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                         L'CHAIM - ISSUE # 1264
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                           Copyright (c) 2013
                 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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        March 22, 2013            Tzav            11 Nisan, 5773
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                        by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger

One Saturday night, shortly after the conclusion of the Sabbath, the
phone rang in the home of Rabbi Laibl Groner, of the Rebbe's
secretariat. An elderly Chasid was on the line asking for a blessing for
his wife. She had been in the hospital for several days, and her
condition was critical.

Rabbi Groner offered some words of reassurance to the Chasid but told
him that it was often difficult to contact the Rebbe after Shabbat. He
would try, but if it was not possible, he would communicate the message
Sunday morning.

Rabbi Groner was, in fact, unable to reach the Rebbe that night. As soon
as the Rebbe came to 770 Sunday morning, Rabbi Groner told him of the
Chasid's wife. The Rebbe listened and told Rabbi Groner to call Rabbi
Chodakov, the Rebbe's senior aide.

After speaking to the Rebbe, Rabbi Chodakov told Rabbi Groner to call
the Chasid so that he, Rabbi Chodakov, could communicate a message from
the Rebbe.

Several moments after Rabbi Chodakov spoke to the Chasid, the elder man
called Rabbi Groner back and told him the entire story.

His wife had been severely ill for several days. On Friday night, her
condition had become so desperate that the doctors abandoned all hope.
Early Shabbat morning, however, her condition took a sharp turn for the
better. Nevertheless, since it was still serious, as soon as Shabbat
ended, the Chasid had called Rabbi Groner to ask for the Rebbe's
blessing. During the interim, her condition continued to improve, and
now the doctors were confident that she would recover.

"The Rebbe had instructed Rabbi Chodakov to tell me that my wife's
condition had begun to improve about 5:00 a.m. on Shabbat. He emphasized
that, in case I might think this was due to other factors, the Rebbe
told me to tell you her recovery came about because she had been brought
to mind at that time," [i.e., the Rebbe had thought about her].

On that Shabbat morning, no one had told the Rebbe about the woman's
condition. There was no way the information could have been given to
him, and yet he had sensed the woman's need.

Not only could he sense her predicament, his positive thinking was able
to bring about her recovery.

The above story is not an isolated phenomenon. Documented evidence has
forced even the most hardened skeptics to admit that the childless were
blessed with progeny, the ill with health, and that fortunes were made
and/or saved because of the Rebbe's blessings.

What does this mean to us today?

First of all, the Rebbe has never stopped keeping people in mind. After
the passing of his father-in-law and predecessor, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak
Schneersohn, the Rebbe told the Chasidim to continue writing to him and
he would find a way to answer. As countless stories indicate, even in
the present years, the Rebbe himself has found a way to answer those who
seek his blessings.

But more importantly, the Rebbe's greatest miracles are in the realm of
ideas. He provided us with clarity and insight, an awareness of who we
are and where we are going that rings true and empowers. Each person
whose life he has touched has become deeper and richer and a source of
inspiration for others. The chain reaction that this dynamic initiated
continues to produce change in many people's lives.

Yud-Alef (11) Nissan, this Friday, is the Rebbe's birthday. Our Sages
teach us that on a person's birthday, his or her spiritual potentials
and goals are given additional power. This is the day when the Rebbe's
goals and purposes are highlighted and given greater expression.

In one of his letters, the Rebbe writes that from his earliest
childhood, he would picture the future Redemption in his mind. Perhaps
the most appropriate birthday present we could give to the Rebbe is to
do something to advance that purpose, and the Rebbe has told us exactly
what he would like us to do:

Learn about the era of G-dly knowledge, peace, and cooperation that
Moshiach will initiate, and share that awareness with others; and

Be proactive by reaching out to the people around you with deeds of love
and kindness.

By living with the Redemption, anticipating the knowledge, harmony,
health and peace of that era in our day-to-day lives, we can precipitate
the time when these values will spread through the entire world with the
coming of Moshiach.

              From Keeping in Touch, published by Sichos in English

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           LIVING WITH THE REBBE  -  THE WEEKLY TORAH PORTION
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On the verse "He tells His words to Jacob, His laws and ordinances to
Israel" our Sages comment: "That which G-d does, He tells Israel to do."
Conversely, G-d himself fulfills the same precepts He commands the
Jewish people to fulfill. It follows, then, that on the night of the
Passover seder G-d "reads" the Hagada along with us, albeit in a higher,
more spiritual sense.

The Hagada begins with the words "This is the bread of affliction." This
opening section makes three points:

 1. This is the bread of affliction (matza) that our forefathers ate in
    Egypt.

 2. Whoever is hungry, let him come and eat; whoever is in need, let him
    come and conduct the Passover seder.

 3. This year we are here; next year in the land of Israel. This year we
    are slaves, next year we will be free people.

The Jewish people are not alone in their exile; G-d is in exile with
them. The inner meaning of exile and "affliction" is a lack of
understanding and perception of G-dliness; indeed, the entire concept of
exile is none other than the concealment of the true G-dliness that
sustains the world.

G-d fills the entire universe; the reason we cannot see this openly is
because the Divine Presence is in exile. Thus, "This is the bread of
affliction" refers to the phenomenon of exile, "which our forefathers
(avot - symbolic, in Chasidic philosophy, of human understanding and
intellect) ate in the land of Egypt." (Mitzrayim - from the Hebrew
meaning limitation, i.e., within the limitations imposed by the physical
world.)

Next, G-d gives us His "recipe" for redemption: "Whoever is hungry, let
him come and eat." I promise, G-d declares, that whoever is hungry for
the truth, for the light of My holy Torah, will have his spiritual
hunger sated.

"Whoever is in need, let him come." Even a person who is already
knowledgeable and well-versed in Jewish teachings will be blessed with a
richness of understanding, just as the Paschal sacrifice was eaten only
after the meal, on a full stomach.

This "richness" leads to the third point: Even though we are now "here,"
in exile, "next year in the land of Israel" - we will be in a state of
redemption. Not that we will have to wait an entire year for Moshiach to
come, G-d forbid, but the Redemption will occur "in the blink of an
eye," and by this time next year we will have long since been "in the
land of Israel."

"This year we are slaves, next year we will be free people." In the
Messianic Era we will experience the ultimate liberation, for Moshiach
will uncover the true and inner essence of every Jew, and the entire
world will attain its ultimate freedom.

                   Adapted from Likutei Sichot of the Rebbe, Vol. 3

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                             SLICE OF LIFE
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                   All it Takes is Matza and a Dream
                             by Shai Gefen

In 2001, Rabbi Yossi Freiman, emissary of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in
Zichron Yaakov, Israel, went to a brit mila (circumcision), of the
eight-day-old son of Menachem Ashuach, a former Israeli Air Force pilot.
To Rabbi Freiman's surprise, when he arrived, the Ashuach family gave
him the honor of being the sandak.

At the meal following the brit, Rabbi Freiman learned that this simcha
(happy occasion) was the final event in a series of miracles that led
the Ashuach family to become closer to Judaism and Chabad.

Rabbi Freiman explained how this came to be: "The Ashuach family had
lived on one of the northern kibbutzim until they moved to Zichron
Yaakov. At a certain point, they had become interested in learning more
about their Jewish heritage. Being very intelligent, sophisticated
people, they were cautious and methodical about every step they took in
incorporating Jewish teachings and observance into their lives. When
they moved to Zichron Yaakov, they began attending the classes at the
Chabad House. Both husband and wife were regular participants."

It was shortly before Passover 1999. Rabbi Freiman was busy distributing
packages of  three shmura matza, hand-made matza. He gave the Ashuach
family the three matzas to use at the Seder, along with an explanation
about the importance of eating shmura matza at the Seder in particular,
as it is made with the express intention of fulfilling the commandment
to eat matza. The rabbi reminded them to sell their chametz, said a warm
goodbye, and went on his way.

The phone rang early the next morning in the Freiman home. It was an
emotional Mrs. Ashuach who asked the rabbi to give her enough shmura
matza for every member of her family to have an entire piece. "I could
not understand what had prompted this urgent call," recalls Rabbi
Freiman. "I asked her, 'I was at your home yesterday and you didn't
mention anything then. What changed overnight, and why the urgency?' "

Mrs. Ashuach told Rabbi Freiman, "I had a dream about the Lubavitcher
Rebbe last night. In the dream the Rebbe said that Rabbi Freiman had
come to give us matzas not only because he knew us, but because he is an
emissary of the Rebbe. I dreamt that the Rebbe gave me a pen and said:
'Today you will find the apartment you want to buy in Jerusalem.' "

Rabbi Freiman explains, "I understood the reference to an apartment
since I knew that they had been looking for a long time for an apartment
in Jerusalem, but hadn't found anything suitable. How did I know this? A
few months earlier, at a gathering at the Chabad House, Mr. Ashuach had
written a letter to the Rebbe asking for a blessing to find an apartment
in Jerusalem. He had put the letter in a volume of Igrot Kodesh
(correspondence of the Rebbe) and had opened it at random to a page with
three short letters about the special quality of matza which is called
'food of faith.' Now I understood that the Rebbe's answer from then -
together with her dream of the night before - was the reason Mrs.
Ashuach was requesting matza for her entire family. "

Continues Rabbi Freiman, "She was very emotional. I said I would be
happy to provide them with more matza. I suggested she stop by the
Chabad House that evening. She showed up that night and was even more
excited than she was in the morning, for her dream had come true that
very day!"

" 'This afternoon,' Mrs. Ashuach related to me, 'a real estate agent
called my husband to suggest an apartment in Jerusalem After inquiring
about the details and the price, it sounded like this was the exact
apartment we had been looking for all this time. My husband called to
discuss it with me and I told him this is definitely our apartment after
the Rebbe said so in my dream.' The contract was signed the very same
day.

"A year passed. The day before Passover in 2000, to my great surprise,
the Ashuachs showed up at my house. 'We came to get shmura matza again
this year.' I couldn't help but ask them, 'Last year you lived in
Zichron Yaakov, but this year you live in Jerusalem! Is there no shmura
matza in Jerusalem that you had to come all the way to Zichron Yaakov to
get shmura matza?!'" Mrs. Ashuach explained, 'The Rebbe told me in the
dream that you are his emssary and so we came to get matza from you.
Although we don't live in Zichron Yaakov anymore, we feel you are still
the emissary of the Rebbe to us.'"

Nine months later,  the Ashuachs called Rabbi Freiman to tell him about
the birth of their son and when the brit  would take place. Rabbi
Freiman said he would happily attend. At the festive meal following the
brit, Mr. Ashuach told Rabbi Freiman in front of the guests: "For many
years we wanted more children. Before Pesach last year we decided to get
shmura matza from you, which is why we came all the way to Zichron
Yaakov. We were sure that in the merit of the matza that the Rebbe's
emissary gives, we will be blessed with a child. Indeed, nine months
passed since that Pesach and now we are celebrating our son's brit."

                              Reprinted from Beis Moshiach Magazine

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                               WHAT'S NEW
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                             Public Seders



Nearly 700 Chabad-Lubavitch yeshiva students have travelled to
destinations around the world where they will be conducting public
Passover Seders under the auspices of "Merkos Shlichus." They have been
sent to towns and cities with small Jewish communities or tourist spots
that do not have permanent emissaries.  Chabad-Lubavitch Centers
world-wide will be hosting public Seders. To find out about the Seder
location closest to you call your local Chabad-Lubavitch Center or visit
chabad.org.


                      Don't Blame the Post Office



This issue of L'Chaim is for this Shabbat (11 Nissan/March 22) and next
Shabbat (18 Nissan/March 29). The next issue, 1265, will be for Nissan
25/April 5.

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                            THE REBBE WRITES
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                           Freely translated

                      11th of Nissan, 5719 [1959]
                       To my Brethren, Everywhere
                             G-d bless you!

Sholom u'Brocho [Peace and Blessing]:

Approaching the Feast of Matzos, the Season of Our Liberation, I send my
prayerful blessing to my brethren everywhere that the festival instill
into the daily life of every Jew and Jewess true and complete liberation
from all anxiety and adversity, both material and spiritual, so as to
rise to the inner meaning of Yetzias Mitzrayim [the Exodus from Egypt],
the prelude to Receiving the Torah, and to fulfill the Divine promise:
"When you will bring out the people from Mitzrayim you will serve G-d on
this Mount (Sinai)."

Matters connected with Torah and Mitzvos [commandments] are, of course,
infinite and eternal, as G-d Himself Who has ordained them; so are also
their instructive teachings, which are valid for all times and places,
and can and must be applied in daily life. Even more so in the case of
such a comprehensive matter as the Yom Tov [holiday] of Pesach
[Passover], of Yetzias Mitzrayim, which we are enjoined to remember
every day.

One of the instructive messages of the Yom Tov of Pesach is that a Jew
has the inner capacity and actual ability to transform himself, in a
short time, from one extreme to the opposite. Our Holy Scriptures and
Rabbinic sources describe in detail the bitterness of the enslavement in
Egypt and the nadir of spiritual depravity to which the enslaved Jews
had sunken in those days.

Enslaved in a country from which even a single slave could not escape;
completely in the power of a Pharaoh who bathed in the blood of Jewish
children; in utmost destitution; broken in body and spirit by the
meanest kind of forced labor - suddenly Pharaoh's power is broken; the
entire people is liberated; the erstwhile slaves emerge from bondage as
free men, bold and dignified "with an outstretched arm" and "with great
wealth."

Likewise is their spiritual liberation in a manner that bespeaks a
complete transformation. After having sunk to the 49th degree of
unholiness, to the point of pagan idolatry - they suddenly behold G-d
revealed in His full Glory, and only a few weeks later they all stand at
the foot of Mount Sinai on the highest level of holiness and prophecy,
and G-d speaks to each one of them individually, without any
intermediary, not even that of Moses, and declares: "I am G-d, thy G-d!"

The lesson is highly instructive:

No matter what the status of the Jew is, individually or collectively;
no matter how gloomy the position appears to be in the light of human
appraisal, the Jew must remind himself every day of Yetzias Mitzrayim -
and strive effectively towards complete liberation and freedom, in a
bold manner ("with an outstretched arm") and to the fullest attainment
("with great wealth"): freedom from all shackles and obstacles in escape
from his "Mitzrayim," in order to reach the height of "priestly kingdom
and holy nationhood," through Receiving the Torah in all respects "as in
the days of your liberation from Mitzrayim."

There must be no pause and no hesitation on this road; there must be no
resting on one's initial accomplishments; one must go on and on, higher
and higher, until one apprehends and experiences the call: "I am G-d,
thy G-d!"

This message of Pesach is especially urgent and timely in our present
time and age, when Jews as individuals and in groups have bestirred
themselves to seek for a way of liberation from their spiritual bondage,
and to set foot on the road of true freedom of the spirit; above all to
completely free themselves from the fear of "What will the non-Jew say?"

The "non-Jew" of every description, including the non-Jewish prodding of
misguided Jews, and the "non-Jew" within one's self, the Yetzer Hora
[Evil Inclination]. To these, especially, Pesach calls: Do not stop; go
further rise higher, "with an outstretched arm!" Your liberation will
then be complete and certain, "with the young and the old, the sons and
the daughters," and with great wealth.

With blessing for a kosher and happy Pesach, and may the Prophetic
promise, "as in the days of thy liberation from Egypt will I show him
wonders," through our righteous Moshiach, be soon fulfilled in our own
time.

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                               WHO'S WHO
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Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Lubavitch (1789-1866), the third leader of
Chabad-Lubavitch, was known as the "Tzemach Tzedek" after the title of a
collection of response he authored. He was the son-in-law and successor
of Rebbe Dovber of Lubavitch. After the passing of his mother at age
three, he was raised by his illustrious grandfather, Rabbi Shneur
Zalman, founder of Chabad-Lubavitch. He passed away on 13 Nissan.

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                        A WORD FROM THE DIRECTOR
                         Rabbi Shmuel M. Butman
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It is an ancient Jewish custom to say daily the chapter of Psalms
associated with the number of one's years. Chasidim and followers of the
Rebbe also recite daily the Rebbe's chapter.

The 11th of Nissan (this year Friday, March 22) marks the Rebbe's 111th
birthday, and so, we begin reciting chapter 112.

This short chapter is only 10 verses long, however, it teaches the
proper ethics with which one should conduct his life, and speaks of
giving charity - through which a person will not need to rely upon
others.

In verse five we read: "Good is the man who is gracious [to the poor]
and lends, but ponders his own affairs in judgement. According to the
commentary Metzudat David, this verse is referring to the person who
lends graciously to others, but wisely judges what is necessary for
himself. Another commentator, Radak, explains: The true philanthropist
is highly sensitive to the feelings of his beneficiaries. Realizing that
some needy people are too proud to accept charity, he compassionately
offers them an opportunity for financial rehabilitation by lending
funds.

In verse nine we read: "He has distributed, giving to the needy; his
righteousness will endure forever, his horn (his strength) will be
exalted with honor. Chasidic teachings explain the verse thus: when one
gives charity in a manner of distributing - the Hebrew word "pizar" is
used here which more literally means "to scatter" rather than to give
carefully, without any limitations - the affects of the charity are
limitless - it endures forever. This infinite affect will be seen at the
time of the final redemption, when his horn - the horn of Moshiach -
will be exalted with honor.

According to Maimonides, "a small action, repeated often, forms a strong
habit, whereas a major act, performed but once, leaves no lasting trace
on one's personality. If a person gives a pauper a single present of one
thousand gold pieces, this act will not make the donor into a generous
person. But if a man gives one gold coin apiece to one thousand paupers,
he repeatedly stirs his heart to compassion and generosity; then the
quality of generosity will become well-rooted in his character.

Our Sages state, "Great is charity for it brings the Redemption closer."
May we merit to celebrate the Rebbe's birthday with him in the third
Holy Temple and may it happen NOW!

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                          THOUGHTS THAT COUNT
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This is the law of the burnt-offering...that the L-rd commanded Moses on
Mount Sinai, on the day that He commanded the Children of Israel to
offer their sacrifices (Lev. 7:37-8)

From these verses, Maimonides concludes that the proper time for
bringing sacrifices is during the day. Nonetheless, he continues, it is
permissible to burn any portions of the animal that were not consumed
during the daytime throughout the night. Similarly, the Jew's mission in
life is to "sacrifice" his animal soul - his desire for physical
pleasures - and transform it into holiness. Optimally, this type of
service is to be done "in the daytime," when the Jew's connection to G-d
is fully revealed. Nonetheless, if our sins have caused us to enter a
state of spiritual "night," our service of G-d must continue, for this
in itself will dispel the darkness and transform it into light.

                          (The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Bechukotai, 5749)

                                *  *  *


And the priest shall put on his linen garment (Lev. 6:3)

Rashi comments, "His garment (mado) should befit his stature (midato)."
The service of the high priest who performs his duties while wearing the
garment of an ordinary priest is invalid. A person must always behave in
a manner befitting his stature. The higher up one is, the more is
required of him.

                                                   (Yalkut Eliezer)

                                *  *  *


This is the law...and of the sacrifice of the peace offerings (Lev.
7:37)

The Rebbe of Lublin used to say: It is far better to have an imperfect
peace than a perfect controversy. It is preferable to live in peace with
one's neighbor, even if that peace is only superficial and not with a
full heart, than to engage in controversy, however well intended.

                                *  *  *


Why is the chapter "Where were the places of sacrifice in the Holy
Temple" included in our daily liturgy? One of the most important things
we pray for is peace, and this chapter is the only one in the Mishna in
which there is no controversy between the Sages.

                                                        (Bet Yosef)

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                            IT ONCE HAPPENED
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     by Rabbi Laibl Groner, of the Lubavitcher Rebbe's secretariat

One year, just a few days before Pesach (Passover), I called one of the
Rebbe's emissaries in Europe with a message from the Rebbe. The emissary
was being instructed to visit a certain city and give assistance to a
Jewish resident there. The Rebbe did not specify who this Jew was or
what type of help he was supposed to provide.

"Reb Laibl," the emissary said. "It's a few days before Pesach. I'm
expecting 400 people for the Seder. How can I drop everything and travel
four hours there and four hours back?"

"Listen," I told him, "are you a shliach (emissary) of the Rebbe or not?
The Rebbe knows that it's right before Pesach. Drop everything and go
immediately to that city. Don't waste any time."

The shliach called me after Pesach: "Let me tell you what happened. I
came to that city, but there was not a single Jew - no synagogue, no
nothing. I went around asking the local residents if there were any Jews
in the city. No one knew of any Jews living there. I went to the city
hall and asked to check the lists of people who live in the city, but
there were no records of any Jews in town. I thought that maybe I had
made a mistake (there were no cell phones in those days), and so I
prepared to head back home. I would call you to say what happened.

"Before leaving the city, I stopped at a gas station. The attendant came
out and asked me, 'What's a Jew with a beard doing in a city where there
are no Jewish people?'

"'Are you sure that there's not even one Jew in this town?' I asked the
man. The attendant thought for a moment and then said, 'Now that you
mention it, there's a butcher shop about half an hour away from here,
and I'm almost sure that the owner of that butcher shop is a Jew.' He
gave me the directions, and I arrived there at around a quarter to six
in the evening.

"I opened the door of the butcher shop, and when the owner saw me, he
literally fainted! What had I done to him? I picked him up, revived him,
brought him to a chair, and gave him a cup of cold water. When I asked
him what had caused such a strong reaction, he told me the following:

"'My wife, my two children, and I are the only Jewish people in this
town. The local minister comes from time to time and tries to convince
us to convert. "Why does your family have to be alone?" he asks. I would
always tell him that rather than renounce our religion, Jews preferred
martyrdom, to be burnt in auto de fés...

"Recently, the minister came again,. But this time he told him he wasn't
going to leave the store unless I would agree to do what he asked. I
told him I needed a week to decide. When he left my shop, I turned to
G-d and said, 'I need a sign from You that I should not agree to his
request.' A whole week passed without any sign from Above. At 5:30 this
afternoon, a half hour before the minister was supposed to return for my
final decision, I said to G-d, 'He is coming at 6. If You don't send me
a sign I will agree.' Fifteen minutes later, out of nowhere, you entered
my shop. I realized this was the sign I was waiting for and that was why
I fainted."

The shliach told the butcher, "Passover is in another few days. I'm
inviting you, your wife, and your two children to spend the holiday with
us." The man happily agreed.

Two years later, the shliach called me again. "There is a postscript to
the story. While the family was staying with us for Pesach, we invited
them to stay a little while longer. Their stay lasted for about six
weeks during which time we shared with them the basics of how to lead a
Jewish life.

"Last week, I was visiting Jerusalem and I went to pray at the Western
Wall. Suddenly, I felt someone tapping my shoulder. I turned around and
saw a bearded young man standing with his children.

"'Do you recognize me?' he asked. When I said 'no,' he replied, 'Look
into my eyes.' I took a closer look at him. 'You're the butcher from
that town!' I cried. 'What happened? What are you doing here?'

"'When we returned home after spending those six weeks in your house,'
he replied, 'my wife told me, "Listen, if we're Jewish then we have to
live amongst other Jews. What are we doing here? We have to close the
shop, pack our things, and make aliya to go live in Israel." That's
exactly what we did. Since arriving here in Israel, we have become
closer and closer to our Jewish roots and you can see for yourself how
we've progressed...'"

We can see from this story how the Rebbe's foresight led to this family
becoming a vibrant part of the Jewish people for generations to come.
The Rebbe is sitting in Brooklyn, and he sees a family in need somewhere
else in the world. To save them from, G-d forbid, doing something
disastrous, the Rebbe makes sure that someone who can help them goes out
there and takes care of the matter.

                              Reprinted from Beis Moshiach Magazine

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                            MOSHIACH MATTERS
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The last day of Passover is celebrated by eating a special, festive meal
called Moshiach's seuda, a custom initiated by the Baal Shem Tov. The
Tzemach Tzedek explained the connection: "The last day of Passover is
the conclusion of what began on the first night of Passover. The first
night of Passover commemorates our redemption from Egypt by G-d. It was
the first redemption, carried out through Moses, who was the first
redeemer; it was the beginning. The last day of Passover commemorates
the final redemption, when G-d will redeem us from the last exile
through Moshiach, who is the final redeemer. The first day of Passover
is Moses's festival; the last is Moshiach's festival." The two are
intimately connected, the beginning and end of one process.

                                            (The Lubavitcher Rebbe)

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                 END OF TEXT - L'CHAIM 1264 - Tzav 5773
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