CONTENTS

6
FEATURED ARTICLES WEEKLY COLUMNS
3 Dvar Malchus
9 TO OBEY THE REBBE
WITHOUT QUESTION 5 Parsha Thought
Avraham Rainitz
32 Moshiach & HaYom Yom
18 THE ANSWER, THE
MEZUZA, AND THE
35 Tzivos Hashem
DISAPPEARING
HEADACHE
Yaakov Touito

17 22 SHABBOS
WITH CHABAD
IN AMSTERDAM
Avrohom Shmuel Zalmanov

28 THE TWINS
FROM FRANCE
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26
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 DVAR MALCHUS
DONT
DESPAIR OF
THE GEULA
Pesach Sheini teaches us to never despair;
if there are areas of deficiency, we are
always empowered with the capacity to
rectify them.
Translated by Boruch Merkur
LEARN ABOUT
GEULA
The Divine service during
the time of exile of revealing the
Alufo Shel Olam, the Master of
the Universe, within gola, within
the state of exile, brings about
the redemption. In fact, it is our
generation, the last generation
in exile, that will be the first
generation of redemption.
With G-ds help we shall see
in current events how the world
itself assists and brings about the
redemption.
Practically, the avoda of
bringing the Alufo Shel Olam
into the gola amounts to, as
discussed above, every Jew
adding in our deeds and
service in general, which brings
about the geula. In particular this
directive includes, as discussed
in the last farbrengen, Torah
study on the topic of redemption,
learning from the Written Torah
(regarding which [Rambam
writes], all the [holy] books are
full with this matter) as well as
1066_bm_eng NEW.indd 3
from the Oral Torah Mishna,
Gemara, Midrashim, and so on.
PESACH SHEINI: NO
DESPAIRING
To be more precise about
how to approach the avoda of
bringing the Alufo Shel Olam
into the gola, we must take the
lesson of Pesach Sheini to heart
that there is never cause to
despair. Rather, an accounting
must be made as to whether
we have properly corrected and
perfected the avoda done in the
past, or whether further efforts
are required. Pesach Sheini
teaches us to never despair; if
there are areas of deficiency, we
are always empowered with the
capacity to rectify them.
The main thing is that
everything in exile that appears
to be slipping out of our
grasp should be revealed to be
attainable, rectifiable, and those
things that have in fact been
lost should be recovered and
corrected. Moreover, may the
positive sense of lost (which
is greater than the concept of
revelation) be realized. Namely,
the revelation of the keitz (the
date of the end of the exile),
regarding which it is said, the
heart does not find expression
in the mouth. The same applies
to Moshiach Tzidkeinu himself,
who is said to come bhesech
hadaas unexpectedly (as a
surprising discovery), as it is
written, I have found Dovid,
My servant (in Mizmor 89
of Thillim). This concept is
apparent in the Mizmor Tzaddik,
the 90th chapter of Thillim,
where it is written, May the
pleasantness of G-d our L-rd
be upon us, and may the work
of our hands be directed upon
us, and the deeds of our hands
may You direct, in the Third
Beis HaMikdash, with the true
and complete redemption, the
redemption of all Jews, with our
youth, our eldersour sons and
our daughters.
(From the address of Shabbos
Parshas Acharei-Kdoshim, 13
Iyar 5751; Seifer HaSichos 5751
pg. 518-519)
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 PARSHA THOUGHT
DONT LET THE
SODOMITE SALT BLIND
OUR OPEN EYES
By Rabbi Heschel Greenberg
FIRST AND LAST WATERS
The Torah portion Kdoshim-
Holy not surprisingly emphasizes
the idea of holiness several
times. In one verse (11:44),
after discussing some of the laws
regarding idolatry, the Torah
continues, And you shall sanctify
yourselves and you shall be holy.
The Talmud (Brachos 53b)
links these two references to
holiness to the two washings
of our hands associated with
eating bread. The first refers to
the first waters, washing our
hands before parting of bread.
The basis for this washing is to
guarantee that the Kohen could
eat Truma, consecrated food in a
state of ritual purity. The rabbis
instituted washing our hands to
ensure that whenever Truma is
eaten our hands would always be
ritually clean.
The second reference to
holiness, the Talmud states, is to
the last waters; the washing of
our fingertips at the end of the
meal before reciting the Birchas
HaMazon-Grace after Meals
to remove any residual caustic
Sodomite salt, which could cause
blindness on contact with the
eyes.
The question can be asked:
what connection do the first
,
1066_bm_eng NEW.indd 5
and last washing have with
the context of that section which
discusses idolatry, as Rashi
states: And you shall be holy
means separate from idolatry.
We must also understand how
the last waters is related to
the idea of sanctification. While
the first waters are intended to
render our hands fit to touch
consecrated food, how do our
Sages justify a health precaution
as a form of holiness?
The simple answer is that
since it facilitates our ability to
recite the Grace after Meals, it
too is considered an accessory to
holiness.
Upon deeper reflection,
however, we can find an even
more direct relationship between
washing the fingertips and
holiness.
TWO FORMS
OF BLINDNESS
The rationale for the last
waters washing, as mentioned,
is to prevent blindness caused by
Sodomite salt.
Blindness can be spiritual.
Vision is a function of the brain
and not just the eyes. If the
brain cannot accurately process
something it produces a form of
blindness. And, in some ways,
a distorted view of an object,
person or event, can even be
worse than utter blindness.
People who think they can
see perfectly well are hard to
convince of their error and will
not seek ways to compensate for
their blindness.
To illustrate the above, the
Rebbe described a scenario in
which a blindfolded person is
brought into a room. When the
blindfold is removed he sees
masked people with knives
in their hands ready to stab a
captive tied to a bed. His first
impression is that these are a
gang of murderers about to kill
a helpless person. He does not
grasp that this is an operating
room and the team of surgeons
are about to save the life of the
unconscious patient.
We may ask, at what point is
this person more blind? When
he is blindfolded or after the
blindfold has been removed?
The answer is quite obvious. He
is far more blind without the
physical blindfold, because his
understanding of what he sees is
the very antithesis of its reality.
When he wore the blindfold he
was ignorant of the reality but
his perception was not skewed
against the reality.
From the above we can see
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 PARSHA THOUGHT

that there are two forms of
blindness: The first is where we
cannot see reality; the second is
where we see the opposite of the
reality.
These two forms of blindness
exemplify the difference between
people who dont see the G-dly
reality of everything and those
who see the opposite of the G-dly
reality.
KNOWING AND SEEING
Most of us who believe in
G-d and know that He is behind
everything do not necessarily
see that reality. If we had eyes
to see the true reality we would
see Divine Providence in every
happening. If only we could see
the Divine, our lives would be
holy to the maximum because
we feel and act would disappear.
GETTING RID OF
DEPRESSION
There is a beautiful story
of the Mitteler Rebbe (Rabbi
Dovber of Lubavitch, the son
and successor of R. Shneur
Zalman, the Alter Rebbe, the
founder of the Chabad movement
and the author of the classic
work, the Tanya) when he was a
child. A group of distinguished
Chassidim, two of whom were
businessmen in addition to being
scholars, were chatting. One
Chasid asked his colleagues why
they appeared downcast. The
Mitteler Rebbe said the reason
was obvious and he quoted and
reinterpreted a verse in the book
of Psalms (115:4):
from their distorted view that
silver and gold come from human
actions and resources. So they
can speak words of Torah but
the words do not speak to them
and influence their attitude. They
have eyes but cannot see Divine
providence. They have ears but
can only pick up the superficial
and they therefore have lost their
sensitive sense of smell.
This, the Mitteler Rebbe
concluded, is how an idol is
created.
FIRST WATERS:
REMOVAL OF FIRST MILD
FORM OF BLINDNESS
We can now easily appreciate
the requirement to wash our
hands before partaking of bread
and its connection to holiness

and the negation of idolatry.
Now there is a more insidious threat to our
Food is a powerful metaphor
spiritual lives. Exile, and particularly the last for our dependence on and
moments of exile, is a period in which people call evil engagement with the physical
world. Before we take that
good, and good evil, that change darkness into light, plunge into the physical, we
and light into darkness (Isaiah 5:20) The blindness must first get rid of the first form
of blindness, where we fail to see
now is of the latter type, where many see a picture that the Divine in everything. This we
is totally the opposite of the reality, with their eyes wide do by washing our hands before
the meal.
open! The hands symbolize our
interaction with the physical
and they must be elevated to the
everything we did would revolve Their idols are but silver and spiritual realm.
around the G-dly reality we see gold, the work of human hands. Laxity in this mitzvah, our
and experience. They have a mouth but cannot Sages teach, leads to poverty. In
The difference between speak, they have eyes but cannot the spiritual sense that means we
knowing and seeing affects see. They have ears but cannot lack the spiritual capital to live
every aspect of our lives. If we hear, they have a nose but cannot our lives to the fullest.
could see the G-dly reality, even smell.
the most mundane of activities The young Rebbe LAST WATERS: REMOVAL
would be oriented towards G-d reinterpreted this Psalm for the OF INSIDIOUS BLINDNESS
and driven by our desire to get Chassidim. The word for their
closer to Him. Our Animal Souls However, there is a more
idols atzabeihem can also be
passion for the physical would insidious form of blindness.
translated as their depression.
be tempered by our awareness These are the effects of
And here is how he ingeniously
of the Divine within the physical Sodomite salt, the spiritually
rendered this text:
world. The cognitive dissonance caustic substance that comes
Their depression comes from having satiating our physical
between what we know and how

6 9 Iyar 5777

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 desires to the fullest. In that state
we can develop an even more
damaging form of blindness. Just
like the evil Sodomites used their
hospitality toward wayfarers as
a way of capturing and torturing
them, so too, Sodomite blindness
spins our vision around to see in
everything the opposite of reality,
by worshipping things and
pursuing goals that are contrary
to G-d.
TWO HISTORICAL
REALITIES
The first waters and last
waters can be said to reflect two
historical realities.
In the days of the Beis
HaMikdash (the first waters)
the Kohens washing of his hands
before partaking of Truma, the
consecrated food, symbolized
the need to conform our physical
activities to our spiritual level.
The Temple dispersed G-dly
awareness to the entire nation,
but the people always had a
free will choice to embrace that
holiness or resist it. Washing our
hands and sanctifying them was
our way of saying that we wanted
to embrace that which our mind
knew so that it informed our
entire being.
Washing our hands today
before our meal injects us with
some of that first waters
1066_bm_eng NEW.indd 7
dynamic that prevailed in the
days of old and prepare us for the
future Third Temple era.
However, as we stand in
these last days of exile, we are
in the last waters era. Now
there is a more insidious threat
to our spiritual lives. Exile, and
particularly the last moments
of exile, is a period in which
people call evil good, and good
evil, that change darkness into
light, and light into darkness
(Isaiah 5:20) The blindness now
is of the latter type, where many
see a picture that is totally the
opposite of the reality, with their
eyes wide open!
NO BLINDFOLD,
BUT STILL BLIND
Yes, we are like the person
whose blindfold has been
removed but who cannot see how
the surgeons are saving a life.
We are now living in the End
Days (last waters) when G-d
has removed the blindfold for
us to see G-dliness in the most
unfiltered way. We have seen the
most unprecedented and open
miracles in a taste of the future.
Yet, because we have not yet been
given the Third Beis HaMikdash,
we can still suffer from Sodomite
blindness and see recent events
as the opposite of what they truly
represent.
Our generation now needs to
wash off the residual effects of
Galus with the last waters in
these latter days.
MOSHIACH IS IN SODOM!
The Midrash comments on
the words in Psalms, I have
found My servant David. Where
has he been found? In the city of
Sodom.
The Midrash might be
alluding to the fact that the last
challenge before Moshiach is to
get rid of the blinding effects of
Galus precisely at the time when
our eyes have the capacity to be
opened. As the Rebbe told us, the
only thing left for us is to open
our eyes.
The last waters can be said
to allude to the teachings of Torah
concerning Moshiach, which help
remove the potential for our open
eyes to see a distorted picture.
Everything can be said to be
hinted in the Torah.
The Talmudic expression,
The last waters are
an obligation are numerically
equal to the words -
with Moshiach ben Dovid.
The implication of this hint
is that Moshiachs efforts will be
directed at opening our eyes so
that we can see G-ds presence in
the most revealed fashion.
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 PROFILE

8 9 Iyar 5777

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 TO OBEY THE REBBE
WITHOUT QUESTION
He was drawn to Lubavitch as a young student in 5708, but it was only in
5712 that he first attended a farbrengen of the Rebbe. When he walked in
and saw the Rebbe who had a black beard and who had elder Chassidim
next to him, he innocently asked, Who is the Rebbe? * For nearly fifty
years he has been serving as the vice president of the Rabbinical Alliance
of America (Iggud HaRabbanim), and over the years he received many
personal directives from the Rebbe in private audiences and detailed
letters. * Rabbi Noach Bernstein, the man who worked to defer the
draft for thousands of yeshiva students during the war in Vietnam, in an
exclusive interview with Beis Moshiach.

Interview by Avraham Rainitz

Photos by Shmuel Amit

I
saw him hundreds of times
in 770, standing in a corner
of the zal and davening, or
sitting near one of the tables
and learning the daily shiurim.
I never thought that behind this
modest Chassid with the quiet
smile and the graying beard lies
a fascinating life story of public
service on many fronts. But life is
full of surprises.
When I sat in his home
in Crown Heights and leafed
through the files that document
his communal work over the
years, along with dozens of
letters he received from the
Rebbe, it struck me that the life
story of Rabbi Noach Bernstein
is actually the story of a Chassid
of the seventh generation. This
is what the Rebbe demands of
every one of us; to learn Nigleh
and Chassidus, to do the Rebbes
shlichus, and to be influential in
every possible way, including
over the nations of the world.
***
Rabbi Bernstein descends
from a long line of Slonimer
Chassidim. His grandfather
was the gabbai for the Slonimer
Rebbe and his father learned in
Ohel Torah in Baranowitz by
Rabbi Elchonon Wasserman,
Hyd. In his youth, his father
was orphaned of his parents. His
older sister, who had immigrated
to the United States, sent boat
tickets for her brothers and
sisters. That is how his father
arrived in the U.S. shortly after
World War I.
His father continued learning
in the Yeshiva of the East
Side, later known as Yeshiva
University, and after receiving
smicha was appointed as rav in a
shul in Brownsville where he also
ran a Talmud Torah.
Due to financial difficulties,

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 Profile
the family moved to Brighton
Beach. His father began davening
at the Nusach Arizal shul where
Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Konikov was
the baal tfilla on the Yomim
Noraim.
Young Noach learned
in Brighton Yeshiva but his
father wasnt satisfied with the
education there and he began
looking for a yeshiva with more of
an emphasis on yiras Shamayim.
In the summer of 5808/1948,
R Mendel Cunin went on
vacation to the Brighton Beach
area which was a popular
vacation spot for religious Jews
at the time. He went to daven
in the shul where the Bernsteins
davened. Noachs father was
very impressed by R Cunin
and poured out his heart to
him about his concern for his
sons yiras Shamayim. When R
Cunin told him about Yeshivas
Tomchei Tmimim, which was
then located at the corner of
Bedford and Dean, he quickly
registered Noach in the Chabad
yeshiva. And that is how I came
to Lubavitch, said R Bernstein
happily.
Over the years, I learned by
R Avrohom Popack, R Yitzchok
Dov Ushpal, R Gurfinkel,
R Pesachovitz, R Yehoshua
Tanchum Kastel, R Chaim Meir
Bukiet, and others. They all
implanted Chassidishe fear of
heaven in me and my father was
definitely pleased with the new
yeshiva.
My father was only able to
enjoy this for four years because
in 5712 he passed away suddenly.
My mother, on the other hand,
lived to 105 in good health and
enjoyed Chassidishe nachas from
me and my family.
She lived that long thanks
to the Rebbe, who in the middle
of a yechidus blessed her with
long life. And the Chassidishe
10 9 Iyar 5777
1066_bm_eng NEW.indd 10
nachas is also thanks to the
Rebbes bracha in a letter that
she received after she wrote that
she was worried that I dont
plan on going to college. The
Rebbe wrote to her that there
was no reason to be concerned
about a shidduch and subsequent
parnasa, as they would both
come along in the right time, and
he concluded the letter with a
blessing for true Jewish Chassidic
nachas.
THE FIRST FARBRENGEN
AND THE FIRST YECHIDUS
Although he came to
Lubavitch in 5708, he never saw
the Rebbe Rayatz, as he was then
still a young boy. It was first in
5712 that he went to 770 and
attended a farbrengen of the
Rebbe.
I was not yet into the goings-
on, says R Bernstein with a
smile, to the point that when
I walked in and saw the Rebbe
whose beard was dark and next
to him were elder Chassidim, I
asked which one is the Rebbe ...
Over the years, R Bernstein
had many private audiences with
the Rebbe. The first yechidus,
which he remembers clearly, was
for his 17th birthday. He was not
yet a full-fledged Lubavitcher
Chassid but his Lubavitcher
friends urged him to go and get a
bracha for his birthday.
The Rebbe gave me
instructions for my birthday
and said I should start saying
chapter 18 of Thillim. Since I
wasnt used to saying Thillim,
I had no idea whether it was a
short or long chapter. I hoped it
was short. To my great surprise,
the Rebbe, as though reading my
mind, said, Its a big chapter.
My birthday is on 23 Av.
One of the times I had yechidus,
the Rebbe said: You probably will
attend the Chof Av farbrengen.
Say lchaim but dont wait until I
motion to you to say lchaim, just
say it on your own.
Back then, the yeshiva
also had secular studies until
we were 17-18 years old, and
since I wanted to concentrate
on the Jewish subjects, I asked
permission to only learn limudei
kodesh. The hanhala asked the
Rebbe, who told them that if I
hadnt started it would be better
not to learn it, but since I started,
I should finish and get a high
school diploma.
Since I wanted to finish
up the secular studies as fast
as possible, I registered for
summer classes which would
enable me to earn my diploma
earlier. I arrived at 770 for the
Chof Av farbrengen directly from
a course I was taking. I was
dressed like a typical American
kid without a hat and jacket
and was embarrassed to enter
770. I stood in the yard near the
window of the small zal where the
Rebbe sat and farbrenged. The
Rebbe noticed me and after a few
minutes he sent me lekach and
lchaim through the window.
While in yeshiva, his friend,
R Velvel Konikov suggested they
open a gemach for the talmidim
of the yeshiva. They both gave an
initial donation and then raised
more until they had an amount
that enabled them to lend $10
to every bachur. In those days,
that was a considerable sum
of money. When they reported
about it to the Rebbe, the Rebbe
gave them an $18 check for the
gemach. Although the Rebbe
usually only wrote the amount in
numbers and signed the check,
this time, he wrote out all the
details.
2017-04-30 2:35:12 AM
 Rabbi Bernstein receiving kos shel bracha from the Rebbe
NOT LISTENING TO THE
REBBE IS PLAYING WITH
FIRE!
After graduating high school
at Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim
on Bedford, he went to Yeshivas
Achei Tmimim in Newark,
New Jersey. The rosh yeshiva
was Rabbi Yisroel Leib Shputz.
Then he went to learn in Achei
Tmimim in Pittsburgh where
he became every close with the
Lubavitcher rav there, Rabbi
Zalman Shimon Dworkin, who
later became the rav of Crown
Heights.
For the following school
year, the Rebbe told him to
continue learning in Pittsburgh.
R Bernstein wanted to go to
Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim
in Montreal for the summer
together with his friend,
Mordechai Tzvi Berkowitz
(who is known today as a baal
tfilla for the Yomim Noraim in
770). He spoke to the menahel
of the yeshiva on Bedford, R
Menachem Mendel Tenenbaum,
who was a good friend of the
menahalim of the yeshiva in
1066_bm_eng NEW.indd 11
Rabbi Bernstein receiving the Rebbes bracha
after the chuppa of his son
Montreal who approved the trip
and even made all the necessary
arrangements.
After the plan was already
in place, one of the balabatim in
Pittsburgh raised the idea that the
talmidim of the yeshiva should
stay in Pittsburgh during the
summer and learn with men in
the community one-on-one, thus
drawing them close to Lubavitch.
His suggestion placed us in a
quandary, because our summer
plans were already arranged. We
asked R Dworkin but he did not
want to decide and suggested we
ask the Rebbe.
We sent an express letter
to the Rebbe and within a short
time, received a reply.
The reply was to the effect
that all such questions should
come from the hanhala of the
yeshiva, who know what is best
for the bachurim and are in a
position to consider all of the
issues. It concluded with the
instruction that since they already
asked and received an answer
from the hanhala, there was no
point in asking again.
Of course, after an answer
like that, it was clear that we
would be following our original
plan and going to Montreal.
Before we went, we had a
yechidus and received the
Rebbes bracha for the trip. The
Rebbe said that if they would
ask me to run a camp, I should
refuse and continue learning in
the yeshiva.
We arrived at the yeshiva
in Montreal and joined the
learning schedule. Since it
was summertime, some of the
students were in camp and the
atmosphere in yeshiva was a little
weak but we tried to keep the
sdarim. A short while later, one
of the members of the hanhala
of the yeshiva asked me to join
the camp and take the place of a
counselor.
Of course I refused and said
the Rebbe told me not to leave
yeshiva for camp. I suppose he
was under pressure to find a
counselor because he said that in
light of the weakness in the study
sessions in yeshiva, even the
Rebbe would agree that I should
be a counselor. Since I did not
Issue 1066 11
2017-04-30 2:35:15 AM
 Profile
Rabbi Bernstein with a judge of the
Supreme Court
yet understand what a Rebbe is,
and to me he was like a rav, a big
rav, I accepted what he said and
went to camp.
Color War was going on at
the time between Teams Day and
Night. I was in charge of Team
Night and one of the things we
did was light huge bonfires, to
demonstrate the era when they
sanctified the new moon and the
beis din would light bonfires to
announce the sanctification of the
new month. I took a long stick,
wrapped the end in rags and tried
to light the torch. When the rags
did not ignite, one of the guys
came and poured kerosene on it.
The torch quickly lit but so did
my clothes. I managed to roll on
the ground and was saved from
severe burns, but I immediately
realized that not listening to the
Rebbe was playing with fire and
I left camp that day and returned
to yeshiva.
I learned the hard way, but
from that point on I knew that
when the Rebbe says something,
it is essential to obey the Rebbes
instructions with the utmost
exactitude, without any tricks.
12 9 Iyar 5777
1066_bm_eng NEW.indd 12
Rabbi Bernstein at the International
Conference on Education
The story that occurred in
the camp in Montreal reminded
R Bernstein of a story that took
place a few years prior. Until
1956, the year that Gan Yisroel
opened for the first time, Chabad
Chassidim would send their boys
to Camp Yeshiva. R Bernstein
worked there as a counselor one
year. In 1956 the Rebbe asked
him in yechidus why he wasnt
working as a counselor in Gan
Yisroel, and he answered that he
had worked for Camp Yeshiva
the previous year when there was
not yet a Lubavitch camp, and at
the end of the last season they
had come to an agreement that
he would work there again the
next year.
The Rebbe then told him, I
want you to take your day off
and be our guest in Camp Gan
Yisroel, and afterward to write
a report about everything you
saw.
Obviously, for the next year,
R Bernstein knew exactly what
the Rebbe wanted of him, and
he signed up as a counselor in
Camp Gan Yisroel.
ADVANTAGE OF A NEW
YORK WEDDING
After two years in Pittsburgh,
R Bernstein went to 770. When
he turned 24, he asked the Rebbe
in his birthday yechidus whether
to get involved with shidduchim.
The Rebbe did not respond. A
year later, on his 25th birthday,
when he asked again, the Rebbe
said: You are still young.
When he turned 26 and asked
a third time, the Rebbe said: It
is still not necessary to look, but
if suggestions come your way,
think about it. In this yechidus
the Rebbe blessed him that he
would become a chassan that
year.
That year, my wifes name,
Adela Avtzon (daughter of
R Meir ah) was suggested.
Her father had been a shadar
(traveling fundraiser) for the
Rebbe Rayatz in Russia. When he
arrived in the US he worked to
spread Judaism among Russian
immigrants in Detroit.
When we met, I understood
why the Rebbe had had me wait,
because that year she turned 18.
The kallas parents wanted
the wedding to be in Detroit,
where the kalla lived, and also
because they were a very large
family and it would be hard for
them to travel to New York with
all their little ones. R Bernstein,
who was already working as a rav
in the Anshei Polin shul in Coney
Island, and also ran a small
business, preferred a wedding in
New York so he would not have
to leave his congregation and his
business throughout the wedding
period.
When he had yechidus before
the wedding, the Rebbe asked
him where the wedding would
be. R Bernstein, thinking that the
Rebbe wanted to tell him to do as
the kallas side wanted, said the
2017-04-30 2:35:18 AM
 invitations were not yet printed.
If the Rebbe wanted the wedding
to be in Detroit, that could be
arranged. To his surprise, the
Rebbe said: There are many
advantages to making the
wedding here and one of them is
that on the day of the wedding it
is possible to be at the tziyun of
the shver (i.e. the Rebbe Rayatz).
At that time, there was a
grocery store for sale in one
of the religious vacation spots.
The owner wanted to sell it to
R Bernstein at a good price. R
Bernstein asked the Rebbe about
it and received a detailed answer
in which the Rebbe spelled out
a long list of concerns about
getting involved in the deal.

THIS IS A CAR
AND THIS IS A CAR
As the Rebbe told him, R
Bernstein learned for smicha
and became the rav of the
Anshei Polin shul. He would
make an oneg Shabbos for
the congregation with nearly
400 people participating, every
Friday night. When he wrote to
the Rebbe about this, and also
mentioned a certain matter that
was on his mind, the Rebbe
wrote on his letter: Thank you
for the good news. Certainly
it will be recognized from the
aforementioned that there is no
foundation for your previous
concern. May you continue with
your matters in serenity, joy and
goodness of heart.
He also opened a car rental
business. At this time, Rebbetzin
Chaya Mushka needed to have
her car fixed and she rented a car
from him for a month. Although
I gave the Rebbetzin the best car
that I had, it wasnt as good as
a Cadillac. I later heard from R
Sholom Dovber Gansburg that
the Rebbe told the Rebbetzin,
This is a car and this is a car ...
Rabbi Bernstein (center) with members of the delegation to Washington
A new mikva was being built
in his neighborhood of Brighton
Beach and when the project got
bogged down, R Bernstein got
involved and started moving the
project forward at a significant
pace. The members of the
community offered that he run
the mikva and be paid a salary
by the community for this.
When he asked the Rebbe about
this, he once again received a
detailed answer about the need
to ease into the new job, if he
truly felt that it suited him, while
maintaining his existing source of
income.
A short while after he
married, large corporations
entered the car rental business
and offered such cheap rentals
that he simply could not compete
with their prices. He closed the
business and was able to procure
a government job with the city of
New York, while continuing his
spiritual work with the people of
his community. contract in similar cases).
HASHEM IS HAPPY WITH
YOUR WORK THERE
R Bernstein thought things
were settled in his personal life,
but then Rabbi Moshe Feller,
shliach in Minnesota, offered the
young couple a shlichus position
in Duluth, in the northern part
of Minnesota. R Bernstein asked
the Rebbe and did not receive an
answer. Nevertheless, R Feller
continued to pressure him and
suggested that he come just for
a short time and if afterward he
decided to leave, the door would
have at least been opened to send
a Lubavitcher to the community.
In the end, R Bernstein
yielded to Rabbi Fellers
importuning and said yes. After
writing to the Rebbe about
his decision, he received the
following answer: May it be in a
good and successful time (upon
consulting with those who are
knowledgeable and have seen the

Issue 1066 13

1066_bm_eng NEW.indd 13 2017-04-30 2:35:19 AM

 Profile
He also had a yechidus before
he left.
During the yechidus, the
Rebbe spoke to me about the
character of the people living in
Duluth and said: You need to
transform the place into Eretz
Yisroel. Knowing how far the
people there were from the level
of Eretz Yisroel, I wondered
how I would be able to do that.
As though reading my mind,
the Rebbe said: At least close to
Eretz Yisroel.
The Rebbes brachos came at
an opportune time. The Six Day
R Bernstein bought the letters. When he
examined them, he saw that in some of them the
Rebbe said to increase established times for learning.
He felt this was an instruction meant for him, from the
Rebbe, as a means to merit a blessing. He added a weekly
Chassidus shiur and within a short time he received a job
offer from the government of New York.
War took place soon after and
following the great miracles that
happened then, Jews everywhere
were greatly inspired and the
people in the Duluth community
increased in their Torah
observance.
Boruch Hashem, we were
very successful there. My wife,
who had shlichus experience
from her work in Detroit before
we married, ran a Jewish school
and even hosted a radio program
on a local station. Together, we
raised the spiritual level of the
community.
THE REBBE: CONQUER THE
CONFERENCE
Along with his work with the
Jewish community, R Bernstein
also got involved in public
14 9 Iyar 5777
1066_bm_eng NEW.indd 14
advocacy and became well-liked
by politicians who asked him to
join a number of government
committees, including the
Human Rights Committee. He
accepted their offers and that is
how his influence spread beyond
the Jewish community.
For example, during
the Vietnam War, when the
mandatory draft was instated
and the military wanted to draft
yeshiva students, R Bernstein
met with his friend, Congressman
Blotnick, who was head of the
committee in Congress that dealt
with this matter, and convinced
him to pass legislation deferring
the draft of yeshiva students.
In 1970 there was an
International Conference on
Education. R Bernstein was
invited to attend the conference
as the rabbi of a community.
After he asked the Rebbe, he
received the following response:
Participation in the conference
is important and very very good,
and the secretariat will transmit
to him what is known here about
it. Certainly you will speak with
the other participants from
Anash, and after that with more
of them, and all of them together
will conquer the conference etc.
R Moshe Feller was also
invited to the conference and
from his conversations with
the Rebbes secretaries, R He agreed, and I told Rabbi
Bernstein learned that Rabbis
Avraham and JJ Hecht, Avraham
Shemtov, David Hollander,
and Rabbi Nissan Mindel, the
Rebbes secretary, would also be
attending.
Regarding the events at
the conference, R Bernstein
recounts:
The secretaries told us that
the Rebbe wants us to meet
each day in order to coordinate
our positions and to come to
an agreement about courses
of action throughout the
conference, and also to contact
the secretaries to report to the
Rebbe about what we managed to
accomplish. During the course of
the day, each one would be in a
different forum, and once a day
we would gather and report to
the Rebbe.
Boruch Hashem, there was
great success, and a significant
portion of the messages that we
wished to convey were cited in
the media and got a great deal of
coverage.
The conference was attended
by four thousand people, in
different forums, but on the last
day there was an open forum
with the participation of all the
attendees, and anyone who
wanted to speak had to present
a request. I put forth a request,
and was granted permission to
address the entire conference.
However, a short time before
my turn came, the moderator
informed me that I would be the
last speaker. The speaker who
was supposed to follow me was
Rabbi Dovid Hollander. Since
he was a very articulate speaker,
and he had also been my rebbi in
yeshiva, I thought that it would
not be proper for me to speak
and have him lose his turn, so I
asked the emcee to allow Rabbi
Hollander to speak in my place.
Hollander the gist of what I had
2017-04-30 2:35:20 AM
 wanted to convey, and he ended
up presenting it in a very forceful
and cogent manner.
Following the open forum,
we all got together and contacted
the office of the secretariat. Rabbi
Hollander began to report about
the days events, but suddenly the
Rebbe asked to speak to me, and
instructed me to give over the
report.
LCHAIM FOR THE PUBLIC
SCHOOL CHILDREN
Upon our return from the
conference, we landed straight
into the Rebbes farbrengen in
honor of Yud-Tes Kislev. While
the crowd was singing Ana Avda,
the Rebbe looked in my direction
and indicated that I should say
lchaim. I did not consider for a
moment that the Rebbe meant
me, so I looked to my right and
1066_bm_eng NEW.indd 15
to my left in order to see who
the Rebbe was instructing to say
lchaim. However, the Rebbe
kept looking in my direction and
signaled to me to say lchaim,
until I understood and picked up
a cup for a lchaim.
Since on that very morning,
during the conference on
education, I had worked hard
to convince other participants
of the need to abolish the law
that prohibits prayer in the
public schools, I decided to ask
the Rebbe for a bracha for this
initiative. When I picked up the
cup of mashke, I said: Lchaim!
For all the children who are not
allowed to daven to HaKadosh
Baruch Hu.
The Rebbe listened to what
I said, and responded with
a question: Is that what you
screamed in Washington?
After I responded in the
affirmative, the Rebbe asked
again: For real? And I answered:
Yes! To which the Rebbe
responded with satisfaction: That
is a proper thing.
I said to the Rebbe that
the ones who guided me in
Washington were the brothers
and Chassidim, R Avrohom and
R Yaakov Yehuda Hecht. The
Rebbe said that they should say
lchaim too.
R Avrohom Hecht said
lchaim immediately, while
his brother R. Yaakov Yehuda,
who sat some distance from
the Rebbe, did not hear the
Rebbes request...The Rebbe
asked: Where is JJ Hecht? The
Rebbes use of his American
nickname caused everybody to
smile. When Rabbi Hecht heard
the Rebbe calling his name,
he quickly rose up and saidto
the Rebbe:Hineini! The Rebbe
Issue 1066 15
2017-04-30 2:35:23 AM
 Profile
turned to the two brothers and
said: See the crops that you have
cultivated!
THE PICTURES AND
REPORTS ON THE REBBES
DESK
Two years later, there was a
similar conference, but this time
I was the only Lubavitcher that
was invited to attend. I remember
thinking to myself then that it
was in the merit of the fact that
at the previous conference I had
forgone my speech for Rabbi
Hollander.
When we met, I understood why the Rebbe had
me wait until I turned 26, because that year my
kalla turned 18.
And so, in this conference
I was given the opportunity to
address the full crowd, thousands
of people from around the world.
I used the opportunity to speak
about the need to base education
upon the belief in G-d. One of
the main topics of the conference
was about educating children
to respect their elders. I said
that in America there are only
two days when children honor
their parents, Fathers day and
Mothers Day, but when they will
understand that we are required
to give honor because of a divine
commandment, they will respect
their parents 365 days a year.
The talk was received
with great enthusiasm and was
reported on extensively in the
media and in the public releases
from the conference. Afterward,
when I sent in all of the reports
and pictures to the Rebbe, the
Rebbe left the envelope on his
desk for a very long time. When
I asked the secretary, R Klein, if
I could get the pictures back, he
16 9 Iyar 5777
1066_bm_eng NEW.indd 16
told me that they were sitting on
the Rebbes desk. Only after six
months had passed did the Rebbe
send out the pictures and I got
them from the secretary.
MISSION TO ERETZ
YISROEL FOR MIHU YEHUDI
As rav of a typical, American
khilla, R Bernstein saw firsthand
the full extent of the damage
caused by the Law of Return
(Mihu Yehudi) and how it
accelerated assimilation. Young
Jews said to themselves: If in
Eretz Yisroel this girl would be
considered Jewish, why shouldnt
we marry her?
At that time, R Bernstein
was appointed to the position of
vice president of the Rabbinical
Alliance of America. He traveled
with a delegation of rabbis to
Eretz Yisroel, to explain to the
heads of state about the great
danger posed by the Law of
Return and the urgent need to
amend it.
Upon instruction from
the Rebbe, he met with Israeli
President Shazar together with
Rabbi Zalman Posner and
presented a comprehensive
lecture on the destructive impact
of the Law of Return.
WHEN MOSHIACH COMES
THEY WILL INFORM YOU
OVER THERE
As mentioned, R Bernstein
only went to Duluth for a brief
time. Then he agreed to stay for
a year, but later decided to leave
because if less than a year passed
since he left his municipal job, he
could still get it back on the same
terms as when he left.
When I asked the Rebbe in
yechidus what I should do, he
said to me: Hashem is happy
with your work there, so dont
come back for now.
I told the Rebbe that I did
not dream that a year would pass
and we would still be there, as
following the great inspiration
after the Six Day War, I was sure
that Moshiach would come and
take us from there. The Rebbe
said: When Moshiach comes,
they will inform you over there.
In light of this answer, we
continued working there until,
five years later, the members
of the community decided they
had to enable women to pray
in the main sanctuary of the
shul and not on the second
floor as previously, and without
a mechitza. I stood firmly
and insisted there had to be a
mechitza. When they pushed
back and insisted on mixed
seating, I had no choice but to
threaten to resign as rav of the
community. I wrote to the Rebbe
that if he told me to remain in
the city, I would stay. In the end,
they did not change their minds
and the Rebbe told me to come
back.
(More than a decade later,
the community held a special
gathering for people who had
lived in the community in the
years prior, and they invited
Rabbi Bernstein to attend. He
accepted the invitation and took
the opportunity to print a Tanya
there. A short while later they
printed the 1000th edition of
Tanya and, as per the Rebbes
instructions, at the end of the
Tanya they printed photocopies
of various editions that were
printed around the world. On
page 770 there is a copy of the
2017-04-30 2:35:23 AM
 front page of the Tanya printed in
Duluth by Rabbi Bernstein.)
In a general-personal letter
that he received from the Rebbe
a short while after returning
to New York, the Rebbe added
before his signature: With
blessings for a good histadrus (lit.
organization, i.e. living and work
arrangements) soon.
A short while later, R
Bernstein received an offer to
serve as rav of the Beis Midrash
HaGadol in Washington
Heights. He accepted the offer,
as the Rebbe told him to be
involved in rabbanus. Along
with leading the community,
he took a senior position in the
KAJ kashrus organization under
Rabbi Yosef Breuer.
When he wrote to the Rebbe
about the job offer, the Rebbe
responded: Accept it, since there
is no better offer gam zu ltova.
When he had yechidus,
the Rebbe gave him certain
instructions regarding his work.
The Rebbe told him that this
community brought all sort of
customs from Frankfurt and
that he should not adopt their
customs.
After 21 years, the KAJ
kashrus organization closed
its meat department and R
Bernstein remained without
that job. This was after Gimmel
Tammuz and he was despondent.
Someone on the street suddenly
stopped him and told him that
he bought a book and found
1066_bm_eng NEW.indd 17
THE REBBES REACTION TO A SUKKA AT TRUMP VILLAGE
My mother lived for many years in Coney Island. Eventually, Jews left
the area and my mother moved to one of the buildings built by President
Trumps father. There are seven of these buildings, each of which contained
500 families. The entire complex was named Trump Village.
Sukkos time, I called the management office in charge and asked
permission to build a sukka in the yard. They told me that they have no
problem with that, but were afraid someone would get hurt by the sukka and
sue them, so they made their consent conditional on my getting a million
dollars worth of insurance. I arranged that, and built a big, beautiful sukka,
not just for my mother but for dozens of Jews who lived there.
After Tishrei, when I had yechidus and told the Rebbe about this, I
thought the Rebbe would give me a yashar koach for what I did. Instead,
the Rebbe asked: In that area there are other large buildings with dozens of
Jews why didnt you take care of them too?
some original letters from the without actually having proper
Rebbe and Rebbe Rayatz in it. He certification.
offered to sell the letters for $250 So thanks to increasing his
a letter. Torah learning, R Bernstein got
R Bernstein bought the a good paying job in the field of
letters and when he examined kashrus.
them, he saw that in some of R Bernstein has recently
them, the Rebbe said to increase retired from his government job.
established times for learning. He uses his free time to give
He felt this was an instruction shiurim and do extensive work
meant for him, from the Rebbe, on the Rebbes mivtzaim. He uses
as a means to merit a blessing. his position as vice president of
He added a weekly Chassidus the RAA, a position he has filled
shiur and within a short time for nearly fifty years, to fight for
he received a job offer from the various Jewish causes.
government of New York to be a Before leaving his house, R
kashrus supervisor. Bernstein let us sneak a peek
The state of New York at his extensive files which
does not give hechsherim, of document his activities, even in
course, but as part of their recent years, in promoting the
anti-fraud efforts there are Rebbes proposal of A Moment
kashrus supervisors who can of Silence in public schools in
levy fines on restaurants and the U.S. It is the work of many
other food establishments which years, he said, but we will leave
present themselves as kosher that for another time.
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 STORY
THE ANSWER, THE
MEZUZA, AND THE
DISAPPEARING
HEADACHE
An amazing firsthand miracle account.
By Yaakov Touito
I
t was towards the end of
the past summer, during
an ordinary round of
mivtzaim on the streets of
Yerushalayim, when I encountered
a Jew by the name of Yaakov
Dilmoni. Yaakov is the political
adviser for R Eli Ben-Dahan,
Deputy Minister of Defense and
Member of Knesset.
He grabbed me and told me
that he has an amazing miracle
story that occurred with him and
the Rebbe MHM. I asked him to
wait a few minutes until I finished
what I was doing, at which point
we sat down in a quiet place and
he began to recount:
It was seven years ago, in
5770, around Purim time, when
I suddenly began to suffer from
head pain. We are not talking
about ordinary headaches, but
intense head pain. The pain was
centered mostly in the back of the
head and spread out from there
to the rest of the head. There
was no way I could function in
such a situation and I would
spend a great deal of time lying
18 9 Iyar 5777
1066_bm_eng NEW.indd 18
down and resting; that was the
only thing that mitigated the pain
somewhat.
Over time, I visited many
doctors for tests. They all told
me that my situation appears
to be serious. So what was
the problem? That itself was
a problem; nobody knew the
answer...
During one of the tests I
underwent, one of many, the
doctor told me that the results
were really bad and to the best
of his understanding there was a
serious imbalance in the bodys
immune system. Obviously, this
information did not do much for
my state of mind, to put it mildly.
On the 3rd of Nissan I went
for another exhausting test with
a renowned doctor in Tel Aviv.
Once again, the doctor said the
same thing I kept on hearing from
others, The tests are not good.
There are some less than pleasant
estimations, but we have no
exact information at this time. I
begged the doctor to at least give
me some direction as to what
might be involved, but he claimed
that he was proscribed from
telling me his speculations, as
long as there were no conclusive
and precise test results.
I felt like I was losing all hope.
The uncertainty was the greatest
torment for me.
Allow me to preface the next
part of the story by saying that
my family is very religious, but
over time I had experienced a
slight decline in my religious
observance. I had no prior
connection with Chabad, except
for one occasion when I had
written to the Rebbe via the Igros
Kodesh during my army service.
When I left the doctors office
that day, I was in despair. I have
no idea why, but a vague memory
popped into my head of that time
when I had written to the Rebbe
when I was in the army. I decided
on the spot that the Rebbe was
my only hope.
I went straight from the
doctor to the Chabad House of
Rav Motti Gal (now of blessed
memory). The one who greeted
me there was a young, pleasant
man by the name of R Tzvi
Ventura, a long-time worker in
the Chabad House in Ramat
Gan, who was always happy to
2017-04-30 2:35:23 AM
 help people write to the Rebbe.
I asked him to help me write the
letter because I had no idea of the
protocol governing what to do
and how to do it.
With his help, I wrote a one
line note to the Rebbe, that I was
suffering from terrible headaches
and was asking for a blessing that
the pains go away and that all
should be well.
I randomly inserted the letter
into volume 10, proclaimed Yechi
Adoneinu, and opened to page
239:
It is my hope that at the
time of the receipt of this letter
of mine there has been an
improvement in the health of
the entire family and of hers as
well, and as far as the migraines
(in a footnote the Rebbe writes
head pains) that she suffers
from, in addition to the new
medications that have developed
in recent times, including a
number of types of nicotinic
acid, it would be worthwhile
for her to acquire a mezuza
that was checked and found to
be kosher and to wrap it a few
times in a cloth within a cloth,
and to carry the mezuza with
her (obviously at times when
it is permitted to carry, unlike
Shabbos, in a public domain).
Certainly this will have a
positive effect on her health,
and Hashem should grant
success to her and her husband
that they should always impart
good news all the days.
I was sitting there at the table
and listening to the voice of R
Tzvi Ventura, reading the letter
loudly and slowly. I was in shock!
I could see that the letter was
directed at me, with a precise
answer to the problem that was
plaguing me.
The answer really shook
me up, but at the same time I
experienced a sense of elevation
1066_bm_eng NEW.indd 19
that I will never forget as long
as I live. In that instant I felt
like something had opened up
within my soul. I cried, and I felt
that the Rebbe was reaching his
hand out to me and pulling me
up. There was a feeling of my
went from being a wreck who
entire inner world being flooded
with light, bringing me to a place
that I had waited my whole life to
reach straight to the Rebbe.
On that very day, I traveled to
Kfar Chabad and went into the
Kehot bookstore. I asked one of
the people working there if he
knew where I could purchase a
small sized mezuza.
A Chabad woman standing
on line in the store heard my
question, and she asked me if
it was because of a letter of the
Rebbe. I couldnt understand
how she would know that,
and I answered that it
was, in fact, the case that
I had written to the Rebbe
about a certain issue, and
the Rebbe had written to
purchase a mezuza.
She began to tell me
that not long before she
had been in the hospital.
Her family wrote to
the Rebbe for her, and
the response was the
same as mine. She then
directed me to the sofer
R Avrohom Kadosh, who
sells such mezuzos. I went
to him and purchased a
small mezuza, which R
Kadosh wrapped in two
layers for me, exactly as
the Rebbe wrote to do.
And then, miracle
of miracles! The very
next day, all the terrible
headaches disappeared.
Literally an open miracle.
The following week
I went to the doctor in
Tel Aviv, having made an
appointment after he sent
me for additional tests.
I told him that I did not
do the tests because I felt
great. I didnt get into the
story about the mezuza.
He was very angry at me
and did not understand how I
begged him to figure out what
was wrong, to someone who
waltzed in and said he was fine.
He thought I was crazy.
I suddenly decided to ask him
whether he heard of something
called nicotinic acid. He thought
a bit and then haltingly asked
me, in a shocked voice, Who
Issue 1066 19
2017-04-30 2:35:24 AM
 Story

told you about it? Whom did you
speak to?
I told him that it wasnt
that important and asked my
question again. He insisted on
knowing who told me about this
medication, but I did not tell him.
He said that just now it struck
him that perhaps this is what
could help my head pain.
I dont remember his answer
precisely, but he explained that
it isnt exactly a medicine, but
a type of medical compound
that is contained in a number
of medicines, and one of its
properties is that it helps the
oxygen flow to the brain and
blood flow in the veins. Now that
he was thinking about it, it was
definitely possible that the pain
I had was from a blockage in the
veins of the brain which resulted
in lack of blood and oxygen to
the brain.
After he finished his
explanation, he said he wanted
to give me pills that contain this
ingredient for me to take for a
few days so that we could verify
their efficacy, but I told him that
I didnt need it since the pain
went away and I was fine.
He was really convinced I was
crazy and he tried to convince me
to do additional tests or at least
to take the pills, but I said with
utter confidence that I didnt
need it; I was perfectly fine.
This doctor worked with a
relative of mine and since the
doctor was afraid for my well-
being, he asked my relative to
persuade me to continue with the
tests so my condition wouldnt
worsen. Obviously, this did
not help. I was confident in the
Rebbes bracha.
A short while later I
underwent comprehensive tests
that had nothing to do with this
story and the results showed that
my immune system was balanced,
and the rest of my bodily systems
were stable.
***
The adviser to the Deputy
Minister finished his story and
said, It is seven years now that
the mezuza goes where I go, in
Eretz Yisroel and abroad, always
in my pocket. There is no way I
will leave the house without it.
Ive had problems because of it
at security in various places like
airports and the Knesset but I
dont care. I feel the Rebbes
bracha with me every day.
Ever since this story
transpired, I have become very
close to the Rebbe and his
presence is apparent in every
aspect of my life. I have begun
to learn Chassidus, participate
in farbrengens, and have even
traveled to the Rebbe a few times.
I also initiate mivtzaim and utilize
my position to promote the
Rebbe and his main message of
Moshiach and Geula. My office
is adorned with a huge picture
of the Rebbe. I may not look the
part, but I testify openly about
myself that I am a Chassid of the
Rebbe and do not have a shadow
of a doubt that the heralding of
the Geula is very close to coming
to pass.
Yaakov Dilmoni concluded
his story: I am telling you this,
because the Rebbe wrote to me
in an answer to a letter that I
wrote today, that it is necessary
to publicize miracles, especially
personal miracles.

Continued from page 21
brachosthe critical phrases. The
listener must hear the natural voice
of the one reciting the bracha and
not an electronic rendition through a
microphone, telephone receiver or a
computer speaker.
The physical environment must
be appropriate for the recitation
of a brachaclean, with unsightly
or odorous sources properly
removed or concealed. Ideally, the
listener should answer Amen.
The listener must refrain from
anyhefsek(interruption) until they
perform the mitzvah or partake of
the food, drink or pleasurable item.
The phrase Baruch Hu uvaruch
Shemo (Blessed is He and blessed
is His Nametraditionally recited
when hearing Hashems holy Name)
is also considered ahefsek, as would
any extraneous words inserted by
either the speaker or listener to a
bracha.
One of the requirements for
beingyotzeiwith anothersbirchas
hanehenin is a situation
ofkvius([all participants seated in
a] fixed position), with the exception
of brachos associated with a mitzvah
such as Kiddush, Havdala and the
related brachos on spices and fire.
The prevailing custom
before partaking of food is to
beyotzeianothers bracha only on
bread or wine, or foods eaten during
a meal, as well as other drinks which
are commonly drunk together in a
manner ofkviuseven outside of a
meal. In addition, when participants
at a meal would otherwise not recite
their ownbracha acharona(blessing
after a meal), it is a mitzvah to recite
it aloud on their behalf, although
in most circumstances, we do
not rely on beingyotzeiabracha
acharonathrough another.
One Minute Halacha is a
succinct daily presentation on
practical Halacha in video, audio,
and text formats, and can be
accessed by phone at 718.989.9599,
by email, halacha2go@gmail.com,
or by WhatsApp 347.456.5665.

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 HALACHA 2 GO

WHAT DOES IT
MEAN TO DAVEN
WITH A MINYAN?
Selected Halachos from the
One Minute Halacha project
By HaRav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, Shlita,
Mara Dasra and member of the Badatz of Crown Heights

OH, NO! HAVE I Amida before the congregation preferable for one person to recite
has concluded it, he is the bracha for all, implementing
MISSED MINYAN?
considered to havedavenedwith the words of Mishlei:Brov am
The mitzvah tfilla aminyan; still others consider hadras Melech (the glory of
btzibbur(communal prayer) participation sufficient at the the King is in the multitude of
consists ofdavening(praying) time the shliach tzibbur(the people).
with a minyan (quorum of at prayer leader, the chazzan) In order to be yotzei
for
least ten men), with the minimum begins his repetition of the a mitzvah orbirchas
of six participants who are Amida, or even at any point in his hanehenin (bracha on a
activelydavening. To fulfill his recitation. Although these options pleasurable substance) through
obligation oftfillabtzibbur, arent considered tfillawith anothers bracha, the one reciting
each active participant aminyanin the optimal sense, the bracha must carry at least
shoulddaven the essential part each contains some aspect the level of halachic obligation
oftfillathe silent Amida oftfilla btzibbur. as the listener. The listener must
(standing prayer, colloquially foremost havekavana(intent)
called Shmoneh Esrei) with all to fulfill their obligation through
HOW TO HEED:
the others, beginning the first the speaker, and the speaker must
of the nineteen brachos of the PARTICIPATING
likewise havekavanato include
Amidawith the congregation IN A BRACHA them. If either lacked intent,
or according to some opinions, There are certain situations it is halachically questionable
while they are still reciting the where a person may wish to whether the listener fulfilled their
first three brachos (which can be be yotzei(to meet a halachic obligation.
considered as one bracha). obligation) through the recitation It is also important to hear the
In extenuating circumstances, of a bracha by another. In fact, recitation of the bracha in full, or
there are more lenientposkimto with regard to certain mitzvos at leastas in the case of lengthy
rely on: Some maintain that as such as when hearing the Megilla
long as a participant begins the togetherit is halachically Continued on page 20

Issue 1066 21

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 SHLICHUS

SHABBOS
WITH CHABAD
IN AMSTERDAM
Every Shabbos, in countless areas of the world,
the Rebbes shluchim host the members of their
communities as well as tourists. This happens week
in and week out, which is why you wont read about
it anywhere; its routine, so its not exciting. * A Beis
Moshiach columnist visited the Chabad House for
travelers in Amsterdam for Shabbos, and tells us of an
ordinary Shabbos, one full of warmth and fire which
melted the surrounding cold European environment.
By Avrohom Shmuel Zalmanov

A
msterdam, an impressive European
city built on the water and
surrounded by a remarkable belt of
man-made canals, attracts numerous
tourists all year long. Even the winter doesnt
deter them.
People in coats and scarves bicycle on
the streets of the city alongside the famous
trolley lines, which can bring you to nearly
anywhere. Parents go out with their children
to stroll on the canals and a babble of
languages can be heard from all around.
When I went to Amsterdam it wasnt the
official tourist season. People who have the
option, prefer to visit Holland in the summer
and visit the nearby villages and see the
magnificent flowers and fields. Nevertheless,
tourists from all over the world can be seen
everywhere, and there is a Chabad House
for tourists that is located not far from the
busy tourist center of the city. Even during
off-season, you can meet Jews of all kinds.
STORIES BIG AND SMALL
People are used to reading incredible
stories about amazing shluchim, about
their successes and the enormous changes
they bring about. And yet, it is never really
possible to measure how influential the
shluchim are; you can never estimate the
power of one Shabbos in a Chabad House
as it affects the soul of a young Israeli
who thinks he showed up just to get a free
meal. The reality is that between the fish
and the steamed vegetables that he eats,
the name of Chabad is etched in his heart,
and the next time he encounters a Chabad
Chassid in Eretz Yisroel who will offer him

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 Issue 1066 23

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 Shlichus
tfillin, it is likely that the good
taste the Shabbos abroad left
in his mouth will make it hard
for him to refuse. Between here
and there, he will meet up with
other shluchim, pile on additional
spiritual experiences, and one
mitzva leads to another.
It is nice to hear amazing
stories about upheavals brought
about thanks to the work of the
shluchim, or stories about people
who changed their lives from
One told about his experiences at Chabad
Houses in South America. Another, who was
a music expert in a broad spectrum of musical genres,
spoke about how he is always excited anew over the
deep niggunim of Chabad, and how it is clear to him
that they come from a place that bridges this world with
something from beyond.
one extreme to another thanks
to a Chabad House program.
But sometimes, the stories are
found in the daily grind, like
the ordinary folks who thank
Chabad for their hospitality
before they continue on their
way, or those who are amazed
yet again by the Rebbes vision,
by the dedication of his people
and by the service the Chabad
House offers them everywhere
in the world. Sometimes, these
small things add up, contributing
another brick in the structure of
this lowly realm, and bringing
down the Shchina into this
physical world.
This is the story I choose
to share after staying for a few
hours at the Chabad House for
tourists in Amsterdam.
HOSTING AND
AN ATMOSPHERE
There are two Chabad
24 9 Iyar 5777
1066_bm_eng NEW.indd 24
Houses in Amsterdam, one in the
south which is mainly for local
residents, and one for tourists
which is located within walking
distance from the center of
town and from the famous Dam
Square.
Its a red-brown brick building
in the typical Dutch style. A small
sign in Hebrew that says, Beit
Chabad hangs on the front. The
cold out on the street dissipates
immediately upon entering.
I walked into the Chabad
House for tourists just minutes
before candle-lighting on Erev
Shabbos and climbed up to the
third floor. The first two floors
serve as offices while the third
floor is where the programming
takes place.
The floor is divided into
four sections. One section is
the kitchen where local workers
prepare the Shabbos meals.
Another section is a spacious
dining room. A third section is
the shul with a womens section
and a bookcase full of books,
while the entrance hall is a sort
of foyer with a couch and chairs
around a small, wooden table,
where you can sit around and
talk.
A few women were standing
and lighting Shabbos candles and
some men were already in the
shul, waiting for the davening to
begin. When we started Mincha,
there were fifteen men, but when
I turned around at the end of
Maariv, I was surprised to see
no fewer than 65 people, most
of them young Israeli tourists
but also some hi-tech people and
businessmen who live in the city,
a few young men from France,
and even a Chassidic couple from
England who came by car on a
short visit.
Four yeshiva bachurim who
had finished Kvutza the previous
year ran the show. The shluchim
daven in other shuls in the city,
each with his regular khilla,
while the outreach to tourists is
run by bachurim who come here
for a year of shlichus combined
with studying for smicha.
A friendly bachur directed
everyone to the dining room and
made sure each person had a
place. Kiddush was recited and
fragrant challa was given out.
Zmiros were sung and all was
well.
Throughout the evening,
more and more people continued
to come. While one bachur sat
with everyone around the table
and kept things moving, the
other bachurim made additional
kiddushim for the guests who
continued to show up, and to
arrange places and food for them.
The refined Chassidishe
chinuch of the bachurim and
the fact that they are completely
devoted to the visitors without
thinking about themselves is
impressive and surprising. Where
else do you find young men
their age who instead of looking
out for food for themselves are
looking around to see who needs
help? Who wants another portion
of fish? I am not sure that the
bachurim ended up with portions
for themselves! Still, this did not
divert them from giving each
guest personal attention with
2017-04-30 2:35:27 AM

patience and a smile.
The bachurim did not even
have a place at the table, because
the tourists filled up the place. I
ended up seeing these wonderful
bachurim sitting on the side, their
sfarim in their hands, jumping
up now and then to welcome
another guest and arrange a
place, while snatching another
few lines of Likkutei Sichos. It is
only the Rebbes chinuch which
instills a devotion to shlichus,
that produces such wonderful
products.
Likewise (and forgive me for
going on about this, but I think
that the manners of the hosts
are one of the things that have
a tremendous influence on the
guests), the bachurim themselves
went around collecting the
plates, serving, and throwing the
disposables in the garbage. I saw
an American father whisper to his
son, These Chabad guys are not
snobs. They are taught to care
about others.
Now, back to the Shabbos
meal.
1066_bm_eng NEW.indd 25
Tables set for Shabbos
TIME FOR ONEG SHABBOS
Between the fish and the main
course, the bachur in charge of
the meal reviewed a sicha of the
Rebbe on the parsha, about the
warmth needed to do mitzvos.
This is learned from the first
plague to break Egypt, the plague
in which cold water turned into
blood, which by nature is hot and
impassioned. I looked around to
see who was listening to the dvar
Torah, and saw, as expected,
that most people were more
interested in dipping their challa
in the hummus then hearing what
he had to say. However, there
were some who listened closely
to every word. They had come
from Eretz Yisroel to Amsterdam
and this was the first time they
were hearing a dvar Torah
from the Rebbe. They listened
to how just as they did all sorts
of other things with energy and
passion, so too it is necessary
to be involved in holiness with
excitement and enthusiasm.
You could see that those who
did listen were affected. The
Chassid from England stood out.
He listened to every word.
At the end of the meal,
everyone bentched together and
then came the highlight, the oneg
Shabbos. Those tourists who
wanted to stay on after the meal
were invited to a side table where
they all sat together. Shelled nuts
and cold beers were served, song
books were given out, and each
of them was invited to stand up
and introduce himself, to say
something and choose a song
that they could all sing together.
It was really fascinating.
Conversations ensued between
people from different places and
there was a special feeling of
unity that would be hard to find
anywhere else. Among the people
sitting there was the Chassidic
couple from London, two
businessmen from Yerushalayim,
a college grad who had come to
tour Europe on his own, a family
from the U.S., a pair of friends
from Argentina, the Chabad
bachurim and a few locals who
come to the oneg Shabbos
Issue 1066 25
2017-04-30 2:35:27 AM
 Shlichus

every week. They dont want to

miss the opportunity of sitting
leisurely and talking with their
fellow Jews.
People soon opened up.
One told about his experiences
at Chabad Houses in South
America. Another, who was a
music expert in a broad spectrum
of musical genres, spoke about
how he is always excited anew
over the deep niggunim of
Chabad, and how it is clear to
him that they come from a place
that bridges this world with
something from beyond.
Look, he said to me, when
a recognized musician composes
a song, you can hear in that
song his desire to connect to
something that can be defined
within the parameters of this
world. In the song of X you can
hear sadness and a yearning for Havdala on Motzaei Shabbos
some spiritual lift. In the song of
Y you might hear wantonness, enjoyed traveling and seeing general the outside world that
and in the song of Z you will new vistas, and apparently was has a way of beckoning. For that
find hope, and so on. However, struggling with belonging to a brief period in time, I forgot that
you will never hear in any song Chassidic sect with a rigid set of I was in Amsterdam, and that
a yearning for self-work and communal standards. I had a long walk back to my
self-improvement, or a desire I often try to seek out a accommodations and no clear
to elevate oneself and reach special connection to G-d, idea of the directions.
something beyond. That exists he said, to the surprise of all. I entered the Chabad House
only in the niggunim of Chabad, Sometimes, I try to seek Him at 5 pm and left at 11:30 pm,
he concluded, and began to sing, out with a special beautification with the farbrengen still going
Tzama lecha nafshi. of a mitzva, with a particular strong.
If you saw this person stringency that I might take upon My visit left me with a
walking down the street, you myself, or some other positive warm feeling in my heart and
would never believe that he has resolution. But today, I think a new and boundless love and
any appreciation for Chassidic that in the special unity that I appreciation for the Rebbe and
niggunim, but here, in the Beis see here in the Beis Chabad in his shluchim (including the
Chabad, the walls come down Amsterdam, I have found that bachurim) overtook the musings
and deep layers of the soul find special revelation that I have of my mind. I have no doubt
their expression. always searched for. that this ordinary Shabbos, of
Each person, without A few of the folks gave him an which there are many hundreds
exception, expressed their ovation. more like it in the thousands of
amazement over the Beis Chabad The oneg Shabbos quickly Lubavitch outposts throughout
and the Rebbe. However, the one turned into a farbrengen and the world that you will never
who stood out was the fellow in mashke was served. The warm read about, is another step in
Chassidic garb from London, and personal atmosphere made the process of spreading the
who stood up and asked to say me forget entirely about the cold wellsprings and bringing about
a few words. It was clear that outside, the pretty canals, the the revelation of Hashem in the
he was a lively character, who rococo brick buildings, and in world.

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 MOSHIACH & HAYOM YOM
ID PLEASE!
By Rabbi Gershon Avtzon
Dear Reader shyichyeh,
In the HaYom Yom of 6 Iyar,
the Rebbe writes: Our sages
said, One should not take leave
of his friend other than with a
parting word of Torah-law, a
dvar halacha. Our forefathers,
the saintly Rebbes, explained:
The parting word should be
the kind of Torah teaching that
transforms the listener into a
mehaleich. Progress, hiluch,
means to rise from level to level,
with one ascent after another.
Such progression embodies the
superiority of the human soul
over the angels, for this ascent
is greatest through an act of
goodness; extending a favor
to another, a material favor
in general, a spiritual favor in
particular.
This HaYom Yom can be
connected to another one (10
Adar Sheini): Before embarking
on a journey from your place of
residence, arrange a Chassidic
farbrengen and receive a parting
blessing from your good friends,
and as the familiar expression
goes: Chassidim never say
farewell, for they never depart
from each other. Wherever they
are, they are one family.
I was reflecting on how
amazing it is that this HaYom
Yom (which speaks about the
parting word should be the kind
1066_bm_eng NEW.indd 27
of Torah teaching that transforms
the listener into a mehaleich) is
written on Vav Iyar. It reflects the
events and special directives of
the Rebbe which were revealed
on Vav Iyar 5751 (Shabbos
Tazria-Metzora), the last time
that we heard the Rebbe speak.
Let us give some background.
After the Sicha of 28 Nissan
(I have done all I can... I am
giving it over to each of you to
bring the Geula), the Chassidim
were energized and inspired to
go out and conquer the world
to bring the Geula. Yet, they
felt they were missing new
ammunition. They were hoping
that the Rebbe would teach us
the new and direct path to bring
the Geula. In addition, there
were Chassidim who realized
right away that there really was
something that Chassidim can
do to bring the Geula that the
Rebbe did not do: Identifying the
Rebbe as Moshiach and Kabbalas
HaMalchus! Obviously, this new
idea generated some resistance
and skepticism, and people were
waiting to hear from the Rebbe
on all of the above.
On that Shabbos (Vav Iyar,
which is the Sfira of Malchus
ShbTiferes) there were at least
three major teachings that
transform the listener into a
mehaleich:
1) The Rebbe revealed what
the direct path to bring the
Geula is! The question is: Since
weve already completed our
actions and service throughout
the duration of exile, what is
the straightforward path (the
easiest and fastest among all the
paths of Torah) that all the Jewish
people, who have concluded their
service, should choose to realize
the revelation and coming of
Moshiach?
...The explanation of the
straightforward path to revealing
and bringing Moshiach through
Malchus ShbTiferes can
be understood in practical
terms: As a preface, since our
righteous Moshiach is ready
to come immediately, but he
hasnt actually come, therefore
the final effort required (the
edge of his clothes) of every
Jew to bring Moshiach must
be (not through Kingship in
its purity, the concern of king
Moshiach himself, but) through
Malchus ShbTiferes. That
means, the subject of Moshiach
(Kingship) as it is found in
Torah (Harmony)....Simply put:
Tiferes refers to learning Torah,
and Malchus ShbTiferes
refers to learning the Torah
concerning King Moshiach and
Redemption that is explained in
many places...This increase in
learning the Torah concerned
Issue 1041 27
2017-04-30 2:35:28 AM
 MOSHIACH & HAYOM YOM
with Moshiach and Redemption
(Malchus ShbTiferes) is
the straightforward path to
actually causing the revelation
and coming of Moshiach and
Redemption.
2) The Rebbe spoke and gave
Talmudic sources about the fact
that Chassidim should identify
their Rebbe as Moshiach:
And there (at the beginning of
the discussion in Sanhedrin 98b
about Moshiach): The School of
Rabbi Shilah said, Shiloh is his
name, as it is written, until Shiloh
comes; the School of Rabbi
Yanai said, Yinun is his name
(similar to Yanai, [thus] each one
explained the name of Moshiach
after his name), as it is written,
May his name endure forever, as
long as the sun, may his name be
perpetuated (Yinun); the School
of Rabbi Chanina said, Chanina
is his name, as it is written, I
will show you no favor; others
say Menachem ben Chizkiyahu is
his name, as it is written, For far
from me is a comforter to revive
my spirit.
And we (Chassidim) follow
their example (in regard to
our Rebbeim, our leaders, in
particular My sainted father-in-
law, leader of our generation):
Yosef is his name, as it is written
The L-rd will continue [Yosif]
to apply His hand a second time,
etc., and He shall gather the
lost of Israel, etc. Yitzchak is
his name, as it is written, Then
our mouths will be filled with
laughter [schok].
3) The third path is for the
Chassidim to announce Yechi in
front of the Rebbe and the Rebbe
accepts!
The following is a description
of the events, told over by Rabbi
Dovid Nachshon: With much
excitement, I sent someone to
buy a big bottle of mashkeh.
(It was customary to send in
28 9 Iyar 5777
1066_bm_eng NEW.indd 28
bottles of mashkeh to the Rebbe
before Shabbos in connection
with upcoming Chabad events.
The Rebbe would call the
organizers up at the Shabbos
farbrengen to announce the
activities and then pour from
the bottle that would be taken
to the event.) I sent the bottle to
the secretariat, and I wrote that
this mashkeh was in connection
with the farbrengens that would
be held in various locations
regarding the acceptance of
the Rebbes sovereignty by the
people. However, the secretary
immediately said that it was not
entirely clear whether or not this
bottle would be presented...
That Shabbos evening,
everyone in 770 was all fired
up, especially after seeing the
notices that the Rebbe accepted
the signatures with much
appreciation, and that everyone
must accept his sovereignty. The
elders and all those who were not
accustomed to unconventional
missiles came a bit closer...
The lights of Tohu began to
approach the vessels of Tikkun.
The davening was extremely
joyous. The Rebbe made very
strong hand movements, exiting
the Beis Midrash, accompanied
by the singing of Sisu vsimchu
bsimchas haGeula. I was
standing first in line near the
passageway, and the Rebbe gave
a very strong hand movement as
he passed me. We felt that the
issue was heating up in a most
unusual manner.
The farbrengen of the 6th
of Iyar, Shabbos Parshas Tazria-
Metzora, had begun. Anyone who
noticed could see the difference
between this farbrengen and
the one of the previous week,
Parshas Shmini. Then, no one
could figure out a thing; there
was only tension. This Shabbos,
the farbrengen was entirely on
Moshiach! The Rebbe began the
farbrengen about Moshiach with
the singing of Zahl shoin zain
di Geula and afterwards Sisu
vsimchu bsimchas haGeula.
The Rebbe then turned to the
three of us, Avi Taub, Shmarya
Harel, and me. While the Rebbe
would always say Lchaim to us
whenever we came for Shabbos,
this time, the Rebbe gestured to us
in an extremely forceful manner.
We felt that the Rebbe was
encouraging us to continue more
and more with all our strength
in our Moshiach activities, and
not to be affected adversely in
any way. After several sichos,
the time at the farbrengen had
been reached for the Rebbe to
distribute the bottles of mashkeh
that had been given in before
Shabbos, and for the recipients
to make their announcements.
The Rebbe called people up with
a remarkable expression: The
announcements to be made now
should be announcements and
publicity for the whole world
and the entire seider hishtalshlus!
It should be noted that this
was a continuation of what he
had said at the farbrengen. The
avoda must be in a mode of ratzo
vshuv, not as with Nadav and
Avihu, which was ratzo only. Even
though this avoda is new and
innovative in scope, nevertheless,
it must be done according to
ratzo vshuv, specifically as a soul
within a body, as explained in
Likkutei Torah. (when we were at
the Ohel, we wrote that we were
ready to do everything with self-
sacrifice, and the Rebbe said that
it all must be specifically as souls
within bodies.)
When I heard what the Rebbe
said, I understood clearly that the
Rebbe wanted me to come up and
make the declaration. However,
I didnt have the courage, and
I was still trembling. Its not
so simple to do such a thing in
2017-04-30 2:35:28 AM
 the Rebbes presence. What if,
chv, this is not really what he
wanted? Seventeen bottles were
placed on the table. Everyone got
up, made their announcements,
accompanied by singing.
Suddenly, everything finished
and I had not gone up yet, as the
secretary had said that he would
not present the bottle without
asking the Rebbe.
Then, the secretary made a
strong gesture with both hands,
indicating that I should come up
quickly. I understood that this
is it permission was granted.
I started to go up and I said to
Avi Taub, Come on, were always
together. Avi followed behind
me, and stood to my side, with
Shmarya standing on the other
side. The Rebbe looked at us,
took the bottle, and poured half a
cup of mashkeh, a lot for Avi and
myself. Shmarya was standing
on the side, and the Rebbe asked
Rabbi Groner, Is he with them
also? and the Rebbe gave him, as
well. Absolute silence reigned.
Everyone was waiting for
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1066_bm_eng NEW.indd 29
this. The tension was unbearable. Rabbi Avtzon is the Rosh
I was completely numb. I stood Yeshiva of Yeshivas Lubavitch
at the Rebbes right side, Avi Cincinnati and a well sought
behind me, and Shmarya in front after speaker and lecturer.
of me. I lifted my cup, and made Recordings of his in-depth
the announcement in Yiddish. shiurim on Inyanei Geula
This is the content of what I uMoshiach can be accessed at
said: Since there have recently http://www.ylcrecording.com
been piskei din by rabbanim and
battei din in Eretz Yisroel that the
time of the Redemption
has arrived, and even
more recently here
there have been piskei
din that the Rebbe is
Melech HaMoshiach
and he must reveal
himself and redeem
the Jewish people,
therefore, we hereby
accept upon ourselves
the sovereignty of the
Rebbe MHM, to do
that which he asks of us
with self-sacrifice, and
we all hereby declare:
Yechi Adoneinu
Moreinu VRabbeinu
Melech HaMoshiach
Lolam Vaed!
vww c
,ww,j
jhanu vkutd hbhbg
owwcnr
hyuekc ohrugha
asue ,ujha
sgu okugk jhanv lkn ubcru ubrun ubhbust hjh
Issue 1066 29
2017-04-30 2:35:28 AM
 INTERVIEW

THE TWINS
FROM FRANCE
30 9 Iyar 5777

1066_bm_eng NEW.indd 30 2017-04-30 2:35:29 AM

 The two acrobats, Yaakov and Yisroel Gurion,
are a set of twins who are quite popular in the
frum world. * With frequent performances
and a series of successful videos for children,
the Twins from France is one of the most
popular shows. * We spoke with the twins
and between bursts of laughter we managed
to hear from them what goes on behind the
scenes.
By Elad Yitzchaki

I
t wasnt easy getting Yaakov
and Yisroel Gurion to sit
down for a joint interview,
and not only because sitting
is not their strong point.
Yisroel and Yaakov have been
living in Crown Heights for
years. They used to be guests
themselves, and when they
married, they decided to do the
same for others and host people.
During Tishrei, they turn their
office into a big kitchen and invite
dozens of guests there every day
for complete meals.
During the month of
Elul, we have less work, they
explained, the camps are ending,
the children and bachurim are
returning to school, and there
is a more serious atmosphere.
Any shows that we do are mostly
in the evenings, at weddings.
So we use this time to prepare
everything. There are a lot of
logistics involved, to bring food,
kitchen supplies, and tables and
chairs for the guests. We prepare
everything in Elul, so that when
Tishrei comes along, the only
things left to do are to cook and
serve.
By the way, they prepare the
food themselves. They actually
encouraged me to publish this
fact. Write that all the Tishrei
guests are invited to us for the
meals; let them all come. I
immediately asked if they were
not concerned about being
flooded, and the response was,
The more the merrier, we accept
everyone happily.
It would seem that there is no
frum child in the United States
who is not familiar with the
twin team of Yaakov and Yisroel
Gurion, or The Twins from
France as they bill themselves.
To sit with them when they
are in the mood is a laughter-
filled experience. They appear
identical, with the first signs of
beards on their thin faces, and
they dont sit still for a minute.
It might be a sharp line, a trick,
or ordinary objects that suddenly
fly through the air and pass from
hand to hand with amazing
speed.
We are from France, they
both say in their charming
French accent. They quickly
realize that they cannot both
speak simultaneously, so each
one gives the floor to the other.
Silence. For a moment there, it
seems like a scene from one of
their videos. Eventually, I suggest
that one of them speak for both
and if the other has an objection
he can interject, which did not
happen even once.
We grew up in Marseilles,
the large port city in the south
of France, they say (in Yisroels
voice). The Chabad community
there is not large like in Paris, so
each Chabad Chassid that lives
there feels to some degree like a
shliach. At home, we absorbed
the values of giving and helping
others.
We are identical twins, and
from the age of nine months
below zero we have been
together. As we got to know
ourselves we each also got to
know our twin as well, and since
then we have been so close and
rarely apart. When we were kids,
we were pretty mischievous. We
loved to run, jump, dance, and be
wild. We did everything together.
When we finished
elementary school in Marseilles,
we continued on to the yeshiva in
Brunoy, the only Chabad yeshiva
then in France. There were some
bachurim there who had some
juggling equipment and we began
to practice. During every break,
we would practice together and
do all sorts of tricks and drills.
We were very particular about
limiting our practice only to
free times, and we dedicated
ourselves to learning during the

Issue 1066 31

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 Interview
hours of the yeshiva schedule.
After we completed three years of
mesivta, we had reached a level
of proficiency that allowed for
doing small shows, but only for
friends and family.
We finished mesivta in
Brunoy and went to learn in beis
midrash in Bnei Brak. There in
Bnei Brak, we discovered a new
brand of rejoicing for chassanim
and kallos, which would begin
at night after the yeshiva study
sessions. People would call the
yeshiva and ask if they could
send over some boys to help
liven up their wedding. After
the learning we would go to the
halls where we were invited. We
would show up and do a few of
our maneuvers and contribute
our part to the general joy of the
wedding.
Word spread in Bnei Brak
of the two yeshiva student
jugglers, and slowly but surely,
the twins began getting requests
for bookings from families who
wanted them to perform at their
events. We saw that there was
a big demand for this, so we
printed up business cards and
handed them out at weddings.
Slowly, we began to get more
and more bookings to appear
in other places as well, such as
childrens events, bar mitzvas and
other small events. However, we
always ware particular to leave all
the work for hours outside of the
learning schedule.
After three years in yeshiva in
Eretz Yisroel, it came time to fly
off for kvutza. We left everything
that we had built up behind us.
We knew that we were going to
learn in 770, but as far as what
would be with our work we had
no idea. We asked ourselves if
there even were any weddings
held in Crown Heights. This was
to be our first time in New York
and we had no idea what goes on
32 9 Iyar 5777
1066_bm_eng NEW.indd 32
there. We didnt know the first
thing about anything.
The twins landed in New York
without knowing the language
and with no information, but
with a lot of talent and quite a
bit of professionalism. Here too,
they started small, outside of
the learning schedule, with free
appearances at weddings. They
dressed up in identical outfits,
which included silly hats with
long peios hanging from them.
That look is still used in most of
their appearances to date.
Their enormous talent and
the professionalism they acquired
over the years brought success in
their wake. Their performances
began to reach outside of Crown
Heights. They were invited to
sleep-away camps, day camps,
childrens rallies and various
events including appearances
on the tables of Admurim
and leaders of large religious
communities. The brand name of
The Twins from France began
to become fixed in the collective
consciousness of religious
communities in the United
States.
One of the outstanding
characteristics of the Gurion
brothers is how they maintain a
Chassidishe atmosphere. You can
see this in their videos, where all
their routines and humorous bits
are infused with Chassidic charm
and flavor. Whether in scenes
in which the brothers appear
learning Chassidus or Nigleh
together, saying the bedtime
Shma, washing hands in the
morning near the bed, davening
in 770 or portraying Chassidic
life in the community. The
Chassidishe ambiance is a strong
component of their personal and
professional lives.
We treat our positions very
seriously, they say. We have
a big influence on children. We
hear about it from teachers and
rabbanim. Being influential is
a big privilege and also a heavy
responsibility. We feel that
Hashem gave us our talent as
a gift so that we can influence
others and reach people, mainly
young ones, in places and ways
that others cannot. We must use
this in order to have a positive
influence on the next generation.
Our field of endeavor sometimes
appears like acrobatic exercises
in the best of cases or just plain
silliness in the not so best of
cases, but we relate to it as a
holy calling because of the great
impact it has on children.
Speaking of influence, the
Gurion brothers influence
extends beyond religious
children in America. We
perform before many and varied
Jewish audiences, from Satmar
Chassidim to Jews who are not
yet religious. We also perform
for a lot for shluchim around
the world. Speaking of working
with shluchim, we try to be more
flexible about the costs to make it
easier on them.
We see this as a shlichus
of the Rebbe. We reach so
many people and wherever we
go we try to incorporate an
added spiritual message into the
professional show. When we
perform for children we often
begin the show with psukim or
sometimes incorporate them into
the program. If its an audience
of adults, we start the show by
talking about Moshiach coming
through simcha and we are now
going to increase the simcha in
order to hasten the Geula. When
an audience hears this from a
performer that he came to see,
sometimes this is more readily
accepted than hearing it in a
drasha from a rabbi. We see this
as our shlichus.
What feedback do you get?
2017-04-30 2:35:30 AM
 Boruch Hashem, to this
point the responses have been
very warm and special, whether it
is from the devoutly religious or
Jews for whom our appearance
shattered their preconceived
notions about yeshiva students.
The thing that really
stands out in their work is the
amazing connection between
the brothers. It starts with the
physical similarities, which are
emphasized all the more through
various identical costume
accessories.
Here is a personal question.
Is the connection between the
two of you only on stage or does
it carry over to everyday life?
What people see at a show
or on the videos is only the tip
of the iceberg. We are each
others best friend. We really feel
connected heart and soul, and
this absolutely expresses itself in
our personal lives.
What is the secret of your
deep connection?
I dont think that there is a
secret, says Yisroel. First of all,
we are twins. Twins have a unique
bond that is stronger than that of
ordinary brothers. We spent nine
months together in the womb
and this has an impact on the
rest of life. There are instances of
twins who cant stand each other,
but that is something out of
whack. In such a case, something
is wrong; maybe something
occurred in childhood. But in a
normal situation, twins should be
connected to each other with a
special bond.
Beyond that, it is our
connection that makes our shows
into what they are. We once tried
to bring in a third person, but
it did not work. We both think
in the same way, and when we
argue we know immediately how
the other will respond. When I do
or say something I can already
1066_bm_eng NEW.indd 33
know what he will do or say. This
bond is key in our field and it
saves us many hours of practice
and training in teamwork.
It is no secret that not all
brothers feel like best friends,
even among twins. What
message do you have to offer
about this connection that you
have?
The message is clear. Achdus
is a powerful thing. If each one
can lift one hundred pounds,
together they can lift three
hundred. We communicate this
message all the time. Our whole
act is built on teamwork and the
many things that we do together,
things that the most talented
expert could not do alone.
How about something from
behind the scenes? You are
always stretching the limits of
your flexibility and acrobatic
skills. Have you ever tripped up
during a show?
Certainly! It happens many
times during a show that we are
doing a routine and something
goes wrong and we suddenly
take a fall. And when someone
falls in our line of work, it can
be very painful. The trick is to
keep the show going as if nothing
happened, or to take it with a
smile and to laugh together with
the audience. People love the
authenticity. There is also an
educational message in all of this,
namely that not everything we try
to do has to succeed one hundred
percent of the time. Sometimes
we fail and fall, but we cant give
up and stop trying. And in the
end we will succeed.
You are constantly doing
things that appear to be very
dangerous. Truthfully, arent
you afraid?
Truthfully, yes; everything is
scary in the beginning. We play
with real knives, with live fire and
more. So when we first start out,
we proceed with extreme caution
and follow all safety rules. Then
we practice over and over until
we feel secure in the routine, and
only then do we take it public.
We would never do anything to
endanger our audience.
What would you like to do in
the future?
As long as Hashem gives us
the strength and the opportunity,
we will continue to bring joy to
the Jewish nation.
Can I ask what you think is
the secret of your success?
I think that the secret of our
success is the desire to give to
others. We have a great privilege
in being able to bring joy to our
fellow Jews. We love doing it, and
this is a privilege and a gift that
we received from Hashem, that
we can be involved in this and
make a living from it. When we
get up on stage, our goal is to
provide the audience with a full
dose of joy and enjoyment. The
desire to give our maximum in
order to provide enjoyment to
another is, in my opinion, what
causes so many people to love
what we do.
Issue 1066 33
2017-04-30 2:35:31 AM
 TZIVOS HASHEM
MATCHES
AND HATS
Out the window could
be seen hills, valleys and
mountains. The long train
made its way toward
Kreme nchug, the big city near
Lubavi tch.
Lubavitch is a small town
and does not have a train
station. Those who wanted
to see the Rebbe in Lubavitch
had to travel by train to
Kremenchug and then hire a
wagon driver to take them to
the little town.
In the passenger car of the
train there was an unusual
A group of
commotion.
who were headin g
Chassidim
for Rosh HaSha na
to the Rebbe
had just finished davening.
They looked both excited and
filled with awe. This day, with
Hashems help, they would
arrive in Lubavitch! At the
Rebbe!
Oy, how they waited
for the moment when they
would see his holy face, have a
private meeting with him, and
hear maamarim. How sweet
were those precious, elevated
moments. And yet they were
fearful had they prepared
adequately for the encounter
with the Rebbe. Were they
pure enough to be worthy to
be in his presence?
34 9 Iyar 5777
1066_bm_eng NEW.indd 34
By Devorah Leah
One of the Chassidim took
out a bottle of mashke, poured
lchaim into small cups, and
started a moving niggun.
Suddenly, the door opened
and the singing immediately
stopped. All gazed at the door
which slowly opened.
The mystery was soon
solved as a young Jew entered.
He was obviously not a Chassid.
He looked at the scene and
said, You are traveling to the
Rebbe? To the Rebbe Rashab?
When they said they were, he
smiled, sat down on a seat
that was offered to him, and
said, I will tell you how I
know the Rebbe.
I come from the city of
Dvinsk. In my youth, I went
out in search of a livelihood
and boruch Hashem I found
a good job in a nearby city
where I worked in a matches
factory.
I got married and we lived
a happy life without material
want. My wife also worked and
we lacked for nothing.
One day, the wheel of life
turned. A fire broke out in the
factory where I worked, and
the next day I could not go to
work, for there was nowhere
to go to. A short while passed
and my wife became very sick.
Her illness did not allow her to
work, so we were both jobless.
We used up the money we
had saved over the years and
having no choice, we moved to
my parents home in Dvinsk.
I felt terrible, for not only
couldnt I suppor t my family
honorably, I was now a burden
on my elderly parents.
Some Chabad Chassidim
lived in this city and when
they heard of my plight they
suggested I go to Lubavitch to
the Rebbe Rashab. The truth
is that I am not a Chassid,
but my difficult situation
compelled me to try any
possible solution.
I traveled to Lubavitch and
saw the Rebbe. It is hard to
describe; his glowing face, the
feeling of holiness in his room,
they are indescribable.
The Rebbe listened to me
and told me to travel to Kovna
where I should open a hat
store. My wife would sew the
hats and I would sell them in
the store.
As I said, I am not a
Chassid, and therefore, I
dared to ask the Rebbe, Why
should I travel to Kovna and
open a store there? Why not
in Dvinsk, my hometown,
2017-04-30 2:35:31 AM
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least I know

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. I roused myself.


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It wasnt
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people? But the Rebbe my daydream and found for nothing that : the Rebbe

myself
to my in , store,
quiet sent I you , here.I have brothea , . r
was firm about
my going

couldnt take it and began who has a big match es
Kovna.
.


to
cry. I
poured

out

all my A .
factory
few days , ago, the
I travele d to Kovna and
the difficult biggest machin e broke down
spent a few days looking for bitterness over ,
?
suitabl a ' propere ty , a hat for days wed had until then. and the technicians have been
unable to fix it,. so the
factory
,
busines s, but all, the

stores

center of town were heavy footsteps. I looked isnt producing
Sudden

ly,
I heard
ng. I
the in , anythi
up
and there was ? am
poritz a sure that
' if : you can ,
fix
charging rents that were . brothe r will
hadmuch higher than I could (landowner) who walked the machine, my ''?'

pay , you handso melyand you
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afford. I ended

up ,

finding
a ,
into my store. He asked about
job.
wante d will get an excellent :
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store on the edge of town one of the hats and .'...
me

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whose rent was cheap. I put to buy it. I said a low price


The poritz urged

?' on display and so want

hed to buy
it, go. but With Hashem help, s I
some : hats
waited
for
custom ers.

instead of taking out his was able to determ ine the
,
he
down and said, sat ,


proble m
and

fix
the
machin e.
' ,
One day '. passed and then wallet,
I can see that youve been The poritzs brother paid
two, but nobody came into me generously and gave me
crying. Whats bothering
my store. On one of those a good job in the factory.
?you
days, as I sat in vain waiting Since then, things have xa,wv
z"gone | rhht wc
for customers, I began to I tried to avoid answering
well and its all thanks to the
think about those glorious but when he insisted, I told
!advice of your Rebbe
days when I had no worries. him my life story. When I

4/1

Issue 1066 35

1066_bm_eng NEW.indd 5 2017-04-30 2:35:06 AM