the rebbe`s own united nations

Transcription

1 CROWN HEIGHTS Newspaper ~September 26, 2008
Newspaper
Community
‫כאן צוה ה’ את הברכה‬
October 10, 2008 | Tishrei 11,
5768
‫ תשס”ח | בס”ד‬, ‫פרשת האזינו | יא' תשרי‬
weekly vOL. i | NO 46 Hachossid Reb
Eliyohu Arye
Leib Gross
”Rabbi Gross helped
my mother and spared
me energy and time.
In his merit I had
more time to help
additional people.”
Pages 4-5
Horav Hachossid
Reb Boruch Shifrin
The KGB entered the house and found
receipts for Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim,
clear evidence that Reb Boruch was
involved in yeshiva activities. Page 7
THE REBBE'S OWN
UNITED NATIONS
Beis Din of Crown Heights
390A Kingston Avenue, Brooklyn, NY PAGE 11
Tel- 718~604~8000 Fax: 718~771~6000
Rabbi A. Osdoba: ❖ Monday to Thursday 10:30AM - 11:30AM at 390A Kingston Ave. ☎Tel. 718-604-8000 ext.37 or 718-604-0770
Sunday-Thursday 9:30 PM-11:00PM ~Friday 2:30PM-4:30 PM ☎Tel. (718) - 771-8737
Rabbi Y. Heller is available daily 10:30 to 11:30am ~ 2:00pm to 3:00pm at 788 Eastern Parkway # 210 718~604~8827 ❖ & after 8:00pm 718~756~4632
Rabbi Y. Schwei, 4:00pm to 9:00pm ❖ 718~604~8000 ext 36
Rabbi Y. Raitport is available by appointment. ☎ 718~604~8000 ext 39
Rabbi Y. Zirkind: ☎ 718~604~8000 ext 39
Erev Shabbos Motzoei Shabbos
Rabbi S. Segal: ☎ 718~604~8000 ext 39 ❖ Sun ~Thu 5:30pm -9:00pm or ☎718 -360-7110
Rabbi Bluming is available Sunday - Thursday, 3 -4:00pm at 472 Malebone St. ☎ 718 - 778-1679
6:05
6:52
Rabbi Y. Osdoba ☎718~604~8000 ext 38 ❖ Sun~Thu: 10:0am -11:30am ~ Fri 10:am - 1:00 pm or
☎ 718 -604-0770
Gut Shabbos
Rabbi S. Chirik: ☎ 718~604~8000 ext 38 ❖ Sun~Thu: 5:00pm to 9:00pm
The Vaad Hakohol
Holiday
Date
Activity
• Prepare a candle or flame that will be able to
burn safely for more than 24 hours. (For exOctober 13
ample: a Yahrzeit candle. This will be used to
light the Yom Tov Candles on Tuesday night).
• Light Yom Tov Candles -- (6:00pm).
• After lighting the candles, recite:
Blessing for Yom Tov and Shehecheyonu
Sukkot Eve Monday
• Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech
Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de-sho-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov
Ve-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Yom Tov.
• Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech
Ho-olom She-heche-yo-nu Ve-ki-yi-mo-nu Vehigi-o-nu Liz-man Ha-zeh.
• Shake the four kinds; We recite the blessings:
• Light Yom Tov Candles after nightfall, from a
of Sukkos October 14
pre-existing flame (6:59pm).
Blessing for Yom Tov and Shehecheyonu
Second day Wednesday • Shake the four kinds.
October 15 • Yom Tov ends after nightfall (6:57).
Chol HaMoed - Intermediate Days
Thursday - Monday, October 16 - October 20
1st day
Thursday
• We do not put on Tefilin today.
Chol
October 16 • Shake the four kinds.
Hamoed
• Special additional prayer is said in the morning - Hallel, Hoshaanos, Musaf for Sukkot.
2nd day
Friday
Chol
October 17 • Shake the four kinds.
Hamoed
• Light Shabbos Candles 18 minutes before
Sunset (5:54pm).
• Blessing for Shabbos
First day
Tuesday
3rd day
Saturday
October 18
Sunday
October 19
Chol Hamoed
4th day
Chol
Hamoed
From: Lubavitch Youth Organization
L'CHaimWeekly.com
Get professional help in choosing a career
A new and innovative program specifi- Jewish community is making it possible
cally designed for the Crown Heights for residents to get professional help
in choosing a career, get the necessary
training for the career they select and
access help in paying the tuition, all
Community
towards helping people secure a job.
Newspaper
392 Kingston Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11225
[email protected]
Published & edited weekly by the Vaad Hakohol
of Crown Heights.
Moshe Rubashkin, Rosh Hakohol
Dr. Tzvi (Harvey) Lang, Chairman
Rabbi Plotkin, Secretary
Layout: SimplyUnique ([email protected])
All material in this paper has been copyrighted. It
is the exclusive property of this newspaper, unless
otherwise attributed., and cannot be reproduced
without the consent of the publisher.
Composition responsibility: This newspaper will not
be liable for errors appearing in advertising, beyond
the cost of the space occupied by the error. Advertiser
assumes responsibility for errors in telephone orders.
All advertisement designed and prepared by the CH
Community Newspaper are the property of the
newspaper and cannot be reproduced without the
consent of the publisher
• Special additional prayer is said in the morning - Hallel, Musaf for Sukkot.
• Shake the four kinds.
• After midnight we recite the entire Psalms
(Tehilim). Afterwards we eat an apple dipped
in honey.
Even before this program got its official
start, community members who had
heard about it via the Crown Heights
JCC applied for the financial and training assistance and were helped. Two
are receiving computer training; others
were helped with finding job openings.
Yet another young woman was helped
to explore training necessary to pursue
the vocation that she “loved since I was
a little kid”, and to write a resume and
cover letter.
Administered by F.E.G.S Health and
Human Services System, which has
nearly 75 years of experience in providing career assessment, career guidance,
training, and placement services, the
new program is called the Crown to find out more about this program.
Heights Career Assessment Program, Not only will it help you select the best
training for you, but will help you pay
or CH-CAP.
for it, it will help you prepare for the
Every detail of the CH-CAP program
issues that face Orthodox Jews in the
has been specifically designed for suitworkplace, improve your interviewing
ability to the community it is meant
skills, and help you jump-start your
to serve. It shows sensitivity to the
career.
special needs of Anash in such areas
as scheduling and help in selecting The benefits of this program are open
suitable career tracks. The program to all the Anash residents of Crown
also offers help with paying the tuition Heights, although the primary targets
for Certificate Training Programs, of the program are recent graduates of
granting up to 2/3 of the tuition bill the Kolels, Yeshivas, and Seminaries
for each course of study. This can be who are seeking a career path other
several thousand dollars per applicant, than shlichus.
so in the large families common among
The CH-CAP program is being operChassidim, this is a very great incentive
ated from F.E.G.S Health and Human
for parents to encourage their children
Services System headquarters located at
to gain this help.
80 Van Dam Street in lower Manhattan.
Whether you are looking for help in The program can be reached via e-mail
deciding on a career path or in getting at [email protected] or by
training for a career that you are already telephone at 212.524.1728. F.E.G.S is a
familiar with, it is well worth your time beneficiary of UJA-Federation of NY.
September 26, 2008 ~ crOWN heights Newspaper 3
The Rebbe's Sicha Parshas Haazinu
HEAVEN AND EARTH
Reprinted from The Thought Of The
Week
By Rabbi YM .Kagan OBM
Give ear oh ye heavens (Ha’azinu) and
I will speak, and let the earth hear the
sayings of my mouth.’ With these words
Sidra Ha’azinu begins.
The Midrash comments that since
Moses was “close to the heavens” he
said to them Ha’azinu, “Give ear,” an
expression indicating that the listener
is close; to the earth, however, he said
“hear,” a word denoting that the listener
is at a distance — for Moses was “far
from the earth.”
Torah provides directive and guid
ance for every individual; the word
Torah itself comes from the expression
Adapted from Shmais
Engagements
Hora’ah, “teaching.”’ From the above
verse it would seem that Torah instructs
every person to be “close to heaven and
far from earth.” Yet, surprisingly, we
find that Yeshayahu (Isaiah) exclaimed
Hear oh ye heavens and give ear ye
earth in exact reverse of the above
verse, and the Midrash explains that
Yeshayahu was “far from heaven and
close to the earth.” If Isaiah, the greatest
of the prophets, was unable to reach a
“closeness” to heaven and “distance”
from earth and remained “far from
heaven and close to the earth,” then
how is the average person expected by
the Torah to attain such a level? And if
we should succeed in showing how it
is possible for every individual to reach
such a level then the question will be,
why was Yeshayahu (Isaiah) not able
to achieve this level?
Mendy Blau (Crown Heights) to
Shneur Goodman (Kfar Chabad) to
Sara'le Kravitsky (Crown Heights)
Yanky Bruk (Crown Heights) to
L e v i I t k i n (S c r a n t o n , PA ) t o
Rivky Cohen (Monsey, NY)
Mushki Morozow (Crown Heights)
Yishai & Efrat Kwin - Kfar Chabad
Nati & Sara Abicasis - Crown Heights
Moishy Kozlovsky (Crown Heights/Israel)
to Chani Rotter (Kfar Chabad)
Levi & Yudit Drutz - Moscow, Russia
Moshe Lazoros (Framingham, MA) to Chaim & Leora Budd – Scottsdale, AZ
Libby Weinberger (Antwerp, Belgium)
Yosef & Chani Brikman - C. H
C h a i m R o s e n f e l d ( T z f a s) t o
Eli & Rochel Deitsch - C H
Mussia Shur (Jerusalem)
Yitzy & Draiza Engel - Denver, CO
Shlomo Simons (NY, NY) to Chana Rivka
Meyers (Crown Heights)
Menachem Mendel & Nechama
Dina Feller - West S. Paul, MN
Aharon Somerville (Baltimore, MD) to
Marva Perets (Crown Heights)
Yehuda & Liba Goldman - Teaneck, NJ
CORRECTON
The Vov Tishrei article (of previous issue) was reprinted from A Day To
Recall A Day To Remember by Rabbi SB Avtzon
Mordechai & Chaya Klein
- Moscow, Russia
Osher & Mussy Litzman –
Seoul, South Korea
Shmully & Nechoma
Dina Raskin – C. H
Yeruchem & Chanie Levilev - C H
Dovid & Mirel Weinbaum C. H
Yossi & Luba Lipsker - Moscow, Russia
Mendy & Frumie Weitman - C. H.
Shaul & Sarah Mirviss - Morristown, NJ Sruli & Ellana Bard-Wigdor - C H
Aaron & Julia Singer - Chicago, IL
Moshe Menachem Mendel
Births – Boys
Eliyahu & Dassi Kramer Makeevka, Ukraine
Yehoshua & Menucha Lavner
– Toronto, Ontario
Boruch & Chaya
Sussman - Louisville, KY
Mechaly (Montreal, Canada)
Fishel & Basya Goldberg - C H
Yisroel & Chanie Kahn - London, UK
Berry & Chenchie Schmukler - C H
Moshe Katzburg (Queens, NY / CH) to
Hirschhorn (NY, NY) to Zohara
Perla Ochayoun (Paris, France / Israel)
Chaim Kohan (Buenos Aires) to Malky
Orbach (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Mendy & Sarale
Goldstein - New Zealand
Bentzy Geisinsky (Crown Heights)
Chaim Dovid Jenkelowitz (CH / Postville)
to Mussia Arnov (Paris, France)
to Rivky Wachtel (Toronto, Ontario)
purifying the surrounding world;
his main enjoyment and enthusiasm
should be in learning Torah. He must,
of course, observe the Mitzvos — and
with warmth and vitality —but only as
much as required by Torah-law; he is to
be “far from the earth.” Then, later, after
having acquired this sense of direction,
he must come to recognize that “Not
the study, but the implementation, is
the main thing.”’ The ultimate purpose
of his creation upon this physical earth
is to make of the world a “habitation”
for G-d.
Isaiah, having used the Torah-guidance
of Moses as an infusion of strength
to reach the level of “close to heaven
In the first stages of one’s service of and far from earth,” was then able to
G-d, one must be “close to heaven and advance to an even higher level of “close
far from earth.” The main thrust of his to earth and far from heaven
efforts should not at first be towards
Mazal Tov!
Chezky A ltein (Crown Heights) to
Levi Teitelbaum (Miami Beach, FL) to
Chanah'le Sossonko (Miami, FL)
Sara Sapir (Atlanta, GA)
S h i m o n E m l e n (N Y, N Y ) t o
Levi Wolvovsky (Crown Heights) to
Meira Kaner (Baltimore, MD)
Sonia Hazan (Milan, Italy)
Eli Feiglin (Melbourne, Australia) to
Shmulie Zirkind (Montreal, Canada) to
Batsheva Masinter (Johannesburg, S A)
Chanie Altein (Montreal, Canada)
Nochi Goldshmid (Crown Heights) to
Weddings
Miriam Friedman (Montreal, Canada)
Rochel Lieblich (Crown Heights)
Heaven symbolizes the “heavenly,”
spiritual study of Torah. Earth represents the down-to-earth practical
precepts — the Mitzvos6 —which
concern and involve the material;
when a person gives charity (Tzedaka),
for example, he dedicates his ‘earthly’
material gain to a nobler, more spiritual
purpose. Each of these two — Torahstudy and Mitzvos-observance--has its
own unique, great quality. Attachment
and communion of the soul with G-d
comes chiefly through Torah-study.’
Refining and spiritualizing the physical world to render it a fit “habitation”
for the Al-mighty is achieved mainly
through observing the Mitzvos.
Mordechai & Dana Sogomonian - C H
Zevy & Miriam Tenenbaum - C H
Yair & Chanie Yelin - S. Diego, CA
Haguy & Chanah Rivkah
Yakovov - Crown Heights
Dovid & Chana Raizel Zaklikowski –
Crown Heights
Births – Twins
Shua & Elkie Piekarski – TWIN
BOYS!! - Crown Heights
Births – Girls
Avi & Mina Richler – TWIN
GIRLS!! - Gloucester County, NJ
Sholem & Chanie Bacher –
Randburg, South Africa
Shimon & Margula Roumani - a
boy! & a girl! - Crown Heights
Levy & Maryasha Djian Crown Heights
UPSHERNISH
Levy & Beila Edelman - Paris, France
Michoel Baruch Sheyrif –
Chicago, IL
Nachy & Naomi Eisenerg – Monsey, NY
Moshe & Adena Feiglin
Melbourne, AU
Levi Tenenbaum - Gurnee, IL
Pinchus Meir Niyazov - C H
Dovid & Sari Gornstein - S. Paulo, Brazil Schneur Zalman Muller - Ilford, UK
Our Heroes
Hachossid Reb Eliyohu Arye Leib Gross
1930-Shmini Atzeres 1994
was not feeling well. When Reb Elye
returned to 770 to say Tehilim, he saw
Reb Yochanon Gordon come down the
steps with tears in his eyes. He said,
“M’ken shoin zogen yenem tehilim’, we
can now say the real Tehillim.
By Rabbi Michoel Seligson
Hachossid Reb Elye Arye Leib Gross
was born on the 29th of Cheshvan
5691/1930 to Reb Yosef and Tzipora Rochel Chaya in Scranton,
Pennsylvania.
Film Footage of Yud Shvat
The boys were successful in their studies
and eventually the entire family moved
to Lincoln Place in Crown Heights to
be near their children.
In 1942, when the Previous Rebbe
visited Chicago for a few weeks, Reb
Elye was among the bochurim that
accompanied the Previous Rebbe on
his trip. In 1945 Reb Elye and ten
other bochurim went to study in the
yeshiva in Chicago. The Rosh Yeshiva
was Rabbi Avrohom Herschberg OBM,
the former chief rabbi of Mexico, and
the mashpia was Rabbi Yosef Weinberg
Shlita.
Mivtza Lulov
During Tishrei 5714/ 1953, the Rebbe
initiated a campaign for chassidim to
make their rounds with lulav and esrog
and offer other Jews the opportunity
to make the blessing over them. This
was one of the Rebbe’s first campaigns
and was later referred to as “Mivtza
Lulov”. Reb Elye would come to 770,
and before and after Seudas Yom Tov,
he and Reb Berel Junik would stand for
hours directing chassidim to nursing
Reb Elye arranged for the movie to be
homes, hospitals, parks, and old age
brought to the Rebbe. The Rebbe asked
homes. Reb Elye continued this custom
to view the movie after the Yechidusen
the rest of his life. of a designated evening had concluded.
Reb Elye and Reb Moshe Groner His last year, Reb Elye was hospitalized
obtained a movie projector and entered in Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx
the Rebbe’s room. The Rebbe closed the during Sukkos. He asked the bochurim
ceiling light and opened the small light who were sent to blow shofar for him,
behind his desk. The Rebbe viewed the to also make sure to blow shofar for all
levaya with extreme emotion, crying, the other Jewish patients.
he stood with his eyes glued to the
The electricity in the hospital failed
screen.
and the hospital tapped into backup
After the film ended, the Rebbe said to power sources. This was at the exact
Reb Moshe, “If you don’t mind, there time that Reb Elye would normally
is an additional film at the bottom of have been working on Mivtza Lulav.
the book case.” The second film was of Reb Elye saw this as a sign that he did
the Previous Rebbe’s first visit to the not belong in the hospital. Instead, he
United States in late 1929. At a certain should have been in front of 770, doing
point, the Rebbe added, “Now we will what he did throughout all the years
see Reb Itche Masmid [Rabbi Yitzchok sending bochurim and yungeleit on
Gorowitz] chazering a Maamor and Mivzta Lulov.
then start dancing.”
Reb Elye is Married
Merkos Shlichus
Reb Elye married Miss Sara Fayge
Reb Elye, American born and well Rosenbloom in 1954. Their wedding
versed in the English language, involved was the first wedding in the city of Monhimself in spreading Chassidus. His treal Canada to have a mechitza, genbackground and command of the erating much nachas to the Rebbe. The
English language placed him at the Rosenbloom family was known for their
forefront of chassidim involved at that uncompromising commitment to Torah
time in spiritual public affairs, spread- and Mitzvos. Miss Rosenbloom’s father,
Reb Nota Zev, arrived in Montreal in
ing Torah and Chassidus.
1918. He genuinely fulfilled Torah and
Merkos shlichus was a project that
Mitzvos, at a time when doing so was
the Previous Rebbe initiated in 1948.
considered self-sacrifice, because of the
Bochurim from 770 would dedicate a
very secular environment and lack of
few weeks of their summer vacation
observant Jews.
visiting cities and towns to strengthen
Reb Nota would send Maamod to the
Previous Rebbe in Europe, funds for
the Rebbe’s personal use. When the
Previous Rebbe sent nine bochurim
to Montreal to start the Lubavitch
Yeshiva, Reb Nota helped them to get
established. He also sent his daughters
to Bais Rivka when it was established by
the Previous Rebbe in Montreal, they
were among the first students.
A few months after Yud Shvat, one
of the bochurim showed the Rebbe,
photographs of the of the Previous
Rebbe’s levaya. After the Rebbe viewed
the pictures, he asked if there were any
photos that had been taken at the cemetery and if there was any film footage.
After two years, it became known that
Reb Elye filmed the levaya.
There were not many centers of religious
Jews in those years and few yeshivos
outside of New York. Reb Elye’s mother,
a descendent of the prominent Jerusalem Eisenbach family, insisted that her
son should receive a Jewish education in
an authentic Jewish atmosphere.
Mrs. Gross did not know where to send
her son. By divine providence Rabbi
Meir Greenberg OBM, the Rav of
Peterson, New Jersey, came to Scranton
and met Mrs. Gross. He suggested that
she send her son Elye and his brother
Dov Ber to Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim
in Brooklyn. Mrs. Gross accepted this
suggestion and the children were sent
to the Lubavitch Yeshiva.
Yiddishkeit, as well as the Jews living
in remote locations. Reb Elye went on
Merkos Shlichus for several summers.
He established contacts which he
maintained over the years.
with her son, the Rebbe. After several
days, the Rebbetzin relayed the Rebbe’s
response, which was that Chabad
chassidim have different customs from
Polishe Chassidim and that they don’t
consider such collections significant.
Instead, the Rebbetzin gave Reb Elye
the first print of the Tanya published
in the United States. Reb Elye and
his family may they live and be well
cherished this wonderful gift. Reb Elye was encouraged by his mashpia, Reb Yisroel Jacobson, to maintain
a diary of events that took place with
the Previous Rebbe and later the Rebbe.
This diary, which Reb Elye started in
1949 was the basis of information on
the early years of the Rebbe’s nesius.
It was so comprehensive and detailed
that it has been a primary source for
authors and researchers. Reb Elye also
In 1947, the Gross family merited to
transcribed the Rebbe’s Sichos from the
an honorable neighbor. The Rebbetzin
early years of the Rebbe’s nesius and
Chana, the Rebbe’s mother, arrived
published many years later.
on the 28th of Sivan from France and
moved into an apartment on the second One of Reb Elye’s jobs at that time was
floor of their building.
to teach and prepare children for their
Bar Mitzva. Reb Elye was on Eastern
Over the course of the next few years
Parkway at 7:50 A.M. on Yud Shvat
until 1951, Reb Elye Gross merited to
1950, Shabbos parshas Bo, on his way
assist the Rebbetzin with everything,
to a meeting in shul with the Bar Mitzva
from shopping, to managing her checkboys. He saw Reb Yochanon Gordon
book, and paying her bills. During his
who instructed him to immediately call
visits to the Rebbetzin, quite often he
a doctor, because the Previous Rebbe
would meet the Rebbe. At those times,
Reb Elye would try to leave the house
in order that the Rebbe should have
private time with his mother.
On one occasion the Rebbetzin told
Reb Elye, “I would like to thank you
for all your help and reimburse you for
your work”. Reb Elye responded that he
did not want any payment, and on the
contrary this was a great merit for him.
The Rebbetzin insisted that she wanted
to pay him and added that if he refused
payment, “I will not be able to use your
help any longer”. When Reb Elye heard
this, he decided to reach a compromise
with the Rebbetzin. He told the Rebbetzin that she could reward him with
clothing of the Rebbe’s that was no
longer being worn. The Rebbetzin
Shlichus in Ohio in 1951 replied that she would need to check
from R to L Rabbis D. Raskin, Mendelowitz, Gross, Wilansky
The Rebbe Would Wait to Begin
Hakofos
After his wedding, Reb Elye served as
the Rav in the Yeshiva Torah M’Tzion
Shul in Brownsville. Over the years, on
the evening of Simchas Torah, chassidim would go on tahalucha visiting
different shuls throughout the city
to instill joy in the congregants dur-
ing Hakofos. The
Rebbe would wait
until they returned
from Reb Elye’s
shul to begin his
hakofos.
One year the Rebbe
a s k e d , “ W he r e
are the bochurim
who went to Rabbi
G r o s s’s S h u l? ”
Th e b o c h u r i m
answered that
they had already
ret ur ned f rom
hakofos. The Rebbe
asked, “W here is
Rabbi Gross?” They
answered that he
was on his way to
Crown Heights.
The bochurim then
went out to Eastern
Parkway to wait for
him. W hen they
saw him in the distance they informed
him that the Rebbe was waiting for him.
Reb Leibel Bistrizky and Reb Mendel
Greenbaum quickly carried him up to
the Rebbe’s bimah and then the Rebbe
started the hakofos.
On one occasion in 1953, the Rebbe
was reciting the blessing over the new
moon, Kidush Levana. The Rebbe asked
Reb Elye where his coat was. Reb Elye
left to get his coat. He walked calmly,
assuming that he had no reason to rush
and that by the time that he returned, he
would have already missed the chance
to recite the blessing with the Rebbe.
When he returned, he was shocked to
find that the Rebbe was waiting for
him.
Over the course of decades of spreading
Yiddishkeit, Reb Elye would encounter
people from many different communities. He had a radio program geared
towards young students whom he would
regularly bring to the Rebbe. In the first
years of the Rebbe’s nesius, when Reb
Elye brought students the Rebbe, the
Rebbe requested that Reb Elye should
translate. The Rebbe would speak for
a few moments and then wait for Reb
Elye to translate his words into English.
The Rebbe then continued speaking for
twenty minutes without a break. Reb
Elye attempted to translate the Rebbe’s
words, but was unable to keep up with
the Rebbe’s pace. The Rebbe gave him
a broad smile and repeated his words in
English. This was the first time that the
Rebbe spoke English in public.
Over the years, the Rebbe acknowledged his appreciation for Reb Elye’s
assistance to the Rebbetzin Chana.
The Rebbe told Reb Elye’s family that
his door would always be open to them
in times of need.
“He spared me energy and time”
One Sunday during the distribution
of dollars, Reb Elye introduced Dr.
Stuart Ditchek, a physician whom he
knew from the hospital where he was
residing in Crown Heights, eliminating
the necessity of going to the hospital to
enroll in WIC.
In 1979, the Shah was exiled from Iran,
and a change in government took place.
Thousands of children were sent out of
Iran to the United States, and settled
in Crown Heights. Reb Elye devoted
himself to the rescue of these children
and raised most of the funding for the
organization taking care of them.
All of these activities contributed
greatly to the blossoming of the shechuna of which the Rebbe spoke and in
which he invested so much, and to the
growth of its mosdos.
The Rebbe once said of Reb Elye, “An
emeser feiner yungerman”, a true fine
young man.
In summing up his connection with the
Rebbe, the family related two interesting observations. Reb Elye came to
Lubavitch on Hoshana Raba and was
Receiving an Honor at a breakfast for the Brooklyn Jewish Hospital with Rabbi
nifter
the next day on Shmini Atzeres,
ZS Dworkin
many years later; thereby completing
a Chaplin. Dr. Ditchek excused him- would you stop knocking because he his life cycle of accomplishments.
self to the Rebbe for skipping the line did not open the door after the first
In addition, the kiruvim that Reb Elye
of people waiting for dollars. The Rebbe knock?”
merited to receive from the Rebbe
told Dr. Ditchek,”Rabbi Gross helped
Crown Heights Mosdos
numerous times over the course of the
my mother and spared me energy and
years, were mainly during the Yom Tov
time. In his merit I had more time to Reb Elye dedicated his life for the
of Shmini Atzeres.
help additional people”.
benefit of the public. This expressed
itself in many functions and various In the last years of his life, although he
In 1960, Reb Elye’s home was robbed
mosdos.
had not completed a full life span, Reb
and all the coins and dollars that he had
Elye became ill, suffering greatly. On
received from the Previous Rebbe and In the 1940’s, the Released Time proShmini Atzeres, while in California
the Rebbe were stolen. Reb Elye was gram was founded under the auspices
visiting his family, he was nifter.
heartbroken. He entered the Rebbe’s of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch and
room in Yechidus and told him about NCFJE. This program taught public He left his wife, Mrs. Sara Fayge Gross
the robbery. The Rebbe gave him a school children about Judaism for one of Crown Heights; his daughter, Mrs.
coin and said, “This coin will serve as hour a week. Reb Elye, as an American Rivka Ellinson, the wife of Reb Alex of
a replacement for all the coins given boy, helped with the establishment of Crown Heights/England; his son, Reb
until now.”
this mosad and involved himself in Avrohom Nochum Gross of Crown
running the program.
Heights; his daughter, Mrs. Raizel T.
Lubavitch Yeshiva & Bais Rivka
Edelman, the wife of Hatomim Reb
In 1969, during the Farbrengen on the
For many years Reb Elye was involved
Yosef Yitzchok of Crown Heights; his
last day of Pesach, the Rebbe spoke
in chinuch. He contributed much in
son, Reb Nota Zev of LA, California;
about strengthening the shechuna of
this field at a time when there were not
his son, Reb Itzchok Sholom Dovber of
Crown Heights. The next year, the
many Jewish schools in existence in the
Crown Heights; and grandchildren and
Crown Heights Jewish Community
United States. Reb Elye established a
great-grandchildren; descendents who
Council was established. Reb Elye
follow in his ways, involved in public
talmud torah and also raised funds for
served as the Community Council
the Lubavitch Yeshiva. He was involved
affairs, and in the study of Torah and
executive director from 1974 through
in founding Bais Rivka and served as
the fulfillment of Mitzvos.
1982 and contributed much to the
its principal for a short time when it
community.
Yehi Zichro Boruch! May Hachossid
was located on Stone Avenue, and ran
Reb Elye, a people’s person who comits day camp. Later, for many years he Among his accomplishments was the
mitted himself to public service, who
establishment of a government funded
raised funds for Bais Rivka.
was among the first chassidim to spread
office for Small Business Loans.
The Rebbe once told him, after he
chassidus among young American
shared how difficult it was to raise Art
Jewry, who dedicated himself to raise
money, that he should constantly keep
funds for the Rebbe’s mosdos and estabReb Elye founded the Chassidic Art
in mind that the Previous Rebbe always
lished numerous unique projects for the
Gallery on Kingston Avenue in the
went along with him.
benefit of the Shechuna residents, and
1970’s, which contributes until this very
who placed a great stress on supplying
Reb Elye once had a problem. He wrote day to Chabad culture. People from
single women with parnossa; inspire
several times to the Rebbe but did not many different backgrounds visited the
us to dedicate ourselves to satisfy the
receive a response. When he went into exhibitions over the years.
physical and spiritual needs of our
Yechidus with the Rebbe, he asked the
Medical Aid
needy Jewish brethren.
Rebbe if he should continue writing
about this problem, since the Rebbe Reb Elye established a medical clinic We should speedily witness “The ones
had not responded.
on Albany Avenue, affiliated with who dwell in the dust will awaken and
Brooklyn Jewish Hospital, that was rejoice” with Hachossid Reb Elye Gross
The Rebbe replied, “If you are standing
used by Crown Heights residents among them.
at the threshold of an entrance and
for many years. He also established
are knocking on the door and you are
a WIC center in Crown Heights, to
[definitely] sure that there is a person
assist families and children. This
present on the other side of the door,
was of great benefit for young women
Shiduchim
Needle in a Haystack
By Sarah Junik
Love at first sight
Part II
What is the bond we look for in marriage? Are we looking for a partnership
bond? Two distinct individuals that
go about their lives independently
and only do things together when it
concerns their partnership? Of course
not! Do we look to join with another
the same way we would join a group
traveling to the same destination as
ours or engaged in the same goals as
ours? Neither of these situations seem
to represent what the Torah tells us in
Bereishis (2:24) “Al kein ya’azav ish es
aviv ve es imo vedavak beishto vahayu
levasar echad.” “Therefore a man shall
leave his father and mother and cling
to his wife and be one.”
The Rebbe writes:
... Marriage is not only the beginning
of a partnership but the beginning of a
union, where both parties truly become
one, united for life.
(From a letter of the Rebbe, dated 8
Tishrei, 5722)
The essential quality and substance of a
proper marriage is "cleaving to one's wife
and becoming one flesh," which is to say,
that one is in a constant state of acquisition and cleaving - rebuffing anything and
everything that leads to and causes the
cessation of this cleaving and unity.
(Likkutei Sichos, Vol. XXXIV, p. 138)
(Eternal Joy Vol 2)
Chazal tell us how this unity is to be:
it is just like the heart and the brain of
a person; they are not two individuals
reaching and working together for different goals. They are two components
of the same body. When I drop something with my right hand, my left hand
will not get upset at my right hand!
and caring, and respecting each other. It be forged. They are still two separate
is building a life together, a unit of family people who are deciding if this is a fit
companion for the journey ahead. How
and home.
can we even consider that at this point
The love that you feel as a young bride is
there should be love?
only the beginning of real love. It is through
the small, everyday acts of living together So what is it that we can reasonably
that love flourishes and grows. And so, expect at this point?
the love you feel after five or ten years is a
One word of caution to the ladies:
gradual strengthening of bonds.
As women we are generally prone to
As two lives unite to form one, with time, underestimate ourselves, our capaone reaches a point where each partner bilities, our achievements. (I wrote
can no longer visualize life without his generally because some of us may not
mate by his side.
find this true, but a vast majority will
(From a private Yechidus)
agree with it)
Chazal bring a
moshol, which
I feel is appropriate although
not usua l ly
u se d i n t h i s
context: When
a neshama in
sha may i m i s
show n how
hard it was to
overcome a
certain yetzer
hara (temptation) which he
failed at, he will
be shown that
it was as easy as
stepping across
a thin stream.
W hen he will
be shown how
hard it was to
overcome a
yetzer hara that
he did conquer, he will be shown a
mountain.
Sometimes we feel that to compromise
our “principles” for the sake of shalom
bayis is like climbing a mountain, but
after it is done, it feels like it was actually
a very simple thing. Although we do not
do things for the reward we will get,
There is a beautiful story which illus- that mountain we first imagine is the
trates this point:
reward we get at the end. Although it
was not hard to do, it will be considered
Reb Arye Levine known as "the Tzadas if we scaled Everest.
dik of Jerusalem” once took his wife to
the doctor. When he got to the clinic, From Eternal Joy vol 2
he explained the problem: “Her foot is
The Creator, in His infinite kindness, has
hurting us.”
revealed and given to us certain directives
The joys and the hurts are felt by both and precepts concerning the establishas one person. That is the kind of love ment of a close relationship between two
that we strive for in a marriage, and it is persons, especially between spouses, which
incomparable to the so called “love” the clearly is one of the most important aspects
nations of the world bandy about with of human life - especially in the view of
such ease. Our kind of love does not our Torah.
happen at first sight, in an instant, not
The purpose of these directives and
even through a thunderbolt or an arrow;
precepts is, on the one hand, to ensure the
it comes through constant renewal of
conditions under which the couple will be
commitment and through giving of
blessed with an abundance of blessings,
ourselves, through compromises of our
and on the other, to guide them and
wishes for a loftier goal.
protect them from undesirable acts and
It is not a mirage and only attainable by consequences.
a few. It is a goal that is within reach of (From a letter of the Rebbe, dated
all as long as we want it and as long as 5732)
we are willing to work for it.
All this cannot be experienced while
shidduch dating! At that time the
The Rebbe says:
couple is still two individuals who
Love is an emotion that increases in
are looking to see if a partnership can
strength throughout one's life. It is sharing
found in your partner, try to discover
why are you attracted to him/her. What
is causing this attraction? Is it because
you absolutely do not know yourself
and anyone who helped you draw up
the list does not know you either? Or
maybe the reason you are attracted to
this person is not for the right reason?
(S/he comes from a wealthy family, is
über popular and you wish to be part
of the spotlight, is physically appealing
and all you see is the physical beauty…
etc.) It is important to discuss this with
your parents or shadchan or mashpia, to
take advice from others who are not as
“nogea b’dovor” as you are. Are those
When going out,
items on your list suddenly expendable?
we get the undiFind out why and what has taken their
vided attention
place.
of another person. Especially if If you find that you like your partner and
we like that per- enjoy his/her company, think through
son after going what is it that makes you like him/her.
out a few times, What are the qualities you admire and
the appreciation what are the habits or even qualities you
for ou r ideas are not so enthusiastic about.
and ourselves is
Make sure you are not blind to the other
very heady. It is
person. Stay focused and aware of what
a positive side
is it that attracts you to this person. If
to the shidduch
you cannot think of a single thing that
date, just do not
bothers you about the other person,
get carried away
go out some more. Do not go in this
by this feeling
expecting this person to be perfect, no
of approval and
one is. It is a rude awakening when you
name it someare married to see a chisaron in your
thing else.
partner which you cannot tolerate. DO
I f y o u a r e not expect to be able to change him or
attracted to your her. Whatever little or big annoyances
partner in the there are, notice them and make peace
shidduch date, with them as everyone has idiosyncrago back and think about that list you sies that can drive others crazy. Just
originally made. Now think about your make sure you know what those are
partner. Does s/he have any of the items while you are still dating.
you thought so essential then? Do not
Any constructive comment is welcomed
expect to find every item on your list
by the editor. Write to CHP5768 @
in your prospective spouse, but some,
gmail.com or directly to the author at
even if only 2 or 3, should be there. If
[email protected]
none of the things you termed musts are
If there is a topic I have not discussed on the subject of
shidduchim or if you have a question, feel free to write
me at [email protected], and I will address the
topic in a future issue.
2700
Phone Calls
On Monday Zain Tishrei, 2700 households in
Crown Heights got the following phone call:
A Gmar Chasima Tova from the Mosdos of the
Shchuna, the Shul Committee & N’Shei Ubnos
Chabad.
Taf Shin Samach Tes is a Shnas Hakhel.
Just as in the year of Hakhel - all Yiden, gathered in the Bais Hamikdosh to
hear the Melech read the Torah and inspire Yiras Shamayim - We gather
in 770. - We respectfully ask women and girls to dress halachically and
appropriately.
May our efforts in being meticulous in the Mitzva of Tznius, especially in
the Rebbe’s shul, bring the immediate Hisgalus.
Again, a Gut Yor and a Gmar Chasima Tova.
Horav Hachossid Reb Boruch Shifrin
1905-20th of Tishrei 1986
By: Aharon Abrahamson
Horav Hachossid Reb Boruch Shifrin
was born in 1905 on the 26th of Sivan
in Paritsch, W hite Russia to Horav
Tzvi Hirsch and Mrs. Fayge Shifrin.
Reb Boruch was fifteen years old when
his father was beaten by a gang of antiSemites. For the last five years of his life
he was bedridden with pain as a result of
the beating. In those years, Reb Boruch
underwent great difficulties in order to
study in the underground yeshivas in
Kremenshug and later, far from his home,
in Kharkov.
Reb Boruch merited special kiruvim
from the Previous Rebbe. In his twenties, he visited the Previous Rebbe in
Rostov and later in Leningrad. During
one Yechidus, he received an American
dollar from the Previous Rebbe which the
family cherished throughout the years.
Another expression of kiruv took place
when the Previous Rebbe was about to
make Havdala and he searched for Reb
Boruch and asked him to hold the candle.
For a period of time, Reb Boruch served
as the Previous Rebbe’s personal secretary. While in yeshiva in Kremenshug,
he once merited going on a shlichus of
the Previous Rebbe to the
resting places of the Alter Rebbe and the
Mitteler Rebbe in Haditsch and Nevel
respectively, read the pidyon.
On the 14th of Kislev in late 1928, Reb
Boruch married Miss Sonia Paar and they
lived in Vitebsk for a while. After his wedding, Reb Boruch joined his father-in-law
in raising money for the underground
Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim. In Adar
1931, the KGB discovered the yeshiva in
Vitebsk and his father-in-law Reb Eliyohu
Paar was arrested and Reb Boruch and
his wife escaped.
Arrested before Pesach
Early in the morning at 5:00 A.M., at the
beginning of Nissan, there was a banging
on the door. The KGB entered the house
and found receipts for Yeshiva Tomchei
Tmimim, clear evidence that Reb Boruch
was involved in yeshiva activities. Reb
Boruch bid a tearful farewell to his
wife, and was taken away by the KGB.
In prison, he underwent torture as he
was interrogated. Reb Boruch’s cell and
that of his father-in-law was separated
by a thin wall.
Hunger Strike
Pesach arrived and Reb Boruch insisted
that he would not eat any chometz. He
demanded matzos from the prison officer
and the officer responded harshly. Reb
Boruch decided to fast. When he was
served bread, he refused it saying that
he didn’t eat bread on Pesach. The same
thing happened in his father-in-law’s
cell. Reb Boruch successfully refrained
from eating chometz during the eight
days of Pesach.
At the end of Nissan, Reb Boruch was
about to be released but needed to sign
an agreement not to disclose any details
about his incarceration. Reb Boruch exile on the 20th of Av 1944.
refused to sign since it was Shabbos, but
WWII ended and in Iyar 1945, the world
eventually he was freed.
learned about the atrocities against the
Settled in Leningrad
Jews that had taken place during the
war. Russia opened her borders, and
After a while, the authorities again began
Russia and Poland agreed to allow Polish
searching for Reb Boruch. For months he
citizens who had escaped into Russia to
slept in the shul to evade the authorities
return to Poland. Many Jews, including
looking for him. Two months later, Reb
Lubavitch chassidim, took advantage of
Boruch received a draft notice from
this offer and left Russia.
the Russian army. When he asked the
Previous Rebbe how to respond, the Pre- The Shifrin family first traveled to
vious Rebbe advised him to leave town. Moscow, and then to L’vuv, where they
He r a n aw ay
received the approprito L en i ng rad
ate documents to leave
where there was
Russia. In Poland, they
a large commustayed in a refugee camp
nity of Chabad
in K rakow for three
Chassidim. The
weeks. From there the
Previous Rebbe
Zionist organization Brealso advised him
cha, transported them to
to obtain a passCzechoslovakia. After
port for three
much wandering they
years residency
arrived in Saltsberg, Ausin Leningrad.
tria where they remained
This was for a
for a year.
long period of
Event ua l ly t he Sh itime and was
frin family settled in
unusua l for
Paris. Reb Boruch was
those days. The
appointed gabai of the
With
Granddaughter
Rebbe’s vision
the Pletzel shul, where the
was fulfilled, Reb
Rebbe’im had davened during their visits
Boruch successfully received the passto Paris. Reb Boruch served as a mohel
port, as well as a nice apartment.
and shochet. Many refugees came with
In 1937, tragedy stroke Reb Boruch when uncircumcised children and Reb Boruch
his youngest daughter Masha succumbed performed many brisim.
to an illness and was nifter.
Ireland was the next stop. Numerous
In the summer of 1941, Reb Boruch chassidim arriving in France, went to
received a new notice to report to the Ireland to work as shochtim for a brief
army. The Russian army was fighting while. Reb Boruch received the Previous
the Germans and was in dire need of Rebbe’s blessing and traveled to Ireland
manpower. Reb Boruch’s wife informed where he worked for two years and
army officials that he was ill. By a miracle, then returned to France. In France, he
the officer at the army office handed Mrs. continued raising funds for the Yeshivos
Shifrin the appropriate papers and told Tomchei Tmimim in Brunoy, France
her that her husband needed to travel to and in Israel.
a different location to report. This was
Gracious Hosts
an obvious miracle since it enabled Reb
Boruch and his wife to escape before the Reb Boruch and his wife were gracious
Nazis entered their city.
hosts who constantly brought needy
people into their home. There were
Burying the hunger fatalities
children of a Lubavitch family who were
Reb Boruch was a person who always always outside looking for something to
tried to make things better, whether it eat. When Reb Boruch saw the children
was a fundraising project for Yeshiva he would invite them into his home.
Tomchei Tmimim, or maintaining a
In later years, these now grown children
Mikva in Vitebsk. During WWII, when
related to Reb Boruch’s daughter, “At one
Leningrad and other cities had no food,
point we were starving to death and there
many people succumbed to the hunger
was nothing in the house to eat. Your
and died. Reb Boruch brought many
parents saved us from hunger”.
Jews to Kvuras Yisroel, a Jewish burial.
Reb Boruch also lost his daughter Rochel Reb Boruch was also gracious with
Leah to diphtheria illness at this time. money. A non-Lubavitch bochur recalled
that he needed a loan for a business
To escape from Leningrad, Reb Boruch
investment. Reb Boruch did not ask
and his family travelled over a frozen lake
many questions but immediately gave
to get to the train station. After a twenty
him the required amount. This made a
day train trip, they arrived in Alma-Ata
deep impression on the bochur and he
in Kazakhstan, where the Rebbe’s father,
always recalled this favor.
Horav Hagaon Hamkubel Reb Levi
Yitzchok, was living in exile during the Travel to the Rebbe in New York was
last years of his life. Reb Boruch and his expensive. On many occasions, Reb
son Hirshel would visit Reb Levik on Nissan Nemanov, mashpia of Yeshivas
a steady basis, davening with him and Tomchei Tmimim in Brunoy would
participating in his Farbrengens. Reb approach Reb Boruch on behalf of a parBoruch merited serving Reb Levik until ticular bochur and request his assistance
his very last day, when he was nifter in in purchasing a ticket. Reb Boruch would
immediately give the money.
To Be Joyous
During Kislev of 1960, Reb Boruch went
into Yechidus with the Rebbe and the
Rebbe told him to be joyous. When he
asked the Rebbe why he should be joyous,
the Rebbe replied that there is what to
be joyous about. When Reb Boruch left
Yechidus, he began dancing for hours.
In 1963 his wife Sunia was nifter and Reb
Boruch remarried. Reb Boruch wished
to settle in Israel and when he consulted
the Rebbe, the Rebbe responded that his
physical and spiritual livelihood was in
Paris and not in Israel. On one occasion,
when Reb Boruch was in Yechidus and
discussed the matter once more with
the Rebbe, the Rebbe told him that at
the present he did not see a reason to
leave Paris. “What will you do there?
Say Tehillim?” To which Reb Boruch
replied that he would also continue his
activities in communal affairs in Israel.
After a few months, the Rebbe consented
to Reb Boruch’s move to Shichun Chabad
in Jersualem, where he continued his
activities.
Daily Schedule
His daily schedule would begin at 3:00
A.M. when he would begin reciting
Tehillim on his porch. After Tehillim
he would study a Maamor Chassidus of
the Alter Rebbe in Torah Ohr or Likutei
Torah for an hour, and at 8:00, he would
go to shul for shacharis. Reb Boruch
would slowly daven shacharis aloud,
word by word. On Shabbos, he would
daven many more hours. He davened
and learned with his entire being. Every
day he would walk to the Kosel to daven
and some days he would remain there for
the entire day.
As long as the feet are functioning,
why do I need a car?!
On his way to the Kosel he would review
Tanya by heart. On one occasion when
his grandson Reb Yehuda Eidelkop met
him and offered him a ride, he said, “As
long as the feet are functioning, why do
I need a car?!”
Prior to Sukkos 5746/1985, although
Reb Boruch was eighty years old, he
insisted on building the Sukka himself
and adamantly refused any assistance
from family members.
On Chal Hamoed Sukkos he was hospitalized and on the 20th of Tishrei
returned his soul to her creator.
He left his daughter, Mrs. Tamar Eidelkop
of France; his daughter, Mrs. Rivka Junik
of Belgium; his son, Reb Hirshel Shifrin
of Crown heights; and grandchildren
and great-grandchildren serving as the
Rebbe’s Shluchim worldwide.
We should speedily witness “The ones
who dwell in the dust will awaken and
rejoice” with Hachossid Horav Reb
Boruch Shifrin among them.
Parshas Hashavua
Vedibarta Bam ~ Haazinu
Rabbi Moshe Bogomilsky
The problem is that “vatishkach Keil
mecholelecha” — you are using this
‫"צור ילדתך‬
power of forgetfulness to also forget
‫ל‬-‫תשי ותשכח א‬
Hashem, Who brought you forth and
"‫מחללך‬
Who does so much for you.”
“You forgot the rock
‫(המגיד מדובנא ור' מנחם מענדל זצ"ל‬
Who gave birth to
)‫מקאצק‬
you and forgot G d
Who brought you ‫" ל ו ח כ מ ו י ש כ י ל ו ז א ת י ב י נ ו‬
forth.” (32:18)
"‫לאחריתם‬
“Were they wise they would compreQUESTION: Why
hend this, they would understand what
does Moshe mention the Jews’ forgettheir end would be.” (32:29)
ting of Hashem twice?
QUESTION: The word “zot” — “this”
ANSWER: There was once a person
— is superfluous?
who owed money to many creditors. Unable to bear the pressure and ANSWER: In the prayers on Rosh
demands for payments which came Hashanah and Yom Kippur we profrom all sides, he consulted a friend claim, “U’teshuvah u’tefillah u’tzedakah
who, incidentally, was also one of his ma’avirin et ro’ah hagezeirah” —
creditors. The friend advised him, “Repentance, prayer, and charity avert
“From now on when anyone comes the severity of the decree.” In all machasking for payment, act insane so that zorim above these words are printed in
the creditor will think you have lost small letters, “kol, tzom, mamon” (,‫קול‬
your mind and stop bothering you.” ‫ ממון‬,‫“ — )צום‬Voice (of prayer), fasting,
Once, when the friend himself came money (for charity).” The merit of the
to demand payment, the debtor began Jewish people is determined by how
to act demented, hoping to put him they excel in these three things, and
off. Angrily the creditor said to him, the total numerical value of the three
“Don’t act crazy in front of me — it is four hundred and eight, which is
was my idea!”
also the numerical value of the word
“zot” (‫)זאת‬.
Among the many gifts Hashem has
endowed man with is the power of This pasuk, which is read usually
“shikchah” — forgetfulness. Thus, during the High Holiday season, is
when one is, G d forbid, confronted hinting that “Were they wise they
with trials and tribulations he is able to would comprehend ‘zot’ — the achieveremove his mind from them, and go on ments that are derived through — ‘kol,
with his life. Moshe said to the Jewish tzom, and mamon’ — ‘voice, fast, and
people, “tzur yeldecha — the rock Who money’ ” — and “yavinu” — they would
gave birth to you — [has instilled in you understand that it plays an important
a gift, the power of] teshi — to forget. role — “le’acharitam” — for their
future, i.e., through it they will merit to a medical attendant in the tiny hamlet of
be inscribed in the Book of Life with all Anipoli. Dumbfounded, he returned to
his Rebbe and told him that in Anipoli
the best, materially and spiritually.
there were no medical experts.
Hashem challenges the Jewish people,
“Ubechanuni na bezot” — “Test Me, if “Then tell me,” asked the Rebbe, “What
you will, with ‘zot’ — ‘this’ ” (Malachi do the people of Anipoli do when some3:10), i.e. perform the three things one, G d forbid, is sick?”
which add up to “zot” — four hundred
“What do they do?” said the chassid, “I
and eight — and “[See] if I do not open
suppose they have no other option but
for you the windows of Heaven and
to trust in Hashem and ask Him to send
pour out upon you blessings without
the healing from Heaven.”
end.”
“He is the One,” exclaimed the Rebbe.
Unfortunately, there are people who do
“That is the professor of Anipoli that I
not realize or refuse to recognize what
referred you to. Put your faith in Hashem
can be accomplished through these
and He who helps the people of Anipoli
three things. King David says of such
will surely help you too.”
people, “Ukesil lo yavin et zot” — “A
fool cannot understand ‘zot’ — ‘this’ Hashem is saying, “Machatzti” — “I
” (Psalms 92:7), i.e. the importance wounded” — “ve’ani erpeh” — “and I
of ‘kol, tzom and mamon’ which have heal,” [when the person realizes that]
the same numerical value (408) as the “ve’ein miyadi matzil” — “there is no
word ‘zot.’
rescuer from My hand” — i.e. he hon‫ (בית יעקב ר' יעקב הכהן ז"ל טראב – מסלתון‬estly believes that it is not the doctors
)‫ ראב"ד ביירות‬who bring healing, but Hashem.
(‫ ועי' סיפורי חסידים‬,‫דגן שמים על מםכת ראש השנה‬
"‫"מחצתי ואני ארפא ואין מידי מציל‬
168 '‫)ע‬
“I wounded and I heal, and there is no
rescuer from My hand.” (32:39)
In this pasuk the word “Ani” is mentioned
QUESTION: It should have said the four times, which is an allusion to what
reverse, “There is no rescuer from My the Gemara (Megillah 29a) says that
Hashem is always with the Jewish people,
hand; I wound and I heal”?
and that even when they go into galut
ANSWER: An ill chassid who many
— exile — the Shechinah — Divine
doctors were unable to help, desperately
Presence — is there together with them.
visited his Rebbe for a blessing and advice.
Since the exiles of the Jewish people are
He was told, “Consult the professor in the
associated with four monarchies: Edom,
town of Anipoli. He will cure you.” The
i.e. Rome, Media/Persia, Babylon, and
ailing chassid spared no effort or money
Greece, “Ani,” which is a reference to
and made the arduous trip. Upon arrival
the Shechinah, is written four times.
he was disappointed to learn that there
(‫)נחל קדומים‬
was no professor, no doctor, and not even
Hidden And Revealed
By Yanki Tauber
teshuvah, connection, singularity,
joy, unity, wisdom, commitment
Reprinted with permission from Chabad.
-- that will drive our lives for the
Org
rest of the year.
“Sound the shofar on the new moon, in
The first of Tishrei is Rosh Hashaconcealment to the day of our festival”
nah, which opens the “Days of
(Psalms 81:4). In this cryptic verse lies
Awe” that characterize the first
the deeper significance of Sukkot and
part of the month, culminating in
its sister-festival, Shemini Atzeret/
Yom Kippur on Tishrei 10th. Then
Simchat Torah.
the mood and texture of Tishrei
In the Jewish calendar, the month fol- shifts dramatically to the “Season
lows the phases of the moon. The “new of Our Rejoicing” that begins with
moon” -- the point at which the moon the festival of Sukkot on the 15th
emerges from its monthly concealment and continues through Shemini
-- marks the beginning of a new month. Atzeret and Simchat Torah. The
The apex of the month is the 15th -- the half of Tishrei is marked by solemnight of the full moon, when the moon nity, the second by elation; but the
true king, but merely in a “ruler”). But
attains the high point of its potential to Chassidic masters explain that these
there is also a third element without
reflect the sun’s light and illuminate are simply the “hidden” and “revealed”
which the coronation could not happen
the earth.
dimensions of the same elements.
-- awe. And the nature of awe is that
The month of Tishrei is the most The essence of Rosh Hashanah is our it eclipses and mutes the joy. Sukkot,
spirituality-rich month in the Jewish crowning of G-d as our “king”. A coro- then, is simply the revelation of Rosh
year. The festivals and special days-- nation, explain the Chassidic masters, Hashanah. The joy and unity that are
Rosh Hashanah, the Ten Days of is effected by two things -- unity and the essence of our commitment to G-d,
Repentance, Shabbat Shuvah, Yom Kip- joy: a people joyously unite to select, and which were “concealed” by the
pur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret/Simchat accept and submit to an exalted figure awe that characterizes the first days of
Torah, Shabbat Bereishit -- follow in who embodies their collective identity Tishrei, erupt on the 15th of the month
succession, with hardly any “ordinary and innermost strivings (if the corona- in the form of the festival of Sukkot.
days” in between. It’s a time to fuel tion lacks either joy or unity, chassidic
In the words of the Psalmist, “Sound
up on the spiritual resources -- awe, teaching explains, it results not in a
the shofar on the new moon, in conceal-
ment to the day of our festival.” Our
crowning G-d king with the sounding
of the shofar on the 1st of Tishrei (“the
new moon”) remains in concealment
until “the day of our festival”, the full
moon of Sukkot, when it manifests itself
in a seven-day feast of joy.
And what Sukkot is to Rosh Hashanah,
Simchat Torah is to Yom Kippur. The
essence of Yom Kippur is that it is the
day we received the Second Tablets,
completing the Giving of the Torah
(which began on Shavuot) and bringing into our lives the Torah’s ultimate
essence -- teshuvah. There is nothing
more liberating and exilarating than
teshuvah -- the power to “return” to
the quintessential core of one’s being,
transcending time, space, habit and
“character”, transcending all that
circumscribes the soul’s truest self and
truest strivings. But again, the essence
of Yom Kippur is submerged and
concealed within the solemnity that
accompanies the business of teshuvah
doing -- fasting, regretting and confessing our wrongdoings, resolving not to
repeat them, praying for forgiveness.
It is only on Simchat Torah that the
joyous essence of teshuvah is manifestly
celebrated.
Vedibarta Bam ~ Sukos
”‫“לולב מצוה לאגדו‬
“It is a mitzvah to bundle the lulav with
the hadassim and aravot.” (Sukkah
33a)
QUESTION: How many rings should
be placed on the lulav?
ANSWER: The Shulchan Aruch Harav
(651:11) writes “It is customary to make
three bundlings (ties) on the lulav, corresponding to the three Patriarchs. I.e.,
in addition to the ring which bundles
the three species together, (because the
Torah (Shemot 15:2) states ‘This is my
G‑d and I shall beautify him,’ ibid. 2)
two ties (rings) are made to bundle the
lulav leaves to the spine.”
But don’t we make three rings just for
bundling the species together?
The three rings for bundling the species
are all made within a tefach handbreadth. Thus, we apply the rule of
lavud — attached — so the three rings
are considered as one.
But why do we make what appears
as five rings but which halachically is
counted as three?
It says in Pirkei Avot (3:6) “From where
do we learn that the Divine Presence
rests among five that occupy themselves
with Torah? For it is said ‘va’agudato al
eretz yesadah — He has founded His
band upon the earth’ ” (Amos 5:6).
According to another version, this
pasuk is proof that the Divine Presence
is with three who are occupied in Torah.
Because three is considered agudah —
banding together (see Bartenura).
In deference to the opinions whether
an agudah — bundling — is three
or five, we make five rings which are
considered as three, corresponding to
the Patriarchs.
(‫ חיים וברכה‬,‫שו”ע סי’ תרנ”א סעי’ א’ ט”ז‬
‫)לבעמ”ח ספר משמרת שלום על פמ”ג סי’ רפ”ח‬
‫“בליל ראשון של סוכות אומרים תחילה‬
”‫לישב בסוכה ואח”כ שהחיינו‬
“On the first night of Sukkot, we say
first leishev basukkah and afterwards
shehechiyanu.”
QUESTION: When we make Kiddush
the first night of Sukkot, why is the
berachah of leishev basukkah made first
and then shehechiyanu, while on the
second night the order is reversed?
ANSWER: Biblically, the Yom Tov
of Sukkot is to be celebrated one day
— the fifteenth of Tishrei. The new
month would be established by Beit
Din on the testimony of witness who
saw the new moon, and then messengers
were dispatched to inform the public.
The communities of Israel and the
Diaspora that would not be reached
by mid month, celebrated Yom Tov for
two days out of doubt as to which day
was the 15th. Though we now have a
pre-calculated calendar, we continue
the “custom of our parents” and observe
Yom Tov two days.
and thus a shehechiyanu must be
recited. Since there is a doubt which
A shehechiyanu is recited at a time of day is actually Yom Tov (the 15th
joy, e.g. a Yom Tov or over a mitzvah of Tishrei), it is recited both nights
which is applicable only at a certain together with Kiddush.
time during the year, e.g. shofar, reading
Halachically, however, the shehechimegillah, etc. Since there was a time
yanu over the lulav may be made even
when a real doubt existed concerning
before Yom Tov when one prepares
which day was actually Yom Tov (the
(binds together the lulav with the spe15th of Tishrei) the berachah of shecies], but it has become traditional to
hechiyanu must be recited each night
make the berachah when the lulav is
together with the Kiddush which ushers
taken to fulfill the mitzvah (see Sukin the Yom Tov. A person cannot rely on
kah 46a, Shulchan Aruch 644, Magen
the fact that he said it on the first night
Avraham). Thus, there is no need to
of Yom Tov since it is possible that it may
make this berachah twice, since either
not have been the fifteenth of Tishrei if
way [even if the first day is a weekday
the new month were established on the
and not Yom Tov] one fulfilled the
testimony of witness.
obligation of reciting the shehechiyanu
However, the Gemara (Sukkah 46a) for the lulav.
says, “One who makes a sukkah for (‫ מגן אברהם‬,‫)שו”ע סי’ תרס”ב‬
himself, says shehechiyanu. When
‫“אומרים תהלים בליל הושענא רבה‬
he enters the sukkah during the Yom
”‫אחר חצות‬
Tov to sit in it, he says the blessing
of leishev basukkah.” Nowadays, we “On Hoshana Rabbah after midnight,
do not recite the shehechiyanu upon Tehillim is recited.”
building the sukkah, rather it is done
QUESTION: Why necessarily after
over the Kiddush cup.
midnight?
word “kapot” (‫ ) ַּכפ ֹת‬can also be read as
“kafut” (‫ )ּכָפּות‬which means “tied up.”
The Gemara (Sukkah 32a) derives
that the leaves of the lulav must be
fresh (soft) so that they can be tied to
the lulav spine. Thus, to firmly tie the
leaves to the spine it is customary to
place to rings on the lulav itself (see
Rav Shulchan Aruch 651:11).
ANSWER:
According to the
Zoha r (Vay i k ra
103b) we welcome
Ushpizin — guests
— to our sukkah.
These guests are
Avraham, Yitzchak,
Yaa kov, Moshe,
Aaron, Yosef and
David. Each day of
Sukkot another of
these guests leads
t he ot hers i nto
the sukkah. Thus,
Hence, on the first night the shehechi- Hoshana Rabbah, the seventh day, is
yanu is both for the Yom Tov and the the day of King David.
sukkah, and therefore it is recited after
The Gemara (Berachot 3b) says that
we make the berachah of leishev basukDavid did not sleep at night. Until
kah. On the second night there is no
midnight he would be involved in words
longer a need to make a shehechiyanu
of Torah; henceforth, he strengthened
over the sukkah, since even if the first
himself like a lion and occupied himself
night were not Yom Tov one is yotzi
with singing and praises to Hashem.
— has fulfilled the obligation — even
(When he would sleep, he would be
if the shehechiyanu were made before
careful to only doze off for less than 60
Yom Tov upon completion of the erechuman respirations, see Sukkah 26b).
tion of the sukkah. Therefore, since
the shehechiyanu on the second night Since on Hoshana Rabbah David is the
is only for the Yom Tov (in the event primary guest, and he compiled the
that the first night was not 15 Tishrei) Tehillim which contains the songs and
and not for the mitzvah of sukkah, the praises he would say to Hashem after
shehechiyanu is recited immediately midnight, we too recite the Tehillim on
after the Kiddush.
Hoshana Rabbah after midnight.
ANSWER: According to the Midrash
(Bereishit Rabbah 15:7) the forbidden
fruit that Chavah ate and also gave to
Adam was an etrog. As a punishment,
from then on, she and all womanhood would have to suffer pain in
childbirth.
Now, in the Torah, the word “kapot” is
written without a vav (‫) ַּכפ ֹת‬. Since the
letter vav has the numerical value of six,
we take the lacking vav as an indication
that the requirement of kafut — tied
up — is an imperative only during the
six days of Sukkot and not the seventh
— Hoshana Rabbah.
’‫ ועי’ לקו”ש ח”ד ע‬,’‫(לבוש סי’ תרס”ד סעי’ א‬
)1368
‫“יש נשים מעוברת שנוהגת ליטול‬
”‫הפיטום של האתרוג בהו”ר‬
“Some pregnant women have a custom
to bite off the pitom of the etrog on
Hoshana Rabbah [after davening].”
QUESTION: What is the significance
of this?
The etrog is an edible tasty fruit and
has a good aroma. The pitom, however,
is a hard inedible piece of wood with
no aroma. By biting off the pitom the
woman is declaring that she disagrees
with Chavah and wants absolutely no
pleasure from the etrog.
The Gemara (Sotah 12a) says that
righteous women of all generations
were not affected by Chavah’s verdict
that womankind should suffer pain in
childbirth. Therefore, by disassociating herself from Chavah’s iniquity,
she prays to Hashem that He grant
her a childbirth without pain and
complications.
‫(אוצר כל מנהגי ישרון בשם ספר זכירה ועי’ בנטעי‬
)‫גבריאל פרק פ’ ס”ז‬
”‫“שמחת תורה‬
“Simchat Torah”
QUESTION: Simchat Torah literally
means the Simchah of the Torah — is
it our simchah or her simchah?
ANSWER: In Hebrew a son is called
“ben” from the root of boneh — builder
)‫אדמוה”ז מהדו”ק סי’ ד’ סעי’ ט”ז‬
‫“ביום ראשון מברך על נטילת לולב‬
— because he continues to build that
‫ וביום שני אינו מברך זמן‬,‫ושהחיינו‬
‫ “בהושענא רבה קודם הלל – מסירים‬which his father started.
)‫(שו”ע סי’ תרמ”א וסי’ תרס”א‬
”.‫אא”כ חל יום ראשון בשבת‬
‫(טעמי המנהגים בשם מחזה אברהם ועי’ שו”ע‬
”‫שתי הכריכות אשר על הלולב‬
“On the first day we recite the berachot
“O n Hosh a n a R abba h , before
al netilat lulav and shehechiyanu, on the
H a l l e l , t h e t w o (t o p) r i n g s
second day shehechiyanu is not recited
a re re mov e d f rom t he lu l av.”
unless the first day was Shabbat.”
(Sefer Haminhagim-Chabad)
QUESTION: Why is shehechiyanu
QUESTION: Why necessarily these
recited both nights in Kiddush and only
two rings?
the first day of Yom Tov for taking the
ANSWER: In the Torah (Vayikra
lulav and etrog?
23:40) the lulav is called “kapot temaANSWER: Yom Tov is a joyous occarim” — “branches of date palms.” The
sion which comes from time to time,
A very sad day in a person’s life is when
he must sell a large thriving business
to a stranger because his only son has
no interest in continuing the business.
Through our dancing and rejoicing we
demonstrate our love for Torah and that
it is very dear to us. Thus, Simchat Torah
— Torah is immensely happy when she
sees the cherish and love her children,
the Jewish people, have for her.
Matters of Interest
Do You Consume Enough Minerals?! • Vital for the formation and mainte• Important to balance blood sugar
nance of healthy bones, teeth gums.
By Yaakov Bam,
levels
MS, Nutrition • Important in the maintenance of
• Important to prevent headaches
and Wellness
the heart, and in the transmission of
Consultant
• Important to prevent elevated blood
nerve signals.
pressure
The Rambam: • Lowers cholesterol levels and helps
Magnesium is sometimes regarded
prevent cardiovascular disease.
“I can guaranas a “smoothie” mineral, since it has
tee that anyone • Important for blood clotting
the ability to relax our muscles. Our
who accustoms
• Helps lower blood pressure, prevent nerves also depend upon magnesium
himself to these
yene machlah.
to avoid becoming overexcited, and
ways which we have discussed will
this aspect of magnesium links this
not become sick throughout his whole • Helps to keep the skin healthy.
mineral to maintenance of healthy
life, and will never need to take any
The body has a complex system to con- blood pressure.
medicines. His body will be perfect and
trol the amount of calcium in the blood
healthy for his entire life....”
Good sources of magnesium include
so that calcium is available for body
swiss chard, spinach, mustard greens,
Minerals originate in the Earth and can- functions. As a result, when intake of
summer squash, broccoli, turnip greens,
not be made by living organisms. Plants calcium is too low to maintain normal
pumpkin seeds, cucumber, green beans,
get minerals from the soil, and most of blood levels of calcium, the body will
celery, kale, variety of seeds, including
the minerals in our diets come directly draw on calcium from the bones to
sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, and
from plants or from animals. Minerals maintain normal blood concentrations,
flax seeds.
which, after many years, can lead to
may also be present in the water.
Unfortunately, most people do not get
osteoporosis, chas v'sholom.
Every living being needs minerals for
enough minerals in their daily diets,
proper function. Minerals are needed Good sources of calcium include spinmainly because they eat large quantities
for the proper make up of blood and ach, turnip greens, mustard greens and
of processed foods, which provide insufbone, the maintenance of healthy nerve collard greens, yogurt, kale, mozzarella
ficient amounts of important minerals.
system, cardiovascular system, etc… cheese, cow’s milk, and goat’s milk,
The effects of stress, the use of some
dill seed, cinnamon, romaine lettuce,
There are two groups of minerals:
medications can also cause minerals
celery, broccoli, sesame seeds, cabbage,
bulk minerals (macro-minerals) and
deficiency.
summer squash, green beans, garlic,
trace minerals (micro-minerals). Bulk
tofu, brussel sprouts, oranges, parsley. When any one starts consuming more
minerals include calcium, magnesium,
fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grain
potassium, phosphorus, and sodium. Magnesium:
products nutrition balance will improve
These are needed in larger amounts
• Important to relax your nerves and drastically.
than trace minerals. Trace minerals
muscles
And please remember:
include boron, chromium, copper,
germanium, iodine, iron, molybdenum, • Important to build and strengthen
Mitzvah goreres Mitzvah. V'ase Tov
manganese, selenium, silicon, sulfur,
bones
Sur Merah.
vanadium, and zinc.
• I m p or t a nt t o pr e v e nt he a r t
One SMALL step at a time.
Calcium:
arrhythmia
The Brutal Truth
B y R a b b i S h e a oldest: can i have soda? it’s just a
Hecht
sprite? please? can i? no, no and no.
the next one...don’t even get me started.
We all put great value
seriously
on t he tr ut h a nd
demand honesty from The ad describes everything the mother
others. Many times expected from a nanny - in completely
our biggest criticism honest terms - everything the woman
to others - especially feels she can give to a nanny and everypeople in the political arena - is that thing in between the twin six year olds:
people are not being honest.
one wanted dessert before her dinner
was over, one kept wanting to know
In our relationships - marriage, work,
why I wouldn’t let nine year olds swing
children - we always say we want openher around by her limbs. (the fear of a
ness, honesty and truth. What is it about
dislocated shoulder did nothing.)
truth though, that often as soon as we
Please help me
hear it we get offended? Many times
we’ll “excuse the truth” by saying it The “brutally honest” ad got lots of
was said because of a bias, hatred or attention because of one tiny little
jealousy.
fact - it was honest
The Talmud tells us that one of the pil- I can be a tad difficult to work for. I’m
lars that the world exists on is truth - yet loud, pushy and while I used to think
we so often fight it.
we paid well, i am no longer sure. i work
from home, so you get the pleasure of
The other day I came across a fascinatbeing hounded by me all day long. and,
ing ad that was a parody of our dishonyou get to pretend to like me, because i
est quest for honesty.
am deeply sensative. (but well dressed
The Craig’s List nanny ad was called and a know it all, a winning combinabrutally honest or unusually honest tion I assure you.)
by many
The prospective nannies who read the
My kids are a pain... Just in the past ad recognized the honesty in it and
hour, i have had to tell each one other women looking for nannies saw
to do something more than once. the obvious too
If you cannot multi task, or communicate without being passive aggressive,
don’t even bother replying. If you are
the type who doesn’t notice crumbs on
the table, skip to the next post, because
crumbs are a deal breaker. they put me
over the edge
I wish everyone a Gmar Chasimah
Tovah.
Recipe corner.
Tzu Gezunt Salad.
The salad can be made a day in advance.
Serve it lightly-chilled or at room
temperature.
Ingredients:
1 bag of spinach.
2 medium size boiled potatoes
1 cup celery, finely chopped
1 hard-boiled egg
½ cup salad olives, chopped
1 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 cups fresh dill finely chopped
2 cups onions, finely chopped
½ lemon
1 tbs. cold-press olive oil
bit of salt for taste
Preparation:
1. Boil potatoes in their jackets. Let
cool, then peel and chop into large
chunks.
2. Toss all ingredients in a large bowl
with the olive oil until just combined.
Squeeze ½ lemon and season with bit of
salt and serve immediately or refrigerate
in an airtight container until ready to
use or up to 1 day. If refrigerating, add
the spinach just before serving.
To be continued.
ing when the library books are due, and
whether i have rsvped to that birthday
party yet
Rebecca Soodak, the 40-year-old
Mother whose husband owns a wine
store, eventually hired a 25-year-old
University of Virginia graduate, to take
What’s most amazing about the honesty care of her children. I guess the honesty
of this 1,000 word ad is that people drew her to the job.
were amazed by the honesty! They were
Help me dear G-d keep track of our
refreshed by the truthfulness of ad.
skim milk supply and also, also, also,
am not looking for Super nanny, or what should I make for dinner tomoranyone who wants this job because row night?
they will love my kids as if they are
In the end, Soodak ’s honesty was
their own. you won’t. really. they are
almost a joke - on her! As Soodak told
infinitely lovable, but trust me, they’re
the Times: “I hope she likes it here. I
mine and you will move on when your
sent the ad to one of my old sitters and
journey with us is over, and save for
she said she felt it was pretty accurate,
some funny stories and a delightful
which sort of stung a little bit.”
email every now and again, you won’t
grieve. Nor will we. (okay, we did all Rabbi Hecht, is chairman of the board
grieve a few of our past sitters, oddly of the National Committee for the Furthey were all named Sarah or Kate, or therance of Jewish Education (NCFJE),
Nikki. And Leah. Leah was delightful, continuing the tradition of social services
even if she did drop my twin babies off management and outreach. He is a Rabbi
our couch during a family gathering. and activist in the Jewish community,
Good times
focusing on family crisis intervention,
guiding and advising troubled youth
Have we become a nation of liars? Are
and their families, marriage counseling,
we so jaded by the lies that people tell
and drugs and cults counseling and
and write that honesty has become
consultations. He can be reached at
brutal? Unusual? Refreshing?
718-735-0200 or at [email protected]
I need a team player. I need someone to Rabbi Shea HechtChairman NCFJE
back me up when it comes to remember- [email protected]
Rebbe's Story
“When one tells a story about his Rebbe he connects to the deeds of the Rebbe” (Sichos 1941 pg. 68)
An Eventful Tishrei at the Rebbe 5731/1970
From a diary written by Rabbi Michoel knew what the Rebbe was referring to.
Seligson
During the following nine FarbrenTranslated into English and adapted by
gens, the Rebbe constantly mentioned
Rabbi Menachem Kirschenbaum
this verse from Yeshayohu.
The Farbrengen of Simchas Torah
The Rebbe Farbrenged on Shabbos
5731/1970 is known by chassidim as a
Shuva and again on the 6th of Tishrei,
special one with many giluyim, revelain honor of his mother’s Yahrzeit. At
tions. To this day chassidim speak of it
both Farbrengens, as the Rebbe was
with wonder.
concluding the Maamor, he repeated
The Rebbe established his own United the same verse “For you have made (the
Nations at this Farbrengen and appointed oppressor’s) city into a heap, fortified
different chassidim to be in charge of town into a ruin.”
different countries.
After Yom Kippur, there was a big quesIn order to understand the chain of events tion on everyone’s mind. Would the
that led up to this historical event, we Rebbe Farbreng in the Sukka?
refer back to the beginning of Tishrei
The previous year, a tableful of people
(1970).
fell on Rabbi Marlow OBM, amidst the
The first Farbrengen of the month on pushing in the Sukka. The Rebbe said
Rosh Hashana, made it clear that the that he would not want to Farbreng in
Rebbe wanted to accomplish something the Sukka because it was dangerous to
unique. do so.
The highlight of the Rebbe’s Farbrengens Many of the older Chassidim made difis always the Maamor, the chassidic ferent suggestions to the Rebbe so that
discourse. a Farbrengen in the Sukka would still
be possible. The Rebbe did not accept
The Rebbe would customarily begin
them. The closer it came to Yom Tov, the
reciting the Maamor at the Rosh
more it appeared that there would be no
Hashana Farbrengen after chassidim
Farbrengen on Sukkos.
sang all of the Rebbeim’s nigunim. In
the Maamor the Rebbe would include On the second day of Sukkos, members
explanations on Rosh Hashana from all of the Rebbe’s secretariat announced that
of the Rebbe’im.
there would be a Farbrengen in 770. The
Rebbe said that it would be a Farbrengen
The exceptional event during the Maamor
“oif truken”, on dry, without any food or
of this Rosh Hashana, was that in the
L’chaims being made.
middle of the Maamor, the Rebbe spoke
at length on the verse from Yeshayohu The Rebbe came into shul and sat down
(25:1)” For you have made (the oppres- at his place. Immediately the Rebbe
sor’s) city into a heap, fortified town into instructed that everyone should sing
a ruin.”
the Bal Shem Tov’s nigun, followed by
the Alter Rebbe’s nigun. He then went
The Rebbe concluded that through
directly into the Maamor opening with
destroying and wiping out the kingship
the words, “All of the gentiles and nations
of klipat noga. More energy is added in
of the world praise you and admire you
kedusha. This is the idea of “Through
G-d.”
destroying the city of Tzur that will bring
the rebuilding of Jerusalem.” At this point Immediately there was an awareness in
during the Farbrengen, everyone present 770 of something unusual. The Rebbe
understood that the Rebbe was not just usually began Farbrengens with Sichos
explaining a concept in chassidus. The before saying the Maamor.
Rebbe was concentrating on destroying
In the Maamor, the Rebbe again spoke,
and wiping out ‘klipos’ from the world.
as he had in the earlier Farbrengens.
The sense that the Rebbe was accom- He explained how non-Jews receive
plishing changes in the higher worlds their energy from Kedusha, and how
seemed even clearer at the conclusion it is possible that klipa can be elevated
of the Maamor. The Rebbe said, “From to kedusha, and add to the energy ones
this level we draw down through all of receives from kedusha. The Rebbe added
the worlds of the chain of creation, to that since on Sukkos we sacrifice the 70
the extent that we created a new entity in sacrifices, parallel to the 70 nations of the
this physical world, ‘For you have made world, it is through our sacrifices that the
(the oppressor’s) city into a heap pile, a 70 nations are elevated. fortified town, into a ruin.’”
The Rebbe concluded the Maamor with
Rabbi Yisroel Jacobson noted that as far the same verse from Yeshayou, ““For you
as he recalled, fifty-seven years earlier, have made (the oppressor’s) city into a
5674/1913, the Rebbe Rashab elaborated heap, fortified town into a ruin.” on this verse and what it signified in the
During the Farbrengen, the Rebbe
light of Chassidus. In the summer of that
delivered two long Sichos referring to
year, WWI broke out.
non-Jews. The conclusion was that Jews
After Rabbi Jacobson spoke, chassidim have the power to elevate and affect the
understood that the Rebbe was trying to rise of the nations.
accomplish something, however no one
Then the Rebbe began to hint to the
issue he had been referring to in the
Maamorim since the beginning of the
month.
and even in places where there is just
one Yid. This should be all done parallel
to the gathering in the U.N., and should
be done in a positive way.”
“The U.N. gathered its representatives The Rebbe Establishes his own UN
from countries all over the world to mark (United Nations)
the 25th year anniversary of its founding.
The Rebbe’s chozrim, those
who put to memory the Rebbe’s
discourses in order to transcribe
them after Shabbos or Yom Tov;
wrote the Maamor down right
after the first days of Yom Tov.
The Rebbe asked for the written
Maamor and edited it, though it
was his custom not to write on
Chal Hamoed. Chassidim were
very excited and everyone began
learning the Maamor. Chassidim going on Mivzah
Lulav to Manhattan discussed the
Maamor with their friends. This
was the talk of days.
The evening of Simchas Torah,
directly before the fourth hakofo,
the Rebbe told the gabai, Rabbi
Moshe Pinchas Katz to announce
the following:
“The 70 nations are parallel to
the 70 souls of the children of Yaakov.
According to Torah, the Rabbonim are
the 'bale batim', owners of the counties
all over the world. Therefore, for this
hakafa the Rabbonim, who are the
representatives of the countries, should
“The whole theme of the Yom Tov of come up.”
Sukkos, and we read it today during the
Chosen to represent their respective
Haftora, ‘I will gather together all of
countries were:
the goyim.’ Also, on Sukkos there is the
concept of the offering of the 70 sacrifices Rabbi Shmuel Levitin-America, Rabbi
which is symbolic of the 70 nations. Yosef Goldberg- France, Rabbi Benzion
Shemtov- England, Rabbi Y. BarteshvillyThe Rebbe then added:
Russia, Rabbi Hodakov- Finland, Rabbi
“The 70 nations have 70 angels who Segal- Israel, Rabbi Yitzchok Hendelrepresent them in the upper worlds. Canada, Rabbi Binyomin GordetskyThe Yidden bring the offering of the 70 Europe, Rabbi A. Pliskin-Australia,
porim parallel to the 70 nations. Then Rabbi Hirshel Chitrik- Brazil, Rabbi
the 70 sorim above receive all of their Yadgar- Iraq, Rabbi Avrohom Yitzchok
energy from these sacrifices. They can Glick- Germany, Rabbi Yosef Weinbergsee in an open and a revealed way, how South Africa, Rabbi Towil- Argentina,
all of their energy is totally dependent Rabbi Leibel Raskin- Morocco, Rabbi
on the Jew. As an outcome, when you Avrohom Osdoba- Denmark, Rabbi
accept something from someone you Alevsky-Germany, and Rabbi Moshe
become nullified to that person. In this Pinchos Katz- Poland.
situation, this influences the nations to
The Rebbe then turned to the RaShag,
become totality nullified towards the
his brother-in-law, and said, “Since you
Jews, because they can see that all of their
traveled with the Previous Rebbe to
energy comes from them.”
Egypt, you should be the representative
The Rebbe concluded:
of Egypt.”
They chose to do so around the time of
Sukkos. Every single thing in the world
is by Divine Providence. Sometimes we
cannot see it and sometimes we see it in
a revealed way. In this specific situation
we see it in a revealed way!” “Because we are now in a situation that all
the nations see in a revealed way that their
energy comes from the Jews, we should
utilize this opportunity to make our own
gathering. Therefore, I request that there
should be gatherings in New York, as well
as at the Western Wall, in particular, since
that is a place that Jews from all over the
world come together. They should daven
and learn, and through this affect positive
change in the U.N. There should also be
gatherings even here in the Diaspora,
After they called up all of the representatives of the countries, the Rebbe said,
“With the power of Torah they are the
'bale batim' over all the countries and
they should all go to the hakofo and
dance!”
The Rebbe began to sing “Utzu eitza
v'sufar”, and to clap his hands with all his
strength. No one who was in 770 then
would ever forget the scene.
To be continued
Sicha Succot
The Four Species: Unity of the Jewish Nation
Adapted from Likutei Sichos vol. 4
Published and copyright © by Sichos In
English
Four Species, Four Types of People
[A pleasant taste is used as an analogy for
Torah study. Since Torah study involves
intellectual comprehension, the satisfaction it produces is substantial, comparable
to the satisfaction derived from food. A
pleasant fragrance is used as an analogy
for good deeds, because observance of the
mitzvos must stem from kabbalas ol, the
acceptance of G-d’s yoke, a commitment
which, like a fragrance, produces less
tangible satisfaction.]
Chassidus interprets the phrase bakeseh
liyom chageinu, “on the day [the moon]
is hidden, for our festival,” as meaning
that all matters that are concealed on
Rosh HaShanah -- “the day [the moon] is
hidden” -- are revealed on “our festival,”
“A closed palm branch” -- This refers to
on Sukkos.
the Jewish people. Just as the [fruit of
This also applies with regard to Yom
the] date palm has a [pleasant] taste, but
Kippur. The hidden aspects of its Divine
not a [pleasant] fragrance, so too, among
service are also revealed on Sukkos. For
the Jewish people, there are those who
Yom Kippur is also referred to as Rosh
possess [the virtues of] Torah study, but
HaShanah, and expresses the inner
not of good deeds.
dimensions of that holy day.
“Myrtle branches” -- This refers to the
One of the fundamental aspects of Rosh
Jewish people. Just as the myrtle has a
HaShanah and Yom Kippur is the unity
[pleasant] fragrance but not a [pleasant]
of the Jewish people. For our Divine
taste, so too, among the Jewish people,
service on these holy days expresses
there are those who possess [the virtues
the inner dimension of our souls. This
of] good deeds, but not of Torah study.
dimension is the same for all Jews, from
“your heads and your tribes...” to “your “Willows of the brook” -- This refers to
hewers of wood” and “drawers of water.” the Jewish people. Just as the willow has
On Sukkos, this unity -- like all the other neither a [pleasant] taste nor a [pleasant]
dimensions of Rosh HaShanah and Yom fragrance, so too, among the Jewish
Kippur -- becomes manifest.
people, there are those who possess
neither [the virtues of] Torah study, nor
This concept is expressed by the Midrash,
of good deeds.
which states that the four species used
for the mitzvah of lulav and esrog refer The Holy One, blessed be He, says: “Tie
to four categories of Jews:
them all together in one bond, so that
each will atone for the other.”
“The fruit of a beautiful tree” [the Torah’s
term for the esrog] -- This refers to the Moreover, the oneness expressed on
Jewish people. Just as the esrog has both Sukkos is greater than that experienced
a [pleasant] taste and a [pleasant] fra- on Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur.
grance, so too, among the Jewish people, On Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur,
there are those who possess [the virtues the unity does not relate to the different
of] both Torah study and good deeds. natures within the Jewish people. Yes,
Sicha Simchas Torah
Simchas Torah: Dancing
with closed Sifrei Torah
As explained above, the essence of
the Torah transcends intellectual
understanding. For this reason, even
Adapted from Likutei Sichos Vol. 4
unlearned people share a connection to
Published and copyright © by Sichos in its holiness, and celebrate on Simchas
Torah.
English
It is a custom -- and our Rabbis taught
that Jewish custom is considered as
the Torah itself -- to celebrate with
the Torah on Simchas Torah. We take
a Torah scroll wrapped in its mantle,
and dance with it around the reading
platform. Since the Torah is associated
with intellectual understanding, the
celebrations of Simchas Torah should
seemingly be associated with progress,
quantitatively and qualitatively, in
Torah study. And this study will lead
to happiness.
Why is the intellectual dimension of the
Torah necessary? So that the Torah will
permeate a person’s inner dimensions,
and not remain merely an encompassing light. Comprehension internalizes
the transcendent bond between the
essence of the Torah and the essence
of the soul, and makes it an active part
of our consciousness.
a lower level, for the lulav possesses only
a pleasant flavor (the virtue of Torah
everyone joins together in the sounding
study), while the esrog possesses both
of the shofar and the teshuvah of Yom
flavor and fragrance (both Torah study
Kippur. But this oneness is merely a
and the observance of mitzvos).
general feeling, expressing the essential
G-dliness that lies at the core of every This question can be resolved by comparJew’s soul. It does not, however, relate ing the study of Torah to the observance
to the differences between one Jew of mitzvos. Mitzvos are referred to as
and another. On the contrary, on Rosh “limbs of the King,” while it is said: “The
HaShanah, these differences are “hid- Torah, and the Holy One, blessed be He,
den,” covered up by the revelation of are all one.”
higher lights.
To explain: The limbs of the body are
On Sukkos, however, these individual not totally at one with the soul. They
differences receive expression. Each of are given over to the soul, and as soon
the four species -- the lulav, the esrog, the as the soul desires, they respond.464
myrtle and the willow -- stands for a dif- Nevertheless, they are material entities,
ferent kind of personality. Nevertheless, and remain distinct from the soul, which
they are all united in a single bond.
is spiritual.
The Lulav’s Distinction
From the comments of the Midrash cited
above, it would appear that the esrog is
the most distinguished of the four species, for it possesses both the advantages
of taste and smell. In the analog, this
refers to Jews who possess both the virtues of Torah study and observance of the
mitzvos. The question then arises: Why
in the blessing is the mitzvah referred to
as “the mitzvah of lulav”?
Similar concepts apply with regard to
the observance of the mitzvos. They
express the nullification of a Jew before
G-d, that he carries out G-d’s will. And
yet the very statement that a Jew carries
out G-d’s will implies that he remains an
independent entity.
The study of Torah, by contrast, involves
a different type of relationship. When a
Jew contemplates the Torah, he is grasping G-d’s wisdom, as it were, and his
mind becomes one with G-d’s wisdom,
The answer is given460 that the lulav is
of which it is said: “He and His wisdom
taller than the other species. This answer,
are one.”
however, is itself problematic. The existence of every entity in the material Moreover, this oneness with G-d is an
realm, and in particular those objects that active dynamic. The more a Jew gives
are associated with mitzvos, reflect their himself over to the comprehension of
spiritual source. Thus the fact that the the Torah, the more encompassing his
lulav is taller than the other four species oneness with G-d becomes. This highindicates that spiritually also, it possesses lights the advantage of the lulav -- those
a quality which surpasses them.
individuals who are totally given over
to Torah study, even to the exclusion of
What advantage does the lulav possess
good deeds.
over the esrog? Seemingly, it represents
Divine service in the new year. The
month of Elul -- and in a different way,
the unique days of Rosh HaShanah, the
Ten Days of Teshuvah, Yom Kippur,
Sukkos, and Shemini Atzeres -- are
days of preparation, characterized
by teshuvah. When does the Divine
service of the new year begin? Simchas
Torah.
of the Torah scroll? That the dancing
on Simchas Torah expresses a Jew’s
commitment to accepting G-d’s yoke
to the extent that he is no longer an
independent entity. The feet are given
over to the head. As soon as the head
desires something, the feet respond.
Indeed, when the feet behave like independent entities, and hesitate before
carrying out the will of the head, it is a
At that time, the Jewish people are like
sign of sickness.
a young child that must be educated.
And that education begins in the spirit By becoming the “feet of the Torah
of the verse “The Torah which Moshe scroll,” a Jew subsumes his identity to
commanded us...,” emphasizing the the Torah. He resolves to carry out its
importance of kabbalas ol. This lesson directives spontaneously, as a natural
has an ongoing effect throughout the expression of who he is. And this resolve
year. Even when we focus on the intel- extends over the entire year to come.
lectual dimension of Torah study, our
There is another element to the analogy.
efforts will be permeated by faith and
The feet complement the head, taking
kabbalas ol.
it to places which it could not reach on
its own. So too, in the Jew’s relationship
Becoming the Torah’s Feet
to the Torah, by accepting its yoke with
The above concepts also help us underjoy, we bring it to a higher level.
stand a statement made by my revered
father-in-law, the Rebbe. He would say This is why the plural is used in the
that on Simchas Torah, the Torah also expression “the season of our rejoicing.”
desires to dance around the reading For just as the Jews celebrate with the
platform. The Torah, however, has no Torah, the Torah celebrates with the
feet, so the Jewish people become its Jews. For it is the Jews’ celebration with
feet, carrying it around the reading the Torah that lifts the Torah to a higher
platform.
level, and enables it to celebrate.
This is why on Simchas Torah we dance
with the Torah wrapped in its mantle.
We thus emphasize that the Torah
transcends our understanding, and
Why is the very opposite done? Why this becomes a source of happiness.
is the celebration characterized by Our happiness does not stem from the
dancing with the Torah wrapped shut, Torah’s intellectual dimension, but
rather from the fact that reading and
so that it is impossible to study it?
studying it binds us to G-d’s essence.
It is true that one must also fulfill one’s
fixed quota of Torah study even on We dance with our feet. The feet are
Simchas Torah. But that is because one identified with faith, which expresses
is obligated to study Torah every day. It the essence of the soul.
is not customary to make an increase in
Our celebration and dancing with the
Torah study on Simchas Torah; this is
Torah while it is wrapped initiates our
What is meant by becoming the feet
not the way the holiday is celebrated.
Shleimus Haaretz
The Obligation to Settle the Entire Land of Israel With Jews
Published and copyright © by Sichos territories were liberated, but it is still to settle the entire Land of Israel, When they act swiftly and quietly, all
explaining:
the pressure will be forestalled, because
possible to settle them today.
in English
the nations will see a fait accompli, an
Regarding the second claim, the Rebbe It is true that “the Guardian of Israel
The Rebbe Answers All Criticism
irreverable act of the Jewish court that
said:
neither sleeps nor slumbers,” but G-d
The Rebbe’s emphatic words regarding
the Land of Israel is an everlasting
wants people to also act within the
settlement of the entire Holy Land As to their claim that they promised
inheritance of the immortal nation.
framework of nature, at least with the
elicited many reactions and denun- someone etc. — this claim lacks all
minimal effort required to move one’s The Rebbe adds that not only will the
ciations. Here are some of the answers foundation, since one cannot promise
little finger. This is what He teaches us nations cease their pressure, but will
which the Rebbe gave in replying to something which does not belong to
in the Torah: When the Jews hear that ultimately even assist us, as the Rebbe
the detractors.
him; the Land is something which
gentiles want to come to a city “to take says on Motzoei Shabbos Chaye Sarah,
belongs to the Holy One, and He gave
There were those who agreed that the
straw and chaff,” if it is a city from which 5738:
it to every Jew, and to all of the Jews
optimal situation would indeed have
it “would be easy for them to conquer
as an everlasting inheritance; thus,
Settlement of all parts of the Land of
been to immediately settle all the
the land,” the Jews are to “go out and
it belongs to the Jews forever. In any
Israel will even affect the nations, to the
territories which had been liberated.
face them with weapons and even descase, the gentile to whom they made
extent that they will even assist us. They
However, they claimed, since they were
ecrate the Shabbos.” In such a case we
this promise, does not believe that
will also “feel” (since their mazal will
not settled then, it is an impossible goal
have a promise that the pressure placed
the Jews will truly honor it.[71] Of
see) that the existence of Esau is only
today. Similarly, there were those who
upon the Jewish people to concede, will
course, this stems from the fact that
for the purpose of helping Jacob. This
said that since promises had already
be nullified — as we have seen many
the nations themselves reneged on the
will be a preparation for the ingathering
been made not to settle those places, it
times when we stood fast.
conditions they established, and broke
of all Sons and Daughters of Israel —
is impossible to do so now.
their word on several occasions. This The Rebbe spoke in a similar vein in his shleimus haAm — to the whole the
The Rebbe answered these assertions leaves a wide opening for the Jews to address of Motzoei Shabbos Mishpatim Land of Israel, in the coming of (and
in his address of Motzoei Shabbos do as G-d wishes.
mentioned above:
through) Moshiach, after which “G-d
Mishpatim, 5738 (1978). The Rebbe
will extend your boundaries” — and the
Settlement Forestalls Pressure
All of the anguish and suffering which
calls the first claim a deception. Yes,
Land of Israel will be expanded, with
the Jews experience as a result of the
it would have been preferable to settle In his address of Pesach Sheini, 5738
the addition of the lands of the Keini,
negotiations is totally unnecessary.
the entire land immediately when the (1978), the Rebbe spoke of the need
Knizi, and Kadmoni.
The Shleimus HaAretz Talk Show Update
By Tamar Adelstein
On Monday, October 6th, The Shleimus
HaAretz Talk Show ran a very special
program on the 35th (secular) anniversary of the Yom Kippur War.
Our first guest was Rabbi Sholem
Ber Kalmanson, who, as usual, spoke
brilliantly and very movingly on the
subject of Shleimus HaAretz. Rabbi
Kalmanson pointed out a number of
fascinating details about the Rebbe’s
tremendous knowledge of and strategic
insight into Israel’s security needs and
defense plans he advised Israeli leaders
and generals on.
with court marshal should he do so.
Sharon shrugged and chose instead
to listen to the Rebbe and went on
to successfully turn the tide, sending
the Egyptian national security advisor Hafez Ismail begging to Henry
Kissinger for intervention to save
his soldiers from being completely
destroyed by the Israelis.
Rabbi Kalmanson encouraged all of us
to make an honest accounting of our
efforts in these days and join together
to individually and collectively do
everything in our power to stop the
impending “convergence plan” or forced
evacuation of the 100,000 plus Jews
For example, the Rebbe strongly living in Yehuda, the Shomron, and
objected to and fought the implemen- Yerushalayim, G-d Forbid!
tation of the Bar Lev sandbag line of
Our next guest was Mrs. Rachel Lipsky
defense Israel had set up along the
who shared her memories when she
Suez Canal during the War of Attrition
was an 18yr old soldier/musician in
preceding the Yom Kippur War. The
the Israeli Army Band during the Yom
Rebbe explained both to Ariel Sharon
Kippur War.
and Bar Lev, himself, that the Bar Lev
line was nothing more than a replica of Rachel also addressed the reasons why
the French Maginot Line that had been Jews have fell so easily into accepting
easily hosed away by water cannons in The Camp David Accords and all of the
war and would not serve as secure line other negotiations that followed despite
of defense for Israel. Tragically, the the fact these agreements have clearly
Rebbe’s warning was not heeded and not worked to our benefit.
resulted in the loss of much Jewish life,
Our next guest was Yisroel Danziger
r”l, when the Egyptian Army began
from Efrat who did a short but revealing
its assault exactly as the Rebbe had
review of The Camp David Accords
described.
stressing that the misguided belief both
During the Yom Kippur War, Ariel Begin and Sharon held that in giving
Sharon quietly contacted Rabbi Shlomo away some territory they would be able
Madanchik from K’far Chabad and to gain the sympathy and support from
requested that he call the Rebbe for World Powers as well as the Arabs for
advice on how to proceed and succeed Israel’s right to retain major centers in
in overturning the enemies’ upper YESHA and Yerushalayim continues
hand. The Rebbe advised encircling the to plague the security and welfare of
Egyptian Third Army. When Sharon Jews everywhere.
asked Moshe Dayan for permission to
Earlier in the day Yisroel and several
do so, he was rebuffed and threatened
of his colleagues were arrested on
charges that they had used a tractor
last June to attack Arabs living near
Hevron. Yisroel, whom we interviewed
last spring about the security training
courses he runs in YESHA, also offers
development programs including farming projects. The police confiscated
their tractor as evidence. The tractor
and other farm equipment are, obviously, essential to begin planting the
various fields that are still open to Jews
in Yehuda and the Shomron—fields
that the Israeli government has yet
to decide if they belong to the Arabs
according to the Oslo Agreement! As
Yisroel explained, this is part of the
Israeli government’s recent crackdown
on independent citizens and their communities in Yehuda and the Shomron
being done to weaken and dissolve any
opposition to its plan to force out the
100,000 plus Jews living there before
President Bush leaves office in January,
G-d Forbid!!
Following Yisroel was Mrs. Daniella
Weiss who is the former mayor of the
City of Kedumin in the Shomron and
current major planner of its newest
suburb Sh’vut Ami which was partly
dismantled by the Israeli Army late
last week. Daniella, who has a long
and productive career building up
new communities in Eretz Yisroel, was
brutally arrested last Thursday morning, Tzom G’dalya, and placed under
house arrest until her next hearing on
October 12th.
in the mountains and valleys of Eretz
Yisroel where HaShem’s Shechina
always rests.
Recently Governor Sara Palin, the VicePresidential candidate running with
John McCain, participated in a debate
with her counterpart Senator Joe Biden.
When asked about Israel, she surprising
gave the current standard pat answer:
two-state solution. I say “surprisingly”
because she seems to be fairly bright
and level-headed on every other topic
in the campaign. It sounds like, just
as Rabbi Kalmanson suggested and
the Rebbe said, that today it’s not the
Americans who are pressuring Israel to
make foolish concessions but rather the
Israelis who are asking the Americans
to give the appearance of doing so in
order for the few but powerful and
highly corrupt political elite in Israel
to hide their true intentions and walk
off with ill-gotten gains at the expense
of the rest of us. Just as we must take
those Powers-That-Be to task and, as
the Rebbe said, expose them through
unceasing protest, so too should those
who are in the position to do so seek to
communicate to the presidential candidates the Rebbe’s views on Shleimus
HaAretz.
To review today’s Shleimus HaAretz
Talk Show, dial 641-715-3486, Access
Code 505946#.
Our next show will, G-d Willing, be on
October 28th from Noon to 1:30pm.
W hen asked how we can help she G’mar Chasima Tova!
recommended that if we cannot immigrate to Eretz Yisroel, then we should
definitely visit often and help out in the
various projects going on to build up the
heartland. She beautifully reminded us
that everything that is Jewish originates
Tznius: "America Is Nisht Andersh”
The Domino Effect
By Mrs. M. Resnick
Who can imagine that ten Tishrei-busy
women would drop everything Motzoei
Rosh Hashono and gather at Machon
Chana for an emergency meeting? And
a meeting about Tznius no less!
Monday, Erev Rosh Hashonoh, I got a
phone call from Mrs. Sarah Labkowsky.
“We’ve got to do something about the
Tznius situation at least in 770. It’s the
Rebbe’s Sh’chuna,” she said. “It’s the
Asseres Yemei Tshuva! How can we
watch so many women and girls walk
into 770 inappropriately dressed?”
I, of course, agreed with her since we
were both on the same page on this
issue.
So she suggested that we hold a
meeting.
“Should we meet Motzei Yom Tov?”
I asked.
“Motzei Yom Tov ?” she replied somewhat incredulously
“Well, yes,” I answered, “if there’s a fire
burning it can’t wait.”
Mrs. Labkowsky and I put together
a list of members of the organization
involved in women’s issues including our newly formed Bnos Melech
B’Yachad (BMBY), the Shul Committee, and the Israeli Guest Committee,
and then we s plit the list among us.
Two hours before Yom Tov we started
making phone calls. (Me, in my car on
the way to Crown Heights.) Honestly,
we had no idea how many women we
would reach or who would be able to
make it, but on Motzei Yom Tov, these
ten very busy women showed up:
Mrs. C. Gorowitz, Mrs. S. Spritzer ,
Mrs. R. Hendel, Mrs. C. Popak, Mrs. C.
Lang, Mrs. D. Chazanov, Mrs. T. Katzman, Mrs. S. Junik, Mrs. S. Labkowsky,
and myself.
We all commended those who erected
the barriers and dividers around the
women’s section over Rosh Hashanah.
But for Yom Kippur and the rest of
Tishrei we wanted to take it one step
up. We wanted to raise our womens’
consciousness and ensure that Halacha
plays a major part in our in dressing for
Yom Tov.
feeling the same concern and agreeing of our meeting with her teachers.
that action is of the essence.
All I can say is that one woman pained
To begin with, each one of us individu- by a certain state of affairs brought
ally pledged to raise her own level of about to a wonderful avalanche of
Tznius.
concern, goodness and positive action
that will, G-d willing, benefit everyone
We decided to post flyers and send a
in our community. (Domino Effect.)
phone message to thousands of homes,
This is a sign for a good beginning for a
urging everyone to please dress approNew Year especially a Shnas Hakhel.
priately this month. The possibility of
distributing scarves and other coverings We need this to become contagious!
like during ‘Dollars’ with the Rebbe,
We need initiative, effort, involvement,
was also seriously entertained.
funds, volunteering, elbow grease,
This entire year in fact is a Shnas Hakhel anything and everything to recapture
when all Jews would travel to the Beis our Beis Hamikdash.
Hamikdash to hear the Kohen Gadol
read from the Torah. 770 is like the Beis
Hamikdash for us.
One of the areas always raised in any
meeting on Tznius is:
One of the women asked why now?
What’s the urgency as the situation How does one approach, in a non-threathas been deteriorating for a number ening, non-embarrassing way, a person
of years? Various valid reasons were who is not dressed appropriately?
brought up but only later did it occur
Taking a lesson from the Hayom Yom
to me that the Rebbe sent us a mesof Ellul 22nd , “Chassidic doctrine
sage in his own inimitable way when
demands that before reproving another,
we suddenly found those ‘Buttons’
one must pare his own ‘fingernails,’ in
30-some years later after their ‘creation’,
order not to gash the other.” And, of
in Mrs. R. Chitrik’s basement.( See our
course, anyone reproaching a woman
article in issue #37 - August 1st, 29th
dressed in an untzniusdik manner must
of Tammuz)
be sure to have love in their heart.
That’s why we have to do it now! (And
Let me share a wonderful example of
we have still to decide what we are going
such love:
to do with the ‘Buttons’.)
Mrs M. Zirkind. went to 770 on Labor
For the Vov Tishrei gathering that
day, for davening. “Please let me not
N’shei Chabad organized in honor of
have to see the ‘shmutz’ of the street,”
Rebbetzen Chana, BMBY undertook
she asked Hashem before she left her
to distribute a letter of the Rebbe
house. Sure enough, Hashem cleared
and diagramed-guidelines for proper
the path for her. When she walked
attire.
into 770, however, she saw a woman
Knowing that some among us find with sleeves that clearly exposed her
these halachic diagrams ‘off-putting’, I elbows. “How is it,” she thought, “that
called Mrs. S. Tiechtel, the MC of the I encounter an untznius woman in 770
evening to ask her to introduce them after not encountering any inappropriin an appealing manner. Mrs. Tiechtel ateness outside in the street?”
herself wondered why, indeed, we find
But she kept silent as the woman was
such hardship in this particular area
in midst of a hartzige davening. After
when we, as Lubavitch women, easily
both she and the woman had finished,
undertake so many more difficult
Mrs. Z. walked over to her and told
tasks.
Th i s i s t h e c h a l l e n g e o f o u r
generation!
She then graciously accepted to introduce the diagrams in an appealing
manner in the z’chus of her mother,
Rebbetzen Sima Itkin. Mrs. Tiechtel
also told me that Tznius was so precious to her mother that even in her
last moments on this earth she was so
concerned with the proper positioning
of her tiechel.
Mrs. Labkowsy’s passion was palpable.
“We have an Achrayus! It’s the Rebbe’s
Shul! We have to do something to
help women and girls look right when
coming to the Rebbe and we have to
stop being afraid to call it what it is… Mrs. L. Abraham, the keynote of the
evening agreed to raise the ‘heartfelt
it’s Halacha!”
plea’ to discard TV and other inapShe even came up with a motto “The
propriate visual images from our homes.
TIME is Now” with TIME standing
(Shura Rishona of Kollel Wives and
for
Junior N’Shei had originally planned
T= Tznius, I=Internet, M=Music, and to have a Vov Tishrei gathering on this
E=Entertainment embodying the issue – [article in the issue of Chai Elul,
notion of Tznius incorporating the September 26 ] before we found out
entire spectrum of life.
about the N’shei Chabad Ferbrengen
scheduled on the same day)
The discussion was exciting and heartwarming with everyone in the room Mrs. Gorowitz agreed to share the spirit
her a story: A bachur once came by the
Rebbe twice in one night for kos shel
bracha. The Rebbe asked him why. He
replied that his first one had a “loch in
kop”, a “hole in the cup.”(With a play
on the word ‘kop’ meaning also a hole
in his head.) Now, he told the Rebbe,
he is holding a new cup without a hole.
The Rebbe smiled and gave him kos shel
bracha for the second time that night.
After Mrs. Z. finished relating this
story, she said to the woman, “I saw
you davening so devoutly, and it would
be such a shame to lose the brachos
from your davening because of a ‘hole,
to have your brochos fall out of your
sleeves. I’m sure you didn’t notice but
the slit on your sleeves clearly exposes
your elbows.”
The woman looked at her elbows, her
face displaying surprise when she realized the truth of Mrs. Z.’s statement.
A few minutes later when Mrs. Z. left
shul, the woman turned to her and said
“Thank you.”
An inspired suggestion
Mrs. C. Teldon known for her wry
humor came up with the following
suggestion:
What if we found out ‘the number’ of
the mitzvah of Tznius in the list of 613
mitzvos. We can be mfarsem it and then
one would merely have to say, “#”. It
would be a buzz word.
Imagine meeting a woman at the store
and she was not dressed properly. Just
smile at her and say, “59” (Rambam) or
“75”(Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch) With
a campaign of awareness, she would
immediately know what you are talking
about.
Which ever way works! As long as
there’s love in our hearts and those nails
are really neatly trimmed the Rebbe is
sure to bless our efforts with success.
Comments and suggestions to:
[email protected]
Story
An Esrog from the Garden of Eden
By Nissan Mindel
Reprinted with permission from Chabad.
Org
It was the first day of Sukkot, and all the
congregants in the shul (synagogue) of
Rabbi Elimelech of Lizensk were in a festive
mood. One could feel the “Yom-Tov” spirit
in the atmosphere.
As Rabbi Elimelech stood at the lectern and
began reciting Hallel, all eyes turned upon
him. There was something unusual in his
manner this Sukkot. Why did he stop so
suddenly in the middle of his swaying as
he held the etrog and lulav in his hands to
sniff the air? And why did he not go through
the Service in his usual leisurely manner?
It was evident that something was on his
mind, something rather exciting by the
look on his radiant countenance.
The minute the davening (praying) was
over, Rabbi Elimelech hurried to where
his brother Rabbi Zusha (who had come to
spend the festival with him) was standing,
and said to him eagerly: “Come and help
me find the etrog which is permeating
the whole shul with the fragrance of the
Garden of Eden!”
And so together they went from person to
person until they reached the far corner of
the shul where a quiet looking individual
was standing, obviously engrossed in his
own thoughts.
“This is the one,” called out Rabbi Elimelech
delightedly. “Please, dear friend, tell me
who are you and where you obtained this
wonderful etrog?”
The man, looking somewhat startled and
bewildered at this unexpected question,
replied rather slowly, carefully choosing
his words:
“With all due respect to you, Rabbi, it is
quite a story. Do you wish to sit down and
listen to it all?”
hurriedly finished my davening so that I finished his story, “Yours is indeed an
could find out what was the trouble, and exceptional etrog. Now I realize why your
“Most certainly I do,” answered Rabbi if I could help in any way.
etrog has the fragrance of the Garden of
Elimelech emphatically, “I am sure it will
Eden in its perfume! Let me tell you the
“As I turned towards the man who was in
be a story worth hearing!”
sequel to your story.”
obvious distress, I beheld a most unusual
“My name,” began the quiet-looking man, and rough looking person, dressed in “When the wagon driver whom you saved
“is Uri, and I come from Strelisk. I have peasant garb with a whip in his hands, thought about his unexpected good foralways regarded taking the “four kinds” pouring out his troubles to the inn-keeper tune, he decided that you must have been
on Sukkot as one of my favorite mitzvot, at the bar.
none other than the Prophet Elijah whom
“From the somewhat confused story, the Almighty had sent down to earth in
between his sobs, I managed to gather the form of a man, in order to help him
that the man with the whip was a in his desperation. Having come to this
poor Jew who earned his living as a conclusion the happy wagon driver looked
baal agallah (owner of a horse and for a way of expressing his gratitude to the
cart for carting purposes). He had Almighty, but the poor man knew not a
a wife and several children and he Hebrew word, nor could he say any prayers.
barely managed to earn enough to He racked his simple brain for the best way
make ends meet. And now, a terrible of thanksgiving.
calamity had be fallen him. His horse,
“Suddenly his face lit up. He took his
without which he could do nothing,
whip and lashed it into the air with all his
had suddenly collapsed in the forest
might, crying out with all his being: ‘Dear
not far from the inn, and just lay there
Father in Heaven, I love you very much!
and so, although I am a poor man and unable to get up.
What can I do to convince you of my love
could normally not afford to buy an etrog “I could not bear to see the man’s despair
for you? Let me crack my whip for you as
according to my desire, my young wife, who and tried to encourage him, by telling him
a sign that I love you!’ Saying which, the
agrees with me as to its importance, helps that he must not forget that there is a G-d
wagon driver cracked his whip into the air
me by hiring herself out as cook. Thus she above us who could help him in his trouble,
three times.
is independent of any financial help from however serious it seemed to him.
me, and I can use my own earnings for spiri- “ ‘I’ll sell you another horse for fifty gulden, “On the eve of Yom Kippur, the Almighty
tual matters. I am employed as melamed although I assure you he is worth at least up above was seated on His ‘Seat of judg(teacher) in the village of Yanev, which is eighty, but just to help you out in your ment,’ listening to the first prayers of the
not far from my native town. One half of difficulty!’ “ The inn-keeper was saying to Day of Atonement.
my earnings I use for our needs and with the wagon driver.
“Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, who
the other half I buy an etrog in Lemberg. “ ‘I haven’t even fifty cents, and he tells me was acting as the Counsel for Defense on
But in order not to spend any money on I can buy a horse for fifty gulden!’ the man behalf of his fellow Jews, was pushing a
the journey I usually go on foot.
said bitterly.
wagon full of Jewish mitzvot to the Gates
“I felt I could not keep the money I had of Heaven, when Satan appeared and
“This year, during the Ten Days of Repenwith me for an etrog when here was a obstructed his path with piles of Jewish
tance, I was making my way on foot as
man in such desperate plight that his sins, so that Rabbi Levi Yitzchak just got
usual, with fifty gulden in my purse with
very life and that of his family depended stuck there. My brother Rabbi Zusha and
which to buy an etrog, when on the road
upon his getting a horse. So I said to the I added our strength to help him move his
to Lemberg I passed through a forest and
wagon forward, but all in vain; even our
inn-keeper:
stopped at a wayside inn to have a rest.
“’Tell me what is the lowest price you would combined efforts proved fruitless.
It was time for ‘minchah’ so I stood in a
take for your horse?’
corner and davened minchah.
“Suddenly there came the sound of the
“The inn-keeper turned to me in surprise. If
cracking of a whip which rent the air,
“I was in the middle of my prayers when you pay me on the spot, I will take forty-five
causing a blinding ray of light to appear,
I heard a terrible sound of moaning and gulden, but absolutely not a cent less. I am
lighting up the whole universe, right up
groaning, as of one in great anguish. I selling my horse at a loss as it is!’
to the very heavens! There we saw the
“I immediately took out my purse and
angels and all the righteous seated in a
banded him forty-five gulden, the wagon
circle, singing G-d’s praise. On hearing
driver looking on, his eyes nearly bulging
the wagon driver’s words as he cracked his
out of their sockets in astonishment. He
women and girls.
whip in ecstasy, they responded: ‘Happy
was just speechless with relief, and his joy
is the King who is thus praised!’
My mother had a very strong confidence was absolutely indescribable.
in our youth, she would always encour- “’Now you see that the Almighty can help “All at once, the Angel Michael appeared,
age me to give a student another chance, you, even when the situation appears to you leading a horse, followed by the wagon
look at the situation again, because she to be entirely hopeless!’ I said to him as he driver with whip in hand.
believed our youth could do it.
hurried off with the innkeeper to harness
“The Angel Michael harnessed this horse
the newly-bought horse to his forsaken cart
We can put all our Kochos and enthuto the wagon of mitzvot, and the wagon
tied to the stricken horse in the forest.
siasm and take our community back.
driver cracked his whip. Suddenly the
“As soon as they went off, I hurriedly got
If this is Kahn Zivah Hashem es
wagon gave a lurch forward, flattening the
my few things together and disappeared,
HaBrocho, then it is up to us to make
piles of sins that had been obstructing the
as I did not want to be embarrassed by the
way, and drove it smoothly and easily right
it a beacon of light and recapture our
thanks of the grateful wagon driver.
up to the Throne of Honor. There the King
neighborhood.
“I eventually reached Lemberg with the
of Kings received it most graciously and,
remaining five gulden in my pocket,
We can do it and we shall do it!
rising from the Seat of judgment, went over
and naturally had to content myself
Ladies there are copies of the Rebbe's
and seated Himself on the Seat of Mercy.
with buying a very ordinary looking but
letter and a diagram of the Tznius
A happy New Year was assured.”
kosher etrog. Usually my etrog is the best
guidelines on your chairs, do not leave
in Yanev, and everyone used to come and “And now dear Rabbi Uri” concluded Rabbi
them here, take them with you!
make a blessing over it , but this year I Elimelech, “you see that all this came about
Mrs. S. Tachtel's summarized her plea was ashamed to return home with such a through your noble action. Go home, and
for Tznius in our Sh'chuna for the CH poor-looking specimen, so my wife agreed be a leader in Israel! For you have proved
Newspaper after her speech at Vov TIshrei that I could come here to Lizensk, where your worthiness, and you shall carry with
Neshei U'bnos Chabad Gathering in nobody knew me.”
you the approval of the Heavenly Court.
honor of her mother Rebbetzin Sima
But before you go, permit me to hold this
“But my dear Rabbi Uri,” cried out Rabbi
Chasia bas Reb Yitzchak.
wonderful etrog of yours, and praise G-d
Elimelech, now that the former had
with it.”
Mrs Tachtel's Plea for Tznius
From our earliest childhood when my
mother would take us to see the Rebbetzin Chana she would point out to us
how she was our Royalty, our Malka.
When I was 9 my mother took us to the
convention in Manhattan so we should
see Rebbetzin Chana. She is part of our
community and we have her spiritual
DNA in all of us, we are all the Rebbe's
kinder.
If we truly believe that we are connected
to Rebbetzin Chana we can make a
change in our neighborhood, we can
increase our Tznius observance.
Every person sitting in this room can
read the Rebbe's letter where the Rebbe
writes "Mahir" urgent.
The Rebbe was involved in many
and varied important matters and
he was very careful with the words
he used. If the Rebbe used the word
Mahir in this context it tells us the
urgency and importance of the inyan
of our Tznius, as princesses as Jewish
Year of Hakhel…
Welcoming the World to Crown Heights – Kaan Tziva Ha-shem es HaBrocha…
Visitors from 39 countries in The kindness and hospitality was a
the last six months!
wonderful breath of fresh air in NYC.
The bakery and the mikvah were amazBy Ben Yehuda
ing. I highly recommend people of all
For 25 years, a local Chabad organiza- faiths visit for a mystic understanding
tion has been quietly and consistently of their Jewish roots in action.”
bringing thousands of guests from all
We thoroughly enjoyed the time we
walks of life to visit the Rebbe’s comspent with Rabbi Epstein who shared
munity. Through a three to four hour
so much of his wisdom and experience
daily guided tour of Crown Heights, the
with us to enrich our Jewish education
Chassidic Discovery Welcome Center
and spiritual path. We felt more
connected to our Jewish souls
after this wonderful, one of a kind
experience. Many thanks to the
Rabbi.”
“Jewish U.S. Navy cadets in 770, one of hundreds
of Jewish groups that visit, as well as public and
private schools, colleges and universities, etc.”
provides a meaningful and inspiring
introduction to Chassidic and Jewish
life. This mosad, one of the best kept
secrets within Crown Heights, has
received international acclaim for its
innovative programming and educational expertise, and has been featured
in various national and international
media, including ABC Niteline, CNN
News – TV Asahi Japan, the NY Times,
National Public Radio, etc.
As we begin the Hakhel Year, Anash
are invited to share this educational
experience with others so that they
too can experience the warmth and
brotherhood of Chassidic Life.
Some recent written feedback…
“This was the highlight of my trip to
NYC! I felt like a visiting dignitary.
This week we continue with the Yahrzeiten of people who lived in our shechuna.
We are also including the Yahrzeiten of Shluchim. In mentioning them we
come to “v’Hachai yiten el Libo”. We learn lessons from their lives, that we can
incorporate into our own. This column includes the Yahrzeiten from the 10th of
Tishrei through the 16th of Tishrei. The respective resting places of the individuals
noted in this column are near the holy Ohel, unless otherwise specified.
Rebbe and the entire shul.
16th of Tishrei
Hachossid Reb
Shmaryohu
Gurary
The son of Hachossid Reb Noson, he
was born in Kremenshug and later
moved to Israel.
Every year, Reb Shmaryohu would
visit the Rebbe during Tishrei and for
a large sum of money would purchase
the Mitzva of opening the Aron Kodesh
at Kol Nidrei and handing the Sefer
Torah to the Rebbe. He was nifter in
5745/1984, moments before he reached
the Aron Kodesh, in the presence of the
the spirituality and charm of Crown
Heights to an ever increasing worldwide audience. Thousands of dollars are
spent annually to promote the tours on
the internet and distribute brochures in
hotels and attractions throughout the
city, and to provide this tour experience
“Extremely Interesting. A fascinating
(by Anash) in English, Yiddish, Hebrew,
peek into a Brooklyn the average tourRussian, French, Spanish, Portuguese,
ist doesn’t see. Our tour guides were
Italian, German and Japanese.
warm, gracious and, of course, very
There is so much more that can
be accomplished. Please share
this amazing experience with your
friends, mekuravim, business associates, simcha guests, etc.
“Great experience and very informative! I would highly recommend
this tour. From the moment I got
off the subway, I felt I was in a
different world. It was very interesting being part of a somewhat
“closed society”. All questions were “Thousands of Jewish teens put on tephillin for the
first time in their lives”
answered honestly… Our tour guide
knowledgeable regarding the subject
was kind, informative, and helpful. I
matter. No question asked by the tour
gained a whole new respect for a group
group seemed to faze them.”
of people who are extremely devoted
to their beliefs. Our tour guide took “A really interesting and eye-opening
all the time needed at all our stops so tour… It’s like visiting a living museum.
I could really take in all the sights and The tour guides give you great insight
information. It was great that we could into the community. The kosher lunch,
also take pictures of everything.”
which was included in the price, was
also really great. I highly recommend
“Interesting and informative. The
it.”
leaders of the group were excellent.
They provided a lot of information, and These are just a few of the personal
were willing to answer any question, no impressions that reflect the deep impact
matter how simplistic. My husband and that has become an almost daily occurI, even though we are Jewish, learned rence on these tours. This unique
combination of sights, sounds and
much from the interchanges.”
experiences provide visitors with a total
“Great experience. Joining the tour,
emersion in Jewish Chassidic Life.
I learned a lot about the community.
It is always nice to know about other The nominal fee for the tour and taxpeople not just through reading books deductible contributions of those who
or searching internet but through talk- support its work enable the Chassidic
ing face to face… I think it was a really Discovery Welcome Center to share
Tishrei Yahrzeiten
Men
10th of Tishrei
precious experience for me. Our guides
were so sincere and at the same time
friendly, which I was deeply impressed.
I appreciate their efforts to introduce
their way of life and philosophy to
outsiders. Thank you so much.”
How? Send them a brochure, or a
link to www.jewishtours.com to
watch an introductory video. Brochures are available in local stores, or
at the Chassidic Discovery Welcome
Center’s office by the Tzach / Levi
Yitzchak library. You can also send
your email address to subscribe@
jewishtours.com and receive a photo
and quote of the week which you can
forward to others as well.
The Board and Officers of the Chassidic
Discovery Center would like to thank
Rabbi Beryl Epstein and our dedicated
staff and guides, our contributors, and
the institutions that make themselves
available for the tour on a daily basis:
Lubavitch Youth Organization – Levi
Yitzchok Library (Rabbi Shlomo Friedman and Rabbi Kasriel Kastel), Library
of Agudas Chasidei Chabad (Rabbi
Beryl Levine), Crown Heights Mikvah
(Mrs. Rozzi Malamud and Mrs. Cyrel
Deitsch), Crown Heights Matzo Bakery
(Rabbi Yitzchak Tenenbaum), HaSofer
(Rabbi Moshe Klein), Oraita (Rabbi
Gad Sebag), Chassidic Art Institute (Zev
Markowitz), and Muchnick Arts (Michoel
Muchnik).
and especially during the Simchas
should email the name, father’s name, date
Bais Hashoeva dancing. He merited
of the ptira and some details to chp5768@
that the Rebbe referred to him as “My
gmail.com. A picture may be included.
Partisan”. On the 2nd night of Yom Tov
of 5747/1986, he left the Simchas Bais
HaShoeva dancing on Kingston Avenue
and went to 770, where he was nifter a
short time later in the Suka.
Women
Chana Kolodny
The daughter of, may he live and be well,
Hachossid Reb
Hachossid Reb Yosef, she was a true Bas
Chaim Zusia
Chabad who and was active in Achos
Wilmovsky
Tmimim and the Friendship Circle, and
The son of Reb Yosef was beloved by children. She was nifter
Yitzchok, Reb Zushe at the age of 17 (Toiv) in Yerusholayim
served as a partisan in 5767/2006 and her resting place is
in Russia during on Har Hamnuchos.
WWII fighting the Nazis. He later
We should speedily witness “The ones who
settled in Israel where he was involved
dwell in the dust will awaken and rejoice”
in various missions and activities for the
with all the above mentioned individuals
Rebbe, some of which were concealed,
amongst them.
spreading Chassidus and reporting to
the Rebbe on the numerous Chabad Dear Readers:
mosdos in Israel. He would arrive for
Anyone who would like to have their
Tishrei during and would energize the
relatives mentioned in the yahrzeit column
community with the joy of Yom Tov

the rebbe`s own united nations

Transcription

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