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CONTENTS

4
16

FEATURED ARTICLES

WEEKLY COLUMNS

3 Dvar Malchus
19 Hakhel & Moshiach
29 Bitachon Bytes
31 Crossroads
34 Tzivos Hashem

BRINGING THE REBBE


TO NAIROBI
Nosson Avrohom

MY
15 BOOSTING
INNER ALEF
Chaim Veknin

INTO
16 SWORDS
SNOWPLOWS
Prof. Shimon Silman

CHAZAN
20 FAMOUS
FOR THE BENEFIT OF
TOMCHEI TMIMIM
Dov Levanon

YEARS IN
24 LONG
THE MERIT OF THE

REBBES BLESSING
Shneur Zalman Berger

Beis Moshiach is not responsible for the content


and Kashruth of the advertisements.

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DVAR MALCHUS

LEARN IT TILL
YOU LIVE I T
From Chapter Five of Rabbi Shloma Majeskis
Likkutei Mekoros Vol. 2. (Underlined text is the
compilers emphasis.)
Translated by Boruch Merkur

18. [...] All that is lacking is


that a Jew should properly open
his eyes, and he will see how
everything is already prepared for
the redemption! We already have
a shulchan aruch (a set table; i.e.,
everything is prepared); we already
have the Leviasan, the Shor HaBar,
and the Yayin HaMeshumar. Jews
are already sitting at the table
their Fathers table (the King, King
of Kings, Alm-ghty G-d) together
with Moshiach Tzidkeinu (as
stated in holy works that In each
generation there is born one from
the descendants of Yehuda who is
fit to be the Moshiach of the Jewish
people), and in our times it is the
leader of the generation, my revered
father in-law, the Rebbe. And after
forty years since the histalkus of the
Rebbe, we also have a heart to know
and eyes to see and ears to hear.
As we have said above, all that
is needed now is to open up our
heart to know, our eyes to see,
and our ears to hear. We must
also utilize all 248 physical limbs
and 365 sinews to study the inner
dimension of the Torah as it has
been revealed through the teachings
of Chassidus, as well as to fulfill the
directives of our Rebbes, our Nsiim.
That is, in addition to using all limbs
and organs, etc., to study Torah
and to fulfill Mitzvos in general.
(The 248 positively stated Mitzvos

correspond to the 248 limbs and the


365 prohibitive Mitzvos correspond
to the 365 sinews.) There must
also be the study of the subject of
redemption, in a manner that it
should open up the heart, eyes, and
ears. That is, the subject matter
the true and complete redemption
must be properly understood;
the redemption must literally be
experienced, taking place within
the physicality of the world, visually
and audibly. Also, it is imperative to
learn Moshiachs Torah (the inner
dimension of the Torah) in a manner
of seeing.
All the above is already prepared.
Were we to merely open up our eyes,
we would see it all!
19. In simple terms, a call to
action:
Since the union of the soul and
the body as well as spirituality and
physicality is already complete (as
above), and everything is already
prepared for the redemption, we
must, therefore, do things that reveal
this unprecedented state in the real,
literal sense.
First and foremost, regarding a
timely matter, the birthday (when
his mazal prevails) and yom
hilula of the Mitteler Rebbe: to
add in the study of the Mitteler
Rebbes teachings, specifically in
the expansive manner of Bina,

Understanding, rechovos hanahar


(which connects spirituality with
physicality, as discussed above at
length).
This call to study is applicable
to all Jews both men and women
(as discussed on several occasions
that the study of Chassidus and the
spreading of the wellsprings outward
applies, in the simple sense, even
to Jewish women and young ladies,
especially insofar as spreading the
wellsprings brings about the advent
of Moshiach.)
And Torah study is great[er than
Mitzvos] as it leads to action: it is
vital to have Torah study brought
into action and actual avoda.
This message is learned from the
Mitteler Rebbe, whose teachings of
Chassidus were perfectly expressed
in his physical body as well as his
environment (in time and space)
He fills their years from day to
day. To that end, everyone should
make a special effort to express and
reveal spirituality and Chassidishkait
within the context of physicality
that in his physical concerns, within
the psychical dimensions of time and
space, the warmth and enthusiasm
of his Judaism and Chassidishkait
should be apparent, to the point that
there is no distinction between them
at all; they are literally one.
(From the address of Shabbos Parshas
VaYeitzei, 9 Kislev 5752; Seifer HaSichos
5752, pg. 152-153)

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SHLICHUS

BRINGING
THE REBBE
TO NAIROBI

t happened right before


sunset on Rosh HaShana two
years ago. R Shmuel Notik,
the new shliach to Kenya,
was walking around Nairobi with
a pair of bachurim and shofars in
order to find Jews and enable them
to perform the mitzva of the day.
I wasnt yet familiar with the
streets as I am today, he recalls,
so I did not correctly gauge the

amount of time it would take


us to get back to the shul in the
center of the city. We ended up
walking to the shul by the light of
the moon.
On one of the side streets near
the center of town, six big, black
guys with knives and machetes
surrounded them. Give us your
money right now! they ordered
them, but because it was Yom

Tov, of course they did not


have a cent on them. They tried
explaining, with chattering teeth,
about this day that was holy to
the Jewish people. Then give us
your smartphones, they ordered,
but they were given the same
answer, we only have shofars and
Machzorim.
They were aggressive and
conducted a search of each of

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R Shmuel and Chaya Notik arrived in Kenya a few years ago and
immediately began their outreach work. They have already set up a
preschool, a shul, a kosher kitchen, and developed ties with the local
community as well as hundreds of Jews who live in Kenya for business
reasons. * Shlichus in a challenging country.
By Nosson Avrohom

us. Throughout this time, cars


passed on the street, people
passed by, but nobody lifted a
finger to help us. They finally
decided to take the Moshiach
lapel pins, claiming that the gold
was valuable and then they left us
alone.
We returned to the shul
frightened by the experience, but
quickly learned that in Kenya

things like this happen often and


we had to be very careful when
going out at night.
That was the welcome the
young shluchim got when two
years ago Kenya joined the
hundreds of countries which
have shluchim of the Rebbe.
Since their arrival, they have
set up a beautiful Chabad
house, a preschool, a shul, and

kosher catering. They work


with members of the embassies
and businessmen who visit the
country. That is in addition to
their Bnei Noach activities.
Kenya is one of the countries
in Africa most visited by tourists.
It extends over huge areas of
land and offers a vast array of
challenging nature tours across
the broad expanses of the

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Shlichus
savannas, the endless plains, and
in the central highlands of Kenya
a challenging trek up the second
highest mountain in Africa.
Kenya also has a huge number
of safari animals that roam the
savannas.
In Kenya there are large areas
that are designated as nature
preserves where hunting is illegal.
This area attracts numerous
tourists from all over the world
who want to see Africas wildlife
in their natural habitat.
What mainly characterizes
Kenya, says R Notik, are
the polar opposites that coexist
here, a combination of the very
modern
alongside
Africans
living in tin huts and starving
children begging for donations.
There are streets that start off
with magnificent homes and
then when you continue you see
wooden shanties that are about to
collapse. This contributes toward
numerous homeless people who
walk the streets and a high crime
rate. Nevertheless, Nairobi is
going through a tremendous
period of growth. Businessmen,
including many Jews, come
here, looking for business
opportunities.
Nairobi was founded about
120 years ago and a few years
after that the Jewish community
was founded. Over the years
it has gone through many
upheavals. The community was
at first comprised of Jews from
Britain when Kenya was a British
colony, but later other Jews came
from other European countries
and North Africa.
Today, the local Jewish
community
is
tiny,
and
unfortunately the beautiful shul
has a hard time getting a minyan
on Shabbos and Yom Tov.
R Notik is closely in touch
with the members of the
community. Along with his work

R Notik lighting the menorah with an elderly Jew

On one of the side streets near the center


of town, six big, black guys with knives and
machetes surrounded them. Give us your money
right now! they ordered, but because it was Yom
Tov, of course they did not have a cent on them.
They tried explaining, with chattering teeth, about
this day that was holy to the Jewish people. Then
give us your smartphones, they ordered.
with them he puts a lot of effort
into reaching out to the members
of the Israeli embassies in Kenya,
businessmen in the country,
Israelis and Jews who come from
all over the world, some of whom
live in the country for a few years
or stay for long periods of time.
Many Israeli tourists also visit
Nairobi.

KENYA ON THE
SHLICHUS MAP
After the Notiks married at
the end of 5773, they knew they
were going on shlichus.
We spent a long time looking
for a suitable place. We werent
fussy; we looked within Eretz
Yisroel and abroad. At that time,
by divine providence, the shliach
to Ethiopia, R Eliyahu Chaviv

and his wife, came to Eretz


Yisroel for a visit. They are good
friends of ours.
When they heard that we
were looking for a place for
shlichus,
they
immediately
suggested Kenya. R Chaviv
said that he recently heard from
tourists and many businessmen
there about the big need for a
Chabad House in that country.
The idea sounded intriguing to us
and we decided to check it out.
Since it was before the yomim
tovim, we decided to fly together
and spend the yomim tovim with
the Jews of Kenya.
We spoke with two bachurim
from 770 about joining us, and
thought we would be in Nairobi
for the first half of the month and
then go from there to 770. Before

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distance of the shul. A meeting


was held of the members of
the vaad of the community
and they wanted to hear about
our plans for Kenya. We met
most of the members of the
community at that meeting.
They were few in number but
were united and worked together
nicely. You could say we were
welcomed with open arms.

A farbrengen in the Chabad House

we bought tickets and all the stuff


we would need, we wrote to the
Rebbe and opened to an answer
in which the Rebbe writes that
if they want bachurim to come
and work in their town, they had
to receive permission from the
yeshivas administration. I called
R Kuti Rapp ah and told him
about our going to Kenya on
shlichus and wanting the help of
bachurim and he gave the okay.
A few days before we
boarded the plane we tried to
contact Jews living in Nairobi so
they would help us out at least
when we landed and the first few
days thereafter. We made calls
and sent messages but nobody
got back to us. We figured we
would have to stay in a local hotel
and operate from there, but then
R Chaviv called me and said
that someone had just arrived at
the Chabad House who told him
about his Israeli friend who lived
in Kenya and kept kosher. R
Chaviv suggested we contact this
person.
We called the man and
when he heard about our plans
he immediately said, Come
to Kenya and everything will
be fine. I did not know what
to expect but I believed that
everything would work out in the

best possible way.


All along the way we have
seen the hand of Hashem with
us.
When the Notiks landed in
Nairobi, they called that Israeli
with whom they had spoken
before they left and he was very
happy they arrived. He directed
the taxi driver to the address of
his home.
The man hosted us for a
week and a half and opened
doors for us to various people
in the local community. Later
on we found out that he and his
wife were familiar with Chabad
back in Eretz Yisroel. They also
had a special story. They had
been married for thirteen years
without children and after they
wrote to the Rebbe and received
a bracha, they had twins.
The day after we arrived
we met with members of the
community and discovered that
there were a few families that ate
only kosher chicken. I knew that
R Chaviv is a shochet and within
a few days we arranged for him to
come to Kenya. He slaughtered
several hundred chickens for the
families that kept kosher and
people were very happy.
After a week and a half, we
rented a house within walking

The bachurim came from 770


just a few days before Rosh
HaShana. We hosted the yom tov
meals and we invited local Jews
to all our activities. This enabled
us to meet more and more Jews
living in Nairobi. That was the
first foray, following which came
other activities that helped place
Chabad Kenya on the shlichus
map.

SETTLING IN
A few months later, when
their circle of mekuravim
widened, the shluchim realized
that they needed a bigger house
in a better location. For a long
time they searched for a suitable
house until one day they found it.
It was big enough to handle
all the activities we wanted to
do. On the first floor we set up
a preschool and the shul. On the
second floor is the kitchen for the
kosher catering that we started
so Jews here have the option of
eating kosher, and there are guest
rooms where the bachurim who
come to help us, sleep. We live on
the third floor.
For many years in Kenya
there had been no Orthodox
Jewish life so the shluchim work
hard to raise awareness. One of
the first things they did was start
kosher catering.
People told me that they do
not eat kosher because they have
no way of obtaining it, explains
R Notik.
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Shlichus

House calls on Chanuka

Purim seuda at the Chabad House

There is no Shabbos without guests at


the Chabad house.

One of the major difficulties is the high cost


of living. Contrary to what most people think,
Africa is not cheap. The rent we pay on our house is equal
to the rent paid on a big house in the center of Tel Aviv.
The preschool was also
started by necessity. Quite a
few families living in Kenya,
including Israelis who came on
business, sent their children to
non-Jewish schools. They did not
realize how dangerous this is for
their children.
This is why the first thing we
started was the preschool which
our own children attend, along
with the children of businessmen

and diplomats. Our goal is to


have it grow into a full-fledged
school.

PROVIDENTIAL
ENCOUNTER
From the very start, R Notik
has seen many examples of
divine providence along with
the fulfillment of the Rebbes
brachos. Here is one example out
of many:

Last Rosh HaShana we


had a couple who identify with
religious Zionism. They were in
Uganda when we got a call from
them, in which they asked if they
could spend the Yomim Noraim
with us. We were happy to host
them and it would help with our
minyanim. On regular Shabbasos
I walk for an hour to the central
shul in order to strengthen the
minyan there, but on holidays we
arrange minyanim in the shul in
the Chabad House. In order for
there to be a minyan, I call people
who live nearby and according
to the commitments I got, I had
fifteen people.
It turned out that some of
them did not keep their word and
there were tfillos that I davened
alone. The couple that stayed
with us was upset about this and
they wanted to shorten their trip.
Over yom tov we spoke to
them a few times about writing
to the Rebbe and when we heard
their plans for cutting their trip
short we suggested that they
write to the Rebbe and ask for
a bracha. After the holiday was
over they wrote. I didnt know
what they wrote; I was just asked
to read the answer to them and
explain it.
The Rebbes letter was
written to a chazan of a shul and
he wrote that he needs to use his
position and expand his influence
over more Jews so they feel
comfortable entering the shul,
and he should not despair.
When they heard the answer
they were flabbergasted. That is
when they told me that they had
written to the Rebbe about the
fact that there werent minyanim
for some of the tfillos and this is
why they wanted to leave.
Before Yom Kippur, the
husband accompanied me on
visits to Jews in the area. This
time I did not just make phone

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calls but decided to ask them


personally to come to tfillos.
The first house I wanted to visit
belonged to the person in charge
of security at the embassy. I
planned to ask him for the
addresses of all the security staff
at the embassy so I could ask
each of them personally to join
the tfillos. When I arrived at his
house, I was surprised to see all
the embassy employees with their
wives and children.
When he heard my request,
he immediately assigned all of
his staff to attend the minyanim,
several for each tfilla. And
thats how it worked out. All the
members of the embassy and
the entire diplomatic team came
for Nila with their wives and
children and it was a very special
atmosphere.
On Motzaei Yom Kippur we
arranged to meet on Simchas
Torah and we had a special
hakafa for the children.

LIGHT UNTO THE NATIONS


At the beginning of this article I wrote about the unpleasant experience
that the shluchim had upon their arrival in Kenya. But at the end of the
interview R Notik told us about the respect he is given by non-Jews when
they see him walking down the street.
People come over to me and ask whether I am a rabbi who came from
Jerusalem. Others call me an angel and some ask me how they can become
Jews. Of course, in every conversation with non-Jews I bring up the Seven
Noachide Laws.
R Notik tells us about an encounter he had several months ago from
which we see the great admiration there is toward the Jewish people among
many non-Jews in Africa.
There was an Israeli who wanted to open a personal security company
in southern Sudan and asked me to join him at a meeting. I was surprised to
see government ministers there. I began the meeting by reading a chapter of
Thillim and then I spoke about the Seven Noachide Laws. The people were
so moved that they forgot the reason for the meeting and wanted to hear
more and more about the Rebbe and the work of Chabad in the world. I
gave them a Tanach translated into English as a gift for the president of their
country. They then asked us to open a branch of Chabad in their country,
saying that it would bring them help from G-d.

JOSHS STORY
One of the most moving
aspects of their work is finding
Jews who never had a connection
with a community, those who
already considered themselves
lost.
One of the times we returned
to Eretz Yisroel to work on
organizational matters, we left
behind two bachurim to man
the Chabad House. When we
returned to Kenya, they told us
that there were problems with the
lock to the house, and one day
they were stuck outside and it
was only thanks to a local person
who entered the building via a
window and opened the door for
them that they were able to enter.
I called one of the Israelis I know
who has knowledge of locks and
he referred me to a Jew named
Josh who owns a door company.
That is how I met another Jew

Challa deliveries on Erev Shabbos and kosher meat, made in Africa

here. He sent me his worker who


ordered a new door from China.
I invited Josh to the Yud-Tes
Kislev farbrengen. When I called
to tell him about the work of
the Chabad House and to invite
him, he listened and said, I have
nothing against you. You are
good people. But I dont leave
my house and so I cant come.
I got up my nerve and said, If
you dont leave your house, we
will come to you. He agreed
to that. On Sunday of Chanuka
we were at the door of his house
with candles and a menorah.

When we entered his house,


we met someone who is almost
eighty. We spoke about Judaism
for a long time and about the
Rebbe and the work of Chabad.
When I suggested that he put on
tfillin he politely refused and said
he had never done it. He said that
in the past he had met a number
of young men who wanted to
put tfillin on with him, but he
always refused. Despite this,
I saw that he was very moved
by our encounter and he even
wanted a picture taken. Later on,
R Shmuel Lozon, shliach in the

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Shlichus

A mobile sukka near the big stationary sukka

Philippines, told me that someone


walked into his Chabad House
who said he was that mans son
and showed him a picture of his
father with us. Thanks to the
picture, a connection was made
with the son too.
The connection with the
older man got stronger. We visit
him often and we have become
good friends. One time, I saw that
the mezuza on the doorpost was
old and had rust on it. I figured
that since it was put up decades
ago, nobody had checked it. A
few days before Rosh HaShana I
went to him with a new mezuza
and we had a ceremony.
On that visit, he said that he
had never been in a shul. I tried
to get him to come at least on
Rosh HaShana, but he declined.
How surprised I was to see him
walk into shul on the morning of
the first day of Rosh HaShana,
in a tallis. Both of us had tears in
our eyes. An eighty year old man
attending shul for the first time in
his life.
This is the reality. We dont
despair of any Jew and we clearly
see how this person is going
through a process of connecting

with his Jewish heritage.

NO WOOD FOR THE SUKKA


Soul stories in Kenya occur
on a daily basis and involve
incredible divine providence.
Here is another story from R
Notik:
Before Yom Kippur of this
year, I got a message from a
tourist in Uganda who wanted
to know whether we would have
minyanim. I said yes and asked
him to come on time since our
minyan was small. He said he
was familiar with the tfillos and
customs of Yom Kippur. He
did not wear a kippa but he had
roots deep in religious Zionism
and he had learned in a hesder
yeshiva. He even had Lubavitcher
relatives.
He did not come Yom
Kippur night but came early in
the morning and stayed all day.
On Motzaei Yom Kippur he asked
about a sukka. I told him that we
had ordered boards especially for
a sukka but they hadnt arrived
yet, and we were hoping they
would arrive in the few remaining
days before Sukkos.
In
the
meantime,
he

A delivery of food products

stayed in Kenya and visited us


occasionally. One day before
Sukkos, the one who was
supposed to supply us with the
boards informed us that he was
backing out of the deal. We were
stuck. What should we do?
That Israeli, it turned
out, had both ingenuity and
understanding of construction.
He went to wood stores around
town and bought the boards he
needed and we worked right up
to yom tov. There were moments
when we thought that we would
not have a sukka for the first
days. Problems kept on cropping
up. Finally, a large sukka was
completed and it is thanks to that
Israeli who left us a day later to
continue his trek. After dropping
out of religious life he decided to
fast again on Yom Kippur and
was the shliach from heaven to
help us make a sukka.

DIFFICULTIES AND
CHALLENGES IN KENYA
What is the biggest challenge
you face with Jews in a country
like Kenya?
First and foremost, the
ignorance of basic mitzvos. I

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remember that on one day of


Sukkos one of the women in
the community called my wife
and said she was organizing a
jewelry workshop for children in
her house and she invited her to
come. I went with my wife along
with our mobile sukka and Dalet
minim. When I told the children
about the holiday, I was surprised
that among the dozens of kids
nobody knew what an esrog or
lulav was.
In addition to the ignorance,
the Jews here are afraid to display
their Judaism openly. Some of
them are afraid of being attacked
as in the past, and some of them
simply want to assimilate. For
us the biggest challenge is going
around town with tfillin, with a
shofar, or with the Dalet minim,
and demonstrating Jewish pride.
What is the biggest difficulty
in living in this African
country?
You might be surprised to
hear this but one of the major
difficulties is the high cost of
living. Contrary to what most

people think, Africa is not cheap.


The rent we pay on the house we
work out of is equal to the rent
paid on a big house in the center
of Tel Aviv.
Another one of the problems
we have to deal with is the
attitude toward work by the
locals. A worker can come to fix
something in your house and
if he is missing a screw he can
leave and come back in a week.
They do not rush anywhere and
everyone must adjust to their
pace.
The security situation is
also a big problem. The security
situation is very difficult as far as
robbers and pickpockets that fill
the streets and because of Islamic
terror groups. Kenya has had
many terror attacks. The Israeli
embassy rates the security level
in Kenya as one of the lowest in
the world. This requires us to
act accordingly and be extremely
cautious.
How do you disseminate
the Besuras HaGeula and the
identity of Moshiach?

In Crown Heights area: 1640/1700AM

We talk about it at every


opportunity, openly and clearly. I
wear a Yechi yarmulke and it says
Yechi on all our advertisements.
Just one person commented
to me about it. He said, in all
innocence, that he had spoken
with a shliach on the continent
who told him that although he
personally believes in Yechi, it
is not the official position of
Chabad at this time.
At the Yud Shvat farbrengen
of a year ago, one of the people
liked my Yechi yarmulke and
asked whether he could have one
too. I agreed wholeheartedly,
even though I was sure the kippa
would remain in his drawer. How
surprised I was when I went to
shul and I saw him wearing it.
Since then, that is the kippa he
wears.
We always talk about
Moshiach and the imminent
Geula. People understand that if
we made our way to Kenya from
Eretz Yisroel, it is not because of
business or a position but to bring
about the Yemos HaMoshiach.

worldwide, online: www.RadioMoshiach.org

USA NEW phone: 347 990 1136

ADD IN ACTS OF GOODNESS & KINDNESS

TO BRING MOSHIACH NOW!


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PARSHA THOUGHT

FROM WHOM
SHOULD WE DEMAND
THE ULTIMATE
REDEMPTION?
By Rabbi Heschel Greenberg

LOANS
Many Jewish communities
have dedicated this week to the
Mitzvah of Gemilus Chassadim,
acts of loving kindness, referring,
specifically, to making interest
free loans to those in need, which
appears in this weeks parsha.
The Torah presents this law in
the following words:
When you lend money to My
people, to the poor person who is
with you, do not act toward him
as a creditor
The simple meaning of this
law is that when we make a loan
to a poor person we should not
pressure him to repay it.
Every law that applies to us
in the physical sense can also
be understood in a spiritual
and allegorical manner. To
discover the underlying spiritual
dimension of this command we
must retranslate several of the
words in this verse.

AN EXERCISE IN
[RE]TRANSLATION
The Hebrew word for money
in this verse is kesef, which can
also be translated as desire or
passion.
The word for lending talveh

can also be rendered [you will


be] attached.
The word poor can also be
understood as a metaphor for
Moshiach; the description given
to him in the Biblical book of
Zechariah (9:9).

DONT DEMAND OF
MOSHIACH?!
In light of all these revised
allegorical translations, let us
now retranslate the entire verse:
When you have a desire to
attach yourself to Moshiach that
he should be with you, do not act
toward him as a creditor.
This can be understood to
mean that when we wait and
yearn for Moshiach, we ought
not demand of him that he reveal
himself, because he is not the
impediment. Moshiach wants to
be revealed and liberate us from
exile more than we could ever
desire. If he has not done so
yet, it is not for a lack of desire
on his part. It is either G-d or us
who have placed an impediment
before his coming.
The
Talmud
(Sanhedrin
98a) relates the story of Rabbi
Yehoshua ben Levi who asked
Elijah the prophet how he could
identify Moshiach. He told him

he was sitting among the sickly


paupers at the entrance of Rome.
He stands out because these
paupers untie all their bandages
at once, cleanse all their sores,
and then rebandage them all,
whereas Moshiach unties and
replaces each of his bandages
separately, so that when the
time comes to reveal himself, he
will not be delayed by having to
bandage many sores.
Moshiach is often described
as one who suffers pain for every
moment he cannot redeem his
people. Moshiach, we are told,
pines for the opportunity to
redeem us much more than we
could even want to be redeemed.
So to demand of Moshiach, as if
he owes us something and that,
G-d forbid, he is withholding his
coming from us, is out of place.
To translate the verse more
specifically, it can yield the
following
retranslation
and
reinterpretation:
When you have a desire to
attach yourself to Moshiach,
realize that he is with you. He
wants to be revealed no less than
you. So, do not act toward him
as a creditor and demand of him
as if it is his fault that he was not
given the signal from on High
to reveal himself and redeem us.
Dont assume that he owes us
something; on the contrary, we
owe him.

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DEMAND OF G-D AND


YOURSELF!
So, if we shouldnt demand of
Moshiach to come, from whom
should we demand the ultimate
Redemption?
There is a twofold answer:
First, the demand must be
made of G-d Himself! Indeed,
this demand we make of G-d
thrice daily during the Amida
prayer when we, respectfully,
demand the Redemption of Him.
We demand of Him to bring us
Moshiach and rebuild the Beis
HaMikdash. Indeed, Moshiach
himself says these same prayers
with the most heartfelt devotion.
Moreover,
Nachmanides
writes that Moshiach suffers
anguish over the fact that we
do not weep and pray over the
withholding of the Redemption.
In his words, we do not take it
to heart, but go about our affairs
among the nations.
So instead of demanding of
Moshiach, we should direct our
prayers to G-d.
If one thinks that demanding
something of G-d is irreverent
or sacrilegious, we should quote
a powerful Midrashic narrative
(Midrash Thillim 17), which
establishes the reason we make
these demands of G-d:
Those thousands who fell in
battle in the days of King David
perished only because they did
not request the building of the
Beis HaMikdash.
One way of explaining this
Midrash is that the thousands
that perished was not a
punishment for them. Rather, it
is to be understood that if they
had demanded the building of the
Beis HaMikdash it would have
inaugurated the Messianic Age
and there would not be any more
wars and war casualties.
Furthermore, the Lithuanian

Sage known as the Chafetz


Chaim (in his commentary on the
Siddur) writes:
Several times a day we ask for
Redemption, but asking alone is
not enough. We must demand
Redemption, just as a worker
demands his salary, because if
he does not his employer is not
obligated to pay him that day.
The second answer to the
question, as to whom should
we be making demands of
concerning the Redemption,
is: We should be directing the
demands to ourselves. We
must demand of ourselves the
strengthening of our desire
for Moshiach and for personal
redemption.
The Chassidic work Meor
Einayim cites the teaching of the
Baal Shem Tov that each of us
possesses a spark of Moshiach.
However, this spark is latent
and needs for us to expose and
liberate it. We must therefore
make demands of ourselves and
do everything in our power to
reveal and activate that spark.
That will certainly contribute
to the revelation of the general
Moshiach and bring about the
full Redemption.

We forget the things that


are not important and which
therefore have only superficial
value to us. Moshiach cannot be
forgotten for a moment because
he, and the Redemption he will
usher in, is so central to our
lives. Every aspect of our lives
will be affected positively in
the Messianic Age just as every
aspect of our lives is affected
adversely in exile. The difference
between a living person and a
dead one is not just related to
one organ but it involves ones
entire body. Similarly, Moshiach,
who, according to the Sephardic
commentator known as the Or
HaChayim, is identified with the
name Chaim-life, will affect every
fiber of our being. There is not
one aspect or dimension of our
lives that does not yearn for true
life; the life that is associated with
Moshiach and Redemption!
We must understand then, if
this is so, how is it possible for
us to forget such a central part
of our existence? How could it
be that we can go a day, week or
even a month and not focus on
the words that we recite thrice
daily in our prayers: We await
your salvation the entire day?

WHO CAN FORGET?!

ARE WE RIDING
ON OUR DONKEYS?

Another nuance can be


detected in the above verse.
The Hebrew word for creditor,
nosheh, also connotes the idea
of forgetfulness, as in the name
Menasheh which Joseph gave his
firstborn because he said, G-d
made me forget [nashani] my
travail
In light of this new translation
of the word nosheh-forgetfulness,
let us now retranslate the verse:
When you desire to be
attached to Moshiach so that he
is with you, dont allow yourself
to forget him.

The answer lies in the


description of Moshiach as a poor
man, which, as stated, is based
on the verse in the prophetic
book Zechariah. There it states:
a lowly/poor man riding on
a donkey. The Hebrew word
for donkey is chamor, which
also means materialism. Part of
Moshiachs resume is that he
is tasked with controlling our
animalistic and materialistic
pursuits just as he exercises that
control over his own.
The reason we do not think
of Moshiach consistently and
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Parsha Thought

There is another salient point


concerning the association of
Moshiach with a poor man:
In the above allegorical
interpretation of the verse
concerning lending money to the
poor, Moshiach is characterized
as a poor person. There is,
however, a radically different
depiction of Moshiach, in
the book of Daniel (7:13), as
majestically riding on a cloud.
The Talmud (Sanhedrin 98a)
ascribes these two scenarios
of Moshiacheither a poor

or a majestic manto two


circumstances of his arrival. If
he arrives and we are not worthy
he will come as a poor man on a
donkey. However, if we merit his
coming because we have refined
ourselves, he will come in a
majestic fashion.
Let us now, retranslate the
above verse yet a fourth way:
When you have a desire to
attach yourself to Moshiach
[who is tragically] poor, [it is
because] he is with you [because
you have not refined yourselves
and you remain spiritually
impoverished, he is therefore
poor like you.] Do not
[therefore] act toward him as a
creditor. Do not demand of him
to change; demand it of yourself!
When we demand of ourselves
to stop living an impoverished life
but the life of a spiritual magnate
we will be able to easily demand
the Redemption of G-d because
we will have experienced personal
Redemption.

Mihu Yehudi, it was necessary to


proudly convey the Rebbes view.
And later with the fights over
shleimus haaretz, the Rebbes
view had to be proudly and
clearly conveyed.
But today? Today, everyone
has already accepted the Rebbes
view. Well, almost.
In order to read the Rebbes
view about Mihu Yehudi you
can read Mishpacha magazine,
and for shleimus haaretz you
can also open BSheva (the point
here, of course, is not to endorse
the other content of these
magazines).
The Rebbes ideas and battles
penetrated every crack in the
media at large and the religious
media in particular, and the
only thing we need to revitalize
nonstop are the sichos of 5751-

2 and kabbalas hamalchus by the


people.
For an entire year we saw
our
father
encourage
the
proclamation of Yechi and there
is only one magazine which
did not delete that year. Beis
Moshiach.
We have two options, either
to align ourselves to the truth or
align the truth to ourselves.
In order to align oneself like
a Chassid and not align the truth
to our desires, it is recommended
that you bring Beis Moshiach into
your house.
So for folks like me that
struggle with this issue, Beis
Moshiach serves as a small dose
of vaccine against my Stalin virus
(note that I am saying MY, and I
mean it for real, so please dont
anybody take offense...).

Part of Moshiachs resume is that he is tasked


with controlling our animalistic and materialistic
pursuits just as he exercises that control over his own. And
the reason we do not think of Moshiach consistently and
persistently is because we have yet to partner with him in
riding on our donkey, our materialistic tendencies.

persistently is because we have


yet to partner with him in riding
on our donkey, our materialistic
tendencies.
Forgetfulness,
the Alter Rebbe says in Tanya
(Chapter 37), comes from the
strengthening of our animal
souls.
Thus, the verse exhorts us to
not forget by working together
with the poor man-Moshiach in
controlling the animal within us
so that we can elicit and reveal
the spark of Moshiach.

Continued from page 15


Ill tell you straight, I dont
always manage to toe the
uncompromising line of emuna,
but I pray that even if I falter
here and there, that I will know
to keep quiet and fix myself and
not reach a situation in which I
enlist everyone to cover up for
my mistake.
***
If it is necessary to have a
magazine in a Chassidic home,
I think it is primarily in order to
proudly convey the Rebbes view,
and to help us not be fazed by
ourselves and the world or make
allowances for ourselves.
In the 80s, when there were
groups and newspapers in the
religious world that did not
support the Rebbe on the topic of

RIDING ON A CLOUD

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THOUGHT

BOOSTING MY
INNER ALEF
By Chaim Veknin

It was moving to have


recently reached issue #1000
of Beis Moshiach. The image
of a chassan I met on Kvutza
suddenly came to mind.
On the Shabbos before
his wedding, he did not stop
crying, from the beginning of
the farbrengen until Motzaei
Shabbos. He had come to 770 a
little after Gimmel Tammuz and
felt that the Rebbe would appear
any minute. He did not imagine
that he would get married before
he would get to see the Rebbe
again.
When they started Beis
Moshiach, the founders thought
they were providing first aid,
to strengthen emuna until the
hisgalus; like a babysitter for a
few hours until the parent comes
home, but the parent
Okay, but if weve passed
number 1000, then this is the
divine intent. And its not just
any 1000 (elef) but 1000+ issues
that instill the alef of Geula
into every corner of the house.
***
One morning, Stalin woke
up but could not find his pipe.
The KGB began feverishly
searching for the thief. The next
morning, Stalin found his pipe in
his pocket but it was too late
because the KGB had already
found ten people who had signed

that they admitted to the theft.


I think a lot can be learned
from this little anecdote. When
a Chassid demands something
from you or you just feel that
you are stuck in a spiritual sense,
there are two possibilities. One
is to search for the pipe in your
pocket and admit your mistake,
and the other is to seek to blame
others and even find the right
theoreticians who are willing to
justify you and even offer their
seal of approval to your mistake.
It used to be difficult because
the world was not as smart,
but today when wisdom and
intellectualism abound there
is no deed so heinous that one
cant find a perfectly reasonable
explanation to justify it (see entry
Palestine in the encyclopedia).
Come, let us discuss our
Stalin.
Since the Rebbe illuminates
every topic in our lives in a
positive way, the desire is to
utilize those teachings in a
positive way, but suddenly
our Stalin realizes he can do
whatever he feels like doing
and find backing in the sichos.
I woke up late preparation
for davening. A whole yeshiva
semester wasted the bachur is a
pnimi. Humiliating another its
for his own good!
Only inside do we know when

Today, when wisdom


and
intellectualism
abound, there is no deed
so heinous that one cant
find a perfectly reasonable
explanation
to
justify
it
(see entry Palestine in the
encyclopedia).
the reason is correct and when
we are looking to fudge
***
There is one thing which, at
least to my sense of things, is
hardest for my Stalin. Despite the
time that has passed, holding on
to the Rebbe as alive requires
nearly the same effort. The
message of 5751-2 and kabbalas
hamalchus. And no, I dont
mean that people dont accept it;
I mean primarily with myself, and
a few other people with whom I
farbrenged on this topic.
Every time I speak about these
topics I feel the nisayon (test) as
strongly as the first time. This is a
topic that needs to be constantly
revitalized. Let a few weeks pass
without reviewing the sichos of
5751-2, and it all goes right back
to being as difficult as ever.
Continued on page 14
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FEATURE

SWORDS INTO
SNOWPLOWS
By Prof. Shimon Silman, RYAL Institute and Touro College

his Shabbos, Parshas


Mishpatim, marks the
beginning of the 25th
year of Swords into
Plowsharesthe era which was
inaugurated by the announcement
of the heads of state of the major
world powers, meeting at the
United Nations, that they would
no longer fight with each other
but instead would cooperate with
each other and use their resources
to build a better world for the
benefit of all mankind. Indeed,
they would redirect and transform
their military resources and
technology for peaceful uses. This
change in international relations,
based on a fundamental change
of attitude, was identified by the
Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach as the
beginning of the fulfillment of the
prophecy of Isaiah that in the Era
of Moshiach the nations of the
world would beat their swords
into plowshares.

THE 25TH YEAR


Swords into Plowshares is
big. Very big. It is happening
all over the world. There is
an entire research community
devoted to analyzing it, there
are international organizations
dedicated to reporting on it, and
major books have been written
on it (not just Scientific Thought
in Messianic Times).
So the question arose

what to focus on for my annual


report? I decided to write
a series of articles over the
coming year, Bezras Hashem,
on various aspects of Swords
into Plowshares. To start it off
I decided to focus on what has
been foremost in everyones mind
recentlysnow.
Yes,
snow.
The
major
snowstorms on the east coast
of the United States and in

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Eretz Yisroel have been a major


concern since days before the
snow fell. And once the snow fell
what was foremost in our minds?
Well, getting it plowed.
Thats where the snowplows
come in. Now, snowplows have
been around for a long time,
but they have their limitations.
There are conditions in which
snowplows, or any other vehicle,
cannot functionsuch as zero
visibility.
Thats where the satellites
come in. In my book Scientific
Thought in Messianic Times
(STMT), I describe at length how
satellitesincluding GPSwere
originally developed for military
purposes (see Chapter III, sec.
6). After Swords into Plowshares
began there was a major shift
transformationof their use to
primarily peaceful purposes.
The use of GPS to guide
snowplows was first developed
by Professors Max Donath and
Craig Shankwitz of the Intelligent
Transportation Systems Institute
at the University of Minnesota
through the U.S. Department
of Transportations Intelligent
Vehicle Initiative (see STMT,
p. 255). In recent years this use

of satellites to do the job has


advanced greatly

OPENING THE
MOUNTAIN PASS
Lets go to Valdez, Alaska
(wheres that?!). Alaskas harsh
winter
weatheran
annual
average of 40 feet of snow and
winds exceeding 140 mph
makes it difficult to keep roads
clear. But Valdez is home to a
vital port and a terminal for the
Trans-Alaska Pipeline, so they
have to keep its highway open
and available to truck traffic.
So Alaska implemented the
GPS and radar-based system
developed at the University
of Minnesota, and outfitted
the snowplows with displays
similar to those found in fighter
planesan all-electronic view
of the highway and approaching
vehicles. (This use of military
technology is another aspect of
Swords into Plowshares.)
The
Alaska
Department
of
Transportation
(ADOT)
originally outfitted one snowblower and one snowplow with
the high-tech equipment, which
works to keep the driver in the
highway lane while avoiding

other vehicles and obstacles like


guardrails. Before deploying the
technology, operators would
grind their snowplows against
the guardrail and use it as a
guide to follow the road. But that
was costly because it eventually
flattened the guardrails, which
then needed to be replaced.
The setup is composed of
three technologies:
First is differential GPS,
which uses information from
ground stations and satellites
to
pinpoint
the
vehicles
location with an accuracy of
3 to 5 centimeters. Second is
collision avoidance technology,
which uses radar sensors and
information from the vehicle
positioning system to search for
oncoming vehicles. Last is the
driver interface where all the
information comes together; it
enables drivers to plow snow
from the highway in conditions
as bad as zero visibility. Using a
heads-up display that lets drivers
keep their eyes on the road, the
visual interface shows lines that
represent the highways center
line and fog line (the white line
painted on the right side of the
road), as well as intersections and
guardrails. The center and fog

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Feature

lines change color if the driver


passes over them, and the seat
vibrates and an audio alert can
be used. The display also depicts
oncoming vehicles and the image
flashes as they get closer to the
snowplow.
The first vehicles that were
outfitted allowed operators to
clear snow from Thompson Pass,
a 2,800 foot high gap in the
mountains northeast of Valdez,
which is known as the snowiest
place in Alaska. The ADOT has
been continuously upgrading the
technology and expanding its
fleet of snowplows.
The
systems
location
capabilities were improved in
October 2011 with the addition
of a differential base station that
receives information from U.S.
and Russian satellites.
[This is yet another aspect
of Swords into Plowshares. The
Russians started the military
competition with the U.S. in
space by launching the first
satelliteSputnikin
1957,
leading to an endless series of
U.S. and Russian spy satellites.
But now we are using each
others satellites and space
vehicles.]
The more satellites giving
you the position, the higher the
resolution that your fix is and

the more constant fix you can


get in bad weather, according to
Ocie Adams, a project manager
for the ADOT. And thats when
we need it the most, when its
zero visibility and you cant see
beyond the hood of the vehicle.
The Alaska truck drivers may
be the ones who benefit the most
from keeping the highways open
because in some cases it costs
them thousands of dollars every
hour that theyre unable to move
loads.

NOT JUST ALASKA


Other
states,
including
Nevada, Michigan and Colorado,
are also using this technology to
guide their snowplows, and some
states are using it to guide buses
and trucks in snowstorms and
other types of weather such as
dense fog. (See STMT, pp. 254256)
In Japan they have taken this
one step furtherthey have
eliminated the driver. They have
developed a robot snowplow
called Yuki-taro. It is a selfguided snow removal robot that
includes a GPS positioning
sensor and a pair of video
cameras for eyes that help guide
it around and avoid obstacles
when ordered to clear away
snow. The most interesting part

of this robot may be what he


does with the snow after he has
collected it. Instead of throwing
snow haphazardly around, like
a regular snow blower, this
robot has a built-in compressor
that forms the snow into 28 lb.
rectangular bricks (which can be
used later for cooling purposes
or for kids to build igloos).

FOR THE MAN IS A TREE


OF THE FIELD
I saw the tree standing alone
in the deep snow
Its arms outstretched to
heaven praying for lifenew life
It knew that someday its
prayers would be answered
That the snow would melt
and the air would warm
And new life would flow
through its veins.
And though it had never
borne fruit
It believed that someday its
barrenness would end
And it would bear fruit
Should I tell it that its Yemos
HaMoshiach
And that the day it awaits is
today?
This article should be a zchus
for a refua shleima of my mother
Rochel bas Sorah Leah.

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HAKHEL & MOSHIACH

POWER IS A
TWO-WAY STREET
By Rabbi Gershon Avtzon

Dear Reader shyichyeh,


For the past few months, we have
been sharing weekly insights from
the Rebbe on the concept of Hakhel,
based primarily on the Sichos of
5748, a year of Hakhel. That year
the Rebbe used every opportunity to
speak about Hakhel and Simcha (as
it was Shnas Tismach). This week
there is a break in the Sichos, as
there was the Histalkus of Rebbetzin
Chaya Mushka and the seven days of
observance of Shiva by the Rebbe.
This year, 5776, is 28 years
from 22 Shevat 5748. It is a year
that we receive Koach strength
(the numerical value of 28) from
the lessons and the sichos of 5748.
In this spirit, I will start off with a
conversation that took place during
the Shiva of the Rebbetzin, which
brings out the connection between the
Rebbe (Melech) and the Chassidim
(Am) and the Koach that we receive
from each other.
To preface: In all the articles
that we wrote about the connection
between the King and the people
that in the year of Hakhel, all the
Jewish people (men, women, and
children) need to come to the king
we highlighted the Koach that the
people receive from the king. The
word Melech (king) is the acronym
of moach lev and kaved (brain, heart
and liver) the three most vital organs
in the human body. We explained at
length that through connecting to
and hearing Torah from the king,
the Jew receives the strength to serve
Hashem.
In this article we are going to
explain the other half of the equation:

The king actually gets his strength


to give us strength from us! Chazal
say Ain melech belo Am there is no
king without a nation, and Chassidus
tells us that this means that the king
actually receives his own koach from
the people that accept him.
With this introduction, let us
return to a visit that took place in the
Rebbes house during the Shiva for
the Rebbetzin. It was in the middle
of the Shiva and many people and
dignitaries came to give Nichum
Aveilim to the Rebbe. There was one
person, Rabbi Binyomin Williger,
who came as the personal shliach of
the Klauzenberger Rebbe. The Rebbe
had a short but powerful conversation
with him (recorded in the Seifer
Menachem Tziyon chelek beis):
The Rebbe asked Rabbi Williger
about the health of the Klauzenberger
Rebbe and told him that he should
encourage the Chassidim to request
from the Klauzenberger Rebbe to say
Torah. Rabbi Williger responded that
to say Torah the Klauzenberger Rebbe
needs koach. To which the Rebbe
said Chassidism give koach (to the
Rebbe)!
This concept that Chassidim give
Koach is especially relevant to the
relationship, Koach and very life that
we give to Moshiach. This infusion
of strength is expressed in the
proclamation Yechi (also numerical
value of 28) HaMelech Long live
the King.
In the well-known sicha of Beis
Nissan 5748 (Seifer HaSichos 5748,
vol. 1, pgs. 350, 351, 354), which
marked 68 years since the Frierdike
Rebbe assumed leadership, the Rebbe

discusses the concept of a Jewish


king. The following are some of the
main points of the sicha which shed
light on this topic and explicate how
we can express our acceptance of the
king:
The relationship between the
king and the people is manifested in
two opposite ways. On the one hand,
the king is totally exalted above the
people which inspires awe and fear
of the king. On the other hand, the
relationship between the nation and
the king is one of absolute connection.
As the Rambam says, the king is the
heart of the Jewish people. We are
the limbs. The connection that exists
between the heart and the limbs of
the body is the ultimate of closeness.
Just like the body receives its life-force
from the heart, the Jewish nation
receives its life from the king.
Not only does the nation receive
its life from the king, but the entire
existence of the king is dependent
on the nation, as is written, There
is no king without a nation. The
fact that the nation is removed from
the king directly affects his malchussovereignty, for true sovereignty of a
king pertains only to those who are
removed from him.
Therefore, when the nation
announces
Yechi
HaMelechLong live the king, as was done in
connection to Shlomo HaMelech and
Dovid HaMelech, this affects not only
the existence of the king, but the very
life of the king as well.
Rabbi Avtzon is the Rosh Yeshiva of
Yeshivas Lubavitch Cincinnati and a well
sought after speaker and lecturer. Recordings
of his in-depth shiurim on Inyanei Geula
uMoshiach can be accessed at http://www.
ylcrecording.com.

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PROFILE

FAMOUS CHAZAN
FOR THE BENEFIT OF

TOMCHEI TMIMIM
Anecdotes that illustrate the special relationship
that the chazan of 770, and shadar for Tomchei
Tmimim, R Mordechai Dov Teleshevsky had
with the Rebbeim. * Presented for the day of his
yahrtzait, 25 Shvat.
By Dov Levanon

The Chassid, R Mordechai


Dov Teleshevsky was born
in 5665/1905 in Klimovitch,
Belarus, a town with a vibrant
Chabad community. He learned
in yeshivos Tomchei Tmimim
in the Soviet Union. One of the
mashpiim who made a great
impression on him was R Lazer
Tcherchesker (Eliezer Dvoskin)
with whom he learned in
Charson.
When he wanted to go to the
Rebbe Rashab in 5780/1919, the
last Tishrei of the Rebbes life,
R Lazer refused to allow him
to go, saying, Greater people
than you do not go. But by
divine providence, shortly after
he received a letter from his
mother who told him that his
father had traveled to Rostov and
she had not heard from him and
she ordered him with the power

of the mitzva of honoring your


mother to go there.
When he showed the letter
to R Lazer, the mashpia
immediately approved the trip
and referred him to R Zalman
Bespalov who would give him
money for the journey. That
Tishrei in Rostov penetrated
deeply into the heart of the young
Mordechai Dov who was unable
to forget what he saw there all his
life.
R Mordechai Dov studied
shchita
with
R
Shmuel
Zalmanov, one of the talmidim of
Tomchei Tmimim in Lubavitch
who learned this craft because
the Rebbe told him to.

CODED LETTER
FROM THE REBBE
In the difficult years after

the Rebbe Rayatz left the Soviet


Union, when the communists
shut
down
every
Jewish
educational
institution,
R
Teleshevsky managed to send a
coded letter to the Rebbe asking
for a blessing that his children
be protected from the atheism
of Russia. The Rebbes answer,
which was also in code, included
a bracha as well as an instruction
for him to submit a request to
leave the country with his family.
This was dangerous because
the communists viewed a
request to leave as an expression
of dissatisfaction with their
leadership. A typical response
to such a request was being
fired from work and other acts
of persecution, sometimes even
being sent to Siberia. However, to
a Chassid, a Rebbes instruction
transcends any considerations. R

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local Jewish community there


asked the Rebbe for a rabbinic
personality who could also serve
as chazan, mohel, and shochet,
and R Teleshevsky fit the bill.
Finland was far from the
communists net but there were
still no Jewish schools there.
This unfortunate fact was
discovered only when he arrived
there. Fearful for the future of
his children, he asked the Rebbe
what to do. The Rebbes answer
was to send the children back to
Riga where there were proper
schools.
The childrens grandparents
lived in Riga and they were happy
to host their grandchildren. The
children were very young. Despite
the great difficulty involved, their
parents bought them tickets to
sail by ship and parted with their
two young children.
For a number of years the
children lived in Riga and were in
touch with their parents through
letters only.
Teleshevsky submitted a request
to immigrate to the government
office in his city.

PERMISSION TO IMMIGRATE
The clerk was taken aback
by the request and threw R
Teleshevsky out of the office.
When he reported this to the
Rebbe, the Rebbe told him to try
again. R Teleshevsky got up his
courage and went again and once
again was summarily thrown out
of the office. This repeated itself
time and again. The seventh
time he tried, a miracle occurred
and inexplicably, the visa was
approved.
It was years after his passing
that it was discovered that the
Rebbe was involved in all stages
of his immigration and even told
R Chaim Yosef Rosenblum to
make sure that the shul in Riga

urgently request his arrival as a


chazan.
With the visa in hand, R
Teleshevsky ran straight to the
train station. He was afraid that
someone would regret having
given him the visa and cancel it.
He found a boy who was willing
to go to his house and tell his
wife that the long-awaited visa
had been issued, and within a
short time his wife arrived at the
station with their two children
and with packed bags that she
had prepared in the eventuality of
their hasty exit. They boarded the
first train going in the direction
of the Latvian capital, Riga,
where the Rebbe was.

SHLICHUS TO FINLAND
After three years in Riga, the
Teleshevsky family was told by
the Rebbe to go to Finland. The

THE REBBE IN A DREAM:


GO TO FINLAND!
One night, the little girl Chana
woke up drenched in sweat. She
had dreamed that the Rebbe, who
had left Riga by that time, had
appeared to her and said their
temporary visa had expired and
they had to return to Finland.
Chana, who was 11 at the
time, was very frightened but
did not tell anyone about her
dream. The next day she had the
same dream. The Rebbe said,
Chanale, the temporary visa has
ended. Return to Finland.
After the dream recurred
a third time, she asked her
grandmother, Why didnt you
say we have to return home?
There actually was no legal
problem with their continued stay
in Riga, but the fact that she had

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Profile
served as shadar (fundraiser) for
Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim, for
which he traveled from one end
of the world to the other.
On his travels he used his
chazanus talent. The Rebbe
Rayatz wrote to him about this
in a letter dated 22 Teves 5709,
In response to your letter, it
would be correct to diligently
pursue your travels as a famous
chazan for the benefit of Tomchei
Tmimim
Lubavitch,
may
Hashem grant you success.
Several times, the Rebbe
wrote to Jews living in the
countries that he would visit
with the request that they help
him and generously support the
yeshiva.

THE STORY THAT THE REBBE REACTED TO


On one of his trips to Baltimore, R Mordechai Dov Teleshevsky went
to the Litvishe yeshiva Ner Yisroel, as he did every year, but was screamed
at by one of the roshei yeshiva who spoke disparagingly about the Rebbes
sichos. A bitter argument between them ensued.
When he returned from Baltimore, he wrote a six page letter in which
he related everything that happened on his travels. Although the incident
with the rosh yeshiva was only one small detail in the entire report, within
minutes, the Rebbe responded as follows, In all the above the main thing
is missing, which sicha and what was his complaint? For if you showed
him that it was based on divrei Torah, and consequently he was saying
that divrei Torah is heresy, lo aleinu, you should have stood up for the
shaming of Toras Hashem rather than trying to scream louder.
Obviously, my intention is not to cry over the past but to try to at least
clarify things now.
the dream over and over was seen
by the grandmother as a warning.
She packed the childrens
belongings and they took a
train which brought them to the
coast of Estonia where, on their
own, they found a ship sailing to
Finland. Nobody was waiting for
them in Finland. Their parents
did not know of their coming and
the children surprised them when
they knocked at the door.
A week after the children
returned to Finland, World War

II began. The Nazis, when they


reached Riga, annihilated the
Jews there. Out of 400 girls in
the Jewish school, Chana is the
only survivor. The Rebbe saved
her and her brother Moshe.

SHADAR FOR YESHIVAS


TOMCHEI TMIMIM
After the war, R Mordechai
Dov was able to bring his family
to New York. He lived near the
Rebbe. For over forty years he

VARIOUS MISSIONS FOR


THE REBBE
Aside from the official goal of
raising funds for the yeshiva, the
Rebbe would tell R Teleshevsky
to take care of other communal
matters too.
After the Holocaust, an
organization dedicated to the
preservation of Jewish culture
was founded, which collected
Jewish books that were saved
from the Nazis and divided them
among Jewish public libraries
around the world. The Rebbe,
who knew that among the sfarim
were rare editions, told some of
his Chassidim who traveled to
distant places to try and exchange
those books with sfarim from
Kehos, because while nobody
would open the old sfarim, they
would be of benefit to the library
at 770.
Since R Mordechai Dov
traveled to countries like Australia
and Brazil where the books went,
the Rebbe told him to work on
obtaining and bringing sfarim to
the library at 770.
R Mordechai Dov worked

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not only on obtaining sfarim


but also in disseminating sfarim.
He worked to find local sellers
in all the smaller countries he
traveled to so they could sell
Kehos books. When he asked
the Rebbe whether he was doing
the right thing by promising
them payment for their work,
the Rebbe responded, You did
the right thing by promising the
young man that his efforts in
the matter of the sfarim will be
compensated, and surely in the
small countries you will visit you
will do the same.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS
FOR A CHAZAN
Over the years, R Teleshevsky
was the chazan in 770 and he was
the one who made any needed
announcements at farbrengens.
As such, he often merited special
attention from the Rebbe.
Before
12
Tammuz
5712/1952 which fell out on
Shabbos, R Teleshevsky had a
yechidus in the course of which
the Rebbe told him that when he
would lead the services Friday
night he should insert the words
bsimcha uvtzahala (said only
on Yom Tov) at the end of Lecha
Dodi.
During the farbrengen, the
Rebbe told R Teleshevsky, In
Petersburg (then Leningrad),
the bachurim would sometimes
race through the davening on
Rosh HaShana in twenty or
fifty minutes in order to hear
the tkios by the Rebbe. You are
sitting here (the Rebbe knew he
had not davened yet), you and
BZ should go daven up, how long
will it take already?
The night of Simchas Torah
5715, the Rebbe said to bring
children aged five and older
the next day to the farbrengen.
The next day dozens of children

Accompanied by his son, R Moshe, to receive lekach from the Rebbe

came. The Rebbe said to give


them mezonos, to say the
bracha together, and to sing,
MiMitzrayim Gealtanu. Then
the Rebbe told R Teleshevsky to
sing HaMalach HaGoel to the
tune of Tfillas Geshem.
The second night of Pesach
5715, after finishing the seder in
the Rebbe Rayatzs apartment,
the Rebbe went down to a
farbrengen, which was the way
things were done then. During
the farbrengen, the Rebbe
said to sing VHi ShAmda.
The Chassidim began singing
a different tune, not the one
the Rebbe meant. The Rebbe
stopped them and began singing
the famous tune of R Aharon
HaGadol of Karlin. He turned
in surprise to R Mordechai Dov
and said, You dont know it?
R Mordechai Dov indicated that
he did not know it and the Rebbe
said, Its a fine niggun.
On
Simchas
Torah
5733/1972 the Rebbe told him
to make the announcements
at the farbrengen before the

hakafos. Since he did not repeat


the announcement exactly as
instructed, the Rebbe announced,
In the name of Rav Teleshevsky:
Quiet! We are announcing and
informing that all those who did
not make kiddush should made
kiddush now and as in the known
sicha of the Rebbe (Rayatz)
about kiddush before hakafos.
Another announcement: Those
who cannot make kiddush for
health reasons or another reason,
someone else should make
kiddush for them and enable
them to fulfill their obligation.
On
Simchas
Torah
5744/1983, when he returned
to his place after he was given
the honor of the seventh hakafa,
the Rebbe turned to him and
said that since he was the regular
chazan on Rosh HaShana in
770, and that year he did not do
this since he did not feel well,
he should sing something. R
Teleshevsky, realizing that he was
not expected to sing something
from the Yomim Noraim,
began joyfully singing Aleinu
LShabeiach to the known tune.
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STORY

LONG YEARS IN
THE MERIT OF THE
REBBES BLESSING
Mrs. Yaffa Wolpo, who passed away a few weeks ago, had an amazing
miracle with the Rebbe. Her family opened to a series of answers in the
Igros Kodesh which gave her the strength to handle her challenges.
By Shneur Zalman Berger

rs.
Yaffa
Wolpo
recently passed away,
and is survived by
her sons, R Sholom
Dovber and R Menachem,
and daughter, Rebbetzin Sima
Ashkenazi.
Mrs.
Yaffa
(Sheindel
Mushka) Wolpo was born on 2
Elul 5684/1924. Her father was
R Ezriel Zelig Slonim, an official
representative of our Rebbeim
and a distinguished Chabad
Chassid, and her mother was
Chaya Feigel.
When she was born, her
father was in the United States on
a mission for the Rebbe Rayatz.
He returned home when she was
a year and a half. They say that
when he arrived home at the Old
City in Yerushalayim, a group of
children were playing outside and
his wife said, Lets see if you
can figure out which one is your
daughter. Without a pause, he
went right over to his daughter

and hugged her happily.


She married R Yitzchok Zev
Wolpo in Nissan 5705/1945 in
Yerushalayim and settled there.
R Yitzchok was a big Torah
scholar and over the years he
adopted a Chabad way of life
and sent his children to Chabad
schools. He and his wife often
traveled to the Rebbe. They say
that one time, at kos shel bracha,
the Rebbe gave R Yitzchok a
bottle of mashke as well as a kos
shel bracha especially for his wife.
R Yitzchok was very excited by
this special kiruv.

DANGEROUS GROWTH
The
following
miracle
occurred thirteen years ago, in
the winter of 5763. It started
with a peculiar weakness in
Mrs. Wolpos left leg. Then
she lacked sensation in the leg
and found it hard to walk. She
began using a cane. Later on,

this wasnt enough and she had


to use a walker. Her husband
and children had her see the best
doctors.
At first they decided to try
alternative treatment, but the
doctors were unable to diagnose
the source of the problem. As
time passed and the situation did
not improve, they realized it was
a more serious problem than they
had thought at first. They finally
went to a conventional doctor
who after many tests determined
that there was a serious problem
with her spine.
Half a year went by and
things got worse. R Menachem
invited his parents for Shabbos
Shuva to his home in Netanya,
where he is a shliach. As they got
ready to leave Yerushalayim, Mrs.
Wolpo fell and broke her right
foot. She had to use a wheelchair
since there was no sensation in
her left leg and her right leg was
in a cast.

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Before Sukkos they went to


a top doctor at Hadassah. He
wanted to know how the previous
test was done. He was upset by
what he heard and said, They
did not do that test properly.
The test was repeated and the
doctor sadly told the family the
bitter truth, There is a tumor
wrapped around the spine. It is a
very rare form of tumor and the
chances of a cure are minuscule.
Says
Rebbetzin
Sima
Ashkenazi:
We were devastated. The
doctors did not know whether
it was malignant or benign, the
latter having a higher chance
of being surgically removed.
But an operation near the
spine is extremely dangerous
for the function of all the rest
of the limbs. We spoke with R
Elimelech Firer so he could help
us find the right surgeon. R
Firer explained that in this rare
case, although the surgery could
be done in Eretz Yisroel, it was

better to go to Brussels where


the best doctor for this kind of
operation is located. He is a
world renowned professor and
he treated a number of famous
government figures from around
the world including the king of
Morocco.
When we discussed traveling
abroad, my mother vehemently
refused. I am nervous about
flying in general and Im even
more afraid when I am in a
wheelchair and in pain! My
father was also afraid of traveling
for this reason and he wondered
how we would manage in
Belgium with a place to stay, the
language, etc. It was also hard
for him to leave his ongoing
shiurim in Gemara and Halacha
in Shaarei Chesed, shiurim that
start at five in the morning and
end late at night.
This all raised a lot of
uncertainty, but in the end we
had to make a decision. The
doctor who had conducted

the test announced, You must


operate immediately; otherwise,
the paralysis can spread to the
entire body!

THE REBBES BRACHA


It was evening. R Yitzchok
was expected home from Maariv
in a few minutes and then he had
to call Tel HaShomer hospital
to give his consent (or lack of
consent) to the operation.
Rebbetzin Ashkenazi decided
to write to the Rebbe. She asked
for a bracha and asked whether
to go to Belgium or to stay and
do the operation in Eretz Yisroel.
The answer in the Igros Kodesh
was astonishing. At the beginning
of the letter the Rebbe blesses,
At an auspicious time, I will
mention your mothers name at
the holy gravesite of the Rebbe
my father-in-law for the success
of the medical treatment. May
it be Hashems will that just as
you wrote the request, you will

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Story
relate good news in this. Then
the Rebbe offers guidance as
to how to help matters along,
Obviously, the more your
mother strengthens her trust in
Hashem who is the Healer of
all flesh and does wonders, in
greater measure and that much
sooner comes the success.
The Rebbe then also refers to
a trip:
You
write
about
a
suggestion to travel to etc.
the solution is in your hand. By
that I mean that if you decide
with the requisite firmness,
to spread traditional Judaism

opposed. They claimed that the


Rebbe said if we want to travel
then the wellsprings should be
spread, but it was not an answer
from the Rebbe to travel. I
maintained that the Rebbe wants
us to travel. We all knew we had
to decide quickly. The tumor
was large and the danger was
increasing; every additional day
was critical.
The
doctors
at
Tel
HaShomer were urging us to
decide and I did not know what
to do. The day we had to make
a decision my father insisted that
the trip to Belgium would be hard

I told my family about this answer and to my


surprise, along with those who supported me,
there were those who were opposed. They claimed that
the Rebbe only said that if we want to travel then the
wellsprings should be spread, but it was not an answer
from the Rebbe to travel. I maintained that the Rebbe
wants us to travel. We all knew we had to decide quickly.
The tumor was large and the danger was increasing;
every additional day was critical.

and its matters there and its


ultimate and primary aspects
regarding actual deed, and
without paying attention to the
concomitant difficulties when
you desire to do on behalf of our
Torah, the Torah of truth and
its mitzvos, then the suggestion
is proper and good (Igros
Kodesh volume 19, page 309).
From that point on, matters
were clear for us, continued
Rebbetzin Ashkenazi. We had
to go to Belgium and spread
Judaism there.
I told my family about this
answer and to my surprise,
along with those who supported
me, there were those who were

for him. He did not know the


language, did not have a place
to stay, and worst of all, how
would he get our mother around
when she was in a wheelchair and
suffering?
It is hard to describe my
emotional turmoil when I wrote
to the Rebbe again. I put the
letter into the same volume and
opened to page 416. This time
too, the Rebbes answer was on
target:
May the trip be in a good
and successful time in all
details and with the inner point
that thereby the spreading
of Judaism will increase in
general, and the spreading of

the wellsprings in particular.


And they should utilize the time
spent here as per the expression
of Chazal as needs to be
done, with joy and gladness
of heart. May we swiftly merit
the fulfillment of the promise
of calm and tranquility that
we all return with calm and
tranquility to our holy land
through Moshiach Tzidkeinu
very soon. I await good news in
all the above
I called my parents and told
them the Rebbes answer. As
soon as they heard there is an
explicit answer they agreed to go.
But then problems cropped up.
My father said, Our passports
expired years ago. I was beside
myself since we had to travel
immediately. My brother Sholom
Dovber helped out and promised
passports within a day, and he
took care of it.
We contacted the Rebbes
shliach in Brussels, R Mendel
Shmuel Pinson. He said he would
take care of our stay in Brussels,
I will take care of everything.
The
Wolpos
left
on
Wednesday, 26 Cheshvan 5763.

CHASSIDIM ONE FAMILY


Like an angel from heaven,
is how the family describes
R Pinson. He helped us
throughout the ordeal like he was
our brother. R Sholom Dovber
describes the rabbis help in
amazement:
At the airport, there were
people waiting for us, sent by
R Pinson. They took care of
everything, including a special
vehicle where you could put a
wheelchair. We were immediately
taken to an apartment where
lunch was waiting for us on the
table. The next day, R Pinson
went with us to the hospital and
he waited a long time, throughout

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R Yitzchok Wolpo gave the doctor a silver cup


to express his appreciation for the doctors devotion.

the intake process, the arranging


of a private room, etc. His wife
prepared delicious food every
day for the entire family. After
a tiring days work, she would
return at six in the evening and
immediately start cooking for us
and call us to come and get it. We
told her not to cook so much and
that we had food left over from
the day before, but she didnt
want to hear about it and said, If
you dont come and take it, I will
bring it myself.
On Thursday and Friday
many tests were done and
the doctors discussed how to
proceed. We saw that they were
concerned about the results.
This made our mother nervous;
she wasnt young she was
approaching eighty.
When she became even more
frightened, Rebbetzin Ashkenazi
encouraged her by saying that
there was an answer from the
Rebbe, Obviously, the more
your mother strengthens her
trust in Hashem who is the
Healer of all flesh and does
wonders, in greater measure
and that much sooner comes
the success.

Indeed, the entire family was


100% convinced that the Rebbes
bracha would be fulfilled in its
entirety and she would recover.
What concerned them was the
great suffering that she was
undergoing and what awaited
her with the surgery and the
rehabilitation to follow.

THE WOLPO FAMILY


WAKES UP BRUSSELS
In the meantime, Rebbetzin
Ashkenazi and her brothers
began to think about how to do
mivtzaim in a foreign city, as the
Rebbe had said to do in the letter.
Rebbetzin Ashkenazi:
I had taken along with me
brochures in Hebrew and English
and R Pinson supplied us with
material in French, the primary
language spoken in Belgium.
Every day I would walk among
the hospital departments and
ask the nurses whether there
were any Israelis or Jews in their
ward. At first they looked at me
askance. Why was this woman
asking about Jews and Israelis?
After a while I learned to start off
by saying that I am from Eretz
Yisroel and my mother is in the

R Sholom Ber Wolpo with the doctor

hospital here, and then get to my


point.
Some avoided answering
but there were some nurses who
cooperated and I reached many
Israelis and Jews who were
hospitalized in that hospital.
With the Israelis I had a common
language; with the locals I tried
to speak in English and if they
did not understand, at least they
got a brochure. I spoke a lot
about Judaism and observing
mitzvos and about the Rebbe.
R Pinson arranged several
shiurim for us to deliver. I gave a
shiur for Israeli working women
and for women from the Foreign
or Security Offices who lived in
Brussels. I told them about my
mothers illness and the Rebbes
answer and read them the letters
from the text. At the end of the
shiur some women would come
over to me and ask me to write
to the Rebbe on their behalf. We
opened to precise answers and
brachos.
My brothers were busy too.
They gave shiurim, farbrenged
a lot and more. One time, my
brother Menachem stood at the
hospitals main entrance and

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Story
looked carefully at everyone who
walked in. Many Jews who passed
by and saw a religious looking
person said hello to him and he
spoke to them about mitzvos and
gave out brochures on an array of
topics. He also urged R Pinsons
community to start a yeshiva.
My brother, Sholom Dovber,
gave a shiur to the families of
employees of the Israeli embassy,
twice for men and twice for
women. He also reviewed
maamarei Chassidus in R
Pinsons shul the two Shabbasos
that we were in Brussels, and also
gave a shiur in Nigleh for bnei
Torah with the participation of
the rav of the city, the gaon and
Chassid, R Ezriel Chaikin.

ONE FATEFUL DAY


After
lighting
Shabbos
candles, they received the results
of the tests. The tumor looked
benign but was dangerous
because it was growing and any
small damage to the spine could
cause irreversible damage to
other limbs of the body.
On Shabbos, the professor
came for the first time to examine
Mrs. Wolpo. He then said that
the operation would be moved
up from Monday to Sunday.
Monday could be too late! he
stated and then said that although
the operation rooms were not
open on Sunday, he would open
one up and convene a special
team. I will do all I can to save
your mother, he said.
On Shabbos I was alone
in the hospital with my mother
and did not know how to tell her
the truth about her condition,
continued Rebbetzin Ashkenazi.
In the afternoon I explained her
medical condition as they saw
it in the tests. She was agitated.
Again and again I read her the
Rebbes answer and she calmed
down.

MORE COMPLICATED
THAN WE THOUGHT
On Sunday, at ten in the
morning, Mrs. Wolpo entered
the operating room. She was
amazingly calm thanks to the
Rebbes blessings.
The doctors said it would
take time for the operation
to begin because of tests and
preparations that are done at
the last minute. They estimated
that the operation would start in
an hour and I used the time for
mivtzaim. Any previous day that
I had gone on mivtzaim it had
been hard to smile when my heart
was heavy because of my mother
who was suffering. Now it was
doubly as hard.
While the surgery took place
the family waited in the room
where their mother had been
previously. They were all there,
her husband, daughter, and
sons. They all said Thillim with
tears for over five hours until the
doctor came and announced,
The operation is over. It was
a lot more complicated than
we anticipated. We will first
see tomorrow whether it was
successful.
In the morning, after a
lengthy exam, the doctor said
that the operation had been a
success.
We spent another ten days in
the hospital, ten days of tension
and aggravation. My mother
suffered greatly and every move
she made was terribly painful. In
the meantime, physiotherapists
began showing up to teach her
how to move her legs.
Before we left the hospital,
my father gave the doctor a gift of
a silver cup. The doctor was very
moved and promised to make
kiddush with it on Shabbos. He
was a good man with a warm
heart and I hope he continues to

be successful in his holy work of


saving peoples lives.
My mother had to undergo
quite an ordeal with the trip to
the airport and then sitting on
the plane for several hours. The
worries and problems we had to
deal with are indescribable, but
thank G-d and thanks to the
Rebbes brachos, we made it.
Upon arriving in Eretz
Yisroel, Mrs. Wolpo went to
a rehabilitation center in Tel
Aviv where she underwent
physiotherapy for two and a half
months.
When the head doctor at the
rehab place examined the medical
documents, Mrs. Wolpo said
to him that apparently only one
in a thousand of these kinds of
operations are successful. The
doctor said, Youre mistaken.
Its maybe one in a hundred
thousand. You did the right thing
to have the surgery done by the
doctor in Belgium.
On Tuesday of Parshas VaEira
5763, Mrs. Wolpo returned
to her home in Yerushalayim.
Her husband went back to
his shiurim, day and night,
and with time, she was able to
participate in the simchos of her
grandchildren once again.
Over the next thirteen years
she had much Chassidishe nachas
from all 250 or so descendants
of hers. And as the Rebbe
wrote, May we swiftly merit
the fulfillment of the promise of
calm and tranquility, that we all
return with calm and tranquility
to our holy land ...
R Yitzchok passed away a
few years ago and since then,
she lived with her daughter in
Kfar Chabad. She passed away
on 10 Teves and is survived
by her children and numerous
descendants who go in the ways
of Torah and Chassidus.

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BITACHON BYTES

BEFORE
BITACHON
By Rabbi Zalman Goldberg

Discussions about Bitachon


most often revolve around
techniques
to
strengthen
Bitachon,
how
to
apply
Bitachon to various situations,
and examples of people who
excelled in this lofty midda.
Often however, there exist basic
and fundamental hindrances to
practicing Bitachon in Hashem
properly. A strong animal soul
(which expresses itself freely),
can be a formidable challenge
to our properly connecting to
Hashem1. When this is the case,
it will seem quite difficult to
exercise Bitachon in Hashem.
At such times, the Bitachon
discussion should be of a different
nature. The hindrance may need
to be dealt with in order to reach
a state in which strengthening
Bitachon is relevant.
The very nature of the nefesh
habahamis, even if it is acting in
a permissible manner, is contrary
to Bitachon. In a Bitachon
life, a persons every move is
premeditated, and the intellect is
used to ensure that his conduct
is congruent with Hashems
expectations. The animal soul,
however, roots for immediate
action by instinct only, and
without taking a moment to make
sure ones conduct is kind, ethical
and G-dly. Therefore, even if
the behavior isnt intrinsically
bad, becoming accustomed to

following our animalistic instinct


can potentially lead to severe
transgressions, as animals arent
so righteous, after all.
In general2, there are two
ways to take control of the animal
soul and prevent it from sitting
in the drivers seat; the internal
way and the external way.
The internal manner of
affecting the animal soul is
through meaningful remorse
and tshuva for behaving in a
mindless way. Just by living life in
an animalistic manner, we cannot
fathom how much was thought,
said, and done in an unG-dly
manner3. The hechsher may not
always be checked properly, or
all the correct brachos recited,
the main thing being that the
food should be consumed as
soon as possible. Not always
will the feelings of others be on
the radar when behaving in a
mindless and selfish way. Not
always will davening, learning,
and fulfillment of Mitzvos be
a priority when the animalistic
soul is in charge. Thus, tshuva
from this lifestyle is necessary,
together with a strong resolution
to change course and become
more mindful as to what kind
of behavior would Hashem like
to see from me at this particular
time. When the problem is clearly
recognized and a firm resolution
is reached and acted upon, one

can begin to take back control of


the animal soul.
The second way to influence
the nefesh habahamis is the
external way. Through coercing
oneself into a more G-dly
lifestyle, even when the animal
soul is not ready for the change,
the ( change of domain)
tames the animal souls previous
habits. This tactic is not an
internal or consensual in the
slightest; its using the change
of atmosphere and a very strong
positive atmosphere at that, to
throw the animal soul off course
and to give leadership to the
G-dly soul.
This tactic can be used by
people of all backgrounds,
no matter their upbringing.
While complete internal change
is difficult and can take a
considerable amount of time to
accomplish, an option to totally
change the course is readily
available. By ridding oneself of
all goyishe clothing and replacing
them with Yiddishe attire; by
removing from the home, car
and office any non-kosher
influences, including goyishe
newspapers, books, magazines,
TV, and (unnecessary) internet;
and by ensuring that the children
receive as Jewish an education
as possible, to mention a few
examples, even if the person
isnt internally holding on that

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BITACHON BYTES
level, through placing oneself in a
better and holier atmosphere, the
road ahead will be very in tune
with the Will of Hashem.
This is similar to the
Rambams advice4 that one of the
ways to do tshuva is to change
ones name, as if to say, I am a
different person, not the one who
committed those sins. (This is
not just to escape punishment,
but to improve.) The context
here is that even though the
sins have not been repented for,
since the person has completely
changed his course of life by
changing his name, the message
is conveyed that this is a new
person and the sinner doesnt
exist any longer to be punished.
This is similar to how the
avoda of ishafcha is discussed in
several contexts. Ishafcha means

to make a total turnaround in


ones lifestyle, which consists of
a major change from how things
were in the past. In contrast
to iskafia, which is a constant
battle of overcoming the animal
soul every time it expresses itself
with a temptation of some sort,
ishafcha overhauls the nefesh
habahamis entirely and says that
certain battles will simply never
occur again.
Just as for a baal tshuva,
who, after he fully accepts upon
himself to keep Shabbos, for
him desecrating the Shabbos is
not an issue, because it is simply
not an option, likewise with any
change. If recreational internet
use or getting angry is absolutely
not an option, the instinct for
these habits will be tamed and
controllable.

Ultimately,
this
external
approach has the potential to
eventually refine the nefesh
habahamis as well, so that not
only will the animal within not
operate as usual, it will lose its
animalistic attributes until it will
become good, just like the good
inclination5.
Rabbi Zalman Goldberg is
a well sought after speaker and
lecturer on Chassidic thought.
His writings and recordings on the
topic of Bitachon can be accessed
at http://www.gotbitachon.com.

.
. 106
.
.
.

)1
)2
)3
)4
)5

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30 26 Shvat 5776 - Hakhel


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CROSSROADS

THE TIME HAS COME


TO PUT AN END TO
OUR APATHY
After nearly half a century, the time has
come for a courageous leader who will
put a stop to this legacy of mere survival.
He should stand proudly before the world
and proclaim that we have absolutely
no intention of withdrawing from the
territories, and therefore, it will be futile
for the world to apply pressure in this
matter.
By Sholom Ber Crombie
Translated by Michoel Leib Dobry

1.
We have to shake up
Chabad, a friend sent me in an
urgent SMS message.
Why? What happened? I
asked him in response.
What? Didnt you hear
about
the
terrorist
attack
today? he said in reply, noting
what we already knew: another
terrorist attack, this time in Beit
Choron. While the attack had
occurred only two hours earlier,
nevertheless, we had already
moved on. There was a fierce
rainstorm outside, and we had to
get ready for possible snowfall.
Who had time to get accurate
information on the condition of

those wounded (or worse) in the


terrorist attack?
In a nutshell, this is the
situation we face today. One
stabbing after another, yet weve
already become used to this.
Its all become routine now. We
get a daily forecast, followed by
a dispassionate update on the
weeks toll of terrorist attacks.
The truth is that the sixteenyear old Arab youths had been
expected to sit at home during
the cold winter days, warming
themselves by the stove and not
taking chances by attacking
innocent civilians. However,
the desire to commit murder
is obviously far stronger. The
anti-Semitic incitement in the

Palestinian education system


has thoroughly brainwashed
them and now theyre ready for
any mission of bloodshed. In the
final analysis, we shouldnt be
surprised by their actions after
all, theyre merely continuing
their ancient tradition, which they
keep with undisguised fervor and
devotion. The question is: Whats
with us? Why have we again
allowed them to strike at us while
failing to prevent the next attack?
After all the talk, the promises,
and the Prime Ministers wellpublicized visit to Otniel, how has
the security situation remained
exactly the same as before, with
a steady flow of data on terrorist
stabbings each week? Its as if
nothing has changed, or to put it
simply and in less pleasant terms,
theyre making a laughing stock
out of us.
Granted, its winter now,
and when its wet and windy
outside, it is not the most
ideal time for protests and
heated discussions. Its hard
to imagine a demonstration of
tens of thousands of people in
the center of Tel Aviv, when
the weather channel reports on
snow in the main metropolitan
centers. However, have we
completely fallen asleep on the
watch? Perhaps this is the most
painful proof of how difficult the

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CROSSROADS
situation really is. It seems as if
weve already given up. Does
anyone still think that theres
a government functioning in
Yerushalayim? Whos foolish
enough to believe that someone
can change the situation? Its
as if this flood of Fedayeenstyle attacks upon us is a decree
from Heaven. And what was the
terribly important and dramatic
declaration by the Prime Minister
during his historic visit to Otniel?
That he would act with all his
strength to erect a security fence
around the settlement... Once
more, instead of launching
an attack, they think in terms
of defensive tactics another
Maginot Line. They again
spread their slogans of peace and
security while operating with a
ghetto mentality.
This wave of terror has
now gone through a number of
critical stages each one more
determined and more surprising.
First, hundreds of soldiers were
placed in Yerushalayim in a vast
campaign costing billions and
achieving nothing. Afterwards,
hundreds of bus stops throughout
the capital were reinforced with
concrete and pillars, surrounding
each of them with barricades, as
if they were army checkpoints.
Later, thousands of soldiers were
spread throughout the Tel Aviv
metropolitan area with special
forces stationed to guard local
schools. In the meantime, a new
and updated weapon in the war
on terror was developed: a kniferesistant flak jacket for the neck.
The IDF wasnt embarrassed to
take pride in its new invention
and issued a celebratory PR
announcement to the media on
this new development.
The poor IDF soldier. He
moves around the capital of
his country, in the center of the
city, and he has to carry one flak
jacket on his body and another

one on his neck. This is what


happens when they vigorously
fight terrorism...

2.
However, there is also a point
of light in the recent battle. In the
past, we ceaselessly demanded
capital punishment for terrorists.
As of late, the sentence is almost
always carried out. There is
some groaning here and there,
as when for some reason, people
boasted that the young Arab who
carried out the terrorist attack in
Pisgat Zeev was given hot meals
and fair treatment. However,
in most cases, the terrorists
are eliminated on the spot.
Excuse me, they arent actually
eliminated this time around,
weve learned a new word: the
terrorists are neutralized. The
source of the word neutral
is meant to show humanity
we dont kill terrorists; we just
neutralize them. In practical
terms, the neutralization seems
to be working well.
Every Arab mother has to
know that if she sends her son
into battle as a shahid, hell
come home in a box. Not that
they care, mind you. Even the
terrorist in Tel Aviv who managed
to escape and made a joke out
of the whole country for several
days was eventually neutralized
in his home.
There is no doubt that while
this method isnt really effective
against suicide bombers, its
definitely more effective than the
laughable destruction of their
homes with dynamite, which
hardly demolishes the inner
walls. Here, we at least convey a
clear and unambiguous message.
By eliminating the terrorist at the
scene of the attack, we proclaim
that were not bleeding hearts.
We dont try to adopt a war
ethic based on goyishkait and

an inferiority complex before


the world, rather we operate
according to the Divine precept
that demands he who rises to
slay you slay him first.
Our strength isnt found in the
elaborate tools developed by the
Israel Defense Forces, because
there is no sophisticated way to
succeed in fighting murderous
Islamic fundamentalist terror.
Our strength is in our truth, and
only in the merit of that truth do
we dwell here in Eretz Yisroel
and have the capacity to defeat
terrorism. According to this
truth, the strength of Torah, and
the promise of Alm-ghty G-d,
we rightly claim that this is our
land. We have returned to Kiryat
Arba and Shchem not because
of a housing shortage in the Tel
Aviv area, but because this is
where our forefathers dwelled
and it is our inheritance. Anyone
who fights for his homeland
must speak with a clear and
unrepentant voice. Only by
internalizing this concept can we
change our approach in the war
on terror, an important step on
the road to taking off the gloves
and engaging in an unwavering
struggle, as we would to preserve
our own home.
As long as we imprison
terrorists and apologize for being
forced to keep them behind
bars, we send them and the world
a signal that we really arent
right. However, the moment we
begin to relate to our murderers
as murderers, treating them as
killers should be treated, we will
be on the right track towards
international legitimacy.

3.
Recently, the media headlines
once again blared with the
declaration of the United
States ambassador to Eretz
Yisroel, who spoke against

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the occupation and how the


government conducts itself in
Yehuda and Shomron with two
legal standards, one for Jews and
another lhavdil for Arabs.
As
always,
the
media
argument has been divided into
two: On one side, there are those
who support preserving our
relations with the United States,
striving to remind us constantly
that without its help and support,
it will be difficult for us to
manage here. On the other side,
there are those who claim that
we must cut off our dependency
on the United States and stop
answering to the Americans.
As always, the first group
is blind to the true reality,
while the other group ignores
the
pragmatic
constraints.
Furthermore, each side fails to
propose practical solutions to
change the situation.
Of course, the solution comes
in the Rebbes diplomatic
platform, which relates to every
detail regarding what policy steps
should be taken, including on the
question of American assistance.
The Rebbe spoke on numerous
occasions in public addresses and
private audiences often quoted
at length in this column about
the importance of the American
assistance, which the Rebbe
classifies as something positive.
He refers to the United States
as a kingdom of kindness
that by its very nature wants
to offer help and assistance.
In contrast to the traditional
position of the Israeli political
right-wing, the Rebbe does
not reject the idea of American
assistance in both military and
economic
terms.
However,
the Rebbe also explained with
great clarity that specifically due
to this vital support, we must
change our approach towards the
Americans. Our approach must

be that because we want them


to continue to help us, we must
speak to them with firmness and
resolve, as this is the only way
that they will understand and the
only way that they will show their
appreciation for us.
In short, if the Prime
Minister wants to neutralize the
ticking time bomb of relations
with the United States, which
constantly invites new head-on
confrontations with Washington,
he must take action and
implement Israeli sovereignty in
Yehuda and Shomron, exactly as
it applies on the Golan Heights.
After nearly half a century, the
time has come for a courageous
leader who will put a stop to

if he didnt try every possible


way to compel you to withdraw
from your position, when you
display weakness and reveal the
likelihood for concessions.

4.
However, when all is said and
done, this really isnt important.
Its very nice to complain about
the government and propose
operational solutions. But this
is not what we must do. Its not
our job to complain about the
government, rather to protest
against it. For sitting and
complaining essentially means
sitting with hands folded. We
are experts in telling the Prime

As long as we imprison terrorists and apologize


for being forced to keep them behind bars,
we send them and the world a signal that we really
arent right. However, the moment we begin to relate
to our murderers as murderers, treating them as killers
should be treated, we will be on the right track towards
international legitimacy.

this legacy of mere survival. He


should stand proudly before
the world and proclaim that we
have absolutely no intention of
withdrawing from the territories,
and therefore, it will be futile
for the world to apply pressure
in this matter. Every seasoned
businessman knows this: If you
declare that the matter is not
open to discussion, no one will
try to pressure you. However,
if you show the slightest sign
of weakness, the opposing side
will immediately begin to try its
luck. Why shouldnt they make
an effort to trap you in a corner,
if you convey a message that
he has a chance of success? It
would be the height of stupidity

Minister what hes supposed to


do. However, this will not happen
if we dont give him strength, i.e.,
if we dont go out into the streets
and protest against him. Just
as America wants to hear clear
statements from us in order that
they can stand firm against the
world and support our position,
similarly, the Prime Minister
needs us to protest against him
in order that he will know that he
must do the right thing.
The
Rebbe,
Melech
HaMoshiach taught us about the
obligation of protest. This is a
personal obligation for each and
every one of us. Chabadnikim,
the time has come to put an end
to the apathy.

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TZIVOS HASHEM

M YSTERIOUS
VISIT

TO AUS CHWITZ
By Zalman Ben-Nun

Is everything ready? I
excitedly asked my friend. Im
starting to video.
I gently pressed on the
red button on the new video
camera, improved my position
facing the camera and began
to say, Its nice to meet you. I
am Shneur and next to me are
my friends, Avrumi and Sruli.
We are conducting a special
experiment with this time
machine we invented and hope
we will be successful!
I connected the red wire
that hung from the camera to
a tiny hole at the edge of the
time machine. Now I hoped
that everything we would see
would be preser ved forever by
the video camera.
Lets go, ready? Sruli
asked excitedly as he took a
step toward the round opening
of the machine. I left the video
camera and together with
Avrumi hurried to enter.
I pressed the date for a long
time and then gently pressed
the yellow button. Splaaaaaash!
Terrible
darkness.
Utter
bone-penetrating cold. We lay
*A pseudonym

close to one another on the cold


ground. On the right stretched
a very high barbed wire fence
with signs on it warning that
it was electrified. At the end
of the fence we could make out
a watchtower that stood very
high. An armed sentry directed
a powerful searchlight at the
fence. On the left, only dozens
of meters away, were low
wooden barracks. An armed
guard walked around.
Try to be absolutely quiet,
I whispered.
and
scary
looks
It
dangerous, added Avrumi.
We crawled silently in the
direction of the barracks when
we suddenly heard a sound. It
was the sound of sobbing. We
silently crawled toward the
source of the crying. Whatever
will be, will be, I thought, we
had to get inside.
The barracks were pathetic
looking. On both sides were
rows of iron shelves on which
people slept under thin blankets.
A small light hung from the
center of the room which left
the room mostly in shadows.
The utter silence was broken
only by the sound of crying

coming from the other end.


We took step after step until
we saw him. The old man. His
closed eyes were sunken in his
pale face. His broad forehead
was furrowed and a cloud
of sadness hovered over his
shrunken face. Now we could
hear him clearly. It was a cry,
but with words and a familiar
tune, Ani maamin bvias
haMoshiach ...
Sruli put his hand on the
shoulder of the man who
opened his eyes in a fright.
Who are you? What do you
want from me? he asked.
You have nothing to worry
about, I answered him. We
are a group of children from
the Holy Land.
The man looked at us in
disbelief and asked, From the
Holy Land? How did you get
here? To Auschwitz?
We briefly explained how
we got there and how, when
we heard his cries, had come
inside. The man nodded and
tears began flowing from his
eyes. He said, Our situation
here is very bad. Every passing
day increases the chances that
we will be taken out and killed,

34 26 Shvat 5776 - Hakhel


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2/2/2016 7:01:42 AM

- :

Dont be sad, children. You


come,
but despite everything, we is, know he is about to
ly cannot take me along
certain
not
its
believe that Moshiach will come. and nevertheless, well,
but you return where
you
with
this,
say
So every time, when I find it pleasant to have to
from and behave
came
you
Our
ready.
difficult, and I feel I am at the but we are not that
the special reality
to
ing
accord
it
what
breaking point, I sing the song Ahavas Yisroel is not
as befitting
Behave
in.
are
you
im.
should be among Chassid
Ani Maamin.
see who
to
merit
who
Jews
so
done
Our mitzvos are not
The man wiped away a
him to
for
wait
and
is
ch
Moshia
the
of
beautifully. We are aware
tear and continued in a weak
comes,
he
when
then,
And
come.
th
streng
Redeemer and his G-dly
voice. Oh, if we only knew
!
alayim
Yerush
in
meet
will
we
behave
but still, we dont
who Moshiach was and when he
me
had
sure
noise
A sudden loud
accordingly and dont make
would actually come...
There
door.
him.
the
turning toward
to let the world know about
But we do know who he is!
looked at us stood an angry armed guard.
man
old
The
the three of us chorused.
remote
kindly and we could see he Sruli rushed to take the
when
You know who? I cant
pocket
his
understood us. A shadow of a control out of
a
him
believe it. Please tell me.
gave
smile appeared on his lips and he the German guard
there,
to
stood
We
eered
volunt
terrifying look.
Avrumi
gently caressed my face.
rooted to the ground,
explain and said, In
the
with our teeth chattering
generation,
our
is
Rebbe
and our knees trembling
Lubavitcher
that
in fear.
Moshiach and he says
worry
Moshiach will be revealed
Dont
any minute and redeem
children, whispered the
the Jewish people!
man. With Hashems
smile
help nothing bad will
hopeful
A
happen. Press on your
appeared on the mans
remote control. You have
face. Then you are surely
accordingly,
nothing to fear.
preparing
Behaving
took
said.
he
guard
The
mitzvos
d
doing
forwar
better,
step
another
the
on
in a beautiful way and
pressed
and Sruli
And
enthusiastically.
yellow button. Splaaaash.
surely you are telling
Terribly shaken up,
everyone! Ah, if the people
we found ourselves in the
here in the barracks
doorway of the playroom
knew who Moshiach is,
of my house. The time
they surely would act
machine made a faint
differently,
completely
beep and the blinking
their emuna would be
lights slowly went off.
stronger and their actions
That was incredible!
would hasten his coming.
I said.
Now it was our turn
Sruli affirmed that.
to look surprised. How
The experiment was
Yes!
did we not think of
success!
a
the
Throughout
this?
I didnt mean that, I
generations, when the
said with a smile. What
looked
people
Jewish
we learned was incredible.
forward to the Geula,
Now we need to behave
praying for the coming
accordingly, as Chassidim,
of Moshiach, they longed
a moment before the
to know who he was and
hisgalus.
when he would come.
While in our generation
we know who Moshiach



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35
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