A Candle of Her Own
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$2.00 US TISHREI 5775 ISSUE 24 (101) A Candle of her Own Forty years of Mivtzah Neshek Pidyon Nefesh Regenerating the Connection בס”ד 2 | A CHASSIDISHER DERHER ידוע ענין הזכרון והמדמה והמצייר, אשר פועל הוא בנפש האדם הזוכר ומדמה רגש ומצב רוח דומה, פחות או יותר, למצב רוח בו נמצא, הוא או אדם כדוגמתו, בעת המאורע עצמו. וככל אשר יגדל תוקף כחות נפשו וממשלתם על הגוף, הקשור ואסור בזמן ומקום, כן יתקרב יותר ויותר מצב נפשו בעת הזכרון – להמצב בעת המאורע. בברכת כתיבה וחתימה טובה לשנה טובה ומתוקה; COMING SOON! SPECIAL VOV TISHREI SUPPLEMENT MAGAZINE AV 5774 | 3 PHOTO: JEM/THE LIVING ARCHIVE / 104489 Dance in the Streets! Throughout the years, the Rebbe encouraged the celebration of Simchas Beis Hashoeiva on Sukkos in vast measures. In the earlier years, the Rebbe himself conducted the farbrengens, delivering lengthy sichos and singing joyous niggunim with the crowd. Things took a major turn in 5741, when the Rebbe initiated the custom of delivering a sicha on each night of Sukkos. In these talks, the Rebbe expounded upon the theme of the Ushpizin of the day, and also encouraged everyone to celebrate the Simcha with joy and dancing in the streets! The following excerpt presented is from a sicha on Shabbos Parshas Ha’azinu - 13 Tishrei 5752, in which the Rebbe speaks in preparation for the upcoming Yom Tov of Sukkos, focusing on the great joy contained within these festive days. The Rebbe explains how this happiness also relates to our imminent welcoming of Moshiach Tzidkeinu, and stresses that we should not keep our happiness to ourselves, but rather share it with every Jew that we possibly can. (Sichos Kodesh 5752 vol. 1 p. 97) Sharing the Joy - at least another three, equal to the This also includes the ultimate brocha of and I will make“ ,”ואולך אתכם קוממיות“ (.It is important to bear in mind the minimum three required by Halacha... need to help other Jews take part in the Those who visit these Jews should you stand upright and proud,” which will joy of Yom-Tov, especially in the special also encourage them about following happen when Moshiach arrives. festivities of Simchas Beis Hashoevah. Torah and Mitzvos in their daily lives, Women should also take part in these This pertains most importantly to nearby coupled with the knowledge that trips, in order to encourage the local locales that can be visited on Yom-Tov Hashem implores and begs every single women in their celebrations. Children itself, and also to places further afield Jew to follow Torah and Mitzvos, as should be brought along as well, since If they too must be taught the importance“ ”אם בחוקותי תלכו“ that can be reached on Chol-Hamoed. the posuk says .”הפצת היהדות והמעיינות חוצה“ In addition to helping them with their you will follow my commandments”, of אין אם אלא celebrations, they should be helped to and our Chachamim tell us “ Moshiach Is On His Way the word ‘if’ implies“ ”לשון תחנונים ”.fulfill the mitzvah of the “daled minim This year there is an additional, (If the local Jews don’t own their own supplication”. extremely important point: The set of “daled minim,” they should be Brochos upon Brochos celebration of Simchas Beis Hashoevah given a set after the shluchim to those The Torah tells us that as a result of this year should be with even greater places return home. This will enable them following this path Hashem promises liveliness, since we are celebrating and to continue to fulfill the mitzvah, and as !I will give rain in dancing to greet Moshiach Tzidkeinu“ ,”ונתתי גשמיכם בעתם“ per minhag Chabad it would be best if the the proper time”, as well as the many Needless to say, chas ve’shalom that set that they’re given has extra hadassim other brochos that follow in the parsha. someone should be embarrassed to 4 | A CHASSIDISHER DERHER dance in public or in the streets in front Moshiach]”, while on the other hand accomplishments in spreading Torah, of the entire world, to greet Moshiach he sends shluchim to establish schools, Yiddishkeit and Chassidus to the world Tzidkeinu. Even if an onlooker will ask yeshivos etc. both in the USA and through the shluchim of the Rebbe. “What’s the big celebration about?”, in other countries – something that This has brought the twin concepts of they just need to simply respond: “don’t certainly doesn’t happen overnight? geulah hinted in the Frierdiker Rebbe’s you know that all the newspapers have It takes time [to coordinate all these name, Yosef Yitzchak, meaning an printed that Moshiach has already activities], by which time Moshiach addition (Yosef) in joy (Yitzchak), arrived, and that he’s on his way to take will have arrived? so much closer, through the true joy every one of us to our holy land, to that we’ll experience when Moshiach Yerushalayim Ir Hakodesh and to the Multiple Tasks redeems us speedily in our days. Beis Hamikdash, where we’re going to The answer that the Frierdiker (Especially since a beautiful album continue to celebrate in the best possible Rebbe gave was that this is how the was just printed of the shluchim, manner?!” Jewish people (in accordance with shluchos, and their families with This is the spirit that should be the the directives of the gedolei and nesiei gold lettering etc. – like all things driving force behind all the Simchas yisroel) have behaved throughout the in kedusha that are done in order to Beis Hashoevah festivities – to bring the generations: While having complete honor Hashem, they must be done as happy news that Moshiach Tzidkeinu is faith and anticipation in Moshiach’s beautifully as possible just like was coming and will take us all to continue coming every day, they invested time done in the Mishkan – and may they celebrating in the third Beis Hamikdosh. and energy in long term goals to be blessed, and be an example for strengthen Torah and Mitzvos. This emulation by all)… What’s the Point? conduct is based on the Jewish people’s …Most importantly, may it be Since we are so sure that Moshiach behavior in the desert, where even for Hashem’s will that even before Tzidkeinu is coming and taking the an extremely short encampment, they Sukkos we will celebrate the true, entire Jewish nation out of golus to would build the Mishkan with all of its complete geulah through the coming celebrate Simchas Beis Hashoevah in sections, just as if they were preparing of Moshiach, with our Nosi at our the third Beis Hamikdash, why are for an extended stay. head, together with the shluchim and we talking about and preparing for It is the same in our situation as all those who helped spread Torah, Simchas Beis Hashoevah in golus, all well: we must prepare for Simchas Yiddishkeit , and Chassidus, as well over the world? Beis Hashoevah celebrations in every as the entire Jewish people, as the בנערינו ובזקנינו גו‘ בבנינו“ The Frierdiker Rebbe was once asked place around the globe, while at the posuk says With our youth and with“ ”ובבנותינו a similar question: How can it be that very same time anticipating Moshiach’s לאלתר on the one hand he announced “ immediate arrival, whereupon we will our elders etc. with our sons and with לתשובה לאלתר לגאולה ”, “Immediate observe Simchas Beis Hashoevah in the our daughters,” and we will continue teshuvah and thereby immediate third Beis Hamikdash. with the festivities of Simchas Beis עמדו הכן כולכם geulah,” as well as “ ”, This anticipation is now so much Hashoevah with the greatest joy in the “everyone should stand ready [to greet greater, since there have been so many third Beis Hamikdash… YIDDEN FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE CELEBRATE IN THE STREETS DURING SIMCHAS BEIS HASHOEVA IN CROWN HEIGHTS. RE HE LIVING ARCHIVE / 17883 HE LIVING ARCHIVE / 17883 T JEM/ TISHREI 5775 | 5 them with many additional Heavenly who approached the Rebbe on his way revelations. to Hakofos requesting a blessing, and the The climax of it all was on Simchas resulting Heavenly salvations granted SIMCHAS TORAH them. WITH THE REBBE Torah, beginning with the surprise Sicha on the night of Shmini Atzeres filled Others recalled with great emotion with detailed brochos for the upcoming that while standing near the Rebbe on year. The powerful, unprecedented Simchas Torah that year, they noticed encouragement to the Chassidim’s that the Rebbe did not look to be in singing and a very joyous pre-Hakofos perfect health. Nevertheless, the Rebbe Farbrengen on the night of Simchas danced and celebrated with utmost The month of Tishrei in the Rebbe’s Torah, are just a few of the many, many vibrancy, infusing the air with an presence was always an uplifting and phenomenal instances of that year, a unparalleled liveliness, and compelling all invigorating experience, but Tishrei of number of which are documented in the those present to join along with him. The 5752 was truly extraordinary. Many following composition. Chassidim were well aware of the fact that can recall the scores of occurrences that the Rebbe was literally showering them transpired which went well beyond the In preparing this essay for print, we with spiritual energy, despite any costs… ordinary Tishrei “structure”. It was as spoke with individuals who were present though the Rebbe was energizing more at the time, so that they could each share As it turned out, this would be the last and more into the Chassidim, being in their personal memories. Many of them Simchas Torah before the Rebbe’s stroke the open more than usual, and infusing recounted miraculous instances of people in Adar I, 5752.