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                         L'CHAIM - ISSUE # 1135
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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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        August 27, 2010         Ki Savo            17 Elul, 5770
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                            The Life of Elul

Events or ideas that seem to be disconnected points often contain, if we
look at them in the right way, lessons in our Divine service and
spiritual growth. For instance:

The Hebrew word for "life" is "Chai." In Hebrew, each letter has a
numerical value. The two letters that make up "Chai" are Chet Yud, which
has the numerical value of 8 and Yud h, which has the numerical value of
10. This is one of the reasons why we often give tzedaka (charity) in
increments of 18 - to make a connection between charity and life; this
is based on statement in the Talmud that "charity saves from death."

That's point one.

The month in the Jewish calendar preceding Rosh Hashana is Elul. Rosh
Hashana, the Jewish New Year, is the Day of Judgment. Now, just as we
would not approach an important court case without preparation, we don't
want to approach Rosh Hashana without preparation.

But how should we prepare for such an important "court case" when G-d
Himself presides as the Judge? What kind of "evidence" or "witnesses"
can we bring?

We can get our answer from another description of Rosh Hashana: it is
the first of the "Ten Days of Teshuva" (Repentence). In fact, in one of
the most moving prayers of the High Holidays we declare that "teshuva
(repentence), tefila (prayer) and tzedeka (charity) avert the severe
decree."

So we prepare our Rosh Hashana "court case" the way we would prepare for
anything. And we make sure that we bring solid evidence and witnesses:
serious repentence, heartfelt prayer, additional charity.

That's point two.

The 18th of Elul - the Chai or Life of Elul - is significant for three
reasons: It is the birthday of the Baal Shem Tov, founder of Chasidism;
it is the day on which, at the age of 36, the Baal Shem Tov began
publicizing his teachings; it is the birthday of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of
Liadi, the founder of Chabad Chasidism.

Point three.

What is the point of Chasidic Teachings? One of the Baal Shem Tov's most
famous teachings is: Serve G-d with joy.

Point four.

Now we can combine the points and understand the lesson in our Divine
service and spiritual growth.

Infuse everything you do with life and enthusiasm - even the teshuva
over mistakes and missteps of the past. As we make an accounting of the
past year, we must of course be objective and critical. That might lead
to some regrets and hopefully some good  resolutions. And at the same
time, we must maintain our enthusiasm and our joy, knowing - trusting -
that G-d will not only accept our teshuva, but give us the strength we
need to keep our resolve.

How do we do that? How do we live a life infused with enthusiasm and
joy? By studying Chasidic teachings, which gives us insights into the
inner teachings of Torah and the inner workings of our souls. And it all
starts on the 18th of Elul - Chai Elul - the Life of Elul.

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           LIVING WITH THE REBBE  -  THE WEEKLY TORAH PORTION
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This week's Torah portion, Tavo, contains the commandment of bikurim,
first fruits.

"And it shall be, when you come into the land...and you shall take of
all the fruit of the earth...and put it in a basket...and you shall go
to the priest...and the priest shall take the basket from your hand, and
set it down before the altar of the L-rd your G-d."

The mitzva (commandment) of first fruits applies only to the "seven
kinds by which the land of Israel is praised" - grapes, figs,
pomegranates, olives, dates, wheat and barley.

Whoever cultivated these special fruits on his portion of land was
obligated to bring the very first of his harvest to G-d's representative
on earth - the priest who served in the Holy Temple - thereby thanking
G-d for His bounty and joyfully acknowledging the Creator of all things.

A mitzva may be performed in one of two ways: with a minimum of
involvement and effort, merely in order to fulfill the requirement, or
out of a sense of love and joy, demonstrated by one's desire to observe
the mitzva in the most beautiful way possible, utilizing the very best
of whatever one possesses.

This principle is best expressed in the mitzva of bikurim, for which the
farmer must go against his natural inclination to retain for himself the
very best of the fruits of his labor, and hand them over to the priest
in Jerusalem.

As we stand now on the very threshold of the Messianic Era, when we will
once again be obligated to perform this mitzva, it is fitting that we
prepare ourselves for its renewed observance, at least in the spiritual
sense.

How?

By thinking of ourselves as the "first fruit" of G-d: every action we
take, every thought we have and every word that comes out of our mouths
must be not only "for the sake of Heaven," but must be our absolute
best, the most choice and select we are capable of producing.

Furthermore, this principle should be applied not only to the realm of
religious observance, but to the myriad details of our everyday, mundane
lives, elevating even our business transactions to the level of "first
fruits," as our Sages said, "All of your deeds should be for the sake of
Heaven."

Until Moshiach comes, when we will be able to perform the mitzva of
first fruits in the physical sense, every Jew must picture himself at
all times as if he is standing in the Holy Temple, about to hand over
his basket of offerings to the priest.

May our efforts to refine ourselves in this manner bring the Final
Redemption speedily in our day, and with it, the opportunity to observe
the mitzva of bikurim in the literal sense as well.


     Adapted from a talk of the Rebbe on Shabbat Parshat Tavo, 5751

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                             SLICE OF LIFE
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                           Tanyas Everywhere
                            by Rishe Deitsch

It had never happened to us before, but this time, as we were walking
onto the airplane that would take us home to New York from S. Pedro,
Honduras (where my husband does business), the stewardess tapped me on
the shoulder. "I'm sorry, but you both have to come off the airplane."

"Why?" I asked, not wanting to miss the flight.

"We have to inspect your luggage. There are suspicious items in it."

"Go ahead, I give you permission. Inspect. I'll just take my seat on the
plane meanwhile," I said.

But that wouldn't do. My husband and I had to deplane and go into a
security room. On the table were the boxes of papers we had checked in a
few minutes earlier. These were the unbound Tanyas we had printed in S.
Pedro, following the Lubavitcher Rebbe's directive to print Tanya, the
basic book of Chabad Chasidic philosophy, everywhere.

Security personnel stood around speaking to us in Spanish. We kept
saying, "No hablo espanol. Official papers. Jewish. Papers. Official.
Only papers. Jewish. No hablo espanol."

Thirty years ago, in the summer of 1978, the Rebbe initiated a campaign
to print the Tanya all over the world.

At first the Rebbe spoke about getting it done in every country. Several
years later, the Rebbe requested to print the Tanya "wherever there are
Jews." Within six months, the number of Tanyas printed all over the
world grew from 200 to 1,000.  the Rebbe assigned supervision of the
entire project to Vaad L'Hafotzat Sichot. Today, Rabbi Sholom Jacobson
of the Vaad is still involved with (and enthusiastic about) printing
Tanyas.

So, who would go and print in a Tanya in a place like Iceland or
Nigeria? Not too many Jews there, not too much reason to go.

But there were shluchim (emissaries) who lived in some of the places;
there were emissaries who were sent specifically to print the Tanya and
to study Tanya with people; and there were businessmen (like my husband)
who had to go to these places anyway, who printed the Tanya while there.

My brother-in-law Zalman Deitsch (obm) is an example of someone in the
third category. He had to go to Abba, Nigeria, on business. So, in 1979,
he printed the Tanya in Nigeria. It is #127. He also hired a truck with
a printing press on it, to travel around Connecticut and print Tanyas in
different cities in the state.

Other businessmen printed Tanyas in far-flung places such as Hong Kong,
Korea, and Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Avrohom Yitzchok Glick printed Tanyas
in Prague, Czechoslovakia, and neighboring countries. In Prague, the
authorities did not want to allow him to print the Tanya. To discourage
him, they said, "You'd have to print a minimum of 20,000." They were
sure he would walk away when he heard this but he just said, "Fine!" The
Rebbe's Chasidim and shluchim are not so easily discouraged.

Rabbi Laibel Zajac of S. Paulo, Brazil, enabled thousands of Tanya
printings all over Brazil, and in many other countries including the
former Soviet Union, where he traveled in 1992, and in hundreds of
places in Israel.

In 1979, on his way to Australia, Rabbi Yitzchok Groner made a stopover
in India and printed a Tanya in Bombay (now Mumbai).

Fishel Katz is a Florida-based gem dealer. The Rebbe told him to print
the Tanya wherever possible so he did so in various cities in Africa and
China. Shmuel Malamud, a New York businessman, printed Tanyas in Jamaica
and on some Caribbean Islands. His son-in-law Eli Popack followed suit
and printed Tanyas in the United Arab Emirates and other countries.

As a yeshiva student, Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg (may G-d avenge his blood)
printed Tanyas in Cambodia, Vietnam, and other inhospitable locations.
His cousin, Rabbi Dovid Holtzberg, printed Tanyas in Kabul, Afghanistan,
with the help of the U.S. military; in Tashkent, Uzbekistan; Almaty,
Kazakhstan; and several other cities in the former Soviet Union.

In 1983, the U.S. went into Grenada to liberate its university students
from Communist invaders. U.S. Chaplain Yaakov Goldstein was deployed to
Grenada. The Rebbe instructed him to print a Tanya there. This was kept
secret until the completion of the mission. The U.S. military was very
helpful in that project, too, and after it was over, the Rebbe wrote a
letter of thanks to the general who had commanded the mission in Grenada
and approved the printing on military presses.

Every time a Tanya was printed in a new place, the Rebbe was very
meticulous that it should have a number assigned to it with an updated
list printed in the back of the Tanya. The numbers go consecutively from
#1 which was printed in 1796 in Slavita, Ukraine, to today, when the
number is over 5,500 and still growing.

The Rebbe said that when the name of the city appears on the title page
of the Tanya, the city  develops a connection to the author of the
Tanya, Rabbi Shneur Zalman, founder of Chabad Chasidism, and all the
Chabad Rebbes, and the people who live in the city develop an affinity
for the Tanya.

        Reprinted with permission from the N'Shei Chabad Newsletter


    Ed.'s note: At the time that Tanyas were printed in the locations
    mentioned in the article, there were no permanent shluchim in those
    locations. However, today most have shluchim including Prague, Czech
    Republic; Mumbai and 9 other cities in India; Hong Kong and 9 other
    centers in China; Almaty, Kazakhstan; Tashkent, Uzbekistan; Pnohm
    Pehn, Cambodia; Seoul, Korea; Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam; Laos, Kinshasa,
    Congo; and the Caribbean, with centers on 5 islands).

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                               WHAT'S NEW
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                           New Chabad Center

A new Chabad Center opened recently in Paris to service the many
tourists that come to visit the city and particularly the Camps Elysees.
Chabad of Champs Elysées is located at 122 Avenue Champs Elysées and is
easily accessible by public transportation. The Center has a full
Shabbat program including prayers, classes and Shabbat meals as well as
classes and other services for tourists during the week.

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                            THE REBBE WRITES
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                           Freely translated

                          27 Elul, 5707 [1947]

Greetings and blessings,

...I will conclude with subjects of contemporary relevance which I wrote
to another person: At the farbrengen [Chasidic gathering] of Chai Elul
[the anniversary of the birthday of the Baal Shem Tov - founder of
general Chasidism and Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi - founder of Chabad
Chasidim], my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe Shlita, related that the
early chassidim would say: "Chai Elul injects vitality into the Divine
service of 'I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine.'" (The first
Hebrew letters of the words of that verse combine to form the name
Elul.)

It is possible to explain that a living person and a person who is not
alive both possess all 248 limbs. The difference is that a living person
also possesses a soul that enables the body to grow from childhood to
maturity and enables him to move from place to place.

Our Rabbis (Tanya, ch. 38) explain that the intent of the mitzvos
[commandments] - to cling to G-d - resembles the soul for the body of
the mitzvos. This comes through generating or uncovering one's love and
fear of G-d. This comes through the study of pnimiyus haTorah [the inner
teachings of the Torah] in general, and in particular through the study
of Chasidus, as explained in several sources.

Through the intent of clinging to G-d, one comes to the greatest growth
and movement possible. Indeed, this alone represents true movement, as
is well known with regard to the concept of "one who progresses" and
"those who stand." [Highlighting the difference between the souls of the
Jewish people  ("one who proceeds") and the angels ("these who stand")]
This progress comes about when a limited created being clings to the
Creator who is unlimited, as it is written: "And you who cling to G-d,
your L-rd, are living...."

This is the interpretation of the adage that Chai Elul, the birthday of
the Baal Shem Tov, the day when his teachings were revealed, and the
birthday of the Alter Rebbe, injects vitality into the Divine service of
"I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine," i.e., enabling the created
beings to cling to the Creator.

On a deeper level, it is possible to explain as follows: Even a limb
that is not alive has flesh, sinews, and bones. All of these serve as
analogies within our Divine service. The bones refer to the Divine
service of the mind, the flesh, to that of the heart and the sinews, to
the connection between the two, as explained in Likkutei Torah, Parshas
Pinchas, the second discourse entitled Tzav... Korbani Lachmi.
Nevertheless, as they exist in their own right, they do not represent
true vitality. That is achieved only through the preface of kabbalas ol,
the acceptance of G-d's yoke. In particular, this refers to the kabbalas
ol of Rosh Hashana. See the discourse published for Rosh Hashana this
year with regard to the concepts of individual life-energy, general
life-energy, vitality that exists to grant life to others, and essential
vitality.

With wishes for a kesiva vachasima tova [may you be inscribed and sealed
for good],

      Reprinted from I Will Write It In Their Hearts, translated by
                  Rabbi Eli Touger, published by Sichos In English.

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                            WHAT'S IN A NAME
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LEVI means "joined to" or "accompanied."  Levi was the son of Yaakov and
Leah (Genesis 29:34).  His descendants were the Kohanim (priests) and
Levites who served in the Sanctuary.


LEAH means "to be weary."  She was the daughter of Laban (Genesis 29:17)
and the first of Jacob's four wives.  She bore six of the twelve tribes.
The Hebrew pronunciation is "lay-uh."

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                        A WORD FROM THE DIRECTOR
                         Rabbi Shmuel M. Butman
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An individual's birthday has a very special meaning for that person. The
birthday of a tzadik (righteous individual) has deep significance for
everyone who attempts to live according to the tzadik's teachings. A
tzadik's birthday is, in some ways like the spiritual birthday of his
followers.

The birthdays of two great tzadikim are this Shabbat, the 18h of Elul
(corresponding this year to August 28).

On 18 ("Chai") Elul, the Baal Shem Tov, founder of the Chasidic
movement, and Rabbi Shneur Zalman, disciple of the the Baal Shem Tov's
successor and founder of Chabad Chasidism, were born.

These great men dedicated their lives to teach the value of every single
Jew. Ahavat Yisrael - unconditional love of each Jew - was at the
forefront of their philosophy.

Today, nearly two centuries later, we benefit from the guidance and
teachings of the Baal Shem Tov and Rabbi Shneur Zalman. The date of
their birth, then, is not only their birthday - it is also our birthday.

On one's birthday it is fitting to take time out to reflect on one's
achievements of the past year and one's goals for the future. It is
fitting that on the birthday of these tzadikim, we reflect on how well
we have followed and benefited from them and their teachings. This will
help us make our resolutions for the New Year.

May we, in their merit, be blessed with a Chativa Vachatima Tova, a
happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

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                          THOUGHTS THAT COUNT
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Because you would not serve the L-rd your G-d with joy and with gladness
of heart... therefore, you will serve your enemies (Deut. 29:47)

We see from this that joy is such an important part of the Jew's service
of G-d that the harshest punishment of "you will serve your enemies" is
not meted out for a deficiency in the service itself, but for
worshipping G-d without joy and vitality. When the Jew is happy, G-d is
happy, as it were, and even the harshest decrees are annulled -
analogous to an earthly king granting amnesty to his prisoners when he
is in a cheerful mood.

                                            (The Lubavitcher Rebbe)

                                *  *  *


The "Reproof Section" (Deut. 28: 15-68)

In truth, all the curses that are mentioned in this section are directed
against the enemies of the Jewish people, as it states, "And G-d will
place these curses upon your enemies and upon those who hate you." This
prophecy will ultimately be fulfilled in the Messianic era, when G-d
will cause "the spirit of impurity to depart from the earth."

                                                      (Ohr HaTorah)

                                *  *  *


You will be mad from the sight of your eyes which you will see (Deut.
28:34)

Coveting everything one sees is indeed a terrible curse, for it is the
root cause of all the other punishments that are mentioned in this Torah
portion, eventually leading to "you will be only oppressed and crushed
always."

                                                      (Ohr HaTorah)

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                            IT ONCE HAPPENED
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Baruch was a follower of the Baal Shem Tov. Baruch's wife, Rivka, was a
Torah scholar, quite unusual for women of those days. When Baruch and
Rivka had been married for a year and were still not blessed with a
child, they went to see the Baal Shem Tov, to ask for his blessing.

The Baal Shem Tov's birthday was the 18th of Elul. At the repast on that
auspicious day, the Baal Shem Tov blessed Baruch and Rivka and promised
them that, exactly a year later, they would become the parents of a boy.

Baruch and Rivka spent the entire period of the High Holy Days with the
Baal Shem Tov in Miedzibosz. Before departing for home they saw the Baal
Shem Tov again. When the Baal Shem Tov repeated his blessing, Rivka
fervently promised that she would consecrate her son to the
dissemination of Torah and the Chasidic doctrine and way of life as
taught by the Baal Shem Tov.

Rivka decided to intensify her Torah studies, and asked her learned
sister-in-law Devorah Leah for guidance as to prayer and study during
her anticipated pregnancy.

Six months later, Baruch went to Miedzibosz again, to inform the Baal
Shem Tov that his wife was pregnant. The Baal Shem Tov wished him "Mazel
Tov" and gave him certain instructions to convey to his wife. Baruch
left for home in a blissful frame of mind.

On the 18th day of Elul (that year a Wednesday, the fourth day of the
week), which was his birthday, the Baal Shem Tov displayed an
extraordinary elation. He personally led the prayers, which he chanted
in joyous melodies. It was clear that the Baal Shem Tov was observing
that day as an especially festive day. During the repast which followed
the prayers, the Baal Shem Tov told his disciples:

Today, a new soul descended to earth, a soul which will illuminate the
world with the revealed and esoteric teachings of the Torah, and will
successfully disseminate the Chasidic way with selfless dedication,
preparing the way for the arrival of Moshiach.

On the 25th day of Elul (when the circumcision of Baruch and Rivka's son
took place in Liozna), the Baal Shem Tov arranged a feast. Three days
later, on the Shabbat he again gave a discourse and he was in a
manifestly elated frame of mind. All of this represented a mystery to
his disciples and followers.

What the Baal Shem Tov's disciples witnessed in those days was nothing
else but their master celebrating the birth of Shneur Zalman, his
circumcision, and the critical third day after the circumcision.
Moreover, the various discourses which the Baal Shem Tov delivered on
those occasions were connected with the new-born's destiny.

For Yom Kippur that year,  Baruch came to Miedzibosz to be with the Baal
Shem Tov. He had been forewarned not to tell anybody about the birth of
his son, nor the name which had been given to him. Again, before leaving
for home, he received from the Baal Shem Tov a set of instructions as to
the discipline which was to surround the child, and the careful watch
which was to be kept over him at all times.

The following year Baruch came, as usual, to the Baal Shem Tov for the
High Holidays. The Baal Shem Tov inquired about the little boy in great
detail, and repeated his admonition to take special care of the child.

After Sukot, when Baruch was ready to leave for home, the Baal Shem Tov
again cautioned him to shelter the boy, and not to repeat any of his
clever acts or sayings, as some parents are fond of boasting about their
children.

Another year passed by. Once again Baruch made his annual pilgrimage to
Miedzibosz. Baruch reported to the Baal Shem Tov that, upon returning
home form Miedzibosz after Sukot, his wife told him that there was a
noticeable change in the boy on his second birthday. His speech and
vocabulary had considerably improved.

During the year, the parents discovered that the boy had an
extraordinary memory, and whatever he heard once, he never forgot. The
Baal Shem Tov gave Baruch further instructions concerning the boy. Upon
Baruch's request for permission to bring the boy to the Baal Shem Tov on
his third birthday for the traditional "hair-cutting" ceremony, the Baal
Shem Tov told him that the boy should be brought by his mother and aunt
Devorah Leah, and they should come to him on the 18th of Elul, after the
morning prayers.

Arriving home, Baruch found that the boy had made further strides in his
absence from home. Little Shneur Zalman could now recite many Psalms by
heart, and his memory and mental grasp were astonishing.

According to plan, Rivka and her sister-in-law, Devorah Leah, brought
the boy, on his third birthday, to the Baal Shem Tov. The Baal Shem Tov
cut off a few locks of hair, leaving peyot (side curls) according to
custom, and he blessed him. He then sent the visitors home, with his
blessing for a safe journey and for the new year.

All the way home, little Shneur Zalman kept on asking his mother who the
old Jew was who had cut his hair. "That was Zaida," was her reply.
Little did he then know that some day he would come to regard the Baal
Shem Tov as his spiritual "grandfather" in a very real sense, namely, as
the Rebbe or his Rebbe, the Maggid of Miezricz, to whom he owed his
spiritual fulfillment.

             From Shneur Zalman of Liadi, Kehot Publication Society

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                            MOSHIACH MATTERS
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Rabbi Shneur Zalman, founder of Chabad Chasidism, was asked why he
always spoke of lofty spiritual matters to which a person seemingly had
no connection. He replied, "Regarding the days of Moshiach, Ezekiel
prophecized, 'I will take away the heart of stone our of your flesh' -
specifically a heart of stone, and not a mind of stone, for in exile it
is very difficult to change a heart of stone. Changing the heart is
dependent on Moshiach. However, it is possible to change the mind
through our efforts even today. Therefore, we talk about lofty matters
to remove (at least) the mind of stone."

                       (The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Passover, 5723-1963)

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               END OF TEXT - L'CHAIM 1135 - Ki Savo 5770
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