11 Tammuz 5780 Bringing Moshiach Values July 3 2020 Into Our Homes Price: $4.95 no. 1219

יחי אדוננו מורנו ורבינו מלך המשיח לעולם ועד shabbos י“ב תמוז 07/04

Candle lighting Sunrise Latest shema Midday Sunset Shabbos ends 8:12 5:30 9:15 1:00 8:29 9:20

ג' פרקים: הלכות אבל פרקים ט-יא. פרק אחד: הלכות מלכים ומלחמותיהם פרק ז. ספר המצוות: מל״ת קסו

Sunday Monday י“ד תמוז 07/06 י“ג תמוז I’m Sure It Will Be Fulfilled” 07/05“

Sunrise Latest shema Sunset Sunrise Latest shema Sunset Mrs. Fruma Ita Simpson, was the wife of Rabbi Eliyahu Yaichel (Simpson). 5:31 9:15 8:29 5:31 9:16 8:29 She and her family enjoyed and merited to have a very special connection with ג' פרקים . . . . הלכות מלכים ומלחמותיהם פרקים א-ג ג' פרקים ...... הלכות אבל פרקים יב-יד פרק אחד ...... הלכות מלכים ומלחמותיהם פרק ט פרק אחד ...... הלכות מלכים ומלחמותיהם פרק ח Beis HaRav — the Rebbe and his family. Her son, Rabbi Sholom Mendel, was ס' המצוות ...... מ״ע קעג. מל״ת שסב. שסד. שסג. שסה ס' המצוות ...... מל״ת קסו .one of the Rebbe’s secretaries Once, he wrote a letter regarding his mother’s health, and that the family requests a “bracha that very soon the Rebbe shlita’s bracha should be fulfilled.” In response, the Rebbe wrote: Tuesday Wednesday ט“ז תמוז 07/08 ט“ו תמוז 07/07

Sunrise Latest shema Sunset Sunrise Latest shema Sunset 5:32 9:16 8:29 5:32 9:16 8:28

ג' פרקים . . . . הלכות מלכים ומלחמותיהם פרקים ז-ט ג' פרקים . . . . הלכות מלכים ומלחמותיהם פרקים ד-ו פרק אחד ...... הלכות מלכים ומלחמותיהם פרק יא פרק אחד ...... הלכות מלכים ומלחמותיהם פרק י ספר המצוות. מל״ת מו. מ״ע קצ. מל״ת נו. נז. מ״ע קצב. קצג ספר המצוות מ״ע קפז. מל״ת מט. מ״ע קפח. קפט. מל״ת נט

Thursday Friday י“ח תמוז 07/10 י“ז תמוז 07/09

Sunrise Latest shema Sunset Sunrise Latest shema Sunset הזכרתיה היום על הציון הק' ובטחוני שתקויים 5:33 9:17 8:28 5:34 9:171 8:27 I have mentioned her today on the holy Tziyun [of my father in law, the Rebbe] ג' פרקים . אז לא אבוש וגו›. כל המצוות . ימי שנת החמה ג' פרקים . . . . הלכות מלכים ומלחמותיהם פרקים י-ב .and I’m sure it [the bracha] will be fulfilled פרק אחד אז לא אבוש גו›. כל המצוות . . מה› אלוקי ישראל פרק אחד ...... הלכות מלכים ומלחמותיהם פרק יב ספר המצוות .הספר הזה ... שזכרנו. ואני עתה מתחיל... במצות ספר המצוות מ״ע קצא. ריד. מל״ת שיא. נח. מ״ע רכא. מל״ת רסג. רסד

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11 TAMMUZ 5780 7 preferable for them to bake fresh chal- lah every week. Halacha2go.com #430* In issue #1214, we published an earlier ver- sion of the following halacha; we present here ASK The Rav Does accumulating dough in the an updated and corrected version: freezer create a shiur for sepa- Is Listening to Recorded MP3 Shiurim rating challah? Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun Considered Learning Torah? One of the rules of hafrashas challah The mitzva of Talmud Torah consists of 2 is that if different batches of dough are mitzvos: 1) v’lemadetem osam (and you shall placed in the same bowl, even if each study them), 2) vehagisa bo yomam va’layla (and individual portion is less than the shiur you shall meditate in it by day and by night). (requisite amount) for separating chal- In order to fulfill the mitzva ofv’limadetem lah, hasal metzarfan (the ‘basket’ [or Can I Save Up Dough osam one is required to utter the words. Other- receptacle] combines them) into one wise he does not fulfill this mitzva which is to large dough; by virtue of the fact that verbalize the words of Torah. for Hafrashas Challah? they are in the same bowl, challah must now be separated. A tanur (oven), on Indeed, when emphasizing the importance the other hand, does not combine the of studying Torah at all times, the expression A collection of Halachos on one of the pillars of a Jewish home, used in the Torah is, “Lo yamush sefer ha’Torah batches of dough placed inside it; if each the Mitzvah of Hafrashas Challah, from Halacha2Go.com and AskTheRav.com hazeh mi’picha,” the words of Torah should not batch placed in the oven is less than the by Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, Mara D’asra and member of the Crown Heights Beis Din cease from your mouth. However, when one is shiur, they remain exempt from challah. intent on understanding a concept in learning or A related, oft-asked question is a halacha in depth they need not enunciate the 2) Jewish women want to honor Shabbos by How Much Challah Should I Bake? whether storing different batches of words, as one can’t concentrate when speaking. baking challah themselves instead of buying it. Q. Is it preferable to bake challah every dough, or even baked goods, in a fridge If a person is attending a shiur, Torah lec- 3) They want to separate challah on erev week for Shabbos even if it’s less than the or freezer—whether for mishloach ture, and they are listening to the magid shiur, Shabbos, since that is the opportune time for shiur (minimum requirement) for taking manos, for Shabbos, or for whatever lecturer, it is considered as if they are speaking fulfilling the mitzvah of hafrashas challah. challah, or to bake a large batch every few reason—would serve to halachically themselves, as per the rule of shomei’a k’oneh, if weeks in order to be able to be mafrish chal- Since freezers are readily available these combine those batches of dough in the a person listens it is as though he is speaking, lah (separate challah) with a bracha? days, a question has arisen among contempo- manner described above. The com- thereby fulfilling the mitzva of v’limadetem osam. rary poskim: If someone does not need enough mon custom is that different batches However, by listening to an audio or video A. Jewish women have the custom of baking challah each week for a shiur challah, is it pref- of dough in the same freezer are not challah on erev Shabbos instead of buying it recording of a Torah class, or by reading erable to bake a large batch every few weeks, considered cumulative for separating silently from a sefer, one cannot fulfill the from the store. [The Rama writes, Ve’ein“ lesha- and to take challah with a bracha, and put the challah. There are a number of reasons mitzva of v’limadetem, rather only the mitzva nos”, one should not change this custom unless, rest in the freezer, or is it better to bake a small to justify this practice: the fridge and of ve’hagisa bo yomam va’layla which is fulfilled of course, absolutely necessary.] batch of fresh challah every week? There are dif- freezer are mechubar l’karka (connected by learning Torah even while not uttering the There are a number of reasons for this cus- fering opinions among contemporary poskim. to the ground by virtue of being plugged words. Therefore, he still has the mitzva of tom: The following is an acceptable approach: If the in); the portions of dough weren’t Talmud Torah, as well as increasing one’s Torah frozen challah (or the challah baked using fro- placed there with the intention to com- knowledge which is an important mitzva in itself 1) In the olden times there were not many zen dough) tastes as good, or almost as good, bine them; they’re in separate bags, and of yedi’as haTorah – a praiseworthy activity. Jewish bakeries, and people ate pas paltar to the person as freshly baked challah, then it‘s many other reasons. Although each of (bread baked by a professional non-Jewish One should also be cognizant of the impor- preferable to bake a large batch every few weeks these factors on its own is not sufficient, baker), which is permissible according to the in order to be able to separate challah with a tance Torah ascribes to amal Torah, laboring in these factors collectively serve to ex- strict halacha; but for Shabbos they wished to bracha. However, if the person finds that freez- Torah, which is not achieved by simply listening empt the dough from becoming obligat- to a recording of a shiur. be mehader, and to eat bread baked by a Jew. ing the challah compromises its taste, then it’s ed in challah. Halacha2go.com #503*

8 BEIS MOSHIACH 11 TAMMUZ 5780 9 HHiskashrusiskashrus ,, there are also those KADDISH PRAYER: FILLING IN THE VOID who try to “humanize” the Incidentally, the above understanding of the Rebbe by deemphasizing his terms chilul and Kiddush respectively as a void spirituality, his closeness and a filling in of the void provides a rationale Rabbi Heschel for our recitation of the Kaddish prayer upon Greenberg to G-d, his prophetic the loss of a loved one. predictions, the many When a person passes away, the soul—a part miracles, etc., to make him of G-d—departs from this physical world and more accessible to the leaves a gaping hole behind. G-dly energy and HUMANIZING FOR OUR SELF-ESTEEM light that heretofore illuminated the world of common person. even the lowliest Jew has gone missing. That vacuum must be filled in by the recitation of can discern two reasons why people TEMPORARY LAPSES Kaddish, which extols G-d’s greatness and re- One might want to humanize even the introduces the G-dly light that was withdrawn greatest tzaddikim. One simple reason is that Chassidic thought teaches that true tzad- with the passing of that soul. we wish to preserve our own self-esteem. If Mo- dikim have risen above sin. Nevertheless they too are “human” in that G-d causes them to ses and other greats could transgress without it even before one transgresses, the world we in- THE TZADDIK WITHIN US experience temporary lapses. In order for one detracting from our high regard for them, then habit already conceals its G-dly essence from to truly grow and advance spiritually one must As stated above, there is another psycho- we too can sustain our own self-respect not- us. The Hebrew word for world, olam, is closely falter and experience a setback from which one logical reason why many try to humanize the withstanding our many all-too-human flaws. related to helem, which means concealment. can leap to an exponentially higher level. This When one transgresses it increases the world’s tzaddik. We often feel that it is too difficult In truth, this rationale hardly justifies our is the underlying sentiment in Proverbs when degree of helem. Whatever spiritual energy that to emulate one who is so spiritual, G-dly and ascribing outright transgressions to people who it states: “For a tzaddik falls seven times and enters the world thereafter is lost; it “drains other-worldly. We need human, down-to-earth were so close to G-d, so totally devoid of egos rises up again.” While the tzaddik’s fall is not, out” through the “hole” one creates as a result role models, with all their flaws and foibles, G-d forbid, intentional or due to neglect, it is and self-interests and whose entire beings were of sinning. This dynamic is true both for tzad- with whom we can easily identify, to emulate. nevertheless, a diminution of his spiritual stat- devoted to G-d and His people. dikim and the less spiritually advanced. It sets ure. The stumbling tzaddik feels an emptiness To address this concern Chassidic literature back G-d’s desire to be fully revealed in this When one studies Chassidus, one discovers which, in turn, ignites an intense passion for furnishes two responses: that a true tzaddik neither transgresses nor physical world. G-d and the Torah. First, while it is indeed hard to imagine that harbors a desire to go astray. The perfect tzad- Moses experienced a spiritual decline when When a person sins, he or she is distanced the average person could attain the spiritual dikim—such as the Patriarch Abraham—have he got angry (Maimonides’ interpretation of from G-d and it creates a spiritual vacuum. heights of the Patriarchs, Moses and contem- completely transformed their evil impulses into Moses’ “sin”) and struck the rock (Rashi’s inter- Likewise the tzaddik, in a period of G-d in- porary spiritual giants such as our Rebbe, we holy impulses. How can we then suggest that pretation of Moses’ “sin”). Although it wasn’t a duced decline, experiences an inner sense of can and must emulate their actions. Thus, the they consciously rebelled against G-d or even deliberate or conscious attempt to subvert G-d’s emptiness. In this respect, the tzaddik shares Midrash declares: “Each and every person can were negligent in their responsibilities to G-d? desire that he speak softly to the rock, it nev- an experience of “sin” with all others which say, ‘when will my actions reach the actions of ertheless stimulated a spiritual vacuum within Moreover, the Midrash uses the metaphor of enables him or her to relate to and empathize him. It is in our parsha this week that G-d tells Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.’” The Rebbe ex- with those who stand on a much lower plane a “chariot” to describe the Patriarchs dedication Moses that he would not enter the Promised plains: While it may not be possible to achieve of righteousness. to G-d’s will. Just as a vehicle can only go in Land because he didn’t sanctify G-d’s name. the same spiritual level as the Patriarchs with the direction toward which its driver steers, The void created by sin and the consequent The Hebrew termKiddush Hashem-Sanctifi- whom G-d communicated freely and frequent- so too the Patriarchs had conditioned their distancing from G-d is the deeper meaning of cation of G-d’s name is the opposite of Chilul ly, we can reach, or at least touch, their level bodies to “automatically” act consonant with the term Chilul Hashem. This term is translat- Hashem-desecration of G-d’s name. Hence, of action (the Hebrew word used here “ya’gi’u” G-d’s will. How can we then say that people of ed as “desecration of G-d’s name.” However, if chilul implies a void, kiddush implies filling can mean either reach or touch). this caliber were guilty of sins, let alone to be a more literal rendition of the term chilul is a in that void so that G-d’s holiness is not lost openly rebellious towards G-d? void. Transgressions create that void. In truth, to the world. cont. on p. 43

10 BEIS MOSHIACH 11 TAMMUZ 5780 11 1212 BEBEISIS MOSOSHIHIACACH 11 TAMMMUZ 557780 1133 Menachem Ziegelbaum • The Chag Ha’Geula, Yud- 5767, will go down in we bought matza once a year for my grand- the Jewish history of mother who ate it together with bread. Beis Tammuz Kostroma as the day “I attended the schools of goyim, ate their that marks the renewal food, celebrated their holidays and general- of the community that was nearly eradicated. ly did not feel any different than them. I re- Many years ago, there were laws that prevented member that when I was older, I went with my Jews from living there. This was followed by mother to the big shul in Moscow to buy matza communist decrees which led to an assimila- for my grandmother. This was during the pe- tion rate as high as 95%. riod when communism was already waning A short while after the shluchim, Rabbi and the line for matza was longer than usual. Nissan Ruppo and his family arrived in town, “At a certain point, the person in charge an- the shul in which the Rebbe Rayatz davened in nounced that they had run out of matza, but during his exile which was under lock and key not to worry, because there would be a new for many years, underwent major renovations supply on Sunday. He promised that they and was officially reopened. Once again, the would be baking more matza on Saturday. To Rabbi ruppo at the dedication ceremony of the synagogue Jews of Kostroma could be proud. the few who said it was forbidden to work on That festive event marking the opening of Shabbos, a fact which many knew, as did I, he There was no Judaism in camp; it was more other things, but this wasn’t enough for me. I the shul was precisely 80 years since the Chag said: Jews won’t be baking the matza, gentiles about identifying with . When camp was then attended Yeshivas in Ha’Geula and 100 years since the founding of will. Ignorance was widespread. over my mother registered me for Camp Gan Marina Roscha.” the shul in Kostroma. Since the galus and Geu- “When I was bar mitzva, I celebrated a lit- Israel. She had gone to the principal of the la of the Rebbe Rayatz in this city, Kostroma The Ruppo family made aliya in the winter tle and that was only because of the prevalent Jewish school, and he had suggested that before probably did not see a gathering of Jews such of 5753 and settled in Petach Tikva. spiritual arousal at the time. I raised a cup of school began it would be a good idea to send as this with public figures coming to honor the champagne and my father explained that in me to camp. I ended up in Ohr Simcha in Kfar . Jewish community. The heartwarming sight of Many young Russian kids learned there and Judaism at this age you become an adult. “I received my first, massive dose of Judaism the district leader alongside the rabbi of Russia, the atmosphere was special. I learned there “When I was fourteen my mother took me to in camp. On the first day, I wore tzitzis and on the mayor, local government representatives for a year and a half and from there I went a shul for the first time. Most of the Jews who the second day, I put on tefillin. On the third together with shluchim of the Rebbe, stood to the yeshiva in Tzfas which shaped my life went to shul remained outside. Inside there day, I agreed to undergo a bris. The interest out on this very special Yud-Beis Tamuz 5767 and my shlichus. During the two years that in Kostroma. “Jews can now operate with their were a few Jews who read in a language that was so enormous that out of seventy children I learned there I was given the foundation for heads held high, without fear,” the mayor said. was unfamiliar to me. The service was more of who attended camp, 56 of them had a bris on my Chassidic life. My feeling of hiskashrus to a Jewish social event and display of Jewish iden- the same day. Only three declined and the rest the Rebbe I owe to the rabbanim and mashpiim The Non-Jews will bake the Matza… tity than actual prayer. People simply did not were already circumcised. in that yeshiva.” know anything. A few remembered something Kostroma is the city closest to Moscow. R’ “I finished camp having resolved to keep from their grandparents. I remember how one Ruppo himself was born in Moscow 40-odd kosher. I did not know much about kashrus, LETTER FROM THE REBBE day, my mother brought home a booklet about years ago. but I was given pamphlets and when I went the mitzva of mezuza and it mentioned the In 5757, as a talmid of the yeshiva in Tzfas, home, my mother thought it was a passing fad “Boruch Hashem, both my parents are Jew- Lubavitcher Rebbe. I asked who he was but Nissan went on Merkos Shlichus to cities in like many of my childhood meshugasin. She ish, but their world view was no different than she did not know. Russia. He began his trip in Nizhny Novgorod soon realized that I was serious about it. many other Jews who intermarried. The only and also visited Kostroma, which is considered “In the summer of 5753, I was registered Jewish thing I knew was that we are Jews and “I attended the school of R’ Kurevsky for a a small city with only a quarter of a million for day camp with the Jewish Agency. They few months where I learned Hebrew, among people and not a large Jewish community. did their best to convince Jews to make aliya.

14 BEIS MOSHIACH 11 TAMMUZ 5780 15 2020 BEBEISIS MOOSSHHIIACACH 1111 TAMAMMUZ 55778800 221 Menachem Ziegelbaum • it’s a fact that every Shabbos the Rebbe himself ,, everyone knows and spoke in a way that left no room for doubt, believes that the Rebbe is the especially after Tishrei 5753 when they began In the first singing “Yechi” before him with his consent Nasi of the seventh generation part of this Rabbi Wolpo described his Approbations from rabbanim in general and encouragement. At that time, there was not and continues to lead the feelings of regret after hear- or specifically in Chabad? a single Lubavitcher Chassid who tried to cast generation and there is no ing the Rebbe’s public con- doubts on the passionate faith that expressed interview, First, as the Rebbe told me to do, I went to the demnation of his book on itself through this act of kabbolas ha’malchus. other Nasi. Likewise, everyone two chief rabbis, Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu and Hilchos Melachim which subtly suggested the Rabbi Avraham Shapira and to Rabbi Ovadia True, the Geula standard reached new knows and believes what the Rebbe being Moshiach. He went on to describe Yosef. I also asked for approbations from the heights but you can’t ignore the claim that the gradual change of attitude of the Rebbe to Rebbe said that the Nasi of the Beis Din Rabbanei Chabad and they all signed Gimmel Tammuz changed the entire picture. this topic over the years, reaching a time when on a letter worded by by Rabbi Yaroslavsky. generation is Moshiach. the Rebbe even supported such activities, even It is hard to blame a Chassid who, in great They were Rabbis Bistritzky, Lipsker, Slonim, approving the publication of Rabbi Wolpo’s book anguish and shock over our having reached Ralbag, Gurary, Hecht, Halperin. Also a “Yechi HaMelech”: such a terrible situation, would change how special approbation from my brother-in-law, he relates to the Rebbe as Moshiach. Still, it’s I think it’s a miracle that you didn’t burn Rabbi Ashkenazi. And the members of the clear as day, that if someone holds up answers swer. When doubts were raised, that was the the book in 5744-45 after the sharp answers Crown Heights Beis Din: Rabbis Marlow, that he got in 5744-45 about how this turns response. that you got. If you had done that, you Osdoba and Heller. Also, approbations from: wouldn’t have had anything to publish in Rabbis Hirschprung (Montreal), Menashe people off from learning Chassidus, that would Why? How do you explain the differences 5752 … Klein (author of Mishneh Halachos), Elberg, be exactly like someone coming and holding in the answers to various people? Piekarski, and Stern (Debrecener Rav). up the sharp things the Rebbe wrote in 5710 The truth is that I was very unsure about it, against crowning him as Nasi of the seventh The reason is that kabbolas ha’malchus needs but for some reason I believed that as we get Then I gave the sefer to be printed and when generation. Aside from people laughing at the to be grass-roots; not ordered from above. As closer to the Geula, there was a chance that this I found out about a Chassid who was going to very idea, it would also be seen as an act of the Rebbe wrote to N’Shei Chabad in those “buried” sefer would be a part of it. that day, I didn’t wait to bind it but open rebellion against the king. days, they need to decide on their own. There is sent galleys to the Rebbe along with the appro- also the answer of the Rebbe about lectures on Furthermore, I suddenly noticed that the bations. I enclosed a letter in which I said that As to the matter itself, everyone knows Moshiach’s identity that it depends on Chabad explanation in this sefer aligned nicely with if the Rebbe had nachas now, from the sefer, “I and believes that the Rebbe is the Nasi of the in each location, they need to make the deci- the sicha about the proclamation of “Yechi ask that through this I would be forgiven for seventh generation and continues to lead the sion. In other words, if you will communicate HaMelech” on 2 Nissan 5748, in that it causes the aggravation that I caused seven years ago ...” generation and there is no other Nasi. Like- with words from the heart, then do so and be the revelation of Moshiach and increase in life wise, everyone knows and believes what the successful. Otherwise, don’t publicize it. through kabbolas ha’malchus. This is the reason In a state of tremendous emotional upheav- Rebbe said that the Nasi of the generation is The question ought to be on those who cite I decided to call the sefer Yechi HaMelech. al, I immediately received a response, “Re- Moshiach. Therefore, the conclusion is clear: ceived, many thanks, many thanks. Enclosed these negative proofs, since they themselves Following the directive of the Rebbe, I gave that the Rebbe is Moshiach who will come and herewith (the galleys) that he should publish wrote weekly editorials in favor of proclaiming the sefer to three “knowledgeable friends,” redeem us soon. and exchange for a bound copy, and thanks in “Yechi,” and said we cannot be fazed by anyone R’ Mendel Wechter, R’ Yitzchok Goldberg of advance. And it should be with success and for Some maintain that even in 5752 there since this is the truth. When they wrote and Migdal HaEmek, and R’ Menachem Brod. I good tidings. I will mention it at the tziyun for were negative answers. published their articles, did they suddenly for- omitted and fixed a few paragraphs that they all of the above.” (To me, it seems there was a get all the warnings that they themselves got pointed out and R’ Wechter gave me his person- Regarding all the claims that in Adar I 5752 response between the lines for the forgiveness (including warnings that if they write these al testimony in writing that there was nothing there were other instructions (about printing that I requested.) things, it would be better if they shut down in the sefer that would turn anyone off. When I a certain kuntrus in inyanei Moshiach), it is the publication)? sent this to the Rebbe, he told me to get appro- We see clearly that I received the Rebbe’s well-known that at that time, whoever report- bations in addition to what I had already; the approbation, bracha and encouragement de- ed about positive kabbolas ha’malchus activity Again, I have no complaints, everyone’s Rebbe also asked me to inform him of “results,” spite his having negated it outright seven years received a positive answer. Whoever framed hearts are broken since Gimmel Tammuz and i.e. whether I received approbations. before. There is no question that at a certain the question negatively and asked whether it until the complete hisgalus. So it is extraordi- point, the entire approach to the issue shifted; would turn people off received a negative an- narily amazing that Anash are holding strong

22 BEIS MOSHIACH 11 TAMMUZ 5780 23 2828 BEBEISIS MOSOSHHIIACACH 1111 TAMAMMUZ 57578080 2929 Menachem Gitlin • Rabbi Yosef on 10 Iyar 5674/1914, 105 pei’os. A local non-Jew who saw him started Goldberg years ago in Tiraspol, Moldo- up with him about his Jewish appearance. R’ was born va. His parents were R’ Yaa- Yosef wanted to respond but being afraid, he kov Koppel and Mrs. Rivka remained quiet. When the conductor passed Goldberg. His father was a Ruzhiner Chassid through afterward, R’ Yosef disingenuously who was a Torah teacher of young boys. asked him, “What is the law about dogs on In 5677, when R’ Yosef was three and a half, the train?” When the conductor said that ac- his father passed away and his chinuch became cording to the law, they needed to be muzzled, the sole responsibility of his mother who also R’ Yosef asked, while pointing at the non-Jew, provided for the family. Carefully overseeing “Why then, wasn’t this dog’s mouth muzzled his chinuch was no small thing since the winds when he doesn’t stop barking?” of heresy blew throughout Eastern Europe in- The gentile, who did not expect such a thing cluding Moldova. Local youth became swept up from a young Jewish boy, was dumbfounded With a group of talmidim in Brunoy in communism and other ideologies en masse and abandoned their Jewish heritage. by the child’s cleverness. R’ Yosef’s mother, who had a warm Jewish THE LETTER THAT CAME FIRST OUTSTANDING During the period between the summer of heart, consulted with the rav of the city about 5691/1931 and 5694, he continued to move The state of loyal Judaism in Tiraspol contin- R’ Yosef went through many upheavals from her son’s chinuch. Based on his advice, she did about from branch to branch of Tomchei ued to deteriorate. Young Yosef, who was not when he entered the world of Chabad until not send her son to the local school which was Tmimim in Georgian cities while continuing already affected by false ideologies. registered in any school, spent his time learning his marriage in 5700 though spiritually he did his personal growth along with dedication to in the local beis medrash. The state of Judaism very well. The boy grew into a man, and along maintaining the secret yeshivos of the Rebbe LEARNING TO BE DIFFERENT was so bad that when it was his bar mitzva, he with the intensification of his inner fortitude Rayatz, which in those years were under the FROM A YOUNG AGE was the only local boy, aside from the rav, who he also developed the absolute dedication of a supervision of R’ Avrohom Maiyor. put tefillin on every day. tamim to the Rebbe. Yosef was an only son with four sisters, some Even considering the greats among the of whom had joined communism. This ter- One day, a guest arrived at the beis medrash The yeshiva in Kremenchug was conducted tmimim of that period, R’ Yosef stood out in ribly bothered their mother who decided to from a foreign city. When engaging Yosef in in secret and was under the leadership of Rabbi his diligence and in his G-d fearing ways. In devote herself to the chinuch of her only son. conversation, the man saw that the boy was Yisrael Noach Blinitzky. Occasionally, the a report that was sent to the Rebbe Rayatz on She instilled in him love for Torah and fear sharp. “What a pity,” he said. “A boy like this Chassid, Rabbi Yehuda Eber would come to 2 Iyar 5693, which describes the “state of the of heaven. The child, blessed with prodigious belongs in yeshiva.” test the bachurim. R’ Yosef learned diligently remnant survivors in Tomchei Tmimim,” we find next to R’ Yosef’s name a description as- talents absorbed the messages that emanated The words made a deep impression on Yosef for three years (from the summer of 5687 from the depths of the soul of his mother and signed only to him, “muflag” (outstanding). and he would pester his mother to send him to until the summer of 5690). The yeshiva was took them to heart. learn in yeshiva. She did not easily agree to send closed in 5690 and the students dispersed to SIX CHILDREN – As a child he displayed great determination her son far away but considering the terrible other branches. R’ Yosef went to the branch in SIX YEARS OF MESIRUS NEFESH and did not want to follow his sisters who tried situation and the constant harassment on the Vitebsk. There, he learned under the guidance of to convince him to “do himself a favor” and join part of Yosef’s sisters who were not pleased by Rabbi Avrohom Maiyor (Drizin). R’ Avrohom Before he married, in the time between 5695 modern life. With his mother’s encouragement their brother’s chosen path, convinced her and had him learn well and review the entire Shev and the end of 5700, Yosef Goldberg was one and under the supervision of the rav, he de- she sent inquiries to two yeshivos that were Shmaatsa for the purpose of getting him used of those responsible for the Rebbe Rayatz’s voted himself to learning Torah and remained in Kremenchug. The first response to her let- to training his mind to deep reasoning. R’ Yosef network of underground yeshivos. This ne- unfazed by people. ters was sent by the Lubavitcher yeshiva and studied under difficult conditions to the point cessitated real mesirus nefesh. He had a healthy Jewish pride. One time, that is how Yosef went to Tomchei Tmimim in of complete familiarity, and as a result many After the authorities became suspicious of R’ he was on the local train, wearing tzitzis and 5687/1927 at the age of thirteen. difficult sugyos were etched deeply in his mind. Avrohom Maiyor’s activities (as he was respon-

30 BEIS MOSHIACH 11 TAMMUZ 5780 31 “I committed sin,” confessed R’ a terrible Nosson Nota (“Notkeh”) Berkahan a”h. “I burned He spent ten days there. For one week he was two full notebooks of memoirs.” There was interrogated daily, sometimes twice a day. How a mischievous twinkle in his blue eyes. “I difficult was this for him? R’ Notkeh himself put remember many stories, but they aren’t as it this way, “Ten years in Siberia are very hard. vibrant as they were then.” The trial is even harder. And the interrogation is hardest of all.” He was finally transferred to the jail known There was a widespread saying in Russia, by all as the “central barbershop.” “Whoever did not sit in jail, will sit; and “They took some of us prisoners down to the whoever sat, will never forget it.” R’ Notkeh cellar level cell block, two floors underground. Berkahan is familiar with Russian prisons. He At first glance the ‘room’ looked like a huge was sentenced to seven years. He ended up swarming nest. The ‘room’ was eighty square sitting “only” two. meters and it contained sixty prisoners includ- ing army officers, party members from the time The police searched for him all week. His of the Revolution, managers, kolkhozniks, mur- father-in-law was taken as a hostage. Secret derers and thieves. There was even a ten year police were posted to watch the house. There old who stole half a kilogram of wheat because was no choice; the situation was unbearable. R’ he was starving.” Notkeh turned himself in to the police. He was just a young man, in his first year of marriage. There were no windows. There were two air vents in the ceiling under which sat the special He was greeted with curses. A humiliating characters, the celebrated thieves. The room interrogation. Policemen with drawn revolvers was crowded, hot and smelly, but Notkeh’s main escorted him to his house and conducted a worry was his young wife. He remembered that thorough search and he was sent back to jail, she had not cried when he was arrested. She did to a solitary cell. not lose her trust. He did not know that right after his arrest she began looking for ways to “I fell on the cement floor and sleep over- have him released. came me. I don’t know how long I slept. I was woken up by a strong kick in my back and by There was a routine to life in prison; get- the coarse voice of the policeman who brought ting up, organized going out to use the wash- me a package from home.” room, a small amount of water with which to wet the face, removing the barrel, cleaning the In the package was a loaf of bread, sliced cell, waiting for a piece of bread that was un- so as not to arouse suspicion that there was a derbaked and a little water. The inmates were note hidden inside, a cooked dish, a bottle of preoccupied with guessing – who would be juice for Havdala on Motzaei Shabbos, machur- brought into the cell that day, who would go ka made from ground up tobacco stems, and a out, who would receive a package, who would newspaper cut into pieces with which to make be interrogated? cigarettes. This was on Shabbos. “In the afternoon I would be afraid, lest I be They left him alone until Monday. One of the called for an interrogation. What would they policemen kindly offered his services, to take a ask, how should I answer, and the main thing note from him to his wife. His offer was politely – not to mention anyone’s name. It wasn’t easy declined; his intentions were quite obvious. to be on guard, as the interrogation sometimes

3636 BEBEISIS MOSOSHIHIACACH 11 TAMMUZ 5780 37 MomentsWith The Rebbe

“Mr. Manchester” Visits the Rebbe…

Last week, we described the special relationship between the About this photo, Reb Zalmon Rebbe and Reb Zalmon Jaffe, from 2. writes in the 23rd Installment of his Manchester, England. We continue “My Encounter With The Rebbe”: in this second installment to bring “We were looking forward to seeing special photos and anecdotes of this the Rebbe at the Dollars Distribution on unique Chassid with his Rebbe: Sunday. Over the course of many years we had obtained some very beautiful photo- graphs of my wife and me and also with our grandchildren and great grandchildren, but all showed only the profile of the Rebbe. On none of these scores of pictures was the Rebbe facing the camera. I had written On the 16th of Sivan 5735, a special to the Rebbe and explained that all of our 1. event took place: the Rebbe handed out family and every one of thousands of my the newly published bilingual (Hebrew- readers wanted to see the face of the Rebbe English) that Reb Zalmon brought and not ours. I appealed to the Rebbe that from England. It was like a short outdoor when we arrived at his side on Sunday, we , at the entrance of 770. Here, would be eternally grateful if the Rebbe Reb Zalmon is seen receiving his copy of would turn around for a second and face the Tanya from the Rebbe. the camera. I had warned Chaim Boruch (Halberstram) that I had begged the Rebbe to do this for me and that he should be pre- pared to take this photograph. The result is this, and it is one of the very few pictures ever taken at Dollars Distribution when the Rebbe is actually facing the camera. The Rebbe looks slightly surprised.”

40 BEIS MOSHIACH 11 TAMMUZ 5780 41 will be the need for a new creation of the body Alternately, according to the second version, so that the dead will be able to rise. The ques- R’ Yehoshua had no doubt about the process tion is, does something remain of the previous of the Resurrection. He knew for sure (as it PARASHA Of The Future body upon which other parts will be added to appears, in his name in Bereishis Raba 28, 3) construct a new body or does the Resurrection that the entire body will be rebuilt from the entail a new creation, a new body? famous “luz bone,” that eternal bone which Rabbi Nissim Lagziel RESURRECTION OPTIONS never returned to dust and which will serve as the foundation for the construction of the If the Resurrection happens the first way, new body of the future. According to this view, then the parts of the new body will become the dead will surely need to be purified in the How Does Resurrection Work? contaminated by contact with the old (dead) era of the Geula. The question of the people of parts, as a result of which the entire body will Alexandria was only regarding the generation need to be purified. However, if the body will of the desert about whom there is the opinion BEGIN WITH A GRIN to impurity, then certainly someone who was rise as a new creation, not dependent on the of Rabbi Akiva that “they have no share in the dead needs to purified! old body, this body was never impure so why World to Come” and nothing remained of their A famous doctor once said that although he would it need to be purified? bodies, including the luz bone. This is what R’ Yehoshua’s answer appears in the Gemara doesn’t believe in anything, there is one article they were asking, what will be the din of the In the Gemara Sanhedrin (91a), it tells of of faith that he does believe in: if a Jew gets up in two versions. First, he answered, “When they people of the desert? Will they merit Resur- the debates held by the sages and those who Shabbos morning, goes to shul, then comes home will come alive we will consider the matter,” i.e. rection? If yes, will they need to be sprinkled, denied the belief in the Resurrection of the and eats chulent, goes to sleep and manages to there is no need to deal with this now; when for their bodies (including the luz bone) were Dead. The Gemara brings two analogies for the get up again, then he believes in the Resurrection the time comes, we will talk about it. obliterated, according to Rabbi Akiva. Resurrection from which we can understand of the Dead. According to the second version, R’ how it will occur. In both cases, the Gemara This is what R’ Yehoshua replied, “Moshe Yehoshua said, “When Moshe Rabeinu comes RESURRECTION CONUNDRUM compares Hashem to a manufacturer of vessels. will be with them.” with them,” i.e. don’t worry! Moshe will be The difference is that in the first analogy, the Parshas Chukas begins with the laws of the resurrected too and you’ll have whom to ask. The Medrash says that the reason that body is compared to a clay pot while in the Moshe remained in the desert was in order to red heifer and the purification of the mei cha- second analogy, the body is compared to a glass At first glance, it looks as though R’ Yehoshua bring the generation of the desert to life in the tas. The subject of impurity of the dead and vessel. The difference between the two is in the is avoiding answering them. Instead of saying World to Come. Moshe, the “shepherd of the the purification therefrom is murky. We know extent to which there is a combination of the yes or no, he seems to respond with a simple Jewish people,” takes care of all the needs of that even King Shlomo, “the wisest of all men,” new existence with the previous existence of wisecrack. Is this the way of Torah? Even if the Jewish people in their lifetimes and even could not understand the reason for the mitzva the vessel. When you form a new vessel out of we were to say that the people of Alexandria in death! He sacrifices his life in order to bring of the red heifer. As he put it (Koheles 7:23), “I clay, the material does not undergo a funda- surprised R’ Yehoshua and he really did not them together with him to the Resurrection. said, ‘I will become wise,’ but it was far from mental change; the clay remains clay and just know what to say, is it so hard to say, “I don’t Furthermore, R’ Yehoshua chooses his words me.” Many interesting questions appear in the form and solidity change. But when glass know” (as the chacham in the mishna who precisely and says, “when Moshe comes with Chazal on the subject of purity and impurity. breaks, the way to make a new glass vessel is by says “on what he did not hear, he says I did them,” meaning like them. Just as Moshe will We will address one of them. melting it completely and entirely obliterating not hear”)? arise at the Resurrection from the luz bone, The Gemara (Nidda 70b) tells of three the previous form and according to halacha, In light of these (and other) questions, so will they, and therefore, they will need to questions that the people of Alexandria asked it is considered like a completely new entity. we must say that R’ Yehoshua did not try to be purified. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananya. The third one This is precisely what R’ Yehoshua answered. wave them off, but rather that in his words lie So, what looked to us, at first glance, as was, “Will the dead of the future need to be “When they come alive we will consider the a deep explanation about the process of the dodging the question, was actually a clear an- sprinkled on the third and seventh, or not?” matter,” only then, after the Resurrection, will Resurrection and all the ramifications thereof. swer that directly addressed the essence and Meaning, will the dead who are resurrected we know for sure how the body will be renewed We can find an amazing explanation about this manner of the process of the Resurrection of need to be purified from the impurity of the and only then will we be able to decide whether dialogue in the teachings of the Rebbe. the Dead. dead through the sprinkling of purifying waters the dead need to be purified (as in the first of the red heifer? After all, if touching the dead Obviously, the body does not remain as is analogy of clay) or not (as in the second anal- According to this, everyone will need to or even being in the presence of the dead leads after death. Much of it returns to dust and there ogy of glass). be purified in the era of the Geula, everyone,

44 BEIS MOSHIACH 11 TAMMUZ 5780 45 those alive, those who are dead, and even the “I am a Chassida of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. generation of the desert, with one exception He sent me!” … one who is involved in Torah study! That The woman suddenly became silent. is because according to the sages, “Whoever utilizes the light of Torah, the light of Torah “The Lubavitcher Rebbe? He sent you?” revives him!” When the body comes back to The woman spoke with a Russian accent and life through the light of Torah and the dew of Mrs. Estulin got up her courage and asked her Torah, these things purify him already at the in Russian, with a friendly smile, how she knew moment of resurrection. That being the case, let the Rebbe. us increase in the study of pnimiyus ha’Torah (“the dew of Torah”) in order to achieve total The woman apologized for her insulting purification already at the first instant of words and tears came to her eyes. She told her resurrection. story. The story began five years earlier when her brother left Russia for America. In Russia, TO CONCLUDE WITH A STORY they had been very close. They lost their par- We will end with a story about how the ents when they were children and all they had Rebbe is giving life to Jews even today, both was one another. materially and spiritually. The Rebbe told Mrs. The brother, who was a successful doctor, Raizel Estulin in yechidus to devote time to looked for work in the . He tried Mivtza Neshek. for many months and couldn’t find a job. At Mrs. Estulin, a new immigrant from Russia, a certain point, he began to despair. In a few said she is not familiar with the language and more weeks his money would run out and then she is afraid of the anti-religious atmosphere what? in Israel. He became depressed and decided to end The Rebbe smiled and said, “You do what his life. He walked in toward the you need to do and if someone causes you Brooklyn Bridge. As he approached the bridge, problems, tell them that you are doing so as a he suddenly heard a voice call out, “Excuse shlichus from me.” me sir, are you Jewish? Did you put on tefillin today?” She returned to Eretz Yisrael and on the first Friday she went to a hospital near where she He looked around and saw a bearded per- lived. The woman she approached looked about son standing near a small table. That glance sixty. She looked hostile from the outset and was enough for the young Chassid who called the moment Mrs. Estulin entered her room, out, “Hey, if you are Jewish, come check your she hissed, “What do you want here?” Jewish blood pressure. It’s free! It will make you feel good and it’s quick! You’re Jewish, right?” “I have Shabbos candles, if you want ...” In the end, my brother put on tefillin and The woman’s face reddened in anger and she they got to talking. My brother told him his began to scream while waving a threatening story and when he concluded and said where finger in the air. “Get out of here! All religious he was headed, the Chassid promised that he people are parasites! Thieves from the public! could arrange a meeting with the Lubavitcher Do you hear me? Get out of my room!” Rebbe. And he did. He took my brother with Mrs. Estulin recoiled and then suddenly remembered what the Rebbe told her to say. cont. on p. 39

46 BEIS MOSHIACH 1111 TAMAMMUZ 57578080 4747 Yael Schneerson •

Sibling commonplace and even normal. reach a compromise, mediate, etc., and then rivalry A child learning to communicate the children enjoy a few minutes of Mommy’s with his environment and his undivided attention. In truth, however, argu- is quite family, later with society through ments of this type are best resolved without our his school and neighborhood, interference. As a result, the children will stop represents a “small” preparation for what he fighting far more quickly, because if Mommy can expect in the outside world. Through life’s ignores the matter, the fight will not achieve struggles, he learns how to interact with peo- its desired objective. ple, what to do when others don’t agree with “In contrast, we should pay close attention his opinion, and how to deal with a situation to those sharp and prolonged clashes, whether where he and his friend or anyone else, both it’s a case of one or two children who are con- want the same thing. stantly fighting. In such an instance, we have to So yes, it’s nothing to get to overworked consider what’s happening with this child. Is he about, but what is our place as parents in mak- seeking some other form of attention? Would it ing these fights as “educational” as possible? We then be appropriate to give him that attention spoke to a few veteran mothers and morahs on in other ways, thereby removing the possibility how they handle these situations as they come of his being dragged into violence? On other up (and come up they do…), and we came back occasions, we will likely discover that a certain with some ideas for you too. child has a social problem. There are children GETTING TO THE ROOT OF DISPUTE who have a hard time learning how to compro- mise, as they think that everything belongs to “As long as there is no actual violence, we them. They are unwilling to share with anyone, should not get involved,” says Chaya, an ex- quite characteristic of children aged one or two perienced mother. “The children will learn to years old. However, if a child continues to act get along much better with one another when in this fashion, we need to teach him how to we don’t interfere in their squabbles. In the communicate with other children. final analysis, since we won’t always be there for “Similarly, it’s important to take note that we them, they will have to learn how to conduct usually ask the older children to make conces- themselves in moments of conflict. Here, at sions to their younger siblings. Sometimes, this home, is their opportunity to try their hand creates a situation where the older children feel in a secure location. Eventually, siblings make deprived. ‘Why do I always have to be the one peace and forgive one another.” to give in, while the little ones get used to the “In my opinion, arguments between children idea that they’re entitled to everything?’ Thus, are divided into several types,” claims Efrat, a when they come to kindergarten, surrounded mother of a large family, a kindergarten teacher by children of their own age group, they find by profession. “There are the mild disputes, it difficult to share with others, as they have those that if we interfere, it will only worsen become accustomed to everyone always let- the situation. These are arguments designed ting them have their way… Every mother has solely to get the parents’ attention. In such a to learn how to maintain proper balance and case, we get ourselves involved, try to listen, be precise in the number of concessions she requests from each of her children.

4848 BEBEISIS MOSO HIH ACH 11 TAMMUZ 5780 49 PPirkeiirkei AAvotvot

aflame as a burning oven baking etc.’ surely, This generation is blessed with the ability to he has been given the most sublime strengths perceive everything that transpires in the world in order to withstand the tests that he encoun- through the lens of p’nimiyus. Those who have ters. Those whose avoda is ‘sitting in the tents’ been destined to have “limitations,” mental or were not given these lofty abilities.” The Rebbe physical, are no longer hidden away in a closet. Sara further emphasizes that those who were des- They are encouraged to contribute their unique Gopin tined to raise themselves up from lowly places gifts towards benefiting the world. Contempo- surely have the zechus of being empowered rary society fosters a sincere appreciation for to reveal their sublime strengths. Even when all of those who have overcome restricting, we see our fellow Jew stumble, judging him unhealthy circumstances. As living examples Extraordinary Reality, favorably and truly valuing the great extent of fortitude and determination, they are today’s of his merit will arouse his awareness of his symbols of personal redemption. Extraordinary People inherent capabilities. When there is a positive outlook, the “ways of pleasantness” and “soft Paradigm Shift speech” flow naturally. Sincere words, coming I read: “It’s not enough Whenever I learn the aforementioned from an understanding heart, are internalized These past few months of the corona pan- and have the desired effect. demic have shattered every semblance of לפום גמלא“ Recently to learn Pirkei Avos, you Mishna the Talmudic saying (Ketuvot 67a) always comes to mind. worldwide stability, but Hashem has equipped Disabled,” and Exceptionally Enabled“ ”שיחנא must live Pirkei Avos!” Since my youth one Interpreted as: “according to (the strength of) Am Yisroel with unprecedented strength and לפום :of my favorite sayings is the expression the camel it will be loaded with its burden.” Translated as, “the reward Another aspect of this timeless message is resilience. Throughout our history, communal) .(5:21) ”צערא אגרא Every Jew is endowed with a measure of is according to the suffering.”) The words are expressed in the profound Sicha of the Rebbe religious life has always maintained a defined capabilities in accordance with the difficulty Aramaic, which was the vernacular of the land, MH”M, on chof-gimmel Menachem Av 5733, structure. Even when threatened with perse- of the mission that he must accomplish in as it was a familiar folk saying. Especially today, to a distinguished group of handicapped cution, we held on to this “branch of the tree” his lifetime. Even more so, the struggles as unimaginable efforts are required to normal- with all of our might. Yet, as we witnessed the awaiting him are the best exercise to develop Israeli veterans who were invited to 770. This ize our lives amidst a totally abnormal reality, contagious COVID-19 germ mercilessly claim the inherent powers of his soul. There is no discourse introduces a total reform in society’s precious Jewish lives, there was no other choice this Mishnaic statement is an inspiration to reason for despair. When tremendous avoda is outlook towards “challenged” populations. keep climbing. required in order to refine one’s attributes, they The Rebbe MH”M emphasizes: “You are not but to let go. Our homes became the sole loca- crippled or ‘handicapped,’ but outstanding tion for davening, shiurim and the chinuch of applies to are truly “acquired,” and become embedded ”לפום צערא אגרא “The message individuals, because you have a potential that our children. We learned to appreciate those Torah study and to the performance of Mitzvas, deeply within. The most inspiring people, who not one of us has. Therefore I propose, that invaluable experiences, just as someone who, as well as to each and every personal shlichus leave the most unforgettable impressions, are those who have catapulted themselves from from today and on, you should not be called chas v’shalom, has lost his sight, begins to recog- in our lives. In the Mishna, this statement pre- the disabled of the IDF), instead nize the value of his other senses. Not only have) ’נכי צה“ל‘ ”.out of the box“ cedes the famous Mishna which lists expecta- the excellent division of the) ’מצוייני צה“ל‘ tions according to age groups. The verse begins Sublime Strength we survived, but we will never be the same. IDF), a much more accurate definition of your These difficult times are passing and, as מקרא, משנה,) with scholastic achievements In a Sicha of Parshas Emor (tet-vav Iyar true essence.” Immediately after the Sicha the as well as noting personality strengths Lubavitcher Chassidim, we will always remain ,(גמרא 5742) the Rebbe MH”M cites the well-known Rebbe MH”M stepped down from the podium , and the series of passages regarding declaration of Hakadosh Boruch Hu: “I am and gave a warm handshake to each of these in the battlefield, refining and illuminating the (כח בינה) -We try our best to not requesting according to my strength, but national heroes, and with a radiant smile world. What kind of soldiers are we, post-trau .(לרדוף, חופה) our lifetime showered every one of them with personal ma? The Rebbe MH”M inspires us to develop איני מבקש לפי) ”succeed, but the final results of our deeds are according to their strength -The Rebbe continues, “It is blessings. Chosen by Divine Providence to a paradigm shift that focuses upon our inher .(כוחי אלא לפי כוחן not in our control. Therefore, the Sages note that the reward is in direct proportion to the clear that when a Jew is in a situation and in a become “disabled” as they fought to protect ent gift of excellence. We have been chosen to amount of hard work and painstaking effort position that ‘his livelihood depends on being Am Yisroel, these veterans left their private be the extraordinary people ushering in the that have been invested. Hashem witnesses the in the market all day and to be among those audience with the Rebbe MH”M feeling truly long-awaited extraordinary reality. Moshiach entire picture, and our efforts are what counts. sitting in street-corners...and his desires are enabled. now! ■

52 BEIS MOSHIACH 11 TAMMUZ 5780 53 After he organized the necessary purchas- expected. It would be a good idea to take ad- es, he made a swing around the local hostels vantage of this.” and coffee houses. He looked for Israelis, wrote down phone numbers, and told them about 35 Torah classes and taking place at the in the coming days. 5699. New York. “Raizy, do you Elul remember Jeffrey Gold?” asked Eva, Near a table at one of the coffee houses, he as they walked through the park. noticed a familiar face. “Yes, I remember him,” she replied. “He par- “Rabbi Yonatan?” Ron Mizrachi, a local tour ticipated in Yossel’s birthday party.” guide and permanent resident of the village, rubbed his eyes. He couldn’t believe it. Ron’s “Jeffrey is a widower, forty-five years old, friend, Effi Almog, owner of a diving center, father to two very successful children. While also remembered Yonasan well. they were still young, he didn’t want to bring a surrogate mother into his home. Now they’re “I am temporarily replacing Rabbi Avi,” said grown and independent, and he has begun Yonasan. Review: In the past – Raizele is in America. to think about the next chapter of his life. I Aryeh leaves Yerushalayim. In the present “And where is the Rebbetzin?” asked Effi. thought that it would be appropriate if the two of you met…” – Hadas recalls her previous mistakes. “Rabbi Avi’s? In Eretz Yisroel.” Yonasan is on shlichus. The amazed Raizele didn’t know how to re- “No, I meant your Rebbetzin, Rabbi Yona- act to this strange shidduch offer. tan.” “Listen to me well, child. If you care about Yonasan was slightly bewildered. your children, and if you want to provide them “She’s also in Eretz Yisroel,” he eventually with a father figure and a stable home, Jeffrey replied. “And where is Dror?” he said, changing is the most suitable candidate, He is sensitive, the subject. possesses some very fine attributes, and natu- Dror Eisen is an Israeli businessman who rally, he is a kosher and traditional Jew. Fur- owns one of the guesthouses located in the thermore, he is wealthy – a tycoon. He owns Adar 5778, Villa del Mar, Martinia. village. He periodically comes to Martinia for hotels, apartment buildings, and shopping Yonasan took off his Rabbe- a vacation. “Dror will be coming for Pesach,” centers. He can make you very happy.” inu Tam tefillin and quickly headed for the Ron reported. The children played on the grass, while Eva marketplace. He passed through the various and Raizele sat on a park bench. merchandise stands and filled his cart with “Would you like to go out on a camping fruits, vegetables, beans, fresh fish, and eggs. trip?” Ron suggested on Thursday after dav- “It’s hardly been a year since the divorce,” With Hashem’s help, he’ll try to prepare ening. “I remember well the amazing trips we Raizele reminded her aunt. “And also…I have had when you were here… The combination something good to eat out of all this. If he no intention of just building a ‘traditional’ of Jewish meditation, guitar, and scenic views would have learned shechita, he could have home. I want an Orthodox home with stringent created an unforgettable experience.” made a tasty chicken dish. However, Hadas observance of halacha in every detail.” had been firmly against the idea…Nu , nu, Yonasan thought for a moment. “I’d be de- Raizele simply didn’t understand how twen- what was - was. The reality is that he is the lighted,” he finally said. Something deep inside ty-odd years in the United States had managed only shliach in the country, and he doesn’t him longed for the wide-open spaces and the to deaden her aunt’s values. She had been born know how to slaughter poultry or livestock. unruly elements of nature. and raised in a home that observed the Torah in Now, he’ll have to check how to import ko- Ron checked his calendar. “I have no tour all matters, large and small, just as her mother sher meat from a nearby country, but in the scheduled for the start of next week, and ac- had. How could she possibly believe that such meantime, he’ll offer a vegetarian menu. cording to the forecasts, there is nice weather a shidduch could take place?

5454 BBEEIISS MOSOSHHIIAACCH 11 TAMMUZ 5780 55 The communists, who grabbed control built mikvaos and shuls; others raised money ,, This prison was built of the government in Russia a lit- and set up places to hide and sleep. to instill terror in the tle over a hundred years ago, said everyone The communist regime did not look favor- had to work equally and put all their efforts prisoners and it was known ably on those who were thwarting their plans. into their work on behalf of “Mother Rus- It invested great efforts to reeducate all citizens as a place from which you sia,” and not waste time learning Torah and as soldiers of the Communist Revolution and davening, may Hashem have mercy. did not emerge alive. Despite here, a handful of stubborn Chassidim were “Whoever learns Torah does not work,” interfering! this, the Rebbe fought and the evil communists explained and in addi- The persecution intensified. Spies mingled won the right to receive his tion they claimed that there is no place for among the Chassidim and provided their send- “parasites who live off others’ work.” Those tallis and tefillin which ers with details about the Rebbe’s shluchim who taught Torah, rabbanim, and even par- had been taken from him. ents who wanted to teach their children in who were later arrested and exiled. Chassidim the spirit of Torah and mitzvos, were called who had supported themselves were fired and “counter-revolutionaries.” were left without food to eat. Schools inten- sified their supervision of Jewish students to The government worked to stamp out all ensure they were not absent from the heretical prison, he was brought in for an interrogation religious activities. Yeshivos were closed, the lessons and were present on Shabbos. that lasted several hours at the end of which he teachers dismissed, mikvaos were ruined, was told that his sentence would be execution! and shuls were put under surveillance lest At first, the government tried to present itself anyone use them as places to learn Torah. to the world as an enlightened government that This prison was built to instill terror in the allowed its people freedom of religion. They prisoners and it was known as a place from Those who tried to oppose all these ter- told everyone that whoever wished could keep which you did not emerge alive. Despite this, rible decrees were fired from their jobs and mitzvos. For this reason, at first they did not the Rebbe fought and won the right to receive denounced as a counter-revolutionary and arrest or do anything about the Rebbe Rayatz, his tallis and tefillin which had been taken from traitor. In the best-case scenario, they were but in the end, they realized that just as there him. jailed. In the worst-case they were exiled is no body without a head, so too, Chassidim At that time, Lubavitcher Chassidim made to harsh labor camps in Siberia where they cannot operate without a Rebbe. disappeared. Judaism throughout Russia enormous international efforts to have the and many beautiful communities vanished. The Rebbe was home on Wednesday night, Rebbe freed. Although they seemingly did Thriving shuls and battei medrash were put 15 Sivan 5687/1927. In the middle of his meal, not have a chance, the international publicity under lock and key. armed soldiers broke into his house. They were about the Rebbe’s arrest and the sentence the led by two officers, Nachmanson and Lulov, communists wanted to give him generated Lubavitcher Chassidim in Russia were who came from Chabad families. They in- great pressure on Russia. Protests came in from the only ones to be moser nefesh to pre- formed the Rebbe that he was under arrest. around the world about this great injustice. serve Judaism. They continued teaching Torah to children, they built and operated The Rebbe was calm throughout and one In the end, the miracle occurred and the secret mikvaos, made sure there was ko- could not see any signs of fear or despair. After death sentence was abolished. Instead, it was sher shechita and sent mohalim to homes they conducted a thorough search of the house, decided that the Rebbe would be exiled for ten where baby boys were born. These secret they took the Rebbe to Spalerka prison. Later years. Those working on his behalf did not rest. emissaries breathed new life into Jews who on, the Rebbe said that this day of his arrest Together with the prayers that the Chassidim, learned that there was still hope for Torah planted the seeds so that there would be the wherever they were, offered, and after much and mitzvos, even under the oppression of growth of spreading the wellsprings that fol- work, the Russian government gave in and the Russian government. lowed when he left Russia and arrived in the changed the sentence again, to three years in United States. exile. The Rebbe Rayatz fearlessly led the battle. He sent his Chassidim to do various jobs: The Rebbe kept a diary in which he wrote Chassidim, who lived throughout Russia, they became teachers and mashpiim; they what happened to him. Upon arriving at the were not updated with the details. It was

5588 BBEEISIS MOOSSHHIIAACCH 11 TAMMUZ 5780 59 enough for them that the death sentence had He was actually freed the following day since been abolished for them to rejoice and dance the twelfth was a holiday in Kostroma. The next in the streets. Even after they learned that the day, the Rebbe received a document stating that Rebbe would be exiled and not freed, there were he was free to leave. Chassidim gathered in the Chassidim who continued to dance, rejoice and Rebbe’s house and he said a maamar Chassidus MadorKids Corner kids farbreng until the Rebbe was completely freed. that begins with the words, “Boruch HaGomel Before the Rebbe boarded the train to his L’Chayavim Tovos.” place of exile, he spoke brief, fiery words. He In a letter that the Rebbe Rayatz wrote in STORY TIME said, “Only our bodies were placed in exile and connection with the Chag HaGeula, he said, subjugated to the nations. We must openly pro- “It wasn’t only me that Hashem redeemed on claim that as far as what pertains to our reli- 12 Tammuz but also all those who cherish our gion, to Toras Yisrael, its mitzvos and customs, holy Torah, shomrei mitzva, and also those SONG OF LIFE nobody can force his opinion on us and there who bear the name of Jew (Yisrael).” In other is no power of coercion that can subjugate us!” words, the Rebbe’s redemption was a Geula of This story took place many years ago “Moshe, let us go to shul.” The miracle did not end with that. When the all the Jewish people. in Poland. Rebbe arrived in Kostroma he was told he had On the way, Moshe looked at the Since then, 12-13 Tammuz is a time that to present himself every Tuesday to sign in at “Moshe, did you pack your suitcase?” many visitors: rich, distinguished men, the police station. When the Rebbe arrived on Anash rejoice. Tachanun is not said. It is a day asked Father. 12 Tammuz, the Russian official greeted him of farbrengens and a time to make good reso- Admorim and rabbanim. They had all nicely and informed him that he was exempt lutions about increasing in Torah and mitzvos, Moshe gently folded the shirts and put come to the town, which was known for from having to make any more of these appear- especially strengthening the learning and ways them in a pile in the suitcase. Then he its clear, good air, that was healthful for ances since he was free to leave. of Chassidus and spreading the wellsprings. ■ opened the drawer and took out a few of body and soul. Being a famous place with his beloved treasures. He put them into many people going on vacation there, spalerka prison as it appears today the suitcase too. there was even a shul. In a little while, they would be going “Did you hear? Did you hear who came on a family trip to a resort area called to town?” chattered the people excitedly. Marienbad where they would stay for “Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok, the Lubavitcher several weeks. What a wonderful time Rebbe!” they would have! People knew of the Rebbe’s greatness When everything was packed and so it wasn’t surprising that they were very ready, they joyfully set out. Moshe happy at this news. watched the passing scenery. They would be arriving shortly. On Shabbos, Moshe wore his white The small home that they would use shirt and he held his father’s hand as they for this vacation could be seen in the walked to shul. distance. “See Moshe, that is the tzaddik, Rab- Moshe examined the room that would bi Yosef Yitzchok,” whispered his father. be his for the next while and was delight- Moshe looked at the Rebbe and was en- ed. He arranged his belongings in the tranced. Although he was only a little closet and drawer and just as he finished, boy, he could tell that the Rebbe was a his father called him. holy man.

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