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                         L'CHAIM - ISSUE # 1491
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                           Copyright (c) 2017
                 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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        September 29, 2017     Yom-Kipur         9 Tishrei, 5778
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                             Receipts Only
                        by Rabbi Yeshoshua Hecht

Joe Greenberg was one of the wealthiest men in town. To every charitable
organization that called him, knocked on his door or sent him an appeal
letter, he always had the same response, "Soon, soon. Don't worry,
you'll see."

Month after month, year after year, Joe became wealthier, but his
response never changed: "Soon, soon. Don't worry, you'll see."

At a ripe, old age, Joe finally passed away. He never did make good on
any of his half-hearted promises to give charity. In fact, he never gave
a dime in his whole life.

When he arrived at the gates of Heaven, the Guardians scrutinized his
list of good deeds. "What about all of these 'Soon, soon. You'll sees'
that you told the charities, synagogues, and yeshivas?" asked the Guards
at the Gates.

"No problem," said Joe, as he calmly pulled out his checkbook and
started writing out checks to every single charitable organization that
had every approached him. "I'll make good on everything right away," he
confidently declared.

"Sorry, Joe," the Guards said solemnly. "Here, we only accept receipts.

For many of us, the approach of Yom Kippur turns our thoughts toward the
Final Reckoning, or at least what our scorecard will look like on this
year's Day of Judgement.

What "receipts" do we have to show for ourselves from this year? Did we
make good on last year's pledges?

Of course, the receipts mentioned at the Heavenly Gates don't just
include those given for charity.* Why, for that, even a cancelled check
would be all right.

The receipts that are legal tender Above include each and every good
deed that we did this past year. Promisory notes are just fine for the
upcoming year, but what do we have to show for ourselves for the past
twelve months?

As we do each mitzva, whether it's performing a positive commandment or
abstaining from a prohibition, the mitzva is recorded in the Heavenly
Record Book. Any and all feelings of remorse and regret over past
misdeeds or missed deeds are also included. Then, taking into account
all of the "receipts" for the mitzvot, G-d's decree for what the coming
year will be like for us is written down on Rosh Hashana and "sealed" on
Yom Kippur. (The "grace period" between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur
allows for a change in Judgement if we work really hard-spiritually
speaking-during those intermediary days).

Start making good on those provisory notes today and collect plenty of
receipts over the next few days (months, and years!). We'll all be happy
you did.

* This is not to minimize the greatness of the mitzva of charity,
however. In fact, when it says "the mitzva" in the Talmud without
clarification, our Sages say it refers to the mitzva of charity since it
encompasses all other mitzvot. In addition, it is one of the only
mitzvot about which Jewish tradition declares that it actually hastens
the Redemption.

                  Rabbi Hecht is the spiritual leaderof Beth Israel
                                            Westport/Norwalk-Chabad

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           LIVING WITH THE REBBE  -  THE WEEKLY TORAH PORTION
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Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year. It was the day on which the
High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies in the Holy Temple,
experiencing a direct bond with G-d. There was nothing else there but
him and G-d's revealed presence.

In microcosm, this state of connection is experienced by every Jew on
Yom Kippur. This is the heart of the Neilah service, the last of our Yom
Kippur prayers. Neilah means "locked." During Neilah, every person is
"locked in," alone with G-d. Every person has his or her time to be
together with Him.

Will we consciously feel this? There surely are differences between what
goes on in each person's heart, but on this day, every person feels some
spiritual inspiration. He or she draws closer to G-d and becomes more
aware of his or her Jewish roots.

It's a function of time. Just as there are natural settings which arouse
feelings of beauty and awe, Yom Kippur is a day created for spiritual
inspiration. At the core of our being, beyond the "I" with which we
carry on our ordinary daily experience, everyone of us possesses a soul
which is "an actual part of G-d." And on Yom Kippur, the nature of the
day causes this spiritual core to be revealed, pushing it into our
conscious experience.

That's why we recite confessional prayers on Yom Kippur; it's like a
couple making up. If they've felt distance and separation, and then come
together again, they'll look each other up close and say they're sorry.
It's got nothing to do with a guilt trip; it's a natural response when
you've hurt someone you love.

And the couple promise to change their conduct in the future, to turn
away from those things which cause each other pain and to do more of
those things that bring them happiness.

That's what our prayers are about on Yom Kippur: coming close to G-d,
saying we're sorry because we caused Him pain, and promising that in the
next year we will try to do better.

For Yom Kippur is not intended to be an isolated spiritual event.
Although it is unique in its holiness, the intent is that the uplifting
influence of Yom Kippur will inspire changes in our conduct throughout
the year. On Yom Kippur, we've got to think of what happens afterwards,
how to make the spiritual feelings of that day a spur to enable us to
live better and more fulfilled lives in the year to come.

         From Keeping in Touch by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger published by
                                                  Sichos in English

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                             SLICE OF LIFE
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                    My Epic Visit with Sandy Koufax
                         by Rabbi Moshe Feller

Over 50 years later, Rabbi Feller, director of Upper Midwest Merkos,
Chabad Lubavitch, retells his epic visit with Sandy Koufax at the Saint
Paul Hotel on the morrow of Yom Kippur in 1965 - the Yom Kippur on which
Sandy Koufax did not pitch.

Since the first game of the World Series took place in Minnesota, Sandy
Koufax was in St. Paul on Yom Kippur. Being a shaliach (emissary) of the
Lubavitcher Rebbe and knowing how much the Rebbe wanted his shluchim to
get Jews involved in mitzot (commandments), and particularly Jews in the
public eye, I decided to attempt to visit Koufax the day after Yom
Kippur and present him with a pair of tefilin as a token of our
appreciation of his not pitching on Yom Kippur.

Since tefilin are donned on one's weaker hand and since Sandy was a
lefthander, we arranged the strap of the tefilin to accommodate one who
dons tefilin on his right hand. I recited a few verses of Psalms to
evoke G-d Almighty's help in making the presentation to Koufax and drove
to the Saint Paul Hotel.

Arriving at the hotel, I went up to the front desk and announced, "I'm
Rabbi Feller and I want to see Mr. Koufax."

Knowing that Koufax was Jewish and therefore he didn't pitch the day
before, the people at the front desk probably thought I was his rabbi,
so they gave me his hotel room's telephone number. When Koufax answered,
I introduced myself to him and told him how proud the Rebbe was that he
refused to pitch on Yom Kippur.

"Sandy, the whole Jewish world is tremendously proud of you," I told
him. "Thousands of Jewish businessmen did not go to work on Yom Kippur
because you wouldn't pitch. Do you know how many Jewish kids didn't go
to school on Yom Kippur because you wouldn't pitch on Yom Kippur? When
you announced weeks before the game that you would not pitch on Yom
Kippur, you informed thousands of Jews when Yom Kippur would take place
because more Jews read the newspaper than have Jewish calendars in their
homes. In great appreciation of the great sanctification of G-d's name
that you made by not pitching on Yom Kippur, I want to present you with
a pair of tefilin."

"Where would you like to make this presentation?" he asked me.

"Anywhere you would like," I answered.

"Will you come up to my room?"

"Sure!" I said, and he proceeded to give me his room number.

In a moment, I was standing before the greatest pitcher in baseball and
probably the most famous Jew in the world.

We chatted a few minutes about baseball, with him carressing the tefilin
during our entire conversation. I wanted to help him don the tefilin but
he intimated that he knew how to put on the tefilin by himself. He was
very courteous and reverent the whole time we were together. As I turned
to leave, Koufax escorted me with a parting statement.

"Rabbi Feller, everyone makes a big fuss of my not pitching on Yom
Kippur; I don't pitch on Rosh Hashana either!"

Ed.'s Note: After meeting with Kofax, Rabbi Feller penned a letter to
the Rebbe informing the Rebbe about the visit. A little less than two
weeks later - at a public gathering on Simchat Torah, the Rebbe referred
to the event:

"There was a young man, and in fact he had a beard, he went to see the
pitcher that wouldn't pitch on Yom Kippur and he told him that he does
not play baseball on Rosh Hashana either. The young man told the pitcher
that he would like to give him a present. He gave him a pair of tefilin.
The pitcher told him that he still remembers tefilin, however, he did
not want to put them on at that time. The young man left, and that day
the pitcher lost the game... But at the end it turned out that he won
the World Series, and on his table there were the tefilin. In the end,
even 'a distant individual will not be distanced' and he will merit to
put them on, and another Jew will be added to those who have donned
tefilin..." (Translated from the Yiddish by Dovid Zaklikowski)

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                               WHAT'S NEW
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                             Public Sukkot

If you're in Manhattan, visit one of the Lubavitch Youth Organization's
public sukkas during the intermediate days of the holiday. They will be
open: Sunday, October 8 - Tuesday, October 10, 10:00 am - 6:00 pm;
Wednesday, October 11, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. The Sukkas are: The City Hall
Sukka at Foley Square, near Worth Street; the International Sukka in
Ralph Bunch Park, First Ave. and 42nd St. at the UN; the Wall Street
Sukka in Battery Park at Battery Place and State Street. For more
information call (718) 778-6000. To find out about public sukkot in your
area call your local Chabad-Lubavitch Center.

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                            THE REBBE WRITES
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Greeting and Blessing:

Since your daughter was born under the sign of helping others through
Tzedokoh [charity] may G-d grant that she will be brought up in such a
way that she will always be a source of help and encouragement to
others, with joy and gladness of heart.

I was particularly gratified to note that both you and your wife
fulfilled the Mitzvah [commandment] of Tzedokoh with simple faith in the
Creator and Master of the world. This gives me the hope that in other
respects too, your daily conduct accords with the directives of our
Torah, which is called the Law of Life, with simple faith; that is to
say, fulfilling those aspects which appear rational, together with those
which are beyond comprehension, with equal fervor, vitality and
contentment. I am sure that the Giver of the Torah and Mitzvos, Who has
shown his kindness in the past, will continue to bestow benevolence upon
you in the future.

I was interested and pleased to read in your letter about the change in
your parent's attitude towards religious observance. No doubt a great
deal of the credit is due to you directly, and perhaps even more so to
your indirect influence as a living example and inspiration. Inasmuch as
G-d is Infinite, as are His Torah and Mitzvos, there is always room for
improvement. I therefore hope that you and your wife will make
ever-growing efforts in this direction, for experience has shown that it
is all a matter of will and determination, for when one fully estimates
his capacities and those of others, one accomplishes a great deal more
than expected, and with much less effort than originally imagined.

This is also the gist of my Rosh Hashanah message, a copy of which is
enclosed herewith, which I hope that your wife will also read with
interest. For the wife, called "the foundation of the home," bears a
great deal of responsibility for the true Jewish spirit in the home and
for the upbringing of the children. The message, therefore, is no less
important for the wife than for the husband.

With regard to the saying "In the Torah of your heart shall you know
G-d," about which you ask my comment, let me quote by way of preface
from our Holy Scriptures: "Man is born for toil." It is explained in
Chasidus that the reference to "toil" in not only in order to acquire
material things, but also spiritual. In other words, G-d expects us to
serve Him constantly and with ever-growing efforts, and this is the
purpose of our lives.

One should therefore not expect that G-d would give him a pat on the
back every now and again, as if to say "Well done," or to make special
revelations or miracles to him. On the contrary, in His wisdom G-d
desired that the Jew should, of his own free volition, choose the right
way, i.e., to serve G-d, and that his own inner motivation, feeling the
reason, and above all his simple faith, should dedicate him to do so,
and not that he should be constantly prodded by immediate miracles,
revelations, or other rewards.

If, however, one does see miracles and revelations, one should consider
them as an additional force to attain a higher degree of Divine service,
in accordance with the scripture saying "In all thy ways thou shalt know
Him." The meaning of this is not that only during prayer and during the
fulfillment of any religious duty, should the Jew know and be aware of
G-d, but that in all and every aspect of his daily life, even during the
time of eating, drinking, business, etc., the Jew should always be aware
of the nearness of G-d, and conduct himself accordingly.

Thus, you should always try to bring out the best and innermost of you,
and influence also your environment, at all times, whether or not there
are any outside stimulants. Anyone who takes the trouble can see G-d's
miracles at every step, but even if not, this should only indicate that
G-d regards one as sufficiently grownup and mature not to require
constant "interjections" and stimulants from outside.

This is also the meaning of the saying "In the Torah of your heart shall
you know G-d," namely, that in your own heart you can indeed find all
the inspiration to serve G-d with faith, confidence and joy, for this is
part of the nature and inheritance of the Jew, as the Old Rebbe, the
founder of Chabad, used to say, "A Jew by nature is neither able nor
willing to break away from G-d."

In conclusion, may I express my satisfaction also with the progress you
have made in you own work, and that the change was something you really
wanted. May it bring you an additional measure of peace of mind and
harmony, so that you can continue to advance, both spiritually and
materially, for your own benefit and for the benefit of your family and
environment.

Wishing you a happy Yom Tov,

With blessing,

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                              ALL TOGETHER
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        What and how much is customary to eat on Yom Kippur eve?

On Yom Kippur eve we eat two meals before the fast. This is based on our
Sages' statement that whoever eats and drinks on the ninth of Tishrei is
considered as if he fasted for two days. It is customary to eat fish at
the first meal, a meal that has more of a festive atmosphere, though not
at the pre-fast meal. At the second meal preceding the fast, it is
customary to eat kreplach, chicken or vegetable filled squares of dough
served in soup.

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                        A WORD FROM THE DIRECTOR
                         Rabbi Shmuel M. Butman
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There is a custom on the eve of Yom Kippur to eat "lekach" - honey cake.
The reason for this custom is that honey cake is a sweet dessert. By
eating it, we are expressing our desire and hope that G-d will bless us
with a sweet, pleasant, good year.

There is also a custom to give (and receive) honey cake. The reason for
this is much less well-known. When we receive honey cake from someone we
do it with this thought in mind: Let the honey cake be the only thing
this year that we have to take from someone else. Let us be
self-sufficient, self-supporting, even be able to help support and
provide for others, with G-d's help.

Thus, if there was any possible heavenly decree that the person would
have had to ask another for his food during this year, when one asks for
lekach the decree has been fulfilled and there will be no further need
to ask; all one's needs will be provided for by G-d.

On a deeper level, even the lekach is not really being received from a
person! In reality, all food comes from G-d, and therefore a poor person
who receives food from a person thanks G-d, Who "provides nourishment
and sustenance for all." This is because the person is only an
intermediary for delivering G-d's blessings.

However, both parties still feel that a transaction has taken place
between two human beings. The giving of lekach on the eve of Yom Kippur
is not like this, however. Since these are the days when G-d is "close,"
all parties involved feel that G-d Himself is doing the giving, and the
giver is no more than a messenger. Even more so, the giver is not even
seen as a messenger, but just a link enabling G-d's gift to come to the
person.

May we, this very Yom Kippur and even before, see with our own eyes that
G-d is truly the Giver and that He gives only good, with the complete
revelation of our righteous Moshiach NOW!

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                          THOUGHTS THAT COUNT
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                        The Essence of Every Jew

The atonement procured by Yom Kippur is loftier even than that obtained
through repentance, for on this day Jew and G-d are absolutely one. The
quintessence of the Jew blazes forth, uniting with his G-d to reveal a
bond untouchable by sin.

                                          (Likutei Sichot, Vol. IV)

                                *  *  *

                            A Gift from G-d


On Yom Kippur we receive what is perhaps G-d's most sublime gift: His
forgiveness. When one person forgives another, it is because of a deep
sense of friendship and love that overrides the effect of whatever wrong
was done. Similarly, G-d's forgiveness is an expression of His eternal,
unconditional love.

                                *  *  *

                        The Close of Yom Kippur


At the close of Neila, after the Yom Kippur service, we declare "Shema
Yisrael" and "G-d is the L-rd" - statements that emphasize the oneness
of G-d with our material existence. This oneness will be realized as we
conclude "Next year in Jerusalem," with the coming of the Redemption.
Furthermore, as the Previous Rebbe explained, the intent of that
statement is not that we must wait until next year for the Redemption to
come. Instead, the Redemption will come immediately and, as a natural
result, next year, we will celebrate the holiday in Jerusalem.

                              (The Rebbe, the eve Yom Kippur, 5752)

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                            IT ONCE HAPPENED
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            The Story of Yona (Jonah) is read on Yom Kippur

The streets of Jerusalem were full of Jews who had come to celebrate the
holiday of Sukkot. The Prophet Yona was among the happy celebrants until
the prophecy came to him, saying: "Arise! Go to Nineveh, that great
city, and cry out against her, for their wickedness has ascended before
Me."

For Yona, this was an unwelcome mission, for if the sinful people of
that great, gentile metropolis were to heed his call and return to G-d,
how would that reflect upon his recalcitrant brethren--those who had
resisted the pleas of so many prophets? Wouldn't G-d's anger burn
against them all the more? And the Ninevites, the bitter enemies of the
Israelites, would be forgiven! No, Yona decided, he would not follow the
bidding of his Master. He would flee. Never would he, even unwittingly,
cause punishment to his beloved brethren. He would escape to the sea,
and perhaps there, holy prophecy would depart from him and he would be
free of the onerous command.

When he arrived in the city of Jaffa Yona blended into the general fray
and hastened to find a ship bound for Tarshish. He approached the local
seamen, but they told him all ships had set sail and there were none to
be hired. Yona was almost frantic as his eyes scanned the horizon. Out
as far as he could see there seemed to be a dark speck on the sea--could
it be a ship? In what seemed to be an incredibly short span of time, it
drew close enough to identify. Sure enough, it was a ship heading
straight to port.

Even before it had time to anchor, Yona boarded and approached the
captain. "Take me to Tarshish at once. Don't worry about passengers--I
will pay the entire fare. Just make haste." The captain accepted the
fare and set sail, but no sooner had they reached the open sea than a
violent storm engulfed the ship. The frightened sailors tried to steady
the ship, and desperately tried to return to port, but they were trapped
in the swirling waves. Standing on the deck, they could see other ships
passing by on peaceful waters. But for them, the sea churned with
ever-increasing fury.

They decided to cast lots, and each time the lot fell on Yona. "Who are
you and where are you from? What people do you belong to?" they asked.

"I am a Jew, and I fear G-d, Creator of the earth and the seas," he
replied.

"What have you done to bring about this storm, and how can we stop it?"

Yona was resigned to his fate. He looked at them and replied, "Cast me
into the sea, and the storm will abate."

But the sailors were unwilling to commit what would surely be murder.
They tried to bring the ship to port, but to no avail. Finally, they
agreed to test his word and lowered him partially into the raging
waters. Immediately the storm ceased. When they pulled him out, it raged
again. It was clear to them that they would perish unless they heeded
his words, and begging forgiveness, they cast him into the sea.

Yona suddenly felt himself being swallowed by a huge fish. For three
days and nights Yona lived inside the belly of the fish and prayed to
G-d in total repentance. When he had returned to G-d completely, G-d
caused the fish to swim near the shore and spit Yona out onto the beach.

He entered the huge city of Nineveh and proclaimed G-d's word: "In 40
days Nineveh will be overturned!" The people of the city believed him,
and even the king sat in sackcloth and ashes and repented. They all
repented both in word and deed. When G-d saw their sincerity and how
they had turned from all their evil, He relented and pardoned the city.

Yona was sick at heart, for what he had so greatly feared had indeed
transpired, and he prayed to G-d, saying, "Wasn't this why I fled to
Tarshish, for I knew You would always pardon a sinner who returns to
you, even these evil people! Now, death is more preferable to me than
life!"

And G-d answered him, "Are you so deeply grieved that this huge and
populous city has been spared?"

Yona left the city and built a booth in the eastern outskirts, intending
to wait out the forty-day period to see if the Ninevites would indeed
remain true to their resolve. The heat beat down relentlessly piercing
his makeshift shelter, and the prophet slept fitfully through the
sweltering night.

Overnight G-d had caused a leafy kikayon tree to sprout and shed a
blessed coolness overhead. Yona was full of joy on account of the
kikayon tree. The very next morning G-d sent a worm to attack the
kikayon, and it withered and died. The sun beat down and an east wind
blew, and Yona wanted to die. G-d said to him, "Are you so grieved on
account of the kikayon?"

"Yes," replied Yonah, "I wish that I would die."

And G-d said to him: "You took pity on a plant which you neither planted
nor labored over. It appeared overnight and vanished overnight. And I -
should I not take pity on Nineveh, a great city in which there are more
than 120,000 people as well as animals?"

And Yonah was silent.

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                            MOSHIACH MATTERS
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Will we celebrate Yom Kippur in the future when Moshiach comes? The
celebration of Yom Kippur will continue even after the coming of
Moshiach.We will also fast on this day just as was done prior to
Moshiach's coming.The purpose of this fast will be to atone for sins
performed when the Yetzer Hara was still intact.Nevertheless, the other
forms of oppressions, such as not wearing leather shoes, not bathing and
the prohibition against marital relations, will be rescinded.

                                           (Shulchanaruchharav.com)

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              END OF TEXT - L'CHAIM 1491 - Yom-Kipur 5778
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