a weekly magazine • #1

The Hanachos: Recollections An Insider's From Perspective Hanhalah Rabbi Rabbi Zalman Kaplan Vaad Hanachos Hatmimim Tzeirei Hashluchim, Tzfas ב"ה

Vaad Talmidei Hatmimim Rabbi Tzvi Altein Foreword In collaboration with the Hanachos program Hanachos taking place now in mesivtas, we are pleased to present to you “Hanachos” — a weekly magazine Tzvi Alperowitz designed to enrich this program. Boruch Ceitlin Each week we will feature the column “Hanachos: An Insider’s Perspective,” personally interview- Layout and Design ing one of the manichim. We are honored to have interviewed Rabbi Simon Jacobson for the first Mendy Drookman edition of this weekly magazine. From the planned twenty minute interview that lasted well over an hour and half, to his extensive editing — we can- Special Thanks to not thank him enough. Rabbi Mendel Alperowitz The top three hanachos from each week will be Rabbi Tzemach Feller prominently featured as well. This week we are proud to present the hanachos of the Tmimim Rabbi Mendel Gurarie Menachem Mendel Gurarie, Yossi Kogan and Meir Rabbi Simon Jacobson Twersky. Rabbi Zalman Kaplan As we approach the day of Gimmel Tammuz — the inspiration for the launch of “Hanachos” Rabbi Yossi Kamman — and we yearn to be back with the again Rabbi Shmuel Lubecki b’gashmiyus, we will feature the weekly column Rabbi Yaakov Raskin “Recollections from Hanhalah.” We are grateful to Rabbi Zalman Kaplan, who made the time to be Levi Danow interviewed for this column despite his very busy Yisroel Slonim schedule this week. Arik Shemtov Each week, we will present kisvei yad kodesh on the topics shown that week on the Hanachos videos. Tzemach Weg We thank A Chassidisher Derher for this week's kisvei yad. This magazine prominently features images from JEM’s Living Archive, and we express our gratitude to them as well. We beseech of Hashem that the Hanachos initiative will bring closer the day when we will be reunited with the Rebbe, teikef umiyad mamash.

The Editors

in conjunction with Rabbi Simon Jacobson Vaad Hanachos Hatmimim

The Hanachos: an Insider's Perspective

abbi Jacobson, thank you for — what was the process? review with the assistance of the few Rgiving us your time for this After every Reb Yoel and chozrim. Others would also partici- interview. You were a chozer and a group of mostly bochurim and some pate — essentially everyone could maniyach, and were involved in Vaad anash would gather together in what interject with their input, helping Hanachos Hatmimim, and directed it was called chazara - reviewing the si- create an oral record of the Farbren- for a number of years. Can you give chos and maamar the Rebbe delivered gen. During chazara a few people us some of its background? in that respective Farbrengen. This took notes. Then the difficult pro- Sure. Since the beginning of the Reb- was uniquely challenging after a Shab- cess of researching and writing the be’s Nesius in 1950, Reb Yoel Kahan bos or Yom Tov Farbrengen, which hanacha would begin. This was done was the chief chozer and main writer was not recorded or written down. by the main maniyach, who worked (maniyach) of the Rebbe’s Farbren- It therefore required a few brilliant gens. There were always a few bo- from memory, assisted by the notes minds to memorize almost verbatim taken during chazara. He would then churim and anash that assisted him in and then reconstruct the Farbrengen. this work. As the years went by, and give the draft to others for review the work became more demanding Reb Yoel would usually lead the and comments. Often certain points (and Reb Yoel’s time was increasingly demanded by other tasks with which he was charged, chief among them the composition of Sefer HaErchim), a group of bochurim, encouraged by the Rebbe, joined Reb Yoel as chozrim. This took place in 5726. Around that time they established Vaad Hanachos Hatmimim. Under the tutelage of Reb Yoel, the Vaad was committed to ensuring that all the hanachos of the Rebbe’s were published in a timely fashion. As these bochurim got married, new bochurim filled their positions in Vaad Hanachos Hatmimim, and so it continued over the years. I became involved in this work in 5736, and ultimately assumed the position of directing the mosad in 5740.

How would they write the Hanachos Chazara on motzo'ei Rosh Hashana 5740 3 Rabbi Jacobson at a Farbrengen, 5736 were clarified by the Rebbe. After a Notik and others. the head of the Vaad and the main few days the final annotated hanacha Throughout the years, various bo- writer of the sichos. I wrote my first was published. (Hanacha means to churim were always involved and official complete hanacha for Shabbos “set down” — to commit to paper and helpful in different capacities — from Parshas Miketz 5740. document the Rebbe’s words). the writing, research and annotating New members joined the Vaad in the to the gashmius’dike needs: collecting subsequent years, including Rabbi Whom were these bochurim that dedications, printing, subscriptions Aaron Leib Raskin, Meir Ossey, Al- directed the Vaad? and distribution. ter Tenenbaum, Chaim Abrahams, The Vaad began in 5726, inspired Boruch Jacobson, Zev Cadaner, Yossi by Rabbi Nosson (Noske) Wolf. The How did you get involved in the Lew, and others. Vaad consisted of the temimim and Vaad? chozrim: Rabbis Leibel Schapiro, After studying in Morristown, I came How did the Vaad develop after that? Shlomo Zarchi, Efraim Piekarski and to 770 in the middle of 5736 at the age In the next few years, technologies Sholom Ber Levitin. of 18. I was deeply intrigued by the (such as the word processor and fax Rabbi Shapiro, with the help of entire chazara and hanacha process, machines) made it possible to en- Rabbi Avrohom Gerlitzky, contin- so I began attending and participat- hance and speed up the process of ued to write hanachos until around ing in the chazara. At the time, I also producing and distributing the far- 5733. Around 5731, Rabbi Yosef secured myself a great spot at the brengens. We were the first in Hecht joined the effort. After 5733, Farbrengen, standing directly across to purchase a computer (with the as the “old guard” moved on, differ- from the Rebbe. Rebbe’s encouragement and blessing). ent bochurim attempted to continue As I mentioned, a number of bo- After I married in 5743, the Vaad running the Vaad. Around 5735, a churim would be present during decided to establish itself on firmer new group of bochurim assumed the chazara, and some would chime in if ground to ensure consistency, and I leadership of the Vaad and revived they felt they had something to add was offered a position — the first time its work by beginning to publish all or correct. Slowly, I became more and the Vaad was run by someone who the farbrengens in an organized and more involved in the chazaras, getting wasn’t a bochur. The great philanthro- consistent manner. The new Vaad, led better at it, and in time I began help- pists Rabbi Berel Weiss and Rabbi by Rabbis Dovid Feldman and Tzvi ing in reviewing the Farbrengens be- Zalman Deitsch supported us. And Grunblatt from 5735 - 5740, included ing prepared by the people working in that’s when the Rebbe instructed the Rabbis Dovid Olidort, Sholom Chari- the Vaad. In the year 5740, after Rabbi Vaad to incorporate as a legal organi- tonow, Moshe Wolberg, Hirschel Dovid Feldman got married, I became zation. 4 Sichos”. But frankly, I wasn’t a child; I didn’t need recognition of my work by the Rebbe. It was a tremendous honor to do this work. I definitely felt that working on the sichos was the source of all brachos for myself — so much so that I never would write and ask for my own personal needs. I felt that by working for the Rebbe writing his sichos, the Rebbe took care of me.

Would you give the hanacha each week to the Rebbe? Of course. These were the Rebbe’s sichos — so the Rebbe was first the receive what we prepared!

Did the Rebbe edit the hanachos? If yes, what was the process of this happening? Who initiated the submission of a sicha or a maamar for hagaha? What is the difference between a hanacha bilti mugah and one that was mugah? Generally speaking, most of the hana- In 5747, due to the growing popular- further explanation. The Rebbe would chos written were not edited by the ity of the fax, we began producing on promptly answer all of our questions. Rebbe. In the early years the Rebbe Motzei Shabbos a synopsis of each I actually can’t remember there being made it clear that though he would farbrengen — called tochen kotzer a time that we didn’t receive a reply. like to edit them all, he simply did not — to be faxed out to communities have the time. These hanachos — si- worldwide, enabling them for the Would you sign your name when chos or — were identified first time to actually read a transcript writing to the Rebbe? by their prominently bearing the line of the farbrengen within 24 hours of The general practice over the years “hanacha bilti mugah” (sometimes when it was delivered! At some point was that those responsible for writing referred to reshimas ha’shomim, notes we were producing these summaries and publishing the Rebbe’s sichos and of those who listened), indicating in 14 (!) languages, translated by maamarim did not sign their names that they were transcripts written by 770 bochurim from all these foreign when asking the Rebbe questions on the manichim, and not edited by the countries. these sichos and maamarim. I followed Rebbe. They all deserve to be mentioned by this practice. I would sign my name A number of hanachos did merit be- name, were it not due to limits of on questions that were related to the ing edited by the Rebbe, and in those space. All in all I would estimate that management of the Vaad, but not instances the hanacha would (usually) over these years, from 5740 and on, on questions about the Farbrengens. be published as an official kuntres, over 70 people worked in the Vaad. The language we usually used when with the Rebbe’s official cover page, writing a question was “Lo tofasnu” and an introduction (pesach davar) As head of the Vaad, would you — “We didn’t grasp [the meaning of a dated by the Rebbe. sometimes write to the Rebbe? particular thing].” The editing of a sicha or a maamar Absolutely! Not just I, but all the came about in four different ways: 1) manicihim preceding me would write Although you didn’t sign your name, The Rebbe requested that it should be to the Rebbe all the time with ques- did you feel that the Rebbe knew you prepared for his haga’ah. 2) We would tions and points to clarify. Indeed, were involved? submit the sicha or maamar, feeling the Rebbe insisted that we ask about Of course the Rebbe knew — we were that the Rebbe may edit it. (At times and clarify every point to ensure that writing the Rebbe’s own sichos. Actu- we were right, and at times not). 3) the hanacha be as clear and under- ally, one Sunday during dollars, a After the Rebbe answered some of of standable as possible. We would have certain Yid went by and mentioned our queries on a particular hanacha, questions on the farbrengen, and I to the Rebbe that he knew me. The and at times even edited the text, we would write to the Rebbe asking for Rebbe commented “Er arbet doch in di then submitted the entire section and 5 The view of the Rebbe from Rabbi Jacobson's place the Rebbe would edit it. 4) After the Bereishis to Shabbos Parshas Vayeitzei headed by Rabbi Dovid Feldman. hanacha was printed the Rebbe would 5725 — delivered after the passing of edit the published kuntres. We would the Rebbe’s mother, Rebbetzin Chana; You mentioned earlier that you were then of course re-publish the edited the series of sichos and maamarim — deeply intrigued by the the farbren- version as an official kuntres. from Motzei Simchas Torah to Motzei gens and chazora. Is this something Shabbos Parshas Chayei Sarah 5738 you always had interest in? — delivered after the Rebbe’s heart Actually, not at all. As a younger bo- (It should be noted that in certain attack; the series of sichos around chur I was really kind of uninspired. I instances the Rebbe added the word Shavuos of 5740 when the Rebbe was unaware of the exciting relevance hanacha even though it was edited. In called for the creating of gatherings of and passionate insights contained in addition, at times the Rebbe began — children; and a number of others. the Rebbe’s sichos and maamarim. but did not finish — editing a hana- That dramatically changed when I was cha. That would be indicated as well). During the mid Mem’s (5745 and on) the Rebbe began to edit sichos more about 16 or 17 years old. Additionally, as mentioned above, regularly, to the point that in 5747 when the Rebbe answered our que- the Rebbe began editing almost every What caused this change? ries, we would weave the answers Shabbos Farbrengen. This continued It’s a long story, but suffice it to say into the text, and at times include the until Chof Zayin Adar 5752. These that it was during those years that I Rebbe’s answer as a footnote. Any mugah’dike sichos comprise the set of started seriously learning Torah and page in the hanacha that had even one Sefer Hasichos 5747-5752. Chassidus and discovered its dynamic word touched or edited by the Rebbe vitality. You can say that the “music” would not carry the words “bilti This all is not addressing, of course, of Chassidus pierced my soul and mugah” — “unedited”. the Rebbe’s editing , resonated with me. I was incredibly and in later years, the maamarim that mesmerized by it in a very personal How often would the Rebbe edit were published for yomim tovim and way. hanachos? special days of the year, which is out of the scope of our discussion. This of course changed my entire Over the years there was no regular attitude towards the farbrengens. You schedule of edited hanachos. It was see, the Rebbe is the embodiment of case by case. That being said, there Are all the sichos in Sefer Hasichos 5747-5752 written by Vaad Hanachos Torah and Chassidus. As I learned to were special periods in time — either appreciate Chassidus, I became ob- due to events of the time, or special Hatmimim? No. All the sichos in Yiddish (with a sessed with capturing every word the directives the Rebbe was issuing — Rebbe uttered. when the Rebbe edited a continuous few exceptions) were written and pre- series of his sichos and maamarim. A pared by Vaad Hanachos Hatmimim. And once I began this journey I never few examples stand out: The series The ones in Hebrew were written and looked back. Once I became involved of sichos — from Shabbos Parshas prepared by Vaad Hanachos B’Lahak, in chazering and writing the sichos, 6 this took over my entire life. I was I have personally witnessed this in learned in the past. submerged in these waters. After the the annual MyLife: Chassidus Ap- This is the process we used when we summer of 5736 I would never miss plied Essay Contest we run. I always did chazara and wrote the hanachos. a farbrengen. I wouldn’t travel, go say that until you can write down First we absorbed and retained what to camp, or go to the mountains in ideas in clear language that others can the Rebbe said, undiluted and un- the summer — I was always at the understand, they remain somewhat shaped by any prior ideas we learned farbrengens. removed from you. When you can or developed. Once we reviewed and actually put it in writing, it shows that As I said, I never looked back. Ev- made notes of the Rebbe’s words, we you really understand what the Rebbe erything I have done since until this began the research stage — look- said. Putting it in writing really makes moment, and hopefully for many ing up the sources, cross-referencing you internalize it. more years, is driven by that passion and placing into context the Rebbe’s awakened back then when I was first I experienced this when I wrote thoughts. At that point we were often touched by the Rebbe’s farbrengens. , presenting overwhelmed and even experienced the Wisdom of the Rebbe to people of confusion. But then, as we would con- Would you also attend the farbren- all backgrounds. tinue focusing and piecing the puzzle gens when you studied in Morris- together, the picture would begin to town? Can you give some advice for the Bo- emerge. Then came stage three: writ- Yes. Whenever there was a farbren- churim on how to follow the sichos? ing the full sicha or maamar. This, of gen, the would come to New “Aydi d’torid l’mivleh lo polit. Aydi course, would then be reviewed and York. Actually, when we came back d’torid l’polit lo mivleh” The first step edited, and sometimes rewritten. We would often argue a point, and when to yeshiva, the entire beis midrash is to go into absorption mode: As you necessary, we wrote to the Rebbe for would have chazara Sunday night, listen to or watch a sicha or a maamar, clarification. Finally, after a number of which would usually take an hour or suspend all prior thoughts and ideas, back-and-forths which helped crystal- more. At some point the Reb and concentrate on what the Rebbe lize the ideas, we produced the final Meilech Zwiebel asked me to lead the is saying now. Just listen, and write down what you are listening to. Don’t hanacha, which was then published chazara in Morristown, which I did to try to process and understand. Don’t for posterity the best of my ability. That’s where I analyze and ask questions. Just listen received my first “training”. and absorb. Thank you! You are involved in vari- When you’re busy trying to under- ous projects in hafatzas hama’ayanos. The bochurim in the mesivtas are Do you somehow see this as a con- now watching sichos and writing stand the idea, you disturb your abil- ity to take in the information. It will tinuation of your writing hanachos? down their own “hanachos”. What Most definitely. The mission of the are your thoughts about such an confuse you and you will lose track of the sicha. Vaad was to document and bring the idea? Rebbe’s words to the world. We did I think it’s a great idea. The Rebbe After the bochur finishes listening or this in its original form until Chof encouraged students to write pilpulim, watching the video, he can then look Zayin Adar, with the focus on docu- ha’aros etc. Committing ideas you at his notes and begin processing and menting the Rebbe’s Ma’ayanos. Since have learned or have developed to trying to understand the ideas stated. that time, we continue to do the same paper has enormous benefits that are Then he can bring in other informa- thing — this is exactly what my mis- far-reaching and everlasting. tion he may know from sources he sion continues to be until this very day: to bring the Rebbe’s words to as many people as possible in all corners of the world, with the focus on ya- futzu and chutza — wide distribution to the farthest outskirts. While we do the work of yafutzu reaching chutza, I cannot wait for Moshiach to come, when I’ll be excited to go straight back to being a chozer and maniyach, remembering and writing down the Torah chadasha of new farbrengens,

Amen. May we be zoche b’karov ma- mash. Thank you Rabbi Jacobson! Rabbi Jacobson (left) at work in the Vaad's office 7 The Rebbe’s Ksav Yad

לימוד התורה

This ksav yad kodesh is the Rebbe’s written response to a bochur who wrote that his spiritual situation gives him no rest:

זאל ער זיך אין לימוד הנגלה והחסידות בשופי טובל )אותיות בטול( זיין וישכח רישו -hav [טובל]) You should immerse [toivel] yourself in abundant study of nigleh and Chassidus .and you will forget your [spiritual] poverty ;(בטול ing the same letters as

שליחות

After a visit abroad in 5726, Reb Yehoshua Pinson wrote a letter to the Rebbe, recounting the progress the Shluchim in Milan, Italy were making with the locals; the incredible growth in the educational institutions in ; and Lubavitch’s purchase of a building to accom- modate the growing student-body in London, England. Here is the Rebbe’s handwritten response:

ת"ח ת"ח על הבשו"ט. ]כדאי הי' שימסור כהנ"ל לאנ"ש שי' דכאן – למען ידעו שגם לאחרי הסתלקות כ"ק מו"ח [אדמו"ר יש מקומות אשר תלמידיו שי' פועלים ועושים בעניניו והולכים מחיל אל חיל Many thanks for the good reports. [It would be worthwhile to inform the above to the Anash here – so they should know that even after the passing of the Frierdiker Rebbe there are loca- tions where his students Sheyichyu perform and accomplish in his activities, and are intensi- fying from strength to strength].

8 Alef

Hatomim Mendel Gourarie • Oholei Yosef Yitzchok Detroit

9 Shiur Beis

Hatomim Meir Twersky • Lubavitch Mesivta, Chicago

10 Shiur Gimmel

Hatomim Yossi Kogan • Mesivta Lubavitch Toronto

Scanned by CamScanner 11 Rabbi Zalman Kaplan Menahel, Tzeirei Hashluchim Tzfas Recollections from Hanhalah

rowing up in Eretz Yisroel, When was the first time you “az dos is dos,” this is what it’s all Gwhat were your experiences came to the Rebbe? Can you tell about. There are really no words in regards to hiskashrus to the us about it? to describe that moment. Rebbe? My father would try each year What was it like to be at your My father was the Rebbe’s to bring a different child to the first Farbrengen? Were you able Shliach to Tzfas, so as children, Rebbe. I was zoche for my turn to understand? we knew that our life’s purpose to be l’kavod 10 Shevat 5750, I was young, and my Yiddish and the reason we lived where when I was 9 years old. I was wasn’t perfect, so it was difficult we lived was to fulfil the Rebbe’s young, and didn’t really know for me to understand, but the shlichus. We truly experienced what to expect, but I remember whole environment — and just the meaning of living with the the tremendous excitement I felt looking at the Rebbe — took me Rebbe — and the Rebbe being knowing that I was finally going over. On the one hand I felt a the center of our lives — al- to see the Rebbe with my own tzima’on to be able understand though we had not yet seen the eyes. All of my friends joined in more — I was looking forward Rebbe bigashmiyus. We would the excitement — in our com- to the time when I would finally enthusiastically listen to every munity, whenever someone went be able to stand at the farbrengen detail when someone came back to the Rebbe, it was a cause for and understand what the Rebbe from a trip to the Rebbe and excitement for everyone. was saying. On the other hand, I described what he had seen and What was it like to see the felt a tremendous feeling of hap- heard. Whenever the Rebbe piness to be together with all the spoke about a new mivtza, we Rebbe for the first time? My father positioned me at the Chassidim listening to the Rebbe would hear about it from our at the farbrengen. parents or teachers, and would doorway downstairs where the immediately act upon it. For Rebbe would enter the Shul, so One special moment at the example, I remember that when that I would be able to see the farbrengen was when the Rebbe the Rebbe said that everyone Rebbe as soon as he would walk asked that all the guests should should have a mashpia (on in. As soon as I saw the Rebbe I say l’echaim. I was given a Purim 5747), we as well - even immediately said She’hechiyanu, l’echaim, and it was a moment as little children - went and ap- and, if I remember correctly, the during which I felt a true per- pointed for ourselves a mashpia. Rebbe answered “Amen”. what sonal connection, as the Rebbe The hiskashrus of today’s genera- can I say ... How can I describe was addressing me directly. tion has much in common with that moment ... Even as a child it In those years, many children ours at that time. was tremendously overwhelming ... I remember feeling to myself would sit near the Rebbe on the

12 floor. Is that where you sat?

No, I didn’t sit with the children. I had some older cousins who were bochurim at the time, and I stood with them. However, by davening I had a very special place. The gabbai of 770, Reb Yehoshua Pinson, was a relative of mine, and my father arranged with him that I would be permitted to stand near the Rebbe. I was zoiche to stand right by the Rebbe’s bima dur- ing some of those tefillos.

That must have been very special. Can you describe the feeling? I was literally standing right be- Rabbi Kaplan and his father recieve a dollar from the Rebbe, 16 Shevat 5750 tween the Rebbe and the chazan. When the Rebbe would look at the Prime Minister, the President, and jumped on Reb Yossel Gutnik and chazan, he would be looking at me so on. gave him a huge hug. My father as well. That was really special. This After Mincha, my father and Reb wasn’t a very emotional man, but was another moment during which Yossel stood in Gan Eden Hatachton, here he was just overcome with I felt that despite there being thou- right outside the Rebbe’s room, and emotion by seeing the great nachas sands of chassidim, I had my own I had the zechus to stand with them ruach he had given the Rebbe. personal connection with the Rebbe. as well. When the Rebbe came back This struck me very powerfully. I re- This is something that is impor- from Mincha, they presented the alized that the greatest achievement tant for Bochurim to know today. album and the letters to the Rebbe, in a chossid’s life is when he knows Lubavitch is so big, and the Rebbe and the Rebbe started to say a few that he has brought the Rebbe na- is so great, but each one of us has words of brachos. It turned out to chas, for it is then that he knows that a very personal connection as well. be more like a short sicha, as the he’s fulfilling the purpose for which This was truly the reality then, just Rebbe spoke for approximately five he was created; he knows he’s on the as it is now. Each of us had mo- minutes. The Rebbe was meyaches right track. That derher guides me ments during which we knew that to the letters that they had brought, until today. the Rebbe was looking at us — indi- and it was clear to them that these vidually. letters had brought the Rebbe much Wow! That’s so special. Did you nachas. come to the Rebbe any other times Are there any other special zichro- before Gimmel Tammuz? I remember standing there and nos that stand out from this trip? looking at the Rebbe’s room — the Yes. I came for Tishrei 5754, shortly Yes. My father was very involved door was open — and in my mind before my Bar Mitzvah. This trip with the Lubavitcher mosdos in I was overwhelmed. I saw sefarim was a mixture of emotions as I’m Eretz Yisroel. In honor of Yud She- piled up everywhere, and I was con- sure you can imagine. vat, a special album of the activities templating what it means that this Did you get to see the Rebbe during of Lubavitch was prepared, and my is the personal room of the Nossi Tishrei? father had the zechus — together Hador. with his good friend Reb Yossel And then something occurred that It was arranged a few times dur- Gutnik — to present the album to affected me very powerfully then, ing Tishrei that groups of children the Rebbe. They also prepared a and does until today. As soon as the and bochurim would walk past the compilation of congratulatory letters Rebbe walked into his room and Rebbe’s room to say “gut yom tov” from various Israeli officials: the closed the door, my father literally to the Rebbe. Being that I was just 13 Rabbi Kaplan davening by the Rebbe's place, 17 Shevat 5750

under bar mitzva, I managed to pain. I walked by and wished the followed a full 40-minute maamar of get into both groups, so I had the Rebbe “gut yom tov” as usual, and the Rebbe. We prepared by learn- zechus to pass by the Rebbe quite a then exited the room. But as soon ing the farbrengen in advance, and few times that month. I remember as I walked outside, my emotions then we listened to the farbrengen. a very strong, serious look on the overwhelmed me, and I started I remember feeling that we are still Rebbe’s face, and it was clear to us crying. I was crying because I saw able to listen to a farbrengen, just as that the Rebbe was receiving much the pain the Rebbe had, and I was it was always done. nachas ruach from seeing us chil- crying because I merited — in this dren. The Rebbe looked at each one situation — to wish the Rebbe “gut I guess you can somewhat relate to of us until we left the room. yom tov”. bochurim today, then. That must have been very special to I think that with just a little effort personally wish the Rebbe “gut yom And then came Gimmel Tammuz all of this can be experienced today t o v ”. … as well. Before Gimmel Tammuz, I can tell you that those “gut yom Being a Bochur those first years af- experiencing the Rebbe came much tovs” from us children were unlike ter Gimmel Tammuz was very hard more naturally. But nowadays, any “gut yom tov” we’ve ever said. for us. We had a tremendous feel- specifically because being a chas- We said those words and we really ing of lama nigora. We were the first sid demands effort, it becomes very meant them. bochurim to grow up without being real and pnimiyusdik. But in truth, able to see the Rebbe. The last time I went by that Tishrei no words can justify nor explain the — which ended up being the last However, because of this, we real- situation in which we are. I hope time I was zoche to see the Rebbe — ized that we would need to put very soon we’ll be back with the was very emotional for me, even at in effort to be able to experience Rebbe again begashmiyus. such a young age. During that par- that which bochurim always ex- ticular time it was very noticeable to perienced. I remember the strong Amen! Thank you Rabbi Kaplan for me that the Rebbe was in physical satisfaction I had the first time I sharing your zichronos with us. 14 15 Dedicated by Shmuli & Mimi Kopfstein in honor of our Rebbe