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SCIENCE & TORAH 4 D’var Malchus

THERE ARE IN TIJUANA? 6 Shlichus | Esther Chin

SPEECHLESS 10 Miracle Story | Nosson Avrohom

CHABAD IN THE DESERT 15 Shlichus | Yaakov Shmuelevitz

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PUBLICIZING MOSHIACH IN MILAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: 22 Shlichus | Nosson Avrohom M.M. Hendel ENGLISH EDITOR: Boruch Merkur [email protected] A ENCLAVE IN WARTIME ASSISTANT EDITOR: 30 [CONT.] Dr. Aryeh Gotfryd Feature | Shneur Zalman Berger HEBREW EDITOR: Rabbi Sholom Yaakov Chazan [email protected] RABBI HILLEL PEVZNER A”H 35 Obituary | Shneur Zalman Berger Beis Moshiach (USPS 012-542) ISSN 1082- 0272 is published weekly, except Jewish holidays (only once in April and October) for $140.00 in the USA and in all other places for $150.00 per year (45 issues), by Beis Moshiach, 744 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409. Periodicals postage paid at Brooklyn, NY and additional offices. Postmaster: send address changes to Beis Moshiach 744 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409. Copyright 2008 by Beis Moshiach, Inc. Beis Moshiach is not responsible for the content of the advertisements. 668:668.qxd 10/27/2008 7:30 AM Page 4

d’var malchus SCIENCE & TORAH

Translated and adapted by Dovid Yisroel Ber Kaufmann

were finally published. To The Zohar predicted that a revolution understand the significance of this event, we must remember that the in scientific and mystical knowledge Baal Shem Tov had described a would occur around the year 5600 spiritual ascent he had experienced on Rosh Hashanah. As the Baal (1840). The publication of Torah Or Shem Tov’s soul reached higher and higher spiritual levels, it and Likkutei Torah was a milestone on encountered the soul of Moshiach. The Baal Shem Tov asked, when will the way to Redemption. Mystical the master – meaning Moshiach – come? The answer was, when your knowledge is the source of scientific wellsprings spread forth. knowledge, and science illuminates the The publication of these two works of the Alter path to Moshiach. represented not just another intellectual milestone. Traditionally, In this week’s Torah reading it states: “In the six the spread of mystical knowledge is hundredth year of Noach’s life . . . all the wellsprings of both a pre-requisite to, and a result of, the coming of the great deep burst forth and the windows of heaven Moshiach. The prophet Isaiah declares that, in the era of opened.” The Zohar, the fundamental work of Jewish Redemption, “the whole world will be filled with mysticism, explains the esoteric meaning of the verse as knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the ocean.” follows: In the six hundredth year of the sixth Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai was assured from Above that millennium the gates of wisdom above and the with and through the Zohar the Jewish people would wellsprings of wisdom below will be opened; the world leave their exile and usher in the Redemption. Still, will then be prepared to enter the seventh millennium. mystical knowledge remained beyond the education and The two phrases in the Torah – “the wellsprings of capacity of most people for over a thousand years. Not the great deep” and “the windows of heaven” – allude to until the Arizal, who systematized Kabbala, did the inner two types of wisdom. “The wellsprings of the great teachings of the Torah truly become available to the deep” refers to the wisdom below, meaning science or public. the wisdom of the world, while “the windows of heaven” Even so, the mystical truths were inaccessible refers to the wisdom above, meaning Torah. The Zohar, because their form was too intellectual and academic. written nearly two thousand years ago by Rabbi Shimon The task of the Baal Shem Tov – and after him, the Alter bar Yochai, a disciple of Rabbi Akiva, predicted that an Rebbe and Chabad Chassidus – was to “translate,” so to explosion in wisdom, understanding and knowledge speak, the esoteric into a form within the understanding would occur around the Hebrew year 5600 – of the average person, even one with little formal corresponding to the secular year 1840. training in Hebrew or Jewish subjects – even someone Indeed, in that time period, a hundred years after the with no background at all! The publication of the Alter Baal Shem Tov officially began teaching Chassidus to Rebbe’s works indicated that a tremendous opposition, the general public – which also corresponded with the on both the physical and spiritual planes, had been beginnings of modern industrialization – just such an removed. The wellsprings – the windows of heavenly intellectual explosion occurred. During this time – in the knowledge – had been opened wider and the spiritual years 5607 and 5608, or 1847 and 1848 in the secular wisdom – the inner teachings and secrets of the Torah – calendar – Torah Or and Likkutei Torah, two important began to pour forth. works of the Alter Rebbe, founder of Chabad Chassidus, Since the Torah of Moshiach will be such that “the

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whole world will be filled with knowledge of the Lord,” meaning that with our physical eyes we will see G-dliness. it’s obvious why the dissemination and proliferation of Our sight will not be simply an “insight,” an intellectual Chassidus – the inner teachings of the Torah – is a comprehension, but a physical seeing. G-dliness will be necessary preparation for the coming of Moshiach. After truly visible. all, Chassidus is a manifestation and revelation of the Of course, such a condition is difficult to conceive. Torah of Moshiach – a sample and foretaste of the Even if we can grasp a little of this concept theoretically, “knowledge of the Lord” that will permeate the world in it’s hard to imagine what the world will be like – what we the era of Redemption. will be like. We can readily admit that there is a spiritual But what is the connection of worldly knowledge life-force within every object, sustaining its physical with Moshiach? Since the Zohar links the “windows of existence at every moment. But how can the spiritual be heaven” – the mystical secrets of Torah – with the perceived by the physical? “wellsprings of the deep” – the discoveries and Modern science provides us with an analogy. One of inventions of modern science – clearly one is the source the most powerful forces of nature is electricity. It has and cause of the other. Still we may ask, why does the existed since the beginning of creation, obviously, but it revelation of a new dimension of Torah – the inner was discovered only a few hundred years ago; teachings as expressed in Chassidus – result in a application of its power is even more recent. By utilizing scientific revolution, an alteration of principles that electricity to transmit sound, a voice at one end of the reveals more and more of the inner truths of nature? earth can instantaneously be transmitted to someone at The answer lies in the fact that nature itself is part of the other end of the earth. The speaker may not even creation. The laws of nature, the axioms, theorems and know who the recipient is – or that his words are being principles of science are simply observations and heard thousands of miles away. This parallels and makes deductions about the world which G-d created. comprehensible the concept that there is an “Eye that Scientific discoveries about how gravity bends light, sees and an Ear that hears.” The physically fantastic cells reproduce or the inner structure of a quark are makes it easier to understand the spiritually fantastic. themselves preparations for the coming of Moshiach. Further, if we know that someone else is listening to our The increase in scientific knowledge serves a deeper conversation, we become very careful with what we say. purpose than satisfying idle curiosity or enabling us to How much more so when we recognize that every word, spend more hours on increasingly trivial pursuits. indeed, every thought is “overheard” Above. Rather, like everything else that exists, science was There is a practical lesson, one relevant to our created “for the sake of Torah and the sake of Israel.” current situation just prior to the revelation of Or, as it is expressed in the Talmud, “All that G-d Moshiach. As mentioned earlier, the coming of created in His world He created solely for His glory.” Moshiach depends on the spreading of the wellsprings This means that every aspect of creation can be utilized of Chassidus. When modern scientific inventions, such in the Divine service of a Jew. Just as the Jewish people, as the radio (or now, even computers and the internet) through the mitzvos of the Torah, reveal the G-dliness are used to teach Torah to millions of people, we surely within the world, so, too, the natural sciences – are in the era of Redemption. Indeed, such an electronic scientific knowledge – and our understanding of the “flooding” of the airwaves and cyberspace with Torah world exists to be used in the service of G-d, to deepen and Chassidus, spreading everywhere without limitation, our understanding of the true spiritual reality, the and available to everyone, actually begins to fulfill the Divine nature of existence. prophecy that the “earth will be filled with the For example, we are told by the prophets that in the knowledge of the Lord.” times of Moshiach, the “whole world will be filled with (Based on 15, pp. 42-48) knowledge of the Lord” and that “all flesh will see,”

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shlichus THERE ARE JEWS IN TIJUANA?

By Esther Chin

fitting according to halacha. “Tijuana is not safe, but we have taken The Centro Social Israelita, the necessary precautions so that our which is the name of Tijuana’s only Jewish community center and community center is safe and our synagogue estimates that at present there are around 100 Jewish families members are actively involved in this living in Tijuana. The rabbi caters to them as well issue.” * The community that lives on the as to the many visiting Jews that pass through the city of Tijuana, miracles and the brachos of the Rebbe. which is known as one of the most visited in the world and has a It was Erev Yom Kippur 1993 putting up of a mechitza. population of two million. and newly ordained Rabbi Mendel The rabbi also had all the With regard to the needs of the Polichenco wrote in to the nonkosher “Reform” siddurim Jewish community the rabbi explains Lubavitcher Rebbe about going on replaced with T’hillas Hashem and what his shlichus is: “There are three shlichus to Tijuana, Mexico. Chabad Machzorim and made the major groups of people here - the Forty minutes later came the necessary arrangements so that the Jews living in Tijuana, the response: A bracha from the Rebbe already existing mikva would be businessmen that work in Tijuana for the young rabbi to establish the first Chabad community in Mexico. “People came from all over for a in celebration of the bracha,” explains Rabbi Polichenco. The job was not easy. “The center hadn’t had a rabbi in over a year and the place was not kosher, people used to bring in chicken from the local supermarket. One of the kitchens was kashered but had to be rekashered about 20 times the first year alone,” said the rabbi. With time the rabbi with the help of his wife, Dini Polichenco, people became more open and educated about the basics of Judaism, but that didn’t put a stop to the battles also taken on by the rabbi, such as the establishing of a proper shul within the community center and the

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but live in S Diego, and the visitors hoping to re-enter the country. As early as the 1940’s, Jews from that either come for Shabbos or With all this, Rabbi Polichenco’s Mexico City started coming to travel through the city.” main mission is to provide the Jews Tijuana for business. The city has Jews often come to privately run of Tijuana with a truly Torah had a booming economy and ‘hospitals’ that offer alternative observant community where they population since it’s foundation in ‘treatment’ for the terminally ill. can have all their Jewish needs met. 1919. There are around 40 hospitals that The community offers the Both Ashkenazi and Sephardic charge up to $10,000 a week for celebration of every Jewish holiday Jews came looking for opportunities juices and enemas. and has daily prayer and weekly and set themselves up in various “As much as I tell people that I services. People come areas of business. do not believe there are any miracle Friday night to pray and for the meal Nicolas Doron was born in China treatments in Tijuana, they still as do they Shabbos day where they in 1946 to Russian immigrant come. Unfortunately I’ve taken stay until Havdala. parents who ran away from the numerous corpses from almost all of Rabbi Polichenco offers classes in communists and established a those hospitals.” , Parsha and introduction to successful business in China where The rabbi has overseen and they lived until 1948. arranged for many bodies to be sent Doron explains that his parents from Tijuana to their places of then moved to the States to evade origin, as well as arranging proper the communists: “My mother had a Jewish burials in S Diego for the high standard of living in China and Tijuana community that doesn’t life for her in the United States was have a Jewish cemetery. The bodies hard so they decided to go to have to be taken across the border. Mexico City, where my father Tijuana also offers a wide range invested his money in Cuba.” of clinics for the treatment against When Fidel Castro came to addictions. The rabbi considers that power in 1949 the Doron family lost unlike the alternative hospitals some everything. They eventually moved centers have helped many Jews that to Tijuana in 1955. have unfortunately had to seek help. Like the Doron family, many The rabbi makes weekly rounds to others came to Tijuana and with scout them out. time the community grew and Being that Tijuana is a mayor became very prosperous. So much gateway to and from the United so, that an estimated 80% has States, many people come to the city moved to S Diego. with the hopes of following the Rabbi Polichenco explains how American dream. An estimated that factor put an obvious strain on 50,000 cross the border every day. the community, especially because The demographics of those going Rabbi Mendel Polichenco the major financial supporters left: over the border are mostly shoppers “The community lives on the and people who are either American miracles and the brachos of the citizens or US permanent residents Judaism. The rabbi tells OF the Rebbe.” who live in Tijuana and work in S many non-Jews coming to center, Asked how he would define the Diego. often married to Jews. “People had community the rabbi said that it’s a Ninety percent are estimated to little knowledge of what a kosher very dynamic one, where people be legal. But many still do it illegally. conversion was,” so he set up classes come and go, and that his goal is The rabbi explains how almost every and encouraged those already living not to establish an orthodox week there is a Jew that ends up in with Jews to convert properly. community in Tijuana since he jail for attempting an illegal cross. “The ones who were serious understands that it’s just not “It’s a very sad situation; I visit Jews about Judaism converted and the feasible. from all over the world that have others eventually left; As a result, we “When people become religious I ended up in jail for this reason.” have a growing community of Jews encourage them to leave to more Others also end up in Tijuana baruch Hashem.” established communities, we have because they were deported from the But how did Jews end up in former members of our community United States and travel to Mexico Tijuana in the first place? living in Los Angeles, in Israel and

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in this city has been a good experience for her: “I love Tijuana, it’s not an ideal place for a Jew but we are able to get everything kosher and have a very warm community.” The now mother of four says that what she liked best in the community in Tijuana was that she found a lot of mothers who supported her in her every need. They have celebrated brissin, upshernishes and lots of other simchas. Like Soshnikova, Leah Hamori considers the community in Tijuana to be everything for her and her family, who are shomer Shabbat and have a 14 years old daughter. Orel, who studies in S Diego’s only Jewish orthodox high school, Torah High. Hamori’s journey to Tijuana started in Veracruz, Mexico where in New York.” There she met Moises Serrano, a she lived with her family but left to Ezra Torres approached Rabbi Jewish boy from Mexico who she go to Israel where she met and Polichenco over two years ago with married in May of 1998. “We had married Shmuel, the son of the desire to convert. He was our first child in Israel and liked Hungarian survivors of the referred to an orthodox Beit Din in living there very much but we felt holocaust. Los Angeles and has since become lonely, I was orphaned at age 13 and They left Israel to try life out in Jewish. my husband’s entire family was in Hungary only to decide to leave Torres was encouraged to attend Mexico, so we decided to move.” three years later to live in Mexico. Sea Gate men’s in Brooklyn That’s how Soshnikova and her That’s how they came to Tijuana. by the rabbi. Upon finishing a new family came to Tijuana. Living For her “living life as a Jew in summer program, Torres is happy to be back in Tijuana where he feels that life as a Jew, although not like in New York, is good. The rabbi calculates that 40% of the community is composed of those living permanently in the city and the rest fluctuates: “Although a lot have left, more keep coming so we concentrate on raising their awareness and knowledge of Judaism.” At 17, Olga Soshnikova made aliya with her sister from Russia so that they could live a safer life as Jews. Although not Torah observant, Soshnikova decided to go to yeshiva in Jerusalem: “I had no idea what kosher or Shabbat was.” Soshnikova attended a mixed yeshiva. “There were boys and girls but separate seating,” she explains.

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Rabbi Polichenco has worked on convincing parents to give their children Jewish education. He has a van packed full of kids that travel for almost two hours daily to get to school.

Tijuana is not problem, socially and community center is safe and our Tijuana as fast paced. “Sure it’s religiously I have a lot of support, members are actively involved in this corrupt and dangerous, but it’s for through Rabbi Polichenco my issue.” sure never boring and I raised three daughter was enrolled at the For Rabbi Polichenco, his job in children here, two of whom now live Chabad Hebrew Academy of S Tijuana is the shlichus of the Rebbe in Israel and one lives in a strong Diego even though we lacked the and all that is needed for success is Jewish community in Mexico City. funds, she was quickly able to adapt great emuna in Hashem. Thanks to Rabbi Polichenco, Jews despite the fact that she didn’t speak Doron, who blesses the and Judaism are thriving in English.” community every Shabbos with Tijuana.” Like Orel, other children travel Birkas Kohanim, considers life in from Tijuana to attend the Chabad day school. Rabbi Polichenco has worked on convincing parents to give their children Jewish education. He has a van packed full of kids that travel for almost two hours daily to get to school. Soshnikova sends her nine year old son Daniel to Chabad, she says “it’s physically very hard for him, he has to catch the van a 6:15 in the morning and doesn’t come back until 5:00 o’clock but he loves it, when he misbehaves he tells me to punish him with anything other than not sending him to Chabad.” Much has been said about the violence in Mexico. Tijuana has been hard hit by crime. Asked about this issue the rabbi said that “Tijuana is not safe, but we have taken the necessary precautions so that our

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miracle story

which he also heard about the Rebbe and his activities. Several years later, he was privileged to experience two heart-stopping miracles with the SPEECHLESS Rebbe’s bracha. “I was twice privileged to experience the G-dly power of the By Nosson Avrohom Lubavitcher Rebbe,” he began his Translated By Michoel Leib Dobry narrative. “The first story took place during the winter of 5749. As I did every weekday morning, I got into “Imagine someone waking up in the my car and began my daily journey to work at police headquarters in morning, drinking a cup of coffee, Natzrat Illit, where my offices were located at the time, in my position as saying goodbye to his wife, and northern administrative commander of Israel Police. There were many traveling to work as on any other day. important issues at hand, and I had Suddenly, he is unable to open his scheduled a meeting that morning with my deputy and others under my mouth… not even to stammer or utter a command, for the purpose of bringing about improvements in sound – the words simply do not come.” those areas related to the northern regional command of Israel Police. * This is the story of Yosef Menachem, As on any normal workday, I said goodbye to my wife and set out on former Tzfas police commander and my customary route. high-ranking official with the Northern “About thirty yards from my house, I stopped for a soldier asking Regional Command of Israel Police. for a lift, whom I knew served at an IDF base on my way to work and had regularly traveled with me in the In the living room of the their thirties, and how he longs for past. As soon as he got into my car, Menachem family, residents of them to get married already. he asked me a question. I wanted to Moshav Dalton, a pastoral The first connection that Mr. reply, but I discovered that I settlement in northern Eretz Yisroel, Yosef Menachem developed with the couldn’t! The words had simply left a large picture of the Rebbe, Melech Rebbe was through the rav of the me. I garbled the words, but I HaMoshiach hangs prominently. Chabad community of Tzfas, Rabbi couldn’t manage to say anything. I After conducting a lengthy and Levi Bistritzky, of blessed memory. tried again and again, but to no pleasant discussion with the heads of Rabbi Bistritzky would make weekly avail! I had instantly turned into a the household, Mr. Yosef Menachem visits to the city jail each Friday, mute. Just a few moments earlier, I and his wife Ester, I quickly making certain that the prisoners’ had said ‘Good morning’ to my wife, understood that the Rebbe didn’t material and spiritual needs were and now I had been rendered simply remain on the wall for them. being met, and requesting Shabbos literally speechless. The soldier in Ester told me proudly that she prison furloughs where the my car thought that I was making a started lighting Shabbos candles as a circumstances allowed it. He put on joke out of him, but I was gripped result of her connection to the t’fillin with the male prisoners and by an intense fear. Rebbe. Her husband Yosef, who has gave out Shabbos candles to the “I was beside myself with shock held several senior positions with the women detainees. The devotion and and bewilderment. I wrote a note to northern regional command of Israel empathy towards these depressed the soldier stating I wanted to speak Police, among them commander of souls and those whose fortunes had with him, but I simply couldn’t talk! the Tzfas police station, speaks not improved established a warm He reacted with puzzlement similar about two of his children, his son and affectionate bond between the to mine, and we continued on our and his daughter, who have reached rav and the police chief, through

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way. I hadn’t yet absorbed the fact couldn’t waste any more time, and conducted a CT scan, after which that I was faced with a serious we immediately set out for the the examining physician gave me an problem. I naively thought that Rebecca Sieff Hospital in Tzfas. envelope and asked me to bring it as maybe I had just lost my voice “In my previous role as Tzfas soon as possible to the doctor who temporarily for some reason, and police chief, I knew many members had sent me. that after a few hours, I’ll have of the medical staff, and they quickly “His face was very somber and something hot to drink and my voice brought me in for a series of tests. severe, and I understood that will come back. Several doctors specializing in a something was definitely wrong. I “After letting the soldier off at his variety of fields checked me quickly made my way to Sieff base, I proceeded as planned to the according to their area of expertise. Hospital, and met Dr. Kozakov police station and entered my office. The one who accompanied me coming out of the elevator as soon When my deputy came in and throughout the entire process was as I entered the building. When he started to talk to me about work- Dr. Kozakov, who decided to send asked me if I had already done the related matters, I again tried me for a further series of tests at CT scan, I nodded my head and unsuccessfully to reply. I understood Rambam Hospital in Haifa. handed him the envelope. He that we weren’t dealing with an “After completing all the various studied the pictures and the ‘ordinary’ occurrence. I wrote to my tests, one of the doctors, a surgeon, accompanying medical evaluations. deputy on a piece of paper about suggested that I undergo a CT scan He sighed and stated, ‘You need to what was happening to me, and during my visit to Rambam. This all be hospitalized here immediately – asked him to take command. sounded like a bad movie. I was it’s most urgent.’ “I quickly got into my car and truly frightened. At such a moment, “I realized that the situation was made my way back home. My wife you actually feel how small we really quite serious, and returned the very was shocked beyond belief when she are in the face of Divine Providence. next morning to continue the saw that I couldn’t respond to her Imagine someone waking up in the examinations. I was checked verbally. I wrote to her about all that morning, drinking a cup of coffee, throughout that day by numerous had transpired, and she was as saying goodbye to his wife, and doctors, including an oncologist, an bewildered as I was. These were traveling to work as on any other ENT specialist, and even the moments of weakness, uncertainty, day. Suddenly, he is unable to open hospital’s administrator, Dr. Gabi and most of all, an inability to have his mouth… not even to stammer or Canaan, of blessed memory. any control over what was utter a sound – the words simply do “After each doctor finished happening to me. After a few not come. examining me, they jointly moments, we decided that we “At the Rambam Hospital, they determined that there was a

This all sounded like a bad movie. I was truly frightened. At such a moment, you actually feel how small we really are in the face of Divine

Mr. Yosef Menachem telling his miracle story Providence.

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local police station. He looked at me for the operation scheduled the “Just a few warmly and then asked what I was following day, I didn’t refuse. A deep doing there. Since I couldn’t speak, inner conflict was being waged moments earlier, I my wife, who was seated next to me, within me. The Rebbe had told me had said ‘Good told him the entire chain of events in to postpone the operation, but I great detail. The very fact that Rabbi simply didn’t have enough courage morning’ to my Bistritzky was in my room was a to tell this to the doctors - source of tremendous particularly since they had said that wife, and now I encouragement. they were coming in especially for “I now understood why the me due to the extreme urgency of had been rendered prisoners at the city jail always this procedure. Words such as waited impatiently for his arrival. He ‘stunned’ and ‘surprised’ are totally literally spoke to me with warm words of inadequate to describe my feelings speechless... I was support, asked my wife to give him when the hospital administrator my full given name and my mother’s entered my room on Friday to gripped by an name, and promised that he would regretfully inform me that due to send it that very night to the several emergency operations, my intense fear.” Lubavitcher Rebbe, in request of a operation would have to be bracha. I had already heard a great postponed until Tuesday. He asked dangerous tumor on my esophagus deal about the Rebbe, and I was very me if I was upset; I was overjoyed… which must be immediately removed happy for the opportunity to receive “In the face of this before it spreads and causes further his blessing. postponement, I could already see damage. A series of pre-op tests “Two days later, Rabbi Bistritzky that the Rebbe’s bracha was starting would take place at the beginning of returned to my room. It was late at to materialize. The hospital the following week. The operation night, just a day prior to the administrator didn’t understand how had been scheduled for Friday – less scheduled operation. The doctors my facial expression, which had than a week later – due to the had already gone home, and I was seemed so tense in recent days, urgency of the matter. The doctors half asleep while my wife dozed on a suddenly appeared quite optimistic. were going out of their way to help nearby chair. He surprised us by “I will never forget the day of the me, saying that despite the fact that saying that he had just received an operation, and not because it took Friday is their day off and they have answer from the Rebbe. place on the last day of the calendar no obligation to work, they were “The message was that if I would year (December 31). The operation prepared to come in especially for not have the operation on Friday, was successful, and the recovery me, to do the operation. While I was but a few days later - on Tuesday - it period was far less than expected. I deeply moved by their efforts, my would be the proper thing to do. was simply delighted, especially heart was filled with much fear and The Rebbe added that he was when I discovered that my speech concern. I had never been tested in blessing me with a complete and had been restored. I thanked the such a fashion. This tumor had speedy recovery. Rabbi Bistritzky Rebbe from the depths of my heart come upon me like a clap of thunder had just received the answer and for his blessing, but it had on a clear day. rushed to the hospital to inform me. apparently not finished its work. A “Since I had been deprived of the “We were both anxious to know day into my recuperation, the entire power of speech, I inwardly offered what would happen next. Personally, surgical team and other senior a silent heartfelt prayer that I should I said nothing to the doctors. I members of the medical staff came come out of all this. waited with much anticipation for into my room and said, ‘Menachem, “The following day, I was lying Friday to see if the operation would you won’t believe what we found in my hospital bed in rather low take place or not. I must admit - inside of you. There was actually a spirits. Suddenly, Rabbi Levi with some embarrassment - that I plastic bag filled with blood in your Bistritzky came in. When I saw this didn’t have the courage to ask the throat.’ man of great stature in my room, I doctors to postpone the operation in “The looks on their faces testified could feel the color coming back to accordance with what the Rebbe had to their utter amazement. They said my cheeks. It turned out that he had said… that they had absolutely no idea how a longstanding custom to visit the “On Thursday, when they asked a bag with blood would have entered sick in the hospital, in addition to me to begin fasting as a preparation my body. They had never studied the visiting those incarcerated at the

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possibility of such an occurrence. the Rebbe was a prominent reply: “On the day that I was individual, an outstanding Jewish “I derive much pleasure and discharged from the hospital, the leader, and a great tzaddik, I had satisfaction from these fine, well- administrator approached me and now experienced this for myself.” educated, and delightful young men. said warmly, ‘Menachem, you * * * The yeshiva has a staff that any should just know that our findings Two years ago, a branch of learning institution would be proud have been passed on to our Tomchei T’mimim, under to have – people who show much investigative machinery in order to the administration of Rabbi Chaim patience and who care deeply. They determine exactly what it was.’ Eliezer Wilschanski, opened near the have become an integral part of the “Needless to say, my home of the Menachem family. local landscape. We like the fact that appreciation of the Lubavitcher When I asked Mr. Menachem about they’re here, and hope that they will Rebbe had grown sevenfold. Though the yeshiva, he gave an enthusiastic stay.” I had heard and known before that Y.S. MOVING

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shlichus

Shabbos clothes, shared his food, and gave them comfortable beds to sleep in. The spiritual end of things CHABAD IN wasn’t lacking either, with uplifting t’fillos and shiurim. When Shabbos was over they said that they would never forget the chulent at the of Merkaz Sapir. THE DESERT “Sudden guests have become routine lately,” says R’ Blau. “A famous tourist road passes near us. Some tourists just ask for food By Rabbi Yaakov Shmuelevitz, Shliach, Beit Shaan or to wash up, and some even agree to stay for Shabbos. If it’s R’ Blau is the “address” for every Jew possible, we are happy to have them – which is, of course, thanks and everything Jewish... After listening to the shlucha.

to his stories I expressed my FROM COSTA RICA amazement. R’ Blau modestly said, “I TO MERKAZ SAPIR One day, R’ Blau went to just ‘harvest the fruits...’ Shacharis at the shul and found a guest waiting there for him, a man Guess where the following story Fortunately for them, a few hours of about 40 with a full beard, a took place: a shliach of the Rebbe, later, about half an hour before large pair of tzitzis over his clothes, the Rav in a yishuv, goes to shul Shabbos, a large agricultural and a ten year old child with him. for Kabbalas Shabbos and he meets vehicle drove by (an acquaintance “Are you the rabbi?” he asked. three men. They are drenched and of R’ Blau), and with the help of a “Is there is a mikva here where I confused. When they see the rabbi thick rope he dragged their car to can immerse before davening?” they ask him whether they can be the shul in Merkaz Sapir. The man immersed, davened his guests for Shabbos. “I’d be happy to host you for with the minyan, and then took out Indeed, somewhere in the Shabbos,” said the driver, “but I a D’var Malchus booklet from his desert, on the way to Eilat, is the think you’d feel more comfortable bag and asked R’ Blau whether he yishuv called Merkaz Sapir, which with the rabbi.” could learn the daily with serves as a center for six other The rabbi provided them with him. It turned out that the guest, yishuvim in the area. The rav of the an Israeli who lived in Costa Rica, yishuv and the area is R’ Moshe had become religious through the shliach there, R’ Wilhelm, and was Blau, who combines rabbanus with CLARIFICATION shlichus, raising children with particular about all the Chabad mesirus nefesh. RE LAST ISSUE’S customs. Back to our story: The three INSTALLMENT His son wanted to see the Reed men were returning home to The article “The Painful Sea, which meant they had to Ashkelon from vacationing in Eilat. Concessions of the Shluchim” travel to Eilat. They set out, They were only somewhat mentions circumstances where planning on davening Shacharis on surprised to see that instead of a “Shluchim would prefer not to one of the tall cliffs in the desert, road there was a mighty river. In carry on Shabbos…but have to but someone told him there was a that area there are sudden mighty carry nosh…because making rabbi and a Chabad house in the flashfloods that sweep away the children happy is more area. whatever is in their path: be it important than a personal After listening to these stories I trees, roads, or people. stringency.” Obviously, this is expressed my amazement. R’ Blau The three men tried to continue in an area where there is a modestly said, “I just ‘harvest the through the water but the motor kosher eiruv. fruits.’ Before we came here, R’ flooded, then stopped altogether. Yosef Karasik and his family lived

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or a building designated for a shul today say, ‘The agricultural Children who at - there. settlement in the Arava is The family said that it was a incomplete without a shul in every age five get up at waste of time “because they are all yishuv.’” secular.” Two days later they came As opposed to what existed 5:30 in the back to the rav all excited. They previously, today the district told him that the members of the council leader goes with R’ Blau to morning because committee loved the idea, and had Yerushalayim for every meeting, in at 6:00 their ride gotten fully involved in obtaining order to demand whatever possible permits and money for a shul in for the religious advancement of leaves for Eilat, a their yishuv. the entire area. Up until a few years ago, the two hour drive situation in the area was completely CHILDREN OF different. The perpetually arid THE DESERT – each way. Every desert only reflected the spiritual aridity. R’ Blau relates that due to THE REAL STORY day! Children with their distance from the center of About 250 kilometers separate mesirus nefesh! the country there are people in his R’ Blau’s house and the center of area who had never visited a shul. the country. When I asked him There are people who had never how he deals with the loneliness here and they ‘plowed deeply’ and heard of a mezuza. and being so far from any had a major impact on the “We recently put up mezuzos in Chassidic community he said, spiritual atmosphere here. R’ the home of one of the old-time “That’s not the question. Ask how Karasik is the ‘Father of the families here. You had to see the the children manage; children who Chabad yishuv in the Arava tears of the woman when she at age five get up at 5:30 in the desert,’ and we are just continuing picked up her granddaughter to morning because at 6:00 their ride where he left off.” kiss the new mezuza. The leaves for Eilat, a two hour drive I asked for more details about grandmother remembered that she each way. Every day! Children with the “fruits” and R’ Blau told me: had a Siddur in the house, and she mesirus nefesh! “On Lag B’Omer we have a taught her three year old “My nine year old son learns bonfire near the house, and all the granddaughter how to hold the away from home in Kiryat Malachi. children of the yishuv come, most Siddur and daven. He lives with his grandparents and of them with their parents. It’s the “When we began having day visits us occasionally. That’s the atmosphere … the songs, the camps, the district council leader real story. It’s the children who Chassidishe stories that are told vehemently opposed us. ‘We can can’t eat at the neighbors’ because around the bonfire …” agree to programs with the adults, it’s not Badatz. These are children That’s the way it is on Lag maybe, but absolutely not with the who, when they walk out the door, B’Omer, on every holiday, and children,’ he declared. In the end, a see desert hills on every side with even on ordinary days. R’ Blau is group of people who had already sand everywhere. Their only friends the “address” for every Jew and gotten a taste of Judaism told the are their brothers and a few everything Jewish. leader that they wanted a Chabad children who come over to play. camp. Boruch Hashem, the day This is because we don’t really THERE IS A TORAH camps have not only become a want them to go to other children’s BUT NO SHUL tradition, but they are the main homes. If they go anyway and the attraction during the long summer television is on, they are supposed One of the seven yishuvim vacation every year.” to leave the room and close the under R’ Blau’s jurisdiction is “Today there is another council door. Tzofer. Recently, one of the leader and a different atmosphere. “A neighbor told us what she families there said they wanted to In all the yishuvim there is a saw at the playground. A girl donate a Torah scroll to the yishuv, demand on the part of the residents brought candy and gave it out to but there was no shul. R’ Blau for shuls. There are rough farmers her friends. She offered some to suggested that they speak to the who, in the past, did not know our daughter, who is three years members of the committee of the what t’filla with a minyan is, who old, and she asked to see the bag. yishuv and ask that a shul be built -

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When she did not find the familiar Tivon and he remained there for children of shluchim in the area, Badatz symbol, she politely gave Pesach. I called the shliach, R’ she is also the official consultant the candy back, to the Menashe Altheus, and the matzos of the area school. Thanks to her, astonishment of the neighbor.” from Merkaz Sapir arrived at the they all hear about Judaism and Shiva house in Tivon. learn what Chassidus is. More SHLUCHIM WORKING “Like every Chabad house here, and more people from the TOGETHER we also have the military sector. community of teachers and There are military posts the length parents hear from her about the “One day I got a call from the of the Jordan, with sometimes only Rebbe MH”M, connect with the shliach in Gadera, R’ Benny two or three soldiers manning the Rebbe, and receive his guidance Karniel. He told me about someone post. When the bachurim and I and brachos. in Gadera who found work in my show up with doughnuts on One year, towards the area and would need to stay for Chanuka or mishloach manos on beginning of the school year, they Shabbos, and he asked me to invite Purim, they simply can’t believe discovered that some mezuzos were him. You cannot imagine how that Chabad came to such far-off lacking at the school. The principal surprised and thrilled the man was places. Go and tell them that told the council secretary that she to receive my invitation. It Chabad lives a hundred meters would not begin the school year strengthened his connection to the away from their post…” until all the mezuzos were put up. Rebbe and Chabad. I can’t complete this chapter Those who know the people “We had the opposite situation without mentioning the shlucha, working in the Arava area know too. Someone from here was sitting Mrs. Chanie Blau. In addition to that this is simply amazing. Shiva for his mother in Kiryat being the personal ganenet of the

Chabad outreach in the desert

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Insight TO LIFE AND NOT TO DEATH

By Sholom Ber Crombie

ha’tzibur yecholim laamod bah, In recent years, those who fight smoking a “Decree that most of the have focused on young people who start congregation cannot abide by,” in which case an issur would force smoking and then have a hard time many into a position of being meizidim, sinning deliberately, stopping. * 66 years ago, the Rebbe rather than shogagim, sinning unintentionally. Rayatz declared war against young Certainly there would be no case for issuing an issur in a smokers and forbade “with an absolute matter on which authorities differ. and utter prohibition, smoking for As you know, there are those, albeit in the minority, who claim talmidim under twenty years of age.” As that the health hazard of cigarette smoking has not been proven for older talmidim, the Rebbe asked conclusively. This is perhaps one of the reasons why the that they stop smoking * A few years manufacture and sale of cigarettes has not been outlawed by the earlier, the Rebbe Rayatz asked b’nei health authorities.” Torah not to smoke during Rosh Aside from referring to the health problems in smoking and the HaShana * An overview of smoking various ways to counteract this problem, the Rebbe also referred to from the perspective of the Rebbeim. * smoking itself. Being a genuine shepherd in Israel and Part 2 of 2 understanding the young people who start to smoke, the Rebbe [Continued from last issue] ... in which you write about the spoke about the source of the problem of smoking and ask why problem, that which leads young NOT HAPPY TO no issur (prohibition) has been people to start smoking: PLACE A BAN issued against it, etc. “In recent years there has been Despite the clear order to I note from your letter that you a further consideration, namely, talmidim under 20, the Rebbe was are aware of the halachic that the prohibition of cigarette not in favor of a ban against problems in issuing an issur. smoking, and placing it on a par smoking. In a letter from 5739, the Rabbinic authorities have with smoking marijuana, would Rebbe responded to the question as traditionally been reluctant to increase the incidence of drug to why rabbinic authorities had not proclaim issurim, even in non- abuse and drug addition, since it banned smoking: “This is to controversial situations, when it is believed that cigarette smoking, acknowledge receipt of your letter involved a “G’zeira sh’ein rov especially among young people,

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provides a certain “escape,” and independence. There is strong to some degree is a substitute for social pressure exerted on kids to “You ask why no the drug abuse so prevalent try the forbidden smoking among their peers.” experience.” issur has been By now, research has proven “IT IS A FUNDAMENTAL DIN that in most cases, smoking is not IN SHULCHAN ARUCH” issued against an addiction that causes real At the end of the letter cited smoking... An changes in the chemical makeup of above, the Rebbe writes: the body. From this aspect, there is Needless to say, these and issur would force no comparison between smoking other considerations do not justify and using drugs. It’s just a habit the use of something that has many into a which is sometimes so ingrained already been prohibited by the that it borders on addiction. imperative of V’nishmartem position of being Psychologists define smoking as an meod l’nafshoseichem, “Be acquired addiction which can be careful to scrupulously guard meizidim, sinning overcome. your health.” But I have deliberately, Other research shows that far mentioned the above by way of more than the chemical influence answering your letter as to some rather than tobacco exerts on the body, a of the reasons why no issur has person is attracted to smoking been proclaimed against cigarette shogagim, sinning itself. Lighting up, handling the smoking. cigarette, holding it in one’s mouth, In addition to [the proposed unintentionally.” blowing smoke, tapping out the ash issur] being counterproductive, etc. provides psychological pleasure there is also the possibility of a medical authorities who hold the akin to an older child’s pacifier. harmless cigarette being opinion that cigarette smoking is An Israeli researcher says, introduced in the future. ... harmful to the health, this “Most smokers started smoking in In connection with the opinion is based on the quality of adolescence, in high school or “cigarette which is not harmful that cigarettes as they are now when they began army duty. will be introduced soon” we have manufactured, containing harmful Smoking is a ‘challenge’ of sorts to another letter from that year substances. young people, who use it to (5739) in which the Rebbe writes: “A great deal of research is demonstrate their maturity and “Even according to those being conducted to find a way to eliminate those harmful substances in cigarettes and produce a harmless cigarette, in which case there would be no room at all for issuing a prohibition on cigarette smoking. Furthermore, any prohibition according to Torah is eternal and cannot be changed, just as the Torah itself is eternal and cannot be changed.” The Rebbe also wrote sharply regarding smoking today, that according to most researchers, smoking is bad for one’s health: “As for the general mitzva of “be very heedful of your souls,” there is no need for rabbanim to take any special action since it’s a fundamental din in Shulchan Aruch.”

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“WHY DOES THE REBBE SMOKE?” In Chassidic history we find a number of his poor health, the Rebbe Rayatz stopped references to the Rebbeim and smoking. One of smoking. In a letter of 13 Iyar, 1940, the Rebbe them is in the story in Shmuos V’Sippurim that Rayatz told Professor Fishel that he took place one of the times the Rebbe Rashab completely ceased smoking. “Regarding my state visited Moscow and was hosted by one of the of health there haven’t been any happy wealthy men of that city. The rich man’s son was developments yet,” wrote the Rebbe. “As to the sick and the doctors forbade him to smoke, but he diet prescribed by Gerson, I only keep it about did not obey them. His father yelled at him to stop halfway or a third of the way, as there are things smoking and fought him over this, but to no avail. that I am very careful about like smoking, which I When the Rebbe Rashab was in their house, the stopped completely … may Hashem send me a rich man asked him to influence his son to stop refua.” smoking. The Rebbe said to his son, “Why do you In an interesting story told in Migdal Oz, the smoke when you are sick?” The son said, “The Chassidim R’ Shmuel Michel Treinen and R’ Rebbe is not well either, why does the Rebbe Simcha Gorodetzky visited the Rogatchover Gaon. smoke?” The Rebbe said, “I smoke because my During the visit, which took place on Shavuos, R’ father smoked.” Shmuel Michel took out a cigarette and it was *** obvious that he wanted to smoke. The The Rebbe MH”M told a story about the Rebbe Rogatchover called for his wife to bring fire, and Rayatz and the Rebbe Rashab, that after a when there was no response he wanted to get up telephone was set up between their rooms, it often himself to bring fire for his guest. However, R’ happened that the Rebbe Rashab would call the Shmuel Michel stopped him and said he had no Rebbe Rayatz and say: “You can come in, I want intentions of smoking and had only wanted to to smoke.” The Rebbe would go in, light a match know the gaon’s opinion about smoking on Yom and the cigarette, and the Rebbe Rashab would To v . smoke and talk to him regarding the topic he was The Rogatchover said he had never smoked involved in. and so he couldn’t offer an opinion on the matter, Likewise it is told that some time before Pesach since it was possible that for one habituated to some yeshiva bachurim would travel to check the smoking it could be considered l’tzorech ochel wheat for the baking of shmura matza, and they nefesh. When R’ Shmuel Michel said that the would also check the tobacco for Pesach for the Rebbe Rashab smoked on Yom Tov the gaon said, Rebbe. “You compare yourself to the Rebbe?! He is a In general, the Rebbe Rayatz smoked very lofty tzaddik and their smoking is another inyan frequently, and this is mentioned many times in altogether!” his sichos and memoirs. However, in 1940, due to

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y"xa,wv hghcav asuj v"c Keren Hashono Ato Horeiso To All Of Anash And Tmimim whjha The Rebbe was accustomed to request after the selling of the Pesukim of "AAto Hereiso" that the following should be announced "Your word to Hashem is equal to physically giving to a person." In many of his Sichos the Rebbe recalled words of the Alter Rebbe concerning the greatness of the quality of alacrity in all matters pertaining to Torah and Mitzvohs, especially regarding the Mitzvah of Tzedaka, he stressed, that one should act as quickly as possible. In keeping with this dictum we wish to remind all those who had the merit of buying a Posuk of Ato Hereiso this Simchas Torah for the Merkos (which is under ihe leadership of Rabbi S.M. Simpson in accordance with the Rebbe`s instructions) to bring their pledge in as expeditiously as possible to the offices of either Rabbi Simpson or Rabbi Groner or to send in their pledge to the address below. Keren Hashono: A special tzedoko fund which the Rebbe established in 5714, from which tzedoko is given twice a day (except Shabbos and Yomtov), before Shacharis and before Mincha> This assures that all participants in this fund, fulfill the mitzvo of tzedoko twice a day. One is to contribute sums in the amount of days of the coming year. This year, 5769 has 354 days. The sums can be in pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, dollars etc., for each member of the family. May giving of this Tzedaka speed the coming of the full Geulah through the revelation of Melech Hamoshiach. VAAD KUPAS RABBEINU Rabbi S.M. Simpson Rabbi Y.L. Groner

P.S. Based on the Rebbe's Sichos those individuals who were not able to buy a Posuk on Simchas Torah can still participate by sending their donations now. Pidyon money etc. can also be sent to the above. Please make all checks payable to KUPAS RABBEINU. Eretz Yisroel address: KEREN KUPAS ADMU"R / P.O.B. 1247 / KIRYAT MALACHI / ISRAEL 668:668.qxd 10/27/2008 7:30 AM Page 22

shlichus PUBLICIZING MOSHIACH IN MILAN

By Nosson Avrohom

had graduated high school and Rabbi Shmuel Rodal is an old-time were touring in Europe for a few shliach in Milan. In addition to, months. Their knowledge of Judaism was together with his wife, raising seventeen limited to what they had acquired as a result of membership in their children, he is also a melamed, a rav of parent’s Reform temple. We spoke for half an hour about Judaism and a shul, overseer of projects and for Chassidus. In the evening they were continuing to Venice, and I made twenty years, the editor of a Jewish sure to inform them about the publication written in Italian. Jews Chabad house there. When we sat down for the from all over the world visit his shul. * interview, I told Rabbi Rodal about my encounter. He wasn’t surprised. Nosson Avrohom visited and heard Stories like this have happened to him dozens, if not hundreds, of stories about a shliach who went to times in the past year alone. “People can’t believe that here, Milan after the Rebbe picked it out of in this tourist spot, near the famous eight suggestions, while he had no Christian sites, is an Orthodox shul - with minyanim and shiurim no interest in the place… less.” Even before the interview with R’ Rodal, we had heard from the I saw the Chabad shul Beis ignore the looks I was getting, shluchim in Milan that many of the Shmuel run by Rabbi Shmuel which were partly curious stares baalei t’shuva began their journey, Rodal, on my first day in Milan. In and partly glares of hatred and or became more serious about it, the afternoon I decided to go out racism. after meeting with R’ Rodal. When and tour a bit. I ended up at As I looked upwards at the I repeated this to him, he modestly Milan’s most visited tourist center, upper stories of the mall, which is said, “I am a simple person” - a Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, a large built in the most incredible historic statement he repeated several times building with amazing architecture. fashion, I was surprised to see a in our conversation. One can see Millions of tourists from all over the sign for a shul. A few young that he says it sincerely. world choose to visit this place as Americans, who saw my astonished R’ Rodal came to Milan thirty- soon as they arrive. face, pointed upward and seemed to five years ago to be a melamed in There I was, feeling alone and want me to confirm that it was the Chabad school, a position he conspicuous among the groups of indeed a shul up there. We got into holds to this day. He and his wife hundreds of tourists from Japan, a conversation. They were shabbily have raised seventeen children and Germany and across Italy. I tried to dressed Jews from New Jersey who yet he has found the time to run a

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shul, give many popular shiurim, to be mekarev many Jews . camp Gan Yisroel in New York and publish a Jewish publication for As a bachur, R’ Rodal planned where he was in charge of activities. twenty years, which has been a tool on going on shlichus. He worked at He always loved being active and was not the type to relax or be satisfied with the status quo. Today too, after marrying off twelve children, some of whom are on shlichus, he is still not interested in taking it easy. On the contrary, he is always coming up with new ideas, and looking for topics for shiurim and ways to reach out to even more Jews. “He is a shliach around the clock,” is how another shliach in Milan described him, and believe me, it’s no exaggeration. “We got married in Tamuz 5728/1968 and lived in Crown Heights. After six months, when my wife was pregnant and had to stop working, I had to support us. We asked the Rebbe for permission for Rabbi Rodal at a Hachnasas Seifer Torah for the Chabad house me to continue learning in Kollel in the center of the tourist district. but to look for an afternoon job.

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coming in the middle of the year. I “He is a shliach was very young, and all the staff around the clock,” members were watching to see if I would rise to the challenge. is how another “I had plenty of siyata d’Shmaya (Heavenly assistance) and my shliach in Milan experience in camp was a big help. I ran competitions and had prizes, described him, and and it worked! They enjoyed themselves and began learning. believe me, it’s no “When the year was over, I was exaggeration. assigned a higher class, in addition to evening classes with the older grades. I stayed with them in the The Rebbe’s answer was positive. me to Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch. afternoon and learned various “I was close with Rabbi Zalman “I was very happy. Firstly, that topics with them, in an experiential Shimon Dvorkin, from the time he the Rebbe agreed that I should go way. I would tell stories of was in Pittsburgh, before he became on shlichus, and secondly, that it tzaddikim and about the ways of a rav in Crown Heights. I was would be in the field of chinuch, a Chassidim. We mainly reviewed fortunate that he was fond of me field that I loved. I planned on what they had learned earlier in the and was very much mekarev me. being a melamed and using the day, to ensure that they knew it. When I told him that my wife was afternoon hours for hafatza. Within “A few months ago, an American expecting and I was looking for a a short time I had eight possible now living in Eretz Yisroel came job, he promised to find something shlichus places in the United States into my shul. He is an expert on suitable, and he kept his word. and Europe. eye treatments and was in Milan on “He was a friend of a man “I planned on writing to the business. When he saw me, he named Mr. Rottenberg who ran a Rebbe about all the offers and exclaimed, ‘Are you Rabbi Rodal?’ I famous high school, UCQ, the presenting them in yechidus, but said that I was, and his face lit up. Yeshiva of Central Queens. Many before I did so, I met Rabbi He told me that he was a former children from Boro Park and other , shliach in student of mine and that he Jewish neighborhoods sent their Milan, who had come to Crown remembers when he had a question children to this school, which Heights. That same day, he came and I was the only one who could teaches both Limudei Kodesh and over to me and said that he had answer it. Limudei Chol. Many graduates heard from R’ Chadakov, the “So I learned in Kollel and went on to the Mirrer yeshiva in Rebbe’s secretary, that I was taught until our daughter was born, Yerushalayim and to Yeshiva looking for a shlichus as a melamed at which point we decided it was University. He called me one day and he was looking for just that time to go on shlichus. When I saw and said he wanted me to be a kind of person. that I was successful in chinuch, teacher in that school. I figured that “I told R’ Garelik that Milan was the children liked me, and I was a school of this caliber would not for me. I wanted a place endearing Torah learning to them, I require the teachers to have relatively close to New York and I decided that my shlichus would be advanced degrees. Why would they didn’t know Italian. If I was going in chinuch. The fact that with want me? But Rabbi Dvorkin to consider Europe, I had a more chinuch I would be able to see the assured me, ‘You have nothing to reasonable offer in London where results of my work, as well as the worry about. I’ll get you in,’ and so the language was no problem and fact that it demanded my full he did. there was a Jewish community. involvement, attracted me very “They hired me as the teacher of “You have to remember that much to it. I received a number of one of the fourth grade classes, shlichus wasn’t as developed as it is offers for shlichus outside of New which had all the troublemakers. now. Italy was the end of the world York. Not only didn’t these kids want to to me. There were plenty of reasons I wrote to the Rebbe that I learn; they had serious disciplinary to pick other places that were wanted to go on shlichus in the problems. Not a single teacher had closer, and more lucrative. R’ field of chinuch, and the answer been able to control them. Their Garelik offered me $600 a month. was positive. The Rebbe referred previous teacher had quit and I was After I checked with the Italian

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consulate in New York about the where we would raise our children. close relationship with him. cost of living in Italy, I realized it I gave the Rebbe the letter. “The next day we told R’ Garelik was similar to New York and that “When he finished reading it, he that the Rebbe had chosen Milan $600 would barely suffice for rent. looked up and said, ‘As far as all but instructed that we should have And of course we would want to fly your doubts about Milan, the eitza a detailed contract, signed by at to New York at least once a year to is to write a contract - not only the least two balabatim. Before we visit family. rav should sign it, but at least two signed the contract, we wrote to the “I had all the reasons in the important balabatim from the Rebbe and we were asked by the world not to accept his offer, but R’ community - and write everything secretaries to submit the contract Garelik pressured me to include out in detail.’ for the Rebbe to look at, which was Milan when I wrote to the Rebbe. “The Rebbe looked at my wife considered surprising. He said, ‘Listen, R’ Chadakov and said, ‘There are many young “The Rebbe reviewed the recommended you - maybe that couples there so you can make contract and, like a concerned came from the Rebbe? Who friends.’ father, he looked out for our knows?’ “The yechidus was over. We left interests. He said the contract “Since he was nudging me, I in a daze. The suggestion that we should include a clause stating that agreed to write Milan as the last regarded as least desirable was the if either of the sides was not place on my list. With each offer I one the Rebbe had picked. What satisfied by the other, the mosad wrote the pros and cons, the terms moved us the most was the wording had to pay for us to move all our and the distances. As far as Milan, I of the Rebbe’s bracha. In those things back to New York. The wrote that I was including it years, the beginning of the 70’s, the Rebbe also directed that the because R’ Garelik asked me to but Rebbe did not respond with contract should say that the mosad we were not thinking along those specifics to every request to go on should pay for occasional trips to lines at all, and I gave the reasons shlichus. He would suffice with a visit our family. We felt very why it was unsuitable. bracha that they do as they saw fit. touched by this kiruv of the Rebbe, “On Sunday we had yechidus. We had the privilege of the Rebbe who was helping us in our We knew that this yechidus would giving us specific guidance. In preparations for shlichus. determine our future, where we general, we always got very clear “We left at the beginning of the would live, what we would do, and answers from the Rebbe and had a year. It took time until we learned the language and mentality, but we managed. Back then, the school had only twenty-five pupils. I taught throughout the day, five or six students in the morning and another class in the evening. Some of my students are presently rabbanim and shluchim, including Rabbi Levi Garelik of Crown Heights and Rabbi , chief rabbi of Russia. “At a certain point, I asked the Rebbe for permission to return to New York. I wrote that I was wasting my time teaching four or five students when I could be teaching dozens. As always, I received clear directions from the Rebbe and we remained in Milan. The Rebbe wrote that generally, an important person is involved in important things and a simpler Rabbi Rodal handing his son a certificate for completing smicha at the Machon person is involved in more simple HaSmicha in Milan. Rabbi Gershon Mendel Garelik is on the right and Rabbi things. But when there are neither Yehuda Dery is on the left.

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people around us. “Jews from distant villages all They were divided “I did not fly much over the over Italy wanted to subscribe. years on shlichus. My position Quite a few people were mekurav to into two groups: limited me due to lack of a suitable Judaism, thanks to it. A Jewish girl those who were replacement. One of the times that came across one of the publications I went to the Rebbe, I passed and enjoyed it very much. At that religious and through the hall near R’ Chadakov’s time, she had taken a great interest office. He looked at me and asked, in a certain Mexican cult. That was wanted to daven ‘You have nothing to do in Italy?’ her entire world. She even went to When I said that the children were the temple of this cult, where she despite their on vacation, he looked at me sought to study the religion with uncomprehendingly and said, ‘So the shamans. How surprised she wartime what? They don’t go to the beach?’ was when one of the shamans told experiences, and By that he meant, so what if they her, ‘You are Jewish and you have are on vacation, does that mean the truth. Why don’t you learn it?’ those – of whom they no longer exist? You need to “When she returned to Italy and work with them even when they are saw my publication, she contacted there were many – on vacation. R’ Chadakov’s ‘Ani us through the address on it. By Maamin’ of chinuch was never to then I was giving shiurim which who went to shul rest. were attended by dozens of young “After a long period of time in people. She joined and enjoyed it. to socialize and which I learned Italian and got Her t’shuva process was very quick, eat herring. settled into my teaching position, I and for a long time she helped me decided it was time to be involved with folding, typing and printing in hafatzas ha’maayanos too. I the publication. Today, she lives in more important nor simpler people, found out that there was not a Eretz Yisroel and has a frum family. then even the most important single Jewish newspaper or She herself writes and edits Jewish person can find himself teaching a publication in Italy, and planned on books. little boy the Alef-Beis. filling that gap with a weekly “One week I printed a letter “Nearly two years passed and publication in Italian that would written by the Rebbe to a Jew who we asked permission to visit my bring Judaism to Italian Jewry. had a store. He had written to the family in Crown Heights. The “After three years in Milan, we Rebbe that even though it was open Rebbe gave us four conditions: 1) if felt the great lack of Jewish material on Shabbos he did not ‘finish the two years had gone by, 2) if it in the country, especially for those month,’ and if he made most of his wouldn’t interfere with our living in the towns and villages profits on Saturday how could he shlichus, 3) if we did not go into where there are no Jewish close the store on Shabbos? The debt, and 4) we had to be careful communities. Every week I Rebbe answered that he could not that people didn’t start talking collected material, translated it, and benefit from the money he earned about the Lubavitchers who flew published it. I put it into envelopes on Shabbos, since it was money because they had money. and mailed it to people all over that wasn’t coming to him, as a “The Rebbe’s responses to my Italy. Jew. The money could not be used desire to leave and to my wanting “Over the years I translated all for good purposes and would be to visit Crown Heights guide me in of the Rebbe Rayatz’s Memoirs and wasted on unimportant things. my shlichus until today. Sometimes, kuntres ‘U’Maayan Mi’Beis “A few months later I got a letter a shliach can think: I can do big Hashem.’ It started with four pages from a Jew in southern Italy. He things – what am I doing here? A on a weekly basis and reached also had a store that was open on shliach has to remember, and sixteen pages. I received much Shabbos because he made more on constantly remind himself, that if encouragement and many brachos this day than any other day. When the Rebbe sent him to a particular from the Rebbe for the material I he read the letter he decided to try place, that is his place of shlichus, sent him every week. The Rebbe it out. He would close his store on whether or not he understands why instructed us to bind each year’s Shabbos and see what happened he was sent there and what he is worth of issues in order to preserve with his parnasa. accomplishing. Another lesson is them. “He hung a ‘Closed’ sign on his that we must be sensitive to the

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store on Shabbos and was amazed today is happily married to a people davening there. All were men that at the end of the month, and Chassidishe man and lives in a large in their eighties. They were divided the month afterwards, his profit Chabad community. into two groups: those who were was greater. Because of this, he “The publication was published religious and wanted to daven began attending shul every for twenty years, starting with 127 despite their wartime experiences, Shabbos. People who saw his copies and building up to tens of and those – of whom there were commitment to mitzvos considered thousands. For various reasons we many – who went to shul to him their spiritual role model and no longer publish it.” socialize and eat herring. (One of asked him to blow the shofar on *** them explained to me that this is Rosh HaShana. He wrote me R’ Rodal became involved with the reason it’s called a Beis Knesses asking whether I could help him the shul in the prime tourist area of and not a Beis T’filla - because with the halachos and whatever he Milan years later. When I asked ‘knesses’ is from the root that needed to know about the t’kios. him how it came about, the answer means to convene). “I was touched by his letter. Of was similar to what I had heard “Nearly 150 people came to shul course I contacted him and taught previously - that he can’t relax. on Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur. him, in several long phone When he saw that his Shabbos had Most of them have since died and conversations, what the shofar become relatively quiet in we have built a new minyan. Many blowing signifies according to connection with hafatza, he looked of the children of those Jews either Chassidus, as well as the pertinent for something to do and ended up assimilated or moved to other laws. I asked his permission to countries, especially England, Eretz publicize his letter in an upcoming Yisroel and the United States. publication and he happily agreed. “In recent years, making a living His letter made a great kiddush in Italy has become more difficult. Hashem. Many Jews are leaving the country “You really can see the and the Jewish community is fulfillment of the statement, shrinking every year. If you don’t “chazaka al taamula sh’eina have a successful business it’s hard chozeres reikam” (no outreach to exist in a dignified manner. A effort goes to waste). Many Jews, decent salary is 1500 Euro and especially young ones, began renting an apartment costs 1000 attending the shiurim and making Euro! This explains why the changes in their lives. number of people at the shul is “There was a girl who was not Rabbi Rodal giving a shiur drastically smaller. Many of the religious who lived with a gentile. in the Sefardic shul in Milan men are mekuravim who began She read the publication and came with shiurim and changed their to shiurim that I gave in Chassidus. lives. At the end of one of the shiurim, at the shul. “The shul, which used to be she told me about her life. She had “I had nothing to do on closed all week, is now open three some questions. As the minutes Shabbasos, so I looked for times a week for the shiurim that I passed I saw that she was choking something. R’ Gershon Mendel give, and boruch Hashem, there is a up with tears. She was serious and Garelik hooked me up with the shul nice crowd.” the shiurim lit up her neshama. I in the tourist center, where one of Another factor in the shul’s invited her to our home, where she the older worshippers served as the favor is that it is located in a prime would feel more comfortable talking rabbi. At first, I was the Baal Korei tourist area which is visited by about what was on her mind and I occasionally gave sermons, to millions of tourists a year, including without other shiur participants the satisfaction of the rabbi and the tens of thousands of Jews. Many of around. other worshippers. When he passed them see the shul and walk in to “That same day one of my away, I was appointed as the rabbi. look around. It definitely makes an daughters brought her skirts and “It’s an interesting shul, which impression on them. Many others modest clothing. A few days later was founded by Holocaust are exposed to the influence of the they went shopping with her and survivors. This explains the name of shul even before they enter, as was she bought proper clothing. She the shul, ‘Beis Shmuel Sh’eiris related at the beginning of this quickly cut off ties with the goy and HaPleita.’ When I first joined the article. shul, there were over one hundred

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R’ Rodal has many stories about Israeli who worked in computers came in and I welcomed him. He the impact the shul makes: came to Milan on business. On was impressed and stayed until the “We had an interesting story five Shabbos he decided to tour. How end of the davening. He was not at years ago during a rainy winter. An surprised he was to see a shul! He all observant and even despised the religious Jews in Eretz Yisroel, but when I suggested that he join us for the Shabbos meal, he accepted. THE REBBE TOOK RESPONSIBILITY “By the time the meal was over R’ Rodal told of the great miracle he saw with his father, R’ Yosef, in it was pouring outside. I offered 5731. His father had been a shliach of the Rebbe Rayatz in Montreal him my coat and he was surprised and was a rosh yeshiva there. He set the tone among the shluchim and by my generosity. Later on he told enjoyed rare kiruvim from the Rebbe Rayatz. He even received a large me that he had never met a Jew so sum of money from the Rebbe in order to buy a summer home in the willing to help him just because he mountains, so the children could spend time there while he worked. was a Jew. He could have counted “After the passing of the Rebbe Rayatz, my father asked the Rebbe on the fingers of one hand the permission to sell Siddurim, Tallisos and Chumashim and some Judaica number of conversations he had items. My father had a small bookcase where he kept these items and had in his life with a religious Jew. I sold them to those who ordered them. He did this as a side job because said to him with a smile that he his salary from the mosdos was not enough to support his household. didn’t have the face of a thief and “The small bookcase became a bigger bookcase and then it became he could leave the coat in the shul. a room, which turned into a Judaica store. My mother ran the store and We ended up becoming good my father would help her in the evenings when he finished his other friends. jobs. More people moved into the neighborhood and the store grew. “When we were in Israel last Eventually he had two stores. year, he invited us to his house and “In 5731 my father had a severe heart attack and the doctors told us we visited him, to the amazement of how critically ill he was. They had to do a bypass, which required them his friends who knew his views. We to take arteries from his leg and transplant them in his heart, a medical often speak on the phone and his procedure which is done for heart disease. My father also suffered from views have changed from one diabetes. The doctors told him that if he didn’t stay away from the extreme to another regarding store, his days were numbered because the pressure from the stores was religious Jews.” too much for him. R’ Rodal is one of those “I was already in Milan for half a year on shlichus and my brother Chassidim about whom it can be and I decided to write to the Rebbe and ask for his advice and bracha. said that he “lives Moshiach.” He is My father was not that old and he still had to marry off my younger proud of the fact that his sons serve sister. as shluchim and “all are “In our letter, we described the situation and the doctors’ opinion, meshichistin who publicize about and asked what to do. In the past, I had helped my father a lot in the Moshiach and are not ashamed to store and I asked whether I should leave shlichus in Italy in order to do so.” When I asked what his run the store. I thought this was also a form of shlichus, since my approach on this subject is, and father didn’t sell vegetables; he sold t’fillin and mezuzos, and checked what his response is to those them too. Chassidim who are afraid of openly “My second question was whether my father should take a partner speaking about Moshiach, he said: to reduce the burden of dealing with the bookkeeping, whether the “There is something basic we business should be sold, or whether he should continue to run the have to understand. If your store. mekuravim see that you speak “As far as returning from Italy, the Rebbe said that was not at all a logically, and you are not someone consideration. As for taking a partner, the Rebbe crossed that off and they consider a nut, they will accept made a line under the last suggestion that my father should continue to the entire message. Are the laws of run the store and added a bracha. We were stunned by this answer but borer on Shabbos any more you don’t argue with the Rebbe. rational? All of Judaism is based on “Despite the doctors’ grim predictions, my father lived another 18 emuna. In all my shiurim I speak years, until 5749. Two years before he died he was still working in the about Moshiach and I teach the store. All the doctors who knew him were utterly shocked.” Rambam’s Hilchos Melachim, as

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well as the Rebbe’s sichos on Jews are warning about another inyanei Moshiach and Geula. disaster that will come upon us. We She even went to “Of course we speak about who know that this is merely another Moshiach is, too, and when you tell way that Hashem has of waking us the temple of this them about the amazing miracles in up from our sleep. We have to your personal experience which learn, internalize what we learn, cult, where she came about through the Rebbe’s and put it into action. sought to study the brachos, people realize and accept “The most amazing thing in this that if our generation is the redoubled darkness we are in - the religion with the generation of Geula, then the ray of light within this last, difficult person most qualified to be test - is the ability to write to the shamans. How Moshiach is the Rebbe. I am very Rebbe through the Igros Kodesh close to my students, and when I and see miracles. surprised she was explain this to them, they are “One night last winter, I had to receptive. go to Venice to give a shiur at the when one of the “People see that the world is Chabad house. It’s a few hours shamans told her, undergoing dramatic upheavals and away and I wasn’t sure how to go. look forward to the Geula. You also If I went by train, I would be ‘You are Jewish have to understand the most unable to return after the shiur in significant aspect of publicizing the time to be in class in the morning. and you have the Besuras Ha’Geula: you have to However, driving home after the teach and learn and not suffice with shiur wasn’t safe, because in the truth. Why don’t slogans. The Rebbe said that winter there is heavy fog that learning is the easiest and most greatly reduces visibility. I wrote you learn it?’ direct path; we Chassidim know about this to the Rebbe and put it that this is the only path. in a volume of Igros Kodesh. How and help them even with material Otherwise, why would a Jew who surprised I was to open to a letter things. Every Jew is G-d’s child. We makes a good salary, who owns a about the development of the car. I have to instill this idea within yacht and other luxuries, or didn’t need more than that. I drove ourselves and live with this reality, someone who is frum, who lives in there and the shiur went well, and because it’s possible to fool a nice Jewish community, want when I drove home there was no someone only once or twice. If we Moshiach? The only way to get fog - which was odd considering view the person we are talking to people to want it is if they learn the the weather that night.” with importance and respect, they Rebbe’s sichos about Geula. Before I concluded the interview will feel it, and our goal is to be “The Rebbe says that the Geula I asked R’ Rodal to tell me his mekarev every Jew. At the source, will come with kindness and mercy, guidelines on shlichus. He said, we are all equal; the rest is just the and we Chassidim are sure about “You have to really love every Jew! superficiality of Olam HaZeh. All of this. We see how the nations of the It’s not enough that they attend us, especially the shluchim, world are tummeling about Iran’s shiurim. You have to ask them how constantly see siyata d’Shmaya and nuclear capabilities and some frum they’re doing, how they feel, and try live with a heavy responsibility on our shoulders.

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feature A CHABAD ENCLAVE IN WARTIME

By Shneur Zalman Berger

[Continued from Issue #666] minyan ended, I saw the well-known were the glue that gave them the Chassidim, Rabbi Yona Poltaver, strength to carry on despite the RICH CHASSIDIC LIFE Rabbi Yisroel Neveler, Rabbi terrible situation. The Chassidim of While the war was raging, the Shlomo Chaim Kesselman, Rabbi Tashkent did not forget those government’s attention was focused Itche Leima’s (Minkowitz), Rabbi . on the burning front, and they paid Zalman Duchman, and other R’ Aharon Zakon: less attention to civilians. Thus, the Chassidim, davening at length. One “It once happened that the persecution of religious Jews and stood near the window, another mashke was finished in the middle institutions diminished somewhat. with his face to the wall; one of a farbrengen. It was about two in There were hardly any mass arrests. davened enthusiastically and another the morning and R’ Yona and I left It is possible that the presence of the meditated, while yet another sang a the shul in search of mashke. We Jews who had arrived as refugees niggun d’veikus. This powerful sight walked through the city, knocked on from Poland helped somewhat. remains engraved in my heart until the doors of Anash, woke them up Whatever the reason, Anash were this very day.” and asked them to donate some able to arrange minyanim and have R’ Shlomo Galperin added in his mashke. When we had enough chadarim, although they didn’t memoirs: mashke we returned to the publicize it. There were Chabad “All of us Anash, young and old, farbrengen. minyanim in various places and a enjoyed watching and listening to “One Shabbos, while R’ Yona Chabad shul opened on Czekar the sweetness of his davening was farbrenging with us, R’ Nachum Street, where many of the famous Kabbalas Shabbos with the Labkowski came – on Shabbos he Chassidic figures davened. traditional Chassidic tune from would finish davening late and Rabbi Aharon Zakon a”h generations past … and when R’ sometimes would daven until sunset described Chassidic life in this shul: Shlomo Chaim sat on Shabbos on – and R’ Yona, who had drunk a bit “Rabbi Shneur Zalman Garelik the bench in shul and davened, with of mashke already, said to him, was the rav of the Czekarker shul. the tallis covering his head as he ‘When we come to Olam HaBa, The shamash was Rabbi Chaim shuckled, sometimes with they will seat R’ Nachum in Gan Binyamin Brod, and the one tremendous d’veikus, he seemed like Eden and make a little window for responsible for the mikva that was an angel of G-d.” him, through which he will look at near the shul was Rabbi Mordechai R’ Yisroel Neveler’s lengthy us being roasted in Gehinom …’” Dovber Lokshin. Rabbi Shlomo davening is also described in R’ Every Shabbos there was a Chaim Kesselman was the , Shlomo Galperin’s memoirs: Chassidishe farbrengen in R’ and in this position he gave a shiur “It was possible to see how he Chaikel Chanin’s house, as his son, in Likkutei Torah to balabatim and poured his soul out before G-d. He R’ Shneur Zalman relates: farbrenged with them.” would daven in a way of ‘her lips “Every Shabbos my father Every Shabbos, a number of moved and her voice could not be managed, through his connections distinguished Chassidim would heard.’ Then he would meditate and money, to obtain food, and daven in the shul “with avoda” as in upon matters of Chassidus with whoever participated in those days gone by. great effort, until he understood farbrengens left sated both Rabbi Zakon related: them.” physically and spiritually. There “On Shabbasos, after the regular The Chassidishe farbrengens were many Chassidim who had no

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While most Chabad communities in Eastern Europe were uprooted because of World War II, the Chabad k’hilla in Tashkent was actually founded because of the war. Hundreds of Chabad Chassidim from all over Russia arrived there as refugees. Despite the difficult financial hardships, they united in brotherly love and formed a beautiful k’hilla with chinuch and chesed. * The story of the Chabad k’hilla in Tashkent. * Part 2 of 2

food but were ashamed to ask for help, even though they were nearly dying of starvation. When they came to this kiddush, they sat together with everybody else, said l’chaim, and revived themselves.” At the many farbrengens held in the home of R’ Mordechai Sirota the great mashpiim of the day farbrengend: R’ Yona Poltaver, R’ Yisroel Neveler, R’ Peretz Mochkin, R’ Shlomo Chaim Kesselman, and others. “Those nights the mashke poured like water,” recalled one of those attendees, “and they would dance on the table until light of day.” When R’ Mordechai left the Soviet Union, he went to the Rebbe for Yud Shevat 1972. During his yechidus, the Rebbe asked him with a broad smile, “Why didn’t you bring the table that you farbrenged on so much?”

THE TALMUD TORAH The children could not wander about idly without a Jewish, Chassidishe chinuch. Some of the Chassidim hired melamdim to teach their sons privately. R’ Peretz Mochkin hired R’ Yisroel Neveler as a melamed, while

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Kesselman taught two classes, each gave up and left. Thus, their childish The Uzbeki with a few students. Then R’ Yona laughter saved the melamed from Poltaver established chadarim and interrogation and harsh punishment. policeman asked yeshivos in Tashkent. He took care Because of incidents like these, of hiring teachers and finding the chadarim and yeshivos regularly the children homes where the learning could take moved from place to place. R’ place. He also made sure the Yisroel Neveler and his talmidim angrily, “Where is talmidim had a hot meal, which cost wandered from one house to the priest?” One a fortune in those days. another. His educational views are The melamdim and maggidei engraved in his students’ hearts. of the talmidim shiur during this time were the Many of them remember the stories cream of Chabad in Tashkent: Rabbi he told on fast day afternoons. burst out laughing Chaim Meir Garelik, Rabbi Hirschel “R’ Yisroel was a terrific Lieberman, R’ Shneur Zalman storyteller. We could visualize at this question Buber (Pevsner), Rabbi Shlomo everything he told us as though we Chaim Kesselman, Rabbi Yisroel were seeing it,” said one of his and the other Neveler, and Rabbi Moshe talmidim. children joined in. Rubinstein. Rabbi Nachum Trebnik, Another class was held in the who came to Tashkent in the middle home of R’ Zalman Leib Estulin. He Their childish of the war, was appointed the was drafted in the Red Army, so it bochen (the oral tester) of the made sense to assume that the laughter saved the chadarim and yeshivos. government wouldn’t try to make Rabbi Avrohom Maiyor (Drizin), life difficult for his wife, Raizel, melamed. who was one of the menahalim of while her husband was fighting for Yeshivos Tomchei T’mimim in the the Motherland. The students would Mrs. Chaya Perla Galperin had R’ Soviet Union, arrived in Tashkent in gather in their house every day, Dovid Labkowski teach her son 1944. He too tested the talmidim. arriving early in the morning so Shlomo (R’ Dovid was a famous Occasionally, he would farbreng nobody would notice. They did not oved and proficient in Toras with the older talmidim and Anash. leave in the evening until people HaChassidus. He was later arrested, One class was located in the stopped walking in the streets. Mrs. and he died in the cellars of the home of Mrs. Chaya Perla Galperin, Estulin took care of the talmidim, secret police in Tashkent). where Rabbi Yisroel Neveler taught. and prepared nutritious meals for R’ Shlomo Galperin wrote about Despite the diminishment in them. their learning: persecution, every so often the Her sister Mrs. Sarah Levkivker “R’ Dovid Labkowski was an police and secret agents tried to adds: impressive Chassid; he was always catch the talmidim. This happened “Their house was comprised of well groomed, with a sparkling to the class in the Galperin house. one room where they ate and slept. white shirt and a sirtuk that looked One day, a policeman approached It also served as a branch of new. His shoes were always the house. Before he entered, R’ Tomchei T’mimim for young polished. He was very particular and Yisroel Neveler jumped out a bachurim. When necessary, they well-organized. This was a time window. The Uzbeki policeman, hung a piece of material as a curtain when people lived in poverty, and whose knowledge of religious around the baby’s bed, so that he yet he acted as a talmid chacham - matters was minimal, asked the could sleep.” ‘at all times your clothing should be children angrily, “Where is the R’ Aharon Zakon tells about clean.’ He would come to our house priest?” One of the talmidim burst learning in the Estulin house: to teach us Chumash. He was out laughing at this question and the “We would go to R’ Zalman punctual and precise. He did not other children joined in. Leib’s house to learn after spend a lot of time on explanations, The policeman tried to get the Shacharis. For a while, R’ Zalman but properly explained every verse in children to talk and repeated his Leib would also supervise us. At a an orderly fashion.” question over and over. The certain point, R’ Yisroel Neveler After a period of time, small children just laughed more. The taught us Gemara and Tanya. classes began to form for the study policeman did not understand why “The yeshiva consisted of two of Gemara. R’ Shlomo Chaim they were laughing and he finally classes, one of older bachurim and

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one of younger bachurim. When R’ thrown in there. I took a piece of Yisroel gave a shiur to the older paper from the floor, cut it up, and boys, the younger ones sat at the stuck the pieces on R’ Zalman other end of the room and learned Leib’s beard. When the NKVD on their own, and then they agent came in, he discovered, to his switched. In the older class were amazement, a man jumping around Ben-Tziyon Friedman, Sholom on crutches with pieces of paper in Dovber Shemtov, Sholom Feldman, his beard, and a group of children Chaim Yisroel Sperlin, Shlomo laughing at him. Galperin, Velvel Sirota, Chaim “He assumed it was a group of Ratovsky, me and another few mischievous children who had found bachurim. In the younger class were some lunatic to mock, and he left. It Berel Shaikowitz, Yisroel Duchman, was an open miracle that the visit Shmarya Pruss, Boruch Brikman, ended in this way.” Yosef Greenberg, Chaim Rivkin, Berel Ratovsky and others.” CHADARIM FOR About a month later, R’ Zalman THE GENERAL PUBLIC Leib returned home on crutches, due to a serious war injury. He was Aside from the chadarim for the Mashpia, R’ Shlomo happy that his house was hosting children of Chabad Chassidim, there Chaim Kesselman the talmidim of the yeshiva, and he were also chadarim for those who were not Lubavitch. These were also took care of their needs. R’ Berel go out looking for empty bottles in taken care of by the Chabad Shaikowitz described R’ Zalman’s order to earn a few coins for Chassidim. In 1944, Rabbi Eli return: returning them to the store, after he Lipsker asked Rabbi Aharon Chazan “About a month after the yeshiva sold a few bottles, which enabled to take on this holy task. R’ Chazan was established, R’ Zalman Leib him to buy bread for the next day, agreed, and within a few months returned home. He was an he stopped. He didn’t worry about there were four chadarim in impressive figure, with a reputation what would be two days hence, but Tashkent, with eighty students of as an outstanding lamdan. He went back to learning Torah.” different ages who studied joined the yeshiva’s staff. During the One day, the police approached everything from reading from a day he would supervise our learning the Estulin house. On the spur of Siddur to Gemara. and help any bachur who the moment, the talmidim came up R’ Chazan visited the homes of encountered a difficulty in his with an idea which saved them, as Jews and explained that their learning. R’ Berel Shaikowitz relates: children ought to know about “Even during the difficult “In the middle of the room was a Judaism. He promised that the periods of hunger and privation, large barrel, and all the s’farim were when R’ Zalman Leib was forced to education would be free. After the

R’ Aharon Chazan R’ Zalman Leib Estulin R’ Peretz Mochkin R’ Dovid Labkovski

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parents gave their consent, he began this burden were wealthy Chabad Soviets looked away from religious teaching their children in his home. Chassidim who made their money activities as long as Polish Jewish He wrote the letters of the Alef-Beis illegally. In the Soviet Union this refugees were in the Soviet Union.” in a notebook, and within a few entailed danger to their lives. In The Chabad community in days the children knew the letters. addition, the Lubavitcher Tashkent was a large and prominent Then he explained to the parents businessmen had business Lubavitcher community during that in order to expand their acquaintances, irreligious Jews, World War II, along with its sister- knowledge, they had to learn in whom they influenced to donate city in Samarkand. Unlike other school. generously to these mosdos Torah.” communities, the Chabad The budget for these mosdos R’ Chazan supervised the community was formed because of had to be very large: learning, and was also responsible the war, when numerous “The financial expenses were for the material end of things. He Lubavitcher refugees fled there. enormous. Just the salaries for the provided a meal every day for the Despite the hardships, Chassidic life melamdim were 20,000 rubles a talmidim, and the melamdim were thrived there throughout the war month,” said R’ Chazan. “Aside paid by him without their knowing years. from that, the talmidim were given a that Chabad Chassidim had donated In 1946-7, most of the meal every day, which cost us tens the money. Lubavitcher Chassidim left the of thousands of rubles. On top of R’ Chazan described the Soviet Union in the famous that we had to pay to rent the rooms secretiveness of the operation: smuggling operation out of Lvov. for the chadarim. “We were extremely careful, and Most of the Chassidim in Tashkent “The ones who primarily took on everything was done secretively. The left in this way, and only a few dozen remained. The community continued to exist for another twenty-five years until the early “KOL NIDREI AFTER A LONG FARBRENGEN” 1970’s, when most of the The many hardships in the lives of the refugees in Tashkent did not Lubavitchers there left for Eretz dim the character of Chassidic life. Though at times they seemed to Yisroel. contradict one another, they managed to unite them. Along with Even before the fall of hunger, worries, and sadness, there were Chassidishe simcha, chayus communism in the Soviet Union, and lebedikait, in no small part thanks to Chassidishe farbrengens. when the first seeds of perestroika The summer of 1941 is remembered by Chassidim as a very hard were planted, one of Tashkent’s summer. They dreaded what the morrow would bring, and starvation former sons, Rabbi Abba Dovid and disease were rampant. Then, along came Yom Kippur. There were Gurewitz, returned there on mixed feelings. The Chassidim in Tashkent prepared for Yom Kippur in shlichus. He eventually became the a way that was fitting for those insane times. Rabbi Zushe Gross chief rabbi of Central Asia. Today, in relates: Tashkent, Chabad’s Erev Yom Kippur 5702 in Tashkent was unique. After davening accomplishments include a shul, a Shacharis, R’ Nissan Nemenov asked my father, R’ Mulle, if there was yeshiva, and a school with hundreds mashke in the house. My father said there was, and R’ Nissan came to of students. our house to farbreng. Word got around and many Chassidim began Over the years other shluchim trickling in to attend the farbrengen on the eve of the holy day. The went to Tashkent to help R’ mashke poured like water. Gurewitz, including grandchildren “The sun was setting and they all ran to a nearby pond, immersed of askanei Chabad who lived there quickly, and ran to the minyan, which was in one of the homes. There during the war years and had to was no time for a Seuda Mafsekes. The chazan for Kol Nidrei was operate secretly. Now they and their supposed to be R’ Peretz Mochkin, but he had drunk a lot. He grandchildren can work openly and suggested that he go and immerse again to refresh himself. Some proudly. pointed out that it was minutes to sunset, but he ran to the pond, Sources: Igros Kodesh Admur Rayatz, Toldos Chabad b’Russia HaSovietis, Lubavitch v’Chayoleha, immersed and returned to shul. Neged HaZerem, Seifer HaZichronos Divrei “I remember how R’ Peretz poured out his heart with that Kol HaYamim (Gurkov), Gaon V’Chassid (Estulin), Ok- Nidrei. It was frightening to hear and it swept up all the people there, yol – Masa b’Mercaz Asia, Yehudis v’Yahadus b’Bris HaMoatzos, Anashim Chassidim Hayu, Toldos who melted in tears. It was a Kol Nidrei after a long preparation in the HaYehudim b’Asia HaTichona, So’aros b’Dmama, form of a Chassidishe farbrengen.” Beer Mayim Chaim, Beis Moshiach, , T’shura Mochkin Sivan ’67, and personal interviews

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obituary

which he said in Hebrew: “Boruch Dayan HaEmes.” In their conversation, Chirac expressed his sorrow at the passing of a longtime RABBI HILLEL friend and said he would be coming to console the family. A large crowd gathered on Sunday morning for the funeral, which left from a shul in one of the PEVZNER AH magnificent Sinai buildings. Eulogies were given by Rabbi Gilles Bernheim, chief rabbi of France, By Shneur Zalman Berger Rabbi Dovid Mashash, chief rabbi of Paris, Rabbi Yosef Sitruk, former chief rabbi of France, Rabbi Dovid A great feeling of mourning descended Moshe Lieberman, rav from the Shomrei HaDas k’hilla in Antwerp, upon Anash with the passing of Rabbi Rabbi Yirmiyahu Menachem Hillel Pevzner, founder and director of Cohen, Av Beis Din in Paris, Rabbi Yosef Dovid Frankfurter, rav and the Sinai educational empire in Paris Av Beis Din of Adas Yereim in Paris, and Rabbi Yichye Tuboul, rav and one of the roshei yeshiva in and Av Beis Din in Lyons. One of the sons, Rabbi Avrohom Tomchei T’mimim in Brunoy. Boruch Pevzner, and Menachem Mendel Slonim, a grandson, spoke movingly on behalf of the family. Chabad Chassidim around the Yosef Yitzchok, and began the The oldest son, R’ Avrohom Boruch world, and especially in France, conversation with three words Pevzner, who until recently served were saddened to hear of the passing of Rabbi Hillel Pevzner, one of the distinguished senior Chabad rabbanim, director of Sinai Institutions and longtime shliach in France. As soon as word of his passing on Friday, Erev Shabbos Shuva, became known, his students, friends and numerous Chabad Chassidim in Paris began streaming towards the Pevzner home. Many of them related for the first time how he had helped them, materially and spiritually. Some spoke about “the Rav,” while others spoke about “the Menahel,” and yet others remembered him as a Maggid shiur who taught them how to learn. R’ Pevzner’s personal friend, former French president, Jacques Chirac, did not wait to be informed by the family. As soon as he heard the news, he called the son, R’ Rabbi Avrohom Boruch Pevzner eulogizing his father

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in the Lubavitcher community in Minsk and a distinguished Chabad Chassid in Charkov, was exiled twice by the communists. The second time his strength did not hold out and he died in exile (see box). During World War II, R’ Hillel fled to Samarkand, where he learned with another three bachurim his age who later all served as directors of important mosdos chinuch: Rabbi Shlomo Matusof – shliach in Morocco; Rabbi Nissan Pinson – shliach in Rabbi Pevzner with the Rebbe Tunis; and Rabbi Mordechai Levin – one of the directors of Beis Rifka as a shliach to Eretz Yisroel and Hilvitz), raised him in the ways of in Kfar Chabad beit. mashpia in Toras Emes, was Torah and Chassidus. From them At the end of the war, R’ Hillel announced as the successor to the he learned Torah and to preserve left the Soviet Union when the rabbinic position. Another son, R’ the ways of Chassidus with mesirus Chassidim escaped via Lvov. He Yosef Yitzchok, will take over the nefesh. went first to the city of Bensheim shlichus and running of the Sinai In his youth, he studied in and from there to Poking, educational empire in Paris. underground yeshivos. At first he Germany, where he learned in learned in Berditchev, together with Yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim. At this WANDERING AMONG his brother, Sholom Ber. Sholom point he began his communal work UNDERGROUND Ber was arrested in this yeshiva, when he, together with some other along with a group of children, who Chassidim, was sent to Prague to YESHIVOS were sent to an orphanage. It took do rescue work with Chassidim Rabbi Hillel Pevzner was born a miracle to release the children who had left Russia and were in on 29 Teives 5681/1921, in Minsk. from there. From Berditchev, R’ anti-Semitic Poland. The Rebbe At this time, the communists were Hillel went to Zhitomir, and from Rayatz told them to work on beginning to come down hard on there to Voronezh. moving the people over to the Judaism, but his parents, R’ His father, may Hashem avenge Western-occupied zones as soon as Avrohom Boruch and Alte (nee his blood, who was rav and mashpia possible. Chabad Chassidim in Poking decided that R’ Pevzner and some other Chassidim should go to Prague. There they would help those who wanted to move from Poland to Germany and Austria, via Prague. They had another mission, which was to establish a link between the Chassidim in the camps and the Rebbe Rayatz and askanei Anash in Poland and France. Prague was the only place that had a phone connection and regular travel to the aforementioned places. After a brief period in Prague he returned to learn in Poking, and from there he went to Paris. R’ Hillel with talmidim of the yeshiva in Brunoy (center, wearing a tie)

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MASTER TEACHER knowledgeable in Shas and Poskim, the rav of Lubavitcher Chassidim R’ Hillel married Asya Eidelman which was apparent in his shiurim. in France. He took on this on the third night of Chanuka 5709. He enjoyed sharing halachic riddles position when Rabbi Zalman His wife stood by his side as his and telling jokes to lighten his Shimon Dvorkin, who held this helpmate for nearly sixty years. shiurim. position before him, emigrated With the Rebbe’s guidance, R’ His style of teaching was such from France to the United States. Hillel and his brother-in-law, Sholom that every student had to use his head The Chassidim who remained in Eidelman (shliach in Morocco), and not rely on his explanations. His France were aware of R’ located old manuscripts, including son, R’ Avrohom Boruch, who Pevzner’s vast halachic Chassidic ones. They searched in the learned with him, says that after a knowledge, and began to ask him library of the Beis Midrash year of learning with his father, their halachic questions. Thus, L’Rabbanim in Paris. When possible, talmidim were able to learn Gemara without elections or a formal they sent the Rebbe a manuscript or and mefarshim on their own. This is decision of any kind, the the book itself; otherwise, they sent because in addition to deep Chassidim chose him as the photocopies. They received the explanations, his father made sure Chabad rav in France. Rebbe’s encouragement and thanks. that every student used his abilities to When Chabad communities R’ Hillel was the Mashgiach in understand things on his own. began to proliferate in France and Yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim in rabbanim were appointed over Brunoy. After some time, he became AV BEIS DIN VAAD each k’hilla, a Vaad Rabbanei a Maggid shiur in the yeshiva, a RABBANEI LUBAVITCH Lubavitch in France was formed, and R’ Pevzner was chosen as the position he filled until 1979. His IN FRANCE students say he was extremely Av Beis Din. In this position, he R’ Hillel served for 55 years as guided all the rabbanim in France.

Rabbi Pevzner receiving minim from the Rebbe

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In later years, he was one of the people went to him for adversely affected by moisture in founders of “Merkaz Rabbanei adjudication in monetary disputes. their ears and immersing in a Europe”, and until the day of his Lubavitcher Chassidim constantly mikva is problematic for them. passing he served as a member of consulted with him regarding “My father came up with the idea the presidium of the council of halachic queries. His rulings were of using fish oil from a certain Merkaz Rabbanei Europe. known to be wise and deep. He species, which blocks the ear from R’ Pevzner did much to raise never compromised when it came moisture and is not considered a the standard of religious to halacha, yet he tried to make chatzitza because anything that observance, particularly in Paris, both sides happy and to find comes from the sea is not a but in the entire country as well. creative, halachic solutions barrier.” It was a brilliant solution, He founded a large scale kashrus wherever possible. which made life easier for many organization and issued rulings in For example, his son Avrohom people. all parts of Shulchan Aruch. Many Boruch related, some people are He forged good ties with an

HIS FATHER DIED IN EXILE His father, R’ Avrohom Boruch, endured much Yitzchok Schneersohn, the Rebbe’s father). suffering before dying in exile. In his youth, he In Charkov, Rabbi Avrohom Boruch Pevzner, learned in Lubavitch and was one of the chozrim Rabbi Meir Gurkov, Rabbi Tzemach Gurewitz, and of the Rebbe Rashab. He married Alte Hilvitz, Rabbi Nachum Yitzchok Pinson were arrested. A daughter of R’ Menachem Mendel, rav of the town few days later a wave of arrests took place among Zembin. The Rebbe Rayatz appointed him as rav Chassidim living in Kiev, and on 9 Nissan, the and mashpia of the Chabad k’hilla in Minsk. In Rebbe’s father was arrested. 1930 he was arrested by the communists and sent This time, R’ Avrohom Boruch was sent to to exile. Kazakhstan. After a few months Why was he arrested? there, his wife joined him. The R’ Hillel related: arrest brought on persecutions for “My father, A”H, was the rav of the rest of the family, as R’ the Chabad shul in Minsk. The Pevzner related: “When my father communists, who wanted to close it, was in jail, I was called to the tried persuading the balabatim to police station, where I was asked, leave. My father went up to the bima ‘Why aren’t you registered as a holding a large wooden stick and member of the party?’ I answered, announced: ‘The first one to leave ‘Did anyone ask me to register the beis midrash and give it over to until now?’ The policeman hissed, the wicked ones, will get his head ‘This apple did not fall far from split open with this stick.’ Police the tree.’” agents who saw this arrested him on R’ Avrohom Boruch became the spot.” very ill, and on the night of Erev The communists sent him to a R’ Hillel’s father, Rabbi Pesach, 1940, he passed away. labor camp in Siberia. After two Avrohom Boruch Pevzner (may Before he died, he wrote the miserable years there he was Hashem avenge his blood) following chilling lines to his released, and he moved to Charkov. children, “I know that my days are After Purim 1939, there was a numbered. I am mortally sick and wave of arrests of Chabad Chassidim in Ukrainian about to die. I am doubtful as to whether I will cities. The first arrests were carried out on the eve receive Jewish burial, but I am serene and concede of 17 Adar in Chernigov and Charkov. In on that. I go to my death wholeheartedly, for I can Chernigov, a number of Chassidim were arrested, be certain that my children and descendents will including Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson go in the path of Hashem.” (the uncle of Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Schneersohn, R’ Hillel kept this postcard until the day he the Rebbe’s father) and his nephew, Rabbi Levi died. Yitzchok Schneersohn (cousin of Rabbi Levi

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array of French rabbanim from all groups. He had connections with rabbanim in Paris, France, and elsewhere. Even when differences of opinion cropped up among them, the French rabbanim always respected him and conceded that he was a man of Torah genius and a man of truth. His scholarship was renowned, and his piskei halacha were occasionally publicized in various periodicals, including the Lubavitch periodical published in New York, “Yagdil Torah”. His particular expertise was in mikvaos. On several occasions, the Rebbe referred halachic questions regarding mikvaos to him, and even instructed him to travel to various places in order to supervise and fix R’ Hillel and his son, R’ Yosef Yitzchok with models of the Sinai schools the mikvaos there. About fifteen years ago, R’ that he and several other rabbanim It all began in 5725 when R’ Pevzner traveled to the CIS in order should test the talmidim on Pevzner took over the running of a to supervise mikvaos that were K’vutza. Talmud Torah which was about to being built. He said that building For over fifty years he served as fall apart, located in a small mikvaos in the former Soviet Union Rav, and even in his later years he apartment in the Pletzel. He also was his revenge against the continued to answer halachic opened a Chabad school for communists. Even in recent years questions at all hours of the day. children who were not Lubavitch. he was asked to lecture at the His son R’ Avrohom Boruch At first he had only eight students. convention of European rabbanim relates: He worked very hard to recruit on the topic of mikvaos. “Four years ago I was at my more students to the Chabad On more than one occasion, the parents’ house late at night when mosdos, which he had founded with Rebbe referred to him as “the the phone rang. My mother the Rebbe’s encouragement and Parisian rav.” At a Tishrei answered the phone. It was bracha. farbrengen in 5725, when the someone with a halachic question. He put all his energy into Rebbe wanted to clarify a halachic Despite the late hour, she woke my developing the mosdos, which point during the farbrengen, he father and he answered the quickly expanded until thousands of stated publicly, “The Parisian rav is question. My father did not have set children were in attendance. In here, so he can answer the times for answering questions, nor 5741, he brought his son, Yosef question.” did he have set times for people to Yitzchok, into the administration. About twenty years ago, the call him. His house was always Yosef Yitzchok was later appointed Rebbe said a sicha in which he open and he always responded to as the menahel while R’ Hillel referred to the rabbanim of the questions.” served as president. Together they community as “abir sh’b’abirim” developed the mosdos by buying (the most powerful of the powerful FATHER TO THOUSANDS spacious buildings, with the ones). The next day, a Sunday, the OF TALMIDIM encouragement of the Rebbe. Rebbe said to R’ Pevzner As R’ Yosef Yitzchok told Beis (apparently at “dollars”), “When I R’ Pevzner’s most notable Moshiach: said “abir sh’b’abirim” I meant you accomplishment was founding the “In 5749 – Shnas HaBinyan – too.” Sinai educational system, in which the Rebbe encouraged the building In 5730, when R’ Pevzner came thousands of students are educated. of Chabad houses and private to the Rebbe, the Rebbe told him He served as its menahel for homes. That is when we decided to decades. build a huge complex which would

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include all our mosdos. We quickly gave out checks for $100 which the The Rebbe instructed us to arrange began working on the plans, and a Rebbe had sent. visits to the school complex so that small model was given to the “The Rebbe’s unique donation people could see how much was Rebbe. enabled us to raise enough money being invested into Jewish “The Rebbe’s response to the to cover 80% of the costs of the education. building of a complex was amazing. building. We borrowed the rest “A group of about a hundred We received instructions and from the bank. people, including donors and those brachos throughout the process, “Tishrei, 5752, marked the involved in planning and building and the Rebbe contributed a large opening of the magnificent the complex, went to the Rebbe for amount of money towards the educational complex, which Shabbos, Parshas VaYakhel, 5752. building expenses. In Shnas educates children from two months Heading the group was my father, HaBinyan, the Rebbe said that of age until marriage. The complex along with other members of the whoever built a private or public also includes a community center, hanhala. On Sunday, 26 Adar I, building would get $100 from the mikvaos, a Chabad house, etc. when the Rebbe gave out dollars for Machne Israel fund. I was in New “The media coverage was tz’daka, my father gave the Rebbe York in Tammuz, 5749, and we extensive. This was the first time in the key to the building. The Rebbe were told by the secretary, R’ the history of France that a Jewish took the key, blessed us, and said Groner, that the Rebbe would give school was built. All the existing with a broad smile, ‘Start $100 to whoever contributed schools had gotten old buildings, immediately to build a new towards the building in Paris! while this was a seven story building.’ “The Rebbe said that the offer structure with 8500 sq. meters. The “I was flabbergasted. We had stood to those who would size, too, was dictated by the just completed this huge complex contribute by Erev Rosh HaShana. Rebbe. He said to use the area we which would include all the We established a base line amount bought to its maximum capacity. mosdos, and had caravans nearby of $5000, and the donations poured “The Rebbe considered it highly available to us. Why did we need to in. On Erev Rosh HaShana, the important to build a magnificent build another building? final day for donations, there was a building in France, and he wanted it “After some time, the caravans long line at my father’s door. He to be a model for other mosdos. were burned and my question was answered. If G-d forbid there had been students in those caravans … “A few days later we returned to WHEN WILL HE COME AND REDEEM US? France, shaken and terribly upset As for R’ Hillel Pevzner’s longing for Geula, we will quote from an by news of the Rebbe’s stroke on interview that he gave three years ago for the publication of Merkas 27 Adar, but the Rebbe’s Rabbanei Europe: instruction superseded our feelings. “Even as his many commitments which surrounded him are I immediately invited a senior diminishing in his old age, one concern still weighs on him: M-O-S-H- official of the municipality to come I-A-C-H … When is he coming? This question comes from his heart, visit the mosdos. My goal was to every few minutes during the course of our conversation. ‘When he is get him interested in helping us coming already to redeem us?’ he asks, as tears come from his eyes obtain another lot, where we could and his voice chokes up.” build yet another building. “… As we spoke about the success of the educational empire he “After he heard about our founded and the beautiful fruits that grow in its orchard, a silent cry mosdos and the Rebbe’s instruction bursts forth from his lips, ‘When is Moshiach coming? Moshiach has to build another building, he said to so much work to do. Every Jew yearns for the coming of Moshiach. He me, ‘Your Rebbe is a prophet.’ It should just come already’” turned out that the street where the *What can be done, specifically, to bring the Geula? Chabad daycare center was located “We try to be mekarev more and more Jewish to Hashem.” was scheduled for demolition by the *What area do we need to work on amongst European Jews? municipality, though it had not yet “To hasten the coming of Moshiach. The rabbanim in their been publicly announced. Those communities need to strengthen this inyan of looking forward to who lived on that street would have Moshiach’s coming, and they need to do all they can so that Jews to move, and the city was going to anticipate and daven for Moshiach’s coming.” sell the lots for private initiatives.

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“I immediately submitted a center, preschool, elementary request to build another complex school, vocational school, Kollel, a At a Tishrei there. After we obtained the Machon L’Smicha, etc. Mr. Chirac’s permits, the city decided not to wife attended the Chanukas farbrengen in destroy the street. As the permits Ha’bayis.” 5725, when the had already been given, they were not retracted. PERSONAL Rebbe wanted to “On 12 Nissan, 5753, the Rebbe RELATIONSHIP WITH gave, through the secretaries, three clarify a halachic packets of dollars for the building. THE FRENCH In one packet were one hundred $5 PRESIDENT point during the bills; in the second were one How did it come to pass that the farbrengen, he hundred $10 bills; and in the third wife of the French President were one hundred $20 bills. The attended a Chabad event? This was stated publicly, Rebbe’s participation gave us a big the result of the work of the push forward. We eagerly worked Pevzner family to build relationships “The Parisian rav on preparing the plans for the next with the political leadership in building. France, including heads of state. is here, so he can “Shortly after Gimmel Tamuz, The following episode illustrates 5754, we celebrated the their special connection: answer the groundbreaking of Heichal Four years ago, the previous question.” Menachem. A little over a year president, Mr. Chirac, received a later, the building was completed. Jewish delegation in his palace. In my father. He always told his “As time went by, we realized it the course of the visit, he sat on the friends that when Rabbi Pevzner was a lot to ask of children to travel side with R’ Hillel Pevzner and his told him to do something, he did from one end of Paris to the other son R’ Yosef Yitzchok, speaking not dare refuse.” in order to attend a Chabad school. with them about their work and No wonder,, then that in We decided to build another about the increase of anti-Semitism Chirac’s autobiography, he complex in the 17th arrondissement, in France. This picture, which was emphasizes his ties with the an exclusive section of Paris. publicized in all the media, made a Pevzners. “The groundbreaking took place tremendous impression. on 6 Tishrei, 5761, and two years R’ Yosef Yitzchok related more later the third complex, called “Ki about their connection with Chirac: SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP Tov,” was already in operation. It “Chirac was a big ‘chassid’ of WITH THE REBBE included many mosdos: a daycare The treatment that R’ Pevzner received from the Rebbe was amazing. He had many kiruvim over the years. His family relates that each time he went to the Rebbe, when the Rebbe came out for the first t’filla at which R’ Hillel was present, the Rebbe would look at him and nod a greeting. R’ Pevzner was mekushar heart and soul to the Rebbe. Any instruction he received from the Rebbe regarding rabbanus and the mosdos, he followed, even when at first glance things weren’t always clear. He accepted what the Rebbe said with bittul. When I asked his son and Giving a shiur in the yeshiva successor, R’ Avrohom Boruch,

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about his father, he said, “My spiritually; and his being a baki and father was a real Chassid. As a gaon in Gemara, Halacha, and young bachur he already knew all Chassidus.” of Tanya by heart, word for word. *** His Krias Shma at night took half In the final days of 5768 people an hour or more. For many years were asked to daven for R’ Pevzner. he would get up early on Shabbos, He passed away on Motzaei Tzom learn Chassidus for a few hours, Gedalya, leaving thousands of and then daven at length until the spiritual descendents in addition to afternoon. his actual descendents: His sons, R’ “Much can be written about his Avrohom Boruch, R’ Yosef working on his middos. By nature Yitzchok, R’ Menachem Mendel – he was tough, and he worked on shliach in Geneva; Mrs. Shterna himself to treat everybody in a very Sarah Kalmanson – wife of R’ friendly way, and he always gave in. Yechiel Menachem Mendel, rosh “As for his being a baal chesed, Yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim in that goes without saying; the same Brunoy, Mrs. Rivka Naparstek – holds true for his being a Chassid wife of R’ Yechezkel of Paris, Mrs. who ran mosdos that help Chana Slonim – wife of R’ Chaim, President Chirac speaking thousands of people materially and shliach in Dijon. to the Pevzners

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