The Four Kinds Uniting Together The Esrog A rare citrus fruit, combines both September 26-29 a taste and a fragrance that are enjoyed by all – represents the Jew who is both One of the special of , which is learned in , as well as performed everyday except , is the “The observant of the mitzvahs. Four Kinds” (described in detail below). We recite a blessing over them and, holding them close together, wave them to all six directions: right, left, east, upward, downward, and west, to signify G‑d’s The A , is from a tree that presence is everywhere. bears dates which is a pleasant Like all other mitzvahs, it should be performed tasting fruit, but it is odorless – represents those among who because it is G‑d’s will. However, like all the mitzvahs, are Torah scholars, but who do not it has its own particular significance and meaning. particularly emphasize good deeds. The most famous interpretation is that these represent the unity of all .

The Hadasim The myrtle twigs, are fragrant but We Are One tasteless – Putting these Four Kinds together teaches us that represent Jews who are filled with no one, not even the “citrus” or the person who represents the palm branch can be complete without good deeds but who are not learned unifying with every single Jew—even the “willows.” in Torah. Without unity, the citrus alone is no at all! The Four Kinds also represent four personas within each individual: Lulav is the intellectual within, who does not allow feeling to cloud the purity of knowledge; Hadas is the emotional self, where feelings comprise the highest ideal, even at the expense of the intellect; Esrog is the force that The Aravos The willow branches, have neither strives for balance of mind and heart; while taste nor smell – Aravah is the capacity for setting aside both represent those among Jews who intellect and feeling in an actual commitment to a Higher ideal. are unlearned in Torah and devoid of good deeds. All My Bones Shall Declare The Four Species also allude to the body. When one takes them on the Festival and recites the blessing, it is as if he is subjugating his heart, his limbs, his faculties of sight and

For instructions, blessings, and the schedule for The Four Kinds, see chart on page 39.

Special High Holidays presentation at www.chabadwi.org/HighHolidays 21 speech, to God alone. It is as if he declares to God: “All of lulav (palm tree), is like man’s spine; the hadas (myrtle), me is given to You alone and all my joy in this Festival is in is like the eye; the aravah (willow), is like the mouth; and You alone.” the (citrus), is like the heart. said: There are no Our Sages expounded: more important parts of the body than these and they are The psalmist states: “All my bones shall declare: God, equivalent to the entire body. Thus [when one takes the four who is like You?” (Psalms 35:10). The verse is referring to species, he is saying,] “All my bones shall declare” (Vayikra the mitzvah of lulav [i.e., the four species]. The spine of the Rabbah 31).

earns. During the year he saves a penny at a time to buy an esrog for Sukkot, until he assembles the sum and travels to the city and buys The Test an extremely fine one, and he has great joy from it. Since he is poor, nce the sat with his disciples for the festive and his wife is of bitter spirit, it angered her considerably that he meal of , but his mood was serious. From does not care about the condition of his household, since he spends previous occasions the disciples knew how to bring their money on an esrog and rejoices over it. In her bitterness she broke the RebbeO into a more joyous mood, and they tried, but with no success. pitom of the esrog rendering it unusable. Then, a certain village-dwelling Jew entered, named Reb Dovid. Immediately Now, besides the hard earned money that he spent on the esrog, there were upon his entry the Baal Shem Tov was full of joy-he treated him warmly, gave many obstacles to getting it, water to cross, bad roads, so that it all added up to him a place to sit next to him, and also gave him his own Kiddush cup. a great effort. Yet, when he saw what his wife had done he was not angry, but This matter caused the disciples to have questioning thoughts: Why were said: “It appears that I am not worthy of such an esrog. Truly, does a simple Jew they not able to rouse joy in their leader; yet only a village-dwelling Jew was like me deserve such a fine esrog?!” able to do so?! “From the time of the ‘akeidah,’” (our patriarch ’s readiness to The Baal Shem Tov sensed their questions, and sent Reb Dovid off to do sacrifice his son in response to G-d’s command) concluded the Baal something. After he left he said to them: Shem Tov, “there was not such a test of character, and therefore I treated him This Reb Dovid works hard, by the sweat of his brow, for every penny he so warmly.”

It’s time to start preparing for Sukkot!

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22 Check out our weekly online magazine at www.chabadwi.org Sunday, September 26

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Special High Holidays presentation at www.chabadwi.org/HighHolidays 23 Shemini Atzeret September 28-29 On Shemini Atzeret, we continue to eat meals in the & Simchas Tora h Sukkah, but we do so without reciting the blessing of “Layshev Ba’Sukkah.” On Simchas Torah, the ninth day, we The Finals resume eating meals indoors. September 28-30 A Private Party Simchas Torah Following the seven days of Sukkot are Shemini Atzeret An Endless Joy and Simchas Torah, which culminate all the holidays of the September 29-30 month of Tishrei. The compares this holiday to an “intimate family party,” before the long journey into the Dancing & “Hakafos” (Circling) world for the rest of the winter. For us, as well as for G‑d On the evening and in the morning of Simchas Torah (some Himself, it is difficult to separate from the holiness of these also do so on the preceding evening of Shemini Atzeret), festive days, when we feel so close to G‑d, and we are now all the Torah scrolls are taken from the ark and carried in a about to engage in the mundane life of the rest of the year. parade of seven Hakafos, encircling the Bimah (the platform So G‑d asks us to “Tarry yet another day.” of the ) singing and dancing with the Torah scrolls. Keeping the Connection Simchas Torah, which means “rejoicing with the Torah,” The High Holiday celebrations in all their exciting shades is celebrated with exuberant dancing. The rest of the year, and forms are out of the norm. We are overwhelmed by we approach the Torah with serious study. On Simchas their powerful spirits. The Yom Tov of Smemini Atzeret and Torah, we approach, the Torah with joyful dance. This Simchas Torah following Sukkot represent the “Quite Private holiday emphasizes that the Torah is the inheritance of every Party,” right before the time we move forward into the single Jew – scholar and simple person alike. rest of the year. It is the time when we internalize the past month’s inspiration; the “last stop” when we embrace and Infectious Love re-harness ourselves to incorporate the holiday inspiration In completing the annual cycle of reading the Torah, we read into the new year’s everyday life. the final section of the Torah, after which we immediately Shemini Atzeret and Simchas Torah, like all Jewish start to read the Torah again from the beginning. By starting festivals and holidays are observed with kiddush, festive to read the Torah anew, we demonstrate that learning never meals, and restriction of work. ends, especially when it comes to the Torah and its infinite

24 Check out our weekly online magazine at www.chabadwi.org wisdom. Children are given gifts of candy and fruit, because The celebration of again emphasizes it is stated, “The commandments of the L-rd are sweeter Jewish unity. While there may be great differences between than honey.” one person and another, all are equal when it comes to Every part of the body has its mitzvah. We pray with our carrying the Torah and dancing with it on Simchas Torah. lips, read Torah with our eyes, light Shabbat candles and give The scholar and the simple person, the committed and charity with our hands. We study with our brain, love G‑d the estranged, dance together their arms intertwined with with our heart, and hear the with our ears. Similarly, any differences between them forgotten amidst this joyous every mitzvah has its day. On Simchas Torah, the feet have celebration. their day, as we march and dance with our feet, elevating and uplifting our whole body in honoring the Torah.

Judaism, living , and in this way he will be drawn in and love and adopt Judaism. “This Is My Torah Scroll!” They entered the Great Synagogue of Vilna, now a remnant of a past, Henryk was very young in 1945, when the War ended and solitary survivors vibrant Jewish era. There they found some Jewish survivors from Auschwitz tried frantically to trace their relatives. He had spent what seemed to be most who had made their way back to Vilna and were now rebuilding their lives and of his life with his nanny, who had hidden him away from the Nazis at his their Jewish spirits. Amid the stark reality of their suffering and terrible loss, in father’s request. There was great personal risk involved, but the woman had much diminished numbers, they were singing and dancing with real joy while readily taken it, as she loved the boy. celebrating Simchat Torah. All the Jews were being killed, and Henryk’s nanny did Avraham stared wide-eyed around him and picked up a not think for a moment that the father would survive the tattered prayer book with a touch of affection. Something infamous destruction of the Vilna Ghetto. He would surely deep inside of him responded to the atmosphere, and he was have been transferred to Auschwitz -— and everyone knew happy to be there with the father he barely knew. He held that nobody ever came back from Auschwitz. She therefore back, though, from joining the dancing. had no scruples about adopting the boy, having him baptized A Jewish man wearing a Soviet Army uniform could not into the Catholic Church and taught catechism by the local take his eyes off the boy, and he came over to the boy’s father. priest. “Is this child... Jewish?” he asked, a touch of awe in his voice. But the father survived the war. It was Simchat Torah The father answered that the boy was Jewish and when he came to pick up his son. The heartbroken nanny introduced his son. As the soldier stared at Henryk-Avraham, had packed all of the child’s clothing and his small catechism he fought to hold back tears. “Over these four terrible years, book, stressing to the father that the boy had become a good I have traveled thousands of miles, and this is the first live Catholic. The father took his son by the hand and led him Jewish child I have come across in all this time. Would you directly to the Great Synagogue of Vilna. On the way, he told his son that he like to dance with me on my shoulders?” he asked the boy, who was staring was a Jew and that his name was Avraham. back at him, fascinated. Not far from the house, they passed the church and the boy reverently The father nodded permission, and the soldier hoisted the boy high onto his crossed himself, causing his father great anguish. Just then, a priest emerged shoulders. With tears now coursing down his cheeks and a heart full of real joy, who knew the boy, and when Henryk rushed over to kiss his hand, the priest the soldier joined in the dancing. spoke to him, reminding him of his Catholic faith. “This is my Torah scroll,” he cried. Everything inside of the father wanted to drag his son away from the priest Abe Foxman, the national director of the Anti-Defamation League -- the and from the church. But he knew that this was not the way to do things. Avraham in our story -- remembers this as his first conscious feeling of a He nodded to the priest, holding his son more closely. After all, these people connection with Judaism and of being a Jew. had harbored his child and saved the child’s life. He had to show his son From Chabad.org

Special High Holidays presentation at www.chabadwi.org/HighHolidays 25 It’s a Cycle. It’s Dancing. Hakafot imchat Torah, coming as it does at the end of the The Five Books of are divided into 53 portions, called Holidays, is only the beginning. It’s a cycle. (Like parshas. Each week, we read one parsha, completing the entire Sdancing in a circle.) Every year, Simchat Torah celebrates scroll every year. The cycle begins on the last Shabbos of Tishrei completing the cycle of the annual Torah reading. Then we and ends on Simchat Torah. begin anew. It’s a cycle. So Simchat Torah finishes off the To celebrate, on the night of Simchat Torah, we, as well as on Holidays and begins the new year with a dance. We take the Torah in a circle and dance. And dance and dance and dance. the next morning, sing dance and sing with the Torah. Go find And then dance some more. another people that dance with a book. But for Jewish people, It’s a time of completion, of new beginnings. A cycle. We take Torah is not just a book to study, it is life. For over 3,300 years, the Holiday spirit, joy, and energy with us and dance into the we have held tight to it, despite all odds, and it has kept us in cycle of a new year. existence. On Simchat Torah, they say, the Torah itself wants to And you’re invited! We’ll be having Simchat Torah dancing, rejoice – and we provide the legs. with refreshments and celebration, programs for the kids — and more dancing. So join us on Simchat Torah, as the Torah sweeps us off our feet and we start off the year on the right foot. Agudis Achim Chabad Chabad of Madison With a dance. ZedekBnai Chabad Milwaukee – The Shul East Kenosha – Mequon – Bayside – Bayside – When a Jew Becomes a Foot The Shul for the Torah. There is no Mitzvah in the Torah to dance on Simchat Torah. But SUKKOT on this day, we renew our endless love affair with G-d’s Holy Evening Service 1st Day Wed, Sept. 22 6:00pm 6:30pm 6:45pm 6:30pm 6:30pm Torah—so who could we not celebrate? And when G-d sees us Morning Service 1st Day Thu., Sept. 23 9:00am 9:00am 10:00am 10:00pm 10:00am Evening Service 2nd Day Thu., Sept. 23 7:30pm 6:30pm 6:45pm 6:25pm 7:30pm celebrating the Torah He gave us, how could He not celebrate? Morning Service 2nd Day Fri., Sept. 24 9:00am 9:00am 10:00am 10:00am 10:00am Even the Torah itself yearns to celebrate—so we provide it the SHEMINI ATZERET feet to dance. Evening Service Wed., Sep. 29 6:00pm 6:30pm 6:30pm 6:15pm 6:30pm The Torah, it would seem, is a book to study. Whoever got Morning Service Thu., Sept. 30 9:00am 9:00am 10.00am 10:00am 10:00am it into his mind to dance with a book? But just think of it – we SIMCHAT TORAH Jews have given our lives for the Torah for over 3,300 years. Grand Torah Celebration Thu., Sept. 30 6:45pm 7:30pm 7:45pm 7:10pm 7:10pm Our connection to it goes far beyond scholarship and the mind. Morn. Service Fri., Oct. 1 9:00am 10:00am 10:00am 10:00am 10:00am It’s something inner, something deep that resonates inside, Kiddush Fri., Oct. 1 10:20am 10:45am 10:45am 11:00am 10:50am Children Called Up Fri., Oct. 1 12:00pm 12:30pm 11:30am 12:30pm 11:40am something we cannot describe with words or with ideas. But with dance and song, an inkling of that inner bond comes out. THE SHUL-EAST – Milwaukee Chabad of Madison 3109 N. Lake Drive 1722 Regent Madison, (608) 231-3450 On Simchat Torah, even more than all the other high and (414) 961-6100, ext. 205 lofty days of Tishrei, the Jewish people rejoice in an awesome Bnai Zedek Chabad – Kenosha oneness. When people study Torah, some understand more than THE SHUL – Bayside For info on locations contact 383 W. Brown Deer Rd., (414) 228-8000 others. But you don’t dance with your head—you dance with 262-359-0770 your feet. The feet are all at the same level. Agudas Achim Chabad – Mequon 2233 West Mequon Rd (262) 242-2235

26 Check out our weekly online magazine at www.chabadwi.org twelve Meditations in Preparation for the High Holidays August 28 – September 8, 2010

18th of Elul – Aug. 28th Today we ask: How have we ignited the spark of “Chai” Elul (the 18th day of Elul) our inner soul so that it warms us from the coldness of is the twelfth to last day of the apathy and shines bright in the face of the darkness of our year. Over the subsequent twelve surroundings? Have we increased in acts of goodness and days, we examine the year gone kindness, always adding light and never decreasing it? by, each day representing one month. Chai Elul corresponds to 21st of Elul – Aug. 31st the first month of the year – last This day corresponds to the Tishrei (Sept 19 – Oct 18, 2009). fourth month of the outgoing On this day, we look back at the month which contains all year – Teves (Dec 18, 2009 – Jan of the High Holidays. 15, 2010), the month in which Today we ask: Have we internalized the spirit of Rosh intense cold sets in. Hashanah and – the idea of putting our Today we ask: Are we “frozen” relationship with G-d first? Have we absorbed the message in our ways, or have we shown a of Sukkot and Simchat Torah – taking joy in our special willingness to overcome the ego’s closeness with G-d? stubborn coldness and let go of set habits?

19th of Elul – Aug. 29th 22nd of Elul – Sept. 1st This day corresponds to the This day corresponds to the second month of the outgoing year month of Shevat (Jan 16 – Feb 14, – Cheshvan (Oct 19 – Nov 17, 2010). In this month, we mark Tu 2009). It is in Cheshvan, following B’Shevat – “The the excitement of a full month of for Trees” – when, following celebration, that we come back winter, nature experiences the first down to earth, so to speak, and stirrings of renewed life – the apply the holiday spirit to our everyday lives. sap flowing in the trees. The fruit that the trees will yield Today we ask: How well have we brought our spiritual represent pleasure and delight. inspiration into the practical realm?. Have we undertaken to Today we ask: Have we experienced our own inner do an additional mitzvah and made good on our resolutions? stirrings, a reawakening? Do we take pleasure in doing a Can we honestly point to a remarkable improvement in our mitzvah and in our service of G-d? conduct since last year’s celebrations? Do we attempt to sanctify the mundane? 23rd of Elul – Sept. 2nd This day corresponds to the 20th of Elul – Aug. 30th month of Adar (Feb 15 – Mar 15, This day corresponds to the third 2010) – the month of . On month of the outgoing year – Kislev Purim, our joy knows no bounds, (Nov 18 – Dec 17, 2009). Kislev is for we realize that G-d’s hand the month of Chanukah – when guides us even in the most strange we celebrate our feelings of warmth and unlikely circumstances. and excitement toward Judaism, Today we ask: Do we perceive G-d’s role in the events of even in the face of coldness and our lives? Do we allow this to make us happy? darkness.

Special High Holidays presentation at www.chabadwi.org/HighHolidays 27 24th of Elul – Sept. 3rd 27th of Elul – Sept. 6th This day corresponds to the This day corresponds to the month of Nissan (Mar 16 – Apr month of Tammuz (Jun 13 – Jul 14, 2010) – the month of our 11, 2010). The summer heat is at redemption from Egypt. On the its peak. We seize the opportunity Festival of our Redemption, we to channel this warmth into G-dly commemorate that G-d removed things. us from our physical, as well as Today we ask: How do we our spiritual limitations, so that we could freely serve Him. respond to easiness and comfort? Do we respond passively, We gratefully reflect on the freedom that G-d has given us. missing the opportunity for something special, or do we Today we ask: Do we fully utilize the opportunity to capitalize on the chance to do something productive? transcend our limits and rise above? Do we recognize that G-d has done for us what we could not do for ourselves, 28th of Elul – Sept. 7th thereby allowing us to enjoy a life of maximum fulfillment This day corresponds to the month and usefulness? of Av (Jul 12 – Aug 10, 2010) – the month of the destruction of 25th of Elul – Sept. 4th Holy Temple. On Tisha B’Av, we This day corresponds to the feel the pain of our people’s exile month of Iyar (Apr 15 – May 13, and yearn for a better world for all 2010) – the only month in the humankind that will be brought Jewish calendar in which there is through the coming of Moshiach. a special mitzvah to perform every Today we ask: How do we respond to the problems of day. As we count the days of the this world? Do we ignore them, bemoan them, or do we Omer, the 49-day period between channel our pain into positive action that will heal ourselves our redemption from Egypt on Pesach and our receiving the and others? Torah at Sinai on Shavuos, we appreciate the unique quality of each day. Time is precious. Each day has the potential to 29th of Elul – Sept. 8th be made holy. Today is Erev Rosh Hashanah. It is Today we ask: Do we respect the sanctity of time? Are we the last day of the outgoing year. mindful of how we spend our days, hours and even minutes? This day corresponds to the last Do we seek the G-dliness of the “now”? And simply, do we month of the year – Elul (Aug 11 do a mitzvah every single day? – Sept 8, 2010). This is the month for personal stock-taking. We 26th of Elul – Sept. 5th reflect on our latest meditations This day corresponds to the month and the inventory we took. We consider the importance of of Sivan (May 14 – Jun 12, 2010) being honest with ourselves. – the month of our receiving the Today we ask: Do we have a realistic self-image? Can we Torah on Mt. Sinai. As celebrated see our strengths as well as our weaknesses? Are we ready to on the holiday of , G-d change whatever needs changing and stand before the King? gifted us with knowledge of His will, permanently linking spiritual with physical, the holy with the mundane. Today we ask: Do we cherish the gift of the Torah? Do we set regular times for Torah study? What is the level of our Torah knowledge in comparison to our intellectual capacities and our knowledge of other things?

28 Check out our weekly online magazine at www.chabadwi.org In gratitude to the ’s, Menachem M. calm and the worst is over. There’s nothing to worry about.” Schneerson, OBM, gift of love – we present the Mr. Cohen was still not convinced. After considerable deliberation, he proceeded with the arrangements for the following fascinating story. trip, but faxed the details of his plans to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, asking his advice and blessing. His flight was scheduled for the following Sunday. Throughout the entire week, Mr. Cohen remained in contact A Jew in with the Rebbe’s office in Brooklyn, inquiring whether or not he had received a reply, but to no avail. Sunday morning, Mr. Cohen called the Rebbe’s secretary at his home. “Is there Bangladesh anything you can do for me? I need an answer urgently.” “It would be impossible for me to ask the Rebbe today. r. Max Cohen from Manchester, England received As you know, the Rebbe spends much of his day on Sunday a call from a business associate in Bangladesh. distributing dollars,” the secretary said. (Beginning in 1986, “Mr. Cohen, we’ve prepared a large shipment the Rebbe would stand for five to seven hours receiving Mof merchandise for you. We are eagerly awaiting visitors, each of whom would receive a dollar to distribute your arrival, so we can close the deal.” Mr. Cohen was to charity, coupled with a blessing and advice.) equally keen on the deal. For years, he had benefited from In the evening Mr. Cohen drove to the airport. There was his association with the textile industry in that country. And still time before the 10:30 PM departure from London. “If yet he had mixed feelings. an answer from the Rebbe comes, I’ll be ready to go,” he He was familiar with the country, rife with civil uprisings thought as he checked in. and natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and While other passengers relaxed in the departure lobby, earthquakes. Mr. Cohen nervously called Lubavitch headquarters several Only a year earlier, he had fled the country without times. In his dilemma, he called his brother-in-law, David concluding his business, after violent fighting had broken Jaffe, who lived in the Rebbe’s neighborhood of Crown out in the streets. Some months later, en route from Hong Heights, for advice. After he hung up the phone, David had Kong, he canceled a stop-over in Bangladesh because a full- an idea. He hurried over to the dollar line and asked the force cyclone had ripped through the country. Rebbe for a reply for his brother-in-law. His associates tried repeatedly to calm his fears. “Things The 9:00PM news in London reported that another are quiet now, Max,” they reassured him. “The streets are cyclone had hit Bangladesh. That, and the fact that by 10:00

Special High Holidays presentation at www.chabadwi.org/HighHolidays 29 PM he had not received an answer from the who is involved in Lubavitch activity.” He Rebbe, were enough to cause Mr. Cohen to had traveled to Bangladesh many times. cancel his flight. ‘This is for the His business associates were all Moslems, As his baggage was being removed shaliach (emissary) and so was almost everyone else he had from the plane, he placed a final call to his in Bangladesh.’ I ever met there. A Jew in Bangladesh? A father-in-law, Abraham Jaffe in Manchester. Lubavitch activist? Even if so how was he “I’ll have to stay overnight in London,” he stood transfixed in supposed to locate him in a population of said. “I’ll return to Manchester tomorrow.” amazement. ‘Jews 114 million...? As they conversed, Mr. Cohen began to in Bangladesh? Upon arriving in the city of Chaitong unwind and relax from the tense hours in Eastern Bangladesh, Mr. Cohen checked he had gone through. The men continued into his hotel and set out to find the person talking casually for a while when Mr. Jaffe heard a beep on for whom the Rebbe had sent the dollar. his line. “Excuse me, Max, I have another call. I’ll put you After two days of searching, Mr. Cohen returned to his on hold for just a moment.” hotel weary and frustrated. Just then he noticed a man On the other line was his son David from Crown hurrying towards the elevator before its doors closed. There Heights. “I have news for Max,” he said excitedly, “But I was something striking in the man’s face. A thought flashed don’t know how to reach him.” (These were the days before through his mind. He retraced his steps towards the elevator. cell phones). With a press on the button, the elder Mr. Jaffe “Excuse me, sir, are you Jewish?” connected Max with a conference call. The two men listened The man turned around and stared at Mr. Cohen. The in anticipation as David related his story. elevator doors closed, but the man remained standing there. “When I reached the Rebbe it was 5:00 PM, and already “Yes.” 10:00 PM in London. I described Max’s situation to the Minutes later, the two men were deep in conversation Rebbe explaining that he was at the airport waiting for the in Mr. Cohen’s hotel room. Two Jews, two worlds of Rebbe’s blessing. ‘It’s tumultuous there,’ the Rebbe said. I business, personal concerns, and interesting experiences ventured to tell the Rebbe that things had become calmer. came together in a meeting of chance in distant Bangladesh. The Rebbe then handed me a dollar for Max and gave him Or was it chance? As they conversed, Mr. Cohen sensed his blessing for a successful journey. that this indeed was the man he was looking for. “I turned to go, but the Rebbe’s attendant called me “The Lubavitcher Rebbe asked me to deliver a dollar to back. The Rebbe gave me another dollar and said: ‘This is a Jew who is involved in Lubavitch activity in Bangladesh.” for the shaliach (emissary) in Bangladesh.’ I stood transfixed The man, who had introduced himself as Walter from in amazement. ‘Jews in Bangladesh?’ I wondered. ‘And a North Carolina, was visibly moved. “Yes, I know the Lubavitch shaliach at that?’ The Rebbe surely noticed my Lubavitcher Rebbe, and from time to time I am involved in astonishment, for he added: ‘There is a Jew in that country Lubavitch activities,” he said slowly. “I suppose this is the who is involved with Lubavitch work.’ Rebbe’s way of expressing his concern and encouragement “Listen, I’m going to forward the dollars by special to a simple Jew halfway around the globe.” delivery to Max’s hotel in Bangladesh. I won’t keep you And Walter began to tell his story: “My import-export another moment.” business takes me to many places throughout the world, but There was no time to lose. Laden with his suitcases that I have spent most of my recent years in Bangladesh. Come had already been deplaned, and the Rebbe’s blessing, Mr. what may, however, I always go back to North Carolina at Cohen boarded in the nick of time. The long flight gave least twice a year, for and for the High Holidays. him ample time to recollect his thoughts and muse at the “Before my business brought me to Bangladesh, I was an unbelievable chain of events. If David hadn’t had that idea; active member of the Jewish community in Charlotte, North if I hadn’t called my father-in-law; if we hadn’t prolonged Carolina. We have a large community with many members, our conversation; if David’s call would have come a minute but like other communities in the States, many do not later... what Divine Providence! observe mitzvot. Intermarriage is on the rise and our youth But what was mostly on his mind was the mysterious lack direction. So I wholeheartedly welcomed the young mission from the Rebbe to deliver a dollar to “a Jew Lubavitch couple who arrived in North Carolina in 1980,

30 Check out our weekly online magazine at www.chabadwi.org Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak and Mrs. Mariasha Groner. that he had included a report of my Bangladesh activities in “I did my best to help them acclimate themselves into his periodic reports of his own activities to the Rebbe.” our community and get started with their work. I maintain a Walter continued slowly and his next words were steady relationship with them even though seven years have emotionally charged: “Don’t ask me too many questions passed since I moved here. about our providential meeting here. I “While phoning Rabbi Groner some years honestly have no rational answer, except that ago, I discussed an issue which had been the Rebbe saw fit to encourage me, a distant on my mind. Over the years, I had met Jew whom he heard about three years ago. a number of Jewish families who spend “I and all the families with whom I am extended periods of time here in Bangladesh involved, live in Dhaka, the capital. My on business. They and their children had very business affairs have always been located in little, if any, connection with Jewish values the same area. I never traveled to other parts and observance. of this country until this Monday morning, when I felt a “Rabbi Groner helped me organize a sudden urge to see some of the tourist attractions in this program for the children. Since then, he has been sending area. me educational material from North Carolina. “This is how I happened to be here in Chaitong. I plan “Once, about three years ago, Rabbi Groner mentioned to return to Dhaka tomorrow morning.” •

California… David teaches at a Jewish high school parents also came over, also as refugees. However, FROM OUR in Mahattan. His wife, A, teaches kindergarten at Misha’s sister and her family were denied refugee MAILBOX another Jewish school. They have two little boys, status by the state department. The sister had Max and Sam. Y is married to S…. and doing edit- married a non-Jew and the state department had We wanted to tell ing and writing for internet publications. They have decided that the whole family was not Jewish and you how thankful we a little boy, Eitan…. their application for refugee status was rejected. are of having met you Again, I want to thank you for the wonderful We wrote our congressional delegation and Senator and known you over all influence you had on my family and so many others. Robert Kasten was very helpful. With the senator’s these years. You have You and your family have brought light and true help, the sister and her family were offered parole made our lives bigger, better, more meaningful and “yiddishkeit” to Milwaukee. status. Parole status required that an American more profound. You opened our Jewish world and May G-d always bless you and your family. citizen take complete financial responsibility for introduced us to many wonderful spiritual, social, S.D. the family (they could not receive government educational worlds that have changed our lives assistance). I went to my synagogue and was told forever. Thank you for guiding us and always being by my associate rabbi... that they could never take there for us, and the incredible place you helped us Dear Rabbi Shmotkin, …I’d like to share with you the following. In the on such a commitment and that they would not belong to…. assist in finding a member of the congregation that With love and sincerity, early 1990s, after the Soviet Union began to allow Jews to emigrate, my ex-wife and I volunteered would. I argued that according to Jewish law the with the Milwaukee Jewish Federation to host a mother and children were Jewish and why did they I am moving to New York City as of July 19. I will family and assist with their resettlement here. Their have a sign in front of the building for all of those be living on the lower East side next to where David names were Mikhail (Misha) and Olga…. Misha years demanding the release of Soviet Jews if they and his family live. had a pretty good command of English but Olga’s weren’t willing to take responsibility for them. I want to thank you for all of your kindness over was rudimentary… They both applied to the Somehow, you got involved. I don’t know if I the years. Your family, and Chabad in general, gave Marquette dental school… At the time I was on asked you or Misha approached you, but you signed strong reinforcement to the Jewish values my late the biology faculty at Marquette and was able to the papers. At the time you said, “with all my husband and I gave our family. convince the dean that although Olga’s English was children, what are they going to do, put me in jail?” As you know, Devorah, you can take credit for a work in progress, that she was very disciplined The family did emigrate to Milwaukee…. changing N’s entire experience years back when and that I was sure she could succeed. They were So that’s the story; it’s been 20 years. Maybe, if you taught at Hillel Academy. Gan Israel also had a both accepted, and both are now licensed dentists you remember more, you can fill in the blanks. tremendous positive effect on my children. in Phoenix, AZ where they have a thriving practice. Warm regards, N is head of at the University of Shortly after the family emigrated, Misha’s A.F.

Special High Holidays presentation at www.chabadwi.org/HighHolidays 31 32 Check out our weekly online magazine at www.chabadwi.org What’s Happening at Lubavitch of Wisconsin

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Special High Holidays presentation at www.chabadwi.org/HighHolidays 37 High Holiday Candle Lighting Blessings & Schedules 5771 / 2010

Date Holiday/Event Blessing # Milwaukee Madison Kenosha Green Bay La Crosse Beloit Superior Eau Claire Wausau Wed. Sept.8 1st Eve of Rosh Hashanah 1, 5* 6:57 7:03 6:57 6:59 7:11 7:02 7:17 7:13 7:06 Thu. Sept. 9 2nd Eve of Rosh Hashanah 1, 5** 8:04 8:10 8:04 8:06 8:18 8:09 8:24 8:20 8:13 Fri. Sept. 10 2nd Day of Rosh Hashanah - Eve. Shabbat Shuva 2*** 6:54 7:00 6:53 6:55 7:08 6:58 7:13 7:10 7:02 Fri. Sept. 17 Eve. Yom Kippur 3, 5*** 6:41 6:47 7:52 6:42 6:55 6:46 6:59 6:56 6:49 Sat. Sept. 18 Fast Ends 7:40 7:46 7:39 7:42 7:54 7:44 7:57 7:56 7:49 Wed. Sept. 22 1st Eve of Sukkot 4, 5* 6:32 6:38 6:32 6:33 6:46 6:37 6:46 6:47 6:40 Thu. Sept. 23 2nd Eve of Sukkot 4, 5** 7.:39 7:45 7:39 7:40 7:53 7:44 7:53 7:54 7:47 Fri. Sept. 24 2nd Day of Sukkot - Eve. Shabbat Chol a 2 *** 6:29 6:35 6:28 6:29 6:42 6:33 6:42 6:43 6:36 Wed. Sept.29 Eve of Shemini Atzeret 4, 5 * 6:20 6:26 6:19 6:20 6:33 6:24 6:32 6:34 6:26 Thu. Sept. 30 Eve of Simchat Torah 4, 5** 7:27 7:33 7:26 7:27 7:40 7:31 7:39 7:41 7:33 Fri. Oct. 1 Day of Simchat Torah - Eve. Shabbat “Bereshit” 2 *** 6:16 6:22 6:16 6:16 6:29 6:21 6:28 6:30 6:22 * If lighting after sunset - light only from a pre-existing flame. ** Do not light before the time indicated. *** Do not light after sunset. # Light only from a pre-existing flame. A pre-existing flame is a flame burning continuously from the onset of the festival, such as a pilot light, gas or candle flame.

1. Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de- 5. Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech sha-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Vi-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Yom Ha-zi-ko-ron. Ho-olom She-heh-che-yoh-nu Vi-ki-ye-mo-nu Ve-he-ge-o-nu Liz-man Ha-zeh. Blessed are you, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by His commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the light of the Day Blessed are you, Lord our G-d, King of the of Remembrance. universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion. 2. Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de- sha-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Vi-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Sha-bos Ko-desh. Blessed are you, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by His commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the light of the Holy Sabbath.

3. Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de- sha-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Vi-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Sha-bos V’shel Yom Ha-ki-purim. Blessed are you, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by His commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the light of the Holy Sabbath and Yom Kippur.

4. Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de- sha-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Vi-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Yom Tov. Blessed are you, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by His commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the light of the Festival Day.

38 Check out our weekly online magazine at www.chabadwi.org Eiruv Tavshilin An Eiruv Tavshilin allows us to “join” Thurs- Preparing for Shabbat day and Friday’s Shabbat preparations to September 8, 22, 29 those begun on the eve of the Festival. On the eve of each holiday, before sun- This year, Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot and down, we set aside one baked item (such Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah fall as Challah) and one cooked item to ac- on Thursday and Friday. Generally, on company it (such as meat, fish or eggs) as the Festivals we are only permitted to designated for Shabbat. prepare (cook, bake, etc.) foods necessary for that day. How then are we to prepare Now, any further food we prepare Shabbat? for Shabbat (on Thursday or Friday) is regarded as a continuation of this initial Then declare: preparation. By means of this Eruv it shall be permis- sible for us to bake, cook, put away a dish We recite the following blessing: to preserve its heat, kindle a light (from a Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me- pre-existing flame), and prepare on Yom lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de-sha-nu Be- Tov everything we need for Shabbos. mitz-vo-sov Ve-tzi-vanu Al Mitz-vat Ei-ruv. The food from the Eruv should be put Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the aside to be eaten on Shabbos. The best Universe, who has sanctified us by His time to eat it is on Shabbos afternoon. commandments, and commanded us concerning the mitzvah of Eiruv.

BLESSING ON THE SUKKAH BLESSING ON THE FOUR KINDS September 22-29 September 24-29

During the seven days of Sukkot when Every day of Sukkot, except Shabbat, we make a blessing over the “Four Kinds.” eating bread or cake in the Sukkah, Preferably this mitzvah is performed in the morning, however, if missed, one may do it all day until sunset. recite blessing #8. Many maintain the custom of eating or drinking nothing Here is how to do it: Take the lulav/palm branch bound with the myrtle and willow outside the Sukkah. When observing in the right hand and say blessing #8. Then pick up the esrog/citron with the left hand and hold it together with the lulav/palm branch. this mitzvah for the first time this season, recite blessing #5 (see page 8, When observing this mitzvah for the first time this season, recite blessing #5 (see page 38, middle right box). bottom right box). It is customary to wave the Four Kinds to all four points of the compass as well upward and downward.

6. Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de-sha-nu 7. Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olam A-sher Ki-de- Be-mitz-vo-sov Ve-tzi-vanu Le-shev sha-nu Be-mitvo-sov Ve-tzi-vanu Al Ne-ti-las Lu-lov. Ba-su-kkah. Blessed are You, L-rd, our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of us with His commandments and has commanded us to hold the lulav. the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to sit in the Sukkah. Did you get your lulav & esrog? See page 22 for details.

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Celebration!High Holidays 5771 / 2010

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