Compass Gimmel Tammuz by Compass

CoMpass Navigating the world of Shlichus

For shluchim by shluchim

Iss u e 8 S u m m e r 5 7 7 4

‫קיץ תשע”ד‬

Four Essential Chinuch Principles

I Learned from the Rebbe p g 2 8

Change That Creates Change Helping Baalei Batim Become Shluchim

p g41

‫והיו עיניך רואות את מוריך‬

Behind the Photographer's Lens page 18

— 5774 —

Gimmel Tammuz Edition

‫עמדו‬

‫הכן כולכם‬

The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

Welcome Letter

Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky

here are times when long introductions are necessary. Today, let’s get straight to the point: hiskashrus is personal. And during the days prior to ‫עשרים שנה לג’ תמוז‬, it touches the core of our very existence and identity as chassidim and shluchim. On Gimmel Tammuz, we must each make our own cheshbon hanefesh and determine where we stand in our hiskashrus to the Rebbe. Shortly before his passing, Harav Zalman Shimon Dvorkin A”H shared the following with me: In ‫תש”י‬, Reb Zalman Shimon was serving as the rov in Dublin, Ireland for the Lubavitcher shochtim who were shechting for Eretz Yisroel there. A while after Yud Shevat, someone arrived from overseas with a ksav hiskashrus for everyone to sign. When he asked Reb Zalman Shimon to sign it, Reb Zalman Shimon declined. That individual was very upset. Reb Zalman Shimon related to me, “Hiskashrus is a very personal matter between a chossid and a Rebbe. It was my personal feeling that each chossid should write his own ksav hiskashrus. It is not a matter that should be written together with others. Even though many wrote communally, I felt that this should be done personally. By the time I was approached with regard to the ksav hiskashrus, I was already in the midst of composing my own ksav hiskashrus.” As Gimmel Tammuz approaches, we each must see to strengthen our personal hiskashrus with the Rebbe. We dedicate this issue of The Chabad House Compass Magazine to the Rebbe. Voluminous books cannot do justice to describe the Rebbe-chossid relationship and the Rebbe-shliach dynamic in particular, how much more so a magazine. We view this edition of Compass as a minute smorgasbord of reflections, ideas, initiatives and food for thought as we each strive to strengthen our hiskashrus and fulfill the Rebbe’s directives. We hope it will also serve as a means to highlight that which the Rebbe said at the Kinus HaShluchim 5752, to prepare ourselves and the world for ‫קבלת פני משיח צדקנו‬.

Issue 8 • Summer 5774 The Chabad House Compass Magazine is published twice a year by Merkos Suite 302, a division of Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch 770 Eastern Parkway, Suite 302 | Brooklyn, NY 11213 718-467-4400 | www.compassmagazine.org

PLEASE NOTE This magazine is intended for shluchim and shluchos only. Advice and opinions belong to the contributing shluchim and shluchos. We are not responsible for ad content. Comments? Questions? Suggestions?: editor@compassmagazine.org Advertise with us: ads@compassmagazine.org

Compass Magazine is honored to feature unique and historic photos from Jewish Educational Media’s Living Archive photo collection. The Living Archive is a project to preserve, and provide access to the video, audio, and photographic recordings of the Rebbe. These photos are copyright by JEM and are available at thelivingarchive.org. The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

Issue 8 • Summer 5774 • ‫קיץ תשע”ד‬

JEM / The Living Archive #21536

The Chabad House Compass Magazine is published twice a year by Merkos Suite 302, a division of Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch.

Turning your miles into cash

770 Eastern Parkway, Suite 302 Brooklyn, NY 11213 718-467-4400 www.compassmagazine.org

Chairman

C r e at i v e T e a m

Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky

Art Directors/Graphic Designers

Editorial Board

Mr. Marc Lumer Ms. Nechama Marcus

Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky Rabbi Mendy Shanowitz Rabbi Ben Zion Chanowitz Mrs. Vivi Deren Rabbi Mendel Kalmenson Rabbi Mendel Kotlarsky Rabbi Efraim Mintz Rabbi Hershey Novack Rabbi Falik Schtroks Rabbi Michoel Seligson Rabbi Motti Seligson Rabbi Mendel Shmotkin Rabbinic Advisory Board

Dayan Levi Yitzchok Raskin Rabbi Levi Garelik E d i t o r i a l S ta f f

Editor-in-Chief

Mrs. Elky Raitport Assistant Editor

Mrs. Shana Balkin Hebrew Copy-Editor

Rabbi Bentzi Sasson

SELL MILE NOW www.sellmilesnow.com 4

732.987.7765

Illustrations

Mr. Marc Lumer Photo Credits

JEM/The Living Archive Production Director

Rabbi Mendy Schapiro Printing

The Printhouse Special Thanks to

Mrs. Fraidy Brook Mrs. Vivi Deren Rabbi Mendel Gourarie Rabbi Shmuel Greisman Rabbi Levi Groner Rabbi Mendy Margolin Rabbi Efraim Mintz Rabbi Shloimie Morosow Rabbi Shneor Nejar Ms. Malka Phillips Rabbi Ezriel Raitport Rabbi Michoel Seligson Rabbi Elkanah Shmotkin Rabbi Levi Treitel

JEM / The Living Archive #22986 On the Cover: Photographed by Yossi Melamed on 10 Shevat, 5736. See "Behind the Photographer's Lens" article on page 18 for a glimpse into the lives of the people who photographed the Rebbe.

pg96 ‫ פארברענגען‬Bringing the Rebbe into our Children’s Lives in a Practical Way ‫שיחה‬

pg68 “JLI’s course edi-

pg7 ‫עמדו הכן כולכם‬ pg52 ‫משלים זיין דער מנין‬ pg10

‫הלכה‬

The Rebbe’s Contributions to the World of Halocha

pg14 “Unable to bear the

constant ridicule, the little boy approached his father and pleaded with him to become mekushar.”

Connecting Inside and Outside: Thoughts on a Shliach’s Hiskashrus

Contents inside

pg41 “I was so inspired

by the whole farbrengen experience, that as soon as we got to Toronto, I recommended to the rabbi that we duplicate it within our own community. Without missing a beat, Rabbi Kaplan stated his classic approval response, “Go ahead. It's your responsibility.” Change that Creates Change: Helping Baalei Batim Become Shluchim

pg9

Letter to the Editor

tors interviewed approximately forty experts in the Rebbe’s Torah, and spent more than a year researching, developing and building the course lessons. Along the way, they uncovered fascinating stories, unknown facts, and new insights about the Rebbe and his teachings.”

The Paradigm Shift: How the Rebbe Changed our Perception of Reality

pg58 “When you came to my apart-

ment, I figured that you are just like everyone else, trying to sell me something.”

Like a Father to His Children: Highlighting the Rebbe’s Love for Every Jew

“Through the lenses of their cameras, they have shared their personal journeys, as well as documented our collective journey, in becoming and growing as the Rebbe’s Chassidim”

pg18

‫והיו עיניך רואות את מוריך‬: behind the photographer's lens

“427 shluchim did it in 5741. 4102 shluchim can do it in 5774.” World Security for Just $1

pg78

pg28 ‫חינוך‬ Four essential chinuch principles i learned from the rebbe

pg32 ‫מענות הרבי‬ The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

‫שיחה‬

‫עמדו הכן כולכם‬ ‫דערפון האט מען די הוראה בפועל וואס מ׳דארף ארויסנעמען‬ ‫שטייענדיק איצטער בא דער התחלה ופתיחה פון דעם ״כינוס‬ ‫השלוחים העולמי״‪:‬‬ ‫לכל לראש ‪ -‬דארף מען ארויסקומען מיט א הכרזה והודעה צו‬ ‫אלע שלוחים‪ ,‬אז די עבודת השליחות איצטער און פון יעדער אידן‬ ‫באשטייט אין דעם ‪ -‬אז מ׳זאל מקבל זיין פני משיח צדקנו‪.‬‬ ‫דאס הייסט‪ :‬אלע פרטים אין דער עבודת השליחות פון הפצת‬ ‫התורה והיהדות והפצת המעינות חוצה‪ ,‬דארפן זיין דורכגענומען‬ ‫מיט דער נקודה ‪ -‬ווי דאס פירט צו קבלת משיח צדקנו‪.‬‬ ‫ווי אונטערשטראכן אין דעם נושא הכינוס ‪ -‬״כל ימי חייך להביא‬ ‫לימות המשיח״‪ :‬אלע עניני עבודה (בכל ימי חייך‪ ,‬ובכל יום עצמו‬ ‫ בכל פרטי ושעות היום) דארפן זיין דורכגענומען מיט ״להביא‬‫לימות המשיח״‪ ,‬ניט בלויז ״לרבות״ (ווי עס שטייט בכ״מ) אז‬ ‫ער (דער שליח) שטייט און ווארט ביז משיח וועט קומען און‬ ‫דעמולט וועט ער אין דעם איינטייל נעמען און דערפון הנאה‬ ‫האבן וכו'‪ ,‬נאר‪ -‬״להביא״‪ ,‬ער טוט כל התלוי בו צו ברענגען ״לימות‬ ‫המשיח״ לשון רבים‪ ,‬ניט בלויז די התחלה פון איין טאג נאר‬ ‫פון ימות (ל׳ רבים) ‪ -‬ימות המשיח (און ניט נאר ווען משיח איז‬ ‫״בחזקת משיח״‪ ,‬נאר אלע ימות המשיח ‪ -‬אויך די שלימות פון‬ ‫״משיח ודאי״ וכו')‬ ‫ובפשטות מיינט דאס ‪ -‬אז פון דעם כינוס השלוחים דארף מען‬ ‫קומען און להביא החלטות טובות ווי יעדער שליח דארף זיך‬ ‫אליין צוגרייטן און צוגרייטן אלע אידן במקומו ובעירו וכו׳ צו‬ ‫מקבל זיין פני משיח צדקנו‪ ,‬דורך דעם וואס ער איז מסביר דעם‬ ‫ענין פון משיח כמבואר בתושב״כ ובתושבע״פ באופן המתקבל צו‬ ‫יעדערן לפי שכלו והבנתו‪ ,‬כולל במיוחד ‪ -‬דורך לימוד עניני משיח‬ ‫וגאולה‪ ,‬ובפרט באופן פון חכמה בינה ודעת‪.‬‬ ‫און היות אז דאס איז די עבודה פון דעם זמן‪ ,‬איז מובן אז דאס איז‬ ‫שייך צו יעדער אידן אן אויסנאם כלל‪.‬‬

‫אז די עבודת השליחות‬ ‫איצטער און פון יעדער‬ ‫אידן באשטייט אין‬ ‫דעם ‪ -‬אז מ׳זאל מקבל‬ ‫זיין פני משיח צדקנו‪.‬‬ ‫‪7‬‬

‫ ‪The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774‬‬

‫ויהי רצון‪ ,‬אז דורך דעם וואס יעדער שליח וועט ממלא זיין תפקידו‬ ‫כשלימות מיט אלע זיינע עשר כחות הנפש‪ ,‬און בפרט אז אלע‬ ‫שלוחים וועלן זיך ״צוזאמענלייגן״ יכנסו אין דעם ‪ -‬וועט מען תיכף‬ ‫ומיד ממש ברענגען (הגילוי ושלימות פון) דעם שליח העיקרי‬ ‫והאמיתי צוזאמען מיט גילוי עשר כחות שלו ‪ -‬״שלח נא ביד‬ ‫תשלח״‪ ,‬דער שליח שבדורנו ‪ -‬כ״ק מו״ח אדמו״ר נשיא דורנו ‪ -‬און‬ ‫ווי דאס איז געווען בדור שלפניו‪ ,‬אז כ״ק מו״ח אדמו״ר איז נתאחד‬ ‫געווארן מיט אביו וואס ער איז געווען בנו יחידו‪ ,‬אזוי אז מ׳האט די‬ ‫שלימות פון אלע ״שבעה קני המנורה״‪ ,‬אלע שבעה דורות‪.‬‬ ‫ועוד ועיקר‪ :‬וויבאלד אז מ׳האט שוין פארענדיקט די עבודת‬ ‫השליחות ‪ -‬קומט צוגיין יעדער שליח צו דעם משלח האמיתי‪ ,‬דער‬ ‫אויבערשטער‪ ,‬און איז מודיע‪ :‬עשיתי את שליחותי‪ ,‬און איצטער‬ ‫איז געקומען די צייט אז דו כביכול זאלסט טאן דיין שליחות [וואס‬ ‫אויך דער אויבערשטער איז א שליח (״מגיד דבריו ליעקב גו'״) און‬ ‫צוזאמען מיט די עשר ספירות ‪ -‬איז עצמות ומהות אליין כביכול‬ ‫משיח צדקנו]‪ :‬״שלח נא ביד תשלח״ ‪ -‬שיק אונז משיח צדקנו‬ ‫בפועל ממש!‬ ‫און אפילו אויב עס קען נאך זיין א ספק אז דער אויבערשטער‬ ‫וויל האלטן אידן נאך א רגע אין גלות צוליב דעם גודל הנחת‬ ‫רוח והנאה וואט די עבודה אין גלות פארשאפט אים ‪ -‬שרייט א‬ ‫איד‪ :‬״כל מה שיאמר לך הבעה״ב עשה חוץ מצא״‪ ,‬אלץ וואס דער‬ ‫בעה״ב זה הקב״ה זאגט דארף מען טאן ״חוץ מצא״‪ ,‬צו בלייבן נאך‬ ‫א רגע ח״ו במצב פון ״צא״ בחוץ פון שולחן אביהם‪ ,‬מען בעט און‬ ‫מען מאנט כביכול בא דעם אויבערשטן‪ :‬״שלח נא ביד תשלח״ –‬ ‫בשנת ובתחלתה ״יד תשלח״ און ברעגג שוין די גאולה האמיתית‬ ‫והשלימה!‬ ‫און צוזאמען מיט שלימות בעבודת השליחות (בסיום לקו״ת פ׳‬ ‫ברכה) האט מען גלייך די שלימות הנישואין – שיר השירים ‪ -‬פון‬ ‫ישראל וקוב״ה [ובפרט דורך דעם וואס מ׳נעמט אן אויך די החלטה‬ ‫טובה צו לערנען גאנץ ספר תורה אור ולקוטי תורה כל חלקיהם עד‬ ‫סיומם‪ .‬וואס דורך לימוד התורה בענינים אלו‪ ,‬איז דאס נאכמער‬ ‫ממהר די המשכה בפועל]‪ ,‬ביז באופן אז נקבה תסובב גבר‪ ,‬דער‬ ‫אויבערשטער אליין כביכול דאנקט אפ אידן‪ ,‬יעדער איד און אלע‬ ‫אידן‪ ,‬פאר זייער עבודה (אפילו אויב דאס איז ניט געווען בתכלית‬ ‫השלימות)‪ ,‬און ער פירט אלע אידן אין ארץ הקודש‪ ,‬ירושלים עיר‬ ‫הקודש‪ ,‬להר הקודש‪ ,‬לבית המקדש השלישי‪ ,‬ועוד והוא העיקר ‪-‬‬ ‫תיכף ומיד ממש‪.‬‬ ‫(ש"פ חיי שרה‪ ,‬כ"ה מר‪-‬חשון‪ ,‬מבה"ח כסלו תשנ"ב)‬

‫‪c‬‬

‫ב"ה‬

NOW FOR EVERY CHILD Enroll the kids in your community in the Tzivos Hashem CKids Brigade

NOW BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND. LOOK OUT FOR OUR NEXT EDITION!

Rabbi Zalman Loewenthal, CKids Director C: 857-237-3914 | O: 718-467-4400 x359 | E: director@chabadchildren.com

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Letter

Keep the conversation going! Share your thoughts and feedback to editor@compassmagazine.org.

t o t he e d i t o r

Dear Editor,

Between running our Chabad House out of my home, tending to my children, and teaching at the preschool, it feels like there’s no time for anything else. As Gimmel Tammuz gets closer, I feel a bit at a loss. I'd like to think my hectic life is dedicated to fulfilling the missions the Rebbe set out for me, and it’s true that I've been planning our community's Gimmel Tammuz programs, but I find myself personally very far removed from any spiritual preparations or growth. I would really appreciate seeing an article addressing Gimmel Tammuz in the life of a busy mother and shlucha in a most real and practically applicable way. Thank you, F.K.

Response by Guest Editor Mrs. Vivi Deren, Shlucha to Stamford, Connecticut

Dear Shlucha,

First of all, please accept a huge yasher koach for what you are doing. None of the descriptions out there of “superwoman” come close to the dayto-day life of the typical shlucha. “Busy,” of course, is an understatement. I would like to offer a few points as food for thought. It may be helpful to view the various aspects of your life as making direct contributions to your personal hiskashrus and spiritual growth, as opposed to seeing them as a general dedication to fulfilling your outward mission. Perhaps all you need is to bring some more consciousness into what you are already doing. For example, in speaking to your children about the Twelve Pesukim and encour-

aging them to think about areas of “yogato umotzoso,” you yourself can do the same. Thinking about the things you tell your children can also be a way of reminding yourself. Or, when you encourage a community member to participate in a Gimmel Tammuz event, you might find that you are more effective if you take a moment to prepare something to share. That preparation deepens your own thinking, too. Consider taking a few minutes to think about how each of the areas of your life contributes to your own growth as a Chossid – I think you will find a lot more there than you realize. Think small and steady, not big and glorious. Think of small things that you can realistically incorporate into your existing schedule. A few examples: Davening: If you already have a daily in-the-Siddur discipline, that’s great. If it’s not so solid, remember that the relationship of young mothers with formal davening has a wide range of acceptable practices. Perhaps your mashpia can help you figure out how to take it up a notch—but I mean a notch, not a huge new commitment of time and energy. Maybe the notch is one of quality rather than quantity. Learning: Something every day, something you do your way. Think about how your day flows. For example, do you have time in front of the computer? It’s not a quantity issue; it’s a consciousness issue. Whether it’s through the Daily Study on Chabad.org, Chayenu, or (radical thought!) from an actual sefer, maybe you

can learn something from Chitas/ Sefer HaMitzvos each day—even if just a line or two. Personally, I feel that HaYom Yom (including the English) is in a category of its own. Simcha: Sing nigunim, fullthroated and loud, whenever you can, with your kids or by yourself. Do you have the Living Torah app? Seeing and hearing the Rebbe each day wakes up parts of us that we didn’t even know were asleep. The Rebbe speaks about how the mitzvah of Pesach Sheini, part of the 613 mitzvos, was nevertheless not part of Torah until Yidden came and demanded—lomo nigora? Why should we miss out? That has got to be the motto of our time: We must have the Rebbe here with us; we need to see the Rebbe “for real,” and nothing else, no explanation or answer, can dilute that simple fact Write to the Rebbe: Send or bring your letter to the Ohel, as the Rebbe wrote to a Chossid, and the Rebbe will find a way to answer you. Finally, be encouraged that those feelings of being far removed from spiritual growth show that there’s something moving, you’re alive inside. The Rebbe always, from the first sicha in 5711, encouraged us to work on things ourselves but also promised that he wouldn’t be stingy in helping us. May we be zocheh to bring nachas to the Rebbe, now and always, and, confidently, happily and proudly, may we march to Geula with the Rebbe leading us.

Hatzlocha raba, Mrs. Vivi Deren

The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

‫הלכה‬

The Rebbe’s Contributions to the World of Halocho

Where the World Is Holding Highlights of the Rebbe’s Contributions to the World of Halocho

Dayan Levi Yitzchok Raskin – London, England–

The Rebbe would refer people to qualified rabbonim who are practicing poskim instead of answering shaylos himself. Nevertheless, once in a while the Rebbe did take a stand on halachic issues, and on occasion he even entered into intricate analysis of a certain subject. As can be expected, the available material often addresses issues germane to the Chabad community, but much of it is also of global nature. In this article we will review a few examples in several different categories.

1. See 'HaRebi vehaMunkatcher' (Ganz, 5766). 2. Sefer haMinhagim p. 67. Fn. 20 loc. cit. has several references to the works of the Munkatcher Rov. See also Igros Kodesh vol.10 p.342.

3. Likutei Sichos vol.21 p.84. 4. Likutei Sichos vol.29 p.211.

‫הלכה‬

Minhagim of Chassidim

Recommended Resource Shulchan Menachem is a new seven-volume set of seforim in which the halachic writings of the Rebbe have been collected and published following the order of the four volumes of Shulchan Aruch. Many resources were invested into this project; references were verified, corrections were made where appropriate, and background information is provided to numerous brief responsa. Where contemporary poskim address the same issues as the Rebbe, it is noted in the footnotes. Similarly, the wealth of discussions surrounding the Rebbe's positions, which have appeared in various Chabad journals, has also been largely referenced. It also includes a comprehensive index to make the search for a specific topic as easy as possible. Published by Heichal Menachem, Yerusholayim, 5773.

While to some it would appear that Chassidim assume a relaxed position in some areas of halocho, the Rebbe staunchly sought to reconcile and corroborate numerous Chabad minhagim with classic halachic sources. He frequently drew from the works of the Munkatcher Rov, who was evidently of similar sympathy.1 Despite the restrictions in Talmudic sources regarding clapping and dancing on Shabbos and yom tov, nowadays we consider this to be permitted l'chatchila.2 Similarly, the Chabad non-emphasis on eating seudah shlishis on Shabbos is given a sound halachic basis,3 as well as not sleeping in the sukkah.4 It is acceptable to not wear tefilin on Chol HaMoed even if the rest of the congregation does, whereas wearing tefilin when the rest of congregation does not is indeed problematic.5 Needless to say, the Rebbe also encourages the aspects of mitzvos with which Chassidim are known to be meticulous: larger tefilin,6 Rabbeinu Tam tefilin,7 regular mikvah use for men,8 avoiding gebroktz (even for children),9 refraining from cholov akum,10 growing a beard,11 and much more. People who switched over from other nuschaos to Nusach HaArizal were often challenged by their families and peers. Here, too, the Rebbe gives the halachic perspectives to permit this changeover yet at the same time does discourage switching

5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

Shulchan Menachem vol.2 p.255. Ibid. vol.1 p.62. Ibid. p.95. Ibid. p.140. Ibid. vol.2 p.266. Ibid. vol.4 p.18. Ibid. p.125.

from Nusach HaArizal to other nuschaos.12 Hafotzas HaYahadus

Another genre of halocho is that of issues related to interaction with non-observant Jews with the goal of bringing them closer to Torah and mitzvos. Due to the pioneering nature of these activities, the relevant halachic areas were uncharted waters. So when Mivtza Tefilin is challenged from various sources and angles, the Rebbe addresses the concerns of lack of appropriate “kavonoh,” as well as cleanliness of the hands and mind.13 Similarly, regarding the sale of chometz belonging to people who are likely to use it during Pesach, the Rebbe describes several scenarios where the sale will still be effective, in the interest of furthering the person’s Torah observance.14 An obvious concern addressed is allowing a shul to function on Shabbos and yom tov when some congregants might come by car.15 And finally, the Rebbe held that affixing a mezuza in order to merit Divine protection is not to be defined as an “ulterior motive.”16 Global Issues

When the Rebbe foresaw the flight of the Jewish community from Crown Heights, he perceived this as not a local but a global problem. The same phenomenon could repeat itself anywhere, wreaking havoc on the local Jewish infrastructure. Our

12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.

Ibid. vol.1 p.167. Likutei Sichos vol.6 p.271. Igros Kodesh vol.19 p.246. Ibid. vol.11 p.255. Likutei Sichos vol.19 p.121. Likutei Sichos vol.6 p.350-358.

The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

‫הלכה‬

The Rebbe’s Contributions to the World of Halocho

acquiescing to the external elements that spurred the current wave would only encourage them to do so in other communities, too. Coming from a variety of halachic angles, the Rebbe decried this tendency and persistently encouraged Jews to remain in, and strengthen, their neighborhoods.17 Of a more obviously global nature is the issue of Jewish-owned ships traveling on Shabbos. Faced with numerous halachic authorities that condoned the above, the Rebbe was adamant that it is a violation of Shabbos, and in a very public arena. In addition to the conventional halachic approach, here was a very rare moment where the Rebbe revealed his engineering experience. This provided him a thorough familiarity with the numerous mechanical operations of an ocean liner, as well as the necessary procedural protocol, all of which necessitate acts that are violations of Shabbos. The Rebbe proposed that ships traveling between the US and Eretz Yisroel should dock for Shabbos in Azores and in Bermuda, thereby avoiding the need for them to operate on Shabbos.18 With intercontinental travel becoming more commonplace, the Rebbe surprised the Torah community with his opinion that when crossing the International Date Line during Sefiras HaOmer one would be required to observe Shavuos a day earlier or later than the others at his present locale, depending on the direction crossed.19 When the site of the Beis HaMikdosh came ostensibly under Jewish control, the Rebbe was at first concerned that those living in close proximity would have to bring a Korban Pesach every year. But the Rebbe then retracted his statement, observing— very sadly—that “Jewish control” did not truly describe the situation due the administration's apparent subservience to foreign authorities.20 With the growing phenomenon

of child adoption, the Rebbe raises the attendant concerns of yichud and affectionate contact.21 With the emergence of sophisticated fertility treatment, the Rebbe articulates the absolute necessity for vigilance to ensure the integrity of the lineage of children who will be conceived.22 An ostensibly political matter— negotiations with enemies, offering to cede land in exchange for a peace agreement—is seen by the Rebbe as a

“as his Chassidim and shluchim, we must take to heart the particular emphasis the Rebbe placed on the details of halocho”

clear halachic issue, which states that even a minor compromise of security is forbidden, despite the explicit assurance of the enemy that its intentions are innocuous.23 Kedusha Expansionism

Rabbi Zushe Wolf of Kfar Chabad, co-editor of the Shulchan Menachem series, pointed out to me an intriguing thread in many of the Rebbe's halachic addresses: to expand the “borders” of kedusha. In addition to the obvious ways this is accomplished—teaching Torah and encouraging people to do mitzvos—he pointed to the Rebbe's novel approach regarding the mitzvah to write a Sefer Torah. Although incumbent upon every Jew, this mitzvah is largely fulfilled only by a minority of the community. The Rebbe compares this to the historic practice of lulav and esrog in the shtetl: the community owned but one set, and for the moment that the set was used by each member, the lulav and esrog were regarded as his exclusive property.

Similarly, posits the Rebbe, is the case of the communal sefer Torah. The Torah scroll is written for the purpose of Torah study, and for the moment that each man is called to the Torah, the Torah scroll belongs exclusively to him.24 Another example: Adar is a joyous month. Does this also apply to an Adar Alef, or only to an Adar in which Purim is celebrated? While earlier authorities saw to limit this quality, the Rebbe is keen on expanding the benefit of Adar to embrace Adar Alef, as well.25 The Message for Us All

The above sampling is a clear demonstration of the Rebbe’s extreme regard for the word of halocho. It is not our job to attempt to analyze why the Rebbe chose to address certain areas of halocho; rather, as his Chassidim and shluchim, we must take to heart the particular emphasis the Rebbe placed on the details of halocho, and it should be seen as fundamental in our avodas hakodesh. As we know, Chazal state that mitzvos will become obsolete in the future. Yet mitzvos are the expression of Hashem and His wishes, so shouldn’t they be eternal? The Rebbe reconciles these two truths by explaining that nowadays we must choose to fulfil a mitzvah, and that can be a struggle. But le’osid lavo, this struggle will no longer exist, and all mitzvos will be fulfilled with the automatic desire to do Hashem’s will.26 c

18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26.

Shulchan Menachem vol.2 p.9. Ibid. vol.3 p.12-26. Ibid. vol.2 p.360-369. Ibid. vol.6 p.40. Ibid. p.55. Ibid. vol.7 p.95. Ibid. vol.5 p.178-201. Likutei Sichos vol.16 p.344. Sefer HaSichos 5752 vol.1 p.27-36.

‫ב״ה‬

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718-467-4400 EXT 347 The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774 13 www.chabadchildren.com

‫התקשרות‬

Connecting Inside and Outside

When asked for a few words to shluchim about hiskashrus, a reluctant Reb Yoel responded, "What should I tell the shluchim about hiskashrus when they are at the front doing the Rebbe's work?" Upon further emphasis that shluchim especially want to increase hiskashrus as Gimmel Tammuz approaches, he hesitated, "Who am I to tell them...?" before finally agreeing to share these pearls of wisdom.

Connecting Inside and Outside Thoughts on a Shliach's Hiskashrus Reb Yoel Kahn – Brooklyn , New York –

The Student’s Advantage Hiskashrus Through Learning the Rebbe’s Torah

n many occasions, Chassidus explains the difference between student-teacher and servantmaster relationships: The bittul and dedication of a servant to his master is tremendous; he might even be willing to go through fire and water for his master, causing the master great pleasure and meaning because of what he gains by his servant’s doing. But the servant doesn’t gain anything; he is simply doing the will of his master. Between a student and teacher, however, the relationship is very different. When a student learns from his teacher, the student’s perception changes, and he becomes similar to his teacher by gaining this new knowledge

JEM / The Living Archive #141524

and understanding. "Chushei hatalmid k'chushei horav," the qualities of the student match those of his teacher. The student has a clear advantage over the servant in this way. The Rebbe expressed this idea on 28 Nissan, 5751 when he said that the Chassidim should cry ad mosai out of their own distress and not “mipnei hatzivui,” because the Rebbe commanded us to do so. This is the general path of Chassidus Chabad, that every Chossid should be personally elevated to the Rebbe's perspective through learning the Rebbe’s Chassidus. Our Rebbe in particular took this point further than the previous Rebbeim had.

The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

‫התקשרות‬

No Mitzvah Stands Alone One area where the Rebbe's perspective has infiltrated the general frum world is in how we look at a Yid.When the Rebbe first launched the mivtzoim campaigns, many frum people mocked them. "What value is there in coercing a Yid to don tefillin once? He’s not even interested in it; he’s doing it just to shrug you off." In truth, from their outlook of what a Yid is, they were right. They saw a Yid as being connected to the Eibershter through

When a student learns from the master, his mindset changes, and he becomes similar to his teacher. his overall behavior. To them, an observant way of life is valuable; a one-time action is not. The Rebbe explained something very different: that a Yid is not only connected through his behavior but through his innermost being,

that a Yid has a neshama that is essentially holy and connected, regardless of his behavior. This essential connection to Hashem is made more apparent through even one mitzvah. It causes the Yid an experience of an inner stirring that will affect him down the road. It was for this reason that the Lubavitch approach to influence other Yidden was not with logic or inspiration but rather with Torah and mitzvos. The Divine light of Torah and mitzvos, "ner mitzvah v'Torah ohr," has the ability to awaken the “ner Hashem nishmas adam," the Divine neshama of a Yid. Even further, the Rebbe clarified that teaching one mitzvah alone is not a form of compromise, since mitzvah goreres mitzvah, leading to more and more mitzvos as time continues. This is what it means to be a talmid of the Rebbe as well as his eved: to internalize the Rebbe's values and express them through action.

Closeness without Love Noach spent a long 120 years building the teivah, and for all those many years, he warned his generation of the impending mabul, and still none of them did teshuvah. The Rebbe explains that this was because Noach did it without concern for the people, only warning them because of the job placed upon him by the Eibershter. A Yid senses whether we are, chas v’sholom, not interested in him but rather how many baalei teshuvah we can make. If

The Man Who “Wasn’t” Mekushar As a child, Reb Sholom Marozov was taunted by his classmates that his father, Reb Chonyeh, was not mekushar to the Frierdiker Rebbe. Unable to bear the constant ridicule, the little boy approached his father and pleaded with him to become mekushar. Reb Chonyeh sighed and excused himself, "What should I do? I tried. I learned his maamorim, uber es nemt mir nisht [but it doesn’t 'grab' me]." Understanding the dilemma, the boy began to doubt whether the other mekusharim had actually learned the Rebbe's Chassidus as his “nonmekushar” father had....

‫התקשרות‬

Other Shluchim Are Not Competition

Hiskashrus in shlichus means to reach out to others in the same way the Rebbe did

JEM / The Living Archive #104092

this is the case, he will certainly not be inspired. Similarly, a shliach might do his avodas hashlichus because he must give a duch to the Rebbe. Hiskashrus in shlichus means to reach out to others in the same way the Rebbe did, and the Rebbe didn’t reach out to other Yidden because he had to give a duch. The Rebbe wanted us to have a love for another Yid. The Rebbe once said that if someone loves another because of the command "v'ohavta l'reacho kamocha," then it isn’t truly "kamocha," like yourself. Do you love yourself because of a command in the Torah? As the Alter Rebbe writes in Tanya, when the nefesh is primary and the body is secondary, there is love between people. We must increase the focus on the inner meaning of the shlichus. To truly love another Yid and impress a love of Torah upon him, we must ourselves learn the Rebbe’s Torah and internalize it. The more we are exposed to the Rebbe's thinking, the more we are influenced to think in the same way. By learning the Rebbe's explanations about a Yid, about Torah, and about mitzvos, we will naturally go about our shlichus in the Rebbe's spirit, so that our shlichus is connected to the Rebbe in the strongest manner, through both sechel and action, as the Rebbe says in HaYom Yom. This is how to bring about a real hiskashrus. c

Lately, there has become a notion of "my territory, your territory." We all have the same interest in mind, so what is this about? For the purpose of law and order, the Rebbe established regions and borders, but should that be a focal point? ¶ How a shliach interacts with his fellow shluchim is a sign of whether

his motive is genuine. If a shliach's goal is purely to draw Yidden closer, he will rejoice at another shliach's success instead of being absorbed in territorial rights. No shliach will be jealous of another, nor will another shliach be perceived as competition, v'aderaba!

The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

Fe a t u re

Behind the Lens

This article shines a spotlight on four of the unique individuals who found their way to the Rebbe through the lenses of their cameras. They have shared their personal journeys, as well as documented our collective journey, in becoming and growing as the Rebbe’s Chassidim in the form of thousands of priceless photographs. Join us for a peek at the stories behind their photos.

Behind the ' Photographer s ‫והיו עיניך רואות את מוריך‬ Lens JEM / The Living Archive #130490

JEM / The Living Archive #129195

s JEM / The Living Archive #125886 The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774â&#x20AC;&#x201A;

Fe a t u re

Rabbi Velvel Schildkraut A”H

JEM / The Living Archive #21536

Photographer

Born in Brooklyn

in the late 5680s, Rabbi Velvel Schildkraut was one of the few young men to grow a beard in America at that time, despite much opposition and derision from those around him. Though he attended Yeshiva Torah Voda’ath in Williamsburg, at age seventeen he began attending shalosh seudos hosted by Rabbi Avrohom Ziskind, through which he was introduced to Chassidus. Enamored by Chassidus Chabad, he soon continued his studies in 770. In 5704, the Frierdiker Rebbe sent Velvel, also known as Zev, then a bochur, to open a yeshiva in New Haven, Connecticut. He got married and remained there until 5720. Every year, Rabbi Schildkraut would spend Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur by the Rebbe. In 5717, Rabbi Schildkraut’s wife gave birth between Rosh HaShonah and Yom Kippur, and he did not come into Crown Heights at that time. Approaching the Rebbe’s sukkah on Hoshana Raba, he asked for lekach, as he had not received any on erev Yom Kippur. The Rebbe replied, “‫מסתמא איז דא פאראן אנדערע וואס האבן‬ ‫אויך ניט באקומען‬,” it is very likely that there are others who also did not receive [lekach], and the Rebbe asked Rabbi Schildkraut to buy a sheet of honey cake from

photographer: Schildkraut — Event: Farbrengen Location: 770 - Main Shul Jewish Date: 11 Iyar, 5732 Civil Date: April 25, 1972 JEM / The Living Archive #108302

‫ ומכל שכן‬,‫תנועת צדיק‬ ‫ צריך‬,‫ראיה או שמיעת קול‬ .‫לפעול שלא ישכח לעד‬ )‫(היום יום י”ד טבת‬ A gesture of a tzaddik, certainly seeing him and hearing his voice, must make an impression never to be forgotten. (HaYom Yom ...From Day to Day, Kehot Publication Society)

Albany Bakery. An announcement was made that whoever had not received lekach on erev Yom Kippur was able to come and receive it. From then on, the Rebbe distributed lekach on both erev Yom Kippur and Hoshana Raba. In 5720, the Schildkrauts moved to Brooklyn, where Rabbi Schildkraut served as a rebbi, first in Yeshivas Zichron Moshe, followed by Lubavitcher Yeshiva of the Bronx and then Yeshiva Torah Temimah. Rabbi Schildkraut asked the Rebbe for a brocha to open a photography business as a side job. The Rebbe gave him a brocha for success but emphasized on many occasions that under no circumstances was he to serve as the mashgiach for the food. Rabbi Schildkraut hired photographers to shoot the photos for him, but Rabbi Schildkraut worked on developing them himself and also put together the albums that came therefrom.

During the early 5730s, Schildkraut began hiring his photographers to take pictures of the Rebbe and the scenes at 770, making sure that the photographers he chose to come to 770 were shomrei Shabbos. Taken with medium-format negatives, Schildkraut’s collection includes about 1,000 photos covering various farbrengens, a rally with children, and yechiduyos with members of Machne Yisroel spanning approximately 20 years. The fact that most of his photos were taken with color film makes his collection all the more precious, as most photos taken during those years were taken with black and white film. Rabbi Schildkraut passed away in 5753. Today, many of his children and grandchildren serve as shluchim around the world.

The Power of Vision

here are countless stories and teachings of the impact that can be had by envisioning the image of a tzaddik. Here are just a few: Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi attributed his superior sharpness in learning, comparative to the other tanno'im, to having seen Rabbi Meir's back, adding that had he seen Rabbi Meir’s face, his mind would have become even sharper. Conversely, while the chachomim relied greatly on the teachings of Rav Sheishes while he had his sight, they relied less upon him after he’d lost his sight since Rav Sheishes had not seen the gestures his rebbe had made while teaching.1 Chazal relate how Yosef HaTzaddik was saved from committing an aveira when he saw the image of his father in a vision. The AriZal writes that a person can be helped to resolve difficulty in his learning by envisioning the image of his rebbe.2 The Rebbe related that when a person envisions the image of his rebbe standing before him, the image nullifies and removes all the obstacles interfering with the person’s shlichus. Speaking of the Frierdiker Rebbe, the Rebbe said that even those who never saw him in real life can bring about this removal of obstacles by looking at the Frierdiker Rebbe’s picture.3

1. ‫ ירושלמי פ"א ה"ב‬,‫עירובין יג ע"ב‬ 2. ‫ מדבר קדמות ערך ציור‬,‫סוטה לו ע"ב‬ 3. 113 '‫התוועדויות תשמ"ו ח"ד ע‬

The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

Fe a t u re

Levi Yitzchak Freidin A”H

JEM / The Living Archive #138689

Photographer

For his son’s high school

graduation in 5736, Mr. Levi Yitzchak Freidin surprised him with an airline ticket to New York. Mr. Freidin’s son insisted that his father join him, and so it was that the pair made their way from Eretz Yisroel to 770, arriving just in time for Tishrei. Freidin captured his experiences on still film, his work as a photographer for various Lubavitch institutions in Eretz Yisroel standing him in good stead. Though he had initially referred to 770 as “a madhouse,” Freidin so loved his experience that he returned every Tishrei for nearly twenty years thereafter. Returning to Eretz Yisroel after his first Tishrei, Freidin held an exhibit called “770” at Beit Sokolov, a journalistic center in Tel Aviv. The exhibit was later moved to Yerushalayim and then to Bar Ilan University, providing viewers with images of the Rebbe and the heartbeat of Lubavitcher Chassidim. In later years, Freidin also recorded moving film of his Tishrei experiences, which he edited, narrated, and screened at yeshivos around the country. Freidin’s photos, taken on 35mm film, encapsulated the full Tishrei experience from the end of Elul until

photographer: freidin — 23 Tishrei, 5736: While photographing his first Kos Shel Brocha experience, Freidin was surprised, and a bit startled, when the Rebbe suddenly turned around and pinched Freidin’s fedora hat in jest. As the farbrengen concluded and the Rebbe was about to leave the main shul, the Rebbe noticed that Freidin still hadn't come to himself. To put him at ease, the Rebbe sat back down in his place and posed for a picture, insisting that Freidin take it. JEM / The Living Archive #141086

the beginning of Cheshvan. Though the photos taken in his earlier years include many colorful scenes from the streets of Crown Heights, his later photos are far more focused on the Rebbe and the Rebbe’s interactions with Chassidim. Having come to 770 clean shaven, Freidin eventually grew a beard and, along with it, a very close relationship with the Rebbe. Though he was a bold photographer who did not hesitate to jump into the Rebbe’s path and snap a photo, Freidin never used a flash so as not to disturb the Rebbe. He would sometimes take pictures of the Rebbe as the Rebbe left his house in the morning, at which time the Rebbe would offer him a ride to 770. Sometimes he accepted; at other times he declined. Chassidim would often send messages to the Rebbe through Freidin, such as suggestions that the Rebbe take care of his health. Freidin’s collection, captured from 5735-

5752, consists of more than 150,000 photos, as well as 600 more scenes that were taken on moving film on a custom-made tripod. Freidin consistently numbered his films in chronological order, making it much easier to date the photos. Taken on 35mm negatives, he used black and white film until 5741, after which he used primarily color film. In order to compensate for the lack of flash on his indoor photos, Freidin used high-ISO film, which is more sensitive to light than the standard 35mm film. Its one drawback is the graininess present in the photos once they have been restored and enlarged. Mr. Freidin passed away on 28 Iyar, 5753. It is thanks to him that we are able to relive Tishrei with the Rebbe in such an all-encompassing way. His photo and video collections have served to inspire thousands of Jews the world over.

in photo: levi freidin (L) — Location: Ohel Jewish Date: 29 Tishrei, 5740 Civil Date: October 20, 1979 JEM / The Living Archive #114509

The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

Fe a t u re

Mr. Yossi Melamed A”H

JEM / The Living Archive #139613

Photographer

Born in 5697

in Tel Aviv, Mr. Yossi Melamed began taking an interest in photography at age 16, when a friend taught him how to develop film. After serving in the IDF, he came to New York and worked for Rabbi Gershon Jacobson and The Algemeiner Journal. Yossi photographed events in the courts of Ger, Munkatch, Belz, Bobov, and Satmar, as well as visits to New York by Israel’s chief rabbis, Rabbi Kaduri, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, and others. There was, however, one place where he kept going back more than anywhere else: 770. Mr. Melamed spent most of his time in Crown Heights, photographing farbrengens, yechiduyos, panim, lekach, kos shel brocha, Tzivos Hashem rallies, and the Rebbe’s biannual addresses to N’shei Ubnos Chabad. When a special contingent of soldiers who had been injured while serving in the IDF came to the Rebbe, Mr. Melamed was the only photographer present. He also photographed Prime Minister Menachem Begin’s visit to the Rebbe in 5737, the historic 5738 farbrengen on Rosh Chodesh Kislev, and many Chanukah Live events. The artistry of Melamed’s photos is unique; he worked to capture scenes that could tell a story, putting his heart and soul into his photos. He developed his black and white negatives on his own, while he sent his

photographer: melamed — Event: Rally Location: 770 - Main Shul Jewish Date: 28 Kislev, 5743 Civil Date: December 14, 1982 JEM / The Living Archive #140053

color films off to a lab for printing. Melamed stored his collection of 80,000 still films in his Boro Park apartment, the tale of a special relationship between the Rebbe and his photographer-Chossid hidden within the towering stacks of cardboard boxes that lay collecting dust. Shortly before his passing, he sold his collection to JEM’s Living Archive, and the staff immediately got to work retrieving them. Mr. Melamed passed away on 11 Iyar, 5772. In honor of the shloshim, JEM presented a gallery of his photos to the general public. The hundreds of photos on display gave a glimpse of Mr. Melamed’s great contribution to preserving the memories of many years with the Rebbe.

photographer: halberstam — Event: Yechidus Location: 770 - Upstairs - Rebbe's room Jewish Date: 11 Iyar, 5749 Civil Date: May 16, 1989 JEM / The Living Archive #101855

Photographer

JEM / The Living Archive #124956

As a bochur in

yeshiva, Rabbi Chaim Boruch Halberstam worked in the home of the Rebbe and Rebbetzin. Having recently acquired a camera for personal recreational use, he managed to take a few photos of the goings on. One motzoei Yom Kippur, Rabbi Halberstam discreetly snapped a photo during the seuda. The Rebbe noticed and sent a message through Rabbi Sholom Ber Gansburg to Rabbi Halberstam saying, “It’s enough if you take downstairs.” From this he understood that the Rebbe was giving him permission to take photos downstairs. Though he did not know anything about photography, Rabbi Halberstam then began photographing the Rebbe in 770. When he was assigned the job of videotaping the broadcasted farbrengens in 5730, he increased in his photography as part of the archiving package. Though previously the Rebbe had frequently objected or expressed discomfort with being photographed (though never with Rabbi Halberstam), with the passing of time, the Rebbe seemed to become more welcoming of it. Rabbi Halberstam began photographing people as they received a dollar or kos shel brocha from the Rebbe and was soon known as the official Dollars photographer. Halberstam’s collection numbers nearly 80,000 photographs, in addition to one million video stills, with 70 percent taken at Dollars alone. Alternating between a few cameras, Halberstam was aided by Rabbi Avi Goldberger, who would empty the cameras of their film and reload them with fresh rolls. Halberstam employed the use of a messenger service to transport the films to a one-hour developer as soon as the films were completely used, and he had the newly devel-

Rabbi Chaim Boruch Halberstam

oped prints sent to a storefront on the corner of Kingston Avenue and Union Street where they were made available for purchase to those who had been photographed. Rabbi Halberstam’s collection, comprised of Kodachrome and Ektachrome slides, as well as 35mm negatives, can be credited for aiding thousands in reliving their most precious moments with the Rebbe. The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

Fe a t u re

JEM s New Photo Site www.thelivingarchive.org

he photo collections of the four above photographers account only for a portion of more than 100,000 photos already indexed and uploaded onto JEM’s new photo website. Debuting in honor of Gimmel Tammuz, the site will allow the public to search photos Before and after photo restoration by date, event, or name of person, and all photos are available for print through the site. Every photo has been carefully studied to ensure that it is categorized by the correct date and event. JEM is encouraging users to tag and caption photos in the website’s specially created “Community” tab. “We anticipate this to be the most popular feature of the website,” predicts Rabbi Mendel Gourarie, communications director. “It is always exciting when someone finds a photo of himself or his loved ones by the Rebbe or at a farbrengen. There is often so much more to the story. Sharing these stories from the past can help others strengthen their connections with the Rebbe even nowadays.”

“Every photo is given personal attention” - Rabbi Levi Treitel, Photo Site Manager

Features * Create your own on-site photo folder with the photos of your choosing and unlimited sub-folders for easy organizing and earmarking. * Post photos on Facebook, share on Twitter, and attach to email messages. * Search database for specific events or dates.

Behind the Scenes “Every photo is given personal attention,” shares Rabbi Levi Treitel, photo site manager. Most of the photos in The Living Archive collection were taken on film that is degrading with every passing day. Once JEM acquires film, the staff scans each one and inspects for quality control, then assigns it an index number and categorizes it with technical and content-related information such as the format type, method of transfer, resolution, size, date taken, location, and name of the photographer. “Some photographers were meticulous about the way they dated and numbered their films,” explains Rabbi Shloimie Morosow, senior archivist at The Living Archive, “but others were less so, leaving us with the grand challenge of figuring out when each picture was taken and what it’s all about.” JEM’s archivists have become detectives, analyzing minute details to determine the dates the photos were taken, such as the brim on the Rebbe’s hat, the color

of the Rebbe’s beard, or the size and color of the trademark envelopes the Rebbe carried under his arm as he left 770 for the Frierdiker Rebbe’s ohel. They also compare photos with their vast resource of videos to match up the correct dates. The photos are then made accessible to the general public on the new website, along with most of the content data to enhance the user’s experience. Once ordered by an individual for print, the photos are painstakingly examined by highly trained photo restoration specialists who digitally remove as many traces of dust and scratches as possible and sharpen the quality of the photos before printing. “We work with a specialized printing company that sends us new palettes of colors to be used with the various grades of photo paper and types of canvas for printing,” explains Gourarie. “It is incredible to see the difference in coloring of the same photo when printed on one type of paper as compared with another.” Users are welcome to browse the photo collections to their hearts’ content, saving photos of their liking in personal onsite folders free of charge. The only charge on the site is for printing. The money that comes in through photo purchases goes to help cover a fraction of the cost of acquiring, archiving, scanning and cataloguing the

collections, and building and managing the site. “We’ve made ordering prints as straightforward but still customizable as possible,” says Treitel, explaining that photos can be cropped by the customer and printed with a variety of sizes and photo papers or canvases. “Photos of the Rebbe, especially personal photos with loved ones, are a highly cherished commodity that holds so much meaning. We want to provide the best opportunity to access those momentous experiences.” c Writer: Mrs. Elky Raitport

“Some photographers were meticulous about the way they dated and numbered their films but others were less so” - Rabbi Shloimie Morosow, Senior Archivist The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

‫חינוך‬

Four Essential Chinuch Principles I Learned from the Rebbe

Rabbi

Rabbi Markowitz entered the field of chinuch as per the Rebbe’s directive and now serves as an educational consultant on behalf of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, providing chinuch support and advice to shluchim and Anash families around the world. We reached out to Rabbi Markowitz to hear how his observations of the Rebbe have influenced his outlook on chinuch.

z rkowit

Zalm

Ma en Leib

w sey, Ne – Mon

– York

A child’s chinuch is less about the messages directed towards him and more about his passive observations. A

large part of a child’s makeup—how he acts, thinks, and feels—is unwittingly absorbed into him through observation of those around him. The things he sees and hears from people become his definition of who he is and how he perceives his world. As parents and educators, we must be exceedingly mindful with the world we create through our words and actions.

We have subconsciously developed our own way of being from our environment, from our childhood until today. As adults, we have the ability and achrayus to choose our influences and actions and, as such, the messages that come as a result of these choices. But where do we get our lessons from? After whom should we model our actions and conduct? Looking to the way the Rebbe conducted himself, we can be inspired to follow his horaos and to emulate his “style” when educating our own children.

‫חינוך‬

Generate Excitement; the Desired Actions Will Automatically Follow What I observed

The Rebbe began almost every farbrengen by speaking of the greatness of that particular day. The Rebbe would elaborate in great detail on the maalos to be appreciated and the opportunities to be maximized from that day. The Rebbe would then conclude with horaos b’maseh b’poel. This generated a deep desire to take advantage of the power to be found in the remaining hours of the day and use it to its fullest. In addition, at every opportunity, the Rebbe stressed the preciousness of the neshoma of a Yid. He emphasized that the neshoma is a chelek Eloka mima’al mamosh. The Rebbe highlighted the great zechus a Jew possesses simply by being a part of Am Yisroel, the nation that HaKodosh Boruch Hu chose for Himself.1 This in itself opened the minds and the hearts of the people to be connected and automatically brought about the desired results.

How we can apply it

Many parents spend a lot of time giving their children directives. I learned from the Rebbe that prior to the instruction, the teacher or parent must create an enthusiasm within himself that will spill over to the children, building, as a result, an environment where the instructions will be well received. For example, on Shabbos, our primary focus needs to be on the excitement and appreciation of Shabbos Kodesh. This can be transmitted to each child, depending on his age, in various ways. A young child will enjoy a Shabbos party, a nice seuda, and stories about Shabbos. With older children, we share our excitement by connecting and learning about the kedusha of Shabbos. Now the child is ready to learn and will be excited to follow instructions.

Tailor Your Message to Fit Its Recipient What I observed

It is inspiring to watch the Rebbe as he distributed dollars, kuntreisim, and kos shel brocha to individual people, as well as the varying manner in which the Rebbe spoke at communal gatherings, such as at the N’shei Chabad conventions, children’s rallies, and farbrengens. The Rebbe’s expectations of people were according to who they were and what their capacities were. In addition, the way the Rebbe tailored his tone of voice and expressions to fit each person and group is quite remarkable. Though often the message being relayed to each of them was the same, the manner in which it was delivered was unquestionably customized for the recipients. Similarly, the variety of ways through which the Rebbe chose to communicate with individual people during farbrengens, such as by a hint of the eyes or a gesture of the hand, was also personalized.

How we can apply it

The Rebbe’s sensitivity to the specific needs of each person encourages us to be more attentive to each particular student and his circumstances, making sure to understand the capacity of each child. In addition, even the tone of voice used when greeting students with a “good morning” might have to be different based on the emotional needs of the particular child at that time.2

“The Rebbe’s expectations

of people were according to who they were and what their capacities were.”

The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

‫חינוך‬

View Everyone as A+

What I observed

Regardless of who came to the Rebbe, whether someone from the Torah world or from the business world or none of the above, the Rebbe always pointed out that person’s special qualities and unique kochos, encouraging him to make the most of them. The Rebbe would often give an extra dollar to a person who presented him with a sefer that he had just written, urging him to write a second one. The Rebbe would also give an extra dollar to a community activist, encouraging him to continue his activities, and to an artist to continue with his artwork. Furthermore, there are known stories where the Rebbe masterfully capitalized on the seemingly less positive qualities a person possessed and directed the person to transform them into tools for positivity. Not only that, but the Rebbe showed these people that they, in fact, are always making impressions upon those around them and that by doing good they will influence others to do the same.3 Similarly, whenever the Rebbe spoke, he highlighted what is unique about that particular day and, even more so, how that day is mashpia for the rest of the year, as well.4 When speaking of a specific location, the Rebbe consistently framed it by its benefits. When discussing Eretz Yisroel, the Rebbe’s words were

replete with pesukim and maamorei Chazal that highlight its kedusha; when mentioning chutz la’aretz, the Rebbe emphasized its maalos, such as the fact that we celebrate an extra day of yom tov. When speaking of New York, the Rebbe referenced the fact that the Frierdiker Rebbe chose it as the place to settle.

See the Cup as Completely Full

What I observed

The Rebbe consistently emphasized the positive elements in our world. The Rebbe frequently translated the phrase ‫אכשור דרא‬, “do the generations improve?”(in most cases used sarcastically) in its literal sense, highlighting the areas where elements in this world have positively improved. Furthermore the Rebbe consistently extracted the positive from the seemingly most extremely negative situations, such as the amazing sicha regarding the story of Miriam bas Bilga.5 One memorable example was during the famous sicha the Rebbe delivered on motzoei Simchas Torah 5738, the night after he’d suffered a heart attack. The Rebbe remarked that it was hashgocha protis that the farbrengen was taking place after yom tov, enabling a live hookup to be broadcast worldwide. Chanukah Live is another example of this, where the Rebbe harnessed technological advancement perceived by others to be antithetical to Yiddishkeit for hafotzas hamaayonos.

How we can apply it

The majority of students in the average classroom can easily consider themselves to be second class at best; only a small percentage of students earn A’s. The Rebbe taught us that every student is an A+ person with plenty of qualities to rightfully earn him top-notch status. It is merely a matter of how we choose to look at that particular student and how much we will put ourselves out to bring his specific A+ to the foreground. Additionally, if we reach out in the right manner to a student who is misbehaving, not only are we able to help him direct his energies to good outcomes, but we can even help him turn himself into a leader for good.

How we can apply it

Parents and educators may wish to speak to their children or students about the negativity going on in the world today as a means to dissuade them from wishing to pursue those avenues. (The Alter Rebbe explains in the first perek of Tanya that a person considering himself—or, for that matter, the world around him—as a rosha is likely to enter a state of atzvus and that if he chooses not to care about this, he may bring himself to kalus rosh, chas vesholom.) The Rebbe has taught us that highlighting the positive growth in the world around us, such as the extraordinary amount of Torah study, tefila, and gemilus chassodim taking place in Jewish communities and remote corners of the world alike is far more effective. c Writer: Mrs. Elky Raitport 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Shabbos Vayikra 5750. Klolei Chinuch V’Hadrocha, prokim 7-8. Igros Kodesh volume 16. Pesach Sheni 5744. 6 Tishrei, 5735.

‫ב"ה‬

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The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

‫‪SIE Sidd‬‬

‫התקשרות‬

‫מענות הרבי‬ ‫‪R e b b e‬‬

‫‪Th e‬‬

‫‪Fr o m‬‬

‫‪M a a n o s‬‬

‫דברים היוצאים מן הלב‪:‬‬ ‫יש רבי בישראל‬ ‫אברך אחד שהוכרח לברוח ממקומו‪,‬‬ ‫אינו שייך לעבודת התפלה‪ ,‬אינו לא‬ ‫משכיל ולא עובד‪ ,‬בלא חתימת זקן וכו'‬ ‫לפעול שבכל הסביבה‬ ‫וכו'‪ ,‬ומעולם לא למד לא בתו"ת ולא‬ ‫יתגלה המאור שבחסידות‬ ‫בישיבה בכלל ‪ -‬נדד למדינה רחוקה‬ ‫יהודי שהקב"ה זיכהו שגדל והתחנך‬ ‫‪JEM / The Living Archive #144933‬‬ ‫ביותר הן במקום הן בעניני יהדות ‪ ,‬וכעבור‬ ‫אצל אב חסידי‪ ,‬והיתה לו הזכות‬ ‫איזה זמן התחילו להגיע מאנשים ונשים‬ ‫לראות את הרבי – כ"ק מו"ח אדמו"ר‪,‬‬ ‫משם מכ' לכ"ק מו"ח אד"ש‪ .‬ולדוגמא ‪ -‬מאשה‬ ‫שהוא נשיא הדור עד ביאת המשיח – ולשמוע‬ ‫בעלת עסק שמציעים לה לשכור חנות ודירה בחלק‬ ‫("א ּפ ָאר ווערטער צי מער פון‬ ‫ממנו דברי תורה ַ‬ ‫א' של העיר או בחלק אחר‪ .‬ושואלת החלט כ"ק‬ ‫ַא ּפ ָאר ווערטער")‪ ,‬ודברים אלה חקוקים בזכרונו‬ ‫אד"ש מה תעשה‪ .‬מעולם לא ראתה אותו‪ ,‬ויודעת‬ ‫[וגם אם הוא לא זוכר‪ ,‬חקוקים הדברים במוח‬ ‫שמעולם לא הי' כ"ק מו"ח אד"ש לא רק בעירה אלא‬ ‫הזכרון דנפש האלקית– בודאי ניתנו לו הכחות‬ ‫גם בכל מדינתה‪ ,‬אינה מאנ"ש וכנראה גם לא מגזע‬ ‫והוטלה עליו האחריות לפעול על הסביבה כולה‪,‬‬ ‫אנ"ש‪ .‬אבל כששמעה מהאברך דברים היוצאים מן‬ ‫ובזה גופא – אסור לו להסתפק בכך שיפעול עליהם‬ ‫הלב‪ :‬יש רבי בישראל ואין הוא נכנס בהגבלות הטבע‪,‬‬ ‫שלא יגיעו למצב גרוע יותר ח"ו‪ ,‬ואסור לו להסתפק‬ ‫והרוצה ללכת לבטח דרכו‪ :‬במסחר‪ ,‬בהנהגת הבית‪,‬‬ ‫בכך שיביא אותם למעמד ומצב של שמירת‬ ‫וכו' ‪ -‬לא ירים את ידו מבלי לשאול את פי הרבי‪.‬‬ ‫השולחן‪-‬ערוך‪ ,‬ואסור לו להסתפק אפילו בכך‬ ‫והכירה בהאברך שפיו ולבו שווין‪ ,‬כי ניכרין דברי‬ ‫שיביא אותם למעמד ומצב שיתנהגו לפנים משורת‬ ‫אמת‪ ,‬ציותה לכתוב השאלה הנ"ל‪ ,‬שייכת ממילא‬ ‫הדין‪ ,‬אלא צריך לידע שדורשים ממנו להביא את‬ ‫לנפנה‪ ,‬ומתקרבת ליהדות‪ ,‬ובטח בקרב הימים יהיו‬ ‫הסביבה כולה לאור החסידות ולמאור החסידות!‬ ‫הליכות ביתה בכשרות וטהרת המשפחה וכו'‪.‬‬ ‫כיון שגילו לו אור החסידות והמאור שבחסידות‪,‬‬ ‫ אלה מתולדות פעולות אברך פשוט ושעושה כ"ז‬‫צריך הוא לפעול שבכל הסביבה יתגלה‬ ‫לא מצד מסנ"פ וקב"ע‪ ,‬כי אין זה אצלו היפך השכל‪,‬‬ ‫אור החסידות והמאור שבחסידות‪ .‬וכיון‬ ‫גם לא היפך שכלו האנושי‪( .‬אג"ק ח"ג ע' נג ואילך)‬ ‫שדורשים ממנו זאת – בודאי ניתנו לו הכחות‬ ‫הדרושים לכך‪( .‬תו"מ ח"ב ע' [פורים אות כא])‬

‫‪32‬‬

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‫בס”ד‬

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Explanations adapted from the writings of the Rebbeim

Published by Kehot & Sichos in English The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

‫התקשרות‬

‫תכלית השליחות‬ ‫"ובנוגע לפועל הצעתי שכאו"א יקבל על עצמו ב' דברים‪:‬‬ ‫ענין הא' ‪ -‬בנוגע לעצמו‪ ,‬לקבל על עצמו איזה ענין שעל ידו‬ ‫תתחזק התקשרותו לכ"ק מו"ח אדמו"ר וענין הב' ‪ -‬בנוגע‬ ‫להזולת‪ ,‬לקבל על עצמו לפעול לכל הפחות על יהודי אחד‪,‬‬ ‫יהי' מי שיהי‪ ',‬בחור או אברך‪ ,‬לקרבו לכ"ק מו"ח אדמו"ר‬ ‫ולדרכי החסידות‪ ,‬להיות מעמיק בדא"ח ועוסק בעבודת‬ ‫התפלה‪ .‬התחלת הפעולה דקירוב הזולת לכ"ק מו"ח אדמו"ר‬ ‫ולדרכי ההסידות יכולה להיות בענינים שונים‪ ,‬כולל גם ע"י‬ ‫סיפור עניני מופתים‪ ,‬וכדומה אבל התכלית צ"ל לקרבו לדא"ח‪,‬‬ ‫שזהו ענינו העצמי חי' יחידה‪ ,‬של הרבי‪ ,‬משא"כ עניני מופתים‬ ‫שאינם אלא ההתפשטות שלו‪( .‬תורת מנחם ח"א עמוד ‪)42‬‬ ‫חסיד בפועל לא רק בכח‬ ‫אולי כבר בא העת לעורר את הרה"ג וכו' ולהזכירו עד"ז שהי'‬ ‫בכותלי תו"ת מלפנים און עם איז כדאי ווערן א חסיד בפועל‬ ‫לא רק בכח (מענת קודש)‬ ‫העיקר והטפל בעבודת השליחות‬ ‫בכל מכתביו שכותב לא ראיתי שמזכיר במה שמתעסק‬ ‫בהשפעה על אחרים לקרבם לתורת הדא"ח ולהתקשרות עם‬ ‫נשיאנו הוא כ"ק מו"ח אדמו"ר הכ"מ‪ .‬משל למה הדבר דומה‬ ‫למלך שהטיל על שכם אחד מעבדיו תפקיד מיוחד‪ ,‬והלז מתעסק‬ ‫בתפקיד אחר‪ ,‬אשר מפני זה בטח ממעט מזמנו ומשימת לבו‬ ‫למילוי התפקיד שהטיל עליו המלך‪( .‬אג"ק ח"ג ע' תכא)‬ ‫קביעות בכל יום‬ ‫וואלט איך מציע געווען‪ ,‬אחר בקשת סליחתו‪ ,‬איר זאלט‬ ‫מאכן פאר זיך א קביעות בכל יום בתורת כ"ק מו"ח אדמו"ר‬ ‫הכ"מ‪ ,‬און א קביעות איזה פעמים בשבוע צו לערנען מיט‬ ‫אנדערע בזה‪ ,‬און זאלט זוכן וועגן בהשתדלות הראוי' אף‬ ‫מקרב זיין אידן לתורה ולמצוות בכלל און צו תורת החסידות‬ ‫דכ"ק מו"ח אדמו"ר הכ"מ בפרט‪ .‬און אויב איר וועט זיך‬ ‫דערמיט מתעסק זיין‪ ,‬רעכן אי[ך] אז דער רבי וועט אייך‬ ‫העלפן‪ ,‬אז איר וועט‪ ...‬מצליח זיין אויסצופירן דעם רבינ'ס‬ ‫הוא כ"ק מו"ח אדמו"ר הכ"מ רצון‪( .‬אג"ק ח"ג ע' תכא)‬ ‫החיבור לנשיא דרונו‬ ‫"בהדיוק ד"מעינותיך"‪ ,‬מעין דוקא שמחובר למקורו –‬ ‫מודגש גם החיבור להמקור דתורת החסידות‪ ,‬נשיאי‬ ‫החסידות‪ ,‬החל מהבעש"ט ואדמו"ר הזקן‪ ,‬ואנו אין לנו אלא‬ ‫הנשיא שבדורנו‪ ,‬כ"ק מו"ח אדמו"ר" (תו"מ ח"ב ע' ‪c )122‬‬

‫‪JEM / The Living Archive #103229‬‬

‫און אויב איר וועט זיך דערמיט‬ ‫מתעסק זיין‪ ,‬רעכן אי[ך] אז‬ ‫דער רבי וועט אייך העלפן‪...‬‬

‫שלימות העבודה –‬ ‫להביא את הזולת אל הנשיא‬

‫ו‬

‫לאחרי כ"ז מסיים בהפסוק "והנה‬ ‫תסובינה אלומותיכם ותשתחוין‬ ‫לאלומתי" – שלימות העבודה‬ ‫בפעולתו על הזולת הוא כאשר יפעול‬ ‫להביאו לאלומתו של יוסף הצדיק‬ ‫הוא השליט בכל ארץ מצרים – נשיא‬ ‫הדור‪ ,‬לפעול בו ההשתחויה והביטול‬ ‫להנשיא‪( “.‬לקו"ש ח"י ע' ‪)120‬‬

‫‪34‬‬

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The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774 39 24/7 HOTLINE: 845.356.8800

‫ב״ה‬

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‫ט‬,

‫ופח‬

in ld ed u wo ent ho ‫לה‬ os w o o t ‫ טפיח‬w h o r e s l s n e. P chim m t ch a e a i d w d h r ll t u im e Yi mo shl i ba s we ei 0 th uch 20 l e a 2 o a l , tw baa wn e ba of Shl t to to f a o th e t u o ir ir On us H h o ou ts he the de— h n n eac t c u Ki r ea co ed of r si to n r e ac wer yos the r o u h o tu e t mp ch the a r v e e s h li o m e s . r h a e at e w f s e lv e cr a vi hem t as im t ba of

‫נת‬

‫ע‬ ‫למ‬

The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

COMPASS: Rabbi Kaplan, what do you feel is the Rebbe's view on empowering baalei batim? RABBI KAPLAN: In nearly every address, from the farbrengens to the special sichos for women and even the Rebbe’s addresses to children at rallies, there was a call for every person to take on a leadership role and positively influence another. In the many interactions that took place during yechidus, Machne Yisroel meetings, or Dollars, this was probably the single most common message that the Rebbe imparted to just about everybody. There's no doubt in my mind that the notion of ‫ שליח עושה שליח‬and the need for every Chossid to be ‫טופח על מנת להטפיח‬ extends to the mekuravim of every shliach, as well. COMPASS: Where do you see that relating to not just shluchim and Anash but also baalei batim? RABBI KAPLAN: In the very first year of the Rebbe’s nesius, there was an explicit directive for each chossid to create a circle of influence and to replicate himself, as a Chossid, through others. [Ed.: see sicha on page 52.] At the formal kabolas hanesius, there was tremendous emphasis on every person doing his part, as well. It certainly seems reasonable to assume that the extraordinary global vision the Rebbe began articulating early on—even before the nesius—of catalyzing a universal change is essentially rooted in the principle that everybody not only can, but, in fact, must become a leader and mashpia.

COMPASS: Have you turned that principle into practice? RABBI KAPLAN: Pretty early on in our shlichus, I realized that people often assume it’s not their place to take charge at the Chabad House unless told explicitly otherwise. We needed the help, so my wife and I tried to get baalei batim involved. COMPASS: What projects did you get them involved in? RABBI KAPLAN: It started with something as simple as us setting up the kiddush and serving the cholent. We asked for volunteers to set up and formed a cholent brigade. COMPASS: What made them want to help? RABBI KAPLAN: The reality is that most people want to do good and want to help. They may simply need to be asked to come on board and given a responsibility to call their own. COMPASS: I assume there’s been some trial and error to get this to work for you? RABBI KAPLAN: We tried having an executive board with baalei batim as leaders, and while this was helpful with generating ideas, it still left us with all the work, which meant we could accomplish less because there was more to do and only us to do it! Now, we have instead established action-oriented committees for individual projects.

COMPASS: What kind of success are you seeing as a result? RABBI KAPLAN: As a rule, whenever someone comes to me with a good idea, I immediately appoint him or her the head of that committee. This is valuable for two reasons: Firstly, people don't come forward with ideas unless they’ve thought about them first, so if someone is mentioning an idea, he probably already knows how to make it happen. Secondly, and much more importantly, this has served to galvanize the community and enable leaders to emerge. COMPASS: Is everything run by baalei batim? How much control do you give over? RABBI KAPLAN: In addition to projects that emerge out of community members’ initiatives, such as hosting a golf tournament fundraiser, I also approach people and ask them to take on various projects, including producing our yearly gala dinner. When I ask a baal habos to spearhead a project, I give him my trust. People are very receptive to that, and the project becomes their baby. I do remain involved to a certain degree, but largely I leave it in the hands of the project leader. The project might turn out quite differently than if I were to have led it, but as long as halocha is kept and Chabad principles are maintained, I am alright with that. COMPASS: Does this ever backfire? RABBI KAPLAN: There have been plenty of times where I’ve needed to apologize and patch things up as a result of this. Nevertheless, trusting in the baalei batim that they will do a good job

is key in order for this system to work. COMPASS: What are some projects you’re most proud of ? RABBI KAPLAN: More than a decade ago, we began to empower people to actively engage in hafotzas haYahadus. We had several campaigns of matzoh and menorah distribution. One year, we got more than 50 people to buy three- to- fivefoot menorahs and set them up at their homes or businesses. In general, finding the courage to speak out and actively trying to inspire sparks of Yiddishkeit

and mitzvah observance have become common themes in my sermons and farbrengens. We also started a chavrusa program in which people who know (even just) a little can use a translated text to learn with somebody who knows even less. Over the years, we have had enormous feedback from all of these things. One of our baalei batim who was supporting a Mizrachi yeshiva in Eretz Yisroel sponsored 100 pounds of shmurah matzoh for them to give out among the secular population! I have had people come and tell me they put on

Tips on how to make this work in your community You must first come to the realization that this is the right f thing to do, and that it is the only way to exponentially advance and multiply the impact of shlichus.

Speak to your community on a regular basis about lending a f hand and taking initiative as a means toward reorienting their thinking.

Begin with a finite project that has a goal (e.g., let’s f distribute a certain number of pounds of matzoh), and include regular updates on how close you are to reaching the goal.

Create a secondary level of leadership among the baalei f batim who will encourage others to join. It's always easier for people to be inspired by a baal habayis.

Be a dugma chaya and make a point of carrying tefilin, etc., f with you wherever you go. I've been doing that for years, and I recently started posting pictures on Facebook so that baalei batim can see it and can get inspired.

Every shliach has mivtzoim stories. Share them in your f sermons and classes, emphasizing that it's something anybody can do.

Share and publicly celebrate with f the smallest success that your baalei

the community even batim have. Nothing happens overnight. Remember that this is a gradual yet massive reorientation and transformation of your community. Slowly but diligently it can happen! The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

tefillin with others or inspired others to affix a mezuzah or to do hadlokas neiros Shabbos. We have been regularly setting up tables in the local supermarkets for the last few years (which are manned almost exclusively by baalei batim). And there is one recently retired woman in our community who has made mivtzoim a central focus of her weekly activities. COMPASS: How has this affected your baalei batim as individuals? RABBI KAPLAN: From our experience, there is no better way to create the sense of true loyalty and commitment to Yiddishkeit and Chassidus than having them feel like shluchim themselves. Many of our younger baalei teshuva

now regularly invite people to their Shabbos tables, and the stories of lives that have been positively changed are already too many to document. Ultimately, to be a true Chossid of the Rebbe requires a serious commitment to hafotzas haYahadus v’hamaayonos, and the person’s involvement in the aforementioned enables them to make leaps and bounds towards reaching that lofty goal. COMPASS: How can other shluchim make this work in their communities? RABBI KAPLAN: The general principles vary from one Bais Chabad to the next. A shliach has to trust his instincts; ultimately, he knows his situation better than anyone else does. He should think through things carefully, but, at some point, “just do it!” See the list on the previous page for some points that have worked well for me.

The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774â&#x20AC;&#x201A;

Humble Beginnings When we came to Florida sixteen years ago from Bogota, Colombia, we started going to shiurim because we had loved attending Rabbi Rosenfeld’s couples’ Torah classes in Bogota. We also decided to enroll our daughters in a Jewish day school. This was a huge leap for me since I was so open minded and had them in an American school back in Bogota. A gut feeling told me to put them into a Jewish school; this country with all its blessings can be very dangerous as it is very easy to assimilate. I made my home “kosher” as I understood kosher at that time, and slowly we began to connect more to who we are. The Birth of a Community Becoming shomrei Shabbat meant that the nearest shul to where we lived was a 45-minute walk’s distance in unbearable heat, so we, together with three neighboring families, decided to host a minyan closer to home. We knocked on people’s doors and asked them to join.

One couple lent us their home, Chabad of Hallandale lent us a sefer Torah, and we wereinbusiness.RabbiandMrs.IsserDovid and Hanna Silverman of Miami Beach began coming for Shabbos. We began building a community, and one year later, the Silvermans moved to Hollywood. We soon expanded, hosting holiday and other events in our home. Overall, people cared to come and join because we made them feel very much needed and appreciated. Sometimes, my friend Vivian, a baalas teshuva from Bogota who had also moved to Florida, would have to travel and would ask me to substitute teaching her parsha classes for her. She used to say, “If you know alef, teach alef.” My husband also began giving a Tanya shiur in our home seven years ago. We didn’t decide that this was what we were going to do. The opportunities simply presented themselves, and we took them. After thirteen years, we were able to buy a house and make it the official Shul Club

of Harbor Islands. Today, we have more than one hundred people every Shabbat and around three hundred fifty for the High Holidays. Most of them have come from word of mouth. Our community is very unique in the sense that we all come from different countries and most of us are here alone without extended families. Our shul is not a shul; it is a community. It has the feeling of one big happy family. Rabbi Silverman and Hanna make us feel like we are their children, and they take care of all of us. Culture comes from the top; when the rabbi, rebbetzin and president concern themselves with everyone, it trickles down and causes everyone to care for each other. Thank G-d, that is what our community has become. Where We Are Now Today, I teach. On Mondays, I have a “Lunch and Learn” with some women in a nice restaurant, and we learn the parsha of the week. On Tuesdays, I have a “Lunch and Learn” with young mothers who come with their babies, and we learn about shalom

ears ago, we were finding it very difficult to reach a particular student and get him involved in growing in his Yiddishkeit. We asked the Rebbe for advice. The Rebbe answered: ‫ישתדל שילמד אם‬ ‫תלמידים חלשים ממנו ובזה יתוסף לו חיות‬, you should have him learn with students who are weaker than him and through this he will gain chayus. This response taught me that the way to get people involved and growing in Yiddishkeit is by having them become mashpi’im. Over the years, we have seen our

bayis. On Tuesday nights, I teach parsha to college kids and young adults at KSpace, a place for young Jews to come and connect, run by Rabbi Yossi Smierc. Many of these kids end up marrying each other, and I give the girls kallah classes. I also teach parsha at a children’s program on Shabbat mornings and a women's class on Shabbat afternoon. Once in a while, I give a Rosh Chodesh shiur to a group of Sefardic ladies who want to learn Chassidus. My husband gives a Tanya shiur every Wednesday in our home. We invite people for Shabbat and make a big sukkah, where we host about fifty guests every night.

mushpo’im become more successful mashpi’im than we are and we are pleased about that. We have some baalei teshuva who bloomed especially after moving away from our city. Their homes have become bigger botei Chabad than ours, and they themselves give bigger and better shiurim than we do. Mr. and Mrs. Roberto and Margie Szerer are but one example

women with their issues through the teachings of the Torah and Chassidus. I have also just finished learning “The Method” with Shimona Tzukernik, which has also given me more skills to be of better service to Hashem and the people I help.

My Message to Shluchim Shluchim have to understand that everything they do and say has a huge impact on us. When someone is trying to grow in Yiddishkeit, he or she is looking for every reason to change. Sadly, sometimes it can be the other way around. When I used to teach seminary girls, here in Hallandale’s Chaya Aidel Seminary, I used to tell the girls that although they are here for themselves, they have to be aware that everyone is watching them. How they behave, dress, eat, and talk can have a positive or negative effect on those around them. They have a huge zechus that comes with responsibility because we expect more from them.

We do what we do because after learning Torah, Tanya, and Chassidus we have come to the conclusion that doing so is part of our mission in this world. Hashem continues presenting us with “the reward of a mitzvah is another mitzvah,” and we love it! Sure, we have had challenges along the way. When we started keeping Shabbat, kashrut, and tznius, many of our friends and family became frantic. They thought we had become crazy, and some still do. Our family took on mitzvos individually. We never pressured our kids in any way. We had to be very patient and wait for them to come back on their own. Boruch Hashem, today we have two daughters who married boys who are shomrei mitzvos. Our daughters wear sheitels. We are very proud of them. Boruch Hashem, some women in our community have put on sheitels and tznius dress. They say that I have inspired them, that if I could do it, they can do it, too. Boruch Hashem, I have helped many

does have an impact. For me, seeing rebbetzins who take care of their physical appearance while not compromising their tznius allowed me to be able to relate to them. I felt that I could look like them and that I wanted to look like them.

Also, I would tell shluchim to be true to Hashem. After all, our inspiration and motivation comes from an arousal from Above, one that we work very hard to hold onto and not let go of.

How We Got There I attribute our inspiration to the teachings of the Rebbe, Chassidus Chabad, and the understanding that everyone can make a difference. Additionally, we have had the good fortune to meet rabbis and rebbetzins who look and behave like royalty. It can sound very materialistic, but in this physical world, physicality

Final Thoughts The Rebbe’s vision was so incredible, sending young Shluchim to the most remote places with no kashrus or frum Jews. If it hadn’t been for Rabbi Yehoshua and Rebbetzin Rivki Rosenfeld who planted the seeds in us with so much tender love and care, maybe we wouldn’t be where we are today. They did more than nurture us; they made us believe in ourselves. The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

‫טופח על מנת להטפיח‬

Rabbi B e r e l L a z a r , M o s c o w , R u ssi a

he term ‫ שליח עושה שליח‬can be interpreted as an assignment, as well as a brocha. When a shliach goes out on his mission, part of his mission includes “creating” a new shliach; he is charged to do so. At the same time, the Aibershter gives him a brocha that his efforts will produce fruit. It is not enough to reach another Yid, teach him bits and pieces, and then say, “I was yotze.” When we internalize the fact that every Yid has a nefesh Elokis that is a chelek Eloka mimaal mamosh and that it is our job to bring him closer to Hashem, its real Source, we can see the real potential in every Jew we connect with. No, not every one of our mekurovim is ready to change his or her lifestyle to an immense degree, but whatever he does do, he can influence others to do the same. Our goal should be—at the very least— that every Jew should understand that bringing other Jews closer to Hashem should be his goal. This must be our motto: ‫אני לא נבראתי‬ ‫אלא לשמש את קוני‬. What better way is

there for us to serve Hashem than to bring another Yid closer to Him, to the point that he will also involve himself in bringing other Yidden closer? A huge part of this is not being ashamed to say the whole truth. We might be inclined to downplay certain things if we feel that our crowd is not ready to accept them. For example, we may fear that our crowd will be turned off by the first perakim of Tanya if we teach them all the punishments for not keeping Torah and mitzvos properly. But the Alter Rebbe wrote Tanya for every Jew. We must remember that our job is to bring Yidden up to Torah, not to bring the Torah down to him. We see the truth of this reality when we bring people to the Rebbe. We think that we have to extend ourselves to produce a professional event in order to wow them, but what has the greatest effect on people is to get a closeup view of our life and what we believe in. When we take them to the Ohel, they see how we get our chayus and kochos and what we are connected with and that is what they want to emulate.

The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774â&#x20AC;&#x201A;

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The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

‫שיחה‬

‫מ‬

‫חשבה מיינט פועל'ן עפעס בנוגע עבודת התפלה‪ ,‬דבור‬ ‫מיינט תלמוד תורה‪ ,‬מעשה מיינט א ענין אין קיום המצות‪ ,‬וואס די‬ ‫דריי זאכן איז אנקעגן די ג' קוין וואס העולם עומד‪ .‬תורה ‪ ‬איז דיבור‪,‬‬ ‫עבודה איז עבודת הקרבנות‪ ,‬און היינט איז דאס תפלה‪ ,‬וואס דאס‬ ‫איז מחשבה‪ ,‬וגמ"ח איז מעשה‪.‬‬

‫די רז"ל זאגן אז כל המקיים נפש אחת מישראל כאילו קיים עולם‬ ‫מלא‪ ,‬וואס פון דעם זעט מען דאך אז יעדער איד איז א גאנצער‬ ‫עולם‪ ,‬וואס דערפאר דארף ער האבן די דריי קוין אויף וואס צו‬ ‫שטיין‪ ,‬און די דריי קוין דארף ער האבן ניט נאר אויף זיך נאר‬ ‫אויך אויף יענעם‪ ,‬פועל'ן אויף א מנין אידן אין די דריי ענינים פון‬ ‫מחשבה דיבור ומעשה‪ ,‬אדער לכה"פ אין איינעם פון זיי‪ ...‬אויף א‬ ‫מנין אידן איז שכינתא שריא און דער רא"ש גיט נאך א הנחה אז‬ ‫קטנים זיינען אויך אין כלל‪,‬‬

‫א סאך האבן ב"ה געמאכט א מנין צו י"ט כסלו‪ ,‬א סאך האבן‬ ‫ניט משלים געווען קיין מנין‪ ,‬און א סאך האבן נאך אפילו ניט‬ ‫אנגעהויבן‪ ,‬דער רבי זאגט (נדפס בהיום יום ע' נג) אז פון פסח‬ ‫שני קען מען זיך אפלערנען אז עס איז ניטא קיין פארפאלן מען‬ ‫קען אלע מאל פאריכטן מי שהי' טמא‪ ,‬מי שהי' בדרך רחוקה‪ ,‬און‬ ‫אפילו לכם אז דאס איז געווען ברצונו פונדעסטוועגן קען מען‬ ‫מתקן זיין‪ ,‬און מ'מאכט א גאנצע יו"ט מיט א גאנצן שטורעם‪,‬‬ ‫אזוי ווי פסח ראשון‪ ,‬ווייל ביי דעם אויבערשטן איז טייער אפילו א‬ ‫יחיד‪ ( .‬אויב רובו של ציבור האט ניט מקריב געווען פסח ראשון‬ ‫במועדו‪ ,‬יעמאלט איז מען מקריב פסח ראשון)‪ ,‬וואס פון דאס איז‬ ‫א מוסר השכל אז ס'איז ניטא קיין פארפאלן‪ ,‬אז די וואס האבן‬ ‫נאך ניט געמאכט קיין מנין קענען משלים זיין ביז יאצ"ט‪ ,‬וואס‬ ‫פריער‪ ,‬איז אלץ בעסער‪.‬‬

‫פועל'ן אויף א מנין אידן‬ ‫אין די דריי ענינים פון‬ ‫מחשבה דיבור ומעשה‪,‬‬ ‫(‪ )...‬פון פסח שני קען‬ ‫מען זיך אפלערנען אז עס‬ ‫איז ניטא קיין פארפאלן‬

‫‪it his business to affect ten other Yidden in these three areas, or‬‬ ‫‪at least in one of them.‬‬ ‫‪Many, boruch Hashem, were successful in completing a minyan‬‬ ‫‪before Yud Tes Kislev. Many did not complete a minyan and‬‬ ‫‪many did not even begin. We learn from Pesach Sheini that it‬‬ ‫‪is never too late to rectify that which was lacking. We make‬‬ ‫‪a great yom Tov even if just for the sake of a single person‬‬ ‫‪because every single Jew is beloved by Hashem. Applying this‬‬ ‫‪lesson to ourselves, those who did not complete a minyan can‬‬ ‫‪do so before the yartzeit, and the earlier, the better.‬‬

‫‪T‬‬

‫‪hese three elements correspond to the three pillars‬‬ ‫‪upon which the world stands: Avoda, namely avodas hakor‬‬‫‪bonos, represents avodas hatefila, which is accomplished‬‬ ‫‪through machshova. Torah corresponds to dibur and gemilus‬‬ ‫‪chassodim corresponds to maaseh.‬‬ ‫‪Every Yid is an entire world, a world that needs these three‬‬ ‫‪pillars upon which to stand. Not only does a person need to‬‬ ‫‪ensure that he has his own pillars in place, but he must make‬‬

‫‪52‬‬

‫שיחה‬

‫משלים זיין דער מנין‬ ‫התקשרות ע"י הליכה באורחותיו‬

‫ב‬

‫שעת דער רבי האט געזאגט אז לימוד תורתו איז א עצה‬ ‫אויף התקשרות האט ער דאן אויך געזאגט שמירת התקנות‪,‬‬ ‫והליכה באורחותיו‪ .‬ביי דעם רבי'ן איז געווען דער סדר אז ער‬ ‫וואלט טאן א טובה יעדער אידן סיי אין רוחניות סיי אין גשמיות‪,‬‬ ‫און ניט דוקא נאך דעם וואס ער האט געמאכט א חקירה ודרישה‬ ‫ווי איז יענעמס מצב אין רוחניות‪ ,‬נאר ער האט געטאן יענעם‬ ‫א טובה וואס יענער האט געבעטן אדער וואס ער אליין האט‬ ‫געוואוסט אז יענעם פעלט‪ ,‬און דערנאך וואלט ער אויף אים‬ ‫משפיע זיין אין רוחניות‪.‬‬

‫ ‬ ‫די אלע וואס ווילן גיין באורחותיו‪ ,‬וואס דורך דעם וועלן זיי זיין צו‬ ‫אים מקושר‪ ,‬דארפן זיי טאן ווי דער רבי האט געטאן‪ ,‬כי תראה‬ ‫ערום‪ -‬נאקעט אן ציצית ותפילין – וכסיתו‪ ,‬וואס דערפאר איז‬ ‫דאך געווען די הצעה ( שיחת בראשית ע' כז‪ ,‬וראה ג"כ שיחת‬ ‫ש"פ לך לך יו"ד מ"ח) אז יעדער איינער דארף זען ביז י"ט כסלו‬ ‫פועל'ן אויף א מנין אידן אין מחשבה דיבור ומעשה‪.‬‬

‫די אלע וואס ווילן גיין‬ ‫באורחותיו‪ ,‬וואס דורך‬ ‫דעם וועלן זיי זיין צו אים‬ ‫מקושר‪ ,‬דארפן זיי טאן ווי‬ ‫דער רבי האט געטאן‪ ,‬כי‬ ‫תראה ערום – נאקעט אן‬ ‫ציצית ותפילין – וכסיתו‪,‬‬ ‫‪Those who wish to go in the Frierdiker Rebbe’s ways, by way‬‬ ‫‪of which they will then be connected to him, must do as the‬‬ ‫‪Frierdiker Rebbe did. Namely, when a person sees someone‬‬ ‫‪who is bare — of tzitzis and tefillin — he must cover him. As‬‬ ‫‪such, the Rebbe had suggested that every person must influ‬‬‫‪ence ten Yidden in machshova, dibbur and maaseh before‬‬ ‫‪Yud Tes Kislev.‬‬

‫‪53‬‬

‫ ‪The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774‬‬

‫‪W‬‬

‫‪hen the Frierdiker Rebbe stated that learning his‬‬ ‫‪Torah will engender hiskashrus to him, he also spoke of fol‬‬‫‪lowing the takonos he had established, as well as following in‬‬ ‫‪his ways. When a Yid was in need of a favor from the Frierdiker‬‬ ‫‪Rebbe, or the Frierdiker Rebbe saw that a person was in need of‬‬ ‫‪something, the Frierdiker Rebbe would first assist the person‬‬ ‫‪in whatever he needed, and only then influence him spiritually.‬‬

‫שיחה‬

‫ד‬

‫ורך עבודה מיט זיך און מיט'ן זולת אין‬ ‫אלע דריי קוין‪ ,‬וואס דאס איז הליכה באורחותיו‪ ,‬איז מען‬ ‫צוגעבונדן צום רבי'ן‪ ,‬וואס אויף דעם האט ער זיך מוסר נפש‬ ‫געווען‪ ,‬נפש מיינט רצון‪ ,‬און הגם אז אלע ענינים דעם רבי'נס‬ ‫זיינען דאך קדושה‪ ,‬פונדעסטוועגן איז אין דעם גופא פאראן‬ ‫חילוקים אזוי ווי דער צ"צ האט געזאגט אויף דעם אלטן רבי'ן‬ ‫– דער בעל השמחה – אז אלע זיינע מס"נ ענינים ווי ועמך‬ ‫לא חפצתי וכדומה‪ ,‬זיינע כלא לגבי דער מס"נ וואס ער האט‬ ‫אפגעגעבן זיין צייט‪ ,‬זיינע כחות‪ ,‬און זיין נפש‪ ,‬אלע טאג טאן‬ ‫א אידן א טובה‪ ,‬ניט נאר אין רוחניות נאר אויך אין גשמיות‪.‬‬

‫פארוואס האט עד געהייסן קומען שמע"צ וואס איז בדוגמת ר"ה‪,‬‬ ‫נאר דער תירוץ איז ווען עס וואלט געווען א הנהגה עפ"י‬ ‫השכל‪ ,‬קען מען מאכן חשבונות און אויסשטעלן אזא זמן‬ ‫וואס איז בעסער פאר זיך‪ ,‬אבער וויבאלד אז ס'איז געווען א‬ ‫הנהגה פון מס"נ‪ ,‬איז דאך ניט שייכות צו מאכן חשבונות‪ ,‬אז‬ ‫ער וועט זיך טאקע מוסר נפש זיין‪ ,‬נאר ווען – אין א צייט‬ ‫וואס איז אים באקוועמער‪ ,‬ווארום וויבאלד אז ער האט זיך‬ ‫מוסר נפש געווען איז ער ארויס אינגאנצן פון זיינע ענינים‪.‬‬

‫עאכו"כ‪ ,‬אז ביי אונז דארף זיין די הליכה באורחותיו‪,‬‬ ‫דער רבי האט דערציילט אז זיין פאטער דער רבי נ"ע האט אמאל און זען איינקערן זיך און מאכן א מנין ביז יו"ד שבט‪,‬‬ ‫שמע"צ געהייסן רופן צו זיך חסידים פארברענגען מיט זיי‪ ,‬וואס דאס איז נוגע אין נפש רוח נשמה חי' יחידה‪.‬‬ ‫זאגנדיק אז הגם שמע"צ איז בדוגמא צו ר"ה‪ ,‬פונדעסטוועגן‪...‬‬ ‫(משיחת קודש‪ ,‬י"ט כסלו תשי"א)‬ ‫האט ער זיך מוסר נפש געווען כדי טאן א ‪ ‬טובה חסידים‪ ,‬לכאו'‬ ‫האט ער זיי געקענט הייסן קומען אסרו חג אדער שמח"ת‪,‬‬

‫ביי אונז דארף זיין די‬ ‫הליכה באורחותיו‪ ,‬און זען‬ ‫איינקערן זיך און מאכן א‬ ‫מנין ביז יו"ד שבט‪ ,‬וואס‬ ‫דאס איז נוגע אין נפש‬ ‫רוח נשמה חי' יחידה‪.‬‬

‫‪to Rosh Hashana, and the Rebbe Rashab seemingly could‬‬ ‫‪have farbrenged with the Chassidim on Simchas Torah‬‬ ‫‪or Isru Chag just as well, the Rebbe Rashab did not make‬‬ ‫‪cheshbonos and schedule a time that was more convenient‬‬ ‫‪for him. The Rebbe Rashab acted with mesiras nefesh to do‬‬ ‫‪a favor for Chassidim. How much more so must we go in the‬‬ ‫‪Rebbe Rashab’s ways, to see to it to complete a minyan by‬‬ ‫‪Yud Shevat. This is a matter that pertains to nefesh, ruach,‬‬ ‫‪neshoma, chaya, and yechida. 19 Kislev, 5711 c‬‬

‫‪T‬‬

‫‪hrough following the Frierdiker Rebbe’s path by‬‬ ‫‪working to influence others in all three domains, we become‬‬ ‫‪connected to him. Indeed, the Frierdiker Rebbe was moser‬‬ ‫‪nefesh , giving of his time, energy and soul to do a Yid a favor,‬‬ ‫‪not only spiritually but also physically.‬‬ ‫‪The Frierdiker Rebbe related that the Rebbe Rashab once‬‬ ‫‪called Chassidim together on Shmini Atzeres to farbreng‬‬ ‫‪with them. Despite the fact that Shmini Atzeres is similar‬‬

‫ב”ה‬

The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

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The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774â&#x20AC;&#x201A;

Fe a t u re

Ahavas Yisroel

Like a Father to His

Rabbi Moshe Feller – S. Paul, Minnesota –

Rabbi Shmuel Lew– – London, England –

Children Highlighting the Rebbe’s Love for Every Jew Two shluchim share their impressions. 58

jem/living archive #127206 The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774â&#x20AC;&#x201A;

Fe a t u re

Rabbi Moshe Feller

‫אוהבו כנפשו‬

he Medrash states that when someone visits a sick person, he removes a sixtieth of the person’s illness. It would seem that having sixty people visit a sick person would be a foolproof way to cure him of his illness completely. The Medrash, however, explains that this remedy is effective on one condition, ‫אוהבו כנפשו‬, the visitor must love the sick person like the visitor loves himself. I believe the Rebbe was able to take away sick-

ness from so many people because he loved every Jew like himself—even more than himself. We should reciprocate and ‫ ;אוהבו כנפשו‬we should love the

Rebbe and our Jewish brethren like we love our own souls. We should not be lazy. We should totally immerse ourselves into fulfilling the Rebbe’s wish as if it were our own. Let us each be one of the sixty people who will remove the maladies of golus and reunite us with our Rebbe ‫דא למטה‬.

jem/living archive #130659

was 24 years old when my mother A”H passed away. The Rebbe sent Rabbi Berel Baumgarten A”H to be with us during shiva. Then, a few years later, the Rebbe called Rabbi Dovid Raskin A”H and told him to make a shidduch for my father with Mrs. Gross A”H, the mother of Rabbi Elya Gross. Indeed, my father was B”H married to her for 17 years, until she passed away. Before my father’s second marriage, the Rebbe, unsolicited, sent me a note. Knowing I might have been bothered by someone else becoming my father’s wife, the Rebbe wrote [paraphrased], “You should know that your father remarrying is a nachas ruach for your mother, since there is now someone who will take care of him.” As if the Rebbe had nothing else to do other than write me a note.... ‫אוהבו כנפשו‬. I was a student in Yeshivas Torah Vodaas in the fifties when the Rebbe told Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky to tell me that my parents should go visit a 20-year old man from Montreal who was hospitalized in Rochester, Minnesota. The Rebbe explained that the family was frum and knew nobody in Rochester, and he asked my parents to visit them and bring them kosher food. There was no highway

to Rochester at that time, but my parents made the two-hour drive. Seeing my parents, the mother and son were both so happy. My parents informed them that the Lubavitcher Rebbe had sent them. “How did he know we were here?” they asked. My parents didn’t know what to answer, other than, “He’s the Lubavitcher Rebbe!” ‫אוהבו כנפשו‬. In the mid 1950s, my sister was in an accident and my mother flew to New York to be with her in the hospital. The Rebbe told Rabbi Hodakov to call the chaplain of the hospital to ask the staff to provide the maximum comfort and care for my sister and mother. ‫אוהבו כנפשו‬. If the Rebbe saw a bochur without a coat on a cold day, the Rebbe would shake his lapel as if to ask, “Where is your coat?” ‫אוהבו כנפשו‬. While conducting yechidus one night, the Rebbe was coughing terribly. Following one of the many yechiduyos, Rabbi Groner brought the Rebbe a glass of tea. Explaining that it would take six or seven minutes to drink the tea, the

The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

jem/living archive #129695

Fe a t u re

jem/living archive #129695

Two Hands of the

Same Body Rabbi shmuel lew

Is it truly possible for one person to love another as himself ? Seeing Beyond the Words and Actions Some meforshim interpret the mitzvah of ‫ואהבת‬ ‫ לרעך כמוך‬as the Torah telling us to behave toward others as if we actually loved them as ourselves. After all, it seems impossible to emotionally love another person as we love ourselves. Chassidus, however, explains that genuine ahavas Yisroel can indeed be achieved if the spiritual is the dominant force in our lives. In the world of neshomos, we are indeed truly and totally united. After all, as is explained in Talmud Yerushalmi, we are one. When one Yid cares for another, it is like one hand in a person’s body caring for the other hand in his body. By viewing every person in terms of his neshoma, it is thus possible to love another as we love ourselves. The key, therefore, is to see beyond the actions or words of our fellow. We must see, instead, his infinite Divine potential, the part of Hashem that is the Essence of each one of us. This is the mitzvah of ahavas Yisroel. The Baal Shem Tov said that ahavas Yisroel applies to a fellow Jew whom a person has never met. The Rebbe elaborates, explaining that this applies not only in physical terms, but also to a person whose lifestyle is so remote from our own that our souls have never met because they have never been in the same spiritual place together. As such, defining the person in terms of his neshoma, which is one with my neshoma, is the first step in practical ahavas Yisroel.

feller

‫אוהבו כנפשו‬

continued from previous page

Rebbe declined it saying, “How can I keep the next Yid waiting to see me waiting for six or seven minutes?” The Rebbe’s love for every Jew prompted him to launch the Ten Mivtzoim, as well as the mivtza of daily limud hoRambam. In Likutei Torah, Parshas Kedoshim, the Alter Rebbe quotes Sifri in Hilchos Talmud Torah, where it states that it is a mitzva for every Jew to know the entire Torah, the 613 mitzvos and their details, citing the posuk in Shir HaShirim, The Alter Rebbe provides the reason for this: ‫להלביש תרי”ג‬ ‫ כוחות הנפש‬with the ‫תרי”ג‬ ‫מצות התורה‬. If a person is deficient in the knowledge of even one mitzva, he is not “‫”כולך יפה ומום אין בך‬. The Rebbe concerned himself to ensure that every Jew be “‫כולך יפה ומום אין בך‬.” There were many Jewish leaders who were concerned with the wellbeing of every Jew. The Rebbe, uniquely, created the machinery (shlichus) to reach every Jew because he was ‫אוהבו כנפשו‬. The Rebbe looked at every Jew as his own child. ‫אוהבו‬ ‫כנפשו‬. We must reciprocate in kind by showing genuine love for every Jew, which will hasten the coming of Moshiach and reunite us with our beloved Rebbe.

The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

Fe a t u re

Channeling Love into Action Sensitive, dedicated people are known for awakening within themselves a genuine feeling for another. As an expression of their ahavas Yisroel, these people may well daven fervently for every one of our brothers and sisters who does not observe Yiddishkeit at all. They may cry bitter tears in empathy and sympathy, in hope and in prayer. The Rebbe, however, experienced this mitzvah as an immediate reality, a reality that calls, first and foremost, for action, with no limits. Moreover, the Rebbe spoke, taught and begged people to understand that the mitzvah of ahavas Yisroel is real. It is literal. It is the centerpiece of Torah. It requires real action, not just feelings. The Rebbe inspired tens of thousands of his followers and many others to experience his vision and to act upon it. The Rebbe inspired them to go to the ends of the Earth, seek out Yidden, and teach them that their Essence is a neshoma that is part of Hashem

Himself, to enhance their practice of Yiddishkeit, to set up Jewish families, and to build communities. The Rebbeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Revolution Looking at the Jewish landscape today, it is hard to imagine how the Rebbe began this work in the years before his ascent to the role of Rebbe. After all, during the Holocaust, and in the years immediately following, many people were disillusioned with anything Jewish. Others had become ensconced in their enclaves, fearing that they would become spiritually contaminated. The Rebbe inspired the latter to reach out to the former. The earliest shluchim, sent in the early 1950s to Morocco and Tunisia, were people who had just escaped the Soviet Union. They had suffered in order to keep Yiddishkeit, share it with others, and raise Chassidishe families behind the Iron Curtain. Many of them had suffered additionally in the gulag. As shluchim, they now had to become familiar with

Rabbi shmuel lew

new languages and new lifestyles. The other early shluchim had been brought up on the fleshpots of the United States and were accustomed to their creature comforts, as well as local large Jewish communities and facilities. The Rebbe inspired them to go where there were Jews who needed them. All of this was revolutionary. Until the mid-twentieth century, it was almost unheard of. Those who went out in the early years were often warned of the spiritual danger, and even ridiculed by some people, for the risks that they were taking. The quantity, quality, variety, and ever-increasing size of this whole enterprise are an expression of the unlimited ahavas Yisroel of the Rebbe.

Boundless Love

efer Yetzira is based on three categories: ‫( עולם שנה ונפש‬space, time and person). The Rebbe’s ahavas Yisroel was boundless, transcending all three of these categories.

‫ עולם‬The Rebbe knew no limits in space. People asked of the shluchim, “How can they go out to live in the middle of nowhere? How can they leave their families and communities?” But the Rebbe taught that it is not nowhere, that it is the garden of Hashem. It is your extended family and your community. The Rebbe gave the world an idea of what global thinking is.

jem/living archive #6606

‫ שנה‬The Rebbe gave of his time in an unprecedented way. In more than 40 years, the Rebbe never took a vacation, not even to say spend a Shabbos in a nearby Chabad House, or to daven Mincha at the Lubavitcher yeshiva across the street. A person with an unmatched knowledge of every area of Torah, a love of intense learning, (which was what the Rebbe did for most of the hours of the day,) made himself available. When the Rebbe spoke with anyone, no matter how young, how old, how high, or how low they were in the communal hierarchy, he gave total and absolute attention to that person. ‫ נפש‬The Rebbe's community was Klal Yisroel: the collective body, every subgroup of Yidden, and every single individual Yid. The Rebbe saw each person in terms of his inner soul. To the Rebbe, a person is defined by his infinite potential, and the Rebbe did everything possible to inspire every person to live up to that potential. The Rebbe would not allow anyone to question his own potential or to downplay it. There are tens of thousands of frumme Yidden today whose journeys took place thanks to the Rebbe. Moreover, there are hundreds of thousands, probably millions, whose spiritual potential is revealed thanks to the Rebbe's love.

"the Rebbe spoke, taught and begged people to understand that the mitzvah of ahavas Yisroel is real. It is literal." The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

Fe a t u re

The Rebbe’s Love Is on Shlichus n 1970, a young bar mitzva boy living in a small town became inspired to grow Jewishly. There was very little orthodox presence in the town, so, based on his experiences attending Bnai Akiva events, he observed as much of Yiddishkeit as he knew it. As a young man of 16 or 17, he made aliya and moved to Kibbutz Lavi, a religious kibbutz. Since he was so young, a couple on the kibbutz adopted him as

I 66

their own son and provided him with a place to call home. When the Yom Kippur War broke out, this young man went to the front like everyone else. Unfortunately, though, he was killed. This young man’s sister, who still resided in her parents’ hometown, became very disillusioned. This was not so much because her brother had given his life for his country and his People, but rather because she felt that the local community didn’t sufficiently empathize with the family. She became angry with and alien-

ated from the Jewish people and ended up marrying a non-Jew. Last year, 5773, the couple from Kibbutz Lavi found out that there was now a shliach on the college campus in the small town from where the young man had come. They called the shliach and shared the story with him, giving him the name of this young man’s sister. The shliach worked to track down this woman and find her address. Then, one fine day, he showed up, unannounced, at the woman’s doorstep, along with a bochur who was on Merkos

23 Av, 5736/August 19, 1976 jem/living archive #105174

On 23 Av, 5736, a contingent of IDF soldiers who had been injured in the line of duty paid a visit to the Rebbe. They sat assembled in the main shul in 770, which had been cleared of all other people. The Rebbe made his way amongst the wheelchairs, shaking their hands and bestowing warm and encouraging words upon them. The Rebbe then addressed them, telling them that the fact that they find themselves in this situation means that Hashem has granted them unique kochos to overcome their limitations and rise above and beyond all expectations. “You are not handicapped, but special, since you possess a potential that none of us have. I therefore suggest that from today forward, you not be called ‘‬‫’‫נכי צה"ל‬ but ‘‬‫‫מצויני צה"ל‬,’ for this is a far more accurate description [paraphrased].”

shlichus in his town at that time. Waiting at the door, they soon encountered this woman walking up her driveway, returning from a walk with her dog. She invited them in and shared a bit of her story. Thirty years prior, she had gotten married. Five years and two kids later, she had gotten divorced. Now, her children were living on their own, attending the local college. The shliach asked whether this woman would mind if he were to contact them and she replied that she would not mind. When the shliach met with this

woman’s son, he was very polite but shared that being Jewish meant “zero” to him. He had been inside a shul once in his life, at age four, but that was it. Even so, the shliach handed him a term card that listed and described the programs Chabad was offering during that term, inviting him to attend. That Friday night, the young man did not show up. Two weeks later, he did show up but sat in a corner and did not speak with anyone nor participate in anything. One week later, the young man showed up at a weekday shiur. The next Friday night, he came to shul, following which he began attending and participating in the shliach’s programs regularly. One Friday night in November, the shliach announced that he would be away the following week, attending the Kinus HaShluchim in New York. This young man stayed on after the Shabbos meal, asking the shliach to bring back “a picture of the man on the wall in your house.” The shliach agreed but then asked, “Would it

be appropriate for me to ask why you would like that picture?” The young man replied as follows: “Nowadays, everyone you meet wants to sell you something, be it a phone card, insurance policy, their college society, or anything in between. When you came to my apartment, I figured that you were just like everyone else, trying to sell me your thing. I had no intention of coming to you at all. A couple of weeks later, I was about to throw out your card but decided to visit your website. On the website, there was a link to a video. The video was of an old rabbi speaking, accompanied by subtitles. The man on the video was not trying to sell me his thing; he was speaking about my spiritual self. I then showed up to check you out. That is why I didn’t speak to anyone the first time I came. Now, I see that you are indeed in it to help me, and others, improve our spiritual selves, following the direction of this rabbi. That is why I would like a picture of him.” One month ago, I called the shliach for an update on the story. He told me that this young man still comes regularly and is now dating a Jewish girl whom he met at Chabad. c Writer: Mrs. Elky Raitport

The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

Interview

The Paradigm Shift

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The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

Interview

The Paradigm Shift

Why is the course called Paradigm Shift? MD: A paradigm is a way of looking at things. The Rebbe taught us how Torah gives us an alternative way of reading the narrative of our lives. Some of the Rebbe’s ideas simply change the way we perceive reality. What do you feel is one of the Rebbe’s biggest paradigm shifts? MD: After just a few interviews, we saw that a recurring theme is the way the Rebbe sees no divide between gashmiyus and ruchniyus. There are countless instances where the Rebbe tells people with material concerns to check their mezuzos, to check their tefillin, to learn a bit more Torah. The Rebbe saw ‫ונתתי גשמיכם‬...‫ אם בחקתי תלכו‬as a very real and practical formula for life. What’s so revolutionary about that? Doesn’t everyone believe that ruchniyus impacts gashmiyus? NS: Not at all. When we began

Figure 1

researching this concept, we discovered that this is one of the Rebbe’s most revolutionary ideas. The common approach is that the reward for our spiritual avoda while in olam hazeh will be experienced in olam haba. After all, the Gemara says ‫[שכר מצוה בהאי עלמא ליכא‬1], the reward for mitzvos is not in this world. Within this world, however, there is no basis to connect gashmiyus and ruchniyus. Furthermore, the Zohar[2] tells us that in golus, Esav rules and has access to physical blessing. Only when Moshiach comes will Yaakov have access to physical blessing. As such, we have no reason to expect a life of material comfort. It seems as though the earlier Rebbeim maintained this perspective. As a matter of fact, the Rebbe Rashab writes[3] that the reward promised in ‫ אם בחקתי תלכו‬will come only in the times of Moshiach (this is also referenced in various meforshim). And what was the Rebbe’s philosophy? MD: The Rebbe, in his sichos, acknowledges the fact that we are in golus and, therefore, not guaranteed to always enjoy physical prosperity as a result of spiritual health. However, the Rebbe states that as we approach the Geula, during which time this direct line of cause and effect will be the ‫ב‬,‫] קידושין לט‬1[ ‫ ב‬,‫] זהר ח"א קמג‬2[ ‫] המשך תרס"ו ע' לה ואילך‬3[

Rabbi Naftali Silberberg (L) and Rabbi Mordechai Dinerman (R) interview Rabbi Shmuel Kaplan (C), regional director of Chabad-Lubavitch of Maryland and member of the board and executive committee of Merkos L'inyonei Chinuch-Lubavitch World Headquarters, gathering insight and information for Paradigm Shift.

standard, it will become normative to notice that a healthy spiritual life will indeed boost a person’s physical life. That is fascinating. So the Rebbe radically changed the way we look at the modern-day relationship between gashmiyus and ruchniyus? NS: More than we think. Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky shared one story that illustrates just how strongly the Rebbe intertwined gashmiyus wit h ruchniyus. Very soon after Yud Shevat, 5710, a friend of Rabbi Krinsky’s father became very ill. Rabbi Krinsky’s father asked his son to write to the Rebbe and ask for a brocha, which he did. Soon thereafter, the Rebbe summoned Rabbi Krinsky into the Rebbe’s office and told him, “With regard to your father’s request, the individual will have a refuah. But it should be b’derech hateva, and for that purpose, your father should start learning Chassidus with him.” MD: There is something profound here. The Rebbe’s insistence that a Yid will have good gashmiyus if he shapes up b’ruchniyus is actually a

subtle koch in Moshiach. A person might think that there is no connection between Moshiach and telling a Jew who is not well to check his tefillin. Researching and developing this course helped us realize that the Rebbe’s Torah is complex, deep, and very much interconnected. Are there are any stories where you can see the Rebbe almost challenging reality, refusing to accept that Esav can ever be allowed to rule? EM: In the maamar[4] ‫ד”ה הבאים ישרש‬ ‫יעקב תשמ"ח‬, the Rebbe describes the pain and bitterness of golus. The Rebbe then explains that because we know that with Moshiach’s imminent arrival, the pain and suffering of golus will soon be gone, we are able to bear golus for its last few moments. Reb Yoel Kahn sent his written hanocha of this maamar to the Rebbe for review. When he saw that the Rebbe had deleted this entire paragraph from the maamar, Reb Yoel was taken aback and asked Rabbi Leibel Groner to ask for clarification from the Rebbe. The Rebbe took the maamar, reviewed it again, and told Rabbi Groner )‫] סה"מ מלוקט ח"ד (ע' קכה‬4[

“Some of the Rebbe’s ideas simply change the way we perceive reality” Rabb i M o r d e c h a i D i n e r m a n , E d i t o r , J L I

Interview

that while this statement was made during the maamar, ‫אבער‬ ‫פאר אידן דארף זיין גוט יעצט‬, it needs to be good for Jews now. You interviewed over 40 people for Paradigm Shift. How did you choose who to interview? MD: We wanted to get the deepest and broadest understanding of the Rebbe’s Torah. We asked people who are always immersed in it, like mashpi’im and chozrim, and people who have spent their life teaching it to others, like shluchim and educators. One of the chozrim we spoke to encouraged us to consult with people outside Lubavitch as well, so that we could place the Rebbe’s philosophy in the context of Jewish history and wider society. What is an example of collaboration with nonLubavitch authorities? MD: Many of the people we interviewed insisted that we include the Rebbe’s approach to the hippies and the counterculture. When we started to research this, we first found sichos and letters from 1963 that seemed to describe this idea[5] In these sources, the Rebbe talks about a movement called ‘‫’לשוב אל המקורות‬, to return to the roots, and the Rebbe mentions that this movement is a result of their neshamos crying out for a connection to Yiddishkeit. We initially assumed that this referred to the hippies, but we soon realized that the hippie movement really only started in the late ‘60s. So, what was this move-

The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

Interview

The Paradigm Shift

“With regard to your father’s request, the individual will have a refuah. But it should be b’derech hateva, and for that purpose, your father should start learning Chassidus with him.”

ment ‫ ?לשוב אל המקורות‬No one we spoke to had any idea what it was. So what did you do? MD: We asked Professor Jonathan Sarna, a leading expert in American Jewish history, if he knew what the Rebbe was referring to. He pointed us to a religious renaissance that was taking root across America that year as recorded in the 1963 American Jewish Year, in its review of religious life for the previous year (see figure 1). But what about the hippie movement? Did the Rebbe address that or not? MD: Chozrim pointed us to a sicha from Purim 5730 (the height of the movement) and one from Parshas Shelach 5728. From there we found quite a few sichos discussing the hippies directly. The Rebbe speaks about the fact that the hippies were rebelling because they were dissatisfied with how shallow society was. The Rebbe also points out that they are ripe for turning their lives around and doing teshuvah, because they had absolutely no inhibitions. They don’t care what society says, they don’t care what their parents say, they don’t even care what they themselves believed yesterday. What is something interesting that has been observed about the Rebbe from outside the Chabad perspective? EM: One striking insight was shared by Rabbi Dr. Benjamin Blech, professor of Talmud at Yeshiva University. “Moshe Rabbeinu told Hashem, ‘‫והם לא יאמינו לי‬,’

The Yidden will not have faith. The Rebbe was sent to rectify this ancient flaw and show that ‘‫הם יאמינו בך‬,’ Yidden are ‫מאמינים בני מאמינים‬. The Rebbe was out to prove that this is true concerning each and every Jew.” This idea of the Rebbe revealing the goodness and sanctity of his people like no other before him, is something that winds its way through the entire course. Are there any myths or misconceptions about the Rebbe that this course disproves? MD: The Rebbe’s approach to technology. Many are generally well aware of Chabad’s embrace of technology, especially in contrast to the chareidi world. The common understanding of the Rebbe’s approach is that, unlike those who believe that technology is inherently bad, Chassidus Chabad believes that technology is neutral and it’s up to us Yidden to elevate it by using it for the good. In truth, the Rebbe said something far more revolutionary. The Rebbe explained that technology is not neutral but, in a certain sense, inherently holy. Not that it is parve and we can choose to make it useful, but that its very creation was for the holy purposes that we use it for. [7] There’s a practical ‫ נפקא מינא‬to this. The Rebbe often quoted [6] ‫כל מה שברא‬ ‫ הקב"ה לא בראו אלא לכבודו‬pointing out

304 '‫; לקו"ש חל"ד ע‬224 '‫] תו"מ תשכ"ג ח"ב ע‬5[

Interview

that this is a case of ‫ !לא אלא‬Meaning, to be used for inyonei kedusha is not a reason for technology’s creation, it is the only reason for its creation! The default status of every creation, including technology, is that it was created for us to use for the right things. Technology isn’t neutral or passive, it is actively positive. Is there anything to suggest what our approach to the internet should be? NS: There is a fascinating footnote to a sicha from [7]‫עקב תשמ"ח‬. The Rebbe writes: “In regards to the development of devices that have been discovered in recent times: Even though it is possible to use these things in ways that run contrary to the Torah (and that has been the reality for many, R”L), we must nonetheless use them for inyonei kedusha and hafotza, especially those who already use them for business. It is for this purpose that these technologies and possibilities were discovered.” This seems to describe the internet perfectly. What other misconceptions do you think are cleared up by Paradigm Shift? NS: The way to interpret the Rebbe’s call to learn ‫עניני גאולה ומשיח‬. The conventional understanding is that the intellectual activity of studying ‫עניני גאולה‬ ‫ ומשיח‬causes “Moshiachdik’e thinking” to become part of our essence. However, when we revisited the sichos and were developing the lessons for the course, we noticed that the Rebbe does not say that applying our intellect to this area will make it sink into our pnimiyus. So what did the Rebbe really say about studying ‫?עניני גאולה ומשיח‬ NS: Torah is ‫העכער פון וועלט‬, and can therefore scoop up a person and allow him to see a new perspective—one that transcends the status quo of nature, golus. This effect is true for all of Torah, whether it is Yoreh De’ah or a maamar[8]. Studying the Torah’s approach allows us to appreciate things from a fundamentally different angle, to see the forest for the trees. This is especially true of ‫] אבות ספ"ו‬6[ 593 '‫] ספה"ש תשמ"ח ח"ב ע‬7[ ‫] ראה שיחות ש״פ תזו״מ וש״פ בלק תנש״א‬8[

‫עניני גו"מ‬, which the Rebbe calls ‫מלכות‬ ‫שבתפארת‬: studying this particular

concept in Torah allows us to transcend everything we think to be true and real, and enter into a new world of Moshiach. EM: In several sichos, the Rebbe defines Torah as a medium through which a person is elevated, like an elevator that lifts a person and allows him to see his surroundings from a new and higher perspective. Learning ‫עניני גאולה ומשיח‬ allows a person to be elevated to an even loftier place, equivalent to ascending to an even higher floor. It provides a person with a more profound perspective than he would have achieved through ordinary limud haTorah. In fact, it allows a person to acquire the widest view possible: that of the world of ‫גאולה ומשיח‬. Okay, so limud haTorah gives you the broader view. What difference does that make in daily life? EM: In 5744, when my uncle, Mr. Dovid Mintz, presented the Rebbe with 101 Tanyas that he had sponsored (printed in 101 cities in New Jersey), the Rebbe told him: ‫”אויב דו וועסט האבן א דאגה אין‬

‫ זאלסט לערנען אן ענין אין תורה‬,‫פרנסה‬ “.‫און דו וועסט פטור ווערן פון די דאגה‬

If you have anxiety about parnassa, study some Torah and you will rid yourself of the anxiety. Was this some sort of magical fix? No. Katnus hamochin, intellectual immaturity, causes a person to become overwhelmed and obsessed by trivial things. Limud haTorah gives a person gadlus hamochin, a larger and broader perspective. Torah sweeps a person up and shows him how things truly are in the broader scheme, and suddenly what appeared to be a ‫ דאגה‬becomes insignificant. What is another way that the Rebbe changed the way we see reality? EM: There is a phenomenal example of this in a sicha from Parshas Shoftim 5749. After the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash, we lost the ability to do all but 87 mitzvos aseh. In the Mitteler Rebbe’s Chassidus,[9] this is explained as a tragic punishment. After all, mitzvos we connect to Hashem through perform-

ing mitzvos; when He took the away these mitzvos, it weakened our connection. As such, it would seem that in golus, Hashem’s love for us is strained, expressed in the decrease of mitzvos during golus. Not according to the Rebbe. In that sicha, the Rebbe quotes that day’s portion of Rambam, from ‫הלכות חובל ומזיק‬. The last halocha there discusses a case of “‫ספינה‬ ”‫ שחשבה להשבר מכובד המשוי‬a ship that is about to sink because it is overburdened, ‫ועמד אחד מהן‬ ‫והקל ממשאה והשליך בים‬, but then someone comes along and throws some of the cargo into the sea. The din is that he doesn’t need to reimburse the owners of the cargo. This is because by throwing away their possessions, this person was saving the lives of all the people aboard the ship. The Rebbe then explained that the ship is klal Yisroel. We were in danger of being overburdened with mitzvos. We would have struggled to keep them all, and we would have to suffer the consequences of that. But then, ‫עמד אחד‬, Hashem stood up and saved us. He took the mitzvos and threw them off the ship (and they remain hidden until the end of golus) so that we could survive during these difficult times of golus. Hashem did it out of love for us, to save the ship, to ease the burden on klal Yisroel. In truth, the loss of these mitzvos was the best thing possible. What a revolutionary idea! The Rebbe seized something that is commonly thought of as tragic, and explained it in a radically positive light. So according to the Rebbe, the loss of mitzvos was a fundamentally good thing? EM: The Rebbe is saying that mitzvos are just a means to express Hashem’s love. ‫רצה‬

‫הקב"ה לזכות את ישראל לפיכך‬

The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

Interview

The Paradigm Shift ‫[הרבה להם תורה ומצות‬10]: He increased

the amount of mitzvos for the benefit of klal Yisroel. But, for that same reason— our own good and His love for us—He also decreased the amount of mitzvos when this was necessary! This is a chiddush not only in contrast to mussar thought, but also Chassidus Chabad. And this is not the only one; there are many such examples throughout the Rebbe’s Torah. The mazkirus must have had a unique relationship with the Rebbe. What things did they tell you? NS: We asked Rabbi Groner what he thinks is the one story or vort or hanhoga that encapsulates the Rebbe’s care and ahavas Yisroel. At first, he evaded the question and said he didn’t know, but after giving us a disclaimer that he’s not shayach to make such statements, he related that after every distribution of dollars or kuntreisim— every single time—the Rebbe would turn to him and ask, “Is there anyone left who still needs to receive?” The Rebbe wouldn’t leave until he made sure that no person was left behind. What other stories of the Rebbe’s ahavas Yisroel did you uncover? NS: There were many. Rabbi Avraham Shemtov told us a fascinating story about the Rebbe and Zalman Schachter (see figure 2). In his recently released book, Rebbe: The Life and Teachings of Menachem M. Schneerson, the Most Influential Rabbi in Modern History, Telushkin relates a remarkable story that he heard from Rabbi Mintz. In honor of the Rebbe’s 70th birthday, the Rebbe launched a campaign to establish 71 new mosdos. Shluchim and Anash submitted proposals to the Rebbe, which the Rebbe accepted or rejected. While in a yechidus with the Rebbe, Mr. Bobby Vogel, a well-known Chabad Chossid from London, submitted his idea. A diamond setter by trade, he had been teaching the art to yungerleit from various Chassidishe circles in the community, setting them up so that they, too, could earn a livelihood. He thought that this would be a perfect idea for one of the new mosdos. When the Rebbe heard the idea, the

Figure 2

Rebbe said, “It’s a wonderful idea and should be done, but chas v’sholom that it should be one of the 71 mosdos.” Obviously, Mr. Vogel was shocked. If the Rebbe was in favor of the idea, why did the Rebbe reject his suggestion to include this in the list of 71 mosdos? The Rebbe explained, “If you make it one of the 71 mosdos, it will be known as a Lubavitch initiative. A Satmarer yungerman, seeking to learn a trade to support his family, will come but then when he arrives and sees a sign proclaiming that it is associated with Lubavitch, he might not join. How can I take away parnossa from a Satmarer yungerman in London?” MD: For various reasons, we searched for a story about the Rebbe’s ahavas Yisroel that does not involve a frum Yid and does not involve the promotion of a mitzvah or Jewish lifestyle. We had a tough time finding more than a few. We asked Rabbi Shmuel Lew, who knows all sorts of stories, and he did not like the question at all. He asked us, “Do you think that the Rebbe is going to reach out to a non-frum Yid and not care about his spirituality?!” NS: This is a powerful point. The

'‫] ראה ד"ה להבין עניו לקיחה אנשי חיל כו‬9[ ‫לאדהאמ״צ — נדפס במגדל עז ע׳ ת׳ ואילך‬ ‫] מכות פ"ג מט"ז‬10[

Interview

Sample Exercise

Rebbe didn’t ask a Yid to put on tefillin because of a religious agenda. He did it because he truly loved the Yid. To truly care for the Yid is to also care about his ruchniyus. How would you place the Rebbe’s ahavas Yisroel in the context of history? MD: In the early years, the Rebbe would distribute Chanukah gelt to the bochurim who kept seder. When the hanhola submitted a list of eligible bochurim, the Rebbe saw that they had included bochurim who certainly had not come to Chassidus in the morning. The Rebbe told hanhola, “I'm not the Berditchever.” The way the Berditchever is often perceived is that he worked on the principle of limud zechus. The Berditchever said, “Let’s try to interpret this positively.” People describe the Rebbe as seeing Jews as diamonds in the rough; if you dig deep enough, you’ll find the neshoma, the most precious gem in the world. But

that’s not accurate. The Rebbe didn’t have to dig deep. The Rebbe saw the neshoma beating on the surface of everything that the Yid did, no matter who and no matter what. The Rebbe didn’t look past who a human being was; he simply saw who he really was. NS: The Rebbe never found the good in people. It’s all he ever saw in the first place. And the Rebbe insisted that we see ourselves and our world the same way. The thoughts shared here are just a sliver of the reams of information and ideas that the JLI editorial team gathered in their intensive research and development of Paradigm Shift. In the flood of light that the Rebbe shed on our universe, it is possible to capture here only a few rays—but even these are bright enough to show the treasure that Paradigm Shift bequeathed to nachlas haklal. c Writer: Rabbi Shmuel Loebenstein

“The Rebbe explained that technology is not neutral but, in a certain sense, inherently holy.” The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

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The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

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he last time the Olympics were held in the former Soviet Union, the Russians had just invaded a neighboring country, they supported an Iranian revolution that gave rise to Islamic militancy, Iran became dangerously close to obtaining nuclear arms, and the Middle East was awash with the assassination of Egypt’s president. Sound familiar? The events of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s have an uncanny resemblance to the circumstances that surround world stability today. The Arab spring, Russia’s invasion of Crimea, Russia supplying terrorists with dangerous weapons, the world’s silence as Iran continues its nuclear proliferation, and even the return of the Olympics games to Russia. As history repeats itself, we note but one crucial difference: the response of the State of Israel. Back then, Israel made a preemptive attack to destroy Iran’s nuclear reactor. Today, they draw red lines and wait for the

world to react. Back then, Israel withstood international criticism and annexed the Golan Heights to preserve its national security. Today, on the heels of the Gush Katif withdrawal, Israel is negotiating an Arab state R”aL, which can potentially shrink its borders yet again and compromise its security. Today, Israel has created a wedge in the Jewish people by waging an internal war on the study of Torah by mandating that yeshiva students enlist with the IDF or face criminal sanctions. As history repeats itself, the Rebbe's response from those days is as applicable as ever. Amid these terrifying and chal-

‫תשמ"א‬

Flashback

‫י"א ניסן תשמ"א‬

lenging times, when we ask ourselves, “What can I possibly do to make a difference? How can I affect global events whose implications are of unforeseen consequence?” we need not look too far to see that the Rebbe has already provided us with the answers. After all, back then, the Rebbe launched the Children's Sefer Torah Campaign, repeatedly urging us that by having young boys and girls each purchase a letter in the specially written sefer Torah, we will actively and effectively prevail over the forces of destruction and terror. The question that remains is simply whether we will capitalize on the Rebbe's clear directive and follow suit today, investing all of our energies in promoting this mivtza on a global scale as we did then.

‫י"ג אייר תשמ"א‬ The Rebbe launched the Children’s Sefer Torah Campaign for boys and girls under bar and bas mitzvah, to unite Jewish children worldwide through acquiring letters in one sefer Torah. The Rebbe said that the achdus it would engender would bring brocha v’yeshua to the entire Jewish nation. The Rebbe urged that the Torah be written immediately and finished that same year.

The Rebbe dictated a michtav kloli to all Jews worldwide, saying that the world was teetering on the precipice of grave danger and Jews in particular were in need of a special brocha. The brocha would only be brought about through efforts in promoting achdus. ¶ Shortly thereafter, the Rebbe warned of “a meshuganeh,” who could, without warning, press a button and destroy the entire world. The antidote was promoting achdus and uniting children through their common sefer Torah. The Rebbe strongly urged that the days between Lag BaOmer and Shavuos be utilized to sign up as many children as possible.

The Children's Sefer Torah

acing a time of potential catastrophe for the Jewish nation and the entire world, the Rebbe showed us how our achdus truly impacts on a global scale. A single letter in the scroll may seem minute and even insignificant, but when united with all the other letters, it creates a bold and empowering effect. We also saw the remarkable attention the Rebbe paid to the Children’s Sefer Torah campaign. Only the highest quality parchment and ink was to be used. The Rebbe set the price at one US dollar per letter or its equivalent in the local currency of each child, and gave instructions regarding the particularities of the certificate design and its signatories. At one point, the Rebbe inquired as to how many children had bought letters. Upon hearing the sum total,

the Rebbe’s shocked response was, “Dos is mit dem gantzen shturem?” (This is with the entire shturem?) The shluchim’s efforts immediately increased worldwide. In honor of the siyum, the Rebbe sent $1,200 as his personal contribution towards the writing, klaf and ink, as well as a bottle of mashke that had previously been sent to the Rebbe from an underground farbrengen in Russia. The Rebbe designed two mantlach, one blue and one white, and contributed $118 toward each one. Since 5741, four additional sifrei Torah have been completed, in 5746, 5755, 5765, and 5772 respectively, and work is well underway on a sixth. The sifrei Torah are housed together in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul.

‫ד' סיון תשמ"א‬

‫כ' אב תשמ"א‬ The Rebbe urged every Chossid, no matter where he lived, to stop whatever he was doing and devote himself to signing up as many children as possible. The Rebbe wanted a duch by the end of the day. ¶ On that very same day, in a top secret mission, Israeli bomber planes and fighter planes took off towards Iraq and successfully destroyed their nuclear reactor, thus averting any potential disaster.

Just over four months after the campaign launch, a grand siyum of the Children’s Sefer Torah was held in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul in Yerushalayim. Rabbi Zalman Shimon Dworkin was appointed as the Rebbe’s personal shliach to inscribe the last letter, as well as the first letter of a second sefer Torah.

The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

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achdus campaign ‫תשע”ד‬

T Many shluchim were pointedly asked by the Rebbe if every single child in their city or state had purchased a letter.

T i m e l i n e 11 Nissan, 5741 Campaign launch 20 Av, 5741—4 months 1st siyum 5746—5 years 2nd siyum 5755—9 years 3rd siyum 5765—10 years 4th siyum 5772—7 years 5th siyum

How quickly can we complete the 6th sefer Torah? 34% of the letters have already been purchased. We need your help! Don’t delay! Sign up one child today! 82

he Rebbe routinely referred to the achdus engendered by the writing of the Children’s Sefer Torah as a keili for brochos and yeshuos for all of Klal Yisroel, as well as a crucial tool in hastening Moshiach’s arrival. The State of Israel may try and divide us through Torah, but it is our unity through Torah that will protect us, Eretz Yisroel and the entire world. When Iran threatened the world with nuclear weapons, the Rebbe told us to stop everything we were doing and enlist children in the sefer Torah. Today, too, we must go forward mit dem gantzen shturem and unite all children under bar and bas mitzvah in the sixth Children’s Sefer Torah. When Moshiach comes, we will greet the Rebbeim with these sifrei Torah with great simcha and achdus. The Rebbe frequently quoted the posuk in Doniel that discusses the wars that will take place prior to Moshiach's arrival:

‫ָּוב ֵעת ַה ִהיא יַ עֲ מֹד ִמיכָ ֵאל ַה ַּׂשר ַהּגָ דֹול ָהע ֵֹמד עַ ל‬ ‫ְּבנֵ י ַע ֶּמָך וְ ָהיְ ָתה עֵ ת צָ ָרה ֲא ֶׁשר ל ֹא נִ ְהיְ ָתה ִמ ְהיֹות ּגֹוי‬ ‫ַעד ָהעֵ ת ַה ִהיא ָּובעֵ ת ַה ִהיא יִ ָּמלֵ ט עַ ְּמָך ּכָ ל ַהּנִ ְמצָ א‬ )‫ א‬,‫ (דניאל יב‬:‫ּכָ תּוב ַּב ֵּס ֶפר‬ Now at that time, Michoel, the great prince, who stands over the children of your people, will be silent, and it will be a time of distress that never was since a nation existed until that time, and at that time, your people will escape, everyone who is found inscribed in the book. (Doniel 12:1) One letter for one dollar is all it will take. Let’s save the world one letter in the scroll at a time.

printhouse ad

The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774â&#x20AC;&#x201A;

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did you know...?

Put Your Letter Drive on Automatic Easy Ways to Sign People Up

ǐǐ Work with the local mohalim.

1,252,531

Jewish children were born in Eretz Yisroel over the last 10 years.

364,273

of them have bought letters.

Whenever they usher a child into ‫בריתו של אברהם אבינו‬, make sure they hand out Ois Shebesefer Torah forms to the proud parents (don't forget to sign up older siblings as well).

ǐǐ Make namings more meaningful. Does your mosad generate congratulatory letters to parents who have named a girl at the Torah in your Chabad House? Add another paragraph to the form letter you send out, suggesting they purchase a letter for their child.

ǐǐ Add to the fun.

Approximately

1,200,000

Jewish children were born in Chutz La’aretz over the last 10 years.

97,563

of them have bought letters.

When running a Chanukah or Purim function or a Jewish fair, add an Ois Shebesefer Torah booth to the activities on offer.

ǐǐ Try the friends.

When celebrating your child’s birthday, opsheren, bar or bas mitzvah, sign up the child’s friends in his or her honor.

Launch a 60-Second Campaign 60 seconds. That’s all it takes.

Take it a Step Further ǐǐ Involve the whole family.

The days leading up to Shavuos serve as a perfect time to launch an Ois Shebesefer Torah campaign with your Hebrew school students. Have them reach out to their friends and relatives and earn prizes for their efforts.

ǐǐ Make home calls.

Instead of sending the certificates home with your Hebrew school students or campers, take the opportunity to pay each family a meaningful home visit and present the certificates there. You now have opened a window of opportunity through which to invite them to upcoming programs or for a Shabbos meal. Framing the certificates will add an extra touch.

As you read these words, send a quick tweet to your followers, asking them to sign up. Here’s a sample text: Every child: a letter in the scroll. Secure your child’s letter at kidstorah.org for just $1. • Post a message on Facebook and add it to your wall. • Add this line to your pre-Shavuos email or include it on your flyer: Visit kidstorah.org to have a letter be inscribed in a special Torah scroll for each of your children for just $1. • Upload a banner image from kidstorah.org to your website’s homepage slideshow. • Download a poster from kidstorah.org and hang it up in your Chabad House and Hebrew school. • Mention the Children’s Sefer Torah Campaign in your sermon on Shavuos or any Shabbos thereafter. It can easily be connected to your remarks on world news and security.

The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

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‫בקשה גדולה ונפשית‬ ,‫ בכל לשון של בקשה‬,‫בקשה גדולה ונפשית‬ ‫ ולפרסם בכל מקום‬,‫לכאו"א—להתעסק בעצמו‬ :‫ בנוגע לכל הענינים האמורים לעיל‬,‫שידו מגעת‬ ‫ באופן כזה‬,‫השתדלות ברישום ילדי ישראל בהס"ת‬ ;‫שלא ישאר ילד יהודי א' שלא יהי' לו אות בהס"ת‬ ‫ החל‬,‫לארגן כינוסים ד"צבאות השם״ בכל המקומות‬ ‫ ולהשתדל שיהיו כל הג' קוין דתורה תפלה‬,‫מר״ח סיון‬ ,‫וצדקה; ולהביא את ילדי ישראל בחגה״ש לביהכנ"ס‬ ‫ ושלא יבהלו ויפחדו‬.‫כדי לשמוע את קריאת עשה"ד‬ ‫לעשות זאת "על מנת לקבל פרס"—להביא את‬ ‫הגאולה האמיתית והשלימה ע"י משיח צדקנו—כי‬ !‫ וביום זה עצמו‬,‫העיקר הוא שיבוא כבר בפועל ממש‬ )‫(משיחות קודש ש"פ במדבר מבה"ח סיון תשמ"א‬

An Urgent Call to Action

great and heartfelt request, in every sense of the word, to every single person to occupy himself and to publicize in every place within his reach in relation to all the aforementioned: Effort [should be made] to sign up Jewish children in the sefer Torah, and in a manner through which not one Jewish child will remain without a letter in the sefer Torah: Gatherings of Tzivos Hashem should take place in every location, beginning with Rosh Chodesh Sivan. One should try to ensure that all three elements of Torah, tefila and tzedaka [be performed]. Additionally, Jewish children should be brought to shul on Shavuos to hear the Aseres HaDibros. People should not be afraid to do this “in order to receive a reward”: to bring about the Geula shelaima through Moshiach Tzidkeinu. The main point is that he already actually come, and today! (Free translation of an excerpt from a sicha of Shabbos Parshas Bamidbar, 5741)

Hesitant? Don’t Be. Letter Drive Q&A Q: We've just run a very successful local Torah campaign (not associated with the Children’s Sefer Torah), and most of the children in our community have had letters purchased for them in that Torah. Isn't that good enough? A: On Shabbos Parshas Lech Lecha, 5742, the Rebbe explained: "Even if children have letters in a general sefer Torah, it cannot be compared to the tremendous value of having a letter inscribed in a sefer Torah written especially for children." The purpose of the Torah campaign, as explained by the Rebbe, was to unify all Jewish children from around the world in one specific children’s Torah. Q: It takes a lot of time to contact all the parents individually. Can I just make a list of local children, forward their names to campaign headquarters, and find a sponsor to cover the cost? Every child will receive a certificate with much less trouble for everyone. A: The Rebbe gave strict instructions that, whenever possible, children should purchase their own letters with their own money and fill out their own forms. Even when the child is too young to participate directly, the parents should ideally fill out the form in the presence of the child. Nevertheless, the Rebbe said that letters can be purchased for those who don’t do it on their own. Just keep in mind to grant the child the money so that it is as if the child is buying it. Q: Why does the certificate only refer to the parsha from the Torah where the letter is located; wouldn’t it add to the authenticity of the project if we could tell a child his or her exact letter? A: The Rebbe pointed out that were a child to know that his letter is from a word with negative or unpleasant connotations, he might (mistakenly) be upset or worried. Q: Is there anything to offer a family with older kids? A: After the first children’s Torah was completed and the second had already begun, the Rebbe permitted a public Torah to be written for all Jews. Letters can still be purchased in that project. Visit www.chabad.org/torahletter for details. Q: Is there a method of bulk enrollments so I don’t have to spend unnecessary time entering every single name and

Q: Is there a method of bulk

enrollments so I don’t have to spend unnecessary time entering every single name and birthday individually? A: Yes, an Excel spreadsheet for multiple letters is available from Rabbi Greisman at info@kidstorah.org and will be

The 6th Sefer Torah:

101,939 letters have bought

202,866 letters still need to be bought.

accompanied by instructions.

birthday individually? A: Yes, an Excel spreadsheet for multiple letters is available from Rabbi Greisman at info@kidstorah.org and will be accompanied by instructions. Q: Isn’t this campaign best directed to Lubavitcher children and Chabad House mekurovim? Should effort really be expended in other frum circles? A: The Rebbe said this is for every Jewish child and took great pleasure in the fact that the children and grandchildren of admori”m, roshei yeshiva, and leaders of various communities were signed up. On a number of occasions, the Rebbe asked children during yechidus if they had purchased a letter in the Children’s Sefer Torah. Q: Halachically, can a sefer Torah by owned and written exclusively for minors? A: The Rebbe addressed this issue and directed that ten adults (the rabbis and sofrim involved) should purchase a letter in each sefer Torah. Q: A new Torah costs USD$40,000-50,000 tops. At more than 300,000 letters at $1 each, where does the rest of the money go? A: When a magazine editor once posed this exact question, the Rebbe responded that, taking into account postage, printing the certificates, and other expenses, the real cost is somewhere between two and three dollars per letter, resulting in a huge net shortfall per sefer Torah.

From 11 Nissan, 5741 until today, 1,261,196 children from Eretz Yisroel 361,518 children from Chutz La’aretz have bought letters.

In the last month, 3,112 children bought letters in Eretz Yisroel, 574 in Chutz La'aretz.

52%

of Jewish children today live in Eretz Yisroel.

48%

of Jewish children today live in Chutz La’aretz.

4 out of 5

letters are bought in Eretz Yisroel (80%).

1 out of 5

letters are bought in Chutz La’aretz (20%).

The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

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women's mivtza On 20 Iyar, 5741, at a farbrengen in honor of the N’shei Ubnos Chabad Convention, the Rebbe asserted that Mivtza Ois Shebesefer Torah is especially connected with women in their role as educators of the next generation, requesting that women be active in signing up children.

his matter (to cause Jewish children to each purchase a letter in the sefer Torah) is specifically relevant to Jewish women and girls: We must try that every Jewish child, even the youngest ones, should have a letter in the sefer Torah. Even more so, immediately once [a baby] is born, we must try to unite him with all Jewish children around the entire world (increasing Hashem’s brochos in everything that this infant needs). It is understood that this [task] relates specifically to Jewish women, who are each “the pillar of the home” and who occupy themselves with all of the[ir] infants’ needs. It is therefore within [the mother’s] ability to decide (and also cause that the father aid in this) to purchase a letter in the sefer Torah on behalf of her infant. Also, after the infant grows, he still

mainly needs his mother (and only afterward does he also need his father). Therefore, her role is to concern herself that the boy and the girl have a letter in the sefer Torah. Accordingly, it is understood that the role of Jewish women and girls is to try to ensure that each and every Jewish child under bar and bas mitzvah purchase a letter in the sefer Torah, and as soon as possible, because through this will be drawn down Hashem’s brochos into everything that is needed. Since these words are being heard in a number of countries, it is understood that my abovementioned heartfelt request regarding all that was previously discussed

‫‪“...every Jewish‬‬ ‫‪woman should‬‬ ‫‪try to do all that‬‬ ‫‪is within her‬‬ ‫‪power to ensure‬‬ ‫‪that her home be‬‬ ‫”‪a “lighthouse‬‬ ‫‪for the entire‬‬ ‫‪surrounding‬‬ ‫”‪area...‬‬

‫‪Celebrating the siyum‬‬ ‫‪of the second Children's‬‬ ‫‪Sefer Torah at the Kosel,‬‬ ‫‪5746/1986.‬‬

‫לנשי ובנות ישראל‬ ‫ענין זה (לפעול על ילדי ישראל שיקנו אות בהס"ת) שייך במיוחד לנשי ובנות ישראל‪:‬‬ ‫מאחד שצריכים להשתדל שלכאו"א מילדי ישראל‪ ,‬אפילו הקטנים ביותר‪ ,‬יהי׳ אות‬ ‫א׳ בהס"ת‪ ,‬ויתירה מזו‪ :‬תיכף כשנולד צריכים כבר להשתדל לאחד תינוק זה עם כל‬ ‫ילדי ישראל שבכל העולם כולו (שזה מוסיף בברכות ה' בכל המצטרך בנוגע לתינוק‬ ‫זה)—מובן שזה שייך במיוחד לנשי ישראל‪ ,‬שכאו"א מהן היא "עקרת הבית"‪ ,‬והיא‬ ‫המתעסקת ומטפלת בכל צרכיו של התינוק‪ ,‬ולכן‪ ,‬ביכולתה ובאפשרותה להחליט‬ ‫(ולפעול גם על האב שיעזור בזה) לקנות אות בהס"ת עבור התינוק‪.‬‬ ‫וגם לאחרי שהתינוק גדל‪ ,‬עדיין הוא צריך בעיקר לאמו (ורק אח"כ הוא צריך גם‬ ‫לאביו)‪ ,‬ולכן תפקידה לדאוג שיהי' לילד ולילדה אות בהס"ת‪ ,‬ועפ"ז מובן שתפקידם‬ ‫של נשי ובנות ישראל—להשתדל שכאו"א מילדי ישראל‪ ,‬קודם בר‪-‬מצוה ובת‪-‬מצוה‪,‬‬ ‫יקנו אות בהס"ת‪ .‬ובהקדם האפשרי‪ ,‬כי עי"ז יומשכו בהקדם ברכות ה׳ בכל המצטרך‪.‬‬ ‫מאחר שדיבורים אלו נשמעים בכו"כ מדינות—מובן‪ ,‬שגם אליהם מופנית בקשה‬ ‫נפשית הנ"ל‪ ,‬בנוגע לכל המוזכר לעיל‪:‬‬ ‫לכל לראש—שכל אחת מנשי ישראל תשתדל לעשות את כל התלוי בה‪ ,‬שביתה יהי׳‬ ‫"מגדלור" עבור כל הסביבה כולה‪ ,‬ועד שביתה יהי׳ "עיר הבירה" של מלך מלכי המלכים‬ ‫הקב"ה" באופן ד"ושכנתי בתוכם"‪ .‬וכל אחת מהן תשתדל גם לעשות כל התלוי בה‪,‬‬ ‫לפעול שכל ילדי ישראל‪ ,‬קודם בר‪-‬מצוה ובת‪-‬מצוה‪ ,‬יקנו אות בהס"ת בהקדם‬ ‫האפשרי‪ .‬ואלו שיש להם קרובים במדינות המוזכרים לעיל (שלע"ע אינם יכולים‬ ‫להתנהג באופן של חירות)—ישתדלו לזכות את הילדים הנמצאים שם‪ ,‬ולקנות‬ ‫עבורם אות א' בהס"ת‪ ,‬כנ"ל בארוכה‪.‬‬ ‫(משיחת קודש כ' אייר תשמ"א לנשי ובנות חב"ד)‬

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‫ ‪The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774‬‬

‫‪is directed at them, as well.‬‬ ‫‪Firstly, that every Jewish woman‬‬ ‫‪should try to do all that is within her‬‬ ‫‪power to ensure that her home be a‬‬ ‫‪“lighthouse” for the entire surround‬‬‫‪ing area, until her home becomes the‬‬ ‫‪capitol of the King of kings, Hashem, in‬‬ ‫”‪a manner of “and I will dwell in them.‬‬ ‫‪And every one of them should try also‬‬ ‫‪to do all that is dependent on them, to‬‬ ‫‪bring about that all Jewish children‬‬ ‫‪under bar and bas mitzvah purchase a‬‬ ‫‪letter in the sefer Torah at their earliest‬‬ ‫‪opportunity. And to those who have‬‬ ‫‪relatives in the abovementioned coun‬‬‫‪tries (who at this time are unable to‬‬ ‫‪behave in a manner of freedom), they‬‬ ‫‪should try to bring merit to the chil‬‬‫‪dren who are there and to purchase a‬‬ ‫‪letter in the sefer Torah on their behalf,‬‬ ‫‪as was explained at length earlier.‬‬ ‫‪(Free translation of an excerpt of a‬‬ ‫‪sicha to N’shei Ubnos Chabad on 20 Iyar,‬‬ ‫)‪5741.‬‬

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Rabbi Shimshon Kahana (L), sofer.

‫כדאי שישלחו את הרשימה לכאן‬

n order to urge those who are occupied with this [getting children to purchase letters in the Children’s Sefer Torah], here is an additional suggestion: to put together a list of the number of children who were signed up for the writing of the sefer Torah by Shavuos. In keeping with the known saying of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakai, “that the fear of heaven be upon you like the fear of flesh and blood,” it is advisable that they send the abovementioned list here, to the court of the Frierdiker Rebbe, as his Ohel and tziyon are in this city. Since only a few hours remain until Shavuos, they should send an additional list of the number of Jewish children who were signed up for the writing of the sefer Torah until Yud Beis Sivan, the concluding day of the yemai tashlumin of Shavuos. In order that all of this be conducted in an organized fashion, (despite the abovementioned saying of the Frierdiker Rebbe regarding the matter of organization, nevertheless,) it is preferable that people not send individual lists reflecting how many children they each signed up on their own. Instead, those responsible for this project in each respective city or country should send a sum total of all the children who signed up in that city or country. In order that [the numbers] not become confused, when sending the sum totals of all the children in a particular city, it would be best to note that that number is included in the collective total of the entire country, etc. Through occupying oneself with all of the above with alacrity, they will complete the sefer Torah at the earliest possible opportunity and we will soon merit to hear the

NY billboard calls for children to purchase letters

:‫כדי לזרז את המתעסקים בזה—ישנה הצעה נוספת‬ ‫לערוך רשימה של מספר הילדים שנרשמו לכתיבת הס״ת—עד‬ ‫ "שיהא מורא שמים עליכם כמורא‬,‫ וע״פ מאמר ריב"ז הידוע‬,‫חגה״ש‬ ‫ לרשותו של כ״ק‬,‫ כדאי שישלחו את הרשימה הנ"ל לכאן‬,‫בשר ודם״‬ .‫ שבעיר זו נמצא האוהל והציון שלו‬,‫מו״ח אדמו"ר נשיא דורנו‬ ‫ מן הראוי שישלחו‬,‫ומאחד שעד חגה״ש נשארו רק מספר שעות‬ ‫ עד‬,‫רשימה נוספת של מספר ילדי ישראל שנרשמו לכתיבת הס״ת‬ .‫ סיום ימי התשלומין דחגה״ש‬,‫י״ב סיון‬ ‫ הנה (למרות פתגם כ״ק מו״ח אדמו״ר‬,‫וכדי שכ״ז יהי' באופן מסודר‬ ‫ מ״ם) מן הראוי שלא כאו"א ישלח רשימה‬,‫הנ״ל בנוגע לענין הסדר‬ ‫ אלא שהאחראים על ענין‬,‫נפרדת ממספר הילדים שרשם בעצמו‬ ‫הכל דמספר כל הילדים‬-‫ ישלחו את הסך‬,‫זה בעיר או במדינה כולה‬ .‫שנרשמו בעיר או במדינה זו‬ ‫הכל של מספר‬-‫וכדי שלא לבלבל—הנה כששולחים את הסך‬ ‫ כדאי להוסיף שמספר זה נכלל במספר‬,‫הילדים דעיר מסוימת‬ .'‫הכללי דכל המדינה וכו‬ ‫ יסיימו את הס״ת בהקדם‬,‫וע״י ההתעסקות בכל הנ״ל בזריזות‬ ‫ ובקרוב ממש נזכה לשמוע את קריאת התורה מפי המלך‬,‫האפשרי‬ .‫ במהרה בימינו ממש‬,)‫בביהמ״ק השלישי (כבשנת הקהל‬ )‫(משיחת קודש ש"פ נשא תשמ"א‬

reading of the Torah from the mouth of the king in the third Bais Hamikdash (like in the year of Hakhel), may it be so speedily in our days. (Free translation of an excerpt from a sicha on Shabbos Parshas Nasso, 5741)

storY:

A Letter that Healed A relaxing vacation in Teveria ended abruptly for the Cohen* family the morning their young daughter Orit nearly drowned in the Kineret. Though she was rescued alive, her prognosis was grim. At best, the medical staff predicted, she would remain in a vegetative state for life. After having been transferred to a hospital in Afula, Orit was visited by Chana, a Lubavitcher girl on mivtzoim. Chana convinced the initially hesitant parents to buy Orit a letter in the Children’s Sefer Torah. She then took Orit’s name to the Rebbe, asking for a brocha for a refuah shelaima. The Rebbe

immediately asked whether Orit had a letter in the Children’s Sefer Torah. Chana was glad to be able to answer in the affirmative. The Rebbe then gave Orit a brocha for a refuah shelaima. One week later, Chana returned to Eretz Yisroel and went to visit Orit, only to discover that Orit had been transferred to a regular ward and was on her way to a complete recovery, one which the doctors ascribed to being a complete miracle. *All names have been changed to protect privacy. Authenticity has been confirmed with Rabbi Shmuel Greisman.

‫הצלחה יותר מכפי המשוער‬

hen we will put in effort and speak with the children about this, we will surely succeed beyond estimation. Just as we have seen up until this point, that despite having spoken with various children, including children with whom we needed to speak in their native language, and even with children from behind the Iron Curtain, where there is terrifying persecution against Judaism, in their language, even so, we were successful beyond estimation. And even though the children with whom we spoke regarding enrolling in the sefer Torah did not understand what Torah is and what the holiness of Torah is, etc., it had a far greater effect than what was estimated. (Free translation of an excerpt of a sicha on Shabbos Parshas Shelach, 5741)

‫און בשעת מ'וועט זיך משתדל זיין און רעדן מיט די קינדער‬ ,‫וועגן דעם—וועט מען זיכער מצליח זיין יותר מכפי המשוער‬ ‫ אז הגם מ'האט‬,‫ווי מ'האט עס געזען בפועל ביז איצטער‬ ‫גערעדט מיט פארשידענע קינדער אויך קינדער וועלכע‬ ‫ ביז אויך מיט‬,‫מ'האט געדארפט רעדן בשפת המדינה שלהם‬ ‫ וואס דארטן זיינע‬,‫קינדער מאחורי מסך הברזל—בשפתם‬ ‫דא רדיפות באופן מבהיל ביותר אויף אידישקייט—אעפ"כ‬ ,‫האט מען מצליח געווען מער ווי מ'האט משער געווען‬ ‫און הגם וואס די קינדער מיט וועלכע מ'האט גערעדט וועגן‬ ‫ האבן ניט פארשטאנען וואס‬,‫פארשרייבן זיך אין דער ס"ת‬ ‫תורה איז וואס קדושת התורה איז וכו'—האט עס אויף זיי‬ .‫גע'פועל'ט למעלה מכפי המשוער לגמרי‬ )‫(משיחת קודש ש"פ שלח תשמ"א‬

The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

In Tishrei 5742, the Rebbe requested that a sefer Torah be written specifically for members of the IDF and their families, together with the Rabanut Harashit and unrelated to the Children’s Sefer Torah. When the Lebanon War broke out later that year, the Rebbe hinted to the Vaad Rabbonei Chabad that they should rush to finish that Torah as soon as possible. Five sofrim feverishly worked on it, completing the sefer Torah on 15 Tammuz. It was then that the Rebbe confided that had the sefer Torah been finished earlier, it would have prevented many casualties and setbacks.

‫א הכנה צו ביאת משיח צדקנו‬

ere is an appropriate time to request once again in every sense of supplication, urgency, intensification and strengthening, etc., with all ten expressions of prayer, connected with ten expressions of prophecy, connected with ten expressions of redemption, regarding the sefer Torah that is being written exclusively for Jewish children, boys and girls, within the walls of the holy city Yerushalayim. Effort should be expended that all Jewish children should be enrolled in the sefer Torah, so that by Yud Bais Tammuz all 304,805 letters and segments in the sefer Torah will be sold to Jewish children. Afterward, we should get more children and more children [to sign up] until “all souls that are in the (storehouse named) the body will be included” and we will write a second sefer Torah for children and then a third sefer Torah. And this should be done with urgency, in a way of “I await its [arrival].” This will serve as a preparation for the coming of our righteous Moshiach with the true and complete Redemption, speedily in our days. This is brought about through our actions and efforts now, bringing about that even during the times of golus, there should be “and to all Jewish people there was light in their dwelling places,” and we go “with a mighty arm” and we do the work completely, until we reach the [time of the] ultimate and final redemption through our righteous Moshiach. (Free translation of a sicha on Shabbos Parshas Balak, 5741)

The first registration card for the Children's Sefer Torah

security

To Prevent Casualties

‫וכאן המקום לבקש עוה"פ בכל לשון של בקשה וזירוז וחיזוק‬ ‫ פארבונדן מיט‬,‫ואימוץ כו' מיט די אלע עשר לשונות של תפלה‬ —‫ פארבונדן מיט עשר לשונות של גאולה‬,‫עשר לשונות של נבואה‬ ,‫וועגן דער ספר תורה וואס מ'שרייבט במיוחד פאר אידישע קינדער‬ ,‫ אין ירושלים עיר הקודש בין החומות‬,‫אינגעלעך און מיידעלעך‬ ‫און מ'זאל זיך משתדל זיין אז אלע אידישע קינדער זאלן‬ ‫ ביז צו י"ב תמוז זאלן אלע ש"ד‬,‫פארשריבן ווערן אין דער ס"ת‬ ‫אותיות ופרוטות וואס זיינען דא אין דער ס"ת פארקויפט ווערן צו‬ ,‫אידישע קינדער‬ ‫ ביז‬,‫און דערנאך—זאל מען קריגן נאך קינדער און נאך קינדער‬ ‫ און מ'וועט שרייבן נאך א‬,"‫אז "יכלו נשמות שב(אוצר ששמו) גוף‬ .‫צווייטע ס"ת פאר קינדער און נאך א דריטע ס"ת‬ ."‫ אין אן אופן פון "אחישנה‬,‫און טאן דאס בזריזות‬ ‫און דאס וועט זיין א הכנה צו ביאת משיח צדקנו בגאולה האמיתית‬ ,‫והשלימה בקרוב ממש‬ ,‫און דאס ווערט אויפגעטאן ע"י מעשינו ועבודתינו איצטער‬ ‫וואס דאס טוט אויף אז נאך בזמן הגלות זאל זיין דער "ולכל בני‬ ‫ און מ'גייט "ביד רמה" און מ'טוט די‬,"‫ישראל הי' אור במושבותם‬ ‫ ביז אז מ'קומט צו די גאולה האמיתית והשלימה‬,‫עבודה בשלימות‬ .‫ע"י משיח צדקנו‬ c

)‫(משיחת קודש ש"פ בלק תשמ"א‬

427 shluchim did it in 5741. 4102 shluchim can do it in 5774. If every shliach signs up one child per day for fifty days, the sixth Children’s Sefer Torah will be complete! Sign up one child every day for the next fifty days and help us complete the sixth Children’s Sefer Torah! Look out for email updates as we track our progress.

Email info@kidstorah.org for a complete package of marketing materials with which to promote the Children’s Sefer Torah in your community.

Children’s Sefer Torah P.O. Box 8, Kfar Chabad 60840 T: (+972) 3-960-7358 F: (+972) 3-955-0560 C: (+972) 52-656-6000 US line: (+1) 213-261-0396 info@kidstorah.org www.kidstorah.org

The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

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The Mortgage Mailbag

with Chana (Ann) Zeilingold

nn is a 26-year veteran of the mortgage industry specializing in residential mortgages. She enjoys helping people achieve the dream of home ownership and is dedicated to making sure that no stone is left unturned in her quest to help her clients in that endeavor.

Q: Dear Chana,

I am looking to buy a home, and I don’t know where to start. When I spoke to my bank, they told me to bring in paystubs and W-2 forms to verify my income. I get a housing allowance, so I don’t get a W-2 on all of my income. What can I do? Moshe

A: Dear Moshe,

Your question is one that is specific and unique to a member of the clergy who receives parsonage income, which is non-taxable income. Not all banks accept it if it is not listed on the tax return, and your local bank has probably never even heard of it, so they don’t understand it. The good news is that it is income that can be used for a mortgage. There are a few requirements: A. You have to be receiving it for at least one year. B. It has to be verified in writing by your employer, along with a letter stating it will likely continue. C. You must provide cleared checks or your deposit record proving that you did in fact receive it for the past year.

Q: Dear Chana,

I will be looking to purchase a house soon. When do I speak to a mortgage professional? Beryl

A: Dear Beryl,

The answer is one simple word: now! The first step you need to take is to speak to a mortgage professional who understands shluchim and their income and housing requirements. There are so many things to discuss before you begin your loan process. There are the basics, your credit and credit score, your down payment and source of the down payment, and then of course your income. There are some common issues that we encounter from time to time and have overcome, but with a bit of planning, the whole mortgage process would have been less challenging: • The shaliach signed his own checks. • The shaliach was paid housing expenses and the rest of his income was on a 1099 (self-employment). • The shaliach never received his parsonage personally because it was paid to third parties, i.e., credit card bills, rent, etc. • A not-for-profit provided the down payment.

Q: Dear Chana,

I just got turned down for a mortgage. What is my recourse, and how long does it take to get a new mortgage loan? Mendi

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A: Dear Mendi,

Unfortunately, getting turned down happens to a lot of people, but many of them do manage to get a loan elsewhere. In the meantime, the stress related to being denied is immeasurable. You definitely can and should re-apply. Not all mortgage underwriters are the same! We have closed loans that other lenders have denied, many times. It will take a minimum of two weeks to get a new mortgage, depending on the status of your paperwork. The new mortgage company has to go through all the legal requirements of disclosure, and this all takes time. They have to order a new appraisal, process and underwrite the file, etc. Most sellers will wait for you. The good thing is that when you do get the mortgage commitment and move into the new home, you will appreciate it so much more.

Q: Dear Chana,

It is very hard to find the right home that suits our community responsibility and our growing family. We have to buy within a specific area, and we just don’t know what to do. We can do a “normal” down payment, about 20 percent, but we have no money left for any type of construction. Do you have any suggestions for us? David and Sara

A: Dear David and Sara,

Your question is excellent and more common than you might think. What I am gathering from your question is that

you need to live in a specific locale but the homes may be too small or you may need to do extensive renovation. There is an excellent loan for such situations called a rehab mortgage. This loan gives you the money to fix up a home with minor or major renovations. The way it works is that you purchase the home and have a contractor give you an itemized estimate of repairs and renovations. If it is a bigger job, we would also need plans and specs. The appraiser evaluates the house as is and again after it’s been improved. We lend you the money from the “after improved” value. For example, let’s say you purchase a home for $350,000, and you want to put in $100,000. When we review the loan, we review your contractor’s estimate and the appraisal. Let us assume the home now will appraise for $450,000, and you wanted to put down 20 percent. We would lend you $360,000. We would put the rehab money in an escrow and release it to you as you complete the work on the house. The loan is a bit more complicated than I discussed here. There are other requirements for reserve funds, consultants who review the scope of the job, etc. The bottom line is that this loan can be the right loan for you if you need to do any major or minor renovations on the home you want to purchase. It is the only way that you can borrow more than what you paid for the house. There are just a few caveats that are specifically important for a shliach to know: A. P arsonage that is not reported on the tax return is not allowed in most instances. B. Renovations have to be allowable and within the median cost of improvements for your location. C. Renovations cannot be deemed luxurious (no pools, spas, hot tubs, etc.). _________ If you have any questions for our Mortgage Mailbag or if would like a copy of Chana’s book The Homebuyers Bible, please contact Chana (Ann) Zeilingold of First Meridian Mortgage. NMLS # 41850 azeilingold@fmm.com www.annzeilingold.com 914-260-9000 First Meridian Mortgage 1609 Rt. 202 Pomona NY 10970

The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

Farbrengen jem/living archive #15114

What approach do you feel to be most effective in

bringing the Rebbe into our childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives in a practical way, giving them chayus

to go in the Rebbe's derech?

We give our children dollars from the Rebbe in honor of their birthdays.

jem/living archive #113473

- L. M.

Demonstrate a current connection

jem/living archive #129492

to the Rebbe by going to 770, the Rebbe's

room, the Ohel, writing often, and sharing the Rebbe's Torah with your family whenever possible. - Y. Grossbaum, Folsom, California

The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774â&#x20AC;&#x201A;

I explain to my children that all donations

given by the donors are the fulfillment of the Rebbe’s brochos b’poel mamosh. - A. T.

Our family watches Living Torah together every motzoei Shabbos. - K. K.

jem/living archive #126303

There is no quick fix. Chassidic hanhoga at home and a learning atmosphere will help.

- Z. G.

make a point of ensuring that my children see me sitting down with a sefer Chassidus and learning a sicha or a maamer at least once a week. I also read from Igros Kodesh at the supper table at least once a week and discuss the Rebbe’s involvement in the real life of the person writing the letter. - B. L.

I tell my children a story of the Rebbe before bedtime twice a week. I use books like Wonders and Miracles, as well as the new weekly downloadable stories by JEM, so that I always have something ready. -Y. H.

believe that hachonos for Chassidishe yomim tovim are of utmost importance. Preparing as a family creates a Chassidishe environment in the home, as well as an excitement for the yom tov. We prepare b’ruchnius, encouraging each other to be extra careful in mitzvos and learn-

ing more than usual, as well as b’gashmius, by preparing a special supper, wearing special clothing, and eating at the Shabbos table

jem/living archive #9712

with a white tablecloth and two lit candles. - M. T.

jem/living archive #129498

MyShliach and the Chayolei Tzivos Hashem program are fantastic for our chil-

dren. The JEM videos are a major part of our video library. We also celebrate every Chassidishe yom tov at home with our children. - C. Naparstek, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

I really enjoy watching The Early Years video series. I think this is a good way of making the Rebbe very real in our minds. The video by JEM, Sensitivity, can really talk to teens. - M. M. The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

We tell our personal stories, as well as watch Living Torah as part of our weekly schedule. We use the childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s narration and have our children explain what they learned, giving them rewards for be-

jem/living archive #15483

ing able to do so. - L. Lang, Camarillo, California

trip to the Ohel for his or her birthday, accompanied just by a father or mother and following proper hachono in the days or weeks leading up to the birthday, can have a lasting impact on a child. Those who are unable to do so can have a special pidyon-writing session with their children and make a personal farbrengen with them on their birthdays, farbrenging about the meaning of writing a pidyon, and then sending it by fax. - P. Schmerling, Far Rockaway, New York

In order to keep the memories alive, my husband and I are constantly retelling our own memories of farbrengens and yomim tovim, especially of our Simchas Torah experiences in 770. It has become so real to the children that they themselves can describe Simchas Torah as if they were there, both from the men's section and the womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s section. Also, we have regular family farbrengens at the dinner table whenever there is a yoma dipagra. - Y. S.

100

While I have few memories of the Rebbe, this question in the magazine gave me food for thought. It made me realize that it is not enough to just show the kids a video of the Rebbe; we need to review and live with the video of the Rebbe. - B. W.

his can be accomplished by showing our children that you respect senior shluchim and hanhola, as well as through viewing our shlichus as a fulfillment of, rather than just another kiruv organization (i.e., seeing our job as connecting Yidden with the Rebbe, not just “making Yidden frum”) and conveying that message to our children.

- Y. Grossman, Fargo, North Dakota

It is important not to

consider it creating memo-

I believe that, first and foremost, we need to

ries, such as a thing of the

be dugma’os chayos for our children by behaving in the

past, but rather as living

manner the Rebbe taught us. Also, sharing stories that

with the Rebbe daily as a

we remember, even small tidbits (seeing the Rebbe walk

very real part of our lives.

into 770, seeing the Rebbe take one sefer off of another mitzad kedushas seforim, even picking up a sicha that

One can help his or her chil-

fell on the floor),

dren to live with

can add so much life and keep the Rebbe vibrant and relevant to them. - M. Deitsch, Chandler, Arizona jem/living archive #114455

I learn from ‫דער רבי רעדט‬ ‫ צו קינדער‬with my children on Shabbos afternoons. -B. L.

the Rebbe by living with each directive of the Rebbe, quoting the Rebbe often, sitting as a family to watch videos of the Rebbe,

telling the children how proud the Rebbe is of the specific things that they are doing, writing letters with the children to the Rebbe in face of a problem, or reporting on good happenings. - M. Rivkin, New Orleans, Louisiana

The Chabad House Compass Magazine summer 5774

101

Demonstrating a true reverence, interest, and chayus will instill these feelings by osmosis. - M. B.

very yom tov and Chassidishe yom tov, I explain and de-

scribe to my children what went on in 770 by the Rebbe to make it real for them. My wife and I describe the feelings we had at farbrengens, lekach, and dollars. We also constantly tell the children that we are making the Rebbe proud and that we are bringing Moshiach closer by doing what the Rebbe wants.

- M. Weiss, Miami Lakes, Florida

ur children attend the local Jewish day school. We assigned our chil-

dren after-school projects to interview people who met with the Rebbe, write a report, and create a visual presentation to share with the family and hang up on a special bulletin board. - L. K.

102

This can be done by constantly communicating to our children that the ideals they are taught on shlichus all come from the Rebbe. - M. Dubrowski, Tampa, Florida

jem/living archive #23174

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