Volume 1
Issue 48

The Connections people
 

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 RE'EH

"You know," Moshie said to Yossi. "Being in camp makes a big difference for everyone."

"What do you mean?" Yossi asked. "Camp's a lot of fun, and we all enjoy ourselves, but what do you mean by 'a big difference'?"

"Well, take Rabbi Kaplan," Moshie replied. "In school, he's pretty strict. He makes sure all the rules are kept to the T, and he gives lots of homework. And you almost never see him smile. He's not mean; he's just very demanding.

"But in camp, he's different. He tells jokes. He still makes sure we learn, but he's much more relaxed. He's not as sticky when it comes to the rules, and tries to give every kid his time. Whoever wants to speak to him can go over and ask."

"I guess you're right. I think it has something to do with being out in the country," Yossi said. "I don't know if it's the scenery, or just that it's less crowded than in the city. It's true, here people are more at ease."

Their counselor, Sholom, had been listening to the conversation. "This is a good opportunity to share a thought of Chassidus," he thought.

"Do you know what this Shabbos is?" he asked Moshie and Yossi.

"It's Shabbos Parshas Ra'eh," Yossi answered.

"And what else?" Sholom asked again.

This time it was Moshie: "It's Shabbos Mevorchim Elul, the Shabbos on which we bless the month of Elul."

"What you two were speaking about - how camp makes a difference - reminds me of the month of Elul," Sholom said.

"How?" replied Yossi. "Usually, camp is almost over by Elul."

"Let me explain," said Sholom. "The Alter Rebbe says that in the month of Elul, it's as if Hashem goes out to the field. During the year, and especially on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Hashem is like a king in his palace. Only a few very special people are allowed into his throne room, and they have to observe all the formalities of court procedure. And even then, the king is often stern.

"But for one month a year, Elul, it's different. Hashem becomes like a king who is passing through the country as He travels back to His city. All His countrymen can come out to meet Him in the field. He lets everyone greet Him, and shows a happy smile to all of them. He listens patiently to everything they say, and gives them what they ask for.

"In Elul, Hashem makes it easy for us to come to Him. All we have to do is want to see Him. And if we try just a little bit - like a person who leaves his house and goes outside to meet the king - Hashem will be happy with us, and grant us everything we need for a good year."

(Adapted from Likkutei Sichos, Vol. II)

This Shabbos is שבת מברכים חודש אלול

שבת morning I made sure to say תהילים . (Remember to keep up your quota even though there is no World-Wide Tehillim club this week)  

I went to shul and made the special ברכה for the new month of אלול . (The ברכה can be found in the סידור after שחרית for שבת )

Hashem is like a king. Usually, a king stays in his palace where very few people can see him. There are guards blocking the entrance. The king is dressed in royal clothes, wears a crown on his head, and sits on a throne. It is very difficult to make a request of the king. Even when somebody manages to reach the king, he is scared to ask the king for personal favors. The king seems so great and mighty that a simple person cannot talk to him openly.

If the king left his palace, though, and went out to the fields where the simple people were working, they would have a much easier time reaching him. And if the king spoke to the simple people in the fields on their level, with nice words that made them comfortable, they would no longer be as scared. Then, the people would feel comfortable asking for any favors and whatever they needed.

Hashem is high and removed from us during the year, like the king in his palace. It takes a lot of effort to communicate with Hashem. We are scared of Hashem, and do not want to ask for favors.

During Elul, Hashem "comes out to the field." Hashem is right here, waiting for us to talk to Him. During Elul, Hashem is the kind King who we do not have to be so scared of. We can ask Hashem for whatever we need. He is ready to listen. We do not need to be afraid to ask for forgiveness.

The only catch is that we have to be in the field to speak to the king. If we run away, or are not interested, or ignore the fact that the king is standing there, we will lose this chance to speak with him. During Elul, Hashem is waiting to hear from us and ready to listen, but it is up to us to be there and talk. It is up to us to daven to Hashem and do teshuvah. If we do, Hashem will listen and forgive us.

It is so easy! Hashem is right here, in the field. Let's go!

Their own shtetl was actually quite far from מעזבוז ; even if they travelled non-stop for several days, there was only a small chance they might make it before שבת . The wagon driver was not very excited; as far as he was concerned there was no need to hurry, and in his opinion, it was simply not possible to cover that many miles before the sun went down on Friday. The roads were very bad, he pointed out, and there were always unexpected obstacles and delays while travelling.

But the חסידים still wanted to go. Even if the trip might be hard and long, they still wanted to see their Rebbe very much. Without further ado they were on their way.

The wagon driver soon had the horses at a gallop, running as fast as they could. The roads were very narrow, wide enough for only one wagon. They were so narrow, in fact, that if another wagon would appear, passing it on either side would be impossible.

As the חסידים reached a fork in the road, an elegant carriage suddenly pulled out in front of them. It was the carriage of the local poritz, and he was clearly in no hurry to go anywhere. At a leisurely pace his carriage moved slowly down the road, blocking all traffic. The חסידים were now stuck behind it, and their wagon could only move at a crawl.

The wagon driver gritted his teeth; even the חסידים were becoming angry. The tiny chance they had to make it to מעזבוז in time for שבת was quickly disappearing before their eyes.

One חסיד was more upset than the others. "I can't believe it!" he complained. "After all our efforts, how can something so ridiculous spoil our plans? Just because of this slowpoke we're going to miss out on spending שבת with the בעל שם טוב !"

Another חסיד , however, tried to calm him down. "My dear brother, how can you say such a thing? Why are you worried? Have you forgotten what our master the בעל שם טוב has taught us, that ה ‘ directly supervises every tiny detail in the world, and that a leaf doesn't turn in the wind without השגחה פרטית ? Does it not say in the תורה that nothing bad can come from שמים , and indeed, everything is for the good. Whatever ה ‘ does is only good and for the best. The more we get used to thinking and acting this way, the more we will be זוכה to see the good that exists in everything openly revealed. How can it be that you should forget this? I tell you my friend, this is only a test..."

The חסיד 's fervent plea entered the hearts of the others, and their impatience disappeared. Their wagon could still only move at a very slow pace, but they were filled with ביטחון and confidence that the unexpected delay was for the best.

The wagon continued over the next few miles until suddenly, it looked like another problem was about to come up. All the way up ahead, at the next intersection, they could see a group of drunken peasants waiting to pounce on the first wagon that passed by...

There was no doubt what the drunken peasants would have done to the חסידים if they had been alone on the road, or travelling ahead of the poritz's carriage. They would have simply received the "usual" treatment drunken peasants knew so well how to give. The חסידים would have been lucky to be alive after that, let alone continue on their journey.

As it turned out, however, because the poritz's carriage was in front, the hooligans simply scattered once they saw who was coming. By the time the חסידים reached the intersection they had all slunk away and the danger was over.

A few minutes later the poritz's carriage turned off onto a side road, and the main road was suddenly clear. With a crack of the whip the horses were again at a gallop, and the חסידים made it to מעזבוז before שבת - with plenty of time to spare.

From which we learn that even something that doesn't appear to be good at first, may in fact be so in reality.

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