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Home , Amshinov, Chitas, Meir Ashkenazi (Rabbi)

בס“ד Menachem Av 5772/2012 SPECIAL DAYS IN MENACHEM AV Volume 23, Issue 5 Menachem Av 1/July 20/Friday Rosh Chodesh "When Av comes in, we minimize happiness" (Taanis 26B)

"In the nine days from Rosh Chodesh Av on we should try to make Siyumim." (Likutei Sichos Vol. XIV: p. 147)

Mountains emerged above the receding Flood waters (BeReishis 8:5, )

Plague of frogs in Mitzrayim. (Seder HaDoros)

Yartzeit of Aharon HaKohen, 2489 [1312 BCE], the only Yartzeit recorded in the , (BaMidbar 33:38) (in Parshas Masaei, read every year on the Shabbos of the week of his Yartzeit)

Ezra and his followers arrived in Yerushalayim, 3413 [457 BCE]. (Ezra 7:9) Menachem Av 2/July 21/Shabbos Titus commenced battering operations In Av 5331 [430 BCE] there was a debate against the courtyard of the Beis between Chananya ben Azur and Yirmi- HaMikdash, 3829 [70]. yahu. Chananya prophesized that Nevu- chadnetzer and his armies would soon The Previous Lubavitcher arrived in leave Eretz Yisroel, and all the stolen vessels Eretz Yisrael, on his historic visit, 5689 from the Beis Hamikdash would be re- [1929]. turned from Bavel along with all those who were exiled. Yirmiyahu explained, that he Menachem Av 4/July 23/Monday too wished that this would happen, but the Nechemiah began building a wall around prophesy is false. Only if the do

TZCHOK OF HANCOCK PARK Yerushalayim, 3413 [444 BCE] Teshuvah can the decree be changed. (Nechemiah 6:15). Yirmiyahu also said that in that year Chananya will die, since he spoke falsely in Yartzeit of R. Menachem Azariah of Fano, the name of Hashem. And so it happened. the RaMa MiPano, author of Asarah (This occurred around seven years before Maamaros and Alfasi Zuta, Halachist and the destruction of the first Beis Hamikdash) Kabbalist, cited extensively in Chasidus, (Yirmiyahu 28). 5385 [1625].

In the eleventh year of the reign of Tzid- Menachem Av 5/July 24/Tuesday kiyahu, on Rosh Chodesh Av, the year of the Yartzeit of R. Yitzchak Luria, the Ari Zal, destruction of the Beis Hamikdash, 5332 [1572]. He passed away at thirty- Yechezkal said a prophesy, that the king- six, in Tzfas. dom of Tzur will be destroyed by Nevu- " . . . All accepted him as the chadnetzar King of Babylon, because they final Posek in all matters of the hidden celebrated ’s destruction. parts of the Torah and its secrets, there is

(Yechezkal 26) no room for argument and the Halachah is Chabad Chodesh Menachem Av 5772 Av Menachem Chodesh Chabad CONGREGATION LEVI YI as the words of the Ari Moshiach born on the day of the a Roman colony, Aelia Capatolina, Zal" (Kovetz Lubavitch, Vol. II: p. destruction of the Beis HaMikdash 71 [3831] (Taanis 26b). 61) (Yerushalmi Berachos 2:4, Eichah Yartzeit of R. Gedalyah Hayun, Rabah 1:51). This Day, Shabbos, Betar, last independent outpost head of the Yerushalayim reveals only the positive aspects of under Bar Kochba fell to the Kabbalists, founder and head of the day that Moshiach was born. Romans, 3895 [135]. (Taanis the Kabbalists Yeshivah, Beis E-il, (Sichah, Shabbos Chazon, Av 9, 26b) 5510 [1750]. The 's 5748) brother-in-law, R. Avraham Edward I of England ordered the Gershon Kitover studied in this Yartzeit of R. Yaakov Yitzchak, the expulsion of all Jews, 5050 . "Chozeh" of , author of [1290]. Divrei Emes, 5575 [1815]. Yartzeit of R. Chaim of Krasna, There is a vort of the Ferdinand of Spain expelled the student of the Baal Shem Tov, Chozeh’s student that my father, Jews, 5066 [1492]. 5553 [1793]. Rabbi Menachem Shmuel Dovid Raichik, OB”M, often repeated 3,000 Jews perished in the Menachem Av 6/July 25/Wed which he heard from the Rebbe, Chmielnicki massacres, 5408 Sukkos 5716/1955. In Tehillim [1648]. Nevuchadnetzar occupied the we say (Psalm 126), “Hashem has First Beis HaMikdash, 3338 [423 done great things for these (the Deportation of Jews from the BCE]. Yidden). Hashem has done Warsaw ghetto started, 5702 great things for us: we were [1942]. Menachem Av 9/July 28/Shabbos joyful.” When the Geulah will Chazon come the nations of the world will Birth of Yisachar son of Yaakov (Fast is deferred to Sunday) ask “Why does Hashem do such Avinu, 2196, and his Yartzeit, in great things for the Jewish 2318 (Midrash Tadshe). Reb Hillel of Paritch would say in people?” The Yidden will the name of R. Levi Yitzchok of respond, “Hashem was so great Yartzeit of R. Dovid Furkas, Berditchev: "Chazon" means with us - because we were always student of the Baal Shem Tov, vision; on Shabbos Chazon, joyful.” It is well known how 5532 [ 1772 ]. HaShem shows every Jew a vision much the Chozeh did to try to of the Third Beis Hamikdash". bring Moshiach in his times. Beis HaMikdash destroyed by a fire started the preceding "...Appropriate with the end of the M. Av 10/July 29/ Sunday afternoon, (Taanis 29a). Haftarah of Shabbos Chazon, Fast of Tisha B’Av (deferred) "Tzion in justice will be redeemed M. Av 11/July 30/Monday and its returning with Commemorates the destruction of Yartzeit of R. Hillel of Paritch, righteousness" (Yishayahu 1:27): the first and second Beis Chasid of the Mitteler Rebbe and Justice, 'Mishpat', is Torah (Likutei Hamikdash and many other the Tzemach Tzedek, author of Torah, Devarim) and tragedies that happened on this Pelach HaRimon, Shabbos righteousness, 'Tzedakah', is all of day. Nachamu 5624 [1864]. the Mitzvos, which includes the He never saw the Alter Mitzvah of Tzedakah, we should, The Exodus generation Rebbe but he did hear a D’var in these days add in the study of condemned to die in the desert, Torah from him. Reb Hillel tried Torah and doing Mitzvos, 2449. [1312 BCE] (Devarim 1:35; to meet the Alter Rebbe, as he had especially the Mitzvah of Taanis 26b) a question for him on the Tractate Tzedakah." (Sicha, Shabbos Erchin (discussing the evaluation Chazon, Av 9, 5751a) Nevuzaradan set fire to the Beis of things for the Bais Hamikdosh). The Rebbe would hold a far- HaMikdash 3175 [586 BCE]. Every time he came to meet the brengen on this Shabbos and ad- Alter Rebbe the Alter Rebbe wasn’t vised that spreading The Romans destroyed the Second there. simcha with Ahavas Yisroel be Beis HaMikdash, 3829 [69]. Reb Hillel decided to find held on this Shabbos The Romans plowed the site of the out where the Alter Rebbe Beis HaMikdash to convert it into planned to be one time. He went

VOLUME 23, ISSUE 5 Page 2 early and hid in the room so that Lady Judith were given lifetime when the Alter Rebbe would come seats in the Chabad Shul. The Romans permitted the burial in he would be able to speak to of Jews killed at Betar in the Bar him. When the Alter Rebbe Kochba rebellion, 3898 [138] entered the room he said, “If a M. Av 14/August 2/Thursday (Ta’anis 30b); At that time the young man has a question on Erev Tu B'Av - Chachamim added the Brachah, Tractate Erchin, he has to evaluate No Tachanun at Mincha "HaTov Ve-Ha-Meitiv" to the himself.” Hearing this, Reb Hillel Birkas HaMazon. fainted. When he came to, the The Alter Rebbe settled in , Alter Rebbe had already left. 5561 [1801]. Wedding of Rebbitzen Chayah It is known that Reb Hillel Sarah, daughter of the Mitteler Paritcher was exceedingly M. Av 15/August 3/ Friday Rebbe, with R . A h ar o n scrupulous in his performance of Tu B'Av– No Tachanun Alexanderov of Shklov, 5586 mitzvohs throughout his life. As " . . . There were no days [1826]. They were the parents of the Rebbe explained - because of more joyous than the Fifteenth of Rebbitzen Rivkah, the Rebbe what Reb Hillel heard from the Av and Yom HaKipurim" [Taanis, MaHa-RaSh's wife. R. Aharon Alter Rebbe he constantly 26B] printed the first Torah Or, in evaluated and reevaluated himself Shklov. regarding his observance of the "In connection with Tu B'Av, we mitzvos. (Likutei Sichos Vol 22, should make Farbrengens M. Av 16/August 4/Shabbos pp. 171-172) everywhere with great joy, to Shabbos Nachamu gather, speak Divrei Torah, make The Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe The Alter Rebbe left Peterburg for Siyumim, and make good left Eretz Yisrael for the United Liadi, after his second decisions to add in Torah, Mitzvos States, 5629 [1929]. imprisonment, 5561 [1801]. and Tzedakah and all good things. (Sichah, Shabbos Chazon, 5751) M. Av 17/August 5/Sunday. M. Av 12/July 31/Tuesday Arab riots in Chevron; sixty Jews Disputation between the Ramban The last of the Exodus generation were murdered, among them al- and the apostate Pablo Christiani, stopped dying in the desert; most the entire family, 5023 [1263]. HaShem resumed speaking to who were descendents of the Mit- Moshe Rabeinu. (Ta’anis 30b). teler Rebbe’s daughter Menuchah Wedding of the Alter Rebbe and Rochel, and the Jewish the Rebbitzen Sterna, 5520 Intertribal marriage permitted to community (including the central [1760]. post-exodus generations (Taanis Chabad Community of Eretz 30b). Yisrael) was forced to move to The Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe Yerushalayim, 5689 [1929]. and Permission was given to the tribe The Friediker Rebbe was purchased , of Binyamin to marry into other on the ship coming to the United World Lubavitch Headquarters, tribes, saving them from States, he was informed of the ri- 5700 [1940]. extinction (Shoftim 21:21; Ta’anis ots and destruction in Chevron, 30b). where he had visited just the pre- M. Av 13/August 1/Wednesday vious week. The Rebbe fell seri- King Hoshea restored pilgrimage ously ill from this news, on the Yartzeit of R. Nasan Shapiro of to Yerushalayim, removing road- ship there was a Doctor Wallach, Cracow, Kabbalist, author of blocks put by King Yeravam. a German Jew, founder of Hadas- Megaleh Amukos, 5393 [1633]. (Ta’anis 30b) sah Hospital, who assisted and cured the Rebbe. Our Rebbe at a Yartzeit of Sir Moses Montefiore, "Wood Bringing Day", observed as related a story that outstanding philanthropist, 5645 a holiday by Jews who brought after the Friediker Rebbe got well, [1885]. In 1839, Sir Moses visited wood contributions to the Beis Dr. Wallach went into Yechidus, the Chabad community in HaMikdash, the last day of cutting and asked for a Tikkun. The Chevron (then the Chabad center wood for the Mizbeach, "The Day Friediker Rebbe asked him why in Eretz Yisrael) at the of Breaking the Axes" (Taanis he needs this Tikkun and he re- community's invitation. He and 30b). plied that since he was on the ship

VOLUME 23, ISSUE 5 Page 3 he feels responsible for the Rebbe During WWII R. Shimon footsteps of Mashiach…” (Days in falling ill. Hashem wouldn’t have of Amshinov traveled to Vilna and Chabad p. 246). made the Rebbe sick without a then . He encouraged sure cure in sight, since the Rebbe the use of Japanese Visas. The M . Av 21/August 9/Thursday is a Nasi Yisreal, a leader of Klal Rebbe Rayatz said that if Yartzeit of R. Aharon Rokeach of Yisroel, and Klal Yisroel needs communication is cut off to the , Chasidic leader, 5717 him, so he would not be able to be Rebbe due to the war the [1957]. See letters of the Previous sick with no cure. So, he feels re- bochurim should seek the Rebbe, (Vol. 5, pgs. 326-327, sponsible and is asking a Tikkun Amshinover Rebbe’s advice and footnotes 329, Vol. 6, pg. 26, and from the Friediker Rebbe. follow what he says. He passed Vol. 14, pg. 371), about the The Rebbe explained the away in and was buried Friediker Rebbe’s involvement lesson of this story. Many times in Teveri, next to the talmidim of trying to save R’ Aharon during we feel great that Hashem gave us the Maggid. The Rebbe went to WWII. (Vol. 8, pgs. 187-189) The the Zechus to help someone in menachem ovel his son (comfort Rebbe inquires from Chassidim, need, but what we must feel is the mourner) at his home in how R’ Aharon is feeling, and how that possibly the reason for this . he settled in Eretz Yisroel. (Vol. person needing help is only to 14, pgs. 392-393) Rosh Hashanah give us the opportunity to do M. Av 20/August 8/Wednesday letter bentching R’ Aharon that Chesed, as the Medrash quotes “If Yartzeit of R. Levi Yitzchak the Rebbe sent to him, and everyone were rich, with who Schneerson, father of the Rebbe, requesting a Brochah from R’ would you be able to do Rav of Yeketrinislav, who passed Aharon in return. Chessed?” So, sometimes our away in exile in Alma Ata, 5704 thoughts must be, if not for us [1944]. He had been exiled by the R. Mordechai b. Hillel, famed maybe this person would not need Russian government for his Talmudist, author of the help. (Likutei Sichos, vol. 30, pg. activities in spreading Yiddishkeit. Mordechai, perished in 67) Nuremberg with his wife and five Of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak’s last children in the Rindfliesch M. Av 18/August 6/Monday hours we have this eye-witness massacres, 5058 [1298]. T h e Ner Maaravi w a s account: A friend and I were priv- extinguished in the Beis ileged to serve him, passing all of M. Av 22/August 10/Friday HaMikdash (Megilas Taanis, Tuesday night at his bedside. We Yartzeit of R. Meir of Premyshlan, concluding chapter). heard his lips murmur ceaselessly Chasidic leader, 5537 [1777]. through his voice made no sound. (See Likutei Diburim Vol. 2, 25 Yartzeit of R. Yaakov Culi, author Suddenly, he stirred, opened his Shevat 5696,1936 part 3, chapter of MeAm Loez, 5492 [1732]. He eyes and asked for water to be 3. In the English Version Vol. 2, also edited and assembled the brought for him to wash his pgs. 205-207) The Rebbe states Sefarim, Mishneh LaMelech on hands. This was done, and taking that known story of R’ Meir the Rambam's the water, he said: “It is time to Premyshlan and his comment “If a [with his own explanatory get ready to cross to the other man is bound up on high, he does comments in brackets] and side.” These were the last words not fall below, Meir is bound up Perashas Derachim, of his teacher he uttered. on high and that’s why he can go R. Yehudah Rosanes after the up and down a slippery hill.” latter's passing. The next day, Wednesday, 20 Menachem Av, he continued to M. Av 23/August 11/ M. Av 19/Aug ust 7/Tuesday decline and his sufferings reached Shabbos Mivorchim Elul Yartzeit of Shimon Sholom Kalish, a new intensity, but his lips never Rabbi Shimon of Amshinov in ceased their murmuring. One of M. Av 24/Aug. 12/Sunday 5715 (1954). My father, Rabbi those present bent down near to Yartzeit of R. Moshe Meisles, Raichik, OB”M, was sent to him hoping to make something of Chasid of the Alter Rebbe, head of Otvosk by the Amshinover Rebbe the broken phrases and the sighs. the Kahal of Vilna, 5609 [1840]. with his recommendation, Thus much he heard: “ ‘And Thy In 1816, he moved to Eretz without which he would not have footsteps were not known…’ Ay! Yisrael, and in 1823, became one been accepted in the Lubavitch the footsteps of Mashiach...the of the heads of the Chabad Yeshiva. community and Kollel Chabad, in

VOLUME 23, ISSUE 5 Page 4 Chevron. He died at ninety and is World War II arrived in Shang- Kesherim & Ben David Inc. buried in Chevron. hai, he and his wife did every- Established 1947 thing for them. Diamonds, Rubies & Sapphires M. Av 25/August 13/Monday David Kesherim The Alter Rebbe leaves Liadi on Many stories are told about the Erev Shabbos Mevarchim Elul, endless dedication which he had 706 S. Hill Street # 320 because of the advancing French to help all the yeshiva bochurim Los Angeles, CA 90014 Army under the lead of Napolean, and refugees, no matter which Tel: 213 622-6006 and the Alter Rebbe did not want yeshiva or town they came from. Pager: 213 506-6000 to be under Napolean’s rule. Hashem made it that R. Ashkenazi Fax: 213 622-6007 was in Shanghai for many years, - - - Yartzeit of R. Yisochor Dov of which enabled him to be of great Zlotchov, student of the aid to all. The Lubavitcher bo- Shomer Insurance Agency Mezeritcher Magid, author of Bas churim had less than everyone Insurance Specialists Eini, 5555 [1795]. eles, and my father (who ran the Yeshiva) was in the Rav’s house to Joseph Schneerson M. Av 26/August 14/Tuesday report to him almost every day Principal & Broker The Tzemach Tzedek left about the condisions of the yeshi- 7461 Beverly Blvd. #306 Petersburg after the conference, in va, physically and spiritually. Any 323 934-8160 5603/1843, that the Russian gov- telegrams were signed “Ashenazi- Fax: 323 934-8170 ernment convened to restructure Tmimim). A story told by Rabbi License #0717982 the established way of Jewish edu- Chaim Bukiet, o.b.m.: One day a cation and of the Rabbinate and member of the local Jewish com- - - - other issues. This conference last- munity came to Rabbi Ashkenazi Martin Fishman & Assoc. Inc. ed many months. The Tzemach and said that a very distinguished INSURANCE Tzedek was steadfast against any rabbi had appeared in his dream change and was arrested 22 the past night and had asked why 6300 Wilshire Blvd. times. At one point he was told doesn’t he take care of his chil- Los Angeles, CA 90048 that his conduct was a act of in- dren. Rabbi Ashkenazi showed surgency against the Czar. He re- the man a picture of the Previous Tel: 323 866-0830 plied, “One who rebels against the Rebbe and the man recognized the Fax: 323 866-0838 king forfeits his life in this world. Rebbe as the rabbi in his dream. License # 04188981 On the other hand, one who re- So Rabbi Ashkenazi explained that bels against the kingdom of Heav- the dream meant that the man - - - en forfeits his soul. Which of should take care of his children - them is the most grave?!” (HaYom the Lubavitcher bochurim of the Frank Revere Lawyer Revere & Wallace Yom, 23rd of Cheshvan) Yeshiva.

After the conference he 900 Wilshire Blvd. #730 was asked how he could put him- M. Av 28/Aug 16/Thursday Los Angeles, CA 90017 self in such danger, what would Moshe Rabeinu came down after be with the Chassidim. The his second ascent to Har Sinai, 213 239-9900 * 310 553-9200 Tzemach Tzedek replied, “(A) I 2448 [1313 BCE] (Bava Basra Fax: 213 239-9911 have my children, and (B) the 121A, Rashbam). unity of Chassidim will keep them *** until Moshiach.” (Sicha, Nissan M Av 30/August 18/Shabbos Melinda Dauer, Psy. D., 13, 5726/1966). First Day Rosh Chodesh Elul A.T.R.-B.C. Art Therapy & Coaching Yahrzeit of HaRav HaChasid R. We start saying "L’Dovid HaShem Children & Adults Meir Ashkenazi, Rav of Shanghai Ori" at Shacharis and Minchah. in 5714 (1954). Rabbi Ashkenazi 310 892-6988 was sent to the Jewish community Elul 1/August 19/Sunday [email protected] of Shanghai to serve as Rav in the Second Day Rosh Chodesh Elul “Find more joy in your life!” 1920s by the Previous Rebbe. In 1941, when the refugees of We start blowing the Shofar.

VOLUME 23, ISSUE 5 Page 5 The Nine Days & Tishah B’Av FAST DEFERRED TO SUNDAY, Av 10, July 29

From Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av until after Tishah The Fast B’Av we don’t buy or make new clothes or shoes, even Av 10/ July 29/Sunday to wear after Tishah B’Av. On Motzei Shabbos, change out of your leather shoes when the Chazan says “Barchu”. (He changes before We don’t do house construction or improvements, ex- Barchu, but first he says, “Baruch Hamavdil Bein Ko- cept to remedy a danger; we don’t do house painting. desh L’chol”.) If you aren’t in Shul, say, “Baruch We don’t eat meat (or chicken) or drink wine (or grape Hamavdil Bein Kodesh L’chol, and take off your juice), from Rosh Chodesh onward. On Shabbos and at leather shoes right after Shabbos. a Seudas Mitzvah (Bris, Pidyon Haben) it is permitted. We take the Paroches off the Aron Kodesh. We dim After Rosh Chodesh, it’s forbidden to wash the whole the lights and read Megillas Eichah after Shemoneh body, even in cold water. Esrei. We don’t say “Veyehi Noam” (“May it be pleasant…”) —we aren’t feeling very pleasant. Swimming is forbidden. If there’s a reason for a bath or shower, (I.e. a woman going to the Mikveh, a worker We don’t say Havdalah, except to say the Brachah, who got dirty, or one who needs to for medical reasons) “Borei Meorei Ha-eish” Try to say it before Eichah. it’s permitted. In which we read “He placed me in dark- ness…”(3:6). Men who forgot to say “Ata cho- We don’t wear freshly laundered clothes clothes dur- nantanu” in Shemoneh Esrei, or women who don’t ing the Nine Days. It’s a good idea to prepare clothes to Daven Maariv must say “Boruch Hamavdil Bein Ko- wear before Rosh Chodesh by wearing them briefly. desh L’chol.” It’s customary not to wash clothes or linens, even to be worn after Tishah B’Av. The Restrictions

We may wash diapers and soiled baby clothes. Five principal restrictions apply to the night and day of Tishah B’Av: eating and drinking, washing, Shabbos Matos /Maasei anointing, wearing leather shoes and marital rela- Av 2/July 21 tions. A couple should conduct themselves as they On Erev Shabbos Matos/Masaei, July 20th (and also would during the Nidah period. Erev Shabbos Chazon) we prepare as for any other Pregnant or nursing women fast; a person feeling ill Shabbos. We may wash our face, hands, feet and head should consult a Rav. in hot water in honor of Shabbos. Those whose custom is to go to the Mikveh on Erev Shabbos may do so. We We can’t wash, even with cold water. In the morn- wear Shabbos clothes and observe no customs of ing and after using the bathroom, wash your fingers mourning on Shabbos, until the knuckles. (We may wash dirt off our hands.) We can’t rinse our mouth. Oil, soap or cos- Shabbos Chazon metics on the skin are forbidden, except for medical Av 9/July 28 purposes. This Shabbos is similar to the previous Shabbos. There are no customs of mourning, except for abstaining We can’t wear leather or partly leather shoes; rubber from marital relations, unless Friday night is the night or canvas shoes are permitted. of the going to the Mikveh. We wear Shabbos Clothes and it’s like a regular Shabbos. The Rebbe would de- We only study Torah that deals with the destruction mand that we should be B’Simcha, since it’s the day of the Beis Hamikdash, or mourning: Megilas Eichah that Moshiach was born. and its commentaries, laws of Tishah B’Av and mourning in Shulchan Aruch, the tragic parts or We don’t say Pirke Avos after Mincha. The Rebbe en- Yirmiyahu and the third chapter of Moed Katan, etc. couraged us to do our daily shiurim of Rambam and Chitas before Midday. It’s customary to sit on a chair lower than three Tefachim, (about nine inches) until after midday. We can eat meat or drink wine until sunset; at sunset We don’t say “Good Morning” or “Hello.” (If a per- we stop ALL eating. son who doesn’t know the law greets you, answer softly, so you don’t hurt his feelings.)

We don’t say the Brochah, “She’asah Li Kol Tzarki”

VOLUME 23, ISSUE 5 Page 6

(the Brochah for shoes). We don’t wear Tallis or Tefil- We say Kiddush Levanah (preferably after changing lin at Shachris, but at Minchah. into leather shoes, washing our face, and eating At Shachris we say Kinos after we put away the Sefer something, IF we can do this and still say it with a Torah. After Davening, we read Eichah. .) We don’t do any work until midday. We don’t take We make Havdalah before Kiddush Halevanah. We pleasure walks or smoke. say Havdalah on wine, (without the Brachos for fire Mincha is davened while wearing Tallis and Rashi Te- and spices) and drink the wine. We don’t eat meat or fillin. We say Shma and finish what was omitted at drink wine (except for Havdalah) tonight. Since the Shacharis, then begin Mincha. Then Krias HaTorah fast was deferred to Tenth this year, washing clothes and Haftorah. We add Nacheim and Aneinu in She- and showering are permitted after the fast. moneh Esrei. After Mincha we put on Rabbenu Tam Tefillin. May it be the will of Hashem that these days change to days of happiness and joy. After The Fast After the fast, wash your hands three times, as you This is a very brief summary of the laws of Tishah would in the morning, without a Brochah. B’Av. Consult a Rav for special circumstances.

The Tzemach Tzedek, who used to refer to the Rebbe (R’ Yisroel) of as “the holy Ruzhiner,” once related: The holy Ruzhiner would not brook any melancholy nor even bitterness - with the result that his Chassidim became playful. One Tisha B’Av they occupied themselves for a while tossing burs at each other. Then they decided to climb onto the roof of the Beis Midrash and to lower a noose over the entrance. Whoever walked in the door could then be lassoed and promptly hoisted onto the roof. The prank succeeded until, sure enough, who should walk in but their Rebbe, the Ruzhiner. From up there it was hard to tell one hat from another, and only when the tzaddik was halfway up did they identify him. When they had lowered him to the ground he exclaimed: “Master of the Universe! If your children do not observe your Yom Tov, then take it away from them!” (Sefer Haminhagim)

CHOF AV -Yartzeit of Rabbi Levi Yitzchok - the Father of the Rebbe

Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Schneerson, father of the Lubav- selves enthusiastically about his scholarship and oth- itcher Rebbe HK”M was born on Nisan 18, 1878, in er great quealities. the small town of Padabrianka, near Homel, White In 1900, he married Rebbitzen Chanah, daughter of Russia. His father, Reb Boruch Shneur, a Chasid of the R. Meir shlomo Yanovsky. At his father-in-law’s Rebbe MaHaRaSH, named his son after his own father home in Nikolaiev, R. Levi Yitzchok spent ten years in who had been Rav of that town and had passed away intensive eighteen hours a day. at the early age of forty four. He would study each night until 5:00 am, when he Reb Boruch Shneur’s grandfather, R. Boruch Sholom, would read the Shema in Tefillin and lie down for a was eldest son of the Tzemach Tzedek, third Rebbe of short rest. By 9:00 am he would already have fin- Chabad. ished his prayers with the regular Minyan. “From his earliest years,” writes the previous Lubav- In Nikolaiev his eldest son, the Lubavitcher Rebbe itcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok (his cousin and HK”M was born. Mechutan), “Rabbi Levi Yitzchok showed extraordi- nary brilliant intellectual talents.” In his early twenties, he was drawn by the Rebbe RaShaB into communal work. From 1902 on, he His published works—unfortunately only a tiny por- participated in all meetings of communal leaders, tion of his literary output– attest to the breadth of his and campaigned to provide Matzos for Jewish sol- erudition in all branches of Torah and to his profundi- diers in the Far East during the Russo-Japanese War ty in original Torah thought. of 1904-5. He received Semichah from twelve of the greatest To- The Rebbe RaShaB considered him one of his three rah authorities of his time, including the famous Rabbi greatest Chassidim about whom he would say, “with Chaim Soloeitchik, Rav of Brisk and Rabbi Eliahu these three I can be proud in this world and the Chaim Meislish, Rav of Lodz, who expressed them- next”. (The other two were Rabbi Mendel Chein,

VOLUME 23, ISSUE 5 Page 7 Rav of Niezhin, who died a martyr’s death at the hand beloved by all the city, Jews and non-Jews. of Denikin’s anti-Semitic “White” troops in 1919, and In most large Russian cities before the 1917 Revo- Rabbi Shneur Zalman Schneerson, son of Rabbi Leib, lution, there were two Rabbis, -one for the Chasi- Rav of Velizh). dim and another for the non-Chasidim. When the A sign of the high regard the Rebbe RaShaB had for him non-Chasidic Rav of the city passed away, the en- was that he sent him, when he was eighteen, several tire Jewish community decided to accept R. Levi years before his marriage, to check the Mikvaos in - Yitzchok as their Rav. many. The prominent Rabbis of Germany were im- pressed with the young Rav’s intellect and erudition He continued his activism in national Jewish af- and presented him with a gold watch and chain as a fairs. As one “amazingly expert in the words of token of their esteem. Kabalah”, as the previous Rebbe writes, he was en- It was a critical time for Russian Jews, including those trusted by the Rebbe RaShaB in preparing for the of Yekatrinoslav. Government-backed pogroms had defense of Mendel Beilis in the blood libel trial of killed hundreds of Jewish victims and destroyed Jewish 1911. The priest responsible for the accusation stores and homes, ruining their economic mainstay. claimed to find support in the Kabalah for his libel, This was a direct cause of the mass emigration of the and the Rebbe RaShaB referred all queries to R. Le- vi Yitzchok. Polish and Russian Jews to Western Europe and Ameri- ca. He was active in organizing relief for the Jewish It also contributed to the spread and secular indeologies refugees from and Lithuania who were among young Jews in search for a solution to the Jewish blamed by the commander-in-chief of the Russian plight. forces, the Czar’s uncle, Prince Nikolai Nikolevitch, for his defeat by the German army. When Jews needed strong leadership and encourage- ment, the choice of the Yekatrinoslave Chasidic com- These innocent Jews were turned out of their munity leaders fell on R. Levi Yitzchok. homes near the fields of battle to evacuate into the Russian interior. Many came to the Ukraine where The Rebbe RaShAB strongly encourage him to accept R. Levi Yitzchok made it his personal concern that the position and he became Rav at thirty one in 1909. they be adequately supplied with food and shelter. It was his first and only rabbinical post and he occupied His own home was made available to the refugees. the position for over thirty years –as last Rav of Yekatri- noslav, under the communist regime. [Today, Yekatri- The Bolshevik Revolution at the end of 1917 noslava (Dniepropetrovs), has a Rav, R. Shmuel Kami- opened a new and bloody era for the Jews of Rus- sia. netsky, sent in 1990 by the Lubavitcher Rebbe HK”M.] He immediately threw himself into the problems of the The 1917 Revolution brought chaos and civil war. community. Discovering that the Mikveh for women As the situation began to stabilize during the was no longer usable, he called a meeting to discuss 1920’s, the new Soviet regime proceeded to imple- ment its anti religious policies. plans for a new one. The community leaders com- plained that they were unable to afford such a costly The Jewish masses, though loyal in the most part to project. Judaism, found it increasingly difficult to keep The young new Rav rose, took off the expensive new Mitzvos. Jobs where one could keep Shabbos and frock coat he had donned for the first time in honor of Yom Tov were almost impossible to find; religious his new position and declared: “Take this expensive articles and books were prohibited. Also banned coat as a beginning for the Building Fund of the Mik- was Jewish Education and few were courageous veh”. The leaders immediately decide to find the finan- enough to risk sending their children to the under- cial means for a superlative Mikveh. ground cheder-schools established by the previous Rebbe and his Chasidim. R. Levi Yitzchok conducted communal affairs proudly and fearlessly, allowing nothing to interfere with his They tried to inculcate into their children the fun- duties. damental of Yiddishkeit, but it seemed infinitesimal in comparison with the systematic indoctrination “An exceptionally good-natured person”, as the previ- they received at school and in their entire environ- ous Rebbe describes him, he was blessed with a rare ment. talent for clear analysis of any situation. These qualities When Jews were weighed down with economic made his adjudication of disputes according to the To- hardship, it fell to “Reb Levik” to raise their spirits rah-law (Din Torah) famous. He was respected and and provide encouragement.

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This was made difficult by the penalties the govern- the international press –with a caricature of a se- ment imposed on Rabbis and the harassment of the cret police agent pointing his pistol at a bearded Yevsektsai (Jewish section of the Communist Party). Rabbi forcing him to sign the paper before him. Seeing how little they could accomplish many rabbis On a questionnaire for a government census, each simply resigned their positions. One of the few to person had to declare whether or not he believed in remain till the end was Reb Levik. He continued to G-d. Many feared writing the truth. Reb Leivik fulfill in secret all his previous rabbinical functions. stormed publicly that to do so was forbidden by the

Many, even party members, would still secretly ap- Torah. One man was so affected by Reb Leivik’s proach the Rav to have their children circumcised or words, that, on learning that his wife had filled out to perform marriages. Once, when a young couple the form in his absence, answering for him that he came in the dead of night to request a Chupah, he was not a believer, he immediately went to the Cen- insisted on finding ten Jews. After managing to sus Office and demanded that they return the form, scrape together nine, he finally requested the tenth, as it had been incorrectly filled out. the government supervisor of his building, whose job When Reb Levik was later arrested, his public call it was to spy on his religious activities! The Jew not to sign for denial of G-d was included among agreed and thankfully no more was heard about it. the charges. He answered that he had simply called

When the Bolshevik war on religion reached its peak for Soviet citizens to answer questions honestly… and details began seeping through to the outside There was difficulty in obtaining Kosher Matzos. world, the Vatican called for a crusade against the He inquired until he found highly-placed contacts Soviet Government. The regime didn’t find it in their through whom he succeeded in reaching the Presi- best interest to have world opinion so solidly against dent of the USSR, himself. The government agreed them, and sought means for weakening the damage. to supply all Jews with Matzos according to R. Levi One ruse was calling a meeting at Minsk of thirty Yitzchok’s requirements. two rabbis of White Russian, at which they were co- At 3:00 am on Nisan 9, of 1939, loud knocks were erced into signing a paper declaring that there exist- heard at Reb Leivik’s door. NKVD agents searched ed no religious persecution in Soviet Union. the house, sifting through his valuable library and his own manuscripts, packing them all into cases. Intoxicated with their success, the government called By 6:00 am they were through. “Rabbi, put on a similar meeting at Kharkov of all Ukrainian rabbis. your coat and follow us”. Realizing it was unlikely They realized R. Levi Yitzchok would be the hardest he would be home for Pesach, he requested and nut to crack. The local NKVD chief called him to a was granted permission to take with him two kilos personal interview to explain the significance of such of Matzah. a declaration and how it could contribute to the na- tional cause. He offered R. Levi Yizchok a first class So began the ten long months, three hundred and train ticket– compliments of the NKVD. three days, the sixty one year old Rav was impris- oned. After six and a half months he was informed R. Levi Yitzchok was not flattered. Thanking him for that he had been sentenced to five years exile in his kindness, he politely refused, coolly informing chilli, a primitive Tartar village in remotest Kha- him that he could pay for his own trip. The NKVD zakhstan, Central Asia, a few hundred miles from chief had not expected such a slap in the face from a the Tibetan border. rabbi but he had not choice to accept it in silence. So broken physically was Reb Leivik that when Reb- In Kharkov, a stranger, a government agent, moved bitzen Chanah was finally able to see him briefly among the rabbis. They were afraid to utter a word. before his departure for Alma Ata, capital of Kha- Not Reb Leivik. He expressed his firm opinion that it zakistan, she could barely recognize him. He hun- would be wrong to sign a false declaration. gered there for lack of kosher food and had gone The Ukrainian Minister of Education called in R. Levi without medical attention. His first wish was to tell Yitzchok to reprimand him. He warned him that him how many days Cheshvan had that year, so he these actions could be viewed as treasonous and would know when to light candles for Chanukah. counterrevolutionary. Reb Leivik refused to budge The journey to Alma Ata took a month. Reb Leivik and convinced his colleagues to resist and pressure. was upset by the lack of water for Negel Vasser. The meeting ended in failure. For eleven days only limited quantities of water Meanwhile, Reb Leivik discovered a person about to were given each prisoner. Reb Leivik used it for leave the country. He sent a messenger imploring Negel Vasser, exchanging even the bulk of his ra- him to inform the world press of this coercion. The tions for a little extra water. sensation was smeared all over the front pages to

What hurt Reb Leivik most was his lack of Torah books sponded in kind. After experiencing hell on earth for study, and paper to record his stream of original in their flight, separated from families, friends, To- Torah insights. Besides the rare scraps of paper that rah mentors, they found here a Torah giant to came his way he utilized the page edges of the whom they could look for direction, advice and and Zohar that the Rebbitzen had managed to bring comfort. But it was all too brief a period of time. him for writing commentaries. The impossibility of ob- Despite his increasingly critical sickness and past taining ink was remedied by Rebbitzen Chanah manu- suffering for his work for Yiddishkeit, Reb Leivik facturing her own from local herbs and crushed pencil bravely resumed his exhortations in public, to leads. strengthen observing Mitzvos despite all who seek Upon publication of the five volumes of “Likutei Levi to prevent it. His fiery words on Shavous were Yitzchok” in 1971-3, the Torah world was amazed at heard in astonishment and fright by those in shul; the originality of Reb Leivik’s new approach to Torah they hadn’t heard such words in years, especially explanation, based on the intimate relationship be- from one who held a prominent rabbinical position tween every single detail of Torah phraseology, even and suffered so terribly. the most seemingly irrelevant, with the underlying The NKVD spies were in shul. Reb Leivik’s home Kabbalistic significance. was visited frequently during the next weeks by They were further amazed at his unbelievable erudition NKVD agents, who found him confined to his sick that knew no bounds, quoting verbatim from every sid- bed. As the end approached, many Jews found ex- ra of the Torah, every book of Tanach, every tractate of cuses to absent themselves from work to spend Gemara and numerous other Halachic and especially time with the dying Rav. Kabbalistic works, all of which he is known definitely They could not tear themselves away from his cap- not to have had with him in his exile. tivating personality, wisdom and counsel, his en- Sadly, most of his voluminous writings from before his couragement to remain strong to Yiddishkeit even imprisonment were apparently destroyed during the in such times. And he, too, sensing how much they Nazi occupation of Yekaterinoslav, when his second craved his words, fought with his last strength to son, Berel was also tragically murdered, HY”D. fulfill their spiritual needs. As the five lonely years of exile drew to a close in 1944, The final hours came. He barely spoke, his lips he was shocked to learn that the government planned were murmuring continuously. The evening be- to extend all expired terms of imprisonment and exile fore his passing away, he suddenly opened his eyes fro even longer. Before an official order would be re- and requested that his hands be washed. “It’s time ceived by the local NKVD office it was necessary to to get over to the other side…” were his last spo- forestall it with a release document. But how? ken words. Since the Nazi invasion of Russia in 1941, thousands of The next morning, Menachem Av 20, his situation Jews fled to inner Russia. Many found their way to worsened considerably. His pains were unbearable Tashkent and Samarkand, others to Alma Ata, among and he indicated several times they should turn them Lubavitcher Chasidim and friends of Reb Leivik. him over. His lips continued moving ceaselessly They gathered a large sum of money and endangered and Reb Hishel Rabinovitz, who put himself out for their own lives, bribing government officials to issue an Reb Leivik more than anyone else, put his ear close order for his release. On Pesach of 1944 he was free to to hear. leave. They were words from Tehillim 77: “Ve’ikvosecha He arrive in Alma Ata totally broken in body from his Lo Nodau” ( Your footsteps are not know) “Oy, harsh imprisonment and subsequent exile. He was dy- Ikvos Meshicha...Ikvos Meshicha (The footsteps of ing of a critical sickness and barely four months left to Moshiach, the period of suffering, physical and his life. His devoted friends went out of their way to spiritual, right before the coming of Moshiach). take care of all his needs, and to make the last months So passed away the last Rav of Yekatrinoslav of of his life comfortable. that time period, the great leader of Russian Jewry, Meanwhile, his spirits took and upward turn. Here a man of invincible courage to rise above the storm were hundreds of refugees, Chabad Chasidim, Polish and inspire all with his bravery and fortitude. Chassidim, Misnagdim - he had Jews with whom to Farbreng. His joy know no bounds. The Jews of Alma Ata re-

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רהקערה רוה רקיעה - Directives of the Rebbe for Menachem Av

1. Learn the halachas pertaining to the Nine Days. day properly. 2. We should add in learning Torah and giving 8. Make a farbrengen on the Fifteenth of Av, and Tzedakah. publicize what the Gemorah says that from the 3. We should learn about the building of the Beis Fifteenth of Av the night becomes longer and we Hamikdash from Sefer Yechezkel (from Chapter must add in our learning of Torah. (Since the 40 on), from the Mishnayos of Midos, and from nights were created for learning) The far- Rambam - Laws of Beis Hamikdash, also how it’s brengens should be made for men, for women, explained in Chassidus. and for children. 4. We should try to make a Siyum each of the Nine 9. We should add in our learning of Moshiach and Days, as well as Tishah B’Av and up until Av 15. Geulah, as they are in the Rambam laws of Mela- chim and in the Gemorah in Sanhedrin, and as 5. We should make the Siyum as public as possible, explained in Chassidus. We should make this even get small children involved.( I.e. Shuls, learning as public as possible. Camps etc..) 10. We must add in Ahavas Yisroel - Ahavas Chi- 6. We should connect the Siyum with giving nom. Tzedokah.

7. On the Fifth of Av, the Yartzeit of the Arizal, we should add in Torah and Tzedokah, utilizing the May it be the will of Hashem that these days change to days of happiness and joy. Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av V’Eschanan Av 1/July 20/ Friday Shabbos Nachamu Av 16/August 4 Matos Masei Light Candles Friday August 3: 7:33 Av 2/ July 21 Shabbos Ends: 8:36 Light Candles Friday July 20: 7:44 Last Time To Read Shema: 9:33 Shabbos Ends: 8:47 Pirkei Avos Chapter 3 Last Time To Read Shema: 9:28 Pirkei Avos Chapter 2 Eikev Shabbos Mevarchim Elul Av 23/ August 11 Light Candles Friday August 10 7:27

Devarim Tehillim 8:15 Shabbos Chazon Shachris 10:00 Av 9/July 28 Shabbos Ends: 8:30 Light Candles Friday July 27 7:39 Last Time To Read Shema: 9:35 Shabbos Mincha 6:00 Pirkei Avos Chapter 4 Stop eating by 7:57 Shabbos Ends 8:42 Ma’ariv 9:00 Re’eh Last time to Read Shema 9:30 Rosh Chodesh Elul Day One Fast Deferred to Sunday Av 30/August 18 Light Candles Friday August 17: 7:19 Shabbos Ends: 8:22 Last Time To Read Shema: 9:37 Pirkei Avos Chapter 5

FAST of AV 9 (deferred) Start saying L’Dovid Hashem Ori CALENDAR TIMES ARE FOR LOS ANGELES TIMES FOR ARE CALENDAR Av 10/ July 29/ Sunday Shacharis (First Minyan) 8:00 Shacharis (Second Minyan) 9:00 Shachris (Third Minyan) 10:00 There will be a Siyum ,IY”H Chatzos 12:59 every night after Maariv from Mincha with Talis/Tefillin-First minyan 1:30 Rosh Chodesh Av, Thurday night, July 19, thru Tu B’Av, Mincha with Talis/Tefillin-second minyan 6:30 August 2nd . Fast Ends: 8:31