Yiddish Printable version

Parshas Vayishlach
Yud Gimmel Kislev

Volume 1
Issue 8

Parshas Vayishlach
It had been a wonderful weekend. Shmuli had spent a great deal of time with his cousin Mendy, and they both loved every minute of it. Shmuli lives in Brooklyn. Mendy's family is on shlichus in California. The two cousins had not seen each other for a long time. So when Mendy's father brought him to Crown Heights for the Shluchim Convention, they had a lot to talk about. The Convention was over all too soon. As Shmuli helped Mendy take his bags out to the car, he said: "I'm really sorry you're leaving. It's too bad you don't live right next door to us."
"I had a great time here, Shmuli. I'll miss you, but I don't feel sorry, and you shouldn't either," said Mendy.
"Don't you wish you didn't live so far away?" asked Shmuli.
"Actually, no," replied Mendy. "I feel very lucky to be on shlichus. I'm very proud of all the things my Tatie and Mommy do, and they allow me to help, too. They tell me that I'm a junior shliach. If I lived in Crown Heights, I'd have to wait until I was older before I could go out on shlichus."
If Mendy's parents had heard this conversation they would have been just as proud of Mendy as he was of them! He was following the example of Yaakov Avinu, which we read in this week's parshah, Vayeitzei. Yaakov left the city of Beer Sheva and traveled to Charan. He left Eretz Yisrael, where his righteous parents Yitzchak and Rivkah lived, and journeyed far away, to a country he had never seen before. He was going to live among people who were very different from him, in a place that did not have the holiness of Eretz Yisrael.
Do you think that Yaakov Avinu journeyed to Charan just because he was running away from Esav? Obviously, there's a more important reason! HaShem would certainly have protected Yaakov from Esav anywhere in the world. For example, Yaakov spent many years studying in the Yeshivah of Shem and Ever, without having to worry about Esav. Yaakov journeyed to Charan because he had a job to carry out, and he was ready to do it. He was willing to move away from his home and to teach people about HaShem. He would set a personal example of how a person should live and behave. Yaakov went to Charan on shlichus. Actually, we are all on shlichus. A Jewish neshamah is pure. It is a part of HaShem. What is it doing in this world where HaShem is hidden? Our neshamos have a job to perform. We have been sent on shlichus to make this world a dwelling place for HaShem, and to prepare it for the coming of Mashiach.

(Please Tell Me What the Rebbe Says, (Adapted from Sichos Shabbos Parshas Vayeitzei, 5752)

The answer to last week’s brain buster is Shevatim (in hebrew letters)


Congratulations to Shmuel Chaikin from Johannasburg, South Africa, for solving the brain buster.

Parshas Vayishlach

Can you find a person and a town in this week's Parsha that have the same name?
____________________________
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.

Hey Kids!


Hope you had a great week. You know I was thinking that carrots must be good for your eyes—you never see rabbits wearing glasses, right? I thought some more and I realized that meat is good for Chabad Houses in the same way—every Shliach eats chicken soup on Shabbos, right? With carrots! You see, with so many new Shluchim running to so many new places (my nose is running too, but that’s because I sleep outside with the cows) we need much more meat so that every Chabad House can have a Geshmake cholent.
Here in Iowa things got really busy. There weren’t enough Shochtim to keep all the cholent pots full! So they asked me to come and shecht for them. I rolled up my sleeves and got to work. Anything to help the Shluchim! It sounds pretty funny to think of me as a Shochet, doesn’t it? The kids here think so too—they stopped singing “Dr Getzel is a Pretzel” and now they sing “Dr Getzel is a Shnitzel”!

I just decided to become a vegetarian because watching the chicken and meat get shechted was not such an awesome sight! That's when my diet began. You see, everyone of us is on a diet. We are on a Kosher diet, only eating our food with a good hechsher. But then there are people like me who all of a sudden when they wake up in the morning, can't see their toes because of something blocking them.. no it's not their nose, but a rolley polley stomach the sized of a tire, almost like a flat tire! Since Yom Tov, all I've been doing is eating Rebbetzin Getzel's delicious suppers so that I can learn Torah and perform my mitzvos with more zest.... I realized that I can't give in to my ta'avos and only eat when I am hungry. But you know what I realized? Everyone's outside doesn't count! It's the inside. We are all different, we have different size noses, some of us are taller and some of us have freckles on our noses, but we are all the same because we are all part of Hashem - just like it says in the Tanya that the Alter Rebbe wrote!

Dr. Getzel

“Vayehi Chitas Elokim Al HeArim”

The word "Chitas" - "fear" - is also a roshei teivos for Chumash, Tehillim and Tanya. The Frierdiker Rebbe, urged that every day of the week, every Jew should study the portion of Chumash for the day of the week, a portion of Tehillim according to the day of the month (the Tehillim is divided for the 30 days of the Hebrew month) and a portion of Tanya as it is divided for each day of the year. This is a great segulah for everyone Begashmius and Beruchnius.
In 1843 the Tzemach Tzedek sent his son, the Rebbe Maharash to Petersburg to discuss some concerns. Before he left, he told him that his mother, Rebbetzin Devorah Leah, appeared to him and told him that she had the zechus to visit the holy palace of the Ba’al Shem Tov in Shomayim. She asked for a Bracha to lessen the difficulties that people had against the spreading of Chassidus. The Ba’al Shem Tov told her that through learning the holy seforim of Chumash, Tehillim and Tanya, all difficulties and "barriers" would be nullified.
This pasuk hints to this: "Vayehi Chitas" - when one learns Chumash, Tehillim and Tanya, then - no one will chase after the children of Yaakov to do them any harm Begashmius and Beruchnius.

(Taken from the weekly L’Chaim magazine)


Mendy Vorovitch age 9 Toronto, Canada

My name is Mendy Vorovitch. I am 9 years old and I go to Grade 4 in Cheder Chabad of Toronto. My parents are on Shlichus in Toronto for 10 years. I try to help them as much as I could. The story that I want to tell happened about 2 years ago. At that time a young woman came to our house saying that her husband is very sick, he has very high fever. The doctors don’t know whats causing it and there are a lot of questions not answered. She was crying and looked very very sad. It happened right before when my Tatty was planning to go to New York. So Tatty told her that she should give Tzedakah and write a letter to the Rebbe, because my Tatty was going to go to the Ohel there. So the next day, when my Tatty was already in New York, he went to the Ohel and put this letter there and then in the evening he went to a wedding and asked the Chosen & Kallah to daven under the Chuppa for this woman’s husband. That same evening Tatty called the woman to find out whats happening. And she told him that her husband was much better, and the fever went down. And this was after a whole month when he was so sick with high fever. She told my Tatty that it was a miracle, that all of a sudden he became better. She was so thankful.


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: cyh@shluchim.org

The Wedding of the Rebbe and Rebbetzin


This coming Shabbos, Yud-Daled Kislev is the day that the Rebbe and Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka were married. The Rebbe and Rebbetzin got married on Yud-Daled Kislev 5688, 76 years ago, in the city of Warsaw, Poland.

The following is an excerpt from the journal of one of the Yeshiva students of Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim in Warsaw:
The happy news that the wedding of the Frierdiker Rebbe’s daughter, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, with the Rebbe was to be celebrated in Warsaw aroused indescribable feelings of joy among the Jews of Poland in general and the Chabad Chasidim in particular. At that time, the Frierdiker Rebbe was living in Riga, Latvia and it was his heartfelt wish to have the wedding celebrated in Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim.
On Yud-Gimmel Kislev thousands of Jews flocked to the railway station to welcome the Frierdiker Rebbe and his family. During the course of the day, many Chabad Chasidim, coming from all the towns and cities of Poland and Lithuania, arrived in the capital – Warsaw. Some of the guests came from even farther places. In particular, the Frierdiker Rebbe’s father in law, Rabbi Avraham Shneerson, had traveled all the way from Kishinev to be at the wedding.
On Yud-Daled Kislev, at five in the evening, was the Kabbolas Ponim. Only guests with official invitations were allowed to enter. Literally thousands of people surrounded the building, all waiting to enter, but there simply was no room for all of them.
The banquet hall was dominated by a great table, at the head of which sat the Chasan – the Rebbe; his father in law, the Frierdiker Rebbe; and Rabbi Avraham Shneerson, Rebbetzin Nechama Dina (the Frierdiker Rebbe’s wife)’s father. On both sides, running along the length of the table, sat great Chassidim, Torah leaders and important Rabbis, as well as leaders from every corner of Poland.
The Frierdiker Rebbe then stood up to speak and everyone was silent.
“It is well known that when a wedding takes place the Neshamas of the previous three generations of ancestors descend from Gan Eden to participate in the event. Such is the case with every Jewish family. However, sometimes it is possible to encompass more than just three generations…. I will deliver a maamar which has a source from the Alter Rebbe, the Mitteler Rebbe, the Tzemach Tzedek, the Rebbe Maharash and the Rebbe Rashab”.
The Frierdiker Rebbe then began saying the Ma’amer of "Lecha Dodi".
After the Ma’amer, the Frierdiker Rebbe took the Rebbe into a private room for a few moments and then was the Badeken and the Chupah. At the chupah, they sang the Daled Bavos Nigun which was composed by the Alter Rebbe.
During the wedding meal, the Frierdiker Rebbe himself passed among the tables and filled the cups of all the guests. He then danced with the Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim administration and teachers. The Frierdiker Rebbe then said a Ma’amer: "Asher Barah Sasson Vesimcha” After the Ma’amer, the guests washed for the meal.

Many hundreds of miles away, in Dnepropetrovsk, they were also celebrating the wedding of the Rebbe and Rebbetzin. His parents, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok and Rebbetzin Chana, who were unable to be there in person, organized a splendid meal in their own house, to which they invited many of the Jews of the city. In the house of Rabbi Levi Yitzchok the joy and festivity lasted the whole night long. From

(Days in Chabad)

 

Tes Kislev
On this day the Mitteler Rebbe was born and passed away.
He was born on Tes Kislev 5534
He passed on Tes Kislev 5588


Yud Kislev
On Yud kislev 5587, the Mitteler Rebbe was freed from imprisonment in Vitebsk.


Yud Gimmel Kislev
On this day, the United States Federal Court ruled that the Rebbe does not have to testify in response to the false accusations regarding the sefarim.


Yud Daled Kislev
On this day, the Rebbe married Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka.

SAVE THE DATE!!!

Attention all Children!
In honor of Yud-Tes Kislev there will iy”h be a conference call/rally.

Date: Wednesday night – Yud-Ches Kislev


Time: 8 pm - EST
7 pm - Midwest
5 pm - West Coast


You will be getting an e-mail with all the information including the phone numbers.

For more information, e-mail: cyh@shluchim.org

Dear Kids,
Learn between 2-5 lines of Tanya by heart in honor of Yud-Tes Kislev. E-mail us (connections@shluchim.org) your names and we’ll fax it into the Ohel.

Kids! Fill out the answers to the questions about Yud Tes Kislev below, and fax it to the Shluchim Office to at (718) 221– 0985. We will IY"H be mailing prizes to the winners!

Level 1: Ages 5-7

Kids! Fill out the answers to the questions about Yud-Tes Kislev below and fax it to the Shluchim Office at (718) 221– 0985 no later than Wednesday, December 1st, Yud-Ches Kislev. We will Iy”h be making a raffle from the correct answers and mailing prizes to the winners!


What was the Alter Rebbe‘s name?
What 2 main Sefarim did the Alter Rebbe write?
A: ______________________ B: ________________________
3. How long was the Alter Rebbe in prison?
What was the Alter Rebbe in middle of saying when he was told that he could go free and what Kapital is it in?
What 2 Shiurim do we start again on Yud-Tes Kislev?
A: _____________________ B: _________________________
How many Perakim are there in the Tanya?
7. What do Chassidim call Yud-Tes Kislev?
8. Who passed away on Yud-Tes Kislev?


(Look in the front pages of a Yiddish Hayom Yom for some answers!)


Name: _____________________________ Age: _____
Address: ______________________________________
City: _______________ State: _____ Zip: ____________
Phone: _____________ e-mail: ____________________

Congratulations to Shneur Zalman Bergstein (6) Buffalo Grove, IL and Esther Zirkind (7) Fresno, CA for winning last week!


Level 2: Ages 8-12

What year did the Alter Rebbe go to visit the Maggid of Mezritch for the first time?
When (date and year) was the Alter Rebbe arrested?
What was the Kitrug in Shomayim against the Alter Rebbe?
How long did it take the Alter Rebbe to write the Tanya?
Which city was the Alter Rebbe imprisoned in?
What did the Alter Rebbe answer the minister who asked him what Hashem meant when He asked Adam ‘Ayekah’?
What day of the week and Parsha was the Alter Rebbe freed?
Which of the 12 Torah Pesukim is the Tanya based on?
What are the 2 Neshamos that every Yid has? A: ________________ B: _____________________-
When did the Mezritcher Maggid pass away and where is he buried?


(Look in the front pages of a Yiddish Hayom Yom for some answers!)


Name: _____________________________ Age: _____
Address: ______________________________________
City: _______________ State: _____ Zip: ____________
Phone: _____________ e-mail: ____________________


Congratulations to Rochel Ciment (8) Little Rock, AR and Menachem Mendel Jaffe (9) Brisbane, Australia for winning last week!


QUESTION: Why is Dinah referred to as "Bas Leah" - "daughter of Leah"?

ANSWER: After 6 of the Shevatim were born: Reuven, Shimon, Levi, Yehudah, Yissachar and Zevulun and Leah was having her 7th child, she was worried that this could cause embarrassment to her sister Rochel. She knew that Yaakov was going to have twelve Shevatim. Since she already had six sons, and the two maidservants, Bilha and Zilpah, had two sons each, if she were to have a seventh son, Rochel would seem less worthy than the maids. Therefore, she davenned that her sister be spared the embarrassment of having only 1 son and the maidservants each 2. At the time of her Tefilos, Rochel, too, was expecting a child and was carrying a girl. In response to Leah’s tefilos, Hashem miraculously transferred the girl in Rochel’s womb to Leah, and the boy carried by Leah to Rochel (Niddah31a, Maharsha). Now, Rochel gave birth to Yosef, and Leah to Dinah. That is why the Torah emphasizes that Dinah was the daughter of Leah, because without her Tefilos, Leah would never have given birth to her.

QUESTION: Why didn't Yaakov bury Rochel in the Me’aras Hamachpelahwhere Adam & Chava, Avraham & Sarah, Yitzchok & Rivka were buried? Instead he buried her at the crossroads of Beis Lechem like Hashem told him to.

ANSWER: When Rochel’s children would, in the future, be taken into Golus by Nevuchadnetzar, they would pass Kever Rochel. She would beg Hashem to have pity on her children, and Hashem would listen to her Tefilos. (P'sikta Ravti)

(Excerpted from V’Dibarta Bam)

 We'd love to hear your feedback! Send us your comments, ideas and suggestions to: connections@shluchim.org