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                         L'CHAIM - ISSUE # 1405
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                           Copyright (c) 2016
                 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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        January 15, 2016           Bo             5 Shevat, 5776
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                         A Jungle or a Garden?
                       by Rabbi Michoel Gourarie

The two words 'jungle' and 'garden' create very different images in our
minds. A jungle has a feeling of chaos and disarray. It is place where
dangerous animals roam; an unsafe environment. A garden on the other
hand is an array of beautiful flowers blossoming and delicious fruit
trees. The more beautiful the garden the greater the feeling of calmness
and serenity.

Sometimes our world reminds us of a jungle. Newspaper headlines are
filled with stories of violence, immorality and political unrest. Riots,
protests, economic instability seem to be the dominating forces in many
parts of the globe. Like the jungle, there is an uneasy feeling of
unrest and an uncertain future.

But strangely, in the book Song of Songs, King Solomon tells us that G-d
calls this planet "my garden." How can such a chaotic world be G-d's
garden?

In one of his public addresses, the Rebbe shared the following idea. The
jungle is a potential garden. It just takes work and time. If the
gardener invests effort to clear the ground, dig up the earth, soften
the soil and plant the appropriate seeds, then over time he will witness
a transformation and a beautiful garden of flowers and trees will
emerge.

Our world may sometimes look like a jungle. But G-d chose it to be His
garden and we are His gardeners. With effort and determination to engage
in positive activity, goodness and moral behavior we are able to
transform the chaos into serenity and the uncertainty into stability.
The unrest and negativity around us is only superficial and transient.
Every time we extend ourselves to engage in positive activity and every
mitzva (commandment) that we do plants a seed which will eventually
sprout into a strong tall tree of permanence and beauty.

Perhaps a good start is to distance ourselves from the media's negative
pessimistic view and learn to adopt G-d's positive attitude. When you
wake up in the morning, don't see the apparent jungle around you but
learn to notice the beautiful garden you are about to create.

    Rabbi Michoel Gourarie is the founder and director of Bina, a
    Sydney-based organization that provides Jewish inspiration and
    education for all ages and backgrounds. Read more at bina.com.au

                                *  *  *


In the Rebbe's first public address after accepting the leadership of
Chabad-Lubavitch, he expounded on a teaching of his father-in-law, the
previous Rebbe. The discourse was based on the verse from Song of Songs
(5:1), "I have come to My garden, My sister, O bride." Each year, on the
anniversary of his father-in-law's passing, the Rebbe delved into a
different aspect of the teaching.

A recurring theme of these discourses is that G-d views our world as His
garden. Of all the countless spiritual emanations and realms, there is
only one place which He refers to as "My garden." It is precisely within
our physical world that G-d wishes to reside, and manifest His very
essence.

G-d envisioned a world containing spiritual darkness, in which
possessors of free choice, capable of embracing the darkness or
rejecting it, would repress the darkness and transform it into light.
Through the difficult work of banishing and transforming the darkness,
the beautiful garden is revealed. And G-d exclaims, "I have come to My
garden."

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           LIVING WITH THE REBBE  -  THE WEEKLY TORAH PORTION
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The name of this week's Torah reading Bo means "come." More
particularly, the term is also interpreted as meaning "enter." Moses was
commanded to come and approach Pharaoh. As the Zohar, the fundamental
text of Jewish mysticism states, he was told to enter room after room,
penetrating to the very core of Pharaoh's palace.

The Zohar continues, explaining that Moses shrank at this command. He
was daunted by the charge to confront evil at its very core. To reassure
him, G-d told him, "Come." "Come," i.e., "come with Me," and not "go,"
"go alone." G-d promised that He would accompany Moses and face Pharaoh
with him.

This command thus requires personal initiative, and simultaneously,
promises that such initiative will be rewarded by G-d's assistance.
Moses was required to act on his own, but not independently. G-d would
support his efforts.

This dynamic is replayed in microcosm in the myriad spiritual struggles
that we all continually face. We must confront Pharaoh - brave the
challenges to Jewish involvement that the outside environment appears to
present. And this includes not only viewing those challenges from afar,
but penetrating to their core and looking at them from up close.

One would be foolish not to be somewhat daunted by the task. Indeed, if
it is not daunting, it is not a challenge.

And yet, one's hesitation should only be temporary. We have the power to
persevere in our mission.

When we do, we find out that we are not alone. G-d is with us,
supporting our efforts. Simply put, we see ourselves speaking and acting
with greater power than we could ever muster on our own.

And this transforms the world around us, including the challenging
forces. Just as Pharaoh became the power who urged the Jews out of
Egypt, so too, every element of our existence can become a positive and
contributory, influence, aiding our Jewish involvement.

            From Keeping in Touch, vol. 1, by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger,
                                    published by Sichos In English.

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                             SLICE OF LIFE
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                            Chabad and Coke
                           by Rabbi Yossi Lew

It was August of 1994, a mere few weeks after the Rebbe's physical
presence was withdrawn from us. We pray that we merit to see the Rebbe
again with our physical eyes. The news outlets ran many stories about
the Rebbe and the Chabad movement. One day, the phone rang at the Chabad
office in Atlanta, where I had been working at the time as one of the
team of the Rebbe's emissaries there. On the line was an executive at
the international headquarters of Coca-Cola, based in Atlanta. He was
requesting an appointment "with Chabad Lubavitch."

A few days later, two very well dressed men appeared. Both were carrying
attaché cases, and seemed very serious. They explained that Coke
carefully monitors and follows the media, and they had been reading the
numerous news sources and articles about the Rebbe and the movement he
built. They noted that, in their efforts to learn about the Rebbe, they
had discovered how successful the Chabad movement was, thanks to this
man, the Rebbe.

In order for me to understand where they were coming from and what they
wanted from me, they proceeded to describe how Coca-Cola works. When
they wish to introduce a new product - say a new flavor - it takes up to
two years to complete this assignment. Based on all kinds of data, a
team chooses the new flavor. A tasting committee takes over, to decide
how this flavor should actually taste. It then goes to the advertising
department, to adopt a label and the image of this new product. It
finally goes to the marketing department, to select where, precisely,
the test runs of the new flavor would be initiated. In total, explained
the gentlemen, it takes approximately two full years to test, evaluate,
refine and implement the change in the global marketplace of Coca-Cola.

In contrast, they said, when the Lubavitcher Rebbe initiated brand-new
campaigns, these campaigns were enthusiastically deployed throughout the
world within twenty-four hours of the Rebbe's introduction. In a matter
of days, the world was filled with stickers, signs, brochures, and all
types of people, young and old, promoting, encouraging, and pushing this
new campaign to the masses across the globe.

"What is the secret," said the fellows to me, "of the success of the
Chabad movement? We would like to learn from you."

I could not think of a "secret." I decided that, by simply describing
the Rebbe to them, the process could be understood. I recounted to them
how the Rebbe would hold "Farbrengens," gatherings of his followers and
admirers on select Shabbos afternoons, as well as on the religious
festivals, Chassidic festivals, and other significant days around the
year. During these events, which could have lasted anywhere from a
couple of hours to six or seven hours, the Rebbe would speak in
intervals of anywhere from twenty minutes to an hour, developing themes
and ideas in classic Torah subjects, encompassing all of its areas.
These gatherings were interspersed with beautiful Chassidic melodies and
songs. Those present would also have an opportunity, during the
intervals, to offer wishes of "L'chaim," receiving personal good wishes
and blessing from the Rebbe.

Somewhere during these uplifting gatherings, the Rebbe would develop the
theme of the new campaign he wished to launch.

When these gatherings would be held on the weekdays, the entire
proceedings were broadcast live to Chabad centers throughout the world.
On the Sabbath and Jewish festivals, when electronic recording devices
may not be used, a team of scholars blessed with strong memories would
transcribe and publish his words immediately after the Shabbos and
festivals. These would then be sent out promptly to all Chabad centers.

Within hours, meetings would be held all around the globe. Creative
ideas would be brought forth, and the campaigns would be launched
worldwide.

The gentlemen in my office seemed perplexed. "What about the CEOs," they
asked. "Did the Rebbe not meet with his people to make global
decisions?"

I responded that the Rebbe was the leader. The Rebbe had a very large
team: His emissaries around the world and all his followers. There were
no board meetings with them. Instead, the Rebbe suggested a campaign
based on what was needed at the time. Besides, the Rebbe's office, which
anyone can visit to this day, hardly has any space for even another
table. It is a simple room, whose walls are decorated with Jewish books
frequently used by the Rebbe. Other than a desk, a few chairs, a filling
cabinet, and some other bits and pieces, that was it.

The executives of Coke were having a tough time wrapping their minds
around this. They then asked me one further question: "Where did the
Rebbe get his ideas?"

"The Rebbe was a man of G-d," I said. "He was extremely humble and a man
of truth, whose very presence and conviction consistently inspired and
empowered everyone with whom he came in contact, to be more connected
with the Above. As emissaries of an extraordinarily holy man, the
Rebbe's devoted followers realized, and continue to realize to this day,
the privilege to be able to forward the message of this saintly man and
his spiritual energies to the world."

Upon hearing this, the men folded their attaché cases, thanked me, and
left.

It is highly doubtful that Coke learned any secrets from me on that day.
But I learned an incredible lesson from them. Coca-Cola is, arguably,
the world's most successful company. It could be argued that it may be
history's greatest success story. Coke is a flavor of its own. It is a
household name throughout the world. Its earnings are always on the top
of the list. It is unparalleled.

And yet, in its quest to become even more successful, Coca-Cola turned
to Chabad for ideas and creativeness!

Some tend to compare Chabad to Coke. The famous line is: Wherever there
is Coke there is Chabad. The Rebbe's message, however, enjoys even
greater success, for this message is in the spiritual realm, and is,
therefore, universal and timeless. The Rebbe's insightful wisdom and
"campaigns" have, therefore, been met with even greater success than any
new flavor of Coke.

    Rabbi Yossi and Shternie Lew established Chabad of Peachtree City,
    Georgia, on Atlanta's Southside in 2011. The Lews have been
    emissaries of the Rebbe in Atlanta since 1993.

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                               WHAT'S NEW
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                             New Facilities

The Chabad Israeli Center of Atlanta, Georgia, recently purchased a
property at 4276 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road that will become its new home.
The new facility will include a santuary, social hall, preschool,
library, student lounge, kosher kitchen and cafe, and a mikva. In
addition to providing programming to Israelis from toddlers through
adults, the center will have an interactive wing focusing on Israel for
the general public. Visitors will find information on Israeli history,
art and culture.

Chabad of Cambodia inaugurated a new eight-story Jewish Centerthat will
be a home for all the needs of the Jewish community. The center houses a
sanctuary, social hall, industrial kitchen, restaurant, kosher shop,
preschool, Mikva, residence for the emissaries, offices and storage
space.

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                            THE REBBE WRITES
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          The freely translated letter below was written as an
           introduction to a booklet published in honor of 2
         Nissan, 5711-1951 (anniversary of passing of the fifth
                            Rebbe of Chabad)


There is a well-known statement of the Rebbe (Rashab, Rabbi Shalom
Dovber), the anniversary of whose passing falls soon, that the role of
his students is to become "lamps to diffuse light."

The words of tzaddikim (the righteous) are precise in all their details.
This is especially so regarding statements by the Nesiim (leaders) of
the Jewish people concerning their disciples and concerning those who
are connected to them. Hence, the term "lamps to diffuse light" is a
guide, in several vital respects, to those who are connected with the
speaker. Let us therefore consider a few of the characteristics of a
luminous lamp:

The lamp itself is the source of the light - a luminary, albeit in
miniature.

Moreover, a lamp is comprised of oil and a wick. Metaphorically, the oil
represents the Torah and its mitzvos (commandments). The wick represents
man - that is, the body, or, more correctly, the level of his soul
called nefesh, which is "the body's partner." From a more inward
perspective, this metaphor refers to the Divine soul that is vested in
the animal soul.

Another characteristic of a lamp: when the wick is lit and becomes one
with the oil, the light of the lamp is diffused in many modes of light.
In general, there are two modes of light: "black light" and "white
light," which represent respectively two phases in man's Divine service
- elevating his soul and, reciprocally, drawing down spiritual light.

Finally, the light of a lamp is uniquely effective when one is searching
among hidden cracks and crannies, probing the heart's innermost
recesses.

The metaphorical messages of the above characteristics are clear and
self-evident - but what matters most is their practical application.
When one applies them to his life according to the directives of the
Rebbe whose yahrzeit (anniversary of passing) is being commemorated,
one's inner lamp lights up the particular portion of the world's
materiality that he is obligated to refine and elevate, and in
particular, it lights up his own animal soul and Divine soul. This
illumination is the ultimate purpose for which the soul descended to
this world, and the ultimate purpose of the era of Moshiach and the
Resurrection of the Dead depend on it.

May this come speedily, in our own days, Amen.

                                *  *  *

                       8th of Shevat, 5725 [1965]


Greeting and Blessing:

I duly received your letter of December 30th, in which I read with
interest about your new position. This is undoubtedly a true promotion,
both professionally as well as in the opening up of new horizons in your
work for the spiritual benefit of the many, and when the two are coupled
it is indeed a true and complete promotion.

May G-d grant that this be the forerunner of further advancement in the
same direction; which is indeed a natural aspiration, as our Sages
declared, "He who possesses 100, desires to possess 200, and he who
possesses 200, desires 400." This indicates that the ambition grows with
success, and having advanced, one is not satisfied with the previous
increment. The same, at least, should be true in the spiritual sense.

We are now in particularly auspicious days, as we are about to observe
the Yahrzeit-Hilulo of my father-in-law of saintly memory, on the 10th
of Shevat. Inasmuch as Tzaddikim, the faithful shepherds that they are,
continue to take care of those whom they had taken care of in their
lifetime on this earth, it is certain that my father-in-law of saintly
memory is a faithful intercessor in behalf of the institutions which are
carried on in this spirit, and those who are actively engaged in their
support and expansion.

With blessing,

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                               TEACHINGS
*********************************************************************
The commandment of Hakhel emphasizes the Torah-education of our
children. It follows that also those who are grown in years but still
"children" in Judaism - those who, for one reason or another, did not
get the proper Jewish education - should also assemble to hear and learn
what Torah is, what a mitzva (commandment)  is, with such impact, "as if
they heard it from G-d Himself."

                        (From a letter of the Rebbe, 18 Elul, 1980)

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                        A WORD FROM THE DIRECTOR
                         Rabbi Shmuel M. Butman
*********************************************************************
This coming Wednesday is 10 Shevat (January 20 this year). Yud (10)
Shevat is the anniversary of the passing  of the previous Lubavitcher
Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn in 1950, and the ascension to
leadership of the Rebbe.

Rabbi Simon Jacobson, author of Toward A Meaningful Life, based on the
teachings of the Rebbe, related the following in connection with the
Rebbe's leadership:

I once received a letter from an elderly woman living in Pennsylvania
containing the following story: She lived in the Crown Heights section
of Brooklyn in the 1940s. Her grandfather pointed out to her the Rebbe
saying, "This is a great rabbi, the son-in-law of the Rebbe. You should
go over to him and get his blessing." On a later occasion she indeed
mustered the courage to approach the dignified looking rabbi. Upon being
approached, the Rebbe asked her, "What are you studying?" She responded,
"Asimov." The Rebbe then turned to her and explained "Asimov, when
writing science for children, uses an example called "Foundation," where
in the future all planets will be civilized through being connected to a
source on earth. I have a similar vision," the Rebbe continued, "where
one day, there will be Jewish outposts all over the globe, all connected
to one source."

This was only a few years after World War II - after the Holocaust - and
this was the Rebbe's vision. In retrospect, we can see this is exactly
what happened. In 1960, in the entire world there were maybe five
emissaries of the Rebbe. In 1970, there were about 100. And today, there
are close to 5,000 emissaries, all of them sharing one mission.

It's clear that the Rebbe had thought this through before accepting the
mantle of leadership. In the Rebbe's first public talk upon accepting
leadership of Chabad-Lubavitch, the Rebbe set forth his plan. He did
this in the Chasidic discourse Basi L'Gani. Therein he clearly outlined
that our generation will bring Moshiach: "This that we find ourselves in
the seventh generation is not just some abstract slogan, but something
that should propel us to bring Moshiach down here."

May we witness imminently the culmination of Rebbe's vision with the
commencement of the Redemption and the revelation of Moshiach.

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                          THOUGHTS THAT COUNT
*********************************************************************
For I have hardened his heart. (Ex. 10:1)

Pharaoh's evil decrees and the trials and tribulations of the Jews
during the Egyptian exile did not come about because Pharaoh had so
decided of his own accord. Rather, G-d hardened Pharaoh's heart,
eventually causing all of His wonders and miracles to be revealed. The
lesson we can learn from this is that everything comes from G-d; when a
Jew encounters something that prevents him from properly serving G-d,
this is meant only as a test, whose purpose is to awaken the powers
hidden within the person's soul. When the person overcomes this test,
and perseveres in his holy mission in life, he is then rescued from all
difficulties.

                                            (The Lubavitcher Rebbe)

                                *  *  *


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

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

                                                    (Shem MiShmuel)

                                *  *  *


And the L-rd struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt (Ex. 12:29)

Comments Rashi: "Whenever the Torah states 'and the L-rd,' it refers to
G-d and His heavenly court." When it comes to meting out punishment, G-d
gives the decision over to the heavenly angels, who do not know the
thoughts of man. (A Jew is not punished for negative thoughts, as it
states, "A bad thought is not considered part of deed.") By contrast,
when it comes to reward, G-d does not consult with His heavenly court,
as "a good thought is considered part of deed," and only G-d knows our
thoughts and intentions.

                                                   (Nezer HaKodesh)

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                            IT ONCE HAPPENED
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                             by Dudu Fisher

It was the winter night of 5 Shevat 5692/1932. A Jewish woman by the
name of Fraida Gisha was in her ninth month of pregnancy in Riga,
Latvia. A serious problem arose and the doctors recommended ending the
pregnancy to save the woman's life.

The woman said to the doctors: "Wait, don't do anything." And to her
sister standing next to her she said, "Leah, go and pray for me in
shul."

Leah walked to the shul in the middle of the night. She entered and
approached the holy ark. There she poured out her heart to G-d. She
prayed and cried. Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned
around and saw an older woman.

"Why are you crying?" asked the woman. Leah told her about her sister in
the hospital.

"Come with me," said the woman. She took her to the home of the
(previous) Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn. Leah
wrote a note, said her sister was ill and the doctors were concerned and
even wanted to end the pregnancy.

The Rebbe's faithful secretary, Rabbi Yechezkel Feigin, gave the note to
the Rebbe. Five minutes later he came out of the Rebbe's room and gave
Leah a letter with a response for her sister: "G-d should help you so
that all will be well and so that you give birth to a healthy, live
child."

With trembling hands, Leah took this letter and returned to the
hospital. As she walked in, all the doctors came running to her and
exclaimed: We have no idea what happened here but an hour after you
left, your sister went into a normal labor and a girl was born.'  That
was my mother. This baby girl was my mother.

We have the original note in a safe but everyone in the family,
including me, of course, have a photocopy of the letter with them. When
I travel the world, the letter is always in my pocket. Anybody in the
family who gives birth takes the letter with her to the hospital.

For many years I was a cantor, just like my grandfather wanted me to be.
One day, I was traveling in London and I saw the musical Les Miserables.
As I sat there, I thought, I can do that.

When the musical arrived in Israel, I went to audition and was given the
lead role of Jean Valjean. During the performance, the British producer
Cameron Mackintosh came over to me and said: "Dudu, after you finish
performing here in Israel, I want you to perform on Broadway."

I was thrilled. I couldn't believe it. I, Dudu Fisher of Petach Tikva,
Israel, would appear on Broadway?

But I told him I didn't think that will be possible. He asked me why not
and I explained that I am a religious Jew and I do not work on Friday
night and Saturday.

A few months later I got a phone call from him, telling me triumphantly
that he had managed to arrange that all the performances would take
place only on weekdays.

Two months passed and there was another call from Mackintosh. This time,
he had bad news. "Dudu," he said, "there's a problem. All the
professional organizations are against me and are unwilling to change
the dates to weekdays only. I am fighting them all and as of now, I am
not winning."

I was so very disappointed. My mother suggested that I go to the Rebbe.

At first I said to her: "People go to the Rebbe with serious problems of
health, livelihood, and children. I should go to talk to the Rebbe about
Broadway?"

But my mother urged me and I went. I thought I would need to explain my
entire situation to the Rebbe but to my surprise, he immediately
understood the issue. He looked straight at me and said: "Hold strong
with Yiddishkeit (Torah and its commandments)  and everything will be
fine."

The Rebbe's look was so powerful. I looked at the Rebbe's eyes and felt
calm. I felt certain that everything really would be fine. I resolved to
stand strong on my principles and not perform on Shabbat.

Two months later I got a phone call from Mackintosh who told me that he
had won the fight on my behalf, and I could perform on Broadway without
compromising on Sabbath observance.

It was a miracle;  until I got this job without Shabbat and Jewish
holiday performances, there was no such thing. And afterward, until
today, there has been nothing like it. I auditioned for many other shows
and always, the moment it came to Shabbat observance, it fell through.

It's not an easy test. But those words of the Rebbe, "Hold strong with
Yiddishkeit," continue to strengthen me all the time.

                                        From Beis Moshiach Magazine

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                            MOSHIACH MATTERS
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Before the ultimate Redemption, our material environment will be refined
and therefore "you will not leave in haste, nor will you take flight."
Since "I will cause the spirit of impurity to depart from the earth,"
the Jews will approach the Redemption with eagerness, but they will not
be pressured by the constraints of this world. Instead, from a state of
prosperity experienced within the context of this world, they will
proceed to the ultimate well-being and eternal life of the Era of the
Redemption.

                                   (The Rebbe, 6 Shevat, 5772-1992)

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                  END OF TEXT - L'CHAIM 1405 - Bo 5776
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