Good Shabbos

Hope you have been saying the Nossi of the day. Big Bais Nissan Rally today, pictures next week IY"H. Thank you to Rabbi Harari for the BBQ in the rain for the boys staying Thursday nights Mishmar. If you need to sell your Chametz you can email us or fax 718 434-1519, or just stop into our main office.
This week we begin the book of Leviticus and usher in the Month of Nisan; the month of miracles (unlike the Month of Tishre which commemorates the creation of nature, Nisan commemorates the birth of the Jewish people; above nature.)
 
But strangely, if you look in a Torah Scroll you may notice that the first word of our portion, (meaning G-d 'Called' to Moses, is written with a small last letter: VAYIKRa.
 
There are several reasons given for this; one is to stress the humility of Moses. (see also Num. 12:3).
 
Another is to point out that that here G-d was calling to Moses in an inferior way; in the desert and not as it was supposed to be in the Temple in Israel.
 
A third reason is to show that as perfect as Moses was he wasn't at the level of Adam, the first man, (therefore in Cron. 1:1:1 the Alef of 'Adam' is big) and certainly not as high as Moshiach will be.
 
But at first glance this is hard to understand: Why begin on a negative note? What way is this to usher in the month of miracles?
 
First of all, what is so great about humility? Second, why tell us that G-d's message to Moses and Moses himself were both second best?
 
To understand this here are two stories that the Lubavitcher Rebbe told publicly. (Ma Sh'siper Li HaRebbe pg.89 and 95).
 
The first story was told on Purim 1960: The Fourth Rebbe of Chabad was called Rebbe Shmuel (M'harash for short). He had two sons. The older was called Zalman Ahron and the younger (who would become the next Rebbe when his father passed away at age of 49 in 1882) was called Shalom Dovber.
 
Both boys showed signs of genius and even the games they played together as children showed they were destined for greatness. 
 
In the home of their grandfather, the third Rebbe of Chabad the Tzemach Tzedik, they were accustomed to see tens of Chassidim coming every day from far corners of Russia and Europe for advice and blessings. So it wasn't surprising that one of their games was 'Rebbe and Chassid'. 
 
First, a few words about these terms, Rebbe and Chassid: Success in most walks of life does not necessarily depend on one's character or personality.  A doctor who heals people, a lawyer who wins cases or a businessman who makes money is called 'good' regardless of his private life. 
But this is not so in Judaism.
 
A 'good' Jew is one who has rid himself of selfish priorities and desires (even spiritual ones like going to heaven) and who genuinely loves G-d, the Torah and other people. 
 
An almost impossible task…. Especially when coupled with difficulties in health, livelihood and family that plagued the Jews constantly. That is why there are Rebbes.
 
Rebbes are Jews who, like Moses over 3,300 years ago, have a G-d given talent to take other Jews out of 'Egypt' i.e. all the internal and external problems bothering them and bring them to 'The Holy Land' i.e. revealed awareness, love and fear of G-d.
 
In their games Zalman Aharon, being the oldest, assumed the part of Rebbe and his younger brother played the part of Chassid.
 
On one occasion Shalom Dovber solemnly asked his brother-as-Rebbe a question: "Rebbe, tell me… what is a Jew?"
 
His brother, sitting behind a table with a serious face just as he had seen his grandfather do answered in the most meaningful tone he could muster up, "A Jew is fire." 
 
"If so," replied Shalom Dovber "Why is it that when my hand touches yours it isn't burned?"
"Ahh!" Replied his brother wisely, "because you are also fire and fire cannot be burned by fire!" at which point Shalom Dovber humbly backed humbly out of the room and waited a few moments before reentering.
 
This time he stood before his brother with an even more serious problem; "Rebbe" he said sincerely, "I need a 'Tikun' (a path of correction for a sin).
 
"What did you do? Why do you need a Tikun?" His brother asked.
"This past Shabbat I cracked some walnuts and ate them. But afterwards it became known to me that we in Chabad don't crack nuts because the Alter Rebbe (First Rebbe of Chabad Rebbe Shneur Zalman) forbids it. So I need a Tikun." He said with tears in his eyes.
 
His brother thought for a few seconds and answered all-knowingly. "Your 'Tikun' is you must pray every word of the prayers only from a Sidur (prayer book) and not by heart." And again Shalom Dovber thanked his 'Rebbe' brother and backed out of the room.
 
But as the days passed it was noticeable that he didn't take his brother's advice seriously and made no attempt to hide the fact; he often was seen praying by heart without a siddur. 
 
When his mother, who knew the entire story, asked him why he didn't take the advice of his older brother he replied, "The reason I didn't take his advice is because it won't help.……. because he isn't a Rebbe. He doesn't even know how to playact like a Rebbe."
 
He turned to his brother and continued,
 
"I've seen what Grandpa does when people come in with problems. Before he gives advice he sighs. You don't sigh!  When a Rebbe gives advice to a Jew it's not his advice that helps. It's his sigh with a broken heart that helps. Because you don't sigh or moan….. your advice won't help." 
 
The second story is from Simchat Torah 1956 and is about the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak.
 
Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak was put into Communist prison in 1927, sentenced to death, tortured but miraculously released about one month later. A few months thereafter he was forced to leave Russia and almost a year later he decided to visit first Israel to strengthen the Jews and pray at the holy graves there and then  to visit America, where assimilation was beginning to take its toll.
 
His travels in Israel are recorded in several places; everywhere he went he was greeted and accompanied by hundreds, often thousands, of people and he left a great and positive impression.
 
He left Israel just days before the terrible Arab massacres in Hevron (in 1929) and it was on the ship that he got the depressing news.  Over sixty Jews had been killed in cold blood by their Arab neighbors and many more had been maimed.  What aggravated the pain even more was that just days earlier he had been the guest of the Hevron community and knew each of them personally.
 
The news made him so ill that he was bedridden and even experienced a life-threatening kidney attack.
 
But there happened to be on that same ship a famous Jewish doctor by the name of Dr. Moshe Valach on his way to America to raise funds for his hospital in Jerusalem.
 
He had left a comfortable practice in Europe in order to help the Jews of Israel, became one of the founders of Shaari Tzedek hospital in Jerusalem and later became famous for his super-human, unending self-sacrifice (he didn't even marry) in healing the sick.
 
Needless to say, when he heard of the Rebbe's condition he rushed to his side and treated him for hours giving him various shots and medicines until he was out of danger. He literally saved the Rebbe's life.
 
But a few days later Doctor Valach knocked on the Rebbe's door, asked if he could enter and then humbly requested from the Rebbe a Tikun; advice on how to correct hisa sin.
 
"What is the sin?" The Rebbe asked.
 
"It is clear to me" the Doctor answered. "That the Rebbe is the leader of the Jewish people and that it cannot be that the Rebbe be anything but healthy.  If so, if it wasn't for the fact that I was on the ship, in which case there would have been no one to heal the Rebbe, the Rebbe would not have gotten sick! In other words, only because I was on the ship did the Rebbe become ill. I am certain that only because of me did the Rebbe suffer several days. Therefore I came to request a Tikun."
 
We do not know what the Rebbe's reply was but we do know that this great doctor, rather than feeling ego from his talents actually felt shame that his good deeds had to come as the result of someone else's suffering.
 
This answers our questions. 
 
The essence of Judaism and the message we Jews were 'chosen' by G-d to bring to the world is that G-d creates, directs, cares for, and enlivens the entire creation (spiritual as well) constantly.  And the Torah is His instruction manual to mankind to make it all work.
 
But this can only be realized through humility. Only by controlling and transforming our selfish natures can we feel how good and close the Creator is. As Moses felt through his humility. 
 
But there is another step. Giving thanks for all we have is only the beginning the second step is to change the world for the better. 
 
We must realize that the world is missing a lot something like the Rebbe's sigh and Dr. Voloch's regret in our stories; we must feel that the world needs to be fixed.
 
Only then will we really want the pain in the world to stop and really do everything we can to bring Moshiach and the Third Temple in the Holy Land;
 
The very messages G-d teaches us here with the small Alef in VAYIKRa.
 
There is no more fitting message to begin the month of Nissan; the month of miracles; we are small… but we can make big changes. It's just up to us to do everything we can to bring….

Moshiach NOW!

Rabbi Tuvia Bolton

RYYH
ULYOP
In a Rush to bring Moshiach

Wednesday Night Shiur - Vayikra

Listen to this week's shiur of Parshas Vayikra, Birkas Hachama, the blessing of the sun which happens every 28 years and a few halachos of Pesach.
Hear all shiurim at www.shiur.us.

Good shabbos

Please help us with our Pesach campaign.
This week we finish reading about the building of the Tabernacle in the desert.
 
The Torah tells us that the Jews were so enthusiastic in donating the required materials that there was actually a surplus (36:7).
 
At first glance this is not so surprising. After all, the Jews left Egypt with great riches and in the desert there wasn't much use for it; G-d supplied their food, shelter and protection and there wasn't much to buy anyway.
 
But it is explained that the reason for their enthusiasm was because the Tabernacle brought forgiveness for the sin of the Golden Calf.
 
At first glance this is completely not understood.  First of all, idolatry, the second of the Ten Commandments is the worst sin in Judaism! Secondly, before they bowed down, all the Jews HEARD G-D personally tell them at Mount Sinai NOT to do it! And third, they did it while G-d was providing for and protecting them in the desert! What a slap in the face!!   
 
So how could such a thing as a Temple or a Tabernacle erase such a heinous sin??
 
Not only that, the Torah (Ex. 32:1) tells us that the Jews did it because they thought Moses left them. Why would such an apparently minor thing as Moses' absence drive them to such a total mistake as idolatry!? 
 
To understand all this, here is a story (Raboseinu N'siainu, Admor HaRashab pg, 69) about the fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rebbe Shalom Dovber (1860-1920) whose birthday, 2nd of Nissan, will be this coming week.
 
In Czarist Russia everything seemed to be against the Jews: The Russians were anti-Semites, the all-powerful, omnipresent Russian Orthodox Church was even more so and poverty was everywhere. But somehow the Jews not only survived they flourished (See Exodus 1:12).  
 
But not without miracles.
 
One example was with a simple Jew in the Ukrainian city of Dormilovka, who we will call Zelig, who opened a small grocery store and was eking out a respectable living ….. until his neighbors decided to kill him.
 
Just like that!
 
It began with some sort of argument over a debt and the next morning as he was leaving his house Zelig noticed an envelope stuck under his door. He picked it up and opened it and it read, in Russian scribbled on a piece of paper: "Ivan and friends talking to kill you. Hide."
 
Poor Zelig began to tremble like a blade of grass in the wind. Where would he run? Where could he go? There were six of them, maybe more. And they were vicious! He was afraid to leave his house. He stayed home.
 
The next morning he peeked out his window and saw them hiding outside. And so it was the next day. A few times a day they passed by and tried to peer through his window. For almost a week he stayed at home hoping they would forget him but it wasn't so.
 
So he got afraid to sleep at home. Every night he snuck out to sleep somewhere else and it was a miracle they didn't catch him. And the next week it was the same.
 
He considered running away but he couldn't; it wouldn't help. First of all they would find him. Second, even if they didn't, he would have to leave everything behind and become a pauper with no home, job or family. Third, he wasn't a young, healthy man, if he didn't solve the problem he wouldn't last long.  
 
So when someone suggested that he travel to the city of Lubavitch and ask the Rebbe, Rebbe Shalom Dovber, for a blessing and advice he jumped at it. He waited for the right time, put on different clothes, covered his face, had someone smuggle him off to the train station, buy a ticket for him and he was on his way.
 
But it wasn't so simple.
 
Once he got to Lubavitch he discovered that he wasn't the only Jew with problems; there was a line of some thirty people before him. Some of them looked like rich businessmen, others like Talmudic Scholars, and others simple Jews like himself… but he was last. And at the rate the Rebbe dealt with people he would be there for a week, an eternity! Maybe more!   
 
What could he do? His mind was churning with worry! Nothing was stopping his enemies back home from burning down his store or even worse…. his house! With his wife in it! He had to get to the Rebbe, just for two minutes!!  He even asked the Chassid guarding the Rebbe's door, with no luck… he got a flat no.
 
And the next day the line seemed to be even longer. There were people that had appointments for months that got slipped in before him! Poor Zelig! He had only one thing left to do… pray!  G-d had to answer his prayers!
 
As he was standing in some isolated corner of the house, face to the wall, weeping like a baby and shaking like a leaf he heard someone clear his throat directly behind him. He turned to see a very respectable Rabbi with friendly eyes asking, "Is everything all right?"
 
Zelig wiped his eyes and … he recognized him! It was Rabbi Menachem Mendel Chein, the Rabbi of the city of Ni'ejin and it was truly a miracle that he just happened to enter.
 
"Ohh, Rabbi Chein! Thank G-d you're here! No, it's not." He answered. "That is, I'm sure G-d is in control but I need the Rebbe's help to see it. I need a big miracle! I'm in big trouble!" And he poured his heart out telling him the entire story.
 
"Listen," Rabbi Chein said, "you only need five minutes with the Rebbe? Are you sure? If so, G-d willing I'll talk to the Rebbe's wife and see what happens."
 
Two hours later the doorman called out Zelig's name and he was standing before the Rebbe telling his bitter story.
 
The Rebbe calmly and quietly answered. "You can return home, everything will be all right."
 
But poor Zelig was still afraid. The very thought of stepping off the train at the station back home filled him with fear. They would be waiting for him! He was sure of it! They would catch him, beat him, they had knives oyyy!! He imagined his dead body and felt all empty and cold.
 
"Rebbe!" he pleaded. "I'm so afraid! I'm even afraid to get on the train! I appreciate the blessing… but I please…. Only if the Rebbe PROMISES that nothing will happen. A clear promise."
 
The Rebbe smiled and replied almost jokingly. "What do want, that all the gentiles in your village should die? I told you not to worry!" Then smiling even more warmly said, "If you believe in what I say then what is the difference if I bless or I promise?"
 
But Zelig didn't get the joke. He just sort of whimpered. "Rebbe, I'm afraid to go home. Please promise!"
 
"And if I promise, you won't be afraid anymore?" The Rebbe asked.
 
"No. That is, yes! I promise I won't be afraid."
 
"If so," The Rebbe continued "I promise that you won't have any more trouble from the gentiles."
 
As soon as he heard those words he became calm, thanked the Rebbe with all his heart, backed out of the room, ran to the train and took the first one out.
 
When he arrived in Dormilovka he found the Rebbe's promise was really a blessing!  None, not one of the six hoodlums that hated him were there… they all disappeared!
 
One fell from his horse while drunk and drowned in the river. Another got killed in a fight or something. And the remaining four 'somehow' got the 'brilliant' idea that it would be more fun to burn down the mansion of the local baron than Zelig's little hut.
And they probably would have been right if they hadn't gotten caught in the act and sent to Siberia for eight years! 
 
And if that isn't enough of a happy ending, when the eight years ended and they returned to the village Zelig almost began to fear that they would take revenge.. but it was the opposite. They not only had forgotten the entire fight with him, they became his friends and best customers.
 
The promise of the Rebbe was fulfilled.
 
This explains our questions. The reason the Jews worshiped the Golden Calf was because they became afraid. Something like Zelig in our story. 
 
When Moses was leading them they only thought of G-d; of the greatness, goodness and closeness of the Creator and were filled with motivation and joy. But without Moses they only felt themselves; their thoughts became filled with uncertainty and egotism and they grabbed at any sort of spirituality (Idolatry) available.
 
That is why the Tabernacle, and later the Temple, was the antidote.  Because these holy edifices filled the Jews again with joy in the awareness that G-d is INFINITELY close to us and KING of all creation.
 
But the Temple is not enough. Only with Moses (and the Zohar tells us that every generation must have a 'Moses') can the Jews find this joy and motivation. As we saw with Zelig and the Rebbe (the Moses of his generation).
 
And this will be the function of the King Moshiach that we Jews have been awaiting for thousands of years.
 
Moshiach will be a great leader like King David, a Torah genius like King Solomon and a prophet like Moses. Indeed, even greater than these three.
 
And as the Rebbe in our story did to Zelig, Moshiach will infuse the Jews with joy and bring them all back home.
 
It's all up to us! We can make this all happen even one second sooner by doing just one more good deed, or even having one good thought.
Soon we will be rejoicing in the Third Holy Temple with…

Moshiach NOW!

Rabbi Tuvia Bolton
RYYH
ULYOP
In a Rush to bring Moshiach

Wednesday Night Shiur - Vayakhel-Pikudey

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

Shabbat Shalom

Don't forget this Shabbos is Parshas Parah, according to some opinions Parah is also "Min Hatorah" to hear. So please see to it that you know the local times for the morning Torah reading. We are currently starting our Pesach campaign, if you can help us with any amount it would be greatly appreciated. Call 718 859-7600 ext 101 for details.
This week's Torah portion contains the most embarrassing story ever told; the Golden Calf fiasco.

The Jewish people had just left polytheistic Egypt amidst miracles and wonders to become the 'Chosen People' of G-d and bring monotheism to the world: to rid the world of selfish idolatry and convey the message of G-d's goodness and Oneness and bring blessing to all mankind.

But instead they did the opposite! Just 40 days after they saw and heard G-d tell them not to worship idols (in the Ten Commandments) …… they worshiped one and brought punishment and curses upon themselves.

But what is even more interesting is the Haftorah.

The 'Haftorah' is a portion, usually from the prophets, read aloud in Synagogue immediately after the regular Torah reading on Shabbat that has some connection to the Torah portion.

But this week the Haftorah seems to convey exactly the OPPOSITE message and actually encourages idolatry!

This week's Haftorah (Kings 1:18:1) tells us of a similarly shameful episode in the history of Judaism. It was about six hundred years after Mt. Sinai in the days of the first Holy Temple when, despite the fact that all of the Jews were living in the Holy Land and holiness was everywhere, almost all the Jews worshipped an idol called 'Baal'.

G-d sent His prophet Elijah to wake the people up…. But it didn't work. It seems that Jews had (and still have albeit to a much lesser degree) a surprising affinity to idolatry.

Finally Elijah had no alternative then to call for a public showdown on Mount Carmel between him and the Baal worshipers. The rules were; whoever could bring fire from heaven onto his sacrifice would be the winner.

The Haftorah tells us that the prophets of Baal made an altar of stone, slaughtered upon it oxen, prayed, invoked, danced, screamed and even gashed their flesh for a few hours but…. No supernal fire.

Then came Elijah's turn; he stepped up to his altar, turned to the people and said "How long will you waver in belief? If G-d is the L-rd worship only Him but if Baal is right then worship him!" (18:21)

He then raised his hands to heaven, called out "Answer me G-d, Answer me!" And fire burst forth from above and devoured his sacrifice together with all the stones in the massive altar he built and the people fell on their faces and yelled "G-d is all, G-d is all"

In our portion G-d and Moses tell the people don't worship idols and here Elijah is telling everyone "If Baal is right ….. SERVE the BAAL!!"

Even more, how could such words come from the mouth of holy Elijah the prophet?? How could he suggest that Jews should worship Baal? (G-d forbid!)

To understand this here is a story. (HaGeula weekly page #446)

Rabbi Levi Vilmovski, today the manager of all the Torah institutions in the city of Migdal HaEmek has hundreds of interesting stories to tell but there is one that stands out.

It occurred some thirty years ago when he ran the Chabad House in Holon shortly after the Lubavitcher Rebbe ordered his Chassidim to go from house to house and explain how the Mezuza, besides being a commandment of G-d and a blessing, protects the home and those in it like a helmet protects a soldier.

So Rabbi Levi and his partner decided to follow the Rebbe's orders and advertise their Chabad House at the same time by offering to check the Mezuzot on people's houses for free.

He took young men from a local Chabad school, gave them thousands of pamphlets, told them to distribute them to every home in Holon and in a short time hundreds of responses arrived.

But one pamphlet caught his eye; it had the words 'URGENT URGENT' written on it in large letters and underlined twice.

Looked important.

He called the phone number written there, introduced himself and the voice on the other end said, "Chabad? Wow! Am I happy to hear from you!! Yes! I'm Ben Tzion S…. and it is very urgent. My wife is very ill and …. Well I thought that maybe the mezuzot….."

That evening Rabbi Levi visited the home of Ben Tzion and heard a sad story. He was the owner of a successful factory in Tel Aviv but over a year and a half ago his wife came down with a severe case of depression and his life had been turned upside down.

At first he thought it would just pass but it didn't. In fact it got to the point that she was unable to even get out of bed the entire day. He'd taken her to almost every doctor and professor whether conventional or alternative listed in the phone book but so far, except for losing his money, nothing worked. The doctors said she was too far gone.

So when he saw the pamphlet on Mezuza from the Chabad House he knew he had to give it a try.

Rabbi Levi immediately removed the Mezuza of the front door, opened it, removed the parchment and began checking the letters to see if they were whole and complete. It wasn't hard to find what was wrong. To his shock he saw an entire word; the word "Nafshechem" 'Your Soul' (Deut.11:13) almost completely rubbed out!

When he showed it to Ben Tzion he almost fainted. Could it be that this had something to do with his wife's 'soul'? He didn't ask questions. He bought a new mezuzah on the spot, Reb Levi put it on his door and took the rest of the mezuzot to be checked properly.

A day later Rabbi Levi called Ben Tzion and heard that his wife's state was slightly better; she was talking a bit, but she still refused to get out of bed.

So Rabbi Levi paid him another visit and they called the office of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in New York for a blessing for his wife.

Two days later Rabbi Levi called Ben Tzion again but this time he didn't want to talk on the phone. "Rabbi, you have to come over!" he said excitedly.

When he got to Ben Tzion's house he couldn't help feeling that something had changed. First of all there was the smell of food and the house seemed much tidier.

"Let me tell you what happened" Ben Tzion said excitedly as he offered the Rabbi a seat. "Yesterday morning I woke up and made myself breakfast before going to work, like I do every day. But when I came back I smelled something burning or cooking! The first thought that crossed my mind was 'Oh no!! I must have left the fire burning from this morning! Who knows what damage has been done! Thank G-d the house didn't burn down.' But when I ran into the kitchen I got the surprise of my life… it was my wife!! She was cooking!! She hasn't cooked for over a year and she was standing there cooking!

"But do you know what got her out of bed?! You know what she told me! Here, I'll call her and let her tell you herself."

Ben Tzion called his wife and she entered the room, said hello and thanked the Rabbi for his efforts and told him what happened. It was the first time the Rabbi had seen her, up till now she had been hidden in her room.

"It was the most amazing thing!" She said. "Yesterday I woke up feeling a little better but I was too miserable and afraid to get out of bed. I was just about to go back to sleep when suddenly this old man with a white beard appeared in my room!

"I was really surprised, but he wasn't scary at all. He just stood next to my bed and said. 'Get up! Get out of bed!' For some reason I couldn't refuse him and I got up but as soon as I did he disappeared! Since then I feel that I returned to myself! It was like I woke from a long deep sleep."

Rabbi Vilmovski took a card out of his pocket with the Rebbe's picture on it and showed it to her. "Oh!" She exclaimed. "That's him! He's the one I saw!"

Shortly thereafter they all flew to the Rebbe to thank him and to this day, thirty years later, they are still in touch and the woman's depression has never returned.

This answers our questions.

The reason given in the Torah that the Jews bowed to the Golden Calf was that they thought that Moses was dead. (32:1 see Rashi)

Moses taught and inspired the people to be aware of and feel G-d all the time. And without Moses Jews feel only themselves ....... like sheep without a shepherd.

This false egotism is the source of idolatry, war, sickness and all bad things… including depression.

Indeed, this is the reason that in the days of Moshiach there will be none of this negativity; because Moshiach will teach the world to think about G-d (Rambam, M'lachim 12:5) even more successfully than Moses did.

And this is the point that Elijah the prophet was making. Often a person continues being an egotist and an idolater because he has good qualities as well …. like the Jews he was speaking to; they worshiped both G-d AND idolatry.

That's why he told them to consider worshiping ONLY Baal (G-d forbid).

He knew they would never dream of denying G-d (denying G-d was almost unheard of until only the last few hundred years) but on the other hand they liked idolatry as well and their belief in G-d made them overlook this.

So Elijah told them; 'Stop fooling yourselves! If you really think it's okay to serve Baal and be an egotist then don't think G-d agrees with you; your good deeds don't lessen your mistake!

But our generation is different. Ours is the generation of Moshiach! The day is very close… even today… when we will be aware of our Creator constantly and we will awaken our true ego… our G-dly soul (as explained in the second chapter of Tanya). Then the world will be perfected with no more war, strife, hunger, pain or disease. It's all up to us to do just one more good deed and bring….

Moshiach NOW!

Rabbi Tuvia Bolton

RYYH
ULYOP
In a Rush to bring Moshiach

Wednesday Night Shiur - Ki Tisa

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

Parshas Zachor Shabbat Shalom

This Shabbos we read Parshas Zachor. It is obligatory for men, women, & Children to go to Shul and hear the reading of Parshas Zachor. Monday March 9, 2009 is Taanis Esther. As we move the clock ahead this Motzoey Shabbos the fast will end approximately 7:25 pm at which time they will read the Megilla. School will finish on Monday at 12noon. Tuesday & Wednesday Purim vacation no classes.
This week's Torah portion describes the garments used by the Priests (Cohanim) in the Temple and comes before the holiday of Purim.
Therefore this Shabbat we read a special portion about destroying 'Amelek ' (Parshat Zachor') as a preparation for the holiday of Purim when the Jews foiled the plans of Haman; the representative of the anti-Semitic nation Amelek, some 2,500 years ago.
Every creation and certainly every idea in the Torah teaches us how to improve ourselves and the world around us according to G-d's (the manufacturer's) standards.
What is the lesson here? What connection is there between the garments of the Priests and destroying Amelek?
To understand this here is a story based on one that the Lubavitcher Rebbe told to his Chassidim over 45 years ago (HaAzinu 5722) (Ma ShSaper Li HaRebbe pg. 15)
The fourth leader of the Chabad Chassidic movement; the great, holy genius Rebbe Shmuel (Mahar'sh for short) (1834-1882) often took long journeys as did the founder of the Chassidic movement; Rabbi Yisroel Baal Shem (a.k.a Baal Shem Tov) some 100 years earlier.
The purpose of these journeys was often mysterious and only revealed much later, but in this case the purpose was clear; to convince the Czar's ministers to take action against a particularly harsh decree against the Jews.
Things did not look good. This decree had been well planned and only a miracle would stop it but the Rebbe did have friends in St. Petersburg and, in addition, he had a special letter stating that he was an "Honorable citizen for all generations" partially in gratitude for the roll that his great-grandfather, Rebbe Sheur Zalman the first leader of Chabad, had in defeating Napoleon.
One of the stops on his journey from Lubavitch to Petersberg was the city Dvinsk where he would have to wait an hour in order to change trains.
Dvinsk was a large, busy city and it just so happened that among many Jews living there were many 'Misnagdim'; ultra religious Jews that hated the Chassidim, especially Chabad Chassidim. The reasons for this hatred were never really clear but mostly it was because the Chassidim were excited about bringing Moshiach and more happy about serving G-d in this world than G-d serving them in heaven.
In any case the misnagdim were intelligent people and as soon as they got wind of the Rebbe's stopover they concocted a foolproof plan to get him arrested.
They went to the train station where he was waiting and, posing as genuinely interested followers approached him and requested, "Rebbe we are thirsty for your wisdom". One spoke while the others nodded their heads in feigned seriousness. "Please, we beg of you say a Mimor so the entire city can learn and do!" (a Mimor is a deep Chassidic discourse often explaining esoteric ideas of Kaballa.)
When, surprisingly, the Rebbe agreed they began step two of their plan; to convince the Rebbe to say his mimor in the Train Station.
"Rebbe, the nearest synagogue is a distance from here; you'll never make it there and back for your train. Why not just say the Mimor right here in the train depot?!"
Again the Rebbe agreed. The misnagdim, overjoyed at their success, began setting up a place for the Rebbe in the Station while others rushed off in different directions to advertise the good news.
In just minutes men came running from near and far to hear the Rebbe speak until, fifteen minutes later the place was over packed with hundreds of Jews and more were coming!
The misnagdim meanwhile made it a point of getting into the thick of the crowd, pushing and shoving wherever possible while subtly breaking or scratching everything in their proximity to cause confusion.
When they felt there was ample evidence that things were out of control and the Rebbe was a disruptive personage they slipped out of the crowd and ran to the local police station for the final stage.
Dvinsk was known for its law and order. This was mainly due to the large army camp there; the presence of thousands of soldiers thirsty for action and blood if necessary made everyone afraid to move. And the police, not to be outdone by the army, were unusually strict and cruel.
Realizing this, the misnagdim entered the police station and began to yell, "There's a revolutionary Rabbi making a riot in the train station! Do something! Go there quick! The whole place is a wreck! We tried to stop him but we almost got killed etc. etc."
The police, who realized this was their golden opportunity to show that they, and not the soldiers, were in control, took clubs and ran out the door like mad dogs in the direction of the train station.
When finally got there they saw it was just as the young men said; packed and in total disorder…. although it was much quieter than they thought it would be, nevertheless the place was in shambles and crowed way over the maximum!
The police captain told his men to follow him as he ran around the to an open side door nearest to where the Rebbe was sitting and prepared to enter. The Rebbe didn't notice them at all. He was swaying slightly, eyes closed, speaking forcefully in Yiddish to a silent crowd deeply engrossed in every word he was saying.
The captain threw his shoulders back, raised his club and began to enter, to arrest the Rebbe! But his feet didn't move. He motioned to his men but they stood like statues gazing transfixed on the holy face of this holy Jew; they were paralyzed with awe. They couldn't understand what was happening; why should a bearded Jews scare them? But it was all they could do to turn and run back to the police station like scared children.
They arrived breathless, ashamed to the bone and unable to answer the questions the chief of police was yelling at them. "What happened? Why are you back here? Where is the revolutionary?"
The captain tried to answer but his replies made no sense. So the chief buckled on his sword, fastened his club and told everyone to follow him.
In moments he arrived at the station and when he saw what was going on; the huge crowd and seemingly political activity he was also enraged. He was about to give the order to his men to enter and disperse the crowd! But something made him stop. He had a better idea; he would make the Rebbe stop talking and start answering questions! He would take the problem by the head!
He walked to the side door, followed by the entire force, told them to wait as he entered and approached the Rebbe. But as he got closer and closer his anger faded until, just as he was about to say something, the Rebbe without opening his eyes or even pausing in his 'Mimor' reached into his pocket, pulled out his letter of honor and handed it to him without even turning to him.
The chief took the letter, unfolded it, read its contents, stood at attention, saluted the Rebbe, handed the paper back to one of those present to give to the Rebbe and left.
Moments later the Rebbe finished his discourse, the train arrived and he continued his journey to Petersburg where he succeeded in negating the decree.
So we see the Rebbe transformed darkness and evil into light and good: if it hadn't been for those misnagdim, hundreds of people would never have heard the Rebbe speak, the entire police force of Dvinsk wouldn't have been influenced by his presence and possibly, without these two merits, he might not have succeed in Petersburg.
This answers our questions. Both the garments of the Priests and the holiday of Purim signify transforming bad to good.
The priestly garments transformed the garments of Adam caused by the sin of the tree of knowledge and the joy and celebration of Purim transforms the misery and death that Haman wanted to bring into the world.
Indeed, the reason the world was created is in order that we reveal the Creator in His creation; or, in other words to reveal the Creator in the creation. And the only two times it really happened in a revealed way were in the Holy Temple and in the holiday of Purim.
That is why two of the accomplishments of Moshiach will be to rebuild the Temple and destroy Amelek; the two topics of this week's Torah portions.
But these are not just nice ideas.
It is really and truly our obligation and ability to hasten the process. We can ignore all the evil and darkness in the world as the Rebbe Shmuel did and even by one good deed, word or even thought bring....
Moshiach NOW!!
Rabbi Tuvia Bolto
RYYH
ULYOP
In a Rush to bring Moshiach

Wednesday Night Shiur - Tetzaveh

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