B”H Erev Shavuot, 5th of Sivan, 5780; May 28th, 2020 047

"But we only have nine. We need a min- Captured! yan in order to davven and lein (read from the Torah scroll)." Rabbi Hershel Schacter [not to be con- "Oh really? Well, you need a minyan. I fused with Rabbi Hershel Schachter, the do not!" To prove his point, he brazenly Rosh Kollel at YU] was a prominent lit up a cigarette. American Rabbi with a distinguished "Yechezkel, I'm begging you. Just come career in the rabbinate and in public Jew- in to the tent - we'll pray quickly." ish life. During World War II, he was a In a huff, Yechezkel replied, "Fine! Just chaplain in the Third Army's VIII Corps this once!" He entered the makeshift shul and was the first US Army Chaplain to with a scowl. participate in the liberation of the Buch- young mother and her small son were enwald concentration camp shortly after desperate to get out of Buchenwald, but The nine men who would be praying it had been liberated by General George babies were not allowed on this started the preliminaries, followed by Patton's troops on April 11, 1945. While transport. "Don't worry, we'll get you Kaddish. All the while, Yechezkel made others begged to leave Buchenwald due out," Rabbi Schacter said. "Get on the sure everyone knew how unhappy he to the unbearable stench, Rabbi Schacter train, and hide in one of the lavatories. was. Rabbi Schacter then took out the stayed for months, tending to survivors Lock the door. Under no circumstances Sefer Torah and asked if any of the men and leading religious services. shall you open it unless I call you." He knew how to read. They all shook their gave them food to tide them over. heads. Yechezkel, meanwhile, was look- Yechezkel[1] was a young man from a ing longingly outside the tent. Polish Chasidic family. Rabbi Schacter Rabbi Schacter was rushing to and fro, found him charming and took a special making sure each boy was accounted for. Then Rabbi Schacter remembered, liking to the boy. Yechezkel had lost his All the while, Rabbi Schacter was won- "Yechezkel!" entire family during the war and had dering if Yechezkel would show up. As "What do you want," the boy replied, completely renounced his faith in G-d. the train was ready to depart, Yechezkel icily. Yechezkel defiantly told the rabbi about came up to shake the rabbi's hand. "Didn't you tell me you were a ba'al his plans to assimilate and live the rest of "Yechezkel, it's so nice of you to come koreh (qualified Torah-scroll reader) his life in post-war Germany, without a and say goodbye!" And with that, he before the war?" trace of Judaism. Rabbi Schacter listened grabbed the boy's hand and with a burst "Maybe. So what?" sympathetically and tried to offer his of strength hauled Yechezkel onto the "So you're the only one of us who knows moral support. They talked often. train just as it was starting to pull out of how to lein. We need to hear the Torah the station! Yechezkel was shocked and reading for this Shabbat after- Some time after his arrival in Buchen- furious. Rabbi Schacter told him he just noon.” wald, Rabbi Schacter organized a train did it on impulse, but to please not be so "There you go again with your 'We need transport for 200 boys to Switzerland. angry. Yechezkel was steaming! to….' You might need to. I certainly Each boy was issued a special ticket don't!" from the Swiss government, and Rabbi Finally, the train made its way to Swit- Schacter was responsible for distributing zerland. The Swiss protested that there Continued on page 3 them to the boys. He knew that this was was double the number of boys. Rabbi a desperate time, and they needed to get Schacter coolly threatened to call a press more than 200 of these boys into Swit- conference to tell the world that Switzer- zerland. He invited another survivor who land is refusing entry to destitute war Shabbat Times was an expert artist to create additional orphans. The Swiss quickly backed Candle Lighting Motzei Shabbat tickets. You could not tell the difference down. The mother and child also made it between the original and the copy. safely. Jerusalem 40:7 00:: Tel Aviv 40:7 00:8 Rabbi Schacter distributed the copies, so After their arrival Rabbi Schacter at- Haifa 4077 00:7 nearly 400 boys were planning to make tempted to make a minyan on Shabbat. Beer Sheva 4077 00:: the trip. He also offered Yechezkel a There was easily enough people for Sha- ticket, but the boy refused. He wanted no charit, but Mincha proved difficult. He New York 00:7 70:7 part of restarting a Jewish life. The day could only find nine men, including him- came when the train for Switzerland self. Remembering Yechezkel, he went Chabad Of Israel arrived at Buchenwald. Rabbi Schacter in search of the young man, who was not Rabbi Joseph I. Aronov told Yechezkel, "look, even if you don't happy to see him. Published by M.L.S. Kfar Chabad (03) 3731777 come with us to Switzerland, at least Editor: Aharon Schmidt come to see us off when we board the [email protected] "Yechezkel, I need you for a minyan." Please guard the sanctity of this publication trains." Yechezkel reluctantly agreed. A "Are you crazy? Absolutely not!" Shavuos - Practical Education train our children to approach the Torah. the custom of recreating the Sinai experi- The first thing is actual deed. They observe ence by having all Jews - men, woman, The Midrash relates that before G‑d gave the mitzvos without understanding their children, even infants - gather in the syna- the Torah to the Jewish people, He asked rationale. Instead, they grow up practicing gogue to hear the reading of the Ten Com- for guarantors. them as an integral part of their existence. mandments on the first day of Shavuos. They do not see Judaism as merely a set of The nation offered several options: the beliefs whose value they comprehend, but Following that custom brings home the Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Mo- a fully integrated way of life that encom- above concepts. For whether or not they ses and the other prophets, but G-d reject- passes every dimension of their existence. understand the reading, everyone attending ed them all. The people then volunteered: will appreciate that it is special. A child “Our children will be our guarantors.” Teaching Our Way Of Life will know that even if he did not compre- hend the reading, he did establish a bond G‑d agreed and gave the Torah. “Brainwashing,” someone might protest. with the Torah. “Denying the children free choice.” On one hand, the concept is obvious. If And the truth is that the adults should take you want an idea or a practice to be perpet- But it is not. Our children will always have precisely that message home. For the truth uated, you must involve youth. Perhaps the a choice. They grow up in a world where of the Torah is G‑dly, beyond human con- point of the Midrash then is the nature of material things are openly evident to all of ception. No matter how much we do un- the involvement asked of our children. us, and the existence of spiritual truth is derstand, there is always infinitely more only in books. Is there any question that which is beyond our understanding. First We Will Do they will hear the other side? Adapted from the teachings of the Lubav- A lot of times people say, “I will show my And raising them without a thorough in- itcher Rebbe, Shabbos Table and children an approach. I’m sure that they’ll volvement in Judaism as a way of life is Moshiach Now! reprinted from Keeping in appreciate that it’s good. But I won’t force also a message. It teaches them that Juda- Touch, Sichos in English. From our Sag- them. I’ll let them make up their own ism is secondary, perhaps a nice pastime, es reprinted from minds.” but not one of the fundamental elements of LchaimWeekly.org – LYO / NYC life. What kind of choice does that leave Judaism takes a much different tact. Before the child? the Jews received the Torah at Mount Si- nai, they told G‑d: “We will do and we Reliving Mount Sinai How to Deal with Ga’ava (Pride) will listen,” making a commitment to ob- serve the Torah, before they knew what Shavuos is the anniversary of the giving of Reb Yosef Yitzchock Zaltzman, shliach G‑d was commanding them. the Torah, an appropriate time for each of to Toronto, Canada, relates: us to renew and deepen our connection This practice is mirrored in the way we with it. The Lubavitcher Rebbe instituted I was in yechidus for my seventeenth birthday, 25 Shevat 5733 (1973). I had written on my note that I suffer from gai- vah (pride), and whatever I do makes me feel that I am a groiser mentch (a great "I am the L-rd your G-d." made of dust and earth. A mountain is person). just more of that earth collected and Why did G-d use the singular form when heaped up into a larger mass. The fact The Rebbe answered the following: giving the Ten Commandments to mil- that the Torah was given on a mountain “Firstly, there is a solution to learn chap- lions of people? To teach us that each and teaches us that a Jew's purpose in life is to ter 41 of Tanya by heart. Whenever you every Jew must say to himself, "The Ten take that earth-- physical matter and feel gaivah, just contemplate about what Commandments were given to me, and I corporeality -- elevate it and transform it is explained there: that Hashem is stand- must keep them." One should not think it into holiness. ing over you and examining your inner is sufficient that the Torah is kept by oth- parts… This awareness should make the ers. (Lubavitcher Rebbe) gaivah decrease. (Midrash) Baal Shem Tov - Love Every Jew “Secondly, it is explained in many books, including the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Shavuot - Oath Aruch, that one should toil in Torah also The Baal Shem Tov taught that we must Shavuot comes from the word "shvua" - shelo lishmo (for ulterior motives). So love every Jew, the simplest person as when the yetzer hara confuses you with oath. On the day that the Torah was giv- well as the greatest Torah scholar. Jews en, G-d and the Jewish people made a the notion of your greatness, simply an- are G-d's "tefilin," as it were, the Baal swer him, ‘True, I’m great! Therefore I mutual vow. We swore to G-d that we Shem Tov explained. would never exchange Him for another ought to learn like a great person – with god and He swore to us that He will never diligence! And therefore I must be me- Scholarly Jews, those with great intellec- exchange us for another nation. hader in mitzvos!’ (beautify the mitzvos) tual abilities, are the tefilin that are worn (Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh) on the head. Simple Jews, those who per- “And when the yetzer hara sees that form G-d's mitzvot with joy and gladness, you’re utilizing the gaivah for kedusha, are the tefilin that are worn on the arm. he’ll leave you alone.” And Israel encamped there opposite the Just as when putting on tefilin the hand mountain (Ex. 19:2) precedes the head, so too must we demonstrate love for the simple Jews reprinted from The Weekly Farbrengen Why was the Torah given on a mountain? first. by Merkaz Anash, on-line at TheWeek- The difference between level ground and (Maayan Chai) lyFarbrengen.com a mountain is not qualitative; both are Self Education - A Lesson in our Lives Some people think they cannot change rah to the masses. Captured! their behavior. But the truth is we all have the power to change our behavior for the The lesson is clear: the fact that one may not have been taught something as a child cont. from page 1: "Yechezkel, please! better, regardless of our education or up- This is the first chance in years for peo- bringing. In this regard, we can look to should by no means stop him from doing the right thing. As soon as he learns that ple to hear the Torah publicly read. I'm the example of three great figures in Jew- begging you. I know you can do this!" ish history who are connected to Shavu- this is the way of Torah, he should waste no time in implementing it in his life. os—Moshe Rabbeinu, Dovid Hamelech, With extreme reluctance, Yechezkel and the Baal Shem Tov. Especially in the realm of ahavas Yisroel, which is a “fundamental principle in the threw his cigarette outside, and ap- Moshe Rabbeinu obviously did not re- Torah.” We must always conduct our- proached the table. He cast an expert ceive a proper education. From the age selves in the spirit of ahavas Yisroel. It glance at the Sefer Torah and immediate- that he was weaned—formative years in a cannot be that this is beyond our reach, ly found the starting point. "Okay," he child’s education—he lived in the house for Hashem does not ask us to do what is sighed. "Let's get on with it." A man was of Pharaoh. He was self-educated in the beyond our capabilities. called to the Torah and made the bless- ways of the Torah and ahavas Yisroel, ing. "…who has chosen us from all other and if Moshe Rabbeinu was able to rise Every day we make a bracha on the To- nations and given us the Torah…." above his circumstances and his educa- rah. Yet, the command to study Torah is constant. Why then must we make a bra- tion, so can every single Jew. Every Jew "Amen," Yechezkel found himself saying can emulate Moshe Rabbeinu. cha anew every day? The reason is be- cause each day we are created anew, and automatically. It came back so easily. Dovid Hamelech was a shepherd in his we thus receive the Torah anew. With this Yechezkel began to read the 3300-year- youth. We can assume that he didn’t have in mind one can overcome the fact that he old sacred text. Something unexpected much time to spend in the beis hamedrash may have not been raised to follow a cer- happened. The holy letters of the pre- for a proper education. The great Dovid tain aspect of the Torah. He can forge cious scroll seemed to jump off the page Hamelech too was self-educated. ahead because every day is a new day. and hit him in the face with full force. He looked as if he was literally being struck The same is true about the Baal Shem If this holds true with regard to every as- with the powerful black letters, and that Tov. We are told that he was orphaned at pect of the Torah, then it definitely ap- they were searing his soul. Yechezkel's a very young age. The only education that plies to the mitzvah of ahavas Yisroel, the angry veneer had been shattered. He his father was able to impart to him was, basis of the whole Torah. We can train broke down crying like a baby, and bare- "Fear no one but G‑d. Love every Jew ourselves to love every single Jew, re- ly got through the Torah reading. When with all your heart and soul, no matter gardless of how we were yesterday; for he had begun to read, it had been some- who he is." We can infer from this that he every day we are born anew. When we one else's Torah. Now he had reclaimed was too young to have been taught Chu- treat a fellow Jew with unconditional it. And it had reclaimed him! mash, and definitely too young to have love, we can truly reach out to one who is been taught Gemara or the inner dimen- far and bring him back into the fold. Yechezkel was forever changed by that sions of Torah. Yet, the Baal Shem Tov When we behave in this manner it is sure Torah reading. He returned to the path of rose above his circumstances and educat- to bring the geulah! mitzvah fulfillment and remained Torah- ed himself, eventually becoming the one observant for the rest of his life. He built who brought the inner dimensions of To- Adapted from the teachings of the Rebbe, from Derher a beautiful Jewish family in Australia and championed Torah causes there in his city. Yechezkel also stayed a devoted friend to the Schacter family for many decades.

1] Yechezkel is a pseudonym, to protect Shavuos is yahrzeit of the Baal Shem Tov. R. Pinchas of Koritz gave the following his family's privacy. analogy to explain the Baal Shem Tov’s place in Jewish history. In previous genera- tions, there were no illuminated highways. When people would journey there was a Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from the tendency to look back to the city from which they departed. The knowledge that their article by Rabbi Shlomo Horwitz, who journey had a starting point reassured them that they were not merely wandering aim- heard the story from Rabbi Jacob J. lessly. Then at a given point their focus would change. They would see the lights of the Shacter in June 2014, the son of Rabbi city to which they were going and the sight would engender new inner strength. Hershel, and posted it on the OU site (ou.org) on July 31, 2018. Rabbi Tilles Throughout the exile, the Jews would look back to the Temple for their inspiration. of Tsfat is a co-founder of ASCENT. His From the revelation of the Baal Shem Tov onward, not only did our people “know from mailing list ([email protected]) is now where you came,” they could also perceive “to where you are going.” For the Baal in its 23rd year. The first two of his "Full Shem Tov made the coming of Moshiach a palpable goal, something that could be ap- Moon" storybooks (Koren Publ) are preciated not merely as a hope for the distant future, but a dynamic that is in the pro- available for purchase at Kabbala- cess of happening. Online-shop.com and Jewish bookstores. “TillesTells” Question: I am 67 and feel like I am basi- cally who I am and cannot change. So I made a Rabbi Yerachmiel Tilles’s stories decision (which you probably will not like!). have been a staple for Living Jewish Rather than get down on myself because I get readers. Born and raised in the Bronx, angry, worry, and am not happy, I have come to Tilles began telling stories weekly in the realization that this is who I am - for better 1973; moved from NY to Tsfat in or worse. It is too hard to change my bad 1978; helped found ASCENT in 1983; middos - and after so many years I do not think I translated “A Mother in Israel” - can anyway. You talk about self-acceptance Memoirs of Rebbetzin Chana Shneer- and accepting others - so, there you go! I will son - from Hebrew in 1984; started his just accept myself as I am. email story list in 1998 and authored two hard-cover books of stories in Answer: Self-acceptance is good. We want he decided to move his weekly Ma- 2013 and 2016, with the third of the to be on our own side; not beating ourselves up laveh Malka storytelling sessions at series due to be available before Rosh because of our faults. We are a work in process Ascent in Tsfat to social media. His Hashana, G-d willing. and Hashem gave us the years of our life to “TillesTells” WhatsApp group, now reach completion. When we accept that it is Many people will now have the op- in its fifth week, has close to 400 okay not to be perfect, we stop the internal criti- portunity to enjoy even more of Rabbi members. To join, send a WhatsApp cism and can breathe. Yet, we also must believe Tilles’s stories. Due to the lockdown, to +972-526-770-137 or an email to that we can grow. As our Sages teach, we are TillesTells@ gmail.com, or go to as- helped from Above to go in the path we desire. centofsafed.com. Then you can enjoy: Cooking Tip of the Week At times the mountain looks insurmountable. 1) A VIDEO story every Sat. night, Yet, Hashem does not give us challenges we No-Bake Cheese Balls: An easy no posted at approximately 9:30. -bake cookie for Shavuot. Mix 250 cannot overcome. A man once received a report grams of spreadable goat’s cheese, 2) An AUDIO story posted at 10:00. that his fortune had sunk at sea. He fainted. Eve- ry time he awakened and realized what hap- 200 grams of cookie crumbs (any 3) At least once each month a kind you like), some vanilla and a bit pened he fainted again. The Rebbe the Tzemach "Saturday Night ZOOM Stories" ses- Tzedek concluded that the news was not true. of maple syrup (not a lot). Form into sion at 10:30pm. balls and freeze on a pan covered in Shortly thereafter a messenger announced that baking paper. When frozen dip into 4) A link to his weekly story pub- the ship carrying the man’s fortune did not sink. melted chocolate (your favorite) and lished on the Ascent website is posted Those present were amazed at the prophetic refreeze till you need them. to TillesTells ” by Thursday evening. vision of the Tzemach Tzedek. However, the Tzemach Tzedek remarked that it was not Alizah Hochstead, Join ASAP and enliven your Saturday prophecy, explaining that Hashem only gives a [email protected] nights with at least 3 different stories person a challenge he can handle. When the man a week. It’s well worth it! kept fainting, it proved the report was false. Another story: A yeshiva student had a personal Halacha Corner – Shavuos audience with the Rebbe. He explained that he was getting sick from limiting his eating and Flowers, plants, and trees have long been used to decorate shuls and homes sleep while diligently applying himself to his in honor of Shavuos, as described in the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch, to studies. He requested a blessing for more recall the joy of Matan Torah and also to remind us to pray for the fruits of strength. The Rebbe explained that he was mak- the trees whose fate is decided in heaven each Shavuos. This custom is men- ing a mistake. When the G-dly soul begins to tioned in Lu’ach Kollel Chabad and was practiced in the shul in Nikolayev shine, it naturally pushes out the animal soul, (where the Rebbe lived as a young child), but it is actually not the Chabad lessening the need for sleep and eating. How- custom (in Chabad shuls). ever, if the G-dly soul doesn’t need more space, During the 10 commandments, the entire congregation stands facing the To- not eating and sleeping will lead to sickness. rah. In HaYom Yom, it states that in 5740 the Rebbe called for all children The key is to strengthen the G-dly soul. including tiny infants to come to shul on Shavuos to hear the 10 command- The more we strengthen the good by giving ments. charity, fulfilling mitzvos, learning both the The custom to eat a milchig (milky) meal on Shavuos does not override the revealed and inner dimension of Torah, increas- obligation, the mitzvah, of eating meat on Yom Tov. The former is a custom, ing in ahavas Yisroel, etc., the more our nega- while the latter is a mitzvah. However, we are not permitted to eat dairy and tive traits will melt away. As the saying goes, a meat products in the same meal even if we wait the necessary time in be- little light banishes a lot of darkness. And, when tween courses. Therefore, an after-bracha on the milchig foods must be recit- we take the first step, Hashem will help. ed before washing for the meaty meal. It is our custom to wait one hour from milk to meat. This spans the time from finishing milchigs to beginning eating Aharon Schmidt - marriage & individual coach- fleishigs, so washing can commence soon after concluding the dairy meal. ing - video and telephone available. For an ap- Rav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, shlita, Mara D’asra and member of the Badatz of pointment or to share a question contact: Crown Heights; reprinted from www.crownheightsconnect.com [email protected]