CONTENTS

6
FEATURED ARTICLES

WEEKLY COLUMNS

3 Dvar Malchus
5 Moshiach & Hakhel
14 Bitachon Bytes
30 Parsha Thought
33 Tzivos Hashem

YOUTHFUL ENERGY
TO BRING MOSHIACH
NOW

THROUGH
16 GROWING
THE DARKNESS
Chana Astrik

16

Which

Which

OF PEACE AND
24 MAN
MAN OF WAR
Yisroel Yehuda

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DVAR MALCHUS

THE
CONNECTION
OF MOSHIACH
TO THE REBBEIM
The intended result is, therefore, certainly
achieved that there should be the
revelation of the name of Moshiach, and
even the revelation of Moshiach himself (as
he is beyond his name). * From Chapter
Six of Rabbi Shloma Majeskis Likkutei
Mekoros (Underlined text is the compilers
emphasis.)
Translated by Boruch Merkur

6. The connection between

Erev Rosh HaShana and the
redemption
(being
judged
favorably) is further accentuated
in recent times, through the
birthday of the Tzemach Tzedek
on this day (in the year 5559):
The name of the Tzemach
Tzedek (who is called by the
title of his Torah work Tzemach
Tzedek) is the name of Moshiach
Tzidkeinu,
who
is
called
Tzemach as well as Tzedek.*
Also, regarding the connection
between the Tzemach Tzedek
and Moshiach Tzidkeinu: The
Tzemach Tzedek, the third Nasi
of the Chabad Rebbes, contains
within him all the Nsiim. This

general, inclusive quality of the

Tzemach Tzedek is recognizable
in his teachings, which contain
the Torah of all the preceding
Nsiim, as well as the Nsiim
who followed him, including my
revered father in-law, leader of
our generation. Now, the Rebbes
and Nsiim and the general
concept of the revelation of the
inner dimension of the Torah,
and the dissemination of the
wellsprings of Chassidus outward
through our Rebbes and Nsiim
are connected with the advent
of Moshiach Tzidkeinu. This
is especially the case with the
Rebbe, my father in-law, leader
of our generation, as alluded to
in his name, Yosef Yitzchok, as

in the verse, yosif Ad-nai sheinis

yado the L-rd shall continue to
apply His hand a second time to
acquire the rest of His people. It
is, therefore, clear that this quality
the connection of the Rebbes to
Moshiach is prominent in the
Tzemach Tzedek, who includes
within him all the Nsiim.
Thus it is understood that
on the birthday of the Tzemach
Tzedek (on Erev Rosh HaShana),
when his mazel rules, the name
of Moshiach also rules, meaning
that the baal yom hahuledes
[the Tzemach Tzedek, whose
birthday we celebrate] does
everything incumbent upon him.
The intended result is, therefore,
certainly achieved that there
should be the revelation of the
name of Moshiach, and even the
revelation of Moshiach himself
(as he is beyond his name).
Similarly, as this message
applies to the soul: Our Sages
say that it [the soul] is called
by five names (Nefesh, Ruach,
Neshama, Chaya), including the
fifth, Yechida, and beyond that
the very essence of the soul
(insofar as it is called by five
names).
So too with regard to

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DVAR MALCHUS
Moshiach that in addition to
the revelation of the name of
Moshiach, as he is connected
with Yechida (the collective
Yechida), there is also the essence
of Moshiach Tzidkeinu, which is
one with the very essence of G-d.
Thus, the revelation of Moshiach
(on Erev Rosh HaShana) is
connected
with
accepting
the kingship of G-d on Rosh
HaShana, as discussed above, as
well as the revelation of Malchus
(Nitzav Melech) within every
Jew, as is also derived from the

Continued from page 5

etc., and the land shall rest, a
Sabbatical to G-d, in the literal
sense [in the true and complete
redemption].
Another
connection
of
the Rashbi to the Geula: The
important legal homilies called
Sifri and Mechilta are attributed
to him. In the Mishna, he is often
referred to as simply Rabbi
Shimon. He is the fourthmost mentioned sage in the
entire Mishna. His merit was so
great that the Talmud says In
the merit of Rashbi, the entire
world can be elevated! Yet, we
find something very interesting:

MOSHIA
ruling of the Tur in connection
with Erev Rosh HaShana,
discussed above.
(To note that the Tur is the
foundation of the Beis Yosef,
which is the foundation of the
Shulchan Aruch Beis Yosef. The
latter, in turn, is the foundation
of the Alter Rebbes Shulchan
Aruch, regarding which the
Tzemach Tzedek based much of
his responsa and commentary.)
NOTES:

Tzemach shmo a man, whose name

is Tzemach (liturgy of Hoshaanas
on Hoshana Rabba, from Zecharia
6:12 (and the commentaries there).
See ibid 3:8.); Tzedek Vhaya
tzedek azur bmasnav righteous
shall be girded upon his loins
(Yeshaya 11:5). And see Yermiyahu
23:5 and the commentary of Rashi.
Ibid 33:15.
(From the address of Erev Rosh
HaShana 5752; Seifer HaSichos
5752, pg. 6-7)

By Rabbi Gershon

*Footnote 42: Tzemach Ish

One may think that the Halacha

would always be in accordance
with Rashbis opinion. The truth
is, however, that in most cases
the Halacha is not like Rashbi.
The reasoning is simple:
Halacha is not based on the
wisest opinion, rather, it is
based on the majority opinion
of the Beis Din of the time.
While Rashbi was a special
Tzaddik, he was too smart (see
Menachos 4a) and the majority
of his contemporaries could not
fully grasp the reasoning of his
opinions.
This will all change in the
times of Moshiach. In that era
The Jews will be great sages

and know the hidden matters,

grasping the knowledge of
their Creator according to the
full extent of human potential
(Rambam Melachim 12:5), and
all sages will finally understand
the full depth of the opinions of
Rashbi and will rule accordingly.
(See Seder Hadoros and Tiferes
Shlomo)
Rabbi Avtzon is the Rosh
Yeshiva of Yeshivas Lubavitch
Cincinnati and a well sought after
speaker and lecturer. Recordings
of his in-depth shiurim on
Inyanei Geula uMoshiach can
be accessed at http://www.
ylcrecording.com.

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4 12 Iyar 5776 - Hakhel

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WHE
HAL
LIKE

2016-05-17 7:50:19 AM

Dear Reade
This Shab
the Yahrtzait
brother, Reb Y
Schneersohn,
Shabbos befo
Tov of Lag B
tov is very spe
Starting from
the Rebbe w
in special p
specifically to c
speak to the c
them march by
and floats tha
ideas and Jewis
In the year
a year of Ha
(Toras Menach
pg. 268) spok
the necessary
Lag BOmer in
The Rebbe als
necessary mes
be given over to
The follow
those points:
If every yea
men, women an
BOmer, how m
year which is
The Torah (D
us regarding
Moshe comma
At the end of [
at an appointe
the people: the

man, whose name

y of Hoshaanas
, from Zecharia
mentaries there).
edek Vhaya
nav righteous
pon his loins
d see Yermiyahu
entary of Rashi.

ress of Erev Rosh

Seifer HaSichos
5752, pg. 6-7)

idden matters,
knowledge of
ording to the
man potential
im 12:5), and
lly understand
he opinions of
le accordingly.
ros and Tiferes

is the Rosh
vas Lubavitch
well sought after
rer. Recordings
shiurim on
Moshiach can
http://www.

MOSHIACH & HAKHEL

WHEN WILL THE

HALACHA BE
LIKE RASHBI?
By Rabbi Gershon Avtzon

Dear Reader shyichyeh,

This Shabbos (Emor) is
the Yahrtzait of the Rebbes
brother, Reb Yisroel Aryeh Leib
Schneersohn, and is also the
Shabbos before the big Yom
Tov of Lag BOmer. This Yom
tov is very special to the Rebbe.
Starting from before the Nesius,
the Rebbe would participate
in special parades catering
specifically to children and would
speak to the children and watch
them march by holding banners,
and floats that display Jewish
ideas and Jewish pride.
In the year 5748, which was
a year of Hakhel, the Rebbe
(Toras Menachem 5748 vol. 3
pg. 268) spoke at length about
the necessary preparations for
Lag BOmer in a year of Hakhel.
The Rebbe also spoke about the
necessary messages that should
be given over to the children.
The following are some of
those points:
If every year, we try to gather
men, women and children for Lag
BOmer, how much more so this
year which is a year of Hakhel.
The Torah (Dvarim 31:10) tells
us regarding Hakhel, Then,
Moshe commanded them, saying,
At the end of [every] seven years,
at an appointed time... Assemble
the people: the men, the women,

and the children, and your

stranger in your cities, in order
that they hear, and in order that
they learn and fear the Lord, your
God, and they will observe to do
all the words of this Torah.
The children should be
spoken to in the Rebbes name
if it will help get the message
across about what it says about
Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai (the
Baal HaSimcha of Lag BOmer)
that he learned Torah so diligently
that Toraso Umnaso learning
Torah was his profession.
Even though we may not be
on that level (as the Gemara says
that this level is only attainable by
a select few), we can learn from
him that we should try to focus
more on our learning. Even if
we are not learning the whole
day, at least at the times that we
are learning we should try to be
focused and not let ourselves be
disturbed.
Rabbi Shimon said about
himself
Bchad
Katirna
Iskatarna bei I am bound,
completely bound, to Hashem.
The result of this connection is
seeing the world as Hashems
world and using everything to
serve Hashem. This is the service
of Bchol derachecha deieihu
Knowing Hashem in all your
ways. Each child, and every

person, can put themselves in

that mode and do everything
possible to reveal that this is
Hashems world.
One of Rashbis most famous
quotes is associated with the
Geula: Come and see how
beloved are Israel in the sight
of God, in that to every place
to which they were exiled the
Shchina went with them. They
were exiled to Egypt and the
Shchina was with them, as it
says, Did I reveal myself unto
the house of thy father when they
were in Egypt. They were exiled
to Babylon, and the Shchina was
with them, as it says, for your
sake I was sent to Babylon. And
when they will be redeemed in
the future, the Shchina will be
with them, as it says, Then the
Lord thy God will return [with]
thy captivity. This teaches us
that the Holy One, blessed be He,
will return with them from the
places of exile. (Megilla 29b).
However,
the
principal
association of Rashbi with the
redemption is as it is said, With
this work of yours [the Zohar]
they shall go out of exile with
mercy, for then there shall
indeed be the fulfillment of
When you come into the land,
Continued on page 4
Issue 1021

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FEATURE

YOUTHFUL ENERGY

TO BRING
MOSHIACH NOW

A NE
They are young shluchim, energetic and active on a large scale, but
are mainly focused on kabbalas pnei Moshiach Tzidkeinu. * R Shneur
Chaviv met with R Yehuda Lifsh of Ramat Aviv, R YY Levkivker from
Rishon LTziyon, and R YY Amitai of Hertzliya for a discussion about The
Goal, and ways of conveying the message of the Besuras HaGeula and
hiskashrus to the Rebbe among all types of people.

6 12 Iyar 5776 - Hakhel

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What
do
Nissan mean t
R Amitai:
Chassidic exp
verse, and
remembered
each time they
they recur aga
to the sicha of
what always g

The tools and implements that

served us, the ways of thinking
that we became used to until that
point, were no longer suitable. A
new era began in which we need
to follow the compass in order to
know how to navigate the new
terrain. Of course this compass
is the sichos we have from the
Rebbe.
When we stick to the sichos
of 5751-5752, they keep us on
track, focused on the goal to
be mekabel pnei Moshiach
Tzidkeinu.

FIRST, WRITE
TO THE REBBE

GY

but
hneur
from
bout The
a and

A NEW ERA
What
does
Chaf-Ches
Nissan mean to you?
R Amitai: There is the
Chassidic explanation to the
verse, and these days are
remembered and done, that
each time they are remembered
they recur again. When I listen
to the sicha of Chaf-Ches Nissan,
what always gets to me is the

Rebbes cry that everything that

happened until that point was for
nothing.
Everything the Rebbe did
and pioneered throughout the
years was for nothing?! Rather,
this statement is to highlight the
point that on Chaf-Ches Nissan
5751, something new began, a
new avoda in inyanei Moshiach
that we did not have previously.

D:\
Docume
HOT-IS
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01
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In the famous sicha at the

Kinus HaShluchim 5752, the
Rebbe spoke about the gateway
through which all of shlichus
goes. How do we do this? How
can all of shlichus become
permeated with Moshiach?
R Lifsh: First, there are the
activities that are directly related
to inyanei Moshiach, like shiurim
on the topic that take place every
week. But generally speaking,
we try to have all our activities
permeated with Moshiach, and
not just the activities, but the
thought, speech, and action too.
For example, we gave out
matza to all the homes in Ramat
Aviv Gimmel. We had a sticker
on it that said, In Nissan they
were redeemed and in Nissan
they will be redeemed in the
future, and we included a letter
which explained the connection
between matzos and Pesach and
the future Geula. On Purim,
we turned the wine we gave
out to mekuravim in mishloach
manos into the wine of Geula
and kos shel bracha, and did
similarly with other items in the
mishloach manos. On Pesach,
when we opened the door for
Eliyahu HaNavi, I first spoke

Issue 1021

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Feature

IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE

MOTIVATION

about the importance of asking

for the Geula at this point. When
you are permeated with it, then
all the usual outreach activities
become extensions of the core
issue.
R Levkivker: At our Chabad
House we emphasize writing to
the Rebbe, so whoever walks in
with a problem or uncertainty
knows that the first thing hell
do is sit down and write to the
Rebbe. Through writing he
connects to the idea that there is
a Nasi and he is chai vkayam and
available and active, who gives
advice and instructions. When
people connect to the Rebbe,
afterward it is much easier for
them to connect to ideas about
Moshiach. This works with all
sectors, with those who are not
religious and those who are.
I once spoke at the third
Shabbos meal at a non-Chabad
shul. I spoke about a miracle
that occurred to us at the
Chabad House after we wrote

to the Rebbe through the Igros

Kodesh. One of the pillars of the
community stood up, a dignified
fellow who is well off and strong
minded. He emotionally told
everyone, Its real. I also wrote
to the Rebbe and the Rebbe saved
me from a deal involving a lot of
money. He said he wanted to
buy property on the beachfront in
Tel Aviv together with partners.
The deal looked excellent in every
respect. But before closing on it,
he wanted to write to the Rebbe
for reassurance. He opened to
a letter with clear indications to
stay away from the deal and at
the last minute they withdrew.
A few days later it turned out
that the deal was a scam and the
Rebbes answer saved them from
a major loss. Look at how my
hands are trembling as I tell this
to you, he said.
So writing to the Rebbe is
for everyone and after a person
connects to a Rebbe who is chai
vkayam, the whole subject of
Moshiach comes easily.

R Amitai: It all depends

on our motivation. When what
motivates us to do something
is Moshiach, then the entire
activity is permeated with that
point. After that, what remains to
be done is to get people to that
point, to explain to them and
get them to understand it, both
in a makif way and in a pnimi
way. We try to inculcate that
into everything we do. We have
a photocopied message that R
Halperin sends every week to
close to ten thousand people.
Its a message about life that is
connected with the weekly parsha
and it is always connected to
how to prepare ourselves for the
Geula.
For example, at the Lag
BOmer parade there are rides
and at the end we hold a raffle
for big prizes with dozens of
prizes worth tens of thousands
of shekels. In order to take part
in the raffle, a game quiz for
children has to be filled out.
Its about Moshiach and is
prepared by R Halperin. This
way, thousands of children in
Hertzliya learn about Moshiach.
There is also the proclamation
of Yechi that has become familiar
in our city. If the mayor, for
example, comes to speak at
a Chabad gathering, he will
conclude his speech with Yechi!
It is not just lip service. Every
Thursday I take my children to
distribute Shabbos candles at the
municipal building and always,
when we go to the mayors office,
the first thing he does, even if he
is in the middle of a meeting, is
say to my son: Mendy, come say
Yechi together with me.
Why? Because he witnessed
open miracles from the Rebbe
through the Igros Kodesh. The

8 12 Iyar 5776 - Hakhel

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Rebbe literal
him every step
at a meeting
he understood
proclamation
Geula and that
accepting the
Rebbe. Everyo
waiting for Mo
pictures of the
and everything
this.

TORAH P
TRAN

All of Ana
the shluchim
with worldly d
and the passa
had their effe
preserve a fres
when it come
Moshiach?
R Amitai:
the Rebbe re
Chassidus,
s
Moshiach and
the Dvar M
particular abou
that is non-neg
R Lifsh: T
can change a J
Rebbe says i
5751, is when
Moshiach and
the Torah ch
internally in
When a person
Chassidus, he
Elokus bpshi
the apparent r
a person stud
and Moshiach
world from a G
R Levkivke
goes on shlic
the sicha of Ch
he needs to in
goal of shlichu
are many mov
influenced by
work to be m

DS ON THE
TION

all depends
n. When what
do something
en the entire
ated with that
what remains to
people to that
to them and
rstand it, both
nd in a pnimi
inculcate that
e do. We have
essage that R
every week to
usand people.
out life that is
e weekly parsha
connected to
urselves for the

at the Lag
here are rides
e hold a raffle
ith dozens of
of thousands
er to take part
game quiz for
be filled out.
hiach and is
Halperin. This
of children in
out Moshiach.
e proclamation
ecome familiar
he mayor, for
to speak at
ring, he will
h with Yechi!
p service. Every
my children to
candles at the
g and always,
mayors office,
does, even if he
f a meeting, is
endy, come say
h me.
he witnessed
om the Rebbe
Kodesh. The

Rebbe literally accompanied

him every step of the way and
at a meeting with R Halperin
he understood that this is a
proclamation that hastens the
Geula and that it means that he is
accepting the sovereignty of the
Rebbe. Everyone in Hertzliya is
waiting for Moshiach. There are
pictures of the Rebbe everywhere
and everything revolves around
this.

TORAH PRESERVES
TRANQUILITY
All of Anash and certainly
the shluchim are overwhelmed
with worldly distractions. Galus
and the passage of time have
had their effect. How can we
preserve a freshness and vitality
when it comes to the topic of
Moshiach?
R Amitai: By writing to
the Rebbe regularly, learning
Chassidus,
studying
inyanei
Moshiach and Geula, studying
the Dvar Malchus being
particular about this in a manner
that is non-negotiable.
R Lifsh: The only thing that
can change a Jews reality, as the
Rebbe says in Tazria-Metzora
5751, is when we study inyanei
Moshiach and Geula, because
the Torah changes a person
internally in every respect.
When a person learns a maamer
Chassidus, he more readily sees
Elokus bpshitus (G-dliness as
the apparent reality). And when
a person studies inyanei Geula
and Moshiach he starts to see the
world from a Geula perspective.
R Levkivker: When someone
goes on shlichus today, after
the sicha of Chayei Sarah 5752,
he needs to internalize what the
goal of shlichus is. Today there
are many movements that were
influenced by the Rebbe that
work to be mekarev Jews. Its

not only Chabad who gives out

matzos. So what are we needed
for? We are needed primarily for
the essential point of shlichus
to be mekabel pnei Moshiach
Tzidkeinu. So true, we do not
stop giving shiurim and putting
tfillin on with people, but when
we understand that we are here
for something specific, then
before anything we do, a Lag
BOmer parade for example, it
wont be just for the sake of a
parade and to have a magician
and fill an auditorium. We want
the children to leave with a
message that Moshiach is coming
and we need to prepare for this.

DOES YECHI
TURN PEOPLE OFF?
A widespread complaint is
that the topic of Moshiach is not
welcome by the broader public
and even causes people to be
turned off from Chabad and
from Judaism. As shluchim,
what do you have to say about

this?
R Amitai: People recoil from
a hat and jacket too and even
from a plain black yarmulke.
Obviously, you will always find
people who shy away. Our job
is to melt the opposition and we
usually do so fairly easily.
R Lifsh: I have seen people
recoil from all kinds of Chabad
practices, from the spitting in
Aleinu, not saying Hallel on
Independence Day, and drinking
mashke on Simchas Torah. It so
happens that I have yet to meet
someone who stopped coming
to a Chabad House because of
the topic of Moshiach. Even if it
is hard sometimes for people to
accept it, we open the discussion
and learn the topic thoroughly.
A person is respectful when you
speak rationally, when he sees
that you are a serious person
and that this isnt a joke or just
the mouthing of a slogan. And if
you gave a talk that he enjoyed,
with a nice idea and which was

Issue 1021

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Feature

When someone goes on shlichus today, after

the sicha of Chayei Sarah 5752, he needs to
internalize what the goal of shlichus is. Today there are
many movements that were influenced by the Rebbe
that work to be mekarev Jews. It's not only Chabad who
gives out matzos. So what are we needed for? We are
needed primarily for the essential point of shlichus to
be mekabel pnei Moshiach Tzidkeinu.
well constructed, then the Yechi
that you said at the end of the
talk, and even the Rebbe Melech
HaMoshiach that you said in
the middle of the talk, will go
over well with him because he
understands that this is serious
business.
R MM Gluckowsky once told
me a story that he heard from
R Moshe Naparstek ah. When
the Rebbe asked them to develop
Kfar Chabad Beis, there were
so many obstacles on the part
of the government that wanted
to preserve the area to expand
the airport. One day, Moshe
Naparstek, Shlomo Maidanchek,
and Zushe Wilyamowsky met
with the senior person involved in
the decision making process.
In the middle of the meeting,
R Zushe pointed at a point on a
map that was hung on the office
wall and said firmly and simply,
But the king wants Kfar Chabad
Beis over here!
The official immediately said,
If the king said, then so it will
be! And that is how Kfar Chabad
Beis was founded. We see that
when we go with the truth,
seriously and matter-of-factly,
the message gets through.

THE CHALLENGE
MOSHIACH
One of the things the three
of you have in common is that

you work with an affluent and

highly educated demographic.
Is this more challenging with
everything
associated
with
the belief in the coming of
Moshiach?
R Amitai: There is no
question that an affluent and
highly educated demographic is
a bigger challenge in everything,
it makes no difference whether
its tfillin, family purity, or
Moshiach.
But
remember
that every Jew, even the most
intellectual and cool, has hidden
faith, and when he confronts a
crisis, this faith flares up.
The other week, I got a
text from a very wealthy man
at the top of his field who is far
from religious observance. He
asked whether I could write to
the Rebbe with him in the Igros
Kodesh. He said that he was in
pain and nobody knew about it,
not even his wife. He heard from
a friend about the possibility
of writing to the Rebbe and he
wanted to ask for a bracha.
We wrote to the Rebbe and
the letter we opened to said there
was no reason to fear and if the
doctors said he should check
it out, then he should have it
checked out. He did exactly what
the Rebbe said to do.
Before Pesach there was
a cocktail party with all the
managers of Discount Bank in
the Tel Aviv area together with a

small group of the banks biggest

customers. R Halperin spoke
about the holiday and gave out
shmura matza to everyone and
told them that this is food of faith
and healing, and of course he
connected this to Moshiach and
ended with Yechi, as he always
does. They all accepted this.
R Lifsh: For someone who
is not religious, especially if he
is an intellectual, there is no
difference between putting on
tfillin, banging aravos, any other
Jewish practice, and the belief
that the Rebbe is Moshiach and
will come and redeem us. There
were people on Yom Kippur
who wanted to run away from
shul by vanachnu korim
umishtachavim. To bang a
bunch of willows on the floor
looks a lot stranger to them than
the idea of Moshiach and Geula.
Ultimately, people arent
fools. They know there is a Rebbe
and that he sent us here. He
knows that if he goes to daven at
the Chabad House or he meets
a Chabadnik, the most natural
thing is for him to hear about
Geula and Moshiach. Actually, if
he were to spend time with you
and not hear about Moshiach,
he would start to suspect that
something is amiss.
Aside from that, the subject
has already flooded the general
population. R Zamir Cohen told
Beis Moshiach in an interview,
a little over a year ago, that
Geula, Moshiach, and Acharis
Hayamim are the most used
search terms on the Hidabroot
search feature and on general
search engines.
Today, the media, and
especially the Internet, is full of
people, lectures, and prophecies
that sell lies or half-truths about
the End of Days. So when people
meet a Lubavitcher, they expect
to hear him talk about Moshiach

10 12 Iyar 5776 - Hakhel

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just as they wo
the view of
What could
than a Lubavit
is an expert
speak and exp
from the Hou
how we have
in the Ramba
even religious
always know a
the Rambam.
the most basic
Geula appears
is why we are h

NO REST FO

What chara
of a young shl
when it comes
R Amitai:
is a very i
between youth
Youthful spirit
towards ways
sometimes, to
older (in char
seem impracti
What are called
turn into practi
person who thi
If it would b
out something
the work of a
would be the
Lights of To
of Tikkun. Th
area in which
not manifest,
dealing with m
sometimes twic
by starting a pr
unattainable.
Often, dur
shlichus, espec
times, I remem
letter about
Chabad Beis, i
that those lea
have to be th
relaxation, a
forces, youthfu
also in age,

banks biggest
Halperin spoke
and gave out
everyone and
is food of faith
of course he
Moshiach and
, as he always
epted this.
someone who
especially if he
, there is no
n putting on
avos, any other
and the belief
Moshiach and
eem us. There
Yom Kippur
un away from
achnu korim
To bang a
on the floor
r to them than
ch and Geula.
people arent
here is a Rebbe
us here. He
oes to daven at
e or he meets
most natural
to hear about
ch. Actually, if
time with you
out Moshiach,
o suspect that
s.
at, the subject
ed the general
mir Cohen told
an interview,
year ago, that
and Acharis
he most used
the Hidabroot
nd on general

media, and
rnet, is full of
and prophecies
lf-truths about
So when people
er, they expect
bout Moshiach

just as they would expect to hear

the view of any professional.
What could be more natural
than a Lubavitcher Chassid who
is an expert on Moshiach to
speak and explain about a king
from the House of Dovid and
how we have the signs brought
in the Rambam. Other people,
even religious people, do not
always know about the signs in
the Rambam. They dont know
the most basic things, even where
Geula appears in the Torah. That
is why we are here.

NO REST FOR THE YOUNG

What characterizes the work
of a young shliach in particular
when it comes to Moshiach?
R Amitai: I think there
is a very interesting fusion
between youth and redemption.
Youthful spirit definitely tends
towards ways of thinking which
sometimes, to those who are
older (in character, not in age)
seem impractical and hopeless.
What are called Lights of Tohu
turn into practicalities to a young
person who thinks differently.
If it would be possible to single
out something that characterizes
the work of a young shliach, it
would be the combination of
Lights of Tohu and Vessels
of Tikkun. There is hardly any
area in which this fusion does
not manifest, whether its in
dealing with mekuravim who are
sometimes twice as old as you, or
by starting a project which seems
unattainable.
Often, during the work of
shlichus, especially during busy
times, I remember the Rebbes
letter about founding Kfar
Chabad Beis, in which he writes
that those leading the efforts
have to be those that negate
relaxation, active and vigorous
forces, youthful in energy and
also in age, revolutionaries

who strive as in the words of

the Alter Rebbe each and every
day to leave the order of life of
yesterday, who will disturb
not only the afternoon naps of
the people, but oftentimes their
nighttime sleep as well.
Boruch Hashem, to the
best of my recollection, there
was no campaign we refrained
from doing because it was too
complicated or hard to do. Even
if there were certain projects that
did not end up happening, it was
only because we did not invest
ourselves into it fully.
An example would be giving
out shmura matza, which in
recent years weve done with
everyone in the city. Three
years ago, on Purim, R Mendy

Offen came to a farbrengen in

Hertzliya. He spoke about giving
out matza to every household
in town. Before Pesach, all
manpower was used to the max
and it sounded impossible to do.
But R Halperin decided that
since a campaign like this would
give the Rebbe a lot of nachas,
and since someone (R Offen)
had come and spoken about this,
then nothing would stop us. We
started an impossible project
which the entire community
got involved with. The women
packed it up and the men went
from door to door and gave it
out. This year was now the third
year that shmura matza was
given out to the entire city.

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STORY

THE DETACHED RETINA

AND SAVING A LIFE

52
^^^^^
^^^^^
^^^^^
^^^^^

By Menachem Ziegelboim

R Shneur Kupchik, shliach in

Delhi, India, relates:
It was before Pesach when a
nice couple came to our Chabad
House. During a quiet moment
we sat down with them and they
said that after twenty-five years
of making Pesach at home with
their family, they decided to do
something different and mark the
occasion at one of the Chabad
Houses in India. They had been
planning this five week trip to
India for a long time.
After a few days which they
spent with us in Delhi, they
traveled on to Rishikesh and
planned on going north from
there. But Hashem had other
plans for them.
On Motzaei Shabbos I got
a phone call from them. The
husband suddenly experienced a
change in his vision and he asked
me whether there were good
hospitals in Delhi. From the tone
of his question I did not realize
the seriousness of his situation.
I advised them to complete
their stay in Rishikesh as they
had planned and on their way
to Dharamsala to pass through
Delhi for a checkup.
In the morning I got another
phone call from him. They had

cut short their itinerary and were

in a taxi on their way to Delhi.
He was afraid the issue was a
detached retina which needed a
professional diagnosis and proper
treatment. The situation was
more serious that I had thought
and I immediately gave him the
information for a private hospital.
I also reserved a room for them in
a hotel near the Chabad House.
A few hours later he called
me and complained, Where did
you send me? The doctor looked
at my eye with the light from his
cell phone! He says it might be a
stroke and he says I should get a
CT scan. I left this place.
I realized this was serious
and began looking for a better
eye clinic which is hard to find
in our city. Boruch Hashem, I
hadnt needed such a thing until
then. An Israeli living in Delhi for
many years referred us to a top
eye surgeon. He saw a hole in
the retina and referred the man
to an even bigger expert. He even
volunteered to drive them to the
other doctors clinic. The third
doctor thoroughly examined him
and said he needed a very urgent
operation, it was a matter of
hours or the man could lose his
sight.

I was in the middle of a trip

when he called me with the
frightening news. This was the
first trip we allowed ourselves,
after years of work, and now
this crisis right at the beginning
of our trip, in the middle of
nowhere, medically speaking.
Why did this have to happen?
Here, of all places!
I began checking out the
quickest flights to Eretz Yisroel
and at the same time, the
possibility of an operation in
India. It was a real dilemma.
It was beyond me to make a
decision. It was up to them.
While I was checking out
the options (which is part of the
work of a shliach in places like
this) I got the following text:
R Shneur, I got your contact
information and I need major
help from you. My mother has
cancer and the only treatment
that can help her at this stage
(after undergoing chemotherapy
twice already) is a medication
that costs 30,000 shekels in
Eretz Yisroel. We cannot afford
it but in India the medicine can
be bought for $200. Its a generic
brand but it accomplishes what
is needed. If you can help us get
the medication We can come

12 12 Iyar 5776 - Hakhel

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to India to bu
here. Please g
And he wrote
medication.
My first th
the reason! Th
says that a nes
this world for
to do a favor fo
a trip to Indi
just to be able
back medicin
who needed it
I figured I w
couple who we
urgent eye op
considering re
Yisroel immed
the medicine w
in this way, I c
that their trip
nothing.
The race ag
I found them a
I also contac
I know. Yes,
with the medic
expensive and
of ordinary p
could get it for
Too late. The
be able to be ta
In the mea
was still unsu
to fly to Eretz
husbands cond
good surgeons
had to find them
it was easier. O
time was wor
Every minute w
could lose his v
The flight it
harmful.
I was unsu
them. I did n
responsibility f
operation here
flying did not
idea either. I
doctors on th
still did not fee
them what to d

INA

IFE

middle of a trip
me with the
This was the
wed ourselves,
ork, and now
the beginning
the middle of
ally speaking.
ve to happen?

king out the

o Eretz Yisroel
me time, the
operation in
real dilemma.
me to make a
to them.
checking out
h is part of the
in places like
wing text:
ot your contact
I need major
My mother has
only treatment
r at this stage
chemotherapy
a medication
00 shekels in
cannot afford
e medicine can
0. Its a generic
mplishes what
can help us get
We can come

to India to buy it and bring it

here. Please get back to us.
And he wrote the name of the
medication.
My first thought was: this is
the reason! The Baal Shem Tov
says that a neshama descends to
this world for 70-80 years just
to do a favor for another Jew. So
a trip to India was worthwhile
just to be able to quickly bring
back medicine for a woman
who needed it, to save her life.
I figured I would contact the
couple who were looking for an
urgent eye operation and were
considering returning to Eretz
Yisroel immediately and sending
the medicine with them. Maybe,
in this way, I could console them
that their trip here wasnt for
nothing.
The race against time began.
I found them a flight at 12:30am.
I also contacted a pharmacist
I know. Yes, he was familiar
with the medication, it was very
expensive and not on the shelves
of ordinary pharmacies but he
could get it for me by 10:30. Oy!
Too late. The medicine wouldnt
be able to be taken by the couple.
In the meantime, the couple
was still unsure about whether
to fly to Eretz Yisroel given the
husbands condition. There were
good surgeons in India but you
had to find them. In Eretz Yisroel
it was easier. On the other hand,
time was working against him.
Every minute was critical and he
could lose his vision on the flight.
The flight itself could prove
harmful.
I was unsure how to advise
them. I did not want to take
responsibility for a complicated
operation here in India and yet,
flying did not sound like a good
idea either. I consulted with
doctors on their behalf and I
still did not feel confident telling
them what to do.

I decided to ask the Rebbe

through the Igros Kodesh. These
are questions for the Rebbe.
Only he can decide such weighty
matters. The letter was in volume
8 and it said:
I just received your letter
in which you write that you
made an appointment for a
hernia operation for the coming
Friday In addition to the
telegram you sent me, I double
my blessings that the operation
should be in a good and
successful time and may you
soon recover your strength and
work in aiding the Jewish people
materially which will certainly
ultimately be a spiritual help as
well.
In the next line appears the
saying that I had planned on
telling them:
The saying of the Baal
Shem Tov is known that a soul
descends to a body for 7080 years in order to do even
one favor for a Jew whether
materially or spiritually.
The Rebbe gave his blessing
for the operation, great, but the
medicine was still a problem.
Who said it would arrive on
time? I tried to pressure the
pharmacist. He told me that at
that moment he was racing on his
motorcycle to get the medicine
and was doing the best he could.
In the meantime, the couple
told me that they decided to get
another medical opinion in India.
They would pass on the 12:30
flight. The next flight was leaving
at 4:30. Fantastic hashgacha
pratis. I would be able to give
them the expensive medicine
before they left.
Just two hours after receiving
the text from the Israeli in Eretz
Yisroel, I got the medication. A
truly impressive record time. I
texted the guy back very happily,
I have the medication. He

responded even more happily, I

really dont know how to thank
you. Thanks again. Please let me
know when youre sending it.
Now the couple had an
important assignment. They
just had to buy their tickets, fly,
and the medicine would be on
its way to Eretz Yisroel to the
poor woman I did not know
who so badly needed it. I prayed,
Hashem, please let the medicine
save her life and may she have a
speedy refua shleima.
Before they left my house
for the airport, I read to them
the letter that I opened from the
Rebbe on their behalf. A double
bracha for the operation.
The couple landed safely
in Eretz Yisroel. They arrived
home, exhausted and tense and
within a short time he was in the
operating room.
During his recovery, their son
surprised them with a marriage
proposal that they hadnt
expected. They suddenly realized
the additional significance of
what the Rebbe wrote. At the end
it said, I was pleased to read in
your letter that in its time you
married off your daughter to a
fine young man.
I updated the Rebbe with
the Igros Kodesh, in the same
volume. Incredible. I was
informed about his health and
then also about the results of
the eye operation which, thank
G-d, was successful. May
Hashem provide that his health
continue to improve and may
he be able to add in exertion in
Torah and avoda, for a healthy
and whole body is from the
ways of Hashem.
Since the operation, he
has been in a long recovery
and, thank G-d, his vision is
improving daily.

he
time
them a fl
12:30am.
a pharm
Yes, he w
the med
very exp
on the s
pharmaci
get it for
Too late
wouldn't
taken by

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BITACHON BYTES

SUPERCHARGED
BITACHON
By Rabbi Zalman Goldberg

Apropos of our recent column

about the quality of Bitachon
according to Chassidus (that
the focus is on strengthening
the connection to Hashem
rather than viewing Bitachon
as a vehicle to obtain what I
need), what follows is an excerpt
of a sicha of the Rebbe about
davening that elaborates on this
point.
In answering why Sfiras
HaOmer appears at the end of
the Alter Rebbes siddur, unlike
other kabbalistic siddurim, the
Rebbe suggests that Sfiras
HaOmer actually epitomizes the
point of tfilla1.
Based on the Rambam2, it is
clear that tfilla is a soulful and
intent-filled experience, and not
about speed-reading and flipping
pages.
Mitzvos generally fall into
one of two categories, action
mitzvos and intent mitzvos.
By action mitzvos, although
kavana and intent are crucial,
they do not represent the
mitzvah itself (and if only the
action part of the mitzvah was
fulfilled, it is sufficient, although
not
recommended).
Intent
mitzvos, like the mitzvos of love
of Hashem and fear of Hashem,

do not require physical action

and are achieved instead by a
ones meditation and feelings.
Tfilla,
however,
differs
from all Mitzvos, in the sense
that it is considered an action
mitzvah, for we fulfill this
mitzvah with our power of
speech. One can only speak if
they move their lips, hence the
action part. Thinking the tfilla
would, in most cases, not be
considered fulfilling the mitzvah
of davening. Nonetheless, the
entire theme of the mitzvah
is the internal contemplation
and connecting to Hashem. In
other words, although saying
the words is of paramount
importance, simultaneously, the
davening must be a soulful and
contemplative experience.
The Rebbe points out that the
same is true with the mitzvah of
Sfiras HaOmer; one does not
fulfill the mitzvah of counting the
Omer unless they understand3
what they are counting.
In order for a person to
have proper kavana and thus
a real davening experience,
he must make preparations to
remove all distractions so that
his concentration should not be
ruined. Only then can he truly

be considered a davening person.

Sfiras HaOmer too, causes a
change in the person doing the
mitzvah as is clearly seen in the
tfilla we say following Sfiras
HaOmer (which specifies that
our counting the omer should
rectify our nefesh, ruach and
neshama from any blemish
etc.). The person thus becomes
changed and spiritually uplifted.
Interestingly, in regard to
the goal of tfilla and Sfiras
HaOmer, there is also a similarity
(which does not exist by other
Mitzvos). Generally, the goal of
doing a mitzvah is that it should
be fulfilled physically. In other
words, the goal of the mitzvah
is to arrive at materialistic
phenomena. By the Mitzvos
of tfilla and Sfiras HaOmer
however, although when we
daven, we implore Hashem for
various
materialistic
things,
fulfilling the mitzvah of tfilla
is nonetheless not dependent
on Hashem actually fulfilling
the gashmiyusdike requests.
Likewise, by sfiras HaOmer, it is
also a mitzvah that stands on its
own, irrespective of the outcome.
Counting the Omer fulfills
Hashems commandment, even
though the goal is to ultimately

14 12 Iyar 5776 - Hakhel

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bring to Matta
worldly event t
relate to.
The bottom
similarities be
sfiras HaOme
with them h
related aspec
unmistakable
crucial spiritua
well.
This is a
message. In
perceive dave
an opportunit
Hashem their
But according
previously es
on the Ram
is primarily a
focusing one
Hashem, and
physical aspe
(the annunciat
and davening
also just an e
davening exper
not possess its
This truly is a p
message.
This outloo
prime example
ought to be
considers, I
to work out f
duly exercise t
it appears tha
Hashem only w
of some salvati
contains a ce
angle to it. F
perspective, th

vening person.
too, causes a
rson doing the
rly seen in the
lowing Sfiras
specifies that
omer should
h, ruach and
any blemish
thus becomes
ually uplifted.
in regard to
a and Sfiras
also a similarity
exist by other
ly, the goal of
s that it should
cally. In other
of the mitzvah
t materialistic
the Mitzvos
firas HaOmer
gh when we
e Hashem for
listic
things,
zvah of tfilla
not dependent
ually fulfilling
ike requests.
s HaOmer, it is
t stands on its
of the outcome.
Omer fulfills
andment, even
s to ultimately

bring to Mattan Torah, an actual

worldly event that us humans can
relate to.
The bottom line of these
similarities between tfilla and
sfiras HaOmer is that together
with them having an action
related aspect, there is an
unmistakable obligatory and
crucial spiritual aspect to them as
well.
This is a very powerful
message. In general people
perceive davening at best as
an opportunity to request of
Hashem their physical needs.
But according to what we have
previously established (based
on the Rambam), davening
is primarily an experience of
focusing ones attention on
Hashem, and that even the
physical aspect of davening
(the annunciation of the words
and davening for our needs) is
also just an expression of our
davening experience, and it does
not possess its own importance.
This truly is a perspective altering
message.
This outlook on tfilla is a
prime example of how Bitachon
ought to be practiced. If one
considers, I need something
to work out for me, so I will
duly exercise trust in Hashem,
it appears that he thinks about
Hashem only when he is in need
of some salvation. Such Bitachon
contains a certain materialistic
angle to it. From a chassidus
perspective, this not the optimal

way for Bitachon to be practiced.

Chassidus encourages4 that
our Bitachon in Hashem be
ubiquitous,
notwithstanding
our material situation or at
least not to be dependent on
our materialistic needs. Just as
tfilla is all about our devotion
to Hashem, and out material
needs, albeit important, are but
secondary, so too is Bitachon
in Hashem. The focus in having
Bitachon is on our connection to
Hashem, and although to a point
it is for the tangible salvation
to be realized, it is not a part of
the actual trust and reliance on
Hashem; the only thought that
should be entertained is about
Hashem, His greatness, and
connecting to Him.
When executed properly, the
effect on the physical world is
greater by davening, counting the
Omer and Bitachon than other
Mitzvos. This is counterintuitive,
as one would think that by other
Mitzvos, where the purpose is
to accomplish a physical act, the
impact would be felt more on
a physical plane, than through
davening and Bitachon, where
the goal is a connection to
Hashem, a primarily spiritual
experience.
The truth however is not so.
Torah and Mitzvos dont really
make a change in the world; the
parchment of Tfillin doesnt get
changed as a result of donning
them. Tfilla, on the other hand,
does cause a real change in the




world; to heal the sick and to be

blessed with abundant livelihood.
Likewise,
with
Sfiras
HaOmer, for the Yom Tov of
Shavuos is a direct result of our
counting the Sfira, and Shavuos
contains more stringent rules
than other Yomim Tovim, due
to its status of certainty of when
it should be celebrated; i.e., we
know that it is the fiftieth day of
the Omer.
The same is with Bitachon
in Hashem; by focusing ones
attention only on Hashem, to
the exclusion of our physical
needs, even though his Bitachon
is meant to bring salvation,
the pure Bitachon in Hashem
will bring the outcome needed
in the most effortless and best
manner. For the person elicits
the salvation not by extending an
effort to receive the relief, rather
it is accomplished by Hashem
because of the connection that
the person forged with Him.
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"The quickest way to reveal Moshiach is by learning the Torah

Issue
1021 t"ab,wv
grumnu

sources about Moshiach
& redemption"
ghrz, p"a

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& 1710 AM in parts of Brooklyn 24/6
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PROFILE

he Rebbe speaks about

a descent for the sake
of a later ascent. From
the descent, from the
darkness, emerges the light. In
the sicha of Mikeitz 5752, the
Rebbe says that shortly before the
great light, the darkness becomes
thicker. Galus is compared to
hard labor pains out of which the
Geula is born. Avishag Solomon
had experiences like that when a
great light shone forth from the
darkness. Today she is involved
in running Beis Chaya Mushka, a
school for girls in Kfar Chabad, to
the satisfaction of the parents and
the students.

GROWING
THROUGH THE

DARKNESS

BUDS OF TSHUVA
Avishag
began
with
a
description of the home she grew
up in:
I grew up in a healthy, warm
home. There was some tradition
that was observed, not from
the sources but from general
knowledge. My mother is from
a Moroccan home and tradition
is in her blood. We celebrated the
holidays, kiddush was made on
Shabbos, we separated milk and
meat, and expressions like bli
neder and bezrat Hashem
were typical.
She attended public school
but participated in Chabads
Shabbos activities. She went on
to public high school and had no
connection to religion. In 5747
she was drafted into an elite
Intelligence unit in the Israeli
army and after ten months was
sent to officer training. I was
an officer, and spent two and a
half years in the Lebanon division
and was discharged in the year
2000.
Like all Israelis after the army,
she left the country. She traveled
to the U.S. and lived in Florida
where there is a large Chabad
community. A friend urged her to

Its springtime and the

natural world around us is
blooming. In this article,
about another time of
growth, Mrs. Avishag
Solomon of Kfar Chabad
shares two experiences with
us from which she grew,
and how!
By Chana Astrik

attend shiurim.
I went to pass the time. I was
not religious. In Elul 5762, the
shliach, R Yossi Korf, told me
that if I am coming to shiurim at
the shul, I should also come for
Shabbos. I was unfamiliar with
the Chumash and the Siddur and
as soon as I walked in I wanted
to leave.

R Korf begged me to stay

for the kiddush. When the
kiddush was over, he said, Now
come to my house. I went to
his house and found an amazing
family. I told them, What an
atmosphere! What a family! G-d
is here! In the days that followed
I bought a Shulchan Aruch and
a Siddur. The winds of tshuva

16 12 Iyar 5776 - Hakhel

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blow in Elul an
was somethin
here, like a s
pulled all the w
released.
It
was
transformation
to say Modeh
a basin for
even started

NG

THE

SS

e and the
ound us is
his article,
er time of
s. Avishag
ar Chabad
nces with
she grew,
and how!

By Chana Astrik

ed me to stay
h. When the
he said, Now
se. I went to
nd an amazing
em, What an
a family! G-d
s that followed
han Aruch and
nds of tshuva

blow in Elul and I felt that there

was something extraordinary
here, like a slingshot that was
pulled all the way back and then
released.
It
was
a
serious
transformation. Avishag learned
to say Modeh Ani and bought
a basin for negel vasser and
even started keeping Shabbos

according
to
her
limited
knowledge.
In the beginning of her tshuva
process she started a new job and
did not want to work on Shabbos.
That was my condition, she
says. The boss, who was also in
the tshuva process, agreed to
her condition. Avishag was in an
office with other Israeli girls who

were all growing along with her.

Hashem swaddled me from all
sides and showed me that I am
on the right path.
She describes the beginning,
Nobody tried to influence me in
the other direction. When I spoke
with my mother on the phone,
she was very accepting and said,
Boruch Hashem, ashrayich. I

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Profile

In the first jail I was visited by a Reform rabbi

who wanted to shake my hand. When I refused,
he took out a red kippa like the pope and said, Lets do
Kabbalat Shabbat.
was in a pleasant cocoon. After
two months I changed my clothes
for a more modest wardrobe and
had a tremendous sense of yiras
Shamayim. I dont remember
what I learned at that time but
what I learned went to my core.

VICE PRESIDENT OF THE

COMPANY
Just as everything seemed to
be progressing nicely, a terrible
thing happened. In Kislev 5763,
she flew for a vacation to Eretz

Yisroel where she remained until

Adar and then she returned to the
U.S. Before she returned, the FBI
arrested 72 Israelis. Friends tried
to warn her that someone had
mentioned her name to the FBI
and that she should stay in Eretz
Yisroel, but she saw no reason
for concern, saying, I didnt do
anything wrong. They told her
it was someone with whom she
had worked with previously, but
she calmly repeated, I did not do
anything wrong.

She could not imagine what

could happen to someone who
did nothing. A week after she
arrived, her bank account was
frozen by the federal prosecutor.
I called the bank and the
clerk told me that the account
was frozen because of some legal
issues relating to your company
and he named the company I
had worked for a year earlier.
When I said that I hadnt worked
there in a year he replied that I
was listed as the vice president
of the company. This was a big
company, worth millions, and I
only had $800 in my account.
I told him that I wanted
to meet with him and he said
he would check his calendar.
Of course he didnt check but
immediately called the FBI and
then made an appointment with
me for Thursday, 5 Adar II
5763.
The Shulchan Aruch says that
in Adar a Jews mazal is greater
and it is a good time for legal
interactions with gentiles.
Thanks to this, I had a yerida
for the sake of an aliya, says
Avishag.
When she arrived at the
meeting, a prosecutor and two
FBI agents were sitting there
waiting for her. The FBI told her
she has the right to a lawyer but
in her navet she thought that if
she asked for a lawyer that would
prove that she was guilty in some
way or another, and so she did
not ask for one. They say that
the United States is an empire
of justice and righteousness but
during the investigation they
wrote down on the record only
what suited them.
By
the
end
of
the
investigation I told them that I
did not understand where this
was leading. They said that
the bosses had a document
which had me listed as the vice

18 12 Iyar 5776 - Hakhel

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2016-05-17 7:50:30 AM

president of t
document was
handcuffed a
and I sudde
the investigatio
purpose of dete
Reality hit; I wa

DESCENT IN

I asked Avi
little about pris
for her to go b
days. She wen
story of her a
her personal G
In prison,
anything to yo
object. They d
theyll do with
uncertainty an
absurdity was
were out free
another emplo
and we were
exert pressure o
There was
Avishag thoug
non-kosher foo
so she ate noth
It was terr
building and it
makes no differ
I was together
were from the
with addiction
crimes, etc., an
like common cr
After
fo
interrogation
into the sho
other inmates.
constant surve
awful.
It was ut
Avishag becom
and then goes
no doors for
shower. I felt l
we were treated
Fortunately
navet, she kep
the year and ei

imagine what
someone who
week after she
account was
ral prosecutor.
bank and the
at the account
e of some legal
your company
he company I
a year earlier.
hadnt worked
e replied that I
vice president
This was a big
millions, and I
my account.
that I wanted
m and he said
his calendar.
dnt check but
d the FBI and
pointment with
y, 5 Adar II

Aruch says that

mazal is greater
time for legal
entiles.
, I had a yerida
an aliya, says

rrived at the
cutor and two
sitting there
he FBI told her
o a lawyer but
thought that if
wyer that would
guilty in some
and so she did
They say that
is an empire
hteousness but
stigation they
he record only

nd
of
the
d them that I
nd where this
hey said that
a document
ted as the vice

president of the company! The

document was unsigned. They
handcuffed and arrested me
and I suddenly realized that
the investigation wasnt for the
purpose of determining the truth.
Reality hit; I was going to jail!

DESCENT INTO DARKNESS

I asked Avishag to tell me a
little about prison but it was hard
for her to go back to those dark
days. She went on to tell me the
story of her arrest and release,
her personal Geula.
In prison, nobody explains
anything to you. I felt like an
object. They dont tell you what
theyll do with you. You live with
uncertainty and transiency. The
absurdity was that the bosses
were out free. Along with me
another employee was arrested
and we were held in order to
exert pressure on the others.
There was no kosher food.
Avishag thought that if she ate
non-kosher food she would die,
so she ate nothing.
It was terrible. You enter this
building and its a prison and it
makes no difference who you are.
I was together with women who
were from the dregs of society
with addictions, who committed
crimes, etc., and we were treated
like common criminals.
After
four
hours
of
interrogation they pushed her
into the shower along with
other inmates. They were under
constant surveillance and it was
awful.
It was utter degradation.
Avishag becomes very emotional
and then goes on. There were
no doors for the bathrooms or
shower. I felt like I was in a zoo;
we were treated like animals.
Fortunately for her, in her
navet, she kept thinking, during
the year and eight months of her

incarceration, that any day now

it would all be okay, they would
realize it was a mistake.
Sometimes, it is while
enduring a difficult situation
that a person discovers inner
strengths and grows from it.
Avishag tells of the insights
she had. She did not know
Chassidus at the time, but she
wasnt far off. Later, when
she studied at Machon Alte,
she realized that she had done
the field work before the
classroom study.
For example:
I kept thinking that I have to
protect my mind. I did not want
the situation to become part of
me. It was a kind of demographic
that before being in prison I had
never seen before. I was a very
sheltered child and my parents
taught us that a human being
has innate dignity and if you do
undignified things, you wont be
respected. That message helped
me.
I knew they had taken
my body and free will but my
thoughts had to remain clean.
This is Chassidus, I just didnt
know it at the time. Likewise, I
had a certain inexplicable holy
stubbornness and when you have
this, Hashem helps!
She made contact with the
Aleph Institute which aids Jewish
prisoners and they brought her a
Siddur, Chumash, and sichos of
the Rebbe which she learned on
Shabbos in order to create an
aura of kdusha. She also washed
her blouse in honor of Shabbos.
On Yom Kippur she wrapped
herself in a white sheet and on
Pesach she ate shmura matza and
had four cups of wine.
Going back to the beginning,
there was a non-Jewish black
inmate who saw that Avishag
wasnt eating anything and she
made sure to get her crackers.

When I asked,
Why did you do
that?
she
said,
If only I could be
stubborn like you
and
show
G-d that I
love Him.
A f t e r
I
studied
at Machon
Alte,
I
realized that
a goy does
not
have
free choice and she was actually
the agent used to save me from
starvation because it took a full
week until I got kosher food.
Another Chassidic insight
she had was, In material things
look at those beneath you and
in spiritual things look at those
above you. After eleven months,
on Chanuka 5764, her material
circumstances began to improve.

GMAR CHASIMA TOVA

I was assigned a lawyer by
the government and they told
me I was being used to exert
pressure on the bosses and that I
should sign a confession. I didnt
want to sign. I wasnt willing to
sign to something I didnt do.
The months passed and as
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Profile

After the police came to ascertain what happened

and completed their investigation, Shai said to
them while holding a pair of tfillin, Surely you won't tell
me 'no' now... Of course they put on tfillin.

time went by and the trial was

postponed again and again, the
prosecution reduced the amount
of jail time they were requesting.
While she was in prison she
was visited by religious figures.
In the first jail I was visited by
a Reform rabbi who wanted to
shake my hand. When I refused,
he took out a red kippa like the
pope and said, Lets do Kabbalat
Shabbat.
In the second prison she was
visited by a Litvishe rabbi from
whom she asked for something to
learn. He brought her the Yalkut
Meam Loez which she read
avidly.
She also learned knitting
there. As the number of months
was reduced, she was transferred
from prison to prison and the
conditions improved. However,
when she moved from one prison
to the next they did not allow her
to take her Siddur, So I sat and
wrote the entire Siddur on the
case file (see the picture).
However, she finally gave in
and signed her admission of guilt.
It was her mother who convinced
her to do so. When she heard
that Avishag was in prison she
left her husband and children and
went to live near her. Her mother
said an important thing, Those
who are truly important know the
truth and in Eretz Yisroel you do
not have a criminal file. So what
do you care? Sign it.
That message has stayed
with her. It enables me to
say to myself, It makes no
difference what they think when
they hear that I am sending my

daughter to a school al taharas

hakodesh without the Israeli
core curriculum. What counts is
what the Rebbe wants and that is
the truth.
Even the guard who had
processed her into prison told
her, I know you will be a
successful person. You were in
the wrong place at the wrong
time, and he also encouraged
her to sign the admittance of
guilt.
In the meantime, she was
transferred to another prison
where she was faced with a
test about her commitment to
Shabbos
observance.
Every
morning there was a roll call to
count the prisoners. In order to
go to the roll call she had to pass
through an electronic door. On
Shabbos I did not go down to roll
call and I waited for the warden
to open the door. The woman
was annoyed and she said,
What do you think, that youre
a privileged character that I have
to open the door for you? I told
her that it was my Sabbath and
I did not want to use electricity
and desecrate the Sabbath, not
for me but for my G-d. She was
quiet for a bit and then said that
the following Saturday the door
would be opened for me. I also
got permission to clean my room
on Friday.

SHLICHUS IN PRISON
She
finally
signed
an
admission of guilt but was not
released, because the judges
had the right to veto her release.
On Friday, 14 Shvat 5764, two

weeks after she signed, she went

to court for the sentencing.
The prosecution asked for
fourteen months. I had been
inside for nearly twelve months
already which meant that I would
be freed in two weeks since they
take off ten percent for good
behavior. The judge ignored
all the recommendations of the
defense and prosecution and
said, What message would we be
sending to society if we released
her now? I recommend twenty
months in prison. That meant I
had to be in jail for another half
a year.
What
actually
happened
was amazing. She could no
longer remain in Miami after
the sentencing, they were going
to transfer her to Tallahassee. R
Mendy Katz of Aleph (who was
in touch with her the entire time
and looked out for her and helped
her with things like shmura matza
for Pesach) urged her to agree
to be transferred to Tallahassee.
Avishag didnt want to because
the conditions there are known
to be dreadful. Then R Katz told
her, Go there because you have
a shlichus there. If you go, that
will help R Oirechman become
the prison rabbi and there are
Jewish inmates there who need
his help. You have work to do
there!
I brought you enough Beis
Moshiachs...
he
concluded
encouragingly.
She concludes this story,
My main tshuva journey was in
prison where I learned a lot and
implemented it too.
Avishag
was
eventually
transferred to Tallahassee. She
had no kosher food and she
refused to eat. The Catholic
chaplain was excited about her
zealously observing her faith and
made sure she got kosher food
and candles for Shabbos. One

20 12 Iyar 5776 - Hakhel

1021_bm_eng.indd 20

2016-05-17 7:50:32 AM

day, he brough
card of a rabb
After the call
a rabbi from L
know him? It
talking to the s
Oirechman. T
sympathetic tow
his father had
goy in Poland
They allow
me and he br
One time, wh
and rabbi went
prison directo
introduced R
him and said,
Jewish chaplai
R Oirechman b
rabbi of the pri
wrote me, The
carried out su
Oirechmans a
get the Jewish
is the second m
After
six
Tallahassee,
transferred on
immigration
where she stay
a month until
on 13 Tishre
is discharged
holding is imm
from the coun
in Eretz Yisroe
For those w
yes, in the
incriminated h
fault for her in
up being force
each sat in jail
How did
emuna, I wond
to sum up her
said,
I felt no
feel that this
something is w
understood th
(rectification)
and thats it, n
Hashem wasn

gned, she went

ntencing.
ion asked for
I had been
twelve months
nt that I would
eeks since they
cent for good
udge ignored
dations of the
osecution and
ge would we be
if we released
mmend twenty
That meant I
or another half

ly
happened
he could no
n Miami after
ey were going
Tallahassee. R
leph (who was
the entire time
her and helped
e shmura matza
d her to agree
to Tallahassee.
ant to because
ere are known
en R Katz told
cause you have
If you go, that
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and there are
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ve work to do

u enough Beis
e
concluded

s this story,
journey was in
rned a lot and
o.
s
eventually
llahassee. She
food and she
The Catholic
ted about her
g her faith and
ot kosher food
Shabbos. One

day, he brought her the business

card of a rabbi and called him.
After the call he asked, He is
a rabbi from Lubavitch, do you
know him? It turned out he was
talking to the shliach, R Shneur
Oirechman. This chaplain was
sympathetic toward Jews because
his father had been a Shabbos
goy in Poland.
They allowed the rabbi to call
me and he brought me sfarim.
One time, when the chaplain
and rabbi went out, they met the
prison director. The chaplain
introduced R Oirechman to
him and said, We dont have a
Jewish chaplain. That very day
R Oirechman became the official
rabbi of the prison. Then R Katz
wrote me, The first mission was
carried out successfully, i.e. R
Oirechmans appointment. Now
get the Jewish girls together, this
is the second mission.
After
six
months
in
Tallahassee,
Avishag
was
transferred on 10 Elul to the
immigration
holding
prison
where she stayed for a little over
a month until she was released
on 13 Tishrei 5765. Whoever
is discharged from immigration
holding is immediately expelled
from the country, so she landed
in Eretz Yisroel on Erev Sukkos.
For those who want to know
yes, in the end, those who
incriminated her and were at
fault for her incarceration ended
up being forced to confess and
each sat in jail for at least a year.
How did this affect her
emuna, I wondered. I asked her
to sum up her first ordeal. She
said,
I felt no guilt, I did not
feel that this happened because
something is wrong with me. I
understood this to be a tikkun
(rectification) for my neshama
and thats it, not a punishment.
Hashem wasnt angry with me. I

always told Hashem, even when

I was forced to fast on Pesach,
Abba, you will be proud of me.

20 VERSUS 20
Avishag
returned
home
and lived with her parents for
two months and then went to
Machon Alte. She spent a year

and eight months there, a total

of twenty months, twenty months
of purity corresponding to the
twenty months of impurity in
jail. She summed up the years to
come briefly:
I became engaged while at
Machon Alte. I went from there
straight to the chuppa. I married
on 21 Elul 5766 and we lived in
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Profile
Tzfas for a while. After a year
and a half we moved closer to
Tel Aviv where my husband grew
up; he is an only child. After two
years of marriage we opened to
an explicit letter from the Rebbe
in the Igros Kodesh that we had
to live in Kfar Chabad. We moved
to Kfar Chabad Beis with our
oldest daughter Shaina.

MAY THESE DAYS BE

TRANSFORMED TO
GLADNESS AND JOY
Now we come to the next big
ordeal that occurred in Cheshvan
of this year when her four-month
old daughter, Chaya Mushka,
passed away. She was born
perfectly healthy on 20 Tammuz
5775 and was named for the
Rebbetzin on 22 Tammuz.
My husband said that all
22s are blessed as alluded to
in the verse becha yevoreich
Yisroel. She was very alert and
advanced.
Avishag
describes
what
happened on that tragic day.
I went to pick her up from
the daycare center. She was
always sleeping at that time and
would wake up and smile. That
day I went to her before I went to
my other children. The babysitter
went into the room and picked
her up and saw that something
was wrong. She said to me,
Something happened to her. I
took her, turned her on her side,
and when I did so it was obvious
that it was all over. She had died.
I said, She is dead!
I screamed, My Chaya
Mushka! even though we always
called her Mussi or Mussia.
I collapsed on the floor with
her and said, Hashem gave
and Hashem took, yehi sheim
Hashem mevorach lolam. When
I said, Shma Yisroel, I hugged
her tightly and said, Hashem, I

love You, I accept it, I accept it.

Her awareness was extremely
heightened and she remembers
everything
in
detail.
The
babysitter screamed, Dont
talk like that, lets resuscitate
her, and she wanted to call
Hatzolah. The baby was already
cold but we did mouth to mouth
resuscitation for several minutes
until Hatzolah came and began
working on her. Then I sent a
text to Kfar Chabad Beis to the
women, Chaya Mushka bas
Avishag, rent the heavens.
Avishag asked for a volume
of Igros Kodesh and the page
she opened to had two letters
in which one said, These days
will be transformed to joy and
gladness and surely you observe
Chitas, and the other said, You
have the strength and influence
and you should influence others
and use all your abilities.
I understood what the Rebbe
meant, sighed Avishag. I called
my husband and said, Come to
Kfar Chabad immediately. Mussy
is undergoing resuscitation.
He was brave and he came and
said, Its a test and we will get
through it, we will be strong, we
wont break.

CONSTRUCTIVE OUTLOOK
When I went to console her, I
met a woman full of chayus and
simcha. I went to console her but
left being consoled and I heard
this from everyone who went to
console her. I asked her how she
accomplished this.
Its the reality of life. In the
stories of tzaddikim there is a
story like this when a child who
was born died two years later.
The first thing that went through
my mind is that I had the zchus
of being part of the tikkun of a
holy soul for at four months there
is no real evil inclination.

What jumped out at me

from Chassidus was what
the Rebbe Rayatz said in the
maamer, Nosata LYirecha Neis
LHisnoses. A nisayon (test) is
something that raises a person
up. It was amazing to discover
how everything connected, down
to the smallest details. In Parshas
Chayei Sarah, the parsha of that
week, it says, to eulogize Sarah
and weep over her. The Haftora
was about Avishag HaShunamis.
When they wanted to tell her
in-laws, on their way to see them
her husband said, Nothing can
be done, this was a korban.
Avishag did not agree and she
explains why.
I must be a happy mother
and raise four children who need
to be emotionally healthy. A
korban does not serve this goal.
Its not it; its not a korban. Its
not atonement for sins. Hashem
sent her so that we can rectify
her neshama in the best way and
in my opinion, this is how we
need to view it. This does not
contradict the fact that I miss
her because with every child that
is born, the heart for that child
is born within the mother and I
have a heart devoted to Mussia
and nobody will or can fill it. I
can miss her and at the same time
feel grateful that I accomplished
the tikkun. Chassidus says that
we need to look at every situation
from a position of the mind
ruling the heart. The question
why does not get me anywhere
and so I dont deal with it.
Her
husband,
Shai,
responded with tremendous inner
strength when he found out what
happened. After the police came
to ascertain what happened and
completed their investigation, he
said to them while holding a pair
of tfillin, Surely you wont tell
me no now... Of course they
put on tfillin.

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I was so
Jew in his m
was concerned
I looked at h
Rebbe.

THE BEIS
SCHOOL IN

To conclude
today you are
Rebbe in Beis
Chabad. Tell us
There are
a small numb

LIVE S

Anywhere

CHI
INYONE
& MOS
RAM
SHIURIM I
SICHOS

WWW

d out at me
was what
z said in the
LYirecha Neis
sayon (test) is
aises a person
ng to discover
nnected, down
ails. In Parshas
parsha of that
eulogize Sarah
r. The Haftora
HaShunamis.
nted to tell her
way to see them
Nothing can
a korban.
t agree and she

happy mother
dren who need
ly healthy. A
serve this goal.
a korban. Its
sins. Hashem
we can rectify
e best way and
his is how we
This does not
ct that I miss
every child that
for that child
mother and I
oted to Mussia
or can fill it. I
t the same time
I accomplished
idus says that
every situation
of the mind
The question
t me anywhere
with it.
and,
Shai,
mendous inner
ound out what
he police came
happened and
nvestigation, he
holding a pair
you wont tell
Of course they

I was so proud of him. A

Jew in his moment of sorrow
was concerned for another Jew.
I looked at him and saw the
Rebbe.

THE BEIS LUBAVITCH

SCHOOL IN KFAR CHABAD
To conclude, I asked Avishag,
today you are a shlucha of the
Rebbe in Beis Lubavitch in Kfar
Chabad. Tell us about the school.
There are 130 boys and
a small number of girls. The

emphasis is on chinuch al
taharas hakodesh. I want to
put an emphasis on the girls
because from the day Mussy was
born and even before that, the
answers I opened to were about
that. When I knew that I was
going to have a C-section, the
Rebbe told me about a school for
girls in Crown Heights. Then I
opened to another answer about
a school for girls in Montreal.
When I informed the Rebbe that
my daughter died, I opened to
a letter where the Rebbe writes

that the registration for the

girls school should be properly
organized and so my goal is to
develop and advance the chinuch
for girls al taharas hakodesh.
***
May Hashem bless you among
the rest of the Jewish people with
an abundance of blessing and
success and from now on may
you experience only good and
chesed and the consolation of
Tziyon and Yerushalayim.

LIVE SHIURIM 0NLINE

vww c

Anywhere, Anytime !
CHITAS
INYONEI GEULA
& MOSHIACH
RAMBAM
SHIURIM IN LIKUTEI
SICHOS KODESH

,ww,j
jhanu vkutd hbhbg
owwcnr
hyuekc ohrugha
asue ,ujha

WWW.770LIVE.COM

sgu okugk jhanv lkn ubcru ubrun ubhbust hjh

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PROFILE

MAN OF PEACE

One day,
and together w
set out on the
Lubavitch. He
the yeshiva and
into the studen
an ardent Cha
friend did not
not like the C
the meditation
of the Creator
before the dav
and late daven
But R Yerac
what he was
became close t
mashpiim and
to the Rebbe R
Having a v
did well in his
soon acquired
a genius in N
and Halacha. D
the young tal
real Tamim,
was modest,
exceedingly, w
beloved to thos
and most imp
utterly devoted

AND MAN
OF WAR

93, p.

^^^
^^^
^^^
^^^
^^^
^^^
^^^
^^^

The life story of R Yerachmiel Benjaminson,

an alumnus of Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim in
Lubavitch and a distinguished Chabad rabbi, a
genuine Chassid, a man of peace who served as
rabbi in Zhlobin alongside the rabbi of the nonChassidim in brotherly love, but who knew how
to be a man of war in the Rebbe Rayatzs war
against the communists. * Part 1 of 2

THE SIXTH

By Yisroel Yehuda

GOING TO LUBAVITCH
Rav Yerachmiel Benjaminson
was born in 5644/1884 in
Beshenkowitz, Lithuania to a
family that was not Lubavitch and
apparently had no connection
to Chassidim. In his youth, his
father, who highly valued Torah
study, sent him to learn in the
yeshiva in Slobodka, a famous
Lithuanian yeshiva.
Slobodka, which was an
exceptional yeshiva by Litvishe
standards, had excellent roshei
yeshiva, a high level of learning,

and an atmosphere of gadlus

a desire to learn more and more
and become a gadol bYisroel
and it attracted many brilliant
students.
Yerachmiel, being a bright
young man, quickly acclimated,
but at a certain point he felt
that something was amiss in the
yeshiva system. It seems the yiras
Shamayim (fear of heaven) was
not on the same high level as
the learning. His sincerity and
refinement did not allow him
to remain there and he began
looking elsewhere.

The reputation of Yeshivas

Tomchei Tmimim in Lubavitch,
which was founded by the Rebbe
Rashab, was most favorable.
The yeshiva, whose light shone
over all of Russia and Poland,
with its learning and conduct
according to the teachings of
Chassidus, and its students
who were outstanding in their
scholarship and fear of heaven,
their genuine Ahavas Yisroel and
their greatness in both Nigleh
and Chassidus, appealed to him.
He decided this was the yeshiva
for him.

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The Rebbe
away on 2 N
and his son, R
was his succe
the sixth era
period steeped
for Torah an
maintaining Je
the religious pe
The comm
enforcement a
by the Yevsek
communists, s
eradicate religi
new generation
Revolution.
The Rebbe
like the pillar o
he feared no o
Chassidim to
Jewish commit

n of Yeshivas
m in Lubavitch,
d by the Rebbe
ost favorable.
se light shone
a and Poland,
and conduct
teachings of
its students
nding in their
ear of heaven,
vas Yisroel and
n both Nigleh
pealed to him.
was the yeshiva

One day, he took his bag

and together with a friend, they
set out on the long journey to
Lubavitch. He was accepted into
the yeshiva and quickly integrated
into the student body and became
an ardent Chabad Chassid. His
friend did not last there; he did
not like the Chassidic practices,
the meditation on the greatness
of the Creator for a long time
before the davening, the lengthy
and late davening, and he left.
But R Yerachmiel had found
what he was looking for. He
became close to his teachers and
mashpiim and became mekushar
to the Rebbe Rashab.
Having a very good head, he
did well in his learning and he
soon acquired a reputation as
a genius in Nigleh, Chassidus,
and Halacha. Despite his talents,
the young talmid acted like a
real Tamim, i.e., his behavior
was modest, he loved peace
exceedingly, which made him
beloved to those who knew him,
and most importantly he was
utterly devoted to the Rebbe.

THE SIXTH GENERATION

The Rebbe Rashab passed
away on 2 Nissan 5680/1920
and his son, R Yosef Yitzchok,
was his successor. Thus began
the sixth era in Chabad, a
period steeped in mesirus nefesh
for Torah and mitzvos and
maintaining Jewish life despite
the religious persecution.
The communists and their
enforcement arm, the KGB, led
by the Yevsektzia, the Jewish
communists, set their goal to
eradicate religious life and raise a
new generation of patriots of the
Revolution.
The Rebbe Rayatz led the way
like the pillar of fire in the desert;
he feared no one. He urged his
Chassidim to strengthen their
Jewish commitment and even to

Rabbi Yerachmiel Benjaminson

teach and strengthen others who

were afraid of the government.
As is known, the Rebbe Rayatz
set up an enormous secret
network of chadarim, yeshivos,
and mikvaos, teachers, ritual
slaughterers,
rabbanim
and
mashpiim, who kept the flame of
Torah Judaism alight as much as
possible in every place.
For the Yevsektzia, nothing
stood in their way from carrying
out their nefarious goal against
religious Jews in general and
Lubavitcher
Chassidim
in
particular, who refused to drop
their antiquated ways and

enjoy the Russian Garden of

Eden. The Chassidim slowly
were crushed under the constant
and cruel attacks on them, and
those who persevered did so with
literal mesirus nefesh.
At that time, the Rebbe
Rayatz convened ten of the great
Chassidim who worked with
superhuman strength to carry
out the Rebbes assignments.
The Rebbe made them swear that
they would not budge from their
commitment to spread Torah
and Judaism in Russia and that
they would fight to their last drop
of blood against the attempts

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Profile

When he first arrived in Zhlobin, he went to

greet the older rav, R' Vilda. He told him that he
had no intention of serving in a city which had sides,
and so, if R' Vilda agreed to his coming, he would stay,
and if not, he would leave. R' Vilda agreed and there was
peace.

to defile the Jewish people

throughout the vast expanse of
the Soviet Union. R Yerachmiel
Benjaminson was one of those
ten who committed to fighting till
the end on behalf of Judaism and
Jews.

THE RABBINATE IN
ZHLOBIN
In 1927, R Yerachmiel, who
was a husband and father by that
time, was offered the position
of rav in Zhlobin. This position
became available after R Moshe
Axelrod, the previous rav, went to
serve as rav in Suraz.
Zhlobin had a rich Jewish
heritage. In Chassidic history
it is known as the location of
the Great Wedding between
the grandchildren of the Alter
Rebbe and R Levi Yitzchok of
Berditchev. At this time, there
was a fully developed Jewish
religious infrastructure in the
city and it had all the requisite
Jewish institutions that a Jewish
community could need. In
Zhlobin, the Chassidic and nonChassidic communities lived
side by side. In all the shuls they
davened Nusach Ari as is the
Chassidic practice and in general,
there was a Chassidic atmosphere
in the town. The chassidishe
rabbanim, who were genuine
Tmimim
and
mekusharim,
led their khilla in a spirit of
hiskashrus and devotion to the
Rebbeim, with yiras Shamayim

and Chassidishe chayus.

The city had two rabbanim.
The non-Chassidic rabbi, who
was older, was Rabbi Vilda.
He was a great gaon, a man of
stature, who descended from a
family of rabbis. The younger
rabbi was the Chassidic rav who
ran the practical side of Jewish
life. There wasnt always peace
between the two rabbis and their
views diverged on a number of
matters and this is how things
were until 1927.
R Yerachmiel asked the
Rebbe Rayatz about the offer
and was given the Rebbes
consent and blessing, Mazal
tov on your new position, may
Hashem shower you and your
holy flock with a flow of life
and much blessing and may
He give you much blessing and
success to sustain your flock with
righteousness, to strengthen and
support them with public shiurim
and draw them close to all that is
good and beneficial for them and
their households, and teach them
the ways of Torah and mitzvos
As far as your question about
the manner of conduct, it is an
extremely good thing because
there is no vessel that contains
blessing except for peace...
We dont know what the
question about how to conduct
himself was but R Yerachmiel
was outstanding in the way he
went about promoting peace in
the city, something which was
characteristic of him and was a

central theme throughout his life,

as will be described.
When he first arrived in
Zhlobin, he went to greet the
older rav, R Vilda. He told
him that he had no intention
of serving in a city which had
sides, and so, if R Vilda agreed
to his coming, then he would
stay, and if not, he would leave.
R Vilda agreed and there was
peace.
R Mordechai Shusterman,
who was a member of R
Benjaminsons
household,
described the welcome for the
new rav in his book, LMaan
Yeidu:
I remember that when they
made a welcome gathering for
R Benjaminson in our shul
there were the two rabbis, the
old and the young, sitting at
the head of the table. Zhlobin
had not seen a sight like this
since it was founded! One of
the distinguished householders
spoke about the statement of
Chazal, Torah scholars increase
peace, and that the sides had
reconciled.
R Yerachmiel continued to
treat the elder rabbi with respect.
He would go to his house Yom
Tov night to wish him gut
yom tov, and he brought an
atmosphere of peace to the city.
Everyone in the khilla, from
old to young, greatly esteemed
the new rabbi. His refined
personality along with his
strength in Jewish matters (as
will be told), his Ahavas Yisroel
and his brilliance in Torah,
formed a Chassidic image that
had a positive influence on the
townsmen.
The
community
in Zhlobin merited, in those
turbulent times, a rav of stature
who led them fearlessly.
In R Vildas house there was
an old and extremely valuable
library which had rare Jewish

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books worth
When the rab
he bequeathed
Benjaminson,
much he admi
Chassidic rabbi

5687 A FA

That year
particularly f
Russian Jewr
multiplied and
the Yevsektzia
They closed do
the yeshivos, s
Whoever was c
spreading Juda
to long years in
those things wh
Yevsektzia wer
than the Rus
arranged that
harsh. Many
with no trace
to them and
from again.
The peak of
at the start of
policemen fro
broke into th
and took him
infamous priso
plan was for a
end, but than
international p
forced to releas
time.
Following t
it was seen a
the Rebbe lea
the beginning o
Riga.
The Chassi
behind in Rus
Their
leader
trustingly follow
and they had
of carrying o
impossible
c
Rebbe Rayatz
not abandon h
as he left Russ
association fo

ughout his life,

d.
st arrived in
to greet the
ilda. He told
no intention
ity which had
R Vilda agreed
hen he would
e would leave.
and there was

Shusterman,
ember of R
household,
lcome for the
book, LMaan

hat when they

gathering for
in our shul
wo rabbis, the
ung, sitting at
table. Zhlobin
sight like this
nded! One of
householders
statement of
holars increase
the sides had

continued to
bi with respect.
his house Yom
ish him gut
he brought an
ce to the city.
e khilla, from
eatly esteemed
His refined
g with his
h matters (as
Ahavas Yisroel
ce in Torah,
dic image that
fluence on the
community
ted, in those
rav of stature
essly.
ouse there was
emely valuable
d rare Jewish

books worth a great deal.

When the rabbi passed away,
he bequeathed his library to R
Benjaminson, which shows how
much he admired and loved the
Chassidic rabbi.

5687 A FATEFUL YEAR

That year, 5687, was a
particularly fateful year for
Russian Jewry. The decrees
multiplied and the cruelty of
the Yevsektzia was horrendous.
They closed down the chadarim,
the yeshivos, shuls and mikvaos.
Whoever was caught involved in
spreading Judaism was sentenced
to long years in Siberia. Even with
those things which were legal, the
Yevsektzia were mehader more
than the Russian gentiles and
arranged that the sentencing be
harsh. Many Jews disappeared
with no trace of what happened
to them and were never heard
from again.
The peak of the troubles came
at the start of the summer when
policemen from the Yevsektzia
broke into the Rebbes house
and took him to Spalerka, the
infamous prison. Their satanic
plan was for a quick and decisive
end, but thank G-d, due to
international pressure, they were
forced to release him after a brief
time.
Following the imprisonment,
it was seen as imperative that
the Rebbe leave Russia and at
the beginning of 5688 he left for
Riga.
The Chassidim who were left
behind in Russia felt orphaned.
Their
leader,
whom
they
trustingly followed, was far away,
and they had the responsibility
of carrying on under almost
impossible
conditions.
The
Rebbe Rayatz, of course, did
not abandon his flock. As soon
as he left Russia he set up an aid
association for Russian Jews,

which was in constant and secret

touch with the Jewish centers
in Russia. The center, although
meant to help financially, also
helped spiritually. The Rebbe
would send encouraging letters
to strengthen the morale of those
fighting on the front lines.

OFFER OF
RABBANUS IN RAMEN
A little more than a year
later, at the end of 5688, R
Benjaminson was offered the
rabbanus in Ramen. Ramen was
a larger and more central city
than Zhlobin and being the rabbi
there was more prestigious. Until
recently, R Chaim Schneersohn,
descendent of the Tzemach
Tzedek, had been the rav there.
When he passed away, the
townsmen looked for a new
rabbi.
One of the important askanim
in the city, the Chassid, R
Yechezkel Greenpress, sent a
letter, on behalf of the khilla, to
the Rebbe Rayatz. At the same
time, the offer was made to R
Benjaminson who also asked the
Rebbe.

In two letters that are both

dated 26 Iyar 5688, the Rebbe
gives his consent and blessing. In
a letter addressed to R Yechezkel
and then to the community,
the Rebbe highly praises R
Benjaminson as someone great
in Torah and fear of heaven with
good character, who can lead a
community with patience and
diligence.
In the end, the position in
Ramen did not work out, here
too, because of R Benjaminsons
fine character. He went to
Ramen to see the town for
himself and there he learned that
the branch of Tomchei Tmimim
there, which was run by R
Yaakov Gurary, had closed down.
And since he was left without a
position, there were those who
said that R Yaakov should be the
rav of the town.
Hearing that, R Benjaminson
returned to Zhlobin where he
served until around 5694.

THE WAR OVER THE CITY

R Benjaminson, as the rav
of the city, stood at the head of
the young fighters, who with

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Profile

Letters from the Rebbe Rayatz to Rav Benjaminson

outstanding strength and courage

maintained Jewish community
life there. For the rav, it did not
only entail physical danger to his
life, but he had to actually oversee
every little detail. He had to see
to financing all the activities,
pay salaries, find men who were
willing to learn and teach while in
danger, and send older students
to secret yeshivos in various
locations. He also had to see to
providing for mohalim, shochtim,
and mashpiim, and visit women
whose husbands disappeared.
The Jewish communities were
in dire material straits. They
literally did not have bread to give
their children, not to mention
money for heating, schooling, etc.
Once they shut down the shul,
even if they found a new hole in
the wall to have a secret minyan,
there was no money to make

necessary renovations. There was

the association that the Rebbe
Rayatz had founded outside the
country, but the center could not
help with anything more than a
few rubles.
The
KGB
and
their
collaborators worked full force
and the Chassidim were informed
of yet another Chassid who
had disappeared in the night.
Faces drawn from hunger and
frightened eyes followed the
news of the missing people who,
in most cases, they knew they
would never see again.
R Benjaminson led his khilla
fearlessly against their enemies.
He established shuls, mikvaos,
chadarim,
melamdim,
and
shochtim. Instead of the melamed
who was caught yesterday, the
children encountered the new
and frightened face of another

young man who knew he was

also in line
R
Benjaminsons
son
Nachum Yosef describes those
times as they were engraved in
his memory as a child:
We learned in a small,
damp basement, we learned and
learned, always tense, awaiting
the break-in of the dreaded
KGB. I remember the tension
on the melameds face (Velvel
was his name) when he taught
us. Outside, one of the children
stood as a sentry.
Once, a wagon and wagon
driver came and we were
frightened, but he identified
himself as a friend and told me
that my father said I should go
with him. My father then joined
us and we traveled about twenty
miles outside Zhlobin for a secret
bris.

28 12 Iyar 5776 - Hakhel

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2016-05-17 7:50:37 AM

We arrived
where a woman
us. The father
in a communi
participation i
meant death fo
circumcised th
him a Jewish
the seudas mi
and a bit of ca
a few rubles fo
devoted work.
This is wha
in and day out
That wasnt t
made. My fath
trips like this fo
neshamos and
which he was m
I remembe
sat in class a
suddenly the
guard jumped,
trembled. Befo
word, our mel
disappeared an
the police barge
There was
games. They
where the m
children had
said nothing. T
to jail where th
the informatio
ways. In the e
their interroga
to free us since
In one of th
sent to the Reb
R Benjaminso
situation:
thank
kindness He d
gave us Kvod
Shlita, who wa
all matters and
we received h
from the Re
help and their
established, an
essentials for Je
mikvaos in do
large towns in o

Benjaminson

knew he was

son
nsons
escribes those
re engraved in
hild:
in a small,
we learned and
ense, awaiting
the dreaded
er the tension
s face (Velvel
hen he taught
of the children

on and wagon
nd we were
he identified
d and told me
id I should go
her then joined
d about twenty
bin for a secret

We arrived at some building

where a woman and baby awaited
us. The father of the boy worked
in a communist factory and his
participation in this ceremony
meant death for him. My father
circumcised the baby and gave
him a Jewish name. We made
the seudas mitzva with mashke
and a bit of cake. The father left
a few rubles for my father for his
devoted work.
This is what life was like, day
in and day out, hour after hour.
That wasnt the only trip we
made. My father made dozens of
trips like this for dozens of Jewish
neshamos and Jewish matters for
which he was moser nefesh.
I remember that one day we
sat in class and learned when
suddenly the boy who was on
guard jumped, turned pale and
trembled. Before he could say a
word, our melamed had already
disappeared and a moment later,
the police barged in.
There was no reason to play
games. They wanted to know
where the melamed was. We
children had been trained and
said nothing. The police took us
to jail where they tried to extract
the information in all sorts of
ways. In the end, we withstood
their interrogation and they had
to free us since we were minors.
In one of the letters that was
sent to the Rebbes organization,
R Benjaminson described the
situation:
thank G-d for the
kindness He did with us and He
gave us Kvod Kdushas Admur
Shlita, who was moser nefesh for
all matters and over the last years
we received help and support
from the Rebbe. With their
help and their urging was built,
established, and strengthened, all
essentials for Jewish life including
mikvaos in dozens of small and
large towns in our area.

From the day the Rebbe left

all the wellsprings of aid ceased
and all those things constructed
with much effort and toil are
on the verge of collapse, G-d
forbid, and urgent help is needed
to maintain them in a timely
fashion... and everybodys only
request is that I correspond in
writing and make public their
suffering by way of the Rebbe
shlita... and to work for their
benefit for the future as well.
R Nachum Yosef said that
when they somehow managed
to acquire a small, secret mikva
in their city, they had to clean
it in order to make it appear
somewhat fit for humans. Even
work like this in Russia entailed
mesirus nefesh, which is why R
Benjaminson took it upon himself
without regard for his status
as rav of the city. He himself
worked for hours to clean it so as
to enable the continuity of Jewish
life in the city.
Then came the day when
the Yevsektzia agents arrested
him, together with the shochet,
and put him in jail
with
murderers.
There in prison,
his cellmates highly
respected him.
After
holding
him and tormenting
him for a week,
they released him
because of pressure
from people in
the city, including
non-Jews. After his
release, although
he had only been
in jail for a week,
his family did not
recognize
him
because of the
tremendous change
wrought in him.

LOOKING FOR A WAY OUT

R Benjaminson apparently
served as rav in Zhlobin for
seven years until 1934. During
that time, the situation got worse
and worse. The KGB kept him
under surveillance and arrested
him. If not for the protest by the
Jews of the city who loved their
rav, who knows what would have
happened to him.
The khilla dwindled with the
help of the authorities. The
financial obligations and the need
to continue working in secret
became more and more difficult
and complicated. It was clear
that it was only a matter of time
until the Yevsektzia would find
the time and reason to lay their
impure hands on the rav and to
cruelly eradicate all Jewish life in
the city.
R Benjaminson and his
family began looking for ways to
leave Russia.
To be continued, G-d willing

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PARSHA THOUGHT

KOHANIM:
THE ULTIMATE
PRO-LIFERS

REBBE

By Rabbi Heschel Greenberg

PRIESTLY OBLIGATIONS
The
Book
of
VaYikra
(Leviticus) is directed primarily
to the Kohanim-the Priestly
family.
It
delineates
the
obligations the Kohanim have
when they perform the service in
the Beis HaMikdash. It therefore
also details the laws concerning
sacrifices and other rituals that
were performed by the Kohanim.
This weeks parsha discusses
some of the restrictions Kohanim
have with regard to the dead.
A Kohen was not permitted to
come in contact with the dead,
with the exception of his closest
relatives, who are enumerated at
the beginning of the parsha.
We must try to understand
why the Kohen was prevented
from coming in contact with
the dead. Isnt helping to bury
the dead a great Mitzvah? Isnt
it referred to in the Talmud as
Chesed shel Emes, an act of
altruistic
kindness,
because
one does not expect to receive
anything in return from the
deceased?
Why is it then that the Kohen,
the man who is expected to
excel in the observance of the
commandments and be a role
model for others, is precluded

from engaging in this important

Mitzvah?

THE KOHENS
ROLE IN TEMPLE
The simple answer is that
coming in contact with the
dead causes a person to become
ritually impure. This bars
him from participation in the
Temples services or partaking of
consecrated food. Since those are
the primary roles of the Kohen,
the Torah commands him not
to compromise his purity and
impede his ability to perform his
role as Kohen.
On a somewhat deeper level,
the distance a Kohen must place
between himself and the dead
is based on the notion that life
is an expression of the Divine.
Nowhere in nature do we find
an expression of G-d more than
in life itself. This is particularly
true with regard to human life,
inasmuch as each person is
imbued with a soul, a veritable
part of G-d (See Tanya chapter
2). When that soul departs from
the world, a part of G-d departs
with it and leaves the world with
less holiness. Since a Kohen is
the paradigm of holiness and
connectivity to the Divine, it is
crucial that all of his interactions

with the world not detract from

his role of revealing G-dly light in
the world.

THE ABSOLUTENESS OF
DEATH OVERSTATED!
One may take this a step
further by way of an introduction.
Death is not the natural state of
existence. When G-d created the
world, He intended for Adam
and Eve to live forever. That
changed only after Adam and Eve
partook of the Tree of Knowledge
of Good and Evil. Death was
superimposed on the world at
that point. This decree will not be
reversed until the Messianic Age,
in the period of the Resurrection
of the Dead.
Once death was introduced to
the world, it became hard for us
to relate to the reality of eternal
life; it is so counterintuitive to us
mortals. In order to impress upon
us that death is not absolute,
G-d commanded the Kohen,
the priest who channeled G-ds
presence in the world, to in some
way ignore death. This was
intended to symbolize that not
only does G-d transcend death,
for G-d is without beginning and
without end, but that even we
are inherently above and beyond
death.

30 12 Iyar 5776 - Hakhel

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This insigh
poignantly by
condolence lett
Israeli leader, A
he suffered the
tragic accident:
To Mr. Arie
Greetings a
I was deep
in the newsp
tragic loss of y
son, may he r
cannot fathom
Creator. Durin
and peril yo
indeed, you w
who secured t
nation, the C
against our e
the many we
the hands of
and yet, durin
and in your ow
immense trage
it is not surpris
being
canno
the ways of t
infinitely trans
we are hardl
small child ca
the ways of a
and elderly sa
it is only a
separates them
Obviously,
not come to m
and pain in an
vast distance b
to express my
At first g
appear that
from one an
geographically
or even mor
of being un
unaware of ea
Six-Day War
be known), w
famous and
commander an
Holy Land an
and as a per

ot detract from
g G-dly light in

TENESS OF
RSTATED!

e this a step
n introduction.
natural state of
G-d created the
ded for Adam
forever. That
Adam and Eve
e of Knowledge
il. Death was
the world at
cree will not be
Messianic Age,
e Resurrection

s introduced to
me hard for us
ality of eternal
rintuitive to us
o impress upon
not absolute,
the Kohen,
hanneled G-ds
rld, to in some
ath. This was
bolize that not
anscend death,
beginning and
that even we
ve and beyond

REBBES LETTER
This insight was delivered
poignantly by the Rebbe in a
condolence letter to a prominent
Israeli leader, Ariel Sharon, when
he suffered the loss of a child in a
tragic accident:
To Mr. Ariel Sharon,
Greetings and blessing!
I was deeply grieved to read
in the newspaper about the
tragic loss of your tender young
son, may he rest in peace. We
cannot fathom the ways of the
Creator. During a time of war
and peril you were saved
indeed, you were among those
who secured the victory for our
nation, the Children of Israel,
against our enemies, in which
the many were delivered into
the hands of the few, etc.
and yet, during a time of quiet
and in your own home, such an
immense tragedy occurred! But
it is not surprising that a created
being
cannot
comprehend
the ways of the Creator, who
infinitely transcends us. Indeed,
we are hardly surprised if a
small child cannot comprehend
the ways of a great, venerable
and elderly sage, even though
it is only a finite gulf that
separates them.
Obviously, the above does
not come to minimize the hurt
and pain in any way. Despite the
vast distance between us, I wish
to express my sympathies.
At first glance it would
appear that we are distant
from one another not only
geographically,
but
also
or even more soin terms
of being unfamiliar, indeed
unaware of each other, until the
Six-Day War (as its come to
be known), when you became
famous and celebrated as a
commander and defender of our
Holy Land and its inhabitants,
and as a person of powerful

abilities. G-d, blessed be He,

shone His countenance upon
you and granted you success in
your activitiesindeed a victory
of unexpected proportion.
But on the basis of a
fundamental, deeply rooted
Jewish
principlenamely,
that all Jews are kindred
the fame that you received
served to reveal something
that existed even before, i.e.,
the interconnectedness of all
Jews, whether of the Holy Land
or of the Diaspora. It is this
interconnectedness that spurred
me to write the above words to
you and your family.
Another
factor
that
motivated me to write this letter
is the tremendous inspiration
that you aroused in the hearts
of many of our Jewish brethren
when you put on tfillin at
the Western Wall, an act
which merited great publicity
and echoed powerfully and
positively into the various strata
of our nation, in places both
near and far.
An element of solace
indeed, more than just an
elementis expressed in the
ritual blessing, hallowed by
scores of generations of Torah
and tradition among our people:
May
the
Omnipresent
comfort
you
among
the
mourners
of
Zion
and
Jerusalem.
At
first
glance,
the
connection
between
the
mourner to whom this blessing
is directed and the mourners of
Jerusalems destruction appears
to be quite puzzling. In truth,
however, they are connected.
For the main consolation
embodied by this phrase is in
its inner content, namely: The
grief over Zion and Jerusalem
is common to all the sons and
daughters of our people, Israel,

wherever they may be (although

it is more palpable to those who
dwell in Jerusalem and actually
see the Western Wall and the
ruins of our Holy Temple than
to those who are far away from
it; nonetheless, even those who
are far experience great pain
and grief over the destruction).
So too is the grief of a single
individual Jew or Jewish family
shared by the entire nation. For,
as the sages have taught, all of
the Jewish people comprise one
integral organism.
Another point and principle,
expressing double consolation,
is that just as G-d will most
certainly rebuild the ruins of
Zion and Jerusalem and gather
the dispersed of Israel from the
ends of the earth through our
righteous Moshiach, so will
He, without a doubt, remove
the grief of the individual,
fulfilling the promise embodied
by the verse, Awaken and sing,
you who repose in the dust.
(Yeshayahu 26:19) Great will
be the joy, the true joy, when all
will be rejoined at the time of
the resurrection of the dead.
There is yet a third point: In
regard to Zion and Jerusalem,
the
Romansand
before
them, the Babylonianswere
given dominion only over the
wood and stone, silver and
gold of the Temples physical
manifestation, but not over
its inner spiritual essence,
contained within the heart of
each and every Jewfor the
nations have no dominion over
this, and it stands eternally. So
too, regarding the mourning of
the individual, death dominates
only the physical body and
concerns of the deceased
person. The soul, however, is
eternal; it has merely ascended
to the World of Truth. That is
why any good deed [performed
by the mourner] that accords
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PARSHA THOUGHT

TZIVOS

Once death was introduced to the world, it

became hard for us to relate to the reality of
eternal life; it is so counterintuitive to us mortals. In
order to impress upon us that death is not absolute,
G-d commanded the Kohen, the priest who channeled
G-ds presence in the world, to in some way ignore
death. This was intended to symbolize that not only does
G-d transcend death, for G-d is without beginning and
without end, but that even we are inherently above and
beyond death.
with the will of the Giver of life,
G-d, blessed be He, adds to the
souls delight and merit, and to
its general good.
May it be G-ds will that
henceforth you and your family
should know no hurt and
pain, and that in your actions
in defense of our Holy Land,
the land which G-ds eyes are
upon from the beginning of the
year to the end of the year,
(Dvarim 11:12) and in your
observance of the mitzvah of
tfillinand one mitzvah brings
another in its wakeyou will
find comfort.
With esteem and blessing.
This
powerful
letter
underscores the relationship
of the death of one individual
Jew and the destruction of the
Beis HaMikdash. Death and
destruction do not truly apply to
either.
Every
time
a
Kohen

stands on the outside of a

cemetery in compliance with
this commandment he gives
testimony that death and the
Beis HaMikdash are mutually
exclusive entities. It is a constant
reminder that with the revelation
of Moshiach and the rebuilding
of the third Beis HaMikdash,
followed by the Resurrection of
the Dead, death will be wiped
off the face of the earth, as the
prophet
Yeshayahu
declares
(Yeshayahu 25:8): He will
eliminate death forever, and My
G-d, the L-rd will erase tears
from all faces.

THE THREE (NOW TWO)

METHODS TO COUNTER
THE EVIL INCLINATION
There
is
a
practical
ramification of the above.
The Talmud (Brachos 5a)
discusses the tools we must use

to counter the influence of our

Yetzer Hara-evil inclination.
The first two methods are
Torah study and reciting the
Shma. If that doesnt work, the
Talmud counsels, reflect on your
mortality.
Chassidic commentators ask
why is the reflection on death not
mentioned first if it is guaranteed
to work.
Two answers are given:
First, it can lead to depression.
It should therefore only be used
as a last resort when everything
else fails.
Second, Torah study and
reciting the Shma are inherently
good things; they are Mitzvos.
Reflecting on death, in and of
itself, has no value.
In light of the above, a third
answer can be suggested. As
we stand poised to enter into
the age of eternal life, the third
option will no longer be feasible.
It is therefore mentioned last to
underscore its inferiority as a
method; it is a method that will
soon become obsolete. In these
last days of Galus, our focus has
to be on the first two, positive,
methods of Torah study and the
Shma. Only in days bygone, when
we were far from the rebuilding
of the Beis HaMikdash and the
Resurrection of the Dead, was
the third approach frequently
necessary and effective. Now
that option has lost much of its
appeal and instead the positive
approach is preferred.

ADD IN ACTS OF GOODNESS & KINDNESS

TO BRING MOSHIACH NOW!

32 12 Iyar 5776 - Hakhel
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2016-05-17 7:50:40 AM

Nechem
Yerushalayi
Lubavitch.
two month
knows all
Old City w
can naviga
closed. I liv
the distan
apart. For
good friend
Nechem
one of ou
(we usually
that he
friends lo
childrens
seek in t
among th
stone emit
fragrance
In the
received
wrote as f
Dear M

For a
been feelin
the Beis H
Since I li
and daven
to feel th
with this
can we m
an awful

TZIVOS HASHEM

fluence of our
l inclination.
methods are
d reciting the
esnt work, the
reflect on your

THE BEIS
HAMIKDASH

mentators ask
on on death not
t is guaranteed

IN GALUS

re given:
d to depression.
e only be used
hen everything

h study and
are inherently
y are Mitzvos.
ath, in and of
.
above, a third
suggested. As
to enter into
life, the third
ger be feasible.
ntioned last to
nferiority as a
ethod that will
olete. In these
, our focus has
two, positive,
study and the
s bygone, when
the rebuilding
kdash and the
he Dead, was
ach frequently
ffective. Now
st much of its
ad the positive
red.

DNESS

OW!

Tzivos Has
issue 739, p
^^^^^
^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^

By D Chaim

Nechemia is a boy from

not
is
who
Yerushalayim
only
is
he
gh
Althou
tch.
Lubavi
two months older than me, he
knows all the alleyways of the
Old City where he lives and he
can navigate them with his eyes
closed. I live in another city but
the distance does not keep us
apart. For years now we are
good friends.
Nechemia once told me, on
one of our rare get-togethers
(we usually write one another)
that he and his Yerushalmi
friends love to play the old
childrens game of hide-andseek in the Old City. There,
among the alleyways, every
stone emits an ancient historic
fragrance of the Holy City.
In the last letter that I
received from Nechemia he
wrote as follows:
Dear Menachem,
For a long time now I have
been feeling a great longing for
the Beis HaMikdash in its glory.
Since I live close to the Kosel
and daven there often, I began
to feel that I just cannot go on
with this terrible situation. How
can we make peace with such
an awful churban?

I gave this a lot of thought

and made a decision. I must
daven a special prayer to
Hashem at the Kosel, close
to where the Beis HaMikdash
stood. I was a little embarrassed
so I decided to get up early in
the morning and daven at the
Kosel when nobody is there.
That was late at night. My
family had gone to sleep and I
made believe I was sleeping. In
my drawer I had a flashlight,
walking shoes, and a water
bottle ready. I planned on
getting up toward morning
when it began to turn light
and to sneak out of the house
quietly and go to the Kosel.
I woke up at exactly the
right time and went out
silently on my tiptoes. I began
walking toward the Kosel. I
wore a sweater for the night
chill and I held the flashlight
and bottle. The truth is that I
was a little nervous. It wasnt
pleasant walking alone early in
the morning in the alleyways of
the Old City, but as you surely
know, I know them well and so
I dismissed my worries.
I reached the Kosel area
and for some reason I decided,

without thinking about it all

that much, to head toward the
Temple Mount, to see from up
close what remained there. My
heart started pounding from
excitement and I soon reached
the site of the Mikdash.
I expected to find the ruins
of the Beis HaMikdash, the wall,
the gates, or something of the
special side rooms, but a strange
sight met my eyes. To my
surprise, I noticed a mizbeiach,
yes, the one that stood in the
Azara, but its size did not
match the measurements of the
mizbeiach that I learned about.
It was more like the bima where
the Torah is read. The structure
of the Heichal was very thin
and looked like an Aron Kodesh.
Whats going on here? I
wondered. The Beis HaMikdash
turned into a shul? I wanted
to see what else there was but
something strange happened.
The area, with everything
it contained, including the
the
and
mizbeiach-bima
rose
Kodesh
Heichal-Aron
up in the air and flew away!
How
hallucinating?
I
Was
it
was
Where
be?
could this
to
hand
my
d
going? I pinche

Issue 1021

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You
face t
Chassid
with
knows
best stu
nobody
a battle
he had
order t

Like
liked r
and ab
will lea
the wo
he took
he had
from h

Its
that m
would
What
think
Moishy
glad
helped
often
in the
would
would
If
help,
to ref
not h
someo
deep i
wastin
readin

shem
p. 74
^^
^^^
^^^
^^^
^^^
^^^
^^^

^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^

Tzivos Hashem

see whether I was

dreaming and the pain
woke me up.
The flashlight and
bottle waited for me
in the drawer and my
clock said it was 7:00
in the morning. Wow!
What a dream!
But didnt the alarm
clock wake me up?
I wondered. A quick
check showed that I had
forgotten to turn the
switch on the alarm.
Its better this way, I
thought. Walking in the
streets of the Old City
at dawn is a dangerous
I
Better
adventure.
about
should just dream
it.
But one minute
what was this strange dream?
It is forbidden to go onto the
Temple Mount when we are
impure, and what about the
mizbeiach and Heichal I saw,
and where did they fly? I
tried to interpret my dream
in my free time. After I came
home from school I looked in
sfarim that describe the Beis
HaMikdash but did not find
anything about what I had
seen. I decided to tell you about
it and ask for your help in
understanding my dream. Can
you help me?
The letter was signed, Your
friend, Nechemia.
After I finished reading his
fascinating letter, I thought
a bit and an idea flashed in
my mind. I sat down to write
Nechemia a response:

Dear Nechemia,
I think that your yearning
for the Beis HaMikdash in its
glory is a good thing. I think
that the best way to express

your longing, in
addition to davening, is to do
more good deeds, learning
Torah and doing mitzvos,
tzdaka
giving
especially
the
with
Yisroel
s
and Ahava
greet
to
ready
be
to
intention
Moshiach.
As far as your dream, we
usually dream about what we
thought about during the day.
Maybe you learned about what
I am about to write to you. I
think that the simple, though
very significant, understanding
of your dream is as follows.
The Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach
explains in a sicha, based on
what Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai
says in the Gemara, Wherever
they [the Jewish people] were
exiled, the Shchina is with
them, that during galus, the
Nasi Hador, who is the Moshiach
of the generation, builds a
miniature Mikdash which is
called Beis Rabbeinu in Bavel.
This building is a substitute for
the Beis HaMikdash and the

dwells
Shchina
there. Just as the
Shchina dwelled in
the Beis HaMikdash,
since all the Jewish
people lived there
(in Eretz Yisroel),
so too in galus, the
Shchina is in the
Beis Rabbeinu in
Bavel where the
Nasi lives, for the
Nasi is equal to, or
the
all
includes,
Jewish people.
our
In
dont
I
tion,
genera
have to tell you,
who
Nechemia,
Hador
Nasi
the
is. So the primary
Beis
miniature
where
dash
HaMik
the Shchina is in
particular, instead of in the Beis
HaMikdash in Yerushalayim,
is in the shul known as 770.
I suppose this is why in your
dream you saw a bima for the
Torah reading and an Aron
Kodesh instead of the mizbeiach
and Heichal, and it all rose up
and traveled to Brooklyn where
the Nasi Hador is because that
is where the Shchina dwells
while in galus.
It is very special to realize
that in our generation too we
have something like the Beis
HaMikdash (and it is very
special to dream about this) but
we are not satisfied with this.
We look forward to and yearn
for the third Beis HaMikdash to
come down to the place where
it went while in galus, and as
the Rebbe says in the sicha,
and from there it will fly
with 770 attached to it to
Yerushalayim.
Your friend,
Menachem

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^^^^
^^^^^^
^^^^^^
^^^^
p. 6