contents

16
featured Articles WEEKLY columns

IN SERVICE OF THE REBBE 24/7

Menachem Ziegelboim

IN THE LAND 16 SHLICHUS OF OPPORTUNITY

Rocheli Green

4 Dvar Malchus 26 Farbrengen 42 Parsha Thought

DOES THE 22 WHAT NAVI KNOW?

WAR AND THE 30 THE INSPIRATION THAT FOLLOWED

Shai Gefen

THE CHARGE 36 LEADING FOR LUBAVITCH IN AMERICA

Dov Levanon

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Dvar Malchus

STAYING IN TOUCH WITH THE ETERNAL SOUL

The soul lives on eternally, and it maintains its connection with family members, in particular those who are especially dear. The soul suffers in their pain and rejoices in their joy. * Source materials compiled by Rabbi Shloma Majeski. Translations are in bold. Underlining is the emphasis of the compiler.
Translated by Boruch Merkur

The first chapter of Rabbi Shloma Majeskis compilation Likkutei Mekoros establishes that the Rebbe MHMs focus after the histalkus of the Rebbe Rayatz on Yud Shvat 5710 was on publically articulating that the Rebbe is, in fact, still alive, making this point repeatedly and empathetically during that period. Chapter Two sets out to explain how that can possibly be first, discussing the eternal nature of the soul, something that is common to every Jew; then pointing out the manner by which this eternality is of a different caliber among tzaddikim; third, after the histalkus of a tzaddik, he lives on even in the physical world; and finally, among tzaddikim themselves there are those who stand out and are particularly noted as possessing eternal life.

Chapter Two: The Eternal Soul

Appearing in the hosafos of Likkutei Sichos Vol. 10, pg. 212213, is a letter of condolence the Rebbe sent to a woman who had apparently lost her husband in a terrorist attack, rachmana litzlan: With pain I learned of the tragic death of your husband, may Hashem avenge his blood. May it be G-ds will that from now on your entire family only experiences goodness and kindness goodness that is overt and revealed. Although you have perhaps heard the following sentiments from several people already, I too shall express my thoughts on the matter, at least in brief. But first I would like to

point out that the intent of my letter is not to resolve difficult questions, but to simply ease the pain, even if just slightly. The fact is that the main bond between loved ones especially the bond between husband and wife or between children and their father is not on account of the physical body, which is comprised of flesh, sinews, and bones, but on account of the character of the soul and spirit, which is the main aspect of a person, constituting his very being and essence. It is just that relationships develop through the medium of the body through its eyes, ears, hands, the speech organs, and so on. Within and by means of the various parts of the body, the persons ideas and feelings, as well as his character, find expression. Indeed, the spiritual makeup of a person, his character, is his true identity, as stated above. Although the bullet of a gun, or shrapnel from a rocket shell, or disease and the like, may damage and harm the body, they do not have the capacity to harm or even

4 15 Sivan 5773

detract from the soul or the neshama. Death caused by a bullet or by disease entails an interruption between body and soul. However, the soul lives on eternally, and it maintains its connection with family members, in particular those who are especially dear. The soul suffers in their pain and rejoices in all the kinds of joy the family experiences. It is just that the living family members, those who remain alive in the physical world, do not perceive this [emotional] response of the soul with their human eyes; it is not something that can be felt with their hands. The reason for this is because the physical connection has been severed. From this it is also understood that for the soul

that resides in the World of But on the contrary, as in Truth there is an especial the traditional blessing, pleasure in seeing that the To raise them to Torah, members of the family recover chuppa (marriage), and good from tragedy and strive in deeds. For it is certain that all their areas of influence to the necessary capabilities to organize their lives in a positive accomplish this have been manner, even being a source of granted [from On High] to all encouragement to those around those who were issued this task; them. In general, the soul that ample capacity has been given resides in the World of Truth to them to wholly fulfill it. sees and knows about all the May it be G-ds will that good deeds done by members you do all this with alacrity of the family, and it derives and vigor, and that you should pleasure therefrom. Express Express service beservice a living example to all those Fully Computerized Fully Computerized The nachas ruach the soul around you. May the merit of experiences is particularly your husband, zl, stand for pronounced when it sees the you and for all members of 331 Kingston Ave.Ave. 331 Kingston nd your household, shyichyu . Brooklyn children being raised with a Flr) Brooklyn NY 11213 (2nd(2 Flr) NY 11213 proper chinuch, not having With blessings that things despaired [in the face of go smoothly and good tidings in tickets within minutes! Getyour your tickets within minutes! tragedy] and not becoming Get all matters discussed. Fax: (718) 493-4444 Fax: (718) 493-4444 downtrodden, G-d forbid.

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Issue 880

Obituary

IN SERVICE OF THE REBBE 24/7

We recently lost a special Chassid, R Itche Springer ah, who was known to everyone but whom no one really knew. * His daily schedule reflected the sichos and horaos of the Rebbe. For years, he fought the Rebbes wars and worked hard to spread the Besuras HaGeula and the identity of the Goel. * He was one of the Rebbes soldiers, a true mekushar. He had a youthful spirit like a Tamim in Tomchei Tmimim till his final day.
By Menachem Ziegelboim

ESCAPE FROM THE NAZIS

R Springer was born in 5692/1932, the youngest of three sons of R Chaim Springer. His father was a typical Polish Jew, a Yerei Shamayim, who worked as a tinsmith. His mother, Miriam, instilled in her children what every Yiddishe Mama transmits to her children. He was seven years old when World War II began. The Germans soon came to their town, Nisko, which was in the Lvov district. At first, the Germans demanded that the Jews bring them all their gold. After receiving what they wanted, they ordered the Jews to leave the

area. That is how the Jews came to be expelled to territory under Russian rule. In order to get there, they had to cross a river which separated between the two armies. At a certain point, the Russians had to withdraw. It was in the middle of Simchas Torah and R Itche remembered that day: Our family refrained from desecrating the Yom Tov. The Nazis soon swarmed in and you could feel the hatred in the air. I myself received a harsh blow from a gentile. We knew we had to escape as soon as possible. The Springer family endured a lot until they managed to cross

the river. At a certain point, many gentiles from a nearby village surrounded them and sought to kill them, just like that, for no reason. The first villager we saw called his friends and they came quickly to murder us. We despaired. There we were, on the banks of the river, with the Russians on the other side, and in a moment, it would all be over. We were women, children and two men on the wagon (my father and my uncle). We sat there helplessly and watched as the angry ruffians approached us. Suddenly, like angels, two cavalrymen from the Austrian army who were on border patrol

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Obituary
approached. They stopped the menacing villagers and stood there with their horses to ensure that we crossed the river in peace. The family reached the village Ozerna and was considered war refugees. In this capacity, they had to register with the Russian authorities. The Russians said that those who wanted to return to their homes in Poland should register as refugees. The truth emerged shortly all those who said they did not want to remain there, were sent to Siberia. It turned out that what seemed like a calamity, a galus within a galus, is what saved my familys life. The Germans ended up eventually taking control of that town and they killed all the Jews including my uncle, my mothers brother, may Hashem avenge their blood. We, who were sent to Siberia, were put in a labor camp. The men had to work in a gold mine and also had to cut lumber. It was very hard work. Huge trees were cut in the local forest each day. At the end of the war, thanks to the treaty between Russia and Poland, the refugees were allowed to leave the camp. Since they heard about malaria and epidemics that had broken out in various places, the family preferred remaining in a village not far away, still in Siberia, while waiting to leave Russia. Although we were the only Jewish family in the area, throughout those years we kept kashrus bhiddur, including chalav Yisroel. We baked matzos ourselves and led Jewish lives. Still, being cut off from other Jews was untenable. The Siberian cold was unbearable. I once waited for a friend in the street and since I didnt have gloves, younger brothers, Yechezkel and Yitzchok, went with their friends to a yeshiva in Prague on their way to London. We visited Prague several times, but for some reason, we were unable to find the cemetery where the Maharal is buried. One Friday (in our fifth week there), we finally got there and my brother put a note with one request: that we be Chassidim! That is what happened. Within a few days we packed our bags and left Czechoslovakia for Germany. On Rosh HaShana 5707/1947 they arrived in Germany. That is where the change took place that changed all our plans. We never went to London. During the Aseres Yemei Tshuva, we arrived at the DP camp in Poking where R Nissan Nemanov, R Zalman Haditcher, R Yisroel Neveler, R Avrohom Eliyahu Plotkin and R Zalman Shimon Dworkin were living. We were swept up in the world of Lubavitch. We didnt think much about it, but immediately joined Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim. Until today, I cannot forget how surprised I was when I saw one of the Chassidim standing in tallis and tfillin in the afternoon. It was like something from another galaxy to me I rubbed my eyes. That a forty minute davening could take five hours was unbelievable to me. Young Yitzchok Springer, who had just taken his first steps in the world of Lubavitch, began learning Gemara in R Zalman Vilenkins class. The mashpia was R Nissan Nemanov. I dont have many memories of the yeshiva in Poking because I was too young, but I remember that they whispered that the

my fingers froze and turned blue, even though I was outside for just a short time. All the doctors efforts were for naught and they despaired. After three days, the blood suddenly began to flow again and my fingers were saved. It was an open miracle. Some years later, R Chaim, his father, passed away.

DISCOVERY IN POKING
As a result of the treaty between Poland and Russia, the Springer family left Russia for Poland. Upon their arrival there, their sons went to a Litvishe yeshiva. I remember being astonished. Bachurim without beards who learned enthusiastically. I heard praise for Lubavitchers from my older brother, Yechezkel. He had met them and seen their noble conduct, their davening, and avodas Hashem. They made a tremendous impression on him. At this time, a group of yeshiva bachurim received permission to fly to England. After lengthy discussion, the Springer family decided to split up. The mother remained in Poland with her oldest son, Yaakov, and the two

8 15 Sivan 5773

Rebbe Rayatz was Moshiach. A classmate once took me aside and said: You know the Gemara in Sanhedrin that describes Moshiach as someone who has problems with his feet? The Rebbe fits that description (the Rebbe Rayatz could not walk at that time, and in addition suffered greatly from other ailments). I readily accepted the idea. The Chassidim dispersed, each one to the country that the Rebbe sent him to. Some went to France, some to the United States, and some to Eretz Yisroel. We went to Paris where our family reunited. The family then boarded a ship for Eretz Yisroel. When they arrived, they joined Lubavitcher families in Kfar Chabad. We were among the first residents there, said R Itche proudly. In Eretz Yisroel too, he and his brothers attended the Chabad yeshiva on Rechov HaRav Kook 16 in Tel Aviv, which was headed by R Chaim Shaul Brook. For many years afterward, R Springer would wax nostalgic over his farbrengens.

TO WALK AMONGST THE LIVING

In the first letter that R Yitzchok Springer received from the Rebbe, in the Aseres Yemei Tshuva 5711, the Rebbe added in a handwritten note: Your name is Yitzchok or Chaim Yitzchok? This question greatly surprised R Springer. Chaim was my fathers name so how could I be called Chaim Yitzchok? Years later, I hung between life and death due to a serious medical problem. The chapter of Thillim that I said at the time that corresponded to my age took on greater significance. It ended with the verse, to walk before G-d with the light of life. I recalled that the Rebbe had actually added the name Chaim to my name and as is common for someone who is critically ill, the name Chaim was added before my name Yitzchok. Who knows?

Another point they raised was that this publicity went beyond the bounds of our own private peula, and affected dozens of shluchim whose mekuravim would see the ad and ask them questions. We concluded that we had to ask the Rebbe himself.
the Rebbe in the Rebbe Rayatzs room, we bachurim went downstairs and danced. When you have such a Rebbe, how could you not dance? As we danced, there was the Rebbe dancing with us! He would escort his mother home and when he returned, he joined the dancing. To dance with the Rebbe, in the same circle! As the simcha intensified, the Rebbe grasped the lapel of my jacket and said, Springer, go out of your limitations! I was in 770 just a short time and the Rebbe was already calling

SPRINGER, LEAVE YOUR LIMITATIONS!

R Yitzchoks Chassidic soul burned fiercely and he did not find his place in Eretz Yisroel. He pined to see the Rebbe. In 5710 he wrote to the Rebbe and asked permission to visit him. I begged for permission, but the Rebbe pushed me off and said I should learn for a while longer where I was. His desire to go to the Rebbe came to the fore again in 5713 and he wrote to the Rebbe, this time adding the hanhala of the yeshiva think I must go to the

Rebbe. This time, the answer from the Rebbe was positive, though the Rebbe gently pointed out the exaggeration in the must go phrase. After much effort in obtaining the necessary papers, as well as delays concerning his entering the US, he was finally able to enter the United States. I saw the Rebbe for the first time at Mincha on Erev Shabbos Mevarchim Nissan 5714. It is indescribable; its not of this world Pesach night, after being allowed to go upstairs and see

Issue 880

Obituary

THE REBBE APPROVED PUBLICIZING THE IDENTITY OF MOSHIACH

In Teves 5753, R Springer, local projects were not comparable member of the Matteh Moshiach to this project, which would bring HaOlami, started a huge publicity the message to tens of millions of campaign about the identity of people. Moshiach. He put ads in The New Another point they raised was York Times and other papers, which that this publicity went beyond the announced that the Lubavitcher bounds of our own private peula, Rebbe is Moshiach and in order to and affected dozens of shluchim welcome him, we need to do more whose mekuravim would see the good deeds. The following is from ad and ask them questions. an interview R Springer did with We concluded that we had Beis Moshiach long ago: to ask the Rebbe himself. If the What made you decide Rebbe approves of it, we told those to publicize the identity of askanim, then that is the best Moshiach? proof that he wants the identity of In the months preceding the Moshiach publicized to the world. ads, from the beginning of 5753, Not only that, but this would also the Rebbe encouraged the singing prove that the Rebbe thinks there of Yechi nearly every day. It was is no reason to worry that this will The ad in Hebrew obvious to all that this was a new distance people from Lubavitch. era of Kabbalas HaMalchus of What was the Rebbes Melech HaMoshiach. More and response? more people asked the Rebbe for We prepared the ads in three permission to publicize that he is languages, Hebrew, English, and Moshiach and to have people sign Yiddish. I asked R Groner to show on the Kabbalas HaMalchus forms. the ads to the Rebbe and to ask The Rebbe approved this and even him whether they could be placed encouraged the Chassidim who in The New York Times and other were undertaking these projects. major newspapers. In light of this, I spoke with R Groner showed each ad to some people who were involved the Rebbe and read the heading in publicizing inyanei Geula and and pointed out that the address we decided to start doing global to send hachlatos was 770 Eastern projects. Thats how we got to Parkway. The Rebbe looked at advertising in the papers. each ad and gave his approval to Were all the askanim in publicize them. In order to make agreement? this absolutely clear, R Shneur All those involved in publicizing Zalman Gurary asked the secretary inyanei Moshiach and Geula were to put this into writing. R Groner in agreement that the time had wrote a precise description come to publicize the identity R Groner wrote the Rebbes response concerning the Rebbes approval to placing the ads identifying him as of Moshiach, but there were of the ads. Moshiach askanim who werent happy about So we see that the Rebbe it. They maintained that this kind approved of publicizing his of publicity could be harmful to identity as Moshiach without any Lubavitchs image, to the point that Jews would be put limitations. off from Lubavitch. They also said that since this was Yes. Furthermore, we see that to the Rebbe, putting a global campaign, it had to have the Rebbes explicit these ads in the newspapers is what is meant by often permission. They said that the Rebbes answer to other hamiskabel.

10 15 Sivan 5773

me by my name! I felt that we were all children of one father. It echoes in my ears, Springer, go out of your limitations! R Itche refused to talk about the various yechiduyos he had over the years. He said, It is something you dont tell others, its an inyan atzmi. What he was willing to tell had to do with the line he tossed off, My English is thanks to the Rebbe. One of the times I had yechidus as a bachur, the Rebbe wanted to know if I participated as a teacher in the released-time program, offered to Jewish public school students. The Rebbe also asked whether I spoke English. The hint was enough for me. I asked a friend to teach me. Thanks to my listening to the Rebbes hint, many students became full-fledged Lubavitchers.

ON SHLICHUS TO BALTIMORE
One day, R Springer was called to the secretaries office where R Chadakov told him, You will be sent to Milan, but you should know that the shliach there is R Gershon Mendel Garelik and you have to be subordinate to him. You dont have to answer now. You can think about it and respond later. I left the office and hadnt yet walked out of 770 when I thought, why do I need to think about it? The Rebbe is offering you something agree to it immediately! I went right back in and said I was willing to go. R Chadakov nodded but didnt say anything. R Springer did not end up being sent to Italy. Some time later, he was sent to Baltimore. At that time, Judaism in the

R Itche with his beloved talmidim

United States was sorely lacking rabbanim, shochtim and the like. Other groups knew that if they needed manpower, Lubavitch was the one to turn to. There was an old Talmud Torah in Baltimore called Shearis HaPleita, which was affiliated with Hungarian Jews. When they needed a teacher, they asked Merkos L Inyonei Chinuch to send one. R Chadakov called R Itche into his office and when the latter agreed, he submitted a letter to the Rebbe which was responded to with go, and make

a contract. I spent the evening hours, after teaching, giving classes and lectures on Judaism in the local university. Boruch Hashem, there were many wonderful results. I also saw positive results from the Chassidus classes I gave in yeshiva, and from the children in the Talmud Torah. Some were niskarev to Chassidus and to Chabad. Aside from the fact that I went to 770 for every special day in the calendar, which they did not like, they wanted me to be
Issue 880

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Obituary
time, the Rebbe did not tell me to renew the contract. I became a free agent. A friend and I decided to open a Beis Lubavitch from where we could expand our work ten-fold. We distributed religious items produced by Merkos and books from Kehos and Boruch Hashem we had many mekuravim from this period too.

THE REBBE KNOWS HIS LOYAL SOLDIERS

In Baltimore there is a Litvishe yeshiva called Ner Yisroel. Bachurim would secretly come to my house (at midnight) to hear a shiur in Tanya. I would sometimes go to the yeshiva in the middle of the night in order to sell Chabad sfarim. Boruch Hashem, I saw results. The well-known shadar (fundraiser) R Mordechai Dov Teleshevsky, who sowed ruchnius and reaped gashmius for Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim 770, once went to this Litvishe yeshiva, as he did every year, but was shouted at by one of the roshei yeshiva. This rosh yeshiva spoke disparagingly about the Rebbes sichos kodesh and a bitter argument ensued. When R Teleshevsky returned to New York, he wrote a six page letter which summed up his fundraising experiences at that time. Although the story with the rosh yeshiva was only a detail in the long letter, within a few minutes the Rebbe responded as follows: In all the above, the main thing is missing, which sicha did he object to? If you would have showed him that it is based on divrei Torah and therefore, he is calling divrei Torah heresy, lo aleinu, you would have stood up for the shaming of Toras Hashem rather than trying to scream louder. Obviously, my intention is not to cry over the past but to try to at least clarify things now. After receiving this answer, he went to see whether he could clarify the matter with the talmidim there. The problem was that the rosh yeshiva denied having said things in that manner so his talmidim could not say just what bothered him in the sichos kodesh. Since I had a connection with some bachurim in the yeshiva, I suggested to him that I have them clarify the matter. When he wrote this suggestion to the Rebbe, the answer was (the Rebbe made a notation next to my name): Dont get him involved in this, because he has enough problems without this and he defends the Torah of Chabad and its inyanim. Authors note: In a letter that R Teleshevsky wrote to R Itche recounting all of the above, he concluded: If so, the Rebbe commanded me not to involve you however, see what great man is testifying about you that you defend the Torah of Chabad and its inyanim fortunate are you Yitzchok shyichyeh... part of the minyan three times a day because they did not have many students of bar-mitzva age (since most were children). As for me, whether because of my classes at the university or in yeshiva, I would show up late. It reached a point where in the annual contract they cited a Talmudic expression indicating that prayer should be done in the place that one learns Torah. The hint was obvious. I went to the Rebbe with the contract and I pointed out their demand that I attend all the tfillos in order to complete the minyan. The Rebbe told me to add one word, try, that I would try and make the minyan. Well, they did not grasp the subtlety of that particular qualification and so they didnt say anything, but I continued coming late because it was important for me to continue my shiurim. The following year, they did not agree to my trying. This

IF THE REBBE DOESNT COME, NEITHER DO I

R Springer married his wife Aidel on Rosh Chodesh Tammuz 5719. Before the wedding, R Itche submitted a request that the Rebbe be the mesader kiddushin. When I asked the Rebbe, he said it depended on the kallas father. He asked me who would be escorting me, since my father had died and my mother was in Eretz Yisroel. The Rebbe was referring to the fact that the kallas father did not have a beard at that time and obviously, a future son-in-law was not going to try and influence his father-in-law to grow a beard. Apparently, the Rebbe made his agreement to officiate dependent on the father having a beard, but his future father-in-law demurred since he thought this was only appropriate for learned Jews. So R Itche said, If the Rebbe doesnt come to the chuppa, neither will I. Needless to say, the chuppa took place with the father of the kalla present with a newly sprouting beard. After the wedding, the fatherin-law had yechidus and said that he was willing to grow a beard only because the Rebbe requested it. The Rebbe said: Not because I said so, but because it says in Shulchan Aruch!

12 15 Sivan 5773

THE FATHER OF THE BACHURIM

R Springer worked in his shlichus in Baltimore while trying to support himself by selling books from Merkos L Inyonei Chinuch. He wasnt making enough money but he insisted on remaining in his place of shlichus. You dont leave a place of shlichus for anything, he told himself repeatedly, even though the situation was dire. In 5732, at a yechidus, the Rebbe told him to move back to Crown Heights. It wasnt that his shlichus had ended; on the contrary, the activities he did in Crown Heights were manifold. He worked on Shleimus HaAretz, Mihu Yehudi, Moshiach, and more. At first he worked as a teacher in Oholei Torah, since he had experience working with children of all ages in Baltimore. Then he was asked to work as a mashgiach in the yeshiva on Troy, which led to his becoming mashgiach in 770. 20 Cheshvan is a significant date for me. It was my first day as mashgiach in 770. Whenever the topic came up, R Itche would laugh. In his typical humility he would say, Whenever I remember who I replaced in this job, I cant help but laugh. My predecessor was R Sholom Morosov, a genius in Nigleh, Chassidus, Kabbala, astronomy, Halacha and homiletics, and R Mentlick who was the rosh yeshiva of 770 and who took attendance too. He was a Chassid with all his might and was extraordinarily battul to the Rebbe. And I fill their place; its risible. Over the years, thousands of talmidim passed through under him. In addition to being a

Mivtzaim with Bnei Noach

5742 R Itche with IDF soldiers on the Syrian-Lebanese border

warm person, he expected each talmid to stick to the schedule. For decades you could see him standing there, like a soldier at his post, writing down the names of students, talking with students, listening, advising and directing, like a father to them all. Sometimes, he wore his mashpia hat and would farbreng with the talmidim. He generally did not take the podium, but if he thought a topic deserved to be addressed, he would speak up forcefully until he got red in the face. I once asked the Rebbe what I, as the mashgiach, ought to demand of the talmidim. The Rebbe told me, The first thing to demand is diligence and going higher. When bachurim became engaged, they had a talk with R Springer. He would show them the Rebbes letter that describes the engagement period as the most precious of all, and would speak to them with Chassidishe warmth about the importance of spiritual elevation at this time. In recent decades, when the Rebbe fanned the fire of emuna in the coming of Moshiach, R Springer took every opportunity to urge the bachurim to prepare for the hisgalus and to spread the Besuras HaGeula and the identity of the Goel.

FROM MIHU YEHUDI TO YECHI ADONEINU

R Springer, despite his modesty, held numerous positions. He was the director of the Bedeck HaBayis organization that was commissioned with seeing to the upkeep of 770, chairman of the Shofar Association of America, a member of the Committee for Shleimus HaAm and the Movement for Religious Explanation in Israel, as well as a member of the boards of the Matteh HaOlami L Havoas HaMoshiach and the Matteh HaOlami L Hatzolas HaAm VHaAretz. The Shofar Association was founded not long after the Mihu Yehudi imbroglio in 5730. It was founded after repeated cries from the Rebbe about the tragedy that the law would engender. The Rebbe spoke on this topic for hundreds of hours and one could not remain indifferent. The Rebbe said not to involve the name of Chabad, which is why R Springer called it the Shofar Association. Its function, like a shofar, was to raise a hue and cry. The organization did numerous things to raise public awareness of the problem of fictitious conversions. He protested through newspaper ads in Eretz Yisroel and the

Issue 880

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Obituary
United States (until the prime minister at the time, Shimon Peres, expressed his anger over this). The organization worked to publicize the views of great rabbis from all over the world, arranged demonstrations, tfilla rallies, delegations to Knesset members and ministers who were going to vote on the issue, and publicize painful instances in which gentiles were registered as Jews. R Springer also raised a hue and cry about giving away parts of Eretz Yisroel to our sworn enemies. He was also one of the main supporters of the Mobile Mitzva Tanks in Eretz Yisroel from when it began in 5737. R Dovid Nachshon, director of the Mobile Mitzva Tanks, would often consult with him. In the summer of 5742, in the midst of the Lebanon war, R Springer went to Eretz Yisroel, with the Rebbes blessing, and joined the tanks activities with the Israeli soldiers in Lebanon. He even spent an entire Shabbos with the soldiers on the SyrianLebanese border. During the Gulf War in 5751, the Rebbe spoke firmly about Eretz Yisroel being the safest place. R Springer wondered what else could be done to encourage the Jews of Eretz Yisroel. He came up with the idea of arranging a charter flight of hundreds of Chassidim and publicizing what the Rebbe said, all of it covered by the media. He wrote to the Rebbe and received a detailed response: To promote the cause as written in the Torah that the Jews here, in your city with you at their head should increase in Torah and mitzvos bpashtus (in actuality). And thanks when he will inform me how much was actually added. I will mention it at the gravesite. Since the Rebbe told him to propagandize in his own city, he began to do so amongst the thousands of people who came to the Rebbe for a bracha and a dollar. He handed out cards with suggestions for good resolutions. Over the years, R Itche distributed forms and put ads in the biggest newspapers in New York. The ads were designed in such a way that alongside asking everyone to increase in good deeds and mitzvos for the sake of those living in Eretz Yisroel, there was a form on which a person could check what he had committed to doing. Over the years, we submitted tens of thousands of good resolutions to the Rebbe (hundreds every week) and received many answers from the Rebbe. At a certain point, the headlines of the ads were changed to, Give a Hand to Melech HaMoshiach, which was considered quite daring. After the Tmimim petitioned me, I decided to revise the wording and with great hesitation I submitted a pile of forms to the Rebbe with the new wording. I received the usual response in which the Rebbe said the notes would be read at the gravesite. Obviously, after that response, I had no more doubts. (See box) Since then, R Springer was one of the pioneering soldiers in Moshiachs army. He was a role model of a Chassid who lives with Moshiach and publicizes the identity of Moshiach to all. He placed huge ads in New York papers calling upon the public at large to accept the Rebbes malchus and to hasten the Geula by increasing in learning Torah and doing mitzvos. *** In recent years, despite his weakness, R Springer continued to go to 770. On Chol HaMoed Pesach he davened in 770 and on Shvii shel Pesach he even went on Tahalucha to a nearby hospital. He was hospitalized when his condition deteriorated and passed away at the age of 81.

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14 15 Sivan 5773

Shlichus

SHLICHUS IN THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY

Its not only in exotic locales that there are heroines on shlichus who need to make five hour trips, each way, in order to get bread. Even in the Land of Opportunity and Plenty, this is necessary if you keep kosher and are hosting people in your Chabad House. * Shlichus in Ocean City, Maryland.
By Rocheli Green

GOING ON SHLICHUS
How did you get to Ocean City? Before I tell you about the shlichus, began Mrs. Kochava Cohen, I want to tell you my story with the Rebbe. I was born prematurely, over a month early. Care for preemies was not what it is today and in any case, preemies often suffer a variety of medical conditions. I wasnt breathing properly. The doctors predicted that I only had a few hours to live. My mother asked my father to call the Rebbe, which wasnt an easy thing to do back then. My father went to the home of the neighborhood kiosk owner, woke him up and went

together to the kiosk to place the overseas call. My father asked for the Rebbes bracha and then went back to my mother and me. I suddenly began showing signs of life, just at the time that the Rebbe gave his bracha. Now, back to my shlichus Before we married, my husband and I were determined to work as shluchim. We got married and they told us, There is no time. Hurry, take a plane. There is a community with no Jewish affiliation in Ocean City. It didnt sound crazy to me. I just wanted to know what I needed to take along. The answer I got was: nothing. That sounded crazy to

me. Since when do you go to a new place with nothing? You dont understand, they told me. America has everything. Leave whatever you bought for your wedding here in Eretz Yisroel. Youll have plenty more over there, in quantity and quality. So I packed just a few towels, sheets and some pots, which I thought Id need when I first started out until I could by everything, and we got on a plane. The flight was long and exhausting, but who cared about that? I was going on shlichus, which I had dreamed about all my life! We got off the plane and

16 15 Sivan 5773

R Noam Cohen (standing center) with member of the community at the completion of the writing of a Torah scroll

left the airport. I naively expected somebody to be waiting for us, but there was no one. It was late at night when we arrived, and we werent quite sure how to proceed. After a few phone calls we were told that there was a development with houses on it belonging to a wealthy man. We were told to enter one of them, to pick whichever one we liked, and we would be brought whatever else we needed the next day. We arrived at the place, and even in the dark we could see that the houses had seen better days. Each was older than the next. We chose a house that was relatively large and went in through the window, of course.

Of course? When its dark and there is no key, then the most obvious thing to do is to enter through the window. Inside there was a floor, walls and darkness in one word nothing. Some welcome Well, if I wouldnt have known that the Rebbe sent me, I may have given up then and there and gone back home. But I knew that Im a shlucha and had to get to work. The next day we began cleaning up. It took us an entire day to clean the house. We got a key and some furniture that people donated.

The next step entailed making contact with the Jewish community. This meant hosting people in our clean house. Nobody told me that shlichus is 90% hosting and cooking. I didnt even know how to prepare an egg, but I jumped in and began to experiment. Thats when I discovered that I can actually cook quite well. Naturally, I wanted to experiment with as many types of food as I could, but realized that other than basics like flour and oil, there were no kosher products in the area. We solved t h e meat problem by making five hour

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Shlichus
trips each way to get it. We bought a big freezer because we didnt want to make a trip like that very often. Today, we have three freezers. Boruch Hashem, our needs have grown and the one freezer we started out with was not enough. After we finished with the meat, we began thinking about bread. I heard about an appliance called a bread machine. My husband got one for me; its a great machine, but it takes three hours to prepare a single recipe, and after all that time it produces ready-made meals and they go to parent-teacher meetings. Over here, it works somewhat differently. We get up in the morning, get dressed, eat breakfast and sit down to learn at the kitchen table. Recess is time to play in the yard. Readymade food? Not in Ocean City. Parent-teacher meetings? If my sitting down with my husband is considered a parent-teacher meeting, then we have that. I know that in Eretz Yisroel, home schooling is not prevalent or accepted, but on shlichus The husband asks the Rebbe to bless his wife who home-schools their children, that the children be Chassidish. The Rebbe says something astonishing. He says, She surely knows what it says in sfarim that the future Geula will be in the merit of the righteous women. That means that every effort on your part hastens the coming of Moshiach Tzidkeinu. This answer from the Rebbe gave me so much strength! When I sit and teach, I am doing holy work! Shlichus to those around oneself hastens the Geula, but so does working with children! And who knows? Maybe this is the final thing that is needed for the hisgalus. So what is there to complain about? In order for the kids to get some social stimulation we go to Eretz Yisroel every year for four months. We rent an apartment in Kfar Chabad and re-energize before going back to our shlichus. The principals and teachers always tell me, We see your children and understand that the Rebbe does not remain in debt. He took the responsibility of the children of the shluchim upon himself and he stands behind his commitment. The four months in Eretz Yisroel are fantastic. The hardest moment is when its over and we have to get back on the plane. Each time we do it, its so hard. I heard a great story at the first Kinus HaShluchim we attended. A couple went to the Rebbe. They had been assigned a place of shlichus but had a problem. The husband told the Rebbe that he was happy to go

We chose a house that was relatively large and went in through the window, of course.

one small loaf. We needed another solution. I started making my own by hand. We also brought a big pantry and every time we go to buy meat, we stock up on bread challa, rolls, loaves of bread, etc. Now the house began to operate like a Beis Chabad, with the special moments, the interesting stories and the hardships too.

CHINUCH CHALLENGES
I heard it said in the name of the Alter Rebbe that when a Jew draws close to G-d, he needs to forgo the desires of the animal soul. Being a shlucha is not easy. The yetzer hara shows me mothers from all over the world. These mothers get up in the morning, get themselves and their children ready, send them off to school, and then go to work. They sometimes buy

around the world its the most challenging issue. As a shlucha, you are willing to forgo everything, to deal with hardships and do what needs to be done, and the hardships arent simple. You are far from family. Theres the feeling of isolation. Although there are dozens of shluchim in Maryland, its one and a half times the size of Israel and we are the only ones in the area. When it comes to the children and we have to take responsibility for them, its a whole additional responsibility. My big girls are twelve and a half, and each year it gets harder to teach and keep them occupied. Its when it reaches the level of the impossible that the Rebbe reminds us that he is with us. I got hold of a video of the Rebbe, which records a yechidus with a couple from Australia.

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Dancing at the Chabad House at the Hachnasas Seifer Torah. Bottom: R Cohen with the scribe and a member of the community

on shlichus, but it was hard for his wife. She wasnt capable (or didnt feel capable) of doing it. The Rebbe said to her, If I go on shlichus with you, will you be willing to go? Of course she said yes. The Rebbe then looked at her and said, Im going with you. This story has a postscript. On another occasion, the Rebbe said, They are assured by the nsiim, starting with the Baal Shem Tov, the Maggid, etc. until the Rebbe, my father-in-law, that they will see success in their activities in a way of continuing to increase. And with them are the meshaleiach and all the Rebbeim. Its a vital message

for all of us, as shluchos, that we need to constantly remember. Also, those living in Kfar Chabad are shluchos and the Rebbe is with each of us all the time. Not just the Rebbe but all the Rebbeim, starting with the Baal Shem Tov. They are all with us, all the time. Knowing this helps me in the tough times.

THE ABILITY TO SUCCEED

Please tell us some stories from your shlichus. Before I share my own stories, Id like to start with a story of another shliach from Argentina. He flew to the Rebbe with two stopovers, in England and in Eretz Yisroel. One time, when he landed in England, he learned

that he had arrived in time for the dedication of the Chabad House. He celebrated with them, continued on to Eretz Yisroel and landed just in time for the dedication of a Chabad House held by R Wolf. He celebrated with them too, but this time i t was with somewhat less simcha

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Shlichus
than previously. When he got to the Rebbe, he was very despondent. He didnt even write a pidyon nefesh. When he met with the Rebbe, the Rebbe asked why he hadnt received a pidyon nefesh from him. The shliach said it was because he had nothing to say, he hadnt built a building. The Rebbe responded: Success is not measured in buildings. The Rebbe took a list out of his drawer of bachurim learning in 770 and began reading the They dont want more. I met a Jewish woman like this called Rebecca. She wasnt interested in doing any mitzvos. I thought a lot about how to work with her. One day, I told her about the mitzva of lighting a Shabbos candle. She liked it and said it sounded really nice, but Her but was that she worked in the evenings. That meant she would have to leave the house before the candles went out and she was afraid to leave them lit in her wooden house. Ive heard this from all kinds of women and needs to know what youre doing. She loved the idea and began doing it. After a while, she stopped working on Shabbos and began coming to us as our guest. Today, she has come a long way. Her favorite mitzva is Shabbos, of course. Last Yom Kippur she even came to shul. Apropos of Yom Kippur, Ill tell you about another Jewish girl. She knew that Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year, but she didnt feel like spending the day in shul. She wanted to be at home and sleep. At least shed fast the entire fast, but I wanted to get her to do something else in addition. Being in shul all day is really hard, especially for someone who never opened a Siddur, but perhaps she could manage one tfilla? I invited her and gave her a gift of a Machzor. I sat together with her and showed her whats most important to say. I put a post-it near Nila and some other post-its in other places in the Machzor, like at Thillim, and I emphasized: You dont have to do any of it; its just if you have the strength. She took the Machzor and went home. After the fast she called me excitedly and told me that she had read the entire Siddur from beginning to end. It was moving to hear this. The story doesnt end here. A few days went by and I suddenly heard that her mother was very sick. She had a problem with her foot and the doctors thought they would have to amputate it. She called me in tears to ask whether I had an idea of what could be

The Rebbe then looked at her and said, Im going with you.

names of those who came from Argentina. When he finished reading, he said: Thats success. This story strengthens me very much whenever I think about our little place and about not having buildings. Our work is individualized. I learned that women need one-on-one attention, so the shiurim I give are private. I include video segments of the Rebbe that pertain to that individual woman. I do hafrashas challa the same way. I used to do hafrashas challa with a group. There is something very special and powerful about it, but I discovered that when a woman goes through all the stages with me, she repeats it all at home. This is because the support that someone receives on an individual basis has more influence and effect. In Ocean City there are Jews who feel it is sufficient to know that they are Jewish.

girls. The solution I suggest to many of these ladies is to come to my house before Shabbos. (Now we live in a house in the center of the city, not the original house we stayed in.) These ladies come and light in my house and then continue on their way. However, this solution didnt work for Rebecca for a number of reasons. I came up with another idea. Rebecca works as a waitress in a restaurant in the city. I asked her whether they put fragrant candles on the tables as a decoration and she said they did. She said it was part of her job to light them. This was just what I needed to hear! I said to her: Light the candles as early as you can. Every Friday, Ill call you and tell you exactly when Shabbos begins. You light the candles in the restaurant and when you light the last one, stop and say the bracha. Nobody

20 15 Sivan 5773

done. I said, Do you remember your prayers on Yom Kippur? G-d hears our prayers. Continue praying. Continue saying Thillim, and youll see there will be a miracle! I was confident of this, that Hashem would show her that He saw the effort she made on Yom Kippur. The end of the story was the doctors informed her mother that a miracle occurred that happens once in a million. They did not have to treat even a toe of her foot. The foot is completely fine, thank G-d. She called me wondering, Do you think it had to do with my prayers? I told her, of course! Since then, she spends a lot of time on tfilla and Thillim. There are actually Israelis in Ocean City? Ocean City is a tourist spot on the coast, so there are Israelis here too, mainly young people. I remember a story of two brothers who came here. They were artists and they would sit on the beach and draw for people on T-shirts. One day, my husband went to the beach to put tfillin on with people. When he passed by the artists, he offered tfillin, which they declined. My husband smiled and said that was okay. If they wanted a Shabbos meal, they were invited. They came for one Shabbos, then another, and another. Today, they are both Lubavitcher Chassidim who have beautiful Chassidishe families. One of them said to me, If its hard for you sometimes, think of me. Remember where I was and where I am now. If not for the Rebbe, I wouldnt be anywhere today

The bas mitzva celebration for Mrs. Cohens oldest daughters

... I have to agree with him wholeheartedly. The Rebbe says that when you give a Jew a shlichus or something for him to do, he cannot say, First I will finish my things and then No! First put all your desires aside. Thats the only way to approach shlichus. When you approach shlichus with the understanding that its

a great privilege that the Rebbe entrusted us with, then this impacts the environment as well. Thats because in the end, its not we who are doing the work. Its the Rebbe. We are merely the conduits. To be a conduit, do it the way its supposed to be done.

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Stories

WHAT DOES THE NAVI KNOW?

Thoughts, memories, and miracle stories about the Rebbe, as told by R Shneur Zalman Gurary ah who received special kiruvim from the Previous Rebbe and the Rebbe, and was appointed by the Rebbe to the hanhala of Agudas Chassidei Chabad HaOlamis.
on the matter, I should tell him whether I wrote the first letter before I had immersed in a mikva. Indeed, I had written the letter before I had gone to the mikva...

A NISAYON HAS TO BE REMOVED ON ONES OWN

A certain matter was causing me tremendous agmas nefesh (anguish). The Rebbe kept telling me there was no reason for the agmas nefesh, but it didnt help. I asked the Rebbe to remove the agmas nefesh from me. The Rebbe said that the matter I was nervous about was not a problem but a nisayon (test), and a test is something that a person needs to remove on his own and cant be removed by someone else.

HOW IS HE?
Every year, during a certain auspicious time, I would go to the Rebbe for a bracha. For many years, I would ask for a bracha for a certain person who requested that I ask the Rebbe on his behalf. Every year, the Rebbe would bless him too. One year, when I asked for a bracha for him, the Rebbe told me that when one gives a pidyon for someone else, he needs to know how that person is. Since I did not know how this man was, the Rebbe did not bless him.

SIGNED AND SEALED

Around 5710, the government demanded that I pay taxes they claimed I owed. It amounted to a large sum of money. I lost in the first court case and I appealed. After the appeal, the government offered a compromise that I pay a smaller amount. That was also a large sum but less than the previous amount. I didnt know what to do, whether to insist on paying nothing or to agree, because if I didnt sign to the

WRITING BEFORE IMMERSION

It once happened that someone asked me to send merchandise with him to another country so he could sell it and make a profit, but I refused. Afterward, they told me that the Rebbe wanted to know why I hadnt agreed to send the merchandise with him when this could have helped the man with parnasa. I wrote to the Rebbe that I did not trust the man and therefore was hesitant to send anything with him. The Rebbe wrote me that before I write him anything else

22 15 Sivan 5773

compromise I might have to pay the full amount. I asked the Rebbe who told me to open a Chumash and look at the first Rashi I saw. I took a Chumash BReishis and opened it to the beginning of Parshas Lech Lecha. I looked at Rashi on the page, but did not see an answer to my question. I went back to the Rebbe and said I didnt see anything. The Rebbe opened the Chumash and showed me that Rashi writes, ubecha chosmin which indicated I should sign, and thats what I did.

WHAT DO YOU NEED IT FOR?

I was once offered a real estate deal that didnt require any investment or work on my part. It was just easy profit with no risk. I wrote to the Rebbe about it and the Rebbe responded by asking me what connection I had with real estate, what did I understand about it, and why did I need additional pizur hanefesh (distraction) when I had enough already. I went to the fellow and told him the answer I received from the Rebbe, and I said he should do as he pleased. At first, he said he wouldnt do the deal, but his partner convinced him that the answer referred only to me and not to him. He told me afterward that he regretted getting involved in this deal, since he had great agmas nefesh from it and problems.

trees in front of 770. The Rebbe questioned me regarding cutting the branches. I wrote to the Rebbe that in Shulchan Aruch it says that only fruit trees cant be cut but other trees can be cut. The Rebbe told me that when you are involved in communal matters, you need yishuv hadaas (lit. settled mind, i.e. to employ careful consideration). As for this matter, it says in the Chinuch that it is forbidden to cut trees because it causes great anguish to the people of the town. Likewise, by my cutting the branches, I had caused anguish to the residents of the house.

years gone-by, education for girls didnt matter that much. But nowadays, chinuch of girls is very important. Everybody knows, said the Rebbe, that I greatly desire strengthening Jewish education, which is why I suggest that you take your daughter out of that school and put her into Beis Yaakov, which is better for Yiras Shamayim. The Rebbe commented how strange it was that people asked him about operations and doctors and not about the chinuch they gave their children. Chinuch was no less important and was perhaps more important than physical health. Especially,

I asked him whether he had registered her and when he said no, I urged him to do so immediately. Right after he registered her, all the pus came out and the doctors said she didnt need an operation.

THE REAL MIRACLE

This story happened in the early years of the Rebbes nesius, in 5712 or 5713. A friend with whom I had done business told me that his daughter had a pusfilled cyst on her neck and he asked me to ask the Rebbe for a bracha. We went to the Rebbe. My friend related that the doctors had told him that his daughter needed an operation. The Rebbe told him that it was the end of Kislev and they wouldnt be able to do the operation until the months of Teves-Shvat, but the operation should not be done then. It should be postponed until Adar. Then the Rebbe asked where his daughter went to school and the man mentioned a certain school. The Rebbe said that in

CUTTING TREES
I was once involved in building a sukka for the Rebbe. I had to make sure that people could sit in the sukka without any halachic problems and so I cut some branches from the

noted the Rebbe, when my field is chinuch and not medicine, why do they ask me about medicine and not about chinuch? A few weeks passed and I met another friend of mine on Eastern Parkway who was in touch with the first friend. This friend took me to Manhattan in his car and as we traveled, he told me that the sick girls condition had deteriorated and her father was going out of his mind with worry. He mentioned that many people (including a rav) were annoyed that the Rebbe had gotten involved in a medical matter and had said to postpone the operation till Adar. I saw the Rebbe that same night because I felt the matter concerned the Rebbes honor. I told the Rebbe the situation and what people said.

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Stories
The Rebbe asked me whether my friend had taken his daughter out of the school she had been in and put her into Beis Yaakov and told me he should immediately register her in Beis Yaakov. When I left the Rebbes room, I thought: How can I ask my friend to register his daughter in Beis Yaakov under the present circumstances? But since this was a matter of pikuach nefesh, I had to do as the Rebbe said. I asked him whether he had registered her and when he said no, I urged him to do so immediately. Right after he registered her, all the pus came out and the doctors said she didnt need an operation. When I told the Rebbe about the miracle, he said that the miracle wasnt that the man took his daughter out of the other school and put her in Beis Yaakov, but that I had gotten up the nerve to ask him to do it. Thanks to this miracle, all the sons and daughters of this friend were saved, because they received a proper Jewish chinuch and established beautiful Jewish homes.

OBEYING THE REBBE ALL THE WAY

As I mentioned earlier, the Rebbe told me not to get involved in real estate. I began investing in the stock market in wheat companies. This was with the Rebbes consent, of course. At first, all went well, but after a while, prices started to drop. I wanted to sell my positions but the Rebbe told me not to sell (this story has other details which I cant write). It reached a point where none of my money remained and I borrowed money in order to hold on to my options contract. After a

24 15 Sivan 5773

while, I couldnt take it anymore and I went to the Rebbe and said I wasnt holding up and I had to sell the positions, especially when the people I had borrowed money from were not Chassidim. The Rebbe told me that if I couldnt handle it he permitted me to sell the shares but first, I had to stop all my stock market activity, and second, I had to give him a list of names of all the people who had lost money and the amount of money I had lost, and he would pay it all. Immediately afterward, I had an unusual business opportunity and I made back everything I lost and what the others lost. After I withdrew from the wheat company, the price of wheat went way up. If I had listened to the Rebbe, I would have been very wealthy, but in my foolishness, I didnt have bitachon in the Rebbes words. When you listen to the Rebbe till the end, supernatural things occur!

the words ulkapporas pesha in Musaf throughout the months of the year (even after the extra month has passed). This is proof that there is a difference between the days and months in a leap year and those in a regular year.

WHAT DOES THE PROPHET KNOW?

We know that Sarah Imeinu died when she heard the news about the Akeida. I once asked the Rebbe: surely they told her the truth, that Hashem had commanded Avrohom to bring Yitzchok as a korban,

have known that Yitzchok wasnt actually slaughtered. The Rebbe said: Who says that a navi knows everything? I asked again, but Rashi in Chumash (VaYeira 20:8) writes about Avrohom Avinu, that he was a navi and he knew that she hadnt been touched, from which we see that a navi knows everything. And it also says in Igeres HaKodesh (siman 22) that all of a persons material matters are apprehended with prophecy. The Rebbe said: A navi is told only that which they, up Above, want him to know.

After I withdrew from the wheat company, the price of wheat skyrocketed. If I had listened to the Rebbe, I would have been very wealthy, but in my foolishness, I didnt have bitachon in the Rebbes words.

A LEAP YEAR VERSUS A REGULAR YEAR

In the division of the daily Tanya, the daily portion is different in a leap year than in a regular year. On Shavuos though, no matter whether its a leap year or a regular year, the first chapter of Shaar HaYichud VHaEmuna is learned, but then the shiurim change until the end of the year. I asked the Rebbe why this was so; seemingly, from Shavuos and on, it should be identical because there is no difference in the months and days from that point on between a leap year and a regular year. The Rebbe told me that according to some prayer book versions, in a leap year you say

and therefore, Sarah ought to have been happy to carry out G-ds will, for it says in Igeres HaKodesh (siman 21) that the Akeida itself wasnt considered such a big test, especially when Hashem personally told him to take his son, etc. Many people gave up their lives even when Hashem did not speak to them. Its just that Avrohom did it with astonishing alacrity to show his joy and willingness to carry out G-ds will. So why did the Akeida cause her death? The Rebbe told me that this is the difference between the head and the heart (in other words, there is a difference between intellectually understanding something and feeling something in your heart, and it was emotions of her heart from the news of the Akeida that caused her death). I asked, but Sarah was a prophetess and she ought to

A TALENT FOR ESPIONAGE

In Parshas Shlach, when the names of the people Moshe sent are listed, the Gemara says that the names reflect their deeds, but Rashi doesnt quote that in his commentary. From this we understand, that according to Rashi, these were their actual names. The Rebbe told me that Rashi explains the simple meaning of the text and according to the simple meaning, these were their names. I asked: Who were they? They couldnt be the Nsiim, because these are not the names listed earlier as the Nsiim, so who were they? The Rebbe said: Moshe Rabbeinu needed spies and so he sent people with a talent for espionage.

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FARBRENGEN

DOING THINGS THE TORAH WAY

The following is a transcript of a farbrengen held in Morristown, New Jersey in late MarCheshvan 5753, with Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Fitzy Lipskier, of blessed memory. Part 2.
MORE THAN JUST A PIECE OF WOOD
What did the Rebbe mean when he asked people for a house filled with sfarim? The Rebbe explained it with a Halacha: It says in Hilchos Shabbos that if someone deliberately carries in a public domain on Shabbos after being warned, the penalty is severe. Whats the definition of carrying? If someone walks out in the street with a crumb in his pocket, he is not guilty of desecrating the Shabbos; the item being brought into the public domain has to be a certain size. What is that limit? What makes something significant or insignificant? The Torah tells us: When someone carries out solids or liquids, theres a minimum measurement that makes a person guilty of desecrating the Shabbos. If he carries out a vessel, it too has a required amount, depending on whether its broken or whole. For example, if a person carried out an empty plate, hes liable if he needed the plate as a separate entity. Suppose he carries out a full-sized plate containing liquid that did not exceed the minimum measurement. If he would have carried out that liquid in his hand, he would naturally be exempt because it was less than the minimum amount. If he carried out the liquid in a vessel with the minimum measurement, he would be exempt even for the vessel. Why is he exempt even though he carried out a full-sized vessel? The Halacha states that if he carried out the vessel in order to transfer an amount of liquid that is less than the minimum amount, he is exempt, because the vessel is battul, i.e. it loses its existence in relation to the liquid. Getting back to the point of a house filled with sfarim: Whats the difference between a bookshelf and a piece of wood? Arent they both just pieces of wood? Actually, there is a difference. By definition, the whole essence of a bookshelf is that it contains books. The bookshelf is also a piece of wood, but its no longer merely a piece of wood. That means that it loses its own initial identity, which is very shallow, and it becomes a new entity. A bookshelf is a vehicle for books. Whats a house filled with sfarim? The house is a giant bookshelf. What happens spiritually, according to Halacha? A house is made out of wood, cement, plaster no different than any other physical object with a limited lifetime. However, such a house that is filled with sfarim is not a house anymore. Its a house filled with sfarim. It is a vehicle for Torah. Its a whole new entity. Its whole essence and purpose contains Torah. Thats the whole concept of bittul. When a Jew does Torah and mitzvos, hes battul to G-d. This is really a fancy term thats often misunderstood. It means that a person is a nobody. Where does it say in the Torah that a Jew

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has to be a nobody? And since when is being a nobody such a positive thing? To me, its sounds very negative. A zombie. Thats what they do in cults; they tell you that youre a nobody. You just do what we want you to do. Thats Torah? Torah wants you to use your mind. Battul to G-d doesnt mean being a nobody; it means you become part of the Eibeshter and thats not too bad. Youre not such a nobody anymore. A Jew is not a Jew only when he davens or when he learns: a Jew is a Jew twenty-four hours a day. Judaism is not a religion. Yiddishkait is life. Torah is the life of a Jew. Take a Jew, Joe Shmo (sounds more Jewish than John Doe), and we see he does certain things. He does mitzvos, he learns Torah but is that the definition of a Jew? A Jew is a Jew, through and through when he sleeps, when he eats, when he walks, when he works. Its not that a person can be a Jew in some areas; we have to permeate Yiddishkait into every aspect of our lives.

ITS NOT ENOUGH TO BE A CHASSID UNDER THE TALLIS

In Parshas Toldos, the Chumash teaches us about the birth of Yaakov Avinu. We know that Yaakov was a pretty nice guy, while Eisav wasnt so hot. The Jewish People are descendants of Yaakov, as they are called Bnei Yaakov or Bnei Yisroel. Why was he given the name of Yaakov at birth? Torah gives the reason, although it doesnt sound like a very positive one. He came out hanging onto Eisavs heel. Our great forefather has this beautiful name because he grabbed not the brain but the heel. And whose heel? The heel of the world the worst of them all. Whats the meaning of all that? The truth is thats the avoda of a Jew. A Jew has to take the heel of Eisav and connect it to Yaakov. He wasnt named Eikev, which means a heel, but Yaakov beginning with a Yud, the first letter of G-ds Holy Name. We have to bring the Yud into the heel, to take the lowest of the

lowest and make that Jewish, too. A person can not be satisfied with being Jewish only when he prays. A Chassid is holy everywhere.

WHAT KIND OF TRUTH DO YOU REALLY WANT?

Whats happening right now in our generation is intense, really awesome. Of course, its also something revolutionary that never happened in history, as Moshiach has never come. The funny thing is that even though its actually happening, some of us still have a hard time believing that. Heres a story with a message that is so powerful that its always appropriate. Back in the sixties, everyone was out there looking for the truth. This was a really crazy time in the United States and all over the world hippies, the Beatles, other nutty things. Once there was this fellow who searched high and low, but he failed to satisfy his curiosity. He went everywhere, yet no matter where he went, there was always a limit. Thus, he still felt that
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there was something missing. One day, as he was out walking, he saw this brilliant light from a distance. The closer he got, the more intense the light shone. He came into this brightly lit room, and saw that it was filled with lights. There was an attendant walking around, and he asked him where he was. This is the World of Truth, the attendant replied. You see all the millions of lights on these tables? Each of these lights represents the life of an individual. (Out there, you can bluff all you want, but this is the real world.) Wheres my light? the man inquired. The attendant brought him over to one of the tables, points to one of the lights, and says, Heres yours. The man looked in and nearly had a heart attack: There was very little fluid left in his glass; it was almost empty. The attendant then proceeded to get back to his own business, as if he didnt see what was happening. The visitor waited until the attendant appeared not to be looking, took one of the other cups, and poured its contents into his glass. The attendant naturally saw this and knew what was going on. He approached the man and said, Do you want the Truth or do you want the truth as you would like it to be? What do you want? If you want whats good and whats right, theres only one way. However, if you want what you think is good and right, you may get just that. Who loses out in the end? Some people like to take the easy way out. This discussion is actually irrelevant today, because we really should be dealing with other things, such as thinking about Moshiach. Yet, there are some pessimists out there who are still living in galus and are thinking about the future. For the benefit of those people (theyre probably not here anyway), well mention a few brief points: On a daily basis, a person who sits in yeshiva can lose or change his perspective on what hes doing here, etc. He has to know why he came and what he wants. Of course, people do get lazy, and thats okay every once in awhile. You get tired, you get burnt out thats both acceptable and understandable occasionally. But a bachur ought not to kid himself; he has to decide that this is what he wants. He wants the truth, and this is only possible in the right, the kosher, and the true way. Theres only one way, and thats the yeshiva way, the Torah way. There are no compromises in Yiddishkait. One cant do a mitzvah 99.9% either he did it or he didnt. A Yid cant do half of G-ds Will. Otherwise, in effect, he did nothing. Thats not what He wanted. He wanted this, and thats not what He was given. Thats the way it is. I have no doubt that everybody here would love to be a Torah scholar. However, with regard to learning to become a Torah scholar, there may be some different opinions. If only the books could just fall into my head, then everything would be great... I can guarantee you thats never going to happen. Books might fall onto your head, but not into your head. You have to work and toil. How? Theres only one way to work. Unfortunately or fortunately, there are no shortcuts. You probably know better than I do that the world out there is a very strange place, to put it mildly. To be a bit more accurate, its a sick world mentally, emotionally, and morally. This is what they call the disposal age: disposal cigarette lighters, cups, paper goods, wives, etc. You dont like it? You get another one. Whats the big deal? Years ago, when your radio broke, what did you do? You went to the repair shop, and they would replace a few tubes and fix it. Have you ever seen such repair shops lately? Computer repair shops, maybe. Today, when your digital alarm clock breaks, what do you do with it? You throw it out and buy another one. Thats the age were living in right now. This is not just in the non-Jewish world; it goes across the board. Its happening everywhere. Everyones got his head on backwards if he has a head. Thats the reality we are facing.

LIVING IN THE CLOUDS

As crazy and serious as it sounds, its worse than that. The average American home is a broken or single-parent home. This is what youre looking forward to rl? I dont think anybody in his right mind wants that, but this is what were dealing with. Youve got to straighten your head now, and it starts here. Its not going to happen when youre out there. There were bachurim who learned in yeshiva, and they would come to me and say, I dont understand. When I was a yeshiva bachur, I learned about the levels of tzaddik and beinoni, and how everyone could and should be a beinoni... What did you think the first you heard it? I dont doubt for one moment that when you first came here and saw all these holy guys dressed up in black, and then you went to 770 and saw everyone with long coats, black hats, and glasses to top it off, shuckling with their talleisim, did you question for

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a moment that they were all beinonim? And the rabbis here? Theyre all almost tzaddikim... I learned what the Alter Rebbe said in Tanya, I learned maamarim and I know what they say about the world out there. The world is essentially G-dliness, and you have to make a dwelling place for Him in the physical world. I went out there, and lo and behold, I found a different kind of world. Its not the world you told me about in the books. I found people who werent so nice: They cheat you, they give you a rough time, and some of them are Jewish, chassidic, acidic, whatever... This is what happens when you dont use your learning properly.

I went out there, and lo and behold, I found a different kind of world. Its not the world you told me about in the books. I found people who werent so nice: They cheat you, they give you a rough time, and some of them are Jewish, chassidic, acidic, whatever...
you get such an idea? Its bad enough that what you did in the past was bad; now you have to throw away the good? People tend to go to extremes and throw away all their past, including primarily the good past and the good qualities, such as common sense. If youre a lamdan and baal tshuva, you tend to think, The common sense I used to have before I became frum was goyish. Therefore, common sense must be treif. Now that Im Jewish, its a new world... With that type of attitude, it is easy to lose touch with reality and even throw away the good you once had, as opposed to incorporating it into your new life. (To be continued beH)

WHEN COMMON SENSE BECOMES TREIF

Yet, theres an element of truth to it in many such cases. What does tshuva mean? I know where I used to be, and to some extent, what I used to do wasnt so kosher. Therefore, I

have to leave my past behind... As a result, you suppress your whole past, all your inside feelings hold them back, block them, bury them including your innate talents and qualities. And theres the big mistake assuming that since everything you did previously was treif, it all has to be discarded. However, thats not the meaning of a dwelling place for Him in the physical world. The true meaning is taking everything thats kosher and elevate it. There are people here and elsewhere who were talented in certain areas, such as art, music, etc. Whats not kosher about it? Ay, the art he used to draw and the music he used to play wasnt so kosher? Therefore, burn it along with the fingernails... Where did

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Radio Moshiach & Redemption

"The quickest way to reveal Moshiach is by learning the Torah Issue 880 sources about Moshiach & redemption" t"ab,wv grumnu ghrz, p"a

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THE WAR AND THE INSPIRATION THAT FOLLOWED

It is 46 years since the Six Day War, a miraculous war the Jewish people won against all odds and expectations. * They regained the holy places in Yehuda, Shomron, and the Old City of Yerushalayim. * On the eve of the war, the Rebbes voice was heard as the only one urging people not to be afraid and to remain in Eretz Yisroel. * Beis Moshiach spoke with four Lubavitcher Chassidim who served in the army at that time, who graciously shared their memories and impressions of that fateful time with Beis Moshiach.
By Shai Gefen

Participants:
R Avrohom Meizlich Kfar Chabad R Dovid Lesselbaum Kfar Chabad R Zushe Gross Bnei Brak R Yaakov Shnur Yerushalayim

n 26 Iyar 5727 (June 5, 1967), at eight in the morning, an IDF spokesman announced, Since early morning, heavy battles have been taking place on the southern front against Egyptian air forces and armored corps. They began moving towards Israel, and our forces went out to stop them. IAF planes are waging battles with Egyptian planes. The war had begun.

In an instant, the tremendous tension that preceded the war exploded into war as Arab armies threatened tiny Israel from every side, Egypt, Syria, Jordan. With the first movement of planes, tanks and artillery pieces, the Six Day War had begun on three fronts, each distant from one another. People were terrified. Only the Rebbe, Navi HaDor, repeatedly reassured us that there

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Men from Kfar Chabad at the front. From right to left: R Sholom Feldman, R Aharon Tenenbaum, R Zushe Gross, R Dovid Lesselbaum

was nothing to fear. The Rebbes prophetic optimism flew in the face of all the warnings of the army and security experts. At the Lag BOmer parade, the Rebbe already publicly referred to the war: There is another special inyan and horaa under the current circumstances, in which your brothers and sisters in the Holy Land, Eretz Yisroel are in a situation wherein Hashem defends them and sends them His blessing and success and salvation in great measure, so they will go out and indeed they will go out from this current situation with success, with great victory, with miracles and wonders. About a week before the war began, the Rebbe sent a telegram to the residents of Kfar Chabad. This telegram was widely publicized in the Israeli newspapers: The Vaad of Kfar Chabad, led by the rav, have merited that they are among many tens

of thousands of Jews in Eretz Yisroel that has Hashems eyes upon it constantly, and surely the Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. Many Lubavitcher Chassidim were called up to the Reserves, which were fighting on all fronts, and they brought the Rebbes prophetic announcement of victory. They also carried out Mivtza Tfillin which had just begun. We spoke with four of Anash who were called up at that time, and they shared their experiences with us. Where were you when the war began? R Meizlich: I was a young married man with young children. At first, I wasnt called up, because I was a principal in Nes Tziyon and got a deferment. However, as the tensions rose I was also called up, as were many others. Like many other religious soldiers, I served in the Chevra Kadisha. People were tremendously frightened and

anticipated the worst. Today it can be told that they prepared 30,000 temporary graves. Public parks were designated by the military Chevra Kadisha to be turned into temporary graveyards. As someone who remembered the war in 48, a war which cost us 6000 korbanos, people anticipated the worst. This was the general feeling throughout the country. R Shnur: I served in the army in the Reserves after I had enlisted in 5722. After the war, I received a medal. I was an infantry soldier. In the period before the war, I taught in a Chabad school in the Ir Ganim neighborhood in Yerushalayim. I was one of the founders of that school. R Gross: I was living in Kfar Chabad at the time. About two weeks before the war, I was called up on Shabbos. It was a few minutes after I had made Kiddush Friday night. I had started eating the meal when there were knocks at the door

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go. They knew that I wasnt a malingerer. Two days later, when my temperature went down, I decided to join my unit. I joined up with my unit at Kibbutz Magen, opposite the Gaza Strip. The waiting period was harder than the actual war. There were threats about wiping out Israel, G-d forbid. Then the Rebbe said there is nothing to fear and not to leave the country. How did people react to this? R Gross: Before the outbreak of hostilities, during the waiting period, a letter came from the Rebbe that was sent to all the soldiers in the IDF. Tens of thousands of copies were distributed. The letter began as follows: You have merited being among many tens of thousands of Jews in Eretz Yisroel that has Hashems eyes upon it constantly, and surely the Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. Hashem is at your right hand, Hashem will protect them and all the Jewish people from now and forever. This letter provided great encouragement to the soldiers, especially to Lubavitcher soldiers, since at this time, the feeling throughout the country was that we had come to the end of the line; we were a lamb amongst seventy wolves. R Meizlich: When we first started preparing for war, at the beginning of Iyar, there was a bachur in yeshiva in Kfar Chabad from England. His father sent him a telegram saying he had a return ticket for him, but he didnt know what to do. Thousands of yeshiva bachurim left the country as well as many thousands of families. He asked the Rebbe what to do and the Rebbe told him not to leave. The Rebbe gave tremendous

R Dovid Lesselbaum putting tfillin on with soldiers during the Six Day War

and I was informed of a general call-up. I didnt know whether I was permitted to take my tfillin. I asked them for a little time and I ran to the rav of Kfar Chabad, R Shneur Zalman Garelik, to ask him. He said I should not take my tfillin on Shabbos. I left feeling uncomfortable about it, but since this was the ravs psak din, I followed it. All the residents of Kfar Chabad came out to see what was going on. The neighbors escorted me and the others who were called up. I did not want to get on the military vehicle within Kfar Chabad. Another three men from Kfar Chabad were drafted into our unit: R Aharon Tenenbaum, R Dovid Lesselbaum, and R Sholom Feldman. We served in the 81st Division in the 11th Brigade under the command of General Yisroel Tal (Talik). We spent those two weeks of preparation at Kibbutz Nachal Oz. Those were a tough two weeks. It was an extremely tense waiting time without our knowing what would happen next. In the meantime, I got my tfillin which

R Yaakov Shnur

my wife sent through the town officer. R Lesselbaum: I served in Khan Yunis. We were five Lubavitchers including R Zushe Gross, R Aharon Tenenbaum, R Shlomo Horowitz, and R Sholom Feldman. I remember that the soldiers were very afraid, and for good reason. In Egypt they had Russian scientists and we knew that their weapons were much improved over the war in 5717/1957 when we conquered the Sinai. They came for us on Friday night. That Shabbos, I had high temperature and couldnt

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confidence to the Jewish people. The newspapers at the time prominently noted that the Rebbe told his Chassidim not to leave the country. R Shnur: It was a terrible feeling on the eve of the war. We, as Chabad Chassidim, had it easier. The Rebbe was very encouraging of the nation and promised miracles and wonders. Do you remember how people became so inspired as a result of the war? R Meizlich: On the Shabbos following the war, we had an especially joyous farbrengen in the home of R Meir Friedman in Kfar Chabad. All those who participated in the war and were drafted were there. R Dovid Morosov (may Hashem avenge his blood), who was killed a few days later, was also there. There was a grand Kiddush to celebrate the fact that we had all returned alive, and of course, for the miracles that Hashem did for us. It was very crowded. Mashke flowed like water and the simcha reached the skies. There was the feeling that these were extraordinary times. We had seen supernatural miracles and wonders. When I compare this atmosphere with that at the start of the war, its like the difference between heaven and earth. I remember that after the war began, we got to work. Every day we received many dead soldiers. I was attached to the burial service in Kibbutz Ruchama in the south where there was a command center for the Chevra Kadisha. For me, the images and memories of the war are mainly the terrible sights. We would get soldiers with direct hits and it was rough. R Gross: I remember that in the midst of the war, an officer showed up, an ardent kibbutznik,

R Zushe Gross on guard duty during the Six Day War

R Zushe Gross

and he asked me for a kippa. I asked him what happened and after putting on the kippa he announced that the Kosel had been liberated. He was not religious but the miracles had inspired everyone. There was a story Ill never forget. I was in a bunker at Kibbutz Nachal Oz before the war began. The shelling began at 7:50 in the morning. They fell directly into the kibbutz barn. Heaven and earth mingled. A black cloud of smoke rose up from the kibbutz and you couldnt tell if it was day or night. The fields began to burn.

I stood in the bunker together with a Reservist. He was a new immigrant and his name was Adler. He was young and he asked me in Yiddish, Where are your boxes? He was referring to tfillin. I told him that they were in my backpack. He did not know how to put tfillin on himself and I did my best to help him. Then I heard him daven in Yiddish, a prayer Ill never forget. He spoke to Hashem with the utmost simplicity, from the depths of his heart: What do You want from me? I remained alone after the Holocaust. I married and have a one-year-old daughter whose name is Bracha. Who will educate her? How will there be a name and remembrance of my family who all perished in the Holocaust? He said this while wearing tfillin. As he davened, an officer ran over to us and yelled that we should get into the military vehicles. He screamed at us what are you doing organizing shuls here?! When we were in the vehicle, they all came over to me and wanted to say Shma Yisroel. They kissed the tfillin. The rare

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announced Mivtza Tfillin. We put tfillin on with the soldiers and they were so moved. People who had never put tfillin on before in their lives put on tfillin for the first time. They came on their own initiative. R Lesselbaum: After I was drafted, before the war began, I heard that the Rebbe said to put tfillin on with people. I didnt know the details; I just knew that I had to put tfillin on with people. Today, it seems simple but back then it took nerve. I thought: How can I ask someone to put on tfillin? A day went by and I decided I just had to get started, even if it seemed odd, especially to those from HaShomer HaTzair kibbutzim. I went to the recreational club which was full of soldiers. I put the tfillin on the table and before I could say anything, a long line of soldiers and civilians had formed in order to have me help them put on tfillin. I saw that the apparent difficulty with the mivtza was just in my head... R Gross: There was the feeling that this is G-ds will and that a channel in this regard had opened. As Chassidim, we had no doubt that we had to carry this out without question. The amazing thing is that others also accepted it matter-of-factly. Gdolei Yisroel and the irreligious public accepted it, and you hardly had to convince anyone. The Rebbe just gave the order and it was well accepted by the public. The inspiration generated by Mivtza Tfillin definitely led to an enormous revolution. R Meizlich: After Lag BOmer, we heard the horaa from the Rebbe about Mivtza Tfillin. We who served in the army carried out the order enthusiastically, since the Rebbe said this was in order to succeed

Yediot Acharonot reports the Rebbes reassuring words

inspired moment was palpable. After the war, there was a tremendously elevated feeling. As great as the danger had been, that is how great the victory and the emuna were. The gifts that Hashem had given us in liberating the country from our enemies, Kever Rachel, Shchem, Chevron, Kever Yosef, Har HaBayis along with the Kosel, thrilled everyone. R Lesselbaum: One day during the war, as we conquered Khan Junis and fought the Fedayeen, we heard on the radio (belonging to one of the soldiers) how they blew the shofar with the liberation of the Kosel and Har HaBayis. All the soldiers stood there and we burst into song. How did the soldiers react to Mivtza Tfillin? R Shnur: Looking back at

R Avrohom Meizlich

the results of the Six Day War, this was definitely one of the Rebbes biggest revolutions being mekarev tens of thousands of Jews. Even before the war began, the Rebbe said to put tfillin on with the soldiers and he

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in battle, and all the nations of the earth will see that the name of G-d is called upon you, and they will fear you. The soldiers responded positively; nobody opposed it. We didnt look at it as a campaign, but accepted the order and knew we had to carry it out. I remember going over to soldiers and saying, Come my friend, put on tfillin. Its like an armored helmet. They all put on tfillin Kibbutznikim, irreligious, everyone. Tens of thousands of Jews put on tfillin at that time. Did any of you report to the Rebbe about what you experienced and saw during the war? R Lesselbaum: A year later, in Tamuz 5728, I went to the Rebbe. The Rebbe spoke very sadly about how certain groups celebrated Yom Yerushalayim and Yom HaAtzmaut with the recitation of Hallel. In that yechidus, the Rebbe said there were rabbanim who opposed the saying of Hallel and especially with a bracha. Among them he mentioned Rav Nissim. I got up the courage to say that there was a huge simcha over the victory of the Six Day War. The Rebbe said that in order to express the joy, it had to be done through an increase and strengthening of the matters of He who wrought the miracles. The Rebbe spoke very sadly about how the special opportunity and inspiration had not been utilized. After the yechidus, they told me I should write it down. I did, and that night I submitted it to the Rebbe for editing. A few hours later I got it back. The Rebbe deleted some things and made some corrections. Unfortunately, that edited yechidus disappeared over the years; I dont know where it is.

R Dovid Lesselbaum (bottom center) during a break in the action

R Dovid Lesselbaum

R Gross: After the war, I wrote a detailed report to the Rebbe about my war experiences. The Rebbe wrote me back in his handwriting: many thanks for the report. Then in parentheses, he added, even though it is very short. Although the Rebbe complained about the brevity, the letter was five pages long! Afterward, someone told me that the Rebbe said about the Six Day War that the Shchina was below ten handbreadths at El Arish.

In general, the Rebbes encouragement at that time helped me very much. Even before Lag BOmer, the Rebbe said not to be afraid and not to frighten others even though the situation in Eretz Yisroel was terrifying. Because of the great fear, the Rebbes words made a tremendous impact. Everyone wanted to know, What does the Rebbe say? In 5730, I went to the Rebbe for Tishrei. All those present who had been drafted to serve received the special honor of a hakafa in the Rebbes presence. *** R Meizlich concluded with a story from the war. They said about R Meir Friedman (ah), that when his unit got orders to go north from Yerushalayim, it was Shabbos. R Meir, as a Chassidic Jew and an obedient soldier, stood on top of the command car with a bottle of wine in his hand and sang Ufaratzta. It was quite a sight a Jew with a flowing beard traveling on Shabbos and singing happy Chassidic songs.
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Profile

LEADING THE CHARGE FOR

LUBAVITCH IN AMERICA
He was the spirit of life amongst Askanei Chabad in the United States. He was one of the founders of Agudas HaTmimim, one of the directors of Agudas Chassidei Chabad, the teacher and guide of the Achei and Achos HaTmimim, and the one who served as the contact man between Anash in the United States and the Rebbe Rayatz, the secretaries and the yeshivos in Europe. He founded and ran the Beis Rivka organization and was mashpia in 770. * This is how Rabbi Yisroel Jacobson is described in Toldos Chabad BArtzos HaBris. * A bit about his life to mark the day of his passing on 17 Sivan 5735/1975.
By Dov Levanon

t the age of 11 he began learning with the rav of the city, but since he had no peers to learn with, the rav recommended that he learn in the yeshiva of Rabbi Reines in Lida. In this yeshiva, they also learned Hebrew and secular studies. The father and son began their journey to Lida, and after three days of travel they met a

bearded Jew in the train station who asked where they were going. When he heard they were heading for Lida, he began eagerly talking to them. Between the lines they understood that the man was an emissary of the yeshiva and he suggested that the boy learn in the yeshiva located in Meitzar and not in the yeshiva located in Choma since older boys learned there and they had secular books, etc.

Father and son wondered what to do and the son decided they were going. Since there were several more hours until the train would come, they waited there in the hopes that they would meet someone else who was familiar with the yeshiva. A man entered the station and asked, Are you going to Lida? When they said that they were, the man said angrily,

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You will give your son to a man who stood on the platform with an immodest woman? I am a Misnaged. If you want your son to remain a G-d-fearing Jew, take him to Lubavitch. When the man left, the father asked his son, What should we do? In Lubavitch, you wont be able to continue learning secular studies as you did so well in our town. The boy began to cry and managed to get out the words, Let us go to Lubavitch. That is how a child, not yet 12, arrived at the yeshiva in Lubavitch. After passing the test and being accepted, he remained

in Tomchei Tmimim. At first, his father paid for his room and board, but after Pesach, his father told him he couldnt pay for him anymore. The boy then ate lunch with the talmidim in the younger grades. In addition, he received two and a half rubles from the yeshiva each month. That was a small amount; it was just enough for him to buy some cookies in the morning and supper at night. From then on, until the end of his yeshiva days, he had to resort to

I am a Misnaged. If you want your son to remain a G-d-fearing Jew, take him to Lubavitch.
essen teg, at first only on Shabbos and then all week. In 5672, he would occasionally duck out from the Chassidus learning and learn Nigleh at that time. The mashgiach, R Shilem, was afraid that the talmidim did not want to learn Chassidus and so he appointed an older boy to each younger boy. Yisroel was paired with Nota Pinsky and Avrohom Pariz; Avraham made a deep impression on him. About a year later, the boy had
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his first yechidus with the Rebbe Rashab, a yechidus for which he had prepared for some time, reciting the bedtime Shma each day for hours. The Rebbe told him to learn another two hours of Chassidus a day, in addition to the four hours they were learning in yeshiva, not including learning Tanya. The Rebbe also told him to daven while focusing on the meaning of the words. After another year, R Shilem encouraged him to learn Maamarei Chassidus of the Mitteler Rebbe. At that time, R Shilem worked on getting the much older bachurim to learn these maamarim. There were some who learned Imrei Bina 12 hours a day. But Yisroel declined and said the Rebbes hemshechim were enough for him, because these explain Chassidus wonderfully. R Shilem asked him to research a certain inyan in Chassidus for him and to explain the answers that appear in the maamer that seem, at first glance, to be contradictory. After a few days, he tested the boy. R Shilems smile indicated that the boy had succeeded. the Rebbe Rashab was one of the main activists working on getting exemptions for rabbanim, but when he went to consult with the Rebbe who was in Slavyansk, the Rebbe negated the idea. Instead, he told him to go to Radatz (R Dovid Tzvi Chein) in Chernigov. When he arrived in Chernigov, he stayed with an older resident of the city. According to Russian law, every citizen had to report all those staying in his house within 24 hours, but R Yisroel, who knew that his papers were not in order, refrained from showing them. After a month, there was an inspection and he had no choice but to show his papers. Thus, he soon found himself in military prison. His friends found out about this the same day that he was imprisoned. They managed to bring him food and his tfillin. The thin young man found himself among tough Russian inmates who threatened him and mocked him. Fortunately for him, another Jew who caught on inspection day was put into the same cell. When he saw Yisroel, he went over and shook his hand and said, In Lubavitch they called me Berel Chernigover. When he saw how the inmates were treating Yisroel, he shouted and threatened that he would call the guards. Since this was a military prison, and most of the inmates were deserters, they were afraid to touch the Jew. R Yisroel sat in jail for four days. There wasnt enough room for everyone to sleep and some had to sleep on the floor. There was one chamber pot for all of them in the middle of the room which was emptied once or twice a day. At this time, Radatz went to R Mordechai Paley who had connections with government ministers and he was able to get Yisroel released. He received another draft notice to appear, but this time he was dismissed by a military medical committee. In Chernigov, he merited to receive and learn from the outstanding Radatz, who had a tremendous influence on him. R Yisroel wrote a chapter in his book, Zichron Livnei Yisroel about his unique customs and extraordinary punctiliousness.

ADVENTURES ON THE WAY TO AN IMPORTANT YECHIDUS

In 5678/1918, the war between Germany and Russia approached Lubavitch. In addition, the communists rose to power that year and the country was soon thrown into economic distress. Consequently, R Shilem Kuratin and R Eliezer Kaplan, menahel of the yeshiva, asked R Yisroel to go to the Rebbe Rashab in Rostov to ask him what to do with the yeshiva in the event that the Germans captured Lubavitch. Likewise, they wanted to know what to do with their families and how they should support them. On his way, R Yisroel passed through Oryol where, a few months earlier, the youngest talmidim had been sent. When he arrived there, he was shocked to find out that the talmidim had been influenced by the atmosphere there and had taken out secular books from the library. He felt it imperative that they be taken out of there. On Motzaei Shabbos, he left Oryol on a four day journey to Rostov. He took one mezonos roll with him. Other than that, he ate two or three apples and some sugar. When he arrived in Rostov, he went directly to the house of R Avrohom Liadier

IN MILITARY PRISON
In 5676/1916, the bachur Yisroel went to the draft office since he was of draft age. The doctors examined him and gave him a blue card. This meant he would be drafted in war time, and since World War I was raging, he was eligible for immediate army service. However, all the boys born in that year had been drafted already. The clerk didnt know what to do. Yisroel was considered a deserter and could be arrested at any moment. R Jacobson thought he could arrange to be a rabbi in the town of Novo-Zhuravichi. At this time,

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the Rebbes assistant, where he was supposed to stay. When they saw him, they immediately said, There is someone sick with typhus here. If you stay here, you wont be able to go to the Rebbe. He had no choice but to go straight to the Rebbes house where he gave the Rebbe a report about the yeshivos. He ended up staying with R Mordechai Gertzulin. R Yisroel told him that he had barely eaten for three days, but his host had no bread. R Yisroel drank a glass of tea and went to sleep, hungry. In the morning, when he went to shul to daven, they told him that the Rebbe Rayatz was looking for him urgently. When he went to the Rebbes house, the Rebbe Rayatz told him in his fathers name that the talmidim in the zal should remain in Lubavitch and the chadarim should move to Kremenchug. The Rebbe told him to go to Kremenchug to arrange that the householders would contribute to the yeshiva the money needed for the meals during the week and would have the bachurim eat with them on Shabbos. R Yisroel asked the Rebbe Rayatz whether he could stay for Shabbos and hear a maamer. In addition, he politely mentioned that he hadnt eaten in days. As to the first question, the Rebbe said he would ask his father. As far as the food, he told he would arrange it for him; he told the gabbai to prepare a meal for him. Then he came back and reported that his father said he could remain for Shabbos. On Motzaei Shabbos, R Yisroel had yechidus. The Rebbe Rashab spoke to him about the idea of moving from Lubavitch. The Rebbe said that in his opinion the Germans would not conquer the town,

Rabbi Yisroel Jacobson (center) with talmidim who were saved from the Holocaust in Shanghai and arrived in Montreal

and even if they did, they would not control it as forcefully as they did back home. It would be possible to learn in groups in houses or, alternatively, to cross the border back to Russia. The Rebbe concluded, they would send a telegram to Lubavitch, instructing the talmidim not to leave. If they left, the light would be lacking. At the end of the yechidus, the Rebbe escorted him to the door and blessed him, May Hashem protect you from everything. When he arrived at the station the next morning, he was frightened to see a long line of people waiting for the train, some of them having waited since the night before. There was no way he could buy a ticket for that day so he had to buy a ticket for the next day. Waiting with the many other passengers to board a train, Yisroel watched as German planes flew overhead. No bombs

were dropped, but most train schedules were interrupted. Later, he found out that before he arrived in Rostov, the Rebbe had sent a telegram that they should leave Lubavitch and the talmidim had left the town. When a second telegram arrived with instructions to stay, the talmidim were no longer there. Thus ended an era in the history of Lubavitch.

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO LIVE WITHOUT THE REBBE!

Pesach 1920, shortly after he married, R Yisroel went to visit his parents in Zhuravichi. On Erev Shabbos, Parshas Shmini, he met a Chassid who told him the sad news about the passing of the Rebbe Rashab a few weeks earlier. When he arrived home, he was unable to tell his wife what had happened. In the shul of R Mordechai Yoel Duchman, where he davened, all were heartbroken.

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The next day, when R Yisroel had an aliya, he burst into tears at the pasuk, When such things happened to me ... should Aharon carry on with the avoda despite the deaths of his sons? In the shul, there was a young man by the name of Avner who was deformed with a hump on his back and on the front of his body. He was married, and in his youth had been by the Rebbe. He was agitated all Shabbos. How can we live now, without the Rebbe? On Motzaei Shabbos he died. It was only the following Shabbos, when the elders in the Lubavitch shul encouraged the younger ones by reminding them that the Rebbe had left them his son, that they all got up and danced. the yeshivos. The Chassidim were unsure of what to do. At a meeting of the administration of the yeshiva, it was decided that R Feigin would go to Moscow to ask the Rebbe what to do. When he arrived in Moscow, the Rebbe told him to travel to Poltava since the Tomchei Tmimim there did not have a menahel. The yeshiva in Homil remained without a mashgiach and menahel. R Boruch Duchman said that he was willing to be the menahel, but he needed the Rebbes approval. R Yisroel, who heard that the Rebbe was going to the Ohalim in Lubavitch, went there and had a brief yechidus at the train station, at which time the Rebbe approved the appointment. decided that they had to try and leave the country and find other places to live. Every Tamim who lived in a different country should try to bring other talmidim to his country from Russia. R Yisroel was given the responsibility for the US, since he was the only one present at the meeting who was getting ready to travel there. The decisions made at the meeting were submitted to the Rebbe. Until he left, the Rebbe Rayatz told R Yisroel to serve as the mashpia in the yeshiva in Homil. After a few months, the documents asking him to become a rabbi arrived. They had been sent by his parents from the US. Upon receiving his exit visa from Russia, he left on the night of 19 Kislev 5686 for the United States. Upon arriving in the US, he was questioned at Ellis Island. He explained that although he had just one dollar in his pocket, the balabatim at the shul would take care of renting an apartment. That is also what the balabatim said when they came to pick him up and were also questioned. Shabbos morning, R Yisroel went to the shul where he had been appointed to serve as rav. The shul was actually a store that was rented to be used as a shul. On that Shabbos, they davened there and the following Sunday the shul was closed. Apparently, the shul had completed its birurim on the day that it brought the person to the United States who was responsible for bringing Lubavitch to America.

THE YESHIVA IN HOMIL

In 568/1922-3, R Yisroel lived in Homil. On Simchas Torah the Chassidim farbrenged about it being hard to send talmidim to Lubavitch and they decided to start a yeshiva in Homil. After receiving the Rebbes approval, the yeshiva opened. R Yechezkel Feigin was appointed as the rosh yeshiva and R Yisroel Jacobson took responsibility to raise his salary. This required him, despite his bashfulness, to spend two days a week collecting money for the yeshiva, which was located in the Babushkin Shul. The shul was small and crowded for the talmidim, but when they voiced the need for a bigger shul, the members of the small shul heatedly argued that the mitzva was theirs. So the talmidim remained in the shul, and they brought long tables so there would be room for the bachurim. That year, the communists began their harsh decrees against

MOVING TO THE UNITED STATES

R Yisroels parents moved to the United States. After Shavuos 1923, when he was with the Rebbe in Rostov, he asked the Rebbe in yechidus if he should consider moving to the US, since he was left alone after their move. The Rebbe said it was a good idea and he should go, but that it was not yet the proper time. When R Yisroel told R Shaul Dov Zislin about this yechidus, the latter said: I have a brother in the US who is asking me to come. I dont even want to ask the Rebbe. My brother writes that he has a kosher food store where he prepares food packages and customers come on Shabbos to take the food for the Shabbos meals. Throughout 5684, R Yisroel prepared to move. After Rosh HaShana 5685, a meeting of Anash was held in Leningrad where the Rebbe was, and it was

ANSHEI BOBROISK
The shul had completed its task, but now the rabbi did not have a job. After six weeks without work and no food at home, R Jacobson was appointed as the rav of the Anshei Bobroisk

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shul in Brownsville, through the efforts of some members of the congregation who hailed from his home town of Zhuravichi. On Motzaei Shabbos Parshas Shmini 5686/1926, graduates of Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim who lived in New York convened in the home of Rabbi Eliyahu Simpson and founded Agudas HaTmimim, the organization whose job it was to arouse the Chassidic sentiments of those Tmimim who had crossed the Atlantic to America. Many of the Tmimim had a feeling of belonging and a desire to help out, even though they had left the Yeshiva. At this time, R Yisroel was also appointed as a member of Aguch in America, the organization founded two years earlier by R Dovid Shifrin. The offices were located in the factory of the Kramer brothers, a factory named for their father who had died not long before and who had served as president of the organization. As soon as he was appointed, a letter arrived from Europe with a request that he raise money to print Likkutei Torah. R Yisroel tried out different way to accomplish the task. First, he asked R Dovid Shifrin if he should approach the Kramer brothers to donate the costs of the printing lilui nishmas their father. R Dovid did not think they would be interested. Attempts to get other Chassidim to donate did not provide the sum R Yisroel had set his sights on, either. On 24 Teves 5687, R Yisroel arranged a farbrengen in his home and he spoke to the balabatim about the Baal HaTanya and about the importance of the printing. They immediately made their

donations and he raised the full amount he needed. A thousand copies were printed and were sold out. Dozens of Nusach Ari shuls, where simple Russian Jews davened, bought it. In many of these shuls, there was nobody capable of learning it, but it was bought as a segula and inspired many Jews to draw closer to their origins. The first assignment that R Jacobson set out to complete the goal for which he had been sent was to bring Tmimim to the US. He was able to get papers for many Tmimim from Russia and Eretz Yisroel, including R Moshe Akselrod and R Sholom Posner. Unfortunately, here were also those for whom, despite his best efforts, he was unable to obtain visas, including R Levi Yitzchok Schneerson, the Rebbes father.

leading up to the Rebbe Rayatzs transplant of Lubavitch from Russia to American soil, his founding of Yeshivas Achei Tmimim in New York in 1932 for young men who had become close to Chabad, his involvement in helping save the Rebbe Rayatz from war-torn Poland, his

THE REBBE RAYATZS VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES

When the Rebbe Rayatz visited the United States in 5690/1930, R Yisroel accompanied him the entire time that he was in New York. He even brought the Rebbe an esrog. After hearing that R Yisroels esrog was more mehudar than his own, the Rebbe asked him to bring his own esrog. When R Yisroel saw that the Rebbe wanted his esrog, he gave it to him immediately. On that visit, R Yisroel brought his daughter to the Rebbe because she was crosseyed. The Rebbe asked her to look at him. When she did, the Rebbe said, See, she sees straight. From then on, she was no longer cross-eyed. *** So much more could be written about the groundbreaking work he did during the years

pivotal role in establishing the mosdos of the Rebbe Rayatz in America, his founding in 1944 of branches of the central yeshiva in Pittsburgh, New Haven, and in the Bronx (where his son-inlaw, R Mordechai Dovber Altein served as rosh yeshiva), as well as his tireless efforts in service of the new Rebbe and his vision of spreading the wellsprings, giving shiurim in Chassidus in Hadar HaTorah and serving as menahel of Beis Rivka. Lubavitch and the Jewish world lost a great Chassid and loyal soldier on 17 Sivan 1975.

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SING A NEW SONG

By Rabbi Heschel Greenberg

WINE AND SONG

Music plays an important role in Judaism. And while song is often associated with vice along with wine, in Judaism those two go together. In this weeks Parsha, BeHaaloscha, the Torah describes the role of the Levites. In Chapter 8, verse 16, the Torah states: For they are dedicated to Me from among the children. A more literal rendition reads: For they are dedicated, dedicated to Me The repetition of the word dedicated prompts Rashi to explain that the Levites had two primary functions in the Sanctuary: One was to carry the Mishkan and the other was to sing. At which point in the Temple service did the Levites sing? The Talmud informs us that it was when they would pour wine on the Altar. The Talmud puts it as follows: One says Shira-song only over wine. Music and wine are known to be powerful agents for removing ones inhibitions. There are things people will not say unless they have allowed their tongues to be loosened by wine. Music, too, allows people to vent their feelings in a way that they could not possibly express in prose. In a spiritual vein, wine and

song at appropriate times would allow people to express deeper feelings of devotion to G-d.

BABYLONIAN AND JERUSALEM TALMUDS DIVERSE VIEWS OF SONG

There is, however, a difference between the Babylonian Talmud and Jerusalem Talmud concerning the role song played in the Temple. The Jerusalem Talmud cites another verse in this weeks parsha (verse 19): I have given the Levites, from among the children of Israel, as a gift to Aaron and his sons, to carry out the service in the Tent of Meeting for the children of Israel, and to atone on behalf of the children of IsraelThe Jerusalem Talmud comments that the atonement mentioned in this verse was procured through song. Moreover, the Jerusalem Talmud insists that the offering that the song of the Levites accompanied was not effective in procuring atonement without the Levites musical accompaniment. The Babylonian Talmud, however, does not go so far in according song with such atoning power. According to the Babylonian Talmud, the musical accompaniment was a way of embellishing the sacrifice that was brought; it was not, however,

indispensable to the efficacy of the atonement process. Several questions come to mind: First, why would the Jerusalem Talmud claim that song was so crucial to the atonement process? Second, what is the conceptual difference between the Jerusalem and Babylonian Talmuds approaches concerning the power of song in the Sanctuary? Third, the requirement of singing during the offerings was restricted to public burnt offerings. When a person brought an offering as atonement for a sin it was not accompanied with music. If music is a form of atonement, why did a sin offering not have that requirement? Why only public burnt offerings?

KAPARA ON TWO LEVELS

The answer to the last question is the key to answering the other two questions as well. Atonement exists on two levels. When one commits a crime, the atonement process requires serious introspection and sometimes brutal honesty with oneself. One cannot blithely dismiss his or her action by waxing poetic and spiritual. The sin was down-to-earth and so

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must the atonement for the sin come through down-to-earth recognition of the harsh and uncomfortable reality that we did something wrong. If it makes the person feel shame, it is a positive effect because the embarrassment for ones degradation is a cleansing and cathartic agent. At this stage in the atonement process, music with its loftiness will merely paper over the underlying flaw, which will simply reappear after the effects of the inspiring musical interlude wear off. The daily burnt offerings, however, brought atonement on another level. The Hebrew word for atonement kapara has several layers of meaning. The first is simply atonement. A person acts improperly towards another. To get the offended individual to forgive the offender, he or she must apologize. However, the apology, even a sincere apology, will not restore the good relationship that existed before the offense was committed. How does one restore the warm relationship he or she enjoyed previously? The answer is by following the apology with a positive gesture such as sending the offended person a gift as a sign of good will. When the relationship is thus restored to its original positive state the meaning of kapara assumes a deeper character. It is no longer translated as forgiveness but as wiped off or scoured. Not a trace of the previous negative relationship remains. Similarly, the Talmud states, the burnt offering was a form of a gift that would bring about the higher form of kapara, one that restored our relationship with G-d to the highest level.

However, kapara is a term that has infinite application. No matter how good we may be and no matter how ideal our relationship with G-d, there is a sense that we are still lacking in our devotion to Him and, therefore, there is the need for a higher and deeper form of kapara. Moreover, when we grow in appreciation for and closeness to G-d, what seemed to be ideal in the past is severely wanting now. This realization then elicits from us a need to rectify the newly discovered flaw in our relationship. In other words, the more we atone, the more sensitive we become and the more we detect small hairline cracks in our connection to G-d. These cracks can only be seen by the person who is endowed with superior vision because he or she has so purified himself or herself. In simple language: the more refined we become, the more refined we feel we need to become. And it is concerning this deeper level of kapara that the Jerusalem Talmud establishes the indispensable role of music. To disentangle ourselves from evil, music is not as crucial as rolling up our figurative sleeves to deal with the reality of evil in our lives. However, when we deal with the more sophisticated levels of kapara, it is then that the Jerusalem Talmud demands that we use music to rise above the most subtle and refined flaws.

The Babylonian Talmud is the Talmud of exile. It was written in the Diaspora in a dark countryBabylonia about which the Sages of the Talmud applied the verse in the Book of Lamentations: He has made me dwell in dark places. The Babylonian Talmud is described by the Talmud as the Talmud of darkness because it relates to the challenges that we have in galus, the nadir of darkness. From the position of darkness, mired in exile, song is not that crucial. A person who is lost in a dark forest would never get out if they would just sing. He or she must look for ways to get out of the dark place. In this context, music is important but not indispensable. Music will certainly help alleviate some of the feelings of fear that accompany the person who is trying to climb out of the morass and make the trip more pleasant and smooth, but it is no substitute for the basic survival requirement of extricating oneself from the moral quagmire he or she is in.

MUSIC: THE PEN OF THE SOUL

The Jerusalem Talmud, by contrast, is the Talmud of the Land of Israel, the Land that is associated with and characterized by light. In this enlightened mode, music plays a much more crucial role. In the world of light, the emphasis is on climbing to greater heights and not being content even with the most significant achievements of the past. In this context, music is an integral part of the process. As the Alter Rebbe stated, Speech is the pen of the heart, but melody is the pen of the soul. When dealing with the desensitized heart that leads us astray we need, first and
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TALMUD OF EXILE AND TALMUD OF LIGHT

We can now understand the difference in approach to the role of music between the Babylonian Talmud and the Jerusalem Talmud.

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In simple language: the more refined we become, the more refined we feel we need to become.
Talmud mode, roll up our sleeves and combat all of the negative influences in our society, utilizing spiritual melodies and music as an aid, but not a substitute for helping to liberate ourselves from galus darkness. However, we are also, paradoxically, beneficiaries of the light of the future Era of Redemption. We can already see and feel the more sophisticated light and influence of the Jerusalem Talmuds obsession with lighting up the light. We are able to feel the light of our souls yearn for more light. In this Jerusalem Talmud of Light mode, music is an

foremost, proper speech; words of Torah and prayer to influence our emotions. However, when our objective is to reveal the deeper spiritual dimensions of our soul, enabling us to soar to greater heights, spiritual music is an integral part of the process, not just an enhancement and support.

LIVING IN TWO WORLDS

We are now living in two worlds. On the one hand we are still affected and challenged by galus values that are quite lowly and despicable. All of the immorality around us is real. We must, in the Babylonian

indispensable part of the process of experiencing the sophisticated energy of Redemption. It is important to recognize that the degree to which music can assist us in liberating ourselves from dark places and especially the extent of musics ability to energize our soul to reach higher levels depends on the nature of the music itself. The more spiritual the music iscomposed by holy people or sung by people in their pursuit of spiritual goalsthe more effective the music is. The proper use of music is certainly one very significant preparation for the future Redemption, which is associated with the new song that we will all sing. It will be the song of unmitigated and unadulterated spiritual growth.

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