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IMPORTANT TO CLEAR UP MISUNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT CHABAD The Rebbe’s Letter A DAILY DOSE OF MOSHIACH Moshiach & Geula
LISTEN TO THE STORY – EVEN A 100 TIMES! (CONT.) Farbrengen with Rabbi Leibel Groner | Nosson Avrohom
HISKASHRUS: FEEL IT AND ACT UPON IT! Thought | Rabbi Menachem Mendel Gluckowsky
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6 TAMMUZ: THE TORAH OF PROPHECY IN THE WISDOM OF FLESH AND BLOOD The departure from Heaven (“a new Torah will go forth from Me”) to come down into the world is A DAILY DOSE OF emphasized by the revelation of “a new Torah” through Melech HaMoshiach. For together with the fact that “he is a great prophet,” he will also “possess wisdom…greater MOSHIACH than Shlomo (“the wisest of all men”)…and therefore, he will teach the entire nation.” In other words, the new Torah that will be revealed through him in a & GEULA: manner of prophecy will be drawn down and clothed within even mortal intellect. 6-12 TAMMUZ (Kuntres “Torah Chadasha M’Iti Teitzei” 5751) 7 TAMMUZ: MOSHIACH WILL EXPLAIN Selected daily pearls of wisdom from the THE INNOVATIONS OF TORAH TO THE SANHEDRIN IN THE GREAT RABBINICAL Rebbe MH”M on Moshiach and Geula. COURT IN YERUSHALAYIM Collected and arranged by Rabbi Pinchas Maman Regarding the “new Torah” that Translated by Michoel Leib Dobry cannot be revealed through an experienced scholar who learns according to the general principles of Torah, except through G-d–– Melech HaMoshiach (who “possesses wisdom…greater than Shlomo”) will explain and teach this new Torah (according to the general principles of Torah) in “the Great Rabbinical Court in Yerushalayim,” in a manner appropriate to the understanding and comprehension of the intellect of the Sanhedrin. (Kuntres “Torah Chadasha M’Iti Teitzei” 5751)
8 TAMMUZ: THE LETTER “ALEF” DISTINGUISHES BETWEEN “GOLA” (EXILE) AND “GEULA” (REDEMPTION) [A] At the coming of Moshiach, the “gola” (exile) will be turned into “geula” (redemption) by inserting the letter Alef into “gola.” The letter Alef has three interpretations, indicating three levels in the G-dly revelation that will be in the future. Firstly, Alef is derived from “aluf” (chief, master). At the Future Redemption, there will be revealed how G-d is the Master of the World. That is, the power of the active within the passive will be revealed, the revelation of G-dliness within and in approximation to the world. (Shabbos Parshas Emor 5751)
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& 9 TAMMUZ: THE LETTER “ALEF” DISTINGUISHES BETWEEN serve to cut short the days of man ch”v, as is written “GOLA” (EXILE) AND “GEULA” (REDEMPTION) [B] (Yeshayahu 2:4): “And they will beat their swords into The second interpretation: Alef derives from “ulpana” plowshares, etc.” Furthermore, the concept of the (study), e.g., “I will teach you wisdom” (Iyov 33:33). opposite of life will be nullified, and as is written in In the Future to Come, there will be the revelation of Midrash (Tanchuma, end of Parshas Yisro): Years are Torah, regarding which it is said (Midrash T’hillim 90:4), shortened through the evil inclination, but in the “Torah preceded the world two thousand years” – a Future to Come, “death will be swallowed forever, and revelation of G-dliness that is higher than the world, yet it G-d will wipe away the tears from every face.” has a certain value in proportion to the world, revealed (Shabbos Parshas VaYechi 5752) specifically through the Torah that preceded the world. 12 TAMMUZ – BIRTHDAY AND HOLIDAY OF REDEMPTION (Shabbos Parshas Emor 5751) OF THE REBBE RAYATZ: THE FINAL STAGE OF PREPARATION FOR THE TRUE AND COMPLETE REDEMPTION In the Future to Come, the wonders of It is known that as a result of the imprisonment and the redemption Torah will be revealed, the revelation of of my revered teacher and father- in-law, the Rebbe, on Yud-Beis – the inner teachings of Torah, which is Yud-Gimmel Tammuz (5687), he arrived in the United States, in the wondrous and distinct unto itself – the lower half of the globe, where he established his place of residence revelation of the Essence and Being of and avoda during his last ten years G-d, may He be blessed. in this world (until 5710). Since all matters (and especially matters connected to the nasi) are 10 TAMMUZ: THE LETTER “ALEF” DISTINGUISHES BETWEEN by Divine Providence, it is understood that the reason “GOLA” (EXILE) AND “GEULA” (REDEMPTION) [C] for his arrival in the lower half of the globe…is that it The third interpretation: Alef has the same letters as was the Divine plan that the place of his residence and “peleh” (wonder). In the Future to Come, the wonders of his avoda (in the final years) will be in the lower half of Torah will be revealed, the revelation of the inner the globe… teachings of Torah, which is wondrous and distinct unto Furthermore, since this generation is the last itself – the revelation of the Essence and Being of G-d, generation of the Exile and the first generation of the may He be blessed. Redemption, his redemption is the final stage of redemption, the preparation for the True and Complete (Shabbos Parshas Emor 5751) Redemption. 11 TAMMUZ: ETERNAL LIFE IN THE FUTURE TO COME (Shabbos Parshas Korach 5749) Then (in the days of Moshiach) iron will no longer
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on the desk until the next morning anyway. The man had no choice but to go home. As he prepared his seder table, someone knocked at the door. To his surprise there was the man for whom he had asked for the matza. Due to certain family matters, the LISTEN TO person had to stay in New York for Pesach. “Now I understand what the Rebbe meant when he said you would get the matza tonight!” THE STORY – The Rebbe always left over some of the afikoman. One day in the middle of the summer the Rebbe told me, “There on the bottom of the bookcase is the afikoman. Take EVEN A 100 a piece and wrap it up.” The Rebbe gave me an address in Bombay, India and said I should send the matza by express mail. He said, “After you send it, call the family TIMES! and tell them, since I received a letter from them that their mother is From a farbrengen with Rabbi Leibel Groner, the Rebbe’s secretary very sick and the doctors don’t Prepared for publication by Nosson Avrohom know how to help her, I sent the afikoman. When it comes, they should give her a bit of it and since Why should we tell and listen to stories matza is ‘food of faith’ and ‘food of healing,’ Hashem will surely send about tzaddikim? How do you instill her a refua shleima.” fear of Heaven in children? Why do we I called the family in India and told the daughter what the Rebbe tell stories on Motzaei Shabbos? * told me to say. Two weeks later she called and said that when they Stories of the Rebbe. * Part 2 of 2 received the package, they gave it to their mother and she immediately improved. I encouraged her to [Continued from last issue] seder.” continue doing so and a day or two Stories of Chassidim, all the I stood on the side and saw that later she regained consciousness more so, stories about the Rebbe, the man was surprised, but the and within a short time she had are a segula for yiras Shamayim. Rebbe repeated, “Surely you will recovered. There was a Chassid who had to see to it that he receives the matza Another story. A Chassid from be with his family outside of New tonight.” The man wanted to ask Crown Heights called me and said York every Pesach, and every year a the Rebbe about this, but there was he urgently needed a yechidus and relative would ask for matza for no time. He packed the matza and it could not be postponed. I said he him. One year, when it was this rushed to the post office, but the should come Thursday night, and man’s turn, the Rebbe gave him guard said the branch was closed. he arrived on Thursday night along matza for himself and for that other He asked the guard to let him in with his wife. They were in the Chassid, and the Rebbe added the anyway since it was an urgent Rebbe’s room for fifteen minutes surprising instruction, “Surely you matter. The guard said that even if and then left. will try to see to it that he receives he let him in, there was no one to A few days later he called and the matza tonight for the first help him, and that it would remain
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& said, “I will tell why it was urgent. “Before we went in, we and said, ‘Be well, and good news.’ My wife has been depressed for a described the situation in writing. “Why am I calling now? Tell the few months. We tried treating her in During the yechidus, the Rebbe Rebbe that the night we returned various ways by doctors and said, ‘You see down there, there is a from the yechidus, we saw an psychiatrists and with different bottle of wine that I use for immediate improvement, but I medications, but nothing helped. I Kiddush on Shabbos. There is also didn’t know whether it was thought she might cause herself a cup which I use for Kiddush. temporary, having been in the harm, and knew I had to see the Bring me the bottle and the cup.’ Rebbe’s presence, or whether it Rebbe and get his advice and “I did so and placed them on the would be ongoing. After a few days, bracha. desk. The Rebbe told me to pour I see that the Rebbe eliminated the wine into the cup, and I filled up entire situation as though it never the cup. Then the Rebbe told my happened.” The Rebbe said wife, ‘Take the cup and say the The Rebbe said that sometimes bracha out loud so I can answer he had to use “Poilisher” methods that sometimes he amen, and then drink it.’ She said (referring to overt miracles). When the bracha, the Rebbe answered Dr. Seligson went to the Rebbe had to use amen, and she drank a few drops. Erev Pesach to get matza, the Rebbe “The Rebbe told her, ‘No, you gave him a whole one and then “Poilisher” have to drink the entire cup. Not all added some broken pieces and said methods (referring at once; I have time. Drink a little he should grind it up and use it as now and then some more in a few medication. It helped for a refua to overt miracles) minutes.’ It took about fifteen shleima. minutes until she finished the entire We saw that the Rebbe used all to help people. cup and then the Rebbe blessed us possible ways to help people, and
#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB some ways were seemingly not the Out of respect for his mother, come Thursday night and I would ways of Chabad, but in order to the bachur did not react, but when try to get them in to see the Rebbe. help someone the Rebbe utilized she left the zal, his friends went That’s what happened, and they these ways too. over to her and said, “We don’t went in to see the Rebbe while There was a couple that was not understand. You sent your son to some bachurim waited outside, Lubavitch who had a 15-year-old Lubavitch and you know that curious about how it would work son. Instead of sending him to their someone who comes to Lubavitch out. own type of school, they sent him becomes a Chassid. By us, the main After fifteen minutes, the parents to 770. When he was of thing is the Rebbe. If you have came out and the mother said she marriageable age, shidduchim reasons why the girl is not suitable, no longer opposed the shidduch. suggestions were proposed. He tell the Rebbe. He will hear what One of the bachurim dared to ask asked the Rebbe and the other side you have to say and maybe agree…” her, “We don’t understand. The did as well, and they received the I know about this since they other day you slapped your son in Rebbe’s consent to meet. At that came in right afterwards and told public and now, after fifteen point, the bachur told his parents the whole story. This was a Tuesday minutes, you changed your mind?!” that he had the Rebbe’s consent to and I told the bachur’s father to The mother said, “When we meet the girl. His parents wanted to check the girl out and after a few days his THE REBBE’S CUSTOMS ON SHABBOS mother said that the girl was not Rabbi Groner shared some of the Rebbe’s customs on Shabbos suitable. The bachur insisted, “But I regarding eating. In the writings of the Arizal it says that we draw down got the Rebbe’s haskama!” more holiness during the Shabbos meals than during the t’fillos. To The parents and bachur argued some degree, we saw this by the Rebbe during the Shabbos meals. about this and in the meantime, the During the week, the Rebbe did not wash and did not eat meat or couple met and decided they chicken. If the Rebbe ate, it was fish. Every day, during the day, the wanted to marry. They wrote to the Rebbe hardly ate. After Shacharis we brought the Rebbe a cup of tea Rebbe asking for his consent and with cake and did the same after Mincha. The only time the Rebbe ate bracha. The bachur added that his a meal was in the evening. parents opposed the shidduch but After 5748, when the Rebbe no longer went home but remained in they wanted to marry and they were his room, I would bring in supper. After the Rebbe finished eating he asking the Rebbe what to do. would ring a bell and I would come in and clear everything away. One The Rebbe said the shidduch night, the Rebbe rang and I went in and saw that the Rebbe had hardly should be in a good and auspicious eaten any of the fish. time. I explained that the Rama I thought that the Rebbe hadn’t finished eating and maybe he (commentary on the Shulchan wanted something else, so I waited to make sure he didn’t want to eat Aruch) paskens that when it comes more and was busy with something else. The Rebbe asked me why I to where to learn and who to marry, was waiting and I said maybe the Rebbe wanted to finish something. you do not need your parents’ The Rebbe said he had finished eating. I dared to comment, “The consent. Rebbe ate only a little,” and the Rebbe said, “Today I ate a lot.” The bachur called his parents That’s the way it was every day, but Friday night the Rebbe washed and said, “We have the Rebbe’s and ate more than a k’zayis of challa. He ate all the fish and soup, consent and we are getting meat, and fruit compote. Shabbos afternoon, when there was a married.” The parents were furious farbrengen after Mincha, the Rebbe did not eat the Shabbos meal. and said they would not attend the During the summer, when the farbrengen finished at five and sunset is wedding, nor would any of his at eight, sometimes the Rebbe did not go and eat. siblings or any of the extended When I saw this happening a few times, I called the Rebbetzin and family and he would get no asked whether we should prepare a meal in 770 and if the Rebbe would financial help from them. stay in 770 we could serve the meal there. The Rebbetzin agreed. The A week later, the mother came next Shabbos, when I saw that the Rebbe was staying in 770, I brought to 770 and entered the zal (study him the meal we had prepared. The Rebbe asked, “What’s this?” and I hall). She went right over to her said that it was the Rebbe’s meal. The Rebbe instructed me to leave it son and smacked him and said, for him and he ate, though very little, a k’zayis of challa, etc. “You are not marrying her!”
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& went in and explained why the shidduch was not suitable for our son, the Rebbe said, ‘When a bachur and girl ask me about a shidduch, before I answer them I look in all the sifrei shidduchim up Above. When I see that there is no obstacle, I give my consent. “‘When they wrote me asking whether they should meet, I checked all the s’farim and saw no obstacle to their meeting. When I received another letter in which your son said you opposed the match, I thought perhaps I had missed some book where it was written that it wasn’t a good match. I went over all the s’farim again and didn’t see any opposition, so I gave my bracha.’ “If a tzaddik can go up Above and see all the sifrei shidduchim and tell us that he checked them and there is no Heavenly opposition, who are we to oppose it?” As I said earlier, with the Rebbe it’s all done modestly and the Rebbe was very particular about this. When the Rebbe told the couple that he goes up and checks the sifrei shidduchim, this is highly unusual for him. The Rebbe revealed a bit of his kochos and this was in order to do a favor to the family so there wouldn’t be a falling out. In 5711 or 5712, the Rebbe appointed Rabbi Shmuel Zalmanov and Rabbi Zalman Gurary to what was then called the Vaad Chabad. Every Sunday they were given instructions about certain matters and they also reported about what had happened the week prior. One Sunday I saw that R’ Zalman Gurary left the Rebbe’s room shaken up. I asked him what happened and he said, “Give me a chair before I collapse.” R’ Shmuel explained, “When we went in, before we began speaking, the Rebbe said, ‘Today I was at the Ohel and my father-in-law told me that since R’ Shmuel in. He went in with all his papers and pens, and after Zalmanov and R’ Zalman Gurary would be coming and only ten minutes he came out. He told us, “I was with I have a message to convey to them, I ask you to be the the Rebbe a week ago to write letters and when the shliach to give them the message so that they know…’“ Rebbe finished dictating, I stood near the door and did This was the first time that the Rebbe revealed that not leave. The Rebbe said, ‘Moshe Leib, you cannot go he conversed with his father-in-law after the latter’s home because your wife sent in a letter and she told passing. R’ Zalman asked the Rebbe, “And what else you not to come home without an answer. If you were did the Rebbe say?” to which the Rebbe answered, to go home and open the door, she would be standing what you need to know, I tell you; what you don’t need there and you would tell her that I still had not gone to to know, I don’t have to tell you. my father-in-law and I cannot answer. But tonight – My wife’s uncle, R’ Moshe Leib Rodstein, was the smiled the Rebbe – you can go home without any secretary of the Rebbe Rayatz. After the Rebbe Rayatz’s problem, since I was at the Ohel today. I conveyed passing on Yud Shvat, the Rebbe asked him whether he your wife’s question and the answer is negative, she would be staying on as secretary, and he agreed to do should not do what she asked about doing.’” so. Many times after the Rebbe returned from the Ohel, These were rare occasions in which the Rebbe he would ask me to enter his room because he wanted revealed things like these. Although he seldom referred to dictate letters. We understood that the Rebbe had to it, it certainly took place more often, as the Rebbe received answers at the Ohel and he needed to write Rayatz said, “Every time I want to see my father (the them. Rebbe Rashab), I see him, and every time he wants to One night the Rebbe asked R’ Moshe Leib to come see me, he sees me.”
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It was well into the night at the farbrengen of Motzaei Shavuos 5724. Towards the end of the farbrengen, the Rebbe began to speak about Russian Jewry, then still behind the Iron Curtain, and he opened with blessings uttered with great emotion. When the Rebbe concluded, he said “L’chaim.” Those in attendance were rather sleepy, as they were after an intense two-day holiday, with all its meaning and HISKASHRUS: relevance. Suddenly, the Rebbe appeared white, trembling, as he moved his chair from the table. He grabbed several napkins from the table and FEEL IT AND began to speak with tremendous heartfelt pain: “What are the farbrengens and all these sichos worth if when someone blesses the Jews of Russia, people don’t respond ACT UPON IT! appropriately? When we give a bracha to Russian Jewry, this is an By Rabbi Menachem Mendel Gluckowsky, Rav, Chabad Community, auspicious time for the salvation of Rechovot; Deputy Secretary, Chabad Rabbinical Court In Eretz HaKodesh G-d in the wink of an eye. If they Translated By Michoel Leib Dobry would say “L’chaim” as they should, millions of Jews would be freed from Russia.” Thus, chassidim We must use our head and feel with our understood that the moment of “an auspicious time” had been wasted. heart in order to know what the Rebbe The participants at the wants, and this obligates us all the farbrengen were deeply shocked, both by the Rebbe’s manner and his more. The Rebbe doesn’t lead us by the appearance. I heard from people who were there that this was a hand in every detail. He leaves us room frightening sight. There were some who started singing a niggun. It to set the guidelines. We have to know took about a minute, a minute and a half, until people began to see the how to move in the direction of the Rebbe coming back to himself… Rebbe’s position in order to know what A few days later, Rabbi Shmuel Chefer traveled to France, as per the the Rebbe wants. This is no simple Rebbe’s explicit instructions. After he had completed his affairs there, avoda. It demands that we learn he had about eighteen hours until his return flight back to Eretz everything the Rebbe has said and Yisroel. He asked if he could visit the Chabad yeshiva in Brunoy, contemplate upon it again and again. * where he wanted to meet the Excerpts from a chassidic farbrengen. outstanding mashpia, R. Nissan Nemenov. He traveled from Yerres to Brunoy, and went in to speak
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& with R. Nissan. to develop this type of feeling where we have to feel R. Nissan asked what had happened with the Rebbe such matters in the way the Rebbe wants. on Shavuos. (This was not as things are today, when We recently learned in Parshas Shlach how G-d said everyone is constantly connected through the latest to Moshe, “Send for yourself men,” and Rashi explains, technologies. I remember that when I learned in Brunoy, “For yourself – according to your own understanding.” there was one telephone in the yeshiva that worked only The Rebbe asks: Why does Torah leave this matter with great difficulty. We would be in touch with our “according to your own understanding”? It doesn’t parents via written correspondence or we would send seem that this is a praiseworthy moment for Moshe tape recordings of ourselves speaking.) Rabbeinu that he sent the spies on his own volition, Rabbi Chefer began to tell R. particularly in light of the Nissan what occurred at the damage caused as a result! farbrengen and particularly The Rebbe explains that the what happened at its instruction of “Send for conclusion. He added by yourself – according to your telling how people saw that own understanding” has the lost opportunity had relevance to the overall affected the Rebbe, to the subject of shlichus. When point of harming his health. the m’shaleiach sends a Then, he asked R. Nissan: shliach, he wants him to do Why did the Rebbe take so things “according to your much to heart the fact that own understanding.” those in attendance didn’t feel The Rebbe leaves us the auspiciousness of the room to set the guidelines – moment? We are, after all, the broad-mindedness to merely chassidim – and how understand for ourselves are chassidim to know when what we are supposed to do. there’s “an auspicious time” The Rebbe provides us with Above? the general direction for the R. Nissan listened, shlichus and its objective, pondered for a moment, and but what to do on a daily said: “If we were properly basis in every detail – he connected to the Rebbe, we leaves that to the shliach to should be feeling something.” do “according to [his] own To know that this is an understanding.” auspicious time Above – no. The Rebbe discusses in But if you’re connected one of his sichos about one enough, then you definitely of the shluchim sent by the can feel something.” Rebbe Rayatz. The shliach We can prove this point in went into the Rebbe Rayatz the physical realm as well, and began to “nudge” him when parents are at one end with a variety of questions of the earth and something about his intended shlichus. happens to their children vast He asked him questions on distances away, they matters down to the very last nevertheless feel that something detail: what to do, how to act, has happened. The essential connection brings out this what to say, what not to say. Yet, while the Rebbe feeling, even without any clear information. Rayatz responded to all his questions, he said This is what hurt the Rebbe at this farbrengen: afterwards that this shliach acted like a spoiled only “Where are the people who are connected to me, those child who had to be led by the hand on everything and who are devoted to me? Why don’t they feel something anything. of the very essence of this matter?” In contrast, we find regarding Avrohom Avinu. This obligates all of us. When I heard this story from G-d told Avrohom Avinu to take Yitzchak to be R. Shmuel Chefer, I said to myself that this obligates us sacrificed, “Take your son, your only son.” He didn’t
#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB tell him all the details – whether deal with the carrying out part, but carry out and to channel ourselves to take a donkey or a horse, when they have no time to think about towards what the Rebbe wants. We exactly to go out on his shlichus… the “supernal meaning”; they must use our head and feel with our These matters He left to Avrohom simply want to do what the Rebbe heart in order to know what the Avinu to do according to his own wants them to do. Rebbe wants, and this obligates us understanding. “And Avrohom In 5738-9, after the heart all the more. The Rebbe doesn’t lead rose early in the morning” – he attack, the Rebbe would farbreng us by the hand in every detail. He decided this on his own, as with on Motzaei Shabbos through a leaves us room to set the guidelines. all the other details. microphone. The sicha was carried We have to know how to move in This is the whole point of a via live broadcast to Eretz the direction of the Rebbe’s position shliach: to receive a general HaKodesh at around two or three in order to know what the Rebbe mission with a general objective, o’clock in the morning. Once I was wants. This is no simple avoda. It but the details to the mission – in Nachlat Har Chabad when a demands that we learn everything how, when, and what – must be sicha broadcast took place. We the Rebbe has said and contemplate done “according to your own went out from the farbrengen at upon it again and again. understanding.” The shliach has to around half past seven in the One of the most important things use his head and explore all morning. Just as we were leaving, to the Rebbe is Ahavas Yisroel, both possibilities on how to fulfill the a “chassidishe chevraman” met his in the general and more personal shlichus. This is what the Rebbe friend who was a “melamed” on sense. When we go through the wants: you are given a shlichus, a his way to teach. Rebbe’s correspondence, we can see task, and you must use your “Nu,” asked the melamed, the Ahavas Yisroel there – how the knowledge, your common sense, “what practical instructions were Rebbe writes to every Jew, how he and your abilities in order to carry issued at the farbrengen that I can keeps in touch with them, the honor out the shlichus in the best tell my students?” and respect the Rebbe conveys to possible way. The “chevraman” opened his every Jew. He writes how he As a result, this obligates us eyes wide. “What? You weren’t at couldn’t respond earlier due to his even more, for when we go to the broadcast? Are you normal?” many obligations…and that it’s been fulfill the mission that the Rebbe The melamed explained with the a long time since I last heard from gave us, as R. Nissan said, this utmost sincerity that if he would you…I was happy to hear from depends largely upon how much have gone to the broadcast, he you… When we read what is written we are connected to the Rebbe, would have to wake up at three there, we see the care and attention because we must use our o’clock in the morning and go that the Rebbe gives people. It’s knowledge to move things in the straight from there to class. simply unbelievable. direction he wants, fulfilling the However, there is a clear halacha In our community in Rechovot, will of the Rebbe. in Shulchan Aruch that a there’s a family where the mother This is the meaning of the melamed must sleep well in order told me the following story: She bracha that chassidim always wish not to get angry at his students, heard about the Rebbe somewhere, one another at a chassidic and thus he would be doing the and she decided that he was an farbrengen – “may we merit to go work of G-d deceitfully. The elderly Jew who was bored in life, in the direction the Rebbe wants “chevraman” negated his words and she would write to him so he from us.” Afterwards, however, with a scoffing “Eeeeeh.” Only wouldn’t be bored – something like they add not only to take proper after much pleading and urging did a “pen pal.” She had no idea who aim, but to carry out what the he agree to tell the melamed the the Rebbe was, but she understood Rebbe wants from us. practical instructions from the that he was a wise man, and she There are some “experts” who farbrengen. could always ask him all types of know the inner meaning to the I stood there and listened on questions. In fact, she would write a Rebbe’s intentions. They can tell the side, as I thought to myself: letter and she would receive a reply. you from today until tomorrow Here’s someone who is constantly She then answered him, and the everything that the Rebbe meant. involved with “inner meaning” Rebbe would answer back – and so But when it comes to putting this facing someone involved with it went. She received an answer to into practice – s’iz shvache practical execution… every letter she wrote. maases (things don’t go so The truth of the matter is, One day, she wrote to the Rebbe smoothly)… There are others who however, that we need both to that she wanted to start fulfilling
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& mitzvos, and the Rebbe replied that on the other side of town, far from her like a bolt of lightning: This is she should start by giving maaser the Chabad institutions. Some time the fourth leg! Educating our from all money that she earned. This later, they were blessed with another children! The Rebbe didn’t say young woman was in regular contact child, a son, but they soon learned anything about it to me then, with a young American man. They that r”l the boy was afflicted with a because it wasn’t relevant, but he met when he was in Eretz Yisroel serious illness. This was already promised that “the time to reveal with a youth group, and they after Gimmel Tammuz, and the that will come.” continued to be in touch with one mother didn’t know about the She went immediately to the another. Now, they wanted to get possibility of writing to the Rebbe offices of our educational married, and she was planning to today. She began to look for a institutions in Rechovot and travel overseas to meet up with him. solution to her son’s ailment, going registered her children, and by the However, since she customarily from rabbi to rabbi, mekubal to next day, they were already learning never took a step in life without mekubal, but to no avail. Then, one in the Chabad Talmud Torah. consulting the Rebbe, she proceeded of her friends brought to her Baruch Hashem, the illness to write him a letter asking for his attention the fact that it is still completely disappeared, and today, advice, noting in her letter that this possible to write to the Rebbe today. the child is a student in the Chabad young Jewish man was not Torah Despite her doubts, her friend institutions in Rechovot. observant. In his reply to this letter, urged her and she eventually This story comes to teach us that the Rebbe wrote that while a table decided to give it a try. She wrote a the type of personal attention that the Rebbe gave to this family, we must give to every Jew we meet. R. Nissan listened, pondered for a When I was a young boy, I witnessed another such amazing moment, and said: “If we were properly story: About forty five years ago, my connected to the Rebbe, we should be father organized a children’s minyan in the shul where he davened. He feeling something.” To know that this is would gather together all the youngsters in the neighborhood, an auspicious time Above – no. But if daven select portions of the t’filla you’re connected enough, then you with them, tell them about the weekly Torah portion, and definitely can feel something.” afterwards, he would arrange a Kiddush with refreshments and a story. generally stands on four legs, it can letter to the Rebbe, placed it in a Among the participants in the also stand on three legs. Therefore, volume of Igros Kodesh, and children’s minyan were two brothers there are three absolutely essential received an answer on the subject of who lived with their mother – Chaim legs/mitzvos that she must set as education. This merely “proved” to and Shmuel Kaplan. They were not pre-conditions with this young man. her that there was no reality to this from a religious home, though they If he accepts upon himself to approach, and she continued to look came to the minyan. The minyan observe the mitzvos of Shabbos, for brachos in every conceivable had a very strong influence on them, kashrus, and family purity, then they place. When her friend successfully and they eventually moved on to can get married. The Rebbe convinced her to try again and write study at the Chabad yeshiva in concluded that in connection with a letter to the Rebbe via Igros Boston. The Pesach holiday was the fourth leg – the time to reveal Kodesh, the mother again received approaching, but it was not relevant that will come. an answer dealing with education. for them to go home, since their The couple married, and The Rebbe’s letter was addressed to mother’s home was not strictly eventually came to live in Eretz an Anash member, in which the kosher, and the yeshiva arranged Yisroel, settling in Rechovot. By that Rebbe asks why he doesn’t send his holiday hospitality for them in time, they already had two children, children to Chabad institutions, for Crown Heights. They wrote a letter and the mother registered them in a Anash children should learn in to the Rebbe that included all the religious kindergarten in Rechovot Chabad institutions. Suddenly, it hit facts – where they will be for Pesach
#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB and why they will not be home… of the fact that they are together bereaved, etc. The Rebbe means that The Rebbe replied that they must be with their mother for the seider we should be involved in all of them. together with their mother for nights and the entire holiday. 3. It is possible for you to go out Pesach, and they should speak with Why am I relating this story? To on “mivtzaim,” yet turn it into Rabbi Shochat and my father about show the personal treatment the something technical and dry. You kashering the house in order that Rebbe gives to each person, how he help another Jew put on t’fillin, they can eat with their mother. cares about every Jew, making check his mezuzos, however, you Thus, the house was kashered for certain that none are left behind – are lacking the soul of the matter – Pesach in accordance with the not necessarily in the spiritual realm the love towards your fellow Jew. strictest standards. alone, but in the material sense as How do we know if it’s merely My grandfather, of blessed well – and to remember each one of something technical or not? If you memory, was still alive at the time, them and give them his utmost don’t put on the t’fillin and that’s it, living in Boro Park, and we went to attention. We have to learn from this rather you take an interest, maintain him for Pesach. On Erev Pesach, we how we must give personal contact with him, make an effort for stood in line to receive matzos from treatment to each person and to take him, think about him in every detail, the Rebbe, who would give small a genuine interest in his life out of a help him in his material needs – pieces of matza to each person. sense of true concern and caring. then you know that putting on Hundreds of people were standing When the Rebbe came out with t’fillin is not merely a technical in line. When our turn came, my the “Ahavas Yisroel” Campaign, the matter. father also requested matza for the chassidic elders sat at a farbrengen As we have just mentioned, one Kaplan brothers. It was accepted upstairs in the small beis midrash of of the explanations is that the proper practice to request matza for others, “770,” and an argument ensued conduct and the Ahavas Yisroel must and then run quickly to the post over the meaning behind this also exist amongst ourselves – on a office to send it off. Usually, the campaign. What is the Rebbe’s personal level. matza arrived in time for use on the innovation in this campaign? Aren’t In our community in Rechovot, I night of the second seider. all the mitzva campaigns an customarily say a drasha on Shabbos The Rebbe looked at my father expression of Ahavas Yisroel? Then just before the Torah reading. Before and asked, “Are they with their I heard three opinions from the the drasha, I say “Mazel tov” and mother for the holiday?” My father mashpiim. bless all those families in the replied in the affirmative, adding, 1. All the mitzva campaigns community who had a simcha that “They will be at the home of R. represent Ahavas Yisroel towards week, e.g., the birth of a child, a bar Mendel Aronov and his family on fellow Jews, but we also have to mitzva, a wedding, etc. the first night, and at R. Binyomin think about one another amongst Sometimes I say the name of the Rubinoff’s on the second night. ourselves – in our own ranks. family, particularly if it’s a young They will be home for the rest of the 2. When the Rebbe speaks about couple that recently came to live in holiday.” Ahavas Yisroel, he is referring to the community but is still unknown “With their mother?” the Rebbe involvement with all mitzvos in to most. Practically speaking, they asked again. Shulchan Aruch within the realm of usually don’t come to shul on “Yes,” my father said. “The “Love your neighbor as yourself,” Shabbos, instead traveling to their mother will go with them for each e.g., visiting the sick, comforting the parents or in-laws. During the week, seider.” The Rebbe turned around and took a whole matza out of the “I immediately went into yechidus and carton and gave it to my father. Everyone is receiving tiny pieces, began to give over from memory the and they get a whole matza! names of each Anash member and his Look what’s happening here. Hundreds of people are standing in family. Until I came to the name of one line, someone merely mentions the Kaplan brothers to the Rebbe, and of my friends who had seven children, the Rebbe twice asks, “With their mother?” and gives a whole matza but I mentioned the names of only six of to show his affection and approval them…”
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& Chabad chassidim on the list under arrest. What did I do? I sat and memorized by heart the names of all my friends, their wives, and their children. “After I succeeded in leaving the country and came to the Rebbe Rayatz, I immediately went into yechidus and began to give over from memory the names of each Anash member and his family. So it went with all of them, until I came to the name of one of my friends who had seven children, but I mentioned the names of only six of them – he had a four-month-old son whose name I simply couldn’t remember. I stood before the Rebbe, and I tried in every way possible to recall the child’s name. Finally, with no alternative, I blurted, “S’geit nisht!” (It’s not coming!) Rabbi Menachem Mendel Gluckowsky The Rebbe Rayatz responded with a heavy sigh. “Ay-yi-yi. Vi kumt they’re learning in kollel, and as a story from R. Shmuel Chefer about es az men zahl fargesen dem chaver’s result, no one knows they even exist his father-in-law, Rabbi Chaim Yosef kind’s nahmen?” (How can you in the community. When I announce Rosenblum. When his father-in-law possibly forget the name of your the “Mazel tovs” in such cases, most would walk back from shul to his friend’s child?) of the community doesn’t react, home in Tel Aviv each Friday night “Ever since I heard the Rebbe because they don’t know who I’m and meet a young child, he would Rayatz’s krechtz (groan),” Rabbi talking about. I then add that if ask him, “What’s your name? Rosenblum continued to tell his son- anyone wants to know who the What’s your mother’s and father’s in-law, Rabbi Chefer, “I make family is, they can come to me after name?” R. Shmuel Chefer, who was certain to know what a child’s name davening and I’ll point them out… It accompanying his father-in-law, is and what his parents’ names are.” turns out that there are instances asked him with great surprise, “Why We see evidence of this on where a young man can live in our do you take such an interest in every “mivtzaim,” when we meet a Jew community for three years, daven child you meet? Why do you ask after a few months and call him by with us in shul every weekday, yet him what his parents’ names are?” name, this genuinely moves and no one bothered to find out who he His father-in-law responded with a impresses him. Every Jew has to be is. story that happened to him: considered literally as your own This happens in our community “When the Rebbe Rayatz left private treasure to be adored. and most everywhere else. It’s Russia and traveled to Riga, Latvia, I Thus, when we come together, possible sometimes to go around the was still in Russia. Over a long we must show a genuine interest in community and not know someone. period of time, I also waited to one another. This represents the I’m occupied with my personal receive my exit visa, until I personal treatment demanded from matters, he’s occupied with his, and eventually was privileged to leave. us. We must relate to our fellow neither even knows the other’s Before departing, Anash members chassidim with love and name. Similarly, we find that yeshiva asked me to mention them and their brotherhood, as the Rebbe’s only students can go around the yeshiva family members to the Rebbe, children, and then we will properly for months on end, even years, and however, writing their names on a find the way to carry out what the not know the name of a fellow piece of paper could prove extremely Rebbe wants from us. student at his class level, as if they’re dangerous. G-d forbid, if the border L’chaim! L’chaim! total strangers. control would catch me with a list of I heard this matter illustrated in a names, they could place all the
#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB MOLCFIB
The education of children on kibbutzim in those days smacked of communism. We kids grew up together in a children’s house and we saw our parents only three hours a day, from four o’clock in the afternoon to seven. Actually, during those three hours I hardly saw them because SHALOM visiting hours is when the kibbutz assigned them various jobs. So I grew up very alone, and although my father and mother lived two meters away from the children’s BAYIS: MORE house, I only knew about the concept of parents from children’s songs. I forgot to mention that I was also an only child! I clearly remember myself and IMPORTANT my friends at age 3, sleeping on our own in a building connected to the fence of the kibbutz and the orchards. The shrieks of the jackals made us shiver in our beds THAN A WIG! in fright. There wasn’t a single night when one of us did not By Sarit Disraeli wake up, and aside from crying together, there was no adult to comfort us. She came from a kibbutz and became In particular, I remember the ganenet/caretaker, whose frum, but her husband wasn’t interested maltreatment of the children was in living a religious life. She wisely and well-known. Whenever I told my mother about her she agreed with sensitively navigated this tricky period me, but she said they could not leave the kibbutz, and “when you of their lives with peace, love, and get married, you will do what you like.” happiness. Today she helps other people The years passed and I felt lonely and bitter. I always felt my in the same situation. life was not what it should be. I hated the teachers and their When my mother told me the KIBBUTZ DAYS educational methods. Aside from age of Dafna, her friend from the I grew up on an anti-religious crying though, I was powerless to south, I couldn’t believe it. She kibbutz in the south of the do anything. I grew up into an certainly doesn’t like she’s in her country. My parents were from unbelievably sensitive and 60’s. And she’s young not only in Poland and they came from vulnerable person. her looks but in spirit! religious families, but like many As an adult I enjoyed doing the Dafna is willing to share her others, they cast aside their opposite of what everybody else complicated and unique life with observance when they came to was doing. I argued endlessly with our readers, hoping it will inspire Eretz Yisroel. They wanted to everyone about everything. At my them. realize the dream of “a free nation wedding to a moshavnik whom I in our land.” met while in the army, I wore a
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& black dress. Everybody wore white, so that was an I decided to abandon conventional medicine, which excellent reason for me to wear something different. had disappointed me, and to study alternative Having no choice, I built my nest in the kibbutz I medicine. Shortly after that I became a vegetarian, hated so much. The education courses I took, as which is what helped my body heal, but what about well as my husband’s studying, were possible only my soul? within the kibbutz framework. So despite my dream to leave the kibbutz, and although I had given birth A PATH OF LIGHT to a delightful baby, I remained deep in the One day in 5743 (1983), at one of the courses I nightmare called the kibbutz. was taking, I met a religious woman. She was the As soon as I returned from the hospital after first religious woman I got to know. At the kibbutz, giving birth, I was supposed to place my newborn in they constantly explained how religious people were the infants house. Just imagine that. You come fools and they were involved in strange, obsolete home, you are both healthy, baruch Hashem, but practices from the Middle Ages. “We are living in because someone else is not exactly healthy, you modern Israel,” they always said. “Judaism is for the have to leave your infant in the care of strangers. Of exile, for the past.” course, his caretaker I was sure we were knows better than me divided into the what is best for my baby religious and the and makes decisions irreligious and we had without asking me, the nothing in common. To baby’s mother… my surprise, the woman Until we left the began telling me about kibbutz, the same the great wisdom and caretaker remained in beauty of Judaism. Of her position. course, I didn’t believe Finally the day her. She brought me a arrived and we packed book on kabbala and on and left for a yishuv, for the first page I saw the a house of our own. I Seder Hishtalshelus and was thrilled about the the S’firos. I found it new situation and fascinating. decided I would live as I By Divine pleased without anyone Providence, just at that telling me what to do. time a shiur in However, my joy was Chassidus was started at short-lived. the yishuv where I lived. Within a short time I My traditional neighbor was faced with the urged me to attend. reality of life. I didn’t Like a strutting peacock with head held high, full know how to do anything in my home. My mother of “knowledge from the kibbutz,” and with a full couldn’t teach me anything on the kibbutz. I didn’t measure of snobbery, I did her a favor and went. I know how to cook, how to raise children. Cutting a was certain that nobody had anything to offer me, salad and changing a diaper seemed like tasks I definitely not dossim (a derogatory term for religious would never master. I had had no role models. Jews). I had decided not to work so I could be with my The rabbi taught us a sicha of the Rebbe, and he baby and I fell into a depression. I spent weeks in explained it nicely. I listened and was amazed. The bed. I couldn’t get up and I felt this wasn’t what life language he spoke was Ivrit, but I didn’t understand was about. I didn’t stop feeling sorry for myself. what he said. One minute – what’s happening here? As you would expect, my shalom bayis was I felt the sweet sensation of a challenge that seemed destroyed. I constantly yelled at my son and aside beyond me. I, who was so educated in so many from crying, I didn’t do anything to improve the disciplines, did not understand what he was saying?! unfortunate situation I was in. At the end of the class my neighbor asked me At a certain point, while I was still finding myself, how I liked it. I arrogantly told her I didn’t think I
#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB would go again, but the following week I felt I had to go. I felt that I had to give this amazing path a As you would expect, my chance, just as I had examined so many other approaches. A deep voice whispered to me that my shalom bayis was destroyed. salvation would come from this. * * * I constantly yelled at my son Dafna paused and said to me, “Sarit, you don’t and aside from crying, I know how happy I am that Chabad is what I first encountered. I spent time looking into other didn’t do anything to religious groups and I heard lectures and listened to tapes, but I always felt they just weren’t it…” improve the un-fortunate * * * situation I was in. Two weeks later, after I had attended my first two shiurim, I made the firm decision to bring this into my home. I felt I had to transform my home into a Chabad home, the sooner the better! I quickly DON’T YOU WANT changed my wardrobe. TO SEE THE REBBE? I thanked Hashem for finally showing me the A few years after I became a baalat t’shuva, my way, after nearly fifty years of suffering and husband surprised me by asking, “Don’t you want to bitterness. I happily shared my new studies with my see your Rebbe?” dear husband. But he not only did not join me in my I was momentarily stunned. When I recovered, I happiness, but he angrily declared his opposition to said, “Of course, I’d love to,” but I wanted to go with it all. I cried and said that ever since I could him. He smiled and said it would take years before his remember, my life was tragic and I pleaded with him job would allow him to take off. not to prevent me from following the path I believed Incredibly, a few days later, my husband said he would lead me to happiness. had to travel on business to New York. I could see After exhausting discussions, my husband gave this as nothing but Divine Providence. And that’s his blessing to my new path, on condition that 1) I how, with him taking the initiative, we went to the would not get him involved in it, 2) I would not dare Rebbe! to think about covering my hair. A year went by and he asked me whether I missed What can I tell you… I could understand the first the Rebbe. That’s how we ended up going to the condition, but the second? Could I be a Lubavitcher Rebbe every year. When my son became bar mitzva, without covering my hair? my husband was the one who came up with the idea Soon after, I went to a rav to ask for advice. To of taking him to the Rebbe! my great surprise the rav said, “Shalom bayis is Where did you send your children to school? more important than a wig!” He instructed me to When I became religious, my youngest son was progress slowly and not to “shatter the vessels.” six. My other children were no longer of school age. I listened to the rav and decided to take it slowly, My attempts to put him in a Chabad school failed in stages, until I was able, with Hashem’s help, to (see box), but there was one thing I would not forego. turn things around. I started with attending the Every day I sat with him and taught him about the shiurim regularly. My husband said I could cover my holidays, halachos, and the parsha. I wanted him to hair at the shiurim and when I visited my Chabad be familiar with the traditional Jewish world, so when friends. That was all fine, but he refused to see me the time would come when I could put him in a that way himself. Chabad school, he wouldn’t lag behind. At this time I began teaching and I covered my After a few years, I got my husband’s permission hair at work. So it turned out that most of the day I and I switched my son to a Chabad school. His looked religious, but when I went home, I had to teacher was impressed by his knowledge. After only a take it off. This went on for five years, with me month, he integrated with his class and even caught covering my hair and uncovering my hair, covering up with them. and uncovering. It was very difficult. (I did a similar thing with my grandchildren, when their parents sent them to me. I told the happy
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& Children on a kibbutz (for illustration purposes) Entrance to a kibbutz (for illustration purposes) parents about my plans and they wonderful, baruch Hashem. With he studied it all, thanks to some agreed, and that’s how I came to my husband’s consent, my kitchen friends who came to our house. teach them the basics of Judaism. is kosher and before Shabbos My parents, children, and At least they wouldn’t grow up arrives he closes his office and grandchildren came for the seder with hatred for religion, like I did. rushes to get ready. If the children and we all sang happily together. Recently, my grandson the soldier and grandchildren come, then they So your husband is religious? told me that till this day, he is still have a Shabbos too. My husband No. He is not religious; he lives careful to recite Shma, which he makes Kiddush (yes, he agreed to a completely non-religious life and learned in my home. I was thrilled do this for me) and Havdala. has no plans on changing his life. to hear that.) Our main bookcase in the living But he helps me a lot to make it As I said, aside from wearing a room has gradually turned into a easier for me. This is because he wig, life was fine. Finally, after bookcase of s’farim, as little by wants to preserve our shalom many years of anguish, my home little I remove secular books and bayis, which is something we both had become a wonderful place to replace them with s’farim. want. be. Whoever comes to our home Before Pesach he did not say What happened in the end agrees that it has a special anything against my kashering the with your sheitel? atmosphere, baruch Hashem. kitchen and he even offered to In 5748, it was nearly five years Our shalom bayis is also study how to make a seder. Indeed without my covering my hair full time. I decided to go to the Rebbe again and not to return until I got a clear bracha from him! That year, because of the year of mourning for the Rebbetzin, the Rebbe davened in his home and “dollars” were also given from his home. The days went by and my visit was almost over. Time after time I planned on asking the Rebbe, but then I lost my nerve. I was afraid! On my last day there, a few hours before my flight, I mustered my courage and when it was my turn I asked the Rebbe for a bracha for a sheitel, as my husband did not agree to it. The Rebbe said: ask the advice of a rav
#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB or friend. I thanked the Rebbe and moved away and then I heard the MESIRUS NEFESH FOR CHINUCH Rebbe add, “and may we hear When I became a baalas t’shuva, my youngest son was 6 and all my good news.” attempts to put him into a religious/Chabad school failed. At that moment I knew that it As I relaxed one Shabbos, I read in amazement about the mesirus would all work out fine. I even nefesh the Jews in Russia had in not sending their children to school on managed to buy a sheitel before I Shabbos. I thought – they, over there in atheistic Russia, dug in their left the US! (Until then I wore a heels and had mesirus nefesh for their children’s chinuch. What about kerchief.) me, here in Eretz Yisroel? Why couldn’t I send my son to a proper And? school? I landed at Ben Gurion airport I told this to my husband and to my astonishment, he immediately wearing the sheitel and decided to agreed and he only asked, “And if Gal doesn’t agree?” present this as the new reality. The I answered, “Since when do children make decisions about their whole family saw it and liked it, education?” My husband offered to convince him to switch to a except for my husband who asked Chabad school! me to remove it. I told him it was It goes to show that when you are insistent and have deep faith, you forbidden for any man except for can have it all! him to see my hair uncovered and I would not be able to leave the house. He insisted and I stayed home for three weeks. Although we had all the reasons in the One day we got a phone call from a couple who wanted to visit world to split up our home, thank G-d, us on Shabbos. My husband, who we didn’t do that. All the drastic had answered the phone, asked me if it was okay and I said it was, but changes were done with simcha and a moment later I said, “No, actually it’s not okay.” love. He couldn’t figure out why, so I told him, “Because I can’t walk my stay a pleasant one, and it’s who are in the same situation, or around with my hair uncovered in really all terrific. to those who give advice to women front of other men.” A few years ago, when I in similar situations. Although we My husband said, “Okay, so celebrated my 60th birthday, they had all the reasons in the world to cover your hair then. I have no bought me a multi-branched split up our home, thank G-d, we more strength for this.” candelabra for the number of didn’t do that. All the drastic “So tell them they can come,” I people in our family. I was so changes were done with simcha said. moved. and love. “Shalom bayis is In the end, they couldn’t make Despite my age, I don’t feel dependent on the woman,” and she it, but I wore my wig and until this old. I feel as though I’m getting with her patience, can deal with day, I haven’t heard another word younger. (if you see her, you’ll any situation with mutual respect. on the subject. A bracha from the understand – Sarit) The Rebbe’s Baruch Hashem, I have been Rebbe! teachings are something unique able to help women who are in How do you sum up your life that seem to push me ever higher. similar circumstances, because today? My health continues to improve often it is the woman who is eager From a bitter malcontent, I and wherever I go, I am the to become more religious and the turned into the happiest woman in ambassador of simcha. husband sometimes lags behind. the world. My relationships with I never worry. I focus on the You need to remember that my husband and children are Chassidic aphorism, “think good, each half of the couple has his or excellent. The respect for parents and it will be good.” I see how her life and there is also what they that my dear children have cannot true this is, over and over again, share in common. It’s not easy, be found anywhere! Whenever they and it’s all a result of the study of but our lives are definitely special invite me to their home for Chassidus. and full of challenges. Shabbos – of their own accord – In conclusion, I would like to they go above and beyond to make convey a message to those women
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& QQ>JJRW
attempts to not only preserve that which still remained but also to expand further seemed doomed from the start. If you reflect on the Rebbe Rayatz’s life, his incredible bravery, you cannot help but be overwhelmed with awe. With mesirus nefesh, he faced all the forces of evil and won. THE REBBE Not only that, but he was able to get up, time after time, after every crushing blow, and not only begin again but do so in an ever increasing manner. RAYATZ: This Chag HaGeula is not only the day that marks the Rebbe’s redemption from his personal suffering at the hands of the Communists; it is also a Chag ABOVE HaGeula for the world. For immediately after leaving Russia, the Rebbe Rayatz initiated a new process of dissemination of Torah and mitzvos, the likes of which was THE REST never seen before. The circumstances were different and so were the conditions; the tools By Yosef Yitzchok Suissa utilized were diverse and the target audience had changed. There are some interesting When you study the Rebbe Rayatz’s life stories in the Gemara (Bava Metzia you are amazed by his courage and 84-85) that offer some insight into the hierarchy of the Tanaim based unprecedented mesirus nefesh. * on their actions. By analyzing these stories we can draw comparisons to Presented for 12-13 Tammuz, Chag what we know about the Rebbe Rayatz, the Baal Yom HaGeula: HaGeula. There is a tzaddik or Torah scholar who doesn’t have special With the approach of Yud-Beis in many countries, widespread qualities or ancestry – Rav Chama Tammuz, it is appropriate to study anarchy, mighty ideological says that Shlomo HaMelech was the personality and the larger-than- revolutions, the historic referring (Mishlei 14:33) to him life figure of the Rebbe Rayatz. He rearrangement of borders and when he said, “in the heart of the stood as a bulwark in the hardest of populations, the sundering and discerning one lies wisdom” – this is times for humanity in general and alliances of various countries and the Torah scholar, son of a Torah the Jewish people in particular, living finally, the horrific Holocaust and scholar; “but within fools it will be through an unparalleled period in the establishment of the State of publicized” – this is the Torah world history. Israel – all this and more had a scholar, son of an ignoramus. In that transition period between tremendous impact on the lives of Above this, there is a tzaddik the Old Era and the New Era, with Jews around the world. with z’chus avos (the merit of his the fateful consequences of the It seemed that nothing remained ancestors) about whom “Rabban Industrial Revolution, both World of the old Jewish world and that no Shimon ben Gamliel said to his son, Wars, the fall of monarchies, the force could possibly stand up to Rebbi Yehuda HaNasi, ‘My son, shakeup of old forms of government these cataclysmic changes. Any
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& don’t be upset, for he is Rebbi Elozor ben Rebbi Shimon bar Yochai, who is sharper in his Torah study than you, for he is a lion the son of a lion, and you are a lion the son of a fox…’“ Illustrious ancestry isn’t enough and above that is the tzaddik who in the past became a baal t’shuva and “in the place where baalei t’shuva stand, even complete tzaddikim cannot stand.” In this category were, among others, Rebbi Yossi and Reish Lakeish. Rebbi Yossi was the son of Rebbi Elozor and the grandson of Rebbi Shimon bar Yochai. It was Rebbi Yehuda HaNasi who brought him back to t’shuva by giving him to his uncle, Rebbi Shimon bar Issi. Reish Lakeish had led a band of bandits and he was brought back in t’shuva by Rebbi Yochanan. Reish Lakeish became Rebbi Yochanan’s brother- in-law and his sharpest and most famous chavrusa. However, even a tzaddik who is a baal t’shuva cannot stand in the presence of a tzaddik who is a baal yisurim (suffers), even if the suffering came upon him involuntarily. It is told about Rebbi Yossi the son of Rebbi Elozor that he was a great baal t’shuva and he had illustrious ancestry. However, when he died and he was brought to the cave where his father was buried, so he could be buried near him, a snake was in the entrance to the cave and did not allow them to gain entry. They asked the snake, “Snake, snake, open your mouth and allow the son to be next to his father,” but the snake did not allow anyone to pass. The people thought that this was because his father was greater than he, and a Heavenly voice said, “It is not because this one is greater than he but because this one experienced the suffering of the cave and that one did not experience the suffering of the cave.” There is a tzaddik who is a baal
#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB yisurim whose suffering comes upon Torah study, and despite his being a resurrect the dead with his prayer, him involuntarily and there is a baal t’shuva, Rebbi Chiya was could not be compared to him? tzaddik who invites yisurim upon greater than he. This was because his father was a himself because of something that Reish Lakeish prayed, “Master of baal mesirus nefesh for the happened. The Gemara says that the universe, did I not delve into fulfillment of Torah and mitzvos Rebbi Yehuda HaNasi said, “yisurim Torah as he did?” A Heavenly voice during the difficult times of the are beloved to me,” and he accepted responded, “You expounded Torah Roman decrees. thirteen years of a certain illness and like he did, but you did not We see an amazing thing from another seven years of another type disseminate Torah as he did.” this, that as great as a tzaddik may of illness. Rebbi Chiya’s greatness was on be, and his ancestry, and the merits It is told that the man in charge account of his spreading Torah and of his forbears, being a baal t’shuva, of the numerous horses’ stables that ensuring that it would not be a baal yisurim, and one who takes belonged to Rebbi Yehuda HaNasi forgotten. It is told that he planted action to spread Torah and ensure was a wealthier person than the king flax and made nets out of it. He that it won’t be forgotten, he cannot of Shevor. There were so many caught deer and fed their meat to be compared to one who has horses in the stables that when he orphans and out of the skins he mesirus nefesh for Torah and fed them, their neighing could be made scrolls upon which he wrote mitzvos. The very comparison elicits heard three miles away! the five books of the Torah. a “G-d forbid, such a thing cannot The man in charge of the stables He went from city to city and be.” made sure to feed the horses at the taught five children the five different * * * time when Rebbi Yehuda HaNasi Chumashim, and he taught six If you read about the Rebbe cried out in suffering from his pain, children the six orders of the Rayatz’s life, you can see to what yet Rebbi Yehuda’s cries were louder Mishna. He would tell them, “Until I extent this giant and unique than the neighing of thousands of return, learn with one another so individual, was cloaked in the horses! that each of you will teach the others splendor and glory of times past, Despite the magnitude of Rebbi the Chumash or order of the Mishna and possessed of the highest levels Yehuda HaNassi’s pain, the Gemara that he learned from me. So they all of holiness. The Rebbe Rayatz, in his says that the yisurim of Rebbi ended up knowing all five books of personality and life, had nearly all Elozor, son of Rebbi Shimon, were the Torah and all of the Mishna. By the qualities mentioned above. on a higher level. Rebbi Yehuda doing this, Rebbi Chiya ensured that Therefore, he is exceptional in every HaNasi invited his suffering because Torah would not be forgotten from level ascribed to the tzaddikim of something that happened – he the Jewish people. mentioned above, to the point that it wasn’t sensitive enough about the Rebbi Yehuda HaNasi, Rebbi seems that there was no other suffering of a calf which was being Chiya’s teacher, said about this, tzaddik who can compare to him. taken to be slaughtered that had run “How great are the deeds of Chiya.” He had the merit of his to Rebbi Yehuda HaNasi for When Rebbi Yishmoel b’Rebbi Yossi ancestors, of “a lion son of a lion.” protection. Rebbi Elozor invited his heard this unusual expression, he He was a great baal yisurim (and yisurim out of love. asked Rebbi Yehuda HaNasi in he even had the quality of “he Despite the greatness of these surprise, “Is Rebbi Chiya even invited the yisurim,” because he tzaddikim with the merit of great greater than you? And Rebbi Yehuda certainly could have stopped ancestry or who were baalei t’shuva HaNasi said Yes. Rebbi Yishmoel spreading Judaism, thus preventing or baalei yisurim, the level of a asked whether Rebbi Chiya was the persecution against him). tzaddik who toiled to disseminate greater even than his own father, The Rebbe Rayatz’s entire goal Torah, to ensure that it would not be Rebbi Yossi, and Rebbi Yehuda was spreading Judaism and the forgotten, especially in a time of HaNasi said, “G-d forbid! Such a wellsprings outward, and he founded crisis, and who saved many from sin, thing cannot be amongst the Jewish the empire which is shlichus. is even greater! people.” But above all else, there was no The Gemara tells about Reish The very comparison grated on baal mesirus nefesh like him, literal Lakeish who marked the graves of Rebbi Yehuda HaNasi. Why? What mesirus nefesh, for the fulfillment of the earlier Torah sages. When he was the greatness of Rebbi Torah and mitzvos under communist wanted to mark the grave of Rebbi Yishmoel’s father that even the great rule, mesirus nefesh to which this Chiya, it mysteriously disappeared. Rebbi Chiya, who made sure that day, the Chag HaGeula, serves as a Reish Lakeish felt bad since he Torah would not be forgotten, who magnificent symbol and realized that despite his greatness in was able to bring the Geula and commemoration.
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& PEIF@ERP SHLICHUS IN CURITIBA
By BenZion Sasson
Entrance to the new shul in the Chabad House
1FS>K #'1 +-1&' !& towards the shliach, upon hearing Twenty-five years have passed since what he had in mind, began to Rabbi Yoseph Yitzchak (Fitche) scream, “How can you dare to think of such a thing, in a city full Dubrawsky and his wife arrived in of gentiles?” The shliach was not put off, “Our forefathers built Curitiba, deep in the heart of Brazil. sukkos in Egypt and in Russia, and now we will build one in Brazil.” The first steps were smooth, but then After some research, he came to the conclusion that the only option things became extremely difficult. was the apartment building where However, Rabbi and Mrs. Dubrawsky he lived. Near the window of the washing machine room there was didn’t give up, and with great patience an empty asphalt area. He requested permission from the and stubbornness succeeded in creating building committee, and after receiving the go-ahead, he began a revolution in the local Jewish to build the sukka. However, the only way to reach the sukka was community. * The story of a young through the window of the couple in a faraway city, known as “the washing machine room. This required stepping on a stool and most progressive city in the world.” * then onto the washing machine, in order to climb out the window and Part 2 of 2 enter the sukka… The holiday arrived. A HOLIDAY SEASON some interesting situations in the torrential rain, indigenous to early years of the Chabad House. Brazil, was pouring down outside. Like every Chabad House The shlucha remained indoors with around the world, R’ Dubrawski In anticipation of his first Sukkos in the city, the shliach her children, as her husband went works to convey the positive out to the sukka with a group of messages of each holy day to the began looking for a suitable place to build a sukka. The problem was guests that he brought home from Jews of Curitiba. Circumstances shul. The sight of the group was and some of the unique that the shul did not have place for it. One of the Jews friendly especially heartening, considering characteristics of the city led to what they would have to go through to get to and sit in the sukka. Seeing the emotion on the faces of the guests, as they recited the “SheHechiyanu” blessing for sitting in the sukka for the first time in their lives, brought the shlucha to tears. “Only then did I actually begin to understand the concept that I had learned so much about over the years, of what a ‘Jewish soul’ means.” Another incident, no less interesting, occurred one year on Chanuka. The story actually begins a few years earlier. Every Shabbos, R’ Dubrawski would pass a certain church on his way to the Mr. Jaime (Chaim) Lerner carrying the Seifer Torah on parade to the new shul
#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB community shul. Each time he Chanuka season is generally a time Throughout the early years, the passed, the priest would be waiting of heavy rainfall. This fact placed a Chabad House operated out of the outside and would call out a lot of pressure on the organizers, apartment of the shluchim, which greeting. The shliach couldn’t help already in the very first year of the moved three times. At a certain but wonder why he had to go public lightings. Due to his point, he decided that it was time through that seemingly strange concern, the shliach asked the to move to a suitable building that “experience” each and every Rebbe for a bracha that it not rain would house the wide range of Shabbos. And then Chanuka came on the event. activities. When the Rebbe along. He decided that year that it What is truly amazing is that, announced the year 5749 as a was time to arrange a public “This has turned into a regular “year of building” it gave him the menora lighting. First, he spoke to miracle,” says R’ Dubrawski. push, but a short conversation with a Jew that owned a huge shopping “Starting in 1986, when we began some of his mekuravim from the mall. Understandably, the fellow the public menora lightings, until community, made him realize that refused. His next stop was the this day, each and every year, a such a move would undermine the Mayor’s office, who agreed to the few minutes before lighting, the current situation in the idea, but said it was necessary to rain stops and starts again a short community, which was not a good approach the Commissioner of while after the event concludes!” idea at the time. Parks, as such an activity would * * * Since he realized that moving fall under his jurisdiction. Years passed, and the shluchim to a larger building in another area R’ Dubrawski, wanting to saw success in establishing was not the solution, he turned to successfully pull off the acquisition connections with the community, his friend and supporter, the of a permit to hold the event in a directly or indirectly. The Rabbi of former president of the shul. public place, sat down and the community left to move to S. Together, they drew up a list of prepared a short script for his talk Paolo, and the community began local Jews whom they planned on with the Parks Commissioner. searching for a new Rabbi. approaching to ask for 20,000 After preparing, he arrived at the Although many already saw Rabbi dollars apiece for the purchase of a offices of the Parks Commission. Dubrawski as the right man for the suitable building. What appeared When he entered the office of the job, there were still many who to be nothing more than a fantasy, Commissioner, he was stunned to were opposed. This was primarily quickly began to take shape, and see that it was none other than his because the previous Rabbi within four months, the necessary “good friend,” the priest, in charge officiated at many conversions that sum was raised and an impressive of all the public parks in Curitiba. were not halachically correct, and building was purchased for the The shliach began his little this would lead to problems with a Chabad House. speech, and to his amazement, the Chabad rabbi. The success of the outreach priest cut him off and said, “Do it activities continued to grow, and wherever you think is best.” That was the beginning of the public menora lightings in Curitiba. In recent years, the municipal government of Curitiba erects the giant menora in the city’s main plaza, and stores the menora year-round in a municipal warehouse. The city also funds the cost of the stage and sound system for the event. “All it takes is one phone call as a reminder, and everything is set up and ready,” says the shliach with a huge smile on his face. Another interesting miracle in connection with Chanuka, takes place on a yearly basis. The View of the new shul
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& involved in money matters. A few years later, another setback took place, which actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise. In 5756/1996, the community leaders took notice of the fact that the Chabad outreach work was growing by leaps and bounds as it attracted more and more people. This disturbed them and they decided to bring a “rabbi” to the community, who would offer some “balance.” As they hoped, the new rabbi revived “tradition.” He brought back the microphones and took down the mechitza, which forced the shliach to leave Expo of Jewish life built by R’ Dubrawski the shul once again and forced him to try to open a place of his own. It started with Kabbalas Shabbos, when a group of young people making huge strides in Yiddishkait, asked the shliach to arrange for new and improved services. Shortly after, a regular minyan began on Shabbos mornings as well. The shliach and his wife began building a proper Chabad community with many people who expressed an interest in authentic Judaism. The events held by the Chabad House in the following years, served to elevate the status of Chabad amongst the local Jews Chabad House pre-school in the early years even more. One historical event was the wedding of their eldest after only a few months, they had tremendous “upsurge” in many daughter. It might seem that it to knock down one of the walls to area connected to the Chabad would have been far easier for expand the capacity of the House. He really started to see the them to hold the wedding in building. Over time, another wall fruits of success, after working Crown Heights, the groom’s was broken, and another, as the tirelessly for twelve years in hometown, but that is not the place expanded at a rapid pace, Curitiba. route they chose. They decided to which made the shliach realize that After ten years of plenty, in make a proper kosher and he would soon have to undergo a which the central Chabad House in Chassidic wedding in Curitiba, serious expansion of the recently S. Paolo, under the leadership of seeing to it that the wedding be in purchased building. Rabbi Alpern, funded all the high style in order to convey to the expenses of the Chabad House, the locals that it is possible to hold a THE GIMMEL TAMMUZ funding was cut off and he found proper Jewish wedding even in a REVOLUTION himself facing the daunting task of remote place like Curitiba. fundraising. At the beginning, it A huge semi-trailer filled with A fascinating fact recounted by was hard to explain to the locals, delicacies arrived from S. Paolo. R’ Dubrawski, is that since who were used to the free services, Rabbis and shluchim, friends and Gimmel Tammuz, he has felt a that now the shliach had to get
#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB mekuravim, converged on the city to establish a Kollel, a Jewish of a Chabad School, and voted on to participate in the wedding that school, and other learning a number of resolutions to became the talk of the town, and programs. eradicate the problem. R’ made a great Kiddush Hashem and Today, only a few months after Dubrawski, however, says, “I Kiddush Shem Lubavitch. their arrival, the two have fully believe that the local community It turns out that it wasn’t just integrated into the local school will close down soon.” the wedding that served to bring community. However, R’ The space in the Chabad House Jews closer to authentic Judaism, Dubrawski feels that this is has become too constricting to but even the Sheva Brachos. On insufficient and is currently house all the various activities, and one of the nights, they were searching for two additional in recent months, the shluchim missing a “new face” in order to couples to strengthen the Kollel have begun searching for a suitable recite the blessings, and Andre and the community. building, but to no avail. After they Segal, one of the mekuravim, The arrival of the new shluchim had pretty much given up hope, brought a friend of his, who came has infused new energy into the they were hit with a surprise from not suspecting that this would be community around the Chabad an unexpected quarter. The owner his first step towards a Jewish life. House. Already following Rosh of the villa adjoining the Chabad This first step led to further steps, HaShana, a new preschool opened House announced that he was until he ended up marrying a in the Chabad House for the moving out of his home. The Jewish woman, and now his children of the shluchim and the unexpected news was received with daughter attends the Chabad locals. The success of the great excitement, and one of the preschool. preschool succeeded in arousing congregants pledged to donate the Over the years, they also the ire of the community leaders, rent for an entire year. And so, a managed to inaugurate a new to the point that at a meeting two few days later, the Kollel began mikva in the building of the months ago of the local Jewish operating in the new building. The Chabad House, which was built organizations, they addressed the wall between the Chabad House with the help of Jacques Frishman issue of the danger to the local yard and the yard around the villa and another donor, and this event “Jewish school” due to the opening was taken down, and within a also helped raised the status of the Chabad community in the city. THE FINAL SHMA YISROEL BUILDING A Rabbi Dubrawski recounts: Six years ago, I was approached by a COMMUNITY brother and sister in their fifties. They began the conversation by In recent years, the wave of stating that they were not Jewish. In the course of the conversation, returnees in the city has grown, they informed me that their mother was in the hospital and was at and many moved away because the death’s door. They went on to tell me that their mother had told them city could not provide for their that before she leaves the world, she wanted to let them in on the fact newfound religious needs. The that she is a Jewess, and she explained to them the chain of events that shliach tried valiantly to convince led her to forgetting her Jewishness. “Now, our mother wants to see a his mekuravim to stay. Some of Rabbi, therefore, we came to you to ask you to please come with us to them responded that if a serious visit her. It is very important to her, and to us as well.” religious community was Of course, I acquiesced to their request, and I went with them to established, they would consider the hospital. When I arrived at the woman’s room, I encountered an remaining. R’ Dubrawski realized elderly woman in a bed surrounded by many beeping machines, which that he had no other option, and were barely keeping her alive. I wanted to verify that she was in fact he decided to open a Kollel to Jewish, after fifty years of denial. I approached her bed and whispered serve as the basis for a vibrant into her ear, “Shma Yisroel,” and she finished the rest of the verse, as Jewish community. well as the portion of “V’Ahavta.” A few minutes later, she passed on Towards this end, he brought from this world. out two new shluchim to the city, I took the opportunity to explain to her children that according to his sons-in-law, Rabbi Menachem all indications they are also Jewish, but they didn’t want to hear Mendel Labkowski and Rabbi anything about it. Perhaps, someday, they will find their way back, but Menachem Mendel Stolik. The two at least, the mother died in repentance… arrived this past Tishrei, in order
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& of those he approaches, agreeing to put on t’fillin. A few months back, the community held a special event, and the new president of the community announced in the name of the new “rabbi” that Chabad could come to the event, but they could not put t’fillin on with the attendees. The story got out to the members of the community and to Rabbis M.M. Labkowski Rabbi Labkowski giving a Torah class the local press, and it caused a and M.M. Stolik firestorm of controversy as people expressed amazement as to how a short time, the villa turned into an participate in a regular minyan. Jewish rabbi doesn’t allow religious integral part of the Curitiba Since then, it has gained traction, activities to be done with the local Chabad House “complex.” and due to the tragic occurrence, Jewish community. Today, twenty five years after there is now a steady weekday A while after the story broke the founding of the Chabad House Shacharis minyan in the Chabad there was a large public meeting in in the shliach’s apartment, the new House. which the shliach also participated. Chabad House now functions as a They just recently completed At one point during the meeting, shul and a full service Jewish the building of the new shul within he turned to the rabbi and said, center. Every morning, there is a the Chabad House, which will “Chabad put t’fillin on Jews in large respectable minyan. The replace the small room that was Communist Russia and at the Shacharis minyan began a little used until now. The new shul is frontlines of all of Israel’s wars, in over two years ago, when one of beautifully built with many seats. order to benefit those who might the mekuravim lost his father, The Chanukas HaBayis, along with find it difficult to do otherwise. which necessitated that he a Hachnasas Seifer Torah and People have gone to extremes and celebration of 25 years in Curitiba, done so much for the sake of is scheduled for the upcoming t’fillin, and you want to say that They decided to month of Elul. from now on it will not be “The success of Chabad here is possible?” Many of the locals make a proper to such an extent that everyone publicly decried the behavior of the here knows that if Chabad kosher and “rabbi,” and the past Lag B’Omer, undertakes something it will be most of the community celebrated done right,” one of the Chassidic wedding with the Chabad House. congregants says to me. “Today, How do you infuse the locals in Curitiba, seeing the former president of the with matters of Moshiach and community is a regular at the Geula? to it that the Chabad House, which shows just In every class and lecture, I how far they have come after years explain how current developments, wedding be in high of hard work.” whether in the field of technology However, the opponents of the style in order to or medicine, or the explosion of Chabad House are busily at work the internet, are all part of the and not resting on their laurels. A convey to the locals process of the coming of recent example that became the Moshiach. I like to show people that it is possible to talk of the town a few months ago through current events that took place at one of the perennial Moshiach is already here. The hold a proper community events. The shliach had Rebbe explains that in the first long turned these events into an stage it is not necessary for there Jewish wedding opportunity for a large scale t’fillin to be outright miracles, but that it campaign. The fact that he even in a remote can all happen in a natural way, personally knows every person and we will see the G-dliness in place like Curitiba. there leads to about ninety percent
#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB nature. path to every aspect of Jewish life. The few hours remaining before Three months ago, we once However, it is equally important my flight back to S. Paolo I put to again held a “medicine and after the initial contact to maintain use observing the work of the Judaism” seminar. During the an ongoing connection and to Chabad House in action. The sight lectures, it was mentioned that in guide them to progressively higher of the children playing in the the future we will be able to restart levels of learning, and to go along playground set up in the yard; the a heart with an ordinary battery. with them as they progress. morning session of the Kollel men; Things like that help people see the The work in Curitiba is far intense conversations between the idea in a different light, to start from finished. Even now, after shliach and some of the believing that Moshiach is many successes and positive community members; and the something real and imminent. results, we are looking to the heartwarming sight of the morning After 25 years, what has future with the hope and prayer minyan that I heard so much changed about you and the that in the remaining moments about; all of these appeared to me environment? before the complete revelation of as small parts of a complete jigsaw I feel that the city has really Moshiach, we will be able to build puzzle of life on shlichus. A changed. The local Jews have a growing and vibrant community, shlichus carried out with inner altered their outlook on Judaism in with which to greet Moshiach. fortitude and mesiras nefesh, general, and Chabad in particular. Now, it has progressed beyond the which it appears will yet transform Today, they all feel connected to dream stage and is a tangible the “most progressive city in the the Rebbe. Prior to Gimmel vision. world” into a city of vibrant Jewish Tammuz, there was a time that * * * life until the ultimate revelation of every person who traveled to New the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach. York, even those that were not involved directly with us, made it their business to make time to be “FATHER, PLEASE DON’T at the distribution of dollars by the COME TO ME IN A DREAM” Rebbe. One of the many souls that came close to Judaism through the work I look around me today and see of the shluchim is Andrei Segal, a young man who was very far from the Rebbe’s words about the innate anything Jewish, although his aunt and uncle had become religious over beauty of the Jewish soul come to the years. life. The fact that young people One day, his father, Sergei, fell ill due to heart problems. Andre flock to us to learn about Judaism came to visit him before he was due to undergo a serious operation. He is an expression of that soul. It is told his father, “I know that your brother started to become religious an indication that Moshiach is when he began saying Kaddish after the passing of your father, my about to come. People who lived grandfather. A similar thing happened with your sister after the passing through the Holocaust and lost of your mother, my grandmother. I sincerely hope that you will live, but their entire families who were if G-d forbid, something happens to you, I am asking you not to visit killed sanctifying Hashem’s name, me in a dream to ask me to say Kaddish after you…” often have a problem dealing with The father underwent a successful operation, and after a long Yiddishkait during the rest of the hospital stay, he returned home in good health. However, the son year. However, when it comes Yom Andrei ended up becoming a full-fledged Chabad Chassid. It began Kippur, they come to shul and like when as part of his work for the local television network, he broke his all the others cry out “Hashem Hu leg. R’ Dubrawski would visit him regularly in the hospital and offer to HaElokim,” and to me that is a put on t’fillin. display of the greatness of the At the beginning, he resisted, but over time he softened up and Jewish soul. began putting on t’fillin and slowly progressing in his Judaism. Over the What is your main emphasis years, he ended up doing a complete t’shuva. Today, he is married to a in the work of shlichus? baalas t’shuva from S. Paolo, and they have children, one of whom is Torah classes are the most named Chana for the Rebbe’s mother. effective means to penetrate the This is just one story amongst many of how an entire extended hearts and souls of every person. family, with the help of the shluchim of the Rebbe, made the return to Everything starts with a class in full Jewish life and observance. Torah, which is the most direct
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that Chabad Chassidim say that their Rebbe is alive? R’ Nachum answered: There are so many people about whom it is said “they are called ‘dead’ (referring to the Talmudic dictum, ‘the wicked in their lifetimes are called dead’) yet they write ‘shlita’ after their names, and nobody is bothered by this. If there is someone about whom it is said that he is alive, why are people surprised? Rabbi Auerbach smiled and said: You’re right! * * * R’ Nachum gave a clever answer but is it really the case that the THE REBBE Rebbe is only “called” chai? Some will answer yes, and some will say no. Anyone unfamiliar with the Rebbe’s teachings, or even if they LO MEIS are familiar and think that the Rebbe only spoke metaphorically, will say Yes. However, someone By Rabbi Chaim Ashkenazi permeated with the belief that the Rebbe’s teachings and guidance are Why do we insist that the Rebbe is pure truth, and certainly they are literally true, will answer alive? What did the Rebbe say about unequivocally: “chai” is not just a description or Chassidishe hergesh this? designed to prevent people from depression; it’s the reality. THE REBBE SAID IT ALL Yet, although quite a few years In other words, understanding the Rebbe’s reality today is I heard that when the former have passed since Gimmel Tammuz, Chabad Chassidim dependent, in great measure, on chief rabbi, Rabbi Yisroel Meir one’s knowledge and Lau, attended a Chabad dinner in continue to go out on the Rebbe’s shlichus, to light the Jewish spark understanding of what the Rebbe South America, someone asked him said. what he thought about and be mekarev Jews to their Father in heaven. They do it only I was present during a Lubavitchers who believe the Rebbe conversation between a Gerrer is chai v’kayam. because the Rebbe said so. So tell me – who is chai Chassid and a Misnaged. The Rabbi Lau responded with a Misnaged said: Look at the question: Tell me the truth, how v’kayam, your rosh yeshiva or the Lubavitcher Rebbe? Lubavitchers. What foolishness would you react if your rosh they say about their Rebbe * * * yeshiva asked you to move with regarding Moshiach and about his your family to Shanghai, China just A similar story was told to me being here physically. for a year or two. Would you by R’ Nachum Rabinowitz of Anash The Gerrer Chassid said: You agree? Surely you admit that you in Yerushalayim. One time, when should know that they don’t say would find all the excuses and he met with Rabbi Shlomo Zalman anything on their own. It’s all reasons in the world not to do what Auerbach (the famous posek) z”l, written, either in the Torah or in he asked. R’ Auerbach asked him: How is it Toras Chassidus. You don’t have to
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& accept it, but you can’t say it’s does not have to be a Rebbe who is Gimmel Tammuz is not normal. nonsense and that they made it up. here b’gashmius, he’s a liar. It says And a Lubavitcher who says that In another conversation, this so in the Rebbe’s sichos, in black on Gimmel Tammuz what time between a Chabad Chassid and white. I don’t have to accept it happened is what appears to have and his cousin who is a Poilishe because I’m not a Chabad Chassid, happened – is also not normal! Chassid, the cousin said: I learned but to say that he never said it, the sichos of your Rebbe and I’m that’s an outright lie! WHAT CHANGED? telling you that if a Chabadnik says I heard the following from a If non-Lubavitchers understand that the Rebbe did not say he is Poilisher Chassid: A Lubavitcher this, what happened to us? Every Moshiach, or if he says that there who says that nothing happened on Chabad Chassid around the world openly proclaimed that the Rebbe is Melech HaMoshiach L’olam Va’ed until Gimmel Tammuz 5754, or at least until 27 Adar I 5752. They announced it unanimously, not because they all convened in one place and made the decision to do so, but because it was obvious that this is what the Rebbe was saying in his sichos and there was no other way to understand them. Furthermore, the Rebbe did all he could to ensure we understood him, and he knew how his Chassidim and mekusharim understood him. Leading the believers were the “elite” of Chabad Chassidim, from the head chozrim on down. Everybody believed it. Suddenly, after 27 Adar 5752 and even more so, after 27 Adar II 5754, and even more so, after Gimmel Tammuz 5754, some people decided that we don’t understand what the Rebbe said and wrote. Their excuse is that what we can see is stronger than all the sichos, and this is a Yud Shvat, Beis Nissan, 13 Tishrei, 9 Kislev, and 24 Teives, once again. As for those who think that Gimmel Tammuz is a Yom Hilula, there are different views about the current situation: Some people are of the opinion that from Gimmel Tammuz and on, there is no Nasi HaDor. Some think that the Rebbe is the Nasi HaDor, and say (based on chapter 27 of Igeres HaKodesh in Tanya), that he is here “more than in his lifetime” (though it is not clear why this would be the case with regard
#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB to the Rebbe and not the Rebbeim taken on Shabbos to a town with a driver, and who knows what other who preceded him, back until midwife. The rav told the wagon things they will reinterpret! Moshe Rabbeinu). driver to harness the horses and In the best case they say about There are others who say that take her. The wagon driver said he themselves – “we erred, it’s the Rebbe is not only here “more couldn’t harness the horses without nonsense, it will cause a than in his lifetime” spiritually, but a cigarette. The rav did not allow it desecration of Torah and mitzvos, is also connected to the physical and the argument continued until and whoever says it is not world, unlike the other n’siim. the woman in labor was in danger. Chabad.” According to this view, 770 is a The rav said to the wagon This approach is something to place to gather for t’fillos and driver that he should take a cry over, because the far-reaching farbrengens because holiness does cigarette, the main thing being to consequences are staggering. not move from its place. They are harness the horses and save the A chareidi newspaper editor convinced that this approach is woman’s life! The wagon driver who is known for his hatred of normal and nice, and this is the concluded, who knows what other Chassidim in general and Chabad proper way to educate the next things are allowed to be done on Chassidim in particular, and generation, and whoever doesn’t Shabbos, but the rabbis just don’t especially the Rebbe MH”M, said: think so is not Chabad. These are tell us… What do you want from me and the the same people who previously The ignorant wagon driver did paper I represent when before maintained that whoever doesn’t not know that the halacha does not Gimmel Tammuz I wrote that think the Rebbe is Melech change according to the rav’s you’re not normal and are heretics HaMoshiach L’olam Va’ed is not whims. He did not understand that and now, you yourselves write the Chabad… it wasn’t the p’sak halacha that same thing! The difference is that I Beforehand, they understood changed but the situation (without wrote it about most of you – while what the Rebbe said one way, and getting into a discussion about you say it applies to those you call now, they understand what the whether the p’sak was correct or a “fringe element.” Rebbe said another way. If not). He thought that the rabbis As for us, we are strong in our someone would come along and are concealing other leniencies emuna because we rely on what the say – like that Misnaged who had a from us. At a later point, he might Rebbe said, and he taught us (see dream – that he saw G-d’s funeral, think that if the rabbis don’t tell us Likkutei Sichos, vol. 26, first sicha) Heaven forbid, would they also say what else is permissible, he will that regarding Moshe it says, “His that until now, they understood the decide on his own! day of birth atones for his day of idea of “I am Hashem, I do not The same is true here. There is death.” change,” in a way that means a a principle that every Chabad Atonement connotes cleansing. change is not possible, but now Chassid believed in firmly, because In other words, the birthday wipes they understand it differently? the Rebbe, the “faithful shepherd,” clean the deficiency that could be instilled/instills it within us. the result of the day of death. What THE WAGON DRIVER’S Suddenly, people come and say does this mean? UNDERSTANDING that the Rebbe didn’t mean to The removal from the plane of guarantee anything; he said it, gashmius which takes place on the In a certain town there was a rather, as a request and a prayer. day of death cannot happen to the woman in labor who needed to be They are just like that wagon Nasi HaDor, because from the time of birth – from the moment the wondrous being called “Moshe I learned the sichos of your Rebbe and Emes” is born – this deficiency is I’m telling you that if a Chabadnik says impossible. Indeed, it may not be the same body, but he must be in a that the Rebbe did not say he is body.
Moshiach, or if he says that there does MOSHE RABBEINU DID not have to be a Rebbe who is here NOT DIE – THIS IS MEANT LITERALLY! b’gashmius, he’s a liar. The Rebbe explains in this
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& American bar mitzva boy, the It’s now, when the believers are not Rebbe asked him whether he popular and people make fun, that we played baseball and which team he rooted for. The boy said that in have to be the professional players on the last game he watched, his team lost. the field and not abandon our job. The Rebbe asked the boy what he did about the loss and the boy said: I got up and left the field. I sicha (vol. 26) the reason why As many questions as you may didn’t even wait until the end of only Moshe and Yaakov, who are have on this sicha, they cannot the game. referred to as emes, meaning divert us from the unequivocal “Did the baseball players leave eternal, are said not to have died. declaration that we are not too?” asked the Rebbe. The truth of Yaakov Avinu and Breslov-style Chassidim; Nasi They can’t leave, even if Moshe Rabbeinu is not only ‘not HaDor means “lo meis.” they’re not doing well, explained falsehood,’ as is so with regard to The debate needs to be over the boy patiently, because they are all tzaddikim, but who are not how to understand “lo meis,” as it professionals and have to try and eternal physically. All the other is meant literally. This discussion win until the last minute of the tzaddikim are eternal as far as is similar to that in every maamer game! their neshamos, and “even more Chassidus and Chassidishe You too, said the Rebbe, are than in their lifetime,” but with farbrengen about the fact that the beginning now to participate on Yaakov and Moshe, it is truth like world is not a metzius. Hashem’s “team.” Try to be a the Torah is true; it endures, in a That the world is not a metzius professional and not just a fan! physical sense, forever. is a given. Once we’ve established * * * The Nasi HaDor is not in the that, we can discuss this non- The Rebbe’s message to the category of “even more than in existence: is it not a metzius bar mitzva boy is quite relevant to their lifetime,” as great as that is, because it is imaginary, or is it a our present situation. It’s no big for he is here b’gashmius. One of metzius but nevertheless it has no deal to be a fan and to cheer the proofs that the Rebbe brings significance at all, or perhaps when your team is winning. It for this is that just as the Mishkan even higher degrees of wasn’t a great achievement to is physically eternal, because it is nullification. spread the Besuras HaGeula in the handiwork of Moshe, all the Despite the discussion that the the days preceding Chaf-Zayin more so is Moshe himself eternal! world is not a metzius is a fact, Adar, when everybody was certain This is why only regarding Yaakov and a Chassid needs to work on that Moshiach was about to come and Moshe, who are “emes,” does himself from moment to moment and that his sworn fans would be it say “he did not die.” It is highly and t’filla to t’filla and farbrengen in the front row to greet him. recommended that you study the to farbrengen and yechidus to It’s now, when the believers sicha in detail. yechidus – to absorb the concept are not popular and people make After learning this sicha, can of the world’s non-existence. fun, that we have to be the we treat Gimmel Tammuz like Yud So too with the Rebbe. The professional players on the field Shvat? Of course we are not Rebbe declared that Moshe and not abandon our job. Even if happy with the situation when we Rabbeinu lo meis, so the Rebbe we don’t see our king, let us cannot see the Rebbe, but what MH”M lo meis, and we must get continue to spread the message should we do on this day? Should it into our minds and hearts that that the Rebbe is Moshiach and he we do what is done on all the days the day of his birth (Yud-Alef is chai v’kayam, and we are marking the passing of the Nissan) atones for the day of anticipating his immediate Rebbeim and say that nevertheless, death, “atones” meaning revelation (not that we are the Rebbe is the Nasi HaDor? cleansing. waiting for him to return). This is the opposite of what the May we soon see the “lo meis” Rebbe says, the same Rebbe who FANS OR b’gashmius, with the true and is the only expert who can say PROFESSIONALS? complete Redemption now! what a Nasi HaDor is, for the Rebbe says “lo meis.” In a yechidus with an (Said at a Chassidishe farbrengen)
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but they lack suitable chavrusos.” I pushed him off again and again, hoping to enjoy more time in 770. I didn’t see myself working in a place like India. I considered it out of the question, but after my friend kept telling me how urgent it was and after thinking of the bachurim waiting for us, I came to the conclusion that I couldn’t say no. I figured a yeshiva framework suited me. After receiving a positive answer from the Rebbe in the Igros DECIDE WHO Kodesh, I planned on leaving after Shavuos. Before Yom Tov we had already arranged the final details and after Yom Tov we were ready to go. YOU ARE After an exhausting, sleepless, two-day trip, we arrived at our destination. When we walked in, we saw that the place was operating like an ordinary Chabad PRAYING TO! House. There was no yeshiva! After a brief nap, when we tried to By Eli Shneuri understand what was going on, our disappointment grew when – in answer to our question, “Where A series of Hashgacha Pratis incidents are the bachurim?” – we were told that that was our job. leads two T’mimim to a pizza store in This wasn’t part of our plan; the Dramsala, India, in their search for shliach’s answer was a bombshell. We decided to go out and see if we young Jews. One by one, they gathered could round up some guys. After a few minutes of walking, to escape the torrential rains of we entered a pizza store and met three Israeli tourists. They had monsoon season that suddenly began to never put on t’fillin and their Judaism consisted of the fact that fall. they were Jewish. “When we were kids,” they It has become a tradition. Many their spiritual refuge. said, with a mischievous glint in bachurim who finish learning on This is the story of Noam Elias, their eyes, “we tried to make K’vutza in 770, remain to learn for who is active today in the Chabad ourselves a bar mitzva outside of a few more years while receiving house in Kiryat Ono. Noam relates: the kibbutz with a ceremony that offers of shlichus in India. India After an extended stay in 770, included an aliya la’Torah, etc., but has lately become an area of one of my friends begged me to our parents found out about it and intensive Chabad outreach. The join him on shlichus in a village in stopped us.” bachurim who go there have rich, India, on a Himalayan peak They grew up hating religion unusual experiences. They are overlooking the city of Dramsala. and religious people. And now, it witnesses to stories of neshamos “Open a yeshiva in Dramsala,” he became clear that they were not from another world, the world of said. “There are already Israeli interested in continuing the wandering Jews who consider India bachurim and baalei t’shuva there,
2>JJRW #'1 +-1&' !& conversation with the religious had to do mitzvos, including middle-aged Israeli kibbutznik. He people who happened to meet them lighting candles every Friday. said he was a dentist and five years in a pizza store in India. One day there was an article in earlier he had come to India In the course of our the newspaper about the Jewish searching for something. Since conversation it suddenly began to outreach in Dramsala and his then he had been taking courses in pour. It looked like a monsoon, a mother became aware of Chabad’s a kind of ritual drumming involving powerful rainfall that can last for work in India. She advised her son idols, r”l. hours and sometimes for days. to travel to Dramsala. “When you “You enter another world,” he They couldn’t leave, so we got into see people who look like the men in tried explaining to us. “At first,” he a serious conversation. They said this article, talk to them and tell said sort of apologetically, “I didn’t they were studying with a certain them that you are Jewish. They will say their prayers. But after a while cult in a Tibetan monastery in the be happy to help you.” I said to myself, I don’t believe in it area. His excitement was contagious anyway, so what do I care if I say In the course of our long talk, and he put on t’fillin as he cried. It it. So that’s what I do.” they were surprised to see that was then that I realized the After we spoke to him for a religious people were able to listen magnitude of our shlichus here, to while, we suggested that he put on and make jokes. We explained that be mekarev these lost Jews to their t’fillin. He refused, as we expected, the world’s religions are based on Father in heaven. and he said that it’s been 28 years the Torah and they are all cheap Before we could digest all this, since he had last put on t’fillin. imitations. They seemed interested and two minutes after the Indian I motioned to Mendele, my in what we had to say. Jew had finished his impassioned friend, that he should take out the Before they left, we gave them prayer, another Jew walked in, a t’fillin. And then, with the element the address of the Chabad house. It was still raining but they left. The next day, they actually dropped in to the Chabad house to say hello and we took the opportunity and gave them each an aliya to celebrate their bar mitzvas. While we waited in the pizza store for the downpour to stop, an English Jew walked in. He said that at home in England he put on t’fillin regularly, but some friends told him that while traveling he did not have to put on t’fillin. Naturally we told him that that is not true and said men are obligated to put on t’fillin daily – even away from home. While he was putting on t’fillin, someone walked into the store who looked Indian. He gave us a long look and then asked, somewhat hesitantly, “Are you Jews?” When we said Yes, he happily said, “Me “In the morning you’re with them, and too.” He said he lived a few hours in the evening you’re with us? Decide trip away from Dramsala. At some point he realized that his mother lit who you are with, who you are praying candles every Friday. When he questioned her about this, she told to!” They spoke quickly and with him they were Jewish and that Jews undisguised rage.
#'1 +-1&' !& 'PPRB of surprise and without asking him, I rolled up the guy’s sleeve and “We tried to make ourselves a bar began putting the t’fillin on him. I mitzva outside of the kibbutz with a didn’t care that it was done this way, the main thing being that he ceremony that included an aliya put on t’fillin. Maybe the light of the mitzva would penetrate his la’Torah, etc., but our parents found out soul. He realized that we had about it and stopped us.” spiritually-religiously kidnapped him and he yelled in self-defense. what they were saying amongst reddened eyes, he renewed his “Don’t put t’fillin on me!” He themselves, but I felt there was connection with G-d. protested but he didn’t actively danger here. At that point, the Indians left. fend me off. “I am praying,” he said softly. Apparently these were his “friends” Suddenly, I saw his eyes darting “Then what are you doing from the cult of drummers. about the room, right and left, up here?” they screamed at him I knew that we had been and down. “I’m not saying any angrily. “In the morning you’re participants in a G-dly mission and prayer,” he announced. “Not Shma with them, and in the evening had connected with a lost soul. You Yisroel either.” you’re with us? Decide who you could see the chain of instances of “No problem,” we told him. are with, who you are praying to?” “Divine Providence” that directs “You don’t have to say anything.” They spoke quickly and with each neshama to its Source. He suddenly became terrified. undisguised rage. That Shabbos was Parshas “Quick!” he hissed. We could see The Israeli mustered the Pinchas, which is his name. We how a battle was being waged courage and in an emotional invited Pinchas to the Chabad within him between the forces of though steady voice he said in house and parted. He actually evil and the forces of holiness. It English, while pointing came on Shabbos and participated was clear to me that we were part heavenward, “I’m with Him. He is in the t’fillos, in high spirits. of a story of a hidden neshama. I my G-d!” We had the merit of bringing a tried to accommodate him and do Then he turned to me and said, few Israelis to the Chabad house to things quickly. “Now start over again and do it a yeshiva-type program. Many of Then, seemingly out of properly and show me exactly what them have, by now, married and set nowhere, three Indians appeared. I ought to say.” And there, while up Jewish homes and some are “What are you doing?” they wearing t’fillin, with moist and even on shlichus. shouted at him. I didn’t understand
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