לזכות הילד מצעירי השלוחים חייל בצבאות ה׳ מנחם מענדל הכהן שי׳ דערען לרגל יום הולדתו ח״י תמוז נדפס ע״י הוריו הרה״ת ר׳ אשר לייב הכהן וזוגתו מרת זישא שיחיו דערען

CARRY ON! Shlomo Cunin Los Angeles, CA

TAMMUZ 5777 36 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER WORKING TOWARDS TRUE HISKASHRUS Rabbi Sholom Ber Lipskar Bal Harbor, FL

HISVAADUS CHASSIDIM In connection with Gimmel Tammuz 2 TISHREI 5740, LEVI FREIDIN via JEM 191830 2 TISHREI 5740,

TAMMUZ 5777 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 37 WORKING The topics discussed by Toras exposed to other ideologies, they Hachassidus are vital for every person lose their enthusiasm for Torah and TOWARDS TRUE living today: mitzvos. HISKASHRUS In the past, Yidden had studied This is because their whole Rabbi Sholom Ber Lipskar various sefarim that discuss musar, connection to Yiddishkeit, while Bal Harbor, FL self-refinement, and topics that relate seemingly robust and healthy, was in to the ‘avodah’ part of Yiddishkeit. essence lying on a thin layer of ice; its SKATING ON THIN ICE Yet none of these sefarim dealt foundation was merely cultural—“My There are two ways in which a with the concept of the Aibershter father put on tefillin, so I do so too; Chassid is unique and stands out in his himself. None of them provide osiyos my grandfather davened, so I do environment: First is by learning and explaining the purpose of our entire as well…” With all of their pious following Toras Hachassidus, and the avodah, the focal point of all of our trappings, they were never able to second—hiskashrus to the Rebbe. The efforts. really connect. They may proclaim two are not necessarily independent Thus, there are often people that are “Hodu laHashem kiru vishmo,” but who of one another, as they are both fully observant and totally absorbed is this Hashem that I am talking to? necessary components. in a Yiddishe life, but as soon as they These questions were amplified leave their environment, or they are in our generation, when people ask 3 TISHREI 5742, LEVI FREIDIN via JEM 201726 3 TISHREI 5742,

TAMMUZ 5777 38 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER questions that are unanswerable; avodas Hashem. Instead of imagining So without the proper attitude, questions about the Holocaust, and Hashem in a scary sense, as One who such awareness can even feel other issues of faith. Without a proper will strike if you will transgress one oppressing, and then a person might perspective of the Aibershter, these of His laws, we receive an entirely even feel a greater urge to break out of questions could become validated, and new appreciation for Elokus, one that those constraints. can easily lead to a crisis of faith. allows us to develop ahavas Hashem, Yet, this awareness and mindfulness This is where Chassidus is (true) yiras Hashem, and perhaps is critical to a Yid in any generation, extremely relevant. It gives us the most importantly, it gives a person a and most certainly for one living with ability to tap into a concept that we foundation for kabbolas ol. all of the distractions that surround us cannot truly understand, but that This is an entirely new outlook; a today… can give us an intellectual base with dimensional move, both intellectually And therefore we have a Rebbe. which to deal with all of those issues. and emotionally. A person, a soul in a body, who is It explains you who the Aibershter is, perfect in this area. And his perfection FROM THOUGHT ahavas and how He relates to you and your TO ACTION is displayed with the biggest actions. Yisrael, relating to each person on his Understanding Chassidus gives us Upon learning Chassidus and own level; it evokes a message that you the ability to reach a step higher in our meditating on its lessons, the too, can achieve this goal, and you too, core values of a person are set can reach higher. straight. However, from idealism to In 5746, I brought a group of implementation is a very long journey. Yidden who were serving prison Our idealism may be wonderful, sentences to the Rebbe for a Shabbos. but it is of vital importance, that our During the , the Rebbe gave knowledge be accompanied by a an explanation in maase merkavah, concept called moach shalit al halev; in a very profound sicha; and then the the intellectual world today, they call it Rebbe spoke to the prisoners. He told “mindfulness.” them about the avodah that they could Mindfulness does not mean accomplish while in a situation which meditation. Meditation is a means to the Gemara describes as “worse than allow an idea to infiltrate your entire death,” a situation that Torah doesn’t being. When we think Chassidus sanction at all. before davening or at ony other time, The Rebbe said that there are it is meditation; to allow its ideas to numerous levels of exile. The first affect our core. is the exile of the neshamah in the Mindfulness is the next step. body, all the way to the lowest form One of the most difficult things of exile—prison. But the Rebbe then for a person to do is to constantly said, that when a person is put into be mindful. To consistently think to an intense darkness, it is because that himself, is my conduct right or wrong; person has much stronger abilities what are the consequences going to than most people, and Hashem be, and so on. This is one of the most definitely gave him the strength to difficult things in the world, because overcome it. our nefesh habehamis is too much of an The Rebbe explained that same obstacle for us to constantly keep these idea; that if Hashem placed them in concepts in mind. this “exile within exile,” then they Therefore, notwithstanding all of surely have the abilities to overcome it our hisbonenus, and all of our learning and fulfill their mission through it. Chassidus, it is still impossible—in Then, during that same farbrengen, the words of , “lo yuchal lo”—to the Rebbe spoke another sicha, this remain constantly astute and aware of one to the rabbonim. the consequences of one’s actions. The Rebbe said that they cannot be satisfied by the fact that they

TAMMUZ 5777 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 39 LEVI FREIDIN via JEM 245340 RABBI SHOLOM BER LIPSKAR AT DOLLARS, 25 IYAR 5750.

once learned in yeshiva; they must connection that inspires and raises a I would pass the Rebbe and receive a constantly review their studies and person higher. dollar, my mood would go through ensure that they are always fresh in On a similar note, just being in a drastic change. I would leave the their minds. the Rebbe’s presence gave us the Rebbe’s presence literally on a high. The prisoners went out of their feeling that we were in the presence That’s what the Rebbe did to you… minds; here the Rebbe had uplifted of Elokus—this gave us immense IN TIMES LIKE NOW and encouraged the prisoners, while trepidation; upon leaving yechidus chastising the prominent rabbonim one’s mood would undergo a Someone I am close with once and telling them that they could do transformation. told the Rebbe that he feels that his better. The first time I entered the Rebbe’s hiskashrus is lacking. The Rebbe told In other words, at that farbrengen room after Gimmel Tammuz, I was him that if he wants to be mekushar, the Rebbe brought them to shocked by something, which I had he should learn the Rebbe’s sichos and understand and appreciate their never noticed before. When I used to . place in Yiddishkeit; if beforehand, enter the room for yechidus, the walk This person might have been their mindfulness of their sad state from the door to the Rebbe’s desk felt looking for a more fanciful proposal; would have lead them to depression, a mile long. It was only when I entered perhaps to say some l’chaim and now their mindfulness gave them after Gimmel Tammuz that I noticed become inspired, or some similar inspiration and encouragement. that physical smallness of the room. instant formula. The concept of a neshamah klolis Whenever I would go for dollars, That attitude was very distant is not merely a spiritual concept, the feeling during the wait would be from reality. Instant inspiration will intangible and unseen. It means a real one of intense nervousness. But once dissipate within a short time. To be

TAMMUZ 5777 40 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER truly connected to the Rebbe, a much I once decided to do a poll: I walked amos of the Frierdiker Rebbe, and so longer process is needed. around 770 asking bochurim what on. Through studying the Rebbe’s was written in that day’s Tanya. Yadah The Rebbe often cited the letter of sichos and maamarim, one’s mind inish b’nafshei, we all know whether the Alter Rebbe, where he explains process becomes one with the Rebbe’s. we will have the ability to answer that tzaddikim live on after their Through imbibing the Rebbe’s talks, that question without being a tad passing, and have even more influence our brains begin to automatically embarrassed. in the world than before. think in the Rebbe’s fashion; that is To become mekushar to the Rebbe, Yet, the Rebbe still chose to spend true hiskashrus with the Rebbe. it is imperative that we apply ourselves countless hours at the . When I was a young yeshiva with true dedication to studying These were not perfunctory bochur, we used to learn maamarim the Rebbe’s Torah, and then—trust yahrtzeit visits; we saw a living, with our teacher, and when we me—when we do so, new doors of breathing connection. Before the would reach the last few paragraphs opportunity and hatzlacha are opened Rebbe announced a new mitzvah which discuss avodah, we would read before a person. campaign, he would visit the Ohel. through them quickly. ON A PERSONAL NOTE Sichos, dollars after maariv, and This was a terrible mistake; the kuntreisim distributions, usually took whole point of the maamar was those Beyond learning the Rebbe’s Torah, place following a visit to the Ohel. last paragraphs, where the Rabbeim there is a specific directive from the And when hard times came around show us how we must implement the Rebbe about what to do when dealing and special yeshuos were needed, ideas in our actions. Understanding with a personal dilemma. Even if one there was one place—the Ohel. In the schematics and the map of the is knowledgeable in the Rebbe’s Torah, fact, during the Hei Teves court olamos are only a precursor to making he must still appoint a rav, a , proceedings, the Rebbe went to the Chassidus part of our life. to assist him with his personal Ohel every single day, for hours on It goes without saying, that this decisions. end! hiskashrus will not be born from quick The Rebbe explained that this There are those who maintain study sessions where a sicha is looked person must be someone who is that since the Rebbe’s presence is at once and forgotten within moments. dedicated to Torah and mitzvos and felt in other locations, they do not has a comprehension of Chassidus; need to visit the Ohel. The thought and if we will do so, the Rebbe said, is ludicrous. Before we moved on We have merited to the Rebbe will make sure that you shlichus to Florida, the Rebbe told us receive the correct answer. “Ich for mit eich, I am going together receive a veritable In truth, finding the Rebbe’s answer with you.” And needless to say, we is quite simple in our generation. We truly see and feel the Rebbe’s presence ocean of directives have merited to receive a veritable here in our work on a constant, ocean of directives from the Rebbe, consistent basis. However, we never from the Rebbe, and with the proper application—with imagined that to mean that we no the help of a Mashpia—one can easily longer need to go to the Rebbe, to be and with the proper find the Rebbe’s instructions for his at fabrengens, yechidus, and dollars… application— personal situation. And with a mere glance at the Rebbe’s THE DOORKNOB own conduct, we can understand that the same attitude applies to us today There is one more imperative to with the help of as well. hiskashrus to the Rebbe. To remain I can only point to my own a Mashpia—one connected and to ensure that one does experiences; coming to the Rebbe’s not veer one iota from the Rebbe’s Ohel for me is always a source of can easily find the path, a Chossid must visit the Ohel. inspiration, guidance, and open When we look back at the Rebbe’s miracles. Rebbe’s instructions own conduct, we find something very .טעמו וראו כי טוב הוי’ interesting. The Rebbe spent every for his personal day in 770, which the Rebbe described situation. as Beis Rabbeinu Sheb’bavel, the daled

TAMMUZ 5777 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 41 CARRY ON! On the plane, the pilot wanted to need to return to our shlichus. Our divert the flight to a different location. activities must grow. Rabbi Shlomo Cunin I went up to him and explained to Back in California, I got into a car Los Angeles, CA him where we were going, and a few with my son Levi, who was a bochur at HARD TIMES minutes later he announced that he the time, and we went to open a new On the night of Gimmel Tammuz had received new orders; the flight institution. We had no idea where we I was in Moscow, where the Rebbe would continue as scheduled. I knew were going. We ended up in Malibu, had sent us to bring back the sefarim. whom he had received the orders from. California, where we came across When we heard that the situation We arrived in New York, and I a building with a “For Sale” sign; I wasn’t good, I went to the shul and was the last one to enter the Rebbe’s recognized the number—it was a baal took out the sifrei Torah; I said that room. Later, at the Ohel, I declared habos of mine. He gave us permission through simcha we will surely be that we would not allow the Rebbe’s to use the location, and that Shabbos, poel. Suddenly the lights went out. I institutions to close; we would see to of Malibu opened its doors. It understood that this was the end of it that they develop and continue to was the first new institution to open life the way we knew it. grow. after Gimmel Tammuz. The next morning I gathered my Why is this important? children, and I told them that we LEVI FREIDIN via JEM 3147

THE REBBE GIVES A BOTTLE OF MASHKE TO RABBI SHLOMO CUNIN AT KOS SHEL BROCHO, MOTZOEI SIMCHAS TORAH 5747.

TAMMUZ 5777 42 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER went out and found a Jew to put on A quick look at the world around us shows tefillin with. When I came back, I learned girsa, and then Chassidus once that it is going in a certain direction. more. And now I am conducting a serious cheshbon hanefesh to see what I Wherever a person turns, he can find the could do better tomorrow; “In truth, my learning could have Rebbe’s influence; every Jew you meet will been much better; my head wasn’t tell you about his Chabad experience or his really at it. My davening began on a high note, but suddenly the yetzer encounter with the Rebbe. horah came and wacked me, and it was very hard to fight him back…” The situation that we are in today is well. In truth, even at times when a And then, upon going to sleep inherently unacceptable. In fact, even shliach is very occupied, he can take after this cheshbon hanefesh, you keep the Aibershter Himself is bothered by one possuk, one piece to focus on and in mind the Rebbe’s image and the it; the Rebbe would always quote the say with extra kavanah. Rebbe’s Chassidus; with this sort of attitude, the next morning starts off on ”בכל צרתם לו צר“ possuk —that whenever HISKASHRUS the Yidden are in distress, Hashem a whole new level. You wake up and Himself is as well. For a bochur, or any Chossid for recite Modeh Ani, and tell the Rebbe, ”…that matter, to have a true hiskashrus “I am going to make you proud את צמח דוד“ Every time we recite and the Aibershter with the Rebbe, there is one clear and When we recite brachos, and say ”עבדך מהרה תצמיח doesn’t answer our prayers, it demands open path: to fulfill the Rebbe’s horaos. “Elokai, neshama shenasata bi, the an explanation. How could the Yidden The Rebbe’s directives are well- soul that you gave to me,” it takes on be saying a bracha with Hashem’s known; they are printed and readily a whole new meaning. You thank the name for so long and yet He still does available. We need to keep to them on Aibershter for putting your neshamah not fulfill it? a constant basis, and with that, to keep in our blessed generation, dor hashvi’i, Our answer must be to continue the Rebbe’s image in our minds. From the dor of the geulah; the generation growing our efforts and activities. our eyes, the Rebbe’s image will trickle in which Chassidim—although we A Chossid’s activities begin with into our neshamos and into our entire do not have our Rebbe physically— himself: thinking Chassidus before beings. persevere and put other generations davening, davening b’avodah to A maamar from the Rebbe should to shame. Even Moshe Rabbeinu is the best of his abilities, and doing always be ready at the tip of our humbled by the attitude of today’s hafatzas hamaayanos with chayus and tongue. Whenever we have a free bochurim… moment, review the maamar; envision perseverance. FATHER AND SON At night, a Chossid should be able it paragraph by paragraph, and think A bochur might wake up one to recite krias shema and say to the about each word: “What does it mean? morning with a weakness. He may Aibershter, “I did my part, now You How does it apply to me?” If there is ask himself, “Why do I need all of this have to do Yours.” no one to listen to you say over the hard work? It would be easier to be a Personal avodah is important for maamar, say it to yourself, and say regular good Jew, get a job, work out shluchim as well. If he has a shul, to the Rebbe; “Rebbe, these are your a nice retirement plan. Why do I need he could slow the davening by ten words; I’m learning them because I all of this hassle?” minutes; if he doesn’t have a shul, he want to be connected to you…” In such a situation, all you need to can daven for even longer. This is the At night, when reciting krias shema, do is to put on your thinking cap: fuel for our tanks; a Chossid cannot you should ask yourself, “What did I A quick look at the world around truly live without it. Obviously, one is do today to make the Rebbe proud of us shows that it is going in a certain responsible for his shlichus, and his me? direction. Wherever a person turns, he shlichus takes priority over everything “I learned a maamar Chassidus can find the Rebbe’s influence; every else. However, sometimes a shliach in the morning, I davened, I learned Jew you meet will tell you about his can find time for himself; if so, he can nigleh, I reached out to another talmid Chabad experience or his encounter surely find time to daven b’avodah as in yeshiva who was having a hard time, and during my lunch break I with the Rebbe. Shluchim continue to

TAMMUZ 5777 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 43 12 TISHREI 5740, LEVI FREIDIN via JEM 192257 12 TISHREI 5740,

TAMMUZ 5777 44 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER go out to the most distant and remote “Oh, your father is gone; why don’t places, and the worst tragedies haven’t you find a new one?” deterred them. Although an entire The Rebbe is our father, and we are generation has not seen the Rebbe in a his children. Period. physical body, they continue to show These are not my own statements; a profound love for the Rebbe; even this is all discussed in the Rebbe’s babies from their cribs do so. sichos. The facts on the ground show AFTER GIMMEL that the Aibershter put us in a unique TAMMUZ generation with an enormous mission; it would be ludicrous to ignore this This past Purim, I was sitting at sublime calling. the Ohel near the video of the Rebbe, On the same note, a person cannot and I was writing a pan. In the spirit choose to place himself in a different of Purim, I did not plan to mention a generation of Chassidus. In order to go specific issue that I actually needed a in the ways of the Baal Shem Tov and bracha for. Yet suddenly, in the sicha the Alter Rebbe, a Chossid must follow that was playing, I hear the Rebbe the Rebbe of the seventh generation. talking about the exact issue that I This is because, as the Rebbe had. Without mentioning anything, I explained, the Rebbe of every had already received an answer. generation is the full memaleh Some people feel that today, the makom of the Rabbeim of previous Rebbe doesn’t answer them as he did generations. This does not merely before. From my own experience, I mean successor; it means that he can say that this is entirely untrue. encompasses everything that his The Rebbe answers questions just as predecessors represented. He fills their he did before; I have been witness to shoes entirely. In other words, the hundreds of miracles which occurred Rebbe is the Baal Shem Tov, the Alter after writing to the Rebbe. Rebbe, the Rebbe Rashab—all the In general, if someone wishes to Rabbeim in one; the path to connect receive an answer from the Rebbe, with any of the Rabbeim is through there is only one condition which he connecting with our Rebbe. must fulfill. He must be sincere. There Additionally, young people today were insincere people before Gimmel might not realize that they owe their Tammuz as well; to receive an answer entire existence to the Rebbe. America from the Rebbe, a Chossid must write used to be described as the graveyard a sincere letter, from the depths of his of Judaism and everyone was heart. If you do so, the Rebbe is sure to assimilating in droves. I can say on a find a way to answer you, in some way. personal level, that my entire family— Through a video, through a sicha or brothers cousins, etc.—are frumme through a letter—in whatever manner Yidden only because the Frierdiker the Rebbe chooses. Rebbe and the Rebbe came to America IN CONCLUSION and turned the entire situation around. It goes without saying that until our I owe my entire identity to the Rebbe; mission is completed, we do not have without the Rebbe, I don’t know where permission to rest. We can never know I would be today. which tefillin or which mitzvah we do But all these explanations are with another Jew will be the one to tip unnecessary. The Rebbe is our father, the scale; let’s keep it going strong, and and we are inherently connected to bring Moshiach very soon. him. Would you ever tell a person,

TAMMUZ 5777 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 45