Olive Press

Thanks to Rabbi Michoel Albukerk of Tzivos Hashem, arranged the ever so memorable "Olive Press" to the Yeshiva. Rabbi Dovid Okunov manned the show, and made a very strong im"press"ion on the boys. He told them many secrets of olive pressing, and even got enough oil to light up a Menorah.
RYYH
ULYOP
In a Rush to bring Moshiach

Menorah Lightings @ O.P.

So far Chanukah has really started to shine on Ocean Parkway. Mr. Isaac Babchayov a Tomim and parent of several children in Yeshiva, lit the Menorah one day. He said, "taking out time in middle of the day, (as he is the proprietor of four seasons windows) is hard, but so worthwhile as the "Pirumei Nisah" is so great here on Ocean Parkway." Deputy Inspector, Commanding Officer, Mr. Peter Deblasio, lit the prepatory candle, as Mr. Lenny Komsky of Grand Prix Auto leasing lit the candles with a resounding Brocha.

RYYH
ULYOP
In a Rush to bring Moshiach

Preparing for Chanukah

Pre 1a-4th grades have done some major arts & Crafts projects. We only were able to sneak in to get a few of the pictures.
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RYYH
ULYOP
In a Rush to bring Moshiach

Good Shabbos

This Shabbos is Shabbos Mevorchim Chodesh Teves. The first night of Chanukah is on Sunday evening. Please light your Menorah with enough oil that it burns for at least a half an hour. If the weather causes problems, please call the Yeshiva on Motzoey Shabbos.This week we read an interesting story of how Yosef, the favorite of Jacob's children, was hated by his brothers and fanned that hatred by interpreting two dreams to mean that everyone would bow down to him.
The Torah tells us "His brothers hated him but his father waited to see what would happen" (37:11)
This, at first glance, doesn't make sense. If his father saw how they hated him then why didn't he say something to them? What was he 'waiting' for?
To understand this here is a story. (Di Yiddishe Heim, Winter 5742)
Communist Russia was, along with Nazi Germany, the worst possible place on the globe for Judaism. After the revolution of 1917 the 'Party' began closing Synagogues and forbidding the learning of Torah and in the early 20's only the old Jews and the Chassidim dared look 'Jewish' in public. Only card carrying Communists could get normal jobs (which could mean starvation) and anyone caught doing a Jewish ritual even in private would lose any position of importance.
In such an environment occurred, in the city of Gomel in 1924, a sensational trial with a Jewish theme; a high-ranking Communist official who happened to be Jewish, discovered that his wife, without his knowledge, had their baby son circumcised eight days after he was born and was suing for divorce.
The Communists made sure it was well-publicized; they wanted everyone to see how outdated religion was and courthouse was overflowing; even the standing-room bleachers and public galleries were full to capacity.
The judge, who happened to be Jewish, sat austerely in a large chair behind a thick table and before him stood several burly young Yevsektsia (Jewish movement sworn to destroy Judaism) 'security' ready to keep order.
The first to take the stand and testify was the husband.
"I came home to find my child crying. When I went to change his diaper I saw that he was bandaged up. 'Circumcised' she says! Just like that. I was surprised, disgusted and angry at once. Then she insisted that she had nothing to do with it which, even if it's true still makes her at fault! Isn't she supposed to guard the child? And, frankly, I don't believe her. I mean, comrade judge, can one possibly live with a woman tells lies because her mind is too small to accept the new order?! I want a divorce!!"
The judge thanked him, told him to step down and called the defendant; his wife. She was red-eyed from crying and as she passed her husband he turned his head in disgust so as not to look at her.
"Comrade Judge." She said trying to choke back her tears and occasionally dabbing her eyes. "I am innocent. I swear I am a loyal Party Member and a good wife but my husband will not let me explain. What happened was like this. A few days ago I had to go out shopping to buy some food. I have no baby sitter, so I waited for the baby to go to sleep, locked the door and ran to the market. Anyway, I when I came back home, it couldn't have been more than fifteen minutes later, maybe twenty my door was open and the baby was gone!! Gone!!!" She wept uncontrollably for a few seconds, blew her nose with a small kerchief and continued.
"So I ran into the streets asking people, searching like a crazy woman asking everyone if they saw my son until about a half an hour later I see my parents and in-laws walking in the distance. So I ran to them yelling and crying and what do I see? They are carrying my baby! They just had taken him for a walk!! That's what they said. I was so relieved and happy!! But when I got home I saw what had happened! He had blood on his diaper!! Oy!! How could my own parents have mutilated my baby!!! MY BABY!!" And she began wailing so loudly she had to be escorted from the witness stand.
The grandparents took the stand. The four of them stood before the Judge like wax figures of thousands of years ago. The men sported long white beards and wore worn-out, long black coats to their knees while the grandmothers had their hair covered with large kerchiefs tied under the chin. The judge asked if they had anything to say in their defense.

One of the grandmothers who spoke Russian better than the others stepped forward and said in a thick Jewish accent, "Your Honor". The Judge cut her short and said authoritatively, "'Your Honor' is an out-dated title of the old regime. You are to call me 'Comrade'.
"You Honorable Comrade" she said as a few snickers came from the crowd. "Although I don't see what's so bad about our einikel (Yiddish for grandson) having a 'Bris' (circumcision) like everyone but I want you to know that we didn't mean to do it…..
It just happened."
There was a second of total silence and then like an explosion, the crowd burst into howling laughter repeating the words 'Just happened!' Haa Haaaa! Just happened!! Hooo!!'. Even the Judge had to turn his face to a side until he could regain enough seriousness to pound his gavel and call for silence.
The old lady was obviously lying and when things returned to normal he leaned forward, narrowed his eyes and asked her sarcastically. "Happened?! And how, Babichka, can such a thing as a circumcision just 'happen'?"
"I tell you Your Comrade Honorship." She continued as though talking to someone on the street. "We went to our daughter's house to take the baby for a long walk for his health. My daughter doesn't take him for enough fresh air. Anyway she wasn't home but we have a key. So we took him, our little sweetie, and went for a long walk. Then suddenly from nowhere some man walks over to us that we never saw before and asks if we want our einikel to be a Jew. We answered, what's the question? So he takes out a knife, makes a brocha (blessing) and that's it! Circumcised!!"
The crowd was already on the edge of pandemonium and this was it! The laughter was like thunder and it just got louder and louder. The judge pounded on the table, screamed for silence, stood up and stamped with his feet but nothing helped. People were in tears, holding their stomachs and a few actually fell into the isles! Totally out of control.
The Judge motioned to the Yevsektsia thugs and when they turned to the crowd and gave a few menacing glares the crowd became silent.
"But you should know, Comrade Honorable Judge," The old woman continued as though there had been no disturbance. "We are happy."
"Happy?! Who is happy? "Exclaimed the Judge in exasperation. "And about what!?"
"Ahh, we are all happy that our dear Einikel is one hundred percent Jewish….. just like you Your Honor! Aren't you proud and happy you are circumcised?"
That was it! The crowd went wild! Whistling and hooting! Even the Yevsektsia toughs couldn't control the waves of sheer glee. The Judge didn't even try. He had no choice but to wait for the noise to subside, tell the grandparents to be seated, call the husband back and try to bring this fiasco to an end.
"Tell me, dear Comrade. I see from your record that you are a good, loyal hero of Communism and hold a very responsible position. Is there any other reason, that is, do you have any other reason for divorcing your wife?"
"No, Comrade Judge, none whatsoever; she cooks my meals, cleans my shirts and is a good wife. Except for this!"
"Well" The Judge continued "If I tell you that she is not guilty and has no part in this terrible act would you consider returning to her and dropping the charges?"
"Yes, of course Comrade Judge, if that is the decision of the court."
"If so, the decision of this court is that your wife is innocent of all the charges. It is totally the fault of your superstitious parents and in-laws for allowing this act to be perpetrated. They will be fined 50 rubles and you may return to your wife. Case dismissed!!
No one in that room including the Judge (except for a few religious friends of the family) had any idea that it was all a staged trick! The couple wanted to have their son circumcised and still retain their government positions and this was the only way they could do it.
The name of the 'Mystery Mohel' that circumcised the child from nowhere was Rabbi ChonyaShagalov; was one of the thousands of Chabad Chassidim of the time that risked their lives daily just to do a favor for someone else and whose offspring are Chabad Chassidim throughout the world still risking everything to help others.
This explains our questions.
Yosef represents the Jewish people (see Rashi on Psalms 80:2) who, like Yosef, were put into exile in order to manifest what they were 'chosen' for; to bring blessing, meaning and joy to the entire creation.
Yosef also represents Moshiach ben Yosef who will suffer in exile as the precursor of Moshiach ben Dovid (See Lekuti Sichot of the Rebbe vol. 35 pg. 156).
And this is what Jacob was 'waiting' for. He knew that his other sons would not understand, they lacked the vision and faith that both he and Josef had. But on the other hand Jacob knew that he could do nothing to quicken the process except to wait and pray that all the Jews would do their part to reveal Moshiach and take the Jews from exile ….. as the Chassidim in our story did.
And just as Communism fell in the merit of such Chassidim so also will all the idolatry and foolishness of the exile be transformed, as Yosef did to Egypt… (but permanently) and G-d will circumcise our hearts (Deut. 30:6).
We just have to do even one more good deed, word or even thought to hasten the arrival of …..
Moshiach NOW!!
Rabbi Tuvia Bolton

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RYYH
ULYOP
In a Rush to bring Moshiach

Wednesday Night Shiur - Vayeishev

Listen to this week's shiur of Parshas Vayeishev.
Hear all shiurim at www.shiur.us.

LubaSfardi Basketball league

The league is in full swing.

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RYYH
ULYOP
In a Rush to bring Moshiach

Shabbat Shalom

This Shabbos is between two holy days. Yud Dalet Kislev, & Yud Tes Kislev. Please put an extra coin in you Tzedaka before candle lighting, and see to light just 1 minute earlier.

This week we read of Yaakov's (Jacob's) battle with an angel that resulted in his name being changed to Yisroel (Israel).

But this does not seem to make sense. How can a person fight, no less win, against an angel? And after he won why didn't he get a bit more than just a name change? Couldn't he have just changed it without going through so much trouble?

Also, this coming week many Jews will celebrate the Chassidic holiday "19th of Kislev" when the originator of the Chabad Chassidic movement, Rabbi Shneur Zalman, was miraculously let out of prison where he had been falsely incarcerated for treason under punishment of death.

Is there a connection?

To understand this here is a story.

Some 350 years ago Judaism seemed to be in its death throes. Almost two thousand years of wandering, suffering, dashed hopes and unanswered prayers began to take its toll and a lot of Jews simply wanted 'out'.

It was in these desperate times that a holy man by the name of Rabbi Yisroel Baal Shem (a.k.a. Baal Shem Tov) began teaching new ideas called Chassidut. Chassidut was designed to make Jews happy by teaching them how good and close G-d and His Torah are to all of us.

It caught on like wildfire and in just a few years half of Russian and Polish Judaism became his followers ('Chassidim').

But success also brings enemies. The elite Torah scholars of the time rose in protest! They felt threatened by this new movement and devoted themselves heart and soul to oppose and destroy it in any way possible.

They called themselves 'Misnagdim' (opposers) and their war was especially directed against Rebbi Shneur Zalman who founded the branch of Chassidim 'Chabad'.

Rebbe Shneur Zalman wrote a book called "Tanya" that explained such 'forbidden' ideas as the 'One'ness of G-d, the uniqueness of the Jews, the G-dliness of the Torah and its Commandments and why this physical world is 'higher' than heaven.

They branded the Chassidim as maniacs, heretics and dangerous enemies of mankind who deserved excommunication, corporal punishment and worse.

The Misnagdim went so far as to slander the Rebbe and have him arrested and almost executed by the Russian Government for treason (his miraculous exoneration became the Chabad Holiday of Yud Tet Kislev which we mentioned previously). Unexplainably, ultra-orthodox Jews who had been examples of brotherly love and objective thinking became consumed with hatred.

The Jews of Lithuania were fervent Misnagdim and the city of Globak was one of the most fervent in Lithuania. There lived a very wealthy Torah Scholar by the name of Rabbi Shraga who, besides being a leading figure in the town and in the movement, was a strong willed person with unbounded hatred for the Chassidim.

So it was no wonder that when his brother, Zelig, went 'over' to 'visit' the Chassidim in the city of Liozne (where the Chabad Chassidim were) and came back several months later with a very positive report….. it wasn't taken well.

Zelig was an simple, easygoing fellow that was more philosophical than practical. He really believed that the worst that could happen when he came back with praises of the Chassidim was that he would be ignored.

But it wasn't so.

When he returned to Globak and began telling people what he thought about the Chassidim he was escorted into a side room of the synagogue by several strong young men and given such a severe lashing that a few weeks later he passed away and was buried in the worst area of the cemetery!

But no one in the town, including his brother, felt any regret. Exactly the opposite! In their minds Zelig was a deviant; a sick criminal and a threat to Judaism. They were certain that their actions and quick thinking saved thousands of families from being lured into apostasy and eternal damnation; Zelig's violent death would discourage anyone from making the same horrible 'mistake' in the future.

But in fact it did the opposite.

Shraga had a 19 year old son by the name of Mordechi. A few months after this incident Mordechi disappeared and left a note to his parents telling them that he had decided to exile himself to a place of Torah (Avot 4:14) (A common practice in those days; people would leave the 'comforts' of home, family and friends and wander to distant places to learn Torah) and they shouldn't worry.

But, in fact his uncle Zelig's death awakened something in him more than just curiosity; the desire to be a Chassid.

Two years later in the middle of the night, Shraga's other son (who we will call Yehuda) heard a knock at the window and turned to see Mordechi standing outside.

He let him in, they hugged for a long time but when Mordechi told him where he had been Yehuda jumped back as though bitten by a snake. He looked at his brother in horror but the horror faded when Mordechi began to explain some of the ideas he heard there; how every Jew is holy, G-d loves all mankind, creates the universe constantly, the Torah and its commandments connect to the Creator.

Mordechi saw that Yehuda wasn't going to turn him in and he pulled out a small page and gave it to him.

Upon was written in Hebrew.

"If this person comes into your camp, don't kill him."

Mordechi explained, "Take this. It's from the Rebbe. Before I left there I went in to him for a blessing because I was afraid that they would kill me like they did uncle Zelig and he gave me this. It seems that it's working. At least you didn't kill me."

Yehuda had to think fast; memories of uncle Zelig's death danced in his mind. If anyone discovered them it might mean big trouble. He told Mordechi to go to the synagogue adjoining their house and wait inside until he thought of something.

Mordechi did as he was told. It was almost midnight and the room was abandoned, only him and G-d. He stood for a while then opened his prayer book to say the evening prayer and before he knew it he was in a different world. He was singing to the Creator. Words of longing, trust, hope and love were in his mind and on his lips. He was swaying back and forth, singing a slow Chassidic song with his eyes closed in devotion.

The sweet singing from the synagogue next to his house woke Shraga from his sleep.. He sat up, listened for a few minutes washed his hands, got dressed and followed the sound like a baby to its mother's voice. He had to find what it was.

In moments he was peeking into the window of the Synagogue but the light was too dim. Suddenly his son Yehuda 'happened' to walk by pretended to also listen and finally told him that he recognized the voice. It was that of his brother, Mordechi.

Shraga waited for him to finish praying, ran into the room and shook his son's had warmly. But when Mordechi revealed that he had been by the Chassidim his father just stood in wide-eyed disbelief and then moved a few steps back so as not to come too close to a suspected heretic.

But he listened to what his son had to say.

It seems the letter of the Rebbe was working. Shraga gave his son a room in his house so he could do what he wanted and didn't tell anyone what had happened. His opposition was wearing away but he was a long way from being a Chassid.

Until the argument.

It wasn't so clear exactly what they argued about but one thing led to another and Shraga's wife demanded a divorce. Shraga, not one to back down, countered that nothing would please him more and announced that they would go to Vilna, the seat of great Talmudic scholarship, and officially separate.

But his wife refused. She wanted a divorce but the only one she would accept to do the ceremony was none other than Rebbe Shneur Zalman the head of the Chassidim!! Where she got this idea from was also not clear but she was adamant!

At first Shraga refused. He explained passionately, tried to appeal to reason, to loyalty, to mercy but for naught.

He was trapped!

Two weeks later they were standing before the door of the Rebbe, the door opened and they entered. Immediately when Shraga looked into the Rebbe's eyes he knew that this was a true Torah genius and when the Rebbe began speaking he was overwhelmed with his holiness.

The Rebbe heard their claims and complaints and within just moments made them see that that there was absolutely no substance to their argument what so ever. In fact he left them wondering if perhaps the only reason they fought was to bring them to the Rebbe.

Shraga and his wife left the room feeling that it was their wedding day when suddenly Shraga remembered his brother Zelig and he began to cry.

He went back to the Rebbe's door and knocked. A voice from inside the room told him to enter. When he did and closed the door behind him the Rebbe said.

"Nu! You are a Talmudic Scholar. When your brother, Zelig, came back from here, did you have any indication or support from the Talmud that it was permissible to beat him? To kill him?"

Shraga was crying and shaking his head 'no'.

"Nu" Continued the Rebbe, "You are a Talmudic Scholar. Can you find in the Talmud how to get forgiveness for such a murder?" Shraga was really crying now.

"Well," Replied the Rebbe, "I can."

"It says in the Tractate Baba Basra (3b) that King Hordus killed the wise men of Israel because he thought they were his enemies. But when realized he was wrong he was filled with remorse and asked Rabbi Baba ben Buta what he could do to be forgiven. The Rabbi answered: 'You killed Torah scholars and extinguished the light of the world. Therefore you must rekindle the light of the world.' Hordus took the hint and began to beautify and decorate the Holy Temple in Jerusalem until it was the most beautiful building in the world. So too in our case" Concluded the Rebbe. "You extinguished a light so you must kindle a light. You killed a Chassid, so build a synagogue in Globak for the Chassidic community… and see to it that there is a flourishing community."

Rabbi Shraga became an ardent Chassid of the Rebbe and followed his advice. He built what was for several hundred years, until the destruction of WWII, the most magnificent Synagogue in Globak and perhaps in all Lithuania. Built for the Chassidic community that grew there due to his generosity.

This answers our questions.

The 'angel' of Asav is really the power behind all the pleasures and pressures of this world both inside and outside of us.

While Jacob is the ability of man to wrestle with, defeat and even transform these urges and pressures to good.

Just as, in our story, the Rebbe transformed the world outside him and Shraga his internal world.

And this is the connection to Yud Tes Kislev, the holiday of Rebbe Shneur Zalman's redemption from imprisonment and death.

This is the holiday that began the true spreading of Chassidut in preparation to bring the Messiah (Moshiach). As the Baal Shem Tov was promised; that when your teachings (Chassidut) are spread out and learned by everyone; then the Messiah will bring total redemption; the power of Yaakov will transform the world (Asav) into blessing and joy.

This is what is implied by the name change; Yaakov implies wrestling, while Yisroel implies the days of Moshiach when we will defeat and even transform the Creation so it reveals the Creator.

It all depends on us (with the help of G-d) to do all we can, even one more good deed, word or even thought can bring...

Moshiach Now!

--
RYYH
ULYOP
In a Rush to bring Moshiach

Wednesday Night Shiur - Vayishlach

Listen to this week's shiur of Parshas Vayishlach.
Hear all shiurim at www.shiur.us.

Shabbat Shalom

The Mishmar is in full swing, a special Mishmar in honor of Tes Kislev. There was a special Farbrengen for Rosh Chodesh Kislev, and the regular Shabbos morning Shiur for the 8th garde is in full swing. The 4th Annual ski trip is now set for for Shabbos Chanukah. 6,7,8th grades will be working really hard to earn rights to join the trip. The leauges are in full swing, and we had some real sportsmanship. The upset of the week was almost a David and Goliath proportion. Cairo upset Alexandria. Then Nikilaiov edged out Vitebsk on a nail biting buzzer beater. Our indoor gym is doing great remind your son he needs to renew membership (5 lines of Tanya by heart). A special Thank you to all parents that attended the Melaveh Malkah last week. A special thank you to the parents of the yeay. If you have not yet sent in your Melaveh Malkah participation please do so. This week's Torah portion tells us how Jacob, the last of the three founders of Judaism, was tricked repeatedly by his father-in-law Lavan into marrying a woman he didn't want and working over ten years without pay.
This is definitely not so clear.
The Torah is a book of G-dly instruction, every letter, word and sentence holds hundreds of lessons in life. What is the purpose of telling us how Jacob was tricked so severely and 'wasted' so many years of his life?
To understand this here is a story that was told by the keynote speaker; Rabbi Moshe Bryski, in this year's massively successful 'Chabad Shliach' Convention in New York.
A 'Chabad Shliach' is an emissary of a great man called 'the Lubavitcher Rebbe' or as he is often referred to 'The Rebbe'. The Rebbe took upon himself to make sure that every Jew in the world, without exception, learns and takes to heart what Torah, G-d and Judaism really are.  
In order to accomplish this he personally sent thousands of his pupils or 'Shluchim' throughout the world to do the job and Tabbi Bryski is one of them,
He gave a good example of how G-d helps Shluchim to do their job and told the following story.  
One of the holiest holidays in Judaism is the two day holiday of Rosh HaShanna (Jewish New Year).  Jews spend much time in Synagogue asking G-d to make the world into a good, blessed, happy place and the peak of the holiday is when the Ram's Horn (called a Shofar) is sounded.
This commandment of 'Blowing the Shofar' is perhaps the most 'Jewish' commandment in the Bible. There are many heart- rending stories of Jews risking their lives throughout the generations to perform this commandment; smuggling shofars into concentration camps etc.
On Rabbi Bryski's first Rosh HaShanna in his then brand-new Chabad House in California some fifty people attended services. He was overjoyed with the success and happily announced that after the meal and afternoon services, anyone that wanted could accompany him in the ritual of 'Tashlich' (which consists of walking to the nearest river or lake and saying a short prayer).
About half of his new congregation agreed to go with him, some from nostalgia (perhaps they remembered grandpa doing it) others from curiosity and several hours later they met at the Rabbi's house and set off.
It was about an hour's walk but it was a pleasant day and half way there one of the group claimed he knew of a 'shortcut' they could take through a housing development.
It ended up not being a shortcut at all and as they were trying to find their way out they noticed an old woman on crutches standing in the street waving and saying something to them.
As they approached her feeble voice became audible. "Ahhh! Thank G-d!! Thank G-d!! You are a miracle!! Just what I prayed for!! Boruch HaShem (Hebrew for Thank G-d)."
They all greeted here with a happy holiday and she related that she had just undergone an operation on her legs and it was the first Rosh HaShanna in her life that she had been unable to walk to Synagogue to hear the blowing of the Shofar.  So she prayed to G-d for a miracle and ….. "Here you are!! G-d sent me a Rabbi so I could hear Shofar!
But Rabbi Bryski didn't have a shofar!  He didn't think he would need it and …. He had left it in the synagogue!!
He began to feel bad. He should have thought of this! What type of 'Shliach' was he?! Emissaries of the Rebbe all over the world take to the streets with Shofars on Rosh HaShanna and give hundred's of thousands of Jews a chance to hear the G-dly sound. And he …. Forgot!
But what could he do? It was too late to walk back to get a Shofar in time to do the commandment (which is only done in the day). He wouldn't make it.
So he apologized profusely, gave the woman all sorts of blessings; for a speedy recovery, for a good, happy, healthy new year, for much good news etc. etc. and explained that really she is exempt from the commandment anyway because it's impossible for her to attend services etc. etc.
The woman understood, blessed the Rabbi in return and they bade each other a happy new year and parted ways.
But Rabbi Bryski felt really bad. He had failed! It was like a soldier forgetting his gun! He had to make it up.
The next day after morning services instead of going home to eat the holiday meal he told his wife what he had to do, took a Shofar and went back to the housing project to find the woman.
It wasn't easy. He didn't know her name, he forgot to ask her, and it was the first day she had been out of the house since her operation so saying she was on crutches wasn't much of an identifying sign but after almost an hour of asking and searching he was directed to her door.
But he was in for a very unpleasant surprise.
An old man with a scowling face opened the door, took one look at him and almost yelled "Whad-ya-want!"
"Hi! Happy Rosh HaShanna!" the Rabbi said, forcing a smile. "I'm Rabbi Bryski and I met your wife on the street yesterday. She's on crutches, right?" 
"WHADAYAWANT!" the old man yelled.
"Well" The Rabbi answered timidly pulling out the small ram's horn from his pocket. "I just wanted to sound the Shofar for ….. "
"Go home!!" He mumbled and slammed the door in the Rabbi's face!
Rabbi Bryski couldn't understand what happened but with no alternative he hung his head and turned around to leave.  He had failed again!
Suddenly he heard a window slide open and a old woman's voice creaked. "Rabbi! Ohhh! Am I glad to see you!! Did you come to blow the Shofar for me?"
The Rabbi walked to the window and almost whispered.
"Yes… but someone, I think it was your husband, just told me to leave! He even slammed the door in my face. Maybe I should just…"
"Ahhh! That's my husband Max. I'll talk to him. Just don't go away. Max is angry but I'll talk to him."
Sure enough, a minute or two later the door opened and Rabbi Bryski entered. He tried to be as pleasant as possible to Max, who was standing there looking to a side.  As soon as the Rabbi was completely in Max just went into the kitchen and closed the door. 
The Rabbi took out his shofar, the woman covered her head, said the blessings and the ancient sounds of the Ram's horn filled the room.
The old woman dried her eyes, thanked him profusely and explained.
"Listen Rabbi, please don't be angry with my husband. He's very mad at you religious people and, well, I don't know but maybe he's right.  You see, we have a son. A handsome boy, brilliant! He's the apple of our eye! Max is crazy about him. But a year ago our son got religious.
"That's right, he started getting really serious about being Jewish and…. Well…. now he won't even come to eat by us! He says we aren't kosher for him and now we never see him anymore. We tried to talk to him, to his friends, to his Rabbis but they don't want to talk. So Max got really mad. That's why he didn't let you in!"
Rabbi Bryski got a brainstorm. He asked the woman to call her husband out. Max came out of the kitchen and the Rabbi asked him,
"Listen, if your son brings his own dishes and his own food and eats with you… is that okay?" Max shook his head yes. "Listen, Max. I promise that tonight immediately after the holiday I'll talk to your son and convince him to come here. What do you say?"
Max was happy. He almost cried as he pumped the Rabbi's hand in gratitude.
"Now" Rabbi Bryski said "I'll blow the shofar for you too, good?"
Max thought a few seconds, pulled his car keys out of his pocket and said. "Listen Rabbi, I got a brother that lives a few blocks down the street. He didn't hear Shofar either. Let's go to his house. If you want, you can drive" and tried to hand him the keys. 
But the Rabbi explained that it is forbidden to drive a car on the Jewish holidays, convinced Max to walk and twenty minutes later they arrived at his brother's home.
When his brother heard what had happened and how the Rabbi promised to fix things up he excused himself, left the house and returned ten minutes later with some twenty Jewish neighbors none of which had heard the Shofar! 
If the Rabbi had 'remembered' his Shofar the day before none of these people would have participated in this wonderful commandment. That year was one of the best Rosh HaShanna's in a lot of people's lives.
This answers our question.
G-d created (and creates constantly) this beautiful, complicated, miraculous world and all the people in it for a purpose; that all mankind realize how good G-d is, how close He is to us and how much He loves and cares for EACH and ALL of His creations.
And this is what the Jews were 'chosen' for; to realize this themselves and to teach it to the world. Or, in the language of 'Chabad' teachings; 'To Elevate the Creation'. 
But it isn't so simple; as Jacob in this week's Torah portion and Rabbi Bryski almost 4,000 years later, discovered.
Sometimes the only way to fix the world up is to let G-d take over. And often this takes time.
Indeed… time itself is one of the aspects of creation that must be elevated.
And this is why Jacob's mission took so long. Indeed, because of his patience he gave birth to the twelve Tribes that were to become the nation of Israel.
This is very relevant to us today.
Ours is the generation of Moshiach.
Moshiach will be a Jewish leader exactly like the Lubavitcher Rebbe; he will bring all the Jews back to Judaism and 'elevate' the entire world. Including 'time'.
And the Lubavitcher Rebbe said repeatedly … The 'Time' has arrived! Now even one good deed, word or even thought can tip the scales.
It is up to us to do all we can, or even one thing more, to make the world a better, more holy place and reveal…
Moshiach NOW!
Rabbi Tuvia Bolton

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RYYH
ULYOP
In a Rush to bring Moshiach

Wednesday Night Shiur - Vayeitzei

Listen to this week's shiur of Parshas Vayeitzei.

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