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contents
THE WAR OF THE HOUSE OF DOVID 4 D’var Malchus
IN THE HILLS OF BINYAMIN 6 Shlichus | Nosson Avrohom
DID YOU FIX YOUR MIDDOS YET? 12 Chinuch | Menachem Ziegelboim
STORIES FROM THE REBBE’S ROOM 16 Stories | Menachem Ziegelboim
LIFE OFA CHASSID USA 22 Profile | Shneur Zalman Berger 744 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409 Tel: (718) 778-8000 Fax: (718) 778-0800 [email protected] THE SECRET NETWORK OF EMISSARIES www.beismoshiach.org 26 IN EUROPE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Memoirs | Rabbi Schneur Zalman Chanin M.M. Hendel ENGLISH EDITOR: Boruch Merkur SPECIAL CHILDREN [email protected] 30 Feature | Sarah Rivka Lifsh HEBREW EDITOR: Rabbi Sholom Yaakov Chazan [email protected] EVEN THE WALLS CRIED 36 Beis Moshiach (USPS 012-542) ISSN 1082- Memoirs | Prepared for publication by Avrohom Rainitz 0272 is published weekly, except Jewish holidays (only once in April and October) for $160.00 in Crown Heights, Brooklyn and in all other places for $180.00 per year (45 issues), by Beis Moshiach, 744 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409. Periodicals postage paid at Brooklyn, NY and additional offices. Postmaster: send address changes to Beis Moshiach 744 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409. Copyright 2010 by Beis Moshiach, Inc. Beis Moshiach is not responsible for the content of the advertisements. 760_Beis Moshiach 18/10/2010 8:29 AM Page 4
d’var malchus THE WAR OF THE HOUSE OF DOVID
Translated by Boruch Merkur
this very instant! Bear in mind that More than eighty years ago the Rebbe we are speaking about a Torah law, Rashab foresaw in a Divinely where there is no room for humor! Law and humor are polar opposites! inspired vision the particular quality 2. As has been said, this is an urgent matter, for “he stands behind of our times – literally an overt our wall” [ready to bring on the redemption]; we cannot simply wait prophecy! * Who could have patiently any longer! Even in Talmudic times they said that “all imagined, eighty years ago, that a the appointed times have passed.” creature such as this should exist, a How much more so is this true of our times! Regarding all the events Jew who “believes in G-d and His that had to transpire, the birth pangs of Moshiach and the like – the Torah” but who laughs at and scorns Mitteler Rebbe wrote, in his time, that we have already suffered the “heels of Moshiach”! through all of them. Thus, we have long since fulfilled our obligation, as 1. When there is an apparent What a shame it will be, if, when it were, our fate – to say nothing of “mighty tempest at sea” (Yona 1:4), Moshiach comes and all 600,000 all the horrors of our generation, “kingdoms clashing with one Jews stand at attention with “may the travails never recur.” another,” it is necessary to know “polished buttons,” there is an Therefore, it is absolutely certain that the reason for this is not individual with the unfortunate that the true and complete because one nation is provoked and distinction of being the only person redemption should already be upon enraged by another nation. Rather, who didn’t have the opportunity to us, in a manner of “With tranquility “because of me, this mighty tempest polish his buttons! ... and restfulness shall you be saved.” is upon you” (ibid 1:12). That is, in All that remains to be done is a The fact that there are those who order that a Jew should know that single Mitzva, in accordance with laugh about this, etc. – this very fact the advent of our righteous the ruling of Rambam, “if one does proves that we are indeed in the final Moshiach is imminent – “Behold, he a single Mitzva, he inclines himself generation of exile, the generation stands behind our wall” – as it says, and the whole entire world to the that shall merit the redemption, in “If you have seen kingdoms clashing side of favor, bringing to himself and accordance with the words of the with one another, anticipate the to others salvation and deliverance.” Rebbe Rashab, whose birthday we footsteps of Moshiach”! If the redemption was supposed to are celebrating, in the famous Since we know that “he stands come two moments in the future, by address about “the war of the House behind our wall,” we should be means of this action one brings the of Dovid.” quick to “polish the buttons of the redemption to be but a moment But first to preface: There is uniform” (as the Rebbe Rayatz, the away, in the words of the Rambam, something most unusual detected leader of our generation, would say). “immediately they are redeemed,” with regard to this matter,
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something that has not been given well known – that “anyone who does dance, wearing a bear skin, before the attention that it is due. Namely, not believe in him (in the Messianic the Gentile ... this is a clear proof that more than eighty years ago the King), or one who does not yearn that this must be the correct conduct Rebbe Rashab foresaw in a Divinely for his arrival, denies not only the of Jews! ... Therefore, they argue, inspired vision the particular quality teachings of the Prophets but also when Jews ask, and especially when of our times – literally an overt the Torah itself and Moshe they petition G-d that the prophecy! Rabbeinu.” Yet still there comes redemption should come In the speech the Rebbe Rashab along a Jew, who believes in G-d immediately – “Moshiach now” – delivered, mentioned above, he and His Torah and laughs at and this is in opposition to the path that predicts that prior to the redemption scorns the “heels of Moshiach,” and Jews have been accustomed to in there will be two degrees, two not only that but he dresses it up in earlier generations, to dance before generations of cynics. The first level a guise of fear of Heaven! the Gentile! ... (or generation) is comprised of However, in our times, the This approach, even when veiled “those who have scorned, Your matter has indeed come to pass and in the fear of Heaven, can only come enemies, O G-d” (T’hillim 89:52). has become an established fact. from der Kluginker (the Crafty One), That is, those who oppose G-d, His There are Jews who observe Torah the evil inclination, who is infamous Torah and His Mitzvos. The second and Mitzvos yet they “scorn the for donning a “cloak of holiness” ... level (the second generation) are heels of Moshiach.” When a Jew As is well know the saying of “those who scorn the heels of asserts that we are presently in the chassidim that “Eisav wore a silk Moshiach” (ibid). The latter refers times of the “heels of Moshiach,” kapote with a gartel” ... to Jews who are described as “behold he stands outside our wall,” A Jew who behaves in accordance “believers in G-d and His Torah,” to they cannot tolerate it – to the point with Torah is well aware that a Jew the extent that among them are “fine that they even ridicule and laugh at and exile are antithetical! A Jew is b’nei Torah (those who exemplify the it! They even educate Jewish the son of the King, King of Kings, tradition of Torah observant children in this spirit, to scorn the the Holy One Blessed Be He. Judaism), but they are, nonetheless, “heels of Moshiach,” may G-d help Therefore, his rightful place is at the weak in faith in the redemption – to us. table of his Father, the King. And the extent that they scorn and make When they are asked: How can when a Jew is in exile, it is said of fun of it! this be? Faith in the coming of him in heaven, “woe is to the This second generation is truly a Moshiach is a fundamental principle children who were exiled from their great wonder. Who could have of the Jewish religion! They have an Father’s table!” imagined, eighty years ago, that a answer prepared: Certainly they Regarding their claim about how creature such as this should exist, a believe in the coming of Moshiach. to relate to a Gentile, there is the Jew who “believes in G-d and His How can it be otherwise?! They are clear ruling of Rambam on the Torah” but who laughs at and scorns religious Jews who say, “I believe, matter, delineating how one may the “heels of Moshiach”! etc., in the coming of Moshiach.” relate to a Gentile. Namely, a Jew Moreover, in that speech, the But according to their opinion, it is must strive – in a pleasant and Rebbe Rashab adds that besides the still not the time of the “heels of peaceful manner – to encourage the very fact that there will be “those Moshiach”; we must wait many Gentile to fulfill the commandments who scorn the heels of Moshiach,” more years for the redemption (may incumbent upon the descendants of they justify the matter with reasons G-d have mercy upon us) ... Noach, and to emphasize “that he dressed up in the guise of fear of Certainly – they say – eventually, should do them because thus did Heaven. The truth is that this in the distant future, the redemption G-d command in Torah”! One second generation is actually a will be here, but what’s the rush? ... mustn’t dance before the Gentile continuation of and a result of the And certainly we mustn’t petition simply because that’s the way it was [plainly heretical] generation of G-d to take the Jewish people out of done three hundred years prior to “those who have scorned, Your exile. We must, rather, sit and wait. the generation of the “heels of enemies, O G-d,” but they dress it In the meanwhile, Jews remain stuck Moshiach”! ... up in a cloak of fear of Heaven! ... in exile, may G-d have mercy on us! The fact that he argues that the It is indeed a conundrum. Faith What should we do? Dance before time of the redemption has not yet in the coming of Moshiach is one of the Gentile! arrived – it is explicitly mentioned in the foundations of the Jewish They even dress this argument up the Gemara that “all the appointed religion, the Thirteen Principles of in “the fear of Heaven”: Since, times [for the advent of Moshiach] Faith. And the ruling of Rambam is centuries ago, Jews were forced to [Continued on page 42]
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shlichus
of Jewish and secular studies did not appeal to me and I didn’t see myself continuing in this way. One day I IN THE HILLS decided that I was going to devote myself to Limudei Kodesh and would no longer take secular studies. “The principal called me to his OF BINYAMIN office to ask me about this but I remained determined. I told him he could send me home or punish me however he liked, but this is what I By Nosson Avrohom was going to do. “A few months later I switched to the yeshiva in Kedumim and then Rabbi Refael Salomon serves as shliach went to yeshivas Mercaz HaRav in Yerushalayim. These yeshivos are in the Religious-Zionist yishuv Eli, from considered the ‘frumest’ of their kind in terms of Torah outlook. which he reaches out to eleven other “I sought ruchnius and p’nimius yishuvim in the Matteh Binyamin and I wouldn’t compromise. I studied many Breslover s’farim as regional council area. His travels bring well as other musar works. I attended shiurim given by Litvishe him in direct contact with many IDF rabbanim. It was a period of constant searching that lasted years. soldiers and security personnel, and all My friends warned me that I was jumping too high and would suffer a the unique challenges that go along painful fall. with that. * A shliach’s life story, “I did my army service in the Hesder program in the armored including his spiritual journey to division. After the first part of my army service I experienced a serious Chabad spiritual crisis. On the one hand, I was looking for something that THE REBBE IN NEW along with some right-wing would quiet down this inner longing Orthodox aspects. In fact, I attended for eternal truth; on the other hand, YORK CARES ABOUT A I wasn’t finding it anywhere. JEW IN ALON MOREH an “ultra-Orthodox” elementary school. For high school I attended “After another stint in Shaalavim, Rabbi Salomon is a successful religious-Zionist yeshivos. I had a friend from Kedumim by the name shliach in the Yehuda-Shomron area heard about the Chabad movement of Eliezer Bronstein told me about a but up until thirty years ago he knew here and there but knew nothing yeshiva at Kever Yosef in Sh’chem nothing about Chassidus Chabad concrete about it.” and Rabbi Yitzchok Ginsburgh. and about the greatness of the Rebbe He learned in Shaalavim but did When I went to check it out I knew MH”M. not feel like one of the crowd there: I had found what I was looking for. “I was born in Kiryat Eliezer in “I felt I was searching for a Chabad Chassidus was IT. I Chaifa and received a religious- deeper and more authentic remember having to leave yeshiva in Zionist education approach. The combining order to complete my army service and it was in the middle of
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a farbrengen. I hated having to walk away from it in order to hitch a ride to the army base. In the yeshiva I found other bachurim like myself who were looking for spirituality and found it, and this made me happy. “When it came time to decide to become a Chassid, it was very hard. Although I had already internalized that Chassidus is a taste of the teachings of Moshiach, and that it is the path of truth, and that the Rebbe is the Nasi Ha’dor. Still, the transformation into a Lubavitcher Chassid was extremely difficult. I remember sitting in Rabbi Ginsburgh’s home in Kfar Chabad and raising questions and complaints about Chabad practices while he patiently responded. “A few hours after leaving his house, I decided to put on Rabbeinu Tam t’fillin and to accept Chabad customs and start dressing as a Chassid. This happened 19 years ago. The amazing thing is that I had written to the Rebbe a few times and had not received a response but when I made this commitment and wrote to the Rebbe, I quickly received a response about a problem I was dealing with at the time. “I was married already and living concept of the Rosh B’nei Yisroel wanted to absorb Chassidus in a in Alon Moreh where I worked as a struck me; he cares about every Jew Chassidishe atmosphere which was counselor in special education.” R’ and not only that but he goes out of so new to him. Salomon preferred not saying what his way to help.” For a few years he helped Rabbi the problem was. He chose to tell Yehuda Rubin in the regional me what R’ Ginsburgh said which THE RAV OF THE YISHUV Chabad house that the latter opened led to his commitment to Chabad: GIVES A DAILY SHIUR AT at the time. Ten years ago, he was “R’ Ginsburgh told me – you called by Tzeirei Agudas Chabad should know that the one who is THE CHABAD HOUSE which was looking for a shliach to with you throughout this time is the He adopted a Lubavitch hat and yishuv Eli. After writing to the Rebbe Rebbe himself. That shook me up. sirtuk. For half a year he learned in in the Igros Kodesh and consulting The Rebbe sits in New York and has the Ohr Zarua kollel in Rechovot with his mashpia, he accepted the plenty on his mind and yet he cares and in the kollel in Kfar Chabad. He offer. about some Jew who lives in Alon Eli is located on a hillside on Moreh!? The Highway 60 on the section between Yerushalayim and Tapuach
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Junction. It is in the Binyamin farbrengens and shiurim. We have a learned mimics how we learn Torah. Mountains, 700 meters above sea large library of Chassidus which Take learning a topic in Gemara for level. attracts many people including those example. It all revolves around About 700 families live in Eli who are not part of the k’hilla. Many resolving contradictions. The TRIZ which was founded at the end of people are interested in Chassidus method I studied does the same 5740/1980. It was named for Eli the and they sometimes sit for hours in thing in an almost likewise manner. I Kohen, the last Kohen Gadol who the library looking into s’farim.” decided to show, through scientific served in the Mishkan in Shilo, R’ Stupniker is the kind of research, how everything is derived where the Mishkan was for 367 person that you can sit and listen to from Torah and what we think was years in the time of the Judges. The for hours. He was born in invented in recent years was thought community at Eli was founded as a Dnepropetrovsk, the Rebbe’s city: of by our Sages thousands of years residential urban yishuv, a center for “Unlike many other Jews, my ago. That is what I am working on the yishuvim around it. It has a mother persisted in maintaining our now.” variegated population – recent tradition and so I knew about matza, Towards the end of the interview immigrants alongside longtime Kiddush and Shabbos. The goyim at R’ Stupniker explained what brought Israelis, young couples, families, and school also made sure to remind me him to Chabad and to hiskashrus to seniors. of my origins. Anti-Semitism was the Rebbe: Eli is home to a strong nucleus of rampant. When I went to university “During my wife’s first the intensely nationalistic wing of to study astronomy I failed in my pregnancy, at the end of 5751, religious-Zionism. When the first interview. The non-Jewish complications cropped up and she Salomons arrived they met some administrator, a man of conscience, went to the hospital. After tests were families from France and Russia who quietly advised me, ‘Go somewhere done the doctors determined that were drawn there for the quality of else because the reason you failed the fetus was no longer alive. My life. Their first activity was opening was anti-Semitism.’ friends at the kollel at Mercaz a Chabad house that serves as a shul “At the beginning of the 90’s, Gutnick guided me in how to write on Shabbos and Yom Tov, where with the dissolution of the to the Rebbe and I received an shiurim in Chassidus are given to communist empire, Lubavitcher answer that same day: I will mention men and women. Chassidim came to revive Judaism in it at the gravesite. “In the early years people were the former Soviet Union. One of the “I rushed to the hospital where highly skeptical about us. Today we first cities they went to was my city. one of the doctors told me that they see how the ice melted and even the Three young bachurim came. I had done new tests and everything rav of the yishuv gives a daily shiur became friends with them and they was fine.” at the Chabad house.” taught me a lot. When I went to When we went to the Chabad Eretz Yisroel I found that some of THE HEAD OF SHIN-BET house we met Yehuda Stupniker, a my friends had become baalei PUT ON TEFILLIN Russian immigrant who became t’shuva and were learning in the interested in Judaism at the Mercaz Gutnick in Yerushalayim. R’ Refael Salomon’s work with beginning of the 90’s and now They enthusiastically urged me to security forces and IDF soldiers belongs to the Chabad k’hilla which join them and I agreed. I began takes place year-round. During is forming around R’ Salomon. Each learning Chassidus and learned how holiday season the work intensifies member of the k’hilla sees himself as within Chassidus lies the secret to a thanks to the bachurim who a partner in the work. R’ Stupniker happy life.” augment his staff of regulars, who is the gabbai of the shul. Within a R’ Stupniker is an expert in the visit every blockade, position, and few minutes of conversation it TRIZ method, a problem-solving, base in the area. R’ Salomon has became obvious that he is worthy of analysis and forecasting tool. He numerous stories and he shared a an article himself. We heard about learned it from its originator, Soviet few with us: the shul, the shiurim, the engineer and researcher Genrich “We were informed on one of the mekuravim, and how he came to Altshuller. There are only 64 people days that we went out to soldiers Chassidus: worldwide who have obtained a that in a few minutes a group of “Our shul was founded a decade master’s certificate from him. Not important people would be visiting ago, as soon as R’ Salomon arrived surprisingly, he is invited as a guest one of the blockades. When they at the yishuv. There is a special of honor to events on the subject. arrived I saw five young fellows who atmosphere at the t’fillos on Shabbos “When I delved into Jewish looked like Tel Avivians. They were and Yom Tov as well as at the studies I saw that the method I had relatively young except for one who
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looked older than them. I suggested they put on t’fillin which they declined, some politely and some in annoyance. It was the older one who was willing to put on t’fillin. He murmured the prayer and I saw tears in his eyes. “When he removed the t’fillin he told me that his son would soon be marking his bar mitzva and now he would be able to tell him that he too put on t’fillin after many years. After the group left I found out from one of the soldiers that the five men were from Shabak (the Shin-Bet) and the Outreach to soldiers man who had put on t’fillin was none other than the head of Shabak at the time, Ami Ayalon. “One day a group of Russian Jews visited our yishuv. They were led by a Russian speaking guide. I suggested that they put on t’fillin but most of them declined. One of them, an older man, indicated that he wanted to put on t’fillin but he was sorry that he did not speak Ivrit. I helped him with the t’fillin. He merely began reading the first words of the Shma and he burst into tears. At one point he leaned against the wall and sobbed. “When I saw that he wasn’t calming down I called over the guide who spoke to him and relayed the North African countries [who are past, it was regarded as a man’s story to me. He had been more traditionally observant]. contradiction to their worldview but born in Poland before the outbreak “These young people have an today it is warmly accepted. We talk of World War II and grew up in a enormous interest in learning and openly about the Rebbe as frum home. He had celebrated his knowing about their roots. I recently Moshiach, chai v’kayam. We give bar mitzva and put on t’fillin like all met a soldier in Reserves at base out the Ha’Geula, M’Anyein his friends but then the German 773 near Eli who said he was willing V’Achshavi weekly booklet which army entered Poland which was the to put on t’fillin because of the people really enjoy. There is a guy beginning of the end. He was saved hospitality he enjoyed when he here who became more involved at by the skin of his teeth and never toured in the Far East.” the Chabad house because of this discovered the fate of his family publication and today he regularly members. At the end of the war he ENCOURAGING PEOPLE attends the shiurim, farbrengens and lived in Russia and since that time TO WRITE TO THE REBBE t’fillos.” he had not put on t’fillin. People know who to turn to “Speaking of t’fillin and soldiers, At the Chabad house in Eli they when they have a problem: many of them put on t’fillin with us aren’t embarrassed to openly “One day a woman came and for the first time in their lives. It proclaim “Yechi.” said that the doctors told her she used to be that these were young “We see that there is great could not become pregnant again people from the CIS but now we are interest today, including among the because of an illness. She wrote to encountering many Israelis and even religious-Zionists, in hearing about the Rebbe about the illness and those whose grandfathers came from the Rebbe and Chassidus. In the
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about her desire for children. A few days THE REBBE’S CHILD later she was healed of her illness and After our oldest daughter was born at the end of 5749 some despite the doctors’ skepticism she became months went by and we wanted more children, which didn’t pregnant and had another son. happen as quickly as we would have liked. In 5752 we wrote to “There was a family that considered the Rebbe several times but did not receive a response. Before we removing their son from the Chabad sent each letter we made a good hachlata but a lot of time went school and sending him to the school in by and we made peace with the fact that we wouldn’t receive a Yitzhar. After visiting the place, the father response. didn’t feel good about it because on the Then, Erev Shabbos, my wife woke me up in excitement and walls of the classrooms were many pictures told me her dream. In her dream she saw the Rebbe farbrenging of g’dolim but none of the Rebbe. He told in the yishuv we lived in at the time, Yitzhar, and in the course of his wife that they had to write to the Rebbe the farbrengen everybody passed by the Rebbe including her. She about it. The answer they opened to was held the baby of one of the people there and when she stood addressed to a father who wanted to before the Rebbe he blessed her saying within a month we would remove his child from a Chabad school! have a yeshua. She asked the Rebbe what he was referring to The Rebbe asked him not to be angry with since we needed a yeshua in a number of areas and the Rebbe him and noted that it was a great pity on said he was referring to a child. The Rebbe added, “My request is him for removing the child from a school that you be careful about saying the daily shiurim of Chitas.” that the Rebbe took responsibility for …” My wife believed with all her heart that her dream would R’ Salomon’s past enables him to walk come true and that is, in fact, what happened. During the between the raindrops and to promote pregnancy she had another dream in which she saw the Rebbe. Chabad teachings even in situations that She happily told him that she was expecting a child. The Rebbe are delicate and complex. smiled broadly and said, “Well, I promised.” “I spent Shabbos in Ofra and reviewed Since he was born, this child has been accompanied by the a sicha from the D’var Malchus in the Rebbe’s blessings throughout. When he was only five years old he Sephardic shul. After the davening one of came down with a dangerous virus. It was Erev Shabbos and his the people came over to me and temperature climbed rapidly and he showed signs of apathy. As complained that Chabad focuses more on we called for an ambulance my wife wrote to the Rebbe through the individual and less on the nation as a the Igros Kodesh and opened to an answer which said we should whole. I told him about myself and my merit to go and return before Shabbos. We couldn’t understand background and then told him what the answer since just traveling to the hospital and the minimal Chabad’s approach is and how it is the time it would take for tests would take us into Shabbos, but we most inclusive. The man chose to come to didn’t have time to think. The ambulance arrived and for no the third Shabbos meal too in the course apparent reason his condition took a drastic turn for the better. of which I spoke about the greatness of The paramedic didn’t understand why we had called for him Jewish souls and about the Neshama but suggested that we go to the hospital anyway. At the hospital Klalis. I explained what a Rebbe is and he improved even more and the doctors who examined him didn’t why we need to connect to him. When see any reason to hospitalize him. A few days of high they asked who the Rebbe is now, I said temperature, vomiting and seizures disappeared within a few it’s the same Rebbe. When they continued hours, from the moment we wrote to the Rebbe. We see that this questioning me, I explained the subject child, born with the Rebbe’s bracha, had special protection. thoroughly and when you do so, you can Another story we had with him took place when we wanted to easily move from there to other topics such register him for first grade in a Talmud Torah (elementary school as Igros Kodesh. You cannot spout without any secular studies) and not in a school and the nearest demagoguery but neither can you avoid Talmud Torah was in Ramot. Before making the final decision my saying the truth.” wife wrote to the Rebbe and added that there was a lot of stone- throwing on the roads and whoever lived in Yehuda-Shomron THE MAIN MESSAGE: was afraid. The answer we opened to seemed to have been STRENGTHENING THE written then and there, just for us. The date was in Elul and the REBBE’S INYANIM letter was all about the great z’chus of learning in mosdos associated with the Rebbe Rayatz. Towards the end of the interview we asked R’ Salomon how the government’s building freeze affected Jewish settlement
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Working with children at the Chabad house. In the picture on the right, R’ Chemdi Ganz, who works at the Chabad house
in his area and the work of the on 3 Tammuz and the next day they serve as his contact men. Chabad house. We were surprised by stopped talking about it even though “We recently spent Shabbos in his answer: the topic of evacuation was a top Ofra and were joined by two “It all depends on us. There is a priority of the civil command in bachurim from yeshivas Toras Emes relatively new settlement called Givat Yehuda-Shomron. Where we in Yerushalayim. We gave shiurim in Asaf. On the same highway on the brought in light, the darkness a few shuls and made Mesibos way to Ofra where Aryeh disappeared. Shabbos for the children. The Hershkowitz was murdered in a “Because of the building freeze a women farbrenged with my wife. shooting, a year later his son Asaf number of people, together with R’ This Shabbos program was was murdered which is why the Rubin of Yitzhar, took on all the facilitated by R’ Ilan Ben-Tzion who residents decided to set up this expenses of checking mezuzos in the holds the Cultural-Torah portfolio squatter’s settlement in their new squatter’s camps in the hills: in and is a big admirer of our work. He memory. A year ago they spoke a lot Givat Asaf, Givat HaRoeh, and Givat is always happy to take care of the about expelling the residents and it Yovel. We see how the politicians logistical details of our visit.” looked as though it was all over. readily cave in to the dictates of In this manner, R’ Salomon is “Every year we have a Lag America and only Hashem saves us. able to work at each of the yishuvim. B’Omer parade in the surrounding This is the main message – to He tries to keep the intervals yishuvim like Ofra and Beit El, along strengthen the Rebbe’s inyanim.” between visits short, and serves as a with the Bakush family. After the *** mobile shliach. parade we took the whole crowd to R’ Salomon runs four preschools, This interview took place on a that point, ‘Givat Asaf.’ We recited a shul, an evening Kollel, Tzivos Motzaei Shabbos right after he T’hillim and said the p’sukim. To Hashem clubs, and shiurim. For returned from Ofra. He said this our surprise, right after Lag B’Omer many a Shabbos he goes to other was the only time he could free for they stopped talking about yishuvim where a program has been us since he had a tight schedule of destroying this specific area. The arranged ahead of time. activities the very next day. same thing happened with Givat He is helped by some Chassidim HaRoeh. We had a farbrengen there who live in the various yishuvim who Raskin's Consistently “if it grows we have it” Superior Fruit and Produce Emporium WHOLESALE & RETAIL Michal & Aaron Raskin We Deliver 335 Kingston Ave. Brooklyn NY 11213 * Tel: (718) 756-3888 756-2221 * Fax: 756-2440
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chinuch DID YOU FIX YOUR MIDDOS YET?
Interview by Menachem Ziegelboim Rabbi Yekusiel Green has published three new s’farim recently on the topic of chinuch and tikkun ha’middos, providing a much needed resource for Chabad educators. * The author shares his insights with us.
CHINUCH OF SELF did raise some eyebrows is his vowelized, in which the Rebbe “Tikkun ha’middos is only newest book, Tikkun HaMiddos. educates children to good middos through the ways of Torah and Tikkun HaMiddos? It’s a topic that (“the Rebbe speaks to children, mitzvos for then we are certain we may be more popular in the derech telling them how to conquer the will not fall into the net of errors of Novarodok and Musar, but it’s yetzer and to expand their good and justifications that come from just as relevant for those who focus middos and reveal the strength of a self-love since a person’s ways are more on learning Chassidus than on Jew”) and Klalei Chinuch straight in his own eyes and he correcting character specifically. v’Hadracha that was written by the fools himself in highlighting his People comments to him about Rebbe Rayatz with his father’s good qualities over his this and this was definitely a good guidance. This kuntres is vowelized deficiencies. Chazal have already reason to visit with him and discuss and is explained and divided into decided as halacha that a person chinuch, especially – as he himself main chapters and review chapters. sees all flaws except for his own said at the start of the interview – So chinuch was our main topic of flaws because self-love covers over that a new year is beginning and a discussion with R’ Green. all sins.” new school year, with the winter R’ Green began with some --Igros Kodesh Rayatz, being the “backbone of chinuch” of history. “Generally speaking, the 11 Iyar 5702, letter #1783 the year while the summer is a freer Rebbe Rayatz differentiates between atmosphere. chinuch/education and Rabbi Yekusiel Green of Kfar R’ Green also published two Chabad has published a few new horaa/instruction as they are two other s’farim on the topic of different realms that for some s’farim in recent months. That’s not chinuch and hadracha: Shma B’ni surprising, if you know him. What reason are often confused. There is with excerpts from sichos that are horaa and there is chinuch and they
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into two: middos between man and G-d and middos between people. The need for proper middos is not just a matter of manners but something vital in avodas Hashem. You can find good middos by, l’havdil, goyim too. So what is unique about chinuch for good middos by Jews generally and Chassidim specifically? Every Jew has three souls: the G-dly soul, the intellectual soul, and the animalistic soul. The animalistic soul consists of various animalistic tendencies – a person can be irritable by nature or bombastic and another could be full of physical desires etc. The G-dly soul opposes it and there is a constant battle between them. While Musar sees the Evil Inclination as something that needs to be overcome in order to be able to learn and daven, Chassidus sees the animalistic soul as something Hashem gave us in order to work with it and transform its tendencies in a positive direction. This is the challenge in every Jew’s life; this is our personal avoda, to look for our animalistic middos and know how to work with them, not in a are complementary but different. mechanchim too and he provided superficial way but with hard inner “When the Rebbe Rashab started them with guidance in the kuntres work through self-chinuch. This is the yeshiva in Lubavitch, the Klalei Chinuch v’Hadracha. the chinuch atzmi that every person talmidim were about 18-20 years “The Rebbe Rashab laid down needs to do. old. It was only in later years that the principles contained in this We are used to thinking of they started yeshivos k’tanos for kuntres to his son, the Rebbe chinuch in terms of children but the younger talmidim as well as Rayatz who was the menahel of the Rebbe Rashab gave educational talmudei Torah and other branches yeshiva. The Rayatz put it into material to mashpiim for them to of the yeshiva. When the Rebbe writing and gave it to his father for guide older bachurim in Tomchei started the yeshiva for older editing and the material underwent T’mimim in how to educate bachurim, the learning was done numerous revisions until the themselves and fix their middos. independently. Each bachur chose finished product was pleasing to the Can you really still educate to delve into a subject of his choice Rebbe Rashab and it became the bachurim who are 18 already? and each of them developed his own kuntres we are familiar with today.” This is chinuch that the talmidim learning abilities. Is the issue of character need to do for themselves, and it’s “Two outstanding mashpiim refinement a matter of chinuch or definitely possible. Educating were appointed to promote the horaa? ourselves never ends, at any age. study of Chassidus, R’ Chanoch We are dealing with chinuch in However the mashpiim were Hendel and R’ Shmuel Gronem. the realm of middos, the proper appointed to help the bachurim, to Aside from being melamdim and tikkun to attain good middos, one guide them in how to educate mashpiim of Chassidus, the Rebbe of the basics in avodas Hashem. themselves. First and foremost, Rashab wanted them to be Generally speaking they are divided chinuch atzmi is for good middos
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and only after that comes chinuch more readable revised format and as it relates to others. with the addition of commentary After publishing Klalei Chinuch Is there a difference in and examples. v’Hadracha, R’ Green rounded out approach between educating Parents have the roles not only of the topic with two other books, ourselves and educating others? parents but also of educators and to Tikkun HaMiddos (“an essential The Rebbe in this kuntres tells a certain extent, also teachers who part of avoda in Chassidus is us how to educate ourselves and teach their children. When a child chinuch for good middos and how to educate others as a talmid. comes home from school and tells mentchlich behavior”) and Shma what he learned, it can’t be B’ni which targets children. CHINUCH something the parents are hearing R’ Green responded to my VERSUS HORA’A for the first time in their lives. When question about what Chabad has to a child wants to review a Mishna do with tikkun ha’middos when our “The main point of chinuch is not that he learned that day, the father focus is Chassidus in the following about acquiring much knowledge has to know what it’s about and not way: (even if it’s good knowledge) but just listen passively. In Judaism there are three to focus on everything having to That is an example of horaa, approaches: Musar, Chakira, and do with the nature of the middos – not of chinuch … Chassidus (Chabad). In Novarodok that the disciple become an ‘Adam’ Horaa, says the Rebbe Rayatz, (Musar) they emphasized bittul worthy of that appellation, one must be combined with good ha’chomer, i.e. nullifying my who conducts himself as a mentch middos. Parents are teachers and physical side, the pleasures of this in his daily life, so that he uses all educators and they must prepare world, a person’s nice exterior. This his knowledge for purposes of themselves according to the Klalei is why they would deliberately go to righteousness, uprightness, peace Chinuch v’Hadracha. That is the a pharmacy and ask for a package etc.” minimum that parents need to start of nails and would endure --From a sicha of 11 Nissan 5742 with in order to know how to raise humiliation. When speaking of chinuch and and teach their children. Books of chakira emphasized horaa, people are not equal. There A father once sadly told me that hagboras ha’tzura (supremacy of are people who are born with a his son slept in until two in the the form/spirit) – the qualities of natural talent for chinuch and horaa afternoon. I asked him how he the nefesh, the positive, “It’s and they can develop their talents. reacted and he said, ‘I exploded and beautiful that you learn,” “How And there are some who are I turned him over with the bed.’ Or beautiful are good middos.” They talented in other ways. Even those take this for example, ‘My son stressed the light within man. who are not talented in chinuch can doesn’t behave properly and I deal Chassidus emphasized hagboras learn the techniques of how to do it. with him as necessary.’ This is ha’tzura al ha’chomer, i.e. not Today it’s possible to study and neither horaa nor chinuch. It’s a hagboras ha’tzura in and of itself, acquire many techniques. Even form of bullying. Do I really want to but in governing the material. With someone with innate talent needs to get my child back on track or is my the light within Chassidus we take develop it. reaction merely because I was the chomer and transform it to If I don’t have the talent for a personally offended; he hurt my ego k’dusha. Every person is chumri certain field, I don’t have to go … (coarsely materialistic); everybody into it but can work for my has his chumrius, and this needs to parnasa in fields that suit me, but THE REBBE be corrected. when it comes to chinuch, even if I AS PEDAGOGUE So whoever says Chabad is not about fixing middos is mistaken! wasn’t born with talent in this “Even if Hashem gives one success area I still have to educate my Can one’s nature be changed? ‘like the opening of a banquet Of course, and it’s not optional. children; it’s my obligation. What hall,’ a person still needs to open can I do then, if I’m not talented It’s obligatory. ‘an opening like the hole of a I meant, can one completely in this way? needle,’ especially in the area of The obligation of chinuch falls change one’s nature or just direct tikkun ha’middos. This inyan is on every parent and for this we have it towards positive ends? one of the main reasons the soul Chabad literature, the Klalei All of avodas ha’t’filla, according descended from the greatest Chinuch v’Hadracha of the Rebbe to Chassidus, is about changing and heights to the lowest depths.” Rashab, which is now available in a uprooting the middos of the --Igros Kodesh #3004 animalistic soul. It’s not only
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possible, it’s the purpose of a Jew in children and educated them. The him in the war he will wage his lifetime. Rebbe guides the children in how to against you tomorrow.” If a person is born with a wean themselves of negative --Sicha 6 Iyar 5742 to the children tendency towards anger, can he middos. For example, there is a of Tzivos Hashem only work on not becoming angry sicha (on p. 29) in which the Rebbe R’ Green has published sixty or can he really change himself so guides the children in saying the s’farim so far. When I commented he no longer has the internal truth. The Rebbe tells them about that he might publish another book tendency towards anger? the ways of the Evil Inclination and as we speak, he smiled and said that “The avoda is to uproot the bad how it devises means to trip up the in fact, he has two books at the from the root. At a later stage of child in saying what is not the truth printer. personal avoda it is possible to and how to get rid of it, and even transform bad tendencies and to use how the Evil Inclination reacts when One gets the impression that them for k’dusha.” it sees that the child is avoiding it. you took on the topic of chinuch R’ Green’s s’farim talk about “There is a chapter about how to in particular in your s’farim. R’ Green was involved in ordinary bad middos that many of help others (p. 37), how a child can chinuch and horaa for many years, us, make that – all of us, have. He avoid being arrogant, etc.” back in the days when he worked as talks about stinginess, anger and a teacher in the vocational school in other bad traits. SPREADING Kfar Chabad. One day, he relates, The book Tikkun HaMiddos THE WELLSPRINGS they were instructed to study contains ideas from all the Rebbeim education professionally. about man’s nature and how to “In order to find favor in the eyes “I wondered why I had to study change it. of the King of kings, HaKadosh education when Chassidus is full of Have you gotten any feedback? Boruch Hu, you need to increase educational ideas, ways of teaching, The first thing a person does in Torah study and the fulfillment ways of learning etc. If you learned when looking through the book is of mitzvos, i.e. in addition to only a little Chassidus you know see whether it’s about him. Does the learning Torah and doing mitzvos how many times examples of the Rebbe mean me? When talking as per compulsory obligations, you teacher-student relationship are about correcting middos and need to add of your own good will, brought.” various negative situations, is it that an addition through which you way with me too? will find favor in Hashem’s eyes. But not everybody knows how The other book, Shma B’ni, The Evil Inclination, of course, to extract the information from a contains sichos of the Rebbe that opposes this addition, but Tzivos maamer and apply it in the were said to children at rallies out of Hashem has the task of classroom. “That is precisely why I worked which I took excerpts having to do conquering the Evil Inclination in on editing and writing these s’farim with chinuch in which the Rebbe this war too. Know that if you based on the teachings of our himself, as it were, guided the vanquish the Evil Inclination today, it will be easier to vanquish Rebbeim,” concludes R’ Green.
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stories
What did the Rebbe STORIES say to the emissary of the King of Morocco who wanted a FROM THE yechidus? What did later the Rebbe “invest” at when every yechidus? How n ds REBBE S did the Rebbe react to r his the Chassid who he refrained from having d the ROOM a yechidus because he nt of n ce. wanted to protect the whole By Menachem Ziegelboim Rebbe from was additional worries? total What happened with tion the woman who did terest not know when she r with was supposed to get of no up and leave the Rebbe’s room? Does the Rebbe ever make a mistake? * A selection of stories as related by the Rebbe’s secretaries in first person as witnessed by them, from the book “Sippurim M’Cheider HaRebbe”
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Many books have been written his whole attitude was always total acquaintances would surround them, about the hours in which the Rebbe identification with the interest of the asking in urgent whispers for some was seen in public, but not much has visitor with time being of no explanation for the unusual length of been written about the Rebbe’s work significance. time spent with the Rebbe. in Gan Eden HaElyon (i.e. the “The Rebbe would have private “For my audience, I always took Rebbe’s office). All know that the audiences three times a week that with me a small notepad and, Rebbe’s room is the “Holy of would begin at around 8 p.m. and accepting the Rebbe’s invitation to Holies” and nobody can enter, not often continue throughout the night sit, would scribble key words and even in thought. They are the to the early morning hours. The phrases during the conversation. Rebbe’s “four cubits” and who atmosphere at Lubavitch World The door was always left slightly would dare to encroach and touch Headquarters, addressed 770 open and, as the minutes passed, a the “holy mountain?” Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, was a buzzer would sound on the Rebbe’s However, during the thirty years combination of apprehension and desk. From time to time, one of the in which the Rebbe received people excitement which increased in Rebbe’s aides would put his head for yechidus – private audiences intensity the nearer one came to the round the door silently reminding (twice or three times a week), the Rebbe’s room on the ground floor. the visitor of the lateness of the hour room was open to people who would “A list was compiled by the and indicating that he should have wait in the nearby hallway (which Rebbe’s chief aide, Rabbi Chadakov, some consideration for the Rebbe’s Chassidim called Gan Eden assisted by the aides Rabbi Groner well-being – but the Rebbe, and HaTachton) or the nearby room that or Rabbi Klein. They created a usually the visitor, would appear not was the foyer or in the small beis certain order of when the individuals to notice …” midrash on that floor. They would would enter for their audience, but *** wait anxiously for their name to be since it was never possible to be sure An encounter with the Rebbe, called by the secretary which is how long – seconds, minutes or aside from the spiritual advantages, something Chassidim prepared for, hours – the visitors would stay, they was also a balm to the soul. The days, weeks or even months in were divided into two groups: The Rebbe gave people the strength to go advance. more immediate in the corridor on. Problems were solved and One by one, they walked in to outside the Rebbe’s room and the doubts resolved. You were able to face the Rebbe. Chassidim stood in rest in the main hallway or other unburden yourself without fear and awe the entire time. Guests, who study rooms, where the rabbinical leave knowing what Hashem wanted were not Chassidim, were invited to students were learning at all times, of you. sit down. These encounters day or night, Jewish scholarly One of the Chassidim who went sometimes lasted a few minutes and subjects. to the Rebbe year after year stopped occasionally took hours. “Usually the first to enter were going for a few years. One day he It’s fascinating to read the engaged couples or young disciples. appeared for yechidus once again description written by Peter Kalms, They would emerge quickly, backing and the Rebbe asked him whether who was not a Lubavitcher Chassid out respectfully and overcome with something had happened. He told but became very close to the Rebbe emotion. Then, local families would the Rebbe that he hadn’t come in and even carried out many missions go in for a birthday or special order to shield the Rebbe from for him. Mr. Kalms had many occasion, followed by visitors, additional worries. private audiences with the Rebbe: mainly from abroad, who would be “Do you see this room?’” asked “It was my good fortune to have brought two or three at a time to the Rebbe as he pointed around. met the Rebbe in the nineteen sixties wait outside the Rebbe’s office prior ‘This room is full of stones that when he was under less pressure and to their audience. came off the hearts of Jews who able to give more time to individual “There were men and women of spoke about their situations. In this relationships. Occasionally, he even every type and from every country, room are thousands of stones and directed the private audience, known poor and prosperous, soldiers, this room can contain the tzaros of as Yechidus, into a kind of relaxed politicians, intellectuals, all the Jewish people.” conversation as between trusted businessmen and workmen, all “The Rebbe is above all colleagues with common interests. waiting in silent tension for their limitations,” said the Rebbe’s At every stage, even in the later years call. Sometimes, when visitors would secretary, R’ Groner, after relating when thousands competed for his emerge from particularly long this story. “Therefore, nothing is too attention, he never showed the sessions, still somewhat shaken by hard for him.” slightest hint of impatience. Indeed, the experience, friends and
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OMNISCIENT hours a day the Rebbe devoted to us. blood. I don’t know what will R’ Leibel Groner relates: I’m not referring to those matters happen to my son-in-law if these One year, Moshe Sharett called the Rebbe took care of in his room yechiduyos continue like this.” me. He said he was an emissary of but to those things that everybody The Rebbe once told his the Israeli government and he had saw. Let’s take yechidus for secretary, R’ Sholom Mendel come to the United States to ask the example. For decades the Rebbe Simpson, that he wanted to stop Rebbe about a problem they had. would receive people three times a yechidus since the whole point of The prime minister and members of week and he would sit from eight yechidus was for spiritual matters the government had sent him as o’clock at night until five in the while material matters were a side their representative to the Rebbe to morning. thing, but now, most people asked find a solution. This was on a “One time, the Rebbe received only about material matters. Wednesday and he had to leave the people from eight at night until The Rebbe did not in fact stop next day, Thursday night. With the 10:30 in the morning without a yechidus and this was because of Rebbe’s agreement I arranged a break – fourteen and a half hours! Rabbi Shmuel Levitin’s initiative. He meeting for him at two o’clock that The following night there was arranged for a group of fifteen same afternoon. supposed to be yechidus again and I bachurim to have yechidus and ask When he left the yechidus he asked permission to postpone it till only about spiritual matters. came into the secretaries’ office and the next night so the Rebbe could *** said to me, “Rabbi Groner, the rest but he refused. He said he did R’ Menachem Mendel Groner, Rebbe sits in Brooklyn and knows not want to delay those who were son of the secretary, relates: what is going on with us behind waiting on line. My father told me that one year closed doors. I told the Rebbe the “That night yechidus began at the Rebbe suddenly told him that he problem. The Rebbe smiled and eight and concluded at eleven in the doesn’t want to respond to questions said, ‘For such a little thing you had morning – fifteen hours in a row. about material concerns because he to come overseas?’ He analyzed the The Rebbe said a number of times was extremely busy. My father dared problem which was between the that as far as he was concerned he to say that in one of the Rebbe’s Housing Ministry and the Interior could stay closed up in his room and sichos he told about the Alter Rebbe Ministry and did this so simply that I at most send out instructions from who asked that no further questions felt like a child … time to time. If the Rebbe goes out about material concerns be asked of “When we finished I began to to the public for many hours, while him since these matters pertained to leave and the Rebbe asked me to forgoing his personal matters, it’s a prophet and not to someone who stay, saying, ‘Since by divine only for us. The question then was supposed to teach Torah, and providence you are here, I want to becomes what are we giving back to then the Rebbe went on to relate that make you an emissary to two the Rebbe as a sign of gratitude?” the Alter Rebbe’s disciples did not government ministers.’ The Rebbe listen and continued asking about went on, ‘There is an argument UNTIL THE LAST material matters and the Alter Rebbe between them – and the Rebbe told DROP OF BLOOD did in fact respond. In that sicha, the Rebbe explained that from this it is me what the dispute was about – the Yechidus is something extremely understood that the Alter Rebbe was problem needs to be solved and lofty. In order to illustrate what a prophet. peace made between them.’ Then yechidus meant to the Rebbe here is The Rebbe responded: Are you the Rebbe gave suggestions as to the following story: comparing me to the Alter Rebbe? how to do this in the most effective In 5711/1951, when Rebbetzin My father said: Of course! manner.” Nechama Dina found out that The Rebbe did not respond Mr. Sharett told me, “These two yechidus is from eight in the evening directly but immediately went back ministers have no connection to the until five in the morning, she called to responding to questions that also Rebbe. Only they and I know about three senior distinguished concerned material matters. their disagreement and so I say that Chassidim, Rabbis Levitin, *** the Rebbe sits here in Brooklyn and Kazarnovsky, and Simpson and told The secretary R’ Nissan Mindel knows what is going on with us them, “You are shedding blood. I a”h wrote in one of his reshimos behind closed doors.” heard from my mechutan [i.e. the about the Rebbe’s holy work with R’ Groner added the following Rebbe Rashab] that when a Rebbe the Chassidim and he also points out thought: receives people for yechidus he gives the enormous spiritual effort that the “Let us think about how many of himself until his last drop of
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Rebbe invested in every yechidus: “One of the most fundamental characteristics of the Rebbe’s leadership is the ongoing and personal relationship between Rebbe and Chassid. This relationship found a tangible expression, although not exclusively, through yechidus, which is the privilege of a personal meeting for those who sought the Rebbe’s counsel and blessing in a spiritual or material crisis. The concept of yechidus originated with the founder of Chabad, the Alter Rebbe. At first yechidus was intended for those who sought spiritual direction but soon after Chassidim began using the opportunity in order to gain the “The Rebbe had to first was and R’ Klein told him to enter Rebbe’s direct guidance and bracha concentrate on the problem of the and see … for worldly issues like health, person who had just walked in and Apparently the bachurim who parnasa and so on. When the give his advice and bracha. Then, met him outside told him not to sit number of requests for yechidus when the person left, he had to and not to extend his hand in grew and it became physically completely remove himself from that greeting to the Rebbe. When he impossible to accede, the Rebbe matter and without a long break entered, the Rebbe extended his transferred the same concept into receive the next visitor and go hand and the man said, “The young the form of personal through the same process. Being men told me not to extend my correspondence. such a sensitive person, the Rebbe hand.” “With guarantees of surely was deeply affected by The Rebbe smiled and said, confidentiality, correspondents could people’s suffering and he had to “Don’t worry, I won’t tell them that open their hearts to the Rebbe and conceal his feelings in order to you shook my hand.” receive the same answer they would appear involved and give the That is how the Rebbe gave have received in yechidus. Actually, impression that matters were not as people a good feeling when they with certain answers, the written severe as they seemed and came to talk to him. answer had important advantages encourage the person to have strong over yechidus, advantages enjoyed faith in Hashem and bitachon that A MAVEN OF SOULS by both the Rebbe and the Chassid; Hashem would help. In other words, As related by R’ Groner: the advantage for the Rebbe being even though the Rebbe’s natural One night of yechidus there were both in terms of time and in terms inclination was to cry with the hundreds of people waiting to see of workload. visitor, he had to radiate positivity in the Rebbe. The Rebbe said that only “At first the Rebbe designated order to strengthen their emuna and guests who came for Yom Tov were three nights a week – without bitachon. The difficulties inherent in allowed in and so we did not allow exaggeration – for these encounters. this process are illustrated by the others to go in. Most of these meetings continued following story: At a certain point a bachur came until dawn. Each one lasted a few “The daughter of the Rebbe who had recently arrived from minutes and only rarely were they Rayatz, who walked into his room Russia. He heard that the Rebbe was longer than ten minutes so that as after yechidus, once told me that she seeing people and he wanted to go many people as possible could meet had to give her father a change of in. We told him that the Rebbe was with the Rebbe and discuss their undershirt since his was soaked only receiving guests and he could problems. Only the very few through with sweat.” see the Rebbe another time. recognized the burden placed on the *** Rebbe as the night progressed, with One of the guests, who had also people coming in one after the other An emissary of the King of come from Russia and knew the quickly, each one telling his or her Morocco once came to the Rebbe. bachur from there, apparently spoke story. He asked R’ Klein what the protocol to the Rebbe about him when he had
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yechidus for when he came out of and thousands of people came and an eraser on his pencil? the Rebbe’s room he said, “The told him their problems and The Rebbe responded: A Rebbe Rebbe asked that this bachur be sent whatever was on their mind. The does not err but today he is greater in for yechidus.” It was no simple Rebbe never interrupted anyone. He than yesterday and today he adds to matter. So many people were always allowed the person to finish what was written yesterday. waiting to go in and the Rebbe was talking and only then responded. In other words, it’s not in order asking specifically for him, upsetting There were people who repeated to erase a mistake but to erase what the existing procedure. themselves, thinking that the Rebbe was correct yesterday. Today he is of I went to the Rebbe’s room and did not understand them, and the a different, higher stature. the Rebbe told me to send him in. Rebbe always heard them out. R’ Klein: The Rebbe noticed my surprise and The Rebbe’s time was extremely We saw this with the Rebbe when ed the said, “Are you a maven in precious and nevertheless, he he edited sichos. When they brought neshamos? This bachur has to come listened. The Rebbe never “kicked a sicha to him before it went to for in now!” anyone out” of his room from print, the Rebbe worked on the f them yechidus even if he was a nudnik. editing for several hours, sometimes TREMENDOUS R’ Klein relates: four and more, and when he finished Rebbe SENSITIVITY A woman came for yechidus at he called the secretaries on the in- the time allotted to her. She was house phone to come and take the istake, At the end of one Tishrei there willing to allow others to go before pages to the editors and from there was a list of about 1500 guests who her and so she was the last yechidus to the printer. Rebbe had come for Tishrei who wanted that night. She began talking to the Sometimes, after going in, we yechidus before they went home. At Rebbe and it didn’t look as though may have waited in the room for on his that time, yechidus took place on she planned on finishing any time another three quarters of an hour as Tuesday and Wednesday nights. soon. It was very late and the Rebbe the Rebbe continued to add and Tuesday night, yechidus lasted from continued listening. correct. Once, on such an occasion, eight at night until ten in the Having no choice we went in and the Rebbe told me, “Take this to the morning. I said to the Rebbe that told her: It’s late and the Rebbe printer because otherwise I will perhaps it would be better to needs to go home, but she continued never finish.” postpone yechidus on Wednesday talking. When the yechidus ended, After all the corrections were night to Thursday to preserve the the Rebbe stood up and continued made the sicha was submitted a Rebbe’s health. answering her and talking to her as second time and once again the The Rebbe said, “If we postpone he took his coat from the nearby Rebbe made corrections because the yechidus, the people from Eretz alcove and got ready to leave. She Rebbe was making additional Yisroel and Europe who are waiting continued talking. When the Rebbe chiddushim. for yechidus will have to stay here started leaving his room she until after Shabbos because they followed him and spoke to him until “IF YOU BELIEVE ME” cannot leave New York on Friday he left the building. R’ Groner relates: and they won’t be with their families As soon as the Rebbe arrived One day a woman came to 770 for Shabbos and they will miss a day home he called the office and asked and asked to be able to see the of work as in Eretz Yisroel Sunday that two bachurim escort her in a Rebbe in order to request a bracha is a workday, and all that because of taxi to her home and that the for her sick father. The doctors said me …” secretaries should pay for it. he was in critical condition. Since it The Rebbe held yechidus *** Wednesday night and it lasted until wasn’t the time for yechidus, I could Many years ago, a group of 11:30 in the morning! not allow her to go in, and I told her students visited the Rebbe. When the Rebbe wasn’t receiving people at they were told that the Sh’china PATIENCE that time, especially when it was in speaks from the Rebbe’s throat, one the middle of the day. I suggested FOR EVERY JEW of them asked whether that meant that she write a note that would be One of the things we can learn the Rebbe never made a mistake. submitted to the Rebbe. from the Rebbe is patience. The When they entered the Rebbe’s She insisted on seeing the Rebbe. Rebbe’s patience for every Jew is room for yechidus, one of them She ran to Gan Eden HaTachton astounding. When the Rebbe gave asked: If the Rebbe never makes a and stood near the Rebbe’s door and out dollars for tz’daka, hundreds mistake, why does the Rebbe have started to scream.
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The Rebbe called on the in-house phone and asked me to come. When I went to the Rebbe’s room he asked me what was going on with the woman. I told the Rebbe what she wanted and said that it looked as though she wouldn’t leave until she heard a bracha from the Rebbe. The Rebbe said, “Tell her in my name that if she puts her faith in me, and apparently she does as she came here for a bracha, that she should also believe me when I say there is no need to come in and no need to hear this directly from me; what I relay through the secretaries is sufficient. The Rebbe said to tell her that her father’s condition was not Yisroel? That is very good but asked and he said, “Don’t think how the way she described. before you go there, deter to much I’m asking of you; I demand I relayed this message to the Yugoslavia (or Czechoslovakia) ten times more of myself.” woman but she wasn’t satisfied and where there is a town (and the *** she took out a telegram that she had Rebbe specified which one) that has received from Israel which said that We will conclude with an a Jewish old age home. I found out amazing and touching story from R’ the doctors said her father’s that there is no kosher food there. condition was critical. I kept Klein: Since you are traveling, if it isn’t The Rebbe’s work was done very repeating to her what the Rebbe said difficult for you to make a stop and she finally calmed down and discreetly so that often, people that there, go to that town and speak the Rebbe helped did not even left. with the head of the community and Two weeks later the lady came realize it. Someone once called me ask him to arrange kosher food for and said he had to have yechidus and asked that we convey her thanks the people in the home.’ to the Rebbe. The doctors had erred concerning a matter of life and The woman concluded, “Do you death. He was not a Lubavitcher and her father’s situation wasn’t that understand what this entails? This is bad and he was recovering rapidly. Chassid but he had been told that if a town that nobody knows about but he needed a yeshua (salvation), he the Rebbe found out that there is an should ask the Lubavitcher Rebbe. THE REBBE RUINED old age home there without kosher He had yechidus on Sunday OUR VACATION food and he asked someone who night during the course of which he wants to go on vacation to ensure There was a story with a family told the Rebbe that in a distant that there is kosher food in that that was given a gift by their country he had a brother who had establishment.” community to travel to Eretz Yisroel gotten entangled in debt and his on vacation. The husband asked for business was about to fold and he an appointment for yechidus so he ACCORDING TO YOUR might end up in jail. The Rebbe did could get a bracha from the Rebbe. ABILITIES AND MORE not really respond. When the man left the Rebbe’s He and his wife had yechidus and I once had yechidus, not as a room I asked him how it went and when they left, the wife said to me, secretary but as a Chassid, and the he said, “I am more despondent now “Oy, why did we have to come here Rebbe demanded something of me. I than before I went in. Before I went for?” did not respond. I did not in, I had hope that the Rebbe would I asked her what she meant and understand how I, with my save me but the Rebbe listened and she said, “The Rebbe ruined our limitations and abilities, could carry did not react to what I said but went vacation.” this out. on to talk about other things.” “What happened?” I asked in Although I remained silent the I couldn’t help him other than to astonishment. Rebbe realized that I did not She said, “In yechidus the Rebbe understand how I could do as he [Continued on pg. 42] said, ‘You are going to Eretz
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profile
share his memories.
GROWING UP IN A THE LIFE OF CHASSIDIC HOME I was born in 5681/1921 in Bobruisk. My parents, R’ Yaakov Yosef and Mrs. Droiza (nee Kaplan) Raskin instilled me with a A CHASSID Chassidishe chinuch even in those harsh times with danger around every corner. When I was 8, in Elul 5689, my By Shneur Zalman Berger father was arrested under various Rabbi Menachem Mendel Raskin of 718, p. 46 to two Kfar Chabad passed away one year ago intended comes out on Parshas Chayei Sarah. His life as a child and young man was one of ^^^^^ ^^^^ mesirus nefesh for Torah and mitzvos. * ^^^^ ^^^^ He had the privilege of serving Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Schneersohn, the Rebbe’s father and then made aliya where he was a prominent figure in Kfar Chabad from when it was founded. * We interviewed him over a decade ago but the interview is being published now for the first time. * Part 1 of 2
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Raskin deal. At the end of the war he was passed away on Shabbos Parshas able to leave Russia for Eretz pretexts and was sentenced to jail. Chayei Sarah. He was one of the Yisroel, marrying his cousin Sarah, That left my mother, younger founders of Kfar Chabad and served daughter of Rabbi Yitzchok Raskin. brothers and me consumed with as gabbai of the main shul there for His chinuch for mesirus nefesh in worry. When my father returned he decades. every situation and under all said he had kept mitzvos with He grew up in the former Soviet conditions was something he mesirus nefesh while in jail. Union under oppressive communist retained to his final day. When I was 10 we moved to rule and was raised to mesirus R’ Mendel did not talk much Leningrad where many Lubavitchers nefesh (self- sacrifice) by his father, about his life in Russia, but ten years lived. We were five children. I was Rabbi Yaakov Yosef. During World ago he agreed to an interview and the oldest, Tzivia (who later married War II he fled to Alma Ata with his told me his story but for technical R’ Dovid Bravman a”h), Dovid (who family where they lived near the reasons, the story wasn’t published lives in Crown Heights), Sholom Ber mekubal Rabbi Levi Yitzchok at the time. Now that R’ Mendel has (who lives in London), and Yehuda Schneersohn and helped him a great passed away it is my privilege to Leib a”h, who was the shliach in
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Morocco. melamed’s students were called up. homes but it was during the difficult My father refused to send us to When it was my turn to testify I was times, when I lived in Leningrad, public school and he hired a very nervous. that we davened in shul for it was melamed (teacher) who taught me, “You learn with him?” they asked feared that the hosts of minyanim my brothers and other Lubavitcher me. I said that I did. would be caught and sent to Siberia. children. Together with us was R’ “What do you learn with him?” They took my father for Sholom Morosov who lived far “We learn the letters but we interrogations many times. An order away, and his father R’ Elchonon haven’t yet learned them all,” I to appear at the offices of the KGB Dov Morosov (Chonye) Hy’d would answered, hoping that the judges would come to the house, and when bring him to our house every day. would believe that I was only he complied they interrogated him The melamed who taught me and learning alef-beis. The judge for hours. He was asked about his my friends with mesirus nefesh was sneeringly asked, “You still haven’t acquaintances and other questions caught one day by the KGB and his learned all the letters?” and I but my father kept quiet and didn’t trial was scheduled for Shabbos thought: You fool, we are learning reveal a thing. Chumash with Rashi, but I When pressure to send me to answered, “I only know some of the school intensified, I was sent to the letters.” city of Starirus to my aunt and The judged deliberated about uncle, Mumme Sarah (my father’s whether to believe me and they sister) and her husband R’ Michoel finally accepted my testimony. They Katzenelenbogen, may Hashem said mockingly, “If he hasn’t avenge their blood. I lived in their managed to even teach the letters home for a while and learned he’s a failure and therefore he isn’t a together with other Lubavitcher melamed.” To the joy of his students children. One of our melamdim was and the community the melamed R’ Peretz Mochkin. was immediately released. My father worked as a THE YESHIVA photographer but when they asked IN BERDITCHEV him to come and work on Shabbos he quit. They didn’t want to lose In 1937, when I was 16, I began him and so they offered that he learning in yeshivas Tomchei come in to work on Shabbos but not T’mimim in Berditchev. There were actually do anything. However, my 22 shuls and we learned in the father did not even want to make it Mishnayos-Kloiz. We were fifteen appear as though he was working on bachurim. Together with me were Shabbos. Shmuel Itkin, Yechezkel Tzeitlin, Like many Lubavitchers at that and older bachurim: Nissan Pinson time, my parents obtained weaving (later to become my brother-in-law), and knitting machines and they Yeshaya Gopin, Hillel Pevsner, morning. The Yevsektzia (Jewish worked at home without desecrating Moshe Aharon Geisinsky, and communists) made sure to schedule the Shabbos. Moshe Binyamin Kaplan. it for that time, during Shacharis, The mohel of Leningrad at that At first, one of the older when every Jew in Bobruisk was in time was my uncle, R’ Yitzchok bachurim served as Mashpia and shul. The community was Raskin Hy’d, who did as many Maggid shiur but after a while R’ determined to show their open brissin as possible. My father, who Moshe Karolevitzer (Robinson) support for the melamed despite the was also a mohel, occasionally came to Berditchev and took these danger. They surprised everybody by circumcised babies. This was done roles. At night we slept in the homes showing up at the courthouse secretly, far from prying eyes. From of upstanding Jews who were instead of going to shul. those years I remember instances in Ruzhiner Chassidim. They agreed to On the judges’ desk a red which Jews came to my father in host us even though our being in the tablecloth was spread upon which order for him to shecht a chicken city was illegal. One of them was R’ was the newspaper Emes (the and this too entailed danger. Berel, and he helped us, with Yiddishist version of the communist There were times when Anash mesirus nefesh, obtain food and party paper Pravda). One by one the organized minyanim in private other things we needed for daily
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made a tremendous impression on On the train there was a three-tiered me. One day we sensed that they bunk. People generally did not use the were starting to pay attention as to what was going on in the shul and uppermost bunk since it was hard we were afraid to continue learning there so we learned in private getting up there. I chose that bunk and homes. After a short period of learning every morning I put on t’fillin lying in Krivorog I continued learning in down and I davened that way too, so I the branch of Tomchei T’mimim in Maritopol, Crimea. My friends went wouldn’t be caught. elsewhere. In Maritopol, we did not have a Maggid shiur or Mashpia. We living. towards me and said, “Here is one were a small group who learned on We studied assiduously even of those who is in one of those our own. For Chassidus we studied though we knew that the secret places and they don’t have the Tanya, Derech Mitzvosecha and agents were searching for those who means to subsist.” maamarim of the Rebbe Rayatz. studied Torah. Since we were only During the farbrengen he raised Since there weren’t any printed fifteen bachurim, we were able to money for the yeshiva in Berditchev. maamarim, we would copy conceal the existence of the yeshiva He asked me to give the money to maamarim by hand and learn from for some time. After Pesach 1937, the hanhala of the yeshiva. That was that. about forty Lubavitcher bachurim no simple task but in the end, the came to us from all over the Soviet money reached its destination and it OPEN MIRACLE Union, who had heard about the helped the yeshiva continue to exist. yeshiva in Berditchev and wanted to After about a year of learning in The following incident took place learn there. We were afraid that such Berditchev, it was decided, due to in Adar I 1938 as we sat and learned a large group would quickly be the numerous talmidim, to send me in the women’s section of the shul. caught by the authorities and so with some of my friends to the NKVD agents came in and asked to some of them were sent to learn in yeshiva in Krivorog. After a brief see our papers. They asked me too. Tomchei T’mimim branches in other period I realized the hashgacha Having no choice I took out my cities. pratis for on 24 Teves 5798, in the documents. They examined them I went home to my parents in middle of a farbrengen with R’ and asked me what I was doing in Leningrad for Tishrei and on 18 Elul Moshe Karolevitzer, they were that city when I lived in Leningrad. I I participated in a farbrengen that caught. The older ones were told them that I came to the Crimea took place in one of the homes of imprisoned while the younger ones (which was known as a resort area) Anash with the main speaker being were sent to a government school to recuperate after a prolonged R’ Chonye Morosov, the Rebbe which they could not leave until R’ illness. They conferred about Rayatz’s secretary. R’ Chonye Michoel Teitelbaum extricated them whether to arrest me or not. I heard energized the participants to in a daring escapade. one of the policemen say to another, continue working and doing in This was a terrifying time. Many “He’s probably one of the guys who support of Judaism. I remember that of Anash were arrested, imprisoned, ran away from Leningrad.” At that he said: and sent to Siberia. Some were shot. moment I realized that something “Today marks forty years since I was a young bachur whose beard bad had happened in Leningrad and the founding of Tomchei T’mimim. I was starting to come in and when I my heart sank. Then a miracle am, today, in Tomchei T’mimim, for walked in the street I hid my beard happened when one of the I never left it. Tomchei T’mimim in a scarf. I protected my beard with policemen returned my papers and nowadays is enduring very hard mesirus nefesh all my life. said, “Take your passport. You have times and some people go, with In Krivorog we were a small 24 hours to get out of here.” It was mesirus nefesh, to teach and support group of bachurim which included an open miracle. the branches of the yeshiva. The Yechezkel Brod, Herschel Breslover Despite this miracle, I did not T’mimim are scattered throughout and others. We learned in the shul leave the city since my cousin, the Soviet Union and are learning with R’ Yisroel Levin as Maggid Zalman Kazen (Katzenelenbogen), Nigleh and Chassidus.” shiur and R’ Sholom Vilenkin as who was learning with me in Then he suddenly pointed Mashpia. R’ Sholom’s farbrengens yeshiva, was sick and I didn’t want
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to leave him alone. I rushed to send a telegram to his mother, Mumme Sarah, and asked her to come to Maritopol since her son was sick. When she came, she told me about the mass arrests that took place in Leningrad, arrests in which many dear Chassidim had been arrested. I heard from her the names of the Chassidim who had been arrested and I knew them all. I was especially His father, R’ Yaakov Yosef Raskin, blowing the shofar near the Rebbe worried about my uncle, Yitzchok Raskin. I didn’t need to be reminded Yosef Goldberg. My chavrusa (study transferred money from Russia to that at the beginning of that year my partner) was R’ Yechezkel Brod. Poland and was caught by the police other uncle was arrested, Mumme Berel Kievman and Yeshaya Gopin who threatened to kill him. They Sarah’s husband, Michoel. These learned there too. At a later point my offered him a way to save himself – two dear uncles never returned brother Sholom Dovber also came to to cooperate with them. He was not home and were not given a Jewish Kutaisi. able to withstand the test and he burial. The Lipsker family lived in traveled amongst communities Having no choice I returned to Kutaisi and R’ Aryeh Leib and R’ where Anash lived. He looked like a my parents’ home in Leningrad and Yaakov helped tremendously in Chassid which is why nobody from there I went by train to Kutaisi supporting the yeshiva. I eventually suspected him. He would feel out in Georgia. The trip took a week. learned the Georgian language and the situation and sniff around and Traveling by train is difficult in itself. grew accustomed to the mentality of Chassidim trusted him and opened I managed with food since I took the Georgian people. their doors to him. Then he would along kosher food from home. The The relationship with Anash in give their names to the authorities. most difficult problem was putting the city was good. We farbrenged In one night the police would on t’fillin in such a way that I together with our host community descend on several homes of wouldn’t be noticed. I found a and our main concern was to fulfill Chassidim and arrest them all. By daring solution. On the train there the Rebbe Rayatz’s will. He was divine providence, one of the was a three-tiered bunk. People living in Riga at the time and the daughters of the Chassidim generally did not use the uppermost connection with the Chassidim in discovered that he was a KGB agent bunk since it was hard getting up Russia was minimal. and from then on, they knew to there. I chose that bunk and every During the years that I was far avoid him but until that point he morning I put on t’fillin lying down from my parents it was always hard caused dozens of people to be and I davened that way too, so I for me to think about what was arrested, exiled and even killed. wouldn’t be caught. happening over there, in Leningrad. When we heard that Itche the During those years when they Moser would be arriving from arrested nearly all of Anash in Moscow we decided to kill him as in WE DECIDED TO KILL Leningrad, concern over the welfare the law of a rodef (pursuer who ITCHE THE INFORMER of my family was paramount. In intends to kill), thus preventing the In Kutaisi I continued to learn in letters that I wrote home I hardly arrest and deaths of many Jews. We the local shul. The fear of the wrote anything in fear of the censor. spoke about this to the Jews of the communists in Georgia was less I would ask how they are and that’s local community to whom the than in Russia and Ukraine; about it. Likewise, in letters from concept of a moser was the worst of however, there too the Soviets home I was not told about the all. We somehow were able to trace forbade religious studies. The terrible situation and I could only his journey and we found out that he surveillance and arrests were less. guess about the suffering the KGB had arrived in Baku in Azerbaijan The local Jewish community was putting Lubavitchers through in which is near Georgia. Then he protected us and helped us Leningrad. surprisingly returned to Moscow, tremendously so we didn’t get The worst thing at this time was thus saving his life at the last caught. the existence of mosrim (informers) moment. We were taught by Chacham and the worst of them all was Itche [To be continued, G-d willing] Yitzchok “Petra,” together with R’ the Moser. He was a Jew who
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memoirs THE SECRET
757 p. 68 z asked translated. NETWORK OF ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ EMISSARIES ^^^^ IN EUROPE house and a public kitchen. From Bratislava the refugees would travel to Austria and from there to Written by Rabbi Schneur Zalman Chanin Germany. Translated by Menachem Har Zvi On that day, an additional number of families of anash arrived in Prague. A telephone notification The story of the secret network of reported that a group of chassidim emissaries established by Rabbi arrived in Czechoslovakia via “Brama” and that an additional Jacobson after the Second World War group arrived via “Achad.” The group that arrived at for the rescue of the chassidim. “Achad” was the group including my parents and the chassid R. Nisan Rabbi Jacobson did not rest nor Zalata Rosa Neminov. This group had forty-six remain silent. He attempted to August 9. On Monday or people. That Shabbos was “a time of accomplish all the missions placed Tuesday we will meet at Bratislava. sorrow for Yaakov.”1 While the upon him by the Rebbe Rayatz. The Goldin. group awaited the arrival of Rabbi Rebbe, who understood the present Bratislava is located in the Jacobson, a prominent member of situation and foresaw the future southwestern corner of Slovakia on the group, Mrs. Ita Sasonkin Levitin state of affairs, desired that Rabbi the Danube River, bordering Austria (daughter-in-law of R. Nachum Jacobson urge anash to leave and Hungary. Until the conclusion Shmaryahu Sasonkin) was killed. To accursed Poland before it was too of the First World War, the city was the best of my knowledge, despite late. called Pressburg or Preshburg the efforts of Rabbi Jacobson to On Friday, the 12th of (Jewish pronunciation) and meet with the group, he was unable Menachem Av, Rabbi Yitzchok renowned for the Preshburg Yeshiva, to meet them until they arrived in Goldin, who was at his post in Lodz, established by the Chasam Sofer – Poking, in the American Zone. Poland, sent a telegram to Rabbi R. Moshe Sofer, who served as its When Rabbi Jacobson perceived Jacobson in Prague, Czechoslovakia, rabbi from 5563-5599/1803-1839. the situation up close, that the notifying of a transport of anash due Bratislava was an important transfer Chabad chassidim were so isolated to arrive in Bratislava. The telegram point for Jewish refugees after the and that no help could be expected was written in Polish. The following war. With the aid of the Joint, the from the Vaad Hatzalah – Rescue is a translation: HIAS, and ORT, the Jewish Committee, he resolved that “If I am Rabbi Jacobson, Prague, Hotel community established a guest not for myself, who then?”2
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Consequently, he proceeded to build a network of emissaries of anash. By directive of the Rebbe, he appointed individuals in each country whose function was to maintain contact between Lubavitcher chassidim and the central command. The first link in the network was R. Mendel Futerfas, who remained behind the Iron Curtain in Lvov. He was in contact with R. Yitzchok Goldin, who was in Lodz, then on the other side of the Iron Curtain. Rabbi Reisman was the emissary in Chechin. The T’mimim R. Sholom Mendel Kalmanson and R. Hillel Pewzner, and Ms. Hadassah Garelik The Polish-Czechoslovakian border in the city of Chechin. Perman were sent back from Poking The countries are separated by a river. by Rabbi Jacobson to be the representatives of anash in Prague. passports back to Russia and sold Russia and Poland, while the other them at an expensive price to Jews maintained contact with the free who desired to leave the country. world. As a security measure, the THE PASSPORT BUSINESS The anash activists quickly one who communicated with Poland understood the situation. It made no did not communicate with Germany, R. Sholom Mendel Kalmanson, sense to buy the passports from the and vice versa. Consequently, if they R. Hillel Pewzner, and Ms. swindlers. A much simpler approach were being shadowed, the same Hadassah Garelik Perman re-entered was to take the Polish passports of voice would not be heard speaking Prague with the aid of Bericha anash after they crossed the border to the two sides. [literally “escape” – a clandestine and bring them back to Poland. This After a brief period, R. Hillel Zionist immigration organization], was one of the reasons that Rabbi Pewzner’s mother emigrated from who provided them with the proper Jacobson (by directive of the Rebbe Russia and arrived in Prague. She documents to pass through the Rayatz) placed R. Yitzchok Goldin requested that her son join her and German, Czech, and Polish borders. in Lodz. Through R. Yitzchok the family and travel together to In the same measure that the Goldin, passports and thousands of Germany. Subsequently R. Moshe American Vaad Hatzalah rejected rubles were sent to Russia for travel Morozov was chosen to replace him. their brethren, the Lubavitcher expenses. He would contact R. He traveled from the American Zone chassidim, the members of the Mendel Futerfas in Lvov and give with tremendous self-sacrifice on his Bericha, who were not necessarily directives, hear the latest news, and return mission to Prague. observant, embraced anash and then pass the news on. attempted to provide all possible aid. R. Sholom Mendel Kalmanson The chassid R. Moshe Marazov returned to Prague, together with R. described to me the state of affairs CONVERSING Hillel Pewzner. R. Moshe Marazov OVER THE RIVER during these months. After a group explained to me why they were sent of anash crossed the border from to Czechoslovakia: during that However, I am introducing Soviet Russia to Poland with the period Czechoslovakia was still an events which take place later. papers of Polish citizens, they no independent country, as the Currently in our story we are in the longer needed their Polish papers. Communists had not yet succeeded month of Menachem Av 5706-1946. The papers actually became in taking control. In Czechoslovakia In Poland there were still anash who burdensome. A number of Jews with it was possible to establish contact waited and refused to leave. Rabbi expertise at stealing across borders with the free world and with those Reisman, who was appointed by and a highly developed sense of who remained behind in Poland and Rabbi Jacobson as “our man” in business, otherwise known as Soviet Russia. Rabbi Jacobson kept Chechin, was the contact person swindlers, bought the passports for a the two young men in Prague. One between anash and Rabbi Jacobson. meager sum. They then brought the maintained contact with Communist He spoke with those that remained
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on the other side of the river (a together with all Jews, leave this and of the entire mode of conduct telephone was not needed, since it accursed land. there in financial matters, I refused was possible to shout across the While here, Rabbi Binyomin to give the money.” river), and he helped them pass the Gorodetzky gave his fur coat as Kattowitz is the regional capital border. collateral for twenty-five thousand. of the province of Silesia in southern I related in a previous article that They want to return the collateral Poland. Because Kattowitz was not the city of Chechin was divided into if I send this sum. They say that destroyed during the course of the two sections. The eastern section of coat is worth far more than this war, Jewish survivors streamed there the city belonged to Poland and the sum. Therefore, convey your from various places, primarily from western section belonged to opinion regarding this matter, and Russia. Although it served as a Czechoslovakia. The Oder River, where to send the coat. Perhaps transit point, many Jews remained which divided the city, was the you will meet R. Binyomin and there for long periods of time. border between the two countries. discuss this with him. Unfortunately the above report The city of Chechin was an I would like to send money to was not found in the archive of important point of escape. During the United States, but I do not Rabbi Jacobson at my disposal. The this period, between thirty-five and know in what manner you will report is significant; however, it is forty thousand Jews passed through arrange this. How much can you possible that there are errors. the city. The majority arrived on receive and do you require a According to the Hebrew calendar, foot; however, many utilized other percentage? I have places without the 17th of Menachem Av was on a means of transportation such as a percentage. Tuesday, not Wednesday. It is also trucks, trains, boats, rafts, and I request that you arrange my possible that the parentheses in the fishing boats. Rabbi Jacobson travel to the United States when word Mr(s), which are apparently an described the passage point in one you are with the Rebbe. addition of the author, are of his letters: I only have a visa to Stockholm. superfluous. Mrs. Shternbuch’s “The city of Chechin of There is a visa for me there. husband, R. Yitzchok Shternbuch, Czechoslovakia is located on the Perhaps it can be sent to Paris. In was a Hatzalah activist and the right border. On the other side of it is the addition, I cannot travel without hand of his wife. It is possible that city Chechin, Poland. There is a my wife. Perhaps one can be sent Rabbi Jacobson met Yitzchok bridge upon which one crosses . . . . for her too. Shternbuch and not Recha there are those who cross the river I request that you discuss this Shternbuch. by foot because the water is not when you are with the Rebbe and Whether the meeting took place deep and the river is not wide.” notify me in a letter. on the 16th or the 17th, with Mrs. On Sunday the 14th of Regards to you from all of Shternbuch or with Mr. Shternbuch, Menachem Av, Rabbi Reisman anash. is not important. It is important to reports to the “commander.” His With feelings of esteem, note that even kind people such as letter is written on both sides of a Herschel Reisman the Shternbuchs, who saved lined sheet of paper. thousands during and after the war, B”H 1 Eikev 5706 LACK OF TRUST IN were influenced by the one who led Chechin THE VAAD HATZALAH – the Vaad Hatzalah in New York. His Honor HaRav HaGaon They did not give the Lubavitcher HaTamim V’Chassid, G-d-fearing, RESCUE COMMITTEE chassidim the full support that they praised with superior qualities and A report written by Rabbi gave other Jews. fine attributes, faithful communal Jacobson to the Rebbe was published That evening (17th of Menachem activist, in Toldos Chabad in Soviet Russia. Av), sixty-nine Lubavitcher HaRav Jacobson, Shlita. “On Tuesday morning, 17 chassidim arrived in Prague via Abundant Peace! Menachem Av, I was invited by a Kattowitz. They entered a transit I received your letter of taxi sent to me, to visit Mr(s). camp near Prague and Rabbi Thursday of VaEschanan. I did Shternbuch in Hotel Palace. Jacobson spent a Shabbos with everything I possibly could do to Shternbuch informed me that they them. (I related the details of this notify anash in Poland regarding phoned from Kattowitz that 120 of Shabbos in the previous article.) their travel from there. Similarly, if anash arrived there from Lodz, On Sunday the 21st of there will be the need to borrow and that I should pay for tickets Menachem Av 5706 – 1946, many money, I will give my own. May for their travel. Since I wasn’t sure of the chassidim traveled to the Hashem grant that all of anash, of the accuracy of this phone notice Maharal’s shul in Prague. There they
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The telegram Agudas Chassidei Chabad sent to Rabbi Jacobson
met the Gaon Rabbi Herzog and our people arrived. Did you spend Parkway heard a sermon from him. Later in money? How much? Inform names Brooklyn N.Y. the day, Rabbi Jacobson traveled and places of all our people. Almost all of anash about three with anash by truck to escort them Received cable from Vaad Hatzalah hundred people have left. I am to the train station. The train was Switzerland saying they have spent traveling to meet about eighty scheduled to travel to the city of much money for our people. people that are leaving today. Asch near the German border. Refuse to give other help unless we About two hundred are already in R. Yisroel Levin records the arrange with New York Vaad the American zone. The expenses following in his memoirs. “In the Hatzalah. Please explain this amounted to about five hundred station, Rabbi Jacobson met a Jewish situation. Tell us what to demand dollars including my expenses. We chaplain from the United States from New York Joint Distribution. received no support from the Vaad Army who was formerly his student. Rabbi Rosenberg from Harford Hatzlalah. We paid them for He requested that he help us during now in UNRRA Europe informs us everything. The telegram from our travels. We traveled to Asch there are fifty T’mimim near Switzerland has no significance. located on the border of Frankfort. Rabbi(s) Spitz Kornblut The telegram of Kornblut Spitz Czechoslovakia and Germany under in Kattowitz. Contact them. Cable was sent without our knowledge. American occupation. During the immediately all details. Write Yesterday I sent a detailed list of trip, he offered us beer that he frequently – Agudas Chabad everything. No effort is currently bought at the station.” Apparently, Rabbi Jacobson’s required in the Joint. This was the first group of anash response was delayed. Consequently, The implications of Rabbi that traveled directly from five days later on the 25th of August, Jacobson’s response are that the Czechoslovakia via Asch to the 1946 (28th of Menachem Av), New York Vaad Hatzalah sabotaged American zone in Germany. Prior to Agudas Chabad sent another aid efforts for the Lubavitch this, it was necessary to travel telegram with the very same words chassidim, received payment for through the Russian zone and to the house of R. Zalman minimal funds that they did give, obviously, the chassidim feared Schneerson in Paris. It is interesting and had the audacity to request passing through there. to note that in the first telegram money not owed to them. “We Did Not Receive Support there is no punctuation at all. [The In the next issue, I will, G-d from the Vaad Hatzalah – Rescue punctuation in the above telegram willing, relate the story of the Committee” was added by the editor.] In the conclusion of Rabbi Jacobson’s On the 23rd of Av (August 20, second telegram the word “stop” trip to Europe and his mission 1946), Rabbi Jacobson received a appears instead of a period. which continued back in America telegram from Agudas Chabad at the Rabbi Jacobson prepared a Hotel Metropole in Prague. response telegram to Agudas NOTES: Rabbi Israel Jacobson Hotel Chabad. The draft of the telegram 1 Yirmiyahu 30:7. Metropole Praha [Prague] which I found in his archive does 2 Avos 1:14. We need particulars. Inform all not have a date. details. Write often. Inform if all Agudas Chabad 770 Eastern
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feature SPECIAL CHILDREN
By Sarah Rivka Lifsh It happens suddenly, without prior warning, to hundreds of Lubavitcher families, when their child is discovered to have certain problems and special needs. At first, it seems as though the world has come to an end. * Mrs. Sarah Rivka Lifsh tells her personal story about her son and about the wonderful organization “Yad L’Yeled HaMeyuchad” which helps with events and programs.
WE HAVE AN didn’t hear us. He loved playing on unequivocal – Shneur Zalman was AUTISTIC CHILD his own with a limited number of labeled as having PDD (Pervasive toys and did not interact with his On 3 Tammuz 5754 we went on Developmental Disorder). Autism is siblings in their games. shlichus to Kiryat Eliezer in Chaifa a form of PDD. We took him for hearing tests where we have been working for We felt as though the sky had and to doctors who specialized in over sixteen years. Our son Shneur fallen. I don’t wish anybody such child development. We went from Zalman was born seven years after news. Life before the news and after doctor to doctor without finding out we arrived there. He was a cute baby the news is not the same life. Our what was wrong with our child. A with a captivating smile. When he home underwent a dramatic change. year and a half later we were staying turned one and a half we gradually When I go back to that terrible with relatives and our host referred noticed some disturbing signs. On morning, the worst feeling was us to a special clinic that deals with the one hand, he was a happy and mainly due to the reason that we autistic children. We didn’t smiley baby. On the other hand, didn’t know the significance of the understand why we should go there something about his behavior label and how to deal with it. We when it seemed obvious to us that seemed off. Whenever music played had no background in this and it our son did not have that problem in the house he would run over to sounded like some kind of illness. but we listened to her advice and we listen, but when we called him he From then on, our focus was on had him evaluated. The results were wouldn’t react and it seemed he trying to hide the autism and
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we refrained from leaving the house on Shabbos and did not attend family events that could put Shneur on public display. The fear of what people would say along with the child’s fear of crowds, kept us home.
FINALLY EMERGING We made contact with a Lubavitcher family whose child was diagnosed as being autistic two years earlier. These dear people helped us tremendously with the things we had to contend with on a daily basis and the bureaucracy that we needed to work with in order to get government aid. They also helped in guiding us in what to tell the children and the extended family and how to deal with the k’hilla. With the support of this family we gradually began to expose our child, at first to relatives and then to our k’hilla. Through this Lubavitcher family we reached other Lubavitcher families who were dealing with similar challenges and we became aware that this is a phenomenon that has grown tremendously over the past thirty years. Statistically, the percentage of children with special needs (which includes those on the autistic spectrum – the largest group of children, as well as those with Downs Syndrome, brain damage, davening that the “illness” pass. At looked for someone to talk to, retardation etc.) is one out of about the same time we tried finding a way someone who had dealt with a 100 children. This means there are a to help Shneur. similar difficulty. lot of Lubavitcher special needs In the following months our One of the main hardships at the children in Israel alone. entire family was enlisted in the time was feeling powerless to lead We soon realized that these child’s medical treatment and in the the household in a normal way. For hundreds of Lubavitcher families attempt to help him develop, a long period of time we were all needed a supportive organization. At particularly in relating to those busy with this special needs child. this time, Rabbi Shlomo Maidanchik around him. We were told what we From morning till night the entire a”h, director of Aguch, started a needed to do at every stage. family was focused on his special phone line for parents to be able to The hardest part was dealing needs and the desire to help him call for chinuch advice. When we with the emotional end of things. It progress. Consequently, it was called, we immediately received was difficult for us to talk about it extremely hard to continue giving support and help. Then R’ and we considered it of the utmost attention to his five brothers and Maidanchik appointed R’ Menachem importance to keep this “illness” sisters, each of whom wanted the Mendel Blinitzky, director of under wraps. What would people attention that they needed and projects, who started Yad L’Yeled say? How would they react? These deserved. The problem was HaMeyuchad (Lend a Hand to a questions bothered us greatly and we exacerbated when, for a long time, Special Child), who directs it very
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THE REBBE’S LETTER long history has been the Torah and Mitzvos which By the Grace of G-d are “our life and the length of our days.” The same 9 Kislev, 5741 T’fillin, Tzitzis, Shabbos and Yom-Tov have been Brooklyn, N.Y. observed by Jews everywhere in all generations. To All Participants in the Clearly there is no substitute for the Torah-way as the Major Conference for the Jewish Community source and essence of our Jewish people. On Issues and Needs of Jewish Retarded Recognizing this prima facie fact, means New York City. recognizing that Jewish survival depends on the kind Greeting and Blessing: of Education that develops and nourishes Jewish I was pleased to be informed of the forthcoming identity in the fullest measure. And this must surely be Conference. I trust it will mark a turning point in the the highest priority of all communal services. attitude of community leaders to Jewish education in With regard to Jewish retarded — parenthetically, general, and to so-called Special Education in I prefer some such terms as “special” people, not particular. simply as a euphemism, but because it would more In any discussion relating to the wellbeing of the accurately reflect their situation, especially in view of Jewish community, the primary, indeed pivotal, issue the fact that in many cases the retardation is limited to should surely be Jewish Identity — that which truly the capacity to absorb and assimilate knowledge, while unites our Jewish people and gives us the strength to in other areas they may be quite normal or even above survive and thrive in a most unnatural, alien, and all average — the Jewish identity factor is even more too often hostile, environment. important, not only per se but also for its therapeutic Historically — from the birth of our nation to this value. The actual practice of Mitzvos in the everyday day — Jewish identity, in the fullest sense of this life provides a tangible way by which these special term, has been synonymous with traditional Torah- people of all ages can, despite their handicap, identify Judaism as our way of life in everyday living. Other with their families and with other fellow Jews in their factors commonly associated with a national identity, surroundings, and generally keep in touch with reality. such as language, territory, dress, etc., could not have Even if mentally they may not fully grasp the meaning played a decisive role in Jewish survival, since these of these rituals, subconsciously they are bound to feel changed from time to time and from place to place. at home in such an environment, and in many cases The only factor that has not changed throughout our could participate in such activities also on the
successfully till this day. received useful information and no house of Kibbutz Chafetz Chaim. less important, mutual support from That Shabbos was the first MONTHLY MEETINGS parents. The one who organized and opportunity of its kind for our led the meetings was Sarah children to get out of the home The first project was to get Greenberg, a member of the hanhala routine and to meet children their parents of special needs children to of the organization and one of its age who were dealing with the same meet one another and to start founders. She provided a listening things they were. With the help of a talking and sharing without covering ear and a shoulder to lean on for all staff of volunteers who ran a up and without shame. The initial the parents. program for the special needs hesitation was normal. Only three children and with their siblings, we couples (including us) parents of parents were free to attend fabulous autistic children, showed up to the WHAT A SPECIAL lectures and to relax. first meeting in Kfar Chabad. We SHABBOS! Since then there have been received guidance and a professional We quickly learned that the ones fifteen Shabbatons and the number lecture. It was decided to hold who need similar meetings as much of participants has been growing. At monthly meetings and ten couples as we did were our other children the last Shabbaton there were about attended the second meeting. Word who bravely handled this challenge 600 men, women and children! got around and more parents of in their lives. Four months later the These Shabbos get-aways are the special needs children joined. organization held its first Shabbaton best part of this organization’s work The support that we parents got for 35 Lubavitcher families with since it was founded. Each time it is at those meetings was enormous. We special needs children at the guest so moving to see the families sitting
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conscious level. in earlier years. To cite one striking example from actual If there is much that can be done along these lines experience during the Festival of Sukkos this year. As for adult and senior Jews in special situations, how is well known, Lubavitch activists on this occasion much more so in regard to special children, when reach out to many Jews with Lulov and Esrog, every additional benefit, however seemingly small, in bringing to them the spirit of the Season of Our their formative years will be compounded many times Rejoicing. This year being a year of Hakhel, I urged over as they grow older. In their case it is even more my followers to extend this activity as much as important to bear in mind that while they may be possible, to include also Nursing Homes and Senior handicapped in their mental and intellectual capacity, Citizens’ Hotels, as well as other institutions. I was and indeed because of it, every possible emphasis asked, what should be the attitude and approach to should be placed on the tangible and audio-visual persons who are senile or confused, etc. I replied — aspects of Jewish education in terms of the actual all the more reason to reach out to them in this practice of Mitzvos and religious observances — as I tangible way. Well, the reports were profoundly have discussed this and related aspects at greater gratifying. Doctors and nurses were astonished to see length in my correspondence with Dr. R. Wilkes of such a transformation: Persons who had spent the Coney Island Hospital. countless days in silent immobility, deeply depressed There is surely no need to elaborate on all above to and oblivious to everything around them, the moment the participants in the Conference, whose Rabbinic, they saw a young man walk in with a Lulav and Esrog academic, and professional qualifications in the field in his hand suddenly displayed a lively interest, of Jewish Education and social services makes them eagerly, grasped the proffered Mitzvah-objects, some highly sensitive to the problems at hand. I hope and of them reciting the blessings from memory, without pray that the basic points herein made will serve as prompting. The joy in their hearts shone through their guidelines to focus attention on the cardinal issues, faces, which had not known a smile all too long. and that this Conference will, as mentioned earlier, One need not look for a mystical explanation of mark a turning point in attitude, and even more this reaction. Understandably, the sight of something importantly in action vis-a-vis Jewish Education, long so tangible and clearly associated with the joy of overdue. Sukkos evidently touched and unlocked vivid With prayerful wishes for Hatzlacha, and with recollections of experiences that had permeated them esteem and blessing, [sig.]
together like one big family. moments of tears and tremendous hundreds of people from all over Throughout the Shabbos there are worry. He and his wife Penina Israel. We have lectures from first- meetings with professionals as well eventually made a determined class speakers along with a creative as mashpiim who counsel, guide and decision to view this as a gift from program on the topic of the special support the parents. Hashem which they needed to child. All lectures and shiurim are The greatest support is gained receive with joy and thanks. That preserved and recorded and can be from the extraordinary atmosphere completely changed their approach purchased at the organization’s at these Shabbatons. There is no and this outlook also affected the library in Kfar Chabad. need to hide; we are not alone. We rest of the family who all pitched in In addition to the monthly can speak about everything and get to help. meetings and Shabbatons special support and encouragement. People I’d like to point out that the high outings are arranged for families understand us. At the Shabbos costs of such a Shabbos are mostly throughout the year, especially on meals, parents get up spontaneously subsidized by the organization so Yomim Tovim. Our children meet and talk about their challenges and that parents who cannot afford it their friends and slowly, from give other parents a new perspective can attend anyway. meeting to meeting, we have become on raising a child with special needs. one big family that keeps closely in I’ll never forget how, one YEMEI IYUN touch. Shabbos, Rabbi Chaim Sasson told The Simchas Beis HaShoeiva run With more parents joining the about how he felt when he first by the organization every year in organization, our meetings turned found out that his daughter had Kfar Chabad is a wonderful example into Yemei Iyun attended by Downs Syndrome. They were of this. The special needs children,
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was born. The girl who worked with BAR-MITZVA CELEBRATIONS him decided to try and talk to him in The special needs children include all ages and when a boy or girl a natural way. To her surprise, he reaches bar or bas mitzva, it is the simcha of the entire organization. responded and began talking freely. While in other typical families they are busy with choosing a hall, a When he returned home and photographer etc. when it’s a special needs child the parent don’t continued talking, the parents always know how to go about celebrating the event. regarded it as a miracle and this This is where the organization comes into the picture with all the time it was they who had difficulty organization’s member families invited to celebrate on the child’s talking … special day. The day begins with the child putting on t’fillin which are This volunteer program is given to him as a gift, an aliya to the Torah at the Kosel, and a seudas especially necessary when a family is mitzva in the Old City with friends and family of Yad L’Yeled making a simcha and needs HaMeyuchad. The organization brings a Chassidishe singer who additional help with their special volunteers his services. The event is special and moving every time with needs child. The same is true, r”l, in nary a dry eye. times of mourning. One of the special needs girls lost her father during the school year. Her who generally love music and special needs children, Shabbatons volunteer took care of her singing, have an opportunity to for mothers, and for parents without throughout the Shiva, watching her rejoice with their families and they their children. Families look forward and helping the family a lot. are the focus of the simcha. They to these events which they say On another occasion, Shmulik – even get to realize their dreams and provides them with the strength and a child with Downs Syndrome – ran appear with famous singers. The energy until the next event. away from home and could not be Lubavitcher broadcaster and disc found anywhere. After frantic searching he was found in the home jockey, Ami Maimon, arranges the CHESED CIRCLE evening, bringing performers who of his volunteer. He had walked to Everybody has heard of the volunteer their services. her house since he missed her. Friendship Circle which operates in Every year in Adar there is a day Chabad houses around the world, of fun and games for the special FROM RECEIVER helping special needs children. In needs children and their volunteers TO GIVER Israel we were the first to get at an amusement park which Two years after Yad L’Yeled involved and as part of our desire to strengthens their relationship. HaMeyuchad began, during which create a sense of mutual time we were beneficiaries, I was responsibility within the Chabad CAMP FOR SPECIAL community we started, together with given the opportunity to give back. NEEDS CHILDREN The event was the national Beis Rivka, a project called the conference of N’shei U’Bnos Chesed Circle which is run by Mrs. With summer camp too, we were Chabad and the theme that year was Chedva Segal and Mrs. Dr. Yehudis pioneers and we started a camp for giving and chesed. I addressed Landau. Girls majoring in special Lubavitcher children with special thousands of participants and told education are assigned a particular needs. It is called Mitzuyanei Gan them that I was a mother of an special needs child and conduct Yisroel (based on the Rebbe’s talk autistic child and about the activities weekly activities with the child for about Mitzuyanei Tzahal). sponsored by the organization. My two hours. These few hours enable The camp, which took place this speaking was a milestone event for the parents a chance to breathe and year for the fourth time, operates me in which I went from being a to devote their attention to their within the Oro Shel Moshiach camp. recipient to a giver. Since then, I other children. It gives the children a chance to be have the job of coordinator of Working with the children in a Lubavitcher camp atmosphere, activities for Yad L’Yeled benefits the volunteers themselves for two weeks, and to come in HaMeyuchad. for it gives them firsthand contact with Lubavitcher children The work has expanded so that experience. We hear many stories which is especially necessary since professional support is provided about the special relationship that is most of them are in special individually, for every family. There formed between the students and the programs during the year that are are special Shabbatons for sisters of children. Mrs. M related that her son not necessarily Lubavitch. It also practically did not speak since he does a lot for the other children in
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the camp. They get to meet special needs children and to learn how to get along with them. For the parents of these children, these are two precious weeks of rest and mustering of strength for the new school year.
BREAKTHROUGH YEAR One of the goals of the organization is to constantly come up with new activities for the families and the children. With the end of 5770 we have made significant strides in starting a nationwide network of clubs and treatment centers for children with Rabbi Blinitzky with bar mitzva boys and friends of the organization special needs. With the start of the new year, year to bar mitzva, and each child regular monthly contribution of any the network, called Regesh, had a counselor. The children, who amount. inaugurated its first treatment center came from all over the country, which is called “Beis Mendy and enjoyed the long weekend – from A FEW WORDS ON Goldie.” In a quiet, green corner of Thursday morning until Sunday A PERSONAL NOTE yishuv Beit Dagan which is near evening, and the many attractions Kfar Chabad, under the dedicated and outings. Today, after six years of leadership of Mrs. Sigal Gat, there Over the years, the organization belonging to this organization, we are impressive treatment rooms bought useful items like climbing thank Hashem for all the chesed He which will serve the residents of the equipment, trampolines, pools, sea does with us, especially with Shneur area, with a significant subsidy for of balls etc. which the children enjoy who made much progress in his those who need it. throughout the year. abilities to communicate with those In addition to the center, the around him. organization runs afternoon clubs I think that the organization has THE CHILDREN OF US created a revolution amongst Anash. that offer fun and enjoyable activities ALL – AND IT’S NOT JUST for the local children. It services Today, a family who discovers they about one hundred families of Anash A SLOGAN have a child with special needs turns with special needs children, and we Along with their increased to us, in most cases from the very plan to incorporate professional activities the organization has started start, and we provide both moral and therapists who will help the children a massive fundraising drive with the financial support. We have many advance in many important areas. motto, “The Children of Us All.” ways to help a child and his family, As far as we know, this is the They make a heartfelt plea to the far more than when the organization first Chabad treatment center in the public to take part in this work and was first started. Nevertheless, world for children with special help families and children with raising a special needs child is still a needs. It operates in the spirit of special needs that live amongst us in great challenge for the entire family Chabad in every area, be it kashrus, every community and neighborhood. but also an opportunity to raise a k’dusha, tznius or Chassidus. Today, over 200 Lubavitcher lofty neshama and a happy child, Another innovation for this year families are united with Yad L’Yeled thereby revealing within ourselves is a three-day mini-vacation, a few HaMeyuchad and the list continues abilities we did not know we have. times a year, that is intended for to grow. Help from the broader I am sure that very soon, when special needs children who function public is vital so we can continue to we will march forth to greet on a low level, whose treatments operate and even add important Moshiach, Shneur and his friends require a great deal of energy. The projects. R’ Menachem Mendel will be in the front row and we will first one took place at the end of Blinitzky asks everyone to be merit to proudly say, “See these Elul with thirty children aged one partners in this endeavor with a children we have raised.”
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memoirs EVEN THE WALLS CRIED
Prepared for publication by Avrohom Rainitz R’ Hillel Zaltzman dedicates this chapter of his memoirs to his brother, the well-known chazan, R’ Berel Zaltzman. R’ Berel was a chazan in the Rebbe’s tzman minyan and sang for the Rebbe during 6 p. 64 f 2 the distribution of Kos shel Bracha for ^^^^^ ^^^^ many years. The Rebbe encouraged him ^^^^ to be a chazan, and told him to produce ^^^^ ^^^^ a recording. The Rebbe even promised to cover the expenses. * The moving story of R’ Berel Zaltzman and the special consideration that he received from the Rebbe over the years. All the kiruvim conveyed the Rebbe’s message of using his talent for chazanus to spread Judaism. * Part 1 of 2
My brother Berel was gifted with mourning after the passing of our meaning of the words, too. He a beautiful voice and superlative mother a”h, Berel was in Moscow. knows what he’s saying,” they musical abilities. He loved to sing. When it was time for Mincha he had declared, impressed. When we were children he would no choice but to go to the main shul In the free world we know of sing at every opportunity. When he on Archipova Street and daven from many instances in which the Rebbe grew older he studied with a voice the amud. All the people were encouraged Chassidim to develop specialist who promised him a great amazed by his chazanus and nusach their natural talents since these are future. ha’t’filla: “Not only does he know gifts from Hashem and we need to Interestingly, in the year of chazanus but he seems to know the use them in the service of Hashem
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profession was not suitable to a frum right after they landed in Eretz Jew. Berel maintained that when he Yisroel the Chassidim yearned to go went to Eretz Yisroel he would be a to New York to see the Rebbe. This chazan, but our father was feeling of pining for the Rebbe unimpressed. “Long before you will which had remained hidden within become a chazan in Eretz Yisroel the depths of their neshamos, you are liable to become a goy here bursting forth only occasionally at in Russia!” he warned. secret farbrengens with the niggun As I related previously about my to the words “May Hashem give us father a”h, he was completely health and life, we will yet meet with devoted to the chinuch of his our Rebbe again” – now burst forth children and was not afraid to take like lava from a volcano. extreme measures when he found it And to whatever extent the necessary. For example, when he Chassidim yearned to see the Rebbe, discovered that an unobservant boy you can just imagine, or better yet – was trying to be friends with my it is impossible with our puny brother Berel, and he didn’t think it intellects to imagine how much the was a good idea, he bluntly told that Rebbe yearned to see the Chassidim boy: “I don’t want you to be my who had left Russia. The Rebbe shed son’s friend.” He simply expelled rivers of tears over the Jews in him from the house and did not even Russia in general and over the allow him to enter the yard. The boy mesirus nefesh of Chabad Chassidim was greatly offended by my father’s in particular, those who were born direct approach. In those days it was and raised under the despotic dangerous to offend a boy like this, communist regime without who had no fear of Heaven and chadarim, without yeshivos, and could have informed on us to the without shuls, who, although they secret police. Although my father had to learn and daven secretly, had was nervous by nature, he ignored not only remained frum but were the danger because chinuch meant Chassidim and mekusharim, everything to him. involved in spreading Judaism and In hindsight, I think that my Chassidus. They had finally emerged father’s insistence on preventing from the vale of tears and the Rebbe Berel from studying singing, out of could see them! mesirus nefesh for the chinuch of his As a direct expression of the children, is what refined his voice Rebbe’s desire to see the Chassidim, and made it more pure, more Jewish the Rebbe invited all the new and more Chassidish. Later on, immigrants to come to him for when we left Russia and Berel went Tishrei and he told the secretaries to to the Rebbe, the Rebbe enjoyed his pay for their tickets. During Tishrei clear and emotional voice and told these Chassidim enjoyed special R’ Berel Zaltzman (right) him to use his talents to spread the kiruvim from the Rebbe. standing at the entrance to 770 wellsprings of Chassidus and to My brother Berel arrived in Eretz publicize the name of Chabad in the Yisroel at the end of the summer in world. The kiruvim that Berel got 5731/1971, and immediately began and to be mekarev our brethren to from the Rebbe on his first visit were inquiring about how to go to the Him. However, in the Soviet Union amazing to all, for they went well Rebbe for Tishrei. I came shortly of those days, over involvement in beyond the usual. after him in the middle of Elul and singing and chazanus was an But I’m getting ahead of myself. did not manage to join him on his indication that one was starting to As I related in earlier chapters, in trip to the Rebbe, so my description veer off the path of Chassidus. 5729/1969, the Iron Curtain parted of the trip and the kiruvim he This is why my father did not like slightly for a few years, and many received from the Rebbe are based my brother’s music lessons at all. He Chabad Chassidim left the Soviet solely on his recollections. repeatedly said that the singing Union for Eretz Yisroel. Of course,
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A SURPRISE VISIT IN THE lost a daughter in a car accident. He OFFICES OF THE YESHIVA had just gotten up from Shiva a day or two before and was already on his My brother Berel related: way to the Rebbe. I loved R’ Mendel When I began inquiring about and I wanted to run towards him but traveling to the Rebbe for Tishrei didn’t know how to approach him 5732, they told me that I first had to and what to say. settle things with the army. The R’ Mendel noticed me from the Israeli government did not allow distance and instantly got up and new immigrants to leave the country walked over to me. “Berele!” he before they did their military duty exclaimed happily. “You got out of because they were afraid that they Russia and we’re going to the Rebbe would take advantage of the together!” absorption benefits from the State I thought – how great is the and then leave the country without Ahavas Yisroel of this genuine contributing their talents towards the Chassid, whose friendship with me fledgling country. distracted him momentarily from his Askanei Chabad, who knew how The chazan R’ Berel Zaltzman tzaros. We spoke emotionally about greatly the Chassidim wanted to go what we had been through in recent to the Rebbe, discussed this with It was R’ Gershon Mendel years and about our upcoming government ministers and senior Garelik, shliach in Milan, but to me meeting with the Rebbe. I was military figures and managed to he was Gershon Mendel, my delighted that he would be at my arrive at an agreement in which childhood friend in Samarkand side during my stay in Beis Chayeinu every Chassid that R’ Efraim Wolf during the Second World War. We and could guide me when necessary. personally guaranteed would return had learned together by R’ Michoel to the country, would be allowed to Teitelbaum a”h. It felt to good know go on this visit. that my good friend is a shliach of “GO OVER TO THE I went to R’ Efraim Wolf’s office the Rebbe and a distinguished rav. AMUD, THE REBBE WILL in Lud to get his letter. When I After he left and I received my ENJOY IT” letter from R’ Efraim, I bought arrived there R’ Efraim asked me to We arrived on a Thursday, just in tickets for myself and my wife and wait since he was expecting a time for Mincha with the Rebbe. As prepared for our trip. distinguished rabbi from Europe and was customary back then, they he would be busy with him. davened Mincha in the small zal of I sat and waited. A young man MEETING WITH the yeshiva upstairs. The Rebbe with a small black beard wearing a R’ MENDEL FUTERFAS stood and looked at each one of us. nice sirtuk walking into the office in I am not eloquent enough to a dignified manner. All the When we got to the airport in Lud I saw that many other Chabad describe my feelings during those employees in the office, led by R’ lofty moments when I saw the Rebbe Efraim, came out to welcome him Chassidim who had recently come from Russia were flying with us. I for the first time. with great honor and I was suitably On Shabbos, before Musaf, impressed. cannot begin to describe how excited we were every time our minds again someone came over to me who A few minutes after they all apparently knew that I am a chazan entered R’ Efraim’s office, the guest returned to the thought, “We are going to the Rebbe!” and he asked me to daven for the suddenly came back out as though tzibbur. I refused, thinking – Am I he had forgotten something. He Our flight was via London, where other Chassidim joined us on their crazy? Am I going to stand there as looked at me and then exclaimed in the shliach tzibbur right next to the a tear-choked voice, “Berele! Oy way to the Rebbe. I suddenly noticed R’ Mendel Futerfas boarding. Seeing Rebbe? (In those days there was no Berele …” elevated platform and the Rebbe As soon as I heard his voice I him evoked mixed feelings in my heart. I was thrilled to see him again stood with his lectern right next to immediately realized who he was. the chazan). Forgetting about the official manner after not seeing him since he left Samarkand in 5724, but at the same R’ Mendel, who was standing in which he had been welcomed I nearby, convinced me to go, saying: gave him a hug and shouted happily, time, my joy was tempered with sadness for him. He had recently “The Rebbe will enjoy your nusach “Oy, Gershon Mendel!” as someone who was born and
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R’ Berel Zaltzman placing a crown on the Torah in the Rebbe’s minyan
raised without yeshiva and received THE REBBE GAVE ME HIS that I spontaneously began to cry. I all his Chassidishe chinuch in secret. OWN BOTTLE OF WINE wanted to wipe the tears but it was You have an opportunity to give the so crowded that I couldn’t move my That Shabbos was my first Rebbe special nachas!” hand upwards. farbrengen with the Rebbe. I stood So I went over to daven. To tell Since my eyes were filled with on the bench together with the you the truth, by Kaddish before tears I didn’t see that the Rebbe was crowd of Chassidim with my eyes Musaf, I felt completely lost and I motioning to me to come over. The fixed on the Rebbe. Occasionally I regretted that I had agreed to do people next to me pushed me and couldn’t help but glance over at R’ this, but it was too late. It was only said: “The Rebbe wants you!” Mendel. I wanted to see how a as I began the chazaras ha’shatz, I immediately yanked my hands Chassid like him behaved in the before Kesser, that I relaxed a little out and, after wiping my eyes, I saw Rebbe’s presence. I was and began to sing a tune that is used the Rebbe smiling at me. They tremendously excited. I couldn’t among Anash. cleared a place for me to be able to believe that I was sitting there After the davening, when I left walk to the Rebbe. I jumped on the among Anash at a farbrengen with the chazzan’s lectern to go back to table and within seconds I was the Rebbe, something that just a my place, Rashag came over to me, standing next to the Rebbe. year ago had been an impossible patted me on the back in a friendly R’ Leibel Groner handed me an dream. manner and said, “Bachur, bachur, empty cup and the Rebbe poured I tried to concentrate on what the you sing well but where is your from the bottle he was holding. Rebbe was saying and on his beard?” While doing so he looked at me with movements so as not to miss a detail I didn’t answer him but the a big smile and said l’chaim. of the farbrengen. I suddenly noticed people around me, who knew that I I answered with l’chaim but I the Rebbe motioning to R’ Mendel had no hair, smiled. was so nervous that the cup spilled to come over. R’ Mendel Afterwards, R’ Mendel said: “You before I could drink from it. The immediately jumped up from his can’t imagine what nachas ruach Rebbe smiled, took the bottle and usual spot near the table and to my you gave the Rebbe. Throughout the filled my cup again. I said l’chaim amazement, within a moment he davening he looked at you the way a again and drank. Then the Rebbe was standing next to the Rebbe with father looks at his son who returned gave me a bottle of mashke and said: great humility. This sight, which from captivity after many years. It “Since you are a shliach tzibbur, demonstrated to me what bittul from was apparent that the Rebbe greatly take this bottle and give it out to a real Chassid is like, so moved me enjoyed your davening.” those who came here with you.”
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I took the bottle and began decided that they had to make a could move them with a soulful pouring from it right away as I lottery to see who would daven and davening. walked back to my place. I gave to when. The lottery worked out that I whoever held out a cup and of would daven on the first day of Rosh THE REBBE SAID: course the bottle was emptied within HaShana and R’ Wineberg, who had TEACH THE NIGGUN seconds. More Chassidim held out davened for many years for the their cups and I stood there with the Rebbe on Rosh HaShana, would After Havdala on the second day empty bottle. Those standing next to have to forego his chazaka. of Rosh HaShana, during Kos shel me suddenly pulled on me and said: On Sunday, Erev Rosh HaShana, Bracha, I stood in the center facing “The Rebbe is calling you back!” Sholom Duchman said: “Since you the Rebbe. On the sides, the When I turned around I saw the will be davening on Rosh HaShana bachurim and men stood in Rebbe smiling at me again, as for the Rebbe, you have to look pyramids and sang. Then suddenly though reading my thoughts. I right.” they informed me: “The Rebbe is hurried back to the Rebbe and then I had come to the Rebbe the way looking for you!” the Rebbe took his bottle of wine we went about in Russia: with a When the Rebbe saw me he which was always covered by a simple suit, a gray plastic cap and a motioned to me to climb the paper bag and poured the remnants black string for a gartel. He took me pyramid. There was a hush as I went from the cup he had used and gave to the store and bought me a sirtuk, up. I was quiet too, like the rest of me the bottle and said: There is a lot a gartel and a black hat and I them. The Rebbe looked at me and here and that will be enough for “became a Chassid.” said: “Nu …” everyone. I returned to my place, The next day, as I got ready for I realized that the Rebbe wanted pouring wine for others as I went. Musaf, I was both excited and me to sing and I began a niggun. apprehensive, but compared to When I finished the first niggun, Shabbos I was a little calmer. After the Rebbe motioned to me to THE NUSACH OF continue and that is what happened R’ YECHIEL THE CHAZAN all, I had experienced my first “trial by fire” at Musaf on Shabbos. I led after every song I sang. I sang songs After the farbrengen I felt that the Musaf with chazanus and with in Yiddish, in Lashon HaKodesh , in something was “cooking” with the the original nusach ha’t’filla of the Russian, in Ukrainian, chazanus and bachurim. I didn’t understand what Yomim Nora’im as I had learned it more. The crowd knew some of the was going on but from their glances from my father, who heard the songs and sang along with me. The at me I felt that it pertained to me. t’fillos from R’ Yechiel, the chazan other songs I sang solo. The Rebbe I saw that a “war” was taking place: who davened on the Yomim Nora’im didn’t let me alone for a moment. As R’ Yisroel Duchman and his son for the Rebbe Rashab in Lubavitch. soon as I finished one song, he Sholom were standing there and Although I was a veteran of encouraged me to sing another heatedly stating their position. seventeen years at leading the song, as though the Rebbe wanted to R’ Sholom Ber Levitin was also davening on the Yomim Nora’im, hear my entire repertoire and how I among the “fighters.” from the secret t’fillos in sang. Among other songs I sang the When I asked what the Samarkand, davening with the Chassidic song “Tchumashtok” and commotion was about, I heard that Rebbe was completely different both the Rebbe said I should teach it so it was because of me. When the because in terms of the clarity of the that at the next farbrengen they bachurim had heard the Rebbe call voice and the emotions. Afterwards I could all sing it together. me a “shliach tzibbur,” they decided heard that people really liked the The next day the secretariat that the Rebbe wanted me to be the davening. They said that not only printed the words of the song and I shliach tzibbur on the Yomim the people cried, even the walls stood in 770 surrounded by Nora’im too, and since the following cried. bachurim and men holding Monday would be Rosh HaShana, I believe that people felt this way photocopies of the song. I sang the they thought I should daven Musaf because years after most of Anash song again and again until I became on Rosh HaShana. had left Russia in 5706/1946 and hoarse, but the Rebbe had given me But there were baalei t’filla who the few who were left behind instructions and I continued had “chazakos” for many years. The remained without an educational teaching the niggun. One of the regular chazan for Musaf on the first framework – suddenly more bachurim was impressed and he day of Rosh HaShana was R’ Yosef Chassidim had come who were not commented to his friend: “He is Wineberg and on the second day R’ only frum but even a chazan and a more of a Chassid than a chazan.” Mordechai Teleshevsky. They finally baal t’filla had come from there who [To be continued, G-d willing]
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[Continued from pg. 5] The fact that this behavior is have passed, and the matter depends solely upon repentance.” Thus, one undeniably present in our times, should simply repent and the redemption will arrive! .... That is therefore, provides further proof that what is holding back the coming of this generation is indeed the second Moshiach! ... It is just that this honor [of holding back the generation the Rebbe Rashab references redemption on his account] they don’t have to grant him! ... in his speech, the very last generation. As said above, eighty years ago it was unimaginable that there would this concept of “those who scorn the his will or not… In the familiar be such a condition that there would heels of Your Moshiach”! ... As our words [of Rambam in the Laws of be religious Jews “who scorn the Sages say, “If you have seen Divorce], “He is forced until he is heels of Moshiach.” The fact that generation after generation who compelled to say, ‘I want it,’” and this behavior is undeniably present scorn and ridicule, anticipate the that is considered as if “he offers it in our times, therefore, provides footsteps of Moshiach”! willingly,” meaning that he further proof that this generation is Furthermore, it is certain that slaughters his evil inclination and his indeed the second generation the eventually, “a spirit [will] be poured animal soul, and returns to G-d with Rebbe Rashab references in his upon him from On High,” and he sincere repentance, etc. speech, the very last generation, will repent, be it in accordance with [From the address of Shabbos Parshas which means that we must overcome Chayei Sara 5745]
[Continued from pg. 21] Rebbe’s room. When he came out he wasn’t a Chabad Chassid and he had said, “Binyamin, come back never personally met the Rebbe, but try and encourage him. afterwards because the Rebbe gave when the Rebbe was asking him for The way it worked was, R’ me something to take care of.” something at three in the morning Chadakov went to the Rebbe’s room I returned to the office after he was happy to oblige. every night before the Rebbe left for driving the Rebbe home and R’ Later on the man was told that home. Even on days when the Rebbe Chadakov told me, “This is a secret the Rebbe wanted to know what had received people for yechidus all matter. The Rebbe told me to call been done and at eight o’clock I got night, R’ Chadakov waited in his someone. The Rebbe said, ‘I don’t a phone call from him in which he office until it was over, even if it was know whether this person ever saw said, “Tell the Rebbe that the matter four or five in the morning. That me but you have to ask him to help was taken care of.” night, yechidus ended at three this other Jew who is in debt and From this story we can learn a lot o’clock and R’ Chadakov went to the might be thrown into jail.’” but the most important lesson is – Rebbe’s room as usual before the After making some calls I found the Rebbe’s great Ahavas Yisroel for Rebbe left for home. the right person and gave him the every Jew to the point that the That night it was my turn to Rebbe’s message. I was moved to recipient did not know what the drive the Rebbe home, so I waited see how the person accepted the Rebbe did for him. for R’ Chadakov to come out of the Rebbe’s instruction even though he
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42 14 MarCheshvan 5771 BEIS MOSHIACH