NNeewwss A QUARTER OF A MILLION JEWS IN UNITY RALLY IN SUPPORT OF U.S. AND ISRAEL

250,000 Jews (and, l’havdil, a nice Christian organization who spoke in said by only one speaker – who wasn’t showing of gentiles) from all over the support of Israel. even Jewish – and she was wildly Unites States and from all walks of life, applauded. took off a day of work on Monday, April All the speakers expressed their 15, to rally in support of the United unconditional support of Israel’s war on There were additional rallies held States and Israel. terror. The only ill-received speech was throughout the U.S. and Canada in which many thousands There was never a participated. gathering like this of Jews in the history of the U.S., not The Crown Heights Beis even during the Six-Day War. Din had announced that all These days Jews feel that they those over 18 should cannot remain apathetic to participate in the D.C. rally. So what is going on Eretz Yisroel many people responded that and throughout the world. 30 buses from Crown Heights alone went to the rally. Within six days, the leaders of the Jewish Federation It was an amazing sight to organized the rally with the behold how all the highways Conference of Presidents of leading to Washington were Major American Jewish full of long lines of hundreds Organizations. They set aside and thousands of buses and their differences of opinion and cars filled with Yidden ready to united for one purpose: to tell protest for the sake of our the president of the United and Jewish brethren across the States, and the rest of the world globe. Parking places on the that the Jewish people are one sides of the roads were full of nation. thousands of Jews, resting along the way. The time was 1,200 buses were rented, used for minyanim as well as and others arrived by car and Mivtza T’fillin and besuras plane. The airlines and bus ha’Geula. companies can’t recall a similar occurrence in many decades. R’ Meir Shmukler, who New York, New Jersey, and disseminates the Rebbe’s Connecticut used every last A partial view of the enormous crowd at the D.C. rally position regarding shleimus bus. ha’Aretz via his website made by President Bush’s representative TruePeace.org, used the opportunity to Members of Congress expressed to the rally, Deputy Secretary of give out thousands of stickers with the how impressed they were by the Defense, Paul Wolfowitz. His speech message, “Read the Bible: The Land of organization of it all and by the massive was fine until he mentioned the Israel Belongs to the Jews,” along with participation. suffering of “innocent Palestinians.” The the address of his website. R’ Shmukler crowd reacted with boos. said that in the days following the rally, Among the speakers at the rally thousands of people checked out his were former Prime Minister Binyamin All the speakers based what they site and many sent him feedback. Netanyahu, Natan Scharansky, Nobel said on matters other than the simple Prize winner Elie Wiesel, former mayor truth – that Eretz Yisroel belongs to the The stickers were placed on of N.Y. Rudy Giuliani, parents of terror Jewish people forever! This was actually thousands of cars and buses, and victims, and even a woman from a during the rally there were signs with

Issue Number 365 BEIS MOSHIACH i 27 the same message watched by continues to deteriorate, r”l, there millions on TV news programs. should be Hakhel gatherings this year in all places.” Thousands of Anash and T’mimim spread through the The D.C. rally definitely caused crowd and put t’fillin on with the hundreds of thousands of thousands of people. Jews were participants, especially those not willing to put on t’fillin especially yet observant, to feel a sense of in lieu of the explanation they were pride and connection to and given – that in the merit of t’fillin the Jewish people. we are victorious over our enemies. The most moving speech of the rally had to be the one given by The Lubavitch presence was Seth Mandell, father of 13-year-old very obvious and made a Koby Mandell, who was savagely tremendous kiddush sheim butchered last year. He referred to Lubavitch. the heartrending story of the father The Rebbe’s view being broadcast to the world who told his 4-year-old son to say It should be noted that this Shma with him, as they died in huge rally took place in a Shnas Sbarro’s. Mr. Mandell asked: “Who Hakhel. In a general letter dated 13 Iyar and material state of the world, regarding Jews and regarding , said Shma with my son? Let us all say 5741 (a Shnas Hakhel), the Rebbe wrote Shma now...” that in connection with the “spiritual which is not at all stable, and which

28 i BEIS MOSHIACH 21 Iyar 5762 AT THE JENIN BORDER CHECKPOINT: “Immediately to T’shuva, Immediately to Geula”

At the Jenin border checkpoint, one of the returning battalions that lost 13 men in an ambush and another two soldiers by snipers assembled for a briefing after spending 2 weeks inside Jenin. The 160 men listened to their commander for a half an hour. A young officer, 23 years old, son of an Israeli , sported a long ponytail. He had strayed from Torah observance years before. After the briefing, the young man spotted a tankist he recognized from his original army service five years ago. In Jenin the officer was with his reserve unit. The young man asked the tankist if he could borrow tallis and t’fillin. The tankist, upon realizing who he was, kissed and embraced him. The young officer then boarded the mivtza tank for a few quiet moments of prayer. The pervading mood of this Moshiach Flag, a gift from the Chabad Tank to the Tzahal Tank battalion was one of depression. As the music played from the country would suffer for it later. Chabad tank, the tankist grabbed a soldier and began to dance. The (And the suffering was very clapping and singing was contagious clear to this small unit that lost and the other soldiers began to do 15 men.) likewise until a joyous mood spread “And the same voice,” throughout the rocky, desolate continued the Chabad Tankist, checkpoint area. “assured us that Moshiach is After the young officer put on t’fillin, coming now!” the rest of the unit slowly, one by one, This last idea is hard for the also put on t’fillin. The tankist had many soldiers to absorb amidst the conversations with the soldiers, most of agony that they experienced, but them asking, “What is going to on the other hand, they know happen?” referencing their fears of an very well that they, as soldiers unknown future and how to look at that and civilians, suffer the future through the eyes of Hashem in vulnerability caused by political terms of the well-being of their country decisions. and their own lives. One soldier said that after The tankist quoted the Rebbe many years of marriage he and concerning a previous military his wife have not had children. campaign when he said that if Tzahal His fellow soldiers told him to Inside the Chabad Tank: soldier thanking did not finish the work at that time, the put on t’fillin, sure that it would Hashem after the fighting in Jenin

Issue Number 365 BEIS MOSHIACH i 29 Jenin, the tankist has returned to his regular work schedule of traveling to neighborhoods and villages to teach children in the network of youth clubs that exist in the lower Galil and to travel to army posts in the area. He knows that the next good deed that is stored in his mivtza tank could tip the battlefield advantage to the favor of Moshiach and Basic equipment to break through the Geula forever. obstacles to Geula Several repairs were needed on the mivtza tank after the stay in the Jenin area. The tank is now in shape for the upcoming Lag B’Omer Parade, at which time it will join other Chabad tanks, poised to bring Moshiach and Geula. All who are interested in supporting the work of bolstering the morale of Israel’s brave defenders should send their contributions to: MOBILE CENTERS – Israel Lubavitch Mitzvah Tanks in Israel help. The tankist told him that if he – the Lubavitcher Rebbe. His blessing 820 Eastern Parkway, , NY 11213 would put on t’fillin each day, he and his should be fulfilled.) Tel (718) 756-1898; Fax (718) 756-0017 Rabbi Dovid Nachshon, Director wife would have a child. (The tankist Since the IDF has pulled out of has the power of the one that sent him ChabadIsrael.org

MORAL SUPPORT FOR THE SOLDIERS

Every day, a group of people “I immediately began organized by shliach R’ Lipa Kurtzweil working on helping out. leaves Kiryat Malachi for army bases in Along with my son and with the and other areas where the help of others from the tanks and soldiers are located. The yishuv and some T’mimim, group brings refreshments to the we began distributing food. soldiers along with a positive and joyful We invited soldiers home for attitude, helping to break the ice even hot meals. with soldiers unfamiliar with Chabad’s “On Erev Shevii Shel kits which have chapters of T’hillim, a activities. Many of them agree to roll up Pesach, right before they were going to pushka, and T’fillas HaDerech. We their sleeves for t’fillin. enter Jenin, I met with the command encouraged the soldiers and put t’fillin R’ Avshalom Kiel, shliach in Gan Ner staff and encouraged them. I blessed on with them. near Jenin: “The rear command of the them that just as at the Splitting of the “At first their spirits were good, but war in Jenin is situated in our yishuv Sea, when the Egyptians drowned after 13 soldiers were ambushed, they Gan Ner. Our yishuv looks like one big without the Jews having to lift a finger, were demoralized. We did our best to military camp. The army is spread out the same should happen with us, with revive their spirits. in the yishuv, and tents and equipment Hashem’s help. “One day, we approached a line of are everywhere. “Right after Pesach we continued armored vehicles that were about to “Thousands of soldiers have been with Mivtza T’fillin among the soldiers. enter Jenin. We put t’fillin on with the here as of Chol HaMoed Pesach. We had a mitzva tank with us and we soldiers and hung up Moshiach flags Everybody knows that in the major call- went to every spot in the area where with them on their tanks. That’s how up of reserves there wasn’t enough food soldiers could be found. We brought they proudly went off to fight our and equipment to go around. refreshments and distributed shmira enemies.”

30 i BEIS MOSHIACH 21 Iyar 5762 LUBAVITCHER YESHIVAH OCEAN PARKWAY CAMPUS PTA SCHOLARSHIP BENEFIT DINNER

The first Lubavitcher Yeshivah Ocean Parkway Campus PTA Scholarship Benefit Dinner, honoring the late Holocaust hero, Japanese Consul Chiune Sugihara and the Lubavitcher students whose lives he saved, was held this past Sunday, April 21, 2002 in the grand ballroom of Oholei Torah in Crown Heights. The gala event began with an elegant reception at five-o’clock in the evening. Guests lined up at the registration table in the lobby, where their table numbers were assigned and a documentary video on the Sugihara saga played on a monitor. The several hundred guests then proceeded to a buffet set to a Japanese theme, where numerous community notables, Part of the overflow crowd that gathered for the dinner yeshivah friends and local politicians mingled and socialized. Seen on the At six-thirty, the scene were the Japanese Deputy guests made their Consul, General of N.Y. City Council way to the main Member James Davis, Congressman ballroom, where Major Owens, Brooklyn Borough lavishly set tables President Marty Markowitz, and the were graced by entire faculty of United Lubavitcher Japanese-themed Yeshivah of Ocean Parkway.

The rebbes of the ULY Ocean Parkway at the dais

centerpieces, dais with a formal welcome. His complete with remarks centered on the motivation of bamboo, shrubbery the fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi and miniature Sholom D. , the Rebbe Japanese structures. Rashab, in establishing Yeshivas Rabbi Ari Raskin, the Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch, the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s forerunner of today’s United shliach to Brooklyn Lubavitcher Yeshivah. “…the Yeshivah is Heights, New York, based on three very important Yeshivah graduate principles: the spirit of non- and event Master of compromise in Torah education, Ceremonies, opened mesiras nefesh [self-sacrifice], and The Japanese Consul flanked by Rabbi Ari Raskin (left) the evening from the finally, the love and loyalty for our and Rabbi Shmuel Dechter (right) people, Torah and G-d.” Raskin

Issue Number 365 BEIS MOSHIACH i 31 concluded: “Other Rebbes were looking and customs compiled by the the Yeshivah. for followers. The Rebbe was looking Lubavitcher Rebbe. “ ‘The Baal Shem for leaders. Every [United Lubavitcher Tov [the founder of Chassidism] The two honorees then graced the Yeshivah] student is a leader.” taught: Everything we witness contains assembled with brief remarks, with Mr. a lesson in our relationship with G-d.’ Greenbaum, the Sar Hachesed awardee, The emcee then introduced Tuvia And since we are here tonight for commenting that “it is not that Lyampe and Rachamim Dweck, two United Lubavitcher Yeshivah, the Lubavitcher Yeshivah is honoring me— young United Lubavitcher Yeshivah lesson we learn is “l’chatchila ariber!” it’s that I was given the opportunity to students, who recited Chapters 101 [Loosely translatable as “always take the honor Lubavitcher Yeshivah.” Guest of and 20 of the traditional Psalms, as the high ground,” the motto of the fifth Honor Mr. Laine, known for his brevity, assembled rose and repeated the sacred Lubavitcher Rebbe, the Rebbe simply stated, “Thank you for words after them. The crowd was asked Maharash.] supporting this wonderful to remain standing as Col. Jacob organization.” Goldstein, Staff Chaplain of the New The chairman then introduced York State Army National Guard and Rabbi Shmuel Dechter, Principal of the Dr. David Kranzler, a noted Jewish chaplain of Ground Zero and a Ocean Parkway campus, who touched historian and authority on the Sugihara graduate of U.L.Y., approached the upon the dinner’s theme of “courage, story, then addressed the guests and podium in full military regalia reviewed the actual dramatic to recite the Previous sequence of historical events, Lubavitcher Rebbe’s Prayer for from the desperate plight of America. Goldstein, who had the Jewish refugees to the just returned from a four-week convergence of “ironic” tour of visiting U.S. factors—read hashgachah servicemen in the Middle pratis—at the Japanese Eastern theater, including Consular office in Kaunas conducting a seder on the (Kovno), Lithuania and their aircraft carrier USS John F. unbelievable escape across Kennedy and visiting the Siberia to Japan, Shanghai and troops in Afghanistan. eventually the Free World. “The word ‘Yehudi’ comes from A videotaped talk of the hoda’ah, which means thanks,” Lubavitcher Rebbe dating to said Kranzler. “We as a nation 1988, courtesy of Jewish owe a great debt of gratitude Educational Media, was than to the Japanese government, played on the large projector the Japanese people and the screens mounted in the hall. Sugihara family,” he asserted The brief talk touched upon to great applause. the ancient mitzvah of Hakhel, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz presenting in which the entire Nation of Emcee Raskin followed citations to the guests of honor, Yossi Greenbaum (left) and with mention of “three special Israel would gather in Sholom Laine (right) Jerusalem’s Temple to hear women who deserve honor,” and proceeded to call upon their king read from the conviction and commitment to the Torah, and proffered a spiritual and Mrs. Peshy Teller, Mrs. Seema future,” and how the Yeshivah history Goldstein and Mrs. Ettie Gottlieb to practically relevant interpretation of so inspires today’s students. He then this now-defunct practice—”how to receive well-earned awards for their introduced at length the evening’s two tireless, critical efforts on the Dinner’s apply it to our modern lives,” as the honorees, Yossi Greenbaum and video’s introductory narration stated. behalf. It was their vision and Sholom Laine, both Crown Heights determination that culminated in this The selection concluded with the residents and graduates of the United Rebbe’s prayer that “we celebrate standing-room-only display of Lubavitcher Yeshivah. Both honorees appreciation to U.L.Y. Hakhel in Jerusalem this year!” posed with their elegantly framed Rabbi , Dean of the awards for the cameras, and, on the A ceremonial unveiling of newly United Lubavitcher Yeshivah, then other side of the mechitzah, their “better created postage stamps delivered greetings with the words of halves” received matching awards for commemorating Mr. Sugihara’s heroism Hayom Yom, the collection of wisdom their support of their husbands and of then commenced on the hall’s stage.

32 i BEIS MOSHIACH 21 Iyar 5762 Teller; and Representative Owens, An emotionally powerful moment respectively, each of whom posed for an was had as the emcee then asked all the official photograph. The five countries Sugihara survivors and their issuing the stamps are Gambia, descendants to rise. What a powerful Grenada, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and statement this was, as 20-30 people Grenada Carriacov. stood as each survivor was mentioned by name. Respect and recognition was Perhaps the evening’s most also given to those survivors no longer remarkable highlight then began, with with us. Their families, sometimes the Hon. Mr. Koshikawa taking the three generations, rose to be stand to convey an official message acknowledged by the assembled guests from the Japanese government to the and dignitaries. “Sugihara survivors,” their families, the Yeshivah’s supporters and to the The keynote speaker, Rabbi Lubavitch community at large. The Abraham Hecht, was then introduced. Japanese diplomat, aware that Chiune Rabbi Hecht, one of a handful of Sugihara’s position in Lithuania was American students to study at Yeshivas similar to his today, repeatedly Tomchei Temimim in Otwock, Poland mentioned his personal gratitude in before World War II, thanked the being able to meet the survivors themselves and their numerous living descendants. Paraphrasing the Chaplain Colonel Goldstein recites the Talmud’s Tractate Sanhedrin: “He who Rebbe Rayatz’s prayer for the security of saves one life… is as if he saved a full the USA world,” the Consul mentioned an episode of heroism from September 11, The stamps were designed and 2001, in which a young media produced by a good friend of U.L.Y, Mr. st Sam Malamud, of Intergovernmental executive on the 81 floor of the South Philatelic Co.. in conjunction with the Tower carried a wheelchair-bound foreign governments involved. The five woman down to the ground floor. Both poster-sized reproductions, shrouded survived the collapse. “When asked, in black cloth, were ceremoniously ‘Why did you do it?’ he said, ‘I’m no uncovered as the emcee called out the hero. I just knew that I could not nationality of each. The unveilings were possibly live with myself had I left her performed by the Hon. Kazuhiko stranded up there.’ Likewise Mr. Koshikawa, the Japanese Deputy Sugihara knew that he could not live Mr. Shmuel Malamud with the Japanese Consul General of New York; Dr. with himself as Jewish refugees asked Consul unveiling one of the five Kranzler; Mr. Sam Malamud; Mr. Pinny him to save their lives,” said Mr. commemorative stamps in memory of Koshikawa. He concluded by late Japanese Consul Chiune Sugihara acknowledging the bridges between Japan and the Jewish Deputy Consul for his “very moving community built by and inspiring words,” and recounted Mr. Sugihara, and the the gripping tale of his and his friends’ commitment to escape from bombarded Poland in the education that the early days of the war. Following a survivors, their theme of “past, present and future,” descendants and the Rabbi Hecht regaled the audience with Yeshivah have in his personal memories of the past and common. He present of Lubavitch in America, and received a standing inspired his listeners with his hope for ovation upon the future with his description of the Rabbi Avrohom Garfinkel, speaking on behalf conclusion. vast, sweeping international force for of the Shanghai Temimim good that Lubavitch is today.

Issue Number 365 BEIS MOSHIACH i 33 Brooklyn Borough President Marty Lubavitcher community for 23 years” honorees, and concluded: “Anyone Markowitz, a born-and-bred Crown in the State Capitol. To vigorous who devotes his life to our kids Heightser and former New York State applause, Markowitz also said, deserves our respect.” Senator, took the stand in his dynamic “Lubavitch has made this community style to assert that “Brooklyn is the better than it was when I grew up.” The Rabbi Aaron Garfinkel, a veteran Chassidic capitol of the world,” and Borough President then presented teacher at United Lubavitcher Yeshivah that he “was privileged to serve the official Proclamations to the Dinner’s for close to 60 years and teacher to several generations of Dinner-goers, was then introduced and warmly greeted as he approached the podium. DR. ( ZVI ) HARVEY LANG Rabbi Garfinkel recounted his origins Chiropractor in Otwock, his journey to Shanghai and his beginnings in education in the early 783 Montgomery Street 40’s. He ended with the traditional plea Chiropractic Applied Kinesiology for the immediate arrival of Moshiach, - Nutrition - to thunderous applause. Infants - Children - Adults Headache, Back & Neck Pain, etc. The emcee proceeded to read letters Learning Disability, T.M.J. (JAW), Dislexia, Chronic of greeting sent to the Dinner by Ear Aches, Scoliosis, Allergy, Neural Organization numerous political notables, including Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, (718) 773-1121 By Appointment Rep. Major Owens, and Benjamin Lessin, President of the Visas for Life Foundation, the Sugihara family’s humanitarian organization. The witty, well-known badchan B”H Rabbi Yankel Miller, the Yarmer Rav, then took the stand and entertained the KAN TZIVA HASHEM ES HABRACHA audience with his unique brand of Yiddish humor. His tall tales and endearing sense of levity had the However ……if you are considering a move, do consider audience laughing during his 20- minute presentation. THE OVERLOOKED CORNER OF NEW JERSEY: The dinner concluded as guests AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN STABLE NEIGHBORHOOD recited Birkas Hamazon from the 22 MINUTE TRAIN RIDE INTO MIDTOWN MANHATTAN Dinner’s elegant programmes, davened 40 MINUTE CAR RIDE INTO CROWN HEIGHTS maariv with the several minyanim that CHABAD-FRIENDLY WELL-ESTABLISHED SHUL WITH DAILY formed about the hall, and slowly SHIURIM IN NIGLE AND CHASSIDUS departed. PROXIMITY TO 6 YESHIVOS, INCLUDING CHABAD PROXIMITY TO SEVERAL MIKVAOTH INCLUDING CHABAD This was indeed an evening to be PROXIMITY TO KOSHER SHOPPING AND EATING PLACES remembered. Crown Heights has rarely LOTS OF PARKS AND OPEN SPACES seen such a professional, prestigious, AND MORE…… and sentimental dinner such as U.L.Y. produced. WHERE? MAPLEWOOD NJ AND ITS HILTON NEIGHBORHOOD The survivors, their families, and the entire Lubavitch community came CONG. AHAVATH ZION 421 BOYDEN AVE one step closer to greeting Moshiach by UNDER THE SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP OF RABBI realizing that the actions of one person YEHESKEL LEBOVIC FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CALL: 973-313-2392 can affect generations and generations FOR REAL ESTATE INFORMATION CALL ANNA HEIM AT WEICHERT: to come for the good. May it be now 973-376-4545 EXT 235 mamash!

34 i BEIS MOSHIACH 21 Iyar 5762