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                         L'CHAIM - ISSUE # 1105
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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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        January 22, 2010           Bo             7 Shevat, 5770
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                          Don't Miss the Sale

Moshe Shlomo, a follower of Rabbi Dovber, the second Rebbe of
Chabad-Lubavitch, became very ill. His father-in-law Reb Yisroel Meir
would frequently write letters to the Rebbe asking that he plead for
Divine mercy on Moshe Shlomo's behalf, but it didn't help at all.

On Lag B'Omer, when the Rebbe was sitting together with his brothers Reb
Chaim Avrohom and Reb Moshe, and with his sons-in-law and many chasidim
at the Lag B'Omer meal, Reb Yisroel Meir approached the Rebbe with a
note on behalf of his son-in-law, Moshe Shlomo, saying that this is the
second month that his son-in-law had been so sick that he couldn't
speak.

The Rebbe gazed for a long time at the note, and said: "For the sickness
of tuberculosis it is good to have a change of climate. Let him come
here and hear Chasidic teachings, and he will be able to speak, and have
what to speak about."

Why weren't Reb Yisroel Meir's requests effective before? We do not
know. But we do know that the Rebbe regarded Lag B'Omer as a very great
day, one on which he would perform miracles. The fact that it was not
until this special day that Reb Yisroel Meir's plea was effective
teaches us a lesson.

From time to time we mark special days in the general Jewish calendar or
in the Chasidic calendar, and when each day comes along, we are told
that it has a unique significance. However, in order to connect with the
special quality of this day, conscious effort is required, because the
external world looks the same. "How is today different from yesterday?"
one may ask. Yet one who expends the necessary effort learns that today
is indeed very different from yesterday.

Passover, Sukkot, Chanuka, Purim, Lag B'Omer, Tu B'Shevat, and so on, in
the general Jewish calendar are days that most of us are familiar with
and each have their own unique quality, character, and spiritual energy.
In the Chabad-Lubavitch Chasidic calendar, Yud-Tet (19) Kislev, Yud-Alef
(11) Nissan, Gimmel (3) Tammuz, and so on, are probably much less
familiar to, or even unheard of in, the general Jewish community. And
yet, all these days can be summed up with one word: opportunities.

On each of these days a special spiritual light shines that only shines
once a year, and when we do something to connect with this light - by
learning about the meaning of the day, meditating on it, discussing it
with others, reflecting upon it, and trying our best to connect with it,
then it can raise us up to a certain otherwise unattainable spiritual
level.

This coming Monday, Yud (10) Shevat, is one such occasion. It is the day
when the Lubavitcher Rebbe became Rebbe. So it is a day of connecting to
the Rebbe through studying his teachings and through being involved in
activities that he encouraged.

Perhaps this is comparable to a sale. All year round, the customer is
expected to pay full price, and no bargains are accepted. When the store
holds a sale, however, one can purchase the same product on discount for
a fraction of the price. But once the sale is over, it is too late to
grab those bargains - one has no choice but to wait until the next sale.

Likewise, when a special day arrives, G-d in His kindness is granting us
a special, limited time offer. If we are wise, we will make the most of
it.

      Adapted with permission from an article by Rabbi Yehoishophot
                                Oliver on a-farbrengen.blogspot.com

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           LIVING WITH THE REBBE  -  THE WEEKLY TORAH PORTION
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The ninth plague to befall Egypt was the plague of darkness, as
described in this week's Torah portion, Bo: "They did not see one
another, nor did any rise from his place for three days; but all the
people of Israel had light in their dwellings."

The Midrash explains that the plague of darkness entailed two separate
miracles: a supernatural darkness that enshrouded the Egyptians and
"glued" them in place for three days, and a miraculous light that
enabled the Jewish people to see.

By the light of this illumination, the Jews were able to enter the homes
of the Egyptians and locate the treasures that were hidden there. Later,
when the time came for the Jews to leave Egypt and G-d commanded them to
borrow "vessels of silver and vessels of gold," the Egyptians were
unable to refuse their requests, as the Jews knew exactly where
everything was hidden.

This second miracle came about in order to fulfill G-d's promise to
Abraham years before, when He told him that his descendants would be
enslaved in Egypt: "And afterwards they will go out with great wealth."
In the merit of this light, the Jews were able to "empty" Egypt of its
treasures, in fulfillment of G-d's command, "And you shall plunder the
Egyptians."

Chasidic philosophy explains that the material wealth the Jews took with
them from Egypt was an expression of the spiritual wealth they derived -
the tremendous number of "holy sparks" that had fallen to the morally
depraved country. By going through the Egyptian exile, the Jewish people
were able to redeem these sparks and restore them to their Divine
source.

The fact that G-d performed a special miracle to facilitate the process
demonstrates that He actively helps us in our service of "redeeming the
sparks." G-d gives every Jew a "special light" that enables him to
penetrate the "depths of Egypt" and withdraw the spiritual "wealth" that
needs redemption.

Even now, in our present exile, the Jewish people are occupied with
redeeming "sparks of holiness." Whenever a Jew utilizes a physical
object for its Divine purpose, he elevates the sparks it contains and
restores them to their original source.

Moreover, G-d continues to perform miracles that help us in our Divine
mission. For even though we are still in a time when "darkness shall
cover the earth, and thick darkness the people," with the help of this
special light, every Jew can prepare himself, with joy and gladness of
heart, for the time when "the L-rd shall shine upon you": the full and
complete Redemption with Moshiach.

                           Adapted from Volume 31 of Likutei Sichot

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                             SLICE OF LIFE
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                  This is for the Children to be Born
                           by Avrohom Nosson

This story began 28 years ago, when Rabbi Dovid and Chaya Phoebe
Marciano were married. In 1989, after eight years of childlessness, they
received a blessing from the Lubavitcher Rebbe that they would have
children. But it was not until this past fall, nearly 20 years after the
Rebbe blessed them that they would have children, that the blessing was
fulfilled.

"In 1984," begins Rabbi Marciano, "I asked the Rebbe for a blessing to
have children, as several years had passed since we got married and we
still hadn't merited to become parents. The Rebbe blessed us with
'Bracha v'hatzlacha (blessing and success)' or 'B'suros tovos (good
news),' but there was no mention of the subject of children. This scene
repeated itself each time we travelled to New York. Every time I asked
the Rebbe for a blessing, he gave me (or us) words of encouragement and
blessing, but never a specific blessing for children. Weeks and years
passed. We waited and waited, but nothing happened.

"We visited prominent doctors and underwent a variety of fertility
treatments, filled with promise and hope, but in the end, we were filled
with nothing but sadness.

"After the High Holidays in 1989, I decided to travel to the Rebbe and
state clearly that I wanted a blessing for children. The many stories
about the Rebbe's blessings for children that came to fruition despite
medical diagnoses to the contrary were known to us. We wanted a clear
blessing as well.

"My trip was taking place not long after I had suffered a very serious
injury during my work with the defense industry. My body was so severely
weakened that it led to the eventual amputation of both of my hands.
Nevertheless, I was determined to make the trip.

"At nine o'clock on Friday morning, I stood at the entrance to '770.'
However, I was very surprised and perplexed to see World Lubavitch
Headquarters almost totally empty. When I inquired about this unusual
phenomenon, I was told that the Rebbe was praying at home.

"I walked to the Rebbe's house on President Street, but I was just in
time to see the doors of the already crowded house closing. I refused to
give up and knocked sharply on the door until it opened. Noticing my
handicap, the organizers apparently had pity on me and let me come in.
Filled with awe, I stood near the steps that the Rebbe would descend
from his room on the upper floor. When the Rebbe came down the steps, he
gave me a gesture of encouragement and a soothing look of compassion.

"I was privileged to pray with the Rebbe and I felt that the Rebbe knew
about my situation and was there with me.

"Sunday came, the day that we planned to ask the Rebbe for a blessing. I
knew that I couldn't stand in line for so many hours due to my injury,
and I asked one of the Rebbe's secretaries, Rabbi Binyomin Klein, if he
could do something to help me. He understood the situation and he
promised to help me be amongst the first people in line. He asked me to
knock on the window of the secretaries' office immediately after
prayers, and he would make certain to get us in first.

"My wife and I stood first in line for dollars, and when our turn came,
I told the Rebbe that we needed a blessing for children. The Rebbe gave
us a dollar and blessed us with 'Bracha v'hatzlacha.' I don't know where
I got up the nerve, but I said to the Rebbe that I want a blessing for
children because we still have not been privileged to have any. The
Rebbe looked at us with clear and penetrating eyes, gave us another
dollar and said: 'This is for the children to be born!' I left the Rebbe
with a feeling of joy like never before. I knew that if the Rebbe gave
such a clear blessing, it would surely actualize.

"I returned home, filled with faith that we would merit to have
children. I neither thought nor imagined in my wildest dreams that so
many more years would pass until the blessing would be fulfilled, yet I
knew in my heart that when the Rebbe makes a promise, it will be
realized. I read numerous stories about Jews who only decades later were
able to see the proof of the Rebbe's great vision and insight. I firmly
believed that a similar story would happen to me, and I made sure to
increase in acts of kindness and outreach activities in order that I
should be a proper vessel to receive the blessing.

"Ten months ago, I approached Rabbi Shmuel Fromer from the Krayot
neighborhood, with whom I had a deep personal connection. Twenty-five
years ago, he held Torah classes in my home over a period of three
years, and many Jews studied Torah and Chasidic teachings in the merit
of these classes. I proceeded to pour out my heart to him. In all
honesty, I had already begun to get a bit skeptical. It had been 20
years since receiving the Rebbe's blessing in 1989, 28 years since we
got married, and we had already been to so many doctors. Who knew? Maybe
when the Rebbe gave us his blessing, he was referring to something in
the more spiritual realm? Rabbi Fromer encouraged me not to give up
hope. 'Dovid, if the Rebbe gave a blessing, it's going to happen,' he
assured me.

"When the first announcement of the long-awaited miracle came, all the
inner sadness and pain that had filled us for all those long years was
transformed into tremendous joy. And after our son was born on 3
Cheshvan, and I saw the happiness of all the Chasidim around us, I
understood how great this miracle really was. While I still haven't
fully digested the magnitude of the miracle, it's clear that what the
Rebbe says, goes. There's no other way to explain it.

"My conclusion is that one should always pray and hope, and if the Rebbe
makes a promise, the blessing will surely be fulfilled. There is no
doubt that this trial was most difficult to bear, but the great joy we
are feeling now surpasses it."

                              Reprinted from Beis Moshiach Magazine

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                            THE REBBE WRITES
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                      12th of Shevat, 5734 [1984]
                       Mr. Mordechai Shoel Landow

Greeting and Blessing:

I just received your letter of January 30th, which arrived in close
proximity to Yud Shevat [the tenth of Shevat], the Yahrzeit [anniversary
of the passing] of my father-in-law of saintly memory.

Everything is, of course, by Divine Providence. However, sometimes this
is not on the surface, and requires deep introspection, but at other
times it may be right on the surface and ever conspicuous. Such is the
case in regard to your letter and its timely arrival around Yud Shevat.

The immediate connection is, of course, the subject matter of your
letter, which is chinuch [Jewish education], and which, as you know, was
the object of my father-in-law's greatest interest, to which he had
dedicated all his life, to the point of actual mesiras nefesh [utter
self-sacrifice].

And, as my father-in-law often pointed out, the matter of chinuch,
education, does not refer merely to children, but also to those who are
"children" in regard to knowledge and experience of Torah and mitzvoth
[commandments]. In other words, chinuch must be directed to Jews of all
ages, to bring them closer to their Father in Heaven. I emphasize the
word closer, because basically every Jew is really close to G-d, by
virtue of his Divine soul which is part of G-dliness Above, and as the
Alter Rebbe [Rabbi Shneur Zalman, founder of Chabad Chasidism]
underscored it "Mamosh" ["actually"].

And even if by reason of external circumstances, the soul may be in a
state of sleep, or suspended animation, it is written, "Though I am
asleep, my heart is awake." There is no need for me to elaborate this to
you, since this is some thing which you have personally experienced in
your own life long ago and in helping awaken others, and have shown that
you could do this with real mesiras nefesh.

I might add, however, that in evaluating the mesiras nefesh of my
father-in-law of saintly memory, we can appreciate it better if we
realize, that it meant for a person like him to tear himself away from
his own profound studies of Torah and spiritual matters, in order to
give of his time, energy and attention so that one more Jew should be
able to learn aleph beis ["abc's"], in the plain sense, as well as aleph
beis of Yiddishkeit [Judaism] which many an adult Jew had to begin.

I dare say that this kind of mesiras nefesh was perhaps even harder than
placing his physical life in jeopardy for the sake of Yiddishkeit. For,
surely, in the case of the Baal HaHilulo [the one whose yahrzeit is
being commemorated], his soul-life and constant striving for spiritual
perfection was uppermost. Herein too we can find something which is of
practical instruction to each, and everyone of us. For, as has been
mentioned on previous occasions, although none of us can compare to his
stature and spiritual qualities and powers, we have the advantage that
he has already trodden the path for us, and made it so much easier to
follow in his footsteps.

With blessing,

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                            A CALL TO ACTION
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                      LEARN the Rebbe's teachings:

The Lubavitcher Rebbe taught that a true connection to the Rebbe comes
through studying the Rebbe's teachings. Dozens of the Rebbe's works are
available in English at Jewish bookstores. Toward A Meaningful Life by
Rabbi Simon Jacobson and Bringing Heaven Down to Earth by Rabbi Tzvi
Freeman are excellent adaptations of the Rebbe's core teachings.  Take a
class at your local Chabad House, visit www .chabad.org, and, of course,
continue to read L'Chaim and share it with friends.

    In memory of Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg and the other
    kedoshim of Mumbai

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                        A WORD FROM THE DIRECTOR
                         Rabbi Shmuel M. Butman
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This coming Monday is Yud Shevat, the anniversary of the passing of the
Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe in 1950 and one year later, the official
acceptance of leadership by the Rebbe.

In a renowned letter, the Baal Shem Tov describes an elevation of his
soul to the chamber of Moshiach at which time he asked Moshiach when he
would come. "When your teachings will become widely known in the world,
and your wellsprings will be disseminated outward," Moshiach answered.

Thus, from its very beginning, bringing Moshiach has been an integral
goal of the Chasidic movement.

From his earliest childhood, Moshiach and the Redemption were uppermost
in the Rebbe's mind, as he once wrote: "From the day I went to cheder
and even before that, there began to form in my mind a picture of the
future Redemption, the Redemption of the Jewish people from their final
exile..." Even before the age of three the Rebbe's young mind was
already occupied with the Redemption. And this has been the Rebbe's
focus ever since.

Preparing the world for Moshiach is integral to the entire Chasidic
movement, particularly to Chabad-Lubavitch. Once the Rebbe accepted the
enormous responsibility of the leadership of Chabad-Lubavitch, he stated
in no uncertain terms the ultimate purpose of his leadership:

In the Rebbe's first public discourse, he explained: "This is what is
demanded of each and every one of us of the seventh generation...
Although the fact that we are in the seventh generation is not the
result of our own choosing and our own service, and indeed in certain
ways perhaps contrary to our will, nevertheless 'All those who are
seventh are cherished.' We are now very near the approaching footsteps
of Moshiach, indeed, we are at the conclusion of this period, and our
spiritual task is to complete the process of drawing down G-d's
presence, the essence of G-d's presence, in this world."

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                          THOUGHTS THAT COUNT
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There was light in their dwellings of all the Children of Israel (Ex.
10:23)

This unique light not only illuminated their own homes, but accompanied
the Jews wherever they went - even when visiting their neighboring
Egyptians. Exile is a time of spiritual darkness that intensifies the
closer we get to Moshiach's revelation. Nonetheless, just as our
ancestors enjoyed "light in their dwellings" even before their
redemption from exile, so too does every Jew possess an aura of holiness
now, just prior to the Final Redemption, which accompanies him wherever
he goes.

                                      (The Lubavitcher Rebbe, 5751)

                                *  *  *


With our young and with our old we will go... we are to hold a feast
unto G-d (Ex. 10:9)

For in truth, what kind of a holiday would it be without our children?
Any holy celebration that does not include the younger generation is no
celebration at all...

                                                    (Shem MiShmuel)

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                            IT ONCE HAPPENED
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In 1995, an elegantly dressed, elderly woman, entered the office of
Rabbi Yakov Biederman, the Rebbe's emissary to Austria.  She introduced
herself as Marguerite Kozenn-Chajes, a retired opera singer and the
first emissary of the Lubavitcher Rebbe to Vienna! "I know you think you
are the Rebbe's first one here," she quipped, "but in fact I am!"

Mrs. Kozenn-Chajes began her story. Her ancestors had been the holy
Vishnitzer Rebbes. As a young woman she left her home in Czernowitz and
travelled to Vienna where she eventually became a successful opera
singer.

Mrs. Kozenn-Chajes performed during the 1930s in the Salzburger
Festspiele. When German troops marched into Austria and the annexation
of Austria was complete, all Jewish artists were banned from performing.
Somehow, Mrs. Kozenn-Chajes was overlooked and actually performed in the
Festspiele of 1939. When WWII broke out, friends smuggled her out to
Italy and she made it on the last boat to the U.S. She and her husband,
a descendant of the famous Maharatz Chajes, settled in Detroit,
Michigan.

Years passed. Mrs. Kozenn-Chajes was offered the opportunity to have a
private audience with the Lubavitcher Rebbe. "I walked into the Rebbe's
room," she related to Rabbi Biederman, "I cannot explain why, but for
the first time since the Holocaust, I felt that I could cry. Like so
many others who had lost everyone, I had never cried. We knew that if we
would start crying, we might never stop. I began sobbing like a baby.

"I shared everything with the Rebbe: Innocent childhood; leaving home;
becoming a star in Vienna; performing in front of Hitler; escaping to
the U.S.; learning of the murder of my relatives and friends. I also
mentioned my strong desire to visit Vienna. The Rebbe asked that before
my trip, I meet with him again.

"A few months later on my way to Vienna, I went to the Rebbe. He asked
me to visit two people in Vienna and to give them his regards. The first
was Viennese Chief Rabbi Akiva Eisenberg and the second was a Jewish
professor, Dr. Frankl, at the University of Vienna. The Rebbe asked me
to tell Dr. Frankl in his name that he should not give up. He must
remain strong and continue his work with vigor and passion. If he
continues to remain strong, he will prevail. The Rebbe spoke in this
manner for quite a while.

"Once in Vienna, finding Rabbi Eisenberg was simple, but meeting the
professor proved far more difficult. When I arrived at the university
they informed me that he had not shown up for two weeks and refused to
give me more details. I decided to travel to the professor's home.

"A woman opened the door. I asked if the professor was at home. Moments
later, a middle aged man came to the door. He looked extremely tense and
I felt very awkward. 'I have regards from Rabbi Schneerson in Brooklyn ,
New York ,' I told him.

" 'Who is this?' he asked impatiently.

" 'Rabbi Schneerson asked me to tell you in his name that you must not
give up. You must remain strong and continue your work with unflinching
determination and you will prevail. Do not fall into despair. If you
march on with confidence, he promised that you will achieve great
success.'

"The professor looked at me as if he had seen a ghost; his eyes opened
wide in disbelief. He broke down, sobbing like a baby. I did not
understand what was going on. I just saw him weeping uncontrollably.

" 'I cannot believe this!' Dr. Frankl said repeatedly as he motioned for
me to enter. He calmed down a bit and said, "This rabbi from Brooklyn
knew exactly when to send you here. It is a miracle! You have saved me!'

" 'I survived the German death camps,' Dr. Frankl exclaimed, 'and I
retained my spirit there. Still I could not survive the merciless
derision and taunting of my colleagues undermining my every attempt at
progress.' Freud's ideas reigned supreme and Dr. Frankl's were dismissed
as unscientific notions of conscience, faith and obligation. It was
unpopular for students to attend his courses. 'I was drained and
depressed. I fell into a melancholy and decided to quit. I began
drafting my resignation papers.

" 'And suddenly, in walks a woman and gives me regards from a Rabbi
Schneerson in New York! Somebody in Brooklyn, no less a Chasidic Rebbe,
knows about me! He knows my predicament! This is a miracle!'

"Indeed," concluded Mrs. Kozenn-Chajes, "the Rebbe's words came true.
Dr. Frankl continued his work and shortly thereafter, he was given a
chair at the University. His book Man's Search for Meaning was
translated into English and he became one of the most celebrated
psychiatrists of the generation. This all happened some 40 years ago. So
you see Rabbi Biederman," Mrs. Kozenn-Chajes said with a smile, "I was
an emissary of the Rebbe to Vienna many years before you arrived here."

Rabbi Biederman was intrigued. He began investigating and discovered
that Victor Frankl was still alive. In fact he had been sending an
annual donation to the Chabad House in Vienna! Rabbi Biederman recalls,
"I phoned him, introduced myself and asked him if he remembered the
regards Marguerite Kozenn-Chajes gave him from Rabbi Schneerson in
Brooklyn some 40 years earlier."

" 'I do not remember the woman's name but course I remember that day! I
will never forget it. My gratitude to Rabbi Schneerson is eternal,' He
answered emotionally. 'That is why when, a number of years ago,
Chabad-Lubavitch established itself here in Vienna, I became a
supporter.'

In 2003, Rabbi Dr. Shimon Cowen, a Lubavitcher Chasid from Australia,
who is also an expert on Frankl, went to Vienna to visit his son-in-law
and widow, a Catholic, born Eleonore Katharina Schwindt. They spoke at
length and in response to Rabbi Cowen's question about Frankl's personal
observance, she took out a pair of tefilin and tzitzit and showed it to
him. "My late husband would put these on each and every day," she said
to him. "He would also say Psalms in bed at night."

       With thanks to Rabbis Yosef Y. Jacobson, Tuvia Bolton, Dovid
                                                        Sholom Pape

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                            MOSHIACH MATTERS
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The Lubavitcher Rebbe once wrote to one of his Chasidim: "When will you
finally begin to do your part in disseminating the wellsprings of the
Baal Shem Tov outward? Moshiach is waiting for the activities of each
and every one of us in order that what Moshiach answered the Baal Shem
Tov be fulfilled, that then he would come to redeem us from the exile,
which is an exile both for the body and for the soul."

                                             (Igrot Kodesh, Vol. 3)

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                  END OF TEXT - L'CHAIM 1105 - Bo 5770
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