Professional Documents
Culture Documents
THE REBBE IS
THE ETERNAL
FOUNDATION STONE
From Chapter Seven of Rabbi Shloma Majeskis
Likkutei Mekoros (Underlined text is the compilers
emphasis.)
Translated by Boruch Merkur
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SHLICHUS PROFILE
JUDAISM
BLOSSOMING IN
CHAVATZELET
HASHARON
For the past three years, on this yishuv and
others in the neighboring region, the shliach
Rabbi Shay Ben Odiz and his wife, Batya
Yehudit, have been making the rounds on the
shlichus of the Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach,
reaching out to the local residents. Among the
heavily secured houses, he gathers Jewish souls
and brings them closer to their Father in Heaven.
He went through his own adventurous life story
until he came to the light of Chassidus.
By Nosson Avraham
Translated by Michoel Leib Dobry
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SHLICHUS PROFILE
Jewish activist Yehoshua Chankin
managed the familys funds for the
express purpose of redeeming land
from the Arabs and making them
available for Jewish use.
The moshav of Chavatzelet
HaSharon and the surrounding
villages were established in
5693 (1933). Their founders
had emigrated to Eretz Yisroel
from Europe and had organized
the
Nachalat
Yehoshua
organization,
named
after
Yehoshua Chankin. They had
COVERT OPERATIONS ON
NAVY FLOTILLA 13
If you assumed that Rabbi
Ben Odiz grew up on one of the
moshavim in the Sharon region
and his life there had lit the path
for him - youre quite mistaken.
He was born and raised in the city
of Lod, in a building with twelve
families ten of which were
Arab. My parents home was
considered a typical traditional
Israeli household. My father
would make Kiddush on Friday
night and then we would turn on
the television.
In her youth, my mother had
been sent by her parents to learn
in Beis Rivka in Kfar Chabad and
she enjoyed it there very much.
We always showed great respect
for the Rebbe in our home. There
was a picture of the Rebbe hanging
in our living room and my parents
had bought the mezuzos and my
tfillin from the Chabad House in
the center of Lod.
Later, when he got closer to
Chabad, Shay was amazed to
discover that he had actually been
privileged to visit the Rebbe when
he was three years old, and even
received a dollar from his holy
hand. My parents had traveled
with me to the United States to
visit our relatives living there and
the family went one day to 770.
We each received a bracha and
a dollar to give to tzdaka. Its
possible that in the merit of this
visit I came to where I am today.
However, I first had to go through
a serious spiritual beating. By the
time I was in high school I had
become extremely distant from
the path of Torah. I didnt even
keep the most basic traditions
I had observed in my parents
home.
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SHLICHUS PROFILE
months leave to recuperate
at home.
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SHLICHUS PROFILE
since we had started looking for
a home. The situation was a bit
complicated. Our house in Shikun
Chabad was already packed up in
crates, my wife and children were
staying with my mother-in-law in
Beitar Illit, and I was still traveling
each day to Chavatzelet. The only
thing still left hanging in our
house was the Rebbes picture. I
remember standing in front of the
picture and asking the Rebbe to
put an end to this saga. I even got
up the chutzpah to ask for a clear
sign that this is the place for my
shlichus.
That same day, as I entered
the synagogue in Chavatzelet
HaSharon between Mincha and
Maariv, I saw a religious young
man substituting for the regular
rabbi and speaking before the
congregants. I had a conversation
with him, during which he
expressed his doubts about our
coming to the yishuv as the
Rebbes shluchim. Nevertheless,
I listened as he spoke to
everyone about how he had
learned an amazing sicha from
the Lubavitcher Rebbe, whose
birthday was that evening. When
I heard these words, I saw this as
the sign I had been looking for.
I went up to him again and we
spoke about the Rebbe. This time,
unlike our first conversation, he
responded most warmly and
agreed to help. He connected me
with his friend, who had a house
on the yishuv and was looking
for a tenant. We came to see the
house and I was very enthusiastic
about it. However, my excitement
soon evaporated when he told us
that he already had a renter. In any
case, I left him my phone number
and prayed that everything would
work out. A few hours later, at
around midnight, I got a call
from the owner. He surprisingly
informed me that his prospective
tenant had backed out of the deal
at the last minute and he would
A NEW SYNAGOGUE
ACCORDING TO CHABAD
CUSTOMS
There was no lack of
early adversity. For the first
few Shabbasos, I had to bring
bachurim to my house to complete
the minyan. The biggest difficulty
was on a social level: My children
couldnt go out and play with
the other children, as they were
naturally part of our shlichus.
Even my wife didnt have an
easy time, as the entire burden
of maintaining the household
was squarely on her shoulders.
Nevertheless, we were quite
happy that we had the privilege of
serving in the kings army.
One of the main levels of
outreach
activities
revolved
around the synagogue.
A few months after we went
out on shlichus, the construction
of the new synagogue in Moshav
Bat Chein was completed. The
yishuv leaders had built it for local
residents who preferred to have
their Yom tov and High Holiday
services there and not be forced
to walk to Chavatzelet HaSharon,
about twenty minutes away
by foot. One council member,
who worked for the defense
community, knew Chabad from
his travels around the world and
through his friends, the Rebbes
shluchim in another city. As a
result of this connection, we were
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Rabbi Ben Odiz presenting an attractive Chitas to local participants at a Chabad evening
AN ATMOSPHERE OF
GEULA AND BEING
PREPARED FOR MOSHIACH
There are also numerous
activities with the young people
living on the yishuvim. Until
recently, the yishuv operated a
youth club for bringing Jewish
messages to local children.
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SHLICHUS PROFILE
series of activities with the local
dormitory for children in crisis.
Each year, we help bar-mitzvah
boys to prepare their Torah
reading and teach them about
tfillin and other relevant mitzvos
with visual aid presentations.
We enjoy remarkable support,
even from the yishuvs army prep
school.
When conducting outreach
activities on moshavim, its
naturally much more difficult
to collect money. How do you
manage?
This is by no means an easy
matter to cope with, especially for
someone like myself who has a
hard time asking for money. Yet,
a day doesnt pass where we dont
see miracles. We make a great
effort and we feel the spiritual
light filling the vessels. Theres no
lack of examples. I was recently
traveling to one of the Anash
communities to raise funds
for our programs. While I had
managed by the end of the day
to collect a respectable amount of
money, it still wasnt enough to
cover our most pressing expenses.
At one of the last houses I visited,
the baal habayis told me that he
didnt have any cash on hand.
Nevertheless, he asked that I leave
our bank account number for him
to make a direct deposit.
I gave him the information,
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FREE TRANSLATION
BH Tuesday, (when the words It was good appear twice) 19 Adar 5775
Important Notice!
In response to the tragic occurrences over the past short while in our neighborhood,
Though we have neither the vision nor the wisdom to interpret what has happened, and the appropriate response
would be that of Aharon Hakohen, who was silent in the face of tragedy,
nevertheless, there is the well-known Rambam that one should never attribute such events to just nature or
see them as random. The Rebbe spoke on many occasions about the Torah approach practiced in Jewish
communities in similar circumstances, that the Rabbanim must point out areas of focus for improvement
(Shabbos Bereishis 5731).
We therefore encourage every member of the community to examine his deeds and to immediately address any
shortcomings that are found whether they be in the area of fixed Torah study times, davening, or Tzedaka and good
deeds. Where appropriate this should be done in consultation with a mashpia, for everyone should fulfill the
instruction, Make for yourself a teacher. All this should be done the sooner the better without unnecessary delay.
Specifically, we would like to remind everyone, men, women and children of the following items to be addressed
in the context of what has been stated above:
1) To strengthen and increase the fixed times that each one has for the study of Torah, beginning with the
set portions that are equal for everyone like Chitas, Rambam and ideas related to the Redemption and the
coming of Moshiach, as well as set portions appropriate to each individual based on the rulings found in
the Laws of the Study of Torah. Whoever increases, will see increased blessing in his life.
2) To spread awareness of the importance of, G-d forbid, not speaking during davening from the beginning
of the public service until after the last Kadish, as discussed by the Alter Rebbe at the end of Tanya,
Gevald, Gevald, How long will this be an obstacle for us? Have we not sufficient reproofs and troubles
that have overtaken us? May G-d protect and console us with redoubled support, and purify our hearts
to serve Him in truth.
3) To strengthen the observance of tznius in our community, and to see that this commandment is observed
in the most stringent way at the highest level. The Rebbe writes in a letter (Igros Kodesh v26 p. 73) The
strong language that is used to describe the tragic consequences (Chas Veshalom) of not keeping tznius
as clearly stated in Yeshaye chapter 3 leaves no doubt as to the seriousness of this matter.
4) Increased action in all the mivtzoim, the mitzvah campaigns that have their own power to shield and
protect.
5) There is certainly no need to repeat the obvious, as we have written on numerous occasions but we
certainly re-emphasize here, the importance of increased love and unity between ourselves out of respect
to one-another. Even in times of dispute, Chas Veshalom, we should remain silent and not respond to
insult, etc.
From now on our attitude should be in accordance with the saying of our Rebbeim, Think positive and it will be
positive. May the blessing of goodness be upon us. As the Rebbe responded in Shvat 5752 to similar
happenings, quoting the Gemara in Pesachim, connecting events of this type only applies to cases of revealed and
open good. May only goodness and kindness come upon us all our days.
To this we affix our signature with blessings for a Kosher and Happy Pesach,
[Signed:]
Horav Aharon Yaakov Schwei
Member of Badatz
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STORY
ONE GOOD
DEED LEADS
TO ANOTHER
By Rabbi Shneur Chaviv
y father arrived in
Lubavitch in the
afternoon. To be
more precise, it was
early evening.
He was young, about sixteen
years old, and his soul yearned
for everything having to do with
holiness and Judaism. He left the
Litvishe yeshiva in Aix-les-Bains
in the early afternoon and in the
evening he stepped foot for the
first time in Yeshivas Tomchei
Tmimim (Brunoy, which the
Rebbe referred to as being
similar to the actual yeshiva in)
Lubavitch.
After briefly getting acquainted
with the yeshiva and the rabbanim,
it was time for Maariv which was
followed by supper. He realized
this by the swiftness with which
the bachurim moved from the zal
toward the dining room.
These were his first hours
in the yeshiva and he walked to
the dining room hesitantly and
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My father remembered R
Blinitzky and his welcome and
he decided to pass the welcome
forward. He arranged a meal for
Ruth, gave her some money, and
helped her return to the kibbutz.
Along the way, my father told her
about a seminary for French girls
that he ran.
Two days later she appeared
at the Chabad house once again,
this time with a big backpack. I
decided to join your seminary,
she said.
Ruth
also
eventually
established a Chassidic home.
Sometimes, we do a Jew a
favor, we smile, and we help
them materially or spiritually. It
is possible that at that moment,
we are starting an avalanche of
goodness and light. We cannot
imagine what the repercussions
will be. One mitzva leads to
another, as does one act of
goodness to another.
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FEATURE
THE
WATCHMAN
The gravesite of the
Rebbe Rashab during the
renovations done by
R Dovid Nachshon
and R Avi Taub
AT THE OHEL
IN ROSTOV
We dont know much about the secret connection between our Rebbeim
and the watchman at the Rebbe Rashabs Ohel in Rostov, R Mottel Lifshitz
ah. To mark Beis Nissan, the yom hilula of the Rebbe Rashab, Chassidic
researcher, R Shneur Zalman Berger, tells us a bit about the watchman
at the Ohel and reveals that the liaison between our Rebbeim and the
watchman was the Chassidic askan, R Yona Eidelkopf.
By Shneur Zalman Berger
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SECRET CONNECTION
The Rebbe Rayatz and our
Rebbe were very concerned about
the gravesites of the Rebbeim.
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Feature
R Yona Eidelkopf
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IN THE OHEL
When R Mottel would go to
daven at the Ohel with requests
that were sent to him, he did so
with great humility and awe. This
was even though, in the course of
his duties, he surely went to the
Ohel often. R Berel Pruss related:
When I was in Rostov in
1957, the Chassid, R Mottel
Lifshitz took me to the Ohel. I
asked R Mottel to read my pidyon
nefesh for me. The way R Mottel
stood before the gravesite was
something hard to describe. What
kabbalas ol! I never saw a Chassid
stand at the tziyun in such a way.
Continued on page 25
Letter from the Rebbe to R Mottel Lifshitz sent via R Yona Eidelkopf
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PROFILE
ONE MAN
SIMCHA
CRUSADE
My brief interview with R Menachem Mendel
Kumer, resident of Kiryat Chabad of Tzfas,
took place after midnight, following a full day
in which he went from place to place, cheering
people up. * Friday night, between the soup and
the main course, he knocks on doors and in his
costume he gets people to jump up in simcha.
* We asked him for tips on simcha, whether in
Adar or any time of the year.
By Nosson Avrohom
Photos by Moishy A.
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Profile
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experiencing
these
three
kinds
of miracles: the first,
lmakei
Mitzrayim
bvchoreihem,
we
saw when Americans
fought
Saddam
Hussein;
the
second
weve
experienced
a
number of times
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Profile
threat but now they are
butchering one another.
If we would just think
about it we would see the
miracles and wonders
that Hashem does for us.
When the Jewish
people
crossed
the
Yam Suf, the children
exclaimed,
look
at
the miracles, but they
couldnt
see
them
because of the many
donkeys they had with
them from the booty of
Egypt. These donkeys
were laden with silver
and gold. Now too,
people are immersed in
materialism and have
a hard time seeing the
wonders taking place. So
we need to rejoice and
bring joy to others and
mainly thank Hashem and realize
that we are a brief step away from
the true and complete Geula.
That is my goal, to help people
open their eyes and dance toward
the Geula.
REJOICING IN ADVANCE
Why did you decide to devote
your life to simcha?
The Rebbe explains that
simcha has the power to hasten
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PROFILE
SECRET
MISSIONS
IN THAT
COUNTRY
About the American boy who traveled alone to
Poland against his parents wishes, returned to
the United States, and accomplished much as the
emissary of the Rebbe Rayatz and our Rebbe,
including secret missions to the Soviet Union. *
Presented to mark his passing on 5 Nissan.
By Refael Dinari
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R Berel Levy at a goodbye party arranged before R Moshe Pinchas Katz went to the United States. Sitting from right to
left: R Shlomo Moshe Eisenberger, R Yaakov Felkenfeld, R Meir Glazman, R Mordechai Mentlick, the mashpia R Boruch
Friedman, R Moshe Pinchas Katz, the secretary, R Chatshe Feigin, the secretary, R Moshe Leib Rodstein, R Shlomo Zalman
Hecht, R Yosef Rodal. Standing from right to left: R Berel Levy, R Avrohom Barnetzky, R Moshe Berland, R Avrohom (son
of R Dovid) Teiblum, the secretary, R Nissan Mindel, Avishkova, R Shlomo Zilberberg, R Shlomo Tzilech
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Profile
president of World Mizrachi,
was also on the ship. Upon his
return, when he met R Yisroel,
he spoke in amazement about the
yiras Shamayim of the bachurim
who were extremely careful about
what they ate and refused to
daven in the ships shul because
women also went there to daven.
AMERICAN PRINCE IN
POVERTY STRICKEN
POLAND
There were many difficulties
in acclimating to life in Poland.
R Yisroel reported to the Rebbe
about their pending arrival in a
letter that arrived as they were
still on the ship. 17 years old
with great natural aptitudes,
great-nephew of Avrohom Dov
ah (the Malach) and educated
by him, and these past few
months has come close to us and
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Profile
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30 29 Adar 5775
PARSHA THOUGHT
THE POWER
TO TESTIFY
By Rabbi Heschel Greenberg
A LOVE AFFAIR
Many of the commandments
recorded in the book of VaYikra,
and more specifically, in this
weeks parsha, revolve around the
offerings the Jews were required
to bring to the Bais HaMikdash.
The name of the book, as well
as its opening parsha, is VaYikra,
which simply means And He
called. It is somewhat puzzling
that a book should be given such
a non-descript and unexciting
name such as, And He called!
Without explicitly asking the
question, Rashi, the principal
Torah commentator, explains
that this is a term of endearment.
Indeed, the entire book of
VaYikra, particularly the section
that deals with the korbanossacrifices, is about our love affair
with G-d. The word korban
actually connotes the idea of
closeness and intimacy. When
one offered a korban and it was
accepted by G-d, it demonstrated
the mutually close and intimate
relationship between G-d and us.
With this premise in mind,
we must try to understand how
it applies to a commandment that
appears at the end of the parsha:
If a person sins and he
does not testify he will bear
(the consequences of) his sin.
This verse, as it is understood
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Parsha Thought
THREE DIMENSIONS OF
G-DLY KNOWLEDGE
The Rebbe, in one of his
discourses, gives us an even
deeper understanding of what
it means for us to be G-ds
witnesses, based on the premise
that a witness is there to reveal
something
that
is
utterly
concealed.
Even when we speak about
revealing G-ds presence, there
are several levels of meaning.
There is an aspect of G-d
embedded within Creation that
we do not see. However, simple
logic dictates that there must be
a life-force that creates and gives
life to everything.
Upon deeper reflection, we
come to the realization that the
power G-d uses to create cannot
be simply the power that is vested
within and therefore related to
the Creation. There must be a
transcendent G-dly force that is
beyond the Creation. This power
cannot be fathomed the way the
first level can, but can be arrived at
THREE STAGES OF
HISTORY
In a more general sense,
our history can perhaps be
divided into three stages, which
correspond to the three levels of
testimony:
In the first stage, when
G-d was palpable through
miracles, prophecy and the Bais
HaMikdash, we were witnesses in
a relative sense. We pointed our
fingers and declared: This is My
G-d and I will glorify Him. Our
actions were not so necessary
to see G-ds Hand; G-d made
His presence clear through His
actions. We did our part, but
that is not the true meaning of
testimony.
Then G-d hid His face in our
current period of exile, which has
lasted for almost two millennia.
That is when it was crucial for us
to testify to G-ds presence, even
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PARALLEL TESTIMONIES
When we testify for another,
we are, metaphorically speaking,
invoking our power to testify
about G-d. Moreover, the very
power our testimony possesses
to uncover the truth about a
financial matter, for example,
derives from the Divine power
we were endowed with to reveal
the most hidden aspects of the
Divine and usher in the Age
of Redemption when all of the
7187568684 tammyholtzman@gmail.com
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TZIVOS HASHEM
WHAT ARE
THE CHANCES?
By D Chaim
from
heard
I
Psssst,
the
of
middle
the
in
me
behind
turned
I
day.
the
of
last class
around and saw Shmuli, my
good friend.
Shmuli, I whispered. This is
not the time, well talk after
class.
Shmuli
Mendy,
But
insisted.
Is it so urgent? I blurted
out as out of the corner of
my eye I could see the teacher
looking at us.
Okay, youre right, I heard
Shmuli say. But lets talk right
after class.
I tried to forget about it
and concentrate on the lesson.
As usual, our teacher ended
the last class with a few words
about the Geula. Boys, another
day has passed and the Geula
still did not come. Thats
terrible. We are still in galus.
But tomorrow, surely will be
the Geula!
I waved my hand and
when I was called upon I said,
But yesterday we said that
and thought so and the day
before that and all the days
before that, so what makes us
so sure that the Geula will be
tomorrow?
It was late and the lack of
patience on the part of my
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me
around
voices
heard
that
is
How
exclaiming.
possible? The principal was
as surprised as anyone but he
recovered and said, If Zalmy
won a second time, then he
deserves it. Now for the third
winner.
This time, another student
took out a raffle ticket and the
principal announced, The third
winner is Zalmy again.
This repeated itself with all
the drawings until the tenth.
Zalmy won time after time to
the amazement of all.
Then it was time for the
tenth drawing and Shmuli
whispered, We have no chance.
Zalmy is going to win again.
What are you saying? I
replied confidently. He has
only one ticket left in there.
True, but he won all the
raffles until now.
So what? His winning goes
against the odds and he has
hardly any chance of winning
now. His unreasonable winnings
until now dont give him any
more than one chance out of
what?
know
You
If I
me.
to
whispered Shmuli
set.
the
win, we will share
The principal pulled out a
ticket and read, The winner
of the set of Likkutei Sichos
Parshiyos is Shmuli!
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