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IN ELUL WE MUST PLOW AND SOW  D’var Malchus | Likkutei Sichos Vol. 4, Hosafos, Pg. 1342-1348

A DAILY DOSE OF MOSHIACH  Moshiach & Geula

A POINT IN TIME AND SPACE  Feature| Dr. Avrohom Orenstein

THE T’MIMIM COULD IMMERSE IN THE  TEARS OF THE REBBEIM 15 Elul | Menachem Shaked THE “ALEF” OF REDEMPTION USA  Moshiach & Geula | Rabbi Chaim Ashkenaz 744 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409 Tel: (718) 778-8000 Fax: (718) 778-0800 ‘THEY BELIEVED IN HASHEM AND [email protected]  IN MOSHE, HIS SERVANT’ (CONT.) www.beismoshiach.org Chinuch | Y. Ben Menachem EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: M.M. Hendel HASHEM SENT HIM SIGNS ENGLISH EDITOR:  Profile | Sholom Dovber Crombie Boruch Merkur [email protected] HEBREW EDITOR: Rabbi Sholom Yaakov Chazan AFTER 3 TAMMUZ: THE REBBE IS STILL [email protected]  MOSHIACH Beis Moshiach (USPS 012-542) ISSN 1082- Moshiach & Geula | Rabbi Sholom Dovber HaLevi Wolpo 0272 is published weekly, except Jewish holidays (only once in April and October) for WHEN IS LUXURY A GOOD THING? $140.00 in the USA and in all other places for Shlichus | Rabbi Yaakov Shmuelevitz $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 OHR CHANA: A FRUM VOCATIONAL Moshiach 744 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn,  NY 11213-3409. Copyright 2007 by Beis HIGH SCHOOL Moshiach, Inc. Chinuch Beis Moshiach is not responsible for the content of the advertisements. CITY OF REFUGE  Perspective | Faige A¤S>OJJ>I@ERP

Regarding the significance of the month of Elul, the Alter Rebbe writes as follows: “In Elul it is the time of the revelation of the Thirteen IN ELUL WE Attributes of Mercy. In order to understand this – for [the question is begged]: Why [then] are they regular weekdays and not holidays? ... This, however, can be understood in light MUST PLOW of an allegory of a king, who, before he comes to the city, the city folk go out to greet him, holding a reception for him in the field. Anyone who wants to go out and receive him then AND SOW may do so, and he welcomes all of them with a pleasant countenance Likkutei Sichos Vol. 4, Hosafos, Pg. 1342-1348 and shows a smiling face to them all. Translated by Boruch Merkur As he makes his way to the city, they follow him. Afterwards, as he enters his royal palace, no one may enter without permission. Indeed, [entrance is granted only to] the elite of the nation and select individuals. So is the matter, in terms of the analogy’s significance, regarding the month of Elul: they go to receive the light of His blessed countenance in the field.” A (possible) explanation of the answer (to the [puzzling] fact that the days of the month of Elul are regular weekdays) is as follows: The concept of holidays is that an increase of light and revelation is drawn into them, [a revelation] that is not enclothed within them so much [but remains transcendent]. It is on account of this [revelation] that during these days labor is forbidden. Indeed the performance of labor, regular weekday activities, is in contradiction to receiving this light (symbolized in the parable by the king being in his royal palace, where “no one may enter without [permission]”). Whereas the concept of the month of Elul entails the revelation of the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy to each and every Jew, even to one who has sinned, etc., in the place where he happens to be found: a field [i.e., not the royal place, but a place of mundane weekday activity]. The illumination of the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy is a preparation enabling them to repent. So it is regarding the service of love and fear [of G-d] in Elul (for then the love and fear are loftier): they must be aroused through an initiative that precipitates specifically from below, for the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy are merely a prerequisite for [Divine] service. Nevertheless, the illumination of the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy is in the field, not in the desert. A desert is at the level of “‘a land that is not cultivated,’ which are those deeds, words spoken, and thoughts which are not for G-d’s sake.” In order to receive the

 #IRI #'1 +-1&' !& illumination of the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy requires repentance of those who are found in the field is more at least the arousal of the acceptance of the yoke of the precious and pertinent to him than his royal crown and kingship of Heaven, [represented by] leaving (the desert), vestments (like the example of the service of penitents, to go at least to the field, to greet the king (but this service which reaches higher than the service of the righteous). is at the level of “field” (of holiness), involving plowing For His royal vestments and crown are merely [elements and sowing, unlike [the activities permitted] on holidays). constituting his] appearance. Whereas His blessed *** essence is specifically in the field, as it is known that it is All matters discussed in Torah, including the specifically the lower worlds that are a dwelling place for allegories, are precise in all their details. But at first His blessed essence. glance, the terminology of the Alter Rebbe is not In the allegory in discussion, the Alter Rebbe writes, understood there [in his allegory of the king in the field]: “As he makes his way to the city, they follow him. “the city folk go out to greet him...in the field.” This Afterwards, as he enters his royal palace, etc.” At first wording indicates that their place is in the city but they glance, since His blessed essence is specifically in the only now venture out to the field. But at first glance (in field, etc., as has been noted, why is this necessary and what the allegory represents) it is the opposite: Their what advantage is accomplished in going to the city? The place is in the field, and the innovation of [the month of] matter is as follows: Regarding a dwelling place there are Elul is that the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy shine even in two factors: 1) In a dwelling place one’s entire essence is the place where they are at present, in the field. present (as in a home, for one’s essence resides in the The explanation of this quandary is as follows: The dwelling), and this is accomplished through the means by which each and every Jew perceives this fulfillment of Mitzvos specifically in the realm of action. illumination of the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy [which 2) The one who lives in the dwelling is revealed there. are spiritual in nature] is on account of the root of his Thus, revelations are also necessary. soul. The Alter Rebbe alludes to this in saying, “the city Notwithstanding the fact that this service takes place folk go out to greet him...in the field.” For the reason the in the month of Tishrei, the Alter Rebbe writes about this Jewish people perceive the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy is matter in the allegory which elaborates on the service of because they are “city folk” [an allusion to the Jewish soul the month of Elul. It could be said that he, thereby, as it exists in the Heavenly realm of Bria, which is referred suggests that even the beginning of the service of to as “city.” See Footnote 11 in original text.] It is just receiving the yoke [of Heaven], the venturing outwards to that for the time being they happen to be in the field, [a receive His blessed countenance in the field, must be on metaphor for being] in the exile of the body and the condition and in a manner [intended to] follow Him Animal Soul. Notwithstanding the fact that they are in afterwards to the city and to His royal palace, for then exile, “one cannot compare the virtue of a minister while they come from the service of Elul to the service of Rosh in captivity to the virtue of a commoner” [Likkutei Torah HaShana and the Ten Days of Repentance and etc., until Parshas R’ei 32c]. Being that they are “city folk,” even the revelation of Shmini Atzeres – “They will be to You when they are in the field, they “receive the light of His alone, with no strangers among You.” blessed countenance,” the illumination of the Thirteen * * * Attributes of Mercy. In the address of the holiday of Pesach 5694 (Likkutei * * * Dibburim 116a) my esteemed teacher and father-in-law, Another matter that is not readily understood from the the Rebbe [Rayatz], describes the spiritual state in terminology of the Alter Rebbe in the allegory there: The Lubavitch in the month of Elul. In the beginning of the wording implies that the original place of the king is in the passage there [he writes]: “After Shabbos Nachamu, we field (for he does not write that “the king goes out to the would already begin [the practice of] studying following field”), whereas in the meaning of the allegory, the place Maariv, in fulfillment of that which is written, ‘Arise and of the king is in his royal palace, but he makes a special sing at night.’ When the Shabbos that blesses the month trip to the field to enable everyone to receive him. of Elul arrived, we would already begin to sense the Elul- The explanation is as follows: In terms of revelations, atmosphere, etc.” It is not understood, however, why he when the king is in the field, it is a descent in comparison arranges the two topics – the increase in the learning after to how he is in his royal palace. For when he is in his royal Shabbos Nachamu and the conduct of the month of Elul palace he wears a royal crown and royal vestments, etc. – in one aphorism, for at first glance they appear to be Which is not the case when he is in the field. Nevertheless, two separate topics. in truth, the very fact that the king forgoes the revelation It is further not understood why in the preceding of his royal crown and royal vestments, and he goes out to passage he describes the conduct of [the three-week the field to enable everyone to receive him, proves that the period of mourning known as] Between the Straits, for

#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB  the conduct of Shabbos Nachamu is apparently as one who responds [or repeats] after the reader. connected with the conduct of Between the Straits [and The Thirteen Attributes of Mercy are beyond the not Elul]. Indeed, the consolation (of Shabbos Nachamu) natural order of Divine manifestation (hishtalshlus), at a is for matters associated with Between the Straits. Thus, level where initiative from below does not reach. From this it would seemingly be appropriate to conclude the it is understood that the connection of the Thirteen aphorism regarding Between the Straits with the matter of Attributes of Mercy to Torah is primarily with regard to the conduct following Shabbos Nachamu (and thus learning Torah in a manner of “Let my tongue answer conclude with something positive), and the subsequent your sayings.” aphorism should begin with the conduct of the month of The connection of learning Torah in the ultimate state Elul. of [self] nullification to the month of Elul is also alluded The explanation hinges on a well known insight to in its mention in the beginning of the portion R’ei concerning repentance. Although repentance is loftier (which is read on Rosh Chodesh Elul or on the Shabbos than Torah (for which reason atonement [is accomplished preceding it): “Except to the place which He shall choose, through repentance] even with regard to blemishes in and etc.” (12:5), “to the [place of] rest and to the heritage” transgressions of [the commandment of] Torah study), (Ibid 9), “And it shall be that the place that He, G-d the nevertheless the “revelation” of the entire matter of L-rd, shall choose, wherein His name shall dwell” (Ibid repentance is specifically through Torah. Indeed, this is 11) – “Build for yourselves the Chosen Temple in the central point of the month of Elul [i.e., repentance Yerushalayim” (Rashi’s commentary, Ibid). expressed through rededication to Torah study]. The That is, the principle object of the Sanctuary (as well same principle applies with regard to the service of man: as the Temple) is the place of the resting of the Divine Notwithstanding the fact that the primary service of the presence, which is the ark. The significance of the ark is: month of Elul is the service of repentance, nevertheless 1) Torah, as it is written (Melachim I 8:9), “There is this itself is “revealed” through Torah study. That is, in nothing in the ark save two stone tablets.” 2) There was order for one to come to terms with the great necessity of no service associated with the ark (as with other vessels of repentance and how to repent and etc., one must add and the Sanctuary [With regard to the service of sprinkling increase in Torah study, especially the study of the inner blood between the ark’s staves, see Footnote 25 in the dimension of the Torah, which clearly elucidates concepts original.]); it simply served as a vessel for the revelation associated with repentance. from above: “I will testify to you there and I will speak, Thus, my esteemed teacher and father-in-law, the etc.” An expression of the latter is the study of Torah in Rebbe, arranged in a single aphorism the matter of the ultimate state of nullification. increasing one’s study along with the conduct in the * * * month of Elul, thereby alluding to the fact that the service The practical lesson from the above: of the month of Elul – repentance – is connected with the In the days of the month of Elul – and even in the days increase in Torah study. The latter point is reflected in the preceding it, from Shabbos Nachamu – one must increase conclusion of the verse, “I am to my beloved and my in Torah study with regard to both the revealed dimension beloved is to me” – whose acronym [in the original of Torah and particularly the study of the inner dimension Hebrew] spells out “Elul” – “who shepherds among the of the Torah. (If one did not fulfill this [directive roses (shoshanim),” for “shoshanim” has two meanings: beginning] from Shabbos Nachamu until now, one must Thirteen Petals of Mercy (the place of repentance) and fulfill it throughout the days from now on, and in a those who study (shonim) Torah. manner of “wisdom is manifold,” as it is explained in *** Igeres HaT’shuva Chapter 9.) And the study must be with There are two levels of Torah: 1) The level of rain of [self] nullification – “Let my tongue answer your Torah, [which corresponds to] inspiration from above sayings.” For by doing so, influence will be drawn down brought about from initiative from below. 2) The level of from above in a charitable manner (b’ofen d’tzdaka), like dew of Torah, [corresponding to] inspiration from above the configuration of the name Havaya [Yud-Kei-Vav-Kei] of its own accord. This [second] level also exists with that illuminates in the month of Elul [Footnote 28: respect to the manner of Torah study [attained] by man. Mishnas Chassidim, beginning of Maseches Elul], [as it Namely, that in this manner, “the speech of man is in the appears in] the last-letter acronym of, “U’tzdaka tihyeh ultimate state of nullification in His essence, to the extent lanu ki” [i.e., Hei-Hei-Vav-Yud] – charity, and not just a that one’s speech does not come from himself at all. It is, limited compensation appropriate to the work done – by rather, ‘the word of G-d, which is Torah law’ that is being positively inscribed and sealed for a good and sweet spoken within him automatically and of its own accord” year with regard to one’s abundant fortune in children, [Footnote 21: a phrase cited from Likkutei Torah, P’kudei vitality, and sustenance. 6a], as it is written, “Let my tongue answer your sayings” (From the address of Shabbos Parshas R’ei 5723)

 #IRI #'1 +-1&' !& eup, rchbu eup, Kupas Rabbeinu vnahj nkl tsnu"r f"e bahtu, ,j, Lubavitch (718) 467-2500 P.O.B. 288 Brooklyn, New York 11225 )817( 7333-657

Boruch Hashem, Elul 5767

Mivtza: HELPING THE NEEDY To every member of the Lubavitcher community:

During this month of preparation for Rosh Hashonoh, the ”head” of the New Year, we fondly recall our Rebbe’s words that this is an especially auspicious time for strengthening our deep bond of Hiskashrus with the ”Rosh Bnei Yisroel,” the ”head” of the Jewish people and leader of the generation. Our Rebbeim explain that an important way to strengthen Hiskashrus is by participating in the Rebbe’s activities and concerns, consequently, by supporting an organization that brings together a number of these activities, the Hiskashrus is greater and stronger. Such an organization is Kupas Rabbeinu, which seeks to continue many of the Rebbe’s activities and concerns without change from the way he would conduct them himself. Every year at this time, the Rebbe would call upon us to contribute generously to help needy families with their extra expenses for the coming month’s many Yomim Tovim. This also coincides with the special emphasis during this month of giving extra Tzedokah, (indicated in the Hebrew letters of the word ”Elul,” as explained in many Sichos etc.), as a vital way of preparing ourselves for the new year and arousing Divine mercy upon us. We therefore appeal to every individual man and woman to contribute generously to Kupas Rabbeinu, enabling us to fulfill the Rebbe’s desire to help all those who anxiously await our help. The greater your contribution, the more we can accomplish. Your generous contribution to Kupas Rabbeinu will be the appropriate vessel for receiving the abundant blessings of the Rebbe, who is its Nasi, that you may be blessed with a Ksiva Vachasima Tova for a good and sweet year, materially and spiritually. May it help to bring the full revelation of Moshiach - our Rebbe - immediately now! Wishing a Ksiva Vachasima Tova for a good and sweet year, In the name of Vaad Kupas Rabbeinu

Rabbi Sholom Mendel Simpson Rabbi Yehuda Leib Groner

P.S. Of course, you may send to Kupas Rabbeinu all contributions that you would send to the Rebbe; all will be devoted to the activities to which the Rebbe would devote them. You may also send Maimad, Keren-Hashono (this coming year 5768 - 383 days), Vov Tishrei, Yud Gimmel Tishrei Magbis etc. to Kupas Rabbeinu.

P.S. Please send all correspondence only to the following address.

KUPAS RABBEINU / P.O.B. 288 / BROOKLYN, NEW YORK 11225 Eretz Yisroel address: KEREN KUPAS ADMU"R / P.O.B. 1247 / KIRYAT MALACHI / ISRAEL JLPEF>@E DDBRI>

10 ELUL: THE WORLD DEMANDS THAT A JEW SHOULD ALREADY BE IN A STATE OF REDEMPTION A DAILY All the preparations for the Redemption have already been completed, and now we have to draw the Redemption down into the physicality and materialism of the DOSE OF world in actual deed, revealed before our very eyes. Today, they need only to open their eyes, and then they will see the whole world demanding that every MOSHIACH Jew should already be in the state and situation of the True and Complete Redemption. (sicha, Shabbos Parshas VaYigash 5752) & GEULA: 11 ELUL: BEHOLD, I PLACE A BLESSING BEFORE YOU TODAY We must publicize and awaken people in every location regarding 10-16 ELUL the unique avoda of the month of Elul, alluded to in its five acronyms: Selected daily pearls of wisdom from the Torah (Ina L’Yado V’Samti Lecha), T’filla (Ani L’Dodi V’Dodi Rebbe MH”M on Moshiach and Geula. Li), G’millus Chassadim (Ish L’Reiehu U’matanos L’Evyonim), Collected and arranged by Rabbi Pinchas Maman T’shuva ([Umal Hashem] Es Translated by Michoel Leib Dobry L’vavcha V’es Levav), Geula (Ashira Lashem Va’yomru Leimor), with a special emphasis in relation to the concept of the Redemption. In simple terms, we must proclaim and publicize everywhere – in words from the heart – that the Holy One, Blessed Be He, says to every Jew (through His servants, the Prophets): “Behold, I place a blessing before you today,” to the point that we shall literally see today with our own flesh eyes the blessing of the True and Complete Redemption. (sicha, Shabbos Parshas R’ei 5751)

12 ELUL: THE ORDER OF EVENTS AT THE REDEMPTION The order at the Redemption will be, as follows. First the building of the Beis HaMikdash, afterwards the ingathering of the exiles, and then the Resurrection of the Dead. The Resurrection of the Dead will take place forty years after the ingathering of the exiles. (T’shuvos U’Biurim 13)

 #IRI #'1 +-1&' !& 13 ELUL: LEARNING FROM MOSHIACH AND SPREADING 15 ELUL – ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF YESHIVAS TORAH WITH HUMILITY AND BITTUL TOMCHEI T’MIMIM (5657): THE WAR OF THE HOUSE OF There is a well-known explanation from my revered DOVID TO BRING THE REDEMPTION father-in-law, the Rebbe, in his maamer, “And My In connection with the founding of Yeshivas servant Dovid will reign over them, etc.,” stating the Tomchei T’mimim, there is the well-known sicha of reason why Melech HaMoshiach is called by the name the Rebbe Rashab, nishmaso Eden, on the concept in Dovid is because the concept of Dovid is one of Gemara (Shabbos 56a) of, “he who goes out to the humility and bittul. That is, despite the fact that he was war of the House of Dovid gives a divorce to his a king, he nevertheless called himself poor and humble. wife” (his wife represents all material matters, Similarly, regarding Melech HaMoshiach, even though “matters of this world”) – as the purpose of the he will represent ultimate greatness…nevertheless, he founding of this yeshiva is to create “soldiers of the will be the ultimate in humility and bittul, learning also House of Dovid” who will go out to “the war of the with simple people. House of Dovid.” …Among those matters that speed up and hasten the Furthermore, on the matter of the war – i.e., the coming of Moshiach is the study and spreading of Torah, students (“the soldiers”) will be “candles to the revealed and the inner teachings of Torah, to illuminate” throughout the entire world – revealing everyone, even simple people, in a manner of humility and spreading the inner teachings of Torah, the and bittul. That is, the study and spreading [of Torah] teachings of chassidus, and strengthening the faith in the True and Complete Redemption through Moshiach Despite the fact that he was a king, he Tzidkeinu in the time of “the heels of Moshiach,” when there will be nevertheless called himself poor and those “who Your enemies have disgraced, Hashem, that they have humble. Similarly, regarding Melech disgraced the footsteps of Your HaMoshiach, even though he will Moshiach.” We must say that in our times, represent ultimate greatness these matters have relevance to every single Jew, and the shlichus …nevertheless, he will be the ultimate of the war of the House of Dovid applies to them as well. in humility and bittul, learning also (sichos, night of Hoshana Rabba 5743, with simple people. Chaf MarCheshvan 5745) 16 ELUL: THE SIGNS AND TIMES OF THE REDEMPTION – COMPLETING must not be for the resulting spiritual elevation of the one THE ELEVATION OF EISAV teaching and spreading Torah (“from my students more (In our times,) the process of spiritual elevation than all of them”), but for those on the receiving end. has been completed, including the elevation of (Kuntres Hey Teives 5752) Eisav, who is Edom. This is all the more so as even in the times of Yaakov, he reasonably believed that 14 ELUL: YESHIVAS TOMCHEI T’MIMIM IN EVERY HOME Eisav had already been purified (and so it was from We must publicize everywhere about the special the aspect of Yaakov’s spiritual level). Surely after shlichus of (Yeshivas) Tomchei T’mimim – drawn into the considerable avoda since then, Eisav has already every corner of the world in a manner of “candles to been completely purified. illuminate.” We see this also from the conduct in these times In addition to the fact (as mentioned on numerous (the exile of Edom) of those nations of the world occasions) that every Jewish home must be a house of stemming from the concept of “Eisav is Edom,” as prayer, Torah, and g’millus chassadim (acts of benevolent kingdoms, and this conduct has also kindness), every home must resemble and emulate spread to other countries, as we have seen and still Yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim through the study of the see (particularly as of late). teachings of chassidus (in addition to the general study (sicha, Shabbos Parshas VaYeitzei 5752) of Torah). (sicha, Shabbos Parshas Ki Teitzei 5751)

#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB  CB>QROB A POINT IN TIME AND SPACE

By Dr. Avrohom Orenstein Dr. Avrohom Orenstein, a Holocaust survivor, describes his meeting with the Rebbe in the early years of the Rebbe’s leadership, in which he asked his burning question. * The Rebbe’s unusual answer, which is not found in any of his letters or sichos on the topic, caused him to recall his fellow townsman Fishel the Wagon Driver. * This was originally published in the Algemeiner Journal in Yiddish. Dr. Avrohom Orenstein

It happened in October 1951 This meeting took place a few meeting. He knew of my many (Tishrei 5712). The place was 770 months after I had arrived from the doubts and the inner conflicts I had Eastern Parkway. The time was after land of brutal sadists, Germany, to in connection with the destruction of the mystical hour of midnight. The the freedom of America. My friend European Jewry. reason was an interview with the from the Jewish Theological In the long wait to see the Rebbe, Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Seminary, and a great admirer of the in the stillness of the night, my Menachem Mendel Schneerson. Lubavitcher Rebbe, arranged the thoughts drifted to the distant past,

 #IRI #'1 +-1&' !& “The lesson is, if you understand this geometric concept, that with time you will also understand that what happened with the Jews in Europe is a “point” in time and space, but the line, the direction, continues with no end.” to the town I was born in, Slomniki, in the Kielce at his holy face? Would I be able to engrave his holy district in Poland. visage in my mind? Would I plumb the depths of the Like a kaleidoscope in my mind, I saw a panoramic great defender, whose prayers and pleading reached the scene of my Jewish town; a town that was poor from a Heavenly throne? material standpoint but rich in spirit and Jewish content There I was, facing him, aquiver with fear. Gazing in the form of activities ranging from the social- upon him but not seeing him. Hearing only a low communal, literary, Chassidic, to Zionist. voice… My father explained to me later the allusions in Before my eyes I could see my religious home that the Rebbe’s words to me, “When you will want to – you breathed Torah and Ger Chassidus; the Gerrer shtibel will be able to learn.” With these words, he “translated” full of d’veikus and the Torah-enthusiasm with which I for me the Rebbe’s secrets. was raised; the beis midrash and the bachurim who The sudden squeak of the door to the Rebbe’s room learned in it, as well as the working men with their broke into my sweet dreams and returned me to reality. T’hillim and Mishnayos; the upliftedness of spirit of Now I will meet once again with a Chassidic Rebbe, Shabbos and holidays; the times of joy and moments of a Chabadnik, although no longer with the same naïve, sadness; and that tall Jew, broad-shouldered and childish enthusiasm. Could it be otherwise? After all, muscular, Fishel the Wagon Driver, who has a special between the two meetings, rivers of Jewish blood and place in the holy of holies of my heart. oceans of tears have flowed, casting fear and dread just The scenes moved rapidly, like on a screen. One to think of them. episode from my childhood stood out in the clarity in I intend to confront and challenge this Rebbe, the which it was photographed and engraved in my memory. likes of whom, I had once believed in ad infinitum… I I see my father z”l, R’ Yosef Boruch HaKohen, an would demand a clear explanation, a serious response to outstanding Torah scholar, preparing to travel to the the disturbing questions and doubts regarding the Gerrer Rebbe, the Imrei Emes, R’ Avrohom Mordechai greatest devastation in Jewish history. It is possible that I Alter zt”l. This was quite some time before my bar will decide to call him to a din Torah. If the Berditchever mitzva and my father already wanted to take me to the could invite G-d to a din Torah, why should I refrain Rebbe for his blessing. from doing so with the Rebbe? His plan that I go to the Rebbe filled my youthful I was finally led to the Rebbe’s room. After a brief heart with a holy fear. In another little while I would greeting from right to left, I saw how, out of the three have the great merit to “take shalom” from the tzaddik students who entered together, the Rebbe focused his of the generation. Would I have enough courage to look gaze on me.

#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB  “Where did you come from?” length, width, or volume. take this tallis, he beseeched me. asked the Rebbe in Yiddish. “The lesson is, if you understand May Hashem protect you… That is “From Germany,” I answered. this geometric concept, that with the only legacy I can bequeath you. I quickly used the opportunity time you will also understand that I kept his last will and testament. and directly, though politely, got to what happened with the Jews in While in the camp, I wrapped myself the point. “Rebbe, I am very Europe is a “point” in time and in my father’s tallis and said bothered by the question about the space, but the line, the direction, Kaddish. My tortured brothers also recent destruction. How can the continues with no end.” used my tallis and said Kaddish. slaughter of six million men, women, Although I was dazzled by the This tallis accompanied me to four and children be explained from a Rebbe’s deep analysis, to tell you the concentration camps until it was Jewish-religious perspective – truth, I was still a bit disappointed burned along with the millions of tzaddikim, holy and pure people? by his comparison. Jews in Auschwitz. How is it possible that their spilled “Rebbe,” I continued, “6 million However, the spirit of the tallis blood and burning tears did not rent Jewish souls are merely a point? A hovered constantly in the air (“the all seven heavens? I seek a clear, tiny point in time and space? What parchment was burning and the unequivocal response from the about Divine Providence, the Father letters flying in the air”). As soon as Rebbe!” of Mercy, the One Who hears our I evaded the clutches of the Angel of The Rebbe listened to me with prayers, and ‘no man bangs his Death, Dr. Mengele, may his name great attention and then he answered finger below etc.?’” be erased, I said Kaddish again; I me calmly, “Are you familiar with I think the Rebbe agreed that prayed Kol Nidrei in Auschwitz and basic principles of mathematics?” indeed, a philosophical-geometric said Kaddish; I fasted on Yom “I know something,” I answered. abstraction did not sit well with such Kippur in Auschwitz and said Kaddish; the images in my mind led me to the victory cry of Fishel the This tallis accompanied me to four Wagon Driver. It was during the second Death concentration camps until it was March from the graveyard which was Mathausen, in April 1945. We burned along with the millions of Jews were dragging ourselves along in Auschwitz. together with thousands of other living corpses, when I suddenly realized my name was being called. I The Rebbe took a pen and drew an emotionally charged confusion turned and saw my fellow a diagonal line on a clean piece of and turbulence of the soul. He townsman, Fishel Perlgericht the paper. In the upper left part of the immediately pointed out that such Wagon Driver. He was our neighbor line he made a dot. an unprecedented tragedy could not and when I was a boy he would take “Tell me, what is the truly be given a satisfactory me for a ride in his wagon in mathematical relationship between explanation. However, “A believing exchange for my singing him “Shir this line and the point?” Jew will understand this sooner or HaMaalos.” He worked very hard to “Zero,” I answered. later…” support himself. “That is the answer to all your The Rebbe’s summary of the Now the heavens cried along questions,” said the Rebbe. Then he subject touched my heart. The with the rain, cold, and frost, but explained, more or less, as follows: Rebbe spoke about the reward for our tortured eyes had long since “As you know, a geometric line neshamos, the holy ones, the eternity dried up. Night fell and exhausted consists of only one dimension. of the Jewish soul, etc., but my people fell like flies on the damp and From a mathematical standpoint, thoughts wandered once again, and rocky ground. Many froze to death, you cannot determine the this time, to the concentration but Fishel Leizer’s took me between dimensions of a line because what camps, to the seven levels of hell. himself and his friend, warming my characterizes it is its infinite length. Before my eyes stood my father body all night. The next day, we The point, on the other hand, from on his last journey, as we parted continued on our Death March and the viewpoint of geometry, lacks any forever. He went along with his little in the general chaos I lost sight of definition and dimension because it children, my little sister and nieces. I him. cannot be seen; it has no diameter, remember what he said: Avromtshe, Then we came to the

 #IRI #'1 +-1&' !& Gunzkirchen Forest full of swamps, me.” to hand me over, nearly dead, to the utter starvation, rampant typhus, Fishel sighed and slowly bent hospital in Weiles in upper Austria, death and – the moment of down to the ground, rubbing the and then he vanished. I never saw liberation. Fishel Leizer’s, my angel earth of the forest floor with his him again, but his Kaddish always of rescue, appeared once again as hands. dances before my eyes. though sprouting from the earth. “What are you doing Fishel?” * * * “Let us get out of this hell “I am washing my hands.” The Lubavitcher Rebbe quickly, come Avremtche.” He rubbed his hands on moist continued his explanation, but in his “But how,” I mumbled. “I have grass, stood up again, and in a weak voice I heard the Kaddish of Fishel no strength to go.” and broken voice he began to say the Leizer’s. Without any question, Fishel took my hand and Kaddish. After each line, I simply, he placed the tiny point together, we stumbled like shadows responded with amen. among the other points and for about fifty meters. Suddenly When he finished the Kaddish, I extended the geometric line of the Fishel called out, “Avrohom, listen. suddenly felt ashamed. How was it Jewish spark. * He proved once Before I leave this cursed place, I that it didn’t occur to me? Who again the eternal secret of the Jewish want to say Kaddish.” would have thought that Fishel people, the existence of the long, I found this hard to understand. Leizer’s the Wagon Driver, who infinite line, which cannot be limited “Kaddish?” “Why? For whom?” I people barely looked at or thought or explained with simple logic. asked. about, would have risen to such a Is that what the Rebbe intended? “Avromtche, I see that you don’t lofty level – if not even higher than Did I understand the Rebbe’s understand. Look around you and that… explanations at the time? Apparently see how hundreds of bodies are lying I felt hot tears coursing from my not. Did the Rebbe indirectly rouse about the swamps. I must say dry eyes. They rolled down my dried me on until he restored my Kaddish. I must complete an up skeleton, fell on the grass and memories about the elevated spirit of important task that I always asked mixed with the morning dew on the Fishel Leizer’s the Wagon Driver? I should come my way. I ask you to cursed earth. I felt a certain sense of believe so. help me. You once learned Torah, being uplifted and in my mind’s eye Either way, I do say Kaddish! right? I saw how the heavens opened and “In a most unusual manner, I the angels, instead of chanting *Apparently the idea is that the Rebbe extended the line until it reached and lost my wife and children... I want to “Holy, holy,” joined Fishel the touched the point, thus expressing that say Kaddish for them, and for Wagon Driver and his Kaddish. the point is an inseparable part of the myself. I ask you to say amen after Fishel completed his assignment eternity of Israel. Raskin's Consistently “if it grows we have it” Superior Fruit and Produce Emporium WHOLESALE & RETAIL Michal & Aaron Raskin We Deliver 335 Kingston Ave. Brooklyn NY 11213 * Tel: (718) 756-3888 756-2221 * Fax: 756-2440 Y.S. MOVING Professional Yossi Reasonable Tel: 718-467-0171 24 hour service Boxes available upon request. Cellular: 917-805-7757

#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB  BBIRI THE T’MIMIM COULD IMMERSE IN THE TEARS OF THE REBBEIM

Rebbeim, I poured out my bitter “If they knew how many tears I shed for heart about the state and standing of the yeshivos that remained overseas the Chassidim and of Chassidus. In the summer of 5656/1896, I and the few yeshivos that there are here, visited the holy gravesites of our teacher, the Baal Shem Tov, our it would be possible to immerse the teacher, HaRav HaMaggid of Mezritch, the Alter Rebbe, and the students in these tears!” * A Mitteler Rebbe, and upon my return to Lubavitch I was at the holy compilation of stories and comments of gravesite of my grandfather, the our Rebbeim about Yeshivas Tomchei Tzemach Tzedek, and my father, the Rebbe Maharash. T’mimim Lubavitch and its students, With their holy blessing, I began to organize a yeshiva, to raise the T’mimim. * In honor of 15 Elul Chassidishe bachurim with good character, devoted to the ways of 1897, the day the yeshiva was founded. Chassidus with mesirus nefesh. I was confident in the blessing of these holy Rebbeim that the yeshiva TOMCHEI T’MIMIM – THE FOUNDING OF would be successful and the light of GRANT US SUCCESS! THE YESHIVA Torah and avoda will illuminate in During a farbrengen, the Rebbe The founder of Yeshivas Tomchei Israel in general, and among Rayatz announced: T’mimim and its eternal leader, the Chassidim in particular. “The yeshiva is called Tomchei Rebbe Rashab, relates: On Chai Elul 5657/1897 the sun T’mimim, and I ask everyone, those Over the years, I was worried of Yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim shone who are here and those who are not and sorrowful over the lackluster in the city of our fathers, the holy here: hoshia na (help us) – and they spiritual state and standing of the Rebbeim, Lubavitch. are guaranteed for this – hatzlicha Chassidim. My heart would drip (Seifer HaSichos 5701) na (grant us success). blood. Each time I visited the holy (Likkutei Dibburim) Ohel of my ancestors, the holy

 #IRI #'1 +-1&' !& COVENANT WITH THE REBBE RASHAB today in all of the departments and those who will learn At the Simchas Torah farbrengen of 5661, three in the future, those who are here and those who are not years after the founding of Tomchei T’mimim in here, I make a covenant with you, a covenant of joint Lubavitch, the Rebbe Rashab farbrenged with the participation for avoda with self-sacrifice for Torah, fear T’mimim about their mission and purpose, a farbrengen of Heaven, and service of the heart, without concessions that left a powerful impression on the listeners: and compromises. ‘May the law bore through the “It is muvtach (guaranteed) to me – and you know mountain,’ i.e., may the ‘law’ of the ‘Tzimtzum the difference between muvtach and batuach (certain) – HaRishon’ bore through the mountain of the Committee that the talmidim of Tomchei T’mimim, in whatever for the Dissemination of Enlightenment. condition they are, and in the four corners of the world, “‘G-d creates the cure for the illness,’ G-d preceded will actually realize, with self-sacrifice, the lofty intent of the cure of the founding of Tomchei T’mimim to the ‘G-d desired for Himself a dwelling in the lower illness of the teachers of haskala and heresy. The realms.’” talmidim, the T’mimim, will remedy this with the Torah The Rebbe Rashab turned to his son, later the Rebbe and mitzvos that they disseminate.” Rayatz, and said: (Otzar Sippurei Chabad) “Acting dean, stand the army of Tomchei T’mimim at attention, I want to drink a l’chaim with them to mark the making of the covenant of avoda.” LONG LIFE FOR TOMCHEI T’MIMIM When the Rebbe Rayatz stood the T’mimim at All the holy souls of the Rebbeim and the holy attention, with the mashpiim and mashgichim at their tzaddikim who are in Gan Eden, recommend for good, head, the Rebbe Rashab arose and said: and arouse Heavenly mercy on all those who support “Talmidim of Yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim, who learn and are involved in supporting the yeshiva Tomchei T’mimim, for them and their grandchildren, success and long life. (Likkutei Dibburim)

THE TIME HAS COME TO EXPAND THE YESHIVA When news came of the downfall of the czar and the democratization of the country, the Rebbe said: Now is the time to establish yeshivos Tomchei T’mimim in all cities and towns. Now that the forces of enlightenment are expanding, we must establish many chadarim and yeshivos. Always, and in all things, the power of self-sacrifice will emerge victorious. (Likkutei Dibburim)

NOW I KNOW In the first period of the founding of Yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim, the Rebbe Rashab, the founder of the yeshiva, had still not established how many hours a day the T’mimim should learn Chassidus. Shortly after the yeshiva was founded, representatives of the Russian government arrived. Among the demands they made of the yeshiva’s administration was that the Russian language be studied for four hours a day. After the government representatives left, the Rebbe Rashab said: “Now I know how many hours a day they need to learn Chassidus.”

#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB  THE ROLE OF THE their opinion, were not fit for their complaints against the hanhala. MENAHEL OF TOMCHEI jobs. They wanted to add some Regarding your complaints, we T’MIMIM senior students to the yeshiva’s should borrow the whip from Pesach administration as representatives of the Wagon Driver. He has a way of In 5672 the Rebbe Rashab was in the students. driving certain lazy creatures. Menton because of his health. When In my presentations from time to “Indeed, the members of the his son, later to be the Rebbe Rayatz time to my father about goings-on in administration of Tomchei T’mimim who was the menahel of Yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim, I fulfilled my have a lofty spiritual task – not only Tomchei T’mimim, went to him, his obligation as menahel and told him to learn Chassidus and to speak father asked him, “Did you bring me that the talmidim were complaining regarding matters of avoda, but the list of talmidim?” about the mashgichim and mashpiim sometimes it is necessary to clean When the Rebbe Rayatz said he and they wanted senior talmidim to and retrain the student’s ears of did not have the list, his father said, represent them in the hanhala. understanding and avoda so they “Then you are only half a guest.” My father answered all the can receive and absorb the p’nimius The Rebbe Rayatz immediately questions in a set order and as of the things being discussed. sent a telegram home and asked that always was my custom, I wrote it all “So the senior talmidim went they send him the list. When the down. Regarding the students’ through a lot, but the young Rebbe Rashab received the list, he request, my father told me to tell talmidim need to be involved in said, “What do people think, that them to see him on the next Monday avoda and to refine their bad being a menahel is a simple matter? or Wednesday at a certain time. middos!” You need to spill tears and recite I told the talmidim what my (Chanoch L’Naar) T’hillim that every student will be a father had said. The older talmidim, ‘tree planted on streams of water.’” who were unhappy with my strict HOW DOES THE REBBE REST? “When a bachur comes in for yechidus The way it was with the Rebbe regarding spiritual matters – that is my Rashab was that sometimes the bachurim had yechidus with him menucha (rest).” regarding spiritual matters. When many guests came to Lubavitch, the assistant would push off the administration through the IMMERSION IN THE bachurim from time to time. mashgichim and mashpiim, were REBBE’S TEARS One time, after the Rebbe very satisfied with the fulfillment of received many people for yechidus, On another occasion, the Rebbe their request by my father. They the assistant let one of the bachurim Rayatz said: If they knew how many took it as a sign that my father was into the Rebbe’s room. One of the tears I shed for the yeshivos that not pleased by how I ran the yeshiva wealthy men was annoyed with the remained overseas and the few and they were confident in their assistant and complained that he did yeshivos that there are here, it would success regarding their suggestion not have mercy on the Rebbe, the be possible to immerse the students about a different makeup of the proof being that after hours of in these tears! hanhala. yechidus he let in a yeshiva bachur. (Seifer HaSichos 5703) On the appointed day, when the The wealthy man did not stop talmidim were supposed to see my with his censure and when he went father, my father said to also call the into the Rebbe’s room, he repeated WHEN THE TALMIDIM mashpia R’ Michoel, and he and R’ what he had said, saying that the COMPLAINED ABOUT Zev the mashgiach and I should be assistant should have pushed off the present as well. When we all entered THE HANHALA bachur for another time. – the hanhala and the older students The Rebbe Rayatz related: The Rebbe said, “When a bachur – my father said: When my father appointed me as comes in for yechidus regarding “The acting menahel of Tomchei “acting dean” of Tomchei T’mimim, spiritual matters – that is my T’mimim told me the complaints of some bachurim once came to me menucha (rest).” and complained about the the talmidim and that you wanted mashgichim and mashpiim who, in me to set a time to listen to your

 #IRI #'1 +-1&' !& JLPEF>@E DDBRI> THE “ALEF” OF REDEMPTION

By Rabbi Chaim Ashkenazi, Rav, Chabad Community, Tel Aviv, Eretz Yisroel Translated By Michoel Leib Dobry It’s not always easy to distinguish who’s standing behind the “Alef” – the G-dly soul or the animal soul – as this will only be revealed in a clear and absolute manner in the future, at the arrival and hisgalus of the Rebbe MH”M. Excerpts from a chassidic farbrengen.

THE WHOLE WORLD meaning? person’s life, whereas the other wanted to place a different letter. In IS ONE BIG “ALEF” In essence, we can preface this question with another one: Why was such a case, the choice would be A participant at a chassidic the chassid at that farbrengen so neither difficult nor complicated. farbrengen once asked: How do we troubled? If you’re supposed to bring However, since each soul wants to carry out in practical terms the in the “Alef,” then you bring in the place specifically the Alef (and instructions and intention of the “Alef.” Why all the doubts? nothing but the Alef) within the Rebbe shlita (“D’var Malchus,” The reason for the doubts is the person’s life at every moment, then Acharei-K’doshim, Emor 5751) that constant war between the two souls – maybe there’s no need to wage war? the avoda is to place the “Alef” into the G-dly and the animal – as each of But the Alef of the G-dly soul and the gola (exile) and turn it into geula them wants to rule over “the small the Alef of the animal soul only (Redemption)? In response, another city,” i.e., the body (as explained in appear similar in an external sense. chassid quipped: Don’t you Tanya, Chapter 9). It would seem This is similar to the story of the understand? It’s similar to a guest that anyone with a brain in his head young couple that came to their rav who is asked by his host what he would want to be ruled only by the with a bizarre request. Their first son would like to eat, and he replies, “A G-dly soul and not the other. Who had just been born and they wanted shtikel broit, a shtikel fish, a shtikel would even consider being ruled by no less than a divorce. Why? The fleish, a beigel, a bisele cholent, a the animal soul? Who would agree to wife insisted that the child be named marantz, etc.” (using an Alef – “A” be an animal? after her father, who was a great this or “A” that – to introduce all Yet, this would be a simple and rabbi and outstanding Torah scholar, these things). correct assessment if one of the souls and the husband demanded that his Thus, if so many things can be wanted to place an Alef within the son be named after his father, who included in “Alef,” what exactly is the though just a wagon-driver, was a

#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB  simple, honest Jew who always stated, “If the Jewish People accept required of me? As in the chassidic conducted himself with the utmost My Torah – good, and if not – I will saying on the pasuk, “Please, modesty. A terrible argument broke return the world to a state of Hashem, as I am Your servant”: out between them on the night before nothingness,” or the Alef of “Ani They read the beginning of the verse the child’s bris, and it turned out that V’Afsi Od” (me and nothing else). as a question – “Ana Hashem?” neither side was prepared to The Rebbe Rashab gave us a hint When the word “Ana” is interpreted compromise. As a result, they when he said, “Anyone who expresses as “Where” (similar to the pasuk, concluded that the only viable course himself by saying, ‘I must have this,’ “Where can I flee from Your of action was to get divorced. is detached from G-dliness, because presence?”), then the meaning is: The rav quietly heard out the he is led by the “Ani.” In a similar Where does G-d want me to go? claimants, thought for a moment, vein, the Rebbe once referred to a What do You want me to do? “For I and then came up with a brilliant letter he received from a young man am Your servant”! idea. He turned to the husband and who used phrases such as “I want,” asked him, “Tell me, what was your “I think,” etc. The Rebbe shlita ANXIOUS WHEN late father’s name?” underlined the word I, and THE PHOTOGRAPHER “Meir,” the husband responded. emphasized that this represented the “And what was your father’s name?” yetzer ha’ra. COMES ALONG he asked the wife. “Meir,” she This matter exists on all levels – Recently, certain members of answered decisively. from the lowest person to the very Anash have been customarily striving The rav smiled and said, “If so, highest and loftiest in Avodas to publicize and glorify their names there is no problem. I have a solution Hashem. If the person wants to take at every possible opportunity, that will bring you both a happy life for himself all the material things that claiming that their intention is together. Call the child Meir. If he begin with “Alef” (as brought in the entirely for the purpose of will grow up to be a Torah scholar, above story at the farbrengen…), this publicizing the Rebbe, and not he will be named after his mother’s represents a situation that ch”v themselves in any way. This sounds father, and if he will grow up to be a obligates returning the world to a exactly like the misnagdim of simple and honest Jew, he will be state of nothingness. However, if his generations past who claimed that named after his father’s father… only desire to give all the material they were simply demanding the Perhaps this also characterizes the things that begin with “Alef” to honor of the holy Torah and nothing essence of the war in our discussion. another, this is the ultimate purpose for themselves ch”v. Yet, when this Everyone wants to bring the “Alef” for which he was created. apparent honor was not given to into the framework of his life at every There are numerous examples: If them or was taken away from them, moment, in every situation, and at a person looks for a suitable match they saw no possibility of continuing every event. The G-dly soul wants for his daughter only according to to live. This is similar to the story of and desires to bring in the “Alef” of what is befitting the honor of his the “porush” who learned Torah for “Anochi,” while the animal soul family, this derives from the aspect of many years with great self- wants the “Alef” of “Ani.” But it’s not “Ani V’Afsi Od.” However, if he mortification. Each Friday, he would always easy to distinguish “Which looks for a match suitable for his customarily sit on a large stone near Meir is he?” – i.e., who’s standing daughter’s unique character and the bathhouse, and the city dwellers behind the “Alef,” the G-dly soul or attributes, he is then acting from the would come up to him with great the animal soul. This will only be strength of the Alef of “Anochi.” awe and respect to wish him a “Good revealed in a clear and absolute Similarly, if a person scolds his Shabbos.” manner in the future, at the arrival daughter that she is not acting like The Baal Shem Tov instructed and hisgalus of the Rebbe MH”M. the daughter of a Torah scholar, this that the stone should be removed derives from the aspect of “Ani V’Afsi from its place, and a short time WHO’S THE BOSS Od.” However, if he berates himself afterwards, the “porush” passed away. The Baal Shem Tov explained OVER THE “ALEF”? over why he doesn’t fulfill his obligations in order that his daughter that the porush’s life force derived We have to know how to perceive will be the daughter of a Torah entirely from the honor he received, every situation, and how to check scholar, this comes from the Alef of and when it disappeared, so did his and determine if it stems from the “Anochi.” vitality… This proves that he Alef of “Anochi Havaya Elokecha” (I In short, someone motivated by demanded the honor for his own am Hashem, your G-d), i.e., the the Alef of “Anochi” asks: What is sake, and not for G-d. world was created for Him, as is

 #IRI #'1 +-1&' !& Even in our times, we see similar their breath about their lack of similarly a harsh person, “a man of modes of conduct. There are people publicity is because they are thinking evil,” must reach a state of “giving up who are involved entirely on how to about the Rebbe, and their lives are his thoughts,” forsake his harshness. publicize themselves in the print and nothing except for the Rebbe… The A proud and stern person has a electronic media. They try to appear truth is, however, that this represents problem with his “Alef,” through and speak only on weekdays, when yet another of the many examples of which he expresses his rigid their presence at a given event can be conduct that stems from building opinions. Thus, he spreads himself photographed and they can choose one’s personage upon the out over the entire shul and everyone exactly which picture to put in the foundations of the Alef of “Ani V’Afsi steps all over him. papers – the one where they appear Od.” This concept is also inferred from in the middle. For this purpose, they What exactly is the yardstick the well-known story of the chassid are prepared to expend much time, through which a chassid can properly who complained to the Alter Rebbe money, and energy, and they also distinguish which Alef is motivating in yechidus about his difficulties, check if anyone else is trying to get his actions? He can ask himself: Am saying that “I need this, I need that some recognition and whether it will I devoting my efforts to determining (sustenance, health, nachas from my be at their expense r”l… whether my intentions are really for children, etc.)…” The Alter Rebbe’s We can see these people in action the sole purpose of fulfilling the reply: You’re telling me only what whenever there is a photographer in Rebbe’s wishes? When? How much you need – meaning that you’re only the vicinity: They make all types of time? If he is unable to investigate troubled by the Alef of “Ani V’Afsi clever maneuvers to get in the picture properly the truth of the matter, Od.” But you don’t ask about why you are needed – i.e., the need to bring in the Alef of “Anochi” doesn’t The Rebbe once referred to a letter he concern you at all! received from a young man who used WHY SPECIFICALLY phrases such as “I want,” “I think,” etc. AN “ALEF”? It’s not for naught that the letter The Rebbe shlita underlined the word I, Alef was chosen, as opposed to a “Shlos Mem,” which is square in and emphasized that this represented shape and thus much easier to place the yetzer ha’ra. into a person’s whole existence. Furthermore, if the letter were a Samech, which is round, it would – sitting at the “table of honor” or there’s another proposed gauge: slip right in without any exertion. moving in the direction of the Check and see how much time and In this light, it might be possible photographer at the correct and effort he invests in publicizing his to understand why the sleep of the defining moment, etc. – all with the fellow chassid, who is also actively Jewish People on the night before innocent assertion that “Ich main involved in the service of the Rebbe Mattan Torah caused G-d such nahr der Rebbe” (my only intention MH”M… displeasure. The Rebbe MH”M to glorify the Rebbe’s name)! The battle with the Alef of “Ani” explains that they wanted to receive If these efforts do not prove appears in numerous chassidic the Torah without any effort or successful, they reason that they are stories. For example, a chassid once exertion, similar to placing a allowed to engage in slander and complained to the Tzemach Tzedek Samech, a “Shlos Mem,” or even a unruly behavior against those who that people trampled on him little “Yud” of G-dliness into our have insulted the Rebbe! Since they wherever he was in shul, gave him no daily lives. As has been said in the did not cater to their demands, they consideration and degraded him. name of our Torah giants, every Jew are not worthy of any expressions of The Tzemach Tzedek replied with an wants to be a gaon – but on two Ahavas Yisroel. They try to show explanation of the pasuk: “The conditions: a) it should be done all in how they emulate Rabbi Shimon bar wicked shall give up his way, and the one night; b) he’ll be sleeping at the Yochai, who said, “I have no man of evil his thoughts.” time… existence unto myself whatsoever,” Just as it is necessary for “the Thus, it’s not a Samech, a “Shlos and the fact that they mutter under wicked [to] give up his way,” Mem,” or a Yud that bring the G-dly plan into fruition, but specifically an

#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB  “Alef,” which resembles someone matters between us and our fellow checked what Shulchan Aruch says with hands and feet capable of Jews, and not just those between about these things? Does Hashem pushing and kicking. This means mitzvos between us and G-d, and a your G-d walk in their midst or does that the Alef doesn’t enter the guise person must check himself ch”v the evil dwell among them? of life so easily, without any effort. It thoroughly to determine which Alef They take the Alef of “Anochi” and wants to transform the person, not is guiding his conduct. This can be whittle down the corners until it just him, but his family – his wife and based upon the way a person turns into a Samech or a “Shlos children. If they’re not going in the decides what clothes to wear – the Mem,” and then it goes smoothly same direction as him, then he has to color of his tie, the size of his kippa, into their little world. figure out how to get the “Alef” into if his beard looks properly combed To put it mildly, this possibly them as well. and groomed (maybe even trimmed relates to the saying of our Sages, of There’s a story about a prominent ch”v…). For the truth is that he blessed memory, regarding the Chabad supporter who came to the really wants (r”l) to look like a Samech and “Shlos Mem” in the Rebbe MH”M, and complained that model – and he gives the excuse that luchos at Mattan Torah, which his wife was unwilling to accept a life he’s worried that he might make a “miraculously stood in place.” This in the path of Torah. The Rebbe chillul Hashem, and therefore, since means that it’s a miracle that they replied that she apparently thinks that he has to meet with all types of still have a little Yiddishkait, since G-d is with her and not with you. people who are not necessarily they claim that they’re still chassidim “How can she even think such a chassidim or the like, he dresses the in spite of this totally reckless thing?” the man asked. “I’m the one way he does. This is called placing approach. who’s observing Torah and mitzvos, the Alef of “Ani”…and the best proof Why do they think that there’s not her.” The Rebbe said that she is that not only he is not worried room in “Anochi” for such an apparently thinks that your Torah about stating these worthless incorrect mode of conduct, or as in observance is merely in order to excuses, he’s even proud of them… the words of the Rebbe shlita – annoy her, and therefore, such a G-d Anyone who places the Alef of conduct of “goyishkait”? Are they (such an Alef!) she is unwilling to “Anochi Hashem Elokecha” into the ones to be telling us how to accept. everything he does must above all instill the Sh’china within our Daled When the man asked how he make certain that his external amos, or how the Shulchan Aruch could prove that he really wants to appearance is appropriate, in will guide our lives as chassidim? fulfill Torah and mitzvos because he accordance with chassidic custom Such a phenomenon does not is a Jew, the Rebbe suggested that he over the years, and similarly exist in the concepts of this world: choose a particular mitzva to fulfill regarding the external appearance of Would a businessman ever entertain stringently for the next year, one that the members of his household. Only the thought that he should get ideas will clearly show his wife that he’s the Shulchan Aruch can give us the on how to bring in clients for his doing it solely to fulfill G-d’s Will, necessary sanction – and not just business from cannibals who don’t and this will bring her to follow him regarding food, but regarding all have the slightest notion whatsoever and do mitzvos as well. matters of attire and appearance! of a business or a store? Would The man requested that the Everyone knows that such subjects someone learning how to drive a bus Rebbe suggest which mitzva would are discussed explicitly in Shulchan check how a wagon-driver and be most appropriate in this case, and Aruch, however, prior to fulfilling donkey pull a cart? the Rebbe replied: There is such a them, a person must accept mitzva – the mitzva to honor one’s absolutely that only the Shulchan A TORAH “ALEF” wife more than himself… It stands to Aruch determines the proper mode AGAINST AN reason after conducting himself in of conduct in his home. This is the this fashion, the man succeeded in Alef of “Anochi.” AGGRESSIVE “ALEF” bringing the Alef of “Anochi” into his Anyone whose community and In reference to what are these entire family. environment feeds on the print and examples? Is there someone electronic media, signs and appropriate who can tell us how we ALEF IN ATTIRE, ALEF IN billboards, etc., all of which place G-d into our world, apart from G-d Himself in all His glory, or KASHRUS, ALEF IN OUR determine how they look, how they speak (in what slang…), how their those who emit the Word of G-d MANNER OF SPEAKING public functions appear or where from their mouths? Those who do It is, therefore, understood that they appear – it’s interesting to not recognize G-d’s existence, the Alef must be the driving force in consider when was the last time they particularly those who insult and

 #IRI #'1 +-1&' !& scoff at the idea of a G-d in the with special devotion and tirutz iz a ganav” (an excuse is a world, have absolutely no right contemplation, both before and thief), as is written, “If you see a whatsoever to express an opinion on during davening, in order to thief and run (taratz, similar to this matter. distinguish the proper and desired tirutz – make an excuse) with him.” How do we find this Divine Alef to instill within our lives in A thief has plenty of excuses to guidance? In the entire Torah, which these final days of exile. justify his acts of thievery, and provides the instructions on how to Thus, we sit at farbrengens – to therefore, he stays a thief. So too place the Alef of “Anochi” in our hear how chassidim, both past and with me – after all the excuses, lives – twenty-four hours a day! present, inserted and insert the Alef where am I? Where is the Alef of Every comma, every saying of our of “Anochi Hashem Elokecha,” “Anochi”? Sages, of blessed memory, giving it its honored and proper When we are in the period of particularly in Shulchan Aruch, and place. In addition, we can discover “Here comes Moshiach,” and then even more particularly in the how the animal soul tries in all its “The world will be filled with the teachings of chassidus – all are the cunning ways of deception to push knowledge of G-d as the sea fills the Torah of life! in the Alef of “Ani V’Afsi Od” ocean bed” – just as the sea is all So said a chassid, who heard an through seemingly kosher methods water and appears as nothing other interpretation from the Alter Rebbe and other obviously unkosher ones, than water, similarly, in the days of on the pasuk “‘Observe’ and making excuses that reality makes Moshiach, when there will be a true ‘Remember’ in one utterance” – this inevitable, everyone does it (!), state of bittul, the Yud above and the observe and remember the One G-d times have changed, “you can’t have Yud below will diminish themselves in every utterance. And if you have it all,” etc. and assist the line in the middle of neither found nor revealed this in This is the reason why we travel the Alef – the line representing fear every single pasuk, etc., then ask – to the Rebbe, preparing ourselves of G-d – in inserting its entire being, but don’t say that the Torah does not accordingly well in advance, in order and then the Alef of “Anochi” fulfills have the necessary guidance for to be a proper vessel to receive the its entire existence. every situation that I encounter. correct direction and strengths for Thus, we will eventually have the It would also be appropriate to our main avoda of placing the Alef complete infusion of the Alef into the test the assumption that it’s difficult of “Alufo Shel Olam” (Master of the gola and its transformation into to place the “Alef” because it doesn’t World) into the gola (exile) and geula very soon indeed – so why do have an easy shape, as does the transform it into geula we have to work so hard to achieve Samech and the “Shlos Mem.” The (Redemption). this? Because in the days of truth is that this is totally incorrect! Moshiach, there will be a clear It is possible to understand this PREPARING FOR ELUL reflection of the level of our efforts to point in accordance with the AS WE PREPARE FOR instill the G-dly Alef: For someone statement of the Alter Rebbe: What who worked towards this objective is an “Alef”? A ‘Yud’ above, a ‘Yud’ THE REDEMPTION during the exile, the G-dliness below – bittul at the beginning, By the same token, a Jew begins penetrates in a most impressive and bittul at the end. Then there remains his preparations for the month of proper manner, arousing much a line that passes into the p’nimius cheshbon nefesh – Elul. He sums up honor, whereas, in someone who more easily than the Samech. the Alef of the past year and delayed in this avoda, the Alef However, if there is a ‘Yud’ of prepares for the upcoming year, appears stuck and strained, like a yeshus at the beginning, and a ‘Yud’ according to the guidance provided ring in a pig’s nose ch”v. So while of yeshus at the end, it is simply by the acronym “Ani L’Dodi V’Dodi even a pig will be a clean animal in impossible to place such an “Alef” Li” – giving the “Ani” to “Dodi”! the days of Moshiach, nevertheless, inside a person. It is bound to bring At every opportunity throughout it remains a pig… forth idol worship with hands and the year, and not just during the The Redemption is really feet, and it will get stuck in a variety month of Elul, this is the cheshbon coming, and we must hasten our of ways – grabbing, kicking, nefesh we must make: Which Alef avoda in order that we shall merit to smacking, spitting, attacking… am I using? Maybe I’m actually be united with the G-dly Alef in a There’s no way possible to manage looking for easier letters, and complete state of unity – “as the sea with such a type! bringing all the aforementioned fills the ocean bed.” Amen. May it be Thus, we learn Torah, excuses… His Will. particularly chassidus, and we daven As the chassidic saying goes, “A

#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB  @EFKR@E ‘THEY BELIEVED IN HASHEM AND IN MOSHE, HIS SERVANT’

By Y. Ben Menachem

As we start to think about the new school PARTICIPANTS year, let’s hear what five mechanchim, RABBI AHARON GOLD who have experience with grades 3-6 Ganei Chabad, Kiryat Gat Rabbi Efraim Kenig and preschool, have to say about the Toras Emes, Yerushalayim simple faith that children have that the Rabbi Nachum Kaplan Rebbe is Moshiach, about hiskashrus for Talmud Torah, Lud children who never saw the Rebbe, and Rabbi Moshe Rosenfeld Talmud Torah, Kfar Chabad about traveling to 770. * Although this Rabbi Moshe Reinitz discussion took place 11 years ago, it is Lubavitcher Yeshiva, as relevant as ever. Part 2 of 3 Brooklyn

[Continued from last week] Rebbe, the rebbi has to make sure the Rebbe Rayatz lived for ten years and the Rebbe has been there for There are parents who take the child does not feel let down by over 50 years. This is “Beis Rabeinu their child to visit 770. How his not seeing the Rebbe. In order to Sh’B’Bavel” and “Beis Moshiach,” should the child’s rebbi prepare ensure that he won’t be as the Rebbe himself said. him for the trip and what should disappointed, the melamed needs to When the child returns, he will the farbrengen, upon the child’s explain two things: 1) The Rebbe is find it a bit hard to describe his return, be about? there, 2) something the Rebbe experiences since he can’t say what R’ Rosenfeld: When there is a himself told us – the place itself is child in the class who is going to the holy, “holiness does not move from the Rebbe did and what the Rebbe its place.” This is the place where said. However, he can describe the

 #IRI #'1 +-1&' !& atmosphere there. So the melamed needs to guide him instilled in the children – that just being in the place is to tell everything he saw there. enough to increase their Chassidishkeit and hiskashrus If the mechanech prepares the child properly, there to the Rebbe. is a chance that the boy will absorb the sense that R’ Reinitz: Being in 770 helps us feel how the people today are behaving in 770 just as they did when Rebbe is with us. On a personal note, I went on a family the Rebbe was visible to all. This feeling is expressed in trip to Baltimore. I met someone who asked me, “How physical ways, just as awe of the Mikdash was expressed can you live in Crown Heights? Doesn’t it hurt to see it in physical ways. When the mechanech draws the child’s empty? I went there after 3 Tammuz only one time and attention to these things, upon his return, the child will can’t go there again. It’s too painful to be in 770 and talk about the feeling he sensed in 770 – that the Rebbe not see the Rebbe. It’s depressing.” is here, and even if I don’t see him, I feel that he is I said, “It’s just the opposite! When I go away from here. 770, I feel I missed a farbrengen, I feel that I am R’ Kaplan: As R’ Rosenfeld said, if a child always missing the Rebbe, that I left the Rebbe (as it were). needed guidance before a trip to the Rebbe, then today, When I’m in Crown Heights, it’s much easier, because a child needs this guidance more than ever. The when you see how they sing before every t’filla and at question is how we can prepare him so that he has the end of each t’filla, just as though they see the Rebbe, something to say upon his return. it gives you the feeling that the Rebbe is actually here.” In earlier years, this question did not arise because What can we have children do to deepen their there were new things happening every day, things the connection to the Rebbe? child could relate. If we R’ Rosenfeld: In take 5752 for example, yeshiva there are various special things with the campaigns and we Rebbe occurred every always emphasize that day – the t’fillos, the purpose is to give the farbrengens, sichos, Rebbe nachas, and that dollars, which took place by participating he is many times that year, connecting to the Rebbe the bracha on the by doing what the Rebbe Rebbe’s lulav and esrog wants. in his presence, etc. A Aside from that, I try child that experienced a to accustom the children Tishrei like that could to make good talk for hours about resolutions and to carry what he saw. them out, in order to Today though, it’s connect to the Rebbe. hard to find things for the child to talk about when he One of the best ways to get children to make good returns to school. That is why the child needs to be resolutions is by writing a pidyon nefesh to the Rebbe. guided to focus on the atmosphere in 770, namely an Before the children write the pidyon nefesh, their atmosphere of anticipation for the Rebbe to be revealed. teacher explains that in order to be worthy of receiving Even a young child can see how people stand in awe the Rebbe’s brachos, they need to make a “vessel” for near the Rebbe’s place, how people are living with the the bracha. feeling that any minute now the Rebbe will walk in. It is This vessel is made through positive resolutions. I this atmosphere that the child’s attention needs to be always try to emphasize to the children that a good drawn to, and during the farbrengen with his classmates resolution does not mean that from now on I will be a he should convey this to his friends. big masmid. That’s not practical and it won’t work. A R’ Gold: You know the saying: it is worth looking at good resolution means to take on something small, the eyes that looked into the eyes of the Rebbe. So too, something I can stick to. we can say that when a child goes to 770 and sees the When a child sticks to the resolution he made, each place where the Rebbe farbrenged for decades, the place time he does the thing he resolved to do he is reminded where the Rebbe davened for decades, and from where that he is doing it because he wrote a pidyon nefesh to he distributed kuntreisim and dollars, it will have a the Rebbe. This gives him the feeling that he is giving positive effect on him. That is why it is very worthwhile nachas to the Rebbe and is connecting to the Rebbe. In for children to go to 770. This approach needs to be this way, the child “lives” each day with the Rebbe and

#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB  Even a young child can see how people stand in awe near the Rebbe’s place, how people are living with the feeling that any minute now the Rebbe will walk in. It is this atmosphere that the child’s attention needs to be drawn to, and during the farbrengen with his classmates he should convey this to his friends. --Rabbi Nachum Kaplan with hiskashrus to the Rebbe. away. explains that if he gives in to his R’ Gold: As I mentioned before, For a child, his “life” is playing friend, he will be fulfilling mivtza children are influenced not by during recess. Every teacher knows Ahavas Yisrael, and the child gives lectures, but by personal example. how important recess is to a child. in, in order to give the Rebbe nachas So I always try to carry out the So the greatest present a child can – this is a big sacrifice for his Rebbe’s hora’os. When I enter my give the Rebbe is learning something hiskashrus to the Rebbe. classroom after davening, I want it special for the Rebbe during recess. Since the Rebbe told us to “live to be after I have already done the It is difficult to describe what a with Moshiach,” how do you get daily Chitas and HaYom Yom and sacrifice this is from a child, but the children to do this when years everything the Rebbe wants of me. there’s no question that when a are going by without the complete When the children see a melamed child dedicates his recess time to Redemption? who fulfills the Rebbe’s hora’os, it learning Mishnayos by heart to give R’ Rosenfeld: This question is makes a deep impression on them. nachas to the Rebbe, it creates a an old one. It says regarding Torah, R’ Kenig: Every day, after strong soul bond which is etched “every day they should be regarded davening, we say the Rebbe’s deep in his soul. as new in your eyes.” How can this kapitel. We said the Rebbe’s kapitel Every day I see how the children be? The only answer is, when you every day before 3 Tammuz too, but sit in class during recess and review operate with the infinite power of back then we did not emphasize that Mishnayos and I think there is no Atzmus, you can live with the feeling by saying it, we were connecting greater sacrifice than this, on the that every day it is new. more to the Rebbe. Today I part of children. This connection is The practical solutions for living emphasize this and speak about it not one-sided, of course, for I see with these subjects and not allowing from time to time. the Rebbe’s bracha in this mivtza. them to fade are: 1) intensive Just as with a picture of the R’ Kaplan: The law from the learning of inyanei Moshiach and Rebbe, the Rebbe writes that by Ministry of Education states that Geula at set times so the child is looking at it you can attain a sort of every school has to have a teacher deeply affected by the consistency of yechidus, so too, by properly on duty during recess to supervise the learning, 2) not to stop talking concentrating on the Rebbe’s the children as they play. There are to the children about Moshiach’s kapitel, your hiskashrus is improved. usually arguments that break out imminent coming and our having to R’ Reinitz: As far as the giving over all sorts of nonsense. prepare for this, 3) to explain that of tz’daka being a substitute for Sometimes it’s enough for a child to the Rebbe is Moshiach. fasting, it is explained in Chassidus touch the ball out of turn for a fight These topics should be discussed that since the money a person gives to occur. Who do they complain to? in the classroom. Just as with to tz’daka did not fall from heaven, To the teacher on duty, of course. anything that’s repeated that but he worked hard for it, therefore, This is a good opportunity to get ultimately sinks in, so too with when he gives this money to the child to sacrifice something for inyanei Moshiach and Geula, tz’daka, he is giving his very life the Rebbe. When the teacher ultimately they will penetrate deeply

 #IRI #'1 +-1&' !& within the child’s consciousness. watching videos, etc., enable the This is actually what the Rebbe Another thing, since Moshiach children to live in an atmosphere of stressed at the Kinus HaShluchim and Geula are integral parts of Moshiach. When a child sees how 5752 – that today, everything you Torah and mitzvos, we need to live the Rebbe encourages the singing of do, every good deed, every new with it as we do other mitzvos. “Yechi” or the singing of contest, is all to greet Moshiach. What do we do when we want to “Sh’Yibaneh Beis HaMikdash,” it Today, says the Rebbe, Moshiach is teach the children the importance of greatly inspires the children to live the gateway through which t’filla? Aside from talking about it, more with Moshiach and Geula. everything else goes, and this point we have various mivtzaim that In the Talmud Torah in Lud, we is a very important one to instill in revolve around t’filla. So too with have a contest every year to learn children. Moshiach and Geula – we need to Tanya and Mishnayos by heart. Just as with Mivtza T’fillin we have many mivtzaim on this topic. Since we teach the children that this know that today we do it with the The children can memorize ten is being done as part of an array of intention that it hastens the Geula, aphorisms about Geula and this activities to prepare ourselves and so too when we put on t’fillin definitely contributes a lot towards the world to greet Moshiach, with ourselves. We need to think how by the children “living” with Moshiach, every Mishna and chapter of Tanya doing this we are hastening the and as the Rebbe said, you can see that they learn, they feel that this is Geula. Likewise with everything the Moshiach in the children. hastening the Geula. This feeling children do, all their mitzvos – they R’ Kaplan: I think that if we spurs them on to learn even more need to feel that every one of their continue with the Rebbe’s inyanim and I can tell you that in my mitzvos is another step in the with the faith that nothing happened classroom several children learned direction of the goal, kabbalas p’nei on 3 Tammuz, you won’t see any the first twelve chapters of Tanya by Moshiach. weakening among the children. If, heart. It is we, the teachers, who have however, the children feel that R’ Kenig: When the teacher the obligation to instill this in the there’s a change in the teacher, connects everything to Moshiach, children. This feeling is not instilled there’s reason to fear a then the child learns that every good via one-time projects but in daily diminishment in the children’s deed opens the door to Moshiach, behavior that expresses this excitement in Geula. and every negative deed closes the message. If the teacher continues to door to Moshiach. For example, R’ Gold: Here too, I will take mention the Rebbe with the same every so often, before davening, I the same approach. If there is enthusiasm as before 3 Tammuz, talk to the children for a few emuna, emuna does not weaken. If there is no reason to think that the minutes about the significance of there is no emuna, there is nothing children will not also live with every good deed toward hastening to talk about. When you have the inyanei Moshiach and Geula. the Geula. This way, the concepts foundation of emuna, you don’t Aside from that, the rallies that about Moshiach and Geula become need to strengthen it. take place every so often in school, everyday talk for the children. I have never heard this question

For a child, his “life” is playing during recess. Every teacher knows how important recess is to a child. So the greatest present a child can give the Rebbe is learning something special for the Rebbe during recess. --Rabbi Moshe Reinitz

#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB  asked about belief in Hashem. How do we strengthen emuna in Hashem after thousands of years of emuna. The reason is because emuna is not man-made. Emuna is super-rational As the Rebbe once and therefore, it does not fall sway said: For the G-dly to the rule of nature which imposes a “law of aging” on everything that soul to want Moshiach endures X number of years. Obviously, we need projects that – that’s nothing new. instill a chayus in Moshiach not only in the G-dly soul but also in the The “chochma” is that animal soul of the children, so that their animal souls will want the animal soul should Moshiach. As the Rebbe once said: also want Moshiach. For the G-dly soul to want --Rabbi Aharon Gold Moshiach – that’s nothing new. The “chochma” is that the animal soul see the Rebbe nearly every before you do it that this is in order should also want Moshiach. day and that was enough for them. When I want to make the topic to hasten the hisgalus. So in order Today, because we don’t see the to get the children to live with come alive for the children, I am Rebbe, the children feel the need to very limited because what can you Moshiach all day, we connect do various things to bring the everything to the hisgalus of tell a three-year-old already. You Geula. can’t learn inyanei Moshiach with Moshiach. Naturally, when you are involved For example, when we learn them and what else is there? with something, you “live” with that This problem was solved with the Mishnayos by heart, the children thing. When you work on things to know that this mivtza hastens the production of the tape called, Ohr bring the Geula, you are living with B’ketzei HaMinhara (Light at the Geula. It spurs them on to learn the Geula. more and more, learning to give the End of the Tunnel). The truth is, I If you are still looking for ways was thrilled to see this because it’s Rebbe nachas and to hasten the to live with Moshiach, the Rebbe Geula. They live with Geula and just right for little children and it told us how to do it – by learning makes the prophecies about Yemos Moshiach all day. inyanei Moshiach and Geula. If we Every classroom has a tape HaMoshiach come alive for them. want to implement this, we need to I play this tape nearly every day recorder and during recess, as the be consistent with daily study so children sit and learn Mishnayos, and many of the children in the that the children get used to living school come over at recess to listen the tape plays niggunim of with Moshiach. Nicho’ach and niggunim from the to Life in Yemos HaMoshiach. They Another thing the Rebbe says in don’t find it boring, even if I play it Rebbe’s farbrengens. It makes for a one of the sichos of 5752 is that very Chassidishe environment in the every day. when you live with Moshiach, it R’ Reinitz: Until 3 Tammuz, the classroom. I think this should be leads you to the point that with implemented in every school. children did not feel that they lacked every thing you do, you emphasize Moshiach that much. They could [To be continued be”H]

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By Sholom Dovber Crombie

spiritual search, just a way to let He left a religious home, knowing good go of stress and a release from the and well what he was leaving behind. pressured life he led in Tel Aviv, nothing more than that. Upon his Like waves crashing on the shore, his return to Israel, he was appointed to a senior position in the soul repeatedly crashed on the rocks of Pelephone company. He intended on throwing himself into business Judaism until he found his way. without a thought to his spiritual life. I met Shimi Ben-Mocha for He felt a disdain for mitzvos, and Life could have gone on this the first time during the year of the Jewish way of life seemed way for a long time, but one day, K’vutza in Beis Chayeinu. His pointless to him. someone suggested he attend a appearance resembled those of the When he completed his “spirituality festival” in the south other T’mimim and nothing schooling, he was drafted. While of the country. Shimi enjoyed the betrayed his unusual past and the in the army, Shimi finished the festival and he decided to quit his long road he took until he sad process, removing his kippa job and move to live in a returned to his roots. A year later and abandoning Torah and commune that was set up at that I had the opportunity to hear his mitzvos. At that stage of his life, time in the Shittim desert. fascinating story, which consisted searching for meaning in life was In hindsight he realizes that of a long and winding route until not of interest to him. everything that took place at that he became a baal t’shuva. During the years that followed, commune was idol worship and Today, Shimi is a mashgiach in he finished his army service and devotion to the forces of impurity. the Chabad yeshiva in Ramat moved to Tel Aviv, where he Shimi became interested in Aviv. He guides beginners and worked in the fashion industry. meditation and spiritual helps them out as someone who Within a short time he entered Tel development that results from knows where they’ve been and Avivian life with his religious past asceticism. He also liked the fact truly understands them. completely obliterated. He found that these same people spoke a lot * * * himself becoming more and more about accepting people as they Shimi grew up in a religious a part of the night life and he are, as well as living within the community in Petach Tikva. He divided his life between bosom of nature. He was drawn attended the local religious school exhausting work that took up to this way of life. and his father worked as a sofer most of his time and empty After Shimi felt that he had and prepared boys for their bar entertainment. gotten whatever he could from the mitzva. While in school, he began He took a six-month trip to commune, he left and moved to a to feel estranged from Judaism. the Far East, but this was not a nature spot in the north. He

 #IRI #'1 +-1&' !& didn’t miss a single festival that which he saw himself touring in same place and then saw himself took place in Eretz Yisroel, and India when he suddenly passed in a small room with a large desk after a while he became one of the through a mall to a place where and empty chair. people who organized a series of he saw dozens of bearded men He woke up feeling upset with mysticism festivals. wearing hats and suits, who the people who smiled at him. The more Shimi got involved turned to him and smiled. When When he fell asleep once again, he in the world of festivals and the he woke up, he tried to think dreamt he was in that same empty various techniques of divestiture whether he had ever been in a room. Then he suddenly fled the from physicality, the more place like that before, but he room and found himself back in confused and purposeless he felt. concluded that he had never been the mall. The moment he returned After feeling this way for a long anywhere where he saw so many to the mall, his angry feeling time, he came to the conclusion chareidim. about the men ceased. that this too was not the path to He tried to go back to sleep It was only years later that happiness in life. He did not know with disturbing thoughts about Shimi discovered that the large where to turn. what his dream signified, but as place where he had seen all those One night he had a dream in he slept he dreamt he was in the men was 770 and that the little room was the Rebbe’s room, with the desk and chair that he saw in the dream the very same desk and chair that belong to the Rebbe! The next day, Shimi sat and wondered about the meaning of his strange dream as he heard someone on the television playing in the background reciting a verse of T’hillim. Suddenly, he burst into tears. He felt these weren’t ordinary tears but tears that came from a deep part of his soul, which despised a life lacking all purpose and was seeking genuine, inner peace. Since at this time in his life, Shimi was involved with Eastern religions, he understood his tears as coming from the inner point of a man removed from the physical world. These days, he knows to explain that it was his neshama crying out. At that moment, he felt that G-d was signaling to him and that he needed to make a courageous move and return to a life of Torah and mitzvos. On the one hand, he yearned for a real change that would bring him happiness in life. On the other hand, the fact that he had spent so many years running away from Judaism, made him not want to deal with any thoughts of t’shuva. At this point, Shimi decided to

#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB  travel the world. He bought a worship and spiritual paths. had eaten. one-way ticket and had no idea During the day, Shimi spent When he got up the next day, when he planned on returning. his time studying various spiritual he went to the beach and sat and One thought kept on running approaches, trying to slake the watched the waves breaking on through his mind and that was, if mighty thirst he felt upon leaving the shore. For the second time in after all the spiritual experiences Israel. Every evening, after such a short span of time he burst he had had in life he still felt returning to his room with a into tears. He sat near the water empty, where could he find the feeling of purposelessness, he and sobbed for quite a while, truth? An inner voice told him to would find comfort in a small without being able to stop the leave Israel in the hopes that in book of Chassidus that he had tears. He realized that his traveling the world he would find taken along with him. He read it neshama was crying out, “Save truth. after his daily meditation and felt me!” A few days later, Shimi was on at peace with it. When he calmed down, he a plane on his way to an At the end of the first month, began to think things through. He international nature festival in Shimi decided to leave the festival knew he was at the furthest point Europe. He put the dream out of and along with a group of about he could reach and now he could his mind as well as the experience thirty people, he went to the only head in one direction. The path was clear to him: truly approaching G-d and fulfilling Torah and mitzvos. As soon as When he got up the next day, he went to this thought passed through his the beach and sat and watched the mind, he was gripped by fear, for he did not see himself returning waves breaking on the shore. For the to the life he had as a child, but he knew there was nowhere else second time in such a short span of time to go. Whatever he would do would not help him run away he burst into tears. He sat near the from that strong desire to connect to Hashem. water and sobbed for quite a while, He remained on the French without being able to stop the tears. He shore for a few more days in order to further analyze where he realized that his neshama was crying was heading. Then he left for Italy, where he found work out, “Save me!” picking grapes on a farm. The physical labor enabled him to think, and he was provided with a he had the following day in which Mediterranean Sea on the coast of place to sleep. he heard the verse of T’hillim, and France. When he first started working, tried getting back to his usual The first evening, Shimi sat his employer told him he could routine. At the same time though, with his friends and saw that two choose one day a week as his day he knew that he would soon have types of meals had been prepared off. Shimi decided to take the to change his way of life, in which for them, one vegetarian and one opportunity and chose Shabbos. direction, he still did not know. of seafood. For some reason, he At least this way, he figured, he The first month of the nature chose the non-kosher seafood would not have to work on festival was uneventful. This is a meal, but this was followed by Shabbos. This was Shimi’s first festival that takes place in the deep pangs of conscience, even step in the direction of a religious Pyrenees Mountains between though he was not at all life. France and Spain. It is attended observant. Why had he chosen the A few days after he started by about 3000 people from all treif food when he could have working, as he was busy in the over the world. The festival taken the vegetarian one? He vineyard, it suddenly struck Shimi consists of programs and went to sleep with these thoughts that it was Erev Rosh HaShana. workshops about all forms of idol and felt terrible about the food he He continued thinking about Rosh

 #IRI #'1 +-1&' !& extraordinary day for Shimi. It was the first spiritual experience that uplifted him after having spent so much time on fruitless searching and repeated disappointments. He says that when the fast was over, he was looking forward to the next Yom Kippur! He was swept up in the singing and in the recitation of, “Avinu Malkeinu,” and in his heart he resolved to continue getting more involved in Judaism. “I was magnetically drawn to the deeper purpose of repentance,” he relates with a smile. However, a few days later, all those feelings were put aside and Shimi wanted to go back to India A conversation with a tourist during Shimi’s process of kiruv and attend an institute for mysticism. He hoped to do well HaShana with memories of t’filla. I sought a special feeling. I and that in a short time he would holidays at home coming to mind wanted the spiritual experience to be able to become a guru for that and pressing on his heart. sweep me away, but it didn’t form of worship. He found a He felt that he did not want to happen. school that met his needs located work on Rosh HaShana, yet he “After the davening I began in Carla, in southern India. In his did not want to stop working looking for a Chabad house, confused mind he pushed aside when he had made a commitment knowing that I would find some the need and desire to learn more to his employer. When Shimi spiritual sustenance there. I was about Judaism as he tried a recounts this part of his story he disappointed when I saw a notice different path. describes it like this: “I kept going on the Chabad house door which In the meantime, he went to back and forth. I felt an inner said it was closed for the High Milan, the capitol of Italy, where voice calling me to leave the Holidays since the shliach had he looked for a place to celebrate harvest and not desecrate the holy gone to organize t’fillos in the Sukkos. The thought he had as he day, but I pushed this thought Jewish community of Bologna. I entered the city was, “Where is away and tried to focus on my went back to the farm.” the Chabad house?” Just at that work. Another week went by and the moment he heard someone talking “Then I heard the boss stop following Shabbos, Shimi decided on a cell phone in Ivrit. He waited the work and announce that we to visit the famous museums in until the person finished his would not be working for the next Firenze. When he found out that conversation and then asked him three days because the storage the cost was more than he could about a Chabad house. bins were full to capacity! I knew afford, he decided to try the shul It turned out that the man was this was not a regular occurrence he visited on Rosh HaShana familiar with all the Chabad on a professional farm and that it again. At the shul he met the houses in the city and he gave was nothing but the hand of G-d shliach of the Chabad house. The Shimi the addresses. When he that enabled me not to desecrate shliach invited him to his home looked at a map, he saw that one the holiday. for a delightful Shabbos meal. of the addresses he had been “The next morning I happily There he also met Rabbi Yaakov given was right near the place boarded the train for the city of Har-Tzvi, who invited him to join where he was staying. However, Firenze in the hopes of finding a him on Yom Kippur in the Jewish when he went there, he saw no shul. I found a little shul and after community of Bologna. Shimi sign of a Chabad house or shul. years of not attending a shul, I happily agreed. He walked around for a few took a machzor and joined the That Yom Kippur was an

#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB  minutes, checking out every corner and sign, but he noticed After years of learning that in order to nothing Jewish. He finally left, disappointed that he wouldn’t be achieve spirituality you need to be celebrating the holiday with Chabad. completely removed from the material When he finished arranging his world and bond with nature, Shimi was lodgings in the city, he returned to the street where he had been suddenly hearing that the central idea looking for the Chabad house and noticed a door that opened, out of of Chassidus is the joining together of which emerged someone who looked like a Chassid. the material and the spiritual. He found out that this location was where the talmidim-shluchim materiality and spirituality. The hearing that the central idea of studied for their ordination and Rebbe explained at length how we Chassidus is the joining together that it wasn’t a place that had can take the physicality of the of the material and the spiritual. t’fillos and holiday meals. The world and elevate it to holiness, The Rebbe’s teachings were a shliach invited him to his home so that it becomes refined and bombshell for Shimi. This for Sukkos. incorporated into the spiritual. explanation made a deep The shliach’s son suggested After years of learning that in impression on him. “I closed the that they learn a sicha about the order to achieve spirituality you book and said to the shliach’s meaning of Sukkos. For the first need to be completely removed son, ‘I want to be a Chabadnik.’” time, Shimi encountered a deeper from the material world and bond [To be continued be”H] aspect of Judaism that combined with nature, Shimi was suddenly

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 #IRI #'1 +-1&' !& JLPEF>@E DDBRI> AFTER 3 TAMMUZ: THE REBBE IS STILL MOSHIACH

By Rabbi Sholom Dovber HaLevi Wolpo Translated By Michoel Leib Dobry In response to requests by our readers, we now present the third in a series of excerpts from “V’Torah Yevakshu MiPihu,” Rabbi Sholom Dovber HaLevi Wolpo’s seifer on the Rebbe’s teachings regarding Chabad chassidus, its approach to emuna, and its various customs.

4. THE REBBE TAUGHT US THAT THERE the Rebbe, will come clothed in a the Rebbe has delved so deeply and IS NO CONTRADICTION BETWEEN body and he will take us out of taught all matters of Jewish faith in a GIMMEL TAMMUZ AND HIS HISGALUS exile” (Shavuos 5710 – Toras manner so compatible with halacha, AS MELECH HA’MOSHIACH Menachem, Vol. 1, pg. 100). “And philosophy, kabbala, and chassidus, as we have seen in the hundreds of As mentioned above, the Rebbe we will merit to see and be together volumes of maamarim and sichos he himself, in a manner of “maaseh with the Rebbe, down here in a delivered before thousands of rav,” also taught us the basis for the physical body and within our reach, people, and the personal letters he belief that the Rebbe is Melech and he will redeem us” (conclusion sent in reply to people from all over HaMoshiach – even after Gimmel of maamer “Basi L’Gani,” Yud Shvat the world. Tammuz 5754. After he assumed the 5711). The Rebbe discussed this While the Rebbe said all this in mantle of leadership, the Rebbe faith in dozens of sichos and letters reference to his father-in-law, the spoke often and with much fervor over a period of more than forty Rebbe Rayatz, nishmaso Eden, about how the Rebbe Rayatz is years. nevertheless, he had already Melech HaMoshiach and that the Therefore, since the Rebbe made explained on numerous occasions events of Yud Shvat 5710 are no such statements, it is clear that it is that Melech HaMoshiach is the contradiction to this fact. In the precisely in accordance with the actual nasi of the last generation, customary golden language of the revealed and esoteric teachings of and according to the Rambam, Rebbe: “My revered father-in-law, the Torah of truth. For no one like

#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB  Moshiach is the one who works to bring the Jewish People of that Just as the Rebbe spoke about his generation closer to Torah and father-in-law being Melech Mitzvos and fight the wars of G-d. Thus, he explained in Likkutei HaMoshiach after 5710 and was not Sichos (Vol. 35, pg. 206, note 6) that Dovid HaMelech cannot rise affected by what happened on Yud and become the actual Moshiach, because he was not part of the final Shvat, similarly he taught us to believe generation before the Redemption, though his soul is clothed in Melech today that the faith that he is Melech HaMoshiach, who is the leader of HaMoshiach remains in force, despite the generation prior to the Redemption. the hiding and concealment of Gimmel Therefore, just as the Rebbe spoke about his father-in-law being Tammuz. Melech HaMoshiach after 5710 and was not affected by what happened are so close to each other that no air (Sichos Kodesh 5752, pg. 318) how on Yud Shvat, similarly he taught us comes between them,” as also these concepts are unified: “The to believe today that the faith that he expressed in the many hours the True and Complete Redemption is Melech HaMoshiach remains in Rebbe spent in prayer at the must come immediately through force, despite the hiding and gravesite of his father-in-law, of Moshiach Tzidkeinu, the shliach of concealment of Gimmel Tammuz. blessed memory, as is known. (See ‘Send, I pray, through the one The truth is that these two tenets the marvelous sicha of Shabbos whom You will send,’ my revered of faith emerge as one, since it is Parshas Chayei Sara 5752 (Seifer father-in-law, the Rebbe, leader of known that regarding his father-in- Sichos 5752, pg. 111), where the the generation, and thereby the law, the Rebbe Rayatz, the Rebbe Rebbe states how the revelation of continuation of his successor who did not say “nishmaso Eden” (his Moshiach is through the renewal will follow.” – Thus, the Rebbe soul in Eden), but “nishmaso bi” that occurs within the soul of the shlita says explicitly that he is (his soul is within me). Everyone Rebbe Rayatz.) Melech HaMoshiach, being the saw their wondrous state of unity See also in the same sicha successor to the Rebbe Rayatz. and the tremendous bond of, “They

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By Rabbi Yaakov Shmuelevitz, Shliach, Beit Shaan

decided there was something to This is a question that every shliach learn from the shliach and his wife. deals with, but it relates to all They continued coming, learning, and doing and raised a Chassidishe Chassidim as well. family of children and grandchildren of Chassidim and rabbanim who spread Judaism all over the country. There’s a story about a shliach asked for mezuzos. As a result of the R’ Reuven Dunin’s home in who lives for decades at a northern meeting the man and the shliach Chaifa was similar. It was simple yishuv and faithfully works on being arranged to learn together. Once a and had many guests, admirers and mekarev Jews to Torah and week the man went to the shliach’s baalei t’shuva. Chassidus. Dozens, maybe house, they cleared a place at the Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Segal of hundreds, of baalei t’shuva are table, and they learned. Migdal HaEmek relates: One Lag grateful to him and his wife for Then the man called up and said B’Omer there was a wedding in R’ everything they have, as well as their that his wife wanted to come along: Reuven’s home. Yes, you read that Jewish and Chassidic way of life, and “She also wants to learn and get to correctly: a wedding in R’ Reuven’s that of their children and even their know the shliach and shlucha.” home. Many bachurim came from grandchildren. For obvious reasons, the shliach Migdal HaEmek to rejoice with the This shliach lives simply, like the and his wife decided to host their groom. Jews in the legends of the Baal Shem guests outdoors. The guests sat After the wedding, R’ Dunin said Tov. He has a small house on the down, cups were poured, and the there was room for the bachurim to edge of the yishuv. The entire house guest asked, “Why don’t we go sleep. They spread blankets all over is full of boxes with material about inside and sit down there?” the house and there was room for the Rebbe, sichos, pamphlets, The shliach answered, “See how all. R’ Segal happened to go outside Chassidishe magazines, food for the nice it is outside…” in the middle of the night to take a needy, menoros, mishlochei manos, Ten minutes later, the guest breath of fresh air and that’s when machzorim for Rosh HaShana, asked that they go inside, and once he saw R’ Reuven sleeping outside mashke, and what not… again the shliach said it was nice on a bench. R’ Dunin was sure If you enter the house and you outside. The third time, the shliach nobody would know because he manage to find a way between all admitted that it was crowded inside went to sleep last and got up first, this stuff, the shliach and his wife and not very tidy. but the secret was out. will immediately offer you a cup of “That’s just what I wanted my When there is room in the heart, tea. They’ll even clear a little space wife to see!” said the guest. there is room in the home, and R’ for you at the table by moving some What happened here? The guest Dunin had plenty of room in his booklets and magazines. was impressed by the simplicity, by heart. One day, someone showed up to the humble home, and told his wife buy mezuzos. The shliach began to about it. She wanted to see it for chat with him about this and that. It herself. MAYBE A FANCY turned out that the man had a high Some say that it was specifically HOME IS BETTER? position in the Israeli legal system. because these guests were impressed Then there are those who He wasn’t that religious, but his wife by the modest home that they maintain that a shliach’s house

#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB  needs to be spacious, tidy, and a house, a car and clothes? gashmius, as soon as “the head is in attractive so that every guest feels We see both approaches with the galoshes,” it is a sign that he needs comfortable and it’s not crowded Rebbe. On the one hand, the Rebbe to stop and move back to the even if many guests come. always gave a bracha of harchava “middle of the road.” Rabbi Yigal Tzipori, a shliach in (expansiveness) and blessed, “raise Obviously, there isn’t one answer Kiryat Shmoneh, built his house in the children amidst harchava.” On for all shluchim. It depends on what the new neighborhood. He did his the other hand, there are letters from city and country we’re talking about, best so that the house suits his the Rebbe about not wasting money the size of the city, the financial family’s needs, as well as that of the on material things. state, etc., but the main thing is that many guests and esteemed Whoever visited the Rebbe’s the shliach needs to be sure that personages who visit him to house on President Street (I was everything he puts into his home is coordinate activities with the Chabad there a few times in 5748, during truly to give honor to the Rebbe and House in the northern city that often the year of mourning for Rebbetzin to shlichus. finds itself on the front lines. Chaya Mushka a”h), couldn’t believe This applies to the shliach’s “Ministers, senior army how simply the Rebbe and Rebbetzin home and not to the Chabad house, personnel, representatives from the lived. There was a very old where it is permissible (and a Joint, and donors from all over the refrigerator and oven, and an old mitzva) to make it as beautiful as world come here. There is no reason wooden floor. possible. But there too, there needs for them to see us reading books by Yet, along with the simplicity, to be a red line. You don’t want candlelight. Baruch Hashem, we there was a feeling of being in a donors to shake their heads and say, have a large, nice home and it makes perfect home, order and cleanliness, “Look what he does with our people want to come again and see a fresh air, everything just right. donations…” I will conclude with a Chassidishe story that I once heard. As long as you feel that things of this One day, the Tzemach Tzedek came out of his room to the Chassidim world don’t attract you, and you use and asked, “Tell me, what is a Jewish material things for the sake of Heaven, standard of living that is not called superfluous luxury?” then it’s a good thing. (Apparently, the Rebbe saw there was a Heavenly accusation about Jews who didn’t suffice with a little shliach of the Rebbe who lives Nothing was lacking and nothing broken-down, one-room hut on the comfortably with a huge picture of was extraneous. edge of town, and built themselves the Rebbe gracing the living room The answer can perhaps be homes.) when you enter the house.” found in the Rebbe’s sichos about There was a wise Chassid there Another shliach, Rabbi Shlomo vows at the beginning of Parshas who said, “A moyer (lit., a wall, i.e., Cunin, asked the Rebbe thirty years Mattos (Likkutei Sichos vol. 4), a solidly constructed house) and ago about a house, shortly after about whether it is desirable to make 50,000 rubles in the bank. (A moyer arriving in California. He had the vows and refrain from the pleasures was considered luxurious at that opportunity to buy a large, luxurious of this world, “vows are a fence for time and the Chassid said that even house. The Rebbe answered: What abstinence.” Or, perhaps it is better such a house plus money in the bank will donors say when a young man to use all that is permissible, “it is were still basic needs, not luxuries.) arrives in town and is already able to enough what the Torah forbade The Tzemach Tzedek was happy buy a million dollar home? you.” with this answer and returned to his The Rebbe answers, as long as room. SO WHO IS RIGHT? you feel that things of this world I wish all the Jewish people don’t attract you, and you use tremendous spiritual and material You hear the two sides and don’t material things for the sake of wealth and that we use it properly know who is right. Sometimes this Heaven, then it’s a good thing. and in good health, and that we topic is discussed among shluchim Back to our topic, if the shliach prepare the house to greet Moshiach or shluchos, sometimes between a beautifies his home for the comfort Tzidkeinu who will visit every Jewish shliach and his wife, and sometimes and needs of his guests, terrific. But home, may it be now! a person asks himself, what’s the the moment he feels drawn into limit? How much should be put into

 #IRI #'1 +-1&' !& @EFKR@E OHR CHANA: A FRUM VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

While vocational schools are not While vocational schools are not a new a new concept, a frum vocational school in Crown Heights is! For the concept, a frum vocational school in first time, girls will be able to choose a school that combines high Crown Heights is! For the first time, academic standards with the ability girls will be able to choose a school that to learn a profession. If your daughter is: combines high academic standards with *An average student who tries her hardest, but no amount of studying the ability to learn a profession. helps her “make the grade.” The school she attends stresses high on Doing well in school, being students’ academic success. academic achievement and as a socially comfortable, feeling good Vocational schools have gained result her self esteem is low. about the image they portray to popularity for exactly this reason. *Feeling overshadowed by her others and having a warm and stable The students receive a solid, well- younger sister. She is constantly home environment, are just some of rounded education with the addition comparing her to her smart and the ingredients that go into creating of being taught a profession. The talented sister. She’s delighted at the a positive self-image in teenage girls. students get to excel in something opportunity to go to a different When one of these factors is missing they enjoy and are good at. Success school. or compromised, the girl’s self image generates success, and the students *A student who finds the learning will be eroded. have renewed energy to apply uninspiring. Though she remains Ohr Chana plays a major factor themselves to their academic studies. committed to Yiddishkait, she lacks in molding their students’ The end result is a student who enthusiasm. She desperately needs to personality and self-confidence, for a graduates with the knowledge that fill the void of emptiness inside her. teenager spends her most formative she has life skills she can use to *A bright and motivated student, years in school. become financially independent after but now spends her days in school Although education is of primary graduation. Even more, she will have dreaming instead of learning, importance, the student must be the life skills necessary to be a because of domestic or inner strife. receptive to receive the information successful Jewish woman in the frum *Desperate to win the approval of being taught. A happy, confident world. These include the abilities to her peers, but can’t afford to buy her person is a more receptive person. run an efficient home, and to multi- the clothes and accessories she feels Therefore, a program which goes task the many responsibilities of she needs in order to fit in, she begins beyond academics, and which taking care of children, and working. to slowly slide in her observance of fosters self-confidence in the The student graduates confident in Yiddishkait and tznius. student, will ultimately benefit the her abilities to face the world. *Her relationship with her parents begins to deteriorate, as the y find it

#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB  and inculcate the students with a “The objective of Chinuch al Taharas HaKodesh, especially now, is strong love for Yiddishkait. The not merely to accumulate knowledge, but rather and especially as a emphasis will not merely be in preparation for life on the foundation of Torah and mitzvos. And as we acquiring information. The goal is see b’muchash, it affects and has a bearing not only on the students for the students to learn in order to themselves but on their present homes and even how much more so the practice. homes the y will build when the y get married. And any weakness in any The staff will work with each girl in any area is a weakness in the general structure of traditional Judaism. and help her evaluate how she learns ….There must be a second school that will be a haven for those most effectively. In addition, strong students that belong to Chabad mosdos, but are not up to par with the emphasis will be placed on seminary for teachers, for surely there will be suck.. developing strong organizational and We can assume that a certain percent of this” vocational” school will study skills. eventually “become part” in a way that they become up to par with the In place of the regular secular demands of the regular seminar……. high school curriculum, there will be ….And it’s understandable that all above can be publicized in my a variety of courses offered in name cosmetology, hair, culinary arts, (Igros Kodesh Vol. 20, pg. 260) party planning, sewing/tailoring, and computer skills. In addition to leaving school with life skills, the difficult to give her the warmth she holistic approach; a total learning girls will graduate with a marketable craves, when she’s disappointing environment which fosters academic skill. them is such a deep way… achievement, socialization, and A school where every girl gets She needs a alternate school, emotional growth. to shine. Where everybody becomes where the administrations strives to Ohr Chana will do just that. In a somebody. understands what each girl needs the morning, a dedicated staff of For more information call: 718- and do their utmost to provide those Limudei Kodesh teachers will be 735-0030, 347-200-0632 or visit us needs. A school which adopts a providing an intensive education, as www. ohrchana.com

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CCIITTYY OOFF RREEFFUUGGEE

By Faige

Thursday, 17 Tamuz 5766 A woman from Tzfas shares her diary Late morning. The little ones of one summer ago, describing the finally left for Talmud Torah and day camps. The diligent older ones beginning of the second Lebanon rushed to work as counselors and babysitters. Two of my children war. pamper themselves by sleeping in late and I can quietly organize the

 #IRI #'1 +-1&' !& house and try to daven a little. There to me, “Ima, yesterday, when we “And anyway, what’s all the hysteria is no hint as to what will happen a were at the bat-mitzva in Miron, about? We don’t need to panic. You few hours from now. some katyushas fell on the nearby sound like you’re exaggerating. It’s I managed to shop briefly at the mountain. It was very scary! The not that urgent. In any case, I’m in grocery store, buying mezonos and ground shook!” favor of everyone taking care of drinks for after the fast, and also for Wow! That sounded more serious clearing out their own stuff. Right the weekly shiur that my husband and close to home. Maybe now, we are all fasting and tired and will give tonight at a nearby kibbutz. something was going on? “It’s nobody has extra strength for this.” Everything seemed as usual, yet probably connected with the two To tell you the truth, I thought, another “routine” fast day. soldiers who were kidnapped it’s time to organize our stuff down Can it be? We’ve gotten used to yesterday,” said the older one who there. The shelter is full with a floor- calling exile routine?! Just one year had also just gotten up. For some to-ceiling mess. Whenever anybody ago we tried with all our might to reason, we didn’t panic. Tzfas is not needed something, he had to clear a stop the so-called Disengagement. Kiryat Shmoneh after all. path between the towers of stuff and We believed with all our hearts that Afternoon. then extricate what he wanted from it wouldn’t happen and very soon we The neighbor, who is a preschool where it was buried. would see the victory of the forces of teacher, came home earlier than It looked something like this: on holiness in the world. Unfortunately, usual. She was officially told by the top of sukka boards lay the suitcases it didn’t happen. municipality to prepare for a spell in from those who returned in Tishrei. Although there are glimpses of the bomb shelters. It is a time to be Then there were baby carriages of light, signs of people awakening, close to home and look after the those who didn’t give birth in the wising up, my heart goes out to my children. “We need to prepare for past two years. (They were stored brothers, the expellees of Gush the worst and stock up on food and away in anticipation of the next Katif, who are living in “temporary” water,” she said excitedly to all. “We baby, but in the meantime, they quarters after being moser nefesh to have to clear out the shelter. We’ll collected dust and were beat-up or live under a barrage of missiles in make a meeting of the tenants… I broken.) order to protect us. I didn’t dream spoke with A who said that for a Scattered about were dismantled that soon we, and all of the north, nominal fee her sons will do the playpens, glass bottles for recycling, would get a sampling of what they work.” and boxes of material for Chanuka lived like for years. “Excuse me?! I have (almost) mivtzaim (the candles come in An announcement over a nothing in the shelter!” I exclaimed. handy in an emergency), as well as loudspeaker from across the nearby wadi broke into my thoughts, “Enter the pit! Everyone go down into the pits.” I didn’t understand and didn’t make any connections. “Looks like there’s some army exercise taking place over there,” I figured. I thought I heard a booming sound, but far away and muted. Maybe work was being done on the main highway? But then the phone calls started: Did you hear? A katyusha landed near Ivikur (on the edge of the city) in an open area, nobody was injured. No, I didn’t hear, and there’s nothing to worry about, I said. Tzfas is safe. It doesn’t look like anything else is going on. Maybe it was a mistake and just rumors. But my twelve-year-old, who had gotten up in the meantime, reported The children of Kiryat Chabad in Tzfas in bomb shelters

#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB  Megillos Esther to color, and do-it- kitchen downstairs and we were not T’hillim and p’sukim together with yourself projects, and cartons (that planning on holing up there for two all their heart. were once kosher for Pesach) to weeks. It was enough to take some The meal we ate after the fast pack three shmura matzos. cookies and drinks. But I didn’t was comprised of food the neighbors In the corners are signs from Lag manage to set her mind at ease and I brought down in their rush. The B’Omer parades that are not in great preferred not to argue. main feeding was the pre-end-of-fast shape and in the back, is one I remembered a public service meal for the children and those who “civilized” area, a locked room short film from my youth that were frightened and it consisted which is “u’faratzta headquarters.” showed a model shelter with the vital mostly of water and the ice cream I It has electricity since it is connected equipment you needed for a stay in managed to smuggle out of the through the neighbor, a shliach’s one. Our shelter looked as it did freezer between my daughter’s apartment. Thanks to him, later on thirty years ago, but in the screams, “We must go down to the we had light when we were forced to meantime, junk had collected as well shelter now!” and the niggling stay in the shelter. On top of as dust and dirt. thought that we had to have treats everything, broken chairs are strewn In the other room, the children for the kids when they finished the about as well as bicycles waiting for sat in front of the computer and “Kinus Hakhel” and discovered they repairs and other UFO’s whose were watching a new video CD (that were not going back home. identity is known only to a select a neighbor brought), when the house Indeed, the ice cream turned out few. suddenly shook from a nearby to be a good treatment for fluttering In short, my young neighbor is explosion. hearts, and not just those of the right, but the job is unrealistic. “A bomb!” Some more bombs children; neighbors also distributed “Don’t be naïve,” I said. “Fine, keep (which we later learned to call a treats and there was an atmosphere my little ones occupied in your “metach” (a salvo)) and then the of “brothers sitting all together.” apartment and I’ll try to organize power went out, along with the voice Towards evening. something,” she half asked and half of a singer who was in the middle of We figured the danger had stated. singing, “If not now – when.” We all passed and hoped no more salvos Parenthetically, one of the ran to the window to see what were in store for us. Little did we neighbors who was abroad, called happened (we didn’t know that know… his wife that night. “Don’t worry, doing this was dangerous) and saw We were getting ready for the we’re all together in the bomb smoke. We smelled an acrid smell end of the fast (those who were still shelter with all the neighbors,” she rising from the nearby wadi and fasting in that heat). Most of the told him. from the direction of Givat men left for Mincha-Maariv in shul. “Can’t be! The shelter is packed Shoshana. Then, a mighty boom shook the with stuff. I don’t believe you!” he There was a panicked dash down building down to its foundation. The exclaimed. “I know just what was the stairs. Within five minutes all the electricity went out and a group of piled up in there before I left!” men in the building had gathered old people, women, and children His wife replied, “That’s also one and managed to clear away a space were in the dark as people cried and of the miracles of this war!” so that we could stand crowded screamed. You even heard cries of While I tried to calm everybody, together. Then they worked for Shma Yisroel. It seemed the building my 14-year-old daughter began several hours until nearly the entire was going to fall down, G-d forbid. preparing for war and for a rough, cement floor was visible, Someone lit a candle, someone protracted stay in the shelter. I which they even washed with else turned on a flashlight, and noticed her out of the corner of my something fragrant. people calmed down. Someone eye, packing the contents of the When the next salvo came, we hummed a quiet niggun and others pantry into bags: canned goods, already had mattresses, blankets, joined in. “A little bit of light pushes bottles of water, all the bread in the chairs and ten families (some of away lots of darkness!” house, all the cookies and borakas I them with many babies) crowded It was Yemos HaMoshiach with had bought for after the fast, and together, crying, laughing, praying, old and young, religious and not- whatever else she could find. (When and silent – all together. We were yet-religious, new immigrants and she wasn’t looking, I removed some frightened by what was going on and old-timers, from different things.) by the unknown, but confident in backgrounds and viewpoints, all I tried explaining to her that we impending salvation in the merit of together and concerned about one were not going to open a public the children who were saying another, happy to help; supporting

 #IRI #'1 +-1&' !& one another with faith in the Creator (with the yellow flag on top) and all upstairs to the house, we were happy of the world, “only He can help,” of Tzfas. to answer the (nonstop) phone calls and anticipating the Geula. We were reminded of what the from relatives and friends who This was actually the point of Rebbe said during the Gulf War, that wanted to know how we were doing. light that we felt throughout the war Eretz Yisroel is the safest place in “Yes, we are alive and well, thank – the arousal of the pintele Yid, the the world and we were sure that we G-d. Tzfas is still on the map,” is strengthening of pure faith and would see miracles now too. “In what I said to my sister from the genuine Ahavas Yisroel that was every generation they rise up against center of the country, who was expressed in an abundance of giving. us to destroy us, and Hashem saves fearful for us. At a certain point, the electricity us from their hands.” It’s the same “Everything is fine?” asked my was restored and the men returned script with slight differences. Back brother from abroad. “We saw on from shul and reported excitedly then, I was a mother of four with the Internet … news that didn’t look about the miracles and about the two gas masks for the children and good … Rabbi Kaplan … What? missiles that flew overhead and two plastic, collapsible tents for the Your husband spoke with him at didn’t hurt anyone. six-month-old twin girls, as well as a mincha? In the picture of his car, it The “men” (13 and up) spent sealed room that was supposed to looks awful…” most of their time outside but near protect us from chemical attack. Afterwards, we heard of the the shelter. This was for several Baruch Hashem the Rebbe double miracle that happened to reasons: 1) they could smoke calmed us down and said we would Rabbi Kaplan. In the afternoon, his (unfortunately) and listen to the not need all this equipment and the family was saved from a missile that radio, 2) they had a view of what sheets of plastic. exploded in the yard of his house was going on outside and could see Now, I am a mother of nine and while they were in it. In the evening, the smoke from an explosion and I know that it isn’t the primitive as he drove to the municipality to could run and get a live report or shelter or the Lack of Defense report the damage, a missile landed pieces of shrapnel, 3) their parents Ministry that will protect us, but the near his car. The glass broke and were unable to control them inside good deeds and prayers of the shards flew about but he came out of and so they expended energy Jewish people, uniting within the it miraculously and well! outdoors, climbing on bars and cement walls of their shelters. (By That is just one miracle out of a mainly slamming the old door of the the way, Tzfas is the one of the slew of miracles that we shelter to the sound of “boom,” Biblical cities of refuge.) experienced. which made those in the shelters During the breaks and dashes jump, time after time (if they managed to calm down in between). In the shelter, the children discovered interesting mivtzaim material which kept them occupied. It was calming in that chaos to be surrounded by brochures, Moshiach flags and various sized pictures of the Rebbe. There were also gift boxes for an apple, honey, and a card wishing a good new year, on a layer of packing straw which scattered and stuck to us. To sum it up, we are all the Rebbe’s children, active on the king’s shlichus in kibbutzim and moshavim, near and far, surrounded by proof that we try to do all we can to hasten the Geula. Certainly, we are in a very secure shelter and Hashem is watching over us and taking care of the entire building A home damaged by missile attack in Tzfas

#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB