Out of the Disturbing Flood Waters and Into a New World
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D’VAR MALCHUS OUT OF THE DISTURBING FLOOD WATERS AND INTO A NEW WORLD Although leaving the exile and entering raven in order to determine whether the earth had dried, and then, a few the redemption can only be according to days later, sending the dove, and so G-d’s directive, nevertheless, when G-d sees on. Jews yearning for the redemption to come In fact, the actions of Noach immediately – “we want Moshiach now!” – this and his efforts – expressing his great yearning and desire to leave itself quickens the commandment to be issued the ark in order to proceed with his forth from G-d to “leave the ark,” to leave the Divine mission – resulted in G-d exile for the true and complete redemption. commanding him to leave the ark earlier than He would have otherwise instructed. Translated by Boruch Merkur 2. The application of the above with regard to man’s service of G-d: 1. It is brought in this week’s permitted to leave the ark until he A flood (mabul) is symbolic of Torah reading: “And it was at the end was commanded to do so by G-d! worldly matters that divert a person’s of 40 days that Noach opened the The explanation is that Noach focus (ha’mevalbelim) away from window of the ark that he had made knew that G-d had appointed him serving G-d. The advice in dealing and he sent out the raven, etc.” with the responsibility of overseeing with this problem, according to the At first glance, Noach’s the preservation of the world. teaching of the Baal Shem Tov, is approach in determining whether Indeed, he was commanded to exert “enter…the ark (teiva),” referring the water had dried up is difficult to himself in the construction of the to the words (teivos) of Torah study understand: ark, bringing within it specimens “of and prayer. A Jew must bring himself Since his entering the ark was all living creatures, of all flesh,” and into the words of Torah and t’filla in on G-d’s command, he should to feed them throughout the entire order to be saved from the disturbing have waited for G-d’s command to time they remained in the ark. All this “flood waters.” labor, designed to preserve life in the leave the ark. In fact, that is what Moreover, a person must bring world after they were to emerge from eventually happened: “And the L-rd with him “of all living creatures, of the ark, had to be done in a natural spoke to Noach, saying, ‘Leave the all flesh,” taking with him, into the manner, as it is said, “And G-d will ark,’” and only then does it say, teiva, the very best of the world; this bless you in all you do.” Thus, when “And Noach left…the ark.” Thus, on too should be illuminated with the there was the suspicion that perhaps what basis did Noach send the raven light of holiness. (and the dove thereafter) in order the land had dried up and they could All the above, however, still does to determine whether the water now leave the ark, Noach did not had dried up? He was anyway not delay; he immediately did all that Continued on page 12 was in his power – sending out the Issue 1042 • � 3 1042_bm_eng.indd 3 2016-10-31 9:45:52 PM INTERVIEW TO BE A SHLIACH IS TO REJECT THE NOTION THAT ANYTHING HAS CHANGED Forty years have passed since the first group of shluchim was sent by the Rebbe to Eretz Yisroel, so we spoke with Rabbi Shmuel Greisman who was in that group. * He describes that unique shlichus and their influence on the residents of Eretz Yisroel. * He told us about being appointed director of the committee to write a Torah scroll for Jewish children and calls upon every Chassid to join the efforts to complete the sixth such Torah. * He spoke about hiskashrus and warns against the phenomenon of disconnecting the wellspring from its source, i.e., spreading Chassidus without a Rebbe, and urged preparing the world to greet Moshiach whose identity is known – the Rebbe, Nasi Doreinu. Interview by M. Fried Photos by Shneur Schiff THE REBBE TOOK FULL shluchim to Eretz Yisroel. How about his plans to send shluchim RESPONSIBILITY were you chosen to be part of to Eretz Yisroel. In the days that this group? followed, names were submitted FOR OUR SHLICHUS At the 19 Kislev 5736 of families who volunteered to It is forty years since the farbrengen, the Rebbe first spoke join the group of shluchim. The Rebbe sent the first group of Rebbe chose eleven shluchim 4 � • 3 Cheshvan 5777 1042_bm_eng.indd 4 2016-10-31 9:45:54 PM (Parshas VaYigash) the rest of the shluchim who were chosen were given the news. At the farbrengen on Shabbos, the Rebbe spoke about this and announced that the “Tzeischem L’Shalom” before we left would take place at the Yud Shvat farbrengen. In the period before we left, we heard the Rebbe say amazing things about the shlichus, such as what the Rebbe said at the farbrengen on Shabbos Parshas Mikeitz, that he takes full responsibility for this shlichus. At another farbrengen the Rebbe said that this shlichus was a preparation for Moshiach’s coming and the fulfillment of the promise, “and you, the Jewish people, will be gathered one by one.” Testimony about what was going on in 770 at that time can be found in a diary from that period: “A few days before Yud Shvat, we learned that the rosh yeshiva, Rabbi Mordechai Mentlick, would be traveling too, to help the shluchim who were traveling to Eretz Yisroel, and that he would be there for ten days. During that time he would visit the Chabad mosdos Torah there. This was very encouraging, especially for the shluchim. “… A ‘Tzeischem L’Shalom’ was arranged by Tzeirei Agudas Chabad and it was attended by the hanhala of the yeshiva and many guests. Each of the shluchim reviewed a sicha and part of the maamer, “Basi L’Gani 5700” … At the farbrengen of Shabbos, Parshas Bo, the Rebbe gave mashke to R’ Mentlick to distribute during the farbrengen from those names who were late wife’s articles about shlichus, for the shluchim and to say sent to Yerushalayim, and eleven which was written in English, he l’chaim, and at the end of the who were sent to Tzfas, which added the word “voluntary” to farbrengen he gave mezonos to included me. the description of shlichus.) R’ Mentlick to distribute to the (Apropos the concept of I got the good news that I women and children shluchim. shlichus, it bears noting, that was chosen by the Rebbe on Hei “On 11 Shvat, all the new when the Rebbe read one of my Teves. By the end of that week shluchim waited in Gan Eden Issue 1042 • � 5 1042_bm_eng.indd 5 2016-10-31 9:45:55 PM INTERVIEW HaTachton (the hallway outside the famous letter in which he and celebrating the Rebbe’s the Rebbe’s room). R’ Mentlick went into detail about the goals birthday on 11 Nissan. These was in yechidus for half an hour and jobs of the shluchim in became self-understood concepts and then the Rebbe stood in Tzfas, Yerushalayim, and around for every Chassid. the doorway of his room and Eretz Yisroel. Then came the In his time, the mashpia, R’ gave each shliach volume 11 of stage of the individual settling in Mendel Futerfas, said that the Likkutei Sichos and 150 Israeli of the shluchim, each one in his shluchim brought 770 to Eretz liros and ten dollars for expenses position with his work. Yisroel. The shluchim instilled and for tz’daka and to build up At the beginning of that letter a “koch” and new chayus in all the land. The Rebbe gave a siddur the Rebbe writes, “It was said the Rebbe’s inyanim, in carrying and pocket Tanya to the women at the beginning of the shlichus out the mivtzaim, hafatzas and children. Then the Rebbe that there are several goals and ha’maayanos, and learning and went out to escort the shluchim. benefits in their trip and their spreading the Rebbe’s teachings “Hundreds of Anash went shlichus, in addition to the throughout the country. In this to the airport and the bachurim main intention – stabilizing the too, the shluchim were pioneers. immediately began singing and situation in Eretz Yisroel, not Along with the shluchim, dancing. This was broadcast live only through ordinary speech the Rebbe sent a special “tank” on television. There were also and action along with material to leverage and ramp up the interviews on television with and spiritual help in general, activities. What can you tell us some of the passengers. The ones but as shluchim, and a person’s about that? who spoke were: R’ Mentlick, R’ emissary is like himself, to be a During the period before Shmuel Greisman (on behalf of role model for others so they see we went on shlichus, five the shluchim to Tzfas), Sholom and act accordingly.” Lubavitchers bought a “Mitzva Duchman (on behalf of the Tank” together for the purpose of shluchim to Yerushalayim), R’ A NEW CHAYUS IN ALL THE sending it to Eretz Yisroel, but it Moshe Pinchas Katz (on behalf REBBE’S MATTERS was held up because there was no of Anash), Consul Tzvi Levin one responsible to operate and (on behalf of the consulate), and In retrospect, what was the cover the expenses of the tank.