Parshas Tzav
Tes Nissan 5766
Volume 2
Issue 23
The Connections people
Chinuch Yaldei Hashluchim:
Rabbi & Mrs.
Mendel & Sara Shemtov Rabbi & Mrs.
Kasriel & Chana E. Shemtov
Connections:
Mr. & Mrs.
Yochanan & Peri Brook
Mr. Mrs.
Zalman & Raizy Cousin
Chinuch Yaldei Hashluchim:
Rabbi M. Shemtov
Rivky Lokshin
Dabrushy Pink
Aydla Vechter
Connections
Proof-Readers:
Rabbi A. Lipsey
Mrs. G. Junik
Rabbi L. Zirkind
Va’ad Hashluchim:
Rabbi Y. Deren
Rabbi O. Goldman
Rabbi Y. Greenberg
Rabbi B. Levertov
Rabbi Y. Shemtov
A project of
CHINUCH YALDEI HASHLUCHIM
cyh@shluchim.org
a division of
THE SHLUCHIM OFFICE
PARSHAS TZAV
"Gershon, please come see me during lunch break after you finish eating," Rabbi Rothman said. "I'd like to speak to you."
Gershon wondered what his teacher wanted. So did the other boys in the class. Gershon was one of the best students in the fifth grade. He was a serious pupil and a nice boy. Everyone liked him.
Gershon hurried through his lunch and got permission to bentsch early. He met Rabbi Rothman in the teachers' room.
"I don't want to take up all of your recess time," began Rabbi Rothman, "so I'll get straight to the point. It's about the test in mishnayos that you will be having next week.
"I started studying already," Gershon told his teacher. "I want to make sure I really know the mishnayos well."
"Good for you, Gershon," Rabbi Rothman complimented him. "I know you're a studious boy, and that's just why I asked to see you. I would like you to study with Levi and help him prepare for the test."
Gershon could not hold back a frown. Levi was a fun boy to be with, but he wasn't a serious learner. Gershon often helped him with homework, and it always took twice as long as it would have taken him to do it himself. Gershon felt uncomfortable. He found it hard to tell his teacher that he didn't want to do as he was asked.
"I could learn much better on my own," he finally said quietly.
"I know, Gershon," said Rabbi Rothman with a smile. "As a matter of fact, I can guess the mark you'll get even before you take the test. You are high on the list of fifth graders who make me very proud. But we have to think about the others who are not part of this group. In fact, this week's parshah tells us why."
In Parshas Tzav, the Torah teaches us laws about the korbanos and the mizbeach upon which they were offered. There is one particular law that Rashi learns from the pessukim that I want to talk about. Rashi tells us that the menorah was lit from the fire that was constantly burning on the mizbeach hanechoshes, the mizbeach made of copper.
"But Rabbi Rothman," asked Gershon, "the menorah stood inside the Kodesh right next to the mizbeach hazahov, the mizbeach made of gold.
Why should the kohain have had to go out to the court where the mizbeach hanechoshes stood and take the fire from there? It would have been much easier for him to light the fire inside the Kodesh."
"That's just the point, Gershon," Rabbi Rothman replied. "A person who is a Torah scholar is like a menorah. From where does the menorah get its light? That light comes from the mizbeach hanechoshes which stood outside. It is the act of going out beyond his own group - reaching out to others who are outside - that gives a 'menorah Jew' the light to shine brightly."‘Please Tell Me What the Rebbe Said’
(Adapted from Likkutei Sichos, Vol. XVII)
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I have four letters and I bring you close
Answer: רבי רש“ב |
Congratulations to Mushkie Freundlich, age 10 from Beijing, China |
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“Hey what’s all that shaking, did I fall asleep in shul again!?” I thought groggily as the Boeing 747 touched down with several bumps.
“Where am I?” I rubbed my eyes awake. Oh that’s right! How could I forget, of course, of course, didn’t I tell you? You mean I didn’t tell you? Mrs. Getzel says I’ve been clumsy lately, I even misplaced one of my most expensive lenses that took me several years to wait for the glue to finish drying before I could use it. Then I managed to find it, in the most unimaginable place. Behind my green roofed house there is a small shed where I keep my succah. When I cleaned it before Pesach, just to make sure there was no chometz there, there sandwiched between two boards was this invention – flat as a pancake.Well where was I, oh that’s right. I was telling you that I had forgotten to tell you (since I’ve been so clumsy lately) why I’ve been so busy lately.
Well let’s see, it’s been quite some time now. It all started with a phone call on my ultrasonic-satellite-wave-transmitter. It was Dr. Mabbit from Eretz Yisroel. He had recently become frum through one of the shluchim in Eretz Yisroel and was very interested in what Chassidus teaches. He had a shiur in Chassidus every day for an hour-and-a-half before davening, which he does with tremendous kavanah.
So there I was, just a few days before Pesach, in Eretz Yisroel visiting Dr. Mabbit and learning with him as well. Mrs. Getzel was sure that I would get so caught up with my new invention that I would forget to catch my flight home and I’d have to spend Pesach in Eretz Yisroel! So she had packed me lots and lots of Matzah and chicken and potatoes because I’m extra careful with what and where I eat on Pesach. I also brought along Ma’amorim from the Rabbeim which discuss the inside stuff about Pesach.
We were working on a new lens together, and we figured that Eretz Yisroel has the right air for creating such an invention. This new lens would give a whole new look to the world. You have to put it on right when you wake up in the morning and wear it for an entire day.The problem we had was that it was too big to wear all day without bumping into other people. Yet this lens has a special seeing device that lets you see how Hashem is constantly creating the world again and again every second of the day! It shows how the great light of Hashem changes into trees, water, land and people! It was an amazing invention and we even got a patent. Yet who could wear it all day?
Finally we had a solution! We made it invisible! We called it a Perspective-Lens and sent it out via express mail to all Tzeirei Hashluchim around the world. Because it is invisible we put it in invisible envelopes. I hope you got it.
I keep mine on all day because otherwise I wouldn’t be able to find it! Have you ever tried looking for something invisible? Mrs. Getzel is glad that this invention won’t take up place in her crowded kitchen.
Dr. Getz
(Not Getzel, yet!)
Tzivi Tiechtel, Age 11
Bellevue, TennesseeThis article will IY”H be published in the next issue of the
Jewish Observer of the Nashville Jewish Federation. It was written by Esther Tiechtel and Chaya Halberstam.TZIVI TIECHTEL WINS 3RD PLACE IN
INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP OF
JEWISH STUDIESEleven year old Tzivi Tiechtel, alumni of Akiva School and daughter of Rabbi Yitzchok and Esther Tiechtel, directors of the Chabad Center for Jewish Awareness, has won third place in the worldwide Maimonidies Championship!
Following the Chabad tradition of studying Jewish text, Tzivi while being home schooled for sixth grade, entered this years "Chidon Hamitzvot - Maimonidies competition". She joined 4000 students from 96 schools worldwide who have studied the Mitzvot and sources taught by Maimonidies such as laws pertaining to the Jewish Judicial system, and honoring ones parents.
Tzivi participated in the competition by studying and using the aid of technology by taking the first round of exams online. Because of her high grades she was chosen from the competitions home schooling division to go to New York where the final championship was being hosted.
All the finalist from grades five through eight took a two hour written test, which would result with final round of winners. On Saturday night, over one thousand guests and visitors filled the Brooklyn School of Music auditorium, for a gala musical concert and the presentation of the finalists and the Maimonidies Awards.
There was a grand “Jewpardy” game where the contestants got to display their knowledge on all they had learned for the past four months. Excitement filled the air as the audience of one thousand people celebrated the scholarship and knowledge of the young girls.
Tzivi Tiechtel, a Nashville representative, proudly came up to the stage when they announced her position as third place winner! She was awarded a special medal and a set of scholarly books to continue her studies, for Torah study never ends.
It was really fun to study with so many different girls from around the world, it was an honor to be chosen from so many thousands of kids as the third place winner, says Tzivi Tiechtel.
"Being in a competition with so many people from around the world who are in the same exact situation as you, everyone is the same nervous and excited and everyone knows what you feel like," said Tzivi Tiechtel. "When I found out that I won 3rd place, I was so excited! It was an honor to be chosen from so many thousands of kids. The whole Chidon experience made me feel so proud that I am a Chabad Shlucha to Nashville, Tennessee!"
It is due to the inspiration and vision of the Lubavitcher Rebbe of blessed memory, to unite the Jewish people through the study of the 613 Mitzvot, that so many children worldwide participated in this learning championship.
י"ג ניסן
יארצייט פון דער צמח צדק
The צמח צדק was born on ערב ראש השנה תקמ“ט (1789). His mother was רביצין דבורה לאה - the daughter of the אלטער רבי . She gave up her life for חסידות and passed away a few days after מנחם מענדל ’s 3rd birthday. From then on, the צמח צדק was raised by his grandfather, the אלטער רבי .
The צמח צדק married רביצין חיה מושקא , his cousin, the daughter of the מיטעלער רבי and after the מיטעלער רבי was נסתלק , the חסידים asked him to take on the נשיאות .
During the צמח צדק ’s נשיאות Czar Nicholas established the terrible ‘cantonist’ decree where young Jewish boys were taken from their homes and sent to work for peasants or to special schools until they turned 18. Then they were sent to the Russian Army for 25 years. Very few of these boys returned to their families as אידן .
The צמח צדק started and organized a secret committee to rescue as many of these boys as possible by bribing the Russian Army officials. This secret committee was called ‘תחית המתים ’. The officials would pretend that the children had died during the journey and they would send death certificates to the parents. Meanwhile the children would be sent to towns very far away from where they lived. Of course, when the parents got a certificate they were very happy because they knew that their son was safe and would stay a איד .
The צמח צדק was נסתלק on י“ג ניסן תרכ“ו and is buried in the town of Lubavitch.
Phone Rally for י"א ניסן
When?
Sunday
י“א ניסן תשס“ו
What time?
11:00 am EST - Hebrew Rally
1-641-297-5600 | 770770
12:00 pm EST
1-712-580-8020 | code: 411411
2:00 pm EST
1-712-580-8020 | code: 411411What?
Join together with hundreds of fellow ילדי השלוחים from around the world in a giant י“א ניסן farbrengen.
Say the פסוקים , hear a דבר תורה , Hear a great story. Sing ניגונים . Say a לחיים.
You should have recieved an e-mail with all the information. If you didn’t, e-mail cyh@shluchim.org.
Don’t miss it!!
Hope to hear you there!!
The שבת before פסח is called שבת הגדול , the Great Shabbos. There are also many special מנהגים connected with this שבת . In מצרים , the בני ישראל celebrated the very first שבת הגדול on י‘ ניסן , five days before their גאולה from מצרים . On that day, בני ישראל were given their first מצוה which applied only to that שבת , but not to future generations: That on י‘ ניסן each household should prepare a lamb that will be used for the קרבן פסח .
This mitzvah of preparing a lamb for the קרבן פסח four days before it was to be brought, was only for that first פסח in מצרים , and the תורה does not tell us that we should do this every פסח . Nevertheless, the people continued to do this to make sure that their lambs had no מום which would mean that they could not be brought as a קרבן .Many ניסים happened for בני ישראל on this first שבת הגדול . The תורה commanded them to take their lambs and tie them to the bedpost. When they did so, their מצריים neighbors saw this and asked them what they were doing with the lamb.
בני ישראל answered: "We are going to shect it as a קרבן פסח as ה‘ has commanded us." The מצריים , for whom the lamb was their god, wanted to scream and shout but they could not say a word. Many other ניסים as well happened in connection with the קרבן פסח , we therefore refer to this day as שבת הגדול .
On שבת הגדול , after מנחה , we say part of the הגדה , from "עבדים היינו " until "לכפר על כל עונותינו "; because that day was the beginning of the גאולה and all its miracles.
In תשל“ח (1978) the Rebbe asked that the תניא should be printed in as many places worldwide as possible. Rabbi Shabsi Alpern, a shliach in Sao Paulo, Brazil, immediately got to work. He decided that even far-flung towns across Brazil would have the opportunity to be part of this new mivtza. He got two vans, filled each with a mobile printing press, a technician, some yeshiva bochurim and cases of כשר food. The vans would travel up and down the country, looking for small towns and villages where the אידן living there were isolated from the large Jewish communities.
There were 100 places on the itinerary. Why 100? As soon as Rabbi Alpern heard about the Rebbe’s request to print the תניא worldwide, he travelled to New York to tell the Rebbe how he planned to join in with this. That שבת , the Rebbe made an unexpected farbrengen and the Rebbe announced that one of the reasons for the farbrengen was because he was so happy with Rabbi Alpern’s plans. During the ניגונים that were sung between שיחות , the Rebbe asked Rabbi Alpern how many places he was planning to print in. “Eight-three”, replied Rabbi Alpern, as this was the Rebbe’s age at that time.
“No one will object if you add more locations”, the Rebbe answered, smiling.
So that is why Rabbi Alpern decided to add and print the תניא in 100 places. After שבת , the Rebbe’s secretary gave Rabbi Alpern $2000 from a special fund set up by the פריערדיקער רבי , to help with the costs of the project.
Now, Rabbi Alpern watched happily, as the vans set off on their long journey. Thirty-three days later, they completed their journey, having printed the תניא in 100 places throughout Brazil. Rabbi Alpern had them all bound and eventually took 100 תניא ’s to the Rebbe, with the location printed on each one.
A while later, Rabbi Alpern was travelling back to Brazil. As the plane neared Sao Paulo, he was thinking about how happy he had made the Rebbe with his efforts to print the תניא in so many places. Suddenly, he heard an announcement that the plane would be landing in a different airport, one that was a two hour drive from Sao Paulo. “It was strange,” Rabbi Alpern said. “I have been living in Brazil for over twenty years, have travelled a lot but I have never landed in this airport. It must be השגחה פרטית .”
After Rabbi Alpern collected his luggage, he started to look for a way to get home. Suddenly, he saw someone familiar. It was George Fisher, a man who davened at the חב“ד shul in Sao Paulo. He offered Rabbi Alpern a ride home. As they were driving, George told Rabbi Alpern about a new acquaintance of his, a man called Roy who was originally from Israel, now living in Sao Paulo and was one of the engineers who built the Brazilian Scientific Base in Antarctica.
Rabbi Alpern thought to himself, ‘This must be the reason for this detour. I’m going to try and have the תניא printed in Antarctica!’
Rabbi Alpern called Roy and explained to him about Chabad, the Rebbe, his שלוחים and the ספר התניא . Soon Roy understood what Rabbi Alpern wanted and said that although he wouldn’t mind helping, it wouldn't be too simple. “First of all, I don’t live in Antarctica. I only go there every so often. Every two or three months, a ship goes there with supplies.”
“No problem,” said Rabbi Alpern. “Tell me where the ship leaves from, I’ll deliver everything that you need and a כיפה . You call me when it’s been done and we’ll learn a part of the ספר from the freshly printed pages. On the next ship back send the box of prints and we’ll bind them here.”
“Rabbi, you may not realize this, but there is only basic equipment at the base in Antarctica. We don't have a printing press there!”
Rabbi Alpern was not put off. “No problem! I have two mobile printing presses. I’ll pack one to be delivered to the ship.”
Roy shook his head. “Every inch on the ship is taken up with the supplies that they need in Antarctica: food, clothing, scientific equipment, tools and machinery. I can’t see how any of the officials will allow a printing press on board!”
Rabbi Alpern decided to try a different approach. “Look, everyone knows that Antarctica is not the most exciting place, even for scientists! Why don't you suggest to your supervisors that a printing press would give the workers the chance to make their own publications; I’ll donate the press to the base. This would make their stay there better and make them less bored.
It all sounded a little bit far-fetched, but in the end Roy was convinced—especially about the boredom point! Surprisingly, his supervisors also agreed and were even excited about the idea. And so a government-approved mobile printing press and films of תניא made their way to Antarctica.
One night, at 3am Brazilian time, the telephone rang in the Alpern home.
‘Shalom Rabbi, it’s Roy. I’ve got a כיפה on my head and I’m ready. Which chapter are we going to read?”
A few weeks later, shortly before פורים , an official government van delivered a case of printed papers to Rabbi Alpern’s office. The Antarctica תניא ’s were bound and one was sent straight away to the Rebbe.
“It’s משלוח מנות for the Rebbe,” Rabbi Alpern told Rabbi Groner, the Rebbe’s secretary.
Straight after מגילה reading, Rabbi Groner called Rabbi Alpern and repeated to him all the ברכות that the Rebbe had given him. “But the Rebbe commented on the inscription on the front of the תניא ,” Rabbi Groner added. “You wrote that the תניא was printed in Antarctica, but there are fourteen army bases there and you only printed in one of them!”
Rabbi Alpern had new stickers made up, saying the exact base, and covered the original inscription on all the תניא ’s. He sent a changed copy to the Rebbe’s office.
A few weeks later, the Alpern family arrived in New York where they would be spending פסח . On ערב פסח , Rabbi Alpern was called to the Rebbe’s office.
The Rebbe greeted him with a big smile. “It’s very cold in Antarctica,” the Rebbe said, “you’ve warmed it up.”
(Adapted from ‘Excuse me, Are you Jewish?)
See the printable version of Connections for incredible fun pages!
Last Week’s Winners:
Level 1:
Menachem Mendel Twersky, age 7 from Chicago, Illinois
Level 2:
Mendy Schapiro, age 11 from Sydney, Australia
We'd love to hear your feedback! Send us your comments, ideas and suggestions to: connections@shluchim.org
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