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CONTENTS
4
FEATURED ARTICLES
WEEKLY COLUMNS
3 Dvar Malchus
11 Parsha Thought
34 Tzivos Hashem
YOU ARE NEEDED ON

MOSHIACHS STAFF
Menachem Ziegelboim
CHASSIDIC
14 THE
REVOLUTION
Reuven H.
BITTERNESS
20 TURNING
AND DARKNESS
INTO SWEETNESS
& LIGHT
Hila Crispin
CAN KILL,
28 WORDS
LITERALLY
Sholom Ber Crombie
YEARS AGO:
31 65
THE BURNED
SYNAGOGUE
IN ITALY
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:
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HEBREW EDITOR:
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ENGLISH EDITOR:
Boruch Merkur
editor@beismoshiach.org
2016-06-22 11:58:24 PM
DVAR MALCHUS
MOSHIACH BA
MOSHIACH
HAS ALREADY
ARRIVED
Sources where the Rebbe proclaims that
Moshiach has already been revealed. * From
Chapter Seven of Rabbi Shloma Majeskis
Likkutei Mekoros (Underlined text is the
compilers emphasis.)
Translated by Boruch Merkur
13. [] According to all the signs

mentioned by our Sages concerning
the End of Days (in addition to the
general Talmudic proclamation that
all the predicted dates [for the
advent of Moshiach] have ended),
this generation is the final generation
of exile and the first generation of
redemption. My revered father in-law
the Rebbe, leader of the generation,
testified to the arrival of the new era
with his well-known proclamation,
Lalter ltshuva lalter lgeula
immediately to repentance,
immediately to redemption. In his
time (decades ago), all aspects of
avoda had already been completed;
now all that is needed is to polish
the buttons and stand ready to greet
Moshiach Tzidkeinu. How much
more so after the vast amount of
avoda done since then in the realm
of disseminating Judaism, Torah,
and the wellsprings of Chassidus
outward. This is especially the
case after having completed forty
years (after his histalkus), when a

person attains the knowledge of his
teacher, a heart to know, eyes
to see, and ears to hear. Now it is
absolutely certain that we have even
completed polishing the buttons,
and we stand ready to greet
Moshiach Tzidkeinu.
This year, our preparedness
for redemption is even further
underscored, the year Hei-Tav-NunSin-Alef, 5751, which alludes to
the verse, sinasei Malchuso his
kingship [is] exalted throughout the
entire world. (Here his kingship
refers to Dovid and Shlomo,
from whom Melech HaMoshiach
descends.)
Hei-Tav-Nun-Sin-Alef
forms the acronym, this year is
(Thei) Shnas Niflaos Erenu (It
shall be) the year of I shall show
you wonders, as in the days of
your exodus from Egypt, I shall show
you wonders, beginning with the
wonders that have already been
seen (in addition to those that will

be seen in the future I shall show
you wonders) in actuality, openly
before all the nations. Indeed, it is
these wonders that fulfill the words
of the Yalkut Shimoni: During
the year that Melech HaMoshiach
is reveled, all the kingdoms of the
Gentile nations are embattled with
one another, the Persian king
the Arabian king and He (the
Almighty) tells them (the Jewish
people), My children, fear not. All I
have done I have done for your sake
the time of your redemption has
arrived. From that time (especially
in the month of Nissan, the Month
of Redemption) we are already at
the time of the advent of Melech
HaMoshiach (Behold, he
[Melech HaMoshiach] has come)
he proclaims to them, to the Jewish
people, Humble ones, the time of
your redemption has arrived.
This is especially the case as we
are now at the time of Mattan Torah
and the days following Shavuos,
the days of Tashlumin, as it says
in sfarim, noting the allusion in
the words of our Sages, All agree
bAtzeres dbainan nami lachem
that Shavuos requires also to
you [a component of enjoyment of
the holiday in ways that people can
Continued on page 10
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PROFILE
YOU ARE NEEDED ON
MOSHIACHS
STAFF
Rabbi Professor Yaakov Friedman is a Lubavitcher Chassid from

Bayit Vegan in Yerushalayim. He is a leading scientist in Eretz Yisroel in
the field of mathematics and physics, and is a trailblazer for whom the
most advanced testing facility in the world is available whenever he wants,
for his experiments. Today he is a top lecturer at Machon Lev where he
combines mathematics, physics, and Likkutei Torah in his classes. * He told
Beis Moshiach about the path that was paved for him since he was a child
in Munkatch and then about attending the University of Moscow, about his
attempts to preserve his Judaism under difficult circumstances, and about
the nonstop encouragement he received from the Rebbe throughout the
years in his scientific work, to the point that he was told that he is needed
on the staff of Moshiach. * Part 1 of 2.
By Menachem Ziegelboim
Photographs by Zohar Reves
rofessor Yaakov Friedman,

a famous scientist and
Chabad Chassid, has
faced many challenges in
life, but one of the hardest ones was
when he taught at the University of
California for eight years. While
he was there, he learned together
with the philanthropist, R Berel
Weiss, a Lubavitcher businessman
who began investing in high-tech
companies that were just starting

to crop up at the time.
R Berel wanted his brilliant
friend to take over the management of his business affairs. The
two of them wrote to the Rebbe,
with R Berel adding that he was
offering Friedman three times the
salary he was then getting, as well
as a senior management position.
He was sure the Rebbe would approve.

That same day they received
a response from the Rebbe which
stated that Professor Friedman
should remain in the field of science until he received different
instructions.
It was not easy for me to accept this answer, admits Profes-
4 18 Sivan 5776 - Hakhel

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Profile
sor Friedman. The Rebbe knew
this and perhaps he did not want
it to be just an order, for some
time later Professor Branover
told me that he had been to the
Rebbe and the Rebbe asked him
to convey the following message. There were two reasons
why I shouldnt leave science.
The first reason, said the Rebbe,
if I allowed him to leave science,
I would thereby erase part of
his life and I have no right to do
that. He put a lot of energy into
FROM THE SHTETL TO THE

BIG CITY OF MOSCOW
Professor Yaakov Friedman
was born in Munkatch to religious parents. His father was
a shochet who also oversaw all
religious matters in the town.
Munkatch, despite the Communist Revolution, was the biggest
Yiddish speaking enclave in Russia, even more than the Jewish
community in Moscow. Not surprisingly, until age seven, he did
I wrote a report to the Rebbe every month

about what I accomplished in my Jewish studies,
in kiruv, and in my research. I saw that each time I wrote
to the Rebbe and told him about various problems in
the progress of my research, within a short time there
was significant progress. With time I came to realize that
there is a connection. The Rebbe did not have to answer
with words each time.
it and there is no reason to throw
away everything he learned. On
the contrary, he should use it.
The second reason shocked me
no less. The Rebbe said, we are
preparing the world for the Geula
and when Moshiach comes he
needs to reach every single person. Since there are people in
the world for whom only the language of science speaks to them,
on Moshiachs staff there will be
scientists who will convey what
Moshiach says to those people
in a way that they can understand. Although we do not send
people to university, when someone is there already, by divine
providence, and he already went
through the track, we cannot allow him to transfer to another
track.
When I got this explanation, I understood that this is my
place, in the world of science.
not know how to speak Russian;

just Yiddish. When he had to go
to school at age seven, the school
refused to accept him since he
did not know Russian. One of
the teachers at the school finally
agreed to accept him on condition that he sit in the last row and
speak only when he felt comfortable.
For the first half a year I
played, Professor Friedman recalls with a shy smile. But after
that I started to talk and I became
the best student in the class. He
received his Jewish education at
home. On Shabbos we had to
come up with excuses about why
we couldnt go to school and on
Yom Kippur we would regularly
be sick.
From a young age, Yaakov
did superbly in school, especially
in math and physics and he won
some national competitions in
first place. While the rest of the

class tried to solve problems on
their level, he was already a few
levels above them. On the way
to shul we could not talk about
Torah so we spoke about mathematics.
When he reached draft age he
had to enlist which would have
made it impossible for him to
keep mitzvos. The only way out of
the draft was to attend university.
Yaakov Friedman was a young
boy when he went from the shtetl
to the big city of Moscow, seeking to be accepted in the prestigious mathematics department
at the University of Moscow, one
of the most elite universities in
the world. I arrived in Moscow
alone, with my tfillin and siddur
in my suitcase. I did not know a
single Jew in Moscow with whom
I could make contact.
In order to be accepted at the
university, he had to take difficult entrance exams and compete with talented students who
came from all over Russia. About
twenty students vied for every
spot in the university, all of them
top quality. If you werent at the
top, you did not bother taking the
tests. There were special schools
that prepared students for these
tests and I just showed up from a
nearly unknown place.
Friedman, who had won
all the math competitions in
Ukraine, lived with the other contenders in the university dormitory. It was a nice building, relatively speaking, with two students
in each room. My roommate
was a goy who also came from
Munkatch, my competition. I
had to deal with problems of food
and my tfillin. I could somehow
manage with the food, for I ate
only bread and vegetables, but
putting on the tfillin was a real
problem. I could not put tfillin
on in his presence since he was

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an ardent communist and if he

informed on me, I would be out
of the running and have to go to
the army.
On the first day there I told
him that I must shower twice a
day. I had noticed that in front
of the shower room there was a
small foyer and I knew that was
the only place where I could hide
and put on tfillin. Every morning I would go to that spot, close
the door and turn on the faucet
so he would hear the water running. After I removed the tfillin
I would wet my head so it should
look as though I showered, and
come out with the tfillin covered
with a towel. I would wait until
he left the room and then put the
tfillin back in my suitcase.
The
Jewish
boy
from
Munkatch successfully passed
the exams and was accepted into
the mathematics department. It
was a miracle that I was accepted
altogether. Academia in Stalins
time was closed to Jews, and only
the mathematics department was
open to Jews. About a third of
the department was Jews but we
could not fraternize socially. All
this did not stop Yaakov Friedman from brilliantly completing
his undergraduate and graduate
degrees.
As mentioned, he knew no
one in Moscow with whom to
conduct a Jewish life as he was
accustomed from childhood. The
only way he had of finding companionship was by meeting Jews
from the local Jewish community,
but they lived under the radar
and it was nearly impossible to
find them.
In the end, miraculously, he
found one of the religious families in Moscow, the Lubavitcher
Greenberg family, with whom he
was in touch for the years that he
lived in the city. He later met R
Velvel Rappaport who was mek-
arev him to Chabad Chassidus.

They learned Meseches Bava
Kama together.
Once a month there was a
secret minyan where we went for
an hour and a half. On the way,
we reviewed all the sugyos in
the Gemara that we learned that
week.
Friedman spent five years at
the university and then his family
finally received permission to emigrate in 5731. This was following American pressure. However,
before they actually received permission to make aliya, he had to
undergo officer training where he
trained in developing anti-aircraft
missiles. This training course
was the hardest of all. I lived on
bread and water much like in the
darkest days of the Jewish people.
R Yaakov was about 22 when
he moved to Eretz Yisroel. At
a certain point, he went to visit
his friend Velvel Rappaport who
had made aliya before him and
was learning in Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim in Kfar Chabad.
On his visit to the yeshiva, he met
R Binyamin Zilberstrom, and
thanks to him I stayed in the yeshiva. I could not allow myself, as

a 22-year-old with outstanding
academic knowledge, to remain
with the Torah knowledge of a
seven-year-old. Within a year he
caught up.
A year later he got offers from
several universities to complete
his doctorate and teach. He asked
the Rebbe whether to remain in
yeshiva and learn or to accept the
offers. He was told by the Rebbe
to return to university while still
learning half a day in kollel. One
of the offers he received came
from Tel Aviv University. There,
while completing his studies, he
began lecturing. He showed up
in his hat and jacket and with his
tzitzis showing.
When I entered the class for
social science, the students went
on strike and refused to learn
because of my religious appearance. I was transferred to teach
an advanced mathematics course.
I had a lot to teach. At the same
time, he continued learning in a
kollel in Bnei Brak.
He completed his doctorate
and one of the assignments he
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Profile
was given was a difficult mathematical problem which was considered unsolvable. His mentor
told him to work on it.
Then the Yom Kippur War
broke out and R Yaakov was
drafted. Before that, he was able
to publish the first part of his solution to the unsolvable question in an American mathematics
publication. At the height of the
war, while in Syria, he received
a letter from another soldier who
wrote that he had also undertaken
to solve this problem and he had
also published an explanation.
He sent me a copy of his answer
and I saw that he was on the right
track to solving the mathematical
puzzle but he still had problems
that prevented him from reaching the solution. I wrote him back
about his error and suggested an
alternate solution to circumvent
the problems.
When the war was over, I
went to my adviser and told him
that someone at Hebrew University was working on the same
problem. I got his approval to
suggest that we collaborate so
we could work on the solution
together and thats what we did.
We saw that the problem was really very difficult and there were
many pitfalls, but since we complemented one another, me more
on the pictorial geometry side
and him more on the algebraic
formulas, we were hoping that
we would be successful in solving the mathematical paradox
together. We met once a week,
each time for an entire night, and
were able to get past more and
more of the difficulties.
He was a kibbutznik who
knew nothing about Judaism.
He didnt even know the Shma.
I remember being so surprised
and saying, A 36-year-old who
grew up in Eretz Yisroel and
knows nothing?! I was surprised
R Friedman with
Menachem Ziegelboim
that someone could be born and

raised here and not even know
the Shma. Until today we are still
in touch.
SURPRISING HISKASHRUS
WITH THE REBBE
The first time that R Friedman wrote to the Rebbe was
as a bachur in yeshiva in Kfar
Chabad. At that time, he did not
yet see himself as a Chassid, despite his enormous admiration
for Chabad.
There was open ruach
hakodesh here. While I was in
Russia, I would meet with the
Ribnitzer Rebbe. I was a student
at the time and when I was at the
Admur it was the first time I was
seeing a Jew connected to another world, a world beyond the
one we see. When I parted from
him, before I made aliya, he told
me When you are in Lubavitch,
write to the Rebbe and give him
regards from me. That sounded
strange to me. Although I had a
connection with a Lubavitcher
Chassid, I myself wasnt a Chassid. Later on I realized that he
saw with his ruach hakodesh

that I would become a Chassid
of the Rebbe and indeed, I began
writing to the Rebbe.
A few months after he left
Russia, R Friedman went to the
Rebbe for Tishrei 5732. The
feeling was that the Rebbe lifted you to other worlds. When
I walked in for yechidus for the
first time, I wanted to sink into
the earth in shame. The Rebbe
began asking me about my academic pursuits and encouraged
me to work with Professor Branover.
R Friedman candidly tells
about the difficulties in becoming
a Chassid and mekushar of the
Rebbe.
The Rebbe always treated me
with warmth but I felt an enormous distance. I felt very close
to the Ribnitzer Rebbe, but to
the Rebbe I felt like I was facing
a king in the sense of distance.
It made me feel tremendous bittul but I did not have a feeling of
connection.
This made things even more
difficult for me, since I felt that

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my future was in Chabad. I knew

that in other places you did not
ask questions and you had to
do everything with perfect faith,
while in Chabad there was harmony between science and a life
of holiness. The one who encouraged me to ask all my questions
was R Binyamin Zilberstrom.
With him I could get answers
to any question on my mind. I
knew that truth was to be found
in Chabad and this is the path.
On the other hand, I felt distant
from the Rebbe. I poured out my
heart to R Mendel Futerfas and
he told me, You need to connect
in a different way. He advised
me to write to the Rebbe every
month. He also told me what to
write and how to write, and then
you will feel that it is working, he
said and he warned me, Dont
expect the Rebbe to answer you,
but you write, and you should
know that he receives it.
He did as R Mendel told him.
Every month he wrote to the
Rebbe. Now and then he received
a response. In one of the letters
that I received from the Rebbe after I arrived in Eretz Yisroel, the
Rebbe urged me to find a shidduch. The truth was I wasnt interested because I preferred pursuing my doctorate along with
my Torah studies.
About a year and a half after I made aliya, the Yom Kippur
War broke out and I was drafted.
Although the war ended three
weeks later, they kept me in the
army for nearly another year.
I remember that one night, towards morning, I was standing
guard and many thoughts were
going through my mind. I felt in
a turmoil because my doctorate
studies had stalled and I couldnt
progress because of my army
duty. Then the idea flashed in my
mind that perhaps this had to do
with the Rebbe asking me about
shidduchim while I wanted to
pursue academic degrees. There I
was, standing and spending days
and nights on guard duty without
making progress in my chosen
field. That very day I called my
mother and told her I was going
home in a week on furlough and
I wanted her to look into a shidduch for me so we could meet
during my visit.
You said that R Mendel told
you not to expect the Rebbe to
respond to every letter but that
you should know he receives
them. Did you feel that that was
the case?
Definitely. I remember that
when I went to teach at the University of California, it was a very
intense time. I had many things
to take care of, primarily teaching and doing research. I felt that
I did not have the time to write to
the Rebbe every month. It wasnt
easy, but since R Mendel told me
that I should commit, I did it.
The situation at home wasnt
easy, for my wife wanted more
help with the little children and it
was hard for her to see me devoting hours to writing to the Rebbe.
I wrote a report to the Rebbe every month about what I did in my

Jewish studies, in kiruv, and in
my research. I saw that each time
I wrote to the Rebbe and told him
about various problems in the
progress of my research, within
a short time there was significant progress. With time I came
to realize that there is a connection. The Rebbe did not have to
answer with words each time.
One time I wrote to the Rebbe
and mentioned that there were
two people in the community
who had various problems and
they were asking the Rebbe for
a bracha through me. That night
the phone rang and it was the
Rebbes secretary. My wife told
him that I wasnt at home and he
said: Your husband wrote to the
Rebbe about so-and-so and the
Rebbes answer is that he should
check his mezuzos. As far as the
other person he wrote about, the
Rebbe said to do a certain thing.
Then the secretary said: The
Rebbe said to say that he greatly
enjoys the letters that your husband writes.
With his ruach hakodesh, the
Rebbe sensed my wifes dissatisfaction with my writing and these
few words solved the shalom
bayis problem of my spending so
much time writing to him.
Boruch Hashem, till today
I write a monthly report to the
Rebbe. And today too I see that
when I write to the Rebbe about
certain difficulties, things get resolved. People who are familiar
with my academic research cant
believe its possible to make progress like this on my own.
MATHEMATICS, PHYSICS,
ASTRONOMY, AND
EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN
The last time Professor Friedman did a major scientific experi-
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Profile
ment was this past summer, following which he decided he has
to look for another approach in
the world of research.
If I rely solely on experiments, there will always be
doubts. There will be people who
say, Maybe there was some other factor that affected the results,
a factor we dont know about.
From that point I started to look
to what is happening with the
stars and other galactic structures. This winter I published my
first article with this new groundbreaking approach finding answers in the world of astronomy
to explain phenomena in physics.
What does physics have to
do with astronomy?
Dovid HaMelech says, The
heavens relate the glory of G-d
and the skies tell of His handiwork. Meaning, by means of the
sky we can discover Hashems
handiwork here in this world.
Hashem put His wisdom into the
galactic formations where he put
precise rules into place and they
do His will precisely. In the heavenly bodies we can see these laws
in their pure state. If you identify
these rules, you can make comparisons between them to the science on earth. When you identify
the divine rules of heaven, this
can open for you unlimited abilities in technology too, because
the heavenly bodies are the point
where all the scientists pull up

short.
When sitting with a worldrenowned scientist, you end up
getting a short lesson in science.
In the briefest of terms, here is
the field that Professor Friedman
is involved with:
A hundred years ago, Albert
Einstein devised his Theory of
Relativity. Why did he need it?
He constructed it because of
three principles of physics that
Newton developed, laws that he
established after contemplating the constellations. Newton
thought, maybe these laws apply
not only to the heavenly bodies
but here on earth too. It turns out
he was right. The laws he established are the basic laws of physics.
Up until a hundred and fifty
years ago, scientific experiments
confirmed Newtonian physics.
However, over time, scientists
developed more precise measurements. Man had greater control
and began to understand the
processes even in terms of the
impact of human behavior on the
system.
In 1859, the first discovery
was made that did not conform
to Newtons laws. (I wont go
into detail in terms of the astrophysical phenomena, but every
time I study the subject in the
Rambam, I am amazed by how
he knew how to measure these
things without the modern technology that we have today.) It

turned out there was a small variance between what Newton said
and what the new instrumentation revealed. A hundred years
ago, Einstein was able to explain
the process in question by way of
the theory of General Relativity.
When you factor Einsteins conclusions into Newtons teachings,
you get accurate results.
This is the topic on which I
wrote an article in the Europhysics Letters, a very distinguished
scientific publication. While Einstein provided formulas that are
very difficult to understand, I explained the processes in question
in a more simplified manner.
Until now I was not involved
in astronomy because I didnt
think it was important enough.
Why deal with the stars when
there is so much to do here on
earth? I began my work as a
mathematician and I earned my
doctorate and professorship in
this field.
At a certain point I realized
that I wont get far with mathematics because mathematics is
a language, and every language
is limited. I knew I had to think
about how science explains the
form in which Hashem created
the physical world and runs it, at
least according to the capacity of
what human minds can conceive.
Continued from page 3
time to pray for bringing the

advent of redemption closer
Keitz hayamim as well as
keitz hayamin. Now, since it
is the Shabbos after the keitz
of Atzeres, Shabbos Parshas
Naso, Naso (the acronym for
a year of Erenu niflaos I will
show you wonders) of TavNun-Shin-Alef 5751 it is
the most auspicious time for
bringing about the innovation
of A new Torah shall emerge
from Me, as well as, The newly

formed heavens and the new
earth that I make stated not
only in the future tense but in
the present tense, to the extent
that in the very next moment it
will already be stated in the past
tense, since Behold, he [Melech
HaMoshiach]
has
come
meaning that he has already
arrived.
appreciate] for Atzeres

is an appropriate and auspicious
time to pray to draw the advent
of the redemption closer, keitz
hageula Bainan is a term
from the phrase im taviyun
bau, a term of prayer and
supplication. Nami lachem is
numerically equivalent to keitz.
The meaning of this gematria is
that Shavuos is an auspicious
To be continued, G-d willing
(From the address of Shabbos Parshas

Naso, 12 Sivan; Seifer HaSichos 5751, pg. 595)

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PARSHA THOUGHT
KEEP ON
COMPLAINING!
By Rabbi Heschel Greenberg
THE ENTIRE PEOPLE?

If one had to find a common
theme in this parsha, it is that
the Jewish people complained to
Moshe. Some complained about
their inability to bring the Paschal
offering and others complained
about the Manna and the lack of
meat. Some just complained for
the sake of complaining.
Upon hearing their complaint
about the Manna and the absence
of meat in their diet, the Torah
relates that G-d was angered and
Moshe was distressed. Moshe
then addresses G-d with his own
complaint.
Why have You done evil
to Your servant; why have I not
found favor in Your eyes, that
You place the burden of this entire people upon me? Did I conceive this entire people or did I
give birth to it, that You say to
me, Carry them in your bosom,
as a nurse carries a suckling, to
the Land that You swore to its
forefathers? Where shall I get
meat to give this entire people
when they weep to me, saying,
Give us meat that we may eat?
I alone cannot carry this entire
nation, for it is too heavy for me!
And if this is how You deal with
me, then kill me now, if I have
found favor in Your eyes, and let
me not see my evil!
When examining this section
one is struck by Moshes choice

of words. He speaks of the burden of this entire people that
G-d placed upon him. Why does
he stress that it was the burden
of the entire people? Moshe then
reemphasizes this point when he
asks G-d, Did I conceive this
entire people? And again a third
time Moshe asks G-d, Where
shall I get meat to give this entire people? Moshe then reiterates this theme a fourth time, I
alone cannot carry this entire nation
It seems that Moshes difficulty was that the entirety of
the people were involved in this
rebellion. But we have to understand this: why would it have
been so much different if it hadnt
been the entire people? Would it
have been any better if it was only
a majority of the nation?
Moreover, it is hard to believe
that Moshe implicated the entire
Jewish people in this act of rebellion. Obviously, the Levites
always remained faithful to G-d.
Isnt it likely that they, or at least
a significant number of them, did
not complain? One may also assume that there were other righteous individuals, such as Yehoshua, Kalev, Nachshon, etc.,
who did not join the complainers.
So, why did Moshe emphasize
the entire people?
WHY SUCH A STRIDENT

REACTION?
To answer this question, we
must first answer another question: Why did Moshe react so
stridently to their complaints?
This was not the first time Moshe
had confronted complaints. In
the Book of Exodus (15:23;
16:2-3) the Torah recounts that
shortly after the Jewish people
departed from Egypt they complained about the lack of drinkable water and then about their
lack of food. In the first instance,
Moshe cried out to G-d, but did
not complain about the people. In
the second instance Moshe simply rebuked the people mildly and
relayed G-ds response to them.
Moshe did not complain to G-d
about his inability to lead these
fractious people and provide for
their needs.
The question that arises
therefore is why did Moshe react
so strongly now? What was so
different about their complaint at
this point?
THREE DIFFERENCES:
PATTERN, PRETEXT,
PERSUASION
To answer this question one
could suggest that Moshes desire to abdicate was motivated
by three characteristics inherent
Issue 1026
11
2016-06-21 11:18:18 AM
Profile
While it might be possible to rehabilitate one

who has become a chronic complainer, it is
more challenging to rehabilitate one who has acquired
an ingrained resistance to authority. Moshe feared that it
would be next to impossible to reeducate one who has no
backbone. Those who are perennially influenced by their
intellectually, spiritually and morally inferior fellows will
always be unable to resist the pressures of assimilation.
How could such a people survive for the long term?
in the complaints in this parsha that differed from the earlier
complaining.
First, Moshe was particularly
chagrined that it was not the first
time they complained. By repeatedly complaining they were establishing a pattern of cantankerousness. Moshe was concerned
that their grumbling would become a permanent
This would not augur well for
the future. Moshe, therefore, was
justifiably apprehensive that they
had become a nation that would
never be able to handle adversity and that with the first sign of
hardship in the future it would
fall apart. This pattern suggested
their immaturity. Hence Moshe
compares them to children and
asks G-d Did I conceive this
entire people or did I give birth
to it, that You say to me, Carry
them in your bosom, as a nurse
carries a suckling.
Second, Rashi explains that
the grievance about the lack of
meat was meritless because the
Jewish nation left Egypt with
sheep and cattle. Their only reason for complaining for meat was
as a pretext to complain about
G-d. This was more than just a
bad habit or a sign of immaturity.
It reflected a deep seated pathology. The people were plagued
by their inability to show appre-
ciation for the good they had received and demonstrated a resistance to authority.
Upon further analysis of the
events of this parsha one can find
a third, perhaps even more troubling, aspect to their complaints.
To understand the unique
nature of the complaints that so
troubled Moshe that he asked to
be relieved as leader we should
cite an earlier verse describing
the complaint about the lack of
meat:
The rabble that was among
them had strong cravings. The
children of Israel were also influenced and began to cry (with
them). They said, Who will give
us meat to eat?
What emerges is that the
rabble rousers (who, as Rashi
explains, were the Egyptian converts who joined the Jewish people for ulterior motives) involved
in this act of rebellion were supported by the rest of the Jewish
people. However, there was a
more troubling aspect to their alliance with the riffraff. It was the
fact that they could so easily be
swayed by the fringe. It demonstrated an inherent weakness of
the majority that it was so easily
influenced by a small but noisy
minority.
In Moshes mind, while it
might be possible to rehabilitate
one who has become a chronic

complainer, it is more challenging to rehabilitate one who has
acquired an ingrained resistance
to authority. Moshe feared that
it would be next to impossible to
reeducate one who has no backbone. Those who are perennially
influenced by their intellectually,
spiritually and morally inferior
fellows will always be unable to
resist the pressures of assimilation. How could such a people
survive for the long term?
We now see why Moshe emphasized the entire people. If
one segment of the people had
rebelled, Moshe could have accepted the reality that there will
always be those who rebel. However, he saw how a small group
of agitators influenced the majority of the people. That was, he
feared, a sign that would indicate
that the lowest common denominator of the nation would prevail.
It is this realization that prompted Moshe to request that G-d relieve him as leader.
Yet, notwithstanding all of the
above, we beat the odds and survived. Moshes concern was not
for naught; tragically there were
many Jews who fell to the wayside under the pressure of assimilation. Even so, we survived as a
people and have even flourished.
THE SECRET OF OUR

SURVIVAL
The secret to our survival is,
ironically, the very same three
reasons that concerned Moshe
about the people.
First, we have a pattern of
complaining.
As
mentioned
above, this weeks parsha describes the righteous complaints
of those who were precluded
from bringing the Paschal offering. The daughters of Tzelaphechad complained when they

2016-06-21 11:18:18 AM
thought that they would not inherit their fathers share of the
Land of Israel. Throughout history Jews have complained to
G-d, ad masai, how much longer
do we have to suffer in Galusexile?
Second, we do have a deepseated resistance to all forms of
authority. While consciously or
even subconsciously, we may
pledge allegiance to all forms of
authority, our essence only accepts G-ds authority. On his way
to the exile imposed by the Soviet
regime, the Previous Rebbe declared that our souls have never
gone into exile! The souls essence always remains steadfastly
connected to G-d and His Torah.
Third, even as a small minority we have the power to influence others. G-d chose us to
bring His message to the entire
world. And within the Jewish
people themselves, there have
always been select individuals
and groups who kept Judaism
alive and spread G-ds message
throughout the world. In our

generation the Rebbe, with but a
small army of followers, ignited
a post-Holocaust Jewish revival
which brought the light of Torah
and Mitzvos to millions of Jews.
By so doing we have brought the
entire Jewish peopleand indeed
the entire worldto the cusp of
the ultimate Redemption. As the
Rebbe told us repeatedly, we are
the last generation of exile and
must prepare for the imminent
Redemption.
THREE DIMENSIONS
OF COMPLAINTS FOR
REDEMPTION
The lesson for us in these last
moments of exile is that we must
heed the three positive characteristics that have enabled us to
maintain our existence:
First, we must be persistent
in demanding of G-d to bring
on the Redemption through
Moshiach. The fact that we already demanded it yesterday and

many days before does not suffice. Just as the Jews were persistent in their complaints, we too
must complain persistently that
we want Moshiach now!
Second, just as the Jews
then appeared to be complaining about meat while really complaining about G-d, in a similar
vein, while we demand Redemption for all its material and spiritual benefits, our true underlying
demand is to see G-ds presence
fully revealed and that He be recognized as the sole power in this
world.
Third, we must not be deterred by the fact that we are still
a minority in this regard. The
Rebbe told us in his historic talk
(of the 28th of Nissan, 5751) that
we need but 10 stubborn people
to bring about the Redemption!
May we be among the privileged
10 who will bring us to the Promised Land with Moshiach at our
head!
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Issue
1026
sources about Moshiach

& redemption"
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& 1710 AM in parts of Brooklyn 24/6
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Rabbi Jacob Schwei
Member of the Rabbinical
Court of Crown Heights
FEATURE
THE
CHASSIDIC
REVOLUTION
They saw that we davened for hours, loved to
farbreng and did mivtzaim. We went surfing,
skateboarding, played instruments and then in the
middle of it all we would pull out a maamer of the
Rebbe and fly with it. They were enchanted, says
Rabbi Mendy Levy. * The story of the educational
revolution based in Ramat Gan.
By Reuven H.
definition offered by
Websters for the word
revolution is: a return
to a point previously
occupied. A rolling back if you will.
That definition married with
another which defines revolution
as a fundamental or radical
change tells us why the young
men who started TCR gave it that
particular designation.
TCR,
The
Chassidic
Revolution, is an answer to a call,
a call that resonates with those
who are drowning in confusion
and echoes in the voices of young
bachurim who have spent their
formative years in the Chabad
Yeshiva systems but are losing
their way.
A genuine struggle for

truth and a strong need to find
purpose and meaning, to connect
the learning to living in a world
that has lost its moral compass
but passes itself off as slick and
all knowing, drives scores of
bachurim to find home, truth
and answers at this Yeshiva and
Summer program that is indeed
revolutionary.
When the summer program
began several years ago it was
with the intent to reinvigorate
the bachurim who had begun to
doubt that they could lead truly
chassidishe lives. These were
bachurim who were disheartened,
yet still in yeshiva systems. They
did not want to return to Yeshiva.
They wanted rather to run out
and explore the whole world,

unsure of what Chabad had to
offer. They struggled with having
learned Chassidus but not seeing
its relevance in their lives. How
would it help them earn a parnasa
and lead successful lives?
Then they saw us, the boys
of The Chassidic Revolution, and
it was something they had never
seen before. Not even in summer
camp. We were fun, happy and
loving. Yet, they also saw that
we davened for hours, loved
to farbreng and did mivtzaim
every
moment.
We
went
surfing, skateboarding, played
instruments and then in the
middle of it all we would pull out
a maamer of the Rebbe and fly
with it. They were enchanted,

2016-06-21 11:18:19 AM
says Rabbi Mendy Levy.

The program, which was
founded by R Mendy Levy just
three years ago, is in memory of
his father-in-law, R Mordechai
Gal ah, a shliach who dedicated
his life to illuminating the truth
for all sorts of searching Jews,
focusing pointedly and with
unique dedication on the young
generation. Rav Motti, a baal
tshuva sent by the Rebbe himself
to become the head shliach to
Ramat Gan 33 years ago, brought
his awareness of velt into his
shlichus and could passionately
guide the hearts of others.
One of his most famous
achievements was the Yehuda
VYisroel youth center in the
heart of Tel Aviv. It was a 3
million dollar center where
thousands of non-observant
youth would come to get
inspired. There they would attend

concerts and listen to Chassidus
and then go out with a new yet
ancient energy to do chesed acts
for the surrounding community.
A yeshiva where Chabad
bachurim could become wellsteeped in the knowledge of
Chassidus while furthering their
talents and skills was Mottis
long-cherished dream, one which
would become his legacy fulfilled
a year and a half after his passing.
Rabbi Mendy Levy relates
that on the day he became a
chassan he wrote a letter to the
Rebbe and placed it in an Igros
Kodesh. On one side of the page
the Rebbe had written wishing
someone mazal tov upon his
engagement with instruction to
make sure that the wedding
should be as soon as possible.
On the opposite page the Rebbe
had directed someone to open a

unique style yeshiva for Chabad
boys.
The significance of the first
half of the answer was understood
albeit painfully, soon enough.
The wedding was celebrated as
soon as possible, and a week
after Sheva Brachos Rabbi Motti
ah passed away. The second
portion of the Rebbes instruction
was realized exactly 18 months
later, with the opening of a
unique style yeshiva know as
Yeshiva
Hachana
Lshlichus
housed in the previous residence
of R Motti Gal, a beautiful three
story villa in the heart of Ramat
Gan.
Rabbi Mendy Levy continues
to direct the now three year
old summer program and new
Yeshiva together with a staff
handpicked for both intelligence
Issue 1026
15
2016-06-21 11:18:21 AM
FEATURE
and for strong moral integrity,

for their ability to relate to the
students needs and for their
preparedness to serve as proper
role models. They are Pnimiim,
extremely real and down to earth.
Politics, agendas and ego are not
part of their lingo.
Another interesting fact about
the staff of TCR is that many of
them at some point in their lives
went off the beaten path when
their allegiance to truth conflicted
with situations they experienced
or observed while in Yeshiva.
Frustrated and disillusioned,
they searched elsewhere; but
the world cannot offer anything
more real than Chassidus and so
one by one they found their way
back, bringing back with them
the spoils of Egypt, music, art
and a general knowledge of the
world.
They are baalei tshuva
from religious homes, a unique
brand of hybrids. With the
passion and fire of a baal tshuva
having discovered Emes in an
environment of Emes, combined
with the knowledge of a frum
from birth bachur who has
learned in yeshiva for many
years, these young mechanchim
are soldiers of the Rebbe who
are familiar with the ways of the
world and ready to rebel against
it or use it lsheim Shamayim.

The
year-round
study
program consists of in-depth
practical Chassidus curricula,
Gemara and Halacha. This
is bolstered by many other
interesting topics spanning all
aspects of Torah. The goal is to
make Chassidus and Judaism
more personal and applicable
as it once was while integrating
the Rebbes particular call to the
Dor HaShvii: making set times
to learn Chassidus and nigleh,
taking davening seriously and
making time for self-growth, and
having mesirus nefesh for Ahavas
Yisroel and Moshiach.
In
the
afternoons
the
bachurim get to work developing
their personal talents, with the
specific intention of utilizing
these talents for mivtzaim. The
study of music, for example,
will later be used to produce
concerts throughout the year or
new Jewish music albums. Rabbi
Avi Piamenta, world famous
musician and life-long friend
of Rabbi Motti Gal, is heavily
involved in the program.
With the help of Hashem TCR
is concluding its very successful
first year. Yeshiva Hachana
LShlichus is also a Shlichus prep
program.
Bachurim from all over the
world come and learn Torah in a

way that can be applied to their
futures. With a very successful
smicha program, four bachurim
are well on their way to receiving
smicha under HaRav Yuroslavski.
Our brilliant staff, comprised
of young Rabbis and bachurshluchim, dedicates themselves
to making sure every student gets
the attention in learning that he
needs and the answers to all his
questions.
We have a board of advisors
including Rabbi Simon Jacobson
and Rabbi Zalman Gopin who
have their finger on the pulse of
Chabad youth in this generation.
Our students also study
computer coding which they have
put to use producing Moshiach
applications. One bachur created
an application that tells all of
the brachos one will need to
say when Moshiach comes.
Photography, graphic design,
and website building are a few of
the additional subjects offered.
The bachurim see how Chassidus
and what the Rebbe demands of
us blend with everyday living.
TCR intends to be the change
in the educational system that will
make it possible to properly pass
on the beauty of our Chassidic
culture and heritage and the
beauty and vitality of our religion

2016-06-21 11:18:24 AM
to the youth in this tumultuous

generation.
An important part of the
curriculum is empowering the
boys to develop the qualities of
leadership needed in a world
that increasingly looks to the
young to lead. Through projects
including
organized
food
distribution to the homeless and
needy, through opportunities to
tutor younger children and other
leadership skills programs, an
atmosphere of responsibility and
pride is fostered and inspired.
In addition, the bachurim work
together with the Central Chabad
House in Ramat Gan, organizing
mivtzaim, concerts and many
other events in the community!
With a first year student body
of 15 students, the Yeshiva is
looking forward to next years
expansion. The goal is to become
a center from which shluchim
can call upon bachurim to help
with their shlichus. Whether
its to assist in the design of a
website or to enliven a minyan
with the excitement and joy of
young Chassidim, the vision is
that eventually the graduates of
TCR-Yeshiva Hachana Lshlichus,
will go on to be shluchim
worldwide. This past Pesach the
bachurim traveled all over the
world assisting shluchim, from
South America to Kazakhstan.

Boruch Hashem the success
of TCR is seen over and over,
summer to summer, ever since its
very first season.
As the group of TCR
campers and staff gathered at
the Jerusalem light-rail station
about to embark on a trip, one
of the counselors realized he
had neglected to make an Al
HaMichya before leaving the
house. The train was due to
arrive momentarily, and if he
went back to the house several
blocks away to make a bracha
acharona he would surely miss
the train.
To the shock of all the
campers who were encouraging
their counselor to just make
an Al HaMichya here! the
counselor ran back to the house.
The train arrived on time, and
strangely it idled, not departing
until the counselor returned in a
run, while the campers looked on
in a state of awe and respect.
With registration for the
highly
successful
summer
program officially open and
scheduled to begin on July 4th,
2016 for boys ages 16-18, TCR
now looks forward to yet another
successful and inspiring summer.
TCR travels all over Israel.
Exciting hikes and extreme

experiences are partnered with
a very meaningful and spiritual
learning experience, with time
spent touring Tzfas, Jerusalem,
Tiberius, Chevron and many
other holy cities. Hiking, rafting,
horseback
riding,
surfing,
camping and much more makes
this a summer experience to
remember.
Bachurim
build
lasting friendships and learn
about what it means to live as
inspired and wholesome Jews.
In Gemara Sota 11B, it
speaks about the baby boys that
Pharaoh had thrown into the
Nile during the exile in Egypt. It
also mentions the children born
in the fields to their mothers
who had self-sacrifice to bring
children in to the exile of Egypt.
The Talmud relates that the
children disappeared into the
soil when the Egyptians came to
kill them. They were seemingly
gone and their parents thought
them dead. Lo and behold they
all returned safe and sound a
little while later and joined their
fathers in the ranks of the Jewish
people. All this time Hashem had
been taking care of them and
guiding them. When the Jewish
people left Egypt, these children
were the first to point with their
fingers and say This is My G-d
and I will beautify Him!
The
children
of
this
generation are the ones about
whom the Rebbe said it will be
the little children who will bring
Moshiach. All over, the youth
who were lost to the waters of
this world are returning to help in
the march to bring Moshiach. We
have all the spoils of this world
that we brought with us as we
returned. The goal at TCR is to
utilize it all to bring Moshiach to
the entire world.
Issue 1026
17
2016-06-21 11:18:26 AM
BITACHON BYTES
HEAVENLY BREAD
EVEN ON EARTH
By Rabbi Zalman Goldberg
mong the advice that the

Rebbe gave to strengthen
ones
bitachon
was
the
suggestion
to
study Chassidus , in great
abundance. In general, when
a person possesses a certain
character trait which is somewhat
flawed and which he would like
to improve and perfect, studying
a part of Torah which discusses
the proper form of conduct in that
trait, over time, will cause one too
see a change for the good. It is then
well understood that a person who
wishes to strengthen and fortify
his midda of Bitachon in Hashem
should study the various Torah
texts which address this very topic.
Indeed, the Rebbe counselled
many individuals to learn Shaar
HaBitachon, the beginning of
chapter 41 in Tanya, chapter 23 in
Thillim, and Chassidic discourses
which elucidate the concepts of
hashgacha pratis and the kindness
of Hashem and to contemplate
these ideas in order to strengthen
ones Bitachon.
If so, how would the general
study of Chassidus accomplish
strengthening ones Bitachon?
Understanding the essence
of Chassidus and its rare and
unique quality will help us understand this. Chassidus is called
bread from the heavens. The reason for this is as follows.
The food we eat is considered bread from the ground, for
all our food is ultimately derived

from the earth. The Yidden in the
desert merited to have a very different kind of bread; bread from
the heavens.
The specific differences between the two breads, aside from
the different sources, lie firstly in
the amount of human input required to produce it. Bread from
the ground requires much physical work throughout the stages of
its production, from plowing to
harvesting and through the baking stage. Also, the end product
contains both good elements and
parts that the body will dispose
of. By contrast, bread from the
heavens requires no human input
at all for it is all from Hashem
above, and in addition it produces no waste.
Another quality that the heavenly bread possessed was its ability to maintain all of its heavenly
qualities even upon its descent
into this world. The food of the
heavens, the manna, sustained
all Yidden, whether tzaddik or
not, and when ingested by a nontzaddik, the manna remained
heavenly with all of its otherworldly qualities. Thus it was
eventually helpful in causing improvement for those in whom improvement was necessary. For no
matter what ones spiritual status,
when one has Heavenly bread inside of them, it will have positive
effects on their entire being. This
is because of its invincible quality

that wherever the finds itself, it
maintains its quality and provides
G-dly influence in the place that
it is.
Torah also contains these two
levels; of earth and of heaven.
Even though all Torah was given
by Hashem, (just like all food
is from Hashem,) nonetheless
the revealed parts of Torah have
somewhat of an earthy quality.
Much toil is exerted when studying Nigleh, as the material is not
straightforward and many questions (elements of darkness and
uncertainty) and answers precede
the reaching of a proper conclusion. Chassidus contains a more
heavenly aura, for it is a straightforward study with no questions
needed to reach the correct message.
The comparison of Chassidus to the manna in that they
are both from the heavens is a
complete comparison, not only
in regard to their heavenly quality, but also in regards to the fact
that the heavenly quality is maintained even when the Chassidus
descends to inspire and guide the
unrefined and those unprepared
to appreciate what Chassidus offers. Just like the , once Chassidus is ingested, unalterable
good is inside the person and it
will influence the person to make
G-dly decisions in his life.
It is then readily under-

2016-06-21 11:18:27 AM
stood why learning an abundant

amount of Chassidus would influence a person to have more
Bitachon in Hashem, for the
more Chassidus one learns, the
more apt one is to act on the notions discussed in Chassidus,
which will be one hundred percent congruent with Hashems
Divine Will. In every situation
ones central focus will be on
what Hashems message is, and
what would be the Heavenly and
G-dly way to react.
Reb Moshe Meizels, the
famed Chassid of the Alter Rebbe, once expressed this notion.
During the Napoleonic war, he
spied for the Russians against
the French, and had obtained
a position as an interpreter for
the French command and in this
capacity he had access to very
sensitive information. When it
became clear that information
about planned attacks on the
Russians was being leaked to the
enemy, Napoleon himself became
involved and one day while Reb
Moshe was interpreting, Napoleon burst in and accused Reb
Moshe of being a spy. He placed

his hand on Reb Moshes heart
to determine whether or not his
heart was beating with fright.
Reb Moshe remained calm and
responded that he was hired by
the commanding generals to interpret (Russian) for them. His
calm manner convinced Napoleon that he was indeed speaking
the truth and there was no cause
to suspect him of espionage.
How did he remain totally
calm? Why did he not stutter a
response or get totally thrown
off by the accusation? It would
have seemed to be the normal
response, especially since it was
true!
Reb Moshe answered by saying that it was the Alef Beis of
Chassidus, which teaches that the
mind should always control ones
emotions, that kept him calm and
in control.
Reb Moshes mind controlling his emotions displayed a tremendous amount of Bitachon.
A person without Bitachon in
Hashem would have his emotions
going haywire. His thoughts
would probably conceive the

worst outcome. When the intellect takes control, the emotions
are quieted. The atmosphere is
relaxed and focused. The reigning knowledge is that the allgood Hashem is totally in charge
and I will no doubt come out of
this easily. In his case, all Reb
Moshe needed was the Alef Beis
of Chassidus to get him through.
The point is that it was the
Chassidus that Reb Moshe contained within that influenced his
relaxed and confident response,
even when he potentially stood in
the shadow of immediate death.
Such is the power of Chassidus.
It is a power which cannot be
changed or lessened in any way.
Chassidus not only doesnt get
influenced; it influences all those
who study it, resulting in a more
heavenly approach and outlook
to everything in life.
Rabbi Zalman Goldberg is a well
sought after speaker and lecturer on
Chassidic thought. His writings and recordings on the topic of Bitachon can be
accessed at http://www.gotbitachon.com.
You can also receive his one minute daily
Bitachon clip by sending a WhatsApp to
347.546.4402 with the wordBitachon.
ADD IN ACTS OF GOODNESS & KINDNESS
TO BRING MOSHIACH NOW!

Issue 1026
19
2016-06-21 11:18:30 AM
FEATURE
TURNING BITTERNESS
AND DARKNESS
INTO SWEETNESS
& LIGHT
The amazing story of Nechama
Dina Kaufman, whose husband
was suddenly stricken by
amnesia, demonstrates the
power of the Jewish woman
and why we were redeemed
and will be redeemed in the
merit of women.
By Hila Crispin

2016-06-21 11:18:34 AM
he
familiar,
beloved
scent of chocolate hit my
nostrils as I walked into
the Pralina boutique shop
in Kfar Chabad. Looking around, I
saw trays of pralines chocolate
chocolate and more
chocolate white and brown.
Chess, dominoes and chocolate;
packages tastefully designed.
The place is small and well
laid out and contains numerous
accessories, with the common
denominator being chocolate.
Cartons of chocolates in different
sizes and shapes. Silicon molds
the color of chocolate of various
kinds hanging on the walls, dozens of transparent molds hanging
on the wall in the shape of hearts,
sifrei Torah, earrings, cars, and
more and more. On shelves on
the side are various implements
having to do with baking and
chocolates. When I entered the
store, in the center of the room
was a large table covered with a
plastic transparent tablecloth. On
it were neatly placed spread out
baking paper with printed pages
laid out on top. Everything was
ready for a chocolate workshop
for women, which would be taking place that night.
THE NISAYON
How did you get involved
in a chocolate boutique, where
people learn how to make petit
fours as well as Chassidus?
I am a special education
teacher by
profession,
said
Nechama
Dina. I was born and
raised in Tzfas in a Lubavitcher family. I attended Beis Rivka in
Kfar Chabad. I used to work as
a preschool teacher and I taught
special ed children. My husband
worked as a truck driver. Life
was routine until a tragedy led
our family to drastic changes. It
was a surprise that nobody wishes on themselves, but from the
pain and trauma something new
and powerful emerged.
Nothing about her young,
pretty, smiley appearance prepared me for the shock I would
feel when I would hear her story.
If I called this column Heroines
in Our Time, there is no question that Pralina would fit this
category. Heroism of the sort the
Alter Rebbe writes about that a
persons strength is not necessarily apparent when climbing to the
top of Everest heights or in setting a new Guinness record, but
in daily expending effort in working on ones middos and in connecting with and faith in Hashem, the Rebbe, and the Torah.
This is what she said:
It happened six years ago,
the night before the school
year began for my oldest son,
who was seven at the time. My
husband, who was young and
healthy, was alone at home. He
suddenly fell and lost consciousness. That morning he had complained about dizziness, but we
did not suspect it was anything
serious. He lay there for about
forty minutes without anyone to
help him.
I returned from a trip with
my parents and when I came
home I found him lying on the
floor unconscious. I was unable

to rouse him and I hysterically
called his parents and we took
him to the hospital. He had suffered a brain injury and lost his
memory. A long, exhausting,
slow process of rehabilitation
ensued. We were married eight
years at the time and had two
children, ages five and seven and
I was at the beginning of a pregnancy.
Two weeks before this occurred, I wrote to the Rebbe
and the Rebbes answer was that
there would be a miracle and
such a miracle that would be
prominent. I immediately understood from my husbands frightening appearance that it could
have been a lot worse, and if the
Rebbe wrote about miracles, this
was apparently the miracle he
was referring to.
The letter and bracha from
the Rebbe strengthened me,
but it was a long process. After
what happened, his personality
changed very much. He did not
know who we were, he did not
remember his childhood nor his
family his parents, brothers,
sisters. He was unaware of his
talents and abilities. What was
he worth, what could he give?
Nothing. He did not remember
elementary school, high school,
or yeshiva. He was a blank page.
His memory did not come back
and he had to relearn everything
and start life at thirty as if he was
a baby.
He did not remember me
either, nor our children. It took
him a long time until he understood who we are and began
recognizing us. For example, he
thought I was an employee at the
hospital. He did not know how
to talk and did not understand
the language. He had no words
Issue 1026
21
2016-06-21 11:18:37 AM
Feature
Every woman needs to bring chayus into her

home, into the routine. Even when there arent
dramatic hardships like I have, we need to seek sources
of chayus. There are other difficulties within families,
difficulties with children, with parnasa, and other
everyday stuff. But the avoda is to always bring chayus
into the house and to value yourself as a woman. If we
focus on what we lack, that is the yetzer hara. We need
to focus on the good and on what we accomplished. And
with the husband too, not to look at what he doesnt do
but at what he does. Not at what isnt good but at what
is good.
or thoughts. He could not read
nor write. He couldnt soap up or
take a shower and did not know
how to hold a fork or knife.
Of course, he did not remember halachos, not about
kashrus and not the laws of
Shabbos and he did not understand why he had to wear a yarmulke. He tried to repeat the
words we said and our movements. We didnt know how to
explain to him what grape juice
is, so we took him to the store
and showed him what grapes are.
He did not have any language
and we had to explain everything
by showing him.
THE BREAKTHROUGH
MOMENT
How did you feel at that difficult time?
I felt that I was living a
nightmare and that it wasnt possible that this was really happening. You think the nightmare will
never end and you have to hold
on to simple and absolute faith
in Hashem, thats all. So, along
with all the hardships, I believed
that he would one day get up on
his feet and things would work

out. That he would recover and
get back to himself and that we
would get back to being that
wonderful family that we were
before. It was clear to me that
I had to save my family and the
head of the family and therefore,
there wasnt time to think and fall
into self-pity; I had to do what
needed to be done.
Its not that I didnt cry. I
cried plenty at night and asked
Hashem to help me. And after
a night of crying I would wipe
my tears and would say to myself, Thats that, you have to
get up to a new day and thank
Hashem for all the progress. I
felt that I needed to preserve every drop of energy I had in order to move forward, and that I
had to get him, myself, and the
household to move forward. To
think only about progress, not to
think about the past and miss it
because that wouldnt help and
it wouldnt come back. It wasnt
easy.
The thanks, the Modeh Ani
in the morning, gave me meaning
and the strength to go on. From
then until today I try to say Mo-
deh Ani with concentration and

thank Hashem for what I have.
I davened a lot. I believed that if
this happened, and no bad descends from Above, that something good would come from this
and this is what I davened for,
even in the hospital when he was
in an acute stage. The doctors
were clueless and each one said
something else. Nobody could
tell me with confidence what
would be, and to me it was clear
that only Hashem could help me
in this dire situation.
In the midst of all the murkiness and uncertainty I experienced a very strong moment of
connection with Hashem. It was
when I was with my husband in
the hospital after he already woke
up and he looked at me blankly.
I suddenly realized he did not
know who I was. I thought he
might remember the children
and I showed him a picture of
them on my phone. My heart
sank when I saw no reaction. It
was very painful. And then, along
with the pain, I suddenly felt
Hashems closeness in a palpable
way. In that moment which was
so very hard, I felt that I wasnt
alone. That Hashem is with me
and completely in charge. I said
to Hashem, I dont understand
what You did to me and why You
did this but see to it that something good emerges. The yechida of the soul, all the Tanya
and Chassidus that I learned,
suddenly came forth like a gift.
I could not imagine what could
come out of this, but the request
and the emuna also contained the
certainty that Hashem is with us
and He would help us.
I experienced that moment
as a very strong moment of hiskashrus and in general, hiskashrus became branded into my
consciousness in an intense way,
because the moment I spoke to
Hashem and stated that some-

2016-06-21 11:18:38 AM
thing has to come out of this,

I internalized that there really
could only be good.
Years later, when I studied
the topic of hiskashrus in depth,
I discovered that in Chassidus it
explains that when a person is
in a state of total submission to
Hashem, when your entire being is focused on speaking with
Hashem with total bittul, then
there is a powerful hiskashrus to
Him. That is the moment when a
person can bring about miracles.
Any Jew.
What miracles did you experience at that time?
The first miracle was that although my husband was unconscious for so long, he did not enter a coma. The second miracle is
that after just one week he came
home. The third miracle is that
we were amazed to see how he
immediately connected with the
children who took a big part in
his rehabilitation.
We immediately started teaching him how to talk. Item by
item, word by word, and everything through sensory experience. He would absorb some of it
and repeat the sentences. At first,
as I said, he did not understand
the family construct and thought
I was a nurse in the hospital and
that he was interacting with the
nurses children. He did not understand that I am his wife and
that these are his children. We
did exercises with him as much
as we could. In the initial weeks,
I was with him 24 hours a day
because he needed constant supervision. My mother stayed with
us and took care of the children.
He did not know where he was,
who he was, nothing. We showed
him his closet, we opened drawers, and showed him the bathtub.
We also took him for rehab at
recommended places.
I gave birth to a boy, who is
six now, and then to a girl who is

now four. Both of them were part
of the process that helped him
get on his feet, and we could only
do that at home, when we were
all together. Our oldest son who
was seven at the time, helped him
a lot in learning sensory based
concepts. He sat with him with
letters and numbers and taught
him, like a little child. I took him
to the supermarket and taught
him the names of products. He
caught on nicely but only to tangible things, so he had to undergo hypnosis in rehab to free
his understanding so he could
start grasping abstractions. After
undergoing hypnosis, he understood the family structure. He
saw similarities between himself
and his brothers and started to
connect with us, to learn more
and more tangible and abstract
concepts. I was happy with all the
progress like youre happy with
the progress of a little child who
learns new words.
SWEET REHABILITATION
How were you able to take
him home after only a week?
There was a certain risk in
doing that because you cannot
anticipate how a person will react
after amnesia. The doctors want-
ed to keep him hospitalized and

do research, but I opposed that
because I knew that could only
make him worse. So I decided
that we would take him home,
embrace him, encourage him,
give him warmth and love, and
do all we could so it would be
pleasant for him and so he would
want to stay with us.
We were unfamiliar people to
him and he had to decide whether to join us or not. For him to
choose, to decide, to want, he
had to reach a point where he
could make a decision whether to
remain with me and the children,
to begin to think about whether
he wanted what I have. He had to
decide. He was not robbed of his
free choice.
Everyone asks me if I didnt
want to leave. I am always taken
aback by the question what do
you mean?! He is my husband
and the father to my children
and he was in a bad situation and
Issue 1026
23
2016-06-21 11:18:43 AM
Feature
At first, he did not understand the family

construct and thought I was a nurse in the
hospital and that he was interacting with the nurses
children. He did not understand that I am his wife and
that these are his children. We did exercises with him as
much as we could. In the initial weeks, I was with him 24
hours a day because he needed constant supervision.
needed help. To me, it was a given that I would do everything so
he could return to being a father
of our children, that he would be
a role model in shul. To me he
was simply reborn at the age of
thirty, after he woke up.
After a year and a half of great
progress, we had to find him an
occupation. I knew that this was
also in my hands and I began to
think about how I would find him
the right job that would connect
him even more to life, to himself, to society, to the family, to
me. An occupation that would rebuild his self-worth and his inner
self image, and I thought that the
best thing would be to get him to
manufacture something that people need so he would feel worthwhile.
How does chocolate enter
your story?
Chocolate is my favorite treat
since forever. Ive always loved
chocolate. It was something that
had to be hidden in the house,
otherwise it would disappear.
After what happened to my husband, I felt that I had to do something artistic in order to channel my tension in positive ways.
I wanted something that could
include my husband, something
people need and want.
At first I tried bringing him
into the kitchen because he has
good hands. I wanted him to
learn to express himself through
his hands. Then I had the idea
of creating chocolate confections for Purim and selling them.

I heard that there wasnt much
of this in the Kfar and thought
it could be another source of income too. At first I did it for him,
because I believed it would help
him, so no obstacle could stand
in my way.
I went to someone who made
chocolate and got direction and
guidance. Then I said to my husband, come, lets make something with chocolate; are you
with me in this?
He didnt understand and
said, yes, yes, and then he got it
and said, youre not normal! Who
will buy it? Why should they
come and buy it?
I said, Ive already started advertising. We cant stop it. He
still didnt believe anything would
come of it. I showed him what
needed to be done and just asked
him to help me. He softened a
little and began to help. When the
phone started to ring he became
excited. We combined all sorts of
flavors and shapes and made petit fours.
We prepared taste treats for
whoever wanted to check us out.
Someone tasted the chocolates
and exclaimed, Wow, I want a
hundred like these! Someone
else called and ordered two hundred and my husband, who was
so excited, stood all night and
made hundreds of these choco-
lates. I felt that Hashem was giving us very special kochos.
SHLICHUS IN A
CHOCOLATE WORKSHOP
From this nisayon I learned
something else that I encourage
strongly. The solution is found
where we do a chesed for someone else. When there are problems and I help someone else, the
solution comes through him. For
example, a week ago I needed to
deal with the business accounts
(this is something that I learned
to like, with a lot of working on
myself, because it goes against
my nature) and I was unable to
find the solution to a particular
problem that I was struggling
with for two weeks already. Then
a relative asked me for help in
checking bank statements and I
agreed to help him. I think that
its on this chesed that the world
stands, especially chesed with
family members. It is such a big
thing to help a husband, because
if I dont help my husband, who
will? My helping my husband is
helping my home, my children,
myself. Its that way with every
husband because everyone has
their difficulties and limitations.
We started manufacturing
and selling chocolates. People
loved our products and as I described, it really excited my husband and provided him with a
ray of light. I studied the field
and took courses and workshops
and I mainly practiced and practiced with all my failures going to
the family. At some stage, when
it started becoming intensive, it
was hard for me. Till today, my
husband suffers from pain in his
body and head. So I made the
chocolates myself even when I
was before or after giving birth
and could not operate based on
my abilities but according to lifes
demands. I had to move the busi-

2016-06-21 11:18:43 AM
ness forward and not let it fall on

him because he wasnt able to
physically handle it.
Today we are at the point
where he is my advisor and gives
me ideas. He still goes to physical
rehabilitation three times a week.
He is a very talented person and
is quick and efficient. In four
hours he does the work of eight
hours. He is organized and systematic.
Tell us a little about running
Pralina.
I manufacture all our products from quality raw ingredients
with excellent kashrus. Its important to use the ingredients in
the right way to achieve good results. I dont use margarine, just
high quality ingredients like cocoa butter, for example, which is
expensive and tastes great. Most
cheap chocolates have less of it.
The general technique is something that you learn and actually
putting it into practice is what
turns you into a professional. The
attempts and failures and mishaps in the middle are what turn
you into an expert.
The Rebbe wrote to me,
through the Igros Kodesh, that
this place, Pralina, is a Chabad
House, and every time I worried about how to proceed and
invest it was clear to me that the
Rebbe was taking care of things.
I remind myself that the Rebbe
is running this business. As time
passed there was a growing demand and I decided to provide
workshops in which I teach
women how to make pralines and
I combine the workshops with
classes on Chassidus.
Who attends your workshops
and what is unique about them?
Women come from all over
the country, from Acre to Ofakim
and Beer Sheva. We even had a
customer from Argentina who
was vacationing in Eretz Yisroel
and was looking for something

interesting to learn. I teach them
how to make petit fours, specialty desserts and chocolate icings
for cakes. There is also a Tanya
class here once a week given by
R Aryeh Kirshnzaft and that elevates all our work to kdusha.
In the workshops I strongly
emphasize kashrus. I explain, for
example, about the silicon molds
that become dairy if you use
them one time for dairy, and you
cant change it. I teach how to
check walnuts and almonds etc.
I always try to insert some spiritual content into the workshops.
Someone who was in an accident
and came to the course with a
broken leg was given a pushka
for her car. Women leave here
with inspiration.
There was a woman who took
the workshops and I mentioned
to her that it was almost 19
Kislev and it was very important
to attend a farbrengen. She said,
Okay, maybe Ill go. At the
next workshop she said, I want
to tell you that after more than
two years of not attending a farbrengen, I came back so inspired.
I took my siddur that I hadnt
touched in two years and started
saying Thillim again.
One of the regulars at the
Tanya class would use inappropriate words. I told her that this
is a Chabad House. We are making food here and we need a positive atmosphere. If we sully the
air, we need to purify it, as it says
in Chassidus. She said, whats
Chassidus? What is this Tanya?
I need to know. That is how she
became a regular at the shiurim.
It is specifically the person that is
drawn to the other side that is
actually searching. Our Sages say
about our generation, the face
of the generation is like the face
of a dog. The Rebbe says that
just like a dog says, gimme, there
is also a thirst for kdusha, for the

positive.
In a lecture that I give, I say
that I am not here to innovate
but to share my nisayon in order
to give others strength. I tell my
story in Chabad Houses, at evenings for women, vacation weekends. Because I went through
something so extreme I must
share it with others, especially
young women, so they appreciate what they have and also to
give strength to women who are
going through difficult times. I
hold them so they dont fall into
the abyss.
HAPPY LIKE A BRIDE!

Tell us about the turning
point, when you began to see
the fruits of your efforts.
It was very hard for me over
the years when my husband did
not go to shul. I would go to
shul with a friend and the children and he would stay at home.
It tore me up inside that I had to
go without him. I was especially
anxious about the bar mitzva of
our oldest son. What would be?
Who would take him for his aliya
to the Torah? To put on tfillin?
In the meantime, I persisted
in working with the insight I had
from this occurrence, about always looking for the good points.
I saw only difficulties and what
gave me the strength was developing a good eye. Only a good
eye builds a marriage and gives
a person the strength to go on. I
could complain from morning till
night and that was easy to do, but
I chose to seek the good in my
circumstances.
Then came our personal Geula. One day, my husband got up
and went to shul. Until then, he
suffered greatly from pains and
weakness, and when he started
going to shul and experiencing
Issue 1026
25
2016-06-21 11:18:44 AM
Feature
the yomim tovim, the tfillos, the
simcha of kdusha, of achdus, the
atmosphere in shul and the farbrengens, he got the strength to
deal with his hardships and pains
which he still has now.
He made incredible progress.
He started arranging the kiddushim after the davening on Shabbos, arranging a Tanya shiur before davening on Shabbos, and
arranging farbrengens. He then
started wearing a sirtuk and hat
and then came the day when he
took our son for his hanachas
tfillin. It was such a moving day,
I was happy like a kalla, for the
father of my child took him and I
did not have to find someone else
to take him.
There was a family that helped
us a lot. We would go to them to
learn how to behave with the children, how to run a Shabbos table.
My husband sat and learned from
the head of this family how to
be a father, how to speak to the
children, how to create a joyous
atmosphere. Our family which
was broken into pieces slowly began to come together. Today he
suffers from the same difficulties but he learned ways to deal
with them, and with it all he still
needs encouragement from me. I
learned that every woman maintains her house and in order to
succeed, a woman needs to be an
optimist. We need to constantly
believe that things will work out.
Every woman needs to bring
chayus into her home, into the
routine. Even when there arent
dramatic hardships like I have,
we need to seek sources of chayus. There are other difficulties
within families, difficulties with
children, with parnasa, and other
everyday stuff. But the avoda is
to always bring chayus into the
house and to value yourself as a
woman. If we focus on what we
lack, that is the yetzer hara. We
need to focus on the good and

on what we accomplished and
be satisfied. A woman needs to
encourage herself so she can encourage her husband and children. And with the husband too,
not to look at what he doesnt do
but at what he does. Not at what
isnt good but at what is good. In
the present and the future.
Following this nisayon with
my husband, I learned all sorts of
therapeutic approaches. I know
which good qualities he has and
how to move forward. Instead of
being involved in how hard it is
for my son, for example, I focus
on how I can help him and what
I can do. Thats the focus. No
psychologist or psychiatrist can
give us that. We must constantly
go out, help, look for where we
can contribute. Obviously, not at
the familys expense. It is always
a good thing for children to see
parents busy doing good things.
They should see that we can grow
from hardships, being a personal
example of dealing with life. And
every day look for what is good.
The home is in the hands of
the woman and her state of mind,
in her giving. A woman needs to
know that she received the genetic makeup and the ability to
run a Jewish home from the holy
Matriarchs.
Remember, behind every man
is a woman. Yesterday, I woke up
with pains in my legs and it was
very hard for me to drag myself
out of bed. Then I said to myself:
Get up! Get up quickly because
if you start to kvetch to him you
will immediately pull him down.
A HEALTHY SWEET
What is so special about
chocolate?
Chocolate brings joy to the
home. It makes people happy. After I saw that working with choc-
olate was helping my husband,

I felt that I myself was beginning to love it, and I wanted to
be involved with something that
engenders happiness. Chocolate
is therapy for all the senses. It
releases endorphins when eaten,
smelled, seen, and in making it
when touching it. Women who
come to the workshops get this
therapy.
Additionally, chocolate is also
a present that is always joyfully
received. People remember chocolate. For my sons bar mitzva I
put chocolate tfillin at each persons plate and everyone loved it.
It is a nice way to combine ruchnius and gashmius. Chocolate is
considered the healthiest sweet.
It has no unhealthy chemical ingredients like in other nosh. And
chocolate becomes something
spiritual when you elevate it to
kdusha. For example, we started
a Tanya campaign which is still
ongoing. Every child who comes
to the store and says Tanya gets
chocolate. There are kids who
come all the time. I believe that
when the child grows up, every
time he sees chocolate he will
think of Tanya. He will have a
positive association of Tanya with
chocolate.
It started when a child came
to the store and wanted chocolate. I told him, If you say Tanya
I will give you chocolate. He
began saying Tanya and I gave
him chocolate and then he said,
Wait, I didnt finish yet, and
he went on and on. I tried it with
other kids and it always worked.
They did not leave immediately
with the chocolate they got but
continued saying Tanya. Whoever has a business needs to do
chesed with it and this brings
blessing. Take your talents and
use them for kdusha. I specialize
in gourmet chocolates and gourmet desserts for events. Everything is Badatz HaEida HaCha-

2016-06-21 11:18:44 AM
reidis, pareve. We have platters

and desserts for events.
We also try to invite a lot of
guests for Shabbos. I prepare
easy things in the oven and the
guests bring salads. We try to
make our house a happy place.
There are a lot of zmiros on
Shabbos. I work many hours
a day and Shabbos gives me

strength for the entire week. My
husband says that the guests
make us forget our pains.
What message do you have
for women?
When a woman awaits her
personal Geula, she needs to see
in her minds eyes how every-
thing will work out, and to aspire

to this and to believe that even if
it takes two or three years, it will
ultimately work out. We need to
show gratitude for the future already now and get into a Geula
mindset.
QUIZ
Which of these is your greatest asset?
___
Which of these is currently uninsured?
___
Your ability
to earn an incomeis by faryour greatest
asset
.
If that income stream is interruptedeven for a brief periodwhat would happen to the rest
of your lifestyle? Even if you are young and careful, the odds of becoming too sick or injured to
work are greater than you might think. Research shows that men have a 43% chance of becoming
seriously disabled during their working years, while women have a 54% chance .
1
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Issue 1026
27
2016-06-21 11:18:45 AM
CROSSROADS
WORDS CAN
KILL, LITERALLY
Like a scenario known in advance, immediately after the festive
declarations on the return of the diplomatic process, we got the
murderous terrorist attack in the heart of Tel Aviv. Two terrorists, may
their names be erased, finished eating dinner and then got up to commit
murder. The painful result is the collapse of personal security again in the
center of Eretz Yisroel. It turns out that the truth is more agonizing than
we could possibly imagine and words can kill.
By Sholom Ber Crombie
Translated by Michoel Leib Dobry
1.
Last week was a week for the
people. The good and beautiful
Jewish People at their very best
rose up to express a protest of
love against the wickedness of
the government of the state of
Israel. The story of the soldier
Yehuda HaYisraeli was publicized in the national media and
soon became known to the Israeli
public. Yehuda is an IDF soldier,
married with a daughter, who
was wounded during Operation
Protective Edge. Since the war,
Yehuda has not returned home,
remaining instead in the hospital. The reason is twofold: the
need to provide accessibility for
the handicapped to his home in
Ofra and the refusal of the Israel
Ministry of Defense to finance
the construction of a renovated

incline, not via the regular stairs,
to meet the special requirements
of the wounded soldier. All this is
because the settlement of Ofra is
situated beyond the Green Line,
where no building and construction plans can be approved. To
put it simply, a wounded IDF
soldier has been made into a
scapegoat of the Defense Ministry clerks in an expression of opposition to any settlement beyond
the Green Line.
Lets forget for the moment that were talking about
the homeland of our forefathers.
Forget the fact that this is territory we liberated nearly fifty
years ago! Never mind that the
Jordanians who ruled there for
nineteen years dont want this
land at all. Forget all these claims.
What about the states responsibilities above and beyond the

letter of the law toward a soldier who went to the battlefield
on our behalf and was wounded
in his efforts to protect all of us?
A serviceman who risked his own
life in a holy war to protect the
Jewish People has spent the last
two years (!) since then in a hospital ward at the Sheba Medical
Center in Tel HaShomer, simply
because of the intransigence of
a few government bureaucrats.
The Ministry of Defense, which
permits dozens of cement trucks
to pass the border into the Gaza
Strip, even though everyone
knows that this cement will go
to build more terrorist tunnels
leading into Gaza Belt kibbutzim,
cant permit one cement truck to
come to Ofra for the construc-

2016-06-21 11:18:45 AM
tion of a ramp for a wounded

warrior.
The Jewish People decided
not to stand by idly. The Head
Start project that created the
Yisroel Sheli movement arrived within three days with more
than a million shekels collected
from some good benevolent Jews
in order to bypass the difficulties of the state-run system. How
did someone say once? Instead
of distributing military decorations to simple soldiers, the commanders need to give a proper
accounting.
2.
And so we finally have a new
defense minister. Avigdor Lieberman entered his new post with a
rousing shout of approval after
a year in steadfast opposition,
during which he skewered the
national defense leadership. We
recall how he promised that he
would eliminate Hamas terrorist leader Ismail Haniyeh within
forty-eight hours after assuming
control over the defense ministry.
However, all we got instead was
a miserable display of eliminating all political principle. Suddenly, the two-state solution is
relevant and we must advance the
diplomatic process.
Behind the scenes, they explain to us that were talking
about a brilliant policy move.
Barack Obama is now well into
his eighth and final year as President of the United States, and
hell be willing to do anything.
Hes already unfettered by any
obligations and he can freely
choose not to exercise the traditional veto power on United
Nations Security Council resolutions against Israeli settlements.
This is the reason why Prime
Minister Netanyahu is under
pressure as he makes every possible effort to strengthen his po-
sition before the world with the

creation of a national unity government. Such a left-leaning coalition will declare its loyalty to
the two-state solution and can
deflect international pressure, as
the government of Israel seemingly works to advance the diplomatic process.
While such tactics might seem
brilliant, the strategy is downright embarrassing. Instead of rejecting charges made in the world
community by responding with
an ethical and principled stance,
the prime minister continues to
slide down the slippery slope into
the abyss. He stubbornly refuses
to understand that any such declaration will cause incalculable
damage to the continuation of
the settlements. The two-state
solution has never appeared further from realistic implementation than it does today, as the
global terrorists from ISIS and
Al Qaeda lie in wait preparing to
ambush us.
Yet, instead of presenting
logical arguments, Netanyahu
prefers to deal with hypotheticals.
He talks as if we have an obligation to establish an Islamic state
on the border with Kfar Saba, as
if the Arabs really want a state, as
if theyre willing to run a moderate, democratic, nonaggressive
country right next to greater Tel
Aviv. Anyone with a modicum
of common sense knows exactly
what percentage of the regional
Arab population would be able
to rule such a nation in a stable
manner, without a military conflict coming upon us every other
summer. In the meantime, within
their own borders, rivaling factions in this make-believe Palestinian paradise would slaughter
one another at will.
The real story is that the Arabs themselves really dont want
a state. They see whats hap-
pening in all the Arab countries,

where ISIS murders its Moslem
brethren by the hundreds and
thousands like flies, including
small children. They realize that
theres a reason why life for the
Arabs in Eretz Yisroel is far better
than anywhere else in the Middle
East. If they cant rely on themselves, why should we trust them
for anything?
Nevertheless, the prime minister still doesnt have the courage
to rise up and proclaim this in a
clear voice without hemming and
hawing. He should state publicly
before the world that the twostate solution is unenforceable
and non-implementable, as the
Arabs are simply unwilling to run
their own independent country.
Furthermore, there is no chance
of giving a state to those who invest all their economic support
into financing the murder of infants, transferring inflated salaries to those sitting in prisons,
and glorifying the names of archterrorists in public squares and
parks throughout Palestiniancontrolled territory.
This doesnt involve the morally established declaration of
our inherent right to Eretz Yisroel, the story of our forefathers
in Shchem, Beis Lechem, and
Chevron, etc. just pure simple
logic that any rational European
can understand. During this past
year, the world has dealt with the
Islamic question more than at
any other time in history. Europe
has been undergoing serious internal divisions due to the argument over the Islamic threat that
has instilled tremendous fear over
the entire world, and its only
here in Eretz Yisroel where they
play around as if it were still possible to create such a country.
3.
It would be one thing if the
Issue 1026
29
2016-06-21 11:18:45 AM
CROSSROADS
prime minister was some simpleton who would believe anything.
We could say in his defense that
hes really just very naive and innocent, unable to see the facts
of the situation in a proper way.
However, Mr. Netanyahu is the
one who has persistently and
most correctly read the writing on the wall, yet he acts quite
the opposite. While he identified
the tremendous danger of the
Oslo Accords, he implemented
Oslo II, gave virtually the entire
city of Chevron to the PLO, and
even signed the Wye Plantation
agreement. He saw the security
statement by Prime Minister Netanyahu and his new defense

minister on their commitment
to the vision of two states was
both serious and practical. In the
same breath, everyone also explained that this was indeed just
talk and there isnt even a remote chance for the creation of
a Palestinian state. However,
everyone is acting as if they really intend to move towards a
diplomatic solution, and its only
due to one reason or another that
none of this will happen.
The painful truth is that this
game is coming at the cost of in-
The Arabs themselves dont want a state. They

see whats happening in all the Arab countries,
where ISIS murders its Moslem brethren by the hundreds
and thousands like flies, including small children. They
realize that theres a reason why life for the Arabs in
Eretz Yisroel is far better than anywhere else in the
Middle East. If they cant rely on themselves, why should
we trust them for anything?
threat caused by uprooting the

settlements of Gush Katif and
the northern Shomron, yet he
faithfully supported the Gaza
disengagement plan in all pertinent votes before the Knesset.
He realized the serious peril of
a Hamastan regime in the Gaza
Strip, while ignoring the evidence
of the terrorist tunnels. Finally,
this same Binyamin Netanyahu
who had been among the fiercest
opponents to the establishment
of an independent Palestinian
state now claims before the world
that he, as prime minister of Israel, will be the one to make it a
reality.
Two weeks ago, everyone was
talking about the renewal of the
diplomatic process, as if the joint
nocent Jewish lives. The Rebbe,

Melech HaMoshiach, was the
first person who foresaw with
his ruach hakodesh that not only
does the diplomatic process endanger the security of the Jewish
People, but even the mere discussion of territorial compromise
threatens their safety. Recently,
this distinction has become quite
clear and apparent, and many
diplomats throughout the region
share this position. The truth of
the matter is that its not just in
the Middle East where this view
is prevalent. Even the voices
of the Republican Party of the
United States and its presumptive presidential nominee have
recently made similar declarations. According to many objec-
tive analyses, every wave of terror

comes after efforts to restart the
diplomatic process.
This is what happened during the second intifada after the
collapse of the Oslo Accords,
with the outbreak of the Second
Lebanon War after the Gush
Katif expulsion, and with the recent wave of terror during this
past difficult winter as it exacted
such a heavy toll from the Jewish
People. Secretary of State John
Kerry, called by former defense
minister Moshe Yaalon obsessive and messianic with regard
to his peace efforts, is the one
who must bear the responsibility for the murderous attacks
of the past several months. He
went against the advice of all the
experts in an attempt to resume
a bogus peace process to solve
the Arab-Israeli conflict, during which we are the only ones
to pay the price with painful
construction freezes, diplomatic
proclamations that weaken us before the international community,
and a demeaning pursuit of archterrorist Abu Mazen. All this has
forcibly weakened the position of
the government of Israel, thereby
diminishing its ability to stand
firm against the terrorist organizations.
Theyve already said that the
time has come in Eretz Yisroel
to believe the politicians. While
it doesnt sound as if theyre really serious, this imaginary truth
sometimes produces a harsh reality. This is a wake-up call for us
to bring with greater fortitude the
outcry of the leader of the generation against any compromises on the territorial integrity of
Eretz Yisroel and even against
speaking with the terrorists,
which endangers the security of
the Jewish People, and we must
naturally pray that Behold the
Guardian of Israel will neither
slumber nor sleep.

2016-06-21 11:18:46 AM
HISTORY
65 YEARS AGO:
THE BURNED
SYNAGOGUE
IN ITALY
In 1951 a fire broke out in a synagogue in Rome, Italy, where

Jewish refugees prayed. The fire destroyed their Sefer Torah
and other religious articles, such as Taleisim and Tefillin * Since
Lubavitch was known for taking care of Jewish Refugees, even
if they were not Lubavitchers, they contacted the Rebbe and
asked for help * In this special Shavuos installment we see the
Rebbes involvement in this matter, and the partnership with
the American Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)
to ensure that the refugees have all their needs.
Issue 1026
31
2016-06-21 11:18:49 AM
history
uring
the
years
following World War
II, Chabad was very
active in the Jewish
refugee scene, taking care of the
physical and spiritual needs of
refugees. The Jews knew that if
there is any issue, the first step is
to contact Chabad. For example:
when Matzos were needed for Jews
in Italy, when non-Kosher food
was served, and any other needs,
they knew to contact Chabad.
In this installment, we present
the story of a Shul in Rome, Italy,
which burned down in Spring
of 1951, and the refugees were
left without Talleisim, Tfillin or
a Sefer Torah. They contacted
the Rebbe, who partnered with
the American Joint Distribution
Committee (JDC) to ensure
that the Jews have their religious
needs.
These fascinating documents
are part of the JDC Archives
(which were digitized and
uploaded online, thanks to a grant
from Dr. Georgette Bennett and
Dr. Leonard Polonsky CBE).
THE REBBES REQUEST

On Iyar 17th, 5711 [May
23rd, 1951], the Rebbe wrote the
following letter to the JDC office
in New York:
Gentlemen:
I have before me a request by
the Organizzazione dei Profughi
Ebrei in Italy, Via S. Basilio 9,
Roma to intercede in their behalf
in connection with the misfortune
that befell them through a fire
in their synagogue. The fire
destroyed also their Sefer Torah
and other religious requisites,
such as holy books, Tefillin,
praying shawls (Taleisim), etc.
They are in urgent need to have
them replaced.
I ask you to be good enough to
help them in their misfortune, to
replace the Sefer Torah and other

articles they need for conducting
their daily services and spiritual
life. I am sure you appreciate
what this means to them.
I will be glad to hear what
steps you have taken in this
matter, and I assure you of my
appreciation.
With all good wishes,
JDC: WE COULD SUPPLY

A SEFER TORAH
On June 1st, 1951 [Iyar 26th,
5711], Mr. Judah J. Shapiro
(JDC Paris) contacts Mr.
Murray Gitlin (JDC Rome)
with regards to the Rebbes
request:
Our New York office has
brought to our attention a
situation in Italy in which Rabbi
Menachem M. Schneerson is
interested
I would appreciate it if you
could look into this matter and let
us have a report on what actually
occurred and the extent to which
the group might require some

assistance in the replacement of
its ceremonial objects. We are in a
position to supply a Sefer Torah,
some taleisim, but a very limited
supply of any kind of books.
We shall be looking forward
to your report, so that we can
determine whether action is
necessary on our part, and if so,
the nature of it.
ONE TORAH, 40 TEFILLIN,

25 TALEISIM & BOOKS
Immediately thereafter, Rabbi
Binyomin
Gorodetsky,
the
Rebbes representative to Europe
& North Africa took charge of
the situation, and ensured that
JDC supply the local Italian
congregation with their needs.
On June 15th, 1951 [Sivan 11th,
5711], Mr. Judah J. Shapiro
(JDC Paris) writes to Mrs.
Henrietta K. Buchman (JDC
New York) about what Rabbi
Gorodetsky said, and what they

2016-06-21 11:18:49 AM
the request you had from the

Organizzazione dei Profughi
Ebrei in Rome, Italy.
We have just received a report
advising that the situation was
known to our representative
in Rome, as we had surmised.
The damage to the building
was repaired with JDC funds,
including an Aron Kodesh and
an omed. A Sefer Torah has
already been supplied and we
have made available Taleisim and
Sidurim.
Our representative advises
that he is not in a position to
supply Tefillin because we have
none available in Europe. He
suggests that perhaps through
your resources, some Tefillin can
be sent to this congregation, and
we hope you will be able to act on
this suggestion.
THE REBBE: THANK YOU!

WE WILL SUPPLY TEFILLIN
will try to supply to the refugees:
After
receiving
your
letter indicating that Rabbi
Gorodetzki had asked you to
transmit information about the
catastrophe to the Synagogue of
the above-named organization,
we immediately asked our Rome
office to investigate the need. We
are now informed that the fire
occurred in the small synagogue
of the Bagnoli camp and that the
damage included the destruction
of a Sefer Torah, 40 pairs of
Tfilin, 25 Taleisim, some Sidurim
and other books. In addition there
was, of course, actual damage to
the building which has already
been repaired with AJDC funds
including an Aron Kodesh and an
omed.
A Sefer Torah has already
been supplied locally and we
are now making available from
Paris, Taleisim and Sidurrim.
Unfortunately we are unable to

supply Tfilin because we have
none available and I wonder
whether the Lubavitcher might
use their own resources to supply
this one item. I would appreciate
it if you would convey this
information to Rabbi Gorodetzki
and inform us what action his
organization will be taking.
JDC TO THE REBBE:

YOU SUPPLY TEFILLIN
On June 22nd, 1951 [Sivan
18th, 5711], Mrs. Henrietta K.
Buchman (JDC New York) sent
a letter to the Rebbe, detailing
what the JDC has provided to
the refugees, and what the Rebbe
should provide:
As you know from our letter
of May 28th, we wrote to our
overseas
organization
about
On Tamuz 5th, 5711 [July

9th, 1951], the Rebbes secretary,
Rabbi Nissan Mindel, wrote a
Thank You letter to the JDC
office in New York, explaining that
Chabad will indeed take care of
the Tefillin:
Gentlemen:
This is to acknowledge
receipt of your letter of June
22nd, concerning aid to the
Organizzazione dei Profughi
Ebrei in Rome, in connection
with loss sustained from a fire.
The Rabbi wishes me
to convey to you his gratification
for the consideration and
helpfulness you have shown in
this matter. The Rabbi has
instructed the Merkos LInyonei
Chinuch to make some Tefillin
available to them.
With all good wishes,
Cordially yours,
Issue 1026
33
2016-06-21 11:18:50 AM
TZIVOS HASHEM
BUSINESS AD VICE
FROM THE REBBE
By Nechama Bar
R Avrohom Meir Alkabetz

(a descendant of Rabbi Shlomo
Alkabetz, the author of Lecha
Dodi) is a baal tshuva and a
devoted Chassid of the Rebbe.
Mr. Alkabetz lives in Belgium
and works in the diamond
trade. He asks for the Rebbes
advice and bracha for every
business decision.
He experienced many open
miracles in his business thanks
to the Rebbes advice. This story
is one of them:
One day, he got a very
enticing business offer, a deal
which would potentially earn
him millions! Mr. Alkabetz got
a partner to join and together
they planned on investing in
the deal.
The deal was suggested
by the Minister of Trade and
Industry of the country Sierra
Leone in Africa. This minister
had a private gold mine in that
country. In order to take part
in the deal it was necessary to
invest a fortune, but according
to conser vative calculations, the
deal would be worthwhile and
would make them into rich
men.
The partners wanted to
borrow the money they needed
from the banks. When they said
the deal had to do with the
Minister of Trade and Industry,
doors were opened before them
and they were given the money
they needed.
The Minister made a special
trip from Africa and sat with
them for hours in order to
explain all the details. Mr.
Alkabetz and his partner were
sure that very soon they would
be two of the richest people in
the world.
The three men agreed to
meet in another week in Sierra
Leone to sign a contract.
Mr. Alkabetz was very
excited but he did not forget
about asking the Rebbe for a
bracha. One night, he wrote to
the Rebbe in detail about the
deal that Hashem had sent his
way. He asked for a bracha for
success and waited impatiently
to receive it.
Before traveling to Sierra
Leone, he received a surprising
answer from the Rebbe which
said: Check the bank account
of the Minister of Trade and
Industry of Sierra Leone.
was
Alkabetz
Mr.
flabbergasted. It looks as
though the Rebbe is casting
doubt on the deal. If the Rebbe
says to check his bank account,
it seems the situation there
is not good. But how can I, a
private citizen, find out whats
doing in the Ministers bank
account? he wondered.
He did not know what to do.
He already had a plane ticket
and he found it hard to tell his
partner what the Rebbe said.

So he made the trip and felt
heavy-hearted. He decided to
let things flow and prayed that
the Rebbe would arrange things
in the best possible way.
The two partners landed at
the airpor t and the Minister
himself came to greet them. A
helicopter took them directly
to the Ministers office. The
partners mood was joyous
while Mr. Alkabetz was feeling
awful.
advisors
Ministers
The
great
with
them
welcomed
ging
exchan
after
honor and
got
they
words,
some polite
s.
busines
down to
heart
Alkabetzs
Mr.
pounded. In another moment
he would be handed a pen
with which to sign on the deal.
What should he do? He prayed
in his heart that something
unexpected would happen, that
something would go wrong and
they wouldnt get to the stage
of signing. But everything was
moving along.
Then the phone range. The
Prime Minister needs you, said
the secretary to the Minister
and handed him the phone.
apologized.
Minister
The
The Prime Minister is asking
me that I go to him right away.
Ill be back in a few hours.
He asked the secretary to host

2016-06-21 11:18:51 AM
deal by himself. The two of

the two men in his office day.
them made an agreement that
Upon arriving at the hotel,
until he returned.
his Mr. Alkabetz would no longer
Mr. Alkabetz sighed in relief. Mr. Alkabetz briefly told
loans
We be a partner and the
He felt that matters were being friend what the Rebbe said.
be in
only
would
bank
the
from
deal like
arranged for him. Suddenly, he must run from this
name.
s
friend
the
warning
noticed a letter sitting on the from fire. The Rebbe is
A few weeks passed. Mr.
we
listen,
not
do
secretarys desk. It was from us and if we
Alkabetz met his friend who
the Ministers bank! At first he will pay dearly for it!
said, You missed out! I already
The friend was shocked. He
thought of asking the secretary
got part of the money and
for the letter but on second already pictured the millions
in another short while I will
thought he realized that this they were going to rake in and
receive a lot more money and
wasnt appropriate. He waited for a moment, he thought Mr.
will be rich!
to see what the secretarys Alkabetz was crazy. What
does your
reaction would be to the letter.
What
The secretary sighed.
will be? Checks keep bouncing
from the Ministers account.
When will he finally get
rid of his deficit? He
suddenly looked up and
met Mr. Alkabetzs
gaze. He immediately
became silent but
he could not take
back the words he
uttered.
Alkabetz
Mr.
happy.
was
had
Rebbe
The
got
he
sure
made
ant
import
this
it
though
ation,
inform
forgo
to
hard
still
was
the deal that looked so
promising. In the end, he
strengthened his bitachon and
decided not to sign on the deal
no matter what.
Rebbe know
the
meantime,
the
In
remained
Alkabetz
Mr.
about business? We checked this
Minister returned and they sat
s.
regret
no
had
He
deal out thoroughly and it is silent.
down together once again to
Not long afterward, he
definitely worthwhile!
sign the contract. This time,
his
Mr. Alkabetz insisted, I heard bad news about
it was Mr. Alkabetzs turn to
was a
am staying out of it. I have friend. It turned out this
disrupt the plans.
fallen
always done as the Rebbe said trap and his friend had
I apologize but I do not feel
money
his
all
lost
friend
The
in.
am
I
it.
ted
and never regret
well. I would like to finish this
with no
telling you once again, dont and was sunk in debt
feel
will
I
hope
and
row
tomor
get involved in this deal. If the way out.
better, he said to the Minister.
thanked
Alkabetz
Mr.
Rebbe says it is not worthwhile,
The Minister was agreeable that is certainly the case.
Chassid
a
being
his
for
Hashem
and shook his hand and
Rebbe.
The friend did not accept of the
arranged to meet the following
this and decided to close on the
Issue 1024
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35
2016-06-21 11:18:08 AM

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CONTENTS

YOU ARE NEEDED ON

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Beis Moshiach (USPS 012-542) ISSN 1082-0272

13. [] According to all the signs

years (after his histalkus), when a

seen (in addition to those that will

YOU ARE NEEDED ON

Rabbi Professor Yaakov Friedman is a Lubavitcher Chassid from

rofessor Yaakov Friedman,

companies that were just starting

He was sure the Rebbe would approve.

4 18 Sivan 5776 - Hakhel

FROM THE SHTETL TO THE

I wrote a report to the Rebbe every month

not know how to speak Russian;

first place. While the rest of the

6 18 Sivan 5776 - Hakhel

an ardent communist and if he

arev him to Chabad Chassidus.

thanks to him I stayed in the yeshiva. I could not allow myself, as

that someone could be born and

saw with his ruach hakodesh

8 18 Sivan 5776 - Hakhel

my future was in Chabad. I knew

I wrote a report to the Rebbe every month about what I did in my

where all the scientists pull up

things without the modern technology that we have today.) It

Continued from page 3

time to pray for bringing the

from Me, as well as, The newly

appreciate] for Atzeres

To be continued, G-d willing

(From the address of Shabbos Parshas

10 18 Sivan 5776 - Hakhel

THE ENTIRE PEOPLE?

one is struck by Moshes choice

WHY SUCH A STRIDENT

While it might be possible to rehabilitate one

one who has become a chronic

THE SECRET OF OUR

12 18 Sivan 5776 - Hakhel

throughout the world. In our

"The quickest way to reveal Moshiach is by learning the Torah

sources about Moshiach

Radio Moshiach & Redemption

1620-1640 AM around Crown Heights & Boro Park

A genuine struggle for

and explore the whole world,

14 18 Sivan 5776 - Hakhel

says Rabbi Mendy Levy.

inspired. There they would attend

had directed someone to open a

and for strong moral integrity,

it or use it lsheim Shamayim.

world come and learn Torah in a

16 18 Sivan 5776 - Hakhel

to the youth in this tumultuous

South America to Kazakhstan.

Exciting hikes and extreme

mong the advice that the

all our food is ultimately derived

is because of its invincible quality