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723b_Beis Moshiach 21/12/2009 3:37 AM Page 3 contents INSPIRING CHANGE 4 D’var Malchus SHLUCHOS ON THE FRONT LINES IN 6 INDIA Shlichus | C. Yankelowitz WINNING OVER THE OPPOSITION 12 Thought | Rabbi Zvi Homnick CHASSIDISHE CHINUCH IN SOVIET 16 RUSSIA [CONT.] Memoirs of Rabbi Hillel Zaltzman | Avrohom Rainitz YOU NEVER KNOW 22 Shlichus | Rabbi Yaakov Shmuelevitz USA 744 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409 Tel: (718) 778-8000 Fax: (718) 778-0800 MOSHIACH: WHAT WE BELIEVE [CONT.] [email protected] 26 Moshiach & Geula | Rabbi Gershon Avtzon www.beismoshiach.org EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: M.M. Hendel ENGLISH EDITOR: THE REBBE’S MAN IN AMERICA Boruch Merkur Memoirs | Rabbi Shneur Zalman Chanin HEBREW EDITOR: 28 Rabbi Sholom Yaakov Chazan [email protected] NETANYAHU IS MORE DANGEROUS 34 Beis Moshiach (USPS 012-542) ISSN 1082- THAN OLMERT AND RABIN! 0272 is published weekly, except Jewish Shleimus HaAretz | Shai Gefen holidays (only once in April and October) for $160.00 in Crown Heights, Brooklyn and in all other places for $180.00 per year (45 DISILLUSIONMENT issues), by Beis Moshiach, 744 Eastern 36 Shleimus HaAretz | Sholom Ber Crombie Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409. Periodicals postage paid at Brooklyn, NY and additional offices. Postmaster: send address changes to Beis Moshiach 744 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409. Copyright 2009 by Beis Moshiach, Inc. Beis Moshiach is not responsible for the content of the advertisements. 723b_Beis Moshiach 21/12/2009 3:37 AM Page 4 d’var malchus FROM INSIDE OUT The spiral touched off by INSPIRING Yehudah’s approaching Yosef had ramifications on a larger scale. [11] The Zohar [12] understands their union as symbolic of the physical world drawing close to the spiritual CHANGE world. To explain: A similar motif applies with regard to the world at large. Sichos In English In essence, the world is at one with G-d. KINETIC will lead to another in a self- This is the meaning of the phrase In his Siddur, the Alter Rebbe reinforcing pattern that will motivate “G-d is one” in the Shema [13] - not writes: [1] a person to actually do things in merely that there is one G-d, but that “It is proper to say before prayer: expression of his love for his all existence is at one with Him. [14] `I hereby accept upon myself the fellowmen and stir his fellowmen to Nevertheless, the oneness that fulfillment of the positive reciprocate in kind. pervades creation is not openly commandment, [2] `Love your By making a statement of revealed. fellowman as yourself’.’” purpose, we open up a channel to On the contrary, the world Showing love for one’s fellowman express our inner feelings of love [5] appears to exist for itself, a collection prepares a person to intensify his with the intent that they will continue of separate, discrete entities. relationship with G-d, the heart of to flow, becoming manifest in Expressing the inner oneness that our service of prayer. productive activity on behalf of exists between people serves as a For a genuine and unrestrained others. catalyst to establish oneness in the commitment to all people requires world at large, allowing the material true selflessness, [3] and this is the BONDING POWER world to serve as a medium for the expression of spiritual truth. approach which should characterize The expression of a similar This pattern was reflected in the our relationship with G-d. paradigm apply with regard to this conduct of Yaakov and his sons in Why, however, is a verbal week’s Torah reading, Vayigash. Egypt. declaration required? Vayigash means: “And he Although settling in Egypt Why isn’t the emphasis placed on approached;” Yehudah approached involved a descent into exile and contemplating the concept, rather Yosef. [6] Egypt was a morally depraved land, than making a statement? But Yehudah’s approach was [15] Yaakov and his sons established In resolution, it can be explained intended to establish more than a model of spiritually oriented that on an essential level, oneness physical closeness. Rashi explains [7] existence. [16] exists among our entire people. that Yehudah told Yosef: “May my Pharaoh granted them the finest “They are all complementary, and words enter your ears,” i.e., he portion of the land of Egypt, [17] not they share one Father. Because of this desired to initiate communication withholding any resources from common root in the One G-d, all between them. them, promising “the best of Egypt Israel are called `brothers’ in the full And Yehudah’s deed had will be yours.” [18] sense of the word.” [3] tremendous repercussions. [8] Yaakov and his sons made All too often, however, that As the narrative continues, “Yosef maximum use of this opportunity. oneness remains on the level of could no longer restrain himself.” [9] Indeed, our Rabbis explain [19] potential and is not manifest in a After years of separation, the that these were the best years of person’s relations with his fellowmen. brothers embraced, kissed each Yaakov’s life. By making a statement, a person other, and spoke freely. [10] Throughout his life, he activates this potential, and brings it Yaakov’s sons returned to him endeavored to express spiritual values into expression within the context of with the message that Yosef is alive within the day-to-day realities of our material world. [4] and Yaakov descended to Egypt to ordinary living. The importance of this statement join him, establishing oneness and And in Egypt, he was given the exceeds by far its few measured unity between all Jews. words. potential to bring this ideal to For the objective is that one deed consummate fruition. 723b_Beis Moshiach 21/12/2009 3:37 AM Page 5 Although Yaakov realized the full HaKavanos). Nevertheless, attention is drawn to the UNCOVERING IDENTITY Alter Rebbe’s inclusion of it in his Siddur because The relevance of the above potential of what he could achieve in this indicates its universal relevance, that it is concepts is not confined to periods Egypt, he was reluctant to descend applicable for everyone who opens a Siddur to pray. 2. Leviticus 19:18. when G-dliness is openly apparent. there. For prosperity in exile - even 3. See Tanya, ch. 32. Quite the contrary, the narrative 4. See Sanhedrin 65a which states that speech is begins in the ultimate of prosperity that is used to create a considered a deed. As Tanya (op. cit.) explains from concealment. model of spiritually oriented the perspective of the soul, oneness prevails among existence - is not the goal for a Jew’s the entire Jewish people. Separation comes as a Yehudah did not know that he was result of the people’s bodies. As such, it is deed - speaking to Yosef. life. which relates more closely to the material plane than thought - that is necessary to erase it. He thought he was addressing the A Jew’s true life is in Eretz Yisrael, and Eretz Yisrael as it will exist in a 5. This is relevant every day, for every day, we Egyptian viceroy, and he had to plead should strive to advance to a higher level and open for Binyamin’s freedom after he had perfect state in the Era of the up new vistas in our love and care for our fellowmen. been discovered in a very Redemption. This is the promise Yaakov 6. Genesis 44:18. compromising situation. 7. Rashi’s commentary to the above verse. received from G-d, that his Despite the weakness of his 8. This concept explains why Vayigash is the name position, Yehudah advanced in the descendants would be redeemed of this Torah reading. For the establishment of unity from Egypt and that they would live - within Yaakov’s family and in the world at large - direction of oneness, [20] and his is the fundamental theme which characterizes all the approach led to the revelation that in in Eretz Yisrael together with events mentioned in the Torah reading. truth the Egyptian ruler was Yosef. Mashiach. [23] 9. Genesis 45:1. Similarly, in the present days, Why then did Yaakov descend to 10. Ibid.: 15. Egypt? 11. In this light, we can understand the renown although the Jews need the assistance adage of the Alter Rebbe (Igros Kodesh of the of non-Jewish authorities for their Because he appreciated that the Previous Rebbe, Vol. III, p. 413ff): security and well-being, they must Redemption would be brought about A chassidic farbrengen can generate greater by the divine service of man. blessings than the Angel Michael. For the positive realize that there is a subtle, inner influence triggered by the brotherly gathering of dynamic at work. The establishment of a spiritually people at a farbrengen has manifold ramifications. It is not an Egyptian who charts oriented society amidst material 12. Vol. I, p. 205b. our destiny. prosperity provides man with a 13. Deuteronomy 4:4. 14. See Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 61:6 and “The hearts of kings and [their] foretaste of the Redemption, and experiencing this foretaste prepares commentaries. officers are in the hands of G-d.” 15. See Rashi’s commentary to Leviticus 18:3. the world for the time when the [21] 16. The primacy of spiritual values in Yaakov’s G-d - and not the non-Jewish promise of redemption will become conception of life in Egypt is reflected in his fully manifest. “sending Yehudah to show the way” (Genesis powers - controls the fate of our 46:28), “to open a yeshivah” (Rashi). Yaakov’s life in Egypt was people as a whole and each individual 17.