697:Beis Moshiach 01/06/2009 7:37 AM Page 3 contents UNRAVELLING THE MYSTERY OF G-D’S 4 DECREES [CONT.] Moshiach & Geula | Boruch Merkur A GENTILE UNDER THE CHUPPA? IT’S 7 COMMON SENSE! Letters of the Rebbe DON’T SIT SHIVA FOR HER 8 Story | Nosson Avrohom OUT OF THE BLUE: UNEXPECTED 12 BLESSINGS ON SHLICHUS Shlichus | Rabbi Yaakov Shmuelevitz USA OHRCHANA: THE CHANCE FOR A NEW 744 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409 14 BEGINNING Tel: (718) 778-8000 Feature Fax: (718) 778-0800 [email protected] www.beismoshiach.org THE BARON OF MIVTZAIM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: 16 Profile | S. Malachi M.M. Hendel ENGLISH EDITOR: Boruch Merkur [email protected] GEULA TOURS ASSISTANT EDITOR: 22 Shlichus | Y. 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Feature | Nosson Avrohom 697:Beis Moshiach 01/06/2009 7:37 AM Page 4 moshiach & geula ~ The Final Era ~ UNRAVELLING THE MYSTERY OF G-DS DECREES By Boruch Merkur (based on Seifer HaSichos 5748 Vol. 1, pg. 306-319) commentary, etc., in the teachings of The mystery of the Red Heifer, the Chabad Chassidus, the matter remains mystery of death itself, the mystery of in the realm of a ‘decree,’ especially with respect to having complete the suffering of the righteous, all that understanding and comprehension, permeating even the feelings of the doesn’t sit well in our hearts, heart. regardless of the plethora of “(To note the well know saying of the Alter Rebbe176 on the verse,177 ‘and I explanations given, remains a will remove the heart of stone from your flesh, etc.’178 (in the Haftora of “decree,” something inexplicable, the Torah portion of the Red Heifer) – specifically a ‘heart (of stone),’ not the irrational, even to the likes of brain. Regarding the understanding and comprehension of the mind, every Shlomo HaMelech, wisest of all men. individual must work on himself. But in * Tracing the Rebbe MH”M’s so doing, it is the Holy One Blessed Be He Himself – ‘and I (will remove)’ – instructions on how to perfect our Who removes the heart of stone from the person, having a comprehensive Divine service in the Final Era. effect, even with regard to the feelings of the heart. Thus it is understood that the effect upon the feelings of the heart [Continued from Issue #695] (being master of one’s emotions) is an extremely lofty service in all matters. How much more is To the extent that the Torah provides insight into this so in our case, when the Torah itself underscores the incomprehensible (such as the Mitzva of the Red the fact that it is a ‘decree.’)” Heifer or the ascent of the soul at the end of one’s life), it is for the most part our minds that are The Rebbe said above that “it is extremely difficult to illuminated; our hearts may well remain be absolved of the wonder … [with regard to] the overshadowed by mystery, classifying the teachings of feelings of the heart.” Here in parentheses, however, the Torah as a “decree” from On High: it becomes clear just how difficult: it is virtually impossible! It is not within the capacity of a human “From this it is understood that even after the Holy One being to bring his heart to fathom the wonders of a Blessed Be He has revealed in the Torah the portion of Divine decree. We must strive to comprehend any the Red Heifer, and after all the elucidation and 4 13 Sivan 5769 BEIS MOSHIACH 697:Beis Moshiach 01/06/2009 7:37 AM Page 5 explanation the Torah provides, but the insight gained NOTES: is relegated to our minds; we are by no means assured 176 Published in the book Migdal Oz (K’far Chabad that we will succeed in illuminated our hearts with the 5740), pg. 308 (from the book Likkutim Y’karim pg. 4). knowledge. It is up to G-d Himself to bestow our hearts with an appreciation of this knowledge, 177 Yechezkel 36:26. following our intellectual effort. This principle applies 178 On this basis we may explain why Rambam quotes to Torah knowledge in general. Regarding the elusive this verse (in Laws of Repentance 9:2) with regard to the “decrees” of the Torah, it is all the more relevant. study of Torah in the Messianic Era, “in those days, The Rebbe concludes: knowledge, wisdom, and truth will become abundant, as it is said, ‘for the earth shall be full with the knowledge of “Thus, one’s heart should not be depressed within him G-d,’ and it is said, ‘No longer shall a man teach his seeing that, even after the Torah elucidates to him the brother, nor a man his friend,’ and it is said, ‘and I will difference between the first thirty days of mourning and remove the heart of stone from your flesh.’” For at first the first year (and prior to that, the difference between glance, what is the significance of removing the “heart of the first three days and the first seven, and between the stone” with respect to the abundance of “knowledge and first seven days and the first thirty), extra effort is wisdom”? Thus, we must say that the ultimate state of “knowledge and wisdom” is when it penetrates even the required for him to be able to accept it [i.e., the process feelings of the heart (even when this is a product of “I of the departure and the ascent of the soul, etc.], let [G-d, not the person himself] will remove the heart of alone that it should penetrate even the feelings of the stone from your flesh”). heart. After all, it is a ‘decree.’” [To be continued be”H] "The quickest way to reveal Moshiach is by learning the Torah sources about Moshiach & redemption" t"ab,wv grumnu ghrz, p"a EEsstthheerr’’ss PPaarrttyy GGrriillll Radio Moshiach & Redemption 463 Albany Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11213 718-735-4343 1620-1640 AM around Crown Heights & Boro Park & 1710 AM in parts of Brooklyn 24/6 CATERING ON OR OFF THE PREMISES worldwide live broadcast: www.RadioMoshiach.org CORPORATE ACCOUNTS WELCOME. SHLUCHIM; SPECIAL RATES FOR SHABBATONS & PARTIES COME SEE OUR BRAND NEW SUSHI BAR OPEN FOR IN HOUSE DINING TAKE OUT & CATERING UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE BEIS DIN CROWN HEIGHTS For donations or dedications make checks payable to: "Radio Moshiach & Redemption" 383 Kingston Ave. #94, Brooklyn, NY 11213 718 756-4530 Tel/Fax 363-1652 Email: [email protected] FREE DELIVERY TO YOUR HOME OR OFFICE sgu okugk jhanv lkn ubhcru ubrun ubbust hjh BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 697 5 697:Beis Moshiach 01/06/2009 7:38 AM Page 7 the rebbe’s letters A GENTILE UNDER THE CHUPPA? ITS COMMON SENSE! Letter of the Rebbe MH”M to a bride whose father wished to bring his gentile girlfriend, r”l, to stand with him under the chuppa. BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 697 7 697:Beis Moshiach 01/06/2009 7:38 AM Page 8 story DONT SIT SHIVA FOR HER By Nosson Avrohom in danger.” A farbrengen with the shliach, Rabbi One day the daughter left the Sholom Dovber Kalmanson is a treat; house in a fury and went to live on campus. She cut off ties with her an experience which strengthens your mother. The mother found out that her daughter was dating a gentile, connection to the Rebbe and your black boy who studied physics with her, and was beside herself with commitment to the Rebbe’s horaos. * grief. She ran to her rabbis and when they heard what happened The following story was related by R’ they grimly informed her she would Kalmanson at one such farbrengen. have to sit Shiva and tear kria for her daughter because she removed herself from the Jewish nation. ESTRANGEMENT young father had tragically passed The mother tried talking to her This story took place over twenty away, leaving behind a wife and two daughter and explaining the severity years ago in a suburb of Paris. A children, a son and a daughter. This of what she was doing, but the motivated the mother to move back daughter was not receptive. She towards the religious traditions she tried to win her mother over by had observed as a child. She began describing how supportive her going to shul, which she hadn’t done boyfriend was of her Judaism. He in years. The services and the Jewish wanted her to be religiously way of life brought back positive observant and she was keeping more memories and she found consolation with him than she did at home. in them. The mother was not appeased by The mother became a full- this news and cried bitterly for days. fledged baalas t’shuva and wanted Her friends joined her in her sorrow, her daughter to follow her example, but there was nothing anyone could but not only didn’t her daughter join do about the situation.