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                         L'CHAIM - ISSUE # 888
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             THE WEEKLY PUBLICATION FOR EVERY JEWISH PERSON
   Dedicated to the memory of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson N.E.
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        September 23, 2005      Ki Savo            19 Elul, 5765
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                               Thank You

One of the most important attributes we look for in people is the
ability to say "thank you"; the sensitivity to appreciate that a favor
has been done and the forthrightness to express that appreciation
openly.

Appreciation stems from involvement; the deeper the relationship between
people, the more one appreciates the uniqueness of the other. When a
person appreciates a colleague, he is motivated to do whatever he can
for that other person.

If this is true with regard to our relationship with our fellow man, it
certainly applies with regard to our relationship with G-d. One of the
major thrusts in Judaism is hakarat hatov, appreciation of the good that
G-d constantly bestows upon us. Here, too, the emphasis is on
appreciating not only the material dimension of G-d's kindness, but also
the love and care that He showers on every person.

In this vein, we can understand the sequence of the subjects mentioned
in this week's Torah reading of Ki Tavo. The reading begins by
describing the mitzva (commandment) of bikurim, the first fruits that
the Jews would bring to the Temple, and shortly afterwards speaks of a
covenant concerning the entire Torah.

What is the connection between these subjects?

The mitzva of bikurim was instituted to show our gratitude for the good
G-d has granted us and to display our appreciation to Him for "granting
us all the blessings of this world." This appreciation is not expressed
merely by words of thanks, but through deed. A person would select his
first fruits and make a special journey to bring them to Jerusalem as an
offering to show his thanks to G-d. Moreover, the first fruits would
thereby become consecrated, indicating that a lasting connection to
G-d's holiness had been established within the material world.

Herein lies the connection to the entire Torah, for in a larger sense,
every aspect of a person's life can become bikurim. We are always
standing "before G-d" and we should express our thanks for His goodness.

To refer back to showing appreciation to a friend: Saying thanks in a
meaningful way requires a person to tune into the mindset of the person
he wants to thank. If he doesn't, his gesture is superficial, perhaps
satisfying his own need, but not giving anything to the other person.

Here, too, a parallel applies in our relationship with G-d. We must say
thank you in a way that He would appreciate, i.e., serving Him according
to His conception, not our own.

This lesson is uniquely appropriate for the present time of year, the
month of Elul, when we take stock of our Divine service of the previous
year and prepare for the coming year beginning in a few short weeks.
It's a time to think seriously of all the good G-d has given us and say
thank you by increasing our observance of the Torah and its mitzvot.

        From Keeping In Touch by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger, published by
                                                 Sichos in English.

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           LIVING WITH THE REBBE  -  THE WEEKLY TORAH PORTION
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The Torah portion, Ki Tavo, begins with a detailed account of the mitzva
of bikurim, "first fruits." The Jewish farmer was required to bring the
select fruits of his crops to the Holy Temple to show his gratitude to
G-d for the blessing of the land.

The precept of bikurim had various restrictions. It applied only in the
Holy Land and only when the Temple was in existence. It was limited to
one who owned a parcel of particularly fertile land. It was also
restricted in its time of application, for the declaration of bikurim
could only be made from Shavuot (late Spring) to Sukot (Fall).

Yet the precept of the "first fruits," despite its seemingly narrow
application, contains a broadly applicable lesson: We are to take from
the "first of the fruits of the earth" and bring them to the Kohain -
priest. We are to dedicate the best of our material matters to sanctity.
As Maimonides writes: "When one gives food to the needy, he should give
the best and most delectable of his table; with the best of his wardrobe
should he clothe the naked, and when he builds a house of worship he
should render it more beautiful than his own dwelling, as it is written
"all the best...is to the Alm-ghty."

The first-fruits were not burned on the altar where the physical nature
would be annulled, where their materiality would be consumed and
transformed into the spirituality of G-dliness. Rather the fruits were
given to the Kohain to eat. In this fashion they were elevated and
dedicated to a higher purpose. Similarly, our approach in life is not to
"nullify" the material but to imbue it with sanctity while still
remaining in its lowly material state.

One further point: the farmer is obligated to bring "...from the first
of all the fruits of the earth, etc.," not all the fruits. The idea is
not that the person should give away all the fruits of his labor to the
sanctuary. Most of the fruits were to remain in his possession,
including also some exceedingly good fruits, and only a small portion of
them - the best - given to the Kohain. The underlying idea was for the
first-fruits to be a representative portion of the whole harvest; the
sanctity of the bikurim donation was to affect, to permeate and elevate
all the fruits remaining, just as a donation of tzedaka - charity,
brings an element of consecration or sanctity into all one's wealth.

                    Adapted from the works of the Lubavitcher Rebbe

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                             SLICE OF LIFE
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                        Are the Jews Happy Here?

         From a speech by Zalman Velvel at the annual Chabad of
                   Southwest Florida Founders' Dinner


Good evening. How are you? Did you have a good time?

I am going to end tonight with how last year's Founders' Dinner began
for me. I had the good fortune to be sitting next to Rabbi Yossi
Jacobson, the keynote speaker. For those of you who are not familiar
with him, he is a brilliant, funny, caring young man. While I was right
in the middle of buttering a warm roll, he turned to me and asked, "Are
the Jews of Fort Myers happy?"

Just like that, right out of the blue. Are the Jews of Fort Myers happy?

I put down the roll and pondered the depths of that question. Finally, I
replied. "Yes, we are happy here. The shopping is excellent, and there
are at least two or three good sushi restaurants."

I picked the roll back up was about to take a bite ... when he
interrupted me again.

"What happens after you have finished shopping and have had enough
sushi? Are you happy, then?"

Once again, I put down the roll. "Rabbi Jacobson," I began, "that's a
very good question. I spent most of my life wondering what it would be
like to have 'enough sushi,' and only just recently, at Bob Schwartz's
60th birthday party, did I hit that milestone, probably because someone
else was paying for it.

"I can tell you, without any fear of contradiction, that the feeling of
having 'enough sushi' left me very happy. And as for shopping, well,
Rabbi, my wife does almost all of it in our family, and as near as I can
tell, she has NEVER yet reached the point where she was finished
shopping. So I can not comment on how she will feel after she reaches
that milestone, if she ever does."

Well, since he started with the questions, and my roll was now cold, I
decided to ask a few of my own.

"Rabbi Jacobson," I began, "do you believe the highest goal of a Jew is
to just be happy? Is that the standard by which one is supposed to judge
a group of our people? If so, tell me, is a Jew at his or her best when
we're happy, or when times are tough?"

He didn't answer. He didn't have to. He simply nodded his head.

And then I said, "Rabbi, I believe the starting point for a group of
Jews begins with a different question, one of the first questions ever
asked by man. Do you know what question I am referring to?"

"I can think of many," he said. "Why don't you tell me which one you are
referring to?"

"Am I my brother's keeper?" I said.

He nodded again and started stroking his beard.

"Oh boy!" I thought. "I did it now. When a rabbi starts stroking his
beard, everyone knows the really serious, mind-bending questions are
about to follow." I buckled my seatbelt and waited.

Finally, he asked: "So are you?

"Am I what, Rabbi?"

"Your brother's keeper?"

"Well, I try to be. I believe that is part of the Jewish way ... to keep
watch over each other ... and get involved ... and sometimes maybe we
say or do something that really gets under each other's skin, something
that makes our kishkes churn, like only a member of the tribe can do to
another member of the tribe ... and then maybe we argue ... and maybe
sometimes we want to never speak to each other again ... BUT IN THE END,
I value my fellow Jew, and will be responsible for him. We are
connected, and that connection lasts forever."

Why am I bringing up this conversation with Rabbi Jacobson? Because his
question has followed me for the last year, and the more I thought about
it, the more I realized he was really asking a different question, a
very basic question, a question more basic than mine.

That question is, "What does a Jew really have in this world, after all
the 'things' we occupy ourselves with pursuing?"

If he was here, and I wish he was because he makes me laugh, I would
answer, "Rabbi Jacobson, when I look out and see the Jews of Fort Myers
sitting here, at this very expensive dinner, so they can help out
Chabad, I realize that all we really have, after all the shopping and
all the sushi, and the like ... all we really have ... is each other ...
and G-d.

And that is enough ... more than enough.

                Reprinted with permission from www.ZalmanVelvel.com

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                               WHAT'S NEW
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                             New Emissaries

Rabbi Nachman and Elkie Abend have recently moved to North Hollywood,
California where they will be involved in building a new, expanded
Chabad Center to enhance the activities of Chabad of North Hollywood.

Rabbi Mendel and Chana Kaplan recently arrived in Germantown, Maryland
where they will establish a new Chabad House serving the needs of the
local Jewish residents.

                               New Mikva

The Jewish community of Yekaterinburg, Russia, which numbers about
20,000, has just opened a new mikva (ritualarium). The city also boasts
a Jewish Community Center, synagogue, day school, youth club, soup
kitchen, and other religious, cultural and humanitarian institutions.
They are part of the Federation of Jewish Communities of the CIS, and
are led by the city's Chief Rabbi and Chabad emissary, Rabbi Zelig
Ashkenazi.

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                            THE REBBE WRITES
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                     Freely translated and adapted
                          25 Elul, 5744 - 1984
                    To the Sons and Daughters of Our
                       People Israel, Everywhere,
                           G-d bless you all!

Greeting and Blessing:

...Rosh Hashana is connected with the day on which man was created, and
that immediately upon the creation of the first man (Adam), he, and the
whole world with him, achieved perfect fulfillment through total
submission to the Will of the Creator, as expressed in general in the
declaration: "Come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before G-d
our Maker." This self-surrender to the Sovereignty of Heaven in the
first day of man's creation established a basic general principle that
was meant henceforth to permeate, and be implemented in, one's entire
life and conduct in every detail, as the way of achieving perfect
fulfillment.

The said fundamental principle serves as a model and guide to every Jew,
whose essential being is serving G-d: "I was created to serve my Maker."
This Divine service begins every day with the declaration of Modeh-ani
("I thank You, Living and Eternal King," etc.) - a personal total
acknowledgment of G-d's Sovereignty, as a general fundamental principle
that will subsequently inspire every activity and detail of his daily
life with utmost dedication and humility. And through his daily
activities, which are inevitably connected with all the "worlds" of the
created order (inanimate, vegetable, animal, mankind), which support and
serve him and thus become "partners" in his activities, he acts upon
them in every detail and elevates them to share with him in the
achievement of perfect fulfillment, bringing about the realization of
the purpose of the entire Creation - "to make an abode for G-d in the
lowest world."...

The plain meaning of the Torah portion Nitzavim [that we will read on
the Shabbat before Rosh Hashana] is that as the Jews were about to enter
the land (after 40 years in the wilderness), the Torah emphasizes that
the preparation for it is to "stand firmly ("Nitzavim") all together
today," united by the strongest resolve, though in a general way, on the
part of every Jew, man and woman, personally  to reaffirm the Covenant
and Oath which G-d has made with the Jewish people to the effect that
Jews are "His people," and G-d is "Your G-d."

This general reaffirmation of the Divine Covenant on the eve of entering
the land, was to be implemented subsequently in actual practice by
everyone who was standing there, man, woman, and child, in every detail
of all aspects of the everyday life, in the fullest measure, to achieve
the highest degree of perfection.

In connection with Rosh Hashana - as already mentioned in the previous
letter - "this day" (Hayom) refers to The Day, the well-known day of the
Creation of the world, when the whole Creation was completed with the
creation of man, the first Rosh Hashana. The central aspect of this day,
- every Rosh Hashana, is G-d's request, "Make Me King over you." This
means accepting G-d's Sovereignty and, with it, the strong, though
general commitment "to do all the 'words' of this Torah," each and every
day of the year, with the firm resolve of "standing all together" before
G-d, felt especially on Rosh Hashana, coupled with the sense of
self-surrender and feeling of joy and inspiration associated with Rosh
Hashana, the day of "Coronation" of the King of our people Israel, King
of all the earth, and King of the World; then it is certain to be
achieved throughout the year, each and every day, in actual deed, in
every detail and in the highest degree of actual perfection.

Furthermore: Rosh Hashana is the day when every Jew crowns G-d, so to
speak, and attaches himself to G-d, the "King and Redeemer of Israel."
Thus, knowing that he is acting under the prerogative of the King, in
the capacity of one who enjoys royal status - "a royal servant is also
royalty" - then all difficulties and obstacles in carrying out the
King's orders fall away, including the trials and tribulations in time
of exile, when "darkness covers the earth" -

Also in the plain meaning of the portion Nitzavim, namely, that they
were standing ready to enter the Holy Land, etc. As mentioned above,
there is an allusion to the spiritual symbol of the Holy Land: Wherever
a Jew lives, he has to make a "Holy Land" in and of his personal life,
and in the life of his family, in his home and in his surroundings, so
that it will be clearly seen that here lives a Jew, and here walks a
Jew, and there plays a Jewish child - the kind of life which is
permeated with holiness and irradiated with G-dliness, in full accord
with G-d's request and promise: "Let them make Me a Sanctuary and I will
dwell within them - within each one of them "

May G-d grant that ...it be a year of life and peace and all good,
materially and spiritually; Bringing the fulfillment of the promise of
the true and complete Redemption of the whole world through our
righteous Moshiach,

With esteem and blessing for success in all above, and to be written and
sealed for a good and sweet year, both materially and spiritually,


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                            RAMBAM THIS WEEK
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19 Elul, 5765 - September 23, 2005

Positive Mitzva 10: Reciting the "Shema"

This mitzva is based on the verse (Deut. 6:7) "And you shall talk of
them when you sit in your house, and when you travel on the road, and
when you lie down and when you rise up"

We are commanded us to recite the Shema twice every day, in the morning
and the evening.

Positive Mitzvah 5: Worshiping G-d - Prayer

This mitzva is based on the verse (Ex. 23:25) "And you shall serve the
L-rd, your G-d" G-d instructs us to serve Him through prayer.

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                        A WORD FROM THE DIRECTOR
                         Rabbi Shmuel M. Butman
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This past Thursday we observed "Chai Elul" - the eighteenth day of the
Hebrew month of Elul. Chai Elul is the birthdate (in 1698) of the Baal
Shem Tov, founder of the Chasidic movement and Rabbi Shneur Zalman of
Liadi, founder of the Chabad branch of Chasidism (in 1745).

A customary Chasidic saying is that Chai Elul gives the Chai'ot - life
and spirit - to the month of Elul. In simpler terms, perhaps it means
that Chai Elul reminds us not to go through the month of Elul in a
habitual manner. Everything we do can and should be infused with new
"life" in preparation for the New Year.

Saying our daily prayers, giving charity, being kind to others, all must
be permeated with a special energy. In addition, during the month of
Elul we sound the shofar every day to remind us that the time to do
"tshuva" - return to the proper path - has arrived. Even the unusual
activity of sounding the shofar can become rote. So, this too, must be
permeated with the added spirit of which Chai Elul reminds us.

This Saturday evening we begin the ancient custom of reciting the
Selichot prayers (special prayers asking G-d for forgiveness) in
preparation for the upcoming High Holidays.

This coming week also holds a special date, the 25th of Elul, the
anniversary of the creation of the world. This day, according to Jewish
teachings, was the first day of the six days of creation, culminating
with the creation of the first person six days later.

Let us all strive to add an extra measure of chai'ot to  our lives this
month, in preparing for the High Holidays, and this coming year.

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                          THOUGHTS THAT COUNT
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Since you did not serve the L-rd your G-d out of joy and gladness of
heart...you shall serve your enemies (Deut. 28:47)

From this verse we learn the importance of joyfulness in serving G-d.
The implication of the verse is that the severe punishment of serving
one's enemies comes only as a result of joy lacking from our G-dly
service. It is as if joy in our service awakens joy in G-d Himself and
annuls all harsh judgments.

                                              (Rabbi Shneur Zalman)

                                *  *  *


I have not transgressed any of your commandments neither have I
forgotten (Deut. 26:13)

Why were two such similar statements necessary?  To teach us that it is
possible to fulfill a commandment and at the same time forget it.  This
happens when one fulfills it without intent - while the mind is focused
on other things.

                                                        (Sfat Emet)

                                *  *  *


And it shall be, when you come into the land that the L-rd your G-d is
giving you (Deut. 26:1)

The Jews' entrance into the land of Israel is symbolic of the soul's
descent into the body and its being forced to live in the physical
world. The Midrash teaches that the words "and it shall come to pass"
are always used to denote something of great joy. Though the G-dly soul
is saddened when it temporarily leaves its place under G-d's throne to
dwell in a Jewish body for a certain number of years, it is a joyous
occurrence, since the descent is to elevate the corporeal world through
doing mitzvot.

                                            (The Lubavitcher Rebbe)

                                *  *  *


And it shall be, when you come into the land...and you shall take of all
the fruit of the earth...and put it in a basket... and you shall go to
the priest (Deut. 26:1-3)

Fourteen years elapsed after the Jewish people entered the land of
Israel until they were able to fulfill the second half of the verse -
the bringing of their first fruits to Jerusalem. Seven years were spent
in conquering the entire land from its inhabitants; seven more years
were spent dividing the land among the 12 tribes. Our generation, which
will very soon enter the promised land with the coming of Moshiach, will
not need to wait any period of time before we are able to bring our
first fruits to the Holy Temple. Not only will there be no need to
conquer and distribute the land, but the fruits themselves will grow
with such rapidity that their harvesting will take place simultaneously
with their planting.

    (The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Shabbat Parshat Ve'etchanan, 5751-1991)

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                            IT ONCE HAPPENED
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Rabbi Shmuel ben Sosarte, a great scholar of the third century, lived in
the land of Israel.  During one of his journeys to Rome, Rabbi Shmuel
found a string of beautiful pearls lying on the road.  He picked the
necklace up  and admired its rare beauty.

"I wonder who lost such a rare treasure," he thought.  "Surely it
belonged to a lady of great wealth and prominence," he concluded.

He continued walking and soon came upon an excited crowd.  He stopped to
see what the gathering was all about.

In the center of the crowd stood a royal herald, reading a proclamation:

"To all citizens of Rome.  Be it known that her Imperial Majesty this
day lost a pearl necklace of rare beauty in the streets of Rome.
Whosoever finds it is hereby ordered to return it to Her Majesty within
thirty days, and he shall be richly rewarded. Should the finder return
it on the thirty-first day, or after, he shall be beheaded!"

The proclamation was repeated several times, while the growing crowd
spoke excitedly of the lucky man who found it and the reward he would
get.

Rabbi Shmuel listened to the proclamation in silence.  He felt the pearl
necklace in his pocket, and he knew it was the Queen's. He also knew
that a rich reward awaited him at the palace should he return the
necklace in good time.  But he was in no hurry to return it.

A day passed, and another, and many more. Every day he heard the
proclamation again and again, promising wither reward to the finder or
cruel death, should it not be returned within thirty days.  The whole
populace of Rome was seething with excitement. Still Rabbi Shmuel held
on to the necklace.

Finally the thirtieth day came.  It was the last day to return the
necklace to the Queen.  Rabbi Shmuel took it out, looked at it, and put
it away again.

On the thirty-first day, immediately after prayers, Rabbi Shmuel went to
the Queen.

"Inform the lady-in-waiting that an old Jew wishes to see the Queen to
tell her where her lost necklace is," he said to the guard.

The guard disappeared at once, and hastily returned, bidding Rabbi
Shmuel to appear before the Queen.

"I am indeed privileged to return this necklace to Your Majesty," Rabbi
Shmuel said, giving the Queen the necklace.

The queen, who had already given up hope of ever seeing her beautiful
necklace again, gasped with excitement as she beheld her most cherished
treasure.  For a moment her eyes were full of gratitude to the aged
Rabbi.  Then she realized that it was the thirty-first day since she had
lost it.

"When did you find it?" she asked.

"Thirty-one days ago," replied Rabbi Shmuel.

"Then why did you risk your life, instead of collecting your reward?"
inquired the Queen.

"Your Majesty," Rabbi Shmuel explained, "had I brought the necklace
within thirty days, it would have appeared that I returned it either for
the sake of your reward, or for fear of your punishment.  But neither is
the true reason.  I am returning it simply because our Torah commands us
to return lost property to its owner.  We are happy to fulfill the
commandments of our Torah without any reward.  Moreover, we are ready to
die for the observance of our precepts..."

"Blessed is the G-d of the Jews!" exclaimed the Queen.

Not merely was Rabbi Shmuel's life spared, but he was highly honored.
For many years the story of Rabbi Shmuel's pure and sincere honesty was
the talk of all the people of Rome.

                                    Reprinted from Talks and Tales.

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                            MOSHIACH MATTERS
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When we reach the month of Elul, the moth of stock-taking, we must take
stock of our lives and ask: Is it possible that eleven months of this
year have passed and Moshiach has not come! The sum total of the
stocktaking is "Ad Masei - Until when must we remain in exile."

   (The Lubavitcher Rebbe, 1st Day of Rosh Chodesh Elul, 5751-1991)

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                END OF TEXT - L'CHAIM 888 - Ki Savo 5765
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