Holidays   Shabbat   Chabad-houses   Chassidism   Subscribe   Calendar   Links

                                  B"H
                                 -----
                         L'CHAIM - ISSUE # 935
*********************************************************************
                           Copyright (c) 2006
                 Lubavitch Youth Organization - L.Y.O.
                              Brooklyn, NY
                             --------------
                  Electronic version provided free at:
                          www.LchaimWeekly.org
                          --------------------
                  Palm-Pilot version provided free at:
                www.LchaimWeekly.org/lchaim/5766/935.prc
                          --------------------
                    To receive the L'CHAIM by e-mail
                  write to: listserv@LchaimWeekly.org
                              Subscribe W1
*********************************************************************
             THE WEEKLY PUBLICATION FOR EVERY JEWISH PERSON
   Dedicated to the memory of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson N.E.
*********************************************************************
        September 1, 2006      Ki Seitzei           8 Elul, 5766
*********************************************************************

                            Imbibing Judaism

The Jewish calendar is unique; every month contains a special message
and offers us its own energy to serve G-d.

Our current month Elul is known as the month of return - t'shuva. It is
the month that we try to be truthful (especially to ourselves) and
return everything (especially ourselves) to its proper spiritual place.
Therefore it is a month of intense introspection and self-correction.
And it is also a month of inventory and good resolutions for the future.

But just studying about this phenomena, even discussing it with friends,
is not enough. It has to be imbibed, absorbed, internalized.

A story to illustrate:

Each year, a certain chasid would set out by foot at the beginning of
the month of Elul to visit his Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel (the third
Rebbe of Chabad, known as the Tzemach Tzedek) in order to be with the
Rebbe for the High Holidays. Now this was no easy task, as the weather
by that time was often freezing.

One year, the going was particularly slow, the offers for lifts were
especially sparse, and the weather was unseasonably cold. A while into
the journey the chasid had reached his last ounce of strength and was
nearly ready to give up and sit down at the side of a lonely,
snow-filled road. But suddenly he heard a wagon approaching.

It didn't take long before the open wagon, filled with large barrels,
reached him.

"Want a ride?" The driver yelled. "Climb up and find a place." The
chasid climbed into the wagon and wedged himself between the barrels.

Oy, was he grateful for the ride! But his gratitude did not keep him
warm. After a few moments huddled between the barrels he was abruptly
reminded that he was still freezing.

That was when he noticed a small spigot sticking out of one of the
barrels.

"Perhaps it's vodka," he thought to himself. He craned his neck this way
and that until he was able to read the markings on the barrel. It was
vodka, all right!

"Ivan!" he yelled to the driver, "Do you mind if I sample a bit of your
merchandise, I'm freezing out here!"

"Go ahead," shouted the driver.

Cupping a hand under the spigot, the chasid filled his other hand with
vodka, recited the blessing, and drank a mouthful of the cold fire. A
few more mouthfuls and he was warm, and happy! He was going to the
Rebbe! And G-d had made a miracle for him personally by sending the
wagon driver before he froze to death! The chasid began singing! In no
time the driver was singing with him and the ten-hour drive passed like
minutes.

Before they knew it they had reached the town of Lubavitch. The chasid
walked straight to the Rebbe's synagogue where he began telling his
fellow chasidim not only about his journey but about what he had learned
from it, as well.

"The teachings of the Torah, even Chasidic teachings, can be likened to
vodka. A person can be surrounded by barrels of Chasidic teachings, by a
sea of Torah, and still be cold, even to the point of freezing to death.

"But, if just a little bit goes inside," he smiled to his friends, "then
he becomes warm and alive!! In fact then, he can even warm up those
around him as well!"

And that is the purpose of the month of Elul: To take Torah and Judaism
to heart and experience how warm, alive and meaningful it is.

     Adapted from an article by Rabbi Tuvia Bolton on ohrtmimim.org

*********************************************************************
           LIVING WITH THE REBBE  -  THE WEEKLY TORAH PORTION
*********************************************************************
The first verse of this week's Torah portion, Ki Teitzei, seems to
contain a grammatical error. "When you go forth to war against your
enemies," it begins, "and the L-rd your G-d will deliver him into your
hands." Why does the Torah begin the verse with the plural - enemies -
and continue in the singular?

Every word in the Torah is exact, every letter conveying a multitude of
meanings that teach countless lessons. This verse, which seemingly deals
with the subject of conventional warfare, alludes to a different type of
war, a spiritual war that is waged by every individual. A Jew may face
two types of enemies: one that threatens his physical existence, and one
that threatens his special holiness as a member of the Jewish people -
his Jewish soul.

The Torah uses the word "enemies" to refer to both of these threats, for
the body and soul of the Jew work in tandem, united in their service of
G-d. Whatever imperils one's physical well-being threatens one's
spiritual equilibrium, and vice versa.

The Torah tells us how to emerge victorious over both types of enemy:
"When you will go forth." A person must gird himself with the strength
that comes from absolute faith in G-d, even before encountering the
enemy. Next, one's approach must be that of ascendancy - "against
(literally, 'over') your enemies." Know that G-d Himself stands beside
you and assists you in your struggle. Armed in such a manner, victory is
assured, not only against conventional enemies, but against the root of
all evil - the Evil Inclination, equated in the Talmud with "the Satan
(enemy of the soul), and the angel of death (enemy of the physical
body)."

When a Jew goes out to "war" fortified with the knowledge that there is
no force in the world able to stand in the face of goodness and
holiness, not only are external manifestations of evil vanquished, but
its spiritual source is defeated as well. The Torah therefore uses the
singular - enemy - to allude to the Evil Inclination, the origin and
prototype of all misfortune.

The verse concludes with the words, "and you shall take captives of
them." If a Jew is not careful and falls prey to the Evil Inclination,
all of his higher faculties, given to him by G-d to be utilized for
good, also fall into its snare. The Torah teaches that sincere
repentance has the power to redeem these captive prisoners, elevating
them until even "willful transgressions are considered as merits." Such
warfare brings Moshiach and the Final Redemption closer, when the Evil
Inclination will be totally vanquished and the victory over sin will be
permanent.

                    Adapted from the works of the Lubavitcher Rebbe

*********************************************************************
                             SLICE OF LIFE
*********************************************************************
              Camp Experience Combines Best of All Worlds
                           by Barbara Boarnet

Early this morning, our seven-year-old twins bounded into our bedroom at
the crack of dawn.

Jacob said, "Mommy, please, please wake up early, so that you can help
me practice my davening [praying] before camp this morning." This was
followed by Michela saying, "I need you to help me with the part that
goes right after the Shema."

They have never before expressed such exuberance and excitement for
learning and practicing prayers. Our experience at Jewish camp this
summer has been so significant that I just have to write about it.

Because we go to a year-round school and only have a four-week summer
break, we are limited in how much camp the kids can attend. With no
travel plans this summer, it was a good time to sign up for camp. I fell
in love with the facility and program of Camp Silver Gan Israel in
Huntington Beach when I researched and wrote a profile on Orange County
Jewish summer camps for the February issue of OCJL and when I
interviewed Rabbi Sender, director, for a cover story article on the
Matzah Bakery in the April issue.

We have participated in many different camps in the last several years -
other Jewish camps, sports camps at UCI, art camp, and Irvine city
camps, just to name a few. They have all been good, and our children
have had many wonderful experiences. But Camp Silver Gan Israel has been
the best experience ever. It combines the best of all of the specialty
camps in an overall comprehensive program, which takes place in a warm,
nurturing, loving, and safe environment. As parents, we couldn't ask for
anything more for our kids. Only one or two days into the two-week
session we had signed up for, our kids begged us to let them go their
whole summer break, so we extended it!

So, what specifically makes Camp Silver Gan Israel the best summer camp
we have ever experienced? Everything!

Silver Gan is the epitome of the word "haymish." Everyone is warm,
friendly, welcoming, caring, and down to earth. It is evident that Rabbi
Sender cares very much about all of the kids and wants them to have a
wonderful camp experience. Jacob didn't enjoy the first day, because the
boys and girls are separated, and all of his good friends who were going
are girls. We talked to Rabbi Sender that evening to make him aware of
the issue and ask him to keep an eye on things. Rabbi Sender was very
concerned and wanted to make sure Jacob's experience at camp was
positive.

He called every evening for two or three days to talk to us and to Jacob
about how each day was going. (The second day, Jacob came home saying it
was "great" and has loved it ever since!) We were very impressed with
how much Rabbi Sender cared.

The counselors are also wonderful, caring, diverse, outgoing,
interesting, and very experienced. We love that Harrison's 5th/6th grade
group has male counselors who are excellent role models. Dinnertime
conversation these last two weeks has been frequented with remarks like
"Izzy does..." and "Chaim says..."

The 11-acre facility in Huntington Beach is phenomenal. Highlights are
the Junior Olympic-sized swimming pool, the incredible cyber lab with
the most up-to-date technology and computer games, the game room with
all of the current video games set on free play, the "rec room" with
pool table, foosball, and air hockey tables, and the sports areas, which
include a large gaga court, a roller hockey area, baseball fields,
volleyball courts, soccer fields, basketball courts, and playground
equipment.

The cafeteria is also excellent. Our kids love the food and buy lunch
every day. There are many healthy and delicious choices for lunch, and
the kids love to go to the "canteen" for their daily treats.

Learning about things and experiencing new activities is definitely a
part of the Silver Gan curriculum, but the overriding emphasis is that a
kids' summer should be fun, and it is! Sports, arts and crafts, music,
drama, games, and cooking are just a few of the many different
activities the campers enjoy. Choosing names for their groups (called
"bunks") and fun bunk competitions lets the kids all bond with each
other and gives them a sense of identity. Exciting shows are brought to
the camp, and twice a week they go to nearby fun attractions such as
Nickel Nickel, Boomers, bowling, ice and roller skating, the mud park,
Sea World, Legoland, and other such places.

While the campers are having fun, they are learning about being Jewish
through daily prayers and activities. Shabbat is filled with songs,
dancing, baking challah, and saying blessings. We are thrilled that our
kids are getting this extra dose of Judaism. Even though they go to
Hebrew school, and we are involved in our synagogue, this daily
immersion in Jewish life with other Jewish kids has had a profound
impact on them.

We will continue to say the Shema every morning and to incorporate other
things they have learned into our daily life long after their session at
camp is over.

Camp Silver Gan does an excellent job of communicating with the parents.
Weekly newsletters recap the week in detail and provide information
about upcoming activities. (The camp is so organized!) The website is
updated daily with hundreds of pictures of all of the kids, so we feel
as if we are there with them. There are also many family events to
enhance the camp experience.

The fun at Silver Gan doesn't stop when the summer ends. There are
activities year round; there is a winter camp in December. Silver Gan
families are invited to and encouraged to attend workshops during the
year at the facility, such as the Shofar Factory, the Matzah Bakery, and
others.

We have found our "camp home," and we look forward to an ongoing
relationship and many more positive Jewish experiences at Silver Gan
Israel.

      Reprinted with permission from the Orange County (California)
                                                        Jewish Life

*********************************************************************
                               WHAT'S NEW
*********************************************************************
                             New Emissaries

Rabbi Shimon and Chanie Kramer will be opening a new Chabad Center in
Merrick, New York, to serve the Jewish communities in Merrick, Bellmore
and Wantagh and the southeast Nassau area. The Kramers will also direct
the Gan Israel Day Camp of Suffolk County.

Rabbi and Mrs. Eli and Devorah Leah Levi have recently moved to the
Colegiales area of  Buenos Aires, Argentina, to establish a new Chabad
House. The Chabad House will serve university students as well as local
residents with youth programs, Shabbat and holiday services and classes.

Rabbi Ari and Leah Sollish are arriving soon in Atlanta, Georgia where
they will head the Adult education activities for Chabad Intown.

*********************************************************************
                            THE REBBE WRITES
*********************************************************************
        Freely translated and adapted from a letter of the Rebbe
                          18 Elul, 5735 (1985)

The Talmud states: "The first person was created on the eve of Shabbos.
Why? It may be likened to a king who built a palace, perfected it,
arranged a feast, and then invited guests... Such is the way of the Holy
One blessed be He, Who created... the whole world with wisdom and all
worldly needs (and then he brought in guests), namely, Adam and Eve.

Yet, the Torah also declares, "Man unto toil is born," and that every
person should live by the credo, "I was created to serve my Creator."

How are these two contradictory ideas about the purpose of man to be
reconciled? If man is G-d's honored "guest" who finds everything ready
and prepared for him, how can he at the same time be a "servant" who has
to serve G-d constantly, and in a manner of real effort (toil)?

One explanation of the apparent contradiction is that precisely the
combination of both characteristics provides a profoundly meaningful
instruction in life, down to everyday living, which expresses itself in
several aspects:

 1) It was expected of Adam and Eve - which is a guideline for every
    Jew, man and woman - that even when they find themselves in a
    situation as if in a royal palace, which is provided with not only
    all requirements, but also "to perfection," and they are invited to
    it as honored guests, it behooves  them  to  make of  it a  service
    to G-d, the Creator of the whole universe.

    The highest degree of this achievement is found in Moses, as the
    Torah tells us. For, while the Torah testifies that "No other
    prophet arose in Israel like Moses, to whom G-d made Himself known
    face to face," yet, when he attained his highest degree of
    perfection, or, as our Sages expressed it, when he reached the
    "fiftieth portal of understanding," he was still "Moses, G-d's
    servant."

    On the other hand, as it has often been pointed out, a Jew serves
    G-d not only through prayer, Torah study, and doing mitzvoth
    (commandments), but also - to quote the Rambam (Maimonides) - with
    his eating and drinking... and in all his deeds, even sleeping. For
    a Jew must prepare himself before going to bed in a way that his
    sleeping is elevated thereby to the status of Divine service - which
    is one of the reasons, indeed the deeper content, of the Shema
    before retiring to sleep.

 2) A second aspect, which likewise has to express itself in the
    daily life, is that G-d gave Adam and Eve - and through them to all
    Jews, men and women, to the end of posterity - the capacity and
    ability to "serve," that is, to add something to the "palace" with
    all its requirements, notwithstanding the fact that these were
    created by G-d, with Divine wisdom.

    Thus, however good the state of affairs is around a person and with
    the person, everyone can (hence, must) bring it to a higher degree
    of perfection, to the extent of - to quote the remarkable expression
    with which the Torah describes man's contribution to Creation -
    becoming a "partner with the Holy One blessed be He in the work of
    Creation." In other words, he is capable of contributing so much
    that the Torah, Toras Emes - the Torah of Truth, declares him
    qualified as a "partner."

 3) With the above aspects in mind, every Jew should find it easier
    to do what must be done in order to rise ever higher in all matters
    of Torah and mitzvoth, and Yiddishkeit (Judaism) in general, in full
    accord with man's purpose and life's destiny - I was created to
    serve my Creator. Let everyone just consider the wonderful powers
    with which G-d has endowed every Jew, even to become a partner - not
    in a small thing, and one thing, but - in the entire universe,
    created by G-d's Wisdom!

 4) The said contribution cannot be achieved in full measure through
    a limited, sporadic service, rendered on special occasions, or at
    certain times; but - only through a way of life which expresses
    itself in every-day service, by consecrating every act, word, and
    thought to be for the sake of Heaven, and consonant with the
    principles of know Him in all your ways - so that G-dliness clearly
    pervades all details of even mundane matters, and, as noted above,
    even while eating and drinking, etc. on an ordinary working day of
    the week.

 5) In the area of "to serve my Creator" there  is the well-known
    directive to serve G-d with joy, and also with deep, inner elation
    derived from the realization of being privileged to serve G-d.

May G-d grant everyone success in the efforts to achieve all the above,
and in the way of joy and pleasure.

*********************************************************************
                                CUSTOMS
*********************************************************************
   Why do we give extra charity in the month preceding Rosh Hashana?

In these days, we ask G-d to look "charitably" upon our deeds of the
past year. Since G-d answers people "measure for measure," we give extra
charity to those who are lacking. Additionally, before all holidays we
give the needy extra money for festive food and clothing. Regarding food
and clothing for Rosh Hashana specifically, the idea is stressed in the
book of Nechemiah, that we should "eat tasty food and drink sweet
drinks."

*********************************************************************
                        A WORD FROM THE DIRECTOR
                         Rabbi Shmuel M. Butman
*********************************************************************
The shofar is sounded during this entire month preceding Rosh Hashana
(except on the eve of Rosh Hashana), on the holiday itself and during
the final service of Yom Kippur. The shofar call tells us two different
messages: It is the sound of the trumpets announcing the coronation of
the King and it is a signal, like an alarm, reminding us to consider our
past deeds and return to G-d.

Why was the shofar specifically chosen for these two purposes? Even in
ancient times, finer musical instruments producing more refined sounds
existed.

The shofar is an animal horn. For anyone who has seen a shofar up close,
one sees that, though cleaned and polished, the shofar is still in a
rough state. It has only been refined minimally.

The preparation for Rosh Hashana, and its inauguration through the
sounding of the horn of a beast, teaches us a tremendous lesson.
Although people are intellectual creatures and our intellect is one of
the things that separates us from other living creatures, intellect
cannot be the be-all and end-all. When it comes to accepting G-d as our
Ruler, we must do so with the submissiveness of an animal. Our return to
G-d, too, is more easily accomplished by setting aside our cold,
calculating intellect and relying, instead, on our warm, simple, more
primitive emotive qualities.

*********************************************************************
                          THOUGHTS THAT COUNT
*********************************************************************
To you shall it be tzedaka [righteousness] (Deut. 24:13)

A person should give tzedaka (charity) while he is still alive, when the
money is still in his possession. The Torah tells us not to behave in
the manner of certain rich individuals, who amass great fortunes during
their lifetimes, and then instruct in their wills that the money be put
to good use after they pass away.

                                                       (Klei Yakar)

                                *  *  *


You shall not take in pledge the garment of a widow... and you should
remember that you were a slave (Deut. 24:17, 18)

When a Jew looks at all the commandments - you shall give to this one
and to that one, treat the orphan in such and such a manner, give the
widow special treatment - he may grumble, "For goodness sake! How many
demands does G-d make of us!" The Torah, therefore, addresses this
complaint by saying, "You shall remember that you were a slave in
Egypt." You, too, knew great deprivation and endured many troubles. As
slaves, you were among the most mistreated people on earth; therefore,
you must treat others kindly for you understand their pain.

                                                      (Panim Yafot)

                                *  *  *


When you go forth in camp against your enemies (Deut. 23:10)

The Sifri explains: Do not attempt to "go forth" unless you are "in
camp." The first requirement, when waging any battle, is unity and
cohesiveness. You must stand together and present a united front, and
not separate into dissenting factions and parties.

                                              (Maayanei Shel Torah)

*********************************************************************
                            IT ONCE HAPPENED
*********************************************************************
Reb Daniel was your stereotypical "Litvak" (Jew of Lithuanian
extraction) who lived in the holy city of Jerusalem. Reb Daniel's entire
life was devoted to Torah study, despite the extreme poverty that had
plagued him ever since leaving his native Lomzha. He and his wife were
raising their seven children in a dilapidated two-room apartment.
Nonetheless, at almost any time of day or night you could find Reb
Daniel poring over a thick tome. He rarely went out.

All of Reb Daniel's neighbors were aware of his habits, and recognized
him as a great scholar. In fact, Reb Daniel's wife had once told them
about the promise her father had extracted from her before he passed
away: that she always be a true "helpmate" to her husband, and never
disturb his learning.

Reb Daniel's wife was very scrupulous in fulfilling her father's wishes.
Her husband was virtually never seen on the street. He never went to the
marketplace or ran an errand. Rarely did he even step outside for a
breath of fresh air.

Sightings of Reb Daniel were so unusual that when he was spotted one day
hurrying through the marketplace with a large sack on his shoulder,
everyone took notice. What was Reb Daniel doing outside, of all places?

It turned out that the day before, a peddler had come to the door
selling secondhand clothes. Reb Daniel's wife was about to purchase a
few garments when her husband reminded her about the mitzva of shatnes,
the prohibition against wearing clothes woven of wool and flax.
Immediately she ran to fetch her neighbor, Reb Shmuel Zanvil, who was an
expert in such matters. When he examined the clothes and found that
several did indeed contain shatnes, she declined the purchase and the
peddler left.

The next day Reb Daniel happened to ask her about the clothes, as he had
been immersed in study in the other room and hadn't overheard how the
problem was resolved. "Oh, there was shatnes in them so I gave them
back," she replied. "What?!" Reb Daniel cried out rather
uncharacteristically. "G-d forbid, another Jew might inadvertently buy
them!"

Reb Daniel raced from the house in search of the peddler, and eventually
located him in the marketplace trying to sell his wares. When he learned
that the peddler hadn't succeeded in selling even one garment, he was so
relieved that he purchased the entire lot just to get rid of it. (This,
of course, was no small sacrifice, given Reb Daniel's financial state.)
That was the type of pious person Reb Daniel was.

Then one day, people began to notice a sudden change in Reb Daniel's
habits. Several times he was recognized entering the home of the
renowned tzadik Rabbi Elazar Mendel of Lelov. For hours on end the two
of them would sit and discuss Torah...and Chasidut! And if that wasn't
enough to raise eyebrows, Reb Daniel was observed studying a book
written by Rabbi Nachum of Chernobyl, a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov.
Tongues began to wag. "What is happening to Reb Daniel?" people asked.
"Is our acetic Litvak suddenly changing into a Chasid?"

Again, it was Reb Daniel's wife who explained what was happening:

A few months previously, Reb Daniel had started to notice that his
eyesight was failing. All those years of studying the "tiny letters"
were beginning to take their toll. At first he could almost convince
himself that it was simple fatigue, but as the days passed he realized
that the problem was more serious. Reb Daniel sought the help of several
doctors and apothecaries, but none of their remedies helped.

Reb Daniel's wife, who came from a Chasidic background, would have
immediately suggested that her husband go to the great Rabbi Elazar
Mendel for a blessing, but she was well aware of his attitude toward
Chasidim and tzadikim. Thus it wasn't until his eyesight had
deteriorated even further that she decided to take matters into her own
hands. Without her husband's knowledge she went to the tzadik's house
and explained the situation to his Rebbetzin, with whom she was
friendly, and asked her to intercede on her husband's behalf.

The Rebbetzin knocked lightly on her husband's door, opened it a crack,
and saw that he was in the middle of praying. Apologizing for the
interruption, she started to tell him about Reb Daniel's failing
eyesight when he nodded his head. "I know already," he told her. "I
know."

The next day an emissary from Rabbi Elazar Mendel arrived at Reb
Daniel's house with a package. Inside was the sefer Me'or Einayim
[literally "Light of One's Eyes"], the work of Rabbi Nachum of
Chernobyl. Also enclosed was a short note in Rabbi Elazar Mendel's own
hand: "Study a portion of this holy book every day and I promise you
that the 'light of your eyes' will return."

At first Reb Daniel was hesitant, but when his eyesight became even more
impaired he decided to take the tzadik's advice. A few days later he
noticed an improvement. In the course of time his vision was completely
restored.

From that day on Reb Daniel's attitude toward Chasidut changed
dramatically. He became an ardent follower of Rabbi Elazar Mendel, and
always kept a copy of Me'or Einayim on his desk.

*********************************************************************
                            MOSHIACH MATTERS
*********************************************************************
"The obligation to write a Torah scroll is the completion of all the 613
mitzvot (commandments). It is thus clear that buying a letter in one of
the worldwide Torah scrolls now being written helps the Redemption come
faster." (The Lubavitcher Rebbe, 1981) At the time that the Rebbe
established this campaign he said that it would strengthen Jewish unity.
A special Torah scroll to unity Jewish students at universities  -
www.unitytorah.com; for children under bar/bat mitzva: www.KidsTorah.org

*********************************************************************
              END OF TEXT - L'CHAIM 935 - Ki Seitzei 5766
*********************************************************************