Professional Documents
Culture Documents
959
959
00 Part 2 of 2
THE KEY:
CONNECTING
TO THE REBBE
BASI LGANI 5715
FINAL INSTALMENT
THE REBBE IS
NOT ALONE
AND CHASSIDIM
ARE NOT ALONE
YUD SHVAT
MOSHIACH: THE
STRAIGHT PATH
TO HISKASHRUS
INTERVIEW WITH
RABBI GERSHON
AVTZON AND RABBI
SENDER WILSCHANSKY
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CONTENTS
6
FEATURED ARTICLES
WEEKLY COLUMNS
3 Dvar Malchus
5 Moshiach & Geula
31 Parsha Thought
50 Tzivos Hashem
THE
14 MOSHIACH
DERECH HAYESHARA
TO HISKASHRUS
Yisroel Lapidot
20
REBBE IS NOT
24 THE
ALONE AND HASSIDIM
ARE NOT ALONE
STARTS
34 CHINUCH
AT HOME
R Nachman Twersky
AMAZING
41 THE
PRINTING PLATES
Chaim Brook
DEFINITION OF
44 THE
TRUE EDUCATIONAL
19
744 Eastern Parkway
Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409
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SUCCESS
Zalman Tzarfati
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:
M.M. Hendel
HEBREW EDITOR:
Rabbi S.Y. Chazan
editorH@beismoshiach.org
ENGLISH EDITOR:
Boruch Merkur
editor@beismoshiach.org
2015-01-27 9:26:50 AM
DVAR MALCHUS
BASI LGANI
5715
The leaders of the Jewish people connect the
generation with the very essence and being of G-d,
as it is said, I stand between G-d and youto tell
you the word of G-d. Here the leader of the general
serves as a connecting intermediary, bonding the
Jewish people with G-d. Thus, through connecting to the leader, the nasi,
one establishes a dwelling place for G-d in this physical world. * Beis
Moshiach presents the maamer the Rebbe MHM delivered on Yud Shvat
5715, in accordance with the custom established by the Rebbe to review
each year a section of the Rebbe Rayatzs maamer Basi LGani of 5710.
This year we focus on the fifth section of the profound and foundational
chassidic discourse. Part 6 of 6
Translated by Boruch Merkur
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Dvar Malchus
not have the authority to say wait for me until I
have made an accounting and until I can provide
a will and testament to my household, etc. How
then is it possible for one to forsake his own soul
for that which is vacuos, devoid of substance,
things that have no value at all? Irrespective of their
irrelevance, these triflings are granted permanent
fixed times, whereas scheduled times for Torah and
Mitzvos, which are of supreme importance, are
neglected and postponed, diminished and outright
discarded.
In recognizing this massive error, one must
summon within himself the discipline to redirect
and refocus the energy he had invested in unholy
activities and dedicate it towards holiness. Instead
he should be devoted to maintaining times for
Torah study and times for prayer, and to fulfilling
Mitzvos bhiddur, doing Mitzvos in the finest
possible manner.
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MOSHIACH
& GEULA
By Rabbi Gershon Avtzon
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INTERVIEW
YOU ARE MY
SPIRITUAL
CHILDREN
R Leibel Posner, one of the ziknei Anash in Crown
Heights, was one of the first talmidim in the
younger division of Tomchei Tmimim
in the United States in 5701. He was
one of the first shluchim of the Rebbe
Rayatz under the auspices of Merkos
Shlichus, and received a shlichus
from the Rebbe MHM in 5710. * He
relates his memories of the early
years of Lubavitch in the
United States. * Presented
for Yud Shvat.
By Yaron Tzvi
Photos by Michoel Hillel
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Interview
manner as though he was seeing
it right then.
AMERICA IS NOT
DIFFERENT!
As soon as the Rebbe Rayatz
arrived in America on 9 Adar
II 5700, he held a meeting
and announced the founding
of Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim
Lubavitch in America.
In those days we lived in
Chicago and I was 11 years old,
but my older brother Zalman,
who was already bar mitzva, was
sent to New York to yeshiva. He
was one of those who welcomed
the Rebbe. I myself went to
New York only at the beginning
of 5701, and I had yechidus
with the Rebbe Rayatz. The
Rebbes secretary, R Eliyahu
Yochil Simpson, took me and my
brother and went into yechidus
with us. R Simpson told the
Rebbe that we were the sons of
R Sholom Posner and the Rebbe
blessed us.
During that year, the Rebbe
decided to open a yeshiva in 770
for young boys, and I was one of
the first talmidim in this yeshiva.
Back then, our class was in
a room that later served as the
secretaries office, and the zal
was used for the older talmidim.
Today, it is called the small
zal, relative to the large zal
downstairs, but back then, it was
just the zal. There was no other
one. And R Leibel showed me
pictures of 770 from back then to
show what he meant.
On
holidays
and
at
farbrengens, when we needed
more room, they would open the
passageway between the small
zal and the Merkos LInyanei
Chinuch and the room was a
little bigger. The room adjacent
to the small zal that is now called
the Cheider Sheini served as
SUDDEN YECHIDUS ON
MOTZAEI SHABBOS
For Pesach, said R Leibel,
I was supposed to go home to
Chicago. Since my bar mitzva
celebration was on 11 Nissan, I
wanted to have yechidus along
with my brother before we left for
Chicago. In those days, yechidus
took place three times a week,
on Sunday night, Tuesday night,
and Thursday night. Since we
had to leave by bus on Sunday
afternoon, we were given an
appointment for yechidus for
Thursday night.
At ten oclock at night, R
Simpson said that since it was
late and the Rebbe was tired,
we would have yechidus at the
next opportunity. We told him
that we were leaving on Sunday
afternoon and could not have
yechidus that night. He said that
if so, we would have yechidus on
Motzaei Shabbos.
It was Motzaei Shabbos
and R Simpson, who lived in
Boro Park, had not yet appeared.
We called him and asked what
we should do. He said to go
to R Shmuel Levitin. We went
to R Levitin and told him the
situation, and he referred us to
R Chaim Lieberman, the Rebbes
secretary.
We went to his office and
knocked on the door and told
him the situation. He said, Wait
a minute outside the office. I
have no idea who he spoke to as
we waited outside, but when we
came back in he said, Go up to
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Interview
was the first shlichus of its kind,
R Leibel considers the yechidus
a fundamental one with the
instructions given then apropos
for all shlichus and for all times.
By way of preparation for
this shlichus, the Rebbe told me
the following words: You need to
see the good qualities in others,
but not cover over the negative
qualities. Chassidim say that
in the Torah there are different
kinds of letters, big and small.
You need to see the good qualities
with big letters and the negative
qualities with small letters.
I understood from this
that we need to emphasize the
good qualities; not to ignore the
negative qualities, but the main
thing is the good qualities in
other people.
DURING THE
TRANSITION PERIOD
For me, it wasnt kabbalas
hanesius on 11 Shvat 5711, for
I had accepted the Rebbes nesius
earlier. I had decided that the
Rebbe is the nasi and that was
it. I had no questions about it. I
simply decided and that is how
I conducted myself toward the
Rebbe.
During the year of mourning
for the Rebbe Rayatz, in the
summer of 5710, R Chadakov
called me and said he had a
shlichus for me from Ramash,
to go to California to spread
Judaism. At that time, I had other
plans. I was in Pittsburgh looking
for a job as a shochet, but when
the Rebbe says something, you
dont ask questions and it was
obvious to me that he was the
Rebbe.
The Rebbe wanted me to
be there for Chai Elul. I had
yechidus before the shlichus,
before Chai Elul. At that
yechidus, the Rebbe gave me a
booklet to give out in California
and I hinted that I wanted to be a
shliach mitzva in the hopes that I
would get a bill or coin from the
Rebbe for tzdaka.
The Rebbe smiled and said,
What shlichus mitzva is greater
than giving out a kuntres of the
Rebbe? Then he smiled again;
since he understood what I
meant, he took out three coins
from his pocket, a dime and two
nickels and gave them to me.
I immediately asked whether I
could exchange them and give
other money in their place to
tzdaka and keep the coins the
Rebbe gave me. The Rebbe
smiled and said, Yes, but not
less.
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Interview
his passing.
At this time, R Leibel was
in California, but like many of
Anash he yearned to be at the
event of kabbalas hanesius.
It was a historic occasion and
everyone wanted to be there.
On the one hand there was
the shlichus in California; on the
other hand, the yearning to be
with the Rebbe on such a special
occasion. R Leibel decided to ask
the Rebbe whether he could be
there. The answer was negative
and emphasized that he should
remain on shlichus and farbreng
there on Yud Shvat. R Leibel was
disappointed and looked for a
way to be able to go anyway.
Since it was close to his
wedding which was planned for
Adar, R Leibel found a tactic to
use the wedding in a Chassidishe
way and he wrote to the Rebbe
that since he was getting married
in Adar, he had to see the tailor
to have a garment prepared
for the wedding, a process that
could take time. He asked for
permission to go to Crown
Heights already. The answer was:
The tailor will work quickly and
vww c
Anywhere, Anytime !
CHITAS
INYONEI GEULA
& MOSHIACH
RAMBAM
SHIURIM IN LIKUTEI
SICHOS KODESH
,ww,j
jhanu vkutd hbhbg
owwcnr
hyuekc ohrugha
asue ,ujha
WWW.770LIVE.COM
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SHLICHUS
ANASH-SHLICHUS
Name: Elad Goldman
Age: 28
Married with one child
Location: Netanya
Occupation: Sports director for
children and youth
By Zalman Tzorfati
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HISKASHRUS
MOSHIACH
THE DERECH
HAYESHARA
TO HISKASHRUS
They grew up in old-time Lubavitcher families
and were raised on Geula and Moshiach from
childhood. The ability to explain things, along
with their fascinating lectures, were known already
in their youth, and at a relatively young age they
displayed superlative talent in their
lifes work raising the next generation
of Chabad. * In this joint interview, R
Gershon Avtzon of Cincinnati and R
Sender Wilschansky of Milan, discuss the
integration of the pleasantness and appeal
that is characteristic of Chabad along
with unyielding firmness, the inner source
for a lack of involvement in publicizing
the Besuras HaGeula, and their common
chinuch approach: no to compromise and
yes to principles.
R Gershon Avtzon: Principal of the
Lubavitch yeshiva in Cincinnati. At 18
he ran a summer camp in a number of
European countries. He authored a book
of essays on inyanei Moshiach and Geula.
A well-known educator and lecturer.
R Sender Wilschansky: Principal
By Yisroel Lapidot
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As to my question about
those who are involved in other
horaos of the Rebbe and not the
Besuras HaGeula, R Avtzon
reacted strongly. Nobody has
the privilege of avoiding it or of
saying that he is occupied doing
other horaos of the Rebbe aside
from publicizing the Besuras
HaGeula. As the Rebbe says
unequivocally, Moshiach is the
gateway. So anyone who thinks
that this is not for him, aside from
this being absurd since kabbalas
pnei Moshiach is the purpose of
all the mivtzaim, would anyone
FIRMNESS AND
PLEASANTNESS NOT A
CONTRADICTION
R Avtzon: I heard this story
from R Yitzchok Meir Lipszyc,
shliach in Simferopol in Crimea,
Ukraine, who has been a shliach
of the Rebbe in many places.
While he was on shlichus in
Detroit, the mashpia, R Mendel
Futerfas came to him and
said: How about moving to do
shlichus in Alabama where there
is no Chabad house yet?
R Lipszyc rejected the idea
saying: I am on shlichus here!
After a four hour conversation,
R Mendel said to him: I see that
I cannot convince you, so I will
tell you the truth. This is coming
straight from the Rebbe!
Upon hearing that, R
Lipszyc left Detroit that very
week and moved to Alabama.
Upon arriving there, he had
to fight with many people and
until he made any headway
he had to go through many
hardships. When he finally
settled in peacefully, a new
horaa came from the Rebbe
for him to move on.
As a loyal Chassid, he did
what the Rebbe told him to do,
but when he went to New York
he asked the secretary why,
after he finally settled into his
place of shlichus, was he being
moved elsewhere? The answer
he got from R Chadakov
was: A person who breaks
things cant be successful. You
prepared the groundwork and
now, someone else needs to
come to grow the wheat. Its
like an army that conquers a
city and wreaks destruction
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Hiskashrus
and afterward, their architects
and contractors come and build
the city.
This story is definitely
unusual, but the Rebbe certainly
demands of a shliach to work on
both fronts simultaneously to
be both firm and pleasant.
At first glance it seems as
though these two approaches
are mutually exclusive. R
Wilschansky addresses this:
The thought that these
two things are contradictory is
mistaken, since there are two
things here that are essentially
different. Darkei noam, ways that
are pleasant, is the way to convey
the message, while the tokef
firmness relates to the level of the
persons resolve.
To explain, let us use an
example. A Chabad askan meets
with the Education Minister in
order to be able to start a Chabad
school somewhere. On the one
hand, in speaking to the minister
he needs to be respectful and
present things well and in the
most convincing manner possible.
On the other hand, he has to be
sure to convey that this isnt just
any proposal but something that
must be done, since the need for
Jewish education demands it.
That
means
that
the
message that will be conveyed
to the minister will be that this is
something he has the privilege of
carrying out, and its definitely
not optional.
You dont need to go as far
as meetings with government
officials.
According
to
R
Wilschansky, Any bachur who
goes on mivtza tfillin needs to
use both darkei noam as well
as the requisite firmness. The
suggestion that the person put
on tfillin needs to be done
pleasantly, of course. But what
needs to get across is that this is
a must, not just a nice idea.
CHABAD IS A MOVEMENT
OF CHANGE
There is an expression, We
may not agree but we can be
tolerant. R Avtzon says, Many
of my classmates and those my
age work in shlichus positions.
We often discuss it. In general,
the conversations can be divided
into two ways of thinking and
outlooks which illustrate the
differences in approach.
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way?
The shliach, who had not
expected a conversation with the
Rebbe, suddenly found himself
in a yechidus and was overcome
by emotion. He could barely utter
a word. The Rebbe said to him:
You must work in a pnimiusdike
way! Then the Rebbe took out a
handful of coins from his pocket
and gave them to the shliach
while giving him a bracha for
success in his shlichus.
To put it another way, the
real Chabad approach that the
Rebbe taught us is not that we
accept and make peace with the
Jews present state. With a sober
WANTED: RESOLVE IN
CONVEYING THE MESSAGE
The truth is what makes
speaking firmly a must, says
R Wilschansky. Something
that is true, which does not
tolerate compromise, has to be
said firmly. Why? First, when
the firmness isnt there, there
is a high likelihood that it wont
happen the way it should. After
all, a suggestion is not binding
and is much more likely to be
negated.
But here we are talking
about something far deeper.
When things arent said firmly,
the entire message, even if
its accepted, is not received
accurately since it was accepted
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Hiskashrus
end up hurting us.
Everyone,
especially
a
shliach of the Rebbe, must be
strong. We need to explain simply
and clearly that we are Orthodox
Jews and the Orthodox have
rules. People will accept it and
respect those who stand on their
principles.
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Hiskashrus
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Hiskashrus
UNSUCCESSFUL CHINUCH?
NOT CHABAD
Time is short and we want
to hear about the thing which is
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MOSHIACH ELECTRIFIES
THE KIDS
R Avtzon:
In the maamer Basi LGani,
the Rebbe demands that we bring
Moshiach. Already in the first
maamer, the Rebbe begins by
cultivating the sense of how we
as Chassidim are outstanding in
relation to the rest of the world,
something lacking in todays
chinuch. Generally speaking,
there are progressively higher
levels in Jewish character: not
religious, religious, Chassidic,
Chabad.
These
levels
are
progressively more demanding.
A
person
might
ask,
why should I be at the most
demanding level? Why live
such a hard life? It is only if he
understands that this is the most
important of all, and that this
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YUD SHVAT
THE REBBE IS
NOT ALONE
AND CHASSIDIM
ARE NOT ALONE
To mark the special day of Yud Shvat, Dov Levanon
presents a compilation of stories about the relationship
between the Rebbe MHM and the Tmimim, unusual
expressions about hiskashrus to the nasi, and the
Chassidic conduct expected of the seventh generation.
TMIMIM
WHAT IS LACHLUCHIS?
The Rebbe once told R Abba Pliskin
to tell the Tmimim alte chassidishe
masiyos (old Chassidic tales), saying:
This is Chassidishe lachluchis (lit.
moisture or juiciness).
THE SHORTEST
YECHIDUS EVER
One of the bachurim who went to
learn in 770 had a private audience
with the Rebbe as soon as he arrived.
Did you see the note on the wall, the
schedule of the yeshiva? asked the
Rebbe. And the yechidus was over.
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Yud Shvat
gazed at him and asked, Where
is your coat?
In the car, blurted the
bachur, a second later biting his
lips. Why did he tell the Rebbe he
has a license?
A coat was not made to
warm a car, said the Rebbe, and
he continued walking toward
the car that was waiting for him.
Needless to say, throughout that
winter, the bachur was no longer
late and he did not go outside
without a coat.
AN EXPLICIT RAMBAM
In the early years, there was
a bachur in 770 who stayed late
at night in order to see the Rebbe
leave for home. The Rebbe once
came out and saw him. What
are you doing here?! You need
to sleep eight hours! You dont
believe me? It says so in the
Rambam, Ill show it to you.
The Rebbe went to find a
Rambam but the bachur did not
wait for it to be shown to him
and left immediately.
NOT ON MY ACCOUNT
After one of the farbrengens
in which the Rebbe spoke about
mivtzaim, some bachurim in 770
decided that that week would be
devoted to mivtzaim. On Motzaei
Shabbos they told the hanhala of
the yeshiva about their decision.
The next day some tanks were
parked near 770 and they waited
for the Rebbes encouragement
before they set out. To their
disappointment,
the
Rebbe
passed by the tanks as though he
didnt see them.
The same thing happened on
Tuesday and Wednesday. The
Rebbe ignored the tanks and
the bachurim. On Tuesday, the
Rebbe asked R Leibel Groner
what they were doing there. R
Groner told the Rebbe about
HISKASHRUS
HOW TO FOLLOW
THE REBBE
Once in 5738, when the
Rebbe returned from the Ohel
and saw some people waiting
for him, he said, What are they
doing here? to Dr. Reznick.
They
should
follow
me
spiritually, not physically!
IRREPLACEABLE
R J. J. Hecht once wanted to
replace the lamp in the Rebbes
room. I got it from my fatherin-law, how can I replace it?
said the Rebbe.
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A NEW THILLIM
When they began saying perek
71 on 11 Nissan 5732/1972, R
Yaakov Katz asked the Rebbe
why it says, may the righteous
flourish in his days and not our
days?
The Rebbe said, Dont tell
the bachurim. They will reprint
the Thillim ...
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Yud Shvat
had yechidus and he asked
the Rebbe to go back to doing
things the way they were done in
Lubavitch, when chozrim would
review the maamer in the Rebbes
room, the Rebbe said, The half
hour I have for myself you also
want to take away?
On the other hand, the
Rebbe once asked a woman why
her husband did not ask him
questions regarding parnasa. The
woman said that her husband did
not want to take up the Rebbes
time. The Rebbe said, Thats
why Im here.
AN ENTIRE YEAR
R Shlomo Yosef Zevin
related, A person I knew had a
hard time finding a match for his
daughter. I advised him to go to
the Rebbe for a bracha. The man
decided to go to the Rebbe for
Simchas Torah.
I told him that in order to
successfully reach the Rebbe
despite the tremendous crowding
he should say he has a shlichus
CHASSIDIC
CONDUCT
THERE GOES A CHASSID
When R Saadia Liberow
went to the Rebbe, he walked
on Eastern Parkway with his
eyes cast downward. The Rebbe,
leaving 770, saw him and said to
the bachurim who were standing
around, See how a Chassidishe
Yid walks.
IMMEDIATE RECOVERY
R Elimelech Neiman, a
Gerrer askan, passed by the
Rebbe when dollars were given
out to Tankistin. He asked for a
bracha for a refua shleima for the
Lev Simcha, R Simcha Bunim
Alter, the Gerrer Rebbe. (6 April
1898 6 August 1992). The
Rebbe said, May it be a refua
shleima lalter (a play on words
with alter meaning immediate
and also being the Gerrer Rebbes
name).
A RAY OF THE
SUN VERSUS THE SUN
In 5710, R Moshe Twersky
told the Rebbe that he had
found a manuscript from his
grandfather, the Horensteipler,
which was in the manner of
Chabad, and that Kehos should
publish it.
The Rebbe said, Why do we
need according to Chabad when
we can have Chabad itself?
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MY MELAMED
At one of the farbrengens in
the early years, the Rebbe poured
a cup of non-alcoholic beverage
for R Shneur Zalman Vilenkin
who had been his melamed. Then
the Rebbe turned in order to give
him the cup.
Someone tried to intervene
and pass the cup so the Rebbe
wouldnt have to exert himself.
The Rebbe said, He was my
melamed, not yours, declining
the help.
WHEN TO GO
AND WHEN TO STAY
The night of Simchas Torah
5739, two Chassidim, mekuravim
ABOUT OBSERVING
MINHAGIM
Before the nesius, the Rebbe
would bring mezonos to the
sukka so that someone who said
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Yud Shvat
the bracha on the lulav could eat
immediately afterwards. When R
Shmuel Levitin pointed out that
it wasnt necessary for the eating
before davening to be done
publicly, the Rebbe said, There
is nothing to be ashamed about a
Chassidishe practice.
MIRACLES IN RUSSIA
Professor Branover related:
Since I worked as a scientist
in Russia, they refused to let
me out. Following the few days
I spent in jail as a result of my
request to leave, I decided to
contact the Rebbe and ask for
a bracha. Anash, who heard
the idea, tried to dissuade me
and said I would not be able to
contact America and they would
arrest me.
I decided I would try
regardless. I went to the local
post office and asked to make
a call to New York. Within ten
minutes, the height of speed in
those days, I was able to speak
to build a neighborhood in
Yerushalayim
for
Russian
immigrants, there were a number
of places that were suggested. I
decided to go to the Rebbe and
ask his advice.
When I had yechidus and
began enumerating the options, I
put my hand in my pocket in order
to take out a map of the city I had
prepared. The Rebbe motioned
that this was unnecessary and
began explaining to me without
any visual reference, If the
neighborhood will be here, when
a person will go to a convention
at Binyanei HaUma, he will
have to go via that street and it
will take him x amount of time.
If the neighborhood is located
there, when a woman goes to the
grocery store, it will take her x
amount of time.
To my astonishment, the
Rebbe, who had never been in
Yerushalayim, showed me that he
knew the city better than me and
the map together.
Express service
Fully Computerized
331 Kingston Ave.
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30 10 Shvat 5775
PARSHA THOUGHT
TWO
MODELS
OF ANTISEMITISM
By Rabbi Heschel Greenberg
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Parsha Thought
retrieve the wealth they took from
the Egyptians. In other words,
Pharaohs behavior was not
irrational and was not motivated
by hatred but by greed and the
need to convince his subjects to
follow him in the pursuit of the
fleeing Jews.
The question can be raised:
While this explains Rashis
approach, what can we say with
respect to the Midrash? Why
does it impute the motive of
hatred to Pharaoh and compare
him to Bilam? Wasnt Pharaoh
motivated by greed and Bilam by
hatred?
TWO DIMENSIONS OF
HATRED
The answer to this question
seems to hinge on the different
approaches of Rashi and the
Midrash which are reflected
in the way they view the text of
the Torah and, by extension, the
way we are to understand and
interpret peoples motives.
Rashi follows the dimension
of
pshat,
the
simple,
straightforward
and
surface
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ABRAHAMS LEGACY
The answer is provided in a
better understanding of Rashis
comments. Rashi cited G-ds
response to Bilam that Abraham
had preceded him with the
unconventional saddling of his
own donkey. The Rebbe (in the
foregoing
citation)
suggests
that Abrahams unconventional
devotion to G-d not only
neutralized the hatred of Bilam,
but also empowered us to
transform the curses of Bilam
into blessings.
How can we apply the
transformation of Bilams curses
into blessings insofar as this
hatred is concerned?
The Rebbe explains that
Judaism encompasses two areas
of service to G-d: doing good
and refraining from evil. Love
www.MoshiachForKids.com
Check it out!! Educational and Fun!!
Issue 959
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CHINUCH
CHINUCH
STARTS
AT HOME
How can we get children to feel secure at home?
What ingenious solution did the Rebbe advise
a woman who wanted to bring her angry son
back home? Why does the key to success lie in
the Shabbos meals? How do the children feel
when their father is tired at the Shabbos table?
* A practical article on chinuch, part 1 of 2, by
R Nachman Twersky, a longtime mechanech in
Crown Heights, based on a speech.
34 10 Shvat 5775
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too.
Since then we dont have
that simplicity anymore of ask
your father, that if a father says
something, thats reason enough
to do it. Today, every child thinks
for himself.
So we must find ways of
getting into the head of a child
and understanding how he
understands the world and how
he sees the world. If we dont
speak his language, the child
wont be receptive. Children
nowadays dont have the bittul
they once had, that if a father says
something its sacred, and if a rav
says something its sacrosanct.
Nowadays, we must invest
thought in the proper approach
to the child and we need to be
careful with every word so as
not to miss the opportunity of
reaching his heart and mind.
Divine
Providence,
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Chinuch
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already.
The Rebbe answered her
in Yiddish, Ir zolt basheinin
ayer Shabbos tzimmer (make
your Shabbos room beautiful).
The Rebbe did not elaborate or
explain.
She went home and looked
at the dining room and the first
thing she noticed was that the
curtain was a little torn. After all,
there were children in the house
and when walking into the room
you didnt see the niceness of it,
just the disarray. She ordered
beautiful new curtains. Then she
changed the dishes she used on
Shabbos.
Throughout the week she
thought about which delicious
dishes she could make for
Shabbos. She bought each child
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Chinuch
the nosh he liked best. She went
shopping, cooked, and prepared
the Shabbos meals in the finest
way.
Thursday night she set the
table with the new dishes and
matching napkins. It was all
perfect. When the children came
home, they all felt the Shabbos
atmosphere.
When her husband saw his
wifes efforts, that she prepared
for the Shabbos Queen as if for
a wedding, he also started his
Shabbos preparations. They all
looked forward to the moment
they would sit down together at
the Shabbos table.
At the Shabbos meal, the
children sat like princes and
princesses. One said a Dvar
Torah that he learned in school,
and
a
daughter
repeated
something she had learned.
The father told a story and said
something on the parsha and
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REMEMBERING THE
SHABBOS MEALS
Here is another story. In
America there is a practice of
people going to Eretz Yisroel as
part of organized groups. An
older man in his 60s-70s joined
a group from Young Israel that
went for two weeks to Eretz
Yisroel. He was a quiet person
who sat in his corner spot in shul.
The plan was for the group to be
in Yerushalayim in a hotel the first
Shabbos. Erev Shabbos they took
taxis to the Kosel, as tourists like
to do, to participate in the special
Friday night davening. The group
arranged to meet at the end of
davening at a designated spot
from where they would walk back
to their hotel together.
When they arrived at the
Kosel, they decided that unlike
every Shabbos when they
davened together in shul, this
time they would disperse among
the many minyanim in order
to get a taste of the different
customs.
After the davening, the
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Chinuch
Polish and it was easy to hide
my origins. My father arranged
papers for me that said I was the
son of the Polish neighbor. He
gave all his money to the gentile
neighbor who promised he would
take care of me until after the war
when my father could come and
take me back.
The neighbor was not afraid
that the Nazis would discover
me, because I looked like a
typical Polish child. I joined his
family, played with his children,
and they treated me well.
After the war, nobody
came back because they were
murdered. I stayed with the
neighbors. I went to school and
grew up as one of their children.
Every Sunday I went to church
with them.
One day, when I was 12,
I arrived home from school
and saw a white tablecloth and
candles on the table and did not
understand what was going on.
They said it was a holiday. Which
holiday? They explained to me
that they saved my life, but the
problem was I was Jewish. Today
the priest would come and take
me to their church to make me
like one of us, and this is why
they were celebrating.
As he told this moving story,
the man recalled that he did not
see any problem with this and he
went with them. But suddenly,
on the way, he remembered
something. His father had been a
Chassid of one of the Nadvorna
Rebbes who would sing Shabbos
Shalom UMevorach with great
passion. When his father would
return from the Rebbe, he would
sing this song on Friday night
with such fervor, before the meal
and during the meal.
On the way to church to
convert me, Heaven Forbid, I
remembered that song. I could
picture how my father was so
This
story
powerfully
illustrates the impact of the
Shabbos meal and the songs
that are sung, transmitting the
warmth of Judaism to children.
In the beginning of Tractate
Shabbos the Gemara discusses
a textual difference between the
first Mishna and how that same
statement appears in tractate
Shavuos. The expression that
the Gemara uses is to explain
the seeming discrepancy: Here,
where Shabbos is the main thing,
it mentions the Avos and the
Toldos. There, where Shabbos is
not the main thing, it mentions
the Avos but does not mention
the Toldos.
We can explain it homiletically,
that when Shabbos is the main
thing, there are the Avos/fathers
and the Toldos/children, all are
there on Shabbos. But if Shabbos
is not the main thing, then we
dont mention the Toldos, there
are no Toldos.
When Shabbos is the main
thing, shopping is done on
Wednesday and Thursday and
thought is given as to how to
make Shabbos special. Just as
we prepare for a wedding, on
Shabbos there is a wedding!
Sometimes people laugh at
the custom of adding kugels
on special Shabbasos like Rosh
Chodesh etc. However, if it is
lkavod Shabbos, whats the
problem? True, its not a maamer
Chassidus, but giving a special
feeling to a special Shabbos
generates good feelings towards
Shabbos, and not only on
special Shabbasos, because every
Shabbos is special.
It is important that already by
mid-week, parents buy nosh for
Shabbos so the children see there
is something to look forward to.
They will anticipate Shabbos,
which is a fantastic thing.
To be continued
40 10 Shvat 5775
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MIRACLE STORY
THE AMAZING
PRINTING PLATES
A businessman who asked for the printing of a Tanya received instructions
from the Rebbe to use the meticulously accurate printing plates prepared
by Rabbi Sholom Jacobson. They had been made with great toil and
effort by a printer in New Jersey, and they were placed in the cockpit
of an airliner and sent to the airport in Frankfurt, Germany. From there,
they were transferred to the Lufthansa offices in South Africa and taken
for safekeeping at a local Chabad House. A dramatic 3 a.m. phone call
brought the printing plates back to the center of attention, and ten
years after the story began, Rabbi Jacobson met the child who had been
restored to life in the merit of the Tanya printing.
By Chaim Brook
Translated by Michoel Leib Dobry
he following amazing
miracle
story,
which
concluded with its own
unique and moving brand
of the closing of a circle, was
told by Rabbi Sholom Jacobson,
member of Vaad LHafatzas
Sichos, who was placed in charge
of Tanya printings across the globe:
The chassid, R Fishel Katz,
is a well-known personality
in the diamond industry. As
part of his business activities,
he would travel to numerous
countries all over the world. As a
Chassid, he used these journeys
to spread Yiddishkait, including
the fulfillment of the Rebbes
instructions to print Tanyas in
various locations worldwide. He
had printed copies of the Tanya
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MIRACLE STORY
in Beijing, China, in the southern
African nation of Zimbabwe, and
other nations where no Chabad
Chassid had previously been.
One day, the telephone rang
in the offices of Vaad LHafatzas
Sichos, and R Fishel was on
the line. He told me that he was
planning to travel to Africa and
he wanted to print a Tanya there.
He added that he had written to
the Rebbe about this, and the
reply he received was: He can
print where he travels, but on the
condition that he takes everything
from here...
So how can I help you? I
asked him.
Please give me the plates,
the slides, and everything else
required for an orderly printing,
he said. I knew exactly what he
meant.
He was referring to the
equipment used for Tanya
printings.
I
had
invested
considerably in the equipments
high quality to produce as clear
and precise a printing job as
possible. The equipment actually
belonged to a printer living
in New Jersey with whom we
worked on a regular basis.
As much as I would like to
help, I simply cant give you these
valuable articles, I told him. I
added that the equipment was
not only an extremely expensive
and one-of-a-kind set, it also
did not belong to me it was the
property of the printer.
R Fishel would not relent.
But the Rebbe instructed me
to take everything from here,
he said. Against such a claim I
could make no argument. I went
into the mazkirus and clarified
with Rabbi Leibel Groner that
the Rebbe indeed had said he
takes everything from here.
I immediately called R Fishel
and informed him that the matter
would be handled in accordance
instead of Frankfurt!
I gasped. What about
the Tanya? The Gentiles will
throw it out when they come
to clean the airplane, I said
in a panic. R Fishel quickly
reassured me. Dont worry.
The printing equipment is at one
of the counters at the Frankfurt
airport...
I felt that I was about to lose
the valuable Tanya printing set
in which I had invested so much
time and energy. R Fishel, what
have you done to me? I beg of
you: This is the best copy of the
Tanya available and there are
no additional sets. Have mercy
on me. The Rebbe said that you
should take everything from here,
but he didnt say to leave it on an
airport counter...
All right, dont worry, dont
worry, Ill take care of it, R
Fishel said in his usual soothing
voice.
He called the Lufthansa
offices where they already knew
him from his business affairs. He
arranged to place the printing
equipment on a flight for South
Africa, where his brother-in-law,
one of the Rebbes shluchim in
that country, would pick it up.
Finally,
after
a
nervewracking delay of two days, the
long-awaited telephone call came.
I received word that everything
had reached the appointed
destination and the equipment
was being safely kept at the
Chabad House in Johannesburg,
South Africa. The Tanya printing
would now take place as soon
as R Fishel arrived.
However,
as
expected,
considering what had transpired
up until then, R Fishel suddenly
cancelled his trip to the African
nation where he had prepared
to print a Tanya. It would be
postponed until an undetermined
and much later date. At the very
42 10 Shvat 5775
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immediately
begin
preparations was not typical.
After thinking for a few minutes,
it suddenly hit me: The slides
were still in Johannesburg, South
Africa! I immediately gave him
the address where the slides
and plates were located, and I
told him, Make certain that the
material reaches the printer, and
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CHINUCH
THE DEFINITION
OF TRUE
EDUCATIONAL
SUCCESS
In an exclusive and inspiring interview, Rabbi Shachar Shaer, well-known
educator and principal of the Chabad Talmud Torah in Elad, discusses
the publishing of his first book, Nchanech VNatzliach. He recalls his
childhood in Rechovos in an atmosphere of shlichus, the moment he burst
into tears before his sons teacher, homework for teachers, the complexity
of the parent-teacher relationship, and success in education. How much
involvement should parents have in whats happening in school? Is
there such a thing as a helicopter parent? How do we define success in
education? What educational message did he learn from an elderly toy
salesman excited over a new piece of merchandise?
By Zalman Tzarfati
Translated by Michoel Leib Dobry
44 10 Shvat 5775
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Issue 959
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CHINUCH
46 10 Shvat 5775
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teachers
and
educators.
However, at the request of
many people who read its early
drafts and asked that the book
also relate to parents, it was
eventually expanded and made
into appropriate reading material
for parents as well.
In other words, anyone who
reads the book will succeed?
Anyone who reads it? No.
Anyone who acts according to
its suggestions and proposals?
Yes. I didnt invent the wheel.
This book does not contain
any of my own innovations or
discoveries. All of the approaches
and guidelines are based on
Issue 959
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CHINUCH
the Rebbes holy instructions. I
merely presented and organized
his instructions collected from
various sichos and letters, putting
them into practical language for
parents and educators.
I have been following after
your educational activities for
some time. I have noticed that
this success pattern of yours
repeats itself in a variety of
contexts. What is the meaning
of the phrase success in
education?
The word success is among
the words we have heard the
most from the Rebbe, Bracha
Vhatzlacha. I was personally
honored to hear this from the
Rebbe himself dozens of times
when I went for dollars. On one
special occasion, I was privileged
to be alone with the Rebbe in
Gan Eden HaTachton when I
received his siddur as a chassan.
What is educational success?
The Rebbe defines success
in education as bringing the
student willingly to follow the
path of Torah and mitzvos, with
his understanding that this is the
best way for him to go.
In a sicha from Shabbos
Parshas Shoftim 5751, the Rebbe
said that as a preparation for
the coming of Moshiach, the
influence upon another Jew must
be similar to an advisor, who
can bring the person to practical
action through proper Jewish
identity, pleasure, and joy.
From my viewpoint, this
is educational success. While
I know that its not simple to
attain this, I am certain that this
is the definition that the Rebbe
gave to education, and the Rebbe
chose us to be his shluchim in
dealing with education. This
made the mission an attainable
goal. It demands tremendous
effort, dedication, perseverance,
and precision. As a result, the
48 10 Shvat 5775
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TZIVOS HASHEM
HOW TO GET
A DRAFT
EXEMPTION
ship.
Presented for 11 Shvat, the day the Rebbe accepted the Chabad leader
Shmuel paced about in the
yeshiva, lost in thought. He
was trying to come up with a
solution to his problem. Worry
did not let him rest and it was
a few days already that he was
unable to eat.
The Korean War was raging
and Shmuel had been sent a
draft notice by the US army.
In a few days he would have
to appear at the draft office.
What should he do? How could
he obtain an exemption? In
wartime, it is hard to gain an
exemption. He tried coming up
with ideas of things that would
exempt him but wasnt able
to come up with a satisfactory
plan.
Moshe, his roommate, saw
that something was on Shmuels
mind. He knew Shmuel well
and so he put his hand on his
shoulder and in a friendly
voice he said, Shmuel, whats
bothering you? Tell me.
The army mumbled
Shmuel.
Well, did you ask Ramash
say.
Someone who overheard
Shmuel said to him, Tell me,
did you immerse in a mikva
today? Did you make the
necessary preparations before
you had yechidus?
Shmuel was embarrassed
and he shook his head. No, he
had not gone to the mikva
that day and he had not made
any special preparations before
seeing Ramash.
No wonder then that you
did not receive an answer!
When you go to the Rebbe you
need to prepare!
The man gave Shmuel avoda
for the week, what and how
50 10 Shvat 5775
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3
to
much
learn, and told
him to immerse
in the mikva
before yechidus.
S h m u e l
listened to him
and did precisely
as he was told.
week
A
Shmuel
later,
felt ready for
As
yechidus.
he entered the
room,
Rebbes
he trembled and
the preparations
he made were :
apparent.
ed and the
to what had occurr
the Rebbe said no
'
im
told . But
Shmuel
, it would
who were
bachur
other
that idea too and said
.
,
the Rebbe about his problem
... Rebbe
caught up
got
around
g
standin
asked,
the
Then
help.
not
open
the
:
and asked for a bracha. This
over
ent
excitem
his
in
problems with
have
you
l'
,'
Do
Chaza
said,
Rebbe
the
time,
:
,
"
. e.
miracl
teeth?
: your
say that whoever accepts upon
the
.and
passed
few
days
Shmue
A
said
!No,
l in
himself the yoke of Torah, has
but
up
give
Chassidim did."not
. e.
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that
. d
"
deman
to
.ued
contin
need
Do your parents have
removed from him. You
. " . ,"..."
ly accept."the
formal
Rebbe
the
teeth?
i.e. proble ms
their
Torah,
with
to accept the yoke of
."!
hip. The Rebbe
leaders
Chabad
and
n,
occasio
one
l said
to learn Gemara every day
g.
refusin
: kept
no.
Shmue
. Again,
On
of
yoke
the
take
"
just
will
Hashem
. e story we
miracl
the
after
go to the
Then
. you
when
you.
from
away
ment
govern
."
the
them you have told, the Rebbe said to the
office,
draft
drafte
tell
d.
be
to
need
wont
You
your teeth, said
problems with
dont
tand
unders
I
ry,
. secreta
,
, . to
asked,
Then the Rebbe
the astonishment what they want
the Rebbe
my
" :when
me
"? of
: l. ,
"
on
you , plan
did
What
Shmue
of
uing
contin
still
is
in-law
father
" " l went
. ,""
an
claiming in order to,receive
Shmue
The day came.
his work as the nasi hador as
"
a bachur
exemption?
with
"?ly
his heart we saw recent
to the draft office with
was
I
When
ed
said,
l
review
He
Shmue
the
beating rapidly.
who wanted .a bracha
from
ing
"!
with
ms
proble
advice
had
I
from
tion
a boy,
exemp
an
for
the Rebbes surpris
Rebbe
"
, a, claim
I am
asking
again.
,and
my heart. I think thats
, again
He made
"a good
the army.
,"
Issue 959
959_bm_eng.indd 5
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2015-01-27 9:26:52 AM