Dear Alumni Sheyichyu!
Sholom U’Brocho!
Heartfelt wishes to haTomim Sholom Dov Ber ben Miriam for a complete and immediate refuah shleima. As we all daven for yeihopchu yomim eilu, may that include the haficha of all of the inyonim bilti retzuyim, vechol haklolois yeihopchu lebrochos gluyos Now Mamosh!
Mazel tov to (Tomim and shliach) Meir Chaim Brikman on the occasion of his engagement. May he use out the period of yokor mikol yokor to its’ utmost! A special Mazel tov as well to the Elter Zeide Horav Hachosid Reb Mendel Aronow vechol mishpachto. Mazel tov to Rabbi and Rebbetzin Yaakov Wagner on the birth of their son. Mazel tov to Rabbi and Mrs. Chaim Moshe Zirkind on the birth of their son. Mazel tov to Rabbi and Mrs. Yossi Grossbaum on the birth of their son. Mazel tov to Rabbi and Mrs. Peretz Mockin on the birth of their daughter. Mazel tov to Rabbi and Mrs. Mendy Balkany on the birth of their daughter. Mazel tov to Rabbi and Mrs. Shmully Engel on the birth of their son. May they bring them up lTOveCHuMAA”T mitoch harchovo, and to be true chayolim/os! (If anyone is aware of any mazeltov’s that I omitted please let me know).
Thank you as always for the feedback, it is much appreciated.
In connection with the Parsha of this week, Parshas Bolok, here is a timely story:
There was a yungerman, a chosid of the Alter Rebbe, who, after his marriage, had to go into business to support his family. The business involved buying merchandise and selling it (isn’t that what most business is about), and took up much of the yungerman’s time and attention. He would often reminisce, longingly, the time he spent by the Alter Rebbe immersed in learning and avodas Hashem and self-betterment. He would yearn for that spiritually uplifting period in his life, and – when he contemplated his current state – felt very broken about what had become of him.
Once, before Shavuous, the yungerman was travelling with a wagon full of newly purchased merchandise. As he was travelling, he was remembering this time of the year in times bygone, when he would be spending the Yomtov with his Rebbe, together with his chaveirim, in an aura of holiness and spiritual bliss. When he contrasted that with his current state, he was filled with such an overpowering thirst for kedusha that he could not contain it.
Abruptly, he left his wagon, merchandise and all, in the middle of the street, and headed resolutely towards Liozna and the Alter Rebbe. He did not pay attention to the fact that he would inevitably lose all of his money, and, moreover, find himself in great debt, since he had borrowed money to make the purchases.
He arrived in Liozna, just in time for Yom Yov, and spent an invigorating and uplifting Yom Tov there. After Yom Tov, he received a yechidus with the Alter Rebbe. Immediately upon his entrance, the Alter Rebbe told him not to worry, that he would return and find his wagon with all of the merchandise intact; - nothing at all would be missing!
The yungerman, however, remained standing in his place, with a heavy heart. The Alter Rebbe asked what was, still, bothering him, and the chosid poured out his sorrow over the fact that the responsibilities of his business were taking him away from his Torah and avodas Hashem.
The Alter Rebbe listened to him and then said: “Go and acquire an inn, your wife will be able to run the business, and, with the exception of once or twice a year when you will need to buy supplies, you can devote yourself wholly to Torah and avoda.
The chosid felt as if a stone was lifted from his heart. With great joy, he left the yechidus, with the brocho of the Alter Rebbe, and began his journey back to where his wagon had been left. As he neared, he saw it from afar, and, indeed, it appeared untouched. He also noted a fancy chariot across the street from it, and a man, dressed in the style of nobility, seemed to be observing it.
As he approached the wagon, the nobleman came over to him. “Is this your wagon?”, he asked him. “Yes”, answered the chosid. “Well, this has been most bizarre”, exclaimed the nobleman, “I have been observing it for an hour already, and it appears to have been deserted, and yet no harm has befallen it!”
The chosid laughed. “An hour?”, he retorted, “it’s been sitting like that for over 3 days!” The nobleman couldn’t believe his ears, so the chosid told him the entire story.
“listen”, said the nobleman, “I can tell that you are an honest and upright man. I happen to have an inn, which just lost its’ manager. I’ll let you rent it from me, and you can manage it”.
The yungerman was caught by surprise by the offer. “But, wait”, he protested, “I couldn’t possibly come up with the kind of money needed, at this point”.
“Not to worry”, soothed the nobleman, “as I said, I can tell that you are trustworthy. I am ready to give it to you at a very cheap price, and with very good terms”.
The chosid realized that this was heaven-sent, - this must have been the intention of the Alter Rebbe, so he acquiesced. They concluded the terms of the agreement, and the chosid, after picking up his family, headed off towards his new home.
As he neared the village where the inn was located, some of the locals came out to greet him. When they heard that he would be running the inn, they were very upset. “Please”, they implored, “for your own good, don’t do it”. The chosid was surprised by their reaction, so the villagers explained: In the neighborhood there lived two woman who practiced witchcraft. These women had it in for anyone who ran this inn, and, as a result of their powers, no innkeeper made it through the year alive. “Why do you think the innkeeper was willing to rent it to you so cheap, and with such good terms?”
The chosid was, understandably, shocked by what he heard. But, after considering the matter, he decided that this was clearly the intent of the Alter Rebbe, and surely he would protect him from any harm.
Not long after he took over the inn, the yungerman felt himself weakening. He was rapidly losing strength, and he realized that this must be the doing of the witches. Before long he felt himself nearing death, and he realized that must hurry to the Alter Rebbe and request his brocho, before it would become too late.
With his last strength, he travelled to Liozna, and arrived there in time for Shabbos Parshas Bolok. He immediately found himself lodgings, and went directly to rest up from his journey. In his weakened state, due to his illness he could not even go to shul on Friday night, and davened at home. Shabbos morning, he dragged himself to shul. However, that sapped all of his strength, and he immediately lay down in a bench in the back of the room. Thus the Alter Rebbe had never been informed of his arrival, nor was he able to see him.
For krias haTorah, the Alter Rebbe himself was the baal koreh. When it came to chamishi, the Alter rebbe called up this yungerman to the Torah. The young man pulled himself over to the Torah, and made the brochos, and the Alter Rebbe began to read. When he came to the Possuk כי לא נחש ביעקב, the Alter Rebbe entered a state of great dveikus. His face was flaming, and he repeated the words over and over. Everyone was filled with awe, as they realized that the Rebbe had ascended to a higher world.
After a few moments, the Alter Rebbe resumed the leining and finished the Aliya, and the chosid made the concluding brochos. Immediately he felt his strength beginning to return.
