CONTENTS

6
FEATURED ARTICLES

WEEKLY COLUMNS

4 Dvar Malchus
5 Thought
32 Thought
35 Parsha Thought
38 Crossroads
41 Tzivos Hashem

CHABAD AT INTEL
Nosson Avrohom

SELF
14 TOTAL
SACRIFICE

Shneur Zalman Berger

14

22 SMOOTHING
TRANSITIONS
C Ben David

READER
28 SOUL
VS. PALM READER
Nosson Avraham

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2014-08-26 2:08:14 AM

DVAR MALCHUS

NO COINCIDENCE THE
REBBE SPOKE ABOUT
ETERNAL LIFE
Chapter 7 of Rabbi Shloma Majeskis Likkutei
Mekoros discusses how the Rebbe taught us
in advance how to view the events of Gimmel
Tammuz 5754. (Underlined text is the compilers
emphasis.)
Translated by Boruch Merkur

The Rebbe said that the

Rebbe Rayatzs sichos just prior
to Yud Shvat 5710 were meant
to provide us with a message
as to how to understand the
events that were to follow. * In
the most recent sichos of 57515752, the Rebbe reiterates in an
unprecedented way that there will
be eternal life as a soul in a body
without any interruption (i.e., the
Rebbe will live on forever without
the need to experience histalkus).
1. It says in the Zohar that all
days are blessed from Shabbos,
meaning that all days of the
week, beginning with Sunday,
receive a blessing and vitality
from the preceding Shabbos.
The power Shabbos has
to affect the days of the week
is one of the reasons why it
is customary for chassanim
(grooms) to have an aliya to the
Torah on the Shabbos before
their wedding. The custom is
not that a chassan should get
an aliya on the day of reading
from the Torah that is closest to
his wedding day but specifically
on the preceding Shabbos, for
Shabbos includes within it all the

days of the week that are blessed

from it.
Now, since it is the Shabbos
prior to 12-13 Tammuz, the
Shabbos that blesses these days,
the relevance of this holiday is
already felt today. Thus, it is
appropriate to begin with the
words my revered father inlaw, the Rebbe, ", spoke
on 12-13 Tammuz of last year,
and to discuss its connection
and relevance to the preceding
Shabbos, Parshas Chukas (as
well as its connection to the aliya
to the Torah on this Shabbos
Kodesh, on this parsha).
2. In his address of the 13th
of Tammuz of last year, my
revered father in-law, the Rebbe,
spoke about the concept of
life, long life, uninterrupted life
(eternal life). And he discussed
this concept in terms of avoda.
Namely, in addition to the
fact that each person has an
individual life-force, he also
enlivens others. And the Rebbe
concluded by saying True life is
holiness, and holiness is Ein Sof
[eternal].
But first to preface: Since

everything is by Divine particular

providence (as in the famous
teaching of the Baal Shem
Tov that the Alm-ghty causes
wind to gust forth from its
Heavenly storage house in
order to [attend to even the
seemingly inconsequential
task of] turn[ing] a leaf or a
piece of straw, etc. That is,
Divine providence extends to
the mineral, plant, and animal
kingdoms as well, and certainly
to mankind and how much
more so to the Jewish people,
who are the crown glory of all of
Creation. And how much more
does G-ds providence apply to
a nasi (the leader or prince) of
the Jewish people, upon whom
everything depends, as reflected
in Rashis commentary on this
weeks parsha, where he writes
that the nasi is everything.)
[certainly then Divine
providence keenly extends to]
the words of my revered father
in-law, the Rebbe, regarding
eternal life, spoken on 12-13
Tammuz.
(From the address of Shabbos
Parshas Chukas, 9 Tammuz
5710, pg. 119)

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THOUGHT

WE DECIDED, FOR YOUR GOOD!

A point from this weeks Dvar Malchus with a
relevant message. * Chinuch toward absolute
kabbalas ol, a pluralistic chinuch, or a combination?
By Aryeh Yehuda

Mommy, I have a question.

Go ahead, honey. In Chabad we
are not afraid of questions because
we know there are answers to all
the questions. If I dont know the
answer, I will look for the answer
and tell you later.
Mommy, why do we only eat the
most mehudar hechsherim?
Why? Because thats what Tatty
said.
I know! But why? Whats the
reason for it? And I have another
question. Why dont you let me
eat at friends houses? Is that also
because Tatty said? Why did he say
that?
***
A shofet-judge. You cant ask
why. There are no explanations,
no understanding. Kabbalas ol.
Period. When you get older you
will understand. Kabbalas ol has its
advantage, but the recipient has no
real attachment or connection to the
matter. He does not understand why
he does something, and therefore
will not have a deep connection to it.
Then there is this scenario:
My dear son, last night, very
late at night after you went to
sleep, Tatty and I discussed the
hechsherim we use in this house. We
wondered whether we should be so
strict or whether we could be more
lenient. Tatty thinks that non-kosher
food is like poison and we cannot
compromise. Even if its a little bit
of poison or there are those who
maintain that there is poison, that is

reason enough to forbid putting this

into our mouth. We love you and
are concerned about your spiritual
health no less than your physical
health.
I had a slightly different
approach. That if Chabad rabbanim
rely on a certain hechsher, we dont
need to be the greatest tzaddikim
in the world and we can be a bit
lenient. We certainly should not
forbid you from eating at friends
who rely on these hechsherim. We
talked it through, examined all the
angles, and came to a decision for
our family. Our decision is ...
That is the extreme version of
the yoetz-advisor. It doesnt have
to be taken to such a degree but the
recipient needs to understand that
the idea is for his benefit. It doesnt
land on him from somewhere. He
does it happily and willingly because
its his. The disadvantage here is in
the lack of kabbalas ol.
***
In the Dvar Malchus for
Shoftim, the Rebbe outlines a new
approach, one which combines the
judge and the advisor. The first thing
we do is put the shoter-policeman
aside. The policeman era is over. No
physical threats, no uncompromising
demands and no shutting of mouths.
No policemen!
Then we combine the judge and
the advisor. We need the strength
from Above, the kabbalas ol to
Hashem, and at the same time, we
need to relate to the desire of
the mekabel to understand. Not

everything must be explained and

not everything needs to be done with
kabbalas ol. But it is necessary to see
how to implement both.
We always need to find the
combination,
with
ourselves
too, to see how we are doing
things with kabbalas ol and also
trying to understand, to feel, to
be connected The same with
influencing
others:
children,
students, mekuravim, etc. to find
the pathways to their heart so they
dont remain only with so it was
decreed on High, but connect with
and internalize the idea.
Excessive elaboration can cause
us endless confusion. The point
is not to spell out every step of the
thought process I went through until
I arrived at the conclusion, but not to
be left with, thats the Jewish way.
We should say, I decided thus,
but add an explanation about why it
is good for you. And dont worry,
they know how to accept opposites
better than us. They were born in
the generation of Geula, they are
Meshichoi!
Moshiach himself contains the
qualities of both judge and advisor.
In one word: Navi. A Navi brings us
bounty from Above in words we can
understand. The epitome of kabbalas
ol is when its with the feeling that
its good for me. Not just good, but
the best!
In Geula, it will be complete.
We will do everything without
complaint, with complete kabbalas
ol, and with genuine pleasure. Our
avoda now is to start behaving this
way, each of us with ourselves and
with those around us, and with the
entire world. To influence everyone
to accept the malchus of the greatest
judge and advisor of all, Melech
HaMoshiach. May we merit the
immediate hisgalus!
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SHLICHUS

Chabad

CHABAD AT I
I

n an open expanse facing the

Yaar HaMalachim (Angels
Forest) is the industrial area
of the southern city of Kiryat
Gat. Many companies are located
here but there is one that is bigger
and more famous than the others
and attracts the most attention,
and that is the computer company
Intel. The company employs about

4000 employees at this plant

alone. The company, whose area
of expertise is in manufacturing
and selling processors and various
computer parts, has employees
from nearly the entire spectrum of
the world of Israeli industry.
In its dozens of branches
sit engineers, developers and
program
testers
alongside

management; there is also the

cleaning crew and those who
provide other sorts of services.
At precisely twelve oclock, the
thousands of employees leave
the production lines and their
computer keyboards and go out
for a mandated break in order
to refresh themselves for several
hours more work that must meet

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R Dovid Geudj, R Alon Nevo and lately, also R Eli Devoras have
brought spiritual meaning to their work at the corporate giant Intel,
and have turned their Chabad activities at the company into something
that wouldnt put even a large Chabad house to shame. * In addition
to the shiurim, they hold farbrengens with many participants and do a
tremendous amount of work around the holidays. * People know that
just like any place in Eretz Yisroel and the world, there are Chabad
representatives at Intel too.
By Nosson Avrohom

INTEL
the companys high standards.
Many of the employees
choose to visit the sports gym
that is built on campus. Some go
to the fitness room and some pass
the time chatting about this and
that. But dozens of irreligious
Jews choose something else
entirely: spiritual rejuvenation.
Every Sunday, they go to a

special conference room which

gets turned into a beis midrash.
There they daven Mincha, which
is followed by gathering around
a table for a shiur in Tanya given
by one of the employees, R
Dovid Geudj, who serves as an
unofficial shliach at the company.
We

just

finished

Likkutei

Amarim, he said excitedly.

Next week, we will have a siyum
and bring someone special to
farbreng before we begin learning
Shaar HaYichud VHaEmuna.
The participants in the
shiur are mostly hi-tech people,
educated,
intellectual.
Our
learning is slow but deep and
comprehensive, says R Dovid,

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Shlichus

FOCUSING ON THE STUDY

OF CHASSIDUS

A farbrengen with employees

adding that the shiur began nine

years ago and has continued ever
since.
The impact of the Tanya
classes on the participants is
enormous, though it isnt the
only shiur or even the highlight
of the Chabad outreach at Intel.
Surprisingly, it is only the tip
of the iceberg. During the week
there are another two shiurim,
one on Tuesdays on inyanei
Moshiach and Geula and another
on sichos of the Rebbe given
on Thursday, also taught by R
Geudj.
R
Alon
Nevo
worked
alongside R Geudj for the past
seven years in spreading the

wellsprings, but he recently

changed jobs. In his place, in
incredible divine providence,
came
another
Lubavitcher
Chassid, R Eli Devoras.
Together, they have turned the
outreach at Intel into something
that even a large Chabad
house wouldnt be ashamed
of. In addition to shiurim, they
hold farbrengens with many
participants and do a tremendous
amount of work around the
holidays. Said R Nevo who
was interviewed for this article
too, People know that just like
any place in Eretz Yisroel and
the world, there are Chabad
representatives at Intel too.

R Dovid Geudj is the first

known Lubavitcher who went
to work for Intel and began
spreading the wellsprings. As a
new immigrant from France, he
took a job in that branch as a
bookkeeper. He travels every day
from Ramat Beit Shemesh where
he lives in recent years, to Kiryat
Gat.
After our twins were born
in 5753, we decided to leave
France and settle in Eretz
Yisroel. We lived in the Givat Zev
neighborhood of Yerushalayim. I
ended up at Intel with incredible
divine providence. I was walking
with my wife to one of the houses
in the neighborhood where
French speaking women gathered
for a shiur that she was going to
be giving. Later on, we learned
that the host of the shiur is a
senior employee at Intel.
When the shiur ended, I
and my wife sat and talked with
the hostess and her husband and
she said that the management
was looking for a bookkeeper.
I jumped because that is my
area of expertise! The next day
I submitted my resume and was
interviewed and hired. Since
then, for over a decade, Ive
been working for Intel. Later
on, due to the distance between
Yerushalayim and Kiryat Gat, we
moved to Beit Shemesh where
there is a French, Chassidic
community.
The wide-ranging Chabad
outreach at Intel did not happen
overnight. At first there was
much apprehension and R Geudj
approached it very warily. That
first year, the outreach consisted
of conversations with colleagues
in the hallways about Judaism
and faith, as well as a Tanya shiur
in the shul.

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The moment we decided to

jump ahead and start operating
on all fronts was when I met a
young man in the hall, one of
the employees, someone I knew
as an ardent atheist. We got
into a conversation and he said
that he had just returned from
a family vacation in Thailand.
I asked how it was and thought
hed tell me about some exciting
experiences, but he surprised me
when he expressed amazement
over the Chabad houses and said
he visited there every day.
I told him about the Tanya
class that I give in the shul at
Intel but he dismissed that with
a wave of his hand. Open a
Chabad house and Ill come, he
said. He himself did not realize
how what he said shook me up.
I realized that there are Jews who
need you to go to them. A class in
a structure designated as a shul is
fine, but it reaches only a limited
number of people. On the spot,
I committed to spreading the
wellsprings west, east, north and
south.
We had R Menachem
Mendel Groner of Kiryat Gat
farbreng with us. He was
surprised and impressed by
the Tanya shiur participants
knowledge of the sfiros and
concepts in Chassidus.
There is a regular participant,
a new immigrant from Russia,
who from the moment he joined
the shiur has not missed a single
one. Even if hes on vacation,
he tells his wife that he has
something to take care of at work
and he comes especially for the
shiur and then returns home. He
lives in Ashkelon and it takes him
forty minutes each way.
There is another participant
who began his career at Intel in
Kiryat Gat and then moved on
to run the branch in Haifa. He
arranges that all his meetings

R Alon Nevo at a Chabad activity in Intel

The Rebbes answer had to do with selling a

house This was no simple matter, especially for
his wife, but in the end they sold the house and bought
a smaller one in Ashkelon. Then, during Operation Cast
Lead, a missile landed directly on their previous home.
He and his wife heard about it and went to see what
remained of their former home. Nothing was left. The
missile had totally demolished it.

and progress assessments at

headquarters in Kiryat Gat are
on Sunday so he can attend the
Tanya shiur.
The Tanya shiur is the longest
running shiur but its not the
only one. The Thursday shiur on
Likkutei Sichos is fifty minutes
long and is on the more complex
sichos from the 60s. The
Tuesday shiur is a lighter one and
is also on Likkutei Sichos. The
rest of the week there are shiurim
in Mishna, Gemara, and Pirkei
Avos in the shul.

SPIRITUAL PROGRESS FOR

THE EMPLOYEES
About two years after R
Geudj joined Intel, another
Lubavitcher, R Alon Nevo,
joined too. Nevo, who trained
as a project manager, was hired
to run company projects. He
soon became active in outreach
alongside R Geudj, also after a
conversation in the hallway with
the manager of the branch he
worked in.
He is very knowledgeable, a
scientist by profession, and also
warm to Judaism. He enjoyed
quoting psukim from Tanach
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Shlichus
and explaining them to me. He
told me his beliefs about how a
company ought to operate, saying
that a workplace is not merely
about a salary and professional
advancement but a place where
employees develop their inner
world as well.
I was conversing with
him once and then, out of the
blue, he dropped the following
question on me: What do you
think about having a shiur on
Thursdays, lkavod Shabbos? I
couldnt believe my ears. What
can I say? I felt this was
extraordinary hashgacha pratis
since we had recently gotten a
new shliach in our community
in Beer Sheva, R Chaim Heber.
He started a terrific project
called BSod HaParsha. I would

always see the follow-up to the

clear answers that people get.
Recently though, we heard an
incredible story. One of the
participants at the farbrengen
wanted to share a personal
moment he had with the Rebbe.
The man had gotten heavily into
debt and did not know what to
do. He came over to me to write
to the Rebbe and the Rebbes
answer had to do with selling a
house.
He understood from this
that in order to cover his debts,
he should sell his beautiful home
and move to a more modest
home. This was no simple matter,
especially for his wife, but in the
end they had to do it. They sold
the house and bought a smaller
one in Ashkelon.

At dollars, my wife asked for a bracha for

children. The Rebbe gave her two dollar bills and
said they were for the children. One year later, in 5753,
we had twin boys. Since then we have not had more
children; the Rebbe gave two dollars for two children.

take the booklets he produced

each week, learn them well,
and give a shiur at Intel. Most
of the participants were not yet
religious. The refreshments were
provided by the company, costing
hundreds of shekels every week.

MIRACLES ABOUND
We went back to R Geudj
who said that the Chabad
presence is so accepted at the
company that anyone with a
problem in matters relating to the
spiritual or emotional, talks to
the shluchim and asks to consult
with the Rebbe and receive his
bracha.
We write to the Rebbe on
behalf of many people but dont

During
Operation
Cast
Lead, a missile landed directly on
their previous home. He and his
wife heard about it and went to
see what remained of their former
home. Nothing was left. The
missile had totally demolished it.
The man added that the
couple who had purchased the
house from him were not at home
at the time, and were saved.
But he and his wife were saved
from the anguish of having their
home and possessions destroyed
and they considered it divine
providence that took them out of
there before anything happened.
***
There is hardly an employee
at Intel who has not been

exposed to Chabads work. Many

people tell of their strengthening
of
Torah
and
mitzvos.
There is an employee I
remember as being very distant
from Torah and mitzvos, says R
Geudj. I know him well because
he also lives in Beit Shemesh
and we would travel together to
Kiryat Gat with the companys
transportation. We would sit
next to one another on the daily
commute and talk.
One day, he told me that he
had been learning kabbala for a
long time. I was very surprised
and suggested that he join us
for tfillos and shiurim at the
shul. He refused and I realized
that the kabbala that he learned
came from foreign sources that
corrupted the Torah. I did not let
him off easy. I told him he was
making a mistake and today he is
a baal tshuva.
In addition to shiurim,
farbrengens
and
holiday
activities, the shluchim have
a mailing list of hundreds of
employees. Every week, they
receive a Jewish message. At the
beginning of every school year,
a list of Chabad preschools in
various cities circulates among
hundreds of employees, as well as
a few words about the importance
of a Jewish education.
There are many employees
who, thanks to the outreach,
decided to send their children
to Chabad preschools, says R
Geudj looking pleased.
The Chabad Chassidim at
Intel are also the ones to turn
to for any questions relating
to Jewish practice. A few days
before Tisha BAv, I was home in
bed with the flu. I got a call from
R Nevo who was calling from an
army base where he was doing
his reserve duty. He told me
that he had heard that one of the

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branch managers was planning

a barbecue for the Nine Days
for about a thousand employees.
From a distance he was not able
to take care of this and he asked
me to get involved.
Despite feeling sick, I called
the manager. I asked him, Would
you arrange an evening like this
on Yom HaShoah or Memorial
Day for the IDF soldiers? He
said no. Then I explained that
the days of the churban are no
less tragic for the Jewish people.
He promised to get back to me.
That night he called me back and
said he postponed it to 10 Av. I
suggested that he postpone it
to 15 Av which is a joyous day.
Thanks to the polite conversation
we had, he agreed and the event
was postponed.

THE REBBE HAS HIS WAY

R Nevo described how
the work of Chabad operates
harmoniously with the activities
of Jews from other groups who
also want to use the shul for
shiurim and memorials. Only
one time over the years did the
harmony seem in jeopardy but
an answer and bracha from the
Rebbe turned things around.
Heres what happened:
When I started working at
Intel, we were moved into the
new building which had just
been built, while most of the
companys business activities
took place in the old building
where the shul was. We had
to open a new shul in the new
building. Every day there was a
minyan and before Mincha there
was a shiur in Chassidus. After
two years, the company decided
to move our operations to
another wing which was further
away and since I could no longer
regularly attend the Mincha
minyan, I handed it over to a
bachur, a Sephardic baal tshuva,

AS A FATHER HAS COMPASSION ON HIS SON

When the shliach, R Dovid Geudj,
speaks about the Rebbe, his voice
chokes up and one can see he is very
emotional. The concept of Rebbe
burns in his bones.
I had two incredible stories with
the Rebbe. These stories are always with
me, every moment of my life.
I was raised in Nice, France in an
irreligious home. We were traditional
but nothing more. The ones who were
mekarev me to Judaism and Chassidus
were the shluchim, R Yosef Yitzchok Pinson and R Yosef Cohen. I was
eighteen at the time.
That year, 5744, as a new baal tshuva who had just been exposed to
Chassidus and the Rebbe, I joined a group from Nice that went to spend
Tishrei in 770. I found the stay in Crown Heights hard. One day followed
another and each day was more packed than the one before, entire nights
without sleep, farbrengens, and long lines to get dollars or lekach. The
intensity was foreign to me. On Hoshana Raba, the Rebbe gave out lekach.
I was sound asleep and missed it; the stress of the previous days had gotten
to me.
One of the guys who was with us in the group woke me up and said the
Rebbe had just given out lekach and I had missed out. He tried to calm me
down by saying it was just a piece of cake and he would share with me, but
I was upset. I was on a tshuva high and I raced to 770. I went straight to
R Groners room and told him about the lekach I had missed out on and
explained that it wasnt fair because I had been so tired and I wanted some.
R Groner didnt know what to do with me. He told me that if I had
missed out, that was by divine providence. I insisted and a loud argument
ensued when suddenly the door to the Rebbes room opened and the Rebbe
came out and said something to R Groner in Yiddish. I did not understand
a word but afterward, the Rebbe returned to his room and R Groner told
me that the Rebbe decided to give me lekach and asked me to go down to
the sukka.
A few minutes later the Rebbe left his room, wearing his coat, and gave
me lekach. In retrospect, the real absurdity is that after receiving lekach I
still had the nerve to complain to R Groner what did he have against me
that he didnt want to give me lekach when the Rebbe himself agreed to give
me It was only later that I understood that I had been granted a special
kiruv and how great the Rebbes Ahavas Yisroel is.
The other story happened eight years after that. After being married
for a few years and not having children, we began visiting doctors. We saw
it was no simple matter and decided to fly to 770 and ask the Rebbe for a
bracha. A group from France went to 770 in 5752 and we, a young couple,
joined them.
At dollars, my wife asked for a bracha for children. The Rebbe gave her
two dollar bills and said they were for the children. One year later, in 5753,
we had twin boys. Since then we have not had more children; the Rebbe
gave two dollars for two children.

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Shlichus
who mainly spoke musar.
We had a Chassidishe
farbrengen on every special day
and before Yud Shevat we told
that bachur that at the time of
the shiur we would be having a
farbrengen instead. I thought he
would happily agree but instead,
he said that a farbrengen does
not cancel a shiur and he did not
want the farbrengen to take place
at that time. I responded firmly.
The
night
before
the
farbrengen, I was feeling bad.
The bachur had not even agreed
to meet to discuss a solution. I
wrote to the Rebbe and opened
to a letter dated Erev Yud Shevat!
The Rebbe wrote that you must
explain that Chassidus pertains
to every Jew and it makes no
difference who he is.
In the morning I decided
to meet the bachur and convey
this message. Before I could say
a word, he said, Alon, have the
farbrengen; Im the last one to
stand in your way. I wondered
what had changed all of a sudden
and I asked him. He told me
something astonishing.
He said that every morning
he davened in the shul where
his rav, a well-known person in
Kiryat Gat, davens. That day was
a Torah reading and one of the
talmidim bought the third aliya
for the rav. Afterward, when the
rav stepped down, he blessed the
talmid that he should merit to be
blessed by the Lubavitcher Rebbe
for on that day he accepted the
Chabad leadership, a day that is
significant for every Jew. He then
looked at me and said, If my rav
speaks that way, I will be the last
one to interfere with a farbrengen
that is made in the Rebbes
honor.
R Geudj suggested that this
bachur speak at the farbrengen
and tell a story about the Baal
Shem Tov. He agreed. So not

only wasnt there a split but

the same person who was an
apparent opponent was one of the
main speakers at the farbrengen.
Farbrengens at Intel are well
known. They have had R M. M.
Groner, R Ozer Alperowitz and
other guests like R Zelig Wolpo
come and speak. Refreshments
are plentiful and delicious and
people leave strengthened in
Chassidishe practices and with
good hachlatos.

THE REBBE SEES AHEAD

Every year, on Purim, there
are three Megilla readings in
different locations throughout
the company.
We make a big deal on Purim
with giving out mishloach manos
and readings of the Megilla,
says R Nevo.
One year, before going to
Intel with my children who were
already in costume, I wrote
to the Rebbe and asked for a
bracha. The answer, which was
in volume 18 p. 394, was about
the necessity of a mechitza
separating men and women
and to explain its importance. I
realized that the Rebbe wants a
mechitza but did not understand
why, when women never came to
the companys Megilla readings.
I called R Geudj and the
maintenance man right away
and asked for mechitzos. To
their credit let it be said that
they arranged mechitzos without
unnecessary questions. Then,
what happened bowled us all over
and was told and retold among
the people at the company. That
particular year, many women
decided to attend the Megilla
reading and there were actually
more women than men!
***
R Geudj says that before
Pesach their outreach work is

busier than ever.

The past year, we gave out
a hundred packages of matza
and sought out the people who
seemed the most estranged from
such matters. There is a fellow
to whom I gave matzos who
burst into tears. He said that for
many years he did not eat matza
on Pesach and I had reminded
him of forgotten times. Another
fellow, a new immigrant from
France who came from a very
liberal home, took the matza and
told me later that he ate them the
night of Pesach.
As for Chanuka, in addition
to three large menorahs in central
locations in Intels buildings,
there are many menorahs lit by
employees in their offices.
One Chanuka, we decided
to widely publicize the miracle,
recalls R Nevo. We obtained
funding from the company to buy
three big menorahs, two meters
high, to be placed at the three
entrances. One of the employees
with a large vehicle volunteered
to go with me to the Mamash
offices in Bnei Brak to get the
menorahs. Security is very tight
at Intel and when we brought the
menorahs the managers asked
that they be approved by the
security department. That same
day they checked the menorahs
and unfortunately, they were not
approved.
They said that if there would
be a strong wind they would fall
and cause a short. I was upset
because I could see all our work
going down the drain. I wrote
to the Rebbe and the answer
was, Regarding the light poles,
to consult with an expert in the
field. I wondered who I could
consult with and remembered
that among the people in shul
was a young man who was an
electrical engineer. I spoke to
him and he said, Alon, there is no

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way they will give their approval.

In any case, the purpose of the
menorahs is to publicize the
miracle, so simply remove the
wires and instead of bulbs add
another candle every day.
I accepted his suggestion
and we got the approval and
everything was arranged quickly.
Maintenance men came to put
up the menorahs, the security
guy came with the permits and
thousands of employees who
passed by every day saw the
Chanuka menorahs and knew
exactly how many candles to
light.
***
R Nevo left Intel for a senior
position at another high-tech
company.
I really wanted to leave five
years earlier. I live in Beer Sheva
and the long trip exhausted me,
especially as I felt burned out on
the job, but when I wrote to the
Rebbe the answer was to stay.
The first time that I wrote
to the Rebbe about it, I opened
to an answer in which the Rebbe
writes to a shliach who travels a
lot and said he was happy to hear
about his learning Torah while
in transit for this purifies the
air. I understood from this that
the Rebbe wanted me to stay at
Intel. I continued working there
while simultaneously working in
hafatza.
Then it reached a point
where I couldnt do it anymore
and I had a better offer closer
to home. I consulted with my
mashpia who told me to write
to the Rebbe again. In the letter

R Dovid Geudj and R Alon Nevo preparing for Pesach

I opened to the second time, the

Rebbe gave brachos to someone
before he began a new job and
blessed him with ample parnasa.
I understood that this time the
Rebbe approved my leaving. As
soon as I got this answer, two
other Lubavitchers went to work
for Intel, Adi Umaysi and Eli
Devoras. They quickly became
active in hafatza.
I felt that as long as there
were no replacements for me in
my shlichus at the company the
Rebbe wouldnt let me leave,
but when they came, the door
was opened for me to move
elsewhere.
Two days before I left, R
Devoras arranged a birthday
farbrengen and invited me and
everyone to say lchaim. After
the farbrengen, he wanted to
show me an answer that he
opened to from the Rebbe for
his birthday. The Rebbe was
writing to a shliach who went on

Happy Chanuka at Intel

shlichus to Europe and gave him

many blessings, in particular for
diligence in shlichus. I looked at
him and was moved; I felt that
the Rebbe had passed the torch
of shlichus along to him along
with R Geudj and the other
Chassidim.

ADD IN ACTS OF GOODNESS & KINDNESS

TO BRING MOSHIACH NOW!

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PROFILE

TOTAL SELF
SACRIFICE
R Shraga Elimelech (Meilich) Kaplan went
to Tomchei Tmimim and became one of the
diligent talmidim there. * For many years he was
persecuted because he spread Torah and he
was even arrested several times. He finally left
Russia for Eretz Yisroel where he was appointed
maggid shiur in the new Tomchei Tmimim in Lud
and the rav of the Chabad community there. *
Part 2 of 2
By Shneur Zalman Berger

s was told in the previous

chapter, some Tmimim
joined a group of Jews
who arranged with a
professional smuggler to take
them over the border to Turkey.
The smuggler waited for them but
together with him were NKVD
agents who arrested them all. The
group knew that they now faced
the death penalty.
About two weeks after their
arrest, one of the members of
the hanhala of the network of
yeshivos Tomchei Tmimim in
the Soviet Union wrote a report
to the Rebbe Rayatz who was
in Riga. In his report are the
names of the bachurim who
were in the network of yeshivos

and where they were located.

In the paragraph entitled tefisa
(lit. grasp, synonym for jail) was
written the names of the boys
in this group: Michel Patchin,
Michel Piekarski (who lived
in New York for many years),
Elimelech
Kaplan,
Zalman
Levitin (he was the menahel and
mashgiach of Tomchei Tmimim
in Kutais in Georgia), Yitzchok
Lippman,
Shlomo
Matusof
(shliach in Morocco, ah),
Abba Levin, and two boys from
Bukhara Mendel and Yochai
(their last name was not known
to the person writing the list).
Apparently, all these are
studying in Batum in tefisa,
may Hashem protect them.

Apparently, also in the group is

the son of the Masmid (meaning
R Eliezer, the son of R Itche
der Masmid who was in the
group), and the two rabbanim
R Avrohom Levi Slavin and R
Mordechai Perlov.
Their situation was not
known to their families at first. R
Meilichs father, R Aryeh Leib,
asked the Rebbe Rayatz to get
involved but the Rebbe replied:
As of now, nothing is known
about their situation and it would
be difficult to do anything. A
few days later additional details
became known and the Rebbe
wrote about this to one of the
Chassidim, As was clarified,
they are in prison in Batum and

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and their court cases for the

crime of smuggling across
the border which was against
the law We spent Pesach in
jail. Representatives from the
prisoners families came, as well
as Georgian Jews, and supplied
us with some holiday items
When all the interrogations were
finished, they released some
women who came from Bukhara
and me too, because of my age.
I was only 16 and not eligible for
sentencing. The older prisoners
remained in jail until their
sentence was announced three
years in exile.
Under the circumstances,
exile did not mean Siberia but
labor camps in the area. R Perlov
was sent to Tbilisi in Georgia and
R Eliezer Horowitz was sent to
Tashkent in Uzbekistan.

R ITCHE DER MASMID

MEETS THE SOVIET
FOREIGN MINISTER

Sitting: R Meilich and his son Boruch. Standing from right to left: his son
Nachum (with his child, Yosef Yitzchok), his son Leibel, his son-in-law
Moshe Yudelewitz

their situation is very difficult

and entails danger to life, G-d
forbid. Then various possibilities
were written about how to try to
help them.
R Meilich suffered greatly in
jail as his son R Nachum related:
When he was brought to
prison and put in a cell, the
veteran prisoners immediately
went over to him and boldly
removed his yarmulke. He later
said that he knew that he could
not display anger, for then the
inmates would bother him even
more, so he remained quiet. It
was only when he saw that they
werent noticing that he took the
yarmulke and put it back on. A

short while later they removed

it again and he kept quiet. This
happened a number of times
until they stopped.
He received a package
from home with food. He
gave all the food to the leader
of the inmates and from then
on, the attitude toward him
changed dramatically. My father
knew how to manage in every
situation.
The youngest prisoner of
all was R Shlomo Matusof and
this is how he described the
imprisonment in his memoirs:
I sat there for three months
until the conclusion of the
interrogations of all the accused

While they were in prison,

international
efforts
were
made to free them. R Shmuel
Kosovitzky, R Meilichs uncle,
who lived in London, told the
story to reporters in London
and as a result, newspapers
around the world began making
a commotion about the injustice
being done to innocent citizens
who wanted to leave the Soviet
Union and how people were
arrested through a provocateur.
The head of the secret police
was asked by Jewish figures
from around the world to release
the prisoners. In the end, these
efforts were successful, in no
small part thanks to R Itche der
Masmid whose son was one of
those arrested.
In those days, there were
no diplomatic ties between the
United States and the Soviet
Union, and Russia very much

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Profile
wanted these ties. At precisely
this time, the Russian foreign
minister, Litvinov (who was
a Jew) paid a visit to the US
in order to try and arrange
diplomatic ties.
R Itche Masmid was in the
US at that time on shlichus for
the Rebbe Rayatz and he was
able to arrange a meeting with
Litvinov with the aid of one of

again he was arrested, this time

for baking matzos. It was before
Pesach, and somehow his father
had obtained some shmura wheat
from Haditch in the hopes of
baking matzos that would suffice,
barely, not only for his own
family but also for the Jews of the
city.
One of the members of the
Jewish community who managed

When a Jew serves Hashem by learning Torah

and doing mitzvos and is completely devoted to
serving Him, spreading Torah to talmidim, and this is his
goal and his desire and his chayus, then Hashem sends
him his parnasa and the parnasa of his household like
bread from the heavens.
the senators. At the meeting, he
told him about the group who
were arrested because the people
wanted to cross the border and
that his son Lazer (later the
mashgiach in Tomchei Tmimim
in Lud) was arrested along with
the group.
The foreign minister did not
feel comfortable in front of the
Americans about having a group
of young people sitting in jail
because they wanted to leave the
country. He immediately used
his influence which led to their
release within a short time.

ARRESTED AFTER
BAKING MATZOS
When R Meilich left jail, he
went to Kiev where his father
was the rav and the rosh yeshiva
of the local Tomchei Tmimim.
R Meilich learned in this yeshiva
together with R Meir Itkin, R
Nachum Volosov, R Yisroel
Yehuda Levin, and others.
A few months had passed
since their release and once

a mill for materials that were

used as fillers in manufacturing
cement, offered R Kaplan the use
of the mill to grind the wheat. He
made this illegal act conditional
on their doing it under cover of
darkness. He knew that if he was
caught he would be subject to a
severe punishment. R Kaplan
agreed and late one night he
sent his two sons, R Meilich
and R Moshe Binyamin, to the
mill. The two of them worked a
long time cleaning parts of the
mill and then they prepared to
grind the wheat for matza. They
finished their work late at night
and walked home with a sack of
flour on R Moshe Binyamins
shoulder.
The street was pitch black and
they did not notice a policeman
standing on the other end of the
street. When they finally saw him
it was too late. He demanded to
see their IDs. R Moshe Binyamin
showed his ID, but R Meilich did
not have any, so he was arrested
and sent to the police station. R
Moshe Binyamin returned home
alone and R Meilichs family

were beside themselves. He had

just been arrested a few months
earlier and now he was in jail
again. It was a small consolation
that the policeman did not check
the contents of the sack and at
least the Jews of the city had the
flour.
The chief of police in Kiev
was a particularly cruel man
and a virulent anti-Semite. So
although he knew that R Meilich
was a legal resident and had
committed no crime, he sent
him to the Lukyanivska prison to
await his sentence there.
R Meilichs worried father
consulted with a lawyer who
advised him to meet with the
president of the Ukraine (in
those days, the Ukraine was a
republic of the Soviet Union and
had its own local government), a
Mr. Petrovsky, who was known
as a nice man.
R Kaplan immediately went
to Charkov where the president
lived. Every morning, he stood
at Petrovskys door in the hopes
of meeting him. In the meantime,
the
Jewish
community
in
Charkov used its connections in
government circles and a meeting
with the president was arranged.
Petrovsky listened to R
Kaplan in a welcoming manner.
R Kaplan explained how his son
was sickly and weak and could
not survive incarceration or exile.
His words fell on receptive ears.
The president decided to allow
the prisoner to remain under
arrest in Kiev and then would
pardon him because of his weak,
sickly state.
But this is not what happened.
R Meilich was categorized as an
illegal yeshiva student who never
worked and this complicated
matters. It was necessary to
obtain documents that showed
that R Meilich had a history of
working in order for him to be

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Shluchim of the Rebbe in 5716 giving out Tanyas to students in his class. On the right is R Meilich Kaplan and on the left is
R Avrohom Maiyor, one of the menahalim of the yeshiva

pardoned. After a short while,

papers stating that R Meilich
worked at a factory that made
milk bottles were obtained.
The documents reached the
right people and the president
pardoned him. R Meilich went
back to yeshiva in Kiev. Shortly
thereafter, he went to learn in
Kursk.

FATHER, MOTHER AND

SPIRITUAL MENTOR
In those difficult times,
many
melamdim,
maggidei
shiur and mashpiim were caught
and sent to jail or exile. Their
wives remained living widows
and the children living orphans
with no material and spiritual
support. The situation was dire.
As a result, it was decided that
older bachurim who were not
yet married would take these
positions.
R Meilich became a maggid

shiur and he gave shiurim to

boys just a few years younger
than him. Fortunately for
him, his beard was still short
so that the secret police who
sometimes went to where they
were learning did not think he
was the melamed. The talmidim
themselves had beards and they
claimed they were learning on
their own, which was legal.
Despite this, he was arrested
and jailed a few times for being
a maggid shiur. He did not talk
much about this era but his
children heard just a bit from
him. R Nachum said:
For a long time, my father
was responsible for a group of
bachurim. He was the maggid
shiur, the mashgiach, the
mashpia, as well as the menahel
gashmi of the yeshiva. He not
only taught but took care of
providing food, places to sleep,
and was the father and mother

of the boys aside from also being

their spiritual mentor.
The government arrested my
father a number of times and he
was sent for brief stays in prison.
On a rare occasion he confided
how he survived Pesach in jail.
Every day the inmates received a
small ration of bread, but during
Pesach, in order to torment them,
they gave the Jewish prisoners
plenty of white bread. For my
father it was extremely difficult
and he did not know whether he
would make it through Pesach
alive. Nevertheless, he resolved
not to allow chametz to enter
his mouth, come what may. He
sufficed with sugar cubes and a
few potatoes.
On the last day of Pesach he
fell deathly ill. If Pesach would
have been one more day, I would
not have survived, he said.
On another occasion he
said that he managed to hide his

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Profile
tfillin in jail and every morning
he would get up early and put
them on in bed in a way that
nobody would see. Despite his
great care, one of the prisoners
noticed the leather straps and
decided to steal them.
One morning, my father got
up and to his great shock, the
tfillin shel yad had disappeared.
He looked all over and then

My father had to guard a

military base. Since he was the
only guard, his duty was that
much greater. When Sukkos
came, he decided that he had to
eat in a sukka on the first night,
no matter what. He somehow
found out that the nearest sukka
was in the home of someone who
lived an hours walk away. He
walked quickly so he could return

Every day the inmates received a small ration

of bread, but during Pesach, in order to torment
them, they gave the Jewish prisoners whole loaves of
white bread. For my father it was extremely difficult
and he did not know whether he would make it through
Pesach alive.
realized they had been stolen.
He was disconsolate and was
determined to find them. After
the daily bread was distributed (it
was the only food they were given
that day), he gave his portion of
bread to a prisoner who was a
boss in the cell and told him that
in exchange for the bread he had
to find the stolen goods. Within a
short time his tfillin were located
and returned. He fasted that day,
endangering his health, for the
tfillin.

THE BOTTLE
THAT SAVED HIM
In 5697/1937, R Meilich
married Yehudis Segalov, from a
family of rabbanim. They lived in
greater Charkov.
With the outbreak of World
War II, he was forcibly drafted
despite the exemption he had,
because during those emergency
times all exemptions were void.
He left his wife and baby Nachum
at home. R Nachum told about
an episode that occurred while
his father was in the army:

as fast as he could. He knew that

once every few weeks there was
a special inspection to ensure
that the guarding was being
done properly. The chances were
slim but he still hoped that the
inspection would not take place
that night.
When he arrived at the
sukka, the owner wanted to serve
him meat and fish but since he
was in a rush, he quickly ate a
kzayis of bread and left. When
he arrived back at the base, he
saw at the gate his commander
who screamed, You left this base
without a guard in wartime. We
just had an inspection and they
saw that there is no guard!
My father knew that if they
judged him now, the sentence
would be severe because it was
desertion during wartime. He
suddenly recalled that he had
with him a bottle of vodka, a
precious commodity in those
days. He gave the bottle to his
commander who immediately
relaxed. He smiled and waved a
finger in warning and said, Make
sure you dont run away again.

After a short while he was

able to return home. He packed
his belongings and immediately
left for Kazakhstan with his wife
and baby where his father was
already in exile.

IN EXILE IN KAZAKHSTAN
How did his father get to
Kazakhstan?
As already mentioned, his
father was the rav of the Jewish
community in Kiev and he
led them fearlessly. One day
he was arrested for the crime
of spreading Torah. This was
Adar 1939. They also arrested
rabbanim, Chassidim and others
in Kiev, Yekaterinoslav (where
the Rebbes father was arrested),
Chernigov and other cities.
After a long incarceration in
which they were interrogated
and tortured, the rabbanim
were exiled, each to a different
location. R Levi Yitzchok was
sent to Cili while R Kaplan
was sent to a village called YaniKurgan (about 25 kilometers
from Cili) together with R
Moshe Kolikov and R Bentzion
Geisinsky. According to law, the
prisoners were not allowed to
leave the place where they were
exiled, but R Kaplan and R
Kolikov left many times for Cili
in order to meet with R Levi
Yitzchok and to assist him.
R Moshe Binyamin, R
Kaplans son, related:
Since my father was a ben
Torah and a great scholar, they
had what to talk about and they
enjoyed each others company.
When my father and R Kolikov
went to see him, they would bring
food and arranged their visit so
that they could stay with him for
five or six hours every time.
After a while, the families
of the prisoners were able to
go to Kazakhstan. R Kaplans
wife joined her husband and R

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Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim Lud Pardes

Meilich with his family arrived

afterward and joined his parents.
He also visited R Levi Yitzchok
and helped him in his final years.
At some point R Kaplan
was forced to relocate to KzylOrda where he underwent
much suffering. On Yom Kippur
5704/1943, he davened in a
private home which was turned
into a secret shul. When they
finished reciting Kol Nidrei and
Maariv, everyone went home. R
Kaplan and his son, R Meilich
and R Kolikov remained to say
Thillim. The local worshipers
warned them about the danger of
walking in the street late at night
because there were murderers
roaming the streets.
Late at night, R Kaplan and
R Kolikov returned home while
R Meilich remained to rest on
a bench. On their way home,
ruffians beat them severely. R
Kolikov, who was older than R
Kaplan, fainted. They thought he
had died and they left him alone
while they continued beating R
Kaplan.

With his remaining strength,

he dragged himself home and
managed to say that R Moshe
was lying on the street, Hurry
and save him. Those were his
last words. He lost consciousness
and throughout the holy day he
was in critical condition. At the
time of Nila, he passed away,
may Hashem avenge his blood.
After the passing of his father,
R Meilich moved to Samarkand
with his family. Many Chabad
Chassidim went there during the
war as they escaped from areas
conquered by the Nazis.
The economy of the Soviet
Union during the war was terrible
and starvation felled many
people. R Meilich and his family
suffered from hunger, but he did
not have anything to feed his wife
and children. The situation grew
worse until there wasnt even a
piece of bread in the house.
One day, he met the Chassid
R Berke Chein who knew R
Meilichs situation and offered
him a loan. R Meilich refused
it. R Berke did not give up but

suggested that he consider taking

it. After R Meilich refused him
time and again, R Berke burst
into tears and said, Meilich, I
know that the situation in your
house is terrible and you have no
money with which to buy food. If
you dont take the loan, I feel like
I just wont be able to survive!
With the end of the war, R
Meilich left the Soviet Union via
Lvov and from there arrived in
Poking, Germany. He lived there
with his family in a large refugee
camp with other Chassidim. A
Chabad school was started right
away and he was appointed the
melamed. This time, he would
be able to teach Torah to Jewish
children without fear.
When R Meilich told the
Rebbe Rayatz that he was
planning on making aliya, the
Rebbe Rayatz gave him an
important assignment:
In response to your letter
about preparing to travel with a
large group of religious Jews...
via the coast of Marseilles,
surely you will try to urge the

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Profile

Summer 5740, a few months before his passing. Speaking at a siyum at the Chabad
elementary school in Lud.

passengers and their households

to try and settle in the company
of G-d fearing people and as
soon as they arrive, to arrange
learning in Torah classes and
for their children to arrange
schools and yeshivos that are
G-d fearing. I would take great
pleasure in hearing about the
welfare of all and about their
settling in. (letter from 20
Cheshvan 5709)

PASSING UP
A RABBINIC POST
R Meilich Kaplan arrived in
Eretz Yisroel at the beginning of
5709 with his wife Yehudis and
his children, Nachum, Boruch,
Tova (later Yudelewitz), and
Chana Sarah. Their youngest
son, Aryeh Leib, was born in
Eretz Yisroel.
At first they lived in a transit
camp in Beer Yaakov. From there
they went to Lud where some
Lubavitcher families had settled.
R Nachum tells of the difficulties
of acclimating in Lud:
My father was told that the
place where we would settle
was part of the city Ramle and
neighborhoods would be founded
there that would serve as the
Chabad center of the country.

He eventually found out that the

people in charge in Ramle did not
know that this area was actually
part of Lud.
My father did not have a job.
He got an offer from R Shaul
Yisraeli (later rosh yeshiva of
Merkaz HaRav and a member of
the Beis Din HaGadol) who was
a relative of his. He offered to
appoint my father rav of the city.
Take the portfolio of HaPoel
HaMizrachi and we will appoint
you rav. He knew about my
fathers scholarliness and wanted
a suitable rav for the city as well
as to help him with parnasa.
My father, who was new
in the country, did not know
the significance of the portfolio
of HaPoel HaMizrachi and so
he consulted with his friend, R
Avrohom (Drizin) Maiyor. R
Drizin explained that this would
mean he was aligning himself
with the HaPoel HaMizrachi
political party and he should
say no. My father listened and
declined the offer.
A short while later, right after
the founding of Yeshivas Tomchei
Tmimim in Lud in Shevat 5709,
R Meilich was appointed as the
first maggid shiur in the yeshiva.
On 19 Adar, about two

months after the yeshiva was

founded, the Rebbe Rayatz wrote
to R Meilich:
I was pleased that, thank
G-d, you obtained an apartment
at Lud station and are regularly
involved in public shiurim for
adults, as well as arranging
learning for the children of
Anash.
R Meilich worked at the
yeshiva for thirty years. Some of
the years he worked as a maggid
shiur and some of the years he
was a mashgiach of the older
talmidim. The talmidim found
his appearance intimidating. It
was enough for them to see him
approaching the yeshiva building
for them to run to the zal and
start learning. At the same time,
he treated the talmidim like a
mother who is concerned for
her child. When a talmid found
the Gemara hard to understand,
R Meilich would explain it to
him again and again patiently.
He would be especially mekarev
those from North African
countries whose parents were
not Chabad Chassidim. He was
like a compassionate father to
them and he encouraged them
throughout.
Even in later years, when
he was sick, he continued to go
to the yeshiva and served as a
meishiv.
Throughout the thirty years,
he never thought of a high salary
or bonuses for seniority, on the
contrary. He went abroad a few
times to raise money for the
yeshiva and after he passed away,
R Efraim Wolf, the menahel, said
R Meilich would donate most of
his salary to the yeshiva.

RAV IN SHIKUN
CHABAD LUD
Along with his work in the
yeshiva, R Meilich served as rav

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in Shikun Chabad in Lud. Shortly

after arriving in Lud, he was
appointed rav of the tiny Chabad
community which solidified and
grew. He did not receive a salary
for this. All his work in rabbanus
was done voluntarily and with
endless devotion. He would
give shiurim and farbreng in the
shuls of the neighborhood and
also went to other shuls in Lud
to give shiurim and speak to the
congregants.
He would say: When a Jew
serves Hashem by learning
Torah and doing mitzvos and is
completely devoted to serving
Him,
spreading
Torah
to
talmidim, and this is his goal and
his desire and his chayus, then
Hashem sends him his parnasa
and the parnasa of his household
like bread from the heavens. For
example, in our generation there
is a Jew that Hashem sends him
parnasa as if it was literally bread
that fell from heaven because
his thoughts, speech and actions
are completely in the service of
Hashem.
He initiated the founding
of the elementary school in the
neighborhood and was involved
in building the mikva. When the
mikva was being built he raised
money for it and wrote to the
Rebbe about this. The Rebbe

wrote him a letter which he

ended with: May Hashem grant
you success in this holy work
and your work in the yeshiva
which will consequently bring
bracha and success in your
personal matters as well. With
blessings for success to all the
participants in this holy work.
Whenever it was necessary
to fill the rainwater pit again, he
would do this taking great care
with all the halachos.
Over the years he had a
daily routine. He would daven
Shacharis in the first minyan
at the Chabad shul. Aside
from his work at the yeshiva
and the shiurim he gave in the
neighborhood shuls, he also had
chavrusas with whom he learned
during the day and set shiurim
that he learned on his own.
All the shiurim and the
eating and sleeping were done
in an orderly way. I never saw
my father idle. Even during a
time when he found it hard to
read due to a medical problem
with his eyes, he listened to
tapes with shiurim in Nigleh
and Chassidus, said his son R
Nachum.

DEATH WITH A KISS

A few years before his passing,

he had a stroke and he suffered

greatly after that. Nevertheless,
he continued going to yeshiva
and responded to questions from
people in the community.
On Shabbos Parshas Chayei
Sarah 5741/1980, while his son
Nachum was visiting him, he
told him a dvar Torah: At the
beginning of the parsha, Rashi
says on the words, the years of
the life of Sarah, that they were
all equally good. How can he say
this? Were all her years equally
good werent there ups and
downs? The answer is that even
when there are unpleasant things,
they need to be accepted in the
right way.
Two days later, on 24
Cheshvan, he went to the
Georgian shul to daven Mincha.
He always davened Mincha
in this shul and occasionally
he addressed the people with
words of chizuk. R Meilich was
standing next to the Aron Kodesh
for Shmoneh Esrei when his
siddur fell from his hands and his
head fell back with him leaning
against the Aron Kodesh.
That is how he passed away in
a death befitting a Chassid who
was completely devoted to others
and to spreading Torah behind
the Iron Curtain and in Eretz
Yisroel.

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FEATURE

SMOOTHING
TRANSITIONS

The new school year is about to begin. This

new beginning is more significant for those
who are about to experience a major change:
from preschool to first grade, from elementary
school to high school/mesivta, from high school/
mesivta to seminary/yeshiva gdola.
By C Ben David

ife provides us with many

transitions: moving to a
new location, a new job,
the birth of a baby, and
some less happy changes. Even an
adult who experienced some sort
of change is affected by it and goes
through a period in which he has to
adjust. For a child, the adjustment
can be much more difficult.
The move from preschool to
first grade, for example, is a big
one. In preschool there was more
freedom, more playtime. Just two
months later, the children will be
expected to sit in their seats for
long periods of time and will have
to listen to lessons, do class work
and homework, and behave.
In first grade, most of the
children adjust easily, says Leah,
a veteran first grade teacher. A
few children find it hard and in
most cases you can anticipate
these difficulties; those children

who, in preschool, were introverts

and shy or those who were not
well-behaved. Sometimes, these
are clingy children who are very
attached to home.
When
a
problem
is
anticipated
in
advance,
it
can be handled. If necessary,
professionalslike
the
school guidance counselor or
psychologistcan get involved.
The rest of the children enjoy
feeling big and getting into the
routine. What can help, besides
preparing the children with the
skills for reading and math, is
introducing them to the new
building, to the teacher, and
telling them how school differs
from preschool.
Going from elementary school
to mesivta is an even bigger
change. Although these are older
children, its a transition from
a setting in which children are

home-based to a setting in which

they are often dorming. Adjusting
to the new routine, sleeping in
a room with friends, yeshiva
food, and feeling homesick while
getting used to the new schedule
and ways of learning, can be
tough.
Even for those who dont
sleep in a dormitory, there
is a huge difference between
elementary school and high
school. In elementary school
there are longer breaks in which
the children play and run around.
They get to air out during the
school day. In yeshiva, the breaks
are fewer and the way they are
spent are more low-key, as befits
a yeshiva bachur.
Its really not easy, says
Yehudis, who has already sent
four boys to yeshiva. There are
kids who quickly adjust but the
beginning is always hard. Being

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out of the house and having

to get used to many changes
in daily routine requires a lot
from a boy. In my experience,
although for some of my boys it
was easier and for some harder,
it usually resolves itself with time.
Even when there are adjustment
problems, if they are not
particularly severe, you shouldnt
put too much of an emphasis
on them. Sometimes, parents
convey to their child that he has
a problem and the child adopts
this label of problem kid. That
makes it much harder to handle
the problem which wasnt that
big to begin with.
Its important to discuss it
with the child openly and define
the difficulty. Sometimes, when
the child has a problem, he
might feel that the school is the
problem. Especially with younger

children, for example, a preschool

child can find it difficult to point
to a bullying child as the problem
and might say he just doesnt
like school. When you talk to
the child, you can pinpoint the
problem.
I think most children adjust
to yeshiva life, though of course
it depends on the relationship
between them and the staff.
Yisroel, an educator who
works in a yeshiva, describes how
they handle boys who are coming
to mesivta:
The staff keeps on eye on
the bachurim and there are
always those who have a hard
time at first. We try to establish
a personal relationship with
each bachur who is having it
hard, and we try to help him
first by talking to the bachur
himself, then getting his parents

involved, by being flexible a bit

with requirements and sdarim,
and in special cases even getting
professionals involved.
What kinds of adjustment
problems do you see?
Rochel, whose son is in
mesivta, describes the difficulties
her son had at first: He found it
hard to make peace with the fact
that he was leaving home behind.
We saw this with the phone
calls when he repeatedly asked
whether there was anything else
we hadnt told him and whether
we were keeping him up to date
on what was going on at home.
It was very important to him to
hear about every little detail, and
when we did not tell him about
something that seemed trivial, he
was very offended. This problem
was temporary and the more time
passed, the more confidence he

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Feature

A SHORT GUIDE FOR PARENTS HOW TO HELP CHILDREN

ADJUST TO A NEW SITUATION
Preparation: Prepare children for a transition, mainly by talking to
them about it in an age appropriate way. What changes can they expect
in the new setting? What might be difficult? When the child himself says
what the difficulties might be (and they might be little things that we would
never think of) you can think of solutions together. You can also arrange
for a child to speak with a brother/neighbor/uncle etc. who are in the same
situation the child is about to enter and they can provide guidance, advice,
and support.
Keeping Tabs: It is very important to keep tabs on a child who starts a
new program and be aware of how he or she is doing. There are children
who adjust easily to a new place and new circumstances and there are other
children who exhibit big problems. And then there are children who find it
hard to adjust but it doesnt show. Parents need to call the school and even
visit now and then. They need to take a sincere interest and talk to their
child even about the little things. This can help them discover whether the
child is adjusting or has a problem and needs help.
Ongoing Support: Give the child the feeling that he has a listening ear.
Give him the opportunity to talk and listen to his stories; let him see youre
interested. At the same time, dont get overly involved so as not to create
excessive dependency. Its good to encourage their independence.
Sensitivity: Not all children let on when theyre having a problem and
they dont all show it in the same way. Its important to be sensitive and to
pay attention to even the most subtle messages that can indicate that a child
is experiencing difficulty.
Communication: Be in constant touch, not only with the child but
also with the teachers in the new place. This way, you can find out and be
updated on how the child is acclimating from the perspective of an adult.
Calling also shows that you care and builds a relationship of trust and
cooperation.
gained that even when he was in
yeshiva, he wasnt forgotten at
home.
Dovid is a talmid in mesivta
and he tells of another difficulty:
In
yeshiva,
the
schedule
obligates me throughout the day.
In elementary school I had to
go along with the program but
after school I went home where
I had the freedom to play with
my younger brothers or to read
a book. At home I felt somewhat
free with my brothers while in
yeshiva I am in a room with peers.
At first, I felt less comfortable,
but over time I became friendly
with my roommates and got used
to the sdarim.

Yehudis tells of a similar

difficulty that came up with
her second son: I sensed very
strongly that when he came home
he really needed to unwind. Just
being at home made him very
happy and he would sit in front
of the computer a lot or even
played with games that were
not age appropriate. It was only
after a while that I realized what
it was. It was hard for him to
express it himself but we talked
with him and after realizing what
the difficulty was, it was easier to
deal with it.
Yisroel talks about common
difficulties: There are bachurim
who find it hard to get used to

food that is different than home.

Some complain about little
things in the arrangements of the
rooms. There are difficulties that
are more apparent and are easier
for us to notice but the bachurim
dont
always
articulate
it
immediately. Very often, boys of
this age keep things to themselves
and dont say that something is
bothering them and what it is.
You can find out that
a bachur is having a hard
time adjusting when certain
manifestations appear, such as
extreme introversion, difficulties
getting up in the morning, and
failing academically. If these
problems continue for long, for
more than a month, or if the
problem seems to get worse,
the dorm counselor or mashpia
speaks to the bachur and tries
to help him. The parents are
usually informed too (something
the bachur does not always
appreciate when he finds out, for
he feels they dont rely on him or
they are talking about him behind
his back). This is all, of course,
besides the ongoing personal
connection
with
bachurim
which helps foster closeness
and trust and a very supportive
relationship to help overcome
initial difficulties.
However, there are bachurim
who
have
real
difficulties
adjusting and these manifest as
more serious problems or they
last longer.
What do you do in those
situations?
We talk with the parents to
find out if there is any particular
reason for the difficulty and we
decide what approach will best
help the child adjust.
Miriam just sent her second
son to yeshiva and she talks about
his hard time adjusting to the
new routine: He is the youngest
child in the family and maybe

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this is why he is more spoiled

and very connected to home. He
calls home very often, sometimes
daily, with various excuses, to
ask questions on trivial mattes
or to tell me about things that
happened. I felt he was exhibiting
excessive
dependency.
He
wanted to consult with me about
every little thing like arranging
his room, his clothes etc., simple
things that a boy his age should
mange on his own. He often
complained about the shower
which is different than the one at
home or the noise in the room.
The food was also something
he complained about a lot and
sometimes I got the impression
that he did not eat all day. He
said that at breakfast the plate
did not look clean enough, at
lunch they served something he
does not like, and supper did not
appeal to him.
When
these
problems
continued and we did not notice
an improvement even after talking
to him, we spoke to the mashpia
and dorm counselor. I was happy
to discover that the mashpiim
had noticed his struggle and were
working with him, talking to him
about the difficulties and looking
for solutions to problems.
He got special permission
to occasionally visit relatives
who live near the yeshiva and
sometimes for Shabbos too, aside
from the usual off-Shabbasos. In
the dining room, they sometimes
gave him an additional portion of
the food that he likes, knowing
that he doesnt eat a lot of the
other things.
With
time
and
the
cooperation and help of the staff,
my son adjusted and learned
to like yeshiva, but it definitely
wasnt an easy process and it
took a long time and lots of
energy.

Helping a child adjust means

to walk a fine line and to find
the right balance. On the one
hand, it is important to work
with the child and to sometimes
forgo certain requirements; on
the other hand, the goal is for
the child to adjust and fit into
the system and its requirements,
not that he should get used to
a situation in which he needs
special treatment. The staff needs
to find the right balance between
these two considerations.
Many factors determine the
level of difficulty the childs
nature, the general atmosphere
in the school, whether the child
is intense or more easygoing, the
family background, etc.
A possible approach to
finding the correct balance
is doing things gradually. In
preschool, for example, the first
days of school are short in order

to habituate the child to gradually

get used to the new program.
A similar approach can be
used for yeshivos and other
frameworks. For example, there
are high schools/mesivtos where
a bachur who finds it hard to
be away from home can get
permission to sleep at home
some days of the week and be
gradually expected to sleep in the
dormitory all the time. The same
for the transition to elementary
school, if the childs difficulty in
getting used to school has to do
with homework, he can be asked,
sometimes, to prepare only part
of it. The goal ought to be to
achieve full compliance with the
program and this goal should be
clear to the child too, by telling
him so directly and with indirect
reminders.
We need to differentiate
between
more
important

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Feature
independence. There is usually
cooperation on the part of the
parents and together we manage
to get the bachur on track.
The parents cooperation is
always important, emphasizes
Leah, the first grade teacher.
Often, the childs difficulty in
adjusting to the new program has
to do with a problem at home or
in how the parents relate to it,
for example, parents who dont
give their child independence and
create an unnatural dependency.
In these cases, most of the time,
a talk with the parents can greatly
improve the situation.
Rochel, with a son in yeshiva,
is the wife of a teacher and she
works in a girls dormitory. She
provides another perspective
from her experience in the dorm:

principles
that
we
cant
compromise on and those things
that are more flexible. If a bachur
finds it hard getting used to the
daily sdarim of the yeshiva, it
is important to let him know
that they are non-negotiable
and he must get used to it. But
if the main problem is the food,
there is room for flexibility and
understanding.
Sometimes, parents really
want us to give in to their kids
and compromise more, says

Yisroel. I try to convey to the

parents that the goal we all have
is for the welfare of the child, and
for his good we need to find the
right balance. There are instances
in which a bachur gets permission
to leave yeshiva more often or is
excused from certain things, but
the goal is to get him used to the
requirements and the child needs
an opportunity to handle it. Its
important for bachurim to get
used to dealing with situations, to
accustom themselves to comply
with demands and develop

Sometimes there is information

that parents can provide which
will help their daughter. It can
be some emotional problem,
or a health issue, sometimes a
certain detail about the family
background. This can help a lot
and the earlier that happens the
faster the improvement. If dealing
with the problem gets postponed,
the problem gets more serious
and goes from a minor difficulty
to a major problem.
In connection with this
Rochel adds, Sending a boy or
girl to a dormitory is definitely
not a solution to problems. I
see cases in which a girl with a
social problem is sent to a dorm
in the hopes that it will help
her overcome the problem. In
my experience, it only makes
problems worse. When a girl is
forced to deal with a problem
in its most extreme form, when
she is far from family and their
support, it can affect her selfconfidence and amplify the
situation.
There are also cases in

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which being in a dorm is a very

good experience and helps a girl
mature and become stronger. So
you need to carefully weigh the
options. In any case, if there is
a problem or difficulty that can
make it hard for a child to adjust,
deal with it from the outset and
dont say it will work itself out in
school.
How can adjusting be made
easier in yeshiva or any new
situation? What preparations
are needed to prevent problems?
Yehudis refers to preparations
on the part of the parents, talking
with the child and preparing
him for the change. When the
transition is to a yeshiva, the
child can be reminded of previous
transitions that he went through.
This can help him handle the new
change. Even when transitioning
into first grade, you can tell a
child: Last year you were also in
a new school and you got used to
it.
You can also tell them stories
about children who went through
the same thing. For a bachur who
is starting mesivta, you can also
involve a brother, neighbor, or
relative who learns in that yeshiva

who can guide him and talk to

him.
Miriam adds that some of
the preparation has to do with
the parents adjustment: I
caught on a bit late that some of
a childs difficulty in adjusting
has to do with it being hard for
me to send him since he is the
youngest. Parents themselves
need to make peace with the fact
that their child is moving along to
a new situation, especially when
it entails leaving home. It can
be hard, especially with the first
or last child, and the parents
difficulty is subtly broadcast
to the child. When I began to
overcome the difficulty myself
I felt that my son started to
improve too.
Rochel points out something
else: Give the child lots of
warmth and attention, especially
before the transition takes place.
When the child leaves home
knowing that he has a warm,
supportive family, it will make
it easier. Research shows that
many children who find it hard to
adjust are those who left behind
a problem or some difficulty at
home. Warmth and love are vital

for a child at any time, but its

more significant at this time.
Afterward too, when a child
comes home for Shabbos, give
him special attention. It can be by
preparing food that he likes or a
warm note or sign on the door,
or just by devoting time to talking
about his experiences in yeshiva.
The main preparations take
place at home with the parents
and the immediate surroundings
but the preparations that take
place in school are also important.
There are places where they get
the boys used to learning with
a chavrusa, for example, or a
yeshiva style farbrengen. There
can also be general discussions
with the children which happens
more with the girls. Boys are
not as emotionally expressive,
but an opportunity can be set
up in which they feel free to
talk. Often, the revelation that
their classmates are dealing with
similar hardships can be helpful.
The bottom line is to know
that when a child is doing well in
a new school situation, it can be
an opportunity for new personal
growth (especially for those who
need a second chance).

www.MoshiachForKids.com
Check it out!! Educational and Fun!!

In Crown Heights area: 1640/1700AM

USA phone: 718 557 7701

worldwide, online: www.RadioMoshiach.org

In Israel (Nechayeg Venishmah): 08-9493-770 (press 1 # / 9 # / 3 #)

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MIRACLE STORY

SOUL READER
VS. PALM
READER
A Jew who gave a contribution to a Chabad
institution requested the Rebbes bracha to
find his bashert, after trying twice to establish a
Jewish home and failing. In an amazing answer
from Igros Kodesh, the Rebbe reminded him
of an incident that took place decades earlier
when he was a young boy, thereby changing his
life and freeing him from a terrible emotional
trauma.
By Nosson Avraham
Translated by Michoel Leib Dobry

THE PURITY OF BEIS

CHINUCH LUBAVITCH
For several years now in
Kfar Chabad, alongside the two
longstanding Talmud Torahs,
there has been a third Talmud
Torah al taharas hakodesh
Beis Chinuch Lubavitch. The
founders of this institution are
a group of young avreichim,
acting in accordance with clear
answers they were privileged to
receive from the Rebbe, Melech
HaMoshiach, via Igros Kodesh.
Our motto: The establishment

of an educational institution
with its material and spiritual
administration in accordance
with the instructions of the
Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach,
explained school administrator
Rabbi Nesanel Zeiss.
There are plenty of examples.
In contrast to educational
institutions required to meet
government
standards
that
occasionally go against the
spirit of Chabad, Beis Chinuch
Lubavitch is a private institution
that requests no government
assistance.
It
can
have

classrooms with less than twentyfive students. Similarly, classes

studying Gemara have only
twelve students according to
the approach of the Alter Rebbe.
These are just two among many
examples. The feeling is that
it is the Rebbe who runs the
institution, adds Rabbi Zeiss.
Its clear and quite obvious
that running an institution
according to such standards
demands that the administrators
are constantly involved with
collecting money, a responsibility
that mainly falls upon Rabbi

28 3 Elul 5774
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2014-08-26 2:08:25 AM

Zeiss shoulders in his role as

school administrator.
We now come to the amazing
miracle story that became
known several weeks ago,
quickly spreading throughout
many Chabad communities at
farbrengens and other public
events. Rabbi Zeiss says that he
feels that the Rebbe is running
the institution, and when you
read the following story, you will
properly understand that this is
not just some emotional reaction.

PALM READING? TOTALLY

INAPPROPRIATE!
We periodically publicize
among our friends about a
special collection to raise funds
for the institution, promising to
write to the Rebbe for each of
them via Igros Kodesh in request
of a bracha for all they require.
Among our many friends and
supporters is one of my relatives,
a young Jewish man who has a
secure material existence, though
his personal life has been very
difficult.

During the previous decade,

he has been married and divorced
twice. Since then, he has been
looking for his true lifes partner
without success. The trauma
of two failed marriages and the
long period of search had caused
him much sadness. He would
go around in a state of deep
depression.
Last year, shortly before the
Holiday of Redemption, Yud Beis
Tammuz, I sent out an appeal
message to all our friends and
supporters, including to this

Issue 940

940_bm_eng.indd 29

29

2014-08-26 2:08:26 AM

MIRACLE STORY

young man. He immediately got

back to me and promised to make
a generous contribution. However,
he also asked me to write a letter
to the Rebbe for him in request of
a bracha to find his bashert.
I happily agreed to oblige.
Since we knew one another quite
well, I didnt need to ask him for
any personal information. After
he made a good resolution, I
sat down to write a letter to the
Rebbe on his behalf. The answer
appeared in Vol. 9 on pg. 227. In
his reply, the Rebbe mentioned
that it is forbidden to rely upon
the predictions of a palm reader,
because we must act in a manner
of Be wholehearted with Hashem,
your G-d. Therefore, we must
act in accordance with G-ds
command, including the vigorous
search for an appropriate spouse.
When I receive an answer
for someone, I dont act as an
interpreter. Instead, I let him read
it for himself, as it was meant for
him. Thus, I e-mailed him a copy
of the answer, which reads as
follows:
In reply to his letter from the
20th of Tammuz, I was shocked
to read that he had heard the
opinion of a Jew familiar with
the art of palm reading, who told
him that he saw in the lines of his
hand that he has been troubled
in matters of shidduchim, etc.,
and he had asked him for his
opinion. His inquiry into this
topic is most puzzling, since this
is in contradiction to the Holy
Torah, the Eternal Torah of Life,
the only means by which all
worldly matters can be brought
together in both a general and
specific sense. Each individual
must strive to marry a wife, as
is explained clearly in Talmud
and according to the first and
latter halachic authorities, and
he should totally divert from
all said and those who say in

contradiction to the Shulchan

Aruch, for the Torah even
governs reality, and in particular
as he should do this with the
appropriate vigor. Furthermore,
all those who wish to purify
[themselves] (a matter which
is done by conduct according to
Torah), they help him in the
plural, both Above and below,
both beyond nature and within
nature, and Alm-ghty G-d will
grant him success in giving good
news in this matter with joy.
When I finished reading the
letter with him, there was quiet on
the line. After a few moments that
seemed like an eternity, he gave
a deep sigh. How did the Rebbe
know? he cried. I dont believe
how an answer so clear can come
out of a seifer?
Once he had calmed down
from the shock that gripped him,
he presented the details of his
personal story. Twenty years earlier
he had turned to an expert in palm
reading and asked him to predict
his future until the day of his death.
After this person checked the lines
of my hand, he looked at me and
declared, You will never succeed
in getting married, and you surely
will not establish a Jewish home.
The young man departed from the
palm reader very depressed.
As time passed, he tried to
forget about this prediction. Yet,
the palm readers words continued
to haunt him for years to come.
Every argument he had with one of
his wives was a painful reminder,
eventually resulting in the break-up
of his marriages. Subconsciously,
he believed the prediction of the
fortune teller that he would never
have a normal family life.
Suddenly, the Rebbe MHM
comes along and writes a letter
rejecting this out of hand. He
declares that a Jew does not act
according to the predictions of
palm readers only according to

Shulchan Aruch. This world runs

according to our Holy Torah, not
palmistry. Therefore, he should
totally forget about this false
prophecy and begin looking with
great vigor for a suitable wife with
whom he can establish a proper
Jewish home.
The Rebbes answer had
clearly filled him with a renewed
sense of hope. Within a few
days, he again began his search
for a proper shidduch, and in
accordance with the Rebbes
instructions, he did so with much
drive and vitality. A few months
later, I got a phone call. I heard
this young mans voice on the line,
and he wanted to share some very
good news with me. It turned out
that he had just become engaged,
and he and his future wife were
preparing to set a date for their
wedding.
When I heard who the kalla
was I was shocked. I knew her,
and the two of them were total
opposites. Later, I spoke with
this woman and she told me,
You know, Rabbi Zeiss, if people
would have asked me a while ago
if I could have envisioned building
a life with my husband, I would
have told them that the very idea
was completely ridiculous. Our
natures are as different as heaven
and earth. Personally, I dont know
how it all happened.
***
Rabbi Zeiss concluded his
story with much emotion. Today,
several months after the couple
got married, everyone around
them is amazed how their lives
together have gone so well and
in an aura of such tremendous
domestic harmony. Indeed, I
know whos responsible for that...
Through his marvelous guidance
and his bracha, the Rebbe,
Melech HaMoshiach, removed the
ominous prediction of that palm
reader.

30 3 Elul 5774
940_bm_eng.indd 30

2014-08-26 2:08:26 AM

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940_bm_eng.indd 31

2014-08-26 2:08:26 AM

THOUGHT

THE CHITZON AND

THE PNIMI GETTING
READY FOR GEULA
There are two getting ready for the Geula,
the chitzon and the pnimi. Both want
Moshiach to come already. What is the
difference between them? How can a
chitzon become a pnimi when, if he has
such an ambition, that too is driven by
external factors?
By Nadav Cohen

AM I ALIVE BECAUSE
I HAVE TO BE OR BECAUSE
I WANT TO BE?
Often,
without
paying
attention, we get used to doing
things because we have to,
because we will gain in some
way, because people are looking
at us, because we enjoy it,
because we need to protect our
image, etc. All these are external
reasons, not real reasons (try
just once to spend an entire day
without looking around, without
checking to see what people are
thinking of you, without checking
your standing relative to others).
A chitzon is someone who
lives and does mitzvos because
he has to. The truth of the matter
isnt important to him, just the
result or because it is important
to him what people say about
him. Even when he wants the
Geula, its not a genuine want;

its because he knows he is

supposed to or because he has
already gotten used to asking for
the Geula.
A pnimi is genuine and is
fully there in what he does.
When he does something, he
does it till the end because of the
truth of the matter and because
this is the way its supposed to
be, and not because of some side
or external reason. To a pnimi,
the preparation for something
important is no less important
than the thing itself. He does not
treat the preparation as a means
to an end. He knows that the
preparation itself is a goal.
Take tfilla for example. The
pnimi treats tfilla as a special
time in which he can pause from
the daily hustle and bustle and
connect to Hashem. Since this is
a special opportunity, he needs
to prepare for it properly because
you cant just abruptly start

praying. You cant just walk into

shul and start talking to Hashem.
You need to make the requisite
preparations.
Before davening you learn
Chassidus in order to connect
to and recognize somewhat
the One who spoke and the
world came to be. The way a
chitzon looks at it, you learn
Chassidus in order to daven,
but to a pnimi the preparation
is also a goal. The preparation is
important in and of itself and the
preparation also needs to be done
in a pnimiusdike way. When a
pnimi learns Chassidus before
davening in order to be ready to
daven, he treats the learning as a
goal in itself and while learning
he is immersed in it and not
thinking about davening.
The davening is also a
preparation for the next stage.
After davening, when sitting
down to learn Torah, in order
for the learning to be with bittul,
in order for the learning to be
permeated with the knowledge
that the Torah is G-ds Torah
and not human intellect, G-d
forbid, we daven first. Then
we remember that everything
is G-dliness and G-dliness is
everything.
The davening and learning are
preparations for going out into
the world, starting with breakfast
and then dealing with matters of

32 3 Elul 5774
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2014-08-26 2:08:26 AM

the world. These things need to

be approached properly so that
we succeed in sifting out the
sparks that are hidden within the
physical world.
And so on, each stage is a
preparation for the next stage.
With a chitzons outlook, a
person is constantly involved
in the next stage because he is
always involved in preparing for
it. When he learns Chassidus he
thinks about davening and when
he davens he thinks about what
he needs to do that day, and
so on. He is never here. He
does not experience the present
moment; he is always somewhere
else.
The pnimis outlook is
different. When a person learns
Chassidus in the morning, he is
fully there! When he davens, he
is fully there! Even when hes out
in the world, he is fully involved
in what he needs to do, namely,
reveal the G-dliness and sift out
the sparks wherever he goes.

HOW DO YOU START

BECOMING A PNIMI?
We have gotten used to living
a life of chitzonius. How do
we make the change to a life of
pnimius? Its really not easy
because if a person who is a
chitzon tries to become a pnimi,
he is doing so with chitzonius. He
is trying to be a pnimi because
of an external reason (that they
will say he is a pnimi); its not
coming from a genuine place. So
whats the right approach?
There is no choice but to jump
into the water, to skip ahead,
not just to move upward in an
orderly way from one rung to
the next, but to jump. To realize
that emes can only be found
in pnimius, when we internalize
that whatever we are involved in
is our task right now and devote

Someone who truly looks forward to the Geula,

does not suffice with what will happen in the
future (thats only stage one), but starts living Geula now,
in a way of shleimus in day to day life. Being immersed in
what hes doing without looking around. And this is what
is important, to be in the here and now in everything we
do.

ourselves to it. Once we get that

a pnimi is another entity, we will
understand that we have to make
a leap, not a gradual one but a
jump. And between one yesh
and another there is an ayin in
between.
The seed needs to rot before
it starts to grow. A person needs
to be nullified out of his current
state in order to move to another
reality. When we realize that we
cannot remain chitzonim and
that we have to make an essential
change (and not a gradual
one), we will take that plunge.
The moment of jumping is the
hardest, but the second afterward
is much easier.
Of course, a person does
not change in a second and he
certainly doesnt turn into a
pnimi in a second, and after the
initial jump we still have a lot
of work to do and it is possible

that even after the initial jump we

might have to do it all over again
each day.
Practically
speaking,
its
a good idea to pick one area
in which we want to be more
genuine and start working on it,
a few minutes a day, and then
add a few minutes of being a
pnimi each time.

WAITING FOR THE GEULA

Am I waiting for the Geula
because were supposed to wait
for the Geula or because I really
want the Geula?
With the chitzonius approach,
we are waiting for the Geula
because of a side reason; we are
waiting because we were taught
to do so, or because we want an
end to tzaros and to the deficit in
our bank account, and we want
to enjoy the material abundance
Issue 940

940_bm_eng.indd 33

33

2014-08-26 2:08:26 AM

MIRACLE STORY

that we were promised. With the

pnimius approach, the looking
forward to Geula is completely
different. The true and complete
Geula, as it says, is about truth
and completeness.
In the Geula, everything will
be done with truth and pnimius,
not because we have to or
because of what people will say
about us. We will keep mitzvos
in truth because that is the only
way to connect to G-d, because
this is the truth and this is what
we desire. Our davening will
be complete; our Torah study
and our daily lives, every aspect
thereof, all will be done in truth
because it is the truth.
The preparation for Geula is
the same way, its not in order to
flee from galus. The preparation

for Geula is in a way that we the cry is genuine, and the Rebbe
start to live Geula even now, emphasizes this twice in the same
in the final moments of galus. sentence. To ask for the Geula
We accomplish this by doing which is part of the command
everything in a pnimiusdike is only step one, while step two
way, completely, our learning, involves starting to live Geula in
order to hasten it.
davening, and so on.
In other words, someone who
This
was
the
Rebbes
complaint in his sicha of Chaf- truly looks forward to the Geula,
Ches Nissan 5751 that even does not suffice with what will
when you cry out ad masai, its happen in the future (thats only
because you were told to. If you stage one), but needs to start
Express
service
Express
service
living Geula now, in a way of
cried out in truth then
surely
Fully
Computerized
Fully
Computerized
Moshiach would have come shleimus in day to day life. Being
already. What more can I do so immersed in what hes doing
around.
And
that all the Jewish people make a without looking
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34 3 Elul 5774
940_bm_eng.indd 34

2014-08-26 2:08:27 AM

PARSHA THOUGHT

JUSTICE OF
THE FUTURE
By Rabbi Heschel Greenberg

REPETITION
In its admonition to judges to
judge with integrity, the Torah,
in the beginning of this weeks
parsha, states: Righteousness
(Tzedek), righteousness (tzedek)
shall you pursue, so that you will
live and possess the Land that
G-d, your G-d, gives you.
The juxtaposition of righteous
judgment with possession of the
land will be better understood
in light of an analysis of the
nature of true justice, which itself
emerges from an understanding
of why the Torah repeats the
word tzedek.
Much has been written about
the Torahs repetition of the word
righteousness.

ONE TIER JUSTICE

According to Rashi this
admonition is addressed to
litigants rather than to judges
and interprets this to mean that
although one may go to any
competent court, the litigants
must make an effort to take
their dispute to a court of the
highest caliber. According to
this approach, the repetition of
the word serves to enhance the
degree of righteousness one must
pursue.
An important lesson can be
derived from this interpretation.
It is well understood that every

Mitzvah of the Torah can

be performed on one of two
levels. One can fulfill the basic
requirements of the Mitzvah or
one can enhance and embellish
the same Mitzvah. In Jewish
legal parlance the second level is
referred to as hiddur Mitzvah
the beautification of the Mitzvah.
We are given the discretion
to decide whether we are ready
to proceed to the second tier.
It is certainly desirable and
praiseworthy
to
continually
grow in ones observance.
However, the essential thing is
to follow the basic and minimum
requirements. One who does so
can be considered a righteous
person. One who goes to the
next tier is given an even more
honorific title: chassid.
However, as to judgment
there is only one tier. It is the
pursuit of unadulterated and
unmitigated righteousness. If that
means going to a more qualified
panel of judges, then so be it.
Pursuing the highest standards
of justice is neither optional nor a
moral luxury!

THE END DOES NOT

JUSTIFY THE MEANS
The Chassidic
Simcha Bunim
interpreted the
righteousness in
related, fashion:

master, Rabbi
of Pshischa
repetition of
another, but

Even when you pursue

righteousness, you must do so
with righteousness. One may not
apply the misguided and corrupt
adage, the end justifies the
means to the pursuit of justice.
Here
too,
the
idea
of
unadulterated
and
uncompromising
justice
is underscored. In Rashis
interpretation, the emphasis is on
the integrity of the judges. In the
Chassidic approach the focus is
on the integrity of the judgment.

ALLUSION TO THE
FUTURE REDEMPTION
Igra
dKalah
interprets
the repetition of the word
righteousness as an allusion to a
Midrashic comment concerning
five instances in which the Torah
repeats a letter/word, all of which
relate to a form of liberation.
(These five letters are the only
letters in the Hebrew alphabet
which have two forms: the
regular form and when they are
placed at the end of a word.)
The first is the expression
Lech Lecha-Go for yourself
(where the letter chof is repeated)
which G-d instructs Abraham.
With this repetitive expression,
G-d liberated Abraham from the
constraints of his birth place and
homeland and brought him to the
Promised Land of Israel.

Issue 940

940_bm_eng.indd 35

35

2014-08-26 2:08:27 AM

Parsha Thought

We live in a world beset with injustice. Even the

justice systems of the most morally advanced
societies are plagued by corruption and injustice. What
will distinguish Moshiachs form of justice? And how do
we obtain real justice today?
The second instance is a
repetition of the letter mem,
addressed to Isaac when G-d
saved him from the hands of the
Philistines.
The third is the repetition of
the letter nun, which G-d used in
saving Jacob from the hands of
his brother, Esau.
The fourth instance of this
pattern of repetition is the double
expression pakod pokaditi-I have
remembered (with the Hebrew
letter pei repeated), which
contained G-ds promise to
redeem the Jews from Egyptian
bondage.
The fifth is the repetition
of the letter tzaddik-righteous
(cognate to the word tzedek) in
the verse Behold, the days come,
says G-d, that I will raise unto
David a righteous shoot (tzemach
tzaddik), and he shall reign as
king and prosper, and shall
execute justice and righteousness
in the land. (Jeremiah 23:5) This
verse repeats the letter tzaddik
in relation to the promise of the
future Redemption through the
righteous Moshiach.
This verse affirms the general
principle established by the Torah
in many places that the Messianic
Age will be characterized as the
ultimate age of righteousness.
The prophet Isaiah declares:
Zion will be redeemed through
justice and those who return to
her through righteousness.
Here too, in the verse
Righteousness
(Tzedek),
righteousness (tzedek) shall you
pursue, Igra dkalah writes, the
repetition of the word tzedek is

meant to invoke Moshiach, who

is described in the foregoing
verse, as well as in many other
verses, as the symbol of justice
and righteousness.
Building on the above, we can
conclude that Messianic justice
and righteousness is one of the
hallmarks of the Messianic Age
and, indeed, describes the very
identity and qualifications of
Moshiach.

MESSIANIC JUSTICE
We live in a world beset
with injustice. Even the justice
systems of the most morally
advanced societies are plagued
by corruption and injustice. What
will distinguish Moshiachs form
of justice? And how do we obtain
real justice today?
The answer is provided in the
Biblical book of Isaiah (11:3):
He will be imbued with a
spirit of fear of G-d and will not
need to judge by the sight of his
eyes nor decide by the hearing of
his ears.
The phrase Vhericho-He will
be imbued with a spirit of fear of
G-d is translated alternatively by
the Talmud (Sanhedrin 93b) and
many Bible commentators as He
will be imbued with the sense
of smell. The Talmud relates
that Bar Kochba was rejected as
the Moshiach because he could
not smell and judge; he could
not smell righteousness. The
real Moshiach who possesses
this keen olfactory capability,
by contrast, will sniff out
righteousness and mete out

justice accordingly. He will not

have to rely on eyewitness or
convincing arguments.

PRE-MESSIANIC JUSTICE
The
salient
difference
between life today and life in the
Messianic Age is the difference
between virtual and real, relative
and absolute.
When we see an event we
may be convinced of its veracity
but then again our eyes can fool
us. Two eyewitnesses may have
conflicting views of what they
saw. Certainly when it comes to
compelling logic, two people will
frequently disagree about what
is logical and reasonable. In the
pre-Messianic Age, particularly
in this period of exile, we try our

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judgment is true is by pursuing

absolute and real justice, by
seeking to connect to the Source
of justice and righteousness,
the one that will punctuate the
Messianic Era.

A NOVEL TRANSLATION
EMERGES

best to approximate what is right

by pursuing the highest standards
of justice available within the
constraints of exile.
We accomplish this by going
to the judges who are, at the very
least, knowledgeable of Torah
law, and guided by the fear of
G-d. In this context, the Hebrew
word yira used for fear implies a
sophisticated awareness of G-d
that engenders a sense of awe

and reverence for Him. A judge

who is so inspired will be given
Divine assistance in arriving at
the truth, because his attachment
to G-d allows him to tap into the
higher level of consciousness that
will occasion the Messianic Age.
All of our interpersonal
relationships
involve
either
seeking justice from others or
acting as their judges. The only
way we can be confident that our

After considering the teaching

discussed so far, we can provide
a novel translation to the words,
Righteousness
(Tzedek),
righteousness
(tzedek)
shall
you pursue. The reason the
Torah repeats the word tzedek
is that there are two dimensions
of justice: pre-Messianic and
post-Messianic and that the
former depends on the latter.
The Torahs admonition to both
litigants and judges is to pursue
righteousness
(tzedek)
with
the intention of tapping in to
the higher dimension of Divine
righteousness (tzedek).
We can now understand
the juxtaposition of righteous
judgment with possession of the
land in our verse: Rather than
viewing the possession of the land
as a reward for righteousness it is
also a rationale for it. The Torah
is, in effect, telling us that when
we integrate the inheritance of
the land, i.e., the dynamic of
justice of the future Messianic
Age when we will inherit the land,
we have some hope of attaining a
modicum of true righteousness
and justice even today in these
last moments of exile.

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CROSSROADS

INTERMARRIAGE:

A CRISIS
OF JEWISH
IDENTITY
I hear that you are writing in the
newspapers now, the Rebbe said to Ms.
Geula Cohen. Nu, writing is also good,
but its not the main thing. The main thing
is the youth. You have to speak to the
youth, not write to them. Why dont you
talk to young people? Theyre waiting for
someone to speak to them, but there isnt
anyone. People are giving speeches to
them, yet everyone is so amazed why they
fail to get excited.
By Sholom Ber Crombie
Translated by Michoel Leib Dobry

1.
The mixed wedding held
last week in Rishon LTziyon,
which created a huge media
storm in Eretz Yisroel, was no
different than hundreds of other
similar events that take place in
the country. Most regrettably,

the phenomenon of Jewish girls

socializing with Arab men has
grown with increasing intensity.
This
isnt
just
happening
on kibbutzim or in remote
towns; its occurring in Eretz
Yisroels major cities, within the
mainstream of Israeli society.
This time, however, the situation

was quite different. Up until now,

we have heard many stories about
Arabs who kidnap Jewish girls,
take them to their villages, and
marry them there. Now, these
mixed couples choose to tie the
knot in the heart of Jewish cities,
with hundreds of invited guests
participating. This wedding was
an event that openly challenged
and defied the eternal nature of
the Jewish People.
You
can
agree
or
express doubts whether the
demonstration sponsored by
the Lehava organization near
the wedding hall was the most
efficient way to prevent this
unholy union. Apparently, there
were more creative and less
spontaneous methods that could
have prevented the wedding.
However, the bottom line is, if it
wasnt possible to stop this event,
it would still be important at the
very least for us to demonstrate
our opposition. A protest may
not have saved this young lady
from making this tragic blunder
and with G-ds help, we pray

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that she will soon return home

to the Jewish People but in the
meantime, we must do everything
we can to keep such events from
acquiring any sense of legitimacy
in Israeli culture.
It is specifically because there
is such a wide consensus in Eretz
Yisroel against intermarriage that
it was so distressing to see the
new president of Israel, Mr. Ruby
Rivlin, join in the singing and
dancing at this wedding as the
media watched in delight, instead
of denouncing an event where a
young Jewish woman converts
to Islam and gets married in a
Moslem ceremony in the center
of a Jewish city. Rivlin decided
to hug the couple and turn them
into heroes, while he vehemently
condemned those protesting
against them.
The big surprise this time
was the minister of finance,
Yair Lapid, who admitted quite
frankly that he would not accept
intermarriage within his own
family. If my son would come
to me tomorrow and say, Aba,
I want you to meet Rona (not
Rina), a Russian Orthodox or
Catholic girl. Im going to marry
her and our children will not be
Jewish. Would this bother me?
It would bother me very much,
Lapid said in a radio interview
with Galei Yisrael. I think that
the Jewish People is a small
nation. We have a heritage and
we must preserve it. This would
bother me.

2.

What really shocked the

public this time was how such an
event seemed to be accepted. It
appeared like a regular wedding
in an events hall in a Jewish
city, with a standard and proper
invitation displaying the names
of the brides parents and the
grooms parents. The only

problem here was the brides

name was Morel and the name
of the groom (lhavdil) was
Mahmoud.
A few days before the event,
Morels father publicized an
emotional video clip, in which he
cried from the depths of his heart
and pleaded with his daughter
to return to her people. The film
clearly illustrated the tragedy
engulfing this young woman,
who ran away from her parents
to live in the Arab section of Yafo
and even convert to Islam. She
did all this in order to get a little
attention. While the price she has
paid is simply incomprehensible,
it explains how this phenomenon
could not have been prevented
through purely logical means,
rather by filling the vacuum

the demonstrators. The protest

represented an important and
symbolic statement, especially
since most of those protesting
had gone through their own
painful stories on this issue. One
of the demonstrators was a man
who also had a daughter married
to a Muslim and he spoke about
his first-hand experience.
However, the demonstrations
will not stop such incidents.
Only love, not protests, will do
the job. While demonstrations
may raise the level of public
awareness of this appalling trend,
they also intensify the awareness
of a situation that could affect
thousands of Jewish girls,
thereby possibly strengthening
the likelihood of its occurrence.
The hubbub in the state-run

When schools teach the value of the makebelieve harmony between Jews and Arabs, and
Education Minister Rabbi Shai Piron expresses his
desire to integrate Arab teachers into religious schools,
its no wonder that our daughters feel free to get the
attention they crave from external sources.

created
by
the
improper
education provided to Jewish
children in Eretz Yisroel. When
schools teach the value of the
make-believe harmony between
Jews and Arabs, and Education
Minister Rabbi Shai Piron
expresses his desire to integrate
Arab teachers into religious
schools, its no wonder that our
daughters feel free to get the
attention they crave from sources
outside a Jewish environment.
In the ideological division
created last week between those
identifying with the protestors
and those celebrating at the
mixed
wedding
ceremony,
its quite clear that the vast
majority of Israelis sided with

media surrounding this event, in

addition to the medias automatic
embrace of such an occurrence,
also granted full legitimacy to
the wedding and might even
cause other couples in similar
circumstances to get up the
courage to take this step rl.

3.

Forty-five years ago, not long

after the Six Day War, future
Knesset Member Geula Cohen,
then a reporter with the Maariv
daily, had a yechidus with the
Rebbe and asked for guidance
on what to do regarding the
situation in Eretz Yisroel. Ms.
Cohen was known as an activist
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CROSSROADS
dedicated to the preservation of the
territorial integrity of Eretz Yisroel
and one of the leading fighters in
the Lehi underground movement
during the days of the British
Mandate. However, the Rebbe
did not ask her to establish a new
underground; rather he indicated
what the real burning problem was:
the situation with the young people
in Eretz HaKodesh. In other words,
the Rebbe explained to her that while
Israels youth are wonderful, they
need a commander, someone who
can lead them to true Jewish values.
I hear that you are writing in the
newspapers now, the Rebbe said
to Ms. Geula Cohen. Nu, writing
is also good, but its not the main
thing. The main thing is the youth.
You have to speak to the youth, not
write to them. Why dont you talk
to young people? Theyre waiting
for someone to speak to them, but
there isnt anyone. People are giving
speeches to them, yet everyone is so
amazed why they fail to get excited.
The talk that the youth is
waiting for, the Rebbe continued,
is an order, and it must be given
with the same voice and in the
same tone through which all the
great commands the Jewish People
have been given. The youth may or
may not obey, but it is waiting for
it. Yet, there is no commander
What happened to those for whom
the holy fire of holy war had been
burning, yet now they are dealing
with small matters arguments over
income taxes, more or less, instead
of thinking about pressing issues for
the entire Jewish People? Where are
those forces that once knew how to
give the command?
Just as it was in all other burning
issues, here too, the Rebbe had
already seen nearly half a century
ago where Jewish youth were
heading. The prevailing situation
where thousands of young Jewish
women are running around with
Arab men from the Bedouin camps

and Arab villages is testimony to the

poor state of the Jewish educational
system in Eretz Yisroel. This
growing tendency cannot be stopped
with demonstrations. Rather, it
requires a complete overhaul of the
methodology affecting our young
people, who were educated by a
failed educational system devoid
of any Jewish values. Today, Israeli
youth know the local culture heroes
and television stars better than the
heroes of the Tanach and the kings
of Israel. Instead of learning about
Moshe Rabbeinu, they acquaint
themselves with the champions of
the enlightened world. If Morel
had learned the meaning of being
a Jewess connected to the eternal
values of Am Yisroel, it stands to
reason that she never would have cut
herself off from the time-honored
beliefs of her people.
Ahmed ben Sara is not just a
name taken from a public relations
campaign; it is a painful and harsh
reality. The spiritual state of young
people in Eretz Yisroel calls upon us
to take effective action. If we want to
prevent the next mixed marriage, we
must start changing this situation,
root and branch. We must embrace
these youngsters, inundating them
with love as a means of keeping
them from following an improper
path along dangerous avenues. We
need to give them the foundation
of Jewish tradition to help them feel
what it truly means to be a Jew. As
in all areas of concentration, here
too, its impossible merely to say
whats forbidden for them to do
only turn away from evil. We must
present them with an alternative, and
its found only in a Jewish education
that will connect them to authentic
Jewish content.

4.

When the Rebbe discussed the

issue of intermarriage, he didnt just
relate to the religious aspect. First,
he touched upon the more human

dimension. This is literally a case

of suicide, entering a life filled with
constant disagreements that surely
will not foster happiness. In a letter
to a mother who wrote to the Rebbe
about her daughter who wanted to
marry a Gentile, the Rebbe replied:
Its quite simple that solving
[this problem] in a satisfactory
manner can be done only through
a categorical rejection of the
daughters marriage to a non-Jew.
How to do this specifically depends
upon her daughters emotional traits,
etc., and therefore, they should seek
the advice of friends who know her.
Clearly, this is not as they had
told her, i.e., intermarriage harms
the parents, the Rebbe continued.
First and foremost, this is one of
the worst possible tragedies for the
daughter (even if its because shes
emotionally involved or for other
reasons she doesnt recognize or
doesnt attribute to herself).
Furthermore, their attitude
must be that their daughter wants
to commit suicide rl and not just
from a religious standpoint. This
also pertains to a life of constant
arguments, divisiveness, etc., and as
is known, the results of intermarriage
due to the embarrassment, etc.,
those afflicted try to cover it up.
In the face of an act of mass
suicide, we must take drastic action
to restore Jewish education and
Jewish identity to our young people
and put an end to this destructive
practice. Anyone who understands
that this is a matter of committing
suicide also realizes the tremendous
responsibility that falls upon our
shoulders to save these peoples lives.
In the spirit of the month of Elul, we
can say this subject also demands
a response of love showering
love upon our young people
and cheerfully spreading Jewish
education. Only in this manner can
we avoid painful incidents such as
what we saw last week in Rishon
LTziyon.

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TZIVOS HASHEM

THE MIRACLE

IN THE
REBBES HOUSE
By Nechama Bar

Mendy went on mivtzaim

as always. He chose a street
and began going from building
to building, home to home,
knocking on each door and
offering tfillin. Boruch Hashem,
usually
was
response
the
positive and many people did
the mitzva.
At one home, the door
stood
there
and
opened
a
like
looked
who
e
someon
need
dont
I
.
Chassid
er
Breslov
to offer tfillin, Mendy thought,
but maybe I will suggest
learning Chassidus.
Excuse me, would you like
to arrange a shiur to learn
Tanya, Chassidus? It is deep
and greatly relevant to daily
Its very important to
life.
learn Chassidus ... he trailed
off. But he did not need to say
any more. The man willingly
agreed. What a great idea! I
would be happy to learn with
you bchavrusa.
enthusiasm
mans
The
curiosity.
s
Mendy
d
arouse

Was there something that lay

behind what he said? Why did
the man get so excited as soon
as he heard the mention of
Chassidus?
Perhaps the man realized
that Mendy was curious or he
just felt like sharing his personal
story. He invited Mendy to sit
down and served him a drink
and then began:
I will tell you why I so
admire Chabad and the Rebbe.
Not long ago, I was not at
I come from
all religious.
an irreligious home and we
had just a bit of tradition. I
traveled the world and did as
I pleased. I went to all kinds
of interesting places and met
all sorts of people. I was so far
from Judaism that I was about
to marry a non-Jewish girl.
Nearly everything was ready
We had a
for the wedding.
We
ions
date, a hall, invitat
looked
we
were in France and
for an apartment to rent and
A week
finally found one.

before the wedding we got the

key. We arranged a time when
we would meet and set up the
apartment for our life together.
As soon as I entered the
apartment, I felt something
happening to me. Suddenly, I
heard a voice speaking in my
heart that said, What are you
doing? Youre a Jew! This girl
is not Jewish. You cant marry
her!
I had no idea what was
happening to me. I tried to
After
ignore those thoughts.
for
ready
was
hing
all, everyt
it
d
planne
had
We
g!
the weddin
walk
just
I
Should
for so long.
away at the last moment?
But the voice within me
not only did not die down, it
got stronger. Leave this girl
before it is too late! Now is the

time!
I suddenly found myself
saying to her, We cant get
married. I am Jewish and you
are not.
Her face changed colors.

Issue 940

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2014-08-26 2:08:31 AM

 . "

.
. :
,Hashem
Tzivos
.
,

not
did
She

digest
.to
how
know

said.
, just
what
I had
mean
dont

You
. do
ly,
serious
that

to
. tried
she
you?
.
e herself
reassur
just
e
Your

.joking,
right?

very
: Im
"
No,

.
. ,
.
,
.
,
course
,of
a Chabad
Chassid
hed say it was

, to
thanks
Rebbe
that
the
' . I
tshuva
I did
wanted to . ask

We cant
.

Its

serious
get married.

. A
e.
possibl
. not
just
marry
a

cannot
Jew
ew.
non-J

, was
, She

what
But
, d.
stunne
a
of
all
happen
ed
knew
You
?
sudden

along!
Maybe
, all
this

well.
feel
,dont
you
aspirin
, a
an
Take
drink of water

she
more

The

persua
de
, to
tried
firm
more
the
me,

. I
my
decision.
was in

not
could
I myself

,had
what
,explain
me. We
over
come

ways.
parted

point
... that
From
strong
a

I felt

.on,
G-d
with
bond
e
becam
I soon
and
. I
tshuva
a baal "...

301.indd

joined Breslov and

slowly increased my
observance of Torah
and mitzvos, until
75 ~ 802 '
I reached what I am today,
thank G-d.
One day, I was on the subway
3
and was leafing through a
newspaper. I noticed an article
about Chabad and the Rebbe.
They told incredible stories
about the Rebbe and about his
They
once living in France.
even mentioned the apartment
that he rented and I couldnt
believe it. That address was

familiar to me.
Very familiar. Yes, it was the
same apartment we wanted
to rent. That house where I
underwent such a huge change.
Was it a coincidence? Was this
not divine providence? Perhaps
this was another miracle from
the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
These thoughts gave me no
rest. I felt I had to find out.
But who could I ask? If I asked

someone neutral.
it a lot
I gave
of thought.and

finally came up

with
, idea.
an
ask
would
I

chai
Morde
R

, a. G-d
Eliyahu
fearing

man.
I arranged a

meeting with R

told
"and
Eliyahu
whole
the
him
.
story as I told

now.
it to you

Listen
what
to
me.
the rav told
.
I shiver when I
it.
. about
think

The
said,
. He
Lubavitcher

.Rebbe
is no

simple
, . man.
He is a great

If you
tzaddik.

that
. to
went

had
and
house
thoughts
those

, you
of tshuva

! know
should
that forty years

? the
ago,
when
Rebbe lived in
France and had
to choose a home
to live in, he
chose this house knowing that
many years later a Jew would
29/08/2011 00:09:55
come there who would want to
marry a non-Jew. That is why
the Rebbe chose that house and
lived there. The walls absorbed
the holiness and with the
power of that holiness you had
thoughts of tshuva. The Rebbe
foresaw it all. Be assured that
this is what happened.

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