THE REBBE'S OWN UNITED NATIONS - COLlive.com

1 CROWN HEIGHTS Newspaper ~September 26, 2008 

כאן צוה ה’‏ את הברכה 

Community Newspaper 

פרשת האזינו | יא'‏ תשרי , תשס”ח | בס”ד October 10, 2008 | Tishrei 11, 5768 weekly vOL. i | NO 46 

Hachossid Reb 

Eliyohu Arye 

Leib Gross 

”Rabbi Gross helped 

my mother and spared 

me energy and time. 

In his merit I had 

more time to help 

additional people.” 

Pages 4-5 

Horav Hachossid 

Reb Boruch Shifrin 

The KGB entered the house and found 

receipts for Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim, 

clear evidence that Reb Boruch was 

involved in yeshiva activities. Page 7 

THE REBBE'S OWN 

UNITED NATIONS 

PAGE 11 

Beis Din of Crown Heights 

390A Kingston Avenue, Brooklyn, NY Tel- 718~604~8000 Fax: 718~771~6000 

Rabbi A. Osdoba: ❖ Monday to Thursday 10:30AM - 11:30AM at 390A Kingston Ave. ☎Tel. 718-604-8000 ext.37 or 718-604-0770 

Sunday-Thursday 9:30 PM-11:00PM ~Friday 2:30PM-4:30 PM ☎Tel. (718) - 771-8737 

Rabbi Y. Heller is available daily 10:30 to 11:30am ~ 2:00pm to 3:00pm at 788 Eastern Parkway # 210 718~604~8827 ❖ & after 8:00pm 718~756~4632 

Rabbi Y. Schwei, 4:00pm to 9:00pm ❖ 718~604~8000 ext 36 

Rabbi Y. Raitport is available by appointment. ☎ 718~604~8000 ext 39 

Rabbi Y. Zirkind: ☎ 718~604~8000 ext 39 

Rabbi S. Segal: ☎ 718~604~8000 ext 39 ❖ Sun ~Thu 5:30pm -9:00pm or ☎718 -360-7110 

Rabbi Bluming is available Sunday - Thursday, 3 -4:00pm at 472 Malebone St. ☎ 718 - 778-1679 

Rabbi Y. Osdoba ☎718~604~8000 ext 38 ❖ Sun~Thu: 10:0am -11:30am ~ Fri 10:am - 1:00 pm or 

☎ 718 -604-0770 

Rabbi S. Chirik: ☎ 718~604~8000 ext 38 ❖ Sun~Thu: 5:00pm to 9:00pm 

Erev Shabbos 

6:05 

Motzoei Shabbos 

6:52 

Gut Shabbos


The Vaad Hakohol 

Holiday 

Sukkot Eve 

First day 

of Sukkos 

Second day 

1st day 

Chol 

Hamoed 

2nd day 

Chol 

Hamoed 

Date 

Activity 

Monday • Prepare a candle or flame that will be able to 

burn safely for more than 24 hours. (For example: 

a Yahrzeit candle. This will be used to 

October 13 

light the Yom Tov Candles on Tuesday night). 

• Light Yom Tov Candles -- (6:00pm). 

• After lighting the candles, recite: 

Blessing for Yom Tov and Shehecheyonu 

• Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech 

Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de-sho-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov 

Ve-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Yom Tov. 

• Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech 

Ho-olom She-heche-yo-nu Ve-ki-yi-mo-nu Vehigi-o-nu 

Liz-man Ha-zeh. 

Tuesday • Shake the four kinds; We recite the blessings: 

• Light Yom Tov Candles after nightfall, from a 

October 14 pre-existing flame (6:59pm). 


Blessing for Yom Tov and Shehecheyonu 

Wednesday • Shake the four kinds. 

October 15 • Yom Tov ends after nightfall (6:57). 

Chol HaMoed - Intermediate Days 

Thursday - Monday, October 16 - October 20 

Thursday • We do not put on Tefilin today. 

October 16 • Shake the four kinds. 

• Special additional prayer is said in the morning 

- Hallel, Hoshaanos, Musaf for Sukkot. 

Friday • We do not put on Tefilin today. 

October 17 • Shake the four kinds. 



• Light Shabbos Candles 18 minutes before 

Sunset (5:54pm). 


• Blessing for Shabbos 

From: Lubavitch Youth Organization 

3rd day 

Chol Hamoed 

4th day 

Chol 

Hamoed 

Saturday 

October 18 

Sunday 

October 19 

L'CHaimWeekly.com 


- Hallel, Musaf for Sukkot. 

• We do not put on Tefilin today. 

• Shake the four kinds. 



• After midnight we recite the entire Psalms 

(Tehilim). Afterwards we eat an apple dipped 

in honey. 

Get professional help in choosing a career 

A new and innovative program specifically 

designed for the Crown Heights 

Community Newspaper 

392 Kingston Avenue 

Brooklyn, NY 11225 

chp5768@gmail.com 

Published & edited weekly by the Vaad Hakohol 

of Crown Heights. 

Moshe Rubashkin, Rosh Hakohol 

Dr. Tzvi (Harvey) Lang, Chairman 

Rabbi Plotkin, Secretary 

Layout: SimplyUnique (basmelech@gmail.com) 

All material in this paper has been copyrighted. It 

is the exclusive property of this newspaper, unless 

otherwise attributed., and cannot be reproduced 

without the consent of the publisher. 

Composition responsibility: This newspaper will not 

be liable for errors appearing in advertising, beyond 

the cost of the space occupied by the error. Advertiser 

assumes responsibility for errors in telephone orders. 

All advertisement designed and prepared by the CH 

Community Newspaper are the property of the 

newspaper and cannot be reproduced without the 

consent of the publisher 

Jewish community is making it possible 

for residents to get professional help 

in choosing a career, get the necessary 

training for the career they select and 

access help in paying the tuition, all 

towards helping people secure a job. 

Even before this program got its official 

start, community members who had 

heard about it via the Crown Heights 

JCC applied for the financial and training 

assistance and were helped. Two 

are receiving computer training; others 

were helped with finding job openings. 

Yet another young woman was helped 

to explore training necessary to pursue 

the vocation that she “loved since I was 

a little kid”, and to write a resume and 

cover letter. 

Administered by F.E.G.S Health and 

Human Services System, which has 

nearly 75 years of experience in providing 

career assessment, career guidance, 

training, and placement services, the 

new program is called the Crown 

Heights Career Assessment Program, 

or CH-CAP. 

Every detail of the CH-CAP program 

has been specifically designed for suitability 

to the community it is meant 

to serve. It shows sensitivity to the 

special needs of Anash in such areas 

as scheduling and help in selecting 

suitable career tracks. The program 

also offers help with paying the tuition 

for Certificate Training Programs, 

granting up to 2/3 of the tuition bill 

for each course of study. This can be 

several thousand dollars per applicant, 

so in the large families common among 

Chassidim, this is a very great incentive 

for parents to encourage their children 

to gain this help. 

Whether you are looking for help in 

deciding on a career path or in getting 

training for a career that you are already 

familiar with, it is well worth your time 

to find out more about this program. 

Not only will it help you select the best 

training for you, but will help you pay 

for it, it will help you prepare for the 

issues that face Orthodox Jews in the 

workplace, improve your interviewing 

skills, and help you jump-start your 

career. 

The benefits of this program are open 

to all the Anash residents of Crown 

Heights, although the primary targets 

of the program are recent graduates of 

the Kolels, Yeshivas, and Seminaries 

who are seeking a career path other 

than shlichus. 

The CH-CAP program is being operated 

from F.E.G.S Health and Human 

Services System headquarters located at 

80 Van Dam Street in lower Manhattan. 

The program can be reached via e-mail 

at crownheightscap@fegs.org or by 

telephone at 212.524.1728. F.E.G.S is a 

beneficiary of UJA-Federation of NY.

September 26, 2008 ~ crOWN heights Newspaper 3 

The Rebbe's Sicha Parshas Haazinu 

HEAVEN AND EARTH 

Reprinted from The Thought Of The 

Week 

By Rabbi YM .Kagan OBM 

Give ear oh ye heavens (Ha’azinu) and 

I will speak, and let the earth hear the 

sayings of my mouth.’ With these words 

Sidra Ha’azinu begins. 

The Midrash comments that since 

Moses was “close to the heavens” he 

said to them Ha’azinu, “Give ear,” an 

expression indicating that the listener 

is close; to the earth, however, he said 

“hear,” a word denoting that the lis tener 

is at a distance — for Moses was “far 

from the earth.” 

Torah provides directive and guidance 

for every individual; the word 

Torah itself comes from the expres sion 

Hora’ah, “teaching.”’ From the above 

verse it would seem that Torah instructs 

every person to be “close to heaven and 

far from earth.” Yet, sur prisingly, we 

find that Yeshayahu (Isaiah) exclaimed 

Hear oh ye heavens and give ear ye 

earth in exact reverse of the above 

verse, and the Midrash explains that 

Yeshayahu was “far from heaven and 

close to the earth.” If Isaiah, the greatest 

of the prophets, was unable to reach a 

“closeness” to heaven and “distance” 

from earth and remained “far from 

heaven and close to the earth,” then 

how is the average person expected by 

the Torah to attain such a level? And if 

we should succeed in showing how it 

is possible for every individual to reach 

such a level then the question will be, 

why was Yeshayahu (Isaiah) not able 

to achieve this level? 

Heaven symbolizes the “heavenly,” 

spiritual study of Torah. Earth represents 

the down-to-earth practical 

precepts — the Mitzvos6 —which 

concern and involve the material; 

when a person gives charity (Tzedaka), 

for example, he dedicates his ‘earthly’ 

material gain to a nobler, more spiritual 

purpose. Each of these two — Torahstudy 

and Mitzvos-observance--has its 

own unique, great quality. Attach ment 

and communion of the soul with G-d 

comes chiefly through Torah-study.’ 

Refining and spiritualizing the physical 

world to render it a fit “habitation” 

for the Al-mighty is achieved mainly 

through observing the Mitzvos. 

In the first stages of one’s service of 

G-d, one must be “close to heaven and 

far from earth.” The main thrust of his 

efforts should not at first be towards 

purifying the surrounding world; 

his main enjoyment and enthusiasm 

should be in learning Torah. He must, 

of course, observe the Mitzvos — and 

with warmth and vitality —but only as 

much as required by Torah-law; he is to 

be “far from the earth.” Then, later, after 

having acquired this sense of direc tion, 

he must come to recognize that “Not 

the study, but the imple mentation, is 

the main thing.”’ The ultimate purpose 

of his crea tion upon this physical earth 

is to make of the world a “habitation” 

for G-d. 

Isaiah, having used the Torah-guidance 

of Moses as an infusion of strength 

to reach the level of “close to heaven 

and far from earth,” was then able to 

advance to an even higher level of “close 

to earth and far from heaven 

Adapted from Shmais 

Engagements 

Chezky Altein (Crown Heights) to 

Chanah'le Sossonko (Miami, FL) 

Shimon Emlen (NY, NY) to 

Meira Kaner (Baltimore, MD) 

Eli Feiglin (Melbourne, Australia) to 

Batsheva Masinter (Johannesburg, S A) 

Nochi Goldshmid (Crown Heights) to 

Miriam Friedman (Montreal, Canada) 

Shneur Goodman (Kfar Chabad) to 

Rochel Lieblich (Crown Heights) 

Levi Itkin (Scranton, PA) to 

Mushki Morozow (Crown Heights) 

Chaim Dovid Jenkelowitz (CH / Postville) 

to Rivky Wachtel (Toronto, Ontario) 

Moshe Katzburg (Queens, NY / CH) to 

Perla Ochayoun (Paris, France / Israel) 

Chaim Kohan (Buenos Aires) to Malky 

Orbach (Buenos Aires, Argentina) 

Moishy Kozlovsky (Crown Heights/Israel) 

to Chani Rotter (Kfar Chabad) 

Moshe Lazoros (Framingham, MA) to 

Libby Weinberger (Antwerp, Belgium) 

Chaim Rosenfeld (Tzfas) to 

Mussia Shur (Jerusalem) 

Shlomo Simons (NY, NY) to Chana Rivka 

Meyers (Crown Heights) 

Aharon Somerville (Baltimore, MD) to 

Marva Perets (Crown Heights) 

CORRECTON 

Mazal Tov! 

Levi Teitelbaum (Miami Beach, FL) to 

Sara Sapir (Atlanta, GA) 

Levi Wolvovsky (Crown Heights) to 

Sonia Hazan (Milan, Italy) 

Shmulie Zirkind (Montreal, Canada) to 

Chanie Altein (Montreal, Canada) 

Weddings 

Mendy Blau (Crown Heights) to 

Sara'le Kravitsky (Crown Heights) 

Yanky Bruk (Crown Heights) to 

Rivky Cohen (Monsey, NY) 

Bentzy Geisinsky (Crown Heights) 

to Mussia Arnov (Paris, France) 

Moshe Menachem Mendel 

Hirschhorn (NY, NY) to Zohara 

Mechaly (Montreal, Canada) 

Births – Boys 

Nati & Sara Abicasis - Crown Heights 

Levi & Yudit Drutz - Moscow, Russia 

Chaim & Leora Budd – Scottsdale, AZ 

Yosef & Chani Brikman - C. H 

Eli & Rochel Deitsch - C H 

Yitzy & Draiza Engel - Denver, CO 

Menachem Mendel & Nechama 

Dina Feller - West S. Paul, MN 

Yehuda & Liba Goldman - Teaneck, NJ 

Mendy & Sarale 

Goldstein - New Zealand 

Yishai & Efrat Kwin - Kfar Chabad 

Yisroel & Chanie Kahn - London, UK 

Osher & Mussy Litzman – 

Seoul, South Korea 

Yeruchem & Chanie Levilev - C H 

Yossi & Luba Lipsker - Moscow, Russia 

Shaul & Sarah Mirviss - Morristown, NJ 

Aaron & Julia Singer - Chicago, IL 

Berry & Chenchie Schmukler - C H 

Boruch & Chaya 

Sussman - Louisville, KY 

Mordechai & Dana Sogomonian - C H 

Zevy & Miriam Tenenbaum - C H 

Yair & Chanie Yelin - S. Diego, CA 

Births – Girls 

Sholem & Chanie Bacher – 

Randburg, South Africa 

Levy & Maryasha Djian Crown Heights 

Levy & Beila Edelman - Paris, France 

Nachy & Naomi Eisenerg – Monsey, NY 

Moshe & Adena Feiglin 

Melbourne, AU 

Dovid & Sari Gornstein - S. Paulo, Brazil 

Fishel & Basya Goldberg - C H 

Eliyahu & Dassi Kramer - 

Makeevka, Ukraine 

Mordechai & Chaya Klein 

- Moscow, Russia 

Yehoshua & Menucha Lavner 

– Toronto, Ontario 

Shmully & Nechoma 

Dina Raskin – C. H 

Dovid & Mirel Weinbaum C. H 

Mendy & Frumie Weitman - C. H. 

Sruli & Ellana Bard-Wigdor - C H 

Haguy & Chanah Rivkah 

Yakovov - Crown Heights 

Dovid & Chana Raizel Zaklikowski – 

Crown Heights 

Births – Twins 

Shua & Elkie Piekarski – TWIN 

BOYS!! - Crown Heights 

Avi & Mina Richler – TWIN 

GIRLS!! - Gloucester County, NJ 

Shimon & Margula Roumani - a 

boy! & a girl! - Crown Heights 

UPSHERNISH 

Michoel Baruch Sheyrif – 

Chicago, IL 

Levi Tenenbaum - Gurnee, IL 

Pinchus Meir Niyazov - C H 

Schneur Zalman Muller - Ilford, UK 

The Vov Tishrei article (of previous issue) was reprinted from A Day To 

Recall A Day To Remember by Rabbi SB Avtzon


Our Heroes 

Hachossid Reb Eliyohu Arye Leib Gross 

1930-Shmini Atzeres 1994 

By Rabbi Michoel Seligson 

Hachossid Reb Elye Arye Leib Gross 

was born on the 29th of Cheshvan 

5691/1930 to Reb Yosef and Tzipora 

Rochel Chaya in Scranton, 

Pennsylvania. 

There were not many centers of religious 

Jews in those years and few yeshivos 

outside of New York. Reb Elye’s mother, 

a descendent of the prominent Jerusalem 

Eisenbach family, insisted that her 

son should receive a Jewish education in 

an authentic Jewish atmosphere. 

Mrs. Gross did not know where to send 

her son. By divine providence Rabbi 

Meir Greenberg OBM, the Rav of 

Peterson, New Jersey, came to Scranton 

and met Mrs. Gross. He suggested that 

she send her son Elye and his brother 

Dov Ber to Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim 

in Brooklyn. Mrs. Gross accepted this 

suggestion and the children were sent 

to the Lubavitch Yeshiva. 

The boys were successful in their studies 

and eventually the entire family moved 

to Lincoln Place in Crown Heights to 

be near their children. 

In 1942, when the Previous Rebbe 

visited Chicago for a few weeks, Reb 

Elye was among the bochurim that 

accompanied the Previous Rebbe on 

his trip. In 1945 Reb Elye and ten 

other bochurim went to study in the 

yeshiva in Chicago. The Rosh Yeshiva 

was Rabbi Avrohom Herschberg OBM, 

the former chief rabbi of Mexico, and 

the mashpia was Rabbi Yosef Weinberg 

Shlita. 

In 1947, the Gross family merited to 

an honorable neighbor. The Rebbetzin 

Chana, the Rebbe’s mother, arrived 

on the 28th of Sivan from France and 

moved into an apartment on the second 

floor of their building. 

Over the course of the next few years 

until 1951, Reb Elye Gross merited to 

assist the Rebbetzin with everything, 

from shopping, to managing her checkbook, 

and paying her bills. During his 

visits to the Rebbetzin, quite often he 

would meet the Rebbe. At those times, 

Reb Elye would try to leave the house 

in order that the Rebbe should have 

private time with his mother. 

On one occasion the Rebbetzin told 

Reb Elye, “I would like to thank you 

for all your help and reimburse you for 

your work”. Reb Elye responded that he 

did not want any payment, and on the 

contrary this was a great merit for him. 

The Rebbetzin insisted that she wanted 

to pay him and added that if he refused 

payment, “I will not be able to use your 

help any longer”. When Reb Elye heard 

this, he decided to reach a compromise 

with the Rebbetzin. He told the Rebbetzin 

that she could reward him with 

clothing of the Rebbe’s that was no 

longer being worn. The Rebbetzin 

replied that she would need to check 

with her son, the Rebbe. After several 

days, the Rebbetzin relayed the Rebbe’s 

response, which was that Chabad 

chassidim have different customs from 

Polishe Chassidim and that they don’t 

consider such collections significant. 

Instead, the Rebbetzin gave Reb Elye 

the first print of the Tanya published 

in the United States. Reb Elye and 

his family may they live and be well 

cherished this wonderful gift. 

Reb Elye was encouraged by his mashpia, 

Reb Yisroel Jacobson, to maintain 

a diary of events that took place with 

the Previous Rebbe and later the Rebbe. 

This diary, which Reb Elye started in 

1949 was the basis of information on 

the early years of the Rebbe’s nesius. 

It was so comprehensive and detailed 

that it has been a primary source for 

authors and researchers. Reb Elye also 

transcribed the Rebbe’s Sichos from the 

early years of the Rebbe’s nesius and 

published many years later. 

One of Reb Elye’s jobs at that time was 

to teach and prepare children for their 

Bar Mitzva. Reb Elye was on Eastern 

Parkway at 7:50 A.M. on Yud Shvat 

1950, Shabbos parshas Bo, on his way 

to a meeting in shul with the Bar Mitzva 

boys. He saw Reb Yochanon Gordon 

who instructed him to immediately call 

a doctor, because the Previous Rebbe 

was not feeling well. When Reb Elye 

returned to 770 to say Tehilim, he saw 

Reb Yochanon Gordon come down the 

steps with tears in his eyes. He said, 

“M’ken shoin zogen yenem tehilim’, we 

can now say the real Tehillim. 

Film Footage of Yud Shvat 

A few months after Yud Shvat, one 

of the bochurim showed the Rebbe, 

photographs of the of the Previous 

Rebbe’s levaya. After the Rebbe viewed 

the pictures, he asked if there were any 

photos that had been taken at the cemetery 

and if there was any film footage. 

After two years, it became known that 

Reb Elye filmed the levaya. 

Reb Elye arranged for the movie to be 

brought to the Rebbe. The Rebbe asked 

to view the movie after the Yechidusen 

of a designated evening had concluded. 

Reb Elye and Reb Moshe Groner 

obtained a movie projector and entered 

the Rebbe’s room. The Rebbe closed the 

ceiling light and opened the small light 

behind his desk. The Rebbe viewed the 

levaya with extreme emotion, crying, 

he stood with his eyes glued to the 

screen. 

After the film ended, the Rebbe said to 

Reb Moshe, “If you don’t mind, there 

is an additional film at the bottom of 

the book case.” The second film was of 

the Previous Rebbe’s first visit to the 

United States in late 1929. At a certain 

point, the Rebbe added, “Now we will 

see Reb Itche Masmid [Rabbi Yitzchok 

Gorowitz] chazering a Maamor and 

then start dancing.” 

Merkos Shlichus 

Reb Elye, American born and well 

versed in the English language, involved 

himself in spreading Chassidus. His 

background and command of the 

English language placed him at the 

forefront of chassidim involved at that 

time in spiritual public affairs, spreading 

Torah and Chassidus. 

Merkos shlichus was a project that 

the Previous Rebbe initiated in 1948. 

Bochurim from 770 would dedicate a 

few weeks of their summer vacation 

visiting cities and towns to strengthen 

Shlichus in Ohio in 1951 - 

from R to L Rabbis D. Raskin, Mendelowitz, Gross, Wilansky 

Yiddishkeit, as well as the Jews living 

in remote locations. Reb Elye went on 

Merkos Shlichus for several summers. 

He established contacts which he 

maintained over the years. 

Mivtza Lulov 

During Tishrei 5714/ 1953, the Rebbe 

initiated a campaign for chassidim to 

make their rounds with lulav and esrog 

and offer other Jews the opportunity 

to make the blessing over them. This 

was one of the Rebbe’s first campaigns 

and was later referred to as “Mivtza 

Lulov”. Reb Elye would come to 770, 

and before and after Seudas Yom Tov, 

he and Reb Berel Junik would stand for 

hours directing chassidim to nursing 

homes, hospitals, parks, and old age 

homes. Reb Elye continued this custom 

the rest of his life. 

His last year, Reb Elye was hospitalized 

in Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx 

during Sukkos. He asked the bochurim 

who were sent to blow shofar for him, 

to also make sure to blow shofar for all 

the other Jewish patients. 

The electricity in the hospital failed 

and the hospital tapped into backup 

power sources. This was at the exact 

time that Reb Elye would normally 

have been working on Mivtza Lulav. 

Reb Elye saw this as a sign that he did 

not belong in the hospital. Instead, he 

should have been in front of 770, doing 

what he did throughout all the years 

sending bochurim and yungeleit on 

Mivzta Lulov. 

Reb Elye is Married 

Reb Elye married Miss Sara Fayge 

Rosenbloom in 1954. Their wedding 

was the first wedding in the city of Montreal 

Canada to have a mechitza, generating 

much nachas to the Rebbe. The 

Rosenbloom family was known for their 

uncompromising commitment to Torah 

and Mitzvos. Miss Rosenbloom’s father, 

Reb Nota Zev, arrived in Montreal in 

1918. He genuinely fulfilled Torah and 

Mitzvos, at a time when doing so was 

considered self-sacrifice, because of the 

very secular environment and lack of 

observant Jews. 

Reb Nota would send Maamod to the 

Previous Rebbe in Europe, funds for 

the Rebbe’s personal use. When the 

Previous Rebbe sent nine bochurim 

to Montreal to start the Lubavitch 

Yeshiva, Reb Nota helped them to get 

established. He also sent his daughters 

to Bais Rivka when it was established by 

the Previous Rebbe in Montreal, they 

were among the first students. 

The Rebbe Would Wait to Begin 

Hakofos 

After his wedding, Reb Elye served as 

the Rav in the Yeshiva Torah M’Tzion 

Shul in Brownsville. Over the years, on 

the evening of Simchas Torah, chassidim 

would go on tahalucha visiting 

different shuls throughout the city 

to instill joy in the congregants dur-


ing Hakofos. The 

Rebbe would wait 

until they returned 

from Reb Elye’s 

shul to begin his 

hakofos. 

One year the Rebbe 

a s k e d , “ W he r e 

are the bochurim 

who went to Rabbi 

Gross’s Shul?” 

The bochurim 

answered that 

they had already 

returned from 

hakofos. The Rebbe 

asked, “Where is 

Rabbi Gross?” They 

answered that he 

was on his way to 

Crown Heights. 

The bochurim then 

went out to Eastern 

Parkway to wait for 

him. When they 

saw him in the distance they informed 

him that the Rebbe was waiting for him. 

Reb Leibel Bistrizky and Reb Mendel 

Greenbaum quickly carried him up to 

the Rebbe’s bimah and then the Rebbe 

started the hakofos. 

On one occasion in 1953, the Rebbe 

was reciting the blessing over the new 

moon, Kidush Levana. The Rebbe asked 

Reb Elye where his coat was. Reb Elye 

left to get his coat. He walked calmly, 

assuming that he had no reason to rush 

and that by the time that he returned, he 

would have already missed the chance 

to recite the blessing with the Rebbe. 

When he returned, he was shocked to 

find that the Rebbe was waiting for 

him. 

Over the course of decades of spreading 

Yiddishkeit, Reb Elye would encounter 

people from many different communities. 

He had a radio program geared 

towards young students whom he would 

regularly bring to the Rebbe. In the first 

years of the Rebbe’s nesius, when Reb 

Elye brought students the Rebbe, the 

Rebbe requested that Reb Elye should 

translate. The Rebbe would speak for 

a few moments and then wait for Reb 

Elye to translate his words into English. 

The Rebbe then continued speaking for 

twenty minutes without a break. Reb 

Elye attempted to translate the Rebbe’s 

words, but was unable to keep up with 

the Rebbe’s pace. The Rebbe gave him 

a broad smile and repeated his words in 

English. This was the first time that the 

Rebbe spoke English in public. 

Over the years, the Rebbe acknowledged 

his appreciation for Reb Elye’s 

assistance to the Rebbetzin Chana. 

The Rebbe told Reb Elye’s family that 

his door would always be open to them 

in times of need. 

“He spared me energy and time” 

One Sunday during the distribution 

of dollars, Reb Elye introduced Dr. 

Stuart Ditchek, a physician whom he 

knew from the hospital where he was 

Receiving an Honor at a breakfast for the Brooklyn Jewish Hospital with Rabbi 

ZS Dworkin 

a Chaplin. Dr. Ditchek excused himself 

to the Rebbe for skipping the line 

of people waiting for dollars. The Rebbe 

told Dr. Ditchek,”Rabbi Gross helped 

my mother and spared me energy and 

time. In his merit I had more time to 

help additional people”. 

In 1960, Reb Elye’s home was robbed 

and all the coins and dollars that he had 

received from the Previous Rebbe and 

the Rebbe were stolen. Reb Elye was 

heartbroken. He entered the Rebbe’s 

room in Yechidus and told him about 

the robbery. The Rebbe gave him a 

coin and said, “This coin will serve as 

a replacement for all the coins given 

until now.” 

Lubavitch Yeshiva & Bais Rivka 

For many years Reb Elye was involved 

in chinuch. He contributed much in 

this field at a time when there were not 

many Jewish schools in existence in the 

United States. Reb Elye established a 

talmud torah and also raised funds for 

the Lubavitch Yeshiva. He was involved 

in founding Bais Rivka and served as 

its principal for a short time when it 

was located on Stone Avenue, and ran 

its day camp. Later, for many years he 

raised funds for Bais Rivka. 

The Rebbe once told him, after he 

shared how difficult it was to raise 

money, that he should constantly keep 

in mind that the Previous Rebbe always 

went along with him. 

Reb Elye once had a problem. He wrote 

several times to the Rebbe but did not 

receive a response. When he went into 

Yechidus with the Rebbe, he asked the 

Rebbe if he should continue writing 

about this problem, since the Rebbe 

had not responded. 

The Rebbe replied, “If you are standing 

at the threshold of an entrance and 

are knocking on the door and you are 

[definitely] sure that there is a person 

present on the other side of the door, 

would you stop knocking because he 

did not open the door after the first 

knock?” 

Crown Heights Mosdos 

Reb Elye dedicated his life for the 

benefit of the public. This expressed 

itself in many functions and various 

mosdos. 

In the 1940’s, the Released Time program 

was founded under the auspices 

of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch and 

NCFJE. This program taught public 

school children about Judaism for one 

hour a week. Reb Elye, as an American 

boy, helped with the establishment of 

this mosad and involved himself in 

running the program. 

In 1969, during the Farbrengen on the 

last day of Pesach, the Rebbe spoke 

about strengthening the shechuna of 

Crown Heights. The next year, the 

Crown Heights Jewish Community 

Council was established. Reb Elye 

served as the Community Council 

executive director from 1974 through 

1982 and contributed much to the 

community. 

Among his accomplishments was the 

establishment of a government funded 

office for Small Business Loans. 

Art 

Reb Elye founded the Chassidic Art 

Gallery on Kingston Avenue in the 

1970’s, which contributes until this very 

day to Chabad culture. People from 

many different backgrounds visited the 

exhibitions over the years. 

Medical Aid 

Reb Elye established a medical clinic 

on Albany Avenue, affiliated with 

Brooklyn Jewish Hospital, that was 

used by Crown Heights residents 

for many years. He also established 

a WIC center in Crown Heights, to 

assist families and children. This 

was of great benefit for young women 

residing in Crown Heights, eliminating 

the necessity of going to the hospital to 

enroll in WIC. 

In 1979, the Shah was exiled from Iran, 

and a change in government took place. 

Thousands of children were sent out of 

Iran to the United States, and settled 

in Crown Heights. Reb Elye devoted 

himself to the rescue of these children 

and raised most of the funding for the 

organization taking care of them. 

All of these activities contributed 

greatly to the blossoming of the shechuna 

of which the Rebbe spoke and in 

which he invested so much, and to the 

growth of its mosdos. 

The Rebbe once said of Reb Elye, “An 

emeser feiner yungerman”, a true fine 

young man. 

In summing up his connection with the 

Rebbe, the family related two interesting 

observations. Reb Elye came to 

Lubavitch on Hoshana Raba and was 

nifter the next day on Shmini Atzeres, 

many years later; thereby completing 

his life cycle of accomplishments. 

In addition, the kiruvim that Reb Elye 

merited to receive from the Rebbe 

numerous times over the course of the 

years, were mainly during the Yom Tov 

of Shmini Atzeres. 

In the last years of his life, although he 

had not completed a full life span, Reb 

Elye became ill, suffering greatly. On 

Shmini Atzeres, while in California 

visiting his family, he was nifter. 

He left his wife, Mrs. Sara Fayge Gross 

of Crown Heights; his daughter, Mrs. 

Rivka Ellinson, the wife of Reb Alex of 

Crown Heights/England; his son, Reb 

Avrohom Nochum Gross of Crown 

Heights; his daughter, Mrs. Raizel T. 

Edelman, the wife of Hatomim Reb 

Yosef Yitzchok of Crown Heights; his 

son, Reb Nota Zev of LA, California; 

his son, Reb Itzchok Sholom Dovber of 

Crown Heights; and grandchildren and 

great-grandchildren; descendents who 

follow in his ways, involved in public 

affairs, and in the study of Torah and 

the fulfillment of Mitzvos. 

Yehi Zichro Boruch! May Hachossid 

Reb Elye, a people’s person who committed 

himself to public service, who 

was among the first chassidim to spread 

chassidus among young American 

Jewry, who dedicated himself to raise 

funds for the Rebbe’s mosdos and established 

numerous unique projects for the 

benefit of the Shechuna residents, and 

who placed a great stress on supplying 

single women with parnossa; inspire 

us to dedicate ourselves to satisfy the 

physical and spiritual needs of our 

needy Jewish brethren. 

We should speedily witness “The ones 

who dwell in the dust will awaken and 

rejoice” with Hachossid Reb Elye Gross 

among them.


Shiduchim 

Needle in a Haystack 

By Sarah Junik 

Love at first sight 

Part II 

What is the bond we look for in marriage? 

Are we looking for a partnership 

bond? Two distinct individuals that 

go about their lives independently 

and only do things together when it 

concerns their partnership? Of course 

not! Do we look to join with another 

the same way we would join a group 

traveling to the same destination as 

ours or engaged in the same goals as 

ours? Neither of these situations seem 

to represent what the Torah tells us in 

Bereishis (2:24) “Al kein ya’azav ish es 

aviv ve es imo vedavak beishto vahayu 

levasar echad.” “Therefore a man shall 

leave his father and mother and cling 

to his wife and be one.” 

The Rebbe writes: 

... Marriage is not only the beginning 

of a partnership but the beginning of a 

union, where both parties truly become 

one, united for life. 

(From a letter of the Rebbe, dated 8 

Tishrei, 5722) 

The essential quality and substance of a 

proper marriage is "cleaving to one's wife 

and becoming one flesh," which is to say, 

that one is in a constant state of acquisition 

and cleaving - rebuffing anything and 

everything that leads to and causes the 

cessation of this cleaving and unity. 

(Likkutei Sichos, Vol. XXXIV, p. 138) 

(Eternal Joy Vol 2) 

Chazal tell us how this unity is to be: 

it is just like the heart and the brain of 

a person; they are not two individuals 

reaching and working together for different 

goals. They are two components 

of the same body. When I drop something 

with my right hand, my left hand 

will not get upset at my right hand! 

There is a beautiful story which illustrates 

this point: 

Reb Arye Levine known as "the Tzaddik 

of Jerusalem” once took his wife to 

the doctor. When he got to the clinic, 

he explained the problem: “Her foot is 

hurting us.” 

The joys and the hurts are felt by both 

as one person. That is the kind of love 

that we strive for in a marriage, and it is 

incomparable to the so called “love” the 

nations of the world bandy about with 

such ease. Our kind of love does not 

happen at first sight, in an instant, not 

even through a thunderbolt or an arrow; 

it comes through constant renewal of 

commitment and through giving of 

ourselves, through compromises of our 

wishes for a loftier goal. 

It is not a mirage and only attainable by 

a few. It is a goal that is within reach of 

all as long as we want it and as long as 

we are willing to work for it. 

The Rebbe says: 

Love is an emotion that increases in 

strength throughout one's life. It is sharing 

and caring, and respecting each other. It 

is building a life together, a unit of family 

and home. 

The love that you feel as a young bride is 

only the beginning of real love. It is through 

the small, everyday acts of living together 

that love flourishes and grows. And so, 

the love you feel after five or ten years is a 

gradual strengthening of bonds. 

As two lives unite to form one, with time, 

one reaches a point where each partner 

can no longer visualize life without his 

mate by his side. 

(From a private Yechidus) 

Chazal bring a 

moshol, which 

I feel is appropriate 

although 

n o t u s u a l l y 

used in this 

context: When 

a neshama in 

shamayim is 

shown how 

hard it was to 

overcome a 

certain yetzer 

hara (temptation) 

which he 

failed at, he will 

be shown that 

it was as easy as 

stepping across 

a thin stream. 

When he will 

be shown how 

hard it was to 

overcome a 

yetzer hara that 

he did conquer, he will be shown a 

mountain. 

Sometimes we feel that to compromise 

our “principles” for the sake of shalom 

bayis is like climbing a mountain, but 

after it is done, it feels like it was actually 

a very simple thing. Although we do not 

do things for the reward we will get, 

that mountain we first imagine is the 

reward we get at the end. Although it 

was not hard to do, it will be considered 

as if we scaled Everest. 

From Eternal Joy vol 2 

The Creator, in His infinite kindness, has 

revealed and given to us certain directives 

and precepts concerning the establishment 

of a close relationship between two 

persons, especially between spouses, which 

clearly is one of the most important aspects 

of human life - especially in the view of 

our Torah. 

The purpose of these directives and 

precepts is, on the one hand, to ensure the 

conditions under which the couple will be 

blessed with an abundance of blessings, 

and on the other, to guide them and 

protect them from undesirable acts and 

consequences. 

(From a letter of the Rebbe, dated 

5732) 

All this cannot be experienced while 

shidduch dating! At that time the 

couple is still two individuals who 

are looking to see if a partnership can 

be forged. They are still two separate 

people who are deciding if this is a fit 

companion for the journey ahead. How 

can we even consider that at this point 

there should be love? 

So what is it that we can reasonably 

expect at this point? 

One word of caution to the ladies: 

As women we are generally prone to 

underestimate ourselves, our capabilities, 

our achievements. (I wrote 

generally because some of us may not 

find this true, but a vast majority will 

agree with it) 

When going out, 

we get the undivided 

attention 

of another person. 

Especially if 

we like that person 

after going 

out a few times, 

the appreciation 

for our ideas 

and ourselves is 

very heady. It is 

a positive side 

to the shidduch 

date, just do not 

get carried away 

by this feeling 

of approval and 

name it something 

else. 

I f y o u a r e 

attracted to your 

partner in the 

shidduch date, 

go back and think about that list you 

originally made. Now think about your 

partner. Does s/he have any of the items 

you thought so essential then? Do not 

expect to find every item on your list 

in your prospective spouse, but some, 

even if only 2 or 3, should be there. If 

none of the things you termed musts are 

found in your partner, try to discover 

why are you attracted to him/her. What 

is causing this attraction? Is it because 

you absolutely do not know yourself 

and anyone who helped you draw up 

the list does not know you either? Or 

maybe the reason you are attracted to 

this person is not for the right reason? 

(S/he comes from a wealthy family, is 

über popular and you wish to be part 

of the spotlight, is physically appealing 

and all you see is the physical beauty… 

etc.) It is important to discuss this with 

your parents or shadchan or mashpia, to 

take advice from others who are not as 

“nogea b’dovor” as you are. Are those 

items on your list suddenly expendable? 

Find out why and what has taken their 

place. 

If you find that you like your partner and 

enjoy his/her company, think through 

what is it that makes you like him/her. 

What are the qualities you admire and 

what are the habits or even qualities you 

are not so enthusiastic about. 

Make sure you are not blind to the other 

person. Stay focused and aware of what 

is it that attracts you to this person. If 

you cannot think of a single thing that 

bothers you about the other person, 

go out some more. Do not go in this 

expecting this person to be perfect, no 

one is. It is a rude awakening when you 

are married to see a chisaron in your 

partner which you cannot tolerate. DO 

not expect to be able to change him or 

her. Whatever little or big annoyances 

there are, notice them and make peace 

with them as everyone has idiosyncrasies 

that can drive others crazy. Just 

make sure you know what those are 

while you are still dating. 

Any constructive comment is welcomed 

by the editor. Write to CHP5768 @ 

gmail.com or directly to the author at 

Basmelech@gmail.com 

If there is a topic I have not discussed on the subject of 

shidduchim or if you have a question, feel free to write 

me at Basmelech@gmail.com, and I will address the 

topic in a future issue. 

2700 

Phone Calls 

On Monday Zain Tishrei, 2700 households in 

Crown Heights got the following phone call: 

A Gmar Chasima Tova from the Mosdos of the 

Shchuna, the Shul Committee & N’Shei Ubnos 

Chabad. 

Taf Shin Samach Tes is a Shnas Hakhel. 

Just as in the year of Hakhel - all Yiden, gathered in the Bais Hamikdosh to 

hear the Melech read the Torah and inspire Yiras Shamayim - We gather 

in 770. - We respectfully ask women and girls to dress halachically and 

appropriately. 

May our efforts in being meticulous in the Mitzva of Tznius, especially in 

the Rebbe’s shul, bring the immediate Hisgalus. 

Again, a Gut Yor and a Gmar Chasima Tova.


Horav Hachossid Reb Boruch Shifrin 

1905-20th of Tishrei 1986 

By: Aharon Abrahamson 

Horav Hachossid Reb Boruch Shifrin 

was born in 1905 on the 26th of Sivan 

in Paritsch, White Russia to Horav 

Tzvi Hirsch and Mrs. Fayge Shifrin. 

Reb Boruch was fifteen years old when 

his father was beaten by a gang of anti- 

Semites. For the last five years of his life 

he was bedridden with pain as a result of 

the beating. In those years, Reb Boruch 

underwent great difficulties in order to 

study in the underground yeshivas in 

Kremenshug and later, far from his home, 

in Kharkov. 

Reb Boruch merited special kiruvim 

from the Previous Rebbe. In his twenties, 

he visited the Previous Rebbe in 

Rostov and later in Leningrad. During 

one Yechidus, he received an American 

dollar from the Previous Rebbe which the 

family cherished throughout the years. 

Another expression of kiruv took place 

when the Previous Rebbe was about to 

make Havdala and he searched for Reb 

Boruch and asked him to hold the candle. 

For a period of time, Reb Boruch served 

as the Previous Rebbe’s personal secretary. 

While in yeshiva in Kremenshug, 

he once merited going on a shlichus of 

the Previous Rebbe to the 

resting places of the Alter Rebbe and the 

Mitteler Rebbe in Haditsch and Nevel 

respectively, read the pidyon. 

On the 14th of Kislev in late 1928, Reb 

Boruch married Miss Sonia Paar and they 

lived in Vitebsk for a while. After his wedding, 

Reb Boruch joined his father-in-law 

in raising money for the underground 

Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim. In Adar 

1931, the KGB discovered the yeshiva in 

Vitebsk and his father-in-law Reb Eliyohu 

Paar was arrested and Reb Boruch and 

his wife escaped. 

Arrested before Pesach 

Early in the morning at 5:00 A.M., at the 

beginning of Nissan, there was a banging 

on the door. The KGB entered the house 

and found receipts for Yeshiva Tomchei 

Tmimim, clear evidence that Reb Boruch 

was involved in yeshiva activities. Reb 

Boruch bid a tearful farewell to his 

wife, and was taken away by the KGB. 

In prison, he underwent torture as he 

was interrogated. Reb Boruch’s cell and 

that of his father-in-law was separated 

by a thin wall. 

Hunger Strike 

Pesach arrived and Reb Boruch insisted 

that he would not eat any chometz. He 

demanded matzos from the prison officer 

and the officer responded harshly. Reb 

Boruch decided to fast. When he was 

served bread, he refused it saying that 

he didn’t eat bread on Pesach. The same 

thing happened in his father-in-law’s 

cell. Reb Boruch successfully refrained 

from eating chometz during the eight 

days of Pesach. 

At the end of Nissan, Reb Boruch was 

about to be released but needed to sign 

an agreement not to disclose any details 

about his incarceration. Reb Boruch 

refused to sign since it was Shabbos, but 

eventually he was freed. 

Settled in Leningrad 

After a while, the authorities again began 

searching for Reb Boruch. For months he 

slept in the shul to evade the authorities 

looking for him. Two months later, Reb 

Boruch received a draft notice from 

the Russian army. When he asked the 

Previous Rebbe how to respond, the Previous 

Rebbe advised him to leave town. 

He ran away 

to Leningrad 

where there was 

a large community 

of Chabad 

Chassidim. The 

Previous Rebbe 

also advised him 

to obtain a passport 

for three 

years residency 

in Leningrad. 

This was for a 

long period of 

time and was 

u n u s u a l f o r 

those days. The 

Rebbe’s vision 

was fulfilled, Reb 

With Granddaughter 

Boruch successfully received the passport, 

as well as a nice apartment. 

In 1937, tragedy stroke Reb Boruch when 

his youngest daughter Masha succumbed 

to an illness and was nifter. 

In the summer of 1941, Reb Boruch 

received a new notice to report to the 

army. The Russian army was fighting 

the Germans and was in dire need of 

manpower. Reb Boruch’s wife informed 

army officials that he was ill. By a miracle, 

the officer at the army office handed Mrs. 

Shifrin the appropriate papers and told 

her that her husband needed to travel to 

a different location to report. This was 

an obvious miracle since it enabled Reb 

Boruch and his wife to escape before the 

Nazis entered their city. 

Burying the hunger fatalities 

Reb Boruch was a person who always 

tried to make things better, whether it 

was a fundraising project for Yeshiva 

Tomchei Tmimim, or maintaining a 

Mikva in Vitebsk. During WWII, when 

Leningrad and other cities had no food, 

many people succumbed to the hunger 

and died. Reb Boruch brought many 

Jews to Kvuras Yisroel, a Jewish burial. 

Reb Boruch also lost his daughter Rochel 

Leah to diphtheria illness at this time. 

To escape from Leningrad, Reb Boruch 

and his family travelled over a frozen lake 

to get to the train station. After a twenty 

day train trip, they arrived in Alma-Ata 

in Kazakhstan, where the Rebbe’s father, 

Horav Hagaon Hamkubel Reb Levi 

Yitzchok, was living in exile during the 

last years of his life. Reb Boruch and his 

son Hirshel would visit Reb Levik on 

a steady basis, davening with him and 

participating in his Farbrengens. Reb 

Boruch merited serving Reb Levik until 

his very last day, when he was nifter in 

exile on the 20th of Av 1944. 

WWII ended and in Iyar 1945, the world 

learned about the atrocities against the 

Jews that had taken place during the 

war. Russia opened her borders, and 

Russia and Poland agreed to allow Polish 

citizens who had escaped into Russia to 

return to Poland. Many Jews, including 

Lubavitch chassidim, took advantage of 

this offer and left Russia. 

The Shifrin family first traveled to 

Moscow, and then to L’vuv, where they 

received the appropriate 

documents to leave 

Russia. In Poland, they 

stayed in a refugee camp 

in Krakow for three 

weeks. From there the 

Zionist organization Brecha, 

transported them to 

Czechoslovakia. After 

much wandering they 

arrived in Saltsberg, Austria 

where they remained 

for a year. 

Eventually the Shifrin 

family settled in 

Paris. Reb Boruch was 

appointed gabai of the 

the Pletzel shul, where the 

Rebbe’im had davened during their visits 

to Paris. Reb Boruch served as a mohel 

and shochet. Many refugees came with 

uncircumcised children and Reb Boruch 

performed many brisim. 

Ireland was the next stop. Numerous 

chassidim arriving in France, went to 

Ireland to work as shochtim for a brief 

while. Reb Boruch received the Previous 

Rebbe’s blessing and traveled to Ireland 

where he worked for two years and 

then returned to France. In France, he 

continued raising funds for the Yeshivos 

Tomchei Tmimim in Brunoy, France 

and in Israel. 

Gracious Hosts 

Reb Boruch and his wife were gracious 

hosts who constantly brought needy 

people into their home. There were 

children of a Lubavitch family who were 

always outside looking for something to 

eat. When Reb Boruch saw the children 

he would invite them into his home. 

In later years, these now grown children 

related to Reb Boruch’s daughter, “At one 

point we were starving to death and there 

was nothing in the house to eat. Your 

parents saved us from hunger”. 

Reb Boruch was also gracious with 

money. A non-Lubavitch bochur recalled 

that he needed a loan for a business 

investment. Reb Boruch did not ask 

many questions but immediately gave 

him the required amount. This made a 

deep impression on the bochur and he 

always recalled this favor. 

Travel to the Rebbe in New York was 

expensive. On many occasions, Reb 

Nissan Nemanov, mashpia of Yeshivas 

Tomchei Tmimim in Brunoy would 

approach Reb Boruch on behalf of a particular 

bochur and request his assistance 

in purchasing a ticket. Reb Boruch would 

immediately give the money. 

To Be Joyous 

During Kislev of 1960, Reb Boruch went 

into Yechidus with the Rebbe and the 

Rebbe told him to be joyous. When he 

asked the Rebbe why he should be joyous, 

the Rebbe replied that there is what to 

be joyous about. When Reb Boruch left 

Yechidus, he began dancing for hours. 

In 1963 his wife Sunia was nifter and Reb 

Boruch remarried. Reb Boruch wished 

to settle in Israel and when he consulted 

the Rebbe, the Rebbe responded that his 

physical and spiritual livelihood was in 

Paris and not in Israel. On one occasion, 

when Reb Boruch was in Yechidus and 

discussed the matter once more with 

the Rebbe, the Rebbe told him that at 

the present he did not see a reason to 

leave Paris. “What will you do there? 

Say Tehillim?” To which Reb Boruch 

replied that he would also continue his 

activities in communal affairs in Israel. 

After a few months, the Rebbe consented 

to Reb Boruch’s move to Shichun Chabad 

in Jersualem, where he continued his 

activities. 

Daily Schedule 

His daily schedule would begin at 3:00 

A.M. when he would begin reciting 

Tehillim on his porch. After Tehillim 

he would study a Maamor Chassidus of 

the Alter Rebbe in Torah Ohr or Likutei 

Torah for an hour, and at 8:00, he would 

go to shul for shacharis. Reb Boruch 

would slowly daven shacharis aloud, 

word by word. On Shabbos, he would 

daven many more hours. He davened 

and learned with his entire being. Every 

day he would walk to the Kosel to daven 

and some days he would remain there for 

the entire day. 

As long as the feet are functioning, 

why do I need a car?! 

On his way to the Kosel he would review 

Tanya by heart. On one occasion when 

his grandson Reb Yehuda Eidelkop met 

him and offered him a ride, he said, “As 

long as the feet are functioning, why do 

I need a car?!” 

Prior to Sukkos 5746/1985, although 

Reb Boruch was eighty years old, he 

insisted on building the Sukka himself 

and adamantly refused any assistance 

from family members. 

On Chal Hamoed Sukkos he was hospitalized 

and on the 20th of Tishrei 

returned his soul to her creator. 

He left his daughter, Mrs. Tamar Eidelkop 

of France; his daughter, Mrs. Rivka Junik 

of Belgium; his son, Reb Hirshel Shifrin 

of Crown heights; and grandchildren 

and great-grandchildren serving as the 

Rebbe’s Shluchim worldwide. 

We should speedily witness “The ones 

who dwell in the dust will awaken and 

rejoice” with Hachossid Horav Reb 

Boruch Shifrin among them.


Parshas Hashavua 

Vedibarta Bam ~ Haazinu 

Rabbi Moshe Bogomilsky 

‏"צור ילדתך 

תשי ותשכח א-ל 

מחללך"‏ 

“You forgot the rock 

Who gave birth to 

you and forgot G d 

Who brought you 

forth.” (32:18) 

QUESTION: Why 

does Moshe mention the Jews’ forgetting 

of Hashem twice? 

ANSWER: There was once a person 

who owed money to many creditors. 

Unable to bear the pressure and 

demands for payments which came 

from all sides, he consulted a friend 

who, incidentally, was also one of his 

creditors. The friend advised him, 

“From now on when anyone comes 

asking for payment, act insane so that 

the creditor will think you have lost 

your mind and stop bothering you.” 

Once, when the friend himself came 

to demand payment, the debtor began 

to act demented, hoping to put him 

off. Angrily the creditor said to him, 

“Don’t act crazy in front of me — it 

was my idea!” 

Among the many gifts Hashem has 

endowed man with is the power of 

“shikchah” — forgetfulness. Thus, 

when one is, G d forbid, confronted 

with trials and tribulations he is able to 

remove his mind from them, and go on 

with his life. Moshe said to the Jewish 

people, “tzur yeldecha — the rock Who 

gave birth to you — [has instilled in you 

a gift, the power of] teshi — to forget. 

The problem is that “vatishkach Keil 

mecholelecha” — you are using this 

power of forgetfulness to also forget 

Hashem, Who brought you forth and 

Who does so much for you.” 

‏)המגיד מדובנא ור'‏ מנחם מענדל זצ"ל 

מקאצק(‏ 

‏"לו חכמו ישכילו זאת יבינו 

לאחריתם"‏ 

“Were they wise they would comprehend 

this, they would understand what 

their end would be.” (32:29) 

QUESTION: The word “zot” — “this” 

— is superfluous? 

ANSWER: In the prayers on Rosh 

Hashanah and Yom Kippur we proclaim, 

“U’teshuvah u’tefillah u’tzedakah 

ma’avirin et ro’ah hagezeirah” — 

“Repentance, prayer, and charity avert 

the severity of the decree.” In all machzorim 

above these words are printed in 

קול,)‏ mamon” small letters, “kol, tzom, 

fasting, “Voice (of prayer), — ‏(צום,‏ ממון 

money (for charity).” The merit of the 

Jewish people is determined by how 

they excel in these three things, and 

the total numerical value of the three 

is four hundred and eight, which is 

also the numerical value of the word 

‏.(זאת)‏ “zot” 

This pasuk, which is read usually 

during the High Holiday season, is 

hinting that “Were they wise they 

would comprehend ‘zot’ — the achievements 

that are derived through — ‘kol, 

tzom, and mamon’ — ‘voice, fast, and 

money’ ” — and “yavinu” — they would 

understand that it plays an important 

role — “le’acharitam” — for their 

future, i.e., through it they will merit to 

be inscribed in the Book of Life with all 

the best, materially and spiritually. 

Hashem challenges the Jewish people, 

“Ubechanuni na bezot” — “Test Me, if 

you will, with ‘zot’ — ‘this’ ” (Malachi 

3:10), i.e. perform the three things 

which add up to “zot” — four hundred 

and eight — and “[See] if I do not open 

for you the windows of Heaven and 

pour out upon you blessings without 

end.” 

Unfortunately, there are people who do 

not realize or refuse to recognize what 

can be accomplished through these 

three things. King David says of such 

people, “Ukesil lo yavin et zot” — “A 

fool cannot understand ‘zot’ — ‘this’ 

” (Psalms 92:7), i.e. the importance 

of ‘kol, tzom and mamon’ which have 

the same numerical value (408) as the 

word ‘zot.’ 

‏)בית יעקב ר'‏ יעקב הכהן ז"ל טראב – מסלתון 

ראב"ד ביירות(‏ 

‏"מחצתי ואני ארפא ואין מידי מציל"‏ 

“I wounded and I heal, and there is no 

rescuer from My hand.” (32:39) 

QUESTION: It should have said the 

reverse, “There is no rescuer from My 

hand; I wound and I heal”? 

ANSWER: An ill chassid who many 

doctors were unable to help, desperately 

visited his Rebbe for a blessing and advice. 

He was told, “Consult the professor in the 

town of Anipoli. He will cure you.” The 

ailing chassid spared no effort or money 

and made the arduous trip. Upon arrival 

he was disappointed to learn that there 

was no professor, no doctor, and not even 

a medical attendant in the tiny hamlet of 

Anipoli. Dumbfounded, he returned to 

his Rebbe and told him that in Anipoli 

there were no medical experts. 

“Then tell me,” asked the Rebbe, “What 

do the people of Anipoli do when someone, 

G d forbid, is sick?” 

“What do they do?” said the chassid, “I 

suppose they have no other option but 

to trust in Hashem and ask Him to send 

the healing from Heaven.” 

“He is the One,” exclaimed the Rebbe. 

“That is the professor of Anipoli that I 

referred you to. Put your faith in Hashem 

and He who helps the people of Anipoli 

will surely help you too.” 

Hashem is saying, “Machatzti” — “I 

wounded” — “ve’ani erpeh” — “and I 

heal,” [when the person realizes that] 

“ve’ein miyadi matzil” — “there is no 

rescuer from My hand” — i.e. he honestly 

believes that it is not the doctors 

who bring healing, but Hashem. 

דגן שמים על מםכת ראש השנה,‏ ועי'‏ סיפורי חסידים)‏ 

‏(ע'‏ 168 

In this pasuk the word “Ani” is mentioned 

four times, which is an allusion to what 

the Gemara (Megillah 29a) says that 

Hashem is always with the Jewish people, 

and that even when they go into galut 

— exile — the Shechinah — Divine 

Presence — is there together with them. 

Since the exiles of the Jewish people are 

associated with four monarchies: Edom, 

i.e. Rome, Media/Persia, Babylon, and 

Greece, “Ani,” which is a reference to 

the Shechinah, is written four times. 

‏(נחל קדומים)‏ 

Hidden And Revealed 

By Yanki Tauber 

Reprinted with permission from Chabad. 

Org 

“Sound the shofar on the new moon, in 

concealment to the day of our festival” 

(Psalms 81:4). In this cryptic verse lies 

the deeper significance of Sukkot and 

its sister-festival, Shemini Atzeret/ 

Simchat Torah. 

In the Jewish calendar, the month follows 

the phases of the moon. The “new 

moon” -- the point at which the moon 

emerges from its monthly concealment 

-- marks the beginning of a new month. 

The apex of the month is the 15th -- the 

night of the full moon, when the moon 

attains the high point of its potential to 

reflect the sun’s light and illuminate 

the earth. 

The month of Tishrei is the most 

spirituality-rich month in the Jewish 

year. The festivals and special days-- 

Rosh Hashanah, the Ten Days of 

Repentance, Shabbat Shuvah, Yom Kippur, 

Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret/Simchat 

Torah, Shabbat Bereishit -- follow in 

succession, with hardly any “ordinary 

days” in between. It’s a time to fuel 

up on the spiritual resources -- awe, 

teshuvah, connection, singularity, 

joy, unity, wisdom, commitment 

-- that will drive our lives for the 

rest of the year. 

The first of Tishrei is Rosh Hashanah, 

which opens the “Days of 

Awe” that characterize the first 

part of the month, culminating in 

Yom Kippur on Tishrei 10th. Then 

the mood and texture of Tishrei 

shifts dramatically to the “Season 

of Our Rejoicing” that begins with 

the festival of Sukkot on the 15th 

and continues through Shemini 

Atzeret and Simchat Torah. The 

half of Tishrei is marked by solemnity, 

the second by elation; but the 

Chassidic masters explain that these 

are simply the “hidden” and “revealed” 

dimensions of the same elements. 

The essence of Rosh Hashanah is our 

crowning of G-d as our “king”. A coronation, 

explain the Chassidic masters, 

is effected by two things -- unity and 

joy: a people joyously unite to select, 

accept and submit to an exalted figure 

who embodies their collective identity 

and innermost strivings (if the coronation 

lacks either joy or unity, chassidic 

teaching explains, it results not in a 

true king, but merely in a “ruler”). But 

there is also a third element without 

which the coronation could not happen 

-- awe. And the nature of awe is that 

it eclipses and mutes the joy. Sukkot, 

then, is simply the revelation of Rosh 

Hashanah. The joy and unity that are 

the essence of our commitment to G-d, 

and which were “concealed” by the 

awe that characterizes the first days of 

Tishrei, erupt on the 15th of the month 

in the form of the festival of Sukkot. 

In the words of the Psalmist, “Sound 

the shofar on the new moon, in concealment 

to the day of our festival.” Our 

crowning G-d king with the sounding 

of the shofar on the 1st of Tishrei (“the 

new moon”) remains in concealment 

until “the day of our festival”, the full 

moon of Sukkot, when it manifests itself 

in a seven-day feast of joy. 

And what Sukkot is to Rosh Hashanah, 

Simchat Torah is to Yom Kippur. The 

essence of Yom Kippur is that it is the 

day we received the Second Tablets, 

completing the Giving of the Torah 

(which began on Shavuot) and bringing 

into our lives the Torah’s ultimate 

essence -- teshuvah. There is nothing 

more liberating and exilarating than 

teshuvah -- the power to “return” to 

the quintessential core of one’s being, 

transcending time, space, habit and 

“character”, transcending all that 

circumscribes the soul’s truest self and 

truest strivings. But again, the essence 

of Yom Kippur is submerged and 

concealed within the solemnity that 

accompanies the business of teshuvah 

doing -- fasting, regretting and confessing 

our wrongdoings, resolving not to 

repeat them, praying for forgiveness. 

It is only on Simchat Torah that the 

joyous essence of teshuvah is manifestly 

celebrated.


Vedibarta Bam ~ Sukos 

‏“לולב מצוה לאגדו”‏ 

“It is a mitzvah to bundle the lulav with 

the hadassim and aravot.” (Sukkah 

33a) 

QUESTION: How many rings should 

be placed on the lulav? 

ANSWER: The Shulchan Aruch Harav 

(651:11) writes “It is customary to make 

three bundlings (ties) on the lulav, corresponding 

to the three Patriarchs. I.e., 

in addition to the ring which bundles 

the three species together, (because the 

Torah (Shemot 15:2) states ‘This is my 

G‐d and I shall beautify him,’ ibid. 2) 

two ties (rings) are made to bundle the 

lulav leaves to the spine.” 

But don’t we make three rings just for 

bundling the species together? 

The three rings for bundling the species 

are all made within a tefach handbreadth. 

Thus, we apply the rule of 

lavud — attached — so the three rings 

are considered as one. 

But why do we make what appears 

as five rings but which halachically is 

counted as three? 

It says in Pirkei Avot (3:6) “From where 

do we learn that the Divine Presence 

rests among five that occupy themselves 

with Torah? For it is said ‘va’agudato al 

eretz yesadah — He has founded His 

band upon the earth’ ” (Amos 5:6). 

According to another version, this 

pasuk is proof that the Divine Presence 

is with three who are occupied in Torah. 

Because three is considered agudah — 

banding together (see Bartenura). 

In deference to the opinions whether 

an agudah — bundling — is three 

or five, we make five rings which are 

considered as three, corresponding to 

the Patriarchs. 

שו”ע סי’‏ תרנ”א סעי’‏ א’‏ ט”ז,‏ חיים וברכה)‏ 

‏(לבעמ”ח ספר משמרת שלום על פמ”ג סי’‏ רפ”ח 

‏“בליל ראשון של סוכות אומרים תחילה 

לישב בסוכה ואח”כ שהחיינו”‏ 

“On the first night of Sukkot, we say 

first leishev basukkah and afterwards 

shehechiyanu.” 

QUESTION: When we make Kiddush 

the first night of Sukkot, why is the 

berachah of leishev basukkah made first 

and then shehechiyanu, while on the 

second night the order is reversed? 

ANSWER: Biblically, the Yom Tov 

of Sukkot is to be celebrated one day 

— the fifteenth of Tishrei. The new 

month would be established by Beit 

Din on the testimony of witness who 

saw the new moon, and then messengers 

were dispatched to inform the public. 

The communities of Israel and the 

Diaspora that would not be reached 

by mid month, celebrated Yom Tov for 

two days out of doubt as to which day 

was the 15th. Though we now have a 

pre-calculated calendar, we continue 

the “custom of our parents” and observe 

Yom Tov two days. 

A shehechiyanu is recited at a time of 

joy, e.g. a Yom Tov or over a mitzvah 

which is applicable only at a certain 

time during the year, e.g. shofar, reading 

megillah, etc. Since there was a time 

when a real doubt existed concerning 

which day was actually Yom Tov (the 

15th of Tishrei) the berachah of shehechiyanu 

must be recited each night 

together with the Kiddush which ushers 

in the Yom Tov. A person cannot rely on 

the fact that he said it on the first night 

of Yom Tov since it is possible that it may 

not have been the fifteenth of Tishrei if 

the new month were established on the 

testimony of witness. 

However, the Gemara (Sukkah 46a) 

says, “One who makes a sukkah for 

himself, says shehechiyanu. When 

he enters the sukkah during the Yom 

Tov to sit in it, he says the blessing 

of leishev basukkah.” Nowadays, we 

do not recite the shehechiyanu upon 

building the sukkah, rather it is done 

over the Kiddush cup. 

Hence, on the first night the shehechiyanu 

is both for the Yom Tov and the 

sukkah, and therefore it is recited after 

we make the berachah of leishev basukkah. 

On the second night there is no 

longer a need to make a shehechiyanu 

over the sukkah, since even if the first 

night were not Yom Tov one is yotzi 

— has fulfilled the obligation — even 

if the shehechiyanu were made before 

Yom Tov upon completion of the erection 

of the sukkah. Therefore, since 

the shehechiyanu on the second night 

is only for the Yom Tov (in the event 

that the first night was not 15 Tishrei) 

and not for the mitzvah of sukkah, the 

shehechiyanu is recited immediately 

after the Kiddush. 

‏)שו”ע סי’‏ תרמ”א וסי’‏ תרס”א(‏ 

‏“ביום ראשון מברך על נטילת לולב 

ושהחיינו,‏ וביום שני אינו מברך זמן 

אא”כ חל יום ראשון בשבת.”‏ 

“On the first day we recite the berachot 

al netilat lulav and shehechiyanu, on the 

second day shehechiyanu is not recited 

unless the first day was Shabbat.” 

QUESTION: Why is shehechiyanu 

recited both nights in Kiddush and only 

the first day of Yom Tov for taking the 

lulav and etrog? 

ANSWER: Yom Tov is a joyous occasion 

which comes from time to time, 

and thus a shehechiyanu must be 

recited. Since there is a doubt which 

day is actually Yom Tov (the 15th 

of Tishrei), it is recited both nights 

together with Kiddush. 

Halachically, however, the shehechiyanu 

over the lulav may be made even 

before Yom Tov when one prepares 

(binds together the lulav with the species], 

but it has become traditional to 

make the berachah when the lulav is 

taken to fulfill the mitzvah (see Sukkah 

46a, Shulchan Aruch 644, Magen 

Avraham). Thus, there is no need to 

make this berachah twice, since either 

way [even if the first day is a weekday 

and not Yom Tov] one fulfilled the 

obligation of reciting the shehechiyanu 

for the lulav. 

‏(שו”ע סי’‏ תרס”ב,‏ מגן אברהם)‏ 

‏“אומרים תהלים בליל הושענא רבה 

אחר חצות”‏ 

“On Hoshana Rabbah after midnight, 

Tehillim is recited.” 

QUESTION: Why necessarily after 

midnight? 

ANSWER: 

According to the 

Z oha r (Vay i k ra 

103b) we welcome 

Ushpizin — guests 

— to our sukkah. 

These guests are 

Avraham, Yitzchak, 

Yaakov, Moshe, 

Aaron, Yosef and 

David. Each day of 

Sukkot another of 

these guests leads 

the others into 

the sukkah. Thus, 

Hoshana Rabbah, the seventh day, is 

the day of King David. 

The Gemara (Berachot 3b) says that 

David did not sleep at night. Until 

midnight he would be involved in words 

of Torah; henceforth, he strengthened 

himself like a lion and occupied himself 

with singing and praises to Hashem. 

(When he would sleep, he would be 

careful to only doze off for less than 60 

human respirations, see Sukkah 26b). 

Since on Hoshana Rabbah David is the 

primary guest, and he compiled the 

Tehillim which contains the songs and 

praises he would say to Hashem after 

midnight, we too recite the Tehillim on 

Hoshana Rabbah after midnight. 

‏)טעמי המנהגים בשם מחזה אברהם ועי’‏ שו”ע 

אדמוה”ז מהדו”ק סי’‏ ד’‏ סעי’‏ ט”ז(‏ 

‏“בהושענא רבה קודם הלל – מסירים 

שתי הכריכות אשר על הלולב”‏ 

“O n Ho s h a n a R a bba h , before 

Hallel, the two (top) rings 

are removed from the lulav.” 

(Sefer Haminhagim-Chabad) 

QUESTION: Why necessarily these 

two rings? 

ANSWER: In the Torah (Vayikra 

23:40) the lulav is called “kapot temarim” 

— “branches of date palms.” The 

word “kapot” פֹת)‏ ‏(ּכַ‏ can also be read as 

“kafut” ‏(ּכָפּות)‏ which means “tied up.” 

The Gemara (Sukkah 32a) derives 

that the leaves of the lulav must be 

fresh (soft) so that they can be tied to 

the lulav spine. Thus, to firmly tie the 

leaves to the spine it is customary to 

place to rings on the lulav itself (see 

Rav Shulchan Aruch 651:11). 

Now, in the Torah, the word “kapot” is 

written without a vav פֹת)‏ ‏.(ּכַ‏ Since the 

letter vav has the numerical value of six, 

we take the lacking vav as an indication 

that the requirement of kafut — tied 

up — is an imperative only during the 

six days of Sukkot and not the seventh 

— Hoshana Rabbah. 

‏)לבוש סי’‏ תרס”ד סעי’‏ א’,‏ ועי’‏ לקו”ש ח”ד ע’‏ 

)1368 

‏“יש נשים מעוברת שנוהגת ליטול 

הפיטום של האתרוג בהו”ר”‏ 

“Some pregnant women have a custom 

to bite off the pitom of the etrog on 

Hoshana Rabbah [after davening].” 

QUESTION: What is the significance 

of this? 

ANSWER: According to the Midrash 

(Bereishit Rabbah 15:7) the forbidden 

fruit that Chavah ate and also gave to 

Adam was an etrog. As a punishment, 

from then on, she and all womanhood 

would have to suffer pain in 

childbirth. 

The etrog is an edible tasty fruit and 

has a good aroma. The pitom, however, 

is a hard inedible piece of wood with 

no aroma. By biting off the pitom the 

woman is declaring that she disagrees 

with Chavah and wants absolutely no 

pleasure from the etrog. 

The Gemara (Sotah 12a) says that 

righteous women of all generations 

were not affected by Chavah’s verdict 

that womankind should suffer pain in 

childbirth. Therefore, by disassociating 

herself from Chavah’s iniquity, 

she prays to Hashem that He grant 

her a childbirth without pain and 

complications. 

‏)אוצר כל מנהגי ישרון בשם ספר זכירה ועי’‏ בנטעי 

גבריאל פרק פ’‏ ס”ז(‏ 

“Simchat Torah” 

‏“שמחת תורה”‏ 

QUESTION: Simchat Torah literally 

means the Simchah of the Torah — is 

it our simchah or her simchah? 

ANSWER: In Hebrew a son is called 

“ben” from the root of boneh — builder 

— because he continues to build that 

which his father started. 

A very sad day in a person’s life is when 

he must sell a large thriving business 

to a stranger because his only son has 

no interest in continuing the business. 

Through our dancing and rejoicing we 

demonstrate our love for Torah and that 

it is very dear to us. Thus, Simchat Torah 

— Torah is immensely happy when she 

sees the cherish and love her children, 

the Jewish people, have for her.


Matters of Interest 

Do You Consume Enough Minerals?! 

By Yaakov Bam, 

MS, Nutrition 

and Wellness 

Consultant 

The Rambam: 

“I can guarantee 

that anyone 

who accustoms 

himself to these 

ways which we have discussed will 

not become sick throughout his whole 

life, and will never need to take any 

medicines. His body will be perfect and 

healthy for his entire life....” 

Minerals originate in the Earth and cannot 

be made by living organisms. Plants 

get minerals from the soil, and most of 

the minerals in our diets come directly 

from plants or from animals. Minerals 

may also be present in the water. 

Every living being needs minerals for 

proper function. Minerals are needed 

for the proper make up of blood and 

bone, the maintenance of healthy nerve 

system, cardiovascular system, etc… 

There are two groups of minerals: 

bulk minerals (macro-minerals) and 

trace minerals (micro-minerals). Bulk 

minerals include calcium, magnesium, 

potassium, phosphorus, and sodium. 

These are needed in larger amounts 

than trace minerals. Trace minerals 

include boron, chromium, copper, 

germanium, iodine, iron, molybdenum, 

manganese, selenium, silicon, sulfur, 

vanadium, and zinc. 

Calcium: 

The Brutal Truth 

By Rabbi Shea 

Hecht 

We all put great value 

on the truth and 

demand honesty from 

others. Many times 

our biggest criticism 

to others - especially 

people in the political arena - is that 

people are not being honest. 

In our relationships - marriage, work, 

children - we always say we want openness, 

honesty and truth. What is it about 

truth though, that often as soon as we 

hear it we get offended? Many times 

we’ll “excuse the truth” by saying it 

was said because of a bias, hatred or 

jealousy. 

The Talmud tells us that one of the pillars 

that the world exists on is truth - yet 

we so often fight it. 

The other day I came across a fascinating 

ad that was a parody of our dishonest 

quest for honesty. 

The Craig’s List nanny ad was called 

brutally honest or unusually honest 

by many 

My kids are a pain... Just in the past 

hour, i have had to tell each one 

to do something more than once. 

• Vital for the formation and maintenance 

of healthy bones, teeth gums. 

• Important in the maintenance of 

the heart, and in the transmission of 

nerve signals. 

• Lowers cholesterol levels and helps 

prevent cardiovascular disease. 

• Important for blood clotting 

• Helps lower blood pressure, prevent 

yene machlah. 

• Helps to keep the skin healthy. 

The body has a complex system to control 

the amount of calcium in the blood 

so that calcium is available for body 

functions. As a result, when intake of 

calcium is too low to maintain normal 

blood levels of calcium, the body will 

draw on calcium from the bones to 

maintain normal blood concentrations, 

which, after many years, can lead to 

osteoporosis, chas v'sholom. 

Good sources of calcium include spinach, 

turnip greens, mustard greens and 

collard greens, yogurt, kale, mozzarella 

cheese, cow’s milk, and goat’s milk, 

dill seed, cinnamon, romaine lettuce, 

celery, broccoli, sesame seeds, cabbage, 

summer squash, green beans, garlic, 

tofu, brussel sprouts, oranges, parsley. 

Magnesium: 

• Important to relax your nerves and 

muscles 

• Important to build and strengthen 

bones 

• Important to prevent heart 

arrhythmia 

oldest: can i have soda? it’s just a 

sprite? please? can i? no, no and no. 

the next one...don’t even get me started. 

seriously 

The ad describes everything the mother 

expected from a nanny - in completely 

honest terms - everything the woman 

feels she can give to a nanny and everything 

in between the twin six year olds: 

one wanted dessert before her dinner 

was over, one kept wanting to know 

why I wouldn’t let nine year olds swing 

her around by her limbs. (the fear of a 

dislocated shoulder did nothing.) 

Please help me 

The “brutally honest” ad got lots of 

attention because of one tiny little 

fact - it was honest 

I can be a tad difficult to work for. I’m 

loud, pushy and while I used to think 

we paid well, i am no longer sure. i work 

from home, so you get the pleasure of 

being hounded by me all day long. and, 

you get to pretend to like me, because i 

am deeply sensative. (but well dressed 

and a know it all, a winning combination 

I assure you.) 

The prospective nannies who read the 

ad recognized the honesty in it and 

other women looking for nannies saw 

the obvious too 

• Important to balance blood sugar 

levels 

• Important to prevent headaches 

• Important to prevent elevated blood 

pressure 

Magnesium is sometimes regarded 

as a “smoothie” mineral, since it has 

the ability to relax our muscles. Our 

nerves also depend upon magnesium 

to avoid becoming overexcited, and 

this aspect of magnesium links this 

mineral to maintenance of healthy 

blood pressure. 

Good sources of magnesium include 

swiss chard, spinach, mustard greens, 

summer squash, broccoli, turnip greens, 

pumpkin seeds, cucumber, green beans, 

celery, kale, variety of seeds, including 

sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, and 

flax seeds. 

Unfortunately, most people do not get 

enough minerals in their daily diets, 

mainly because they eat large quantities 

of processed foods, which provide insufficient 

amounts of important minerals. 

The effects of stress, the use of some 

medications can also cause minerals 

deficiency. 

When any one starts consuming more 

fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grain 

products nutrition balance will improve 

drastically. 

And please remember: 

Mitzvah goreres Mitzvah. V'ase Tov 

Sur Merah. 

One SMALL step at a time. 

If you cannot multi task, or communicate 

without being passive aggressive, 

don’t even bother replying. If you are 

the type who doesn’t notice crumbs on 

the table, skip to the next post, because 

crumbs are a deal breaker. they put me 

over the edge 

What’s most amazing about the honesty 

of this 1,000 word ad is that people 

were amazed by the honesty! They were 

refreshed by the truthfulness of ad. 

I wish everyone a Gmar Chasimah 

Tovah. 

Recipe corner. 

Tzu Gezunt Salad. 

The salad can be made a day in advance. 

Serve it lightly-chilled or at room 

temperature. 

Ingredients: 

1 bag of spinach. 

2 medium size boiled potatoes 

1 cup celery, finely chopped 

1 hard-boiled egg 

½ cup salad olives, chopped 

1 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped 

1 cups fresh dill finely chopped 

2 cups onions, finely chopped 

½ lemon 

1 tbs. cold-press olive oil 

bit of salt for taste 

Preparation: 

1. Boil potatoes in their jackets. Let 

cool, then peel and chop into large 

chunks. 

2. Toss all ingredients in a large bowl 

with the olive oil until just combined. 

Squeeze ½ lemon and season with bit of 

salt and serve immediately or refrigerate 

in an airtight container until ready to 

use or up to 1 day. If refrigerating, add 

the spinach just before serving. 

To be continued. 

am not looking for Super nanny, or 

anyone who wants this job because 

they will love my kids as if they are 

their own. you won’t. really. they are 

infinitely lovable, but trust me, they’re 

mine and you will move on when your 

journey with us is over, and save for 

some funny stories and a delightful 

email every now and again, you won’t 

grieve. Nor will we. (okay, we did all 

grieve a few of our past sitters, oddly 

they were all named Sarah or Kate, or 

Nikki. And Leah. Leah was delightful, 

even if she did drop my twin babies off 

our couch during a family gathering. 

Good times 

Have we become a nation of liars? Are 

we so jaded by the lies that people tell 

and write that honesty has become 

brutal? Unusual? Refreshing? 

I need a team player. I need someone to 

back me up when it comes to remembering 

when the library books are due, and 

whether i have rsvped to that birthday 

party yet 

Rebecca Soodak, the 40-year-old 

Mother whose husband owns a wine 

store, eventually hired a 25-year-old 

University of Virginia graduate, to take 

care of her children. I guess the honesty 

drew her to the job. 

Help me dear G-d keep track of our 

skim milk supply and also, also, also, 

what should I make for dinner tomorrow 

night? 

In the end, Soodak’s honesty was 

almost a joke - on her! As Soodak told 

the Times: “I hope she likes it here. I 

sent the ad to one of my old sitters and 

she said she felt it was pretty accurate, 

which sort of stung a little bit.” 

Rabbi Hecht, is chairman of the board 

of the National Committee for the Furtherance 

of Jewish Education (NCFJE), 

continuing the tradition of social services 

management and outreach. He is a Rabbi 

and activist in the Jewish community, 

focusing on family crisis intervention, 

guiding and advising troubled youth 

and their families, marriage counseling, 

and drugs and cults counseling and 

consultations. He can be reached at 

718-735-0200 or at rabbishea@aol.com 

Rabbi Shea HechtChairman NCFJE 

rabbishea@aol.com


Rebbe's Story 

“When one tells a story about his Rebbe he connects to the deeds of the Rebbe” (Sichos 1941 pg. 68) 

An Eventful Tishrei at the Rebbe 5731/1970 

From a diary written by Rabbi Michoel 

Seligson 

Translated into English and adapted by 

Rabbi Menachem Kirschenbaum 

The Farbrengen of Simchas Torah 

5731/1970 is known by chassidim as a 

special one with many giluyim, revelations. 

To this day chassidim speak of it 

with wonder. 

The Rebbe established his own United 

Nations at this Farbrengen and appointed 

different chassidim to be in charge of 

different countries. 

In order to understand the chain of events 

that led up to this historical event, we 

refer back to the beginning of Tishrei 

(1970). 

The first Farbrengen of the month on 

Rosh Hashana, made it clear that the 

Rebbe wanted to accomplish something 

unique. 

The highlight of the Rebbe’s Farbrengens 

is always the Maamor, the chassidic 

discourse. 

The Rebbe would customarily begin 

reciting the Maamor at the Rosh 

Hashana Farbrengen after chassidim 

sang all of the Rebbeim’s nigunim. In 

the Maamor the Rebbe would include 

explanations on Rosh Hashana from all 

of the Rebbe’im. 

The exceptional event during the Maamor 

of this Rosh Hashana, was that in the 

middle of the Maamor, the Rebbe spoke 

at length on the verse from Yeshayohu 

(25:1)” For you have made (the oppressor’s) 

city into a heap, fortified town into 

a ruin.” 

The Rebbe concluded that through 

destroying and wiping out the kingship 

of klipat noga. More energy is added in 

kedusha. This is the idea of “Through 

destroying the city of Tzur that will bring 

the rebuilding of Jerusalem.” At this point 

during the Farbrengen, everyone present 

understood that the Rebbe was not just 

explaining a concept in chassidus. The 

Rebbe was concentrating on destroying 

and wiping out ‘klipos’ from the world. 

The sense that the Rebbe was accomplishing 

changes in the higher worlds 

seemed even clearer at the conclusion 

of the Maamor. The Rebbe said, “From 

this level we draw down through all of 

the worlds of the chain of creation, to 

the extent that we created a new entity in 

this physical world, ‘For you have made 

(the oppressor’s) city into a heap pile, a 

fortified town, into a ruin.’” 

Rabbi Yisroel Jacobson noted that as far 

as he recalled, fifty-seven years earlier, 

5674/1913, the Rebbe Rashab elaborated 

on this verse and what it signified in the 

light of Chassidus. In the summer of that 

year, WWI broke out. 

After Rabbi Jacobson spoke, chassidim 

understood that the Rebbe was trying to 

accomplish something, however no one 

knew what the Rebbe was referring to. 

During the following nine Farbrengens, 

the Rebbe constantly mentioned 

this verse from Yeshayohu. 

The Rebbe Farbrenged on Shabbos 

Shuva and again on the 6th of Tishrei, 

in honor of his mother’s Yahrzeit. At 

both Farbrengens, as the Rebbe was 

concluding the Maamor, he repeated 

the same verse “For you have made (the 

oppressor’s) city into a heap, fortified 

town into a ruin.” 

After Yom Kippur, there was a big question 

on everyone’s mind. Would the 

Rebbe Farbreng in the Sukka? 

The previous year, a tableful of people 

fell on Rabbi Marlow OBM, amidst the 

pushing in the Sukka. The Rebbe said 

that he would not want to Farbreng in 

the Sukka because it was dangerous to 

do so. 

Many of the older Chassidim made different 

suggestions to the Rebbe so that 

a Farbrengen in the Sukka would still 

be possible. The Rebbe did not accept 

them. The closer it came to Yom Tov, the 

more it appeared that there would be no 

Farbrengen on Sukkos. 

On the second day of Sukkos, members 

of the Rebbe’s secretariat announced that 

there would be a Farbrengen in 770. The 

Rebbe said that it would be a Farbrengen 

“oif truken”, on dry, without any food or 

L’chaims being made. 

The Rebbe came into shul and sat down 

at his place. Immediately the Rebbe 

instructed that everyone should sing 

the Bal Shem Tov’s nigun, followed by 

the Alter Rebbe’s nigun. He then went 

directly into the Maamor opening with 

the words, “All of the gentiles and nations 

of the world praise you and admire you 

G-d.” 

Immediately there was an awareness in 

770 of something unusual. The Rebbe 

usually began Farbrengens with Sichos 

before saying the Maamor. 

In the Maamor, the Rebbe again spoke, 

as he had in the earlier Farbrengens. 

He explained how non-Jews receive 

their energy from Kedusha, and how 

it is possible that klipa can be elevated 

to kedusha, and add to the energy ones 

receives from kedusha. The Rebbe added 

that since on Sukkos we sacrifice the 70 

sacrifices, parallel to the 70 nations of the 

world, it is through our sacrifices that the 

70 nations are elevated. 

The Rebbe concluded the Maamor with 

the same verse from Yeshayou, ““For you 

have made (the oppressor’s) city into a 

heap, fortified town into a ruin.” 

During the Farbrengen, the Rebbe 

delivered two long Sichos referring to 

non-Jews. The conclusion was that Jews 

have the power to elevate and affect the 

rise of the nations. 

Then the Rebbe began to hint to the 

issue he had been referring to in the 

Maamorim since the beginning of the 

month. 

“The U.N. gathered its representatives 

from countries all over the world to mark 

the 25th year anniversary of its founding. 

They chose to do so around the time of 

Sukkos. Every single thing in the world 

is by Divine Providence. Sometimes we 

cannot see it and sometimes we see it in 

a revealed way. In this specific situation 

we see it in a revealed way!” 

“The whole theme of the Yom Tov of 

Sukkos, and we read it today during the 

Haftora, ‘I will gather together all of 

the goyim.’ Also, on Sukkos there is the 

concept of the offering of the 70 sacrifices 

which is symbolic of the 70 nations. 

The Rebbe then added: 

“The 70 nations have 70 angels who 

represent them in the upper worlds. 

The Yidden bring the offering of the 70 

porim parallel to the 70 nations. Then 

the 70 sorim above receive all of their 

energy from these sacrifices. They can 

see in an open and a revealed way, how 

all of their energy is totally dependent 

on the Jew. As an outcome, when you 

accept something from someone you 

become nullified to that person. In this 

situation, this influences the nations to 

become totality nullified towards the 

Jews, because they can see that all of their 

energy comes from them.” 

The Rebbe concluded: 

“Because we are now in a situation that all 

the nations see in a revealed way that their 

energy comes from the Jews, we should 

utilize this opportunity to make our own 

gathering. Therefore, I request that there 

should be gatherings in New York, as well 

as at the Western Wall, in particular, since 

that is a place that Jews from all over the 

world come together. They should daven 

and learn, and through this affect positive 

change in the U.N. There should also be 

gatherings even here in the Diaspora, 

and even in places where there is just 

one Yid. This should be all done parallel 

to the gathering in the U.N., and should 

be done in a positive way.” 

The Rebbe Establishes his own UN 

(United Nations) 

The Rebbe’s chozrim, those 

who put to memory the Rebbe’s 

discourses in order to transcribe 

them after Shabbos or Yom Tov; 

wrote the Maamor down right 

after the first days of Yom Tov. 

The Rebbe asked for the written 

Maamor and edited it, though it 

was his custom not to write on 

Chal Hamoed. Chassidim were 

very excited and everyone began 

learning the Maamor. 

Chassidim going on Mivzah 

Lulav to Manhattan discussed the 

Maamor with their friends. This 

was the talk of days. 

The evening of Simchas Torah, 

directly before the fourth hakofo, 

the Rebbe told the gabai, Rabbi 

Moshe Pinchas Katz to announce 

the following: 

“The 70 nations are parallel to 

the 70 souls of the children of Yaakov. 

According to Torah, the Rabbonim are 

the 'bale batim', owners of the counties 

all over the world. Therefore, for this 

hakafa the Rabbonim, who are the 

representatives of the countries, should 

come up.” 

Chosen to represent their respective 

countries were: 

Rabbi Shmuel Levitin-America, Rabbi 

Yosef Goldberg- France, Rabbi Benzion 

Shemtov- England, Rabbi Y. Barteshvilly- 

Russia, Rabbi Hodakov- Finland, Rabbi 

Segal- Israel, Rabbi Yitzchok Hendel- 

Canada, Rabbi Binyomin Gordetsky- 

Europe, Rabbi A. Pliskin-Australia, 

Rabbi Hirshel Chitrik- Brazil, Rabbi 

Yadgar- Iraq, Rabbi Avrohom Yitzchok 

Glick- Germany, Rabbi Yosef Weinberg- 

South Africa, Rabbi Towil- Argentina, 

Rabbi Leibel Raskin- Morocco, Rabbi 

Avrohom Osdoba- Denmark, Rabbi 

Alevsky-Germany, and Rabbi Moshe 

Pinchos Katz- Poland. 

The Rebbe then turned to the RaShag, 

his brother-in-law, and said, “Since you 

traveled with the Previous Rebbe to 

Egypt, you should be the representative 

of Egypt.” 

After they called up all of the representatives 

of the countries, the Rebbe said, 

“With the power of Torah they are the 

'bale batim' over all the countries and 

they should all go to the hakofo and 

dance!” 

The Rebbe began to sing “Utzu eitza 

v'sufar”, and to clap his hands with all his 

strength. No one who was in 770 then 

would ever forget the scene. 

To be continued


Sicha Succot 

The Four Species: Unity of the Jewish Nation 

Adapted from Likutei Sichos vol. 4 

Published and copyright © by Sichos In 

English 

Four Species, Four Types of People 

Chassidus interprets the phrase bakeseh 

liyom chageinu, “on the day [the moon] 

is hidden, for our festival,” as meaning 

that all matters that are concealed on 

Rosh HaShanah -- “the day [the moon] is 

hidden” -- are revealed on “our festival,” 

on Sukkos. 

This also applies with regard to Yom 

Kippur. The hidden aspects of its Divine 

service are also revealed on Sukkos. For 

Yom Kippur is also referred to as Rosh 

HaShanah, and expresses the inner 

dimensions of that holy day. 

One of the fundamental aspects of Rosh 

HaShanah and Yom Kippur is the unity 

of the Jewish people. For our Divine 

service on these holy days expresses 

the inner dimension of our souls. This 

dimension is the same for all Jews, from 

“your heads and your tribes...” to “your 

hewers of wood” and “drawers of water.” 

On Sukkos, this unity -- like all the other 

dimensions of Rosh HaShanah and Yom 

Kippur -- becomes manifest. 

This concept is expressed by the Midrash, 

which states that the four species used 

for the mitzvah of lulav and esrog refer 

to four categories of Jews: 

“The fruit of a beautiful tree” [the Torah’s 

term for the esrog] -- This refers to the 

Jewish people. Just as the esrog has both 

a [pleasant] taste and a [pleasant] fragrance, 

so too, among the Jewish people, 

there are those who possess [the virtues 

of] both Torah study and good deeds. 

Sicha Simchas Torah 

Simchas Torah: Dancing 

with closed Sifrei Torah 

Adapted from Likutei Sichos Vol. 4 

Published and copyright © by Sichos in 

English 

It is a custom -- and our Rabbis taught 

that Jewish custom is considered as 

the Torah itself -- to celebrate with 

the Torah on Simchas Torah. We take 

a Torah scroll wrapped in its mantle, 

and dance with it around the reading 

platform. Since the Torah is associated 

with intellectual understanding, the 

celebrations of Simchas Torah should 

seemingly be associated with progress, 

quantitatively and qualitatively, in 

Torah study. And this study will lead 

to happiness. 

Why is the very opposite done? Why 

is the celebration characterized by 

dancing with the Torah wrapped shut, 

so that it is impossible to study it? 

It is true that one must also fulfill one’s 

fixed quota of Torah study even on 

Simchas Torah. But that is because one 

is obligated to study Torah every day. It 

is not customary to make an increase in 

Torah study on Simchas Torah; this is 

not the way the holiday is celebrated. 

[A pleasant taste is used as an analogy for 

Torah study. Since Torah study involves 

intellectual comprehension, the satisfaction 

it produces is substantial, comparable 

to the satisfaction derived from food. A 

pleasant fragrance is used as an analogy 

for good deeds, because observance of the 

mitzvos must stem from kabbalas ol, the 

acceptance of G-d’s yoke, a commitment 

which, like a fragrance, produces less 

tangible satisfaction.] 

“A closed palm branch” -- This refers to 

the Jewish people. Just as the [fruit of 

the] date palm has a [pleasant] taste, but 

not a [pleasant] fragrance, so too, among 

the Jewish people, there are those who 

possess [the virtues of] Torah study, but 

not of good deeds. 

“Myrtle branches” -- This refers to the 

Jewish people. Just as the myrtle has a 

[pleasant] fragrance but not a [pleasant] 

taste, so too, among the Jewish people, 

there are those who possess [the virtues 

of] good deeds, but not of Torah study. 

“Willows of the brook” -- This refers to 

the Jewish people. Just as the willow has 

neither a [pleasant] taste nor a [pleasant] 

fragrance, so too, among the Jewish 

people, there are those who possess 

neither [the virtues of] Torah study, nor 

of good deeds. 

The Holy One, blessed be He, says: “Tie 

them all together in one bond, so that 

each will atone for the other.” 

Moreover, the oneness expressed on 

Sukkos is greater than that experienced 

on Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. 

On Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, 

the unity does not relate to the different 

natures within the Jewish people. Yes, 

As explained above, the essence of 

the Torah transcends intellectual 

understanding. For this reason, even 

unlearned people share a connection to 

its holiness, and celebrate on Simchas 

Torah. 

Why is the intellectual dimension of the 

Torah necessary? So that the Torah will 

permeate a person’s inner dimensions, 

and not remain merely an encompassing 

light. Comprehension internalizes 

the transcendent bond between the 

essence of the Torah and the essence 

of the soul, and makes it an active part 

of our consciousness. 

This is why on Simchas Torah we dance 

with the Torah wrapped in its mantle. 

We thus emphasize that the Torah 

transcends our understanding, and 

this becomes a source of happiness. 

Our happiness does not stem from the 

Torah’s intellectual dimension, but 

rather from the fact that reading and 

studying it binds us to G-d’s essence. 

We dance with our feet. The feet are 

identified with faith, which expresses 

the essence of the soul. 

Our celebration and dancing with the 

Torah while it is wrapped initiates our 

everyone joins together in the sounding 

of the shofar and the teshuvah of Yom 

Kippur. But this oneness is merely a 

general feeling, expressing the essential 

G-dliness that lies at the core of every 

Jew’s soul. It does not, however, relate 

to the differences between one Jew 

and another. On the contrary, on Rosh 

HaShanah, these differences are “hidden,” 

covered up by the revelation of 

higher lights. 

On Sukkos, however, these individual 

differences receive expression. Each of 

the four species -- the lulav, the esrog, the 

myrtle and the willow -- stands for a different 

kind of personality. Nevertheless, 

they are all united in a single bond. 

The Lulav’s Distinction 

From the comments of the Midrash cited 

above, it would appear that the esrog is 

the most distinguished of the four species, 

for it possesses both the advantages 

of taste and smell. In the analog, this 

refers to Jews who possess both the virtues 

of Torah study and observance of the 

mitzvos. The question then arises: Why 

in the blessing is the mitzvah referred to 

as “the mitzvah of lulav”? 

The answer is given460 that the lulav is 

taller than the other species. This answer, 

however, is itself problematic. The existence 

of every entity in the material 

realm, and in particular those objects that 

are associated with mitzvos, reflect their 

spiritual source. Thus the fact that the 

lulav is taller than the other four species 

indicates that spiritually also, it possesses 

a quality which surpasses them. 

What advantage does the lulav possess 

over the esrog? Seemingly, it represents 

Divine service in the new year. The 

month of Elul -- and in a different way, 

the unique days of Rosh HaShanah, the 

Ten Days of Teshuvah, Yom Kippur, 

Sukkos, and Shemini Atzeres -- are 

days of preparation, characterized 

by teshuvah. When does the Divine 

service of the new year begin? Simchas 

Torah. 

At that time, the Jewish people are like 

a young child that must be educated. 

And that education begins in the spirit 

of the verse “The Torah which Moshe 

commanded us...,” emphasizing the 

importance of kabbalas ol. This lesson 

has an ongoing effect throughout the 

year. Even when we focus on the intellectual 

dimension of Torah study, our 

efforts will be permeated by faith and 

kabbalas ol. 

Becoming the Torah’s Feet 

The above concepts also help us understand 

a statement made by my revered 

father-in-law, the Rebbe. He would say 

that on Simchas Torah, the Torah also 

desires to dance around the reading 

platform. The Torah, however, has no 

feet, so the Jewish people become its 

feet, carrying it around the reading 

platform. 

What is meant by becoming the feet 

a lower level, for the lulav possesses only 

a pleasant flavor (the virtue of Torah 

study), while the esrog possesses both 

flavor and fragrance (both Torah study 

and the observance of mitzvos). 

This question can be resolved by comparing 

the study of Torah to the observance 

of mitzvos. Mitzvos are referred to as 

“limbs of the King,” while it is said: “The 

Torah, and the Holy One, blessed be He, 

are all one.” 

To explain: The limbs of the body are 

not totally at one with the soul. They 

are given over to the soul, and as soon 

as the soul desires, they respond.464 

Nevertheless, they are material entities, 

and remain distinct from the soul, which 

is spiritual. 

Similar concepts apply with regard to 

the observance of the mitzvos. They 

express the nullification of a Jew before 

G-d, that he carries out G-d’s will. And 

yet the very statement that a Jew carries 

out G-d’s will implies that he remains an 

independent entity. 

The study of Torah, by contrast, involves 

a different type of relationship. When a 

Jew contemplates the Torah, he is grasping 

G-d’s wisdom, as it were, and his 

mind becomes one with G-d’s wisdom, 

of which it is said: “He and His wisdom 

are one.” 

Moreover, this oneness with G-d is an 

active dynamic. The more a Jew gives 

himself over to the comprehension of 

the Torah, the more encompassing his 

oneness with G-d becomes. This highlights 

the advantage of the lulav -- those 

individuals who are totally given over 

to Torah study, even to the exclusion of 

good deeds. 

of the Torah scroll? That the dancing 

on Simchas Torah expresses a Jew’s 

commitment to accepting G-d’s yoke 

to the extent that he is no longer an 

independent entity. The feet are given 

over to the head. As soon as the head 

desires something, the feet respond. 

Indeed, when the feet behave like independent 

entities, and hesitate before 

carrying out the will of the head, it is a 

sign of sickness. 

By becoming the “feet of the Torah 

scroll,” a Jew subsumes his identity to 

the Torah. He resolves to carry out its 

directives spontaneously, as a natural 

expression of who he is. And this resolve 

extends over the entire year to come. 

There is another element to the analogy. 

The feet complement the head, taking 

it to places which it could not reach on 

its own. So too, in the Jew’s relationship 

to the Torah, by accepting its yoke with 

joy, we bring it to a higher level. 

This is why the plural is used in the 

expression “the season of our rejoicing.” 

For just as the Jews celebrate with the 

Torah, the Torah celebrates with the 

Jews. For it is the Jews’ celebration with 

the Torah that lifts the Torah to a higher 

level, and enables it to celebrate.


Shleimus Haaretz 

The Obligation to Settle the Entire Land of Israel With Jews 

Published and copyright © by Sichos 

in English 

The Rebbe Answers All Criticism 

The Rebbe’s emphatic words regarding 

settlement of the entire Holy Land 

elicited many reactions and denunciations. 

Here are some of the answers 

which the Rebbe gave in replying to 

the detractors. 

There were those who agreed that the 

optimal situation would indeed have 

been to immediately settle all the 

territories which had been liberated. 

However, they claimed, since they were 

not settled then, it is an impossible goal 

today. Similarly, there were those who 

said that since promises had already 

been made not to settle those places, it 

is impossible to do so now. 

The Rebbe answered these assertions 

in his address of Motzoei Shabbos 

Mishpatim, 5738 (1978). The Rebbe 

calls the first claim a deception. Yes, 

it would have been preferable to settle 

the entire land immediately when the 

territories were liberated, but it is still 

possible to settle them today. 

Regarding the second claim, the Rebbe 

said: 

As to their claim that they promised 

someone etc. — this claim lacks all 

foundation, since one cannot promise 

something which does not belong to 

him; the Land is something which 

belongs to the Holy One, and He gave 

it to every Jew, and to all of the Jews 

as an everlasting inheritance; thus, 

it belongs to the Jews forever. In any 

case, the gentile to whom they made 

this promise, does not believe that 

the Jews will truly honor it.[71] Of 

course, this stems from the fact that 

the nations themselves reneged on the 

conditions they established, and broke 

their word on several occasions. This 

leaves a wide opening for the Jews to 

do as G-d wishes. 

Settlement Forestalls Pressure 

In his address of Pesach Sheini, 5738 

(1978), the Rebbe spoke of the need 

to settle the entire Land of Israel, 

explaining: 

It is true that “the Guardian of Israel 

neither sleeps nor slumbers,” but G-d 

wants people to also act within the 

framework of nature, at least with the 

minimal effort required to move one’s 

little finger. This is what He teaches us 

in the Torah: When the Jews hear that 

gentiles want to come to a city “to take 

straw and chaff,” if it is a city from which 

it “would be easy for them to conquer 

the land,” the Jews are to “go out and 

face them with weapons and even desecrate 

the Shabbos.” In such a case we 

have a promise that the pressure placed 

upon the Jewish people to concede, will 

be nullified — as we have seen many 

times when we stood fast. 

The Rebbe spoke in a similar vein in his 

address of Motzoei Shabbos Mishpatim 

mentioned above: 

All of the anguish and suffering which 

the Jews experience as a result of the 

negotiations is totally unnecessary. 

When they act swiftly and quietly, all 

the pressure will be forestalled, because 

the nations will see a fait accompli, an 

irreverable act of the Jewish court that 

the Land of Israel is an everlasting 

inheritance of the immortal nation. 

The Rebbe adds that not only will the 

nations cease their pressure, but will 

ultimately even assist us, as the Rebbe 

says on Motzoei Shabbos Chaye Sarah, 

5738: 

Settlement of all parts of the Land of 

Israel will even affect the nations, to the 

extent that they will even assist us. They 

will also “feel” (since their mazal will 

see) that the existence of Esau is only 

for the purpose of helping Jacob. This 

will be a preparation for the ingathering 

of all Sons and Daughters of Israel — 

shleimus haAm — to the whole the 

Land of Israel, in the coming of (and 

through) Moshiach, after which “G-d 

will extend your boundaries” — and the 

Land of Israel will be expanded, with 

the addition of the lands of the Keini, 

Knizi, and Kadmoni. 

The Shleimus HaAretz Talk Show Update 

By Tamar Adelstein 

On Monday, October 6th, The Shleimus 

HaAretz Talk Show ran a very special 

program on the 35th (secular) anniversary 

of the Yom Kippur War. 

Our first guest was Rabbi Sholem 

Ber Kalmanson, who, as usual, spoke 

brilliantly and very movingly on the 

subject of Shleimus HaAretz. Rabbi 

Kalmanson pointed out a number of 

fascinating details about the Rebbe’s 

tremendous knowledge of and strategic 

insight into Israel’s security needs and 

defense plans he advised Israeli leaders 

and generals on. 

For example, the Rebbe strongly 

objected to and fought the implementation 

of the Bar Lev sandbag line of 

defense Israel had set up along the 

Suez Canal during the War of Attrition 

preceding the Yom Kippur War. The 

Rebbe explained both to Ariel Sharon 

and Bar Lev, himself, that the Bar Lev 

line was nothing more than a replica of 

the French Maginot Line that had been 

easily hosed away by water cannons in 

war and would not serve as secure line 

of defense for Israel. Tragically, the 

Rebbe’s warning was not heeded and 

resulted in the loss of much Jewish life, 

r”l, when the Egyptian Army began 

its assault exactly as the Rebbe had 

described. 

During the Yom Kippur War, Ariel 

Sharon quietly contacted Rabbi Shlomo 

Madanchik from K’far Chabad and 

requested that he call the Rebbe for 

advice on how to proceed and succeed 

in overturning the enemies’ upper 

hand. The Rebbe advised encircling the 

Egyptian Third Army. When Sharon 

asked Moshe Dayan for permission to 

do so, he was rebuffed and threatened 

with court marshal should he do so. 

Sharon shrugged and chose instead 

to listen to the Rebbe and went on 

to successfully turn the tide, sending 

the Egyptian national security advisor 

Hafez Ismail begging to Henry 

Kissinger for intervention to save 

his soldiers from being completely 

destroyed by the Israelis. 

Rabbi Kalmanson encouraged all of us 

to make an honest accounting of our 

efforts in these days and join together 

to individually and collectively do 

everything in our power to stop the 

impending “convergence plan” or forced 

evacuation of the 100,000 plus Jews 

living in Yehuda, the Shomron, and 

Yerushalayim, G-d Forbid! 

Our next guest was Mrs. Rachel Lipsky 

who shared her memories when she 

was an 18yr old soldier/musician in 

the Israeli Army Band during the Yom 

Kippur War. 

Rachel also addressed the reasons why 

Jews have fell so easily into accepting 

The Camp David Accords and all of the 

other negotiations that followed despite 

the fact these agreements have clearly 

not worked to our benefit. 

Our next guest was Yisroel Danziger 

from Efrat who did a short but revealing 

review of The Camp David Accords 

stressing that the misguided belief both 

Begin and Sharon held that in giving 

away some territory they would be able 

to gain the sympathy and support from 

World Powers as well as the Arabs for 

Israel’s right to retain major centers in 

YESHA and Yerushalayim continues 

to plague the security and welfare of 

Jews everywhere. 

Earlier in the day Yisroel and several 

of his colleagues were arrested on 

charges that they had used a tractor 

last June to attack Arabs living near 

Hevron. Yisroel, whom we interviewed 

last spring about the security training 

courses he runs in YESHA, also offers 

development programs including farming 

projects. The police confiscated 

their tractor as evidence. The tractor 

and other farm equipment are, obviously, 

essential to begin planting the 

various fields that are still open to Jews 

in Yehuda and the Shomron—fields 

that the Israeli government has yet 

to decide if they belong to the Arabs 

according to the Oslo Agreement! As 

Yisroel explained, this is part of the 

Israeli government’s recent crackdown 

on independent citizens and their communities 

in Yehuda and the Shomron 

being done to weaken and dissolve any 

opposition to its plan to force out the 

100,000 plus Jews living there before 

President Bush leaves office in January, 

G-d Forbid!! 

Following Yisroel was Mrs. Daniella 

Weiss who is the former mayor of the 

City of Kedumin in the Shomron and 

current major planner of its newest 

suburb Sh’vut Ami which was partly 

dismantled by the Israeli Army late 

last week. Daniella, who has a long 

and productive career building up 

new communities in Eretz Yisroel, was 

brutally arrested last Thursday morning, 

Tzom G’dalya, and placed under 

house arrest until her next hearing on 

October 12th. 

When asked how we can help she 

recommended that if we cannot immigrate 

to Eretz Yisroel, then we should 

definitely visit often and help out in the 

various projects going on to build up the 

heartland. She beautifully reminded us 

that everything that is Jewish originates 

in the mountains and valleys of Eretz 

Yisroel where HaShem’s Shechina 

always rests. 

Recently Governor Sara Palin, the Vice- 

Presidential candidate running with 

John McCain, participated in a debate 

with her counterpart Senator Joe Biden. 

When asked about Israel, she surprising 

gave the current standard pat answer: 

two-state solution. I say “surprisingly” 

because she seems to be fairly bright 

and level-headed on every other topic 

in the campaign. It sounds like, just 

as Rabbi Kalmanson suggested and 

the Rebbe said, that today it’s not the 

Americans who are pressuring Israel to 

make foolish concessions but rather the 

Israelis who are asking the Americans 

to give the appearance of doing so in 

order for the few but powerful and 

highly corrupt political elite in Israel 

to hide their true intentions and walk 

off with ill-gotten gains at the expense 

of the rest of us. Just as we must take 

those Powers-That-Be to task and, as 

the Rebbe said, expose them through 

unceasing protest, so too should those 

who are in the position to do so seek to 

communicate to the presidential candidates 

the Rebbe’s views on Shleimus 

HaAretz. 

To review today’s Shleimus HaAretz 

Talk Show, dial 641-715-3486, Access 

Code 505946#. 

Our next show will, G-d Willing, be on 

October 28th from Noon to 1:30pm. 

G’mar Chasima Tova!


Tznius: "America Is Nisht Andersh” 

The Domino Effect 

By Mrs. M. Resnick 

Who can imagine that ten Tishrei-busy 

women would drop everything Motzoei 

Rosh Hashono and gather at Machon 

Chana for an emergency meeting? And 

a meeting about Tznius no less! 

Monday, Erev Rosh Hashonoh, I got a 

phone call from Mrs. Sarah Labkowsky. 

“We’ve got to do something about the 

Tznius situation at least in 770. It’s the 

Rebbe’s Sh’chuna,” she said. “It’s the 

Asseres Yemei Tshuva! How can we 

watch so many women and girls walk 

into 770 inappropriately dressed?” 

I, of course, agreed with her since we 

were both on the same page on this 

issue. 

So she suggested that we hold a 

meeting. 

“Should we meet Motzei Yom Tov?” 

I asked. 

“Motzei Yom Tov ?” she replied somewhat 

incredulously 

“Well, yes,” I answered, “if there’s a fire 

burning it can’t wait.” 

Mrs. Labkowsky and I put together 

a list of members of the organization 

involved in women’s issues including 

our newly formed Bnos Melech 

B’Yachad (BMBY), the Shul Committee, 

and the Israeli Guest Committee, 

and then we s plit the list among us. 

Two hours before Yom Tov we started 

making phone calls. (Me, in my car on 

the way to Crown Heights.) Honestly, 

we had no idea how many women we 

would reach or who would be able to 

make it, but on Motzei Yom Tov, these 

ten very busy women showed up: 

Mrs. C. Gorowitz, Mrs. S. Spritzer , 

Mrs. R. Hendel, Mrs. C. Popak, Mrs. C. 

Lang, Mrs. D. Chazanov, Mrs. T. Katzman, 

Mrs. S. Junik, Mrs. S. Labkowsky, 

and myself. 

We all commended those who erected 

the barriers and dividers around the 

women’s section over Rosh Hashanah. 

But for Yom Kippur and the rest of 

Tishrei we wanted to take it one step 

up. We wanted to raise our womens’ 

consciousness and ensure that Halacha 

plays a major part in our in dressing for 

Yom Tov. 

Mrs. Labkowsy’s passion was palpable. 

“We have an Achrayus! It’s the Rebbe’s 

Shul! We have to do something to 

help women and girls look right when 

coming to the Rebbe and we have to 

stop being afraid to call it what it is… 

it’s Halacha!” 

She even came up with a motto “The 

TIME is Now” with TIME standing 

for 

T= Tznius, I=Internet, M=Music, and 

E=Entertainment embodying the 

notion ofTznius incorporating the 

entire spectrum of life. 

The discussion was exciting and heartwarming 

with everyone in the room 

feeling the same concern and agreeing 

that action is of the essence. 

To begin with, each one of us individually 

pledged to raise her own level of 

Tznius. 

We decided to post flyers and send a 

phone message to thousands of homes, 

urging everyone to please dress appropriately 

this month. The possibility of 

distributing scarves and other coverings 

like during ‘Dollars’ with the Rebbe, 

was also seriously entertained. 

This entire year in fact is a Shnas Hakhel 

when all Jews would travel to the Beis 

Hamikdash to hear the Kohen Gadol 

read from the Torah. 770 is like the Beis 

Hamikdash for us. 

One of the women asked why now? 

What’s the urgency as the situation 

has been deteriorating for a number 

of years? Various valid reasons were 

brought up but only later did it occur 

to me that the Rebbe sent us a message 

in his own inimitable way when 

we suddenly found those ‘Buttons’ 

30-some years later after their ‘creation’, 

in Mrs. R. Chitrik’s basement.( See our 

article in issue #37 - August 1st, 29th 

of Tammuz) 

That’s why we have to do it now! (And 

we have still to decide what we are going 

to do with the ‘Buttons’.) 

For the Vov Tishrei gathering that 

N’shei Chabad organized in honor of 

Rebbetzen Chana, BMBY undertook 

to distribute a letter of the Rebbe 

and diagramed-guidelines for proper 

attire. 

Knowing that some among us find 

these halachic diagrams ‘off-putting’, I 

called Mrs. S. Tiechtel, the MC of the 

evening to ask her to introduce them 

in an appealing manner. Mrs. Tiechtel 

herself wondered why, indeed, we find 

such hardship in this particular area 

when we, as Lubavitch women, easily 

undertake so many more difficult 

tasks. 

This is the challenge of our 

generation! 

She then graciously accepted to introduce 

the diagrams in an appealing 

manner in the z’chus of her mother, 

Rebbetzen Sima Itkin. Mrs. Tiechtel 

also told me that Tznius was so precious 

to her mother that even in her 

last moments on this earth she was so 

concerned with the proper positioning 

of her tiechel. 

Mrs. L. Abraham, the keynote of the 

evening agreed to raise the ‘heartfelt 

plea’ to discard TV and other inappropriate 

visual images from our homes. 

(Shura Rishona of Kollel Wives and 

Junior N’Shei had originally planned 

to have a Vov Tishrei gathering on this 

issue – [article in the issue of Chai Elul, 

September 26 ] before we found out 

about the N’shei Chabad Ferbrengen 

scheduled on the same day) 

Mrs. Gorowitz agreed to share the spirit 

of our meeting with her teachers. 

All I can say is that one woman pained 

by a certain state of affairs brought 

about to a wonderful avalanche of 

concern, goodness and positive action 

that will, G-d willing, benefit everyone 

in our community. (Domino Effect.) 

This is a sign for a good beginning for a 

New Year especially a Shnas Hakhel. 

We need this to become contagious! 

We need initiative, effort, involvement, 

funds, volunteering, elbow grease, 

anything and everything to recapture 

our Beis Hamikdash. 

One of the areas always raised in any 

meeting on Tznius is: 

How does one approach, in a non-threatening, 

non-embarrassing way, a person 

who is not dressed appropriately? 

Taking a lesson from the Hayom Yom 

of Ellul 22nd , “Chassidic doctrine 

demands that before reproving another, 

one must pare his own ‘fingernails,’ in 

order not to gash the other.” And, of 

course, anyone reproaching a woman 

dressed in an untzniusdik manner must 

be sure to have love in their heart. 

Let me share a wonderful example of 

such love: 

Mrs M. Zirkind. went to 770 on Labor 

day, for davening. “Please let me not 

have to see the ‘shmutz’ of the street,” 

she asked Hashem before she left her 

house. Sure enough, Hashem cleared 

the path for her. When she walked 

into 770, however, she saw a woman 

with sleeves that clearly exposed her 

elbows. “How is it,” she thought, “that 

I encounter an untznius woman in 770 

after not encountering any inappropriateness 

outside in the street?” 

But she kept silent as the woman was 

in midst of a hartzige davening. After 

both she and the woman had finished, 

Mrs. Z. walked over to her and told 

her a story: A bachur once came by the 

Rebbe twice in one night for kos shel 

bracha. The Rebbe asked him why. He 

replied that his first one had a “loch in 

kop”, a “hole in the cup.”(With a play 

on the word ‘kop’ meaning also a hole 

in his head.) Now, he told the Rebbe, 

he is holding a new cup without a hole. 

The Rebbe smiled and gave him kos shel 

bracha for the second time that night. 

After Mrs. Z. finished relating this 

story, she said to the woman, “I saw 

you davening so devoutly, and it would 

be such a shame to lose the brachos 

from your davening because of a ‘hole, 

to have your brochos fall out of your 

sleeves. I’m sure you didn’t notice but 

the slit on your sleeves clearly exposes 

your elbows.” 

The woman looked at her elbows, her 

face displaying surprise when she realized 

the truth of Mrs. Z.’s statement. 

A few minutes later when Mrs. Z. left 

shul, the woman turned to her and said 

“Thank you.” 

An inspired suggestion 

Mrs. C. Teldon known for her wry 

humor came up with the following 

suggestion: 

What if we found out ‘the number’ of 

the mitzvah of Tznius in the list of 613 

mitzvos. We can be mfarsem it and then 

one would merely have to say, “#”. It 

would be a buzz word. 

Imagine meeting a woman at the store 

and she was not dressed properly. Just 

smile at her and say, “59” (Rambam) or 

“75”(Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch) With 

a campaign of awareness, she would 

immediately know what you are talking 

about. 

Which ever way works! As long as 

there’s love in our hearts and those nails 

are really neatly trimmed the Rebbe is 

sure to bless our efforts with success. 

Comments and suggestions to: 

Tznius1@Verizon.net


Story 

An Esrog from the Garden of Eden 

By Nissan Mindel 

Reprinted with permission from Chabad. 

Org 

It was the first day of Sukkot, and all the 

congregants in the shul (synagogue) of 

Rabbi Elimelech of Lizensk were in a festive 

mood. One could feel the “Yom-Tov” spirit 

in the atmosphere. 

As Rabbi Elimelech stood at the lectern and 

began reciting Hallel, all eyes turned upon 

him. There was something unusual in his 

manner this Sukkot. Why did he stop so 

suddenly in the middle of his swaying as 

he held the etrog and lulav in his hands to 

sniff the air? And why did he not go through 

the Service in his usual leisurely manner? 

It was evident that something was on his 

mind, something rather exciting by the 

look on his radiant countenance. 

The minute the davening (praying) was 

over, Rabbi Elimelech hurried to where 

his brother Rabbi Zusha (who had come to 

spend the festival with him) was standing, 

and said to him eagerly: “Come and help 

me find the etrog which is permeating 

the whole shul with the fragrance of the 

Garden of Eden!” 

And so together they went from person to 

person until they reached the far corner of 

the shul where a quiet looking individual 

was standing, obviously engrossed in his 

own thoughts. 

“This is the one,” called out Rabbi Elimelech 

delightedly. “Please, dear friend, tell me 

who are you and where you obtained this 

wonderful etrog?” 

The man, looking somewhat startled and 

bewildered at this unexpected question, 

replied rather slowly, carefully choosing 

his words: 

“With all due respect to you, Rabbi, it is 

quite a story. Do you wish to sit down and 

listen to it all?” 

Mrs Tachtel's Plea for Tznius 

From our earliest childhood when my 

mother would take us to see the Rebbetzin 

Chana she would point out to us 

how she was our Royalty, our Malka. 

When I was 9 my mother took us to the 

convention in Manhattan so we should 

see Rebbetzin Chana. She is part of our 

community and we have her spiritual 

DNA in all of us, we are all the Rebbe's 

kinder. 

If we truly believe that we are connected 

to Rebbetzin Chana we can make a 

change in our neighborhood, we can 

increase our Tznius observance. 

Every person sitting in this room can 

read the Rebbe's letter where the Rebbe 

writes "Mahir" urgent. 

The Rebbe was involved in many 

and varied important matters and 

he was very careful with the words 

he used. If the Rebbe used the word 

Mahir in this context it tells us the 

urgency and importance of the inyan 

of our Tznius, as princesses as Jewish 

“Most certainly I do,” answered Rabbi 

Elimelech emphatically, “I am sure it will 

be a story worth hearing!” 

“My name,” began the quiet-looking man, 

“is Uri, and I come from Strelisk. I have 

always regarded taking the “four kinds” 

on Sukkot as one of my favorite mitzvot, 

and so, although I am a poor man and 

could normally not afford to buy an etrog 

according to my desire, my young wife, who 

agrees with me as to its importance, helps 

me by hiring herself out as cook. Thus she 

is independent of any financial help from 

me, and I can use my own earnings for spiritual 

matters. I am employed as melamed 

(teacher) in the village of Yanev, which is 

not far from my native town. One half of 

my earnings I use for our needs and with 

the other half I buy an etrog in Lemberg. 

But in order not to spend any money on 

the journey I usually go on foot. 

“This year, during the Ten Days of Repentance, 

I was making my way on foot as 

usual, with fifty gulden in my purse with 

which to buy an etrog, when on the road 

to Lemberg I passed through a forest and 

stopped at a wayside inn to have a rest. 

It was time for ‘minchah’ so I stood in a 

corner and davened minchah. 

“I was in the middle of my prayers when 

I heard a terrible sound of moaning and 

groaning, as of one in great anguish. I 

women and girls. 

My mother had a very strong confidence 

in our youth, she would always encourage 

me to give a student another chance, 

look at the situation again, because she 

believed our youth could do it. 

We can put all our Kochos and enthusiasm 

and take our community back. 

If this is Kahn Zivah Hashem es 

HaBrocho, then it is up to us to make 

it a beacon of light and recapture our 

neighborhood. 

We can do it and we shall do it! 

Ladies there are copies of the Rebbe's 

letter and a diagram of the Tznius 

guidelines on your chairs, do not leave 

them here, take them with you! 

Mrs. S. Tachtel's summarized her plea 

for Tznius in our Sh'chuna for the CH 

Newspaper after her speech at Vov TIshrei 

Neshei U'bnos Chabad Gathering in 

honor of her mother Rebbetzin Sima 

Chasia bas Reb Yitzchak. 

hurriedly finished my davening so that I 

could find out what was the trouble, and 

if I could help in any way. 

“As I turned towards the man who was in 

obvious distress, I beheld a most unusual 

and rough looking person, dressed in 

peasant garb with a whip in his hands, 

pouring out his troubles to the inn-keeper 

at the bar. 

“From the somewhat confused story, 

between his sobs, I managed to gather 

that the man with the whip was a 

poor Jew who earned his living as a 

baal agallah (owner of a horse and 

cart for carting purposes). He had 

a wife and several children and he 

barely managed to earn enough to 

make ends meet. And now, a terrible 

calamity had be fallen him. His horse, 

without which he could do nothing, 

had suddenly collapsed in the forest 

not far from the inn, and just lay there 

unable to get up. 

“I could not bear to see the man’s despair 

and tried to encourage him, by telling him 

that he must not forget that there is a G-d 

above us who could help him in his trouble, 

however serious it seemed to him. 

“ ‘I’ll sell you another horse for fifty gulden, 

although I assure you he is worth at least 

eighty, but just to help you out in your 

difficulty!’ “ The inn-keeper was saying to 

the wagon driver. 

“ ‘I haven’t even fifty cents, and he tells me 

I can buy a horse for fifty gulden!’ the man 

said bitterly. 

“I felt I could not keep the money I had 

with me for an etrog when here was a 

man in such desperate plight that his 

very life and that of his family depended 

upon his getting a horse. So I said to the 

inn-keeper: 

“’Tell me what is the lowest price you would 

take for your horse?’ 

“The inn-keeper turned to me in surprise. If 

you pay me on the spot, I will take forty-five 

gulden, but absolutely not a cent less. I am 

selling my horse at a loss as it is!’ 

“I immediately took out my purse and 

banded him forty-five gulden, the wagon 

driver looking on, his eyes nearly bulging 

out of their sockets in astonishment. He 

was just speechless with relief, and his joy 

was absolutely indescribable. 

“’Now you see that the Almighty can help 

you, even when the situation appears to you 

to be entirely hopeless!’ I said to him as he 

hurried off with the innkeeper to harness 

the newly-bought horse to his forsaken cart 

tied to the stricken horse in the forest. 

“As soon as they went off, I hurriedly got 

my few things together and disappeared, 

as I did not want to be embarrassed by the 

thanks of the grateful wagon driver. 

“I eventually reached Lemberg with the 

remaining five gulden in my pocket, 

and naturally had to content myself 

with buying a very ordinary looking but 

kosher etrog. Usually my etrog is the best 

in Yanev, and everyone used to come and 

make a blessing over it , but this year I 

was ashamed to return home with such a 

poor-looking specimen, so my wife agreed 

that I could come here to Lizensk, where 

nobody knew me.” 

“But my dear Rabbi Uri,” cried out Rabbi 

Elimelech, now that the former had 

finished his story, “Yours is indeed an 

exceptional etrog. Now I realize why your 

etrog has the fragrance of the Garden of 

Eden in its perfume! Let me tell you the 

sequel to your story.” 

“When the wagon driver whom you saved 

thought about his unexpected good fortune, 

he decided that you must have been 

none other than the Prophet Elijah whom 

the Almighty had sent down to earth in 

the form of a man, in order to help him 

in his desperation. Having come to this 

conclusion the happy wagon driver looked 

for a way of expressing his gratitude to the 

Almighty, but the poor man knew not a 

Hebrew word, nor could he say any prayers. 

He racked his simple brain for the best way 

of thanksgiving. 

“Suddenly his face lit up. He took his 

whip and lashed it into the air with all his 

might, crying out with all his being: ‘Dear 

Father in Heaven, I love you very much! 

What can I do to convince you of my love 

for you? Let me crack my whip for you as 

a sign that I love you!’ Saying which, the 

wagon driver cracked his whip into the air 

three times. 

“On the eve of Yom Kippur, the Almighty 

up above was seated on His ‘Seat of judgment,’ 

listening to the first prayers of the 

Day of Atonement. 

“Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, who 

was acting as the Counsel for Defense on 

behalf of his fellow Jews, was pushing a 

wagon full of Jewish mitzvot to the Gates 

of Heaven, when Satan appeared and 

obstructed his path with piles of Jewish 

sins, so that Rabbi Levi Yitzchak just got 

stuck there. My brother Rabbi Zusha and 

I added our strength to help him move his 

wagon forward, but all in vain; even our 

combined efforts proved fruitless. 

“Suddenly there came the sound of the 

cracking of a whip which rent the air, 

causing a blinding ray of light to appear, 

lighting up the whole universe, right up 

to the very heavens! There we saw the 

angels and all the righteous seated in a 

circle, singing G-d’s praise. On hearing 

the wagon driver’s words as he cracked his 

whip in ecstasy, they responded: ‘Happy 

is the King who is thus praised!’ 

“All at once, the Angel Michael appeared, 

leading a horse, followed by the wagon 

driver with whip in hand. 

“The Angel Michael harnessed this horse 

to the wagon of mitzvot, and the wagon 

driver cracked his whip. Suddenly the 

wagon gave a lurch forward, flattening the 

piles of sins that had been obstructing the 

way, and drove it smoothly and easily right 

up to the Throne of Honor. There the King 

of Kings received it most graciously and, 

rising from the Seat of judgment, went over 

and seated Himself on the Seat of Mercy. 

A happy New Year was assured.” 

“And now dear Rabbi Uri” concluded Rabbi 

Elimelech, “you see that all this came about 

through your noble action. Go home, and 

be a leader in Israel! For you have proved 

your worthiness, and you shall carry with 

you the approval of the Heavenly Court. 

But before you go, permit me to hold this 

wonderful etrog of yours, and praise G-d 

with it.”


Year of Hakhel… 

Welcoming the World to Crown Heights – Kaan Tziva Ha-shem es HaBrocha… 

Visitors from 39 countries in 

the last six months! 

By Ben Yehuda 

For 25 years, a local Chabad organization 

has been quietly and consistently 

bringing thousands of guests from all 

walks of life to visit the Rebbe’s community. 

Through a three to four hour 

daily guided tour of Crown Heights, the 

Chassidic Discovery Welcome Center 

“Jewish U.S. Navy cadets in 770, one of hundreds 

of Jewish groups that visit, as well as public and 

private schools, colleges and universities, etc.” 

provides a meaningful and inspiring 

introduction to Chassidic and Jewish 

life. This mosad, one of the best kept 

secrets within Crown Heights, has 

received international acclaim for its 

innovative programming and educational 

expertise, and has been featured 

in various national and international 

media, including ABC Niteline, CNN 

News – TV Asahi Japan, the NY Times, 

National Public Radio, etc. 

As we begin the Hakhel Year, Anash 

are invited to share this educational 

experience with others so that they 

too can experience the warmth and 

brotherhood of Chassidic Life. 

Some recent written feedback… 

“This was the highlight of my trip to 

NYC! I felt like a visiting dignitary. 

The kindness and hospitality was a 

wonderful breath of fresh air in NYC. 

The bakery and the mikvah were amazing. 

I highly recommend people of all 

faiths visit for a mystic understanding 

of their Jewish roots in action.” 

We thoroughly enjoyed the time we 

spent with Rabbi Epstein who shared 

so much of his wisdom and experience 

with us to enrich our Jewish education 

and spiritual path. We felt more 

connected to our Jewish souls 

after this wonderful, one of a kind 

experience. Many thanks to the 

Rabbi.” 

“Great experience and very informative! 

I would highly recommend 

this tour. From the moment I got 

off the subway, I felt I was in a 

different world. It was very interesting 

being part of a somewhat 

“closed society”. All questions were “Thousands of Jewish teens put on tephillin for the 

first time in their lives” 

answered honestly… Our tour guide 

knowledgeable regarding the subject 

was kind, informative, and helpful. I 

matter. No question asked by the tour 

gained a whole new respect for a group 

group seemed to faze them.” 

of people who are extremely devoted 

to their beliefs. Our tour guide took 

all the time needed at all our stops so 

I could really take in all the sights and 

information. It was great that we could 

also take pictures of everything.” 

“Interesting and informative. The 

leaders of the group were excellent. 

They provided a lot of information, and 

were willing to answer any question, no 

matter how simplistic. My husband and 

I, even though we are Jewish, learned 

much from the interchanges.” 

“Great experience. Joining the tour, 

I learned a lot about the community. 

It is always nice to know about other 

people not just through reading books 

or searching internet but through talking 

face to face… I think it was a really 

Tishrei Yahrzeiten 

This week we continue with the Yahrzeiten of people who lived in our shechuna. 

We are also including the Yahrzeiten of Shluchim. In mentioning them we 

come to “v’Hachai yiten el Libo”. We learn lessons from their lives, that we can 

incorporate into our own. This column includes the Yahrzeiten from the 10th of 

Tishrei through the 16th of Tishrei. The respective resting places of the individuals 

noted in this column are near the holy Ohel, unless otherwise specified. 

Men 

10th of Tishrei 

Hachossid Reb 

Shmaryohu 

Gurary 

The son of Hachossid 

Reb Noson, he 

was born in Kremenshug 

and later 

moved to Israel. 

Every year, Reb Shmaryohu would 

visit the Rebbe during Tishrei and for 

a large sum of money would purchase 

the Mitzva of opening the Aron Kodesh 

at Kol Nidrei and handing the Sefer 

Torah to the Rebbe. He was nifter in 

5745/1984, moments before he reached 

the Aron Kodesh, in the presence of the 

Rebbe and the entire shul. 

16th of Tishrei 

Hachossid R eb 

C h a i m Z u s i a 

Wilmovsky 

The son of Reb Yosef 

Yitzchok, Reb Zushe 

served as a partisan 

in Russia during 

WWII fighting the Nazis. He later 

settled in Israel where he was involved 

in various missions and activities for the 

Rebbe, some of which were concealed, 

spreading Chassidus and reporting to 

the Rebbe on the numerous Chabad 

mosdos in Israel. He would arrive for 

Tishrei during and would energize the 

community with the joy of Yom Tov 

precious experience for me. Our guides 

were so sincere and at the same time 

friendly, which I was deeply impressed. 

I appreciate their efforts to introduce 

their way of life and philosophy to 

outsiders. Thank you so much.” 

“Extremely Interesting. A fascinating 

peek into a Brooklyn the average tourist 

doesn’t see. Our tour guides were 

warm, gracious and, of course, very 

“A really interesting and eye-opening 

tour… It’s like visiting a living museum. 

The tour guides give you great insight 

into the community. The kosher lunch, 

which was included in the price, was 

also really great. I highly recommend 

it.” 

These are just a few of the personal 

impressions that reflect the deep impact 

that has become an almost daily occurrence 

on these tours. This unique 

combination of sights, sounds and 

experiences provide visitors with a total 

emersion in Jewish Chassidic Life. 

The nominal fee for the tour and taxdeductible 

contributions of those who 

support its work enable the Chassidic 

Discovery Welcome Center to share 

and especially during the Simchas 

Bais Hashoeva dancing. He merited 

that the Rebbe referred to him as “My 

Partisan”. On the 2nd night of Yom Tov 

of 5747/1986, he left the Simchas Bais 

HaShoeva dancing on Kingston Avenue 

and went to 770, where he was nifter a 

short time later in the Suka. 

Women 

Chana Kolodny 

The daughter of, may he live and be well, 

Hachossid Reb Yosef, she was a true Bas 

Chabad who and was active in Achos 

Tmimim and the Friendship Circle, and 

was beloved by children. She was nifter 

at the age of 17 (Toiv) in Yerusholayim 

in 5767/2006 and her resting place is 

on Har Hamnuchos. 

We should speedily witness “The ones who 

dwell in the dust will awaken and rejoice” 

with all the above mentioned individuals 

amongst them. 

Dear Readers: 

Anyone who would like to have their 

relatives mentioned in the yahrzeit column 

the spirituality and charm of Crown 

Heights to an ever increasing worldwide 

audience. Thousands of dollars are 

spent annually to promote the tours on 

the internet and distribute brochures in 

hotels and attractions throughout the 

city, and to provide this tour experience 

(by Anash) in English, Yiddish, Hebrew, 

Russian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, 

Italian, German and Japanese. 

There is so much more that can 

be accomplished. Please share 

this amazing experience with your 

friends, mekuravim, business associates, 

simcha guests, etc. 

How? Send them a brochure, or a 

link to www.jewishtours.com to 

watch an introductory video. Brochures 

are available in local stores, or 

at the Chassidic Discovery Welcome 

Center’s office by the Tzach / Levi 

Yitzchak library. You can also send 

your email address to subscribe@ 

jewishtours.com and receive a photo 

and quote of the week which you can 

forward to others as well. 

The Board and Officers of the Chassidic 

Discovery Center would like to thank 

Rabbi Beryl Epstein and our dedicated 

staff and guides, our contributors, and 

the institutions that make themselves 

available for the tour on a daily basis: 

Lubavitch Youth Organization – Levi 

Yitzchok Library (Rabbi Shlomo Friedman 

and Rabbi Kasriel Kastel), Library 

of Agudas Chasidei Chabad (Rabbi 

Beryl Levine), Crown Heights Mikvah 

(Mrs. Rozzi Malamud and Mrs. Cyrel 

Deitsch), Crown Heights Matzo Bakery 

(Rabbi Yitzchak Tenenbaum), HaSofer 

(Rabbi Moshe Klein), Oraita (Rabbi 

Gad Sebag), Chassidic Art Institute (Zev 

Markowitz), and Muchnick Arts (Michoel 

Muchnik). 

should email the name, father’s name, date 

of the ptira and some details to chp5768@ 

gmail.com. A picture may be included.

THE REBBE'S OWN UNITED NATIONS - COLlive.com

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