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contents

WHY THE EMPHASIS ON G-D’S CHARIOT? 4 G-D HIMSELF WAS REVEALED! D’var Malchus | Vol. 23, pg. 18-25

THE WONDROUS TORAH SCROLL 8 Story | Menachem Ziegelboim

LOST SOULS AND FOUND OBJECTS 12 Shlichus | Rabbi Yaakov Shmuelevitz

THE UNDERGROUND YESHIVA 14 Memoirs | Hillel Zaltzman

USA A LIVING FLAME 744 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409 24 Profile | R. M. Deroyan Tel: (718) 778-8000 Fax: (718) 778-0800 [email protected] www.beismoshiach.org THE BESHARIS BELONG IN BIRIYA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: 30 Shlichus | Nosson Avrohom M.M. Hendel ENGLISH EDITOR: Boruch Merkur [email protected] ASSISTANT EDITOR: Dr. Aryeh Gotfryd HEBREW EDITOR: Rabbi Sholom Yaakov Chazan [email protected]

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d’var malchus WHY THE EMPHASIS ON G-DS CHARIOT? G-D HIMSELF WAS REVEALED!

Likkutei Sichos Vol. 23, pg. 18-25 Translated by Boruch Merkur

1. The Rambam writes1: “It is a widespread custom that on the essential point of the Giving of the Torah is, rather, the the first day of the holiday (of Atzeres [i.e., Shavuos]) we read revelation of G-d [Himself and not His angels] to all the Jewish [the Torah portion beginning with the words], ‘In the third people, as well as the giving of the Torah to the Jews. month,’2 and we conclude with ‘The Chariot.’”3 (The source In light of the above, it is seemingly more appropriate that 17 for this custom is a Braisa in Megilla,4 as cited in Kesef Mishna.) on the first day [of Shavuos ] the reading of the Torah portion So is it ruled in Tur and Shulchan Aruch.5 describing the Giving of the Torah (“which expresses the theme 18 Rashi writes6 (quoted in the Alter ’s Shulchan of the day when the Torah was given” ) should be concluded 19 Aruch7) that the reason why we conclude with the Chariot of with Chabakuk, “which speaks about the Giving of the 20 21 22 Yechezkel [which describes the angels bearing the Heavenly To r a h : ‘The L-rd comes from Teiman’ at (i.e., refers to ) 23 Throne] “is because He8 was revealed on Sinai with a myriad of the Giving of the Torah.” myriads of thousands of angels.”9 The reason is explained at Moreover, even if one would maintain that also this was one greater length in L’vush10: “We conclude with the Chariot of of the main themes of the Giving of the Torah – that the Yechezkel, for on that day [when the Jewish people received the revelation of the Divine Presence took place together with the Torah], in that choice circumstance, they all attained the heights Chariot, as the L’vush writes (ibid), “for on that day, in that of prophecy. All of them – both the small and great among them choice circumstance, etc., they all attained the heights of – heard ‘I am’ and ‘You shall not have’ from the mouth of the prophecy … the account of the Chariot, etc.” – still, at first Alm-ghty.11 Indeed, there is no doubt that they all grasped, at glance, the main emphasis is not the vision of the Chariot but the that event, the account of the Chariot to the full extent grasped revelation of (the glory of) G-d, and the fact that they all heard by Yechezkel, as the matter is described,12 ‘All the nation saw “I am” and “You shall not have” from the mouth of the Alm- the sounds,’ which alludes entirely to the account of the Chariot. ghty. Especially considering that it says in the name of our 24 Thus, we likewise conclude the Torah reading with the account Sages that the vision of the Chariot resulted in the later affair of the Chariot, which resembles the event [that occurred at of the [Golden] Calf, may G-d have mercy on us. Mount Sinai].” It is explained in the Radak on Yechezkel13 in Even if one would say that the Haftora must be about the the name of our Sages,14 “On the day of the Giving of the Chariot, it would apparently be more appropriate to conclude 25 Torah, the Jewish people saw the Chariot as it was seen by with Yeshayahu, the Chariot that Yeshayahu saw, which Yechezkel – to the extent that they said that [at the Giving of the emphasizes the vision of the glory of G-d – “I saw the L-rd Torah] the least significant among [even] the women was as sitting on a high and exalted throne, and His lower extremity great as Yechezkel ben Buzi.”15 filled the Temple. [Angels called] S’rafim stood, etc.” – and At first glance, this reason (for concluding with the Chariot which speaks about the Chariot only in brief. (Indeed, when the of Yechezkel) requires elaboration. The simple interpretation of Parsha of Yisro is read [which describes the Giving of the the fact that the Haftora needs to discuss a topic that “resembles Torah], we conclude with the Chariot of Yeshayahu.) Whereas, the event”16 is that the Haftora speaks (not about something Yechezkel elaborates at length and in detail about the Chariot peripheral to the event but) about the main point of the event. In but speaks concisely about G-d. the case at hand, however, the vision of the Chariot that took In addition, the revelation of the glory of G-d [seen place at the Giving of the Torah, at first glance, is not expressive prophetically by all the Jewish people] at the Giving of the Torah of the very essence of the concept of the Giving of the Torah. For was not like the revelation of the glory of G-d described in the

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Chariot of Yechezkel26; it more closely resembles the prophecy of Yechezkel’s unique quality (being that it “resembles the event” of Yeshayahu. In fact, it surpassed the prophecy of Yeshayahu. of the Giving of the Torah) is comprehensible to every single 35 It resembles the level of the prophecy of Moshe, the Greatest of Jew. (However, the details of the matters related in the the Prophets, as it is said [regarding the Giving of the Torah], Chariot of Yechezkel are so esoteric that they are “Face to face G-d spoke with you [the Jewish people] at the incomprehensible to regular people, for “the profundity of the mountain” (a point which is further supported by what was Account of the Chariot… is well beyond the reach of the intellect 36 discussed above: “I am” and “You shall not have” was heard of the masses.” ) from the mouth of the Alm-ghty).27 2. We may assert the following explanation for the matter: 37 In light of the above, the words of the Radak – that the The Gemara distinguishes the vision of the Chariot as Chariot of Yechezkel was revealed at the Giving of the Torah – seen by Yeshayahu from that of Yechezkel as follows: “All that also require explanation. Since the revelation of (the glory) of Yechezkel saw, Yeshayahu saw [i.e., Yeshayahu simply refrained G-d [Himself] is far greater [than the revelation of His Chariot, from enumerating the details of his vision. The reason for this why is the focus specifically on the revelation of the Chariot, omission is illustrated with the following analogy]. Yechezkel is which is dramatically inferior?] Indeed, what good is the light of like a village person who saw the king; Yeshayahu is like a city a candle in broad daylight? person who saw the king.” Another matter that requires elaboration is the very law that According to a simple reading of this Gemara, the difference “we conclude with ‘The Chariot,’” for “We don’t between them is not in what they saw per se, but in what they expound…about the Chariot (even) for an individual, unless he related. That is, [in contrast to Yechezkel] Yeshayahu “did not is a wise person with an understanding mind.”28 For this bother to elaborate on everything, for he was a prince who grew reason, “It is customary in some places that a great and wise up in a palace, and a city person who sees the king is not person reads this Haftora.29 The support for this practice is overwhelmed and bewildered, and he does not bother to relate 38 [the Mishna], ‘and not about the Chariot unless he is a wise [all the details].” But from the very fact that Yeshayahu is person with an understanding mind.’”30 In fact, [in contrast described as a “city person” – for he was a prince who grew up with the opinion of Rebbi Yehuda] the other position stated in in a palace – and Yechezkel is described as a “village person” – 39 the Mishna31is that we don’t conclude with the Chariot “lest whose place is not the king’s palace – it is understood that the 40 one come to inquire and probe deeply into it.”32 prophecy of Yeshayahu is superior and more complete, as our The Tosafos Yom Tov33 explains, “It appears to me that the Sages said, Yeshayahu is called, “the greatest of the 41 reason why we don’t worry (about whether one comes to probe) prophets,” and the level of his prophecy and comprehension is that in either of the two possible scenarios the concern is [of Supernal matters] exceeded that of Yechezkel. dismissed. Namely, if the person is wise, he is aware that these This distinction [stating the preeminence of Yeshayahu in matters are not [readily] comprehended by [even] intelligent prophecy] is underscored by the very fact that Yechezkel people, and that silence is [therefore] preferable to speech. If, enumerates all details regarding the Chariot whereas Yeshayahu however, he is not [a wise person], then ‘he who silences a fool mainly emphasizes seeing the King Himself (and not the details is considered a wise man’34 – that is, he will surely silence his of the Chariot), paralleling the simple difference between the foolishness, knowing that he is not capable of answering any way a city person and a village person relate to seeing the king, question [posed to him on the matter].” as follows: Upon seeing the king, a city person, since he was However, even according to this explanation, clarification is raised in the royal palace, has some grasp of the king’s required. What is the benefit in reading about this matter to the greatness. Therefore, to him, the sight of (all the details related congregation? The intent of reading [from the Tanach in public] to) the king’s chariot and the like does not add to the king’s is not only for the sake of elite individuals whom G-d has graced mystique and his reverence for the king. Rather, just seeing the with understanding, [in our case] those who understand the king himself has this affect on him. The village person, on the Chariot, but for every single individual present in synagogue other hand, who has no knowledge and comprehension of the who hears the [Torah] reading and the Haftora, the majority of greatness of the king, when he beholds the spectacle of his whom are not at the level of “a wise person with an greatness and his royal grandeur, he is inspired to a heightened understanding mind, etc.,” not at the level of understanding the appreciation of the king’s greatness (notwithstanding the fact Account of the Chariot. that even then he has no comprehension of the essential quality 42 Therefore, we must say that the Chariot of Yechezkel of the king’s greatness). possesses a unique quality that underscores the innovation of The same is true when this distinction is applied to the Giving of the Torah (for which reason the Chariot was Yeshayahu and Yechezkel. The prophecy of Yeshayahu, “the revealed at the time of the Giving of the Torah). To that extent, greatest of the prophets,” is akin to the city person’s this Haftora “resembles the event” insofar as it expresses the appreciation of the greatness of the king. Thus, the greatness of general innovation of the Giving of the Torah (even more so the King’s Chariot bears no significance to Yeshayahu. Whereas than the prophecy of the Chariot of Yeshayahu). And the Chariot Yechezkel, although his main vision was of the Chariot [and not the King], this vision brought him to attain some knowledge of

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and reverence for the greatness of the King Himself. on [Shavuos] the day when the Torah was given: The above runs parallel with what is explained in the book The revelation of the Divine Presence at the Giving of the Avodas HaKodesh43 regarding the Chariot of Yechezkel, which Torah was not only a passing moment in history but [an event reads as follows: “From his vision and grasp of the Chariot of that is eternally relevant]. Namely, it permits the Jewish people, the Lower Realm, he knew of the Supernal…for there is a through their service of G-d,48 to ascend and cleave to the Holy Throne above a Throne and a Chariot above a Chariot and a One Blessed Be He. Indeed, the power to do so was granted to Rider above a Rider and Glory above Glory. From his vision of them in virtue of the revelation of G-d at the Giving of the four [angels known as] Chayos [as they appeared to him] Torah, implanting in our hearts permanently “the assembly at Below, he knew and recognized that there is a primordial Mount Sinai – that our eyes saw and not [the eyes of] a representation of them Above in the true Unity, for so is the stranger, etc.”49 tradition. From his vision Below of Energy surrounding the This is also the meaning of the Midrash50 which says that Throne, which is called the External Energy, he knew that there the descent of G-d upon Mount Sinai was not only a temporary is a primordial representation of it Above, Inner Energy, etc. revelation but the advent of a totally new state of the world, Similarly with regard to all that he saw Below, he knew that insofar as the permanence of the decree that the Supernal there is a representation of it Above.” The author of this work Realms should not descend to the Lower Realms and the Lower (Avodas HaKodesh44) proceeds to expound how all the Realms should not ascend to the Supernal realm was rescinded. [relevant] verses in Scripture “speak about the Lower Realm but The results of the nullification of this decree and its overt allude to the Supernal Realm.” manifestation depends upon and comes about through the That is to say that the meaning and significance of the Divine service of the Jewish people. Chariot of Yechezkel is that matters of the Lower Realm are The explanation of the matter. “likenesses of their Supernal counterparts,”45 for which reason It is understood from the very fact that the terms used in this (Yechezkel) enumerates at length about all the details of the discussion are “Supernal Realms” and “Lower Realms” that in Chariot and its manner, emphasizing, “From its midst was the essence there is a connection and even a bond between them, likeness, etc., the likeness of a man ... the likeness of their faces, especially in light of what is explained in several places – that etc. And the likeness of the Chayos, etc.”46 regarding the existence of every creation Below, its root and We may assert that this explains the precise usage of the source is Above and from there it is derived (nishtalshel). The term “likeness,” which [paradoxically] signifies something and source of an ox, for example, that exists Below [in our world] is its opposite. In one sense, seeing a likeness indicates that one from the face of the ox in the Chariot, and so on, to the extent does not see the thing [itself], just its “likeness.” For example, that its [ultimate] root and source is the word of G-d and the one who looks in a mirror sees just a reflection [i.e., a breath of His mouth, may He be blessed, which bring it into representation or likeness, not the thing itself]. In another sense, being and enlivens it every single instant.51 Even its growth though, the term “likeness” indicates that it does not possess [or [and development] thereafter comes about from its [spiritual express] anything apart from the likeness of the thing. That is, source known as] mazal Above, as our Sages say, “There is no not only through seeing the likeness is it possible to know blade of grass, etc., that does not have a mazal above it telling it, exactly how the thing itself appears, but the entire existence of ‘grow!’”52 the likeness is nothing more than its portrayal of the thing. However, since before the Giving of the Torah there was a Indeed, that which Yechezkel saw, with all the details of the “decree” (g’zeira) – a term meaning “cut” (gazar, chatach) – matters of the Lower Realm, their entire significance is nothing [separating] the creation Below from its Supernal source, and other than the fact that they are “likenesses of their Supernal (at the Giving of the Torah) when the decree was rescinded, the counterparts.”47 capacity was given for every single Jew, through his service of Whereas Yeshayahu, being a city person, did not comment G-d,53 to draw down and “see” in every creation Below its root on and enumerate all the details of the Chariot, for from the and source Above, to the extent that in so doing he reveals the outset he did not behold a “likeness” as it exists Below but the truth of its being – that it only exists in virtue of the true essence of the matter Above. Being that he was a “city person” Existence54 [i.e., G-d]. who “grew up in a palace,” all matters except the King [Himself] Since all beginnings are difficult, etc.,55 therefore, at the bore no significance to him, to the extent that they were not even Giving of the Torah (when “I am the One Who begins”50) there perceived by him as existing. Thus, he says, “I saw the L-rd was an extremely lofty revelation [in order to provide the power sitting on a high and exalted throne,” and mentions only the required to overcome the challenge of beginning an entirely new [angles known as] S’rafim, which “stood above for Him,” era]. insofar as this was a detail of the vision of “the L-rd sitting on (As it is written in the Zohar,56 “At that moment all the a…throne.” secrets of the Torah and all the Supernal mysteries, as well as the 3. Accordingly, the connection is understood between the mysteries of the Lower Realms, were not withheld from them. Haftora of the Chariot of Yechezkel and the reading from the Indeed, on that day, they saw the radiance of their Master’s Torah of the section that speaks about the Giving of the Torah glory eye to eye, a vision the likes of which was not revealed

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since the day the world was created, for the Holy One Blessed blessings said prior to the recital of Shma: “The Ofanim and the Be He was revealed in His glory on Mount Sinai. If one were to Chayos HaKodesh, with a great uproar, rise towards the say that since we learned that a maidservant at the [splitting of S’rafim. Facing them, they offer praise and say, ‘Blessed is the the] Sea [of Reeds] beheld that which [even] Yechezkel the glory of the L-rd from His place.’” The service of the S’rafim, Prophet did not see [in his vision of the Chariot], perhaps that on the other hand, is without a tumult. vision was on par with the vision of the day the Jewish people Upon considering the reason for the matter60 [i.e., the stood at Mount Sinai – not so, for on the day the Jewish people varying reactions of the two groups of angels in beholding G-d’s stood at Mount Sinai the [spiritual] pollution [that prevailed glory] it becomes apparent that the difference between the over humanity since the sin of eating from the Tree of S’rafim and the Ofanim runs parallel to the difference between Knowledge] departed from them [and therefore, their vision was the city person’s response to seeing the king and that of the pure and clear, an extremely powerful level of prophecy].” From village person. That is, the tumultuousness comes on account of this passage in the Zohar it is apparent that notwithstanding the the profound novelty, a quality that is descriptive of the village fact that “a maidservant at the Sea beheld that which Yechezkel person upon seeing the king. The novelty of seeing the king and the Prophet did not see,” the vision of the Jewish people at the his exaltedness causes in him an uproar, whereas the city Giving of the Torah surpassed that.) person, who does not perceive it to be (such) a novel experience, However, [although at the Giving of the Torah the vision is not overwhelmed by it. The distinction between the S’rafim was of the highest possible level, the vision of a “city person,” a and the Ofanim is along the same lines. level at which one takes no notice of the King’s Chariot, just the In greater detail61: King Himself] the primary, permanent intent is the “Chariot of The S’rafim fathom how the Holy One Blessed Be He is Yechezkel.” That is, to reveal within the world how the entire holy, how He transcends the worlds, and how the worlds bear existence of all its minutiae is only a “likeness” of its existence absolutely no significance to Him, whereas the Ofanim grasp Above (for which reason the Chariot was revealed then [i.e., to how G-d creates everything ex nihilo and how the existence of teach us this lesson and give us the ability to do so]). Thus, the world is created by the True Existence [i.e., G-d]. For this specifically this topic was established as the Haftora for the day reason, the excitement of the Ofanim is with a great uproar, of the Giving of the Torah. being that they comprehend how the truth is the opposite of This explanation also answers the question posed above: what appears to the eyes – that the world appears to be real, why was the Account of the Chariot established as the Haftora existing, but in fact it is utterly nullified [being totally and [for the first day of Shavuos], a topic that is not within the constantly dependent on the True Existence]. For this reason capacity of the majority of people to understand? For, although there is an uproar, like a person who conceives a new concept the details of the description of the Chariot enumerated in the that runs contrary to what appears to his eyes, creating in him Haftora are not understandable and cannot be grasped [by the overwhelming excitement. average person], as discussed above, it is within the capacity of Thus, the novelty, mentioned above, regarding the Giving of every single person to understand and relate to the general the Torah, is that even while perceiving the existence of the content of the Haftora. Namely, that the details of the Chariot world, the Lower Realms, its true existence should be Yechezkel beheld are “likenesses” from which Yechezkel knew recognized [namely, that its existence is utterly nullified to the and recognized “likenesses of their Supernal counterparts.” True Existence, G-d]. 4. Accordingly we can also explain the reason for the custom 5. The foregoing discussion sheds light on the fact that at the “to conclude (this Haftora) with the verse,57 ‘A wind lifted me Giving of the Torah there were, “Thunderclaps and bolts of up, etc.’” (skipping one and a half chapters), “even though this lightning…and a very powerful sound of a shofar. The entire is not at all written in [the Account of] the Chariot.”58 In fact, nation that was in the camp trembled.”62 according to the simple reading of the Scripture,59 this passage If this verse is only given a simple read – that the intent and describes the withdrawal of G-d’s glory after the Divine purpose of the thunderclaps and the lightning bolts were to statement [Yechezkel had received through prophecy had bring fear and trembling to the world, among the Jewish people ceased]. The explanation is that this verse (“A wind lifted me up – at first glance, the revelation of G-d’s glory itself – “You have and I heard behind me the sound of a great uproar: ‘Blessed is seen that from the heavens I have spoken with you”63 – should the glory of the L-rd from His place.’”) underscores the primary have sufficed to affect in them this fear and trembling. In fact, innovation and meaning of Yechezkel’s Chariot, as above. the trembling on account of the thunder and lighting, etc., is a To elaborate: fear that is connected primarily with the body, whereas the fear One of the differences between the Chariot of Yeshayahu and trembling on account of beholding the revelation of G-d’s and the Chariot of Yechezkel is that the Chariot of Yechezkel glory face to face, has a great and profound impact, affecting speaks about the [angels called] Chayos and Ofanim, whereas (also) the spirit, reaching even the innermost depths of the soul. the Chariot of Yeshayahu speaks about S’rafim. The service of Yet, notwithstanding all this, the thunder and lightning, etc., was the Ofanim and Chayos are with an uproar. Indeed, it is known that “the sound of a great uproar” is from the Ofanim, as in the [Continued on pg. 41]

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story THE WONDROUS TORAH SCROLL

By Menachem Ziegelboim

attentiveness was no wonder since R’ “Although you built a new beis midrash Tuvia Leib was considered a reliable in its place, the old beis midrash, where source. His father’s father, R’ Yosef Tzvi, served in the ’s people have davened for nearly 300 house during his final ten years and had merited the bracha that he and years, complained to the heavenly beis his children, till the third generation, would live to a ripe old age din that it was capable of receiving R’ Tuvia Leib bore the distinguished title of “shamash of prayers for many more years to come.” * the beis midrash,” or “shamash” for Presented for Shavuos, the Yom Hilula short. He was quite old and could not do much for the beis midrash, of the Baal Shem Tov. but since he constantly sat in the shul, davening and learning, the title was his. PART I Shem Tov, founder of Chassidus. When the Rebbe Rashab walked Mezhibuzh was one of many The Rebbe Rashab headed in, R’ Tuvia Leib was discussing the stops along the way. straight for the beis midrash of the “wondrous Torah scroll,” the one This wasn’t no simple pleasure Baal Shem Tov, where the tzaddik that reposed in the Aron Kodesh of trip; the Rebbe Rashab was traveling himself learned and prayed together the beis midrash but was hardly to various cities to pray at the holy with his chavraya kadisha, each of used. Every so often the shamash’s gravesites and to attend secret whom illuminated the world with his voice choked up. This wasn’t meetings to discuss issues facing the Rebbe’s light of Torah and holiness because of his prodigious age but Jewish people throughout Russia and as well as his own. due to the pain he felt on account of the surrounding regions. He was The shul was nearly empty. In this Torah scroll. accompanied by his loyal Chassid, R’ the back sat a few worshippers who Binyamin Berlin, who served as his remained after Shacharis. They PART II weren’t in a hurry; either their time assistant. The Baal Shem Tov’s beis He had already visited the holy was their own or they were batlanim who were supported by the midrash was located not far from the sites in Pastov (where R’ Avrohom big shul (the Bach’s shul). The the “Malach” is interred), Anipoli community to sit and learn. They were gathered around the venerable wooden structure was somewhat (the Maggid of Mezritch), concealed in the Jewish quarter and Berditchev (R’ Levi Yitzchok), chassid, R’ Tuvia Leib the shamash, listening intently as he spoke to was separated from the main street Niezhin (the Mitteler Rebbe), and by a picket fence. Haditch (the Alter Rebbe). Now, at them while still bedecked in tallis and t’fillin. The beis midrash was known as a noon on Sunday, 28 Cheshvan, shul with special segulos, and had a 5658 (1887), he arrived in the town The shamash was telling a story about the Baal Shem Tov as his most interesting history. of Mezhibuzh, the home and final Many years earlier, Prince resting place of the saintly Baal listeners stood riveted. Their

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Augustus Alexander Czarturaysky, fitting and proper that more prayers interested. the ruler of Mezhibuzh, decided to be offered there. The only way that I The elders and their shamash sell the rabbanus of the town to the would be able to counter this were understandably upset. Their highest bidder. The wife of the accusation is if I move to your town tradition was that as long as the shul wealthy local R’ Berish Bielayaus, of Mezhibuzh.” R’ Berish accepted stood, there would be peace in the bought the position for her husband. this suggestion and he soon regained town. If it would fall, heaven forbid, Shortly thereafter, R’ Berish fell his health. then all of Mezhibuzh would be ill, and his condition quickly The Baal Shem Tov moved to destroyed. They held an urgent deteriorated. His wife rushed to ask Mezhibuzh and davened in the old meeting to come up with a way of the Baal Shem Tov for a bracha, for shul. To this day, the beis midrash is raising the money they needed to fix the Baal Shem Tov’s fame as a called, “the Baal Shem Tov’s beis the legendary beis midrash. wonder-worker had begun to spread midrash.” According to an old After discussing the matter, they even before he lived in Mezhibuzh. tradition, the Baal Shem Tov said the concluded that the only motivation The Baal Shem Tov visited the beis midrash should not be they had to offer would be to take sick man and informed him that he whitewashed, even after the wooden the wondrous Torah scroll out of the was being punished by Heaven for walls inside were blackened in a fire. Aron and auction aliyos. With the accusations that were being brought Miraculously, it caused no damage donations they received, they would against him. One complaint was that except for blackening the walls, be able to repair the shul. he had neglected the old beis which remained as a testimony to This Torah was famous. Many midrash. “Although you built a new that peculiar fire. tzaddikim of the previous beis midrash in its place, the old beis Over the years, the beis midrash generations would visit Mezhibuzh midrash, where people have davened had become dilapidated. The for the purpose of having an aliya for nearly 300 years, complained to wooden foundation and supporting with this Torah and kissing the Baal the heavenly beis din that it was beams rotted and weakened from Shem Tov’s covering that was on the capable of receiving prayers for decades of exposure to the elements. bima. For years the Torah was not many more years to come. The beis midrash needed urgent removed from the Aron except on “This beis midrash parallels the repairs but the worshippers, who for Hoshana Raba and Simchas Torah heavenly Beis HaMikdash and it is the most part were elderly and poor, for the hakafos. could not take care of it. Those in Not surprisingly then, R’ Tuvia the town who had the means were Leib burst into tears as he related The shul of the Baal Shem Tov after it was recently renovated. not the plan to occasionally take out the Torah and give men of means the opportunity to have an aliya in exchange for a donation.

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Although the goal was a worthy one, laws of nature, could not pray for the participation of all the members it still hurt. them?! of the town. The tzaddik called for “What is the uniqueness of this “Rebbe, help us! You see for the scribe, R’ Tzvi, and told him to Torah scroll?” the Rebbe Rashab yourself what is going on here. begin. interjected suddenly. He was There is no home without an ill That very day, the sick standing off to the side among the person. The situation is growing miraculously began to recover. It still listeners and looked like a worse from day to day. Please do took days until the healing process businessman who had walked into something!” was complete, but the improvement the shul by chance. The Baal Shem Tov thought once was apparent immediately. Once R’ Tuvia Leib was astonished by again and then repeated what he had complete, the Seifer Torah was the question. Who didn’t know the said earlier, that he could not help brought with much joy and honor to story of the wondrous Torah? Well, them and that it depended on the the Baal Shem Tov’s shul. It was if a Jew was asking, a Jew who townspeople themselves. thereafter referred to as “the looked like a businessman but had “On us?” they wondered. wondrous Torah scroll,” for an aristocratic face, why should he The tzaddik nodded and said, innumerable miracles were refuse to answer? He wouldn’t miss “You have the ability to save the associated with it. an opportunity to relate another sick, to weaken or to even annul the *** amazing story about the Baal Shem This is the story that R’ Tuvia To v . Leib recounted to the Rebbe Rashab. The town leaders The Rebbe knew that the teller of PART III the story was eminently reliable. 5512 (1742) was a year the could not believe R’ Binyamin Berlin, the Rebbe residents of Mezhibuzh would not Rashab’s shamash came and told soon forget. Many men, women and their ears. The him that the mikva was ready for children suddenly fell ill. Their Baal Shem Tov, him, as well as a wagon to take him conditions worsened and some were to the cemetery. The Rebbe Rashab breathing their last. Not a house was the man who davened Mincha, immersed, and spared. The townsfolk were at wit’s then went to pray at the gravesite of end. could defy the the Baal Shem Tov. He spent hours They hurried to their local there, until late in the evening. wonder-worker, the Baal Shem Tov, laws of nature, and asked him to pray that the could not pray for PART IV epidemic cease. The Baal Shem Tov The Rebbe’s face was afire as he was reputed to possess supernatural them?! left the holy gravesite. He returned powers and some even whispered to the beis midrash and while still that he could resurrect the dead. fasting, he davened Maariv. Then he Surely, as a resident of the town, he evil decree. sent R’ Binyamin to find out from R’ would arouse mercy for them and “In the Shmoneh Esrei we daven, Tuvia Leib how much was needed to have the evil decree annulled. If he ‘usehi l’ratzon tamid avodas Yisroel renovate the shul. prayed on behalf of Jews who came amecha,” which means the avoda of There were two options: they from far away, surely he would pray the Jewish people always stands could make basic repairs for 300 for his fellow townsmen. before Hashem to generate a rubles or they could do a complete To their surprise, the Baal Shem positive Ratzon/Will from him, to renovation for 450 rubles. The Tov did not immediately agree to weaken the decrees and annul them. better job would include not only their request. After several moments The avoda is the letters of Torah and that which was necessary but would of meditation, he said there was a this can be expressed in two ways: also beautify the shul. big accusation against Mezhibuzh, by reciting the letters of the Torah Presenting himself as a which is why many were falling sick, and T’hillim and by writing a Torah businessman from Arsha in the but sad to say, he could not help scroll which everybody will Mohilev district, the Rebbe Rashab them. participate in.” offered to pay the entire amount, but The town leaders could not Then and there, the town leaders with certain conditions. First, the believe their ears. The Baal Shem agreed to have a Torah written with next morning, Monday, they would Tov, the man who could defy the give him an aliya and glila with the

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wondrous Seifer Torah. Second, the rubles on account and R’ Binyamin he’d gone to sleep, the Rebbe woke davening would take place at dawn Berlin wrote up an informal contract up while it was still night and went together with the minyan of regulars. and signed for the Rebbe Rashab. to immerse. From there he went to Third, among those given an aliya Only then did the Rebbe go to the shul, where he and the elderly there should also be a Kohen and a the inn and break his long fast with men prepared for davening. This Levi. Fourth, for the next three days a hot tea and a little bit of bread. was no ordinary Shacharis, for nobody should know about this, When he finished his paltry meal, he shortly they would be taking out the aside from those who davened in the returned to the shul where R’ Tuvia wondrous Torah scroll and reading minyan, of course. Leib still sat with some of the other from it, a very rare occurrence. The elders rejoiced at the offer. older men. The Rebbe Rashab The Rebbe Rashab got an aliya, They would not have to keep honored them with food and drink hagba and glila. When the davening removing the Torah from the Aron and they sat until late at night, was over, he went to the gravesite of every time one of the wealthy people relating stories of that unparalleled the Baal Shem Tov and from there deigned to give them a donation. tzaddik who lived in their town so he went to the train station to This guest was willing to pay all the many years ago. continue his mysterious journey… money they needed. *** Source: Igros Kodesh Admur Rayatz The Rebbe Rashab sent 200 Despite the late hour at which vol. 6, p. 280-283 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

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shlichus LOST SOULS AND FOUND OBJECTS

By Rabbi Yaakov Shmuelevitz, Shliach, Beit Shaan

You may have heard about the Kiryat Shmoneh but they didn’t present and he knew bachurim from “lost and found department” of recognize the name. No luck in Toras Emes. Within a few minutes he houses around the world. Teveria, either. I knew there were a found out the bachur’s phone People turn to the not dozen other possibilities as to where number. He was surprised by my only to learn Chassidus or to get an the bachur could have gone and I call. He couldn’t understand how the aliya but also to locate lost children had to try a different route. Chabad house in Beit Shaan knew or an expensive camera. I went back to Yoel Babay and about his missing bag so quickly. At the Chabad house of Beit asked him whether there were any And what does a bus driver, from Shaan, there is an entire drawer of other identifying signs. He said that the company in Beit Shaan, do when lost objects. One person put on on the s’farim there were unfamiliar he finds a wallet containing hundreds t’fillin and forgot an expensive watch. acronyms. I realized they stood for of shekels and a mikva card from After saying the bracha on the lulav, yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim and someone in , on Har someone neglected to take his Toras Emes Yerushalayim. HaGilboa? Well, if it says “Kfar glasses. Sometimes the lost article is Fortunately, our son-in-law was Chabad” then of course he gives it to retrieved and other times it just has the Chabad house in Beit Shaan. On to stay there until Eliyahu HaNavi my next trip to Kfar Chabad two comes. THE MISSING days later, the wallet was returned to The mitzva of returning lost SUITCASE its owner. objects is the impetus for this column Rabbi Binyamin Niazov of stories about Chabad houses and worked for years in running the RETURNING A how they handle this mitzva. mosdos and being mekarev DAUGHTER TO HER people in Netanya. He once MOTHER RETURNING LOST traveled to the Rebbe and took with him many letters that his A bachur who finished his year OBJECTS VIA CELL on K’vutza decided to go on shlichus PHONE mekuravim had written to the Rebbe. for a few weeks to a city faraway in Someone called me on my cell He was quite upset when the South America. Having heard that phone Friday afternoon. “This is Yoel suitcase containing these letters Chabad needed extra manpower to Babay from Beit Shaan,” he was lost by the airline. He wasn’t increase their outreach activities, he introduced himself. “I came by bus as upset about his missing headed out to make his difference in from Yerushalayim and when I got belongings as he was about the the world. off in Beit Shaan I mistakenly took letters. He wrote to the Rebbe To prepare for his shlichus, he someone else’s bag, apparently a and told him what happened and began asking for donations. He Chabadnik, because the bag has asked the Rebbe what he should spoke to his uncle, the director of a some sifrei Chabad. It says the say to the people whose letters Chabad house in Israel, who said he bachur’s name. He continued with were lost. The Rebbe told him to would think about it. that bus and is probably on his way tell them the truth. A few hours later, his uncle to Teveria or Kiryat Shmoneh. Can The suitcase eventually received a call from a lady from a you please find out …” turned up. neighboring city. She had lost I called the Chabad house in contact with her daughter who was

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in that very same city in South The first person they met at the if you don’t – I will go to the shul America. The uncle called his airport was a porter who was every day and pray that a ‘black nephew and gave him the phone pushing a huge chain of empty curse’ will come upon you until you number of the worried mother. luggage carts. They asked him die. The bachur spoke to his friends whether he had found a Megilla. It The Arab got the message. Within who were already in that city and was hard to explain to him what it a day, the computer was waiting for within two hours the daughter was was, but he finally understood. He the shliach on the stairs near his located. She called home and the opened a box on his wagon and took house. mother called the uncle to thank him out the missing Megilla. for his effort. The shliach happily headed to RETURNING A DIAMOND 770. Just a few hours later, he A few years ago, some discovered that another expensive RETURNING A LOST renovations were done on one of the possession was nowhere to be found. OBJECT THANKS TO floors of the Diamond Exchange in This time, he knew what to do. He Ramat Gan. The contractor, a A DONATION rushed to look for his friend and Lubavitcher by the name of Yosef Two friends, one who runs a gave him another donation. Wonder Levy, found a nice box in the Chabad house in the north and the of wonders, within minutes the lost garbage. He took the box home and other a rosh yeshiva in the center of item was found and returned. the country, flew to New York for when he opened it, he was astonished to find a huge diamond the Kinus HaShluchim. The shliach TERRIFIED ARAB had a Megillas Esther with him that that, according to his unprofessional he planned on selling in New York. RETURNS STOLEN ITEM assessment, was worth tens of In the taxi to 770, he realized that A shliach’s car was broken into thousands of dollars. the Megilla was gone. He nearly and his cell phone and laptop were He called Rabbi Chagai Halevy at fainted from despair. His friend the taken. The shliach called his stolen 11 at night and asked to meet him rosh yeshiva said, “If you give a cell phone and the thief answered it that very night. Rabbi Halevy calmed donation to the yeshiva that I run, I with an Arabic accent. The shliach him down and arranged to meet him promise that you will find the told him, “You should know that I the next day at the Exchange. Rabbi Megilla.” The shliach handed the am a rabbi and the computer is for Halevy made inquiries at all the rosh yeshiva a nice donation and the shul and to help the needy. If you offices on the floor where the they told the driver to return to the return the computer to this address, renovations were being made until it airport. nothing bad will happen to you, but seemed likely that he had identified the company that had lost the diamond. He waited throughout the RETURNING THE REBBE’S SIRTUK checking process until it was certain Rabbi Boruch Wilhelm, shliach in Nahariya, relates: that the diamond was returned to its When I was eight years old, I had yechidus. The Rebbe blessed me rightful owners. and then asked me what I was learning in school. I said I was studying That evening, the owner of the Bava Metzia, perek Eilu Metzios. The Rebbe asked me what the din is if company called Rabbi Halevy and someone finds a strand of fish, and a few more questions. thanked him profusely. “And thanks Towards the end, the Rebbe pointed at himself, or to be more precise, to Chabad … Only in Chabad – even at his sirtuk, and asked, “What would you do if you found my sirtuk?” when a ‘diamond’ is in the garbage, Of course I said I would announce that I had found it because a sirtuk Chabad takes him out and returns varies in size from person to person. him to his rightful place.” The owner At the end of the yechidus the Rebbe gave me a dollar and said, “This of the company met with Rabbi is because I gave you such a hard time …” Halevy and heard about the Years later, I got a (possible) explanation from one of my mekuravim distribution of food to the needy that regarding the Rebbe’s question about the sirtuk, especially when this was he organized and immediately made my first yechidus and it is known that your first yechidus contains horaos a large donation that was given to for life. The mekurav explained that the Rebbe was hinting to me that in each of the needy families. He was the world there are many “sirtuks” of the Rebbe that need to be found so touched, he put on t’fillin for the and returned to him (meaning, Jews who need to be brought close and first time since his bar mitzva and “dressed” in a Chabad sirtuk) and the Rebbe gave me the instruction and told all his friends about his amazing the ability to do this! encounter with Chabad Chassidim.

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memoirs THE UNDERGROUND YESHIVA

By Hillel Zaltzman Prepared for publication by Avrohom Reinitz

Lubavitcher families who remained Another fascinating chapter in the in Samarkand. After my older memoirs of R’ Hillel Zaltzman * The brother Berel became bar mitzva, my father sent him to learn in story of the underground yeshiva in Tashkent with R’ Lipa Klein by R’ Zalman Buber (Pevzner). The Samarkand in the early 60’s, the other Lubavitcher children during those years in Samarkand mesirus nefesh of the students and their included: Michoel Mishulovin, Mottel Goldschmidt, Yaakov parents, and the askanim and baalei Lerner, Zalman Friedman, and battim who ran the yeshiva and hosted me. Until the age of ten we learned with R’ Ben-Tzion it in their homes. (Benche) Maroz. In the beginning of the 1950’s an anti-Semitic atmosphere During World War II, most of actually operated almost openly. prevailed in the street. Stalin ran a Anash in Russia fled the front From 1945-1946, with the propaganda campaign against the lines to Central Asia, mainly to the cessation of the war, the Jews in general and religious ones cities of Tashkent and Samarkand persecution of Anash resumed. in particular, which climaxed in in Uzbekistan. The underground Thankfully, most Lubavitcher the infamous Doctors’ Plot. Yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim went Chassidim were able to escape the At this ominous time, all into exile with them. Ironically, Soviet Union by pretending to be programs for learning Torah at the the war years were when the Polish citizens who had been given homes of Lubavitcher families in yeshiva flourished. The communist permission to return to their Samarkand collapsed. Only a few police were preoccupied with the homeland after the war. The families endangered themselves war against the Nazis and put yeshiva and the refugees moved to and brought a melamed for their little effort into the internal war the DP camp in Poking, Germany children for an hour a day. against the ‘enemies of the state.’ and then to Brunoy, France. The miraculous Purim rescue As opposed to the 1930’s, The Lubavitchers who of 1953, with the sudden death of when Anash were consistently and remained in the Soviet Union were Stalin and the release of the cruelly persecuted, the war years unable to contend with the secret doctors, eased the situation were relatively quiet. Taking police and there were hardly any somewhat, though they still did advantage of this lull, they children of high school age left. not dare to organize regular founded yeshivos and Talmudei The few bachurim who remained classes. At that time, Michoel Torah in Samarkand and were older teens who were afraid Mishulovin and Mottel Tashkent, along with Chassidishe to even think about learning in Goldschmidt learned for about minyanim. They were officially yeshiva. two years with R’ Eliyahu “underground” and secret but We were one of the few Paritcher (Levin) in his house.

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YOUNG PEOPLE boy was Naftali Estulin and he was Tashkent traveled to Samarkand for WANTED TO LEARN the son of the Chassid, R’ Zalman the wedding of Eli Kuperman. R’ TORAH Leib, from Tashkent. Since he Zalman Leib sent Naftali with them could neither hide his son at home and hoped he would remain in As I related in earlier chapters, I nor could he send him to public Samarkand. started in communal work at the school, he decided to send Naftali The wedding took place on 12 age of 16 and a couple years later to Samarkand in the hopes that he Tammuz and Anash took the was sent on missions throughout would find some sort of learning opportunity to rejoice and farbreng Russia. program. on the Chag Ha’Geula. At the Returning from one such trip, I Naftali said that his father knew wedding Naftali noticed a bearded saw a boy who was unfamiliar to he couldn’t just send his son to man dancing and rejoicing more me mingling with Anash. In Russia look for a yeshiva in Samarkand than the others and assumed he we learned to be wary of strangers when even Lubavitcher families must be a close relative, maybe the and so I immediately went to R’ would be afraid to include a father of the chassan or kalla. Moshe Nisselevitz and asked about stranger. His opportunity arose However, upon inquiring he was this boy. R’ Moshe told me that the when some members of Anash in astounded to hear that the man was

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it from a mezuza parchment with about the same age and needed a At the wedding great chayus and tremendous place to learn. Naftali noticed a kavana. While R’ Berke was thus involved, Naftali woke up and THIS IS A YESHIVA? realized he had forgotten to leave bearded man If I remember correctly, it was negel vasser next to his bed. Not Yud-Tes Kislev 5721/December dancing and wanting to bother R’ Berke in the 1960 when the group formed. R’ middle of reciting Shma, he went Michoel Mishulovin was the rejoicing more to the sink to wash his hands. Maggid Shiur and Mashgiach. The After finishing Shma, R’ Berke learning took place in the home of than the others... said to Naftali, “You walked four my brother Berel. We were joined cubits without washing?! You He was dancing by Itche Mishulovin, followed by should have told me! I would have the brothers Eliyahu and Yosef stopped in the middle of Shma in for another reason Volovik from Tchernovitz. order to bring you water. Although the learning was entirely – it was Naftali was amazed by R’ according to the schedule in Berke’s Chassidishkait and Ahavas Tomchei T’mimim, we never the Chag HaGeula Yisroel. thought of calling this learning by One time, R’ Berke took him to the holy name of “Yeshivas of the Rebbe immerse in the river and on their Tomchei T’mimim.” We were just a way back he invited Naftali to his Rayatz! few bachurim learning together in house for Shabbos. Naftali happily someone’s home – a far cry from accepted, glad to escape the not related at all. the yeshiva atmosphere, where loneliness at R’ Feivish’s house. Naftali wondered why the man dozens of bachurim learn with all Naftali spent an uplifting was so merry until they explained the s’darim. Shabbos with R’ Berke. His spirits to him that he was dancing for When R’ Mendel first asked me, were dashed upon his return, when another reason entirely – it was the “What’s happening with the R’ Feivish chastised him, “Why did Chag HaGeula of the Rebbe yeshiva?” I thought he was you go to eat by R’ Berke when he Rayatz! The Chassid was R’ Berke mocking me and I was annoyed doesn’t have enough food for his Chein, who in Samarkand was that he was making fun of the family?” called “R’ Chaim.” learning we had arranged. R’ After several weeks at R’ After the wedding, Naftali was Mendel said he was entirely serious Feivish’s house, he received a visit accepted by the Anash k’hilla of and it wasn’t the number of from Eli Mishulovin. He spoke with Samarkand and he stayed in the bachurim who made the place into Naftali several times and checked home of R’ Feivish Genkin in the a yeshiva. If we learned Nigleh and him out to see whether he was able old city. R’ Feivish was a simple four hours of Chassidus a day, it to keep a secret and what level of man who had been a soldier in was a yeshiva. learning he was on. After he World War I. He and his wife Even so, it is still hard for me to successfully passed this scrutiny, Chasa were childless. They had describe the learning that we had in they decided to include him joined the Lubavitcher k’hilla in Samarkand as a yeshiva. Samarkand and were known to be amongst Anash and began to plan a able to keep a secret. proper learning environment for Naftali stayed with them for a him. RELEASING THE month. In the absence of any In the meantime, some of Anash BACHURIM FROM friends or acquaintances, he felt in Tashkent noticed Naftali’s THE ARMY absence. One of them, R’ Yisroel almost like a prisoner in jail. The Since the bachurim who learned Frankel, figured out that Naftali only one who came by was R’ with us were of draft age, we had must be learning somewhere in Berke Chein, who visited R’ Feivish to make sure they were released Samarkand and sent his son, often. from the army. This was Shmuel Chaim, there as well. A One time, Naftali told me, R’ predominantly the responsibility of short while later, R’ Gershon Berke returned from the mikva R’ Binyamin Malachovsky and R’ Gertzman sent his son Shaika to early in the morning and began Moshiach Chudaitov. Samarkand too. They were all reciting the Shma. He would read The process of obtaining an

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R’ Naftali Estulin in Samarkand R’ Shlomo Raskin in Samarkand R’ Moshe Lerner in Samarkand

exemption began about a year or bachurim who needed confirmation connections with doctors at the more before they had to stand of their illnesses to them. It should hospital, and 2) we had to ensure before the draft board. The bachur be noted that to their credit they that the bachur had kosher food would go to the local doctor and never asked for money for the and could put on t’fillin. The complain about some pain. For a service they provided us. We would Jewish doctors at the hospital year he would go to the doctor express our appreciation with a usually helped us. They recognized several times, each time gift, nonetheless. that these bachurim were more complaining about the same It was mesirus nefesh on the refined than boys off the street, and “malady” that he supposedly part of these doctors, for they held were willing to accommodate them. suffered from. We usually chose high positions (one was head of a Nearly all of the bachurim in illnesses that a doctor would have a department, another was a chief Samarkand went through this hard time verifying, like stomach doctor) and if they were caught, process until they were exempted. pains or mental illnesses. not only would they lose their job For the talmidim who came from When it was time to stand but they could be sent to jail. other cities and did not receive before the draft board and the It happened more than once exemptions from there, it was much bachur would complain to the that after confirming that the more complicated. First they military doctor that he suffered bachur suffered from an illness, the needed a permit to reside in from a certain ailment, he would be military decided to send him for Samarkand – they had to register asked to present his medical further tests with another doctor or as residents and prove that they history. He would show that he had for X-rays. In these cases, the had employment or were attending been to the doctor several times in doctors who cooperated with us university. It was only after they the previous year regarding this had to ask the doctor whom the completed this process that they complaint. bachur was sent to, to do them a could start working on being Of course, the draft office did favor and confirm their diagnosis. exempted from the army. not always rely on the medical These other doctors knew that at It was often necessary to go to history and often told the bachur to some future occasion they would the draft office and wait in the yard undergo tests and X-rays with need a favor from the Jewish doctor for the doctor in order to remind doctors that the military trusted. In and they covered for one another. him that a bachur was coming that Samarkand there were a few Jewish The worst was when the army day so he should know to treat him doctors who worked with the army, decided to send the bachur for accordingly. One time, during among them Dr. Yosef Levin, Dr. more tests at the hospital. Shacharis on Shabbos morning, R’ Yitzchok (Izhye) Aharonson, and Sometimes they would hospitalize Binyamin heard there was a Dr. Abayev. We were on good him for a few days. This was suspicion that someone had terms with them and would direct difficult because 1) we had to make informed on them for trying to get

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whether to help me get out of the small crib for the baby. The Shaken and army or whether I should go to the bachurim learned in this room. sobbing, she cried, army where they would make a After we moved, the learning mentch out of me. You, Binyamin, continued in our house. It had two “What do I need maintained that you had to save me advantages: 1) the house was from the army, since if I would be bigger and 2) the landlord worked this for? I can lose drafted I would go completely off in Alma Ata and during the the derech. The others accepted summer his wife would travel to my entire career what you said and you helped me him with the family. She let me use get exempted. I will never forget their big sun porch while she was and even be sent your great chesed.” away, and there the bachurim to jail!” learned in comfort. Yosef Volovik YESHIVA IN A TWO was the Maggid Shiur and he Emanuel Ladaiov released from the ROOM APARTMENT remembers that when he taught five army. The Jewish doctor who boys, it was considered a large I mentioned in earlier worked on his file was very afraid class. installments that in Samarkand and was considering reporting what A short while before we left there were various degrees when it happened so that blame would not Russia we moved again, and it was came to caution. Some of the fall on her. “gan eden.” The house had three people who davened with us in the R’ Binyamin immediately rooms and a completely separate secret minyan were still not privy to removed his tallis and ran to the courtyard. In addition, there was other confidential information. The doctor’s office in order to calm her an inner yard with a room which biggest secret in Samarkand was down. Shaken and sobbing, she we also rented. The bachurim could the underground learning that took cried, “What do I need this for? I learn there without fear of the place in a few homes. can lose my entire career and even neighbors. The danger in having talmidim be sent to jail!” It took much effort Despite our precautions, the learning Torah in a house was on Binyamin’s part to pacify her. locals realized that their Jewish threefold. First, it was an illegal After we left Russia, Binyamin neighbors were different and when gathering. Second, the fact that the once delivered a speech about the they saw the Jewish boys going into boys came from other cities was mesirus nefesh in Russia. One of the yard, they would throw stones illegal. In Russia of those days, the people in the audience, who did against the iron gate. staying in a city without a permit not believe that everything that he In order to keep a low profile, was a criminal act. Obviously, if related really happened, began to the bachurim had to remain all day they were caught in the home of a shout, “Stop lying and in the house and the lady of the Lubavitcher, he would also be exaggerating!” house that they learned in had to accused of collaborating with these In a corner of the auditorium cook their meals. They could not illegal residents. The main danger, sat a young man who had recently be allowed to leave the house though, was that the householder left Russia. The heckler was during the day because neighbors could be accused of organizing silenced when this young man would notice the illegal gathering. secret learning of Torah and proclaimed, “Do you know who The bachurim found it hard to religious practice. This is why we saved me from the Russian army? remain quiet all day and they would kept it a secret, as much as It was the speaker, Binyamin often go outside to let off some possible. Malachovsky. “In my youth,” he steam. Eventually, the neighbors I hosted talmidim in my house continued, “I wasn’t considered noticed the noise and we had no for a long time after I married. We one of the learning bachurim and choice but to move the bachurim to lived in a two room apartment, with did not hang out with the best a different hiding place. one room serving as a kitchen and crowd. My father sent me to The three bachurim who came pantry and the other was the dining Samarkand – perhaps it would be a from out of town learned and slept room, living room and bedroom, all good influence on me. in the home of a certain in one. After my daughter was “When it was my turn to stand Lubavitcher. One night, when they born, we divided the room into two before the draft office, I asked for finished learning, they went out for small rooms - a bedroom for the your help in getting exempt. You some air in the yard and began parents and a tiny room that served held a meeting to deliberate playing soccer. Apparently, they as the dining room where we had a

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forgot to be careful and the noise Tchernovitz, Gorky, Odessa, the grandchildren of Bucharian of their game could be heard on the Carpathians, Russia, Ozhgorod, Lubavitchers who had learned in street. Their host was returning and Chust. Yeshivos Tomchei T’mimim in home just then and when he heard We paid the money to support various cities where they had been the noise from the street, he was the yeshiva and were also helped by sent by R’ Simcha Gorodetzky. The terrified. “The neighbors know that packages we received from Ezras number of talmidim grew and we don’t have boys your age and Achim in New York (as I wrote similar learning programs were your shouting will cause me about earlier). started in other towns and villages. problems!” According to our figuring, more He ordered them to take their CAN THEY KEEP than 1500 talmidim passed through things and leave. Out on the street, A SECRET? over the years. with nowhere else to turn, the We did not have enough bachurim trekked three kilometers In addition to the studies for manpower to learn with all the to R’ Moshe Nisselevitz. They Lubavitcher bachurim, we also talmidim ourselves, so we selected weren’t disappointed. R’ Moshe started classes for the children and the best of the group, intelligent had pity on them and took them in. bachurim in the Bucharian older boys who we ascertained They had learned their lesson. community. They were taught could keep a secret, and we taught In the first years of the reading, t’filla and basic Jewish them. underground yeshiva only three knowledge and values. Discretion was a non-negotiable families were in on the secret: Many of these students and condition for someone who wanted Nisselevitz, Mishulovin, and their families, after making aliya, to be accepted. In those years, all it Zaltzman. Only after a number of became the nucleus of the Yeshivas took was for one boy to chatter too years had passed and we saw that HaBucharim in Kfar Chabad. Some much for the entire underground the police were not persecuting of them went on to learn in network to be in grave danger. Judaism as they did under Stalin, yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim in Lud After the best of the group had did we relax somewhat and expand and Achei T’mimim in Rishon learned themselves, they became to the homes of other Lubavitchers. L’Tziyon. These talmidim mashpiim to others. We told them This enabled us to accept more established hundreds of to speak to their Jewish friends in bachurim and we opened additional Chassidishe families and many of public school and see how serious classes, with 3-5 boys learning in them are shluchim in various they were and how good they were each one. countries. at keeping a secret, and to include Over the years we had dozens of The Bucharian outreach those who measured up into the bachurim from all over the Soviet program in Samarkand began with group. Thus, each of them had a Union: Tashkent, Moscow, Riga, some T’mimim, among them the class and transmitted what we

R’ Eliyahu Volovik (second from the right in the second row) R’ Shmuel Chaim Frankel at a simcha in Samarkand

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who suffered terribly from her shul. Discretion was a husband until they divorced. Mordechai Goldschmidt was non-negotiable Of course, our initial response traveling to his in-laws in Moscow was “no way,” but after our and he was given the job of buying condition for talmidim told us time and again those Siddurim. The Siddurim that he was a good boy and could were stored by the gabbai of the someone who keep a secret, we agreed to include shul, and in order to buy them, he him. He was truly a good boy and had to convince the gabbai that he wanted to be was successful in his learning. After wasn’t a KGB agent. He also had a few years he made aliya, married to be careful that the gabbai did not accepted. In those and established a fine, large tattle on him, for it was known that years, all it took Chassidishe family. He is a rav, a those who held official positions in and a darshan in a shuls were appointed by the was for one boy to Bucharian community. His children government. We hoped that in are Chassidim and yerei Shamayim. exchange for a nice sum, he would chatter too much Baruch Hashem. agree to the deal. On one of my visits to Eretz Mordechai gained the gabbai’s for the entire Yisroel I passed by a shul of trust and he consented to sell the Bucharians and was gratified to see Siddurim to him. How could he underground him speaking for a large and remove so many Siddurim without network to be in attentive audience. drawing any attention? Every time Mordechai went to shul, he took a grave danger. SIDDURIM WITH few dozen Siddurim until he had A HECHSHER FROM removed 850. We paid 15 rubles for each Siddur, which was a lot of taught them to other talmidim. THE KGB They once recommended a money in those days. Over time we certain boy, not yet bar mitzva, As the number of students grew, were able to send all the Siddurim who sensed that his friends were we had a serious lack of Siddurim. to Samarkand and from there, we learning Torah and he wanted to Davening aside, these were distributed them to cities and towns join them. They were afraid to tell essential to teach Alef-Beis and where the learning took place. him about the group because even reading. There were Chumashim, These Siddurim revived us all. though he understood that it had to Mishnayos and Gemaras in the Although many of us were be a secret and he promised to shuls, but Siddurim were used so disinclined to daven from Siddurim keep it all to himself, his was a much that they got worn out. There printed by the KGB, for the name that caused Anash, and was an urgent need for Siddurim hundreds of children it was especially those involved in such for hundreds of children who wonderful. And if this Siddur was activities, to tremble. learned in our network in various discovered in someone’s home, it His grandfather was a cruel towns. wouldn’t be so terrible since the policeman who was infamous in We found out that Rabbi Siddur was “kosher” and had been Samarkand. During the war he Yehuda Leib Levin, chief rabbi of printed in Moscow, not in Israel or would catch Jews and threaten to Russia at that time, printed nusach America. libel them to the police unless they Sfard Siddurim for the main shul would pay him a hefty sum. The of Moscow. This printing was done FOUR VOLUMES OF by order of the government – not refugee Jews had no choice but to LIKUTEI SICHOS give him the bribe so he would for religious reasons, of course, but Anash in Russia, who somehow leave them alone. in order to show the world that heard about the yeshiva in His son, the boy’s father, was Russia is a free and democratic Samarkand, tried to help us. Those not a policeman but he was even country where Siddurim could be in Moscow did what they could, more wicked than his grandfather. printed. It was obvious to all that without ever asking about what He had several wives, Jews and only a small number of the exactly was going on. One of the non-Jews and they all suffered from Siddurim would reach other shuls unwritten rules among Anash at him. This boy was the son of a and that most of them would that time was that even if you knew Jewish mother, a refined woman remain in storage in the Moscow about something, you didn’t talk

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about it or ask about it. told me about a member of Anash On one of my visits to Moscow, who had been sent to ten years of I was amazed by I got the . Our joy in jail while his only son, who had the heroism of this Samarkand was boundless. We become bar mitzva, barely knew excitedly read each line of the how to read. Chassidishe calendar, including the history of He told the mother that he the Rebbeim that it included. We knew of a yeshiva somewhere in mother whose even avidly read the conditions for Russia, obviously without being accepted as members of disclosing its whereabouts, and husband was in Machne Israel as detailed at the convinced her to send her son there end of the book. We made when the opportunity arose. He jail and who was photocopies of the book and sent told her that a man would take her ready to send her some to Tashkent. son to yeshiva on condition that One of the special people who she wouldn’t ask where they were son to a distant helped our yeshiva a lot was R’ going or where her son would learn Yisroel Pevzner, whom I and sleep. place without remembered from my childhood. She agreed with the provision He came to Samarkand during the that she be permitted at least to see knowing where he war and remained there. the person who would take her son Outwardly, he looked like any to yeshiva. The morning before I was, just so that intelligent businessman, but inside left the city, R’ Yisroel brought me he learned Torah. he was full of Chassidishe chayus. to their home. The mother asked Because of his big business nothing. She just wanted me to special t’fillin that were unavailable dealings, the government suspected watch over her only son. I was in Russia, fashioned out of one and pursued him. For a long time amazed by the heroism of this piece of leather, R’ Yisroel wanted he would move from city to city, Chassidishe mother whose husband to exchange t’fillin with him. R’ until he finally settled in Riga. was in jail and who was ready to Nissan agreed and left his pair of R’ Yisroel had a well-developed send her son to a distant place t’fillin with R’ Yisroel. I had the Chassidic sense of smell and without knowing where he was, just z’chus of putting on those t’fillin somehow found out about our so that he learned Torah. and reciting Shma in them. yeshiva. He was in constant touch On that visit, R’ Yisroel told me R’ Yisroel also told me that R’ with me, though of course, without that he had recently been visited by Nissan said that the Rebbe asked unnecessary talk and questions. the Rebbe’s secretary, Rabbi Nissan that pictures be sent to him of all When I visited him one time, he Mindel. Since R’ Nissan had the Lubavitcher bachurim in

From right to left: R’ Hillel Zaltzman, the refusenik R’ Shaike Gertzman Yosef Mendelevitch, R’ Binyamin Malachovsky

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Russia. At first I refused to be Likkutei Sichos. in Leningrad, they photographed out of You can’t imagine our joy when spoke about the yeshiva in embarrassment and fear, but R’ I brought the Likkutei Sichos to Samarkand and said that they Yisroel insisted and took me, Samarkand. We gave two volumes could not remain on the sidelines against my will, to the to the Chassidim in Tashkent while but had to take part in it and raise photographer. While my picture we learned the other two. After two money for us. There was adequate was being taken, I reviewed chapter weeks we switched with them. That cause for concern about the 12 of in my mind. was sufficient time to review the yeshiva’s being known and we were In those years, we were cut off two volumes from cover to cover. quite unhappy and even scared by from all Chabad literature and only We learned it avidly day and night. the fact that they knew about the rarely were given from In the meantime, I developed the yeshiva. visiting tourists. We hardly saw any film with the pictures from Likkutei I had to make a trip deep into up-to-date sichos and maamarim Dibburim. Since it was dangerous Russia for communal matters, and we didn’t know what the Rebbe to have these pictures, to the point traveling through towns where was demanding of us at this time. that we dared not show them to the Lubavitchers lived. Before my R’ Yisroel, who wanted so badly to departure we had a meeting, where help our yeshiva in Samarkand, it was decided that if anyone asked told me that R’ Mindel had left a me about the yeshiva, I had to deny two volume set of Likkutei its existence. Even if it was one of Dibburim. He was not willing to Anash who was knew about the give me the s’farim since Anash yeshiva, I should say that the who were close to him had not yet yeshiva was no longer active. seen them, but he suggested that I This decision caused me photograph the pages and then tremendous discomfort. During the develop the pictures. course of my travels I went to I was thrilled and rushed to buy Moscow to attend the wedding of ten rolls of film. R’ Yisroel sent me my friend, Mordechai Goldschmidt. to his bedroom, where I I met his uncle, Yisroel Pevzner, photographed the two s’farim. who had come from Riga for the Before we entered the bedroom, he wedding. R’ Yisroel knew about the asked his wife not to go in so she yeshiva and had even arranged wouldn’t see what I was doing copies of Likkutei Dibburim and there. She did not ask questions. Likkutei Sichos for the talmidim. That is the way it was in Russia; We spoke about various things people preferred to know as little as and then he motioned that we possible so that if they would be should move to a private corner. questioned, they would truly not There he gave me an envelope know. containing 1000 rubles for the R’ Hillel Zaltzman – the picture sent R’ Yisroel also told me that the yeshiva. It was an enormous from Russia to the Rebbe Chabad rabbi in Leningrad, known amount of money, something like as “der Liepler rav,” had the first tens of thousands of dollars today. four volumes of Likkutei Sichos bachurim in yeshiva, we would sit I knew that if I accepted the money and that he had convinced him to on Thursday night and copy the it would clearly indicate that the give them to me. I headed straight Rebbe Rayatz’s sichos into yeshiva existed. Since we had for Leningrad and the rav’s tiny notebooks. I would compete with R’ decided to lay low, I refused to take apartment under the weekday shul Itche Mishulovin as to who wrote the money. He pleaded with me to where most of Anash davened faster and nicer. I must admit that take it until his eyes reddened with before the war. Of course he was he won. It was from these copies tears. I felt terrible. He was an very afraid of me and did not want that the T’mimim learned. older Chassid and I was a young to admit to having the s’farim. man. I was so ill at ease that I However, after I told him that I WELL KEPT SECRETS wished the earth would swallow me had been sent by R’ Yisroel up. We finally parted with a certain We once heard a rumor that Pevzner, he gave me the set of degree of mutual understanding. during the Yud-Tes Kislev

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Afterwards, the chassan told me Tchernovitz – Yosef Volovik; from that R’ Yisroel had gone over to the Carpathians – Moshe Miller; him as well, and he had also from Riga – Moshe Chaim Levin refused to take the money. When I and Zalman Friedman; from returned to Samarkand we held a Odessa – Moshe Bronfman; from meeting to review my trip. I told Moscow – Mordechai Chazan and them about the uncomfortable Dovber Junik; from Ozhgorod – situation when R’ Yisroel pleaded Moshe and Meilich Rotner. with me to take the money and I NOTE: I am sure that each of refused to accept it. My friends these bachurim (and the others understood what I felt but were whose names I forget) has a very pleased that I had kept the treasury of memories of those years, secret even from him. And this was of hard times but also precious even though we did not doubt our memories of warm , of friend R’ Yisroel for a moment. various adventures, of moving from Over the years other bachurim house to house, from yard to yard, joined the underground yeshiva from family to family; about the from all over Russia. Among them learning in my workshop outside the were: from Tashkent – R’ Velya city, etc. The Rebbe asked that these Geisinsky, Boruch Levkivker, memoirs be written and so I ask all Dovid Itche Marinovsky, Avrohom the talmidim to write their memoirs Pressman and our nephew so people will know what took place R’ Yisroel Pevzner Avrohom Goldberg; from back then.

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psrtoofriyle A LIVING FLAME

By R. M. Deroyan

Kodesh occasionally. I did not want Ruth Ben Chaim, an architect and to forgo my privacy but the Rebbe artist from Tzfas, shares her unusual said: “Divine providence saved them from destruction during the life story for the first time, and her decrees … for a certain purpose … since Hashem took them from passionate quest for a life with Hashem. captivity and rescued … with signs and wonders that are unnatural … there is no doubt that they should I never dared to tell anyone by emotion, but even my husband forgo their own ‘metzius’ and their what I had experienced. I didn’t did not know what I was going egos for the sake of the truth. Since even know how to express it in through as my soul sought to Hashem saved her too … her words because it was so powerful. “become Jewish.” obligation is … to implant simple Five years after I underwent Like many Chassidim, I write to faith among b’nei u’b’nos Yisroel” conversion, I was still overwhelmed the Rebbe through the Igros (vol. 9, p. 308-309).

Honda Tolima

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I understood that I must tell the My father exemplified the a volcanic eruption which covered world what happened to me. I felt it difference between the unrefined the entire city Armanu, near was not my personal story but residents of the area and us. My Honda. People climbed trees in an something that will be enlightening father had an unusual interest in attempt to escape the lava. The area to many women and girls. I had the Jewish people. He listened was declared a disaster area and the written to the Rebbe about closely when they spoke about hospital was full of refugees who something else entirely and to my Israel in the media. had lost everything and needed great surprise, he answered that I My parents had a few Jewish material and moral support. My have to write my life’s story. customs. My mother always sifted parents’ door was open to all those the flour because that was what she people who sought help. They “FROM THE DEPTHS had seen her mother do. She always worked tirelessly and devotedly to I CALL YOU, HASHEM” wore long, modest dresses and was supply their needs at this difficult very careful with her speech. She time. Since my parents were I was born in Colombia in South was kind to all, even animals, and distinguished people in town, they America by a miracle. After my often helped the poor. were offered aid to leave Honda, mother gave birth to two children, Twenty-two years ago there was but they refused to go because they she underwent an operation on her uterus that left her unable to have any more children. She was very upset about this and she yearned and prayed for another child. Hashem answered her prayers, and on I was born. I lived in the “City of Bridges,” which is in Honda Tolima, Colombia. “Honda” means deep, because it is a fisherman’s town that lies deep within a chain of mountains. The town was formed as a result of an earthquake 500 years ago, which sank all the houses of idol worship of the Spanish conquerors into the water. The Spaniards had come to Honda, the first port in Colombia, and brought their culture, making it a cultured city. The pristine nature of the area imbued me with the sense of connecting to something lofty. The beauty and power of nature revealed G-d to me and helped me connect to the Creator. My father was a professor of medicine and was extremely kind. He did not charge most of his patients. To grow up with a man like this, who taught me so much about giving, medicine and life, was special. Thanks to his kindness, we received a Bible from an old woman in our village whom my father had treated. That was her way of repaying him.

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with these feelings. At the same family. I told Hashem that I am To my surprise, he time, I felt that I was going up to a prepared to abandon everything for new path that would take me to a Him. After this something inside had a hard time completely different world from the me submitted and was drawn to one I grew up in. Today, in accept the yoke of Heaven, I answering my hindsight, after learning Chassidus, experienced a kind of revelation; a questions. “You’re I know that I went through a stage luminosity. like the seed that rots in I got up and walked in the a Jew! You have to preparation for the growth that direction of a river that was down follows. in the wadi. The path downwards know!” I was full of rocks under which REVEALED G-DLINESS snakes and other creatures often exclaimed. were hiding. You have to be One day, I went outside to extremely careful before you put check on the plants and saw that your foot down. I walked as though wanted to help the people of the melon I had planted had I was floating. I felt weightless and Armaru. ripened and separated from its root. I didn’t look down at all. I felt a I went to Bogota to study Happily, I thanked Hashem for His strong need to immerse in the river. architecture, interior design and kindness. I knew that I had Whom It was my first mikva. agronomy. When I finished my to thank and I always spoke to Him As I immersed in the river, my studies I left the big city and all my and asked for His closeness. That entire life passed before my eyes. I connections there. My soul cried day, friends came and we hiked in felt as though a voice was speaking out to be rescued. “I want to search the mountains. At a certain point, I to me and answering all my for You,” I said to G-d. A fire felt the need to be alone. questions about all the pain that burned within me and I knew that I Something pulled me and I refused had overcome me, about all the had to find the wick for it to catch to continue with them. years I had felt alone and different on to. I asked Hashem to bring me than my gentile friends. I returned to my parents in close to Him. I wanted to live a I saw in my mind’s eye the Honda. That was the preparation Torah life, to do mitzvos, to raise a “to receive the Torah” from my father, who gave me that amazing Bible. I read it with great interest. MY LIFE AS A LESSON IN CHASSIDUS Through the stories that describe My life in darkness compelled me to seek the light. the eternality of the Jewish people, I received “Chesed” and love from my parents. the hope that never ends and the The “G’vura” in the book of Mishlei taught me to how to direct the waiting for the Geula, I felt Chesed and protected me. I highly recommend Mishlei, especially for connected to Judaism. youth, because it has short, pointed aphorisms that helped me fix my The house was situated in an middos. area where nature ran wild and I My birthday, 11 Nissan, connected me to the Rebbe M”HM. My raised organic food which birth was a gift of “Tiferes.” connected me even more to I got “Netzach” from the Tanach, the power to choose Hashem and Hashem I would go on long hikes, diligence in following Him until I reached Eretz Yisroel. searching within myself. All those “Hod” – my feeling of thanks to Hashem for saving me from living feelings that I had felt throughout among goyim and to reach the Holy Nation, and for the artistic talent my youth, overcame me in such a that I have. way that I couldn’t contain them “Yesod” – after much contemplation I broke my heart in prayer within me any longer. I felt from the depths of my heart and asked to be able to raise a family in estranged from the culture I was the way of Torah, and this is what I got. raised and educated in, and a thirst “Malchus” – from birth until now it has been the Rebbe who is with for all those values that I read me and who guides me in the way of Chassidus. With his guidance I about. The Bible stories were part searched for my roots and found them within the Jewish people. of me now and my heart was “Kesser Malchus” is the work of daily life, to grow in faith and the breaking. desire to connect to and reveal Hashem. I didn’t have the tools to deal

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innocent girl I had been who had truth. Since the event in the river in my questions. “You’re a Jew! You thrown all her mother’s jewelry out Honda, my social life consisted of have to know!” I exclaimed. This the window because she believed my work and going to whatever line was the match that lit his material goods were unnecessary, religion classes were available to neshama. who had been pained by the cruelty me. Our life together without of people who came to be cured by Then one day, I abandoned k’dusha was our downfall. I was my father and took advantage of his routine and went with a friend to a constantly dragging him to anything good heart. I saw myself in Catholic show. There I met the group’s that seemed spiritual to me. I was school, rebelling against the singer-guitarist who became my trying to find myself, to find establishment, and seeing all the husband, Nissim Ben Chaim. I was Hashem, and as I did so, we parted corruption of the priests and monks attracted by the fact that he was ways. My husband had to travel to and how it was so unsuited to my Jewish. Israel and afterwards he ended up soul… I felt all the suffering of my I asked him questions about seeing the Rebbe. I remained in life being exchanged with the Judaism that came up as I read the Colombia because I wanted to care holiness of Hashem. Bible. To my surprise, my future for my father who was ill and could It’s hard to believe but I asked husband had a hard time answering not fly. We stayed in touch with Hashem that if the experience I had while under the water was true, that I wanted to see it in a dream. And I dreamed the very same thing that I saw. I wanted to run and cry out to the world, to report what had happened to me, but I felt that the time wasn’t yet right.

THE WAY TO TORAH I returned to Bogota where I worked as an interior designer and an architect for nine years. I occasionally studied kabbala with my brother, who also took an interest in spirituality, particularly Judaism. When I returned to university to finish my degree, I had my own office. I kept a planner on my desk in which I would write verses from the book of Mishlei. All the employees would read the verses till it reached the point where, if I didn’t write one in, they would ask me about it. One of the things that helped me a lot in connecting to Hashem was the book of Mishlei. It also helped me a lot in converting and my meetings with rabbanim, because the deep feelings it aroused in me impressed the rabbanim who helped me in the conversion process. My interest focused on spirituality, in searching for the

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letters and postcards. wanted to be cremated so she where I met my mother. I wanted After three years, my father wouldn’t have to go through the to hug her, in my dream, for I was died. I felt the time had come to same thing. I was living in Israel so happy to see her, but she looked return to my husband in Israel. and didn’t know about this. serious and sadly asked why I had There I met with Rabbi Gedalia Eight years after my father died, taken so long to come; her soul had Akselrod, who quizzed me about my mother died on Erev Yom suffered till that day. my intentions about being a Jew – Kippur. I was very sad that I could This dream fueled my efforts on were they material or spiritual not be with her and bury her her behalf. I started explaining to motivations. I told him what I knew because it was a Yom Kippur close my brothers how important it is for and that it was mainly from the to Shabbos. the souls of the dead that they be prophets I had read when I had Following her death, I opened to buried in the ground. After I got attended Christian classes which, of letters from the Rebbe in which the their consent, I went to the priest course, distorted the Torah. I knew Rebbe wrote, “l’karev” my family, who was responsible for the that they lied and that they made and I did not understand this. I desecration of the dead and said I changes. I asked the rabbi my wrote to the Rebbe again and wanted to buy a joint plot for my questions. opened to a letter which said that I parents. I tried to convince him that He referred me to Rabbi must be mekarev the family and this is important according to Avrohom Levy of Tzfas. I began the that he was sending me money. Jewish sources, but the truth is he conversion process with him and was only interested in money. So, became acquainted with Tanya. with the money I had inherited When I first opened it, I cried tears When I first from my mother, I bought her and of joy and emotion. I had found the my father a plot. answers and the path and my goal opened the Tanya, The Rebbe’s instruction to be in life. I understood all the hidden mekarev my family became clear – thoughts I had had. I realized that I cried tears of joy karev is the same letters as kever, Chassidus was something that had grave. I buried my parents on 18 been deep inside me all along, and and emotion. I Cheshvan, on the day that Avrohom described my life as it had played Avinu bought the M’aras out. had found the HaMachpella to bury his wife. I am The Rebbe always writes, answers and the grateful to the Rebbe for if not for “darkei ha’Chassidus.” Chassidus is him, my parents would not be man’s inner path which he must path and my goal buried at all. reveal, and in Tanya every person can find his inner path in life. I felt in life. THE ASTONISHING that everything I had gone through REVELATION in life took form in the holy letters that the Alter Rebbe wrote. Because of this answer, I I left the main surprise for last. I I converted on 21 Av, the day decided to call my brother. I went often opened to answers from the after the yahrtzait of Rabbi Levi over to the phone and just then, he Rebbe which said that I should look Yitzchok, the Rebbe’s father. We called me! He said they had found a into my family’s roots. My mother got married on 3 Elul 5754 in a bank account belonging to my told me that her grandmother came shul in Chaifa. My husband and I mother and he was sending me my from Spain. The only place that has began to come close to Chabad share. I understood that this was research covering family trees of Chassidus . Our mashpia was Rabbi the money the Rebbe was sending Jewish families who were expelled Dunin. me to be mekarev my family. I told from Spain is the Diaspora my brother that I wanted to use the Museum. I sent them all the names that I had and discovered, to my BURYING MY PARENTS money to fly to Colombia and visit my mother’s grave and that’s when surprise, that the names of my both After my father died, they buried he said, “She doesn’t have a grave!” of my grandmothers are there and him, but five years later, the priests My first night in Colombia, I they are Jewish! This was true of removed his bones and put them in slept in Bogota. I dreamt that I was both my mother’s mother and my a box in a family ceremony. My in Honda, walking in the mountains father’s mother, the Navaro and mother was shaken by this and and arriving at my parents’ house, Guererro families. decided that when she died, she

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shlichus THE BESHARIS BELONG IN BIRIYA

By Nosson Avrohom Translated By Michoel Leib Dobry

known as “the eyes of the In the small and magical village of country,” is the calm and pastoral Biriya, hundreds of Jewish souls have village of Biriya. A magical and breathtaking view appears from found their way to the Rebbe, Melech the windows of the houses of the village residents, most of who HaMoshiach, often in the merit of the emigrated to Eretz Yisroel from North Africa and live a traditional amazing answers they have received lifestyle. The village is named after a vibrant settlement that existed from him over the years, answers that on the premises during the era of have revolutionized their lives. the Talmud. The ancient village of Biriya was home to Rabbi Yosef Caro, compiler of the Shulchan On a mountainside near Tzfas, Aruch, and is also the site of the positioned beneath the IDF grave of Benayahu ben Yehoyada, Northern Command headquarters chief counsel to Dovid HaMelech. Inset: Rabbi Beshari For the by his home in Biriya

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past twenty-five years, Rabbi relating to each person as an Ehud Beshari and his wife, On the day we individual. Their very presence Devora, have been involved in learned of the and the direct contact with people outreach activities in Biriya. Until in the street can bring two years ago, they were living in tragic death of the revolutionary results. There is, for the Kiryat Chabad community of example, the local grocer who no Tzfas and commuted for shlichus. three T’mimim on longer makes a move without However, after the tragic accident consulting the Rebbe, advising all near Eilat that took the lives of their way to IDF her friends and acquaintances to three yeshiva students on their do so as well, and a neighborhood way to mivtzaim during Chanuka, army bases in the woman in whose home a class for the couple resolved that they south to do women has been established, would give up the comforts of making a deep and serious change their warm community and move ‘mivtzaim’ we in the host’s way of life. to the place of their shlichus. “Many women have told me Thus, with the Rebbe’s bracha, the decided we had to that they began getting better Beshari family moved into the acquainted with their close center of Biriya. On their first day do something neighbors only in the merit of there, they hung a large Moshiach their participation in these flag on the house, a proud radical to hasten activities,” says the shlucha, Mrs. testimony to their purpose and the Redemption, Devora Beshari. “This is a place objective there. where people work hard all day The central motto of the so we chose to and come home only in the Besharis’ activities is consistent, evening.” Even if the Besharis personal, and individual contact throw ourselves won’t admit it, the with each and every resident of Biriya: men, women, and children. into our Biriya As opposed to larger cities, everyone knows everyone else in shlichus. Biriya, and therefore, there is a greater emphasis upon

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participation of thirty women in a questions in matters of faith. Was “We set out on our journey weekly Torah class on a settlement there really a Revelation on Mount and soon found ourselves at with one hundred and twenty Sinai? Who says that all the Yeshiva Tomchei T’mimim in Kfar families is a very respectable stories in the Torah and Jewish Chabad. He spoke with the rosh turnout. However, these shluchim history aren’t merely tales? By yeshiva, Rabbi Yaakov HaKohen do not measure success in what right can the rabbanim Katz, and it was decided that I statistical terms – until the Rebbe interpret or be strict in matters of would stay there for a couple of comes into every home in Biriya, Torah? Calmly and gently, he days, and then I would decide if I they refuse to sit on their laurels. answered all my questions, wanted to remain. Rabbi Menashe including those I wouldn’t dare Althaus, today serving as the QUESTIONS IN FAITH ask out of concern that I would be Rebbe MH”M’s shliach in Kiryat THAT LED HIM TO called a heretic. Tivon, helped me a great deal in “One day, I was heading adapting to my new environment. “TOMCHEI T’MIMIM” towards Sebastia together with He took care of all my needs and Rabbi Beshari’s parents explained everything, with emigrated from Yemen to exemplary hospitality. Two days Netanya, where he was born and She had been became four, and one week raised. Even at an early age, he became two. I quickly understood felt his soul yearning and living on the street that chassidus was what my soul searching for the true essence in desired. its deepest and most inner sense. for many years but “I was particularly enraptured At a time when most of his friends had always by the Chabad niggunim. As a were going out to seek greener musician, I couldn’t help but be pastures elsewhere, he chose to thought that the impressed by the intensity of these look for real Yiddishkait at home, melodies. They were like cold seeking the true peace and place had been water on a hot day for a tired and tranquility to be found there. thirsting soul. They succeeded in He began playing various dark. However, restoring my connection to Torah musical instruments as a hobby, and mitzvos. and he chose to do his high school with our arrival, “I found chavrusas with whom studies specifically at a religious she feels that the to learn nigleh and chassidus, and institution in his hometown. I invested much strength and “When I completed my darkness has been energy to acquire and internalize required high school studies, greater wisdom in Torah. With Divine Providence led me to the replaced with the each passing day, I felt a renewed hesder yeshiva in Kedumim. sense of fulfillment, a welcome During this time, I was already in light of change from the feeling of inner the midst of an intensive search emptiness and lack of faith in my for my true self, looking for my Redemption. Creator that I had in the past. true self, my soul. These were the “Several months later, I days of the great battles of Gush Benny Katzover for another returned to Kedumim to see Rabbi Emunim, for the cause of settling incursion and to supply our Reichel and express my thanks Yehuda and Shomron, and I insurgents with food and water. and appreciation. I was already happily found myself joining Rabbi Reichel suddenly turned, going around with my tzitzis out, young and old who went up to asking me to accompany him to proud of my Judaism, the same Sebastia time after time, and were Tel Aviv because he was planning Judaism regarding which I used to evicted by the military authorities. to stop in Kfar Chabad on the way have such serious doubts. As I “Around this time, I came to and he wanted me to look into the entered his home, I found him know Rabbi Nachum Reichel, who yeshiva there. He knew what I felt teaching the seifer ‘Nefesh in later years served as the rav of in my heart and how I was HaChaim.’ When he saw me, his the Atzmona settlement in Gush searching for the truth, and he face lit up and he greeted me with Katif. We had many deep heartfelt believed that I could only find the undisguised joy. ‘Beshari has talks, and I posed some difficult real answers in Chabad. arrived,’ he said, ‘and now that he

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has been learning chassidus in chassid! Kfar Chabad, he will explain to us “At the start of 5741, I wrote the meaning of ‘oros b’keilim’ to the Rebbe, asking whether I (lights in vessels).” should continue learning in When Rabbi Reichel heard me yeshiva or if I should start looking explain the subject, he became for a shidduch. In his reply, the most excited. He felt that I was no Rebbe instructed me to consult longer the same wayward and with a mashpia. I went to R’ confused young man that he had Mendel Futerfas, who told me known. Later, I discovered that I with a smile, ‘Nu, get married.’ was not the only one that he had However, I had a slight problem: I sent to learn in Chabad. There had yet to have the privilege of had been many others, among going on ‘k’vutza.’ For R’ Mendel, them Rabbi Amitai Yemini, who this carried considerable weight, serves today as a shliach in Los and he said, ‘Then go now.’ It was Angeles. the month of Shvat, and after “In 5740, I wrote to the Rebbe much pleading, my father that I have resolved that I must go consented to pay for my ticket. I and learn in Yeshivas Tomchei experienced a most unique year T’mimim. with the Rebbe, which included Rabbi Beshari with his accordion “Despite the fact that my the historic ceremony for the at the Lag B’Omer parade progress in yeshiva was quick and blessing of the sun. The moment straightforward, internalizing and that is most etched in my memory proceeded to tell me what the manifesting such Chassidic values from that year was the maamer Rebbe had spoken about on the as what a Rebbe is, the power of a ‘B’chol Dor VaDor’ that the Rebbe previous Shabbos. ‘You must go farbrengen, and bittul to the gave over on Yud-Alef Nissan. out on shlichus – where do you Rebbe and mashpiim took a little “In 5744, when I was still a choose to go?’ There was no longer. The yeshiva folk put no young avreich, I met Rabbi room for argument. He had pressure upon me, and the Eliyahu Aryeh Friedman, of already established this as fact; the atmosphere was very pleasant. It blessed memory, in shul. He was only question was where I wanted took about a year and a half for holding a list of locations for to do my outreach activities. ‘As me to become a full-fledged potential shlichus, and then nearby as possible,’ I replied, and he wrote me and Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Bronstein down for shlichus in the nearly village of Biriya. “We immediately began our activities there through home visits, checking mezuzos, club for children, and a variety of many other programs in operation to this very day. Mrs. Shulamit Asulin gives a Tanya class for women every Sunday. On Tuesdays, there is a kollel for chassidus study, started by Rabbi Malkiel Machputz, and run today by R’ Dror Ben-Kish. We have a Tzivos Hashem club every Wednesday, run by students of the Beis Chana Seminar, and a shiur on Shabbos afternoons at the home of the Tritto family, taught Biriya residents participating in a Tanya class

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by Mrs. Michal Almalem and Mrs. great investment he had made in all matters that bring satisfaction Sara Chaya Wilschanski. In the activities with the residents of to the Rebbe, Melech addition, we help many local Biriya. “It can be safely said that I HaMoshiach. Coming to Biriya residents write letters to the Rebbe didn’t take a serious part in the every Shabbos catalyzed my and host them for Shabbos activities until five years ago, personal connection with the local meals.” when I started walking to Biriya women, each one unique unto every Shabbos with guest speakers herself. We made our decision to A VILLAGE OF A from Kiryat Chabad in Tzfas, who move to Biriya, leaving the warm THOUSAND YEARS would teach Pirkei Avos during and united community of Kiryat the summer and chassidus during Chabad in Tzfas, on the day we Biriya is not just another learned of the tragic death of the yishuv, but an ancient site three T’mimim on their way to mentioned in the Talmud from the “Then there were IDF army bases in the south to do era after the destruction of the ‘mivtzaim.’ We decided we had to Second Beis HaMikdash. In a inner voices do something radical to hasten the letter from Tzfas sent in 1607, Redemption, so we chose to throw Biriya is listed among the Jewish calling me to ourselves into our Biriya shlichus, villages that had been abandoned: quite literally. “And there are destroyed suppress and “My husband consulted with synagogues there…countless Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Wilschanski Torah scrolls, and the Gentiles reject these and several other rabbanim and treat them with great respect – feelings. But for mashpiim in Tzfas, all of whom and the keys are in their hands…” gave their approval. Naturally, I As a Jewish settlement, Biriya days and nights on sat down and wrote a letter to the has gone through numerous Rebbe via ‘Igros Kodesh,’ and the changes from ancient times to our end, I kept answer I received was quite clear: days. Rabbi Yosef Caro, compiler “Change your place and you of the “Shulchan Aruch,” lived wondering over change your luck for good and there. In 5668, Baron Rothschild for a blessing. May they spread purchased four thousand dunam the idea that the teachings of chassidus in north of Biriya. In 5682, a group although I had their new place.” There was no of workers emigrated to Biriya, turning back. That same day, we although they were unable to been searching for began the process of looking for a settle there. home in Biriya. In 5709, following the the meaning in “The house search had been establishment of the modern going on for at least six months, Jewish state, a moshav of the Far East – but to no avail. We hadn’t been emigrants from Libya was able to find a place that would fit established nearby, which was where will I find our needs at a reasonable price. It later abandoned and re- it? In Torah and was very frustrating, as we established in 5731. Later, a became reconciled to the fact that group of Italian converts, unable mitzvos!” our plans apparently would not to be accepted for emigration take hold, and we would have to elsewhere, managed to come here. continue operating through our Today, the village of Biriya is a the winter. This class continues to home in Kiryat Chabad of Tzfas. communal settlement with one this very day at the home of Mrs. Then we received another answer hundred and twenty families and a Shosh Tritto, whose soul is filled from the Rebbe, in response to a total population of four hundred with the teachings of Chabad letter that I had written on and fifty residents, both secular chassidus in every sense of the another matter entirely. The and religious. word. Rebbe wrote that he was worried Mrs. Beshari tells openly and “She opens her home to us, as why we still hadn’t moved to our candidly that in the early years of well as her heart to everything new place. This answer was the shlichus, she didn’t see eye to that symbolizes chassidus and to addressed to a Cohen family. At eye with her husband about the

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many young people after completing their compulsory military service, I traveled to India and Thailand. My first insight regarding the existence of the Creator and my drive to explore my roots arose while in the southern Indian city of Poona, where I would meditate three times a day. Suddenly, like a bolt out of the blue, I was struck by the thought that Jews, too, pray three times a day. I was overcome with the feeling that if I want to find the truth, I would have to go back home. “Then there were inner voices calling me to suppress and reject these feelings. But for days and nights on end, I kept wondering Rabbi Beshari putting on t’fillin with one of the local youths over the idea that although I had been searching for the meaning in my place of work, there is an expansion. Two days later, a the Far East – where will I find it? employee named Aliza Cohen, neighbor knocked at our door, In Torah and mitzvos! That’s how who lives in Biriya. I called her telling us that she had been living I came to the realize that there into the office and asked if she on the street for many years but really is a G-d in Heaven, and this knew about a house in Biriya that had always thought that the place spurred me onto the path of our would be suitable for us. She was had been dark. However, with our forefathers.” shocked by our desire to leave arrival, she feels that the darkness Over a period of several years, Tzfas and move to Biriya, but she has been replaced with the light of Sigal explored many paths within immediately replied, ‘Of course, I Redemption. This was the Torah world. She studied at know about a house. There’s a unquestionably a warm and the Neve Yam Institute in closed up house right across the heartfelt greeting of the highest Yerushalayim, and then with road from us, totally empty, and order.” Breslov chassidism. After the owners want to rent it out very marrying, she established her much.’ We went out that A PERSONAL STORY home in Biriya. “My first serious afternoon to see the house, were One of the Besharis’ baalei connection with Chabad chassidus very impressed by it, and sat down t’shuva is Sigal Rosenthal. A and the Rebbe was while I was with the owners that evening. certified cosmetician and hospitalized in the Sieff Hospital After we explained to them the alternative healer, Sigal began her in Tzfas. One day, some Chabad purpose of the house, they made a return to Yiddishkait a little more women came for a visit and I told very sizable reduction in the than ten years ago on a tour of them of my health issues. Their asking price. The wife told us that the East. Upon returning to Eretz reply: ‘What’s the problem? Write she had been to the Rebbe in the Yisroel, she met her future to the Rebbe!,’ and they past and was privileged to receive husband, a jewelry designer by proceeded to explain how it is his blessing. trade, and together they started a possible to write to the Rebbe and “Two years ago on Gimmel deep and meaningful journey receive his bracha via ‘Igros Tammuz, we moved with all our along the path of Torah and Kodesh.’ belongings to the new house. We mitzvos. I followed their advice, and I hung a Moshiach flag on the “Times were good for me as I received an answer from the house, and the settlement’s started on the road back to Torah. Rebbe regarding the importance of Chabad activities received a I was lacking nothing, I enjoyed making ‘Mesibos Shabbos.’ The double dose of fortitude and an my material life, and similar to problem was that I didn’t have the immeasurable boost for greater

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NO GAME Mrs. Sigal Rosenthal relates, “On the Shabbos thereby additional holiness into all the worlds, as is before Pesach, I was privileged to stay with our understood from the Alter Rebbe’s Igeres shlucha, Mrs. Devorah Beshari at the Nir Etzion HaT’shuva, Ch. 12, and because of negligence, this Hotel near Tirat HaCarmel, together with other was not done. But we don’t bemoan the past, and Chabad women, friends and supporters, who had he at least should hurry up in this matter as much come there from all over the country. During this as possible, and this is also the reason that I am kinus, it crossed my mind that I felt myself a full- sending my letter ‘special delivery.’ fledged ‘Chabadnikit.’ I observe nearly all the Chabad He certainly knows that Machne Israel has a customs, and I am totally connected to the Rebbe and special loan fund for such matters, and the chassidus. payments are at reasonable terms, and if this is why Thinking this over, I realized how incongruous it there has been a delay until now, it’s a pity that he was that I wasn’t yet wearing a sheitel. Knowing how didn’t discover this, for the matter already would important it is to the Rebbe, I started working myself have been arranged. At least now he will move up to ‘go for it.’ After another few days of things along as is fitting, as in the saying of our internalizing the whole concept, I made the final Rabbis, of blessed memory, ‘swiftness brings, etc.,’ decision on that Erev Shabbos. I lit Shabbos candles, and the order of things concludes (Avoda Zara 20b) and after making the bracha, I asked the Rebbe that that eventually it leads to ruach ha’kodesh. he should hear my request now as he had in the past, “As an Israeli who did not grow up in the religious and give me encouragement towards this in the world, when I read the letter the first time, I didn’t simplest possible words. understand the meaning of the Yiddish word ‘sheitel.’ “However, I still had a big Mrs. Beshari explained to me that problem. My husband had not this was the Yiddish translation of gone through the great kiruv ‘Look at what the ‘wig’… process towards chassidus and the “I was flabbergasted. The Rebbe that I had, and he was still Rebbe writes! This Rebbe writes in the clearest opposed to the idea of my wearing possible terms with a complaint a sheitel. The next day, after is for sure not just why I still haven’t bought a sheitel. davening Shacharis with a lot of I immediately went out and kavana, I went to the bookshelf a game.’ bought a sheitel, which I now and asked the Rebbe that he wear every day. should give me a clear answer “My husband still wasn’t regarding what I should do – whether I should yield completely reconciled to this, and things didn’t go so to the wishes of my husband, who doesn’t yet fully easily. I wrote another letter to the Rebbe, and I read understand about the obligation to wear a sheitel, or his answer again and again in a state of utter disbelief should I start wearing the sheitel and afterwards refer (ibid., p. 28): I was pleased to receive his letter (no him to the halachic sources and the people who can indication when it was written) that his wife has explain the matter to him. agreed to wear a sheitel. May it be the will of G-d “The Rebbe’s answer appears in a letter from the Alm-ghty that she should do this with a joy ous 7th of Elul, 5712 (Igros Kodesh, Vol. 6, pg. 327): heart, and she should see with her own eyes the …I was sorry about what he writes in his letter increased bracha and success in her endeavors, that the opportunity has not yet come to travel and both general and particular, in proper health and order a sheitel, and it’s a wonder that he would parnasa for him and all the members of his delay in this matter, and particularly when it is household. known to him what is explained in numerous places “When I read the answer, I ran to my husband in chassidus and also understood according to and said to him, ‘Look at what the Rebbe writes about human logic that at any moment, a person can how if I do this with a joyous heart, I will see with my acquire a whole world or ch”v the opposite, and own eyes an increased bracha and success in all that thus with every moment that passes [and] he we require. This is for sure not just a game.’ Since doesn’t do anything on the aforementioned matter, that moment, a day does not go by without my he could have built a world, i.e., to draw down wearing a sheitel.”

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slightest idea how to organize such a thing. I tried to gather children together and daven with them, but the project didn’t last very long and I stopped doing it. Not long afterwards, I had another opportunity to spend time with some Chabadnikim, and I asked them to help me to write a letter to the Rebbe. When I opened the volume of ‘Igros’, I was amazed to see that the Rebbe again writes about organizing Shabbos groups. That same day, I asked how to go about doing this properly, and I have been involved in this activity now for eight years. Shortly after I began organizing the ‘Mesibos Shabbos’, I wrote to the Rebbe on a different matter, and I received a reply in which the Rebbe complained why I didn’t Biriya’s mitzva tank mention in my letter about the ‘Mesibos Shabbos’ that I the Rebbe. Rebbe was accompanying me organize… Until then, I was part “One day, when I was throughout the series of of the Breslov community in every tormented by feelings of anguish, treatments, and this was a respect, but after the clear distress, and sheer hopelessness, I tremendous relief. The treatment guidance that I was privileged to took a T’hillim and began to pour proved successful from the very receive from the Rebbe, I out my soul to Hashem. I put a outset. understood that there is only one few coins in a pushka and then “Towards the end of pregnancy, leader, and I began the process of wrote a letter to the Rebbe about I decided that I would give the coming closer to Chabad. the entire predicament, asking for baby an authentic Chabad name, “My greatest step along the guidance on what I should do. whether it was a boy or a girl. marvelous path of Chabad The answer I received appears in Accordingly we named our chassidus was when I started Vol. 6, pg. 91: daughter Chana Dina. A few years taking part in the Shabbos classes In response to his letter in later, I wanted to have more organized by Mrs. Beshari at the which he asks my opinion children and so I wrote to the home of the Tritto family. At one whether to continue turning to Rebbe again. The Rebbe replied of these classes, I spoke to one of doctors or to have trust in G-d: that I should give tz’daka before my Chabad friends about a serious It is quite clear that we must be lighting Shabbos candles, and my personal dilemma. After seven strong in our faith in G-d, who husband should form a picture of years of marriage we still had not heals all flesh and performs the Rebbe Rayatz in his mind. This been blessed with children. We did wonders, while also making a time as well, the first treatment not know whether to try various vessel in a natural way by worked, and on the 24th of Teives, fertility methods or to leave things following the doctor’s the yahrtzait of the Alter Rebbe, I as they were. My husband was in instructions, and G-d Alm-ghty gave birth to twins.” favor of doing the treatments, and will fulfill their hearts’ wishes for good to bless him and his since we were both longing to ANSWERS ABOUND become parents, I asked one of wife with zera chaya v’kayama. my friends to buy me a volume of I will read the PaN at the Tzion. When I ask the Besharis ‘Igros Kodesh.’ I knew that if “There was no need for a whether they find truth to the there was anyone in the world clearer answer than that. All the claim that publicizing the who could help, it could only be fears and concerns disappeared as announcement of the Redemption if they never existed. I felt that the and the identity of the Redeemer

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on their shlichus drives people about to have an operation, and noticed that the problem clouded away, they raise their eyebrows in told him of his obligation to her mood and put her into a deep surprise and reject the whole believe that everything happens by state of dejection. Naturally, I argument. “Maybe this was so in Divine Providence, and things will convinced her to compose a letter the past, when not everyone was a work out in a manner beyond to the Rebbe. She put all her proper vessel to accept such logic and reason. She found the feelings of distress in writing and concepts. Today, however, answer difficult to believe, yet she placed the letter in one of the according to what we see and feel when she went in for another volumes of ‘Igros Kodesh.’ The in our daily activities, people are examination prior to giving birth, Rebbe replied with a letter stating yearning and longing for it. Here the doctors decided that she could that he is upset that she is going in Biriya, there isn’t a single give birth naturally. This woman to a fortune teller, and spelling resident who hasn’t heard about has since joined our growing out in detail how seriously he the possibility to write to the circle of close friends and views this from a halachic Rebbe via ‘Igros Kodesh’ and supporters who don’t make any standpoint. At first, I didn’t receive his advice and guidance. understand the answer; after all, There have been stories upon this was a religious woman. What stories of amazing answers, and did the Rebbe mean? there are many people here who With a heart “After I finished reading the simply don’t make a move without letter, I asked her if someone in asking the Rebbe for his blessing. engulfed by deep her family was consulting a “Our local grocer, an anguish and fortune teller. It never dawned on interesting woman who seems on me that it was her. I suddenly saw the surface to be quite far from yearning for help, her blush and then turn pale, as Chabad and from Rebbe, openly she initially couldn’t find the publicizes the subject of ‘Igros she asked the words to express her reaction. Kodesh’ to virtually every person ‘How does the Rebbe know?’ she who walks into her store. Many of Rebbe for a muttered excitedly, as she broke them end up revealing to her their down and admitted that she has deepest secrets and the difficult bracha that this been seeing a fortune teller. She problems they have encountered in problem that was promised that she would not go to life, and she heartily suggests to this person again, as in the merit all of them that they should write disturbing her of the Rebbe’s answer, she to the Rebbe. understood the seriousness of the “One local resident came into peace of mind matter…” her grocery one day looking very During the day, Mrs. Beshari gloomy, and when she asked her should simply works as the kitchen supervisor at customer what was troubling her, the Beis Chana high school in the woman replied that she is in disappear. Tzfas, and the staff includes the early stages of pregnancy, and several employees who are also after undergoing an examination, residents of Biriya. A few years the doctors told her that she major decisions in life without ago, she decided to give each of would have to give birth via an asking for the Rebbe’s bracha… them a gift to show her operation. ‘Nu, what’s the “Only recently there was appreciation for their work and problem?’ the grocer replied. another yet another incredible dedication – a volume of “Igros ‘You’re neighbors of Beshari, story here: One day, a Biriya Kodesh”. right? Haven’t you heard that you resident came to me and asked for “One of these women recently can write to the Rebbe via Igros a bracha and advice from the told me an amazing story that had Kodesh?’ The woman was most Rebbe regarding a certain problem happened to her. Not long ago, receptive to the suggestion, and in connection with her children. It she had resolved to say T’hillim that very day, she sat down and was sad to see her in such a state. every Shabbos morning, and on wrote a letter to the Rebbe. This is a woman who is generally one particular Shabbos, there was The answer was amazing: The very optimistic, filled with the joy something troubling her that she Rebbe wrote to a Jew who was of life, yet on this particular day, I didn’t want to discuss.

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“She went over to the couple who owned it. The house What are your future plans? bookshelf in her home, and with a was neither suitable nor large “As a general rule, we don’t heart engulfed by deep anguish enough for our needs, but the make grandiose projects. We work and yearning for help, she asked owners still wanted to sit down and in a small village, not in a large the Rebbe for a bracha that this chat with us. We happily city. I recall times when I felt a bit problem that was disturbing her consented, and naturally started depressed as I saw shluchim peace of mind should simply talking about chassidus. We building and developing where disappear. When she randomly eventually learned that their they were, while due to the nature opened a volume of ‘Igros thoughts of t’shuva started as a of the Biriya village, we had to Kodesh,’ she was stunned to see result of the strong Jewish feelings settle for dealing with private that the Rebbe had written how that were aroused during the recent individuals and we don’t always happy he was to hear that she says IDF military operation ‘Cast Lead’ see the fruits of our labors. By T’hillim on Shabbos, as he in the Gaza Strip. As we were Divine Providence, I met Mrs. mentioned in great detail about leaving, the woman told us, ‘You Devora Vaknin, the shlucha in the great value attributed to came here not to see the house, but Menachemia, near Teverya, and I saying T’hillim. She told me that in order to strengthen us.’ told what I was thinking. She told she was so overwhelmed by this “Every meeting and every me, ‘You should know that the answer that it left her absolutely conversation with another Jew is a Rebbe isn’t looking for big speechless. She was even more valuable opportunity, as projects. He has enough of those. moved when she got to the part in everything happens by Divine The Rebbe is looking for the ‘little the letter where he offers Providence. It is impossible to jars,’ and they are what will bring “condolences to her on the know the effect even one word Moshiach.’ passing of her mother-in-law.” could have on someone’s soul. “Her words were very The fact was that her husband was One should never forget that it’s encouraging. I understood that then sitting ‘Shiva’ after the Hashem who brought you the very fact that we were in passing of his mother… together, for a reason. Biriya, even without the big “There are dozens of such stories “Another tip is that if you want activities, has had an effect upon all over Biriya. People see miracles in to develop a close connection with the local residents. I hear from their daily lives, and as a result, they these people, show genuine many women how by simply believe with simple truth.” concern and care for them. We coming here, we have aroused Mrs. Beshari, based on your make a point of visiting every them to become much stronger in experience, what suggestions do woman in our community after a variety of aspects of Torah and you have for new shluchim to birth, and we bring each of them a mitzvos. the moshavim? gift. My husband makes certain to “We plan to establish of a “They must always remember visit all those who have taken ill, chassidic library for children with that our task is to utilize every and plays his accordion as part of religious, educational, and of meeting and every conversation, his bikkur cholim activities. People course, chassidic literature. I have even by chance, to add some always remember this and seen an intense thirst for this content in spreading the appreciate it very much. The most among children and youth, and we wellsprings of chassidus. A few important thing on shlichus is to must quench it through Jewish months ago, we were checking out be consistent and continue moving ideas, something that will help a house that we were thinking of forward.” mold them in both the short and renting and met with the young Chassidim always look ahead. the long term.”

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[Continued from pg. 7]

pivotal to the revelation of the Giving of the Torah. How could Jewish people at large must be done with “the sound of a great this be? uproar.”73 So the correct [and deeper] reading of these words is that When the service of the person is still within, inside the four the significance of the “uproar” at the Giving of the Torah (the cubits of Torah and holiness, it is enough for the manner of thunder and the tumult, etc.; “The entire nation that was in the service to sometimes be as it is, in “a still and soft voice.”74 camp trembled”; the expression in the verse, “The earth However, when we go out of these four cubits, amidst “the quaked”64) is not only insofar as the tumult was heard by the multitudinous voice of Rome,”75 the nullification of this voice is physical ear – serving as an additional detail contributing to the accomplished by “the sound of a great uproar” of holiness. And preparation for and as a preface to the Giving of the Torah – but by doing so, we merit the imminent fulfillment of, “He will insofar as the uproar bears spiritual significance. The sound the great shofar”76 – specifically “the great shofar,” a overwhelming excitement at the Giving of the Torah was on reference to the Future [Redemption], together with, “A voice account of its profound innovation, recognizing in every detail proclaims, proclaims and says”77 – proclaiming the of the Creation and in the entirety of Creation as a whole that Redemption, which will take place in the very near future. the truth of the world’s existence is not what appears and is (From the talks delivered on Shabbos Parshas Naso 5745 revealed to the eyes of flesh – that it exists and is real unto itself and Shabbos Parshas Yisro 5740) – rather, the truth is the Source which creates it, the Truth of the Existence of the Creator. NOTES: 6. The word “Torah” is etymologically linked to the word 1 Laws of Prayer 13:9 “horaa,”65 meaning “instruction,” “teaching.” How much more 2 Yisro 19:1 ff so is this the case when we reach the day of the year when the 3 Torah was given to the Jewish people, for “these days are Yechezkel Ch. 1 recalled and done”66 [i.e., when you mark a particular day, the 4 31a special qualities of that day are re-experienced]. Every single 5 Orach Chaim Ch. 494 Jew must derive a lesson from the Torah reading as well as the 6 Haftora of the day of the Festival of Shavuos. According to the Megilla 31a, entry beginning with the word, “BaMerkava” explanation above, we may assert that there is an instruction 7 Orach Chaim 494:4 with regard to the two areas – in one’s personal service of G-d 8 The Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch adds, “The Holy One Blessed Be and in the service of influencing others. He (was revealed).” And in a handwritten manuscript of Rashi’s Although with regard to the Account of the Chariot it is said, commentary…“on Atzeres upon Mount Sinai.” “We don’t expound…about the Chariot…unless he is a wise 9 Ran on Megilla 31a: “for the Holy One Blessed Be He descended person with an understanding mind,”28 this is so with regard to upon Mount Sinai with the glory of His Chariot.” the Account of the Chariot, as it is discussed in the Written and 10 Orach Chaim 494:1 Oral Torah, only insofar as it is written in the Torah’s mystical 11 lexicon67 (the details about Yechezkel’s Chariot, books that Yisro 20:2-3; Makos 24a, beg.; Hurios 8a, end were deliberately concealed from the public, and etc.). However, 12 Yisro 20:15 regarding the study of the inner dimension of the Torah as has 13 1:28 been revealed and explained by the Arizal, who said that the 14 time has come whereby “it is a mitzva to reveal this wisdom”68 See Tanchuma Tzav 12, etc. (See Footnote 15 in the original.) – this study is incumbent upon every single person.69 In 15 To note from what is written in Zohar Chadash on Yisro (37d, end particular, after more time has passed since then, wherein we ff) – that the vision of Yechezkel was on the holiday of Shavuos, on the day of the Giving of the Torah, etc. (See Footnote 17 in the original.) have had the advent of the explanation of the teachings of Chassidus, and especially after it has been explained in the 16 Rashi’s expression on Megilla 30b, commentary beginning with the wording of the Sages of the Torah in terms of understanding words, “Ha k’d’isa.” and comprehension, in a manner of “yisparnasun”70 [literally, 17 In the Diaspora, where two days of Yom Tov are observed. “providing a livelihood”; meaning internalized and relevant to 18 Quote from the Alter Rebbe in Shulchan Aruch ibid 4. the person, as one’s livelihood is something tangible and real]. 19 Indeed, this is “a lofty and exalted mitzva … ‘Know the L-rd of 2:20 ff. See the opinion of the first Tanna, from Megilla 31a, “On 71 Atzeres, ‘Shiva Shavuos’ [is read] and they conclude with Chabakuk.” your fathers, etc.,’ and it brings a person to have a ‘whole But nowadays, this is the Torah portion and Haftora read on the heart.’”72 second day, as the Gemara concludes. In this manner we come to see and recognize in every single 20 And the L’vush ibid 2 writes, “which is also about the account of thing the truth of its existence – that it is created from the True the Chariot.” Existence. 21 Chabakuk 3:3, etc. See Footnote 23 in the original. In a similar sense it is understood also regarding service with 22 others – that the dissemination of Torah and Judaism among the Notes of HaBach ibid.

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23 Rashi on Megilla ibid. 49 See Rambam Laws of the Foundations of the Torah Ch. 8; 24 Ramban’s commentary on the Torah, Parshas Yisro 20:7, among Tanchuma (Tisa 21) and Shmos Rabba (42:5), cited in Radak on others. Yechezkel ibid. 50 Tanchuma VaEira 15; Shmos Rabba 12:3. 25 Ch. 6 51 See Tanya – Shaar HaYichud V’HaEmuna Ch. 1 and Ch. 3. 26 See also Zohar II 82a. 52 27 B’Reishis Rabba 10:6; Zohar II 171b, etc. See Footnote 55 in the That is the opinion from Ramban’s commentary on the Torah original. (Yisro 20:7) – that these two Divine Statements [of the ten], “they heard the speech and understood it as Moshe understood them.” 53 See the words of the Rebbe Maharash (HaTamim Issue #3, pg. 27 However, according to the opinion of Rambam (A Guide to the (130a)) – that the fact that the Alter Rebbe writes in Shaar HaYiichud Perplexed 2:33), among others, they did not attain the level of Moshe V’HaEmuna (Ch. 3, beg.), “were the eye given permission to behold, even in these two Divine Statements, etc. See Footnote 29 in the etc., the physicality of the creation, its materialism and its tangibility, original. would not be seen at all to our eyes” – the intent with the reference to 28 the vision of the eyes is only without Divine service, but through the Mishna Chagiga 11b; Rambam’s Laws of the Foundations of the service of G-d it is within the capacity of everyone to see, etc. Look it Torah Ch. 2, end. up there. 29 Chak Yaakov ibid, siman katan 3. 54 Rambam’s Laws of the Foundations of the Torah, beg. 30 The Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 494:5 55 See Mechilta and the commentary of Rashi on Parshas Yisro 19:5. 31 Mishna Megilla 25a, end (and in Mishnayos, Ch. 4, end). 56 Zohar II (93b, end ff.). See also Zohar II 82a. 32 Rabbeinu Akiva Bartenura on this Mishna, ibid. See also Rambam 57 Yechezkel 3:12. in his Commentary on the Mishnayos, ibid. 58 Wording of the Alter Rebbe in his Shulchan Aruch 494:4. 33 On Mishna Megilla ibid. 59 See commentaries there. 34 Mishlei 17:28 60 35 See Likkutei Torah Bracha 97b, etc. – see Footnote 63 in the See the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 284:11: The original. one reading the Haftora should not begin until the person rolling the Torah scroll has completed his task in order that also that person will 61 Seifer HaMaamarim 5661, pg. 198. be able to understand and listen to it [i.e., so his attention will not be 62 diverted from the Haftora while being preoccupied with the Torah Yisro 19:16. scroll], for it is incumbent upon everyone to listed to the Haftora just 63 Ibid 20:19. as one listens to the reading of the Torah portion … In fact, there are those who have the custom … not to rely on hearing [the Haftora] 64 T’hillim 68:9. alone, rather, they read the Haftora themselves [concurrently in a low 65 voice], etc. Zohar III 53b; Gur Aryeh B’Reishis, beg., in the name of the Radak. 36 Wording of Rambam in the introduction to Moreh Nevuchim Part 66 3. Megillas Ester 9:28, etc. – see Footnote 69 in the original. 67 37 Chagiga 13b. Whereas the majority of the Torah – even though the Torah (as the Sh’la puts it (13b; 161a ff; see Asara Maamaros, maamer Chikur Din 38 Commentary of Rashi on Chagiga ibid. 3:23)) “speaks about the Supernal Realms and only alludes to the Lower Realms” – is written and stated specifically in the lexicon of 39 To note what is mentioned in the commentary of Tosafos on the human beings. words, “Village Person,” Chagiga ibid. 68 Tanya Igeres HaKodesh Ch. 26 (142b) 40 See Moreh Nevuchim Part 3, Ch. 6, end, and the commentaries there. 69 See Laws of Torah Study of the Alter Rebbe 1:4, end. See also the preface of Rabbi Chaim Vital to Shaar HaHakdamos. 41 That is, in comparison to the other prophets, excluding Moshe. See Likkutei Sichos Vol. 9, pg. 204, Footnote 7. 70 Expression of the Tikkunei Zohar (Tikkun 6, end), etc. – see Footnote 73 in the original. 42 Along the lines of what it says in Tanya Ch. 42 (61a) in the note. 71 Divrei HaYamim I 28:9 43 Part 4 Ch. 18, end. 72 Wording of the Alter Rebbe in Tanya Kuntres Acharon, section 44 Ibid Ch. 19 beginning with the words, “To understand what is written in Pri Eitz 45 Wording of Avodas HaKodesh ibid in explaining the verse, “From Chayim (156b; see Chart of Corrections there) its midst was the likeness of four Chayos.” 73 See at length on this subject in Likkutei Sichos Vol. 16, pg. 340 ff. 46 1:5-13 74 Melachim I 19:12. 47 See Footnote 50 in the original. 75 Wording of the Gemara, Makos 24a, end. 48 To note from Seifer HaSichos 5705 (pg. 102) that three things were 76 Yeshayahu 27:13. See Likkutei Torah Rosh HaShana, words given at the time of the Giving of the Torah: 1) the revealed dimension beginning with, “It will be on that day” (58a ff). of the Torah, 2) the esoteric dimension of the Torah, 3) the power to serve G-d. See there. 77 Liturgy for Hoshanos on Hoshana Rabba.

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