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contents

OFFERING THE ESSENCE 5 D’var Malchus

THE REBBE’S LETTER AND THE 7 DOCTOR’S DECREE Story | Nosson Avrohom

BEGINNING WITH THE FINAL 11 BLESSING Shlichus | Rabbi Yaakov Shmuelevitz

THE S’FIRA THAT DOESN’T END 13 Thought | Rabbi Chaim Ashkenazi

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d’var malchus - acharei

automatic: as a matter of course we will be aware of and fulfill G-d’s Will, because the mitzvos will OFFERING express not just the relationship between G-d and the Jewish people, but their unified essence. These are not two approaches to serving G-d, or expressing our THE ESSENCE relationship with him. Rather, the volitional is an external mode of service, while the intuitive is an Translated and adapted by Dovid Yisroel Ber Kaufmann internal mode. Now, the external mode is dominant, except at certain times such as Yom Kippur. Now, we This week’s Torah reading describes fulfill the commandments of the Creator, but as an individual, one the Yom Kippur service in the with a separate identity. This is an exterior service, where the Sanctuary. This anticipates the individual and the mitzva – and thus natural state of affairs during the the One who gave the mitzva – remain separate and apart from times of Moshiach. Then the volitional, each other. But there is also an interior service. Here the mitzva is external mode of service will become fulfilled in such a way that the individual becomes attached to the identical with the intuitive, internal Creator, adhering to Him so that they are like one entity. This will be mode. This also parallels the the norm in the times of Moshiach. difference between the sacrificial And this is what we experience, in part, on Yom Kippur. offering and the incense offering. Further, these two ways of serving the Creator, of performing Understanding the difference explains the mitzvos, parallel the two types of offerings brought in the Temple. the merit of Aaron’s sons, who died The sacrifices parallel the exterior service. They were performed on bringing an incense offering without the outer altar. While they fulfilled a being commanded to do so. Aaron’s Divine command, they did not unite the individual with G-d in a sons felt so unified with G-dliness that complete union. The other type of offering was the incense. This was they automatically offered “incense,” brought on the inner altar and parallels the individual’s inner their very essence and being on the altar. service. This offering with “inwardness of the heart” achieved In the days of Moshiach, “the world will be filled a unity between the Creator and the with knowledge of G-d, as the waters cover the ocean Jewish people. bed.” At the moment, it may be difficult to conceive This week’s Torah portion illustrates the nature of how our perceptions will change in the times of the external service, that of sacrifices, and the nature of Moshiach. We must realize, however, that the change the internal service, that of the incense. The Torah will be only of perspective and priority. Currently, we reading begins: “And the Lord spoke unto Moses after connect to G-d volitionally: in thought, speech and the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they action we attempt to fulfill G-d’s commands. In the approached the Lord and died.” The word for times of Moshiach, the connection will be innate and “approach” also means to “come close” or “draw near.”

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Their death was connected with an attempt to become Even the Hebrew words for “sacrifice” and closer to G-d. “incense” allude to the difference between an external From this perspective, their actions seem and an inner offering, which they represent. The admirable. To actualize their attachment to G-d, they Hebrew word for “sacrifice” comes from the root “to were willing to abandon this world. Their souls approach,” or “draw close.” Notwithstanding a expired not because of a sin, but because of a great person’s closeness to G-d, there still remains an desire to experience G-dliness. And yet the Torah tells individual, separate and apart, who performs the us elsewhere, in the portion of Shmini, that they died mitzvos. The word for “incense” comes from the root because they put incense in their fire pans and offered for “attachment” or “conjunction.” At this level, one an unauthorized fire that G-d had not commanded does more than approach G-d through thought, speech them. This description clearly makes their act sinful. and action; one becomes united with G-d in essence. Yet here the opening verse, taken by itself, seems to Aaron’s sons experienced an open revelation of the describe an admirable approach. innermost aspect of their souls. At such a level, they did So, did they die as transgressors, as a result of a sin, not need to be commanded to fulfill G-d’s Will. They or as tzaddikim, as a result of their great attachment to felt so unified with G-dliness that they automatically G-d? offered “incense,” their very essence and being on the The narrative in Shmini actually supports the latter altar. Thus, what they offered was not commanded, viewpoint. Moses explains to Aaron, “This is what the because all their actions automatically and of Lord said, that through those attached to Me I will be themselves fulfilled G-d’s Will. sanctified.” Since the incident occurred at the But why did the incense offering and death of dedication of the Tabernacle, Moses obviously means Aaron’s sons sanctify the Tabernacle? And what is the that their death sanctified the Tabernacle. Their action connection between this incident at the beginning of the of approaching G-d with an “unauthorized fire” must Torah reading and the priestly service of Yom Kippur, be viewed as exemplary, as the catalyst for the which follows? Tabernacle’s sanctification. As there are two levels of service within the human Accordingly, the statement that they offered being, so there are two degrees of Holiness, two ways in “unauthorized fire that G-d had not commanded them” which the Divine Presence manifests itself. In the first is not a criticism of Aaron’s sons, but the highest praise. case, the Divine Presence occupies the Tabernacle, They went “above and beyond” the limitations of the descending upon the children of Israel but remaining command. They literally devoted themselves to their separate from them. In the second, the Divine Presence desire for a revelation of G-d. inhabits the Sanctuary, penetrating to the essence of the Thus the Torah emphasizes the type of service they physical structure, making even the stones holy. The performed: it was incense they intended to offer, first, a mere occupation, parallels the external service, because incense and their approach to G-d were the sacrifices. In the second, there is an indwelling that mutually dependent. The degree of their attachment, penetrates to the very essence, paralleling the internal manifested in an expiration of the soul, expressed itself service, the incense offering. in the offering of incense before G-d. As mentioned Aaron, the high priest, was responsible for the above, the incense altar was placed within the inner sacrifices and bringing the Divine Presence upon the sanctum of the Tabernacle. people. His sons went further, revealing the essence and To elaborate: the outer altar had an effect on the uniting the soul with the Divine Presence. external part of the person, namely, the thought, speech And this is the nature of the service of Yom Kippur, and action, which are described as the “garments” of to so elevate the soul and reveal its essence and unity the soul. Through the sacrifice on that altar, the person with G-dliness, that one’s Divine service occurs as an came to a full and proper fulfillment of the mitzvos in automatic consequence of the connection. This inner thought, speech and action. service is the highlight and focal point of Yom Kippur: But there is a deeper, more primal level of the soul. on that day, the Kohen Gadol entered the holy of holies There, a person’s attachment to G-d comes through a to perform – an incense offering. Yom Kippur is the day revelation of the innermost aspect of the soul. Such a of atonement because at the level of incense, at the level revelation automatically affects the thought, speech and of essence, the Jewish people are not a separate action. Rather than observing the mitzvos because G-d existence from G-d. Thus, there is no ‘place’ for sin nor commanded it, one does so naturally, fulfilling G-d’s weakness of the Divine connection. Will as the intrinsic consequence of revelation. This is This is the level of every Jew in the days of the offering of the incense altar. Moshiach. (Based on Likkutei Sichos 32:98-105)

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story THE REBBES LETTER AND THE DOCTORS DECREE

By Nosson Avrohom Translated by Michoel Leib Dobry He stood there astounded in the face of my faith in the letters I had received, but I didn’t have much time left to explain. I heard them paging me over the loudspeaker, asking that I come to the room where my wife and the medical staff were waiting. As soon as I entered, Dr. Yayina approached me and said: “Okay, Rabbi, I give up. Apparently your Rebbe really is stronger

than us and the laws of medicine.” Rabbi David Nachshon

A collection of mashpiim, the revelations they were privileged said. “We had the privilege that the rabbanim, and askanim participated to see and hear from the Rebbe birth of our son, who is now recently in the bar-mitzva during the years of 5751-5752. celebrating his bar-mitzva, was celebration of HaTamim Baruch Dozens of T’mimim crowded accompanied by a whole series of Shneur Nachshon, son of Rabbi around the tables laden with food, wondrous answers from the Rebbe, David Nachshon, chairman of enraptured by the fascinating and I promised that on this Chabad Mobile Centers in Eretz discussion that was developing occasion, I would tell about the HaKodesh. The farbrengen took among the mashpiim and askanim chain of events that preceded his place in the small zal of 770 and who were present at the farbrengen. miraculous birth.” continued until the wee hours of Suddenly, the bar-mitzva boy’s Rabbi Nachshon began his story the morning. The elder chassidim father, Rabbi David Nachshon, put as those assembled listened in attendance started talking about a halt to the flow of words. “It’s attentively: those glorious and majestic days of forbidden to be ungrateful,” he

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THE DOCTOR’S “I don’t know how much we are “It began when the doctors FRIGHTENING WORDS chassidim according to this stated that my wife could not have comparison, or how much wool and any more children, as further “In a special letter that the milk we have brought to the Rebbe, pregnancies would endanger her Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, sent to but there’s one thing I do know: the health and her life. While such a my father-in-law, Rabbi Zalman Rebbe MH”M makes certain to matter required an authoritative Abelsky, who was complaining provide us our sustenance from decision by rabbis and other experts about his hardships in making a Above, directing and guiding us, in the field, before seeking their living, the Rebbe wrote that a blessing and influencing us beyond advice and consultation, I wrote a chassid is compared to an animal: nature, every step of the way. letter to the Rebbe, presenting the the animal provides wool and the “We have merited that our son, medical diagnoses and requesting milk for the master, while the who is now sitting before you, was his guidance. master has to make certain that the born with the Rebbe’s bracha. The “The answer that we received animal has adequate food and Rebbe said that publicizing miracles was amazingly clear. It was most water. The Rebbe concluded the and wonders hastens the thrilling to get a response with such letter: ‘And you are connected to my Redemption, and the story of his clarity, in virtually the same fashion revered father-in-law, the leader of birth indeed fits the description of a that we received answers from the the generation, so you can remove ‘miracle.’ Rebbe before Gimmel Tammuz, all worry from your heart.’ 5754. The page opened to a letter sent to a woman who had informed the Rebbe that she was expecting, and the Rebbe blessed her that her pregnancy should be completed to full-term and she should give birth to a healthy child. In the face of such an accurate and appropriate answer, I couldn’t remain indifferent. I was in Crown Heights at the time for a visit to Beis Chayeinu, and I showed the answer to the neighborhood’s chief rabbi, Rabbi Yehuda Kalman Marlow, of blessed memory. He, too, was tremendously stunned and impressed, and said that the accuracy of the response had left him speechless. “Thus, with the help of Almighty G-d, we were privileged to learn that my wife was expecting another child. During the ninth month, we came to Laniado Hospital in Netanya for a series of tests with Dr. Yayina, who had accompanied my wife during the entire pregnancy. It turned out that there were some complications which, stated the doctor, posed a danger to the health of the child. “As is customary among doctors in general, Dr. Yayina didn’t leave out any details in describing her diagnosis, stating that based on

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what she had seen, the child’s “The doctor remained steadfast kidneys were three times larger than in her belief that it would be far In the face of such normal for a fetus of this size. There preferable to do the operation as an accurate and were also other problematic test quickly as possible, since delaying results, requiring that the child would risk unexpected appropriate undergo a life-saving operation complications. Since she knew that immediately after his birth. She we had small children, she answer, I couldn’t requested that we return for a suggested that we should go home second appointment. She would to them for Shabbos, and then remain consult with other expert physicians return to the ward again on Sunday, to get their professional opinion of when they would conduct more tests indifferent. the test findings in the meantime. and bring her into the operating “Her words caused us to become room. physical ‘vessels’ in this world, we a bit nervous, but I constantly “While it seemed quite apparent appeared at the ward on Sunday envisioned the Rebbe’s letter before that her words were in direct morning, filled with trust in the me. contrast to the clear statement of words of the Rebbe. Four other “On the Thursday of that week, the Rebbe, nevertheless, she argued doctors entered the room in order we came in again for another that the situation left no room for to establish a clear medical medical check-up. Dr. Yayina was any alternative. diagnosis. While I waited outside in waiting in the examination room the hallway, curious to see what with other doctors, who had “LISTEN RABBI, would happen, I made the determined that based on the initial I GIVE UP” acquaintance of a Sanzer chassid findings, the child should be whose wife works in the hospital. “We went straight from the delivered via Caesarean section After a few minutes of pleasant hospital to the home of my friend, shortly before her due date. When conversation, I told him about the R’ Avi Taub. I found myself faced the doctor informed me of this Rebbe’s answers and how I was with a complicated dilemma, as the decision, I protested that the Rebbe certain the doctor’s diagnosis would words of the doctor didn’t seem to had written to me explicitly that she prove to be incorrect. leave room for any alternative. will complete the days of her “He stood there astounded in “Upon entering Rabbi Taub’s pregnancy, so the doctor’s advice the face of my faith in the amazing home, I didn’t lose any valuable constituted a direct contradiction to letters I had received, but I didn’t time. I immediately made all the the words of the leader of the have much time to explain to him necessary preparations and sat generation. My reply elicited a the deep meaning of ‘Rebbe,’ ‘leader down to write another letter to the combination of pity and puzzlement. of the generation,’ etc. I heard them Rebbe, laying out the situation and “When the doctor recovered paging me over the loudspeaker, asking what we should do. This slightly from her surprise, she said, asking that I come to the room time as well, the Rebbe’s reply was ‘I don’t know what the Rebbe says; where my wife and the medical staff quite clear. I felt that the Rebbe was I am a doctor, and it is my duty to were waiting. As soon as I entered, giving his ‘support and backing’ to establish things only from a medical Dr. Yayina approached me and said: this pregnancy. It was very exciting point of view.’ She softened her ‘Okay, Rabbi, I give up! Apparently to see how clear the answers were. tone a bit as she continued, ‘Your your Rebbe really is stronger than The Rebbe wrote: ‘In regard to what wife is already in the ninth month of us and the laws of medicine.’ he wrote to me about their visit to her pregnancy, which means that “What happened?” I asked. the doctor, who made them feel she has completed the time of her “She told me that the rather low, there is known the pregnancy, because it is natural for examination they conducted saying of the Tzemach Tzedek that women to give birth already at this suddenly showed good results. a doctor is given permission to heal, time.’ I explained to her that when There was no sign of what they had and if they hold by the words, they the Rebbe blesses a woman that she seen in the previous test. The will see that the words of the should merit to complete the days of kidneys and all other things that had aforementioned are false.’ her pregnancy, it means that the appeared abnormal just a few days “I was stunned and woman will give birth at the time set earlier had returned to their natural overwhelmed. Who needs a clearer by Heaven, without any medical size. She was stunned, and her answer than that?! interference. facial expression showed that she “Since we still have to make the

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was totally in awe. Even the Sanzer NEW CHILDREN and laid out the question before the chassid who had waited outside with WITH OLD NAMES Rebbe in writing, requesting that he me was very moved and excited provide me with clear guidance, “After seeing such miracles and about the test results, and has since similar to what I received prior to wonders,” continued Rabbi shared this remarkable story with the baby’s birth. Nachshon, “I said to myself that this numerous people. The doctor told “Indeed, the response was quite is the Rebbe’s child, and I must give me that with such good results, we astounding and also aroused much him a name connected with the can go back home and wait for the wonderment. I immediately saw the Rebbe’s family. By the way, when birth in its proper time. words ‘Beginning with the words one an older son, Levi Yitzchok, “These were special days; we L’Admur HaZakein.’ I quickly was born, I wrote to the Rebbe that knew we had seen G-dliness with deduced that the one that served as since we already had named a son our very eyes. We felt how the the beginning to the Alter Rebbe after the Rebbe Rayatz, I was Rebbe was leading us along the way was his father, Rabbi Baruch. While requesting permission to name that and was taking full responsibility for I was excited by this answer, newborn son ‘Levi Yitzchak,’ after the handling of the pregnancy. nevertheless, I still wanted a much the Rebbe’s father. The Rebbe wrote “A few weeks passed, and my clearer one. on the note that I had submitted, wife was ready to give birth. It was “Thus, I found myself on the day ‘And the matter is correct,’ adding the day before Zayin Adar, the before my son’s bris sitting and the word ‘Shlita.’ birthday of Moshe Rabbeinu a”h. At writing another letter. I wrote that I “As I tell this, I also recall the time, I was in B’nei Brak with understood that the Rebbe was something in connection with the my friend and fellow shliach, Rabbi definitely referring to ‘Shneur,’ but naming of our daughter, who was Alter Betzalel Kupchik. I regarding ‘Baruch,’ the answer was born in 5751. I had a very strong immediately called Dr. Yayina and not as clear as I used to receive in desire to name her after the asked if she could be there for the the past. The answer I received was Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, of delivery. She, too, was in the midst positively electrifying. My heart was blessed memory; however, my of her own personal commitments – engulfed by feelings of intense mother’s name was ‘Chaya.’ I getting ready to go out to a bar- emotion. This is perhaps the only turned to Rabbi Binyomin Klein mitzva, to be precise. Nevertheless, letter in all the volumes of ‘Igros with a request that he ask the she quickly changed her plans and Kodesh’ where the Rebbe writes on Rebbe if this would pose a problem. made her way to the delivery room. this subject. When he presented my inquiry, the “I changed my plans as well, and “The Rebbe writes: ‘Regarding Rebbe replied, ‘Nu…,’ as if he were headed straight for Laniado what he writes about the father of surprised. When Rabbi Klein asked Hospital. My wife was already there, our family, Rabbi Baruch, the father the question a second time, the and late on the night of Motzaei of the Alter Rebbe, known of great Rebbe again said ‘Nu…,’ adding Zayin Adar, the baby was born – quality,’ and the Rebbe proceeds to ‘long life and good years.’ We our son, who is now celebrating his detail the entire range of his understood that there was no bar-mitzva. Dr. Yayina called me qualities… reason to hold back, and we gave over, wished me a hearty ‘Mazel “I will never forget how thrilled I our daughter the name ‘Chaya Tov,’ and informed me that we had was by this clear response, as I Mushka,’ and got a bracha for my a new son. The doctors still were simply burst into emotional sobs mother to boot. I quickly called my not completely confident, and they and found it difficult to calm myself. mother and told her about the requested that we come back with “In addition to this clear answer, marvelous bracha for long life that the baby a few days after his release I saw an allusion to the fact that the she had just merited to receive from for a series of medical scans, in many brachos we had received were the Rebbe. order to make certain that in connection to the renovations “Now with our newest son, everything was in proper order with that I was making together with my today’s bar mitzva bachur, born no health problems. friend, Rabbi Avi Taub, at the after such a long chain of miracles, “We arrived at the appointed gravesites of the Rebbeim and other we were unsure of which name to time, and after a battery of tests, the tzaddikim in the Rebbe’s family, give him. I was considering each of doctors informed us that all was including the gravesite of Rabbi the Rebbe’s grandfathers: ‘Meir perfectly fine, and the baby had Baruch, the father of the Alter Shlomo’ and ‘Baruch Shneur,’ but I been born healthy and strong. Rebbe.” wasn’t certain which one would be preferable. As always, I sat down

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shlichus BEGINNING WITH THE FINAL BLESSING

By Rabbi Yaakov Shmuelevitz, Shliach, Beit Shaan

Surely many people remember the Mivtza Neshek of my wife and to Mivtza Neshek. Every week she how, when the Rebbe bentched, he some other Lubavitcher women of heard new things and committed to did so from a Siddur, whether the Beit Shaan. People who don’t another mitzva. At some point, my Birkas HaMazon or Al HaMichya. regularly do Mivtza Neshek might wife explained to her about Those of us who merited to be mistakenly think that these are one- bentching. The woman got a Siddur present at farbrengens on Motzaei time encounters, but the truth is that and was careful to say the bracha Rosh HaShana and Yom Tov, still over the years, connections have after every meal. have the words at the ends of the been made with hundreds and One day she called the Rebbetzin brachos, which the Rebbe thousands of women. Some of them with a real problem. That day she enunciated out loud, reverberating in come to the stand every Friday in was sent to guard a branch of our ears. The following are stories of order to meet the Rebbe’s shluchos Bituach Leumi (National Insurance) shlichus related to bentching. again and to strengthen their in Natzrat (not Natzrat Illit, which is connection with them. They hear a Jewish city, but Natzrat Tachtit, THE BIRKAS HA’MAZON something from the “Rabbanit” and which is populated by Arabs). It was THAT CAME BY FAX receive candles. This connection breakfast time but the woman may be their only one with Judaism. couldn’t eat the sandwich she had Rabbi Ben-Tzion Grossman of A young woman, a security guard prepared because she didn’t have her Migdal HaEmek told about a by profession, encountered mitzva Siddur for bentching and there was woman who became frum thanks to observance for the first time thanks no Jew around from whom to borrow one. At first my wife suggested that she start eating and when she finished, she would read the bentching over the phone to her. This, however, would be impossible while she was on duty. Therefore, R’ Grossman called the shliach in Natzrat Ilit, Rabbi Shimshon Halperin, and asked whether he could bring a Siddur or a bentcher to the Bituach Leumi branch office in the nearby city since the woman couldn’t start eating without it. R’ Halperin came up with a resourceful idea. He asked whether the branch office had a fax machine and when he was told that it did, he sent the bentching by fax, enabling the woman to finally eat her meal and then bentch.

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R’ Grossman concludes the story Siddur, I am writing out the conflict, agreed to sing it at home by saying, “I wish that I said the bentching so that I will be able to together with him. For some reason bentching every day with the same bentch from the text.” they didn’t know exactly when to devotion as that woman. She was sing this song and for a long time absolutely thrilled with our SINGING IT TOGETHER they would always sing it before solution.” eating. Here in Beit Shaan, at the family One thing led to another until Shabbos meals, we have a eventually, the family began learning BIRKAS HA’MAZON longstanding practice (for the Torah and became religious. Today IN WRITING benefit of the little children) of all the members of the family are bentching aloud together, with a I once heard a story about two observant and even Chassidic – all tune. When we’re finished, we bachurim from Tomchei T’mimim thanks to some lines from the Birkas continue using the same tune and who spent a few weeks on shlichus HaMazon. somewhere in the US. During the say, “Devorah Leah all the course of their work they joined a bentchers, Sholom Ber all the shliach and even traveled with him glasses, Chaya Mushka all the BIRKAS HA’MAZON – to a few small towns in order to look silverware, Blumi and Rivky all the SEGULA FOR PARNASSA for Jews. plates, Shneur and Mendy pick up A mekurav to a Chabad house At one point, they stopped on the the garbage, Tatty and Mommy… go was experiencing financial problems. side of the road and took out their to sleep.” He remembered that he had once sandwiches so they would have the Over the years, many of the heard from the shliach in his town, strength to go on. When they guests who have eaten with us in the quoting the Rebbe, about some finished eating, the two bachurim past have since told us that they segula for parnasa, but he couldn’t began bentching. have adopted our practice with their remember what it was. They noticed that the shliach had own families and they sing the He went to the shliach to ask him taken out a pen and paper and was bentching out loud, together. what the segula was. As he waited at busy writing. At first they didn’t the shliach’s house, he overheard the want to be nosy, but when he kept BIRKAS HA’MAZON shliach speaking on the phone. In on writing they finally politely asked BEFORE EATING the course of his conversation, the him what he was doing when they shliach mentioned that a segula for I heard the following story from needed to bentch and be on their parnasa is to say the bentching from a fellow shliach who wishes to way. a Siddur, word by word. remain anonymous. The shliach told them that a few The shliach concluded his phone A family well-known in Chabad years earlier he had had yechidus call and turned his attention to his made its first steps towards Jewish with the Rebbe and the Rebbe told guest to be told, “Thank you, I have practice thanks to their young son. him that it was preferable to bentch my answer.” When the mekurav got For the sake of convenience, they from a Siddur. “Since then,” said home, his wife related that she had registered him in a religious the shliach, “I have always been dreamed that the Rebbe told her that preschool. In school he learned to careful to do so. Since somehow bentching from a Siddur is a segula sing some lines of the bentching. His none of us remembered to bring a for parnasa. parents, who did not want to cause

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thought THE SFIRA THAT DOESNT END

By Rabbi Chaim Ashkenazi Many questions are asked about the purpose of the 49 days: Why were we given these days? What is accomplished by our counting the Omer? How do we accomplish the goal? * 49 days is just not enough, we may need 49 weeks, or even 49 years to get a hold on the animal soul and refine it until it shines. * Said at a Chassidishe farbrengen.

WHY DO WE COUNT? to throw him out of shul, but they maamer Chassidus by heart. The Among the stories commonly were stopped by Reb Levi Yitzchok purpose of this was for the “sweat of recounted at Chassidishe of Berditchev. “With the great deed a mitzva” to refine his coarseness farbrengens is the one about the he did with mesirus nefesh,” he and uncover his inner refinement. Chassid who was busy Erev Yom explained, “this man accomplished When the Rebbe Rashab saw this Kippur raising money to redeem all the avoda of Yom Kippur and talmid Pesach night, he was very captives. In order to make up the Sukkos and he is now already pleased to see that his face had enormous sum, he agreed to a deal holding by Simchas Torah.” become more eidel and refined. proposed by some gadabouts in There is another story which also Similar to the first story, the jobs he which he would drink copious illustrates such a jump in avodas carried out accomplished in only two amounts of vodka in exchange for Hashem. A bachur came to days the work of “and you shall the money they would make in their Lubavitch before Pesach and, count for you” of S’firas HaOmer. card game. meeting all the requirements of a By Pesach he was therefore already He was successful in freeing the Tamim as far as learning went, he on the level of receiving the Torah Jewish prisoner before Yom Kippur was accepted into yeshivas Tomchei on Shavuos. but he then spent most of the holy T’mimim. Nevertheless, the Rebbe Many questions are asked about day asleep. When he woke up Rashab saw a lack of refinement on the purpose of the 49 days: Why several hours later and saw everyone his face. He instructed the Rebbe were we given these days? What is gathered in shul, he stood up and Rayatz to assign the most difficult accomplished by our counting the began singing “Ata Horeisa” with the physical labor in the Pesach Omer? How do we accomplish the traditional Simchas Torah niggun. preparations to this bachur, goal? Obviously, just by taking a The shocked worshippers wanted including bedikas chametz in several minute a day to count we can’t be buildings, in addition to learning a accomplishing the purpose of this

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mitzva. neshama would shine full-force and impurity to be poison; on the These days are referred to as because the body wouldn’t obscure contrary, it lives off them. yemei ha’s’fira, which means that it. This was the level of Moshe the days, the entire 24 hour periods, Rabbeinu. When he was born the THE LOST ONES WILL are connected with s’fira. How does house was full of light, because his COME FROM ASHUR counting at night affect the entire body was solely a vehicle for the day? Why is the counting done in neshama. It is for this reason that we are connection with the Omer sacrifice This is why, when an Egyptian created with both a G-dly and an – s’firas ha’omer – when the korban nursemaid was brought, Moshe did animal soul. Hashem places the Omer was brought on the first day not nurse from her. As a baby, he G-dly soul within the animal soul of Chol HaMoed and that was the could not possibly have had the and puts them both into the body in end of its connection to this time rational understanding not to do so. this world and thereby, the radiance period? His refraining to nurse from a non- of the neshama is dimmed. If a The first time B’nei Yisroel Jew was automatic, similar to the person is immersed in the pleasures counted, when they left Egypt, they instinctive reaction of a person (and of this world, he adds more and were counting the days until the even an animal) to keep away from more layers over the neshama, as giving of the Torah. Would it not fire. the Alter Rebbe describes in Tanya, therefore be appropriate to call these If we had only a G-dly soul, it “and certainly the [animal soul] is days, “Yemei HaS’fira L’Mattan wouldn’t be necessary for us to strengthened over time with eating Torah,” rather than “S’firas study what is permissible and and drinking.” HaOmer?” forbidden according to Torah. The This is when man’s avoda begins. Why, in fact, was the word neshama immediately senses that “Better is one hour of t’shuva and “s’fira” chosen out of all the words what is forbidden is klipa, poison, good deeds in this world, than all of for counting, especially when we and it won’t go near it. life in the world to come.” The Alter don’t count the omer but the days! This is true of tzaddikim in Rebbe asks: Why do we need The period of time in which we general, as it says, “lo y’uneh t’shuva? Why doesn’t it say, “Better count the omer is also significant. l’tzaddik kol aven” (no sin will is one hour of Torah…” We start counting the omer not from inadvertently befall the righteous), Furthermore, what is meant by the day of, but from the day after we that even when a tzaddik doesn’t “good deeds?” It should have said, left Egypt, and there must be know that something is forbidden “mitzvos!” The answer is that the something we can learn from this. (for example, if he was served non- situation in which the neshama is kosher food by mistake), he either together with the animal soul within LIGHT AND GLOW will not see it or he will know to the body and in this world is called avoid it. “aveida” (a loss). What is a loss? Baruch Hashem, we have This is what is meant when it When something is not in its proper Chassidus which answers our says that the house filled with light place. If it’s a wallet, it was questions and enables us to when Moshe was born. The light of supposed to be in a pocket and understand what the avoda of these his neshama was not obscured by his instead, it’s lying in the street. If it’s days is. body. When only the G-dly soul is a farm animal, it was supposed to be The Alter Rebbe tells us that the present, anything that doesn’t in a pen or barn and instead, it’s in mitzva to count, “u’s’fartem lachem pertain to holiness is in effect non- the wilderness. These items need to – count for yourselves” is from the existent and therefore has no impact. be retrieved. root even sapir – a sapphire stone, a If we were created this way, we The same is true for the stone that shines, and the mitzva is would study Torah to connect to neshama. Instead of being in a state to illuminate the “lachem.” Another Hashem but not in order to know in which G-dliness is self-evident, it explanation is that the word what is permitted and forbidden. suddenly finds itself in “u’s’fartem” alludes to the ten s’firos On the other hand, if Hashem circumstances where it’s not at all which illuminate for us. So the inyan created us with only an animal soul, obvious that “there is nothing but of counting the omer is to increase learning what is permitted or Him.” the light and glow until a person forbidden wouldn’t help since The person discovers all sorts of shines like a sapphire. nothing would stop us. That which interesting things that attract the Imagine for a moment what it is forbidden doesn’t disturb the eyes and heart and give him physical would be like if Hashem created a animal soul. It doesn’t consider klipa pleasure. The degree of attraction Jew with only a G-dly soul. Our depends on the character of the

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person and his spiritual level. If, as outside the city is lost. If the cow descended to this world. This is said before, he has strengthened his turns towards the city it is not what is meant by “u’s’fartem animal soul over time, then the considered lost. lachem” – to illuminate the “lachem” things that attract him and give him A complete return is, of course, by cleaning, polishing, and shining pleasure will become progressively an extremely high level, but at the the animal soul so that it cooperates more gross and depraved. very least, one needs to turn in the with the G-dly soul and together The result is that the neshama right direction. Let’s use the cow as their actions are pleasing to finds itself “lost in the desert” where an example. Although it’s not back Hashem, uncorrupted by the vile the ideal qualities of Man are home, it turned in the right stench of worldly lust and pleasures. nowhere to be found. The verse direction, towards the city, so says, “and the lost ones in the land eventually it will return home. EVERY PERSON’S of Ashur.” Ashur comes from the After man turns his back on PERSONAL OMER root of osher and oneg, referring to pleasures of this world and heads in those lost in the pleasures of this the right direction, his activities in The animal soul consists world. In such a case, it is not Torah and mitzvos are deserving of essentially of emotion, wanting what enough for man to learn Torah and being called “good deeds,” as it says, is best for me, what pleases me, fulfill mitzvos because if the “Better is an hour of t’shuva and what is understandable to me, what pleasures remain as they are, the seems right to me – whatever spiritual “loss” will not be retrieved. concerns me. These emotions can be What is necessary is t’shuva, a That which is broken down into at least 49 sorts of change in thinking, in desire, and “me,” which is why we have 49 days even beyond that, in oneg, in the forbidden doesn’t to deal with them and elevate them. proper direction. This is why these days are called This is like the Chassidic analogy disturb the animal “S’firas HaOmer.” The omer was a of the kishka, a delicacy of stuffed meal offering of barley, while all intestine. It is made by cleaning out soul. It doesn’t other meal offerings brought in the the animal’s intestine and then filling Mikdash consisted of wheat. Barley it with a tasty filling. If the intestine consider klipa and is animal fodder and is generally not is not cleaned first, then even if the impurity to be fitting to be brought on the altar. most delectable ingredients are used, The purpose in bringing the barley the end result will be disgusting. poison; on the offering of the Omer to elevate all So too, if there is no t’shuva then animal souls to be receptive to it’s like this person’s avodas Hashem contrary, it lives purification. is wrapped in filthy intestine. It is We bring animal food and not an regarding this switch that it says, off them. animal because the point is to refine “Better is one hour in t’shuva” – the animal soul. The coarseness of shaa or hour, according to the animal results from its eating (as Chassidus, is not the sixty minute good deeds.” For a person can learn quoted above in the name of the hour of a clock. Rather, it has the Torah and do mitzvos even before he Alter Rebbe). same root as we find in the verse, cleanses himself of his odious S’firas HaOmer refers to “and He turned to Hevel and his desires, but they are not called bringing light into the animal which offering and did not shaa – turn – to “good deeds” that shine and sparkle eats the omer (barley). The avoda of Kayin and his gift.” like “precious stones,” as the Alter s’fira is to shine the “lachem” – the So we read “better is one hour of Rebbe calls them in Likkutei Torah. emotions of the animal soul – by t’shuva” as better is one turn in the They are like the delicacies that fill polishing one aspect every day. Then right direction, towards the place that the kishka that hasn’t been cleaned, we become ready for Mattan Torah, the neshama was always used to – to whose stench is nauseating. which is the day we fill the kishka – see G-dliness and only G-dliness in By “one turn of t’shuva” his the body and animal soul – with everything, in order to extricate the deeds become “good” and shine, his Torah and mitzvos, in order to unite neshama from its “lost” status and body and animal soul and all his with Hashem. bring it to its rightful place. actions in this world are permeated You might wonder – if we left Similarly, Halacha states that a by G-dliness, and his neshama Egypt already, what is the purpose cow that runs towards the fields returns to the state it was in before it in the avoda of S’firas HaOmer? This point can be illustrated with a

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Chassidic story. A firstborn calf was condition that exists every day and reasons for choosing him, but this born on a Jewish settlement. Since it at every moment in a person’s life. doesn’t make him perfect. It merely was holy as the firstborn, they were It’s not just about remembering says that in Heaven they expect him careful not to let it get blemished. something good that was done for to exercise his free choice to use his While every animal must have its us in the past that we are merely abilities for this job in the best hide cleaned from time to time to thankful for each day. possible way. That says nothing remove dust and dirt, they were Just as when we left Egypt “the about his present state and he afraid to scrub this calf lest they Supreme King of kings was revealed shouldn’t fool himself into thinking make a cut or wound and transgress to them and redeemed them,” that his getting a certain position the prohibition against making a removing them from servitude and proves that on a deeper level he is blemish in kodshim. The animal elevating them to the stature of free more elevated than others. remained dirty and smelly. men, the same thing happens in our The story is told of a poor person One time, this calf entered a own lives. Hashem removes us from who became rich and was given a Jew’s house and they were unable to our place and appoints us as rav, seat on the eastern wall in shul. chase it out lest they injure it. The shliach, menahel, teacher, husband, People spoke to him and consulted balabus said to the calf, “Bechor, and father. with him because human nature is bechor, you are indeed holy, but you The Gemara states a principle, such that people believe that those smell bad!” with money have opinions worth Chassidim used this story as an listening to. Then he suddenly lost analogy to talmidim who considered Hashem removes his money. Naturally, he lost his seat themselves above the rest, making it at the eastern wall and with it, the difficult to get them to improve their us from our place accompanying honor. behavior. Eventually, while they were He went home and sadly told his holy in their own eyes, their conduct and appoints us wife, “Losing my money doesn’t gave off a bad smell. as rav, shliach, mean I lost my wisdom. How come This is the state of a Jew before they stopped respecting me?” counting the omer. He has the menahel, teacher, He thought that if Hashem elevated status of G-d’s “firstborn,” granted him wealth and financial but, in the case of some Jews, he husband, and success, then he was also wise. may have lived for years in a coarse Wisdom requires work and without environment, and he just decided to father. effort it is lacking. leave it, i.e. his personal Egypt. He The nimshal is clear. We often starts afresh with t’filla and t’fillin, wonder, “So-and-so has such an Torah and other mitzvos, but his that “even one in charge of the important job. How come he inclinations, thoughts and feelings water-wheel is appointed from behaves in such a small-minded are still that of his former lifestyle. Heaven,” i.e. even a menial job such manner, unbefitting for someone of To rid himself of this, he needs the as being responsible for distributing that position?” The Alter Rebbe avoda of S’firas HaOmer. water from the well, is from Heaven. states in Likkutei Torah, in the For others who were raised in a It’s like a “going out of Egypt” in maamer, “Adam ki yakriv mi’kem,” more pure environment, the same this particular area for he was given that “baalei avoda” sometimes applies but at a higher level. Today’s a job from up Above which is a complain that they were inspired in high ground is tomorrow’s turnabout from his previous status. their avodas Hashem for a while and limitation. Previously he was like a slave and then they suddenly lost it. was dominated by strangers and This is because the “going out of GOING OUT OF EGYPT now he is a free man and he has the Egypt” is not enough. There is still IS NEEDED TO COUNT ability of making decisions. the work of 49 days of refining to Similar to going out of Egypt, it do. Without doing this work, we THE OMER comes from Above, but there is no remain like the Eirev Rav who made Perhaps we can say that this is guarantee that the animal within him trouble for the Jewish people how a Jew fulfills remembering “the was refined. It is very possible that because they had not rid themselves day you left the land of Egypt all the all the coarseness that was present of their negative ways. days of your life.” Chassidus from birth or from his upbringing, is When we “remember the day you explains that going out of Egypt is a still present. Hashem had His left Egypt,” we must recall that

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going out of Egypt took just one or pride etc, after it seemed that we order to attain control over the day. The change, though, is an were weaned of it. For example, a animal soul and to refine it until it avoda that takes much more time. yeshiva bachur who is inspired by a shines. How do we achieve this farbrengen or by something he heard Today, in the seventh generation, refinement? In brief, we must or learned, who then reverts back to we don’t have time for such a slow examine our situation with a his old ways, might wonder – what’s avoda. The Moshe Rabbeinu of our combination of both bitterness about going on here? Where am I really generation told us that we are going it intermingled with happiness at at? Is my true self revealed now or out of galus and receiving the Torah, being able to recognize the truth. in the moment of inspiration? Have “the new Torah which will go forth After that, we need to set clear I fallen from my previous state? from Me.” He emphasized, “Hinei, boundaries with red lines that The answer is that just as the hinei Moshiach ba” – not in another cannot be crossed and to accept spiritual inspiration was not a 49 days but right now. We have to these boundaries with kabbalas ol figment of his imagination, so too, hurry up. We need to clean all the and iskafia. the appearance of negative thoughts junk away, flee from it and not look The main thing is to add lots and and emotions are not a “fall.” The in its direction any longer. lots of light to counter the darkness inspiration was like a “going out of Just as that bachur in Lubavitch we absorbed. In areas that are found Egypt,” after which avoda is needed, was successful, with the ko’ach of wanting in our cheshbon ha’nefesh, S’firas HaOmer, illuminating the the Rebbe Rashab, to make a we need to increase in light and animal soul. spiritual leap and illuminate his mind holiness in thought, speech and Incidents like those described at and heart in such a short time, we action, while beseeching Hashem in the beginning, of the Chassid too can be confident that the Rebbe t’filla for success in all this. In this collecting money for pidyon shvuyim MH”M will lead us on the paths of way, we will emerge from the days who reached the level of Simchas our personal S’firas HaOmer in the of the Omer more refined and ready Torah in just a few hours or the quickest way, so that we merit to for Mattan Torah. bachur in Tomchei T’mimim who receive the hidden light of the Torah Understanding this inner journey refined his animal soul in two or of Moshiach even before Shavuos. is important for everyone so that we three days of hard labor, are rare. May we be a pure receptacle to do not become downcast when we We need 49 days, and sometimes 49 contain the G-dly light. feel an undesirable longing, jealousy weeks or perhaps even 49 years, in Y.S. MOVING

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feature GEULA: THE CHOZEHS UNWAVERING Eastern Poland in the year 1744: Rabbi Yaakov Koppel of Lukov, the grandfather of the Chozeh of Lublin, VISION was widely praised as a generous philanthropist whose home was open to all. By Yehoshua Kenig As he traveled, he would invite any Jew he met onto his wagon. Sometimes, when the wagon was The fascinating life story of Rabbi full, R’ Yaakov himself would get down and walk alongside the wagon Yaakov Yitzchok Horowitz, the with the reins in his hands. It was a Thursday and R’ Yaakov Chozeh of Lublin, one of the great set out to buy what he needed for Admurim of Poland. His talmidim Shabbos. He noticed a pauper walking by and offered him a ride. relate that he possessed a spark of To his surprise, the man shrugged in refusal. R’ Yaakov tried to persuade Moshiach, and the Sh’china spoke him but the man continued to decline the offer. “It’s better for me from his mouth. So eagerly did he to walk,” he said. When R’ Yaakov kept urging him to ride in his await the Geula, that each night, he wagon, the man impudently said, would instruct his shamash that if he “Yes, I’m tired, but I won’t go on your wagon. I know you baalei heard Moshiach, he should wake him tz’daka. You run after mitzvos just to earn a share in the world to come. immediately. His 120 talmidim, I’m not interested in helping you with that.” giants of the spirit, illuminated Hearing this, R’ Koppel’s face lit up and he said, “I’ll make a deal Poland with the light of Chassidus with you. You come up into the and yearning for Geula. Part of a wagon and I’ll give you the reward for this mitzva as a gift.” series on G’dolei Yisroel anticipating The poor man wasn’t satisfied until they had sealed the deal with a the Geula. handshake.

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An aerial view of Lublin

A GRANDSON himself until a few hours before his THE LIGHT WHO WILL ILUMINATE passing, on Purim 1769, when he OF CHASSIDUS revealed it to those close to him. THE WORLD According to some traditions it The odd fellow climbed up into was R’ Shmelka who brought his top the wagon and then he fixed his FIRST STEPS student to the Maggid of Mezritch. gaze on R’ Yaakov and said, “You That same year, a suitable It was R’ Shmelka’s practice to take should know that it was decreed in chassan was found for his his special pupils with him to his the Heavenly court that you had to daughter Meitel, R’ Avrohom master. This is how R’ Moshe Leib leave this world. When this verdict Eliezer Horowitz. R’ Yaakov of Sassov, the Kozhnitzer Maggid was declared, groups of angels that promised him fifteen years of and others ended up in the Maggid’s had been created by your acts of support at his table but on this court. According to another kindness rose in protest. ‘It says in condition – “If your first child is a tradition, it was R’ Zushe of Anipoli Your Torah, ‘and tz’daka saves son, I want a prominent role in his who brought him to the Maggid, as from death,’’ they contended. ‘R’ chinuch.” he would do whenever he Koppel of Lukov is constantly Indeed, the couple had a son a encountered lofty souls in the course involved in acts of tz’daka! Why year later and he was named of his wanderings. should he die before marrying off Yaakov Yitzchok. The happy One incident undoubtedly his youngest daughter?’ grandfather put great efforts into influenced R’ Yaakov Yitzchok and “Satan immediately retorted, his chinuch. As a child, Yaakov convinced him that he still hadn’t ‘The wise one [King Shlomo] did Yitzchok showed promise of found his path in the service of not mean people like him. These greatness. At the age of three he Hashem. The Admur Yechiel Chaim people do chesed for themselves, knew nearly all the prayers by of Apt related: in order to gain the respect of heart. When he began learning In the tzaddik of Lublin’s youth, people and to earn a share in the Gemara he stood out among his on the day he completed all of Shas World to Come. peers as an outstanding student. with the poskim, he was feeling in “In the end, the Heavenly court He later related that when he was an elevated mood and he went gave me permission to go down a child he considered writing a strolling in the fields that and test you. You passed the test commentary on the Order of surrounded the city. He encountered and earned another 25 years. You Kodshim! a maskil, a modern “enlightened” will attend not only the chuppa of The young lad continued to Jew who said mockingly, “I also your youngest daughter Meitel, but make tremendous strides in his finished Shas and poskim like you, also the chuppa of the son she will Torah study. At first he studied in but now I’ve graduated to become a have, who will illuminate the world the yeshiva of R’ M.Z.H. Meizlish, student who studies the wisdom of with his Torah and his holiness.” the rav of Zolkeva, and then he the world. You should do the same.” Upon saying this, the Angel of attended the Chassidic yeshiva of This shook him up and he Death disappeared. R’ Koppel kept R’ Shmelka of Nikolsberg. walked to the shul in a storm of this terrifying experience to emotion. How could a person who had learned so much Torah

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deteriorate to such an extent? R’ and prayed for the Maggid. “BEN-DOVID WILL NOT Yaakov Yitzchok poured out his At that moment, the atmosphere COME UNTIL THE heart before the Aron Kodesh and in the Maggid’s home changed and TEACHINGS OF R’ suddenly he beheld a vision of his the tzaddik showed signs of father. “Do not fear!” his father recovery. R’ Yaakov Yitzchok, who ZALMAN ARE instructed him. “Go to Rovna, where had thrown himself into prayer PUBLICIZED” you will find the truth.” before resting from the rigors of the On the first Erev Shabbos R’ Dovber, the Maggid of journey, fainted on the steps of the following his arrival at the Maggid, Mezritch, was then serving as mikva. The Maggid sensed this and R’ Yaakov Yitzchok went to the maggid in Rovna. When R’ Yaakov told his disciples: “Hurry to the kitchen, took a piece of fish and Yitzchok arrived there, he was mikva and save a Jewish soul!” R’ salted it well. When he was asked devastated to hear that the Maggid Yaakov Yitzchok’s life was saved at about this he explained, “I am was mortally ill. He went to the the last minute. accustomed to salt the fish that I will mikva immediately and then stood eat on Shabbos.” This aroused the surprise of the holy brotherhood. The fish he had THE CLOCK THAT ANNOUNCED THE GEULA salted would be cooking in the pot with all the other pieces of fish. How After the Chozeh’s passing, his three sons divided his holy did this stranger know that this belongings. His son, R’ Yosef of Turtchin, received his father’s silk particular fish would end up as his Shabbos clothing and a wall clock that had hung in his room. portion? When the Shiva was over, R’ Yosef took his precious bundle and set R’ Shneur Zalman, who later off for Turtchin. The skies suddenly clouded over and it began to pour. became famous as the Baal HaTanya He hurriedly took shelter in a Jewish inn and hoped the rain would stop and was the dear talmid of the so he could continue his journey, since he was traveling without any Maggid, took a thread and tied it on money. The rain did not relent and he had to remain at the inn until the the piece of fish and waited to see next day. how things would turn out. When the skies finally cleared, R’ Yosef did not know what to do At the meal, the shamash served since he did not have any money to pay for his stay at the inn. He had the fish to the disciples. The fish no choice but to ask the innkeeper which of his belongings he would with the thread was served to the like. The man consulted with his wife. He was impressed by the silk talmid who sat next to the new garments, but the clock was a rare item in those days and was a young man. That talmid, however, practical addition to their house. “With the clock we will be able to was feeling ill and he couldn’t eat. have a set time for the milking, morning and evening, and it will be He moved his plate aside, towards good for us and the cow.” the person sitting next to him... none R’ Yosef went on his way and the clock remained at the inn. Years other than R’ Yaakov Yitzchok. The went by and the tzaddik R’ Yisachar Dov of Radoshitz arrived at the piece of fish with the thread was his! inn. In the silence of the night, singing and dancing could be heard A warm relationship developed from the Radoshitzer Rebbe’s room. The innkeeper tossed and turned between the Chozeh and the Alter in bed, wondering why the tzaddik was so happy. Rebbe. A talmid of the Chozeh, R’ In the morning he inquired, “Why didn’t you sleep last night and Aharon Moshe of Brod, would urge what were you so happy about?” his mekuravim to have set times to The Rebbe answered with an inquiry of his own. “Please tell me, study the teachings of the Alter where did you get the clock that is hanging on the wall in my room?” Rebbe and he explained this with the The innkeeper told him what had happened. following incident: The Radoshitzer Rebbe explained, “When I heard the ticking of the R’ Aharon would occasionally clock I immediately recognized that it belonged to the Chozeh of look into the Tanya, but he made Lublin. When an ordinary clock ticks, it lets its owner know that he is sure to do so privately, since he was another day closer to his death. True, this information urges him to do afraid that his Rebbe wouldn’t be t’shuva and good deeds, but it is also sad. pleased. One time, as he was “This clock, which belonged to the Chozeh, is different. With every immersed in study, the door opened tick it announces that we are that much closer to the Geula. That is and in walked the Chozeh. why I rejoiced all night.” The startled talmid was even

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The city of Lublin in the early 19th century

more surprised when the Chozeh Chozeh would cover his eyes with a of Peshischa, explained, “The told him that it was a good thing to handkerchief as he walked in the Chozeh has a spark of Moshiach, study Tanya. “Ben-Dovid will not street. This had an adverse effect on and this is why they all travel to see come until the teachings of R’ his physical vision, but earned him him.” Zalman are publicized,” said the such incredible spiritual vision that R’ Uri of Strelisk said: “Lublin is Chozeh. he became known as the Chozeh, Eretz Yisroel, the courtyard of the In a letter to R’ Levi Yitzchok of “one who sees.” beis midrash is Yerushalayim, the Berditchev, the Chozeh wrote about R’ Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov, who beis midrash is the Temple Mount, the Alter Rebbe: “He sacrificed was one of his disciples, said about the Chozeh’s apartment is the Ulam, himself and his life, constantly, over the Chozeh: “The difference the Azara and the Heichal, his room the suffering of Jews.” between my Rebbe and the prophets is the Holy of Holies and the is only in that he cannot say, ‘ko Sh’china speaks from his mouth.” THE CHOZEH amar Hashem…’” Out of his large circle of Indeed, the Chozeh himself talmidim, many went on to found The Maggid passed away on related, “I was able to see from one the Chassidic dynasties of Poland Yud-Tes Kislev, 1773, and R’ Yaakov end of the world to the other, but and Galicia, while numerous others Yitzchok went back to his teacher, when I observed the tremendous became rabbanim throughout the R’ Shmelke, who was the rav of corruption in the world, I prayed country. Among the more renowned Shiniva at the time. After the passing that this ability be taken away.” of his talmidim were the Yid of his beloved teacher, R’ Yaakov Yitzchok attached himself to R’ Elimelech of Lizhensk, who loved SPARK OF MOSHIACH him dearly. IN THE HOLY OF HOLIES “We, too, mourn R’ Elimelech would send his In the year 1800, the Chozeh set budding young Chassidim to the up court in the heart of the Jewish in our hearts Chozeh to learn how to serve quarter in Lublin. The city quickly Hashem. The Chozeh originally became a center of Polish Chassidus, over the exile of settled in Lantzet, but following an a nucleus of Torah and avoda that amazing dream that he had, from illuminated the entire country with the Sh’china but which he understood that his Rebbe the light of Chassidus. we rejoice over was upset that he had based himself Scholars and simple Jews alike in a town so close to Lizhensk, he flocked to his court in order to bask the fact that moved to Rozvedov. in his light and to receive his advice R’ Elimelech attributed the and guidance. The Chozeh worked even in exile, it Chozeh’s ruach ha’kodesh and his energetically to spread Chassidus in amazing vision from one end of the Poland and taught and gave dwells amongst world to the other to his being guidance to many disciples. exceedingly careful to preserve the His student, the Yid HaKadosh us.” sanctity of his eyes. In his youth, the

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the injunction of the Shulchan exile, it dwells amongst us.” He regretfully Aruch, to avoid carrying on Shabbos R’ Moshe eventually became his explained to his inadvertently. ardent Chassid and would regularly The Chozeh reached inside as the travel to Lublin. disciple, the Yid Misnaged held his breath. He scanned the parchment and then CAMPAIGN TO BRING HaKadosh, that said aloud, “Hashem’s seal is Truth THE GEULA and since it doesn’t say “emes” here, the simple people this parchment is fraudulent.” He The longing for Geula that raised his voice and declared, burned in his heart spurred him on were ready for “Sheker, sheker, sheker!” to various efforts to hasten it. First Geula but the When the Misnaged who was alone and then in collaboration with hiding heard the Chozeh’s cry, he other tzaddikim, he attempted time “lofty people” had fainted. From then on he became an and again to speed up the process. ardent Chassid of the Chozeh. The first attempt was made by delayed it, since the Chozeh alone. He immersed himself in prayers and special lofty ALWAYS B’SIMCHA each one sees unifications while pleading for the The Chozeh of Lublin eagerly Geula. He was convinced that the himself as a anticipated the coming of Moshiach. time of Geula was approaching, but R’ Yisroel of Tomashov related that his efforts proved unsuccessful. He leader. the tzaddik would warn his shamash regretfully explained to his disciple, every night that if he heard the Yid HaKadosh, that the simple HaKadosh, the Sar Shalom of Belz, Moshiach he should wake him up people were ready for Geula but the R’ Naftali of Ropshitz (whose talmid immediately. “lofty people” had delayed it, since founded the dynasty of Tzanz), and Nonetheless, he shied away from each one sees himself as a leader. R’ Menachem Mendel of Kotzk. sadness, even from lofty concerns like “the Sh’china in exile.” His WITH R’ MENDEL FALSE MOSHIACH service of Hashem was with OF RIMANOV Being the primary disseminator tremendous simcha, with joy on his of Chassidus in Poland, the Chozeh face despite the sadness in his heart For the Chozeh’s second attempt suffered greatly from the misnagdim. over the exile of the Sh’china. The at hastening the Geula, he included One time, some hotheads plotted to verse, “and you were tired and his dear friend, R’ Menachem make a mockery of the Chozeh and weary and did not fear G-d,” he Mendel of Rimanov. Together, they to shake the faith of his disciples. explained, refers to tiredness and decided to “make unifications” for They took a piece of deer hide and weariness from fasting and afflicting five Shabbasos in a row, thus wrote on it: “Yaakov Yitzchok son of oneself. drawing down the five parts of the Meitel mashuach (is the anointed R’ Moshe Teitelbaum, the soul that pertain to Moshiach. one), says Hashem.” Yismach Moshe, originally opposed However, the plan did not work They were sure that when the Chassidus and Chassidim. He met out. The first Friday night, when R’ tzaddik saw the note, he would the Chozeh and questioned him Mendel sat down at the table with believe it had fallen from heaven and about the Chassidim who did not the Chozeh, he was taken aback at would publicize that he was chosen properly mourn the churban. the sight of Chassidim who spoke as Moshiach. They would then The Chozeh replied: “This is freely. At his own table the shame him by announcing that it analogous to a king who was taken Chassidim sat in trepidation in the was they who had written the captive and exiled to distant parts. presence of their Rebbe, and R’ message. His loyal followers were saddened Mendel could not tolerate ordinary One of them managed to sneak and cried, but when he found his talk at the Shabbos table. When he into the house Erev Shabbos and way to the home of one of his loyal chastised the Chassidim of the place the note in the Chozeh’s subjects, the host’s face was radiant Chozeh, they quieted down and Shabbos clothing. He waited with joy as he kept his sadness at nobody spoke. An atmosphere of impatiently, knowing that the bay. We, too, mourn in our hearts yira prevailed. Chozeh would check his clothing over the exile of the Sh’china but we The Chozeh’s approach was to before Shabbos in accordance with rejoice over the fact that even in discuss holy matters with his

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Jews in Lublin prior to World War II

Chassidim and he asked his friend, between France and Russia, decisive moment when the Heavenly “How can you impose fear on Napoleon and Alexander. The court would determine the outcome Jews?” Kozhnitzer Maggid, the Chozeh of of the war would be during the The next day, when R’ Mendel Lublin, and R’ Menachem Mendel of shofar blowing on the upcoming came to the table, he removed the Rimanov considered this war an Rosh HaShana. The tzaddikim of cloth covering the challos. The auspicious time for the Geula in Poland deviated from their custom Chozeh, however, maintained that light of the Gemara that says, “If to daven at length and rushed to the challos should be covered. These you see kingdoms sparring with one blow the shofar in order to finally occurrences highlighted their another, anticipate Moshiach.” silence the Accuser, but the Alter different paths and affected their These tzaddikim prayed to Rebbe preceded them. How? Early joint efforts. Hashem that Napoleon win the war in the morning, before Shacharis, On the second Shabbos that R’ and that this be the war of Gog and while the tzaddikim of Poland were Mendel was in Lublin, he had a high Magog, which would be followed by still davening, he took the shofar and fever and he was unable to attend Moshiach. Indeed, Napoleon’s army blew one hundred blasts. The Alter the third Shabbos meal. Accepting won battle after battle. Rebbe thus tilted the scale against the failure of the plan for five The Alter Rebbe, however, Napoleon. consecutive Shabbasos of yichudim, disagreed with these tzaddikim. He After Shacharis, when it was time R’ Mendel returned home the next maintained that it would be better for the t’kios in the beis midrash of day. for the Jewish people if the Russian the Kozhnitzer Maggid, he felt that When his condition improved as czar won the war. He said, “On the the battle had already been decided. soon as he left Lublin, until he first day of Rosh HaShana, before “The Litvak [referring to the Alter completely recovered before he Musaf, they showed me [with ruach Rebbe] preceded us and won,” he arrived at home, he realized that it ha’kodesh] that if Bonaparte wins, declared resignedly. was the Satan who had ruined their wealth will increase in Israel and the plans. However, the Chozeh did not Jewish people will be uplifted, but THE FOURTH ATTEMPT give up and continued to think of their hearts will be distanced from Napoleon’s downfall did not how to hasten the Geula. their Father in heaven. If Alexander dissuade the tzaddik and he soon wins, although poverty will increase came up with another initiative to and the Jewish people will be THE NAPOLEONIC WARS hasten the Geula. This time, he degraded, their hearts will bond with The Chozeh came up with his included other tzaddikim – R’ their Father in heaven. third attempt during the war Mordechai of Chernobyl, R’ Isaac of The tzaddikim knew that the

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The tzaddik stood undeterred by these four failed GOING OUT OF GALUS attempts, he prepared to try again. WITH SIMCHA in the beis At the meal on Rosh HaShana, TZADDIKIM UNITE the Chozeh said to his talmidim, midrash as his A few months before Rosh “The accusations on High are great soul went aloft. HaShana, 1814, the Chozeh began but we think that what was not the necessary preparations. He knew accomplished with the sound of the The small shofar it would be a war in all the worlds shofar will be achieved with the and he had to enlist his best forces. simcha of Torah on Simchas Torah, that R’ Dovid’l Alongside him were his holy because the power of joy is greater disciples, R’ Klonimus Kalman, than the power of awe.” held had to arouse author of Maor V’Shemesh, and R’ A battle took place in Kozhnitz Naftali Hertz of Berzhan. R’ Yisroel too. The night of Yom Kippur the the great shofar, of Kozhnitz and R’ Mendel of Maggid cried out, “Master of the the shofar of Rimanov would participate from universe, please say ‘I forgive you as their locations. you said,’ and hasten the Geula. Lest Moshiach. The Chozeh saw with his ruach you say we lack tzaddikim in the ha’kodesh that this wasn’t enough world, you have R’ Mendele of and he sent an urgent letter to R’ Rimanov, who is a real tzaddik. Lest Kaliv, and his great talmid, the Yid Menachem Mendel of Kosov, author the “Urim V’Tumim” be lacking, we HaKadosh – in the hopes that with of Ahavas Sholom, to come to have the Chozeh who illuminates like their joint efforts they would be Lublin and help with the yichudim. the Urim V’Tumim. Lest you lack successful. However, the Satan interfered once baalei t’shuva, I, Yisroel of Kozhnitz, The day they chose to focus again and R’ Mendel remained in with my weak body, am ready to do their prayers was the night of the Kosov, sending his son, R’ Chaim, in t’shuva for all the Jewish people!” Seder in the year 1813, since his stead. This was not what the The Days of Judgment passed Chazal say, “In Nissan they were Chozeh wanted and he was and the tzaddikim knew that they redeemed and in Nissan they will be disappointed. had to complete the avoda of yira redeemed.” When it came time to blow the with the avoda of simcha during Maariv, Yom Tov night, the shofar, everybody stood in awe and Sukkos and Simchas Torah. The Chozeh davened with wondrous trepidation. They knew it was a Satan also knew to redouble his d’veikus, praying with great intensity fateful moment. The Chozeh efforts. On Erev Sukkos, the Maggid and with supernal unifications. announced the t’kios and his talmid, of Kozhnitz suddenly took ill. His However, later that evening, during R’ Dovid’l of Lelov, was the baal condition worsened from hour to the Seder, he sensed that his tokeia. hour. colleagues were not with him in his The tzaddik stood in the beis On his sickbed, he addressed his yichudim. After Yom Tov he found midrash as his soul went aloft. The son, R’ Moshe Elyakim: “A few out why. small shofar that R’ Dovid’l held had minutes ago, the tzaddik R’ Levi In the home of the Yid to arouse the great shofar, the shofar Yitzchok of Berditchev appeared to HaKadosh, the Satan caused a fight of Moshiach. Surely the Satan me. I asked him why he did not keep between his wife and his mother. would not sit by idly and would try his promise that when he would Instead of being busy with yichudim, to thwart their efforts. ascend to heaven, he would not rest he found himself forced to intervene Silence prevailed and the until he brought an end to the galus. in the quarrel. In the home of R’ talmidim trembled. This was a battle “R’ Levi Yitzchok replied, ‘Soon, Mordechai of Chernobyl, the with Satan himself. The Chozeh when you are in the World of Truth, afikoman was lost and it took a long announced, “Tekia!” R’ Dovid’l drew you will understand the truth of the time to find it. In R’ Isaac’s home in the shofar to his lips and tried to matter. An upside-down world will Hungary, they said the Hagada in blow, but no sound emerged. be shown to you, for what seems like Hungarian. The Chozeh announced it again a disaster for the Jewish people in Thus the Chozeh’s fourth and this time, a clear note sounded. this world, appears in the World of attempt to bring the Geula failed. It was a small victory on the way to Truth as the greatest good. His mesirus nefesh for the Jewish the big victory. Therefore, it is absolutely forbidden people knew no bounds so, to force the keitz.’”

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Shortly thereafter, the Maggid of would be no fast day, but time What happened in Lublin was Kozhnitz passed away. Due to the would reveal that if Simchas Torah called “the well-known fall,” but hester panim (concealment), the was not sufficiently joyous, then the nobody knew exactly what Chozeh did not sense the passing of mourning on Tisha B’Av would be happened. his friend. His Chassidim hid the far greater. information from him so as not to The simcha in the Chozeh’s beis DO NOT CAST ME AWAY distress him on Erev Yom Tov. midrash was at a peak, with the It was close to midnight when Chassidim circling the bima and the one of the Chassidim, walking down Chozeh dancing and singing with THE FALL the street, heard a groan. When he them. Song followed song and none Simchas Torah. The beis midrash approached he was horrified to see of the Chassidim noticed that the was packed with Chassidim who had his Rebbe on the ground. His cry Chozeh had left the shul and gone come to be with the Rebbe. They brought the Chassidim on the run. up to his private room to be danced and sang and the tzaddik The Chozeh sighed and said, miyached yichudim as the tzaddikim encouraged the crowd, “If we have a “Why did you hide from me that the had agreed to do. happy Simchas Torah, we will also Kozhnitzer Maggid passed away on At the same time, R’ Klonimus have a happy Tisha B’Av.” Erev Sukkos? Had I known, I would Kalman was also involved in By this he meant that the simcha not have walked these dangerous yichudim to bring the Geula while would bring Moshiach and there paths alone. The Samech-Mem his chassidim danced and sang. came to attack me and made me fall Suddenly, a large stone shattered the out the window.” window of the beis midrash in The Chassidim were shocked to Krakow, ruining the joy of the hear this, knowing that their Rebbe’s celebrants. In R’ Naftali Hertz’s beis room had only one small, narrow midrash, too, the Satan was up to and high up window. R’ Yehuda Leib no good. A mysterious fire broke of Zaklikov, one of the older ones of out, scattering the congregants.

Above: The old gravestone on the grave of the Chozeh. Right: The Ohel on the gravesite of the Chozeh of Lublin

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the group, then recalled what the Chozeh’s Rebbe, R’ Elimelech of THOUGHTS ABOUT GEULA Lizhensk, had said many years FROM THE CHOZEH OF LUBLIN before. “Know that you have to pray Calculating the Keitz because of Kibbud Av mightily: ‘Do not cast us away in old He said that tzaddikim calculated when Moshiach would come age.’” because they were following the Halacha. The Halacha is that when a The Chozeh was ill for nine and son sees that his father is not doing something properly, out of respect a half months. His talmid, Professor for him he cannot tell his father directly that he is doing something Chaim Dovid Bernhard, was a wrong. He must show him the Halacha and say: Father, this is what it doctor. Despite his best efforts, his says in the Torah. Rebbe did not recover. “All the Since we want to express our opinion to our Father in heaven so He forces of the sitra achara were will have mercy on His children and redeem them, and it’s not right, as arrayed against me,” he told the it were, that they suffer the burden of galus anymore, the tzaddikim doctor. Even on his sickbed he come up with a date and show an allusion in a verse of Tanach how maintained his faith and Moshiach will come in that year. This is to show our Father in heaven: anticipation. “I await him Father, it says so in the Torah… [Moshiach] every day, that he come” Why was Rebbi unable to annul Tisha B’Av he would keep murmuring. The Gemara relates that Tisha B’Av once fell on Shabbos and Rebbi The Chozeh of Lublin passed (Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi) wanted to cancel the fast of Tisha B’Av away on Tisha B’Av. He had been altogether, but the other sages were unwilling. moser nefesh to bring the Geula. One can understand this as Rebbi wanted to uproot Tisha B’Av The tens of thousands of his altogether, in other words, to bring the Geula and cancel the fast of Chassidim felt it an additional Tisha B’Av completely. The other sages did not agree, that is, they did churban. That year, R’ Mendel of not help him since they were not on his level to be able to do something Rimanov, the third member of the like that. group, passed away on 19 Iyar. Many people considered the reason to be the attempts made by the three tzaddikim to force the keitz.

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26 7 Iyar 5769 BEIS MOSHIACH 692:Beis Moshiach 27/04/2009 1:15 AM Page 27

story

display of simple faith in Hashem and His agent, the Rebbe shlita, IN PAIN Melech HaMoshiach. THE MONEY OF CHILLUL SHABBOS – WAS GONE SHALL YOU Shimon and Nava (the names have been changed at their request) are an Israeli couple living in the borough of Queens, New York. For years, the trying times they went BRING FORTH through were simply too difficult to speak about, but at last they have agreed to tell their unique story to the readers of “Beis Moshiach.” Shimon and Nava were married CHILDREN... twenty-five years ago. They make a living selling clothes and shoes. At that time, Shimon and his father owned a store on Jamaica Avenue, By Avrohom Ber which honorably provided the Translated by Michoel Leib Dobry family with financial sustenance. The problem was that the store was open on Shabbos. “The doctor came out of the delivery Shimon was then in the process room with a solemn expression on his of returning to his Jewish roots through the T’mimim who came to face that sank my heart. ‘Not again,’ I his store on “mivtzaim”. When he heard about a story where the thought to myself despairingly.” * The Rebbe personally got involved in a matter of keeping Shabbos in a previously untold story about the Rebbe store owned by Jews, he went to the Queens Chabad House and happily who couldn’t speak and the children informed the shliach, Rabbi Shraga who could not be born. Zalmanoff, that he would start observing Shabbos. He then asked Rabbi Zalmanoff to write a letter to “You simply can’t understand it. time and time again, only to return the Rebbe on his behalf, requesting There’s no chance in the world that home each time empty-handed r”l.” a bracha to find a new location for you’ll be able to understand such a We all hear “miracle” stories on the store, where he could keep thing,” Shimon told me when we the Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach. All Shabbos. met in his shoe store on of us have our own collection of “A week passed, then another, Manhattan’s Lower East Side. such tales, ready to tell upon and then another,” recalled “Anyone who has no children can request. There are stories that have Shimon. “I would periodically never fathom the feelings of a been more publicized; others less. check with Rabbi Zalmanoff for an mother sitting beside her son’s bed Some have already been printed, answer, but none was forthcoming. for close to six months, until the while others still make the rounds I couldn’t understand why the bitter end – a parent who buries via word-of-mouth. This story, Rebbe wasn’t responding. Doesn’t three of his offspring. Who can never previously publicized, is one the Rebbe want us to keep imagine what it feels like to come to of the most amazing stories yet to Shabbos? the hospital in the ninth month, be printed. It is an impressive “One day, about a month after

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the writing of the letter, a Gentile yet installed a proper alarm system climax. of Georgian descent came into the or adequate locks. We’re talking Did we say “nine”? Not in this store and asked us how much we about merchandise valued at more case. want to lease him the premises for than eighty thousand dollars!” “At the end of the sixth month, nine years, which was the When Shimon came to this part Nava already had to go to the remainder of our contract. We of his story, tears welled in his eyes hospital. The baby, a girl, was replied that two hundred thousand and his voice cracked slightly. “And born... but lived for only an hour. dollars would be sufficient. Without then…and then…one night, thieves You have no idea what it was like. It hesitation, he asked to lease the broke into the store and stole all of was simply unbearable. store. In my wildest imaginations, I our merchandise. It wasn’t enough “We returned to our empty never would have believed that it that we had lost fifty thousand home and tried to deal with the would be possible to close such an dollars by turning down the loss. We are very strong people with important deal so quickly! Gentile’s offer, but now we were a lot of faith, and we are not broken “My father told him that since also left without any stock. But we that easily. We tried again. we have made an agreement with were not dismayed. We realized that “This time, the pregnancy the property owner to inform him it was Hashem’s plan that thieves seemed to go normally. After nine of any changes that we made, we had taken all of the money we had months, we found ourselves would have to let him know first. earned on all those Shabbosim and traveling once again to the hospital, The owner, who was Jewish, told us allowed us to turn a new page in a our lips uttering words of prayer that he agrees to buy out the lease new location. The store has been that things should just go well. of the store from us for $200,000, “The doctor came out of the and since we preferred to sell the delivery room with a solemn lease to a Jew, we decided to deal “Do you expression on his face that sank my with him. heart. ‘Not again,’ I thought to “The Gentile came back the understand what myself despairingly. The doctor following day, and when he heard informed me that I had a baby boy, about our agreement with the you’re about to alive but not that healthy. The joy owner, he immediately offered to that the baby was alive made me up the price to a quarter of a do? What does a forget the complications for the million dollars! Here, we received a rabbi know about moment – a very brief moment. My little education from our father, of wife sat near the baby in the blessed memory, as he told him that this?” hospital, day and night. For four he is unwilling to break his word to harrowing months, she hardly came the Jew, even for another fifty home. It’s difficult for me even to thousand dollars. The Gentile asked closed on Shabbos ever since.” recall that horrific time. my father if he had already signed a The tremendous faith of simple “In the physical sense, the contract with the owner, and when Jews is simply awe-inspiring… prayers didn’t help. After four he replied in the negative, a look of months, my wife returned home absolute shock crossed the man’s WHAT DOES THE REBBE without the child. face. ‘You’re prepared to pass up KNOW ABOUT SUCH “This was even harder than the $50,000 without a contract?’ he previous time. I felt that I was asked my father before leaving. THINGS? about to explode. Friends and “The contract with the Jewish After this lengthy introduction, neighbors looked at me with owner was signed, and we found we now turn to the miracle story, absolute pity. I could read their our current location in Manhattan. which is the main subject of this minds: ‘Look at that poor Jew; he’s All the merchandise was still left in article: already lost two children.’ the old store on Jamaica Avenue. As with any young couple after My wife traveled to the Rebbe “One day, the owner came and their wedding, when the first MH”M and passed by him at asked us to remove all of our pregnancy comes along, the Sunday dollars. She burst into tears merchandise, as he needs the place excitement is very great. They wait and asked the Rebbe for a bracha to urgently. We quickly transferred all impatiently to embrace the child have children. She said that she the goods to the store in that is soon due to enter the world. can’t take it anymore, and she Manhattan, although we had not Nine months of waiting reach their wants a living and healthy child.

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The Rebbe merely observed her this Heavenly decree was destined had said that she should not go to with kindly eyes, but said nothing. to fall upon us, but it remained a the hospital, rather she should “The third pregnancy was a most painful fact. My wife would arrange for a personal attendant to repeat of the previous ones. The write to the Rebbe, and the Rebbe help her until the birth. After a few hopes, the prayers, the would not respond. days, we received a letter in the expectations, and the great “In Nava’s ninth pregnancy, the mail. The Rebbe had sent Nava disappointment. My wife waited for doctors revealed that she was three dollars, apparently for her and six months at the hospital in Long carrying twins. This led them to the twins.” Island, and eventually returned draw two conclusions: First, that it The doctor at Long Island home alone. The baby was interred was imperative for Nava to remain Jewish Hospital, an observant Jew, next to his other siblings. under observation from the fourth opened his eyes in shock at the “I had three graves of my month, and second, in light of her couple sitting before him. “Do you children. Do you understand what previous history, she must abort understand what you’re about to we’re talking about? one of the fetuses, as giving birth to do? Do you understand that you’re “From then on, it had already twins would endanger her life. going to kill your wife because of become a kind of routine. My wife “It was 5753, and the Rebbe some rabbi? What does a rabbi would become pregnant, go to the neither spoke nor responded to know about this?” hospital... and give birth to a dead letters personally. The new order of “Of course, they wouldn’t fetus. We would go back home, and things was that the secretary went release us from the hospital until we gnash our teeth, but we remained in and asked the Rebbe MH”M to signed a form declaring that we unbroken – until the next time.” reply with a nod or a shake of his accept all responsibility for what Five, yes, five, more holy head. happens. Only after we signed did antagonizing times – things ended “Nava wrote to the Rebbe – the doctors agree to release Nava. in bitter frustration. again. We are believing Jews, who “Nu, what do you think?” “My wife wrote many times to know the power of a tzaddik. laughed Shimon happily. “Today, I the Rebbe MH”M in request of a There’s no such thing as ‘it’s have two teenagers, a son and a bracha, yet the Rebbe did not impossible to write to the Rebbe.’ daughter, alive and well – and it is respond. I don’t know how to “Two days later, we received a all in the merit of the Rebbe, interpret the ways of G-d or why call from the secretary. The Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach!”

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msetmooryirs BREAD AND BUTTER, BUT NOT TOGETHER

Reminiscences of R’ Nissan Nemenov a”h By Rabbi Shneur Zalman Chanin

were not allowed to leave them. “You can eat each item by itself. When When they crossed the border you eat bread, eat it to satiety. When and entered camp Hof in the American zone of Germany, a you eat butter, eat it for your good stone rolled off their hearts. They knew that they were among health. But I cannot understand why friends, that the KGB wouldn’t get them and that the communists had you have to eat the bread with butter no ability get them back to Russia, and their fear dissipated. on it!” The camp in Hof was like all the others. Here, too, they brought It was the end of the summer they spent a few days in one place, them into a large room, gave them of 1946 when my parents and it was never restful. They were bunk beds to sleep on and told sisters entered Camp Hof after always living out of suitcases, them to wait until they were crossing the border between ready to travel. All the transit brought to a different camp. Austria and Germany. I never camps they spent time in during However, this camp was different heard details from my father about their travels looked more or less from the others that they had their wandering in Austria and the same. There were long gotten used to, where they had which cities or places they camped buildings called barracks. There limited food, usually bread and in. After I began making inquiries was a large room which had water. In Hof, or as the refugees for this article, and I asked other military folding beds, and that was called it, Oifnams Lager (reception people who were there what they it. There were no partitions and no camp), they were given not only remembered, I saw that they other furniture. bread but also… butter. The food remembered very little. Each family was allotted a was sent by the Joint and UNRRA The first thing they all corner or a row of beds. They built and when the refugees received it, remember is that they were told to tables out of their suitcases by there was nobody happier than be absolutely quiet. They also putting them one on top of the them. remember their fear. Fear of the other, with the bottom suitcase UNRRA – United Nations unknown, fear of the secret police, upright and the one on top of it Relief and Rehabilitation fear of soldiers, fear of the dark, lying down. Their beds served as Administration was founded to fear of the long journey and fear chairs on which to sit and eat their help refugees and citizens living in of losing the group or lagging small ration of bread, until they Allied countries that had been behind. were told it was time to move on. liberated in Europe and the Far They all also remember how Soldiers or policemen guarded the East. In Germany, the UNRRA exhausted they were. Even when transit camps and the refugees was under military surveillance

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throughout the country. Military It is important to clarify that authorities were responsible for for Chassidim under those maintaining law and order in the circumstances it was permissible, displaced persons camps, without a doubt, for them to eat acquiring basic provisions and the butter that the Joint provided distributing it, and providing living even though the butter was from quarters. UNRRA ran the camps, gentiles. Why? First, because all providing health services, relief, mitzvos are set aside when there is entertainment, professional a chance of danger because it says, guidance and supplementary regarding mitzvos, “and you shall provisions. live with them.” Since the butter My father told me: contained vitamins and was rich in “The first few times that we energy, it supplied them with a received butter from the Joint, a little of what their bodies product we hadn’t seen in ages, desperately needed. people ate it with a great appetite. Second, according to Halacha, We were famished and an item like butter has a different rule than butter was rare. Naturally, we other dairy products because understand the Halacha, we need were happy to be able to smear a technically butter does not need to to understand how butter was bit of it on the dry bread we were be supervised and made out of made then and the differences given.” chalav Yisroel. In order to nowadays that change its halachic status. In the period of time I am talking about – and before that, as well – the cream was skimmed off the milk, cooled and left for bacteria to curdle it. Then the curdled cream would be poured into a container called a butter- churn, where it was churned for a long time or the container was spun around quickly. This separated the drops of cream that were in the milk and they congealed and formed clumps of fat, or butter grains. Salt would be added to maintain freshness. Shulchan Aruch paskens (Yoreh Dei’a siman 115) that you don’t stop someone from eating gentile One of the barracks in Hof butter because the milk from a

The DP camp in Hof

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non-kosher animal cannot curdle tell stories and relate divrei Torah copper doors for us and the bolts into butter. Thus it was not a as though they weren’t in a way of iron. He did a miracle for us problem for the refugees to eat the station, traveling a dangerous road and we left there in a supernatural butter they were given in the DP and as though all their work was way. We must give thanks to camps. done and their suffering was Hashem. (However, in order not to lead behind them. They didn’t care that “Now tell me. How should we any readers astray, I must the improvised “tables” that they thank Hashem for this? Do we emphasize that nowadays, butter made out of suitcases were of thank Him by hungrily attacking production has changed and different heights and that the bread spread with butter? additional issues have arisen. If a folding cots were their chairs. Of “I’m not talking about what person eats non-Jewish butter course, the main speaker was the Chassidus demands of us. I’m not nowadays, he is likely to encounter mashpia, R’ Nissan Nemenov. asking for iskafia or is’hafcha, problems with the prohibition of R’ Nissan couldn’t restrain which are lofty levels in avoda. meat and milk and the g’zeira of himself and he took the Gezunterheit! On the contrary, eat not consuming non-Jewish milk.) opportunity to chastise the men as you please and it should be for The following Shabbos, my and bachurim: your good health. I am talking father related, after they finally “Gevald, gevald!” he cried out. about something else. I’m talking had butter to smear on their bread, “What has become of us? Baruch about our becoming so quickly the Chassidim farbrenged as they Hashem, we have merited to leave coarsened. Baruch Hashem we used to do. They sat together to the darkness. Hashem broke the have ample bread. Eat and satiate

CORRECTING AN ERROR Mrs. Itta Sossonkin-Levitin, who was killed in small children to a forsaken village in the district of Czechoslovakia, was the daughter-in-law of the Molotovsk, Siberia. Chassid, R’ Nachum Shmaryahu Sossonkin, rav of When the war ended, she managed, after great Batum, and not his daughter, as I had written effort, to locate and contact her father-in-law, who previously. I apologize. had moved with many of Anash to Samarkand. R’ Halacha dictates, “taus – l’olam chozer” – a Baal Shmaryahu arranged an official travel permit for her Korei who made a mistake while and his grandchildren so they could reading the Torah must always go join him in Samarkand in Central Asia. back to the beginning of the verse to When she finally arrived in read it correctly. Since I made a Samarkand, after weeks of traveling, mistake in the previous chapter about R’ Shmerel took her into his small Mrs. Sossonkin-Levitin (nee home and shared his bit of bread with Kleiman), I have to go back not only her and the children. At that time, to the beginning of the “verse,” but to they also had their three year old the beginning of the “chapter,” and granddaughter Rochel living with use the opportunity to tell a bit about them, the daughter of their son, R’ her life. Asher. She was orphaned from her Itke, as she was known, was mother, and her father was in a labor married to R’ Moshe, the son of R’ camp in Siberia. Shmaryahu Sossonkin. When their R’ Shmaryahu Sossonkin One night, when R’ Sossonkin was daughter Chana Feiga (Tzippora) was sitting up learning Torah, as usual, he three and their son Avrohom was three noticed that his daughter-in-law had months, R’ Moshe was arrested for being a religious woken up and looked upset. He asked her what Jew and sentenced to ten years exile in a camp in happened but she politely declined to answer. The Siberia. Itke, the wife of the “criminal,” was not next night the same thing happened. Itke woke up permitted to continue living in Leningrad and had in a fright and once again did not answer any to move to nearby Luga. questions. Three years later, when the Germans advanced The third night, when she woke up once again on Leningrad, she managed to flee with her two and began to pace back and forth, she agreed to tell

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yourselves. There’s butter? Eat as To become so megusham? Gevald, you desire. gevald!” “Gevald, gevald!” “You can eat each item by By the way, the butter the he cried out. itself. When you eat bread, eat it refugees received from the Joint to satiety. When you eat butter, was the same butter that was given “What has become eat it for your good health. But I to the American soldiers, and it cannot understand why you have was very salty so it could last a of us? Hashem to eat the bread with butter on it. long time without refrigeration. Not only that, but you make sure My mother admitted to me that broke the copper to spread the butter on the bread under any other circumstances she so that it is evenly distributed so wouldn’t put butter like that into doors for us and that one side or corner, heaven her mouth. the bolts of iron. forbid, does not have a drop more Nevertheless, R’ Nissan butter than another. This is what couldn’t tolerate it. My father Is this how we hurts me! As the verse says, ‘you would conclude, “R’ Nissan? He became fattened and thickened was a real Chassid and oveid thank Him?” and covered in flab.’ It’s the gasus Elokim. Go and tell people today ruach (coarseness of spirit) I’m who R’ Nissan was. They will *** talking about. Is that where we think he was a fanatic who didn’t It says in Mishlei 10:7, “the have gotten to in so short a time? relate to this world.”

him what was troubling her. “This is the third night backbreaking labor and subhuman conditions R’ that my brother, Yaakov Kleiman, who died of Moshe had endured and also recounted his mesiras starvation in Leningrad together with his wife, came nefesh. Despite his suffering and starvation, he to me in a dream and asked me to save his children.” refused to eat non-kosher food. She told her father-in-law that she and her After a few months, despite the pain over the brother had made a pact that whoever remained loss of his son, R’ Shmaryahu encouraged his alive after the war would take care of the others’ daughter-in-law to remarry. She married the children. She had survived but when she saw how mashgiach of yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim, R’ Shneur hard it was for her Zalman Levitin, whose father-in-law to support first wife had been killed himself, his wife, their in the bombing. granddaughter and now They joined the her and her children, group my parents were she felt she couldn’t in and together made impose on him with the trip from Russia to additional children. For Poland to this reason, she had not Czechoslovakia. They mentioned her promise were about to cross the until then. border into Austria when R’ Sossonkin a Czech soldier shot and reassured her and killed her. together they discussed R’ Moshe Sossonkin R’ Shneur Zalman Levitin After these tragedies how to find her and despite the nephews, who were in enormous difficulties, R’ communist institutions, and bring them to Shmaryahu raised all six orphans: his three Samarkand. After great effort, the three orphaned grandchildren, Itke’s two children and R’ Asher’s children of her brother were brought to Samarkand daughter, (R’ Asher remained in Russia in a labor and R’ Sossonkin took them into his house. camp in Siberia) and the three Kleiman children One day, a prisoner who had been together with who were nephews of his daughter-in-law. He Itke’s husband came with the bitter news that R’ raised them to Torah, chuppa and good deeds in the Moshe had died. He told about the hardships, the way of Chassidus. May his memory be a blessing.

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memory of a tzaddik is for what was happening outside his subduing the coarse and negative blessing,” that whenever we four cubits. For example, when traits and self discipline to behave mention the name of a Chassid or he would meet my mother in the in the proper manner. yerei Shamayim, we need to bless street, although she was a woman I knew R’ Nissan in yeshivas him and sing his praise. Since I and it was in public, he would Tomchei T’mimim in Brunoy when mentioned R’ Nissan, I want to tell always stop to ask how she was I was a boy. I learned with him you some more about him and and say a few encouraging only the beginning of the study of how I, his talmid, saw the good words. Chassidus, a few chapters of qualities that he had. R’ Nissan was an oveid Elokim. Tanya and one maamer in Likkutei If you didn’t know R’ Nissan, He was a Chassid who worked on Torah, I think it was the maamer, you could think that he was himself and his middos. His “Lo Sashbis.” Right after my bar removed from this world like the Shacharis on a weekday took 5 or mitzva my family and I left France perushim described in the Rebbe 6 hours, and not because he didn’t for Crown Heights. Rayatz’s Memoirs, who covered know how to read well. He was I first went to yeshiva in their eyes so they wouldn’t see demanding of himself and of his Brunoy in 1954, when I was a boy outside their immediate area. talmidim, largely in the area of of six. At home I was the baby R’ Nissan wasn’t like that. On iskafia – breaking, conquering, son, born to my older parents. I the contrary; he definitely saw and subduing the Evil Inclination; was born in Paris, after all the hardships my parents had gone through. My sisters were older by then. There was no school for me in Paris and so, despite the concern for my welfare and the difficulty in parting with their “ben yochid,” they sent me to R’ Nissan in Brunoy so I could receive the kind of Chabad chinuch for which they had been so moser nefesh in Russia. The yeshiva building was given to the Chassidim by the Joint and the food was also donated by various organizations who continued to support Jewish refugees for years after the war was over. The food given in the yeshiva kitchen was made with whatever ingredients they were provided with and the taste was like that of the manna, i.e. it had no taste of its own … everyone tasted in it whatever he wanted… I was the youngest boy in the dormitory. My father wanted someone to ensure I would eat properly, so he asked his friend, R’ Nissan, to have me eat in his home. R’ Nissan’s wife would cook for her household in any case and another portion was no extra hardship for her. In the Nemenov home at that time there were three R’ Nissan Nemenov and his sons, R’ Sholom Dovber and R’ Moshe, sons. There were the two older shortly after they left Russia

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boys, R’ Sholom Ber and R’ Labkowski) came up with an idea. Moshe, and the younger son, my We could manage The yeshiva building was in the dear friend R’ Yitzchok (the middle of a thick wooded area and menahel ruchni of the yeshiva with the bathing at the edge was a spring. The now), who is a year older than me. water was cold and shallow; it was There is an aphorism, “Tell me conditions but, as outside, without a roof or anything who your friends are and I’ll tell around it. That is where R’ Nissan you who you are.” After the brief Chassidim, we and these other brave souls went period of time that I ate in R’ to immerse. It made no difference Nissan’s house and saw what he could not manage whether it was summer or winter, ate, I modified the saying to, “Tell without a mikva whether it was pouring, snowing me what you eat and I’ll tell you or bitterly cold and windy. who you are.” By seeing what my in which to R’ Nissan went to immerse in teacher ate, I was able to learn, to that spring every day, with some extent, about the greatness immerse before kabbalas ol and without taking the of this Chassid and G-d fearing conditions into account. There man. davening every were no steps leading down to the Though I was just a boy, I waters of the spring; in order for noticed that R’ Nissan did not use day. the water to cover the entire body the bread that most of Anash used. at one time, you had to lie spread- That bread was baked in the I am not exaggerating when I eagled and R’ Nissan was no bakery of a non-Jew and a say that day after day, week after youngster. Only an emeser erlicher Lubavitcher would throw a little week, and year after year, this is Yid, someone with yiras wood into the fire or light the oven all R’ Nemenov ate. Shamayim, could do this. so that the bread would be pas So when my father told me *** Yisroel and kosher according to all what R’ Nissan demanded of the These little stories are etched in opinions. group of refugees, I could my memory, heart and soul till this R’ Nissan’s wife would bake understand a bit of his pain. As a day. I learned from them. It was bread for him at home that was mashpia, it hurt him to see how an edifying lesson about how a more mehudar. She did not have they “grabbed” fresh bread with genuine Chassid conducts himself; an oven so every Thursday or butter. He couldn’t understand someone who demanded much Friday, she would bake three how Chassidim could be so coarse. more of himself than of his pupils. challos for Shabbos in a metal pan Another small example from the It is no wonder, then, that he on the fire. The challa that was left time I was in Tomchei T’mimim demanded of others what he did, over after Shabbos was used for Brunoy: that gashmius shouldn’t hold such the rest of the week. In my day, there were no an important place in their lives. This challa, with the addition of showers in yeshiva. Who had To him, that was plain and a little cheese that the Rebbetzin heard of a personal shower? Once obvious. made herself, were the only things a week we would go to the town R’ Nissan ate during the week. In bathhouse and every bachur and 1954 there were no plastic bags to child was given ten minutes to keep bread fresh. The bread or shower. If someone did not come challa remained on the table out after ten minutes, he would be covered with a napkin that forcibly removed, dressed or protected it from flies but not from otherwise. drying out. Of course, as each We could manage with the additional day went by, the challa bathing conditions but, as became harder and harder until it Chassidim, we could not manage was like a rock. In order to eat it without a mikva in which to (I remember it as though it was immerse before davening every today), R’ Nissan would dip it in day. hot tea to soften it. I don’t know R’ Nissan (and a few other how the cheese tasted. special Chassidim like R’ Nachum

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moshiach & geula ~ The Final Era ~ TO COLLECT WHAT IS OWED TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE

By Boruch Merkur

generosity is manifest even within the “A Jew shouldn’t have to come to the natural order, where there is physical point of crying out; he should only have (as well as spiritual) silver and gold. “All the more is the above true insofar to extend his hand to G-d...and as the gift comes from G-d’s essence and being, for the Jew who ‘extends a immediately G-d gives him, from the hand’ appeals to G-d’s very essence. ‘full, open, holy, and generous hand’ of The profound care that G-d has for the Jewish people is reflected in the the Holy One Blessed Be He.” * Tracing statement of the Rebbe Rayatz155 – that the simplicity of a Jew (especially the Rebbe MH”M’s instructions on how when he does an action with simplicity, ‘extending a hand’) unites to perfect our Divine service in the with the true simplicity of [what Rambam refers to as] the ‘True Final Era. Existence.’ Of consequence, the ‘giving’ [to ‘all who extend a hand’] is [Continued from Issue #690] according to what G-d’s essence and being can afford, beyond all possible measure. “And especially – in addition to the fact that G-d, of His “At the same time, perfection is attained with regard to own volition, wants to give Jews charity – Jews cry out, the capacity of the recipient to receive as well as his ‘Until when?!’ including the righteous women of the actual enrichment; bountiful good given in a manner 150 generation, as well as ‘Hadasa is Ester,’ who is that can be received, overt and revealed goodness presently in the World of Truth. She cries out together within the framework of created beings. with all the women and children of the Jewish people and with all the Jews, ‘Until when?!’ How long will “Indeed, we are talking about the perfect gift both with ‘Shushan [be] in the depths of terror’?151 Indeed, respect to the Benefactor as well as to the recipient, there must be the bestowal of life from ‘the Giver of life including [the ultimate gift of] the true and complete will give you life.’152 Redemption by our righteous Moshiach.”

“Moreover, a Jew shouldn’t have to come to the point NOTES: of crying out; he should only have to extend his hand to 150 G-d, and G-d will fulfill his obligation139 (on Purim) Ester 2:7. that ‘we give to anyone who extends a hand.’ He 151 Liturgy from the Musaf Prayer of Yom Kippur. See shouldn’t have to speak or ask; he should only do a Torah Ohr Hosafos 116c. physical action, extend his physical hand and 152 Yoma 71a. immediately G-d gives him, from the ‘full, open, holy, and generous hand’153 of the Holy One Blessed Be He. 153 Third blessing of Grace After Meals. “Here we are speaking about a gift relative to the 154 Chagai 2:8. capacity of the Giver, what the Holy One Blessed Be He 155 The address of 12 Tammuz 5707, Section 3 (Likkutei Himself can afford, regarding Whom it is said, ‘The Dibburim Vol. 3, pg. 491b, beg.). silver is Mine and the gold is Mine.’154 Indeed, G-d’s

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profile THE WINDING ROAD TO A SPECIAL SHLICHUS

By S. Malachi

EARLY YEARS because they didn’t have answers or project Magor – an acronym for Chanan was born in Rechovot to because they didn’t want to deal Menasheh, Gad, and Reuven, the a frum Tunisian family. In his with him. Chanan left yeshiva for tribes which settled in that area in childhood, his father was sent to public school. Biblical times. They had detailed Algir, Morocco, to bring people on plans, down to a list of officers and aliya but he was brutally murdered SECRET PLAN TO commanders who would take in 1958. CAPTURE MAGUR charge of Rabat Amon and other cities. In yeshiva high school, Chanan After high school, he was had questions about emuna, and he After his military service, drafted into the army. During his Chanan studied mathematics and quickly ran into problems when he army service, he was assigned to a endeavored to find answers. The computer science at Bar-Ilan command group responsible for University. In 1973, he married his answers he was given didn’t satisfy preparing a military plan to capture him, and when he continued wife Varda, who also used to be the eastern side of the Jordan River, religious, and settled in Ramat Gan. asking, his teachers forbade him to in Jordan. The command group in ask questions about emuna, either Six years later, they moved to the charge of the operation called to hills of the Shomron with the nucleus that started the Elkana settlement. BIO “We were 16 families. Our first Decades after they first troubled him in yeshiva high school, Chanan attempt at building a settlement was Hassan found the answers to his questions in Toras HaChassidus. quelled by the authorities, but in The road to knitted kippa and from there to sirtuk and black hat 1977, after Rabin’s resignation, the was long and arduous, but it ended with hiskashrus to the Nasi HaDor. interim Peres government gave its Even the interruptions in that journey proved to be a “descent for the approval. Peres thought it would sake of an ascent.” help him in the elections.” Today, Chanan is the director of the computer department in the daughter-company to Bank HaMizrachi called Meichish. Did we call THE RESCUER him a director? Actually, he is the director of the company’s Chabad WHO WAS SAVED house. He sees his work as a shlichus, and defines his job as putting the In 1993, Chanan decided to Alef of Geula into the Gola (exile), so that the company becomes a “rescue” his sister who had become place that is Meichish (speeds-up) the Geula. interested in Judaism. In the Chanan, who lives in Elkana in the Shomron, is one of the main process, he found Yamima, a activists in the Chabad house there. Much of that shliach’s success is to special woman who was mekarev Chanan’s credit. many people. Chanan, who had

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completed his first degree and was more he found the answers he “But the rav there, he’s one of starting to work on a second, took sought. He also began to realize those they call Meshichisten…” a break and began taking classes that logic is limited. He came to the “So what’s the problem?” with Yamima. (The shiurim were conclusion that by learning, he “He always says, ‘Yechi given modestly, with separate would find answers to all his Adoneinu.’” shiurim for men and women, and questions. “So what?” the men did not see her.) Then R’ Rami Antian a”h “When I was ready to leave, “I wasn’t looking for Judaism. I arrived at a nearby yishuv, Shaarei Rabbi Eliyahu asked me, ‘And he is was just afraid my sister was Tikva. Chanan began attending his Meshichi?’ entrapped and I decided to gather weekly shiurim in Likkutei Torah, “I answered in the affirmative enough information to be able to Torah Ohr and the D’var Malchus and he smiled, and then I left. extricate her.” sichos of 5751-5752. Chassidus, “To this day, I can’t be sure Chanan soon fell under the spell especially these sichos, changed what he meant with that last of p’nimius ha’Torah. Yamima was Chanan’s way of thinking and gave question. It felt as if he was asking mekusheres to the Rebbe and her him a different perspective on the me, in third person, if I believe that shiurim were rich with Chassidic world. the Rebbe is Moshiach.” concepts, presented in an appealing In any case, Chanan’s discussion manner. RABBI ELIYAHU DIDN’T with R’ Eliyahu affirmed that he Chanan also took an interest in SEE A PROBLEM was on the right path, and he Kabbala. He attended shiurim in continued to learn Chassidus. Breslover Chassidus with Rabbi “I was uncomfortable with “I believe that emuna has to Moshe Erez Doron and Rabi Rami’s belief in the Rebbe as come from within, and that’s why Shimon Teichner. Moshiach chai v’kayam. I wondered my journey was very pnimius’dik. I Chanan had many questions. whether anything is wrong with learned deeply, which changed my Yamima pointed out, “you examine learning from someone with such world.” everything logically; if it satisfies seemingly radical ideas. I went to you, you accept it and otherwise Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu and asked, “Is learning Tanya and FIRST LETTER you reject it.” Her advice was TO THE REBBE simple. “Don’t reject it; say you Chassidus the right thing to do?” don’t understand. As time goes by “Of course!” Chanan wrote his first letter to you will discover that it’s right, that you cannot think otherwise.”

AN ANSWER TO EVERY QUESTION Chanan began his foray into the world of Chabad Chassidus. He was fascinated by the mekubal, Rabbi Yitzchok Ginsburgh. He enjoyed the language of Kabbala and the deeper secrets of Lashon HaKodesh, and the fact that R’ Ginsburgh is a mathematician and physicist satisfied an old time need to connect abstract emuna with logic and science. He would go to learn Chassidus with the mashpia, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok (Fitche) Offen in Ramat Gan. There he met the shliach, Rabbi Matti Gal, who had an influence on him too. The more Chanan delved into Chassidus, the

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the Rebbe with R’ Rami. When he is Chabad. Already accustomed to a THE REBBE opened the Igros Kodesh he saw different style, the transition to Although Chanan had made a three letters that asked: ‘Why aren’t learning Chassidus wasn’t easy for huge shift, his outer appearance people learning Tanya where you the family. didn’t change. One day, he opened live?’ “When I wrote to the Rebbe to a letter where the Rebbe said: He did not get answers to the about this, I opened to a very “Inside, he is a Chassid, but this questions he had written. encouraging answer. The Rebbe should be apparent externally, too.” “It annoyed me and I decided to gave a bracha that our daughter Chanan switched to nusach stop asking,” Chanan recalls with a would marry a Tamim. It took a Arizal and bought himself a black smile. long time, but the bracha was hat and a gartel. As with everything Rami tried to convince Chanan eventually fulfilled.” else, this was with the constant to give a shiur at the yishuv, but In 5763 Elkana got its own support and encouragement of his Chanan did not feel ready to do so. shliach, Rabbi Yitzchok Kenig. It wife. Rami’s own attempt at giving a was no longer necessary to travel to Chanan made the trip to the Tanya shiur at the yishuv was hear a shiur in Chassidus, and Kinus HaShluchim 5767. Just unsuccessful. He would say, davening in a Chabad minyan getting there entailed many “Elkana is like a nut – hard to became a reality. Chanan offered challenges and miracles (see box), crack, but the inside is good.” his help from day one, introducing and when it all worked out he Chanan’s journey back to a the shliach to life on the yishuv. considered it a positive sign from religious life wasn’t easy, neither The center of Chabad activities Heaven. for him nor for his family, who by was the Sefardic shul where After two weeks in 770, Chanan then had opinions of their own. Chanan was a regular worshipper. returned home with renewed “We let the children do as they Various people, who looked askance kochos, a stronger hiskashrus to the pleased. The girls saw the change in at Chabad, convinced the gabbai to Rebbe and… a sirtuk. us and began looking into Judaism shut them out. and attending classes on their own.” Thanks to this turn of events, they decided to go l’chat’chilla FIVE MINUTES THAT A SHLIACH FOR ELKANA aribber and buy a building for their TURNED INTO HALF shul – a seemingly unrealistic plan AN HOUR After ten years of Jewish at first, but it proved to be involvement and learning, Chanan Chanan doesn’t keep Chassidus successful. and his wife decided that their path to himself. He spreads the Rebbe’s teachings at every opportunity. Back then, he davened at the main BETWEEN BEER SHEVA AND ASHKELON shul of the yishuv – Moreshet. “I suggested to my neighbor, Two years ago, Chanan decided to give his maaser money to a Yaakov Zeidman, that we learn a Chabad house that operates with no financial backing, and where Chassidic aphorism each day. We the locals are not able to support the work. set aside five minutes, but the five “I opened the Chabad.info phone book and the first place that minutes soon grew into over half an caught my eye was Ofakim. It’s a city between Beer Sheva and hour.” Ashkelon, out-of-the-way and with no financial support. I saw Light attracts, and more and that they have a soup kitchen and thought that would be the more people joined the short shiur. perfect place to make my donation.” They would read a Chassidic Chanan called the phone number but nobody answered. When aphorism from Otzar ha’Pisgamim. there was still no answer the next day, nor the following week, he “There are things in that book decided to call the shliach in Ofakim, Rabbi Yisroel Hershkowitz. that are simply amazing,” exclaims He told him that he had been trying to reach the soup kitchen for Chanan. “Every short sentence two weeks. Was there a soup kitchen or not? contains treasures that give you R’ Herkowitz excitedly told him that his call was perfectly strength all day. Those five minutes timed. The program had stopped not long ago due to lack of became half an hour, and even then funding, but he was now sitting with R’ Shneur Zalman Kenig it was hard to stop.” and they had decided to open it up again. They began learning the HaYom “I saw the Hashgacha Pratis with my own eyes,” says Chanan. Yom and from Mi’Gola L’Geula.

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INSTILLING liked the offer because I was One day, he PNIMIYUS HA’TORAH looking forward to the day when I could leave my job and spend more Chanan ends the Gemara shiur opened to a letter time on spiritual pursuits, he gives at the Sefardic shul with particularly when the offer was very Chassidus. Explanations and where the Rebbe generous. But the Rebbe had told analogies from Chassidus are me to stay. I suppose my shlichus is said: “Inside, he is interwoven throughout the shiur. at my place of work.” “Chassidus is not meant only for a Chassid, but this time set aside for it. In every conversation, in everything, there is CORPORATE should be the Chassidic view.” CHABAD HOUSE As for his work in spreading the Chanan is the authority on apparent wellsprings, Chanan has specific Judaism for hundreds of people at externally, too.” answers from the Rebbe. A group of his place of work. As the director of young men asked him to give them a department he tries to bring the while others make positive mitzva a shiur in Kabbala. He saw this as light of Chassidus in a myriad of commitments. One of the most an opportunity to teach Chassidus ways: in staff meetings, speeches powerful outreach tools he uses is a but he wasn’t sure whether it was and even in greetings attached to a weekly Torah email. It started with the right thing to do. gift; a short Chassidic saying can handing out printed publications: When he wrote to the Rebbe, he pack a punch. “I would order brochure style opened to two interesting answers. People ask him about anything publications on the parsha in One was about giving shiurim to connected to Judaism – from Hebrew and Russian and give them young people, about the checking mezuzos to a chicken for out. That had a limited reach. Then tremendous help they need, and Kaparos. Chanan is the one they I got the idea of sending out my about the importance and need to ask about the laws of mourning and own e-mail.” instill p’nimius ha’Torah in them. yahrtzait, the location of Chabad The other letter said not to leave his houses around the world… job under any circumstances. someone once even asked him WEEKLY SHIUR “A short while later, the bank about the menu of the Chabad FOR THOUSANDS offered me early retirement with a house in Thailand. What better approach for a man pension buyout and good terms. I Many people write to the Rebbe, in computers than to send out Jewish reading material via computer? Chanan began writing a weekly sheet with Chassidic ideas on the parsha. He sent it out via e- mail to all who wanted it. The initial list of subscribers included hundreds of employees at the company he worked at, but it quickly expanded to thousands of people. He got glowing feedback. For many, these parsha sheets were their first exposure to p’nimius ha’Torah and the depth of Judaism. Countless people said that they forward the material to their friends every week, while others said they print it to read at the Shabbos table or hang it up in shul. Over the years, Chanan has added nicer graphics and color, and Chanan farbrenging

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the list of subscribers grows. The IN CONCLUSION Even if we don’t see them going content is usually limited to words Every Lubavitcher, every Jew, to yeshiva tomorrow and becoming of Torah, but twice a year, before can be a shliach! baalei t’shuva, every positive Rosh HaShana and Pesach, in You can give a shiur, support a influence is significant. A small accordance with the Rebbe’s Chabad preschool near you… action on our part can help instruction, Chanan asks readers to actually, there’s no need to give someone change, become mekushar donate to the needy before the examples. If you open your eyes, to the Rebbe and fulfill his destiny holidays. you will see numerous Jews in life. “Every week I put hours of work around you who are waiting for into it, and I feel that it’s worth your help. every minute.”

MIRACLE FLIGHT I have to tell you about series of miracles I had in Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach lives there and I’m going connection with my trip to New York for the Kinus to visit him.” HaShluchim. For many years I had an unlimited visa “You’re a Chassid?” he asked. to the United States, but after the attack on the World When I replied in the affirmative, he said, “You can Trade Center, all visas were automatically cancelled. help me then. I attend a Yiddish class (I don’t know When I decided to fly, I submitted a new request. I whether he was Jewish or not) and I want to know was very nervous since my last name is Hassan. If that how to say ‘passport’ in Yiddish.” wasn’t enough, my English birthday is 9/11. I told him, “It’s amazing that you’re asking me that Americans don’t care for that sort of thing. question now. On my way here I learned something I asked for an interview three weeks before my the Rebbe taught in Yiddish, and it has the word scheduled flight to the Kinus HaShluchim, and was ‘passport’ in it. Apparently the word is the same in given an appointment in two months. I decided to play Yiddish as in English (it was Parshas Chayei Sarah and dumb. I asked, “But I have a visa for an unlimited the Rebbe quoted the Rebbe Rayatz as saying that amount of time?” what’s important is not the age it says on the passport They replied that they had canceled all visas. but what a person does, that ‘life of Sarah’ refers to I asked, “How can you do that without telling her deeds). people?” The clerk asked whether I could bring him a They said it was publicized in the papers. In the photocopy of the page or send it to him, and once end I managed to get an interview in two weeks, about again I saw the Divine Providence. I replied, “I took a week before the flight. two today. If you preserve the sanctity of the booklet, I When that problem was solved, I discovered can give you one.” I showed him where the word was another one. This time, it was with my passport. I written, and the rest of the interview was brief, with went to the Ministry of the Interior offices, and got my only one question. new passport a day before my appointment at the I saw how the Rebbe was arranging things when I embassy. got the visa the next day. I assumed that my wait at the embassy would be a One by one the problems were resolved. Due to a long one and I decided to take not just one, but two medical problem, I had concerns about flying. I spoke booklets of material to learn. The line took hours, and to my doctor and learned that a new medication was as I waited I noted that all but one of the clerks were available which made it possible for me to fly with women. I hoped I would be called by one of the peace of mind. A place to stay worked out smoothly, women since they are more compassionate. When my as well. I saw how the Rebbe took care of me. name was called, the available counter belonged to the *** man. Having no choice, I went over to him. The first time I wrote to the Rebbe after I returned I pushed my papers under the glass partition and home, I opened to a letter which said – “You didn’t the man asked me gruffly, “What do you plan on say how it worked out with the visa.” Of course, I doing in the United States?” immediately sat down and wrote the Rebbe a thank His opening question did not bode well, but I you letter for the miracles that I had experienced continued to hope. I answered: “The Lubavitcher throughout the trip.

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