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FEATURED ARTICLES
6
THE LIGHT OF GEULA
IN JAPAN
Chanie Nussbaum
14
THE DRY FARBRENGEN
Shneur Zalman Berger
22
SHLICHUS AND THE
POWER OF THOUGHT
Rabbi Yaakov Shmuelevitz
30
THE RABBINATE IS
PART OF MY SHLICHUS
Menachem Ziegelboim
38
R AVROHOM DUNINS
MEMOIRS
Interview by Chaim Cohen
30
14
38
CONTENTS
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:
M.M. Hendel
HEBREW EDITOR:
Rabbi S.Y. Chazan
editorH@beismoshiach.org
ENGLISH EDITOR:
Boruch Merkur
editor@beismoshiach.org
ASSISTANT EDITOR:
Berel Goldberg
WEEKLY COLUMNS
4 Dvar Malchus
12 Story
20 Insight
25 Parsha Thought
28 Moshiach & Science
42 Current Events
27 ADAR: HE BEARS
OUR ILLNESS
The suffering of all Jews is the suffering of
Moshiach. And not only in matters that for
Moshiach they are considered suffering but
matters of concern to simple Jews, their
suffering. For there are indeed such people
who have no connection to spirituality, and
their only concerns are things that are seen,
physically. There must be solidarity with them
as well, in their particular state and condition.
Translated by Boruch Merkur
HE BEARS OUR ILLNESS...
AND HE IS CRUSHED BY
OUR TRANSGRESSIONS
Regarding Moshiach it
is said that he possesses the
virtue described in the verse,
He bears our illness and he
suffers our painhe is defiled
by our iniquities, crushed by
our transgressions (Yeshayahu
53:4-5). Moshiach stands with
the Jewish people, using all
the resources at his command
in order to help them, as they
are, in their present state.
Thus it says, he is defiled
by our iniquities, crushed by
our transgressions, for he is
together with the Jewish people,
helping them in their [lowly]
condition. He helps them, for
example, by devoting his faculty
of speech to teaching the Jewish
people words of Torah, spanning
both its revealed and esoteric
dimensions.
WHY WAS THE REBBE
SILENCED FROM ON HIGH?
This quality was likewise
apparent in the Rebbe Rayatz,
whose yahrtzait we are
observing. Indeed, the Rebbe
Rayatz was once asked: Rebbe,
even if there are complaints [On
High] against the Rebbe and they
want to mete out punishment,
why is it necessary for the
punishment to affect the Rebbes
faculty of speech in particular?
[That is, in his later years,
the Rebbe Rayatz suffered a
debilitating speech impediment.]
Throughout the Rebbes life,
he used his ability to speak for
the dissemination of Judaism, a
mission the Rebbe pursued with
self-sacrifice, with his money and
with his spirit. Indeed, the Rebbe
has succeeded in this manner,
fashioning a dwelling place for
G-d in this world. Why then does
the punishment have to strike a
faculty that was utterly devoted
to G-d?
But this affliction the Rebbe
Rayatz suffered constitutes
the concept of He bears our
illness.
HE DRESSES NO MORE
THAN A SINGLE WOUND
AT A TIME
The example cited in the
Gemara regarding Moshiach
is that he sits among the
impoverished and suffers
illness...applying one bandage
and untying another, meaning
that he dresses no more than a
single wound at a time, in order
that when the Jewish people
repent and they are immediately
redeemed, Moshiach will be
ready to come that very instant,
without any delay, even a single
extra moment.
But at first glance, it is
difficult to fathom how Moshiach
can be described as being
afflicted with wounds?
The answer is, I am with
him in suffering. The suffering
of all Jews is the suffering of
Moshiach. And not only in
matters that for Moshiach they
are considered suffering but
matters of concern to simple
4 #'1+-1&'!& 21 Adar Rishon 5771
DVAR MALCHUS
Jews, their suffering.
For there are indeed
such people who
have no connection
to spirituality, and
their only concerns
are things that are
seen, physically. There
must be solidarity with
these Jews as well, in
their particular state
and condition.
Although there
is the concept of
harsh labor in the
spiritual realm (With
cement (bchomer)
this refers to
logical inference (kal
vchomer); and with
bricks (uvileveinim)
this refers to the
determination of
Torah law (libun
hilchasa), as
elucidated in Torah
Ohr nevertheless,
there are those who
are unaware of all
of this. And even
if they are aware, they do not
understand the concept of toiling
in the analysis of Torah. Rather,
to them, suffering means poverty
or injuries in the simple sense.
Moshiach shows these people
as well that he is with them in
[their] suffering.
THE SPECIAL VIRTUE
OF MOSHIACH
Indeed, this is the special
virtue of Moshiach that he
stands together with all the
Jewish people.
And this is the
lesson for every single
person:
One should
interact with his or
her acquaintances
an adolescent or an
elderly person, man
or woman at the
level where he or she
is now.
And in so doing,
we leave Egypt for
all the exiles are
called Egypt and
we experience the
Future Redemption,
regarding which it is
said, As in the days
of your exodus from
Egypt I shall show you
wonders. That is,
even when compared
to the exodus from
Egypt, the miracles of
the Future Era will be
seen as wonders.
And this will
take place soon with
the advent of our
righteous Moshiach, the joy of
the days of yore shall be upon
their heads (Yeshayahu 35:10).
(From the address of Shabbos
Parshas BShalach, 17 Shvat
5730, bilti muga)
BROOKLYN FINANCIAL GROUP
A Representative of Guardian
Oren Popper, Field Representative
Telephone: 917-720-6565
Email: Oren@bfgny.com
1
Issue 778 #'1+-1&'!& 5
THE LIGHT
OF GEULA
IN JAPAN
By Chanie Nussbaum
W
hen my son
Moshiach was
five, he asked,
Ima, why were
you able to see the Rebbe and I
wasnt? I told him, Dont worry
sweetie, the Rebbe will soon be
revealed to the world! A short
while later I was sitting and reading
to the children a story about Rashi
and the leader of the First Crusade,
from the Machanayim series.
The French nobleman asks Rashi
whether to conquer Yerushalayim.
He only heard Rashis voice but
did not see him (his invisibility was
a nes). My son piped up, Ima, now
I understand. The Rebbe is with us
but we dont see him.
This story was related by Mrs.
Efrat Edery, shlucha in Tokyo
who immediately brought me
into the atmosphere of shlichus
in the Era of Geula.
I was amazed by how this
child made the connection and
understood things. I also felt
how he was growing up with
tremendous spiritual resources,
which to me is clearly thanks
to the Rebbe. We have a set of
dishes that the children prepared
When Moshiach comes well
be ready to eat the seuda of the
Shor HaBar and the Leviasan
And the children keep a close
watch over that set of dishes.
It is in this atmosphere that
little shluchim are growing up in
the Far East. There, among idol
worshippers, skyscrapers and
neon signs, they are sheltered as
if in the Chassidic hothouse of
Kfar Chabad, where their father
grew up; or the block opposite
the Rebbes house on President
Street where their mother was
raised.
How did a young
Chassidishe couple end up in
this forsaken place?
We arrived here on shlichus
eleven years ago before Chanuka.
We were newly married and
had three suitcases one with
Mivtza Chanuka material, one
with kosher food and basic
kitchen supplies, and one with
our clothing. We had only $400
in our pockets! Our plan was to
be here for Chanuka, to check
things out, and to return for
another half a year of learning in
Kollel in New York. My husband
was drawn to the place and we
figured that if the visit went well,
we would return for permanent
shlichus.
But the Rebbe had other
plans. We arrived on Chanuka
and people both the Jews and
non-Jews begged us to stay. We
wrote to the Rebbe through the
Igros Kodesh and the answer was
clear. It said that during Chanuka
there is the greatest light and
we have to spread it here, in the
darkest place and this is light
overcoming darkness, to spread
the light and wellsprings of
Chassidus in the lowest place.
Of course we were very
excited by this answer and we
decided to stay and canceled our
original plans. The mashpia we
consulted with encouraged my
husband and told us: Its a special
bracha for a special place (Japan)
at a special time (Chanuka).
Since that Chanuka, Japan
has become part of the Chabad
map and we constantly merit
brachos and miracles from the
Rebbe, especially as when we
first came here there werent
many Jews (few tourists) and in
6 #'1+-1&'!& 21 Adar Rishon 5771
SHLICHUS
general, there arent many
foreigners in Japan.
How did you manage
without a source of funding in
a country with such a high cost
of living?
Today there are mekuravim
and even non-Jews (whom I call
goyei haGeula) who help us,
but as soon as we arrived the
miracles began.
The first thing we did was
rent a place for a Chabad house.
The law is that you have to pay
a half a years rent up front.
Everything is expensive here and
the rental fee was very high. We
had no idea how we would pay
it. A Japanese non-Jew by the
name of Moto came to our aid.
He didnt come on his own the
Rebbe sent him. Thats clear.
What happened was, one day he
came to us and anxiously said,
My son asks me why we cannot
steal from a wicked person. We
told him its because there is a
G-d who knows what is going on
in peoples hearts and we dont
have the right to decide who is
good and who is bad.
Moto lent us the entire
amount of money we needed
and that is how we rented our
first apartment. We took a rental
home while we were still here
only on a visa which is not at all
accepted in Japan. Ill tell you a
secret until today, he refuses to
take the money back. We are not
surprised that he gets answers
from the Rebbe about everything
that he does. In general, the
Rebbe tells him continue
helping Chabad in your city!
Although he is a Japanese
non-Jew, Moto is one of our
main benefactors and he doesnt
make a move without asking
the Rebbe and getting a bracha.
He has the number 770 in his
phone number and on his car.
He made a Japanese website
about the Rebbe! Moto helps us
with everything, to the point of
mesirus nefesh. And this is not
something that makes any logical
sense.
In any case, the landlady
who rented to us said that the
entire area in which this building
is located was bombed during
World War II and this building
is the only one that remained
undamaged. She says that
somehow she knew, during all
these years that this house would
end up in Jewish hands. After a
short stay at that location we had
to leave it seems our shlichus
there was completed and Moto,
of course, tried to help.
One day during that time,
while my husband went around
with him looking for a place, a
car suddenly stopped near them
and the driver said, Hello, and
asked what they were looking for.
My husband explained that he
was looking for a place to rent
for his charitable organization.
The Japanese, called Sakomato,
immediately took him to his
office and gave him keys with a
contract and said, The office is
yours. My husband had to pinch
himself was this for real?
The man explained that he had
been wanting to give his office
for charitable purposes. When I
heard this, I thought my husband
was joking. But later on, when I
asked Sakomato himself, how he
had made that snap decision to
give his office for free he said, I
saw in your husbands eyes that
he is a trustworthy person and I
wanted to do something for Jews
Moto and Sakomato on a visit to 770 with Rabbi Binyamin Edery (right) Edery children on Mivtza Lulav
with local Jewish children
Issue 778 #'1+-1&'!& 7
because I have Jewish roots. (In
Japan they say that the Ten Tribes
stayed there for a while).
Moto, who helps us so much,
is a real estate agent. When we
came here he owned a small
restaurant. Greatly admiring our
work he told my husband, Take
the place for free for a year and
make a Chabad house. Till this
day we havent paid him rent for
it. It was important to him that
there be a kosher restaurant in
Japan, also for the purposes of
refining the Japanese people. It
really makes no logical sense.
And when no local
slaughterhouse wanted to let
us kasher chickens and we
had a serious problem, Moto
got involved and used his
connections and finally found a
slaughterhouse that would accept
our chickens. Moto also urged us
lately to open a falafel store under
our hashgacha. So now, for the
few Jews who are here, tourists
and locals, there is kosher falafel.
And the one who made it happen
is Moto, the Japanese non-Jew.
Moshiachs times, right?
My husband took Moto (the
real estate agent) and Sakomato
(who gave us the office for free)
to the Rebbe, to 770. They were
so excited and although they were
a big help previously, afterwards
they doubled and tripled their
constant aid.
The most interesting thing
about them happened this year.
Sakomato asked my husband
to come to his neighborhood to
check the kashrus of the ocean
algae in the area. My husband
agreed and of course Moto joined
him and to their surprise they
discovered a Japanese cemetery
with a Jewish cemetery in it,
surrounded by a wall, and the
gravestones have Hebrew letters.
The graves are from the 1800s!
The entrance is completely
separate; its unbelievable. My
husband gave Moto the Chassidic
explanation of the statement of
Chazal that Hashem did us a
kindness by scattering us among
the nations (in order to collect
sparks of holiness) and this
impressed him greatly. He was so
moved that he immediately said
to my husband, G-d must help
us, so pray, and he prayed.
Lately, a Japanese by the
name of Hagrati began coming
to us. He is a friend of Israel and
has firm opinions about shleimus
haaretz. At a meal with many
guests he got up and said, In my
opinion, G-d gave you the land
and you need to protect it! The
other guests were taken aback.
Yes, hes another one of our
goyei haGeula.
Please describe your daily
routine.
This country is so atypical
that even those things weve
gotten used to after eleven years,
are still not routine; like the
Japanese who come to us wanting
to commit to the Sheva Mitzvos
Bnei Noach. They dont want
to convert but they are looking
for answers. They ask so many
questions about the purpose of
creation, about our existence, etc.
We work with interesting
Jewish tourists. Last year we had
a Japanese couple as our guests
who wanted my husband to marry
them because they didnt want to
be married by the local priest.
They said they did not believe in
Christianity, We believe in G-d
and want you, Rabbi Binyamin,
to marry us! Since I had just
given birth, my husband sent one
of our Japanese helpers to help
them with whatever they needed
and they also got a bracha from
the Rebbe for their marriage, a
bracha in the Igros Kodesh that
also said they should help the
Chabad house. That wedding
made a big Kiddush Hashem in
town.
Vhcn ,co van c rcarc cc sh, ,co haVc c sar
from the very beginning!
Vhcn ,co van cair, rccocs, ,co haVc c c c hc ccv
in order to get chalav Yisroel milk
8 #'1+-1&'!& 21 Adar Rishon 5771
SHLICHUS
Tell us some miracle stories
youve experienced.
We have seen how a little light
dispels a lot of darkness. There
is a store in our neighborhood, a
huge supermarket, whose owner
did not want to bring in anything
associated with religion (though
he allows a tree for their holiday
). What happened was, three
years ago they called us from
the store and asked us to set up
a Jewish and kosher products
display in the center of their
store. Apparently they decided
that it was a worthwhile business
decision and boruch Hashem, it
was very successful.
Since then, the owners and
employees regularly ask us to
set up a display. Last year, for
example, before Chanuka, the
manager of the chain asked that
we set up a Chanuka display. We
filled the store with menorahs,
doughnuts and Moshiach flags.
Today there is a lot of light here
that chases away the darkness
and coldness of Japan.
We have a public menorah
lighting on Chanuka and invite
the American ambassador here,
who is Jewish. Last year his
mother-in-law came and she
was so moved by the ceremony.
She is a Holocaust survivor who
lost her entire family and she
expressed what we all felt, Now
I know that Am Yisroel Chai.
Yes, even in Japan, which is so
distant, physically and spiritually,
a little light definitely dispels a lot
of darkness! We try to bring in
more and more light. When we
came to Japan I was expecting a
child and Japanese law requires
you to take a birth preparation
course. So I got to know a
Jewish doctor who is living with
a Japanese man and has a son
and daughter with him who are
Jewish, of course. She became
very close to us. She comes for
holidays etc. She grew up Reform
but it was important to her that
her son put on tfillin, eat matza
on Pesach etc. but unfortunately,
he refused.
On Rosh HaShana my
husband walked two-and-a-
half hours each way to enable
them to hear the shofar. She
was very touched and became
more involved but she was
heartbroken about her son. It
was so important to her that he
do something connected with his
Jewish identity for if he didnt,
who knew whether his children
would be Jewish? (She was less
worried about her daughter
because her children would be
Jewish regardless).
We didnt push anything but
when we made a Shabbaton
(as we do twice a year in the
mountains) and we needed a
tenth man for a minyan, my
husband asked that her son
come and said we wouldnt force
anything on him; it was just
important to us that he be there.
In the end he came with his
mother.
They loved the Shabbos.
Shabbos morning he had an aliya
and it was his birthday! It was
a Shabbos that so warmed and
united the people who attended.
It rained the entire Shabbos so
we were inside the bungalow
together. In heaven it was
decreed that there be rain so we
would sit together longer She
asked many questions and the
son was satisfied.
A few weeks later she called
and said that her son had to
write an essay for school and
the topic was: The person you
most admire. She proudly told
me, Do you know who he wrote
about? Your husband! And
this was a boy who came from a
completely Japanese background.
How are the two Israeli
bachurim who are still in jail?
Its very hard for them.
My children go and visit them
regularly. Not long ago, one of
them asked in despair, Please
daven that we survive here in
jail. Moshiach, my oldest son,
looked at him in surprise and
said, Why do you want to
survive here? Lets ask that you
get out of here, the sooner the
better. This gave him chizuk
and taught him to think positively
which is so important for them
(because their situation is really
difficult).
The children bring them such
joy that I dont think the adults
can compete. In the merit of their
prayers may the prisoners go
free.
How do you handle the
chinuch of your children?
First of all, my children were
born on shlichus. When we came
here I was expecting my oldest
and now we have five children,
boruch Hashem, who were born
on shlichus and live on shlichus!
Theres a person here who
The Chabad house makes sure there is a
minyan and kosher food for the dozens
of Jewish businessmen who come for the
international jewelry show in Japan
Issue 778 #'1+-1&'!& 9
came for a brief stay in Japan.
He occasionally comes to the
Chabad house. The first time he
came, he said Shabbat Shalom
to my son (I think he was four
at the time) and my son did not
respond. After a while my son
explained, He is not dressed for
Shabbos. You cant be insulted
by a four year old and the next
Shabbos he came all dressed up
and with a fresh haircut and he
said to my son, This is for you!
To his surprise, my son did not
react. A while later my son said,
Why did you take a haircut
when its Sfiras HaOmer? We
were all amazed by this.
If my children are invited to a
birthday party, I bake a cake for
them. My six year old daughter
teaches her younger brothers
about the Beis HaMikdash; its
a pleasure to listen to her and
to watch them listening to her.
I feel that this is the power of
the Rebbe, not anything we are
doing.
The Rebbe once told
someone who asked in yechidus
how do you send young people
to forsaken places that when
you are constantly connected to
the fire, you cant get cold.
At the same time, on shlichus
you cant close your eyes and you
need to be alert.
For example, I have not
taken my children to Disneyland
because the atmosphere is so
goyish, even though we had
mekuravim who wanted to take
them and pay for it. I thanked
them and said, I dont want
them to lose the purity and
holiness in shlichus. We go on
many nature outings. There are
huge rice fields that are gorgeous
and the children return happy
and refreshed (no less than
the kids who come back from
Disneyland). They also go with
us for milking, for example.
I was very excited when they
saw a pumpkin field and they
connected it to something they
learned in Mishnayos. We dont
bring in inappropriate pictures,
etc.
The children sense what is
appropriate for a Chassid and
what is not; my daughter Mushka
saw a pamphlet with the 12
Psukim that had a photograph
of a girl with long hair. She
innocently asked me, Why
do they put a picture of a non-
Jewish girl on a holy pamphlet
with Psukim? I was taken
aback because I had never told
her anything about long hair,
but these sensitivities are deep
within them. Its definitely thanks
to the Rebbe and to shlichus. I
remember that the Rebbe once
explained in a sicha how its
possible that boiling water that
kashered a pot doesnt make
subsequent utensils treif. Since
the additional utensils are busy
giving out what they absorbed
they are not affected, and this is
true for children. When they are
impacting their environment with
light, they remain pure.
Where do they go to school?
They learn via the Internet
and the phone with a wonderful
couple, Rabbi Avrohom Kenig
and his wife from Migdal
HaEmek. Thanks to them,
the level of knowledge of our
children is no less than that of
children their age in the United
States or Eretz Yisroel.
We see clearly how when the
children are being influential,
they are not being influenced.
When I go out with my children,
people are amazed and they say
how did you raise them from
such a young age to want to
help? I know these are only the
kochos of the Rebbe and feel
fortunate.
All the visitors here are
impressed by their love to learn
Torah and from their love to
give, and they respond in a big
way. For example, a Canadian
Jewish woman has been living
here for about 25 years with
her two sons. She came to us
for Shabbos and enjoyed it very
much. Two months later I invited
her to a Chanuka party and to
a public menorah lighting and
her answer surprised me. She
said, I promised Moshiach (my
oldest son) that I would come so
I certainly wont disappoint him.
The previous time she had been
with us he asked her to come
with her family the next time.
Many times guests come and
say, Mushkie asked me to come,
so I came. Zalman asked me
to come, so I came. Childrens
requests go a long way. We
recently had a Japanese boy come
and ask my son whether he had
any more Moshiach cards like
the ones he had already given
him. We are pleased and we pray
that we continue to have nachas
from them, if only in the merit of
shlichus.
Isnt it hard for children
to be on shlichus in such an
isolated, challenging place?
Five hours later he was found
and brought to the hospital
10 #'1+-1&'!& 21 Adar Rishon 5771
SHLICHUS
Sometimes we are amazed
by the kochos (abilities) they
display. The trip from Tokyo to
Chiba where the Israeli bachurim
are in prison is long, yet they
never complain about it but go
happily. On Shvii shel Pesach the
children walked 4.5 hours each
way to visit a Jewish couple who
lives here. They brought them
the simcha of the Yom Tov and
returned happy. It moved me
to tears. They left at 12:00 and
returned at 11:00 at night with
swollen feet. They were in bed for
three days but did not regret that
they went; the opposite. When
people tried telling them not to
join their father because it would
be an exhausting walk for them,
they begged to be allowed to go.
So I wasnt surprised this
year when they said: Although
we went to camp Oro Shel
Moshiach last year, this year
there is so much to do and if we
go, who will you help you here?
even though its giving up a lot
because in Japan they dont see
children their age.
Efrat chose to conclude with
an incredible story that teaches
us about the haste needed to
fulfill the shlichus of kabbalas
pnei Moshiach.
A while ago, a religious fellow
from Eretz Yisroel came here
after a stabbing attack and his
recovery period was very lengthy.
Since he was always looking for
a challenge, he used his time to
study Japanese and decided to
visit Japan. Of course, being a
religious person, he came straight
to the Chabad house and became
very close to us.
One morning, he told my
husband he was going on a trip
to a mountainous area where
you need to do a lot of climbing.
Since this was right before
Chanuka, it was raining and
very cold and my husband tried
to dissuade him, but he liked a
challenge and he left.
My husband insisted he take
a cell phone so we could be in
touch. They arranged to be in
touch only after twelve hours had
passed but for some reason, after
a few hours, I began to worry
and we called him. He didnt
answer and we figured it was
because there was no reception.
A half an hour later, at 3:30 in
the afternoon, he called. Save
me. I fell 100 meters!
We were frightened and my
husband and Moto went to find
him (it was a miracle that he had
the ability to identify the location
where he had fallen). We got
people from the area to help out
and five hours later he was found
and brought to the hospital. He
was in serious condition with
much internal bleeding. Another
miracle was that they found
him before sunset because after
sunset the law in Japan forbids
searching for someone who
endangered himself.
It was a miracle that my
husband got to the hospital
on time because he needed an
operation and without someones
signature the operation cant take
place. The operation took place
and he recovered. He had to be in
the hospital for two months and
when he was released he came
to us and I asked him, How did
you call us? He answered that
he himself could not believe it
but when he looked, that was the
only number on his screen.
A half a year later he married a
Japanese convert and they live in
Canada with their two children.
We learned a lesson: you have to
be devoted on shlichus and not
delay
What message do you have
for your sister shluchos?
Today, wherever we are, we
are on shlichus. Our role as
women is vital in raising our
children and in ensuring that
the atmosphere in the home is
as it should be since Moshiach
is already here and the Geula is
imminent. We will soon meet at
the Beis HaMikdash.
Rabbi Edery visiting the injured man in the hospital and lighting the menorah with him.
Issue 778 #'1+-1&'!& 11
THE REBBES CHECK AND
THE BAAL SHEM TOVS LETTER
A famous Baal Shem Tov story comes to
life in our times through an eerily similar
miracle performed by the Rebbe MHM.
By Motti Garelik
T
here is an old Chassidic
story about a wealthy man
who heard about the Baal
Shem Tov and decided to
go and see the renowned tzaddik.
When he entered the Baal Shem
Tovs room, the Baal Shem Tov
asked him whether he needed a
bracha. The man said no. The
Baal Shem Tov persisted, asking
him whether he needed a bracha
for ample parnasa or health, or
anything at all and the man said,
thank G-d, he had plenty of money
and he didnt need a bracha for
anything.
If so, said the Baal Shem
Tov, I will ask you to do me a
small favor. I want to send a letter
to Rabbi Tzaddok, the parnas
hakahal (communal council
leader). Please deliver it to him.
The man was happy to oblige
and he put the letter in an inside
pocket of his coat. A few days
later he returned home but he
forgot the Baal Shem Tovs
request. The letter remained in
his pocket and he forgot about it
entirely.
Years passed. The Baal Shem
Tov had passed away and the
mans fortune turned and he
became very poor. He pawned
everything of value that he owned
in order to take out loans, and
when even that was used up
he decided to go through his
possessions again to see if he
could find something of value.
In the course of his search he
found his old coat that reminded
him of better times. He felt in
the pocket, hoping to find a stray
coin and that is how he found the
Baal Shem Tovs letter.
The man was beside himself
with anguish. Surely all my
troubles and poverty came
because I did not do as the
tzaddik bade me. He decided to
travel to the city to see whether
R Tzaddok was still alive so he
could give him the letter.
He rushed to the neighboring
city to find R Tzaddok and when
he got there he was dismayed to
find that people did not know
of a parnas by that name. How
could people not know a person
by the name of R Tzaddok,
particularly when he was the
parnas? He figured that since
the Baal Shem Tov had given him
the letter so many years before,
it was possible the man had left
the city and people had forgotten
about him.
He was still standing there
when a child ran into the beis
midrash and shouted, Mazal
Tov! Rabbi Tzaddok was
just appointed as the parnas
hakahal!
The man couldnt believe
it. The Baal Shem Tov had sent
the letter many years before
for Rabbi Tzaddok the parnas
hakahal and it turned out that
the man had just been elected as
the parnas hakahal! He realized
that the Baal Shem Tov had seen
this with his ruach hakodesh
(prophetic spirit).
He hurried to the home of
R Tzaddok and began telling
him what happened. So and so
many years ago I went to see the
tzaddik, the Baal Shem Tov, and
he gave me a letter for the parnas
hakahal of this city. I forgot to
deliver the letter and just this
week I found it and rushed here
in the hopes that I would find
him. Now I heard that that a man
by the name of R Tzaddok was
appointed as the parnas of the
community. I have no doubt that
the letter is for you and that the
Baal Shem Tov envisioned this
with his ruach hakodesh.
The astonished R Tzaddok
opened the letter and was
shocked to read the following
lines, The one who delivered
this letter to you is abjectly poor.
Many years ago he used to be a
wealthy man. Please help him to
the best of your ability.
***
This amazing story happened
not only in the time of the holy
Baal Shem Tov but also in our
day with the Baal Shem Tov of
our time, the Rebbe MHM.
This story was related
by R Yisroel Rosenberg of
Nachalat Har Chabad by way
of introduction to his personal
story. This is what happened:
12 #'1+-1&'!& 21 Adar Rishon 5771
STORY
In 5748 the Rebbe announced
Shnas HaBinyan (Year of
Construction) and on many
occasions the Rebbe asked that
houses and neighborhoods
be built and that construction
should be done even to add
rooms to existing homes. The
Rebbe also promised $100 to
anybody who reported about a
new building or an addition to an
existing building.
At the time I lived in Shchuna
Gimmel in Beer Sheva and
I davened in the temporary
shul that was in a building
that belonged to Ben Gurion
University. This structure
was used as a dining room on
weekdays and on Shabbos it
turned into a shul thanks to the
generosity of the administration
of the university who allowed us
to use it.
The shul committee decided
that we must build a shul. I
suggested that they write to the
Rebbe about their decision and
receive his blessing and $100.
Apparently, they mentioned
my name in the letter because
a few weeks later I received
a letter at my home from the
Rebbe, which had a $100 check
enclosed. Well, since I received
a letter from the Rebbe along
with a check, I got to work.
A long, complicated process
began with the city to obtain
the necessary permits. First, we
needed land and then we needed
permission to build. After a lot
of running around to various
offices it reached the final stages
of approval, and then we were
told that construction could
not be approved since the area
designated to us was too close to
a gas station.
In the meantime, I left the
neighborhood and moved to the
Ramot neighborhood of the city.
After a while I moved to Nachalat
Har Chabad in Kiryat Malachi
and I forgot about the whole
thing.
At the same time, Rabbi
Shneur Zalman Garelik, director
of the central Chabad house in
Beer Sheva, began working on
getting the permits he needed to
build a Chabad house, for the
place they were using was too
small for all their activities. The
building consisted of a small
room that served as the office and
two other rooms, not particularly
large, that served as a shul (with
a mens and womens section),
a library, Kollel Levi Yitzchok,
a farbrengen hall, shiurim, and
sometimes even as rooms for
exhibits and numerous other
activities.
After a lot of effort Chabad
received a lot from the city
in Shchuna Alef. After a few
years of working on gaining
building permits, they finally
obtained them. On Gimmel
Tammuz 5760/2000 they laid
the cornerstone in an impressive
ceremony.
The plans for the new building
included three floors with a
spacious shul, offices, a hall for
events, classrooms, a childrens
library, a Kollel for seniors, a
soup kitchen, and more. In the
course of his fundraising, R
Garelik approached me as a
former resident of Beer Sheva. I
told him Id get back to him on
Motzaei Shabbos.
On Motzaei Shabbos I began
looking for an important paper
that I needed urgently and I
turned the house upside down in
my search. While looking all over
I came across an envelope. When
I opened it, I was surprised to
find a check from the Rebbe!
Then it all came back to me. This
was the check I had gotten from
the Rebbe for the shul in Beer
Sheva!
All excited I called up R
Garelik and told him the story.
It looks like the Rebbe sent the
check for you so you would use
it for this building because the
other building never happened.
It took thirteen years until the
check reached its destination. A
Baalshemske miracle!
R Yisroel Rosenberg (right) giving the Rebbes check to R Zalman Garelik
Issue 778 #'1+-1&'!& 13
THE DRY
FARBRENGEN
It was the month of Adar and Purim was approaching. The Rebbe Rayatz
planned on farbrenging and the Chassidim in Milwaukee wanted permission
to bring mashke despite Prohibition, which made alcoholic beverages illegal
throughout the United States. The Rebbe refused and warmed them with his
words instead. * A description of the Rebbe Rayatz in Milwaukee in 5690.
By Shneur Zalman Berger
The Rebbe Rayatz on his visit
to the United States in 5690/1930
14 #'1+-1&'!& 21 Adar Rishon 5771
FEATURE
NO TO BOOTLEGGED
ALCOHOL
When the Rebbe Rayatz
visited America in 5690/1930,
Judaism and Chassidus were
very much on the sidelines.
Aid to Russian Jewry consisted
of politely opening ears to the
Rebbe but not opening hearts
or pockets. Back then, the
North Pole seemed warmer than
American Jewry.
The question is, why was
that so? Why were the hearts
of American Jews, many of
whom had come from Eastern
Europe, cold to the plight of their
brethren back in Europe as well
as to Torah and mitzvos?
The answer lies in the fact
that after they came to America
they would get swept up in
the daily struggle of existence.
Under these circumstances it was
difficult dealing with problems
such as Shabbos observance and
Jewish identity. Furthermore, the
Stock Market Crash made people
very wary about parting with
their money.
From 1919 until 1933 it
was illegal to import or export
alcoholic beverages under the
laws of Prohibition. Those who
were really addicted had to buy
liquor on the black market,
smuggled in from Canada and
Mexico. So Jews from Eastern
Europe who were used to
raising cups in lchaim to mark
a yahrtzait, birthday or simply
in honor of friends and family,
had to abstain completely from
alcohol and their inner warmth
cooled off until they froze over.
However, the Chassidim in
Milwaukee could not imagine a
farbrengen with the Rebbe, with
the participation of hundreds
of people, sans mashke. They
suggested that mashke be bought
illegally but the Rebbe adamantly
refused to allow this. Tables
were set up with soda and
lemonade. They wanted mashke
but I did not allow it because in
America it was illegal, wrote
the Rebbe in his diary. It was a
large public event and concern
for the law was obvious. So this
farbrengen was held with no
mashke at all!
However, the tremendous
warmth that emanated from the
heart of the Nasi warmed up the
participants as will be related.
THE REBBES WELCOME
Milwaukee is the largest city
in Wisconsin and is located on
the west side of Lake Michigan.
At that time, about 30,000 Jews
lived there which included a
sizable number of Chassidim
as well as a large group of Jews
who descended from Chabad
Chassidim. Amongst them
was a wealthy man from the
Lubavitcher Chanin family who
helped fund the Rebbe Rayatzs
activities.
An entourage of about
twenty men escorted the Rebbe
from Chicago to Milwaukee
which included his son-in-law
Rashag and the secretaries Rabbi
Chatshe Feigin and Rabbi Chaim
Lieberman as well as the Rebbes
uncle, Rabbi Moshe Horenstein.
They traveled together on
Sunday, 9 Adar. In the evening
they arrived at the train station in
Milwaukee where a magnificent
welcome had been prepared for
the Rebbe. On the cars that came
The center of Milwaukee. Picture taken in 1930

The Rebbe left the train station leading a convoy
of about 200 cars. In front of the Rebbes car
was a police car with welcome signs on it that stopped
traffc on the street in the Rebbe's honor.
Issue 778 #'1+-1&'!& 15
to welcome the Rebbe waved
American flags as well as flags
with Magen Davids which said
Boruch Haba on them.
The Rebbe stepped out of the
train and journalists cameras
began to click all around him.
The crowd was obviously excited;
for most of them, this was the
first time they were seeing the
Rebbe. The Rebbe left the train
station leading a convoy of about
200 cars. In front of the Rebbes
car was a police car with welcome
signs on it that stopped traffic on
the street in the Rebbes honor.
The Rebbe davened Maariv
in the Anshei Lubavitch shul
and from there he went to the
apartment that had been prepared
for him which was attached to
the shul. Even during this short
walk he was surrounded by a
large crowd and many journalists
who didnt stop taking pictures.
The non-Jews who gathered said
the Rebbe was a personality who
made a positive impression. The
apartment was decorated with
welcome signs and colorful flags.
After a brief supper the first
visitors arrived, members of
a delegation from the nearby
town of Sheboygan. They were
thirty men, old and young. The
community so greatly desired to
see the Rebbe that they went to
Milwaukee to invite the Rebbe to
their town. They pleaded with the
Rebbe to visit them for at least
one day but the Rebbes crowded
calendar and his desire to fan
the inspiration in Milwaukee
and Chicago prevented him from
giving them a positive response.
The meeting ended after about
half an hour and the visit to
Sheboygan did not come to pass.
After the delegation left,
people came in for yechidus
(private audience) for several
hours.
MILWAUKEE INSTEAD OF WASHINGTON
Milwaukee was not originally on the Rebbes itinerary and yet he spent
four days there. How did he end up there?
The Rebbes visit to the United States was dedicated towards
strengthening Chassidim and Chassidus, strengthening American Jewry,
and working on behalf of Russian Jewry with the attempt to harness
organizations and public figures for the benefit of the oppressed Jews under
communist rule.
In those days financial aid for shomer Shabbos Jews was not spoken
about. At this time, the communist regime did all it could to uproot
Judaism. In the winter of 5690 there were waves of arrests. In one, twelve
rabbanim and communal figures were arrested in Minsk, and in Leningrad
the heads of the Chabad community and yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim were
arrested. Among those arrested were Rabbi Shimon Lazaroff, rav of the
Chabad community and Rabbi Nissan Nemenov, menahel and rosh yeshivas
Tomchei Tmimim.
The Rebbe Rayatz pleaded for people to help them but the Jews of the
United States were preoccupied with their own problems for this was the
Great Depression and they were not particularly enthusiastic about doing
anything for the Jews of Russia.
The Rebbe visited Chicago and during the visit he received an invitation
to participate in a large meeting of the Joint that would be taking place on
Sunday, 9 Adar, in Washington. Senior public figures in the US were invited
and the Rebbe wanted to take advantage of this convention to arouse public
sentiment and get Jewish organizations involved in helping Russian Jewry.
He turned to Dr. Cyrus Adler, then chairman of the cultural committee
of the Joint to arrange for a special session of Jewish askanim (communal
figures) in which the Rebbe would take part, so he would be able to do
something on behalf of Russian Jews in distress. Dr. Adler, like the rest of
the people in the Joint, was not prepared to get involved at this stage and he
suggested meeting with the Rebbe in Philadelphia on 12 Adar, not at the big
meeting in Washington.
The Rebbe declined the offer and sent his son-in-law Rashag to the
meeting with Dr. Adler. The Rebbe did not refuse because of the distance,
since the trip from Chicago to Philadelphia or Washington was more or less
the same, but the Rebbe wanted the meeting to take place during the course
of the convention, where many askanim would meet. It was likely that the
Rebbes presence would lead to significant results.
Also, it seems the Rebbe wanted to return to Chicago for Purim and
traveling to Philadelphia to meet with Dr. Adler so close to Purim would
have prevented this from happening. The Rebbe did not want to weaken
the Jewish-Chassidic inspiration that had begun in the city and this was just
as important to him as helping Russian Jewry. Furthermore, Dr. Adlers
response did not indicate his great readiness to help.
This is why the Rebbe went back to his original plan and sent Rashag
to Dr. Adler. The time he would have been in Washington, he spent in
Milwaukee and he returned to Chicago for Purim.
It should be mentioned that towards the end of his visit, the Rebbe
Rayatz went to Washington and met with the President.
MILWAUKEE INSTEAD OF WASHINGTON
Milwaukee was not originally on the Rebbes itinerary and yet he spent
four days there. How did he end up there?
The Rebbes visit to the United States was dedicated towards
strengthening Chassidim and Chassidus, strengthening American Jewry,
and working on behalf of Russian Jewry with the attempt to harness
organizations and public figures for the benefit of the oppressed Jews under
communist rule.
In those days financial aid for shomer Shabbos Jews was not spoken
about. At this time, the communist regime did all it could to uproot
Judaism. In the winter of 5690 there were waves of arrests. In one, twelve
rabbanim and communal figures were arrested in Minsk, and in Leningrad
the heads of the Chabad community and yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim were
arrested. Among those arrested were Rabbi Shimon Lazaroff, rav of the
Chabad community and Rabbi Nissan Nemenov, menahel and rosh yeshivas
Tomchei Tmimim.
The Rebbe Rayatz pleaded for people to help them but the Jews of the
United States were preoccupied with their own problems for this was the
Great Depression and they were not particularly enthusiastic about doing
anything for the Jews of Russia. f
The Rebbe visited Chicago and during the visit he received an invitation
to participate in a large meeting of the Joint that would be taking place on f
Sunday, 9 Adar, in Washington. Senior public figures in the US were invited
and the Rebbe wanted to take advantage of this convention to arouse public
sentiment and get Jewish organizations involved in helping Russian Jewry.
He turned to Dr. Cyrus Adler, then chairman of the cultural committee
of the Joint to arrange for a special session of Jewish askanim (communal
figures) in which the Rebbe would take part, so he would be able to do
something on behalf of Russian Jews in distress. Dr. Adler, like the rest of
the people in the Joint, was not prepared to get involved at this stage and he
suggested meeting with the Rebbe in Philadelphia on 12 Adar, not at the big
meeting in Washington.
The Rebbe declined the offer and sent his son-in-law Rashag to the
meeting with Dr. Adler. The Rebbe did not refuse because of the distance,
since the trip from Chicago to Philadelphia or Washington was more or less
the same, but the Rebbe wanted the meeting to take place during the course
of the convention, where many askanim would meet. It was likely that the
Rebbes presence would lead to significant results.
Also, it seems the Rebbe wanted to return to Chicago for Purim and
traveling to Philadelphia to meet with Dr. Adler so close to Purim would
have prevented this from happening. The Rebbe did not want to weaken
the Jewish-Chassidic inspiration that had begun in the city and this was just
as important to him as helping Russian Jewry. Furthermore, Dr. Adlers
response did not indicate his great readiness to help.
This is why the Rebbe went back to his original plan and sent Rashag
to Dr. Adler. The time he would have been in Washington, he spent in
Milwaukee and he returned to Chicago for Purim.
It should be mentioned that towards the end of his visit, the Rebbe
Rayatz went to Washington and met with the President.
16 #'1+-1&'!& 21 Adar Rishon 5771
FEATURE
VAYAVO AMALEK
The following day, Monday,
10 Adar, many Jews continued to
see the Rebbe including quite a
few young Americans. In a letter
to his wife, the Rebbe wrote that
the young men listened politely
and some of them even promised
to put on tfillin.
The delegation from
Sheboygan together with the
Chassidim in Milwaukee as well
as those who werent Chassidim,
sat together to farbreng. This
gave the Rebbe much nachas
and he wrote, A hundred people
sat and farbrenged, speaking a
bit, telling one another stories,
warming one another up. Thats
what they told me, it made a
nice impression. At the end of
the farbrengen the people from
Sheboygan went to the train
station to return home and the
Jews of Milwaukee escorted
them.
From morning till night the
Rebbes apartment hummed with
many Jews from all backgrounds
who wanted to see him. In the
evening, Jews from Milwaukee
packed the Anshei Lubavitch
shul in anticipation of the Rebbe
saying a maamer Chassidus.
The large hall of the shul was
full with Jews from all walks of
life, young and old, those with
trimmed beards and those with
untouched beards, those who put
a yarmulke on in the entrance
to the shul as well as rabbanim,
shochtim, chazanim and
students. The womens section
was also full with women from
various communities.
The shul was lit up and
there was a babble of languages,
Yiddish and English, and then
suddenly, silence. All eyes were
turned to the main entrance. The
Rebbe, wearing a black coat and
a tall fur hat walked in and strode
the length of the shul, went up
near the Aron Kodesh and sat
in an armchair next to a small
table. He gazed at the crowd and
waited for a few minutes before
beginning the maamer that
begins Vayavo Amalek.
The audience listened avidly
to the maamer that took an hour
and twenty minutes. The Rebbe
described the scene in a letter to
his wife:
The people sat in their
places in utter silence, with
great respect, all of them riveted
to their seats, all of them
looking at one place, inclining
their heads forward, listening,
comprehending, wanting to
understand. It was like sitting
in a garden amongst plants
that move in the breeze. Their
lips move but their voices are
not heard. It was apparent that
each of them was going outside
of himself, wanting to know
what was being said, wanting to
understand, wanting to know,
and on all was apparent a smile
of delight which expressed
thanks and joy.
There are some Jews here
in their forties and fifties from
our district in Vitebsk who were
with their fathers in Lubavitch
in their youth and heard
and reviewed Chassidus and
hc aancr, `a',aVc /nacl' vhich vas saic in ivaolcc vas oLishcc in 9-9
L, hc cLLc as cr his ahcrinav, hc cLLc a,az's insrocicns.

They leave children of stone after them. None
of them think about the chinuch of children
that they become like Jews in the Old Country. Rather,
each one gives money to found orphanages, for old age
homes, for shuls, and they write on it their names, i.e. they
engrave their names in stone as an everlasting memorial,
a child of stone.
Issue 778 #'1+-1&'!& 17
occasionally learned, but their
devotion to religion ceased and
they cooled off but the taste of
Chassidus still remains with
them. They put on tfillin, keep
Shabbos to the extent they can
but this visit inspired them,
shook them up. The first time I
spoke, on Sunday (so they say),
they lost it completely, they
cried hysterically, and said the
SheHechiyanu blessings with
tears of joy and sorrow.
The maamer was able to
affect even those who were
not in Lubavitch; however, on
those [who were in Lubavitch]
even more How much they
understood of the Chassidus
I dont know, but they spoke
about it amongst themselves.
They are in America for twenty
years already and speak a very
good English. They repeated
the content of what was said
in English to those who knew
nothing (aside from what they
saw).
Present were also reporters
from English language
newspapers, one a Jew and one
a Christian. The latter did not
understand what the Rebbe said
in Yiddish but the entire scene
made a good impression on him.
The Rebbe quickly wrote up
the maamer, working on it that
night for two hours, and in the
days that followed he devoted
additional time to completing
it. Nineteen years later, the
Rebbe published it as per the
instructions of the Rebbe Rayatz
in a kuntres (booklet) that was
published for 10-13 Shevat 5709
and was reprinted in the Seifer
HaMaamarim 5709, p. 34.
A FARBRENGEN
WITHOUT MASHKE
In a letter to his wife, the
Rebbe wrote about the many
things he did on Tuesday, 11
Adar. From nine in the morning
until one in the afternoon there
was yechidus and receiving of
panim.
From 1:00 until 1:45 there
was a special yechidus with
Rabbi Yehuda Leib Twersky,
the Horensteipel Rebbe, a
descendent of the Mitteler Rebbe.
Rabbi Twersky visited the Rebbe
in Chicago, was present for the
welcome at the train station
in Milwaukee, was with the
Rebbe in the shul, and then had
yechidus.
From two until four lunch,
resting, and Mincha.
Between four and eight
there were yechidus and the
receiving of panim and Maariv.
Between eight and nine, a
break to continue writing the
maamer.
From nine until ten yechidus
and the receiving of panim.
Between ten and twelve a
special meeting that was actually
a farbrengen in the Anshei
Lubavitch shul that was attended
by about a hundred Chassidim
and distinguished people from
the Jewish community including
about twenty of Chassidic origin.
There was also a large group of
women who listened from the
womens section.
The tables were set with soda
and lemonade and no mashke
at all. At the beginning of the
farbrengen the Rebbe explained
about the difference between
Torah and tfilla. The Rebbe
spoke in Yiddish in a way that
even a child could understand
and then he launched into an
inspiring sicha in a Lubavitcher
style. The Rebbe described it in a
letter to his wife:
an inspiring sicha like at
home, the crowd warmed up a
bit. Out of the two hours that
I farbrenged, I spoke for about
an hour in four installments
It penetrated to their core,
both men and women were
moved I spoke about Jewish
communities in America not
thinking about themselves. They
leave children of stone after
them. None of them think about
the chinuch of children that
Milwaukee today
18 #'1+-1&'!& 21 Adar Rishon 5771
FEATURE
they become like Jews in the Old
Country. Rather, each one gives
money to found orphanages, for
old age homes, for shuls, and
they write on it their names,
i.e. they engrave their names
in stone as an everlasting
memorial, a child of stone. I
spoke about it at length with the
appropriate terms with colorful
true to life descriptions.
On Wednesday, the last day
of the visit, the Rebbe addressed
many Jews who came to listen
to him. On that day there was a
meeting of Chassidim and Jews
of Milwaukee about maamad
(monetary support for the
Rebbes household).
LETTERS OF INSPIRATION
The Rebbe returned to
Chicago on Wednesday evening,
even as the impact of the visit
continued to reverberate. A week
later, on Wednesday, 19 Adar,
some Jews in Milwaukee felt a
great desire to see the Rebbe and
so they went to Chicago to see
him and gave him special regards
from the Jews of their city.
In the days following the trip,
the Rebbe wrote special letters of
inspiration to some of the Jews
of Milwaukee and one of them
was sent to Reb Chaim Eliezer,
to whom the Rebbe wrote that
their community could do a lot
to strengthen Judaism in general
and Chassidus in particular,
particularly as they had amongst
them men of stature.
On a practical note, the Rebbe
explains that Chabad Chassidim
were always mekarev those who
davened in shuls and gave them
shiurim in Chassidus in a style
suitable to them on their level
on topics of avoda, i.e. tfilla and
correction of middos. Similarly,
it was always the custom to exert
influence on the youth in order to
introduce within them a glimmer
of light.
The Rebbe expresses special
nachas in his letter regarding the
spiritual arousal in response to
what he said during the meeting
in the Lubavitch shul:
I was pleased to see an
inner arousal, an inner feeling,
an inner enthusiasm, albeit
covered in the dust of the flow
of life, wrapped in a mantle of
worries but it peeks through
the cracks and it is easy, with
Hashems help, to arouse it and
to bring it from concealment
out into the open.
The Rebbe concludes the
letter:
The group of Anash in your
city is worthy of channeling the
blessing of G-d to found a group
of people who study Chassidus
at set times according to the
conditions of the place and to
agitate for the establishment of
a shiur in Gemara amongst the
balabatim. And the learning,
whether of Chassidus or
Gemara, should take place in
the shul of their choice.
Sources: The article is based on Toldos
Chabad in the US, edited by Rabbi Sholom
Ber Levin; letters of the Rebbe Rayatz to
his wife that were published for the first
time by Rabbi Sholom Yaakov Chazan in
Beis Moshiach. Seifer HaMaamarim
5709, Igros Kodesh Admur Rayatz, Sichos
Admur Rayatz, Toldos Chabad in Soviet
Russia, Yiras Hashem Otzaro, etc.
A letter written by the Rebbe Rayatz about his visit to Milwaukee
ADD IN ACTS OF GOODNESS & KINDNESS
TO BRING MOSHIACH NOW!
Issue 778 #'1+-1&'!& 19
HEARING HI-TECH
HOLINESS
By Rabbi Yehoishophot Oliver
T
he potential for using
audio technology
nowadays is simply
amazing. For a relatively
small price one can purchase an
audio recorder and record audio
files at no cost other than the price
of the batteries (and with some
devices not even that is needed).
These recordings can then be
distributed with relative ease.
In the realm of kdusha
(holiness), and of spreading
Yiddishkait and the wellsprings
of Chassidus, this potential is
vastly underused.
If Torah is truly precious to
us, we will want and yearn to
share it and disseminate it, to
make every moment of it count
as much as possible and have the
greatest possible impact.
Many of those who deliver
shiurim neglect to record them.
The class is then heard only by
those attending, while if it were
recorded it could have been heard
by hundreds, if not thousands of
people. Do the maggidei shiur
understand this? Do they not
want the broader audience?
Can they not find some youth to
delegate the task of uploading
and linking through their various
ways and means?
The opposite question can be
leveled at the listeners. Everybody
is listening to something but who
is listening to shiurim? With light
and easy-to-carry devices such as
an iPod, which can be purchased
at a relatively cheap price and can
store increasingly more mind-
boggling amounts of audio, it
takes very little effort to tune in
to kdusha.
Boruch Hashem, there is
no shortage of audio to put on
ones iPod. There is a vast array
of Torah audio available for
download online and elsewhere,
most of it very cheaply if not
altogether gratis. This awesome
treasure exists for a purposeso
that we make full use of it.
In fact, an audio recording
has a certain advantage over a
face-to-face shiur. Often some of
the ideas heard in a shiur will not
register after being heard once;
however, after being heard a
second and third time, one comes
to fully grasp the teachings.
Moreover, even if one has
heard the shiur several times and
fully understands and remembers
it, he may attain further insight
into the topic discussed, or
draw needed inspiration from
reviewing it again.
And even if the person attends
shiurim, audio technology
enables one to seize the
commute and learn in situations
in which learning would be
otherwise impossible, or at least
very difficultsuch as while
walking, waiting at a bus stop, or
the like. This enables one to use
those few minutes here and there,
which add up to many hours over
the course of time, to the utmost.
This is especially necessary
for those who for whatever
reason may not be able to attend
a shiur in person that day, or live
in a place where such shiurim are
not available.
Even if one is not mentally
in the mood to listen to a shiur,
he can still make good use of
his time by listening to music
that inspires one to love and fear
Hashem.
Another important role that
audio of shiurim or of proper
Jewish music can play (no pun
intended) is to replace any excuse
of a need to listen to the radio,
which, like everything secular,
almost always contains some
objectionable content.
This technology is particularly
beneficial for chassidim, who
should make a point of regularly
learning our Rebbes teachings.
It enables those who understand
Yiddish to listen to the Rebbe
speak directly, without the
intermediate stage of a transcript,
which although faithful to the
original, may still lose much in
translation.
Moreover, through listening
to audio one can be inspired
emotionally by the Rebbes holy
sichos in a way that would not
be possible through studying the
transcripts (edited or unedited)
of his sichos.
As the Rebbe said many
times, Words that emanate
from the heart will penetrate
the heart (Seifer HaYashar
of Rabbeinu Tam #313) and
have their desired impact. The
20 #'1+-1&'!& 21 Adar Rishon 5771
INSIGHT
Rebbe Rashab explains (Seifer
HaMaamarim 5671) that this is
referring specifically to spoken
words, for since they are uttered
with passion and enthusiasm,
they have a special power to
penetrate the heart.
Moreover, Chassidus explains
(see ibid.; Seifer HaMaamarim
5666, p. 493; Toras Menachem
5713, Vol. 1) that speech stems
from the essence of the soul, as it
is written, his soul went forth in
his speech (Shir HaShirim 5:6).
(Unfortunately this also holds
true in the negative sense, for the
deepest evil traits in a person are
revealed specifically through vile
speechsee Seifer HaMaamarim
5670).
So to translate this to
listening to the Rebbe: Since
emotions are expressed in
speech, the Rebbes holy
emotionsfaith in Hashem,
love and fear of Hashem, love
of Torah, love of his fellow Jew,
and so onare surely expressed
in his speech. And since all the
Rebbes words surely emanate
from the heart, listening to his
words surely has a special power
to penetrate the heart of the
listener. Moreover, since spoken
words stem from the essence of
the soul, it follows that listening
to the Rebbe speaking has the
power to connect the listener to
the essence of the Rebbes soul.
Using audio technology was
always a very important way to
bond with the Rebbe, even before
Gimmel Tammuz, back in the
day of cassette tapes. However,
it is obviously vital after Gimmel
Tammuz, when, due to our many
sins, we are no longer able to
hear the Rebbe speak physically.
Although hearing the Rebbes
holy words directly and physically
is surely likely to have the greatest
impact on ones feelings, in the
meantime it surely behooves
us to take advantage of the
technology available to maintain
our bond with the Rebbe as much
as possible despite his having
been concealed from us, albeit
temporarily.
And this will prepare us to see
and hear him address us again,
and reveal to one and all the most
sublime and sweet secrets of
Torah, may it happen now!
Rabbi Yehoishofot Oliver is a
teacher and writer. Many of his
articles on the Rebbe, Chassidus,
and Moshiach can be found
online at a-farbrengen.blogspot.
com

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Issue 778 #'1+-1&'!& 21
SHLICHUS
AND THE
POWER OF
THOUGHT
The Rebbe Rayatz extols the power of positive
thouQht about a feIIow Jew. Stories about
shluchim who use this method and bring about
positive change.
By Rabbi Yaakov Shmuelevitz; shliach, Beit Shaan
T
here is a HaYom Yom
entry that says that the
Rebbeim would regularly
bring his Chassidim and
mekusharim (who were connected
to them) to mind, and this would
be the impetus for a stronger bond
with the Rebbe.
Since shlucho shel adam
kmoso (a persons emissary is
like himself), there are shluchim
who, in addition to their regular
activities and official programs,
shiurim, mivtzaim, etc. devote
some time on occasion to think
about their mekuravim. This has
a positive effect on those Jews,
strengthening their bond with the
Rebbe, with the shliach, and with
the Chabad house.
For obvious reasons, most
of these stories will be related
without using the name of the
shliach etc. both because the
shluchim made this request
(since they did not want to
publicize that they deal with the
esoteric and influence others with
their thoughts) and for the sake
of the mekuravim who shouldnt
think their power of free choice
is being taken from them when
thoughts are beamed at them
from afar.
VNAHAPOCH HU
A shliach told me that this
happens to him all the time. He
remembers a certain person and
wonders why it has been so long
since he heard from him and
within two hours the person calls
and starts discussing Judaism
with him. Or he suddenly
meets him and they renew their
relationship.
This shliach told me about
one such instance where thinking
about someone proved effective:
In the shul where I daven
and regularly say divrei Torah,
a certain ben Torah from Bnei
Brak often shows up when he is
visiting his parents. Whenever
I get up to say divrei Torah, he
makes a show of getting up and
walking out of the shul until I
finish speaking. A Misnaged.
Obviously, his rude behavior
was unpleasant, to say the least,
and the moment I would see him
walk into shul, my heart would
sink. This went on for months.
One time, when he walked
into shul, I decided probably
because I had been reading about
the power of positive thoughts,
to try this method out on him. I
closed my eyes for two minutes
and began thinking positive
thoughts about him. He is a ben
Avrohom, Yitzchok and Yaakov.
22 #'1+-1&'!& 21 Adar Rishon 5771
SHLICHUS
Hashem loves him as His only
child. He is not at fault. He is a
tinok shnishba. Its a rachmanus
on him and I ought to love him.
And you know what
happened? When I got up to say
the sicha before Krias HaTorah,
he remained and listened like
everybody else. Not only that, but
when the davening was over he
came over to me and said, Yashar
koach for the divrei Torah. You
made some interesting points.
And since then he always
stays and listens.
The power of thought.
HOW TO BE
MEKAREV PEOPLE
I know about a Chassidishe
rav in one of the Chabad yeshivos
who reads many chapters of
Thillim every day for the sake
of a number of his students, as
well as chapters that correspond
to their age, for success in their
learning and avodas Hashem.
I met this Chassidishe rav one
Tishrei in 770 and I saw that he
was reciting many chapters of
Thillim. I asked him why he was
doing that and he told me that he
has some students who are not
doing well in their learning and
in their Chassidishe behavior.
All the personal talks he has had
with them did not bring about the
desired results and therefore, he
says their chapter of Thillim and
hopes it will help.
Another shliach noticed a
young man who often visited the
Chabad house and he thought
about how he needed to be
mekarev him. He wondered how
to go about it until the familiar
words in Kabbalas Shabbos,
su Mincha ubou lchatzrosav
jumped out at him. The words
say to pick up a gift and bring it
to the holy courtyards. That was
it! He would bring the young
man as a gift to the Rebbe. He
thought, With Hashems help
I will be mekarev him until he
becomes a Tamim in the Rebbes
yeshiva.
Amazingly, not too much time
elapsed before the shliach saw
that the young man had taken on
some Chassidic practices and was
proceeding in the right direction.
***
In an issue of Ateres Chaya
there was an article about a
teacher in a Chabad school who
has been using this method for
years, the method of influencing
her students with the power
of thought. She said that she
has some students who arent
behaving as Chassidic as they
should and all her talks with them
were fruitless and so she thinks
about them. She devotes time to
thinking about each of these girls
and imagines them improving
and progressing in the ways of
Chassidus.
The teacher said the girls are
starting to change for the better.
The power of thought.
THOUGHTS THAT LED TO A
RENEWED FRIENDSHIP
Another shliach, who is a rav
in his city of shlichus, told me:
I was plagued by troubling
thoughts because I thought I
had unwittingly offended one of
my closest friends. I spent hours
obsessing about how I hadnt
been sufficiently sensitive in our
last talk and he may have been
insulted and maybe this would
lead to his keeping his distance
from me and the Chabad house. I
thought perhaps I should call him
and appease him.
I was immersed in these
thoughts when I suddenly got
a phone call from him. Whats
up? he asked in a friendly
manner, and we had a long
conversation that was completely
positive. He conveyed his desire
to strengthen our relationship.
Afterward I began thinking
about why he had called me.
He hadnt asked me anything,
so why did he call? I came to
the conclusion that it was my
thinking about him that caused
him to feel favorably disposed
towards me and to call.
As waters reflect a face, so
too the heart of man to another.
THINKING STREET BY
STREET, HOUSE BY HOUSE
Rabbi Shmuel Grumach,
shliach of the Rebbe in yishuv
Beit Dagan, uses the power of
thought a lot and sees results.
Every time he goes to the Rebbe,
he brings with him, in thought,
all the residents of Beit Dagan.
Before Gimmel Tammuz, he
would do this during a farbrengen
with the Rebbe, during the
niggunim between sichos etc.
Now, after Gimmel Tammuz, he
does this while saying Thillim
on Shabbos Mevarchim. In his
thoughts he goes street by street
Issue 778 #'1+-1&'!& 23
and house by house, thinking
about every resident of Beit
Dagan. He usually knows what
bracha each of them needs.
Before he makes a trip, many
residents ask R Grumach to keep
them in mind, Bless me, Im
asking for a bracha for such-and-
such, etc. When he returns from
the Rebbe, they all ask, Did you
remember me? Did you think
about me? Many tell of good
things that happened to them
in the meantime, thanks to his
thoughts and prayers.
NOT JUST IN THOUGHTS
R Grumach doesnt only
traverse the streets of Beit Dagan
in his mind but in real time.
Once a week he goes on Mivtza
Moshiach with his regular helper,
Rabbi Velvel Marantz of Kfar
Chabad who brings along his
flute.
They make house calls and
talk to people about getting ready
for Moshiachs coming. Each visit
begins with the Rebbes Besuras
and Nevuas HaGeula. They
conclude by urging them to make
a good hachlata (resolution).
A woman committed to
lighting Shabbos candles with her
daughters. R Grumach made a
note for himself to remember to
call her on Friday and remind her
about candle lighting time. That
Friday, he was busier than usual
with Mivtza Tfillin, in giving out
food parcels and in announcing
the candle lighting time from
the loudspeaker attached to
his car, and he did not call her.
Apparently, his intention of
calling her was effective because
the following Friday, when
he called her, the woman told
him excitedly that she hadnt
forgotten. She had gathered all
her daughters and they all lit, just
as the rabbi had explained.
It happens to me a lot, said
R Grumach, and Im sure that
it happens to all the shluchim,
that I plan on inviting someone to
an upcoming event and I realize
that I dont have their telephone
number, and Im thinking what a
shame it is that I cant reach him,
and then I see him walking down
the street or at the entrance to
the supermarket.
The power of thought.
***
I will conclude this column
with the hope that after writing
about this idea, Chassidim will
use the power of thought to help
one another. Bachurim should
have a positive influence on their
friends overseas, to strengthen
their connection with the Rebbe
and the ways of Chassidus. Lets
hear about shluchim who close
their eyes and influence their
mekuravim to keep Shabbos, put
on tfillin, and come en masse to
shiurim.
Most importantly, let us see
Chassidim of all ages using the
power of thought to start living
with Moshiach, and in the
place of a persons thoughts
that is where he is to be found
to bring the Geula now!
THE POWER OF THOUGHT
The first two words of Likkutei Dibburim of the Rebbe Rayatz
are machshava moeles. The Rebbe explains that it is possible to
accomplish a great deal by thinking of another person. He says,
Thought has no constraints and has no barriers at any time it
reaches the place it needs to reach.
The story is told there about how the Rebbe and those present
(on Simchas Torah 5693/1932) mentioned some names of
Chassidim as a segula so they should be able to leave Russia. One of
the people there, who had himself left Russia at that time, asked the
Rebbe how effective could thought be. The Rebbe replied, Very.
The Rebbe also hinted to him that he himself had left Russia thanks
to the Rebbes thinking about him. The Rebbe then said, Where
were you last Sukkos? With the power of thought one can help
another be saved from his place and situation, materially and
spiritually.
The Rebbe Rayatz quotes a letter that Rabbi Pinchas of Koretz
sent to his Rebbe, the Maggid of Mezritch, Many thanks for the
remembrance that you remembered and brought me up on Yom
Kippur. You should know that at that moment that I merited to
be brought up in your holy memory, I immediately felt it here.
The Rebbe then goes on to say that the effect of thought is
something readily understood and it is no wonder or novelty at all.
It is one of the basic things of Chassidus from the very beginning,
from the days of the Alter Rebbe. And so, Chassidim are expected
to operate and help one another, with the power of thought.
In the Rebbe MHMs Igros Kodesh, volume 22, p. 141, there
is a letter to someone who asked about what is explained in
certain places that thought can help another, is this only for special
people or also for every Jew?
The Rebbe responds: One can learn regarding this from the
statement of Chazal about lashon hara killing three which
refers to every single Jew. Thought is not far from speech; on the
contrary, in some respects it is more effective.
THE POWER OF THOUGHT
The first two words of Likkutei Dibburim of the Rebbe Rayatz
are machshava moeles. The Rebbe explains that it is possible to
accomplish a great deal by thinking of another person. He says,
Thought has no constraints and has no barriers at any time it
reaches the place it needs to reach.
The story is told there about how the Rebbe and those present
(on Simchas Torah 5693/1932) mentioned some names of
Chassidim as a segula so they should be able to leave Russia. One of
the people there, who had himself left Russia at that time, asked the
Rebbe how effective could thought be. The Rebbe replied, Very.
The Rebbe also hinted to him that he himself had left Russia thanks
to the Rebbes thinking about him. The Rebbe then said, Where
were you last Sukkos? With the power of thought one can help
another be saved from his place and situation, materially and
spiritually.
The Rebbe Rayatz quotes a letter that Rabbi Pinchas of Koretz
sent to his Rebbe, the Maggid of Mezritch, Many thanks for the
remembrance that you remembered and brought me up on Yom
Kippur. You should know that at that moment that I merited to w
be brought up in your holy memory, I immediately felt it here.
The Rebbe then goes on to say that the effect of thought is
something readily understood and it is no wonder or novelty at all.
It is one of the basic things of Chassidus from the very beginning,
from the days of the Alter Rebbe. And so, Chassidim are expected
to operate and help one another, with the power of thought. f
In the Rebbe MHMs Igros Kodesh, volume 22, p. 141, there
is a letter to someone who asked about what is explained in
certain places that thought can help another, is this only for special
people or also for every Jew?
The Rebbe responds: One can learn regarding this from the
statement of Chazal about lashon hara killing three which
refers to every single Jew. Thought is not far from speech; on the
contrary, in some respects it is more effective.
24 #'1+-1&'!& 21 Adar Rishon 5771
SHLICHUS
PUT OUT THE FIRES!
By Rabbi Heschel Greenberg
Founder and Director of the Jewish Discovery Center in Buffalo
T
his weeks parsha of
VaYakhel begins with
Moses gathering the
entire Jewish nation in
order to convey G-ds instructions
concerning the building of the
Mishkan, the portable Sanctuary
in the desert. Interestingly, before
discussing contributions to the
Mishkan and its construction,
Moses transmits to them the
command concerning Shabbat:
For six days work may be done,
but the seventh day should be holy
for you, a day of complete rest to
G-d.
Immediately after this general
exhortation to observe the
Shabbat by refraining from work,
Moses mentions one of the thirty-
nine forms of work prohibited on
that day: You should not kindle
fire in any of your dwelling places
on the Sabbath day.
From Talmudic times to the
present our Sages and Torah
commentators have often
addressed the question of why
the Torah mentions only this
one Sabbath prohibition. All
of the thirty-nine categories of
proscribed work are derived in
the Talmud by the way the Torah
juxtaposes the commandment
to build the Mishkan with the
requirement to rest on the
Shabbat. From this we derive
that all those activities that were
instrumental in the construction
of the Mishkan may not be
performed on Shabbat. Why then
does the Torah have to specify
the prohibition against lighting a
fire if it is already implied in the
general command against work
on Shabbat?
One answer with an ethical
focus has been offered in which
the commandment against
lighting a fire is to be understood
allegorically as a reference to
disputes in which fiery anger and
passion that are kindled are very
likely to disrupt the tranquility
of the Shabbat. The Torahs
message here is thus: While
discord and strife is a destructive
fire that should be avoided every
day of the week, it is even more
damaging when it occurs on the
Shabbat.
What precisely is the
relationship between this form
of fire and the Shabbat? And
why is this specific aspect of
Sabbath desecration mentioned
here in the context of building a
Mishkan? The commandment to
observe the Sabbath is mentioned
several times in the Torah. Why
then was this specific command
concerning lighting fires not
mentioned before? And, more
generally, why does the Torah
link the laws concerning the
Shabbat with the construction of
the Mishkan?
To answer all these questions
we must first understand at
least one aspect of the spiritual
dimension of the Shabbat.
Shabbat is more than just a
day of rest. It is the day that brings
perfection to the entire week that
precedes it. When we engage in
our everyday activities during the
workweekwith which we
attempt to construct our own
personal sanctuaries for G-d
we might not consciously feel our
connection to G-d. Even when we
devote time for daily Torah study
and do our best to observe all of
the commandments that govern
our lives, we frequently feel that
the weekday and work-related
pressures deprive our Torah
study and Mitzvot observance of
some, if not most, of their power.
Our minds and hearts may be
in some other place, and our
actions suffer from a lack of soul.
Our Mishkans collapse.
All of these distractions can,
happily, be remedied with the
onset of the Sabbath. Shabbat,
with its heightened spirituality,
has the capacity to perfect
our Torah study and Mitzvot
observance and thereby reverse
all of the failures of the preceding
week. Shabbat, Chassidic
thought asserts, not only gives
us a respite from the negativity
that we experienced during
our weekday activities. To the
contrary, it actually elevates the
days and activities of the past
week.
This concept is based on the
Chassidic interpretation of the
words we recite in the Kiddush
recited as we usher in the
Shabbat every Friday night. In
this prayer we invoke the verse in
Genesis that states:
The heavens, the earth and
all their hosts were completed.
PARSHA THOUGHT
Issue 778 #'1+-1&'!& 25
On the seventh day, He rested
from all His work that he had
done.
By employing the term
completed the Torah is simply
stating that G-d finished the
work of creation before the onset
of the first Sabbath. According
to Chassidic thought the term
completed conveys a much
more profound idea: all the
works which He did during the
preceding six days were made
complete on the Shabbat.
Without the Shabbat, G-ds
handiwork is incomplete.
By definition then, all of our
creations are inherently flawed
because we are finite beings.
Perfection is the province of the
Divine.
When G-d created the
universe during the Six Days
of Creation, He withdrew His
infinite light to allow for a finite
world. However, Shabbat is
when G-d removes the shield
that eclipses His infinite light and
allows G-dly perfection to enter
the world. As long as we do not
create our own obstructions that
prevent the infinite light to enter
our lives, we can access the world
of Divine perfection. As a result,
all of our flawed efforts of the
past week are endowed with a
dimension of G-dly perfection.
Generally speaking, the
things that we can do to render
us resistant to the prevailing
infinite light on the Shabbat are
the thirty-nine forms of work the
Torah prohibits. These activities
are essentially physically creative
acts that demonstrate our own
abilities to change the world.
G-d gave us these talents to
become His partners in creation.
By utilizing these talents we can
make the world a better place,
one that is suitable for human
existence. Once the world is
a civilized, habitable world,
we can then introduce into it
G-dly energy and transform the
worldthe human microcosm as
well as the global macrocosm
into a Mishkan.
If, however, we begin to
believe in our own abilities and
ingenuity and imagine ourselves
capable of changing the world
without the introduction of the
Divine element, we are destined
to fail. Only when we withdraw
from active creation during
Shabbat and disengage from the
finite can we become receptive to
the Infinite. And the consequence
of that is that we acquire the
capability of retroactively
investing our weekday efforts
with the ability to truly make
a difference. By observing the
Shabbat all of our efforts at
constructing the Mishkan during
the preceding week are crowned
with success.
In addition to the general
need to desist from the thirty-
nine forms of work (to construct
our Mishkan during the week
but that undermines that very
construction effort if we were
to continue doing it on the
Sabbath), there is one other
specific imperative for Shabbat to
succeed.
If Shabbat turns into a day of
division it creates a new barrier
to the realization of the Infinite
state of perfection. If the leisure
time afforded us by our absence
of work should lead to strife and
conflict, the perfection of the
week on Shabbat is lost to us.
There is a Kabbalistic
aphorism: The Holy One,
Blessed is He dwells only in a
wholesome place. This echoes
the sentiment expressed in our
daily prayers: Bless us our
Father, all of us as one. Where
does G-ds blessing dwell? In a
place of peace and harmony. Our
Sages articulated this idea most
forcefully and poignantlyin the
end of the Mishnah, symbolizing
the end of our existence in exile
G-d could not find a vessel that
contains a blessing other than
that of peace, as it says, G-d will
give His people strength; G-d will
bless His nation with peace.
There is no place more holy
than the Mishkan, and no time
more holy and harmonious
than the Shabbat. Only our
fires of anger and discord can
undermine our ability to access
the extraordinary blessing of the
Shabbat.
Thus prior to commanding
us about building the Mishkan
in the six work days the Torah
commands us to observe the
Shabbat. This is to underscore
that if we want the Divine to dwell
in our midst during the week
we must properly observe the
Shabbat. And the Torah follows
this command with the one of
not lighting a fire to underscore
that the Shabbat functions as it
was designed to only when there
is tranquility, peace and unity in
our midst. If the fires are kindled
on the Shabbat this denies us the
opportunity to touch the Infinite.
* * *
The last time we were
privileged to hear the Rebbes
words spoken in public, the
Rebbe emphasized the theme
of VaYakhel: And he gathered
with which this weeks parsha
commences that underscores the
theme of unity.
For eleven months prior to
this talk the Rebbe spoke to us
consistently and persistently
about the imminence of
Moshiachs coming and the
true and complete Geula. The
Rebbe also illuminated the
straightforward path we ought
to take to prepare ourselves for
the Messianic Era: by learning
the Torahs teachings about
26 #'1+-1&'!& 21 Adar Rishon 5771
PARSHA THOUGHT
Moshiach and translating this
knowledge into our conduct
in our daily lives. In the final
Shabbat before the Rebbe
suffered a stroke, his final
instruction to us to date was:
VaYakhel: Jewish unity!
Why?
Moshiach represents the
introduction of a revolutionary
measure of G-dly light and
goodness into the world. It is
called the Shabbat of existence.
It is the ultimate manifestation
of blessing that will engulf
the world, bringing perpetual
goodness, holiness and peace
in its wake. However, to be
receptive to the phenomenal
blessing of Moshiach we need
peace and unity that is based on
genuine Ahavat Yisroel.
May we all take the Rebbes
message to heart and focus our
collective energies on that which
unites us. And may we march
towards the final Redemption as
one unified nation with the spirit
of boundless joy!
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Court of Crown Heights
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Issue 778 #'1+-1&'!& 27
INREACH
They may look frum, talk frum and act
frum as well, but deep inside something
else is going on.
By Aryeh Gotfryd, PhD
Prayer is the ladder
that connects souls and
G-dliness ... But one
reaches this level through
the prior attainment
of comprehension and
understanding...
The Rebbe,
HaYom Yom, 5 Kislev.
T
he Jewish people are like
a challa. That braided loaf
of egg bread is not simply
a static object waiting to
be consumed. Its a symbolic and
dynamic work of art that you really
need to chew on in order to digest.
Id like to focus on the braids
out, in, crossover, out the other
way, back, crossover, and repeat.
We too have our outs
and ins. Our generation, the
Rebbes generation, has seen a
phenomenal and monumental
return to roots the likes of which
has not been seen in history. That
great in was preceded by a very
great out. Propelled by social
forces including secularism,
atheism, communism, anti-
Semitism, and more, we have
been scattered to the ends of
the spiritual spectrum. How
miraculous is the return.
But here we are again. The
forces of assimilation are not only
making the weak weaker, they
are making the strong weaker
too. Quite simultaneous with the
immense tshuva movement is a
comparably huge drift to spiritual
disinterest.
I see it all the time. Two half-
observant people sit at the same
table. They look fairly similar,
their levels of observance are
indistinguishable, but inside they
are light years apart. One, the
baal tshuva, is on the outside
looking in wanting to go from
50% to 51% and beyond. The
other, a lapsing Jew, is on the
inside looking out wanting to
go from 50% to 49%.
The first Dvar Torah I ever
heard was 30 years ago and it
lasted only 30 seconds. Still I
remember it like yesterday. I
had just walked into a room full
of college students as a Chabad
rabbi was saying, Youve got a
ladder and theres someone on
the 600
th
step and someone on
the 2
nd
step. Whos higher?
The room was silent. I
thought, Whats the matter with
these morons? Its obvious. As a
matter of fact if this rabbi says
anything else no doubt hes an
idiot too.
The guy on the 600
th
step,
I blurted, walking right into his
well-laid pedagogical trap.
It depends, he continued,
If the guy on the 600
th
rung is
coming down and the guy on the
2
nd
rung is going up, you have
to ask, whats more important?
Where you are standing or where
you are headed? You cannot
reach an Infinite G-d by being on
a higher rung because a million is
still zero percent of infinity. The
only way you can get closer is to
do something infinite yourself.
By climbing you are transcending
your level. That act is what gets
you close.
The Baal Tshuva has one
advantage in serving his Maker.
Nobody forced him to. It was
his or her decision from his or
her own volition. Every step up
is his. For the lifer it is more
complicated. The life of Torah
and mitzvos that surrounds a
person from birth is a given.
They are trained to think and act
in a certain way and thats that.
Later when they start evaluating
secular culture and thinking for
themselves, they may come to
any conclusion.
When we pray the Shmoneh
Esrei, we say Elokeinu
vElokei avoseinu first He is
our G-d, then the G-d of our
fathers. The lifers challenge is
the first part. As one mashpia
put it so frighteningly and so
eloquently, The problem with
the children of Baalei Tshuva
is that they are lifers, but
dont worry their children
will be Baalei Tshuva. I am
convinced that the first half is
overly pessimistic, but not 100%
convinced.
Ever since publishing
my correspondence with the
Secular Lubavitcher my phone
and inbox have been lightning
rods for feedback from around
the world. This is an issue that
tears at so many peoples hearts
MOSHIACH & SCIENCE
28 #'1+-1&'!& 21 Adar Rishon 5771
and so, so many say they have
no one to turn to, for after all,
What is a Secular Lubavitcher
to do?
And of course its not only
a Chabad issue. One Charedi
father of six writes me about how
he and his family were always
Orthodox and he looks and acts
it too. He has a good marriage,
a good job, and lives in a good
Charedi community. But he
does not pray or wear tfillin. He
thinks G-d neither notices nor
cares.
Countless teens and young
adults in the community where
I live feel exactly the same way.
What can be done?
Someone told me, We are
so busy reaching out, we forget
about our own kids, the youth of
our own communities. We have
to treat them exactly like Chabad
House clientele, with love,
warmth, basics, and acceptance.
I am confused. Call it Baal
Tshuva syndrome if you wish
but I really dont understand
these people. Yes, I have plenty
of failings of my own and plenty
of times when I forget about
Hashem, but my basic attitude is
Im looking for a way in, I want
to get that 51%, that little taste
of infinity as I try to climb that
ladder.
Whenever Im confused about
something, I go back to basics. I
feel that by going back to basics I
will be able to find the common
ground that will bridge the gap
between the Baal Tshuva and the
lifer. We can and will understand
each other if we try. And through
that understanding we will share
a will to grow.
Some of the basics we need to
explore are:
1. Is there a G-d?
2. How do we know?
3. And why the Jewish G-d
specifically?
4. Does He know and care
about what we do?
5. Why?
6. Isnt He awfully Big to
worry about how I spend my
time?
7. Why should I pray?
8. What is prayer about
anyway?
9. If He is perfect why does
He need our prayers?
10. And how do imperfect
rabbis represent a perfect G-d?
We need to be able to answer
these questions for outsiders,
but now even more urgently,
for insiders. And deeper yet, for
ourselves. Because at the end of
the day, the more truthfully and
inwardly we take our Torah and
mitzvos, the more it will rub off
on those around us.
The next few articles in this
series will, G-d willing, deal with
these questions, and they are
dedicated to those who ask them
whether explicitly or implicitly.
We will try to recreate the
Elokeinu, like Avraham Avinu
did one lone individual trying
to figure things out his own way
regardless of what those around
him believed.
The series of articles is
called The Abraham Principle
and I hope you find them as
meaningful to read as I have
found them meaningful to write.
Good Shabbos.
(Contact 416-858-9868 or
info@arniegotfryd.com)
`co'Vc c a acccr anc hcrc's scnccnc cn hc cOOh sc
anc scnccnc cn hc 2nc sc. Vhc's hihcr?'

One, the baal tshuva, is on the outside looking
in wanting to go from 50 per cent to 51 and
beyond. The other, a lapsing Jew, is on the inside looking
out wanting to go from 50 per cent to 49.
Issue 778 #'1+-1&'!& 29
THE RABBINATE
IS PART OF MY
SHLICHUS
After decades of shlichus in Kiryat Ata, Rabbi Chaim Shlomo Diskin has
recently been elected as Chief Rabbi of the city. Here is Beis Moshiachs
exclusive interview.
By Menachem Ziegelboim
Translated by Michoel Leib Dobry
Photos by Aharon Crombie
BRACHOS OF MAZEL TOV
The city of Kiryat Ata was
recently privileged to have
elected a new Chief Rabbi:
Chabad Shliach, Rabbi Chaim
Shlomo Diskin who assumes
this increased responsibility
after serving as rav for the
local Chabad community
and promoting Yiddishkait
throughout the region.
Following the lengthy election
proceedings in Kiryat Ata one of
those chosen was the gaon, and
av beis din of Makva, a Kiryat
Ata resident who was involved in
the entire process with full force
since he wanted very much to see
Rabbi Diskin assume the position
of chief rabbi. The gaon, Rabbi
Shimon Elitov, council member
for the chief rabbinate of Eretz
Yisroel, also provided much
assistance on behalf of Rabbi
Diskin, who was elected with a
majority of sixteen out of twenty-
four votes.
Immediately after Rabbi
Chaim Shlomo Diskins election
as chief rabbi of Kiryat Ata was
made known, great celebration
began among the citys Chabad
community. The rav received
dozens of telephone calls and
blessings from local residents,
Chabad chassidim in Kiryat
Ata, family, and friends. The
mayor of Kiryat Ata, Yaakov
Peretz, blessed Rabbi Diskin
and his colleague, Rabbi Eliyahu
Maimon, who was elected as local
chief Sephardic rabbi, saying
that the citys great religious
community can be certain that it
has two fine rabbanim who will
serve them well.
As soon as word spread that
Rabbi Diskin had been elected,
the ravs house filled with Chabad
chassidim from the entire region,
together with the mayor and
other public figures from all
sectors of the local community.
The joyous singing and dancing
broke all boundaries, and
the crowd was swept up with
emotion. The Chabad community
in Kiryat Ata celebrated until the
wee hours of the morning.
Thank G-d, we can say
SheHechiyanu. I feel that the
Rebbes will was fulfilled when I
was chosen to be the citys chief
rabbi, Rabbi Chaim Shlomo
Diskin told Beis Moshiach
after his election. When I was
sent to the city on the Rebbes
shlichus, it was clear to me
that the objective was to build
30 #'1+-1&'!& 21 Adar Rishon 5771
INTERVIEW
a community, and as things
progressed, to be appointed as
rav of the city.
I am very happy that the
process concluded successfully,
Rabbi Diskin added. I have
no doubt that this is part of my
shlichus. When the Rebbe sent
me to Kiryat Ata, it was clear to
me that part of the matter was
to establish a community and
also to continue to the rabbinate.
The Rebbe wrote me an answer
several years ago that I should
continue my examinations in
Heichal Shlomo, and thank G-d,
its now understood why.
Im happy that there was
such widespread support for my
candidacy from all sectors of the
citys population. It is my earnest
hope that this shlichus can be
done as it should be.
I now intend to enter the
areas of kashrus, the eruv, and
mikvaos, learning the subjects
well and doing everything in my
ability to advance them. I feel that
this can provide a tremendous
driving force for the city.
As a Chabad chassid and a
shliach, I feel great joy over these
opportunities and I wish that my
fellow shluchim can attain such
things as well. In the coming
days, I will sit with my colleague,
the citys Sephardic rav, Rabbi
Eliyahu Maimon, and we will
begin our important work.
THE EARLY DAYS
Rabbi Diskin was educated
in the Chabad Talmud Torah
of Bnei Brak. Afterwards, he
learned in Yeshivas Tomchei
Tmimim in Kfar Chabad, and
then was sent on shlichus to
the Chabad yeshiva in Migdal
HaEmek. After marrying the
daughter of Rabbi Shlomo
Kupchik of Kiryat Ata, he took
up residence in the city, near his
father-in-law.
Kiryat Ata is a city located in
the Zevulun Valley, east of Haifa.
Recognized as a settlement in
5685, it was originally called
Kfar Ata, after the ancient
Jewish settlement of Kafarta.
In 5689, the settlement was
destroyed by Arab rioters, and
after it was rebuilt, it was made
into a place of industry. Kiryat
Ata received the status of a
city in 5729, after the merger
of the settlements of Kfar Ata
and Kiryat Binyamin in 5725.
Subsequently, their names were
combined to produce the new
Issue 778 #'1+-1&'!& 31
name of Kiryat Ata.
Rabbi Diskin chuckles as he
recalls that there was a time when
he absolutely did not want to live
in Kiryat Ata
His father-in-law, Rabbi
Shlomo Kupchik, a Kiryat
Ata resident, suggested that
he remain in the city after his
wedding and start working
in outreach activities. Rabbi
Kupchik lived in Kiryat Ata
for thirty years and worked on
independently among the citys
ultra-Orthodox community. He
organized farbrengens and ran
activities, regarding which he
received letters from the Rebbe.
As per his father-in-laws
request, Rabbi Chaim Shlomo
Diskin came to live in the city, but
from his point of view, it would
only be something temporary. He
learned in kollel, and he wanted
to go out on shlichus in a new
place. At the time, there were
two offers under consideration
Kiryat Shmona and Kiryat Tivon.
R Gidi Sharon had just
started his activities in Kiryat
Tivon, and he asked Rabbi
Diskin to come there and join
him. R Moshe Slonim, who
was then director of the Reshet
Chabad school system, wanted
him to come and assist in the
development of the Reshet school
that had opened in Kiryat Tivon.
One day, R Gidi Sharon,
R Moshe Slonim, and the head
of the local religious council
arrived at my home and asked
me to come live in Kiryat Tivon.
I couldnt refuse such an honored
delegation, and I asked for the
Rebbes bracha, but no answer
was forthcoming. Rabbi Slonim
called Rabbi Chodakov and asked
what was happening. Rabbi
Chodakov said that he had twice
placed the note on the Rebbes
table, but the Rebbe moved it
to the side. I told them that I
was sorry, but Kiryat Tivon was
apparently not the place meant
for me.
Afterwards, R Menasheh
Althaus wrote to the Rebbe
regarding the shlichus offer in
Kiryat Tivon, and he received an
immediate positive response. I
realized that I apparently had to
stay in Kiryat Ata.
When the kollel avreichim
opened in the Krayot, Rabbi
Chaim Shlomo Diskin went
to learn there. A few months
later, he was offered a position
as the rav of a school in Haifa.
He traveled there every day and
carried out his obligations. When
he was later offered a rabbinical
position with a school in Kiryat
Ata, he thought to himself: Why
do I really have to go to the
trouble of traveling to Haifa if I
can have the same job right near
my home? Thus, the activities in
Kiryat Ata commenced.
Despite this job offer, Rabbi
Diskin didnt like the idea of
staying in Kiryat Ata and he
tried to avoid the issue. In fact,
he periodically gave over Torah
classes, serving as a rav in one
of the schools. But I felt like a
foreigner in town, he recalled.
Then, the mayor of Kiryat Ata
discovered him, showed great
enthusiasm for his rabbinical
activities in the school, and
offered him a position as the
rav of all the citys government-
sponsored schools. The Ministry
of Education approved the
appointment, and he began work
with great satisfaction.
I gave over Torah classes,
and people started coming
closer to Yiddishkait. During
those days, we made a small
minyan in private homes, mainly
on Shabbosim. As time passed,
the minyan grew in size, and
we rented a building where
we founded a shul, around
which we began to establish the
community.
We reached a stage where
there was a prevailing need for
educational institutions with a
Chabad spirit for the children
in this growing community,
and these institutions were
established. For the staff of the
educational institutions, we
appointed new Anash members
to give them a feeling of
belonging to their community,
thereby strengthening them
even more. They drew even more
people after them who came to
our shul, and the circle continued
to widen. Thus, the community
began to take root and extend
even further.
Around this time, when Rabbi
Chaim Shlomo Diskin started
dealing with local activities, he
was studying for the rabbinical
smicha examinations. Working
for the rabbinate then was
simply way over his head
with his position as a rav in the
school system, his smicha
studies, establishing the Chabad
House and the community,
not to mention the request for
his assistance in fortifying the
Chabad institutions in the Krayot,
which were then enduring serious
financial difficulties. Things were
simply beyond his capabilities.
Several Anash askanim
got together to devise a plan
on where my main involvement
should be, he recalled. R
Zusha Wilimovsky, the partizan,
said that I have to ask the Rebbe
which of my pursuits should
be given priority. The Rebbe
MHMs reply was not long in
coming: Work in the schools
in Kiryat Ata and studying
in the kollel. All this should
be with success. Regarding
the assistance to the Chabad
Houses in the Krayot, the Rebbe
replied: This is not his concern
32 #'1+-1&'!& 21 Adar Rishon 5771
INTERVIEW
whatsoever, and I am amazed by
the question. Regarding whether
to study for the rabbinate in
Heichel Shlomo, the Rebbe
answered: Quite correct. I will
mention it at the Tziyon.
On that day, I realized
that Kiryat Ata was the place of
shlichus for me! Together with
my exams to become a certified
neighborhood rav, I started to
intensify my activities in the city.
Ive been here ever since.
AN ENTIRE DAY WITH
RABBI DISKIN
As we look to the future, to the
rabbinate of the entire city, its
impossible not to look back also
to the creation of the splendor
that Rabbi Diskin has built over
the years in the form of the
tremendous Chabad community
in Kiryat Ata. The truth is that
his influence has already spread
throughout the entire city for
many years. The rabbinate is new
only in the official sense.
Ill never forget my visit to the
Chabad community in Kiryat Ata
several years ago, when I spent
a whole day clinging to Rabbi
Diskin. I tried not to disturb him
in his activities, slipping in my
questions during periodic breaks
in the action.
We began the tour that day
in the Chabad House Judaica
store. About fifteen men and
women were standing in line
there, some in order to purchase
religious items. Rabbi Diskin,
some people came up to him and
said with a little embarrassment,
we would like to talk with
you. Rabbi Diskins face shone.
No problem. Well speak this
afternoon. Ill be here and well
have plenty of time, he said with
a smile.
We went up one flight above
the store. There were two
large storerooms there, from
which they distribute clothes,
houseware items, beds, cribs,
playpens, tables, chairs, and
closets to hundreds of needy
families. People bring clothes
and furniture to this place, and
we serve as the intermediary
between those who have and
those who dont, the woman
in charge explained. The
storerooms empty and fill up
again all the time, she added
with unconcealed pride.
Regarding the extent of
contributions and charitable
activities in his community,
Rabbi Diskin says: More than
four thousand families in the city
contribute toward our charitable
programs, whether through
tzdaka pushkas, standing bank
orders, or donating clothes and
furniture. When we operate
our Kimcha DPischa project
prior to the Pesach holiday, you
can find here a line of people
coming to contribute, and for
our part, we employ special
people to accept the money
and register their names. Our
Chabad activities are built upon
the donations that come from the
citys residents; we never turned
to Anash from outside to make
contributions.
x How do you reach such
a level of support throughout
the city?
This is the thing that comes
from the work over the years.
Rabbi Diskin and I enter the
car. He now has an appointment
at City Hall with the kindergarten
department. At this same
opportunity, he also wants to

More than four thousand families in the city
contribute toward our charitable programs,
whether through tzdaka pushkas, standing bank orders,
or donating clothes and furniture.
Issue 778 #'1+-1&'!& 33
meet with the deputy mayor. If
were talking about support for
Chabad, it can be found in the
halls of the municipality building.
Rabbi Diskin goes up to the
third floor, where the offices of
the mayor and his deputies are
located. At the top of the stairs,
everyone greets him with a hearty
Good morning from the
cleaning crew, to the secretaries,
the various department heads,
the city manager, and the
mayors chief of staff the most
powerful people in the municipal
government. Practically speaking,
he says, Shalom, how are you?
to everyone, and they all reply.
He is known everywhere and is
received cheerfully. The mayor
himself is a big supporter of
Chabad activities in the city.
After our meetings, we head
back to the car and proceed
to the next destination. Rabbi
Diskin works at a steady pace,
closes matters quickly, and
immediately moves on to the next
stop. The mayor supports our
activities and helps us put a great
deal, he explains. He knows
our strength in the city, but thats
not the only reason why he helps
us. He simply sees our blessed
activities for all local residents,
and he happily agrees to give us
his assistance.
Rabbi Diskin heads for the
Chabad community center,
built as a model of 770. Even
this building, which cost more
than half a million dollars, was
donated by the citys residents.
Not one penny came from
outside sources.
We cross into the citys
central square and continue in
the direction of the new building.
In the meantime, Rabbi Diskin
explains: The success is not mine
alone. Each of our mosdos in the
city has a supervisor in charge
of everything occurring in his
institution. This is also expressed
in a financial sense. There isnt
just one single account for the
Chabad institutions. Each mosad
has someone who is exclusively
responsible for taking care of its
funding.
Kiryat Ata has a respectable
number of kindergartens for
hundreds of children, several
active Chabad Houses in various
neighborhoods, a wide range of
activities for Chabad women, and
a lending library of more than two
thousand books, which also holds
various educational activities
and all this is besides the beit
hatavshil, the synagogue, and
the other usual activities.
x How does an ordinary
boy such as yourself, who grew
up in Bnei Brak, learn to take
command of such a wide range
of activities?
In certain Chabad Houses,
all the activities are concentrated
in the hands of one man. Here,
I cant do everything alone, and
therefore, I allocate authority, as
each person accepts responsibility
upon himself for a different area
of concentration. If I would
spend time dealing with every
issue, I wouldnt get anywhere.
x If so, what do you
primarily deal with?
I try to deal more in spiritual
matters Torah classes, lectures.
I also serve as the rav of all of the
schools in Kiryat Ata, and this
demands giving over numerous
shiurim in Judaism.
In fact, one of Rabbi Diskins
major projects is the school
system. Today, he serves on behalf
of the Ministry of Education as
the rav of all the citys schools.
For the past twenty-five years,
he has been giving over Torah
classes and lectures, and a whole
generation in Kiryat Ata knows
him personally. They have
grown up with me from the very
earliest of ages, laughs Rabbi
Diskin. The result is that I am
personally acquainted with a
sizable number of families in the
city.
As we go around with Rabbi
Diskin, facts on the ground
prove what hes been saying. At
a certain point, as we approach
the car, passing children wave
to him. Shalom, Rabbi Diskin,
they say, and he returns the
greeting. They apparently know
me from their classrooms, he
explains.
x Youre not unknown in
town?
(Laughs) Not for some time
now.
x How do you reach such
a level of personal recognition
with thousands of city
residents?
This is something that comes
through our overall activities.
It is the main result of these
personal meetings that I conduct
each evening. People come and
talk about whatever is bothering
them, and I try to help as best I
can. Many people come during
this time, most of who receive
advice and peace of mind. But
even more than that, they get
actual help, and this is how the
connection grows and develops.
Rabbi Diskin has a talent

When you assist people in material matters, they
later send you their children to your educational
institutions. Whole families have been brought closer to
a life of Torah in the merit of these activities.
34 #'1+-1&'!& 21 Adar Rishon 5771
INTERVIEW
for telling simply about what
happens to him on a daily basis.
He even speaks about the serious
and important things in a light
and pleasant manner, as if he
was discussing what he had for
breakfast the previous morning.
That night, when I saw the
line of people standing near
his office, starting from five in
the evening, I realized that we
were talking about no simple
project. I saw a wide variety of
local residents there religious
and non-religious, men and
women all of who came in
need of Rabbi Diskins advice
and assistance. Later in this
report, we will discuss the nature
of his conversations with them,
but now he gives us his motto:
The secret is to be sensitive to
peoples problems, to listen and
to try and help.
x What type of help do
you offer them?
All types, but primarily
material in nature. Many of
these problems pertain to social
services. With the passage
of time, we have developed
connections with the municipal
welfare department, and a
wonderful level of cooperation.
We help them, and they help
us. When I ask them to provide
assistance to a certain individual,
they immediately respond out of
a sense of goodwill. On countless
occasions, I have managed to
wipe out debts on water usage
and city taxes. Were talking
about deeply despondent people
enduring daily hardships who
could solve their problems
through the accepted procedure
of applying for municipal
assistance, but instead of letting
these requests get endlessly
bogged down in committee, they
solve matters right away.
x Is the Chabad House
designated for solving municipal
welfare problems?
When you assist people
in material matters, they later
send you their children to your
educational institutions. Whole
families have been brought
closer to a life of Torah in the
merit of these activities. I have
said many times at Chabad
Youth Organization conferences
for Chabad House directors
that its hard to know the great
value that comes from material
assistance. When a Jew receives
warmth and love, he comes
closer to Yiddishkait. Its not
always the chassidic maamarim
on encompassing all worlds that
brings a Jew closer, although its
true that hell learn them later,
when he reaches an appropriate
spiritual level.
During the visit we conducted
at the beit hatavshil, Rabbi
Diskin went to speak with several
of those partaking in a meal. He
took an interest in their situation,
radiating a glow and an overall
good feeling.
As we continued our tour,
we reached the entrance of
one of the kindergartens. I was
surprised to hear little voices
crying out, Heres Rabbi
Diskin! Heres Rabbi Diskin!
They know him (How could
they not?) and feel close to
him. He smiles at them lovingly.
Theyre essentially his spiritual
grandchildren. Upon hearing
the childrens excited cries, the
kindergarten teacher comes
outside. Filled with the authority
that Rabbi Diskin bestowed upon
him like seeds in a pomegranate,
he is unaccustomed to seeing him
in his little kingdom.
Before setting out on our
way, the kindergarten teacher
quietly inquired of Rabbi Diskin,
Why did you come here? Did
something happen? Rabbi
Diskin pointed in my direction.
I wanted to show him the
kindergartens. Hes from Beis
Moshiach, he said. The teacher
shrugged his shoulders and told
me, Rabbi Diskin comes here
only on rare occasions.
x A person who builds
and operates such an enterprise
feels the need to come
periodically and derive pleasure
from it. Dont you feel that
need?
Rabbi Diskin: Naturally,
I love this place, also the beit
hatavshil, but I dont have the
time for it. As long as its placed
in the hands of someone reliable,
I prefer then to devote my time
for nachas to schoolchildren or
meeting with people in need of
help.
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
Its time to daven Mincha.
As soon as the lecture was over,
we drove to the shul building.
Here, its possible to feel the
community atmosphere that I
had heard about during the day.
Everyone here is a baal tshuva
who had been brought close to
Yiddishkait by Rabbi Diskin.
He never considered bringing a
Chabad couple from outside to

I set aside one night a week when I learn with my
children and I disconnect the phone I asked him
if this was urgent, explaining that Im busy with someone.
He saw my son and said, But theres no one here, to
which I replied, My son is here He was insulted.
Issue 778 #'1+-1&'!& 35
assist him.
Rabbi Diskin: One of the
reasons that tens of thousands of
local residents know Chabad is
because community members are
spread throughout the city, each
one working in his own location.
The powerful effect upon the
activities is manifold, because
everyone was born and raised in
Kiryat Ata, and each of them has
many family and friends who live
here. If I would bring a family
from Kfar Chabad, it would take
time until they would strike roots
among the local residents. The
fact that they are natives of Kiryat
Ata is a tremendous advantage.
x To run such a
community is not simple
(Laughs) No, its not easy,
but its not so terrible. I give
over Torah classes to members
of the community. Afterwards, I
sit and accept people who want
to speak to me, receive some
rabbinical advice, and hear some
helpful answers and solutions on
a wide variety of subjects their
childrens education, spiritual
avoda, halachic rulings for people
coming close to Yiddishkait, and
providing replies on any matter
of concern to them. If there
is any time remaining, I also
conduct house visits, and from
my personal experience, this has
a tremendous effect upon whole
families.
On auspicious days, I also
have to make a farbrengen. In
addition, I frequently deal with
solving problems of shalom bayis.
Among baalei tshuva coming
close to Yiddishkait, there are
often educational gaps, and as
a result, one spouse has made
faster spiritual progress than the
other. In such cases, I convince
the spouse to slow the pace a bit
in order that the couple can move
forward together.
x Is this the way you
build a community?
These are the tools for
building a community. But
first, you need the soul. You
must devote yourself to people,
maintain constant contact
with them until they proper
integrate into community life
all while providing appropriate
treatment and much assistance.
As I have said, one of the things
that works particularly well is
bringing those who have come
closer to Yiddishkait into the
activities taking place in the area.
According to such an approach,
more than half of the job is done
by itself, and I also say this to
many Chabad House directors
who call and ask for advice and
guidance.
However, we are not
allowed to forget the main
point: connecting Jews to the
Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach.
This is the most important
thing. The Torah classes and the
farbrengens are instilled with the
Rebbes concepts, including the
main concept of hastening the
Redemption. This is expressed in
the classes, the farbrengens, the
discussions, and the activities.
We constantly live with the Rebbe
here. Even during the week,
many people come who want to
write to the Rebbe and request
his advice and blessing in various
matters.
Together with Rabbi Diskins
work and other projects, his
family and close friends give
testimony to the fact that none of
this comes at the expense of his
household, as he makes certain
to devote quality time to them
every day and throughout the
week. He personally recalls one
such opportunity: I set aside
one night a week when I learn
with my children, and I dont
respond to invitations or any
other pursuits. During that time,
the telephones are disconnected!
It happened once there
was someone who needed me
urgently, but since the phone
was not connected, he came to
my home unannounced. I asked
him if this was something urgent,
explaining that Im busy sitting
with someone. He eventually
came into the living room and
saw my son, about eight or nine
years old at the time, sitting there.
Failing to understand, he said,
Theres no one here, to which
I replied, My son is here He
was insulted.
Nevertheless, he came
to realize that children are
not something secondary or
incidental in nature, rather they
are important people to whom
we must give all our attention.
THE DAY NEVER ENDS
Night falls upon Kiryat Ata.
Its beginning to get late. I want
to finish my day with Rabbi
Diskin, and Im interested to
know what else he has left to do
after such a full schedule?
Rabbi Diskin: I soon have
to go back to the Chabad House
to give over my regular classes.
Other people will also come,
as on any other evening, in
search of advice and assistance.
Afterwards, I sit down and
finish my daily shiurim, Chitas
and Rambam, and then I start
preparing my classes for the
following day in Shulchan Aruch,
Gemara, Tanya, and the Rebbes
sichos. I never pull out a class
from up my sleeve; I always
prepare them in advance. Today,
it just so happens that I dont
have a marriage ceremony to
perform. This is also one of the
tasks that the local religious
council has placed upon me:
conducting chuppas.
Rabbi Diskin doesnt sound
36 #'1+-1&'!& 21 Adar Rishon 5771
INTERVIEW
embittered. His heavily crowded
daily schedule almost leaves him
with no time for himself and his
family. He accepts it all with love,
as he tries to focus on action,
instead of thought.
All this is besides the many
varied activities not yet discussed.
He also serves as an examiner
at the Chabad Talmud Torah
in Kiryat Chaim. He also often
makes lectures at conferences
and other events.
*
This past week, with his
election to the Kiryat Ata chief
rabbinate, I went back to wish
him a Mazel tov, and then I
asked him: What new aspects
will there be in your activities as
a rav, as opposed to his previous
role as shliach?
Even as a shliach, he
replied, I tried to provide
answers in every Jewish and
chassidic issue, leaving no area
without a proper response,
particularly in Kiryat Ata, where
no chief rabbis had been serving
for many years. Now, however,
there has been added the very
heavy responsibility of this
position and its demanded public
role.
Besides the additional tasks
in the areas of kashrus, eruvin,
and mikvaos, there is a need to
provide answers to a wide range
of communities. People ask more
and demand more, and the work
is in a manner of increasing
in matters of holiness. Here
in Kiryat Ata, there are ultra-
Orthodox communities, national
religious communities, even
those that are currently non-
religious. You have to find the
approach that speaks to all the
citys residents and do all you
possibly can on behalf of the
general public, and this definitely
requires considerable effort.
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ah.
Continued from page 42
Issue 778 #'1+-1&'!& 37
R Avrohom
Dunins Memoirs
A modest and humble chassid, yet incredibly
accomplished, R Avrohom Dunin ah passed
away on 21 Teves at the age of 73. * In this
chapter of his memoirs, R Dunin tells about a
visit to 770, his yechidus, his return to Eretz
Yisroel and the beginning of his teaching career.
* Part 2 of 7
Interview by Chaim Cohen
Rabbi Avrohom Dunin relates:
As was mentioned in the
previous chapter, we landed in
the United States Erev Pesach
5720/1960 and headed for 770.
I recall my very first minutes
in the Rebbes presence, which
made a tremendous impression
on me. We participated, for
the first time, in Mincha with
the Rebbe and then the Rebbe
distributed shmura matza.
The bachurims seder took
place at 676 Eastern Parkway.
The Rebbe came to visit and bless
the bachurim. We then rushed to
finish so we could go and watch
the Rebbe at the special seder he
conducted in the apartment of
the Rebbe Rayatz in 770.
I am talking about a
completely different era. Tfillos
were held in the small zal with
only dozens of Chassidim. In
order to understand what Im
talking about, I will tell you that
there were a few invited guests to
the Rebbes seder and each time
one of these guests arrived, one
of the bachurim walked in with
him. Nevertheless, there was
room for all and no need to push.
This is how it was at the sdarim
as well as at the meals on other
holidays we had the privilege of
celebrating in Beis Chayeinu.
Tell us about yechidus.
In my time, you saw the Rebbe
in yechidus a few times during
your year on Kvutza once,
when you arrived; once, around
your birthday; and once again
before you left for home. Since
we arrived Erev Pesach and the
Rebbe did not receive people for
yechidus in the month of Nissan,
it was pushed off for Iyar. We
ended up having yechidus close
to Lag BOmer.
I had yechidus again for
my birthday at the beginning
of Cheshvan and in the note
I submitted I wrote that my
birthday was on 6 Cheshvan.
When the Rebbe received the
note, he looked at me and back
at the note a few times and asked,
on the 6
th
or the 7
th
? I remained
quiet but the Rebbe asked again,
on the 6
th
or the 7
th
? From this
I understood that I was mistaken
about the date of my birth and
when I returned home my mother
told me that I was born the night
of the 7
th
.
Bachurim today spend an
entire year on Kvutza but I
dont think this was the case in
your time.
As I related earlier, we
received visas for only a few
months. According to our
visas we were supposed to have
returned to Eretz Yisroel already
but the idea of leaving the
Rebbe was just unthinkable. We
asked the Rebbe for permission
to extend our stay and it was
38 #'1+-1&'!& 21 Adar Rishon 5771
BIOGRAPHY
granted. The time passed
quickly and a few months later
we found ourselves in the same
situation. Once again we asked
permission to extend our stay
and the Rebbes response this
time consisted of three reasons
why we should not remain there
but immediately return home. I
dont remember all three reasons
but one of them was: So as not
to close the door for those who
follow you, as has happened
before.
So we had to arrange for our
return trip. We did not consider
flying because we didnt have
the money. The plan was to set
sail for Europe on the Queen
Elizabeth and from Europe to
go by Turkish ship from Naples,
Italy. According to this plan,
there were three days between
one voyage and the next and the
question was where would we
port. Should we stop in England
or maybe France? Should we split
up to three countries in order
to spread Chassidus or travel
together? As with everything we
did in life, we consulted with the
Rebbe.
The Rebbe preferred that we
split up. Each of us was to go to
a different country to be decided
by lottery. Berel Teichman stayed
in Italy, Avremel Sossonkin
went to England and I went to
Brunoy, France. I used the time
well. I farbrenged with the great
mashpiim, R Nissan Nemenov
ah and R Yisroel Noach
Blinitzky ah. I farbrenged with
the bachurim in zal, and visited
Beis Rivka, the European office
of Lubavitch, and with Anash in
Paris who had just moved to a
new neighborhood.
BEGINNING TO WORK
FOR THE RESHET
What happened to the
bachurim who followed you?
We returned to Eretz Yisroel
in the winter of 5721. Upon
our arrival, we went back to
the yeshiva in Lud to continue
learning. As the Rebbe had said,
when the military officials saw
that we had kept our word and
returned when we said we would,
they allowed other bachurim to
go.
The first to go after us was R
Nachum Sternberg. He married
in New York and remained in
Crown Heights. Since that time,
it has been easy to leave the
country and whoever wants to
see the Rebbe, can do so.
I continued learning in
yeshiva until the summer of
5721.
One day, R Zalman Abelsky
came to visit the yeshiva and
he suggested to the bachurim
that we work as teachers in the
Reshet schools. At the time, I
was the organizer for Ata (Irgun
Talmidei HaTmimim) and
Issue 778 #'1+-1&'!& 39
as such I contacted R Yisroel
Leibov ah, the head of Tzach at
the time. He eventually offered
me a position in Tzach on a full
time basis.
In addition to his offer, I
had other offers such as being
a madrich (counselor) in the
Vocational School in Kfar
Chabad, an offer that came from
R Efraim Wolf ah. Since I
didnt know what to do, I wrote
to the Rebbe and the answer was:
Chinuch al taharas hakodesh,
Reshet takes precedence,
Vocational School, yeshiva Lud.
From this answer I gathered
that working for the Reshet came
first, so I spoke to Rabbi Dovid
Chanzin ah, who was one of
the people who ran the Reshet,
and volunteered my services. A
few weeks later I was sent to a
teaching course where I learned
how to be a good teacher.
After finishing the course, I
went to the offices of the Reshet.
At first I thought I would be sent
to teach in one of the settlements
of Brosh or Taanach but I
was sent to Kiryat Gat. Upon
arriving there, at the beginning
of the school year, there was one
class remaining the first grade.
That is where my teaching career
began.
A few years went by and on
10 Sivan 1962 I married Rochel
Sossonkin, daughter of the
unforgettable R Asher who was
known as Asher Batumer, and
in our first year of marriage I
continued teaching in Kiryat Gat.
R Dovid Chanzin would have
a farbrengen for all employees of
the Reshet around Pesach time.
One year, he spoke about the
lack of teachers in the Taanachim
region in the north. We said we
would go there on receipt of a
direct order from the Rebbes
secretaries.
Following the Rebbes
response that this is for the
benefit of the Reshet and for
their benefit, materially and
spiritually, we packed and
moved together with R Moshe
Slonim ah, while R Yeshavam
Segal continued running
activities at moshav Brosh.
This was your first time in
Chevel HaTaanachim?
No. I had visited there
previously before my involvement
in Chabad, when I learned in the
Litvishe yeshiva in Bnei Brak
and was a member of the Pilim
organization, and I was sent to
visit a school there.
In order to understand what
it was like there at the time, Ill
tell you that the people were
traditional and kept a few
mitzvos, but since there was no
religious school, they had to send
their children to public school.
Our purpose in visiting the
yishuvim was to provide a proper
chinuch for the children living
there. From Bnei Brak we went
to Afula and from there we went
to Tzomet-Yizreel and from there
we walked on a dirt road.
At the entrance to the yishuv
we knocked at the door of a
wonderful person named Brozni
who served as the rav there.
During our stay we discussed the
unfortunate spiritual state of the
people and he explained that this
was due to their great fear of the
government and the big political
parties who wielded unlimited
power.
Our efforts to instill Judaism
in the children of the yishuvim
were fruitless and we had to
return to Bnei Brak without
having accomplished our
mission.
The following year Pilim
learned from our failure the year
before and they sent a youth
director to establish a core group
with which to start a school.
This idea was successful. Within
a few weeks a religious public
school was founded alongside the
public school that had been there
before.
At the time, I thought the
Taanach episode was a fleeting
chapter in my life. I had no
idea that down the road I would
return there to live, this time as
the Rebbes shliach.
What were you involved in
when you returned to the yishuv
a second time?
We focused our attention on
moshav Meitav and we lived in
R Yaakov Lerers apartment. He
ran the school in those days. His
wife wasnt home because she
was on maternity leave and we
lived in their home until ours was
renovated.
I had the eighth grade that
first year and the sixth and
seventh grades were combined
into one class.
I remember that R Binyamin
Gorodetzky, the Rebbes
representative, came to visit
that year. After we arranged
a farbrengen in his honor,
he spoke to each of the staff
members and asked how we

In the note I submitted I wrote that my birthday
was on 6 Cheshvan. When the Rebbe received
the note, he looked at me and back at the note a few
times and asked, on the 6th or the 7th? I remained quiet
but the Rebbe asked again, on the 6th or the 7th?
40 #'1+-1&'!& 21 Adar Rishon 5771
BIOGRAPHY
were and about whether we were
satisfied with how the school
was being run. Each of us told
him our individual problems and
complaints. Unlike the others, I
told him we were satisfied and till
today, I remember how pleased
he was with my response.
The residents of the yishuv,
as opposed to my students,
regarded me with surprise and
curiosity. I suppose I looked
peculiar to them and some of
them even referred to me as the
butterfly from Gan Eden.
Did you enjoy success in
your work as a teacher?
That year I had an unusual
class. The Taanach settlements
are comprised of three
moshavim: Avital, Meitav, and
Prazon. Each moshav has a rav.
That year, I had the sons of all
three rabbanim. In addition to
them, I taught other outstanding
students who blossomed over the
years.
When the principal, R Yaakov
Lerer, noticed that my class had
a group of excellent students, he
decided to put his soul into them
so they would qualify to move
on to a quality high school, but I
had my own plan. I wanted them
to go to the yeshiva in Lud but
I knew this plan wouldnt work
because of the firm opposition of
the parents.
Astonishingly, the parents
agreed to my plan except that
one of the parents couldnt make
peace with the fact that his son
would not receive a matriculation
certificate. I calmed him down
by telling him that in Lud they
also learned another language,
Yiddish, which was like English

When I got involved in

transferring them to Lud, I
encountered an unexpected
glitch. I had to see the military
physician for an examination for
the purpose of being drafted. I
asked Hashem to exempt me
from this unexpected order so I
could help my students become
yerei Shamayim and lamdanim
(G-d fearing and scholars).
Hashem listened to my
prayers and the doctor examined
me and found me unfit for the
army and that was the end of
that. As promised, on the Sunday
following my unsuccessful draft,
I took the three boys to Lud. We
arrived at Pardes and I stayed
and learned with them in order
to bring them up to the level of
the yeshiva. They remained there
through the entire winter.
The boys came home for
the Pesach break and one of my
mekuravim told me that the boys
parents were very angry with
me. Apparently they had found
out that there were no courses
for matriculation in the yeshiva
in Lud. I was afraid to show my
face in my students homes and
after a few days I found out that
after Pesach the talmidim were
still at home. When they finally
returned to yeshiva, the hanhala
said they didnt want them.
When I heard this troubling
news, I decided to take swift
action and I met with the rosh
yeshiva together with the boys.
I asked that he take them back
and he agreed but he wanted to
see the parents first. That did
not happen and the following
year, two of them went to a
yeshiva high school (with secular
studies).
One of the three kept in touch
with Chabad, Yishai Kletzi. He
eventually went to see the Rebbe
and found what he was looking
for. When I returned from 770
I told the residents of the yishuv
about Yishais tremendous
hasmada (diligence) since he
learned nonstop, and one year
I brought back a picture of him
together with the Rebbe at kos
shel bracha.
[To be continued, G-d willing]
Issue 778 #'1+-1&'!& 41
MELECH HA'MOSHIACH
IS WORKING BEHIND
THE SCENES
On Friday, 7 Adar, when the dramatic
news about the resignation of Mubarak
was broadcast, I heard the demonstrators
in a live broadcast from Egypt saying, We
got rid of another Pharaoh. I couldn't help
but take note of the astonishing fact that
all these events, that began immediately
after Yud Shevat, the start of Shnas
HaShishim, came to a climax on Zayin
Adar, the day Moshe Rabbeinu was born.
By Rabbi Naftali Estulin
S
ometimes, when you're in
the midst of things, the
momentousness of events
does not register, for we
miss the forest for the trees. But
we Lubavitcher Chassidim were
told by the Rebbe to open our eyes
and to see the Geula unfolding in
world events.
In iecent weeks we have
been heaiing anu ieauing about
upheavals in the Aiab woilu It
staiteu with Tunisia continueu
in Egypt anu now thieatens the
peace in othei Aiab countiies
The meuia has piesenteu a list of
canuiuates ie countiies that
aie liable to follow Tunisia anu
Egypt in casting asiue the long
stanuing status quo Theie aie
uemonstiations in Bahiain anu
Libya as well as Teheian uespite
the meuia blackout the govein
ment imposeu theie
These eaithshatteiing events
biing me back two uecaues to the
beginning of the s Back then it
also staiteu with one countiy in
the communist bloc anu within
a shoit time it encompasseu all
those countiies The thieat that
hau us fiighteneu foi seventy
yeais anu fiom oui }ewish pei
spective was the gieatest enemy
to }uuaism simply uissipateu
At the time the Rebbe tolu us
that we shoulunt think foi a mo
ment that these events weie just
happenings Eveiything has sig
niicance anu woiluwiue events
of this magnituue hau majoi ueu
la signiicance
0n Shabbos Paishas Nishpa
tim the Rebbe uiscloseu
that the one who was behinu
these upheavals was he him
self in the iole of Noshiach as
he piepaieu the woilu foi the
new eia of giinuing swoius into
plowshaies Although the Rebbe
focuseu on the announcement
about the ieuuction of nucleai
weapons anu using militaiy ie
souices foi peaceful puisuits we
can ceitainly extiapolate fiom
that sicha to what is going on to
uay anu concluue that Noshiach
is behinu these events too
Twenty yeais ago we weie
in the Shnas BaAibaim
anu the Rebbe spoke it be
ing time foi us to open oui eyes
anu unueistanu Bashem gave
you a heait to know anu eyes to
see anu eais to heai If the Rebbe
expecteu us to unueistanu back
then suiely the Rebbe expects
this of us now twenty yeais latei
when we aie alieauy in the Shnas
BaShishim of his leaueiship anu
the Shnas Aibaim since the Siyum
of Noshiachs Seifei Toiah
Twenty yeais ago the Rebbe
uealt with the kinguom of Eisav
Now the Rebbe is uealing with
the kinguom of Yishmoel 0ui
job is to see the ueula in this pio
cess anu to tell the woilu about it
so all will know that this is pait of
the ueula
When Bashem tolu Noshe
to split the sea Noshe saiu to
the }ewish people stanu anu
see uus salvation These woius
seem supeiluous foi it woulu
have been enough to tell them
Bashem will ight foi you anu
you be silent But fiom heie we
leain that gieat miiacles can take
place foi the }ewish people but
oui eyes can be closeu pievent
ing us fiom seeing the salvation
of Bashem That is why Noshe
Continued on page 37
CURRENT EVENTS
42 #'1+-1&'!& 21 Adar Rishon 5771