B”H Erev Shabbat Devarim, Shabbat Chazon, 7th of Menachem Av, 5781; July 16th, 2021 977

weary and he left. Counting the Minutes The next day, R’ Yitzchok went to shul in the morning and was astonished to see The great Chassidic Rebbe, Reb Dov Ber the Malach still in the same position and of Radoshitz, was traveling across the mourning over the churban (the destruc- Polish countryside. Night fell, the roads tion of the Temple). The area around would soon be unsafe, and so he directed him was soaked with his tears. Every so his wagon driver to stop at the first Jew- often, the tzaddik raised his head and ish inn that they could find. asked in great anguish: In a short while, they had pulled up in “Is he still not here? Did he still not front of a small Jewish tavern. The own- come?” referring to Moshiach. er welcomed them in warmly, helped R’ Yitzchok realized that this was not a them with their bags, fed and watered tzaddik like other tzaddikim and his their horse, and prepared for Reb Dov nickname “Malach” suited him well. Ber a special room reserved for traveling rabbis and noblemen. After praying the evening prayer, Reb Dov Ber retired to We Don’t Want This Day his chambers and to bed, tired after the long day's journey. It was the practice in some Chassidic Yehoshua Wiseman, yehoshuawiseman.com courts to behave mischievously on Tisha Soon the house was quiet, the fields out- B’Av when the Kinot were recited in side still. Only the occasional barking of order to lighten up the atmosphere some- a lone farm dog broke the silence of the what. This was mainly expressed in the night. And yet . . . the clock on the wall - Lublin counts the time that is coming - tossing of burrs. it was ticking in the most amazing way; another minute closer to the final re- it wouldn't let Reb Dov Ber sleep. He demption, another second nearer the age The Rav of a town remonstrated with the tossed and turned in his bed. He got up of universal peace." Koznitzer Maggid, “Why don’t you re- and started pacing the room. Verses from buke the children for throwing burrs in the Books of the Prophets flooded his By Eliezer Shore, reprinted from the shul while Eicha is read on Tisha mind, songs of deliverance and hope. He nishmas.org B’Av, the day of the churban?” tried to lie down again, but the clock kept ticking, until he was forced to rise The Maggid replied, “What can I do from bed once more. Thus he spent the He’s Still Not Here? when even the children don’t want this night, pacing the room in anxious antici- day? Like them, I say to G-d: Hashem, if When R’ Yitzchok of Radvil heard about pation. You don’t like our behavior on this day, Rabbi Avrohom “the Malach,” (the An- take it away from us.” In the morning, the tired but exhilarated gel) son of the Maggid of Mezritch, he Rabbi approached the inn-keeper. yearned to see him and his service of Source: the above two stories from Beis "Where did you get that clock in the Hashem. Moshiach Magazine room?" he asked. On Erev Tisha B’Av, R’ Yitzchok went "That clock? Well, several years ago to the shul where the Malach davened. another Rabbi stayed in the room, Reb He saw everyone sitting on the ground Shabbat Times Yosef of Turchin, the son of that tzaddik, and reciting Eicha after the chazan who the Seer of Lublin. He came for only one sang the words with a sad tune. Candle Lighting Motzei Shabbat night, but the weather turned bad and he Suddenly, a frightening cry was heard. Jerusalem 1177 61:8 was forced to stay for several days. In R’ Yitzchok saw that it had issued from Tel Aviv 11:8 61:8 the end, he found that he did not have the mouth of the Malach who had put his enough money to pay the bill, so he cov- Haifa 1178 61:8 head between his knees and was sob- ered the difference by giving me that bing. Beer Sheva 11:8 61:8 clock. He said that he had inherited it New York 6181 817: from his father." The chazan and the congregation contin- ued saying Kinot until they finished and "Now I understand why I couldn't sleep," Chabad of Israel then went home. Only R’ Avrohom the said Reb Dov Ber. "Most clocks in the Rabbi Joseph I. Aronov Malach remained sitting in his place in world only cause depression, for they Published by M.L.S. Kfar Chabad (03) 3731777 the same position as before. count the hours that have passed -- an- Editor: Aharon Schmidt other day lost, another opportunity gone R’ Yitzchok continued to patiently watch [email protected] by. But the clock of the holy Seer of him, but when it was midnight he was Please guard the sanctity of this publication Preparing to Enter the Land It was now that they were exposed to the general and for the support of Torah-study Repetition of the Torah, for they needed an in particular. additional and special measure of spiritual In this way, one truly converts the material This week's Torah portion begins the fifth reinvigoration and inspiration, so that they would not become materialistic and de- (money and worldly possessions) into the book of the Torah, Devarim (Deut- spiritual. eronomy). based in the material world that lay ahead.

The Book of Devarim is also called Mish- ne Torah, meaning "Repetition of the To- Material to Spiritual Strength to Strength rah".

Moses began to repeat the Torah to the Transformation of the material to the spir- Jewish people on the first day of the He- Even more so, the whole purpose of their itual can be achieved by other means, also. brew month Shevat. coming into the Land was to instill holi- ness, to elevate and make more spiritual One can elevate and refine one's profes- The timing of the Repetition of the Torah the material aspects of daily life -- thereby sional environment by setting a personal was especially significant for the Jewish transforming the material into the spiritual. example of Torah-guided honesty and people in that it served to prepare them for good conduct. their entry into the Promised Land. This would be accomplished through the study of the Torah, worship of G-d, perfor- In all matters of sanctity, one must go from mance of His Divine precepts, giving char- strength to strength, constantly increasing Invigoration and Inspiration ity and doing acts of loving kindness. in holiness. The Divine purpose of our entry into the In this way, the blessing of "prosperity Holy Land -- to elevate the environment through charity" becomes realized, with G- During their years of wandering in the and transform the material into the spiritu- d giving material blessings in a growing desert, all their needs -- food, water, cloth- al -- is the very same purpose that every measure, enabling us to create more, and ing and shelter -- were miraculously pro- individual Jew has in his performance of still more, spirituality, at a reciprocal pace. vided for them by G-d. day-to-day activities.

Now the Jews were on the verge of leaving Rabbi Shneur Zalman, founder of Chabad Shabbos Table & From our Sages this place where for years they had had no Chasidut, explained: "The material things reprinted from LchaimWeekly.org - LYO / material cares. of Jews are spiritual; G-d gives us material NYC They were about to settle in a land and a things, that we may transform them into way of life which necessitated tilling, sow- spiritual." ing, reaping and all the other mundane G-d grants the Jew his livelihood and he, preoccupations of life. in turn, utilizes the money for mitzvot in Lashon Hara

During one personal yechidut (private audience), the Rebbe said to Reb Zalman Gurary regarding a certain chassid, “I These are the words which Moses spoke are, a thousand times (Deut. 1:11) have a drawer full of letters reporting to all of Israel (Deut. 1:1) lashon hara on this person, but I don’t The ultimate fulfillment of this blessing accept it.” The Book of Deuteronomy begins with will take place in the Messianic era, as Moses chastising the Children of Israel prophesized by Isaiah: "The smallest one Reb Binyomin Klein (one of the Rebbe’s for their transgressions in the wilderness. shall become a thousand, and the young- personal secretaries) once related: After When harsh words were necessary, Mo- est one a strong nation." At that time, the one of my visits to Eretz Yisroel, one of ses didn't refrain from using them. How- Jewish people, now numerically insignifi- the distinguished Chabad chassidim of ever, this was only when addressing "all cant, will multiply and become a thou- Kfar Chabad complained in a letter to the of Israel"; when speaking with G-d, Mo- sand times as great. Rebbe that I had not visited him, and he ses consistently defended the Jewish peo- took this as an offence. The truth was ple and acted as their advocate. This con- (Binian Ariel) that I had passed by his house and he wasn’t home, but nevertheless he took tains a lesson for all Jews, and in particu- lar, Jewish leaders. this personally, and complained to the These are the words which Moses spoke Rebbe about me. (Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev) to all Israel (Deut. 1:1) When the Rebbe saw that this bothered Comments Rashi: "Since these are words me deeply, the Rebbe said to me, “If I of reproof...he mentions them [only] in would believe everything that is written Hear the causes between your brothers to me, I would have to chase everyone and judge righteously (Deut. 1:16) allusion out of respect for Israel." Howev- er, we find that the very same sins Moses away from me!” From this we derive two important princi- only hints at here are explicitly detailed Then, to calm me further down, the Reb- ples: A judge must always listen atten- later on in the Torah. This apparent con- be said gently, “You are in good compa- tively to both sides of a dispute, no matter flict is resolved by the Midrash: As soon ny, since they also write all sorts of how long and rambling the arguments. as the Jews heard Moses' words of rebuke things about me…” Secondly, he must always make sure that they sincerely repented; when a person both sides are treated equally when hear- repents out of love, "his deliberate sins ing their cases. are transformed into mitzvot." Thus after Bechol Beisi Ne’eman Hu p. 313; the Jews repented Moses was free to enu- “Lashon Hara” and Halacha Corner (Ohr HaChaim) merate their sins, as by doing so he was reprinted from The Weekly Farbrengen adding to their merits. by Merkaz Anash, on-line at TheWeeklyFarbrengen.com May He make you so many more than you (Imrei Elimelech) Shabbat Chazon, Tisha B’Av and Redemption

Birth of Moshiach suit, which was even fancier than the first More Children and second suits, but he hid the suit away Our Sages explain that on Tisha B'Av in a closet. Once in a while, he would take Moshiach is born. According to the Ari- the suit out of its hiding place and show zal, it is on the afternoon of Tisha B'Av his son the beautiful garment. The son After his father’s passing in 1979, Rabbi that Moshiach is "born." This does not began to long for the suit and began to Avrohom Yaakov Friedman ascended to refer to his actual birth, because Moshiach appreciate the gift. the leadership of the Sadigura Hasidic will not be an infant when he redeems our dynasty, based in Israel. people, but rather to a strengthening of his On Shabbat Chazon, Hashem gives every One of the issues on his mind at the time influence. Jew a glimpse of the Third Beit Hamik- dash so we should long for it and the geu- was the slow population growth in Israel, For our Sages refer to a birthday as a day lah shleima (complete redemption). which the government seemed to be en- when mazalo gover, "the spiritual source couraging by actively promoting family of one's soul shines powerfully." On the Everyone’s Responsibility planning. day when Moshiach's spiritual source is Eager to discuss the problem, Rabbi powerfully revealed, there is a unique The Rebbe emphasized that since today Friedman came to visit the Rebbe on potential for the Redemption to come. we have "passed all the deadlines,” [for Moshiach’s coming] it is now the respon- June 18th, 1980. sibility of every individual, including chil- Shabbat Chazon Part of the difficulty, he told the Rebbe, dren, to bring the geula. Since every Jew was social stigma. The Shabbat before Tisha B’Av is re- has within him a spark of Moshiach, he ferred to as Shabbat Chazon, when we can bring the geula upon the world “The doctors make a mockery of fami- read the Haftorah called, “The Vision of through his Torah and mitzvot. This ap- lies who have many children,” he said. Yeshayahu.” It is said that, on this Shab- plies especially to women, just as when bat, every Jew is given a vision of the our forefathers left Mitzrayim. Just one It seemed ironic that the Israeli govern- Third Beit Hamikdash. action, speech or thought, can tip the scale ment was willing to spend thousands of and bring salvation for the entire world. dollars on each immigrant, yet actively Levi Yitzchok of Bereditchev described discouraged its citizens from having the significance of this vision in a parable Among the specific mitzvot to hasten the more than a few children. about a king who expressed his affection geula which the Rebbe mentioned at dif- for his son by ordering his tailors to make ferent times were: learning Mishnayot, “The government needs to be encour- the finest suit for him. However, he did learning Talmud Yerushalmi, generating aged to give a greater allowance for each not appreciate this gift, and ruined the suit chiddushim (novel Torah ideas), giving child that is born,” the Rebbe replied. very soon after it was given to him. The tzedaka, practicing ahavat Yisroel, This allowance should be given to all king decided to make another suit for his spreading Judaism, kashrut, kedusha and segments of the society and religions. son to replace the first one. However, this tzniut, learning and spreading Chassidus, “They are also commanded [to have chil- suit suffered the same fate as the first one, and more. and was also ruined. dren],” the Rebbe said, quoting the verse reprinted from The Weekly Farbrengen by (Isaiah 45:18): “For so said the L-rd, the The king devised a plan to help his son Merkaz Anash, on-line at TheWeeklyFar- Creator of heaven . . . Who formed the appreciate the fine gifts his father wanted brengen.com earth and made it . . . did not create it for to give him. He had the tailors make a a waste. He formed it to be inhabited.” Taken aback, Rabbi Friedman asked why the Israeli government should encourage non-Jews to have children.

It is the Jews’ responsibility, the Rebbe Adding Joy During the Nine Days said, to make sure that non-Jews are The Rebbe encouraged the making of siyumin (finishing a volume of Talmud) on each aware of and fulfill their Torah obliga- of the Nine Days to increase in joy in a permissible way. Since the effects of the 9th tions. By discouraging births, the gov- of Av last until the 15th of Av, the siyumim should continue through the 15th of Av. ernment was discouraging them from fulfilling the G-d-given command of, “Through arranging a ‘completion’ (siyum) in Torah,” the Rebbe explains, “we cause “He formed it to be inhabited.” a ‘completion’ within all other matters in the world, including and most importantly, the completion of Exile. In fact, the appropriate term truly is the completion of Exile and not its nullification, for we are referring to the [positive] conclusion and complete- Hashem, the By Dovid Zaklikowski for COLlive and]- א - ness of the Exile itself, which is wrought by drawing the Alef -Hasidic Archives. Reprinted from COL - גולה - Master (Aluf) of the Universe] into the exile. We thus transform Exile (Golah Adapted from “Laws of the Nine Days”, by Rav live.com ”.(גאולה - into Redemption, Geula Yosef Yeshaya Braun, shlita, member of the Badatz of Crown Heights. Question: A while back you wrote that a Kfar Chabad English Mesivta marriage is ordained by Divine Provi- dence. Would you please discuss this state- ment in the context of divorce. How does one Rabbi Dovid Barber, together with a view the divorce and possible remarriage in team of English speaking mashpiim this context? and magidei shiurim, are opening a new mesivta located in the heart of Answer: In the column referenced, it is Kfar Chabad for the upcoming 5781- written: “Each marriage is ordained by Divine 82 learning year. In addition, there will be regular Providence. Marriage is the unification of two swimming and bicycles for each stu- half souls into one complete soul...” This mesivta aims to serve an ever dent for his own convenience, whether growing need for Chabad English- for going to the mikva in the morning, It is written in the Zohar, “Rebbe Shimon speaking Olim, who are looking for a going to the store, or just biking says, the marriage of man and woman is chasiddishe mesivta with an interac- around the Kfar during breaks. called ‘echad’ (one), the place where the tive learning style. The mesivta will woman resides is called ‘echad’. What is the The goal of the yeshiva is the to nur- also cater to students from overseas reason? A man without a woman is called looking for this type of yeshivah. ture each student’s interest in learn- ing; to help them develop a geshmak ‘half a body’, and a half is not one. When the The yeshiva is in a two story villa in learning Torah by teaching them two halves are joined as one, one body is with a large porch. There will be a necessary skills; to guide each student formed. Then it is called ‘echad’.” Accor- warm, heimishe atmosphere, where individually in their personal growth; ding to the Zohar, husband and wife are in the students can feel at home. to help them become self motivated; essence one soul, each half enclothed in a and to help each student dedicate him- separate body. Through marriage the two self to his unique and individual halves become one complete soul. Therefore, shlichut (mission in this world). how can a divorce take place when the Cooking Tip of the Week husband and wife are one soul? So too, in The staff: Rabbi Dovid Barber, this context, what is the meaning of a second Breaking the Fast: Although it Menahel Ruchni; Rabbi Zalman Tor- marriage; was their a lack of oneness in either enhein, Maggid Shiur Nigleh; Rabbi might be hard, try not to eat an the first or second marriage? entire day’s worth of calories in Daniel Cohen, Mashpia; Rabbi Yosef one meal when you finish your Farkash, Mashpia and Rabbi Nochum It is written (see Sefer Chasidim) that there fast. Overeating after the fast can Rabiski, Mashgiach. exists the possibility that two people can cause stomach discomfort. marry that are not spiritually one soul. As a Adapted from Chabadinfo.com result, there is an external physical connection, not an inner soul connection. With such marriages it is possible that they Halacha Corner – Torah Study on Tisha b’Av will only last a short time and divorce. It is then possible that the man and woman will Our Sages prohibited studying most areas of Torah on Tisha b’Av since To- marry the appropriate person with whom they rah “gladdens the heart” and it can distract a person from mourning. will be one soul. It is customary to refrain starting from midday on erev Tisha b’Av. One may Although it is decreed by Divine Providence learn sections of Torah that don’t cause delight. This includes the halachot of that two souls will be complimentary, a Tisha b’Av or mourning or sections of Gemara that discuss the churban person may not merit to marry his other half (destruction of the Temple) or laws of mourning. Even these sections should for different possible reasons: 1. a decree not be studied in depth (pilpul). Chassidus on the theme of Tisha b’Av may from Above; 2. a transgression of the man or be studied, even if it veers into other topics, though some preclude in-depth woman, 3. another person prays to marry so study. and so even though it is not his other half; and Torah sections that are part of the daily davening may be recited. The Mish- other reasons. (see HaBayit HaYehudi, nayot recited by mourners after Maariv and Shacharit should be from Moed HaRav Yosef Karasik, pgs. 54-55 and more.) Katan (or Taanit) without the additional passage by Rabbi Chananya ben While the above may help to shed light on Akashya. After midday, when the level of mourning decreases, one may learn his daily morning studies, such as chitat. The regular Mishnayot by divorce and remarriage, all possible efforts mourners may also be recited. Rambam study was instituted from the outset should be made to avoid the dissolution of a to be studied after Tisha b’Av. When Tisha B’av falls on Shabbat or Sunday, Jewish home. As it says in Tractate Gittin the same learning restrictions apply from midday on Shabbat. 90B, “one who divorces his wife, even the very altar sheds tears because of him.” The Rebbe emphasized that Tisha b’Av is not exempt from Torah study and Divorce should only be with the agreement of the constant obligation to study Torah remains; it’s just that the obligation a competent Rav. must be fulfilled with the permitted subjects. Aharon Schmidt; marriage, family & individual Adapted from Rav Chaim Hillel Raskin coaching; [email protected]