aim rav Ch he Bein a H n t Hagao opens Maran ky, shlitÂťa, l at the a vs Kanie arim appe aris on the z t ch Hame ion of Sha : z us concl of 17 Tamu y a fast d as
h r i ’ a e H t m a o c p "Ku well to ial c e e p n s do ith a he w t ou rt o f l a im appe ametzar h bein ." d perio
Bein Hametzarim Appeal
Between the narrow straits, between the boundaries closing in on us from all sides, an abyss over here and a thorny field over there – Am Yisrael is running for its life.
The Bein Hametzarim Appeal: What For?
Our distress over the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash is deep and cutting. Our pain over the personal tragedies that affect families within our community and deepens the anguish. Our fear of this period of time - the bein ed hametzarim period, which has claimed and d so many victims among our finestt an brightest – increases steadily.
collective, united unit giving. It is a time w when the entire Am Yisra Yisrael should be participatin participating in the mitzvah off tzed tzedakah. The Bein Ha Hametzarim period d is a tim time that is most mo st aappropriate p ro pp ropr p i for a tzed tz edak akaah aapp ppea eall tzedakah appeal.
Not in vain h have the Gedolei Hador written that “Kupat Ha’ir has done well to come ou out with a special appeal for the sake of the poor during the bein hametzarim period.” These The T he days of mour mo u ur n ni n ng a re r e a pp p ro o p pr ia a te a and nd w wor or are appropriate worthy of an mourning
itzvah of tzedakah. But there is one solution. The mitzvah
ap ppe peal al.. al appeal.
me u upon pon po n uss b because e au ec ause se o se off The bein hmetzarim period has come discord in Am Yisrael. Because of controversy, because of blind hatred, because one man hurt another. Because there was no love between them. Because there was fighting and strife and contention. Because hatred divided them and split them up, burning like a bushfire and consuming everything to its roots.
It iiss du It d riing ng tthis hiis p pe eri riod od tthat hatt Ha ha ash shem em mw a ts tto ai o se sseee o during period Hashem waits our ahavas chinam. He waits for us to perform the mitzvah of tzedakah. He wants to see us working to rebuild the Beis Hamikdash by doing everything in our power to atone for the situation that brought about the churban. Every generation in which the Beis Hamikdash is not rebuilt is considered as if it was guilty of its destruction. It was in our times that we suffered this terrible destruction; it was due to our sins.
And if hatred was the cause of the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash – The mitzvah of tzedakah, with Hashem’s help, will be the catalyst for its rebuilding. The mitzvah of tzedakah is the tikkun! The mitzvah of tzedakah more than anything else symbolizes the love between man and his fellow man, caring and compassion for those less fortunate than us even if we don’t know them personally. Just the fact that they are our brethren and they are suffering are enough reason for us to come to their aid. The mitzvah of tzedakah is our tikkun for these times. The bein hametzarim period is a period of tzedakah. It is a time appropriate for
Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, shlit”a, signing the letter on the fast-day of 17 Tamuz.
What are we doing to rebuild it? How are we preparing for the arrival of this difficult period? With which merit do we come to ask, as we sit barefoot on the floor – that it be rebuilt? With the merit of the mitzvah of tzedakah! The mitzvah of tzedakah is the mitzvah that will lead the way for us, the merit that will plead in our favor, the power that will make our plea’s rise to Shamayim. If we merit it, if we respond, if we live together in harmony, maybe we will merit seeing its consolation.
The Gedo lei Hador Declare: The Best A dv Period is ice for the Bein Ha to contrib ute to Ku metzarim pat Ha’ir
ת גדולי הדור קריא
ועיין."בצדקה תפדה ושביה "ציון במשפט:ב ואכן יפה עשו.ת ה כמאמר הכתו שמגביר האחדו גדול לתת צדק א בנתינת צדקה ימי בין המצרים מצרים יש ענין בין המצרים הו בס"ד מיד לאחר הנה בזמן בין ה ב שהתיקון לימי ויחולק,העניים "ע ת ר ב בו ש ע ת ם דו רי מהר"ל בחי' אג ת לימי בין המצ .הצלחה וכט"ס During the ב במגבית מיוחד הזמן ולברכה ו period of be ם עי אי פג צ in hametzari מ יו ש ל צ "ר betzedakah. Se הנ עי ל "קופת ה כו כל התורמים m, there is a e the Mahar big inyan to לקופת העיר יז al in Chiddush which stren give tzedakah ei Aggados, Sh ה מ gthens unity. רו , as it is wri ובזכות ת abbos, pg. 72 Indeed, tten: Tz bein
Kupat Ha’ir h , that the tikk hametzarim ion bamishpat as done well un for the be period. With tipadeh veshav to come out in hametzarim Hashem’s hel of contributi eha with a specia period is givi p, the money ons to Kupa l ng tzedakah, ap t w Ha’ir, may al pe ill al be everything go fo di r st th ri e sake of the buted immed l the contrib od. poor during utors be spar iately after th Klal Yisrael n the ed the dange e bein hamet eeds Hashem zarim. In the rs of th e ’ s pe m ercy, especial riod and mer merit Kupat Ha’ir w ly during the it blessing, su ill protect co bein hametza ntributors. ccess and rim period. T he best advi ce is that the mitzvah of tz edakah to
Kvittel for One’s Descendants K To Maranan Verabanan Gedolei Hador, shlit”a I have taken your advice and responded to your call, contributing the sum of ____ to Kupat Ha’ir for their Bein Hametzarim appeal. I would like to request that: My son ____________________, my son ____________________, my son ____________________ be safe throughout the summer. My daughter ________________, my daughter _______________, my daughter _______________ be safe throughout the summer. All names coming in to the telephone hotline until Monday night, 28 Tamuz, will be transferred on Tusday, 29 Tamuz, to the Gedolei Hador, who will pray for them according to the request specified. All the names that come in until Tisha B’Av at 12:00 p.m. will be transferred to the Gedolei Hador immediately at the onset of the Bein Hametzarim period to be prayed for according to the request specified.
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It’s Not Every Da Maran H M Hagaon H Harav Ah Aharon h LLeib ib St Steinman, i shlit”a, hlilit” t t” was traveling abroad in order to strengthen Torah learning across the globe. He was eagerly awaited at each of his many destinations. In every city on his itinerary, hearts were beating with excitement. But it was no simple matter, this journey… not easy or self-understood in any sense of the word. The trip itself, the effort it involved, the tremendous effort invested in every step… His students accompanied him lovingly; his attendants stood at his back and call. Harav Steinman was about to leave. Maran boarded the plane. He walked down the aisle and took his seat. It was time to fasten his seatbelt; soon the wheels of the plane would detach from the holy soil of Eretz Yisrael and the plane would rise in the air. Or would it? Not yet! Maran is asking for something. He turns to his student/attendant, his eyes darting around. The student bends over to better hear what Rav Steinman is requesting. “We need to contribute to Kupat Ha’ir before the trip,” said Maran, shlit”a. “We need it to be successful…” Already while preparing for the flight, Maran, shlit”a,
Day Such a Journey Takes Place spoke k about b t the th h matter tttt off giving i i tzedakah t d k h to t Kupat K t Ha’ir before takeoff. His attendants made sure to take along the pushka that always stands on his desk. Now this pushka was presented to Maran, shlit”a, in the airplane.
considerable id d bl contribution. t ib ti Harav H Steinman St i felt f lt he h needed merits on his way to augment Torah abroad. Merits!
The pushka was returned to its place with great respect and an almost magical atmosphere enveloped Maran smiled with pleasure. He took the pushka everyone present. True, when Maran set out on his and with a shiver of emotion, he dropped inside a historic journey the previous year, he had also sought the merit of contributing to Kupat Ha’ir. Then, too, he had dropped his personal contribution into the metal pushka affixed to the wall opposite his door. But this time, a moment before the plane left the ground, precisely at the moment when the angels from abroad had already arrived and the angels from Eretz Yisrael were taking their leave, Maran prepared to fulfill the mitzvah of tzedakah. Ki malachav yetzaveh…lishmorcha bederachecha… the words were whispered with great emotion. We need so much protection, in so many aspects. Baruch Hashem, there is a way to ensure protection! There is Kupat Ha’ir!
Time To Go Up
To The Moun When we want to know how to do something, it is the Gedolei Hador who show us the way. It’s almost time to go up to the mountains. It’s almost that season that cost us a number of souls each year, Rachmana litzlan. People feel tense and anxious. Families pack up and set off - and no one knows if everyone will return home safely at the end of the summer or not. The Satan is mekatreg during times of danger and the winding country roads are dangerous indeed. The middah of din reigns. Who knows what each new day will bring? Before Maran Hagaon Harav Aharon Leib
Steinman, shlit”a, sets off on a journey dedicated entirely to mitzvos and service of Hashem, he contributes to Kupat Ha’ir. He feels this is a necessary step, the way to merit a good trip and siyatta dishmaya in achieving one’s goals for the trip. And if he feels this way, who are we to think otherwise? Harav Steinman does not merely make do with his standing order to Kupat Ha’ir. He doesn’t make do with his regular, steady contributions. He doesn’t make do with the Kupat Ha’ir pushka affixed to his door. None of these are enough for him! Maran Has This Specific Moment in Mind Maran has in mind the specific moment in which his situation changes. First he was in a regular situation; now he is traveling – and traveling means danger and the Satan being mekatreg.
p
Gedole
i
Hador The be shlit”a st safe : guard a dona f o r your tion to journe Kupat yHa’ir!
untains He has in mind mi this specific moment moment in time during during which th he change takes place pla lace – not a moment moment the earlier o o contribute pr recisely at orr later. He asks tto precisely the h m oment h he sets of ff o nh his journey. journey T h hat is the h moment off on That sens se ens nsitive n sit sit itiv ive po ive iv poin point int in nt, tthe hee rrig iigh ig ght ht ttime tim imee and im and plac an pl lac ace. sensitive point, right place. M aran asks for and and nd receives Kupa pat Ha’ir’s pushkaa Maran Kupat and he contrib butes with great em emotion. This is n ot contributes not an ordinary st step ep for him. He knows knows that the entire en ntiire
Jewish hn ation looks to h im for guidance. A nd this nd thiis is nation him And what at h o. hee chooses to d do. A Time of Danger? g There is Something You Can Do! IIt’s almost time to go to the mountains. The middah o of din is prevalent, Rachmana litzlan, and it is clearly a time of danger. One’s heart pounds. The suitcases aare packed; the trunk is full. The lists are all crossed o off; everyone has everything he or she needs. B But are we ready to drive off? Not yet. FFirst we need to contribute to Kupat Ha’ir. We need to ccatch just the right moment, as we leave the house aand enter a situation of sakanah, danger. We haven’t yyet done the hishtadlus incumbent upon us, the one tthing that really helps ensure a safe trip and a happy rreturn filled with wonderful memories. B Before you leave to the country, contribute to Kupat H Ha’ir. Make sure to include every child and adult, eevery soul in your care. It’s worth the price! N Now you can be calm with the knowledge that y you’ve done the best thing possible to ensure y your family’s safety, that you’re in good hands. N Now you know the Satan has been stripped of h his power over your loved ones and that you’ve ccreated good angels instead. Can there be money b better spent before a trip to the mountains? Kupat Ha’ir – Because We Value Our Lives! M Maran Hagaon Harav Aharon Leib Steinman, shlit”a, sshows us the way and we follow his example. We d do so because we value our lives and those of our cchildren and this is the way to protect them. M May we be zocheh!
Gedole
i
Hador The be shlit”a st safe : guard a dona for you tion to r journ Kupat ey Ha’ir!
How do I donate to Kupat Ha'ir? your donation in the enclosed you your donation to the Rabbonim in 3 Send 1 Send envelope. your area (see list on Envelope). Call the 24 Hour Tzeddakah Hotline your donation to: Send you at Ha'ir Kupat H 4 4415 14 2 Fax: 14th Avenue ( (donation by yc credit card)
1-866-221-9352
1-888-633-2188 1-888
Email: inf info@kupathairusa.org
Brooklyn, NY 11219 Brooklyn
1-866-221-9352 Please make checks payable to: American Friends of Kupat Ha'ir Pl
24 Hour Tzeddakah hotline
For all information or to receive a pushka call 1-800-233-2188 Our office number in Israel: 3-671-6994