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                         L'CHAIM - ISSUE # 1371
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                 Lubavitch Youth Organization - L.Y.O.
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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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        May 15, 2015        Behar-Bechukosai      26 Iyyar, 5775
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                             Day Old Bread

The woman in the bakery was puzzled by the fellow who entered the shop
every morning.

Each day he asked for yesterday's bread, stressing that he did not want
today's fresh bread. She sold it to him for a few pennies.

Convinced that the man was too poor to afford fresh bread, and being
kind-hearted, the woman decided to give the man a nice surprise the
following morning.

She prepared a loaf of fresh bread, cut it into slices and carefully
buttered each slice. The woman then wrapped it in paper, as she usually
did, and waited expectantly for her customer.

When the man entered the bakery at his regular hour and made his routine
request, she handed him the package she had prepared that morning,
smiling inwardly at the unexpected joy the man would feel when he opened
his package of bread.

The next morning, our poor friend walked into the bakery with an angry
look on his face. "What did you do to me?" he shouted.

"You caused me thousands of dollars worth of damage!"

The kind-hearted woman was stunned. For what reason did she warrant such
an attack? What had she done?

"I am an architect," the man continued. "I've been working for over half
a year on a new project on the south side of town. We draw our
architectural plans on special paper with a special type of pencil. To
make corrections or erase lines we use lumps of stale bread. Fresh bread
does not erase, and worse, it make smudges.

"Yesterday, while I was preoccupied with my work, I tore off a small
piece of the bread you had given me in order to erase something in a
very important part of the plan. Suddenly, I saw bits of fresh bread and
butter smeared all over the plan. Now I'm going to have to do the whole
thing over from the beginning!"

Which one of us hasn't entertained the thought at one time or another,
"If I were G-d, I would do things this way. If I were G-d, I would not
have done that."

"If you were G-d," a chasid once answered another chasid making these
very same comments, "you would have done everything exactly the same
way."

"When I'm a parent, I'm going to let my kids eat candy a whole day," a
little child says when his mother or father "cruelly" limits his
consumption of sugar.

"When you're a parent, you'll do things exactly the same way," the
parent says knowingly G-d, the Architect and Creator of the entire
world, knows good and well what every individual and each entity, needs.
G-d doesn't give us what we want, He gives us what we need.

If, out of seeming good-heartedness, we try to make changes and
corrections in G-d's Torah - the draft for all humanity - we fail
abysmally. Because only G-d knows when dry bread is needed and when
fresh bread is appropriate.

If a child needs "tough love" and the parent is too lenient or indulgent
to give the child what he truly needs, this is the opposite of
kindheartedness. It is misplaced compassion.

Were we to go through the Torah, and, using our own intellect, decide
which mitzva (commandmnent) is obsolete, which mitzva is too severe,
which mitzva fits in with our understanding of goodness, or were to
alter mitzvot so that they would conform to our interpretation of
morality, G-dliness and kindness, we would be using fresh bread to alter
the Divine plan for the world and for ourselves personally.

The Torah, like bread, is literally our staff of life. But only G-d
knows when to nourish us with fresh-from-the-oven and when "day-old" is
the proper food.

                        Adapted from The Nechoma Greisman Anthology

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           LIVING WITH THE REBBE  -  THE WEEKLY TORAH PORTION
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This week we read two Torah portion, Behar and Bechukotai. Bechukotai
contains the curses and punishments to be inflicted on the Jewish people
if they do not obey G-d. Even a casual reading of these misfortunes in
the Torah makes our hair stand on end. Chasidic philosophy, however,
teaches that by delving more deeply into the meaning of these curses we
can understand that they are actually blessings.

Furthermore, these "curses" are not only blessings, but blessings of
such a high order that they can only manifest themselves in their
seemingly opposite form!

A perfect illustration of this concept is found in the Talmud. Rabbi
Shimon Bar Yochai once sent his son to two Sages for a blessing. When
his son returned he complained that the Sages had cursed him. "What did
they say?" asked Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai. "You shall sow, but not reap,"
answered the son. The father patiently explained that the rabbis had
meant that he should grow to be the father of many children who would be
healthy and not die during their father's lifetime. Likewise, every
example the son gave of the rabbis' "curses" similarly contained great
blessings.

But why did the rabbis go through the trouble of disguising their good
intentions in such a convoluted manner? Chasidut explains that ultimate
good is sometimes clothed in an outer garment of its exact opposite,
precisely because it is too lofty to come into this world in any other
form.

If, then, the rabbis' blessings were so lofty that they had to be
"disguised" as curses, how did Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai recognize their
true content?

Tanya, the basic book of Chabad Chasidic philosophy, explains that
everything we perceive as evil in this world is, in reality, so good
that we cannot absorb it in its true form (much in the way that an
intense light hurts the eyes if one looks directly at its source). This
good therefore takes the form of human suffering, just as we avert our
eyes from a brightness which is too intense.

This, however, is only true at the present time. When Moshiach comes,
the concealed good hidden within our afflictions will be revealed for
what it is - utter and absolute blessing.

A Jew must, therefore, always accept whatever is decreed from Above, for
when Moshiach comes we will see that the suffering of the exile was in
truth a good of such magnitude that it could only be bestowed in such a
way.

Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai possessed a soul capable of discerning this
truth even before the coming of Moshiach. Likewise, Chasidut affords us
a "taste" of the Messianic Era, enabling us to understand these inner
truths which will soon become apparent, speedily in our days.

                   Adapted from the works of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.

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                             SLICE OF LIFE
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When Rabbi Zushe Silberstein heard that the Jewish inmate standing
before him in a Montreal jail was due to be released in just three days,
he didn't hesitate.

"My daughter is getting married this weekend," he said. "I would be
honoured if you could attend the wedding."

The prisoner stared at him with unbelieving eyes, certain he had
misheard. A rabbi inviting a newly released prisoner to a family
wedding? It seemed impossible. But in the next breath, Rabbi Silberstein
was offering to help arrange a suit if needed. It was clear his
invitation came from the heart.

The conversation between the two men occurred two years ago, and that
weekend, the ex-convict did indeed attend the wedding.

"No one knew where he came from, and at the wedding he danced with
presidents of synagogues, family and friends, just like anyone else,"
Rabbi Silberstein recalls. "At one point he approached me, clearly
emotional, asking what kind of gift he could give the bride and groom. I
told him, "The gift you'll give will be a promise that never again will
you go back to jail.' He gave that gift and he's leading a straight life
now."

The encounter was nothing extraordinary for Rabbi Silberstein, who heads
Chabad Chabanel in Montreal and regularly visits Jewish inmates in
Quebec jails. "We bring them food and sandwiches, we daven (pray), put
on tfillin with them and celebrate Jewish holidays with them," he says.
There's a seder at Pesach, a Megillah reading on Purim, menorahs on
Chanukah and services on Rosh Hashanah.

But it's not just about pushing spirituality, he insists.

"My main thrust has always been to tell these marginalized Jews, 'You're
not alone, you're not forgotten. There's someone out there who cares
about you.' We're there to comfort, to advise them and to show them the
Jewish community cares about them... Chabad is at the forefront of this
care, here and everywhere else," Rabbi Silberstein says.

Fifteen years ago, the rabbi founded Maison Belfield as a halfway house
for up to six men at a time, offering newly released Jewish inmates
shelter, food, clothing, therapy and reintegration assistance. Aiding
Jewish prisoners is a consuming task and one he takes seriously.

"The Rebbe teaches us not to forget any Jew, no matter where she or he
may be," he explains.

"If there's a Jewish person in need, we must care for them. It's why my
children and I have more than once travelled 14 hours to help one single
Jew in jail. My Shabbos table often has former inmates gathered around
it."

Over the 30 years Rabbi Silberstein has been involved with Jewish prison
chaplaincy, he's seen all kinds of Jews behind bars, "from a prominent
lawyer to children from dysfunctional homes to people with substance
abuse issues and those who are highly affluent," he says. "Nobody is
immune to falling into this kind of situation."

He refused to disclose the number of Jews presently incarcerated in
Montreal, saying only "one is too many" and acknowledging that High
Holiday services and Passover seders in the jails see an attendance of
up to 10 people.

Funding for visits to Jewish inmates and to support the expenses of
institutions such as Maison Belfield in Montreal is direly needed, Rabbi
Silberstein says.

"Prayer books cost money and so does the seder, the tfillin and the food
we bring to Jewish inmates each week," he says. "Our halfway house is
also an expensive proposition, with a mortgage and heating to be paid
and the costs of regular living supplies in addition to food, clothing
and therapy."

Chabad of Richmond, B.C., recently replaced its High Holiday prayer
books and was looking for a new home for its several hundred older
versions, which were still in great condition. When Rabbi Yechiel
Baitelman posted on a Chabad site that he was ready to pass them on, the
first request came not from Canada, but from Rabbi Binyomin Scheiman in
Illinois.

The founder of the Hinda Institute (formerly known as the Jewish
Prisoners' Assistance Foundation), Rabbi Scheiman's organization aids
families of Jews incarcerated, arranges visitation for incarcerated Jews
in Illinois jails and helps with their re-entry process once they are
released. He jumped at the opportunity to receive the machzorim. "We
estimate there are up to 150 Jews incarcerated in the state of Illinois
and these High Holiday prayer books are so important," he reflected.
"For Jewish inmates, Rosh Hashanah is a time in their life when they're
very open and repenting for mistakes they've made in their lives. The
prayer books are an extremely generous contribution."

In general, Jewish prisoners are very marginalized within Jewish
communities, sometimes even demonized, Rabbi Scheiman says. "It's even
worse than being forgotten - they and their families are sometimes
shunned by the community." He works closely with the Chabad-affiliated
Aleph Institute, an American organization founded in 1983 and one that
has branches in many different states. One of its missions is to provide
professional services to nearly 4,000 Jewish men and women in U.S.
federal and state prisons and their approximately 25,000 spouses,
children and parents left behind.

Rabbi Menachem Matusof, head of Chabad in Alberta, has visited Jewish
inmates in Alberta jails for the past 27 years. He estimates there's six
to 12 incarcerated Jews in his province at any given time and finds
funding a challenge. "The visitations take time and the travel expenses
mount, books for inmates cost money and the process of getting security
clearance each year is demanding," he says.

He describes most of the Jewish inmates he visits as "sweet, wonderful
people who unfortunately got caught in bad situations. It's not our
place to judge," he says. "We need to reach out and help people wherever
they are."

           Excerpted from the Canadian Jewish Times. Read the whole
                   article at cjnews.com/news/cover-story-jews-jail

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                               WHAT'S NEW
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                               New Center

Rabbi Avremi and Esther Hartman will soon be moving to Ho Chi Minh City,
Vietnam, where they will open a new Chabad Center. The chabad Center
will serve the local Jewish community and tourists. Ho Chi Minh City,
formerly named Saigon, is the largest city in Vietnam and is the
economic center of the country.

                            Saying Mazel Tov


For centuries, it has been customary for Jewish women to adorn the
birthing room and the cradle with Psalm 121. The Psalm states our
dependence on G-d for our safety and well-being, and His commitment to
guard us at all times. For a color print of the Psalm call LEFJME at
(718) 756-5700, e-mail intocenter@aol.com, or visit
www.LchaimWeekly.org/general/art/shir-lamaalot.jpg.

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                            THE REBBE WRITES
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                    Rosh Chodesh Sivan, 5734 [1974]

                               Chaplain -
                    Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska

Due to a very crowded schedule, this is my first opportunity of
congratulating you on your extraordinary Zechus [privilege] of
initiating the project of the first Mikveh [ritual bath] in Anchorage
for the Alaskan Jewish community, which you accomplished, with G-d's
help, as I am informed by our mutual friends, the Rabbonim
[distinguished rabbis] who flew in to participate in this great event.

As for the importance of this matter, I need hardly emphasize it to you,
since your own initiative is best proof of being fully aware of it.

However, on the basis of the dictum of our Sages, "Encourage the
energetic," I wish to express my confident hope that you are doing all
you can to make the Mikveh a busy place, frequented regularly not only
by the women who directly benefit from your good influence but also by
their friends and acquaintances who will be induced by them to follow
their example. And while this kind of religious inspiration is a "must"
wherever Jews live, it is even more so in the City and State where the
Mikveh has just been established for the first time. It is well to bear
in mind that a "Jewish heart is always awake" and responsive to Torah
and Mitzvos.

It is significant in this case that the one who merited the great Zechus
of establishing the Mikveh is a person in military service. For,
military service, by definition and practice, very aptly illustrates the
basic principle of commitment to Torah and Mitzvos [commandments],
namely, na'ase ("we will do," and then) v'nishma ("we will understand").

Moreover, the soldier's duty to carry out the orders of a commanding
officer and carry them out promptly and to the best of his ability, is
in no way inhibited by the fact that in civilian life the soldier may be
vastly superior to his commanding officer in many respects. Nor does
such a circumstance diminish in the least the soldier's self-esteem in
obeying the order. On the contrary, by not allowing any personal views
to interfere with his military duties, he demonstrates his strength of
character and integrity.

The same is true in the area of Torah and Mitzvos. One may be a very
rich man - in the ordinary sense, or rich in knowledge of the sciences,
or in other achievements in public life. Yet, when it comes to Halachah,
the Law of Torah conduct, he accepts it with complete obedience and
dedication, on the authority of a fellow-Jew who had consecrated all his
life to Torah study and Torah living and is eminently qualified to
transmit the "Word of G-d-the Halachah."

A further point which characterizes military discipline also has a
bearing on the subject of Torah and Mitzvos. In the military, no soldier
can claim that his conduct is his personal affair; nor can he take the
attitude that there are many other soldiers to carry out military
assign-ments, but he will do as he pleases. For it has often been
demonstrated in military history how one action of a single soldier
could have farreaching consequences for an entire army and country.

Every Jew is a soldier in the "Army of G-d," as is often emphasized in
this week's Sidra [Torah portion] - kol yotzei tzovo, "everyone going
forth as a soldier." And he is bound by the same two basic rules: To
carry out G-d's commandments promptly and fully, without question
(na'ase before v'nishma), and to recognize his responsibility to his
people ("All Jews are responsible for one another"), hence the
consequences of one good deed. To quote the Rambam: "Every person should
always consider himself and the whole world as equi-balanced. Hence,
when he does one Mitzvah, he tips the scale in favor of himself and of
the whole world" (see it at length in Hil[chos] Teshuvah 3, hal[achah]
4).

May you go from strength to strength in all that has been said above, in
all aspects of Yiddishkeit [Judaism], which includes also influence to
promote among non-Jews the observance of the basic Seven Mitzvos, with
all their numerous ramifications, which are incumbent upon all man-kind
and the foundation of human society.

At this time before Shovuos, I wish you and all our brethren at the Base
as well as the community, a happy and inspiring Festival of Receiving
Our Torah, with the traditional Chasidic blessing - to receive the Torah
with joy and inwardness.

With esteem and blessing,

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                               TEACHINGS
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There are four [character] types among people...He who says,  "What is
mine is yours, and what is yours is yours" is pious.... (5:10)

The mishna is talking about a person who may not have the financial
means to give generously. Nevertheless, while giving the little he can,
he bolsters the spirits of the poor person by explaining that even the
little which he himself owns belongs equally to the poor man. This
attitude is sufficient to have him termed pious.

                       (Sichos Motzoei Shabbos Parshas Re'eh, 5739)

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                        A WORD FROM THE DIRECTOR
                         Rabbi Shmuel M. Butman
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This coming Tuesday is the first day of the month of Sivan. On this day,
over 3,300 years ago, the Jewish people came to the wilderness of the
Sinai desert and encamped there ready to receive the Torah.

The Torah tells us, "In the third month after the departure of the
children of Israel from the land of Egypt, on this day they came to the
wilderness of Sinai. They had departed from Refidim and had arrived in
the Sinai Desert, camping in the wilderness. Israel camped there
opposite the mountain."

Interestingly, the use of the word "camp" the second time here is in
singular form in Hebrew, though still speaking about all of the Jewish
people.

The singular form of the verb is used because the Jewish people were
united as one - "like one person with one heart" our Sages tell us. And
it was precisely this unity that prepared and allowed the Jewish people
to receive the Torah and experience the revelation of G-dliness on Mount
Sinai.

The unity of the Jewish people preceded the revelation of the Torah.
Uniting our people today can and should be a preparation for the Final
Redemption when we will have the ultimate revelation of the goodness and
holiness of every single Jew.

The Rebbe expressed this concept in a talk a number of years ago. "The
Redemption will unify all of Israel, from the greatest to the smallest.
For not a single Jew will remain in exile: 'You, the Children of Israel,
will be gathered in one by one.'  Moreover, the multitudes who will then
be gathered in, are referred to in the singular: 'A great congregation
will return - in the singular - here.'

"In preparation for this state, one should make every endeavor to unify
all Jews, in a spirit of the love of a fellow Jew, and of the unity of
all Israel."

For the revelation of the Torah on Mount Sinai there had to be unity of
the Jewish people. And as a preparation for the revelation of the new
and deeper Torah which will be revealed in the Messianic Era we would do
well to heed the Rebbe's words and work towards unity and love of all
Jews.

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                          THOUGHTS THAT COUNT
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If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments...I will give you
rains in their due season, and the earth shall yield its produce, and
the tree its fruit (Lev. 26:3-4)

How do we walk in G-d's statutes? asks Rashi. By studying His Torah, he
concludes. Rabbi David of Kotsk once commented on the verse, "You should
believe when one tells you, 'I have toiled and I have succeeded.'" He
explained: Something a person achieves by dint of his own labor will
endure, but something acquired too easily will not last. Just as
effortlessly as it was won will it disappear. That is why our Sages urge
us to toil night and day in our Torah study - so our learning and
knowledge will be retained.

                                                  (Mishnat Yisrael)

                                *  *  *


"The word 'im' ('if') is used to imply pleading and entreaty," the
Talmud states, teaching us that G-d pleads, as it were, with every Jew:
"Please walk in My statutes! Please keep My mitzvot!" G-d's request also
endows us with the strength to overcome all difficulties that might
stand in the way of observing Torah and mitzvot.

                                                        (Hayom Yom)

                                *  *  *


As Rashi, the foremost Torah commentator explains, this refers to the
mitzva of learning Torah. For the more Torah knowledge one acquires, the
easier it is to observe the commandments, as Torah study itself saves a
person from the Evil Inclination.

                                                      (Melo HaOmer)

                                *  *  *


Why does the Torah devote so much detail to the physical reward for
observing mitzvot? Isn't the spiritual benefit far more important? And
aren't we really supposed to observe the Torah's laws without regard for
reward, but simply because G-d wants us to? Most of us have not yet
reached a state in which the promise of spiritual reward is greater
motivation than physical reward. The Torah therefore goes to great
lengths to describe the physical blessings to which all can relate. For
the same reason, our Sages devoted much detail to the physical wonders
and miracles that will take place in the Days of Moshiach. Although the
ultimate good will be the open revelation of G-dliness, our appreciation
of this will not be immediate. Rather, the world will have to first
"mature" over a period of time in order to recognize this fact.

                                              (Sichot Kodesh, 5751)

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                            IT ONCE HAPPENED
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Reb Zalman Senders was one of the prominent chasidim of the Alter Rebbe,
Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi. He was a very successful merchant who was
openhanded in his philanthropy with both family and strangers. Then,
suddenly his business dealings began to fail one after the other. Things
finally came to such a terrible point that he became completely
bankrupt.

His debtors swarmed around him demanding repayment, and his problems
overwhelmed him. To complicate things further, he had two daughters of
marriageable age as well as several poor relatives who also needed
suitable matches. What could he do? He decided to take his problems to
his rebbe, and so he set out for Liadi.

He arrived late in the evening, and after reciting the prayers with a
minyan (prayer quorum), he sat down to wait his turn for a private
reception with the Rebbe. When he was finally ushered into the Rebbe's
study he poured out his heart, relating all that had befallen him, how
all of his various business endeavors had failed and left him penniless.

"Rebbe," he said, "if it is will of Heaven that I be reduced to poverty,
I am ready to accept the decree with love, but if I am unable to pay off
my debts and marry off my daughter and the other young girls who are
looking to me for their salvation, then I cannot accept it. For in that
case it would be a desecration of the Divine Name (Chilul Hashem). It is
one thing if G-d has decided to punish me in this manner, but why should
He do it in a way that brings shame to His honor? The one thing that I
ask is that I be allowed to pay all of my creditors and find suitable
matches for my daughters and young relatives. After that, I am willing
to live in poverty forever, if that is the will of G-d."

Rabbi Shneur Zalman was listening intently to Reb Zalman Senders'
recitation of his terrible problems. When it had finished he looked deep
into the eyes of his brokenhearted chasid and said: "You certainly know
how to talk about all the things that you need, but you have no interest
whatsoever in what you might be needed for!"

Poor Reb Zalman Senders felt as if he had been pierced through the heart
by his Rebbe's words. He gasped inaudibly and fell down in a faint.
Chasidim, hearing the thud on the floor, rushed over to him to try to
revive him. One offered water, another, vodka, but when Reb Zalman
regained consciousness he had no need for anything. When he rose to his
feet he was radiant with joy and infused with a new approach to life.

His put all of his problems behind him and instead focused his energy
into learning Torah, both the revealed and the mystical aspects. He
attended every lecture that was given, prayed with great fervor. All of
his actions were infused with the deep-felt happiness and contentment of
a man who is at peace with his lot.

The following Shabbat, Rabbi Shneur Zalman delivered his lecture on
Kabbalistic concepts. He also used the occasion to pray on behalf of his
chasid, Zalman Senders who sat listening to the Rebbe's every word. It
was as if the Rebbe's prayers entered Reb Zalman's heart even as they
ascended to the higher realms, for in the course of his stay in Liadi,
Reb Zalman attained the strength to overcome all of his difficulties.

It was one week later that the Rebbe blessed him and instructed Reb
Zalman to return to his home. Upon his arrival he resumed his normal
routine and sure enough, his business began to pick up. Within a
relatively short length of time, he had rebuilt his life and was
thriving even more so than before.

When word reached Rabbi Shneur Zalman about the good fortune his chasid
was once again enjoying he quoted a passage from his masterwork, The
Tanya, in reference to the subject of trials and tribulations: "When one
is at any time bothered by mundane worries,...it is the appropriate time
to transform the sadness by becoming a 'master of accounts' (spiritual
'accounts'),...and to act on the counsel of the Sages' to constantly
excite the Good Inclination against the Evil Inclination. In that way he
will eliminate the melancholy engendered by the mundane problems, and
then, he will attain true joy."

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                            MOSHIACH MATTERS
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The Midrash states that Moses asked G-d, "In what merit do the Jews
deserve to be redeemed from Egypt? G-d replied, "In the merit of the
Torah that they are destined to receive." How could the merit of the
future acceptance of the Torah help them in their present situation?
Rather, they longed each day for their redemption so that they could
receive the Torah - and the merit of this yearning brought about their
Redemption. The same is true now: The merit of our yearing, longing, and
praying for the final Redemption and for the revelation of the Torah of
Moshiach is in itself sufficient merit to bring about our final
Redemption.

(The Rebbe, as quoted in Yalkut Moshiach UGeula by Rabbi Dovid Dubov)

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           END OF TEXT - L'CHAIM 1371 - Behar-Bechukosai 5775
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