Good Shabbos

Dear Parents: June, 2009

YOU OWE IT TO YOUR CHILD! Your most precious possession deserves to attend a yeshiva which will enable him to grow and develop to his fullest potential.

Your son will love attending our yeshiva. Class sizes are small, limited to 20 students. Our faculty members are kind and capable and they truly care about the students. No child is ever ignored; each one is encouraged in a positive manner.

Our yeshiva has three full time supervisors on the elementary level. Rabbi S. Dechter, our capable principal, is assisted by two superior assistants, Rabbi Baras and Rabbi Harari. They work diligently with our teachers to insure that each student receives the proper attention. In addition, two full time tutors are available throughout the day to tutor students in need of remedial assistance. We educate each student, one mind at a time. Our faculty is sensitive to the feelings of the parents,and are very responsible. They will always return all parental telephone calls promptly.

We have many exciting and meaningful extra curricular activities. Each program has one goal-—to be Mechanoch our children so they grow to be Chasidim and Talmedai Chachomim. We have organized a Chanukah winter ski camp for grades 6,7, and 8 in an environment that is frum, friendly and educational. The children also attend many incentive based Shabbatons which stress Chasidishe farbrangens. The students also participate in an organized competitive sports program within the yeshiva which cultivates teamwork, sportsmanship, school spirit and many other positive qualities. In addition, to promote student health a game room and an equipped exercise room are available in the building. Mishnayis and Tanya bal peh (by heart) are practiced by all grades beyond first grade. Most classes attend Farbrangens which feature a prominent Shliach. A structured Middos Tovos Program has been instituted as of last year and a Mishmar program for upper grade classes takes place every Thursday night.

Our students benefit from a well rounded religious and secular N.Y.S. accredited education. Our English teachers are frum and experienced. Bus transportation to Crown Heights is provided for all students and travel time takes just 25 minutes. For an appointment to interview your son, kindly call Rabbi S. Dechter at (718) 434-0795.

Sincerely, Hanhala

This week we learn the terrible, tragic and seemingly meaningless story of Korach's war against Moses.

 

The word 'Torah' meansp 'teaching'. Every idea and even word and letter of the Torah comes to teach us something important in life. What does this weird story come to teach us?

 

If it is to discourage us from contradicting true Torah leaders the Torah could have just simply said, "Don't be like Korach and friends who got swallowed up in the ground for arguing with Moses and Aaron." And explain the story in the Talmud or Midrash (oral Torah) like so many other Torah stories.

 

Why tell us this long negative narration?

 

To explain this here is a story told by the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak in Chapter 48 of his book Lekuti Diburim.

 

In the town of Dovromisel was a large Jewish community and one of its members was a Jew by the name of Rab Chaim Shimon who made his living from producing heavy sweaters. Looms were very popular at that time with the farmers and peasants who produced homemade cloth and garments to sell and make ends meet, and Chaim Shimon's were among the best.

 

In fact his looms were of such a high quality that even some of the aristocracy bought them for their households. But nevertheless it was a major surprise to him when a local baron by the name of Stefen Varbitzki sent his foreman, Yan Bidnitzki, with an order and cash for two hundred sweaters!

 

The novelty was not the size of the order but rather that Bidnitzki and Varbitzki were famous for their rabid anti-Semitism! The fact that these Jew haters were buying his looms would send a message to everyone that the looms must be really something special.

 

Because Chaim Shimon didn't have that many in stock, he sold the foreman all the looms he had, some thirty altogether, signed a paper promising to deliver the remaining 170 within a month and watched as Bidnitzki's wagon faded into the distance with his 30 looms.

 

As soon as he was out of sight Chaim Shimon set to work making the remaining 170 sweaters. He hired extra help to be sure that they were finished before the time and personally checked each one several times to be certain they were of the highest quality. The Baron and his foreman would be looking for even the slightest flaw as an excuse to make trouble and he didn't want to take any chances.

 

Sure enough, three weeks later the remaining 170 were ready, checked and rechecked, loaded on the back of two wagons and on their way, with Chaim Shimon, to the Baron one week early.

 

But when he arrived he was in for a rude surprise. Before he could enter the castle grounds, Bidnitzki the foreman, came out waiving his fists and screaming curses and insults! And when Chaim Shimon tried to announce that he came to deliver the looms, Bidnitzki angrily screamed that the Baron canceled the order and said he could take his sweaters and jump in the lake!

 

When Chaim Shimon tried to protest and ask for an audience with the Baron, Bidnitzki became so furious that he pulled his pistol from his belt, cocked it and pointed it at him! And he would have pulled the trigger if the gentile wagon drivers that were bringing the looms hadn't jumped down and grabbed his arm.

 

Chaim Shimon, totally confused and broken, had no choice but to turn the wagons around and head back for home. But as soon as he left the Baron's castle grounds he decided that rather than admit defeat he would spend the night at a nearby town and calm down. He told himself that there must be some good hidden here! Maybe G-d would send him a miracle! He had to think positively!

 

The winter was beginning to set in and the peasants in the town were feeling it. Now with no proper sweaters and no source of income they were cold and hungry. So it came to them as a major surprise when Chaim Shimon told them that the Baron had turned him away. Why would he do such a thing? The Baron was a manic but he wasn't stupid. It didn't make sense, with no looms the Baron himself stood to lose a lot of money! It didn't take long for the news to spread until even the servants in the castle were talking about it and one of them was the Baron's oldest and most trusted servant.

 

Now is the time to say a few words about the Baron.

 

The Baron was known for his crazy whims and sadistic outbursts of anger. When he was making one of his drinking or hunting parties with the other landlords in the area he would gather all his servants and serfs, some five hundred of them, sit before them on a sort of throne, order them to sing songs praising him and then arbitrarily pick one of the crowd and order one of his henchmen to administer to the poor fellow 10 lashes in public amidst the singing!

 

Interestingly, his father, from whom he inherited his fortune and title, had been very kind to everyone and actually liked the Jews. In fact he even had a Jewish foreman but his son fired him when he took over after his father's passing, put Bidnitzki in his place and then evicted the Jews from his lands.

 

When this old servant was bringing the Baron his tea the next day he decided to risk the Baron's wrath, take his life into his own hands and ask him why he cancelled the sweaters.

 

"Cancelled? Sweaters? What sweaters? They are only due in a week from now. I didn't cancel anything." The Baron was totally surprised by the question.

 

"But, my lord" The servant replied, "The Jew did bring the sweaters. In fact, right now he's in the next town saying that foreman Bidnitzki told him that you canceled. And, well, the people, your loyal subjects, really need those sweaters and are very disappointed. They want to start working."

 

The Baron stood to his full height, pounded his fist on the table and yelled "Canceled? I CANCELED?! I want to see that Jew and I want to see that black hound Bidnitzki! I want them both here...NOW!!!"

 

In a short time both were standing before the Baron who was sitting on his throne-chair before them whip in hand and shaking with rage. He pointed to Chaim Shimon and said "Talk!"

 

"Your majesty, although it means a big financial loss to me but I am even more bothered by what flaw did the Baron see in me or my sweaters that he canceled the…"

 

"I canceled!?" the Baron thundered. "Who told you that I canceled? I, Baron Varbitzki, NEVER CANCEL!! Who said I CANCELED!?!"

 

Chaim Shimon glanced at the foreman. "WHAT?" The Baron yelled, "That black hound!?" And with a flick of his hand sent his whip cracking across Bidnitzki's face drawing blood.

 

"I'll deal with you later!' he hissed at the foreman."And you" he pointed his whip at Chaim Shimon. "You also deserve to be lashed also! Yes! Lashed for believing this black dog Bidnitzki that I would cancel my word! But I see that you are an honest man. You brought the sweaters a week early! I like that! Even if you are a Jew. Now let's have a look at those sweaters."

 

As soon as the servants and serfs standing outside saw the Baron they began singing and blowing trumpets as always. Chaim Shimon opened the canvas on one of the wagons revealing the looms, took one out and presented it to the Baron. "Beautiful!" The Baron said as he examined it. "Come, let us put them all into the storehouse. And, oh yes, please bring the bill, I have decided to add a small amount to each loom for your trouble."

 

But as they were putting them on the shelves the Baron happened to pick up one of the original thirty sweaters that the foreman had brought back and said, "Interesting, this is different from the ones you bring now."

 

Chaim Shimon took one of the others off the shelf and exclaimed, "Why, these are not my sweaters! These are simple products that sell for, perhaps one tenth of mine.

 

"What?!" The Baron glared again at Bidnitzki with fire in his eyes "What is going on here!?" He sent one of his guards to bring the two farmers that accompanied Bidnitzki to buy the first 30 looms and when they stood before him, knees knocking in fear, he narrowed his eyes and said,

 

"If you lie I will have you killed! If you tell the truth I promise not to hurt you. Now tell me. What is happening here?! Why are these looms different?!"

 

The two farmers looked at each other nervously, cleared their throats several times and one of them spoke up. 'Well, your majesty, when we bought the sweaters from the Jew, well, you see, after we had the sweaters, our foreman Bidnitzki here told us to drive to the market."

 

"That's right, your majesty" the other farmer piped up. "He took the sweaters and sold them in the market for a higher price than he bought them. Then he took the money and bought these inexpensive looms for a tenth the price. So he profited twice. And then he gave each of us a few pennies and warned us to keep quiet or he'd kill us. That's probably why he sent the Jew back yesterday, so you wouldn't find out.

 

The Baron motioned and two guards grabbed Bidnitzki and dragged him away begging for mercy, while the Baron just stood there stroking his mustache. He turned to Chaim Shimon and said.

 

"Listen, I think I made a big mistake. My father told me to treat the Jews well, but, well now that I think of it, I fell under the spell of Bidnitzki. He hated the Jews so much and he did me so many favors, or so I thought, that I listened to him. He began working on me years before my father's passing. Now I want you to do me a favor, I want to accept my apology and I want to order two hundred more looms."

 

Chaim Shimon returned home and three weeks later when he returned with the new sweaters he was received by the 'new' foreman; Aaron Yosef who had been the foreman under Varbitzki's father.

 

Aaron Yosef told Chaim Shimon that the in last the three weeks there had been a lot of changes. First, the Baron had the evil Bidnitzki publicly beaten almost to death and thrown into prison. Then he (Aaron Yosef) was restored to his place as foreman. And finally the Baron personally made a visit to the Jews that he had expelled and invited them to return!

 

The story ended as the Baron asked Aaron Yosef to prepare a meal for three and bring it to his castle where he Aaron Yosef and Chaim Shimon dined together and reminisced about his father's love for his Jewish subjects.

 

This answers our questions.

 

The reason G-d put man in the world was in order to transform it to 'heaven on earth'. In other words, to take the meaninglessness, harshness and emptiness of this world and 'transform' them to meaning, blessing and joy.

 

But this can only be done when we meet obstacles and overcome them.

 

This is the POSITIVE lesson we can learn from Korach: How to REACT to obstacles such as hatred, jealousy, disappointments and negativity; namely by being calm, connected to G-d, and concentrating ONLY on the positive goal and not on the negative barriers.

 

And even more it teaches us that this proper reaction can TRANSFORM bad to good!

 

Just as Korach solidified Aaron's claim to the Priesthood with 24 special 'gifts' and the evil foreman in our story caused the Baron to become a positive friend. Similarly, if we keep the goal in mind we can transform all the darkness of this world into joy and blessing.

 

And that goal is to do, say and think everything possible and positive to bring...

Moshiach NOW!!

Rabbi Tuvia BoltonRYYH
In a rush to bring Moshiach

Wednesday Night Shiur - Parshas Korach & Gimmel Tammuz

Listen to this week's shiur on Parshas Korach & Gimmel Tammuz.
Hear all shiurim at www.shiur.us.

Good Shabbos

Last week of the school year coming up. Dont forget it's Shabbos Mevorchim, and we need your Tehillim. Also see customs of Gimmel Tamuz.

This week's Torah portion contains three commandments the last of which is 'Don't follow your eyes and heart."

There are, all together, 613 commandments in the Torah. Some are only applicable to men, some only when there was a Holy Temple, others are only in special times; day, night, holidays etc. But this commandment of 'Don't follow your heart and eyes" is one of the few (six) that apply to every Jew, in every place and at all times.

At first glance this is not understood. First, isn't this commandment superfluous? If a Jew keeps all the other 612 commandments certainly he won't have much desire or even time to go running after his what he sees. Not only that, what is so bad about doing what one's heart desires if he keeps the rest of the Torah? Why must be on our guard constantly?

To understand this, here is a story. (HaGeula weekly page #435)

Rabbi Mair Bostomski is a neighbor of mine here in Kfar Chabad. He is a known educator and has influenced hundreds of young men to change their lives and to even become Chassidim but only recently did I hear the story of how he became interested in Judaism.

Rabbi Mair grew up in the city of Haifa, known as the 'Red City' for its all-pervasive, typically Zionistic, communist-atheistic atmosphere. Judaism was nowhere on his agenda.

After he finished his service in the army his father urged him to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering in the prestigious 'Haifa Technion' and he not only succeeded with the highest grades but, after he graduated, several big companies began vying for his services.

But something was missing. A voracious reader, he had informed himself about almost everything under the sun… and it was all interesting. But after all, he didn't feel that by working as an engineer he would fulfill what was lacking in his life and in the world. He wanted more… but what?

For some reason, perhaps he just happened to be passing by or perhaps he had some free time, he entered the local synagogue, asked the Rabbi there if he had some time and began to ask questions.

When the Rabbi recognized the depth and urgency of this young man's queries he directed him to two Chabad Chassidim in the city, Rabbi Yechiel Michel Dworkin and Rabbi Ruven Dunin; well known figures in the Chabad world, knowing that they would give him all their attention and possibly the answers to his questions.

His two new teachers came from the opposite backgrounds. Rabbi Dworkin was a Talmudic genius from a long line of Rabbis while Rabbi Dunin was a tractor driver that had been brought up in a communist kibbutz. Mair spent hours asking, discussing and arguing with these two Chassidim until, little by little, he began to suspect that maybe Judaism had the answers, and certainly wasn't just another religion. He even began, much to the consternation of his father, to consider doing a few of the commandments, but after all, he wasn't totally convinced.

So his teachers suggested that he visit the headquarters of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in New York for the month of Tishrei. This was 1966 when such visits were not common, but neither was Mair Bostomski. He had to know what Judaism was REALLY about.

As soon as he arrived he liked it. The atmosphere in the Rebbe's synagogue-yeshiva (Torah academy) was something fresh and vibrant that he had never experienced. The young men there friendly, lively and open minded.  It was first time he had ever been exposed to the intricacies of the Talmud, and much of the day was spent learning and discussing the Rebbe's novel answers to questions just like the ones that had been bothering him.

The time passed quickly, he pushed off his return a few times but finally, when he could delay it no longer a private meeting (called Yechidut) was arranged with the Rebbe.

He entered with three questions to ask but when he actually stood before the Rebbe he almost forgot them. The Rebbe's face and eyes were something that took him by surprise. But then, the Rebbe greeted him warmly and suddenly he remembered.

The first was; why did he have such an affinity to the ideas of Chassidut Chabad? Could it be possible that somewhere in his family tree there had been Chassidim?

The Rebbe did not reply. And he understood that he was the beginner.

The second was more serious; his father had a severe heart condition; the doctors gave him, at most, two or three years to live and warned that any emotional strain could be fatal. But his father was also a staunch atheist and he was afraid that if he came home with a beard, who knows what would happen! He feared for his father's life.

The Rebbe told him not to worry. He blessed his father with a long, healthy, happy life and then answered Reb Mair's question. "If you arrive home with an attitude of compromise, it will encourage arguments and complaints from your father.  But if you come with a firm decision to do what is true and right not only will this not be harmful; exactly the opposite. Your clinging to your principles is what will make your father happy and healthy."

The third question was what he should do when he returned. A bright, lucrative future awaited him in Israel as a mechanical engineer but he felt more drawn to Judaism. The Rebbe answered that if money was of foremost importance to him then he should do work as an engineer. But if money is not the main thing, he should work as a teacher.

'A teacher?' Thought Reb Mair to himself, it's something that always was at the back of his mind, but he had no training or experience in anything other than engineering!

A month later he returned to Israel and, just as the Rebbe said, when his father saw that he was firm in his beliefs he actually seemed relieved that his son had found himself. But there was a bigger problem - telling him about becoming a teacher.

He was petrified to tell his father that he was about to throw away his diploma and everything he had worked and hoped for all these years. If the beard didn't kill him, this news certainly would.

He was referred to two Chassidim in Kfar Chabad, Rabbi Moshe Neparstak and Rabbi Shlomo-Chaim Kesselman, both of whom decided that nothing would be more fitting for Reb Mair than to be a teacher, and if he did what the Rebbe said for SURE nothing bad could occur.

So Reb Mair braced himself, said a few prayers, practiced smiling and went back to his father to break the news. "Dad" he was watching his father closely for signs of distress or chest pain. "You know, the Lubavitcher Rebbe gave me some advice and, well, I talked to other Rabbis and I decided that I'm not going to be an engineer. Dad, I love you and I want to do what's right and.  Well....I decided I'm going to try to be a teacher. I want to teach young people Torah."

His father fell silent and a slight smile appeared on his lips. "Just wait right here" he said while he went into another room, opened a closet, searched through some papers and returned with some sort of folder. "Open it." he said.

As Reb Mair was opening it his father explained. "I don't know if you remember but over ten years ago you took an aptitude test. Do you remember? In any case I never told you the results and, well, that's what I'm doing now. I really wanted you to be an engineer, to make a good wage and be secure and I was sure that is what the test would show. But it didn't.

"It showed that you have more an aptitude for spiritual things than for physical things. I didn't want to tell you but… well, I guess that that Rebbe of yours really knows what he's talking about."

Today Rabbi Mair runs a Torah school for several hundred children, mostly from non-observant backgrounds, in Petach Tikva. And, against the projections of all the doctors, his father lived another twenty years, which they admitted was an open miracle, and rejoiced with many grand and great grand children till the age of 84.

This answers our question.

Going after one's heart and eyes does not necessarily mean doing sins. But it might mean compromising the sprit or goal of Judaism.

The first law of the Shulchan Aruch (Jewish code of law) is not to be discouraged or ashamed before those who make fun of you for doing what is right.

Indeed, Judaism is based on the deeds of three men, Abrhaham, Issac and Jacob who went against the spirit of their times…and of all times, to do what G-d wanted… against all odds.

They ignored what their eyes saw and what their hearts felt in order to give the power to their offspring, the Jewish people, to not only survive but to eventually bring Moshiach and transform the world to heaven on earth. That is the goal of Judaism.

As the Rebbe told Reb Mair. If you compromise the truth you will have problems, but if you cling to the truth despite what your eyes and heart tell you, it will bring health, long life, and joy.

So with us today; we must do everything we can, according to the Torah, to ignore the negativity and pessimism around us and transform the world into a blessing.

It only takes one more good deed, word or even thought and soon we will be dancing with....

Moshiach NOW!!

Rabbi Tuvia Bolton

RYYH
ULYOP
In a Rush to bring Moshiach

Wednesday Night Shiur - Parshas Shelach

Listen to this week's shiur on Parshas Shelach.
Hear all shiurim at www.shiur.us.

Gut Shabbos

The school year is coming to an end, registration is now open for the coming year. Many people are expressing severe hardships, and as our policy is never to turn away a child if anyone would like to sponsor a child for the coming year please notify us. You will receive complete updates throughout the year of the child's progress.

This week's Torah reading begins with the commandment of lighting the Menorah in the Temple.

The Chassidic Rabbis point out that every detail of the Torah is eternal, alive and vital and, although we haven't had a Holy Temple or a Menorah for almost 2,000 years, nevertheless every Jew, is a Holy Temple in all its details; especially the Menorah.

As is pointed out in the prophesy of Zechariah 2 (which is this week's Haftorah).

To understand this, here is a story (HaGeula weekly page #458).

Sarah (fictitious name) was really in bad shape. Several years ago her husband passed away and now her daughter was about to move to Montreal with a gentile.

The story occured some 30 years ago in Paris. As is well known there was always a very large Jewish community in France, but forty years ago only a small percentage were 'orthodox' and Baali Tshuva were almost non existent.

But Sarah was an exception. While her husband was alive they followed the French tradition of liberty equality, fraternity and minimum Jewish identity.

But after his passing she began attending Torah classes, asked a lot of questions and became more observant. But her daughter Rivka (pseudonym) wanted no part of it.

Tensions grew in the house. Arguments, threats, and ultimatums finally culminated in Rivka leaving home. She rented a room on the University campus where she was learning and it didn't take long until she had a gentile boyfriend.

Poor Sarah was beside herself with confusion and grief. On one hand she loved her daughter but on the other a Rabbi said that if a Jew marries a gentile, his/her relatives should declare a week of mourning and consider the transgressor as...dead. Rivka…dead?

Sarah was a working woman and when, as part of her work, she had to fly to New York, one of her friends suggested that while she was there she should make it a point to be by the Lubavitcher Rebbe on Sunday, when he passes out dollars and pour her heart out. The Rebbe, they said, has a reputation for solving problems, often in miraculous ways.

Sarah took the advice and as soon as Sunday rolled around there she was, standing in a seemingly endless line before the Rebbe's headquarters in Brooklyn. But when her turn came and she was standing before the Rebbe she barely managed to speak more than a few words, so great was her awe.

The Rebbe gave her two dollar bills, one for herself and one for her daughter and told her to consult with Rabbi Shmuel Azimov who runs the Chabad House in Paris regarding her daughter.

'At least there's hope', she thought to herself as she left the Rebbe clutching the dollar bill. A week later she was back in Paris, had located Rabbi Azimov, and was telling her story.

Rabbi Azimov had no idea what to do! "There must be a reason the Rebbe sent her to me" he thought to himself, but I don't know what it is. With almost no experience in such cases he just asked her a few questions… thought for a few seconds and said, "The main thing is not to break off contact and certainly not to sit 'Shiva'. The only hope you have is love. Tell her that you love her no matter what she does." He said this with authority but really he was wondering where he got his ideas from.

Sarah did as she was told but it didn't seem to help much. A few weeks later her daughter announced that her boyfriend, was going to Montreal Canada to finish his Masters degree and she was going to accompany him.

Sarah remembered Rabbi Azimov's words and held back her emotions. She wanted to scream, to tell her daughter she was committing suicide, she was an ingrate, a disgrace, but she didn't. She just repeated how she loved her no matter what.

Perhaps it was Sarah's reaction made an impression on him, perhaps the change in climate but in any case once they were in Montreal things took an interesting turn. He decided that he wanted Rivka to get closer to true Judaism. Certainly he wasn't aware that Jews weren't supposed to marry gentiles and that it might mean the end of their relationship but, being a very intelligent man he decided that if he had a Jewish girl there was no reason she shouldn't show it.

After some research, he decided the best place for her to go was the local Chabad House run by Rabbi Mendel Raskin. At first Rabbi Raskin didn't know what to do but after a few minutes realized that the girl was genuinely interested and her boyfriend asked good questions!

This went on for a year or so. Then, after he finished his degree and got a good job in Cincinnati, Ohio, Rabbi Raskin suggested they contact Rabbi Kalmanson who runs the Chabad House there.

Rabbi Raskin thought to himself that this could be the big break he was waiting for; Rabbi Kalmanson had all sorts of experience and was a fantastic speaker; certainly he could convince them to split up; that, marriage between a Jew and a non-Jew is bad for everyone involved.

And Rabbi Raskin was right! It worked! Her boyfriend sat up entire nights with Rabbi Kalmanson asking questions and getting answers until one day he announced that after much serious thought he decided that the Rabbis were right. It was wrong that a gentile and a Jew should be together and therefore he decided the best thing for both of them would be if he….converted to Judaism!

The process took almost two years of hard work but in that time he acquired a massive knowledge of Torah, Talmud and Chassidut and finally he converted and set a time for his wedding which was held in Paris, France.

The wedding was something that those present will never forget. The groom, who had just completed his conversion a few months earlier, repeated, by heart, a long complicated Chassidic-Kabbalistic discourse by the Lubavitcher Rebbe and the simcha (joy) of everyone, especially of the bride's mother, was unlimited!

But perhaps the most interesting thing was the conversation between Rabbi Azimov and Rabbi Kalmanson (who the couple invited to preside over the wedding.

Rabbi Azimov, who was almost in tears of joy, told Rabbi Kalmanson that since the day he gave Sarah the advice to not cut off contact he had terrible pangs of conscience. He kept thinking that perhaps he should have told her to be severe. Perhaps if he would have told her to threaten her daughter, the girl would realize she was committing spiritual suicide, snap out of it and not leave with the gentile!

But now he realized that the Rebbe's advice to see him was exact and that the Rebbe must have put the words in his mouth. It was exactly the best advice.

This answers our questions. The Jews are G-d's chosen people; chosen to teach and 'illuminate' the world with the awareness of how close and good G-d is. How He constantly creates everything, listens to all prayers and provides sustenance for ALL His creations.

But each Jew has the power to illuminate in a different way; in general seven, corresponding to the seven emotional attributes (Sfirot) of G-d and the seven branches of the Menora.

As we saw in our story; each person contributed in a different way to making positive changes in others.

But the one who really lit all the lamps was the Rebbe; he inspired Rabbi Azimov to inspire Sarah to inspire her daughter and her boyfriend and everyone else involved.

So will be the job of Moshiach; to 'turn on' every Jew and eventually every gentile as well (to fulfill the Seven Noahide Commandments).

Then the entire world will be a Holy Temple and a Menorah; filled with light, warmth blessing and meaning.

We must just do ONE more good deed to bring....

Moshiach NOW!!

Rabbi Tuvia Bolton

RYYH
In a rush to bring Moshiach
RYYH
ULYOP
In a Rush to bring Moshiach

Wednesday Night Shiur - Parshas Behaalotcha

Listen to this week's shiur on Parshas Behaalotcha.
Hear all shiurim at www.shiur.us.

Gutt Shabbos

In the beginning of this week's section, Moshe completes the commandment G-d gave him in last weeks Parsha, counting the Jewish people.

Why was it necessary to count the Jews? Obviously G-d knew the number, why did He order Moshe to count them?

And after the counting was finished why put it in the Torah? What do we care today exactly how many Jews there were over 3,300 years ago?

Here is a story I hope will help explain:

One of the more famous printing houses in White Russia was in the town of Slavita. Here is the miraculous story of how it was established.

In Czarist Russia some two hundred years ago, there were millions of religious Jews and a terrible shortage of books. Often even "Siddurim" (prayer books) were lacking for the "People of the Book" to pray from.

The Rav of Slavita decided that it was time to do something about it. He had experience in printing and even enough money to get a printing house started, but the problem was Czarist bureaucracy. The fees and bribes necessary to obtain the proper licenses required a fortune. And then there was corruption, and of course anti-Semitism. After several years of efforts he had made zero progress.

Being a Chassid he decided to travel to the town of Liazne and take advice from the famous Rabbi Shneur Zalman, the first Rebbe of Chabad.

The Rebbe heard him out and after thinking for a few seconds answered optimistically,

"Don't worry, all the obstacles will disappear. First travel to the city of Mohilov and there you will find a teacher of small children by the name of Reb Yisroel. If you can convince him to accompany you to Vilna he can arrange all the necessary papers for you in a very short time."

Needless to say, bright and early the next morning the Rav set out to Mohilov; with such an answer from the Rebbe he couldn't fail!! But despite his optimism he was in for a big disappointment; after two days of searching the town, the only teacher called Reb Yisroel he could find was an old Jew of over seventy that spoke only Yiddish, and not a word of Russian!

"What?! I should go to Vilna to talk to Officials??" exclaimed the old man, "What...I'm gonna talk Yiddish to Officials? It's a joke, Right?! A joke!! Ha Ha!! Yiddish Officials!! Maybe you want I should talk to the Czar for you?! Not only that, who will provide for my wife when I'm there? No, no, you are mistaken, my friends, the Rebbe could not mean me."

It took a lot of convincing, but when the Rav gave him a full months wages and he saw he was serious, the old man also became interested in seeing what would happen.

Several days later they arrived in Vilna and set themselves up in the house of a well known Chabad Chassid called Rav Mair Refoels, himself a wealthy businessman with some connections in the Government.

Now their only problem was, exactly what they were supposed to do?

The Rebbe told them that Reb Yisroel would take care of everything, but Reb Yisroel had no idea what was going on. So for the first few days they wandered aimlessly around the streets of Vilna.

When Shabbos finally came, old Reb Yisroel decided that he had had enough. He was tired and depressed. He was becoming increasingly convinced that they made some sort of mistake.

"Oy! What have I gotten myself into?" He thought to himself. "How long will I have to wander around Vilna? Forever?!! I'm an old man, my feet hurt. I want to go home."

Rav Mair tried unsuccessfully to cheer him up, and finally suggested that they take a stroll in the main square and that for sure HaShem would help.

A few minutes later they were leisurely strolling. The Shabbat seemed to make everything a little more beautiful, and Rav Mair turned the conversation to the weekly portion of the Torah. Soon Reb Yisroel was so involved in trying to make some point that he forgot his problems. He did not even notice the strange stare he got from a passing man. But Rav Mair did.

The man actually stopped for several seconds, stared at Reb Yisroel's face and then continuing walking. From the man's dress and manner, it was obvious that he was someone important, possibly a government Minister.

When several minutes later the man again walked toward them and repeated the same scene, Rav Refoels left his companions, approached him and introduced himself and cordially asked:

"Please excuse me Sir, but I couldn't help noticing your interest in Reb Yisroel. Possibly you could tell us what interest a nobleman such as yourself could possibly have in a simple old Jew?"

He took Rav Refoels by the arm walked over to Reb Yisroel, and said, "Ask the old man if he remembers me." Rav Refoels translated, and the old teacher just shrugged his shoulders, how could he possible know such a person?

"Ask him if he lives in Shklov." Continued the man.

"No, I live in Mohilov!" replied Reb Yisroel, shrugging his shoulders. But then he paused, held up one finger and said, "One minute, just a minute... you can tell him that twenty years ago I did live in Shklov."

"Aha!! Said the man!" I knew it was you; my memory did not fail me! You must come to my house tomorrow at ten in the morning. You are my dear friend!! Please do not forget."

With this he told the old man his address, shook his hand warmly, and departed.

The next morning they were seated in the nobleman's spacious front room, a servant appeared, told the other two to remain seated and escorted old Reb Yisroel into the study.

"Ahh, reb Yisroel!!!" The nobleman said to him (in Yiddish!) as he closed the door behind him.

"Of course you don't remember me, I was just a young boy of fourteen years old then. Do you remember? They called me Yanush the orphan. I was the scourge of Shklov. I refused to go to school or listen to anyone. My only interest was to make trouble and to convince the other kids to do the same.

Finally after they caught me stealing for the hundredth time they put me in this sort of cage in the center of the city. I guess I had it coming, but it was more than I could handle. Everyone that passed would curse me and some of the kids even threw rocks and spit at me when no one was looking. I was so ashamed I wanted to die. I was supposed to be there for three days and when the first night came I felt closer to death than life.

Then, when everyone else was asleep, you came. You opened the lock, took me to your house, gave me a meal, a change of clothes, a warm coat and even some money and told me to run away. I'll never forget your face.

Well, thanks to you, today I am a high minister in the government and now I want to repay you. First take this bag of golden coins, this will last you for a long time, and I would like to give you a job but... tell me, what brought you to Vilna? Are there children here you have to teach? And who are those two men with you?"

Needless to say when he heard the reason for Reb Yisroel's visit he immediately arranged all the necessary permits for the printing house that very day, free of charge.

And also opened a door for himself to return to Judaism.

This answers our question.

What HaShem wanted to teach us here by telling us that Moshe counted everyone is that everyone is important, (how much more so every Jew). No one can be too far away, too old or too insignificant, (conversely no one is so great that he can think he is worth more, or has finished his work.)

That is the job of the Tzadikim in every generation; to remind us that every one is number one and everyone counts. And even if you are in a desolate desert and the situation seems impossible, your one good deed also counts and can change it all.

In a big way this is Moshiach who will raise up (Naso) all the Jewish people, and through them the entire world. Like in our story all we have to do is open our eyes to see the miracles that are happening around us and see...

Moshiach NOW!!

Rabbi Tuvia Bolton

RYYH
ULYOP
In a Rush to bring Moshiach

Wednesday Night Shiur - Parshas Naso

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