- Click here for the KYY newsletter.
- It is customary for all men to get an Aliya the Shabbos before Yud Shevat. Minyanim for Kriah will begin at 9:00 am.
- Community-Wide Farbrengen for men and woman in honor of Yud Shevat. This Thursday 8 pm in Kanner Hall. Click here for more info.
- Tzeischem Leshalom to Mr. & Mrs. Masud Siboni. May it be meshane makom meshane mazal letova ulivracha.
- Please say Tehillim for Shmuel Choni ben Leah, Rochel Bas Simcha Chaya, Devorah Miriam bas Sarah and for Rachamim Oscar ben Rochel.
Shul Bulletin
Announcements
Shabbos Parshas Bo Schedule
- Shabbos Candle Lighting: 5:00 pm
- It is customary for all men to get an Aliya the Shabbos before Yud Shevat. Minyanim for Kriah will begin at 9:00 am.
- Shiur Chassidus with Rabbi Raichik: 9:00 am
- Last Time To Read Shema: 9:29 am
- Early Minyan Shacharis: 9:30 am
- Shacharis: 10:00 am
- Kol Yakov Yehuda: 10:15 am
- Mesibos Shabbos for Girls: 3:30 pm in Shul
- Mincha: 5:00 pm
- Shabbos Ends: 6:03 pm
- Father & Son Learning: 7:30 - 8:30 pm
Kiddush Sponsors
- Mrs. Nechama Amilov for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Nechama Amilov’s father Sadya ben Yigal ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
- The Raichik family for the yahrtzeit of their father Harav Menachem Shmuel Dovid ben R’ Shimon Halevi ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
The kiddush for the early minyan is sponsored by:
- Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Efraim (Mitch) Reichman in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.
Also in honor of Moshe Efraim’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus. - Mr. & Mrs. Jack Soussana in honor of their son Michoel’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
Women's Shabbos Shiur & Farbrengen
At the home of Mrs. Sima Zeifman
421 N Poinsettia Pl.
At 4:15 pm
Speaker: Rabbi Yisroel Hecht
Mazal Tov To
- Rabbi & Mrs. Nootie Gross on the marriage of their son Levi to Bassie Krasnianski.
Upcoming Birthdays:
- Rabbi Reuven Wolf - 4 Shevat
- Yosef Meir Feiner - 4 Shevat
- Rabbi Moshe Plotkin - 6 Shevat
- Rabbi Sholem Perl - 7 Shevat
- Rabbi Moshe Leider - 7 Shevat
- Moshe Nochum Plotkin - 7 Shevat
- Eliyahu Arye Leib Kravitz - 7 Shevat
- Zalmy Dubinsky - 8 Shevat
- Menachem Mendel Wolowik - 8 Shevat
Upcoming Anniversaries:
- Mr. & Mrs. Boruch Greenbaum - 1 Shevat
- Rabbi & Mrs. Nootie Gross - 7 Shevat
Upcoming Yahrtzeits
- Mindel bas Elyahu (Mrs. Miriam Feiner's mother) - 5 Shevat
- Sadya ben Yigal (Mrs. Nechama Amilov’s father) - 7 Shevat
- Harav Menachem Shmuel Dovid ben R' Shimon Halevi Raichik - 8 Shevat
Devar Torah
Rabbi Menachem Shmuel David HaLevi Raichik
Lessons from the life of a true Chosid
My father’s Yahrtzeit is on the eighth of Shvat. The eighth of Shevat is the anniversary of the day that ended the era of the Zekainim in the times of Yehoshuah. The Zekainim were the educators and the leaders of the generation under the guidance of Yehoshuah. When I reflect upon my father’s life and how he represents what a true chosid is, I see the hashgacha pratis in his yahrtzeit falling out on this day. As a child, I witnessed his davening and would often find him in shul late even on a weekday. He had his corner in Rabbi Halbershtam’s shul. On Shabbos he would be seen leaving shul as preparations were being made for shalosh seudos.
A friend, Reb Yitzchak Dovid Groner of Buffalo told the following story about one of my father’s trips to Buffalo to collect ma’amed. My father’s driver in Buffalo said to Rabbi Groner; “I don’t understand Rabbi Raichik.” “He tells me to be ready right after davening, but he isn’t ready until eleven o’clock in the morning. If he spends half his day davening then how does he expect us to do what we need to do?”
Reb Moshe Lazar from Italy once went on Merkaz Shlichus to Oklahoma. He stayed for Shabbos by the local shochet. When the shochet met them he asked them if they are Lubavitchers. When they answered yes he said, “Rabbi Raichik also comes here, but he only arrives home from shul two thirty in the afternoon.” There was a person who became close to Chassidus from watching the way my father davened. The Rebbe responded to this person in a letter, “You were recently inspired by observing and meditating on the ways of Rabbi Menachem Shmuel Dovid Halevy Raichik Sheyichiye, and it had added in you a great desire to be connected to ‘Ilana diChaya – the living tree’ this is pnimiyus haTorah and Toras haChassidus…” (Igros Kodesh v. 6 pg. 234)
My father would go to Reb Yoel’s chazarah when he was by the Rebbe. He had to be there. On Sunday he would sit down and write down the points of the farbrengen. He would stand up amongst the bochurim. He said that he had heard from the Previous Rebbe how important it is to come to chazarah, and what is missing if one does not. He only heard this one time from the Previous Rebbe, and as a result was always present at chazzarah.
As a child, I would sometimes wake up in middle of the night and find my father bent over a sefer. He wouldn’t go to bed until he completed all his shiurim in Chitas, Chassidus and Nigleh. When he traveled, his handbag was full of sefarim. Learning was constant, with a kvius. In Rabbi Halberstram’s shul, he had a samach vav that he kept to always learn from when he was there.
With regard to Mivtzoyim, my father was never to be seen without his tefillin. He had his daily route in Fairfax. On the day of his daughter’s wedding he did Mivtzoyim. Countless people can tell about how they put on tefillin with Rabbi Raichik. He wasn’t afraid to stand up in public for Mivtzoyim. Once, my father and Reb Sholom Gordon went to visit someone to support the yeshiva and asked him to put on tefillin. Afterwards, when they left he came running after them. He said, “You forgot the check.” Then he said, “For twenty five years people have come and have always remembered to ask for a check, but they don’t always remember to ask me to put on tefillin. Today, for the first time it’s the opposite.”
In 1973, the Rebbe introduced the mivtzah of Torah, saying that Jewish children should learn Torah. As a result, my father started a summer learning program in Los Angeles because there was a void of Torah learning. When he wrote the Rebbe a duch about the program, the Rebbe answered, “Kein yivaser tov kol hayamim – so you should give good news all your days.” The program consisted of learning Torah with the children and then going out on Mivtzoyim. For food, they ate in the Raichick restaurant at 101 N Edinburg.
In shnas shivim, in the Rebbe’s 70th year, my father went with Rabbi Gershon Shusterman to raise money for a new mikvah in Long Beach. Rabbi Berel Weiss took upon himself the obligation to pay for the mikvah. He had to convince the Hungarian community of the great importance of having a mikvah in Long Beach. My father would call Mrs. Dauer, on a regular basis to find out how many people came to use the mikvah once it was built. My father would attend the dinners for the upkeep of the mikvah and once called Rabbi Shlomo Shwartz to teach a woman who took upon herself the mitzvah of going to the mikvah.
My father knew that since he was the Rebbe’s Shadar, that he represented the Rebbe wherever he went. When he went on shlichus the first time, the Rebbe told him; “You are my shliach, you represent me. If I were there, I would go to mizrach (the eastern wall of the shul), therefore so should you.” My father did this b’kabalas ol. Reb Moshe Groner was in Milwaukee with the two Twerski brothers. One of them told him, “I don’t understand Rabbi Raichik. He is a bituldike Yid, yet he was shtuping to stand by the mizrach wall.” The only reason he did this was because he represented the Rebbe.
One could think or imply that my father was a “himel mentsch,” a lofty person. The truth is that my father also understood this world very well. He understood business and he understood the stock market. He understood the physical well and used it to perform many acts of ahavas Yisroel. If someone didn’t have a job he would be on the phone every week to see how he was doing. If someone new came to Los Angeles and entered in business, he became involved in how their business was prospering. When he spoke to others he knew each person in the family. He knew what was bothering other people, even in small matters. Even though he would daven late normally on Friday night, if he had guests who might be hungry he would be home before six so they could eat. He would take loans for other people to help them. The people who gave him the loans thought that they were for him.
Announcements
- Rabbi Simcha Bart invites the community to a farbrengen in honor of Rabbi Bart’s Yom Huledes. Friday Night, 9 pm at 261 S Mansfield Ave.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Shloimeh Nathanson invite the community to the Upshernish of their son Yossi. This Motzei Shabbos, at the home of the grandparents Rabbi & Mrs. Reuven Nathanson 132 S Mansfield Ave.
- Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Avila invite the community to the Lechaim of their daughter Ilana. Thursday, Shevat 2/January 26, 8 pm in Rabbi Citron's shul.
- Please say Tehillim for Shmuel Choni ben Leah, Rochel Bas Simcha Chaya, Devorah Miriam bas Sarah and for Rachamim Oscar ben Rochel.
Shabbos Parshas Va’eraSchedule
- Shabbos Candle Lighting: 4:54 pm
- Shabbos Mevarchim Tehillim: 8:15 am
- Followed by a Shiur Chassidus with Rabbi Raichik
- Thillim Club: 9:00 am
- Last Time To Read Shema: 9:30 am
- Early Minyan Shacharis: 10:00 am
- Shacharis: 10:15 am
- Kol Yakov Yehuda: 10:30 am
- Mesibos Shabbos for Girls: 3:30 pm in Shul
- Mincha: 4:55 pm
- Shabbos Ends: 5:57 pm
- Father & Son Learning: 7:00 - 8:00 pm
- Molad of Chodesh Shevat: Monday, Teves 28/January 23, 8:05 pm
- Rosh Chodesh Shevat: Wednesday, Shevat 1/January 25
Sholom Zochor
Rabbi & Mrs. Sholom Glick
Invite the community to a Sholom Zochor
at 206 S Detroit St.
Kiddush Sponsors
- Dr. & Mrs. Ze'ev Rav-Noy for the yahrtzeit of Dr. Ze'ev Rav-Noy’s father Yehudah Mordechai ben Baruch ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Meir Ashkenazi in honor of Rabbi Meir Ashkenazi’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Simcha Bart in honor of Rabbi Simcha Bart’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Asher Habibian for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Asher Habibian’s mother Pari bas Shlomo ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Reuven Nathanson for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Reuven Nathanson’s mother Malka Chana bas Yosef ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
- Mr. & Mrs. Frank Revere in honor of Mrs. Rachel Revere’s birthday. May she have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Gershon Schusterman for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Chana Rochel Schusterman’s mother Chava bas Yakov Yisroel ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Yona Mordechai Weiss for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Yona Mordechai Weiss's mother Miriam bas Alter Mordechai ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
The kiddush for the early minyan is sponsored by:
- Rabbi & Mrs. Yossi Goldman for the yahrtzeit of Mrs. Dina Tova Goldman’s mother Bracha Chaya bas Refoel ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
- Mr. & Mrs. Velvel Geisinsky in honor of Mr. Velvel Geisinsky’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Zali Muntiz in honor of their triplets first birthday besha'ah tovah umutzlachas ulemazel. Hodu L'Hashem ki tov ki leolam chasdo! May they give them much nachas and may she grow up to Torah, to Chupa and to Maasim Tovim.
- Mr. & Mrs. Jack Soussana in honor of Mrs. Elka Soussana’s birthday. May she have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
Mazal Tov To
- Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Avila on the engagement of their daughter Ilana to Yossi Bassman.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Shaya Berkowitz on the engagement of their daughter Chaya to Zalmy Raksin.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Sholom Glick on the birth of their son.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Yosef Wolowik on the birth of their daughter Rivkah.
Upcoming Birthdays:
- Rabbi Simcha Bart - 26 Teves
- Dov Avrohom Fine - 26 Teves
- Yitzchak Yosef Munitz - 27 Teves
- Mr. Harvey Benton - 28 Teves
- Elisha Lerman - 28 Teves
- Mr. Yosef Yitzchok Mishulovin - 1 Shevat
- Dovid Leib Bastomski - 1 Shevat
- Rabbi Meir Ashkenazi - 2 Shevat
Upcoming Anniversaries:
- Mr. & Mrs. Boruch Greenbaum - 1 Shevat
Upcoming Yahrtzeits
- Chava bas Yakov Yisroel (Mrs. Chana Rochel Schusterman’s mother) - 26 Teves
- Bracha Chaya bas Refoel (Mrs. Dina Tova Goldman’s mother) - 26 Teves
- Chaim Meir ben Avrohom Shmuel (Rabbi Yosef Bukiet’s father) - 27 Teves
- Shmuel ben Moshe (Mrs. Marsha Alperin’s father) - 28 Teves
- Pari bas Shlomo (Rabbi Asher Habibian’s mother) - 28 Teves
- Avrohom ben Nachum (Dr. Sholom Fine’s father) - 28 Teves
- Shmuel ben Avrohom (Mrs. Nana Rushka Stark’s father) - 29 Teves
- Malka Chana bas Yosef (Rabbi Reuven Eliezer Nathanson’s mother) - 29 Teves
- Yehudah Mordechai ben Baruch (Dr. Ze'ev Rav-Noy’s father) - 29 Teves
- Miriam bas Alter Mordechai (Rabbi Yona Mordechai Weiss's mother) 1 Shevat
- Rochel bas Dovber (Dr. Binyomin Kaplan’s mother) - 3 Shevat
Devar Torah
FARVOS?….In what merit do we ask?
This week was Chof Daled Teves, the Hilula and Yahrtzeit of the Alter Rebbe. The following is an excerpt from a fabrengen of the Previous Rebbe given on Shevei Shel Pesach 1942. When a chosid prepares to go to a tzaddik to request a bracha, to go to the ohel or to write a pan, he needs to have the following in mind.
“In the year 1825, one of the Alter Rebbe’s Chassidim visited Haditch to daven at the Tziyon of the Alter Rebbe. Later, while the chosid was on his way to Lubavitch, both the Mittler Rebbe and the Tzemach Tzedek saw the Alter Rebbe in a dream. They did not tell each other about their respective dreams. When the chosid arrived for Yechidus with the Mittler Rebbe, the Rebbe told him that the Alter Rebbe came to him and said that this chosid had pleaded too much by his tziyon. The Alter Rebbe then asked the question, “farvos-for what?” Afterwards, the chosid visited the Tzemach Tzedek as well. During the conversation, the Tzemach Tzedek spoke about the topic of “farvos-for what?” The Chosid understood that this question was not a simple matter. (The Previous Rebbe said that he heard from his father the Rebbe Rashab on several occasions about the concept of “farvos”, meaning for what purpose should your request be answered?)
During a Yud Tes Kislev farbrengen, in the year 1892, one of the baalei batim stood up to say l’chaim. He said, “L’chaim, the zchus of the ba’al hasimcha (the Alter Rebbe) should protect us.” The Rebbe Rashab asked him, “farvos-for what?” (For what purpose should your request be answered?)
The fiery words delivered by the Rebbe Rashab during that Yud Tes Kislev farbrengen left a powerful impression upon all those that attended. My teacher, Reb Nissan A”H, explained the meaning of the Rebbe’s words in great detail. The individual that was most deeply affected from the question; ‘farvos-for what?’ was the Chosid Reb Hendel. After the farbrengen we went to the small zal to write pidyonos to bring to the Ohel (in Lubavitch of the Tzemach and the Rebbe Maharash). One could hear Reb Hendel immersed in a form of ‘self litigation’ asking himself repeatedly through a torrent of tears; “Hendel… farovs? Hendel… farvos?” He didn’t actually write a pidyon in the end. When he arrived at the Ohel he spoke simply with a sentiment that his requests should be heard with undeserved kindness and great compassion. The entire episode affected within him a truly broken spirit. It wasn’t just that he became bitter which would imply that he retained aspiration and thirst; rather it affected within him complete and essential brokenness.
Many wealthy Chassidim; Reb Shmuel Gourarie, Reb Yaakov Horowitz from Riga and others, assembled at the Purim farbrengen in the year 1910, in Mentan. Reb Yaakov Horowitz took a cup of mashke and said, “L’chaim, the zchus of the Alter Rebbe should protect us.”The Rebbe Rashab answered; “farvos-for what?” The Rebbe then said to Reb Yaakov; “Yaakov, do you remember the way you were in Shebitz? When the Shadar (a distinguished shliach of the Rebbe) used to come to your town? You ran through the mud to hear a good word!”
During the farbrengen, the Rebbe asked Reb Yaakov Horowitz, “Why is it that when someone asks you for tzedakah you ask, “farvos?” and just now you bentched that the Rebbe’s merit should protect us and you didn’t ask, “farvos?” It’s known that when a good malach goes on high with a request to a tzaddik for someone’s needs, he is in the world of truth. Emes is also din-judgement. In that place, one cannot just be there because he is a good guy. There has to be a “farvos?” a purpose. In general, a malach has great fear to enter the chamber of a tzaddik. Therefore, I asked you about your request, “farvos?”
Later, the Rebbe told me in a private yechidus that a pnimi – an inward and serious person – always needs to ask himself, “farvos – for what?” The reason is because the Alter Rebbe made that his chassidim shouldn’t be beggars, meaning that they should not receive bread of shame. A pnimi should always have, “farvos” a reason for receiving. Even when he is given things, he shouldn’t want to take it (without a “farvos”).”
When Moshe came with the shlichus to take the Yidden out of Mitzrayim, Hashem informed him immediately the “farvos” the reason that they merited to get out of Mitzrayim. It was because they were going to accept upon themselves the Torah on Har Sinai.
In everything in our lives there is a “farvos”. When we come to the Rebbe we need to tell the Rebbe what we are doing with our time. We need to write to him what shiurim we are giving, what peulos we are involved in, how we are running our homes, about our davening, and what tzedakah we give. This is the vessel that holds the bracha; this is our “farvos.” The Rebbe speaks in many places that a chosid needs to notify the Rebbe about what he is doing. A Chosid is always asking himself; “farvos?”
Announcements
- Rabbi Moshe D. Bryski, Mrs. Chave Einbinder and Mrs. Rivkah Leah Katz are sitting shiva for their father. Click here for the info. Hamokom Yenachem Eschem Besoch Shaar Avaylay Tzion VeYerushalayim.
- Farbrengen for Men in Shul on Wednesday, Teves 23/January 18, 8 pm, in honor of Chof Daled Teves - yahrtzeit of the Alter Rebbe.
- The Annual Taharas Hamishpacha Review is coming up on Chof Ches and Chof Tes Teves iy"h. Click here for more info.
- Mr. & Mrs. Eli Lasker invite the community to the Bar Mitzvah of their son Shlomo Tzvi this Shabbos in Shaarei Tefila. Click here for more info.
- The Ladyzhensky & Davidoff families thank everyone who took upon themselves to learn mishnayos le'iluy nishmas Aharon ben Baruch, Dr. Aron Ladyzhensky, a"h. The Shloshim & Siyum will take place this Motzei Shabbos, 7:30 pm at 126 S. Orange Dr. The Hakomas Hamatzieva will take place on Sunday, Teves 20/Jan 15, 11:00 am at Mt Olives cemetery in City of Commerce.
- Please say Tehillim for Shmuel Choni ben Leah, Rochel Bas Simcha Chaya, Devorah Miriam bas Sarah and for Rachamim Oscar ben Rochel.
Shabbos Parshas Shemos Schedule
- Shabbos Candle Lighting: 4:47 pm
- Kabolas Shabbos: 5:15 pm. This will enable you to make Kiddush before 6
- Late Kabolas Shabbos: 6:20 pm
- Shiur Chassidus by Rabbi Raichik: 9:00 am
- Last Time To Read Shema: 9:30 am
- Early Minyan Shacharis: 9:30 am
- Shacharis: 10:00 am
- Kol Yakov Yehuda: 10:15 am
- Mesibos Shabbos for Girls: 3:30 pm in Shul
- Mincha: 4:45 pm
- Shabbos Ends: 5:50 pm
- Father & Son Learning: 7:00 - 8:00 pm
Kiddush Sponsors
- Mr. & Mrs. Milton Goodman in honor of their anniversary. May they have many more happy years together.
- The Bastomski family for the yahrtzeit of Chaim Volf ben Avrohom Yitzchok ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
- Mr. & Mrs. Shimon Benarroch for the yahrtzeits of Mrs. Kelly Benarroch’s brother Mordechai ben Moshe ob"m and sister Simcha bas Moshe ob”m. May the neshomos have an aliya.
- Mr. & Mrs. Reuven Horwitz in honor of Sarah's upcoming painting exhibition at UCLA's Dortort Center for Creativity in the Arts. This is NOT an art sale! It is a museum-style exhibition - Sarah would like the community to come and celebrate! This Tuesday, 7-9PM at UCLA Hillel. Click here for more info. This exhibit is a tremendous opportunity to expose people to deep chassidc ideas through art.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Sender Munitz in honor of Mrs. Gittie Munitz’s birthday. May she have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
The kiddush for the early minyan is sponsored by:
- Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Antian in honor of Moshe’s second siyum on sefer hatanya leiyuna with his chavrusa Rabbi Simcha Bart. May they continue to see success in their learning metoch harchovo begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Yitzchok Hakohen Arnold for the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Yitzchok Arnold’s father Noson Notte ben Yakov Yeshayohu Hakohen ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
- Choni Grossman in honor of Izzi Soussana.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Zali Munitz in honor of Rabbi Zali Munitz’s birthday. May he have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus. Also in honor of his mother Mrs. Gittie Munitz’s birthday. May she have a shnas hatzlocho begashmiyus ubruchniyus.
- Izzi Soussana for the yahrtzeit of his aunt Soussana bas Miriam ob"m. May the neshomo have an aliya.
Mazal Tov To
- Mr. & Mrs. Eli Lasker on the Bar Mitzvah of their son Shlomo Tzvi.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Yossi Chazanow on the marriage of their daughter Hindi to Yekusiel Kalmenson.
- Rabbi & Mrs. Yosef Y. & Rae Shagalov on the birth of their granddaughter.
Upcoming Birthdays:
- Rabbi Zali Munitz - 21 Teves
- Mr. David Peretz - 22 Teves
- Yitzchok Wolowik - 23 Teves
- Mr. Simcha Pollard - 23 Teves
- Mr. Elozor Plotke - 24 Teves
- Shneur Zalman Shem Tov - 24 Teves
- Rabbi Yehudah Lerman - 25 Teves
- Eliyahu Binyomin Engelson - 25 Teves
Upcoming Yahrtzeits
- Dov ben Pesach (Mrs. Chana Baila Burston’s father) - 19 Teves
- Chaim Volf ben Avrohom Yitzchok Bastomski - 19 Teves
- Basya Rochel bas Shmuel Hirsh (Mrs. Miriam Fishman’s mother) - 22 Teves
- Mordechai ben Yaakov (Mrs. Elisa Haratz’s father) - 25 Teves
- Masha bas Shlomo (Mrs. Nana Rushka Stark’s mother) - 25 Teves
Devar Torah
In the year 1874, on Tu B’av, the Rebbe Maharash was visiting Vitebsk. A large bimah was brought from one of the shuls in town into a large courtyard in front of where the Rebbe Maharash was staying. He was asked by the local community to come to the courtyard to say a maamer in front of a large crowd. The Rebbe Maharash replied that he wasn’t feeling well but would come out and address the crowd with a few words. The Rebbe Maharash explained that the Medrash uses examples from the world and that we need to use various examples from the world in avodas Hashem.
There is a saying; “es past (befitting) adar es past nisht.” In general, this refers to one’s standard of etiquette. Some things are befitting or proper behavior, while others are not. This saying varies relative to the group to which one belongs. In one level of society it is fitting while in a higher level of society it is not. Jews in general, have their unique standard of acceptable behaviors. This is even more so for Chassidim. “Es past adar es past nisht,” is not just relevant to activities but also to speaking and character and perspectives on life. Being that this is true in the physical, all much more so it is true with regard to the spiritual. The Rebbe Maharash went on to enumerate the following list of; “es past adar es past nisht.”
For a chosid it is befitting…
- …To learn a Chassidishe saying everyday
- …To be preoccupied in doing good for others
- …To be b’simcha, and even more to relate good heartedly to others
- …To recognize well one’s personal shortcomings and the virtues of others
- …To consider the youngest and most simple person to be better than oneself
- …To learn from every person their unique good character traits and habits
- … to have love and friendship, peace and camaraderie
For a chosid it is not befitting…
- …not to learn Chassidus
- …not to be preoccupied with doing good for others
- …not to be preoccupied with atzvus
- …not to see your own shortcomings
- …to consider oneself the greatest of the great
- ...not to learn something good from others
…to cause divisiveness amongst brethren that leads to estrangement from each other. This is true even if one’s intention is to preserve the ways of Chassidus.
The Rebbe Maharash said that Yidden in general and Chassidim in particular need to make use of the etiquette of “es past adar es past nisht” in the service of Hashem. When he completed these holy words he stood up, gave the crowd a bracha and returned his place of lodging.
The Friediker Rebbe heard from Chassidim who were present at that time that when the Rebbe Maharash’s holy voice spoke these words, all of those present quietly wept. Reb Shmuel Brenn who was there expressed it in the following way: “The occasion was infused with the true spirit of Yom Kippur. It was a fulfillment of the words of the Mishnah, “There were no yomim tovim for the Jewish people like the 15th of Av and Yom Kippur.” Reb Dov Ber haRashman expressed it in the following way; “For the twenty minutes that the Rebbe spoke, he washed and he cleansed us. May it only be that I would be in such a state after the prayer of “al cheit” during mincha on Yom Kippur. At that time we truly felt what a Rebbe is.” (Sefer HaSichos from the Previous Rebbe, Summer 1940 pages 139-1410
In 1974 an elderly 95 year old chosid who learned in Lubavitch, Reb Mordecai Perlow, the Rav of the Chabad Kehilla of Melbourne Australia, wanted to visit the Rebbe in New York. Due to his advanced age and poor health he knew that it would be difficult to get the Rebbe’s approval and bracha to travel. Before he asked the Rebbe he sought, and after much effort he finally got his doctor’s approval to fly to New York. When he wrote to the Rebbe to get his approval and bracha, the Rebbe did not give his approval. Instead the Rebbe asked him “what’s with Mivtzoyim?” The Rebbe set the standard of what is proper behavior for a chosid. Even a 95 year old Chosid who davens and learns and wants to see the Rebbe, needs also to be involved with Mivtzoyim.
Each Chosid big or small, young or old, needs to be aware of our unique chassidishe etiquette that we Lubavitcher Chassidim hold in the highest regard. We need to realize that what is fitting someone else is not necessarily fitting for us. Each person needs to consider and apply “es past, adar es past nisht,” into our perspectives on how to live a chassidishe life today in 2012. We need to have standards in all of our conversations, whether with our children, spouses, friends or business associates. And most importantly we need to be aware of how to act in the best and most fitting way according to the standard which the Rebbe has taught. We need to ask ourselves about what we think, speak and do: Es past?, adar, es past nisht? Is this befitting, or not?
California Shiva information for HaRov Mordechai Meir Bryski
Shiva information for the esteemed Rabbi Mordechai Meir Hakohien Bryski OBM
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Rabbi Moshe D. Byski
will be observing shiva at
5662 Middle Crest Drive, Agoura Hills CA 91301
THURSDAY - Minyan times: 4:45-5:45pm, Shiva visiting 7-10pm
FRIDAY - Shachris 7:30am, Mincha 1:00pm; Shiva visiting 10am-1pm
SATURDAY - Maariv 5:45 pm; Shiva visiting 7-10 pm
SUNDAY - Shachris 8:00 am. The Shiva ends immediately following Shacharis (9am). Kindly do not visit the home after that.
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Mrs. Chave Einbinder
will be concluding the Shiva at
18100 Califa St. in Tarzana, California
Sunday Morning January 15th from 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM. She will be receiving visitors at this time.
Please note that Shiva will end at exactly 10:30 am.
Her email address is [email protected]
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Mrs. Rivkah Leah Katz is in NY the number is (718) 493-2539
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Anyone who has any thoughts, memories or stories to share about Rabbi Modechai Meir haKohain Bryski, obm, please feel free to email [email protected]
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Hamokom Yenachem eschem Besoch Shaar Avaylay Tzion VeYerushalayim.