690:Beis Moshiach 30/03/2009 8:18 AM Page 7

contents

Wishing our readers and all Jews a kosher and freilichin Pesach! The next issue is due to be printed for Shabbos Parshas Tazria- Metzora. BRINGING MOSHIACH: NOT BEYOND 11 ONE’S PERSONAL CAPACITY The Rebbe’s Letters

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS FOR THE REBBE 14 11 Nissan | Nosson Avrohom

IN (11) NISSAN THEY WERE REDEEMED 19 Moshiach & Geula | Rabbi Chaim Ashkenazi

SHOOTING IN THE FOREST 24 Memoirs | Shneur Zalman Chanin

USA AN AMAZING DREAM BEFORE PESACH 744 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409 28 Pesach Story | Nosson Avrohom Tel: (718) 778-8000 Fax: (718) 778-0800 [email protected] www.beismoshiach.org PESACH IN PERU: SHLICHUS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: 31 UNLIMITED M.M. Hendel Shlichus | Chani Nussbaum ENGLISH EDITOR: Boruch Merkur [email protected] TO COLLECT WHAT IS ‘OWED’ TO THE ASSISTANT EDITOR: 35 JEWISH PEOPLE Dr. Aryeh Gotfryd Moshiach & Geula | Boruch Merkur HEBREW EDITOR: Rabbi Sholom Yaakov Chazan [email protected] MONEY TALKS – BUT WHAT DOES IT 36 Beis Moshiach (USPS 012-542) ISSN 1082- SAY? 0272 is published weekly, except Jewish Story | Eli Shneuri holidays (only once in April and October) for $160.00 in Crown Heights, Brooklyn and in all other places for $180.00 per year (45 PESACH IN YAMIT: A FIGHT TILL THE issues), by Beis Moshiach, 744 Eastern 40 Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409. END Periodicals postage paid at Brooklyn, NY and Feature | Shai Gefen and Menachem Ziegelboim additional offices. Postmaster: send address changes to Beis Moshiach 744 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409. FROM THE PARDES, WITH LOVE Copyright 2009 by Beis Moshiach, Inc. 68 Stories | R’ Aharon Kurant Beis Moshiach is not responsible for the content of the advertisements. 690:Beis Moshiach 30/03/2009 8:18 AM Page 8

Kupas Rabbeinu rchbu eup, Lubavitch vnahj nkl tsnu"r f"e bahtu, ,j,

(718) 756-3337 ^ P.O.B. 288 Brooklyn, New York 11225 ^ (718) 467-2500

B”H 16th of Adar, 5769 MO’OS CHITTIM To All Anash and Temimim wha’ Sholom U'vrocho! Excerpt of a Sicho Kedoisho, which speaks for itself The Jews will be redeemed solely through tzedokah... In particular, this applies with regards to the matter relevant at present, maos chittim, tzedakah given for Pesach that includes all of the needs of the holiday. Our involvement with this must be in a manner of ratzo and shov, i.e., one should not wait for the tzedakah collector, but instead, rush to give him maos chittim on his own initiative (ratzo). Moreover, even after he has already given maos chittim, he should go and give a second time (shov).... For one who has been blessed should increase his gifts according to the blessing he has been given. And who ever increases will be given additional reward. Indeed, there is no limit to this additional reward. From the sichos Shabbos Parshas Vayakhel-pikudei, 5750 It is well known that "Kupas Rabbeinu" endeavors to continue implementing all of the holy projects and activities which the Rebbe has established. Amongst these activities is the Rebbe's practice to extend financial aid to those families in need of their various Pesach necessities. Accordingly, we are at this time urging and requesting each and every Anash member and Tomim uhjha to contribute generously to "Kupas Rabbeinu," in order to enable the administration to provide for these families and thus afford them with the opportunity to celebrate Pesach with contentment and joy. Regarding this Mitzvah it is stated: "Whoever increases (in giving) is praiseworthy." Unfortunately, the amount of families in need of this financial assistance is more than generally assumed. As such, the more generous your contribution to "Kupas Rabbeinu," the greater the number of families receiving assistance will be. And since, with regard to all Mitzvahs we are instructed to act with Simcha and zest, it is all the more pertinent with regard to the aforementioned, as it is of paramount importance that the funds be received and distributed as soon as possible. In the merit of Tzedakah which hastens the Geula, may we merit the true Geula Shlaimah, with the revelation of Melech HaMashiach - The Rebbe Nasi Doreinu, immediately, Mamash.

Chag HaPesach Kosher V'Sameach, Vaad Kupas Rabbeinu

P.S. 1) The traditional "Magvis Yud Shevat, Purim" can also be sent at this time, as well as all other Magvios. 2) All funds should be sent to the following address only; Donations are tax deductible KUPAS RABBEINU, P.O. Box 288, BROOKLYN, N.Y. 11225 In Eretz haKodesh: KEREN KUPAS ADMU"R, P.O. Box 1247, KIRYAT MALACHI – ISRAEL 690:Beis Moshiach 30/03/2009 8:18 AM Page 9

d’var malchus - tzav IGNITING THE SOUL

Translated and adapted by Dovid Yisroel Ber Kaufmann

G-dliness. Obviously, then, we must The activities in the Temple are a not only understand the mystical relationship between the external metaphor for human conduct. From the Temple and our internal soul, but we apparently superfluous word must internalize the Divine service. We must translate the Temple’s “continuously” we learn that the vessels and activities into our own. Rebuilding our inner Beis menora is to be lit from the fire on the HaMikdash, our inner holy Temple, is the first step toward rebuilding the altar. There is a practical lesson: the Temple in Jerusalem. One such activity, described in eternal fire of the menora represents an this week’s Torah reading, is the “internal service” – working with one’s lighting of the fire upon the altar. Regarding the outer altar where the self to improve one’s character – while sacrifices were brought, G-d instructs Moses: “The fire on the altar shall be the eternal fire of the altar represents kept burning; it shall not be extinguished. The priest shall kindle an “external service” – help another wood on it every morning. He shall arrange the burnt offering on it and Jew, to bring others close to Torah and burn the choicest parts of the peace- mitzvos. The “internal flame” must be offerings. A fire shall be kept burning continuously on the altar. It shall not lit from the “external flame,” because be extinguished.” At first glance, the word one’s own soul is ignited by igniting the “continuously” seems superfluous. If the fire is to be kept burning and not soul of another Jew. be extinguished, of course it will burn “perpetually.” Since in the Torah Before discussing the inner meaning of a passage of every word counts, there must be a the Torah – its relevance to our daily Divine service and reason for an apparently unnecessary word. Of course, relationship to our times, the days of Moshiach – we must the explanation has to be consistent with the intent and first understand its simple meaning. Of course, a literal context of the passage. As Rashi is the foremost exponent reading often raises practical questions and reveals of the plain meaning of the text, it’s worthwhile to apparent contradictions. Two verses may seem to require consider his comment: “The fire regarding which it is opposite interpretations. But as these questions are stated ‘perpetually’ is the one with which they kindle the reconciled on a fundamental level, the deeper, more lamps [of the menora] , for it is stated regarding it, ‘to mystical meaning emerges. kindle the perpetual lamp.’ This fire too should be ignited Thus, when discussing the Temple activities and the from the fire on the outer altar.” sacrifices, we must remember that the details of the The word for ‘perpetually’ or ‘continuously’ in Temple are a model for and reflection of the inner Hebrew is tamid. The perpetual or eternal lamp in the structure of the human soul. For this reason, rebuilding synagogue, the ner tamid, is a reminder of the menora, the Temple is integral to and a manifestation of the ner tamid or eternal lamp, of the Temple. So from this Redemption. It indicates the completion of our Divine one word we can derive a very practical law regarding the mission, transforming the world into a dwelling place for Temple service: The menora is called a ner tamid, an

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eternal lamp. The fire on the altar is called an eish tamid, The kindling of the “ner tamid,” the eternal light of the an eternal fire. The flame of both the menora and the altar menora in the Temple, represents the continuous is described as “tamid” – perpetual and continuous. connection of the Jew with G-d through Torah. There is no superfluous word. The “continuous fire” A Torah scholar might argue that he is too busy with alludes to the “eternal lamp.” The “eish tamid” mentioned learning to be concerned with someone on the “outside.” here invokes the “ner tamid” mentioned earlier. From this Worldly matters belong in the outer courtyard, while he is juxtaposition and allusion, we learn an important occupied with concerns of the menora, secluded in the principle: the menora is to be lit from the fire on the altar. inner sanctum. There is another critical factor: The Tabernacle A Jew, no matter how learned, how wise, how holy, consisted of two parts, an outer area housing the large must never separate himself from another Jew. He may altar for sacrifices and an inner area housing the incense not isolate himself in his learning while another Jew waits altar, the menora and the table for the so-called on the altar, waits to have his soul kindled. This is the showbread. This means that the menora, which belonged lesson of the law of kindling the menora. For the menora to the inner, more sacred area, had to be lit from the altar, is kindled precisely from the external altar. Of course the which stood in the outer, more common area. “inner altar,” the spiritual self-improvement of a Jew, is What is the lesson, the inner important. But that does not kindle significance? Why must the eternal the light of the menora. fire of the menora, an “internal It is not sufficient The light of Torah is sustained – is service,” be lit from the eternal fire of a “ner tamid,” an eternal lamp, only the altar, an “external service”? to arouse the when the fire on the outer altar is What applies to the Temple service already lit, already an “eish tamid,” an applies to a person’s individual Divine other person, to eternal flame. Since the menora must service. There is an inner service, a be lit from the altar’s fire, that fire working with one’s self to improve kindle his or her must have an inherent and a prior one’s character – the middos – to connection with the menora. become more observant, more interest in A Jew who wishes to “enlighten” spiritually sensitive, more truly Judaism and himself, to ignite himself spiritually learned in Torah. There is also an and intellectually, must first concern outer service, that which is done to enthusiasm for himself with a Jew who is “outside.” help another Jew, to bring others He must make sure that that Jew is close to Torah and mitzvos. The outer mitzvos. Rather, aflame with Torah, that that Jew is service includes the effect we have on alight, since “the candle of G-d is the the external world. In the process of the Jewish soul, soul of man.” By arousing another transforming the world into a Jew, by igniting his Jewish soul, the dwelling place for G-dliness, every must burn scholar can kindle his own Torah, so Jew influences his environment, continuously. to speak. The “candle of G-d,” the elevating the non-Jews as well. As Jewish soul, kindles the “light of every Jew could bring a sacrifice (the Torah.” outer service) – and will again, The directive is not limited to imminently, bring sacrifices to the Third Temple, with the scholars or rabbis. Indeed, if Torah itself is vouchsafed coming of Moshiach – so too every Jew has a only to the Jew who kindles the “candle of G-d,” then responsibility and the strength to purify his part of the regardless of our status or level of learning, we must first world. make sure the Jewish soul standing “outside” is aflame. This latter, outer service parallels the sacrifices It is not sufficient to arouse the other person, to kindle brought on the outer altar. Precisely there were brought his or her interest in Judaism and enthusiasm for mitzvos. the sacrifices of every Jew. This contrasts with the inner, Rather, the Jewish soul, the outer altar, must burn incense altar. Only the Kohanim could enter the inner continuously. It must be an “eish tamid,” an eternal area, where the incense altar and menora were located. flame. We must continuously put ourselves to the test, go The comparison can be more precise: There is an through the difficulties to continuously elevate our fellow obligation to learn Torah, to elevate one’s self through Jew and thereby the world around us. Then will our Torah absorbing, and being absorbed in, G-d’s Wisdom. This is knowledge be perpetual, as the prophet declares, “The the concept behind lighting the menora. As it says in whole world will be filled with knowledge of G-dliness.” Proverbs, “For a mitzvah is a candle, and Torah is light.” (Based on Likkutei Sichos 17:50-56)

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the rebbe’s letters BRINGING MOSHIACH: NOT BEYOND ONES PERSONAL CAPACITY

From the t’shura distributed at the Simpson-Rivkin wedding of 23 Adar 5769 BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 690 11 690:Beis Moshiach 30/03/2009 8:18 AM Page 12

d’var malchus - shmini KEEPING KOSHER BRINGS MOSHIACH

Translated and adapted by Dovid Yisroel Ber Kaufmann

animals, listing the requirements for The name of a Torah reading reveals beast, bird and fish. An animal must the inner connection of its contents. have split hooves and chew its cud, a fish must have fins and scales, and all Both the dedication of the Kohanim the non-kosher birds are enumerated. At first glance, these two sections and the definition of kosher animals seem quite disparate. In fact, we might think the Torah reading should are connected by the concept of the be structured differently. Why not put the narrative of dedicating the “eighth.” Seven represents completion Kohanim with the seven day within the natural, physical world, consecration from the previous portion, and the laws of kashrus in a while the “eighth” elevates that to a separate portion? After all, the Tabernacle’s consecration introduces higher, spiritual realm. The “eighth” is and prepares the dedication of the Kohanim. The seven days of associated with Moshiach. consecration lead to the eighth day of dedication. On the other hand, what connection is there between Since the Torah is the “blueprint of the world,” dedicating the Kohanim and defining the kosher animals? everything in it teaches us something about the spiritual Yet the fact that they are in the same Torah reading structure of creation. In particular, even the name of a means they must share a common theme, express the Torah reading reveals some aspect of our Divine service, same spiritual concept. The name of the Torah reading, of how we are to transform the physical world into a Shmini, eighth, reveals that conceptual connection. In dwelling place for G-dliness. The significance of the name spiritual or mystical terms, the word “Shmini,” eighth, applies to the whole Torah portion. It is the unifying represents a stage categorically different from and factor and reveals the essence of that reading. At first superior to seven. Creation, the physical world, exists in glance, the beginning of a reading may seem to have more terms of seven: the seven days of creation. Eight in common with the previous portion than with its own represents that which is higher than creation, that which contents. But however diverse the inner content of a is G-dly, beyond the boundaries of the world. The Torah reading, its name reveals the inner connection number seven refers to the G-dliness clothed within the between all parts and aspects of a particular portion. world, concealed within the laws of nature. Eight refers to This week’s reading provides a good illustration. The the Divine Light, higher than the process of concealment name, Shmini, means “eighth.” The opening of the and materialization. portion narrates the dedication of Aaron and his four sons But Shmini means eighth. The eighth, while as Kohanim. This dedication took place after the seven- categorically different from one through seven, is not an day ceremony consecrating the Tabernacle. The Torah independent number. It comes after and is connected to reading begins, “On the eighth day.” Hence, it is called seven. The seven must precede and exist prior to the Shmini, eighth. eighth. The eighth may be superior to the seven, but it Later in the Torah reading, G-d defines the kosher depends on them. For this reason it can influence,

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complete and perfect the seven. More specifically, the parallels and provides a foretaste of the revelation of seven days of creation become elevated and transformed, G-dliness in the days of Moshiach. When the Divine fulfill their purpose, when they culminate in an eighth day. Presence took up residence in the Tabernacle, so to speak, The eighth reveals G-dliness in its fullest. Divine Light G-dliness, while still completely separated from creation shines without limitations. The name of the Torah and physicality, merged with elements of creation. reading, Shmini, eighth, alludes to the true intent of Aaron and his sons were consecrated on the eighth creation, that the Infinite Divine Light should be drawn day, indicating the relation between Kohanim and the into and revealed within the finite physical realm. The days of Moshiach. The consecration of the Kohanim world itself should be illuminated with G-dliness fully completed the dedication of the Tabernacle, enabling and revealed. Creation itself, the world of seven, should be servicing the indwelling of the Divine Presence. Similarly, filled with G-dliness, a dimension higher than seven – the the Jewish people, a nation of Kohanim, through mitzvos eighth. such as kashrus, bring down G-dliness as it will be The eighth, that which the seven days of creation lead revealed in the days of Moshiach. The Divine service of to, is Moshiach. In many places throughout Rabbinic Aaron and his sons models that of the Jewish people. literature, the number eight alludes to Moshiach. For Most sacrifices were eaten. The sacrifice in the Tabernacle example, the harp of Moshiach will have eight strings, a entailed the elevation of the animal; by eating only kosher, clear allusion to the future transformation and elevation the Jewish people do the same in the world at large. Both of existence. forms of Divine service involve refining an animalistic In the days of Moshiach, perception nature, that within the human being will change. Now, we cannot discern and that of the world. Both involve the G-dliness that suffuses and sustains In the days of self-discipline and self-sacrifice. existence. But in the days of Moshiach, The world, seven, conceals the as Isaiah prophesies, “the glory of G-d Moshiach, it will Divine Presence. Shmini, the eighth, will be revealed and all flesh will see.” reveals the Divine Light within the The “glory of G-d” is categorically be normal for physical. Similarly, the impure higher than creation – as the eighth day “our eyes of flesh beasts exist because the process of is categorically higher than the seven creation obscures the Divine Light. days. Nevertheless, in the days of to see G-d.” To When we say, “I want what is not Moshiach we will perceive G-dliness kosher, but what can I do? G-d has not as an extraordinary phenomenon, achieve this, we commanded me otherwise,” we but as part of the physical world. acknowledge the G-dliness that Perceiving G-dliness will become a must distinguish creates and sustains the world. The natural characteristic of our physical self-sacrifice of our mitzvos, senses. between the controlling our desires and acting as This clarifies the connection of the impure and pure... G-d commanded us purifies the days of Moshiach with the number eight. world. Eating kosher reveals the The natural perception of G-dliness that Divine Presence, as did the will occur expresses the two dimensions mentioned sacrifices in the Tabernacle. earlier. On the one hand, the “glory of G-d” is In the days of Moshiach, it will be normal for “our categorically superior and differentiated from the seven eyes of flesh to see G-d.” To achieve this, we must days of creation. Nevertheless, in the days of Moshiach, distinguish between the impure and pure, between “the we will intrinsically sense G-dliness, perceiving it animal that may be eaten and the animal that may not be naturally and tangibly. eaten.” By making the distinction, by eating only kosher Let’s return to our original observation: the concept of animals, we refine the physical. In so doing, we remove Shmini unites the consecration of the Kohanim and the the coarseness that conceals G-dliness. definition of kosher animals. Both the consecration and Of course, kashrus is only one of the mitzvos. But definition are bound to and expressions of “the eighth.” since the most common physical activity is eating, the This shared affinity places them in the same Torah laws of kosher animals provide the paradigm of how the reading. It also overrides superficial similarities to other world will be refined. These laws correspond to the events, such as the seven-day dedication of the dedication of Aaron and his sons. They have the same Tabernacle. context: actions that accustom us to perceive G-dliness. The seven day dedication was a preparation for the The Jewish people were given the mitzvos to refine the indwelling of the Divine Presence in the Tabernacle. This world, to bring it to a state of Shmini, the eighth, the days indwelling of the Divine Presence in the Tabernacle of Moshiach. (Based on Likkutei Sichos 17:92-99)

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11 nissan BIRTHDAY GREETINGS FOR THE REBBE

By Nosson Avrohom

these distinguished people and Rabbi Shloimke Maidanchek, a”h, asked them to send their signatures, director of Agudas Chassidei Chabad in but instead, he undertook to visit each one personally. Since “shlucho Eretz Yisroel, had ties with top shel adam k’moso,” he felt that they were being visited not just by him, government officials, including the but by the Rebbe himself. When R’ Shloimke did president, the prime minister, ministers, something, he did it with all his heart. He didn’t just collect senior officials, chiefs of staff and signatures on a form letter; each of military brass. Each year, he would them wrote brachos and wishes in their own words. R’ Shloimke felt compile an album of their brachos to that when you are mekasher a Jew to the Rebbe, it has to be done with the Rebbe in honor of his birthday and proper attention and in a serious, p’nimius’dike way, in the same personally present it to the Rebbe. * manner that the Rebbe would give of himself to every Jew. Mivtza Yom Huledes is but one For this reason, his family expression of the connection these Jews relates, he would go to the various offices without making an had with the Nasi HaDor. appointment. When asked why he did it this way, he explained, “When I go to an office, it’s not really me The many activities of the well- government offices in the Knesset but the Rebbe who is going, and known askan, R’ Shloimke building and the offices of top who wouldn’t want the Rebbe to Maidanchek a”h, earned him the ranking army officials to get their come to his office?” title, “the Rebbe’s ambassador in blessings and good wishes for the He related that one time, he was Eretz Yisroel” for nearly fifty years. Rebbe. He traveled the length and having trouble finding the time to Among these activities was a very breadth of the land for this purpose, go to Tzfas in order to meet with special and unique practice. Starting from Tzfas in the north to Be’er the council chairman due to the in the year 1972, which marked the Sheva in the south. strict schedule in his work as a train Rebbe’s 70th birthday, he would He didn’t make it easy for conductor. “Rabbi Chadakov called make the rounds of various himself. He could have phoned demanding: ‘You are the Rebbe’s

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ambassador there. Why aren’t you personal relationship with these Jews as possible to the Rebbe, and going to Tzfas? How will it look?’ VIPs over the years, relationships one of the best ways to do this is to “I immediately switched around that were forged through the love give them an opportunity to bless with other conductors so they would and genuine affection he had for his the Rebbe on his birthday. This do my scheduled routes and I went friends. birthday campaign of his was just to Tzfas.” “You know how a minister, a one way of expressing this bond The family still has in their Knesset member or a commander in with the Rebbe. R’ Shloimke wrote, possession one album that was the IDF is; it’s very hard to pull one a few days before he passed away written and signed by the president, over on them. He knows good and (on Chol HaMoed Pesach 2004), ministers, Knesset members, mayors well whether you are really his about connecting Jews to the Rebbe. and councilmen in honor of the friend or you are using him; The following was published by Rebbe’s 70th birthday. When you whether you are one of those for Aguch in a book in his memory: flip through the album you can’t whom he does a favor today and We all know the inyan of the help but be impressed. R’ Shloimke tomorrow you don’t acknowledge Chabad movement from the Rebbe’s was able to compile good wishes him,” R’ Shloimke told Beis sichos over the years. The main from people on the Right and Left, Moshiach in an interview a number points are ruchnius, k’dusha, Ahavas religious and irreligious. He got of years ago. Yisroel without limits, mesirus nefesh them all to join in this project he R’ Shloimke developed personal for others, and everything involved conceived. relationships with every government with rectifying the world for the When you read the brachos and leader from Mapai (left wing labor Malchus Hashem. note the authors, you can see how party), every chief of staff and all Over the years, the Rebbe deeply R’ Shloimke reached into the top generals over a period of established legions of askanim. their hearts. There is no political decades! There wasn’t a top military Though their methods may differ, cynicism or any of the usual commander who did not know him, their common goal is to, by obeying political considerations. The essence and he used these relationships to the Rebbe’s horaos in these areas, of the soul and Jewish faith shine connect them all to the Rebbe cause the way of Chabad to succeed, forth. No matter what his position, MH”M. in an expansive manner. The Rebbe each expresses bittul to the Nasi *** issued hundreds and thousands of HaDor. R’ Shloimke’s goal in all his horaos about how to be wary of the R’ Shloimke’s success was in his public work was to connect as many traps that the “world of falsehood”

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sets for those public activists, placing time, wrote: councilmen, all of whom cherished them only one step away from the As you mark 70 years, your a warm relationship with R’ opposite of holiness and truth. We fellow Jews pray that you continue to Shloimke. see this in a tangible way: only when radiate your wisdom and modesty so At a farbrengen on Motzaei following the Rebbe’s horaos do we that Toras Yisroel deepen its roots Shabbos HaGadol, the day after 11 not fall. and Ahavas Yisroel expand its scope, Nissan, 1987, the Rebbe publicly R’ Shloimke’s characteristic with Love for Eretz Yisroel as their acknowledged the album of brachos discretion came into play in this anvil. Koi L’Choi. that R’ Shloimke brought him every campaign. As someone who kept Mr. Rechavam Zeevi, then Chief year. That something special and things to himself and did not run to of Central Command and celebrated important was impending became publicize his activities, he didn’t say commander who oversaw a number apparent when the Rebbe a word about it, not even to his of daring military campaigns and announced at the Shabbos family. Every year he collected the later became a Chassid of the farbrengen that there would be birthday wishes himself and made Rebbe, wrote: another farbrengen on Motzaei the trip to New York to bring Shabbos, in the course of which a them to the Rebbe. topic that was not suitable for As Yud-Alef Nissan is also R’ Shabbos would be discussed. Shloimke’s birthday, every year The topic surprised everyone. he would visit 770 on this day The Rebbe encouraged the and return to Eretz Yisroel building of a “Lubavitch city” in before Pesach. Often the Rebbe Yerushalayim for the Russian asked him to take packages of immigrants. There were Chabad matzos with him to Anash in enclaves around the country but Eretz Yisroel. the Rebbe spoke about an “Ir This was R’ Shloimke’s Lubavitch” within the walls of practice for 25 years and every Yerushalayim, the Holy City and year the number of well-wishers the City of Dovid. increased. Since he did it Most people were unaware of without fanfare, it took effort to the background to this find just three testimonials to his suggestion. As he did every year, work. One of these is a copy of R’ Shloimke brought the Rebbe some of the brachos preserved an album of brachos from the from the 70th birthday. He had leaders of the country. At the asked the well-wishers for a farbrengen, the Rebbe said that second copy for a notebook that his suggestion was coming in the he kept for himself. wake of two things which took It’s amazing to read in what place lately: 1) the aliya of Jews high esteem these politicians from Russia, and 2) “At this held the Rebbe. These aren’t pat, time, I was approached with polite lines that the secretary R’ Shloimke Maidanchek well-wishes from those whose typed up, but heartfelt wishes job it is to allocate land and written by the people themselves. In honor of the Lubavitcher money, who can help on a whole For example, this is what the Chief Rebbe on the day of your 70th different level. At their head was of Staff the year the Rebbe turned birthday, please accept my blessing, the one in charge of all parts of 70, General Dovid Elazar, wrote: from one who is the smallest of the Eretz Yisroel currently in the Choicest of blessings on your multitude, with all my heart, for hands of Yisroel (Israel) … seventieth birthday. Please accept my health and long life. May we especially that the bracha comes wishes for good health and long life. celebrate your next birthday in from their inspiration and their If only we could celebrate your next Yerushalayim the Holy City. initiative … surely it is necessary birthday in Yerushalayim the Holy The album contains dozens more and possible to use this City. Koi L’Choi! brachos, written by Knesset opportunity to the fullest.” President Shimon Peres, who members and ministers alongside I won’t get into the subject of was a member of Knesset at the military figures, mayors and district the building of the Ir Chabad in

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Yerushalayim now. Suffice to say our day, has left an indelible stamp Chabad Mobile Mitzva Tanks and that R’ Shloimke, who brought the on our era. His mighty deeds Tzivos Hashem, R’ Dovid signatures to the Rebbe, and throughout the world, his deep Nachshon; secretary of the Mobile Professor Branover – then director concern for Klal Yisroel, and his Mitzva Tanks, R’ Avi ben Zecharia; of the magneto-hydrodynamic evident influence wherever scattered member of the Vaad Kfar Chabad, laboratory at Ben Gurion University Jews are found, are a powerful boost R’ Menachem Lerer; and Chabad in Be’er Sheva, and director of to Jewish arousal and sense of spokesman, R’ Berke Wolf. SHAMIR (Shomrei Mitzvos Yotzei identity. These activities, done so Jose Sarne, who was president of Russia) – felt that the Rebbe was pleasantly and affectionately, draw Brazil at the time, was there as well, addressing them. hearts close and deepen the feeling and he also wanted to add his Indeed, after the farbrengen, R’ of unity, love for G-d, love for Torah, appreciation for the Rebbe’s work. Leibel Groner informed them that and love for Eretz Yisroel. We bless He wrote: the Rebbe had appointed them to him on his birthday and wish him I have the privilege to address his this job and would discuss it with honor and glory on the occasion of them in a yechidus in the near his 85th birthday and I wish him future. The next day, the two of You can see how heartfelt wishes of personal success. them were asked by the Rebbe I have followed with great interest whether they had begun work on deeply R’ his spiritual work for a more just, it… Shloimke reached humane and united society. In the *** name of the Brazilian people, I Every year, R’ Shloimke found into their hearts. express my deep appreciation for his original ways to “improve” on his honor’s work and wish that his project. In addition to getting There is none of mission of peace and faith and birthday greetings from more the usual political wisdom spread not only for many people, he worked on beautifying years but to the entire world. the album itself. In 1987, he considerations. Then Prime Minister, Yitzchok decided that in addition to the Shamir wrote: album of personal wishes, he would The essence of the It is a great privilege for me to order a poster which would be bless his honor with length of days signed by all the heads of state, soul and Jewish and years in exceptional health so Knesset members, ministers, the that his honor, the Rebbe, can serve president, senior military men, faith shine forth. the Jewish people and Eretz Yisroel mayors and council heads. He No matter what with his full strength. In the merit ordered a beautiful poster and took of his great work, may we all merit it with him to all the offices to his position, each the complete Geula with the help of collect the signatures. G-d. On top of the beautifully expresses bittul to He signed the letter; from his designed poster, which was three admirer, with love. feet by three feet, it said: the Nasi HaDor. There is no question that the In appreciation and deep most special letter was written by admiration for the personality and the Attorney General at the time, work of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, length of days and good years and Mr. Yosef Charish: Rabbi Menachem Mendel that he continue to act on behalf of As I sit in my office, the legal Schneerson, we members of the Am Yisroel in good health and office in the Old City of Knesset and government of Israel do happiness and raise them unto the Yerushalayim, involved with various present this letter of honor and path to receive the complete Geula. mundane matters including financial appreciation on the occasion of his The first signature was that of cases and iniquities committed by 85th birthday on Yud-Alef Nissan, the president at the time, President individuals – and unfortunately, 5747, for length of days and good Chaim Herzog, who was a close there are many – my friend, the years. friend of R’ Shloimke. Also present Chassid, R’ Shlomo Maidanchek The great persona of the at the meeting with Herzog were the came and placed before me this Lubavitcher Rebbe, the guide and director of 770 in Kfar Chabad, R’ impressive volume of blessings leader, the influencer and inspirer of Yisroel Maidanchek; Director of the written by admirers and devotees of

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my master in honor of his 85th year, appreciate his teachings with the so that I can append my blessing It’s amazing to proper spirit, wherever they may be. too. I am taken aback by the read in what high Yosef Charish ben Mina and privilege that has come my way, to Shlomo. be counted in with those who bless esteem these Many know of R’ Shloimke’s ties our master, in the same volume. with prominent figures in the Israeli Not all merit this. Having politicians held government, the IDF and Israel’s merited to send a blessing to my corporate structure, but not many master, in addition to recently the Rebbe. These know the scope and depth of these receiving a letter from his honor, I relationships. Each year, he take the opportunity to pray for the aren’t pat, polite gathered them all in one beautiful fulfillment of the blessing inscribed lines that the album and presented it on the on this volume in letters of gold, Rebbe’s birthday. “yomim al yemei melech tosif,” and secretary typed up, The staff he built up in Aguch may all the days that Hashem adds continues his work today, in His kindness to my master be days but heartfelt establishing personal connections of physical health and supernal light. and being mekasher people to the May they be days in which he wishes written by Rebbe. Many public figures still increases in strength in Torah and write to the Rebbe as a result of his wellsprings shall spread forth, so the people these contacts. as to infuse all those who heed and themselves. 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 www.MoshiachForKids.com Check it out!! Educational and Fun!!

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The barrels of wine are the Kalmanson family will have from the Rebbe formulated with Pesach wine made by the same formula made for the Rebbe MH"M with ABSOLUTELY NO WATER OR SUGAR Due to the limited quantity, first come first served! For orders call: 1-718-316-8138 or 1-718-773-3030

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moshiach & geula IN (11) NISSAN THEY WERE REDEEMED

By Rabbi Chaim Ashkenazi, Rav, k’hillas Anash in Tel Aviv Why was it necessary to announce that Moshiach is coming, and especially to tell the world that the Nasi HaDor is Moshiach and we have to accept his reign and bring piskei dinim from rabbanim that Hashem must bring Moshiach? They say – let Hashem run things! Let us spread the wellsprings and He will do his part!

CONNECTING desired a dwelling place down below so low that a created being could THE ELECTRICITY for Himself.” actually deny the existence of G-d. What does tachtonim (down He might even believe that a person From the Midrash saying that below) mean? Tachton is not a low or a statue is the Creator and until Avrohom the world was in place and the Midrash is not saying sustainer of all, G-d forbid. darkness but when he came it was that Hashem wanted to be revealed When Chassidim wanted to light, one might think that the world in a physically low area, because it describe such a depraved condition, was like a huge construction project makes no difference to the revelation they would analogize to a drunken where the electricity wasn’t properly of the Creator whether it takes place villager who knocks at the door of connected. This is why at first there high up in the worlds or low down in another villager. The homeowner was gloom until the expert the worlds. The meaning of tachton asks, “Who’s there?” electrician, Avrohom Avinu, came is a state wherein created beings do The drunk answers, “It is I!” and fixed it and there was light. not realize that there is a Creator “But who are you? Ivan?” However when the Creator is the who created everything out of “No, I’m not Ivan. I’m someone one who constructed it this edifice, nothing. much greater than him.” how could something go awry? In order to create a tachton like “Are you the mayor of the There is no flaw in Hashem’s this, it was necessary to employ a village?” handiwork. The explanation is that process of tzimtzum, (constriction) “Mayor?!” replied the drunk Hashem made the world incomplete until the “breaking of the vessels” disdainfully. “I am much greater than so that Jewish souls would come and the diminishing of the moon, him.” along and illuminate it with the the sin of the Tree of Knowledge and “Ah, in that case, you must be the revelation of divine truth where such the sins that followed it. All of this police chief!” said the homeowner. truth seemingly does not belong. As led to the ultimate tachton, a world “No, even greater.” the Midrash puts it, “Hashem

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The homeowner tried to ascertain object according to the instructions work? He wants to earn money and whether the man was the priest, the of the one who made it, it gets the desire for money is so that he can bishop or even the pope himself. No ruined, since the one who made it buy a house and the desire for a matter whom he thought the person didn’t make it out of nothing but house is to be able to live knocking might be, the man merely fashioned its form. In other comfortably, etc. So the inner desire answered that he was even greater words, he took something and made wants the pleasure of a home. All the than that. The homeowner took a something else out of it. Therefore, actions taken until he actually dwells deep breath and tremblingly asked: the instructions that go along with it in his home are also his ratzon - for Are you G-d? are meant to preserve the new form if not for this desire he would not go “I am greater than Him too,” said he fashioned. This is why, when you to work and wouldn’t buy and pay the drunk confidently. use a physical object in the wrong for all the expenses associated with The homeowner couldn’t take it way it gets ruined but the original building a home – but they are only anymore and he decided to open the material it was made out of still the externals. door and see who was so elevated. remains. The G-dly chitzonius ha’ratzon is To his astonishment, it was only the In contrast to that, when you that the world should exist. drunk Ivan pounding his chest ignore the instructions of the Creator Therefore, the world continues to importantly and saying: I am the who made things out of nothing, the exist even though we do things that idol-maker and so I am greater than object ought to revert to nothing are against His will, because there is god. because there is no reason for its hope (even knowledge) that in the That is what Nimrod who continued existence. end, the sinners will repent and then rebelled against G-d was like. He So why is it that the world is not the p’nimius ha’ratzon, that there be ruled the world and did as he destroyed, or at least the person’s a “dwelling place for Him below,” pleased. personal world, when he sins? This will be perfectly fulfilled. Avrohom the believer was a soul is because the Supernal will has a If we continue with the analogy sent into this lowly world to p’nimius and a chitzonius. The of the house, we can say that the illuminate it and show that there is a p’nimius ha’ratzon (inner will) is the person who builds a house and does Creator of the world; not only that will that gives life to all elements of not find peace of mind in it, will there is a Creator but that all that holiness within the entire Order of continue to hold on to it only if there exists, exists by the power of G-d as Devolvement – the worlds, angels, is a chance that his p’nimius it says, “Keil olam,” which means souls, and Torah and mitzvos with ha’ratzon will be realized in the that the world is G-dliness! It which, and through which, Hashem’s future. If this becomes impossible, he doesn’t say, “Keil ha’olam” which ratzon in the creation is fulfilled. will abandon it or destroy and would mean that Hashem merely This means that they perpetuate the rebuild it. rules the world. Avrohom began inner will in creation and this is why If a person were to say: What do spreading the belief that the world it exists. I care if the world is here from the was created and is renewed through The more something embodies p’nimius or the chitzonius? The the exclusively through the will of the the inner divine will, the more main thing is that I can keep doing one-and-only Creator. nullified to the Creator it becomes. whatever I want - that my world One may even come to see how the should continue to exist! EXTERNAL, INTERNAL Creator continuously creates the The simple answer is that since WILL AND THAT WHICH world at every moment ex nihilo, this is only an external means to the until we reach the state of Geula in goal which is p’nimius ha’ratzon, if IS IN BETWEEN which “all flesh will see” – we will he does not carry out or bring closer Since divine will is what sustains actually see the sustaining utterance, the fulfillment of the ratzon p’nimi, the world, when someone goes the Divine energy within each and his world would cease to exist against the divine will, one would every thing. because there is no need for it. Why expect a disaster of some kind, But there is also chitzonius does this fellow’s perverse world perhaps the sun would follow suit ha’ratzon (external will) which is the continue to exist? So he can correct and change its course or shine at desire to sustain the world as a his previous deeds which brings night and not by day. Destruction means to carry out the p’nimius about the fulfillment of Hashem’s and chaos would follow. But there’s ha’ratzon. We can understand each ratzon p’nimi or at least from now a difference between a physical entity of the layers of ratzon by comparing on, he acts in such a way that the and a person. it to someone who goes to work. desire in the chitzonius should be in When you don’t use a physical What motivates someone to go to harmony with the ratzon p’nimi.

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“BE CAREFUL NOT TO storekeeper wasn’t looking and he like small change and he loses out on DESTROY MY WORLD!” stole some coins from the pile. The real life, on building his world and fool didn’t take into account that he connecting to his eternal future. We can say then, that when a was making do with pennies and was Behaving in this way comes from person does not carry out the losing far greater wages that he could man’s desire to create a world instructions of the Creator, the truth have received in place of the coins. around himself that provides him is that his personal world is The same is true for us. The with pleasure and comfort and destroyed. The fact that he does not activities of thought, speech and refrains from demanding that he see this is because he does not have actions, which occur in our world, carry out assignments that someone the glasses to see it. There were get their life energy from Hashem’s above him imposes. This is like the instances in which tzaddikim showed chitzonius ha’ratzon which is only an person who saw many targets on the the churban that resulted by behavior intermediary – like the coins – for us side of the road with arrows precisely that was contrary to G-d’s will. The to get to the main thing, i.e. so that in the bulls-eye. When he asked the Baal Shem Tov showed his disciples through our thoughts, speech and archer how he had managed to aim that in the house of the arrogant action we do Torah and mitzvos. so accurately, the man replied: It’s parush (ascetic) there swarmed easy. First I shoot the arrows and impure creatures that had been then I draw circles around them. As created by his ego. He showed them it says, “What man’s hands create Similarly, when the Maggid of out of wood and stone” – he himself Mezritch was at an inn with his fearsome “shoots the arrow” towards the god disciples, he showed them fearsome he set up for himself. Then he builds creatures that had been created from creatures that had circles of reasons, excuses and the landlord’s sins of immorality. justifications around his lowly Through his prayers he was able to been created from concerns. get rid of them and help the landlord the landlord’s sins He actually “uses” G-d who so do t’shuva. kindly provides him with an A story is also told about Rabbi of immorality. extension on life and continues to Yoel Baal Shem who revealed to his enable him to exist out of His disciples the significance of the Through his chitzonius ha’ratzon. It’s like Chazal frightening voices that emanated say on the verse, “who is like You from the house of the deceased prayers he was b’eilim Hashem” – instead of reading goldsmith in Posen (as recounted in it as “the powerful ones,” read it the Memoirs). There were demons able to get rid of b’ilmim – the mute ones, for and spirits in the house that looked them and help the Hashem remains silent even as we like various animals. They considered act contrary to His will. By rights, themselves the inheritors of the landlord do the person should be put out of goldsmith since they had been existence but Hashem is patient for created by his sins and the curses of t’shuva. the sake of t’shuva. his wife. This kind of behavior, of a person When we don’t do those things, we who says, “I’m satisfied that I FOLLOWERS OF are left with a few coins that aren’t attained my (physical!) desire and AVROHOM AVINU worth the effort… what do I care about Hashem’s Until Avrohom Avinu, people This was Avrohom’s avoda, to p’nimius ha’ratzon, is reminiscent of acted like that porter who stole the prove that there is a Creator and a the porter who would bring boxes of coins, and the world continued to purpose to creation. This is why it vegetables to market. In order to exist with people feeling that they says that “two thousand years of calculate the payment for his work had benefited from taking coins Torah” began with Avrohom (out of according to the number of boxes he without working for them. Avrohom the 6000 years of the world), since schlepped, the storekeeper said he opened people’s eyes to the truth, he is the one who taught mankind would put a small coin on every box that this is idol worship in which that the goal is to acknowledge and he brought. Afterwards, they would every person decides for himself conform to the divine will, Torah. count the coins and he would be paid what he finds appealing and what he The world progressed and accordingly. will worship. These physical became more refined through The porter, seeing a pile of coins, substitutes for which he works are Yitzchok and Yaakov and so on, until waited for a moment when the Mattan Torah when “there was a

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great voice which did not cease.” When I look at the Rebbe’s picture, I that the sitra achra sent someone The Rebbe explains that G-dliness have a few moments of sanity and from the family to stop the Rebbe’s penetrated all of creation. The it’s worth everything! spreading of Chassidus like the process of the refinement of creation So everything in the world is relative of the Mitteler Rebbe who continued further and further operating according to a informed on him, saying that he was through the construction of the first preconceived plan that we were rebelling against the czar, as a result and second Battei Mikdash and the chosen to carry out in the best of which the Mitteler Rebbe was revelation of the Mishna and possible way. Even if it seems to us arrested. Gemara. that something has gone wrong, we Sometimes the opposition was At this time, the 2000 years of must remember that there is no from the Chassidim and tzaddikim Yemos HaMoshiach began which veering off G-d’s plan. All along the who carried on the way of the Baal meant that the goal for the world, the way, the Evil Inclination –and his Shem Tov, like in the time of the revelation of Moshiach, had begun, master, Satan – try to prove that Alter Rebbe when some of his especially through Rabbi Shimon Bar there is no creator and this is the colleagues greatly opposed the fact Yochai who revealed p’nimius reason for all the suffering the Jewish that he revealed Chassidus. The ha’Torah, and then the Arizal and R’ people have endured. It is all in order Rebbe Rashab said that there would Eliyahu Baal Shem and R’ Yoel Baal to try and challenge the belief that be people who “mock the footsteps Shem and R’ Adam Baal Shem, who there is a Creator and One who runs of Your anointed one,” people who disseminated the teachings of the world. Whenever we pass a test, are frum who oppose the inyan of Kabbala, p’nimius ha’Torah which is even if we seem to emerge bloody Moshiach. a revelation of the era of Moshiach. and bruised, we fulfill our ultimate Thus, there was revelation after purpose. THE GREATEST OF ALL revelation until R’ Yisroel Baal Shem That means that that situation Chassidim would say that there Tov and the Chabad Rebbeim and (which we can define as “tachton”) are three rabbinic holidays: Purim, the end of galus and the beginning of that threatened to cause the Jewish Chanuka, and Yud-Tes Kislev, which Geula. It has all been heading in one people to say, “G-d abandoned the correspond to the Jewish people, the direction since Avrohom Avinu began earth,” but failed, will not be Torah, and Hashem. On Purim, to publicize that there is a Creator of repeated since it is a tachton which there was a decree against the Jews, this creation called “the world.” was already refined. We may have that they be annihilated. On The Rebbe defines it thus – the additional hardships but they are Chanuka there was a decree “to Alter Rebbe, who was like Avrohom different than those which preceded make them forget Your Torah and Avinu who brought the Sh’china them; and not only different but to remove them from the statutes of down (but he brought it down from lower. Your will,” – the Torah. On Yud-Tes one heaven to the next), also brought All the kitzim (calculated Kislev there was a decree against the Sh’china from heaven to heaven endpoints of exile, expected dates G-d, namely that people not know … until our Rebbe who brought the when Moshiach would come bit who Hashem is. Sh’china down below, to the lowest, didn’t) were not false. They were In our generation we have an forsaken places that exist on earth, to certain low points in time that were additional Yom Tov, 5 Teives, situations which seem utterly remote elevated. They had the potential of because there was a decree against from divinity. bringing about “and the earth will be the revelation of the Rebbe as The G-dly light reached and full of knowledge” but Hashem Moshiach, which is the final step in continues to reach, through the wanted an even lower and lower the revelation of the G-dly light and Rebbe’s shluchim, even to people situation to cry out, “Hashem Hu the destination which Avrohom and whose view is that “There is no HaElokim.” all his descendents yearned for. Here justice and there is no judge” and so Throughout the generations there too, the plot against the Rebbe and they immerse themselves in any was opposition to preparing the against his being the Rosh B’nei hedonistic desire that arises. The world for the revelation of G-dly Yisroel came from a family member, Rebbe’s light has reached even these light which sometimes came from a descendent of the Rebbeim, who lowest of places. For example, goyim and sometimes came through drew others in his wake. someone who works with down and Jews, l’havdil. There were the At this time we are in the era of out people once found a picture of Maskilim for example, and even the revelation of G-d through the Rebbe in the wallet of a drug great Jews, real gaonim, like the early Moshiach and therefore we can addict. When he asked him why he opponents to the study of Kabbala understand why the world already had this picture, the man answered: and Chassidus. There were times agrees to all the revelations of the

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Jewish people, the Torah and remaining opponents to Chassidus) and in Nissan we will be redeemed. Hashem but when it comes to would deny this? He informed us that if we don’t have connecting all this to Moshiach, we Some people wonder – what was the actual Geula, then all the run into trouble. Throughout the the point in publicizing all that about progress made since Avrohom was world, the ideas and depth within the Moshiach when most of the world is for naught as the Rebbe said first three things have been accepted ready to accept Chassidic ideas, explicitly, “If we don’t have the and every lecturer includes them in especially with the plethora of Redeemer, we accomplished his talks (including the idea of ein od explanations provided by the Rebbe nothing!” milvado as the Baal Shem Tov as they are explained in thousands of The Rambam describes who the explains it, as well as the eternality of sichos, maamarim and letters? Redeemer is so that when the Torah and Yisroel as they are Baruch Hashem we have reached moment of truth comes, in which we explained in Chassidus). Yemos HaMoshiach, as the Baal have to point at him, we will know However, connecting this with Shem Tov said Moshiach told him who it is. The Rebbe, and only the the Rebbe or even Moshiach without would happen when his wellsprings Rebbe, is the authority who tells us identifying who he is, is not seen as spread forth! when the right moment has come necessary and it may go so far as to Today, in all streams of Judaism, and he decided that now is the time be seen as an impediment. Just like from the national-religious to the to announce, “Hinei zeh Moshiach the Israeli politicians wanted to erase former misnagdim, all the other ba!” the mention of Jewish origin from Chassidic groups and the many Jews We should not be fazed by those Israel’s national identity cards, they who are still not religious – all of who ask questions and turn up their think they can erase Moshiach from them have gotten a taste of the noses and thereby mock the being identified as such, and they teachings of the Baal Shem Tov and footsteps of the anointed one. As in make spurious claims such as there want more. All of them enjoy all previous generations, even when will be a Geula without Moshiach (as Chassidic niggunim, Chassidic they didn’t see any way out in the the nationalists believe) or there will customs and Chassidic ideas and it face of a nisayon, they knew it was a be a Geula with a human being who doesn’t scare anyone off. test and they did as it says in is Moshiach but when it happens we So why was it necessary to Chassidus – knowing that there is no will know about it and it’s not announce that Moshiach is coming, purpose in fighting a nisayon. What necessary to point him out now and especially to tell the world that needs to be done is to stand firmly because it only turns people off… the Nasi HaDor is Moshiach and we with emuna and emerge from it Those who rally under the banner have to accept his reign and bring stronger and with a deeper of “they mock the footsteps of Your piskei dinim from rabbanim that connection to our Creator. anointed one” try to claim that Hashem must bring Moshiach? They All the more so now that the everything the Rebbe said regarding say – let Hashem run things! Let us process of the creation of the world the fact that Moshiach is the Nasi spread the wellsprings and He will is reaching its denouement, we HaDor, and the ten years or so in do his part! cannot allow ourselves to be dragged which he led us in this direction and They even point out the benefits into debates. And especially not when we followed along with great we could have enjoyed if we followed the Rebbe told us several times that enthusiasm was some kind of their approach, saying that we could the world is ready and we just have unusual period and we don’t need to have lived together in peace and to find the way to convey the refer to it any longer. harmony and Chabad Chassidim message. They try to hide the sichos and would be accepted everywhere in the We need to hold on tight to our those videos and the other means world. emuna that “Hinei zeh Moshiach which the Rebbe used to publicize They want to know why we acted ba.” The Rebbe’s ratzon will certainly what he said. It’s a new sort of like a bull in a china shop, breaking be fulfilled and his prophecies will be decree of “making them forget your all the delicate wares, i.e. ruining the realized. May it be through us and Torah” adopted by people amongst chance of spreading the wellsprings may we be the ones who finish us. Apparently, they are the ones the to all segments of the Jewish people. Avrohom Avinu’s work in Rebbe Rashab meant when he said They forget that we are following the illuminating the world with the there would be religious Jews who path paved by Avrohom who – when revelation of the Rebbe Melech would mock the footsteps of Your the time came – entered his father HaMoshiach now! anointed one because what other Terach’s idol store and smashed Yechi Adoneinu Moreinu frum people since the time of the them all to bits. V’Rabbeinu Melech HaMoshiach Rebbe Rashab (aside from the few The Rebbe was born in Nissan L’olam Va’ed!

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memoirs SHOOTING IN THE FOREST

By Rabbi Shneur Zalman Chanin

all in their power not to desecrate The ongoing adventures of the group of the Shabbos. Chassidim after they crossed the Polish- “We knew we had to continue traveling but we didn’t want to travel Czech border. on Shabbos if it wasn’t necessary,” explained my father. “As soon as we left Poland, the immediate danger to In the previous installment, I told our lives was gone. The time, how my parents safely crossed the circumstances and place we were in Polish-Czech border, boarded were no longer pikuach nefesh passenger trains, and arrived at a according to Halacha, and therefore, refugee camp where they were to we couldn’t desecrate the Shabbos. stay a few days before moving on. We hoped that if we could only In general, the Czechs were speak with the border guards we favorably disposed towards the would be able to postpone our trip refugees. The Foreign Minister, Jan until after Shabbos. We knew that Masaryk, was actually a friend of the The makeshift refugee camp the soldiers had already received Jews. Thanks to him, the Czech in Czechoslovakia some hefty bribes and we thought Republic opened its doors to Jews we didn’t have to rush and follow Bricha took my parents and all and provided them with food. Not orders.” 46 Chassidim in trucks and traveled only did the government provide the The askanim, led by my father, southwest. At some point on the refugees with seven trains for over used the tactic which had worked road, near a thick forest, they placed two years to transport them south or well under the communists. First, them in a large wooden barracks east, it even paid for this my father gave money to the which had recently been used as a transportation and for hot food for engineer of the train who agreed to stable. Each person was given a the refugees. make believe there was a technical folding army cot and they told them The catch was that although the problem which required an urgent to be ready for at any moment they Czech government allowed the repair that could take 24 hours. would continue traveling. refugees to pass through its land, it Then, he gave money to the soldiers did not allow them to remain there. and they agreed to wait until the The condition was that the refugees MONEY TALKS train was fixed. Nevertheless, the stay a maximum of 72 hours and On Friday, they told the group of Bricha people advised the Chassidim then leave. They had guards who Chassidim that at night they had to not to tarry and to get going as soon watched the transit camps and the board another train which would as the stars appeared in the sky. trains so that refugees wouldn’t bring them closer to the border. The sneak off and blend into the general Chassidim, who felt comfortable population. The Bricha promised, A SURPRISING with the Czechs, were confident that “We will pass through your land … TELEGRAM FROM as long as they were in we won’t veer right or left until we Czechoslovakia nothing bad would THE REBBE cross your border,” (as the Jews in happen to them. They decided to do I don’t know whether it was the desert promised Edom). Erev Shabbos or on Shabbos itself

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that the Chassidim received a Since communications in 1946 telegram from the Rebbe in which were not as developed as they are he wrote that he was sending his today, telegrams and letters did representative from the United not always reach their destination States to meet them, in his name. in time. This was especially true It also said that this emissary after the war, which had brought would have further instructions as in its wake chaos and bedlam, and to where they should continue to especially for the Chassidim who travel. had no fixed address. When the For the Chassidim, who longed Rebbe’s telegram arrived, it wasn’t to see the Rebbe, knowing that the clear and it left the Chassidim Rebbe had sent an emissary to confused. Did the Rebbe want the meet them was tremendously group to wait where they were exciting. To them, seeing and until his emissary arrived or should hearing the Rebbe’s emissary they continue traveling and the would be like meeting the Rebbe emissary would meet them later himself. on? The difference of opinion that the telegram created among the Crossing the border between leaders of the group caused much Czechoslovakia and Austria aggravation. Those who thought the Rebbe wanted them to wait did not want to listen to the Bricha people who said they had to continue traveling. They insisted on remaining there until the emissary arrived or until the Rebbe’s instruction became clear. The other group said they must travel! They were not in a settled place but in a clearing in a forest and it was dangerous to remain there. They said there was no reason to wait for the emissary and they had to continue. The emissary would find them later on.

SHOOTING IN THE FOREST As the Chassidim discussed what the Rebbe meant, the pastoral silence in the woods was disturbed. Late Shabbos afternoon, two tall soldiers walked in and looked at the bearded Chassidim, at the women and children, and shouted at them to get out. I was never able to understand what happened, what motivated the Czech soldiers to act as they did. Possibly another group of refugees had to arrive at that temporary camp and they had to The trains the refugees traveled on in Czechoslovakia.

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clear out the stable for them. soldiers was aiming his gun at her For the Chassidim, Maybe it was because the 72 hours husband. In a second, she had who longed to see were up and that is why they were placed herself between the soldier ordered to leave immediately. and her husband and had knocked the Rebbe, What is nearly certain is that the the gun to the side. The bullet did soldiers were anti-Semites. They not hit R’ Dovid but it struck her knowing that the definitely thought that all the Jews at the end of her spine and she had been killed by Hitler and his began bleeding. Rebbe had sent an devotees and when they suddenly Mrs. Itta Sasonkin-Levitin, who saw a different reality – a large was in another corner of the emissary to meet group of bearded Jews with their barrack and saw the soldier aiming them was wives and children, it aroused their in the direction of Tzivya, began to anti-Semitic ire. scream, “They’re killing Tzivka!” tremendously I heard the following from my Her screaming made the soldier father many times. It was very even madder and he aimed his gun exciting. To them, traumatic for him and he and shot at her too. remembered every detail. Mrs. Itta was 33 years old, the seeing and When the soldiers began daughter of R’ Nachum chasing them out, the askanim, led Shmaryahu Sasonkin, the rav of hearing the by my father, R’ Dovid Bravman, Batum, who was known as R’ Rebbe’s emissary and R’ Yona Eidelkopf, tried to Shmerel Batumer. In her short life, talk to them. They hoped to Mrs. Itta had been widowed from would be like convince them with additional her first husband who had been money and with the help of Bricha, killed on the front. The cursed meeting the Rebbe to wait a few more hours and then Russians had drafted him to the they would leave. But the Czech Russian army as punishment for himself. soldiers were impatient. They belonging to the cocked their rifles and ordered “Schneersohnskis” and spreading everyone to take their belongings Torah and Judaism. and leave immediately. If they did Before leaving Russia, Mrs. Itta not obey, they said, they would had married the mashgiach of start shooting. In order to show yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim, R’ they meant business, the soldiers Shneur Zalman Levitin who was began hitting some of the refugees like a father to her two children, in the attempt to chase them out. Avrohom and Rochele. Mrs. Itta My father and R’ Dovid died of her wounds the next day. Bravman jumped forward and May Hashem avenge her blood. stood between the Czech soldiers The soldier continued shooting and those people who tried to towards my father and if not for defend themselves, which made the my aunt, Esther Rochel, who soldiers angrier and they started caught my father by the hands and shooting in the air, right and left. dragged him away from where he stood, he would have gotten the SHE SAVED HER third bullet. HUSBAND BUT GOT A My aunt, my mother’s sister, Mrs. Mussia Nimotin, did all she BULLET IN HER BACK could to salvage the situation. Suddenly, Mrs. Tzivya Seeing Mrs. Bravman bleeding, she Bravman, R’ Dovid’s wife, who opened her suitcase which had an was in her ninth month of item of clothing or two and took pregnancy, noticed that one of the out the only sheet she owned and ripped it into strips. If you did not Left: Rabbi Yisroel Jacobson, live in those days, you cannot the Rebbe Rayatz’s emissary

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accompanied me, asked me to sign so as not to cause problems for the groups of Jews who would be following us. I signed. “It was first at six in the evening that a German doctor came and examined me. He said I was lucky because the bullet hadn’t touched the fetus. They were able to remove the bullet after anesthetizing the area with ice. I managed to catch up with the group before they crossed the border into Austria. Three weeks later, when we were already in Germany, I gave birth to my oldest A map that shows the journey Anash took from Tashkent to Poking, daughter Rochel.” Of course this episode shook appreciate what a mesirus nefesh up the Chassidim and when, that this was. She did not think about night, one of the Bricha members her single, irreplaceable sheet nor came and told them to follow him, about the discomfort and health they sadly went. They went by risk this loss would cause. Mussia train until the nearest border simply tore it into strips and where they stopped in order to bandaged Tzivke to save her life. walk across the Austrian border. Mrs. Tzivya Bravman finishes Once again they were frightened. relating what happened to her: The Bricha guide had a collective “I was injured and had lost a visa and each of the refugees was lot of blood but we were in a given a new certificate, sealed by clearing in the forest and far from “the International Committee for civilization. In order to get to a Refugees.” Everybody knew that hospital I had to travel by train but the documents were fabricated in I first had to walk to the train a forgery factory and that even if station. the documents had been genuine, “I arrived at the hospital the names written on them did Sunday morning when most of the not match the people who held doctors were on vacation and I sat them. in a room that was like an Once again they entered a dark dense forest and walked what emergency room, to wait my turn. Rabbi Dovid Bravman Big crosses were hung on the walls seemed an endless path. After they safely crossed the Austrian border, around me and monks dressed in many times to match the false Bricha put them on another train black walked back and forth. I was papers we were given. I told the that brought them to the transit in great pain and terrified. I was nurse that I knew English. After camp called “Oifnams Lager” glad that at least that the bleeding some time, someone came in (reception camp) in the city of had stopped. civilian clothes, and he seemed to Hoff. There they met the Rebbe’s “Someone called the name that have an official position. He asked representative, Rabbi Yisroel appeared on my false papers and at me to sign a paper that would take Jacobson, who brought the Rebbe’s first I didn’t react because I didn’t the blame off the soldier who shot blessing and instructions not to remember that it was my name! at me, but would point out that the delay but to follow the Bricha When I realized, I was afraid to bullet was ejected because I people to the American zone in speak in Russian but I didn’t know pushed the soldier’s hand. Germany. any other language. I was confused “I didn’t know what to do. One since my identity had changed so of the Bricha people, who had

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pesach story AN AMAZING DREAM BEFORE PESACH

By Nosson Avrohom

his enthusiasm, I sold him the Shlomo reacted with excitement. “A tickets. special evening in the Rebbe’s honor?” At the gathering on Motzaei Shabbos, he was one of the first he responded enthusiastically. “Of to show up. It was a very successful evening and attracted course I’ll be there!” * Everybody sat quite a large turnout. There were several speakers, each of whom back down to listen to him. He was spoke about the Rebbe’s tremendous impact on the Jewish obviously very worked up. “As those of world, shlichus, and the Rebbe’s you who know me are aware, I am not mivtzaim. The last speaker was Rabbi Hertzl Borochov of religious. However, I want to tell you Rechovot, who runs the Machon Igros Kodesh. He told his life about a miracle…” story, describing how he became a Chabad Chassid and the tremendous impact that had on Over the course of 18 years on has warm feelings for Judaism his life. He shared numerous shlichus, Rabbi Aryeh Greenberg, and I figured he was likely to miracle stories and the crowd was shliach in Moshava Mazkeret attend if he was personally enthralled. Batya, has had numerous special invited. When he was finished, a large instances of Divine Providence After speaking with him for a group of people gathered around and quite a few miracles, thanks while, I told him about the him, eager to hear more stories. to the Rebbe’s brachos. Yet, he evening we were devoting to the Some of them wanted to write to can’t help getting excited as he Rebbe to commemorate the day the Rebbe. Shlomo joined this relates this truly unique miracle he became the Nasi. Shlomo group, then approached the story. reacted with excitement. “A microphone and asked to say a special evening in the Rebbe’s *** few words. honor?” he responded It was Yud Shvat, 5756.Like I was very curious. I couldn’t enthusiastically. “Of course I’ll be every year, we arranged a special imagine what he would say. there!” evening for the people of the Everybody sat back down to listen He asked me how much a Moshava. I invite many of the to him. He was obviously very raffle ticket cost. Our policy is residents personally, even up to a worked up. that we don’t sell raffle tickets few days before the event, and so “As those of you who know me before the gatherings so people it was when I met with Mr. are aware, I am not religious. who don’t have the money won’t Shlomo Chajaj. Although he is However, I want to tell you about be deterred from attending, but not yet religiously observant, nor a miracle that I had with the he insisted that he wanted to buy amongst those who regularly take Rebbe. This happened four years a raffle for himself and his wife part in Chabad events, Mr. Chajaj ago, a little while after the Rebbe right then and there. Surprised by

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became sick.” and couldn’t fall back asleep. I I was flabbergasted. Here was sat up in bed, took a cigarette My heart a person who I would never have and began smoking. Suddenly, I pounding, I suspected had any connection to saw the Lubavitcher Rebbe. I was the Rebbe, not to mention a taken aback. I had no knocked at the miracle, and yet, not only had he acquaintance with the Rebbe and had a serious encounter with the knew him only from door... At this, she Rebbe, he remembered precisely advertisements in the papers and when it happened and the Rebbe’s from the work of Chabad. burst into condition at the time. My ears “The Rebbe didn’t give me perked up. much time to think. He asked, uncontrollable “I work as a truck driver, and ‘Do all the people in your vicinity tears. my day begins late in the have what they need for the morning. That year, two days upcoming holiday?’ checked and so how could I before Pesach, I dreamt that I “I was confused. After a long know? The Rebbe said I should woke up at five in the morning moment, I answered that I hadn’t

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try to ensure that everybody had what they needed for the holiday and then he disappeared. “When my wife woke up I told her about my dream. I usually don’t pay too much attention to dreams, but this one seemed to be much more than just a dream – I felt it was a vision! I gave a lot of thought as to what the Rebbe could have been referring to. It was the kind of dream that did not allow you to ignore it and move on. It was all so vivid. I had made eye contact with the Rebbe and I felt as though if I had reached out, I could have touched him. “After much thought, I recalled that a neighbor of mine was experiencing hard times. This person is very private and hardly shares his circumstances with others, but his difficult financial situation was The shliach of Mazkeret Batya, Rabbi Greenberg well known. with the council chairman, Mr. Meir Dahan “I decided that I would overcome my discomfort at a public menora lighting and find out whether this person needed financial help for the holiday. My heart pounding, I knocked home feeling very shaken up. at his door. His wife opened the door. Her eyes “I saw that the dream of the Rebbe was not just looked red and swollen and it was clear that it a dream. Throughout the day I couldn’t stop wasn’t due to lack of sleep. thinking about what had happened. I went to sleep “I asked whether her husband was in and she just an ordinary truck driver, was charged with a said he wasn’t. I asked whether they had everything mission by the Lubavitcher Rebbe overnight, and by they needed for the holiday and whether I could be the next morning had fulfilled it. The quick turn of of help. At this, she burst into uncontrollable tears, events had me reeling. bringing tears to my own eyes. When she finally “The very next day, the man was released from calmed down, she told me, ‘Yesterday, my husband jail. Coming home from another hard day on the was taken to jail because of his debts and I don’t highway, I met him on the street and he invited me know what to do and where to begin …’ into his house. It was Erev Pesach and the table was “I felt overcome with compassion for her. From set with fish and meat. ‘It’s all thanks to you,’ he the outside, she seemed like a strong woman. To see said gratefully. her like this was very hard for me. In addition, they “Though this neighbor was never one to kept to themselves and never told the neighbors welcome neighbors into his home, this time he what was going on in their house. ushered me in with palpable joy and excitement. It “I didn’t hesitate. On the spot I took out 500 was one of the happiest days of my life. I sent a shekels from my pocket and gave it to her. She was silent thanks to the Lubavitcher Rebbe for enabling very embarrassed and at first refused to take the me to do this big mitzva. We sat down in his living money from me. Only when I told her that the room and I told him about my dream which had money did not come from me but was sent by seemed so odd at first, but had resulted in this someone else did she agree to accept it. I went marvelous conclusion.”

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shlichus PESACH IN PERU: SHLICHUS UNLIMITED

By Chani Nussbaum

also supervise sugar, coffee, salt and cocoa in factories. “Remember that dust isn’t We had always ordered most of the products we chametz and children aren’t needed from New York but last year we found it cheaper to order from Israel. It’s a big expense, the korban Pesach.” * An especially when 80% of the shipment is used for our public S’darim, leaving only 20% of the container to be interview with veteran sold. The increased awareness it generates among the residents and tourists for the necessity of kosher shlucha, Mrs. Sarah products Blumenfeld of Peru, about Below: Rabbi Shneur Zalman Blumenfeld Pesach on shlichus.

How do you make Pesach? Enlisting the help of about ten bachurim, we make several public S’darim. We host a more homey and relaxed seider in our home for the members of the Lima community, between 80-100 people. Since our s’darim are conducted in Spanish and English and it would be difficult to add another language to that, another, less formal seider led by bachurim takes place in the shul. We also send bachurim to a number of nearby cities: Juarez, Ica, Arequipa. The largest seider takes place in Cusco, where Ofer and Yael Kripor have served as the shluchim for the past four years. How do you prepare? We import a large container with all the products we need. Before we came here, the sum total of what Jews had here for Pesach, in the way of kosher products, was machine matzos and wine. We taught people that more than that is both necessary and accessible. A few weeks before Pesach, thousands of chickens and about twenty cows are slaughtered. We

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makes the huge expenditure STORIES OF THE FIFTH SON worthwhile. One year, in the middle of the seider during the singing of Ma It’s a challenge to juggle arranging S’darim for the people of Nishtana, two Israeli girls with backpacks burst into the room our community, the tourists, and and started crying hysterically. They had wandered for hours, the other Chabad houses who make searching for a seider in Lima. They had almost despaired when s’darim with the help of the they suddenly heard us singing and that is how they found us. T’mimim we bring out. How do we They immediately lit candles. They didn’t stop shedding tears manage? There is no explanation until the end of the seider, which I am sure they will never forget. other than the Rebbe! Who are the “Four Sons” on *** shlichus? There was an Israeli They had The “Chacham,” one who tourist who did not want wandered for becomes religiously observant, takes to come to the Chabad some time to cultivate. Our job as house. All his friends hours, searching shluchim is to make the generation came to us for the t’fillos zakai (meritorious) by making a “ben” out of “acher.” To watch on the Yomim Nora’im for a seider in those who recently did not know but he stayed at the Lima. At the brink the Alef-Beis learn in yeshivos is the hotel. Then the true happiness of every shliach. unbelievable happened of despair, they The goal of the S’darim is to and he suddenly felt suddenly heard us bring together all four sons, and to enormous regret and he enable them to understand the said to his friends: When singing and came significance of the exile in Egypt, the present galus, and the I go back to Israel I will in. They anticipation of Geula. When all are go to yeshiva. They involved together, we will be ready didn’t believe him, of immediately lit for the impending Geula. course, but he did it. As How do you explain concepts soon as he arrived back candles. They like chametz, matza, maror, galus in Israel he looked for didn’t stop and Geula to Jews who never the nearest Chabad heard them before? The Rebbe’s sichos are full of house and was referred shedding tears explanations of these concepts and to a yeshiva. until the end of we need to learn and teach them to Today he is a shliach. our mekuravim. The seider in our That “fifth son” is a the seider, which I home is always a very lengthy shliach and is looking for am sure they will affair, as seider at home takes so other “fifth sons” as we long because my husband explains are. never forget. every paragraph in Spanish, starting with questions to get the attention *** of the children and working many We don’t know how connected every Jew is to the Nasi of the Rebbe’s sichos into the HaDor. I heard an amazing story about a tourist who came here. recitation of the Hagada. People are His friend in America finished studying medicine but did not find eager to hear more and more and a job. He was very upset about this, feeling that seven years of they accept it in a way that is astonishing to us. studying had gone to waste. In general, the S’darim are an He spoke to the local shliach who suggested that he write to opportune time for every Jew to feel the Rebbe. Then he got four job offers, one of which is close to the Holiday of Freedom. his home. So he found work and also got more connected to the What is “chametz” in life on Rebbe. shlichus?

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Every person has the “chametz” HaShana and horseradish for family” of 100 people and more on he has to deal with. The big Pesach. Pesach. In order to feel the difference is that on shlichus, the Chinuch is an enormous freedom, I start cooking right after Rebbe is helping us every step of hardship. My four oldest children Purim so that the next two weeks I the way. It reminds me of a are in Israel and the three younger am completely free to take care of humorous line I once heard. Saying ones are home-schooled thanks to all the things that need to be done b’ezras Hashem (with G-d’s help) the Internet and the home- at the Chabad house starting with doesn’t give us the right to blame schooling program for children of kippot and matzos and up to paying Him when something goes wrong. shluchim. My youngest son is still the bills for all the needed repairs. So too on shlichus, having the too young for formal schooling, but When I look at the immense Rebbe with us gives us the I try to provide him with changes that have occurred since responsibility to be proper enrichment. We are looking for we came here, it makes me very shluchim, not the right to blame another couple to come and help on happy. In the early years we were him when things are tough. shlichus, especially with the chinuch able to bring kosher food that If hardships are “chametz” then of our children. sufficed for us whereas today, we of that, we’ve got plenty. We deal It’s hard, but when we remind need to bring a container because with abysmal Jewish ignorance and ourselves that the Rebbe takes the demand has grown. assimilation and struggle to see the responsibility for the children, it’s The results include a girl who bright side, including the fact that definitely encouraging. went to New York to study at people who don’t know a lot are When do you as a shlucha feel Machon Chana and today is a more receptive. We’ve gotten used cheirus/freedom? shlucha herself, as well as seeing to importing most things, as they Genuine cheirus for me as a people who started living more are simply not available in Peru, shlucha is when I see results like Jewish lives, koshering their home such as pomegranates for Rosh when I sit with our “extended for Pesach etc. Some people don’t

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work on Pesach and for Jews of SHLICHUS IN PERU Peru, that’s tremendous progress! We are on shlichus for over 20 years. We left on shlichus about five How do you prepare for the months after we married. We went past the Rebbe for “dollars” and the Seudas Moshiach? Rebbe gave us a bracha to go on shlichus to Peru. We have the Seudas Moshiach at We didn’t know exactly where we were going. We didn’t check the Chabad house. We invite the things out beforehand and we discovered that the situation here was public and farbreng and sing. It’s awful. Terrorists ruled and they kidnapped people off the streets. The very inspiring. We feel that it’s an economy was terrible. auspicious time and people make After two years, my good mitzva resolutions. It helps that husband went to the Rebbe the bachurim who were near and far with an important person The Rebbe said to running S’darim have returned to from Peru and the Rebbe base for the Seudas Moshiach. said to them, “The time them, “The time has Do you have some tips for has come for peace and others on shlichus? tranquility in Peru.” A come for peace and There is a lot of work both at short while later there were home and with the children and at elections and some tranquility in Peru.” the Chabad house so it’s crucial to anonymous candidate won A short while later be organized. Start preparing right who improved the security after Purim so closer to Pesach you and economic situation radical reforms took will be free to handle whatever beyond recognition. The comes up. Rebbe’s prophecy was place that improved The worst thing for anybody, a realized. We felt shlucha especially, is to work till the enormously relieved. the situation beyond last minute. That is also, by the way, Little by little, people the reason that the week before began discovering their recognition. The Pesach we don’t eat chametz here. Judaism. There started to Rebbe’s prophecy Use disposable plates and be a demand for kosher tablecloths. They make life easier. food and we opened a was realized. We sell food and kugels for bakery at the Chabad Pesach at the Chabad house. It’s house. I supervise milking important that people know that and we pasteurize the milk and sometimes make cheese. there’s food to eat on Pesach even if The many tourists that come here, as opposed to those who go to you are very particular about the Far East, are not searching for spirituality. They come for the kashrus. incredible scenery. We have a lot of work to do in reaching out to them. Remember that dust isn’t We have started courses in “Kabbala” that have been very successful. chametz and children are not the We try to capitalize on the inspiration an Israeli tourist feels when korban Pesach. he is abroad. In Israel he wouldn’t go to a shul but here, he is more Yechi Adoneinu Moreinu likely to do so in order to feel at home. V’Rabbeinu Melech HaMoshiach L’olam Va’ed!

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34 11 Nissan 5769 BEIS MOSHIACH 690:Beis Moshiach 30/03/2009 8:18 AM Page 35

moshiach & geula ~ The Final Era ~ TO COLLECT WHAT IS OWED TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE

By Boruch Merkur Tracing the Rebbe MH”M’s instructions NOTES: on how to perfect our Divine service in 137 Quoting Tanya Ch. 37, beg. 138 “The generation will only be the Final Era. redeemed in reward for the righteous Jewish women” (Yalkut Shimoni Rus remez 606, end, from Midrash Zuta The Rebbe MH”M closes his address with a focus on Rus), as was the case regarding the Exodus from Egypt – that the imminent Redemption: in the merit of the righteous women of that generation they “‘All matters of ‘our deeds and our service,’137 especially were redeemed (Sota 11b, Shmos Rabba 1:12). In fact, this those of the righteous women of our generation, in whose connection is apparently especially relevant to the righteous women of our generation, which is a reincarnation of the merit the Redemption will unfold138 (as exemplified in the generation of those who left Egypt (Shaar HaGilgulim Preface redemption of Purim through Ester), shall bring about the 20; Likkutei Torah and Seifer HaLikkutim (of the Arizal) complete reward owed to the Jews (as it were), including (in Shmos 3:4). addition to the reward) the obligation upon the Holy One 139 Blessed Be He139 to [fulfill] ‘You140 shall surely provide For “What He does, He tells the Jewish people to do” him,’141 the Jewish people, who have served for and arrived (Shmos Rabba 30:9). at ‘six years [when a slave must be freed]’ ([referring to the] 140 R’ei 15:14. six thousand years of the world’s existence142), being 141 servants of the Holy One Blessed Be He (a concept that Especially according to the commentary explaining that this is considered the reward for his labor (and not charity). receives additional emphasis in a Year of Hakhel, which See Likkutei Sichos Vol. 19, pg. 154 ff. follows the Shmita year). 142 “This is especially so in light of the service done amidst the Rosh HaShana 31a. darkness of Exile, which is doubled and redoubled, 143 Maamer beginning with the words, “Ein HaKadosh necessitating self-sacrifice and fortitude in the face of Baruch Hu Ba B’Trunia” of 5648, 5685; “Mishkani” 5687 scorners,143 and particularly after the most difficult decrees (beginning with “Ani Yishana” 5709). See Seifer [the Holocaust] we have encountered in the last generation, HaMaamarim Meluket Vol. 2, pg. 271 ff. ‘the trouble shall not arise twice.’144 To the extent that even Moshe was humbled before the “In addition to all the above, just as Jews give and increase generation of the Heels of Moshiach on account of their challenges in dealing with the scorners, etc. (Seifer in giving charity to others, so too, G-d must give, as it were 145 HaMaamarim 5679, pg. 464 ff; 5709, pg. 5, 5710 pg. 236 ff. – ‘measure for measure’ – in a manner of charity. In See Torah Ohr 22a, Seifer HaMaamarim 5562 Vo. 1, pg. 51) exchange for ‘The Holy One Blessed Be He did an act of 144 charity for the Jewish people by dispersing them among the Wording of Scripture – Nachum 1:9 (see Likkute Sichos gentile nations,’146 ‘scattered and fragmented among the Vol. 23, pg. 306, Footnote 55), echoed in the words of the nations,’ may there be the revealed charitable act of ‘and Mitteler Rebbe (Shaarei T’shuva Vol. 1 5a), “It will not recur.” 147 you, the Jewish people, shall be gathered one by one,’ 145 Sanhedrin 90a, end. among a great ‘congregation.’148 146 P’sachim 87b. “That is, in addition to a gathering and unity of Jewish souls, 147 also – and mainly – there should be the unity of souls in Yeshayahu 27:12. 149 bodies, ‘awaken and sing, you who dwell in the dust,’ 148 Yermiyahu 31:7. with the Resurrection of the Dead.” 149 [To be continued be”H] Yeshayahu 26:19.

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story MONEY TALKS BUT WHAT DOES IT SAY?

By Eli Shneuri Translated By Michoel Leib Dobry

said. “Where is it possible to meet In the early days of the Chabad Mobile with you?” Centers, Rabbi David Nachshon When I tried to find out the purpose of this meeting, his reply received a financial offer that was hard merely intensified my curiosity. “This is not something to discuss to refuse. A well-known philanthropist over the phone,” he stated flatly without explanation. from Florida asked to meet him He asked if I could come to him, and when I said that I could, urgently on his private plane, while the but only in another two days, he purpose of the meeting remained vague. said, “Then I’ll come to you – today.” The curiosity was intense, and the trial A few minutes later, he called to update me with his flight afterwards was unbearable. Yet, above number and asked that I come to LaGuardia Airport to meet him as all, there was the surprising answer soon as the plane lands. “The meeting must be face-to- from the Rebbe. face,” he emphasized again and again. Rabbi David Nachshon told the Mobile Centers. At that time, the With such scanty information, I following story at a farbrengen organization was in a state of felt that I had no choice, and I recently held in 770. While this financial distress, confronted with asked one of my closest friends story doesn’t conclude with a huge expenses to operate the tanks among the mobile center “happy ending” in the material and their extensive activities. supporters, R. Yankel Tilson from sense of the phrase, it does teach During that period, I was in New Jersey, to join me at the about the strength of a chassid to contact with a g’vir (Jewish meeting, despite the fact that this stand up to a trial, and about the philanthropist) from Florida, who was against the g’vir’s “orders”. need to hold fast to the clear owned considerable assets and Back in those days, nearly thirty instructions and answers of the corporations. years ago, the approach to the Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach. One day, this honored runways was open and *** philanthropist called the Rebbe’s unrestricted, and therefore, we freely made our way in the Rabbi Nachshon relates: secretariat, and asked Rabbi direction of the aircraft of this This story took place in the Binyomin Klein that I should be in philanthropist. early Mems, during the first decade touch with him. Immediately after As soon as we met, he asked after the establishment of the receiving the message, I contacted why I didn’t fulfill his wishes and Mitzvah Tanks – the Chabad him. “I need to speak with you,” he brought my friend along.

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“We’re talking about someone said. least a million dollars!” quite trustworthy who knows how “I am giving you the secret The feeling was simply to keep a secret,” I hastened to code that will enable you to take exhilarating. A million dollars for say, as I tried to clarify why I out all the funds that are in this our activities! A million dollars in didn’t abide by his instructions. account. Just go there and take those days was the equivalent of “What you say to me in his it!”, he said to my great surprise. I five or six million dollars today. A presence goes no further. You can was in a state of sheer euphoria. huge amount. tell him anything on this matter “Make certain that this entire We parted cordially from one without any reason for concern.” It matter remains an absolute secret!” another, and then my companion was clear that he accepted my he cautioned. and I headed back to 770. explanation, because he had no “Something here is too good to be choice. “I suggest that on your way true – and legal!” I thought out We stood in a quiet corner in back,” he continued, “in order to loud within earshot of R. Yankel. the departure terminal, and the avoid any unexpected problems, He tried to convince me that there g’vir proceeded to get right to the don’t return directly to the United was nothing to worry about and no point: States; travel instead to Israel via reason for concern, and we could “A few dozen years ago, I see clearly how the Rebbe was transferred several hundred arranging everything in the best thousand dollars for a building possible way in order to finance project outside of the United our activities. States. The project never got off When I returned to 770, I the ground, but I never returned spoke with two askanim with the funds to America. The whom I was quite close, and raised money was placed in a secret before them the possibility that I foreign bank account and should ask the Rebbe on the earned a sizable amount of matter. However, they replied that interest. Access to this account there was no need whatsoever. was possible only via a code They were unanimous in their without the need for personal belief that this had come directly identification. from G-d, and He had blessed me “Recently, I was informed by with great success! They claimed my son that the FBI has begun that one never asks the Rebbe conducting investigations in search whether to take contributions from of funds belonging to American people, as this is part of an businesses located in foreign institution’s continual activities. banks. As a result, my son Yet, specifically because all this suggested that I gather my money seemed too good – I felt that I had Rabbi David Nachshon from there and close matters in the to ask. I thought to myself: Why best and quickest manner possible. am I trying to avoid submitting a This investment poses a certain Europe.” report to the Rebbe? I felt that legal problem in connection with The future that appeared before there was something wrong here, the secret bank account that is me seemed rosier than ever before. and my “feeling” urged me on to unknown to U.S. authorities, My mind envisioned a huge budget ask the Rebbe. especially since the transfer of that would put an end to the debts I laid out the whole story in these funds back to the United from our programs, once and for writing, and I requested the States will require a declaration. all, and give a push to the new Rebbe’s bracha and approval. I Then, I suddenly got the idea to wave of activities. wouldn’t have to stay in suspense unload the money by donating it to “In your estimation, how much for very long, because not long a charitable institution. I have money is there?” I asked. after I submitted the question, the seven main institutions that I “I don’t know exactly,” he said. Rebbe’s secretary, Rabbi Yehuda support on a regular basis, but I “However, after decades of Leib Groner, called and informed have decided to choose your earning high interest, we’re talking me: “There’s an answer from the organization…”, the philanthropist about a sizable sum of money. At Rebbe.” He read me the text of the

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Rebbe’s wondrous answer over the remained was to call the willingness to support our phone. The content of the message philanthropist and tell him what I activities. However, to my great was clear (not verbatim): “It’s had decided. This would be no regret, due to certain reasons, I am amazing how he even agreed to pleasant task to tell him that I unable to accept the contribution.” speak about things that the person wouldn’t accept his contribution of When he heard what I had said, it said should not be discussed over more than one million dollars!... was clear that he felt insulted, and the phone, and that he didn’t turn With a feeling of some concern, he became quite furious. him down then and there. And as is I called the g’vir and asked to “I wanted to help you,” he said known, Chabad has no connection speak with him. “I want to thank angrily, “but now I’ll give [the with things that are forbidden to you very much for your strong money] to someone else,” and he talk about on the phone…” ended the conversation. The g’vir The truth is that I was very cut off all relations with us and surprised by this answer. I was in a state of never gave money to the Chabad Nevertheless, it was clear to me Mobile Centers again. that I would not travel to that sheer euphoria. The following day, Rabbi place and I would touch the money “Make certain Groner met me at the entrance of in that account. 770 and asked, “Ha? A groiser My friends were positively that this entire nisayon, ha?” (A big trial, right?!) stunned when they heard the “The big trial was whether to Rebbe’s answer. None of them matter remains an ask the Rebbe,” I replied. “But expected such a clear and after we asked and received an unambiguously negative response. absolute secret!” answer – there was no trial…of Now, the only problem that he cautioned. course, we followed orders!”

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feature PESACH IN YAMIT: A FIGHT TILL THE END

By Shai Gefen and Menachem Ziegelboim

residents remaining there who On 28 Nissan 1982, Yamit was refused to accept the “evil decree.” destroyed along with 17 settlements by At least they wouldn’t be accepting it without putting up some the same man who, years later, opposition. Pesach isn’t like other holidays. destroyed the Jewish settlements of We even took salt along with us. It was almost the exact reverse of the Gush Katif. Many people, from all over original exodus, as we prepared for our own exodus to Egypt. the country, went to Yamit for Pesach My mother was in charge of including many Lubavitcher Chassidim packing the food, utensils, tablecloths, and clothing while who worked to stop the withdrawal. * In preparing the house for b’dikas chametz. My father was on the exclusive interviews with Beis phone, in charge of the logistics of the campaign. Already then, Moshiach, various people tell about getting to Yamit was no simple matter. The army was afraid that those days in Yamit as well as Yud-Alef the few remaining residents would Nissan, Pesach and the Seudas be augmented by “crazies,” who would make the withdrawal Moshiach. difficult and so they had sealed it off. After lengthy discussions, 27 years ago, Erev Pesach, R’ land returned to Egypt. situation assessments and practice Chaim Tzvi Lipsker, a Lubavitcher Yamit, that beautiful city, was simulations, it was decided that we Chassid from Petach Tikva, in the final states of would all meet (other people decided he could no longer sit dismantlement. My father, whose joined us) at the edges of Gaza. with hands folded at home when love for the land flowed in his At that time, ironically, the the government was planning on veins, felt as though they were most secure way to get to Yamit destroying Yamit. His daughter, uprooting parts of his body. He was via Gaza City. There, at our journalist Bat-Sheva Levkivker, felt that “something had to be meeting point, my cousin would then a young girl, tells us about done” even though it was obvious be waiting for us; he would give those days: that there was nothing left to do. final instructions and lead us, via Nissan 5742: The peace On the morning of 13 Nissan, side roads, into Yamit. agreement with Egypt was about the day of b’dikas chametz, he We left close to midnight. We to be implemented. Some of the made his decision. We would joined up with the cars of other settlements in the Sinai had spend the night of the seider in family members and traveled most already been dismantled and the Yamit together with the few

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of the way as a convoy. You could stubborn people. Of all the beauty were forced to abandon their land, sense the tension in the air. We that had been, almost nothing land which they had worked and feared that despite all our plans, remained. It had been a long time loved for nine years. And now it we would have to return home. since they had watered the was being given freely into enemy Cell phones were not in use gardens. Nature had been allowed hands. back then and every so often, free rein. Around thirty of us sat around when the need to calm our fears The next day, on that unusual the holiday table, a heterogenic became too strong, we stopped on Erev Pesach, we found ourselves group that included Chassidim, the side of the road and tried to with nothing to do and we went people who wore knitted relax. on a final trip in the area. We left yarmulkes and black yarmulkes. We got to Gaza after noon. the gates of the town, this time as Despite the differences in The streets were desolate. The “residents,” with a promise that customs, foods, and z’miros, we heavy shutters over the stores were we would be back in a few hours. had a lot in common. Whenever closed and aside from a dog We went to see, for the last time, the word “Mitzrayim” was whose ribs stuck out and had a areas that up until a few days mentioned, our opinions were in rolled up tail, not a living creature before had been flourishing, sync. The entire time there could be seen on the street. settled, and full of life and we hovered the thought that this was Towards morning we arrived at found them desolate. Some of the the last time, surely for many the first roadblock. The soldier houses remained as they had been more years, that Pesach would be sitting in the guard house was while some were already celebrated here. dozing. To our good fortune, the destroyed. The decision was that For us, the guests, it was only thing that interested him at the Egyptians would be getting easier. We knew that despite the that moment was going back to heaps of ruins (which are still in solidarity we would be going home sleep. We entered Yamit. the same condition 27 years the next day, but for the residents, Yamit back then was later…). the seider night was like a respite, combination of beach sand, empty As we sat down to the seider, it a small island of sanity in a time ranch style houses was after an entire day of when they battled to survive and and a handful of breathing the air push off the inevitable. They knew of that place; that a few days hence the army the air of would come in, 20,000 soldiers destruction, of equipped with iron cages and the end, of chains and drag them out of there. despair. We They knew that the moment was spent a day not far off when their living room, amongst where we were sitting, would people become who

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a pile of rubble. what, and when. they worked together with the There were attempts to set The next day, we packed our original residents of Yamit and the aside weekday matters and focus belongings and said goodbye. We other settlements in the Strip who exclusively on the story of the parted from Yamit forever. refused to be evacuated. They all exodus but that was impossible. *** waited for a miracle to stop the The almost surrealistic connection 27 years have gone by since the evacuation. between the miracles done for our destruction of Yamit and the 17 Wednesday, 28 Nissan 5742 forefathers back then in Egypt, in settlements in the Sinai by the marked the end of Yamit. Maariv’s their war against the Egyptians, Begin government and the headline the next day announced and the current situation, kept Defense Minister Ariel Sharon. the death of the city of Yamit – bringing us back to reality. We The bloody wound still hasn’t dust, anger and tears. The battle hoped that this time too, a miracle healed. The negative repercussions raged till the final moment. would happen and the walls of of the Camp David Accords are Hundreds of people from all over sand would swallow the Egyptians. apparent. the country went to save Eretz The special taste of the holiday The Begin government Yisroel but it wasn’t enough. Later foods was marred by bitterness, announced the date of the on, R’ Berke Wolf a”h, who soured by parting. Grains of sand evacuation after Pesach 1982. The proclaimed to the media the literally mixed into the crumbs of main battle began in the months of Rebbe’s sharply worded statements matza. The sand, which was the Adar and Nissan. As opposed to against the withdrawal, said that first thing to cover all signs of life, the residents of the Yamit area, (the late) Prime Minister snuck between your teeth and Menachem Begin told him, “If didn’t let you forget it. another 1000 Chabadnikim had Opposite the house we stayed come, they could have stopped the in was a bunker where Rabbi “If another 1000 withdrawal.” Kahane’s men were holed up. As a A number of Lubavitchers did last, desperate act, they had Chabadnikim had go to Yamit. They circumvented threatened to commit suicide the military blockades and snuck when the soldiers came to throw come, they could into the city in order to show their them out. They behaved as support and to let the Nasi expected. Throughout the night have stopped the HaDor’s opposition to the they walked on the roof of the withdrawal.” destruction of Yamit and the shelter, wearing talleisim, giving away of land be heard. spreading their hands towards Chabad Chassidim did a number heaven. They shouted portions of most of whom left when of things thanks to which some the Hagada, sang Pesach songs, all compensated by the government, people came close to Chabad and with a dramatic flair. Their voices thousands of people began even established Chassidic homes. wafted through the open windows streaming towards Yamit. They Rabbi Lipa Kurtzweil, director and added to the general were encouraged by the of the Chabad house in Kiryat atmosphere. “Committee to Prevent the Malachi, was in charge of the We hurried to finish our private Withdrawal from Sinai” from entire southern region, including seider so we could join the Gush Emunim. They sent Sinai. Alongside the usual communal seider that was thousands of people to the area activities in the spreading of organized by “the Committee to for the purpose of fighting against Judaism and Chassidus (for many Prevent the Withdrawal.” They the withdrawal. of the residents of the Yamit Strip had set up a tent and made a Repopulating the city began at were not yet religious) he worked seider for people who gone to the beginning of Adar. Hundreds hard to stop the withdrawal as per Yamit to thwart the withdrawal. of families went to Yamit, to Ofira, the Rebbe’s instructions. Rabbi Drukman, Geula Cohen, and Chatzar Adar. Yeshivos and “Over the years, I traveled to Tzachi HaNegbi (before he ulpanot were founded by the Yamit hundreds of times for became a minister), Avi Parchan, “Committee to Prevent the mivtzaim, programs, shiurim, and and others were there. There was Withdrawal from Sinai.” Jews printing the Tanya. We also made singing and an attempt to bolster changed their addresses to Lag B’Omer parades in the spirits and lots of talk about how, settlements in the Sinai strip and settlements there.”

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residents of Atzmona (see box) who asked for the Rebbe’s bracha. Throughout this time, we took an active role in the fight. Such as? In my house we organized protest meetings. My house was the step off point for activities in Yamit. We also collected food to bring to the settlers. We put up flyers in Chabad centers and throughout the country. We had meetings with rabbanim and public figures and we did many acts of protest as per the Rebbe’s instructions. The Lag B’Omer parade passing through the main thoroughfare *** R’ Boruch Marzel of Chevron remembers what Chabad did back then: You have to understand that the settlers were a much smaller group than they are today and the work that Chabad did, along with their aid, was very important. I remember Rabbi Kurtzweil who was extremely active and did a lot for the cause. The Rebbe constantly encouraged us and until the last minute told us not to despair. I was the one who brought the letter the Rebbe wrote to the residents of Atzmona. That letter was framed and kept in the main office The children of Yamit in a Lag B’Omer parade, a year before the withdrawal of the yishuv Atzmona that moved to Gush Katif until that was also When did your relationship Nachalat Har Chabad. We had a destroyed. with the people there begin? warm relationship with many R’ Yigal Kirschnzaft, former My connection with them families. We did a lot of Mivtza shliach in Gush Katif, was one of began ten years before, in Mezuza and quite a few people the people who fought for Yamit 5731/1971. We reached out to the wrote to the Rebbe regularly. and then was the first resident in people in the settlements and We printed the Tanya in Neve Dekalim: kibbutzim. For example, we Chatzar Adar and then we learned Chabad’s efforts stood out. I worked at moshav Sadot through Tanya with special fervor. A few remember how in the final the Shefer family. Thanks to our weeks later they brutally evacuated months, Rabbi Yitzchok joint efforts, the community Chatzar Adar. Heartbreaking Ginsburgh came and opened a became very involved in Judaism. scenes that I will never forget took Chabad house. Tanyas were Most of the people in the Chevel place there. They dragged babies printed throughout the Chevel as (district) were not religious so and their mothers out of their the Rebbe instructed. Chabad’s there was plenty to do. There were houses, put them on trucks, and work was so dynamic that some children from the Chevel who sent them out of the city. people became Chabad Chassidim came to the camp we ran in The Rebbe sent a letter to the after Yamit was destroyed.

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 690 43 690:Beis Moshiach 30/03/2009 8:18 AM Page 44

*** the media thanks to the devoted We made sure that this Rabbi Sholom Dovber Wolpo work of the Chabad spokesman, R’ question made it to the top of the was one of the outstanding Berke Wolf. news. One of the means we used activists who worked on behalf of R’ Boruch Marzel: I cannot to widely broadcast this question Yamit and later for Gush Katif. By forget my friend, R’ Berke Wolf. was through the people holed up direct instruction of the Rebbe he Nearly every week, sharp sichos of in the bunker who threatened to wrote, Daas Torah B’Inyonei Eretz the Rebbe appeared in the end their lives. We had them send HaKodesh and Sholom, Sholom, newspapers against the accords a telegram from their bunker with V’Ein Sholom. He not only and when we saw them they gave the Rebbe’s question and that’s publicized the Rebbe’s view but us a lot of strength to continue how it was talked about in the also took an active part in the fighting. media again and again. fight for Sinai. He regularly went R’ Wolpo: I want to tell you Those who were with you there and was there on the last day something about publicizing the remember that on Yud-Alef of the evacuation. Rebbe’s horaa. One time, when we Nissan, during the program with Rabbi Wolpo, what was the were in Yamit, I received a the children, you brought simcha purpose of your trips? personal instruction from the to the children in a special way. We went to encourage the Rebbe to raise the following We held a Tzivos Hashem rally. residents and support them in question in the media: Anwar In light of the tense situation, we their battle. Unfortunately, the tried to lighten things up. I did a nation did not understand the somersault. Journalists asked me great danger, which is why tens of afterwards about it and I told thousands did not flock there. In light of the them that as I stood on my head I There is no question that if tens of tense situation, we saw the world right-side-up … thousands of people would have We tried to give a spirit of hope gone, the withdrawal would not tried to lighten and faith to the settlers. It was have taken place. painful to see how few of the On our visits there we would things up. I did a original settlers were left. The city farbreng with the residents, give was practically deserted of shiurim, and run activities with somersault. inhabitants and most of the people the youth. We held a big rally for that were there had come to lend children on the Rebbe’s birthday, Journalists asked moral support. There is no doubt Yud-Alef Nissan. I gave a shiur in me afterwards that if there had been more the yeshiva in Yamit in the Rebbe’s people, the situation would have sichos. I remember that R’ Uri about it and I told been completely different. Kaploun went down to live in R’ Yaakov Lenchner: I went to Yamit and we held farbrengens in them that as I Yamit for Yud-Alef Nissan. On the his house. way I saw, to my surprise, the van Was the Rebbe informed stood on my head belonging to the Chabad school of about these activities in Yamit? Kiryat Gat. Afterwards I found out Certainly. We reported to the I saw the world that R’ Wolpo had gone to Yamit Rebbe about every visit. We right-side-up … to run a children’s rally on Yud- quoted the Rebbe and distributed Alef Nissan. The rally took place the books I wrote. My second at the sports center. I’ll never book, Sholom, Sholom, V’Ein forget the great joy R’ Wolpo Sholom was published just then, a Sadat, President of Egypt, brought to the children. book that the Rebbe told me to announced that peace would never Later on, R’ Wolpo gave a write in a yechidus in the summer be firmly established without shiur in the yeshiva of Yamit on a of 5741. resolving the problem of Jerusalem sicha of the Rebbe on the topic of Was the Rebbe’s view or until Begin would say that he all Geula being a continuation of publicized enough in the media was in favor of withdrawing from the Geula from Egypt. I was a at that time? Jerusalem. If so, why was he young bachur at the time but till Every sicha the Rebbe said at evacuating the Sinai for no this day I remember how that time was widely publicized in purpose? everybody was greatly impressed.

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The army closed off the city. lived (she later moved to Neve an empty three room apartment. How did you manage to get in? Dekalim which the army also In each room lived a different We would travel until Kfar destroyed). At that time R’ family. In the first room was the Maimon and from there we were Lenchner was a Tamim in Tomchei Moaz family, in the second room led via dirt roads by special T’mimim in Kfar Chabad: was Adi Mintz, in the living room trackers and former military men Before Pesach I went to Yamit lived a 55 year old man, a who knew the terrain. Every trip to bring my sister utensils for kibbutznik, who came alone and was an adventure. We usually Pesach. Yamit was under siege and then there was us. traveled via Gaza. I remember that we had to get through. We We bought new utensils for one time our car got a flat tire in arranged convoys in the dark of Pesach from an Arab who came Gaza. The driver got out to fix the night that went off the beaten from El-Arish and we prepared for tire and in the meantime, I track. We would unwind the the holiday in a city that was a reviewed the maamer, “Pada fences and after the car went ghost town. V’Shalom Nafshi” of the Rebbe. through, we would twist them On Shvii shel Pesach 5742 a *** back together. public Seudas Moshiach was One of the drivers who took R’ Col. Motti Yogav (Res.) started arranged which was attended by Wolpo to Yamit was R’ Gershon his activities for the Chevel in most of the people in Yamit. This Levin, today dean of the network Kislev 5742. His job was to seuda gave much strength to the of preschools in Kiryat Gat: coordinate the activities between settlers and fighters for Chevel Till today I remember and Chadera and Gadera: Yamit. “live” the special experience of the We arranged parlor meetings trip to Yamit. We would gather in for people of all backgrounds. We Below: Rabbi Sholom Dovber Wolpo Gaza and wait for a group of cars gave lectures in schools and standing on the roof of the bunker on the eve of the withdrawal from Yamit and then we left Gaza for Yamit produced various flyers and without lights. Every convoy had a information opposing the leader who knew all the side roads withdrawal. and knew how to circumvent all My wife and the IDF blockades. We entered I and our two Yamit several times even when it little children was completely closed off. went to Yamit R’ Yaakov Lenchner went to for Pesach. Yamit two times where We took his sister

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Colonel Motti Yogav, who lived women, and young people. The in its place … and return the in Yamit in the latter half of the walk to the sea was quiet. The Kohanim to their service and the year before the withdrawal, could light of the moon gave us a little Levites to their chanting and song not forget that Seudas Moshiach, illumination and thousands of … and return Israel to their which was held only a week before stars sparkled in the sky. A tall dwelling places.” the expulsion and destruction: boy led the group holding aloft a Then the rabbi improvised, and In the middle of Pesach some Lucas lamp. I imagined that this is to the applause of the crowd he people who had come to Yamit for how Moshe Rabbeinu looked with said, “And return Israel to Chatzar Pesach came to me and said they a pillar of fire above him. Adar and return Israel to Talmei could not stay for Shvii shel When we got there, we stood Yosef.” Pesach because they had to make a facing the sea. The smell of salt Most of the yishuvim had been Seudas Moshiach. They also was pungent. The white foam of evacuated already. Chatzar Adar explained the significance of this the sea glowed in the darkness had been evacuated at the event. At that time, every person and in the background the sound beginning of Adar, Talmei Yosef who remained there, counted. I of the breaking waves could be after Purim. There were battles in said to them, “What’s the heard. I felt as though I was going these two settlements against the problem? We’ll have a Seudas back in time 3000 years and withdrawal. Yamit remained but Moshiach here, with lots of standing with the Jewish people who knew for how long? people.” who had left Egypt: in front of us The joy of the dancers made us I took responsibility for was the sea, and behind us – the temporarily forget the answer to arranging it. We advertised the Egyptians. We did not know from that question. seuda in Yamit’s newsletter (yes, whence salvation would come. The next day, in the afternoon, there was something like that in I thought how the scene Yair my brother suggested that I Yamit). The central clubhouse of resembled our own situation. join him for the Seudas Moshiach. Yamit was readied for this event. Before us – the government of What’s that? I asked him as we The Lubavitchers arranged the Israel threatened to expel us. walked together. spiritual end of things like the Behind us – the Egyptians It’s the Chabadnikim! Don’t drinking of the cups of wine and pressured Israel to give them the you know them? the niggunim and yearning for Sinai. As for us – what would Then he explained to me how Geula. become of us? the Chabadnikim are everywhere. Dear Diary: A Twelve-Year As we all sang the Shiras The Lubavitcher Rebbe enlisted Old Girl Remembers HaYam I looked at the sea and them in his movement. They have Tal Bracha, a bas mitzvah girl, listened to the waves and in my put up signs all over the country, wrote the following entry in her heart I prayed, “G-d, make “the Committee to Prevent the diary about the Seudas Moshiach something happen! Just as You Withdrawal from Sinai.” Likewise, which obviously had made a great split the sea for our ancestors they volunteered to come, to help, impact on her: when they left Egypt, so too, tear to bring joy, and to check The week of Pesach was up the terrible decree about the mezuzos. Chabad Chassidim have packed with experiences but the withdrawal from Sinai.” a seuda at the end of the holiday last day was especially nice. “Shvii Sounds of song and dancing with emuna that this is the time shel Pesach” is the day that the interrupted my thoughts. The for the Goel to come. Sea split. Jewish communities have large crowd turned into a large When we got there, we saw a the custom to sing the Song of the circle of dancers and the singing large crowd sitting around long Sea on this night. Since we were could be heard from a distance. tables covered with white so close to the sea and because of I stood on the side and saw tablecloths on which were matzos the special atmosphere, we Rabbi Yisroel Ariel, the rav of and bottles of wine. experienced the Shira in a unique Yamit, being hoisted upon the See that rabbi? Yair pointed way. shoulders of a husky young man. towards an old man whose white After the Yom Tov meal, at The rav spurred on the crowd of beard framed his face. I nearly midnight, my father dancers as he sang from the recognized him as Rabbi Moshe suggested to Yair and me to join Musaf of the Shalosh Regalim, Segal from the Jewish quarter of him and we were happy to do so. “Build Your house as in former Yerushalayim. We went to the beach, men, times and establish Your Mikdash You know, whispered Yair,

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consumes its inhabitants.” The Spies said, “the nation that dwells in the land is mighty” and “it is stronger than us [Him].” The Spies preferred remaining in the desert than endangering themselves by entering the land! The bachur sitting next to him added: Today too, some Jews say that we need “Peace Now.” They say we should give the Arabs all the land they want because they are stronger than us … Just as the Spies back then brought tragedy upon the Jewish people, so too today, unfortunately … We cannot make rational calculations, interjected another bachur. We have to do as it says in The newspapers report the final moments of Yamit. The headline says, our holy Torah! We cannot give an “The IDF completes the destruction of Yamit.” inch of Eretz Yisroel away! “L’chaim, l’chaim!” called out when he was young, he was side and tried to listen in. those sitting near him, and they imprisoned by the British for A young bachur in Chassidic poured wine into the cups. They blowing the shofar at the Kosel on dress said: The Lubavitcher Rebbe began singing a Chassidic niggun Yom Kippur. says that we have something to and I went to the women’s We approached the tables. The learn from the generation of the section. Chabad Chassidim were singing Spies! Just like that time, the same “Do you know what the Rebbe niggunim and between tunes they is true now! The Spies said about said about Sadat?” This was asked said divrei Chassidus. I sat on the the land, “it is a land which by a woman wearing a wig. The women stopped talking and turned to her. ”He said after the agreement was signed: Who knows how long Sadat will retain his position. And, now you see, it was a prophecy! Within a short time he was assassinated. Just a year ago, during a victory parade in Egypt, Sadat was killed. The Rebbe says that the only way to achieve real peace is not by conceding territory but by acting firmly with the non-Jews.” “Right!” said another woman who sat near her. The Rebbe also said that we would have only tzaros from this peace agreement. Autonomy for the Arabs would lead to a Palestinian state. Another woman, who had been quiet up until now, said: “In the merit of the righteous women the One night, someone burned the three cranes.

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Jewish people were redeemed from one of the first settlers in the Old Nachshon to jump into the sea so Egypt and in their merit they will City of Yerushalayim who annulled the sea would split. The people in be redeemed in the future.” This is his vow not to leave Yerushalayim Yamit are Nachshon, leading the an auspicious time for Geula and and stayed here for the entire camp. In his merit may we merit a with the strength of our emuna we Pesach with his family. Just as he Geula in our day too. Let us drink will be saved. merited to make the shofar heard the first cup of the four cups of *** near the Kosel, may he merit to this meal. Rabbi Yisroel Ariel, rav of soon hear the sound of the shofar He recited the bracha and Yamit, also wrote an interesting of Moshiach reverberating hundreds of people responded diary about that special Seudas throughout our land and in Yamit with “amen.” R’ Moshe drank his Moshiach: too. cup. The yeshiva dining room was R’ Moshe Segal got up, poured L’chaim, l’chaim – to the life of packed. Hundreds of people came a cup, and briefly explained the Am Yisroel, to the life of Yamit! to celebrate the end of Pesach with origin of this meal which Chabad And the crowd burst into song, us. The menu surprised me: Chassidim call “Seudas “V’Karev pizureinu mi’bein Matzos, wine, eggs, vegetables, Moshiach.” The first day of ha’goyim u’nefutzoseinu kanes and fruit. Jam produced by the Pesach is isarusa d’l’eila (arousal mi’yarkesei aretz …” and other factory in Yamit, made out of fruit from above). Shvii shel Pesach is songs. The enthusiasm grew from from the region, oranges, isarusa d’l’tata (arousal from song to song and there were tomatoes and cucumbers. The below). On the first of Pesach we clapping of hands and tapping of crowd was huge. I estimate were carried by eagles’ wings and feet. Then the elderly R’ Moshe between 300-400 people. Many of taken out of Egypt. On the got up. His white beard stood out them stood. seventh of Pesach we needed among the many dark-haired At the main table sat teachers people. The singing stopped. Let from our yeshiva and other us drink the second cup! yeshivos, rabbanim from various AN ETERNAL L’chaim, to the life of Moshiach Tzidkeinu. yishuvim, and in the center sat R’ INHERITANCE Moshe Segal. I stood up to “L’chaim!” roared the crowd The following is an excerpt introduce him to the crowd. and the singing was louder than from a letter the Rebbe wrote According to Halacha there is ever. to the residents of Atzmona in no obligation to eat a third meal Motti Yogav summed up: I Chevel Yamit on 15 Kislev on Yom Tov but Shvii shel Pesach can’t forget the special atmosphere 5741: is different. The Baal Shem Tov at that Seudas Moshiach. For me …This is all connected ate a third meal on Shvii shel personally, it was very with firm, strong watchfulness Pesach (Acharon Shel Pesach in strengthening; a boost of emuna. and an upright stance for the Diaspora) to express the idea The withdrawal was carried out a Shleimus HaAretz, our holy that the holiday of Pesach does week later and in the final stages land. Hashem your G-d’s eyes not end but is ongoing. The Geula of the battle it definitely gave us are constantly upon it from process did not end but continues lots of strength. I think that the beginning of the year until and therefore we don’t part from everyone who was there at the the end of the year. Eretz the holiday of Pesach. We draw it seuda remembers that special Yisroel and its borders was out as long as possible. Chassidim atmosphere. given as an eternal as well as others identify with this *** inheritance to the eternal custom and this itself can draw us R’ Yaakov Menachem Tzeiger, people by the eternal G-d, close to Geula … a Lubavitcher from Yerushalayim, including all the territories The one who leads us is one of took his family to Gush Katif. He necessary for its security – the believers in Geula in our was considered a fighter who did a both physical and spiritual generation, R’ Moshe Segal, a lot behind the scenes to stop the security – for they are one in Chabad Chassid, one of those who withdrawal. For example, he broke the life of every Jewish man blew the shofar near the Kosel on open all the sealed doors in the and woman and integral to Motzaei Yom Kippur. For this houses in Yamit (after they had the empowerment of the “crime” he was sentenced and been welded closed by the army) spiritual over the material. imprisoned by the British. He was so the new tenants who came to

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stop the withdrawal would have a “The judges conferred and I remember R’ Wolpo place to live. finally told me, ‘If you stay there distributing his new book and as “At that time I wasn’t yet a until Pesach, you can be there.’ always, the eternal debate was Lubavitcher but I remember the They were sure it would be about “is’chalta d’Geula.” There Chabad activities, which evacuated before Pesach. were the bulldozers, ready to dominated the whole process. For “I asked the judge for this in demolish the houses and expel the a while we lived in Atzmona and I writing and I received it. A few Jews. I saw a father crying near remember R’ Lipa Kurtzweil days before Pesach it was the bunker where the young coming to my sukka to do forbidden to enter Yamit and I was people who threatened to commit outreach. For a while I helped in the only one able to freely enter suicide were holed up. Above them establishing Chatzar Adar which the Chevel since I had the court’s hovered the helicopter with Rabbi was Boruch Marzel’s nucleus. permission. I still have that Kahane who was brought in by the After not acclimating to Atzmona permit.” Security forces to convince his we returned to Yerushalayim but On the day of the evacuation, people not to kill themselves. R’ then we returned to Yamit. We 28 Nissan, were you in Yamit? Wolpo was also standing near the couldn’t stand and observe from R’ Wolpo: Yes. I felt I had to bunker and then one person the sidelines. For a while we lived be there on that bitter day when turned around and said accusingly in yishuv Talmei Yosef where we the government opened up the at him, “There’s the rabbi who got a house and I was given the land before our enemies. At that wrote in his book that this is not job of aesthetics coordinator, time, they still did not understand the is’chalta d’Geula …” It was a which meant overseeing all the significance of the withdrawal. tense scene and a sad picture that activities aimed at beautifying all People thought it was a deserted I’ll never forget. of Chevel Yamit. piece of land, but now we see the *** “I remember that they brought consequences. The same person Today, 27 years later, we have the Manofei Avi Company to (Sharon) who destroyed all of lived through another, worse uproot the bunkers. One night, Chevel Yamit is the one who expulsion. R’ Wolpo, Boruch some unknown people burned the destroyed all of Gush Katif. Marzel, R’ Tzeiger, and Motti three cranes. I was suspected of R’ Yaakov Lenchner: After Yogav all said after Yamit and doing it and put in jail for two Pesach I returned to Yamit again. I before the expulsion from Gush weeks. Then they extended my jail remember not knowing what to do Katif: If tens of thousands of stay but in the end they had to if they came to remove me, people had showed up, it would release me for lack of evidence. whether to go or fight. I heard have been altogether different. However, they did not allow me to from R’ Ariel that giving land to The expulsions won’t stop with re-enter Chevel Yamit. They put the goyim was like the prohibition Yamit and Gush Katif. The me on trial and since I had no of eating pig. This made me government plans on making more money for a lawyer, I represented uncomfortable and put me in a and parts of Eretz Yisroel myself. I told the judges that my dilemma. On the last day in Yamit, Judenrein: Yehuda, Shomron, wife and children were there but it Rabbi Yaakov Katz, rosh yeshiva Yerushalayim, the Galil, the Golan. didn’t help. I dared to tell the in Tomchei T’mimim, also came That which the Rebbe warned judges, ‘I am ready to meet you and I asked him what to do. He about, is happening. The Rebbe halfway. Until Pesach I am willing told me it was forbidden to leave said this is a matter of pikuach not to be in Chevel Yamit but from willingly and to wait until they nefesh. When the town is burning, Pesach and on – the world can removed me forcibly. That is what you do what you can to save it, turn over, I will be there!’ I did. without asking questions.

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today?” asked the Lubavitcher. This wasn’t the first time that Eldad had heard this question and FIGHTING as always he excused himself and kept walking. But this time was different. The question reverberated in his head and gave him no peace. Eldad went back THE GOOD and put on t’fillin, without understanding why he did so. He was very moved by the experience and felt an actual tremor go through him. FIGHT This was the second time in his life that he had put on t’fillin. The first time was at his bar By S. Malachi mitzvah. “Even then, I wasn’t exactly shown what to do. They told me, if you want to do it, do Eldad Shiff is a competitive fighter who it; if not, not.” has won the World Cup twice in free- THE ROAD style fighting. After discovering TO THE WORLD Judaism, he directed his attention to CHAMPIONSHIP During his army service he met the real struggle, the one in man’s heart Orly who came from a traditional home. Although she wasn’t that takes place between two souls. religious she tried to influence Eldad to be traditional but was Today Eldad continues to work in his unsuccessful. Another incident he chosen field, training himself and remembers from that time is when he showed up at the Schneller others, but above all else he fights in the military camp on Shabbos in his car. It is next to the very religious army of the “soldiers of the house of Geula neighborhood. “I got out of the car and a Dovid,” to bring the Geula. religious Jew confronted me and screamed, ‘Shaaaaabbos!’ To this At the public school in Ein to-hand combat) and Jujitsu, day that scream echoes in my Kerem, as unfortunately in many giving it all he had and viewing ears. There’s no question that the other schools, the rule is: Might is this training as his life’s purpose. shock I got from his screaming right! Whoever is stronger rules woke me up.” the roost; the weak are beaten. DID YOU PUT As soon as he was released from the army he went back to As a sensitive child, Eldad ON TEFILLIN? Shiff suffered from daily taunts the world of competitive fighting and beatings. At the age of fifteen The one who ignited the first and starting participating in he decided to study martial arts spark was an anonymous shliach competitions. At that time his life and within a short time the of the Rebbe who suggested that revolved around training, from powerless boy turned into an he put on t’fillin in a mall. Eldad morning till night. His motivation outstanding student and fighter. remembered this long-forgotten was glory, the desire for He studied Tae Kwon Do, “krav incident, years later, after he had recognition. maga” (the IDF system of hand- become religious. At first he won the national “Yehudi, did you put t’fillin on

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CHANUKA MIRACLE 5763 On Chanuka 5763 Eldad flew with his cousin Yossi to another competition for the world title in Greece. That’s when Yossi told him that he had committed to putting on t’fillin every day. “I was shocked. I asked him – What’s up with you? Isn’t this going overboard? He suggested that I put t’fillin on too and I brushed him off.” Nevertheless, a seed had been planted. The competition was on Eldad with students one of the days of Chanuka. Eldad got up early. His adrenaline levels weren’t letting him sleep and he Tae Kwon Do competition and place in the heavy-weight freestyle knew that it wouldn’t allow him to from there he went to various category. fight as well as he should. international competitions. He won the European cup twice in a row. Along with his personal training he started teaching martial arts to students young and old and was very successful at it. As he advanced professionally, his personal life advanced too. Eldad and Orly decided to get married but Orly insisted that the house have some Jewish flavor. She tried to pressure him to keep Shabbos and at a certain point even made it a condition for their marriage. At first, this coercion made Eldad want to keep his distance from religion but he slowly changed his mind. They were three cousins who trained together in martial arts: Tzachi, Yossi and Eldad. When Tzachi’s grandmother died, he began searching for meaning in life which soon led him to becoming a baal t’shuva. Yossi followed him by starting to attend shiurim. They naturally had an influence on Eldad. Along with strengthening his spiritual side, Eldad continued his career in competitive combat. He took part in the world championship (Pan-karate-on) and won first

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Anybody involved in competitive district and had a very special him slowly bubbled to the surface; sports knows that getting too Shabbat Chatan: a kippa, tzitzis, a beard and finally excited before the battle “At the farbrengen, Rabbi a hat, suit and sirtuk. Behind diminishes your abilities by up to Schmerling gave me lots of every external change there was an thirty percent. Sometimes, by the l’chaim and my tough exterior epic internal battle, which time the competitor manages to started to melt… My connection included many fears and concerns. settle himself down he has lost the to Chabad had begun.” Friends, acquaintances and battle. students were shocked by the Eldad took out the t’fillin and WHY CHABAD? changes. As hard as it was for put the black boxes on his head Eldad, it was much harder for his The young couple moved to and arm. After reading from the students. With patience and good Mevaseret Tziyon which is near siddur he spoke directly to cheer, Eldad proved to all of them Yerushalayim and the moshav Hashem and said, “If You allow that a good Chassid can also be a me to get into the ring and fight delightful Jew. without being over-excited, so that “Today, even those who I am as successful in the After reading from opposed me and interfered, at competition as I am when I train, first, have joined in.” I will go to shiurim and… (I made the siddur he Moshe, the bachur from whom other conditions).” spoke directly to Eldad learned at the beginning Eldad fought and it was easy and who strongly opposed his and quick without any emotional Hashem and said, involvement with Chabad, is interference. He won the world learning Chassidus these days with cup for the second time. “If You allow me Eldad. Today he is a rav in a Sefardic-Litvish yeshiva and he KEEPS HIS PROMISE to get into the ring tells the talmidim sichos and thoughts from the Rebbe though Eldad began going to shiurim and fight without for now, he doesn’t cite a source. and along with his cousins he THE FACE OF MOSHIACH listened to a yeshiva bachur named being over-excited, Yossi, the cousin who became Moshe who gave them some of the religious though not Chabad, also time. The results were soon so that I am as found it hard to accept the belief apparent as along with preparing in the Rebbe as Moshiach and he for the wedding, Eldad committed successful in the and Eldad had some stormy more and more to mitzva competition as I debates. One day that all changed. observance. “Yossi came to me and said, ‘I Not everybody was happy with am when I train, I had a dream.’ I said, ‘That’s nice.’ this change. Eldad’s parents found He continued, ‘I dreamt about it hard to make peace with the fact will go to shiurim Moshiach.’ I said to him, ‘That’s that their son was becoming even nicer.’ He said, ‘I saw his religious and they considered Orly and more. face.’ I said, ‘That’s really special. responsible. As a result, they Who was it?’ And then he dropped refused to make their son a where Eldad was born. They kept the bomb. ‘It was the Lubavitcher “Shabbat Chatan,” which turned in touch with the shluchim in Kfar Rebbe.’ From then on, his entire out to be a big favor for Eldad Yona. Problems began when those attitude towards Chassidus because it enabled him to discover around him found it hard to changed.” the Rebbe. Orly’s sister, who lived accept his transformation into a R’ Schmerling convinced Eldad in Kfar Yona and was a mekureves Chassid. to fly to the Rebbe and since then of a Chabad house, suggested that “They said to me, why davka he joins the shluchim of Kfar Yona he come to Kfar Yona where the Chabad? They believe that their every year when they fly for the Chabad rabbi would make him a Rebbe is Moshiach.” Kinus HaShluchim. Shabbat Chatan. But Eldad, having seen the When you ask Eldad how it Eldad went with his family to light, overcame all the obstacles was, he answers with an analogy: the Chabad house which is located and continued on his chosen path. Can a young couple who has a in the center of the business The changes taking place inside

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child explain to a couple who did you have these people you love so Mesibos Shabbos with the children not yet have a child what it’s like? much – wouldn’t you give them of the moshav. When the shliach It’s impossible to describe what some of it?” organizes a Lag B’Omer parade, it’s like to be with the Rebbe. You At first Eldad’s approach was Eldad works with him. He brings have to be there! heavy on the oros but the people his students to events in a way When he tells about the flight he spoke to were not keilim for that enables everybody to enjoy he recalls how enjoyable it was to the message. them for they appear on stage to spend hours with R’ Levi “I told them: there is only the the delight of the audience. In Solomon, one of the shluchim Rebbe and the rest is klipa, but addition, Eldad arranges from Kfar Yona. that did not go over well.” farbrengens and other events with “Whenever we flew to the One of his students decided to R’ Rabinowitz. Rebbe, R’ Levi gave me hours of have a Reform bar mitzva. Eldad, time. He sat with me, taught me, who couldn’t bear the thought of MARTIAL ARTS explained, and told stories. In it, was sharp about it and the AND HAFATZA more recent years I sit with other student stopped coming to class. people in order to explain things Slowly, Eldad learned how to Eldad’s profession provides to them…” convey the message without him with plenty of opportunities to breaking the keilim. spread Judaism. As a famous “The lesson I learned is that champion, he is always getting PUBLICIZING new students. When they see his TO EVERYBODY IN you have to guide the baal t’shuva because his inclination is to tell beard they are taken aback but as THE GENERATION the world, but he doesn’t know time goes by, the students get to As soon as he moved to the how to do it.” know their bearded instructor and yishuv after he married, Eldad During this period he became they discover that the truth about arranged a Tanya shiur in his close with the shliach of the chareidim is not as black as they house. R’ Elozor Kenig (today in moshav, R’ Yitzchok Rabinowitz. thought. Moscow) came to give the shiur “When we sit and learn a “The fact that they see a and Eldad would urge his friends maamer before davening, it is chareidi up close can have a far to come. unlike anybody else I’ve ever greater effect than a shiur. One “I wanted to tell everybody learned with. Since I started time, I had to travel with a student about Chassidus and about learning with R’ Rabinowitz, my to a training session and I didn’t Judaism. When you are exposed to learning has changed completely have a car. We went by public something so amazing, you try to and the maamarim really ‘settle’ transportation and behind us sat a influence everyone. You have inside my head.” young soldier next to the bag with something that is so sweet and Every Shabbos, Eldad does our equipment. I said to him – you can lean on it, it’s just boxing gloves etc. He didn’t believe me until I showed him and he ended up training with me.” Over the years, Eldad learned how to combine the Jewish side of things in his lessons in a way that is readily accepted. On holidays, for example, everybody is willing to hear something about the holiday. So his training facility has become a sort of Chabad house. On Chanuka they light a public menorah with students and their parents. Each student gets two half shekels as Chanuka gelt and Eldad will suggest that they put one in a pushka. For Rosh Eldad with R’ Levi Yitzchok Solomon in 770 HaShana he gives out apple and

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honey, and so on for the other for a Tanya shiur after every holidays. “His mother training session. Some of his Most parents are happy that students include boys from their child is hearing a bit about angrily approached chareidi families, the kind known tradition but there are other me and said: Why as shabab (wayward youths), and reactions too. they also got to hear a Tanya “I once explained to a boy who are you teaching shiur. punched another kid about Ahavas It’s hard to get the students to Yisroel. The next day, his mother the children attend farbrengens on Chassidic angrily approached me and said: special days but they all attend his Why are you teaching the children Torah? I told her: birthday farbrengen. Because of Torah? I told her: I am not just a one of these farbrengens, one of physical trainer. I have to train his I am not just a the students began davening with psyche too. When I tell him not to physical trainer. I t’fillin and even keeps Shabbos hit, I also have to tell him why he along with his wife. can’t hit. I can’t hide what I know have to train his “I don’t hide Moshiach. When from him and invent other I explain what the Rebbe says on reasons. I’m just telling him about psyche too.” the subject, people accept it. For our heritage. example, in a shiur around Yud “Another mother said to me: I not lazy, you can win even a Shevat, I taught them the maamer am not pleased that you tell my stronger opponent than you.” Basi L’Gani 5711. I explained to son divrei Torah but he’s happy so “Serve Hashem with joy.” them that we are the last what can I do…” “When you have a weak point generation of galus and the first of Between punches and kicks, in your fighting, you have to Geula. I explained that the Rebbe Eldad teaches his students his strengthen it. If you see that your is the Nasi HaDor and the fighting philosophy which draws kick with your left foot isn’t good, Moshiach of the Dor and they just parallels between the world of you have to work on it” – “You accepted it.” physical fighting and the spiritual. have to fight precisely where it’s He takes the ideas from Tanya: hard for you.” WITHOUT CHASSIDUS “If you see that the other side THERE IS NO TORAH! is putting in more effort, it’s probably because he’s about to NOT HIDING Two of those “at risk” yeshiva lose” - “Don’t be fazed by MOSHIACH bachurim who trained with Eldad difficulties in the war with the Evil Eldad has discovered that there learned Tanya and attended one Inclination.” is plenty he can do with the older farbrengen. It didn’t look as “You have to fight students. At first he would arrange though it had any effect on them energetically; if you’re happy and but Eldad continued as usual. The two boys kept up a friendly relationship with him even after BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH they stopped training. Eldad Shiff grew up on a moshav near Yerushalayim to an Last Sukkos they went to irreligious family. From a young age he studied various forms of martial Eldad’s house and spoke to him and competitive fighting and reached the level of Black Belt - Dan 4. about this and that. Before they He participated in competitions and won the World Cup twice in free- left they said a line that left him style fighting. flabbergasted and showed him After discovering Judaism he directed his attention to the real how far-reaching our influence struggle, the one in man’s heart that takes place between two souls. can be: Today Eldad continues to work in his chosen field, training himself and “From our perspective, without training others, but above all else he fights in the army of the “soldiers Chassidus, there is no Torah,” of the house of Dovid,” to bring the Geula. He brings the light of Torah they said. “I know that there is no and Chassidus to acquaintances and students and proudly broadcasts way to really serve Hashem the Besuras Ha’Geula of the Melech HaMoshiach: “Hinei zeh without studying Chassidus,” Moshiach ba.” added one of them and then the other said, “It’s obvious to me that

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in order to learn Nigleh I have to school and they couldn’t support class you took me to. I wasn’t learn Chassidus.” both things.” embarrassed to tell this to my rosh At a certain point, Eldad A short while later he heard yeshiva either. I told him – Do decided to change his approach: from his cousin Yossi, who had you know why and from where I “I saw that when I had a Tanya gotten an offer to teach there, that got the desire to learn? It’s thanks shiur I lost some of the students his Lubavitcher appearance to one Tanya class I attended!’” so I switched to saying a d’var bothered the hanhala. But he Torah by heart at the end of every quickly saw that he hadn’t gone EVERY JEW lesson.” there for nothing. IS A SHLIACH One of the boys in that school began taking private lessons with The Rebbe says that every Jew THANKS TO ONE is a shliach but for an ordinary TANYA SHIUR Eldad in a club in the Kastel neighborhood. While training, Chassid it’s harder to remember One day Eldad was asked to Eldad managed to convince him to this. A shliach knows this is his give lessons in martial arts in a attend one Tanya class. life’s work but a Chassid who Litvishe yeshiva to boys who had “Two weeks ago, he called me works at other things has to not found their place in to say hello and as we spoke he constantly remember not to get mainstream programs. After a few told me that he had transferred to overly involved in his work and to days though, he was told that the a serious yeshiva and was learning remember that his occupation is class was cancelled because “a well there. ‘You’ll be happy to hear merely a means to carry out his workout room was opened in the why – it’s thanks to the Tanya shlichus.

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memoirs A CHASSID IN GOOD TIMES AND BAD

Prepared for publication by Avrohom Reinitz

midrash of Shem and only then did R’ Hillel Zaltzman continues describing he go on his way. My father his father, R’ Avrohom a”h. * In this decided to remain at home and to go to the draft office one hour chapter he tells of a life of nonstop later than the time he had been told to go. chesed, mesirus nefesh for chinuch and When he left the house, we children were in the yard. My hiskashrus to the Rebbe. father kissed us and cried a lot. We did not understand and we asked My parents lived in for this legal form as well as for him where he was going and why Tcherepovitch for a number of personal photos. Many pictures he was crying. He said tearfully years and my father was the that Lubavitchers have from their that he hoped to return soon. In shochet. He told us that around time in Charkov were taken by my fact, a miracle occurred and when the city that was on the Siberian father. he got to the draft office they steppes, and there were many deer yelled, “Why are you late? They which he slaughtered to provide were all sent to the front already? MIRACULOUSLY SAVED Next time, come at the time that kosher meat to the Jews of the city. FROM THE ARMY Apparently, due to religious we tell you!” persecution they were forced to In the summer of 1941, My father joyfully returned emigrate to Charkov in the Germany invaded Russia in an home and thus he was saved from Ukraine. In Charkov there was a enormous campaign that was nearly certain death. relatively large community of called Barbarossa. A general draft In the meantime, the Germans religious Jews and also a was announced and my father got quickly advanced and by Tishrei community of Chabad Chassidim. his draft notice. It was hard to 5702 they were very close to Upon first arriving there, my know what to do. On the one conquering Charkov. On the radio father ran a kosher restaurant that hand, most of the soldiers sent to they reported about the atrocities he opened. In 1931 a new law was the front were killed. On the other the Germans had perpetrated passed which was called hand, if you avoided the draft against Jewish civilians in “passportization” which stated that during wartime, you were conquered lands and encouraged every person from the age of 16 sentenced to death. the Jews to leave Charkov for safer and up needed a new identity card My father remembered a story areas. which would serve as a residency about the Alter Rebbe that when The Jews, who had gotten used permit. Since every such item they came to arrest him, he fled to not believing Soviet needed a photograph, photography and hid for a short while and then propaganda, were inclined to think became the new popular went with the soldiers who came to that these reports were not true. profession. My father quickly arrest him. The Alter Rebbe Many Jews, my father included, learned photography and became a explained that this is what Yaakov remembered the Germans who photographer. Many Lubavitchers Avinu did when he fled from Eisav came to their city after World War had their picture taken with him his brother. First he hid in the beis I who treated Jews with respect

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and propriety. In the meantime, letters began to arrive which described German cruelty and nearly all the Jews decided to flee. Most Lubavitcher Chassidim traveled to Tashkent or Samarkand which were far from the battlefields and where the winter is much milder and shorter. For Anash there was another reason to travel to those cities in particular. They knew that in those cities were large Jewish communities of Bucharian Jews who were familiar with Chabad Chassidim thanks to R’ Simcha Gorodetzky who was sent by the Rebbe Rayatz to Samarkand twenty years before. Avrohom Zaltzman and his camera Our family was one of the last to leave. The train tracks were in different than the culture we came was given in exchange for bad shape because of the nonstop from. However, when we went to coupons that were rationed by bombing of the German air force, their shul and saw the sifrei Torah, the government. My mother tried and the freight train we traveled on the t’fillos, and the Torah study – to save her portion of bread and moved slowly. It was an open all barriers fell away. when we woke up at night miracle that we were able to travel We felt like one nation. because of our hunger, she would the entire way without the We spent the Yomim Nora’im in give us a small piece of bread so Germans managing to hit the train. Samarkand. Since my father was we could go back to sleep. We arrived in Samarkand and good at singing and he had a very My mother got up early in the we joined – as did the other emotion-filled voice, Anash asked morning, at four, and took the Chabad Chassidim – the Bucharian him to be the chazan. In my coupons in order to stand in line community which was comprised childhood memories I have a sweet for bread. Sometimes she of religious and traditionally memory from when I was about returned empty-handed because observant Jews. They were three of my father standing in shul certain “special” people took centered in the old city. Mostly and preparing the davening for the bread before the plain people and Ashkenazim lived in the new city Yomim Nora’im. As he delved into there was no more bread to be and they weren’t observant. the meaning of the piyutim, he had. These were the war Meeting the Jews of Samarkand began to cry. I was taking an wounded, heroes who had reminds me of the sicha of the afternoon nap and when I woke returned from war with medals or Rebbe about the tremendous up, I saw my father crying and I women who came with babies; power of Torah which is the glue began to cry too until he calmed and then there were ruffians who that unites all the Jewish people. me down and explained that he pushed everybody aside. Many Jews scattered over the globe do was crying from emotion as he people, who were not privileged not have a common language, a read the t’fillos of the Yomim or ruffians, returned empty- common culture, or a similar look. Nora’im. handed. There is just one thing that unites We children walked the streets us all: the holy Torah. and looked for seeds to eat. One When we got to Samarkand, at PARNASSA DIFFICULTIES time, my brother Berel returned first we stayed away from the local happily from school with a few Jews for in their dress and When we arrived in hundred seeds he had found. One appearance they looked like Samarkand, people were literally morning, when my mother went Uzbeks. Their language was Tajik starving. Everybody looked for to stand on line for bread, Berel and their culture was completely work to get some bread. Bread and Sarah looked for pieces of

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dry bread in the kitchen and after suggested that he work at selling not finding any, went outside to When we went to bread. look for seeds. Suddenly, I heard their shul and saw At first my father refused, the voice of a woman calling: saying he had no idea how to do Here’s another seed! the sifrei Torah, it. However, Asher insisted and I realized it was my mother explained to my father how this and I turned around and ran the t’fillos, and business worked. First, you towards her while asking bribed the officials at the office plaintively: Did you get bread? the Torah study – so they would give you a permit She answered in tears: No, to sell bread. Then you bribed Hilke, there was no bread for me. all barriers fell the people at the government That was the sorry state of away. We felt like bakery to set aside bread for you many Lubavitchers when they so they wouldn’t say they didn’t first arrived in Tashkent and one nation. have enough. After bribing Samarkand. everyone, you were able to get My father kept looking for a To r a h . bread and sell it. source of parnasa until he While he was in jail, the My father accepted his idea became a photo salesman. He jailors cut his beard against his and after bribing the right people would travel to villages and will. When he tried to oppose he hired a goy with a donkey and towns around Samarkand where them they slapped him on the closed wagon and every morning Uzbeks lived and offer them a face and he lost two teeth. I he would go to the government special service: photo enlarging. remember that when he returned factory, load up with loaves of He would take small pictures of home with only part of a beard I bread on special shelves he had their parents and relatives and didn’t recognize him and was installed in his wagon, and sell enlarge them in the photo labs in afraid of him. the bread in the market. He was Samarkand. It was a unique After he left jail, my father able to support our family for service and his customers were couldn’t continue with the photo some time and we were saved willing to pay nicely for it. business. He met his friend Asher from starvation for every night On one of his trips he entered Sasonkin (Batumer) who asked my father would come home with the home of an Uzbek lawyer him: Avremel, what are you some loaves of bread. For us, this who was a prosecutor and asked working at today? After my was an excellent example of whether he was interested in father told him that he didn’t mutual aid among Jews in those having pictures enlarged. know what to do, Asher difficult times. Unfortunately for him, the lawyer decided to make trouble for my father. He asked to see receipts and official permits for his business. When my father could not provide them to his satisfaction, he called the police and said my father was working illegally. The police took my father to jail where he spent four months including the Yomim Nora’im, Sukkos, and Simchas Torah. Afterwards, he told us that on Simchas Torah he told the goyim with him in the cell: Today is a holiday of rejoicing for the Jews and so I ask you to stand in a circle as I merrily dance. That is how he celebrated Simchas R’ Avrohom Zaltzman with his grandchildren – Yosef Yitzchok Zaltzman, Yosef Yitzchok Mishulovin and Berke Mishulovin

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BEING CAREFUL AT them at a higher price to the big As he delved into THE BLACK MARKET dealers. Twice a year, when the lottery took place, these dealers In the Soviet Union of those the meaning of the sat and checked their papers to days it was very hard to support a see how much they won. The big family on a legal salary and many piyutim, he began dealers held large amounts of citizens supplemented their these notes and the entire family to cry. I saw my income on the black market which was drafted to work. Those who was a criminal activity. My father, bought more of these would father crying and despite his difficult financial usually win much larger amounts. circumstances, kept his distance This business wasn’t legal and I began to cry too from the black market. He would whoever was caught could be sent say: It’s enough that we are until he calmed to jail for many years. One time, a religious and Chabad Chassidim Jew by the name of Max came to and already have a criminal record me down and my father. He wasn’t religious but … we don’t need to add to it. he hung around our community in explained that he Many who were wary about Samarkand during the war. He having anything to do with the suggested that my father buy was crying from black market made small profits these obligations and in order to on the “gray” market. There is a convince him, he named emotion as he big difference between a citizen Lubavitchers who had bought whose business is dealing in read the t’fillos of from him. In the end, my father foreign currency or gold and a bought some. citizen who works legally and the Yomim That night my father was so occasionally crosses the legal line. worried he couldn’t sleep. He was Nora’im. An example of gray market afraid that just as Max had named dealing, which most citizens were the people who had bought them and every day she asked my father involved in was the buying and he would include my father’s where we would get money for selling of “obligations.” These name in the list of Anash who had Yom Tov. One day, my father said were government notes that bought from him and who knew that he had found someone to entitled the holder to take part in what that could lead to? In the lend him 3000 rubles and the next a lottery that took place twice a morning he went to the Polish day, after davening, he would take year for large sums of money. agent and told him that he was the money. Citizens received these afraid to be involved and he The next day, my father obligation notes as part of their wanted to sell back what he returned after Shacharis empty- salary. It was known that the bought and he should know that handed. My mother asked him: government took 80% of the he had no more of them. He was Nu, did you borrow money? lottery and only 20% went to the so eager to get rid of the My father said that he did. My citizens so the chances of winning obligations that he was willing to mother was happy and she said: were very slim. For this reason, all sell it all at half price just so he Nu, baruch Hashem we will be the poor workers, especially those would know that he had no more able to buy what we need for Yom in farming, were willing to sell the and could sleep at night. Tov. But then my father said: tickets for much less than they With Hashem’s help it will be were worth. They preferred one okay … bird in the hand than two in the UNLIMITED CHESED My mother realized that bush. My father was known as a man something was amiss and she Some people bought these of chesed. During the war the asked him directly: Do you have obligations from the poor workers economy was terrible and Erev the money? in large quantities. Some invested Pesach we had no matzos or other My father tried to avoid tens of thousands and some even Pesach foods. In order to make answering but in the end he had invested millions. As in every Pesach we needed 3000 rubles but to say the truth, that he did not business, there were also the situation was so bad there was have the money. My mother middlemen who bought for less nobody from whom to borrow. asked: Was it stolen? from the workers and then sold My mother was very worried

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was astonished by the simple who responded to his pleas was That poor man is manner in which my father gave Zaltzman the Jew! one of ours and all his money away. My father’s good heart once My father excelled in his got him in trouble when a fraud yet we all passed goodness and kindness even took advantage of his trust and among gentiles. He would make a ensnared him. What happened him by and big Kiddush Hashem like in the was, one day a Polish Jew came to case when he went to work and him and told him that he was an ignored him while saw a gentile pauper at the expert in cream cakes. Since he entrance asking for charity who was a stranger, without a penny in the only one who said he was starving. My father his pocket, he suggested that my responded to his went and bought him a loaf of father be his partner and start a bread and a bottle of lemonade bakery to make extra income. pleas was and gave him some rubles. The My father borrowed money non-Jew with whom he worked from his friends and the Pole Zaltzman the Jew! saw this and afterwards said in bought the ingredients and made amazement: See what a Jew is. delicious cakes. The baking was That poor man is one of ours and done in our house and we My father said: No. I borrowed yet we all passed him by and children were the main 3000 rubles but on my way home ignored him while the only one beneficiaries of this new I met someone who told me he has three children and no money for Yom Tov and I gave him the money. R’ YOM TOV EHRLICH AND JEWISH SAMARKAND My mother couldn’t believe her When my father went around to villages to take pictures, he met a ears. She tearfully said: Why did Polish Jew who lived alone in an Uzbek town. When my father asked you give it all away? You couldn’t him what he was doing there alone, he said that his family had perished give him half the money? What in Europe by the Germans and he had come there. My father told him will we do now? about the big Jewish community in Samarkand and invited him to our She burst into tears and my house. father tried to calm her and said: The man, who was R’ Yom Tov Ehrlich, and always had a guitar and Bracha’le, don’t cry. I will find an accordion, came with him. He later became famous as a Jewish someone else who will lend me singer and chazan. money. Everybody knows me here In Samarkand, R’ Ehrlich supported himself by being a badchan at and surely I will find a way to weddings of Anash. At first he sang songs about Uzbeks and their way borrow money but that Jew I met of life which shocked him. At one wedding R’ Yisroel Noach Blinitzky is a stranger. No one knows him said to him: Yom Tov, is that all you found in Samarkand? What about here and no one will lend him the Jewish community? money. If I did not lend him the R’ Ehrlich accepted this and for the next wedding he composed a money, he and his family would special song about Jewish Samarkand, about the minyanim and die of hunger. yeshivos, the Jewish communities and the special weddings. That was my father. He had R’ Ehrlich left Russia in 1946 when Polish citizens were allowed to more compassion on others than leave (Unlike most Lubavitcher Chassidim who had to pretend to be on himself. R’ Moshe Nisselevitz Polish citizens in order to get out of Russia, he was really a Polish told me that he remembers the citizen.) and after traveling about he ended up in America and settled in following scene: My father went Williamsburg in the 60’s. When the Iron Curtain opened a bit and Jews to some minyan in Samarkand left Russia, he inquired about my father. When my father arrived in and they told him they were 1969, R’ Ehrlich located him and they had a warm reunion. collecting for an important matter Three years later, when I went to the Rebbe, I traveled to and he was asked to contribute. Williamsburg to meet R’ Ehrlich. He remembered me as a little boy and My father put his hand in his was very happy to see me. He complained that his lot was to live in pocket and took out all the money Williamsburg for if he were in a Chabad community, surely the Rebbe he had and without counting it, would have him use his talents to be mekarev Jews. he gave it all to tz’daka. R’ Moshe

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enterprise. In addition to the her. After inquiring about the boy children who loved tasting the and seeing that she really liked cake there were other problems. him, they agreed to the shidduch. There was no place in the house They got married and to store the cakes and they established a traditional Jewish remained on the tables. I home. He supported himself by remember that one time they asking for donations with his wife baked beautiful cakes with a leading him. When I walked near flower on them made out of red him he recognized me by my walk icing and they were left on the and his wife also let him know tables overnight. During the night that I was coming. I always gave a cat got in and licked off nearly him a nice donation. They had every flower. three healthy children and when After a few weeks when the people started making aliya from Pole had gained my father’s trust, Samarkand, they also went to he told my father he had to buy a Eretz Yisroel. large quantity of merchandise and he needed a large sum of money. R’ Avrohom Zaltzman with his MESIRAS NEFESH My father borrowed the money grandson, Berke Mishulovin FOR CHINUCH and gave it to him and the man disappeared with the cash. That her brothers and sisters, had In the Soviet Union, as you was the end of the baking perished in the Holocaust and she know, it was very hard to live a business. was sent to Samarkand. Jewish life and it was nearly My father hurried home and impossible to provide a Jewish after telling my mother about this chinuch. Although the mitzva of THE GIRL IN chinuch is rabbinic, Lubavitcher THE CORRIDOR girl, he said they had to have mercy and rescue her. My mother Chassidim were as particular One winter day in 1945, got dressed immediately and about it as a biblical mitzva. As shortly before the end of the war, rushed back to shul with my the Rebbe Rashab said, as quoted it was bitter cold, ten degrees father, taking clothing with her in the HaYom Yom, just as putting below zero. Snow had fallen the for the girl and a warm coat. on t’fillin is an obligation on every day before and sparkled like heaps From the shul my mother took her Jew, so too every Jew must of crystal. That morning, I to the bathhouse and two hours dedicate half an hour a day to remember, my father returned later she came home with the girl thinking about chinuch. from shul earlier than usual and and announced that from that day It’s hard, even impossible to told my mother that when he on, this was her house. judge those who did not stand up entered the hallway of the shul he The girl spoke Yiddish with a to the cruel communist saw a girl about nineteen years of Polish accent and slowly learned government and sent their age, sitting on the ground, crying Russian. She lived with us for half children to government schools. and trembling from the cold. Her a year as a member of the family. Some parents found it hard to clothes were torn and dirty and She found a job and moved into withstand the test, saying that if she muttered: I have nothing … an apartment that she rented. their child was home 24 hours a Where will I go tonight … I am After two years she came to my day, it would adversely affect their starving … have pity on me … parents and said that she had health, physically and emotionally. Compassionate Jews who been offered a shidduch with a There were few who sent only entered the shul gave her some Bucharian boy who was 26. He for elementary school since they kopecks and went in to daven. My was nice-looking and had good figured that they were stuck in father gave her five rubles and middos but had a major handicap. Russia anyway and when the went inside but he was perturbed. Since she considered my parents children grew up they would need He couldn’t stand to see a Jewish as her parents, she wanted their to have a profession and would girl in that state. He returned to advice. What was his handicap? have to go to university. Some the entranceway and asked her He was blind from childhood. My excused going to university by where she was from. The girl said parent didn’t know what to tell saying that students were exempt that her entire family, her parents, from the army for the duration of

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likely to lose all of my Judaism. Having no choice, my father sent me to school but with an iron resolve not to send me on Shabbos. My father got a doctor’s note which said I was a weak child and had to rest two days a week. Baruch Hashem, we successfully made it through this obstacle. When my father would hear that someone was not withstanding the test and was sending his children to university and was taking pride in their son the doctor or engineer who was very successful, he would immediately say: What about his Judaism? He is saying how talented his son is but he is ignoring the fact that along with his material success there is a serious deterioration in his spiritual state. What about his Shabbos observance, t’fillin, kashrus? He was disgusted when he heard that a Jew had become a big engineer or the like. My father never worried about how we would support ourselves if we did not go to university. He always said: “The one who gave life will give food.” When my cousin, Yaakov Pil a”h came back from the war, some said he would be suited to teaching in a school or working at some intellectual job or another. My father was certain that he was better off opening a store, a less honorable occupation but one that would not affect his Jewish observance. My father held strongly to his beliefs even in hard years. So for example, the years 1950-1953 were very difficult years, culminating in the Doctors’ Plot. R’ Avrohom Zaltzman working in his garden The situation was so dire that when my father bought new earthenware utensils for Pesach, my their studies and that saved them from a greater aunt Rosa excoriated him saying: These days we tzara, spiritually speaking. Everybody had their have to save money and buy canned goods and reasons. preserves in order to have what to eat on the long At the same time though, we should acknowledge trip to Siberia … That’s how bad it was with people and give credit to those who tried in various ways waiting for the moment that Stalin would order us and under constant danger to teach and raise their off to Siberia. children in the way of Torah and mitzvos. These I will never forget the terrible scene Erev Rosh parents had to hide their children in the house and HaShana 1952 or 1953. We young people were for many years they did not allow them to step foot scared, of course, to go to shul and before my father outside so the neighbors wouldn’t know that there left the house he looked up to heaven and choked were school-aged children living there who did not with tears he prayed: Master of the world, what do I attend school. ask of you? All I want is for my sons to remain When the secret got out and government officials erlicher Yidden. came to see why the children were truant, the My father raised his hands up to heaven and said parents sent them to their relatives or friends in tearfully: Master of the world, if it was decreed that other cities. It was very difficult. my sons go off the derech, I ask You to take me to My father did all he could to avoid sending us to You first so I don’t see it. school. He managed to hide my brother Berel until My mother was horrified to hear this and she he was past school age. He hid me for a long time shouted, “How can you talk like that on Erev Rosh but after a few years the government found out HaShana? Our children are yerei’im v’shleimim! Our about me and I had to go to school. If I had refused children don’t compromise on anything. Not a day to go, they would have removed me from my home passes without t’fillin and they never treat kashrus and sent me to a Soviet orphanage where I was

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or Shabbos lightly. Other people government had given him a large did not stand strong and their plot of land to build a house. My father raised children went off, but with us, After he built the house, he baruch Hashem, we are all planted all the trees, divorced his his hands up to yerei’im v’shleimim!” wife, and married a younger My father was not pacified and woman. His former wife moved heaven and said he said, “True, but these are very and lived in a government house tearfully: Master hard times and who knows what near his yard. One of the windows tomorrow will bring. I’m telling of her house directly overlooked of the world, if it you – if they go off the derech, his large yard and she would heaven forbid, I will not be able to torment the army officer and his was decreed that continue living!” young wife. He had no choice but That was the mesirus nefesh of to sell the house and that is how my sons go off the a Chassid p’nimi in the Soviet we came to buy it. Union of those days. It was a pleasure to sit in the derech, I ask You garden but the windows to take me to You THE NEW HOUSE WITH overlooking our yard bothered us THE PRIVATE YARD too. On the one hand this was the first so I don’t see first time we had a house and our At the end of the fifties Anash own yard; on the other hand, it. began moving to the new city. We every move we made was observed bought a house together with my by the gentile neighbors. The My father said that all the brother-in-law, Eliyahu children couldn’t go out to the pleasures were not worthwhile Mishulovin. We were able to buy a yard because the neighbors and we had to do something to large house with a huge yard, couldn’t see that there were get out of their sight. We couldn’t more than 1000 square meters children who did not go to school. be in galus in our own yard. He with eighty fruit trees and bushes. We couldn’t go outside wearing finally came to an agreement with The large house, which was tzitzis or Shabbos clothing the neighbors – he gave them five very unusual in urban Samarkand, because they were watching, etc. meters of land extending the had been the home of a Brigadier We had to hide out in our house. entire length of the yard and in General in the Russian army. The exchange he got their agreement for a high wall that hid what went A CLEVER FATHER-IN-LAW on in our yard. After that we were able to host groups of bachurim My father was a clever and deep man. We sometimes saw how right who learned in our yard on a he was only after time had passed. For example, when R’ Mendel regular basis. Futerfas hid with us, my father suspected one of the gentile neighbors of following us. My father was not relaxed in those days and he would tell us: Just as I left the house the neighbor decided to walk his dog. “KINDERLACH, When I went to the market, he was there too and when he noticed me I KNOW ALREADY” he bent over as though he was tying his shoelace. In Tamuz 1968 my mother had We thought my father was exaggerating and even R’ Mendel said he a heart attack. The doctors said it was imagining things, but my father insisted. After a while, the gentile was a major heart attack and she stopped following us and only then did we realize how closely he had had to go to the hospital. In shadowed us in the previous months. Samarkand of those days the Before R’ Mendel left Russia, my brother-in-law Eliyahu told him: hospital did not have an ICU and Now that you’re going, who will we consult with? the rooms did not even have air R’ Mendel said: If you have a question, consult with your father-in- conditioning. It was very hot out law. He is a clever Chassid and he understands things. Do you and my mother had to lie there in remember how we all thought he was imagining things when he a stifling room, attached to an IV thought the gentile neighbor was following us? After a while I found line. out that he was actually following us and we were all naïve while your We stayed with her at her father-in-law was absolutely right in his assessment. bedside throughout her hospital

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word by word and after saying the between the death and the burial word “va’ed” she passed away. was very hard for the deceased. In While my mother was in the Samarkand of those days all the hospital, my father would prepare preparations for burial, including cereal for her and bring it to the the tahara, was done in the home hospital. After she died, I stood of the deceased. My father was in there waiting with my brother for the house and he sobbed the him to come so he wouldn’t walk entire time. in and suddenly be confronted by Then we suddenly didn’t hear the news. We kept going out to him and it was strangely quiet. We the hall to see if he had come. were very apprehensive. We began We finally saw him walking looking for him and couldn’t find heavily towards her room, empty him. We finally found him outside handed. Before we could go over among the fruit trees, leaning on to him he called out in tears, a tree. We ran over to him and “Kinderlach, I know already.” asked: What happened? Do you Later, my brother-in-law, not feel well? R’ Hillel and R’ Berke Zaltzman at Eliyahu Mishulovin said that my He said: Kinderlach, I am so their father’s gravesite father had put the cereal on the broken that I never felt as broken fire in the morning, as he always as this; I remembered Yaakov stay. My brother Berel, myself and did, and went to daven. Within a Avinu, that when he met Yosef his our cousin Yaakov Pil took turns short time he suddenly returned heart was suffused with great love so she wouldn’t be alone. home and shut the fire, saying: and he directed this enormous Throughout that time we heard The cereal isn’t needed and an love towards Hashem as he read her say, “I have no complaints onen is exempt from davening. My the Shma. I want to use these towards heaven. I had the z’chus brother-in-law and his brother moments when my heart is of raising a family and bringing Dovid yelled at him for talking broken. I am saying Vidui. up frum children. I married them that way but he insisted that he In accordance with my father’s off and have seen grandchildren. knew. wishes, we held the funeral True, it would be wonderful to My father wanted to make my immediately. My mother was live another ten or fifteen years mother’s funeral as soon as buried next to her sister, our aunt but I have no complaints against possible, even if there was only a Chaya Aidel Pil who died a half G-d. Baruch Hashem, I have minyan, saying that the time year earlier. My mother had cared fulfilled my shlichus in this for her a lot through her illness. world.” As my father requested, we Tuesday morning, 27 Tamuz, WEDDING RING connected the two gravestones my mother felt it was her final We never saw my mother’s with an additional stone on which moments. I was there with her wedding ring. We found out it was written, “Those who were and she asked me to call for my that on one of my father’s trips beloved and pleasant in their father immediately since she to the Rebbe Rayatz, his lifetime were not parted in their wanted to say goodbye. She said: financial situation was bad and death.” We lived together for 43 years. he had no money to bring for It was hard for me to call my maamud (money for the father under these circumstances. HISKASHRUS Rebbe’s household). My father AND KABBOLAS OL I was afraid he wouldn’t be able did not want to forego on to handle the emotional burden. I maamud which was holy in his At this time we were all called my brother Berel and eyes and he discussed it with preoccupied with leaving Russia. explained the situation and he my mother. In the winter of 5728, about half came immediately. In the My mother didn’t hesitate. a year after our mother’s passing, meantime, she called me and said: She offered to give her my father and my sister and her Do you not understand what wedding ring to the Rebbe as family were able to leave Russia condition I am in? maamud, and that is what he and they settled in Kfar Chabad. She asked me to recite the did. We remained in Samarkand but Shma with her. I began to say it my sister would report to us about

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life in Eretz Yisroel. sons come to him. A short while One day we were surprised to later we left Russia for Eretz read in a letter that my father had Yisroel. left my sister’s house in Kfar While in Nachalas Har Chabad and moved to Kiryat Chabad, a fundraiser from B’nei Malachi. We did not understand Brak once went to his house and what happened with my father asked for a donation. My father who had lived in peace, all the asked him why he was in a place years, with my sister’s family. of new immigrants who had no What made him leave for Kiryat money. The man said that he Malachi? In the letter we wrote would be surprised to know that back to my sister we asked her the immigrants gave more than what happened. the old-timers. In her next letter my sister The two men got to talking wrote what happened with this and the collector asked my father preface: Don’t you know our why his house wasn’t that orderly. father? One fine day he came and My father told him of my said: I have to pack my suitcases mother’s passing away. The man because I’m moving to Kiryat said he had a wonderful shidduch Malachi. My stunned sister asked for him with a worthy woman in R’ Avrohom Zaltzman in the yard of his house in Nachalas Har Chabad him why he was suddenly leaving Lud. My father went to Lud to and he said that R’ Dovid Raskin meet the woman and after seeing had come to shul that morning. that they were suited to one He had come to Eretz Yisroel on another, they received the Rebbe’s shlichus from the Rebbe and he blessing and married. spoke in shul about the Rebbe My father lived happily with starting a new neighborhood in his second wife for thirteen years. Kiryat Malachi called Nachalas She was involved in communal Har Chabad. He was opening a work in Nachala and everybody Kollel there and he wanted knew her and respected her. She Russian Jews to move there. greatly respected my father and “I immediately decided to took care of him. Of course we move to Kiryat Malachi and I too, out of respect for my father, stopped at the post office to send respected her very much. After my the Rebbe a telegram with the father passed away, she moved to good news.” a senior citizen home and we My sister asked him how he would go visit her. She was very R’ Avrohom Zaltzman listening to would manage on his own without happy with our visits and was a broadcast of the Rebbe a woman to cook and do laundry proud to introduce us to her for him. He said he would friends as her children. wrote that he sat all day involved manage somehow; the main thing in Torah and avoda and this was his lot and where he put his was giving the Rebbe nachas. We RUNNING A KOLLEL read the letter and understood the energy. A short time after he arrived in power of kabbalas ol and Men who learned in the Kollel Nachala, the Rebbe appointed my hiskashrus to the Rebbe. My in those years told me that their father as director of the Kollel. father made no conditions; he did best years of learning were the We read about this in a letter that not ask questions about how it years that my father served as he sent to us in Samarkand. We would work out. He simply menahel. He looked out for their wondered how someone who had packed and left. welfare and if it was cold, he been a businessman all his life The Rebbe did indeed take bought a heater with his own could run a Kollel. By the way, we pleasure in my father’s devotion money. He took care of every heard about the concept of a and he blessed him that in the detail. Over the years many Kollel, for the first time, in this merit of this he would see his people went to Nachala who were letter. He explained what it is and very capable of serving as

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menahel of the Kollel, but every A LUBAVITCHER some responsa in the laws of issur time R’ Efraim Wolf asked the CHASSID and heter. He asked my father to Rebbe about this, the Rebbe did give it back to him in a few days. In 5743, when R’ Mendel not agree to replace my father To his surprise, my father Wechter had to leave New York, without his consent. returned it all to him that night at the Rebbe advised him to settle in Most of the money he earned eight o’clock. Eretz Yisroel. He found his in the Kollel my father gave to the At nine o’clock my father did rightful place in Nachalas Har gemach fund that he started in my not feel well. An ambulance took Chabad in the Kollel that my mother’s memory. He and his him to the hospital but on the way father directed, and he became wife lived off the reparations his his condition deteriorated and the Rosh Kollel. My father liked wife got as a Holocaust survivor. they had to call an intensive care him so much that in his letter to If they lacked some money he mobile unit, in which he passed the Rebbe he wrote that R’ would take some of his salary but on. Mendel was truly a Chassid, yerei most of the salary went to the Before he left the house he left Shamayim and a lamdan. gemach that served the members a note on the table which said two I heard that when R’ Mendel’s of the Kollel. words: Har HaZeisim. We fulfilled father went to Nachalas Har My father once wrote me that his request and he was buried on Chabad to see his son, his son since he put all his money into the Mt. Olives on 11 Shevat 5740. told him: If you want to see what gemach, he didn’t know what When we had to put a gravestone a Lubavitcher Chassid is, look at would happen after 120 years for on his grave, we were reminded R’ Avrohom Zaltzman. he wanted to be buried on Mt. about what he told us several On the day he died, my father Olives but a plot cost $3000 and times that he hated seeing went to the Kollel after lunch and he would not be leaving behind numerous titles on gravestones asked the men forgiveness if he even one cent. because the deceased has to had been too demanding about What could I tell him – that he answer to each one of them. He coming on time or if he yelled at shouldn’t worry because we would said that on his gravestone he them. R’ Mendel, who heard him pay for his burial? I didn’t say wanted it to say, “Here lies asking forgiveness of the young anything. After some time he told Avrohom Zaltzman who had the men was amazed by his humility. me that he had asked the Rebbe privilege of learning in He didn’t think for a minute that whether to continue donating all his Lubavitch.” Of course, we fulfilled this was taking place before he money to the gemach or to save his request. passed away. That day, after the some money for the plot. The Rebbe period of learning in the Kollel, R’ told him to give it to the gemach Mendel asked my father to review and blessed him with long life.

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stories

MESIRUS NEFESH WHICH HELPED In the course of his work as the FROM THE only mohel in the area, he was called to brissin in distant yishuvim. When necessary, he would spend all of Shabbos at a yishuv or kibbutz. One year, he was called to a bris PARDES, at yishuv Bat Shlomo on Rosh HaShana. Rosh HaShana fell on a Thursday that year, which meant he would have to remain there for the three consecutive days of Yom Tov WITH LOVE and Shabbos . Despite the great inconvenience, he agreed to go and do the bris, as he did on countless comparably inconvenient occasions. A compilation of stories about R’ His family, who found it exceedingly hard to be without him Yehuda Aryeh Kurant a”h, the for three days of Yom Tov and Shabbos, asked him, “Would they Rebbe’s shliach in Moshava Pardes have called you on a weekday, too, or is it just when they need someone Chana for 35 years. * Compiled from who is willing to stay with them for hundreds of stories collected by his three days on a Yom Tov that they remember that you are a mohel?” son, R’ Aharon Kurant. R’ Kurant answered, “It’s a mitzva to bring another Jew into the covenant of Avrohom Avinu a”h.” In Elul 5713 (1953), R’ Kurant in his handwriting: As well as That year, they were all able to received the Rebbe’s handwritten candle-lighting. see the results of this mitzva. He answer in a letter: Regarding wanted to travel to the Rebbe for learning the vocations of mila and THE NEAR FUTURE Yom Kippur and Simchas Torah, but sh’chita – clarify the custom of In 5735, his expanding family due to a massive strike at the airport Eretz Yisroel and the Holy City outgrew their apartment in Pardes which had prevented many people about this. Chana. R’ Yehuda sent a letter to the from traveling, it looked like he Indeed, after clarifying that there Rebbe asking whether it was time to would have to change his plans. A was no problem, he became return to Yerushalayim. The answer friend from Pardes Chana came to proficient in both these holy jobs and he received, dated 5 Av, said: In his aid and signed whatever he used them in his place of shlichus response to your question, it is needed and, despite the strike and with great success. He used them to worthwhile to continue in the city the long lines, even accompanied spread the Rebbe’s holy inyanim. you are in now (at least for the him to the plane. After every bris, even in irreligious near future). When he returned, he told his families, he would register all the R’ Yehuda Aryeh told his family family that he had no doubt that it children in the family for a letter in that since the Rebbe always spoke in was only in the merit of his mesirus the Torah Scroll of Jewish Children, terms of Moshiach being about to nefesh in performing that bris at Bat and utilize the opportunity to come, “the near future” had to mean Shlomo that he had been able to encourage the family in others of the until the coming of Moshiach. He travel to the Rebbe despite the strike. Rebbe’s mivtzaim. enlarged the apartment and the In Kislev 5735, R’ Kurant family remained where they were. received this answer from the Rebbe: NAME HIM And he and his large family Surely you are participating in the YOSEF YITZCHOK remained where they were and five mivtzaim. And the Rebbe added On 13 Adar, 5725 (1965), R’ enlarged the apartment.

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Kurant received (in addition to a the couple received the Rebbe’s combine Limudei Kodesh and letter on the birth of his son) the bracha, with the stipulation that they l’havdil, secular studies.) following response: Surely you will name their child “Yosef Yitzchok.” R’ Nechemia Schmerling, one of energetically search for students of The bracha was fulfilled and the bachurim who R’ Kurant was Chabad schools in Morocco who since then, this family pays for the mekarev and today is a shliach in are now in your area…in order to annual Yud-Tes Kislev farbrengen at Kfar Yona, recalls: organize shiurim in Nigleh and the Chabad house. “One year, about ten bachurim Chassidus etc. for them. came to the Medrashiya on the R’ Yehuda followed this AND A PLACE TO SLEEP Shabbos before Yud-Tes Kislev. They instruction and began to work, were supposed to sleep in the Among his activities in Pardes among other places, in the shul for infirmary, but after the Shabbos Chana, R’ Kurant reached out to the Moroccan immigrants, holding meal and farbrengen in the bachurim learning in Medrashiyat shiurim and farbrengens there. Medrashiya, they discovered that the Noam through shiurim and One of the participants in these infirmary was locked. farbrengens in his home. shiurim asked for his bracha for “One of the talmidim of the (Medrashiyat Noam was founded in himself and his wife, for they had Medrashiya reminded them that R’ Pardes Chana in Elul, 1944, and is not had any children yet. R’ Yehuda Kurant lived in the area. Though the considered the “mother” of yeshiva told them to write to the Rebbe and entire moshava was asleep at that high schools, being the first to

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farbreng only because R’ Yudel was that his face had changed and Though the entire there on time and saying T’hillim. become more refined and he looked moshava was In those years, he spread like a different person. Chassidus throughout Yerushalayim asleep at that late and in the surrounding yishuvim by HE SHOULD ENLARGE giving shiurim and other activities. HIS HOUSE hour, they went to He received this answer from the Rebbe: Yehi ratzon that the merit When his sister, Devorah Raizel his house and of your involvement in spreading a”h, went to the Rebbe for yechidus, the wellsprings outward … stand the Rebbe asked her whether she knocked at the by you in everything, in what you was the sister of R’ Yudel Kurant. door... Only in the need and in the fulfillment of your When she said she was, the Rebbe heart’s requests for good. It is spoke to her about him for over ten morning did they certainly unnecessary to explain at minutes. length to someone such as yourself First, said the Rebbe, you should realize that he the words of the Tana D’vei encourage him to build and enlarge Eliyahu, that even if you see a his apartment in Pardes Chana, and had given them naked person (meaning naked of he shouldn’t be afraid of a loan that Torah and mitzvos) and should is not linked to the rate of inflation. his children’s cover him (in all this also) do not (It should be noted that he saw an bedrooms. ignore your own flesh; regarding open miracle in this regard. Not avoda with yourself; with yourself long afterwards, the Israeli liros and within yourself. were changed for new sh’kalim, and late hour, they went to his house and At that time, the Rebbe asked he was left with hardly any debt at knocked at the door. R’ Kurant that the pictures of the bachurim all since the loan hadn’t been opened the door and welcomed learning in Toras Emes be sent to linked). them warmly. Within a few minutes him. Three months later, they were he had arranged beds and mattresses surprised to receive a request from JUDAISM WITH A SMILE for them and they went to sleep. the Rebbe to send new pictures. For 35 years of shlichus in “Only in the morning did they Rabbi Yaakov Minsky, who was Pardes Chana, R’ Kurant was realize that he had given them his learning in Toras Emes at the time, mekarev entire families to Judaism. children’s bedrooms. They relates that the bachurim speculated His approach was friendly and with apologized, but instead he thanked that this request was on account of great love for every Jew. them for the privilege of being able R’ Yudel. He had so devoted himself Pardes Chana was not a religious to host them and asked them to join to the study of Nigleh and Chassidus community when he got there, and him for the Shabbos meal.” since the previous picture was taken every Shabbos he would walk a long way to the shul. On his way, he NEW FACES would wish every Jew “Shabbat R’ Michoel Katz relates: R’ YEHUDA ARYEH Shalom” with a warm smile. One Shabbos Mevarchim, when I KURANT A”H The shul that he davened in had was learning in Toras Emes, the an avowed anti-religious neighbor, R’ Kurant was a shochet mashpia, R’ Chaim Shaul Brook a”h, who would publicly desecrate the and mohel for decades in announced that T’hillim would start Shabbos in order to anger the Pardes Chana and its environs. at 6:30. When R’ Brook came to say worshipers at the shul. He went so He ran gemach funds and aid T’hillim the next morning, he found far as to bring trained dogs to the for the needy. He ran a Chabad the zal empty except for R’ Yudel shul’s yard, and on another house in Pardes Chana. Kurant, who was saying T’hillim. occasion, to go horseback riding He was modest, humble, After the davening, the bachurim there. Then he enlarged his yard and pleasant. He greeted asked R’ Brook to farbreng, but he onto the shul’s property. everybody graciously. He was refused, saying, “There is no reason The other shul-goers wanted to born in 1934, in Zhirtza, to farbreng. If you don’t say file a case against him with the Poland, and passed away on 16 T’hillim, it’s not Shabbos police for his despicable acts, but R’ Adar, 5758 (1998). Mevarchim!” He finally consented to Yehuda asked them not to do

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anything to drive him away. He candidate hoped to advertise that R’ continued wishing him, “Shabbat Yehuda supported him. As a Shalom” on his way in and out of Lubavitcher Chassid and with his shul. special personality, he was approved After a while, the man stopped of by all. One of the candidates publicly desecrating the Shabbos. asked him who he would be voting Then he stopped desecrating the for and R’ Yehuda answered that he Shabbos altogether. Eventually, he would vote for him. A few days later, began attending shul and even another candidate came to his home brought his sons with him and and R’ Yehuda gave him the same encouraged other people to daven answer. there. Word got out and the first During the Shiva for R’ Kurant, candidate went back to him and he went every day to daven in his asked, “How come you told me you home. He said to R’ Kurant’s sons, would vote for me and then you told “It is only thanks to your father’s my rival the same thing?” smiles and kiruv that I became R’ Yehuda replied, “I put two religious.” Rabbi Kurant at a “general yechidus ballots in the box.” After a few years, when they built “But that cancels your vote!” a new shul on the site of the old one CHABAD DOESN’T GET “That’s not my business. I voted and named it for Rabbi Yehuda for both of you and you can work it Aryeh Kurant, he agreed to have INVOLVED IN POLITICS out amongst yourselves.” part of the enlarged shul extend into When there were elections for the his yard. Pardes Chana council, each

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