and obligation to learn in Eretz HaKodesh. However, a one of the fine yeshivos k’tanos student who, due to his nature or existing today, thank G-d, among abilities, is not yet ready for a full the Chabad institutions in Eretz learning schedule or is not HaKodesh. However, a student who ‘connected’ to a yeshiva is not yet ready for a full learning environment, is cordially invited to schedule due to his nature, abilities, turn to us and determine the etc., or he’s not ‘connected’ to a possibility of his joining Yeshivas yeshiva environment, is cordially Chanoch L’Naar. This also refers to invited to turn to us and determine

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