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JEWISH REVIVAL IN A FORMER TOP SECRET SOVIET CITY

Nosson Avrohom

4 Dvar Malchus 15 Moshiach & Geula 28 Parsha Thought

WHOLESOME 16 TMIMIM IN TORAH AND HISKASHRUS

Yisroel Lapidot

22

ARE 22 YOU MY SOLDIER!

Shneur Zalman Berger

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31 Nosson Avraham

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Shneur Zalman Berger

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Dvar Malchus

THE REBBE: MOSHE INCARNATE

In each generation, the soul of Moshe is manifest within ... the nasi hador, the leader of the generation. Indeed, there is no generation within which there is not someone like Moshe. There must be a Moshe in each generation within which the soul of Moshe is manifest, enclothed. * Source materials compiled by Rabbi Shloma Majeski. Translations are in bold. Underlining is the authors emphasis.
Translated and presented by Boruch Merkur

The Rebbe Rashab, nishmaso Eden, describes two levels in avodas Hashem in the maamer beginning with the words, Amar Rabbi Akiva: Ashreichem Yisroel, of 5655. Moshe Rabbeinu attained the second, higher level of Divine service, bittul bmetzius, the utter nullification of self. Although our Sages teach that Moshe did not die, it is with regard to Moshe Rabbeinus total relinquishment of self that the Torah says of him, Moshe died there: [The first] level is only the subduing of the ego, bittul hayesh. But [after this level has been attained] utter nullification of self, bittul bmetzius, is still required, as described in the verse, and there you shall die.

In the Zohar HaKodesh it says that death entails the self-sacrifice of the G-dly Soul. It is necessary, however, to follow the proper hierarchical order. First, one must be embittered over his essential distance from G-dliness, [recognizing his own shortcomings and insignificance, that he is spiritually barren, like] a desert, and from there he can attain the quality of being earnest, described in the verse, tamim tihyeh you shall be whole/earnest, with the subjugation of his ego. It is then possible for him to attain the level referred to as death, total eradication of self, bittul bmetzius. With this we can understand

what is written, Moshe died there. Moshe Rabbeinu ah ascended the mountain in order to receive the Torah. The source of the Torah is drawn down from Supernal Wisdom, for Torah emerges from Wisdom. Supernal Wisdom is bittul bmetzius. In order for Moshe to receive the Torah as it is in its source, it was necessary for him to achieve bittul bmetzius. It is, therefore, written, Bread I did not eat. That is, although his body was holy and pure, and even his consumption of food was extremely lofty, nevertheless, when he ascended On High he did not eat. Thus, our Sages say, Moshe did not die a physical death. The fact that it is written, Moshe died there this means [that he had attained the spiritual height of] bittul bmetzius. *** The Rebbe MHM introduces a different interpretation to Moshe did not die in the sicha (discussed above) from Likkutei Sichos Vol. 26 (pg. 6-7). There it clearly states how Moshe Rabbeinu remains alive even physically. That is, Moshe lives on eternally, fully incarnate as a soul invested within the body of the nasi

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hador, the leader of the Jewish people of each generation: Moshe is illuminated with emes Havaya the truth of G-d, which is eternal, unchanging. Thus we find that the deeds of Moshe are [likewise] eternal, as our Sages say, the Mishkan that Moshe made is (not in ruins but has) only (been) put away; it stands eternally, forevermore (see Yuma 72a, end; Sukka 45b; Bechaya Truma 26:15). Since Moshe is illuminated with the emes Havaya (which shines) lolam (eternally), therefore, even his physical deeds are eternal. Certainly then the same applies to Moshe himself, as our Sages say (Sota 13b, end; Zohar I 37b, end), Moshe did not die Just as at Mount Sinai he was standing [before G-d] and serving [Him] so too here [at the end of Moshes one hundred and twenty years of life] he stands and serves. The innovation in this statement is as follows. With regard to tzaddikim in general it says (Brachos 18a, end, ff.) that even in their death they are called alive. Moreover, the Alter Rebbe explains at length (Igeres HaKodesh, explanation to Section 27) that a tzaddik who passes away remains more present in the physical world than during his lifetime, because the life of a tzaddik is not corporeal life, but spiritual life. And the spiritual life of a tzaddik does not depart from the physical world even after his passing (because something holy is never completely uprooted from its place in its entirety). In fact, (in a certain respect) the tzaddiks spiritual presence in the physical world

Our Sages say, Moshe did not die a physical death. The fact that it is written, Moshe died there this means that he had attained the spiritual height of bittul bmetzius.
of the world is not affected by death or interruption [of life]; the concept of eternality [as it applies to the life of Moshe] remains, even within the physicality of the world.* And our Sages say that there is an incarnation of Moshe Rabbeinu in every single generation (Tikkunei Zohar 469 (112a, beg.; 114a, beg.)). In each generation, the soul of Moshe is manifest within the sages of the generation, eyes of the congregation (Tanya Ch. 42, beg.), and especially in the nasi hador, the leader of the generation. Indeed, there is no generation within which there is not someone like Moshe (BReishis Rabba 56:7). (There must be a Moshe in each generation within which the soul of Moshe is manifest, enclothed, angetahn.) (Although each later incarnation of Moshe does not have his original body, nevertheless, since the life of a tzaddik is not corporeal life, but spiritual life, the life of Moshe is not the physical life of his body but the spiritual life of his soul. And his spiritual life remain eternal in the physical world on account of [his soul] being invested within the body of the nasi hador in every generation.)
*Footnote 60: Iyun Yaakov (in Ein Yaakov Sota ibid) suggests that the concept that Moshe did not die also pertains to his body (to note what it says in Rashi on Bracha 34:7) []

is then in even greater force, insofar as it is no longer restricted by the spiritual limitations inherent to the body, etc. Nevertheless, the expression did not die is not stated of other tzaddikim; it is said only of Moshe (as well as Yaakov, as discussed in sif 8 [of this sicha]). Other tzaddikim [after they pass away] are said to be present in all the worlds, even in the physical world. But this means that their spirituality is present in the physical world in a manner whereby their talmidim can receive spiritual influence from their souls. However, the life of the tzaddik itself is not bound to and invested within the physicality of the world. It comes out that there was indeed some kind of change in their (spiritual) life. That is, upon their passing they are no longer invested in the physically of the world. Therefore it is not appropriate to say of such a tzaddik that he did not die, that there was no concept of interruption or change, no fall from his [former] level (so it is phrased in Likkutei Torah Chukas (57a), among other places, as well as Zohar III (135b), dnachis midarga). Whereas, with regard to Moshe it says that he did not die. Since the special attribute of Moshe is Middas HaEmes, the Attribute of Truth, his life even as it is connected with the physicality

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Shlichus

JEWISH REVIVAL IN A FORMER TOP SECRET SOVIET CITY

We visited distant Chelyabinsk, which is located southeast of the Ural Mountains, and met the shliach, Rabbi Meir Kirsch. He told us of the revival of Jewish life there under difficult conditions.
By Nosson Avrohom

t happened when we were in the middle of Shacharis. We heard a sudden boom and then the sky lit up, said shliach to Chelyabinsk, Russia, Rabbi Meir Kirsch. People ran out of the shul. We then heard explosions. At first I was sure terrorists were shooting missiles at the shul. Everybody was frightened. It was feared this was only the beginning and that more serious explosions would follow later. When we went out to the street, we saw that everyone had gone out of their houses. That was when we realized that the shul was not the target but it was something on a much larger scale. People saw shards of metal on the ground and thought a plane had exploded and its remnants scattered all over.

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It took a long time until we found out that we had lived through the rare occurrence of a falling meteor, the largest known natural object to have entered the Earths atmosphere in over a hundred years. Local radio broadcasters reported about many injured, they said it was thousands of people, but nobody in our community was hurt. Only property was damaged. The explosion took place in the Ural Mountains east of the city, and was caused by a ten ton meteorite. It was estimated that the energy released upon its entering the atmosphere was 500 kilotons, 2030 times more energy than was released from the atomic bomb detonated at Hiroshima. People interested in the rare occurrence showed up from all

over the world and those who wanted souvenirs came en masse to collect pieces of metal that had fallen from the sky. We used this event to strengthen peoples faith in the Creator of the world, said R Kirsch. I explained that Hashem sent us a clear message that there is Someone in charge. *** R Kirsch and his wife Devorah Leah have been working in Chelyabinsk for seventeen years. Upon their arrival in the city, they saw a devastated community whose shul was barely operational. Since then, life in Chelyabinsk has changed drastically. One of the first things they did was start a school. Then they received the shul building back from the government.

Under communism, it had been turned into a warehouse. They also started shiurim, a kosher communal kitchen, summer camps for boys and girls and other activities and programs that breathed new life and Jewish pride into the community.

WHEN THE SHLIACH HAD TO DRAW A BROOM

Chelyabinsk is a Russian city on the border of Europe and Asia, southeast of the Ural Mountains on the Miass River. Chelyabinsk is one of the major industrial centers of Russia. Heavy industry predominates, especially metallurgy and military machinery. There are also large electronics factories. In the past, the city was known mainly because of the

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military industry, factories that produced tanks and Katyusha rockets. All of these factories have been transformed into factories that make pipes and tractors, said R Kirsch, pointing out that this is a fulfillment of a messianic prophecy. Previously, Chelyabinsk was one of the ten closed Russian cities because of the military factories. About 8000 Jews lived there, most of who worked in these factories. 70 years of communism nearly eradicated all signs of Jewish identity. Unlike other cities in which there existed secret underground sent R Yaakov Landau to visit some cities in Russia. Before he left, R Landau showed the Rebbe the train itinerary. The Rebbe noticed how Chelyabinsk is far from any other place. He commented that the world is not mistaken when it says that the country needs to be smaller and the head of the czar larger to be able to rule the entire area. I was taken aback. This was the first time I was reading about Chelyabinsk in a Chassidic source. How amazing it was to come across this reference a few days after it was suggested to me as a place of shlichus. R Kirsch says the beginning was quite difficult: We did not know the language. I speak Yiddish well but that did not help me since many Jews were young and spoke only Russian. I remember that when we wanted to buy something in the store, we would draw the item on a paper so they would know what we wanted. Ill never forget the broom I drew in the housewares store. When I addressed the community, I spoke in Yiddish and the head of the community translated it into Russian. I realized, on more than one occasion, that his translation was nothing like what I meant to say, but we tried not to despair. R Kirsch recalls that the hardest time was three years after he had arrived, when a member of the community, a contractor, committed to renovating the shul. Their initial joy turned to dismay when it turned out that the man had registered the shul under his own name. The shul building had been confiscated by the communists and made into a warehouse. When we arrived, pressure was exerted on the mayor to give it back to the Jewish community. One man, this contractor who had many connections and who had committed to renovating the building, raised money for this purpose from all the Jews in the city as well as from wealthy people from other cities in Russia. When he completed the renovations to the satisfaction of all, he signed a document in front of the mayor which registered the property under his name. Continue davening as usual, he told us, but I want to be in charge. That was the first time we had to stand firmly

I realized, on more than one occasion, that his translation was nothing like what I meant to say, but we tried not to despair.
Jewish activity, in Chelyabinsk there were no brissin or Jewish weddings for many years. We arrived in 5756. Before that, after our marriage in 5754, we lived in Crown Heights and I learned in the kollel. We planned on going on shlichus and kept on looking for the right place. Suggestions were made and rejected until one day a suggestion was made by R Lazar, chief rabbi of Russia, that they go to Chelyabinsk. We arranged that I would go for two weeks after Pesach in order to check it out. I had heard of Chassidic towns in Russia and had read many books that described Chassidic life, but this city was unfamiliar to me. One night of Chol HaMoed Pesach something extraordinary happened. I was reading R Folya Kahns book of stories, Shmuos VSippurim and came across a story in which the Rebbe Rashab

There were many people who thought this forsaken city was not for us. We did not know the language and certainly not the mentality. We decided to write to the Rebbe and ask for his counsel. The answer in the Igros Kodesh left no room for doubt. The Rebbe wrote that there are people capable of accomplishing big things but they are always looking for someone to act in their place despite having seen successes. However, in Lubavitch it is different. If there is a possibility of taking action, action is taken and one does not wait for someone else to get the job done. I did not need more than this. I was in Chelyabinsk by Lag BOmer and I met with the person I was supposed to meet. Two weeks later I returned to Crown Heights. My family and I set out before Tishrei to prepare another point on the globe for Moshiach.

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Lag BOmer Parade

and make it clear that the shul is the property of the entire Jewish community and not the personal property of any one person. In the end, there was pressure from Moscow on the local governor who told the contractor that the agreement was void and the shul belongs to the entire community. At first, the man was offended, but there was a good outcome. We continued to invite him to events and tfillos and he realized that we were not acting out of personal considerations. Today we are good friends. He saw that we are people of principle and a few years later he even asked to undergo circumcision.

REVOLUTION AMONG THE YOUNG GENERATION

Rabbi and Mrs. Kirsch found a community rife with assimilation and hardly any Jewish identity. People had no idea what being Jewish signified. Most of them were

uncircumcised and had not had a Jewish wedding; nor was there Jewish burial. Our job was to revive Jewish life in the city. After reestablishing the shul and setting up shiurim and tfillos, we went on to the next project starting a Jewish school. Before we went on shlichus, two bachurim who had been sent on Merkos Shlichus did peulos here. They had also started a Sunday school. We undertook to expand it and extend it to the other days of the week, and to increase enrollment. After a long, exhausting effort, we were able to find a Jewish principal who had previously served as a principal of a school, someone we thought the community would trust. We traveled by train to Moscow, a forty hour journey, in order to introduce him to R Lazar and his people. For certain reasons, we returned home with our mission unaccomplished. I was very disappointed. I went to the airport from where I was to fly home. In

the terminal I met a Jew, a businessman, who was happy to meet me. He told me that he was traveling on business to another city and he asked me about my shlichus. Before we parted, we realized we were taking the same flight and I suggested that he put on tfillin. After he put them on, he took out an envelope with $500 and gave it to me. It is for the good deeds that you do, he said. I was touched. It was the first time in my shlichus that a local person had made a donation of this size. I told him that with his donation, he had become a partner to those good deeds. He loved that idea and took out another $500 and said, If so, you should have $1000. We kept up the relationship and he became one of my biggest donors. So out of the disappointment something very good came out. After he found a suitable principal, the school was opened. In its heyday it had 150 students. Today, we have only 45 students after going through

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just a few shiurim are enough to get them involved, and those with whom you do so much and then you find out that they have a non-Jewish girlfriend. What guides us is what the Rebbe said to Rebbetzin Garelik of Milan, that there are different types of harvests. There is wheat that grows quickly and trees that produce fruit only after many years. Either way, we believe that no effort is for nothing.

THE TORAH THAT WAS FOUND IN THE GARBAGE

A summer camp for Jewish children

very difficult financial times, but boruch Hashem, we are on our way back up. The school plays a significant role in the transformation of the community. Students daven every morning, they learn about Judaism, Jewish history, Chassidus, Mishna, and Gemara. It remains with the children all their lives. Most of our students who moved to Eretz Yisroel through Naaleh continued to attend religious schools there. In addition to the school, there are shiurim for young people and summer activities. Dozens of children have had a bris mila and some became religious and Chassidim, continuing their learning at the yeshiva in Moscow or in Eretz Yisroel. Every Erev Shabbos there is a special shiur for young people. These boys then attend the davening on Shabbos and have the Shabbos meal with us or with R Yechiel Levitin and his wife. They are the shluchim we brought here. During the summer, the shluchim run two camps, one for boys and one for girls.

The Rebbe says that camp is the anvil on which Chassidim are shaped. The impact is so powerful that after camp there are bachurim that we send to learn in the yeshiva in Moscow. Two bachurim that we had in camp are shluchim today. *** Every year we make Shabbatons for the parents. One year at the girls Shabbaton, many mothers attended and it was very moving. Shabbos morning, the girls woke up early. The counselors hadnt come yet, but when they walked in, they saw the girls teaching their mothers how to wash their hands in the morning and saying Modeh Ani with them. At the boys camp, we focused on brissin and on learning Mishnayos by heart. There were boys who learned several Masechtos. Those who remember what the Soviet Union was like cannot help but be moved by the revolution taking place over the years. R Kirsch says that there is also long-term gradual work that doesnt show immediate results. There are those for whom

The outreach to adults takes place mainly at the shul with davening, shiurim and holiday programs. The shul is the center of Jewish life. Shortly after I arrived here, one of the ladies told me that she had found a Torah in a garbage heap! Upon examining it, she found it to be whole. It was taken to one of the Jewish homes but was stolen and ended up in a museum exhibit at the library. I went to the exhibit to see it for myself and then asked the director of the museum to return the Torah because it belonged to the Jewish community. The director refused and we were angrily dismissed. The assistant director, however, turned out to be nicer but she could not help us. Not long afterward, the director fell sick and did not recover. When we went to the assistant, who had in the meantime been appointed as the director, she was happy to see us. She remembered what had happened and returned the Torah to us. On 15 Elul 5772, the community celebrated a second Hachnasas Seifer Torah. This Torah was donated by Maxim Aharonov, in memory of his

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father. Dozens of Jews from the community participated in the procession as did friends of the donor who came from Eretz Yisroel. The procession left the yard of the shul and proceeded joyously through the main streets of the city that had been cordoned off by the police. The event was a top item on the television news; quite a change for a community that was nearly eradicated.

FIGHTING ASSIMILATION
There are few homes in which both the mother and father are Jewish. It is a huge problem that we deal with every day. The fathers of nearly all the kids in the school are gentiles. We have to be very sensitive but firm about this. A goy is a goy and a Jew is a Jew. There is a big problem in that Jewish fathers married to nonJews tell their children that they are Jewish. The children consider themselves Jewish and society treats them as such, and when they come to us we push them off because they are goyim. When it comes to the school we are very clear. Everyone knows that we are adamant about this and wont compromise. Only someone whose mother is Jewish is Jewish. The best way to handle it is to be firm. This way, people dont have an opening to try and convince you or exert pressure. I explain to people that it isnt me but Hashem who said so. A person can be fine and nice and have good character but not be Jewish. I tell these parents a story that I had at the school. A boy said to me, I know I should have a bris, I know how important it is, but I feel no desire to do it. I inquired a little about his family and their past and discovered that he was not Jewish. I told him, I
R Kirsch officiating at a Jewish wedding

The children of the Jewish school signing a pidyon nefesh to the Rebbe

understand why you dont feel it. Its because its not for you. I tell parents that if they put their nonJewish children in our school they will be very confused. There will be a constant war between their mind and heart. R Kirsch puts a lot of effort into the fight against intermarriage. Right after Pesach he launched a new Internet site that makes shidduchim for Jewish singles. Whats happening is that Jewish men or women are not finding Jews to date so they date non-Jews. We publicized the website among the shluchim in the CIS so that each shliach

can post information about his mekuravim and well try to pair people up. The website is under development and we hope it will be very helpful. There was a girl who regularly attended shiurim but she was living with a goy. When I went to the Kinus HaShluchim, I asked the Rebbe for a bracha that she leave him. Two months later she came to a shiur and I asked her whats happening with her boyfriend. She smiled and said she left him a couple of months earlier. Then there are those who truly want to join the Jewish people. There arent many, but when we see that someone is serious, we refer them to the right people. We had a family in which the father was Jewish and the mother was not. One day, she came and asked to convert. She said that she was interested in Judaism for a long time. At first we thought that her motivation to convert was because she wanted her children in our school, but when we saw that she was really serious, we sent her to Moscow. Today, the family lives in Eretz Yisroel and is religious.

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REAPING THE FRUITS OF THE FINANCIAL CRISIS

Shluchim in Russia have had a hard time in the recent financial downturn. Some of their big donors stopped contributing. The shluchim continued hanging in there by the skin of their teeth, and began doing their own fundraising. One year, after we finished with the summer camps, we were left $20,000 in the red. How could I raise a sum like that? In addition, there were other programs that needed money. I remember it clearly. I was

and wanted to meet me. I went over to the shul and met someone I had met before although he did not attend our programs. He told me that his feet had taken him to the shul without his realizing that he was walking in that direction. We sat down to talk and he told me that his business was experiencing difficulties due to the global financial crisis. We arranged to learn Torah together and he began putting on tfillin every day until he became a religious person. His business took a turn for the better and he began making nice donations to us. He tells everyone that his

The next day when I checked my bank account I was stunned. He had deposited exactly $20,000. I hadnt asked him for anything and did not tell him how much I owed. Heaven sent him to cover my debts.
sitting in shul and wondering what to do when the phone rang. On the line was someone who previously made nice donations. He skipped the niceties and jumped right in. Rabbi, I just signed a contract for a big business deal and made a nice profit. I want to make a donation. I thanked him and the next day when I checked my bank account I was stunned. $20,000, no less and no more. I hadnt asked him for anything and did not tell him how much I owed, but heaven sent him and he covered my debt. R Kirsch has had other stories like this happen to him. During a very hard time when Lev Leviev stopped his contributions, although it wasnt easy, we saw how the Rebbe helped. One day, the watchman in the shul called me and let me know that someone had arrived new wealth is thanks to becoming religious. So good things came out of the financial crisis too ... As to how many Jews there are in Chelyabinsk: Estimates are about 8000 Jews, but I am constantly meeting Jews that nobody knew were Jewish. They were not registered in the community ledgers or anywhere else. There are Jews who come only on Pesach to get matza. They will eat chametz and treif and live with a goy but will buy matza. We used to sell the matza in a store near the shul but then I had the idea of selling the matza in the shul so I can use the opportunity to put tfillin on with people. The atmosphere is warmer in the shul. I was recently standing on line in the bank and in front of me was a man who spoke only English. None of the tellers understood what he wanted. I helped him and when he saw that

I was Jewish, he used a number of expressions from which I gathered that he had Jewish roots. I asked him about this. He said that his maternal grandmother was Jewish. To his amazement, I informed him that he is Jewish. It took him some time to digest this. He said that for years his soul has not been at peace. He had thought of becoming a priest and went to a church to study, but soon realized its a pack of lies. But he had never considered that he is a Jew. We arranged to learn together. The fact that we both spoke English was a big help. He began putting tfillin on every day and became very involved with Judaism. After a while, he had to return to the US but we still keep in touch. He is continuing the journey he began with us. It was amazing hashgacha pratis that brought him to this distant city where he met someone who alerted him to his being Jewish. We have many stories like these. A few days ago, I got into a taxi and the driver asked me how I am in Hebrew. I was taken aback. Usually, when non-Jews want to show that they know some Hebrew, they say shalom, but ma shlomcha is another story. I asked some questions and he told me that he is a Jew who was born in one of the cities in the district. At a certain point, he made aliya but after several years he returned to Russia. Of course, I invited him to come visit us and thats how another Jew joined the community. As for government figures like the governor and members of the police force: We get along well. They help us with whatever we ask from them and are very respectful. The current governor gave us

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land next to the shul so we can build a community center. In the meantime, the plans are on hold because of the bad financial situation, but we are hopeful that one day, a building will go up. However, just the fact that the land was given to us speaks volumes. What helps us a lot are the connections that R Berel Lazar and his assistants have with President Putin and various people in the government. We enjoy a good relationship with the local police too. A Molotov cocktail was once thrown at our shul. It caused a small fire but there was no significant damage. We called in the police and then forgot about the incident. A few months later a local resident and his son came to talk to me. The father had just found out that his son was the one who had thrown the Molotov cocktail and he had come with his son to apologize. I accepted the apology and admired him for how he handled the situation. I was nave though, because afterward, I found out that the police had discovered who did it and told him that if he did not apologize to the rabbi of the Jews, he would be indicted. In response to: How is the shlichus today different than it was 17 years ago, R Kirsch said: The shlichus did not change. The goals are the same goals, to be mekarev Jews to Hashem and to bring Moshiach. But the style changed. When we arrived in Chelyabinsk, there was abysmal ignorance about Judaism. Today, there is much greater awareness. Religious Jews are no longer rare. In addition, Russia today is not the Russia of 17 years ago. In the past, in order to bring people to shul, we had to give out a food basket every month to those who

A Menorah 9 meters high

attended shul that month. By now, the culture of abundance has reached here too and a basket of food will no longer attract people to shul. If you want to get people to shul, they have to understand the importance of a shul. The same is true for the school. The Russian government created competition among the schools. They have put in a lot of money into the public schools. A free hot meal for every child is no longer a reason for parents to send their child to us. They have to understand that we provide a better education. How do the shluchim raise their children in this distant place without a yeshiva and Lubavitcher friends? R Kirsch: The children are growing up on shlichus understanding that they are different than those around them and they have to be the ones to influence others and not the other way around. It wouldnt be true to say that the atmosphere of a Lubavitcher community isnt missed, by them and by us, because it is sorely lacking, but we know there are chinuch problems within frum communities too. We train the children to take pride in being Chassidim of the Rebbe and part

of the army of shluchim. The children take an active part in all our activities. They have friends in school who come to us for Shabbos. We are always keeping tabs on things but the reality is that the children know that they are different. I already have a son who wears a hat and jacket so that his external appearance is noticeably different than anyone else. My wife was born and lived on shlichus in a place without a khilla. She left home at age nine to go to school while we will send them away at bar mitzva. It is very hard. We will bring them home as often as we can, but that is just another one of the challenges of shlichus.

CONTINUING THE WORK OF THE REBBE RAYATZ

I feel that I have a big zchus to be on shlichus in a place where Judaism was cruelly suppressed for seventy years. At first, we felt that we had come to a spiritual wasteland. Today the situation has changed 180 degrees. Its not that there isnt more to do; there is. Its that Jews can stand tall and publicly take pride in their Judaism. We definitely have a spiritual obligation towards the Jews of Russia to finish the shlichus that the Rebbe Rayatz fought for, for them, with such mesirus nefesh. Today we see that with the power of the meshaleiach, the most complicated and difficult places, vacuous of Yiddishkait, have been conquered.

MOSHIACH
In response to: How do you talk about Moshiach in a place where you have to teach people the basics like Alef-beis, R Kirsch said:
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Its not a problem. People accept it just fine. In the past, we would send people a Moshiach message via email with questions on the material. Whoever answered them was entered into a raffle. People accept the topic of Moshiach like they accept any other Jewish topic. In the shul kitchen we hung up a big picture of the Rebbe with the line: The Rebbe will make sure that not one Jew will remain in galus. Under it, it says Yechi. In 17 years of shlichus, I havent met a single Jew who was bothered by it. I openly say that the Rebbe is Moshiach. There are shiurim that are attended by people who know a thing or two and so I bring proofs from the Rambam. People understand that the Rebbe is the fuel for our shlichus. Moshiach is a topic that people find very have thought that her connection to the Rebbe was that deep. interesting. R Kirsch is the kind of shliach who lives with the Rebbe around THANK YOU the clock. No matter the issue, he R Kirsch asked that the checks to see what the Rebbes article end with his thanks to R view on it is. Berel Lazar and his right hand, I think the biggest miracle R Mondshine. Also to Lev Leviev is to see the hiskashrus to the and the new philanthropist for Rebbe of people who never saw the shluchim in the CIS, Mikhail the Rebbe and were not raised in Mirilashvili. this spirit. There is a girl who is Four years ago we brought a secretary at the school. Before another family of shluchim here, she went on a trip to China, I R Yechiel and Raizel Levitin gave her a picture ofExpress the Rebbe service Express service from Kfar Chabad. They have with Tfillas HaDerech. On the Fully Computerized Fully Computerized expanded the shlichus. They way, the plane encountered work at the school and help in turbulence. She could not take 331 Kingston 331 Kingston Ave. every way. With theirAve. coming, nd nd the picture out of her bag so she (2 Flr) Brooklyn NY 11213 Flr) Brooklyn NY 11213 (2 the community got an infusion closed her eyes and pictured the of new life, with the goal being Rebbe and asked that nothing bad to expand on all our current Get tickets within minutes! Getyour your tickets within minutes! happen. When she told me this activities Fax: until the coming of (718) 493-4444 Fax: (718) 493-4444 I was very moved. I would not Moshiach.

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14 12 Menachem Av 5773

MOSHIACH & GEULA

SHOULD WE BE TERRIFIED OF THE DAY OF JUDGMENT?

By Rabbi Gershon Avtzon

Dear Readers shyichyu, The Mishna tells us at the end of the fourth chapter of Pirkei Avos: Those who are born will die, and the dead will live. The living will be judged, to learn, to teach and to comprehend that He is G-d, He is the former, He is the creator, He is the comprehender, He is the judge, He is the witness, He is the plaintiff, and He will judge. Blessed is He, for before Him there is no wrong, no forgetting, no favoritism, and no taking of bribes; know that everything is according to the reckoning. Let not your heart convince you that the grave is your escape; for against your will you are formed, against your will you are born, against your will you live, against your will you die, and against your will you are destined to give a judgment and accounting before the king, king of all kings, the Holy One, blessed be He. Many people ask: The Tanna is telling us that we will eventually have to stand judgment in front of Hashem. The ultimate judgment will be in the times of Moshiach. If so, why should I want Moshiach? Regarding the day of judgment in the times of Moshiach we find various opinions: 1)Ramban(Seifer Hagmul)

writes that there will indeed be a day of judgment. 2) Abarbanel (Mayanei Hayeshua 8:7) writes that there will not be a day of judgment in the days of Moshiach. (Abarbanels interpretation of the above-mentioned Mishna is beyond the purview of this article.) 3) Arizal (Nishmas Chaim1:17) writes that the day of judgment will be only for non-Jews. Parenthetically, the Frierdike Rebbewrites in Likkutei Dibburim that there will be a day of judgment for the Jewish people, but it will be a positive judgment. Hashem will judge and excuse all our sins! Seeing the tremendous pain the Jews experienced in exile, he will give the Jewish people the benefit of thedoubtand excuse our sins. I will share a story that I was a witness to: When I was learning in Yeshivas Lubavitch Toronto, I gave the daily class in Inyanei Moshiach. One day, one of the local members of the Lubavitch community came in to speak with me. He told me that his daughter is learning in a non-Lubavitch girls school.

teacher had That morning, the asked the class what they were looking forward to in their lives. Most girls answered something personal like a siblings wedding and the like, but his daughter answered that she was looking forward to the imminent arrival of Moshiach. Instead of being all impressed by the girls spiritual longing,the teacher began yelling at her! She said Why do you want Moshiach to come?Dont you know that there will be a big Judgment Day when Moshiach comes? Are you looking forward to being judged for your aveiros? The girl came home in tears. She told her father what the teacher had said, but the father did not have a response. When I showed him that the Rebbe writes (Igros Kodesh Vol. 2 p. 65) that the Judgment Day is only for non-Jews, he was very excited. The point is clear: The more we are informed, the more we will anticipate the Geula. And the more we anticipate the Geula the quicker Moshiach will come. That is why the Rebbe says (Tazria-Metzora 5751) that learning about Moshiach is the DirectPath to bring Moshiach.

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Chinuch

TMIMIM WHOLESOME

IN TORAH AND HISKASHRUS

Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch Queens, is a mesivta which after two years of being opened, went from a minyan of bachurim to sixty talmidim. * Rabbi Menachem Mendel Scharf, the Menahel Ruchni of the yeshiva, addresses the educational issues and challenges of our generation as well as gives the inside story of the founding of the Yeshiva.
By Yisroel Lapidot; Photos: Levi Liberow

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Scharf with the zal of the yeshiva in the background

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AMERICA IS NO DIFFERENT!
Over seventy years ago the Rebbe Rayatz came to America and immediately founded a branch of the Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch in New York. This sent a strong message to all the skeptics who told the Rebbe that America is different, and the American culture would not allow Jews to live the way they had lived for generations in Eastern Europe. However, the Rebbe explained, America is no different. Even within the materialistic American culture, it is possible to live and raise children in the ways of Yiddishkait and Chassidus, just like in Eastern Europe. *** It is early in the morning in New York. A few dozen bachurim are learning a maamer Chassidus in chavrusa pairs in the large, beautiful zal. After an inspirational Shacharis and a satisfying breakfast, the bachurim sit facing one another

once again, to learn the sugya of Shomer ShMosar LShomer. A particularly loud pair caught my attention as they discussed, argued and looked things up in the Rishonim and Acharonim I thought, Is there anything that better depicts the Rebbe Rayatzs statement of America is no different, than this? Welcome to Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim Queens Amongst rows of private homes, in the heart of residential Forest Hills, there is a fortress of Torah, a Chassidic lighthouse of Torah and Yiddishkait that illuminates the entire area. Since its founding three years ago, the yeshiva has become a spiritual hub for the residents of the area. The conduct of the bachurim as neiros lhair is noticed by the local residents, which includes over 10,000 Jewish families. Every Shabbos afternoon, the bachurim split into groups and walk to twenty-five shuls in the area and lecture on a maamer Chassidus.

Within a short time, the yeshiva has joined the ranks of other prominent Chabad yeshivos worldwide. Just two weeks ago, there was a festive celebration marking the conclusion of a huge Mivtza Limud (study campaign), which included Bekius (proficiency) tests on Nigleh and Chassidus they had learned over the past year (see box for full report).

IF THE REBBE WERE STANDING HERE NOW

In personal conversations with talmidim and staff members, I learned how they deal with daily challenges, why the Yeshiva was founded, as well as their unique approach to chinuch that has proven to be exceptionally successful in raising the next generation of Chayolei Bais Dovid. Why was the yeshiva started? In an interview with the Menahel Ruchni, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Scharf, he

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explained, The yeshiva was founded with three goals in mind. One, to provide a chinuch permeated with hiskashrus to the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach in all aspects of the day. Two, to build a personal and loving relationship with every talmid. Three, to create an environment that promotes a very high academic level, both in Nigleh and Chassidus. A chinuch based on hiskashrus to the Rebbe is what makes a bachur motivated to come on time to learn. It is not out of fear of a consequence or a fine from the mashgiach that he comes on time to seder, but rather he knows that these set times are an expression of the Rebbes Hagbala Atzmis (the Rebbes essence that has been placed into these limited times) and I come on time because that is what the Rebbe wants. So too, when the Hanhala sees inappropriate behavior, they dont only say This is not the proper way to act. The bachur is trained to think, If the Rebbe were standing here right now, would I do that? The answer is obvious and the lesson the bachur learns is that the Rebbe is everything in his life. We also encourage the bachurim to write a monthly report to the Rebbe so that they feel his presence in their daily lives. As for the second point, regarding giving personal attention to each talmid, we dont just say it, we practice it. The results are in the feelings the bachurim have, particularly towards the yeshiva. If a talmid feels close to the school he learns in, its only because of the staffs deep sense of commitment to the talmidim. We can see that wherever there is a good relationship between a talmid and a member of the Hanhala, it

THE BOYS IMPRESSIVE ACHIEVEMENTS

Three weeks ago, there was an event marking the conclusion of Mivtza Torah in both Nigleh and Chassidus. Hundreds of chapters of Tanya and thousands of pages of Gemara were learned by heart. The celebration took place in yeshiva with members of the Vaad Ruchni, mashpiim R One of the talmidim speaking. Next to him sits R Chaim Serebryanski and R Chaim Serebryanski, member of the Vaad HaRuchni Sholom Dovber Lipsker, the Hanhala and staff, and the students and their parents. During the evening, prizes and certificates were given out to dozens of outstanding bachurim who learned a tremendous amount. Ten bachurim stood out for completing Meseches Bava Metzia and R MM Scharf and R Chaim Sholom Dovber Lipsker, doing exceptionally well on member of the Vaad HaRuchni, giving a certificate a comprehensive written to an outstanding talmid test. In addition, there was an oral test for those who learned by heart the shakla vtarya of the entire masechta at once, with Rabbi Aharon Yaakov Schwei, the Mara dasra and member of the Beis Din Tzedek of Crown Heights. R Schwei was very impressed by their knowledge of the material, 119 dafim of the Gemara which was learned this year in Chabad yeshivos around the world.

Outstanding bachurim being tested in Rabbi Schweis office

18 12 Menachem Av 5773

makes the talmid feel happy to be in yeshiva. It is the same with the third point concerning the high level of learning. Getting deeply involved in learning and mastering the material is what gives talmidim the confidence to succeed in Yeshiva. Before giving a challenge to a bachur, one must first assess his abilities and only then can one set the expectations. We set our standards a little higher than the norm, but always to that which the bachur is capable of achieving. It has to be done in a way that he will work on it without feeling that its a hopeless task, making him feel like a failure.

SET HIGH STANDARDS AND HOLD THEM TO IT

The yeshivas excellent reputation has enabled it to grow from about a minyan of bachurim to sixty talmidim. The yeshiva has many fine qualities, but its success must be attributed to the personal relationship that the Hanhala has with each talmid. In brief conversations with the bachurim, I learned that the mashpia is not just a teacher or guide but rather a role model whom the bachurim look up to and admire. The young staff members can easily relate to the problems facing the bachurim, says Rabbi Scharf, due in part to their age and common language. In many cases, the staff must have an immediate answer to a rising issue, for any delay can be damaging. The staffs are, Boruch Hashem, able to better communicate with the talmidim as well as to be a positive influence on them before any problems can even arise. The educational approach the Hanhala follows is a balanced

A bachur to whom the Rebbe is not merely a tzaddik who lived long ago, but rather a current reality to whom he should provide nachas, will control himself, listening to his parents and teachers with Kabbalas Ol, even when he disagrees.
with mashpiim, teachers, and shluchim, guest mashpiim are invited to farbreng with the bachurim, and there are learning contests which also encourage positive action. The staff also has frequent one-on-one, personal conversations with the bachurim. During these conversations, the staff speaks about the feeling of vniflinu, as Chassidim of the Rebbe, arousing in them a deeper geshmak for learning Chassidus and to follow the darchei HaChassidus. Its not so simple. On the one hand, we need to instill these rules and values in a personal way; on the other hand, we need to supervise and firmly maintain our high standards.

combination of sur meira (turn from evil) and assai tov (do good). From the sur meira aspect, the bachurim are living in a dormitory which is closely supervised from the Hanhala, protecting them from the distractions of the outside world. The talmidim display maturity and understanding regarding the rules because they know there are consequences to their actions. When there is a rule, along with consistent supervision, and equal standards to all students, then in the event that a student breaks the rule, he will not respond angrily for he knows what is expected of him. From the assai tov aspect, much effort is put into creating a Chassidishe atmosphere. Besides Chassidishe farbrengens

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saying that nearly every bachur has one staff member with whom he feels comfortable speaking about private personal matters, knowing the staff member will provide him with all the help he needs. With this kind of personal attention and availability, the talmidim feel closer to the staff, enabling them to resolve most problems that arise. The difficulties bachurim of this age face in connection to Yiddishkait, are the kind of problems that sometimes might lead to the boy dropping out of the yeshiva, G-d forbid. Most problems are a result of emotional challenges that might stem from a crisis at home or social problems. It is very important to identify the source of the problem. A few months ago, we saw that one of our outstanding bachurim seemed to be bothered by something. He suddenly stopped listening during shiur, did not participate in farbrengens, and exhibited a number of other troubling signs in his behavior. I called him over, and after sitting together for a while, he shared with me his inner struggle, relating to a family matter. After speaking about it, he felt as if a large burden had been lifted from him. Of course we gave him the support he needed to deal with the situation, and Baruch Hashem he got right back on track. The staffs dedication towards the talmidim also affects the devotion the talmidim have to each other. They are instilled with Ahavas Yisroel. This Ahavas Yisroel is definitely one of the keys to the success of the yeshiva.

THE FOUNDATION OF A CHASSIDISHE CHINUCH ON ONE FOOT

One of the accomplishments the Hanhala of Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch in Queens prides itself in is being able to provide a form of chinuch that will remain with the talmid throughout his life. This is the meaning of the verse, Educate a child according to his way, even when he will grow old he will not veer from it. When you build a building with many stories, R Scharf explains, you need a foundation that will sustain not just the lower floors but all the floors, from the bottom to the top. It is the same with Chinuch. One must provide a healthy foundation for life, with principles that will support and stand strong throughout lifes transitions. What is that foundation of a Chassidishe chinuch? Hiskashrus to the Rebbe. This is the foundation upon which the entire life of a talmid is built, both in his academics and in his Chassidishe behavior. A bachur to whom the Rebbe is not merely a tzaddik who lived long ago, but rather a current reality to whom he should provide nachas, will control himself, listening to his parents and teachers with Kabbalas Ol, even when he disagrees. A shliach who was trained in his childhood that every act he does matters to the Rebbe who is here, in this physical world, will properly navigate situations in which he seems forced to choose between a wealthy man with a big donation or keeping to all the requirements of Shulchan Aruch in his community. A Chassidishe balabus who was trained from childhood to give a din vcheshbon to the Rebbe every month will be ashamed to write that the last time he set times to learn and davened properly, went on mivtzaim or attended a farbrengen, was a long time ago. He will make sure that does not happen. Obviously, the foundation of chinuch in learning and Chassidishe behavior is to instill a love and personal feeling of hiskashrus to the Rebbe. This, on one foot, is the foundation for a Chabad Chassidishe chinuch.

DEDICATION SECRET OF SUCCESS

Chinuch of children and young boys is always considered a demanding field. As time goes by, it becomes harder and more complicated. If years ago, explains Rabbi Scharf, a proper chinuch required much effort and investment from the mechanech, how much more is it so regarding the work today, given the challenges we face in our generation. There is no manual or quick fix magical solution. Each case must be looked at

individually and dealt with accordingly. Dedication is our secret to success. Our staff is comprised entirely of Chassidishe yungerlite who are given over to the talmidim. They sit with them after their scheduled hours, give shiurim during recess to those bachurim who are interested, and sometimes come at night to speak to bachurim individually. The staff hears whats on the bachurims minds, helps them deal with their difficulties, and gives them the tools to flourish spiritually. I would feel confident in

CHAYUS OF YEMOS HAMOSHIACH

In conversation with the

20 12 Menachem Av 5773

Talmidim of the yeshiva talking in learning

talmidim and members of the staff, it is apparent that there is a special chayus for Yemos HaMoshiach in the yeshiva. This derives mainly from the fact that serious attention is given to learning Inyanei Moshiach and Geula. As the Rebbe says, this is the direct, easy, and quick path towards actually bringing Moshiach Tzidkeinu. The goal of a Chabad Yeshiva is to raise Tmimim who, even after their yeshiva years, will look back at the glorious days spent in Tomchei Tmimim as a time that instilled within them a true love for the Rebbe MHM and his directives. This is truly the image of a Tamim. His very being exemplifies Chassidishe refinement combined with pride in his mission, not becoming affected by what goes on in the outside world. In Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch Queens, one can see the preservation of the original character of a Tamim, just like it was in Tomchei

Tmimim yeshivos throughout Russia. I asked R Scharf about the atmosphere in the yeshiva. He said: As I mentioned earlier, its about hiskashrus to the Rebbe and the desire to give the Rebbe nachas. The concept of Rebbe is not just another subject we talk about on special dates like 5 Teves, 10 Shvat, or 11 Nissan. In our yeshiva, Rebbe is not just another topic for farbrengens. The Rebbe is what we live with every day, all day, day and night, because the Rebbe is what our life is all about. To help bring home this point, I will tell you something that just happened. At a meeting of the Hanhala, it was suggested that we end the year a few days later than we had originally planned. We assumed the talmidim would have a hard time with this and decided to ask the Rebbe. The answer we opened up to in the Igros Kodesh said: You

deal with chinuch and chinuch is a matter of kdusha and kdusha is Hashem. Hashem is without finite limits and His service is without finite limits. So what you thought was the maximum, go beyond that, because you were given unlimited kochos. After an answer like that from the Rebbe, we decided to officially announce the extension of the school year. After I made this announcement, I noticed, the talmidim were very disappointed. I decided to read the letter that I had opened to from the Rebbe. Suddenly, all the earlier opposition disappeared. They all calmed down and accepted the new date for the last day of the school year. What changed was that the bachurim realized that this is what the Rebbe wants. We didnt need more than that. The chinuch seems to be working ... concluded R Scharf with satisfaction.

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Chabad History

YOU ARE MY SOLDIER!

After the war, R Uri Nosson Nota Barkahan ah returned to Riga and, with a few other survivors, began reestablishing the Chabad community. * About his secret trip to Georgia on shlichus for the Rebbe, about smuggling Chassidic manuscripts out of the Soviet Union, and about his return to Riga after more than twenty years. * Ten years ago, R Barkahan was interviewed by Beis Moshiach about his memories of the Chabad community in Riga. * Part 2 of 2
By Shneur Zalman Berger

THE CHABAD COMMUNITY IN RIGA IS REESTABLISHED

During World War II (as mentioned in the previous article), nearly the entire Chabad community in Riga was annihilated. A few, like R Nosson Nota Barkahan, fled to distant cities in Russia. After the war, he married the daughter of R Nachum Yitzchok Lerman. A short while later, he found out about the opportunity of leaving Russia via Lvov, as many Chassidim did, but he was unsuccessful: We arrived in Lvov three days after they arrested R Mendel Futerfas, who was one of the organizers of the operation. At the same time, there was a wave of arrests of all suspicious Jewish people and we fled from Lvov

while we could. After extensive travel through various cities in the Soviet Union, I returned and settled in my birthplace of Riga. When R Barkahan returned to Riga, he found a different city. 90,000 Jews had perished in the Holocaust and only 157 people remained. Many anti-Semitic Latvians were happy to join the Nazis, seeing them as their liberators from communist rule, and they joined German army units and helped murder Jews. After the war, a few Jews trickled back into the city. They had escaped the city during the Nazi occupation and had gone to places under Russian rule. The horror that they discovered was indescribable. Shuls were burned and Jewish homes were looted. Despite the devastation, the

Jewish community slowly began to rebuild under the Russians. About fifteen Chabad families eventually returned to the city: R Zalman Friedman, R Shaul Pevsner, R Avrohom Godin, R Michoel Pizov, R Mordechai Aharon Friedman, R Shlomo Feigin, R Yisroel Konson, my father, R Mulle Pruss and his son, Zushe. Two Chabad shuls were reopened, but they were closed by the communists in later years. Even when the shuls were still open, we were afraid to daven there. We davened in secret minyanim in private homes. Only after Stalin died did we start going to shul again. We Chassidim did not want to stand out in the shuls, but despite the danger we ensured

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R Barkahan receiving lekach from the Rebbe on Hoshana Raba

that the running of the shul would be under our control so that the communists wouldnt take over. The building of a mikva was a special project that I remember. Each of the Chassidim gave 5000 rubles, a large sum in those days, and a new mikva was built. An episode that I remember as though it happened today goes as follows. There was a time when someone was needed to run matters having to do with Chabad, someone who would take care of various things that came up. At one of the farbrengens, R Mulle Pruss suddenly stood up and exclaimed, We are a few families and we need a leader. Who wants to be the leader? If nobody wants to do it, then Ill be the leader! Then he said, If we dont

need money, I wont ask for it. If I need it, Ill extract the money from you like teeth; I wont give an accounting and whoever wants an accounting, I dismiss him and his money. He truly helped tremendously when it came to various Chabad matters and also donated large sums of his own money towards maintaining the mikva and other things. The Chabad community was wonderfully united. Fear of the future created a tight bond among the Chassidim. It was impossible for a day to go by without the Chassidim being in touch with one another. Each of them sincerely cared about the welfare of the others and if someone was not in touch for a day or two with one of the Chassidim, people immediately worried that something happened

to him. We suffered greatly from surveillance and persecution. A search was once conducted in my house and the secret police said to me, If Stalin would be alive, you would not leave our hands alive. Despite the harassment, R Barkahan worked to be mekarev Jews to Judaism and Chassidus, one of them being the famous Professor Herman (Yirmiyahu) Branover.

FINDING OUT ABOUT THE PASSING OF THE REBBE RAYATZ THREE YEARS LATER!
Being cut off from the Western world and from Chabad Chassidim outside the Soviet Union, the Lubavitchers behind
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the Iron Curtain did not know about the passing of the Rebbe Rayatz. Anash in Riga heard the news on a foreign radio broadcast. One of the Chassidim, who heard about the present Rebbe, understood that the Rebbe Rayatz had passed away and his son-in-law had succeeded him. That was in 1953, three years after the Rebbes passing! All the Chassidim in Riga met, including R Shlomo Feigin, R Yisroel Konson, R Mulle Pruss, his son Zushe and R Notke Barkahan, at a farbrengen. They all cried and the mashke flowed. They found it hard to digest the fact that the Rebbe Rayatz was gone. At first, nobody could speak. Each one was immersed in his thoughts and pondering the bond he had with the Rebbe. The hours went by and the silence continued. Other than the lchaims that flowed like water, nobody spoke. It was only after a long time that the Chassidim realized they had to farbreng and accept the new Rebbes leadership. Those farbrenging began to imagine what it would be like to have yechidus with the Rebbe for the first time. There they were, Chassidim behind the Iron Curtain, picturing what it would be like when they got out and had yechidus, what they would say to the Rebbe, how they would relate to him. Then I said, I dont understand the problem. I will go to the Rebbe, salute, and say: I came to continue my service in the army. It was most incredible how years later when I had yechidus for the first time, the Rebbe immediately said to me, You are my soldier and you need to be happy. My teacher and father-inlaw said that when a soldier starts on the shore of the Black Sea, a gorgeous place. Shortly after I arrived, I went out to look for a shul. In Georgia, it was much easier to be religious than in other states in the Soviet Union. At first I had a hard time communicating, since most of the people spoke Georgian and not Russian. I went to a kiosk and tried to talk. The owner asked me to wait a minute and he came back with a Jew who, afterward, I learned was the Chacham. A few Jews lived in this town and they brought a young Chacham to run their community. I told him that I needed to daven. He said to me, On condition that you will be with me for Shabbos. Of course I agreed, though not before I told him that I would have to be allowed to eat what I wanted. I was happy to see that in even in this distant resort spot there was a minyan. I went to the shul and on Shabbos I was the Chachams guest. After Shabbos, I went to Kulashi where I knew there was flourishing Jewish life under the noses of the communists. I began walking around and suddenly found myself under arrest. It seems my camera was my undoing. I had officially come on vacation, which is why I had taken my camera and taken pictures, but in Kulashi, modernization was still in its infancy and there were hardly any cameras. They suspected me of being a spy. Citizens called the police. I explained that I was an engineer in a large factory in Riga and I was on vacation. I had taken pictures in all innocence with no ill intentions. They called the factory where I worked and after questioning them, they realized I was innocent and I was immediately released.

5749. Printing the Tanya in Kostrama, Russia

his service he does so happily. Why, when its dangerous? Because he is confident of victory! This seemed to me like a direct response to what I had said in Riga twenty years earlier. How did he know? I dont know.

SECRET MISSION TO GEORGIA

R Barkahan did not have to wait for his first yechidus in order to be a soldier of the Rebbe. Even when he lived behind the Iron Curtain, and the communist regime dogged the footsteps of the Chassidim, he was involved in the Rebbes missions. As a loyal and discreet shliach, he wasnt willing to volunteer many details, but from what he did reveal, one can see his devotion to the Rebbe. It was in the 60s. I got a message from the Rebbe that I should go to Soviet Georgia to investigate the state of Judaism there. When R Notke says, I got a message from the Rebbe, he did not explain how this message reached him. I took off from work with the excuse that I was going to Georgia for my health, to rest up a bit from the stress of work. I arrived at a small town

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I was released a few hours before Shabbos. The Jews were afraid to host me after they heard I had been arrested. They were afraid to associate with me. In the end, I was hosted by one of the rabbis, Chacham Eliyahu. He understood that I had come to help the Jews. I held a farbrengen on Motzaei Shabbos with the Georgian Chachamim, all of whom were mekuravim to Chabad and learned Chassidus. I carried out the Rebbes shlichus, left on Sunday, and returned to Riga. I passed through Odessa where I wrote a detailed report to the Rebbe. At that time, it was still possible to have a connection to Israel, as opposed to the US; then it was a terrible crime to correspond with someone in America. So I wrote to the Rebbe through R Efraim Wolf. I wrote all about the state of Judaism in Georgia. I knew that if this letter fell into the wrong hands I would be in danger. The letter had to be written anonymously so they wouldnt know who wrote it. After much thought, I wrote on the envelope that the letter was sent from Odessa and I added a fictitious address. I was also very careful with how I addressed it and instead of writing Ephraims name, I wrote: To my brother Menasheh Zev, Rechov Ploni, Number Almoni, Lud, Israel. I underlined the words Ploni and Almoni. I later found out that the letter arrived at the central post office in Lud. The postmen had no idea who the letter was meant for, because there was no name and it just said Ploni and Almoni. The Chassid R Berish Rosenberg who worked at the central branch, said that a letter that

came from Russia should not be sent back. He took the envelope and tried to figure out who it was for. In the end, this clever Chassid figured it out. The brother of Menasheh thats Efraim. And Zev in Yiddish is Wolf, so he realized that the letter was addressed to Efraim Wolf. The letter reached the right person and from there was sent to the Rebbe.

SMUGGLING OVER THE BORDER OF THE SOVIET UNION

Another project R Notke was involved with was sending bichlach (booklets), i.e. Chassidic manuscripts, out of the Soviet Union to the Rebbe. This was a very complicated and dangerous operation. For many years, the Chassid R Mottel Kozliner was in charge of this important matter. Eventually, R Barkahan was enlisted too. R Mottel, whom I knew in Samarkand during the war, got me involved in searching for Chassidic manuscripts. Over the years, I traveled throughout the Soviet Union to try and locate them. I sent the Rebbe over forty bichlach! Obtaining and sending them was a project requiring dedication, courage, and much secrecy. Danger lurked everywhere. Ill tell you about one of the smuggling jobs I did. It was when R Nissan Mindel, the Rebbes secretary, visited Riga in 5724. My friends and I gave him sixteen packages of bichlach. As an American citizen, he wanted to send the manuscripts via diplomatic mail through the American embassy so that the censors wouldnt be able to get their hands on it. For a few days

5749. Shlichus in Azerbaijan

he tried to convince the people at the embassy, but met with no success. Having no choice, he decided to smuggle them out with him. He took a train to the border and when he got there, they began examining his luggage, all but the small suitcase in which he had his personal things and the precious manuscripts. When he reached the Rebbe, he told him the saga. The Rebbe smiled broadly when he heard of the open miracle, and did not say a word. R Barkahan himself smuggled bichlach out of Russia. It was after many years of asking to leave the Soviet Union and being refused time after time. The evil communist regime refused to allow Jews to leave the country. It was only in 5729 that he finally received his visa. He planned

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Chabad History
My second trip, in 5749, began in Moscow and continued in other cities throughout the Soviet Union, including Riga. It was exactly twenty years after I had left, thinking I would never return to this place where I had suffered so much. But there I was again. I walked the streets and recognized every street and corner. I found it hard to believe that I was in my home town once again. I remembered precisely where the Chabad shuls were and where each Chabad Chassid lived. This time, I walked the streets as a free man. I knew the communist government was coming to an end, and the fear that had been a part of my life all those years no longer existed. I began working with the Jews of the city, about 10,000 in number. I then received the Rebbes bracha for permanent shlichus in Riga. Together with my wife Tzippora, we were the first shluchim to Latvia. I started with offering material help and then built up spiritual services like tfillos and shiurim. People were very interested and there was tremendous work to do. Being fluent in Latvian helped a great deal in my work and in the connections I made with the authorities. A year later, in 5750, I was elected as chief rabbi of Latvia. When I first came here, there wasnt even a minyan in the shul that stood empty. Now, Boruch Hashem, there is a broad range of activities.

SATISFIED WITH HIS TALMID

R Notke had a share in Prof. Branovers return to Judaism. Prof Branover knew that the Rebbe greatly cherished R Notke. Once, in yechidus, he asked the Rebbe, What should I tell R Barkahan? The Rebbe smiled and said, Tell him I am satisfied with his pupil. on taking a large quantity of bichlach with him, even though he knew that if he got caught, not only would they take away his visa but he would spend many years under lock and key. When I left the Soviet Union, among the things I took with me was a couch. Inside it, I hid all the bichlach which were a veritable treasure. I knew that the danger was great but I was ready to take the chance. I filled the couch with the booklets of Chassidus and manuscripts. I wanted to send the couch along with my other furniture by ship. When I went through customs, they began examining all my things. They went through everything. It was hard to hide anything. I began to sense the impending danger. Earlier on, I had been told that among the customs officials there was a goy by the name of Anatoly who loved a bribe. I innocently began asking who Anatoly was. I met him and shook his hand warmly while slipping him some money. He looked to see how much it was and wasnt satisfied. He asked, And where is the money for Anatoly? I gave him more money and he immediately gave the order to seal all my things with a seal that said it had been examined. The Rebbe had tremendous nachas when I came to 770 a few months after I had moved to Eretz Yisroel, and gave him (through the secretaries) all the contents of the couch. The Rebbes response was: Many thanks. This is real pidyon shvuyim.

RETURNING AFTER 20 YEARS

R Notke lived in Eretz Yisroel for less than twenty years. During that time he was mekarev people, especially Russian Jews. He worked under the auspices of Shamir, directed by Prof. Branover. With the start of perestroika, he returned to Riga on the Rebbes shlichus. It was 5748, when the communist government was beginning to make reforms. Shamir paid the expenses and R Notke went back to his home town. My beard wasnt a problem, though what I brought along in my luggage was. I had a lot of Jewish ritual items and books in Russian that Shamir had published. The Jews of Russia pined for these items. The books I brought explained all about Judaism, basic mitzvos, concepts in Chassidus, and more. The books reached Jews who were cut off from Judaism for many years. They avidly read these books and then passed them along secretly to others, so that many people read the books and were strengthened in their religious observance. This was my first shlichus after perestroika and it was fascinating. The tremendous thirst the Jews had brought me on shlichus again a year later.

LATVIAN LEADERS HONOR HOMEGROWN CHIEF RABBI

In the summer of 5751, Latvia seceded from the Soviet Union and became an independent country. According to the new

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laws, every citizen was allowed to observe a religious lifestyle, to teach religion, and to hold religious activities. In the early years, R Barkahan concentrated primarily on the shul, on tfillos, farbrengens, shiurim, and holiday events. The Jews of Riga quickly learned that there was a place for Jews and Judaism and many of them flocked to the shul. Eventually, a club for women and a soup kitchen were started. The mikva was renovated and many mekuravim began observing a religious and Chassidic life. R Barkahan also worked with students in the universities. In fact, as a result of his efforts, a Judaic studies department was opened at one of the universities. Jewish students heard about Torah and mitzvos for the first time in their lives. R Barkahans work so impressed the Jews of the city and government officials that the government decided to mark his 80th birthday with a festive dinner in his honor. Over 1000 Jews in Riga attended the event that took place in the Jewish center of Riga. The president of Riga, as well as the former president, government ministers, and the ambassadors from Germany, Russia, Ukraine, Israel and other Jewish leaders were in attendance. The president delivered a long speech in which she praised R Barkahan. Then the Israeli ambassador to Latvia, Avi Binyamin, spoke in praise of R Barkahans work. R Yitzchok Garelik, R Barkahans grandson and rav in Kazan, delivered a moving speech. He said he was with his grandfather when the Rebbe gave out dollars and the Rebbe gave

5748 R Barkahan farbrenging in Leningrad

R Barkahan at his 80th birthday. Sitting: R Barkahan and his son, R Menachem Mendel. Standing from right to left: his grandson, R Chaim Barkahan, shliach in Germany; his grandson R Yitzchok Garelik, shliach in Kazen, Russia; his son-in-law, R Mordechai Garelik; his grandson, R Zushe Garelik, shliach in Moscow; his grandson, R Vishedsky, shliach in Switzerland

him a dollar. When R Barkahan started moving forward, the Rebbe called him back and said, You are a Kohen, you have double powers. At this point, he turned to his grandfather and said, Zeide, you have double powers to continue and work in

this country for many more, good years! (Sadly, R Notke passed away later that year and will hopefully rejoin his family and the family of Chassidim in the near future with the coming of Moshiach, when arise and sing those who dwell in the dust.)
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Parsha Thought

HOLD ON TO BOTH HEADS OF THE ROPE

By Rabbi Heschel Greenberg

NO ENTRY!
When Moses sought to enter the Land of Israel, as recounted in this weeks parsha, G-d turned him down. His persistent pleas for G-d to rescind His decree and allow his entry into the land were answered by G-d with a firm negative. According to a Midrash, found in the collection of enigmatic Midrashic comments, G-ds refusal to let Moses enter the Land of Israel went like this: You are holding on to both ends [literally: heads] of the rope. If you want me to fulfill your request of Please let me cross-over then nullify please forgive. And if you want the fulfillment of please forgive [this nation mentioned in the aftermath of the sin of the spies], then nullify [the request] Please let me cross-over. On the surface the only connection between these two requests by Moses is that in both cases he employed the word na which means please. The obvious question here is why

did G-d link Moses requests of forgiveness for the Jewish people with his request to enter the Promised Land?

MOSES SACRIFICE
The simple explanation is that when he asked for the forgiveness of the Jewish people for their contempt of the Promised Land, Moses was essentially throwing in his lot with the people G-d wanted to destroy. There is precedent for this in the earlier sin of the golden calf. Moses tells G-d that if He destroys the Jewish people, he too wants to be erased from G-ds book. In other words, Moses was making it clear to G-d that whatever fate awaits the Jewish people he wants for himself as well. The story is told of the Baal Shem Tov, who traveled to a certain town to pray for the annulment of a heavenly decree of destruction, G-d forbid, that he presciently saw hovering over the Jewish community of that town.

When he was asked why he had to travel there to pray, since he could have accomplished the same thing by praying in his own community, he responded: If I succeed in annulling the decree that would be great. However, if my prayers are not successful, then I want to share the fate of the Jews of that community. It may be suggested that not only was the Baal Shem Tov showing his love and unity with those Jews, but, moreover, his willingness to share their fate was the catalyst that crowned his prayers with success and averted the catastrophe. Thus, when Moses pleaded with G-d to forgive the Jewish people, he was not just saying a prayer as an outsider to their fate, but, as he did in the past, and as the story of the Baal Shem Tov illustrates, Moses essentially offered to share in whatever fate G-d had in store for the Jewish people. Only because Moses was willing to accept the fate of the people did G-d commute their sentence of annihilation to the sentence of exile.

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Thus, when G-d issued the decree that the entire generation would remain in the desert and perish there and not enter the Promised Land, that fate too awaited Moses. Moses obviously could not argue that while he was willing to die with the Jewish people, he was not willing to remain in exile with them.

Only because Moses was willing to accept the fate of the people did G-d commute their sentence of annihilation to the sentence of exile.
leadership. Why would he reverse his position now and sever the ties with his people? Two answers to this question come to mind. First, we may propose that Moses felt that if he were able to enter the Land of Israel, his presence would hasten, expand and deepen the process of the conquest, and the building of the Temple that would lead to the ultimate, complete and final Redemption. That, in turn, would, prompt a greatly accelerated Resurrection of the Dead. As a result, Moses entry into the land would hasten the reunion with his flock. Second, while Moses place was in the desert with his flock, he nevertheless was not supposed to suppress his yearning to be in the Land of Israel with the Beis HaMikdash.

THE LINK
We can now decipher the enigmatic words of the Midrash that linked Moses request to enter the land with his request for G-d to forgive the Jewish people. If Moses refused to remain with his people in the desert then he was not truly joining his fate with the fate of his people. G-d would then have to withdraw His commutation of their death sentence to one of exile. While it was too late for G-d to punish them in this world, for they had already perished, their sin would not have been absolved, requiring them to go through a purification process in the next world. More importantly, G-d was, in effect, telling Moses that since he was not disavowing his previous throwing in his fortune with his people, he should not demand entry into the Promised Land. Rather, Moses should stay behind in the desert until, as the Midrash states elsewhere, he will return with his people in the Messianic Age. It now becomes clear that the real reason Moses could not enter the Promised Land was not punishment for any of his mistakes, as a simple reading of the Biblical text would suggest. Rather, because G-d wanted him to be with his people, He orchestrated Moses sins as a way of imparting valuable moral lessons to us. We must, however,

delve more deeply into the text and follow the interpretation of it by our Sages to detect the subtext of G-ds denial of Moses entry into the land.

BOTH CONNECTIONS NOW!

We can now also understand the meaning of the Midrashs expression: You are holding on to both heads [ends] of the rope. The rope is a metaphor for a connection. Moses wanted both connections: the connection he had to his people that engendered their atonement and survival, and the connection to the Land of Israel, because of its optimal level of Mitzvah observance, which is our rope and lifeline to G-d. G-d informed him, you can only have one end of the rope at the present moment. One may add that the use of the word na-please in both the requests he made of G-d is significant. In Hebrew the word na, which means please, can also mean the same thing as the similar sounding English word now. Moses was not just saying please, he wanted both connections now.

WE WANT MOSHIACH NOW!

The lesson we can derive from all this for our own generation is clear: Our existence in exile is certainly designed by G-d. Although we were initially sent into exile because of our sins, as we recite in the Holiday liturgy: Because of our sins we were exiled from our land, nevertheless, the length of our stay in exile is certainly not just to expiate our sins but for a special mission. In exile, there are challenges that we could not have in Israel with a Beis HaMikdash. The sacrifices we have made would
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WHY DID MOSES WANT TO ENTER THE LAND SO FORCEFULLY?

One can still ask the question, Why did Moses plead so forcefully with G-d to enter the land? Didnt Moses recognize that his mission was to stay with his people through thick and thin? Indeed, this was the way Moses behaved throughout his

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not have happened had we not been exiled. The very fact that the soul has been sent into the physical world to inhabit a physical body is G-ds way of saying that while the soul is pure in its original state, it cannot grow and develop exponentially without the challenges of inhabiting a physical body and sharing it with an Animal Soul. If that challenge is not enough, G-d then takes the challenge for the soul to a new low/high. G-d sent us into exile where His presence is concealed, persecution and oppression is rampant, and where all the temptations to assimilate abound. Yet we survive as Jews and even thrive. This challenge can never have been experienced in the Land of Israel prior to the period of exile. Knowing the incredible accomplishment of exile, one might be lulled into thinking, vive la exile, G-d forbid! Exile has brought us to such an incredible level of achievement, so why pray for the Redemption when we will no longer enjoy the challenges that are unique to exile? To dispel this thought, we learn of how Moses, notwithstanding his noble desire to remain with his people and not enter the Promised Land, taught us that we must never lose sight of where we really ought to be. Exile is not our home. Despite the challenges, virtues and achievements of exile, we must never make peace with it. Rather we must direct our hearts to the Beis HaMikdash and yearn, pray and even demand that we be taken out of exile and returned home with our entire nation; a sentiment encapsulated in the refrain of a popular childrens song: We want Moshiach now! There is a guiding principle concerning righteous people. When they want something, they eventually get their way. Sometimes they have to wait, but eventually G-d gives in to their request. Similarly, with respect to Moses request to enter the Land of Israel, he will soon live to see the realization of his dream. And to paraphrase the old saying, he will not only get his proverbial cake but eat it too; he will see how G-d has forgiven the Jewish people and he will also lead them to the Promised Land. In the nomenclature of the Midrash: He will hold on to both heads [ends] of the rope.

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MIRACLE STORY

HOLY LETTERS AT 3 A.M.

Influential members of the Jewish community in Charlotte, North Carolina, demanded a complete overhaul in the administration of the citys Chabad School. The Rebbes shliach, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Groner, was worried that one of his most important projects was about to collapse. However, in the middle of the night, two letters arrived by fax sent by persons unknown
By Nosson Avraham Translated by Michoel Leib Dobry

n Shabbos Parshas Emor, Erev Lag BOmer, the Chabad community in the Holy City of Tzfas hosted hundreds of Lubavitcher Chassidim from all over Eretz Yisroel. The atmosphere on that Shabbos was magical and uplifting. The central Heichal Levi Yitzchak Synagogue was filled to capacity with guests from sectors across the religious spectrum, many of who took advantage of the opportunity to visit family members living in the capital of the Galilee. Shabbos served as a preparation for their pilgrimage to Mt. Miron on Motzaei Shabbos. Among the guests staying with the community was Rabbi Menachem Mendel Groner, shliach of the Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, mashgiach and mashpia in Yeshivas Tomchei

Tmimim in Kiryat Gat. As the son of the Rebbes secretary, Rabbi Yehuda Leib Groner, who spent decades in the service of the nasi, it was only natural that at the start of the Shabbos farbrengen, the gabbaim asked him to speak first. At the conclusion of his dvar Torah, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Groner asked if he could share with those assembled a story he heard from his twin brother. We heard the story again in greater detail from the shliach himself, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Groner. We bring it here for you now.

AN ATTEMPT TO TAKE OVER THE CHABAD SCHOOL

One of the most important projects we started during the

years of our shlichus was the establishment of a Jewish school, said Rabbi Groner. We invested much effort into this initiative. We knew that this would be one of the best ways to revitalize a Jewish community that was largely affiliated with Reform and Conservative organizations. With G-ds help and the Rebbes brachos, the school quickly achieved numerous educational successes, acquiring a sterling reputation that reached far and wide. Children from every sector in the local Jewish community learned in the school. One day, one of the Jewish communitys most prominent benefactors came to our office with a very unsettling proposal. Since our brand of Orthodox Jewry represented a minority position among Charlottes Jews,
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MIRACLE STORY
it was inconceivable that the citys only Jewish school would be run according to our guidelines. He was prepared to make a sizable financial investment in exchange for the right to buy a portion of the school facility, thereby giving outside Jewish organizations a foothold in the administration of its educational programs. It was quite clear that if Reform organizations would be allowed to enter the picture, they would control the choice of educational material, including the hiring of faculty and staff members who did not operate in the spirit of Chassidic philosophy. We felt as if our whole world was coming apart. We had invested considerable time, effort, and money in the school project, and now someone was trying to undermine everything we had done. The leaders of the two other movements had joined this patron in requesting a meeting where they would present their arguments. We were obligated to provide a logical counterargument in reply, while taking care not to enter into a heated dispute with the opposing side. We were quite aware that we didnt have the power to wage an ideological war over this, nor did we wish to do so. When the school was founded, the Rebbe set an ironclad principle: everything must be done in an atmosphere of complete unity. When did the Rebbe establish this principle? In the early days of our shlichus in North Carolina, we wanted to open a Chabad school, but the Reform community was still operating its own school in Charlotte. When we asked the Rebbe whether we could begin the process, he categorically refused on the grounds that it would create an internal dispute within the local Jewish community. Several years all areas of study. No one would have an excuse to question the institutions quality education. As the years passed, the successes continued to mount. Most of our students came from Jewish families who were not part of the Orthodox community. Now you could understand how concerned we were, as after so many years of toil and effort an ambush lay in wait for us.

Rabbi Yosef Groner

A BRACHA FROM THE REBBE VIA FAX

On the night before the meeting, my wife and I discussed the matter at hand. I shared my concerns with her, particularly in light of the spiritual darkness we were now facing. If this had happened before Gimmel Tammuz, we would have written a letter to the Rebbe and received a bracha and clear advice on how to act. However, times were different now and very confusing The following morning, I came to the Chabad House to daven Shacharis. Before going upstairs to begin my prayers, I went into my office and noticed that the fax machine had printed out several transmissions. As I looked at them, I was stunned to see one page containing two long letters sent from the Rebbe. They were correspondences printed in the Igros Kodesh. I glanced at them briefly, but due to the shortness of time, I left to go daven. When I came back to my office, I started reading the letters in greater depth. One letter was addressed to then-Speaker of the Knesset, Mr. Kadish Luz, sent during the week of Slichos 5724, in which he thanked him for his visit to Kfar Chabad (Vol. 23, Letter #8885, pg. 263): I was pleased to receive news

later, in 5747, when the Reform school finally closed, we took the opportunity to ask the Rebbe again if it was now possible to open a Chabad school. This time, the Rebbe said that we should consult with the mazkirus. The authoritative figure among the Rebbes secretaries, particularly in matters of education, was Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Chadakov, of blessed memory. When I posed the question to him, he replied that the Rebbe had already spoken with him on the matter and gave his conditional consent to establish a Chabad school. The condition was that its entire foundation must be with total unity, while making no compromises in matters of Yiddishkait. Immediately after receiving the Rebbes bracha and consent, we invested all our strength and energy into this project. This included the assistance of some major financial backers and other benevolent Jewish souls who saw eye-to-eye with us about the importance of creating this school. We were determined that this would not only be a place to teach children about Jewish values, it would also provide a level of academic excellence in

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from the people of Kfar Chabad regarding his visit in Kfar Chabad and his impression of the institutions there, in continuation of his normally good attitude towards Chabad. I am certain that he will continue this in the future, and he will increase even more at every opportunity, in accordance with the development of Kfar Chabad and its issues, for there is a general principle that in all matters of good, there must be a continual increase in holiness. This is particularly so since he has unique possibilities according to his status and position, and everything is by Divine Providence. Leading up to the new year, may it come upon us and all Israel for good and a blessing, I hereby give my blessing to him

and his family to be inscribed and sealed for a good and sweet new year in material and spiritual matters. Later in this lengthy correspondence, the Rebbe thanked Mr. Kadish Luz for sending him his book Avnei Derech in which he writes at length in praise of the advantages to kibbutz life. In great detail, the Rebbe also notes the disadvantages to this system, among them the failure to consider the talents and abilities of the individual. The letter was fascinating, and I casually moved on to the second letter, sent to a school supervisor on the 25th of Elul 5724. As I began reading the letter, I couldnt believe my eyes. It was as if the letter had been written just for me. The Rebbe wrote as follows (Vol. 23, Letter

#8884, pg. 262): I confirm receiving his letter from the 15th of Elul. First and foremost, I wish to express the tremendous satisfaction I received upon seeing in his letter his feelings towards Chabad issues and Chabad schools, etc. Furthermore, and this is also the main thing as stated in his letter, The spirit and teachings of Chabad are very close to me, and I strive to learn it, that surely as stated by our Sages, of blessed memory, study leads to action. This is particularly so when we are talking about an educator, even a supervisor of educators, and since every appointment is from Heaven, from Me, we understand from this that strengths and opportunities are given to fulfill the task and the appointment
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MIRACLE STORY
with complete success. May it be G-ds Will that he should influence in the stated direction also upon those under his supervision, as we have been promised that he who comes to purify and it is known the emphasis of the Alter Rebbe, Baal HaTanya and Shulchan Aruch, that not only he who comes to purify himself, but even to purify others they assist him. To the fundamental question about the schools the schools administration, he is correct when he writes that above all, the main thing is the benefit to the students and success in their studies and their education. Therefore, the principal must be the most suitable for the stated position reverberated in our ears all the way to the crucial meeting. Equipped with the Rebbes letter, we went in for the meeting. The tension in the room was palpable. The proponents for organizational change in the school presented their case first. In the final analysis, each of them was demanding involvement in the important decisions on hiring new faculty members and the like, in accordance with their ideological agendas. When they had completed presenting their claims, I took out the letter and translated it word for word. Finally, I turned to the others and asked, Do you agree that the schools academic standards are at a good level? They all said yes. Do you agree that the learning material and staff are up to par? Does the staff do everything to help the students succeed? Here too, they replied in the affirmative. I then proceeded to make my main point: The change you are demanding is totally political in nature, and we dont engage in politics at the expense of the children. The only thing that needs to concern us when considering modifications to the educational program is the students best interests. I am open to the idea of making changes, but not at the expense of the childrens academic success. With G-ds help, my words had the proper effect. They realized their mistake and shelved their proposed changes.

Rabbi Yaakov Chazan

The Rebbe also notes the disadvantages to this system, among them the failure to consider the talents and abilities of the individual.
truth and they too will thank him that at the moment of decision, he stood firm and paid no heed to their demands. I would be pleased to hear good news in all the aforementioned. I was overwhelmed. In his letter, the Rebbe writes that the potential advantage to the students must be the primary criterion in all matters pertaining to the schools administration. In all the excitement, I still didnt know who had sent me these letters or where they had come from. I rushed home and told my wife about the amazing letter that had arrived in my office. We sat down to learn it together, as if it had been written specifically for us. In very simple words, the Rebbe had written that there can be no politics or power struggles at the students expense, and their educational benefit is the only relevant factor when appointing a principal or other faculty members. The words To the fundamental question about

administration, he is correct when he writes that above all, the main thing is the benefit to the students and success in their studies and their education. Therefore, the principal must be the most suitable one for the stated position. Furthermore, since this is the derived conclusion, there is surely the possibility to bring this into fruition, as with all matters of our holy Torah, its ways are pleasant ways etc. Here too there is the possibility of bringing this into fruition as stated. And as mentioned above, since he is the supervisor, and the matter is entrusted to his care, he should finally find the way to achieve this conclusion for the benefit of the students. May G-d grant him success, and the promise of he who comes to purify, they assist him surely includes this area. Thus, the hope is strong that finally even those who dont consider the benefit to students, for whatever reason, will see the

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When I came back from the meeting, I immediately called my father, Rabbi Yehuda Leib Groner, the Rebbes secretary, certain that he had sent me the letters. I told him what had transpired, expecting that he would say that he had sent the fax to give me some encouragement in my struggle to save the school. However, to my surprise, my father said that he had no idea what I was talking about. He had not faxed me any copies of any letters from the Rebbe. As I hung up the phone, I was left puzzled and confused. If it wasnt my father, then who had sent me the letters? As I read through the letters again, I came across something that needed some clarification. The longer correspondence was addressed to Knesset Speaker Kadish Luz, who was a descendant of the esteemed Luzinski family. The family patriarch was a Chassid of the Alter Rebbe, a prominent benefactor who resided in Bobruisk, a city in the Mogilev region of Byelorussia, which was also the home of the well-known Chassid, Rabbi Hillel Paritcher. This Luzinski was also privileged to sustain many Chassidim living in the city through his business profits. Regrettably, one of his offspring had immigrated to the United States, where he married a non-Jewish woman and had children of his own. One of these children lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. While he essentially realized that he was not Jewish, he still had deep roots in one

of the strongest communities in Jewish history. At one point, he decided to explore his family lineage, and some of his friends had helped him to arrange a meeting with me and hear more about the Luzinski family. Shortly after meeting with him, I made a trip to 770 to participate in the International Shluchim Conference, where I met up with Rabbi Sholom Yaakov Chazan, who served with the Otzar HaChassidim editorial board. He told me that he was currently working on the publishing of the twenty-third volume of Igros Kodesh, while I told about my encounter with the Luzinski family member. I asked him to send me a copy of any letter the Rebbe might have sent to someone from this family, if he knew that such a letter existed. He replied that in his work on the new volume of Igros he had come across a letter addressed to Mr. Kadish Luz. To the best of his knowledge, Luz had a connection to this family, and he promised to send me the letter. Yet, days and weeks passed, and the matter was forgotten by both of us.

DONT DELAY DO IT NOW!

Shortly after the decisive meeting over the future of the Chabad School, I again traveled to 770 and met with Rabbi Chazan. Since the meeting with that member of the Luzinski family was still fresh in my mind, I surmised that Rabbi Chazan had been the one to send me the letters after I had

previously asked him to do so. After confirming that he in fact had been the sender, he shared with me what had happened on the night he sent me the fax. He had already gone to bed when he suddenly felt something deep inside urging him, You promised Rabbi Groner that you would send him the letter, but you still havent done it. He tried to divert his mind from the bizarre message disturbing his slumber, but it was no use. Although he was very tired, he couldnt seem to fall asleep. Finally, he decided to get out of bed and walk to his office in the Rebbes library. The letters were all set to go to print, but since he was too exhausted to take the time to separate the Kadish Luz letter from the preceding correspondence to the school supervisor, he simply put the whole page with both letters into the fax machine. Thus, at three oclock in the morning, he sent the letters to my office. This was at the very moment when I was speaking to my wife about how the Rebbe seemingly couldnt answer us as he did in the past. Only after the letters had been sent, he returned home and immediately fell asleep. As I was speaking with him, he apologized for sending me two letters. However, when I told him about the whole chain of events that followed, he became as stunned and excited as I was. We truly felt how the Rebbe had arranged everything in the most wonderful and amazing fashion.

TO BRING MOSHIACH NOW!

Issue 888

ADD IN ACTS OF GOODNESS & KINDNESS

35

Obituary

A PARAGON OF MESIRUS NEFESH

For nineteen years, the Rebbe kept in his room the pages of the Machzor that Rabbi Moshe Greenberg ah wrote when he was in a Siberian labor camp. * A Chassid who lived a life of mesirus nefesh along with bittul and hiskashrus to the Rebbe.
By Shneur Zalman Berger

abbi Moshe Greenberg ah, who passed away in Bnei Brak at the age of 86, was a G-d fearing Chassid and loyal soldier in the Rebbes army. He was a symbol of mesirus nefesh and hiskashrus to the Rebbe. He was born in Adar 5687/1927 in Capresti, Bessarabia, which was then part of Romania (now Moldova). His parents were R Naftali, a shochet and mohel, and Rochel, a woman of chesed, who contributed greatly to the Jewish chesed organizations in her town. He lost his mother when he was still a young boy in the Second World War, when the family fled Romania and ended up in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. She passed away due to starvation and disease. R Naftali was left to raise the orphans. The two boys, Moshe and Yosef, were sent to the underground Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim in Tashkent. Yosef, who was six, was sent to learn with the youngest boys, while fourteen year old Moshe learned Nigleh and Chassidus with the older talmidim. R Naftali met another

36 12 Menachem Av 5773

refugee, R Aharon Chazan. Even in distant Tashkent the two of them did not give up their Chassidic practices. Now and then they went to immerse together in the Ankhor River in the center of Tashkent. Unfortunately, one of those times ended in tragedy when R Naftali entered the river and was swept away. Now, without mother or father, the girls in the family, who were older, did all they could to help their younger brothers. The boys continued learning, despite their double bereavement. R Moshe did not speak much about this period of his life. One time he recounted that when he learned in Tashkent he first heard about the Rebbe Rayatz (his family not being Lubavitch) and his mesirus nefesh to maintain Judaism. That was when he became a Chabad Chassid with all my heart.

CAUGHT IN A TRAP
At the end of the war, like many other Chassidim, he heard about the possibility of crossing the border with forged Polish passports, but he did not manage to join the others. In 5708, a year after the gates were closed in Lvov, four Chassidim tried crossing the border anyway. They were Moshe Greenberg, Yaakov Lepkivker, Meir Junik, and Moshe Chaim Dubrawski. They contacted someone who presented himself as a professional border smuggler. It turned out that he was an agent planted by the government. It was a Friday when the four of them began crossing from the Soviet Union into Germany. At a certain point, the agent showed them the road and then left. Instead of moving forward

. , . ,(1956) " . THE MAKESHIFT MACHZOR R Moshe arrived in the ,labor . camp at the end of 5711. Despite the difficulties he had to contend . , - , . Issue 888 37 . ,

and crossing the border, the foursome decided to remain in a house near the border so as not to desecrate the Shabbos. In the meantime, the traitorous smuggler contacted the border police who arrested the four Chassidim and put them in jail in Chernowitz. During the interrogations, the interrogators tried to extract the names of other Chassidim from him, with whom he was in contact. However, R Moshe did not utter a single detail about his fellow Chassidim. The interrogators were furious over his silence and in one of the sessions, an interrogator kicked R Moshe so hard that he felt the pain for months afterward. Later, when he was asked how he was able to withstand the questioning, he said, I knew some chapters of Tanya by heart and as soon as the interrogation began, I began reviewing them in depth, so I simply did not hear what they were asking me. The interrogations went on for a long time, until finally they were sent to Kiev for a trial. R Moshe was sentenced to twenty five years in Siberia. He was sent to a labor camp where there were more than a thousand prisoners who worked building an electrical power station. Only twenty of them were Jewish. Despite the starvation and the suffering, he made a firm commitment to keep mitzvos, even if it entailed mesirus nefesh. Throughout the years he spent in the labor camp, he never ate a crumb of food that had a kashrus problem. His meals during those years consisted of bread, a little sugar, and herring. This is what sustained him as he worked at hard labor which required great physical strength. He refused to work on

Shabbos even if this entailed danger. When he refused, he was sentenced to five days in solitary confinement. Every Shabbos he refused to work and he was confined for five days. He went out for a day or two of work, and was then sent back to solitary confinement. After two years of great suffering his strength gave out and he became sick and was hospitalized. Jewish prisoners had pity on him and bribed the

174

A younger R Moshe Greenberg

commander who finally agreed to allow R Moshe to go to the work area on Shabbos without having to do any labor. From then on, every Shabbos R Moshe would go to the work area and would spend the time there murmuring to himself, Shabbos, Shabbos, lest he forget the holiness of Shabbos for even a moment.

Obituary
with, he was focused on the upcoming Yomim Noraim. He yearned to get hold of a Machzor which was a dream that seemed impossible to attain, but R Moshe was not the sort to give up easily. R Moshe located someone on the outside, an engineer who worked in the camp on various projects. He thought that the engineer might be a Jew. He waited for an opportune time to approach him and whispered in Yiddish, Can you help me? At each day. There, hidden from prying eyes, he copied all the tfillos. Just one page was missing, the page of Kol Nidrei, the first tfilla said on Yom Kippur. R Moshe returned the Machzor and fall arrived. From letters they received, the Jewish inmates learned when the Yomim Tovim would fall out. For Rosh HaShana, they bribed the guards with cigarettes to allow them to remain in camp and pray. With the help of the handwritten where he reunited with his family. He became engaged to Devorah, the daughter of R Aharon Chazan. The new couple began their married lives in a house they rented in Moscow. A description of their wedding is in his father-in-laws memoirs: We celebrated at home with over 100 guests. It was truly a joyous occasion. I was the mesader kiddushin because the rabbanim who came were afraid to approach the chuppa when they saw such a large crowd. The many guests who danced also looked out for uninvited guests, i.e. informers. The young couple found a place to live near us. His father-in-law worked in a factory. That was no small thing in those days, to support oneself with official work without having to work on Shabbos. At a certain point, a local gentile coveted his job and began harassing R Chazan so he would leave. The harassment grew worse and R Moshe suggested the following, as R Chazan wrote: One day, I told my sonin-law, R Moshe Greenberg, about it. Write a letter to the Lubavitcher Rebbe and ask for his bracha, he suggested. In Russia in those days, nobody endangered themselves by writing letters to the Rebbe. A connection with Schneersohn was enough to get you arrested and sent to Siberia. My son-in-law had a solution: Write a letter and put it into a Tanya. Chabad Chassidim in Russia would put letters into this book, which is the foundational book of Chabad Chassidus. The Rebbe would receive the letter with his ruach hakodesh. I did as he said and asked for the Rebbes bracha to be rid of this disturbing gentile. I put the letter into a Tanya. A

Neither his financial situation nor his health stopped him from realizing his goal and ambition in life: genuine hiskashrus to the Rebbe.

that time, most Jews in Russia spoke fluent Yiddish. He saw a glint of understanding in the mans eyes. Can you bring me a Machzor for the Jewish inmates here? he asked. The engineer hesitated. Doing this would endanger both of them, yet he agreed to try. A few days went by. Any developments? asked R Moshe. I have good news and bad news, said the engineer. He had found a Machzor for the Yomim Noraim but it was the only Machzor that belonged to the father of his girlfriend. When she asked her father for it, he reacted angrily. But R Moshe did not give up. Would the man be willing to lend it out for a few days? He would copy it and return it in time for Rosh HaShana. The man agreed and the engineer smuggled the Machzor into the camp and gave it to R Moshe. In order to copy it, R Moshe built a large wooden box and crawled into it for a few hours

Machzor, R Moshe was the chazan. He read out loud and the rest repeated after him in low, though festive, voices. Seven days later they met again for Yom Kippur, but despite their efforts, nobody remembered all the words of Kol Nidrei. After nearly seven years of imprisonment, R Moshe was released following the death of Stalin, along with all the political prisoners. The only thing he took with him was his Machzor. Many years went by and in 5733, he went to the Rebbe and gave him the pages of his handwritten Machzor as a gift. Most gifts given to the Rebbe were put in the library, but R Moshes Machzor remained in the Rebbes room for nineteen years! It was given to the library shortly before 27 Adar 5752, when the Rebbe mysteriously decided to tidy up his room.

A LETTER TO THE REBBE

R Moshe was released in 5715 and he went to Moscow

38 12 Menachem Av 5773

few days went by and I saw the fulfillment of the Rebbes bracha. A fire broke out in a building next to our place of work and after a brief investigation it turned out that the harassing gentile was the one who had set it. He was sent to jail for years and I never saw him again.

DEVOTION TO CHINUCH AL TAHARAS HAKODESH

R Moshe and his wife had several children who were raised with mesirus nefesh in the way of Torah and Chassidus. In those days, nobody dreamed that these children, growing up under communism, would one day be shluchim of the Rebbe. Life in communist Russia was unbearable and providing a proper chinuch was extremely difficult. Not surprisingly, many Jews tried to leave the Soviet Union, but the gates were sealed. Only occasionally did they open a crack and allow a few Jews out. At the end of 5726, his father-in-law, R Aharon Chazan received a visa. Just three months later, in the winter of 5727, R Moshe and his family were also allowed to leave for Eretz Yisroel. The Greenbergs settled in Bnei Brak, a city of Torah and Chassidus. For many years to follow, R Moshe was unable to forget his first Shabbos in the Holy Land. He had gone to daven and was given an aliya. He approached the Torah and burst into tears. Afterward, he explained that as he approached the Torah, he looked around him and found it incredible that it was possible to keep mitzvos openly, without fear. To R Moshe, chinuch al taharas hakodesh in the spirit of Chassidus was the most

The handwritten Machzor that remained in the Rebbes room for 19 years

R Greenberg and his father-in-law at a Lag BOmer Parade in Bnei Brak. From right to left: R Aharon Chazan, R Chananya Yosef Eisenbach, R Tuvia Zilberstrom (behind), R Moshe Landau rav of Bnei Brak (speaking), R Eliyahu Landau, R Greenberg

Issue 888

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Obituary
important thing, no matter whether in Stalinist Russia or Jewish Bnei Brak. Either way, the children had to be in an authentic Chassidic atmosphere. In those days, there was a Lubavitcher school in Bnei Brak with only a few children. R Moshes children were half the student body. More years went by before the school grew. R Moshe raised money for the continued existence of the school. Today, this school is a large, successful school with hundreds of students. He also did his utmost to provide his daughters with a Chabad chinuch. When they were of high school age, he was the first of Anash in Bnei Brak to send his daughters to Beis Rivka in Kfar Chabad despite the distance and transportation difficulties. He was the Nachshon and other families followed him until this became the norm. heat and the rainy winter season. His white beard and distinguished appearance inspired many to respectfully accede to his request and put on tfillin. A few weeks after the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War, R Efraim Wolf organized Mivtza Tfillin for wounded soldiers. He urged Chassidim to go to the hospitals and rehabilitation homes to put tfillin on with the soldiers. R Moshe Greenberg was fully involved and he got other Chassidim involved too. They received a salary from him and they went to the hospital in Tel HaShomer every day. R Wolf reported to the Rebbe on 6 Cheshvan 5734: R Moshe Greenberg of Bnei Brak says that he is providing payment for two men who put tfillin on with people in the Tel HaShomer hospital. There are long lines to put on tfillin and there is a demand for tfillin [as a gift in order to put them on every day]. The 17 Greenberg children were born into a home of shlichus, a home whose purpose was to spread Judaism. Their home on Rechov R Assi, and later on Rechov Yitzchok Nissim, was always open to every Jew until the wee hours of the night. His son, R Zushe, shliach in Ohio, related: It was a time when they were busy with Mivtza Tfillin and Mivtza Mezuza. It was run out of our crowded three room apartment. We had wall-to-wall beds. The boys slept in the living room. People came to have their tfillin checked, to take mezuzos or to return them. We boys couldnt fall asleep until the last person left and my father shut the light. When R Moshe realized that in all of Bnei Brak there was nowhere to buy Chabad sfarim, he opened an improvised store in his home. He began selling sfarim out of his living room, even though the profits were paltry and the sfarim took up precious space. It was worth it to him so that another Jew could buy books on Chassidus. He eventually opened a library of books and tapes in the Chabad house so the children of Bnei Brak could enjoy them. The hiskashrus and bittul of this older Chassid to the Rebbe was outstanding, and he was a role model to others. Every year, he went to the Rebbe for Tishrei, taking along another child who had not yet seen the Rebbe. He would leave his large family during Slichos and return only after Shabbos BReishis. Many people wondered how R Moshe, who had a hard time supporting his large family, was able to pay for tickets to the Rebbe every year. Here is the answer. R Moshe worked in polishing diamonds for R Shmuel Daskal, a Vizhnitzer Chassid and a wealthy diamond dealer. Before every Tishrei, R Moshe would explain to R Shmuel that if he wanted a bracha from the Rebbe, he should give him a ticket to go to the Rebbe. R Shmuel, who admired R Moshes Chassidishe genuineness, did so. When R Moshe saw the Rebbe, he would mention his benefactor and ask the Rebbe for a bracha for him. He would also bring a bottle of mashke from the Rebbe in order to farbreng at the diamond polishing business. R Shmuel, who did well financially, was happy to receive brachos from the Rebbe each year, and so the deal was worthwhile for both of them. For Tishrei 5753, many wondered whether there was any

DIRECTING CHABAD ACTIVITIES IN BNEI BRAK

R Moshe founded a branch of Tzach in Bnei Brak and ran it for over forty years, until his final day. In this capacity, he was very involved in Mivtza Tfillin and the other mivtzaim, holiday mivtzaim, etc. He organized farbrengens and other programs including Lag BOmer parades. Mivtza Tfillin in Bnei Brak might sound odd since the majority of the population is religious. Nevertheless, Mivtza Tfillin was one of his main activities. He enlisted people and sent them to hospitals as well as to towns outside of Bnei Brak. For many years, he himself went to Petach Tikva every Friday and stood on a street corner and put tfillin on with passersby. He stood at his post in the summer

40 12 Menachem Av 5773

point in going to 770, considering the Rebbes absence since the previous 27 Adar. R Moshe, who was utterly mekushar, would not forgo the trip and that year too, he went with one of his sons. When the Rebbe came out to the Chassidim for the first time on Rosh HaShana, and then many other times, R Moshe was ecstatic. He said, I go to the Rebbe every year. I went this year too and the Rebbe came out and my son saw the Rebbe too. Two years went by and Tishrei 5755 was approaching. R Moshe consulted with R Yitzchok Yehuda Yaroslavsky of Kiryat Malachi about whether to go to 770. The answer he was given was, If you went every Tishrei, you should go now too. After Rosh HaShana, he told his brother-in-law, R Sholom Yaakov Chazan, I sat at the farbrengen and everybody was singing together as though the Rebbe was sitting there with us, and when they sang Yechi, everyone got up and sang with zest. At that time, I felt that the Rebbe is with us. He continued to go to 770 every Tishrei even when his health wasnt good. One year, he suffered all month from angina and respiratory problems, but he wouldnt give up joining the tfillos and farbrengens. His brother-in-law, R Chazan, sums it up like this, My brother-in-law, R Moshe Greenberg, was mekushar to the Rebbe, heart and soul, without chochmos; his hiskashrus was boundless. Before him he saw only the Rebbes horaos. Neither his financial situation nor his health stopped him from realizing his goal and ambition in life: genuine hiskashrus to the Rebbe.

A dollar from the Rebbe

R Moshe with his sons and sons-in-law

BOUNDLESS CHESED
In addition to all his activities, R Moshe would raise money for needy families. When he was asked what about his own large family, he would say that with Hashems help he would have what to give them. He also ran a gemach that lent money to anyone in need. In the 1970s, many Chassidim arrived in Eretz Yisroel from the Soviet Union and settled in Nachalat Har Chabad in Kiryat Malachi. The

Rebbe encouraged opening factories there in order to provide jobs for immigrants. R Moshe convinced his employer, R Shmuel Daskal to open a diamond polishing business near Nachalat Har Chabad in order to help immigrants with work. *** Recently, R Moshe became very weak, but he still pushed himself to attend the Lag BOmer parade which was attended by thousands of children. He passed away on 10
Issue 888

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Obituary
Tammuz. Shortly before the funeral, portions of his interrogation file were released from the KGB archives. He is survived by his wife Devorah, and seventeen children, most of whom are on shlichus: Naftali Lud; Rochel Levertov shlucha in Houston, Texas; Yisroel El Paso, Texas; Esther Shaikowitz Kfar Chabad; Yosef Yitzchok shliach in Alaska; Zushe shliach in Solon, Ohio; Chaim Beitar Ilit; Bassie Shemtov Crown Heights; Shalom Dovber Shanghai, China; Chaya Wolf shlucha in Odessa, Ukraine; Rivka Asimov shlucha in Paris; Shneur shliach in Commerce, Michigan; Shmuel shliach in Washington; Shternie Wolff shlucha in Hannover, Germany; Baruch shliach in Oceanside, California; Avraham shliach in Shanghai; Chava Kestel Bnei Brak. Dozens of Admurim, rabbanim and public figures paid Shiva calls to the Greenberg family and saw for themselves the amazing army of shlichus represented by his children. It was a Kiddush Sheim Lubavitch. Likewise, the family has been profiled in Mishpacha magazine and Yediot Achronot.

Anywhere, Anytime !
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42 12 Menachem Av 5773