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                         L'CHAIM - ISSUE # 930
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                           Copyright (c) 2006
                 Lubavitch Youth Organization - L.Y.O.
                              Brooklyn, NY
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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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        July 28, 2006           Devarim               3 Av, 5766
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                              More Memory

Your average personal computer today, laptop or desktop, has about 512
megabytes of Random Access Memory (RAM) up to one GB (gigabyte). You can
always increase your computer's memory by inserting little circuit
boards that add additional megabytes of memory to your RAM. If a PDA,
pocket PC or iPOD is your toy of choice, you can still have hundreds of
megabytes of storage in the devise itself and heretofore unimagined
additional amounts of memory via little chips no larger than a postage
stamp.

But, can you imagine a RAM that stores, say, close to two thousand years
of data?

The collective Jewish memory has this unusual and state-of-the-art
ability. We are presently at the end of the "Three Weeks" between the
seventeenth of Tammuz and the ninth of Av. During these three weeks many
calamities befell the Jewish people, the most devastating of which was
the destruction of the First and Second Holy Temples on the Ninth of Av.

On the seventeenth of Tammuz, the Romans breached the walls of the city
of Jerusalem. For the next three weeks the city was besieged until
finally, on the ninth of Av, the Holy Temple was actually burned by the
Roman General Titus.

Jewish holidays are not just happenings in history that stay put in the
past. Mitzvot (commandments) associated with a particular holiday often
help us experience the event as did our ancestors. They help us encode
the festivals in our minds. It's like using the right computer language
to access and later store important data in our memory.

This concept of reliving an experience is applicable, too, to the "Three
Weeks." During the period of mourning for the destruction of the Holy
Temples, we become mourners. No weddings or other joyous celebrations
take place; we refrain from cutting our hair, wearing new clothes, even
eating a new fruit upon which the blessing of shehechyanu (...Who has
sustained us...) would be said. The mourning process is interrupted only
for Shabbat, a day on which joy must prevail.

On the first of the month of Av, our mourning intensifies. On the Ninth
of Av, we truly act as mourners, sitting on low stools, wearing
non-leather shoes, etc. In computer terms, you might call these actions
"memory enhancers."

But, being that Jewish teachings urge us to continually look toward the
future rather than staying stuck in the past and becoming obsolete, it
comes as no surprise that the Lubavitcher Rebbe encourages us to
experience the Three Weeks and Tisha B'Av in a manner unlike that of
previous generations. The Rebbe has explained that as we are so close to
the Redemption and the revelation of Moshiach, our sadness over the
tragedies which took place should be permeated with optimistic
anticipation of the Messianic Era.

The truth is, however, that there is something much more vital than
adding to, enhancing or accessing the memory, and that is remaining
connected to the source. Because if any memory, computer or human,
becomes disconnected before it has a chance to be stored properly, that
memory doesn't have a chance.

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           LIVING WITH THE REBBE  -  THE WEEKLY TORAH PORTION
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The Torah reading of this week marks the opening of the fifth book of
the Torah, Deuteronomy, or Devarim in Hebrew. This book is also called
Mishneh Torah, meaning "Repetition of the Torah." Moses began reviewing
the Torah with the Jewish people on the first day of the Hebrew month
Sh'vat in the fortieth year after the Exodus..

The timing of the Repetition of the Torah was especially significant in
that it served to prepare the people for their entry into the Promised
Land. During their years of wandering in the desert all their needs,
food, water, clothing, and shelter were miraculously provided. The
delicious white Manna fell daily; the Well of Miriam provided a constant
supply of water, while the Clouds of Glory sheltered them from harsh
winds, flattened the their path, killed any poisonous snakes, serpents,
and scorpions, and kept the clothes of the Israelites fresh, clean, and
pressed.

Now the Jews were on the verge of leaving this place where for years
they had had no material cares, and to settle in a land and a way of
life which would include mundane preoccupations such as working the
land. They now needed an additional measure of spiritual re-invigoration
and inspiration, so that they would not become materialistic and debased
in the material world that lay ahead. The whole purpose of their coming
into the Land was to instill holiness in their surroundings, to elevate
and make more spiritual the material aspects of daily life - thereby
transforming the material into the spiritual through Torah, worship of
G-d, performance of His Divine precepts, giving charity and doing acts
of loving kindness.

This same Divine purpose - to elevate the environment and transform the
material into the spiritual - is behind every individual Jew's
engagement in his mundane activities. As the Alter Rebbe expressed it:
"The material things of Jews are spiritual; G-d gives us material
things, that we may transform them into spiritual." G-d grants the Jew
parnasa - livelihood - and he, in turn, utilizes the money for a mitzva
in general, and for the support of Torah-study in particular, since the
study of the Torah is equivalent to all the other mitzvot combined. In
this way we truly convert the material (money and worldly possessions)
into the spiritual.

Transformation of the material to the spiritual can be achieved in other
ways also, such as through elevating and refining one's business or
professional environment to set an example of honesty and good conduct.
Some people think that the main purpose of a Torah education is to train
Rabbis, Shochtim and other functionaries. This is not so; the essential
and main purpose of religious training is to prepare Jewish laymen who,
before going out into the world of business, or profession are imbued
and permeated with Torah-values and with "Yirat Shamayim," fear of G-d.
Such laymen, elevate their entire environment by inspiring every Jew
with whom they come in contact, with love of G-d, love of Torah, and
love of one's fellow - in actual daily practice.

In all matters of sanctity one must go from strength to  strength,
constantly increasing holiness; one must strive to produce more and more
spirituality out of material things. In this way the blessing of
"Prosperity through charity" becomes realized, with G-d giving material
blessings in a growing measure, enabling us to create more, and still
more, spiritually, at a reciprocal pace from strength to strength.

                   Adapted from the works of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.

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                             SLICE OF LIFE
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                              Reaching Out


    The following is a sampling of letters received by Rabbi Shmuel
    Spritzer of the Prisons Department of the Lubavitch Youth
    Organization and printed in the Prisons Department publication
    "Reaching Out.".

I just received your much-welcomed letter and would like to thank you
very much. You are a blessing to all of us in prisons. I was touched by
your hasty reply and caring response to the problem I had written to you
about.

Chaplain Carney came to the "hole" and spoke to me and said that he
would reinstate me on my religious diet. I cannot thank you enough for
placing a call and making this happen. As I said, you are a blessing to
all of us. If it were not for you, I would still have not been on the
religious diet for a long time.

                              James - USP Allenwood, White Deer, PA

                                *  *  *


Thank you very much of the three volumes of The Mystical Tradition. I
have already superficially read all three and am now studying them in
greater detail. I find them extremely through provoking and stimulating.
It is as if the exoteric as well as the esoteric aspects of the Torah
are being opened up to me in a very real way.

I am really enjoying the second volume called The Mystical Dimension and
the concepts of Tshuva. Is it possible for a sinner like myself to
aspire to real Tshuva [repentance]? I am finding that I am increasingly
becoming aware of the daily presence of G-d in my daily walk. My prayer
life has reached a new dynamism and I find that I am talking to G-d and
a daily basis. My heart has been truly touched by Hash-m and I never
want to live any other way, even if I have to stay in prison for the
rest of my life (or till Moshiach arrives).

I have a hunger that feels as if it will never be satisfied. There is a
flame burning within me that I cannot understand, but accept with all my
heart and soul. Thank you for leading me back to Him. Without your help
and support I do not know what would have become of me. You and your
organization are instruments that are giving my soul water in a desert.
I now never want to stop growing spiritually.

                                                Dovid, New Zealand.

                                *  *  *


It is sad but true that Jewish youth nowadays are becoming more and more
disconnected with their Jewish identity. I, for example, did not grow up
in a "traditional" Jewish home, nor was I ever Bar Mitzvah. In fact, it
wasn't until my early teens that I began to really learn that I began to
really learn and explore my being Jewish.

For some time, I didn't understand how, at the age of 20, being
sentenced to 14 years in prison for a non-violent offense could ever be
a good thing. How, though, through Torah and Mitzvoth I have a
connection with G-d like never before. I yearn for the richness of
Jewish life. I am more complete.

Fortunately through the grace of G-d it is never too late for a person
to reconnect with their Jewishness. I encourage others, as you do, to
spirit the renewal of education filled with Torah in order to preserve
the continuity of the Jewish people.

                         Brandon - Federal Satellite Low, Jesup, GA

                                *  *  *


I can't begin to thank you enough for what you did for me, both
spiritually and physically while I was n the hole for forty-seven days.
Just hearing from you so soon after I had written to you kept me going
knowing that you had taken my cause. Thank you as well for calling my
family and keeping them up to date about what was happening.

The institution is currently in compliance with all of our kosher
dietary needs and I only hope that it will remain this way.

I can truly say that you are now my Rabbi and I will forever be in your
debt for helping me get back to my family after ten years of confinement
without a blemish on my record. I truly look forward to meeting you in
person when I return to New York, to be able to shake your hand and
personally say thank you.

                          Dan  - Federal Prison Camp, Talladega, AL

                                *  *  *


I am writing to thank you for always being there for me and being my
lamplighter. I have moved into my last year on incarceration after along
12 years behind bars. I have continually worked on myself, my attitude
and my faults, with your help and guidance and that of Rabbi Goldstein
our Jewish chaplain. You have shown me, taught me and loved me as a
fellow Jew to becoming understanding and a capable person.

A person can have all the counselors that help him and still not realize
his problems or how to heal until he can see deeply enough inside, so
that he can seek actual help for his problems. TDCJ doesn't provide any
help, but I didn't let that stop me. I knew I was at fault and that I
needed help. I knew that I didn't want to waste the years in doing
nothing for myself.

So I have returned to my inner roots of being a Jew. I know that you
will help me in outside, as you have helped me in the inside. I know
that each step will be hard at first, but I know that G-d is with me and
will not allow me to fail.

                                Moshe - Estelle Unit, Huntsville Tx

                                *  *  *


Thank you for your most welcome letter... Sometimes I truly think that
G-d has guided me to meet you. Everyone after all knows, that it
matters' not what out plans, when He decides something must be, then so
it is.

I recall you telling me back when I was languishing in Shasta County
Jail that He must have a reason for me to be there, and so it is. I will
not presume to know the reason, or to even bother to question it, it
simply is... Isn't it weird the way so many people simply take
everything for granted (and yes, I also used to take everything for
granted).

The entire Reaching Out is like a monthly recharge. Truly we are blessed
to have the Rebbe in our lives and to have you too.

                         Moshe - Mule Creek State Prison, Ione, CAn

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                               WHAT'S NEW
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Rabbi Menachem and Racheli Hartmann will be moving to Vietnam where they
will establish Chabad of Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in time
for the High Holidays. Rabbi Yehuda and Esther Horowitz will be arriving
soon in Plano, Texas, where they will be enhancing youth and adult
education programming at the existing Chabad-Lubavitch Center as well as
reaching out to the Jewish community in Frisco. Rabbi Avi and Dena Rabin
have opened Chabad of West Hills, California. The new Chabad-Lubavitch
Center is the 19th center in the San Fernando Valley. Rabbi Avrohom and
Mashi Rapoport are establishing a new Chabad Center in Cape May County,
southern New Jersey.

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                            THE REBBE WRITES
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                    5th of Menachem Av, 5735 [1975]
        To All Participants in the Beis Chana Scholarship Dinner
          and Dedication of Boschwitz Hall at Lubavitch House
                          Minneapolis, Minn.,


In these days deprived of joy in commemoration of the Destruction of the
Beis Hamikdosh [Holy Temple], it is particularly gratifying to receive
the good news of your constructive efforts and accomplishments for Torah
Judaism in general and Torah education of our youths in particular.

The sacred activities of Torah and Tefila (prayer) give the Lubavitch
House the status of Beis Knesses [synagogue] and Beis Medrash [study
hall], hence of a Mikdosh Me'at ["Small Sanctuary" - replica of the Holy
Temple], and according to the Zohar (III, 126a) of a Mikdosh
[sanctuary].

This is most significant in these days, for it is through such
activities as you are gathered to celebrate that the cause of the
Destruction is gradually eliminated, and with it the effect, or, in the
words of the familiar prayer, "Umipnei chataeinu galinu me'artzeinu -
because of our sins we have been exiled from our land," etc. Thus every
effort to strengthen Torah and mitzvos hastens the coming of Moshiach
Tzidkeinu [our righteous Moshiach] and the Geula shleima [complete
Redemption].

The most desirable wish and blessing that can be offered on such an
occasion is that the present beautiful facilities should soon prove
inadequate for the expanded Torah activities of Lubavitch in Minnesota
and bring about even greater and more extensive facilities of this kind.

May we all soon see the fulfillment of the prophecy that these days of
sadness shall be transformed into days of rejoicing, gladness and
festivity - espe-cially as your celebration is taking place on the
auspicious day of the 15th of Av.

With blessing for hatzlochoh [success] and good tidings,

                                *  *  *

                 Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av, 5724 [1964]
                         N'shei uB'nos Chabad,


As we are now commemorating the sad events which led to the Destruction
of the Beis Hamikdosh and the beginning of the present Exile, it should
be remembered that the purpose of this commemoration is not just to
inflict a sad period upon ourselves, but rather that we should be
reminded and inspired to do all we can to lessen, and eventually remove
altogether, the cause which brought about the sad events which we are
now commemorating.

For, as we declare in our prayers, "Because of our sins we have been
exiled from our land." It was the neglect of the Torah and mitzvos, in
the daily life and practice, which resulted in the Destruction and
Exile. Therefore efforts to strengthen and spread the observance of the
Torah and mitzvos in the daily life will hasten the complete redemption
through our righteous Moshiach and, as promised, these sad days will be
transformed into days of joy...

                                *  *  *

                    15th of Menachem Av, 5730 [1970]
       To Campers and Counselors Camp Emunah Greenfield Park, NY


I was pleased to receive a report about your life and activities in the
camp through Rabbi J.J. Hecht. He also turned in your tzedokoh [charity]
collection of Tisha b'Av.

As I mentioned on the Shabbat before Tisha b'Av, which no doubt was
conveyed also to you, tzedokoh is particularly important in connection
with the day of Tisha b'Av to hasten the Geula in accordance with the
prophecy, "Zion will be redeemed through justice, and all that return to
her - through tzedokoh." Especially significant is the tzedokoh before
Mincha [the afternoon prayer], when the prayer "Nacheim" is said.

May G-d grant that in the zechus [merit] of your tzedokoh in connection
with the above, and the tzedokoh of all Jews, together with the zechus
of the Torah, which is indicated in the beginning of the verse mentioned
above (in the word mishpot - "justice"), that is to say, the daily life
in accordance with the Torah and mitzvos - should speedily bring the
Nechomoh [comfort]. Then you, with all other Jewish children as well as
adults, will come out to meet our righteous Moshiach, and the days of
sadness will be turned into days of gladness, as promised by our holy
prophets in the holy Torah.

With blessing,

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                                CUSTOMS
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Why are eggs eaten at the last meal before the fast of Tisha B'Av?

For the three weeks preceding the ninth of Av, the day on which the
First and Second Holy Temples were destroyed, we mourn. Eggs are
traditionally eaten by mourners at the first meal upon returning from
the funeral. Eggs, round in shape, symbolize life, which goes in cycles;
one generation dies, and another generation is born.

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                        A WORD FROM THE DIRECTOR
                         Rabbi Shmuel M. Butman
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Tisha B'Av, the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av, occurs this year on
Wednesday night, August 2 - Thursday night, August 3. On this day, we
commemorate the destruction of both the first and second Holy Temples in
Jerusalem. On Tisha B'Av we read a special scroll from the Torah known
as "Eicha" - the Book of Lamentations.

We find in this book two contradictory passages:  "She [the Jewish
people] cries in the night," and "Get up and sing in the night."  It is
obvious how the first passage fits into the Scroll of Lamentations.  But
how does the second passage relate to the melancholy, mournful tone of
the book?

The answer to this question lies in understanding the eternity of our
people.  Although we are still in "golus" - exile, we have the strength,
the capability and capacity to pull ourselves out from the depths and
sing longingly of the "geula" - the final redemption.

Soon, the three weeks of mourning for the destruction of the Temple and
Jerusalem will have passed.  We have been singing a lengthy song of
sadness.  Let us, immediately thereafter, begin a song of longing for
Moshiach.  And let us sing, together, "We Want Moshiach Now" the way the
author of "Eicha," Jeremiah the prophet, would have it sung.

Then certainly, the prophet's own words will be fulfilled, when he will
"Wake up the avot [Abraham, Isaac and Jacob], Aaron and Moses," and all
together fervently sing of our redemption.

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                          THOUGHTS THAT COUNT
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It was in the 40th year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the
month... (Deut. 1:3)

Moses did not rebuke the Jews until he, himself was near death,
according to Rashi. When a person is about to pass away, and is on the
border between this world and the next, his words of instruction and
reproof have a special influence. At this point, no personal prejudices
or ulterior motives can be ascribed to him.

                                                (Devarim Nechmadim)

                                *  *  *


Moses began to explain the law (Deut. 1:5)

Moses explained the law in all seventy languages. Why did he have to go
to all this trouble? Because G-d knew that one day the Jews would be
scattered about the face of the earth and would be mingled among the
other nations. By explaining the Torah in all languages, G-d insured
that in each land and among each people there would be a spark of Torah.

                                                  (Chidushei HaRim)

                                *  *  *


Listen to your brothers and judge righteously (Deut. 1:16)

Here the Torah gives important instruction to judges.  The verse states
"Listen" in the present tense, to indicate that the judges must hear
even the most long-winded arguments from either side with patience.  The
implication of, "to your brothers," is that the judge must relate
equally to both parties, not to give a better hearing to one than to the
other.

                                                      (Ohr Hachaim)

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                            IT ONCE HAPPENED
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Jerusalem. It was hours before daybreak in the year 1660 and Rabbi
Klonimus Hechasid was making his way in the dark to the Kotel, the
Western Wall, to pray to the King of the Universe. It was his unvarying
custom to pray every morning at that early hour, when the world was
completely still and he could meditate on the greatness of G-d and His
wondrous creation.

The day seemed like every other day. But as he walked in the darkness,
he became aware of some almost undiscernible movement in the surrounding
blackness. It was with terror that he saw a street filled with Arabs
brandishing knives and swords. They were crying out, "Death to the
Jewish murderers!"

Rabbi Klonimus approached them, and their leader told him that an Arab
youth had been discovered murdered near the Jewish quarter, and they
were going to punish every Jew they could find. He somehow found the
right words and convinced them to wait before commencing their
bloodthirsty plan.

"Please, allow me to go the Kotel to pray. When I am finished, I will
tell you the identity of the killer of the boy."

Rabbi Klonimus took a quill, a small bottle of ink and a piece of paper.
He then proceeded to the Kotel followed by the Arab mob bearing the body
of the dead youth in tow. Draping himself in tallit and tefillin, he
prayed for a short while and then wrote something on the paper. Then he
took the paper and placed it on the forehead of the dead Arab.

To the astonishment of all present, the dead youth opened his eyes,
stood up and scanned the crowd. Then he pointed to one of the Arabs in
the mob and announced, "That is the one! He is the one who murdered me!"

A loud murmur went up from the mob as the accused man was dragged
forward. Trembling with terror, the man admitted his guilt before his
resurrected victim. As soon as he had confessed the youth sank to the
ground, as dead as before.

The parents of the dead boy ran to Rabbi Klonimus, begging him to bring
their child to life again, but he just shook his head. "I am not G-d,
that I should be able to either grant or take away life. The miracle
that just took place was granted in the merit of the holy Kotel so that
you could see that 'the Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.'
He is waiting just behind the Wall to rescue His children."

The crowd dispersed, bearing the murdered youth to his grave.

                                *  *  *


After the destruction of the First Holy Temple, many of the Jewish
people lived in exile in Babylonia, where they built great Torah
academies and established flourishing Jewish communities. Rabbi Zeira
was amongst those who lived in exile, learning Torah from the greatest
scholars. Though he had a satisfying life, he wanted one thing more - to
live in the land of Israel and to study Torah from the great Sages
there.

Even though Rabbi Zeira longed to live in the Holy Land, he was torn in
making his decision, since his teacher, Rabbi Yehuda ben Yechezkel was
opposed to returning to Israel. It was his belief that the Jews were
obligated to remain in exile in Babylonia, since they did not yet merit
to return. Not only did Rabbi Zeira not want to oppose his teacher, he
had doubts as to whether his own personal merits were sufficient to
allow him to live in the Holy Land.

One morning Rabbi Zeira woke up feeling assured that he could live in
the Holy Land; he had had a dream in which he received Divine assurance
of his worthiness. But he still had to solve the problem of his
teacher's opposition. He was afraid that if he went to bid good-bye to
Rabbi Yehuda, the Sage would forbid him to leave, so he avoided meeting
him. Then, one day, he happened to hear Rabbi Yehuda speaking and he
caught a few wise words which made him feel ready to depart for the Land
of Israel.

Journeying by foot, Rabbi Zeira came to a river with no bridge. Usually
crossed by ferryboat, the boat was nowhere in sight. Rabbi Zeira spied a
foot-bridge consisting of a narrow plank secured by ropes. Now, Rabbi
Zeira was not a young man, and t his shaky bridge was used only by
nimble workers who had no time to wait for the ferry. Rabbi Zeira felt a
great urgency to proceed on his way and he grabbed onto the rope and
mounted the slippery bridge. He slipped and slid his way across the
plank, occasionally falling into the cold river until he finally reached
the other side.

When he mounted the other bank, Rabbi Zeira was greeted by a smirking
gentile who said, "You are a rash and thoughtless race! Right from the
beginning you acted without consideration. You said, 'We will do and we
will understand.' That's not the normal way of approaching a situation.
First you find out about something, and only then you make a commitment
to it. Why didn't you have the patience to wait for the ferry? No, you
had to cross like a young boy, in spite of the danger."

Rabbi Zeira explained to the man, "I'm on my way to Israel. To live in
Israel was the greatest wish of Moses and Aaron, but they were not
permitted to realize their dream. I am no longer a young man and I don't
know if I will live long enough to r each the Land of Israel. Every
minute that I will live in Israel is precious to me, and I cannot lose
even one minute. How could I lose time waiting for the ferry?"

Rabbi Zeira reached Israel where he settled in Tiberius and learned in
the famous yeshiva of Rabbi Yochanan.

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                            MOSHIACH MATTERS
*********************************************************************
The Talmud (Sanhedrin) states: "Three things come unexpectedly:
Moshiach, a 'find' (metzia), and a scorpion," i.e., the Redemption will
be as much of a surprise as finding a "metzia" or being stung by a
scorpion. This is despite the fact that we are to constantly pray for
and hope for the Redemption. The Maharsha explains why in this statement
Moshiach is mentioned together with a metzia and a scorpion. "If he
merits, Moshiach's coming will be like the unexpected appearance of a
metzia, he will rejoice and it will be good for him. But if he doesn't
merit, Moshiach's coming will be like the unexpectedness or the bite of
a scorpion..."

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                END OF TEXT - L'CHAIM 930 - Devarim 5766
*********************************************************************