Dear Alumni Sheyichyu!
Sholom U’Brocho!
I received a suggestion (by Rabbi Bentche Butman of Cambodia) to include email addresses with the Maz”t’s, so that you can send one another wishes. I will try to do this; hopefully it will not involve too much extra work, and will aid in increasing the ahavas and achdus Yisroel.
Mazel Tov to Chaim Schochet on the occasion of his chasuna. Mazel Tov to Boruch Hecht on the occasion of his chasuna. May the new home be set up al yesodei hatorah vehamitzvos, and be a keli for all brochos! (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.
The following story is one I heard years ago, I don’t remember where or by whom. Anyone who can confirm, correct, or add details is welcome:
It was, undoubtedly, a wild and crazy thing to do, even for somebody who, by all accounts, was no stranger to wild and crazy activities. The year was 1986, and Rabbi Shlomo Cunin, shliach of the Rebbe to California, was about to launch the first annual Chabad Telethon.
Today, when the Chabad Telethon has become an integral part of religious life, when part of the criteria to being considered a chassidishe bochur is to have watched at least 3 telethons, and when most respectable Rabbonim won’t give an applicant smicha if he can’t name at least two of the actors of the telethon, - it is difficult for us to grasp how revolutionary the idea originally was. For a black-hatted, Brooklyn-originated Orthodox Rabbi to enlist stars and producers and the medium of television to solicit money for Jewish outreach was, at the time, unimaginable! But Rabbi Cunin and his team were undaunted by the more-than-formidable undertaking, in fact, he had a special knack for the extremely radical. They forged ahead with their (outrageous) plans, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Needless to say, the first airing was fraught with countless difficulties; not the least of which was to somehow convince the television station - for whom time was money, and every moment was extremely costly and had to prove worthwhile in a very measurable way – to go along with the zany idea (and people) and give them their chance.
Finally, the long-awaited date arrived, the multitude of minor and major last minute preparations were completed, and everyone waited with baited breath for the zero-hour to arrive. Excitedly, they counted down together. 10 – 9 – 8 – 7. Everything was in place, and everyone was poised for action. 3 – 2 – 1. All eyes were riveted to the big screen. Nothing. It was blank.
Frantically, they tested wires and tightened screws, but the seconds ticked by, and there was nothing to see. The television station informed the Chabad team that, while they sympathized with their situation, they just could not afford to have a station with nothing showing in prime time. If within 60 seconds the problem would not be resolved, they would be forced to air something else (Mattisyahu perhaps).
The desperate search for the source of the problem went on. Perhaps this is just a heavenly sign that it is not meant to be after all? Finally, with a mere few seconds remaining until the final deadline, someone discovered an unplugged plug. It was quickly corrected in the nick of time, and the show went on the air, to everyone’s immense relief!
In our lives, we may spend much time and effort creating an impressive “production”. We concentrate on the flashing lights and on the intricate wiring. We give much attention to the showmanship.
Yet, with all this, it is crucial to bear in mind that the value of anything is dependent on it being “plugged in”. In other words:
As amazing and remarkable the various things we do may be, we can’t lose sight, for even a moment, of the fact that these are all merely means of connecting ourselves to the Eibishter. Therefore, in all that we do, we need to be conscious of the ultimate measuring stick: is this what the Eibishter wants from us, and the way he wants us to do it?
Similarly, a chosid may embark on a shlichus. He may build great buildings, organize massive programs, and be recognized by numerous public officials and dignitaries. Yet, behind all of this, the essence of shlichus is the ability of being “kemoso mamosh”; - to be united and one with the meshaleach, - the Rebbe. If, for example, I have to wage a war with someone else who is jeopardizing the success of my program; - why, it may very well be that, while I am salvaging the show (the stars, the performance etc.), but I am at the same time detaching the plug. I may be losing focus of the question “is this what (and the way) the Rebbe wants from me?”
Those of you who are in camp will be putting much work and creativity towards winning ‘color war’. There are phenomenal plays, with amazing acting, beautiful backdrops and professional props, as well as inspiring songs and more. And with all of that, they are all merely mediums, not more than a means to an end. Because the Rebbe indicated (IINM) that the only reason color war is tolerated/justified is because of the increase it brings to in mishnayos baal peh. So, if you sacrifice some MBP in order to have the most spectacular play in the history of Gan Yisroel, even if you manage to win color war, you actually lost.
And, in truth, the mishnayos baal peh is not the ultimate goal either, it’s also just a part (albeit a much more spiritual and subtle part) of the production. The ultimate goal (for which even MBP are a vehicle) is BEING PLUGGED IN; - being connected to the One Above.
You say: of course, isn’t that obvious? Consider this: There used to be a custom (that I’m sure has long been abolished) that the day after color war was designated as “Lazy Day”. Being that many of the staff had worked literally around the clock for a few days straight, and were at the end of their strength, there was a day in which there were no demands; everyone would get up whenever they wanted etc. (I know, in Yeshiva some bochurim have this once a week, but in the summer it was only once in the season),
But wait a second? Get up whenever you want? Officially sanctioned? What about zman krias shma, davening with a minyan etc.? After you take care of your obligations to G-d, then, by all means, make up on your missing sleep. But, there’s no “lazy day” from shulchan aruch! There’s no “lazy day” from serving Hashem! How can someone imagine to decide cold-bloodedly in advance that tomorrow we are going to disregard a mitzvah d’oiraysa (about which is said “me’uvas lo yuchal” etc.), to disregard rabbinic obligations etc.?! Would anyone consider celebrating the end of color war with a ham sandwich barbeque r”l?!
Can it be that, even if the mishnayos baal peh were learned impressively, we somehow forgot the plug (back then in those days), we didn’t associate it with to consciousness of ‘how do I utilize this to strengthen my connection – and that of my campers – with the Eibishter’?
Learning from a Misnaged's Dream
A misnaged (and for all of you who are politically correct this is NOT an attempt to belittle misnagdim ch”v, as a matter of fact, some of my best friends are misnagdim, this story just happened to occur with a misnaged) once came into shul looking dejected (not that they’re always the happiest people around in the best of times, but . .). His friend questioned him about the long face, and he said that he’s very confused because he had a very perplexing dream, and he doesn’t know it’s meaning.
Upon questioning from his friend, he finally elaborated that he dreamt about ‘the kavayochol’, - the Alm-ighty. His friend attempted to placate him: “You know, Chazal teach us that dreams are a reflection of one’s thoughts during the day, perhaps this was merely a result of your thinking about Him by daytime?”
“Impossible”, was his vehement denial. “You know my schedule, I get up early and learn a shiur, then I daven, and my entire day is occupied with either learning or davening. When do I ever have time to think about ‘the kavayochol’?”
Indeed, one can learn and daven, and forget about the plug; and overlook the fact that his learning and davening are merely a means to attach himself to his Creator.
The Essence of Connection
The haftorah of this week the second of the seven haftoros of nechomoh, begins “Vatomer Tzion Azovani Hashem”. The Rebbe quoted numerous times the Avudraham, who explains the sequence of the Haftoros: First is Nachamu Nachamu; - Hashem instructs the nevi’im to comfort us. But the Yidden, rather than being comforted, are upset. Tzion says: “Hashem deserted me”.
The Yidden’s response is: we aren’t interested in the showmanship and the inspiring words of the nevi’im, as holy and lofty as they most definitely are. But that is not what interests us. What interests us is our connection with Hashem Himself. Hashem Himself shouldn’t neglect us, and hide behind fancy words and spiritual displays.
In essence what we’re saying is; what’s most important to us is the plug, - us being plugged in. This, then, is a fitting time for us to focus on this in our own avodas Hashem, to ensure that we don’t get distracted or mislead by the external trappings, and to always bear in mind what our ultimate mission and purpose is.
Because it’s not about the Rebbetzin Whoopie Goldberg, or even, l’havdil, MBD (or even the millions of dollars that the telethon may bring in). It’s about recognizing everything for what they truly are; - as a tool to plug our lives into our Power Source, the Holy One Blessed Be He!
L’chaim! May we be successful in plugging into our Source, and may that draw down the Power into the world, and begin the ultimate Light Show, through the immediate revelation of Moshiach Tzidkeinu TUMYM!!!
Rabbi Akiva Wagner
לזכות 'ר שלום מרדכי הלוי בן ,רבקה לגאולה וישועה קרובה ,ושלימה י"תומ ממש ג"בטוהנוהנ ולזכות 'ר צ"לוי בן צירל ק"לרפושו ט"ואויוש
