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THE RED HEIFER: A PRELUDE TO MOSHIACH D’var Malchus
ALIVE AND WELL Moshiach & Geula | Rabbi Yisroel Halperin
THE KGB-SUPERVISED BOOK FAIR Feature | Avrohom Reinitz
BEGINNING WITH WORDS OF MATERIAL BLESSINGS Moshiach & Geula | Boruch Merkur
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B.H. Sivan 15, 5768
To all Anash, Men and Women, G-d bless you.
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Eretz Yisroel address: KEREN KUPAS ADMU"R / P.O.B. 1247 / KIRYAT MALACHI / ISRAEL A¤S>OJJ>I@ERP THE RED HEIFER: A PRELUDE TO MOSHIACH
Translated and adapted by Dovid Yisroel Ber Kaufmann
happens by Divine Providence, the There have been nine Red Heifers so far. connection between the tenth Para Aduma and Moshiach must be more The tenth, according to Maimonides, than coincidental. Indeed, on an will be prepared by Moshiach. By inner level, the mitzva of the Red Heifer must teach us something recounting the history of the Red Heifer, about how to bring Moshiach. Maimonides alludes to this when Maimonides emphasizes its eternal concluding the laws regarding the Red Heifer. He says that “Nine Red relevance, even in the times of exile. Heifers were prepared from the time this mitzva was first commanded Including a prayer for Moshiach in the until the destruction of the Temple. laws of the Red Heifer reminds us to be The first was prepared by Moses, the second by Ezra and seven from Ezra “Moshiach-conscious” at all times, until the destruction of the Temple. The tenth will be prepared by the aware that until the Redemption we are King Moshiach, speedily may he be revealed, Amen, so may it be G-d’s incomplete and imperfect. The ashes of Will.” If Maimonides is simply telling us the Red Heifer, used to remove the about the mitzva, why conclude with spiritual impurity resulting from death, a prayer? We need to know the details of the Red Heifer’s alludes to Redemption, the final and preparation and use, not its history. But not only does Maimonides tell us complete purification, the removal of how many there were and who prepared them, he also offers a prayer any separation between G-d and the for the restoration of the ritual. Maimonides might have to mention Jewish people. that Moshiach will prepare the tenth Red Heifer, since elsewhere he This week’s Torah reading begins with the ritual of the presents basic laws concerning Moshiach. But that still Para Aduma – the Red Heifer. One who had become doesn’t explain why Maimonides himself offers a prayer tamei – ritually impure – through contact with a dead in the middle of a law code. Also, at the very least, this body could not enter the Temple. The ashes of the Red prayer – “speedily may he be revealed, Amen, so may it be Heifer were used to purify those who had become tamei, G-d’s Will” – belongs with the laws of Moshiach, not the enabling them to re-enter the Beis HaMikdash – the laws of the Red Heifer. Temple. We thus have three questions to answer: First, why Historically, there have been nine Red Heifers. The does Maimonides recount a history of the Red Heifer? tenth will be prepared by Moshiach. Since everything Second, why does Maimonides offer a prayer for the
#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB coming of Moshiach when discussing the laws of the Red is not visibly, physically present. We must have a continual Heifer? And finally, what is the lesson for us about hope and anticipation for Moshiach, because every Moshiach? moment Moshiach isn’t here we experience a deficiency, To answer the first question, we must understand what sensing we lack something essential. was done with the ashes of the Red Heifer. After the Therefore, when we encounter an idea, an event or animal was burned, the ashes were divided into three even a law that relates to Moshiach, we immediately and sections. One section was used to purify Kohanim who automatically offer a prayer that Moshiach should be had become ritually impure – tamei. A second section was physically and immediately revealed. Because we feel used to purify the rest of the Jewish people. Although they incomplete and inadequate without the Redemption, were not involved in the daily sacrifices, there were still whenever Moshiach is mentioned, even incidentally, we times when an individual needed to enter the Temple. If instantly – almost impulsively – pray for the reality of that he’d had contact with a dead body, he would need to be for which we hope. When we want something, when we purified first. perceive we need something, when we feel this lack or The third section was set aside not to be used, but insufficiency urgently, strongly and internally, we pray for preserved, guarded and passed on. By giving us the it. We respond with anticipation and desire whenever it is history of the Red Heifer, Maimonides indicates that mentioned, because our thoughts, emotions – our very preserving the ashes is an eternal obligation, applicable essence – is connected with it. throughout all the generations. In addition to having the This explains why the prayer for the coming of ashes available to be used when they were needed, there’s Moshiach, “speedily may he be revealed, Amen, so may it a separate mitzva that the ashes be preserved, that they be G-d’s Will,” is included in a book of laws in general. simply be there. The “history lesson” tells us that the Red This also explains why it is “out of place,” so to speak, put Heifer is not simply part of the past, interesting but specifically with the laws of the Red Heifer. In this way irrelevant. Maimonides tells us that Moshiach will prepare Maimonides explains and emphasizes how to anticipate, the tenth Red Heifer to show that throughout history hope and long for Moshiach. Even when the concept of there was always an attempt to preserve and maintain the Moshiach arises in a secondary, indirect or insignificant ashes. The Red Heifer is a continuous mitzva, its manner, we respond primarily and forcefully to the relevance eternal and not limited to just one time. mention of Moshiach. We should be so focused on Maintenance and preservation of the ashes of the Red Moshiach, so aware that we are insufficient and Heifer is an eternal obligation. But this mitzva cannot be incomplete without the Redemption, that even an offhand observed until the coming of Moshiach. Therefore, the comment elicits a prayer, that “speedily may he be mitzva of the Red Heifer “demands,” so to speak, revealed, Amen, so may it be G-d’s Will.” Moshiach. The mitzva itself declares, “speedily may But why specifically here, in connection with the Red Moshiach be revealed,” so that the ashes can be prepared. Heifer? This answers our third question, what is the Only thus can the mitzva of preserving the ashes be practical lesson for today? properly and completely observed. In general, exile – our current situation prior to We still need to answer the second question, why Redemption – is an aspect of tumas meis – the spiritual Maimonides offers a prayer in a book of laws. As part of impurity resulting from death. Spiritually, we are exiled the same question, why does Maimonides offer the prayer for our sins. These sins result from a lack of feeling, an out of place, in the laws of the Red Heifer instead of in the insensitivity to the truth that, “You are attached to the L- laws of Moshiach? rd your G-d.” Without that attachment – or awareness of Now, there is an obligation to believe in the coming of that attachment – life itself is incomplete. We cannot be Moshiach. But the commandment is not to have just a truly, “living, all of you, today,” unless and until all our generalized belief. Rather, we are commanded to hope inadequacies, our sins, our spiritual impurities are and long for, to anticipate the coming of Moshiach. removed and purified. Anything less, Maimonides explains, is tantamount to Thus, the ashes of the Red Heifer, used to remove the denial of the Torah and the prophecy of Moses. The spiritual impurity resulting from death, alludes to mitzva to believe in, expect and prepare for the coming of Redemption, the final and complete purification, the Moshiach is thus eternally relevant and applicable removal of any separation between G-d and the Jewish throughout the generations. people. When we feel the need for Redemption so keenly What does it mean to expect, prepare and hope for the that we respond to even the off-hand mention of coming of Moshiach? This means one has to engender a Moshiach with the prayer, “speedily may he be revealed, feeling of incompleteness without Moshiach. One must Amen, so may it be G-d’s Will,” we reveal our innate feel he is missing something vital every moment Moshiach longing for and inner attachment to G-dliness. (Based on Likkutei Sichos 28:131-137)
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& JLPEF>@E DDBRI> ALIVE AND WELL
By Rabbi Yisroel Halperin, Shliach, Hertzliya If Chazal say that “Yaakov did not die,” then that is the reality, he did not die. If someone is skeptical and cites verses and Midrashim to support another view, the believing Jew says, “I am extrapolating this from the verse,” without any debates. He doesn’t argue. He doesn’t try to justify his position. He believes.
e are living in a time in which emuna plays a W major role in the Chassid- Rebbe relationship. In the abnormal reality we are living in, as our physical eyes refuse to open up and see the Geula reality, we need to strengthen our emuna in general, and faith in what the Rebbe said in particular. At a time like this, a lack
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& of faith is liable to adversely affect trying to internalize what you there is a war against “those who the practical actions the Rebbe learn. Trying to reach a point mock the footsteps of Your demands that we do. where we acknowledge that what anointed one.” This refers to What level of faith is required of the Rebbe says is utter truth that religious Jews, even the ultra- us? The answer can be found in must be realized as the Rebbe said. Orthodox who keep Torah and the sicha of Parshas VaYechi 5751, That it can’t be otherwise. And this mitzvos, who fight against the where the Rebbe refers to the can’t be superficial but belief in Moshiach. ongoing life of Yaakov Avinu. internalized. Parenthetically, the Rebbe said Although Yaakov’s life is not like Every horaa of the Rebbe needs on Shabbos Parshas Chayei Sara the Rebbe’s eternal life, we can still to be related to with the utmost 5745 that this kuntres was an open learn what real faith is, according seriousness. If we don’t live with it, prophecy of the Rebbe Rashab. At to the Rebbe. that’s a sign that we don’t believe it the time he said the maamer, The Rebbe refers to the Gemara with a p’nimius. We need to review nobody could have imagined that that states, “Yaakov did not die … what the Rebbe said, especially there would come a day in which just as his children are alive, so too what he said in the last years, and strictly observant Jews would have he is alive.” He says, “When a Jew get rid of any blemish in our faith. a weak belief in Moshiach and is asked: How can you say that Our faith must be glatt. would fight against those who Yaakov did not die when they The “not doing” is defined in believe! eulogized and embalmed him and the kuntres “All who go out to the In that amazing kuntres, the all the rest? war of the House of Dovid.” This Rebbe Rashab details the strategy “He replies: I am extrapolating is a maamer of the Rebbe Rashab of the army of the House of Dovid, this from the verse. I don’t know which was said to the talmidim of the criteria which determine the about any kuntzin or politics. As to profile of a soldier in this spiritual the question about the embalming, army. The Rebbe Rashab says that etc., he answers: I don’t know the number one problem in about any eulogizers or spiritual training is: hanachos gravediggers – I am extrapolating ha’olam (worldly assumptions). this from the verse, without When you accept worldly Talmudic arguments. I only know assumptions – not necessarily what it says in the Torah: Just as invalid assumptions that contradict his children are alive, so too, he is the spirit of Torah, but assumptions alive.” that are anchored in the world of That sums up pure faith. If Torah and which get a seal of Chazal say that Yaakov did not die, kashrus – you lose the spiritual then he did not die! If someone is aptitude to influence the world. skeptical and cites verses and Midrashim to support another IF YOU ARE MEKABEL, view, the believing Jew says, “I am YOU CANNOT BE extrapolating this from the verse,” without any debates. He does not MASHPIA! argue. He doesn’t try to justify The word olam (world) is from himself. He believes. the Hebrew root helem Rabbi Yisroel Halperin (concealment). There is a Talmudic DOING AND NOT DOING principle that says as long as Yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim in something is giving forth it cannot To believe with such emuna Lubavitch. The Rebbe Rashab simultaneously be absorbing p’shuta (simple faith) is not so speaks of two fifty-year periods of something. Spiritually speaking, as pashut (simple)! It takes effort that war. In the first yovel, they will long as you are busy being consists of two parts: doing and fight against those who “mock, mashpia, you are not being not doing. Your enemies Hashem.” This refers mekabel. The converse is also true. The “doing” entails serious to fighting Haskala and Reform, As long as you are absorbing from study of inyanei Moshiach and which fought against the fulfillment the world that conceals, you can’t Geula. Learning, learning some of mitzvos. In the second yovel, influence the world with the G-dly more, on your own, in groups, and
#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB get caught in it. There are innocent operate according to the Rebbe’s If he went to that people who fail to grasp this idea: guidelines, with utmost confidence, if you are mekabel from the world’s what you say is accepted. same forum and assumptions, you cannot be In 5761, dozens of mekuravim mashpia! As soon as you are and I went to the Rebbe for immediately mekabel from the world of Tishrei. One of them decided that concealment, you cannot have the when he returned home he would resolved to talk to emuna p’shuta which is way above begin keeping a fully observant life them about the the darkness of galus. and would grow a beard and say Let’s look at ourselves. Where Chitas and Rambam. He also B’suras HaGeula do we go? How do we dress? How decided to devote himself fully to do we speak? What’s our style of publicizing the B’suras HaGeula. without talking? What messages are we For his work he often sits on exposed to on a daily basis? If in very distinguished panels in circles considering how all these areas we are influenced by where intellect rules the heart and the foolishness of the world, that at first it was very hard for him to they would react, spells doom to our pure faith. stick to his resolution to publicize just talking from Chazal say that when we are in the B’suras HaGeula. After a a situation of g’zeiros shmad number of attempts, he came to me his heart – what (decrees against religious and said in amazement that when observance) then we need to be he went somewhere and wondered he said is accepted extra zealous, to the extent that how what he would say would be even if the gentiles wear shoelaces received and only then did he almost without of a certain color, we cannot wear decide to speak, the results that color shoelace. Today, when demonstrated that he would have any opposition. He emuna is so vital, we are in a state been better off not talking. was dumbfounded of g’zeiros shmad against emuna However, if he went to that same and we have to be extra zealous. forum and immediately resolved to by the results. The Nothing can enter our house that talk to them about the B’suras represents the assumptions of the HaGeula without considering how only explanation world. they would react, just talking from Many of us are exposed to the his heart – what he said is accepted is that when you ways of the world from working at almost without any opposition. He a Chabad house and similar was dumbfounded by the results. operate based on activities. True, the Rebbe directs The only explanation is that when the Rebbe’s us to use all technological means to you operate based on the Rebbe’s disseminate Judaism, but we must horaos, the Rebbe helps things be horaos, the Rebbe be extremely careful that these accepted. tools are used exclusively for If we open our eyes we will see helps things be outreach and not, G-d forbid, as the myriad miracles taking place. something that ends up influencing It’s simply amazing how much the accepted. us in negative ways. Rebbe is involved with every aspect As I mentioned earlier, the of our lives. We have to respond in direct way to pure faith is through kind and instill the Rebbe in every light, surely not the light of learning the Rebbe’s sichos. area of our lives. Moshiach, oros d’Tohu. When you Learning refines the person who accept worldly assumptions, since learns, and when the learning the mekabel is subservient to that THE IMPORTANCE focuses on inyanei Geula and which is mashpia on him, it is not OF ACHDUS Moshiach, the person begins to see possible to simultaneously Geula in the world. The best gift we can give the influence the world with G-dly Whoever works on influencing Rebbe at this time is achdus. In the light. It’s just impossible. others certainly has dozens of last sichos we heard from the It’s a subtle problem and many examples that prove that when you Rebbe, the Rebbe emphasized the people fail to identify it in time and importance of achdus as a
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& preparation for the true and Miron, and our little group would learned with such a chayus that by complete Redemption. have gone unnoticed if not for our the end of the maamer there were A quarrel needs two sides. A Yechi yarmulkes. many people listening in. For each person can’t be in an argument by We davened Mincha of Erev one of us there were at least three himself. If we decided that we are Shabbos and then proclaimed Chassidim listening closely to not fighting, there won’t be fights. Yechi. If you know the chevra from Divrei Elokim Chaim. * * * Hertzliya, you know that their Later in the afternoon, when I Some families in Hertzliya Yechi reverberated throughout the reviewed the maamer, “L’Havin asked me to organize a Shabbaton tziyun of Rashbi. The hundreds of Inyan Rashbi,” many more people for them. Organizing a Shabbaton Chassidim present were stunned by came to listen. I didn’t hear is a lot of work, but after I saw it. complaints from a single one of how much they wanted it, I looked Since we had no place to sit, we them about Lubavitch. On the for a suitable venue and we went to gathered on the steps that lead up contrary, at the end of the Miron. I wrote to the Rebbe about to the second floor and we began maamer, when we proclaimed it and asked for his bracha. I asked learning Torah Ohr. We learned Yechi, I couldn’t help but notice what I should do on this Shabbos. with a Lubavitcher chayus, making some of them proclaiming it along The Rebbe’s answer in the Igros quite an impression on the with us. Kodesh had explicit instructions Chassidim present. Some of them I will conclude as I began: when about spreading Judaism especially stood by and listened. we believe with emuna shleima in among the youth and emphasized In the meantime, a room everything the Rebbe said, that there is a lot of work to do in cleared out and when we finished especially the B’suras HaGeula and this area. learning we were able to daven the Goel, in a way of “I am In our group, which numbered Kabbalas Shabbos in that room extrapolating this from the verse” close to fifty people, there were including a Yechi-dance after without kuntzin and politics, then fifteen adult males and we held our Lecha Dodi and after the davening. we will surely immediately merit to minyan at the gravesite of Rabbi This time we weren’t alone; a few see it all with our physical eyes. Shimon bar Yochai. That Shabbos Chassidim joined us. And all the nations of the world there were hundreds of Chassidim The next morning we managed will proclaim: Yechi Adoneinu from other Chassidic groups in to get a bench in the center and we Moreinu V’Rabbeinu Melech began learning Chassidus. We HaMoshiach L’olam Va’ed!
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had even taken place in Moscow. After that fair, he said, those who published Jewish books left them in Moscow and brought joy to THE KGB thousands of Jews throughout the Soviet Union. This is why he chose to hold the fair in Moscow again, in order to be able to leave thousands of s’farim there afterwards. SUPERVISED He suggested that we participate in the fair and offer Jewish books translated into Russian and then leave some of the books behind. I was surprised at this suggestion and BOOK FAIR accepted it with mixed feelings. On the one hand, I was thrilled with the By Avrohom Reinitz idea of disseminating Jewish books in Moscow at an international book fair. It sounded like a dream. Could For two weeks, R’ Hillel Zaltzman and there be a bigger hafatza of Judaism? R’ Moshiach Chudaitov manned a book On the other hand, I was very apprehensive. Eighteen years had stall under the auspices of Chamah, at passed since I had left Russia and I was still fearful of the communist an international book fair that took regime. Although I hadn’t snuck out place in Moscow. * An exciting episode as those Chassidim did in 1946-7, and my leaving Russia was perfectly about spreading Judaism in an original legal and they merely stripped me of my Soviet citizenship (something way under the watchful eyes of Sasha which I did not regret), still… To go back there and disseminate Jewish and Pasha, two KGB agents who not books in Russian, Nigleh and Chassidus? It entailed going back only did not interfere but helped them into the lion’s den, where I had been spread Judaism! persecuted for many years and from where I had yearned to escape. If this idea had been suggested to RETURNING TO mentioned that we were involved in me a few years earlier, I would have THE LION’S DEN? publishing books in Russian and absolutely rejected it. But at this even produced a monthly It was an ordinary summer in time, winds of progress and publication in Russian that was 1989. In the course of my work for openness began to blow in Russia. distributed within Russia. Chamah I met with a lawyer by the Gorbachev, who had risen to power When he heard that we were name of Martin Levine for the a few years earlier, was using terms involved in publishing Russian- purpose of getting him interested in like glastnost (openness), perestroika language books, his face lit up. It our work on behalf of Russian Jews (rebuilding) and other nice words turned out that in addition to his and asking him for a donation. As that hinted at a new era. Even work as a lawyer, he dedicated his with every meeting like this one, I though Gorbachev took steps to time to organizing international told him about how Chamah came build up trust with the Western book fairs and just at that time he to be founded, the underground countries, many didn’t believe him was working on a book fair that work in the early years, and the and said he was merely preparing would be taking place in Moscow. large scale work being done in Eretz his next trap. After all, it was the The fairs took place once every Yisroel and the United States. I Soviet Union… few years in various countries and
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& I personally believed that Gorbachev wanted change and that was he going to try and make it happen. I remembered the period when Khrushchev rose to power and after he exposed all of Stalin’s brutality he released most of the political prisoners. That’s when I understood that in the Soviet Union you couldn’t change things from the bottom-up. Demonstrations and protests wouldn’t change anything and would only lead to arrests. But when someone on top decided to change, it was definitely possible. The day would come, I thought, when an intelligent person would rise to power who appreciated the culture and ideology of the West, and he would bring about change. So when Gorbachev announced his goal of change and openness and people said he was a Russian trickster, I believed that he would make a revolution. I didn’t care what his reasons for change were; the main things were freedom of speech and freedom of religion. I was so enthusiastic about the possibility of change in Russia that I wrote the Rebbe that to the best of my understanding, the situation in Russia was improving. If in the fifties and sixties you could only dream of shluchim to Russia, at this time (in the early eighties) there were Chabad Chassidim who went to the Soviet Union under the auspices of Ezras Achim. They met with Jews and gave shiurim in private homes and brought s’farim and religious items. In my opinion, I wrote to the Rebbe, we would soon be able to send shluchim to Russia for an extended period of time and young Lubavitchers should be
#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB prepared for this so they would be Levine that we were ready to be a something with a Jewish-educational ready when the time came. The part of the book fair and he included message. Rebbe did not respond to this letter us on the list. We began getting On Shabbos, when your head is but baruch Hashem, what I wrote ready for the trip. R’ Moshiach free of weekday concerns, you get about came true. Chudaitov joined me on the trip and terrific ideas that you don’t come up I was in Martin Levine’s office we had to buy tickets, arrange for a with during the week. Shabbos and I continued mulling things over. hotel, etc. At the travel agency they morning on my way to the mikva, I I remembered how we jealously eyed told us that the only hotel we could came up with an idea for an original the few tourists who came to Russia. stay at was the world-famous Jewish handout: a small card with a We were afraid to talk to them lest Rossiya Hotel, which was located five-year calendar with Jewish we be accused of ties with the West opposite the Kremlin and was about holidays. I could picture the card and betraying the motherland, but a ten-minute walk from the main and next to each holiday the dates, we were so envious of them. We shul on Archipova Street. According the history, and halachos that thought: if only it were possible to to the exchange rate at the time pertained. get into their suitcases and cross the which was 65 kopeks to the dollar, When I presented the idea to my border. Tourists represented we paid $119 a day for the hotel. friends, I said that in order to enable happiness and freedom to us. Today, Many years later, after the Soviet the calendar to “pass,” we would he’s here. Tomorrow, he’s there. As Union collapsed, I went to Moscow have to include the Russian national for us, we are locked up here and with distinguished guests and we holidays so it wouldn’t look overtly who knows if we’ll ever be able to invited a professional guide to show religious but cultural. I said jokingly, get out. us around. When we got near the you’ll see that before five years are Now I was being asked to go Kremlin, the guide pointed at the up, all these holidays will be no there, to return as a tourist. I would Rossiya Hotel and said that this was more. be a free citizen with American the only hotel approved for On the other side of the card citizenship. Furthermore, I would be important foreign tourists since all which was pocket-sized, we printed going to publicize Judaism in the the rooms were bugged. the Alef-Beis in print and cursive center of Moscow in the most When an international writing with nekudos and a few exclusive venue in that country: the convention of communist party rules for reading. I knew that there All-Russian Exhibition Center in the leaders took place, they were were many young people in the restricted VDNH section of the city. assigned to this hotel and after they Soviet Union who did not know of I so wanted to go but I was left, the KGB would work for the existence of the Alef-Beis. I terrified! Then I reminded myself, months to listen and decipher all the wanted this card to create awareness why vacillate and worry when there’s conversations the guests had had and longing and urge them to search a Rebbe! We would write to the during the course of the convention. further. Rebbe and ask for his opinion and We found a special person who do as he said. FIVE YEARS PACKED paid for the printing of the card and I thanked Martin Levine for his INTO ONE HANDOUT we printed close to 200,000 of them offer and asked him for details about with lamination. We were unable to the exhibit. I let him know that While preparing for the trip, we send all of them to the book fair in before giving him an answer I had to received an invitation to a special Moscow and we sent only 60,000 in ask the Rebbe. meeting with the Israeli consul in 25 boxes. At the small stall we I wrote the details of the offer New York with all the participants in ordered for the fair there wasn’t and included my doubts and the book fair from the United room for all the cards. submitted the letter to the Rebbe. To States. The consul briefed us on We asked the Hebrew Book my great surprise, I received a how to behave in the Soviet Union, Association, which agreed to take 15 positive, encouraging answer within how to beware of the KGB, etc. I boxes and store them at their stall. a short time. The Rebbe was in favor heard it all and laughed to myself. At our stall we had another ten of the trip! There is no joy like He’s here to teach me how to act in boxes. The rest remained in New resolving doubts and I can’t describe the Soviet Union? York and over the years we were how thrilled I was after I got this The consul said each stall should able to send all 200,000 cards to the positive answer. Nobody could prepare a souvenir/handout that Soviet Union. understand how I felt then. would be given to whoever visited After the fair hundreds of I immediately informed Martin the stall during the fair. I liked the additional cards remained in idea and wanted to think up
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& The souvenir card. Rabbi Zaltzman (right) and Rabbi Chudaitov (left) on the plane to Moscow.
Moscow and from feedback I got I apply the background of the game to United States shared it. Kehot was heard that they were a hit. They sold our times and be inspired to learn represented by R’ Yosef Friedman for two rubles in Moscow and for Torah? and R’ Moshe Chaim Levin. They four rubles in Kiev. We also heard It was a few days before my trip came with thousands of s’farim. that when the big aliya to Eretz and I had only printed hundreds of The biggest Jewish stall belonged Yisroel began, some baalei t’shuva copies. In those days, there were to the State of Israel, which was in showed these cards and said it barely any copying machines in another hall and spread across pushed them to seek out Judaism. Russia because the government thousands of square meters. There I had another idea right before feared that anti-Soviet propaganda were hundreds of thousands of the trip. Since it was forbidden to would be disseminated. However, I books there, videotapes, pictures, officially publicize Jewish matters in hoped that at the international book and various souvenirs. Although our Russia, it had to be done in a fair I would be able to find a stall was so much smaller than the roundabout way. We bought 10,000 copying machine and print several others, we miraculously managed to dreidels from HaMafitz and I thousand more copies which we make a big kiddush Hashem, as I prepared a page of instructions for could distribute along with the will tell you. the game. First I wrote about the dreidels. There were two representatives at history of the game that was Chamah’s stall: Moshiach Chudaitov invented by Jewish children in the A SMALL STAND and me. At that time, we had only time of the Greeks when the WITH A BIG IMPACT five Russian s’farim and in order to authorities forbade Torah study. The fill up the stand with books, we children and their teachers hid in Since the stalls at the bought other books, Alef-Beis caves and learned Torah. When international book fair cost a charts, Jewish music tapes and enemy soldiers would discover them, fortune, we had to suffice with a Jewish signs and pictures from they would begin playing dreidel. small stall, five by five meters, 25 Kehot. We also bought religious This is how the Jewish nation kept square meters in all. We paid $5000 articles like a talleisim, challa covers, on studying Torah despite the for it. To illustrate how small it was, and other Jewish items so the stall decrees. it’s enough to tell you that the stand would be full. We bought a I wrote this and trembled. How of the Hebrew Book Association was refrigerator to store our food. would the Russian authorities take 500 square meters. Representatives The Shabbos before our trip was it? How would the Jewish youth of all the Jewish publishers in the Shabbos Mevarchim Elul. During
#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB them that we had come from New to the atmosphere of a stall but we To our great York to take part in the international didn’t dare to complain. We were book fair. We explained that we satisfied that all the books had surprise, Pasha, were former Russian citizens and we arrived. who had remained were nervous. They took all our As they promised, after we information and this made us feel finished unpacking the boxes the at the stand to secure. two guys came back. They On Shabbos we walked to the introduced themselves as Sasha and supervise things, shul on Archipova Street and I felt Pasha and said they would be with spiritually elated. us throughout the exhibit. After they was a great help. On Monday we went to where looked around and saw what we had the exhibition was going to be held. unpacked, they began questioning Not only did he In order to describe how big the us about who we are and what is not interfere but area was, I’ll tell you that in order to Chamah. get from building to building there We told them that Chamah is a he guided us and was a small train for the visitors. We Jewish organization whose purpose got on the train at the entrance and is to publicize Judaism wherever helped us in ten minutes later we were at our Jews are. They asked why we had building. set up a separate stand and hadn’t several ways. It The building was very large and sent representatives to the Hebrew you could get lost among the stalls. Book Association, and we said that was just It was difficult locating our tiny we were an organization that unbelievable! A stall, #429. It was almost invisible worked with Russian Jews and we near the stands of Norway, Sweden felt we needed to be represented KGB agent helped and Denmark and other separately. Scandinavian countries. They moved on to deep us disseminate All sorts of official people questions, like what was Chamah’s circulated at the fair including relationship with the demonstrations Torah and organizers of the exhibit and the that took place in the West to police in uniform and plain clothes, promote Jewish emigration from the Judaism in the as well as KGB agents of course. Soviet Union. We said that our goal Soviet Union! When we got to our stand, we was to publicize Jewish culture and saw that our stuff had been religion and we had nothing to do delivered. Before we opened the with demonstrations. the farbrengen, the Rebbe gave us a boxes three men in plain clothes They asked us about Chamah’s bottle of mashke along with a bracha came in. They looked around and connection to Lubavitch. In for a successful trip. This served after a minute, one left. We didn’t accordance with instructions we had both to calm us and uplift us. know who these two men were who received from the Rebbe, we said came to visit us. Were they that Chamah is an independent THE KGB VISIT organizers of the event or members organization although we were OUR STAND of the secret service of the KGB? closely acquainted with the The official opening of the fair They were polite and they asked Lubavitch movement, which is a was on a Tuesday but we had to be whether we had gotten everything. movement whose only goal is to be there on Monday in order to get the We told them that we hadn’t opened mekarev Jews to Judaism with no delivery we had sent and to set up the boxes yet and they said they political aims. They seemed to the stall. We left the Thursday before would return shortly. accept this and they said, “Yes, we and arrived in Moscow Erev We opened the boxes and saw know…” In the meantime, they saw Shabbos. The Rossiya Hotel where that the tapes hadn’t arrived. We the Alef Magazine and asked: Did we stayed was huge and occupied an knew that in Russia this was you bring this? You publish this? entire block. standard practice and we assumed We said yes and we asked: How do After we arranged our that the customs agents wanted you know about Alef? They said, belongings at the hotel, we called them. We were upset about this “We know.” the American embassy and told because music can contribute a lot Naturally, after questions like
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& those, as well as the way they spoke, mixed feelings. On the one hand, we We went to see what was happening it was clear to us that they were were nervous about the presence of there and to our surprise we saw the KGB agents. When they finished the KGB. On the other hand, I was number 429 over the people’s heads. questioning us they said: Tomorrow excited about the opportunity of That was our stall! is opening day and many people will spreading Torah and Chassidus From a distance we saw Sasha come here. We will come and help within Soviet Russia. All my fears motioning to us to come quickly and you. from before the trip dissipated. Even he called out: They’re coming! We were not thrilled by this. We when I was afraid that they would A path opened up and we had known we would be under KGB arrest us, I calmed myself with the entered the stall. You cannot surveillance but we didn’t imagine thought that they wouldn’t dare do imagine how amazed and thrilled we that we would have to host them at that to American citizens for more were. As soon as we walked in, our stand all day! We tried to than a few days. Sasha gave us the missing tapes. We dissuade them and said we hadn’t Moshiach Chudaitov was more tried putting a tape into the tape advertised in any media and we realistic and he said: You don’t recorder and we connected it to the assumed that only a few people who realize who you’re dealing with here. electricity with a transformer but it were passing by would stop at our It’s the same KGB with the same didn’t work. Sasha saw we had a stall. However, they said: Don’t methods. problem and he said: Don’t worry. worry, they’ll find you! I’ll bring you a tape recorder that In the meantime we set our THE KGB AGENT works with the local wiring. He ran books up on shelves, put a tallis over ADVERTISED JUDAISM somewhere and within half an hour the refrigerator so the tzitzis hung he returned with a working tape on all sides and hung Jewish signs It was opening day and although recorder. We put a tape in with and pictures all over. Before they left we rushed to get there when the fair Chassidic music and the atmosphere we politely complained to them began at ten o’clock, we were a few at the stall became festive. about the missing tapes. They asked: minutes late. We entered the In the meantime, we took out the Do you have a tape recorder that building where our stall was located souvenir cards and the dreidels with would work on Russian wiring? and the place was crowded with the instructions for the game and Maybe we should bring you a tape? hundreds of people. We got a bit began giving them out to dozens of I thought: That’s all we need… lost trying to find our little stall. people. People were pushing and all I said: Thanks, but we brought a Then in the distance we saw a large tried to enter the stall to see th transformer from the US and we crowd near one of the small stands. think it will work. Sasha, who was in charge, said: As far as the tapes, don’t worry about it. We’ll bring them tomorrow. We realized that Sasha wasn’t a low-level employee but someone with connections both at the fair and at customs. I decided to bribe him. Since his red face indicated that he liked to drink, I asked his friend Pasha what Sasha liked to drink. He said: The quality doesn’t matter, only the quantity. That day we went to the department store that was for tourists only where they paid in foreign currency. They sold nice alcoholic beverages that were unavailable to the Russian citizen. We bought a big bottle of whiskey for Sasha. We went back to the hotel with
#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB so maybe you don’t care if he takes gave out souvenirs to visitors. one, but you have to stamp the Moshiach and I couldn’t deal What can happen cover because on their way out of with all the visitors when many of the exhibit, they check people. If them wanted to discuss Judaism. At already? If they your stamp isn’t there, they can the same time, we wanted to give arrest us, it will detain him for stealing. out the dreidels and calendars. During the fair we were able to Pasha came to our aid and he gave make a give away dozens of Jewish books to out the souvenirs. It happened that visitors at our stall so that by the last visitors came from distant cities and commotion and we day, we had hardly any books left on Pasha asked them whether he could the shelves. give them some dreidels and will be released As Sasha and Pasha anticipated, calendars so they could give them to hordes of Jews came to our stall; their friends who hadn’t come to the within days. But if hundreds every day. I looked around fair. Jews put on me and saw larger and nicer stalls Of course we agreed, figuring belonging to the Scandinavian that when that Jew went back to his t’fillin, certainly countries that were frequented by town and told about his visit to our only a few people. It was amazing to stall at the book fair and would give the mitzva of see how Jews were inspired by out the souvenirs, it would bring Jewish items. They were indifferent about a spiritual revival. t’fillin will stand to the attractiveness of the other As I mentioned earlier, I hadn’t stalls and their souls were drawn to managed to print many copies of the by them and our stall. dreidel game in Russian and we nothing will The calendar and dreidels also soon ran out of copies. Pasha came increased our popularity since, of all to our aid once again and showed us happen to them. the stalls, ours was the only one that where we could make additional books. To our great surprise, Pasha, AT THE FAIR who had remained at the stand to During the fair some interesting things happened: supervise things, was a great help. A woman came over and asked: Do you have the “New Testament”? Not only did he not interfere but he I said that I didn’t understand what she was asking. She repeated her guided us and helped us in several question and I sensed that she was a Jew who knew nothing. I told her: ways. It was just unbelievable! A There is only one testament and that is the Torah of G-d, the Torah of KGB agent helped us disseminate the Jewish people! Torah and Judaism in the Soviet Some people stood around me and nodded at my answer and said: Union! There is only one covenant and that is the Torah. I said to the woman: For example, when the pushing you have to know that there is only one covenant, the Torah given by began, Pasha warned us: Only allow G-d. The so-called “New Testament” is something people made up. in groups of ten at a time; otherwise One day, a Jew came by who introduced himself as a Jew for J. He you won’t be able to watch everyone offered us books on Christianity. I asked him: Did you ever learn Torah and they will steal your books. in the original? He said he had learned Torah in Russian translation. I Within a few days you won’t have told him: Learn Torah in the original, in Hebrew, and you will see how any books left. inaccurate the translation you read is. Since I didn’t have time for a Since one of our goals was to long conversation with him, I gave him the book on the Ramban’s leave some of the Jewish books in Debate that Chamah had recently translated into Russian and Moscow, we hinted to some of the recommended that he read it. visitors that they could take some Ten years later, someone by the name of Moshe (Leonid) came to books. One time, Pasha noticed that our office in New York and asked for Chamah’s help. He began telling someone had taken a book from the his life story and I was amazed to hear him say that he had become a shelf and put it in his pocket. He baal t’shuva and the turning point in his life began after he went to the came over to me and said: I see that book fair in Moscow where he had been given the Ramban’s Debate. you have many copies of that book
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& said: You have nothing to worry happen already? If they arrest us, it about. There’s nothing not-kosher will make a commotion and we will about it. be released within days. But if Jews I was amazed by his openness put on t’fillin, certainly the mitzva of and knowledge and decided to ask t’fillin will stand by them and him openly: How long have you nothing will happen to them. been working for this department In Chassidus we learn that the (i.e., the Jewish department of the mind has to rule the heart, but I KGB)? He said, two years. think that what happened there in At the end of the day, as we Moscow was the absolute rule of the closed our stall, we saw R’ Yaakov heart over the mind. I didn’t think Kritchevsky in the distance who had much. I worked according to my come to the fair with the Israeli Chassidic feelings and the Rabbi Zaltzman talking delegation. R’ Yaakov was older than excitement I felt. to a visitor to the booth us but we were friends from before The next day we took our t’fillin we left Russia and we were happy to along. When we got to the stall we talk to him. We exchanged took them out and raised them up impressions of the fair. I suddenly high and offered people to put them noticed people congregating around on. The first person who came over our stall and I rushed over. Pasha and asked: “What’s that?” was came out and apologized: People Pasha. came from far away and they were I told him they were called late for the fair and found your stall t’fillin. I translated that into Russian. closed. I didn’t want to disappoint I wanted to explain why they were them and so I gave them some called t’fillin in Lashon HaKodesh, souvenir cards and dreidels. but he asked: Is it from the same root as t’filla? I was flabbergasted by his knowledge of Hebrew and The boxes of souvenirs in front MIVTZA T’FILLIN since we had become friendly, I of the stall and the tallis covering IN MOSCOW the refrigerator hugged him excitedly and asked: When we returned to the hotel I Hey Pasha, you know Hebrew? copies. Since I had printed the couldn’t sleep since I was so wound Pasha said, Yes, I’m learning it. instructions on half a page, we up by the events of the day. I felt it It was the first time in my life printed them twice per page and the was a unique opportunity, maybe that I felt so happy that I was sure pages had to be cut. Pasha did this once in a lifetime, to spread Judaism that everyone in the world could for us as we continued to distribute in Russia, and with the help of the envy me. I was standing in the them. KGB no less. I recalled that the center of Moscow, surrounded by Many of the visitors realized who Rebbe Rashab said that in these communist police, with a KGB Pasha represented and whom he generations, the world is compared agent in charge, and was involved in worked for. They thought we didn’t to a wedding feast and you have to Mivtza T’fillin! It was surrealistic – know and tried to hint to us that he grab as many mitzvos as possible. I there in the center of the was from the KGB and we should thought: What else can I do? I international book fair in Moscow, a watch out. We told them that we suddenly thought of the idea of public place, stood Jews in line, knew but times had changed. They bringing my t’fillin to the stall and rolling up their sleeves for t’fillin. considered us naïve and said: You offering visitors the opportunity to While we were putting on t’fillin, left twenty years ago and have put on t’fillin. a Belzer Chassid showed up who forgotten but we don’t believe that When I made this suggestion to had come as a representative of an they can change. Moshiach he was shocked. This was American book publisher at the I was so involved with the many religious propaganda in the heart of Hebrew Book Association stall. visitors and the conversations I had Moscow! The KGB agents were When he saw us busy, he simply with them that I forgot to eat. It was there with us all day and we would couldn’t get over it and he began late and Pasha came to me and be endangering the visitors. shouting in excitement, “Vos iz dos? offered to buy me lemonade. He I don’t know from where I got In Moscva!?” the strength but I said: What can
#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB He left and within a few minutes MINCHA IN THE ROOM he had returned with some reporters OF THE EDITOR OF OGONYOK from CBS. They were also amazed by this unusual sight in the Soviet Many gentiles also visited the Union and they immediately set up a stall. It wasn’t that Judaism camera and began videotaping the interested them much; they scene. They also interviewed us. wanted to interact with people The following morning we got a from the West. Because the phone call from friends in New Soviet Union was a virtual York. They told us excitedly that prison, its citizens thirsted to they had seen the popular program know what was going on in The editor of Ogonyok Good Morning America, where they western countries. Among our visiting the Rebbe had given the book fair three visitors were people from the minutes. Two of those minutes weekly communist paper for youth, Ogonyok. Twenty million copies showed the t’fillin at our stall with a were printed and disseminated all over the Soviet Union. short interview with us. They were excited to speak to us and when they heard that we The outstanding success of the published a magazine they offered to arrange a meeting with their previous day with the t’fillin had editor-in-chief, Mr. Victor Korotich. In their attempts to persuade us to gotten me even more enthusiastic. I attend the meeting, they promised that when we would go to the thought: A Jew does not stand still. newspaper’s office, they would show us restricted video clips of Lenin, You have to move forward. What am Trotsky and Stalin and a video excerpt of the communist convention I doing tomorrow better than with the participation of Neo-Nazis and anti-Semites. Mr. Korotich yesterday? was a liberal by nature and he fought anti-Semitism. In the morning I told Moshiach We accepted their offer and went to their offices. Mr. Korotich was my idea. We would take the bottle of not in the office at the time and we waited for him. It got late and we mashke we had gotten from the had to daven Mincha. Since there was an atmosphere of openness in Rebbe and give it out to the visitors Russia at that time, we dared to ask for permission to daven Mincha in as “mashke from the Rebbe.” We the editor’s office. They were happy to grant it and even asked us to would tell them that since it was pray for them that they succeed in their public work on behalf of Elul, we were giving out mashke to freedom of speech and freedom of religion. I thought, certainly no Jew salute the New Year. had ever davened Mincha in the offices of the editor of Ogonyok before! At first we were very nervous. He did not end up showing up that day and his men arranged Just a short while before, Gorbachev another meeting for the following day. This time I went alone and had spoken against drinking Moshiach stayed at the fair. The editor welcomed me with open alcoholic beverages in public places admiration and I interviewed him for our publication. During the because in Russia, gentiles got interview I asked him what his opinion was about the political changes drunk and didn’t work properly. taking place and he said they had to fight for freedom of religion and How could we do this near the freedom of speech. police and KGB? A year and a half later, on 11 Tishrei 5751, Professor Branover Once again, the fire of Chassidus brought Mr. Korotich for “dollars.” Prof. Branover introduced him by won the day. We brought the bottle saying: Although he is not Jewish, but Ukrainian, he fights against anti- of mashke and told visitors that the Semitism. Lubavitcher Rebbe gave this mashke “I myself was in Russia,” said the Rebbe, “and I was a reader of for the Jews of the Soviet Union. We Ogonyok, but many things have changed, seemingly for the better, since told them about the Rebbe and they then. You are one of those who has the power to make the change to all said “mezonos” on the cookies illuminate with the fire that is in your hands and to see to it that the fire that we brought from New York and is not a consuming fire but a fire that gives the strength to reach greater l’chaim on the Rebbe’s mashke. heights and bring good news. We wished them all blessings for “Hashem should help that you don’t need to fight but the the New Year in the name of the government itself will help you. There are good indications that the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Some women government is changing fundamentally regarding these matters (Jewish had come with little children. We tradition) and not only does it not interfere, but it even helps.” gave them only mezonos and it was
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& touching to see these Jewish women enjoying hearing their children repeat the bracha after them, word by word. This was all in the presence of Pasha, the KGB man. What we experienced in those days was just incredible.
A MOVING DRASHA IN THE MAIN SHUL According to the schedule, the fair was supposed to end on Monday of the following week. Of course our stall would not be open on Shabbos but since we knew that many Jews would be visiting the fair on Shabbos, we decided to spread Judaism through the closed stall. Friday afternoon, we closed the stall as usual and inside we set up a Rabbi Zaltzman putting t’fillin on with a visitor to the booth small table with a bottle of wine and challos covered by a nice challa Indeed, as we approached the “This is the lesson that we must cover. We hung up a sign that said: shul, we saw dozens of young instill in our children, in our On Shabbos we don’t work. people standing outside the shul grandchildren, who are so precious Since we had to walk a ways to listening to Jewish music. We to us, to dedicate them to matters of get to the shul, we walked there on thought how sad it was that they Judaism and holiness,” I said Shabbos morning wrapped in our wanted to see Jews from another passionately. “Now, as Russia is talleisim as people do in Crown world and went to shul for that speaking about openness, a new era Heights and Kfar Chabad. Our reason, but they didn’t know you and democracy, there are more excitement overcame all our fears. can’t use a tape recorder on opportunities to dedicate the lives of We figured that since an Shabbos. young people to Torah and international event was taking place Throughout the davening, I mitzvos.” in Moscow that Jews were thought of what could be done to The enormous excitement of the participating in, many young people help these young people. I went crowd, many of whom who had would be attending the main shul, over to one of the gabbaim whom I been moved to tears, had an effect knowing that guests from abroad had been friendly with before the on me and inspired me in return. I would be there. davening, and I said I was a guest got off the bima with tears in my from the United States and I eyes. wanted to address the crowd. He I would sum up my trip to agreed but he said I had to speak in Moscow as follows: For the nearly Russian or I wouldn’t be two weeks that we were in Moscow, understood. I agreed. my fear dissipated and I acted as I thought about how to get the though I was in New York. I never young people into the shul. I asked felt such a powerful spiritual Moshe Chaim Levin to call them in inspiration. In this article I tried to so they could hear the drasha. describe it a little bit but writing Within a short time, the shul was does not do justice to emotions. I full of young Jews. It was Shabbos can only say this, that in those two Parshas Ki Savo and I reviewed the weeks I lived and felt the Chassidic Rebbe’s sicha on “reishis saying, “standing a handbreadth arisoseichem” that Jews need to above the ground.” That is how I A Belzer Chassid filming devote their first years to matters of felt. at the book fair holiness.
#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB JLPEF>@E DDBRI> ~ The Final Era ~
kindness,’27 goodness that is apparent and revealed.” The Rebbe speaks about the beginning of a “new period,” BEGINNING ostensibly referring to the stage that follows the Shiva in the custom of mourning, and the blessings he proceeds to impart are in response to all the blessings and consolation WITH WORDS granted the mourner, the Rebbe, throughout the Shiva. However, in retrospect, knowing that four years later, on the Rebbetzin’s yahrtzait in 5752, the Rebbe cites the Rebbetzin’s OF MATERIAL passing as the onset of the final stage in the Rebbe’s leadership, the final stretch leading up to the true and complete Redemption, there is no doubt that the blessings that follow in BLESSINGS the address of 5748 have further reach, opening the final era with a blessing to provide the necessary By Boruch Merkur strength to succeed in the final mission, fusing G-dliness with the “Since also ‘their bodies are holy,’ it is world so thoroughly that no distinction is detected between understood that the benefit that comes material existence and the very Essence of G-d. in the merit of the daughter of the The blessings the Rebbe gives are truly profound. The Rebbe suggests leader of our generation is not only that the blessings are coming from none other than G-d Himself: “…it relevant to matters of the soul but also states in legal rulings and so on, (in fact, first and foremost) relevant to founded upon the Written Torah, that G-d blesses all those who bless matters of the body and individual [others]: ‘I will bless those who bless you,’28 ‘all those who bless [others] concerns.” * Tracing the Rebbe MH”M’s are blessed’29 with the blessing of the Holy One Blessed Be He, ‘from His instructions on how to perfect our full, open, holy, and broad hand.’”30 And the Rebbe goes on to explain at Divine service in the Final Era. some length the particular virtues of G-d’s blessings – how G-d’s A NEW ERA BEGINS WITH A BLESSING blessings are quantitatively and Upon the completion of the Shiva, the first seven days qualitatively superior, for example, and how they are of mourning, the Rebbe spoke,23 beginning with words quickly fulfilled. The blessings are particularly of note, the of blessings, explaining that Rebbe explains, insofar as they arise in the merit of the holy Rebbetzin, daughter of the Rebbe Rayatz, “the leader “At the beginning of a new period or a new concept and the of the generation.”31 And the Rebbe concludes by saying like, the Torah says that there must be ‘opening with a that the blessing should extend to blessing’24 … How much more so when the new period follows the Shiva25 and from now on ‘they shall have no “the particular matters of each and every Jew…as well as the further worry at all,’26 only consolation, ‘Just goodness and general concern, the imminent true and complete Redemption through our righteous Moshiach ...
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& ~ The Final Era ~
“And also that in the final few moments prior to the material needs. Redemption, every single Jew should experience, ‘Just It is extremely difficult if not impossible to serve G-d goodness and kindness,’ goodness that is apparent and properly when one experiences physical ailments and revealed, both with regard to spiritual matters as well as material insufficiencies, and therefore, health and an material concerns.” ample livelihood enables one to devote himself to G-d Thus, the Rebbe’s blessing is intended not only to hasten without distraction, etc. But perhaps there is an additional the Redemption, as well as the goodness that it entails for reason for the emphasis on “matters of the body and every individual Jew, but also to grant a smooth transition individual concerns,” independent of the concern of our into Redemption, with blessings of “just goodness and service of G-d. That is, there must be the realization of kindness, etc.,” even prior to the actual Redemption. blessings of material bounty simply as a preparation for the Redemption, initiating the transformation of the FIRST AND FOREMOST A BLESSING FOR MATERIAL MATTERS world we presently experience to one that resembles the The notion that the blessing is to apply “both with future era, an era of material abundance and perfection. regard to spiritual matters as well as material concerns” is an appropriate segue into the Redemption, for the coming NOTES: era promises a synthesis of both worlds. Spirituality no 23 Seifer HaSichos 5748 Vol. 1, pg. 271 ff. longer takes precedence over materiality. In fact, if there 24 is any preference, it is on the side of the physical, as the Yerushalmi Chagiga 2:1; Zohar VaYigash, beg. See Rebbe explains at length: Footnote 1 in the original. 25 “…just as the Redemption from Exile is (primarily) with See Footnote 2 in the original. 32 regard to bodily matters, since the soul never went into 26 Wording of Scripture: Yermiyahu 31:11. exile – as is known from the statement of the leader of the 27 generation,33 the deceased’s father, in the name of his Wording of Scripture: T’hillim 23:6. father, the Rebbe (Rashab), whose soul is in heaven – so too 28 Lech Lecha 12:3. with regard to the bestowal of goodness and kindness in the 29 last moments of Exile (as a preparation for the Redemption), See Sota 38b; Yerushalmi Brachos Ch. 8, end, cited in the benefit must extend (not only to the spiritual concerns of Tosafos, Chullin 49a, words beginning with “I will bless.” the soul, but also and perhaps primarily) to the physical 30 Third blessing of Grace After Meals. concerns of the body. 31 [The Rebbe MH”M views his own leadership as an “And since not only are ‘their souls holy,’ but also ‘their extension of that of his father in-law, the Rebbe Rayatz.] bodies are holy’34 … it is understood that the benefit that 32 comes in the merit of the deceased, the daughter of the Similarly with regard to the Era of the Resurrection of the leader of our generation, is not only relevant to matters of Dead, for the concept of death is that the soul departs from the body, and in the time of the Resurrection also the body will the soul but also (in fact, first and foremost35) relevant to live [again]. matters of the body and individual concerns…and in a manner that is visible to our eyes of flesh, ‘pointing with 33 The address of 3 Tammuz 5687, published in Seifer one’s finger and saying “this.”’” HaMaamarim Kuntreisim Vol. 1, pg. 175b and pg. 196, among other places. Given the inherent perfection of the soul, the main preparation for the Redemption is actually physical in 34 Zohar III 70b. nature. Thus, the blessings bestowed upon the Jewish 35 To note that the Zohar quoted mentions “their bodies are people, at the very beginning of the Final Era, emphasize holy” before “their souls holy.” the primacy of the body, blessings that address our 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
#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB CB>QROB
tourists from all over Eretz Yisroel and the world – and not necessarily for the Judaica items, jewelry, and pictures that are sold there. WINDING With a warm and winning smile, even somewhat shy and reserved, and a full-bearded chassidic appearance, Rabbi Bar-Oner offers passers-by the opportunity to fulfill STRAPS IN the mitzva of t’fillin. To the non- Jewish tourists and visitors, he hands them an informational brochure on the Seven Noachide Laws. It turns out that in this THE ARTISTS’ charming little nook, people who usually display alienation and detachment from Yiddishkait are influenced by the historic Jewish atmosphere of the Holy City of QUARTER Tzfas, and they respond positively to his request. By Nosson Avrohom Rabbi Bar-Oner has a strange Translated By Michoel Leib Dobry and most unusual custom. After putting on t’fillin with someone or before he removes them, he asks the After receiving his pension, he pondered person to be photographed with him. Later, he will place the picture on how he could fulfill his promise in the special database he has prepared on his computer. When we made during the height of the battle to asked him to explain this custom, he smiled and gave a simple reply: spread G-dliness in the world. He “Just as I make an annual balance decided to open an art gallery in the sheet as a shopkeeper, so too with my t’fillin activities. Every year, I try Old City of Tzfas, which would serve as to put t’fillin on more people than the year before.” a base to connect with Jewish tourists When Rabbi Bar-Oner speaks about quantity, one cannot fail to be and visitors, and put t’fillin on with amazed. According to his computations, he put t’fillin last them. “My main thought focused on how year on 2,152 Jews! He writes a to get as many Jews as possible on the detailed report on the number of people that put on t’fillin and the Artists’ Lane to put on t’fillin,” says special episodes he experienced, and submits it to the Rebbe by Rabbi Avraham Bar-Oner in a personal placing it a volume of Igros Kodesh. “You have to send a report to the and moving interview. m’shaleiach,” he says with a modest smile. There is much nostalgic magic in the Old City of Tzfas, an It turns out that Rabbi Bar- to be found in the crowded store of attachment of attractive stone Oner’s customary reports to the R. Avraham Bar-Oner of Tzfas. passageways and alleys, constituting Rebbe didn’t start during the four His shop is located on Artists’ Lane a focal point that draws many years he has run his art gallery in
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& the Old City. At this point, we can among his responsibilities was to breakthrough came when he went begin telling his most remarkable send regular weekly reports to the out to put t’fillin on thousands of and extraordinary life story. Rebbe. IDF soldiers during the Second Rabbi Bar-Oner was born on I am quite certain that many Lebanon War. He was everywhere Kibbutz Kfar Glickson, joined the people in the Chabad community of with his pairs of t’fillin. Israel Defense Forces as a Tzfas simply don’t know Rabbi Bar- R. Avraham Bar-Oner spent the paratrooper, and was wounded in a Oner, a shy and introverted Jew early years of his childhood with his battle waged at Sinai Farm during who doesn’t feel a need to stand Moroccan immigrant family on the Yom Kippur War. At the height out. However, it turns out that Kibbutz Kfar Glickson, located near of the war, when he began to see when it comes to matters pertaining Haifa. Despite the fact that his miracles on the battlefield, he to the Rebbe, he operates like a family descended from Torah promised that if he would come out swift deer. scholars and great rabbis, it was alive, he would return to the His great personal breakthrough specifically in Eretz Yisroel that the traditions of his people. He came in his T’fillin Campaign liberal kibbutz life managed to promised and he fulfilled. After he activities. This began fifteen years destroy their commitment to the had come close to the light of the ago with his participation in path of their forefathers, and the Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, he spreading the wellsprings of children were educated like any became a true chassid and chassidus and the announcement of other kibbutz member. Even when established a chassidic family. Over the Redemption at home games of the family moved from the kibbutz the years, he served as personal the HaPoel Galil HaElyon basketball and settled on Moshav Nativ secretary to the Rebbe’s head team at Kibbutz Kfar Blum, during HaShayara, they continued to shliach in Tzfas, Rabbi Aryeh Leib their miraculous Premier League conduct their lives with minimal Kaplan, of blessed memory, and championship season. His second traditional observance, except for
Receiving “kos shel bracha” from the Rebbe MH”M
#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB fasting on Yom Kippur and token the outbreak of the Yom Kippur at Sinai Farm, where he lost most of commemoration of the other Jewish War. Even though I was not yet his friends and commanders in the holidays. Torah observant, I decided to go to platoon. It appears that to this day, “One day, I discovered that we shul that night. Just as the Kol he has difficulty forgetting those were descendants of Rabbi David Nidrei prayers were beginning, my blood-drenched hours when he and ben Baruch, a great and prominent deputy commander came in and his friends turned into sitting ducks. kabbalist in Morocco, in whose ordered me to get myself ready and It was then in those hours filled name dozens of synagogues for be at the collection point within ten with fear and dread, when most of Moroccan émigrés in Eretz Yisroel hours. When we got to the his friends were killed or wounded, are called. Regrettably, my family collection point, we didn’t know one after another right before his endured what thousands of other that war was about to start. We eyes, that he made the decision to North African immigrant families naively thought that we were about return to the path of his Jewish endured, when they came to Eretz to go out on military operations tradition. He was unable to save his Yisroel and their Jewish roots were behind enemy lines and utilize the friends because they had been destroyed by the Israeli reality. I techniques we had sharpened struck by Egyptian tank and always had this investigative streak during the months of exhausting artillery fire. When the war ended in me, trying to look at things from basic training. and the investigations began, it was under their outer layer. When I was “That very night, I appeared at discovered that Bar-Oner and his a boy, I remember situations when I our collection base at Beit Lid, comrades were deliberately used as thought to myself: How does the where I met all the soldiers in my decoys to mislead the Egyptians, world exist? What is our mission in platoon, alert yet curious to know when they had no real chance of the world? When will it be possible why we had been brought in so fighting back, as Ariel Sharon and to attain true satisfaction from our urgently. A few minutes later, when his division retook the Suez Canal. time in this world? the commander came in to address “We were unaware of the hard “This entire process was one of the unit and started to instill some fighting and the numerous self-searching. While this happened motivation within us, we casualties that we had suffered on with most of my friends later in life, understood that something was the battlefield. Back in those days, it began to develop with me during wrong. He then got right to the we were in a state of euphoria. The my early childhood. In 5733, I was point and informed us that the Israel Defense Forces was the inducted into the army, just as all Egyptians and the Syrians were strongest army in the Middle East, my friends were. In which branch of about to attack. Already the very especially after the Six Day War and the service? Naturally, the one next day, we learned that the other retaliatory operations. We where I’d see the most action. In Egyptians had crossed the Suez were only waiting for another those days, my friends and I had a Canal and the Syrians had taken opportunity to show our power to lot of motivation, and I stubbornly Mt. Hermon. Our mission was to the world. I stubbornly went out to asked to serve with the enter the Golan Heights and retake the frontline, despite the fact that I paratroopers, a select brigade that Mt. Hermon. At the last moment, had just finished basic training. The aroused much honor and just as we were boarding the commander saw that I was admiration. A soldier who walked northbound helicopters, the mission determined, and he agreed to relieve around with a red beret did so with was cancelled and we traveled one soldier and put me in his place. his shoulders back and chest out, instead to Refidim at the border Thus, we went out on two half- and received much adulation from with Egypt.” tracks behind the Akavish Route in all those around him. After the It seems that the many years that Sinai, where we joined up with the initial classification, I was sent to have passed since R. Avraham took troops of the Shaked Platoon 890, then under the part in that war have not dimmed reconnaissance patrol, which had command of Mr. Yitzchak the harsh visions and experiences already proceeded toward the Mordechai. that he endured on the battlefield. Egyptians. “After a few months of back- He sighs and goes to make a cup of “During the night, some of the breaking basic training, we were herbal tea for each of us, and then fiercest battles known in Israel’s privileged to get a week’s furlough he settles down with difficulty and military history had taken place before we would return to the army begins to reveal his participation in there. Tanks against tanks. They as skilled fighters. The furlough was one of the most dangerous battles in managed to penetrate our tanks cut short after only two days with Israel’s military history – the battle with direct hits. The situation was
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& not so simple. It was only then I whenever he wanted. There was a passed by us and absorbed the began to realize that I was in the sense of dread. We felt like cannon missile’s impact. It was a horrific midst of a war where there was a fodder. The rockets whizzed from scene. The entire tank crew was serious chance I might not come every direction. Yet, out of this killed. I remember how the tank back alive. The air was filled with sense of blood-curdling uncertainty, commander tried unsuccessfully to fire, smoke, and the piercing there was first revealed within me extricate himself from the burning screams of the wounded. There was the nekuda of faith in the Creator of tank with his last ounce of strength. great confusion that bloody night. the World. These were sights that a person can The troops of the Shaked “I made a vow that if I get off never forget. It was only later that reconnaissance patrol were the first this battlefield alive, I will become a our armored tank divisions to move forward, and took the full baal t’shuva and devote my entire managed to cross the canal, force of the Egyptian firepower. All life to G-d. At the moment that I detected the source of the artillery of their half-tracks, without finished making my vow, an fire, and destroyed the Egyptian exception, were severely damaged Egyptian Sagger missile was fired forces there. This adventure came at and most of their forces were killed. and passed about three feet over the cost of hundreds of our soldiers, “We were next in line to move our heads. We were sure that the and to this day, this battle arouses great debate over how critically important it was at that time. “After breaking through the At the height of the war, when he Suez, we traveled all night in the began to see miracles on the direction of Cairo. The Egyptian forces were in full retreat, and no battlefield, he promised that if he one interfered with our forward progress. That morning, Cairo lay would come out alive, he would return before us and our job was to reach Ismalia in order to catch the to the traditions of his people. He Egyptian commandos by surprise. According to our military promised and he fulfilled. After he intelligence, the commandos were had come close to the light of the waiting there, and it was our mission to take the ground. Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, he “When we got there, I saw yet another miracle that clearly showed became a true chassid and established G-d is watching us. Just a moment after we nonchalantly got out of our a chassidic family. vehicle, it was struck by a Sagger missile and exploded into fragments. I thought to myself at forward, and my vehicle was the next one would be more precise and that moment that if we had been first among the two that we had. It hit us. Nevertheless, in time of war, inside, it wouldn’t be hard to was at this point that I internalized you don’t pay attention to such imagine what would have been left and reconciled myself to the fact thoughts and you keep moving. It’s of us… The missile had exposed us that my death was near. It was clear seems absurd: On the one hand, out in the open, and we understood to me that our lot would not be any you know that your end is near, but that despite the brilliant victories more pleasant than that of the on the other hand, you press that had accompanied us in the last Shaked forces. It was most difficult forward. The Egyptians fired few hours, they wouldn’t let us off for us to return fire, as the enemy another missile. We saw it heading so easily here. was well camouflaged and we straight for us. It was a matter of “Another bloody battle took couldn’t see them. The fear was just another few seconds before it place in this area, and many fine great since we didn’t know the would hit us and we’d all be killed. men in our platoon fell in the enemy was located. He could be Paralyzing terror seized us… conflict. The backbone of our entire looking anywhere and could strike “Then, at the last possible command was killed in the you at the very next moment moment, an IDF tank quickly cornfields of Ismalia in our face-to-
#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB Refidim, and from there to teach me what I was lacking. “I made a vow Beilenson Hospital. After a few days “The three people were Rabbi of treatment, I was sent to rest at Yossi Solomon, who taught me that if I get off Kibbutz Ma’ale HaChamisha.” Chumash, Rabbi Moshe Rosenfeld, this battlefield Numerous pieces of shrapnel who taught me halacha, and Rabbi remained in R. Avraham Bar-Oner’s Ben-Tzion Cohen, who taught me alive, I will body, as an everlasting testimony to chassidus. When I completed my that terrible nightmare. Afterwards, daily responsibilities on the base, I become a baal he moved on to serve in a staff would travel to Kfar Chabad and position on a paratrooper base near learn with them, and thus began t’shuva and devote Ramle, under the command of Gen. taking considerable steps along the Dan Shomron. path of our forefathers. I found a my entire life to He had not forgotten his beautiful world of purity and G-d. At the promise to G-d if he would get out holiness. I wondered to myself why of the blood-drenched war alive, I had to go through the war and see moment that I nor the many miracles that he saw such revealed miracles in order for during the conflict. He decided that me to accept a lifestyle that was so finished making he would make a drastic change in much better and more pleasant than his lifestyle. Even during his period what I had known up until now?! my vow, an of hospitalization and “When I was released from my convalescence, it was clear to him military service, I joined Rabbi Egyptian Sagger that he was on the way to becoming Gafni’s yeshiva in Kfar Chabad, missile was fired a baal t’shuva. He didn’t wait until where I was quickly exposed with the end of his military service, great intensity to the whole concept and passed about rather at the first opportunity, he of ‘Rebbe.’ They would wake me up became acquainted with a religious every time to hear the Rebbe’s three feet over our soldier on the base, who taught him sicha, and I would hear his voice the basics of proper Jewish conduct. and the powerful tones of the heads. We were “I felt that the words of Torah Rebbe’s speech. Even though I that he taught me, and his ways and didn’t understand the content of his sure that the next customs in general, were the words, I was spellbound. Later, one would be more equivalent of cold water for a tired Rabbi Gafni sent me to serve as a soul. I saw a calm and quiet Jew, math teacher in a Chabad school on precise and hit something that strengthened me in Moshav Barosh, where they were my decision to make a change in looking for a first-grade teacher. us...” direction. When I wanted to expand “I always had a burning desire to and deepen my knowledge, he travel to the Rebbe, meet him face face encounters with Sudanese suggested that I get in touch with a to face, and derive pleasure from soldiers that the Egyptians had certain rabbi who he knew in B’nei the radiance of the Sh’china. After hired. The Sudanese were far more Brak. He told me a lot of wonderful three months, when I had enough courageous than the Egyptians, and things about him. The name of the money in addition to my military they showed no fear, fighting under rav he suggested was Rabbi Shneur discharge grant, I got on a plane en mortal danger right down to the last Zalman Gafni. One day, after we route to 770. man. They entrenched themselves finished our work on the base, we “It is hard to put into words well down in the ditches, their traveled together to Rabbi Gafni’s what I sensed and experienced in knapsacks filled with ammunition, house to meet with him. I Tammuz 5737, when I was as they fired at any IDF soldier who immediately saw standing before me privileged to see the Rebbe for the came near. The orders were to a Jew filled with much warmth and first time. This celestial feeling attack them. After a few minutes of compassion. He listened to us with accompanied me for days on end. I fierce fighting, I was wounded by great patience. After a lengthy felt as if I were a son who was shrapnel from a grenade that was discussion, he gave the names of meeting his father after not seeing thrown in front of me. I was three people in Kfar Chabad. He him for many years.” transported to a frontline base in told me that they would be able to [To be continued]
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& PEIF@ERP
then he expanded to all of Central Asia. He has sent out matzos and religious items to the Jews of the countries under his watch and has ‘I HAD TO local representatives who operate shuls and other mosdos. Every so often, Rabbi Gurewitz and shluchim who work with him in nearby cities went to nearby LEAVE MY countries in order to raise money for programs, religious items, and lots of support and encouragement. During his first years in PLACE OF Tashkent, lack of funding was a major obstacle that he had to overcome by fundraising abroad. When the wheel of fortune turned and his former student, Lev Leviev, SHLICHUS’ began to contribute personally and then through Ohr Avner, he was able to build magnificent mosdos, By Shneur Zalman Berger including the school where hundreds of students study. But Rabbi Abba Dovid Gurewitz, rav of the wheel continued to turn and the huge budget for the school, Uzbekistan, who had to leave his place shuls, soup kitchen, shiurim for students, etc., led certain people to of shlichus, tells us about the sad chain give negative reports to the government about them. of events that forced him to board a Although up until then there had been a problem with the plane with a one-way ticket. legality of the rabbanus in Tashkent, the government had Shliach, Rabbi Abba Dovid about his future and the future of turned a blind eye. But now, Gurewitz, chief rabbi of Chabad in Tashkent and Chabad of instead of the great respect with Uzbekistan, radiates optimism all of Uzbekistan and neighboring which the government had despite the enormous pressure countries. The Chabad mosdos in generally treated Chabad and brought to bear on him recently, to Tashkent that were founded by Rabbi Gurewitz, Rabbi Gurewitz compel him to leave the country. Rabbi Gurewitz with the Rebbe’s was called repeatedly to OVIR, the He doesn’t even know the precise bracha over the past two decades emigration office, and was asked to reason for it. It is assumed that are in imminent danger of falling leave the country. It happened time some people who previously apart. Hundreds of students and and again until Rabbi Gurewitz worked for Jewish mosdos, like the thousands of mekuravim will be realized he had to leave and work Jewish Agency and local Jewish left high and dry. on straightening things out from cultural centers, are the ones who The primitiveness, bureaucracy Eretz Yisroel. conspired against him. They may and the Islamic terror in the The media said that you were have held grudges for being fired country did not deter Rabbi expelled from Uzbekistan. What or because they want his money Gurewitz, who was sent twenty caused them to expel you? and beautiful mosdos. years ago by the Rebbe to I wasn’t expelled. A The bottom line is Rabbi Tashkent, where he has been misunderstanding led the Gurewitz boarded a plane for Eretz working tirelessly every since. He government to pressure me to Yisroel, where he is now, uncertain began working in Tashkent and leave. That’s typical of the media:
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& to publicize something before from the Israeli ambassador in Up until a few years ago, the verifying it. And the story that the Uzbekistan, who told me that I local authorities afforded great president’s daughter wants to do didn’t have to obey them. I decided respect to Chabad of Tashkent construction on the lot of the shul that I couldn’t go on like this with and to you especially, so what is something I read for the first constant pressure to leave and not happened? time in an article in an Israeli being able to do my work. It’s hard to pinpoint what led to newspaper. I don’t know who Unfortunately, certain people this mess, but the problems began made that up. badmouthed me, making up ten years ago when Islamic terror In recent weeks I was called to stories, and nobody has told me organizations became a strong OVIR twice and they required me what they said, so I went to the presence in the country and in to buy a ticket, which I did, but airport accompanied by an OVIR order to limit their influence it was there are only two flights a week official to verify that I went to decided that all the religious from Tashkent to Eretz Yisroel and check-in. At customs, which in organizations would be in between they told me each time Uzbekistan is also done when you reorganized. The decision was that they were sorry and I didn’t leave, they went beyond the norm made that any officially religious have to go. The third time it in examining me. After they organization could exist in the happened was 1 Sivan, when the finished combing through every country only if it had eight official manager of OVIR told me that he item in my suitcase, additional branches in eight different had gotten an order to order me to officials were called over to locations. buy a ticket. conduct another search. I was apprised of this new law I told him that I hadn’t done It was only several days later and it was a bolt from the blue. anything illegal and I wanted to that I heard that a certain Jewish There had never been eight shuls know why I had to leave the woman who is known for her love in Uzbekistan in eight different country. He apologized but said he of money, who makes up stories to locations! After great effort I was had to follow orders. I realized that tell the government, told the able to start other branches, but the pressure wouldn’t stop and I customs officials that I was leaving not eight of them and that ended agreed to leave, even though, as I with gold and diamonds which I my serving as chief rabbi of the sat at OVIR I got a phone call amassed in my years in Tashkent. country and the official representative of the Jews to the government. Doing away with this position posed a problem for the tremendous work being done in Tashkent and throughout the country, and on many occasions it was necessary to oppose government people. When a rav from Tashkent wants to work in a distant town, it’s not always accepted, but if the chief rabbi wants to work there, it’s another story and the government cooperates. Because of this new law, the institution of rabbanus was shut down. In the years that followed I worked with nonstop effort among various government figures in order to get things back to the way they were. On the one hand, it didn’t help, but on the other hand, nobody stopped me from continuing to serve as the acting Lev Leviev(right) with Rabbi Gurewitz and the president of Uzbekistan
#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB chief rabbi. Nobody actually did pressure for me to leave increased. with the Israeli ambassador to away with the rabbinic I won’t get into the Uzbekistan, who is close to the end organization which did so much bureaucratic details here, but three of his tenure there, and with the work around the country. months ago, officials from the next ambassador, who met with me That’s the way things were until justice ministry came to my office in Israel for a few hours and someone was fired from their job and began checking the paperwork promised to work on this. at the Jewish Agency and now for the money. They checked the I met with Rabbi Shlomo Amar, they’re writing articles against me bank statements again and again, chief rabbi in Israel. We spoke on the government’s official the movement in the accounts, the about gittin because we work Internet site. Another person, the receipts, etc., and I didn’t know together with the chief rabbinate of money hungry woman I referred what they were looking for. All this Israel. Rabbi Amar praised our to, who is associated with the local paperwork is at the bank too. work in general and our work on cultural center and nobody can They left without saying a word. behalf of kosher gittin in stand up to her, has been making It seems they are the ones who are particular. We also spoke about up lies even though after repeated saying that I did criminal acts, this mess we are in and Rabbi investigations nobody has found such as transferring undeclared Amar said he would try and help. I am grateful to all those who help. In the meantime, what’s happening there? Is money coming in? Are the mosdos open? The shliach Rabbi Dovid Kolton, whom I brought to Tashkent a few years ago, continues to work there. Money was left for the salaries of those who work at the school, shuls, and other mosdos. The mosdos are operating, but obviously if the situation continues, who knows what will happen… It’s definitely not easy running mosdos with hundreds of children and dozens of employees this way. How do you think this will end? Rabbi Gurewitz with Jews in Andijan, Uzbekistan I will soon meet with the Uzbeki ambassador to Israel and anything on me. money from abroad, but there have tell him that for the sake of his Nevertheless, they kept been no official charges. No person country he cannot close down the harassing me. For example, the in the legal department came to me mosad of rabbanus and expel the money I get comes entirely from and said: You have committed a Rebbe’s shliach. I will also convey abroad and all the money that crime and you have to leave the to him that I did not do anything comes from other countries has to country. illegal. pass through a special committee Is anybody helping you out of I have written to the Rebbe that prevents terrorism and money this mess? many times throughout this ordeal laundering. Recently, they have Rabbi Levi Shemtov in and have received encouraging been keeping the funds tied up in Washington is working hard in answers in the Igros Kodesh. I am the committee. This has been government and diplomatic circles, hopeful that I will soon return to going on for many months and the including the ambassador of my shlichus and along with all the employees of the mosdos remained Uzbekistan to the United States. shluchim will hasten the hisgalus of without salaries. Just recently some Lev Leviev met several times with the Rebbe MH”M. money was released, but the Uzbeki figures. I personally spoke
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& DFJJBIQQ>JJRW NO REPLACEMENT FOR OUR MOSHE RABBEINU
By Rabbi Yaakov Rogalsky, Rebbi United Lubavitch Yeshiva Crown Street
wait of Moshe returning that they The entire Jewish people know about could no longer expect their anticipation to be fulfilled. They the Rebbe’s directives: the Rebbe gave up on their expectation. speaks, technology spreads it, and the They doubted if Moshe Rabbeinu would return at all. The people Chassidim and Shluchim teach it. demanded that which Aharon was to make – it was to take the place The world is aware that there is one of Moshe and not Hashem. They presumed Moshe had an accident Nasi. But then Gimmel Tammuz and had died. They wanted Aharon to give them a “Moshe” comes along... whom they could not lose. A famous question is asked, It was a bright sunny day; no Terrifying doubts existed about “Why did the Yidden choose a clouds in this area ever appear in the future. “How can we subsist golden calf to replace Moshe the summer. There was a growing in the desert without Moshe? Rabbeinu?” Rav Yohnason joyful anticipation among the How will we now be able to Eybeshitz in Tiferes Yehonason entire populace. The forty days communicate with Hashem?” replies (The Gutnick Edition were completed. Moshe Rabbeinu Fright ensued. The Holy Nation Chumash Shmos page 237) that was returning with the two luchos freaked out. The Ibn Ezra writes B’nei Yisroel knew that if Moshe (Mishpatim 24: 12-18). As the (Introduction to Shmos 32:1) that had returned, Hashem would have day stretched on simcha was the Jewish people did not intend spoken to Moshe from between replaced with worry. “Why hasn’t to worship an idol, G-d forbid. the two cherubs that were on top Moshe Rabbeinu returned?” They felt they needed a concrete of the Aron HaKodesh. They now Questions became filled with form through which they could decided to make their own anxiety. Faces were absorbed with serve Hashem. The Ramban says cherubs so Hashem could speak panic. (Shmos 32:1) they sought a to them. However their cherubs The skies started to thicken replacement for Moshe Rabbeinu were not the faces of a child as in and a deep darkness hovered over to guide them. Rav Shimshon the Mishkan but rather the face of the camp. There appeared a coffin Raphael Hirsch comments (Shmos an ox (calf). This is because the in the sky (designed by the Satan) 32:1) that the Jews waited until face of an ox appeared on the left and it appeared that Moshe was they saw themselves disappointed side of Yechezkel’s merkava lying dead in it (Ki Sisa 32:1; in their expectations. They came (chariot). Moshe is compared to Rashi “For As For Moshe”). to the conclusion from their long the right side of Hashem as the
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& pasuk says “He led at Moshe’s always when I will visit upon them will be with you.” The Torah right, the arm of His glory” their sins I will visit upon them a T’mima explains (VaYeilech 31:7 (Isaiah 63:12). Without Moshe little of this sin (of the Golden notes 3 and 5) the difference they assumed that Hashem was Calf) together with the other sins. between when Moshe spoke to not relating to His people on the No punishment comes upon Yeshua (the verse says “when you right side of the merkava but Yisroel in which there is not a shall go”) and when Hashem rather through the left side, little of the punishment for the sin speaks to Yeshua (the verse says, through Aharon. Therefore they of the Calf.” “You shall bring”). Since Hashem asked Aharon to “Make us gods In Jewish history there is a changed the language when He (cherubs) that will go before us” known fact that there is one main commanded Yeshua to when (Shmos 32:1). leader (Nasi) for each generation Moshe commanded Yeshua, However, although their and not two leaders (Tractate Hashem saw that it was good only intentions cast their actions in a Sanhedrin 8a). Rashi quotes this when there is one leader in each different light so that they do not Gemara in Parshas VaYeilech generation. Moshe tells Yeshua appear quite as devastating, (31:7) when Moshe calls to “you shall go” – you and the nonetheless, the Jewish people Yeshua and tells him that “you people: you are one of the people; were wrong. This error was to shall go with the people into the but when Hashem says to Yeshua, such an extent that when Moshe land that Hashem has promised to “you will bring them” – you will pleads for Hashem’s forgiveness, their fathers to give them.” In a be the head and the leader to Hashem answers, “Nevertheless in further verse (31:23), according them. As Rav Hirsh says on this the day that I visit I will visit their to Rashi: Hashem commands verse, “There must be only one sin upon them.” (Shmos 32:34) Yeshua and says to him “be strong supreme speaker for any Rashi explains, “Now I have and of good courage for you shall contemporary time.” listened to you not to destroy bring B’nei Yisroel to the land The Jewish people knew this them altogether, but always, which I promised to them and I fact that there is only one Nasi
#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB per each generation. This fact themselves with the Torah and in currently in our physical presence. started with the Avos, continued comprehending the works of all We now have this chance to with Yosef when he said, the preceding Sages. They rectify the terrible tragedy that “Hashem will consider you again enabled others to learn from them accompanies us throughout in our and take you from galus” the paths of the law … The Torah serving Hashem. (B’Reishis 50:24) and then with decisions of each area could not But there are those that will Amram and Moshe. This be disseminated to other Jews declare that Gimmel Tammuz is continues throughout Tanach, The because of the distance of their not identical to the time of the Anshei K’neses HaG’dola, the localities and the difficulties of Calf. Then, Moshe Rabbeinu was Tanaim, the Amoraim, and the traveling.” still alive. For this the Rebbe Reish Galusa. When the Jews left Each city and province had Shlita MH”M, in explaining the Eretz Yisroel and resided in Bavel their leader. Each section had Midrash that there is not a it was still known who was the their branch of the tree and the generation that does not have a leader of each generation: Rav, people were not aware of the one person like Moshe, says in Shmuel, Abayei, Rava, Rav Ashi, trunk that produces these Likkutei Sichos (Shmos, Volume etc. His directives were also branches. The Torah and the 26, page 7) that the spiritual life known throughout the Jewish directives of Rashi, for example, of Moshe remains forever in this nation as we all lived basically in were not known to the rest of physical world in which it is the same locality – one family world Jewry for many months and enclosed in the physical body of close to each other. The situation possibly years later. This situation the Nasi of that generation. This continued on for centuries. The occurs in every generation. The clarity of one Nasi who directly Rebbe also says in the Sicha This is the first taught and encouraged our people Shabbos Parshas Bo 5752 Os 13, was not made possible until the “From this it is understood the time in history recent advent of modern innovation of our generation – the technology. The Rebbe gives a ninth generation (from the Bal where there is an farbrengen and talks about that Shem Tov) – over all the previous we have reached the time of our generations (the eighth identical situation Redemption and it is heard generation). Then there was a to the time period throughout the world via satellite separation of the neshama from communication. The entire Jewish the body … In our generation, the of the Golden Calf. people know about the Rebbe’s last generation of galus and the directives: the Rebbe speaks, first generation of Geula, there is technology spreads it, and the an additional more elevated got murkier when we started to Chassidim and Shluchim teach it. perfection in a way that the souls disperse around the world. The The world is aware that there is are in bodies in order to receive in Rambam writes in his one Nasi. an internalized way ‘the introduction to the Mishneh Torah But then Gimmel Tammuz uncovering of all lights.’ The that after the redaction of the comes along... souls are in bodies with no Talmud, “Yisroel became even The Rambam writes in Hilchos interruption at all.” more scattered throughout the T’shuva (Perek 2. Halacha 1), So when Gimmel Tammuz lands of the Diaspora, dwelling as “What is complete t’shuva? This arrives we are given the clear far as even the most distant lands. that comes to his hand that he has opportunity to rectify everything. Strife increased world-wide and previously transgressed and it is How? By not freaking out like we travel was made dangerous by the possible for him to do again and did the first time and by realizing passage of warring armies. Torah he separates from it and he does that the Rebbe is still alive just as study dwindled, for the Jews did not do it because of t’shuva the Nasi Moshe Rabbeinu was at not assemble in the yeshivos to (repentance)” This is the first that time. With this and all the study it in the thousands, as they time in history where there is an other preparations that we do, we had done formally. Instead those identical situation to the time shall certainly merit to have the few individuals whom Hashem period of the Golden Calf. The complete Geula immediately. summoned from each city and identity of the Nasi is known by land would gather and occupy the entire world, yet he is not
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& FKPFDEQ CAN EVERYBODY WRITE CHIDDUSHEI TORAH?
By Yisrael Yehuda
Chassid is thrilled, for two reasons. One of the important aspects of Torah One, he understands what he is learning, and two, it shows that his study is chiddushei Torah. The Rebbe t’shuva was accepted. Will the often asked people to write chiddushei Chassid now go and share his idea with others and show everybody that Torah, pilpulim, and he’aros. Does this he sinned to the point that he did not understand Rashi?! also apply to balabatim who work for a That is how R’ Goldschmidt pithily summed up our traditional living? * How do you write chiddushei attitude towards printing and publishing chiddushei Torah. Torah? Do they suddenly pop into your Chassidim always learned with mind? * What is the purpose of writing kabbalas ol and with respect for the daf Gemara. Anything said by a chiddushim? What is the difference Rishon and every s’vara (reasoning) in the Gemara were considered between a chiddush and a he’ara? “Holy of Holies.” In general, in Chabad, they NOT PUBLICIZING SINS managed to extricate Rashi from his learned simply, without constructing plight. That’s no small thing! pointless edifices of pilpulim (here What is the difference between a used in the negative sense to suggest Chassid and a Misnaged? The Obviously, a solution such as this that fell directly from heaven must casuistry) and dubious savors. We mashpia R’ Nachum Goldschmidt are told that on several occasions, once put it this way: be shared with others. When a Chassid learns a piece of the Alter Rebbe resolved complicated When a Misnaged learns a daf questions in the Gemara by simply Gemara and he has a question on Gemara and he has a question on Rashi, he’s perturbed. He knows learning the daf in a way that was Rashi, then Rashi is in trouble, based on logic and understanding because the Misnaged has a big that his lack of understanding comes as a result of his sins, which muddle p’shat (the simple meaning) of the question and Rashi has no response. Gemara. However, this Misnaged has Ahavas his thinking and prevent him from understanding the subtleties of what If there was a question, it was Yisroel and he works for hours until carefully examined from all sides in he comes up with an answer in he learns. So the Chassid examines his order to ascertain whether it was defense of Rashi. He’s thrilled. With true and correct. Every s’vara was his righteousness and cleverness he deeds and cries out in t’shuva. Then the answer comes to him and the substantiated by a source or basis of
#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB pilpul before his fellow T’mimim. too or whether it’s just meant for If you look in the index to the outstanding individuals and scholars. On the first Igros Kodesh under the entry Some ask: How can we write pamphlets of “chiddushei Torah,” you will see chiddushei Torah when we are so how the Rebbe had a hard time busy and barely have time for Chitas he’aros and convincing the elders of Anash to and Rambam? implement this. To them, the notion Did the Rebbe ask every Chassid, chiddushei Torah that a young bachur would get up every balabus to write chiddushei and say a pilpul based on his own Torah? Is this really for everyone? If they published, reasoning was completely out of the so, how do we do it? question. When you look into it, you they wrote, However, the Rebbe did not discover that writing chiddushei “He’aros suffice with that. Years later, the Torah is not something “in the Rebbe began to ask all of Anash and heaven” or “over the sea,” but “very HaT’mimim” on the T’mimim to write he’aros and close to you, in your mouth, and in pilpulim of their own, to publish your heart, to do it.” the title page. them periodically in pamphlets. The On the first pamphlets of he’aros Rebbe himself notes that in the past and chiddushei Torah they When the Rebbe we refrained from writing chiddushei published, they wrote, “He’aros Torah, but due to the spiritual HaT’mimim” on the title page. received it, he descent of the generations, it became When the Rebbe received it, he wrote “V’Anash,” necessary to encourage and wrote “V’Anash,” thus showing that strengthen Torah study by those who chiddushei Torah are for Anash to thus showing that are capable of deep Torah study. write too. This is a clear directive to Therefore, the Rebbe suggested a all of Anash to write chiddushei chiddushei Torah special educational solution for our Torah. It’s part of Chassidic life and generation by asking talmidim to a Chassidic home. It’s what the are for Anash to write up their chiddushim, even if Rebbe wants. In many additional they aren’t 100% sure that their Sichos Kodesh, the Rebbe asked write too. chiddushim are in line with the Anash to write chiddushei Torah or absolute truth of Torah. It increases at least he’aros in their learning. their chayus for Torah study, as well some kind. (This approach can be as that of their friends, in a way of clearly seen in the Rebbe’s teachings, THE DIFFERENCE “the jealousy of scribes (i.e., Torah BETWEEN A HE’ARA where every quote cites a source, scholars) increases wisdom.” When even when the sicha is quoting the their friends see that a he’ara was AND A PILPUL verse, “In the beginning, Hashem published with their friend’s name In order to write, we need to created,” which everybody knows.) on it, it inspires them to put more define for ourselves what the Rebbe effort into their own learning so that wants us to write. What is a he’ara, THE REBBE’S they too can write a he’ara. what is a pilpul, and what is a EDUCATIONAL chiddush Torah? SOLUTION SHOULD ANASH Generally speaking, he’aros are printed in journals of he’aros that Based on the foregoing, it is easy WRITE HE’AROS? have a longstanding tradition in to understand why the elder Over the years, the Rebbe Lubavitch. Oftentimes, “discussions” Chassidim in the fifties were taken continued to encourage this inyan, take place over many issues of the aback when the Rebbe asked that sometimes sharply. At any rate, this journal. He’aros are notes that point “kanim” (branches, like of the article is not a historical review something out to the reader. They Menora) be appointed. The Rebbe about writing he’aros but a are easier to write and easier to learn said that every yeshiva should clarification of the topic of writing too as they are short and usually are choose seven bachurim who were chiddushei Torah. simply constructed. proficient in Nigleh and seven who Surely many Chassidishe men are A pilpul is something were proficient in Chassidus. Every wondering whether writing constructed in a more complex week, one of them was to say a chiddushei Torah pertains to them
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& manner. It usually includes a someone who is busy, who finds occur to you, but if you learn Chitas question or a series of questions and only a little time for learning, can attentively, and surely if you learn it an answer that is comprised of a also produce he’aros and see fruits in depth, you will be able to come up number of introductions. It gets into of his labor in Torah. On the other with many chiddushim. the heart of things and clarifies the hand, there are no instant solutions. However, the point is not to bases that support proofs and Chazal say, “Torah does not learn in order to make he’aros. s’varos, in order to construct a well- endure except with one who kills That’s not the Chassidic approach. founded answer. himself over it.” Chiddushei Torah The point is to focus on at least one A chiddush Torah is something don’t fall from the sky. In order to subject from the array of subjects like that but more so, since a pilpul arrive at a chiddush or even to make that we learn – Chitas, Rambam, is also a chiddush that came to mind a he’ara, you have to invest yourself D’var Malchus, Gemara, Ein while learning and clarifying things. seriously into your learning. We are Yaakov, etc., and give it a bit more A chiddush has to be examined assured that if you make an opening of our attention and thought. When carefully and constructed according the size of a needle, a doorway the we learn in this way, questions and to what it says in the various sources size of a large hall will be opened answers will naturally occur to us and halacha. before you, and you will be able to that will lead to he’aros. do what the Rebbe asked for in the The second rule is that anyone HOW DO YOU DO IT? best possible way. can write a he’ara, each according to The first rule is that a he’ara his abilities. Someone with a sharp After having explained what comes through learning, and more head will surely “uproot mountains he’aros and chiddushei Torah are, than that, through paying attention and grind them together:; they will we can move on to ways of to what you’re learning. If you just find contradictions from here to developing them. On the one hand, mumble your way through Chitas, it there and delve into every “crown” we will discover that it’s simple and is unlikely that any chiddush will and “thorn” until he constructs a readily achieved so that even
#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB beautifully constructed edifice. comes up, even if it seems trivial, we into Torah. The contribution that Someone who is more “straight- should write it down. chiddushei Torah make towards a thinking” can find a simple question One day, when we have time, we Chassidishe life (not just one’s Torah in Chitas and try to answer it. Who will look over our notes, review the life) is immeasurable. is greater than the Rebbe whose questions, and while looking for First, as soon as he sits down to treasury of sichos includes the answers we will write a nice he’ara. write a he’ara, the balabus moves simplest questions, what the Rebbe If you want to be organized about it, beyond his usual learning and called klotz kashes? you can have a page (or file) for devotes a bit more time and We too, every one of us, can every subject – Chumash, Rambam, importance to learning in order to examine a Rashi and surely find Sichos, etc. Once in a while, when research and present the issue many places where, according to the you decide to sit down and write a properly. Furthermore, we begin rules of Rashi, it’s not chiddush, you will have something “living” our learning. Suddenly, we understandable. That’s a he’ara! to start with. The principle is to find ourselves looking into s’farim, Someone else might compare a learn at least one subject thoroughly thinking various s’varos and it s’vara in the Gemara with a and note the questions that arise. pushes us to invest ourselves more conclusion in Shulchan Aruch, while It’s a good idea to run your and learn more. yet another person might answer a questions by someone A chiddush that is worthy of question of the Raavad on the knowledgeable to find out whether being published preoccupies us Rambam and it’s a nice chiddush. they are good questions, and then because of the fact that it’s going Practically speaking, one of the the answers, to ensure that they are out to the public and we have to best ways is to join a shiur and pay solid. present it properly. When we are attention to the questions that come preoccupied with divrei Torah, life is up, to the difficulties that the maggid WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME? more refined and filled with shiur sometimes leaves unresolved Chassidishe content. It’s all good and well. We know and the questions we have during The Rebbe asked many times that that writing a he’ara or chiddush the shiur. Often a question comes chiddushei Torah and he’aros be Torah is what the Rebbe wants, but up and remains without a printed in special journals. When we also like to benefit thereby. So, satisfactory answer, a question that one of these journals comes to our we should know that if we want a – after checking it out ourselves and house and our name is there on a Chassidishe home, we should delve with the maggid shiur to see if it’s really a good question – can be the excellent basis of a he’ara or even a proper chiddush. GO OVER TO THE BOOKCASE He’aros and chiddushei Torah AND TAKE OUT SOME KOVTZEI TORAH arise naturally. As we learn, we “A Lubavitcher communal figure, who works on spreading usually have thoughts going through Judaism outside of New York, approached a Jew in his city and our minds, questions about what we suggested that he send his son to a Chassidishe yeshiva. When the are learning. Usually, if we don’t get man answers that he isn’t interested because he wants his son to stuck on the question, we prefer become a lamdan (scholar), the Lubavitcher stammers and doesn’t moving on. Often we chalk the have a response. He himself learned for several years in a question up to our lack of Chassidishe yeshiva and he learned diligently and was mechadesh in understanding the material properly, Torah etc. Nevertheless, when they make this claim, he stammers to our lack of concentration or to and has no answer. the lack of time to examine it more “In his house he has Torah journals that were published by closely. We don’t attribute Chassidishe yeshivos, including chiddushei Torah that were written importance to our questions and just by the talmidim. When someone tells you that he is not sending his move on. son to a Chassidishe yeshiva because he wants his son to be a However, if we paid attention to lamdan, there’s a simple solution. Go over to the bookcase and our questions, we would see great take out some Torah journals and show them to him. Then ask success in our learning and far him: Can he show you as many Torah journals that are the work of greater understanding. We should talmidim in other yeshivos? And even if he can, he should compare have pen and paper (or our them…” computer) at hand. When a question (sicha Mishpatim 5744)
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& he’ara we wrote (the Rebbe said the world of learning, does not greater since they aren’t as involved person’s name should be printed constantly “live” with shiurim and in learning as they used to be. with his he’ara) it naturally connects farbrengens. He has his set times for The Rebbe’s response to this over us to learning. We feel we belong to learning and only on special the years was to tell people write and the world of learning and to more occasions does he participate in a print chiddushei Torah even if the spiritual things that we thought. farbrengen. Being involved with a writer is not sure about their After all, we wrote a he’ara! chiddush Torah ignites the fire of accuracy. In the sicha of BaMidbar A chiddush Torah that is printed Tomchei T’mimim in him. His 5751, os 12, the Rebbe says that spreads Chassidishe light in the thoughts turn towards learning while every Jew can and must be house. When the members of the matters of this world lose some of mechadesh in Torah, to expand upon household see the printed he’ara that their importance. He is involved in it. True, in previous generations they the husband or father wrote, it his work but his thoughts are on the were careful but in our generation, affects the atmosphere of the home. he’ara he “has to finish.” The he’ara due to the spiritual descent of the Children are proud of their father. puts him back in Tomchei T’mimim generations, we need to find ways of They see that their father learns and is invaluable. encouraging learning and this is why Torah and as a result, Torah study everyone must write, even if they are becomes dear to them. This affects THE REBBE RESPONDS, unsure that their chiddush is the their chinuch in the long and short THE REBBE DEMANDS truth of Torah: term. … we see in practice that Just like among the T’mimim, Over the years, there were many through this there is an addition in there is a “kinas sofrim” among responses from the Rebbe regarding the “the Torah should be made balabatim too. As other balabatim writing he’aros. About a certain great and powerful” and in chayus see that so-and-so, despite his being journal, the Rebbe said, “If it was and taanug in Torah study, whether busy with his work managed to printed a few months earlier, there for oneself, as we plainly see the come up with a chiddush that was would have been more people who benefit in one’s Torah study when printed, they are motivated to invest learn Chassidus.” On another it has to be written for others, or more in their learning. It adds occasion, the Rebbe said that for others (“the jealousy of scribes Chassidishe chayus to the entire journals of pilpulim should be increases wisdom”) – that this (the chevra. published at least twice a year, in the benefit therein) is the best The value of a chiddush Torah is winter and summer. “Once a year is indicator of its necessity … - “The greater for a married man than for a good for Yom Kippur but when Torah should be made great and bachur in yeshiva. The bachur is we’re talking about journals of powerful.” constantly in a Torah environment. chiddushei Torah, they should be In order to prepare this article, I spoke with He is involved in learning and published more frequently, at least Rabbi Yitzchok Isaac Landau, a maggid shiur in the Chabad yeshiva in Tzfas, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman matters of k’dusha all the time and once every two or three months.” Levkivker, one of the roshei yeshiva, and Rabbi the chiddush Torah uplifts him and Presumably, many people who Moshe Orenstein, mashpia roshi in the yeshiva. They read this will wonder whether their see hundreds of he’aros a year and I clarified the gives him extra chayus in his topic with them. learning and Chassidishe life. chiddushei Torah are worthy of A married man who is not in the being printed. Their apprehension is Y.S. MOVING Professional Yossi Reasonable Tel: 718-467-0171 24 hour service Boxes available upon request. Cellular: 917-805-7757
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