SINGING FROM SOUL TO SOUL

By Nosson Avrohom Translated by Michoel Leib Dobry Singer and actor Gilli Shushan is well known to the Israeli public, but despite his fame, there was an inner pain and unexplained yearning that nestled within him.

The highest aspiration of every Eretz Yisroel, David Ritz. During his and significance. Personally, I didn’t actor in the world is to receive a role career, he made numerous understand why I felt this way, but it in a film made in the motion picture compositions. Yet, despite his was an existing fact. Today, at the capital of the world, Hollywood, success, he always felt a sense of end of this process, I can safely say U.S.A. The actor R’ Gilli Shushan emptiness that constantly nagged that I have found what I was began his creative journey as a gifted away at him, as he searched for a searching for, and nothing has ever musician, soon realizing his dream. much deeper meaning to his life. been the same since.” At the height of his career, when he While on the outside, Gilli enjoyed was performing leading roles in much adulation and honor, he was SEARCHING FOR A television series, stage performances privately afflicted by great sadness. and films, he made his way to “Somehow, I always felt that I DIFFERENT FRAMEWORK Hollywood, where he arranged was lacking something – something Gilli was born and raised in a sound track recordings for an that I couldn’t describe in words,” capitalistic Zionist family based in award-winning Hollywood film. Gilli he said as he recalled those days of North Tel Aviv’s Shikun Lamed Shushan took the Israeli puzzlement and confusion. “Even neighborhood. “At home, I received entertainment world by storm. His when I was at the height of my an education in which money was artistic talents became apparent success, playing roles on stage and the basis for success in life The more when he participated in leading roles television, I always asked for a person earns, the greater his status on television. something else – another dimension. and importance. Judaism in our His artistic career began when he I know that ninety percent of the home was more symbolic than a was still a lad of fourteen years of world would gladly trade places with source of inner spiritual content. I age., He learned to play drums from me. My salary was quite high, and loved every opportunity I had to one of the legendary drummers in my work was deemed of great value read books and to write songs and

6 3 Teives 5771 BEIS MOSHIACH The first time that Gilli turned to Heaven and cried out for help was when he was sixteen. “This was after I had been expelled from another school. I felt that no one understood what was going through my heart. I lay down on the carpet and cried out loud. I couldn’t stop the flow of tears streaming down my cheeks. I didn’t know exactly to whom I should turn, but I asked for a different way, a better way. My soul was yearning for self-expression, crying out from its very depth. Today, I know that this crying came from the essence of my soul, without any logic or reason.”

BLINDING SUCCESS Upon reaching the age of military conscription, Gilli decided to go for the best, and he enlisted in the Givati Orev reconnaissance patrol. The service in this unit was hard to bear. Discipline was absolute, and before long he found himself transferred to the education corps. “My talents were in the performing arts, not as a warrior.” At the same time that I was serving in the stories. One of my relatives was the above average marks, showing that military, I enrolled in the prestigious author Shoshana Segalowitz, whose he had been blessed with good Nissan Nativ Acting Studio. Only a family in the Bilu Movement was understanding and ability in scant few were ‘privileged’ to be among the founders of the city of expression. However, when he came accepted to this school and even Gedera.” to a set learning framework – it all then, on extremely rigid conditions. He didn’t like his studies in came apart. As a result, he was Even though the world of acting school, because he didn’t find them tossed out of one school after was not foreign to him, he simply interesting. From a very early age, he another. couldn’t believe how his success was searching the spiritual world, “Today, I know that my soul increased so sharply. “At the time, I without knowing that it even existed. refused to accept the path upon didn’t believe I could be a successful While other students were carrying which they were trying to lead me. It and well-known actor. I was the out instructions to please the school simply would not agree to walk youngest actor in the school. Those faculty, Gilli rebelled against all according to the guidelines that around me, including the children of symbols and values. society had set for it.” famous authors, had already made His parents were very upright When he went out into the big several films and stage and honest people who held wide world, he met like-minded performances. Yet, while I was the respectable positions. They sent him young people who despised set least experienced in the acting field, to psychologists for a diagnosis of frameworks and were looking for it was willed by Divine Providence the motivating forces behind his another set of values. Looking to that I should succeed. My lack of behavior, but they were unable to express their artistic talents, they put experience proved beneficial. I determine what led him to act in together some successful bands. He accepted everything that I learned in such a fashion. In all the intelligence had no connection whatsoever to the school as Torah from Sinai.” examinations, the results gave him Judaism, not even in a casual way. Gilli’s efforts reaped much

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 769 7 when he was offered a role in a MY SHABBOS highly rated comedy series about a In the past several years, Gilli has been interviewed by dozens of group of Tel Aviv youngsters who media figures, and all of them ask the same question: How did this left their parents’ homes, as they happen? What happened and why? The following is an excerpt from tried to “find themselves”. The one of the interviews, in which Gilli talks with great enthusiasm about success was far greater than how he spends his Shabbosim today: expected. “Within a short period of “From my vantage point, Shabbos is…a supreme pleasure – Gan time, I became a well-known Eden in a physical body. You experience a physical-spiritual personality, and people constantly satisfaction, a wonderful sensation in both body and spirit. This is a recognized me on the street and spiritual feeling that you don’t experience during the week, something asked for my autograph. Everywhere you can feel in the trees, on the streets, on the sidewalks, in the I went, I felt that people were staring heavens, and in the people before you. It’s a pure sweetness that seems at me. All of my privacy had to engulf all open spaces. Many emotional barriers come down, vanished in an instant. I didn’t creating an indescribable vastness. understand the meaning of all the “My daily schedule for Shabbos is…I immerse myself in the mikveh tremendous appreciation that had on Friday, nullified in existence, experiencing how the ‘ayin’ is the real come my way. But as strange as it ‘yesh’. I daven as I fuse with the Blessed and Infinite Creator. sounds, I started to feel a great Afterwards, I eat the evening seuda with my wife and two children, and sense of emptiness. I saw in all the get a taste of true happiness and wealth. I sing chassidic niggunim at music and dance around me a lot of the table, niggunim of devotion, yearning, and joy, together with people superficiality and ignorance. Once whom I enjoy inviting to my home. This sometimes continues until one again, I sought to find something o’clock in the morning. I then go to sleep and dream sweet dreams. I beyond that. wake up the next morning, prepare a cup of coffee, and learn a “It’s impossible to lie to the chassidic maamer from one of the Chabad Rebbeim. Jewish heart. I felt rejected by the “After getting a taste of the maamer, I slowly make my way back to world and myself, totally worthless the yeshiva, where I again immerse myself in hot water that no spa or despite the fact that I wasn’t lacking country club can match. Then, I proceed to daven, slowly and anything in a material sense. I was pleasantly. Afterwards, I return home for the daytime meal, where we earning large sums of money and sit at the table together, sing together, and contemplate on the Blessed living a good life. Yet, despite all the and Infinite G-d. Later, I go back to daven Mincha, cleaving to the luster and brilliance, surrounded by unfathomable essence of G-d’s existence. Mincha is followed by the people of great stature and third and final Shabbos meal, including the order of chassidic niggunim prominence, I couldn’t lie to myself. of the various Chabad Rebbeim from all the generations. My heart was crying out. My parents “My shul is…both a yeshiva and a very open place of prayer, which and friends didn’t understand why I invites anyone and everyone. There are many goodhearted, gentle, and was so sad, and what I was missing loving people there. It is filled with much simcha, lots of niggunim, in life. I had no answer, but this was great love, and pleasantness. a fact.” “My reading material is…comprised primarily of kabbalistic and chassidic maamarim on the weekly Torah portion, or maamarim from “EXCUSE ME, RABBI, BUT the Lubavitcher Rebbe and the Alter Rebbe, Baal HaTanya. I DON’T UNDERSTAND. “Now, when Shabbos goes out, the first thing I do – it used to be to WHAT’S ‘SHABBOS’?” get a cigarette – is to say ‘VaYiten Lecha’ with my wife – a joint prayer recited on Motzaei Shabbos in which we bless one another.” Despite a deep thirst for the inner truth, Gilli continued his success in numerous acting roles in success in receiving some leading up against all external scrutiny. “It his field. He performed dozens of roles, earning him considerable wasn’t easy at all. There was a lot of roles in successful films, dramas, praise and appreciation. He invested competition and jealousy but I made series, and also commercials for a great deal in the development of it through because I had an some leading companies on the his talents. Throughout the three objective,” said Gilli. market. “The first click with the years of his thespian studies, he His big break came at the truth was when I went to New York didn’t miss a single day. He stood conclusion of his acting studies, for a screening of a film in which I had participated. It was there that I

8 17 Teives 5771 BEIS MOSHIACH met Lior Shulman, a talented drummer and a good friend of mine from the Ankori School in Tel Aviv, where we had studied together. He took me with them to the Kabbala Center, and I felt that I had found something to quench my spiritual thirst.” Gilli first began to understand that the Torah is not a book of history or a nice and interesting little story, rather a way of life. “The lecturers at that center knew how to convey the messages of the inner teachings of Torah in a manner that even people with no previous knowledge of the religious world, and surely not the world of the esoteric, could understand. They showed us how the Torah is something both profound and sublime, with mysteries and hidden meaning that restored my heart. I returned to Eretz Yisroel an entirely different person; I felt that I had discovered something I had to explore. “When I arrived back in Eretz Yisroel, I learned that one of my good friends, Michoel Veigel, with whom I learned at the Nissan Nativ Acting Studio, was in the midst of a process of t’shuva. At the time, we would sit together and learn Rambam’s ‘Guide for the Perplexed’, not in order to understand or internalize, but primarily to dabble in Jewish philosophy. I now realize that by this time, Michoel had seuda stemming from someplace already had the feeling that no honor apparently made the decision already real. The marvelous niggunim or applause would be more to change course. We spoke a great aroused within me some long gratifying to me. This was a deal during this period, and then dormant emotions, and anyone who powerful experience I had never one day, he suggested that I join him understands music would easily melt known before. for a Shabbos at the home of Rabbi upon hearing them. I was both “A couple of months later, at Yosef Gerlitzky, the Rebbe’s head amazed and moved to see a Jew Michoel Veigel’s wedding, I met shliach in Tel Aviv. I had my share of sitting together with his whole Rabbi Gerlitzky again, and this time doubts, but I eventually accepted the family, young and old, singing, he was soaking in sweat from all the offer, mainly because he had asked talking, and taking an interest. In joyous dancing. I saw him in the me.” secular society, I never saw a father middle of the platform, making his It turned out that the experience sit together with his children with half-century old body leap with at the Kabbala Center paled in such devotion and intensity. The delight, not to mention the more comparison to what he encountered whole scene attracted me like a than two hundred Chassidim he at the home of the Gerlitzky family. magnet, even more than thousands excited around him. Suddenly, as he “True Jewish joy reigned at the of people applauding in a theatre. I saw me looking at him from the

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 769 9 seats near the bar, he reached his seifer, and on one of the first pages I believe the day would soon come hand out in my direction and invited saw, I read the sentence; ‘Know that that I would turn into a religious Jew me to join the dancing. When I before emanations were produced like him. While I considered this approached him, he said, ‘I want and creatures were created, there possibility to be highly unlikely, you to come to us for Shabbos.’ I was a simple supernal light that filled Rabbi Gerlitzky didn’t relent and he was such an ignoramus in everything all existence’. I read this sentence continued with great patience to connected to Judaism, I thought he again and again, and I stood frozen have an influence on me.” was talking to me in acronyms. I in my place. In a single moment, it Several years passed of one foot figured that when he said ‘Shabbos’, gave me understanding that this was in and one foot out, until that day he he meant Sherut Battei HaSohar, a work of great profundity. commemorated Yom Yerushalayim. the prison chaplain service where he “My heart was crying out. At Very early that morning, he boarded served, and he wanted me to come long last, I had found what I had the first bus for Yerushalayim in as a famous actor to entertain the been searching for all my life. I had order to daven Shacharis at the inmates. finally discovered the tool to express Western Wall and then meet with a “Forgive my ignorance, Rabbi, everything I felt within me, but I had rav who lived in the Old City’s but I don’t understand. What’s been totally unable to put it into Jewish Quarter. “I had heard a great ‘Shabbos’?” He smiled and words. I had always believed with all deal about him and I asked if I could immediately explained, ‘Shabbos my heart that there was a Creator of seek his advice,” Gilli recalled. “I Kodesh’. the World, that there was something melodiously sang the morning “Of course I’ll come, Rabbi! Just beyond human intellect, yet I didn’t prayer from start to finish. My tell me when,” I said, never know how to find it or put in into musical davening turned into a intending to carry this out. expression. This sentence marked lament lasting more than an hour “He went back into the center of the first meaningful path within a and a half. When I finished the dancing, and I went back to my chain of paths that led me to start Shacharis, I had some time left to barstool, pondering over this observing Torah and mitzvos.” tour the Jewish Quarter, something I chassidic invitation for Shabbos. had never done before. Then, my heart suddenly began to DIVINE PROVIDENCE IN “As I was slowly walking down talk: ‘This man can be my ‘simcha’ THE ALLEYWAYS OF the alleyways of the Old City, I teacher. Maybe it would be a good started to think about how the idea to take a few private classes YERUSHALAYIM Jewish People walked down these from him! From that moment, I In hindsight, Gilli realized that he very same streets throughout the spent not one, not two, but many had received answers to the generations. Despite the devout and Shabbosim with him. questions that had been troubling conservative appearance of the “Over a period of several years, I and bothering him ever since he bearded and black-clad ultra- took classes in simcha from him. At came of age, even if he didn’t always Orthodox Jews who were passing the start of my spiritual journey, I know how to define them. “No one there at the same time, I suddenly had already learned that nothing of ever spoke with us about what felt a spiritual closeness and truth comes easily without toil, and existed prior to the Creation of the connection to them that I had never we all have a long way to go to world, and thoughts of what was felt before. I suddenly identified with become truly happy. Thus, ‘the long here beforehand always flickered in them and with their peculiar way of and the short way’ is preferable to my mind: Who gave life to life. ‘the short and the long way’, the everything? Who’s responsible for all “I sat down at one of the small latter of which leads to the sudden this? I felt that this sentence I had restaurants in the Jewish Quarter realization that you really haven’t read was the absolute truth. It and pondered over certain things. gotten anywhere and you’re still way touched me to the depth of my soul. Suddenly, a young man, about my off. I felt that this was a real discovery.” age, came up to me, said ‘Hello’, “Despite the points of light that I What brought these “lights” into and asked if he could speak with me. received from Rabbi Gerlitzky, my “vessels” for Gilli was his I noticed that he was wearing a klipa proved to be a particularly hard participation in the Tanya classes Chabad yarmulke. ‘You look familiar nut to crack. What finally aroused with Rabbi Gerlitzky. “I initially to me, but I can’t seem to remember me at the end of this path and made came to these shiurim as a favor for from where,” he said. I invited him me feel that I must make a change in my friend, Michoel Veigel. Today, I to sit down at my table, as I my life was when I came across the thank him for saving me. I didn’t somehow felt that there was seifer ‘Eitz Chayim’. I opened the alter my life that quickly; I didn’t something that this young man

10 17 Teives 5771 BEIS MOSHIACH wanted to tell me, something I needed to know. “He began by saying that he had been learning for the past several months in the Chabad yeshiva in Tzfas, and he was quite satisfied there. He spoke with great enthusiasm about the yeshiva, which contains several divisions for young Lubavitchers, young baalei t’shuva, and those like him who discovered the light of truth at a more mature age. I sat there frozen as he discussed the yeshiva’s great qualities. What amazing Divine Providence, I thought to myself. Here I’m about to meet with a kabbalist to find out which yeshiva I should attend, and G-d sends me a sign from Heaven with a clear message as to where to go. “As we made the short walk together to the rav’s home, I told the bachur, ‘Look how marvelous are the ways of G-d. I thought that I might go to Yerushalayim and ask the rav a question, and then suddenly I realized that G-d has sent me the answer through you…’”

THE “D’VAR MALCHUS” SICHOS SIMPLY UPLIFTED ME The more Gilli progressed along the path of Yiddishkait, the more his friends began to distance themselves from him. Close friends would see him from a distance and then cross to the other side of the street to avoid meeting him. These are people who appreciated, respected, and everything, just don’t become a baal maamarim of the Alter Rebbe. When praised his work, but from the t’shuva.” I became a Chassid in an external moment that they realized that he On the auspicious day of his sense, I started learning the Rebbe’s had become a baal t’shuva, they wedding, Gilli felt that he had to teachings as well.” were afraid to be seen in his find some way to express his What completed the kiruv presence. “The gossip columnists newfound spiritual insight. “It’s process for Gilli were the “D’var followed my every step. At the start interesting that during the period Malchus” sichos, which he had first of my journey, I went to the when I made this decision, I also heard about from Rabbi Yosef remnants of our Beis HaMikdash began for the first time to connect to Chaim Ginsburgh, the head of the and put on t’fillin. The following the Rebbe’s maamarim and sichos. Chabad yeshiva in Ramat Aviv. “I morning, my picture was spread on Until then, I had settled for the encountered issues that I never a full page of a highly regarded study of ‘Torah Ohr’ and the would have believed that Judaism magazine. Friends told me,” Gilli, do

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 769 11 would discuss so openly in the truest become more familiar with Judaism interviewers made comparisons and most modern terms. Everything and chassidus. between the past and the present, I sought in meditation appears In recent months, he has determining that the style and sound clearly in the Rebbe’s sichos with produced his first disc, entitled had not changed, only the message unquestioned sources in Judaism. “Rishon V’Acharon” (First and had become more Jewish and “What really got me into the Last). Gilli wrote the ten songs that chassidic. whole matter with full force was the appear on this disc himself, save for Nowadays between Rebbe’s statement that our job today one taken from one of the Rebbe performances, Gilli also finds time is merely to open our eyes and see Rayatz’s maamarim on the art of for lectures. Recently, he completed the Redemption. When I read this, I song. He divided the composition a series of successful lectures with cried out in my heart: This is the work with Chabad musician Nadav the “Shorashim” Center for baalei truth. We can and must fulfill Bechor, who had already t’shuva. He also was a guest lecturer mitzvos, put on t’fillin, observe participated in numerous Chabad at the Chabad café in Rishon L’Zion Shabbos, but the Rebbe also said musical productions. “At first, I and the “Mi’maal Mamash” Chabad that if you want to see the never dreamed of putting out a disc. House in central Tel Aviv, but his big Redemption now already, it exists, I didn’t think that I would be a dream is to present his doctrine on it’s here. Just open your eyes and suitable performer look deep inside. It’s not something for such a project. in Heaven; it’s right in front of you. We produced It no longer matters what you do, renditions of all the essence of your life is Moshiach. the songs I had When I read this again and again, I written, and we realized that this was the absolute made a series of truth. about one “I try to convey the message of hundred and opening one’s eyes during each of twenty my performances. I remember the performances moment when I began to understand from Dan to Eilat, how much power and strength were which met with contained in the “D’var Malchus” tremendous sichos. It was Rabbi Ginsburgh who success. We made the suggestion that I should appeared before learn these sichos. At the time, I had people of all age a kind of yeshiva at home, where I groups and from studied together with several friends, every sector, and and it would uplift us each time each time we saw anew. These sichos are a cure and a many in remedy for life in our times. Filled attendance who with great emotion over the personal were deeply moved by the songs, television. “I don’t think that we redemption I had experienced, I each of which was preceded by a fully understand the power of the would go into coffee houses, learn background explanation. I never medium of television. In a matter of with the pleasure seekers, and try to considered myself to be a great minutes, it can bring many Jews open their eyes…” singer, and therefore, the disc was back to their roots. You can’t always not part of my plans. Yet, when I reach such a wide audience on the ON THE FRONT internalized the fact that if this will street or in a Chabad House, SPREADING THE be my life’s shlichus, the Rebbe will whereas it is much more accessible want us to move forward, and we through the television networks. We WELLSPRINGS soon began work on the disc.” must do more in order that many In recent years, Gilli has been The disc was sold at Steimatzky young people, walking confused in found everywhere, harnessing his shops and other record stores with a search of a path in life and acting talents for spreading the very high sales percentage. R’ Gilli disbelieving that it is within their wellsprings of chassidus and serving was also requested to provide grasp, will realize that it’s all very as a bridgehead for Jews coming explanations to the various media close to them, and all they have to closer to their roots who want to networks on the new product. The do is open their eyes.”

12 17 Teives 5771 BEIS MOSHIACH compilation THE ALTER REBBE REVEALS THE KEITZ

Edited by Y. Ben Boruch

gaon! If he lived in the days of the In connection with 24 Teves, the hilula Amoraim, he would have been an of the Alter Rebbe, we present a Amora! If he lived in the days of the Tanaim, he would have been a compilation of stories from the notes of Tanna!

R’ Avrohom Weingarten a”h, l’ilui YOU WON’T EVEN nishmas his son, R’ Matisyahu Aryeh FIND THE DOOR The Tzemach Tzedek once Leib Hy’d said[4]: My grandfather (the Alter Rebbe) NOT IN THE HEAVENS! him enter – the gabbai was a man of once said to the Chassidim: What are you doing? You won’t even find A halachic question was posed to stern character and had gilui Eliyahu the door [to my Gan Eden]! the Alter Rebbe and he paskened (Eliyahu the Prophet appeared to When he related this, the (ruled) like the Mirkeves HaMishna him). Tzemach Tzedek cried a lot and (another version: like the Noda The Alter Rebbe said: I have a said: R’ Yochanan ben Zakai said, “I b’Yehuda). He said about this: Even yungerman (young man) here with don’t know which way they will lead though the Pri To’ar decided the din me who, during the Shmoneh Esrei me [to Gan Eden or Gehinom],” (law) differently and the Pri To’ar has gilui neshama (revelation of the while my grandfather was sure he writes in the introduction to his soul level of neshama) and it says in would be in Gan Eden. book that in every p’sak halacha he the writings of the Arizal[2] that searched Above in the source of the gilui neshama is loftier than gilui neshama in order to know what the Eliyahu and ruach ha’kodesh THE REBBE’S din truly is, I still did not pasken like (prophetic spirit). DOORKNOB When he related this, R’ Shmuel him because the Torah came down The Rebbe Rayatz once said: to this physical world into physical Levitin said: I heard two versions as to who the yungerman was, either R’ When the Chassid R’ Yitzchok objects so that the physical intellect Isaac of Homil held the doorknob of would exert itself and arrive at the Pinchas Reizes or R’ Binyamin Kletzker. the [Alter] Rebbe, dem Rebbe’ns p’sak din. kli’amka, that is when the concept of “there is no place devoid of Him” A REVELATION OF THE IN THE DAYS became settled in his mind NESHAMA IS LOFTIER OF THE TANNAIM HE THAN A REVELATION OF WOULD BE A TANNA! WHY ARE THEY ELIYAHU The Tzemach Tzedek said about CALLED CHASSIDIM? his grandfather, the Alter Rebbe[3]: When[1] the Alter Rebbe went to The Alter Rebbe once met Rabbi If he lived in the days of the Rabbi Boruch of Mezhibuzh, R’ Chaim of Volozhin. R’ Chaim had Gaonim, he would have been a Boruch’s gabbai did not want to let some questions and complaints

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 769 13 themselves Chassidim when the level THE CHASSID WHO DID NOT WANT of “Chassid” is a very lofty level and TO REVEAL THE KEITZ there are many levels before you reach that level? The following is from R’ Mordechai Perlow (from his book Likkutei The Alter Rebbe answered R’ Sippurim) where we see the attitudes of the talmidim of Tomchei Chaim Volozhiner with a smile: The T’mimim in Lubavitch and what they concluded based on this maamer: truth is that the way of Chassidus of It is known that the Alter Rebbe once said a maamer Chassidus and the Baal Shem Tov is the idea of spoke about when Moshiach would come. He quoted many verses and t’shuva and so we should really be sayings from Chazal about this and his calculation worked out to called baalei t’shuva. But then those 5603/1842-3. I did not see the maamer but I heard from R’ Shmuel opposed to this approach would be Gronem that the maamer was available among Chassidim. called reshaim (wicked) and so The famous Chassid, R’ Gershon Dovber of Pahar said that he better that they call us Chassidim.[5] heard from his great-grandmother that she heard that the calculation in the maamer was actually for 5603 but when the Alter Rebbe said the year, he said a different, later year. Since the year that he said was SHE MERITED TO SEE later and the Chassidim naturally did not want this, it was decided by THE ALTER REBBE all of them that the Alter Rebbe said 5603. R’ Shmuel Levitin related: When R’ Gershon Dovber heard this he was amazed, for how was it My great-grandmother merited that not one of those present reacted to the discrepancy! And since R’ to see the Alter Rebbe in the year Gershon Ber was a shadar (fundraiser appointed by the Rebbe) and he 5567/1797, when he traveled to traveled to many places and towns, he looked for someone who knew Zhlobin for the famous wedding. about this. He finally found R’ Dovber Zev Wolf, Av Beis Din in My great-grandmother said that she Yekaterinislav (now Dnepropetrovsk) and R’ Dov Wolf told R’ Gershon heard that the Alter Rebbe once said Ber that he heard from his father (or grandfather) that he heard from a a maamer (starting with the words Chassid of the Alter Rebbe who was present when the maamer was “and a thousand, seven hundred”) said, that all the calculations and verses and sayings from Chazal were and the calculation in the maamer all about the year 5603, but in the end, when the Alter Rebbe had to (as to when Moshiach would come) verbalize the year, he said a different year. He also heard which year it came out to a particular year but the was that the Rebbe said , but he refused to say what it was. Alter Rebbe said a different year, R’ Gershon Ber concluded: This Chassid who heard it from the however, she did not remember the Alter Rebbe and did not disclose it, lived a long life and he attributed year. his long life to his not revealing the year that the Alter Rebbe said. When we talmidim of the yeshiva heard this story from the mashpia R’ Shmuel Gronem (between the years 5665-5670), we wanted to say WITHOUT THIS, that the year that the Alter Rebbe said was 5673/1912-13, because YOU CANNOT LIVE? 5603 and 5673 are pronounced similarly (Tarag) and it is very easy for My father, R’ Zev Wolf (Levitin, a listener to make a mistake between them. Those listening to the who was mashgiach in yeshivas maamer certainly wanted to bring the keitz closer, not further, and so Tomchei T’mimim in Lubavitch) they didn’t pick up on this and thought he said 5603, except for a few asked my grandfather, the Chassid, who actually realized. But since 5673 was closer to us, this is why we R’ Gershon Ber of Pahar whether he thought he probably said 5673. Unfortunately though, that time has knew which year the Alter Rebbe passed. had said, but he pushed him off, After a few years I thought that the year that he said was 5703 but saying: Without this, you cannot now that time has passed too. live? However, the matter seems to be that since it came from the mouth of the Alter Rebbe when he said the maamer in public, a time when the HE SPOKE AND SPOKE Sh’china speaks from his throat, therefore he said a completely different year, but since this is one of those matters which are hidden, it BUT DID NOT REVEAL IT remained hidden until Moshiach comes, may it be in our days, amen. When I was in Lubavitch I related what my great-grandmother told me to R’ Ber Wolf Koznikov, about Chassidim and the Alter R’ Chaim then said: It’s all fine rav of Yekaterinaslav and he said: I Rebbe answered his questions. and good but why do Chassidim call also heard about this from a soldier

14 17 Teives 5771 BEIS MOSHIACH of Nikolai (a cantonist). I asked R’ Ber Wolf whether he knew what the year was that the Alter Rebbe said but he began talking about this at length, as was his way, and did not reveal the year. In general, R’ Ber Wolf was an extremely talented speaker[7]. The doctor once warned him that speaking was harmful for him. After that, R’ Ber Wolf spent an hour and a half explaining why speaking was harmful to him!

THE ALTER REBBE REVEALED THE KEITZ On Simchas Torah 5680/1919 at the meal, the Rebbe Rashab related[8]: The Alter Rebbe once said a maamer on the verse, “and the thousand and seven hundred” and the calculation he made in the maamer came out to the year 5603/1842-3, but he actually said that Moshiach would come in 5608/1847-8. R’ Pinchas Reizes tried correcting him but that wasn’t possible to do. In the year 5608 R’ Leib[9], Maharil of Kopust, the son of the The Rebbe looked outside want the Moshiach who is below ten Tzemach Tzedek, asked him: Where through the window and said: When handbreadths (i.e. in the physical are the giluyim (revelations)? Moshiach comes, a woman won’t realm) and not above ten He answered: Isn’t it enough that walk in the street with her head handbreadths (i.e. in the spiritual in this year Likkutei Torah was uncovered because the atmosphere realm). (3) printed? won’t allow it. 1) see Reshimos V’Sippurim vol. 1 p. WHAT IS MOSHIACH 38; Likkutei Sippurim MELECH HA’MOSHIACH, 2) see also Likkutei Torah Teitzei 36, 4 AND WHAT WILL HIS BELOW TEN 3) see also Seifer HaSichos Toras ACTIVITIES CONSIST OF? HANDBREADTHS Sholom p. 171 4) see also Beis Moshiach issue 302 p. R’ Shmuel Levitin also related The Rebbe Rayatz concluded: 36 (Heb.) that he heard from the Rebbe Rayatz The Tzemach Tzedek would say that 5) printed in the maamarim of the that the Rebbe Maharash also asked the year 5608/1842-3 is when our Alter Rebbe parshiyos vol. 1 p. 419 his father, the Tzemach Tzedek, and Redeemer will come. When that 6) see Beis Moshiach issue 194 p. 38 this is what R’ Shmuel Levitin said: year came and went, the Rebbe 7) printed in Seifer HaSichos Toras One time, when I had yechidus Maharash asked him: You said Sholom p. 237 with the Rebbe Rayatz I asked: Who Moshiach will come in 5608! 8) as per the original publication in is Moshiach and what will he do? The Tzemach Tzedek replied: 1946 (in the 1957 edition it was changed to Reb Levik, and back again in the 1993 The Rebbe answered me: The Likkutei Torah (whose edition) Generally speaking he is as the substance is that of the ultimate 9) see Likkutei Sichos vol. 6 p. 80, Rambam wrote (at the end of the redemption) was printed in this year! footnote 70; Sichos Kodesh 5710 p. 14 Laws of Kings). The Rebbe Maharash said: I and p. 113

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 769 15 moshiach & science

actually raise this question explicitly but it is hovering there between the lines. Allow me to venture an answer: It is just as hard to reject SITTING ON the truth of the Torah as it is to accept it. Essentially, both sides of the fence have pluses and minuses so one may feel that it is better to THE FENCE hedge one’s bets and sit on it. Problem is, the fence is narrow – too narrow for comfort. For if the Torah by Aryeh Gotfryd, PhD is true, every day that goes by without growing in Torah and Mitzvos is an incredible waste of Greg is a Jewish college student in time. And if it’s false, every day spent celebrating it is a colossal living in Brooklyn, part of a very stupidity. Of course, we can apply Pascal’s intellectual crowd, and he looks at Wager and say that if Torah is true you gain infinitely more by following everything through the prism of reason. it and lose infinitely more by That’s why he has so much trouble with neglecting it. On the other hand, if it’s false and you keep it your loss is Judaism – so many things don’t make minimal, while if you don’t keep it you gain, but not so much. The sense! Why accept miracles when the upshot is it makes more sense to keep it. But that’s a philosophical world we know operates according to argument and I think that such debates are endless. physics? Dr. Aryeh Gotfryd turns the I would like to start with where question on its head by revealing the we have common ground – the usefulness of quantum physics for supernatural within nature. describing how nature works. Several aspects of quantum theory “The physical world... can evidence and rational opinion to the are relevant to our discussion: and must be fully and completely contrary. You accept that Torah and 1. The Uncertainty Principle – utilized for a deeper science do share some common One of the only things that science understanding of Torah and a ground about how nature works, but is sure about is its uncertainty about deeper connection with it” so do other faith systems which phenomena. There are only The Rebbe, Mind Over Matter, pg. 63. differ dramatically from ours. You probable, not definite causes. The acknowledge that the “Kuzari implication: Those mountains of Hi Greg, argument” (mass revelation and hard evidence negating Torah’s I was happy to hear from you unbroken chain of tradition) speaks claims are fuzzy clouds of likelihood, and have read with interest your in Judaism’s favor but not at the not the categoric reality checks we reflective paraphrase of my last letter expense of trashing science, logic used to think they were. Hence, to you, as well as your many and competing histories. And of where Torah says yes, science at best counterpoints which all essentially course you give copious examples. says maybe not, and where Torah leave us back where we started from, So in light of all this, Greg, why say no, science counters maybe so. and I think that is basically the not just walk away saying, “Bah, 2. Matter is intangible – following: forget about it, I’ll have none of this Physicists calculate that atoms are You feel that accepting the Torah fairytale mythology posing as approximately 99.9999999999999% as G-d’s word demands rejecting sensible religion!”? You don’t empty space. Our perception that mountains of verified scientific matter is hard has nothing to do

16 3 Teives 5771 BEIS MOSHIACH with the deeper reality. The to bring physical reality from a between G-d and man. And why implications include that things are potential to actual state at all places man? What is it about him that not what they seem and invisible and times. This is not some poetic earns his special position in the forces are what it’s all about – “May distortion of the physics. It is, quantum universe? It is his faculty the Force be with you.” rather, a mainstream interpretation of free choice. 3. The matter that does exist, of hundreds of experiments done That’s why I’m perfectly fine doesn’t really – One of the biggest since 1982. with you sitting on the fence. It’s a and most respected of science news 6. Observership – Nature and its great spot from which to view websites, Science Daily, reported laws have been set up in such a miracles unfolding wherever you recently that it’s official, there is no manner that human observers are turn. And the fence you are sitting such thing as matter. The atomic necessary for physical phenomena to on? That’s a miracle too. core, the nucleus, comprised of exist in any particular form. The It’s not by chance that the soul of protons and neutrons, has mass implication is that we are as science is emerging specifically at because of the quarks and gluons important to the existence of the this time. The modern convergence that make it up. But these are universe as the universe is important of faith and science was presaged by actually ripples in the quantum field for us. the Zohar nearly two millennia ago and not particles at and pegged to all. The upshot – one commence around the of the pillars of 19th year 5600, Century science, the corresponding to notion of material 1840 on the secular realism, is not merely calendar. It was marginal – it is in fact around that time that dead. And if material modern science really explanations can’t took off – statistics, challenge Torah truth, physics, chemistry, what kind can? electromagnetism, 4. Vacuum atomic theory, the list Fluctuations – this is goes on. And the the quantum physical purpose? To prepare equivalent of the Baal the world for the Shem Tov’s doctrine coming of Moshiach, of Continuous when the fence will Creation, explained so melt away and those well in the Tanya. two great solitudes, Everything is continuously being Are you really concerned about faith and reason, will again reunite recreated from nothing to something caving in to some fairytale in a perspective greater than either in all places at all times. Reality isn’t mythology posing as sensible alone. a static, it’s a dynamic. It’s all fresh religion? And believe what instead But wait, you may ask, wouldn’t again now… and now… and now… pray tell? That all science is that be a paradox? And the answer The implication – history is a uncertain, that matter is empty would be yes for sure! But why mystery. Time as we experience it space, that reality is the continuous should you worry? Quantum theory gives the impression of a linear flow, renewal of random ripples in the is replete with paradox, and that but we now know there is a constant field of cosmic consciousness, that doesn’t stop you from embracing it. infusion of a new and independent transcendent conscious unity is the Expand your embrace and have it all reality from some great beyond. ultimate reality and we discovered it – faith and science, nature and the 5. Non-locality – That great 30 years ago in a French physics lab, supernatural, Moshiach and me and beyond is now part of physics and it and that without human beings, you. basically amounts to finding “G-d” physical reality would not exist. Sincerely, in the laboratory. Well, more Greg, whichever side of the fence Aryeh Gotfryd. precisely, the existence of an you get down on, you are dealing indivisible wholeness beyond space with the same thing – a magical (to contact email and time which is conscious and world that is nothing more than a [email protected] interacts with human consciousness stage for acting out the relationship or call 416-858-9868)

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 769 17 feature

The descent to Egypt, whether Yaakov Avinu’s trip or even earlier, Avrohom Avinu’s, was never a Jew’s “AND THEY ambition. It is not for naught that the trip there is called a “descent.” Comparing Eretz Yisroel, with all its special qualities, versus Egypt, with all its deficiencies – why would any CAME TO Jew want to be there? A Jew’s purpose is to ascend, not to descend; and if the place he goes to is termed a descent, there is no reason to go there unless he is EGYPT” instructed to do so by G-d and fortified with a blessing, “do not be afraid from descending to Egypt.” Because a Jew has a mission, and if By Menachem Ziegelboim he needs to descend to fulfill this mission, he must do so; for then it is not a real degradation but rather a We have been reading about how the momentary one for the purpose of later ascending. brothers and then Yaakov went down to This is the reason that the idea for going down to Egypt came to the Egypt, a good time to write about the shliach, Rabbi Yosef Hecht, rav of delegation of Lubavitcher rabbanim Eilat. He already had experience taking care of the delicate and from Eretz Yisroel who go to Egypt every important task of printing editions of the Tanya in Jewish communities year. The organizer of the groups, in Egypt, work that greatly pleased the Rebbe. He received a series of Rabbi Yosef Hecht, rav of Eilat, speaks answers and encouragement for this project. about the purpose of these trips and the The idea of going down to Egypt Rebbe’s guidance. yet again came about following the first siyumei ha’Rambam in 5745, which the Rebbe personally oversaw. A few weeks before the conclusion of the learning cycle, the Rebbe began asking for siyumim and celebrations in every location with many participants. It was obvious that these siyumim had a spiritual significance to them, for the Rebbe’s instruction was to hold them in every place where Jews could be found, even if it was highly doubtful whether anybody there actually completed the cycle of learning in Yad HaChazaka, three chapters a day, never mind learning it in depth. If there was a spiritual reason, why not include the Jews of Egypt? The delegation of rabbanim at the Menorah lighting at the Pyramids Although they were not in the

18 3 Teives 5771 BEIS MOSHIACH category of “suffering and captivity” like their brethren in neighboring Arab countries, this was hardly the golden age for Jewry in Egypt. “I asked the Rebbe whether it was a good idea to make a siyum ha’Rambam in Egypt too, holding the celebration in the Rambam’s shul,” said R’ Hecht in a conversation I had with him between one mivtza Chanuka and another. “The answer was yes, and we set out.” R’ Hecht spoke with the Egyptian consul in Eilat, with whom he had a friendly relationship, and the latter was happy with the idea and was willing to help. Posing before boarding the plane for Cairo “When we met, we spoke a lot people at the embassy, I was in well as at the siyum in the about the Rebbe as leader of Jewry touch with a local Arab who Rambam’s shul in Cairo, Egypt. worldwide and he was very arranged all the technical details for As we note from the allusion of the enthusiastic.” us such as renting a bus, booking Rambam’s name: the first letters of It was no simple matter to just rooms, etc. He too kept in constant the words “revos mofsai b’Eretz show up in Egypt as an official contact with the local police and Mitzrayim” (increasing My delegation to hold celebrations. together they determined and wonders in the land of Egypt), i.e. Permission was needed, as well as checked the route and our schedule the Rambam’s life in Egypt, along visas and connections with the down to our minutest detail.” with all the decrees and enactments Egyptian authorities so they would The trip itself wasn’t long; only and customs he enacted – these are protect the delegation of rabbis. two days. The location for the the wonders in the land of Egypt. After the logistics and other siyum was the ancient Rambam shul Obviously, great is the details were arranged, the rabbinic where, according to tradition, the advantage of a siyum of the delegation set out for Egypt. They Rambam studied and wrote his great Rambam’s work in those places met at Ben Gurion airport and flew work. where he lived and worked – together to Cairo. A Police escort After the delegation returned to according to the Yerushalmi on the was waiting for them when they Eretz Yisroel, R’ Hecht wrote a verse, “ach b’tzelem yishalech landed, and ensured their security detailed report to the Rebbe and he ish” - that “whoever repeats wherever they went. received an encouraging response. something that someone said, Were you in contact with The main encouragement, though, should see the one who said it as members of the Egyptian was the Rebbe’s public though he were standing there government about this visit? acknowledgment in the middle of facing him.” “We weren’t personally in the farbrengen on Shabbos Parshas As was said a number of times, contact with the Egyptian B’Chukosai, 5745, when he spoke by giving mashke – all the people government to acquire our visas, as about the siyumei ha’Rambam: farbrenging here are included with this was done through the Israeli In connection to the the participants of the siyumim, embassy in Egypt who had the aforementioned about a siyum including the siyumim mentioned necessary connections. We did, ha’Rambam, bottles of mashke will before that were made in the however, have government be distributed to those who will be Rambam’s place. representatives in attendance at the holding siyumim on the Rambam The Rebbe distributed bottles of siyum celebrations – one time it was in the days to come. This will be mashke to some shluchim, including someone from the Ministry of done after they mix it with mashke those shluchim who participated in Education, another time from the that was brought here from the the siyum in Cairo, led by R’ Hecht, Ministry of Culture or the siyum celebration in the home of R’ Levi Bistritzky and his father R’ Antiquities department. the Rambam in Fez, Morocco, as Yehuda Leib, R’ Mordechai “Aside from the contact with the

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 769 19 Menorah, and we brought not only IN SEVENTY LANGUAGES the simcha of a siyum but also the What language should you use when speaking at a siyum joy of the holiday to all the ha’Rambam in Egypt? The answer was complicated: some of the participants, along with enthusiastic speakers spoke in English, some in French, and some in Arabic. R’ singing and dancing. It was a Hecht spoke in English, R’ Elituv in Arabic, and R’ Goldberg in French, tremendous chizuk (strengthening) which many people understood. for the Jewish community that was At the end of the first siyum ha’Rambam, with the Rebbe’s approval, in a state of shrinkage.” a booklet was printed with photocopies of the first and final halachos of If R’ Hecht and the organizers the Yad HaChazaka, in Arabic. It also contained a brief biography of thought that this was a one-time the Rambam which was written in Arabic as translated by the Egyptian instruction, particular to that year, consul in Eretz Yisroel who translated what he learned from R’ Hecht. they were mistaken. The next year, He even added a complimentary overview about the purpose of the too, the Rebbe said they should hold delegation’s visit to Egypt. This booklet was given out every year. the siyum during Chanuka. “From then until 5759, the siyum ha’Rambam in Egypt always took place during Chanuka, even if the Even the symbolic act of the Egyptian actual conclusion of the learning cycle took place in the summer.” police closing the roads in our honor As part of the visit, the rabbanim and escorting us with great fanfare, and also went to the famous pyramids where they lit the Menorah. “I don’t the entire area of the shul being closed remember that this was an instruction from the Rebbe, but we off to foot traffic with only participants lit over there as part of the spiritual symbolism – the light which allowed to enter, made them feel proud. overpowers the darkness.” For the Jews of Cairo and Ashkenazi, and R’ Shmuel When R’ Hecht asked the Rebbe Alexandria, these siyumim were very Greisman, who was also one of the in the second year about going to refreshing. Their communities had regular members of the group that Egypt to conduct a siyum dwindled and these siyumim were an went every year. ha’Rambam, the answer here, too, annual “pick-me-up.” “It is interesting that in the sicha was to do it in a way of “kiflayim “People waited all year for us to itself the Rebbe used an unusual l’tushiya.” come, to dance and rejoice and sing expression, ‘shluchei klal Yisroel,’ “We decided to celebrate not with them. We always took musical referring to the members of the only in Cairo, but also in instruments and the event was group who made the siyumim, but Alexandria,” said R’ Hecht. moving for everybody who this wondrous expression was An interesting and surprising attended.” omitted in the printed sicha,” says R’ change in the structure of the The local Jews, for the most part, Hecht. “We understood that the celebrations in Egypt took place in remembered the community in its Rebbe considered this shlichus not 5750 (or 5751). That year, the heyday, when thousands filled the as something localized but as cycle of three chapters came out in shuls. At this point, most of the something that pertains to all the the month of Cheshvan. When R’ members had made aliya and only a Jewish people.” Hecht asked the Rebbe for a bracha few of them remained. For the second cycle of Rambam, for the trip, the answer was to “Even the symbolic act of the in 5746, the Rebbe pushed the idea postpone it and to have the siyum Egyptian police closing the roads in of siyumim more strongly and asked during Chanuka. our honor and escorting us with that siyumim be held in a way of What was the reason? great fanfare, and the entire area of “kiflayim l’tushiya” (double the “I can’t tell you the Rebbe’s the shul being closed off to foot strength). That was the slogan of reason, but as one who participated traffic with only participants allowed the siyumim that year, both in in the siyum during Chanuka, there to enter, made them feel proud. quantity and in quality – to double is no doubt that it was held in a Look, the authorities gave them the number of participants and the much more powerful way. The honor … esteemed them … It made quality of the content. celebrations began with lighting the them stand tall. When an honorable

20 17 Teives 5771 BEIS MOSHIACH delegation of rabbanim from Eretz Yisroel arrived, they felt that here were people who treated them with respect.” Well, the man who thought of them and treated them with respect was the Rebbe, leader of the Jewish people, who felt for the isolated Jews in Egypt. He knew how to uplift them as he did with all of world Jewry. The Rebbe thought of even the smallest details. “According to an explicit instruction from the Rebbe, we printed special invitations for the siyum celebration and made sure they reached every member of the community. The invitations were sent to the head of the community, who sent them out individually. “Not only that, but the Rebbe himself paid for all the expenses of the trip every year, as though testifying that this was a personal matter of his. The Rebbe responded in detail to the reports I sent and it was apparent that this was something close to the Rebbe’s heart.” In the pictures publicized over the years, I noticed that there was always a core group and every year a few more individuals joined. Were there instructions from the Rebbe about who should be part of people joined who helped in the get negative reactions? the delegation? preparations. We always took a “The moment we got off the “Yes. At first I and R’ Chassid who knew how to play an plane in the airport in Cairo, Glitzenstein were going to go. The instrument. thousands of eyes looked at us in two of us worked on the project of Was it always exciting or did the astonishment, curiosity, and perhaps printing the Tanya in Egypt. After enthusiasm wane over the years? with enmity, but we weren’t afraid. that, we suggested taking a rav who “Each time it was moving. First, We knew Hashem was with us and speaks Arabic and the Rebbe because of the fact – as the Rebbe besides the police were escorting us approved of this idea. That is how said in 5745 – that holding a siyum everywhere with patrol cars and Rabbi Shimon Elituv of in Egypt is a shlichus of Klal Yisroel. motorcycles, front and back. They Yerushalayim was chosen to join us. We knew that the Rebbe paid for it, closed roads and cleared the way for We received explicit instructions to which was another indication that us. They did not take any chances include R’ Mordechai Shmuel this was something significant. And that someone would try and harm Ashkenazi of Kfar Chabad and R’ there was always excitement and us. The security intensified when Levi Bistritzky a”h. The Rebbe gave some tension because we were going we had to walk through the market a reason for R’ Bistritzky’s to a place that isn’t the greatest teeming with thousands of Arabs on participation saying he held siyumim friend of the Jews.” our way to the Rambam’s shul in the in Teveria next to where the When you walked around in Jewish quarter of old Cairo. There Rambam is buried. In addition to your distinctive clothing, did you too people treated us nicely and the these rabbanim, each time other

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 769 21 back home, we met quite a few Israeli tour groups. One year, on the way to Alexandria, we stopped to buy water in a roadside restaurant near a gas station. When we walked into the restaurant we suddenly met about eighty Israelis who had just arrived and who were also on their way to Alexandria. According to the original plan, they were going to eat in the restaurant, but then we walked in. They were in shock. ‘You came all the way here? How on earth did you get here?’ “They were too taken aback to eat there and they decided to skip the meal. Not only that, they went with us to the big shul in Alexandria and participated in the celebration of the siyum and in the dancing that took place afterward and they were locals blessed us with the greeting of Alexandria, shuls that were long very moved by it all. ‘Salaam.’ The authorities wanted closed and were inactive. “I remember that in 5747, before the visit to go smoothly. “Then we returned to Cairo, we went to Egypt, I got a phone call “The Israeli ambassador to where we held a siyum ha’Rambam from the Israeli ambassador in Egypt Egypt, each time someone else, in the old shul named for the with a special request. For a long helped us a lot. He was in touch Rambam. We also held siyumim in time the community, with the help of with the community on our behalf a few other shuls – even though they the ambassador, had collected all the and assisted with myriad other were inactive, we knew that these Jewish books from all the shuls in details. He was usually asked to siyumim had a spiritual effect even Egypt that had been closed and speak during the celebration.” when nobody was there, not even brought them to the big shul. The What was your daily schedule? one Jew. Among other shuls, we bulk of the work was done by local “As I said, we visited Cairo and visited the shul where the Cairo Arab students who knew Hebrew. Alexandria, the only two cities where Geniza was discovered. When they completed this project a Jewish community remained. We “One year, they asked us to hold they arranged for a special day to usually landed in Cairo in the the siyum in a different shul, where dedicate the library – the only Jewish afternoon and traveled to the Ibn Ezra davened. Both are library in Egypt. The ambassador Alexandria, where we made a siyum ancient shuls and there is a dispute wanted us to stay an extra day in ha’Rambam in the large Eliyahu between the researchers as to which Egypt to participate in their HaNavi shul, with the attendance of one was the one the Rambam celebration, which would bolster the the members of the local studied and davened in. This shul ceremony, as he put it. The community. The shul today stands was renovated at the end of the 80’s. governor of Cairo and other on the location of the great shul of Our official celebration was moved government representatives would be Alexandria that was in existence there. participating. since the time of the destruction of “In the end, the celebration was “Since I am a shliach of the the Beis HaMikdash and where, moved to the big shul of Cairo, the Rebbe, I couldn’t make this decision according to legend, so many only remaining active shul. on my own and I asked the Rebbe, hundreds and even thousands “The visits generally took two who said the delegation could stay davened that they could not all hear days, a little less, and then we one more day. And so we attended the chazan and the people had to returned home.” the dedication of the library and they respond with ‘amen’ and ‘amen What special moments do you even asked me to speak. The media yehei shmei rabba’ when the remember? which reported the event referred to shamash held up a cloth as a signal. “Since our trip was during the Chabad presence and our work “We visited other shuls in Chanuka, which is vacation time among the Jews of Egypt.”

22 17 Teives 5771 BEIS MOSHIACH moshiach & geula

man dies he is free from the commandments’. The above passage from the Gemara - that seems to be implying GEULA - that there will be no Mitzvos in the times of Moshiach - directly contradicts other quotes of our sages : 1) The Talmud (Sanhedrin 90b): WHAT WE “How is resurrection derived from the Torah” — As it is written, And ye shall give thereof the Lord’s heave offering to Aaron the priest. But would Aaron live forever; he did not BELIEVE even enter Palestine, that truma should be given him? But it teaches that he would be resurrected, and Israel give him truma. Thus resurrection is Part 4 derived from the Torah.” This By Rabbi Gershon Avtzon Gemara directly implies that we will Menahel and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Lubavitch in Cincinnati be doing Mitzvos in the times of Moshiach! Dear Reader sh’yichyeh: 2) The Rambam (Hilchos In our previous article, we wrote Megilla chapter 2) quotes the about the eternity of the Torah. We Talmud Yerushalmi (Megilla 1:5): explained how the seemingly “new “All the books of the Prophets and laws of Torah” that will be in the all the Holy Writings will be nullified times of Moshiach are not a in the Messianic era, with the contradiction to this principle. exception of the Book of Esther. It However, we were left with a will continue to exist, as will the five question: books of the Torah and Does not the Gemara (Nida the halachos of the Oral Law, 61b) write that “All Mitzvos will which will never be nullified. “ be nullified in the times of The Lubavitcher Rebbe (Sichos Moshiach”? Tishrei 5752) gives a revolutionary To appreciate the answer, we explanation: must quote and explain the entire When Moshiach comes the world passage from the Gemara. The will be very sensitive to spirituality. Gemara there discusses the laws of We will follow Hashem’s will without Jewish burial. Jewish people are to some say R. Dimi) to him: But did having to be “told” to do so. If one be buried in shrouds. Is one not R. Manni in the name of R. has to be told to do something, it permitted to bury someone in Jannai state, ‘This was learnt only in shows that there are two shrouds that are made of “Kilayim” regard to the time of the separate existences which are (a garment that has mixed material lamentations but for burial this is communicating with each other. of wool and linen, a transgression forbidden’? — The other replied: Compare a bad marriage to a for the living to wear)? But was it not stated in connection good one and an excellent one: Our Rabbis taught: A garment in with it, ‘R. Johanan ruled: Even for Bad - The wife asks the husband which kilayim was lost (mixed burial’? And thereby R. Johanan to take out the garbage and he somehow) ... may be made into a followed his previously expressed ignores her. shroud for a corpse. R. Joseph view, for R. Johanan stated: ‘What is Good - The wife asks the observed: This implies that the the purport of the Scriptural text, husband to take out the garbage and commandments will be abolished in Free among the dead? As soon as a he listens. the Hereafter. Said Abayei (or as Excellent - The wife does not

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 769 23 occupy themselves with Torah and When Moshiach comes the world will be mitzvos properly. They will find rest very sensitive to spirituality. We will and increase their knowledge in order to merit the world to come. follow Hashem’s will without having to “In that era, knowledge, wisdom, and truth will become abundant. be “told” to do so. If one has to be told [Isaiah 11:9] states, “The earth will be full of the knowledge of God.” to do something, it shows that there are [Jeremiah 31:33] states: “One man will no longer teach his brother, nor two separate existences which are a man his colleague... [for all will communicating with each other. know Me].” And [Ezekiel 36:26] states: “I will take away the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a have to tell the husband to take out Now one may ask, if the above is heart of flesh.” the garbage, he is sensitive to her true, “These changes will come about needs on his own. How is it permitted to bury because the king who will arise from When Moshiach comes the someone in Kilayim if when he David’s descendants will be a greater “Mitzvos - the commandments” will comes back - with the resurrection master of knowledge than Solomon be annulled, meaning that we will of the dead - he will be wearing and a great prophet, close to the not have be commanded to do the forbidden garments? level of Moses, our teacher. Mitzvos, we will be doing them 1) Some opinions (Tosafos Therefore, he will teach the entire naturally. K’subos 111) hold that the dead will nation and instruct them in the path Some examples of the above: be resurrected in the clothes that of God. The Midrash (Yalkut Shimoni on they wore in their lifetime. “All the gentile nations will come Yirmiyahu 315) writes: If - in the 2) Alternatively the Kilayim may to hear him as [Isaiah 2:2] states: Times of Moshiach - one will want miraculously disappear in the era of “And it shall come to pass in the last to do the forbidden act of picking a Moshiach. days that the mountain of God’s fig on Shabbos, the fig will “scream” We have clarified and explained house shall be established at the at him to stop. the different laws that will take place peak of the mountains... [and all the The HaYom Yom (15 Adar 1) in the era of Moshiach. Many are nations shall flow to it].” writes: “It is said of the Time To still wondering about the eternity of We see clearly that Moshiach will Come: “A stone in the wall will cry the Laws yet the new revelation of teach the entire Jewish people. This out and a beam from the tree will Torah, hence the question: includes all the Jewish people that respond.” At present, inert creations How will Torah will taught in have passed away and had been are mute; though trodden upon, they times of Moshiach? learning Torah in Gan Eden and remain silent. But there will come a The first thing that we have to have then been resurrected. This time when the revelation of the establish is that Moshiach - in includes all the Patriarchs and Future becomes a reality that the addition to being a King - will be a prophets of previous generations. inert will begin to speak, relate and true Torah scholar. As a matter of We now have to clarify a few demand: “If a man was walking fact, the first qualification for things: along without thinking or speaking Moshiach (see Rambam Hilchos 1) What will be the role of the words of Torah, why did he trample Melachim chapter 11) is that he is Sanhedrin? upon me?” involved - in a serious way - in 2) Does the Talmud (Yuma 5b) The earth trodden upon has been learning Torah. In addition to that, not say that Moshe and Aharon waiting for millennia, ever since the he will be a true teacher to Klal will teach? Six Days of Creation. All kinds of Yisroel. In the words of the Rambam 3) What can Moshiach teach living creatures have been treading (Hilchos T’shuva 9:2): the great sages and prophets of upon it all this time, but it is waiting “For these reasons, all Israel, [in old? for a Jew (or two Jews) to walk on it particular,] their prophets and their The answers to the above (Seifer while discussing Torah. But if they Sages, have yearned for the HaSichos 5752 page 456): do not say words of Torah, the earth Messianic age so they can rest from The questions regarding laws of will protest: “You too are just like an the [oppression of] the gentile direct oral tradition (“Halacha animal!” kingdoms who do not allow them to L’Moshe M’Sinai”) will be directed

24 17 Teives 5771 BEIS MOSHIACH to Moshe Rabbeinu - as he was the The answer (Toras Menachem are becoming more popular? Do you one that received the tradition. The vol.19 pg. 280): Moshiach will teach think that it is a foretaste of the practical Halachic questions - that in a revolutionary way. He will not times of Moshiach?) are learned out with the 13 methods explain to us the secrets of the From the above it is clear that that were given to us to learn out the Torah, he will show us the secrets of Moshiach will teach all the Jewish laws from the Torah - will be the Torah and the spiritual world. people, including those who are answered by the Sanhedrin. Melech When you show an audience a visual resurrected from the dead. I am sure HaMoshiach will teach the mystical film, you can show it to thousands you - the reader - are asking: hidden secrets of the Torah (see of people at once. You don’t have to Can you share more details on Rashi Shir HaShirim 1:2). explain to them the details - as that the resurrection? We still have to answer one final takes a long time and also depends This we explain in our coming question on this topic: on their intellect - as it will be article IY”H. How will Moshiach be able to grasped at once with the power of teach all of Klal Yisroel? There are sight. for Rabbi avtzons audio shiurim so many different people and on so (Is it not true, that the use of on moshiach www.ylcrecording.com many different levels. “power-point” visual presentations

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BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 769 25 stories

happening in someone else’s heart, which Chazal say is concealed like the restoration of the kingdom of SHLICHUS the house of Dovid (P’sachim 54b), and furthermore, Chazal promise that words that come from the heart enter the heart. Naturally, I considered this letter – WRITING, as a bracha and the Rebbe’s conferring me with the ability to accomplish things with words that come from my heart, and this is what I try to do on shlichus in Beit SPEAKING Shaan. This is not only pertinent to me, of course, for every shliach I’ve spoken to has told me success stories and results – sometimes AND GIVING surprising ones – in their activities, writing, or speaking.

FROM THE LOCAL PAPER By Rabbi Yaakov Shmuelevitz TO A SHABBOS MEAL Shliach, Beit Shaan Rabbi Mendy Klein, shliach in Eilat, does a lot of speaking and Shluchim tell their stories. writing. He writes divrei Torah every week, for years now, and these were published in two local In the HaYom Yom for 23 Teves, Litvishe yeshiva in Yerushalayim, we newspapers in Eilat. Then one of the Rebbe writes that with sighing (the group of secret Lubavitchers in the newspapers closed down. (or groaning) alone, we won’t be the yeshiva) found out that we need R’ Klein was visiting the financial saved. Sighing is only a first step to do “mivtzaim.” From then on, district when a stranger approached for avoda (work), and the avoda every Shabbos afternoon we would him. He had recognized R’ Klein needs to be done by each of us, go to a nearby neighborhood and from the picture that appeared in the according to our abilities, “One make Mesibos Shabbos for children. paper with his article. Sadly and person might do this through his After a few months of this, I naively dramatically, the man sighed, “You writing, another with his oratory, wondered how it was possible that should know that it is several weeks another with his wealth.” after four months in which the now that we don’t have a Shabbos If I can farbreng a little on a children were connected to the meal in our home.” personal note; since this HaYom Rebbe at Mesibos Shabbos, not one At first, R’ Klein thought the Yom comes out on my birthday, I of them had become religious, not person was poverty-stricken but the view this aphorism as a sort of one of them had switched to a man explained that for years he had personal motto for life and shlichus. religious school, and their parents read his d’var Torah from the For many years now, I strive to do weren’t yet registered as card- newspaper, but now that the paper my utmost “with writing, speaking carrying Lubavitchers. had shut down, he had no d’var and money.” I’m not always I wrote to the Rebbe about my Torah and his Shabbos meals were successful, but I try. I also have a surprise and received this just not the same. directive and bracha from the Rebbe, encouraging answer: R’ Klein was happy to hear this in his handwriting, for success in That you write that sometimes because he didn’t even know that those things that come from the you don’t see tangible results from these people were faithful readers of heart. This is what happened: spreading Judaism and the his divrei Torah. He recommended When I first got involved in mivtzaim is quite surprising, for that the man buy the other paper or Chabad and was still attending a how do you know what is that he attend shiurim at the Chabad

26 3 Teives 5771 BEIS MOSHIACH house, where he would hear plenty shiur he went over and spoke to the ago I set up a viewing corner in the of divrei Torah. rabbi, saying he knew the shliach in lobby of the building with a huge Kiryat Tivon, R’ Menashe Altheus, plasma screen on which I show A SHIUR and sometimes treated the shliach’s videos of the Rebbe 24 hours a day FOR 300 PEOPLE children. R’ Klein invited the doctor – farbrengens, dollars, etc. Whoever to attend the davening during the enters the building knows that on R’ Klein gives two shiurim every week at the Chabad house. The their way in and on their way out Friday night in the huge shul in the man showed up, participated a bit in they can see the Rebbe. Club Hotel in Eilat. This hotel runs the shiurim, and when he returned There are two women who are on a timeshare system where people home, he was a warm friend of not religiously observant, from the buy vacation time slots for one week Chabad. center of the country, who come to a year. Every week there are A year went by and the doctor this building often. They work in hundreds of people in the hotel, went to the hotel in Eilat again. He real estate and they do business with including many religious Jews from was in the year of mourning for one the real estate office here. Each time all walks of life. About 300 people of his parents and he went to the they come to Eilat to close a deal, attend the Friday night davening and Chabad house as soon as he arrived they first come to the Chabad house, R’ Klein gives one shiur before and attended all the t’fillos. put a note in a volume of Igros Kabbalas Shabbos and another, The following year when the Kodesh, and only after they receive deeper shiur after the davening, to doctor showed up, hew was wearing an answer with a bracha from the those who are interested. a big yarmulke and a full beard. He Rebbe do they conclude the deal. R’ Klein says an amazing thing went to the Chabad house and gave Based on the luxury car they drive happens nearly every week when he R’ Klein a report on his year’s up in, they seem to have success finishes speaking. When people progress in religious observance. with this custom... realize that the one giving the shiur “The beginning of all this was Some time ago they came again is a Lubavitcher, they start telling with you; it’s all thanks to you,” he in order to close a deal that entailed about their personal connection with said. buying a very large commercial Chabad, whether in London, One person might do this through property. As usual, they came to the Yavneh, Caesarea or Venice. “It’s his writing, another with his oratory.. Chabad house to ask the Rebbe for a unbelievable how so many Jews have bracha but to their sorrow, they did a close connection with the Rebbe not get a clear answer. I explained and with the Rebbe’s shluchim.” THANKS TO A VIDEO AND IGROS KODESH to them that sometimes there is no For example, R’ Klein told about answer in the Igros Kodesh but the a doctor from Kiryat Tivon who Another story from Eilat: Rebbe would find a way to respond came to the hotel on vacation. He Our Chabad house, says R’ to them. “happened” to attend the davening Klein, is located in an office building They went downstairs to get and heard R’ Klein speak. After the that has many floors. A few years coffee in the lobby and as they sat

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 769 27 response from the Far East. A girl “Your emails are my only connection from Nes Tziyona was in the Far here to Judaism. Every week begins East for many months and checked her email every so often in order to with a d’var Torah ‘from my Jewish keep in touch with the world. She wrote to R’ Sagi, “Your emails are home,’ and I read every word you write my only connection here to Judaism. Every week begins with a d’var with great interest. Please continue Torah ‘from my Jewish home,’ and I read every word you write with great writing because I draw life from every interest. Please continue writing word.” because I draw life from every word.” there, they watched the video screen We advertised a list of shiurim One person might do this through and saw an American couple with and activities in the local paper. his writing, another with his oratory the Rebbe in a yechidus for wealthy One of the items said, “Machon Bar people. The couple told the Rebbe Mitzva on Sunday, Tuesday, KIDDUSH IN about a certain investment and asked Thursday between the hours of 4-7.” A COFFEE CUP whether it was a good idea to pursue What I meant was, you have to call A few years ago, added R’ Sagi, I it. The Rebbe told them: It is not and make an arrangement, pay, and arranged a chuppa in a kibbutz for a worth investing now because of the come to a one-hour session, but that pair of mekuravim who are donors political upheavals in your country. is not how Yuval, a 13 year old who and long-time friends of the Chabad The women were deeply affected is not religiously observant, house. I brought a silver cup as a by what they had seen, changed their understood it. He showed up on gift and when the chuppa began, I travel plans, and returned home Sunday at 4:00 and said he wanted told the guests that I had a silver cup immediately, The deal was to learn from 4 until 7. over which I would say the brachos postponed indefinitely. The person who works with the and which the bride and groom Three months later the women bar mitzva boys was busy with would take home to use every week returned to check out the deal again. another boy and didn’t know what for Kiddush on Shabbos. I added a This time, conditions seemed right to do with Yuval. Fortunately, R’ few words about the importance of and the price of the property was Sagi was there, but he was about to Kiddush over wine on Shabbos and much lower because of the drop in leave for Kfar Chabad. “Come with then continued the wedding the value of the dollar. The women me,” he suggested, “and we’ll learn ceremony. asked the Rebbe for a bracha and for three hours on the way.” Three years later, someone came opened the Igros Kodesh where it With his parents’ consent, Yuval to the Chabad house wanting to buy said: It should be in a good and went to Kfar Chabad and on the way a silver cup. The salesgirl said the auspicious time. The ladies signed he learned some important and Chabad house did not sell silver on the deal. They then made a point interesting things. He also visited cups, which could be bought in a of returning to the Chabad house to yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim. silver store, but had other cups. The thank the Rebbe. Because of the One visit led to another and now person explained that he wanted one Rebbe’s guidance, the deal had been Yuval is in a yeshiva. made out of silver and said, “Three postponed by a few months and they years ago I was at a friend’s profited tremendously as a result. TORAH AT THE wedding and R’ Sagi explained how PRESS OF A BUTTON important it is to make Kiddush THANKS TO Among his other activities, R’ every Shabbos. Since then we make MISUNDERSTANDING Sagi regularly writes divrei Torah Kiddush every Shabbos but we still AN AD and sends them via email to don’t have a silver cup. Sometimes we use a disposable cup, sometimes At the Chabad house in Nes hundreds of friends of the Chabad house. Occasionally, people respond a coffee cup, and we recently Tziyona they use writing, speaking decided the time has come to buy and money to spread the with feedback, a question or an addition to what he wrote. something nice out of silver like the wellsprings, as the shliach, R’ Sagi rabbi said.” Har Shefer tells us: One time, he received a moving

28 17 Teives 5771 BEIS MOSHIACH profile

to the renowned scholar and Gerrer Chassid, Rabbi Menachem Ziemba (1888-1943) in his efforts to raise REB SIMCHA money for his holy work for Russian Jews: “Who is the one who put himself in danger and came to Bucharia and Prepared for publication by Avrohom Rainitz with Hashem’s help founded schools in Samarkand and for three months gathered about 800 young children The first time I saw R’ Simcha under 45 teachers and created a great spiritual arousal by the parents Gorodetzky I was very excited. I felt as so that they paid for their children’s tuition and the rest was the though this man had come to life out of responsibility of the community the legends told about him. To me he through a special committee. And who worked and made Tiferes was a symbol of mesirus nefesh and yet Bachurim (a group of young men from ages 20-30, businessmen, he acted with such simplicity. When I factory managers and workmen) and about 150 students gathered. greeted him, all the stories I heard “R’ Simcha worked for an entire year and all his activities were done about him raced through my head and I secretly. When it became known couldn’t look directly into his face who was in charge and doing all this work, they came to arrest him. By because I was embarrassed to do so. * Divine Providence, just then someone came from Tashkent to Another chapter in the memoirs of R’ invite him there to found schools as he did in Samarkand, so he left that Hillel Zaltzman. night which is what saved him. “For three months the Yevsektzia (Jewish communists) destroyed the I did not see R’ Simcha vineyard of Tzivos Hashem that R’ Gorodetzky until 5716/1956 after Simcha planted with his heart’s he was released from a long blood and the sweat of his brow, in imprisonment. During my childhood trembling and great fear. Twenty in Samarkand R’ Simcha was in teachers were taken to jail and they Siberia, serving time for his tortured them mightily and meted “crimes” of spreading Torah and out judgment. About eight teachers Judaism. fled and escaped and the rest Although I did not see him remained until, with great effort and throughout most of my childhood much expense, they extricated those years, R’ Simcha was a central figure who were jailed, thank G-d. in my life. From the stories that I “R’ Simcha sat for four months heard from my mother a”h and in those outlying cities and worked Chassidim about him, the image in with his heart’s blood to found my mind was of a legendary figure, schools and thank G-d he was a genuine Chassid and mekushar, successful. Even today, about eight completely devoted to the Rebbe. R’ Simcha Gorodetzky months since he had to leave that Many years after R’ Simcha’s during his imprisonment region altogether (because the order passing, I saw what the Rebbe was given that wherever they found Rayatz wrote about him and I about him was just a fraction of his this man (based on a picture they realized that everything I had heard praise. The Rebbe Rayatz wrote this circulated to all GPU offices in the

30 3 Teives 5771 BEIS MOSHIACH country) his fate is sealed) the sound of Torah can be heard, thank G-d, in Samarkand among the 400 students, may they live and increase. And there are dozens and dozens of students in other towns but the problem is - there is no money to support them, may Hashem have mercy. “R’ Simcha did not slacken from his work, Heaven forbid, and he traveled to the border of our Jewish brethren who dwell in the Caucasus mountains and he went to the city of Darbent and found there about thirty young students learning with a teacher; he did tremendous work there and with Hashem’s help 360 students are learning today. Four months they have worked there and the secret committee that he created there says that they have the ability to increase the number of those learning to 500 but they need outside help, not much aid, just 150 rubles a month, which amounts to fifty shekels, but how painful it is that their request can’t be met. The conditions of the place require great care, and he was in much danger, so he traveled on to Kuba, a large city full of G-d fearing people and those who know Torah.”

ON SHLICHUS FOR R’ Simcha Gorodetzky THE REBBE RAYATZ R’ Simcha was born in not stay on in yeshiva but should go doctor said about your health and 5663/1903, about seventeen years home. that you should go home. The truth before the passing of the Rebbe R’ Simcha refused to listen and is that you are not able to learn full- Rashab, but he did not see him. It said he would not leave yeshiva until time in yeshiva, eight hours of seems he was meant to be the they asked the Rebbe. R’ Chatshe Nigleh and four hours of Chassidus. Chassid of the Rebbe Rayatz. agreed and they went together to the At the same time, however, you In his youth, R’ Simcha learned Rebbe. R’ Chatshe went inside and should remain in Tomchei T’mimim in underground yeshivos of Tomchei R’ Simcha remained outside. After and I will give you another derech T’mimim in Rostov and Cherson. R’ Chatshe told the Rebbe about R’ (path). If you listen to me, I promise While learning in yeshiva he did not Simcha’s condition and what the you that you will recover and live feel well one day. He had a doctor said, the Rebbe said R’ long.” headache and he felt generally weak. Simcha should enter the room. “I will send you,” said the Rebbe, The mashgiach, R’ Chatshe Feigin, R’ Chatshe quickly left and told “to visit Lubavitcher settlements. Ask took him to the doctor and after he R’ Simcha the Rebbe was waiting for how they are doing and see where was examined he was told he needed him. When R’ Simcha entered the they lack a shochet, a mohel etc. and to rest and recuperate. For some yechidus room, the Rebbe told him: report back to me.” reason, the doctor said he should “I heard from Chatshe what the Those were the most difficult

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 769 31 and said: “Nu, nu…continue, WHY DID THE INTERROGATORS INQUIRE ABOUT continue…you are the shliach and R’ DZURA NIASOFF? you have to tell me everything.” R’ Simcha told the Rebbe about The main crime R’ Simcha was accused of was that he organized the requests of another man and underground learning of Torah in Samarkand. The interrogators about the difficult situation of wanted to know who the teachers were and they mainly asked about R’ another Chassid. Hearing this, the Dzura Niasoff. They said: “He disturbs us the most and we will do Rebbe suddenly burst into tears. R’ everything so that he no longer teaches Torah to children, because he Simcha, who could not bear seeing instills fear of heaven in every student!” the Rebbe’s sorrow, could not R’ Dzura was a very unusual G-d fearing Chassid and Oheiv continue and he just stood there. Yisroel. When Lubavitcher refugees came to Samarkand, he would go The Rebbe understood him and he from house to house and convince Bucharian Jews to take in at least said: “If it is hard for you to say it one family. He would ask, “how can you leave a Jew outside?” all, put it in writing and give it to When many of the refugees became sick with typhus, it was me.” dangerous to have them in the home since the disease was contagious R’ Simcha left the Rebbe’s room and many died of it. He continued persuading people to take them in as and remained standing there, feeling guests. He himself was a role model and, although he had young brokenhearted and helpless. The children for whom it was particularly dangerous, he took R’ Notte Rebbe’s mother, Rebbetzin Shterna Paharer into his home when he was sick with typhus. As expected, his Sarah a”h saw him and asked: children came down with it too and even R’ Dzura himself became sick. “Simcha, why do you look so sad The children recovered but R’ Dzura died of the disease. That was how and pale?” far his Ahavas Yisroel went, literal mesirus nefesh. He told her what had happened in yechidus a few moments before years after the Bolshevik Revolution. from the Rebbe, asked him to and how the Rebbe had cried after Starvation and fear were the lot of convey their requests. They poured hearing him report about the all citizens and the Lubavitchers who out their bitter hearts to him and sorrows of the Chassidim. She lived in the settlements founded by told him of their daily troubles. listened and whispered: “I don’t the Rebbe Rayatz, suffered in “The Rebbe told me to be know what has happened to him particular. The Chassidim in those involved in Maos Chittim (the lately… Sometimes, I enter his room places were extremely poor and they fundraising drive for food before after yechidus and I see the floor wet felt cut off from the Rebbe. Now the Pesach) but I couldn’t do anything with his tears.” Rebbe was asking R’ Simcha to be since my son died and I had other his special emissary to these places health problems in the family,” said LOVE FOR SIMPLE JEWS and to cheer them up and then one of the Chassidim apologetically. R’ Simcha continued to carry out report back to him. R’ Simcha listened to the other missions the Rebbe assigned to As a loyal Chassid, R’ Simcha did misfortunes and problems of the him. Even during the first period not hesitate for a moment. He Chassidim and chills went up his after he got married he continued immediately accepted the Rebbe’s spine as he remembered that at the his missions as always. When he shlichus. He later recounted that as end of his trip he had to repeat it all would be away from home for a long soon as he got on the first train he to the Rebbe. time, his wife would stay with her began to feel better. As he traveled When he returned to the Rebbe parents in Kremenchug. he felt that the headache was and had yechidus, he began giving In those years there were no dissipating and his body was getting his report. He started to tell about telephones and even transportation stronger. that Chassid who was supposed to was complicated because of the raise Maos Chittim but “because of Revolution. Letters did not arrive in THE REBBE CRIED unfortunate circumstances” he was a timely fashion and the fear that unable to do so. R’ Simcha, who did R’ Simcha did his mission prevailed during those years nearly not want to cause the Rebbe sorrow, faithfully. He went from one broke the ties between people. No did not want to say that the man’s settlement to the next and gave the wonder, then, that when R’ Simcha’s son died but he couldn’t find the Chassidim regards from the Rebbe wife gave birth to a daughter, he did right words and he began to and asked how they were doing. The not know about it until a long time stammer. The Rebbe noticed this Chassidim, thrilled to get regards later, when he went to the Rebbe in

32 17 Teives 5771 BEIS MOSHIACH Rostov where he heard the good Jew who believes with simple faith news. and you love him – you will know On that visit, in 1926, when he that you have a talent in communal had yechidus, the Rebbe said: “You work and you are fit for shlichus.” have been traveling from place to With great devotion, R’ Simcha place and after marrying this work is bolstered Torah and Judaism in hard for you. Now I will send you to Samarkand. He organized Talmudei Samarkand, to the Jews of Bucharia, Torah, yeshivas Tiferes Bachurim, where you will be their spiritual and even sent about ten bachurim leader and will stay in one place.” from Samarkand to the secret With kabbalas ol (lit. acceptance yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim in of the yoke) R’ Simcha undertook Poltava who later on became this new mission, to go to a foreign “illuminating candles” (i.e. these land, far from the Rebbe and other bachurim in turn illuminated others Chassidic communities, and work with Torah and Chassidus). He also with Jews whose nature he was supervised the kashrus of the unfamiliar with. He only asked that sh’chita (ritual slaughtering) and the since he had a new baby daughter, mikvaos. In short, he took he wanted to first travel to responsibility for all the Jewish needs Kremenchug to see his wife and of the place. It would be correct to baby and from there he would go to say that he implemented a real Samarkand. spiritual revolution. However, the Rebbe, to whom from the guidance of Chassidim who Obviously, a spiritual revolution the spiritual state of the Jews of preceded him, who had been there would not go unnoticed by the Samarkand was all-important, told on shlichus from our Rebbeim. communist authorities. The secret R’ Simcha: “Why should you go to The Jews’ t’mimus (simplicity, police, which fought against those Kremenchug now? It’s not a boy wholehearted faith) won his heart. who championed religion, constantly that you need to be at the bris. Go In the shul in the old city he met a looked for ways to entrap him, and directly to Samarkand and your wife very simple Jew who said T’hillim catch him red-handed in his will follow you there.” with great chayus (enthusiasm). His religious activities. R’ Simcha lived (R’ Mordechai Gorodetzky once name was Reuven Akilov and through many frightening speculated that that perhaps the everyone knew him. R’ Simcha experiences, and threats and Rebbe was afraid that if R’ Simcha asked him: “Do you know what the intimidation were his lot once he would go first to Kremenchug, the words mean?” The man said he did arrived in Samarkand, but he did family would complain about a not. “Do you know the meaning of not relax for a moment and shlichus so far away and that is why at least the first words of T’hillim, continued working on his shlichus. the Rebbe told him to go ‘Ashrei ha’ish?’” The man said he immediately). did not. “What about the words, WHAT MOTIVATES For a Chassid who lived all his ‘asher lo halach?’” R’ Simcha CHABAD CHASSIDIM? life in a Chassidic community in the continued to ask. The man did not What motivated R’ Simcha? center of Russia, Samarkand was know. R’ Simcha pressed on. “What What made him put himself and his considered the ends of the world, about the words, ‘b’atzas reshaim?’” family aside in order to pursue his further than a trip to Australia At this point, the man’s eyes lit up shlichus, even as the secret police nowadays. But R’ Simcha went and in an angry voice he said: “A dogged his footsteps and kept a directly to Samarkand. Upon his rasha is very wicked and should be watchful eye on the Talmudei Torah arrival there, he rented an apartment beaten!” and activities he organized? in the old city where most of the R’ Simcha enjoyed going to the One thing, and one thing only, Bucharian Jews lived. After a while shul and watching how this man said motivated him – that he had to fulfill his wife and daughter joined him. T’hillim. He absolutely loved the what the Rebbe wanted! For the sake R’ Simcha was very impressed by t’mimus of this simple Jew. He of this goal he was ready to go the warmth and devotion of the recalled how before one of his through fire and water. This is a people in the local community missions the Rebbe Rayatz had told shliach; this is a Chassid; this is a towards the Rebbe (or “Admur“ as him: “If you happen to see a simple they called him), which resulted mekushar (one bonded to the

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 769 33 Rebbe)! Siberia, and many of them did not “And if my end has come, I It’s worth noting that these many merit Jewish burial – justify the judgment and request of years later, after the communist (R’ Mendel Futerfas once said to Him one thing, that my death be an regime is no more, there are other me: Some people are concerned atonement for all my sins so I will groups who want to copy the about Jewish burial. I never worried not have to be reincarnated again, Rebbe’s shlichus system and they about that; the main thing is to fulfill G-d forbid. Hashem is one, Hashem send young couples to work in the Rebbe’s wishes while we are is singular, Hashem is Elokim in the Russia. The vast majority don’t last alive). heavens above etc. there is no other, long. They stay for a few months, I cannot refrain from quoting there is none besides Him. This is with difficulty, not more than a year. here from the last letter of my uncle, something eternal. They don’t know what shlichus with R’ Avrohom Boruch Pevzner, which “My sons should recite Kaddish real mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice) we recently found in a family as is customary; they just should not means. Only Chassidim of the Rebbe archive. My uncle was the mashpia quarrel with one another, G-d who, from the day they are born are in Minsk and because of his forbid. Hillel and Sholom Ber should raised with the idea of shlichus, or communal involvement in spreading try and learn in the evenings in baalei t’shuva who became bonded Torah, he was persecuted by the public if that is easily done… with the Rebbe, can travel to the NKVD. He was ultimately jailed and Yitzchok Shlomo should be careful ends of the world with the sent to Kazakhstan and they did not to pray with a quorum and to say determination to remain there until allow his family to join him. This the Orphan’s Kaddish – the main Moshiach comes. was shortly before Pesach and thing is Kaddish Yasom. That is Even the many years since throughout the holiday he sustained what I request of all my sons, to Gimmel Tammuz have not weakened himself on some sugar cubes. listen to the meaning of the words the desire to go on shlichus. It is the The letter is old and not all of it that they are saying… Yitzchok ambition of every student in is legible but you can definitely Shlomo should not spend extra time Tomchei T’mimim – to go on understand the contents. This is on Shabbos etc. All my children shlichus and fulfill the Rebbe’s what it says: should conduct themselves in the wishes. Nothing stands in their way. “If this is my last letter … I proper way in which they were Sometimes the families find it hard inform you, I ask in truth … from raised. And surely with peace and to understand the power of shlichus Hashem, that He forgive me for all harmony with all…and Hashem and they plead with the couple to kinds of inadvertent, deliberate and should come to their aid materially stay near their parents, promising to rebellious sins, even rabbinic and spiritually, amen, may it be His support them and bringing up transgressions, whether in positive will. chinuch of their children and the mitzvos or negative ones, even “The matter of Jewish burial and enormous array of products and minor rabbinic details, because I within a Jewish cemetery, that is an services available in religious areas. truly repent for having transgressed inyan…but that does not compare to Their answer is: NO. They want to them (and it was never deliberate in other matters that Hashem already do what the Rebbe wants them to do order to anger, G-d forbid, nor in took from us in our lives and in our and even “out there” they will order to cast off the yoke of the deaths to which we have already somehow be sure to have only chalav kingdom of heaven, G-d forbid. On grown accustomed, but on the Yisroel (milk production supervised the contrary, I have confirmed many surface that is not a great flaw or by a Jew) and pas Yisroel (grain times that Hashem is our G-d, impurity etc. and that is sufficient products cooked or baked under the Hashem is One, and that includes for the wise…and I am certain it will supervision of a Jew) etc. myself to be unified in His unity). all be an atonement. In brief, it is a As I write these lines about the Since it was actually in thought, good sign for someone who was not mesirus nefesh of Lubavitcher speech and deed which is not from properly eulogized and buried. All is Chassidim for their work, about the the side of holiness, therefore good, good, good. concern that Chabad leaders have Hashem should forgive me for all “I am also confident in the merit for every Jew in the world (as the that was not-good on my part and of K”K Maran, crown of our heads, Rebbe Rayatz once said, it’s harder send me, in his great mercy from our father and Rebbe [Rashab] zt”l to send someone else to mesirus heaven, a complete recovery in all to whom I was devoted heart and nefesh than to do it himself), 248 limbs and 365 sinews, along soul, in his life and his death…may without considering the danger with the other sick people amongst it be so. Today the sun warmed involved, when the only “prize” they the Jewish people. Please Hashem, things up, and the frost of the last anticipated was jail and expulsion to please heal in actual deed… week dissipated. This is an opening

34 17 Teives 5771 BEIS MOSHIACH of the door, and Hashem should help that it should already be warm and joyous materially and spiritually in all respects, so may it be. It is already a number of days that I drink a glass of milk daily, eat butter and drink a lot of sweet tea. Sugar and candy I have plenty of…these are the birurim I have to contend with. And who can tell Him what to do for all eternity.” *** My uncle was one of hundreds and thousands of Lubavitcher Chassidim who, by instruction of our Rebbeim, was moser nefesh (sacrificed) for Klal Yisroel. Unfortunately, the other great rabbis and Jewish leaders, after seeing the danger, were only concerned about how to save themselves and their immediate community. In our days, every person tries to grab a place in the sun. There are impudent people who publish books about mesirus nefesh of “Jews in Russia” without mentioning or even hinting at who these Jews were – Lubavitcher Chassidim. They ignore Today we see how all types of table, and said: “That’s your the tremendous work of Chabad groups copy nearly all of the Rebbe’s ammunition!” (They were right, the Chassidim, distort the facts, and holy mitzva campaigns and the Tanya is our ammunition.) grab for themselves the halo of Rebbe’s approach has become The two years he spent in jail did shlichus even as they know good and everybody’s approach. not break his spirit and did not well that every reader will know who affect his hiskashrus to the Rebbe those Jews were who ignored the Rayatz. As soon as he left prison he danger and spread Torah and the R’ SIMCHA’S AMMUNITION went back to work in the service of wellsprings (or as they put it, “kiruv the Rebbe. rechokim” – an expression we did R’ Simcha’s first arrest because His longest and most severe not hear from the Rebbe since to the of his communal work happened imprisonment was in 1946. He was Rebbe, no Jew is far from Hashem, before he went to Samarkand. As arrested for the crime of spreading G-d forbid). they usually did, the government had Judaism but they added on other I’ll take this opportunity to point a file on him with dozens of fictitious accusations. A group of out that when the Rebbe began incriminating paragraphs. During Bucharian Jews had recently crossed agitating for spreading knowledge of his trial the judge read paragraph the border via Iran and escaped to Judaism among Jews who are not after paragraph. In one of them, the Israel, and they accused R’ Simcha observant, there were g’dolim judge said, “Rabbi Gorodetzky of organizing it and they demanded (highly respected rabbis) who organized propaganda against the that he admit to it. opposed this who asked how we Soviet government and had live The interrogators reached a nadir could get involved with these Jews ammunition in his possession.” of contemptibility when they told R’ who are “far.” The Rebbe’s response R’ Simcha asked him: “What Simcha that his wife had also been was – there will come a time that ammunition are you talking about?” arrested and was sitting in a nearby they will copy our work and that is The judge took out a Tanya from cell. He heard a voice that sounded what I want. his drawer, threw it angrily on the very much like hers whispering to

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 769 35 mitzvos are eternal. LEVELS IN HOSPITALITY My mother told me that after R’ R’ Lipa Klein, whom I knew in Tashkent as someone who was very Simcha’s imprisonment, his wife hospitable, once told me a saying about hachnasas orchim (hospitality) Raya could not make peace with the that became etched in my mind: What is outstanding hachnasas situation. She was so devoted to him orchim? When a guest comes and you give him a cup of tea with sugar that she said that if Simcha was not and not with honey since you figure that the jam is up high on the shelf home, why should she live? The and you would have to go up and get it and sugar is sweet too – this is doctors warned her that she had to not outstanding hachnasas orchim! make peace with her lot because I saw outstanding hospitality done by a Chassidic woman named otherwise it could adversely affect Mrs. Dvonya Gorodetzky (the wife of Mordechai). It was after I got her health, but Raya could not do married and my wife and I went to Tashkent for the wedding of a otherwise. She left her children with relative. Since R’ Lipa was at work, I did not want to bother him and I her sister and went from place to went to stay with the Gorodetzky family. place, trying to help her husband. It was summertime and R’ Mordechai’s wife had us sit outside at a She did what she could but nothing table in the yard in a shady place under a grape vine. She spread out an helped and he was sentenced to 25 ironed white tablecloth and served us lunch and tomato salad. In Russia years of hard labor at the North there were no paper napkins and we ate carefully so the salad wouldn’t Pole. When she realized that she stain the tablecloth. could do nothing to change his Dvonya noticed this and she tried to convince us that she was happy sentence, she returned home in to have us and she didn’t care if the tablecloth got dirty. The main despair. All efforts to console her thing was for us to feel comfortable and at home. When she saw that were to no avail and in the end, the we continued eating carefully and were not feeling “at home,” she took doctors’ warnings were borne out a spoonful of tomato salad and deliberately allowed it to drip on the and she had a stroke that caused half tablecloth. of her body to be paralyzed. Of course, after seeing that the tablecloth was dirty anyway, and After the death of Stalin, that she really did not want us to be careful at all, we began to eat freely thousands of prisoners were and I saw how she enjoyed this. That is outstanding hospitality, the released, including R’ Simcha in memory of which remains with me till this day. 5716/1956. When he returned home he was devastated to see that his wife was paralyzed. him from beyond the wall: “Simcha, After a long period of exhausting Tell them everything and it will go interrogations, they sentenced him MY VISITS easier for me.” to death at first and then commuted WITH R’ SIMCHA When the interrogators saw that his sentence to many years in prison. After returning from prison, R’ R’ Simcha was unimpressed by this, I remember that at the beginning Simcha and his wife lived in their they arranged for him to be brought of the 50’s, my brother-in-law R’ Eli son Mordechai’s house in Tashkent. from place to place in the course of Mishulovin told me that his friend In the course of my travels for the interrogations so he could come Mottel Simcha’s (that is how they communal purposes I occasionally across a note, as though by referred to R’ Simcha’s son visited Tashkent and I always tried happenstance. He picked up the Mordechai) showed him a letter that to visit R’ Simcha. paper and saw that it was written in his father sent him from his place of The first time I saw him I was his wife’s handwriting: “Simcha, exile in which he told him how to very excited. I felt as though this what are you thinking? The children behave. Among other things, he man had come to life out of the are likely to remain complete wrote that as the only son in the legends told about him. To me he orphans, bereft of father and family he had to see to his family’s was a symbol of mesirus nefesh and mother. Tell them everything.” livelihood and to marrying off his yet he acted with such simplicity. The note was signed “Rashke.” sister and that they should not wait When I greeted him, all the stories I Everybody called his wife, “Raya” until he returned from exile. R’ heard about him raced through my and only her parents and her closest Simcha ended the letter with words head and I couldn’t look directly relatives called her Rashke. They of inspiration, that he should know into his face because I was even knew this detail and managed that all the concealments were like embarrassed to do so. to forge her signature. passing clouds while Torah and Usually, when I went to their

36 17 Teives 5771 BEIS MOSHIACH house, his son and daughter-in-law I remembered stories that I had were at work and only he and his heard about him from older wife were home. He himself would bachurim about his davening with go out of his way to make sure to avoda and about his outstanding make my stay a pleasant one. As Ahavas Yisroel, and how he had soon as I came he would tell me to arranged parnasa (a livelihood) for wash in order to eat and serve me a my father, etc. I heard that his traits meal himself (the truth is that I was of goodness and kindness were so always hungry on these trips for great that when he would go to the fresh, homemade food because I mikva and see a Jew who did not couldn’t buy food in the stores and have clean clothes, he would leave had to suffice with what I brought his own clean clothes for that person from home). He always addressed and take the other man’s old me respectfully, using the plural clothing. form, which made me feel very After talking to R’ Simcha I went uncomfortable. I was just a 20 year inside to say hello to his wife, whom old bachur while R’ Simcha had I knew from the time she lived in passed the 50 year mark, most of Samarkand in our neighborhood. As that spent with mesirus nefesh I mentioned, she was partially including interrogations and a paralyzed and R’ Simcha took care lengthy imprisonment, and after all of her. She could not talk except that he spoke to me using the plural with hand motions. She was happy form … But that was R’ Simcha. He R’ Simcha said: “That is Asher to see me and knew who I was. She was refined and modest and greeted Sossonkin.” spoke with great difficulty so that a you first and treated everyone with I had never heard that name and stranger could not understand her, respect. I remained in my place in fear of the but since I had heard her for years When I visited him he would guest. beforehand, I could understand what always receive me in the guest room. R’ Simcha realized that I didn’t she was saying. One time, when I went out to wash know who this was and he said: “It’s She pointed to herself and said: my hands for the meal, I saw R’ Asher Batomer …” “Simcha returned home and look at someone who looked poor and Aha! Now I knew who it was and what condition he found me in.” unfortunate enter a side room and all my fears vanished. I could not refrain from crying take food out of his bag. It seemed A few minutes later R’ Asher and I left the room. to me that he was asking R’ Simcha came into the dining room and I saw I thought: Rivers of ink and about me and I quickly entered the this special Chassid for the first forests of pens would not be enough dining room so he wouldn’t see me. time. I humbly went over to him and to describe the lives of these heroes. R’ Simcha asked me: “Who are greeted him. R’ Asher asked me: This righteous woman gave up her you hiding from?” “Are you the son of Avremel life for the Rebbe’s shlichus. These I asked him: “Who is that poor Zaltzman?” When I said that I was, legendary people are Chassidei man?” he asked me how my father was. Chabad Lubavitch! Make a “Mivtzah Kashrus” in your own computer! Introducing JNET-The world wide web without the world wide worryTM While The Internet can be a helpful tool for business, experts that will solve your problems fast. education and personal use it can also be a potentially Most important, you can now get the JNET Advantage for dangerous one. only a bit more than non-filtered on line providers. That's why J Net was created. If you're ready for the world wide web without the world wide Using exclusive multi-tiered intelligent filtration, the J Net worry, you're ready for JNet. portal is probably the most effective consumer resource for DIAL UP DSL Unlimited Access 24 Tech Support eliminating material not conducive to our needs. 4 Profiles per More than virtually foolproof, J .NET is also easy - both to Account Web Mail install and use. Plus its available in both dialup and high Call us toll free at 1-866-866-JNET (5638) speed DSL and backed by highly trained customer service (mention code “770” for special ANASH Rate)

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 769 37 gladdened with Your salvation; that you G-d will also be liberated! To better understand the Rebbe’s WHO’S WHO interpretation of the foregoing prayer it is important that we define the concept of “sh’chinta b’galuta.” What exactly does it mean for G-d to be in exile? IN EXILE? To translate this concept into down-to-earth human terms a simple analogy from our own relationships can be helpful: By Heschel Greenberg If you are standing next to another person and addressing him or her, while that person totally This week’s parsha introduces us ignores you, and does not even to Moses, the “first redeemer” of the acknowledge your presence—that Jewish people, who also serves as the would be an incredible insult and paradigm for the final redeemer of downright painful. It demonstrates the Jewish people—Moshiach. that a huge gap exists between the Moses’ selection as the redeemer two of you, notwithstanding that occurs at the scene of the “burning individual’s close physical proximity bush,” which the Torah identifies as to you. a thorn-bush. The insult and the concomitant Rashi, the principal Torah emotional pain are magnified when commentator—whose purpose is to the one ignoring you is/was your provide us with the most basic level friend or relative. The pain increases of understanding of the Biblical when you realize how much you did text—explains that G-d’s choice of for that individual. The worst-case the thorn-bush as His venue of scenario would be for a parent— communication to Moses was to who gave his life and limb for this express His empathy for the plight child—to receive the silent treatment of the oppressed Jewish people. are two scenarios or reasons for the from his offspring. Rashi applies the verse from Psalms need, and our desire, for Moshiach. That is precisely what happens in to this situation: “I am with him in The first is for Moshiach to end all our world. distress.” This is to say that when we of the misery and pain we suffer in We live in a world, whose very are in distress, G-d, as it were, also exile. The second reason is to existence depends on G-d creating experiences “pain” and “anguish.” liberate G-d Himself from exile. The and sustaining it continuously. Yet, Why, we may ask, was it phenomenon of G-d being in exile we do not appreciate G-d’s role in important for G-d to express His with us the Talmud and Zohar refer our lives, or worse, we ignore His pain to Moses? Wasn’t it enough for to as, “sh’chinta b’galuta.” This role. This is the equivalent of being Moses to know the pain of his implies that even if all of the Jewish shunned by our own children, loved brethren? If Moses was insensitive people’s—and, indeed, the entire ones and friends. And this is the to the plight of the Jewish people world’s—suffering would cease; definition of G-d being in exile. would he be sensitive to the more even if universal peace and The root of the problem is that abstract notion of Divine suffering? prosperity would prevail, we would we view the world or nature as an One explanation can be offered still need Moshiach to “liberate” G-d independent entity rather than a in light of a commentary given by from His state of exile. manifestation of G-d’s creative the Lubavitcher Rebbe to one of our And thus the Sabbath prayer is energy. G-d can then be said to be Sabbath prayers: reinterpreted by the Rebbe: in exile because exile is defined as “Satisfy us with your goodness, “Satisfy us with Your goodness” being cast away from your home. and gladden our souls with your – Get rid of all the suffering and When G-d does not enter our salvation.” pain, so that our souls will be consciousness He has, for all intents The Rebbe explained that there and purposes, been alienated from

38 3 Teives 5771 BEIS MOSHIACH our world. Certainly, when we see a world We are living in historic times. Never in which injustice prevails, where the before have the Jewish people been so righteous suffer and the wicked prosper, and where people can even free and prosperous. This does not mean deny G-d’s existence, G-d is in exile. If we had to give one definition that there are no serious problems, but of what it means for G-d to be in exile—in all of its forms—it would relative to the rest of our history, we are be defined thus: Anytime true reality takes a back living in unprecedented good times. seat to the illusory view of reality, G- Moses’ selection as Israel’s redeemer spiritual form of exile. d—the essence of truth and was to liberate them from Egyptian G-d says to Moses: “When you reality—is in exile. In the first bondage, the A-mighty wanted to tell take the people out of Egypt, you scenario of exile, G-d is obscured Moses that underlying that rationale will worship G-d on this mountain.” because of the suffering; in the for his role as redeemer was a This, of course, refers to the second scenario, G-d is concealed deeper dimension. G-d too was in ultimate giving of the Torah on because we view the world with exile, for the fact that there can be Mount Sinai, the purpose of which tinted and tainted spectacles. pain and suffering in this world is an was to reveal G-dliness to the world, Thus, the Rebbe explains, we expression of G-d’s concealed state. which will pave the way for the pray to G-d, “Satisfy us with our If G-d’s glory were to be fully ultimate Redemption. Equipped with needs from Your goodness.” Remove manifested in this physical world, the knowledge of Torah and the the exile conditions by giving us pain, suffering, evil and cruelty implementation of its dictates in our everything we need. When that would cease. daily lives we remove—layer by happens, our pleas for Moshiach At the time of the Exodus, the layer—all that obstructs the clear and Redemption will rise to a higher focus was on relieving the physical view of G-dly reality. and more sophisticated level. Our suffering. However, at the same We are living in historic times. desire for Moshiach will not be time, the process for removing the Never before have the Jewish people predicated on the need to escape “veil” that allows for pain, suffering been so free and prosperous. This suffering, but will be for G-d’s sake. and injustice to exist in the first does not mean that there are no Hence, the second part of the place was being set into motion. serious problems, but relative to the prayer: “And gladden our hearts First, G-d appears to Moses in rest of our history, we are living in from Your salvation.” The words, the burning thorn-bush as a symbol unprecedented good times. “your salvation”, the Rebbe of G-d’s empathetic pain. The secret It is in precisely these times when reinterprets, refer to G-d’s own to remove the physical we can comfortably say: “You have salvation. Our joy will come from manifestations of exile is to satisfied us with Your goodness”! So the realization that G-d is no longer recognize that there is also a now we can truly appreciate the in exile and true reality becomes the spiritual dimension to exile. And we second part of the prayer: “Gladden reality we will know and feel. must focus our energies on dealing our hearts with Your salvation.” G-d With this introduction we can with the removal of that level. for Your own sake bring Moshiach understand why G-d wanted Moses Second, G-d also reveals to and an end to exile in all of its to know that He too was in distress. Moses the key to removing the incarnations and manifestations! Although the primary reason for Raskin’sConsistently if it grows we have Superiorit Fruit and Produce Emporium WHOLESALE & RETAIL Michal & Aaron Raskin We 335 Kingston Ave. Brooklyn NY 11213 * Tel: (718) 756-3888 756-2221 * Fax: 756-2440

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 769 39 miracle story THAT LETTER CHANGED MY LIFE

By Nosson Avrohom Translated by Michoel Leib Dobry Rabbi Avraham Feiner is a prominent Belzer chassid, director of Beis Malka educational institutions for women, and a member of the Yerushalayim City Council. We asked why he davens

Nusach Ari And learns Chitas. Instead “He surely keeps the shiurim of Chumash, T’hillim, and Tanya, and of a simple answer, we were privileged davens according to our custom”. to hear the following miraculous story. Illustration.

Rabbi Avraham Feiner is one of phone identifies the number, I get child in the merit of the Rebbe’s the more outstanding public figures back to the caller as soon as I have bracha. This miracle has of ultra-Orthodox Jewry in time,” he explains when I expressed accompanied him ever since, to this Yerushalayim. With great success my surprise that he got back to me very day. Each morning, when he and fortitude, he runs the Beis within a few minutes of my own call. learns the daily Chitas and davens Malka educational institutions for Rabbi Feiner is no stranger to Nusach Ari, something quite Belzer chassidic women, while also interviews with reporters about unusual in the Belzer chassidic serving as a representative of the community issues. Anyone community with which he affiliates, Yahadut HaTorah (United Torah acquainted with him knows how well he recalls that experience. Judaism) faction on the known he is for resolving problems “I grew up in Afula, situated in Yerushalayim City Council. While he discreetly with City Hall especially northern Eretz Yisroel. My parents is fully occupied with work from on behalf of his Belzer community. were the only members of their morning until night, nevertheless, This time, however, he is being entire extended families who every person who asks for his help, called upon for an entirely different survived the fiery flames of Nazi receives a reply. “I can’t always type of interview. barbarism. They chose to establish answer telephones, as sometimes I’m It turns out that almost forty their residence in Afula, and as their in a city council meeting or at some years ago, Rabbi Feiner experienced only son, I decided to remain there other important function. But if my an exciting miracle with his second

40 3 Teives 5771 BEIS MOSHIACH only available option: an immediate “‘What’s the problem?’ they said and complicated operation. The with eyebrows raised. ‘Write a letter doctor added that even if the to the Rebbe, detailing the whole operation was successful, the child chain of events and the doctors’ would sustain permanent damage. instructions. The Rebbe has We were positively thunderstruck performed many a miracle with his and disconsolate. It took us quite holy brachos.’ some time to absorb this bitter turn “I listened to their words and the of events. We didn’t know where to tremendous faith emanating from turn. To fully comprehend the them, and I caught the bug. Without severity of the situation, the doctor wasting any valuable time, I explained to us that any delay in the composed a letter that day spelling planned operation would literally out our son’s medical condition, as constitute a danger to our child’s expressed in his hospital file. We life. added the doctors’ recommendation “The doctor scheduled for us to and their stated opinion on the appear at the operating room in future damage that the boy will another week. In the meantime, we suffer even if the operation goes continued our daily routine, as fears well, and I asked that the Rebbe and concerns engulfed our hearts. answer our plea with a blessing. The We felt as if a sword was hanging chassidim prepared me not to over our world. become dejected if I don’t receive an “In the meantime, we had to immediate reply, encouraging me press on with our lives, and I that the very fact that I sent the stringently continued to come to the letter will guarantee the bracha. daily Gemara class held in Afula’s Furthermore, the postal services central synagogue. Among the back then were not as they are shiur’s participants were several today, and letters sometimes reached Chabad chassidim, who had settled their appointed destination only after in the city at the command of the a lengthy period of time. Lubavitcher Rebbe. They included “Thus, it came as quite a surprise the Segal brothers, the Rosenbergs, when just three days after sending and the Kaminkers, and they saw all the letter, I had already received a too well my crestfallen state. reply. I was stunned. I couldn’t “Immediately upon their arrival imagine that an answer would come in Afula, they founded a kollel for so quickly, but the Rebbe had after my wedding. young married men, and their apparently decided to place me at “The story I want to tell took presence was properly felt in the the top of his list of priorities. The place thirty-six years ago, several Torah atmosphere that pervaded in answer was very interesting, opening years after I got married. It began the city. When they noticed my sad with the standard reply of ‘I will when our eldest son, the second of facial expression and how I wasn’t mention him in an auspicious hour our children complained he was participating in the class as I usually at the Tzion of my holy and feeling unwell. When his pains did, they asked me to explain the revered father-in-law, the Rebbe’, continued to intensify, we quickly reason for my mood. ‘We can see and then the Rebbe added in his brought him to the HaEmek that your head isn’t into the own handwriting: ‘Good news’. As Hospital, located near Afula. Gemara,’ said one of them the letter continued, there appeared “The doctors examined and then sympathetically. ‘Tell us what another two typewritten lines. The re-examined him, and their happened and maybe we can help chassidim explained to me that the diagnosis was far from positive. We you.’ ‘If there is concern in a man’s Rebbe had instructed the secretaries never imagined that the situation heart, let him cast it down,’ said to type something additional to the could be so serious. The director of another one, quoting the pasuk, and standard reply. Not a day passes that the hospital ward called us in to his I decided to open up and tell them I don’t regret that I no longer have office to present us with the one and what was happening with our son the letter. and his serious medical condition. “One day, when I was standing

BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 769 41 present, to tell them, ‘Look, I am an I was waiting at the entrance to the observant Jew, and I want to tell you operating room, and I noticed the the real reason for this development.’ sudden commotion as they called in “For the next several minutes, I laid out before them the feeling of more doctors to review the results. At terror that had seized us after the chief doctor’s initial diagnosis, and first, I didn’t understand what all the then about the letter we had sent to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and the reply excitement was about. Had the that followed shortly thereafter. situation become worse? “This created a tremendous Kiddush Hashem. Doctors who are generally very realistic people and in line in a Yerushalayim office, into the operating room, they made not the type that believes in such someone stole my wallet out of my another comprehensive series of things got a lesson in the Hand of trousers’ back pocket. While it didn’t tests – and they stood stunned and Divine Providence. The senior contain a lot of money, less than five incredulous! I was waiting at the physician gripped my hand and said hundred liras, it did contain this entrance to the operating room, and that based on his experience, valuable letter. Since receiving the I noticed the sudden commotion as ailments like this just don’t letter, I had carried it with me they called in more doctors to review disappear into thin air. Naturally, as everywhere. I put an ad in the the results. At first, I didn’t I had shared my fears and concerns papers that I was prepared to pay a understand what all the excitement with the chassidim in Afula, I also large sum of money to that thief, if was about. Had the situation shared the good news with them – he would just give me back the letter become worse? It turned out that and the joy was experienced by all.” I had received from the Rebbe. But a just the opposite was true. * long time has passed since then, and “The director of the hospital “I’d just like to add,” Rabbi no one ever contacted me. ward called us again into his office, Feiner said as he concluded his story “The typewritten sentence that where all the doctors were already with great emotion, “that this boy the Rebbe had added was: standing, and he started by saying grew up, got married, and today he ‘Postscript: He surely keeps the that he had never seen anything like is the father of six children. One of shiurim of Chumash, T’hillim, and this before. He held the results of the medical diagnoses was that he Tanya, and davens according to our the tests he made when we had would be unable to have children, custom.’ As a result, I decided to come to the hospital the first time, but there’s a Great Healer who runs start following this custom as per the together with those they had just the world. With the help of G-d Rebbe’s request. done, and he informed us that Alm-ghty, his daughter will be “Every day since, I learn Chitas everything had disappeared as if it getting married in the month of and daven according to Chabad had never been there… Not even a Adar… custom. In the morning after sign of a problem remained. “If I would have heard such a Shacharis, I stringently complete all “When I heard the doctor’s tale from someone else – that would the daily shiurim even before I start emotional words, said by someone be another matter entirely, but this my workday. who usually spoke with the utmost was a miracle story that I “Two days after receiving the composure, I felt a tremendous experienced for myself. All of my Rebbe’s answer, we arrived at the relief, and I started to laugh from friends have heard this story and are hospital, as had been prearranged. the release of tension. I took the closely familiar with the facts Before the doctors brought the boy opportunity, with all the doctors involved.”

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42 17 Teives 5771 BEIS MOSHIACH