CONTENTS

8
FEATURED ARTICLES WEEKLY COLUMNS
3 Dvar Malchus
8 THE TRAGEDY DIDNT
BREAK US ON THE 5 Parsha Thought
CONTRARY!
Nosson Avraham 20 Moshiach & Hayom Yom

16 BUILDING
UP OTHERS

22 TO
WHEN I RESOLVED
LEARN RAMBAM
EACH DAY, THE REBBE
22 TURNED TO ME
Nosson Avraham

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1057_bm_eng.indd 4 2017-02-14 8:40:26 AM

 DVAR MALCHUS
22 SHVAT:
THE DAY THAT
BLESSES ALL JEWS
I am one hundred and twenty years today,
today my days and years have become
complete, enriched and complete days
and years, both physically and spiritually.
The continuation of Moshes 120 years is
the eternal life of the true and complete
redemption.
Translated by Boruch Merkur
1. The twenty-second of the
month of Shvat is connected with
blessing, as alluded to by the number
twenty-two, Chaf-Beis, letters
that spell Becha in you. The
word becha is associated with the
context within which it appears in
the verse, Becha yevareich Yisroel
With you, the Jewish people will
bless. The twenty-second of Shvat
is a day from which through which
and by means of which Jews are
blessed in all their concerns.
In fact, the (day of) becha
itself blesses, as understood from the
simple reading of the (Scriptural)
text, becha yevareich Yisroel
that in their blessing (the blessing
of Efraim and Menasheh), all Jews
are blessed. So too, in our case, the
day (of becha) blesses in a similar
manner. As a result, yevareich
Yisroel all Jews are blessed.
Becha is a kind of blessing that
gives rise to further blessings one
1057_bm_eng.indd 3
blessing upon another blessing,
ad ein ketz, ad infinitum. This
furtherance of blessings extends ad
sof kol haolam until the end of the
world (also interpreted to mean: the
end of (olam the world meaning
the end of the) helem vhester,
hiddenness and concealment.
2. The same concept applies
to the day of the yahrtzait of the
twenty-second of Shvat it is a
day of blessing from which all Jews
are blessed With you, the Jewish
people will bless.
Jews recognize that a yahrtzait is
connected with a spiritual elevation,
an ascent, underscored by the
custom of saying Kaddish on a
yahrtzait, which is done on account
of the new elevation. Indeed, the
ascent of a soul on a yahrtzait is
monumental; it is an exponential
ascent compared to the height the
soul had attained prior to then.
A yahrtzait commemorates the
day the soul departed from the
body. The passing is, therefore, a
concealment of the revelation of the
soul, which is a veritable part of
G-d above, within the body. This
is the greatest possible concealment,
rachmana litzlan. However, the
Divine intent of this concealment is
that it brings about a greater ascent
(as is the case with other descents).
Throughout the entire year (of the
yahrtzait) an even higher ascent is
achieved (incomparably higher than
the preceding ascents). Here we are
talking about an ascent of the soul of
the deceased, as well benefit to living
people (those how have a connection
with the soul of the deceased),
gaining further longevity and health,
years filled with Torah and Mitzvos
and good deeds.
The main thing, however, is
the ascent that comes about in the
true and complete redemption,
which applies to both those who
have passed on as well as the living,
affecting both those who reside in
the dust shall get up and sing as
is known that the ultimate perfection
(even of the soul) is specifically
as souls in bodies in the Era of the
Resurrection of the Dead as well
as those Jews who had a connection
with the soul of the deceased, as it
is written, Death will be swallowed
up forever and G-d, the L-rd, will
Issue 1057 3
2017-02-14 8:40:28 AM
 Dvar Malchus

wipe away the tears from every gematria of dima plus one, (From the address of Shabbos Parshas
face. It is understood that since representing the whole word) Yisro, 20 Shvat, and Monday of Parshas
wipingtears comes about and his lifespan was 120 years, Mishpatim, 22 Shvat 5752; Seifer
through G-d Himself (and as stated about HaSichos 5752, pg. 344-345)
Havaya Elokim will wipe away Moshe Rabbeinu: I
the tears), not only are the am one hundred and
tears of former times erased (as twenty years today,
the simple read of wipe away today my days and
implies), but it brings about a years have become
greater ascent. This inference complete, enriched
can also be drawn from the and complete days
interpretation that dima and years, both
tears is numerically equivalent to physically and
119, signifying that it is lacking spiritually. The
one of the 120 permutations of continuation of
G-ds name Elokim. Through Moshes 120 years is
and Havaya Elokim, will wipe the eternal life of the
away the tears the completeness true and complete
of 120 is achieved (120 being the redemption.

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4 21 Shvat 5777

1057_bm_eng.indd 4 2017-02-14 8:40:28 AM

 PARSHA THOUGHT
THE CONVERT:
THE CONSUMMATE
INSIDER
By Rabbi Heschel Greenberg
MOSHE AND YISROEL
This weeks parsha opens
with some enigmatic statements:
It begins: Moshes father-in-
law, Yisro, the priest of Midian,
heard about all that G-d had
done for Moshe and His people
Israel when He brought Israel
out of Egypt.
A question is posed, why
does Yisro separate Moshe from
Israel?
Another question is asked
on the following verses: Yisro
brought along Moshes wife
Tzipora and her two sons. The
name of the one was Gershom,
because he declared, I was a
foreigner [Ger] in a strange
land...
The reason for choosing this
name Gershom had already been
mentioned earlier at the time of
his birth. Why repeat it here?
YISROS UNUSUAL
POSITION
To answer these questions, we
must first answer a much more
fundamental question concerning
the name of the parsha, as well as
some of its content:
This Torah portion can be
called the mother of all Torah
portions because it contains
1057_bm_eng.indd 5
the events of Mattan Torah, the
giving of the Torah at Mount
Sinai. So, shouldnt the parsha
have been named Torah,
Moshe or Sinai instead? Sarah, Rivka, Rachel and Leah.
Or indeed any other name that
would capture historys most
momentous event? Instead, this
parsha is named after Yisro,
Moshes father-in-law, formerly a
Midianite pagan priest!
Moreover, the Zohar states
that G-d waited for Yisro to
arrive at Sinai before He was
ready to give the Torah to the
Jewish people! Why was his
participation so crucial?
If this is not sufficiently
puzzling, the Torah relates that
Yisro actually contributed to the
design of the Torahs judicial
system and thereby added a
section to the Torah!
It seems clear that Yisro was
hardly an inconsequential figure,
although he was the consummate
outsider with dubious
credentials.
How can we explain Yisros
elevated position in the Torah?
THE CONVERSION
PARADOX
To crack this riddle, we have
to examine the Torahs view
of the Jewish nation and its
relationship to outsiders who join
the fold. We routinely identify
ourselves as descendants of
Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov;
There is hardly a section in the
Torah that doesnt invoke their
memory. G-ds love affair with
the Patriarchs and Matriarchs is
so powerful that in their merit
G-d overlooks our iniquities and
promises to liberate us from exile.
Moreover, our Sages speak
of the distinguishing traits of
the Jewish people as though they
are part of our DNA, inherited
directly from the Patriarchs and
Matriarchs. The Talmud states
that one who lacks compassion,
kindness and modesty will have
his or her Jewish identity called
into question and reasonably
so. Thus, the refusal of the
Gibeonites to soften their harsh
demand for retribution against
the descendants of King Shaul
for the harm he had caused
them, was King Dovids cue to
bar them from marrying into the
Jewish community. They were
banned because of their un-
Jewish attitude.
It would stand to reason
that Judaism is based on our
biological connection to our
ancestors.
Yet, the Torah not only
Issue 1057 5
2017-02-14 8:40:30 AM
 PARSHA THOUGHT
permits conversion to Judaism,
but, as Maimonides states
emphatically, there is a double
Mitzvah in loving a convert to
Judaism. The first commandment
is the general one that applies to
all the Jewish people, who are to
be loved as ourselves. The second
is a specific Mitzvah to love the
convert in particular.
The question therefore arises,
how do we reconcile the converts
lack of genetic continuity with
the Patriarchs and Matriarchs
and their total acceptance into
the Jewish fold?
This soul, which everyone born Jewish possesses,
is shared by all those who have undergone
Halachic conversion. The conversion process, according
to the Chida, is actually a process of discovery. In it the
convert discovers that he or she has always possessed a
soul with the imprimatur, Descendant of the Patriarchs
and Matriarchs etched in its fabric.
THE SOULS DNA
The answer lies in a better
understanding of our relationship
to the Patriarchs and Matriarchs.
Whatever genetic material they
possessed cannot possibly be
preserved undiluted beyond a
few generations. In addition,
the Talmud states that our
feeling for our progeny does not
normally extended beyond four
generations. It is therefore hard
to imagine why the Patriarchs
and Matriarchs would feel such
closeness to the Jewish people
who are hundreds of generations
away from them. Moreover, they
are also the progenitors of many
other groups of people. Yet,
nowhere does the Torah ascribe
to the Patriarchs and Matriarchs
a feeling of love and responsibility
6 21 Shvat 5777
1057_bm_eng.indd 6
for all their descendants. Their
love for us is rather selective.
And just as it is hard to
imagine how their love can
extend down to us, it is equally
challenging for us to feel close
to our ancestors going back so
many generations.
It is therefore obvious that our
relationship with the Patriarchs
and Matriarchs is not just based
on biology but rather on the
unique souls they possessed and
bequeathed to their descendants.
What we have inherited from
them is spiritual DNA, embedded
in our souls, which translates
into the attitudes that even the
most unaffiliated Jew possesses
innately.
This soul, which everyone
born Jewish possesses, is shared
by all those who have undergone
Halachic conversion. The
conversion process, according to
the great 19th century Sephardic
sage known as the Chida, is
actually a process of discovery.
In it the convert discovers that
he or she has always possessed
a soul with the imprimatur,
Descendant of Avraham,
Yitzchak, Yaakov, Sarah, Rivka,
Rachel and Leah etched in its
fabric.
One can still mount an
argument that the converts
relationship to the Patriarchs and
Matriarchs is less pronounced
than it is for those who were born
Jewish. After all, he or she is not
biologically connected and did
not share in the Jewish peoples
history.
DIRECT LINE TO G-D
Maimonides, in one of his
celebrated letters to Ovadia the
convert, turned this argument
on its head. After explaining that
he may refer to Avraham as his
father and identify with all of the
experiences of the Jewish people,
he concludes with the famous
words:
Do not consider your
[Ovadias] origin as inferior.
While we are the descendants of
Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov,
you derive from Him through
whose word the world was
created. As is said by Isaiah: One
shall say, I am G-ds, and another
shall call himself by the name of
Jacob (Is. 44:5).
Maimonides stated that
while our devotion to Judaism is
primarily based on our receiving
the tradition from our parents
and they from their parents,
all the way back to the original
progenitors of the Jewish people,
the convert seeks and discovers
his or her relationship with G-d
directly.
In other words, the convert
enjoys a unique status. On the
one hand, he or she has become
an integral part of the Jewish
people and shares their past
tragedy and salvation. On the
other hand, because the converts
physical connection is less self-
evident (they are not biological
descendants of the Patriarchs
and Matriarchs) they compensate
for this by their more direct
connection with G-d.
Now we can better
understand Yisros ambivalence
as he joined the Jewish people.
2017-02-14 8:40:30 AM
 Yisro did not know what his
status would be as a converted
pagan. After all, he did not
share their DNA (although a
descendant of Avraham, he did
not descend from Yitzchak and
Yaakov). More significantly, he
had not shared their formative
experiences in Egypt. If Judaism
is understood to revolve around
our shared experience as slaves
and our liberation, how could
Yisro feel that he would be fully
accepted since he had not shared
that experience?
This answers the question we
initially posed above: why did the
Torah quote Yisro as mentioning
Moshe separately from his
mention of the Jewish people?
Like Yisro, Moshe was an
outsider in terms of the collective
Jewish experience. First, as a
member of the Tribe of Levi he
was not enslaved. All the pain
and suffering visited upon the
Jewish people did not apply to the
Levites. Furthermore, Moshe had
been raised in Pharaohs palace
and was thus doubly insulated
from the anguish and torture
experienced by his brethren.
Yet it was clear that G-d treated
Moshe as one of the People and
had an unparalleled relationship
with him.
This gave Yisro great comfort
because it demonstrated two
salient points:
First, when we are a part of
the Jewish community, we share
in all of its historical vicissitudes,
1057_bm_eng.indd 7
as if they had happened to us
personally. We can empathize
with the experiences of the
historical others because we are
members of one organic people.
If that could apply to Moshe,
who was an outsider in terms
of his experiences, Yisro realized
it might very well apply to him
too.
We can now also understand
why the Torah repeats Moshes
reason for naming his son
Gershom: because he declared,
I was a foreigner [Ger] in a
strange land. The repetition
of the rationale for Gershoms
name underscores the fact that
Moshe himself was a stranger, an
outsider, and yet he became the
consummate insider.
Second, Yisro realized
Moshes ability to connect
directly to G-d and this made up
for the apparent lack of shared
experiences with the People.
Yisro realized that he too had a
direct relationship with G-d.
We can now also understand
why G-d waited for Yisro before
giving the Torah at Sinai. While
Yisro may have been an outsider,
he enjoyed an advantage over the
rest of the Jewish people because
of his direct connection to G-d.
G-d gave us the Torah to
facilitate our direct connection
to Him. It did not suffice for us
to be connected to Him through
our forebears. When we lack the
directedness to G-d we fall
back on our link to Him through
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the past. This is the converse of
the convert, who while weaker
in the indirect approach via the
past makes up for it in the direct
approach to Him.
Yisros epiphany was the
prelude to Mount Sinai where
we underwent a direct experience
as well. Every Jew, man, woman
and child, saw and heard G-d
communicate with the People
in the most direct fashion. But
not for long. The power of
G-ds direct revelation proved
too much, and so they asked
G-d to transmit the rest of the
commandments through Moshe.
That direct communication
was replaced over time by the
transmission of the Torah from
generation to generation.
Yisro, in effect, became
the model for the direct
communication of G-d to us, and
serves as an important motivation
for us to relive the spirit of Sinai.
In the Messianic Age we
will see the full and permanent
restoration of the direct Sinai
experience. We will all prove
capable of receiving G-ds
open revelation. The prophet
Isaiah (30:20) declares,
Your Teacher shall not hide
Himself anymore; but your
eyes shall see your Teacher.
Whereas Sinai was a temporary
and limited phenomenon, the
Sinai experience will become
a permanent and universal
phenomenon in the Messianic
Age.
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 SHLICHUS PROFILE

THE TRAGEDY
DIDNT BREAK
US ON THE
CONTRARY!
8 21 Shvat 5777

1057_bm_eng.indd 8 2017-02-14 8:40:31 AM

 Shortly after their wedding, mikveh takes fifteen hours, said
Rabbi Grumach, as he told us
they came to Hampi, a small about the many problems they
and primitive village even by faced along the way. There were
countless struggles and cases
Indian standards, and opened a of Divine Providence that we
Chabad House there against all experienced during the building
process. It began with finding an
odds and with wholly inadequate appropriate location, excavating
conditions. Difficulties became until they hit an impenetrable
rock, the need for running water
even more intense when their a rare commodity in this village,
daughter Devorah Leah Geula, antiquated tools, lazy workers,
and eventually the cutting off of
not yet a year old, suddenly the villages electricity
took ill and passed away. This Yet, despite all these
difficulties, the shluchim would
terrible loss led Rabbi Mordechai
not concede on even one halachic
(Motti) Grumach and his wife stringency. The mikveh was
built with products purchased
Libby to build a first-rate mikveh
from all over the world. The
in Hampi. Last month, they Rebbes brachos are what helped
us to overcome all the obstacles.
celebrated its dedication with
In a special discussion we
great splendor. Beis Moshiach recently had with Rabbi and Mrs.
heard from them about their Grumach, we heard for the first
time about the terrible blow that
shlichus, the painful tragedy, came upon their family two and
and the resulting growth and a half years ago and the great
hardships they endured during
progress. A deeply moving story. the mikveh building process.
The tearful story of the young
By Nosson Avraham shluchim clearly represents a
Translated by Michoel Leib Dobry modern example of the victory
of Jewish Chassidic light over
the darkness of the world, the
victory of faith over challenges

A
few weeks ago, a very
special and most unusual
event took place in the
remote Indian village
of Hampi. Numerous shluchim
and tourists attended a most
impressive and moving ceremony
to dedicate an elegant new
mikveh, recently completed after
two and a half years of tireless
work and determination. Rabbi
Mordechai (Motti) Grumach and
his wife, Libby, the Rebbe MHMs
shluchim in Hampi, spared
no effort. They endured many
and obstacles.
difficulties and pitfalls until they
were privileged to complete this HAMPI A PRIMITIVE
blessed and extraordinary building VILLAGE, EVEN BY INDIAN
project.
STANDARDS
While the operation began
Hampi is one of the most
more than five years ago, the
popular tourist spots in India.
main motivating force came with
There are those who argue that
the tragic and sudden passing of
this remote village is one of the
their infant daughter, Devorah
most beautiful places of the
Leah Geula ah, at the tender
world. It is situated in northern
age of just eleven months.
Karnataka, a state in the
The mikveh, named Mikveh
southwestern region of the Indian
Devorah was dedicated in her
subcontinent. Spread throughout
memory.
Hampi are the cellars of ancient
Traveling to the closest

Issue 1057 9

1057_bm_eng.indd 9 2017-02-14 8:40:32 AM

 SHLICHUS PROFILE
palaces, remnants of entire
buildings, streets, fortresses, and
royal pavilions.
The region is surrounded
by beautiful rocks, placed upon
one another in indescribably
complex formations. While one
might think that only men could
have had a hand in their design,
its hard to imagine how anyone
could move such huge rocks
and place them on top of each
other, notes Rabbi Grumach.
The spectacularly colorful views
appear alongside rivers, fields,
trees, jungle foliage, and the rock
formations.
The village is divided in two
parts with a river flowing in
between. The river serves the
local residents primarily for
bathing, laundering clothes, and
even as a source of transportation
for small boats bringing people
from one shore to the other.
Despite all this, Hampi is a very
primitive village, even by Indian
standards, Rabbi Grumach
explains. Ninety percent of the
dwellings have no running water,
and these houses are actually
tin shacks. People bathe and do
their laundry in the river. The
village is virtually light years
from civilization. Various forms
of progress and advancement are
barred by the central authorities
over concern that the village will
lose its authenticity.
Recently, when I struck a
dried tree branch in the Chabad
House courtyard, a snake fell on
me and then quickly disappeared
into the brush. Just think for a
moment what was demanded
of us when we came to build a
mikveh of the highest standards
in this village.
The Grumachs arrived at
their designated place of shlichus
in Kislev 5769. R Motti knew
India from the time he visited
there on Merkaz Shlichus after
10 21 Shvat 5777
1057_bm_eng.indd 10
The strength to stand up to all the difficulties came in her merit.
Tzivos Hashem soldier Devorah Leah Geula Grumach ah.
his kvutza year, and returning
was the condition he set for any
possible shidduch.
After the terrible tragedy
of the Holtzbergs in Mumbai,
I became even more firm in my
resolve that Chabad programs
in India must grow and develop.
Many of our friends suggested
that we look for other places
on shlichus, however, we were
determined to strengthen
outreach activities on the Indian
subcontinent. When we heard
that thousands of tourists came
to Hampi each season, we
decided to establish our abode
there.
When Rabbi Grumach
recalled those early days, he
smiled. We knew nothing about
this village. All the information
we obtained came from tourists
we had met and from what
appeared on the Internet. While
it was clear to us that we were
talking about a remote little
place, we only really understood
once we got there. In Poona
twelve hours away we arranged
all the required purchases of
appliances and other items that
would assist us in our shlichus,
and then made our way to the
village. Since then, its all history.
While there have been many
difficulties, we learned to deal
with them.
Today, we host hundreds of
tourists each Shabbos, and the
Chabad House is an address for
all things Jewish.
A DIFFICULT TRIAL
When I asked Rabbi Grumach
about the terrible tragedy that
befell his family two and a half
years ago, he was quiet for a very
long moment. It was clear that
the memories still weighed very
heavily upon him.
I usually dont talk about
this. The recollections from those
days still consume my emotions,
and its very hard for me. I can
say one thing for certain when I
periodically look at the mikveh, I
clearly know that the strengths to
stand up against the difficulties
came in my daughters merit.
With regard to your
question, it all began on the
Shabbos after Purim. Our
daughter Devorah Leah Geula
woke up with symptoms of fever.
We werent particularly worried,
as things like this often happen
2017-02-14 8:40:32 AM
 The truck began drilling, and after a few hours, we found spring water.
Rabbi Grumach at various stages of the mikveh construction.
to young children. We gave her
syrups to soothe the pain and
aspirin to lower her fever, and we
were certain that it would have a
healing effect.
However, these remedies
helped only for a few hours, and
the fever soon returned with an
even higher temperature. When
we saw that things were not
getting any better, we resorted to
some folk medicine in the hope
that this might do the trick, as it
had in the past. Regrettably, it did
no good. On Sunday morning,
the child was burning with fever.
Since the villages private health
clinics were closed that day, we
sought the advice of pediatricians
in Eretz Yisroel via WhatsApp.
We took pictures of her mouth,
and the doctors were unanimous
in their opinion that the fever was
due to foot-and-mouth disease.
The truth was that we were
very distressed, especially since
our daughter was then starting
to grow new teeth. We came to
the conclusion that the teething
and the foot-and-mouth disease
could easily explain the high
fever. However, when the fever
remained high the following day,
Monday, we realized that we
1057_bm_eng.indd 11
had to get her to a doctor. The
temperature outside was brutally
hot 113 degrees Fahrenheit
and we knew that together with
her high fever, the child could
easily dehydrate. The doctor
at the private clinic examined
her and made the appropriate
diagnosis. Since she displayed
all the signs of dehydration, he
immediately hooked her up to an
intravenous infusion.
While this clinic is one of
the most highly advanced in the
region, it was still very limited
in scope. No air conditioner,
electricity outages, and a plague
of annoying mosquitoes which
we tried to combat by using
mosquito netting. The doctor
had learned medicine in the West,
and he appeared to know what
he was doing. When the doctor
conducted another examination,
he saw how lethargic she was,
and all the results indicated a
deterioration of her condition.
He immediately decided to send
us to a large hospital located in
the nearby city of Hubli.
By this time, we were no
longer composed. We realized
that this wasnt a case of passing
seasonal flu. We spoke with
the shliach in Bombay, Rabbi
Yisroel Kozlovsky, and he
arranged a meeting for us with
an expert pediatrician in his city.
The plan was that after he saw
our daughter, my wife would
board an El Al flight for Eretz
Yisroel, scheduled to depart that
Thursday. In the meantime, it
was the end of the tourist season
and the flow of visitors was
considerably smaller. I would
remain on my own to make the
Pesach seders, and immediately
after Yom tov I would return to
Eretz Yisroel. To make our flight,
we would have to reach the city
of Hubli, and from there, we
would take a plane to Bombay.
We arrived late at the Hubli
airport due to police barricades
placed on all the roads because
of preparations for the upcoming
elections in India. By the time we
got there, the authorities would
not let us enter the terminal. With
longing eyes, we saw our flight
taking off. This was a moment
of devastation. We literally cried,
but there wasnt much that we
could do.
We left the airport and
headed for the hospital
recommended to us by the doctor
Issue 1057 11
2017-02-14 8:40:33 AM
 SHLICHUS PROFILE
The farmers were already quite despairing
and the whole country was talking about the
drought. Yet, on the day the mikveh was ready, rain
began to fall in a storm that would last for three days.
The Indian who worked with us at the Chabad House
told all his friends, You know why it started raining? In
the merit of the mikveh
at the private health clinic near
Hampi. The doctor on call made
a series of comprehensive tests.
From the very outset, it was clear
that our daughter was suffering
from an inadequate level of
oxygen in her blood and she was
hooked up to an oxygen tank.
Our older daughter, Chaya
Mushka, stayed this entire time in
Hampi with two yeshiva students
working for us on shlichus. Since
we felt that the child was in good
hands, we decided that I should
return to the Chabad House. In
the meantime, my wife remained
at the hospital with our little girl.
At a certain stage, there
was another serious decline
in her condition and my wife
told me to hurry back to Hubli.
During the intervening time,
our daughter was transported
by private ambulance to a larger
university hospital, where a team
of physicians fought to save her
life. At this point, we put out
a call for people to pray for her
recovery. However, by the time
I reached the hospital, I realized
that the doctors had given up
hope. Leading medical experts
from Eretz Yisroel, including
Professors Sorkin and Berkowitz,
with whom we had made
contact with the help of Rabbi
Eli Wolff from Ohr Avner, gave
us constant advice and support
while speaking with the hospital
staff during those difficult hours
but it appears that her fate had
already been determined.
12 21 Shvat 5777
1057_bm_eng.indd 12
operate with the strength of the
Rabbi Grumachs voice
choked with emotion as he
described those difficult and
somber moments as they
desperately waited for a miracle.
While our anguish ran very
deep, it was still quite moving
to see how all of Chabad came
to our assistance. We received
telephone calls from the shluchim
in Thailand and Hong Kong.
Rabbi Yisroel Kozlovsky from
Bombay, Rabbi Eliran Russo,
Rabbi Betzalel Kupchik from
Poona, my brother-in-law Rabbi
Akiva Sudri each one helped in
his own way. We felt that all of us
were serving the same master.
The pain must have been so
intense. How did you manage
to uplift yourselves from such a
tragedy to return to the place of
your shlichus and continue with
even greater fortitude?
Despite everything, we never
thought for a moment about
leaving our shlichus. Naturally,
one might think naively that if
the doctor at the private clinic
had diagnosed the problem
right away, she then would
have received the appropriate
treatment and survived her
illness. This is a trick of the
yetzer hara. We know that a
Gentile has no free choice, and
it was the Divine Hand of Alm-
ghty G-d that implemented this
terrible decree.
Its quite clear to us that
the forces of spiritual evil make
tremendous efforts to impair
the spreading of the wellsprings
of Chassidus in India. Theres
a great movement here toward
the path of Torah, while the side
opposing holiness takes every
possible step to chv prevent
the realization of the Rebbes
objective and mission. We
Rebbe.
INCREASING IN PURITY
AGAINST ALL ODDS
During the period of the
Shiva, the Grumachs had already
resolved to increase in spreading
the light of Torah. The decision
was made to build a mikveh in
remote Hampi.
Practically speaking, the
mikveh construction had begun
more than five years earlier.
The closest mikveh to Hampi
was a fifteen-hour journey
away. Torah observant tourists
would settle for immersing
themselves in the river, but this
posed many halachic problems
and constituted a kosher
immersion only by the most
lenient standards. At first, we
thought that we would just make
a regular mikveh. However, after
the passing of our daughter,
we decided to build the most
beautiful mikveh possible in her
memory.
That Friday, we arrived
in Eretz Yisroel for the funeral
procession. Months later, as the
month of Elul began and the High
Holiday season approached, I
flew to India earlier than usual
to get the mikveh project rolling.
Before the flight, I sat with Rabbi
Boaz Lerner, and he exposed
me to the various halachos
pertaining to mikvaos. I began
to have a greater understanding
of the complexity of the project,
especially in a village as remote as
ours, yet I remained determined.
2017-02-14 8:40:33 AM

Can you share with our
readers about what it means to
build a mikveh in India?
In an organized country,
once you manage to collect all
the money for the construction of
a mikva, you then have to bring
an engineer, a contractor, submit
the building plans, and regularly
check to see that the work is
being done to your satisfaction.
Not so in India. There, I was the
contractor, I was the engineer,
and I was the architect.
The difficulties began from
the very start of the project.
Every time the diggers started
work, they came across a solid
and impermeable rock. As a
result, we moved from place to
place until we managed to dig
a relatively deep pit. However,
this still wasnt enough and it
was decided to build part of
the pit outside. To try and hew
the rock, we ordered a special
tractor with a jackhammer that
managed to split the rock only
slightly. By the way, in order for
the tractor to get to us, we had
to obtain permission to cut off
the electricity from the entire
village
1057_bm_eng.indd 13
Beauty and splendor in every corner
Sounds really exhausting
This was just the beginning.
The main difficulty was the
language barrier. I say one thing,
but the workers understand
something else or they want to
understand something else. For
example, when we reached the
floor installation stage, theres
a halachic stringency that the
bottom of the ceramic tiles
should not have a receptacle.
Since most ceramic tiles have
a receptacle in order to stick
firmly to the surface, we searched
throughout southern India until
we found what we wanted.
When the tiler was called
in to do the job, he asked why
we had delayed so long with the
floor installation, and I explained
to him. He prepared the building
materials and in the meantime, I
had to go to the Chabad House.
Due to some other matter that I
had to arrange for the mikveh,
I arrived back at the site and
saw that the tiler had affixed the
ceramics face down. For some
reason, he had understood that
this was what I had wanted him
to do Thanks to G-ds Divine
Kindnesses, I got there before
the glue dried, leaving time to
remove the tiles and stick them
back on the right way.
At a certain point, after the
pit had been built, we had to
check and see that there was no
leakage. We closed the pit with
thick plastic and filled it with
water, and I then inserted a nail
at a certain height and measured
each day how much water was
trickling in. I came on the first
day and detected no seepage.
When I returned the second day
and saw the same results, I was
very pleased. However, on the
third day, I was stunned to find
more than three centimeters of
water in the pit. I was bitterly
disappointed.
By Divine Providence, I
suddenly noticed the workers
taking jugs of water from the
mikveh to wash their hands. It
turned out that despite having
warned them not to do so, they
started using the mikveh waters,
and this was the reason for the
seepage. I was relieved by my
discovery and my good fortune in
seeing this myself, otherwise, we
would have had to work hard to
reseal the pit all for nothing.
Issue 1057 13
2017-02-14 8:40:36 AM
 SHLICHUS PROFILE

In fact, the biggest problem

770 RESTAURANT with the mikveh construction
I would like to tell you was the need for running water.
something interesting. The Ninety percent of the houses
person who cut the ribbon at the in Hampi have no bathroom
mikveh dedication ceremony or indoor plumbing. Local
was a local Gentile named residents use the river as their
Sino. During the first year after main water source. They also
our arrival, he would come to get their drinking water during
the Chabad House each day, an hour each morning, filling
sometimes several times a day, up their bottles themselves. A
since he worked as an errand mikveh needs running water.
boy at the local grocery store. What was the solution? Digging
The first few times he would a well. How did I know where
come, he would peek inside and to dig? We brought in a special
head off to work. However, as excavation truck. India has a
time passed, he would bring us very primitive, albeit successful,
the groceries and stay to watch approach on determining where
our work with the tourists. I water is located and at what
naively thought that he was just depth. A local Indian, expert
Sino on another one another tactless local, and I in finding underground water
of his errands for the didnt really pay much attention sources, walks with a coconut in
Chabad House to him, even when he started his hand. When he stops with the
asking questions. coconut, we know that theres a
Eventually, he started fixing anything that needed to be fixed in the source of waters underneath.
Chabad House, even without asking. At a certain stage, I became suspicious This wasnt so simple, and I
that he was doing this to get some form of payment. Yet, the fact was that asked rabbanim if this was a case
he made his repairs and went on his way. When we offered to pay him, he of avoda zara. The truth is that
gently but firmly refused. He took great interest in our activities, all done on we were dealing with someone
a volunteer basis. He soon became the Chabad House all-purpose jack-of- who had a blood type with a high
all-trades level of sensitivity to water.
If an Israeli was a patient in an Indian hospital, he would travel there After this Indian found us
to make certain that they were giving him proper treatment. If a Jew was a likely spot, the truck started
a victim of theft, he ran to help him. When we wanted to buy a large drilling, and a few hours later, we
Chanukah menorah, I drew him a model. He then immediately went to found water. We were very happy.
the nearest town and came back with exactly what we wanted. During the Later, we learned that many local
last two years, he has been a tremendous help in our mikveh construction villagers had been dreaming
project. He was our interpreter and was involved in acquiring the necessary about a well in their courtyard.
raw materials and finding the best workmen and tools. However, in most instances, even
Three years ago, Sino was privileged to experience personally an when they found water, it was a
amazing miracle from the Rebbe. One day, he came to the Chabad House very sparse amount.
with a very sad expression. When we asked what was wrong, he said that Now, all that remained was
his newborn son had just died due to complications arising from his birth. to set up the electrical power.
He asked if he too could write to Moshiach Baba just as the Jews do, and The truth was that we really
I replied that he could. The answer he received was directed to a gabbai, couldnt rely on the Indian
and among other things the Rebbe blessed his wife with an easy and normal electricians. Anytime an Israeli
birth. I told him that the Rebbe had blessed him to have a son, and lo and came into the Chabad House,
behold, this is exactly what happened. Ten months later, his wife gave birth he was immediately asked if he
to a healthy baby boy. Any time Sino meets an Israeli tourist, he tells him knew something about electricity.
about his son who was born in the merit of the Rebbes bracha. However, we always got a
Sino doesnt do anything without writing to the Rebbe. He recently negative reply. Then, just as we
decided to open a restaurant, but not before receiving the Rebbes bracha. were about to throw in the towel,
By the way, the restaurants name is 770 Restaurant an Israeli named Oria Ehrlich

14 21 Shvat 5777

1057_bm_eng.indd 14 2017-02-14 8:40:36 AM

 arrived at the Chabad House.
He was on a two-week vacation
in India, including one week in
Hampi. When he heard that we
were looking for an electrician, he
happily came to our assistance.
It turned out that he was in
charge of the electrical systems
at several Israeli hospitals, and
he volunteered to handle the
electricity at the mikveh. Over a
period of three days, he drilled
through walls, connected and fed
the wiring, until everything was
ready to go.
The greatest case of
Divine Providence we had ever
experienced was when we needed
running water. Hampi doesnt
get rain during the winter only
during the summer months. Yet,
when the summer arrived, there
still hadnt been a drop of rain.
The farmers were already quite
despairing and the whole country
was talking about the drought.
Yet, on the day the mikveh was
ready, rain began to fall in a
storm that would last for three
days. The Indian who worked
with us at the Chabad House and
had seen this miracle himself told
all his friends, You know why it
started raining? In the merit of
the mikveh
The work continued and
continued until, to our great
joy, it was finally completed.
Many people have already been
privileged to immerse themselves
in the mikveh, all with a great
feeling of appreciation. Outside,
the neighbors homes look as
if theyre about to cave in, no
paved roads and no running
water, fruits lying everywhere in
the mud and dirt, while inside,
theres a beautifully designed,
modern, kosher mikveh.
AN INTERNATIONAL
MIKVEH
Last month, you celebrated
1057_bm_eng.indd 15
the dedication of the mikveh.
What are your feelings during
these days after the completion
of this building project?
Its a kind of fulfillment.
Weve been waiting for this
moment for a very long time.
The investment was tremendous,
yet we didnt relent. My wife
remained steadfast as she made
certain that the entire interior
design was not lacking in beauty
and grandeur. We laugh and
say that this is an international
mikveh: The flowers came from
Sri Lanka, the ornamentation
came from the United States,
the lighting was from Bombay,
while other components came
from Eretz Yisroel. It was
very important to us to do the
unbelievable and build a high-
quality mikveh.
Moreover, I feel a sense of
continuity. While our daughter
Devorah Leah Geula is no longer
with us, her spirit remains.
She was our strength and our
motivation, and in her merit,
we succeeded in completing our
mission.
How do you, in distant
Hampi, manage with all these
difficulties, and yet see the light
of the Redemption?
The very fact that we have an
elegant and decorative mikveh,
under constant and intensive
usage, is already Redemption. For
the growing number of families
who are using this mikveh, this is
Redemption!
THE GENEROUS
AMONG OUR PEOPLE
As mentioned earlier, a
moving event was held last
month for the dedication of the
new Hampi mikveh. Honored
participants at this event
included several of the shluchim
throughout India, among them
Rabbi Betzalel Kupchik from
Poona and Rabbi Akiva Sudri
from New Delhi. During the
ceremony, the shluchim gave over
divrei Torah, put up the mezuzos,
while those in attendance visited
the mikveh, accompanied by
a detailed explanation of the
importance of family purity.
At the end of the interview,
Rabbi Grumach asked if he
could give his thanks to several
generous people in whose merit
the mikveh was built. First and
foremost, there is Rabbi Meir
Gutnick from Crown Heights,
who contributed substantially
towards this project. In
recognition of his support,
the mikveh was named in part
after his mother, Devorah
bas Avraham. Another donor
who took a significant role in
this project is Rabbi Moshe
Mortner from Mexico. An
additional measure of thanks
and appreciation also goes
to the mikvehs architect and
primary motivating force in both
material and spiritual terms,
Rabbi Boaz Lerner, who passed
away during the construction
process. Similarly, thanks go to
those Tmimim who were active
partners in the mikveh project:
Menachem Cohen, Avichai Said,
and Mendy Grumach.
Chassidim and many friends
also gave via the Charidy
fundraiser we ran, and we owe
them our deepest appreciation
as well, said Rabbi Grumach
in conclusion. This naturally
includes the shluchim Rabbi
Betzalel Kupchik from Poona,
Rabbi Akiva Sudri from New
Delhi, and Rabbi Boaz Jurkowicz,
who accompanied us every step
of the way. Many of the tourists
and backpackers who passed our
way also gave contributions, and
this is one of the unique aspects
to our mikveh.
Issue 1057 15
2017-02-14 8:40:36 AM
 STORIES
BUILDING UP
OTHERS
For 22 Shvat, when the Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka
ah passed away, we will focus on her care and
concern for others, even when it was at her
personal expense. * Stories about her devotion
to the Rebbe and Klal Yisroel.
COUNTER-
REVOLUTIONARY
ACTIVITY
The Communist Revolution
began before the passing of the
Rebbe Rashab. His successor, the
Rebbe Rayatz, fought fearlessly to
defend Judaism. Throughout this
time, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka
stood at her fathers side and was
involved in his dangerous holy
work.
For example, when the Rebbe
Rayatz needed someone to
secretly bring food and candles
to the Litvishe Novardok yeshiva
which was in Rostov at the time,
he chose his middle daughter. She
did the job successfully, every day,
for a long time.
SAVING THE
MANUSCRIPTS
Even when they came to arrest
the Rebbe Rayatz and take him
to prison, she had her wits about
16 21 Shvat 5777
1057_bm_eng.indd 16
her. When she noticed through
the window that the Rebbe (her
future husband) was approaching,
she warned him, Schneersohn,
guests came to visit us!
The Rebbe got the hint and
worked all that night to rescue the
precious manuscripts and to burn
incriminating evidence that was in
the homes of several Chassidim.
She had a great share in this
rescue, and the efforts to rescue
her father.
ON FOREIGN SOIL
After she married, the couple
settled in Berlin. The Rebbetzin
followed her husband willingly and
happily, even though this meant
being cut off from the Chassidic
center of her fathers court. She
lived in a studio apartment in west
Berlin and then in Paris, isolated
and far from her family. She
literally fulfilled, Following you
in the desert, in a land not sown,
and it was all for the Rebbe.
TO SAVE THE REBBE
The Rebbetzin recounted
that she was once walking down
the street in Germany with her
husband when she saw a group
of Nazis in uniform heading in
their direction. She was frightened
by the looks on their faces and
she asked the Rebbe to hide in a
nearby store until they passed. But
the Rebbe decided to ignore their
existence and continued walking
as though they did not exist.
TAKING CARE
While in Paris, the Rebbetzin
would walk long distances to a
barn in order to watch the milking
so it would be chalav Yisroel. Then
she used the milk to prepare food
for the Rebbe.
R Eliyahu Reichman arrived
in Paris around Pesach time. He
was surprised to see the Rebbetzin
selecting kernels of wheat and
doing the entire matza baking
process in a small hand oven.
He was amazed by the great care
she took and she explained that
her husband ate nothing outside
the home. Despite the limited
quantity, the Rebbe gave him from
those matzos.
THEY PLOWED AND
SOWED FOR US
Regarding the period they lived
in Paris, the Rebbetzin once said
to one of the shluchos there, We
plowed and sowed and you need
to reap.
RETURNING TO THE
LIONS DEN
When the Nazis were in
control of Germany but had not
yet invaded France, the Rebbes
brother, R Yisroel Aryeh Leib,
needed documents from the Nazi
regime. The Rebbe wanted to go
2017-02-14 8:40:37 AM
 to Germany for this reason but
the Rebbetzin carried out this
dangerous task.
TSHUVA FOR
PUSHING A JEW
After the Nazis invaded, the
Rebbe and Rebbetzin escaped
Paris for Vichy. During one of the
bombing raids, the Rebbetzin saw
that one of the planes that passed
overhead had dropped a bomb.
Near her stood a man who had
not noticed this. The Rebbetzin,
fearing that if he did not lie down
immediately, he would be hurt,
quickly pushed him with all her
strength off to the side, and he
was saved.
When she related this, she said,
Although the Jew was saved from
being injured, I pushed him, and
for pushing a Jew, tshuva must be
done.
CLEVER SAVE
The Rebbetzin related:
I was once walking near the
coast in Nice and I saw a Jewish
woman, the wife of a rabbi from
Belgium. I asked her, What are
you doing here? She said she was
waiting for her husband who had
gone to immerse in the sea. He
had immersed some distance away
from where people bathed and his
clothes were off to the side.
As we stood there, we
suddenly noticed a group of
Germans approaching us. Nice
was not officially under their
control, but their fear was felt
there too. The main concern
was for her husband who looked
obviously Jewish, and we did not
know what to do.
Then I had an idea. I went
over to the lifeguard and told
him in French, Isnt that a head
over there, far out in the water?
As he looked, I hinted that they
shouldnt see him. The lifeguard
1057_bm_eng.indd 17
understood the hint and took the
lifeboat and rowed over as though
to rescue someone. He then
grabbed the rabbi and dragged
him far from the beach.
In the meantime, the
Germans came over and watched
what was happening. They paid
no attention to me or the other
woman. They saw the Jew who
was in the boat with the lifeguard,
but since they were at a distance,
they just walked on.
The lifeguard dropped the
rabbi off further away and let him
get dressed. Later on, when he
returned home, the woman sent
me one of her little daughters to
tell me not to worry since he came
back and everything was fine. But
I wasnt home because I had just
gone to bring chalav Yisroel.
IT TIPPED THE SCALE
After the passing of the Rebbe
Rayatz, the Chassidim begged
the Rebbe to accept the Chabad
leadership, but to no avail. The
one who may have had the
deciding voice was the Rebbetzin,
who said It is not possible that
my fathers mesirus nefesh for
thirty years will go to waste.
FALSEHOOD
FOR A CAUSE
The Rebbes brother, R Yisroel
Aryeh Leib, passed away on 13
Iyar 5712/1952. The Rebbe
and Rebbetzin did all they could
so that his mother, Rebbetzin
Chana, would not know of his
passing. The Rebbetzin helped
arrange scripted telegrams from
the deceased son to his mother.
In a rare comment, the Rebbetzin
said to Rabbi Bentzion Shemtov,
I never said anything that
wasnt true (another version: a
falsehood), and now I need to do
so, and she sighed.
CONCERN FOR THE
WELFARE OF THE
REFUGEES
In 5714, the Rebbetzin made
a quiet visit to Paris. R Refael
Wilschansky ah, told about this:
The Rebbetzin took a great
interest in the lives of the refugees
in Paris, among whom was a large
group from Anash. They had
left Russia and lived under very
difficult conditions. In the tone
and type of questions, and in her
general demeanor, her genuine
concern, like a mother for her
children, was apparent.
HIS WILL HER WILL
On Shmini Atzeres 5738,
when the Rebbe suffered heart
trouble, the Rebbetzin arrived at
770. They asked her to prevail on
the Rebbe to go to the hospital.
The Rebbetzin firmly refused to
do what the Rebbe did not want.
Throughout that period, the
Rebbe stayed in his room in 770,
as he desired.
THE REBBE AND
SFARIM BELONG TO
THE CHASSIDIM
In the court case regarding the
sfarim, the issue revolved around
one question: Did the sfarim
belong to the Rebbe as a private
person or as a leader. They went
to the Rebbetzin, in her home, to
obtain testimony.
The Rebbetzin answered
all the questions clearly and
firmly, without being fazed by
the lawyers of the other side who
tried to get her to say at least a
few words in their favor, but they
were unsuccessful. During her
testimony, she said the famous
line, My father belonged to the
Chassidim, and what he had
belonged to the Chassidim.
This line led to the decisive
Issue 1057 17
2017-02-14 8:40:38 AM
 Stories
victory in the courthouse and on
5 Teves 5747, the court declared
that the Rebbe and the sfarim
belong to the Chassidim.
NO STRAIN
One of the Tmimim was once
asked to bring some items that
the Rebbetzin had ordered from
the grocery store to her house.
He hurried to do so and when
he arrived at her house, after the
Rebbetzin thanked him, he said
that the man at the store asked him
to take back some empty beverage
bottles. When the Rebbetzin
realized that he had no wagon to
carry them, she refused to allow
him to take the empty bottles.
I HAVE HIM IN MIND
R Berel Junik related that one
of the times that R Berel Levy ah
was in Russia, for Chanuka 5742,
the Rebbetzin told him, I call him
to mind every day because the
current relations with Russia are
tense.
R Berel also told about a visit
he made to her house with his
daughter:
The Rebbetzin spoke a lot
with the girl. She asked her
whether she missed her mother
who went to Miami for a few days,
took an interest in her studies and
all the family members in detail.
Outside it was very cold and the
Rebbetzin said, When I call to
mind that you will soon have to
go out to the street, I become cold
now.
A GIFT THAT WILL
MAKE THE RECIPIENT
HAPPY
When a certain girl went
to the Rebbetzin to receive a
blessing before her bas mitzva,
the Rebbetzin did all she could to
ascertain what present she would
18 21 Shvat 5777
1057_bm_eng.indd 18
most like to receive.
FEELING FOR OTHERS
R Chesed Halberstam related:
The Rebbetzins personal
concern for my family was
apparent in every detail. When a
family member was in labor and
she was in critical condition due to
some complication, the Rebbetzin
said she could not sleep at night!
So too with a joyous occasion,
when my family was able to get an
apartment, which entailed many
difficulties, the Rebbetzin said
that she could not sleep all night
because she was so happy for us.
SEEING THE BLESSING
IN EVERYTHING
A chassan and kalla and
their families went to visit the
Rebbetzin. On the table was a
pitcher with a red punch and
near it were large glasses. The
Rebbetzin offered drinks and
said to the chassan, You are the
chassan, please pour.
The chassan poured and the
glass turned over and the punch
spilled on the tablecloth. You
can imagine how he felt. But the
Rebbetzin immediately said, Nu,
it is a siman bracha.
THE DAILY GUEST
A certain bachur was invited
by the Rebbetzin to eat in her
home every day. It was during
the summer, when most of the
bachurim had gone off on shlichus
and he was practically alone. He
would come each day and the
Rebbetzin would prepare a hot
meal for him and do everything to
make him feel comfortable.
WIG SUPPORT
Mrs. Frieda Kugel, a wig maker
in Crown Heights, recounts:
Shortly after I opened the
wig store, as per the Rebbes
instructions, I received a call
from the Rebbetzin who asked
to order a wig. From then until
her passing in 5748, she ordered
wigs from me on a regular basis.
The Rebbetzin ordered many
wigs from us and would also send
them in to be repaired, but she
always ordered the same style.
Apparently, the reason that the
Rebbetzin chose to buy from me
and not from the larger stores, was
because the Rebbe had asked that
people support the wig stores that
had opened in the neighborhood.
NOT TO
HOLD HIM BACK
The Rebbetzin did everything
in her power to support the
Rebbes holy work. She never
asked the Rebbe to curtail or
lighten his workload because of
her loneliness. And on nights that
a farbrengen or yechidus was held,
the Rebbetzin would not go to bed
until he returned home.
Once, she experienced pains
in her hand during the evening
hours, and she called one of the
women close to her to ask that she
get a nurse to come to the house.
Due to the late hour, it was hard to
find a nurse that would come out.
Ten minutes later, she called again
to find out what was happening,
and she explained: My husband
is here with me and he says he will
not leave to go to 770 until a nurse
arrives. I know how important it is
to him to be with the Chassidim
and for the Chassidim to be with
him, and I dont want to hold him
up even one extra second.
TO AVOID NOTICE
Once the Rebbetzin hurt her
foot and was not able to walk
properly. She did everything
possible so that the Rebbe should
2017-02-14 8:40:39 AM
 not notice, and on Friday night
she awaited the Rebbes arrival
while she remained seated. When
it came time to serve the soup,
she was concerned that the Rebbe
might notice that she was not
serving the soup herself. However,
at that exact time, the Rebbe began
to sing Azamer BShevachin She would speak of them with
with tremendous dveikus and
closed eyes. The helper hurried
to serve the soup, and when the
Rebbe concluded the niggun and
opened his eyes, the soup was
already on the table.
NOT TO CAUSE
HIM ANGUISH
In her later years, when the
Rebbetzin was suffering greatly
from health problems, she did all
that she could to conceal it from
the Rebbe. When they asked her,
Jews from all around the world
wish for themselves that the
Rebbe mention their names for
a blessing, and you are avoiding
telling him? She responded
simply, It is important to me not
to cause him any anguish.
THE TITLE
THAT STUCK
R Chesed Halberstam
recounted: One time during
the period leading up to Pesach,
the Rebbe walked into the house
while I was still in middle of
working. The Rebbetzin took
the opportunity to tell the Rebbe,
This bachur made Pesach for me
this year. The Rebbe answered
glowingly, He is a Sanzer
descendant and you call him a
bachur?
On another occasion, during
that same period, when the Rebbe
heard the Rebbetzin refer to him as
Halberstam, the Rebbe corrected
her and said, Rabbi Halberstam.
From that point on, every day for
the next 18 years, the Rebbetzin
1057_bm_eng.indd 19
was particular to refer to him only
as Rabbi Halberstam. Because
that is what the Rebbe said.
SHARING THE JOY
The Rebbetzin took great
pride in the work of the shluchim.
admiration, amazement and
endless love. She would often
say, The shluchim deserve all
the credit. She was always very
happy to hear a report about the
growth and development of any
individual shliach or the institution
of shlichus in general. It was
something that she lived with and
would become very excited and
emotional about their work.
ENCOURAGEMENT
The Rebbetzin once inquired
of a chassan as to his plans
following his wedding. When he
answered that he planned to learn
in kollel, she asked about what he
planned to do after that. When
he answered, We are hoping
with Hashems help to go out on
shlichus, the Rebbetzin became
very serious and said, You are
young and energetic, and with
Hashems help you will succeed in
shlichus.
THE POWER
OF BLESSING
In honor of the Rebbetzins
birthday, Nshei Chabad once
sent a bouquet of flowers to
the Rebbetzin. Attached to the
bouquet was an envelope with
a list of names of people who
needed a blessing. R Chesed
Halberstam handed the bouquet
to the Rebbetzin and brought
the envelope to the Rebbe. The
Rebbe glanced at the envelope
and seeing that it was addressed
to the Rebbetzin asked why R
Halberstam had brought it him.
When he answered that it was a
list of people that were in need of
a blessing, the Rebbe responded,
Nu, she can bless too.
TRUE NACHAS
At the conclusion of a visit to
the Rebbetzin, a certain Chassid
wished her that the Rebbe should
be healthy and derive much nachas
from us. The Rebbetzin replied,
Our nachas is when we hear that
you have nachas.
NEED FOR
REVELATION
On a number of occasions,
the Rebbetzin was heard to say,
Moshiach is here, it is only
necessary to reveal him.
DEPARTING
WITH A BLESSING
Before her passing in the
hospital, the Rebbetzin asked
for a glass of water. Mrs. Esther
Sternberg ran immediately
to bring her a glass of water.
Knowing that the Rebbetzin would
feel uncomfortable if she would
see her there, at a time when she
would ordinarily be home with
her children, she avoided showing
her face and gave the glass to
R Sholom Dovber Gansbourg
to give to the Rebbetzin. The
Rebbetzin made a shehakol and
drank a bit of the water. Then
she said to him, Sholom, just as
you were mechayeh (revived) me,
Hashem should be mechayeh (give
life) you.
HER TRUE WORTH
To one of the people who
came to offer consolations, the
Rebbe said, In my opinion,
any assessment is insufficient
to express her true level. Only
Hashem knows her true level.
Issue 1057 19
2017-02-14 8:40:40 AM
 MOSHIACH & HAYOM YOM
WHY THE FRIERDIKE
REBBE PUT SO MUCH
EFFORT INTO THE
EDUCATION OF GIRLS
AND WOMEN
By Rabbi Gershon Avtzon
Dear Reader shyichyeh,
This Shabbos (Yisro) is Chaf
Beis Shvat. It marks the 29th
Yahrtzait of Rebbetzin Chaya
Mushka, as well as the Kinus
HaShluchos. It is only fitting
that this weeks lesson should be
focused on the role of women
in Avodas HaChassidus and
especially in the Avoda of our
time: To greet our righteous
Moshiach in actual reality, in
order that he should be able to
fulfill his shlichus in actuality and
bring all the Jews out of exile!
It is well known that
historically women were not
taught Torah and certainly not
the secrets of the Torah. This
all changed with the revelation
of Chassidus. From early on,
Chassidim put a focus on the
education of women and young
girls. As time went on and the
winds of enlightenment and
culture were spreading over
the world, and as we get closer
to the Geula, the Rebbeim put
a bigger emphasis on this. The
Rebbe often points out that the
Frierdike Rebbe founded Achos
HaTmimim and spoke of the
tremendous responsibilities of
the Jewish woman. The Rebbe
himself would address many
women-only gatherings and
encourage the attendees to utilize
20 21 Shvat 5777
1057_bm_eng.indd 20
their natural caring
tendencies to affect those around
them.
[This idea, of teaching Torah
to women and girls, is also
alluded to in this weeks parsha,
the parsha of the giving of the
Torah. When Hashem instructs
Moshe Rabbeinu to give over
the Torah, he tells him (19:3):
Moshe ascended to
Hashem, and the Lord called to
him from the mountain, saying,
So shall you say to the house
of Yaakov and tell the sons of
Yisroel. Chazal (brought down
in Rashi) tell us that the house of
Yaakov is referring to the Jewish
women. Moshe was told of the
importance of their instruction
and teaching before the men!]
In the HaYom Yom of 26
Adar Beis, the Rebbe (based on
Sichos and letters of the Frierdike
Rebbe) writes: All that is sacred to
the nation of the Gd of Avraham
and is fundamental to the house
of Israel in establishing and
rearing an upright generation,
kashrus of food, the sublime
pure holiness of Shabbat, was
entrusted by the awesome and
revered Gd, for preservation
and development, to the woman
of Israel. The woman who fulfills
her obligation and destiny in the
life of the family, in conducting
the home, and in seeing that the
education be according to Torah,
this woman is the subject of the
verse, The wisdom of women
constructed her home.
Similarly, in the HaYom Yom
of 21 Shvat: It is the duty of
Chassidic wives and daughters
(may they live and be well) to
stand in the first rank of every
activity dedicated to strengthening
religion and Judaism in general,
particularly concerning taharas
hamishpacha. They must
organize a Society of Chassidic
Daughters to reinforce all the
chassidic practices concerning
upbringing and education of
children as prevalent from time
immemorial in chassidic homes.
[It bears noting: These are
the two main HaYom Yom entries
that focus on the role of the
woman in the home and in her
community. Both are connected
to the Rebbetzin: The first one
is a day after her birthday and
the second a day before her
Histalkus.]
In last weeks column, we
mentioned the farbrengen of Yud
Shvat 5717 (as it corresponds
to the seventh chapter of Basi
LGani that we all learned this
2017-02-14 8:40:41 AM
 year). In that farbrengen (Toras
Menachem Vol. 19 pg. 62) the
Rebbe addresses a question that
brings out the uniqueness of the
way women serve Hashem.
The question: In Parshas
BShalach, the men sing Az
Yashir with Moshe Rabbeinu and
the women sing with Miriam.
It seems that the main singing
is by the men. Yet, the Haftora
speaks of the singing of Devorah,
which would show that there is
something about the singing of
the women in the Parsha that is
even greater than the singing of
the men?
The Rebbe brings a fascinating
answer from the Tzemach
Tzedek: Because their singing
was with great joy, together with
their musical instruments, it made
a deeper and more profound
impression above by Hashem. It
is the women that have the power
to really affect the future of the
Jewish people.
This extra enthusiasm and
joy is a continuation of the
general merit of women that
brought about the exodus from
Mitzrayim. It was the righteous
women of that generation, who
strove mightily to continue to
bring forth children, regardless of
the grueling servitude and despite
Pharaohs decree that the male
children be killed. Hashem aided
them in realizing their wish by
miraculous means.
The midrash recounts that
when Pharaoh decreed that
every boy that is born you shall
throw into the Nile (Shmos
1:22), some men did not want to
have more children. What did the
Jewish women do? They went to
draw water and Hashem provided
that half of their jugs be filled
with water and half with small
fish. They would return home and
place two pots on the fire, one for
hot water and the other for the
1057_bm_eng.indd 21
fish, which they would bring to
their husbands in the field. There
they washed them, anointed
them, fed them, and kept up their
relationship so that they would
have more children together.
(Sota 11b)
The women were already
pregnant when they returned
home from the fields. When the
time came for them to give birth,
they cast their gaze heavenward,
and said to Hashem: I have done
my part regarding what You said,
Be fertile and multiply, now
You do Your part. The women
would go to the fields to prevent
the Egyptians from killing their
sons and would give birth under
the apple trees, as it says (Shir
HaShirim. 8:5): Under the
apple tree I roused you; it was
there your mother conceived you,
there she who bore you conceived
you. Hashem would dispatch
two angels from heaven above
who would cleanse the infants, as
a midwife cleanses the newborn.
They then brought the infants
two round stones, one of oil and
the other of honey, and they fed
them, as is said (Deut. 32:13):
He fed him honey from the crag,
and oil from the flinty rock.
According to another tradition,
the Holy One, blessed be He,
Himself cared for the infants, as
it is said (Yechezkel 16:9 10):
I washed you in water [] I
clothed you with embroidered
garments. (Dvarim Rabba 14
15)
When the Egyptians saw the
Jewish women going to the fields
to give birth, they would take
stones and go to kill the infants.
Hashem performed a miracle, and
the babies were swallowed by the
earth. One tradition attests that
the infants were swallowed in the
field, to reappear far away, before
being swallowed yet again and
again, until the Egyptians tired
and left. According to another
tradition, the Egyptians would
bring oxen and plow the ground
in order to find the infants, but
without success. After the danger
had passed, the children would
burst forth from the ground, like
the plants of the field, as it is said
(Yechezkel 16:7): I let you grow
like the plants of the field; and
you continued to grow up. When
they grew up, they returned to
their homes in flocks, as the same
verse says: and you continued to
grow up ba-adi adayim, reading
the latter phrase (literally, with
the choicest adornments; usually
translated, in the context of the
verse, in the sense of until you
attained to womanhood) as be-
edrei adarim, in flocks (Shmos
Rabba 1:1).
How did they know they
should go to their homes?
Hashem would enter with them.
He would show each one his
house, and tell him: Your father
is named so-and-so, and your
mother is named so-and-so. The
child would ask her: Dont you
remember that you gave birth
to me in such-and-such a field
on such-and-such a day, five
months ago? She would ask
him: And who raised you? And
the child would reply: A young
man with curly hair; none is as
fair as he. Here, he is outside
and he brought me here. His
mother would request: Show
him to me. They would go out
and search in all the lanes and
alleys, but they could not find him
(Dvarim Rabba 1415).
This is why when Hashem was
revealed to the Jews at the parting
of the Red Sea, the children
were the first to recognize Him,
since He had raised them and
cared for them in their infancy.
Consequently, they were the first
to sing This is my God and I will
glorify him (Shmos 15:2), for
Continued on page 32
Issue 1057 21
2017-02-14 8:40:41 AM
 MIRACLE STORY

WHEN I RESOLVED
TO LEARN RAMBAM
EACH DAY, THE REBBE
TURNED TO ME
R Menachem Mendel Hartman recalls an
expression of unique affection from the Rebbe
that he was privileged to receive during the
Yud-Beis Tammuz 5746 farbrengen, when he
resolved in his heart to learn Rambam each day.

By Nosson Avraham
Translated by Michoel Leib Dobry

F
or more than thirty years,
R Menachem Mendel
Hartman from Bnei
Brak has preserved the
memory of a revealed display of
ruach hakodesh by the Rebbe,
Melech HaMoshiach on the
13th of Tammuz 5746, when
he was visiting Beis Chayeinu
770 for the first time in his life,
together with his parents, Rabbi
Refael Tzvi and Mrs. Rivka Tova
Hartman.
Anyone acquainted with R
Mendy Hartman knows that he is
a tremendously energetic chassid
who lives to give life to others,
with a fervent hiskashrus to the
Rebbe surging through every fiber
of his body and soul. He serves
as a gabbai for one of the Chabad
shuls in the city of Torah and
Chassidus, also volunteering his
time in outreach activities for the
Chabad Mobile Centers in Eretz
HaKodesh.
Over the years, I have told
my story on numerous occasions,
mainly before yeshiva students,
in order to strengthen them in
fulfilling the Rebbes instruction
to learn the daily Rambam study.
However, I never considered it
appropriate to publicize the story
on a wide scale, Rabbi Hartman
said. The many years that have
passed have not lessened the
intense excitement from that
experience. I think that this story
can be a source of illumination for
awakening people to the fact that
there is a leader in our generation:
the Rebbe who knows and
provides guidance, a king whose
sovereignty we must accept.
THE REBBE
LIKE IN THE VIDEO
It was during Tammuz 5746
when I boarded a flight with my
parents to visit Beis Chayeinu
770. I was fourteen years old at
the time, and I was learning in a
class at the Chabad school in Lod
called kvutza ktana, designed
to prepare students for yeshiva.
Back in those days, my father
worked in the field of education
and ran the continuing study
program at Beis Rivka, while my
mother was a homemaker. This
was the first time in many years
that they had the opportunity to
travel to the Rebbe and thank him
for the bracha they had received
during a private audience,
resulting in my birth and the
birth of my four siblings after my

22 21 Shvat 5777

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 Issue 1057 23

1057_bm_eng.indd 23 2017-02-14 8:40:43 AM

 MIRACLE STORY

I was a young boy, and I felt very uncomfortable, Zirkind and nodded Lchaim.
Similarly, he continued to
rejected. Why didnt the Rebbe notice me? What recognize those above and below
did I do wrong? The Rebbe constantly looked to my right me, while I remained holding
my cup as the Rebbe moved on
and to my left; everyone around me was privileged to without giving me a bracha. This
get a Lchaim while I got no response. Ill never forgot gave me a feeling that is impossible
to explain to someone who has
that feeling of loneliness as my hand was left raised and never been there. Even though
unacknowledged. youre standing among hundreds
and thousands of people, and the
Rebbe is looking at you from a
parents had been married for ten in honor of Yud-Beis Tammuz. distance, every chassid can clearly
years. As the eldest child, I joined Chassidim in Eretz Yisroel were feel if the Rebbe is directing his
my parents for this trip. also celebrating the upcoming gaze towards him or moving on
Naturally, I was very happy; dedication of the 770 replica in to someone else. As for me, I
this was the first time in my life Kfar Chabad. It was a major topic definitely felt that the Rebbe was
that I had come to see and be of discussion, including in Crown passing me by, time after time. I
seen. Heights. was a young boy, and I felt very
Among other things, I The farbrengen began after uncomfortable, rejected. Why
remember from those days that the Rebbe returned from the didnt the Rebbe notice me?
there was a lottery held for the Ohel. I then saw the Rebbe for What did I do wrong? The Rebbe
privilege to place a Chumash the first time as he displayed a constantly looked to my right and
and Thillim on the Rebbes tremendously joyous reaction to my left; everyone around me
shtender before he entered the just as I had seen in the Tishrei was privileged to get a Lchaim
small upstairs zal for the Torah videos, fervently encouraging while I got no response. Ill never
reading. When the Rebbe would the singing of Nye Zoritche forgot that feeling of loneliness
return to his room, he would Chlaptze. Although 770 was filled as my hand was left raised and
leave the sfarim on the shtender, with Chassidim, it wasnt packed unacknowledged.
and the lucky person who placed to capacity, as many people were The truth is that no one had
them there would get to take in the mountains on vacation. appropriately prepared me for the
them. One day, I was privileged to During the farbrengen, the Rebbe trip. However, I felt deep inside
leave the Chumash on the Rebbes delivered several sichos, and that if I wanted the Rebbe to look
shtender, and the Rebbe looked in Chassidim sang niggunim during at me and give me a bracha, I
it during the Torah reading. the intervals. As was customary would have to accept upon myself
During the first days of during those intermissions, some good resolution. I dont
our visit to Beis Chayeinu, I the Chassidim would take the know how it entered my mind, but
didnt quite understand the opportunity to say Lchaim and the Rebbe has his ways to teach us
Rebbes conduct. It was all in a wait for the Rebbe to nod his head what to do and what he expects
mode of majesty and splendor in response. from us
literal kingship. This stood in I was standing on the pyramid Since our Sages, of righteous
contradiction to the impression along the western side of the shul. memory, have established that
that I had from seeing the video Above me was standing Rabbi a person knows and recognizes
clips that the photographer R Zirkind, who was translating the himself, I knew that the hardest
Levi Yitzchak Freidin showed all sichos for those unfamiliar with thing for me would be to dedicate
over the country after coming the Yiddish language. myself to the daily Rambam
back from Tishrei. In these video study. Unlike today, Rambam
clips, I always saw the Rebbe in THE REBBE WAITED sfarim were less user friendly
a state of great joy: encouraging, to younger students: smaller
FOR A GOOD print, crowded letters. Naturally,
smiling, and forcefully gesturing
with his hand. RESOLUTION this was before the existence
A few days after our arrival in At a certain point between of the weekly Dvar Malchus
770, there was a big farbrengen sichos, the Rebbe turned to R booklets. Often, there was no
seifer available. Thus, in order to

24 21 Shvat 5777

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 learn Rambam on a regular basis,
I had to make a firm decision. I
determined that it would be a
good decision for me to enter
the daily Rambam cycle, and I
again raised my cup to the Rebbe.
What happened next was simply
amazing and thrilling.
At that moment, the Rebbe
was looking at people in the
other direction. Then suddenly,
he turned sharply to the corner
where I was standing and looked
straight into my eyes. There
was no doubt about it. He then
nodded his head decisively as he
said Lchaim vlivracha Shnas Hakhel. Naturally, this
I stood on the pyramid
deeply moved, trembling from
the intensity of this unique
recognition from the Rebbe and
his revealed ruach hakodesh.
Later, I told my father what had
transpired, and everyone was very
impressed.
As our visit was approaching
its conclusion, my father spoke
to the secretary, Rabbi Leibel
Groner, and informed him that
we were preparing to leave. The
secretary told this to the Rebbe,
and he received three bills of
Israeli currency two of ten
shekels and a third bill for me.
And what did I receive?
Incredibly, it was a one-thousand-
shekel bill bearing a picture of
the Rambam. I looked at it and
I immediately understood that
the Rebbe was sending me yet
another message to keep the daily
Rambam study as I had resolved
to do. I was simply overjoyed, and
I felt that the Rebbe had given me
provisions for the journey: You
promised to maintain the daily
Rambam cycle? Ill give you a
reminder with this bill to dispel
any feeling of weakness in this
matter.
On the very day of the flight,
Sunday, we passed by the Rebbe
for dollars distribution. The
1057_bm_eng.indd 25
Rebbe gave each of us a dollar,
with the bracha: In a good and
auspicious hour. Good news.
THE DOLLAR FOUND
AFTER THIRTY YEARS
As a footnote to this story,
Rabbi Hartman shared another
amazing and thrilling story
with us from last year Shnas
Hakhel one that he deems a
continuation of the previous one.
By the Grace of G-d, our
whole family was privileged to
travel to the Rebbes court for
to all the dollars we had received
meant incurring some sizable
expenses, and there was a deep
concern over how we would be
able to cover this financially.
However, every time we wrote
to the Rebbe via Igros we were
privileged to receive clear answers.
In one response, the Rebbe wrote,
His trip has been arranged
with the El Al Company, and in
another letter, And similarly, they
have informed us of expenses and
they will receive a reimbursement
from the secretariat. We felt that
the Rebbe wanted us to come to
him and we have nothing to worry
about.
As Tishrei approached and
during the entire month we spent
in the Rebbes court, we spared no
expenses, conducting ourselves
like royalty, and everything
miraculously worked out in the
best possible way. When we
returned to Eretz Yisroel after
this intense experience that had
overwhelmed the entire family,
we received notification of a large
deposit in our bank account,
totally unexpected both in terms
of timing and the sum. I went
around with a feeling of I was
a wonder to many the Rebbe
promised, and the Rebbe fulfilled.
A few days earlier, my brother
arrived for summer vacation
from his shlichus in Odessa. He
had organized the closets and
boxes in our parents house, and
to everyones great surprise, he
found a misplaced package from
thirty years ago, containing the
dollars we had been privileged
to receive from the Rebbe.
Back in those days, my parents
were living in Bnei Brak, later
moving to Beit Shemesh. While
there, they eventually moved
to another apartment, leaving
many of their crated belongings
unopened. Every once in a while,
we wondered what had happened
from the Rebbe during that visit in
Tammuz 5746. However, no one
ever found the time to rummage
through the boxes. My brother did
this for us, fulfilling the principle
of Toil and you will find.
He gave each person the
dollars belonging to him. I
received three one from Gimmel
Tammuz, one from the 15th of
Tammuz, and another that the
Rebbe gave me on the 20th of
Tammuz. I thought about saving
the dollars for my children as a
segula and a bracha. However, I
never would have believed how
great the Divine Providence would
be. Our daughter was born on the
twentieth of Tammuz.
Imagine the feeling of
exhilaration of that moment. Just
a few days before, my brother
decided after thirty years to
organize the document drawer
in our parents house, and he
found a dollar from the Rebbe
that I received on the same date
the 20th of Tammuz. I felt that
the Rebbe was honoring me with
another expression of closeness
and affection
Fortunate are we, how good
is our portion, how pleasant is
our lot, and how beautiful is our
heritage
Issue 1057 25
2017-02-14 8:40:44 AM
 HALACHA 2 GO
SHEVA BRACHOS
EXPENSES
Selected Halachos from the
One Minute Halacha project
Mara Dasra and member of the Badatz of Crown Heights
DO WE NEED TO HOST
A SHEVA BRACHOS
EVERY DAY?
Sheva brachos (lit., seven
benedictions) are recited under
the chuppa (marriage canopy)
for the new couple, bestowing
upon them blessings for a happy
and fruitful life, as well as prayers
for the Final Redemption. It is a
time-honored custom that the
week following the wedding is
one of joyous celebration, when
feasts honoring the chassan
(groom) and kalla (bride)
conclude with a repetition of
the sheva brachos that were
recited under the chuppa.
However, contrary to common
belief and practice, there is no
requirement for these meals to
be held for seven consecutive
days (or nights). Historically,
these celebrations were mostly
circumstantial, when the halachic
requirements for hosting them
presented themselves: The new
chassan and kalla were in the
presence of a minyan (prayer
quorum [of a minimum ten
men]), along with a panim
chadashos (lit., a new face, i.e.
at least one of the minyan had
26 21 Shvat 5777
1057_bm_eng.indd 26
By HaRav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, Shlita,
not attended the wedding) and a
meal was hosted in honor of the
newly wedded couple.
The common custom in
prewar Europe was to celebrate
Sheva Brachos feasts on the night
of the wedding as part of the
seudas mitzvah (meal celebrating
a mitzvah occasion) and on the
Shabbos following the wedding
(often, these two coincided; it was
a commonand economical
practice to plan weddings for
Friday afternoons, and the
seudas mitzvah was the Friday
night Shabbos meal). Sometimes
additional Sheva Brachos were
hosted on the second and last
day of the post-wedding week.
Poskim of that time explain that
we are somewhat guarded in the
number of celebrations, since
during galus (exile) Arvah kol
simcha, (every [occasion of]
joy is darkened), as Yeshayah
HaNavi (the prophet) states
and it would be inappropriate to
celebrate so excessively.
There are halachic authorities,
however, who say that that it is
praiseworthy to add in Sheva
Brachos feasts, some who even
advocate celebrating twice each
day when money and effort are
no object. Couples who marry
in current timesand their
familiesshould be aware that
the community norm of at least
seven Sheva Brachos meals are
not mandated by halacha, and
hosting, planning and paying for
daily or nightly seudos should not
cause undue stress or financial
pressure.
BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE
Based on the pasuk (verse) in
Mishlei, Al timna tov mbaalav
bihyos lel yadcha laasos (Do
not withhold good from its
rightful owner when you have
the ability to do so), the Gemara
instructs us: Mihyos tov, al
tikarei ra (If you can be good,
dont be called not good). This
reading of al tikarei (dont
be called)a bid to act beyond
reproachis an emphasis of the
Shaloh (16th century halachic
authority and kabbalist; with
the usual pronunciation of the
word tikra, the phrase would
simply mean dont call it not
goodwhich is passive and
undemanding).
This principle encourages us
2017-02-14 8:40:44 AM
 to always choose the high road;
if we have the option of doing
something in a way that satisfies
all halachic opinions without
much difficulty, why would
we choose to do it in a lesser
manner?
Several examples of the
application of this pasuk* are
found in the Gemara: The
preferred way to recite Tfillas
HaDerech (prayer for travelers) is
in a standing position, although it
is halachically acceptable to recite
it while sitting. The Gemara tells
us, mihyos tovto recite it with this method, mihyos tov;
standing whenever possible.
Another example is the advice
given to the owner of a field: If
there are no fruits or vegetables
in your field that can be ruined,
allow people to take shortcuts
through your field, so that,
Mihyos tov, al tikarei ra! By
allowing trekkers through your
field, you are offering your best
behavior and forestalling negative
talk about you.
Choosing this path is also
advocated in various places
by poskim: Osek bmitzvah,
patur min hamitzvah (One
who is [currently] involved
in a mitzvah is exempt from
performing [another] mitzvah).
But if we can accomplish both
mitzvos simultaneously without
additional tirchah (bother),
why not do both? Additionally,
in cases involving a machlokes
(halachic disagreement) over
the acceptable performance of a
mitzvah, halacha states that if we
have the ability to do it in the best
possible way, we should choose
to do so.
For example, seawater should
not be used for netilas yadayim
(ritual hand-washing) because
of its high saline content. If
in a situation where it is the
only proper liquid available,
we should dip our hands in the
1057_bm_eng.indd 27
ocean instead of washing in the
usual manner with a kli (vessel).
If the seawater is far below at
a distance only accessible by
drawing it out, some poskim offer
a solution: There is the possibility
of lowering a kli that has a hole
in it to draw up the seawater,
thus maintaining contact between
the kli and the ocean waters
(through the water flowing from
the hole that is touching the sea),
so that it is similar to dipping.
Nonetheless, halacha tells us
that since some poskim disagree
that time onward, it includes
whenever practically possible, dip
hands directly into the ocean to
satisfy all opinions.
Although not specifically
found in a discussion of this
particular pasuk, the Gemara
relates another example of
striving for a higher level of
purity: if a person is considered
tahor (ritually pure) meikar
HaDin (strictly according to
Torah law) but has a mikva at
his disposalwhy not go and
toivel (immerse) if it involves no
hardship?
* The Gemara refers to it as
a pasuk using the terminology
haKasuv omer (the verse
states), although no such pasuk
exists. The Gemara then explains
its choice of terminologythis
is a principle deduced from
the above-mentioned pasuk in
Mishlei.
A KING FOR TODAY
It is a mitzvas aseh (a
positive commandmentone
of the 613) to elect a Jewish
king. The kings appointment
was originally dependent on
the settlement of Jews in Eretz
Yisroeland it is a mitzvah
that will be reinstated with the
upcoming Geula (Redemption
from exile) with the coronation
of Melech HaMoshiach, a scion
of beis Dovid (the [Royal] House
of King David), speedily in our
days.
However, there are aspects of
the mitzvah that are applicable
nowadays too. It states in the
liturgy of Kiddush Levana (the
prayer for blessing the New
Moon), Dovid melech Yisroel
chai vkayam! (David, the king
of Israel lives and endures). The
Rambam explains that Dovid
HaMelech was promised the
kingship forever, as stated in
the Navi (the Prophets). From
all of Jewish history: both when
Jews have sovereignty over Eretz
Yisroel and a Jewish king rules
overtly with all the physical
trappings of a monarchy, and
even during the times when
this position is only present in a
hidden manner.
The Reish Galusa (lit.,
Head in Exile or Exilarch) in
Babylonian times was of Beis
Dovid, and universally accepted
as a stand-in for the melech
by the expatriate Jews; this
designation would equally apply
to all Jewish leaders throughout
galus who share this special
ancestry.
Our tfillos (prayers) every
day focus on pleas for the final
Redemption when this hidden
power will again be restored
as in days of old not only in a
latent way, but manifest for the
whole world to see. In Birchas
HaMazon (Grace after Meals),
we mention this toobeginning
with the plea, Rachem (have
mercy), as our true comfort
will be the reinstitution of the
kingship of beis Dovid.
One Minute Halacha is a succinct
daily presentation on practical Halacha
in video, audio, and text formats, and can
be accessed by phone at 718.989.9599,
by email, halacha2go@gmail.com, or by
WhatsApp 347.456.5665.
Issue 1057 27
2017-02-14 8:40:44 AM
 CHABAD HISTORY
A MATTER OF
LIFE AND DEATH
Frierdiker Rebbe: By keeping Shabbos you
have added much importance and prestige
to the important work of the JDC * JDC:
We are sure you will agree that ministering
to Jewish needs in catastrophic situations
permit such activities to be carried out on the
Sabbath * Frierdiker Rebbe: Undoubtedly
there is an orthodox Rabbi within reach
of the JDCs representatives everywhere
whom they can, and I hope do, consult as
to what exceptions are permitted in such
cases according to the laws of our Torah *
The Refugees Story Tenth Installment
28 21 Shvat 5777
1057_bm_eng.indd 28
A
s described in previous
installments, the
Frierdiker Rebbe was
involved in every aspect
of the refugee crisis, providing
the Jewish refugees with all their
physical and spiritual needs.
However, his involvement
didnt stop with the refugees;
the Frierdiker Rebbe was also in-
volved in encouraging the officers
of the American Joint Distribu-
tion Committee (JDC) to act in
accordance with Halacha.
In this installment we present
the Frierdiker Rebbes involve-
ment in ensuring that the JDC
offices in Europe are closed on
Shabbos, and a letter from the
Frierdiker Rebbe never published
before.
These fascinating documents
are part of the JDC Archives
(which were digitized and up-
loaded online, thanks to a grant
from Dr. Georgette Bennett and
Dr. Leonard Polonsky CBE).
MAKE SURE THE
OFFICES ARE CLOSED
On Teves 19, 5708 the Frier-
diker Rebbe wrote the following
letter to Mr. Moshe Leavitt, the
executive Vice-Chairman of the
JDC (translated from Yiddish
Igros Kodesh Vol. 9 page 378-9):
I was informed that the
director of the JDC in Linz,
Austria has decided to close
2017-02-14 8:40:44 AM
 his offices on
Shabbos.
It came as a
great surprise to
me that there is
a possibility that
JDC offices should
be open on Shab-
bos, and it came as
a great joy to me
that in Linz this is-
sue was remedied.
I would like
to believe that in
other locations the
JDC offices are
closed on Shab-
bos, but to prevent
such possibility, I
would like to ask
you to send a cir-
cular to all your
divisions with the
requirement that
all their offices
should be closed
on Shabbos.
HAPPY TO HEAR
THAT
THE OFFICE IS CLOSED
On the same day (Teves 19,
5708), the Frierdiker Rebbe wrote
a letter to Mr. Kautmann, the
director of the JDC in Austria
(translated from Yiddish Igros
11, 5708] Mr. Moshe Leavitt re-
Kodesh Vol. 9 page 378):
sponded to the Frierdiker Rebbe:
I was very happy to receive
the report that you have de-
cided to close the JDC offices
in Linz on Shabbos.
Aside for preventing the
desecration of Shabbos, and
aside for the great sanctifica-
tion of G-ds name through
the observance of Shabbos
concepts that their greatness
cannot be described in words
you have, with your step,
added much importance and
prestige to the important work
of the JDC.
1057_bm_eng.indd 29
In this merit may G-d bless
you, and may you be success-
ful physically and spiritually.
WHEN A TRANSPORT
OF REFUGEES ARRIVES
On January 22, 1948 [Shvat
Dear Rabbi Schneersohn:
Thank you for your letter.
We wish to assure you
that the JDC is in principle
dedicated to the observance
of Jewish religious traditions
and there is no desire on the
part of our representatives to
disavow these traditions. As
a rule our offices are closed
on the Sabbath but because
of the frequent emergencies
which arise, there must be ex-
ceptions.
When a transport
of refugees arrives and
there is need for imme-
diate care and action in
providing housing, it is
necessary for our staff
in the particular area
to come to their aid.
The hour of the day or
night or the day of the
week cannot be permit-
ted to stand in the way
of bringing immediate
succor to them. We are
sure you will agree that
ministering to Jewish
needs in catastrophic
situations permit such
activities to be carried
out on the Sabbath
as consistent with the
strictest religious ob-
servance.
We appreciate your
interest.
CONSULT WITH AN
ORTHODOX RABBI
Pirsum Rishon: The
Frierdiker Rebbe responded with a
letter on Shvat 22, 5708:
Referring to your letter
of January 22nd, I was very
gratified to note that the JDC
is in principle dedicated to
the observance of Jewish reli-
gious traditions, and endeav-
ors sincerely to live up to this
principle, and that the only
exceptions made with regard
to Sabbath observance at the
Joints offices are in cases of
Pikuach Nefesh (vital emer-
gency).
Undoubtedly there is an
orthodox Rabbi within reach
of the JDCs representatives
everywhere whom they can,
and I hope do, consult as to
what exceptions are permitted
in such cases according to the
laws of our Torah.
Issue 1057 29
2017-02-14 8:40:44 AM
 STORY
THE REBBETZINS
CANDIES
By Menachem Ziegelboim
R
Amram Malka is a
well-known figure
among Anash of
Rishon LTziyon. He
was born in Morocco to a large
family numbering thirteen children.
During the 1950s, at the height of
the second wave of aliya, he came
with his family to Eretz Yisroel. In
5718, he joined the Talmud Torah
that was a branch of the Tomchei
Tmimim yeshiva in the Pardes
in Lud. Afterward, he continued
his studies in the yeshiva in Kfar
Chabad, and before the New Year
5726 he traveled to the Rebbe for
his Kvutza year.
R Amram was a shy bachur,
not the type to stand out or push
himself to the forefront. As such,
he hardly imagined what was
awaiting him during his year of
study in proximity to the Rebbe,
namely to serve in the home of
the Rebbe.
Like many good things, so did
the work of R Amram Malka in
the Rebbes home land upon him
suddenly out of the blue, with
no advance warning. It was in
the beginning of the year, before
Sukkos, when he was approached
by R Shlomo Rainitz who asked
him if he would help him in
building the Rebbes sukka on
the second floor of 770, which
was adjacent to the yechidus
room of the Rebbe Rayatz. R
30 21 Shvat 5777
1057_bm_eng.indd 30
Amram agreed, not knowing him a sealed envelope. This
that this would be the beginning is from the Rebbetzin, he said
of a special connection with two in his usual terse fashion. R
Rebbetzins, the wife of the Rebbe Amram had no idea what it was
Rayatz and Rebbetzin Chaya for. Inside the envelope sat a
Mushka. few bills equaling twenty-five
dollars. The Rebbetzin sent the
I money as compensation for your
efforts in building the sukka, as
Two days had passed when the Rebbetzin is not interested in
he was again approached by R anybody doing things for them
Shlomo Rainitz to join him in for free, the secretary explained.
building the sukka at the Rebbes
R Amram thought that this
private residence on President
was the end of the story, but
Street. As on the previous
events unfolded far differently
occasion, R Amram was warned
than he expected. Now that
not to be inquisitive, and not even
you built the sukka, you also
to look around too much, just to
have to come eat in the Rebbes
do a good job. That was the first
sukka, his friend Shlomo
time that he merited to be inside
Rainitz explained, and R
the Rebbes house.
Amram obediently accepted the
The sukka at the Rebbes invitation.
house was built on the roof.
In the sukka, upstairs in 770,
That was the first time that R
he was not simply a guest but he
Amram met the Rebbetzin Chaya
was responsible to help prepare
Mushka. As was her wont, with
and serve the meals, which were
elegance and grace, she offered
joined by the members of the
the two young bachurim a drink
family and about ten guests from
and some fruit.
among the elder Chassidim.
R Amram, who had a true
Starting from that first meal
appreciation for the great merit
in the sukka, R Amram became
involved in building the sukka,
a regular part of the staff that
did not expect anything in return,
assisted in the affairs of the home
as the merit itself was the greatest
of the Rebbe and the home of
return. He was shocked when
the Rebbe Rayatz, and any time
a few days later he was called
something needed to be done, he
into the secretaries office by R
would be called to service.
Binyomin Klein, who handed
2017-02-14 8:40:45 AM
 II
Although R Amram has many
stories of displays of special
warmth and concern on the part
of the Rebbe, such as when the
Rebbe asked him on Shavuos,
after he returned late from
Tahalucha, where he had eaten,
the following story is about the
warm treatment he received from
the Rebbetzin.
Each time that he was in the
house of the Rebbe or the Rebbe
Rayatz to carry out various jobs,
the Rebbetzin would converse
with him smilingly and inquire
about his welfare.
Once he encountered the
Rebbetzin, on a day when he had
merited to go in for yechidus
and he had fasted the entire day
before. R Amram was weak and
not feeling well. Unwittingly, he
mentioned this to the Rebbetzin.
How come you didnt say
anything until now, she asked
clearly upset, why didnt you
tell somebody? After some brief
thought, she said in a motherly
tone, Its not terrible. You are a
young strong bachur, an Israeli
that is not used to the New York
cold. As she spoke, she got
up and walked in her dignified
manner to the next room, and
returned momentarily with two
aspirin tablets. Take one now,
and the other one later.
I saw that she was worried
about me with her whole heart,
R Amram recalled decades
later. Before he left, he received
another warning reminder from
the Rebbetzin, Surely you wont
go outside this evening.
III
The connection with the
Rebbetzin continued in later
years, even after he had returned
to Eretz Yisroel, married and
started a family, when he would
1057_bm_eng.indd 31
the Rebbes house, where he
encountered the Rebbetzin. As
usual, she inquired about his
welfare and he told her about
the shidduch suggestion that
had come up. He mentioned
that he had sent in a letter to
the Rebbe with a request for an
endorsement and a blessing,
adding that he had yet to receive
a response. That was his subtle
way of hinting that perhaps she
could ask the Rebbe herself.
The Rebbetzin astutely picked
up on the hint and responded,
That is not my affair, that is my
Would you like a cup of tea? the esteemed
Rebbetzin asked the somewhat bewildered
young man. Before he could decline politely, she stood
up and prepared two cups of tea, one for her mother and
one for the young chassan. As uncomfortable as he felt,
he could not refuse the Rebbetzins offer.
come occasionally to visit 770.
Every time that he came, he husbands affair.
would call the Rebbetzin and A short while later, he
identify himself, and she would received the awaited endorsement
graciously respond, Its good and blessing from the Rebbe. I
to hear from you, and I would felt that although she would not
be very happy if you came to promise anything, in her way
visit. This happened each time; she knew how to pass along the
he would receive an invitation to request to the Rebbe, says R
visit the home of the king. Amram.
One of those visits was in the As soon as he became a
year 5730, before he got married. chassan, in Shvat 5730, he made
He was involved in shidduchim it his business to inform the
at the time, and the suggestion Rebbetzin of the joyous event.
regarding the one who would She, in the manner of a loving
eventually become his wife was mother, inquired about the
on the table. R Amram, as a kalla, who she was, her name
Chassid, would not consider and where she was from. In that
making any decision without conversation, she asked in her
first asking the Rebbe. He sent in refined way of speaking, If it
the suggestion, but a number of is not difficult for you, come
days passed and there was still no
again before you return to Eretz
answer. He spent those days in a Yisroel.
state of great suspense.
R Amram did as he was told.
It was during those days On the evening before his flight,
that he merited to pay a visit to
Issue 1057 31
2017-02-14 8:40:45 AM
 Story

he saw the Rebbes car parked
near 770. He understood that
the Rebbetzin had come to visit
her mother, and that she was on
the second floor of 770. The day
before he had asked the secretary
to inform the Rebbetzin that he
would like to take his leave from
her on the eve before his trip, as
per her request. He went up to
the second floor and presented
himself to the maid, and told her
that the Rebbetzin knows him
well and would it be okay for
him to come see her. The maid
slipped off into the apartment
and returned a moment later
and opened the door. They are
waiting for you inside.
In the inner room, he found
the two Rebbetzins sitting
and chatting. R Amram felt
uncomfortable and apologized,
explaining that he was scheduled
to fly back to Eretz Yisroel the
next day and was coming to take
his leave as the Rebbetzin had
requested. The two Rebbetzins
inquired about the kalla, and
asked about his fathers health
as well as the family financial
situation, which was not in great
shape at that time.
The elder Rebbetzin had a
hearing problem, so her daughter
Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka wrote
a note for her that the bachur
was flying to Eretz Yisroel the
next day. On the spot, the elder
Rebbetzin expressed her desire
to make him a shliach mitzva,
and she asked her daughter
to give him a few dollars. The
Rebbetzin was happy to fulfill her
mothers request, and she gave
him three dollars. Then she got
up and went to the next room,
and returned after a bit with a
package of fancy chocolates.
This is for your kalla, please
tell her that it is from me, she
said, and then went on to shower
blessings on the couple.
That is not the end of the
story.
Would you like a cup of
tea? the esteemed Rebbetzin
asked the somewhat bewildered
young man. Before he could
decline politely, she stood up and
prepared two cups of tea, one
for her mother and one for the
young chassan. As uncomfortable
as he felt, he could not refuse the
Rebbetzins offer.
He drank the hot tea as
quickly as he could, but before
he managed to finish, she offered
him a package of candies saying,
This is good to eat with the tea.
I felt at a complete loss, recalls
R Amram, but she did it all with
sweetness and refinement.
When he was about to leave,
she asked him wholeheartedly
to write to her in detail about
the wedding and how everything
went. The two esteemed
Rebbetzins wished him many
blessings for his upcoming
wedding. A moment before he
left, the Rebbetzin took all the
remaining candies on the table,
wrapped them into one package
and pushed it into the package he
was holding.
So you have something
sweet on the flight.

Continued from page 21
they had already met Him and knew
Him at first hand. When they saw
Him at the sea, they would tell their
mothers, pointing with their fingers,
This is my Godthis is the fine
young man who raised me (Sota
11b; Deut. Rabba 1415.).
Just as it was in the merit of the
Jewish women that we merited to
Yetzias Mitzrayim, the same is true
in regards to the Geula. In the words
of the Rebbe (Besuras HaGeula
chapter 62): The writings of the
Arizal explain that the generation
of the future Redemption is the
reincarnation of the generation that
went out of Egypt. Accordingly, the
righteous women of our generation,
in whose merit we will be redeemed,
are the same righteous women in
whose merit we left Egypt.
Our generation is the last
generation of exile and the first
generation of Redemption, for, in
the words of my sainted father-
in-law, all aspects of the Divine
service have been completed and we
stand ready to greet our righteous
Moshiach. Since this is the case, my
sainted father-in-law, the leader of
our generation, endeavored to affect
and influence the women, in order
to hasten the Redemption in the
merit of the righteous women of our
generation.
There is a unique and
essential lesson in regards to the
concept of the song, as exemplified
by the song of Miriam and the song
of Devorah: Just as in the exodus
from Egypt the righteous women
of the generation were confident
that G-d would perform miracles for
them, and they brought tambourines
from Egypt, so too in this final
Redemption from exile, the righteous
women of Israel must be confident,
and certainly they are confident,
that immediately and imminently
the true and complete Redemption
is actually coming. [So strong is
their conviction that] they begin
immediately (in the last moments of
exile) to sing with tambourines and
with dances, for the coming of the
true and complete Redemption!
Rabbi Avtzon is the Rosh Yeshiva of
Yeshivas Lubavitch Cincinnati and a well
sought after speaker and lecturer. Recordings
of his in-depth shiurim on Inyanei Geula
uMoshiach can be accessed at http://www.
ylcrecording.com

32 21 Shvat 5777

1057_bm_eng.indd 32 2017-02-14 8:40:45 AM

 MOSHIACH & GEULA

MOSHIACH & REDEMPTION:

TWO SEPARATE MATTERS
It is obvious that the coming of Ben Dovid is one thing and
the redemption itself is another, just as Moshe Rabbeinu
came to Mitzrayim prior to the redemption, prior to the
exodus from Egypt they were two separate events. *
From Chapter Fourteen of Rabbi Shloma Majeskis Likkutei
Mekoros, Volume 2. (Underlined text is the compilers
emphasis.)

Translated by Boruch Merkur

AN EXTREMELY at the right side of the tzaddikim, is another. Moshe Rabbeinu

DIFFICULT TEST
Lama zeh shlachtani why
have You sent me?: Moshe
Rabbeinu attributed Pharaohs
crushing response to his
request that the Jewish people
leave Mitzrayim the harsher
subjugation of the Jewish people
to his own iniquity, feeling
unworthy to better the cause
of the Jewish people. Thus, he
said, why have You sent me?
The truth is though that the
atonement for the sins of the
Jewish people had not been
complete [so they were due
further punishment from On
High; it was not on account of
Moshes unworthiness].
The Jewish people were put
to an extremely difficult test, for
Moshe Rabbeinu, the redeemer,
was concealed from them for
six months. And so it shall be in
the days of Moshiach Tzidkeinu:
Moshiach will be concealed after
he had been revealed, as it says in
Midrash. But G-d will then stand
the righteous people, speedily in
our times, amen.
(Toras Moshe, commentary of the
Chasam Sofer, Rabbi Moshe Sofer, on
Shmos 5:22)
TWO SEPARATE EVENTS
The Jewish people are
destined to be redeemed in
the month of Tishrei (Rosh
HaShana 11b): In the seifer
Turei Even, in the sugya of
Eruvin about one who swears
off wine consumption starting
from the day that Ben Dovid
[i.e., Moshiach] arrives, a
discussion arises from the
statement in Tractate Rosh
HaShana, The Jewish people
are destined to be redeemed
in the month of Tishrei. See
his lengthy analysis of the
subject. The response the author
proposes, however, is difficult
to accept, for it is obvious that
the coming of Ben Dovid is one
thing and the redemption itself
came to Mitzrayim prior to the
redemption [prior to the exodus
from Egypt; they were two
separate events]. It is possible
that the same thing will take
place in the future redemption,
as stated in Midrashim, Just as
the first redeemer was revealed
and then concealed so too
with the final redeemer, etc.
It also follows that when it
says, if they merit, I will rush
it [the redemption] forward,
and [Moshiach will come]
today, if you heed His voice,
etc. all these Talmudic
statements pertain to the advent
of the redeemer [who can arrive
rushed, before his destined
time, or today, if you heed,
etc.], but the redemption
itself will take place in Nissan,
according to one opinion, or
Tishrei, according to another
opinion, as outlined in the
Talmud.
(Sfas Emes on Rosh HaShana
11b)

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 TZIVOS HASHEM
A LIFE OF
MESIRUS
N E FE S H
Presented to mark 22 Shvat,
when Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka passed away.
5693/1933
A new party, the cursed
Nazi party, began to rise
in Germany. Many joined
this party and its influence
continuously grew until it was
elected into power.
The Nazis hated Jews and
persecuted and
mercilessly
killed them. They wanted to
destroy every last Jew, heaven
forbid.
The Rebbe and Rebbetzin
Chaya Mushka, who lived in
Germany at the time, realized
how dangerous it was for them
and decided to escape. They
packed their few belongings
and moved to France.
They arrived in Paris
and lived in a one-room
apartment. There they lived,
simply and modestly. Every
day the Rebbe went out to
daven in the nearby shuls and
he gave shiurim to men and
34 21 Shvat 5777
1057_bm_eng.indd 34
By Nechama Bar
boys. They all regarded him asked in surprise, What? A
respectfully and the Rebbe G-d fearing Jew like you shops
here?
served as their spiritual leader.
The Rebbe was very The man asked the question
particular about kashru ands not because there was a
the Rebbetzin helped him a problem with the kashrus
lot by spending many hours in that bakery, but because
ensuring the kashrus of their he wanted the Rebbe to buy
bread in a different bakery.
food. Before Pesach, she herself
The Rebbe did not respond
selected the kernels of wheat
to his question but from then
to be ground into flour for the
on he stopped buying in that
matzos. When she was asked
bakery.
why she was doing this work
When the Rebbe found out
herself and not buying matzos
that R Kalman Hammers
and food in a kosher store, she
butcher shop did the entire
said, My husband does not
koshering process (so that
eat anything outside our home
not
on Pesach; just what I prepare people who were
knowledgeabl e in the laws of
at home.
kashrus would not eat non-
The Rebbe would buy bread
kosher meat), the Rebbetzin
in a well-known Jewish owned
went to the shop to supervise
bakery after carefully checking
how it was done. The Rebbetzin
the kashrus and seeing that it
was satisfied with the kashrus
was up to his standards. One
and therefore the Rebbe began
day, when he was in the store,
buying meat there.
someone went over to him and
2017-02-14 8:40:45 AM
 The Germans thought The Rebbetzin said about
Where did they get milk
her passport was forged but the war in France that when
from? For a long time, the
she convinced them that it the German bombed Paris,
Rebbetzin went a long distance
authentic. They finally agreed We took a small valise and
herself, every day, in order
to allow her to cross the put in the most basic items,
to be present when the cows
border but they promised that manuscripts, tallis and tfillin.
were milked so the milk would
when they entered France and We began heading toward the
be chalav Yisroel. With this
conquered Paris, they would go exit of the city like everyone
milk, she prepared dairy dishes
to the address she had given else, in order to escape as
for the Rebbe and they were
them and look for her and her quickly as possible from the
almost the only things he ate.
husband and interrogate them. Germans.
One day, they heard that leading
The Rebbetzin carried out The highway
the Rebbes brother, R Yisroel packed
her mission successfully and toward the exit was
Aryeh Leib, had been able to loaded
she gave the visa to R Yisroel with cars. People
escape Russia with the help import ant
Aryeh Leib. He was able to them with their
of a forged passport, and had to flee as
move to Eretz Yisroel, thanks belongings and tried
arrived in Germany. Both in n planes
to her. the bombs fell. Germa
Russia and in Germany, he
The Germans carried out flew low and began bombing
lived in great fear lest he be
the cars. People immediately
caught. He wanted to move to their promise. One of the
stopped driving and began
Eretz Yisroel but he needed a first things they did when
running in all directions. I
visa for that. they got to Paris was to look
noticed an elderly Jewish
The Rebbe was not afraid for the Rebbe and Rebbetzins
man walking slowly. His vision
of the danger. He was willing home. The Germans were
seemed impaired and he did
to enter Germany in order very organized and all the
not notice what was going
to help his brother. But the information was recorded.
on around him. Suddenly, a
Rebbetzin said, Better that Hashem helped, and when
German plane flew overhead
I should go because I am fair the Germans arrived at their
and I knew that if I didnt do
skinned and have light eyes house, the Rebbe and Rebbetzin
something, he could be hit by a
and wont be suspected. But were no longer there. They had
bomb. I grabbed his sleeve and
if you go, with a beard, the left already.
dragged him from the road.
danger is far greater. He fell on the side of the road
She took the visa and and hit his head. He began to
traveled to Germany. When she cry out, With what
arrived at the border, they nerve you pushed an
stopped her and asked old man!
her questions and I did not
had her fill out reply. I knew
a form. They that I had
were quite saved his life
surprised but still, I had
that both pushed a Jew
her maiden and I need to
name and do teshuva for
m a r r i e d that.
name was
Schneersohn,
and that even
the maiden names
of her mother and
grandmother were
Schneersohn.

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