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28 Iyar 5780 May 22 2020 Price: $4.95

Bringing Moshiach Values Into Our Homes

‫יחי אדוננו מורנו ורבינו מלך המשיח לעולם ועד‬

no.

1213

{ 14 }

From the Rebbe { 4 } A Good Time For World Peace Besuras HaGeulah with English translation { 6 } Reaching Peace Of Mind Requires Nothing Special From the Rebbe's pen { 42 } The Rebbe Listening Moments with the Rebbe

Features

{ 26 }

{ 14 } One Man, One Heart Excerpts from some of the speeches of mashpiim and shluchim at the nowfamous farbrengen, in which tens of thousands of Chassidim from around the world gathered (via zoom) and listened to mashpiim and shluchim, promoting and bolstering Achdus and Ahavas Yisrael

{ 36} The Death-March Survivor Who Got His Arm Back An amazing miracle story of the Rebbe

{ 36 }

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BEIS MOSHIACH

{ 26 } A New Name, A New Man, A New Life Reb Chaim Avigdor and Devorah Zeitlin from Crown Heights tell Beis Moshiach in an emotional miracle-filled monologue about his wondrous recovery from Corona and her aweinspiring coping through weeks of uncertainty

‫ב"ה‬

Columns

In This Issue

{ 10 } Corona Monetary-Halachic Questions By Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun { 40 } True Love Is Worth Fighting For By Rabbi Zvi Homnick { 44 } Tranquility Of Redemption Rabbi Nissim Lagziel with a Moshiach thought on the Parsha

{ 8 } Letters To The Editor { 27 } Halachic Times And Daily Shiurim { 12 } Alef-Beis Of Geula The Rebbe's Kapitel { 59 } Double Blessing Story for children { 61 } Mission In Korea #9 Miracles of the Rebbe in comics

Published by:

Chabad World Center to Greet Moshiach About the Cover: The Rebbe at the Lag B’Omer parade 5750

744 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11213 BMoshiach.org [email protected] 718.778.8000 BeisMoshiachMagazine.org [email protected]

Editor-In-Chief: Rabbi Boruch Merkur • Editor: Levi Liberow • Managing Editor: Shraga Crombie Director: Rabbi M.M. Hendel • Rabbinical Advisor: Rabbi Yaakov Chazan Beis Moshiach (USPS 542–012) ISSN 0272–1082 is published weekly, except Jewish holidays (only once in April and October) for $180.00 in Crown Heights. USA $217.00. All other places for $240.00 per year (45 issues), by Beis Moshiach, 744 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 3409–11213. Periodicals postage paid at Brooklyn, NY and additional offices. Postmaster: send address changes to Beis Moshiach 744 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 3409–11213. Copyright 2020 by Beis Moshiach, Inc.

28 IYAR 5780

3

Besuras HaGeulah The Rebbe on the imminence of the Redemption

A Good Time For World Peace (7) ‫ מבה"ח אדר א' תשנ"ב‬,‫ ז"ך שבט‬,‫ חלקים משיחות ש"פ משפטים‬.‫סו‬ 66. Shevat 27, 5752 – February 1, 1992 (7) Yeshayahu’s prophetic promise of world peace at the Redemption is associated with Moshiach’s unique role as a judge who will mediate in international conflicts. Referring to a recent UN summit where a resolution on arms reduction was made, the Rebbe said that this came as a result of Moshiach’s spiritual work — the outreach work of the Frierdiker Rebbe and the Rebbe spreading Yiddishkeit and morality worldwide. Both the place and the time of this UN summit reflect this internal connection:

Within the latest era itself — a period of ‫קוּפה ָה ַא ֲחרוֹנָ ה‬ ָ ‫ְוגַ ם ַהזְּ ַמן ֶשׁבּוֹ ֵא ַרע ְמא ָֹרע זֶ ה ַ)בּ ְתּ‬ great messianic developments — the time in (‫ַﬠ ְצ ָמהּ‬ which this particular event occurred is a time very much suited for the ‫ ִמ ַצּד ַה ֶקּ ֶשׁר‬. . ‫אוּלה‬ ָ ְ‫הוּא זְ ַמן ְמ ֻסגָּ ל ְבּ ַשׁיָּ כוּת ְל ַהגּ‬ Redemption ... because of its connection to ‫דוֹרנוּ‬ ֵ ‫ְו ַה ַשּׁיָּ כוּת ִדּזְ ַמן זֶ ה ִלנְ ִשׂיא‬ Nesi Doreinu — the leader of our generation, the Rebbe: The summit occurred on the last Friday of ‫ ח ֶֹדשׁ‬,‫– ִל ֱהיוֹתוֹ ֶﬠ ֶרב ַשׁ ָבּת ָה ַא ֲחרוֹן ְבּח ֶֹדשׁ ְשׁ ָבט‬ the month of Shevat, the eleventh month ,‫ָה ַא ַחד ָﬠ ָשׂר‬ There are two alternate forms of counting the Jewish months: starting from Tishrei or from Nissan, each carrying special significance. Shevat is the eleventh in the Nissan count; the number eleven carries special significance vis-a-vis the work of the Chabad Rebbeim in preparing the world for the Redemption (as explained in the previous chapter at length).

on the tenth of which occurs the hilula (the ‫וּשׁ ֵלמוּת‬ ְ ‫ילוּלא )גְּ ַמר‬ ָ ‫ֶשׁ ָה ֲﬠ ִשׂ ִירי ֶשׁבּוֹ הוּא יוֹם ַה ִה‬ day of the passing of a Tzaddik which, in ac- ‫ו ָח ִמי ַא ְדמוֹ"ר‬-‫י‬ ְ ‫מוֹר‬ ִ ‫ק ֻד ַשׁת‬-‫בוֹד‬ ְ ‫בוֹדה( ֶשׁל ְכּ‬ ָ ‫ָה ֲﬠ‬ cordance with Chassidic tradition, carries great ,‫דוֹרנוּ‬ ֵ ‫נְ ִשׂיא‬ spiritual potential, as it marks the completion and perfection of his Divine service in this world) of my sainted father-in-law, the Rebbe Nesi Doreinu. In addition, the eleventh of this month ‫ ְו ִחדּוּשׁ הנְ ִשׂיאוּת‬‫ְוּב ַא ַחד ָﬠ ָשׂר ֶשׁבּוֹ נַ ֲﬠ ָשׂה ֶה ְמ ֵשׁ‬ produced a tremendous expansion and inno‫ֶשׁלּוֹ ְבּיֶ ֶתר ְשׂ ֵאת ְוּביֶ ֶתר עֹז‬ vation of his leadership, 4

BEIS MOSHIACH

— the Rebbe is here referring to the start of his own leadership as successor of the Previous Rebbe, which began the day after his passing on the eleventh of Shevat. This too is explained in the previous chapter in this book —

ultimately culminating in completing all ‫דוֹרנוּ זֶ ה )דּוֹר‬ ֵ ‫בוֹדה ֶשׁל‬ ָ ‫ַﬠד ְל ִסיּוּם וּגְ ַמר ָכּל ָה ֲﬠ‬ of the Divine task of our generation — the ‫הוּא דּוֹר ָה ִראשׁוֹן ֶשׁל‬-‫ָה ַא ֲחרוֹן ֶשׁל ַהגָּ לוּת ֶשׁהוּא‬ last of exile which in-turn is the first of Re‫ מ"ב ָשׁנִ ים‬‫אוּלה( ְבּ ֶמ ֶשׁ‬ ָ ְ‫ַהג‬ demption — through out forty-two years. These forty-two years correspond to the ‫לוֹמר ֶשׁ ֵהם ְכּנֶ גֶ ד מ"ב ַה ַמּ ָסּעוֹת ֶשׁ ְבּ ִמ ְד ַבּר‬-‫שׁ‬ ַ ֵ‫ְדּי‬ forty-two stages of travel in the “desert of the ,‫ָה ַﬠ ִמּים‬ nations,” i.e., exile, which means that after having completed ‫יסה ָל ָא ֶרץ‬ ָ ִ‫עוֹמ ִדים ְל ַה ְכּנ‬ ְ ‫מוּכנִ ים ְו‬ ָ ‫ֶשׁ ָאז ְכּ ָבר‬ them, we already stand prepared to enter the ‫אוּלה ָה ֲא ִמ ִתּית ְו ַה ְשׁ ֵל ָימה ְו ַה ְשׁ ֵל ָימה‬ ָ ְ‫ַבּג‬ land in the true and final Redemption

(19‫זֶ ה‬-‫רוּכה ַבּ ִה ְתוַ ֲﬠדוּת ֶשׁלִּ ְפנֵ י‬ ָ ‫)כּ ְמ ֻד ָבּר ְבּ ַא‬ ִ

(as discussed in length at a previous farbrengen — chapter 63).

All this goes to show that also the time (as ‫)נוֹסף ַﬠל ַה ָמּקוֹם( ֶשׁבּוֹ ָהיְ ָתה‬ ָ ‫– ֶשׁגַּ ם ְבּ ַהזְ ַמן‬ well as the place) of the announcement re"‫בוֹתם ְל ִא ִתּים‬ ָ ‫דּ ַבר ְ"ו ִכ ְתּתוּ ַח ְר‬-‫ל‬ ְ ‫ַה ַה ְכ ָרזָ ה ַﬠ‬ garding entering a state of “they shall beat their swords into plowshares” emphasizes its connection with the effect ‫דוֹרנוּ‬ ֵ ‫עוּלתוֹ ֶשׁל נְ ִשׂיא‬ ָ ‫מוּדגֶּ ֶשׁת ַה ַשּׁיָּ כוּת ִל ְפ‬ ְ of the leader of our generation, my sainted ,‫יח ֶשׁ ַבּדּוֹר‬ ַ ‫ ַה ָמּ ִשׁ‬,‫ו ָח ִמי ַא ְדמוֹ"ר‬-‫י‬ ְ ‫מוֹר‬ ִ ‫ק ֻד ַשׁת‬-‫בוֹד‬ ְ ‫ְכּ‬ father-in-law the Rebbe, who is the Moshiach of the generation. Namely, that it is through him that the pro- ‫בוֹתם‬ ָ ‫ֶשׁ ַﬠל יָ דוֹ נַ ֲﬠ ֶשׂה ִקיּוּם ַהיִּ עוּד ְ"ו ִכ ְתּתוּ ַח ְר‬ phetic promise of “they will beat their swords ."'‫ְל ִא ִתּים ְוגוֹ‬ into plowshares” is being fulfilled.

The Advantage of Moshiach’s Indirect Influence In this sicha, the Rebbe shows from various angles how the recent development in the international arena of peacemaking is a direct result of the work of the Frierdiker Rebbe and Rebbe in spiritually refining the world, this fulfilling Yeshayahu’s prohecy of Moshiach leading the world to peace. As one studies this, he may wonder how this fits the prophetic description of Yeshayahu: of course things we do spiritually have an effect on the world at large, but the prophecy speaks of a direct influence, not only a supernatural one... Indeed, this is true. The Rebbe is speaking here of the beginning of something greater,

even as we still await complete world peace, which — precisely as the Navi said — will directly be influenced by Moshiach. However, in this farbrengen the Rebbe explains that this “indirect” influence, reflects a far greater development in the world — that human intellect on its own has “adjusted” to the Torah’s view on how the world should be conducted, with peace, harmony and cooperation. This shows how the Redemption has become an inseparable, deeply rooted part of humanity. The Rebbe derives this from the Torah reading of that week, which we will present in following installments with Hashem’s help.

28 IYAR 5780

5

Reaching Peace Of Mind Requires Nothing Special In connection with this week’s Dvar Malchus sicha of Parshas Bamidbar 5751, well known for its revolutionary approach to Menuchas HaNefesh – how to attain true peace of mind, we present a Ksav Yad Kodesh from the Rebbe written to a Yeshiva student who wrote a long letter to the Rebbe about all the doubts and confusions he’s encountering in his Avodas Hashem.

‫ אבל כל תוכנם נקודה אחת‬- ‫מכ]תביו[ נת]קבלו[ ארוכים ומפורטים בפרטי פרטיות‬ :‫מצומצמת ביותר‬ .‫ לא‬,‫ ח"ו‬,‫ לפעמים‬,‫ לפעמים מאמין‬:‫ ומאריך ומפרט‬- ‫ ישנה אמונה בעולם‬:‫הרגש שלו‬ ‫ ישנם תומ"צ‬.'‫ באמת או שנדמה לו וכו‬.‫ מתוך עצלות או לא‬.‫ בשוגג‬,‫ בחלישות; במזיד‬,‫בחזקה‬ .‫ וחוזר ומפרט ככל הנ"ל ועוד ועוד‬- ‫ החליט לא לשמוע ליצה"ר‬.‫ ומפרט כהנ"ל ויותר‬‫ צ"ל מנוה"נ ]=מנוחת‬- [(]‫ להבין איזה מצב שהוא לאמתתו‬- ‫באם לדעתי ישמע )ובהקדים‬ ‫ כ"א ]=כי אם[ למשך שבועות אחדים‬,‫ אין זקוק למה שהוא מיוחד כלל‬- ‫ לבוא לזה‬.[‫הנפש‬ ‫ יתנהג בדיוק כמפורש‬,'‫ תגובותיו שלו וכו' וכו‬,‫ ברצונותיו‬,‫יפסיק מלהתבונן בהרגשים שלו‬ ‫ ואז יבוא למנוה"נ ]=למנוחת הנפש[ ויוכל‬.‫ וע"פ סדרי הישיבה והוראות הנהלתה‬,‫בשו"ע‬ .‫להחליט בהשאלות שכותבם‬ [‫בדהת"פ ]בדיקת התפילין‬ I have received your letters, all long and specific with many details – but their entire content is one very condensed point: your feelings: you write that there is Emuna in the world - and go on to detail in length that at times you believe, at times, chas v’shalom, you don’t; at times strongly and at times weakly; and whether it is intentional, accidental; out of laziness or not; is it for real, or just that you imagine it to be so, etc. You further go on to describe similar doubts regarding the fact that: There exist Torah and Mitzvos – and you repeat the same doubts as above and even more. Then you go on to write that you decide not to listen to the Yetzer Hara, and again you write all the detailed questions and doubts as above and much, much more. If you would listen to my opinion, (and let me preface that this rule applies to understanding any situation) one must first have menuchas hanefesh (peace of mind) to determine such questions. To reach menuchas hanefesh, one needs not do anything special; just that for several weeks he must stop thinking about his feelings, wants, reactions, etc. etc. You should just behave exactly as clearly stated in the Shulchan Aruch and follow the sedarim (schedule) of the Yeshiva and the directives of the yeshiva’s administration, and then you will reach menuchas hanefesh and you will be able to reach a conclusion regarding all the questions you wrote. Check your Tefillin. ■

Letters to the editor

• Inspiring and Frustrating

challenging for the parents too, so we should just make sure that our children know that this is not the ideal situation and is only happening because of our circumstances and that we also strive to get better. A normal mother with seven kids and a husband at home

• First Yahrzeit?

It was interesting, inspiring and somewhat frustrating to read Henny Elishevtitz’s article “What Will our Children’s Corona Memories be?” in “The Chassidishe Vibe” section of issue #1210. It’s all very true; our children will have these as their memories of what a Chassidishe home looks like on the inside and that gives us as parents a great responsibility. The problem is that homes and families are not made to be together 24/7, and therefore the image they will most likely have, is not the ideal one we want it to be. I would suggest that after we have a less than easy day when we exploded at our husbands or children (not the way an ideal Chassidishe home runs), we explain to our children that that was not the way a Mommy or a Tatty should behave, and that in the circumstances we are in our yetzer hara is taking advantage of us, and causing us to behave the way we mistakenly did. Don’t get me wrong; I think that that would be the best and real way to make use of the coronavirus era to mold good, Chassidishe memories in our children’s minds, but halevai we can all get there. It’s just that it is new and 8

BEIS MOSHIACH

Dear editor, I read with interest the special feature about Simcha in honor of Chodesh Adar (“Got simcha?” – issue #1205), and found it encouraging and useful, especially as the corona scare just began to enter our lives. I especially was drawn to the piece from Rabbi Orenstein a”h. I learned in his shiur as a bachur at the yeshiva in Tzfas and have fond memories of that year. What a special person he was! A genuine oveid Hashem who demanded from himself and from others. I wish todays mashpi’im would expect more from their students the way he did. Either way, what I wanted to comment about was the use of the term “presented in honor of his first yahrzeit” that was added under his inspiring words:

I’d like to quote a sicha of the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach from his first farbrengen as “official” Rebbe – Yud Shevat 5711 (ois 3): “I cannot say or write “the first yahrzeit,” for we must hope that before the next anniversary we will see the fulfillment of the Divine promise, ‘You who repose in the dust: Awaken and sing joyful praises!’ Since he, too, will be among them, there will be no more yahrzeit. This is why I make a point of saying ‘the first yom hilula,’ for ascents (which are the reason for the hilula-celebration) will continue to take place later, too.”

Chassidim to apply Chassidus to their life, and yet somewhat disheartening to see how life and Chassidus became viewed as so detached from each other. Looking forward to new installments! Chaim L., Crown Heights

• A Glimpse of Innocent Hiskahrus

While the Rebbe said this about the Frierdiker Rebbe, the same applies to any Jew. Thanks, and keep up the great work! A Talmid Who Misses Rabbi Orenstein, Kfar Chabad

• “Chassidus 101” – Hitting the Spot!

The story “A Question in a Million” by R’ Mendy Chanin in the Yud Aleph Nissan-Pesach issue (#1208) was so special! I was tearing up through almost the whole thing. It made me even more jealous than I ever was to have never – yet – seen the Rebbe. Maybe because it’s a story written so purely and innocently from a child’s/teenager’s view, portraying to me the first time ever what their connection to the Rebbe meant to them.

I’d like to give a tremendous yasher koach to Rabbi Zvi Homnick for his new series “Chassidus 101.” It’s the first article I open to and I recommend my teenage sons and daughters to read them too. I’ve been waiting so long for this kind of thing to appear. It’s so beautiful to see the desire of young

Reading how much the Rebbe’s approval of his “heorah” meant to him at that age made me sense what hiskashrus feels like. Till now, wanting to see the Rebbe was something superficial to me, but after reading that story, that wish was intensified drastically and in a very personal way. A High-School Girl, Crown Heights

28 IYAR 5780

9

ASK The Rav Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun

Corona Monetary-Halachic Questions Halachos of monetary issues that came to the fore due to the current situation, from Halacha2Go.com and AskTheRav.com by Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, Mara D’asra and member of the Crown Heights Beis Din

My child goes to playgroup and we pay at the beginning of every month. Due to the coronavirus, my child is at home and not going to the playgroup. The teacher from our playgroup still wants us to pay even though our child isn’t even going. Do I have any obligation to pay? Firstly, this response is only on a general level and various technicalities can change the result of the answer. For example, one needs to see what was written in the contract of the school. One needs to see if there was a “force of majeure” stipulation in place, it might also depend if and how much the school is providing online services and projects. Because there are so many factors that can influence the decision in this case and also because there are multiple opinions on this matter, in the absence of a properly scheduled Din Torah, it is appropriate to reach some compromise between the parties. This is the advice that Batei Dinim all over the world are

10

BEIS MOSHIACH

telling people. One suggested compromise: March should be paid in full (especially if one already paid for the month). For the month of April, one will have to see how the situation evolves. If the school will not open, and no services are provided, one should pay a partial amount. (There is room for a school to expect “Pesach vacation pay” in addition to full March, this matter should be properly considered by way of a mutual compromise agreement.) It should be noted that it is very likely that if one does not pay the expected amount that the school is asking, the school might not accept the students afterwards. They could be in the right by doing so. This is an important point to consider. If one already prepaid for months after Pesach, different rules might apply. Reasoning:

Firstly, since the schools were running as usual for the first half of March, there is no question that they should get regular payment for the first half. For the second half of the month, if one already paid for the month, it is proper not to demand any money back. If one did not yet pay for the month of March, then it is proper to reach a ‫( פשרה‬that both parties agree upon as fair) and also pay something for the missed time, this is especially if the school is trying to provide schooling programs online and projects. However, in this unique situation, since a school usually gets paid Pesach vacation, this should be considered as well. Whether one were to give for the second half of March or for the first half of April it still comes to the same amount of a full tuition month of March. Thus, the month of March should in this situation be paid in full. After Pesach (for the month of April and onward) many maintain that there is no obligation to pay provided that the agreement is only on a month by month basis, unless the school will reopen B’ezras Hashem. By the letter of the law, when work ceases due to unforeseen circumstances, the loss is on the worker or provider. See Rema Choshen Mishpat 334:1, Taz, Nesivos Hamishpat 334:1. However, see the seemingly contradictory Rema in 321:1 who rules that the loss is on the “Baal Habayis” and not the worker. See the Aruch HaShulchan (Choshen Mishpat 334:10) who attempts to answer the seeming contradiction of the Rema (from 334 and 321) that in 334:1 where the worker loses discusses when he chose to stop when he could have technically continued through great diligence. Whereas in 321:1 the Rema discusses when there is no way at all to continue working. This is also the view of the Maharam Padua cited in the Shach 334:3 in such a case where the government does not allow the teachers to work.

(The latter seems more fitting with the corona virus pandemic situation.) As a general rule, when two sides are in dispute of who needs to pay and the Halacha has various opinions and sides, we would consider the possibility of ‫( מוחזק‬that the one who currently has the money has the upper hand in the dispute). #7343 I put a 2/3 down payment on my credit card for a Pesach program in Israel. Due to the medical rules, the program is canceled. Does the organizer owe me the down payment back? Can I negotiate to apply the down payment towards a greater share in next year’s program (e.g. 4/5, or complete) or is it a problem of ribis? This response is only on a general level and various technicalities can change the result of the answer. For example one needs to see what was written in the contract. One needs to see if there was a “force of majeure” stipulation in place. Because there are so many factors that can influence the decision in this case and also because there are multiple opinions on this matter, in the absence of a properly scheduled Din Torah, it is appropriate to reach some compromise between the parties. This is the advice that Batei Dinim all of the world are telling people. Of course you can try to ask for your money back. However, in order to get a better price for next year, and to avoid ‫ ריבית‬you would need a ‫היתר עיסקא‬. f#7386 * References are available for this Halacha on the websites: www.Halacha2Go.com and www.AskTheRav.com Please note that these halachos apply in general situations, if you are unsure whether the halacha applies to your particular situation, please consult a Rov.

28 IYAR 5780

11

Torah – The Perfeect Way :‘‫ הַ֜הֹֽ ְל ִ ֗כים ְבּתוֹ ַ ֥רת הה‬‫אַ ְשׁ ֵ ֥ר֥י ְת ִ ֽמי ֵמי־ ָ ֑ד ֶר‬ (‫ א‬,‫)קקיטט‬ Praiseworthy are those whose way is perfect, who walk with the Torah of Hashem. “Rebbi says: Which is a straightforward path that a man (adam) should choose for himself? — That which is honorable (tiferes) to himself and brings him honor from others.” The name ‫ אדם‬refers to a person, who in the Alter Rebbe’s words “is on a high level … and is complete in everything. His deeds are perfected, and he has corrected all his matters.” In our generation, the last generation of the exile, which the Gemara calls ikvesa d’Meshicha — “the footsteps of Moshiach”, when we have concluded and completed all aspects of the Divine service that were required during the time of exile to bring about the Redemption − it can be said that all Jews are on this level. Now, because we all are on such an elevated level, the question is: since we’ve already completed everything needed during the exile, what is the “straightforward path” — the easiest and fastest from among all the paths the Torah offers — that the adam, the Jewish people collectively, should choose to bring about the revelation and coming of Moshiach? The answer, like the question, is in the Mishna: “That which brings tiferes, honor, to the doer and honor to him from others.” Torah is associated with tiferes — honor and glory. True beauty comes from com-

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bining two different entities, and Torah has the Divine power to fuse the two thrusts of ratzo and shov — it elevates the person and bonds him to Hashem and at the same time draws the spirit of Hashem into the material world and reveals its true hidden identity. This increase in Torah study on the topics of Moshiach and the Redemption (“Malchus Sheb’Tiferes”) is the “straightforward path” to bring about the revelation and coming of Moshiach and the Redemption in actuality. Based on Sichas Tazria Metzora 5751

Seeing Torah :‫ת‬ ֽ ֶ ‫גַּל־ ֵﬠיינַ ֥י ְו ַא ִבּ֑י ָטה נִ֜ ְפ ָלא֗וֹת ִמתּֽוֹ ָר‬ (‫ יח‬,‫)קקיטט‬ Uncover my eyes and I shall look at hidden things from Your Torah. “No longer shall any man teach his neighbor nor any man his brother, saying, ‘Know G-d,’ for they shall all know Me, from their smallest to their greatest.” The Mitteler Rebbe explains:

A Special Guest iss onn the Way :‫־א ְרח֑וֹ לִ֜ ְשׁ ֹ֗מר ִכּ ְד ָב ֶ ֽר‬ ָ ‫בַּ ֶ ֣מּה יְי ַז ֶכּה־נַּ֖ ַﬠר ֶאת־‬ (‫ ט‬,‫)קייט‬ In what manner should a youth purify his way? To observe according to Your word. The Mezericher Maggid gave the Alter Rebbe advice to merit having a son after having had several daughters, based on this pasuk: “In what manner shall one merit a lad? – es archo,” through Hachnasas Orchim – welcoming guests.” In the next year, the Mitteler Rebbe was born. In this light, we bring a portion of the Frierdiker Rebbe’s sicha from the second day of Shavuos at the seuda, just weeks before the Rebbe and Rebbetzin arrived to the shores of the USA: “According to universal custom, preparations for an important guest begin well in advance. Every corner in the house is cleaned two weeks in advance, the family talks about the upcoming visit, and the neighbors are duly updated. He’s arriving soon. It’s now close to the time when Msohiach will come. It’s time to prepare for his arrival.”

“For they shall all know Me” does not refer to knowledge and comprehension of an intellectual kind, for this, like the faculty of hearing, means knowing from afar. Rather, this verse refers to a direct recognition, to seeing the actual nature (the mahus) of that which is perceived — just as a man knows and recognizes his friend because he sees him constantly. This is an intrinsic knowledge, (as, for example, in the verse, ‫רק אתכם ידעתי‬ — “You alone have I known”). For this reason no man will teach his neighbor, for teaching is appropriate when a subject can be grasped rationally, not when the true nature of something is perceived and recognized by direct vision. For this reason, too, all men will know G-d equally, for whereas on the scale of rational comprehension there are men of greater and lesser ability, when it comes to the direct perception of the essence of a subject there are no differences between great and small. Great and small recognize a king alike. Shaar HaEmunah, p. 61; translated in From Exile to Redemption

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aCHDUS FOR REAL Rabbi Yosef Yeshaya Braun Rav and member of the Crown Heights Beis Din Rebbe’s letter from 5718 about Kfar Chabad is known, “Throughout all the years of the Kfar’s existence, it was guarded and protected in a supernatural way, thank G-d. Surely, this is from the arousal of much mercy by our Rebbeim, our Nesiim, and particularly the Rebbe, my father-in-law, the founder of the Kfar and its director, so that from the day the Kfar was founded in 5708, thank G-d, not one of all the residents of the Kfar passed. The open miracle is obvious.

The

“Since the arousal of mercy above needs to have a suitable vessel fitted for it and the vessel to contain G-d’s blessings is peace, especially when we are speaking of the arousal of great mercy of the Chabad leaders who sacrificed their lives for Ahavas Yisrael, as was written about a number of times, it is obvious that it is incumbent on all residents of the Kfar to be exceedingly careful regarding peace and kiruv ha’levavos.” To our great sorrow, here in the neighborhood many have passed away, dozens of Chassidim and now, in addition, a young shliach who left eight children. We do not know daas elyon but we need to think about what is wanted of us because to say it “just happened” is cruel, says the Rambam. Boruch Hashem, there is a tremendous awakening for Achdus and it is an auspicious time. Here in the community there was a situation which was the opposite of Achdus for many years and boruch Hashem, Achdus 16

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recently prevailed and we are sitting together in peace and tranquility. All the problems were dealt with; each side conceded a bit since each one realized that for his personal benefit it was worth achieving peace and unity. Boruch Hashem, the peace here has made an impact and has produced positive results in other locations. Now, when there is a tremendous awakening, it is clear to everyone that unity is needed but we must emphasize, it is not enough to talk about Achdus. Talk is cheap; we need to make Achdus. Everyone should make a personal hachlata and think about what he can do about Achdus. There is a sharp response from the Rebbe which says: If all the Chabad askanim were united, Moshiach would have come already. Therefore, the evil inclination has a field day in a way, and with enticements, that are irrational. As of now, it has succeeded in the fraternal war. May Hashem have mercy. Take note, the Rebbe does not talk about all of Jewry but about askanei Chabad. Therefore, we need to do something in actual practice, by me, by you, by us, to pick up the phone and call the other side and bring about actual Achdus. To end on a positive note, if we examine the Rebbe’s answer, when he was told about an act of Achdus – it caused great nachas ruach, like cold waters upon a parched soul - who does not want to give the Rebbe pleasure?

MAKING PEACE … NOT LIKE ANGELS Rabbi Berel Bell Rav Kehilas Lubavitch in Montreal kuntrus Heichaltzu of the Rebbe Rashab speaks at length about Jewish unity. The Rebbe talks about various approaches in avodas Hashem, with each one looking with a jaundiced eye at the other.

The

The Rebbe brings an analogy of fire and water that cannot unite. What can be done? Combine forces, since on a deeper lever within the fire there is the level of water-withinfire and within water there is the level of fire-withinwater and when you reveal the depth, it is possible to create a connection between fire and water. Although this is a deep Chassidic concept, it also provides an approach that is applicable in our world.

water is its opposite, still, when the fire is in a state of bittul, it can combine forces through the water aspect within the fire itself. So too, when seeking ways of strengthening unity, we need to emphasize the point of bittul of each person within himself, and that is how we can reach the level of combining forces. On the verse, “He makes peace up above,” the Sages say that Hashem makes peace among angels and they stand in utter self-negation, but when Hashem withdraws His revelation, they revert to their “quarrels.” So there isn’t genuine peace.

When it is impossible to attach opposites you need to create a combination of forces. How do you accomplish that? By emphasizing self-abnegation. Although the fire feels that the

The real way of making peace is to start looking for a way of actually talking about the subject about which people are divided, how to fuse the “lights of tohu” with the “vessels of tikkun.” I think that the idea which appears in Heichaltzu provides us with a way of doing it correctly and for real.

TO LOOK AT A JEW AS AT A SEFER TORAH Rabbi Levi Jacobson the pain in the current s i t u at i o n , w e a r e farbrenging here with sweetness and delight. There are many Chassidim and shluchim here, bli ayin hara, and we are talking about Ahavas Yisrael. It is really important to talk about this,

Despite

for Ahavas and Achdus Yisrael are bound up with the soul passion of the Rebbe, so much so that in the first maamar the Rebbe spoke at length about Ahavas Yisrael and even told a story on this subject about each of the Rebbeim. And at the last farbrengen, as of now, the Rebbe

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spoke about Ahavas and Achdus Yisrael. On Succos 5745, the Rebbe said a sicha about Ahavas Yisrael being a matter of pikuach nefesh. Those are the Rebbe’s words. This is not just another important mitzva, as important as it may be, but pikuach nefesh. On Yud Shevat 5719 the Rebbe spoke about Avrohom Avinu and said that his avoda was with love and therefore we also see this love in his children and grandchildren. The Rebbe added that this can be said about the Rebbe Rayatz, i.e. we see his love by seeing how his students conduct themselves with Ahavas Yisrael. When Chassidim behave with Ahavas

Yisrael, it is not merely that they are big lovers of Jews. It testifies that they are Chassidim of the Rebbe, having received this from the Rebbe. We can talk and learn a lot about this but when it comes to action, when it pertains to our kishkas, we don’t always act as we learned. It’s enough to turn up one’s nose and say, “Him?! … He doesn’t do very much ...” This is a terrible thing. The Rebbe says that when we look at another Jew, we need to do so with the same love and fondness as when we look at a Sefer Torah when it is taken out of the Aron Kodesh, with open respect, love and fondness. Why? Because every Jew is a living Sefer Torah.

THE REBBE SHOWED ME HOW TO MAKE PEACE Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Groner Shliach in North Carolina often spoke to my father, the Rebbe’s secretary, about what gives the Rebbe pleasure and what causes him anguish. My father told me that what gives the Rebbe real pleasure is when he reads the reports of shluchim.

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After the Rebbe’s heart attack in 5738, the doctors told him to devote at least one hour to resting. A bed was put in the Rebbe’s office. About two or three years later, when I went on shlichus, I asked my father whether the Rebbe still takes a daily rest. He said yes.

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“What does he do when he rests?” I asked. He told me that this is when the Rebbe opens the reports from the shluchim and reads them. On the other hand, what causes the Rebbe anguish is the lack of unity among the shluchim and among Anash. So for real, how can unity be accomplished when I think I am right? I would like to share a personal story with you. In the 70s, the Rebbe poured out his heart every time he spoke about amending the Law of Return (Mihu Yehudi).

Years went by and at the end of the 80s there were elections in Eretz Yisrael with a great victory, with no small thanks to Chabad, who sided with one party on a one-time basis. Everyone said it was an opportunity to amend the law as the Rebbe desired. At the time, Reform was starting to persecute Chabad. We had a businessman who was considered a prominent person in the Reform movement and he called me and said he wanted to make peace between Lubavitch and Reform. I told him that I was a little person and the one who leads Chabad and represents Chabad is the Rebbe. He wrote a respectful letter to the Rebbe and the Rebbe responded in a very nice letter. Then he wrote another letter and another letter. At a certain point, he thought that the only way to resolve the dispute was through a “summit meeting” with the Rebbe and the leaders of Reform. I told him this would not happen but he said he would ask the Rebbe directly. The Rebbe responded sensitively in a long letter with reasons as to why it could not happen. Still, the Rebbe wrote it all with words of peace and love. This man was angry and couldn’t understand how the Rebbe did not agree to a summit meeting for peace. He wrote a sharp letter to the Rebbe which was not respectful. Since he gave me copies of his letters, I got a copy of this one too. When I saw what it said, I called the secretariat and told my father, “Listen, this letter will arrive and don’t bring it in to the Rebbe. It is not at all respectful.”

My father said, “Yossi, you know that every letter that arrives is brought to the Rebbe! It’s an order and all the secretaries do so. I cannot stop a letter.” I sat on the floor and cried. I couldn’t eat. I was brokenhearted. I thought, what were all the respectful letters that he wrote worth when in the end he wrote a letter like this? The letter arrived at 770 and by divine providence, my father was in gan eden ha’elyon when the Rebbe opened the letter. Afterward, my father called me and said the letter arrived. “I was just in the Rebbe’s office and the Rebbe opened the letter and read it. When he finished reading it, he smiled. Then his face turned serious and he asked, ‘How does your son feel?’” My father said I cried and could not eat, drink or sleep, I am in pain and reciting Tehillim. The Rebbe told him to go immediately to the secretaries’ office and call me and say I should stop all this, and that it was nothing. The next day, the Rebbe asked my father, “What’s happening with this Jew?” My father said that I decided since he wrote a disrespectful letter, I would cut ties with him. The Rebbe smiled and said, “The opposite; strengthen the connection with him. Do not speak about the topic of Mihu Yehudi. This is not the job of the shluchim. We are day workers and therefore we need to tighten the connection with him.” After that, about every two weeks, the Rebbe would ask my father what is happening with this Jew.

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Shabbos Bamidbar – Shabbos Achdus An excerpt from the Rebbe’s sicha of Parashas Bechukosai 5746 This coming Shabbos, which blesses the month of Sivan and on which we read the portion of Bamidbar, is clearly the most appropriate time for Ahavas Yisrael gatherings to take place. Therefore I propose the following soulrequest: This coming Shabbos, during the time of Mincha — late afternoon — Jewish people all over the world should gather in great numbers — men, women and children: “with our youth and elders... our sons and daughters,” in a manner of “brothers dwelling together.” There should be joyous gatherings of friends and festive meals (of course — men and women separately). At these gatherings words of Torah should be spoken on the topic of Ahavas Yisrael and Jewish unity. The entire subject should be broadly covered. Starting with Scripture: “Love your neighbor as yourself,” on which, “Rabbi Akiva said this is an important rule of Torah,” and which was also interpreted (by Hillel) as: “That is the whole Torah while the rest is commentary thereof....”

,, This coming Shabbos, during the time of Mincha Jewish people all over the world should gather in a manner of “brothers dwelling together.”

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Then, following through the practical halachic details, as described in Mishneh Torah of Maimonides, and finally the in-depth explanations on the profound quality of Ahavas Yisrael, as developed in Tanya — and all the symbolic and exegetic interpretation presented by the great sages of Israel, whose Torah works have been widely accepted. To all this we should add a special emphasis, that when we increase our love for fellow Jews and intensify Jewish Unity, the cause of the exile will be dissolved and automatically the effect — the galus — will disappear. The subject matter for discussion should obviously be chosen with presence of mind and understanding of the audience so that it will be appreciated, comprehended and absorbed, to the point of influencing and enthusing the listeners. Hopefully, the enthusiasm will be contagious and they will go on and influence others, and strengthen and encourage others, to further the goals of Jewish Unity. If, for some reason, these gatherings cannot take place on Shabbos then they should be scheduled for a subsequent fitting day, such as Sunday, Rosh Chodesh, etc. It is of primary importance that this call should be publicized and transmitted to the widest possible audience. Those who will carry out this mission should involve themselves with energy, enthusiasm, vigor and excitement. They should keep in mind that this is “soulfully” essential for the Jewish people, and that we are dealing with an exceptional and unusual matter.

The Rebbe taught me that although sometimes people react in ways that are inappropriate, we need to respect the person himself. Boruch Hashem, the son of this man and his grandchildren, daven in our shul and are very close to us. He now has religious grandchildren. This is what I learned from the Rebbe about ourselves too. There might be a good reason for a dispute. Someone said something inappropriate to us, or his actions are not in line with ours, we need to learn from the Rebbe how to behave in this situation. If the Rebbe could see

in all of this that is hope and even a glimmer of hope, that through love we can draw this family close, then it is worthwhile to make the effort to continue drawing people close; all the more so when it comes to the shluchim and Anash, children of the Rebbe. If we want to give the Rebbe much nachas, it needs to be through unity and love and not mere love but unwarranted love. The end will be that we will be Chassidim together, and in actual reality the Geula will come mamash now.

THINKING BADLY ABOUT SOMEONE IS AVODA ZARA! Rabbi Shmuel Lew Shliach and Principal Lubavitch Seniors Girls School, London There are baalei mussar who ask why aren’t Chassidim “into” Shemiras Ha’Lashon and stopping lashon hara. We learn Chassidus, learn our daily shiurim, but we hardly talk about lashon hara. I say to them, show me in any part of Torah that one is allowed to have even a negative thought about a Jew. If it is forbidden to think negatively about a Jew, then surely it is forbidden to speak negatively. You don’t need to make headlines out of it; it’s obvious. The mashpia R’ Mendel Futerfas always quoted what it says in Igeres HaKodesh that to think badly about a Jew is a thought of avoda zara.

In a sicha that the Rebbe said on parshas Emor, he said that by a Jew speaking negatively about another Jew, it kills the one who is spoken about, not that his bad deeds killed him, because his bad deeds are forgotten; the negative talk revived everything anew. The Rebbe says in that sicha that all the more so when it comes to good, that when you say something positive about a Jew how helpful it is. How do you work on thought so as not to think negatively about another? I think that first of all it depends on a person not thinking badly about himself. When, G-d forbid, there is divisiveness, jealousy or hatred and even

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something small in one’s heart, it is really a consequence of a negative self-image. In 5730 there was a situation in which I wanted to flee the battlefield. The Rebbe then told me, “The thought of leaving this aspect in your work comes from the left side (i.e. the side of evil) and the truth testifies that the evil inclination is an old, foolish king and it is a wonder that you would obey a fool …” We need to work on our “Chassidishe pride.” It is not befitting for me to have a bad thought about someone. Why is it not befitting? Because I am a person who is head and shoulders above... We need to remember that how I look at someone else starts with my self-image. On motzoei Simchas Torah 5735, I had yechidus. The Rebbe asked me, “Have you heard recently from so-and-so?” (saying his name). The man was a big askan and I was a young man of 34. I had no connection with him but, by divine providence, I met with Rabbi Vorhang and he told me that he met that person and the man expressed sharp criticism of the Rebbe because of his position on Mihu Yehudi. The Rebbe asked me again, “Did you hear about so-and-so?” I said, “I heard from Vorhang that this man critiqued the Rebbe about Mihu Yehudi.” The Rebbe said, “Do you know why he said that? Because someone said lashon hara about me and was motzi shem ra (gave a false negative report). When I say a sicha, I am not speaking about individuals, I am speaking about the ideology.” I stood there like a soldier and for a second, the thought went through my mind that when I returned to England I would meet with that person and set him straight, in contrast to the lies he heard about the Rebbe. The moment I thought that, the Rebbe seemed to read my mind and he said, “There is no reason for you to go and tell him this.”

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,, We need to love each other, literally like the love between brothers. It is normal that views are different, just as faces are different, but we need to love because we are children of one Father.

When I heard this, I thought, at least I would ask Rabbi Feivish Vogel to go and talk to him, for he knew him. The Rebbe continued to read my mind and said, “There is no reason to ask someone else to go.” Mamash ruach ha’kodesh! Then the Rebbe said a line that pertains to every aspect of our lives: “There are 613 mitzvos in the Torah. Mihu Yehudi is one of the mitzvos. If he does not want to collaborate on Mihu Yehudi, there are another 612 mitzvos that we can collaborate on.” We need to love each other, literally like the love between brothers. It is normal that views are different, just as faces are different, but we need to love because we are children of one Father, the children of Hashem. We need to really work on ourselves so that we don’t have even a negative thought about another because a bad thought about another is literally avoda zara! If I am a Chassid, a person of value and quality, can I have bad thoughts about another? No, that’s not who I am. I am above that. I am a Chassid of the Rebbe who chose me and I must start looking at myself as someone important, precious and holy. May we merit the hisgalus of the Rebbe soon, now!

WHEN THE WORLD WILL KNOW THAT CHABAD IS ONE CAMP, THAT ITSELF IS GEULA Rabbi Zalman Liberow Shliach in Flatbush, New York are sitting at a farbrengen today, 2 Iyar, but even in 770 it has already become 3 Iyar. In the HaYom Yom of 3 Iyar the Rebbe teaches us, from R’ Zushe of Anipoli, seven lessons from a thief. One of them is, if he does not succeed, he tries again and again. Our job is, as the Rebbe said countless times, to do “b’poel mamash.” Talking is not enough. Whatever was said until now was correct, but we need to arrive at some practical action.

We

A number of shluchim spoke before me who, even though our views are divergent, we love each other. In Lubavitch there aren’t truly “sides.” I noticed an astonishing thing, that many of the people farbrenging are bereaved parents. Rabbi Lazar, Rabbi Deren, myself and others. The terrible current situation did not start with corona. It was long before that. I remember how I met Rabbi Marlow on Kingston Avenue in 5748 after there were a number of tragedies in Crown Heights and I said, “What’s happening? It’s a plague!” Back then already it was a plague, and many years have since passed in which dozens, hundreds, of young people have died. Unfortunately, we have gotten used to it.

Are we really waking up now when there is a plague? 27 Adar doesn’t make us nuts? 3 Tammuz doesn’t bother us enough? We wake up now?! 27 Adar and 3 Tammuz did not happen 28 years ago; it happened today! How did we get used to 27 Adar and 3 Tammuz? What happened now, suddenly, that woke us up? The truth is that the main thing is that we woke up. Let’s wake up all the way and end the galus. The Rebbe asks of us, “Do all that you can” and “I ask only according to their strengths.” We have the strength to end the galus but the Satan, the enemy of the Rebbe, does not allow the simplest things to happen! It is hard but we learned to work hard. We were born to work hard! So let’s make it happen. Sadly, several times tonight I heard “let us talk about what we all agree upon.” This reminds me about the story about the rabbi who spoke about “Yiddishkeit.” What is this that they are saying “let’s talk about things that unify?” How can we unite if we don’t unite with the yechida? How did it happen that Moshiach is that which divides us?!

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We can speak about all the nice things, about tefillin, mezuza, and what about Moshiach? Should we wait until Yemos Ha’Moshiach to talk about it? What is lacking now is kabbolas pnei Moshiach. The problem is how are we going to welcome him if we look like the rest of the world? Is that how we will tell the world that the Rebbe is Moshiach? The Rebbe demands that we to start living in Yemos Ha’Moshiach. It is simple but not easy. We don’t need to seek out lofty and deep intellectual ideas; we need to start living Moshiach. There is talk about a united Kinus Ha’Shluchim for Kislev 5781. That kinus will be seven-eight months after the true and complete Geula. We

need to plan out the kinus already today, based on the plan that the Rebbe himself will be revealed and participate in it. Another important thing, this very farbrengen is not a preparation for the Geula but the Geula itself! When you unite, that is called Geula! Yaakov Avinu divided his people into two camps, because he had to deal with Eisav who was not yet refined. But now that even Eisav has already been refined, as the Rebbe says, two camps are not needed! Now we are all one camp and that is when we merit the continuation of the verse, “And You said, ‘I will surely do good with you.’” When the world knows that in Chabad it is one camp, that itself is Geula!

THE BEST DEFENSE - BITTUL TO MOSHE Rabbi Sholom Dovber Mochkin Shliach and Menahel of Tzach in Montreal Each of us knows that the Rebbe demands unity and to the Rebbe there are no half-measures. If the Rebbe demands unity, that means that each of us knows that unity is not what I understand or what I think but what the Rebbe really wants. As long as it not in this way, nothing will “move.” The question is known, how was it that Moshe Rabeinu’s merits did not protect his nephews, Aharon’s sons, from dying? Rashi says, “because they ruled on a matter before their master.” Something was lacking in their bittul and devotion to Moshe Rabeinu. They had their own opinion and per-

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sonal understanding. Although they were holy and pure and everything they did was for the sake of heaven, the problem was that it was not the way Moshe wanted since they lacked bittul. This is why Moshe’s merit could not protect them, and that speaks for itself. The point that we need to leave with from this farbrengen is bittul to Moshe Rabeinu, the Nasi Ha’Dor. To set aside what I think and feel and what my agenda is. If the Rebbe wants unity, then this is what we need to do in the most practical way. ■

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We are deeply saddened upon the passing of the Mara D’asra, senior member of the Beis Din of the Rebbe’s Shchunah - Crown Heights, “Kan Tziva Hashem Es HaBracha,” known for his pure faith in the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach, his words and directives – especially concerning Geulah U’Moshiach – and his imminent revelation, legendary for greeting everyone with a smile, showing keen interest and warm devotion to all, and our organizations in particular.

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Harav Aharon Yaacov »lµ³lÁ Schwei We send our condolences (and wishes for a Refuah Shleimah) to his wife Rochel, as well as the rest of the family – may Hashem comfort them and all of us. Certainly the Rav will storm the heavens to fulfill the Psak Din with the revelation of our King Moshiach – then “those who repose in the dust will awaken and sing joyful praises,” and “the Tzadikim will arise first” – may it be immediately, now! Yechi Adoneinu Moreinu V’Rabeinu Melech HaMoshiach Le’olam Va’ed! R’ Leibish Nash, Rabbi Gershon Avtzon, Yosef Yitzchak Rapp

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ĘČĤĥĕč ĘđďĎđ Ĥĥ ĘĠĜ We are deeply saddened by the passing of the Mara D’asra and senior member of the Beis Din of Crown Heights, known for his devotion to the community, as well as his love and genuine concern for every person he encountered. An exemplary Chassidishe Rov, with a fervent Koch in Moshiach

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Harav Aharon Yaacov įłĩ Schwei On behalf of the entire Yeshiva, to which Rabbi Schwei was deeply connected to, we would like to send our condolences (and wishes for a speedy recovery) to his Rebbitzen and rest of the family, particularly to his Einiklach who are currently learning here and to those who have already graduated from here. May Hashem comfort them, and all of Klal Yisroel, in this trying time. ɟsNjsOsNjǼÞŘÌsɠÞĶĶǣǼŸNjŎǼÌsÌsɚsŘǣǼŸ¯ȖĶʩĶĶǼÌsƻÞǣĨsÞ^ÞŘÞŎʰENjÞضÞضEŸȖǼ the revelation of King Moshiach – when “those who repose in the dust will awaken and sing joyful praises,” – may it be immediately, now!

Hanhalas Hayeshiva

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Avrohom Rainitz • On Monday, on my way to the Beis Moshiach

office, I noticed a buzz of activity on Kingston Avenue. Dozens of excited people stood there as the song “Thank You Hashem” played, clapping as a van door opened and out came R’ Refael Menachem Ohana, a Lubavitcher resident of Crown Heights who was hospitalized in critical condition with corona and miraculously recovered and returned home. Dozens of friends and family members who prayed from the depths of their hearts over the past month, stood there and wiped away tears as R’ Menachem’s son welcomed him with the shehechiyanu blessing. Some of those present, who were aware of the critical situation the past few weeks, also said the blessing of mechayeh ha’meisim. This happy sight was one of many emotional video clips that have been documenting when corona patients return home and are greeted by their happy families. The first was when R’ Refael Yisroel Sacks of Hatzalah in Chicago, was released from the hospital after being sick with corona. He was warmly welcomed by family and friends; then R’ Avrohom Klein, a Lubavitcher teacher from Los Angeles, who spent weeks in the ICU; two days later there was the happy news about the release of R’ Chaim Avigdor Zeitlin and the next day, people saw the great excitement of the medical staff upon the miraculous release of R’ Motti Korf of Miami. Those in the know tell of many residents of Crown Heights who were hospitalized after contracting corona and are now recovering and who are expected to return home soon.

neighborhood schools, helping children deal with their challenges. In the evening he advises couples and adults in his private office. Many people remember him from the time when he played the guitar at weddings. These days, he is less involved with music except when he goes on mivtzaim to prisons or when he volunteers to play at weddings of mekuravim who cannot pay for a band. He is also known outside of Crown Heights thanks to recordings of Chabad niggunim and the songs he himself composed with Jewish themes and the Besuras HaGeula. He has a special talent for playing on the heartstrings of the neshama and it’s no surprise that the “Dalet Bavos” that he performed has garnered over 400,000 views! When I asked him to share the miracles he experienced over the last month and a half with our readers, he smiled and said that he can only talk about the first days of his hospitalization and the last days. The three weeks in the middle, when he was in critical condition, he was unconscious and on a ventilator. R’ Avigdor, a person who loves to see the good in everything, manages to see the good even in those days which he remembers of the hospital.

RETURNING TO LIFE AFTER THREE WEEKS

It felt surrealistic with paralyzing fear on the one hand and a spiritual arousal and a feeling of closeness to Hashem on the other: Maybe it’s strange to say this, but I never felt such a closeness with Hashem as what I felt during those days when I was alone in the hospital room with the four walls and the medical equipment. Even in shul on the Yomim Noraim, I did not feel like that.

Avigdor Zeitlin is familiar to many in Crown Heights as a psychotherapist. He works in the

When I was alone, without doctors, without nurses, I felt Hashem. I thought this is how

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walking miracle: The son of r’ menachem ohana recites shehechiyanu upon his father’s return home

the Chassidim in Russia felt when they were in jail alone. Just me and Hashem. I thought how Hashem was with me every step of the way, starting from the terrifying moments when the doctors sedated me and induced paralysis of my body for weeks, continuing with the miracles and wonders that occurred at every moment of those critical weeks, and ending with the body starting to reawaken and come out slowly from the paralysis. I had such a spiritual awakening that I hope to always remember it, without any reminders. Afterward, when I was transferred to rehab, where there was another person in the room, I really saw how fortunate we are, that we are Jews and Chassidim. I saw my neighbor, a non-Jew, who was interested only in food and television. I was sitting with a Dvar Malchus and learning another sicha, another maamar and I felt like it was a flow of spiritual oxygen. In normal times, we are busy with so much going on and barely manage to grab an hour

to learn here and there. It was in the hospital that I was able to learn a lot. It’s all I had to do and it’s all I wanted to do. In general, throughout this time, I openly saw the hand of Hashem. My wife will tell you about the miracles that happened during the weeks that I was in a medically induced coma. She got so much strength from Hashem and discovered hidden strengths within her, such that even the people around her were strengthened. They came to strengthen her and left strengthened. Just think of how she was able to make Pesach alone with seven children and with a husband lying comatose on a ventilator in the hospital. Throughout, I felt how Hashem and the Rebbe were leading me and were with me, starting with the decision to go to the hospital. At first, I absolutely did not want to go to the hospital. I thought I am a strong guy and could get through it. To my good fortune, the Hatzala

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members convinced me to go with them to the hospital which saved my life because my condition deteriorated rapidly. I don’t remember those days … I lost my tallis and tefillin, my wallet and cell phone; all was lost in the fight to save my life. When I left, the doctors smiled as though they had cured me but when I was fighting for my life, they admitted they had no idea what to do, it was a new and unfamiliar virus and they were groping in the dark. They even said to my wife: You are religious. Pray to G-d because only He can save him. To hear that from doctors is quite rare.

THE REBBE’S LETTER THAT INFUSED HOPE His wife, Mrs. Devorah Zeitlin, emotionally recounted the miracles and wonders that got her husband out of danger: Like many residents of Crown Heights, after Purim my husband began to feel the symptoms of corona. At first we thought it was just a cold, a flu, but on Thursday, 24 Adar, his condition deteriorated and Hatzala insisted he needed to go to the hospital. He was diagnosed with corona and was immediately attached to oxygen. At first he need a low dosage of oxygen which was administered through a tube in his nose but after two days he needed more oxygen administered through a mask. Two days after that, that was no longer enough. Within four days his condition deteriorated so that he urgently needed to be put on a ventilator which requires full sedation. At that point, it was hard for him to talk but he sent me a text, asking me to go to our neighbor, R’ Noach Vogel, for him to ask the Rebbe for a bracha. R’ Noach immediately sat down to write to the Rebbe and then put the letter into a volume of Igros Kodesh. He sent us a copy of the answer: I was pleased to receive your letter, and its content regarding the visit of the students of our holy yeshiva to the rehab center on

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the two days of Rosh Hashana to enable the people there to fulfill their obligation of the mitzva of shofar blowing. And since our Sages say that one of the functions of shofar blowing is crowning the King of kings, Hashem, over our physical-material world and all of its matters; Hashem, who is the essence of goodness and the source of good, and the heavenly kingdom is like the earthly kingdom, on coronation day the king grants a reprieve to the provinces, may this reprieve be drawn down into improvement in health of the body and improvement of health of the neshama of everyone in the rehab center, where he serves in holiness, among the entirety of the Jewish people with apparent and revealed goodness. And always, all of the days, may his Torah-honor impart good news regarding your grandchildren whom you mention in this letter and regarding all of the people in the institution and all of their matters. This clear answer from the Rebbe for the improved health of those in the hospital was tremendously encouraging, especially when the Rebbe emphasizes the idea of coronation which is a form of the word corona (under electron microscopic examination, each virion is surrounded by a “corona,” or halo).

YOUR HUSBAND’S LIFE IS IN DANGER IF YOU DON’T GIVE YOUR CONSENT The next days were the hardest in my life. Two days after the doctors anesthetized my husband and attached him to the ventilator, they called me from the hospital and said that his condition was worsening, his lungs were not working, and in order to save his life they needed to use the ECMO machine. This is used for patients who have extreme but reversible lung failure, which affects the blood oxygen levels, to enable the lungs to rest and recover. When they called I had no idea what this was, but the doctor said they don’t have time to explain and that they need an ECMO, to connect

him to the machine immediately, which I had to consent to, to save his life. It was terrifying because I did not even have a chance to consult with our doctor, Dr. Rosen. There was no choice but to agree. By the way, I must mention the devotion of Dr. Rosen who was available to us at all hours. Thanks to his good connections at NYU he was able to get updated in real time. Every day, I got a report from the hospital and these were followed by detailed explanations by Dr. Rosen. It was only after I gave the consent and they attached my husband to the ECMO, that they called to explain to me what it was all about. I discovered to my terror, that the treatment in question was quite complex and required a large experienced medical team and due to the dangers it entails, it is meant only for the sickest patients who do not respond to more conventional treatments and whose chances of remaining alive without it are slim. I asked them whether any corona patients had this treatment and survived, and they said, not yet. However, they said that since my husband is young and strong, there was a good chance he would make it. Naturally, after such a frightening report, I was in a panic. I understood that my husband was in grave danger and I called Rabbi Yeshaya Braun about adding a name as a segula for a refuah. R’ Braun who was supportive throughout, explained how to add a name with a minyan. At home, we have three boys over bar mitzva and the Vogels have some bachurim and together with other neighbors who came out on their porches we made a minyan for Tehillim, said the nusach for changing a name and added the name “Chaim.” The next day, my cousin, Menachem Kirsch of South Africa, told me that it would be good to express our bitachon in Hashem by ordering new tallis and tefillin bags for my husband with the new name, especially when his tallis and tefillin disappeared in the hospital. Emotion-

,, To appreciate the magnitude of the miracle you have to see the statistics in New York. 88% of those sick with corona who were on respirators did not wake up!

ally, it wasn’t easy for it required a lot of emuna and bitachon but I strengthened myself in my bitachon in Hashem that my husband would recover and then I could bring him the new bags. I called to order it and within a few days I received it and put it on his bed.

THE REBBE’S DOLLARS On 11 Nissan I had a surprise. Our neighbor, R’ Noach Vogel, called to ask whether we had a dollar from the Rebbe in the house. I told him that we had just one dollar in my husband’s wallet but his wallet was lost in the hospital. I had gotten a dollar from the Rebbe for my bas mitzva but over the years it was lost so we did not have even one of these dollars in the house. R’ Noach asked me for the names and birthdays of everyone in the family and a few hours later he surprised me with nine dollars from the Rebbe, for each family member, with dates close to their birthdays! For my husband, he gave a dollar that he received after Tehillim on Hoshana Raba one year. This special gesture gave me special kochos during those difficult days. Nine dollars from the Rebbe on the Rebbe’s birthday, that was really powerful.

PRAY, BECAUSE ONLY G-D CAN HELP YOU During those difficult days, every day was new nightmare. When a patient is put on the

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r’ chaim avigdor zeitlin with friends and family at the bar mitzva of his son

ECMO machine, he must take blood thinners because without them the machine can’t do its job properly. On the other hand, blood thinners cause other problems and every day they called to report about the new problem that arose … In general, because corona is a new virus, the doctors were groping in the dark and most of the treatments they gave were not given with the confidence that this is what is needed but as an experiment; maybe it would help. That week, the head of the department said: We are trying but we don’t know what will really help. Since you are religious, you should pray to G-d because only He can save your husband. The doctor explained that medicine today has no cure for corona and all they were doing was giving the body more time so that the immune system would try and deal with the virus and it depended only on G-d. I thought, this is Yemos HaMoshiach because generally, doctors are arrogant and are confident that they know everything.

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One day, the doctor called and reported that, thank G-d, the immune system had started to work but now it was a problem because it was working too powerfully and was beginning to get out of control. When the body fights, there are parts of the body that swell and now there was swelling around the lungs which interfered with their returning to normal function. In short, it was a complicated situation from every angle. During the weeks that he was attached to the ECMO machine, he wasn’t only sedated but under complete medical paralysis since during this treatment the patient may not move.

ALONE WITH THE CHILDREN SEDER NIGHT We were alone for the seder. Our oldest son, who is nineteen, ran the seder and we all ate the matza of emuna and the matza of refuah with great concentration. I have no doubt that this helped him. On the eve of Pesach, they called from the hospital to report that they were starting to lower the dosage of the medications that paralyzed the body and he was starting to

move his hands. They said that if all proceeded properly, they would start to wake him up. It’s a slow process which takes about a week until full alertness. Starting from the first day of Pesach we started getting good news. They reported that they stopped using the ECMO. On Sunday, Chol HaMoed, they informed me that the body was reacting well. On Friday and Shabbos he was still sedated but without ECMO, and they began to start the process of waking him from the sedation. We weren’t at the end point yet. The next day, his fever suddenly shot up and they discovered new problems. They had to put him under again. It looked as though everything reverted back; that was a particularly hard day because after a few hopeful days the wheel had turned. Throughout that time we got physical, spiritual, material and moral support from the amazing residents of Crown Heights. We could not have gotten through this difficult time without the constant help we received, especially from the members of our shul Beis Gimpel Chaim Shmuel Leib, the members of Hatzala and Bikur Cholim of Crown Heights, Ahavas Chesed and Rabbi Avraham Lieder. All of them were angels who helped in every way possible.

SHOCK: THREE WEEKS GONE Erev Shevii shel Pesach the wheel turned again and from that point on we saw only progress. We were told by the hospital that his condition had stabilized and they were trying again to wake him from the sedation. We were told about a chesed organization that provides tablets for patients and their families. These tablets are already connected so as to enable families to remain in contact with isolated loved ones who cannot be visited in the hospital. Since my husband was expected to wake up during Yom Tov, and usually, when a patient wakes up after being out for several weeks, it is very important that he see and hear familiar

people, R’ Braun told me to call my husband even on Yom Tov. Usually, family members are with the patient when he wakes up but since corona patients are quarantined, you need to use the tablet. Furthermore, the rav told me, if there would be technical problems I had to deal with them on Yom Tov so I could talk with my husband when he would wake up. It was pikuach nefesh that set everything aside. There actually were technical problems with the connection and it was bizarre spending Shevii shel Pesach on the phone with technical support and the nurses at the hospital until we finally managed to set up the communication between the two tablets. On Acharon shel Pesach, the big miracle happened and my husband finally woke up from the long sedation. To appreciate the magnitude of the miracle you have to see the statistics in New York. 88% of those sick with corona who were on respirators did not wake up! He got his life back as a gift in a miracle. At first he was very weak and because of the machines he was connected to he could not speak. He looked very frightened when he opened his mouth to speak and the words would not come out... He didn’t understand what was happening with him, and didn’t know if it was a temporary problem or something permanent r’l. Of course, I tried to reassure him and to explain that he was now waking up from a deep sedation. When he heard that it was Acharon shel Pesach he was in utter shock. It took time for him to absorb that he had lost three weeks of his life. He was sedated on 25 Adar and woke up on Acharon shel Pesach. The next day, Isru Chag, they put in a trach speaking valve that enabled him to talk. It was a mechanical voice that sounded robotic but at least he could express himself. He was very happy to speak with the children and when I told him about the new name that was added he joked about this new identity.

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Before candle-lighting he wished us a good Shabbos and said we would continue speaking after Shabbos. I told him about the rav’s psak that it was permissible and even necessary to speak to him during Shabbos but he felt very uncomfortable with this. I called R’ Braun and he said that if it bothers him that much maybe not to call him since the most important thing was for him to feel well and recover. It turned out that with all the good intentions he had not yet recovered enough and Friday night he did not sleep well. When he woke up on Shabbos morning he was confused and it was medically necessary that we talk to him. He called at seven o’clock and I immediately turned on the tablet and communicated with him in order to encourage and strengthen him. I’m saying this because since there are other people who are unfortunately in situations like this and sometimes they think that they will be stringent and not call on Shabbos. If we hadn’t spoken on Shabbos it could have made his condition worse. There is no choice but to do as our Sages say and “desecrate one Shabbos so as to observe many more Shabbosos.” Boruch Hashem, his condition improved and a week and a half later he was released from the hospital to rehab. There too, we saw big miracles because at first they said he would need at least

,, the bracha we got from the Rebbe was constantly before us and the clear bracha about the reprieve being in “matters of health of the body and the neshama.” These words stood before my eyes through all the tough times

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ten days. After three days he had gotten back to himself and was able to go home. That was a big surprise; we thought it would be another week.

WHERE DID YOU GET THE STRENGTH FROM? We asked Mrs. Zeitlin, from where did you get the enormous strength to deal with such a complicated, difficult situation? She said: First, the bracha we got from the Rebbe was constantly before us and the clear bracha about the reprieve being in “matters of health of the body and the neshama.” These words stood before my eyes through all the tough times, but there was something else that greatly strengthened me and that was a video from the mashpia, Rabbi Yaakov Winner of Australia who said that in Tammuz 5750 he was in a bad car accident and was hospitalized in critical condition. The doctors did not know whether he would make it. At the time, the shliach in Australia, Rabbi Yitzchok Dovid Groner, was at the Rebbe and he wrote to the Rebbe that in the most recent period the community of Anash had suffered some severe blows as some of Anash died. He concluded that just recently a new mashpia by the name of R’ Winner had arrived and he was just in a car accident. The Rebbe wrote his answer on this letter, “When he shall decide that the time has come to fulfill the command of our Rebbeim to think good and it will be good – he will do so in actual practice.” R’ Winner recovered after six weeks and was released from the hospital. When he heard from R’ Groner what the Rebbe’s response was, he gave a lot of thought to the fact that he Rebbe chose to describe the saying “think good and it will be good” not as an aphorism of our Rebbeim and not as a saying of our Rebbeim and not even as an instruction of our Rebbeim, but as a command of our Rebbeim.

He thought of this for years and did not find an explanation until a few years ago when he saw a Living Torah video with two stories in which a similar answer from the Rebbe is told, one to Rabbi Yehoshua Binyamin Gordon a’h, shliach in California, and one to Rabbi Avrohom Rottenberg. In both cases, the Rebbe used the word “command.” It then occurred to him that by using this word we see the Rebbe’s great Ahavas Yisrael. The Rebbe knows that it is very hard to think positively when the reality before one’s eyes looks otherwise, especially when to achieve that fully one has to reach a level of full bitachon that one trusts that Hashem will do what is good for us, with no connection to reality even when reality looks the opposite and there is no natural chance. Since it is so hard to do, the Rebbe puts it in terms of a command, to say that even someone not on this level of thinking positively because of having attained this level of bitachon, should do so as a command, with kabbolas ol. Simply to carry out the order of our Rebbeim and think good. It’s as though the Rebbe is pleading with

us, even if you haven’t reached this high level, do it with kabbolas ol. I promise you that this is the way out of your problem. Another point, based on what it says numerous times in the Rebbe’s letters, is that a commandment is also an empowerment and therefore, the Rebbe used this word because it confers the ability to fulfill the order of thinking positively. After seeing this video, I forced myself to think positively. It definitely wasn’t easy in light of the dark prognostications of the doctors and the statistics that said 88% of corona patients on ventilators never wake up. And it was many times harder every time I got a phone call from the hospital about another problem and another problem, but with the power of kabbolas ol and the kochos which the Rebbe gives along with the command, I managed to rise above all rational calculations and simply thought positively, time and again. I pictured the doctor calling with good news and my husband finally coming home. That is how I persisted with positive thinking, until in the end it actually became good. ■

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“This incredible act of kindness

resulted in the senior Mr. Deutsch recovering his full health, thank G-d. Just one thing was left as a reminder of the war. His arm was constantly in pain and he had very limited range of motion which never left him.”

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Friday night in the town of Efrat, after the meal, my host Rabbi Nissan Nachshon took me to a Shalom Zachar. It was Shabbos Bereishis, and for the first time I was visiting the shluchim in Efrat, Israel, Rabbi and Mrs. Nachshon. The Shalom Zachor was in honor of the

TThe he 228th 8th ooff IIyar yar iinn tthe he yyear ear

birth of Mr. Avrohom Deutsch’s grandson. Avrohom is a close friend of Rabbi Nachshon. Rabbi Nachshon is a Chevron native, son of the famous Sara Nachshon and her husband, the very famous artist Baruch Nachshon. Efrat is a series of 5 communities spread over the tops of adjoining mountains. Efrat is not a

small town, being spread over 5 or 6 kilometers. As such, we walked for what I estimated was about a half an hour, a distance not considered unusual in these parts. Over hill and over dale, we hiked to the house of Mr. Avrohom Deutsch, an American originally from New Haven, Connecticut. In

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fact, most of Efrat is made up of Americans. I had the distinct feeling that we were in a bungalow colony in the Catskills. For these tenacious Americans transplanted their American communities to the mountain tops of Efrat. It was a large crowd. After we sat at the Shalom Zachar for a while, after many divrei Torah and l’chaims, Avrohom looked at us and began talking about Lubavitch and how he and his father were very close to the Lubavitcher community in New Haven. Avrohom and his sister had attended the Lubavitch Day School in New Haven, which was (at the time) the only Jewish day school in New Haven. I sensed that Rabbi Nachshon and I were probably the only Lubavitchers at the table. Sensing a story, I asked: Perhaps you have an interesting story to tell us? Mr. Deutsch got very excited and he told us: “I had a miracle happen!” He gave us all l’chaims, and now everyone was curious. Our host became very emotional. His father was a survivor from the town of Kaliv in Hungary. (Kaliv or Kalov is the Jewish name; the town’s modern or official name is: Nagykallo). His family were Chassidim of the Kaliver Rebbe. During the war, the Hungarians and Germans formed the young Jewish men into work brigades. At some point during the war, a group of Jewish Hungarian boys, who had been pressed into one of these work brigades for the Germans, were force-marched 137 miles in the freezing cold and snow. Many died from exposure, exhaustion or a bullet. Avrohom Deutsch’s Father was one of the marchers. As they marched, it was incredibly cold, so he asked one of the guards for a coat. The guard refused, telling him: “You are all going to be killed anyway. The sooner you die, the better off you will be.” Somewhere along the way or perhaps at the end of the march, Mr. Deutsch senior was beaten almost to death, putting him into a coma and breaking his right arm near the elbow. His

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captors figured perhaps that he was dead, and so, by a miracle, they did not put their customary bullet into him. Far from dead, the beating had put Mr. Deutsch into an unconscious state. As such, thinking Mr. Deutsch was dead, they left him there in the freezing cold in a pile of snow. A non-Jewish nurse (as you’ll continue to read, it was no doubt Eliyahu HaNavi…) saw that he was alive. She pulled Mr. Deutsch out of snow, took him into a hospital and nursed him back to life. This incredible act of kindness resulted in the senior Mr. Deutsch recovering his full health, thank G-d. Just one thing was left as a reminder of the war. His arm was constantly in pain and he had very limited range of motion which never left him. (Interestingly, after Mr. Deutsch fully recovered and was about to be discharged from the hospital, he tried to find the nurse who had saved him in order to thank her, but he could not find her. When he described her to other staff at the hospital, they said there was no such nurse at the hospital. Leading to the possibility that it was Eliyahu HaNavi.) After the war, Mr. Deutsch and his wife Sarah moved to the United States and settled in New Haven, Connecticut. Mr. Deutsch remained a committed Jew, but he was not a Chassid. Mr. Deutsch had a brother-in-law (husband of his sister Vera and, interestingly, one of Mr. Deutsch’s teachers when he was a young boy in Kaliv) named David Davidovitch, who was the “Rosh Hamoetzah” (effectively, Mayor) of Emek Lod — the area in Israel that included both the town of Tzafariya (where Mr. Davidovitch lived) and Kfar Chabad. Tzafariya is located next to Kfar Chabad, just over the railroad tracks. One side of the tracks is the town of Kfar Chabad and the other side is Tzafariya. Despite the tracks that divide, there’s a lot of warm feeling back and forth from both sides.

At any given time one can find Tzafariyans davening in Kfar Chabad’s largest shul Beis Menachem. Being so close, the towns’ residents frequently visit each other and share in each other’s simchas despite one town being very Chassidic and the other “not-so-much”, being very Mizrachi-oriented. Depending how you look at it, Tzafariya is really a part of Kfar Chabad. According to Tzafariyans however, it’s Kfar Chabad that’s really a neighborhood of Tzafaria. Separating the two towns is the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv Railway tracks and train station. Depending on whom you ask, they might perhaps tell you that the others live on the “other side of the tracks”. The area where Mr. Davidovitch was the Rosh Hamoetzah is the same area where my cousin Rabbi Noach Landsberg ‘‫ שי‬is the Chief Rabbi. Anyway, in 1973, just before the Yom Kippur War, Mayor Davidovitch was invited, as a representative of the area in which Kfar Chabad is located, to travel to New York and meet with the Rebbe. Mr. Davidovitch visited with his brother-inlaw Mr. Deutsch and Mr. Deutsch’s family in New Haven while he was in the United States and Mr. Davidovitch invited his brother-inlaw to join him for his visit to the Rebbe. Mr. Deutsch senior knew very well what a Chassidic Rebbe is, having grown up in the court of the Kaliver Rebbe in pre-war Hungary as a young man. Somehow (as I gathered between l’chaims) they both ended up at a farbrengen with the Rebbe at 770. As they stood there packed like sardines in a room filled with thousands of Lubavitcher Chassidim (probably up in the air on a bleacher, and since this must have been in Elul or early Tishrei, I can assume it was especially full of visitors), Mr. Davidovitch got very excited and said to his brother-in-law: “Mordechai!

,, A non-Jewish nurse (as you’ll continue to read, it was no doubt Eliyahu HaNavi…) saw that he was alive. She pulled Mr. Deutsch out of snow

Make a l’chaim!” Mr. Deutsch had very limited movement of his arm. Every movement of the mangled joint brought on terrible pain, as the break had been somewhere near the elbow, a major nerve center. “I can’t!” he protested. Mr. Davidovitch didn’t give up and continued urging him, with Mr. Deutsch insisting that he cannot and his uncle refusing to take no for an answer. Perhaps the surrounding crowd caught on. This part is not so clear. What is clear, is that somehow, a small cup of wine appeared from somewhere and was placed in Mr. Deutsch’s right hand. With the help of those around him, the mangled arm slowly rose with its cup of wine. The pain was incredibly excruciating. Up, up, up! Went the arm. Mr. Deutsch felt he could no longer stand the pain. As the cup went up, Mr. Deutsch looked towards the Rebbe. The Rebbe who had been looking around, looked at Mr. Deutsch. Mr. Deutsch looked at the Rebbe. And as the Rebbe looked at Mr. Deutsch, suddenly, the pain disappeared! Back in Efrat, at our lovely Friday night Shalom Zachar, there on the top of a mountain in Efrat, Israel, our host Avrohom started crying. We all fell silent. We were crying along with him. “My father,” he said, “never felt pain in that arm again.” ■

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Chassidus 101

Rabbi Zvi Homnick

TRUE LOVE IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR young man entered the bank on the ground floor of the Midtown Manhattan hotel, during lunch hour when the bank was at its busiest. Looking around, he spotted a well dressed older man standing in line. Striding purposefully, he approached the man, fell to his knees, grabbed his hand and started kissing it. Looking up, he passionately exclaimed, “Dad, I love you so much. I know I said and did some things that I shouldn’t have, but I’m really sorry and I’m begging your forgiveness. Please, let me come back home.”

The

The older man smiled down at him and said, “Yes, son, I love you too and I forgive you. I think we both know how much your mother will be thrilled to see you. Just wait until I finish up here and we will head straight home.” The people in the bank began to cheer as the older man spread his arms wide for a hug, but instead of reacting happily the young man fainted. The security guard came over and began to try to revive him. When he finally came to, he tried to get up and run but the security guard held him back asking, “What just happened here?” The young man stammered an explanation that he was taking a sales course here in the hotel, and part of the training was to be able to handle rejection. Their lunch break assignment was to approach a stranger with a request that would surely be rejected in an embarrassing public way, and this man was a complete stranger to him. 40

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The guard looked to the older man who said, “I figured that’s what it was. I wanted him to know that love is not a sales pitch. Don’t go asking for it if you’re not ready to hear a yes.”

Rebbe Rayatz cites numerous differences between the approach of the Alter Rebbe and the other disciples of the Maggid. Some of the differences include: ChaBaD (intellect) as opposed to ChaGaS (emotions); reaching out to Torah scholars of the opposing camp as opposed to just focusing on raising a new generation of Chassidim from childhood; and each person doing the work himself as opposed to relying on the Rebbe/ Tzaddik.

The

He also refers to differences between the Alter Rebbe and the Baal Shem Tov and Maggid such as: pnimi (internalizing the light of Chassidus) as opposed to makif (being overtaken by the light of Chassidus); making baalei teshuva as opposed to focusing only on creating Tzaddikim; and lengthy detailed explanations as opposed to short bursts of inspiration. Despite these differences, the Rebbe Rayatz makes it clear that the Alter Rebbe is a direct continuation of his predecessors, and the Baal Shem Tov himself foresaw this “new soul” coming into the world to take their teachings to the next level, and he was groomed specifically to carry out this mission.

To appreciate the underlying thread that runs through these differences, we need to understand the nature of the challenge facing the next generation of Chassidus. The world was undergoing change at a rapid pace. The Age of Enlightenment in Europe was progressing full steam ahead, with the entire continent in a state of intellectual, social and political upheaval. The American Revolution was heating up (the Maggid passed away at the end of 1772), which would be followed not long after by the French Revolution. More opportunities for Jews to assimilate were opening up in more parts of the world, even as the gentile world was moving away from traditional religious beliefs. According to the teachings of Chassidus, as explained in earlier installments, all of these developments were to be seen as ever greater expressions of Hashem’s super-love for His beloved Jewish people, and as ever greater opportunities for them to reciprocate by revealing and expressing their super-love for Him in mature fashion. The question was, how? As the Alter Rebbe explains in Tanya, the main battleground between the G-dly soul (imbued with this instinctive all-consuming love) and the animal soul (imbued with the competing self-love) is in the heart. Framed in other words, the main job in galus is to conquer the land of the seven nations (the seven self-centered emotional attributes of the animal soul) and turn it into Eretz Yisrael (emotional attributes that express the true desire of a Jew to express his super-love for Hashem). It is not enough for the G-dly soul to overpower the selfishness of the animal soul with the selflessness of the G-dly soul, it has to change the animal emotions into passionate channels of the super-love of the neshama. As we explained, a mature relationship based on that love is one where my entire self is invested and not just manifest when I forget about myself and focus on the other. The great light the first Patriarchs of Chassidus brought into the world did not

address this directly, since they revealed the higher soul powers through the light of Chassidus with such intensity (makif) that the animal soul was overpowered. This is not just some theoretical concept from the storybooks, but something that most of us have experienced and witnessed in one way or another. For those of us who had the privilege of being in the presence of the Rebbe, to pass by for a dollar, lekach, a kuntrus; all the more so at the singing of Napoleon’s march at the end of Yom Kippur or Hakafos on Simchas Torah; or the impassioned singing of Yechi when the Rebbe was on the porch; we lived it ourselves and saw it in others around us. But even in everyday life, we have all lived through, and seen others who appear to us as not very refined people live through, moments of spiritual highs whether during happy events or challenging events or even just reaching out to a fellow Jew, when all of the detritus of the animal soul just seemed to fade away and we/they were totally infused with the glow of that super-love. All without any inner battle. The challenge is and always was how to channel that power into winning the daily battle of changing myself from the inside out. In the third generation of Chassidus, the “honeymoon” period of the Baal Shem Tov and the “first year” period of the Maggid came to an end. Now, in a spiritually darker world, the party was over and the battle for revealing the true Oneness of Hashem would begin. The light they brought into the world had to be channeled toward the personal/global war of conquering the “seven nations,” the natural desires and inclinations of the animal soul, and redirecting their passions to transcend self as separate from Hashem and reinventing the self as part of Hashem’s Oneness. The Alter Rebbe, as the preordained successor to lead the Jewish people into this battle, with the ultimate goal of transforming the world into a “dwelling place for Hashem,” had to come up with a system that was different from but loyal to his predecessors, even as his fellow disciples chose other paths. ■ 28 IYAR 5780

41

Moments With The Rebbe The Rebbe Listening

Many relate that the thing that touched them most at their encounter with the Rebbe was the Rebbe’s ability to listen to them. Yes, they came to receive blessings and advice, they came to hear the Rebbe, but they found that the Rebbe’s listening ear was just as amazing and miraculous as his comforting and encouraging voice and words.

Rabbi Lord Dr. Jonathan Sacks, former chief rabbi of Great Britain: “[When I finally met the Rebbe,] I was utterly surprised. He was certainly not charismatic in any conventional sense. Quiet, self-effacing, understated, one might hardly have noticed him had it not been for the reverence in which he was held by his disciples. That meeting, though, changed my life. He was a world-famous figure, I was an anonymous student from three thousand miles away. Yet in his presence I seemed to be the most important person in the world. He asked me about myself; he listened carefully; he challenged me to become a leader, something I had never contemplated before. Quickly it became clear to me that he believed in me more than I believed in myself. As I left the room, it occurred to me that it had been full of my presence and his absence. Perhaps that is what listening is, considered as a religious act. I then knew that greatness is measured by what we efface ourselves towards.” 42

BEIS MOSHIACH

Menachem Eini, an Israeli pilot who spent time in Egyptian captivity: “At that point the Rebbe listened with such silence. I don’t like using high words. But at that moment I felt the Rebbe’s greatness… even his look was listening to me and gave me so much comfort.

“When I told the Rebbe that my greatest fear is already behind me, he smiled with understanding. I understood that a Rebbe doesn’t need to be a pilot to understand such things. When I explained about my fears, I felt that he truly knows what fear is. I don’t need to tell him that most men are embarrassed to say the word ‘scared,’ but he knew it all already.

“When I told this to the Rebbe, our eyes met, it was as if he shook my hands with that look, what an encouragement!... “He was with me, every moment, every second of our meeting he was with me, just me and him 100 % not 99 or 98, a full 100 % entirely focused on each and every one of my words. It was the first time that I understood that one can relate to the other with such attention and devotion.”

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43

PARASHA Of The Future Rabbi Nissim Lagziel

TRANQUILITY OF REDEMPTION BEGIN WITH A GRIN Marvin was a lazy fellow. His wife, who was the complete opposite of him, was driven up a wall by his inactivity. One time, she walked into the house and angrily asked, “Marvin, what are you doing?” Marvin said, “Nothing.” “But that is what you did yesterday!” “So what do you want … I’m not finished yet.”

DESERT: OPPOSITE OF TRANQUILITY Parshas Bamidbar is always read close to Shavuos, Mattan Torah. The Shelah says that there is a connection between the parshiyos of the Torah to the time of the year in which they are read. What is the connection between parshas Bamidbar and Mattan Torah? True, we can find a direct and simple connection in the name of the parsha, “Bamidbar” (in the desert), the place where the Torah was given! But this connection raises a question. Why indeed was the Torah given in a desert? A desert is a desolate place, “a land where man has not settled.” What kind of place is this to give the Torah to the world? It would seem preferable for the Torah to be given in a settled area, for the purpose of the Torah is to guide Jews in how to lead their lives. What then is the message in the fact that the Torah was given in a lifeless area? 44

BEIS MOSHIACH

One of man’s basic needs is peace and tranquility, emotional stability that encourages and strengthens his ability to work on himself. The nature of the world is that it is comprised of change and instability. The basic foundations of the existence of the world are the ethereal/ material elements of space and time. Space and time include the entire world with all its components, details and created beings. However, these two basic dimensions of existence are in essence all about change! Time is in constant movement and every “piece” of space is different than another. The world, with all its components, is constantly in flux which creates instability and lack of serenity in man’s life. Not only does the materialistic aspect of the world engender instability in man’s life but also the absence of spiritual harmony, the constant motion between the many details each of us deals with in our everyday lives: eating, drinking, sleeping, family life, work and so on, cause us to feel confused and lost, “stuck,” and very not serene. Indeed, in the world there is never peace. Peace and harmony are in complete opposition to the very existence of the world which is comprised of change. Peace is brought to the world by Hashem who is above the world; it is brought through Torah. Torah reveals the one and only intent and purpose for creating the world, “Bereishis” - “bishvil haTorah sh’nikra’as reishis,” and the purpose of man’s life, “I was created only to serve my Maker.”

TRANQUILITY IN A DESERT Torah does not only provide general meaning to man’s life; it guides him in every detail of life, how to behave in accordance with the one and only all-encompassing purpose. Thus, Torah provides stable, ongoing, eternal significance even for the details of life, for the changes of time and place. The Torah teaches the significance of every time, day of the month, month, and new year and guides man in how to view the changes of time, what he ought to learn from them and how to utilize them. The Torah navigates the discordant inner states of the person and weaves together its extremes. It teaches man how to overcome his animal nature, guides him and shows him when to use intellect (ex. for Torah study) and when to use emotion (love for Hashem and Ahavas Yisrael), and all as part of carrying out one purpose, one goal. This is also the message conveyed by the Torah being given in a desert. The Torah instills stability and meaning even in a desert! Hashem conveys that peace and tranquility should not be sought in material profits, in a spacious home, in money and other pleasures. If we reveal the real meaning of life, “kabbolas haTorah,” we will find peace even in a desolate desert! The same applies to the concepts of galus and Geula. The deeper significance of galus is the lack of inner harmony and lack of clarity in our lives. The results of this state are confusion, lack of satisfaction, lack of success in achieving our goals, personal threats and national threats, fears, anxieties and doubts. Interestingly, there is one trait which is common to all humankind: hope, hope for a better future, hope for peace, for a world that is entirely good. The significance of faith in the coming of Moshiach and the Geula is to transform this hope into a powerful and firm faith that this future will actually come to pass. The way to achieve this faith is by giving ascendancy to spirit over matter, the neshama over the body.

The G-dly soul that never went into galus and which is always in a state of peace and serenity, as in Olam Haba, is what can instill in us the emotional stability of faith in the coming of Moshiach. The revelation of the neshama and its ascendancy over the body through daily life as lived according to Torah are what will take us out of galus and, furthermore, what will take the galus out of us, out of our lives and our experience of reality.

TO CONCLUDE WITH A STORY We will end with a story about real peace. R’ Mottel of Kalushin was a wealthy, respected Chassid, a student of Rabbi Yitzchok of Vorki, who was very involved in public affairs. In his will he wrote: From when I came of age, I did not rest. Slowly, success shone on me, with much effort and hard work. I had many enemies who looked askance at me and persecuted me out of lust for money. I suffered much from them, “I have become weary with my sighing, but I have found no rest” (Yirmiyahu 45:3). I went to my master and Rebbe and told him about my bad lot and my suffering. The Rebbe said, “For this you were created” (Avos 2:8), and added in the name of the Maharal that every person was created to fulfill all the mitzvos, but there is one mitzva which every person has that for him, is the foremost and general mitzva suited for his neshama. “You too,” said the Rebbe. “You were meant to work on communal matters. Don’t slacken and don’t rest.” Some time later I met with the Rebbe again and told him about the suffering and disturbance due to the communal work placed on my shoulders. The Rebbe then read the verse to me, “He saw a resting place, that it was good, and the land, that it was pleasant, and he bent his shoulder to bear [burdens]” (Bereishis 49:15) and said, “Only if you bend your shoulder to bear [burdens] and realize that this is your job and mission in the world, will you find peace and tranquility in your actions.” ■ 28 IYAR 5780

45

‫‪shabbos‬‬

‫‪05/23‬‬

‫כ“ט אייר‬ ‫‪Shabbos ends‬‬ ‫‪9:03‬‬

‫‪Sunset‬‬

‫‪Midday‬‬

‫‪8:13‬‬

‫‪12:52‬‬

‫‪Sunrise Latest shema‬‬

‫‪9:12‬‬

‫‪Candle lighting‬‬ ‫‪7:54‬‬

‫‪5:31‬‬

‫ג' פרקים‪ :‬הל' שכירות פ‹ יד‪ ,‬הל‹ שאלה ופיקדון פ' א‪-‬ב‪ .‬פרק אחד‪ :‬הלכות עדות פרק ח‪ .‬ספר המצוות‪ :‬מל״ת ריט‪ .‬מ״ע רמד‬

‫‪Monday‬‬

‫ב‘ ניסן‬

‫‪Sunday‬‬

‫‪05/25‬‬

‫‪05/24‬‬

‫א‘ סיון‬

‫‪Sunset‬‬

‫‪Latest shema‬‬

‫‪Sunrise‬‬

‫‪Sunset‬‬

‫‪Latest shema‬‬

‫‪Sunrise‬‬

‫‪8:15‬‬

‫‪9:11‬‬

‫‪5:30‬‬

‫‪8:14‬‬

‫‪9:11‬‬

‫‪5:31‬‬

‫ג' פרקים ‪. . . . . . . . .‬הלכות שאלה ופיקדון פרקים ו‪-‬ח‬ ‫פרק אחד ‪ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .‬הלכות עדות פרק י‬ ‫ס' המצוות ‪ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .‬מ״ע רמב‬

‫ג' פרקים ‪ . . . . . . . .‬הלכות שאלה ופיקודון פרקים ג‪-‬ה‬ ‫פרק אחד ‪ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .‬הלכות עדות פרק ט‬ ‫ס' המצוות ‪ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .‬מ״ע רמד‬

‫‪Wednesday‬‬

‫‪Tuesday‬‬

‫‪05/27‬‬

‫ד‘ סיון‬

‫‪05/26‬‬

‫ג‘ סיון‬

‫‪Sunset‬‬

‫‪Latest shema‬‬

‫‪Sunrise‬‬

‫‪Sunset‬‬

‫‪Latest shema‬‬

‫‪Sunrise‬‬

‫‪8:17‬‬

‫‪9:11‬‬

‫‪5:29‬‬

‫‪8:16‬‬

‫‪9:11‬‬

‫‪5:29‬‬

‫ג' פרקים ‪ . . . . . . . . . . .‬הלכות מלוה ולוה פרקים ד‪-‬ו‬ ‫פרק אחד ‪ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .‬הלכות עדות פרק יב‬ ‫ספר המצוות‪ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .‬מ״ע קמב‬

‫ג' פרקים ‪ . . . . . . . . .‬הלכות מלוה ולוה פרקים א‪-‬ג‬ ‫פרק אחד ‪ . . . . . . . . . . . . .‬הלכות עדות פרק יא‬ ‫ספר המצוות ‪ . . . . . . . . . . . .‬מ״ע קצז‪ .‬מל״ת רלד‬

‫‪Friday‬‬

‫‪Thursday‬‬

‫‪05/29‬‬

‫ו‘ סיון‬

‫‪05/28‬‬

‫ה‘ סיון‬

‫‪Sunset‬‬

‫‪Latest shema‬‬

‫‪Sunrise‬‬

‫‪Sunset‬‬

‫‪Latest shema‬‬

‫‪Sunrise‬‬

‫‪8:18‬‬

‫‪9:10‬‬

‫‪5:28‬‬

‫‪8:17‬‬

‫‪9:11‬‬

‫‪5:28‬‬

‫ג' פרקים ‪ . . . . . . . . . .‬הלכות מלוה ולוה פרקים י‪-‬יא‬ ‫פרק אחד ‪ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .‬הלכות עדות פרק יד‬ ‫ספר המצוות ‪ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .‬מ״ע קצט‪ .‬מל״ת רמ‬

‫ג' פרקים ‪ . . . . . . . . .‬הלכות מלוה ולוה פרקים ז‪-‬ט‬ ‫פרק אחד ‪ . . . . . . . . . . . . .‬הלכות עדות פרק יג‬ ‫ספר המצוות‪. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .‬מל״ת רלט‬

‫‪The times on this page are for Brooklyn, NY‬‬ ‫‪BEIS MOSHIACH‬‬

‫‪46‬‬

288 IYA YAR 557780 80

477 4

inspiration

Rivkie Brownstein

No Consequences? Rivkie, I read with great interest your article Don’t Be Your Child’s “Law-Enforcement Officer” in issue #1212 and found it very inspiring and practical. I actually began implementing some of the methods at home with considerable success. But I was wondering what to do when a child isn’t “self-inspired” and “loses it.” What are some tactics I can use then, without being a “police officer”? How can I retain order at home if we focus exclusively on positive encouragement and forget about discipline and consequences?

Dear

Awaiting your reply

for reaching out! I am glad you started implementing this system and I hope you will continue seeing positive results.

Thanks

Just to recap: Last week we discussed the highest level of education, when we motivate children to do the right thing from within. We discussed in depth the 3 “absolutes” – absolutely no energy to negative behavior; absolutely yes energy and passion to positive behavior; absolutely clear rules and boundaries, so the children know what is expected and there is no confusion. So, what about rewards and consequences?

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BEIS MOSHIACH

When a child feels seen and motivated, that in itself is what they want and crave. To be seen, appreciated and noticed. That connection itself is the reward. The more a child receives connection from a behavior, the more they will want to repeat that behavior. If a child is continuously acting up, there is a reason for it. Fixing the core of the problem is often what is needed to eliminate the negative behavior. This is a topic in and of itself which I hope to address in a future column. What I would like to focus on here, is an important tool we can teach our children - how to “reset”. This is the consequence, it is not a punishment, it is not harsh, it has no negative emotional energy attached to it, it is simply a reminder to reset and regain control. A reset is trying to disconnect our energy until something is going right. We disconnect our energy and as soon as they come back to their true selves and do something right, we pour all our energy into that. For example, if a child is yelling, we can be clear by saying “in order to hear you I need you to talk to me when you can speak calmer.” A reset is giving the child space to get to a calmer state. We don’t focus on the yelling, rather we notice ways the child is trying to calm down (“I see you taking deep breaths; I notice you stopped yelling” etc.). Just as an adult who is sad needs to have space to express themselves, the child needs the

same space and allowance to be able to regain some sense of control to make better choices. This is a process and takes time and practice, but it has lasting effects (as opposed to other instinctive reactions we can have as parents.) The best way we can teach is by example. When I accidentally yell at my child, I can say: “Hold on one second, let me reset myself ” and I might repeat the same thing in a calmer tone. When my kids are fighting and I’m about to lose control I can say “I need to take a few deep breaths so I can deal with this patiently.” When I’m annoyed and saying things that I’ll probably regret, I might say: “I’m going to go to my room for a few minutes to reset myself ”. Of course, if something is dangerous or someone is hurting someone else, we must make sure everyone is safe and we might have to remove a child from the situation, but the point is, we are looking for what is going right to give attention to that. So, for example, if kids are fighting and they come get Mommy, we can notice the positive “Wow, you stopped fighting to come ask for help, that shows your willingness to work things out!” When your child is muttering mean things under their breath you can notice, “I see you are so mad, and you are trying so hard to not say hurtful things out loud.” Here are some examples of how to practically implement the “reset” method: 1. My son was hitting his sister because she took his toy. I asked him to reset himself as I looked for what was going right. I noticed that my daughter was not hitting him back, so I told her that I noticed she used self-control by not hitting back. I asked my son to redo the situation again, this time with communication (“using words” in toddler language…) He asked her if he can use the toy when she is done.

In this situation I gave him connection when he was using his words, not when he was hitting. So, the using words got more connection than the hitting did. Kids remember this and want to repeat behaviors that bring connection. It is a process, but they do learn and improve. 2. My daughter was very upset and was yelling at me. I told her, “I see that you’re upset, and I will hear you when you can reset and talk calmer.” I walked away and continued what I was doing. I gave her screaming very little attention. As soon as she came back to me with calmer words, I gave her my full attention and praised her for resetting herself. 3. Here’s an example from a classroom setting: I have a friend who uses a “feel better box” in her classroom. When a child hurts another child on purpose or by mistake, instead of timeout or sitting in the corner, they go get the feel better box and can choose ways to show care. Some options are asking them if they want a hug, asking them if they need a tissue, apologizing, sitting next to them, and similar things. This way, the child learns to care/show concern for someone else without being “forced” to apologize. There is no punishment or reward, just taking responsibility for their actions and learning how our actions affect others. Of course, there are rules in place to make sure everyone stays safe and that will depend of the teacher and the situation but the feel better box was used instead of a time out and the kids learn to show empathy to each other because of this system, and the misbehaving itself becomes an educational tool. Like I mentioned previously, it is not our instinctual reaction and is definitely a process, yet this way gives kids the opportunity to work on themselves and grow from a place of their own self-regulation rather than from fear of punishment. ■

28 IYAR 5780

49

Raizel Liberow • the kids home all day, every day; we kind of don’t know which day we’re holding by, until we turn around and it’s almost Shavuos! And with it being complicated to even buy a bottle of milk, we’ve gotta keep things nice and simple. But simple can still mean delicious!

With

1) Milchig Cookies and Cream Pie This one has just 3 ingredients and the kids will have a lot of fun smashing the sandwich cookies! Simply place them into a Ziploc bag and you can use anything from a rolling pin to a shnitzel mallet to big strong punches to turn those cookies into crumbs! Place 20 smashed chocolate sandwich cookies at the bottom of a pie dish, top with a tub of softened milchig ice cream and drizzle with a cup of melted milchig chocolate. Freeze for 4 hours until the ice cream has hardened.

2) Creamy Penne a La Vodka I first made this by my son’s first birthday when we invited all the cousins over for a pizza party. I was nervous we wouldn’t have enough food and then we ended up eating pizza for a couple of weeks after. Super easy with only 3 ingredients (if you don’t count the spices :)) Cook a bag of penne pasta according to the package directions. In a small pot combine equal amounts of heavy cream and vodka sauce (found in your local kosher grocery next to all the marinara sauces). I like to do 1 cup of each but you can do more depending on how rich you like your pasta. Stir until it boils and add to cooked pasta. Add some salt and orega-

50

BEIS MOSHIACH

no to taste and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese when serving.

and brown chocolate, fresh berries, or just on its own!

3) Zucchini Soup

5) Chocolate Brownie with Cheesecake Swirl

The best thing about this recipe that I got from my sister in law, Dabrushie Brownstein, is that you don’t even need to peel the zucchinis! Give it 5 minutes and its ready to simmer! Fry one large diced onion at the bottom of a pot. Toss in some frozen garlic cubes if you like. Roughly chop 5 large unpeeled zucchinis and cover with water and salt. Let simmer, covered, on a low flame until the zucchinis are nice and soft. Spill out most of the water and use an immersion blender to blend the soup into the lightest, creamiest soup ever! (The spilled out water can be a great base for soups, stocks or just a warm drink on its own :))

4) No-Bake Cheesecake What’s Shavuos without a good cheesecake? Here's a no bake one that is rich and creamy and everything you could want in a cheesecake. Mix together 8 ounces of softened cream cheese, 1/3 cup of sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla and 2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice (optional). Beat it for about 3 minutes until it’s light and fluffy. Slowly add in 3/4 of a cup of heavy cream and beat on medium-high speed for 3 minutes or until thick and creamy. Spread the cheesecake mixture into a ready made graham cracker crust and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or until firm. Once ready, you can go all out with your favorite toppings - caramel cream and chocolate klik balls, halva praline and shredded halva, a 2 tone drizzle of white

If you’re a brownie fan and a cheesecake type of person, this recipe is the best of both worlds. Prepare the batter for your favorite boxed brownies. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan. In a separate bowl, beat together 8 ounces of softened cream cheese, and 1/4 cup of sugar for 2-3 minutes or until smooth and creamy. Add 1 egg and 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla and beat until smooth. Pour the cheesecake mixture over the brownie batter in the pan. Use a skewer or knife to swirl the two batters together. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the brownies comes out clean or with just a few crumbs attached. Cool the brownies completely before cutting into squares.

there you have it - 5 delicious recipes for Shavuos and beyond. And now we can focus our attention on the spiritual preparations, as the Rebbe teaches us (Hisvaaduyos 5742, vol.3, p.146) that each Akeres Habayis has a special shlichus placed upon her: to establish the way her home will prepare for the receiving of the Torah anew with a fresh simcha and vitality.

So,

May we all merit to celebrate Shavuos gathered together with friends and family in the Beis HaMikdash, with the coming of the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach today! ■

28 IYAR 5780

51

Musi Jerufi • While the extra-long election

cycle in Eretz Yisroel is apparently finally over, we find that life is actually a never-ending election campaign. Every day – all day long, we exercise our right to choose. The upcoming period is a time to make a proper cheshbon hanefesh on the matter of working on our middos – our personal choices. The split seconds when you face the option of

52

BEIS MOSHIACH

being right or being smart are among the most challenging choices you have. These are the moments to consider whether to let the wave of emotion pass over us – or smash it into fragments. Can we be forgiving and allow ourselves to feel that we’re being thrown under the bus, apologize even though we are certain that we are right? Working on our middos requires that we deal with our mountainous ego and chop it

down to size. This is by no means an easy task – especially when it pertains to members of our family… Three women who made their choice without concern that they might be making themselves look like “fools” courageously and honestly share the process they chose to carry out, and those forces that motivated them throughout – until they attained the long-awaited reconciliation.

FORGIVENESS – AFTER MANY LONG YEARS Yael (34), found herself constantly “going down on her knees” and asking forgiveness from her sister, nearly twenty years younger than her, with one purpose in mind – maintaining peaceful relations between them. “Once I realized that my mother was having a hard time dealing with the educational challenges posed by my sister, then still a teenager, I made a rather unusual suggestion – in the hope that it would help my mother set appropriate limits. “As a young mother, I was beginning to understand what my own mother felt, as I realized the tremendous effort required for my children’s education, and I was unwilling to sit by idly without getting involved on her behalf. My mother did take my advice, but when my sister learned that it had been my idea, she became very angry. Deeply hurt by my interference, she cut off all contact with me.” Yael tried to speak with her sister and smooth things out between them, but to no avail. “While I felt that I had acted with the best of intentions, and I could claim that my sister was temporarily in no position to understand the matter, it was important to me that our previous relationship be restored and she should accept my apology.” At a certain stage, they did resume contact with one another, and as far as Yael was concerned, things were getting back to normal – and her sister had accepted her apology. However, several years later, she

discovered that the story was far from over! “A few years after the incident, during a conversation with my sisters, the subject came up. To my great surprise, my youngest sister, now a mature adult, admitted to me that she still hadn’t really forgiven me. At that moment, I felt my heart sink. I couldn’t understand how after all these years, she still bore a grudge against me. I had apologized countless times. What more could I do for her to forgive me?” Yael’s other sisters participating in the discussion suggested that they break down and clarify the whole incident for the purpose of understanding what motivated each of the relevant parties. Why did Yael get involved in her youngest sister’s education, and why was this sister so insulted that she has been unable to forgive Yael despite a series of apologies? “My sister explained that the rift already existing with her mother grew deeper as a result of my interference. In contrast, I claimed that I was simply unwilling to stand by and watch the person dearest to me endure such emotional abuse.” Although Yael’s ego could have simply allowed her to say, “She’s still young, when she gets older, she’ll understand; I did what I had to do” – instead she decided that she couldn’t let go. “I’m the type of person who likes to make peace,” Yael explained. “It’s difficult for me when people think and say unkind things about me. I can’t remain calm knowing that I’m responsible for someone feeling bad about something. I have no sense of emotional tranquility, especially when we’re talking about members of my family. Therefore, I felt the need to apologize to my sister, again and again, until my appeal finally penetrated, and she forgave me. “After discussing the matter at length, my sister was able to understand what had motivated me, as a much older sibling, to take the action I did. ‘Now, I really can forgive you,’ she said, and she agreed with me that if someone had done something bad to our mother,

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she would have acted in exactly the same way. While this discussion was not an easy one, in the end, I felt that I came out all right,” Yael concluded. Yael explains that sometimes we want to offer assistance, but after the fact, it turns out that it wasn’t always the right help. “It’s similar to seeing a person lying on the ground after suffering an accident and coming to his aid by trying to lift him. However, those who understand such things will tell you that not only isn’t this the proper help, but it can even cause injury.” She then goes back to her case. “Apparently, this is exactly what I did. Despite my good intentions, I created far greater damage. I saw my mother, but I didn’t see my sister.”

GIVING TO A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW LIKE A DAUGHTER – WITHOUT HESITATION Zehava (a pseudonym), 68, who has dealt with disdainful behavior towards her from her new daughter-in-law, chose to take the high road, put her pride aside, and show restraint. Furthermore, she gave of herself without thinking about any repayment. “I constantly found myself feeling insulted by my young daughter-in-law. From the very outset, she related to her shvigger in a manner that was totally unacceptable. However, I remained silent and chose not to react. For a long time, I wondered why she treated me this way, whereas with my other daughters-in-law, I got along quite well.” Zehava believes that in order to understand and accept another person’s conduct, we have to consider where it stems from, instead of going head-to-head. “Regarding my daughter-in-law, Hashem gave me the knowledge to understand that the main reason behind her behavior towards me was not disrespect or impudence, rather a different lifestyle. As a result, I chose to ignore the disappointments and feelings of anger that I had accumulated. I tried to get close to her, treating her like a mother would treat a daughter – without any

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,, Yael tried to speak with her sister and smooth things out between them, but to no avail. “While I felt that I had acted with the best of intentions, it was important to me that our previous relationship be restored and she should accept my apology.”

consideration for the potential benefits and drawbacks.” Zehava says that her investment proved worthwhile, and she has been reaping the harvest ever since. “Thank G-d, I see now the reward in my efforts towards working on my middos. The connection between my daughterin-law and myself has become quite close. She gives me proper respect and acceptance, and she often seeks my advice – something that never happened in the past. “I think that I have been privileged that Hashem gave me a great deal of patience,” Zehava explained. “Similarly, I have come to see during my life what fighting can lead to and I wanted to avoid that. My mother, of blessed memory, was a living example of this principle. While people often offended her, nevertheless, she chose not to respond angrily, preferring instead to remain quiet. Perhaps I inherited these qualities from her. “I am ready to make compromises to prevent hostility and conflict within the family. I prefer to exercise self-control, continue moving forward, pray to Hashem throughout the process that He should give me patience, and with His help, I should merit to see good results.” ■

29 Review: In the past – Raizele and the children sail for New York. Aryeh (Leibel) learns that Zalman has been seriously wounded by an Arab terrorist. In the present – Hadas makes a cheshbon hanefesh. Yonasan receives an offer to go out on a brief shlichus in Villa del Mar, a vacation town in South America.

5778, Tzfas. “You look pale,” a startled Limor told Hadas. “Did something happen?”

Adar

“Yonasan is traveling to South America for a month or so,” Hadas replied, trying not to cry. “He decided on his own – without consulting with you?” “Ima…he believes that he’s doing me a favor by removing himself from the scene…” “But you don’t feel that this is a favor.” “Absolutely not. I wanted to speak with him, think together about rehabilitating our

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marriage. Instead, I am now expecting a month of isolation, not to mention fear and anxiety, as my mind agonizes in thought…” “Would it be correct to say that you brought this upon yourself? After all, you stormed out of the house, you refused to speak with him, and you sent a clear message that it was all over as far as you were concerned…” Limor said and immediately regretted her frankness. “Ima! Don’t start giving me mussar!” Hadas cried out angrily as she burst into tears. “You constantly make comments, and you taught me to see Yonasan only in a negative light…” “You have hurt me very deeply,” Limor replied, wiping a tear from her eye. “I have been guided only by love and caring for you throughout the years. Maybe I sometimes shared my thoughts with you, as would any other concerned mother…I never imagined for a moment that you would blame me for…” Hadas was very confused. She realized that she had made a mistake. She had lost her self-control, and she had insulted her adoring and devoted mother. “I’m sorry, Ima,” she whispered hoarsely. Yet, despite the apology, Hadas’ hurtful words continued to echo in Limor’s mind for several long hours. “You constantly make comments, and you taught me to see Yonasan only in a negative light…” She could engage in denial, remind her ungrateful daughter that she has hosted her and her grandchildren with love and devotion. Hadas has no right to reproach her like that. However, she reminded herself that the brain by its nature rules over the heart, and she decided not to resort to self-pity. Instead, she would try to consider the situation, calmly and in-depth. In the final analysis, she wanted to recognize her mistakes and learn from them, as her daughter’s best interests were of paramount concern to her.

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Marcheshvan 5699, New York City. Raizele sat on the couch, and Eva sat near her. Barbara, the housekeeper, served them tea in china cups.

Late

“Tell me about yourself and your life. While you wrote me a number of letters, they really weren’t enough for me to get to know my only niece, who lives across the ocean.” As Raizele related several episodes from her life, Barbara spread an embroidered cloth on the table in the dining area and laid out a beautiful set of dishes and silverware. She then brought a cart from the kitchen with serving trays filled with food – roast chicken with stuffing, golden baked potatoes, fresh sliced bread, and raw vegetables. The aroma was most enticing, and Raizele, who settled for eating bagels and fruit throughout the long sea journey, felt her head spinning. The children also smelled the cooked food, and they ran to the table. “Sit down and start eating. In the meantime, I’ll call David,” said Eva, as she walked towards the long corridor. Yossel climbed on the chair and reached for the steaming potatoes. For a moment, Raizele was shocked by her son’s poor table manners. At the next moment, she realized that wasn’t the problem that should be troubling her. “No, Yossel!” she whispered in alarm, as she grabbed his hand. When Raizele decided to accept the invitation to visit America, she never imagined that her mother’s sister would be so different from the image of a G-d-fearing “yiddishe mamme.” Can she possibly rely upon the kashrus in a home where the wife doesn’t cover her hair, and the African-American housekeeper heated the food, perhaps even cooked it – “bishul akum” in every respect? “I want some,” the boy cried stubbornly, visibly upset.

Raizele reached for a cucumber, but Yossel turned away from the raw vegetables and again stretched his hand towards the plate of cooked potatoes. Raizele stood helplessly, uncertain what to do. She had never faced such a situation before. “It is forbidden for us to eat the chicken and potatoes. They’re not kosher. Let’s wash for bread,” she finally said, as she tried to take her children away from the table.

,, When Raizele decided to accept the invitation to visit America, she never imagined that her mother’s sister would be so different from the image of a G-d-fearing “yiddishe mamme."

“Why are you standing?” Eva asked in amazement. Suddenly, she realized. “My dear, we buy meat only from a kosher butcher, separating it from all dairy products. However, if you don’t rely upon our kashrus, we’ll buy special pots, pans, cups, plates, and cutlery, and you can then decide for yourself what food you can eat and feed to your children.” That evening, Raizele and the children settled for fresh bread and raw vegetables. Eva was insulted, but she tried to accept the reality with understanding. Raizele cried into her pillow that night. It was hard for her to abandon her dream. She was so hoping to meet a person who would fill the gaping void in her heart left by the death of her beloved mother. An image of motherhood – soft, warm, caring, connected to the traditions of generations past, rich with stories about little villages in Poland and Lithuania, and the sound of Torah filling their alleyways. However, there stood waiting for her at the dock of the New York Harbor a typical American woman, totally immersed in her present-day material existence, far too detached from her past. A wealthy woman interested in the style and fashion of European design, raising dogs, while she placed the running of her home in the hands of a gentile housekeeper with a symbol of avoda zara around her neck.

“Why did I come here?” she asked herself constantly. “Didn’t I have enough anguish already?” Suddenly, she felt a deep longing for her tiny little apartment in the Holy City of Yerushalayim, the poor and simple house she had left so hastily. She missed Rochele and Zalman, Feige, and even Golda. While the distraught Golda hadn’t spoken with her since the divorce, her former sister-in-law continued to send her kugels and strudels. Zalman figured that his sister would rest at the Hertz family home for a few months. Who would have imagined that she would want to come back home after just one day? “Chava Mindl, I mean…Eva, will surely be very hurt after everything she has invested,” she said to herself. “She doesn’t deserve that… she is so sweet, respectful, and considerate. Everything will appear different in the morning.” The magnificent building designed according to Romanesque architecture with its semi-circular arches and sharp rooves, was totally different from the small modest shuls she knew in Yerushalayim.

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She walked into the large and decorative hall, bedecked with ornate grandeur and majesty. Suddenly, she stopped as a feeling of intense fear filled her heart. There was no mechitzah! Men and women sat side by side, pleasantly chatting with one another. She looked around in astonishment. “There’s no women’s section here?” she eventually stammered. “America iz andersh!” Eva declared with a rejecting wave of her hand. “Here, everything is different.” A few years earlier, the community’s leader, Rabbi Silver, decided that he could not ignore the winds of progress and the demands for equality that followed, and he “ruled” that there was no longer a need for gender separation during prayer services. Since then, David and Eva sat on the same bench. In the past, their only son, Benjamin, would join them on their weekly visit to the “temple” and sit alongside his parents. Now, to their deep regret, the place was empty, and Raizele could sit in his place. “Please be seated,” Eva said, pointing to the upholstered velvet pew. “I can’t daven here,” Raizele muttered, totally bewildered. She hesitated for a moment, then buttoned her coat and the children’s coats, took Yossel and Devora’le firmly by the hands, and headed towards the exit. Eva walked after her. “I’m certain that you’ll soon get used to it, Raizy, In the meantime, you can go to ‘Park East’, an Orthodox synagogue on 67th Street, between Kensington and Third Avenues.” “We belong to a congregation that is defined as ‘Conservative,’” Eva explained, as they sat down for the Shabbos meal. Raizele looked tensely at the children, carefully watching that they shouldn’t dare to eat anything except the dishes she had cooked herself with the new utensils.

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,, “America iz andersh!” Eva declared with a rejecting wave of her hand. “Here, everything is different.” A few years earlier, the community’s leader, Rabbi Silver, decided that he could not ignore the winds of progress

“In contrast to Reform communities, our community feels a commitment to halacha, and in contrast to the Orthodox, our community doesn’t ignore the values that have brought progress.” Eva praised the character of the community’s spiritual leader, Rabbi Samuel Silver, a graduate of prominent rabbinical seminaries in Hungary with a Ph.D. from an American university. She described how sensitive he is to the needs of the community, and he knows how to combine halacha with Western values. “The Torah, the Will and Wisdom of the Blessed Creator, is eternal and not subject to change!” Raizele wanted to cry out. But she couldn’t gather the strength. She listened quietly to Eva’s ardent lecture, as she pondered over her own cowardice with scorn. “I still need to have a much deeper discussion with Eva, and I’ll explain to her about her mistakes,” she promised herself. “I just have to recover from the journey…” ■ To be continued… Comments will be welcome – [email protected]

Mador Kids Corner kids STORY TIME

RAFFLE WINNER Lag B’Omer 5750. The Levin family of Yerushalayim was all dressed up. It was a special day. Their three-year-old son would be getting his first haircut, tzitzis, pei’os and a yarmulka.

the big parade in Yerushalayim. Everyone, Litvish and Chassidish, attended it, but why was it so important to Shraga when everyone was excited about the trip to Meron?

Where should they celebrate this milestone birthday? Of course, at the gravesite of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in Meron.

“You know Shraga, our trip to Meron is also in honor of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. Get ready. We are about to leave.”

The family prepared for the trip with plenty of food and drinks. You can be sure they did not forget the scissors with which each of them would cut the toddler’s hair. They were happy and excited! Only sixyear-old Shraga looked worried.

But Shraga just stood there and proclaimed, “I want to go to the parade!”

What happened? “Mommy, will we get back in time for the Chabad Lag B’Omer parade?” he asked. “I cannot guarantee that. You know there are many traffic jams on Lag B’Omer and the trip there and back can take a long time.”

His parents tried to find out why the parade was so important to him and they discovered the answer. In yeshiva, the boys had been talking about the Lag B’Omer parade and they said there would be a raffle of a ticket to visit the Lubavitcher Rebbe. “I am sure, I’m really sure, that I’m going to win the raffle and that’s why I don’t want to miss the parade.”

“But I want to go to the parade!” insisted Shraga.

His parents sighed. “There will be thousands of people at the parade. So many children are going to be in the raffle. The chance of your winning is very low.”

His mother was surprised. They were not Lubavitch but everyone knew about

But Shraga insisted. He was sure he would win. 28 IYAR 5780

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His parents saw how much this meant to him and said he could stay home with an older brother and together they could go to the parade. The rest of the family would go to Meron. Shraga was thrilled. The trip to Meron was quicker than anticipated, so when the family returned to Yerushalayim they got stuck in traffic because of the parade that hadn’t finished yet. The Levin family stopped off at a barber to finish the three-year-old’s haircut. They could hear the famous emcee of the parade, Rabbi Naftali Roth saying, “And the grand winner … wait … we are going to mix up the tickets really well … Okay, we took out one ticket and … the lucky winner is … Shraga Levin! But Shraga won’t go alone. He is too young. So his parents also win tickets to the Rebbe!” The Levins could not believe their ears. Their son, who was so sure he would win a trip to the Rebbe, had won! No doubt, his bitachon had stood by him!

the Rebbe looked at young Shraga and encouraged his singing with his hand. The first time they went to “dollars,” Rabbi Groner introduced Shraga to the Rebbe as the one who won the raffle at the Lag B’Omer parade in Yerushalayim. The Rebbe smiled and asked, “Raffle-winner, what kind of bracha do you want?” Shraga said, “I want to know how to learn.” “Amen,” said the Rebbe. He smiled broadly and said, “A big lamdan (scholar).” Then the Rebbe gave brachos to the parents along with many dollars for tzedaka. “I am a grandson of Rabbi Aryeh Levin,” said the father. “Zecher tzaddik l’vracha,” said the Rebbe and blessed him, “May you merit to continue the instruction of your grandfather, zecher tzaddik l’vracha, and the merit of many helps him.” After that, every Sunday, when they went for dollars, the Rebbe would refer to Shraga as the “raffle-winner.”

In the days that followed, his parents were focused on preparing for the trip. When the day came, the Levins and their son Shraga went to the airport.

At one of the farbrengens, the Rebbe even gave Rabbi Yosef Levin a bottle of mashke for his father, the son of R’ Aryeh Levin.

Upon arriving at 770, they felt a tremendous spiritual elevation. For a month, they took in the atmosphere, attended the farbrengens, davened in the Rebbe’s minyan and also received dollars for tzedaka from the Rebbe.

Another time, the Rebbe asked the “raffle-winner” again what bracha he wanted. Shraga said, “I want to be able to come here again.” The Rebbe blessed him while smiling broadly and gave his father ten dollars.

Often, when the Rebbe returned to his room after davening and the crowd sang,

Then the Rebbe waited to hear what bracha Mrs. Levin wanted. She wanted

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plentiful parnassa. She said, “I request that we be able to raise our children to Torah, chuppa, and good deeds.” The Rebbe responded, “With expansiveness, with expansiveness.” “Amen,” said the emotional Mrs. Levin. At that moment, she was confident that things would improve for them. Until that point, their large family lived in a small apartment. She often wondered how they would marry off their children considering their limited funds when each wedding cost so much. Now, she was armed with the Rebbe’s bracha. Still, she could not have imagined how quickly things would change. When they returned home, thrilled with their spiritual experiences, she went to the store to buy food. At the grocery, an unfamiliar Englishwoman said to her, “Excuse me, would you know ou k now where I can r t m ent in this area?” buy an apartment Mrs. Levin thought, ought ht, maybe maaybe be this thi is is what h the Rebbe meant. ant.

around a bit she said, “I would like to buy it.” Mrs. Levin didn’t know what to say. They hadn’t planned on buying another apartment. The woman said, “I need an apartment for one of my children. This week, I am returning to London and I need to complete the purchase quickly. I am willing to pay a lot of money for this apartment.” The deal was made the next day. The woman bought the apartment for double its value. The Levins found another apartment that was spacious and at a very low price, which left them with a lot of money. The miracles weren’t over yet. From that point on, the Levin family did well financially and married off all their children respectably, without needing loans. Their lives changed for the better not just financially. They began learning Chassidus, attending farbrengens, and today they continue to connect and d be be blessblessed by the Rebbe through the Igros Kodesh. K Ko desh de s .■

She immediately iately responded, “You ou can come and lookk at m myy apartment.” The woman n accompanied her er aand nd when she entered ed the hee house and looked ked d

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9 • Mission in Korea Sorry, sir! My arm is in a cast!

Yes, right here, sir!

What? Do you have it in writing? After a month, I was transferred to the engineering unit.

Attention! The entire unit needs to report to receive their papers.

We served alongside South Korean soldiers. It was relatively peaceful for me.

Discharge papers, you are going home!

I was excited that I could finally put on the Rebbe’s tefillin and daven in peace.

Papers? What for?

We are going home!

Finally, boruch Hashem!

Recap: The Rebbe sent Sheldon (Sholom) a reminder to keep his promise to put on the tefillin, and he turns to the new medic for a way out of his hostile unit... We are going back by sea. We are meeting a ship that will take us back to the USA.

My turn...

Hold on to the rope ladder

What? Why?

Attention, soldiers!

Everyone back to base, the discharge is canceled!

The meaning of that order is that I was stuck in Korea instead of being free to go home.

North Korea

When we reached shore, we heard the details. President Kennedy froze the release of all soldiers serving outside the US, due to the Berlin crisis and the Cuban crisis.

South Korea

With a heavy heart, I returned to the unit, where I learned that we were leaving for the most dangerous area behind enemy lines!

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