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Yiddish
Printable version |
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| Parshas
Mikeitz
Chof Zayin Kislev
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Volume
1
Issue 10 |
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PARSHAS
MIKEITZ
The Blum family was driving home late one night from an out-of-town
wedding. After three hours of traveling the car started to make strange
noises. Mrs. Blum looked at her husband worriedly. "What is that?"
she asked in a hushed tone, not wanting to wake up the children who
were asleep in the back seat. "I'm not sure," he answered.
"Last week when I had the car checked, Jimmy said everything looked
fine. I'll take it in again tomorrow and check it out." "We
are only an hour away from home," Mrs. Blum whispered. "I
hope we make it." Mr. Blum did not have a chance to answer. Suddenly
the noises became louder, and then the car stalled. "Oh no!"
blurted Mrs. Blum exclaimed out loud. "Stuck on the highway in
the middle of the night with a car full of kids..." "What
happened?" "Why did we stop?" One by one the children
awoke, rubbing their eyes and looking around in the dark, confused.
Mr. Blum went out to check the engine and Mrs. Blum explained to the
children what had happened. "What are we going to do?" "Can
we go to a motel?" The children were talking nervously as their
father called from under the hood, "Where is the cell phone?"
"Whom are you going to call at this late hour?" Mrs. Blum
asked.
"I'll call Jimmy. We have no choice," Mr. Blum answered. "I
can't figure out what's wrong. He knows our car best. Besides, he gave
me his word that everything was fine. I hope he won't be too upset.
It's dangerous to leave the car here. We are stalled on a curve, and
if they don't see us, people driving behind us may not be able to stop
in time." Mr. Blum used the loud speaker on his phone so that his
hands would be free to work on the car. Soon everyone could hear Jimmy
giving step-by-step instructions. At last, it seemed that the problem
was solved. "Now, be very careful," Jimmy was saying. "You
told me you are stalled on the curve of a hill. The problem with your
car may cause it to roll downhill as soon as you let the brake go. Let
me review what I said once more."
Jimmy went over his instructions. "Now, Mr. Blum, you've got it.
Do step one, then two and three. Ready?" But instead of a reply,
all Jimmy heard on the phone were some words in a language he couldn't
understand.
We know what Mr. Blum was saying. He was following Yaakov Avinu's example
in a time of trouble. In this week's parshah, we read about the famine
that caused Yaakov to send his sons down with Binyamin to Mitzrayim
against Yaakov's wishes. This was a difficult time, as Yaakov said,
"I lost Yosef, and Shimon was taken captive, and I am afraid of
losing Binyamin." There were steps to be taken to try to avoid
the danger that might await them while they would be seeking food in
Mitzrayim. Yaakov's instructions to his sons included bringing gifts
and taking extra money. Finally he said, "All that is left to do
now is to daven to HaShem and ask for His help." A Jew must always
do what has to be done to solve a problem. Action should be taken. Through
these actions HaShem will send us His help. But our tefillos are most
important. It is our tefillos that bring HaShem to respond to our difficulty
and to send His help.
From ‘Please tell me what the Rebbe Said’ (Adapted from
Likkutei Sichos, Vol. XXV, p. 227)
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The
answer to last week’s brain buster is Shemesh
Congratulations to Sheina and Shaya Liberow, Barranquilla, Columbia,
for solving the brain buster.
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Chanukah
#1
is 10 times 4, #’s 2 and 3 are 10 times more,
add 4 to #6 and you will find #4, divide #4 by 2 to get #5
Who am I?___6 ___5 ___4 ___3 ___2 ___1
(hint: I’m connected to Chanukah)
Please send your answers to connections@shluchim.org
We
are so happy with all the responses we are getting to the brain busters.
Unfortunately, we are not able to print all of your names. Please
continue sending your feedback and responses as we will make a gorel
each week and pick one winner.
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Dear
kids,
Wow, what a busy month! Kislev is my favorite month of year because
it is packed with special days. First came Rosh Chodesh Kislev, then
Tes and Yud Kislev, then Yud Daled Kislev… learning about these
Chassidishe Yomim Tovim made me feel very connected to the Rabbeim.
Then came Yud Tes Kislev, when the Alter Rebbe was released from jail
and Chassidus was able to spread openly. I felt so special and proud
to be a Lubavitcher Chossid. When I look at all the mesiras nefesh
that our Rabbeim had to spread chassidus, I know that they’re
giving us the strength to do our shlichus now. I want to give a big
yasher koach to all of you who joined in the Yud Tes Kislev farbrengen/
phone rally.
I am so excited about Chanukah. I can’t wait to go out into
the streets and light up the darkness. Remember the magical flashlights
that Yankel and I had on our flight to New York? Well, each one of
you has your own flashlight, too! All Chassidim are lamplighters and
our mission is to light up the world by teaching people about torah
and mitzvos.
Rebbetzin Getzel just sent me to the supermarket to buy potatoes,
olive oil, and Chanukah candles. There I was, walking around the store
with my full shopping cart and everyone was staring at me. People
came over to me and asked if I was stocking up for a famine! “No,
no”, I told them, laughing, “the potatoes are for Rebbetzin
Getzel’s famous Chanukah latkes, you have to come to our Chanukah
party to taste them.” Luckily, I had brought along some brochures
which Yankel and Mirel gave out to each person who stopped us. You
know something, one of the best places to do mivtzoim is the supermarket!
A little girl came over to us and asked if we were expecting a blackout.
Now this question really shocked us. “What?” Yankel, Mirel
and I blurted out at once. “Well, why would you need so many
candles,” the puzzled girl asked. “To light the menorah,
of course”, Mirel said. We invited the girl and her mother to
our Chanukah party, too.
You’re not going to believe what happened next. The store manager
saw so many people coming over to us that he asked us to make an announcement
over the loud speaker. We were overjoyed. We marched to the front
of the store and invited everyone to come to our Chanukah party!
The amazing thing about Chanukah is that we can go out into the streets
and literally light up the darkness with our menorah lightings and
Chanukah parties. I hope you all have a great Chanukah. Please write
to me and tell me about the wonderful programs you did to “light
up the night” of golus and bring Moshiach Now!
Dr. Getzel
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Chanukah
Tidbits
1. We spin the dreidel from the top, unlike the Purim gragger which
is rotated from the bottom, because the miracle of Chanukah was clearly
from Above, in a manner that was higher than nature.
2. The 25th of Kislev, the first day of Chanukah, is the same day that
the Jews who left Mitzrayim finished building the Mishkan in the wilderness.
3. The miracle of Chanukah took place long after the Torah was given,
but it is hinted in the 25th word of the Torah, 'Ohr', meaning 'Light.'
Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, begins on the 25th day of Kislev.
4. Many Chassidim have the custom of making special celebrations and
giving out extra Chanuka gelt on the 5th night of Chanuka. The Rebbe
explained that this is because the 5th night of Chanuka is the darkest,
since it is the only night of a yom tov that can never fall out on Shabbos,
and we must do our job of illuminating it, no matter where we are in
the world.
(Taken from Virtualchanukah.com)
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Levi
Greenberg, 9, Anchorage, Alaska
My father once got a call from a Jew named Jeffrey who said to my father:
“Rabbi please help me! I'm a baseball Red Sox fan and for 70 years
they didn’t win the World Series. Rabbi please pray that they
should win!” My father offered Jeffrey that he would write to
the Rebbe if he would agreed to do some mitzvot. Jeffrey agreed.
Although my father thought it was very strange to write to the Rebbe
about such a gashmiyus thing like baseball, he decided to write in anyway.
My father wrote to the Rebbe that there is a Jew who is a Red Sox fan
and the Red Sox did not win for 70 years and in his eyes it is very
important. He added that maybe if the Red Sox win it will affect his
yiddishkeit.
Sure enough the Red Sox won the games and even played in the World Series.
Today, Jeffrey is doing a lot of mitzvot including saying Shema and
lighting Shabbat candles with his daughter.
Sara
Rivka Schtroks,9, Surrey, British Columbia
It was so amazing to join all of you for the Yud Tes Kislev farbrengen
on the phone. I felt privileged to say a possuk from my corner of the
world and have it reach Australia. It was a taste of being with the
Rebbe for a rally. Truthfully, it was a taste of Moshiach.
I can't wait for the next rally in Yerushalayim!
(But next time, remember to press 6!)
Send
us a short paragraph about your shlichus and we will publish it in our
future “connections”! Please include your name, age, and
location.
E-mail us at: connections@shluchim.org
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Chanukah
Story
It was the first night of Chanukah. Rabbi Baruch of Mezibuz, the
son of the Baal Shem Tov, stood with a group of his Chasidim.
With great concentration, he said the blessing over lighting the
Chanukah lights and lit the first candle. The Chanukah candle
was burning steadily when Rabbi Baruch and his Chasidim sat down
around the menorah to sing Chanukah songs. Suddenly, the flame
began to shake and leap. It seemed to dance around in irritation.
And then, the flame just disappeared. The candle didn't go out;
no smoke arose. It was as if the flame flew away to another place.
The Rebbe's assistant stood up to relight the Chanukah candles.
But the Rebbe stopped him. "The Chanukah flame will return
to us," he told his surprised Chasidim. "It has gone
on an important mission," said the Rebbe quietly, mysteriously.
Rabbi Baruch instructed his Chassidim to continue singing and
discussing Torah thoughts. Close to midnight, a cry startled everyone.
The Chasid who was sitting next to the menorah called out, "Rebbe,
the flame has returned!" Within moments, the group heard
the faint sounds of a wagon. One of the Rebbe's Chassidim entered
the house. His clothes were torn, his hair disheveled, it was
obviously painful for him to walk. But in direct contrast to his
appearance, his eyes shone with happiness.
"Just a few days ago, I left my house to come to our holy
Rebbe for the Chanukah festival," began the Chasid. "This
is not the first time I have come to the Rebbe, and I know the
way well from my many journeys. But this time, my traveling was
very slow. I became worried that I would not arrive in time so
I decided to travel day and night and eventually I would reach
Mezibuz. This was a foolish thing to do. But I realized that too
late. Last night, a gang of robbers stopped me. They were overjoyed
to find me. They were certain that if I was traveling at night
I must be a very successful merchant who had important business
to attend to which could not wait. They insisted that I give them
all of my money.
"They would not believe me when I told them I only had the
few coins which were in my bag. They cross-examined me and tortured
me so that I would reveal where the rest of my money was. I, of
course, had nothing to tell them. After many hours of torture
they sent me to a dark cellar. When their leader came to me, I
tried to explain to him the great joy that one experiences when
with the Rebbe and how important it had been to me to be with
the Rebbe for Chanukah. It would seem that my words entered his
heart or, perhaps, after he saw that all the tortures were futile,
he began to believe me. Whatever the case, he told me:
“ ‘I see that you are a person who believes in G-d
and longs for his rabbi. Go on your way. But be advised that the
path through this forest is very dangerous. It is filled with
wild beasts. Even we do not travel through it alone. If you succeed
in making it through the forest, take your handkerchief and throw
it in the ditch on the side of the road just after the signpost
for the city. I will send a messenger tomorrow to see if it is
there. In this way I will know that you have reached your destination.
And, if you have, I promise you that I will leave my band of robbers
and change my ways.' I became frightened anew. But what choice
did I have? When I thought of lighting the Chanukah candles with
the Rebbe, though, I was strengthened. I retrieved my horse and
wagon and resumed my journey through the pitch-black forest.
"Not long after I began traveling, I saw ahead of me a pack
of wild wolves. My horse refused to go any further. Suddenly,
a tiny flame appeared in front of my horse and began leaping about.
The flame went forward and the horse advanced. The rest of the
way, the animals on all sides ran from before us as if the flame
drove them away. This flame was with me until I arrived here.
I threw my handkerchief in the ditch, and who knows? Maybe in
the merit of this Chanukah candle, the band of criminals will
return to a better path.” The Chasid finished his story.
And so the group of Chasidim understood to where their Rebbe's
Chanukah flame had mysteriously disappeared.
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26
Kislev
The first edition of the Tanya (printed on 20 Kislev in Slavita) was
delivered to the Alter Rebbe. The Alter Rebbe had the Tanya printed
since many of the handwritten manuscripts that were going around contained
mistakes.
It is also the day of the Rashab’s bris in 5621/ 1860. The Tzemach
Tzedek (his grandfather) delayed the bris for a month and instructed
that it should be done in private, just like the second luchos were
given.
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Kislev
The Alter Rebbe was released from his second imprisonment in the Tainy,
Soviet prison in 5561/1 800. However, some people feel that he was
actually released on the 29th of Kislev.
(Days in Chabad)
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I
remembered to say Ya’aleh V’Yavoh in Shemoneh Esrei and
in bentching
I remembered to say Hallel after Shemoneh Esrei.
I remembered to daven Musaf.
I remembered to say Borchi Nafshi on page 79 after the Shir Shel Yom.
I didn’t sew or do any laundry.
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Hey
Kids! We want to know all about your Chanukah on Shlichus! Send us a
report to:
connections@shluchim.org
Dr. Getzel
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SPECIAL!!!
Chanukah
Funpages!
Click
On English and Yiddish Printable Versions at the top of this page.
Bonus:
What is the connection between 7 and Chanukah?
Email
your answer to: connections@shluchim.org
Congratulations
to Devorah Freundlich (7) Beijing, China for winning last week!
Congratulations to Yossi Klein (10) from Memphis, Tennessee for winning
last week!
 
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QUESTION:
Parshas Mikeitz is always read during Chanukah. What connection does
the parshah have to Chanukah?
ANSWER: The following are some of the hints to
Chanukah in this parshah:
1) According to halacha, the Menorah is placed on the left side of the
doorpost, opposite the mezuzah, which is on the right. In the pasuk
"Vayehi Mikeitz Shenatayim," the word "Shenatayim"
is a roshei teivos for "Semol Neiros Tadlik, Yemin Mezuzah"
(on the left kindle the candles, on the right place the mezuzah).
2) In Ve'Al Hanissim, the word "Yad" - "hand" -
is mentioned five times: "You delivered the mighty into the hand
of the weak, the many into the hand of the few,
the impure into the hand of the pure, the wicked
into the hand of the righteous, and wanton sinners
into the hand of those who occupy themselves
with Your Torah." A hint for this may be found in the pasuk, "Binyamin's
portion was five hands (times) as much as theirs" (43:34).
3) Throughout the Torah, at the end of every Parsha, the number of Pesukim
in the Parsha is written. At the end of Parshat Mikeitz, besides the
number of pesukim, we are also told that the Parsha contains 2,025 words.
Why is it necessary to know the amount of words? Parshas Mikeitz is
usually read during the week of Chanukah. The 2,025 words in the parshah
can serve as a hint for the Yom Tov of Chanukah. During Chanukah we
light candles for eight nights. The mitzvah can be fulfilled with only
one candle each night for the entire household. In Hebrew a word for
candle is "Ner" which has the numerical value of 250. Eight
times 250 equals 2,000. The event of lighting candles starts on the
25th day in the month of Kislev. Thus, 2,025 alludes to the 25th of
Kislev and eight candles.
(Excerpted
from V’Dibarta Bam)
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