765_Beis Moshiach 22/11/2010 12:28 PM Page 3 contents NO NEED FOR SEVERITY TO BRING 4 MOSHIACH D’var Malchus MECHITZAH DOESN’T DEGRADE THE 7 DIGNITY OF JEWISH WOMEN The Rebbe’s Letter THE FIRST YEAR OF SHLICHUS 10 Shlichus | Sholom Ber Crombie MY LINEAGE IS GREATER! 18 Stories for 19 Kislev | Y. Ben Baruch PLAYING THE ODDS. Moshiach & Science | Aryeh Gotfryd, PhD 22 USA 744 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409 Tel: (718) 778-8000 LIKE SARA, LIKE STERNA Fax: (718) 778-0800 24 Feature | Malka Schwartz [email protected] www.beismoshiach.org EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: GUT YOM TOV! M.M. Hendel 26 Shlichus | Rabbi Shmuelevitz ENGLISH EDITOR: Boruch Merkur [email protected] HEBREW EDITOR: THE REBBE ON MOSHIACH AND GEULA Rabbi Sholom Yaakov Chazan 29 Moshiach & Geula [email protected] Beis Moshiach (USPS 012-542) ISSN 1082- TANYA ON THE AIR 0272 is published weekly, except Jewish Feature | Shneur Zalman Berger holidays (only once in April and October) for 32 $160.00 in Crown Heights, Brooklyn and in all other places for $180.00 per year (45 issues), by Beis Moshiach, 744 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409. ‘I WILL TAKE HIM OUT OF GEHINOM’ Periodicals postage paid at Brooklyn, NY and 36 Yud-Tes Kislev additional offices. Postmaster: send address changes to Beis Moshiach 744 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409. Copyright 2010 by Beis Moshiach, Inc. Beis Moshiach is not responsible for the content of the advertisements. 765_Beis Moshiach 22/11/2010 12:28 PM Page 4 d’var malchus NO NEED FOR SEVERITY TO BRING MOSHIACH Translated by Boruch Merkur DOVID HA’MELECH CAN DO WITHOUT his judgement, upholds the land.” Alter Rebbe, who was redeemed YEARS FROM YITZCHOK [That is, Dovid HaMelech was not from prison on this day: Regarding the commentary of my lacking the quality of judgement, In his first letter regarding the revered father on the Zohar, on this insofar as he represents Malchus, a redemption of Yud-Tes Kislev, the week’s Torah portion, a connection manifestation of law and Alter Rebbe emphasizes two general with the future redemption can be judgement.] points: a) “Pada v’shalom nafshi traced: An incredible lesson is derived (My soul was redeemed in peace)” – There is a lengthy commentary from the above: “When i saw in the Book of T’hillim among my father’s notes regarding When we are speaking about the verse, ‘Pada v’shalom nafshi,’ I the years the patriarchs granted [of Dovid Malka Meshicha, in order to left [the prison] in peace.” b) The their own lives] to Dovid HaMelech, precipitate and speed up the advent effect of the redemption on the Dovid Malka Meshicha, as cited in of our righteous Moshiach, there is nations of the world: “G-d has been the words of the Zohar: “From no need for judgements and severity exalted and glorified to act upon the Adam HaRishon there were 70 years G-d forbid, for according to all earth…in the eyes of all the that Dovid HaMelech lived in this opinions we have already met the ministers and all the peoples in all world. The patriarchs added to this, prerequisite for all matters of the king’s countries – that even in granting him of their own lives, each judgement and severity – “enough their eyes, the event is seen as a of them individually. Avrohom gave and more than enough” ... wonder, an enigmatic miracle, etc.” him [years of his life], as did Yaakov Therefore, the Jewish people cry out It is well known the great and Yosef, etc.” “ad masai?! (Until when?!).” “L-rd, precision of the Alter Rebbe’s choice The reason why Avrohom and do not be silent, hold not thy peace, of words, even in speech and Yaakov (as well as Yosef) gave of and be not still, O G-d.” ... And especially in writing – how much their years to Dovid but not since this is so, it is imperative that more so with regard to a letter Yitzchok” is because his aspect is Dovid Malka Meshicha comes addressed, first and foremost, to the that of judgement (din) – as it is immediately. preeminent Jewish religious figures written, ‘and the fear of Yitzchok (Hisvaduyos 5746 Vol. 1, of the generation. It is, therefore, Parshas VaYishlach, pg. 699) was upon me’ – and there was no certain that the length and seeming need for Dovid [who represents redundancy of expression pertaining THE PROMISE OF A PEACEFUL to the effect of the redemption on Malchus (kingship, majesty)] to REDEMPTION receive an illumination and influence the Gentile nations is not for the from the aspect of judgement, for 1. The lesson and instruction sake of eloquence alone, G-d forbid. irrespective of this, ‘dina d’malchusa derived from the redemption of Yud- Rather, it is absolutely precise, [not dina (the law of the kingdom is Tes Kislev, first and foremost is needlessly verbose or redundant but law),’ as it is written, ‘a king, with apparent in the holy letter of the for the purpose of] introducing 4 19 Kislev 5771 BEIS MOSHIACH 765_Beis Moshiach 22/11/2010 12:28 PM Page 5 additional ideas, etc. too shall see that “there is a master According to all The point of the matter with to this capital city,” one who makes regard to practical application is as miracles and wonders in our lowliest opinions we have follows. Indeed, “action is the main of worlds, “b’kerev ha’aretz (in the thing.” midst of the land).” already met the The words “pada v’shalom (a THE 7 MITZVOS OF B’NEI NOACH: prerequisite for peaceful redemption)” suggest THE HOLY MISSION OF EVERY JEW opposite meanings. On the one hand, it refers to a state where there As stated, this matter contains a all matters of is the need for redemption, general instruction in the service of judgement and redemption from a state of exile. On each and every Jew: the other hand, this redemption Among the commandments of severity – occurs peacefully. the Torah that were given to each The lesson from this is that the and every Jew eternally – [for] “The “enough and general service in matters of Judaism Torah is eternal” – there is the – Torah and Mitzvos, including the commandment to influence the more than inner dimension of the Torah – must Gentile nations, as Rambam rules, not be restricted to a state of “a man “So did Moshe Rabbeinu command, enough.” beneath his vine and beneath his fig in the name of the Alm-ghty, to tree,” [i.e., in peaceful, prosperous compel all humankind to accept the Of course, it is appropriate to times, when the Jewish people have Mitzvos that were commanded to emphasize that the Gentile “should subdued or vanquished their the descendants of Noach.” do them because G-d commanded enemies] under the rule of the That is to say that in addition to them in the Torah and he made them Davidic dynasty [for example], in the general service “to serve my known to us through Moshe the First Temple Era, or at least in master” by means of fulfilling the Rabbeinu, etc..” That is to say that the time of the Second Temple. 613 Mitzvos of the Torah, the holy this conduct – “He formed it to be Rather, this service must also be mission that is incumbent upon inhabited/settled” – expresses the during a state of exile, a condition every single Jew is to have an impact mastery of G-d in the world – that needs redemption. on “all the ministers and all the “There is a master to this capital At the same time, there is a peoples in all the king’s countries,” city” – in accordance with and promise that certainly there will be a to ensure that their conduct reflects exemplifying the effect of the redemption from this state, and a [the general Divine intent of] “He redemption of Yud-Tes Kislev “in the “peaceful” redemption at that. formed it to be inhabited/settled,” by eyes of all the ministers and all the Moreover, the effect of the their fulfilling the Seven Mitzvos of peoples in all the king’s countries.” peaceful redemption even pervades the Descendants of Noach (together If with regard to all matters of “all the ministers and all the peoples with all the offshoots of these the world, “(G-d) did not create a in all the king’s countries” that they general commandments). single thing in vain,” how much more does this apply to the commandments of G-d in His Torah. And regarding this matter itself, it applies not just to Kohanim and Leviim, the elite, but every single Jew. Certainly this directive was not commanded in vain, G-d forbid. On the contrary, it is clear that when “All of you, stand ready” to fulfill this commandment there will be help from On High to succeed in this action far more than estimated prior to taking on this manner of Divine service. (Hisvaduyos 5746 Vol. 2, 19 Kislev, pg. 42-43) BEIS MOSHIACH Issue 765 5 765_Beis Moshiach 22/11/2010 12:28 PM Page 7 the rebbe’s letter ~ MECHITZAH DOESN’T DEGRADE H THE DIGNITY OF JEWISH WOMEN sense of unity, as in “And Adam To think that there could be anything knew Eve”. The union of two degrading in the Mechitzah is to betray things can be complete only when there is not a third element complete ignorance not only of the involved, be it even a matter of holiness and the like. significance of the Mechitzah but of the From the above it follows that there certainly must be nothing to whole attitude and way of the Torah.