683:Beis Moshiach 09/02/2009 12:06 AM Page 3 contents TEN COMPELS SEVEN 5 D’var Malchus MY EXPERIENCES WITH THE 8 REBBETZIN 22 Shvat | Ofra Bedosa T’FILLIN, A SMILE, AND A BRACHA 12 Profile | S. Malachi IT’S NOT WHAT YOU SAY… 18 Shlichus | Rabbi Yaakov Shmuelevitz USA AND YOU SHALL ALSO SEE MY FACE 744 Eastern Parkway 20 Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409 Moshiach & Geula | Boruch Merkur Tel: (718) 778-8000 Fax: (718) 778-0800 [email protected] www.beismoshiach.org THE HOUSE AT 82 ROTHSCHILD BLVD 22 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Feature | Menachem Ziegelboim M.M. Hendel ENGLISH EDITOR: Boruch Merkur HAPPY TO BE CARRYING DIAMONDS [email protected] 30 ASSISTANT EDITOR: Profile | H. 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Beis Moshiach is not responsible for the content of the advertisements. 683:Beis Moshiach 08/02/2009 11:02 PM Page 5 d’var malchus TEN COMPELS SEVEN Translated and adapted by Dovid Yisroel Ber Kaufmann of names, emphasizing that the The Ten Commandments establish an name of a Torah reading indicates the essential nature of that portion. exclusive relationship between G-d and Therefore, that Yisro is a non-Jew the Jewish people. Since the Torah indicates that even though the covenant and the commandments portion is named after a non-Jew, this belong exclusively to the Jewish people, still the Torah is relevant to indicates that the non-Jewish world the non-Jew in some significant and essential way. benefits when the Jewish people fulfill Now it is well known that there are seven universal laws that apply the six hundred thirteen mitzvos. It also to all mankind. These seven indicates that the Jewish people have an Noachide laws are so named since all humanity descends from Noah obligation to “compel” the seventy and his children. Although the Torah applies only to the Jewish nations to observe the seven Noachide people, everyone must observe the seven Noachide commandments. In commandments. fact, because the Torah was given to the Jewish people, the rest of the The central event of the Torah – the revelation at world must be “compelled” to Sinai – occurs in this week’s portion. By giving the Ten accept the seven universal laws. As Maimonides writes: Commandments to the Jewish people, G-d establishes “Moshe gave the Torah and mitzvos as an inheritance an exclusive relationship with Israel. Indeed, G-d only to Israel . someone else who does not wish to declares, “Now therefore, if you will indeed hearken to accept Torah and mitzvos should not be forced to. By My voice and you will keep My covenant, then you the same token, Moshe was commanded by the shall be mine own treasure from among all the peoples, Almighty to compel all the inhabitants of the world to for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be unto Me a accept the laws given to Noah’s descendants.” kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.” At Sinai the Jewish people received – and accepted There arises, then, a simple question: why is upon themselves – two categories of obligation. First “Yisro” the name of the Torah reading? Yisro, the was acceptance of G-d’s Kingship – and an automatic father-in-law of Moshe, was a Midianite chief, a rejection of idolatry. Second was an acceptance of the former priest for every form of idolatry. Given that the mitzvos, G-d’s commandments. Moshe – and therefore Ten Commandments emphasize G-d’s relationship the Jewish people – are commanded to compel the with the Jewish people, that the Torah and the six nations to accept the first obligation, G-d’s Kingship. hundred thirteen mitzvos define Israel as G-d’s “own The Torah was not given just so that Jews would treasure,” it seems odd that this Torah reading in accept the yoke of G-d’s Kingship and His particular should be called by the name of a non-Jew. commandments. The ultimate purpose of the giving of The Rebbe emphasizes many times the significance the Torah was to transform the world, so that BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 683 5 683:Beis Moshiach 08/02/2009 11:02 PM Page 6 ultimately – in the era of Moshiach – “G-d will be King groups who refrained from murder and thievery, and over all the earth.” Since however, Torah – acceptance through whose efforts thousands of Jews were saved. of G-d’s Kingship and His mitzvos – is a “Jewish From those times – G-d forbid they should ever be thing,” the Jews alone have the ability and obligation to repeated, and we should all see only good – we have a bring G-d’s Kingship to the whole world. living example of the benefit Jews receive when the In short, the obligation to compel all the inhabitants nations observe the Seven Mitzvos. How much more of the world to accept the seven Noachide so, then, will the Jewish people benefit when there is commandments, with all the implications thereof, no danger to the non-Jew, when the interaction is derives from the very fact the Jewish people were given “only” a business transaction. In such a situation, the Torah. This obligation applies even today. when a Jew conducts himself in a pleasant and amiable Especially now, on the threshold of Redemption, must manner, certainly the Jews will benefit from the non- the Jewish people “compel” the non-Jews to accept and Jews’ observance of their mitzvos. In such fulfill the seven mitzvos. (That now, for the first time circumstances as we find ourselves now, it is not only in history, we are able to openly publicize and promote possible, it is imperative to try to “compel” the non- the Seven Mitzvos is itself a sign we are on the Jew to accept G-d’s Kingship and observe the threshold of the coming of Moshiach.) Noachide commandments. In this context, “compelling” means to persuade, to Simply put, if a gentile has the opportunity to harm explain, to enlighten – to use the various media and or help a Jew, but feels that there is “an Eye that sees means of communication to educate the non-Jewish and an Ear that hears,” obviously he will choose to help world about the Noachide commandments. Everyone the Jew. When he knows he must observe his Seven with a connection to a non-Jew, or who has an Mitzvos – as a Jew must observe his six hundred opportunity, should try to influence the b’nei Noach – thirteen – automatically the relationship between the the descendants of Noah – to accept his or her Divine Jew and non-Jew will improve. obligation, the seven universal laws. By making the effort to “compel” the non-Jews to Previously, the Jewish people were unable to observe the Seven Mitzvos, thousands and thousands observe this law. Even in those countries which did not of gentiles will come to observe G-d’s commandments. persecute the Jews, any attempt to influence the non- Then the world will see that G-d “has made Israel a Jewish population was fraught with danger. When the light unto the nations.” government was neutral, so to speak, other so-called Indeed, fulfilling this Divine commandment to leaders, religious or otherwise, certainly were not influence and “compel” the non-Jews sets the stage interested in or tolerant of what Judaism taught and prepares the way for fulfillment of the prophetic regarding G-d’s commandments to the nations. promise that G-d “will make the peoples pure of speech Now, however, the situation is different. In that they will all call upon the Name of G-d and serve countries like the United States, when a Jew tries to Him with one purpose” in the complete and final enlighten his or her neighbor about the Seven Mitzvos, Redemption. there is no danger of any kind. There is neither (Based on Likkutei Sichos 26, pp. 132-144) physical danger, nor the hazard of financial loss or penalty. Just the opposite: efforts to influence and educate non-Jews is beneficial, bringing both spiritual and material profit. In such a situation, the obligation “to compel [i.e., influence and inspire] all the inhabitants of the world to accept the laws given to Noah’s descendants” applies to every Jew in full force. That Jews are not only able to educate, persuade and influence non-Jews, but also to benefit thereby is itself an indicator we are in the era of Moshiach. Certainly the Jewish people benefit when non-Jews accept and observe the seven Noachide laws. Every Jew is still affected by the Holocaust. Although the events are fifty years past, to this day the terror and horror leaves its trace in Jewish life, its shadow over the Jewish people. Yet one could see clearly during those times that there were righteous gentiles, individuals and 6 19 Shvat 5769B EIS MOSHIACH 683:Beis Moshiach 08/02/2009 11:02 PM Page 8 22 shvat MY EXPERIENCES WITH THE REBBETZIN By Ofra Bedosa lot about “and the living shall take Mrs.