719_Beis Moshiach 23/11/2009 4:38 AM Page 3 contents HODU LA’HASHEM: CHABAD IN HODU 4 (INDIA) Shlichus | Avrohom Rainitz THE KINUS IN 770 12 Special Report | Yitzchok Wagshul CHASSIDUS IN HIS BLOOD 18 9-10 Kislev SMASHING ATOMS ON THE WAY TO 22 GEULA Moshiach & Science | Yaacov Moshe Moses and Rabbi Y. Lebovic OHEIV YISROEL USA 26 Feature 744 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409 Tel: (718) 778-8000 Fax: (718) 778-0800 [email protected] ‘THIS IS FOR THE CHILDREN TO BE www.beismoshiach.org 35 BORN’ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Miracle Story | Nosson Avrohom M.M. Hendel ENGLISH EDITOR: WITH FRIENDS LIKE THIS, WHO NEEDS Boruch Merkur 39 HEBREW EDITOR: ENEMIES? Rabbi Sholom Yaakov Chazan Shleimus HaAretz | Raanan S. 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Beis Moshiach is not responsible for the content of the advertisements. 719_Beis Moshiach 23/11/2009 4:38 AM Page 4 shlichus HODU LAHASHEM: CHABAD IN HODU (INDIA) Interview by Avrohom Rainitz It’s a year since the terror attack on the Chabad house in Bombay and we interviewed the “father of the Shluchim in India,” Rabbi Betzalel Kupchik.* He spoke about being cautious while simultaneously having bitachon, about the difficulties of chinuch, about the people they are reaching, and about publicizing the B’suras HaGeula. * Part 1 A year has passed since the money in business, but he has Establishment. Ditto for other Rebbe’s shluchim to Bombay, devoted his life to the Rebbe’s things he has done in his life. Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg, work. He doesn’t pay attention to together with four other guests, Those who know him say that censure. That’s an advantage he were murdered in the Chabad he’s not a mere soldier but a has, as well as his “problem.” To house, may Hashem avenge their commando, the kind who will lead him, protocol is just a blood. Since then, shlichus in India the way and break the wall that recommendation. In his kingdom has expanded despite the warnings stands in the way with his head. in India you will see him walking about additional attacks on Chabad Others will follow him on a path around with his tzitzis over his houses in India, may Hashem that is already paved. He was one shirt, due to the intense heat and protect them. of the first shluchim in India and because he is displaying his Jewish I sat down for a long talk with the man who has remained there pride. Many shluchim in India copy Rabbi Betzalel Kupchik, the under such difficult circumstances him in this. Rebbe’s shliach to Poona, India. In for fourteen years! Now, a year after the attack in general, schmoozing with R’ This was exhibited with the Bombay, he discusses what has Kupchik is an experience, since founding of Matteh Moshiach in been going on the past year: he’s a character. He’s sharp and Eretz Yisroel, when he paved the How do you sum up the work quick and if he was so inclined he way at a time when he had to stand of the shluchim in India this past could probably make quite a lot of up to old-timers and the year? 4 10 Kislev 5770 BEIS MOSHIACH 719_Beis Moshiach 23/11/2009 4:38 AM Page 5 near future we hope to have He’s not a mere soldier but a twenty. commando, the kind who will lead the In addition, activities have been stepped up at the existing Chabad way and break the wall that stands in houses, both in quality and in quantity. Many shiurim and the way with his head. To him, protocol programs have been dedicated in the memory of the Holtzbergs, and is just a recommendation. tourists – who are our main target – want to express their Shortly after the tragedy we was to increase our activities in identification with the shluchim held a press conference in Kfar India. We resolved to double the who were murdered al kiddush Chabad with the participation of number of Chabad houses there. Hashem. They are participating some of the shluchim to India. One Over the past year, three new more in programs. of our resolutions – in accordance Chabad houses have opened and if There have been warnings of with what the Rebbe said to do G-d forbid we remain in galus, we late to tourists in India which under similar circumstances, such hope to open even more. At the single out the danger to Chabad as the massacre of bachurim in the time of the attack there were ten houses. How do you deal with the vocational school in Kfar Chabad – Chabad houses in India and in the threats? BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 719 5 719_Beis Moshiach 23/11/2009 4:38 AM Page 6 On Chol HaMoed Sukkos a As long as we demonstrated our trust in police chief came to my house with Hashem, the tourists didn’t take the three policemen. The chief said he was the commander of the police travel warnings seriously. When they station that serves the precinct that includes the Chabad house and that see that the place has become a fortress, the police commander of Poona wanted to talk to me. The city of it makes them nervous. Poona has seven and a half million people so the police commander Over the past year we were children to our Sunday school but has the same security visited several times by after the security warnings the responsibilities as the Israeli representatives of the Israeli children stopped coming. They Minister of Police. establishment with reports of terror were afraid. I did not know what they threats. They asked us to increase However, once the police of wanted from me. I told him that we security around the Chabad house. Poona decided to take were in the middle of a holiday and Back at the press conference we responsibility for defending the I could not attend a meeting. He held after the attack in Bombay, we Chabad house and they turned our was afraid to tell his superior that I announced our decision to put house into a fortified place, some did not want to meet with him and money into fortifying the Chabad tourists are now afraid to come. he asked me to speak to him by houses in India, but it entails a lot As long as we demonstrated our phone. The commander was very of money which we have not been trust in Hashem, the tourists didn’t polite and he said he wanted to able to raise. take the travel warnings seriously. meet with me over a cup of tea to Some Knesset members When they see that the place has discuss a number of issues. I told suggested that the State allocate become a fortress, it makes them him that in general I could not money to support Chabad houses nervous. On the other hand, the drink tea outside of my home and that work with Israelis abroad. children of that family came back that day, because of Sukkos, I That’s right, but in the to the Sunday school. You can’t couldn’t even drink water at his meantime, they aren’t giving win them all … place. He accepted what I said and anything. They just come with The warnings began a number asked when we would meet. I told suggestions and recommendations. of days before Rosh HaShana. On him I’d be available in two hours. I told the representative that if the Erev Rosh HaShana they called me I sat down immediately to write State of Israel sent them to us out from IDF Radio to hear my to the Rebbe about the impeding of genuine concern for Israeli reaction. I told them that on Rosh meeting and since I didn’t know tourists, they should be so good as HaShana we blow the shofar thirty precisely what we would be talking to fund our security. extra times in order to confuse the about, I simply asked that all go “You don’t go to the Satan, but here the Satan is trying well. Two hours later the police ambassador in Bombay with to confuse us and prevent Israeli chief came to take me to the suggestions about how to fortify tourists from coming to the Chabad meeting. He is responsible for an the embassy; you buy him the house and hearing the shofar. area the size of greater Tel Aviv and equipment! Chabad houses in India Recently, the Israeli Foreign yet it was interesting to see the invest large sums of money into Intelligence branch of the Shin Bet respect he showed the citywide Israeli tourists and you can help has warned of an atomic attack commander and his nervousness defray the costs,” I told him. from Iran. Is the Israeli before entering the office. Aside from the security angle government recommending that The commander welcomed me there are also spiritual concerns. Israeli citizens abandon the and inquired about the holiday we Many tourists won’t go to a country? I concluded by saying, were celebrating.